The Beacon’s one-stop guide to music, film, dining and culture.
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WAIT AND RENT...
EASY A
"Easy A" is good, but it's not that good. The movie has an interesting premise: high-school girl pretends to sleep with the less-than-popular boys to improve their reputation, and in doing so, ruins her own.
The main character, Olive, is the most interesting. Played by Emma Stone, Olive is the only character that doesn't slide right into a stereotypical role. At one point she admits, "I always thought that pretending to lose my virginity would be a little more special. Judy Blume should have prepared me for that."
The love interest is played by "Gossip Girl" star Penn Badgley, whose main purpose is sex appeal. He does not get a lot of screen time, but still manages plenty of shirtless appearances.
"Easy A" tries a new twist on an old story, and manages an entertaining and witty film. Nonetheless, it is still your clichéd high school plot, complete with a perfect happy ending. Don't waste $10, but make sure to rent it. You won't regret witnessing the best fake sex scene ever done in a movie.
– Elizabeth Vogel
EAT AT ... LE HAPPY
Just when I thought that I was never going to be able to find a decent crepe in Portland, my friend and I stumbled across Le Happy on Northwest 16th street in the Pearl District. The exterior of the building is painted a sunny yellow and is accented by perky lights. I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere. I loved the French feel of the bright red paint on the walls and the quirky and eclectic decorations, like random pairs of eyeglasses and an assortment of bike tires.
Le Happy claims to serve authentic French cuisine, and its menu represents this; they featured every kind of crepe possible, from the Trash Blanc, which was a savory bacon and cheddar, to an assortment of sweet crepes, such as coconut and banana or simple sugar. Customers can also order steak or salad with their crepes, along with a handful of other entrees. Le Happy also has specialty drinks for the 21 and up crowd.
I decided to start with a dinner crepe, bizarrely called the Jurassic, which had ham, cheese and egg. It ended up being very good, with no resemblance to any kind of dinosaur. The best was yet to come as my friend and I both chose dessert crepes. Though there were several excellent options, especially crepes that could satisfy my Nutella fetish by adding peanut butter or strawberries to the hazelnut spread, I chose to personalize my dessert with brownie and coconut. The waiter looked at me curiously when I ordered that combo, but I figured it would taste just like an Almond Joy candy bar, and what's not to like about that? I was glad the waiter humored my strange request. Dessert was even better than dinner.
I also appreciated the reasonable price of the crepes. Some were as cheap as $4. Everyone was friendly and attentive. What more can you ask from a restaurant? Le Happy is well worth the trip, whether you are looking to get a taste of France or just want the genuine variety they offer at an especially respectable price.
– Laura Frazier
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