Black Swan Movie Review

Art and Review by: Daniel Albert

I suppose the saying "expect the unexpected" is a worthy advisory phrase for any Darren Aronofsky film.  Having previously viewed some of his other movies (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler) I knew quite well what he was capable of, yet adhered to this motto and expected to be given something I couldn't imagine. Fortunately for me, and I do stress the word fortunately, I wasn't too sure of the depths he would take his new film Black Swan, and after viewing it I have to say he once again gave me something completely unexpected, even if that's what I expected.

As I said before I'm no stranger to the mans work.  With this viewing background in tow, along with a high intensity trailer and the header of "psychological thriller", I knew this was going to be a dark film.  What I didn't know is just how truly dark the movie could be. 

Black Swan is one of those movies that sneaks up on you.  It plays more like a concerto than a film, using every instrument in the pit to paint a visceral picture for its audience.  It starts off slow and steady, lulling you into the depths of its world, using every tool in the director's arsenal.  The cinematography is so pitch perfect I felt myself getting agitated more and more with every shot, a discomfort that is completely intentional and in no way haphazard.

What surprised me most about the film however wasn't just the skilled hand of the artisan behind the scenes, but instead the delicate strokes he used.  The film is essentially about Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) a fragile and timid girl obsessed with perfection.  Nina is finally given her chance to shine at the ballet where she's been working and we watch her character's descent into madness, as an obsession with perfection becomes so complete it manifests itself in every facet of the film.  The farther into the depths the she goes, the farther down we go with her, without remorse, because well, hey you kinda asked for it. 

As I watched I got swept along so subtly I hardly felt a transformation at all until the film reached its crescendo and I found myself thinking "Did I see what I think I just saw or am I going nuts?".  My madness, like many others I'm sure, is in a large part due to a tour de force portrayal of the swan queen by  Portman that will surely earn her Oscar nods come awards season.  The dichotomy of her character makes one wonder whether or not she used a split personality disorder to carry it off so effortlessly.

Being a dark film, there is always the line a director is never allowed to cross where entertainment becomes torture.  A director should never turn on the audience and as this movie progresses Aronofsky traverses this line like a tightrope walker, always pushing but never too far.  Every graphic or violent or disturbing scene serves its purpose as part of a whole and nothing is left in that isn't absolutely essential.  If the director wants you to be scared or agitated he shows it and if he wants you to be sympathetic he switches gears seamlessly.

However with all this talk of darkness I tread lightly,  I'm definitely not saying there's no beauty in this film. After all, at the end of the day it is set within a rendition of Swan Lake. What I am saying is that even though the film has heavily dark undertones, the beauty still manages to shine through. In fact I'd have to say that one of the darkest scenes, when Nina's transformation into the Black Swan is finally complete, I was taken aback by one of the most visually stunning scenes I've seen in years.  It was lyrical and sad, reverent, yet twisted and frightening.  You know a film has done it's job when you experience more than one emotion at a time.

Before I heap more praise upon this movie I'll just stop and say this film is everything everyone claims it to be, and perhaps even more.  It's heartfelt and visually stunning, terrifying and sensual, and even at times a bit funny.  You don't have to be a film snob to enjoy this one.

Rating: A

HOLIDAY DECORATING DELIGHT
Written by: Joen Garnica

 Uncomplicate your holiday décor with easy to implement tips.

Jingle Bells are jingling, the air outside is crisp and the steam from my hot cocoa is warming my holiday spirit. Holding my warm cup of cocoa between my hands, I close my eyes and take in the sweet aroma, savoring every second. A smile comes over my face. I slowly open my eyes and the sound of a screeching record stops me in my tracks. Staring back at me are dusty boxes of tired holiday decorations.



You didn’t think that would derail my holiday decorating, did you? Of course you didn’t.



Many things can complicate the holidays, such as the drag race to see who gets what seems to be the only parking spot. Making your home festive doesn’t have to be one of the complicated things in life. I am going to uncomplicate your holiday decorating life with ideas on keeping it simple, while making a dazzling impact.



Create a Theme – Gone are the days that creating a theme meant using nutcrackers or Santa Claus. Get creative and keep it simple. It can be as easy as picking a color or two (or three). Unify décor and create flow with your colors of choice. Pepper your home with a color theme or with a bolder theme such as jewels and jewel tones.



Focal Pointer – Pick a couple of areas in your home that will give you more bang for your buck. Focus your efforts on areas such as entryways, dining rooms or living rooms. Create one focal point in each of these areas, while sprinkling holiday cheer in between.



Tea Light Twinkle – Drop a votive or a tea light in a clean glass food jar, tie a ribbon to the neck and you now have a simple, yet beautiful luminary. For a more layered look add peppermint candy, sand or cranberries under the candle. Group a few luminaries together for dramatic evening lighting.




Borrow from Nature – Not many things are easier than going outside and borrowing from nature. Infuse outdoor items such as magnolia leaves, twigs, nuts, berries or even sea shells and sand into your décor. Natural items are easy and good for the environment.



Mantle Madness (Or lack of) – Don’t have a mantle? Temperatures don’t often dip very low in Long Beach. So if you don’t have a fireplace, use a console or sofa table in lieu of a traditional mantle. Hang stockings and decorate the table top as you might a mantle over a fireplace.



Festive Floral – Poinsettias are abundant this time of year, but are not the only floral option for the holidays. Use other stunning classic flowers that coordinate with your holiday décor colors. Tie in the holiday theme with holiday greenery such as pine needles.




