This page is reserved for WookieeHut's Latest News & Weather for the calendar year 2005. The listings here will always be two months behind the current news, so check Latest News & Weather for the latest stuff!
December 25, 2005
Happy Christmas to one and all, regardless of your religion or beliefs! Christmas is a big and wonderful enough holiday so you can take from it what you will, and it's still valid and fun ... that is, unless you're Draco Malfoy and you're forced to attend a private Christmas party with those three famous (and annoying) Gryffindors! It's A (Mostly) Merry Christmas Card and the Hut has absconded with PandaCat's "Other Art" (listed in Art & Stuff) for our own holiday card! Hope you enjoy it. And whether you are a guest of honor at a party or not, you probably want something traditional and yummy to eat, and these Reindeer Horns are not only a twist on an old favorite (complete with step by step diagram), but it turns out that Leia got it from her Aunt Celly, who got it from Leia's (genetic) mother ... Despite Padmé's inabilities in the kitchen, it's a Hut Cuisine recipe. And in the GFFA, their Christmas equivalent is Life Day: A Healing Time, but be careful — this "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things entry is Rated PG-13, so make sure you're "mature" enough to read this before you click on that link. And if you're Hobbie, make sure you put that caf pot back into the caf maker properly or you'll end up with embarassing burns and have to wear a wookiee suit!! If he really wanted to scream, he should have gone to a place like Cedar Point, which is the infamous home of 16 important roller coasters! It's the place to get over the height / speed / dip / roll / flying phobias you may be harboring. It's way safer than pretending a gag gift is from a rival — it could backfire on you! That's what Ron found out, so that Harry was prompted to snarl at him, Happy Christmas ... Not! We hope your Christmas prospects are much happier than Ron's! (And don't forget to check out the Hut Blog — with its grumpy postings, you'll likely feel better about your grumpies!)December 18, 2005
Some of us did wonder why Mara Jade ended up saying "yes" to Luke Skywalker, and how long should such a promise last between the hero of the New Republic and the Imperial assassin? And how would she feel about any successor ...? Thrawn McEwok knows, better than anyone, we think! The Personal Level might be referring to a level of emotion; or perhaps a meeting place? It's Rated PG, though perhaps one needs quite a lot of maturity to even understand Mara! It's "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Thing. We have two "Reviews" in that section of Wookiee Hut today, also about maturity ... The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was a tale beloved by some of us, while for others, this movie redeemed the somewhat ponderous controversies surrounding the tale of the four Penvesie children (did you notice that Penvesie is like an anagram of penseive???), who were sent to live in the country for their safety. It's likely Bruce Wayne never felt any form of safety in his life, even though he is the heir of "stately Wayne manor." Batman Begins is a great DVD, and has enough GFFA references to satisfy the prequel lovers among us. Speaking of which, the The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is awfully GFFA too, if only for the voice actor(s) for Aslan (and duh, for the story, obviously)! Too much GFFA for you? Do a confundus spell on a dragon and fall into the Harry Potter universe by checking out PandaCat's ongoing depictions of dragons, this time, the Chinese Fireball, "Ooooh!" as Bartolomus Crouch might opine. It's "Other Art" in Art & Stuff, and a "Wee Wookiees" entry, too. If one needs some enrichment and soothing to one's constitution in preparation to fighting dragons or kidnapping Hobbits or after a Rohirrim battle, try Velvety Soup for Lurtz which is said to be the source of Lurtz's great size and relative intelligence among Uruk'hai. It's actually a delicious soup, and a recipe that incited one of us to eat half a gallon of the stuff in one sitting!December 12, 2005
Last week, Thrawn's tale of love found (thought lost) allows Anakin to look around to see what he'd missed. Though it would seem that Han is the happiest in Finding Happiness. Part 2: Clearance clears the air, minds, emotions ... it's fine-quality Rated PG Stories & Thing fare for heroes of the GFFA. Speaking of which, everyone know who the REAL hero of the GFFA is: Our Hero, meaning yours and mine, is none other than R2D2! Iella's Poetry Hum / Filk chides you for not knowing that! It's Stories & Things, too! If you didn't know that, then you deserve to be fed to the Swedish Shortsnout, the dragon picked out of the sack by the ever-so-cute Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, though we doubt you would have fared better than he did. He did get a bit charred by this beast, depicted as "Other Art" in Art & Stuff. The heat is considerably less intense in most Thai places, as reported and reviewed by these "Noshery Reviews" in Hut Cuisine. Despite their picturesque names, Tasty Thai and Thai Pot pale in comparison to the previously reported Sripraphai, but if you don't want to schlep ... well, we say you should schlep. Better to be Cedric and take your chances with a dragon, so there!December 4, 2005
You know that Anakin Solo dying was just not the way it should have been ... how could he become one with the Force and his ever-so-annoying siblings live? Thank goodness for fanfic, where we can weave all manner of fantasy AU gossamer! And Thrawn McEwok's one of the best in that biz, but you know that. Finding Happiness debuts with Part 1: Reality Bites, a Rated PG Stories & Thing wish for a reality that's not simpler, but at least more desirable. And speaking of reality, we at the Hut have been discussing how the movie-based rating system is a bit "vague" and mutable ... and some stories should be Rated R even if they aren't terribly sexual or violent, simply because of a certain level of "reality" ... case in point is Diana's Hard Woman, featuring Leia's ruminations on her marriage and the conditions that might have surrounded her conception. Don't worry, it's not one of the long, philosophical ones, but it's "loaded" nontheless — enjoy! And no matter your location or denomination or tendency, you would have enjoyed the very seasonal Festival of Trees, and bid on a work of thematic art. At the very least, you can pose in front of the Star Wars tree with Vader and other 501st cronies! This "Field Trip Report" is, like the "GFFA Fanfic," in Stories & Things, and all of the entries are great ramp-ups to Christmas, whether about gratitude, family, or Christmas tauntauns! Also, doing nice things for one another, like when Mal stepped in to defend Inara's honor and got stabbed for his attempt. So Inara milked some cows for him and made Inara Masala using some of the fresh cream from milking the herd. And also making wishes for things you can't have, like Jayne Cobb's wish for Inara. No, he'll never have her, so he used her left-over ingredients from the Masala to make Mac' n' Masala, his more plebian dish using the same spicings. It's as close as he'll likely get!, eh? These are both "Recipes" in Hut Cuisine. It's time to enjoy the prep, we know we are!November 27, 2005
