Anju Korean Gastrotruck brings some of the best Korean Street food the Bay Area has to offer. Usually the “K-Pops” and “Beef Bulgogi” can only be enjoyed wherever the Anju Truck is located until now.
During the week, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anju Korean Gastrotruck is open at their new brick and mortar location at 2827 16th St. N.
The “K-Pops” are my go to when I order from Anju.
I feel they can expand the menu a little bit more now to heighten the dine in experience, possibly pairing local beers with a special of the week or month.
The great location and always on point “K-pops” make the new Anju brick and mortar location a no brainer for late night to go orders. It’s cool to see a local food truck expand into stand alone location, bringing Korean Street Food to a different audience.
Chef Melly and the rest of the “Three Generations Food Truck” are serving up comfort food but with a gourmet twist at 2830 22nd Ave South St.Pete from around 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Orders can be made at the window or via the website.
When I think comfort food usually my go to is wings and fries or shrimp and fries a menu stable at chains like “Salem’s”. What puts Chef Melly above the chains are her homemade recipes and gourmet flair adding Fried Lobster Tail and Truffles Lamb Chops to an already mouth watering breakfast and lunch menu. Who else is offering fresh Red Velvet Chicken and Waffles, French Toast, and homemade Gouda grits.
The Fried Conch, Shrimp, and Fries are my go to.
Lately I have been getting the fried conch, shrimp, and fries when I have time to hit the truck. The siracha aioli is the perfect dipping sauce, adding a spice to the conch. Everything is always extra crispy just how I like it.
What’s better than Fries loaded with crab meat!
If I have a little extra money to splurge, I get an order of the Crabby Fries. Basically an order of extra crispy fries loaded with crab meat and siracha aioli.
Is it strawberry or blueberry, maybe it’s both?
Don’t forget to add a cup of “mystery lemonade” with your order, usually mine is gone before I leave the parking lot.
Green Light Cinema brought the fright this weekend with two classic Horror Films on the slate.
First up was the immortal classic “Psycho” by Alfred Hitchcock. Having seen the film numerous times it was a no brainer to catch the film on the big screen again. Classic movies just hit different in a cinema as opposed to Blu Ray. Things I picked up on this viewing was just how technically well done the film was made. During the shower scene the knife doesn’t actually touch Janet Lee, the viewers imagination puts it all together. The final reveal at the end was ahead of its time on a psychological level, setting up the viewer for repeat viewings.
“An American Werewolf In London” was the second featured film of the weekend. This one was actually a blind spot for me. If you have seen a John Landis film before you can definitely see his fingerprints all over this one. The Rick Baker effects put this one over the top will still to this day the best werewolf transformation scene of all time. The comedic elements worked for the most part and a quick run time always helps with sort of a limited script, after the initial transformation there isn’t much you can do. I enjoyed how dark the ending of the film was, following a trend of post “The Exorcist” Horror films that went for dark endings. This one is not an all time favorite but glad I checked it off the list.
I hope this opens the door for not only more classic horror films but just classic films in general being showed at Green Light, fingers crossed for 8 1/2. Next weekend Green Light will be showing the newest film from Sofia Coppola “On The Rocks” starring Bill Murray and Rashida Jones.
This week Green Light Cinema brings us “Possessor Uncut” the second film from the heir to the Body Horror throne Brandon Cronenberg.
This was my first foray into the work Brandon Cronenberg, but I am very familiar with his father David Cronenberg’s work, most notably “Videodrome” and “Eastern Promises”. I have heard things about Brandon’s first feature “Antiviral” starring Jared Leto, after seeing “Possessor” I will definitely need to give that one a shot.
Although I wouldn’t technically call this a Body Horror film it definitely deals with similar themes and motifs. Andrea Riseborough plays an assassin that has the ability to go into another persons body, basically controlling them. Brain damage and loss of consciousness can all be factors when this sort of fusion is done.
