Hello there friends! The weather has officially christened the beginning of the 2010 Spring season. And that means that movie blockbuster season is just around the corner, restaurant lines will be longer, and summer jams will soon fill the radio airwaves. So, with all that being said, here's the week's hot joints:
Music:
Agnes - Release Me
OK, so this song really isn't new at all. It debuted last fall. But it's hit #1 on the Billboard's List of Dance songs, and pretty much nobody knows about it. Why do I like it? The beat reminds me of mid to late 90's style electronic music with a certain funky groove I just can't quite put my finger on. So anywhoo, for those of you who love to dance like me, you can't help but hear a song like this and not tap your foot (if you're unable to physically get up and dance). 3/5 Stars
Movies:
Alice in Wonderland
Original AIW was a classic. Johnny Depp is on fire on the tails of the Pirates series. The remake, pretty much the culmination of both. The visuals were awesome. A bit trippy as if you were on some kind of hallucinogenic drug, but for the most part, good. I'm still not sold on the whole 3D technology that so many movies are using nowadays, especially since they make already expensive movies that much more costly to watch, but I suppose it made the movie more exciting. Overall, I think the movie was good. Those of you who know me, know that I pretty much like almost any movie, so in my scale of movies, this one was average. It was good, but it wasn't AMAZING. 3.5/5 Stars
Restaurants:
Primetime Sports Grille
Located in Fairfax (corner of Waples Mill and Route 50), this new sports bar is going to be the new hot spot for sporting events in Northern Virginia. The atmosphere of the place reminds me of Velocity 5 except without the long drive out to crowded Falls Church/Arlington. For those of us who live on the western end of Northern VA, Primetime is the solution to our laziness. On top of all that, I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners of the bar last weekend, and he couldn't have been a nicer guy. So bottom line, if you're looking for food, a drink, or a place to watch sporting events....no need to search anywhere but Primetime. Oh, and did I mention...it's a Hokie bar? Bam! 5/5 Stars
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
3/15/10
Waddup Peoples! Hope everyone has been keeping up with their adventures. With the recent airing of the Oscars on television, I've now got a "bucket list" of movies that were good last year that I hadn't watched and need to, so those will appear on this review sporadically over the new few months. For now, here's 3 new reviews for you guys this week. Enjoy!
Music:
Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris - Break Your Heart
At this point, it should be no surprise to you all that I like Hip Hop....I like Electronic...and I like silky smooth R&B like Ne-Yo. And this song, is yet again, another one that combines the three. Similar to Chris Brown's recent stuff, and the Tiesto/Guetta....this song features a super catchy electronic beat with Taio Cruz leading the catchy verses and hooks. Luda has a quick verse that brings me back to his earlier stuff that I liked a lot. All in all, this is a great song. I can't stop listening to it. 5/5 Stars.
Movies:
Shutter Island
My review of this new movie is a little Jekyll and Hyde today. On the one hand, Scorcese is a legend, and Leo DiCaprio has had his fair share of amazing movies which I've enjoyed (Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, Departed, Blood Diamond). This movie also had a great plot and ending. However, the ugly other personality of this film is that it's confusing at times, slow at many parts, and way too long for its audience. Had the story been told a little more clearly, and had the producers cut about 30-45 minutes of stuff out of it, this movie could've been amazing. So the verdict? It's a decent movie that warrants watching if you're looking to see something different. But would I recommend watching it if you haven't seen Alice in Wonderland, or any other blockbuster films out right now? No. 3.5/5 Stars.
Restaurants:
Dominos
Yes sir, that's Domino's the "fast food" Pizza chain. Why is it on the review this week? Well if you've watched any television in the last couple months, you've no doubt seen the commercials for Dominos claiming that their new crust makes their pizza better than Papa John's and maybe even Pizza Hut in blind taste tests. Verdict? I don't know if it's BETTER than PJ or PH, cuz I love both of the other chains. However, it's vastly better than what Domino's old pizza used to taste like. So in that regard, if I'm ever in the mood for pizza and there's no pizza hut or papa john's nearby, I have no problems ordering from Domino's now cuz their pizza is comparable...whereas previously I would never have eaten at D's unless I had no better options. 4/5 Stars
Music:
Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris - Break Your Heart
At this point, it should be no surprise to you all that I like Hip Hop....I like Electronic...and I like silky smooth R&B like Ne-Yo. And this song, is yet again, another one that combines the three. Similar to Chris Brown's recent stuff, and the Tiesto/Guetta....this song features a super catchy electronic beat with Taio Cruz leading the catchy verses and hooks. Luda has a quick verse that brings me back to his earlier stuff that I liked a lot. All in all, this is a great song. I can't stop listening to it. 5/5 Stars.