Window Wonderland – Toss out the can of snow and instead opt for ribbon, wreaths and ornaments. A stunning window can be as simple as hanging a wreath or ornaments on ribbon and placing in your window. Accomplish indoor and outdoor décor with one step.



Gift Wrap– Add a touch of the unexpected to your holiday gifts by making the wrapping part of the gift. Embellish gift-wrap with an ornament, candy, a beautiful brooch or wrap the gift with a stunning scarf. I have to admit that this tip doesn’t necessarily uncomplicate your holidays. I will however go out on a limb and say that one of these gifts will be love at the first sight for the person on the receiving end. Not to mention the enhanced experience of unwrapping.

This time of year is all about joy, laughter, sharing and holiday parties. A beautifully decorated home for the holidays is just that. The best, least complicated tip I can offer you is to fill your home with much joy, laughter, friends and family and make memories that will last a lifetime. Happy holidays!

(FALL) Movie Guide
Intro By:  Katie Cervantes
Written By: Daniel Albert

Fall is the perfect time to snuggle up with a blanket and some hot coco and watch movies when Southern California is too cold to spend outside. It's a great excuse to spend half your paycheck on a new film where Jennifer Aniston plays the same character yet, again. Or you may opt for another 3-D film where you dish out a few more bucks than necessary, or an award-winning film that leaves you questioning the meaning of life. Either way, it's movie season.

Whether you're into a true story that will leave you crying and clutching your hot coco, or if you want to see your favorite stars fall in love, we're here to ensure you get just what you need without wasting any of your time or money this season.



127 Hours

Starring: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara, Clémence Poésy

Rated: R

Opens: November 5

Speaking of Oscar Nods, there’s been talk that this one is in the mix for James Franco, who depicts the true-life story of Aron Ralston, a mountaineer who becomes trapped when a boulder falls on his arm during exploration of a remote canyon in Utah. Over the next five days, Ralston examines his life and considers his options, leading him to an agonizing choice: to amputate his own arm and possibly survive, or remain pinned to the canyon wall and possibly die. If this isn’t dramatic enough for you, you might want to check your pulse.



Due Date

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan

Rated: R

Opens: November 5

The one-two punch of RDJ and Zach Galifianakis should be enough to make you shell out the $12 for this one. Add to that a hilarious plotline that includes a road trip concerning a soon-to-be father’s (Robert Downey Jr.) cross-country trip to make it back in time for his baby’s birth — with the only roadblock being the dubious passenger (Galifianakis) who’s along for the ride. Long car rides are rough. Zach Galifianakis shows us why.



Megamind

Starring: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt

Rated: PG

Opens: November 5

Yet another comedy that is sure to please with a little more of a family vibe. DreamWorks Animation gives us a satirical take on the superhero genre focusing on a down-and-out super villain (voiced by Will Ferrell) who has to learn how to get his groove back when he’s left without an arch nemesis. The film is directed by Cameron Hood and Kyle Arthur Jefferson with Tina Fey and Jonah Hill filling out the rest of this comedy veteran cast. Did I mention that you can also see it in 3-D?



Skyline

Starring: Donald Faison, Eric Balfour, David Zayas, Scottie Thompson

Rated: PG-13

Opens: November 12

What screams Fall more than an alien invasion? No I’m not talking about the Pilgrim’s landing at Plymouth Rock, I’m talking about “Skyline.” Although this film doesn’t boast huge names in the industry, its special effects are sure to dazzle enough to make it worth a go. It’s plot is described simply as a time when strange lights over Los Angeles herald the arrival of a malevolent alien force that threatens to swallow up all of humanity. If you haven’t already seen it, you can check out the trailer and see humans being sucked up into the sky like dust mites in an Oreck.



Unstoppable

Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson

Rated: PG-13

Opens: November 12

New dreamboat Chris Pine joins old Dreamboat Denzel Washington in this contemporary thriller based on true events. Director Tony Scott gives us a movie whose action involves two locomotive operators who team up to stop a runaway train filled with toxic waste. This is one of those movies where the characters have depth and our heroes aren’t so cut and dry. Although the “Young Blood” vs. “Old Knowledge” angle has been played out many times in the past, this film should bring some new life.



Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part I

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman

Rated: PG-13

Opens: November 19

Does this one even need any introduction? Despite the fact that Harry has aged so much that I’m starting to wonder whether or not Hogwarts has a masters program, the gang returns once again for an all out epic battle of magic and mayhem. Now alone, without the guidance and protection of their professors, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) set out on a mission to destroy the Horcruxes, the source of Voldemort’s immortality. Though they must rely on one another more than ever before, dark forces threaten to tear them apart. Voldemort’s Death Eaters have seized control of the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts, and are searching for Harry even as he and his friends prepare for the ultimate showdown. One word: Epic!



Burlesque

Starring: Christina Aguilera, Cher, Cam Gigandet, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Bell

Rated: PG-13/R (?)

Opens: November 24

I’d feel guilty about not including this one for the ladies (and some gentlemen) even though it has me a bit wary. By the time you read this, the full rating might have been revealed, which might also reveal what kind of movie this is set to be. PG-13 would indicate something less provocative and more fun, while an R rating might put it somewhere in the “not-so-but-kinda showgirls” realm. Here are the facts: Christina Aguilera stars as Ali, a small-town singer who takes her shot at stardom performing at a neo-burlesque nightclub in Los Angeles. The cast should be able to keep this one afloat even if it ends up a little campy.