In a way, the Yuuzhan Vong were a perfect enemy — completely foreign and alien, generally recognizable (either through their non-presence in the Force, or visually), many interesting prejudices. In a way, it was too bad they were killed off and transported ... and thank goodness for Alternative Universe fanfic! Thrawn regards the remaining Solo child as "experiment" of the Vong, noting that A Jeedai Is For Life, Not Just For Life Day, a Stories & Thing "GFFA Fanfic" about the love of Nom Anor for a very special slave. Can you imagine Obi-wan's reaction to such treatment? He might have merely gotten hungry, even if the situation were such that he could only declare My Goose is Cooked!. It's not a bad thing to hear, if one can make a tortilla roll out of the cooked goose. There are photos of how to slice the breastmeat, too, in this "Recipe" in Hut Cuisine. Perhaps it had been cooked by a voxyn, or maybe a dragon, such as this Welsh Green which made its appearance in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire last week, though this dragon is "Wee Wookiee" and "Other Art" in Art & Stuff. Well, it hadn't really shown up, just as Sripraphai is not the Thai restaurant you might be used to ... no, it's more the THAI restaurant (all capitals!) of many an ex-pat's dream, often more perfect than love, more memorable than Thanksgiving ... even though many of our Thanksgivings were excellent (at least those of us in America this year, insane shopping season notwithstandig!). And if life gives you eggplant, have the object of your desire serve up Veela-Fried Aubergines. It's said to be what those witch-creatures do to a man's brain. A not-too-different torture from what the Vong might do to one's body, eh? Both the restaurant review and the recipe are in Hut Cuisine, and now onwards toward Christmas!November 20, 2005
Ep3's key word seems to be "seduction," where Anakin is "seduced by the dark side of the Force." It occured to some at the Hut that seduction, though often of the dark side, is not always a matter of the Force, but sometimes of things more enduring and powerful. So why not model an Ep3-based filk on it? The attempt is called Mrs. Anakin, and is "Poetry Stuff" written a bit from Padmé's POV; she is the "older woman" in this case, as was Mrs. Robinson's case, too. All in all, she might have preferred to go to a movie; seeing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire might have made her wonder if all galaxies are so dark and foreboding as hers! The "Review" is a team effort, a post-mortem after opening day (and the concensus is, "Cedric is HOT!"). Speaking of openings, a fieldtrip to the T:Style Kick-off Event has the implied subtitle of "a very surreal picnic." It turns out this format is a popular way for people who think of themselves as "upper crust" (whether they are or not!) to raise funds and awareness of events or things. Read up, so you know how to strategize. This "Field Report," as well as the "Review" and the "Poetry" are all in Stories & Things. In the Goblet of Fire, there seem to be many "fill-in" opportunities for tales, like how Viktor Krum ended up asking Hermione Granger out (in contrast to the difficulties Harry and Ron had even getting a girl separated from her "posse"). It was simple, really ... "no" was simply not even an acceptable answer to the unasked question, and it helped that they shared a Golden Coin Purse on the lakeshore one morning. It's fanfic, but contained within Hut Cuisine as a "Mains: Eggs" Recipe! It's a direct approach, but Krum is nothing compared to the master of direct manipulation, Palpatine: Killer Queen, in this illustration of a filk from a few weeks back — Iella's Palpatine. Wonder if Obi-wan ever figured out the source of those aches and pains? It's "GFFA Art" in Art & Stuff, and now we can't get the song out of our heads ...November 13, 2005
Gavin had fallen for a very special Bothan, but he discovers that she's not above elevating herself or her race via a seemingly harmless untruth ... Gavin questions the provenance of Bothaw's Coconut-Pecan Filled Chocolate Cake — is that first word a misspelling of "Bothan"? This Hut Cuisine recipe raises problematic questions, but they are perhaps small potatoes compared to the Meltdown that Han and Leia suffer when they discover how "kid-ish" the grandchildren of Darth Vader really are! It's illustrated with a funny scribble, too, called Flaming 'Droid!, which evolves into a relatively genteel cussin' term in the Solo family. Iella's "Poetry Stuff" is actually a rap-filk in Stories & Things, and Diana's scribble is in Art & Stuff. After such an event in the Solo household, they might have gone out for pizza or family-style fare at a place like Sbarro, which seems to be placed all over the galaxy, and that's not necessarily a bad thing at all, once in a while. Or perhaps they were thinking of sending the kids off to boarding school after all ... and if not for the Jedi Academy, they might have opted for Hogwart's. Surely, one of the three might have ended up in the house of Harry Potter, and thus would have experienced Blood of Gryffindor Soup, which is actually a side-by-side presentation of Blood Red Courage Soup and Golden Perseverence Soup — a special rite of passage for all new Gryffindors, and good soups, whether together or separately. These "Soups" recipes and the "Noshery Review" are in Hut Cuisine. And remember, your 'droid is NOT a good cooker!November 7, 2005
Tycho is at last damaged 'enough' to warrant being shipped to Akri'tar. He meets his first ally, an alien willing to sacrifice her very soul to follow her hunches about this important-seeming prisoner in Chapter 12 of ShadowChaser's X-Wing: Lusankya. Remember, it's Rated R for harsh torture and situations ... but some of us like that sort of thing, eh? And if you think a Mara/Luke "GFFA Fanfic" called So Predictable is lighthearted fun ... let's just say you'd be "different"! It's Rated PG-13 response to a TFN fanfic challenge, and we're fortunate and happy to have it here! These "GFFA Fanfics" are in Stories & Things, and both wicked in their own way! :) In contrast, this week's "Noshery Reviews" are not wicked at all. Indy's Family Restaurant is a pleasant eatery patronized by old people dressed in their church finery, soldiers running away from the mess hall for a meal, family units of many sorts (even a Mennonite family). They have specials daily, what more can one want of an eatery? Again, in contrast, there are eateries where everything is wanting, like the Dick Clark's AB Grill; okay, it's located on the passenger-only side of the security check gate, and it reminds us the awfulness of airport "cuisine." Despite this, it, like Indy's, is listed in Hut Cuisine, go check 'em out, so you know better. But if you make a mistake, know that you many need to bake to get out of the doghouse; Tycho cheated a bit here and there, but the effect of an Easy Coconut Layer Cake for Begging Forgiveness is worth the risk of being found out! It's a "Dessert" in Hut Cuisine. Sometimes life is about taking a risk, whether the result is a bad feed or being shot by the lover of your wife. Well, no, it's not quite like that, but wouldn't it be fun it if was?October 30, 2005
