“Dr. X” (1932, Warner Archives Collection) As I mentioned in a 2016 write-up, this absolutely out-to-lunch thriller, from “Casablanca” director Michael Curtiz, “folds cannibalism, serial murder, deranged scientific experiments, artificial flesh, and unseemly obsessions into its 76-minute running time.” The new Warner Archives Blu-ray doubles down on its previous DVD release by bundling both versions of the film – one in restored two-strip Technicolor (which lends a hallucinatory quality to the already bizarre proceedings) and another in black-and-white (and long unavailable) – with commentary tracks by historian Scott MacQueen (who covers the film’s production) and Curtiz biographer Alan K. Rode. A lengthy featurette on Curtiz’s horror output (which included 1933’s “The Mystery of the Wax Museum,” another two-strip chiller for Warner that featured “X” stars Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, and 1936’s “The Walking Dead,” with Boris Karloff) and a brief look at the film’s restoration for Blu-ray are also included.
Thank you to Warner Archives Collection for providing a free Blu-ray for this review.
Treefort is Back! Boise’, and the Pacific North West’s most popular event has returned after the unplanned ‘hiatus’ that was called 2020. All the top ‘Forts’ will be there, including Foodfort, Alefort, Comedyfort, Kidfort, Hackfort, Filmfort, Dragfort, Yogafortand Storyfort. With over 400 bands, the music will really be turned up; and there is bound to be something to please everyone. The headliners this year at Treefort Music Festinclude Japanese Breakfast, The Marias, Lake Street Dive, Calexico and Dawn Richard. Treefort Music Fest will run September 22-26, 2021.
For those who have never experienced the Treefort Music Fest—because it is not just a music festival, it is an all-encompassing experience—Treefort and its allied Forts take over a big swath of Downtown Boise. Venues run everywhere through downtown, from the Boise Centre, the El Korah Shrine Music Stage, Olympic Venue, Idaho State Museum and the massive Main Stage music area; to 10th Street Station, Pengilly’s Saloon (with their 113-year old Brunswick Bar), the Neurolux, The Funky Taco, Guru Donuts and the Mad Swede Brew Hall.
Update August 11: Treefort has updated their COVID-19 protocols for entrance to all events: Please read about the new requirements for entry to Treefort here
The delights of summer and the transformative power of the season are explored in “Summer Movies: 30 Sun-Drenched Classics.” Authored by John Malahy, this new book is part of an ongoing partnership between Turner Classic Movies and Running Hen Press.
There’s more to this book than first meets the eye. Initially drawn to cover images of Sandra Dee from “Gidget” and Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello in “Beach Blanket Bingo,” you see a cover that appears pretty wholesome until you notice the gaping maw of the great white shark from “Jaws.” The inclusion of films by Ingmar Bergman (“Smiles of a Summer Night”), James Ivory (“A Room with a View”), and Alfred Hitchcock (“Rear Window”) shows that this book is about much more than teenage romps on the beach.
You’ll encounter films focused on self-discovery, finding love, familial joys and tensions, social strife, coming of age, crime, ennui, and more, with loads of interesting facts about such classics as “The Parent Trap,” “Do the Right Thing,” “The Graduate,” “Caddyshack,” “The Seven Year Itch,” “Before Sunrise,” “The Music Man,” “The Endless Summer,” and more.
Discover why these films remain significant, even decades after their release. You’ll find plenty of film-watching inspiration here: each selection is paired with a suggestion for a lesser-known film with a related theme, making for some great double features.
“A Quiet Place II” (2021, Paramount Home Video) Inevitable sequel to John Krasinski’s well-made 2018 creature feature is more of the same in regard to plot, but also delivers a similar degree of tightly ratcheted tension as its predecessor. Emily Blunt is the nominal star of the film, but much of the heavy lifting is done by Milicent Simonds and Noah Jupe as her children, who are put into harm’s way at every time by the movie’s fiendish alien invaders, as well as a host of untrustworthy human survivors, including such dependable players as Cillian Murphy (a post-apocalypse vet after “28 Days Later”), Djimon Hounsou, and Scoot McNairy. Krasinski’s plot mechanics will be well-worn to anyone who’s sat through the last half-century of alien invasion/end of the world movies, but his trump cards – the unique sensory wrinkles of the creatures’ biology, and his talent for set pieces that anchor on slow-boiling tension – remain the picture’s chief selling point (the film’s flashback opening shows that he’s adept at full-scale mayhem, too). Paramount’s Blu-ray bundles both “Quiet Place” films with a digital copy and a handful of making-of featurettes for both titles.
