Thursday, October 31, 2013

thirsty thursday: corona beer cocktail

I absolutely love beer cocktails. I'm always excited when they're an option at a restaurant and I was really excited that corona had samples of beer cocktails at the Delicious Food Show. They were advertising their special edition cans for the day of the dead. 



This drink was corona, which is as most people know, is a light and refreshing beer. They mixed it with blackcurrant and lime juice and soda. They were adding cilantro as well, but as much as I love a beer cocktail, I hate cilantro so I held that from my drink. It would have added some more colour but I could do that with a lime wedge. If you're a cilantro fan, you could see how that goes. This was a fun and delicious drink. I'd definitely recommend mixing up some of your own. Do you have a beer cocktail recipe I should try? Let me know in the comments. 

Also, Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

five must-haves in your clutch at a wedding

I went a wedding on Friday last week. There's always a lot of prep for going to a wedding, making sure you don't forget anything. So, I thought I'd share my must-haves for your night out. 

1. Gum
This one may seem obvious but gum or mints is definitely a must for your night out. It is so easy to forget. Likely you left it in your other purse. It's just so much easier if you remember to bring your own. Bonus: you help someone else out that forgot their gum, sharing is caring. 



2. Mini-Perfume
Dancing up a storm might leave you feeling a little less than fresh. Chances are you have a drawer full of mini-perfumes from gift with purchases, handouts or some where even more random (seriously, where did these all come from?). You have them now so this is the best time to use them up. Trust me, you'll thank me during the YMCA.



3. Toothpick/Floss
There will be a ton of pictures taken, some weddings even have their own hashtag (sounds ridiculous, but is actually a great idea). You don't want to be all dressed up for the wedding, with your nails done, hair done, everything did and have a huge piece of spinach in your teeth. Take the floss picks with you and your pictures will thank you later.


4. Oil-Absorbing Sheets
As mentioned, there will be a ton of pictures. Everyone will have their phones out, professional photographers will be snapping pictures and there may even be a few disposible cameras around, last thing you'd want is to have a shiny forehead (spinach would be the last thing but you already took care of that). Keeping a few of these on hand will mean you can remove the oil without ruining your make-up.



5. Pantyliners
This one may be unexpected, as these pantyliners are not for what you think they are. I put them in my shoes. It makes me last in my heels a little bit longer. I stick these in the bottom of my shoes, they help absorb sweat, stop you from slipping forward in shoes and provide a little bit of cushion. Now, of course, beware that you are putting something sticky in your shoes, so keep in mind this may not be the solution for your red soles. I use them in cheaper/older heels, and I put them in all the time, so the sticky doesn't bother me.


So, since we're twenty-somethings (or at least most of us are), many of us may be getting married. I've partnered with Mo Money, Mo Houses to include a giveaway in this post. We're giving away two gift certificates for Soulmates Dresses, a mother-of-the-bride online store. It may be for your mom, but she'll love you for it. This giveaway is for all my readers, anywhere in the world, you have until November 19th. Best of luck!





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Monday, October 28, 2013

October 28-31: what to do/see/eat/drink on a schoolnight

Do: It's Halloween this Thursday, which can be a little awkward but there is still festivities happening around the city. Church St will be closed in the The Village for a giant Halloween party. The party begins at 6:30pm and covers three blocks. There will be costumes and parties until 2am. It's the largest outdoor event for Halloween in the city and proves that Halloween isn't just for kids!

See: If my Just for Laughs post inspired you to go out and see more comedy shows, you're in luck. Buytopia has a deal with Absolute Comedy for two tickets for $12. They have a number local comedians coming up, including one of my favourties, K. Trevor Wilson. So, if you're not into the Halloween scene, this could be a great alternative.  

Drink: While you're in The Village, you can go to the Churchmouse & Firkin. Their staff will be dressed up in themed costumes and they have a burger and Rickard's special, where you can get both for $17. Should be perfect to keep you partying all night long. 

Eat: Need to eat before hitting the town for Halloween, be sure to stop by Chipotle for Boorito where $3 can get you a burrito, bowl, salad or tacos. Simply go in between 4pm-close in a costume and you'll get a great deal on your dinner. Best part, all the proceeds will go to the Planet in Focus Film Festival and Educational Programs. Discount delicious food, while helping out a good cause? Can't beat it. 


Saturday, October 26, 2013

planet in focus: canada's largest environmental film festival

I'm really excited to be an ambassador for Planet in Focus. Over the next few weeks I will have a few giveaways related to film festival!




