Blogs

Check out this weekend's top event picks for Memorial Day Weekend on the Upper East Side.

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Check out this week's top news articles for the Upper East Side.

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Director J.J. Adams continues his reboot of Star Trek with a worthy sequel. The best thing to be said of "Into Darkness" is that you will feel like you're watching a TV episode of the original Star Trek on the big screen.Writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof and J.J. Adams treat their material with such love and respect for the original series that combined with the perfect casting, everything fits perfectly to recreate the world of Star Trek. There are the requisite verbal and sight gags that reference the original and yet, at the same time, this group make the film their own. The story borrows a major character from the past and gives him the back story he deserves.The same cast returns and fill their respective roles admirably. Chris Pine is growing on me but he still has some work to do inhabiting the role that made William Shatner a star.  Zackary Quinto is a fine Spock and Karl Urban does a dead on Dr. McCoy with all his verbal nuances intact. Simon Pegg also returns as "Scotty, along with John Cho as Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, and Zoe Salanda as Uhura. The villain of the story is played by Benedict Cumberbatch who usually plays good guys and here, makes a truly ruthless villain.There's plenty of action that plays well on the big screen, even in 2-D and I'm sure even more impressive in IMAX format and 3-D (although I was very satisfied without it). May the inevitable sequels live long and prosper. 

Wild Cherries

Who doesn't love cherries?  The color, the flavor, the versatility…and thought it seems obvious, they are really good for you.  Here are two interesting reasons why: Tart cherries can help reduce that spare tire!  Something in that little nugget of flavor can actually help counteract the fats in your diet (though I wouldn’t exactly consider it your weight loss plan!)  By the way, they also help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Bing Cherries

Rainier Cherry Branch

 You know that muscle soreness the day after a great workout? Some studies show that a serving of tart cherries, or even their juice, can help reduce muscle inflammation.  Don’t wait until the pain sets in though ~ have the cherries post-workout before that stiffness kicks in! There are many different kinds of cherries from which you can choose.  Bing cherries, perhaps the most common, can be any range of color from dark red to nearly black.  They are most easy to find and best enjoyed raw.  Rainier cherries are golden, lamberts and heart-shaped and dark, and Royal Ann are the ones used to make maraschino cherries – you know, the ones you find in Shirley Temples! Montmorency cherries are sour and morellos are used to make liqueur. If you choose to bake with either of those varieties, be sure to add sugar…they may just be to tart on their own!

Ripe Sour Cherries

Whether you prefer a freshly washed handful on a nice summer day, a piping hot cherry pie or a warm cobbler with a frozen treat on top, Butterfield Market has your cherries waiting for you!Written by Guest Blogger: Yonni Wattenmaker www.thetrendyvegan.com  On Facebook? "Like" The Trendy Vegan On Twitter? Follow @vegandthecity

Check out this weekend's top event picks for the weekend!

DJ Traction at Saloon

Friday, May 17th at 10:00pm-close at Saloon

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Check out this week's top news stories for the Upper East Side.

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       Director Baz Lurmann brings his over the top creativity to the forefront in this new version of "The Great Gatsby". It is more style than substance... but oh what style.        Leonardo DiCaprio and Cary Mulligan star as the lovelorn Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. For Mr. Lurmann's vision, they are perfectly cast. Mr. DiCaprio inhabits the role with snap and polish and a glimmer of danger. Ms. Mulligan brings a luminescence and vulnerability to Daisy. Through Mr. Lurmann's lens, every scene they are in together elevates their very presence. Co-starring in this lavish production is Toby Maguire as Nick Carraway and Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan. Mr. Maguire is miscast as Nick. His goofy grin and wide eyed response to everything going on around him becomes increasingly annoying as the film goes on. His purpose as narrator would have been better served had he stayed off camera throughout. Mr Edgerton, on the other hand, is well cast as Tom and brings a strong and menacing aura to the role. Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke have the small but pivotal roles as Myrtle and George Wilson.  The fashions, party scenes, and every excess of the period is heightened and unfortunately, lost in this vision is the story. Every nuance of the novel that has been dissected and examined in English classes through the years is lost in the visual excess. As with all of Mr. Lurmann's films, you will be swept away by his visual style, strengthened by the chemistry between Mr. DiCaprio and Ms. Mulligan. But to understand what makes this a story for the ages, read the novel.

Check out this week's top event picks for the Upper East Side.  Happy Mother's Day to our UES moms!

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We're excited to announce the opening of our newest cafe at AOL/Huffington Post Media Group in NYC! The cafe is open to all employees (and their guests) of AOL/Huffington Post Media Group, and offers many of the staples offered at our flagship store on Lexington Ave.

Check out this week's top news stories for the Upper East Side.

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      This new Indie drama starring Matthew McConaughey (in a low key performance) is a kind of modern day "Huck Finn". Beside Mr. McConaughey in the title role, the film features a stellar cast including Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Ray McKinnon, Sam Shepard, Paul Sparks and Reese Witherspoon. There is even a cameo from Joe Don Baker.       While the film is filled with big stars from the Indie film world, two of it's biggest stars are a a pair of young teenage boys, Ty Sheridan as Ellis and Jacob Lofland as Neckbone. It is Ellis and Neckbone that discover Mud hiding out on a small Island on the Mississippi River. Mud, we come to find out is a wanted man trying to reunite with his girlfriend. Ellis is a hopeless romantic and Jacob is a realist but both take a liking to Mud and want to help him for their own reasons.        It's an original story that meanders its way like the river where it takes place. There are triumphs and disappointments along the way. The acting is first rate but it's Mr. Sheridan in particular that really stands out. He has a long career ahead of him. Mr. McConaughey continues to shine in off kilter roles (see "Killer Joe").  He, along with the film itself, is filled with Southern charm.

