Good news Blue Bloods fans! Executive producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Donnie Wahlberg have teamed up to bring us Boston Blue, a spin-off to carry on the Reagan family tradition. The pilot opens with Sean Reagan as a cop in Boston, who gets injured while running into a working fire. His father, Danny Reagan, visits him in the hospital and inserts himself into the investigation.
Sean is played by a new actor but another Reagan makes an appearance, as well as Danny’s New York partner (look for the love connection). The rest of the cast is new but similar to the Reagan clan, with family members in policing and the DA’s office. It’s hinted from the start that Danny Reagan is in Boston to stay, where he can keep an eye on his son.
The story is filmed on location in Toronto and Boston, and from what I’ve seen, promises to be a continuation of the Blue Bloods legacy. Call is Boston Blue Bloods if you will.
If you’re expecting a movie full of musical action and a cross selection of Springsteen songs to see and hear on the big screen, don’t bother. Wait to stream it. This film is more about how the Boss battled with his demons – an alcoholic father and his own ongoing depression. In my opinion, the back story made the whole movie slow and depressing.
On the upside, Jeremy Allen White gives the performance of his life – not only mimicking Springsteen’s mood and mannerisms but he kick’s ass when singing his songs. His rendition of Born in the USA actually gave me goosebumps. It was the highlight of the movie, for me.
Bruce is a talented songwriter and performer, and even though his unorthodox recording of the Nebraska album wasn’t accepted by record producers, he held fast and demanded the vinyl be released with no media fanfare, tour, or even his picture on the cover.
The flick was a bit deep and dark for me but Cathryn enjoyed it. There should have been more music. She gave it an 8 out of 10. I’m giving it a 6 but a 10 for White’s performance.
This book took me completely by surprise. Not usually a genre I read, I was quickly consumed by the story of a French family who emigrated from France, settled in Montreal, and then helped to establish the cities of Detroit and Windsor. The author’s research is extensive and meticulous, tracing her family’s roots back several generations. The story delves into Canada’s fur trade and French migration south along the St. Lawrence Seaway to the birth of Detroit, in the form of Fort Pontchartrain. The level of survival skills and determination of our pioneering ancestors is nothing short of amazing. Every local history buff should snag a copy of this book.
If you liked Days of Thunder or Top Gun, you’ll love F1-The Movie, starring Brad Pitt. And instead of an all-star ensemble, this action flick brings you the expertise of Joseph Kosinski in the director’s chair, Jerry Bruckheimer as producer and music by Hans Zimmer – yes, the same crew that puts together movies for Tom Cruise.
Actually, the two mega-stars raced go-carts together while filming Interview with a Vampire and they tried to make a racing movie years ago but it never got off the ground. And to top it off, Cruise showed up for the London premiere of Pitt’s F1, reuniting them for the first time in over 20 years.
Sylvester Stallone hoped to make an F1 movie back in 2001, with Driven, but couldn’t crack the secret F1 cult and had to settle on CART Racing. But Kosinski, Bruckheimer and Pitt spent 3 years pitching their idea to F1 racing officials before getting the nod. It’s said they clinched the deal by inviting the top executive to Top Gun Maverick to show the kind of movie they wanted to make.
Producers went so far as to gain actual F1 race footage and offer cameos to real F1 drivers, as well as hiring a champion F1 driver as producer. And Pitt not only practiced driving in a modified F2 car, he drove on some of those same tracks around the world. When interviewed he said he was humbled by the experience and it was one of the highlights of his life.
So, if you’re looking for high octane racing action with an awesome soundtrack, amazing cinematography and a good story, be sure to check out F1 – The Movie on the big screen. It was filmed in iMax.
Cathryn and I both loved the movie and rated it 10 out of 10.
Like no other actor has ever done, Tom Cruise greets viewers at the beginning of the film, saying that he and his crew have created the best cinematic viewing experience possible. He couldn’t be more right. He goes above and beyond with each of his movie’s cinematography, location, soundtrack and stunt work, solely for our enjoyment.
If you’re expecting a ho-hum part two for the latest MI installment, you’d be completely wrong. Buckle up for this one because Cruise takes it up another notch with heart-pounding chase scenes, underwater excitement, and aerial stunts never seen on film before. And the aging actor does many of these crazy stunts himself.
Although the plot is of the typical save the world type, it brilliantly uses flashbacks and even re-introduces characters from long-past MI movie instalments, to intricately weave together Ethan Hunt and his team’s accomplishments over the previous thirty years. Thinking each film had it’s own specific plot, I was blown away how they put it all together in the Final Reckoning.
As usual, the film locations and soundtrack are awesome. It was filmed in iMax and our only regret is not seeing it in an iMax theater. At three hours, the movie is a bit long but the action is almost non-stop, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Granted, Hunt saving the world can go over the top at times but the flick is still very entertaining.
