‘BlackBerry’ tells the story of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, the two men that charted the course of the spectacular rise and catastrophic demise of the world’s first smartphone.
Q-tips say: Yes, watch it. We enjoyed this movie.
Mrs. Q says: If you know a Mr. or Ms. Gadget, this is probably a good movie for them to watch. They might even say after seeing this movie, “I think I still have my Blackberry somewhere here.”
An entertaining film features standout work from Baruchel, especially when he begins to crack with the realization that Apple is getting ready to kill his company with their upcoming iPhone, a product with the highest consumer interest in history. Work from Baruchel and a ferociously good Howerton as the unscrupulous Balsillie, BlackBerry is a cautionary tale of tech-world hubris told with dark humour and a satirical edge
Q-tips say: We were really looking forward to go to Brasserie because it is a relatively new rest. in Edgewater, Chicago.
Well, it was nothing special – a tad disappointing. Loud music & no one else in the rest.
Mrs. Q went on Open Table to make a reservation, she saw that they require you to put your charge card info & charge you $3.00 per person to make your reservation. Never had that before with any other restaurant. Did not make a reservation. We just walked in without a reservation. Their Brasserie Fall Tasting Menu is $80 per person – pre paid.
On one of their internet menus they offer Filet Carpaccio – which is what we went there for but we were told they don’t have it due to change of season menu. Mrs. Q politely suggested that perhaps they should correct their internet menu.
Our dinner choices: Bread and Butter $10.00 – House made sourdough of the day with butter – was decent. Each Q had: French Onion Soup $12.00 – Imported Gruyere, house made sourdough crouton, double stock & Duck, Duck, Goose Spring Roll $26.00 – Duck confit, Bella Farms Foie Gras, cabbage, pickled vegetables, plum sauce. Our server/hostess told us that we get 3 Spring Rolls each but each Q got only 2 Duck Goose Spring rolls each.
Had our usual drinks: Old Fashion & Perfect Manhattan – they were ok. When the manager asked if we wanted wine, Mr. Q asked if they have a white wine for Happy Hour. They only have their special wines & their special drinks for their Happy Hour & 1/2 off a Red Wine only on Sunday. Passed on the wine.
There was no one else in the rest. until later another couple sat at the bar & after talking for a while then began to argue with each other. We were finished eating & asked for our check & don’t think we will go back again.
Single mother Julie (César Calamy) works a grueling job as a head chambermaid in a five-star Parisian hotel. Julie’s daily balance of commuting from her remote suburb into Paris, tenuous childcare and search for a new job to get her out of debt, becomes unmanageable during a paralyzing transport strike in Paris. Literally running from dawn to sunset to get to her job and back home in time to fetch her children, Julie is constantly on the verge of a breakdown.
Q-tips say: Was good but a tad slow at time. Each night, Julie dreams that she’s drowning. Water fills her ears and presses down on her chest. But when she wakes – jolted out of a bone-tired slumber by her alarm – the reality is not so different. A single mum of two children, with debts mounting and her ex-husband missing along with his alimony, she is barely keeping afloat. Her childcare options are running out; her job, as the head chambermaid at a five-star hotel, is stressful; her commute, from a Paris suburb to the centre of the city, is precision-timed. And just when she thinks there’s a chance of a new opportunity – an interview for a much better job – a strike paralyses the entire transport network. Some might relay that sometimes it’s difficult to be on time when we need to rely on public transportation to arrive at our destination. The movie tells a story that many viewers might able to relate to on an intensely personal level.
You might enjoy it. Some reviews show that the audience & movie critics did enjoy this movie.
10/22/23 – A new musical about the Life & Loves of Louis Armstrong at the Cadillac Palace Theatre – 151 W Randolph St, Chicago.
Q-tips say: Was good but wish it was more about Louis Armstrong’s life than the Women in his life.
Mrs. Q says: Yes, Louis A. was a womanizer. The scenes with Louis were good but not enough of those kinds of scene. The entire cast was extremely talented but too much of the story was about the women in his life instead of Louis & also too many dance scenes.
The other weird thing is that we don’t see much of Armstrong with other musicians, which is how many remember him, playing with a great big band like Joe “King” Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, who whooped it up in Chicago in the 1920s at the famed Lincoln Gardens on E. 31st St. Given who this show has as its lead I kept waiting for the big scene where Armstrong would be performing, joshing with the band, singing far more of the hundreds of songs he recorded, mixing it up with the audience. A delight, surely. But it never came, or not at least in a full-blown way. Instead, we got scene after scene involving letters, receipts and domestic altercations. Not what you want in Act 2 of a Louis Armstrong show.
35 W Wacker Dr Chicago – (312) 346-3500 – catch35.com
Q-tips say: Yes, go & enjoy. Great drinks, food, ambiance & Happy Hour during the week – Every Monday thru Friday from 3-6pm (In Bar & Outdoor Patio Only). Happy Hour Special not available for takeout or delivery.
