Gleecap: Diva-meter - 2/8/11 Episode

How excited was I that we got two brand new Glee episodes within three days?!  Not only did we get a bonus episode, last night's was a great, Divalicious one.

• Welcome back to the inner monologue: +1
• I like that we get to hear Blaine's beautiful voice whenever the Warblers sing, but we haven't heard Kurt's pipes in a long time: -1.  Don't silence that diva.
• I think it's nice and cute that Rachel has friends now and is having an adorable lil sleepover with Kurt and Mercedes, but in real life they wouldn't be braiding each others' hair, they would be sneaking vodka from their parents liquor cabinet and replacing it with water.  -1
• -1 for Quinn and Finn sort of getting back together.  Sam is much cuter and Finn shouldn't encourage cheating when it's been so damaging to his last two relationships.
• Other Asian's dance moves were pretty ridic this episode: +1
• Santana went to Jarod: +1.  Another +1  because she's from Lima Heights Adjacent.  And yet another +1 because she has plans to solve all her problems by marrying an NFL player like one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta.
• Lauren Zizes was into Puck because she thought he was mixed race: +1 because I think everyone has been wondering about his ethnicity since episode 1 and then realized they didn't care because he's such a hottie.
• +5 for overall amazingly relevant song choice.  I won't dissect them individually because they were all awesome.  I'm not a big Valentine's Day fan, but this episode kinda made me love the holiday.

Total: 8--> This episode is the diva equivalent of Jennifer Hudson.  Sure, some people forget about her sometimes, but every time she opens her mouth, you're astounded by how awesome she is.  Plus, with her astonishing weight loss, she's totally back on top, just like this episode of Glee put it back on the top of my must-watch list.

Unanswered Questions: Gossip Girl Recap - 2/7/11 Episode

This was maybe not the most exciting episode we've ever seen, so let's just get right to it:

• Does anyone else think Dan's hair makes him look like a character from The Outsiders?
• Why would Rufus be ok with his son living with a convicted felon?  Even if Ben is innocent, it's probably not the best idea to stick your son in a tiny loft with a guy who has done hard time.
• Dan tells Damien that if he finds out he's lying, he'll make sure he never steps foot in this town again.  Isn't that Blair territory?  Dan lives in Brooklyn and has little pull in Manhattan.
• Can Blair be promoted?  She's in college and would never have time for a full time job.  Apparently it's possible because James Franco does it, but James Franco is a celebrity, not just some rich kid.  Also, James Franco is almost 33 years old and still going to college...I'm guessing that's not what Blair has in mind.
• Why did it take this long for anyone to talk to Damien's father?  If there was such an easy way to take Damien down, why did no one talk to him during any one of the other times he was tormenting the GG crew?

Til next week...

Pancake Promises

Clinton Street Baking Company was voted Best Pancakes in 2008 by New York Magazine (not to mention Best Breakfast/Brunch by Time Out in 2007) so it promised to serve some solid pancakes, especially during pancake month.  I've heard about pancake month since I moved to NYC but haven't managed to make it to the LES, principally since I've heard the line to get in is absurd.

The line is out the door on any given weekend and especially so during annual pancake month.  I managed to get around this hurdle by taking a day off work today for a little me time.  I did not plan my day off around pancake month, but I would be lying if I said it didn't factor into the decision.  I looked up the pancake schedule and today's special selection looked particularly enticing so I headed downtown to try pancakes topped with crispy [tempura] bananas and cinnamon-chili-chocolate sauce.

I was surprised that the restaurant was packed at 1:30 on a random Monday especially the ambiance is nothing special.  In my head I thought it would be one of those cutesy places, but in reality it looked just like any other boring diner.  Thankfully, the food was anything but ordinary.  Even though I knew what I was getting, I glanced at the menu for future reference and it looks like I'll have to make a return trip.  Today, however, I had to stick with the famous pancake month brunch.  I managed to get a tiny spot by a window so I could read, people watch, and stuff my face with the delicious pancakes.

Since I'm more of a savory girl, I was happy the pancakes weren't overly sweet.  They weren't covered with the cinnamon-chili-chocolate sauce (there was just enough) so I was able to get a feel for just how fluffy the pancakes were (perfect consistency - firm from the griddle on the outside, light on the inside).  Nothing (including the bananas) got soggy - and I hate a soggy pancake.

