Dinner…
The Don’s Wood-Fired Pizza
www.thedonspizza.com
Walking into Don’s is a bit like walking into a New York pizzeria—and not just because of the huge cityscape poster directly above you. Sneaking in to grab a couple pizza pies on a Sunday afternoon, I was welcomed by a casual atmosphere and a friendly staff. And there’s always a bonus for any establishment with their own Italian market, including Italian coffee, pasta, sauces and sodas.
To start off, let me recommend a slightly different appetizer, the oven roasted olives—four varieties, cured and served with breadsticks. Even if you don’t eat them, the smell alone is worth it.
It’s sometimes difficult to gauge pizza (a pie is a pie some will say), but I jumped in with both feet, ordering two intriguing pizzas from the menu, although there is a certainly a “make it your way” option. The Sicilian Hit was a hit with me—sausage, pepperoni, think slices of meatballs, ham, four kinds of cheeses, basil and oregano. To contrast, I also ordered The Lucky Luciano—with roasted chicken, mushrooms, red peppers. Both were a dream. If there’s a criticism, sometimes, the toppings were so thick that it was too heavy for the slice. It’s a good problem to have.
For those non-pizza lovers (who’ve followed a friend into the store), Don’s also offers salads, calzones, Stromboli and hoagies. True to the pizza parlor tradition, there’s also a dessert display with a wide variety of cakes and cannoli. Don’t tell the Italian Anti-Defamation League, but The Don may have a pizza you can’t refuse.
…And a Show
To Save a Life (PG-13)
Synopsis: After witnessing the suicide of a childhood friend, a high school athlete (Randy Wayne) begins to explore a faith-based life and re-examine the way his friends treat less popular students.
Review:
In a culture that glamorizes bad behavior, a movie like “To Save a Life” should be a breath of fresh air. While some non-religious viewers may be put off by the underlying Christian message, it is still a movie about character and basic dignity. While there is definitely a message, that message is provided with a minimum of judgmental attitude and in a matter that celebrates faith without marginalizing those without it. It’s a movie that you’ll want your children to watch, although the Abercrombie & Fitch-like cast and alternative score may work to engage them more than your goading.
There is strong “afterschool special” quality to the production and at times a certain shallowness to the performances, but the movie should receive credit for addressing a number of highly controversial issues with sensitivity. More importantly, it’s not a movie about people making the right choices—the real story is about teens doing the right thing when their bad choices come back to haunt them.
While the stylish approach to faith and character is intriguing, the second half of “To Save a Life” unfortunately goes awry as the author decides to throw every possible high school calamity at the cast. Any subtlety is lost as a quiet examination of spiritual crisis turns into the Book of Job. Even so, “To Save a Life” raises the bar for positive-message movies and their ability to reach teens.
Rating (1-5): 3
John Geddie thinks that part of teen isolation comes from being the last people using MySpace.
Next: “From Paris With Love”
Add comment