Archive for December, 2024
Eats & Drinks
In 2013, acclaimed record producer (Blink-182, Jimmy Eat World) and drummer (Drive Like Jehu) Mark Trombino began a new career when he launched Donut Friend in Los Angeles, California. The store’s motto is: “Donuts Done D...
Flicks
This year there were, of course, blockbusters we enjoyed—films like Star Trek Into Darkness, This is the End and The Heat. There were also somewhat smaller films that built enough buzz and praise to crack Box Office Mojo’s 100 ...
Beer
Great Divide calls this an “Old Ale” and pitches it as their winter seasonal. Just in time for the holidays, I thought I’d give it a try. I’m not very familiar with Old Ales. In fact, the only one I know of off the top of my...
Beer
I am generally a hold-out on the traditional Christmas Ale. While I have nothing against cinnamon and nutmeg, I do think that many breweries go overboard while attempting to define their holiday beer. St. Bernardus showed me...
Art
Every major holiday I try to visit Darla’s home east of Cleveland. Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter—the artistic family’s rotating vintage display of seasonal décor never fails to delight. But it is Christmas that’s the real ...
Q&A
Former Rolling Stone editor and renowned rock writer Dave Marsh once aptly described singer Joan Jett as “the female Chuck Berry.” Jett’s career began with the punk-y all-girl rock combo the Runaways, and she capitalized on tha...
Beer
Portland has recently been through a cold snap, and I figured it was time to delve into a winter ale tasting. I raided the beer aisle at my neighborhood Safeway store in hopes of finding more nationally accessible seasonals. Wh...
Flicks
When they were childhood friends, everyone said Bernice (Lisa Gay Hamilton) and Fontayne (Yolonda Ross) were so close they could “go for sisters.” Twenty years later, their lives have taken off in opposite directions. Bernice i...
Q&A
Siblings don’t always get along. And siblings in bands really don’t get along. But that’s not been the case for the indie pop act Tegan and Sara. The Canadian group formed some 15 years ago and has been going strong ever since....
Beer
In another example of how fortunate I am to live in Portland, Oregon, the 18th annual Holiday Ale Festival met and surpassed expectations in several ways. (And I only attended two days out of five – I shudder to think of all th...
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