Girls (HBO) Review

If you watch the show, haven’t seen this past week’s episode (One Man’s Trash) and don’t like spoilers - then stop reading. (Edit note: actually, if you’re not caught up, then just don’t click on the final link in here and you should be safe.)

When I watched the first season last year, I waited until all of the season had aired and then streamed all the episodes within the span on two days. At the end of that time? I loved it. I’ve since gone back to watch individual episodes (well, I did this before the second season started) and found myself picking them apart and trying to justify why they actually weren’t, in reality, that good. Why? No idea. 

I’ve been watching this second season and have found myself doing the same thing, and it’s something I can’t really figure out. Keep in mind, I really like Lena Dunham. She’s fun to read on Twitter. She’s a good writer (most of the time). I love all the times she’s naked and think it’s great for younger girls to see that especially. I don’t know what it my problem is, really. 

It could have to do with the following:

• The episodes are clearly better when they involve all the characters (and not Hannah-based)
• I’m envious that she’s so successful and younger than I am
• Could be a Mindy Kaling-type situation and I’m such a fan that I almost HAVE to pick it apart
• I never believed for one second that Adam could exist as a character (going from a complete asshole to being totally committed to her? Ugh. No way, not a possibility, get real)

Anyway, these are ramblings, I apologize. I just want to make it known that I wasn’t all the way convinced that it’s a great show/she’s so great on it until this past Sunday’s episode. It was Hannah-based, so I was anticipating some disdain for it and what happened was completely the opposite. I think it was probably the best episode of the show so far. I could go further into why I think that, but I read this review of it that completely nails it, in my opinion. You can read it here, if you like. (Oh! I just read another really good one here.)

Mindy Kaling

All right, this is really just an appreciation post. You know her already (probably initially from The Office). Everyone loves her. This isn’t a new and undiscovered territory here, guys. Let’s be real. 

This woman is fantastic. That’s really only based on what little I know of her, too. I thought her new show The Mindy Project started off sort of a bit slow, but all right - but each episode has been better than the previous one and I absolutely love it (for the most part) now. Why is it so great? I want to say it’s because Ike Barinholtz is so untouchable and funny - but maybe I just say that and give him the credit for making me love the show so much since I’m so silently and deeply jealous/envious of Mindy Kaling’s career/life/fucking-AURA that I can’t fully give HER the credit? …Not sure. It’s complicated. 

That photo up there is her as a child and it’s the back cover of her book. I’m currently reading it, so I’m sure I’ll have more to say on that in the future. But anyway, my point was - that photo. Not only is it the most adorable photo of a human being on this planet, but to have it on the back cover of your first book? Fuck you, you’re fantastic. And so lovely. She used to have this great blog (Why’d it end at all? Not sure, but it’s upsetting that she doesn’t still do it) that just consisted of stuff she bought and her thoughts on each item, which is obviously something that I would of course be into, and was. Also, she’s likable as hell on Twitter. 

Granted, I do not know her. She could be awful in real life, who knows. And I do think it’s dumb when people have strong opinions on celebrities or famous people in general since we do not know these people and shouldn’t have opinions on anyone whom we don’t know. But when it’s someone who’s such a great writer and has a goddam face like that one (LOOK AT THOSE GLASSES!), I make exceptions. Anyway, sorry this is longer than normal. Conclusion? What a woman. 

Great Steak in Ontario - Canyon Creek

You think you’re better than chain restaurants? I bet you do. I got news for you, brother. Y’AINT.

My favourite steak to eat (that isn’t maddeningly expensive) is the Chipotle Sirloin at Canyon Creek. This dude is $24 damn dollars. And it is beautiful. There’s this goat cheese butter melted on top of it and the meat appears as though it went swimming in a spicy little sauce (that you shouldn’t ask for extra of ‘cause it’ll ruin it, I’ve lived and learned) for hours. Every time I go back to Canada for a visit, I eat this at least once. It’s heavenly. (Also, one last note: the Caesar salad is crazy. Like, outrageously good.)

The restaurant in general is great, but this piece of meat is wonderful. Unfortunately I do not possess the vocabulary necessary to accurately explain how scrumptious this dish is. So maybe go and see for yourself? Really, go. Tell me I’m wrong! (Sidenote: if you tell me I’m wrong, be prepared for a lengthy discussion on why you’re not intelligent.) 

MEAT! 

Sling - Victoria's Secret

Full Disclosure: if you’re a man, you probably won’t get anything out of reading this post. It may contain some things you just don’t want/need to hear about, and you know what? That’s fine. What can I offer you instead? Perhaps this little link will do. 

Okay, now onto real business. Let it be known that I have breasts. Pretty great ones, too. However, whenever I’m shopping for underwear/lingerie/what-have-you, I am always wanting to make them appear even greater. 

I came across this garment called a sling at Victoria’s Secret sometime in 2011 and I use it about three times a week at least. When do I use it, you ask? When I’m in a mood to specifically feel more amazing. They’re made of nylon and spandex, I believe, and have a little bit of boning in the front. You wear it overtop your bra for added push-up magic, essentially. I know that sounds like it would feel bulky, having two things on overtop one another, but it really doesn’t feel that way at all. To be honest, I’m not sure how well it works on smaller breasts, but I implore you to try one on and find out. It makes large breasts look ludicrous. And I mean that in the most positive sense. They cost approximately $40 or so at Victoria’s Secret - I imagine that they sell them at most bra places, but it’s easiest to just find them there.

