Time To Head To Europe To Cook With The Pros!

Alex and I had the chance to cook at a terrific cooking school in the south of France, and I have posted about that great adventure before…perhaps that is why I was so intrigued by a book I found, which documented one Writer’s effort to change his life by cooking his way through Europe!

The Saucier’s Apprentice: One Long Strange Trip through the Great Cooking Schools of Europe!

This is the perfect storm of a memoir: a great travel guide, a funny cooking adventure, and a mid-life crisis all in one book!

Author Bob Spitz was going through a mid-life crisis, so he decided to get away and embark on a foodie trip to Europe with one goal: to learn to cook like a pro!

Here is why I loved the book: Spitz is open and honest with his personal life: he spent eight years researching and writing a book on The Beatles, and his marriage failed during that time.

The Author arranges to cook at several private cooking schools, like one in the south of France near Cannes:

Spitz also is allowed into the kitchen of the 3-star restaurant L’Arpege in Paris – where he meets legendary Chef Alain Passard – to hilarious results:

He also attends private cooking school in France, and end up in Italy – and in the kitchen of a small local restaurant that helps him understand the true meaning of food:

Throughout, Spitz is honest – and acerbic – about the Chefs who are teaching him, the other students who are cooking alongside him, and the people in his life who have left him…and of course, he cooks and cooks and cooks…

I found the book to be very entertaining, funny, and full of great recipes…but the book was very polarizing as well – many Amazon reviews were fairly devastating – here is one:

“This book was so full of misinformation that it was a struggle to read. It was unreal to see the mistakes. Restaurants spelled incorrectly, villages set in the wrong geograhic locale, horrific descriptions of people. One cannot believe the arrogance of this author.”

The negative reviews focused on his honest opinion about the people he meets on his food journey – but I thought it was very well written and funny, and he is as tough on himself as anyone else in the book:

There were also many positive reviews on Amazon as well, like this one:

“I just loved this book. It was so reminiscent of some of the cooking schools, classes and experiences that my friends and I have encountered. Spitz’s take was so “right-on” that I was swept away with his descriptions and could, almost, smell and taste his creations. We four ladies have traveled the “Circuit” and though we didn’t visit the exact schools and or restaurants Spitz did, we were parrallel to most of them.”

So you can see, many people agree with me: this is a great book for foodies, as well as travel fans! And here is the book Spitz wrote about The Beatles:

His “Beatles” book got great review and is a great addition to the canon of material about the world’s greatest band of all time….

More Food!

And Spitz isn’t the only Author to take on the subject of food: here is another one of the best books about food ever written:

The Heat’s On!

Author Bill Buford used his friendship with Chef Mario Batali to take on a great food odyssey: read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/30/wanderlust-loving-cannes-cooking-in-ship-galleys-packing-heat-and-celebrating-saucy-sauciers/

And I had the chance to cook in Europe as well!

My Cooking Adventure With Patricia Wells!

Yes, that’s my wife Alex and I standing alongside Patricia Wells, in front of the stove that Julia Childs gave to her!

You can read about our delicious provincial cooking adventure by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/26/a-taste-of-french-cooking-provencal-villages-and-patricia-wells-adventures/

Check out all of my food posts – and let me know what you think!

Welcome To Hollywood!

It’s the entertainment capital of the world…where dreams come true and anyone can be a star…

It is also a tough place to live – and a brutal business of auditions, networking, and rejection…

An Appreciation Of Cheryl ‘Rainbeaux’ Smith…

I wanted to bring attention to an Actress who had success in Hollywood, but also lost her way…the lovely and talented “Rainbeaux” Smith – her nickname given her for being a mainstay at L.A.’s legendary Rainbow Room…

‘Rainbeaux’ starred in many films throughout the 70’s and early 80’s, building up a fan base among exploitation movie fans, as well as acting in more mainstream films like “Farewell My Lovely.”

“Caged” Cult Movie Classics!

Cheryl appeared in a number of classic B-movies throughout the 70’s, like the legendary drive-in classic “Caged Heat!”

Here is the trailer for this drive-in exploitation film:

In the 70’s, the “drive-in movie” genre was full of cult classics, and Smith also starred in several of them, like “The Swinging Cheerleaders” and “Revenge of the Cheerleaders”!

“The Pom Pom Girls” and “Vice Squad!”

‘Rainbeaux’ also starred in these two classic exploitation films as well – what I always referred to as “good clean naughty fun.” These comedies were R-rated, had the usual amount of nudity and double entendres, and usually involved cheerleader hijinks!

As Hollywood entered the ’80’s, “Vice Squad” was the new type of popular exploitation of the era: lots of action, nudity and women in peril…

There are a number of fan sites around the web that discuss Cheryl ‘Rainbeaux’ Smith, who showed a lot of promise in these films…

Take a look at this trailer for her cult comedy “The Swinging Cheerleaders!”

Bill Bixby’s Bunny!

In addition to acting, Smith was a very popular model as well. Cheryl was featured in Playboy as the Magician’s Assistant for Actor Bill Bixby…

Hollywood in the 70’s was the place to be, as exploitation films did big business, and the Sunset Strip was the place to go for music and madness…

Phantom Of The Paradise!

I’ve posted about this cult classic before, but I didn’t realize Cheryl was in it! This is Brian DePalma’s musical masterpiece starring Paul Williams as a Music Producer who sells his should to the devil. Here is a shot of ‘Rainbeaux’ as a groupie who warms up to songwriter Winslow Leach…

Rainbeaux Was A Rocker!

Note only was Cheryl an Actress, but she was once a member of the legendary girl band The Runaways with Joan Jett!

According to wikipedia, Cheryl was briefly associated with The Runaways during the production of the motion picture, “We’re All Crazy Now”, after Sandy West and Lita Ford quit the group. An impromptu group was created on the spot, fronted by Joan Jett with Cheryl on the drums as “Sandy”.

Smith was an accomplished musician, and was in a variety of movies, but her career was cut short in what is a too-common Hollywood cautionary tale.

While she continued acting, the film roles dried up after she became addicted to heroin in the mid 1980s.

In the late ’80’s she was arrested several times for drug-related offenses, and twice served time in prison. Her acting work went away, and like so many other stars, she just faded away from the public eye…

Cheryl ‘Rainbeaux’ Smith died on October 25, 2002 of complications from liver disease and hepatitis…

Remembering ‘Rainbeaux':

Here is an official website that shares pictures and stories about the actress – to remember the highlights of her career – with stories and a number of the pictures in this story are from the site:

http://rainbeauxsmith.net

There are so many stories about the “golden” days of Hollywood, but it is a tough business, and Cheryl’s is a cautionary tale about how tough it is to survive in this town…so here’s to her great body of work, and to her spirit…

Check out the site, which helps to keep her memory alive – she was a great young talent, and her death is a cautionary tale about the perils of Hollywood…

As The Who Said, “Long Live Rock!”

I love british music! And I love british bands! I mean, from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin to The Who, The Clash and beyond, the English know how to keep rock alive!

Need Proof? Well, since the 1960’s, the world has listened to the best that Britain has to offer musically, known of course as:

The British Invasion!

Regardless of how music changes, some things stay the same: the Brits know how to make great music! Time now to check out five of the latest – and in some ways the most under-appreciated british bands, beginning with the upbeat pop stylings of this band:

Keane “Spiralling”!

If you know of Keane at all, it is probably due to “Somewhere Only We Know”, which was Keane’s biggest hit in the US, but here is one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard, of their “Perfect Symmetry” CD:

Here is the VERY catchy music video for the song “Spiralling”:

Here is how the band is described on their website:

“Not many British bands these days have more than one big-selling album, let alone five. Fewer still manage to replicate – and maintain – that success outside the UK. But, in the last decade, Keane have achieved all of those things and a whole lot more. After selling over 11 million copies of their five consecutive Number One records, with their four award winning albums and their 8 track EP ‘Night Train’, it is no exaggeration to say that Keane are firmly established as one of the world’s most successful, innovative and cherished bands.”

Keane is upbeat, sunny pop music, with a bit of weekend dance vibe, and some nice love songs as well, very melodic…now, here is a band with a bit more of a rugged vibe:

“Doves” Take Flight!

“Doves” are a great band from Cheshire, England. The band is twin brothers Jez Williams (guitar, vocals) and Andy Williams (drums, vocals), and Jimi Goodwin (bass, vocals, guitar). The band have released four studio albums, two of which have reached Number One on the UK album charts.

Here is the band performing “Catch The Sun” live in 2010:

The band has a number of great rock anthems, and here is a great way to get to know them: their first career-spanning compilation album “The Places Between: The Best of Doves” was released a few years back…

Both of these bands had great success in the UK, but didn’t really break big in the US. Here is another example of an acclaimed british band that is virtually unknown in the US:

Behold “Elbow!”

Elbow is one of the best bands in the UK today! They have been together since 1997, releasing six studio albums:

Their CD’s include Asleep in the Back (2001), Cast of Thousands (2003), Leaders of the Free World (2005) and The Seldom Seen Kid (2008)…

All of these are critically-acclaimed, such as Build a Rocket Boys! (2011), and The Take Off and Landing of Everything (2014).

Each CD is a classic, but I want you to hear Elbow’s first big hit: “Asleep In The Back”, from their very first album: it’s a haunting, melodic story of love lost.

Here is the VERY inventive music video for “Asleep In The Back”:

All of their studio albums have placed in the top 15 of the British album chart, and seven of their singles have placed in the top 40 of the British singles chart!

In 2008 Elbow won the Mercury Music Prize for their album The Seldom Seen Kid, and in 2009 they won the Brit Award for Best British Group. In 2012 they released “First Steps”, the BBC theme for the 2012 London Olympics.

They are definitely worth discovering…now, here is a band that is currently flirting with success in the US, by far the “rocking-ist” band on the list!

Hello, Kasabian!

Here is one of Britain’s greatest live band today: Kasabian rocks!

If you don’t believe me, check out the music video for this raucous, aggressive and completely catch Kasabian hit:

“Days Are Forgotten!”

