We hope everyone is doing well as the days become longer and (hopefully soon) warmer! Some fun news to start off with: we had our first (mostly) in-person meeting!!! Pictured here we have Reid Martin online with us, Emily Doucette, Joshua Sidlofsky taking a photo of Thomas Johnston taking our photo (picture not included because Thomas did not approve, but trust us, he looked cute too!), Max Ackerman, and the lovely KD below the table who was integral to the meeting and got many pets and scratches! We all gathered to talk about new plans for spring and summer this year. It was so nice to meet face-to-face, laugh, and bounce ideas off each other without classic Zoom interruptions!
Despite having to postpone the Sinai Sessions fundraiser due to Covid, we are continuing to work with a wonderful team to bring this show to you as soon as we can. We have been having very exciting talks and know this is going to be a special production! Stay tuned on social media for an update on when the fundraiser will be happening!
Also, by our next Dandelion Diaries in May, we will be able to share amazing news about a summer project that we are currently crafting! This will certainly be a departure for Dandelion that we have been talking about since our conception, so we are incredibly pumped to get the ball rolling!
Recommendations:
Here you can find recommendations from Dandelion’s team members! Each diary will include a new list of our updated favourites! Have you watched or read something that you think we should know about? Shoot us a message on our facebook, instagram, or twitter with your recommendations!
Book:
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan
“This novel was recommended to me by a colleague and it was so freaking amazing that I feel it is absolutely necessary that I pass the recommendation along. Though it is on the longer side, it took me less than a week to finish because I just couldn’t put it down!
This book is a beautiful story about a 15 year old girl uncovering family mysteries as she comes to terms with her mother’s death by suicide. She believes that her mother has been turned into a bird after death, and travels to Tawain to meet her grandparents and find her mother, the bird. While in Taiwan, she begins to uncover family secrets and connects with her mother in more ways than she ever has before. The Astonishing Colour of After incorporates magical realism and lyrical-like prose through the colour spectrum to invent a story of love, loss, and growth. Every page truly felt like a new gift as I entered the magical and colourful world of the novel. I cannot wait to read more of Pan’s work. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys young adult fiction, magical realism, and stories that are simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming.” - Emily Doucette (Managing Director)
Movie:
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
“If you have not watched this movie you are wrong. Go watch it. Now.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a mockumentary making fun of all of those popstar documentaries that came out in the 2010s like Katy Perry’s Part of Me or Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping follows former “Style Boyz” star Conner Friel (played by the one AND ONLY Andy Samberg) as he finds himself as a solo artist. This movie holds up even after the hundredth watch. The soundtrack is all original songs by Lonely Island and every. Single. One. Bops. Like does this soundtrack show up in my Spotify wrapped almost every year? Maybe but that’s my business. And let me tell you the cast is insane. While watching the movie I literally do not understand how they got so many random famous people to be in it, you’ve got your classic Lonely Island band members and their friends like Justin Timberlake but then you also get random superstars like Carrie Underwood, Adam Levine, Pink, Snoop Dogg, ASAP Rocky and I could keep going because the cameo list is endless and crazy.
On my hundredth and first re-watch literally, two days ago I was ranting about how this is a cult CLASSIC without the cult following. Please go watch it and join my tiny cult of super fans for this hilarious and iconic movie. 100/10” - Reid Martin (Outreach Coordinator)
TV Show:
Peacemaker
“Peacemaker is definitely a dumb show. Some even may say stupid. But can anyone say that it isn’t a ton of ridiculous fun? See that’s where you got me.
Peacemaker follows outdated, racist, sexist, homophobic, not nice but way too charming Christopher Smith. Smith goes by the uber patriotic alias, “Peacemaker”, who will bring freedom and justice to the world, “no matter how many woman and children he kills”. Smith learns pretty quickly that absolutely no one likes him, and slowly realizes it’s because his also extremely bigoted father raised him in all the wrong ways. John Cena plays Peacemaker, and is joined by an extremely talented and hilarious cast.
The show is a direct sequel to the new “Suicide Squad” movie, but it’s not required viewing to enjoy the show. If you’re looking for some fun times, lots of blood, and John Cena being John Cena, look no further than Peacemaker" - Joshua Sidlofsky (Associate Artistic Director)
Recipe:
A Dandelion tested and approved recipe sure to bring joy to your afternoon picnics or midnight snacks!
Max’s Green Bucateen: Submitted by Max Ackerman (Artistic Director)
Serves 2-4
1 package bucatini
4-6 rashers thick cut bacon, pancetta, or guanciale
1 cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
1/2 bunch leafy greens (spinach or kale works best)
2 heads broccolini
3/4 cup grated parmesan reggiano cheese
1/4 cup bread crumbs
Herbs and spices
1 shallot
2 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1. To start, boil your water for your pasta. While you wait for it to boil thinly slice your garlic and shallot. Set aside.
2. Once your water as come to a boil salt it (but don’t you dare put in any oil) and add your noodles. Generally bucatini boils for about 6 minutes but feel free to use a different noodle if you prefer.
3. While your noodles are boiling prepare your greens. If you are using kale make sure to remove the stems and give it a rough chop so the pieces are bite sized. Wash your greens and set them aside.
4. Prepare the broccolini by trimming the woody parts of them stems and separating the florets a bit. These pieces can stay a bit larger. Wash and set aside.
5. Once your pasta has finished boiling, make sure to reserve about a cup of pasta water and set it aside for later. Then, drain your pasta.
6. In the same pot, add your bacon. Fry until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, keeping just enough oil to glaze the bottom of the pan. Add the garlic and shallots and cook until they’ve taken on a bit of golden colour.
7. Add your broccolini and some pasta water and cover to cook, about 2-3 minutes. Optional here is also to add a splash of sherry to bring a nice sweetness to the dish.
8. Once the broccolini is cooked, add your peas. If frozen, cook until defrosted, if fresh cook until they are a nice emerald colour. Then, add your leafy greens, cooking a minute longer.
9. While the veggies are becoming friendly, make your cheese mixture. Add your Parmesan and breadcrumbs together to a bowl with your spices. These can vary depending on what you have. I generally like to use oregano, thyme, sage, dried parsley, paprika, along with salt and pepper. Mix until combined.
10. Once the veggies are done cooking, and your noodles back to the pot and stir to combine until the noodles are coated with the sauce.
11. Add cheese mixture and stir till incorporated.
12. Top with the crispy bacon and serve!