Gatsby: Art Drama Meets Music Video

I don't know what I was expecting last night when I viewed The Great Gatsby. There had been enough hype about the film that I figured why not. Let's fight opening night crowds and see what there was to see. What I came across was pretty much what I expected.

It's funny. The industry sets you up to fail. They build you up with this great idea about creating a remake of the 74 classic. Let's cast Huge names like Leo Dicaprio and Toby Maguire. Then just as you are getting your feet wet in promotion for the finished product is when the sharks start throwing tomatoes at your face. Oh this movie won't even break 18 million in its first week. Rotten Tomatoes start their routine at ripping a movie even before any "normal" person can have their chance to view it.

Here's my review from a "next to normal person."

I've always loved Fitzgerald's love of the jazz era. His tributes that he paid in the book jumped off the page. As expected so did the scenes from the movie. Baz Luhrman has created another Moulin Rouge (well without as much singing.) His soundtrack that was produced by Jay-Z was nothing short of flawless. You'd hear whispers of Gershwin in songs sung by R&B artists into a rap song. The mash ups I can not speak highly enough of.


From the character standpoint : It was very nice to see Gatsby really look human in this version. I have always felt that his character while very complicated still needed to have a human side. The back and forth at tea with he and his expecting Daisy's arrival was perfect. The honesty of the role is great. However, with that said, they did not flush out enough of his crazy passion for her. Yes, clearly he loved her, but it was supposed to be to a very mentally unstable fault. This was left in the shadows. I was disappointed. I wanted to see the full spectrum of the character.

Toby Maguire does a fine job in all aspects. His chemistry with Dicaprio is very well noted. It makes sense. They have been friends for over 25 years. When Leo wanted Toby to chat with him about the show, all he had to do was walk across the hall in his apartment building.

The movie's lust for decadence and all  things money were shown in tremendous form. The staged parties at Gatsby's mansion were elegant and over the top.

Do yourself a favor, check this one out. I question the word Oscar. However, still worth the trip to see.

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Mother's Day Musts:

If your mother is any thing like mine, she had a huge  almost unmistakable influence in your life. So with that being said, every year I challenge myself to find some really great non traditional gift for her. I mean let's face it flowers are fine, but so kind of overdone and overplayed. So here are some really fun options that you can get mom this year and gain some mega points.  Remember, your secret is safe with me as well.

One of the biggest gifts you can give mom this year is the gift of your time. Make dinner (and wash the dishes.) Hand write a card for her telling her how much she means to you. They say, one of the greatest gifts one can give to anyone else is the gift of themselves.

Now on with ideas that you can buy that are tres chic!!

For the Mom who has everything! This is like my mother. She is IMPOSSIBLE to buy for.

The OXO Box Grater is the perfect gift for the mom who already has every kitchen gadget. It has a compact design and features four different grating surfaces. The large stainless steel coarse surfaces are well-suited for grating vegetables and cheese, while the super-fine surface allows you to grate nutmeg and ginger with ease. Best of all, the grater comes with a storage container with a non-slip ring and measurement markings. This affordable, handy tool will allow mom to cut down on clean-up time and make it super easy for her to store freshly grated ingredients.

Can't afford to take Mom to Tuscany this year? Give her the next best thing and buy her Diptyque's Cyprès candle. This luxury candle captures the Italian Cypress aroma with a spicy, woodsy blend with an oak tree finish. Renowned French perfume house Diptyque uses only natural ingredients when composing their scents and their candles are guaranteed to burn for 60 hours. This candle is truly perfume for the home.

Flowers are always the winning thing me. My mother adores fresh flowers. 

Go for the tummy! Brunch is one thing. However, show your creative side and make her dinner!

Happy Mother's day to all!

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Behind the Hole in One's on Location at the Masters

Let it be known, I am not the formidable golf aficionado. However, I have always had a hunger to learn more about the sport. It's hard not to when you see such players as Tiger vs a 14 year old.  I was recently down at The Masters working for a corporate client that I adore doing events for.