This post was half put up to tell women about slings and half an excuse to post an Adriana Lima photo. That woman? Goddam. 

Catching Hell - ESPN Documentary

I saw this documentary for the first time about a year ago, and since then I’ve probably seen it maybe three or four more times. I can’t really pinpoint what’s so interesting about it, to be honest, but for some reason I feel the urge to watch it again when I forget about it after a little while. Anyway, before I go on, here’s a summary of it taken from when it was at the Tribeca Film Festival:

When Chicagoan Steve Bartman fatefully deflected a foul ball in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, the city’s long-suffering Cubs fans found someone new to blame for their cursed century without a World Series title. Director Alex Gibney explores the psychology of die-hard sports fans, the frightening phenomenon of scapegoating, and the hysteria that turned mild-mannered Bartman into the most hated man in Chicago. 

If you’re not into sports, I think it’s still possible for you to get something outta seeing this. I’m really not that into sports, but I do have a soft spot for baseball, so maybe that has something to do with why I think this is so worth seeing. Also, if I ever meet this man, I will want to continuously hug him for five straight minutes. Let the record show.  

You can see all the parts on YouTube here. 

Monday Nights at the Rivoli

All right, this’ll be a bit of an obvious post if you know me in real life. I’ve been going to see stand up on Mondays at the Rivoli in Toronto since I was 19 years old. That’s a long time, so that’s gotta mean SOMEthing. It’s a great room and I deeply suggest you go some time if you’re in the city. You can see the weekly lineup here. I’m keeping this short ‘cause you really just have to go to see how much fun it can be. I could go on to list amazing people who perform there often, but that would be excessive and the list would be too long and you’d be all, “Ugh, this list is too long. I’m not gonna click on any of these since there’s so many. I’m too busy. SO BUSY.” So I’ll just link this one lovely lady who can always make me laugh. Oh! And this beautiful specimen too, since he’s hosting tonight. 

Tip - Soft Lips Lip Balm

I’ve been using this brand of lip balm for over ten years now. Maybe that’s a sad sentence to hear. Or maybe I just know when something is especially quite good. Why is this baby so good? I’ll tell you why, jerk. THEY’RE SO SLIM! Really. That’s probably my main reason. Yeah, they smell good and go on smooth, but every damn lip balm does/has that. These just glide right into my pocket and aren’t as bulky as your run-of-the-mill ChapStick. I also feel like it lasts longer than other brands, but that could just be a completely false statement. 

Apparently you can buy them at Walgreens, but I haven’t seen proof of that yet so I just buy a bunch when I’m in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart. 

If you’re weird enough to purchase lip balm in bulk and/or online, you can get them here. I’ve never bought them online before, but I might now because they offer silly flavors like marshmallow ghost. 

Sorry about calling you a jerk. That was rude. 

MoMA Sky Umbrella

I have/love this umbrella and I just broke it. With that starting sentence, perhaps you think I will go on to berate this item, BUT YOU WOULD BE WRONG. I love this guy, and tomorrow I’m going out to buy a new one that is exactly the same. It was my own stupid fault for breaking it (I was leaning on it excessively out of boredom at the Apple store and the handle broke off, if you must know). BUT the point is - I’ve had this umbrella for eight years. EIGHT YEARS OF STURDINESS! Mind you, it’s a little costly for something that most people lose constantly ($48), but if you’re a little less scatterbrained than the average adult, then I suggest you get one of these. It’s probably lame to state, but the sky underneath literally makes me happier on days that are pure trash. 

You can purchase this beauty here or by going to one of the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) stores in New York. 

Bath & Body Works - Foam Soaps

I first tried this soap when I got one as a gift from my friend Marla’s wedding shower. Since that time (it was April of 2012), I haven’t washed my hands with anything else. There are a billion flavors/scents and all of the ones I’ve tried are lovely. 

Plus, the foaming aspect makes it just a small delight in an otherwise grotesque room. They have seasonal ones as well, and they’re festive as hell. They usually have deals on how much they cost, depending on how many you purchase. I’ve even found some (same brand and all) cheaper ones at a few dollar stores if you look hard enough.

That’s the “Sea Island Cotton” scent up there. I mostly chose to show that one ‘cause of how ridiculous the name is. Ridiculous and so fun. 

SOAP!

Tip - Eat This Curried Chicken Sandwich In NYC

I apologize for being so city-specific in the following post, but I must.

All right. There aren’t words in my vocabulary to describe how delicious this sandwich is. During the first twenty years of my life, I never cared to order anything curry-related on any menu ever. Let that be known. No real reason for that either, just didn’t seem like my sort of deal. And long ago, on a dewey summer’s day, during the lunch break of a long-forgotten and insignificant internship in the city, someone gave me a bite of this sandwich. That moment altered my curry outlook from there on in. And I hope you understand how monumental that statement is to make. 

If the above photo does not make it look divine, that is due to my inexperience photographing my food. I’m not sure I would be proud to have such a skill, but alas I do not. 

I first ate this baby in 2004 and it’s still in my top ten list of foods I crave in this city. 

Details:

What: The Coronation Chicken Sandwich on white bread (this is the only white bread I still allow myself, because it just works better with the sandwich) and it’s $7.95

Where: Tea & Sympathy - 108 Greenwich Avenue, there’s also a British shop next door (it’s owned by the same management) where you can get it to-go.

When: It’s only available before 5pm.

Why: Because I said so, dummy.