This week's episode of Gossip Girl was all about the Mamas. Ben's mom backed Lily into a corner, Lily turned herself in, and we learned Raina's mother may have been killed by Chuck's dad, Bart. This sounds a bit like General Hospital, no?
For me, the highlight of this hour was the incredibly smart writing. A few of my favorite lines:
DOROTA: " I learned this from Mr. Humphrey's New York magazine that I found in your room! Your new secrecy, calmness with Mr. Chuck, supporting Serena's new boyfriend, and last week I find a NOVA documentary in your Netflix queue! You and Lonely Boy are having an affair!"
DAN: "Serena, Eric, Lily, they are going to need us now more than ever." BLAIR: "And not 'us' - Dan and Blair, individual entities. Two proper nouns separated by a conjunction." DAN: "Or a comma, if mentioned in a list." BLAIR: "Which is rare, since we have nothing in common and are in fact, opposites."
DAN: "I've been walking around the city all night with one all consuming, paralyzing thought." BLAIR: "Why am I walking around the city when I live in Brooklyn?"
I have to hand it to you, GG writing team. You were on point tonight!
Onto other observations:
- How gorgeous was Lily in that nude colored dress?
- Why was Blair wearing no make up at Chuck's party?
- Chuck was feeling devastated and alone and the only person he wanted to talk to was Blair? Interesting. - CeCe and Billy Baldwin are back?
Lastly, the next new episode is Monday April 18th? WHAT? Cruel.
For the first 45 minutes of this week's episode of 90210 I was convinced I was going to start this post like this:
"I am starting to feel like a broken record. How many times can I say - I hate the cousin Emily plot! Why would Annie's friends and her boyfriend ever believe this newcomer over her?"
Thankfully the writers finally heard my plea and brought down cousin Emily in a perfectly executed scheme! Bravo, Annie and Liam! Enjoy Arkansas, psycho.
Speaking of psycho, vapid Adriana tormented Silver all episode by trying to blame Navid's infidelity on Lila (welcome back, by the way, Lila) in an attempt to crack Silver. It finally worked and Silver came clean. As if I didn't already loathe Adriana, she sends a naked picture of Silver, Gossip Girl style, to the entire school. Dear lord.
Also in the "Dear Lord" category: amazing, fun, charming Raj has terminal cancer? Really, writers? Just when Ivy finally hooks up with someone who understands her, who helps her escape her harsh reality, you give him a fatal disease? Dislike.
The brightest spot in tonight's episode was the Naomi and Max story line. I too recently chased after a nerd, so I can relate. Though I never covered myself in blue body paint, I understand wanting to find a way to relate to someone, even if it feels extreme. Yes, I am waxing philosophical about 90210.
I loved the Naomi/Max make out, but not as much as I loved the final scene where they walked down the school hallway in opposite directions, each with their own friends, and smiled uncontrollably wide when they locked eyes. Cute!
Can we also take a moment to acknowledge Snoop Dogg's cameo in this episode? Sick.
In previews for next week the gang heads to Mexico for Spring Break and apparently Naomi and Max wind up in bed together. This should be good!
Each year I host an Academy Awards viewing party and this year I was particularly excited, as I had seen most of the nominated films. Let's start with what I loved about the show:
- Cate Blanchett commenting "that's gross" after viewing the clip from "The Wolfman" as she presented the award for Best Make Up. - Anne Hathaway's blinged out heels during her musical number. Please express ship those to me. - The auto-tuning of four films (Harry Potter, Toy Story 3, The Social Network and Eclipse). I have to say, I was laughing out loud during "The Social Network" auto-tune. Please enjoy:
- Jeff Bridges presenting the award for Best Actress and queuing up each clip with an ode to the nominated actresses. He spoke to each woman as if he were sincerely her friend. - Sandra Bullock following in Bridges' footsteps with an equally authentic tribute to each of the nominees for Best Actor. It's mind blowing to remember where she was exactly one year ago and to see her composure tonight. - PS22 closing the show with "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." First of all, "The Wizard of Oz" is my all time favorite movie. Secondly, how amazing for those elementary school kids from Long Island to fly to Los Angeles and perform during Hollywood's biggest night? Wow. - Lastly, I never watch live TV (thank you, DVR) but tonight I was able to experience commercials I would otherwise miss. I absolutely loved the McDonald's "hope" commercial. How cute were those kids? "I don't see any hope in here!" they exclaimed as they shook the Happy Meal box. Beyond adorable. I also died during the preview for this week's episode of Modern Family! The Pritchetts play charades? Yes, please.
