Movie Review of ‘Little Fockers’

Posted on 15. Jan, 2011 by .

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Back in 2000, Meet the Parents earned big bucks at the box office by pitting Ben Stiller’s patented tightly-wound schlub persona against Robert De Niro’s potentially homicidal tough-guy persona. See, the former persona wanted to propose to the daughter of the latter persona, and hence hilarity ensued. While Meet the Parentswas highly enjoyable, the 2004 sequel Meet the Fockers arguably improved upon the formula, as De Niro’s outlandish suspicions and sabotage at long last met their match in the face of Stiller’s freewheeling hippie parents. The next logical step in the series was to introduce children into the equation, and 2010’s Little Fockerscomplies with this logic (why not Meet the Little Fockers, though?). Despite the change in director (Paul Weitz replaced Jay Roach) and the mostly negative reviews, Little Fockers is far more entertaining and amusing than a second sequel has any right to be. When it comes to harmless family entertainment, you could do far worse than this.

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Complete Car Care

Complete Car Care

Posted on 19. Sep, 2010 by .

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First they did not attach the fuel line properly after replacing the fuel system. Then they did a 90,000 mile service and left the transmission fluid line loose so we lost all the transmission fluid. This cost as about $300+ which they refused to reimburse. We also had an accident on the interstate which left the gravel shield hanging off. They supposedly fixed this but I later found they had just wedged it in place with loose or no bolts – anther $32. They should be called Incomplete Car Care

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This post was submitted by Paul Denman.

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HeartBreakers: Open up…for Lunch!

HeartBreakers: Open up…for Lunch!

Posted on 09. Aug, 2010 by .

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When I first arrived at Heartbreakers I was greeted pleasantly by a hostess wearing scantly clad clothing. But this wasn’t just any restaurant. She smiled and asked me for three dollars.

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Art Shack Gallery

Art Shack Gallery

Posted on 06. Jul, 2010 by .

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By Joe Fotalatte
Since Paula Bowers stepped away from the Art Shack, what was once a Rosewood area gallery/coffee shop has completely reinvented itself as a full-fledged bohemian cafe… with cool art to boot. Their breakfast menu is a favorite among locals, particularly their inventive take on waffle dishes, so the ‘Shack was my first thought when the sun rose after a late night out.
As if sensing that one-drink-too-many pallor on my face, Art Shack owner and menu mastermind, Rich Oulette, slid me a large cup of coffee and suggested the breakfast burrito. I am a huge fan of the Sunrise Burrito at Cafe Strudel and I wasn’t expecting to be wowed with something as good. But, I was definitely wowed. The jalapeno ranch sauce kicked Rich’s burrito over the top. At that moment, the fresh eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, bacon and salsa cruda wrapped in that tortilla was the best art in the place.
But, the Art Shack will likely end up becoming known for it’s fresh waffles. They’re so good I had one for dessert. If you don’t order it as your main course, do yourself a favor and save room for the chunky peanut butter and banana “wafflewich.” I was too full to try a loaded wafflewich, but a City Paper staffer once threw down on one when Rich hosted a private cookfest after the Rosewood Crawfish Festival. From his recommendation, that’ll be the first thing I order on my next visit.
The coffee always seems to be what these little cafes do best.  The Art Shack uses Cashua Coffee –a South Carolina roastery—so, needless to say, it is freshest tasting coffee in town. This place should be booming from coffee alone, as it is now the closest locally owned coffee joint to Five Points.
My only major criticism of The Art Shack Gallery Cafe is that they are closed on Sundays, arguably the biggest breakfast day of the week.  That’s like having a strip club closed on Friday. Still, I am willing to go to a strip club on a Tuesday afternoon so you should check out Art Shack for breakfast any day Monday through Saturday. You’ll get one ass kickin’ meal.

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This post was submitted by Joe Fotalatte.

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Julia’s

Julia’s

Posted on 15. May, 2010 by .

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Julia’s is the only authentic German restaurant in Columbia on Ft Jackson BLvd near Labrascas. It is so good and a great date place. Authentic german bread comes with the meal and it is absolutely delectable dipped in their olive oil spread. Yum!

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This post was submitted by Joe Fotalatte.

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My culinary breakthrough

My culinary breakthrough

Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by .

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A review of Cantina 76


By Joe Fotallate

The parking lot at Cantina 76 was filling up quickly, so I decided to park on the street. I was off my game that afternoon and after I’d made 15 or 20 little jerking movements to parallel park, I’d noticed that people had started to point and watch from the restaurant’s outer deck. My therapist, who I was meeting for a special lunch appointment, hadn’t yet arrived so I ordered the first appetizer that came to mind: a “76” margarita with the chip and dip sampler. I figured it was a good way to make up for skipping breakfast since the 76 has a splash of orange juice and grenadine served with an orange wedge garnish and the sampler featured a mixture of rich cheese dip, fresh tomato salsa and hearty guacamole with a large portion of homemade chips.

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A Day at Cafe Strudel



A Day at Cafe Strudel



Posted on 12. Feb, 2010 by .

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By Joe Fotalattee
Family owned and local


You won’t see bogus “Best of” awards posted on the walls like every other chain establishments in Columbia (though all the real locals know they actually are one of the best in town). You won’t have to pay a ridiculous Wi-Fi fee to do a little work on your laptop while drinking coffee. Starbucks claims to carry free trade coffee when free trade really only represents less than 4 percent of all the beans they purchase. But, Cafe Strudel is the real deal, both in the caliber of food they prepare and in the philosophy behind it. So, after having breakfast there one day, I decided to stick around for lunch, too.