Mrs. Q had her usual libations: Maker’s Mark Old Fashion up w/dirty ice on the side.
Mr. Q had:Maker’s Mark Perfect Manhattan w/ dirty ice on the side.
We shared the bread – Mrs. Q ate most of it.
Mrs. Q had:GrilledSalmon – cucumbers – shallots – lemon dill -with a side of asparagus.
Mr. Q had: Blackened Salmon Blackened – sweet chili garlic sauce with a side of fries.
Yes, we shared our sides. Everything was DELICIOUS!
Inside & also outside seating.
Grilled SalmonBlackened Salmon – sweet chili garlic sauce.
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
Q-tips say: Decided to watch a scary movie since it’s almost Halloween. Did NOT think TALK TO ME was that good.
Mrs. Q says: Perhaps you should watch it, if you so desire, & decide for yourself if it is GOOD or NOT.
The story revolves around a ceramic hand that allows people to see lost souls. To use the hand, a candle must be lit and the words “Talk to me” must be repeated. The movie explores the consequences of playing with spirits and the manipulation of evil spirits, highlighting that not every lost soul is kind.
The film contains brief but extreme gory violence, perverse behavior, gruesome images, a couple of profanities, several milder oaths, pervasive rough and much crude language and fleeting sexual slang.
Three best friends become fathers later in life and find themselves battling preschool principals, millennial CEOs and anything created after 1987.
Q-tips say: Mediocre. It tries hard to be a throwback 90s comedy delivering its torrent of jokes about the culture clash between younger and older generations. Heavy in its criticism but sparse in its actual humor.
Mrs. Q says: This is one of those films that can only make a section of people laugh. Are you among them? If you enjoy watching 3 mid aged men trying to keep their friendships & seeing them at a strip bar, dinking, use pervasive language, nudity, and brief drug use this might be a movie for you.
Q Tips say: Good food at Tapas Barcelona & all at an affordable price. Indoor/outdoor dining. Going out to dinner with great neighbors in the hood is enjoyable & fun.
Our neighbors had: Red Sangria
The Q’s had: Margaritas
Q’s shared: Queso de Cabra Con Tomate – Goat Cheese in a tomato sauce with garlic bread. We shared: Gambas Al Ajillo – Shrimp in oil & garlic & A Chicken special.
Our neighbors had:Croquetas del dia fried croquettes with aioli – , Albondigas con Tomate – Beef meatballs in tomato sauce and potatoes & Berenjenas Rellenas con Queso Baked -stuffed eggplant with goat cheese, hazelnuts roasted pepper sauce.
Best part was: Enjoying the food/drinks & company of our great neighbors.
Inside seating
Outdoor Seating
Margarita
Garlic Shrimp
Goat Cheese in rich tomato sauce w/ garlic bread
Berenjenas Rellenas con Queso Baked -stuffed eggplant with goat cheese, hazelnuts roasted pepper sauce.
Croquetas del dia fried croquettes with aioli.
Albondigas con Tomate – Beef meatballs in tomato sauce and potatoes
A Holocaust survivor develops a life-changing friendship with a homeless, anti-Semitic sex worker in Los Angeles.
Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy it.
The film does deal with some serious issues. But it is the handling of those issues, and Asner’s performance, that make this film a must see! I know, you might being saying, “what, Ed Asner is still alive?” Yes, indeed. A story featuring an unlikely friendship between a homeless teen and a Holocaust survivor, sparking larger questions of fear, forgiveness, healing and world peace. Samuel ( Ed Asner) takes the cracks from runaway Casey and calmly fires back with nuggets of wisdom developed through experience … and the aforementioned pledge to his beloved with to forgive all.
Mrs. Q says: These days it seems ‘hatred’ is all around us. One group despises another group. Political parties and opposing politicians take turns disrespecting each other. There are hate crimes and there are hate groups. Drivers rage when another driver is rude or not focused. These countries hate those countries, and yet, despite the widespread hatred, we wonder why we all can’t just get along. Perhaps this film never dives as deep as we hope or expect, watching Mr. Asner (in his final performance) makes it all worthwhile. He truly captures the essence of a man who, very late in life, turns over a new leaf thanks to that pledge. And that new leaf is one we should all aspire to turn over.
Corinne convinces her baker best friend, Jane, to commit to a year of baking cakes and bringing them to bars with the goal of meeting people and developing confidence.
Q-tips say: Yes, watch it. A tale of friendship and loss worth watching. The great storyline happens to be based on a true story. The friendship story is touching and real.
Mrs. Q says: Yes, this film might make you tear up a bit. A thing I loved was that both girls had strong parental support (imperfect, but definitely loving and supportive). It’s rare these days to have main characters with parents still married. Love that.
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