‘Battlestar Galactica’ Countdown: “Someone to Watch Over Me”

“Deadlock” may have been a weak episode, but “Someone to Watch Over Me” is something for any show to be proud of. It’s nearly flawless, a beauty of acting, writing, editing and, so very importantly, composing (composer Bear McCreary’s three-part, incredibly detailed blog on his part of the experience starts here and is definitely recommended reading). Plus, it’s about Starbuck AND the Chief. What more could you ask for? Continue reading 

‘Battlestar Galactica’ Countdown: “No Exit”

And we continue (from the mutiny-centric “The Oath” and “Blood on the Scales”) with the info-heavy “No Exit,” which found me mostly just typing, somewhat frantically, in an attempt to keep up with everything Sam Anders says. It’s important, it’s relevant, “It’s the miracle, right here,” as he says to Saul Tigh. So let’s see what the Cylon says… Continue reading 

‘Battlestar Galactica’ Countdown: “The Oath” and “Blood on the Scales”

As explained in the last post, I’m watching the last season of Battlestar Galactica and blogging it all day. Why? Because it’s awesome. Because I’m making up for not doing this as the season went on. And because the story is even better when you watch it all at once. As noted before, there are spoilers aplenty, and this is not an intro course; it’s running commentary for geeks. I’m treating “The Oath” and “Blood on the Scales” as one story since the mutiny spans both episodes. Continue reading 

This Is How the World Ends: The last season of ‘Battlestar Galactica’

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN ALL OF THESE POSTS. You’ve been warned. It’s 10 in the morning and I’ve been watching TV for two hours. I can’t resist. Battlestar Galactica ends tonight with a two-hour season finale, but the last season is running all day today. And I’m watching. I can’t wait until the season comes out on DVD to see how the story lines up when it’s all watched at once; this season isn’t fussing with standalone episodes, or short-term storylines. It’s for all the marbles. Continue reading 

I Could Have Eaten Another Bite *

Things I learned at this year’s Chef’s Night Out, the annual foodtastic benefit for FOOD for Lane County: • Do not attempt to have a time limit, for lo, you will find yourself cursing the fates, and yourself, on your way out of the Hult Center. • Do not attempt to have a plan, for lo, your plan will be flawed and un-carry-out-able. • Do not forget to refill your beer glass. Continue reading 

Bye, Boo!

Sad news for Bijou fans: Boo, the enormous, ever-present theater cat, died this weekend. “She would have been 23 on the 17th,” says Joe Lewis, whose exact job I am unsure of but who, as far as I can tell, is the Bijou’s general does-everything-what-needs-doing kind of guy (the R-G last referred to him as the “administrative assistant,” but that sounds less fun). Continue reading 

Update: Changes at Midtown Marketplace & Bel Ami

The rumors started flying on Saturday: Bel Ami is closing. Get down there. Last night. Since then, we’ve heard from a number of disappointed folks, from former employes who spoke of the restaurant’s staff having been one big family to semi-regulars at the bar who were already in mourning. And we’ve read stories that said the whole Bel Ami space was closing, and some that said that it wasn’t. We got confused. As it turns out, a little bit of everything seems to be true. Continue reading 

Major Change at Midtown Marketplace

As of Tuesday, March 3, current info on Bel Ami/Midtown can be found in the following post. Word is coming in from multiple places that Bel Ami Restaurant and Lounge is closed. The fate of the front of the building — the coffee shop, wine shop and bistro — is less clear, though it sounds as if they’re remaining open. More detail will come as we have it. Continue reading