The strong points of the film are when Cronenberg uses nightmarish imagery of flesh melting and Riseborough screaming in dim lit shots. The lynchian imagery was just enough to not make the film feel over the top . Gore hounds will definitely feel right at home with some of the best kill scenes I’ve witnessed in years Mx
The film can feel cold at times which may put off some people, the only characters you really care about are Riseborough and Jennifer Jason Leigh but overall this is a really solid film. 4/5 Campfires
Next up, Green Light will be showing 2020’s “Shithouse”.
In the midst of October, Green Light Cinema brought us one of the most unique cult films I have seen in years with 2020’s “12 Hour Shift.”
At first the film plays out as a dark comedy about a drug addict nurse clocking in for her 12 hour shift, oh yeah she also sells the organs of her dead patients on the black market. This added horror element allows the film to go off the rails without losing me totally as a viewer. The only time the film lost me was this one singing montage moment that felt really out of place. The Mick Foley appearance was really dope as well.
Angela Bettis was really solid in the lead role. The standout for me was Chloe Farnsworth who played Bettis’s cooky cousin by marriage.
So far Green Light is two for two with their lineup. This weeks film comes from the heir to the Body Horror throne Brandon Cronenberg with his 2020 film “Possessor”.
After missing out on last years Action Figure Of The Month pledge, I had no choice but to go all in on the latest Toy Pizza pledge. This time the world of Pangea Island has been opened up adding even more layers to the Knights Of The Slice lore.
Initially I wanted to do the $250 pledge, but went with the $65 so I could at least get 1 of each figure. I wasn’t really sold on Cen-5 at first but after learning more about his backstory from the livestream he is a welcomed addition to the KOTS. The accessories pack accompanying Cen-5 might be the best of any figure so far, especially his little mining buddy.
Cromega is hands down my favorite design so far and I plan on buying several color ways of him. It will be interesting to see the role Cromega plays in the future.
With the various hints dropped by Jesse,I can only assume the next addition to KOTS will be of the more aquatic fare. Maybe we will find out what lies beneath Pangea Island.
With all of the Tampa Bay Area’s sports teams playing out of their mind this season. With For The Bay Clothing Company fans are able to rep their home teams with a little bit more of a local flavor. Sort of a For the Bay by The Bay mentality. The company adds a local flare to team merch that the official merch is missing sometimes.
This Stanley Cup Finals shirt is dedicated to the Lightning’s victory song.
So far For The Bay offers hats and shirts representing Tampa Bay Hockey,Football, and Baseball. The 813 shirt and hat is probably the most popular. I personally am waiting for a 727 one to rep but until then I will just stick to the Tampa Bay hockey shirts. I picked up both the Gravy Train and Stanley Cup champs shirts. The quality is top notch as well as speedy shipping. Each package comes with a wrist band and sticker as well as a custom note depending on the order.
One of my favorite Stanley Cup shirts.
My next pick up will be the Tampa Bay Football one with the throwback creamsicle orange, they are definitely a vibe. I hope in the future For The Bay will release some Tampa Bay Soccer merch for the green and gold. With the XFL returning I am sure the TB Fang Gang would love to do a collaboration for the 2022 relaunch of the XFL and Tampa Bay Vipers. I hope in the future maybe Jit Camp and For The Bay Clothing can do a NBA2TAMPABAY collab shirt.
With Green Light Cinema having its opening weekend I had to come out and support the growing cinephile scene in the 727.
“The Nest” and “12 Hour Shift” are the first two films on the slate.
I was hoping to see some classic art house flicks but Green Light is really off to a great start with their opening film “The Nest”. Director Sean Durkin known for his 2011 film “Martha Marcy May Marleane” brings us a new kind of family drama with “The Nest”. Durkin shoots and sets the film up with such a sense of dread that at times it has a horror vibe. Jude Law is always on the top of his game but for me the standout of the film is Carrie Coon. As the film goes on she begins to smoke more and more cigarettes portraying to the viewer her state of mind after her family is moved across the pond.
They aren’t recliners but I’ll take it.
