PopaHALLics #152 "Guinness, Ghosts, and Valley Girls"

Dad and daughter dish on "House of Guinness," about a family struggle for control of the brewery; "Presence," a ghost story told from the ghost's POV; variety show host Ed Sullivan and civil rights; and more! Plus the duo likes looking back at "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion." Me too!

Streaming:

• "House of Guinness," Netflix. In this historical drama from the creator of "Peaky Blinders," the brewery founder's four adult children, "each with dark secrets to hide," wrestle for control after his passing. Starring Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, and Fionn O'Shea.
• "Presence," Hulu and Disney +. Director Steven Soderbergh returns to fine independent filmmaking form with this clever spin on a haunted house tale. When a troubled family moves in, we experience events from the ghost's perspective. Starring Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callian Liang, and Eddy Maday.
• "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," Hulu and Disney +. In the 1997 screwball comedy, two Valley Girls (Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow) invent fake careers to impress their former classmates. The cult classic also stars Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming, and Camryn Manheim.
• "Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan," Netflix. This 2023 documentary makes the case that the variety show pioneer was also a pioneer in civil rights by showcasing black acts on TV. Includes archival footage of amazing performances and interviews with Smokey Robinson, Harry Belafonte, Dionne Warwick, Oprah Winfrey, and more.
• "Howl," Prime, various streaming services. Passengers on an overnight train are stranded in the forest with werewolves about in this claustrophobic British horror thriller. Starring Ed Speleers, Holly Weston, Elliott Cowan, and more.

Books:

• "The Warm Hands of Ghosts," by Katherine Arden. A combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the WWI trenches, despite eerie evidence otherwise in this acclaimed novel.

Please click through the links to watch and read about what we're discussing. The "fair use" doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism, comment, and education.

PopaHALLics #151 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW (Part Two)"

Steve's almost month-long "retirementmoon" in the Pacific Northwest continues! In this episode: A whirlwind trip to Canada, Bainbridge Island, and Seattle. The Aquarium, the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Fremont Troll, Jimi Hendrix's grave—and more! Join us.

Some memorable places and experiences:

• Silver Falls State Park, Salem, OR. The Trail of Ten Falls, a nationally recognized hiking trail, takes you to 10 waterfalls, including several you can walk behind.
• Sol Duc Hot Springs, Olympic National Park, WA. This resort offers three relaxing mineral hot springs (temperatures ranging from 99 to 104F) and one freshwater soaking pool.
• Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada. This 121-year-old world-famous garden created by Jennie Butchart features 55 acres of gorgeous flowers and landscaping in five different gardens.
• Japanese-American Exclusion Memorial, Bainbridge Island, WA. This solemn memorial remembers the island's Japanese-Americans, who were the first on the West Coast to be taken away to incarceration camps during World War II.
• Fremont Vintage Mall, Seattle, WA. The self-styled "coolest vintage store in the center of the universe" features furniture, collectibles, records, and more.
• Hot Tub Boats, Seattle. A float in a boat made into a 104 F hot tub on the chilly waters of Lake Union is an unforgettable experience. Bonus: You can motor past the houseboat featured in "Sleepless in Seattle."
• Leavenworth, WA. This Bavarian-style village is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Seattle in the Cascades. Is it hokey? Yes. But great food and drink, Bavarian-themed shops, and the Tumwater Twister Alpine Coaster will make you say "Ja!"

Part One, PopaHALLics #150 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW, is a fun listen too!

Music:

We've assembled a Spotify playlist related to the sights and sounds of the trip, Popahallics #150 Playlist (PNW). Jump in the train/van/hot tub boat and turn it up!

U.S. copyright law allows for the limited "fair use" of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, and education.

PopaHALLics #150 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW" (part one)

Join us for a special adventure into the Pacific Northwest! Steve celebrates his retirement with a "retirementmoon" - an almost month-long trip in Oregon and Washington State - and Kate joins him in Seattle. In part one, Steve and his wife travel cross-country on the Empire Builder train; explore funky Portland; travel along the scenic Oregon and Washington coasts; explore the diverse ecosystems of Olympic National Park and the Hoh Rain Forest; visit sites used for filming "The Goonies" and "Twilight"—and more! It's the trip of a lifetime! Join us!

Music:

We've assembled a special Spotify playlist related to the sights and sounds of the trip, Popahallics #150 Playlist (PNW). From "The Black Ball Ferry Line" featuring Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters to Hendrix and Pearl Jam, this enjoyable playlist puts you in the train/van/hot tub boat with us!

Fun Places We Stayed:

• A roomette on Amtrak's Empire Builder train headed west. Cozy!
• McMenamins' Crystal Hotel, Portland, OR. A very cool historic hotel with music-themed rooms, a basement soaking pool, restaurant and concert areas. Located in the Pearl District, it's a good base for exploring downtown Portland.
• Escape Campervan. Our home on wheels for 12 days! Great way to see the country and have a bed, fridge (solar powered), stove (propane), and sink. You're on your own re restroom.
• South Beach State Park, Newport, OR. Miles of broad ocean beach, walking and biking trails, and close proximity to Newport, which has lighthouses, whale watching, etc. Note: The beach is a longer hike from the campground than you think.
• Hart's Camp, formerly known as Cape Kiwanda RV Park, Pacific City, OR. All the amenities you'd expect in a RV park, plus bunnies hopping around the campsites. We met some interesting motocross guys while having a soak in the hot tub. Conveniently located across the road from Pelican Brewing and Haystack Rock.
• Fay Bainbridge Park Campground, Bainbridge Island, WA. Maybe our favorite campground of the trip—and in a city park! The campsites are just a short walk from an almost-mile-long stretch of beach with awesome views of Puget Sound, Seattle and, on a clear day, Mount Rainier and Mount Baker.