Love and Other Drugs

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt

Rated: R

Opens: November 24

Why does this romantic comedy not star Jennifer Aniston? Probably because it actually looks good (sorry Rachel). Jake Gyllenhaal depicts a salesman who competes in the cutthroat world of pharmaceuticals to hawk a male performance enhancement drug. The film is based on Jamie Reidy’s memoir “Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman” and with the addition of Anne Hathaway as the love interest, this film is sure to be a sleeper hit with the men as well as the women.



Tangled

Starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi

Rated: PG

Opens: November 24

Yet another animated movie slated for the Fall is this charming tale, based on the legendary lady of locks, Rapunzel. Action kicks off when the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit- Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi)- hides out in a mysterious tower, when he’s taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore)who is a beautiful and feisty tower bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn’s curious captor, who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs. Could their schemes be any more…hair…brained? Yes, I went there, and if you’re not a fan of these types of puns, this film may be off your radar, so take my advice and see it anyway. You won’t be disappointed.




Black Swan

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Benjamin Millepied

Rated: R

Opens: December 1

This film is my personal favorite on the list for a variety of reasons. First of all it’s directed by all time great Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler). Secondly it is a dark story about ballerinas! Only Aronofsky could make a ballerina seem sinister and that’s exactly what he does in this film. Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina whose passion for the dance rules every facet of her life. When the company’s artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for their opening production of ``Swan Lake,‘’ Nina is his first choice. However, Nina has competition: Lily, a newcomer. While Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan, Lily personifies the Black Swan. As the rivalry between the two dancers transforms into a twisted friendship, Nina’s dark side begins to emerge. Add to that some Oscar buzz of its own and this one is a must see.



Fair Game

Starring: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Noah Emmerich

Rated: PG-13

Opens: November 5

This CIA spy flick is anything but the ordinary. They take a supremely simple concept, (making their protagonist a female for once!), and shift from cliché driven action to deep value story of  a woman who as to face the fallout when her cover is blown as a covert CIA agent. Valerie Plame’s status as a CIA agent was revealed by White House officials allegedly out to discredit her husband after he wrote a 2003 New York Times op-ed piece saying that the Bush administration had manipulated intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the invasion of Iraq. Now she’s not only running to clear her name, but to save her and her family’s lives. Solid reviews have put this one at the top of several people’s lists, including mine.



The Next Three Days

Starring: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson, Brian Dennehy

Rated: PG-13

Opens: November 19

Let’s be honest, everyone loves the Clash song “ I Fought the Law”, and if you don’t well you probably didn’t know that “the Law won”. The Next Three Days is pretty much a film embodiment of that song. Except in this version John Brennan (Russell Crowe) goes on a hell bent mission to break his wife out of prison after she is convicted of a murder she says she did not commit. Don’t worry this isn’t anything like the mess Gerard Butler created with Law Abiding Citizen. Sure it had action, but it also had a ludicrous plotline and tons of unnecessary violence. The Next Three days is a step forward in a genre overwrought by inane car chases and randomly triggered explosions.

INTERVIEW WITH TOP CHEF'S GAIL SIMMONS

Gail Simmons is a proud foodie. She puts her expertise to practice on Bravo's Emmy-nominated, reality series "Top Chef" where she critiques up and coming chefs who want to make it in the culinary world. You can also see her work her judging magic on "Top Chef: Just Desserts" and "Top Chef Masters." Simmons admits to living the dream where she gets to both eat and judge while writing for "Food & Wine Magazine." Simmons talked to LIVE OC about food, her career and what it’s like to judge good grub for a living.


LIVE OC: Why did you decide to be part of the culinary world? What is it about food that fascinated you to get started in this field?


GAIL SIMMONS: I guess originally way back when I first had an inkling that I wanted to be in the food world was when I was in college. My mother actually ran a cooking school out of her home and wrote a food column in the newspaper. Growing up, there was always amazing food around me at all times; she was an amazing cook and was always throwing dinner parties. We traveled a lot as children. My father is from South Africa so travel was a big part of our life. Our parents felt strongly about exposing us to a lot of great food and travel. They were always up for adventures and they were always taking us along. So that kind of was innate in me from a very young age.

And when I was in college, left to my own resources and not a lot of money, I started cooking a lot and actually started writing restaurant reviews for my college paper, but never really realized that was a job. When I graduated, I wanted to write—I always loved writing. I went to work as an intern at a magazine and it was at the magazine when I started following the food editor around, and keep in mind this was long before there was Top Chef, long before there were massive food shows and the culinary world is as big as it is now, I found myself drawn to the food editor because I loved eating and I loved the world of restaurants and the entire experience. I kind of realized there was this whole universe of the restaurant world I wanted to be a part of and it’s delicious. Why not?

LIVE OC: What is the greatest thing about being on Top Chef and what is the most difficult?


Gail Simmons: The best thing would be, well everything is pretty great. I say this without an ounce of sarcasm, I really believe I have the best job on television. I get to eat great food, hang out with people I like, and travel around the country, so it’s pretty dreamy and the food is pretty delicious and impressive. I also get to meet all of these extraordinary chefs both young up and comers and the masters on the show as our guest judges and also the ones on our Top Chef Masters series. So it’s been pretty inspiring all around.

