This week’s listmaker. Molly Geipel, star intern for Punchnel’s and Well Done Marketing, who returned recently to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. We tried to get her to come over to the Dark Side, but she insisted on going back to school. We miss her already. Read her book reviews at her blog.
1. Foodgawker. I’ve got two words for you: Food. Porn. This website compiles thousands of pictures from food blogs all over the Internet and displays them in a gawker-friendly, never-ending grid of divine delicacies. Maybe you’re here to find the perfect brownie recipe. Maybe you’re here to take the edge off your cravings with some visual stimuli. Either way, the search feature is your new best friend, allowing you customize your gawking experience. The best part? Calories don’t count if you only consume them with your eyes. But I can’t be held responsible for any real life binging that might occur if you click on the photos and get your hands on the decadent recipes at the other end. Warning: Do not gawk in public; spontaneous drooling may occur.
2. Sherlock. To tell the truth, I’m not much of a TV person. At least not of the sit-down-and-channel-surf-when-you’re-bored variety. But if all television was like Sherlock, I’d be perfectly content to eschew society and never leave the couch. Sherlock is yet another adaptation of the classic series to the screen, but this time done with a modern twist and, in my opinion, done right. In three 90-minute episodes, the first season is everything good TV should be: fast-paced, clever, brilliantly cast, detailed and well developed, and edge-of-your-seat thrilling. Forget Robert Downey Jr.; I truly believe Benedict Cumerbatch is Sherlock Holmes made flesh (and are you really going to argue with a name like that?). I guarantee you’ve never seen the iconic super sleuth like this before.
3. Door County. I’ve spent a week in Door County, Wisconsin every year of my life, and I
might be a little biased, but I think it’s one of America’s most underappreciated vacation spots. It gets more visitor traffic in the summertime when the weather allows for hiking and biking, water sports, and even beach time, but I’m partial to Door County in the fall. Besides being the time of year I’ve traditionally gone, the cooler weather means less crowds (and shorter wait times at my favorite Swedish pancake restaurant with goats on the roof, Al Johnson’s) and beautiful scenery made stunning by the foliage’s seasonal color changes. As long as you pack a warm coat and something neon orange to wear (fall is hunting season, after all), you can still hike on the countless forested paths around the peninsula well into November. And for the less outdoorsy types, there’s plenty of boutique shopping, wineries and restaurants, and local goings-on in the county’s many quaint towns to keep you sated, buzzed, and entertained all week long.
4. Community channel. Community channel is the YouTube account of one Natalie Tran, 20-something Australian and quirky comedic genius. Inspired by the seemingly endless supply of brief but uncomfortable moments that conspire to make life such an awkward experience for everyone involved, community channel’s videos take note of these situations and act them out with Natalie playing every role herself. From unnecessary intimacy to minimizing browser windows when someone walks into the room to the weird behaviors you adopt when you travel to watching romantic scenes in movies, her videos let you relive those special moments of awkwardness we share with our fellow human beings on a daily basis, except this time you get to laugh instead of cringe.
5. Peanut butter and raisins. Ants gone wild! Get a little crazy and take away their log. It’s better that way. Really. It also makes a tasty and healthy snack. And has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I hate/loathe/despise celery. But seriously. Live a little. It’s worth it.
I can testify to Door County. First honeymoon was there…and while the current bride (No. 2 and only 2 allowed) of some 30 years now was at both of my weddings, she had a starring role in the second. Second honeymoon was in San Antonion–due to both of us being poor. It lasted though. I’d like to go back to Door County in the fall, enough time has gone by–it’s one of the prettiest places in the world.
I am for all peanut-butter-inclusive snacks, but especially peanut butter and pickle.
Benedict Cumberbatch is the funnest to say of all names, ever.
I started watching Sherlock, but stalled. Gotta go back to it, though. I’ve heard nothing but great things.
Also: I have this thing about peanut butter. I can eat it on a chip or a cracker or celery, but not by itself. My Beautiful Wife makes peanut butter smoothies. Peanut butter is not a drink.
am fully intrigued by door country, especially the swedish pancake place. but peanut butter is meant for getting melty on toast, full stop.