Cathryn and I both rate The Final Reckoning 10 out of 10.
I do like Deaver’s new protagonist, Colter Shaw, but personally think he went into far too much detail with the back story about Shaw’s past. Granted, it’s nice to know how he acquired his skillset but it was a bit more than I really needed to know. Actually, I found it a bit confusing, trying to separate past from present more than once throughout the book.
The story is fresh and interesting, taking us into the gaming industry and giving us an in depth look inside the minds of both vide0 game creators and players.
I stumbled across a TV series called, Tracker, which currently runs two seasons on the Disney channel. Watching the show has given me a new appreciation for Colter Shaw and his ongoing quest to locate missing people.
I haven’t reviewed a Windsor restaurant in a while. There are two reasons for that: first, is Cathryn is such a great cook that we eat most of our meals at home. Secondly, we like ‘good’ food and there are so many local restaurants that simply don’t live up to our expectations. Sure, Cathryn can be a little particular when it comes to food but if you’re paying big money for a meal then it should be good.
We don’t normally give negative reviews unless the food is horrible and you need to be warned. Not every restaurant has experienced chefs in their kitchen and even the best place can have an off night.
I’m currently housebound, recovering from a hip replacement, which put me in a bit of a pickle. It was Cathryn’s birthday and we’d normally go out to one of her favorite restaurants, but my limited mobility forced me to search for a local establishment that could deliver really good food to our front door. She normally shuns food deliveries, believing most of it doesn’t travel well.
So, I called a place we’d always wanted to try but for some reason never got there – the Wildwood Grill.
It is only five minutes from our home so that’s the line I fed the owner when I called to ask if he’d deliver a nice birthday meal for my wife. He agreed to the challenge and I went all out, ordering pan-seared scallops in mushroom sauce, a caesar salad for two, rack of lamb with roasted potato and veggies, and a creme brulee.
Wildwood’s owner showed up at our door right on time. He’d included a bowl of roasted red pepper soup that was included with the lamb (instead of a salad which I ordered separately). We attacked the soup and scallops before they got cold but everything was delivered hot. The soup was amazing. Cathryn usually makes her own caesar dressing but was impressed with Wildwood’s version. The salad was fresh and crisp, with shaved parmesan.
I anxiously waited for the moment of truth, when she put cut one of her lamb chops and took a bite. It was cooked perfectly and she was a happy camper. The accompanying roasted potatoes were very good. I’m not a big fan of creme brulee but Cathryn was tickled pink by the heart-shaped ceramic dish it was delivered in. She said it was one of the best she’s had.
We shared the appies, salad, entree and dessert, and found there was plenty of food. We also had no complaints and easily give the Wildwood Grill a 10 out of 10, are rarity for us. (pictures were taken from their fb page, since we were too busy eating)
The Wildwood Grill is in the plaza on Banwell at Wildwood, off the roundabout, between Tecumseh and the E.C. Row Expressway.
I couldn’t give this book any more than 2 stars since I was bored and stopped reading after 100 pages – if a story can’t get my interest in that time then it’s not worth finishing. For a war story, I expected a lot more – not just a lot of backroom dialog that barely moved things along. If you think this book is as good as The Eagle Has Landed, you’re in for a big disappointment. My loss if it got any better in later chapters and pages.
My latest Norm Strom Crime novel has just been released – available in eBook on AmazonNOW. The release in paperback there and on your other favorite book site is coming soon.
Quicksand is a fictional story of an unsolved local murder that occurred in a quiet lakefront village where Norm Strom resided before moving back to Windsor, Ontario. Annie Gladstone is run down in broad daylight by a hit and run driver who is never identified or arrested.
One of Strom’s co-workers, a fellow cop, was dating Annie and is questioned about the incident. Her estranged ex-husband quickly becomes a person of interest and later the main suspect. An arrest is made several years later and the Gladstone family relives the entire event in court.
The case is still open and the murder remains unresolved to this day.
Newcomers and frequent visitors to Melaque, Mexico, are always searching for or inquiring about where to dine in town. Cathryn and I are foodies so when we visit restaurants we look for good food and service, hoping those things are reflected in the price. Some folks think that cheap food or large amounts of it is great but we expect more. We often dine with friends and try to offer honest reviews. Links are included if one can be found.
El Dorado (Club Nautico) – usually our first stop after arrival since our fridge and cupboards are empty. It’s the first place east of the earthquake hotel, offering one of the best views on the beach, they have a varied menu. My favorite is a platter-sized slab of chicken parm with a loaded baked potato and veggies. Cathryn enjoys the Papillon (Dorado). We’ve tried other dishes that have been hit and miss, depending on who’s cooking that day. The margaritas aren’t nearly as good as they used to be and some staff speak decent English. This came in handy when the waiter thought we were only sharing a baked potato.
