Lazy Lemur Review

Bringing Back Fairy Tales

2011-05-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

I discovered an awesome author of two verse books about well known fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. Leah Wilcox wrote her very clever version of these tried and true tales called, Waking Beauty and Falling for Rapunzel. Fun to read and very funny. I love them both so they will share spot number 17 on my list of favorite childrens books.

Adding to My List

2010-12-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share my 16th favorite children's book, which is holiday related. It's called, The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis, who also authored another of my favorites, My Truck Is Stuck, mentioned in an earlier post.

I checked out the book from the library and I am sad to say, it is due back soon. This book has been a requested night time read nearly every night...and I never hesitate to read it. It is FUN to read! I will have to buy this book as it needs a permanent home on my book shelf.

Since I discovered two books by Kevin Lewis that I really like...I may have to see what else he's written. He's my favorite to date.

A Couple More to Add...

2010-08-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

I just read a couple more that I thought were list worthy. Here are numbers 11 through 15 for my Favorite Childrens Book genre list:

11.) Mom and Dad Are Palindromes by Mark Shulman and illustrated by Adam McCauley
"'More than 101 palindromes hidden inside' is the book's claim to fame. Have fun while you're learning, why don't you?"

12.) Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog by Tim Beiser, illustrated by Rachel Berman
"Loved the rhyme and the fact that it's about finicky eaters...it has a nice twist on what's good to eat and what's not."

13.) My Truck is Stuck! by Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk
"The rhyme was fun to read...so fun, I volunteered to read it twice!"

14.) Being a Pig is Nice by Sally Lloyed-Jones, Illustrated by Dan Krall
"Down right funny. Any kid worth his or her salt will enjoy this read about manners."

15.) The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
"The rhymed text is beautifully written and loosely based on a true event. The illustrations are spectacular! I love trying to find the animals near the end of the story...a bonus!"

More Children's Books!

2010-03-07T12:57:00.000-08:00

And the list continues! I found more author/illustrator teams that are shelf worthy. These gems are as follows:

6.) Rules of the Wild by Bridget Levin, illustrated by Amanda Shepard
"An enjoyable book about manners. Fun prose and a clever matrix at the end."

7.) It's Spring by Berger & Chanko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
"A sweet story about the coming of a new season. Color palette and illustrations give me spring fever!"

8.) Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
"A beautiful love story between child and parent. Loved that last line..."

9.) Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
"Fun prose, find the bunnies, and a surprise ending. Easy to read over and over again!"

10.) Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino, illustrated by Steven Kellogg
"Love it when you can find little extras on the page. Colorful and the rhyming has a nice cadence."

Why stop at 10? Back to the library in search of MORE choice reads for toddlers!

Enjoy!

Children's Books

2010-01-30T13:29:00.000-08:00

I peruse children's books at our small community library every other week, trying to find the gems that both my kids and I will enjoy. I flip through the stacks judging every book by it's cover, then flipping through pages focusing on the illustrations. If I don't find them inspiring, they don't make the cut.

The books listed below have excellent illustrations and are very well written! When I find the perfect blend of imagery and text, I get excited and want to share it with other readers. Here's my list of gems to date:

1.) A Visitor for Bear by Bonnie Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
"Just plain clever."

2.) Ladybug Girl by Jackie Davis, illustrated by David Soman
"A perfect blend of reality and whimsy."

3.) ABC: A Child's First Alphabet Book by Alison Jay
"Lots of details in the illustrations! A beautiful search and find book."

4.) Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Suess
"While we're rhyming away we get the giggles AND we learn a valuable lesson in each story!"

5.) One Pizza, One Penny by K.T. Hao, illustrated by Guiliano Ferri
"A tale of economics that young kids can grasp. A fun read!"

It's a short list for now...but as I find more, I'll add to it! Happy reading with your little ones!

Random Reads

2010-01-25T15:14:00.000-08:00

After reading and enjoying the Twilight saga, by Stephenie Meyer, I got hooked on reading again. I used to be an avid reader but after having twin babies, reading was not an option. Now that they are toddlers, it's nice to get back to the "other worlds" held between pages of books. A great escape! Here are my top ten reads to date:

1.) The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
"A page-turning, couldn't put it down, unforgettable adventure story."

2.) City of Thieves by David Benioff
"Russians, Nazis, a carton of eggs. It's all there."

3.) Black Olives by Martha Tod Dudman
"Old people have drama too!"

