The Great Minnesota Get Together

While there are many reasons to attend the State Fair in Minnesota (crafts, concerts, animals, etc) my primary reason for going is the copious amounts of delicious-bad-for-you food. My must-have food this year is the Dough-Sant from French Meadow Bakery. Coupled with a glass of their Rose Tea Lemonade, it was the perfect Fair find. Here's the scoop on the damage I did this year.

Poutine - A dish found in our neighbor to the north, Canada

These are no ordinary mini donuts - they're the best!

A Fair favorite - the Pronto Pup

Nothing says MN (or the midwest) like deep fried cheese curds

Blarney Beans, aka Deep Fried Green Beans

The only healthy thing I ate - roasted corn - slathered in butter!

My absolute fave this year - the Dough-sant from French Meadow

Not pictured: Twist (vanilla and chocolate) ice cream cone from the Dairy building.

Yes. Yes. It was a full day of eating and I didn't eat for the rest of the day - no joke! You will never be disappointed with what you find at the Great Minnesota Get Together!

Book Review: The Leaving of Things

The Leaving of Things by Jay Antani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-written novel that transported me to India and back to the 1980's. Not only did I enjoy the characters and the story itself, but I also appreciated and greatly enjoyed reminiscing about the 80's - VHS, cassette tapes, etc. Antani keeps the reader thoroughly engaged in the lives of all the characters he writes about whether it was through letters from friends in WI, interactions with new friends in India, and of course, through Vikram, the main character, as he goes through his journey as a kid from WI to a young man adjusting and figuring out life in India.

This is a solid, beautiful story told with words that have a lyrical quality making it a quick and enjoyable read. It's a worthy read for people of all ages and backgrounds. Highly recommend!Jay Antani

View all my reviews

Despicable Me 2 - Don't Delay and Go See It!

Lucky me! I was able to attend an early screening of Despicable Me 2 in 3D this past Saturday, but haven't had a chance to do a quick write-up. In short, it's a movie you should go and see. It's great fun for people of all ages. I went with my husband and daughter who is 6 years old. She was already a fan and brought along her Edith doll. If you enjoyed the first Despicable Me, you'll definitely enjoy this one. Throughout the movie there was a lot of laughter thanks to the fun-loving, goofy Minions. They really do steal the show! I will mention that it is a little scary, so if you have a little one who is easily scared, you may want to delay taking him or her. Or, just have them shut their eyes. I don't know if 3D was absolutely necessary, but the short at the end of the movie was worth it to see in 3D. This was exemplified by the many kids who were reaching out trying to touch and catch things that looked as if they really were coming out of the screen.

Bottom line: It's a must-see movie for both young and old and I'd recommend getting it on DVD/Blu-ray when it becomes available. It's a great one for your movie collection, especially if you have young kids.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

World War Z - A Must See!

I was fortunate and got to see a screening of World War Z before it opens in theaters tomorrow. I would highly recommend going to the theater to see this one! Not only is Brad Pitt a convincing hero out to save his family and the world, but the cinematic experience will not disappoint. I saw the movie in 3D and it did enhance the movie, but if you're looking to save money, I don't think it'll lessen your experience to skip the 3D movie prices. This was a nail-biting, suspenseful thriller with zombies who weren't over-the-top horrific, but convincingly scary, creepy and threatening. The movie kept me wanting more even though I don't know if my heart could take anymore of the intensity and stress. I wouldn't mind seeing a prequel or a sequel to this movie. There seems to be plenty of content and back story to do either. (I've never read the books, but heard it could easily be broken apart to create three movies - aha! Another trilogy.) The broad, panoramic shots of the abundance of zombies on the attack were amazing and deserve to be seen in all its glory on the big screen. Did I mention that Brad Pitt also look fantastic on the big screen and in 3D?!

Bottom line: If you enjoy being taken for a ride during your movie-going experience and love the thrill of suspense, then you need to go see this movie in the theater to get the full effect. It's a movie I wouldn't mind seeing again.

Rating: 5 start (out of 5)

Man of Steel

Man of Steel was a highly anticipated summer blockbuster and while I think it deserves 'blockbuster' status, it fell a bit flat for me. The movie was certainly packed with action and was a creative take on the superhero we all love. However, I must admit that I left the theater a bit deflated after checking my phone for the time at least a couple of times throughout the movie. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I got. I understand that Man of Steel was not intended to be a remake of the Superman we knew and loved, but I hoped the integrity of some things would've remained in tact. For example, the quirky connection and heat between Lois Lane and Superman. While Henry Cavill was very nice on the eyes and Amy Adams was a refreshing take on Lois Lane, their chemistry was, well, non-existent. It was a much, much darker movie than I was expecting. Perhaps that had something to do with my subsequent letdown. There simply was no 'joy' that audiences got with the old franchise. Despite the fighting and lurking evil, the previous Superman movies inspired a sense of hope and joy. Man of Steel was heavy and the rhythm in great cinematic storytelling was lacking. There was intense action (sometimes too long) followed by flat dialogue. While I don't trust critics' reviews, I do occasionally read them. Lisa Kennedy from the Denver Post articulated my sentiments exactly, "The chief problem here is one of the rhythm and balance in storytelling and directing. The movie swings between destructive overstatement and flat-footed homilies."

Bottom line: Man of Steel is a must-see movie. I'd recommend seeing it in the theater during a matinee, i.e. don't pay full price. The cinematography and CG effects are outstanding and deserve to be seen on the big screen with the full Dolby sound experience. 

Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

I am a big Jeremy Renner fan. Unfortunately, this wasn't my favorite Jeremy Renner movie. While Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is an interesting concept on a classic fairytale, the action and script fell just a bit short and definitely didn't showcase the talent that Renner is. There were some funny, witty lines and a few great moments of witch head decapitation and over-the-top gore, but all in all, I'd say this movie is worth a matinee or DVD rental. Sorry Jeremy!

There was a lot of potential for Renner and he did a brilliant job with what he was given. I would be happy to be rescued by him from a witch any day. I look forward to him continuing to be a leading action man. Gemma Arterton was wonderful as Gretel and you should keep your eyes on her. She will likely have a very promising career - a very charming gal she is! And, once again, Famke Janssen does an amazing portrayal as an evil witch. She's one of those supporting actresses that hits it out of the ballpark in all of her roles, including this one.

Jack Reacher...It's a Reach

I saw Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise back in December and am just getting a chance to write about it now. As promised, here's the short and sweet...There are some witty lines and dry humor to enjoy, but I was a bit disappointed. I usually enjoy Tom's (yes, we're on a first name basis) movies, but I could've waited for the DVD to come out. I went to this because it was a special screening event I was invited to. If I had paid for it, I might've wanted a refund. I can't really identify what it is that I didn't like...Maybe it's because the action fell short - it seemed like there was no build. Sure there were great car chase scenes and fight scenes, but none of them got my heart pumping nor motivated me to start rooting (silently) for one side or the other. I also found the storyline to be predictable, but maybe it was meant to be that way. Regardless, Tom Cruise is still one of my favorite action heroes, especially knowing that he almost always does his own stunts. You gotta respect that. Bottom line - wait for the DVD or rent it on a digital movie service like CinemaNow.