What do you think of when you hear the term, Sexual Politics? You'd be right if you thought of the Rated PG "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things ... and don't late the innocuous rating fool you. What's not written can be as powerful as what is ... (And if you thought something else ... um, you wouldn't necessarily be wrong ...) Go have one of the nice, refreshing Serenity Brews on offer and calm down. It's a "Potables & Beverages" in Hut Cuisine Recipes. Being boat-bound, you won't need fresh milk, or even fresh coffee, and yes, you'll miss it when you can have the fresh stuff instead. Though not fresh, it'd be good with the fresh and happy offerings at The Original Happy Fresh Tortillas Grill Tex Mexican Food which presents this fusion American cuisine with another twist, like they do in the Firefly 'verse. Wei! they might say for this "Noshery Review," but they'd say it with another intonation if they had to watch Earthsea, which ended up being compared (unfavorably) to Krull in this rather terse "Movie Review" in Stories & Things. Time to hide, and best to do that in a cozy (if garish) hat your mother might have made for you. Remember that great hat from Firefly's "The Message"? Now you can make one, because Maw Cobb's Hand-done Hat for Her Boy Jayne gives you photos and descriptions for that hat Mrs. Cobb made for Jayne. He apparently wants to make some, too, and so she did the courtesy of showing us all how! It's a "DIY" listing in Art & Stuff, and you really can DIY!October 23, 2005
Today, the Lord of the Rings dominates the Hutt's postings, but we're not without a little GFFA tale — PandaCat reveals the dark nature of sibling rivalry and shows Anakin's depiction of his siblings: Imp & bob. It's a "Wee Wookiees" submission, in GFFA Art. The only way you wouldn't understand Anakin's angst is if you're an only child ... maybe like Frodo Baggins as he wandered the breadth of Middle Earth. In creating that world, director Peter Jackson insisted that his home turf of New Zealand is Middle Earth. But Te Papa Tongarewa has allowed the props and tools that created the foreground of that world to leave the country, and it's on its final USA stop in Indianapolis, IN. The Hutties went, and kicked off the weekend with a New Zealand Wine Dinner, presenting wines created in New Zealand alongside some ingredients produced there. Then right after the cheese course, they went to the Lord of the Rings: Motion Picture Trilogy Exhibition and played with the interactive displays, ogled the costume and props displays, and were kind of naughty ... but they made up for it by paying for another ticket and going again the next day! In between, they saw the rest of the Indiana State Museum, etc., including the canal behind it and got many a history lesson, too. All of these "Field Reports" are lodged permanently in Stories & Things, unlike the traveling exhibition, which is "complete" for the first time since it was in New Zealand. The show goes on till January 3, so get there soon, before it goes home for good! And if you want a bit more of the canal and need a snack or a meal, try out the Canal Café & Terrace. This "Noshery Review" in Hut Cuisine emphasizes that the food is made fresh and the expansive terrace out back is one of the nicest ways to take a break from culture and Middle Earth. Enjoy it all, and don't tell anyone about the naughtiness ...October 17, 2005
Wes Janson finds himself in a bind when a paramour overhears him describing her "assets" to Hobbie Klivian. Hobbie sort of comes to the rescue by telling her that Wes had said he'd serve her a Smashing Hash & A Lovely Set of Grits, rather than what she thought Wes had actually said ... This is actually a recipe "Set Piece" in Hut Cuisine, and we bet you can figure out what he actually did say ... he might have preferred to find himself in buccolic Gatlinburg, TN even though the hotel might be disappointing. It's the starting point of what will hopefully be an ongoing "Field Report" for this rather all-American vacation spot, in Stories & Things. Also in that section in "Reviews" are observations of the One Man Star Wars off-Broadway production in NYC! Charlie Ross has hit the big time, theatre-wise, and his show has been extended till New Year's, so be sure to catch the show if you get to the Big Apple before then! If, instead, you find yourself in the demographic center of the country (Indianapolis, IN, for those of you who aren't hep with the latest census and marketing info), you should go to the Indiana State Museum and check out the preserved institution called the L.S. Ayres Tearoom, which every little girl who grew up near there remembers very, very fondly. Preserving such a place is a great idea within a museum, especially when it's still a working restaurant. Check out this "Noshery Review" in Hut Cuisine. And if you're in Indy with a hankering for steak but find yourself not quite flush with cash, try Steak and Shake, which doesn't actually server steak, but steakburgers, which are actually pretty darn tasty. They do have yummy shakes, though, and you can even get two flavors in one glass, which makes it a worthy place!October 9, 2005
It's been a while since we've had a "Wee Wookiees" story, and there's a new one called Father Mine, between that most famous of father-son confrontational individuals from the Star Wars universe. This Rated G tale's Introduction is written by 10-year-old SW_Boy. Let's hope he starts sending in the rest of the chapters soon! In contrast to his Lucasfilm-esque story, Diana spins the backstory of the woman once called Kirney Slane. She plies her trade in the Heartbreak Bar & Grill; it's Rated R. The inspiration for that "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things is a wonderful seafood shack called Lobster Inn, and though it might have been used for good-byes (rather than hellos), it doesn't mean it's a bad place. This Hut Cuisine "Noshery Review" declares it the best shellfish place, ever! It's too bad Simon Tam couldn't cook his sister's favorite nursery dish, but he did find a place that did. Too bad she had figured out the recipe for Maj Gomboc: Chicken Liver Dumplings in Chicken Soup ages ago — he should have just asked! There are many questions Simon has about what the Alliance (the bad guys) did to River, and much was elucidated in Serenity, which was based on the almost-cult-like Firefly. The "Review" is largely spoiler-free, and you should go and watch the film in the theaters, for good reason!October 3, 2005
