A Mouthful of Pillow

What says "I love you" better than whacking your loved one with a large, fluffy pillow? Well, I don't know about romantic, but it sure is fun.

Our Valentine's day started romantically enough with a trip to famous Ghirardelli Square to indulge in some gluttonous delight at the famous chocolate store/ice-cream shop. The line was long, but moved quickly as people slurped down their treats and moved on to walk it off in the streets of San Fran. We shared a classic sundae complete with hot, melted chocolate. Mmmm.... Anyway, afterwards we headed off on the MUNI to Justin Herman Plaza to check out the scene of the crime. The San Francisco Pillow Fight 2009, baby! The rain was coming down fairly steady as we entered the plaza, and we still had an hour to wait until the event. We played in the fountain and wandered around the shops, while people carrying pillows walked by. Soon the plaza was beginning to fill with people donned with pillows of all shapes and sizes, and I started to feel the excitement of what was to come. As time was getting closer to 6pm, more and more people were gathering, and before we knew the chaos began.

Then, the countdown started as everyone was looking at the clock tower, waiting for that second hand to arrive. 5, 4, 3, 2, .....GO! The madness had begun and pillows, limbs, and people went flying. At first I was a bit timid to delve into the center of the beatings, but as time went on I eventually jumped into the middle and waved my arms in the air like I just didn't care. Some people were very tender, while others wanted blood, and I definitely came away with fewer brain cells in the end. The variety of people was pretty interesting with some people bringing their tiny children, and others dressing up in all sorts of costumes- Zombies to Zorros! All in all, it was an amazing time and I would definitely do it again. To just see the amount of people and feel the energy of the crowds made it so spectacular. I wasn't thinking about anything, just letting go and enjoying those few hours with my love and hundreds of strangers on Valentine's Day.

Slice: A white vanilla cake with coconut frosting with strawberries in the center

A Slice of Coraline

 

First of all, I love stop-motion animation. Secondly, I love Tim Burton and will see pretty much any movie he is involved in. This time, Henry Selick took the directors role again to create another classic. Ever since I was a little 7-year-old captivated and equally frightened by The Nightmare Before Christmas, I have loved these films. These films create a style like none other made for any age group. In this latest installment, he doesn't disappoint. Coraline is the story of a young girl who is bored by her simple life and leaves her wanting something more. The story line of Coraline keeps you engaged from the first frame to the last credit. As for the animation, it was nothing short of amazing. The simplest movement of a small flower opening its petals keeps me glued to the screen. 

The story seems a sweet, simple, and innocent one until you see it's dark side creeping through in subtle ways. The shadow of a black cat, a button-eyed doll, or the eccentric neighbors make you soon realize that this is not just going to be a cheerful, cutesy film. This, of course, is the beauty of Tim Burton and Co.'s animation films and the main reason I am (and so many) so attracted to these films.  

The characters of the film are classic, odd, and just plain creepy at times, but I loved them all. Especially the Eastern European acrobatic neighbor, Mr. Bobinsky, who bounds around the house, circus style in an eccentric, but elegant manor. All the characters are special and crazy in their own right and bring a great deal to the film.

 Something else that made this viewing special was the 3-D version we happened to see. It just happened that this was the version playing closest to us, but I am glad. The 3-D effect was like icing on the slice of Coraline cake, but I have no doubt that the original version is just as good. The effects give it an added entertainment factor, especially for small children in the audience.

All in all, Coraline keeps you entertained with great animation, sound/music, and creativity. How could it be better?? I don't know, but there is always room for improvement! 8 out of 10 

Slice: Black Forest Cake with a colorful marzipan icing