Short Films & Segway Tour

Friday night my husband Andrew and I drove to the Gateway Film Center to see the nine finalists in the annual Manhattan Shorts Film Festival. As I had picked up a flier a couple weekends ago I had had a chance to preview the films on paper. It’s funny how just reading a description of a movie and then actually seeing the movie sometimes leaves you with two different impressions. The ones I thought I would like didn’t thrill me as much once I actually saw them. Also, to the judges’ credit, I’m glad they try to choose an assortment of themes so they’re not all comedies or tragedies, though, quite honestly, most are rather dramatic, but that’s probably the nature of the beast when making a short film or writing a short story. I’m really more of a fan of the comedies, but can appreciate the amount of emotion and depth that goes into the more serious stories (this year it was domestic violence, rape, and death).

Gold star to all the movie goers who attended on opening night. I’ve rarely seen a theatre so full, and though I honestly prefer more intimate screenings, it was nice to see the public supporting independent films.

Also, for the first time ever, Andrew and I actually chose the same film for our Best Movie choice, that being an 18 minute Austrian film called “Lacrimosa.” The movie was beautifully done and you could tell the filmmakers put a lot of technical work into it, not to mention all the under-water scenes.

An honorable mention should also go to “Fire in Cardboard City.” It was super cute and funny and I loved the unpredictable ending! Though I doubt very much it will win the big prize, I’m glad it made it into the top nine, so that’s saying something.

Sunday morning Andrew and I did something we’ve never done before and probably would never do if we hadn’t had a gift voucher for it, which was to do a Segway Tour of Columbus. As long-time (14 years now) residents of Columbus, there’s very few parts of Columbus we’re not already familiar with, and we’ve already done a walking tour of downtown Columbus, so today was all about trying out a Segway for the first time.

We were one of the few who had never before ridden one, so we were kind of Segway virgins. I’m forever grateful that our instructor, David, took the time to make sure we got acclimated and comfortable with it before taking us out onto the sidewalks of Columbus. Yes, Segways are allowed on both streets and sidewalks.

I have to admit I had my reservations, feeling like the biggest hypocrite after poking fun at others I’ve seen on them. Yes, you do look silly, and it made me feel like the laziest American. However, having injured (a stress fracture) my left foot on vacation and not being allowed to run or do excessive walking at the moment, riding a Segway felt somewhat justified.

I agree with Andrew that it does feel a bit like ice skating in that however you shift your weight is how you will move on the ice, or in this case, the Segway. Once you get the hang of it, it’s really not that difficult.

You just need to be aware of what’s going on around you and make sure you allow enough stopping distance so you don’t run into whoever is in front of you.

Sunday morning is a good time to be out since it’s not that busy with traffic. Also, some of the roads were closed for a walk for Pancreatic Cancer, so we had to make sure not to run into any of the walkers in purple t-shirts. We were blessed with a gorgeous day weather-wise – sunny and not too hot first thing (temps in the 60s).

As far as where we went – we pretty much covered all the landmarks (the Statehouse, City Hall, the Ohio Theatre, etc.), Goodale Park, the Short North, saw the American Gothic & Mona Lisa murals, the Sells Mansion, etc.

FYI, there’s also a river side Segway Tour that bears some resemblance to our tour, but I believe you spend a bit more time down by the Scioto River. Also, David told us he’s going to do a December tour where he’ll take people out at night and you listen to Christmas music while he takes you around the streets of Columbus. That might be fun…

So, would I recommend the Segway tour? Absolutely! Riding a Segway makes you feel like a kid again. It’s the funnest thing I’ve done in a long time (see, I told you it makes you feel like a kid and sound like a kid too). I kind of wish I owned one, or that everyone owned one and that’s how we got around on nice weather days (though no one will get anywhere in a hurry since top speed is only 12 miles an hour).

Click here to see more photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/authorwannabe/with/44455569631/

Have a great week everyone!

Pumpkin Spice & Crazy Rich Asians

Pumpkin, Spice & Everything Nice…

Tuesday I had a cooking (& eating) class of sorts at the Chocolate Café in Grandview. The class was offered through the city of Upper Arlington and there were seven of us in attendance, which was apparently the minimum required to hold the class. 

The first item on the menu was Pumpkin Truffles, which were pre-prepared for us since they’re a little time consuming to make in an hour and a half class. We got to dip a couple in the chocolate machine (which I noticed was made in Hilliard). Apparently the Chocolate Café is one of only a few places in Ohio to have one of these machines.

Here's how it probably should have looked (one of the pretty ones)

Our next project was to make an Apple Pear Tart. We were each given a small tray with a piece of puff pastry on it. Then we chose an apple and a pear, and it was up to us whether or not we wanted to peel them. Otherwise, they needed to be cut into even-sized pieces and spread out on the puff pastry. We were then given brown sugar and cinnamon to crumble around the fruit and butter to drizzle over top. We also got a small container of honey to drizzle over it after it came out of the oven. 

Here's mine - not pretty, but still tasted good

Then the staff brought out ‘one we made earlier’ that we could sample. Of course I said Yes! when they asked whether or not I wanted ice cream on the side. 

Unfortunately we ran out of time to do Buckeyes, but I was sufficiently stuffed, so I wasn’t exactly gutted. All in all it was a really fun class. I especially enjoyed talking to the girl sitting next to me (who also worked in insurance – car insurance claims) and her friend that accompanied her.

