The London Bridge Experience or as I would call it "horror tour from hell" still has me messed up. Let me unbox this for you:
Whilst in London, I spent a few hours at the Tower Bridge.
Make Sure that You Get All of the Blog Posts Inspired by my #ClassyBlackGirlDoesLondon trip! ->>> READ THEM NOW!
The Tower Bridge is the "London Bridge" that you usually think of as the London Bridge. I know that now. The scenery around the Tower Bridge is beautiful, the people watching is incredible and the mayors office is located right on the Thames so I got an opportunity to mostly "man watch." Don't Judge Me. I even went to court that day...
So back to The London Bridge Experience This was Scary as H*LL!
I decided to go on this horror walking tour UNDER the London Bridge. You know the tourist trap type of establishment-I always love those! What can I say, I'm a tourist!
Man, I'm not going to ever be right again. I am a connoisseur of horror movies. I just eat horror up. I like being a little scared and curling up tightly under my sheets.
But this show was CRAZY!!....First of all lets just get it out of the way NOW...this tour is NOT for pregnant women, people with weak bladders or heart problems. I almost ran out a few times when I saw the exit sign, but I pledged....and I wasnt trying to drop or leave my friends who I started with. *forgive my college greek talk*
Why The London Bridge Experience was So Scary! You learn the gory story of the London Bridge, how and why it burned several times and why Londoners are so proud. Who knew that people actually LIVED inside of the London Bridge?... and that it was a "gated community?" These stories are told to you in fast talking riddles in great British accents. You participate fully by walking, talking, war calls against the Romans and of course with your poor heart as you encounter the enemies of the London Bridge. I even got to hold a dead turkey. You gotta see the show to understand.
Bound and Skinned!
And then it happens. They line you up, take you in a tiny cell of a room, and tell you that if you need to step out now-you can. Two people dropped....damn it was about to get scarier?
Watch My Video that I recorded right after my London Bridge Experience!
"Whut?" I contemplated leaving because I was already at my thresh hold for fear for the day, but I paid 16 damn pounds (not dollars) for this-I was in it til the END!
This wild and crazy tour only gets worse(in a good way), while it may sound corny people jumping, chain saws and gunshots had me so turned around when the show was over that it took me an hour to find the underground(The London version of a subway system)
Sweet Red Wine Reviews Classy BlackGirl in Her Blogging Dress Drinking a Zin
There are times when you do not need a pricey Malbec or a fabulous Cabernet. Your eating pizza and you just want a sweet red wine to make you smile. This means that you probably only want to spend a few bucks on a bottle of wine. And you do not need this red wine to be from a pricey vineyard. Check out my most recent Sweet Red Wine Review for a cheap chic Red!
Personally, I choose to drink my wine by type and events. For a weeknight while I am reading or Sunday with Pizza, especially if I am alone and writing, I go cheap. The only person that I have to impress is ME.
This weeks "sweet red wine reviews" discusses a simple Zinfandel varietal by wine makers Sutter Home. I know, I know. Sutter Home is not known for their pricey wine. But pricey does not always mean good! I usually spend between $8-$15 on a bottle of wine a few times a week. But that can add up!
Let me tell you about this wine, it's taste, the price and where you can get a bottle.
The Sutter Home Zinfandel is a simple wine. When I started on red wines, I started on sweet reds. The varietal(which Simply means particular grape that is used to make the wine), Zinfandel, is one of my favorite. It's an easy transition to stronger tasting sweet red wines such as a Cabernet or my fave the biting Malbec.
This wine is tasty, perfect with a very meaty or veggie pizza. It's heavy and inspires lots of smiles.
It's strong and full bodied, but very easy to consume. Here is the quick and dirty from this weeks Sweet Red Wine Reviews.
This sweet red wine is:
* Strong
* Bold
* Punchy
* Doesn't sit on your tongue too long
* Cheap 3.99
* Available at your local grocery store
I would suggest this bottle for a very casual meal like pizza and it's great to take to a party barring you will not encounter any wine snobs! This sweet red wine reviewed is not your expensive wine, but it's a great way to enjoy a nice cheap bottle of sweet red wine.
First of all, I would like to say, I love my Crest Whitestrips. Or I did. Let me tell you the whole sordid sensitive story.
This is my personal review after using Crest Whitestrips.
