Reviews by msesquire

msesquire says "Judgmental, discriminatory crap" about eHarmony.com

msesquire — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:06:11 GMT

I've actually had two separate experiences with EHarmony. The first time I signed up, I took the billion question personality test and started receiving matches in my inbox. They were horrible. If I am going to spend two hours taking a personality test, you'd think it would match me with people of similar interest and temperament. Not so much. The people who were referred to me were different from me in every way possible. And they were well outside of the geographic range I selected. I live in Baltimore, and dating someone in Richmond, VA, as suggested by this website would involve a trip through two states and DC. I gave it up after my trial membership expired.

Then, last year, I received an offer from My Points that would get me extra points if I went through the EHarmony personality test, so I figured what the hey. I answered their ridiculous and insipid questions for a second time...and at the end EHarmony rejected me. It said that with my personality, I am too...

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msesquire says "My mascara soul mate" about Max Factor Lash Perfection Mascara

msesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:32:15 GMT

My quest for the perfect mascara ended when I found this product. I almost felt like the clouds should part, the sun shining down, with a chorus of Allelujah in the background.

OK, maybe not QUITE so dramatic. But after trying approximately 1,458 different types of mascaras, I have found THE one. Max Factor Lash Perfection Mascara (preferably the waterproof formula). It thickens, lengthens, and darkens my eyelashes without clumping or flaking. It is in large part due to the innovative rubber brush, which other companies have tried to duplicate without success. I have received numerous compliments when I wear this (never before has anyone commented on my mascara), and even strangers have asked me what I use. It's a little weird when people do that, but at the same time, I have found a keeper!

I hate to admit it, but I have commitment issues when it comes to makeup. I could find the most perfect thing and think that there is something better out there. So I abandoned Lash...

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msesquire says "A compelling, beautiful portrait" about John Adams

msesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:32:19 GMT

The miniseries John Adams recently concluded its seven-episode run on HBO, and it will be missed. The miniseries, based on the biography by David McCulloch, starred Paul Giamatti in the titular role and Laura Linney as Abigail Adams.

The storyline, though familiar from history lessons, was intriguing, as it showed a different perspective on the events of America's fight for independence from England. Until McCulloch's book, John Adams and his contributions to the formation of our nation were largely ignored and overshadowed by those of his contemporaries. Though John Adams highlights these actions, it also does not shy away from showing Adams's foibles as well, including his arrogance and pride, presenting a well-rounded portrait of the man and forefather.

As interesting as these scenes were, I found the view into the relationship of John and Abigail Adams to be even more compelling. It was clear that the Adamses had a more modern relationship than their contemporaries, as John...

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msesquire says "A great read that explores the big questions about having kids" about Baby Proof

msesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:08:01 GMT

Baby Proof is a thoughtful novel that explores what it is like for professional twenty- and thirty-somethings when the "kid" issue comes up. As a professional in my late twenties who doesn't want kids, an issue that comes up frequently in dating now, I was intrigued by the story of Claudia and Ben, who agree while dating that neither wants children. Now married, their relationship starts to unravel when Ben decides that he wants kids after all. The story looks at how the pressures to have children--societal, external (ie parents/family who want them to have kids), and internal within the relationship itself--can divide a couple with an otherwise strong, enviable relationship.

Even if you don't identify with the main characters in Baby Proof, the book's supporting cast of interesting characters are all in various stages of dealing with the impact of children. One of Claudia's sisters faces the issue of whether to stay with a philandering husband for the sake of the kids. Her other...

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msesquire says "Historical Skinemax" about The Tudors

msesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:18:26 GMT

The title says it all...this show is Elizabethan soft core porn. Not that I'm complaining, necessarily. This HBO show purports to tell the story of Henry VIII, beginning around the time that the King first met Anne Boleyn, while still married to Catherine of Aragon. It does, sort of. The story is wildly inaccurate, beginning with the fact that the portly, turkey leg brandishing Henry we all know and love is portrayed by the skinny, youthful Jonathan Rhys Myers. The show will occasionally borrow historical fact and then embellish from there, throwing in a ravishing in the local woods to add some spice. The show can't seem to make up its mind as to what it wants to be. This is likewise true of the acting, which runs the gamut. Myers sometimes has good scenes, but most of the time he chews the scenery like the real Henry gnawed on the aforementioned turkey leg. Natalie Dormer, who plays Anne, smirks her way through most of her scenes, without being called upon to do much...

