Holiday-themed romantic comedies are a dime a dozen these days. So when Amazon Prime posted “The People We Hate At The Wedding” to their app during this timeframe, the cynic inside of me jumped for absolute joy. As a single person, I was over the sticky-sweet, predictable cuteness of the regular winter release. As someone who works pretty heavily in the wedding industry? I was ready to see the jaded side of celebration season.
Based on the book by Grant Ginder and directed by Claire Scanlon, the movie follows a brother and sister as their half-sister gets married in an extravagant ceremony overseas. The three siblings, played by Kristen Bell (Alice), Ben Platt (Paul), and Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Eloise) have a strained relationship, with Eloise being particularly estranged from the other two. The trio has a special type of chemistry in the way they choose to fight and play nice throughout the film.
The incomparable Allison Janney plays their mother Donna effortlessly, echoing the “can’t you all just get along?” sentiments that generations of parents have screamed into the abyss.
1. It Humanizes Parents
So many romantic comedies keep the plotline basic and don’t spend time on characters that have, in theory, shaped the protagonists. I can’t speak to the book, but the movie spends considerable time elaborating on Donna’s story. Yes, she is portrayed as a bit of a tightwad and incredibly frustrating for the kids in the beginning. But for once, you get a glimpse into the matriarch’s past, present, and future. You can see her heartache, notice how she supports and protects her children, and view her as an entirely independent character from the three true protagonists.
2. It Is Inclusive
“The People We Hate At The Wedding” focuses on blended families and the pain of comparison in a way that we are not familiar with in modern cinema. It isn’t afraid to vocalize both the beauties and the difficulties of a layered family.
The movie is inclusive of same-sex relationships – like that between Paul and his boyfriend – and engages in the discussion of what emotions come up when trying something like an open relationship.
3. It Examines Self-Worth Through Many Lenses
“The People We Hate At The Wedding” emphasizes a discussion around self-worth as it stands for each character. While Donna explores what makes her truly happy – and begins to find it in an old flame – Paul also has self-reflection time to explore what he wants in a romantic partner. His confidence in both himself and his familial relationships becomes clearer by the end of the movie.
Noticing true character progression in such palpable ways leaves the viewer inspired and excited for self-discovery in their own lives.
4. British Accents Abound
Love a good British accent? This film is largely based in the UK, so you’ll get your fix every so often. Does anyone really need another reason to melt into a new flick?
5. The Misadventures Will Make You Feel Good About Yourself
While the 3-star rating on IMDB might not exactly indicate it, there are moments of pure hilarity in this film that make it truly enjoyable. Like when Eloise absolutely burns Paul’s ex-boyfriend out of absolutely nowhere. Or when drunk Paul can’t stop talking about his breakup at the rehearsal dinner.
Plus, 3 family members end up in jail the week of the wedding. Can you guess who they might be? You’ve got to watch to find out!
Savory, sweet, a fun combination… I will eat pancakes, waffles, fries, quiche, a great bagel, and shmear, or otherwise. Give me bellinis and rose, citrus juice, or a hot chocolate concoction. This delicious ritual of great friends enjoying each other’s company is something I have always been on board with.
So when Dan Levy’s face popped up on HBO next to the term “brunch,” I had to check it out. Here is why I believe you should take some time to enjoy this offbeat chef’s challenge show, “The Big Brunch.”
The Cast Is Inclusive
Whoever was involved in casting this show did an impeccable job. They chose people from all racial backgrounds, religious and social affiliations, cultures, and regions. Some of their chefs were professionally trained, while many had complicated and beautiful backstories that made their vision for their meals come alive.
Take, for example, fan-favorite Catie Randazzo, who is the Executive Chef of Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe in Santa Monica. She can come to some hard self-realizations during the show, and her vulnerability makes her endlessly relatable. Or Danielle Sepsy, a pastry chef from New York who has already made quite the name for herself through her elaborate and eye-popping confections, as well as her wholesale business.
Then there’s Roman Wilcox, co-owner of the first 100% plant-based food business in El Paso. You can find his culture and family traditions sprinkled throughout his creations, as he explores flavors that led him to his own meatless diet in recent years.
Episode Themes Make It Original
While many chef competition shows explore multiple ideas per episode, The Big Brunch simplifies things with a cohesive theme throughout each episode. Take, for example, Episode 1 Today’s Brunch Special is You. From the name alone, you get the impression that the chefs have been tasked with representing themselves, somehow, on their plates.