Kasabian have released five studio albums – Kasabian (2004), Empire (2006), West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009), Velociraptor! (2011), and 48:13 (2014). They won them a Brit Award in 2010 for Best British Group, and they headlined the 2014 Glastonbury Festival.

Kasabian is one of the most inventive bands on the market today…and finally, I have a band who I have referred to as:

“The Band To Listen To If Coldplay IS Too Raucous For You”!

Time to meet the British band “Athlete!”

“Athlete” formed in Deptford, London, and had a period of high-profile domestic success when their debut album Vehicles & Animals was a platinum seller in 2005.

It was followed up by their #1 CD “Tourist”, which went platinum in the UK. Their subsequent two albums “Beyond the Neighbourhood” and “Black Swan” were also hits in the UK.

Athlete’s “Superhuman Touch!”

Check out their latest hit single:

Athlete does have a Coldplay sound, mellow and smooth, but the songs are well-written and very catchy, and they are certainly worth a listen!

Now, as great as these five UK bands are, they don’t quite measure up to:

The Beatles!

Of course, the British Invasion was led by The Beatles, the single greatest musical group of all time…and if you haven’t heard the “remixed” White Album, check it out here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/02/10/the-beatles-remixed-white-album-x100-beatles-abbey-road-greatest-outtakes/

I love it!

Time For Some Foie!

My friends Karen and Bruce sent me a picture of a “foie gras” burger they had in Paris…and yes, they did it to taunt me…but it’s just the latest in the orgy of food pics that have come my way, like this one:

Yes, here is another thing of beauty:

A BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE CONE!

It’s just the latest in food porn that has come my way, and leads to our quest to find the most outrageous – and perfectly reasonable – use of bacon….so much to share with you, like this:

The Bacon Oreo!

Yes, I shared this before, but a month later I am still getting this sent to me…it was all part of a post documenting the world’s wildest food…you know, like this:

Read more, including the legendary japanese “almond fish” by clicking on here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/13/top-ten-wildest-food-ramen-burgers-a-fish-hot-dog/

I love when people send me wacky food pics, and many of you thought I didn’t see this:

The Bacon Taco!

Yes, that is weaved bacon forming the shell to what appears to be a delicious taco…but let’s get back to what started this:

This was posted originally by DisneyFoodBlog, and it was immediately sent to me by several people who know, accurately, how much I WOULD LOVE IT.

And they were right.

Of course, you can see so much more of this great food posting by checking out the terrific website yourself:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com

And if you want to see more food madness, well you’ve come to the right place – starting with this:

The Bacon-Twinkie Stonehenge!

I’ve shared that before, but c’mon, who wouldn’t want to see that again? Or what about this “bacon demon”:

I mean, it took a wacky, wacky mind to come up with that! But bacon isn’t just for abusing, it’s for eating too!

Bacon Maple Bars!

I would have this with a cup of coffee and call it a day! Because, at the end of the day, nothing beats the look of this:

And now, I finish with a bit of personal torture:

The Paris Foie Gras Bacon Burger!

Yes, it’s torture because my friends Bruce and Karen couldn’t resist sharing a picture of this:

Now, it’s bad enough that they are in Paris and I’m not. But to show me this: well, let’s just say there’s a bowling ball with his name on it…

Let me know which of these creations would satisfy your food lust for today…

The Nation’s Capital!

Washington DC is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, thanks to our government buildings, like the Washington Monument…

Our system of government may feel broken at time – many times, but look at how beautiful our capital looks! And of course, the centerpiece of the nation’s capital is:

The White House!

The White House is one of the most photographed buildings on earth! It’s the home to the President of the United States, and a beautiful residence – with a rich, and sometimes shocking history!

Time to look at the White House, the office of the Presidency, and one of the most unbelievable stories in our country’s past – it begins with a surprise inauguration!

Meet America’s 20th President!

The U.S. has a rich history of political chaos, and just like President Obama, many previous Presidents fought against powerful political interests that were out to get them…perhaps no one more than our 20th President, General James Garfield…who wasn’t even supposed to be elected!

The Making Of A President!

General James Garfield’s political rise is one of the most fascinating stories of all – unexpectedly being nominated by his party in the midst of a chaotic connection, beloved by the public, but hated by the elite in his own political party – it is the stuff of fiction!

It is, however, completely true, and a book tells the surprising story of his political rise, and his short time in the White House – there is a reason is he little known…

President Garfield’s brief time as President is a fascinating – and shocking piece of American history – because our 20th President of the United States was killed by his own White House Doctors!

Behold the Brilliant “Destiny Of The Republic!”

I could NOT put this book down – it is a riveting real-life thriller about the murder of a President!

This incredible biography is the story of General James Garfield’s unexpected rise to power, those who tried to destroy him, and the madman who attempted to kill him…

What you may not know is that the Assassin’s bullet didn’t kill the President – his White House Doctors did!

Beware The White House!

The White House in 1880 was NOTHING like it is today, and the book draws a fascinating portrait of how this rundown, cramped residence actually contributed to the death of a President!

Author Candice Millard has told this fascinating story like a thriller, with shocking developments and unbelievable situations – that are all true! Here is a note she posted about her book on Amazon:

A Letter from Author Candice Millard:

At the heart of “Destiny of the Republic” is the story of the assassination of President James Garfield. What made me want to write this book, however, was not what I knew about President Garfield — that he had been shot by a deranged man in the summer of 1881 — but all that I did not.

In everything I read, I am always looking for the thread of an idea, something that surprises me, and leaves me wanting to know more. To me, that’s the best part of being a writer — following an idea to see where it leads. Most of the time, after doing a little research, I quickly come to a dead end. One day four years ago, however, I found much more than I had ever expected.

Alexander Graham Bell’s Attempt To Save Garfield’s Life!

While reading a biography of Alexander Graham Bell, I learned that Bell had tried to help save Garfield’s life after the President was shot. I wondered why a man as famous and powerful as Bell, who had invented the telephone just five years earlier, would abandon everything he was working on, put his life on hold, to help any man, even a President. The only way to answer that question, I realized, was to understand exactly what Bell had invented, and, more than that, to find out what kind of man Garfield had been.

After the assassination attempt, Bell devoted himself night and day to inventing something called an induction balance, a type of metal detector, to locate the bullet lodged in the President’s body. The induction balance that Bell used for the final time on Garfield is on display in the National Museum of American History, on the National Mall.

Although, in the end, I would spend three years working on this book, it took only a few days of research to realize what Bell must have known — that President Garfield was not only a tragic figure, but one of the most extraordinary men ever elected President of the United States.

Kudos, Candice!

“Destiny Of The Republic” is a nonfiction thriller with twists you can’t see coming – and all the more amazing because it’s true! With all of the political chaos going on today, it’s sobering to see that previous Presidents, like James Garfield, were also undermined by opponents just as devious…some thing never change…

Check out all of the Author’s work by going to her website:

http://www.candicemillard.com

This is a great book, I cannot recommend it more highly.

With all of the political chaos in Washington DC today, it’s interesting to see how NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Check out this terrific book!

There is a saying:

Confucius: “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.”

Confucius may have been referring to these three travel documentaries, which each take a fascinating look at unique, spiritual and controversial parts of our world!

Up The Yangtze!

I haven’t been to China, but films like this make me want to board a plane right now! This terrific documentary looks at China’s Yangtze river, and the Government’s decision to flood it – and the catastrophic impact it has on the residents there…

The film introduces you to the young men and women who live along the river, and how they must take jobs on the cruise ships that glide along the ever-rising water, which will soon flood their homes…here is the trailer:

You meet these people and see how their lives are radically changed by the dam – in fact, this farm you see below no lingers exists – you actually see it flood in the movie…

These life-changing moments are shared, and it’s a sobering thing to see…while this look at a changing China is fascinating and sad, the next documentary is a celebration of a lifestyle that hasn’t changed in generations!

Welcome To Siberia!

Ever imagine living in Siberia? Sure, this looks like a nice day on the river…

But that’s just a small part of what Siberia is. Ever wonder what it’s like to trap sable in -50 degree weather? Oh, and you have to travel to each trap through one of the most heavily forested places in the world…

Imagine having so many questions about life in one of the most extreme parts of the world. Well, thanks to visionary Director Werner Herzog, you now have the answers!

Welcome To The Siberian Wilderness!

You have to check out “Happy People: A Year In The Taiga”! First, take a look at the trailer:

Meet These “Happy People!”

“Happy People: A Year In The Taiga” is a terrific documentary that spends a year in the life of the indigenous people living in Bakhtia, the heart of the Siberian Taiga; a small knit community of 300+ villagers whose daily lives haven’t changed over the last century – it’s a fascinating look at their lives, and their cultural traditions.

And yes, that is a frozen fish that sits most of the year outside – since the entire outdoors is a freezer! This was originally a TV documentary series for Russian TV. Acclaimed Director Werner Herzog came upon it and turned it into a feature-length documentary which is now out on DVD!

Cue The Dogs!

There are amazing parts to the lives that these people lead, including a fascinating look at the dogs who literally keep these trappers alive during the winter…their only companions for months on end…

You get to meet these solitary trappers, who spend months in the wilderness hunting sable, living alone in snowed-in log cabins in the middle of the wilderness…

Director Herzog oversaw the cut down of the material, and he does all of the voice over work as well…and the DVD includes an introduction to the film he did in front of an audience, in which he explains how he got involved in the project….

Also included on the DVD is an excerpt from the original TV series – called “Chasing Spring In West Siberia”…if you like documentaries that uncover a completely unique way of life, this is the one for you!

Werner’s Penguins!

Werner Herzog has a number of terrific documentaries, each one narrated by the Director…including one that takes a fascinating look at the people who live at the end of the earth!

Life Among Penguins!

If you want to check out more Werner Herzog, click HERE to read about his great Antarctica documentary, “Encounters At The End Of The World”!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/08/05/icebergs-penguins-pillars-of-hercules-tuscan-sunburns-extreme-adventures-await/

It’s also a great travel film! Now, let’s get away from the ice and head to a “reel paradise!”

I love documentaries that explore unique cultures, and also show how cultures can sometimes clash…here is one amazing example:

Reel Paradise

This is the fascinating story of Independent film executive John Pierson…Pierson is a passionate cinema enthusiast who has written books on maverick filmmakers – including the bestseller “Spike, Mike, Slackers & Dykes”.

