I actually saw this ridiculous, mind numbing, brain cell dwindling, catastrophic hot mess that was This Is The End - the latest over the top comedic blunder from Seth Rogen and crew.

I am so much dumber after sitting through 90 minutes of that movie. Funny thing is, I am an unashamed Seth Rogen movie fan. Superbad, for instance, is an instant classic in my book. Knocked Up is one of the most hilarious pregnancy movies of the decade!

This movie is by far the dumbest thing to hit theaters all year. However, and believe me, it pains me greatly to admit this, it was funny. I laughed. A couple times.

Which is probably why it earned $33 million at the box office. What has the world come to? Which is actually the premise of the entire movie: the world has gone to sh*t, and is literally burning (hell on earth). The worthy ones are saved, while the main cast must figure out why they are still roaming the flame flickering earth.

Even for those who aren’t religious, redemption was possible. Not a bad message, actually.

What I Loved: All of the actors played their real selves. James Franco killed, as himself!

What I Hated: The sexual nuances were overkill, and the jokes became stale.

Worst Part: The gory, explicit deaths

Best Part: The final scene, which showcased my all time pre-teen addiction, The Backstreet Boys. It was also the best part because, well, it was over.

If you desire an instant escape from real life while you effortlessly laugh at the stupidest things without regret, this is the movie for you!

Enjoy.

Related articles

• This is the End (or how to do ensemble comedy right) (thezeitgest.wordpress.com)
• Condoms and guns: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg on how they’ll survive the apocalypse (metronews.ca)
• Seth Rogen on reshooting ‘This Is the End’ finale (ktvb.com)

Although the drive was long, and the fog was persistent, I did manage to catch some zzzz’s to the sound of the crashing waves as I munched on homemade sandwiches and popped open a Shock Top while I indulged in Eric Jerome Dickey’s most recent novel, Decadence. I don’t know about you, but that’s my perfect day in a nutshell.

Because we left very early (11am-that’s early for a Saturday), we managed to avoid most of the weekend traffic headed to Marin. As we circled the cliffs, sliced through the fog, passed Muir Beach, Muir Woods and Mt. Tam, I started to wonder if the sand and shores were worth this journey. But as usual, once we laid down our blankets on the perfect spot and stretched under our beach umbrellas, a calm took over me and I let my cares wash away with the tide.

Recipe for a Perfect Beach Day

cooler with ice

homemade sandwiches

Capri-suns

beer (glass is prohibited)

bottled water

chips & dip (or hummus, or salsa)

freshly sliced fruit

flip-flops (anything else will get sandy)

bathing suit (just in case)

sunblock (or suntan depending on your complexion)

music (ipod/radio/speakers)

blanket

beach towel

beach umbrella

folding chair

kite

Frisbee

a good book

*good friends and family to share in the experience with you!

*a good attitude, patience, gratitude for all things beautiful in nature!

*full tank of gas for the windy cliffs and steep drive

A Day at the Beach

Stinson Beach

Marin County, California

As you can see, the fog rolled in, but not before we had a great day at the beach!

Related articles

• Weekend Edition: Mt. Tamalpais (thebayarean.com)
• Favorite Reading Spots in SF (theleiterside.com)
• Stinson Beach (karlaturner.wordpress.com)
• Beach Day (cometococo.com)

One word:

LOL

Seriously, I laughed out loud the entire movie, along with about 95% of fellow movie-goers. The other 5% were either catching their breath from the last punchline, sneaking a text message, or passionately making out with their significant other, RIGHT NEXT TO ME. Yes, making out in the movies is apparently still a ‘thing’.

Last night, at Shattuck Cinema in Berkeley, I had the pleasure of attending a sneak preview of The Heat, starring America’s sweetheart Sandra Bullock and hilariously popular newcomer Melissa McCarthy of Bridesmaids fame. I admit, I’d seen one or two previews prior to this screening, and was far from impressed for what was to come. The commercials did NOT do the movie justice; it was cheeky funny, offensively comical, smartly written, and bursting with chemistry between the two leading ladies. They both clearly had a blast making this film, and it showed.

SB (Sandra Bullock) has perfected her performance as an uptight, slightly masculine, unpopular but still likable character (i.e. The Proposal,  Miss Congeniality). As a talented, versatile actress known for her more serious dramas (The Blind Side, A Time to Kill), I’m a huge fan of SB and love when she opts for something silly (The Proposal, for instance). And silly this movie was, indeed.