Movies:
Shutter Island
My review of this new movie is a little Jekyll and Hyde today. On the one hand, Scorcese is a legend, and Leo DiCaprio has had his fair share of amazing movies which I've enjoyed (Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, Departed, Blood Diamond). This movie also had a great plot and ending. However, the ugly other personality of this film is that it's confusing at times, slow at many parts, and way too long for its audience. Had the story been told a little more clearly, and had the producers cut about 30-45 minutes of stuff out of it, this movie could've been amazing. So the verdict? It's a decent movie that warrants watching if you're looking to see something different. But would I recommend watching it if you haven't seen Alice in Wonderland, or any other blockbuster films out right now? No. 3.5/5 Stars.
Restaurants:
Dominos
Yes sir, that's Domino's the "fast food" Pizza chain. Why is it on the review this week? Well if you've watched any television in the last couple months, you've no doubt seen the commercials for Dominos claiming that their new crust makes their pizza better than Papa John's and maybe even Pizza Hut in blind taste tests. Verdict? I don't know if it's BETTER than PJ or PH, cuz I love both of the other chains. However, it's vastly better than what Domino's old pizza used to taste like. So in that regard, if I'm ever in the mood for pizza and there's no pizza hut or papa john's nearby, I have no problems ordering from Domino's now cuz their pizza is comparable...whereas previously I would never have eaten at D's unless I had no better options. 4/5 Stars
Thursday, February 25, 2010
2/25/10
Waddup Peeps! As you can clearly tell, I'm already straying from my regular weekly postings on Mondays. At least I'm able to more or less keep up though, and not just forget about this review altogether. Anywhoo, it's been a good week for reviews. So here you go, enjoy:
Music:
Jason Derulo - In My Head
Earlier in this blog, I mentioned an up and coming artist named Jason Derulo. The closest comparison I can make about his music is that he's a Chris Brown clone as far as singing goes, but he has the luxury of having very good producers who either sample great beats, or come up with catchy new ones. In any case, you've probably heard his song "Watcha Say" on the radio quite a bit...it's the one that samples the song that played on the OC when Marissa shot Ryan's brother Trey (and no...I'm not gay...I don't actually watch the show...I just know about this scene because SNL spoofed it in their "Dear Sister" digital short). In any case, In My Head is the new single from JD, and it's beginning to get airplay now on the pop radio stations. The song itself is catchier than Watcha Say and the video ain't half bad either considering it's supposed to be an homage to Michael Jackson. 3.5/5 Stars
Movies:
District 9
At this point, you must realize I'm a slacker at the movies. I just don't go out to see a movie in the theatres as often as I'd like anymore since they cost about $23495238734978545 a ticket. So when I do catch a popular movie nowadays, it's either a blockbuster everyone's been waiting forever to see...or I catch it on tv or on demand. That brings us to numero nueve. District 9 was far better than I expected. I thought it was going to be another failed attempt at human killing alien invasion action, which hasn't really succeeded in movies since Will Smith stopped making annual summer blockbusters about that very theme. Yet, D9 was a great return. It featured a good story, good action, and good effects. Am I psyched about a sequel...probably not...but at least the original was pretty good. 4/5 Stars
Restaurants:
Yamazato
Located in "Alexandria" across from the GrandMart on Route 236 (Little River Turnpike just before it turns into Duke Street at Landmark Mall), this restaurant might be my new favorite find. The restaurant labels itself as a Thai restaurant, and when it comes to that cuisine, it is exactly that. The Panang curry is full of taste, spice, and consistency. The Tofu is delectable, plump, and well cooked. The Drunken Noodles are hot and spicy. And the coup de grace is a special dessert they offer called Tempura Ice Cream. Yes, fried ice cream. The restaurant succeeds in all things Thai. As if that wasn't enough, the restaurant also boasts a diverse selection of sushi. I didn't get a chance to taste it myself, but looking at the cuts of fish and the sushi chefs preparing it, I could tell it was quality fish. On top of that, my guide to my first trip to Yamazato said she had eaten the sushi there before and that it was good. Soooo....looking for a new restaurant? Maybe something intimate for a date? Or just looking for another great place to food your face...welcome to Yamazato. 4/5 Stars