4.) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
"A historical story with a Chinese cultural weave. Gotta like that."

5.) Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson
"Laugh out loud funny."

6.) Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster
"It's a knee slapper!"

7.) Sunshine by Robin McKinley
"A unique twist on the vampire story."

8.) The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
"Dark, mysterious, steamy...can't wait for book 5!"

9.) The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
"A fun speed read. More vampire drama for ya!"

10.) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
"A traveling circus is always a great setting for a mystery/romance/adventure story."

Special Deliveries!

2007-09-12T23:17:00.001-07:00

I'll be taking a break from blogging and reviewing as I get adjusted to motherhood! Tomorrow morning, bright and early, my two daughters will arrive!

Depending on sleep deprivation, baby demands, family visits, holidays, time, doctor appointments, inspiration and creativity, I'll be back soon!

Movie: Ratatouille

2007-07-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Delicious and delightful! I really enjoyed myself. The voices weren't so identifiable that it caused a distraction and the humor was original, not full of pop-culture movie references. The graphics were impeccable too!

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a fresh 96% rating and Ebert and Roeper gave it two thumbs up.

Restaurant: Half Moon Bay Inn, Again

2007-07-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

Same review as before...the food just doesn't get better no matter how many times you try the Half Moon Bay Inn! The wait staff was much improved and the ambiance is nice...but the food is mediocre. I had a spinach salad boasting of pears, roasted pecans, goat cheese and the like. It was served with a brick of cheese plopped on top of a pile of spinach leaves with very little dressing. I counted about 3 pecans and had 5 thin slices of pears. I realize it's a little difficult to toss a salad with a large cube of cheese in the middle...Maybe that's why it should have been crumbled?

Chicago Chimp had ordered Halibut Tacos...literally! Halibut slices on top of tortilla shells with shredded mozzarella cheese. Little side bowls of plain guacamole and salsa were the accompaniment. Bland and disappointing. I almost want to give this a two star. Find an alternative!

Does anyone know of a good place to dine in Half Moon Bay?

Movie: Knocked Up

2007-07-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

Live, love, laugh! This movie had me rolling on the ground from start to finish. It was a great mix of male humor and chick flick elements that was hilarious, shocking, and real. Rotten Tomatoes gave Knocked Up a 92% and Ebert & Roeper gave it 2 thumbs up.

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 for vulgarity, potty humor, and language.

Restaurant: Pomegranate

2007-06-21T21:52:00.001-07:00

Pomegranate on 18005 NE 68th Street in Redmond, Washington has a friendly and competent wait staff along with good organic foods! The warehouse ambience is surprisingly low volume and very clean with huge windows showing bakers in action making breads, pies, and pastries in the back. Presentation and taste were fabulous and the troop liked every dish we were served.

Highly recommended for breakfast!

Pelage Spa and Skin Centre

2007-06-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Mama Monkey and I received Signature Spa Pedicures at Pelage, located in the Gilman Village at 317 NW Gilman Blvd, Suite #16 in Issaquah, WA 98027.

We arrived with heady anticipation looking forward to our feet being pampered, however, when we left we were both disappointed with our experience. I was told ahead of time that one gal would be working on the both of us. I didn't think too much about it at the time of making the appointment. But while there, I realized that it didn't really work for me. Mama Monkey was first getting scrubbed, massaged, and pedicured. The technician was rough with her pedicure tools and kept jabbing them under Mama Monkey's toenails, apologizing all the while Mama was flinching and pulling her foot back! I sat in the chair next to her while my foot soak was getting cooler and colder. The technician was rough, tugging our feet here and there instead of letting us know what she wanted! I felt she was sloppy applying the polish and cuticle oil. I had to ask her what it was because she was applying it to my toe knuckles in one fell swoop of the brush. Hello? Those aren't my cuticles!... And you're making a mess...

The other disappointment, aside from our un-refined technician, was the fact that they put us in an area that was obviously under construction. Exposed sheet rock, plaster, pipes sticking out intended for future faucets, stacked boxes and fixtures, and dusty floors did not an ambiance make.

We were each given a coupon for $10 off our next visit...but at the reception desk I requested to use them for that day. Our pedicures were then $45 instead of the usual $55 - STILL too expensive for sitting in an unfinished area without running water for the foot soaks! The technician had to fill bowls and pitchers with warm water from another room sloshing and splashing her way back to us...creating a serious hazard for slippage on the tile floor.

