“Waitress” -
Keri Russell, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, Nathan Fillion

Directed by Adrienne Shelly, who sadly was found murdered in her Manhatten office while she was wrapping up the final takes on this film. Sad, too, because a truly delightful filmmaker is gone. This is a fun, campy, yet edgy movie. Russell is a real treat as the star of this slice of life (or should I say slice of pie!) She is the pie making creator behind a pie diner, owned by Andy Griffith’s character Joe. He is a tough old guy, with a heart of gold that sees much more than she realizes. She is married to a real lout of a guy that considers her a possession and controls her every move. When she finds herself pregnant, she is none too pleased and promptly falls for the dishy new doctor in town. Enjoying a torrid affair during the pregnancy makes it all bearable. Her gal pals reminded me of Flo and Vera on that old sitcom “Alice” in Mel’s Diner. The names for the pies Russell’s Jenna crafts are as uniquely delicious as the pies themselves, you’ve gotta see this to savor it. As a designer, I loved the diner makeover at the end, complete with bubblegum pink bubbles!

The atmosphere is amusing with vibrant hues of cobalt blue and fushcia pink augmented by dried vines wrapping the ceiling with blue holiday lights! Service can be a bit slow, but the food is delicious. Appetizers are truly meal size, no tapas here. I enjoyed a crabcake, loaded with crab and a tangy aioli sauce. The beet salad sported gorgonzola and walnuts, always a winning combination. The piece de resistance was the lemon sponge cake dessert. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Worth every subsequent workout! The friend I was with enjoyed the stuffed tilapia, and the sautéed calamari (not my favorite as I tasted grill gas, ugh.) The wine list is limited and tends on the side of warm, otherwise an experience worth repeating. Parking, usually a challenge in Decatur, was nearby and very easy.

Café Lily
308 W Ponce De Leon Ave Ste B
Decatur, GA 30030-2435
404-371-9119

“Miss Potter” -
Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson

This was a splendid movie, despite being restricted to watching it on a thumbnail size screen flying from Hawaii to Atlanta. I’m so glad I saw this, it is heart warming, deeply motivating, and forever encouraging to writers worldwide, and those of us not yet married, but ever hopeful. Zellweger is a delight and complemented more so by Watson. Their friendship is truly to be treasured, and Zellweger imbues Potter with an indomitable spirit that nothing can sink, despite the continued lack of belief of her family and initially the publishing world, until she became the best selling author almost overnight. She always remained true to herself and her characters, honoring her desire to rescue the land and the save the animals that inhabit it. What a remarkable legacy and a story that inspires always.

This gift of a dining spot is from the former chef of Persian restaurant Persepolis, another favorite. The décor is divine, really making you feel like you’ve entered the romance of the Casbah. The food is plentiful and well flavored. From traditional favorites like Tahdeeg and Dolmeh (stuffed grape leaves) to a fantastic assortment of kabobs including chicken, beef, lamb, Cornish hen, shrimp and more. You won’t lack for variety or spice and will enjoy a trip overseas without ever leaving the city. Most entrees are served with saffron Basmati rice, my personal favorite, and veggies include eggplant, squash, tomatoes in a ratatouille format.

Rumi’s Kitchen
6152 Roswell Road
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
404-477-2100

“The Departed” -
Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen

Well, I have to confess I was uncertain about viewing this, yet another Mafioso picture, but it was actually well done. I was also surprised that I hated Matt Damon’s character so much and felt for DiCaprio’s–usually it’s the other way around. It was funny to see Nicholson as he has clearly had a lot of work done on his face that took off about 20 years since his last film. He is brilliant as always, and slippery and certainly slimy as ever too, but that is his charm. It was a tad confusing as I was never entirely sure who the good guys vs. the bad guys were, but guess that is the reality of it all. The only part that really offended was Wahlberg’s foul mouthed, in-your-face, tough guy cop character. I just couldn’t get past the language, it lost all significance after the first dozen four-letter words. I know they actually talk that way, but it sounds so stupid and crass and I tune it out. And I’ve never seen Wahlberg look so incredibly unattractive, wow, he wins the prize! Scorcese does it again; he is film magic. As a designer I found it astounding that no one figured out Damon’s deal considering his posh digs with view of the gold capital dome.

Newly opened, this feels a bit like a fast food take out but truly boasts an eclectic menu of fresh Mediterranean recipes, and European quality pastries. The portions are huge, having ordered a half salad that appeared larger than most full salads, and dinner portions enough for at least two meals! I enjoyed a roasted vegetable plate with eggplant, peppers, squash, tomatoes and mushrooms, and a friend had the stuffed tilapia, both very tasty. We indulged in chocolate roulage with berries for dessert the only disappointment was the whipped cream was coolwhip (I know shocking!) not the real deal. I’d return for lunch in a heartbeat, their grilled sandwich menu looked particularly appetizing.

Flavor Café
236 Johnson Ferry Road
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
404-255-7402