I expected a little more fanfare around pancake month.  It's not like I expected to see a marching band run through the restaurant when I placed my order, but I thought there would be a little more to-do.  Marching band or not, I still got to try pancake month that I've been hearing about for the last three years.  If you're a pancake fan, I would highly recommend Clinton Street Baking Company even if you have to take a day off work to try it.

 

Gleecap: Diva-meter - 2/6/11 Episode

I've been dying a slow death during the Glee hiatus, but thankfully our Gleeks have returned and I have been resuscitated.  Let's see how our lil divas have been doing.

• Coach Bieste is eating a whole rotisserie chicken for lunch in the teacher's lounge with Will: +3.
• While protesting having to join the Glee Club, one of the football players says he won't sing showtunes because it is the music of his oppressors.  -1 because I've never heard of Barbara Streisand or Liza Minelli referred to as tyrannical persecutors.
• Brittany is worried about being shot out of a canon: "I don't wanna die yet...at least not til One Tree Hill gets cancelled."  +1 for reminding us that this show still exists.
• And another +1 for Brittany's other zinger "how many Ms are there in the letter R?"
• The handwritten note from the canon along with Sue's canon fibromialgia story earns a +1.  
• Why do all the hockey players have mullets? -1 because this seems unlikely, especially because no one has ever mentioned a sport at McKinley other than football which they seem to play year-round.
• "Well Blaine loves football; I love scarves" +1 to Kurt for realizing that in every gay relationship one has to be the butch and the other has to be the bitch.
• Lauren Zizes was the state Grecco Roman wrestling champ.  +1 because I totally believe this is true.  
• +1 for Sue's Black Eyed Peas reference ("all boom boom no pow") was a nice reminder that this is the crazy Superbowl episode when the Peas were the actual Superbowl halftime show.
• Katie Couric's cameo gets a -1.  Sorry but it just wasn't as good as I thought it would be.  And why would Katie Couric be in Lima, Ohio?
• I hate to give this a +1, but I am impressed they didn't take the easy way out and make Karofsky suddenly part of their happy family.  In real life, one halftime performance wouldn't cure that closet case of his raging self-loathing, homophobic projections.
• Song recap:
• "Need You Now": +1 because Quinn & Puck/Quinn & Finn/Rachel & Finn all seem to know the relationships are not right, but they can't stop themselves from getting in their own way.  Plus, I love anything that features my fellow Georgians, Lady Antebellum.
• "She's Not There": +2 in large part due to the fact that the original song is by the Zombies but also because it was the perfect follow-up to Finn's convo with Quinn about her allegiance to Glee Club vs. Cheerios.  However, -1 for Mr. Shuster having to blatantly point out that it was by the Zombies so the viewers would get that it matched the episode's theme. Not that I knew it was by the Zombies, but I didn't appreciate that the writers assumed I wouldn't know.  I'm hurt, writers.
• "Bills Bills Bills": No points added or subtracted.  Though completely irrelevant, the song was perfectly performed and made me miss old school Destiny's Child.
• "Thriller"/"Heads Will Roll": +1 because somehow Thriller really does seem to bring people together.  Just watch 13 Going on 30 if you don't believe me.
• -1 for Emma's absence.  She should have been the one to come up with the idea of the football players and Glee kids coming together.

Total: 9 --> This episode is the diva equivalent of Christina Aguilera.  Not just any Christina Aguilera.  I'm specifically thinking of the Christina who sung the National Anthem at this year's Superbowl (XLV) that preceded this episode of Glee.  True, she flubbed a line (which is pretty shocking since even illegal immigrants know that song), but it's hard to deny that she's just crazy talented.  Similarly, our Glee buddies may have had a little slip up here or there (Katie Couric's appearence, Quinn kissing Finn...), but this episode reminded us that they are pretty awesome all the same.