Music:
Jason Derulo - In My Head
Earlier in this blog, I mentioned an up and coming artist named Jason Derulo. The closest comparison I can make about his music is that he's a Chris Brown clone as far as singing goes, but he has the luxury of having very good producers who either sample great beats, or come up with catchy new ones. In any case, you've probably heard his song "Watcha Say" on the radio quite a bit...it's the one that samples the song that played on the OC when Marissa shot Ryan's brother Trey (and no...I'm not gay...I don't actually watch the show...I just know about this scene because SNL spoofed it in their "Dear Sister" digital short). In any case, In My Head is the new single from JD, and it's beginning to get airplay now on the pop radio stations. The song itself is catchier than Watcha Say and the video ain't half bad either considering it's supposed to be an homage to Michael Jackson. 3.5/5 Stars
Movies:
District 9
At this point, you must realize I'm a slacker at the movies. I just don't go out to see a movie in the theatres as often as I'd like anymore since they cost about $23495238734978545 a ticket. So when I do catch a popular movie nowadays, it's either a blockbuster everyone's been waiting forever to see...or I catch it on tv or on demand. That brings us to numero nueve. District 9 was far better than I expected. I thought it was going to be another failed attempt at human killing alien invasion action, which hasn't really succeeded in movies since Will Smith stopped making annual summer blockbusters about that very theme. Yet, D9 was a great return. It featured a good story, good action, and good effects. Am I psyched about a sequel...probably not...but at least the original was pretty good. 4/5 Stars
Restaurants:
Yamazato
Located in "Alexandria" across from the GrandMart on Route 236 (Little River Turnpike just before it turns into Duke Street at Landmark Mall), this restaurant might be my new favorite find. The restaurant labels itself as a Thai restaurant, and when it comes to that cuisine, it is exactly that. The Panang curry is full of taste, spice, and consistency. The Tofu is delectable, plump, and well cooked. The Drunken Noodles are hot and spicy. And the coup de grace is a special dessert they offer called Tempura Ice Cream. Yes, fried ice cream. The restaurant succeeds in all things Thai. As if that wasn't enough, the restaurant also boasts a diverse selection of sushi. I didn't get a chance to taste it myself, but looking at the cuts of fish and the sushi chefs preparing it, I could tell it was quality fish. On top of that, my guide to my first trip to Yamazato said she had eaten the sushi there before and that it was good. Soooo....looking for a new restaurant? Maybe something intimate for a date? Or just looking for another great place to food your face...welcome to Yamazato. 4/5 Stars
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
2/17/10
Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! Chuc mung nam moi to all my Vietnamese followers out there! Happy new year indeed. It's been a couple weeks of snow for me, so I've not been out in quite some time. Nonetheless, the review must go on...and so here we go. Enjoy!
Music:
Gorilla Zoe - What is Love
I have mixed feelings about this song. On the one hand, I'm loving the new trend of hip hop artists going outside their comfort zone of a deep bass and a snare to utilize things such as electronic music. On the other hand, I was neither a big fan of Gorilla Zoe prior to this song, nor was I a huge fan of What is Love (aka the night at the Roxbury theme). So when these two decided to make love and create this unbelievable song, I'm honestly at a loss for words. I give GZ a two thumbs up for effort, and I give Haddaway two thumbs up for capitalizing on their one hit wonder for royalties before it becomes public domain. However, I give a -2 thumbs down for Autotuner, and a one thumb sideways for the mashup. Final verdict? 2.5/5 Stars.
