Ever wonder what would happen if you took the world’s angriest man and made him punch people for a living? Meet Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro), a middleweight boxer whose approach to both fighting and relationships makes Mike Tyson look like a meditation teacher. Scorsese’s black-and-white masterpiece follows LaMotta through his rise and spectacular face-first…
Marinara Pizza: The Essential Neapolitan Classic In the bustling port city of Naples, the marinara pizza stands as a testament to simplicity’s enduring appeal. Despite its seafaring name, this pizza contains no fish or seafood. Instead, it earned its moniker from the mariners’ wives who would prepare these simple, cheese-less pizzas for their husbands returning…
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of meditation – the idea that you could train your mind and bend it to your will through breathing exercises seemed, on it’s face, a bit silly. However two things happened that caused me to reevaluate my ideas. The first was reading a book called “The brain that…
The World’s Worst River Cruise Looking for a relaxing boat trip up a scenic river? Then maybe skip Captain Benjamin Willard’s (Martin Sheen) journey into the heart of madness during the Vietnam War. His mission, should he choose to accept it (spoiler: he does, because apparently he’s never seen a war movie before): sail upriver…
Love, Loss, and Lots of Cocaine Released: February 4, 1977 If you’ve ever wondered what happens when two couples break up, another relationship crumbles, and everyone involved has to keep working together while having access to unlimited studio time and a blizzard of cocaine, well, “Rumours” is your answer. The miracle isn’t just that this…
When I was younger I worked in various restaurants as summer jobs and really enjoyed the experience. I know it’s probably the naivete of youth but for a while I considered trying to stage at some fancy restaurants in NYC to build a career as a chef (this was before the food network and the…
When Prince Turned Minnesota Purple Released: June 25, 1984 In 1984, while everyone else was worried about Big Brother watching them, Prince was busy creating an album so monumentally sexy that it made George Orwell’s dystopian predictions seem quaint by comparison. “Purple Rain” isn’t just an album—it’s what happens when unstoppable ambition meets unlimited talent…
This one wasn’t actually that difficult in concept. I’m just not a big meat eater. I do enjoy beef (in all it’s glorious varieties) and chicken and eat them often but only a few times a week, trying to balance them with vegetable heavy meals. I enjoy pork in sausage or bacon form but that’s…
Dylan’s Beautiful Bummer of a Breakup Album Released: January 20, 1975 If heartbreak had a sound, it would be Bob Dylan’s voice cracking on side one of “Blood on the Tracks.” Following his separation from his wife Sara, Dylan created what might be history’s most eloquent version of the “It’s not you, it’s me… but…
A Masterclass in Soul, Hip-Hop, and Raw Honesty Released: August 25, 1998 Sometimes an album comes along that doesn’t just capture a moment—it defines an era. “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” isn’t just Lauryn Hill’s solo debut; it’s a testament to what happens when an artist bares their soul without compromise, when commercial success and…