Thanksgiving Fun

It is a countdown to thanksgiving, and I always get excited. Thanksgiving means one step closer to Christmas! Thanksgiving is always fun too. We have a running tradition in my family. In the morning, we all gather in the kitchen to get our cooking assignments. Everyone chips in and does their part to make a beautiful meal. I always do sweet potatoes and ,occasionally, homemade cranberry sauce as well. It's a time for us to sit together and enjoy each other's company.
One thing that I am extremely thankful for is that my great grandmother will be spending yet another holiday with us. My great grandma is 94 years young and amazes me on a regular basis. She has seen so much in her life and has great stories to share. I think I am especially thankful to have her with us this year because recently she was not doing so well. When "close calls" come around, they always seem to be a blessing in disguise. It really makes you prioritize and remember what is truly important in life!

From Gaunt to Gargantuan

When I think about the article "from Gaunt to Gargantuan", I find I have many issues with it. firstly, I find it a bit absurd how the author seemed annoyed by actors losing and gaining weight for a role and the little value they put on it. the author implies there is little skill in an actor doing this. In my opinion, this is definitely a part of their ability to act.

If an actor is playing a role of a starving man on a deserted island, in my eyes, he should look thin. how believable would it be to have a completely healthy looking actor playing this part? In addition, I believe this also shows the dedication one has to the character they are playing. Essentially, they are finding their way into the mind set of the people they are portraying.

I found it quite humorous when the author decided to bring up the negative effects this has on everyday people. Most people have some sort of common sense. It would be far fetched for us to believe we could accomplish the same feats an actor can when it comes to losing weight. They have access to many tools to assist with this. Personal trainers, cooks, dietitcians--you name it they have it. I am ,personally, very impressed when actors take the step to fully get into character.

My Weekend

This weekend I decided to go with some friends to Stixs, a cigar and martini bar. I thought that it would be interesting since I had never tried either. Much to my surprise I had a really fun time. It wasn't the normal "dive" bar or a out of control club with music so loud your ears bled. It was nice, relaxing, and pretty fancy. It felt pretty upscale with the leather furniture and plasma televisons on the wall.

We found a cozy little corner to sit at and relax. The chairs were "lazy-boy" style lounge chairs. Very comfortable. As we waited for a waitress, my friends and I browsed through their extensive lists of martinis. They had everything from the "Sugar Daddy" martini which comprised mostly of chocolate liquer to the famous "Dirty" martini-my personal favorite. I also decided that I was going to try my luck picking out a cigar. We went into the humidor and the choices were endless. I finally settled on a coffee infused one.

Overall it was a nice experience. The atmosphere was very relaxed and laid back. It was also nice to just sit and hang out with some friends for a bit. I have been to many bars and clubs, but nothing that had the atmosphere like this. We are going back this Friday! I would definitely suggest this place to anyone looking for a good, relaxing time.

Did you know?

After watching this video, I thought a lot about the information provided. There were many different facts that I found interesting, but a few stuck in my mind. I think the first fact to catch my attention was that in 2010, China will be the largest English-speaking country in the world. Living in America, I find that so odd. I was shocked to hear this. To me, this would be like America being the largest Chinese speaking country in the world.

As I watched on, there was also was amazed that students in a four year university for technology are basically wasting their first year of school. Due to the speed of technology advancements, the information that they learn the first year of school will be outdated by their third year of school. It is a little disheartening when you think about the time, energy, and money students put into that first year of education.

Overall, I have to admit this video made me somewhat sad. I think about when I was a child growing up. My parents were my hero and knew everything. Then I think about children in today’s age. In most cases, these children are going to grow up in an age where they know more than their parents do. Who will they look up to?

“Bouna Sera” At Sibley Gardens

When arriving at Sibley Gardens, one would think that it was any ordinary Coney Island or bar turned restaurant. This couldn’t be farther from the truth! I arrived at Sibley Gardens, 916W Jefferson Ave, Trenton, MI 48183, at six o’clock p.m. on a Saturday with my close friend Sheila. A restaurant review was just the excuse we needed to indulge ourselves. She had previously been to “the gardens” and had been insisting that I go for some time now. I wore casual clothes and quickly felt underdressed. After entering the restaurant, that was so dingy and old looking outside, I was surprised at how classy and well-put together it was inside. I almost felt as if I entered the twilight zone. The interior of the restaurant is decorated with fine art and had low lighting to set the mood of a special dining experience, like an anniversary or first date. I would have to imagine that this was a five-star establishment after entering, although I felt very differently looking outside.

