Falafel: bring on the hot sauce

You guys, I had NO IDEA the SAG Awards were on last night. In a related story, I don't have my tv hooked up yet so there was no way I was going to be able to see them no matter what. I will be checking out the fashion and judging, but it'll take me a little while.

In other news, I am directing a play right now that makes mention of two foods: ramen and falafel. We open the show this week, which means I have been craving ramen and falafel for about a month. Yesterday, I decided to take care of that with ramen for lunch and falafel for dinner. It was heaven! I just made straight-up ramen (boil water, open package, cook for three minutes, feel your heart race from the toll of all that salt for 2 hours) in the afternoon and that was great. Nothing like slurping a bunch of salty noodles to start the day off right.

But for dinner! Oh, there was falafel from Mama's Vegetarian on 20th Street here in our fair city of Philadelphia. Not only is it cheap and good, it is really close to the theatre, making it the perfect answer during tech rehearsals.

My first introduction to falafel was via my favorite Parker Posey movie, Party Girl. She meets cutie Mustafa at his falafel cart and always orders the same thing.

Can I have a falafel with hot sauce, a side order of Baba Ghanoush and a seltzer, please?

I am not a huge fan of baba, so I tend to skip that one, but the hot sauce and tahini and hummus and salad and tomato? Oh yes, so great. I always get a small because I just cannot handle any more than that, but I have heard the large is deeply satisfying. Mama's is highly recommended, though keep in mind they close early on Fridays (3 PM) and are not open on Saturdays.

Mama's Vegetarian
18 S. 20th Street
Philadelphia

Golden Globes 2011: The Bad!

I am so sad that Cher wasn't there. She can always be counted on for illusion netting and a good wig. Oh, but we have some "winners" here. Enjoy the worst of fashion at the 2011 Golden Globes. Let's just jump into the deep end of the pool to start, shall we?

Scarlett Johansson!

GAH! Bride of Frankenstein hair + Miss Havisham's wedding gown + washed out color = Do Not Want. ScarJo, this is not the way to show up to an awards show after a divorce! You should be reminding us how vivacious and delicious you are, not looking like you're about to reminisce about your time back in St. Olaf.

Leighton Meester!

In what alternate universe is "sexy sister wife" a viable fashion choice for the red carpet? Also, Meester: please step away from the blush.

Natalie Portman!

I like the pregnant version of Portman - she's adorable! And she's wearing a fabulous necklace, which endears her to me. I just don't like this dress. Like, at all. I tried to like it when I first saw it but the more I look at it, the cheaper that pink fabric looks, and the more that rose looks like a chest wound. Not to mention the matchy-matchy shoes and bag and the severe french twist. Oh, pregnant Portman. I hope you get it together for the SAGs and Oscars. Call Heidi Klum - she does pregnant red carpet better than anyone.

Speaking of La Klum...

Heidi Klum!

Oh dear God in heaven, what is that? The legs and the shoes are great, but I can't say much else nice. The hair is frazzled, tooooo many bracelets, scary makeup, and that dress looks like a glorified beach cover-up. A glorified beach cover-up with a gigantic bow in a color I can only call burnt sienna. Heidi, no one wanted the burnt sienna crayon. No one.

Emma Stone!

I feel bad for Emma Stone. She's totally awesome and I luh-oved her in Easy A, and I am glad she's booking all sorts of work now but this blonde they made her do to play Gwen Stacy is just not working out for her. In fact, it makes her look pretty much exactly like Lindsay Lohan. And while I enjoy watching what it would be like if Lindsay Lohan wasn't on drugs, I can't wait for Ms. Emma to go back to red. Now, to the dress in question. UGH. It all comes down to color and friends, it's not cute. I like the simplicity of the dress (and I love the bag) but I wonder if it's a little too casual. Emma, learn from this dress...and never dye your hair this color again.

Julie Bowen!

I like her head. That's about it. The stripes, the shredded ruffles, the sad color, the matching bag. It's just a mess.

Jennifer Lawrence!

EW. I can't really figure out why, but EW.

Helen Mirren!

Between not liking 2 Oscar de la Renta dresses and Helen Mirren showing up in this, I feel betrayed. How could my red carpet standby show up in a dowdy gown that makes her boobs look saggy? And those sleeves! It's really the sleeves that are the killer here. I don't believe I'm about to say this, but I hate that necklace. It's weird and doesn't go with the dress. You're tearing me apart, Helen!

Jayma Mays!

What has happened here?! That makeup! The ill-fitting dress! I can count your bones, woman! I'm concerned for Ms. Pillsbury, a bit. Mostly because she was doing so well, fashion-wise, and then she shows up to the Golden Globes looking like a fancy dress version of the Rocky Horror Show. (Now- I love me some Rocky Horror, I just don't think it's appropriate on the red carpet.)

Christina Aguilara!

Does anyone else think she looks like a Bratz doll? Just me? Okay.

Marky Mark (pictured here with his wife)!

That suit is so big on him, I'll bet he could fit at least half of the Funky Bunch in there.

