B-Side Blog

Cast Members Discuss Tonight’s Premiere of ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’

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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premieres tonight amidst controversy about the death of Russell Armstrong, estranged husband of cast member Taylor. Russell committed suicide last month, and in the wake of this tragedy, there have been many questions about the series, its direction, and how it will be modified to address this turn of events. Giving a little glimpse into what to expect are Lisa VanderPump, Kyle Richards, and Adrienne Maloof, who all stopped by the Today Show this morning to talk about tonight’s premiere and Taylor’s emotional state. Check it out…

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Meeshie Mousse Edition

Two weeks ago, my dear friend Meeshie paid me a visit here in Los Angeles and volunteered to whip me up a batch of chocolate mousse. There was one condition though: I had to post it on the blog. Not a problem for me. A simple blog post in exchange for free mousse? Sign me up!

After the jump, check out Meeshie’s homemade mousse… Continue reading “ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Meeshie Mousse Edition”

AT LAST: The Inevitable Eurotrash Techno Version of the ‘Zelda’ Theme Song

Get out your glow sticks and cheap cologne: it’s a totally Euro-tastic techno cover of one of the greatest video game tunes of all time — The Legend of Zelda! Finally, the wonderful, nostalgic theme song of our youth presented in the Rumanian dance club style we always knew it could shine in. Color me happy / dancing.

*note that the composer of this clip, R Master, may not in fact be European at all.

50 Documentaries To See Before You Die, According To Current TV. Do You Agree?

Over the past ten years or so, documentary films have seen something of a boon in interest. Thanks in part to the rise of reality TV, the influx of celebrity filmmakers (think Michael Moore), and the taste-making influence of social media, the genre has crept out of the arthouse and into the local cinema. Now Current TV has released a list of fifty docs “to See Before You Die.” A cursory look reveals an impressive list definitely worthy of viewing, but as the New York Times notes, not a single title hails from before 1988. That means the iconic documentaries Harlan County USA, Gimme Shelter, Don’t Look Back, and the Up series are nowhere to be found. Also missing are influential pioneers of the genre: Nanook of the North, Man with a Camera, and the ever controversial Triumph of the Will (admittedly, these are not the most entertaining docs to watch. Okay, they’re kind of totally boring).

After the jump, check out the full list of documentaries. Do you agree? What’s been left out?

Continue reading “50 Documentaries To See Before You Die, According To Current TV. Do You Agree?”

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NJ PHOTOCAP: Ignorance is Bliss

The emotions were high on last night’s episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which saw Teresa and her brother face yet another obstacle in their attempt to rebuild their friendship. The shocking developments came fast and furious, leading up to the most gasp-inducing moment of all: Milania dropping her nasty little ass on a bunch of salads in a supermarket. As if that weren’t bad enough, Teresa then gave her a high-five for good behavior. If this is what passes for “Fabulicious,” consider my Amazon purchase cancelled.

Continue reading “REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NJ PHOTOCAP: Ignorance is Bliss”

THE QUAFF: Ginger Cilantro Mule Edition

Last week, my dearest friend Meeshie visited me here in Los Angeles, and she absolutely insisted that we make a cocktail (I was not very hard to persuade). I handed her my favorite cocktail book, Organic, Shaken and Stirred by Paul Abercrombie and told her to pick out a recipe. After some casual browsing, Meeshie decided on our beverage of the evening: the Ginger Cilantro Mule.

A variation on the classic Moscow Mule, the GCM (as I like to call it) is all about the refreshing play of ginger and lime, but unlike any other “mule,” I’ve tried, this one features not vodka, not gin, but rather TEQUILA. Color me intrigued…

Continue reading “THE QUAFF: Ginger Cilantro Mule Edition”

Checking in on Downtown LA’s Daily Grill

Burger mania has swept Los Angeles over the past few years, with spots such as Umami, Stout, Gold Coast, Father’s Office, The Counter, and 8oz (RIP) all vying for a position at the top of the totem pole. With all the burger hype going about the city, the Daily Grill in Downtown Los Angeles invited me to sample their own meaty offerings as well as several other items on their menu. The media-comped meal was part of an effort to raise awareness of the Daily Grill’s burger, which is made with 100% Certified Angus Beef Chuck that’s ground twice a day in-house.

And so I trekked down to Flower and 6th where I found the very cool, very mid-century restaurant bustling with lawyers and corporate types all enjoying the lunch rush. I could almost imagine Don Draper and Roger Sterling holed up in a corner sipping martinis and downing oysters. If only I’d remembered my Dobbs fedora.

Nevertheless, I wasn’t there to fantasize about Mad Men. I was there for a BURGER. How did lunch at the Daily Grill stack up? Results after the jump…

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Russell Armstrong’s Family Denies Gay Rumors, Hates Bravo

Since the tragic suicide of Russell Armstrong last week, rumors about the Real Housewives husband have sprung up on nearly every corner of the Internet. However, his sister Laurie Kelsoe spoke to The Fix this week to set the record straight. According to her, Russell was not a wife-beater, not a crook, and not gay (maybe I’m crazy, but I hadn’t heard that rumor yet). Furthermore, Kelsoe has harsh words for Taylor Armstrong, calling her “a thief and a liar.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

For all of Kelsoe’s angry attacks on Taylor, Bravo, and the situation in general, be sure to check out the full article, which also delves into Russell’s surprising interest in recovery programs and addiction.

The Fix: Exclusive Interview: Russell Armstrong’s Last Laugh

REAL HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: Ashley Gets The Boot!

There was a lot of stupidity on display Sunday night with the latest episode of The Real Housewives of NJ. Most of it came courtesy of the series’ two biggest idiots: Teresa and Ashley, who are vying to be the most hideous creatures currently on Bravo (at least until Larsa Pippen returns to the airwaves). The episode was happily bookended with Ashley’s inanity. First, we began where we left off last week at a random restaurant which had become Ground Zero for Operation: Ashley Intervention. I can assure you that things did not go much better in the second half than they did in the first. Ashley’s dad brought her downstairs to apologize to Jacqueline, who was in no mood to hear it. She spewed hostile attacks at her daughter — the kind of things a mother should really never say to a daughter (hence, the roots of Ashley’s current awful state) — and Ashley did her weird smile-cry, which is just as unsettling as all her bratty behavior (and silly hats).

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A Look Inside Bourbon & Branch

Behind the Drink: The $13 Cocktail from Liquor.com on Vimeo.

Liquor.com recently posed an intriguing question that I’m sure many of us have pondered at one point or another: why must a cocktail cost $13? (heck, come to LA and prepare yourself for the $16 libation) Drinks aren’t always cheap, but the above video (shot at mixology mecca Bourbon & Branch) reveals what those extra dollars go towards — assuming it’s a good bar…