Not impressed and cannot recommend this day spa! We should have made the trek across the bridge to the Madison area of Seattle to visit Frenchy's...a great place to get a pedicure!

Restaurant: Two Gals

2007-05-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry all you Boulder City apes...Two Gals isn't all that! This restaurant (1632 Nevada Hwy in Boulder City, NV) is a favorite among the locals but I found it to be less than desirable with their truck stop portions and greasy spoon menu items. I would normally give it a 2 star review, "Find an alternative!" but since Boulder City is a small town with few options, I'll just say it's "Nothing to get excited about."

Here's the scoop: we were there for lunch and I ordered Quiche Lorraine. I received about 1/3 of the pie as my serving with a dried out piece of cantaloupe and barely ripened slice of honeydew melon. The quiche was mostly grease, ham, and bacon with a little egg and lots of melted cheddar cheese. It was so heavy, meaty, and greasy that I found it a bit unappetizing. Mine was the most disappointing plate at lunch. The patty melts looked adequate and were served with pasta salad and the spinach quiche was light on cheese in a good way, but stingy with spinach in a bad way.

Since the temperature here is 97 degrees, I ordered a Cookie Monster dessert. I was expecting a one person dessert to share with the Surly Lemur. What I got was a plate, which on first appearance was a heaping pile of whipped cream from a can splattered with Hersey's chocolate sauce. Once we dove in, we unveiled 3 large chocolate chip cookies, 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream, and hot fudge under the mounds of non-dairy whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Dessert for one turned into dessert for 3 as Mama Monkey had to help us out! I'll admit it hit the spot, but presentation was definitely lacking...and I prefer REAL whip cream :) All three of us felt a sugar coma coming on strong so grabbed the check to doze in comfort at home.

Beware of the drinking water! It has a terrible taste! Don't forget to order a beverage with your meal.

Check out the reviews of Two Gals from Cal on Yelp to get other opinions.

Historical Fiction Book List: Tudor Reign

2007-04-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Preparing for a long roadtrip, I bought an audiobook by David Starkey, called Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII. This set me on a quest to read more about this fascinating time period. I've found several good historical fiction books that I think are worth reading.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory was a page turner! She also wrote The Boleyn Inheritance which added some real depth to court living, court deception, and the dual personality of King Henry VIII.

Another book set in this same era, called Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George, was very descriptive and rather lengthy, but was a great story with lots of good history.

Currently, I'm reading The Last wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson and am enjoying the history of Catherine Parr before and after she became the sixth Queen of England.

Movie: The Hoax

2007-04-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

We watched a show on tv called F for Fake (1974), an Orson Welles film, about an art forger and an author who perpetrated hoaxes in their industries. Months after we watched that show, we saw reviews for The Hoax, a story about Clifford Irving, who forged letters from Howard Hughes saying he was Hughes' autobiographer. Irving is the author portrayed in F for Fake.

The movie was a huge success for us with the twists of reality and the imagined. Richard Gere acted a stellar performance of an author desperate for a best seller and only knew one way to achieve it, by swindling people into believing he had made a connection with and was approved to write the autobiography of the most sought after recluse, Howard Hughes.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 87% juicy tomato reading and Ebert & Roeper gave it two thumbs up. The Lemurs gave it 5 stars - we couldn't stop discussing it! Fascinating story.

Movie: Breach

2007-02-18T20:00:00.000-08:00

Our treat this weekend was a visit from our friend, the Orangutan. In between eating out, enjoying the sunny weather, and visiting, we grabbed a matinee, the 5:00 showing of Breach in the new Middlefield theater (well, still new to us). Howler Monkey, Orangutan and myself thought this was a great flick. Chris Cooper did an excellent job playing the role of traitor and spy, Robert Hanssen. Surly Lemur thought this was "okay" and probably could have waited for it in dvd. Rotten Tomatoes gave this a fresh rating of 81% and Ebert & Roeper gave it two thumbs up.

Catching Up With Movie Reviews!

2007-01-31T17:57:00.000-08:00

Wow! I've let some time pass...last post was early December. Some of us monkeys have seen several movies since then...I'll give a quick overview so I can get these movie stubs off my desk. Here goes:

Little Children - Nice little story, steamy sex scenes, nudity, cute leading man...not a must see, but worth a gander when it's out in video.Rotten Tomatoes rating = 83% fresh! Ebert & Roeper = 2 thumbs up!

