Everybody loves Mr. Rogers. This sweet documentary film, Mr. Rogers & Me, is the tale of a young guy becoming a man – and how a chance encounter outside his summer vacation rental set him on a quest to search out people who could teach him the ways of peace, kindness and emotional depth that Mr. Rogers had awakened in him, and to some extent in all of us who ever watched him put on his cardigan and toss his sneakers in the air. This quest left Benjamin Wagner and his brother better men than when they began it, and left me sniffling into a very crumpled kleenex. Enjoy. (and yes – keep an eye out for that wedding.)
It’s awards season! What does that mean for regular folks? If you’ve got a sweetie, put date night on the calendar, you crazy kids! It’s time to go to the movies. Between us at MLFS we’ve got 50+ years of hard scientific data showing that seeing movies together is good for a relationship.
So, who picks the movie? You’re bound to have divergent thoughts. The trick is you’ve got to indulge each other. Our friend Jim loved films like “The Notebook” and was an avid viewer of “Dawson’s Creek.” When he got married, and our gift to them was a gift card to the Arclight Theatre, I made him promise he’d let his wife go see some cars blow up now and again. Trade off between films that interest you both, and those that appeal strongly to one of you. You’ll be surprised, I’ve ended up liking a lot of “International thrillers” that I went to reluctantly “for” Stephen.
Overall, be considerate and loving. Share popcorn, but buy your date his/her own coke. Don’t believe the classic “oh I’ll only have a sip” line. If you’re in one of the new theatres where the armrests move, push it up and snuggle close. Enjoy yourselves, but keep it clean, kids.
Home Sweet Brocante is an un-Craigslist – the elegant clutter of a girl in Paris who loves the idea of the American garage sale, so she started having monthly sales (brocante is the french word flea market.) But the best part are her musings on design, food and fashion. And she very bravely has translated her French site into english so les Americains and other English speaking ex-pats can browse her wares. If you’re headed to Paris, check the site for dates! I can’t imagine a more unique travel experience. Charmante!