Kaley Cuoco!

She looks like something my great aunt would have put on top of an extra roll of toilet paper in the bathroom.

Annette Bening!

I actually kind of like her dress. It was perhaps a tad casual for the event but it looks great on her (enviable) figure. But this hair. I- there are no words. In truth, I sympathize with Annette over this because this is pretty much exactly what my hair looks like... in the morning. She was sitting between her husband and Julianne Moore; surely one of them could have given her a bit of a hair fluff before she hit the stage? I suppose maybe you want to think twice before you let Julianne go near your style, though, because...

Julianne Moore!

What. Is. That. It looks like she got her sleeve stuck in her necklace and decided to "just go with it." That color pink is not good on her, and she chose a difficult material which easily wrinkles. Stars of Hollywood: when choosing red carpet wear, please consider travel time from your stylist's place to the ceremony location. Will the garment wrinkle in the limo? Is there a way for you to either stand or lay down for the duration of the trip to avoid wrinkling? Don't worry about the back of your dress; unless you are a Kardashian, Salma Hayek, or Sophia Vergara, no one will take a picture from behind. Back to Julianne, I can only shake my head and sigh. When will she get it right?

Katey Sagal!

I love Katey Sagal. I feel her voice to be very comforting after falling asleep to midnight showings of Futurama for so long. I'm so pleased she's getting some hardware for her work now. However. I cannot condone this kind of fashion abuse. This dress looks cheap and tacky and the color is absolutely awful. If you want us to forget Peg Bundy, you are going to have to step it up, lady.

Sandra Bullock!

Oh, girl. Oh no. With the hair and the dress and the - no. Just no.

Tilda Swinton!

SWINTON! This is perhaps the greatest red carpet photo I have ever seen. That rakish wink! Love. Her. Don't love this ensemble, though. It looks like a skirt she made in her Intro to Theatre Design class, paired with the only clean shirt in her closet. And can we talk about the shoes? The baby pink shoes? It's like she only chose colors used in the CVS Easter candy display.

Jesse Eisenberg!

Cutie pie, I don't understand. Is your brush really heavy? Same with your razor? Just too much work to pick them up? Maybe you could explain this to me... over breakfast.

Michelle Williams!

Why is she trying to be Twiggy? Why? This dress is ugly and makes her look thick, which she decidedly is not. The color is terrible on her. And then, on top of it all, soft and flowing thigh ruffles. This dress hurts my brain.

Halle Berry!

Psst! Halle. You forgot your dress.

January Jones!

Look, she's gorgeous and she has a knockout figure. But there's a such thing as trying too hard. There's also a such thing as dressing a background character in the "Gotta Have a Gimmick" scene from Gypsy. January Jones, there is nothing good about someone coming up to you and confiding, "If you gotta bump it, bump it with a trumpet."

Anne Hathaway!

Quote from friend's boyfriend: "She looks like the future I don't want to see." It's just too much, Anne. Too much.

And finally, last but certainly not least...

Helena Bonham Carter!

Delicious. Brava! Really, this is the greatest and best thing that happened at the Golden Globes this year. The sunglasses. The crazypants Vivienne Westwood explosion. The hair complete with mesh fascinator. The different colored shoes. I mean, how can you not applaud a woman who shows up on the red carpet with two different colored shoes? I love her, and I love everything about this. The icing on the wackadoo cake was that she seemed to be drunk on the red carpet and during the ceremony. Even better.


Well, friends, that's it for the 2011 Golden Globes. Soon, we’ll be hip deep in SAG Awards and Oscars. It’s a wonderful time of year to be critical, isn’t it?

Golden Globes 2011: The Good!

Welcome back! Ready for round 2? Let's see some beautiful things, shall we?

Eva Longoria!

Best look of the night, for my money. She accentuated her teeny-tiny frame with a dramatic gown and got a little sparkle in there with the brooch at the sash. I love this neckline, and while you might normally hear me whining for a necklace here, Eva decided to use the necklace God gave her: boobs. Now this is the way you show up to an awards show post-divorce.

Amy Adams!

Love the color, love the cutouts on the fabric accents, love the soft hair. Very pretty, just like Amy Adams.

Chris Colfer!

Not only did boyfriend look great in an off-the-beaten-track tux, he gave perhaps the best speech of the night. I love this kid.

Hailee Steinfeld!

Speaking of kids I love, this girl knocked it out of the park. It's a beautiful dress, appropriate for age and occasion, and I love her clutch and bracelet. Perfectly done, Hailee. Welcome to the bigs.

Andrew Garfield!

The pants are slightly too long - boys! Don't let pooling hemlines happen to you! But, ladies and gentlemen: your new Spiderman. Hell yes.

Dianna Agron!

How in the world does she get her hair to look so perfect? Girlfriend looks classic and poised and is wearing an absolutely beautiful necklace.

Jake Gyllenhaal!