Melissa McCarthy was brilliantly entertaining as a rough-edged, violent, swearing, bedraggled, tough cop laying down the law in Boston. She is brash, comical, unruly and efficient in her efforts to bring down a drug lord alongside Sandra Bullock as a pristine FBI Agent who lacks rudimentary social skills. Together, the talented twosome engage in shenanigan after shenanigan and bring the heat to the streets in a manner that will have you doubled over in giggles by the first opening scene.

I won’t spoil it, because I urge you to shine some light in your life and indulge in some laughter. Movies these days take themselves too serious, and I am more than tired of sitting in a theater for 3 hours and walking out without a clue of what just happened.

This movie is a treat indeed, and although Sandra Bullock is known to hold her own, she may have been outshined for the first time.

The Heat opens up June 28th, in a theater near you.

Now our bank accounts on the other hand…..If you’re like me and an active member of the recession, summer trips and vacations seems slightly unrealistic this year, and that alone can be depressing. However, I’m committed to a life of optimism, and so I see a silver lining in every cloud, even this one.

What is a better time, than when our budgets are bare minimum, to put on our adventure hats and invest in a staycation! There is so much local fun and activity at your fingertips, it’s hard to choose where to go. So before we start our summer bucket list, I’ve provided a guide to assist you:

Staycation 101: Beating the Budget Blues

1. Do google every single local newspaper, entertainment site, blog, facebook page, twitter feed and radio station for free events. Longer days = longer nights filled with movies in the park, night tours, museum events, etc.

2. Do take advantage of pristine sunny days and get your nature on! I’ve been known to hike Mt. Tam and Twin Peaks, but there are tons of state parks that offer breathtaking views, sparkling shores and beginner trails for gratis – get on out there!

3. Do skip the pricey festivals, raucous concerts and trendy crowds, that’s been done before. Instead, languidly lay on the grass of your local parks that offer free music and are mostly byob and picnic-friendly.

4. Don’t feel the need to keep up with the Joneses. Comparing yourself to others elicits a case of envy, and you’re too smart for that. While your friends plan to backpack through Europe, you’ll be maxin and relaxin while sippin ‘ritas next to the pool. No need to translate that!

5. Don’t go broke on a summer wardrobe. Styles return summer after summer, and the cool rolls in around 6pm anyhow. Swap your threads at a local used clothing store or dust off your bin full of tank tops. Recycle, reuse, reduce!

6. Do partake in holidays. Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and the slew of summer birthday parties are a great time to party hard, usually for free.

7. Do barbeque whenever possible. Monday blues got you down? Light up some charcoal as you reminisce about the weekend. Friday happy hour getting old? Grill some veggies and partner them with a Shock Top Honey Applecrisp beer. Yum!

8. Do explore your local tourist attractions. Don’t act like you’re too good to be seen amongst the fannypacks and visors. Places like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Half Moon Bay, San Jose’s Great America and SF’s Pier 39 offer fun activities and affordable accommodations that will revamp your appreciation for all that is local.

9. Do date, as much as possible. If you’re single, say yes to that guy that’s always asking. Or ask out that girl you’ve been silently stalking. In a relationship? Avoid the typical candlelit dinners and enjoy tapas at happy hour, or wake up early for brunch. Not interested in dating? Grab a gal pal and make it a ladies night, or gather the bros and hit up a brewery.

10. Do engage in at least one tasting. Wine tasting, beer gardens, chocolate sampling…..summer weather sets the perfect backdrop for a tasting of your favorite vice. Me personally, I’m planning on at least 2 more wine tastings!

Check back soon for Part II of Staycation 101: Beating the Budget Blues

Toast

24th Street, Noe Valley

San Francisco

What is Toast: Toast is a breakfast, burgers eatery. There are 2 locations in SF, with the other smack dab in the middle of the Castro on Church St.

When to go: Saturday AM, surprisingly. The wait isn’t too long, and it’s refreshing to sit along the windows to people watch. Noe Valley is a whole lot more interesting on the weekend, believe me. Weekdays=strollerville

Where to sit: On a sunny and clear San Francisco day, I’d opt for a corner window seat. Although there are small tables outside, the foot traffic has the ability to interrupt an otherwise good meal.

What I ate: Wet Veggie Burrito (scrambled eggs, black beans, avo, salsa, sour cream, cheese, topped with ranchero sauce). Mmmm mmmm it was good! No meat necessary.

What I drank: Iced chai tea, which was more enjoyable than many other iced chais I’ve sampled. Perf!

What I liked: Toast is a simple, clean space with ample seating (for San Francisco) with friendly staff and speedy service.

What I didn’t like: Parking, but there’s nothing new about that in Frisco!

