It is that time of year when things get pretty hectic and major changes start taking place. I’d like to concentrate on the upcoming events and adventures and truly focus my energy on enjoying the moment. That said, I will be taking a brief hiatus from posting regularly, but when I return, there will be lots of exciting content and photographs. Looking forward to sharing and updating soon! In the meantime, let’s all follow these words of inspiration.
Posted by Lauren on May 17, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/05/17/brief-hiatus/
Along with many other series that I loved (including Happy Endings), television networks renewed and cancelled shows for next season. One of these shows was Smash, which NBC decided to cancel after only two seasons. I watched Smash when it first aired, and I have actually really enjoyed the season. Not only does the show highlight New York City, but I thought the drama and music was well-balanced. The original and cover music in the second season have also been incredible. The following videos are my favorite moments and songs from the show. I’m super bummed this show was cancelled, but at least there are two great seasons to re-watch.
Posted by Lauren on May 13, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/05/13/r-i-p-smash/
It is going to be a big movie weekend, and I am appreciative for the time off to visit the theater. I finally saw a movie last week and it really made me realize how much I miss the theater-going experience. In addition to movies, I intend to re-watch the entire 3 seasons of Arrested Development, probably with dim sum leftovers within reach. Have a wonderful weekend!
* This really is how I get sucked into an SVU marathon.
* I am officially obsessed with Arrested Development, and May 26 (the start of Season 4) cannot get here soon enough.
* Lavender lemonade: a perfect summer drink.
* Met Gala 2013 - I wasn’t very impressed with the theme and most of the dresses. My favorites: Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Alba, and Anne Hathaway.
* Indulged in one of the best chocolate lava cakes [photo above].
* Stoked to see The Great Gatsby and Iron Man 3 this weekend!
* A great place for Mother’s Day brunch. Here are some other ideas!
* Saw Mud last weekend, and it was visually stunning and a great slice-of-life film.
{Photo by Lauren}
Posted by Lauren on May 10, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/05/10/thats-a-wrap-57/
“A woman happily in love, she burns the soufflé. A woman unhappily in love, she forgets to turn on the oven.”
– Baron St. Fontanel in Sabrina (1954)
{via}
Posted by Lauren on May 8, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/05/08/quote-of-the-day/
If I could, I would spend the entire weekend in the movie theater. There are a lot of great movies playing that I would love to experience on the big screen. Things have been slowing down a bit, so I snuck in a couple of movies, one of which included Roman Holiday. I adore Audrey Hepburn and she did not disappoint in this film. I also ate my first real pie this week. I would usually have bites of pie here and there, but I finished my own mini-pie (twice) with a huge scoop of ice cream and I am officially hooked. But before I go on and on about pie, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…
* Tom Hanks was nominated for his first Tony Award!
* I adore these Moby measuring cups.
* Japanese whisky is rising in popularity.
* Amazing caramel apple pie before dinner is always a good idea [1st photo].
* Making a trip to the theater this weekend, but since there are so many great movies out, it’s hard to decide which one to see.
* Visited the Reagan Foundation and adored seeing this love letter Ronald Regan wrote to his wife, Nancy [2nd photo]. There was also an awesome Disney exhibit (which has now closed, unfortunately).
* This weekend I’ll be re-reading The Great Gatsby in anticipation of the movie, The Great Gatsby, that comes out next Friday. I can’t wait to see it. On the topic of Zelda, I thought this article was quite interesting.
{Photos by Lauren}
Posted by Lauren on May 3, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/05/03/thats-a-wrap-52/
This week went by so slowly. Every morning I woke up confused about which day it was, but recently that’s become normal. I am looking forward to the next few days when things start slowing down. I plan on catching up on Smash (I am really enjoying this show…please don’t cancel it, NBC), testing out a new (to me) Japanese restaurant, and starting a new novel. When the days start to blur together, it’s nice to have quiet moments to simply reflect and refresh. Now, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…
* Adorable watermelon pool float - perfect for lazy summer days.
* Matthew McConaughey on Letterman.
* Grumpy Cat unimpressed at TIME.
* Mud comes out today! I can’t wait to see it, along with these other movies.
* A fantastic article on Baz Luhrmann and The Great Gatsby.
* Finished reading Z: A Novel About Zelda Fitzgerald yesterday. It was moving, eye-opening, and beautifully written. Zelda is one strong gal.
* Checking out some interesting art exhibits this weekend and hoping to be inspired.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Posted by Lauren on April 26, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/04/26/thats-a-wrap-56/
Set in stunning Italy, Come September (1961) depicts Rock Hudson, as Robert Talbot, an American millionaire who owns an Italian villa which he visits one month out of the year. When Talbot makes an unexpected visit to Italy, his overseer has turned his villa into a hotel. However, Talbot is too consumed with Lisa, played by the beautiful Gina Lollobrigida, to fully realize the situation, which is both hilarious and romantic at the same time. Come September is one of those movies I repeatedly watch because it is a quality romantic comedy with talented actors and located in a gorgeous environment.
While you watch this 60′s RomCom, eat warm almond biscotti – plain or dipped in chocolate – and enjoy a large latte. This biscotti was incredibly simple to make, and it turned out delicious. Biscotti is an easy morning snack or a perfect coffee sidekick. Come September with almond biscotti makes for a delightful Italian morning/afternoon/evening. Buon appetito!
Almond Biscotti
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups of almonds (whole or slivered) + 1/2 cup of almonds
2. 2 cups of all-purpose flour
3. 3/4 cup sugar + 1 1/2 tablespoon of sugar
4. 3 large eggs
5. 1/2 teaspoon salt
6. 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
7. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Bake whole or slivered almonds on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes until golden brown. Let cool.