Dreamgirls - Absolutely loved it, but then I love musicals. Jennifer Hudson's singing gave me goosebumps and Beyonce gave a stellar performance mimicking The Supreme's Diana Ross. I was impressed! Eddy Murphy gave a mature performance that I haven't seen before - really showed he's got some talent.
Rotten Tomatoes rating = 79% fresh! Ebert & Roeper = 2 thumbs up!

Children of Men - Clive Owen was nice to watch in this excellent flick. The movie is a bit dark with little hope, but enough hope to keep you routing for them. I'd watch this one again, and again. Rotten Tomatoes rating = 91% fresh! Ebert & Roeper = 2 thumbs up!

Pan's Labrinth - A Spanish flick with subtitles...but don't let that stop you. An AWESOME story intertwining a little girl's imaginary quest that helps her cope with her new and unhappy life with her brutal stepfather. Some VERY violent scenes (I had to put my hands over my eyes...eek!) so don't watch with young children. A must see in my book. Rotten Tomatoes rating = 96% fresh! Ebert & Roeper = 2 thumbs up!

Restaurant: Mandaloun

2007-01-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

Redwood City's got a new restaurant on Broadway called Mandaloun, a beautiful place serving Mediteranean foods. The ambience is wonderful and it has outdoor seating that was nicely heated during New Year's Eve when we were dining. This summer it will be a hot spot! They were really busy and packed that night...but the wait staff were exceptional.

The food was good to average, small portions, uninteresting sauces and for the price, presentation wasn't all that...Hey, I watch Top Chef! I thought it was overly expensive!

Surly and I gave it 3 stars, but want to go back to give it another chance...so much potential that it might surprise us at our next visit.

Restaurant: CreoLa

2006-12-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

CreoLa, a New Orleans Bistro is located in San Carlos at 344 El Camino Real. Their claim to fame, "award winning Creole cuisine that goes light on the spices, but not on the flavor!" about sums it up. The sauces, soups, and dishes were all delicious and mouth-watering.

We had a troop of monkeys sitting around a cozy table celebrating the Howler's birthday. We tried the gumbo soup, turtle soup, and the shrimp bisque and each were delightful in their own way. The seafood gumbo was our #1 favorite with it's chocolate mole-like flavor. For main dishes the troop ordered Catfish Belle Chase, Sunday Chicken, Filet Mignon, and the Taste of New Orleans with soft shell crab and crawfish Etouffee.

We couldn't say no to desserts so even though we were stuffed to the gills, we each ordered our own: Silk and Velvet Combo Pie (chocolate and peanut butter mousse), Creole Pecan Pie, and Beignets.

The wait staff was very professional and offered opinions and advice on ordering. The atmosphere was classy and cozy...with benches loaded with pillows and nice lighting.

It was an excellent choice for a birthday feast!

Restaurant: Giuliana's

2006-11-30T11:58:00.000-08:00

For my birthday I dined with Surley Lemur and Howler Monkey at Giuliana's in San Carlos, CA at 788 Laurel Street. On a previous weekend we had stopped by to try it out and it was packed. Always a good sign! Even though my birthday was during the week, I took no chances and made reservations to be assured a seat. They are relatively new (replacing Cafe Amore) and still don't have a beer & wine license. They do allow you to bring in your own wine, but not sure about the corkage fee.

I ordered the Ravioli Romona, which was good, but I wasn't knocked off my feet. I probably wouldn't order it again and would want to try something different and more interesting in flavor. However, Howler Monkey ordered the pork chop special with mushroom pan gravy that was out of this world! Surley declared his seafood pasta with steamed mussels was quite delish.

I don't know what we had for dessert. Some frozen concoction with lots of almond slices drizzled lightly with chocolate and raspberry sauce. It was very good and not too sweet. A nice way to end a good meal.

One minor complaint was the temperature of the dining room. It was quite chilly and I noticed I wasn't the only one dining in my jacket. With the big front windows and glass door, I understand it's probably hard to keep the heat inside during the chilly season.

Great service, good food...but I couldn't tell you if the price was right...since birthday girl didn't pay :)

Want more reviews on this restaurant? Check out ChowHound.