If I had to complain about anything I would say that the most difficult part is, because we travel so much for the show, I have to be away from home and the people that I love, so that can be difficult. Luckily enough we all really like each other and it’s been the same crew pretty much since the first day. It’s like traveling with this giant extended family. I like to joke that Padma and Tom are my college roommates. We’re sort of this funny little roommate group. There are certain times of the year where I see Padma and Tom more than my husband, so we know every secret about each other. There’s nothing we can hold back from each other at this point, but we’re lucky because we really enjoy hanging out.

LIVE OC: What are some of your favorite TV cooking shows past or present?

Gail Simmons: Good question let’s see. I’ve always loved watching Jacques Pepin on PBS. I’ve always loved watching him on Sunday mornings or weekend mornings. He’s such a master and he’s so accomplished and, not only has he had such an amazing career, in his late 70s’ he’s still such an amazing teacher. He’s never about the ego or grandstanding—he’s really just a teacher in the true sense of the word. I love that about him. I also love the show with his daughter Claudine because I cook with my mom so much, so I’ve always identified with this family thing because they’re always joking with each other and teasing each other but also making really great food with each other.

Present shows that I love..Anthony Bourdain. Okay, there are two food shows that are on my DVR that are not Top Chef shows: one is “No Reservations” and the other is “Avec Eric Show on PBS.” It is no coincidence that Eric and Anthony are best friends. It’s funny because on the surface they’re total opposites you know Anthony is this kind of crass, loud-mouth, no BS, adventurer, traveling the world and eating all kinds of ridiculously outlandish things where Eric is very put together, buttoned-up, four-star chef who is impeccable in his chef life at all times. But actually they’re best friends and they have two shows that reflect them each. You know Anthony’s is very down and dirty and Eric’s is beautifully designed and produced, but they’re both my favorite food programs that aren’t on Bravo.

LIVE OC: Who are some of your role models in the culinary world?

Gail Simmons: Certainly both of them. I’ve had the privilege of working with both of them on Top Chef. They’ve both been supporters of Top Chef from the first and second season. Eric was my co-judge on the past season of Top Chef and Anthony will be my co-judge on the upcoming season. They’ve both been great mentors to me and they’ve both taken time out of their lives to spend with me and advise me. We’ve traveled a bit all together. They’re the real deal in very different ways. In terms of other mentors, I’ve had three bosses in my life that I think really changed my life and made me who I am: Jeffrey Steingarten, a food critic for Vogue and he’s been writing for them for probably about 25 years if not more 35?, I worked for him for two years as an assistant and he really taught me everything I know about food. I went to culinary schools and worked in kitchens but going to work for him really taught me to get my hands dirty and understand the process of writing about food and quote “talking” about food, the language, the research, to understand the process.

After I worked for him I worked for Daniel Blue, who is a master , truly the best chef in the country if not the world and he is also an amazing businessman and I worked for him for three years. He really kind of opened his home to me and his business and let me follow him around wherever he went for three years. He is so good and such a smart and charming person. Finally, the publisher Christina Grdovic and editor-in-chief Dana Cowin for “Food and Wine Magazine.” You know women in the food world sadly are still pretty few and far between in a lot of ways and the two of them are trailblazers. They’ve been at the magazine for 15 years just about and they just are fearless leaders— they’re so smart at what they do. They’re the first—they get their first. They’re both ahead of their time and are visionaries and I love spending time, traveling, and talking with them for so many years.

LIVE OC: You’re hosting Top Chef Desserts now. What’s your favorite dessert?

Gail Simmons: Ever? That’s like choosing children! It’s similar how I feel about restaurants. I’m so lucky that there are so many restaurants in New York and I can never pick my favorite one. Just like restaurants, I can never pick one dessert— it depends on my mood. I have a dessert for when I feel down, a dessert when I’m feeling happy, a dessert I go to when I want chocolate, a dessert I go to when I want fruit. You know it depends. If I want to share, I have a dessert I will choose. It also depends on the season. I go through these phases. I’m just coming out of this pudding phase—you know just smoothe, creamy rich chocolate pudding, maple pudding, butterscotch pudding. Now I’m going into a fall pie phase, just because that’s the season and that’s what I’m in the mood to cook. Thanksgiving is coming up and the fruit in fall I think,lends itself so well to pies so you know apple pie, pear pie, fig, pumpkin, pecan pies, all that stuff is great.

LIVE OC: What has been your most memorable Top Chef Challenge meal?

Gail Simmons: Wow! There have been so many that it’s almost like they all blur into one but there have been a few. In general, I tend to have the strongest memories of the ones that really took the chefs out of their elements where they weren’t cooking in traditional kitchens at all. Where we forced them to cook out on the street or over a fire on the beach or you know out of a truck. So in really unusual situations that force them out of their comfort zone, so they aren’t thinking like a chef but as a real person. In every season we’ve been able to do that so that’s been really exciting. If I have to think of my favorite meal I’ve ever eaten on the show, I’d have to say the first season of Top Chef Masters, our finale meal Michael Chiarello, Hubert Keller, and Rick Bayless. It was like the Dream Team. It was like I felt this is “the die and go to heaven meal” and I’m a little worried because I had no rights to eating their food all together,at once, in such an amazing circumstance. It was so memorable.

LIVE OC: What is one important tip that you can give to amateur chefs?