Pierson also helped produce a number of independent films, including early works by Spike Lee, Michael Moore, and Richard Linklater. In 2003, he got fed up with life and moved his entire family to Fiji!

Pierson and his family took over an abandoned movie theater, and began showing free movies at the 288-seat 180 Meridian Cinema, in remote Natokalan Village on the island of Taveuni.

During the final month of their year-long stay in Fiji, indie-film gurus John and Janet Pierson and their two children host a documentary film crew. Here is the trailer to this fascinating documentary:

Sounds idyllic, right? Well, in fact, NO.

Reality intrudes in paradise: their home is burgled, the local Catholic priest criticizes John’s project, their daughter’s behavior may be threatening the reputation of her friend, and John’s prickly personality is captured on film…

Check out “Reel Paradise” – the family bravely put themselves in the spotlight in this film, and without a doubt they got burned a bit by that…but their love of film, and eagerness to explore a new culture comes through as well – and perhaps had they been filmed in the first month of their stay – rather than the last – it might come across differently…

And while the family bravely put themselves in front of the cameras, it’s also a bit off-putting as well, because they come across as a bit angry that they weren’t able to “educate the locals…” watch it and tell me what you think!

Sp, whether you head to Fiji for a movie, China for a river cruise, or Siberia to go ice fishing, you have some fascinating travels ahead! Let me know what you think!

Behold The Greatest Cheeseburger Ever Made!

How can you argue it – that is one gorgeous cheeseburger! So where did it come from? Well, that question is answered differently by ANYONE who has a taste for a good burger…because we’ve all held a cheeseburger that looked just about flawless, haven’t we?

Yes, that is one great looking cheeseburger! There is, however, a bit of a controversy in the burger world:

Is “bigger” always “better?”

Can a burger ever be “too” big? They are fun to advertise, and enjoyable to observe, but are they really for eating?

Today we aren’t here to discuss “mega burgers”…instead, it time’s to go back to the basics, and nobody does “basic beef” better than the Windy City!

Chicago’s “Basic Burger Battle”!

Time to check out two places in Chicago that don’t go “big”, they go “basic”…burgers that are straightforward and delicious…let’s start at a local favorite located in the Windy City’s Lincoln Park neighborhood…

Welcome To Muskie’s!

Welcome to a classic “hamburger stand” – Muskie’s has been on Lincoln avenue for almost twenty years, serving up great burgers to a ravenous neighborhood…in a setting that feels like the 60’s…

I love the “traditional” hamburger stand – Muskie’s doesn’t try to do anything more than serve up “char-broiled” burgers on a small grill…along with hot dogs, a fish sandwich, and a few other surprises…in a setting that says “basic, good hamburgers”…

I ordered Muskie’s “bacon cheeseburger” with fries…and while this bun looks a bit wrinkled, it wasn’t – it held up just fine, tasted good and was perfect for the burger’s needs….and at Muskie’s you don’t have to worry: they put two meaty strips of freshly cooked bacon on top…

The meat tastes char-broiled, with strong “beef” flavor…and the condiments are added sparingly – to enhance the burger, not camouflage it…lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, muster and a hint of secret sauce – OK, something in the thousand island family – and it works – it’s a straightforward, delicious burger…

The french fries come with skins on, freshly made to order, and a slight crunch and soft interior…

Muskie’s offers a few items loaded up – like a variety of cheese fries, plus milk shakes and floats as well – like I said, a great “hamburger stand”…

Now, time to head to a “hamburger shop”…Chicago’s more modern approach to a hamburger stand…

Welcome To Edzo’s!

Edzo’s is also in the Lincoln Park neighborhood – and as you can see, Edzo’s also has a “hamburger stand” vibe inside…although they call themselves a burger “bar”…

Edzo’s Modernist Take On Things!

One thing you notice immediately: while Edzo’s offers the traditional burger, they also have some really fun “modern” takes on the staples:

Grass Fed AND Lobster Fries!

That’s right, you can upgrade your beef to grass fed, along with other upgrades – and yes, you can also order “lobster fries!” And of course, for the purpose of this review, I did just that:

But first, I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with the works, just as I did at Muskie’s…

As you can see, this bacon cheeseburger also came loaded up with fresh, crispy bacon…and cheese that just couldn’t wait to melt…

As with Muskie’s, the beef was juicy and flavorful, and the burger wasn’t loaded up so much that you couldn’t taste the meat…

It’s All About The Price Point!

One thing to point out: these are NOT fast food burgers…they are not mass produced, frozen patties plopped down on a massive sheet of hot metal – these are char-broiled burgers, made to order…and you can taste the quality! Plus, at both places, you can watch them cook it too!

These burger and fry combos were both around $7, and they were very filling – Edzo’s and Muskie’s aren’t the “mega” burger joints that can charge $10 or more just for a burger…these are straightforward “hamburger stand” places that serve fresh burgers that taste great for a good price….

Gaze Upon My Lobster Fries!

Well as I said, Edzo’s had a few modern takes, including Lobster fries covered with an aioli sauce…and yes, they were as flavorful and delicious as they look…fresh fries topped with chopped Lobster, then laced with green onions and aioli…

The Verdict?

Both places are great, and the lobster fries were terrific at Edzo’s – but I enjoyed the Muskie’s burger just a bit more…perhaps the thousand island sauce made the difference, but both will satisfy your burger itch!

Make sure to check out Edzo’s as well as Muskie’s – for “traditional” burgers that deliver flavor and value…and if you were wondering about what kind of burger I love best, one of my favorites looks like this:

Behold Badhappy’s Frosted Flake Burger!

Yes, look costly: those are frosted flakes….

The legendary Badhappy Poutine shop in Chicago made this baby – until they had to close…but Chef Tom Kern is popping up all over Chicago, so I will update you as soon as I can on his Badhappy status…in the meantime, I can always bite down hard on one of these:

Big Vs. Bagged!

This entire discussion has been based on how you like your burger: do you want something MONSTROUS? Would you rather have straightforward? I like them both, and they are easy to find, like this Kuma’s burger!

Read my look at two Chicago institutions – one who goes BIG, and other who goes BAGGED, by clicking on my story below:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/17/chicagos-burger-wars-heavy-metal-vs-mad-max-big-against-bag/

So find out if some burgers are better BIG or BAGGED, and let me know what your favorite type of burger is!

Welcome Back To Tokyo – Where Anything Goes!

Try not to get seasick staring at the image above you – remember, this is a serious educational look at a subject the Japanese love: SEX!

I love how the Japanese approach everything – I mean, just look at how they decorate a nightclub!

I mean, how much fun does THIS look? It’s just another night of fun in Tokyo, where even the outside is lit up for fun!

And as much fun as it is to walk the streets of Tokyo at night – bathed in non-stop neon, they manage to find more things to entertain you indoors as well!

Time To Get Educated!

Japan wants to teach you a thing or two! Yes, there are two new exhibitions designed to entice, inform and excite you – a “love doll” exhibit – and a “sex museum”!

Let’s Head To Japan!

Time for some “adult education” thanks to the Japanese…

Welcome To Japan’s Sex Museum!

Leave it to our friends in the far east to spend $7-million dollars to celebrate sex!

I found a story that describes the Ureshino Sightseeing House of Hidden Treasures. This amazing new museum is located in the city of Ureshino in Saga Prefecture, this is a sex museum, or “hihoukan” (秘宝館) in Japanese!

As always, the “adult” nature of this stuff is fairly tame…you can certainly find more graphic displays of adult material in Japan, but museums like this are more humorous than anything else…for example:

“Haikyo.org” has an entire story about the museum, with pictures like this: the “Elephallic Man”:

Thanks to our friends at Kotaku for “uncovering” this…see more of their story here!

http://kotaku.com/nsfw-japans-7-million-sex-museum-sure-is-silly-1446939458/1447737401/@maxread

Kotaku is a great source for fascinating stories from all over the world, especially the far East…

As always, the Japanese are very provocative in terms of pure entertainment…in fact, I’ve had the chance to see some of it for myself…

The Sim-Wise Love Doll!

Alex Sim-Wise hosted some great travel segments for G4 TV, and on one shoot she posed for this picture with some of Tokyo’s infamous “Love Dolls”…

We found these “love dolls” in a 6-story sex shop in the Akihabara district of Tokyo…yes, a 6-story sex shop…here is my story with Alex Sim-Wise when she explored Tokyo’s “other” shopping district…

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/06/alex-sim-wise-her-tokyo-sex-shop-adventures/

And guess what? Not only are Japanese love dolls, popular, they are also an exhibit!

Love Doll Exhibit!

Yes, not only is the “love doll” industry very popular, it’s important enough for an exhibition of its own!

Here’s how it is described by RocketNews24: “At the fourth annual “Jinzou shoujo” (love dolls) exhibition, you can see tons of top-quality silicon love dolls, including the newest models, and learn about Orient Industry’s “vision of the future”. Entry is just 1,000 yen (around US $10).”

Yes, it’s an exhibit in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district – where you wander though “love dolls” of all shapes and sizes…and if you want to buy one, be prepared to shell out thousands of dollars!

As you can see, the Japanese are no different than anyone else – they love museums!

Thanks to the intrepid reporters at “RocketNews24″ once again for the great job – read their entire story here!

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/08/09/something-for-the-weekend-love-doll-exhibition-opens-in-ginza-and-yep-it-sure-looks-creepy/

And if you want entertainment that is a bit more wholesome – BUT NOT TOO WHOLESOME – then check this out!

Bikini Robot Battles!

That’s right, one of Tokyo’s most outrageous clubs has bikini robot battles – with you in the driver’s seat! Check out the story here!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/27/giant-bikini-robot-dolls-tokyos-crazy-nightlife-strikes-again-tamborine-man-too/

It’s all part of what make Tokyo Tokyo – always looking to make fun even funner!

Smile! It’s Halloween Month 2014!

I love this image, and I love this movie…and what better time to enjoy “The Exorcist” – and ALL of the greatest horror films – than the month leading up to Halloween 2014!

