Quick Reviews, Travel Thoughts, and More: April

Well, it sure has been a month, huh?

Movies

1. Of An Age: Coming of age type story about a Nikola, a Serbian immigrant to Australia, his highly unreliable best friend/ballroom dance partner Ebony, and her older brother Adam. Very much about what happens when you finally, finally feel seen by someone who’s walked the same path as you, and what happens when those paths cross again. Elias Anton (Nikola) and Thom Green (Adam) both offer very moving performances.

2. Private Desert: Like Of An Age, this film really benefits from a lead who helps elevate the material. Antonio Saboia is perfect as an aging cop, suspended from duty for reasons that become clear as the movie goes on. His life is in shambles and now his online girlfriend is ghosting him, so he goes to find her. You shouldn’t want to root for Daniel, Saboia’s character, but as the film goes on he displays such a hesitant vulnerability and charm that you’re won over.

3. Crimson Peak: This is a Very Guillermo del Toro movie (affectionate).

4. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: I saw this with my D&D group like two weeks late and we had to make a poll to figure out when we were all available, so, you know, very on brand. I thought this was fun and accessible to people who play D&D as well as people who just wanted an entertaining fantasy movie. It felt maybe a little too long, and many of the best scenes were in the trailers, but still overall very enjoyable. The leads are all very well cast and I just love seeing Chris Pine take whatever goofy role strikes his fancy.

Books

1. Miss Mink: Life Lessons for a Cat Countess — Janet Hill: A cute picture book that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. The drawings are whimsical and the message is cute. There’s a cat with an eyepatch, that’s pretty great.

2. Speak of the Devil: How The Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk about Religion — Joseph Laycock: Okay so I really only read one book this month and this one was it. In my defense it’s a meaty book and it was kind of hard to switch brain gears from this to “fluffy romance” or whatever. Anyhow. This is a very timely, in-depth look at The Satanic Temple, one that actually takes them seriously instead of just dismissing them as people trying to troll the establishment. Raises some interesting questions about the separation of church and state, the first amendment, and what people really mean when they talk about religious tolerance and plurality.

Don’t worry, we’ll be back to fluffy romance and stuff next month.

Oh, The Places I’ve Been

Congratulations, we’ve entered the time of year where I go on the road a lot to follow around my favorite band like a totally normal person.

Huntsville, Alabama — I wasn’t supposed to go to Huntsville, I was supposed to spend another day in Knoxville at the Big Ears music festival I wrote about last month. But one of my friends was going to Huntsville, and I also looked at the setlist for the night before and then knew I needed to go. FOMO, man. I obviously didn’t get to see really any of Huntsville, because I rolled up to the venue and proceeded to park myself on a ledge outside with my friend Matty*, but the venue was very near a very beautiful park that seemed like a cool place to hang out. Also, the venue was in the same entertainment complex as the Huntsville Havoc, so if I’d had more time there I absolutely would have tried to sneak in a hockey game. My hotel was out near the US Space & Rocket Center, which I drove past on my way out of town, though didn’t make time to go see. Fun fact, did you know they do SPACE CAMP for ADULTS?? I might go back to Huntsville just to go to GROWN UP SPACE CAMP.

*the link here goes to Matty’s GoFundMe to help him come up with the money to move back to the east coast, where all of his support networks are, and away from Iowa, which is becoming increasingly inhospitable to trans folks. If you’ve got a spare dollar or two, or know some wealthy people who want to do good with their money, please consider helping out one of the most genuinely kind people that I know.

Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee

I went to Franklin/Nashville to a) spend time with friends b) go to a Nashville Predators game and c) avoid going back home from Knoxville only to return to the region a couple of days later for a highly anticipated Mountain Goats show at the Ryman and the start of a road trip with a friend through several southern states to catch a few more shows. And then John Darnielle got COVID and the shows all got postponed. Whoops. Anyway, some highlights from my time in Tennessee:

Arrington Vineyard, co-owned by Kix Brooks (of Brooks & Dunn), very much had the same vibe as all the cool apple picking places that dot the midwest. Pack some food, buy some drinks, enjoy the sunshine. Tried some very good wines and also some sort of frozen mango smoothie thing.

Yes, I do find a cat cafe everywhere I go. The Catio is Nashville’s cat cafe, and probably one of the bigger ones I’ve been to. They had some very good cats. There’s also a really good food truck-type restaurant located in the parking lot of the shopping center that The Catio is in, called Semper Sliders, that has very good burgers, tater tots, and mac and cheese.

This makes 18 of 32 NHL arenas for me, and it was a really good experience! I didn’t get any food (other than Dippin’ Dots) so can’t assess their food offerings. Views were good although seats in the corner in the 300 level were uhhhh made for hobbits? I had to like, get in and out of my seat like, one thigh at a time? That wasn’t fun. Pick seats that aren’t in the corners if you are a person of any size whatsoever. The team store has a ton of fantastic merch, the atmosphere is great, and I’d definitely go back to a game here again.

These are my friends’ dogs. They’re great.

Other places of interest (aka where to spend your money) in…

Franklin: WILDER Boutique (clothing/accessories) | Tin Cottage (clothing/accessories/housewares/an excellent collection of Jellycat stuffed animals) | Culaccino (very good Italian food) | Johnnie Q (jewelry/accessories/housewares)

Nashville: Tristi Designs (incredibly fun jewelry) | Abode (housewares/foodstuffs/bath and body) | Baxter Bailey (pet stuff) | Ellie Monster (vintage western with flair) | Novelette (books)

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Got in the car, drove three hours north, went to a brewery, saw The Mountain Goats (#61). Two precious queer kids got engaged during the opener’s set and despite the fact that I generally am a big second-hand embarrassment person in situations like that, I found the scene profoundly moving and adorable. Two thumbs up to the Prickly Pear, Pineapple & Tangerine Stateside Hard Seltzer on tap at Badger State Brewing. I did not experience any of Green Bay outside of this brewery and their event space but it was good!

Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan

Got in the car, drove a million hours southeast, ate delicious shawarma fries, went to an old theater in Detroit, saw The Mountain Goats (#62). It was a very good show with very good friends and just overall a nice time to soothe the disappointment of the previous week’s shows all having been postponed.

Took a detour through Ann Arbor on the way home, mostly so I could pick up a pizza from Buddy’s, but also a chance to see the absolutely overwhelming amount of street art in Graffiti Alley. I’ve been to Ann Arbor a couple times before but mostly just in and out for concerts, so I never really wandered the downtown area. Very cute, would wander again.

Next Up…

• Well, it’s already May, and the first movie I’ve seen this month was Renfield so look forward to my deep thoughts on a movie that shouldn’t actually be taken that seriously; I’ve also got a ticket to see The Unknown Country at the Music Box this week.

• I’m also seeing Lizzo this month!

• And going glamping!

• And going to a talk by Tom Hanks!

• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is this month’s book club read so hopefully I get around to reading it! We’ll see!

• I also got the newest KJ Charles book while I was in Nashville which I’m looking forward to finally starting.

• I can’t go to this because I’ll be away that weekend, but if you’re an old person like me who still likes owning CDs, go to CHIRP Radio’s CD sale to pick up some hidden treasures and support an excellent independent radio station. (May 21 at Burning Bush Brewery)

What about you? What are you watching/reading/listening to/etc.?