I have used the Crest Whitestrips a couple of times. And I DID really like their results! I noticed a real difference. #NoLie
I was on my way to bed and I said to myself, Im just going to put these Crest White Strips on now so that I can have extra white teeth in the morning. Seems sensible to me that if wearing the white strips for 10 minutes or 30 minutes that overnight would be even better.
Jay-Z's engineer Young Guru sent SXSW attendees in to a frenzy during his set when he played a remix of Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city joint "B***h Don't Kill My Vibe," featuring Jay-Z.
Critics Are Raving about Follow Me to Nellie's at Premiere Stages
A number of performances have sold out, so get your tickets NOW!
Written by Dominique Morisseau
Directed by John Wooten
STARRING: Nyahale Allie* Adam Couperthwaite Lynda Gravatt* Kelly J. McCreary* Warner Miller* Ley Smith Harold Surratt* Michelle Wilson*
Critics Praise Follow Me to Nellie's:
"A stunning representation... exceptional... outstanding... unforgettable." --Union County Local Source
"Gold... played masterfully... powerful theatre." --Westfield Leader
"Nellie's offers a new window on civil rights fight... Lynda Gravatt, one of the state's most skilled performers, is wonderfully imperious as Nellie... The centerpiece of Joseph Gourely's set is a jukebox out of which sweet music plays. The real music, however, comes from Dominique Morisseau's words. " --The Star-Ledger
"Dominique Morisseau's searing look at this tense and momentous period in our nation's history, Follow Me to Nellie's... is a first-rate production... with some of the finest actors delivering some of the most natural sounding dialogue I've heard on a stage this year..." --New Jersey Arts Maven
Make Reservations and Guarantee Your Tickets:
Thursdays July 21 & 28 at 8 pm * Fridays July 22 & 29 at 8 pm Saturdays July 23 & 30 at 3 pm and 8 pm * Sundays July 24 & 31 at 3 pm
Standard: $25 * Senior Citizens: $20 * Students: $15 Ask About Subscription Packages to Save Up to $30!
To Purchase Tickets, Call: 908-737-7469 - or visit: www.keanstage.com -
"Cave of Forgotten Dreams" — He's 68 years old and narrates his documentaries in an unmistakably raspy whisper, his heavy German accent adding an air of mystery to everything he's describing. And yet Werner Herzog has such obvious enthusiasm for the discoveries here, it's as if you're listening to a giddy little kid who learned the coolest thing at school today and cannot wait to tell you all about it. That's just one of the many fascinating contradictions that mark Herzog's latest film, about a French cave containing spectacular prehistoric artwork that was closed off to the outside world over 20,000 years ago when a rock face collapsed. Once scientists found it and began investigating inside, they saw vivid and pristine images of horses, bears, rhinos and other creatures that they estimate are over 30,000 years old — almost twice as old as previous finds. Researchers call it one of the most important cultural finds ever, and not only did Herzog gain unprecedented access, he also shot it all in 3-D. Now, we're not always a fan of the technology, but not only is it not gimmicky, it actually enhances the viewing experience — making these images seem more tactile and immediate. "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" immerses us in a space that's at once enormous and darkly cramped, full of shimmering crystal formations and scattered cave bear skulls. The film does grow a bit repetitive, though, and could have been a half-hour shorter. G. 90 minutes. Three stars out of four.
• Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic
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"Fast Five" — If the filmmakers had thrown in giant, shape-shifting robots, talking apes and some vampires, the fifth installment in "The Fast and the Furious" franchise would hardly have been more outlandish. That said, the movie will get you where you're going. Opting for a blowout of a movie with no restraints whatsoever, director Justin Lin wisely adds former wrestling superstar Dwayne Johnson as a relentless federal agent to go toe-to-toe with Vin Diesel's driving ace, who's again on the run along with his sister (Jordana Brewster) and his cop-turned-outlaw pal (Paul Walker). Any thwack from the inevitable Diesel-Johnson slugfest might kill an ordinary human, but these characters basically are comic-book figures, so they're able to wail the innards out of each other and come through with only a cosmetic bruise or two. It's nonsense, but when Hollywood does nonsense right, it can be a lot of fun. Lin now is far more assured as an action director, crafting stunts and chases that zip along so recklessly you won't much care how utterly impossible they are. Past "Fast and Furious" rowdies such as Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Sung Kang join Diesel and company for an "Ocean's Eleven"-style heist romp. PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, sexual content and language. 130 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
• David Germain, AP Movie Writer
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"Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil" — Red Riding Hood needs a better agent. Months after being refashioned in a werewolf tale, she's back in this computer-animated sequel to the mostly forgotten 2005 original. The fractured fairy tale has returned with 3-D graphics, more polished animation and less wit. There was some madcap charm to the earlier "Hoodwinked!" which reinterpreted the story of Red Riding Hood as a "Rashomon"-style detective story. This sequel, directed by Mike Disa, takes the same characters and instead of refashioning a fairy tale, casts them in an action film plot. Red (Hayden Panettiere assuming Anne Hathaway's role), Wolf (Patrick Warburton), Twitchy (an overcaffeinated squirrel voiced by Cory Edwards) and Granny (Glenn Close) are now special agents in the Happily Ever A
The first official single from a controversial new Michael Jackson album was released on Monday to good initial reviews and expectations of strong digital sales.
