Europe’s crazy rich royals and their lavish retreats
About 15 miles from St. Petersburg in the town of Pushkin, the sprawling Catherine Palace is one of the best places to experience Romanov opulence. (photo: Rick Steves)
Arts & Entertainment
Movie: Stuber
Studio: 20th Century Fox (1 hr. 45 min)
Plot: A detective recruits his Uber driver into an unexpected night of adventure.
Cast: Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Iko Uwais
Rating: R
Bottom Line: ****
Movie: Aladdin
Studio: Disney (2hrs. 8mins)
Plot: A street rat frees a genie from a lamp, granting all of his wishes and transforming himself into a charming prince in order to marry a beautiful princess.
Cast: Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud, Marwan Kenzari, Billy Magnussen, Nasim Pedrad
Rating: PG
Bottom Line: ***1/2
Book Review: Coyote Ate the Stars
In the book Coyote Ate the Stars, author Beth Burnett writing as E.A. Van Stralen intricately weaves a tale about obese and disfigured, Coyote Jones who has spent his life in hiding. Trapped by the demands of his abusive mother and his mentally-ill sister, Coyote spends his day working to pay the family bills.
Movie: Captain Marvel
Studio: Marvel (2hrs. 8 mins.)
Plot: Earth is caught in the middle of an intergalactic race war. Enter Captain Marvel to the rescue.
Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel l. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lashana Lynch
Rating: PG-13
Bottom Line: ***
Blackflix.com: Skyscraper proves to be an entertaining ride
Studio: Universal Studios (105 mins.)
Plot: On assignment in China, a former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader who now assesses security for skyscrapers finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze.
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Pablo Schreiber
Rating: PG-13
Bottom Line:***
Milk Means More Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Peaches and Cream
Balsamic vinegar, a less-astringent, sweeter member of the vinegar family, makes a memorable glaze for the fresh fruit and creamy cheese in this elegant dessert.
Milk Means More Recipe: Grilled Steak with Chive Yogurt
PREP TIME – 15 MINUTES
COOK TIME – 10 MINUTES
SERVINGS – 6
Movie: Tomb Raider (2018)
Studio: Warner Bros. (1hr. 2 mins.)
Plot: Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she finds herself on the island where her father disappeared.
Movie: Pacific Rim Uprising
John Boyega in a promotional shot for “Pacific Rim: Uprising.” The sequel to 2013’s worldwide hit is bound to upset “America First” supporters with its international agenda.