La Chinita – formerly in a terrible location on the highway, this is the best Authentic Chinese food in town. But if sweet & sour chicken balls are your thing, they have them too. Great spring and egg rolls and homemade wonton soup. The new location is in Villa Obregon where Vanilla Pimienta was and they’ve recently added a rooftop bar with pool and pingpong tables. We were six on our last visit and everyone loved their meals. We’ve also had them deliver to a party at our casa – food was hot and plentiful.
Patas – It’s small and the menu is limited but everything listed is awesome. Their burgers are one of the best in town and their ‘Denver Burrito’ is man-sized and stuffed with beef or chicken. Even their nachos are top notch, probably because they make their own chips. There’s something extra-special about warm tortilla chips and fresh guacamole. We’ve never had a bad meal at Pata’s. Cathryn can’t get enough of their cilantro margaritas.
Quetzal de Laura – Friends have given us mixed dinner reviews but swear by their crepes. For Cathryn and I it’s the best breakfast place in town, with great omelets and both gringo or Mexican dishes. Breakfast usually comes with a fresh, warm biscuit, small salad and home fries. Prices are about half what we pay at home. They use cream cheese in their omelets, a savory treat in my opinion. Their breakfast meals have been consistently good for years.
Kyoto – A Japanese restaurant that used to be downtown, a new Melaque experience for us. Toted as a Sushi restaurant, it’s more of an Asian fusion menu, with sushi, stir-frys and soups. They accept reservations there but service is exceptionally slow, even by Melaque standards. Out of our party of six, only one thought his sushi roll was lousy. Cathryn and I liked our California roll and egg rolls. We didn’t care for the dumplings – we chose the fried ones. Quiet entertainment allowed us to carry on conversation. Washrooms were broken.
El Patio – My second favorite breakfast place – right on the main drag in town. I prefer the sidewalk tables where I can watch the world go by. Only open for breakfast and lunch, they have a menu that attracts gringos and nationals alike. I’ve sampled their various omelettes and was pleasantly surprised by their authentic clubhouse sandwich. From the sidewalk, you can watch your meal being cooked. Service is quick and prices are very reasonable.
La Oficina – We didn’t make it here last year but recently went for what many call the best burger in town. Cathryn and I split one and have to admit it’s one of the top three, at least. There’s no question that their Caesar salad is top notch and our friend gave a thumbs up to his chicken burger. We’ve also taken their smoked marlin and marlin pate home, returning for more. Service is amazingly quick for the amount of food the kitchen puts out. Prices are in line with everyone else. Lots of tv’s for sporting events.
Rusty Compass– A new player in town, it’s more of a beach bar than restaurant, owned and managed by Canadians. The beer is cold and cheap and pub grub is served from a food truck. We had a shrimp cocktail that blew us away. Our friend enjoyed the taquitos and happy faces around us said the burgers were good too. No plastic cups there, wine is served in stainless steel vessels. It’s the new hot spot in town with daily entertainment.
The Frog – Our first visit back in a few years was a pleasant experience. Next to the old Simona’s in Barra, the chicken cordon bleu is the best I’ve had around here. The cream of broccoli soup was excellent and our friend thoroughly enjoyed his Czechoslovakian pasta, saying it was like chicken cacciatore. Frequent patrons at the next table raved about the fish dishes offered there. Other friends have also bragged about their breakfast.
Tacos Pedros – One of friend’s favorites on Taco row, Cathryn and I don’t see the attraction. Craving tacos, we gave it another chance. A few doors down from the main square, menu choices are listed on the wall, and limited – basically tacos or quesadillas (tacos with cheese). My pastor was edible but Cathryn’s chicken looked exactly like my pork, both virtually flavourless unless you consider one of the hot sauces, flavour. I pigged out on their radishes and beans. No sour cream or even guac available. Sorry, I’m a Taco Bell kind of guy.
Moon– Top Floor of Casa Leon – Hands down, the best view in Melaque. As much as we try to like this place, the food has really let us down. The wait staff is excellent but something’s amiss in the kitchen. On our recent visit, only one of our group of eight was happy with his steak. His calamari was overcooked and bland. Ribeye and New York’s were paper thin and fatty or grisly. It appeared they were boiled or steamed before being grilled and Cathryn’s was way undercooked. Salads were very good, as was the lemon cheesecake. Many other friends rave about the two-for-one rib or burger nights if that’s your thing. We feel prices are high for the quality of food we received. They now offer a Sunday brunch with seems to be getting positive reviews.
We’ve also eaten at the Sea Master in Barra, Seriana Gordita at Coco Beach, Pedro’s in La Manzanilla, and Pata Salada in Manzanilla, all with decent offerings, but I’ve kept this list to Melaque.
Please keep in mind that opinions expressed are our own and from our dining friends. You might have a completely different experience since menus and staff change frequently. Be brave, be adventurous. Happy dining!
Life Written and Reviewed 