ThrawnMcEwok's Once A Warrior detailed — in excruciatingly descriptive prose — the whereabouts about Anakin Solo after Myrkyr. If you recall the last chapter of that tale, Anakin decides to join the world of the "living" ... and the introduction to Warrior Born shows he's in a dark place indeed! Iella investigates the well-brewed angst between the daughter of Han Solo and the son of Soontir Fel (the men were classmates at Carida, you'll recall ...). How far will you go to manipulate — or respond — to love? His Smile can melt your heart ... or shatter it. Both these quality Stories & Things — the first is "GFFA Fanfic" and the other is "Poetry Stuff" — are Rated PG, never fear! The "Review" of that much loved but canceled television series Firefly is not really required viewing to get Serenity, the movie based on that series. Review of that to come ... a short warning — you will regret not seeing it, so get thee to a movie theater! It's the type of admonition a well-meaning and dorky uncle might give you, but in this case, the Organa-Solo kids organize a great Welcome for Uncle Tycho! when he married the woman they consider their aunt: Dame Winter, Leia's lifelong companion-at-arms. It's inspired by dishes — the only things he has to remind him of his mother ... see the "set piece" for the fanfic links, in Hut Cuisine. Of course, if they didn't want to cook, they could have run off to Clamman for a take-home clambake that will impress the neighbors and make you sigh at the wonderousness that is ultra-fresh seafood. Tycho would've been impressed at the affection the three Solos had for his wife, and it must've felt like "instant family" for the orphaned Rogue!September 25, 2005
Erisi isn't done commiting abominations against her own race, nuh-uh, now that she's been fingered as the moll of Rogue Squadron. Lady on a Box Part 6: Fear & Loyalty depicts the insanity which has become her life under the thumb of Director Isard, herself losing her moorings on reality. Remember that this "GFFA Fanfic" is basically Rated NC-17 / Squick (occasionally less so, and often more) and is located in Stories & Things. It's been described as "really scary," so enjoy it if you're into that sort of psychosexual torture ... Otherwise, check out what's going on at Hogwart's. Hermione's muggle studies papers have turned up the realities of the sugar trade, and Hagrid provides her with a delicious example of this. You'll love the crunchy topping on Turbinado Zucchini or Carrot Bread, plus its a bonus way to help get rid of the summer's harvest bounty. In fact, vegetables galore are in the markets, and you'd best grab them up to make pickles and soups and salads, before winter sets in. Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom take advantage of Luna's "friends" in the "Set Piece" called Cool as a Cuke which has great vegetable soups, a salad, a pickle, and sauce recipes, all featuring cucumbers. The turbinado sugar loaf recipe and the set piece are in Hut Cuisine. If the transformation of vegetables into "food" is not dramatic enough for you, try the ultimate epic historical drama, the fall and rise of Judah Ben-Hur, which is rated "Death Star" — one of the few movies to deserve this assessment by the normally picky Hutties! This "DVD / Movie Review" is in Stories & Things. But if the flaws in the telling of the story bother you, get a grip on yourself and try to figure out what "Malay cuisine" is in the here and now. A "Noshery Review" of Nyonya doesn't quite successfully define what it is, but it does try. Which is often the important thing, in food, movies, and in life.September 18, 2005
Would you ever consider a guy like Luke Skywalker to be the kind to be tempted into partaking in things with others ... things normally reserved for sharing with his wife Mara Jade? We didn't say he DID, we said tempted ... and what would keep him from not Hunting the Moment? Not just the thought of what Mara might think in this Rated PG "GFFA Fanfic" Stories & Things dalliance? Well, if your mother was as beautiful as Luke's mother, one could be accused of being attractive, too ... though perhaps just about anyone would look fetching in McCall's Padmé's PJ Pattern, whether pregnant or not! It's a lovely dress, and to think, you can make it yourself! Nia Klivian, the AU daughter of one of our favorite Rogues is learning to make things, imbued with meanings she doesn't understand. But the Circuitous Symbol holds the key to her legacy. Creating either the dress or the leaded glass, listed in Art & Stuff, is a good way to make people around her happy. Though A Still, Small Voice illustrates brilliantly how a small voice is beautiful as long as it sounds ... and when it's gone, it's gone. This "Poetry Stuff" is good stuff indeed, in Stories & Things. And the concept of extinction holds true not only for plants and people and animals, but for stuff like businesses. One always fears that a wonderful restaurant might be killed by its sheer celebrity, but Les Halles is holding the admirers at arm's length, even when they become picky and order omelettes made without any fat ... the food is good, with or without Chef Bourdain's presence! Pics galore in this "Noshery Review" in Hut Cuisine! (They don't serve bugs, by the way.)September 10, 2005
It's a bit over a week since Dragon*Con and sorry for last week's delay ... even the con's website states long naps are needed! Well, at least we've been goaded into writing reports so that we can explain where we were — we stayed on-site at Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotels, which was described by Ray Bradbury as "pure science fiction," the greatest endorsement a Sci-Fi con hotel can get, eh? Well, he might not have been talking about the elevators! As for what we were doing, we decided we were into cosplay, and we learned a lot. The extensive list of "what we wished we knew back then" is assembled in Cosplay Tips & Tricks for everything from what it is to how to do it. These are "Field Reports" and "Essays & Rants" in Stories & Things. Yeah, it seems obsessive, but cosplay and going to cons in lieu of "real" vacations is turning into a 'hut tradition! An already established tradition is to go to restaurants and start photographing the food! Some of the non-huttites we dine with think we're not quite stable, but they do like the photos as reminders of what we ate. It's actually a good way to log your nights out. Even if its a buffet breakfast, like at Allie's American Grill which, though a bit pricy, turned out to be a good money saver on a day-to-day basis. And when at a con, going to Trader Vic's seems the very rightest thing to do, with it's fantasy of Polynesian food (a misunderstood genre americanus!) Hot meals can be a luxury when running around a con, but we made sure to imbibe a couple of times at The Marquis Steakhouse with its many good side dishes. But if we couldn't imbibe because of time or money, we were more than happy with Atrium Express, with its particularly good roast beef sandwich and its well-stocked ice cream bars! Unless you'd like something more "adult" in which case, we hung out at the Grandstand Lounge for the de rigeur pianobar posing ... These are all "Noshery Reviews" in Hut Cuisine, and they are a reward in themselves, over and above the fact that we were at a "cross-genre" con ... and it was fun! We hope you enjoy the reports. We'll have a few "costume" pieces up in the coming weeks, too.September 5, 2005
This week's posting postponed due to attendance at DragonCon.
