It's been a while.....

  I haven't blogged in a while so I have many different things to discuss.

Television Series

MAGIC CITY-on Starz. This show is in its second season. It takes place in 1959 at the Miramar Playa Hotel in Miami. This hotel, Miramar Playa is very similar to the Fountainbleu or Eden Roc during this time. The owner of the hotel, Ike Evans, is played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who is sensational and easy on the eyes. His nemesis is probably the scariest villain on television these days. That character is Ben Diamond, king of Miami's underworld, and is played by actor Danny Huston. These characters have viceral hate for one another and the story plot revolves around their business wars. You will be shaking watching Danny Huston in this role. He literally makes your skin crawl. Violence ensues.

RAY DONOVAN-on Showtime. Jon Voight and Liev Schreiber star in this series about a Professional fixer in L.A.(Schreiber) and the hateful (non) relationship with his father (Jon Voight), who has just been released from prison.  Jon Voight is beyond spectacular in this role. A definite must to watch. LOVE the show.

NEWSROOM-On HBO. Great ensemble cast. Irritating dialogue where the characters constantly talk over one another. It is the best of Aaron Sorkin and the worst of Aaron Sorkin. I continue to watch the series, but it is mediocre. Not one his better shows.

THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS-on Own network.  This is a nighttime a soap opera developed by Tyler Perry. The acting, however is super. A close second in the villain category (Ben Diamond/Magic City) is played by Tika Sumpter as Candace Young. She is beautiful, smart, and terribly evil. Remember the show Dynasty? Candace is  more horrific than Joan Collins in Dynasty.. Tika Sumpter deserves an emmy for this role.The actress, Crystal Fox, playing her mother, Hanna Young is equally great. Has a fabulous cast.  The women will like this show. Men will not!

MILLION DOLLAR LISTING NYC-on Bravo. Three realtors battle for the opportunity to get  pricey listings in NYC. It makes you see firsthand how morally corrupt and dishonest many of these brokers are, and how often they play the buyers against the sellers. Tune in to see Frederik, Luis, and Ryan. It's fun to see locations you know and what they actually sell for in NYC- the prices are insane, but you know that!

Who Knew About This?
    Television
LARRY KING-on RT America Network.  Check out his new show about politics. You can catch it on Hulu.Com or Rt.com

FUNNY OR DIE'S BILLY ON THE STREET-on Fuse.  Comedian Billy Eichner is hysterical in little vignettes.

   The Web
IMMACULATE INFATUATION-a website that is right up my alley. Discussions about food in the NYC area. And, it also tells you the stars favorite spots to chow down.

  Upcoming Shows
A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN-opening at The Lyceum Theatre on Broadway on 9/20. Mary Bridget Davies stars as Janis. If you haven't heard her sing-she is extraordinary. This will be a hard ticket to come by.

Food/Restaurants
Do or Dine- Brooklyn. Many options. Are you up for a foie gras donut? yuck!

Blue Ribbon Beer Garden-190 Allen Street in the Thomson Hotel. Nice outside terrace on the 2nd floor. Loads of beer choices but only 3 entrees: Cornish hen, ribs, vegetable platter. And there's ping pong! cool..

Dominique Ansel's Bakery-189 Spring Street. By now you have all heard of the infamous cronut. If you haven't, you most likely live under a rock. Anyway, a cronut is half croissant and half donut. They are hard to acquire and most likely you will need to wait on line for hours. However, I can't understand why people just don't buy the infamous DKA instead. This is a croissant with carmelized crust. OR his other delectable creation, The Paris? This is a pastry with chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter filling-YUM! Mr. Ansel rose to fame as Daniel Boulud's executive pastry chef, before going out on his own.  Worth the wait?

Movies

THE WAY WAY BACK-Best movie of the summer. May even be in my top 20. Coming of Age story about an awkward, insecure teen played by Liam James. He gains his confidence by working for an offbeat manager of a water park, played by Sam Rockwell. Rockwell steals the movie and deserves an academy award. Run don't walk to see this. You will smile for days afterward.

FRUITVALE STATION-a true story about a young black boy killed for no reason, on New Year's day in 2009. . Takes place in the San Francisco Bay area. Stars Michael B. Jordan who is absolutely riveting. His mother, played by Octavia Spencer, also gives (another) award winning performance. VERY difficult to sit through. As one reviewer said, "Imagine Trayvon Martin as a white kid. Would there be as many commentators speculating that Trayvon's attitude caused his own death at the hands of a man who stalked him with a gun?"  This movie is so timely and so powerful.Go see this movie. Make your teens see this movie!