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Mango

Mango is a Reader contributor. See staff page for published articles.

Hannah Montana: The Movie

I admit that Hannah Montana wasn’t my first choice of movies to go see, but I had some free passes and I figured, how bad could it be? Turns out that it wasn’t bad at all and it was really pretty terrific. I know a lot of adults out there are groaning at the thought of having to take their pre-teen daughters to see this movie, but if you go, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I think I may have even developed a little crush on Billy Ray Cyrus. He sang a beautiful, bittersweet song called “Back to Tennessee” that made me want to go out and buy the soundtrack. If you enjoy country and western music, you will probably like this movie. There’s also a nice cameo by Taylor Swift, who performs “Crazier”. Obviously, Billy Ray Cyrus is Miley Cyrus’ dad in real life, but thankfully, even though this movie is not real, he comes off as totally genuine. I felt so bad for him when he was on “Dancing With the Stars” but this movie made me forget all about that. Billy Ray’s great and he even did a little bit of dancing. I was unfamiliar with Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana’s music until I saw this movie and now I think I “get” why all of the kids like her so much. I really enjoyed her song, “Hoedown Throwdown” as well as “Butterfly Fly Away” which she sang, as a duet, with Billy Ray. Unlike the TV show, which is kind of fluffy, with regards to the dialogue and scenery, this movie was very well done and some of the scenes that were shot in the Kentucky countryside were breathtaking. Take a chance on this one.
— April 21, 2009 11:40 a.m.

Sipz Fusion Café

Spring forward. Spring roll. One of the best things about Vietnamese food is cool, fresh spring rolls. Sipz Fusion Café offers two different kinds of these little vegetarian delights with their sheer rice paper negligees. The “Fusion Rollz” filled with carrot, jicama, basil and soy “beef” strips are hearty and filling. The “Fresh Summer Rollz” with lettuce, mint, bean sprouts, vermicelli noodles and tofu and are lighter and probably the more exemplary version. Both are served with homemade peanut sauce. They also have “Crispy Rollz” which are the fried version, sometimes referred to as egg rolls in other Asian restaurants to distinguish them from fresh spring rolls. Many places serve egg rolls, but Sipz’s “Crispy Rollz” are especially tasty. They’re definitely crisp, and not greasy or soggy. These cabbage filled tasties are the kind of thing that one craves in the middle of the night. All menu items at Sipz are 100% vegetarian, and many selections are totally vegan, including all of their desserts. Plus, Sipz is a veritable soup heaven! They have at least nine different varieties of vegetarian soups, including Pho, which is traditionally a beef-broth noodle soup, and Tom Kah, the velvety tart and savory coconut soup infused with lemongrass and ginger, but with no meat, fish or fowl to fowl it up. Then there are the “Bowlz”. There are salad bowlz, rice bowlz, noodle bowlz and main bowlz. Sipz features mostly Vietnamese and Chinese dishes served with mock chicken, beef or fish (even mock shrimp) tofu, or simply vegetables. The “beef” with broccoli and the walnut “shrimp” are two of my favorites. You will need to ask for plates if you want to share. They don’t mind. Sipz recently added vegetarian sushi to their menu, something I’ve yet to try. Guess I’ll have to spring back.
— April 5, 2009 5:09 p.m.

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