Planet in Focus is an annual environmental film festival, now in its 14th year. The festival takes place at two venues this year, it will be split between the TIFF Lightbox and the AGO. The festival runs from November 21-24th. The goal of Planet in Focus is to raise awareness about the environment through film. The festival showcases movies from Canada and the world with a focus on the planet. The organization has over 3,000 films and videos in their archives. Planet in Focus is run by an all-volunteer Board of Directors; Dr. David Suzuki and Vandana Shiva are both Honorary Patrons.

The Opening Night film will be "The Arctic Defenders". Directed by John Walker, this 2012 film investigates how the Inuit become the Arctic Defenders of Canada. The story begins in 1968 and follows the development and creation of the territory Nunavut. Thanks to Planet in Focus, I'll be giving away two tickets to Opening Night at the TIFF Lightbox. Contest runs from tonight until 11:59pm on Saturday, November 1st. Winner will be announced on Sunday, November 3rd. Good luck everyone!

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You can check out the entire film and discussion schedule here. You can purchase tickets and passes here. $2 from every ticket with be used to plant a tree in the PIF Forest through The Carbon Farmer program. Be sure to check back on the blog next weekend for the next giveaway. 

Friday, October 25, 2013

October 25-27: what to do/see/eat/drink this weekend

Do: The Urban Capers Scavenger Hunts is running a Haunted Toronto Scavenger Hunt. tonight beginning at 7pm. The event covers the area around Yorkville and the University of Toronto. It's $30 plus taxes and fees and you can have a team up to six people. They claim it can get a bit scary, you can be the judge! 

See: Do you loved to be scared? I don't get it but some people seem to love it particularly this time of year. The Campbell House Museum is hosting an interactive theatrical experience called "You Can Sleep When You're Dead". This 'show' is a haunted tour of the historical house, which follows different stories on each floor of the house. If you're looking to be frightened, this definitely looks like the show for you. The show is put on by The Theatre Lab, an artist-driven theatre company, dedicated to trying out experimental theatre, Canadian plays and their own works. The shows run twice a night, 7pm and 9pm for one week beginning on the 24th. You can get tickets here

Eat: The Delicious Food Show is this weekend and tickets are still available. Beginning today, you can see a variety of Food Network stars and other chefs demo at the Celebrity Kitchen. There will be a number of vendors there including a food truck show in support of the Mount Sinai Hospital. Allen Tan of Me.N.U who was profiled on the blog a few weeks ago will also be there, I look forward to eating delicious rice balls. This is a licensed event and you can pre-purchase your drink tickets when you purchase your ticket online. 

Drink: If you're looking for something to do tonight and want to support a great cause, you should definitely check out OktoberFEAST. It is an festival with local Ontario brewers and food trucks. This is a 19+ event at Evergreen Brickworks. It is support of the Canadian Cancer Society, tickets can be purchased online for $20 or at the door for $25. Drinks at the event will be $6/each or 4 for $20 for a 14oz pour. 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

thirsty thursday: non-alcoholic

I know, I know - its not the point of thirsty thursday but bare with me. This is cranberry grapefruit spritzer. It was one of the feature drinks at hope and the city. Although it wasn't alcoholic, I figured it could work because you could easily add vodka and have a delicious drink. Or, could be a great drink for your desginated drivers at your next party. Enjoy!

Monday, October 21, 2013

October 21-25: what to do/see/eat/drink on a school night

Do: Mentioned in an earlier blog post, it's worth repeating that it's coming up. This event takes place a little North of the city but it is great anyways. Hope and the City Markham is an event in support of the Canadian Cancer Society that is dedicated to women's cancers. There will be a fashion show, prizes, raffles, pampering stations (at an additional cost), goodie bags and firefighters (which is really reason enough to go). The event takes place at Angus Glen Golf Course on Kennedy Road. So if you're looking for a night out with the ladies for a good cause, this is a great option! 

See: If your humour is a little on the dark side, "The House of Yes" may be for you. The play is a dark comedy about love, sex and family. It takes place at the Red Sandcastle Theatre and only runs from October 23-27th. Tickets are $15 cash at the door, it's a great way to support local arts. 

Eat: Once you check out the drink session, you know you'll already be at WVRT on a Monday night, so you might as well enjoy a sausage. They have a bunch of different kinds, including vegetarian options. They also have amazing sounding french fries plus dipping sauces, I hate ketchup so I love a good dipping sauce. 