With 31 days of horror, there are a LOT of films you can watch to make you scream…time to share some of my favorites with you! Just be sure not to make THESE TWO UNHAPPY!

Yes, those two Twins were no doubt perfect girls for Director Stanley Kubrick…more on “The Shining” in a moment, a more stylized horror film…

Watch out! As stylized as “The Shining” is, we start our look at the horrific month of October with a film that for many is the most shocking ever released!

Fire Up Your Chainsaws!

Let’s begin with what many consider the most “horrifically raw” horror film of all time! “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is not only an iconic horror film – it was groundbreaking for it’s “documentary” feel, and it is celebrating its 40th anniversary on a new blu-ray release – that has lots of new documentaries!

This movie is almost TOO intense to watch, which is why it has become such a horror classic…and speaking of horror classics, here is one of most well-made horror films of all time:

Bravo To Brian DePalma!

Director Brian DePalma made what is, for me, one of the all time greatest horror films ever:

The 70’s was a golden era for horror films, and DePalma deserves credit for many of them – not only his horror classic “Carrie”, but “Sisters” and “Dressed To Kill” as well! See my five favorite DePalma horror classics by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/13/carrie-and-more-5-classic-brian-depalma-thrillers/

And speaking of the 70’s, let’s not forget that in 1973 the greatest horror film of all time was released to a screaming public:

The haunting image on the poster only hints at what is going on inside this Washington DC brownstone: “The Exorcist” is a brilliant film as well as the scariest horror film ever made – with so many shocking moments there are too many to name…and it’s impossible to keep your head on straight!

OK, we all know about the shocking sequences in the film – the buildup of dread that begins when young Regan starts to become – well, POSSESSED…

Director William Friedkin made this two years after he won the Oscar for Best Picture for “The French Connection”…

“The Exorcist” was also nominated for Best Picture of 1973 – a great example of a horror film that is also just a brilliant movie – and Linda Blair was perfect as the young, angelic Regan – which makes what happens in the film all the more shocking:

Regan MacNeil: “My bed was shaking. I can’t get to sleep.”

There is so much great trivia around this movie:

The refrigerated bedroom set was cooled with four air conditioners and temperatures would plunge to around 30 to 40 below zero. It was so cold that perspiration would freeze on some of the cast and crew. On one occasion the air was saturated with moisture resulting in a thin layer of snow falling on the set before the crew arrived for filming.

Oh, and then it gets REALLY SCARY, as the demon begins to taunt Karras:

Demon: “Your mother sucks cocks in Hell, Karras, you faithless slime!”

Oh yeah, the “360 degree head twist” sequence! This film is so intense and scary that the original teaser trailer, which consisted of nothing but images of the white-faced demon quickly flashing in and out of darkness, was banned in many theaters, as it was deemed “too frightening”.

Pea Soup For Dinner?

And then of course, there is the legendary projectile vomiting scene!

The substance that the possessed Linda Blair hurls at Father Damien Karras is thick pea soup. Specifically, it’s Andersen’s brand pea soup. The crew tried Campbell’s but didn’t like the “effect.”

Tons of great stories and commentaries on the special edition blu-ray….check it out and relive a classic!

And it’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as horror is concerned! Because in addition to classic horror, there are some great “new” horror classics as well!

Meet The Shocking Soska Sisters!

Two of the brightest new stars of horror have a great story to share! And yes, they love “The Shining” too!

The Soska Sisters are not only twins, but they direct horror films and they have a company called “Twisted Twins!”

They clearly have a thing for blood, so check out my story on their terrific horror film “American Mary!”

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/07/modern-horror-twin-directors-the-soska-sisters-american-mary-dead-hooker-in-a-trunk/

The Sisters are back this Halloween with “See No Evil 2″ starring Kane! This new horror film is on demand as of Oct. 17!

Let’s pause for a moment to say “don’t you just love October”?

It’s Friday The 13th All Month Long!

Yes, October is really month full of “Friday the 13th’s”, culminating in a night of Halloween horror on the 31st!

Here are my favorite horror films – from all around the world! Like this bloody classic from Japan:

Yes, you can enjoy the classic gorefest of “Tokyo Gore Police” and many more by clicking on my list of worldwide horror here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/12/13/friday-the-13th-the-best-horror-movies-to-scare-the-lights-off-you/

And of course, some think that a certain film is the best horror film ever…

“Here’s Johnny!”

Yes, when a master like Stanley Kubrick takes on the horror genre, you had to assume it would be a stylized look at pure evil…with many iconic moments…

You can read all about this classic horror film by clicking on my whole story here…

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/31/the-shining-room-237-the-exorcist-the-greatest-horror-movies-ever-made/

There are so many great horror films to watch…some are gorefests, and some offer a psychological look at horror, like this one!

A Psychological Horror Double Bill!

If you haven’t heard of “Let’s Scare Jessica To Death”, you are missing a horror treat! And if you want double your horror, then add “Rosemary’s Baby” to your list as well!

Read about both of these classic horror films by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/26/rosemarys-baby-jessicas-scared-to-death-great-halloween-horror/

Well, I’m exhausted, and you should be looking for movies like this right now:

This is just the tip of the horror iceberg, and there are many more posts to come! So try all of these gorefests on for size and let me know what you think!

Time For A Sasha Grey Halloween

!

Sasha Grey has a new film out in time for Halloween 2014 – and Sasha is starring with Elijah Wood! The premiere was just held in Spain, where the cast and crew were ready to share this psychological thriller with the world!

“Open Windows” For Halloween!

Sasha has been focused on making terrific independent cinema – and in this case, she is working with Elijah Wood on a thriller that is perfect for Halloween 2014!

Kudos to the entire cast and crew for this great independent thriller – now on demand! Here’s a look at the film!

Here is the trailer:

Here’s the plot: Sasha Grey stars as an actress named Jill, who refuses to have dinner with Nick, a fan who won a date with her in an Internet contest. Elijah Wood is the spurned fan…

A guy named Chord, posing as Jill’s campaign manager, helps Nick spy on the actress from his own computer. Nick starts a game in which he realises that is only a puppet into the manic plans devised by Chord…

Elijah Wood has been on a creative tear recently, using his production company to make edgier work, like his remake of “Maniac.”

He also produced a very low-budget horror film called “Toad Road”, which was released by a new company called “Artsploitation Films.”

Kudos, Sasha!

This is the latest in a string of great Sasha movies, such as Steven Soderbergh’s “The Girlfriend Experience.”

And of course, as much as it may annoy Sasha, here are some of the great adventures I had with her in Australia!

Sasha’s Travel Adventures!

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know that I had the chance to travel to Australia with Sasha, exploring one of the greatest countries in the world!

Here she is filming with our crew at Sydney’s convention center…and she also got the chance to take on some much more dangerous sports as well!

Sasha Gets A Shark Photo Bomb!

Those were indeed REAL LIVE SHARKS photo bombing Sasha as she walked among them at Sydney’s Aquarium…and no, there are NO barricades or glass between her and the sharks!

Here’s a short video all about it her adventure – first up, getting instruction from her Shark Master – and asking if she can “walk like a duck underwater!

Then it was time to walk into the tanks and hang out with the sharks…we were all, of course, safely kept behind thick glass!

Sasha Gets “Brushed Back!”

Then it was time to “interact” with the sharks…remember, there is nothing between her and those sharks! Here’s a video in which she discusses the “tail flipping” incident!

You can see all of the pictures – and more video – by clicking on the link below:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Sasha Goes Bats!

Sasha also got to see Australian bats – which just hang out in their parks and look like this:

That story with pictures and video can be found here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/18/sasha-greys-juliette-society-sasha-goes-bats-for-australia/

Surf’s Up With Sasha!

OK, this was Sasha trying out a game where you try and stay on a mechanical surfboard…she did pretty well at it! But we decided to really test her, and took her to the iconic Bondi Beach, where she learned to surf for real!

The entire story, plus lots of fun videos, are located here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

Sasha’s On Top Of The World!

Finally, we had the chance to travel to Melbourne, and while we were there we headed up the tallest building in the southern hemisphere: Eureka Tower…

And yes, Melbourne is as beautiful as it looks – we had a great time, and if you want to see the entire video of Sasha peering out from 88 stories high, and how the cube she is in magically transforms, just click BELOW:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

Sasha Outtake!

Finally, I found this hilarious short video of Sasha in a car putting on some makeup – and yes, she realizes she is being filmed:

As you can see, Sasha is great fun to work with, so if you are a fan, go order “The Juliette Society” now!

Congrats to Sasha for the publication of her novel!

More To Come From “The Juliette Society”!

Congratulations to Sasha Grey on the best-selling status of her debut novel, “The Juliette Society”! And just announced: a sequel is on the way!

Sasha Grey’s novel, “The Juliette Society” is a worldwide sensation – the book is a bestseller in a number of countries around the world – and the excitement continues as Sasha is writing a sequel!

Sasha has been promoting the book around the world, including personal appearances and book signings – when I traveled to Australia with her, she had tons of fans meet her at a personal appearance in Melbourne:

Sasha Down Under!

I am a big supporter of Sasha’s work, because I admire how focused and driven she is. I had the chance to film lifestyle segments in Australia with Sasha…and she was terrific to work with…

Eureka!

Melbourne Australia is a gorgeous city, and it is also home to the tallest building in the southern hemisphere:

After going up 88 stories in Eureka Tower, Sasha went into a small room and – well, you can watch what happened for yourself:

The people in Melbourne were terrific, and a huge number of fans came out to meet Sasha when she made a public appearance:

After Melbourne, we headed to Sydney, a much more raucous city, where Sasha let us put her to the test with a variety of extreme sports – and she did them all, including swimming with sharks…

Shark Photo Bomb!

Sasha donned scuba gear for the first time ever and went underwater to walk among sharks in Sydney…absolutely NOTHING between her and the sharks…and two of the more playful sharks decided to photo bomb her!

Here’s a short video of her adventure, including her describing how one of the sharks took a swing at her!

First, here is her instruction before entering the tank:

Once inside, Sasha was literally among the sharks, with NO barrier between her and them…and she describes what happened next:

And of course, our Australia adventure was just beginning…it was time for another “first time” sporting adventure…

Surf’s Up With Sasha!