      Thankfully better than "Iron Man 2" but no comparison to the first film in the series, this third outing is fun for the casual moviegoer but a disappointment for those well read in Iron Man mythology.       Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark aka Iron Man, along with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau and Don Cheadle all reprising their roles from the earlier films.  Mr. Favreau is also the executive producer and makes sure his character has a bit more to do in this installment.  As for the villains this time out, we have Sir Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce. Sir Kingsley plays the infamous Mandarin from the pages of Iron Man and for the purists, they will be disappointed in the character's interpretation. He is terrific as always but not in the way you would expect.       There are excessive jokes, excessive explosions, and literally excessive Iron Men. The film is overstuffed to fulfill it's blockbuster status.  It also features too much Tony Stark and not enough Iron Man.  Many will probably prefer it this way. Director Shane Black has worked with Mr. Downey before and makes the most of his humor and personality.  I would go as far as to categorize the film as a comedy with some heavy duty action sequences thrown in.        If you've seen the trailers (and how can you miss them), you pretty much know what gets blown up but there are still some surprises in store, so grab your popcorn and settle in for a decent start to the summer movie season.

Taking care of your body is so important.  Whether you love to run in Central Park, hit Soul Cycle, frequent Exhale or Equinox, lift weights...we all know the value of physical fitness.Taking care of your body from the inside is critical too - garbage in is garbage out!  The founders of Body Fuel Nutritionals (www.bodyfuelnutrionals.com) have created a perfect product to support a healthy lifestyle - CRUNCH.CRUNCH can be enjoyed as a cereal (with almond milk, coconut milk or the usual), on top of a yogurt (even frozen or non-dairy), or as a great midday snack. CRUNCH is made from only the best ingredients - packed with protein and superfoods to help truly fuel your day. Though baked, it starts with raw almonds, cashews, walnuts, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sunflower seeds and flax seeds, chia seeds and oats and is sweetened only with organic agave, dried cranberries, golden raisins and unsweetened coconut.  CRUNCH debuted at the Armory, Piers 92 & 94, and at The George Washington Food Expo in April, all to rave reviews! It is now on sale at Baked by Butterfield, Butterfield Market, and now the AOL cafe on a regular basis. Orders can be placed by emailing info@bodyfuelnutritionals.com.Body Fuel Nutritionals is on Facebook!  Written by Guest Blogger:Yonni Wattenmaker www.thetrendyvegan.com On Facebook? "Like" The Trendy Vegan On Twitter? Follow @vegandthecity

Check out this week's top event picks for the Upper East Side.  Happy spring, UES-ers!

 

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Check out this week's top news stories for the Upper East Side.

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 "Sleight of hand" master and magic historian, Ricky Jay is profiled in this new documentary by Alan Edelstein and Molly Bernstein. Not only is it a wonderful peek into the world and mind of Mr. Jay but it is a fascinating look at the magicians who influenced him.  We learn a little bit about his childhood including his desire to perform magic at the age of four.  Also his love for his grandfather, who encouraged him and introduced him to some of his early mentors. We learn about Slydini, Cardini, Dai Vernon (The Professor) as well as many more colorful characters and master magicians.    Mr. Jay does not do "stage" magic like David Copperfield or Doug Henning but rather is a master at cards and "close-up" magic. In addition to the fantastic history lesson, we are treated to many of the effects, illusions and sleight of hand that have made him famous. Through archival footage (some of it quite old), we we also get to experience some of the illusions by the masters.    There is quite a bit of video footage of Mr. Jay as well performing through the years and also interviews with fans and friends, such as David Mamet (Mr. Jay has acted in many of his films). It's a wonderful ninety minutes that I could have easily watched for ninety more. It also made me immediately want to see "The Spanish Prisoner" again. A wonderful and surprising film in it's own right.

    This new ensemble drama loosely connects individual stories of characters unable or unwilling to connect in the new millennium. Cell phones, iPads, laptops and the internet all play important characters in director Henry Alex Rubin's cautionary tale.   The film stars Jason Bateman (serious for a change), Hope Davis, Paula Patton, Alexander Skarsgard, Andrea Riseborough, Frank Grillo, Michael Nyqvist and Max Thieriot. Everyone is excellent in their roles, whether they are parents dealing with disaffected teens, a reporter who oversteps her boundaries to get a story, or a couple trying to cope with the loss of their child.  Mr. Rubin is heavy handed in making his point. The movie is filled with internet chat superimposed on the side of the screen or text messages going back and forth. Facebook pages reveal more emotion than characters can express in person.Everything going wrong in our society today is consolidated by this microcosm of disconnected people. It's a serious drama that can leave you depressed. However, there is a glimmer of hope at the end that reminds you it's not to late to change the way we live our lives in the 21st century.