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Copper River Grill

Copper River Grill

Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by .

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By Naomi Torfin


If you are still searching for the perfect spot for happy hour, dinner with family, a business meeting, or just the right place for a first date, here’s a bit of advice: Go to Copper River Grill in Harbison.

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Hooters Uncovered

Hooters Uncovered

Posted on 01. Feb, 2007 by .

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By Joe Fotallatte

To say I anticipated buxom waitresses on my first visit to Hooters would be an understatement. As far as I’m concerned, the first three letters of the alphabet have no place on any cup there. I envisioned bazookas barely contained by cotton and clasp, maybe an errant chest to accidentally spill my drink. I expected a sound like gallon jugs sloshing when she giggled and bounced over to the table with my hot wings, as every shirt seam fought to hold, headlights the size of tea saucers showing through in silent defiance. No server should have to put the ink pen behind her ear at Hooters, is all I’m saying.
A local female bookstore owner believes the restaurant chain unintentionally misleads the public with false promises.“Hardly any of the waitresses have hooters!” she exclaimed. The chain acknowledges that many consider “Hooters” a slang term for a portion of the female anatomy. According to the chain, “Hooters does have an owl inside its logo and uses an owl theme sufficiently to allow debate to occur over the meaning’s intent. The chain enjoys and benefits from this debate. In the end, we hope Hooters means a great place to eat.”  Right.
Deceptive Advertising? Deceptive Waitresses? Or Love Among the Chili Fries?

A source close to the Harbison Dr. Hooters detailed the many deceptions waitresses will perpetrate on male customers.  “Many waitresses will pretend they have boyfriends or are engaged in order to deceive male customers so that they won’t bother them outside of providing a great meal,” the source revealed.Others accuse the waitresses of taking measures as extreme as wearing fake engagement rings—called “Man Be Gone Rings” in the industry—to intentionally deceive undesirable males.
As a reporter with uncompromising standards and ethics, it was important that I witness some on these allegations first hand.
When I arrived at Hooters, several beautiful young Hooters Girls greeted me.  Many may not live up to the name but it turned out that our waitress Hanna indeed puts the “H” in Hooters. I ordered the quesadilla and was tempted by the famous wings, but was hesitant to make a mess of myself in front of the blond haired, blued eyed beauty. Hanna was sweet and intelligent and sat down with us to tell stories about growing up riding horses. She said some other stuff too, but I wasn’t really paying attention after the image of her in slo-mo on a wild stallion in her orange Hooters shorts floated softly through my head. I stared off into the distance and chewed absently as she talked, strings of cheese probably hanging from my mouth.
God, she was incredible.  I had to know more about her.  Hanna then proceeded to tell me that she was engaged to be married. But the way she had asked for my drink order… there was definite chemistry. I thought I might still have a chance. She told us that her fiancé had proposed to her on the beach and I noticed a dinky ring on her finger. She deserves so much better and I imagined the rock I would have picked out for her.  We talked and laughed every time she refilled my drink or brought me more napkins.
It was odd she didn’t have any of the wedding details finalized and it gave me further hope that maybe it wouldn’t work out with her fiancé.
After she cleared my quesadilla basket, I excused myself to the men’s room to drop a quick deuce and work out my strategy before she took our desert order. While I was in the bathroom, my dining companion played the classic restaurant gag and told our waitress that it was my 16th birthday.   I guess maybe he also told them I had a degenerative disease to explain away the 14-year age discrepancy. All the waitresses came over to the table and forced me to a lone chair in the center of the room.  Not knowing what to do I first sat down expecting a dance of some kind, but little did I know I was to be the performer.  One waitress loudly demanded that I get up on the chair, dance and air-spell “Susan” with my gyrating behind.I was mortified that my Hanna saw me in such a situation and could tell that she was laughing in order to help me feel better. We had a connection like that.
When Hanna came back to the table with our check, she offered me a “Heart for a Dollar” with the proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald charity.  She also personally invited me to a Super Bowl party at Hooters that would feature a raffle for a big screen T.V. She wasn’t sure if she would be on staff that night or not.And then she did something truly special; she offered her favorite pen for me to sign my check. It was shiny, pink and covered with black spots.  On top bounced a perky ladybug nestled in a pink feather bed.  This pen, I felt, was the essence of Hanna and our brief time together.  It was more incredible than any other pen in its class.  It wrote beautifully, and the ladybug danced while the feathers tickled my wrist.  I brought the top up to my nose, and it smelled of my dear Hanna, a mix of perfume and potato skins.  Oh, what a glorious fragrance while those feathers caressed my face.  She didn’t say it, but I knew she wanted me to have this.
I slipped the pen into my pocket when her back was turned, knowing that neither of us would speak of it again.  That was the way my Hanna would want it. It was then I realized that Hanna and the Hooters Girls give so much and ask for so little besides a 15% gratuity on tables of six or more.  So what if they lie to a few guys? They make them feel better while making the world a better place. Though I guarded my pen like a wolverine around the City Paper office, I secretly debated if I should keep it. Maybe the pen was a test for me and Hanna. Perhaps she will forget that bum fiancé if I show my willingness to give back to the community like she does.
Yes, that’s it! Without further adieu, Hanna’s pen will (seriously) be available on Ebay.    The bidding will start at $100. We will present Hanna at Hooters with a check to Ronald McDonald House for the pen and will match an additional donation up to the reserve amount.

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