Now onto the disappointments during tonight's show:
- The hosts. Anne Hathaway seemed jittery and insincere and James Franco looked stoned. I am normally a huge James Franco fan, but I wanted to shake him! He honestly looked high. - Kirk Douglas presenting the award for Best Supporting Actress. He was difficult to understand, he delayed announcing the winner even after he'd opened the envelope, and then Melissa Leo increased the awkwardness by stealing his cane when they walked off stage together! - Katherine Bigelow, last year's Best Director winner, came out in a red dress that made her look like an escapee from the "Let's Get Physical" video. Yikes.
And onto the fashion! In the past I have compiled a best and worst dressed list, but this year I wanted to highlight my four favorites, who were all wearing red!
1) Sandra Bullock - As I mentioned before, at this time last year Bullock was walking the red carpet in a stunning Marchesa gown, with her then husband Jesse James and she won the award for Best Actress. To see her tonight, positively radiant despite all she has been through was nothing short of inspiring. This incredible gown is Vera Wang.
2) Jennifer Lawrence - The newcomer and star of "Winter's Bone" stole the show in this red, Calvin Klein, body-hugging number. She looks like Farah Fawcett meets Baywatch, and I mean that in the best way.
3) Penelope Cruz - After having a baby yesterday (at least it feels that way) Cruz was on fire in this sequined, red, L'Wren Scott dress. She also had the ultimate accessory, her nominated husband, Javier Bardem. Caliente!
4) Anne Hathaway - Host Hathaway sported several gowns over the course of the evening, but my absolute favorite was this strapless, Atelier Versace gown. Absolutely gorgeous. I wonder if her dresses were all selected by Team Zoe, or if the Oscars had their own stylist. Thoughts?
Though Franco and Hathaway flopped as hosts, I was thrilled to see so many of my favorite take home statues tonight - Christian Bale, Colin Firth, Natalie Portman and of course, the toys of "Toy Story 3."
And with that my friends, another awards season comes to an end. Thank you for reading my recaps and for sharing your thoughts with me!
This week's episode of Grey's Anatomy was all about relationships. In one of the more heartbreaking scenes, Arizona admits to Callie that this three person relationship they've created to raise Callie's future child is not what she dreamed of. Arizona makes it crystal clear that she is tolerating Mark just to hold on to Callie. Ouch.
Alex continued to pursue the "hot OB/GYN" with very little success. I like that she busts his balls. I hope he keeps at it until she says yes.
Owen and Christina have a pretty significant fight because Christina declares that she is never having children. Gee, perhaps they should have covered that before walking down the aisle.
This week the Chief's wife, Adele, was admitted to the ER again. After some sound advice from Dr. Bailey, the Chief asks Derek to investigate her recent fogginess. Do you think she has Alzheimer's?
Derek is pre-occupied with Meredith, who is having vision problems due to her fertility drugs (so we think). Meredith doesn't want to stop taking the drugs because they are so close to the end of the cycle. My heart broke a little when Meredith asked Derek, "would you still love me if I was blind?"
Speaking of broken hearts, the cystic fibrosis storyline was a tear jerker. How can you choose between your health and the person you love most?
This hour Dr. Avery finally got his way and seduced Lexie! All the way into the shower! Steamy. Literally.
Also on the new couple front, Dr. Stark asked our Dr. Kepner (didn't see that one coming!) and she actually said yes! I will die if this turns into a committed relationship. I especially liked when Kepner out right asked, "if I say no, will you stop giving me surgeries?" Always a doctor first.
My favorite scene in the episode was when Derek, Mark and Owen met on the roof of the hospital to hit golf balls from their make shift driving range. There was something poignant about their group therapy session.
In previews for next week's episode, Derek checks out Adele's mental health, Scott Foley's character returns with additional medical problems, Karev continues to chase the OB and Lexie and Dr. Avery heat things up. I can't wait!
Kelly Osbourne is the new face of Madonna and her daughter Lourdes' teen clothing line, Material Girl. The new advertisements have been revealed and I have to say, I'm loving them!