Restaurant: Higuma

2006-11-26T16:02:00.000-08:00

Higuma is a cozy little house near Whipple at 540 El Camino Real in Redwood City. The sushi is always fresh and delicious...especially the salmon (sake) and the spicy tuna handrolls. The only one we stay away from is the white tuna (unless it's in the spicy handroll) because sometimes it isn't all that and sometimes it is...but we don't take the gamble. It's not cheap, but it's good and within reason as far as sushi restaurants go.

Movie: Casino Royale

2006-11-26T16:00:00.000-08:00

The Silverback was visiting us from Las Vegas to help the lemurs celebrate Thanksgiving. During the holiday weekend, we went to the 8:40 pm showing of Casino Royale in the old Whipple theater. The three of us agreed that the movie should have been cut from 2-1/2 hours to 2, but couldn't agree on which scenes (which is probably why the movie was 2-1/2 hours). We all liked Daniel Craig as the shiny and new James Bond. I'm actually looking forward to seeing more!

Rotten Tomatoes gave this an ultra fresh rating of 94% and Ebert & Roeper gave it two thumbs up. I would recommend this movie - high action, international intrigue, a believable villian, and love.

Movie: The Queen

2006-11-11T15:38:00.000-08:00

Rotten Tomatoes gave this a MEGA fresh rating of 98%...I haven't seen rave reviews like that in a long while. The Lemurs hadn't heard too much about this film and went to it without any preconceived notions.

I enjoyed the current view of the English monarchy and a peep inside their protected life. The story surrounded how the Queen responded to Princess Diana's death and how she was perceived by her people. I thought the acting was incredible and the insight very intriguing. Surley Lemur, however, thought that a person would have to be interested in this topic to give it a 4-star review. He thought a 3.5 was more in order. But we don't do halfsies and I liked it!

Running with Scissors

2006-11-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

Rotten Tomatoes gave this a very rotten rating of 28% and Ebert & Roeper gave it two thumbs down. Not very good reviews and I'm sorry to say I have to join the fray. It seemed long and drawn out with rambling dialog. The characters weren't believable or sympathetic. It was shallow and disappointing.

The book was edgy, shocking, and outrageous with some outright bursts of laughter and some horrifying, "I can't believe I'm reading this" moments. I can't recommend the book because of some very descriptive and graphic scenes. It was a fast read and left me wondering how realistic is this memoir? Very bizarre story.

Restaurant: Half Moon Bay Inn

2006-10-31T08:25:00.000-08:00

After enjoying a scenic drive north on Hwy 1, we dipped into Half Moon Bay to stroll the street, window shop, and grab a bite of lunch. Not much going on in this sleepy hollow with regards to shopping and dining, as far as I could tell. There weren't too many restaurant choices, and as we were getting closer to the end of the block, we decided that Half Moon Bay Inn was better than nothing. It had a nice exterior and interior presence.

Right when we walked in, the hostess jumped on the phone without acknowledgement and kept on-a-talking. We flagged a waitress down to get seated. Then we had to flag another staff person to get menus...If a restaurant is super busy, I would be more understanding. However, when there's open tables and a small crowd, it's a bit harder to overlook..and to give a good review! Considering the unavailable wait staff and the mediocre food, I give this a 3-star.

Thai Basil, San Francisco, CA

2006-10-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Thai Basil is a nice little restaurant on 1175 Folsom Street with great service. Every time I've been there, a table has been available and a Johnny-on-the-spot wait person was ready to take drink orders. The food is savory from the spicey to the sweet with a courteous wait staff. It has a nice ambience and the price is oh-so-right!

Movie: The Departed

2006-10-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Lollygag Lemur's Review:

The Lemurs trekked through San Francisco to the new mall and cineplex on Market Street. The mall was big, bright, and topped with a beautiful dome with lots of windows letting in natural light (well...it was sunny that day). The theater had plush confortable chairs and a "no chatting, no babies, and no cell phone" audience...couldn't have asked for a better movie viewing environment!

Now, let's get to the movie! I really enjoyed this one. I'm not much of a mobster movie buff...but this one was just edgie enough with an unexpected ending that left my jaw on the floor. I was on the edge of my seat (over used phrase) the whole way through! Lots of tense moments and curves that kept the suspense high and the action unpredictable. Jack Nicholson was his usual excellent self and Matt Damon and Leo DiCaprio played stellar performances. Lollygag and Surly agree this is a 5-star movie.