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msesquire says "WHY is this show still on the air??" about The Bachelor

msesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:36:48 GMT

All right, so I will cop to having watched this show religiously about 40 seasons ago. For a brief period about six years ago, it was a watercooler show at my law school. Plus, trashy TV is my secret guilty pleasure (yep, I watch the Hills).

BUT.

And that is a BIG BUT.

This show has devolved from an insipid way to pass the time to something that they should show prisoners in Guantanamo to make them give up their secrets in order to make it stop.

The premise is as follows: a douchey, generically attractive man (though not always...see, e.g., Bachelor Bob, who was purportely cast for his personality in spite of the fact that his personality was not good) who claims that he is looking for true luv is cast as the epymonous Bachelor. He is sent to a Gorgeous! Mansion! where he will date Twenty-Four! Beautiful! Women! to find the alleged soul mate. Half of the women will be needy, clingy, desperate "old maids" who feel they have to get married before their implants burst. The other half...

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msesquire says "For those who can't afford her $500 cuts" about Sally Hershberger Supreme Head Supreme Lift

msesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:08:33 GMT

Sally Hershberger is a mega-famous celebrity hairstylist best known for creating Meg Ryan's famous shaggy 'do. And for those of us who can't afford her haircuts, she has created a whole line of haircare products, sold at Walgreen's. I picked up the Supreme Lift because I have been cursed with stick straight hair, and I am on a lifetime quest to find any product that gives it the least little bit of volume. With this product, I have found it!

I've used it a few times now, and every time I have, I have received numerous compliments on how my hair from my colleagues at work (not a usual occurrence). I noticed a difference myself but wasn't sure if it was psychosomatic or not, and so the compliments reinforced my initial instincts. I don't know how it works on other types/textures of hair, but I can at least recommend it for girls with pin straight hair like myself!

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msesquire says "A vibrant sushi experience" about Ra Sushi - Baltimore, MD

msesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:54:17 GMT

Ra Sushi is the latest edition to the emerging Harbor East neighborhood, and it's a good one. Normally, I abhor chain restaurants and prefer to haunt local establishments, but this one is a keeper. The red and black decor, coupled with the loud, upbeat music, creates an exciting atmosphere (though if you don't like hearing edgier music while you eat, this is not the place for you). The menu is extensive. In terms of appetizers, the spring rolls with lobster and cream cheese are very tasty. While Ra has a list of your standard sushi rolls, like a California roll, the "Signature Sushi" portion of the menu contains the most delicious and inventive rolls. I particularly recommend the Gojira roll, a combination of crab, tempura shrimp, cream cheese, and cucumber, topped with spicy tuna. Many of the other rolls are interesting, too, employing more surprising ingredients like mango, nuts, and pesto.

The service is outstanding, too. The entire staff is cheerful and very helpful. ...

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msesquire says "Be transported to Greece...or at least your palate" about Samos - Baltimore, MD

msesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:32:08 GMT

Samos is my absolute favorite restaurant in Baltimore, bar none. It is a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant, located in the heart of Greektown. It is family owned and operated, resulting in an atmosphere that is jovial and welcoming. The food is outstanding, plentiful, and inexpensive. The best way to experience Samos is to do the Tour of Samos, at $18.95 a person. The Tour includes a Greek salad, pita and tzaziki, spanakopita, calamari, dolmades (grape leaves), gyro meat, lamb chops, and grilled shrimp. The pita bread at Samos is delicious and melts in your mouth, and is nothing like the dry, tasteless pita one often finds at restaurants or groceries. Other standout dishes include the Souvlaki and the Shrimp Haloumi. Even if you don't save room for dessert, be sure you get a Baklava to go. It is phenomenal and not to be missed.

Be warned, however, that Samos is fairly small and the wait for a table could be long. Often on weekends they will stop seating over an hour before...

