Exploring Food and Movies

 Sunday: Crush (2022)        Paige is young teenage girl in high school. She dreams of being an artist. At her school there is someone going around leaving drawings and murals. They go by the name King Pun. The track coach is convinced it is Paige. To keep herself from being suspended Paige agrees to join the track team and find out who the real King Pun is. This also works to her advantage because her crush, Gabriela, is also on the track team. Paige wants be closer to her. She ends up training with Gabriel's twin, AJ. The two girls get along. And while she is focused on Gabriela, Paige starts to have feelings for AJ too. She has to make a choice. I thought this movie was cute.  Monday: The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)      Eddie is a gangster. He mostly acquires guns for the leader. Eddie gets caught one day. He has a family and doesn't want to do anymore time. So he makes a deal with a detective. He will snitch on the other gang members i...

       After a failed attempt to go to Peninsula Park in North Portland, I ended up taking Prim to the Portland Rose Garden. Everyone else had the same idea so it was super busy. But it was a really nice day and even without any actual roses it was pretty. Afterwards I went to get lunch at a food truck called El Coyote on N Fessenden. There is neighborhood parking. The cart has a shed like structure in the front with picnic tables and plenty of covering for all weather. It was a little run down but not too bad. The service was good for the most part. I got a chorizo burrito. I asked for no pico de gallo or lettuce, which somehow ended up meaning no sour cream or cheese either. So it was just meat, rice and beans. It was still good though. One of the best burritos I've had in a while actually. I would go back. Although it is a long drive just for a burrito.  Sunday: The House (2022)          This movie has three different stories. The fir...

     Finally went to a restaurant off my list after three months of not going anywhere. Saturday I had lunch at Caspian Kabob. It is in the West End district in Beaverton. It is in a huge apartment complex. It used to be a food truck and now they have a brick and mortar store front (as they say). I guess it was their grand opening. I just looked on their Facebook page. It says May 17th is when they are opening. But it was open when I went there. I guess that would explain why it didn't seem completely ready. It is a family business. The decor is very simple. There are some Persian touches, but mostly just some photos and a vase on a table. The big monitor that will display the menu wasn't up yet. I got the Kubideh Kabob platter. It was ground seasoned beef/lamb with saffron rice and half a grilled tomato. The meat had good flavor. It was a little too simple. It could have used more, like a sauce. I was the only one in there besides the daughter and her friends. I felt lik...

 Sunday: Rome, Open City (1945)          This is an Italian film. Set in WWII Italy, Giorgio is working for the resistance. The Nazis are hunting him. So he hides at the apartment of his friend Francesco. Francesco's fiance lives next door and helps Giorgio. Giorgio also seeks help from his friend who is a priest. He asks the priest to pass on money to the other resistance fighters. Tensions rise. Giorgio can't stay hidden forever and he's putting others at risk. I thought this movie was ok. Tuesday: The Hitch-Hiker (1953)          Roy and Gilbert are on fishing trip. They decide to go by Mexicali to get some drinks. But they decide to drive on. They pick up a hitch hiker, Emmett. As soon as they are on the road he pulls out a gun. Turns out he is a serial killer who kills people after they pick him up while hitch hiking. The police are on to him. He forces Roy and Gilbert to drive farther into Mexico. He has plans for escape. He wi...

 Sunday: When Marnie Was There (2014)          Anna is a young girl who suffers from asthma. She is having a lot of trouble with it recently so her guardian sends her to the countryside to stay with the guardian's relatives. Anna is quiet and would rather be alone to sketch. She explores the town. On the edge of the marsh she sees an abandoned mansion. When she gets a closer look she sees a girl. But then the girl disappears. Anna feels connected to her. Later she sees the girl again. She introduces herself as Marnie. They become fast friends. Anna likes Marnie, but struggles with not always being able to find her. Or understand why the house can be abandoned one moment and full of people the next. Her time there changes her. I thought this was a good movie. It is a Studio Ghibli film. I think Anna suffers from more than just asthma. I think it is more likely anxiety and depression.  Monday: Children of a Lesser God (1986)       A new sp...