What to know: Toast is nestled amongst the many shops and businesses on 24th Street. What this means is that there is a ton of temptation before you sit down for your meal. Two of my fave clothing boutiques, Sway and Ambiance, are merely doors down from Toast, so as you can imagine, it took sheer willpower and a grumbling stomach to resist shopping.

Who to go with: I enjoyed brunch with my father and sister, and we had a blast. This spot speaks casual, laid back and frill-less, so I’d come again to converse with one of my friends, hang out with my honey, or catch up with an acquaintance; all of the above would be a good fit.

The food is good: really tasty and generous in portion, and better yet, the price is right! My wet burrito (which I left to my dad to finish) was a steal at $10 and came with hash browns. Most items on the menu are super affordable and well worth their price.

If you’re ever in the neighborhood, I’d urge you to try it. There’s nothing like a good brunch to kick your weekend into full gear.

With temps expecting to soar into the 80s and 90s, this weekend will be perfect for exploring the outdoors, and sitting under a winding redwood tree shooting the breeze doesn’t sound half bad. Not a hiker? Me either. As I unashamedly admitted during my trek to Twin Peaks mountaintop, I am no outdoorsman-woman. I do, however, have a strong affinity for nature, flowers, tall trees, rocks, beaches, rivers, and most importantly, breathtaking views. Luckily, I live in a metropolitan that offers all of the above, and makes it almost effortless to access such places. While Muir Woods is still on my list of summer plans, I decided on an impromptu trip to Mount Tamalpais a few weekends ago, and was utterly shocked by the simple beauty I found at the top. Before hiking to the top, we took a path though the woods opposite the mountaintop, and climbed over fallen tree trunks, hopped over trickling streams, and breathed in the refreshing sounds of nature. It was warm, but the trees provided a soft solace of shade, and although my heart rate climbed with the gradual increase in incline, the path wasn’t too treacherous, and provided a good workout for out-of-shape me. I tell you this, the windy drive and intimidating cliffs were well worth it. It was one of those days that I will look back on and say, that was a good day.

So, as always, I urge you to shut off the tv, pack away the phone, unplug the ipod, and try a trail. You won’t regret it. When, if ever, will you do such a thing. I mean, have an adventure already!

Mount Tamalpais, Marin County

With my 3 day weekend just hours away, my mind is already focused on my weekend plans. Tomorrow, for the first time since high school, I will once again return to my local amusement park and brave the drops, swings, curves and loops of rollercoasters. But instead of contemplating which ride to get in line for first, my initial thought is, what to wear? Ahhh how times change.

I’m not too pressed about donning heels or dresses at amusements parks, but hey, I at least want to be cute for the photo ops. Cute AND comfortable, that is. I’m the most uninspired person when it comes to fashion and style, so it takes effort on my part to at least attempt to put together a “look.” So what to wear? First, I searched the only way how, Google! And some great options arose:

Tips from our beautiful celeb role models over at Fashion Bomb Daily

A cute ensemble from Real Girl Glam

Uptown Urban provided me with a variety of options and a hairstyle

And after reading all of the above, of course, I was inspired to dream up a look of my own:

What do you think? Which look would you choose?

Fans of hip-hop and r&b may be familiar with the whole “hyphy” movement, but that’s not the only sound making waves in the bay. There are real lyricists, soul singers and writers who are bred here, and I love nothing more than discovering a new artist, with real talent and meaningful lyrics, to supply an alternative to the hyphy beats that often saturate our radio stations (no offense kmel-I still tune in for my daily dose of throwback Keak da Sneak or Mac Dre).

So take a moment, turn off your ipod, remove your earbuds, sign out of Pandora and check out a different type of Bay Area artist, songwriter and rapper Dane Dee. His sound isn’t one constricted to 808s and autotune, but instead provides a fresh take on hip hop and rap.

Apart from his music, Dane also happens to be pretty spiffy with the threads. He can most often be seen rockin the latest statement tees, camo cargos, hi-top tennies, statement beanies, and of course, masculine yet stylish accessories. And of course, he’s connected. Follow him on Instagram, tweet him Twitter or check out posts of his music on Facebook. For those simply interested in hearing his songs, he has an entire youtube channel here. For your pleasure, scroll below for the ever stylish, charismatic and talented, Dane Dee.

