Butlers I Have Known

'Modern Family'

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:28:25 -0700

To wrap up its fourth season, this very funny comedy sends the Pritchett/Dunphy clan to Florida for a funeral, only to discover that Gloria (Sofia Vergara) has an outstanding arrest warrant. Fred Willard returns as Phil’s father, Frank. Season finale, 9 p.m. Wednesday on ABC.

'The Office'

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:53:00 -0700

After nine years, this mockumentary series about the employees of the Scranton, Pa., branch of the Dunder Mifflin paper company comes to a close. The documentary that characters have been a part of finally airs, and past and present staffers gather for a wedding. Might we expect an appearance from Steve Carell’s Michael Scott? With the serious tone the series has been flirting with all season, you might want to have some tissues handy. Hourlong series finale, 9 p.m. Thursday on NBC.

“Arrested Develpment” season four. Start your binge...

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:30:47 -0700

“Arrested Develpment” season four. Start your binge viewing now.

'Constitution USA with Peter Sagal'

Tue, 07 May 2013 05:01:39 -0700

In this four-part series, Peter Sagal, the witty host of NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!,” hops aboard a customized Harley-Davidson and travels across the country to discuss some of America’s constitutional debates with legal scholars, historians and public figures. Series premiere, 9 p.m. Tuesday on KCTS.

'The Amazing Race'

Sun, 05 May 2013 05:01:47 -0700

It’s been a been a wild 22nd season for this great reality competition. Contestants played bagpipes and rolled barrels in Scotland, navigated a maze in a Berlin nightclub and transported wheels of cheese — via sled — in Switzerland. We’re down to the final four teams, and I’m rooting for hockey-playing brothers Anthony and Bates Battaglia. Two-hour season finale, 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS.

'The Americans'

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:01:00 -0700

This engaging drama started off kind of slow, but has become another winner for the FX network. It follows two married KGB spies (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys) who are posing as suburbanites in 1980s-era Washington, D.C. Russell and Rhys are playing wonderfully against type, Noah Emmerich is great as the FBI. agent who just happens to live next door, and how delicious is it to see Emmy-winner Margo Martindale (“Justified”) as a Russian spy? And I haven’t even mentioned the great ’80s music and “technology.” Definitely one to check out. Season finale, 10 p.m. Wednesday on FX.

'Happy Endings'

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:45:00 -0700

ABC hasn’t treated the six fast-talking friends of this Chicago-set comedy very welI. They started off on Tuesdays, disappeared for weeks, reappeared on Sundays and then settled in on Fridays. Listen up, network programmers: Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jr. and Casey Wilson are a simply a-mah-zing ensemble and deserve much better than this. Renew! Renew! Renew! (Here’s hoping it’s a) season finale at 8 p.m. Friday on ABC.

'Project Runway'

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:02:00 -0700

Quippy judge Michael Kors returns for the 11th season finale of this still-involving sartorial challenge. The final designers are Portland’s Michelle Lesniak Franklin, New Mexico native Patricia Michaels and Stanley Hudson of West Hollywood, Calif. My allegiances have switched many times this season, but my money’s now on Michelle. Two-hour season finale, 9 p.m. Thursday on Lifetime.

I love, love, LOVE Patton Oswalt.

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:18:17 -0700

I love, love, LOVE Patton Oswalt.

'Suburgatory'

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:38:47 -0700

Another quriky sitcom that excels due to its top-notch cast. Jane Levy stars as Tessa Altman, a teenager who moved to suburbia from New York City with her dad (Jeremy Sisto). And while the residents of Chatswin (including Cheryl Hines, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Tudyk and Allie Grant) at first appeared to be odd/cute suburbanites, as the second season progressed, they’ve gotten downright strange. Still, this is a clever, well-written comedy, that ABC would be smart to renew. One-hour season finale 8 p.m. Wednesday on ABC.

nprfreshair: Spring, we could walk your way forever. Image via...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:46:41 -0700

nprfreshair:

Spring, we could walk your way forever.

Image via the Landscape Architects Network

'Veep'

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:50:54 -0700

This wicked (and laugh-out-loud funny) political comedy about fictional Vice President Selina Meyer and her staff returns for a second season tonight. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Meyer to the hilariously quirky hilt, and the actors playing her co-workers (Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh and Tony Hale) can match her laugh-by-uncomfortable-laugh. 10 p.m. Sunday on HBO.

nathaliechikhi: HUE on Flickr.

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:45:45 -0700

nathaliechikhi:

HUE on Flickr.

wgsn: Missoni is presenting an installation called Zigzagging...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:42:42 -0700

wgsn:

Missoni is presenting an installation called Zigzagging this Milan Design Week. The brand’s entire showroom is illuminated with its famous zig zag patterning, immersing viewers with moving colour and light.

nprfreshair: It is nasty out today in Philadelphia. Rain, wind,...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:42:35 -0700

nprfreshair:

It is nasty out today in Philadelphia. Rain, wind, puddles, general unpleasantness. Looking at some of the paintings from this show of John Singer Sargent watercolors at the Brooklyn Museum, however, makes it all seem a little less bleak. They’re lovely. If I were going to be in New York this weekend, I would go to there.

The New York Times:

Sargent detractors who think he was a gifted technician but lacked imagination and formal rigor may profit from re-examining their prejudices in light of his watercolors, his freshest and most authentic work. The show won’t alter the basic conventional wisdom, but it does offer a good opportunity to consider knotty questions like: Was Sargent a modern artist?

He was modern in the sense that he revealed the processes of painting, unlike conservative academicians who preferred to hide their tricks behind veils of illusion. Because of its transparency watercolor has a certain intelligibility; you can see the artist thinking, deciding and constructing the work.

Corfu: Lights and Shadows, 1909 by John Singer Sargent

nathaniel-young: Duck www.nathanielyoungphotography.com

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:41:15 -0700

nathaniel-young:

Duck

www.nathanielyoungphotography.com

'Justified'

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:53:00 -0700

The season finale of this great drama, starring Timothy Olyphant as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, always delivers. Remember the fates of Robert Quarels (Neal McDonough) in season three, or Mags Bennett (Margo Martindale) in season two? After (mostly) resolving the case of Drew Thompson, season four is headed toward a major showdown between ultra smooth Raylan and mobster Nicky Augustine (Mike O’Malley, lightyears away from his kindly father on “Glee.”). Oh, and you can always count on Boyd and Ava Crowder (Walton Goggins and Joelle Carter) being up to no good.

Buckle up. Quite literally anything could happen. Season finale, 10 p.m. on FX.

nathaniel-young: Astoria, OR (at Port of Astoria) Nice photo.

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:50:19 -0700

nathaniel-young:

Astoria, OR (at Port of Astoria)

Nice photo.

Scary Easter Bunny

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:48:52 -0700

I had to post this (again). So creepy. So wrong. So funny.

'The Hen Night Epiphany'

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:36:18 -0700

Arouet had its Seattle opening night of “The Hen Night Epiphany” last night at the Downstage Theatre.

Roy Arauz ably directs Irish Playwright Jimmy Murphy’s comedy/drama that follows a group of five woman on a “Hen Night” (bachelorette party). A capable cast (Colleen Carey, Laura Crouch, Ellen Dessler, Frances Hearn, and Kelly Johnson) play the full range of emotions in this touching story.

The show runs through April 6. If you can, check it out. Tickets and information available at Arouet’s Web site.