Reports coming soon! In the meantime, catch up on last week's and previous weeks' postings!!
August 28, 2005
"Kunrakin" finally manages to explain his absence to "Tahirina" ... so what's next? Why, it's the final chapter (12) of Once A Warrior, where you get to see where the heart of this warrior beats strongest. This whole tale can be found in "GFFA Fanfic," Stories & Things. His mother's "mother's" heart likewise beat strongly for her adopted daughter, and the memory of her love lives on in this recipe for Queen's Condiment, a sort of relish of "healing" plants to make infirmary fare infinitely more palatable. It's a Hut Cuisine "Recipe," listed as both a Sauce and a Condiment. We bet the royal transport — as well as the transport Kunra's lover arrived in — would have been something like the resplendent Technicolor Hummer, inspired by a local production of Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat and a drive-by siting by the Humvee dealership! It's pure filk, and thus listed in "Poetry Stuff" in Stories & Things. In his mother's closets, the warrior would have seen some outfits that might have been made using Simplicity Star Wars Patterns — the sharp-eyed PadawanRose sent us a notification for the seamsters and costumers among us! Now we have no excuse not to go to that Hallowe'en party as Tion Medon ... well, except for the weight we'd have to lose and the height we'd need to masquerade as the Utapau official! That means don't eat so much, we suppose ... so instead of the buffet, try hitting an à la carte place. Though if the food is good, like it is as Baluchi's, you might overimbibe, so stay for the rockin' music at dinnertime, too. You might expend a few calories/ kilojoules, at least! It's a "Noshery Review" in Hut Cuisine, with pictures taken without a flash. :)August 21, 2005
The return of Iella's Many Happy Returns is a reminder that any grim situation can be made all the more grim by seemingly unimportant things ... Chapter 37 seems to be going the way of our heroes, but as we say, things just seem to happen ... that's kind of what Tahiri might be expecting "Kunrakin" to say, but his explanation as to why he didn't return to her isn't what she expected. Of course, Once A Warrior, always a warrior, regardless of the "package" — Part 11 details succinctly how the warrior spent his time away. Both of these ongoing "GFFA Fanfics" are in Stories & Things; they're wrapping up, so get cracking if you haven't read the previous chapters (or it's been a while). You don't want not knowing how Anakin and Tahiri got to this point, or you might be like Peter Pettigrew, always looking over his shoulder for a certain Kneazle! A "Wee Wookiee" Art & Stuff submission illustrates this fear palpably in Kneazle vs. Animagus, an otherwise charming illustration of two normally rather repugnant looking creatures from the Harry Potter universe. The Two Fat Saxon Witches might be described that way, but their cooking is sublime — former Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge asks them to create an hors d'oeuvre when he is forced to vacate his position, and he can't escape their Potstickers Political, spiced with their own not-so-subliminal commentary! It's listed in "Appetizers" in Hut Cuisine, and includes step by step instructions in how to form the potstickers (or ravioli) as well as instructions how to cook them, with serving suggestions. Too stressful for you? Try the food at Noodles 28 (on 29th), where they serve a much more easily digestible blend Vietnamese and Chinese food, sans the politics. It is a nicely decorated place with excellent food, as stated in "Noshery Reviews," also in Hut Cuisine. Whether your not-so-carefully laid-out plans are about to unravel or you're being chased by a mysterious kneazle, consume 'Hut fare happily!August 15, 2005
Meeting your fiancé's family is stressful no matter how friendly everyone is, but if you're marrying the oldest in a family of seven red-haired children, you'd better have something special about you. Fleur Delacoeur is one-quarter Veela, but that cuts no slack with her future mother-in-law until she shows interest in helping create the evening meal for the Weasleys. They call it Buffet Mexicaine, complete with illustrations of the food originally inspired by the PlazaQueen's Noshery Review for Qdoba Mexican Grill. The food is basic, but everyone likes it — did you think Fleur got the Weasleys to love her all at once? Read the "Set Piece" tale in Hut Cuisine. Coran Horn could do with some lessons in trust; once again, he is shocked that his little girl is growing toward womanhood, in Burning Kilojoules. And he's going to be a jerk about it, but that's okay — Wes and Hobbie will come to Jysella's rescue! It's a "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things and though it's the story of the love of a father for his soon-to-run-away daughter, you know Wes and Hobbie will be fun, albeit in an inappropriate way ... Just wait till he catches her at Corfu, which is nicknamed "the burnt seafood hut" by the reviewers, who nevertheless find it to be a kind of good down and gritty date place, redolent with Greek-ness. They are much better than the more traditional American-style seafood shack called Blue Fin, where nothing seemed to be good: service, food, seating ... how can one get so much wrong? Elsewhere, there was no climate control on a night so hot that the "humidex" rated the temperature at over 100°F / 38°C, but the food, service, and company were spot-on perfect at the Silverleaf Tavern. Corran would probably feel worse seeing his daughter with a paramour in the swanky hot venue than he might at the cheaper place? You decide, read these "Noshery Reviews" in Hut Cuisine. Daughters just can't win against the expectations of their dads, eh?August 8, 2005
You remember that Bugs Bunny / Martin the Martian encounter, where the latter went to a gumball-style dispenser reading, "Instant Martians, just add water." In Thrawn McEwok's Once A Warrior, he explains the almost-instant process of shaping a Yuuzhan Vong ... just add pain! Part 10 mixes and slashes, till Anakin Solo recedes to a bad memory ... This "GFFA Fanfic" will keep you on the "Embrace of Pain," listed in Stories & Things. Then again, it could be gas ... but you won't suffer from that sort of pain at Qdoba Mexican Grill, which receives a 'thumbs up' for freshness and for being muy delicioso ... mooey mooey! For those of us looking for more authentic fare from the original Spanish speaking country, try the Basquaise Pintxos, which actually means something similar to "tapas" or "dim sum" in the local dialect. These "Noshery Reviews" can be found in Hut Cuisine. In an sort of pan-cultural presentation, the Firefly 'verse provides alternatives to meat in a society which values food very highly indeed. Protein All Colors of the Rainbow is the Hut Cuisine "Set Piece" offering many dishes based on the ensemble cast and situations of the long-ago canceled TV series Firefly. On the other side and time of the universe, Bathtime for the Crown Princess; the princess inherits her title from both sides of her family. Toddler Padmé is the daughter of Tusken Raider princess Tahiri and the granddaughter of Princess Leia. And she's a Jedi on both sides, doing battle with Darth Pitten! We're serious, take a peek at this "GFFA Art" in Art & Stuff. Based on the AU At the Oasis, it shows precocious tykes live all through the universe. Whether reborn as Yuuzhan Vong or in an AU, check them all out!July 31, 2005