Movies:
Notorious
With the recent snowmageddon that has hit the DC metro area, I have not had a chance to see any new movies. I did however get to watch movies On Demand on HBO. And one of those movies was one I saw when it was fresh in the theatres. And that film is Notorious. The film, which depicts the tragic life of the rapper Notorious B.I.G. is not only a good film about one of my favorite artists of all time, but a GREAT film in general. I highly recommend those who have not seen this movie to hit up your blockbuster or netflix or On Demand and check it out. 4/5 Stars.
Restaurants:
Vapiano
Up until recently, I had never ever eaten at Vapiano's despite driving by it countless times. In the DC area, the restaurant features two locations. One in Ballston, near the mall and the other inside the Dulles Town Centre mall. And let me tell you, this restaurant was amazing. So the concept is that you enter the restaurant and the hostess gives you a card. You, in turn, go to the chef behind the counter (Mongolian style) and order one of countless delicious gourmet pastas or pizzas customizing everything from the noodles to the sauce, and even adding your favorite protein if you want. The chef cooks it fresh in front of you and delivers a healthy portion of food to you in a gourmet bowl. Simply scan the card that was given to you at the counter where you ordered and you're good to go. If you feel the need for soda or dessert, go right ahead just scan your card again. At the end of your meal, take your card to the hostess on your way out and she rings you up for whatever you purchased. Happy Hours are off the chain here too. 4/5 Stars
Music:
Gorilla Zoe - What is Love
I have mixed feelings about this song. On the one hand, I'm loving the new trend of hip hop artists going outside their comfort zone of a deep bass and a snare to utilize things such as electronic music. On the other hand, I was neither a big fan of Gorilla Zoe prior to this song, nor was I a huge fan of What is Love (aka the night at the Roxbury theme). So when these two decided to make love and create this unbelievable song, I'm honestly at a loss for words. I give GZ a two thumbs up for effort, and I give Haddaway two thumbs up for capitalizing on their one hit wonder for royalties before it becomes public domain. However, I give a -2 thumbs down for Autotuner, and a one thumb sideways for the mashup. Final verdict? 2.5/5 Stars.
Movies:
Notorious
With the recent snowmageddon that has hit the DC metro area, I have not had a chance to see any new movies. I did however get to watch movies On Demand on HBO. And one of those movies was one I saw when it was fresh in the theatres. And that film is Notorious. The film, which depicts the tragic life of the rapper Notorious B.I.G. is not only a good film about one of my favorite artists of all time, but a GREAT film in general. I highly recommend those who have not seen this movie to hit up your blockbuster or netflix or On Demand and check it out. 4/5 Stars.
Restaurants:
Vapiano
Up until recently, I had never ever eaten at Vapiano's despite driving by it countless times. In the DC area, the restaurant features two locations. One in Ballston, near the mall and the other inside the Dulles Town Centre mall. And let me tell you, this restaurant was amazing. So the concept is that you enter the restaurant and the hostess gives you a card. You, in turn, go to the chef behind the counter (Mongolian style) and order one of countless delicious gourmet pastas or pizzas customizing everything from the noodles to the sauce, and even adding your favorite protein if you want. The chef cooks it fresh in front of you and delivers a healthy portion of food to you in a gourmet bowl. Simply scan the card that was given to you at the counter where you ordered and you're good to go. If you feel the need for soda or dessert, go right ahead just scan your card again. At the end of your meal, take your card to the hostess on your way out and she rings you up for whatever you purchased. Happy Hours are off the chain here too. 4/5 Stars
Monday, February 1, 2010
2/1/10
Welcome to February my friends. New month, new reviews. I hope everyone has been enjoying the winter thus far. I know I have. Here are the hot picks for the week. Our movie pick this week, is going to be a TV show, instead of a movie...but more on that in a little bit. Enjoy!
Music:
Gucci Mane feat. Usher --- Spotlight
As far as music goes, I'm a sucker for a smooth voiced R&B/Hip Hop artist who can sing a catchy hook. That's why I love songs by people like Ne-Yo, Maino, Akon, Jason Derulo, Jay Sean, etc. Usher is one of those guys who's been doing this for years and probably even inspired some of the aforementioned artists when they were beginning to burst onto their careers. On the other hand, Gucci Mane is one of those guys who I thought would have one hit single and disappear from the radio. But here we are a year or so later, and you almost can't listen to the radio without hearing Gucci on some song. He's like the new Lil Wayne/Young Money 'cause he's featured on so many songs. So anyway...I love this song. Like I said, it's got the flow of Gucci in the rap verses with Usher's smooth voice lending the extremely catchy hook. 4/5 Stars.