Even though she had never done it before, Sasha willingly donned a wetsuit and learned to surf at Australia’s legendary Bondi Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world:

That led to my favorite video with her EVER – when she discovered – quite unexpectedly – just how cold the water was at Bondi!

Sasha was an amazingly fast learner: within a half hour she was surfing! I also love this video, which captures the moment Sasha discovers that they spit their gum out on the ground in Australia just like the rest of us:

It was a great trip down under, capturing the lifestyle of the Aussies, and even cooking bugs! Yes, that is what they are called, although they are really just “giant-shrimp-with-squashed-lobster-heads” things:

Still, she cooked them, along with a kangaroo steak – they are raised commercially just for that purpose – and we had a nice taste of Australia:

I posted a number of short videos that captured some of the “behind-the-scenes” moments from the trip – you can find them here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Johnrieber/videos

I have thought about these fun shoots as I read all about Sasha’s success with “The Juliette Society” – so if you haven’t purchased the book yet, now is the time!

And, if you are a Sasha Grey completist, here are ALL of the stories I have posted of our Australian adventure…beginning with Sasha’ 88-story Melbourne adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

Then, it was off to Sydney:

That’s where Sasha donned a wetsuit and went for a walk among sharks – here is the complete shark dive adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/21/sasha-grey-shark-diving-sydneys-bugs-opera-house-beauty-australia-rules/

I have to reiterate that there was nothing between Sasha and the sharks and stingray except her instructor:

And of course, I was given more pictures by someone on the crew, so I did a shark followup here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Then it was time to head to Australia’s famed Bondi Beach:

Here is the entire surfing adventure, with a number of fun videos of Sasha on a surfboard:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

My first post was all about Sasha’s fan signing in Melbourne…

This is the story of how we got lost inside Melbourne’s massive casino:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/17/melbourne-exploring-australias-exotic-southern-city-with-sasha-grey/

Then, when I previewed the book, I also shared some video of Sasha discovering bats in Sydney:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/18/sasha-greys-juliette-society-sasha-goes-bats-for-australia/

Luckily, we shots lots of behind-the-scenes pics and video, which is why I am able to share them with fans:

And my most recent story focused on the release of the novel, plus some additional outtakes I found!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/11/sasha-greys-new-novel-sasha-grey-shark-dive-outtakes/

OK, so that’s it – your entire library of Sasha Grey’s Australia adventures! If you made it this far, I remind you to make sure and purchase “The Juliette Society” for yourself and friends!

And don’t forget to download Sasha’s latest film for Halloween!

Get ready to bite down on some classic cult films!

WARNING! NUDITY AND CULT EROTIC HORROR AHEAD!

Yes, I need to warn you that some of the images to follow include nudity – because this story is about a time when movie studios were desperate to keep up with the times, and if a horror film was going to connect with an audience, it had to look current even if it took place in the past!

Let’s go back to the 70’s – to an era in English movie history when some of the most famous movie studios were desperate to stay alive – so they found a way to take their classic horror films and turn them into something much more popular – by adding lots of blood and nudity!

Yes, the 70’s were a time when all rules were thrown out the window as movie studios struggled to stay current…and this was how one iconic horror studio took timeless horror stories and sexed them up!

It’s Hammer Time!

Hammer films became legendary in the 50’s and 60’s by offering up vintage horror tales with Dracula, Frankenstein, and lots of medieval atmosphere!

However, by the 70’s, movie studios were amping up the sex and violence, and that meant taking a classic horror genre and spicing it up!

The Modern Era Of Horror!

Hammer was struggling to survive, as their retro horror films like “Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed!” were looking out of touch at a time when such modern, nihilistic horror films as “Rosemary’s Baby” and “Last House On The Left” were a new way to show horror…so the company came up with an plan to win their audience back….and it involved THIS:

And guess what? It worked! Let’s look at some of Hammer’s best erotic horror films from the 70’s – the golden age of naked horror!

Countess Dracula!

Here is an example of a modern take on a classic tale!

Like all vintage Hammer horror, the plot is simple but effective: In medieval Europe aging Countess Elisabeth rules harshly with the help of lover Captain Dobi. Hammer scored big with sex kitten Ingrid Pitt, who was not only a great actress but a great beauty as well!

So an evil Countess – how to make it erotic? Easy! The Countess realizes that washing in the blood of young girls makes her young again!

“Washing In The Blood Of Young Girls” Indeed!

“Erotic horror” was Hammer’s attempt to stay relevant, and “Countess Dracula” and was a big hit that offered up lots of nudity and gore! All of this led to what many consider to be Hammer’s greatest achievement:

The Karnstein Trilogy!

The Karnstein Trilogy was based loosely on J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s early vampire novella Carmilla. These three films were a major step forward for Hammer – as they showed some of the most explicit scenes of lesbianism yet seen in mainstream English language films!

The Vampire Lovers (1970) – “Taste The Deadly Passion Of The Blood-Nymphs!”

First, check out this classic movie trailer!

Here’s the simple plot: The Countess is called away to tend a sick friend – so she asks her friend the General to let her daughter Marcilla stay as a house guest. Of course, soon villagers begin dying, and the General’s daughter Laura gets weak and pale – but Marcilla is there to comfort her. Like I said, Hammer went lesbian!

Of course the villagers rebel, more people die, and there is a lot of nudity and female-on-female vampire action, thanks to Marcilla…

Marcilla: You must die! Everybody must die!

Legendary Horror Actor Peter Cushing starred in the film as well, and got to hold some fun props:

Baron Joachim von Hartog: They were all evil and remain evil after death!

They sure are…and, in trying to be more contemporary, there were plenty of scenes that allowed the Actresses the chance to “work” together:

I love the posters of this era, including this one from overseas:

After the success of “The Vampire Lovers”, another film in the series quickly followed…

Lust for a Vampire (1971)

“Welcome To The Finishing School – Where They Really DO Finish You!”

How can you argue with THAT? Check out the trailer:

In 1830, forty years to the day since the last manifestation of their dreaded vampirism, the Karnstein heirs use the blood of an innocent to bring forth the evil that is the beautiful Mircalla – or as she was in 1710, Carmilla.

The nearby Finishing School offers rich pickings not only in in the blood of nubile young ladies but also with the headmaster who is desperate to become Mircalla’s disciple. Again, lots of beautiful women taking their clothes off for the sake of horror.

The film has a cult following, and its most famous scene shows Actress Yutte Stensgaard drenched in blood and partially covered by blood-soaked rags…a good look for a horror film…

Hammer films began to showcase much more flesh to go along with the blood, which was their only way to compete against the more modern films of the time…

As good as “The Vampire Lovers” and “Lust For A Vampire” were, the masterpiece of the three was the final film in the trilogy…and as you can see from the poster, they were selling it on explicitness!

Twins of Evil (1971) – AKA “Twins Of Dracula!”

“In Old Gothic Europe They Had Two Burning Passions: Witch Hunting and Devil Worship!”

They sure do, no matter which title you use – because they used them both! Let’s check it out:

“Twins of Evil” starred Peter Cushing, along with the real-life twins and former Playboy Playmates Mary and Madeleine Collinson. Yes, the twins had been in Playboy in October, 1970 – and Hammer saw a smart commercial idea when they saw one – put them in a horror movie and make them wear lots of lingerie!

It is the third film of The Karnstein Trilogy, based on the vampire tale Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. The film has the least resemblance to the novel and adds a witch hunting theme to the vampire story.

Much of the interest of the film revolves around the contrasting evil and good natures of two beautiful sisters, Frieda and Maria Gellhorn. Of course, all of the publicity shots focused on the twins in all their sexy glory…

The plot allowed plenty of opportunity for the girls to undress – and of course, for one of them to be EVIL…

As you can see, the twins were front and center for nudity and bloodletting…

Ultimately, this type of film wound up at drive-ins, as part of a “sexy” double bill designed to draw in carloads of teenagers looking for a cheap thrill…

Ultimately, no matter how much Hammer tried to become “hip”, the classic look of the films, and their medieval setting, branded them as “square.” But these films are classic horror with a modern touch, so check them out!

It’s Strawberry Burger Time!

Yes, Japan has done it again! If you don’t think of strawberries when you think about a hamburger, then you don’t know Lotteria!

Lotteria Scores Again!

Japanese fast food chain Lotteria is a hamburger chain that never knows when to quit – creatively at least. And thank to the intrepid reporters at “Rocketnews24″, we can all experience the majesty of a “Strawberry burger!”

Yes, it’s the “Tochigi Wagyu Steak Hamburger with Tochiotome Strawberry Sauce” (Tochigi Wagyu Hamburg Steak Burger (Tochiotome Sauce)), and RocketNews24 couldn’t wait to see how strawberries and wagyu mix!

Here is how the website describes it: “the hamburger is flavored with plenty of not just strawberry sauce but a rich-looking demi-glace sauce as well. According to Lotteria, the strawberry sauce is made from a Béchamel sauce sweetened with Tochiotome jam and just a dash of Tochiotome liqueur. The demi-glace sauce contains various ingredients including a red wine-flavored condiment, bouillon and apples.”

Well, kudos once again to Lotteria, and of course to the great website “RocketNews24″ – who always uncover unique happenings in Asia and Japan! Read the entire “strawberry burger” experience by clicking on their story here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/10/02/strawberry-and-beef-we-try-lotterias-new-tochigi-wagyu-steak-hamburger-with-strawberry-sauce/

And now, to honor this latest burger gem, it’s time to look at Lotteria’s five greatest food concoctions!

Lotteria’s Chocolate-Chicken Burger!

Yes, Lotteria has a burger made out of chicken and topped with chocolate! Of course it’s as good as it looks, and you can read the entire review by clicking on here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/27/chocolate-chicken-burgers-shrimp-chicken-twins-bravo-japans-lotteria/

Ok, you are a traditionalist: no strawberries or chocolate for you…instead, you like the simplicity of a good cheeseburger – and guess what, Lotteria has that for you as well!

Lotteria’s Ten-Patty Madness!

Lotteria almost DARES you to try and bite down on this baby! How can you not love a burger that, well, never ends!

