magid

After work, I had a round of errands to do. I stopped at Paper and Provisions for the first time in ages (Wolf, I forgot to mention: last time I was there, the guy asked after you.). I thought I might get a vast can of pumpkin, but they were out. Next time.

Then to Russo's, right around the corner. It's my favorite produce store, by far. I browsed the winter squashes outside, and thought about having a squash tasting, though that could get involved. Would anyone be interested? I passed the Brussels sprouts, and couldn't quite face having such large ones, compared to the tiny button ones from the farm. In another week or two, perhaps.

Inside, I found that they've moved the leafy greens section. I hadn't been sure what green vegetable I wanted to make for Shabbat dinner, but couldn't resist the baby bok choy. And there were oyster mushrooms, too. So, onions, mushrooms, and bok choy for a green vegetable dish. I was also interested to find a couple of kinds of tofu, packaged differently than I've seen elsewhere, kosher. Oh, and that lovely brand of Canadian yogurt that has fruit and grains in it. It's the same price as at Bread&Circus (really, it's a much better name than Whole Foods), though.

I asked a woman who was chosing an Odd Asian Vegetable what she does with it, and heard that it gets boiled. Every time I'm in there, I cruise that section, thinking I should really just buy some odd thing I've not seen before, and try it out.

Chanaleh coordinated a huge outing to see The Hebrew Hammer, part of the Boston Jewish Film Festival. I got my ticket from ABlock, and waited in a huge line outside, listening to some kvetching due to the cutting wind, and a song or two by Honorable Menschen.

I hadn't been in the Coolidge's main theater in a while; it's a beautiful place. There's something about the curtain parting for a movie that is just classy.

Anyway. The movie itself is hilarious, over-the-top silliness, as the Hebrew Hammer, acting as an agent for the Jewish Justice League, and with considerable help from the Kwanzaa Liberation Front, moves to get the new, patricidal Santa out of his job. There are so many riffs on classic movies and TV shows, not to mention classic Jewish and (black? African-American? who knows what's PC anymore?) stereotypes, it's impossible to remember them all. I'd love to see it again with friends.

I didn't stay for the Q&A with the director afterward; it was too late for me as it was. Sigh.

edit 1420
I knew there were more things I'd wanted to mention about the movie. I haven't heard that much laughter in a movie theater in a long time; I missed more dialogue than I'd like to admit because of that. I do remember one point when I couldn't help laughing, and no one else thought whatever was onscreen at that time particularly guffaw-worthy. I wish I remembered what it was.

Santa/Tiny Tim. Need I say more?

Oh, and the desert they used was obviously American, not Israeli. I hadn't really thought about how different they are before, but it's so noticeable. (Not that I fault them; it's a relatively low-budget film and all. I just found it enough jarring that it brought me out of the story for a little bit.)

Oh, and the Jewish-themed ride didn't strike me as funny enough to be in the movie, really. But I suspect that's just me.