Movies (TV Shows):
LOST
OK...so for those of you who don't know. I am a LOST Fanatic. I have no hesitation in saying that it is my favorite tv show. Every week, I watch the episodes with my other close friends who are fanatics and we discuss the episode the following day in email threads. I even read forums dedicated to the discussion of things hidden deep in the show that only fanatics who care enough to investigate may have found. So all this is great, but you're probably wondering what this has to do with our movie review this week. WELL, the answer to that...is that tomorrow, the season premier of the FINAL season of Lost airs. It's a 2 hour episode (kinda like a movie) with an additional 1 hour recap episode prior to it. So...if you've watched Lost at all in the past, this is the time to get back on the horse as we reach the end of a milestone era in American television. And if you haven't watched Lost, well all I can say is you've missed out. Go buy the dvds or borrow them from a friend. Or stream the show online at www.sidereel.com/Lost. I guarantee you will be hooked as soon as you start watching season 1. 6/5 Stars. That's right...I've never given an above perfect rating to any review....until now. Stay excited, my fellow LOSTIES!
Restaurants:
Maple Ave Restaurant
Last summer (prior to the first new posting of this review), I mentioned via AIM about Maple Ave in Vienna, VA. This restaurant, owned by two friends of mine, is a trendy new restaurant that features an Asian chef with French culinary training and a menu that blends Contemporary American dishes with a modern twist. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. Their menu is constantly changing with new specials and everything I've ever tried has been delicious. Last week, I was treated to a dinner here by my two close friends and I tried their Chicken And Waffles special entree. It was amazing. Add to that, the fact that there really aren't many Chicken and Waffle places in the DC area, and this experience really amazed me. I personally go to this restaurant whenever I have a good reason to do so, so I highly recommend you try it as well. The restaurant is not huge, in terms of dining space, so making a reservation online or via phone is highly recommended. 4.5/5 Stars.
Music:
Gucci Mane feat. Usher --- Spotlight
As far as music goes, I'm a sucker for a smooth voiced R&B/Hip Hop artist who can sing a catchy hook. That's why I love songs by people like Ne-Yo, Maino, Akon, Jason Derulo, Jay Sean, etc. Usher is one of those guys who's been doing this for years and probably even inspired some of the aforementioned artists when they were beginning to burst onto their careers. On the other hand, Gucci Mane is one of those guys who I thought would have one hit single and disappear from the radio. But here we are a year or so later, and you almost can't listen to the radio without hearing Gucci on some song. He's like the new Lil Wayne/Young Money 'cause he's featured on so many songs. So anyway...I love this song. Like I said, it's got the flow of Gucci in the rap verses with Usher's smooth voice lending the extremely catchy hook. 4/5 Stars.
Movies (TV Shows):
LOST
OK...so for those of you who don't know. I am a LOST Fanatic. I have no hesitation in saying that it is my favorite tv show. Every week, I watch the episodes with my other close friends who are fanatics and we discuss the episode the following day in email threads. I even read forums dedicated to the discussion of things hidden deep in the show that only fanatics who care enough to investigate may have found. So all this is great, but you're probably wondering what this has to do with our movie review this week. WELL, the answer to that...is that tomorrow, the season premier of the FINAL season of Lost airs. It's a 2 hour episode (kinda like a movie) with an additional 1 hour recap episode prior to it. So...if you've watched Lost at all in the past, this is the time to get back on the horse as we reach the end of a milestone era in American television. And if you haven't watched Lost, well all I can say is you've missed out. Go buy the dvds or borrow them from a friend. Or stream the show online at www.sidereel.com/Lost. I guarantee you will be hooked as soon as you start watching season 1. 6/5 Stars. That's right...I've never given an above perfect rating to any review....until now. Stay excited, my fellow LOSTIES!