3. In a food processor or VitaMix, pulse 1/2 cup of almonds and 1 1/2 tablespoon of sugar until finely ground.
4. Add flour, salt, and baking powder and pulse 4-5 times until mixed.
5. In a bowl, mix 3/4 cup sugar, 3 eggs, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla on a high-speed until thick (about 4 minutes). Reduce speed and add flour mixture.
6. Add the 2 cups of whole or slivered almonds into dough.
7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the dough (which will be very sticky) into 2 halves. Wet your hands with water and mold each half into 2 logs about 2″ by 11″ and smooth the top.
8. Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown – they won’t expand too much, so it’s okay if they are on the same baking sheet.
9. Remove the 2 loaves from the oven. Using a sharp bread knife, slice the loaves into diagonal pieces. You can make these pieces as thin or thick as you would like, but usually they are 1/2 inch slices.
10. Bake the sliced piece for another 20-25 minutes until they are crispy. Flip them halfway through to ensure that they are crisp on both sides.
11. Enjoy warm or allow to cool before dipping into chocolate/coffee.
12. *For chocolate dipping, melt semi-sweet chocolate chips or 60-70% cocoa and simply dip each cookie. For extra taste, grind 1/2 cup of almonds in the food processor/VitaMix and sprinkle over the chocolate.
{Photos by Lauren, Come September}
Posted by Lauren on April 24, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/04/24/eat-watch-come-september-almond-biscotti/
1. Erin Brockovich (2000) | 2. March of the Penguins (2005) | 3. Earth (2007)
4. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) | 5. Oceans (2009)
Happy Earth Day! There are a lot of reasons to love our earth, including the incredible landscapes, variety of fascinating animals, and all the natural resources Mother Nature provides. However, it is because of these very reasons that we need to protect our earth. These are just a few of the movies that cover earth topics – some documentary, one based on a true story, and one completely fictional. Celebrate today by watching one of these films, or a similar earth-related flick. And of course, turn off the lights when you are not in the room, unplug your electronics, turn the water off when you’re brushing your teeth, and recycle! What are your favorite Earth Day movies?
Posted by Lauren on April 22, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/04/22/earth-day/
* My heart and thoughts are still with Boston.
* Watched Zero Dark Thirty (finally) and was inspired by Maya’s confidence and persistence.
* Explored the Hotel Del Coronado where Some Like It Hot was filmed – despite all the tourists, it was pretty awesome to see the hotel in person [1st photo].
* Tom Hanks in Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy - two of the greatest people who ever contributed to the entertainment industry.
* I am starting to miss fall. This is one of the reasons why.
* Currently reading Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, and there are some beautiful lines in it. Really enjoying it so far.
* Can’t wait to see The Great Gatsby, which comes out in May. I adore Carey Mulligan and this article about her.
* Love the purple flowers blooming in Coronado [2nd photo].
* Creative coffee latte art - I would become a coffee drinker if my latte looked like #5, #6, or #51.
{Photos by Lauren}
Posted by Lauren on April 19, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/04/19/thats-a-wrap-55/
I love to read just as much as I love watching movies. The thrill of imagining the characters as you want them to look, establishing the setting in your mind, and letting the story run wild in your daydreams days after you’ve finished reading are just a few of the reasons why reading is unbeatable. I love that even though people can read the same exact story, the details differ for everyone. Many of the books I read, when they’re not non-fiction or biographies, have usually been adapted into a movie. When there’s a movie coming out that I know is originally a book, I try to make time to read the book first, since that way I can imagine the characters and environment before I see how someone else has dreamed it up.
Through this new column, I will share the books that I think should be read before seeing the movie. And to be fair, some books you don’t need to read before watching the movie, so I will often include those. Let’s get reading then watching!
Read: Headhunters by Jo Nesbo, then watch the movie. The original title is called Hodejegerne, and is made in Norway. An American version of the film is being made because the movie was so successful. I usually don’t read or watch thrillers because the intensity can be a little too much, but I had heard great things about Jo Nesbo and decided to give one of his books a try. Despite having to take a few short breaks in-between reading, I am so glad I chose this book. It is so well-crafted and you seriously do not see what is coming. Read the book first because you’ll be better prepared for the movie – the details are so subtle and even when you know what happens, you’ll still be blown away.
Read: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, then watch the movie. In my opinion, it is one of the most touching love stories. About a man who time travels involuntarily, the story has a strong impact on your heart because of how the man’s time traveling affects the love of his life. In fact, the story is so great you might be disappointed with the movie, like I was. The entire time I was reading The Time Traveler’s Wife, I envisioned Rachel McAdams as the lead, but Eric Bana just didn’t impress me. Regardless, if you do anything with this story, read it - you will definitely not be disappointed with the book.
Read: One Day by David Nicholls, then watch the movie. I finished this book in 2 days – it draws you in and doesn’t let you out until the very last page. The concept of two people meeting on the night of their graduation and then meeting each year on the same day for the next twenty years was so intriguing, and the book does a much better job of capturing the details of the two friends’ lives and their meet-ups. Because the film only had 107 minutes to capture twenty years, important small moments were overlooked and the emotions were generalized. Anne Hathaway is fantastic, as usual, but I recommend reading the book first – it will stir up some pretty raw reactions.
Have you read/watched any of these books/movies? What do you think: read or watch first?
Posted by Lauren on April 15, 2013
http://adashofcinema.com/2013/04/15/read-then-watch/
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A Dash of Cinema is your source for recipes to enjoy in front of the big screen and your guide to the world of cinema. Embrace your inner film-foodie, try something new, and indulge!
