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Review: Super Mercado De Guanajuato

Oh how I love Chicken Enchiladas with green sauce from an AUTHENTIC Mexican restaurant, and who would ever believe that I found such an establishment in Ionia, Michigan of all places?  Enter Super Mercado De Guanajuato on Main Street and step into a little Mexican grocery store.  Mexican DVDs on display, a Spanish soap opera on the television, those little packages of gum the kids try to sell you when you cross the border, corn tortillas wrapped in paper, it's like you are THERE.

I had driven by this place several times and never stopped.  One day, being particularly hungry for some good Mexican food, I noticed the sign had "tacos" on it and thought how tacos aren't the kind of thing you normally find in a grocery store.  I stopped in and inquired, in my most convincing Spanish accent, "Hola Senor, que est de word 'tacos' ona tu sign?  Dos tu serva de lunch ora justa groceries?"  Pointing to the rear of the store he said, "de restaurante in back".

Movie Review: The Illusionist

Tonight I went to see The Illusionist staring Edward Norton (Fight Club) and Jessica Biel.  GREAT movie.  It's a little dark, mysterious, almost creepy.  I really enjoyed it.  The setting, characters, and plot were all excellent.  I was really into the story and it seemed like it was going to have a ho-hum ending, and then it all came together at once to complete the story with the happy ending spin to boot.  Go see it.

Voyages Deli and Coffee Shop

Yesterday afternoon I headed over to Voyages Deli and Coffee Shop in Lowell to grab lunch and get some light work done.  I had Z and E with me and they kept themselves entertained with the Nintendo DS and some books.

I've only come here to work a couple of times, but it's moving up on my list of afternoon work destinations because of their delicious sandwiches and espresso.  The chocolate cream cheese muffins are pretty good, too!  It's a decent place to work during the day.. not too busy and the music isn't too loud.  They have wireless internet, but that's actually a bit of a pain because it's not "open".  You have to ask for a username and password to login, and then it expires after an hour or two, so then you have to ask for a new login.  It's a pain to have to ask the first time and a double pain to ask again.  They should just make it open.. I can't imagine they have that many people expecting to come in there and just use the wireless without at least buying a coffee.

Movie Review: Little Miss Sunshine

If you had asked me for an opinion of Little Miss Sunshine halfway through the movie, I would have told you it is interesting and humorous, but nothing to jump up and down about.  Towards the end of the movie Olive (the little girl, played by Abigail Breslin) finally makes it to the Little Miss Sunshine competition (reaffirming my opinion that I never want my girls involved in one of those) and gets on stage to do her dance routine.. to the music of SuperFreak by Rick James.  Oh.  My.  That was SOOOOO funny.  Seriously.  My ribs ached I laughed so hard.

Thinking back about the movie, it seems much funnier now taken as a whole.  I think it must have taken me a while to loosen up because I had not gone to the theater to see a comedy.. the plan was to see The Descent, which definitely does not look to be a comedy.  Recommended.

Movie Review: You, Me and Dupree

Owen Wilson is a hoot, and it doesn't hurt that he has the funniest looking nose in Hollywood, too.  I can't look at Matt Dillon without picturing him with those capped teeth in There's Something About Mary (hilarious).

You, Me and Dupree is a comedy about this guy who is down on his luck and moves in with his newlywed best friend.  They didn't show all the laughs in the previews, but you saw most of them.  It really was pretty funny, but the movie seemed to have two plots going.  The first half of the movie is about all the reasons you wouldn't want Owen Wilson moving into your house, the second half is about the new improved Owen Wilson being not so bad after all and helping his newlywed landlords repair their marriage.  The first half is funny, the second half is a little weak.  The movie felt like it was about 30 minutes too long, and it was only 108 minutes.

So there you go.  It was a funny movie and worth seeing if you just really like Owen Wilson, Matt Dillon, or Kate Hudson.

Review: Kava House

Today I'm working from Kava House in East Grand Rapids, a comfortable little hang out place on the corner of Lake and Genesee.  I'm betting this location was a gas station a long time ago.  It's got a huge covered area in front with lots of patio furniture and good shade.  It's cool enough sitting out here drinking an iced vanilla latte even though it's a hot day.

No sandwiches, so it's just bagels and soup if you come here for lunch, but do come for the espresso and to hang out in a patio chair and enjoy the breeze.  They close kinda early (for me) at 10pm, and I've only gotten to come here once in the evening.. but it's such a nice place to sit and talk outside.  Strong wireless signal, too.  Recommended.

Movie Review: My Super Ex-Girlfriend

My Super Ex-Girlfriend stars Uma Thurman as G-Girl, a superhero with emotional issues, and her non-super love interest, Luke Wilson.  It's not a female superman movie, so don't think of taking the kids to see it.  I enjoyed the movie and found most of it to be pretty funny, and some parts to be rather crude.  Overall I'd recommend it as a light hearted romantic comedy with a superhero twist.

Movie Review: The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada was really more of a drama/chick flick than a comedy, but the performance by Anne Hathaway kept me laughing throughout.  What you see in the previews is pretty much the first five minutes of the movie and it gets better from there.

I really like Anne Hathaway.  I went to see this movie just because she is in it.  Everything I've seen her in so far has been funny, and this one was no exception.  Recommended.

Movie Review: Lady in the Water

Last night (yes, after the geek fest) I saw Lady in the Water by M. Night Shyamalan.  After only hearing bad things about this movie and what a disappointment Shyamalan's movies have become, I was curious to see for myself if all the negative reviews were justified (they were).

I've mostly liked Shyamalan's previous flicks:  The Sixth Sense was great, Unbreakable was great, Signs could have been better (why couldn't the aliens just open the door?), and I really liked The Village.  Lady in the Water had the elements of a good movie, but the way it was all put together just didn't engage me.  Mentally, I was still rooted in reality and the movie didn't take me to the place where the events unfolding were possible.

Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

M and I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest last night.  It was a good show and we enjoyed it as much as the first movie.  They really set it up for the third installment which is due sometime in 2007.  That's a good thing!

The original cast returned for an enjoyable 150 mins of adventure.  Moreso than the first movie, the sets reminded me of the Disney World ride of the same name.  I thought they did a good job developing the story--there weren't any boring parts.  The visuals were a bit scarier than the first movie, so I'm not sure we'll take the kids to see it at the theater, but it will be a good one for our DVD collection when it comes out.  Recommended.