Connect with him on Facebook   or

Check out his latest music on ReverbNation

]]> http://thebayarean.com/2013/05/23/artist-spotlight-dane-dee/feed/ 0 DaneCollage thebayarean DaneCollage http://thebayarean.com/2013/05/22/recipe-wednesday-sundried-tomato-spinach-pasta/ http://thebayarean.com/2013/05/22/recipe-wednesday-sundried-tomato-spinach-pasta/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 19:45:16 +0000 thebayarean http://thebayarean.com/?p=1756 Continue reading »]]> It’s Wednesday, it’s Wednesdaaaaaaay. Halfway to a much-needed, well-deserved, viciously-desired 3 day weekend. Hallelujah! While Memorial Day is reason enough to celebrate, I’ve also recently completed a successful 1 year at my job, with a great annual review now under my belt. Hurray! Therefore, this is cause for additional celebratory actions, and I must concede with my roommate’s request to throw another shindig at our casa. If you missed the action from the BBQ and Bling post or skipped the Cinco de Mayo post, you are sorely missing out. We are slowly building a reputation as the party house.

With all this preparation and planning going on (really we haven’t DONE anything yet), I’ve been mostly staying out of the kitchen and saving my cooking energy for this weekend. In addition to my energy-saving behavior, the weather is too sunny and bright to be holed up in the neon-lit kitchen. I’d rather prepare a quick, healthy homemade meal, then skip outside to the porch and take in the sunset (not really, but it sounds nice, right?). This week, I have a healthy, vegetarian, filling pasta dish that is seriously easy and seriously deelish. Enjoy!

Sundried Tomato & Spinach Pasta

Ingredients

2 cups sliced mushrooms

1 can of sundried tomatoes, drained

2 cups of cooked spinach

1 bag of penne pasta, cooked al dente

3 garlic shallots, minced

2 tbsp margarine (or butter)

1 lemon slice

olive oil

fresh parmesan cheese

Preparation

Add butter to a heated pan, using enough to cover the bottom of the pan

Sautee the mushrooms and minced garlic on medium-low heat until translucent

Add in the sundried tomatoes and spinach, mixing all of the vegetables together. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes

Add spinach mixture to pot with penne pasta

Toss with olive oil and 1 squeeze of lemon, making sure the vegetables are spread evenly with the pasta

Season with salt and pepper to taste

Sprinkle fresh parmesan cheese on top (optional)

Serve and enjoy!

Since I’m a self-proclaimed foodie, or at least an aspiring one, I’d like to start off talking about one of my favorite subjects, amazingly delicious food! While you can catch my kitchen experimentation every week on Recipe Wednesdays, I am also no stranger to the local restaurant scene. Sure, in my younger days I would settle for Applebee’s and Red Lobster, but since moving to San Francisco and experiencing REAL restaurant establishments (House of Prime Rib!), I’ve definitively morphed into a food snob. Yes, I said it. Don’t invite me to Olive Garden, I refuse to spend money on imitation Italian. I’m joking, I still get excited about Red Lobster biscuits and the BLT at Red Robin, but my point is, you’ll know an authentic restaurant when you eat at one. For 4 glorious years, I traipsed from ‘hood to ‘hood in the city, trying as many delectable dinners as my poor grad student bank account would allow. And when that failed, I enlisted my very own city tour guide (ex-boyfriend) to show me the ropes. There are so many hidden gems in the city and in the Bay Area period. Today, in prep for a weekend of golden weather, I’ll share with you one of my ultimate faves found across the golden gate.

The Front Porch

Found in the outer Mission District, tucked behind a Safeway, The Front Porch is everything I dreamed in a well-kept secret spot: Southern food prepared tastefully and comfortably as a meal on the front porch, low sultry lighting, small intimate environment, and flavors you can get lost in. The theme of this treasure is consistently executed, as portrayed across the condiments, beverage containers, dishes and menu.

What we ate

spicy crab and grits (the best item on the menu, by far)

fried okra (supremely succulent appetizer-loved the aioli sauce that accompanied it)

fried chicken with garlic mashers & collard greens with bacon (the S.O. enjoyed it, but seemed to prefer my plate! Check out the popcorn adorning his platter-we especially loved that extra touch)

What we drank

front porch fresh bottled water (gotta love the San Franciscan-themed language. City life is so unrefined and honest, which I strongly desire).

What we liked best

the endless menu of savory food and drinks made it hard to decide what to order.

the ruby, lush, low lighting created an intimate atmosphere, perfect for feeling lost and hidden in the big city, and even more perfect for the occasion-the S.O.’s birthday celebration.

What we liked least

Nothing! Parking was free and ample, traffic was clear and flowing, and the staff were amazing, not at all snobbish or disinterested like some servers in San Francisco hotspots. Even the owner came over to ask us how our food was. A great celebration all around.

When to go

When the sun is setting and the city winds down, traffic is nonexistent, making this an ideal time of day to head into the city. The S.O.’s birthday was a Monday, which made the trip into the city that much more carefree. 2 words: No traffic!!!

Have a great weekend Bay Area!!!