Rotten Tomatoes gave The Departed a fresh rating of 92% and a big two thumbs up from Ebert & Roeper. It's worth checking out.

A Little Gem....

2006-10-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

The Gaige House in Glen Ellen was a little gem amid all the swanky wine valley hotels and spas. Located in the Glen Ellen area, the little B & B had the best breakfast/brunch I have had in ages. We all know how much I love to have brunch! The evening wine and cheese was a delight. The Garden Massage for two was heavenly, even if "Helga" masseuse was strong enough to break backs and necks in two! Check it out...its worth it!

http://www.gaige.com

Restaurants in Santa Fe

2006-09-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

Some of us Lemurs headed south to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico. We stayed 4 nights in Santa Fe and 1 night in Taos. While there we certainly enjoyed some great food! Here are a few restaurants that we tried out:
The French Bakery and Coffee Shop had excellent food for breakfast. We skipped our continental wonder to find a cozy spot with good eats and found it in this little gem. The coffee was superb; the crepes and Torte Milanaise, fabulous. We always found a seat in this cozy and rustic "upscale" dive. We felt right at home.
The Inn at Anasazi was an excellent choice for dinner and lunch! I'll focus on the dinner because my New York Strip was cooked to perfection. The wine list had a similar problem as La Casa Sena, but at least it wasn't 450 pages! It was a comfortable read with few options for those of us not willing to shell out the big bucks. We paid $40 for a half bottle! We're not connoiseurs, we just want to enjoy a little wine with dinner...(whine!) Like I said, excellent food and Paul our server was delightful and fun. The prices were high, but the food was worth it. Heads up: don't order the Anasazi S'more for desert...it's pretty "low-rent" with a sickly sweet marshmallow tuft on top. Bleh.
La Casa Sena had great food. The veggie platter was out of this world with samplings of southwestern foods. The salmon was also cooked very well, but was a little underwhelming for the price. Considering drink service, quality of meal, quality for value, atmosphere, and wait staff, this restaurant got a 4-star banana. One star short of 5 stars because the price was a little high and of the 450* page binder of wines "available" about 4* were below $1200* a bottle. Seems a little hoity-toity in this regard.
The Ore House on the Plaza didn't do much for me really. It was late and this restaurant was open so we meandered in and sat down. I wasn't wowed by anything and my portobello thingie was just filler. However, Surly had a delectible chile relleno that was spicy and yummy. Service was a little slow too. I would pass this one up if I were you. There are too many great restaurants in this town to waste time like we did. Boo! Hiss!
High Noon is a restaurant I would avoid. It's located in Old Town of Albuquerque. We ate there because the car rental place blessed us with their recommendations...Apparently they'll send tourists anywhere! It felt deserted with the lack of wait staff. The food was below average along with the service. I was glad to get outta there.
In Toas we were unlucky enough to find the shit pile in the stack of diamonds. I think we picked the worst possible place to eat! The Apple Tree Restaurant was the worst dining experience I've had in a long while. The evening started off crappy (literally, there was bird poop on our table - did I mention we were seated in the courtyard under an apple tree?) and got worse from there. After 25 minutes of sitting there feeling like lepers among nobles, we finally had a wait person acknowledge us. We asked to be seated away from the tree and were graciously accomodated. The food was limp and pathetic and served on dingy plates. There wasn't anything I liked about this place. It's monkey pooh! Run!

* Exaggeration!
"Some folks never exaggerate - they just remember big." ~Audrey Snead

Movie: Little Miss Sunshine

2006-09-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Lollygag Lemur's Review

I saw Little Miss Sunshine on August 19 and am a little slow posting it on LLR! It certainly isn't because it was a bad flick. On the contrary, this was my favorite movie so far. I laughed so hard during the "drive cross country" scenes. It was funny, warm, and about real people. It stars Greg Kinnear, Steve Carroll, and Toni Collette. Abigail Breslin plays little Olive; she was a hoot. A must see flick!

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a whopping 93% and Ebert & Roeper gave it two thumbs up. The other troop members really enjoyed it too. Surly Lemur said 4-stars...but he's too lazy to write his own review. Sorry Surly! This is a 5-star gem. This is one I could watch over and over again.