And that is exactly what is happening. The episode allows each chef to introduce themself uniquely, using ingredients and techniques they are fond of or that represent a part of them. It is an incredible icebreaker and gets the audience to consider how they would present themselves if given the opportunity.
The chefs get especially vulnerable in the third episode, titled “Farm to Table Brunch.” They get to individually dive into clean ingredients and this is where we begin to truly see the emotional side to some of them. This is especially true for those who have started their clean food journeys, which it seems they are all very cognizant of the importance of.
The Recipes Are Accessible
Incredible-looking courses created in front of a camera for me to learn about? Sign me up! While some recipes are a little bit more difficult to master, many of them are created with simple ingredients and accessibility in mind. If you really want to see an eye sore, tune into the bread episode, Carb Loading Brunch.”
Looking for a spin on Thanksgiving and other cold-weather holiday favorites? Explore episode #7, Holiday Brunch. We may have snagged a few tips to make this year’s festive favorites a little more elevated than usual!
Dan Levy Is The Host And 1 Of 3 Judges
Need I say more?
If I must, the man’s biting sense of humor perfectly entangles with his affinity for food and helping to make people’s dreams come true. The winner comes away with a cool $30k, and the others get infinite wisdom – and humor – from the judges.
Berklee student Maggie Cubillos is making her mark on the music industry with new single “Old Shoes.” Raised around the industry because of her dad’s role in it – though the way she approaches it is nuanced in a way that reveals she has created a path all her own – she seems to have accrued the knowledge and wherewithal to know exactly what the world needs to hear, and when.
“Old Shoes” is a meandering, beautiful composition that sets Maggie’s light-as-a-feather vocals center stage. As she sings of struggling with a variety of emotions, the listener absolutely melts into the melody. Maggie’s songwriting abilities indicate a self-awareness and soul far beyond her years, and we can’t wait to hear more from this newcomer.
Keep up with Maggie and her blossoming music career here.
At just 18 years old, Michigan-based Eli 07‘s (Eli Wilson) true musical talent originally gained him traction on TikTok. But his collaboration efforts and insane vocal talents are what will sustain him in the music industry for years to come. His music is soulful, equal parts softness and conviction. “15 Miles” is a rhythmic piece that utilizes acoustic guitar to create a sound that feels like the perfect blend of aughts’ emo and modern indie.
The music video – directed and edited by Rascreative – serves to perfectly amplify the initial pull and sadness of the track. With cool undertones, it follows the artist while he sings his woes on an abandoned beach. A sense of emotional struggle is introduced to the visual as he wears a suit and tie, but then abandons the buttoned-up look to connect with the waves. It is a scene worthy of a major motion picture.
Check out the video below, and let us know what you think!
Production Assistant: Felipe Navia Song Produced by @King Theta Mix/Mastered by @felipejnavia Written and Performed by @eliwilson07
This weekend was one for the books. A massive crowd gathered at The Truman in Kansas City, Missouri to enjoy a sold-out show featuring CVBZ and Teddy Swims. We happened upon the artist and his band during their Bonnaroo set this summer, and have been singing their praises ever since. His powerhouse vocals and humble nature, and everyone’s massive musical talent, are endearing as hell.
The band walked in at the start, followed by the charming lead singer. He was propped on two crutches, with two bare feet wrapped in athletic tape. You could tell the crowd was confused, but everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to the energy of the band.
After singing a bit, he addressed his bare feet, the clear elephant in the room. He told us that he sustained an injury while on a tour stop in Las Vegas. Instead of getting his ankle checked out, he chose to favor his leg and limp in the coming days. Today, however, a trip to urgent care revealed that, because he did not seek medical care for this first injury, he now had two sprained ankles. While he spent a few songs on his feet, there was a loveseat conveniently located by the microphone and a pile of water bottles for him to enjoy as he entertained the crowd.
His set included a few lively covers, “Broke,” the sultry “Two Moods” and crowd favorites “Simple Things” and “Bed on Fire.”
Los Angeles-based Sara Niemiętz‘s sound has evolved over time, each new release intrinsically captivating. Today, the talented singer/songwriter releases her fourth full-length, an audible treat titled Superman. Explains Sara of the project: “This album is about vulnerability and empowerment. It’s about speaking your piece, shaking off the past, and finding the superhero inside.”
And she’s not messing around. We start off with the sultry, confident track “Locks,” which serves as a ballbuster of an introduction to this particular collection of music. “I Want You” continues on theme, leading with a bass riff that perfectly frames and encourages the rock anthem that follows. Lines like “baby, I’m your type” reinforce the confidence that Niemiętz has built her career around. It’s a brand of badass that we can really rally behind.