A reader sent a note, basically asking, "Where is the rest of Many Happy Returns?" and Iella responded with a brand new Chapter 36 where Dajira and others have to face up to their responsibilities ... and she promises more! So all you readers who want more, write to the authors and to the Admin 'Droid, and your "GFFA Fanfic" wishes will come true! Check out Iella's ongoing tale in Stories & Things. After all, everyone has an opinion, and Hutties limne theirs regarding Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling's book #6 in the Hogwart's-based series. You know how when you're at school the bottom level stuff is all the rote and memorization stuff, and finally when you read the upper classes it all starts to come together? Yeah, you had better been reading and thinking all along to get the most out of this one! If you haven't, enjoy the re-reading, and enjoy meeting characters like Ron's owl again; he's small in stature but big in ego, as demonstrated in Pigwidgin, Be Proud!, a "Wee Wookiees" Art & Stuff set of drawings. The "Book Review" is in Stories & Things, and while you're refreshing yourself in the Potter universe, it helps to occasionally go back and add photos or rewrite bits of our "Noshery Reviews" in Hut Cuisine, too, like we did for Carolina BBQ House, that wondrous buffet that charges you extra for "beverages." It also helps to dig up the photos from last winter and finish up the reviews from then; never keep an opinion about a place to yourself! Argue it out in Hut Cuisine, and at Priya, the reviewers were at odds about how they felt about this Indian restaurant installed in a former bank building. Well, at least we all feel pretty much the same about the straight-named Waffle House ... though already someone has written in with a difference in opinion. Hey, we're happy to post rants and differences of opinion! So not only should you complain about stories which need to be written up and done, but you should complain about what we complain about! Got it???July 24, 2005
You're dead ... and you think someone's come too late to rescue you, but it turns out the one who separated your soul from your flesh is the GOOD guy ... Literally the closest possible shave is what Anakin experiences, as described by Thrawn's Once A Warrior, Part 9 makes one wonder who's side ANYONE is on ... much less who's skin one is in! It's an ongoing and superbly written "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things, which is also an apt description for the latest of Iella's GFFA Hums #4: Pride Before the Fall, which puts the name "Mitth'raw'nuruodo" to a popular little ditty from a few years back. It's "Poetry Stuff" but also classified as "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things. In accordance with the "Hum," one can imagine Coruscant being a place where one takes tea (Obi-wan's accent is described as "clipped Coruscanti," after all). In another universe, the social quaff of choice appears to be Butterbeer, and so we post a very easy recipe in honor of the issue of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince this past week — expect a review soon! And while we are hopping universes, hop to a place in Tennessee which is considered a tourist trap of sorts, but it's worth being trapped to go to a nostalgic, long-lived restaurant called Pancake Pantry, where not only memories made, but preserved perfectly, and served with cherries or strawberries or chocolate! Yummy, it's a "Noshery Review," and it, along with the "Potables & Beverages" recipe are in Hut Cuisine. And if you're wondering about the types of memories Mitth'raw'nuruodo might have, consider how he likely remembers the Emperor: Group Portrait, by Thrawn demonstrates perfectly what Thrawn meant by learning about a culture through its art ... while Back in Time for Tea demonstrates what he wished might have been. It's all very goofy and fun, like many Hur things, even if one has to learn who one's real friends are the hard way ...July 18, 2005
Thrawn McEwok has entered the spiraling world of gorey descriptions as Anakin Solo is shaped ... Rated R covers such descriptions, meaning if you're one of those people who suffer nightmares, best to read Once A Warrior in broad daylight! Part 8 will make you wonder how far one can go and still be sort of considered ALIVE ... strap yourselves in, because it's the first of several such parts of the great story of Anakin Solo's fate post-Myrkyr, in "GFFA Fanfic," Stories & Things. Come to think of it, some of that goopy stuff one of us ate at The Living Room Café does have that sort of raw look ... it was only redeemed because some cute cops in kilts walked by was we attempted to imbibe! It's otherwise a thumbs-down "Noshery Review" in Hut Cuisine (hey, it happens!), but it's balanced by the definite "must go" date-place called The Elephant, where one imbibes in Thai food as a Frenchman might see it (not in elephant!). And if that's too visceral a description (first Vong shaping, then Vongesque cooking!), heed Master Yoda's admonition that TVP Real Food It Is ... that stands for "textured vegetable protein" and despite its rather explicit name, this ingredient does indeed make the best TVP Chili and TVP "Meat" Loaf, and includes Tips on TVP Prep. This "Set Piece" is also in Hut Cuisine. But if you prefer your 'Hut entries less food-like, how about Diana's scribbles for Iella's GFFA Hums #3, Enlarged? You saw them last week, but these are bigger :) and it's "GFFA Art" in Art & Stuff. Despite the end of the movie saga, every little aspect of the GFFA lives on in the 'Hut!July 10, 2005