Restaurants:
Maple Ave Restaurant
Last summer (prior to the first new posting of this review), I mentioned via AIM about Maple Ave in Vienna, VA. This restaurant, owned by two friends of mine, is a trendy new restaurant that features an Asian chef with French culinary training and a menu that blends Contemporary American dishes with a modern twist. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. Their menu is constantly changing with new specials and everything I've ever tried has been delicious. Last week, I was treated to a dinner here by my two close friends and I tried their Chicken And Waffles special entree. It was amazing. Add to that, the fact that there really aren't many Chicken and Waffle places in the DC area, and this experience really amazed me. I personally go to this restaurant whenever I have a good reason to do so, so I highly recommend you try it as well. The restaurant is not huge, in terms of dining space, so making a reservation online or via phone is highly recommended. 4.5/5 Stars.
Monday, January 25, 2010
1/25/10
Hey hey. Another week, another review. First, I just wanna put it out there that I spent the majority of last week taxi-ing my cousin (who was visiting us from Vietnam) around DC for various tourist attractions. That being said, my restaurant choice this week isn't a new restaurant, just one I hadn't been to in a very long time, and definitely one that is worth checking out if you've never been before. So anywhoo, here's this week's hot joints. Enjoy:
Music:
Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart
I realize this goes without saying...but Alicia Keys is awesome. And if you're as sick of Empire State of Mind as I am, give this song a try, cuz I can't stop listening to it. 4/5 Stars.
Movies:
Book of Eli
As far as I can remember, Denzel Washington has not made a bad movie. Even when he makes a movie that isn't an amazing success, it's still good. This is one of those movies that is AWESOME. You begin watching the film, and immediately, you're invested in what Mr. Washington's character is doing. And the only thing I'm gonna say, without giving away anything about the movie, is that as soon as you finish watching the movie, you're gonna wanna go back and watch it again. 4.5/5 Stars.
Restaurants:
Minh's Restaurant
Located in Arlington, which is arguably the mecca of trendy food in Northern Virginia, this Vietnamese restaurant is great. From the trendy traditional decor to the tasty authentic flavors of the food, this restaurant delivers on all cylinders. So much so, that the restaurant made Washingtonian magazine's top 100 restaurants list this past month. Now, avid readers of the magazine will tell you that there were other Vietnamese restaurants that also made the list at higher rankings (Present, Four Sisters, etc.), but if you're looking for a classy place to eat, Minh's is right up there (regardless of number ranking). And take it from a self-proclaimed food connoisseur, Minh's won't disappoint. And if you don't believe me, just ask former Top Chef winner Hung Huynh, who has made an appearance at Minh's in the past to support the local hot spot. 4/5 Stars
Music:
Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart
I realize this goes without saying...but Alicia Keys is awesome. And if you're as sick of Empire State of Mind as I am, give this song a try, cuz I can't stop listening to it. 4/5 Stars.
Movies:
Book of Eli
As far as I can remember, Denzel Washington has not made a bad movie. Even when he makes a movie that isn't an amazing success, it's still good. This is one of those movies that is AWESOME. You begin watching the film, and immediately, you're invested in what Mr. Washington's character is doing. And the only thing I'm gonna say, without giving away anything about the movie, is that as soon as you finish watching the movie, you're gonna wanna go back and watch it again. 4.5/5 Stars.