National Oyster Day is August 5, and some of Southern California’s favorite restaurants are offering oyster specials in honor of the day. Specials or not, see the list below for some worthwhile places to slurp down the deliciously briny bivalves.
Though Carlsbad is a bit of a drive, Southern California’s only oyster farm is worth it. Located in North San Diego County, Carlsbad Aquafarm now offers a tour and farm discovery walk. Learn how the farming methodology here protects the lagoon’s natural ecosystem. Then, after the tour, take an oyster shucking class and enjoy generous oyster tastings. Carlsbad’s much cooler temperatures make it a nice respite on a sizzling LA day. Tours are $30 (kids under 12 are free) and run daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.
If you go to Carlsbad and want even more oysters after touring the farm, try Campfire Restaurant. Noted for its wood-fired fare and rustic-chic decor, Campfire Restaurant offers oysters that are roasted over coals, then served with salted butter, bone marrow, and pickled mushrooms.
Burbank’s Castaway restaurant offers stunning, expansive views of Downtown LA and the San Fernando Valley. A favorite for decades — particularly since its $10 million overhaul a while back — Castaway is also offering an exceptional deal for National Oyster Day. On August 5, savor a half dozen oysters with a free glass of sparkling wine for just $12! Another Valley stalwart with remarkable views, The Odyssey in Granada Hills is offering the same National Oyster Day deal: a half dozen oysters, paired with a free glass of sparkling wine, for $12.
Though food truck Mariscos Jalisco is renowned for its deep-fried shrimp tacos, the oysters are also noteworthy. Served on the half shell or in a cup, Mariscos Jalisco’s oysters are topped with shrimp or octopus, along with tomato, onion, and cilantro. Mariscos Jalisco is located at 3040 E. Olympic Blvd. in Boyle Heights.
Cliff Hanger- State Fair at Santa Anita. Photo by Nikki Kreuzer
What a crazy 16 months it has been with the rollercoaster ride of coronavirus and a long void of anything fun in 2020. The blackhole of social distance may have ebbed & flowed, but we need playtime and human stimulation to keep us from going nuts. Thank goodness for vaccines! This year the 100-year old L.A. County Fair in Pomona is once again taking a time out, its second summer hiatus. There’s always a drive down to the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, which runs through August 15th this year with some big name concert acts, but if you’re looking for a closer drive and a little more elbow room to breathe, you’re in luck this year- the debut of the State Fair is just down the road in Arcadia at Santa Anita Race Track. Continue reading →
Todo Verde Nachos. Photo credit: Lindsay Kreighbaum
Planning to see Patti Smith, Rodrigo y Gabriela, or another great show at The Ford this season? Aka The John Anson Ford Theatre, The Ford launches its 2021 season on July 30, as the Beat’s own Ted Kane wrote about recently. The Ford has just announced its new culinary partnership with Jocelyn Ramirez of Todo Verde.
One of the top vendors at Smorgasburg LA, Ramirez is known for creating flavorful, healthy plant-based dishes inspired by her Mexican and South American roots.
At Todo Verde at the Terrace, Ford attendees will be able to purchase three types of tacos: jackfruit carnitas con pipian verde, mushroom y mole, and chorizo-spiced-seared mushroom. Also available: hearts of palm ceviche; mulita (house-made cashew cheese melted between blue corn tortillas with house-made plant-based “chorizo,” cashew crema, and pickled red onion); nachos made with house-made plant-based nacho cheese and plant-based “chorizo” or jackfruit, plus cashew crema and pico de gallo; and poblano mac y cheese made with cashew queso.
Also available: black rice horchata, strawberry rose agua frescas, craft beers from Tijuana and San Diego, natural wines, and plant-based cheesecake and pudding.