Drink: Who doesn't love a $5 pint? I know I sure do! WVRT has you covered on Monday nights. They serve Ontario Craft beer in $5 pints after 5pm. I heard a saying "the day always starts better when you know it will finish with beer" and I think that's especially true on a Monday.

Friday, October 18, 2013

October 18-20: what to do/see/eat/drink this weekend

Best part of the short week is, it's already the weekend again! Hope you all had a great weekend. Here's some ideas for you in case you haven't made plans yet!

Do: Looking for something to do with the little ones in your life? This Sunday, Nestle is hosting the first ever Canada Craveyard Halloween Party. Taking place on Sterling Rd, off of Dundas, it is sure to be a fun day with entertainment, a haunted house, a maze, a costume contest and of course candy. The event is from 12-4pm, and you can register here

See: Hosted by Cheri Di Novo, MPP and Peggy Nash, MP, check out a free screening of Chasing Ice. Taking place this Sunday afternoon at 4pm, it is the perfect way to wrap up your weekend. The film is about an environmental photographer who is on a mission to show the effects of climate change in the Arctic. The event takes place at the Revue Cinema on Roncesvalles and tickets are available through EventBrite.

Drink: The ROM's Friday Night Live is back. Tickets are $12 and tickets are available to the special exhibits, if you're a member, you're in for free but you should register. There will be food, drinks and djs. Friday Night Live runs every Friday from October 18th-December 6th, so if you can't make it this week, be sure to get your tickets for another Friday. 

Eat: I love breakfast, any time of day. The White Brick Kitchen at Bloor and Euclid offers a great brunch on Sundays, from 11am-4pm. I tried this place a few months ago and really liked it. It gets pretty busy and doesn't take reservations on Sunday but it is worth the wait. They have a mix of savoury and sweet items, and judging by what's available on the menu now, they like to change it up. If you're looking for a great little brunch place in the west end, I'd recommend trying this place out. And yes, they're licensed so you can get a little "hair of the dog".

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

hope and the city: fundraiser for the canadian cancer society

Hope and the City is only one week away!

This annual event is a fundraiser completely dedicated to women's cancer research - which includes breast, cervical, ovarian and uterine. This girl's night out is a great way to have a fun and fabulous night with your girlfriends while supporting a great cause. 

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online or at the door. With your ticket, you receive a complimentary Hope and the City beverage, a goody bag worth over $150, food samplings, live entertainment and a ticket for door prize worth over $500. This year's grand door prize is the use of a BMW Cabriolet for an entire weekend, thanks to Town and Country BMW. 

There will also be the famous $20 envelope and Digging for Diamonds ($10), both of which have guaranteed prizes. Along with those, there will be a live auction and an arms length draw, where you get to pick which prize your ticket goes in for. As well as a number of local vendors selling at the event. There is definitely something for everyone.

There will also be a number of pampering stations, tickets for the stations are $10 each or 3/$25 - there is over twenty types of pampering options, including eyebrow threading, henna, reflexology and massage.  And once you're relaxed, you'll have the opportunity to get your photo taken in the photo booth (price by donation). 

And last, but certainly not least - there's firefighters. Firefighters who are there to ensure the ladies have a great time (I'm sure they don't oppose a picture or two). If all the above awesome reasons were not reason enough for you to attend the event, the firefighters should be enough. 

I'll see you there!

thirsty thursday: pumphouse blueberry ale

Can't believe it is already Thursday! Love the short week.

This week's beverage of choice is the pumphouse blueberry ale. I originally tried this beer when a friend of mine brought it back from from New Brunswick, which is of course the blueberry capital of the world. For those that know me, they know I'm a sucker for blueberry flavoured drinks, its just so delicious and often not too sweet. That's the same with this beer. 

Sadly this week, I forgot to take my own picture


It's a light blonde base which I really enjoy. The fruit is not as overpowering as it is in some other fruit beers I've tried. Although this beer is a little on the sweet side, it is still refreshing. I would recommend it if you're a fan of blonde beers and want something a little different. I was pretty excited when I was able to find tall boys of this beer at the LCBO. I love that they come in singles like this because I often don't want to commit one beer in an evening and at $2.75/can and 5%, I'd consider it a good value. Are there any fruity beers you enjoy? Let me know in the comments, I'm always open to suggestions!

