Dinner and a movie and...

Okay, what's better than dinner and a movie?

Dinner and a movie WITH a cosmopolitan (or two) thank you very much.



And I do not mean dinner with cosmo (I had vino with my dinner). I mean a cosmo sitting beside me in the drink holder attached to my theater seat.

No, my living room does not come equipped with theater seats (although that is a splendid idea). And no, I did not smuggle a vodka-filled flask into the theater to enhance my cinematic experience. Actually this Saturday last, my girlfriend Bea and I, being free of our men-folk, decided to have a girl's night out, which meant dinner at Fabiolus and the 21 and over viewing of Blades of Glory at the ArcLight in Hollywood.

Now, how cool is that?

First, a little background. You see, this City of Angels be a vast metropolis where those of us who live more than a few miles apart must come together in the middle to par-tay. So, Bea drove westerly and I drove easterly until we hit midpoint, Hollywoodus Maximus, where there is normally great Italian food to be had a mere city block from the theater which hosts grown-ups only seating for a few of their weekend showings.

First stop, Fabiolus Cafe! Bea and I stepped through the front entrance to the restaurant at 5:45 pm only to be greeted by restaurant-goers to the rafters (yes, at 5:45!?!?). Soon, the brainiacs that we are led us to determine that there must be a 7:00-ish show of Wicked at the Pantages before which stomachs must be stuffed as is the way of theater-going peeps. Fortunately though, we were granted passage to a table residing on the back patio and settled into a meal that was slightly inconsistent accompanied by a server who seemed severely harried by the crowded midst.

Despite the din, I allotted to begin my Fabiolus feast with a glass of 2003 Mirassou Pinot Noir, a nice elixir sporting a few legs from the Central Coast. Bea, feeling the Italian vibe, indulged in a glass of Chianti. Vino in hands, we then began the unfamiliar-for-Fabiolus-wait-to-place-our-order foisted upon us by our scattered server. Eventually however, he made his way to our table, sweaty and stressed, to accept our dinner selections: gnocchi for Bea and eggplant parmigiana para mia. I didn't ask my girlfriend about her meal, but my entree was as unsurprising in it's range of flavors as it was frigid in the center. Very disappointing and as I've said before, not the norm for this little bistro.

Dinner complete, I wasn't about to let a little breaded yet chilly aubergine turn my festive mood downward for I was off to the cinema-with-snackBAR where cosmopolitan infused laughter was sure to be had. Yep, nothing like vodka and Will Ferrell to invoke the jovial spirits.

So, Blades of Glory??? It was great fun!

No, my terse review is not solely due to imbibing a cosmic duo.

Really, it was an entertaining flick; quintessential Will Ferrell. If you like Mr. Ferrell's brand of comedy, you're sure to enjoy this movie. And Jon Heder? His coif alone was enough to keep me giggling throughout the film.

If you're not knee deep in ham and bunnies this weekend go get dinner and a movie (oh and a cosmo too)!

Happy Friday everybody! Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!