Coming Distractions August 12th, 2008

Once you've calmed down from the Festival of Fools this weekend, you can rent these new releases on Tuesday:

the wire - season 5
south park - season 11
smart people
cj7
Irina Palm




And once you've watched those you can attend the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival (August 15th-17th) which is following close on the heels of the Dragon Boat Festival that you hopefully did not miss (August 3rd) despite the dreary weather. Also, don't miss the Dog Festival at Shelburne Museum which will occur sometime in the near future. Check back regularly for more information on Festivals.


But, despite my enthusiasm for festivals, I might forget to update about other festivals because the second season of No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain's food-travel show came out on DVD this past tuesday. Anthony Bourdain is a New York chef and the author of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (a fast-paced memoir revealing the seedy side of the life of in restaurant kitchen- or at least the life a chef who smokes 2 packs of cigarettes a day and has a great aplomb for the drink and other various intoxicants). No longer on the illegal drugs, but still smoking prodigiously, Bourdain drags his cynical self to such places Cincinnati and Singapore for signature dishes such as head cheese and chicken rice, respectively, and always learns life-lessons along the way. Bourdain is, admittedly, a total blowhard, but if you happen to know anybody who has achieved the perfect mix of curmudgeonly attitudes and loveable enthusiasms you will understand how he can at least be enjoyed.

Well, that's enough about Bourdain - we should all be out either enjoying this short break in our monsoon season, or just watching more of The Wire (because I know that's what you really want to be doing - don't even bother to deny it, I've fielded those anxious phone calls.)