Sweet Sarabeth's

I was all ready to take this weekend by storm...until I went to my annual eye exam yesterday morning.  I thought I would hear the same "Your prescription got worse; you have really bad eyesight" that I hear every other year.  Unfortunate, but I'm used to my near blindness.  Instead, I was told that I have some eye condition I can not pronounce that will require some sort of action.  She probably told me what the next steps would be, but I wasn't really listening as I was fixated on the fact that my doctor confiscated my contacts.  No contacts for at least a week?!  I can think of nary a worse fate.  I feel less sexy librarian and more four-eyed dorkus having to wear my glasses 24/7.  Not only do I feel less than cute in my glasses, I found them highly inconvenient since it was a disgusting day and not easy to see through rain-splattered specs.

I was in a sour mood (still am, clearly) and I find the best way to lift my spirits is with brunch, which I conveniently already had on the calendar with Mallory.  In all her time in NYC, Mallory had never been to Sarabeth's and we both agreed it is a rite of passage.  We both started with the four flowers mimosa, which is made with orange, pineapple, banana, and pomegranate juices.  Mallory had already studied the menu, so she knew she would be ordering the country breakfast (scrambled eggs, cheese grits, bacon, roasted red pepper sauce, and her choice of pastry - she went with pumpkin muffin).  Considering I had been to Sarabeth's several times, I figured I didn't need to review the menu beforehand - after all, I always order the Goldie Lox (scrambled eggs with lox and cream cheese).  But once I sat down, I realized it was a good day to mix it up - perhaps the glasses made me a little frisky.

I decided it was time to order something completely different and I'm thrilled I did because I have a new favorite breakfast dish.  I'm more of a savory breakfast/brunch eater but I always like the idea of the sweet items on the menu, like pancakes and waffles.  This dish combines the best of both.  The crisp potato waffle had a smooth texture and deep niches to hold the sour cream and chunky apple preserves I slathered on.  Sarabeth's is famous for their preserves so I always like to make sure they come with whatever I order.  The dish also came with two large links of chicken apple sausage that were full of flavor.  I feel like this dish could replace the latke meal at Chanukah.  It packed in all the same flavors but in a different form.

As always, Sarabeth's pleased the palate and made me forget my optical worries and the dreary weather. It is indeed a rite of passage for New Yorkers so make sure it's on you low-key breakfast list.

It's Here!

The official Blogger for Android app has finally arrived, which means - you guessed it - I'm posting this from my phone.  You prob won't notice the difference, dear reader, but for me, it's big news.  I will likely still post predominantly from my trusty laptop, but it's nice to have the option to blog on the go.  Ain't technology grand?!

Unanswered Questions: Gossip Girl Recap - 1/31/11 Episode

So I'm sure the first unanswered question on your minds is Where is last week's recap?  The answer is that I thought it was a little too lame to write about.  Sorry, writers, but I expected a little more from you for the first episode back after a break.  Enough about last week.  It seems our Gossip Girl buddies were back to their old tricks this week, which means I'm back to ask some more pressing questions.

• At first I thought the W assistant's name was Everly...as in Beverly minus the B.  Thankfully, I realized I was wrong.  Phew.  It's not Everly; it's Epperly.  But what kind of a name is Epperly?
• Perhaps the Thorpes want to exploit the Captain's connections, but did they forget he's been in prison the last few years for making some pretty atrocious financial decisions?  The Captain argues with Nate saying "I'm good at what I do!" though I'm guessing the New York state penal system would disagree.
• While Blair is telling Dan why she needs the internship, she says her Mom is just a famous designer which means she can't call in favors to a fashion magazine...um isn't that exactly what it means to be a famous designer?
• Lily is concerned when she finds out Eric could not have been staying at Eliot's place after she's informed they broke up.  But why is Lily ok with her high school son sleeping at his boyfriend's apartment?
• Hot pink hot pants in February with no tights...really?  Don't get me wrong, they were kinda cute, but we all know Blair is not big on shorts/pants and it's still the dead of winter here in NYC.  That outfit doesn't work when there's snow on the ground.  Sorry.
• Does Serena own any formal dresses that don't have side cut-outs?  It's like if she doesn't hit her skin showing quota, she dies.
• Blair's working the door at the party?  I'm impressed because that's actually the kind of task an intern would handle and that level of reality somehow shocks me on this show.  I also relish seeing this because I know that as a gal who works in print advertising, I am one of the people she would be checking in.  Ha!
• A drinking game based around every time Lily pays someone off...why didn't I think of that?!?!