The irrepressible Iella is at it again! She's written three more GFFA Hums, this time about trouble a-brewin': Wedding Plans | Grand Theft Speeder | Malevolent Master Maul — trouble for Prince Isolder, Simon Greystoke, and Darth Maul, but all wonders and happiness for us! And it's become a sort of tradition for Diana to do some scribbles for her along the way, so be sure to check out this "Poetry Stuff" in Stories & Things! For art of another sort, new contributor PadawanRose sent in a photo of her younglings wearing costumes she made herself! Oh, to have such a mother who would grant that The Senator & the Jedi, Come to Life!. She did most of the research and work herself, it looks great, and the models seem to love the garb, too! It really is "GFFA Art," and we hope more costumes will be listed in Art & Things someday! Though one should watch out how many of Gramma Loran's Pierogies one eats. Guinastasia opines that it's too easy to eat too many of them, as well as the leftover potato filling, too ... and within it is a simple, yummy Mashed Potato recipe ... Face has to be careful how many he eats, or he'll never fit into his costumes! Same goes for eating at Prune, which is a great grill place (despite its name), whether for winter or summer, says this "Noshery Review," and both foodie submissions are in Hut Cuisine. Ate too much anyway? Might be worth laughing it off — try this horredy (horror comedy ... but is it supposed to be??) called Seed of Chucky. Voices are provided by LOTR alumnus, too! Enough reason to read the "Movie Review" in Stories & Things. (And remember, moderation in all things, or as Face points out, you'll be a horredy when you try to get into that corset ...) Thank you to all the new submitters this week! What would the 'hut be without you??July 3, 2005
Don't you hate when you get a song into your head and it won't go away? Sometimes the only cure is to sing along till the words warp in your brain ... we suspect something like that happened to Iella, and thus Palpatine, a filk based on Queen's Killer Queen. We bet Freddy Mercury would have made a FINE playmate for the Sith! Confused yet? Well, just as Complications ended with Part 6: Three's a Crowd, the surprise ending leads to a new tale — Confusions ... but it really is a separate story ... though Part 1: Once Upon A Time will live up to its series title, no matter how clear you on where one story starts ... while the other ends ... The filk is "Poetry Stuff" and the new tale is "GFFA Fanfic," both in Stories & Things. All that mind whirling stuff hurting you? Well, get in line, like they did at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party, where the best championship 'cue from around the country showed up in the concrete jungle of New York City. It was definitely worth waiting in line, even though one had to pick and choose which lines. Of course, with all the people there, it was possible to get lost and end up in the wrong place. Like some Hutties did when they stepped into what should have been an old fashioned Italian pastry shop, De Robertis Pasticceria and Caffe. "Disappointment" is the term one uses when expectations are not met ... it applies to many pastry places where the food just isn't up to snuff. So it's good to have a guaranteed good place, like Noodles on 28 where service is abrupt but the food is decent and inexpensive and exactly what you expected. Not da bomb, but just right sometimes. The "Field Report" is in Stories & Things, and the "Noshery Reviews" are in Hut Cuisine. Hey, in the image up above ... is that a rebel alliance tattoo???June 26, 2005
You have enough Complications with your boyfriend's "soul" trapped within you (he's dead, by the way!) and then you start running into his family and their lovers ... some of whom are bent on seduction, or maybe attack? Part 6: Three's a Crowd has a title that may say it TOO well! And we're warning you ... the PG-13 rating is kind of liberal ... especially the mind-goggling ending to this multi-part tale! All 6 chapters are all listed in "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things, should you need to read backwards! In case you need a trip back in time, too often we think too hard, when all we have to do is drive a few hours to get back to some perceived time-that-was ... and take a Classic Midwest Summer Weekend where we can go to a waterpark, food stands, a genuine drive-in sock-hoppy restaurant called H & B's Hop, and a genuine drive-in movie theater, smack in the middle of a Heartland cornfield. Truly, this "Field Report" can take you back in time, if not in absolute space. for that, you can watch television ... though not just ANY television. You know, thank goodness for DVDs because there is so much gos seh on TV that it's possible to miss the good stuff simply because you're avoiding the dreck that's prevalent. If so, then get the DVD 14-episode set for Firefly, where you get to learn some neat Mandarin words and get to fall in love with a TV show that you should have watched. The "Review" makes this infatuation rather clear, but do go watch the show! Love will make you do odd things, like ... even cook for someone you care about when you're not exactly knowledgeable about the hows or whys of the process. But it makes the effort all the more touching when it works out, don't you think? That's how Anakin feels when his wife makes Padmé's "Barbecue" Chicken, and do note the quotemarks. Though it actually does taste good, we're sure Anakin would have loved it no matter if it tastes like banthas probably smell! But it doesn't, it's really really good, and it's a "Recipe" in Hut Cuisine, and it really is rather adorable (and not at all complicated) in its way!June 20, 2005
Okay, okay ... so we've waited forever for AlianInvader's I Can Wait Forever, but we warn you, Part 10 is the last one for a while, so make it last! (Be sure you write to her an implore "MORE!" ... fanfic authors live for that, and they do respond!) And isn't it just like her to leave Jaina (and us!) in the lurch?? Enjoy this racy marginally PG-rated "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things. And some of you might consider the character of JarJar Binks to be marginal, too ... but some of us are actually intrigued by this being enough to delve into what he would cook for company. And wouldn't you know it? He made Gooberfish Head Soup for the assembled political hoi-polloi of Naboo ... but the Senator herself declared it good! Honest! It's classified as both a "Seafood Main Dish" and a "Soup" in Hut Cuisine recipes. It's not as odd as one might think; the Chinese do not waste any part of an animal in their culinary tradition either, and the food is often delicious and cheap for it, too! Witness Golden Sea, the place to go to when you don't know what to eat, but it'd better be good! And if you get there earlier in the day, it's Golden Sea for Dimsum. (Actually, the guy we questioned only spoke Cantonese, and we couldn't decide if dimsum was only served on weekends, or all week?) These "Noshery Reviews" in Hut Cuisine define food so good you might swoon ... like a certain Rogue does as his exit-maneuver on many a sortis ... BactaBoy is the appropriate nickname for the man who would spent so many hours in the drink, as it were ... and it's a poem with rhyming couplets, should you be into that sort of thing. And even if you aren't, it's still a good poem by Wraith6, who ordinarily is the resident painter on the 'Hut. He says he was inspired by Iella's GFFA Hums! Well heck, who wouldn't be??June 12, 2005