Gail Simmons: I guess the one important tip I’d give is “that there’s no such thing as an overnight success.” I mean it applies in entertainment, but it applies nowhere better than in the kitchen. I mean you come out of school or come out of cooking for a year and you’re a chef I mean Tom will tell you it really takes a lifetime of study and hard work and there is no easy shortcut to it. To be a true chef, to be a leader of the kitchen, to be the one designing the menu, whose name is on the door and to have that recognition, to be what those people consider a great chef these days—you know, you just can’t take a shortcut. You need to learn, you need to find great mentors and study under them. You need to keep your mouth shut, your ears open, your palette ready, and just be willing to work and it’s only through that hard work, learning, and putting your own ego aside that you’ll be able to create a breadth of experience that you can then make your own and you gotta have the passion and the drive to stick with it, because the rewards are great if you’re willing to do the work required.

LIVE OC: You’re doing writing and special projects at Food and Wine Magazine. How is that going?

Gail Simmons: I was at Food and Wine long before I was on television and my position at Top Chef came out of Bravo and Food and Wine coming together to work on the first season of the show and I was chosen as a representative of the magazine. I never anticipated being on television. I always wanted to work in food publishing and magazines and in food media. My job here at Food and Wine has certainly changed over the years as my role on Top Chef has expanded and as the show has continued to thrive, so my job here is very different than it used to be. So I get the chance to do a little bit of writing and recipe work for them and you know just to be an ambassador for the magazine because Food and Wine has been celebrating chef talent and finding what’s new and next in the chef world for 30 plus years. So when Bravo came to Food and Wine to do the show it was this perfect fit and now we can do what we do on a greater scale for the national audience. It gives us this great reason to shout it from the hilltops more than ever that there’s this amazing world of food and chefs tgat everyone wants to be a part of and Food and Wine and Bravo have been able to- hand in hand- show the world that.

LIVE OC: You mentioned your Mom and growing up in food-centered household. Is there any recipe that your Mom passed down to you that you use today?

Gail Simmons: Oh there are several really. Classically, there’s all that stuff that I still make that I would never depart from—her chicken soup, her banana chocolate bread. She has this amazing plum tart that I love. And my father ,who is not a cook and can barely turn on a dishwasher, but there are a few things that he makes that are his speciality and I’m very proud to make them. He makes amazing pickles and he makes his own pickles. He also makes this amazing applesauce right around this time. I love it and I make it.

LIVE OC: What’s your favorite comfort food?

Gail Simmons: Anything with chocolate in it. Chocolate or carbohydrates. When you put those together I’d say chocolate bread pudding. Best of both worlds.

LIVE OC: Do you have a favorite place to eat in California?

Gail Simmons: I haven’t spent any time in Orange County sadly. But I have a really close friend who moved out there a year ago so I owe her a visit and I hear really great things. I don’t have experience beyond LA. Just a few years ago I would say I was not that interested in the LA food scene but I think over the past couple of years, it has just bloomed and I constantly have a list of like eight restaurants I want to go to every time I’m in town. Right now restaurants I’m really excited about in LA.. Animal, one of my favorite restaurants and I eat there every time I come to LA, even though that’s often. It’s just one of the most refreshing restaurants in a long time. I love Street. It’s just super cool. I love Gjelina in Venice.

LIVE OC: What is the one restaurant that everyone should eat at before they die?

Gail Simmons: I have to say two. In Spain, in the basque country outside of Rioja in Spain. It’s this amazing man who does everything over these custom made grills he’s built for himself. He’ll grill everything from caviar to ice cream and it’s just an extraordinary experience. It’s called Etxeberri. On the flip side is Hot Crescenters in Singapore.

LIVE OC: Where do you want to take your career in the next few years?

Gail Simmons: Wow, a big question but a good one. I try not to make a 10-year plan, I just want to stay in this position and continue to teach people how to eat better and be more adventurous.

"El Capitan" by the Steelwells Gets a One of a Kind Look

Akorn Entertainment Produced The Steelwells Music Video “El Capitan” in Support of Local Music

(Santa Ana, CA) – Downtown Santa Ana based film production company, Akorn Entertainment , co-produced a music video for up and coming indie artist, The Steelwells, pro-bono, in efforts to further opportunities for local musicians within the Orange County community. The Steelwells won the complimentary music video along with the title of “Best Song” for track “El Capitan” at the 2010 OC Music Awards.  Akorn Entertainment partnered with the Awards event to produce the music video for the winning song. The video for “El Capitan” premiered at the Anaheim International Film Festival opening night on October 13, 2010.

Akorn Entertainment Director, Ali Akbarzadeh, brought to life the lyrics of “El Capitan” with the story of a sea captain whose desire for material riches and overwhelming greed lead to his own personal demise. Each scene is woven with topical political undertones alluding to the 2010 Gulf oil spill crisis.

No real actors partake in the video, rather the characters are played by wire and cardboard doll-like figures, constructed and painted by Akorn’s Director of Photography, Joshua Lang, and Lead Artist, Natalia Wong. Art Director, Diana Markessinis, created miniature sets and props designed from found objects, hand-crafted into lavish oceanic scenes, giving the entire production an organic puppet theater meets anime style and feel.

The video was shot over seven nights, using a Canon 5D, completed and premiered, with the assistance of OC Music Awards, at no cost to the band. “Every year we are lucky enough to partner with OC Music Awards and get to know the best local musical talent OC has to offer,” says Jeffrey Horn, Akorn’s Executive Producer. “Producing a music video for the Award’s Best New Artist winner each year is a great way for us to give back to our creative community.”