Restaurant: Tamarine, Bakery: Satura Cakes

2006-09-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

On August 22, 2006, I had an excellent dining experience at a restaurant called Tamarine. Tamarine is located on 546 University Avenue in Palo Alto, CA. It serves contemporary Vietnamese food in a sophisticated atmosphere with excellent service. Afterwards, I meandered a short distance to 320 University Avenue where Satura Cakes has a quaint Japanese bakery. Exquisitely decorated cakes and desserts sit charmingly in the chilled display case. So delicious and the presentation quite delightful. When they say, "Never another ordinary bite" they mean it!

Restaurant: Zeyno

2006-08-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

Check out Zeyno at 250 Lorton Avenue in Burlingame, California for a superb supper of Greek cuisine. Our waiter was charming, punctual with drinks, and perfectly attentive. The atmosphere in Zeyno was warm and cozy. The large windows were open letting in some fresh air and allowing an outside dining experience, albeit indoors! I had the lamb and the other troop members had chicken saltimbaco and steak. All cooked to perfection, in the right proportions, and so yummy!

Oh crap - It's Home Depot

2006-08-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

Monkey pooh experience? No. More like a shit sandwich experience! Every time I enter a Home Depot, it's a bad time. It's not just the San Carlos, CA Home Depot either...I've had bad times in other Home Depots as well. Here are a few examples:

All check out lines are closed except for the mayhem that forms around the 4 self check out kiosks. Customers trying to purchase lumber to screws, get screwed by trying to figure out how to buy their merchandise, waiting for others to figure out how to buy their merchandise, or having to deal with the clerk who doesn't know how to sell their merchandise.

All store clerks are MIA. Expect the common Home Depot clerk response of, "this isn't my department" to any request you may have. Also, you better hope you spot them first and not the other way around, or you can anticipate them hoofing it into some secret employees only lounge where they can't be disturbed. If you're lucky enough to capture the attention of the clerk and engage them in a merchandise dialogue then you should embrace this moment because they are far and few between. But don't let me get your hopes up. You can expect to get a cursory answer before they literally run to the employees only lounge, get a glazed look while they pawn you off to their closest peer, or while they go "look" for the answer you suffer through a waiting period so long that you think they might have punched out and gone home.

The garden center is not the place to engage a clerk in dialogue. My advice to you is to purchase a Sunset Gardening book and bone up before purchasing plants. However, you'd be better off going to a nursery where the plants are professionally cared for and experts are there to help you. At Home Depot the clerks would rather roll and smoke the begonia's then help you buy one! Not to mention that a majority of the plants are in pretty bad condition and loaded with slugs.

Quality of merchandice leaves a lot to be desired at Home Depot. We are now to the most recent slight that inspired this post. I special ordered a Kraftmaid floating island in unfinished oak for $455 with tax. What I received was a slightly damaged wreck. Somewhere on the Home Depot side, it had been dropped. Not enough to break it, but enough for me to see when I opened the box that it was held together with 1/4" staples. The braces were glued in place but one had pulled loose in the damaged corner. If I hadn't of seen these tiny staples, I would have been none the wiser and probably happy with my purchase until it collapsed the first time I rolled it out piled high with food. My 2 years of high school wood shop made me think that $455 for plywood stapled together and on wheels, was not a good idea.

Not only is purchasing difficult, but returning items is no picnic either. I repackaged the floating island which came in three boxes and hauled it back to the store. I stood in line for ever and a day, dealt with a nitwit clerk who couldn't get my return right, and then they had the gaul to stick me with a $63.00 restocking fee.

I'm planning to boycott this store and would love a Loews to come to town! This last debacle really spurned me. Finding other alternatives for home repair items is fast becoming a priority. I never leave there fully satisfied and like a bad relationship, it's time to say, "Goodbye you shit sandwich"!

Movie: A Scanner Darkly

2006-07-31T17:40:00.000-07:00

The Lazy Lemur review:

Rotten Tomatoes gave a 62% "fresh" rating on their tomatometer, an average review. Ebert & Roeper gave it two thumbs up. The lazy lemur troop wanted to give it a 3.5 stars, but since our rating system isn't geared for halves, we had to downgrade it to a 3 star movie. It wasn't quite a 4 star nanner.

With or without the rotoscoping effect, the storyline was mildly interesting. On some level the effect was entertaining, but on another it was a bit distracting. Enough so, that I couldn't quite get into the characters. Definitely wait for DVD.

A side note: we saw this in the newly finished Century 20 Downtown Redwood City theater on Middlefield Road. Beautiful establishement. We sat in one of the smaller side theaters, which had comfortable seating. The popcorn attendant was particularly friendly and happy, a nice change of pace!