Cheers!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

estee lauder: special promotion this weekend

It's fall, which means (sadly), it will soon be winter. On the bright side, this is a time for us to revamp our look with new fall/winter colours as well as update our skin care collection for the colder weather. Not that we really need an excuse to buy new makeup, but I'll take it!

Starting tomorrow until Saturday, October 19th the Estee Lauder counter at Hudson's Bay Fairview Mall is hosting an exclusive event to help you get ready for the upcoming season. Estee Lauder just released their new, award winning scent Modern Muse which has a light and feminine scent. Their metallic collections are perfect for the upcoming season and their holiday collection is available, so it is perfect to get started on your Christmas shopping. At this annual event, with a minimum of purchase of $80, you'll receive a 45-minute consultation with one of their make-up artist as well as a free gift. A professional photographer will be on-site for the entire event taking professional pictures of your new look. You'll be able to take home a framed copy of the picture as well as link to your social media. This is perfect if you need a new LinkedIn profile, because you're selfies do not scream professional. You'll just be disappointed you can't use it as your driver's license or passport photo. 

Spots are filling up, so give the ladies at the counter a call 416-491-2010 ext 1-244 and book your appointment today. 

October 15-17: what to do/see/eat/drink on a school night

It's a short week! Still lots of chances to get out there and have fun in the city!

Do: It's breast cancer awareness month so go get a maniCURE from The Ten Spot. If you chose pink for your manicure or gel manicure, $1 goes to the Canadian Cancer Society. So treat yourself and support a great cause, its a win-win.

See: If you want to get into a spooky mood as we get into the middle of the month, you can check out "Night of the Living Dead" live at the Passe Muralle Theatre. The theatre is located near Bathurst and Queen and tickets through the week are under $35. The show is set in black and white and promises to be a fun night at the theatre. 

Eat: Once you finish the "drink" section, you'll know you'll be trying out the Loose Moose and I would recommend the garlic fries. They are gigantic though, so keep that in mind. I had it as a meal and still couldn't finish it. It's garlicky, cheesy and delicious. Goes great with a few flavours of beer. 

Drink: The Loose Moose boasts that they have the largest selection of draught beer in downtown Toronto. What I like the most about this place is that they offer sample sizes that vary in price, depending on the brand but most are around $3. It's great when you just want to try a new beer but not commit to a full pint. Worth checking out on Front St. near Union Station. 

Friday, October 11, 2013

October 11-14: what to do/see/eat/drink this weekend

It is the weekend! A long weekend at that. Here's some ideas for you.

Do: There's nothing more appropriate for Thanksgiving than watching pumpkins get shot out of a cannon! Well, that is possible thanks to Whittamore Farms which is open all Thanksgiving weekend including on Monday. The pumpkin cannon takes happens at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. There are other fun activities associated with their Pumpkinland festivities but I'd have to say the cannon is the best. 

See: If you're a lover of the theatre, I would definitely recommend checking out free tour of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre. The tours start at 11am on Saturday, meet in the lobby. This is a great opportunity to see a piece of Toronto hisotry, as the theatre celebrates its 100th anniversary. 


Eat: Do you want to eat turkey but don't want the hassle of cooking all day? Oliver & Bonacini on Front St is serving Thanksgiving dinner including turkey and other deliciousness. Perfect for a relaxing long weekend.

Drink: Looking to have some drinks in a fun setting this Monday? The Brewers Backyard is hosting its final event of the season. Admission is free and it is happening at the Evergreen Brick Works. Check them out from 12-4pm and sample great beers from Ontario. 

Thursday, October 10, 2013

thirsy thursday: amsterdam blonde

If you've read some of my other beverage related posts in the past, you'll know that I'm a fan of the local amsterdam brewery but mentioning them before is no reason to leave them it of thirsty thursday.
Need locally in leaside, amsterdam brewery boats free tours and samples on Saturdays. The blonde is my favourite beer and has been for the past few months. This is a wonderful light but delicious beer. You can get it at the beer store, lcbo, at their brewery in leaside and at the amsterdam brewhouse by the lake. Its also nice that its local, I love a great excuse to buy beer.

Monday, October 7, 2013

October 7-10: what to do/see/drink/eat on a school night this week

Last week, I started the weekly feature of "what to do/see/try/drink/eat" on the weekend, but while I was researching it, I realized there's so much going on during the week that twenty-somethings need to know about, so this is the partner feature.