"Hold My Hand," a duet Jackson first recorded with Senegalese rapper and record producer Akon in 2007 and was leaked in an unfinished state a year later, is a simple but catchy mid-tempo ballad with touches that will remind fans of Jackson's death last year with the opening line, "This life don't last forever."
Early reviews and Jackson fan websites commended the duet, released for digital sales on the official http://www.michaeljackson.com website, saying Akon had improved the song's production quality.
"There won't be any controversy about the vocals on this one. The only question is how long until it scales the charts," said The Huffington Post, noting it was already trending high on Twitter. "'Hold my Hand' isn't 'Man in the Mirror', but it's a nice consolation gift to fill the void of his absence."
"Polished up and studio-tweaked, 'Hold My Hand' is an innocuous, professionally executed ballad with probably a touch more Akon than any MJ fan can be happy with," said New York Magazine, adding it "certainly wasn't embarrassing, but not necessarily crucial either."
Jackson's Facebook book page was filled with thousands of comments on the song from fans excited about the release of the new album "Michael" on December 14. The posthumous release is the first of new Jackson material since his "Invincible" album in 2001.
"Wow I like this song," Cynthia Spence-Duffey posted on Facebook, while Edward Hoey said, "Nice song for those who are in Love." On michaeljackson.com, another post said, "That is truly MJ, but you can tell it was incomplete. How many new songs of MJ's were only 3 mins long?"
Jackson's Sony/Epic record label announced the release of the song last week, saying Akon recently completed production on the track. Two of the other upcoming tracks feature rapper 50 Cent and rocker Lenny Kravitz.
"The world was not ready to hear 'Hold My Hand' when it leaked a couple years ago. We were devastated about it," said Akon, who was known to be working with Jackson before his sudden death in June 2009 at the age of 50.
"But its time has definitely come; now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song."
Monday's release for digital sale of "Hold My Hand" follows the streaming on the Internet last week of another new track "Breaking News" from the upcoming album, which was met with initial skepticism.
Some music critics, along with a few of Jackson's family members, have said they do not believe the vocals on "Breaking News" really belong to the entertainer. But last week Sony countered that after extensive research, it was confident the vocals are Jackson's own.
The Black Eyed Peas singer Will.I.Am however told Entertainment Weekly it was "disrespectful" to release the album.
"Whoever put it out and is profiting off of it, I want to see how cold they are," he said, and later added, "to me it's disrespectful, there's no honoring."
"Michael" has the backing of Jackson's official estate and is the latest commercial venture to capitalize on the s
"Lottery Ticket" — The odds of winning the lottery are what, like, 1 in 175 million? The laughs aren't quite so hard to come by here, but they're not a safe bet, either. The feature debut from longtime music video director Erik White, which he co-wrote with Abdul Williams, starts out amiably enough, with a shaggy, shambling vibe. But it eventually devolves into a weirdly violent streak, followed by some seriously heavy-handed sentimentality. Still, the ensemble cast manages to keep things sporadically enjoyable. Rapper-actor Bow Wow is all grown up here as Kevin, a recent high school graduate who's stuck working at Foot Locker but dreams of creating his own shoe line. "Lottery Ticket" is at its strongest off the top, as Kevin tries to make his way to work at the mall one morning but keeps getting delayed by the random neighbors in his Atlanta housing project. Brandon T. Jackson has a loose, easy energy about him and gets many of the best lines. But when Kevin plays the lottery and wins the $370 million jackpot, everything changes, with people cozying up to him or trying to kill him because he's now a rich man. And because he wins over the extended July 4 weekend, he must wait three days to cash in. Loretta Devine, Naturi Naughton and Ice Cube co-star. PG-13 for sexual content, language including a drug reference, some violence and brief underage drinking. 95 minutes. Two stars out of four.
• Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic
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"Nanny McPhee Returns" — The Nanny McPhee movies may be principally for kids, but make no mistake about it: They are, quite literally, a parent's dream. Overwhelmed single parents with unruly kids are rescued by a magical nanny (Emma Thompson) who seemingly appears out of nowhere. And at no cost! For some older moviegoers escorting little ones, this premise might be impossibly alluring. And they said fans of "Avatar" were depressed when they left the theater. This sequel to 2005's "Nanny McPhee" (both penned by Thompson, adapting Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books) largely keeps the original's formula. McPhee, a witch-looking fairy godmother of tough love, comes to the aid of a parent trying to manage a litter of kids alone (Maggie Gyllenhaal, filling Colin Firth's shoes). McPhee obviously owes much to P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins, but there's still a warm, British naturalism to the film and an old-fashioned cheerfulness uncommon to most of today's kids movies. With Rhys Ifans as a brother-in-law scoundrel, and Maggie Smith as a ditzy shopkeeper. PG for rude humor, some language and mild thematic elements. 109 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
• Jake Coyle, AP Entertainment Writer
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"Piranha 3D" — Mere words cannot describe how awesomely gnarly this is, how hugely entertaining, and how urgently you must get yourself to the theater to see it. This is not a joke, by the way. This movie is a complete blast. To borrow a phrase from the kind of B-horror flicks to which "Piranha 3D" is such an effective homage: Run, don't walk. Like "Snakes on a Plane," which came out in the dead of summer four years ago, "Piranha 3D" knows exactly what it is and does exactly what it should do. It's about piranhas ... in 3-D. It's cleverly knowing without collapsing into parody. It makes great use of its extremely random cast, including Elisabeth Shue in an unusually bad-ass role as a sheriff, Ving Rhames as her deputy and Jerry O'Connell as a Joe Francis type. Christopher Lloyd has one great scene in full-on, crazed Christopher Lloyd mode as the resident fish expert. The second you see Eli Roth — playing the emcee at a wet T-shirt contest, no less — you know some hideous fate will befall him. And then there's Richard Dreyfuss, who make
The Oscars are fast upon us – scheduled for February 22 - and with a deluge of movies from the past several months in the running, it can be difficult to keep up.
One of the only beauties of being laid off is the amount of time – and relative cheapness – involved in frequent trips to the show. With a movie theater right around the corner, it's nothing for me to indulge on a random Tuesday evening. Yes, I'm THAT guy alone in the movie theater...what of it?
Damn what Roger Ebert, Oprah or the Academy has to say; here are quick, bite-size reviews for films that will be featured on Oscar night (and some that certainly won't) from the only source on movies that matters: me.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – My admitted man-crush on Brad Pitt has nothing to do with his physical appearance, but instead with the pure ease he brings to acting and being in front of the camera. This supernatural tale makes you forget how crazy the actual premise is via solid writing, great acting (finally some respect for Taraji P. "I love you Jodddyyyyy!!" Henson) and a Cate Blanchett whose raw beauty I didn't come to appreciate until this film.
Rachel Getting Married – Portrays familial dysfunction unlike any movie I've ever seen. Lots of groan-inducing scenes that will make you reflect on your own batsh!t-crazy family. If you have an aunt or two with a penchant for the Wild Turkey, you'll appreciate this.
Milk – The sad, true story of a man who paid the ultimate price for advocating progressive thinking and core human rights. It just reminded me that we had idiots making decisions 30 years ago, and nothing's changed. Sean Penn can do no wrong, even when he does go "full retard." Straight cats on the fence about seeing the flick, take note: No wild gay sex scenes from which to avert your eyes.
Slumdog Millionaire – The movie that caught everyone, including yours truly, by surprise. Rags to riches tales are usually way too prosaic for my tastes, but this one took a wildly inventive approach. This year's "Juno," except actually worth the hype. If you don't like this film, you're strung out on sherm.
The Reader – Slow-moving, but pretty powerful. Definitely not for everyone, though I think most men will be pleased to know Kate Winslet is naked through pretty much the first half of the film.
The Wrestler – Man, I dig Mickey Rourke. I dig his personal story and what he did with this role: playing a character working to expiate past sins mirrors his own tumultuous life. I'm not a big Darren Aronofsky fan, but he got my attention with this. Also, really interesting cinema v
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