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msesquire says "Best pedicure tool ever! (no hyperbole)" about As Seen On TV Original PedEgg

msesquire — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:23:09 GMT

When I first saw this in the local Bed, Bath, and Beyond (I missed the cheesy infomercials the first go around), I thought it was something that you grated cheese with. But I'm nothing if not adventurous, especially when it comes to new beauty products, so I picked one up. I was amazed at how well it worked! At the risk of sharing too much information, I do a lot of walking in high heels at my job, and my feet are in bad shape. But fifteen minutes of using the Ped Egg made my feet baby soft and smoothed out all the roughness. And the best part of the Ped Egg is that it is designed to trap all the shavings, so there's absolutely no mess. I've tried numerous foot files, from the $2 cheapies at Wal-Mart to the expensive ones from Tweezerman, and none of them have worked half this well....

msesquire says "A five-star look into the inner workings of the Supreme Court" about The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court Books

msesquire — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:09:01 GMT

The Nine, written by journalist/legal analyst/author Jeffrey Toobin, is a riveting look inside the Rehnquist court, culminating in an examination of Bush v. Gore, one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions in recent history.

The book opens with the conclusion of Rehnquist's reign as Chief Justice, which ended upon his death in September 2005. The book then flashes back to examine the career paths, ideologies, and personal quirks of each of the nine justices sitting on the Supreme Court at the time of Bush v. Gore. It explores the nominations, confirmation processes, and personal relationships that led to those justices being seated on the Court. The book then looks at the seminal cases considered by the Rehnquist court over the years, as well as each justices' position on those cases, in order to lay a ideological foundation that explains how the Court arrived at its decision in Bush v. Gore.

Toobin writes an excellent and compelling narrative, punctuated with anecdotes...

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msesquire says "The way tapas were meant to be" about Kali's Mezze - Baltimore, MD

msesquire — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:21:08 GMT

Kali's Mezze is a lovely little restaurant that serves Mediterranean tapas in the heart of Fells Point. The restaurant is two floors: the first, being dominated by the bar area, has a few tables and is usually bustling; the second floor is far more intimate, with low lighting and tasteful decor.

Mezze has a good wine list, although I generally start with a glass of the Prosecco or homemade Sangria. I usually go with a small group of people, and we tend to order several plates to share. The service is excellent and the food is brought out at intervals to ensure that there is food on the table at all times, without getting bunched up.

The tapas are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Of the appetizer tapas, my favorite is the Haloumi cheese and tomato, which is served on a flatbread with fresh basil. Also noteworthy are the falafel, asparagus, and tzaziki. Of the more substantial tapas, the crabcakes are some of the best, which is saying a lot, given that Baltimore is the home of the...

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msesquire says "A serious disappointment" about Meli - Baltimore, MD

msesquire — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:09:52 GMT

Meli, the latest offering in Fells Point dining by the owner of Mezze, is a tremendous disappointment. Mezze is one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore (or anywhere, for that matter), so I went in to this new restaurant with high expectations.

Meli bills itself as a Patisserie and Bistro, and indeed when you first enter the building, there are glass cases housing gorgeous pastries. The restaurant is in the back, and has an interesting setup. The decor is conflicted--it is partially upscale, and partially IKEA (orange wicker chairs in the bar?).

I ordered a martini, which, at $12, is pricey for Baltimore, even though it came in a large glass. My friend and I split the tomato and haloumi salad to start, which was delicious. While we were enjoying that, the chef sent out a complimentary shot of tomato vinagrette with faux caviar that was surprisingly good. The service was attentive at first, but less so when the restaurant began to fill up.

My entree, however, was a...

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msesquire says "Caveat emptor, or Check this site before you book a hotel!" about TripAdvisor

msesquire — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:47:32 GMT

I first stumbled upon Trip Advisor about four years ago when I was researching hotels in New York City for a weekend getaway with my girlfriends. Now, being government employees carrying large amounts of student loan debt, we were looking for the best bargain we could get. Unfortunately, in the Big Apple, hotel bargains can sometimes result in bedbug bites. I found a great deal on a hotel, but I wanted to know up front what I'd be getting. And that was where Trip Advisor came in. I punched in the name of the hotel and located numerous reviews, written by individuals in a similar demographic--young professionals looking for a bargain. And what a fortuitous find it was! The Hotel Carter reviews warned of in-house drug dealers, full trash bags left in closets, prostitutes, bedbugs, blood, and a seven-month old baby playing with a dead rat! Ever since then, I have vetted every potential lodging place through Trip Advisor. Each review not only contains a narrative, but also...

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