Restaurants:
Minh's Restaurant
Located in Arlington, which is arguably the mecca of trendy food in Northern Virginia, this Vietnamese restaurant is great. From the trendy traditional decor to the tasty authentic flavors of the food, this restaurant delivers on all cylinders. So much so, that the restaurant made Washingtonian magazine's top 100 restaurants list this past month. Now, avid readers of the magazine will tell you that there were other Vietnamese restaurants that also made the list at higher rankings (Present, Four Sisters, etc.), but if you're looking for a classy place to eat, Minh's is right up there (regardless of number ranking). And take it from a self-proclaimed food connoisseur, Minh's won't disappoint. And if you don't believe me, just ask former Top Chef winner Hung Huynh, who has made an appearance at Minh's in the past to support the local hot spot. 4/5 Stars
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
1/13/10
Happy New Year Everyone! I realize I'm a week late in this edition of the Review so I'm gonna double up on the critiques this week. For those of you who don't know, this week is the beginning of Restaurant Week DC, so I highly encourage you all to get out there and be adventurous and try some amazing food:
http://washington.org/restaurantwk/
Here's the double dose of hot joints for the week:
Music:
DJ Earworm - United State of Pop 2009
OK, so at this point, if you haven't heard of DJ Earworm, or his famous United State of Pop mixes, you need to youtube it immediately. What this DJ does every year is he takes the top 25 pop songs of the year, and mixes them together into one fantastically awesome mix called the "United State of Pop". He has done this for several years now...and I can say that the 2009 version he released a couple weeks ago is easily his best mix yet. 5/5 Stars. For extra bonus points, I encourage you guys to go to the Sporcle site (Sporcle is an online quiz site) and see how many of the songs you can identify in the mix:
http://www.sporcle.com/games/rockgolf/Blame_it_on_the_pop
Sean Paul - Hold my Hand
For years, I've been a huge Sean Paul fan. While I don't DJ much anymore, when I used to spin, I always threw in a Dancehall mix into my sets, and that mix always consisted of 6-7 of SP's greatest hits. But I can admit when someone has dropped off the radar...and until this year, that's exactly what Mr. Paul has done. However, with a cameo on Jay Sean's new single and the release of this song, I think SP is on the verge of a return to the spotlight. The reason I like this song a lot is that it's more mellow than his dancehall jams...plus you can't go wrong when you have Keri Hilson on your track. The music video is hot as hell too. 3.5/5 Stars
Movies:
Sherlock Holmes
The last time I reviewed a movie, it was the incredible Avatar, which has been blowing away the box offices. It's unfortunate that Avatar has been doing so well, because it overshadows the fact that Sherlock Holmes is a good movie that's been doing quite well itself. My only problem with SH is that I felt the movie had a little too much story sometimes. I would've preferred to just see Sherlock and Watson on a non-stop adventure to solve the crime/mystery rather than all this additional drama crap. Nonetheless, Robert Downey Jr is amazing as always, and Jude Law puts in one of the better performances of his career (I'm also a fan or Mr. Law ever since Enemy at the Gates). 4/5 Stars
Youth in Revolt
This is one of those movies that I'm sure most people either love or hate. I fall in the love category. If you like Michael Cera, and his insecure naive boyish style of comedy, then you're going to love this film. Additionally, to see Cera go outside his box and play a badass alter ego is extremely entertaining as well. Don't expect another Superbad, but give this film a shot if you're into quirky humor. 3.5/5 Stars
Restaurants:
Jackson 20
Volt
So this week, my restaurant reviews will be a little atypical. My first review is a repeat review that I'm bringing back from my days of doing this review in AIM. My second review is a restaurant that I actually haven't eaten at yet. You'll understand in a sec. So first, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, this week is the beginning of Restaurant Week in DC. And Jackson 20 is one of the many restaurants I've tried in past RWs. Located in Alexandria, this restaurant looks rich and elegant from the street...sitting in the base of a hotel. As you enter, you are greeted by a nice hostess who takes your jackets and such and sits you at your table. The decor is poshy and very classy. Then you see the menu, and you are greeted with the warmth and familiarity of southern hospitality. Fried chicken, collared greens, bbq pork, mac n' cheese, beef brisket, ribs, etc. Southern Comfort never felt so hospitable. And just think, I never would've known about this place if it wasn't for restaurant week and a random adventurous date out to a new place! 4.5/5 Stars