Do: If October has you in a spooky mood, the Tour Guys have the I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost! Tour, just for you. The walk takes you on a walk of a little over 2km telling ghost stories of haunted buildings as well as what ghost hunters have found. They claim that this tour is from everyone from believer to skeptic. It actually runs Thursday-Sunday until November 3rd but can count as a school night.The cost is $30 plus service fees.

See: Our Man in Tehran is playing at the TIFF lightbox. This is the story of Ken Taylor, the Canadian Ambassador in Iran during the hostage crisis which began in 1979. This is the Canadian side of "Argo", with a more realistic depiction of that Hollywood film. 


Drink: It's the last day of Toronto Cocktail Week so you can head down to the Drake Hotel  TWC13 Industry Thank You Party where you can taste the winning cocktails from the Hogtown Shakedown competition and apparently, there's some surprise entertainmment in store!

Eat: Kinton Ramen is a ramen noodle restaurant on Baldwin St, just off of Spadina, North of Dundas. They have a large selection of soups available and if you finish your dish, you become a KintonBowler. They have prizes for the number of Kinton Bowlers you accumulate, which range from free food to Kinton merchandise. Plus they have beer cocktails, I love beer cocktails. 


Sunday, October 6, 2013

following your dream: building a food truck from the ground up

If you're one of Allen Tan's almost 4,500 followers on Twitter, you know he is honest, has a great sense of humour and makes some delicious looking rice balls. He is the founder of Me.N.U and his engaging Twitter feed is fun and follows the journey of Allen building a food truck business, with no experience. His social media presence is great, so I had to find out more. 

What has been the best experience to date?
Allen: The best experience has been learning what it takes to start a food business. It's funny to say this because while in school I felt I was learning but it wasn't exciting because I wasn't "applying myself". At my previous jobs I didn't feel as though I was adding any value to the company. Now starting my own business - more energy in = more reward out.
Now I am learning everything it takes from the bottom up to start a food truck - marketing, menu development, operations, suppliers, execution, branding, sales, customer service. The more I learn and the more I apply I get to feel and see the reward. I have had the pleasure to learn from many food owners around the world what it takes to start a business. Now in the present, its one of the most exciting times to date. I can actively see myself getting closer to my vision of "success".

What has been the biggest challenge in developing your truck?
Allen: The biggest challenge have been developing the recipes and processes for the food business. Without that research and development there would be no product to sell. You have to make sure that there is Value added while charging a price that generates a reasonable profit. Learning all of recipies and suppliers and know how took several weeks of practice. It came with a lot of highs and lows, a lot of mistakes but in the end each day we were getting better. 
Currently, we have not priced out how much a food truck would cost - we are trying to develop our brand awareness before be take the next step. I believe that we should develop an audience and engage them before we make the big investment of owning a food truck. Why invest in a food truck and start from scratch when you can have an audience waiting for your food truck to launch?

Allen
Me.N.U founder - Allen Tan


What is something surprising you learned since you started your food truck journey?
Allen: I had the pleasure to job shadowed one food truck owner in Toronto name Fidel Gastro and I got to experience "A day in a life" with him. I didn't know how hard food truck owners worked and he definitely showed me how hard running a food business could be. We started work at 6 am and didn't end till 10 pm. We did prep, running around, set up, tear down, cleaning, catering, you name it we did it! It was a good look into my future, it definitely  showed me how hard I would have to work in the future and how many things I still needed to learn. Throughout the day he instilled good habits that I would forever keep in my mind.

Your twitter and tumblr are very honest about your lack of experience and some of your mistakes – do you think this has fueled your success?
Allen: I think I have tried to do something very different then other food truck owners. I have started with no experience and my goal is to show others how to take an idea and turn it into a business. I have documented all my success and failures to share with everyone. I want to be very transparent with my business to share my journey and experience with anyone who is willing to listen. 

I have read a lot of entrepreneur books and business books and they give you insight about things you need to know but the never really show you a step by step guide into how to do it. I am on a journey of SHOWING people how to start a food truck the RIGHT way. 

What advice would you give new grads who have the same feelings you did about a 9-5?
Allen: Read books about business, passion and entrepreneurship. These books will give you a new perspective on how to break away from the social norm. They will show you there is more to life then a steady pay cheque and always being comfortable. Someone quoted, the three worst things in life are heroin, carbohydrates and a monthly pay cheque. 

