US – Friday, March 12
The Grid
The week's releases
Metro staff reviews the latest CDs, DVDs and books for your reading pleasure.
 
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.
 
My Entertainment
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.”
 
Shakey Lyman has the blues
Michael Lyman’s mother started calling him “Shakey” — meaning little Shakespeare — after the 16-year-old showed a precocious interest in poetry. It stuck. And it’s hard to imagine the longtime Philadelphia blues troubadour with any other handle.
 

Philly Going Out
Get comfortable with the special
If it’s Thursday, it must be bouillabaisse. A growing number of restaurants are offering “plats du jour” that go beyond the standard menu items with traditional dishes of yesteryear. Just match up the night with your nostalgic hankering, and you can have a meal that takes you back in time as you satisfy your tastebuds of today.
 
Philly Going Out
Pushing the limits of grilled cheese
The grilled cheese is a simple and fulfilling sandwich that is as uncomplicated as they come. But that doesn’t mean that it cannot rise to great heights.
Philly Going Out
Bring some joy back to happy hour
Happy hour seems like such a great idea on paper: discounted drinks, half-price food, a perfect way to blow off some steam after work. In reality, unfortunately, you’re looking at the same boring special of aluminum bottles and gross mozzarella sticks. But not every happy hour has to be packed with people you were tired of eight hours before.
 

Photo: RIKARD LARMA
Philly Going Out
In praise of bread baskets
It’s a free and often overlooked part of a meal, but quality bread service is not merely a distraction to keep you at bay until the appetizers arrive.
 
Philly Going Out
Can you keep up, Cupids?
Crushing on the can
Out with the old Restaurant Row
Stepping up to the cheese plate
Grown-up pizza and beer — a love story
New sounds, new look for a UCity venue
To do in 2010: Find the best Thai food in Philly
Have a happy New Year’s Eve — and skip the lines
A whole new shelf life at a Passyunk grocery store
A Philly twist on a Vietnamese specialty dish
Philly Going Out
Long-lost favorites are gone, but not forgotten
Telling it like it is
Local top chefs take over TV
Back to school, with a serious meal plan
With latest, Garces does whiskey neat
Beyond Le Bec-Fin
As summer closes, new doors opening
Raising the bar
Paul pays delicious tribute
Worth all the buzz, or too much hype?
 
 
 
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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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