ToDoNY Reviews

The 4th Annual New York Wine Expo 2011: Now With Cheese and Foie Gras

2011-03-07T03:10:16Z

The folks behind this growing operation known as the New York Wine Expo have been busy for the last 12 months trying to step their game up. And I think most attendees can agree that they definitely have their work cut out for them. I mean you can't really go wrong when you provide over 760 wines to sample with 190 wineries from around the world. But with a price tag like $90-$100, people expect magic. Last year, the delicious fancy grape drinks were plentiful but there was nothing else going on. This time around the sponsorships made their presence known in more ways than one. And for everyone's benefit. More...

It Got a Little Hot in There: The Brooklyn Chili Takedown

2010-11-27T07:57:01Z

Why does the Bell House get all the cool, crazy ass events? I'm sick of talking about the same venue all the time (not really). Not to mention having to travel all the way out in the middle of warehouse-ville and buildings that look semi-abandoned. Aside from this minor complaint, the Brooklyn Chili Takedown was pretty sweet. And savory and spicy. But mostly delicious.

Just about 30 chili recipes were featured this year by a bunch of unassuming and friendly cooks and chefs from all over New York. Upon entrance, the curious and hungry attendant was faced with a long line that led to a bunch of metal trays filled with all the meaty, saucy, chunky chilis that they were hoping for. The trays were separated into two groups of 15 so as to control the flow of people coming in. It was difficult for the incoming crowds to see the other line because they were hidden behind clumpy groups of people who just wanted to put food into their mouths. Eventually Matt Timms, the mastermind behind this cookdown and many others, went on stage and improved the situation. Anyway, let's get to the chili. (More...)

Brain: The Inside Story

2010-11-20T07:19:12Z

Set your neurons to hyperactive because this exhibit will stimulate your sensing brain and be sure to create long lasting and highly efficient, neural pathways. Psst, it means you'll like it and you'll have fond memories of the experience. The good folks at the American Museum of Natural History, with the help of Curator Rob DeSalle and 21st century technology, have broken down the brain in to manageable bits that even this author can understand.

The exhibit is broken into 5 categories; Your Sensing Brain, Your Emotional Brain, Your Thinking Brain, Your Changing Brain, and Your 21st Century Brain. The first three categories draw comparisons to our closest animal relatives, describing what each section of the brain specializes in. More...

Burlesque + Oktoberfest = Oktoburlesk!

2010-10-27T01:18:47Z

The Bell House was poppin, to say the least, last Thursday night for the super special event known as Oktoburlesk. The best of both worlds (Oktoberfest and Burlesque) came together in a perfect combination of fun, food, drinks, and nudity. The night started off with a little teaser by two of the Wassabasco Burlesque girls. They did some go go dancing while Alex Meixner, a Grammy nominated Polka performer, prepped for his German themed show. Still fully clothed, and by fully clothed I mean only the top half was covered, the girls did a wonderful job at hiding their intentions for the rest of the night. (More...)

Bacon-Palooza at SoHo Digital Art Gallery

2010-10-16T18:32:32Z

Bacon-Palooza is an annual autism charity event where everything on the menu includes that greasy, salty, strip of pork that everyone loves. This three day ordeal kicked off on Friday, October 15 at the SoHo Digital Art Gallery. It's a small venue, with two levels. There are white-framed TV screens on the walls where various bacon-themed pictures are showcased. The drink menu included The B.L.T, which is Bakon Vodka mixed with some tomato juice and topped with a small leaf of lettuce. It was very good and tasted like a bloody mary. There's also the Bakon-N-Egg Cream which included Bakon Vodka, milk, chocolate syrup, and Seltzer. (More...)

Stan Lee and Terry Dougas Introduce "Romeo and Juliet: The War"

2010-10-14T18:58:05Z

1821 Comics and Stan Lee's company POW! Entertainment has launched their newest project entitled Romeo and Juliet: The War, written by Max Work and created by Stan Lee himself, and Terry Dougas. They showcased beautiful colored drawings of stills from the graphic novel, mostly of the main characters and sceneries. Stan Lee was glowing with pride when he talked about the process in which he got together with Dougas to create this re-imagining of a classic William Shakespeare play. (More...)

The Walking Dead Panel at NY Comic Con

2010-10-13T23:13:33Z

If you were an attendee at the New York Comic Con this year you know that there was a lot of focus and attention on Robert Kirkman's uber popular graphic novel The Walking Dead. Not only because it exists in its current form, but because it's going to premiere as a television series on AMC on October 31, Halloween night. How wonderfully perfect for you antsy fans, who have waited 7 long years since the release of the first volume.

Frank Darabont has taken on this intense project as director and executive producer. He came out on stage with fellow EPs Gale Anne Hurd and of course, Robert Kirkman himself. They discussed the ease in which AMC accepted this unprecedented proposal, mainly because the people with whom they spoke were fans of Kirkman's work. The Walking Dead would be the very first television program about a post-apocalyptic, zombie-ridden planet, a very familiar plot in the film sector. Darabont explained that the story naturally lends itself to something beyond the limits of a 2-hour movie. Fans of the novel, and future fans of the show, probably would not disagree. (More...)

Your Highness trailer premieres @ NY Comic Con

2010-10-13T22:28:59Z

Danny McBride, James Franco, and David Gordon Green, reunite to bring us this comedy of medieval proportions. McBride is Thadeous, a dimwitted pothead whose tasked to assist his brother Fabious (James Franco) and heroine Isabel (Natalie Portman) in rescuing the princess Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel) from the clutches of evil and thus saving the kingdom from annihilation. David Gordon Green expressed his longtime interest in making a film in the form of classic 80's fantasy e.g. Krull, The Conan movies, The Dark Crystal, etc. The trailer included some slapstick and drug humor, which was cleverly delivered by the use of modern day profanity and the seriousness of their surroundings. This movie is sure to be the first great comedy of summer 2011.

Time Stands Still

2010-10-07T19:05:53Z

Busy Bee Laura Linney is back on Broadway, after being gone for a few months to devote her time on another project, Showtime's The Big C. Joining her are co-stars Brian d'Arcy James and Eric Bogosian, along with the newly casted Christina Ricci who replaced Alicia Silverstone. Time Stands Still, written by Donald Margulies and directed by Daniel Sullivan, is about the struggles of a photojournalist, Sarah (Linney), to adapt to civilized life after being the vicitim of a roadside bomb in Iraq. She is carried into her medium-sized Williamsburg loft by her 8-year-strong boyfriend and journalistic partner, James (d'Arcy James), who is visibly worried and distraught. They are later joined by Richard (Bogosian), their editor, and his fresh, young girlfriend Mandy (Ricci). Both of whom surprisingly add to the stirring of the dramatic pot. As with every story, characters butt heads, emotions are..emoted, and things happen. Well, that last part may not necessarily apply to this story in particular, because really, not much happens. More...

Owl go get my accoutrements of WAR!!!

2010-09-27T02:09:21Z

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Most owls are birds of prey but these owls seem to be bred for war…

Based on a series of novels by Kathryn Lasky and directed by Zack Snyder the “Legend of the Guardians the Owls of Ga’hoole” starts off with Soren, a young owl, who is obsessed with the legend of the ancient hero owls, is kidnapped and taken to an island fortress, where owls are brainwashed into becoming soldiers or “moon blinked” and become mindless slaves. He flees one island to find the island of Ga'Hoole the place of Legend, to battle the returning evil. MORE...