Crazy Rich Asians…

Earlier in the week my sister texted to me to say she had just finished reading Crazy Rich Asians (written by Kevin Kwan) and wanted to know if I wanted to see the movie with her. Of course I said yes; so we arranged to meet at Movies 11 Dine-in at Mill Run. Being a Friday night and it being Happy Hour (wine $4, beer $3), I was already in a good mood going into the movie, and it certainly carried on as this is one funny, but also sentimental film. Back when the movie first came out I heard an interview with one of the cast who, of course, was quite upbeat about it saying she had seen the movie several times. The actress also mentioned “The Joy Luck Club” and how difficult it is to market a movie about Asians. They must be doing something right this time, because I believe the movie has been quite well attended grossing over $190 million dollars so far. 

Among other things, there’s a star-studded cast with well-knowns like Constance Wu (Jessica from “Fresh off the Boat”), Ken Jeong (Dr. Yap in “Bob’s Burgers”), and Nico Santos (Mateo Liwanag in “Superstore”). We all really loved the character of Peik Lin Goh (played by Awkwafina), described by her family as “an Asian Ellen” who was a college friend of Rachel. She is responsible for most of the comic relief in the movie (along with Nico Santos who played Oliver).

The movie is set in Singapore (the venue for the Young family wedding), which my husband, Andrew found interesting having once visited there on business in 1999. He said it appears to have changed quite a lot judging from all the new buildings glimpsed during the movie.

Now all that’s left to do is read the book and see how they compare!

Movie & Concert

Last Sunday my husband Andrew and I went to a matinee showing of the recently released movie, “The Bookshop” starring Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy, and Patricia Clarkson. I’m always a sucker for any movie with ‘Book’ in the title (unless it’s about Bookies/Bookmakers, which is a whole other thing). The movie is based on the novel by Penelope Fitzgerald (which I’ve purchased, but haven’t yet read). It reminded me a little of the book/movie, “Chocolat” (based on the novel by Joanne Harris) in that the mayor didn’t exactly welcome Vianne’s new chocolate shop with open arms (though the fact that she opened during Lent probably didn’t help matters).

 

In “The Bookshop” it’s not the mayor that isn’t happy, but rather the town’s wealthy matriarch (for lack of a better word), Violet Gamart (Patricia Clarkson does an excellent British accent). Mrs. Gamart, it seems, would rather the building the bookshop occupies be used instead for an arts center. It’s not entirely clear why the arts centre has to absolutely be in that building when there are several other dwellings available for rent/sale. One can only assume that Ms. Gamart doesn’t like the bookshop’s proprietor, Ms. Florence Green and just wants to make her life difficult. One also wonders whether Gamart would be happy if Ms. Green did move her bookshop to a different location, or whether Gamart would find another bone to pick with her. Perhaps these questions are better answered in the book, as quite a few of the movie reviews say the cinematic adaptation only skims the surface of the novel.

Though the story isn’t the most cheerful of tales and doesn’t really have a very happy ending, it’s worth seeing just for the casting of Bill Nighy as the town’s curmudgeon and recluse who orders books (through the mail) from the bookshop and then writes witty replies expressing his feelings for the books Ms. Green has selected for him (he’s particularly a fan of Ray Bradbury & the newly published Lolita). I also enjoyed the scene where Florence visits him in his cold, drafty castle (at least that’s what I’d call a house of that scale and age) for tea, cakes, and a little bit of town gossip.

If you’re a fan of books/reading or an Anglophile, you should appreciate this movie.

Last week my husband Andrew and I had the privilege of attending the second concert this year being given by one of our favorite folk artists, Lucy Wainwright Roche. We had previously seen her back in February at a Six String concert where she opened for folk artist, Lucy Kaplansky. This time Ms. Wainwright Roche was going solo where she played for the pizza-loving audience at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza in nearby Worthington. Besides loving the music and witty banter between songs (most of the stories which we heard at her February performance), it reminded me somewhat of the jazz/blues concerts I sometimes attended at the Rathskeller in my student days at Kent State University. It was also nice going out on a work night and still getting home earlier enough that I didn’t feel sleep deprived the next day.

  

Vintage Market Day, Hilliard, Autumn Edition

As you may recall, I attended my first Vintage Market Day back in the spring on a lovely sunny day. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t quite so good this time around when my sister and I attended together. It seemed the April showers held off until September and came back with a vengeance. In fact, the Old Hilliardfest Street Fair that was scheduled for Saturday was canceled due to impending rain. Luckily the Vintage Market Day is held rain or shine as some vendors are indoors and some outdoors (in covered tents).

I felt sorry for the outside vendors as we quickly skimmed just a few booths before heading inside the main building where it was dry and warm. For those not familiar with the concept of Vintage Market Day, it’s basically a flea market containing pickers and antique collectors selling their wares. If you like shabby chic, seasonal décor, or just antiques of various kinds, then this is the market for you.

Because it’s nearly autumn (technically not until September 21^st), that theme was reflected in the home décor for sale with nearly every vendor selling pumpkins or some other autumnal item. It was the (homemade) pumpkins that attracted me.

The pumpkins came in a myriad of sizes, colors, and materials (and prices). I bought five that I intend to decorate our living room mantel with. I also bought a pretty ceramic multi-colored one that I haven’t yet decided where to place.

The cutest and most practical item I bought was a pencil sharpener shaped like an old-timey phone. 

It’s difficult to even tell that it’s a pencil sharpener, but the vendor removed the lid to show me its insides and where to insert the pencil.

The only other item I bought was a poster designed to look like an advertisement for an antique camera, though my husband and I doubt this camera actually exists. Still, it was pretty inexpensive and I found the perfect place to hang it (on my closet door), and was glad to get it home without it getting wet.