Eire

Saint Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays that began as a holy feast day and has turned into an excuse for anyone and everyone to drink beer until unconscious.  That’s how Americans observe it, anyway; I’m told that much of Ireland still celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day the way it was intended.  Americans have really latched onto this holiday.  I mean, for crying out loud, Chicago does this:

Anyway, if nothing else, this holiday is a great excuse to celebrate the wonderful culture of beautiful Ireland.  Here in the Fort, we are fortunate to have an amazing Irish pub, which throws a block party each year on St. Patrick’s Day.  I love JK O’Donnell’s because they serve traditional Irish pub fare and have traditional Irish ales on tap.  Soccer games are shown on TV screens.  All the furniture inside was shipped over from Ireland.  Even the bartender is from Dublin. The atmosphere is amazing.

If you prefer to stay home, might I recommend a viewing of Waking Ned Devine, my personal favorite film about Ireland.  It is charming and amusing, incorporating Irish culture with beautiful scenery, Celtic music, and the small towns and villages one often associates with much of the country.

If music is more your thing, check out the High Kings – they are awesome.  Some others I enjoy are Lisa Hannigan, Enya, and Moya Brennan.  There’s also the overplayed U2, though their sound is rather un-Irish, and the popular Damien Rice.

Oh, and don’t forget Riverdance!  May the road ever rise to meet you…

Love-ly Films

Today celebrates the sappiest holiday of the year in which advertising and society make all those who are not in relationships feel bad about being single.  It’s also the day in which florists, candy and card companies make a ridiculous fortune on all of those people who choose one day a year to express their love to another person.  I am choosing to share my favorite films about love and relationships.  I’m not much of one for “chick flicks” per say, especially those produced in the past decade, but these are films which I always enjoy when I need a pick-me-up, my “Top Ten Films About Love”, if you will.  In no particular order:

1.  Return to Me – a sweet story with an amazing supporting cast.

2.  You’ve Got Mail – a modern twist on Shop Around the Corner, this film includes the wonderful Tom Hanks, another great cast, and dialogue that my friends and family continue to quote.

3.  Chocolat – Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche, a quaint town in France, and chocolate.  This film about love, relationships, and acceptance is beautiful in every way and I watch it over and over.

4.  Love Actually – Great Britain claims many amazing actors and actresses, and almost all of them come together in this fantastic movie to tell the stories of the different forms love can take.

5.  The Princess Bride – a classic romance story and another film filled with oft-quoted dialogue.

6.  Philadelphia Story – Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Kathrine Hepburn.  Do I need to say anything else?  I’m also a huge fan of the “updated version”, High Society, with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and the stunning Grace Kelly, but Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart in the same film doesn’t get much better.

7.  Life Is Beautiful – an Italian film by Roberto Benigni, and one of my favorite movies of all time.  It’s a story of the deep love between a husband and wife, between parents and children, and of the great sacrifices we sometimes have to make for those we love.  It’s gorgeous, and did I mention it’s Italian?

8.  Amelie – in my humble opinion, this is the best film to come out of France in a long time.  Audrey Tautou is delightful in the title role of a girl who expresses love to others in delightful ways and the cinematography is both beautiful and whimsical.

9.  Sense and Sensibility & Pride and Prejudice – These two tie:  I love Jane Austen’s work.  Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson shine in Sense & Sensibility, and though I love the updated Pride and Prejudice with its lovely cinematography and Keira Knightley in a perfect role, Colin Firth will always be Mr. Darcy.

10.  My Big Fat Greek Wedding – if, like me, you are a part of a large, ethnic family, this is a movie that you will relate to in many ways and will both provide laughter and invoke memories.