I thought it would be neat to take you in on the inside of the makings of how we produce these world class events and then at the same time take you on a mini "tour" of Augusta. It's NOT what it seems. It is quite contrary.

Let's start at the beginning. We have been fortunate enough to have a corporate client that allows us to travel the country and the world working on designing and implementing their events.

This in it self is such a blessing. I am thrilled to add our creative touches to them.  Now with that being said, there is nothing easy about these events. It takes a small army. They find gorgeous houses that we turn into hospitality houses where they host clients and friends of the company. We produce gourmet breakfasts and 5 course dinners by celebrity chef Brett Mckee.

Each house is a shell upon our arrival. We must bring in everything. By everything, I mean everything! From plates, napkins, designer linens, flowers, silverware, lighting,  storage racks, etc.

 From the catering division, everything from pots, pans, to butter and salt and pepper.  We are creating a fine dining restaurant in a house every single night. It is quite the operation.

 Months of organization goes into writing the menus, pairing the wines, organizing the rental lists just to have the perfect experience for the guests. I have found that more and more exclusive groups are going this route. They would prefer the privacy of their own home/restaurant than going out. This holds true especially when dealing with high powered CEO's and super premium guests.

I will tell you the food is always excellent and the design is flawless.

Brett's beautiful seared chateaubriand with Foie 

 Lawson's signature up lighting effects with old school cafe lighting over the pool.

One of the  most surprising things as I was cruising into town, people were lined up all over the streets scalping tickets!

 I also quickly noticed that the city of Augusta was nothing more than what seemed a bunch of box box stores and chain restaurants. I could not get over it. How could a place that I had heard of for years that seemingly glimmered gold, really be this hole of a town that seemed more like the outer skirts. I must preface, I did not have the time to get down to old Augusta on the river. This is apparently their "historic district."

Now on with the Golf. If you were lucky enough to obtain tickets to get in the "golden gates"

 once through them, all is forgotten. You are immediately transported to a time where nothing else matters. Golf is King and boy is it ever. Now these tickets are NOT cheap! They can run up to $6000.00. So once you get through the Augusta National gates, what is such a surprise is that the food like the FAMOUS Pimento Cheese sandwich

 is only $1.50. An ice cold beer is only $4.00 and more over a soft drink. . . wait for it. . . . $$2.00. WHAT IN THE HELL? WHERE AM I? OZ???

All in all it was a lovely week of events. Our clients loved every minute of it and we were off to do another week at the Heritage.

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Spicy Crab Stuffed Cucumber------ Lawson Robert's Specials

I get tired of the same old same old for starters. Why not spice up your life and do something fun. These are so easy and look fabulous to serve.

Cucumber Cups Stuffed with Spicy Crab

Ingredients

                 

                  3 long cucumbers

                 

                  1/4 cup sour cream

                 

                  1/4 cup cream cheese, softened

                 

                  3/4 cup crab meat, excess water removed

                 

                  1 tsp hot pepper sauce (Tabasco or tapito)

                 

                  1 tsp brown mustard

                 

                  Salt and pepper to taste

                 

                  1 tbs minced green onion

                 

                  Garnish with chili powder or paprika if desired

                 

                 

Instructions

Remove the peel from the cucumbers using a vegetable peeler. 

Cut the cucumber into 2 inch slices. Using a small melon baller, scoop out most of the inside. 

You want to leave the walls and a thick portion of the bottom intact.

In a bowl, combine the sour cream and the cream cheese with a fork until well combined.

 Add the remaining ingredients and stir until combined. 

Fill each of the cucumber cups with the crab dip. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Serve within 2 hours of making.

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Irish Ale! YES PLEASE???

Here's a quickie cocktail that takes NO time to fix you up for this festive holiday.

Ingredients:

2 oz Bushmills Irish whiskey

3 lime wedges

3 oz ginger beer

Preparation:

1. In a highball glass, add whiskey and squeeze lime wedges into glass.

Fill with ice, top with ginger beer and stir to incorporate.

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