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My Television
Back in the trenches
Steven Spielberg makes strikingly vivid, breathtakingly poetic movies about some of the most terrifying conflicts in the history of man. The filmmaking aesthetic he pioneered with “Saving Private Ryan” — and continues to perfect in HBO’s new WWII miniseries, “The Pacific” — was born out of a desire to translate as honestly as possible his conversations with veterans on their combat experience.
 
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THE WEEK THAT WAS
Guardian of poor taste?
When British newspaper The Guardian wanted to illustrate their article on the Vatican’s gay sex scandal, they used this photo of Cardinals lining up for the pope’s blessing. The picture, however, has nothing to do with the actual Vatican scandal — except to imply that the pope is running some sort of old-white-guy sex ring.
 
The Word
Is nothing in her life real anymore?
When we first read that Heidi Pratt was firing husband Spencer Pratt as her manager, we thought, “Yay! Heidi’s new face is finally doing something right!” But then we found out that although she did fire Spencer, it seems like she’s replacing him with psychic Aiden Chase to take the reigns on her “career” — and then we got scared.
 
Movies
Pattinson: A vampire in Brooklyn
Robert Pattinson has been playing Americans so often that he has forgotten how to talk like a Brit. In his latest, “Remember Me,” the “Twilight” heartthrob stars as a soulful young New Yorker attending NYU, but he insists he didn’t need any help sounding like a native. “I’ve never had a dialect coach or anything,” Pattinson says. “Ironically, I’ve only had a dialect coach for this film I’m doing now, which I’m doing in an English accent. I guess I’ve forgotten how to do an English accent.”
 
Published 01:25, September the 2nd, 2009
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Soon, kids.Soon, kids.
 

With latest, Garces does whiskey neat

This week, Jose Garces’ latest establishment, Village Whiskey (118 S. 20th St., 215-665-1088, www.villagewhiskey.com), opens to the public, marking the Iron Chef-slaying restaurateur’s first foray away from Latin-influenced food.

The 30-seat white subway tiled bar specializes, of course, in whiskey — including the “Village Idiot” cocktail of 100-proof bourbon, lemon, ginger syrup and Imperial stout beer — and the menu can be best described as gastropub fare where the burger is king. In fact, it is the Whiskey King. The 10-ounce flagship burger of sustainable farm-raised Angus beef from Maine is topped with foie gras, maple bourbon glazed cipollini, blue cheese and applewood bacon. It costs a small king’s ransom at $24, making it the costliest among Philadelphia’s burgers (not to say the ingredients don’t justify the price tag).

The rest of the menu tops out with the $26 lobster roll, but also contains intriguing options such as the $14 Kentucky fried quail served with sweet potatoes, chanterelle and corn succotash and roast chicken gravy.

And while we’re also interested in tasting Garces’ take on cheese puffs, deviled eggs and even the soft pretzel, what we’re really eyeing up are the duck fat French fries served with Sly Fox cheddar sauce for $5. And of course, we’ll make it a $12 order of fries by adding the shortrib.

Arthur Etchells is a local food blogger. Read more at www.foobooz.com.Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages. Arthur Etchells is a local food blogger. Read more at www.foobooz.com.

Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages.
 
 
 
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Music
MMMpod
The March MMMpod features conversation and music from Surfer Blood and The Allman Brothers Band (There's a double-bill you're not too likely to see. However, Gregg Allman does mention Hannah Montana!). We also speak with Vampire Weekend and the Dropkick Murphys.
 
 
 
Metro Life Panel
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