Akorn Entertainment plans to co-produce a complimentary music video for the winner of OC Music Awards Best Song each year. Watch “El Capitan” on the OC Music Awards Youtube Channel.


Song: El Capitan
Artist: The Steelwells
Album: Shallow on the Draft, 2009
Video Co-Producer: Jeffrey Horn, Akorn Entertainment
Video Co-Producer: OC Music Awards
Video Director: Ali Akbarzadeh, Akorn Entertainment

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Akorn Entertainment LLC.  
Akorn Entertainment was founded in 2006 on the mantra of producing highly creative, visually compelling content that engages viewers on multiple levels. Much of the production work scope consists of intimate personal stories woven together with beautiful High-Definition video, captivating visual effects and unforgettable music.



Highlights from the Akorn Entertainment portfolio include a feature length documentary for the city of Downtown Santa Ana, webisodes and viral videos for globally recognized brands such as LG and Sprint and all visual and interstitial graphic components for the annual event, OC Music Awards.

TRENDS THAT TAKE US BACK

Take a step back into time when curtsies were appropriately paired with cocktail dresses and Jackie O was more than the First Lady. American fashion included belts that were used to enhance the bosom and bow ties that made your beau look his best. Follow these fashion trends that are hitting Hollywood this season to make it classier with pearls and brooches for a fancy motif.

Top Ten Places to Work Out in Orange County

Just because you throw out your bikini for winter, doesn't mean you have to throw out your workout. If you're on full burnout from hitting the gym too much over the summer, it's a great time to change up your workout by discovering some of the best places to exercise in Orange County. Places that will make you feel good about your inside as well as your out. Places right here in Orange County that don’t age discriminate and where you are welcome to start your journey to a healthier you. 

When working outside, it's always good to take necessary precautions. Wear comfortable shoes, put on (high) SPF,  and pack the H20! Combine these tips along with our list of Ten Places to Work-Out in Orange County and the end will leave you ready to conquer the junk food from the holidays!

Holy Jim Trail

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If you are in Foothill Ranch and looking for a place to burn calories while getting some fresh air, and want to take in some beautiful scenery, then check out Holy Jim Trail. This area is the perfect place to mountain bike and hike and is gorgeous year round. If you make it to the end of the trails, you will be rewarded with the spectacular falls of Holy Jim Trail. (They predict the falls are best viewed in early spring or during the rainy season.)

Location: Trabuco Creek Road and stop past the Holy Jim Fire Station.

1,000 Steps 
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I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but there really aren’t 1,000 steps. However, there are over 200 stairs that will tone and firm that gluteus of yours. Not to mention the breathtaking views you will get of the Pacific Ocean—all while doing free outdoor exercise!
Location: Ninth Ave/PCH in Laguna Beach

Equinox Fitness Club

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Offering Pilates, yoga, state of the art cardio and strength equipment, a basketball court, fitness classes, a pool, spinning, …the list could go on and on. With the motto of, “It’s not fitness. It’s life.” and also named "The Best Gym in America” by ESPN, Equinox Fitness Club presents a more than satisfying place to sweat.

Location: 19540 Jamboree Rd Ste 100 in Irvine (949) 296-1700

Carbon Canyon Regional Park

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Carbon Canyon Regional Park provides over 100 acres of walking and bike trails, tennis and volleyball courts, a field, as well as playgrounds for children to get their exercise. Carbon Canyon Regional Park also has a lake complete with two fishing piers, so whatever your work-out pleasure is, you are sure to find it at this park.

Location: 4442 Carbon Canyon Road in Brea

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

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If you are looking for picturesque rock formations and unbelievable views of Red Rock Canyon, Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is where you want to work your legs. There are work-out possibilities for hikers and bikers here and three streams running throughout this gratifying location. Equestrians are also welcome!

Location: Portola Parkway/ Glenn Ranch Road

Brea Community Center

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At its Community Center, Brea offers the opportunity to get fit with obstacle courses and endurance exercises (Fitness Boot Camp with Dr. Jeff), as well as resistance training and martial arts in the “Spring Training Workout” with Danielle Bryant. The Brea Community Center also features a cardio and weight room as well as a group exercise space and gym.

Location: 695 E. Madison Way in Brea (714-990-7100)

Outdoor Fitness Adventure Club

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Priding itself with being “Orange County’s first Gym Without Walls,” Outdoor Fitness Adventure Club will kick your fanny into shape with activities like Nordic walking, fitness hiking, and boot camps. They also have monthly activities such as kayaking in the harbor and the ocean, and even stand Up Paddle! In all, Outdoor Fitness Adventure Club offers almost forty fitness classes a week, so you don’t stand a chance of getting bored!

Location: 210 N. El Camino Real in San Clemente (949) 366-1010

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

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If you are looking to get your exercise by walking or by riding trails, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park is the spot for you. The trails feature calorie burning for the beginner to the advanced. With areas for running, riding, and hiking, you will be sure to find the right program for you. There are even helpful markers on all of the trails to let you know how long each path will be!

Location: 28373 Alicia Pkwy in Laguna Niguel

Irvine Park

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Yes, Irvine Park is much like any park…if that park is close to five-hundred acres!! There are many things to do at Irvine Park (such as go to the OC Zoo) and there are just as many ways to get fit and burn calories while you are visiting. For a change in your routine, try renting a bike or pushing your legs to the limit in one of their pedal boats. There are miles of trails that can be used for hiking and biking as well as ball fields and horseshoe pits! Talk about fun ways to tone your muscles!