The second review I'm writing today is more of a TBD (To be Determined). Among the many restaurants listed on this year's Restaurant Week DC list is Volt in Frederick, Maryland. Those of you who are tv junkies like me will recognize this restaurant as the one being owned by Top Chef runner-up Bryan Voltaggio from this most recent season of the show. He and his brother Michael fought it out in the final, and while his brother edged him out, the two were nearly unstoppable throughout the entire season. Ever since then, Bryan's restaurant in the middle of podunk Maryland has become a hot spot for DMV-ers (Dc, Maryland, Virginia) and has even earned itself a spot on Washingtonian magazine's top 100 restaurants of 2009. So...all that mouthful said...I cannot wait to try this restaurant out for myself. Stars TBD
http://washington.org/restaurantwk/
Here's the double dose of hot joints for the week:
Music:
DJ Earworm - United State of Pop 2009
OK, so at this point, if you haven't heard of DJ Earworm, or his famous United State of Pop mixes, you need to youtube it immediately. What this DJ does every year is he takes the top 25 pop songs of the year, and mixes them together into one fantastically awesome mix called the "United State of Pop". He has done this for several years now...and I can say that the 2009 version he released a couple weeks ago is easily his best mix yet. 5/5 Stars. For extra bonus points, I encourage you guys to go to the Sporcle site (Sporcle is an online quiz site) and see how many of the songs you can identify in the mix:
http://www.sporcle.com/games/rockgolf/Blame_it_on_the_pop
Sean Paul - Hold my Hand
For years, I've been a huge Sean Paul fan. While I don't DJ much anymore, when I used to spin, I always threw in a Dancehall mix into my sets, and that mix always consisted of 6-7 of SP's greatest hits. But I can admit when someone has dropped off the radar...and until this year, that's exactly what Mr. Paul has done. However, with a cameo on Jay Sean's new single and the release of this song, I think SP is on the verge of a return to the spotlight. The reason I like this song a lot is that it's more mellow than his dancehall jams...plus you can't go wrong when you have Keri Hilson on your track. The music video is hot as hell too. 3.5/5 Stars
Movies:
Sherlock Holmes
The last time I reviewed a movie, it was the incredible Avatar, which has been blowing away the box offices. It's unfortunate that Avatar has been doing so well, because it overshadows the fact that Sherlock Holmes is a good movie that's been doing quite well itself. My only problem with SH is that I felt the movie had a little too much story sometimes. I would've preferred to just see Sherlock and Watson on a non-stop adventure to solve the crime/mystery rather than all this additional drama crap. Nonetheless, Robert Downey Jr is amazing as always, and Jude Law puts in one of the better performances of his career (I'm also a fan or Mr. Law ever since Enemy at the Gates). 4/5 Stars
Youth in Revolt
This is one of those movies that I'm sure most people either love or hate. I fall in the love category. If you like Michael Cera, and his insecure naive boyish style of comedy, then you're going to love this film. Additionally, to see Cera go outside his box and play a badass alter ego is extremely entertaining as well. Don't expect another Superbad, but give this film a shot if you're into quirky humor. 3.5/5 Stars
Restaurants:
Jackson 20
Volt
So this week, my restaurant reviews will be a little atypical. My first review is a repeat review that I'm bringing back from my days of doing this review in AIM. My second review is a restaurant that I actually haven't eaten at yet. You'll understand in a sec. So first, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, this week is the beginning of Restaurant Week in DC. And Jackson 20 is one of the many restaurants I've tried in past RWs. Located in Alexandria, this restaurant looks rich and elegant from the street...sitting in the base of a hotel. As you enter, you are greeted by a nice hostess who takes your jackets and such and sits you at your table. The decor is poshy and very classy. Then you see the menu, and you are greeted with the warmth and familiarity of southern hospitality. Fried chicken, collared greens, bbq pork, mac n' cheese, beef brisket, ribs, etc. Southern Comfort never felt so hospitable. And just think, I never would've known about this place if it wasn't for restaurant week and a random adventurous date out to a new place! 4.5/5 Stars
The second review I'm writing today is more of a TBD (To be Determined). Among the many restaurants listed on this year's Restaurant Week DC list is Volt in Frederick, Maryland. Those of you who are tv junkies like me will recognize this restaurant as the one being owned by Top Chef runner-up Bryan Voltaggio from this most recent season of the show. He and his brother Michael fought it out in the final, and while his brother edged him out, the two were nearly unstoppable throughout the entire season. Ever since then, Bryan's restaurant in the middle of podunk Maryland has become a hot spot for DMV-ers (Dc, Maryland, Virginia) and has even earned itself a spot on Washingtonian magazine's top 100 restaurants of 2009. So...all that mouthful said...I cannot wait to try this restaurant out for myself. Stars TBD
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