ShadowChaser delves into a classic Stackpole SW novel and fills in some gaps in the narrative upon the revelations in Ep3! Star Wars: Paths of the Jedi — Valin Halcyon brings the Camaasi gift of memory sharing to what we knew had to have happened. Go read it; it'll likely be a series! Like that long-suffering Erisi Dlarit series, Lady On A Box; it's normally NC-17, but Part 5: Probe Consideration is curiously rated "PG" ... makes you wonder what storm might be a-brewin'! Visit "GFFA Fanfic" in Stories & Things for these and other fine-quality fanfic. And remember the recipes of Hut Cuisine have some pretty dandy stories too — like the tricks one can do with a prosthetic, in Waffles = Toasted Human Hand, and it puts several waffle recipes and many "tips and tricks" all in one place, for your breakfasting or practical joking pleasure! It's a "Set Piece," featuring Obi-wan and his errant first pupil. It could have been worse, for instead of punishing Anakin with waffle-making duties, he might have forced him to eat mediocre food in a so-so place, like Shore, which was surprising considering its paternity ... well, can't judge a man by his father, eh? (Where have we heard that before??) Enjoy this "Noshery Review." You CAN, however, sometimes judge a GFFA denizen by the hums they recite as they go along doing what they do ... You do remember Iella's excellent GFFA Hums? There are two so far with more promised (we hope!!!). We were all chatting late one night when it came out that Iella thought it'd be great to see some scribbles or doodles or anything illustrating the "hums" ... and so it came to pass! Diana and Runt have been twiddling with pen and paper and happily announce that they are ready to view: GFFA Hums and GFFA Hums 2! So these poems will be listed in Art & Stuff, as well as in the other categories. We hope you enjoy them, and if you feel compelled to hum or scribble something of your own, be sure to send it on over to the Hut! (And how many times have you see Ep3 so far??)June 6, 2005
Waking up is often a scary thing in the GFFA. It's ongoing series fanfic day here it seems, and it's all scary and GOOD! ThrawnMcEwok's tale of waking up with your dead lover's soul in your body takes on an interesting twist when it's obvious you aren't quite in charge with your body anymore. Complications: Part 5 delves deeper and more disturbingly into the probabilities. And ShadowChaser's X-Wing: Lusankya finds Tycho not quite woken up when he's given orders to live .. but Chapter 11 punches him hard when he is awake! Its Rated R for graphic descriptions of horrible violence and torture. And last fortnight's Star Wars: Consequences actually is the third in a series called Ruminations. Read the other two parts: Star Wars: NJO — Feelings and Star Wars: NJO — Thoughts, which are short writings on the inner thoughts of various characters ... they are more studies in a sense, but worth reading! Well, then again, all "GFFA Fanfic" suitable for listing in Stories & Things are required reading, don't you think?? And the stories within Hut Cuisine recipes are also studies of sorts, but they do make sense of the recipes within ... look over Twins’ Fish — High, Low and In Between where a fishing trip combined with the GFFA produced three distinctive fish recipes that could have come from the Skywalker twins themselves! And in our universe, they did, of course! Think that's incongruous? How about beatnik southern French style bistro in Hollywood? Sounds like a movie setting, but the restaurant is called California Canteen, and the name doesn't seem to fit the setting either ... but the food was a nice change from the normal offerings of tinseltown. The "Noshery Review" and "Set Piece" are both in Hut Cuisine. And what if you woke up one day and saw a felbeast flying above you ... and on its back was the Witch King himself, but wearing something you'd never seen before ... would you panic? WraithVI believes Samwise Gamgee overcame his temerity and became the hero here, as he was throughout the LOTR tale, and didn't run away. Instead, he produced an Eyewitness Sketch of the Witch King in Armor. Check out this eerily beautiful set of drawings in "Other Art," Art & Stuff!May 29, 2005
We're still seeing Ep3 in theaters and have noticed that the tale improves on repeated viewings. Proof: fanfic! Obi-wan continues to be a favorite topic, and Diana claims to have had this one in her head for quite a while now, but it took Beru's accepting Luke at the end of the film to finally finish it up. Being as close as he was to the Chosen One, Obi-wan considers himself a Third Parent to the twins. Wonder what made him give Luke up to Beru and Owen? Just as well he did, or there'd be no Anakin Solo and thus no Kunra! ThrawnMcEwok continues to give a workshop description of "shaping 101" in his series Once A Warrior, and Part 7 is still a PG-13 doozy, and both "GFFA Fanfic" are listed in Stories & Things. When Obi-wan went into exile on Tatooine, he had to learn how to make a living, how to gather food, how to find peace within himself with his memories. Some of his memories resulted in recipes that were in themselves tradable goods. They're logged in the "Set Piece" called Tatooine Memories Chicken Salads and they all have ingredients in common, but the locales and situations resulted in different techniques to create the different dishes. And before the Clone Wars had started, Anakin had made a bit of a blooper on Utapau by eating some worms that looked like noodles, forcing Obi-wan to step in and explain about Negotiable Soup Noodles. This "Soup" is also in Hut Cuisine, as is a "Noshery Review" for Olives, and Italian fusiony sort of restaurant that is very LA, rather than NYC. Wonder what the GFFA equivalents for those two towns might be? We know that the Jedi might be a less fun, less exhuberant version of Team America: World Police, a "Movie/DVD Review" which actually rates a Death Star evaluation! It's in Stories and Things, and let's face it, when we think of Ep3, we want to yell "F**