Location: 1 Irvine Park Road in Orange

Curves

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Yes, Curves is for woman but ladies, let’s be real— we are pretty hard on our own image. Curves understands just that and they suggest a complete cardio and strength-training workout that you can complete in only 30 minutes burning up to 500 calories!! They also provide trainers to keep you inspired and help you achieve your ultimate goal. No more “sucking it in” while you are working-out to please the hot guys all around you. After Curves, there’ll be no more “sucking it in” at all. Make sure you ask about their new Curves Weight Management Plan!

Location: 6829 Warner Ave, Huntington Beach

Hollywood Takes Over Anaheim!

IT'S HERE! The Anaheim International Film Festival is debuting Wednesday, October 13-17. The first night will feature five films and a collection of film shorts to launch an ambition program of movies, panels, and gala events throughout the week.

The first films on Wednesday night include Jonathan Lynn's Wild Target, David Bradburty's Going Vertical: The Shortboard Revoltion, Alexandra Codina's Monica & David, Mamoru Hosoda's Summer Wars, a special Shorts Presentation, and a special presentation of John Hughes' classic Sixteen Candles.


The shorts film presentation includes Joshua and Rebekah Weigel's Butterfly Circus; Max Lang's and Jakob Schuh's The Gruffalo; Iram Haq's Little Miss Eyelap; Natalia Mirzoyan's My Childhood Mystery Tree; Lilli Birdsell's Once Upon a Crime; James Redford's Quality Time; Cordell Baker's Runway; and Peter Meech's Winner: Best Short Film.

You can't have movies without the movie stars, so arrivals on the red carpet will include Jonathan Lynn, director of Wild Target, My Cousin Vinny, The Fighting Temptations, The Whole Nine Yards, and Sgt. Bilko; cast and crew of Going Vertical: Bob McTavish, Dick Brewer, Mike Hynson, Leah Wright (prod), Rene Abilliero, Mickey Munoz, and Pete Townend.


The film festival will be held at UltraStar Cinemas at Anaheim at the GardenWalk on 321 Katella Ave. Doors open at 5:30 - 6:30 PM--press check in at 5 PM.

For more information, visit www.anaheimfilm.org.

Katie Cervantes
Live OC Mag
www.LIVEOCMAG.com

restaurant review:
SEASONS 52

>>Health conscious, palate aware, and ever changing fresh and local cuisine

October marks the official onset of Autumn, a season resounding with pumpkins and squash, figs and apples, prolific oranges and golds, and a brief, but epic culinary period. And that’s not even counting all the Halloween candy.


The newly opened Seasons 52 restaurant in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza shopping complex revolves around such seasonality, adjusting their entire menu four times a year according to what’s local and timely. Likewise, a weekly supplemental menu grows from each seven day period’s freshest and finest produce, meat, and seafood. Nearly half of the available bounty offers the town, farm, or region from which the ingredients originated.


If Seasons 52’s concept sounds homely or quaint, their luxurious surroundings contradict any misconceptions.


The interior projects a modern, professional romanticism with sharp contours from geometric and non-conforming shelves stuffed with wine bottles, contemporary art, and plant filled vases dividing the space instead of walls. Shaded lighting projects downward onto red-brown tables and prominent woodwork, almost illuminating a copper, earthy aura throughout. A jazzy piano wine bar is tucked into the rear, opposite a fire pit filled patio, and private dining room with views of the open kitchen.


The food choices are tantalizing.


The ripe plum tomato flatbread, rich with basil, roasted garlic, and melted parmesan cheese, is one of six courses that never vacate the shifting menu. Though, the grilled steak & cremini mushroom flatbread outdoes the fixture with pungent Wisconsin blue cheese melted into sweet onions and sliced sirloin, over which sprinkled chopped spinach hangs on for dear life. More than a foot long and cut into comfortably sized triangles, both flatbreads were whisked out on cutting boards – balanced by the hands of an intensely passionate, and infectiously enthusiastic staff.


Achieved through wood grills, brick-ovens, and fresh ingredients which require few heavy sauces, the most impressive accomplishment at Seasons 52 is this: “Every single item on the menu is below 475 calories.”

Granted, staying below such a boundary is simple enough with their honest organic baby spinach salad. Assembled as though handpicked from a forest with mixed raspberries, toasted pine nuts, and gorgonzola cheese, its light balsamic vinaigrette may not even be necessary. But one bite of the goat cheese ravioli will have you questioning the restaurant’s caloric claims, right along with your personal faith.


A lone ravioli, the size of a pancake, floats centered amid a tiny pool of oil and tomato broth. And beneath the leafy, garlicky pasta shell, a mound of warm goat cheese, melted and melded into neither solid nor liquid, softly oozes out into chopped tomatoes and sauce. If you’re a fan of goat cheese, it is enchanting.


Wine could claim to own half the restaurant, were there to be a divorce. A walk-in cellar waits on the immediate left inside the entrance, and bottles are scattered throughout in decoration and storage. Their 100-plus selections are internationally focused, and include numerous organics and dessert wines, as well as low alcohol choices.


Seven caramelized, wood grilled sea scallops encircle sundried tomato pearl pasta and roasted asparagus stalks. Autumn hues from the golden-brown pearl pasta blend with the bright crimson sundried tomatoes and gray-green asparagus. Similar to risotto, the pearl pasta is slicker, but almost as creamy. The rustic colored scallops have been brushed with a faint chicken au jus sauce, and are grilled to a firm exterior and gelatinized, smoothly textured inside.