Turn off your TV and start investing time into something that will get you ahead in life. Self education is a huge part of my daily routine and once your studying for yourself and not for a piece of paper, you will see the world in a new light. 

What’s the next step for ME.N.U?
Allen: My business partner and I are heading back to South East Asia where I learnt how to cook, however this time we are going to try to do Global food pop ups in Asia. We hope to create a story that no one has ever heard or seen in Toronto. After we get back we hope to buy a food truck and start selling to the masses of Toronto! 

Can’t talk about your food without finding out, what’s been your favourite creation so far?
Allen: So far we have only sold one product, Fried Rice balls. There are a couple of recipes that are in research and development but I can't release my secrets that are going to come in the near future. 

Me.N.U Fried Rice Balls

I want to thank Allen for taking the time to speak with me so candidly. His enthusiasm is truly infectious. Be sure to follow him on Twitter to find out where you can get your next fried rice balls.

Friday, October 4, 2013

October 4-6: what to do/see/eat/drink this weekend

It's Friday! Here is some ideas for your well-deserved weekend.

Do: Nuit Blanche is happening this weekend. This free art festival will bring locals and tourists out all night long to check out more than a hundred art installations in the downtown area. You can also use the site to plan your evening so you are well prepared to enjoy the event. There is also twenty bars in the city with an extended liquor license until 4am. The weather is supposed to be decent so it should be a great event. 

See: BeerProv is a monthly improv show at the Comedy Bar near Bloor and Ossington. The show is only $15 and starts at 10:30pm. The show consists of 12 comedians competing in an improv championship, in hops to drink from the BeerProv cup. The show is run by Jim Robinson and should be good for some great laughs.

Drink: Bier Markt locations throughout the city again celebrating the month of October with their Oktoberfest. They have a special beer menu for the festival as well as a special food menu. Take this opportunity to enjoy an ice cold beer with a great menu.

Eat: Although Bier Markt has an extended menu, eating still deserves its own section. This Saturday at 3am, it will be important know who is serving food. There is a long list of food trucks that will be feeding hungry art-lovers throughout the event. Be sure if you're out there, check out the food options available.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

thirsty thursday: black creek pumpkin ale

Because it's almost the weekend.

I tried pumpkin ale many years ago and  it wasn't very good, so I was a little reluctant to try it again for my first thirsty thursday but I figured I had to because I feel uncool because I haven't consumed enough pumpkin product this season (I haven't had one pumpkin spice latte, ever).

This week's selection is from a local brewery, Black Creek, located at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

At first, this just tastes like a regular ale and then there's the pumpkin. It's almost like beer mixed with pumpkin pie filling. It's really just taught me that I'm not into the pumpkin spice craze. If you're one of those people that counts down until the pumpkin spice latte, I would assume that this is the beer for you. I will definitely try another one of their ales, also available at the LCBO but I'll leave the pumpkin for the pies.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

movie review: don jon

Two movies this week! Crazy. 

Last night was Don Jon, which I have to say I really enjoy. I like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, not really sure why, something I can put my finger on, maybe its just a childhood crush from his "Third Rock from the Sun" days. So when I first saw the strange but captivating trailer for this movie, I knew I had to see this movie. This is Joseph Gordon-Levitt's writing and directing premiere and according to his interview with Howard Stern, he has been working on the film since 2008.

The movie revolves around Jon, a macho man who is addicted to pornography. He even claims that he prefers porn to having sex with a girl. The character makes us reflect on how porn has created unrealistic expectations for sex and relationships. On the flip side, he meets a gorgeous woman (Scarlett Johansson) who creates unrealistic expectations of relationship and men through the love stories she watches. It is an interesting commentary on how people create expectations based on completely ridiculous premises. The film also looks at how our world has become so sexualized, mocking the Paris Hilton burger commercial. The movie was a bit repetitive but I think it was a way to build on his character, show that he was very one-dimensional and how he lived his life essentially on repeat. Most of the characters were over-stereotyped people from New Jersey, which could get to be annoying but I think it was meant to be a bit satirical (at least I hope it was). It was also pretty neat that he was able to get some big names for this small budget film.

I really enjoyed this film. I laughed out loud quite a bit but I also cared about the characters which is really important when I'm watching a film. If I don't care what happens to them, I don't want to waste my time watching it. I would recommend this movie if you're looking for an adult comedy with a little bit of substance but still some pretty ridiculous situations. What's your favourite low-budget film? Let me know in the comments. Happy watching!