When we entered, we were quickly greeted by the host. He was dressed in a full suit and very friendly. He led us to our table and chatted with us a bit before our server arrived. “May I get you something to drink?” he asked. “Perhaps something off the wine list?” he added. We both asked for water and ice tea. As we skimmed the menu, we discovered that they offered a wide variety of wines, a full bar, and some non-alcoholic choices. Our server came to the table and quickly gave us a run through of the menu, offering her favorites, as well as some that guests seemed to enjoy. It was apparent that she knew what she was talking about after the many questions we asked.

The restaurant prides itself on serving authentic Italian cuisine. In fact, they have done so for almost eighty years now, which in itself is a major accomplishment for an independently-owned restaurant. There menu is full of Italian favorites such as penne ala vodka and ravioli. They also have more daring items on the menu like calamari and escargot. Within the jumble of Italian inspired dishes, they still manage to serve some everyday foods such as their Michigan cherry salad and a good old cheeseburger. We quickly came to the conclusion that we wouldn’t be able to decide on just one appetizer and instead chose the three that interested us the most: goat cheese napoleon, Italian formaggio dip, and just to be adventurous----escargot.

As the server went to put our appetizers in, I couldn’t help but look around. I first noticed the cloth napkins on our tables, so intricately folded. Also, I noticed how the freshly polished silverware looked. I also wanted to check out the restrooms as I think this says a lot about a restaurant. They were immaculate! There weren’t even the typical watermarks from a careless hand-washer on the counter. As I walked back to the table, the server abruptly returned with a basket of breads and crackers, butter, and delicious dipping oil that, I must say, was out of this world. The bread was soft and warm, as was the oil, with Italian herbs and spices added to it. Our server also grated fresh parmesan cheese over it. “This is the only way to have it.” she said to us.

It wasn’t long before our appetizers arrived. As our server sat them on the table, I could tell that this was fine dining. The mere way that the cooks had set the plates up, carefully drizzling bright sauces and stacking bread and crackers on the edge of the plate screamed first class. You could tell that the cooks sent out artwork rather than food. “I hope it tastes as good as it looks” I said to Sheila. “Oh it does” she replied. First stop was the goat cheese napoleon. It was medallions of goat cheese covered with pine nuts, roasted garlic and red peppers, and pesto, topped off with a balsamic reduction. It was served with Tuscan style toast, which alone was amazing. The cheese spread on the bread like warm butter, along with the roasted cloves of garlic. I smiled as I felt it melt in my mouth, spreading over every bit of my tongue. All of the flavors melded together: the sweetness of the peppers, gaminess of the cheese, along with the toasted pine nuts. I couldn’t help but eat more. The cheese dip was good as well. The only way to describe it is a queso dip with an Italian spin. Instead of seasoned beef, it sports Italian sausage. No salsa here, only Italian-seasoned tomatoes. Much like bruschetta. The escargot was interesting. The snail itself had little taste and its texture was a lot like clams, chewy and leathery.

For the main dishes, I highly recommend their gorgonzola tenderloin medallions. They were two medallions of beef tenderloin, adorned with gorgonzola cheese, and a glaze that was good enough to eat with a spoon. The meat was so tender, you hardly needed a knife. The cheese bubbled on top like hot lava from an erupting volcano. Sheila ordered pesto cream pasta with grilled chicken. It was creamy and full of herbs. The chicken was, again, tender to the fork and seasoned perfectly. It was moist and juicy, leading you to want just one more bite.

Throughout the dinner, our server returned, making sure that we were satisfied with the entrees and refilling our drinks. I honestly cannot think of a moment we had empty glasses. “Would you like dessert?” asked the server. “Of course” I thought to myself. We had already decided that we were going to splurge and go all out, for the review sake of course. As she handed us the dessert menu, I could only think of one thing---tiramisu. This is an Italian joint, why would I pick anything else? Sheila ordered crème brulee and it was decided that we would share the two. The tiramisu was chilled and had a hint of Kalua, their twist on the dessert. It was moist and full of chocolate deliciousness. The crème brulee wasn’t bad either, although we both agreed that the serving was small at best. It was creamy and had a perfectly caramelized top coat. It even crackled and cracked as we spooned into it.

If Italian food is your guilty pleasure, you have to try Sibley Gardens. You won’t be disappointed. Their menu is moderately priced, depending on what you want. Some of the menu items are more on the higher end, reaching up to twenty-one dollars. Our bill was right around eighty dollars. Not an everyday stop, I know, but if you are looking for somewhere special, this is the spot. The service couldn’t have been any better either. Friendly wait staff, good food, and an awesome atmosphere made this one of my top five!




Until next time, Ciao!



All photos are copywritten and taken by:
TJ Stewart