A Relaxing Grill and the Predicament of Temptation

Kelly’s Bar & Grill

Rating: 4 out of 5

Location: 322 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

Phone: (505) 262-2739

Review:

It’s Friday night and you have had a long hard week at school and work. You want a place to relax in a nice atmosphere that won’t empty your wallet. Kelly’s is exactly the place to do this. Kelly’s Bar & Grill is located about a half-mile east of campus. This is the place to go if you want to have a great dinner, relax, and have a few drinks afterwards. The restaurant has a very open and warm atmosphere. The walls are covered in themed photos and memorabilia. Outside the restaurant has a large patio with many tables to sit at. The outside is also surrounded with strings of lights to really give it that relaxing atmosphere that makes you want to unwind and talk with friends. The inside of the restaurant is very energetic and bustling, great if you like a loud and upbeat place, not so great if you want a quiet sit-down dinner.

They have a great selection of soups, sandwiches, and salads. They have specials where you can get a half order of all three of these selections if you want to have more variety with your dinner. The green chili soup they have at Kelly’s is the best soup I have ever had in my life. It tasted like a really good New England clam chowder, with just the perfect amount of green chili to give just that extra special taste to it. If you like creamy soups, and you like green chili, I would highly recommend the green chili soup to you. If you also feel like winding down with a drink, Kelly’s has a great selection to offer you as well. They have a long list of beers that are brewed there at the restaurant for the freshest quality possible. They have a beer for every taste preference; from the darkest a beer can come, to the lightest. The meals at Kelly’s are not outrageously priced. They vary from $6-12, depending on what you get. The soup and salad combo I got came out to $8. This is not highly expensive; especially considering it is only a couple more dollars than fast food restaurants, while the food and atmosphere are highly superior. Kelly’s is a restaurant I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a place to eat that is close to campus, fairly inexpensive, good atmosphere, and lastly good food.

Author: Rebecca Lamborn

I Think I Love My Wife

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Chris Rock

Release Date: March 16, 2007

Genre: Comedy

REVIEW:

In the movie “I Think I Love My Wife” Chris Rock, actor and director of the movie, plays an investment banker named Richard Cooper, who finds that his life and marriage are far to boring to keep him interested. Although he loves his wife, has two small children, a house in the suburbs, and a career at a large Manhattan firm, Richard finds that his life feels no different then that of the average business man and feels trapped in a life that is too bland.

He reaches a point at which the daily routines and common encounters have made him complacent. One issue that causes possibility of major trouble is temptation of other women, including the ex-girlfriend of an old friend. “I Think I Love My Wife” is an insightful and funny movie about the problems that many couples run into with modern marriage. This movie is a comedic approach to the predicament of temptation that many run across in a day. Chris Rock shows well how difficult it is to be faithful when you feel lost in your home life and that fulfilling your fantasies feels like all you want but can’t have.

Author: Anne Carpenter

An Intuitive Restaurateur and even more Intuitive Sci-Fi Thriller

Fei’s Café

Rating: 4 out of 5

Location: 2114 E Central, Albuquerque New Mexico 87104

Phone: 505-243-3390

Review:

For all of the hungry people close to the UNM campus, I have
to recommend Fei’s Café. Fei, above all else, is the
most intuitive individual I have met. You only have to
order your favorite dish once, and then the next time
you walk in she will already know what you want. One
time my friend was sick and the only thing she wanted
was some curry stew from Fei’s. Her boyfriend called
in the order and went himself to pick it up for her.
The next time she went in, Fei knew exactly what she
wanted and asked her how she felt. Neither my friend
nor her boyfriend had let on for who the curry stew
was!

Fei is always upbeat and excited to feed whoever is in
her shop and her food is always fresh and nutritious.
Her children help her run her business while her
husband works quietly making orders in the kitchen. My
favorite item off of her menu is a mango smoothie, yet
her pearl milk tea with tapioca balls is a close
second. I also have to recommend the veggie nuggets.
The restaurant only serves vegetarian food, yet I know
many meat eaters who walk out after a meal feeling
full. If you have a little time for lunch, Fei’s is a
good bet. However, if time is an issue or the duck
pond is calling, join the quickly growing number of
hungry people who keep Fei’s phone number on speed
dial.

Review Author: Robin Abeles

Children of Men

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Release Date: January 5, 2007

Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi/Adventure/Thriller

Review:

Alfonso Cuarón’s latest film titled Children of Men is a sci-fi thriller set in the year 2027, a chaotic world where women can no longer bear children, many civilizations have collapsed, and terrorism and inner turmoil threatens to destroy what is left of the human race. When a young woman is found to be pregnant, a guerilla group led by Julian (Julianne Moore) asks Theo (Clive Owen) to transport the woman out of England and into safety.

The film addresses many anxieties felt after 9/11, the London metro bombings, and all other terror attacks, as governments set up Homeland Security Acts and an internal distrust mounts. Foreign citizens and illegal immigrants are isolated and placed into prison camps as they are blamed for much of the violence and a cultural cleansing is used to hopefully repair the destroyed country. An interesting motif found throughout the film is that of the image of eyes on billboards, signs, graffiti, everywhere, representing the constant watch of governments as no one is trusted. Modern societies fear this “Big Brother” surveillance, as people cannot speak freely with the risk of being pegged as a terrorist, and this anxiety is wonderfully portrayed in this film.