Fourth track “Lovely Lies” begins with pure romance, a Spanish-style guitar taking just slightly off-center stage — to the side of the commanding vocals. Bongos seep into the mix, solidifying a new energy to this piece of the album. In a very cohesive manner, “Fill Me Up” begins slowly, reminiscent of a slightly more soulful Norah Jones, in all honesty.
“Four Walls” is a beautiful track that speaks to the weight of the pandemic and our collective stresses over the past several years. The soundscape feels organic, with gorgeous sound effects that make this song perfect for the end of an invigorating yoga practice. While “Come to Me” continues at a similar clip, “Names” drops with so much attitude you almost can’t handle it. “Keep an Eye” goes back to a more meandering pace, with a speed up – and captivating instrumental solos – later in the track.
“GOODx3” explores the silver linings to breakups, the things you learn, and the brightness that can shine through the “cracks.” It’s one of our favorites on the album, both regarding the instrumental composition and the lively vocals. The title track explores the many facets a person can have, even if they seem one-dimensional in your life’s story. Sara sings of the support that she can provide in love. “Every Light” continues in a similar vein, as she expresses her adoration for a romantic interest.
“Words” comes in heavier than its predecessors, a different level of rock with an added layer of psychedelic ambiance. The album ends with “The Dimming,” a self-reflective assessment that will ring very highly relatable for many. A lesson in perspective, it is a graceful ending to an album we truly enjoyed from beginning to end.
Today, Chicago-based psych-pop outfit Bret Koontz & Truancy Club release the easygoing single “Lonesome Rambler” and its accompanying music video. A genre-bending project spearheaded by Koontz and rounded out by talented artists he’s met along the way – Crawford Philleo (drums), Jake Acosta (bass), Maria Jacobson (flute, vocals), Reggie Duncan (pedal steel), and Ben McFadden (keys) – Truancy Club has created a beautiful, down-home earworm of a track with this one.
“‘Lonesome Rambler’ is a song full of archetypes: ramblers, gamblers, rangers, strangers, and fools,” explains Bret. “It looks at the idea of becoming what you romanticize and how idealized lifestyles are unwittingly reshaped through that becoming. What’s left is an arrival point beyond recognition. The song’s propulsive shuffle outlines flashes of a transient life with spotty cell phone service and unreliable recollections. What’s been saved is bitcrushed on a hardware sampler and what’s been left behind is…unclear. A new major arcana for the modern loser.”
The music video depicts a traipse through nature, with elements that draw you into an interesting – at times hilarious – plotline. (We’re big fans of the Jar Jar Binks cameo, but that’s neither here nor there.) Enjoy the new track’s premiere, perfect for all of your late-night bonfires of the season, below.
Bret Koontz & Truancy Club are set to release A Sparkle Road Cult on November 18th via Earth Libraries.
Have you ever heard of recipe-free cooking? I mean, as someone who has always experimented in the kitchen, this concept hardly seemed foreign at first glance. However, before indulging in the new series La Pitchoune: Cooking in France(presented by the Magnolia Network and HBO Max), I didn’t have a leg up in my cooking. I didn’t take the time to understand the ingredients, the textures, and the flavors.
The show took an educational dive into a real-life experience led by a no-recipe pact. Here’s what I loved about it.
1. The Story is Inspiring
In 2015, Makenna Held, the Lead Creative & Executive Director of La Pitchoune and the Courageous Cooking School, took a leap of faith and purchased La Pitchoune — or “Little One”, affectionately referred to as “La Peetch” — the Provencal vacation home of Paul and Julia Child. (Yes, THAT Julia Child.) She had a strong, inexplicable pull to the listing. Trusting her intuition paid off.
After landing in France, she started to create the framework that would soon become the Courageous Cooking School, her recipe-free cooking experience. In 2019, she married the love of her life – and Historian for La Peetch and Curriculum Director of the Courageous Cooking School – Chris Nylund at Bamafam and La Peetch.
2. The Kitchen at La Pitchoune is Magical
“Cooking in La Peetch kitchen is so magical because of the history and because of the past that it has,” Held gushes. “The fact that there are so many original things in the kitchen and there’s so much energy in that space. It’s just such a little snapshot in time and it’s connected to so many people who have been so important to shaping food and food culture. Also, it’s a kitchen with so much history and beauty and such a functional workshop. I think ultimately, that’s what makes cooking in kitchens like that so beautiful.”