Did you guys see the E! red carpet interview where Jakey was flirting heavily with Ryan Seacrest? It was a phenomenal moment of entertainment. The tux is a classic, though he should have fixed his sleeve before the photo was taken.

Jane Krakowski!

I had no idea she was pregnant! I mean, obviously I know now... This ridiculous pose aside, I thought she did pregnant formalwear extremely well - unexpected color and silhouette, and a little bit of interest with the lace.

Mandy Moore!

I'm not entirely sold on the hair, though I think an up-do may have overpowered the dress. I love the sheer netting over the bust and neckline, and I love this blue on her.

Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey!

You guys, Susan Downey is a red carpet favorite of mine. She always looks gorgeous, event-appropriate, and totally polished. RDJ looks like he is embarrassing her half the time. But! I really liked his grey suit. I think the red tie was Too Much, but it's better than a baby blue bowtie, amiright?! Kudos, Susan, for putting up with that crap.

Sophia Vergara!

True story: I was watching The Globes with my girls (and the boyfriend of one of my girls) and it was just a parade of bad dresses on the red carpet. They kept shooting me furtive glances, to see how I was taking the absolute onslaught of fashion horrors. And then, Sophia Vergara arrived and we were all like, "THANK GOD." She looks like the siren she is - I love the corseting on the back and black sash. I would have preferred this in something other than taffeta, but I will take what I can get.

Ryan Gosling!

I'm not sure if you are aware of the Ryan Gosling meme but this should be added to it. "Hey Girl, Sometimes I like to pretend I'm James Bond."

Olivia Wilde!

I. Love. This. Dress. The hair? Awful. Hate the bangs, it's all wrong for the look. But the dress! Oh! Raptures! (Could use a necklace and an up-do.)

Joseph Gordon Levitt!

As a long-time fan of JGL (I'm talking way back to Angels in the Outfield), I am pleased to see him grow up to be a stone cold fox. Damn, boyfriend.

Kyra Sedgwick (seen here with Kevin Bacon)!

Love the cut, love the color, love the ruffles, love the hair, love the arm candy. Keep it light and flowy, Kyra!

Melissa Leo!

This is, in no way, a ground-breaking look. It's actually kind of boring. But compare to Melissa Leo at the Oscars in 2009, if you will:

Now look back at the first photo. Absolutely amazing, right?

Amber Riley!

Yes! I love the shape, I love the color, I love the sparkle. Gorgeous.

Carrie Underwood!

More sparkles! I love sparkles. I love how rich this champagne color looks on her. The hair is a tad big, but she's a country singer so I think we can grade on a curve there. Say it with me now: could use a necklace.

Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfield!

Truth: I prefer scruffy, bearded Hamm to super slick and put-together Hamm. But! He knows how to work a tux and she always looks amazing. I wish I could have seen her dress from the back because I bet it's cool.

Elisabeth Moss!

Not our most successful green dress of the night, mostly due to it being silk and wrinkling in the limo on the way over, but overall very beautiful and dramatic. Call me crazy, but I like the hair with this. I understand not wanting to do a necklace with big earrings like that, so I guess I'll let her get away with this one.

Chris Hemsworth!

Hey Thor, you can hammer me any day... and I ain't talking about Mjolnir.

Jane Fonda!

The one! The only! She looks absolutely incredible. While I'm not sure I really like the space-age shoulder construction (more on that when we deal with our friend Anne H.), but I am always into well-done sleeves on gowns. On good days, my hair looks sort of like hers! (On bad days, well... Annette Benning. You'll see.)

Gabourey Sidibe!

Love the print, love the cut, adorable hair...don't love the shoes, but you can't win them all.

Mila Kunis!

This girl was working really hard to fake her way through, but you could tell in her eyes that she would much rather be home with a bottle of vodka, a pack of cigarettes, and the DVD of Bridget Jones' Diary. I just wanted to hug her and say that someday life would be okay and she'd be glad to see Macauley in her rearview mirror. I loved how this dress was constructed and I love the color. Her hair and makeup are fantastic, also. Good job, Mila. Hang in there, girl!

Tina Fey!

The more I look at this, the less I like it. I'm going to keep it in the Good pile, though, because I think our Tina needs all the encouragement we can offer, fashion-wise. Here's what's working: the hair, the color, the bodice, the jewelry. Tina! Please listen to me! Stop going to that makeup artist. S/he is not helping you.

Catherine Zeta Jones (seen here with Michael Douglas)!

CZJ knew her role on the red carpet: doting wife of beloved actor who is doing a great job battling cancer. Everyone wants to talk to Michael Douglas and tell him how great he looks and how glad they are that he's on the mend. CZJ just needs to smile and, when asked, say how much she loves him and how happy she is that he is getting better. So why shouldn't she look drop dead gorgeous while doing so? The dress is a marvel, dramatic and unique, and the earrings are absolutely to die for. Thank god she didn't try that match-the-eye-shadow-to-the-dress trick she pulled out for the Tony Awards last year. I wouldn't mind a necklace here, but the earrings are big and glitzy enough that I almost don't mind.