Fashionistas, what do you think? Does Kelly do the original Material Girl justice?
A few weeks ago I read a post on Urban Daddy announcing that a new restaurant would take over the space formerly occupied by Match Burgers & Martinis at the corner of Mass Ave and Newbury Street. I immediately made plans to check it out with two of my best girlfriends. Unfortunately, three consecutive snow storms later, we'd rescheduled three times! Tonight, we finally made it!
94 Mass Ave looks very similar to it's predecessor, Match. They kept the sleek fireplace, the dim lighting and the dark wood tables.
We were seated in a round, leather booth in the front corner of the restaurant which was very cozy. It took us a while to decide what to order because the menu is small plates meant for sharing, and everything sounded amazing! We weren't sure what the serving sizes were, so we had to ask our waiter for guidance.
In the meantime, we ordered drinks. A glass of red, a glass of white and the grace margarita for me. The grace margarita comes with pink peppercorns! I loved it.
While sipping our drinks, we decided to order a plethora of menu items to get a real feel for the food. We started with the bruschetta which is slow roasted tomatoes and herbed goat cheese spread on grilled sourdough. It was delicious!
Next we sampled the hand rolled meatballs, which looked just like grandma makes.
We couldn't resist the crispy fried tater tots which came with a blue cheese dip. They were perfectly crunchy on the outside and wonderfully warm on the inside.
At our waiter's recommendation, we also ordered the zucchini carpaccio, which was shaved zucchini with red onion, fried capers, romano cheese, lemon and olive oil. It was fresh and surprisingly full of flavor. We gobbled it right up!
Next we indulged with the lobster grilled cheese which came on brioche and served with a mini tea cup full of lobster tomato bisque. The presentation was adorable! The girls could not stop praising this plate! I haven't heard "oh, wow" repeated so many times at any other dinner!
Our last dinner pick was the cheese fondue which came with a very generous portion of cubed bread. I have eaten a lot of cheese fondue and I have to say, this was among the best I've tasted! We did everything we could to soak up every last drop!
As our plates were being cleared the manager stopped by our table to ask if we had tweeted about coming to the restaurant tonight. We confirmed that we had and she thanked us for doing so. When our waiter returned to the table to check on us, he let us know that the manager would like to offer us a round of drinks on the house! See, Twitter nay sayers. You could be drinking for free.
Once our second round arrived, we felt ready for dessert. We ordered two treats: the profiteroles and the chocolate molten cake.
The profiteroles were the typical puff pastry stuffed with ice cream, but this version also had caramelized bananas! It was heavenly!
The perfect ending to the meal was the molten chocolate cake topped with vanilla bean ice cream. I am a serious chocoholic and I thought this cake was divine.
94 Mass Ave is a welcomed addition to the neighborhood and a great date spot. The vibe is very intimate and the food is meant to be shared. Every single thing we ordered was fantastic. I can't wait to go back.
This week on Gossip Girl we watched Blair unravel at the seams as she attempted to serve as an editor at W Magazine, take midterms at Columbia, shop for Eric's birthday party, work her way onto the MET board and help take down Damien in a classic Upper East Side gang scheme. It became clear the lack of sleep had pushed her to the point of no return when she arrived at Eric's party in two different heels. Gasp!
Despite running on empty, Blair looked stunning all episode, including in this belted, silver dress which had me swooning! Sophisticated and sparkling, a winning combination.
This hour I also enjoyed the chemistry between Raina and Nate. Though Chuck would flip if they hooked up, I'm rooting for their coupling.
The vibe between Blair and Dan is also heating up. Dan completely rescued Blair and the final scene where they are eating pizza, snuggling and watching a movie is too cute!
Also on my list of things I loved this hour - Lily seducing Russell Thorpe to help Chuck! Though she often annoys me, Lily was fantastic this episode. Apparently she does want the best for her children.
Things I could have done without this hour:
1) The children's theme of Eric's 18th birthday party. Pinatas? Really, Lily? 2) Vanessa's return. Did anyone miss her? Because I didn't. 3) Ben threatening to put a hit out on Damien. Does anyone believe Ben is capable of that? 4) Damien offering intel to Russell Thorpe. This is a whole, new level of douchebaggery.