Read all about how they make this monster by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/25/bacon-bazookas-monster-burgers-massive-slabs-of-meat/

And if you are on the cutting edge of burger innovation, then you are well aware of this:

Lotteria’s Noodle Burger!

That’s right, bite down on a burger made with noodle buns! Check it out here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/16/japans-massive-noodle-burgers-green-gum-shakes-more-amazing-lotteria-madness/

Bacon Lovers Unite!

And if you love bacon like I love bacon, then Lotteria has down it again!

Yes, a burger topped with “bacon cubes”! I tell you, I love these guys! Read all about this bacon masterpiece here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/11/25/breaking-bacon-news-behold-the-bacon-cube-burger-japans-lotteria-strikes-bacon-gold-again/

Finally, while Lotteria is based in Japan, these has a bit of “italian” going for them one day, and it resulted in THIS:

Yes, they are japanese spaghetti burgers…so Lotteria, you continue to surprise and amaze out tastebuds, and for that we say thanks!

Halloween 2014 is underway with amazingly distasteful Halloween horror classics! Yes, Halloween is a season for every kind of movie that is so so wrong – and yet at this time of year is so so right!

“The Sequel You Did Nazi Coming!”

Yes, you read that right! Now, DO NOT CLICK AWAY. You need to read about some of the craziest movies being made today – the raucous blend of zombies and Nazis! I’ve got a sequel to a movie you may not even know exists! And it’s just the tip of the “zombie movie madness” I have for you!

First: did you happen to see this classic film?

“Dead Snow”! Nazi Zombies, Of Course!

Leave it to the Norwegians to corner the market in wacky “nazi zombie” movies! You get the idea here: Nazis were never wiped out in WW2, they were just frozen solid – and once they thawed out, they were ravenous zombies! That’s “Dead Snow” in a nutshell! This movie has a great cult following, helped by a great blu-ray release:

There have been a number of comic zombie movies, such as the classic “Shaun Of The Dead” – it is tough to pull off, but when it works, it works! The success of the “Dead Snow” comic zombie gorefest has led to, you guessed it – THIS!

Read this inspired plot summary by the brilliant minds at IMDB:

“If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you’d have to assume that things couldn’t get much worse. In Martin’s case, that was only the beginning!”

Check out the trailer:

Don’t you love this Norwegian movie poster? And listen, Nazis were horrible human beings, but now, they are just disgusting zombies! As you can see, “Dead Snow 2″ is a campy gorefest, with severed arms, frozen zombies, repulsive Nazis and more!

Movies like this DO NOT APOLOGIZE: they are over-the-top, embracing their bad taste – and they are the perfect entertainment to have on in the background at your next party – or better yet, you can watch it in the privacy of your own twisted home!

I know what you are thinking:

“it is really a shame that there aren’t more bad taste zombie movies for me to enjoy…”

Well, we all know that’s not true, right?

Here are more Zombie movies for you – beginning with MORE NAZIS!

“Iron Sky” Indeed!

Did you know that after WW2, a few Nazis managed to get onboard a spaceship and head to the dark side of the moon?

OK, even I admit that this movie poster is in the worst possible taste…but if you are buying the plot at all, then you just have to go with it!

And of course, if you didn’t read my original post, there is the link to the “Citizen Kane” of Nazi Zombie movies, “Iron Sky!”

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/23/bad-taste-this-halloween-nazi-zombie-halloween-horror-halloween-party-movies/

From “Nazis” To “Toilets!”

And if your taste for Zombies runs a bit more “EXOTIC”, then there is this cinematic gem to share with you!

“Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead!”

You read that right: it’s a toilet that is actually a Zombie, so when you sit down…well, you get the idea, but just in case you don’t:

If you want to know more about this classic asian horror film, then you can click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/06/zombie-ass-yes-japans-wacky-cinema-is-calling-what-the/

Trust me when I say there are few films more delightfully twisted than that one…well, maybe I spoke to soon…how about some “singing zombies?”

Yes, Asian film master Takeshi Miike made a zombie musical! You can read all about this twisted treasure by clicking here….

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/05/happy-singing-zombies-visionary-takashi-miikes-wacky-zombie-musical/

I cannot recommend this movie enough!

And don’t forget, there is plenty of Zombie madness – with plenty of Nazis – waiting for you! Enjoy!

Behold The Majesty Of A Bacon Weave!

First of all, thanks to all of you who couldn’t wait to share this with me – it’s a new bacon classic, using our favorite cooking technique: the bacon weave!

As you can see, bacon is so much more than an ingredient: it has now taken over the role of bread and tortillas!

I have previously shared the “bacon weave taco”, which is a delicious way to go “south of the border”…and I also found this majestic breakfast item:

The Bacon Weave Breakfast Bowl!

You see how great that is? Thanks to “Baconology” for this masterpiece of the morning: Eggs, pancakes and more – all held in place by a beautiful bacon weave! And now, thanks to another great website, we have the ultimate in good taste:

The Bacon Weave Cheeseburger Burrito!

Kudos’s To Thrillist!

The great website “Thrillist.com” posted this recipe – go to their site to see all of the fun and fascinating stories they post all day every day!

Here is the “Thrillist” recipe, which they have on their website as well (the link follows the recipe):

1 1/2 pounds Oscar Mayer bacon (it’s the best for weaving)
2 handfuls frozen French fries
1 pound ground chuck
5 slices American cheese
3 tablespoons chopped red onion
1 pickle spear

Preheat oven to 425°F.
Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on it. Place 5 strips of bacon in an even layer on the rack. Place fries in an even layer on another baking sheet. Bake both until crispy, about 15 minutes.
Spread out a foot-long sheet of plastic wrap on the counter.

Make a 6×6-strip bacon weave (step-by-step instructions below if you’re a bacon-weave virgin).
Put beef in a gallon-size Ziploc bag and roll it out into a 1/4-inch thick, 10-inch square. With scissors, cut off the zipper closure and cut down the side seams, leaving just the bottom seam intact. Unfold the bag and layer on cheese, leaving a 1/2-inch bare on all edges except the top edge, which needs a couple inches. On the bottom third, pile cooked bacon, fries, onion, and pickle. Pull the bottom edge of the Ziploc bag up and over all the filling and roll into a tight log. Tuck the ends in.

Pick up the meat log using the bag and roll it off onto the bacon weave, near one edge. Pull the plastic wrap up on that edge of the bacon weave and roll the meat log over the rest of the bacon so it’s completely wrapped. Tuck the ends in.

Transfer the bacon-weave burrito to the wire rack and bake for 30 or 40 minutes, which is the difference between medium- and well-done.
Remove from oven and let the burrito rest on the wire rack for 10 minutes. Serve with your cheeseburger toppings of choice.

Thanks again to the great food minds as Thrillist – go there now to see this recipe and so much more:

http://www.thrillist.com/recipe/nation/bacon-weave-cheeseburger-burrito-thrillist-recipes

And remember, Elvis would approve of this recipe – because here is his favorite peanut butter and banana sandwich with a bacon weave as well!

Welcome To Tokyo!

I love everything about Tokyo. First of all, it’s one of the most “lit up” cities on earth…

Around every corner is is more to be amazed and amused by. A night in Tokyo’s entertainment districts, like Kabuki-Cho that you see here, are full of neon signs that lighten up and inspire…

In the daytime, it’s a fascinating city to explore…and even if you don’t speak the language – and therefore you cannot in any way read the signs – it really doesn’t matter, as it is all part of the maze of fun that awaits…

There are so many unique restaurants and shops to explore, even if you have no idea what they are selling! And every night of the week, Tokyo has some of the wildest forms of entertainment you will find anywhere!

Here are the reasons that I love Tokyo, a city that has exciting things to do all day and night – I will show you how: from sushi breakfast to the robot battle of late night, so let’s begin with a fascinating form of nightclub entertainment…that is unique to Tokyo:

Robot Bikini Battles!

Yes, there is a nightclub in Tokyo that has bikini robots battles! It’s just another way that the city lights up for fun!

This amazingly colorful and campy entertainment revue includes bikini girls fighting each other on giant robots! You can read all about this unique form of entertainment by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/27/giant-bikini-robot-dolls-tokyos-crazy-nightlife-strikes-again-tamborine-man-too/

If all this fun makes you hungry, why not head out to a cosplay cafe?

Cosplaying Around!

Yes, Tokyo is full of the most colorful cafes – and outfits – in the world. It’s a city that loves to dress up….I think of Tokyo as the world’s unofficial center of cosplay…

When G4 went to Tokyo, our Host Alex Sim-Wise got to spend the day cosplaying around with some of Tokyo’s most entertaining young women, who shared their tories of Cosplay with her…and of course posing with G4 staff…

You can see all of her colorful adventures by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/19/alex-sim-wise-goes-cosplay-tokyo-cosplay-girls-tokyos-cosplay-cafes/

Yet for all of the exciting nightlife, Tokyo is also a city with a tranquil beauty as well…

Still, as peaceful and serene as Tokyo can be, it’s really the food and nightlife that keep me coming back!

I was lucky enough to travel there four times, and each time the city revealed a new part of itself to me…like this incredible “mini city” within…

This is the “Golden Gai” district in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood, where there are more than 200 bars, each with a seating capacity of 6-8!

I shot there with Host Alex Sim-Wise, and we had a great time exploring these mini-bars – many with specialty themes, like this “anime bar!”

Here is a link to my entire story, with more bars, more alleyways, and an incredible production crew filming there!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/16/alex-sim-wise-explores-tokyos-smallest-bars-golden-gai-mini-bars-i-love-japan/

The Golden Gai district is just one of the great nightlife districts of Tokyo, each with its own personality…

Alex Sim-Wise brought her friend Rachel Irvin along for some of the adventures, including some great nights out in colorful cosplay outfits!

Sim-Wise shot a lot of great stories for G4 while in Tokyo, including going full on “Cosplay!”

Alex was more than willing to try on a bunch of unique “cosplay” costumes, and head out for a night of filming in Tokyo’s most exciting party districts…read all about those adventures here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/05/alex-sim-wises-tokyo-piggyback-tongue-wagging-cosplay-anime-sim-wises-tokyo-video-adventure/

Tokyo also has some of the most entertaining places on earth to eat and shop as well…

Wacky Shopping – And Sushi For Breakfast!

