Each Thursday (or Friday, since some weeks we seem to be running behind on everything), Needcoffee.com's staff of whackos will wrack our brains to give you interesting and new things to do over the weekend. Books, movies, whatever. We'll throw them out, you do with them what you will. And hey...if you have something you want to recommend--whatever it is--drop us a line.

Incidentally, we've provided links where we can for you to buy the stuff or find out more if you're interested, courtesy of those Amazon types. Hey, come on, we can't be totally selfless in this, can we?

May 9, 2002

Book of the Week: The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King. The latest word is that books five and six are due out next year. So it's a perfect time to get started on this series, if you haven't already. Join the rest of us Tower junkies who are dying for more about the gunslinger Roland and his quest, which comprises the lynchpin for the entire King canon. Come on board--because everything serves the Beam, sai.

Graphic Novel of the Week: Finder: Talisman by Carla Speed McNeil. The absolute best story arc of last year. Don't even try to debate me. The initial issue, #19, was robbed of the Eisner. The story of a young girl who's trying to grow up and become a writer--two activities that are painful enough on their own, but together...watch out. Incredibly moving and excellently crafted, it's coming out as a trade sometime this month, but why wait? It's sold as a three-pack from McNeil's Lightspreed Press website, which is where we're pointing you.

DVD of the Week: Romeo + Juliet: Special Edition. Before Moulin Rouge, Baz Luhrmann did an update of the classic Shakespeare play that is a mindblower. Not only do you get Claire Danes and Leo DiCaprio doing an incredible job of bringing the roles to life, but the art and production design are amazing. Also amazing is the special edition DVD, complete with commentary and "galleries" of behind the scenes stuff, photography and lighting tricks, along with interviews. Sweet.

Off the Beaten Path VHS of the Week: A Brief History of Time. This flick by Errol Morris is mistitled, really--it's more a documentary about Stephen Hawking than it is based on Hawking's book--but it's still worth a viewing. This is primarily due to the power of Hawking's story and the ability of the human spirit to rise about one's physical limitations.

CD of the Week: Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Ok, so Orff made drinking and whoring songs written in the medieval period by drunken German Latin students into what sounds like the soundtrack to King Arthur's life. Who cares? Don't try to translate the words and just be moved by the amazing strings, brass, and of course woodwinds. Try to get the Prague Festival Orchestra version if you can.

Beverage of the Week: Dragon's Blood Ice. Ah, Hawaiian ice. If caffeine can't do it for you because you've built up a tolerance, try SUGAR. Dragon's blood is the flavor you get when you blend coconut and cherry syrups, resulting in a concoction guaranteed to make your eyes open wide and your heart race alarmingly in your chest. But don't blame us if you have to start mainlining insulin.

Zine of the Week: Belle Papier. Belle Papier is, in the words of co-creators Lloydene Cook and Ava Uy, "a collage of art, words, and whimsy." And nothing could explain this confection better. Belle Papier features articles from artists all over the world, from travel narratives to how-tos, and each issue comes with splendid collage goodies, such as snippets of art papers or unusual fibers. Most of the issues have a distinctly French feel to them--all the better for art to wash off the dust of life. Every issue is like a mini-vacation, and what else could we possibly want?