Let's hope next week brings a first kiss for Blair and Dan and for Raina and Nate!
This week on 90210, as I predicted, cousin Emily continued to destroy Annie's life. I firmly believe Annie is the writers/producers' punching bag. Her character can't catch a break! First Naomi tortured her because she thought she slept with Liam (when it was really Jen), then Annie was stuck in the clutches of Jasper, and now this! It's painful to watch Annie self destruct while no one in her life believes her.
I wanted to reach inside the television and slap Emily when she asked Annie to go get her a new coffee, but I really lost it when she walked out practically naked into Liam's bedroom! Dear Liam, please be smart enough to send her home. Please.
This episode Naomi confessed her true feelings for Max, her lab partner. He straight up says, "Sorry, you're not my type." Ouch! In previews for next week, Naomi pulls out all the stops to get his attention.
Also this hour, Ivy meets a super cute new dude at the medical marijuana store. Did I just type that? Raj seems like exactly the kind of guy Ivy needs right now - charming, fun and makes her feel alive. I hope to see more of him next week.
This episode Teddy struggled to fit into the group. The guys try to ease the awkwardness by taking him to a gay club. Everyone is uncomfortable. Teddy and Liam wind up bailing, leaving Navid and Dixon to battle it out on the dance floor. Classic.
Lastly, the episode closes with Adriana realizing that Navid cheated with Silver. I have to give the writers props for this reveal. Adriana notices the dreaded earring hanging from Silver's ear in footage intended for her reality show pilot. Oh, boy. I can't wait to see how she reacts to Silver the next time they see each other.
What do you think, fans? Will Adriana take down Silver in public? Will Liam hook up with Emily? Will Emily's true colors finally be revealed?
As I mentioned in an earlier post, this past weekend two of my best childhood friends were in town from New York City. I wanted them to experience one of the most fun, themed brunches in Boston, the Pajama Brunch at Tremont 647. I had been once before (you can read my original review here) and loved it. I couldn't wait to take them!
We arrived at Tremont 647 at 12:45pm and the pajama clad host informed us it would be a one hour and fifteen minute wait. We waited patiently outside in the sun, but found ourselves a bit peeved when a party of four in front of us was seated when only two of their members were present. They sat at their table, not ordering food, while we waited another thirty minutes. As my out of town guests stated, "this would never happen in New York." Truth.
Once our name was called (2:10pm) and we walked to our table, I remembered how much I love the decor inside the restaurant, particularly the red, patterned wall paper.
We were seated in the back of the restaurant in a cozy, private booth.
We were quite starving at this point and ordered the cinnamon toast appetizer. The plate arrived with four perfectly toasted pieces of bread sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. It was incredibly delicious and we literally inhaled every piece.
Two of us ordered huevos rancheros. The plate came with two fried eggs, spanish rice, black beans, sour cream, three kinds of salsa and flour tortillas. It was fantastic! I would order this over and over again. It satisfies your morning craving for eggs, but also your savory craving.
We also tried the spinach and mushroom eggs benedict. It arrived in a beautiful presentation, the eggs were cooked perfectly and the spinach and mushrooms were a nice change from the typical benedict.
We also ordered the Plain Jane scramble, which was scrambled eggs, bacon, potato hash, and a slice of toast. This diner also ordered a side of a bagel and cream cheese, which she said was disappointing.
We also ordered a side of potato hash and a side of French fries for the table. Both varieties of potato were delish!
In addition to the long wait, we also experienced some lackluster service. Our waiter seemed irritated when we asked for more coffee or water, and the waitress assigned to continually clear plates from our table literally took plates out from under us while we were still eating. Given that their was no longer a line outside, it seemed unnecessary to rush us like that.
Though the food was sublime (it always is), my out of towners were left feeling disappointed and annoyed by the wait and the service.
Word to the wise, if you are interested in the Pajama Brunch, come early!
DAN: "Serena, Eric, Lily, they are going to need us now more than ever."
DAN: "I've been walking around the city all night with one all consuming, paralyzing thought."
- Why was Blair wearing no make up at Chuck's party?
- Chuck was feeling devastated and alone and the only person he wanted to talk to was Blair? Interesting.
Lastly, the next new episode is Monday April 18th? WHAT? Cruel.