Yes, Tokyo is also one of the wildest shopping cities in the world!

The “Harajuku” shopping district has the coolest stores to browse, which allowed me to buy a ton of tourist stuff from stores like this:

Sushi For Breakfast!

Since the stores don’t open before ten, you can begin your day with breakfast sushi at the world’s largest fish market!

Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market has an early morning fish auction, and then hours of hustle and bustle as the world’s fish passes through these stalls:

And the best part about going to the market is starting your day with some breakfast sushi at one of the hundreds of sushi bars that ring Tsukiji:

If you want to taste the Tsukiji fish market, read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/25/electronic-cockroaches-breakfast-sushi-shopping-tokyos-unique-streets/

These are just a few of the reasons that I love Tokyo so much…it is so unique, so friendly and clean, and they LOVE vending machines as well!

If you want experience the “taste of Tokyo”, then put in some yen and have some “coffee jelly!”

There are so many fun aspects of this city, you can explore for days and never get bored…never get hungry…and never tire of the colorful sights either…

End Your Day With Kit Kats!

And only in Tokyo can you drop in to a store that only sells Kit Kats!

It’s a place that is stuffed to the gills with a wide variety of unique kit lat flavors, like my favorite: baked potato!

See all of the other unique flavors by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/01/30/sushi-iphone-bacon-iphone-worlds-most-unique-iphone-covers-tokyos-new-kit-kat-store-tokyos-wacky-shopping/

So that is why I love Tokyo so much: from breakfast sushi to baked potato kit cats, cosplay cafes to bikini robot battles, this is one wacky town!

So thank you Tokyo for your warmth, generosity and fascinating love of life….I cannot wait to go back!

Have you seen this superstar celebration for one of the most beautiful songs ever written? Here is the music video!

God Only Knows” How Brilliant This Music Video Is!

A great moment in music history was just released…

To celebrate the launch of BBC Music, the British broadcaster has released a star-studded “God Only Knows” music video! And it is full of some of the biggest music stars in the world, all singing this classic Beach Boys song along with Brian Wilson!

Thanks to “Gossipcop.com” for sharing this story! Here is how they describe the video:

“The clip features Brian Wilson, who composed the Beach Boys classic, along with an incredible list of performers including Pharrell, Chris Martin, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Lorde, Dave Grohl, Sam Smith and… One Direction.”

It’s a gorgeously produced music video of one of the most beautiful songs of all time -
and here it is!

The Beach Boys Rule The Waves!

I love this video – voices such as Stevie Wonder, Chris Martin, and so many more bringing a new sound to this timeless song. This is a long overdue acknowledgement of the brilliance of The Beach Boys…and a great time to look at how they began, and how they just wrapped up…

First, read these lyrics…

Summer’s gone
I’m gonna sit and watch the waves
We laugh, we cry
We live then die
And dream about our yesterdays…

Beautiful lyrics are for the song “Summer’s Gone”, which could be the last Beach Boys song ever!

Surf’s Up! Summer’s Gone!

California beaches, girls in bikinis, surfboards, hot rods and lots of sunshine…these classic images capture the innocence of 60’s Southern California…

For the iconic music group The Beach Boys, those images also capture the beauty of their best music: sun-drenched melodies and endless surf…

It’s hard to imagine a world without such pop classics as “California Girls”, “Good Vibrations” and of course, what many consider to be southern California’s unofficial theme song “Surfin’ USA”…

The lyrics spoke to a generation that wanted out of the cold war and into the warmth of the sun…

“If everybody had an ocean
Across the U.S.A.
Then everybody’d be surfing
Like California

You’d see ‘em wearin’ their baggies
Huarache sandals, too
A bushy, bushy blond hairdo
Surfin’ U.S.A…”

It’s been fifty years since brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, along with their cousins Mike Love and Al Jardine, created a whole new style of music, and their “southern California sound” inspired such Artists as The Mamas & The Papas, The Eagles and The Byrds…

The remaining members of band did a 50th anniversary tour, which resulted in a double live CD…and a new album suggested they were returning to their former glory…but that may not be the case…

Let’s begin by looking at a song that promised a sun that would never set…one of the band’s first big hits captured the innocence of the times…coated with the Beach Boys harmonies….

“All Summer Long!”

“Sittin’ in my car outside your house
‘Member when you spilled coke all over you blouse

T-shirts, cut-offs, and a pair of thongs
We’ve been having fun all summer long…”

Look at the images on the album cover: moments of fun in the sun…not a care in the world. The song “All Summer Long” was featured in the 1973 film “American Graffiti” as the closing credits roll, although the movie is set in the summer of 1962, two years before the song’s release!

Here is a video posted by a fan that utilizes images from the film…a perfect way to end this brilliant film from Director George Lucas…

This is just one example of how the unique sounds of The Beach Boys helped to capture a moment in time…

“Almost Famous” Beach Boys Credit Roll!

A classic Beach Boys song was used memorably in the closing credit sequence for “Almost Famous”, Cameron Crowe’s brilliant look a the early days of rock…here is the gorgeous song “Feel Flows”:

“Feel Flows” was released in the early ’70’s, when Carl Wilson had taken over lead songwriting and singing duties at that time due to his brother Brian’s withdrawal from music…sadly, Carl died of cancer in 1998…and brother and fellow Beach Boy Dennis Wilson also died tragically…leaving Brian as the last remaining brother in the band…

On his solo album “Love & Mercy”, Brian offered up this gorgeous acapella tribute to his former bandmates and brothers, called “One For The Boys”…

FYI, a new film called “Love & Mercy” will be released soon, starring Paul Dano and John Cusack, both playing Brian Wilson at different times in his life; the early reviews have been terrific!

The Beach Boys At 50!

The Beach Boys returned in 2012 with a new album, and then embarked on a 50th anniversary tour to celebrate. The album got great reviews, too!

Here is the official music video released for “That’s Why God Made The Radio”:

The latest Beach Boys album got many great reviews, including this one from “biggbambop.com”, which looked at record track by track, including the mini-suite at the end of the record:

“The Suite (Strange World ->From There To Back Again->Pacific Coast Highway->Summer’s Gone): The highlight of the entire album, these 13-minutes are as gorgeous as anything the band has ever created. Melancholy lyrics, mournful voices – it’s what made so much of Pet Sounds a masterpiece. No longer boys, and with more days behind them rather than in front, this is grown men looking at mortality and the lives they’ve lived, couched in sonic ear candy. Special mention to Al Jardine’s vocals on From There To Back Again and Paul Mertens orchestration.”

You can read their entire review here:

http://biffbampop.com/2012/06/05/the-beach-boys-release-their-best-album-in-40-years-thats-why-god-made-the-radio-track-by-track/

“Summer’s Gone”!

As upbeat and fun as that song is, the CD ends on a note that seems to say goodbye to the fans…this mini-suite that ends the album has a melancholy feel, with lyrics that speak to something bigger…

“Summer’s Gone!”

It’s a beautiful song, with great harmonies and Brian Wilson’s gentle voice, showing more depth and emotion with age…here is a video from youtube…

“Summer’s gone
Summer’s gone away
Gone away
With yesterday

Old friends have gone
They’ve gone their separate ways
Our dreams hold on
For those who still have more to say

Summer’s gone
Gone like yesterday
The nights grow cold
It’s time to go
I’m thinking maybe I’ll just stay

Another summer gone

Summer’s gone
It’s finally sinking in
One day begins
Another ends
I live them all and back again

Summer’s gone
I’m gonna sit and watch the waves
We laugh, we cry
We live then die
And dream about our yesterday”

It is a beautiful, heartfelt song, and what feels to be a coda to the band…here is the band performing “Summer’s Gone” live At Wembley Stadium in London on 29/09/12:

Thanks to Graham Clews for posting this on youtube…

Mike Love Roars!

Unfortunately, it seems that the 50th anniversary reunion tour and album did little to bring the band back together. This Billboard article shows the division that exists in the group, with Mike Love expressing much frustration at how this album and tour came about…read all about it by clicking here:

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5650662/mike-love-upset-over-direction-of-beach-boys-reunion-album-tour

It is very possible that we have heard the last new music from The Beach Boys. If so, they certainly left us on a high note….

Time To Wake Up And Dig Into Breakfast!

If you are hungry, have I got a breakfast for you!

Here is why I love the internet…because the amazing breakfast that is cooked in a small town in England ends up as a worldwide phenomenon!

When you step inside the tiny English Bear Grills cafe, you better bring a BIG appetite!

The cafe itself certainly doesn’t look imposing: in fact, it’s an inviting little cafe in a small town in England, but they’ve got a BIG name for a MONSTER MEAL!

Behold The Hibernator!

Yes, the breakfast served at the Bear Grills cafe in Congleton, England, is so daunting that only 20 people have tried to eat it, and guess what? No one has successfully cleaned their plate!

Here’s the recipe:

The chef tells the Daily Mail it’s called “the Hibernator” because “if anyone completes it they’ll have to sleep for a year!” I think he has a point…

Show Me “The Hibernator!”

Thanks to the intrepid owner of Bear Grills cafe, we can now take a grand look at the entire menu – for one single dish!

The 7-pound, 8,000-calorie meal is served on a 4-foot turkey platter and includes four fried eggs, a four-egg cheese omelet, eight sausages, eight strips of bacon, four hash browns, four waffles, four pieces of toast, four pieces of fried bread, four servings of black pudding (blood sausage), two scoops of beans, two of tomatoes, mushrooms, large fries, and a 2-pint milkshake!

That is the majesty, and the stomach-stretching awesomeness of:

The HIBERNATOR!

And it looks like this!

As I said, the Internet is a wonderful place, especially when you have a number of hungry English people willing to post their pictures from inside the Bear Grills cafe…

Here’s a posted picture from Glen Keogh as he attempts it:

Good luck Glen! As the Metro UK website stated in their writeup of this food homage:

“The Man v. Food-style challenge will set you back roughly $33 and involves signing a waiver, being 18 or older, and acknowledging that you know what you’re getting yourself into. Those who can finish the entire course in under an hour win $162, appear on the establishment’s presumably small Wall of Fame, have the breakfast named after them, and can add an ingredient to the challenge.”