However, nothing speaks more to the Executive Chef Tim Kast’s grasp on seasonality than the quail breast. Served as four cutlets topped with Mission figs, the entrée and accompanying burnt orange mashed sweet potatoes are glazed with a bourbon-chili layer. Mixed beans and broccoli straight from the harvest mingle together at the plate’s far end. Salty, deceptively sweet, and just noticeably spicy, the quail conjectures up fall’s most quixotic moments.

Desserts also fit beneath the 475 calorie threshold, coming in individualized serving dishes similar to extended shot glasses. Key lime pie still has the graham cracker bottom, though its texture and consistency are more like a key lime mousse. Much denser, the carrot cake’s cream cheese icing and overall richness merges perfectly with their coffees and cappuccinos.


Seasons 52 is a small but growing chain, found almost exclusively in Florida. Its focus on regional ingredients, health conscious choices, and changing, customized courses offers an experience as deceptive as their style and service providing a local feel with an eminent professionalism found in everything they do.


Seasons 52
3333 Bristol Avenue, Suite #2802
Costa Mesa
seasons52.com
714.437.5252

8 1/2 Questions with Giuliana Rancic

Wearing many hats while looking gorgeous is something Giuliana Rancic has clearly mastered. Her life is on the red carpets, hosting for E! News and Fashion Police, having a hit reality show (new season premiers October 11th) with her husband called "Giuliana and Bill" on The Style Network. She even has her own book entitled, “I Do, Now What?”, which Bill Rancic cowrote and gives insight into how to have a healthy marriage.

Besides taking Hollywood by storm, Giuliana is also at the fashion forefront by staying current and setting new trends.

LIVE: I assume your new book “I Do, Now What?” is a full 360 from your previous book, “Think Like a Guy.” Was it easier to write a book with a co-author? 

Rancic: When I wrote “Think Like a Guy” I was a single girl in the dating world. This book reflects my life as a regular girl in the sometimes crazy world of marriage. It’s a completely different subject matter for me. Bill and I wrote this book because we learned so much through trial and error during the first three years of our marriage, which are some of the roughest years for a lot of people. Through our own experiences and through a lot of really great new studies, we have come up with tons of fantastic tips to help married couples navigate their way through big adjustments that come with marriage.

LIVE: You are known for being stylish and are now co-hosting “Fashion Police” (with Joan Rivers) so give it up, what was something that you wore is the past that the Fashion Police would cite you for? 

Rancic: At my very first Emmy Awards I had chosen this great green beaded dress for the show. At the time, I was in my 20s and kind of like a wild, crazy chick. At the very last minute I was leaving my dressing room to go to the red carpet and decided to ditch my gorgeous stiletto heels for big knee-high cowboy boots! My bosses almost fired me it was so bad! Thankfully at the time, I was just a young little reporter, so no red carpet pictures exist…although they may be floating around in an E! vault.

LIVE: Who is your pick for most fashionable celeb on the red carpet at the moment?

Rancic: Right now, I think the best dressed celebrity is Lea Michele. We named her “Best Dressed” on our Emmys Fashion Police Show. She was absolutely stunning in that midnight blue Oscar De La Renta gown. She kind of came out of nowhere and always looks amazing. She’s definitely one I’m going to keep an eye on.

LIVE: What has been your most uncomfortable “red-carpet moment?” 

Rancic: Years ago I was working an Oscar after party on E! and I was interviewing Tom Hanks live and we were having a great, fun conversation and all of the sudden Halle Berry shows up on the red carpet out of nowhere holding her Oscar that she had just won. I knew I had to get an interview with her because she had just won the Oscar! I didn’t want to ditch Tom Hanks so I actually invited Halle over to join my interview with Tom Hanks. I actually introduced two of the biggest Hollywood stars to each other and viewers got to see a very intimate moment on live TV. In the end what started out as an uncomfortable moment became one of my best to date.

LIVE: What can we expect on the new season of “Giuliana and Bill?”

Rancic: This is by far the most intimate and revealing season yet. We have been public with our struggle with infertility and that continues through this season starting with a bombshell in episodes one and three. We also buy a new house and find ourselves going head-to-head on a lot of the renovations. This is by far the best season yet and is filled with laughs and plenty of tears.

LIVE: Watching you cut ties with your assistant Matt last season was heartbreaking. Will he return in the new season?

Rancic: Matt and I haven’t seen each other in a long time, but you never know who could pop up! I do have a new assistant that you will meet and fall in love with as Bill and I have in this new season. It’s the first time I’ve worked with a female assistant so there are lots of very entertaining moments. Her name is Sarah and she’s young, beautiful and a total fashionista! The viewers are going to love her!

LIVE: When the cameras aren’t rolling how do you and Bill like to spend your time? Any guilty pleasures?

Rancic: Bill and I travel so much that when we’re together and have down time, we’re homebodies like a lot of couples.

LIVE: You and Bill seem to be super competitive so on your personal score sheet, who wins the most? 

Rancic: Me hands down!! What did you think I would say?!

LIVE: What was the last thing you Googled? 

Rancic: Besides myself? (Because people who say they don’t are liars!) I Googled how to transform an old t-shirt into a razorback tank top. Odd I know, but I love my fashion!