Restaurant: Ingleside Cafe

2006-07-31T17:09:00.000-07:00

Ingleside Cafe is an awesome breakfast nook. It's located on El Camino Real in San Carlos, CA. They have a nice sized menu with lots of variety, including stuffed crepes, omelettes, eggs any style, multiple Benedict versions, and french toast, waffles, and pancakes fresh off the griddle.

The wait staff is great. If you get a chance sit in Bernie's section. He is friendly, happy, and customer service oriented. He takes your order with a smile, is quick on his feet, and keeps the water and coffee coming. Thanks, Bernie! You rock!

The lattes and the cafe mochas are horrible. If you need a buzz, best to order straight espresso, cappuccino, or drip coffee. They also serve mimosas and champagne by the glass if a morning toast is in order and whole wheat isn't doing it for ya!

I have a standing quest to find the perfect sticky bun and unfortunately, my quest continues. Ingleside's menu lacks this delicious bread treat along with it's sweet sister, the cinnamon roll. If anyone knows where this perfect sticky bun resides, please comment and let me know!

Book: The Illuminator

2006-07-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

Lollygag's Lazy Lemur Review:

The Illuminator, by Brenda Rickman Vantrease (416 pages, Dec. 2005) takes place in 14th century England. It's a story of a widowed landowner who, under pressure, opens her home to an illuminator named Finn. Unbeknownst to her, he is secretly translating the bible and other religious works into English for the common folk, a task forbidden by the Church. The medieval characters are well developed and intriguing creating an interest for the time period. However, the storyline is quite simple and not too thought provoking. This is not a must read, but it's a good quick and light read if you have an interest in historical fiction.

Movie: The Devil Wears Prada

2006-07-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Lollygag Lemur's Lazy Lemur Review:

The Surly Lemur's Lazy Lemur Review:

Rotten Tomatoes gave 77% "fresh" rating on their tomatometer, which means it's above average. Ebert and Roeper gave it one thumb down and one thumb up. The Lazy Lemurs also differ in their reviews. This monkey agrees with Rotten and gives it a lazy 4 stars. Even though it is formulaic and predictable, I found it enjoyable. It's cute, light and definitely worth WFR (waiting for rental), but offered good entertainment all the same.

However, not all Lazy Lemurs think alike. The Surly Lemur gave it a 3-star salute saying, "it reminds me of an Adam Sandler flick" and pooh-poohed the routine story line.

One gripe about going to the theater...why do people think it's okay to have an ongoing dialog during a movie? Two apes made commentary throughout, which was tre annoying. Reminder to the apes: No babies and no blathering!

Restaurant: Piacere Ristorante

2006-07-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Piacere, an italian restaurant in San Carlos, CA has a great atmosphere, exceptional wait staff, and while we were there, a live jazz band. We sat outside, curbside (thankfully, cars are parked front first) and enjoyed some perfect summer weather while drinking a delightful house syrah. With all this wonderfulness going on, one wonders why the average Lazy Lemur review!

The stars drop to number 3 pretty quickly when our butter lettuce salad, mushroom and quatro formaggio pizza, T-bone steak with a side of mash, and cappaccino cake were served. Remember, the wait staff were exceptional...but the food in flavor and creativity were very average. Add in the overly expensive price and you get 3 stars!

Thanks...I Guess!

2006-07-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

I have to thank Il Fornio in Palo Alto, CA for the crappiest service I've had in a very long time. Why am I bothering? Because that experience - bonked on the head by the waitress, wrong food delivered, drinks MIA, cramped seating with lots of chair bumping and an overly priced bill at 2.5 hours later - was a mega dose of inspiration to start the Lazy Lemur Review blog.

I hope with our rants and howling raves we can help other monkeys avoid experiences, like Il Fornio, and help you spend your dollars and time in a more appealing and worthwhile fashion. Of course, you just have to agree with us for our reviews to benefit you!

Please don't hesitate to leave comments; we'd love to hear from you! So stop scratching your armpits and preening your hair, and drop us a line. Don't agree with our opinions? Wouldn't be the first time! Let us hear how different your experience was...maybe we had an off moment...or maybe you don't know a bad deal when you see it! Or a good deal, for that matter. You agree with our every word? As it should be...we'll steer you right!