After seeing Tropic Thunder, I felt a teensy bit of relief that the Summer blockbuster events of 2008 seemed to be over at long last. Not that I didn't have fun, but I'm a little maxed out on major hype, epic special effects, and huge box office totals. I'm ready to dig out my warm jackets and sweaters and settle down with some little Fall movie gems.
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One of the more interesting entertainment-related stories I came across this past week is a Salon "Beyond the Multiplex" column about a subject near and dear to my heart: independent film. In the story, writer Andrew O'Hehir looks at the signs that indie films — so hot just a few years ago — are undergoing a pretty serious slide at the box office. Among the evidence:
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If you've got some extra time today, I recommend taking a read through this New York Times Magazine story about Mad Men (it's also out in today's edition of the print magazine, if reading thousands of words online isn't your cup o' chai). It's a fascinating look at the show and its creator, Matthew Weiner. Among the best tidbits:
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Now that Summer reading season is upon us, I'm wondering how many of you read food books. I'm not talking about cookbooks, but the nonfiction, narrative works that, when done well, can read like novels.
I'm a big fan of The Omnivore's Dilemma, so I might check out Michael Pollan's latest, In Defense of Food.
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Can you believe that August is over already? We hope that you all enjoyed August's summer reading month features. We've had thirty-one options that range from vegetarian cooking, shopping list mockery, world history, children's cooking, vacations, fine dining and more. 
I have a large collection of colorful party planning books that I browse when I'm in need of inspiration. Cocktail Parties With A Twist by Alexandra and Elliot Angle is part of said collection. Written by the owners of top LA catering company, Aqua Vitae, the book features ideas for 14 parties complete with extensive cocktail coverage and deliciously paired recipes. 
It's no secret, I'm a pretty die-hard carnivore. I tried to go veg when I was 16, but my dad made bacon for breakfast a few days later and I just couldn't help myself. So naturally, when a book with the huge letters M-E-A-T arrived at the Sugar HQ, I knew I'd found my next "must read."
As much as I love reading a cookbook, I often enjoy reading novels about chefs, caterers, or culinary personas that have exciting adventures and delicious romances. Whenever I crave one of these culinary novels, I turn to Diane Mott Davidson, author of 14 foodie mysteries. In her latest novel, Sweet Revenge, her recurring heroine Goldy Schultz — a Nancy Drew meets Martha Stewart character — finds herself in the middle of yet another murder mystery. 
Many of you have written in and asked my opinion of Curtis Stone, aka The Take Home Chef. Truth be told, I don't know too much about him, other than he started at Melbourne's Savoy Hotel at the age of 18, and then later moved on to The Grill Room with Marco Pierre White (Godon Ramsay's mentor/nemesis). I also know that he's the author of a beautiful book called Cooking with Curtis: Easy, Everyday and Adventurous Recipes for the Home Cook. 
With the tremendous success of the foodie movie, Ratatouille, kids may be disappointed by a cookbook that dumbs down cooking with vegetable faces and cookie cutter shaped sandwiches.
However Alice Waters' children's cookbook is written from the point of view of her daughter Fanny. Fanny At Chez Panisse is the perfect tome for a child who has shown interest in the culinary world. 
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