I got most of this material from Newser, who always has terrific stories to share, and I also found the story – and some of these amazing pictures – here as well:

http://metro.co.uk/2014/10/02/you-have-to-sign-a-waiver-to-eat-this-monster-8000-calorie-hibernator-challenge-breakfast-4890057/

And of course, Bear Grills has a Facebook page that I now not only “like”, I LOVE!

So kudos to the Bear Grills cafe, you have a new fan here in the US…but keep an eye out over your shoulder, because big food isn’t a British tradition….just in case you think that England has a lock on huge plates of food, think again:

Oh My! O-Mori!

Yes, the Japanese have their own version of monster food, called “O-Mori!” To read about these monster platters of food, read my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/11/10/o-mori-bite-down-on-mega-mori-plates-of-tokyos-monster-meals/

I can’t wait for the internet to burp up another big monster plate of food to challenge the O-Mori and Bear Grills teams!

Since it’s “Shocktober”, it’s time to enjoy the perfect blend of food and horror, thanks to:

The Tasty Horror Of “Silent Hill”!

I love this story, and what better time to share than Halloween? As you know, “Silent Hill” is the classic survival horror video game…one of the first to effectively create a horrific environment within a video game format…

The first game was released in 1999 to overwhelming critical and commercial success – with movies that followed – filled with horrific images like this:

This Halloween season, I am focusing on some of the best horror classics, and in researching for “Silent Hill”, I came across this:

Yes, it’s “horror ramen!” Thanks to the brilliant minds at RocketNews24, you can now order a hot ramen dish in Tokyo that uses the horror classic “Silent Hill” as inspiration!

“Silent Hill” Black Ramen!

A restaurant in Tokyo has chosen to offer a unique black noodle ramen dish as an homage to “Silent Hill.” And here is why it is horrific: yes, it certainly looks like a bowl of noodles – but as you can see, a bowl of noodles that has a “severed heart” plopped in the middle…is it something you eat – or bury?

The intrepid reporters at RocketNews24 decided to bite into this horrific dish, and when they did, here is what they found:

That’s right, this unsettling heart-shaped orb is filled with meat! What a wacky food item to share with you today, and if you need more horrific pictures and video, check out the entire story here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/07/02/we-learn-the-terrifying-secret-of-silent-hill-ramen/

I love wild and wacky food dishes, and I love ramen, so I guess I would LOVE these black noodles, right?

Jason Statham Approves!

Yes, Action star Jason Statham likes black noodles too – because his new film “Hummingbird” offered up black noodles as well!

This film hasn’t opened in the US yet, but it looks like a traditional Jason Statham action movie:

If you want to see how they took an action movie and tied it into a bowl of black noodles, read my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/06/06/jason-stathams-black-tequila-ramen-japans-dinner-and-a-movie-night/

So there you go, check out these horrific Halloween noodles and bite down on life!

Hey, Girly!

During Halloween season, I always seek out the best of the new – and the neglected – horror films that are available on blu-ray..and when I find a picture like this:

I am curious, naturally – I mean, he seems to be having a bad day in the sandbox….now add this great movie poster:

And you know what? I’m hooked! And you will be too when you uncover the wacky antics of this campy cult horror class known as “Girly!” I mean, you have to celebrate a neglected horror movie that had the audacity to originally be called:

“MUMSY, SONNY, NANNY AND GIRLY!”

Yes, “Girly!” is obscure cinema of the highest order – and time to also acknowledge and appreciate British sex kitten Vanessa Howard!

Vanessa Howard starred in a number of acclaimed horror films in the early 70’s, but never achieved mainstream success…here is a look at her career…

First up: the wacky film “Girly”, that Variety described as:

“A macabre combo of Disney and Hammer films!”

Adolescent brother and sister Girly and Sonny live in a decaying countryside mansion run by their Mumsy and their maid-attired Nanny – hence the original wacky title!

“MUMSY, SONNY, NANNY AND GIRLY!”

Yes, there they are – quite a foursome, and what a title! No wonder they shortened it to just “Girly!” That said, it gives absolutely NO idea of what lies ahead for the viewer!

Here’s the plot: Girly and Sonny bring playmates home to indulge in bizarre, child-like games at the insistence of Mumsy and Nanny. You can only imagine what happens to them once the kids grow tired of their new playthings!

Yes, they use many of their childhood toys, like the sandbox, to “finish their business” with their new friends…as you can see, “Girly” is a lot of fun to be around, but a deadly friend to have!

But things change when one new friend plays along with the oddball quartet, using sexual tension to ultimately turn the family unit against each other!

This is quite the oddball film: directed by acclaimed Cinematographer Freddie Francis, and certainly “of its time” – but that is what gives it a quirky charm, and Vanessa Howard does a great job of holding your attention!

“Girly” is virtually unknown in movie circles, so it’s nice to see the film given another chance on home video…it’s a strange little movie, quirky and odd and only slightly horrific, regardless of what the poster implies…but it is a good poster for a horror film, isn’t it?

Here’s what “DVD Drive-In” said in their review: “The violence and the sex is smartly implied rather than displayed graphically, with several of the murder scenes remaining disturbing and a memorable, and a sequence where Girly is deflowered is convincingly played out off screen. Although it was unintentional, a bit where Sonny (dressed in Indian face paint and attire) shoots his victim with an arrow, and films the events on a movie camera, is very reminiscent of Michael Powell’s PEEPING TOM (a film Francis apparently wasn’t too fond of).”

See the entire review here:

http://www.dvddrive-in.com/reviews/e-h/girltblu70.htm

DVD Drive-In is a great website full of reviews and news! I also found some great material on the film from “Videoscope” magazine, one of my favorites!

Any magazine that puts “Girly” on the cover is a winner!

British Sex Kitten Vanessa Howard!

“Girly” star Vanessa Howard made a brief mark in British cinema, then disappeared from the public eye!

Here’s how DVD Drive-In describes British Actress Vanessa Howard:

“A charming little starlet with a youthful, sexy look, Vanessa Howard was a perfect fixture in British films of the period. Prancing around in short skirts and easily seducing any man who lays eyes on her, Howard pretty much carries the film and her adorable doll-eyed blonde image was the centerpiece of Cinerama’s advertising campaign for its U.S. release.

Howard made appearances in the Peter Cushing vehicles THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR and CORRUPTION in the late 1960s, and later starred in the rarely screened Amicus thriller WHAT BECAME OF JACK AND JILL?

The article finishes by stating that the Actress died in 2010 at the age of 62…it is sad that her career never continued, and that she died so young…but thanks to a couple of great home video companies, her movies live on…

“Corruption” Indeed!

Vanessa Howard starred in a number of great, neglected British horror films like “Corruption”…look at this lurid poster for the film – which was just recently released on blu-ray for a whole new generation to enjoy…it’s a really good thriller that evokes a different time for sure!

I always read “DVD Drive-In” as well as “Mondo Digital” to find some of the best movies being saved from obscurity, and The Phantom of the Movies’ Videoscope is a great magazine for this as well…

Searching For Vanessa Howard!

One website was so smitten with the Actress that they posted a story about their attempt to find her, which is where I found this picture:

The post was on this blogsite, which looks at a lot of classic camp movies and pop culture personalities….

my-retrospace.blogspot.com

So check out the campy horror of “Girly” and keep the spirit of Vanessa Howard alive!

Here is a picture that captures the essence of rock ‘n’ roll:

And that spirit lives on!

The Who Hits 50!

The Who is back – and heading out on the road – for its upcoming 50th- anniversary tour, but guitarist Pete Townsend promises the band will play more than just the greatest hits…an effort to be more than a dinosaur band…

“Trying to stay young,” the guitarist for the legendary British rock group said in a news release announcing The Who Hits 50! North American tour, beginning April 15, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. “Not wearing socks. Growing a great big Woodcutter’s beard. Might even wear a check shirt on stage and get a tattoo of a Union Jack. Always a fashion victim. But under no illusions. We are what we are, and extremely good at it, but we’re lucky to be alive and still touring.”

On Oct. 27, the group will release a career-spanning compilation called “The Who Hits 50!” which includes “Be Lucky”, the first new Who song in eight years.

Here is that new Who tune, “Be Lucky!”

The Who has had a wildly successful career of course, and they certainly know how to put on an aggressive, energetic live show, so this should be more than just an exercise in nostalgia…

Who Is Pete!

Pete Townshend is the legendary lead guitarist and principal songwriter for The Who, one of the most influential rock-and-roll bands of all time. He is one of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Pete decided it was time to share his life story – in a fascinating memoir that covers his professional and personal life in equal measure…

In this 560-page memoir, Townshend tells his side of The Who story, including the tragic death of Who fans in Cincinnati before a concert, the death of drummer Keith Moon, and many stories of his personal torment…

The reviews of the book were really great – here is one example:

“Mr. Townshend’s self-portrait is raw and unsparing…as intimate and as painful as a therapy session, while chronicling the history of the band as it took shape in the Mod scene in 1960s London and became the very embodiment of adolescent rebellion and loud, anarchic rock ‘n’ roll.” (Michiko Kakutani, New York Times)

Townshend has written some of rock’s greatest songs, like “Who Are You”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and of course the rock opera “Tommy”…you can read more about Pete – and hear from him as well, by going to his website:

http://petetownshend.net

The book is never dull as Townshend recounts moments in his life that impacted how he wrote the songs, and how difficult it was for him to accept fame…he spends just as much time on his post-Who life, since Townshend also had a great solo career as well…

Slit Skirts Live!

Townshend’s first solo album “Empty Glass” included several big hits, including “Let My Love Open The Door” and “A Little Is Enough”.

His next album, “All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes” included “Slit Skirts”, and here is a live Pete Townshend performance from the Prince`s Trust Rock Gala in 1982, with Phil Collins on drums.

What is fascinating to learn from the book is that Phil Collins offered to join The Who on tour after Keith Moon died…

Read the book and get ready for The who, coming to your town in 2015!