From a theater aspect I feel it is the perfect setting for a local art house theater. Parking is close by which is always a plus and concessions are on hand before and during each showing. The picture and sound quality was top notch, as well as theater temperature not being to cold or to hot. The seats don’t recline but they also don’t hurt my ass like some of these big chain seats do.
I am looking forward to attending Green Light at least once a week. I feel the film choices will take me out of my comfort zone, opening me up to the vast reaches of the cinematic landscape I have yet to conquer.
After months of waiting St.Pete is finally getting its own Art House Cinema. Located on 221 2nd Ave North, The Green Light Cinema will be opening it’s doors for the first time this week end, with three showings Friday through Sunday 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 9:15 p.m.
The inaugural film at Green Light will be one of the latest offerings from IFC “The Nest”. Jude Law stars in this 2020 family drama which should be a great start to build the Green Light audience. I think it is a good choice to start with a more current film before the theater rolls out the classics.
I plan on catching one of the showings this weekend. There is definitely a place in St.Pete for an Art House Cinema scene, making Green Light Cinema a St.Pete Cinephiles Church.
When you think NHL, “The Original Six” immediately come to mind. Despite the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals being held in the Edmonton bubble, the two teams representing the Eastern and Western Conferences hail from the south.
Over their almost 30 year history the Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the best teams in the league.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and The Dallas Stars are probably the best examples of hockey flourishing in a southern market. This will be each clubs third Stanley Cup final appearance, with each club only having one Stanley Cup a piece. The Stars won their cup in 99, and the Bolts won their cup in 2004. As of right now only the Stars, Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes are the only southern teams to win a Stanley Cup with the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers having won a conference championship in their conference. But not all southern markets have seen success.
The Calgary Flames still honor the Atlanta club from time to time.
The NHL expanded into the south with the Atlanta Flames now the Calgary Flames in the early seventies in hope of cutting off the growing rival World Hockey Association (WHA) from expanding into potential markets. The Flames during there Atlanta run were pretty mediocre only making it to the first round of the playoffs during their run in the mid seventies. With low attendance the ownership group sold the club to Calgary in 1980. Atlanta would not see pro hockey again until 1999 when the city was awarded another NHL franchise the Atlanta Thrashers. The team only made the playoffs once in their history. Due to lack of attendance the team was sold in 2011 to a group based in Winnipeg, reviving the Winnipeg Jets. This is sad for Atlanta Hockey fans hoping for their 3rd stint in the NHL.
Atlanta hosted one NHL All Star Game during their second stint in the NHL.
After the fail of the Flames, the NHL would not look into Southern Expansion until they relocated the Minnesota North Stars to Dallas which are now the Dallas Stars.
The team is currently located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida but I see them potentially making the full change to Miami.
The expansions into Florida for the league are both hit in miss with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992, and the Florida Panthers in 1993. The Panthers are always in talks of relocation but I feel the league like their place in the Miami area so I am sure they are staying put.
The Hurricanes do a Storm Surge dance after each win, angering a majority of the league.
The Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina becoming the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997. Bringing another southern team into the league.
The teams logo is a Sabertooth Tiger due to the fossil of the animal being found in Nashville.
As of now the last southern expansion team was the Nashville Predators. The club has a huge fan base earning the “Smashville” nickname from their fans. Within the last five years the club has been in a Winter Classic and a Stanley Cup Final, and despite losing in both efforts.
This was the first Southern Winter Classic which was played outdoors at Cotton Bowl stadium.
With the league expanding into the West as of late with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and their 32nd franchise Seattle Kraken, I think it’s safe to say the NHL might look towards the South for future expansion, I’m looking at you Houston.
The Houston Aeros almost made the jump to the NHL from the WHA.
The winner of this years Stanley Cup will not only have Lord Stanley but also be the new front runners of southern hockey , proving that if you put a good product on the ice fans in any market will support a team whether it’s in Dallas or Tampa Bay. Go Bolts!