3. The La Pitchoune Property History Adds Character
And she isn’t wrong. The kitchen has been maintained almost exactly as it was when Julia resided there. Many of the kitchen utensils belonged to Julia herself. When you take each item off the pegboard, you can see its outline so you know exactly where it goes. It’s a system and a work of art all in one. Even just watching on a television screen, you feel chills watching the camera pan that space. Every. Single. Time.
The overgrowth of the ivy along the side of the building is picturesque, coupled with some of the most gorgeous hillside panorama shots you have ever seen. The property is luscious, the guests seem captivated. Through the historical explanations littered throughout the episodes encouraged by Nylund, the property almost comes alive, both in how it is presented now alongside snapshots and stories of its past.
4. Courageous Cooking School Graduates Stick Around
Those who enjoyed their time at the Courageous Cooking School at La Pitchoune usually stick around. Many people go back for repeat vacations and cooking school experiences and the property gets a lot of referrals from previous guests. During the pandemic, they truly leaned into the idea of digital recipe-free classes. While there was a more in-depth paid experience, they hosted live streams and posted continuing education with recipe-free cooking lessons, posting the recipe in advance so people could procure their ingredients.
One La Peetch remote employee participated in both the digital and in-person experience. “It took participating in the cooking school in person to relly grasp the framework and gain the courage to experiment alongside other guests!” Erin P.S. Zimmerman, Associate Producer on the project admitted.
“I knew that the cooking school needed to be introduced to the world in a broader way,” Zimmerman explained. “With her personality, the framework, the location, and the team she’s gathered – it was the perfect storm for an entertaining, transformation-driven storyline!”
5. The Cooking Lessons Are Simplified and Accessible
In the first episode of the series, Makenna and her cohort Kendall tackle a basic. They approach the perfect omelet with their students. Many viewers learned a specific flipping trick to create the perfect texture and fold that day. This is a fact confirmed by a slew of comments and photos via social media. What a simple, beautiful recipe to ease the viewers into!
Each episode is sure to highlight the greenery that sets the backdrop for well-rounded meals and experiences. There is an educational angle to each episode that is charming. I feel like I am getting the cliffs notes version, but watching this show just makes me want to book the next available experience.
6. Adventure is Encouraged at La Pitchoune
The storyline goes on beautiful tangents to other villages and towns. It follows the owners on side projects, adventures to markets, and gorgeous experiences along the countryside. We get to see inside cheese shop storefronts and flower markets. Not to mention produce stands and fish shops, among so many other places. These sidebars make their true immersion into the culture feel authentic and sincere.
It serves to inspire others that adventure is wildly encouraged to succeed in life.
Folk-led, genre-blending musician Mike Pope has, arguably, been one of Southern California’s best-kept secrets for years. He has certainly shared his talents by making the rounds at venues around San Diego, but it took some time before local record label Blind Owl could get him into a studio. There, he had so much material to work with that this week he released not only his debut album Songs For People (High & Low), but a bonus sophomore album titled Ripening (Ain’t It Strange).
Songs For People (High & Low) is a more self-reflective album, dancing beautifully through the speakers with its haunting melodies, striking lyrics, and captivating musicianship. From the very first lines of literal self-reflective first track “Mirror,” through the slightly quicker pace of “Steeped Cracked Rocks” and into the meandering “Teach To Sow,” the listener is transported to a slower, quieter neck of the woods. The album itself continues at a beautiful, calm clip, the compositions as though the music is physically leading us into autumn nights with friends and family.
If you are looking for a particularly complex bit of picking, “St. Augustine” will breathe life into that craving. And while the 11-track album provides a particularly pleasant audible journey, taking the time to listen to “Maryanne,” “Maryanne (Again),” and “Maryanne (Again and Again)” will light a special fire in your heart.
Dropping into the second album Ripening (Ain’t It Strange), you can tell that what’s to come will be equally pleasing. The heavier instrumentals and incorporation of more rock-focused compositions make for a completely different soundscape. While we were absolutely delighted by the percussion in the vocal-less second track “Homunculus,” the fuzzier sound to “My Spirit Orbits” makes it the perfect track to bop to on vinyl with the windows open, autumn breeze flowing through.
Ripening feels, at its core, a little edgier, but still carries a similar warmth to its sister album, stirring energy and acute want for community leading into the colder months. Colder months if you, for instance, live anywhere BUT perpetually 70-something degree San Diego.
Take some time to play in the soundscape of both albums. Now that Mike Pope has found his way out of the San Diego-specific woodwork, we’d love to maintain a mainline to his work worldwide. If ever there were an opportunity to support and encourage an artist to head back into the studio sometime soon, this is it.