While audiences overlook most sci-fi thrillers, this film has stood out as it speaks of current fears felt by many societies, and the direction, cinematography, marks it as one of the most beautiful and progressive films made in the past few years. The film received three Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Achievement in Editing, and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, as overwhelming support and interest in the film caused it to be one of the most well received films of the year.

Review Author: Carey Billings

Albuquerque Elegance and the American Dream

The Elephant Bar

Rating: 4 out of 5

Location/Phone: 2240 Louisiana Blvd. NE (505) 884-2355
Hours of Operation: Sun-Thr 11:00am–10:00pm, Fri-Sat 11:00am-11:00pm

Review:

Here at UNM students really get used to the college lifestyle. We enjoy late nights, serious procrastination, cheap food, and more than anything cheap pints. As we progress though maybe it is time to explore ways outside of cheapness. I understand that money is always an issue among people our age, however sometimes it is necessary to spend that money, or perhaps have it spent on you.

There is a plethora of good places to eat for a cheap buck, but what else is out there? How about when your parents come to town and want to take you out…will really want to recommend the same pizza joint across
the street that you ate at four times this week already? Or how would like to impress that new significant other that you met in your English class last week? Do you really think he/she wants another burrito from the two dollar burrito stand? Sometimes class is necessary. So where is the best place to go?

While Albuquerque has a number of fine dining and ethnic restaurants to choose from I find that the Elephant Bar gives the perfect impression.

The Elephant Bar is on Louisiana just past Indian School. It is mere hop onto the freeway from UNM, and in a few minutes you will find yourself in the beautiful new Albuquerque Uptown. If you find yourself waiting for a table at the Elephant Bar you have a number of different ways to spend your time. Enjoy an exotic drink at the bar while you wait, sit out in the patio and watch the shoppers go by in the crisp Albuquerque spring time weather, or perhaps you might even explore the new shops in the complex yourself.

Once you find your way to a table just sit back and enjoy the safari like décor, and some of the best trained servers in Albuquerque. You might find yourself full after the incredibly tasty appetizers, a number of which you’ll have to choose from, but don’t stop yet, the meals and the desserts are even better.

So when you are looking for more than just the local pizzeria, or have a certain someone you want to impress, come check out the new Elephant Bar, it’s great food, class, and an intriguing atmosphere. It beats the
serve yourself joints we college students tend to flock to, without that High Finance price.

Good luck fellow diners!

Review Author: Lauren Klose

The Pursuit of Happyness

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Director: Gabriele Muccino

Release Date: March 27 (DVD)

Genre: Biography/Drama

Review:

Based on true events, The Pursuit of Happyness follows Chris Gardner (Will Smith) as he struggles to achieve the American dream.

Chris has everything going against him. His wife (Thandie Newton) left him and he's raising his 5-year-old son alone, without much if any income. Driven by being able to provide for his son Christopher (Jaden Smith) no matter what, Chris enters an unpaid internship program at a brokerage firm in hopes of landing the one paid position available at the end of the training program.

Sleeping in bathrooms, homeless shelters, and shabby hotels when he's got the money to afford a room, Chris never gives up on the idea he can land a job and provide his son with a better life.

This all in all was an extremely moving film that could very well have you in tears all throughout. Will Smith did an awesome job in the movie, as evidenced by his nomination for an Academy Award, but his son Jaden may have stolen the show.

If you’re looking for a movie to enjoy, be sure to check out the Pursuit of Happyness when it hits the shelves on March 27^th. Fair warning, if you think your life is tough before this movie – you might rethink a few things after this movie is over.

Review Author: Brent Booher

A Classic Albuquerque Pizza Joint, and an Oscar Winning Performance

Saggio’s

Rating: 4 out of 5

Location: 107 Cornell SE, 87106

Hours of Operation: Mon-Thr 11:00am-10:00pm, Fri-Sat 11:00am-11:00pm

Review:

If you're hearing your stomach grumble and you're around UNM, you owe it to yourself to go check out Saggio's. They offer some of the best Italian food in the city, most notably their pizza. If pizza isn't something that gets the palette watery, then Saggio's has you covered with a variety of salads, pastas, and sandwiches. Saggio's also offers a variety of beers that you can enjoy with your pizza, as well as a slew of big screen TV's that show a variety of sports at any given time. The atmosphere at Saggio's is also something special. There is a large fountain inside the restaurant that goes well with the Italian themed decor, as well as a giant mural painted on the north side of the restaurant.

Overall, if you've never been to Saggio's you need to consider going there for a bite to eat. And if you have been to Saggio's, I'm sure you're being enticed to go back sometime very, very soon.

Review Author: Brent Booher

The Last King of Scotland

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Director: Kevin MacDonald

Release Date: 12 January 2007 (UK)

Genre: Drama/History

Review:

'The Last King of Scotland' is a portrait of Idi Amin's regime in Uganda as seen from the eyes of his personal physician. Forest Whitaker's performance as the charismatic and terrifying Amin was extremely well done, and earned him an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. The film follows a Scottish physician who becomes entangled a coup to overthrown the established Ugandan government, and eventually find himself as one of the closest advisors to the new dictator. Both thrilling and poignant, this film explores the effects of one man’s dynamic leadership abilities and conflicting madness as his power grows. Though, quite violent, “The Last King of Scotland” is highly recommended to all.

Review Author: Will McMullen