Author: Francine Brokaw

El Rincon for Mexican dining in Sedona, Arizona

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Sedona, Arizona is a popular vacation destination with plenty of artistic shops and restaurants. At the edge of town is the quaint old-world Mexican style Tlaquepaque outside shopping village. And in that village is El Rincon, a delicious and atmospheric dining restaurant with a wide variety of Mexican food. El Rincon prides itself on “Arizona Style Mexican Cuisine, blending traditional Mexican and Navajo-Hopi influences.” The atmosphere is typical Mexican style inside with a nice outside patio for dining as well. This family-friendly locale is not only a great choice for visitors but residents as well.

Their selection is large and unique. For instance, they offer a scrumptious spinach and cream cheese enchilada, either ala carte or as a combo with a taco, rice, and beans. This enchilada is flavorful and possibly addicting as it’s taste is delicious and something not often offered in the usual Mexican restaurants. 

 

Adults can select one of their specialty margaritas or other libations.

And for dessert, their Sopapilla is not the usual delicacy offered in Mexican restaurants. Instead, it is a flat, pizza-style cinnamon flavored dough and is served with honey to drizzle on top. The usual sopapilla is more like a French beignet however this one is quite different. It does taste delicious, though.

 

This is a restaurant often frequented by not only residents of Sedona, but also surrounding cities and towns as it offers so much for a modest amount of money. The selection is large as is the amount of food. And every table automatically gets a basket of chips and salsa. And for the more adventurous, ask for the spicier salsa at no additional charge.

Tlaquepaque is a nice place to walk off your dinner with plenty of shops to peruse in an atmosphere of an old Mexican town. Its walkways, architecture, statues, and fountains offer old-world charm. 

While traveling to or through northern Arizona, check out Tlaquepaque and definitely El Rincon. Sedona is 15 miles from Flagstaff and 35 miles from Williams, both of which are also vacation destinations. 

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about travel, products, and all aspects of entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County.

‘Angry Birds Mystery Island’ part two now available to stream

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

  • When three teenage hatchlings and a piglet get stranded on a deserted island, Mia, Buddy, Rosie and Hamylton must overcome their differences and supernatural phenomena in order to make it back home. Each day, the gang hatches a plan to get off the island, but is thwarted by unexpected twists and turns. They face extreme weather, challenging adventures and newfound creatures along the way, often solving one mystery only to reveal another. The island tests Mia, Buddy, Rosie and Hamylton constantly, but only by passing these tests and going deep into the heart of darkness can our heroes find a way back to the life they once knew.

The next eight episodes are now available to stream on Amazon Kids+ and Prime Video.

Check out the Amazon Kids website. website

‘Love in Zion National : A National Park Romance’ streams on HMN

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Love in Zion National is a love letter to the National Park and the Anasazi Native people who lived there generations ago. Now called the Pueblo Nation, the Anasazi’s history is rooted in the land now called Zion National Park. In 1919 the land was declared a national park. Located in Southern Utah, this is one of the “Big Five” national parks in the state.

Lauren (Cindy Busby) works at the Denver Natural History Museum. When three vases are donated to the museum, Lauren figures out there is a fourth vase that is missing from the group. Unfortunately, the nephew of the woman who left the vases to the museum is contesting the will and wants to keep the vases. If she can find the fourth vase, Lauren might be able to convince the judge that the vases belong to the Anasazi people and should be returned to them.

This headstrong woman heads down to Zion to look for the missing vase. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, but with the help of Park Ranger Adam (David Gridley), an Anasazi, she might be able to save this piece of their heritage. Decoding the images on the vases gives them clues along with the diary left to the museum by the woman who donated them. Her diary leads them to a rarely seen area of the park.

There is a bit of drama as the nephew hires people to get to the vase first, but thanks to Lauren’s ingenuity, she still might succeed in returning the entire set of four vases to the Anasazi people.
The scenery is magnificent, and for viewers who have never been to this park, it might just be the impetus to make this their next vacation destination. It is a beautiful park filled with all kinds of history, nature, animals, and yes, snakes.

The only problem with the story is the pronunciation of the word Zion. Lauren pronounces it Zi-On, but it is really pronounced Zy-en. People who live in the Southwest will undoubtedly know her pronunciation is wrong, but just let it go and enjoy the scenery that has a sweet story threading through. And yes, this is a Hallmark movie so you know there will be a romantic aspect, which happens at the end.

Love in Zion streams on Hallmark Movies Now, soon to be Hallmark+.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Image courtesy Hallmark media

‘A Costa Rican Wedding’ on Hallmark Channel

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

What happens when everything that can go wrong does go wrong when planning the perfect wedding? That’s the story of  A Costa Rican Wedding, premiering August 17 on Hallmark Channel.  So jet down to Costa Rica to find out what happened in this whacky tale of old friends, snooty parents, and monkeys. Yes, monkeys.

Emily (Rhiannon Fish) is the maid of honor for her best friend Phoebe (Brittany Carel). They’ve been best friends since childhood. Emily is clumsy but very thoughtful. She’s excited about Phoebe’s nuptials to Jamal (CJ Hammond) and their beautifully planned tropical wedding on the beach. But things don’t go exactly the way they all planned.

First of all, Emily meets up with Ryan (Christopher Russell) who is now a tour guide in Costa Rica. They are arch nemeses, at least that is what they think. As the story unwinds they discover they were wrong about each other and well, they turn out to be great friends, and more, by the end of the film.

Emily, as maid of honor, is tasked with bringing Phoebe’s family’s heirloom wedding rings, which she does with great care. However, when they are all on the beach, Emily hangs her backpack (which has the rings inside) on a tree branch. Within seconds some wild monkeys grab the bag and take off. 

The rest of the film has Emily and Ryan frantically searching the jungle for the backpack while the rest of the wedding party is back at the hotel oblivious about the loss of the rings. They think Emily simply wants her phone back, and no one knows that the cherished rings are inside the missing backpack.

When it’s time for the nuptials, Emily and Ryan are still gone, and Phoebe discovers she made a mistake with the date of the ceremony. Her snooty mother reminds her that she should have had a lavish wedding at the local country club instead of coming all the way down to Costa Rica. So, no one is in the wedding mood.

The ending is typical Hallmark Channel, giving viewers a feel-good finale that warms hearts and minds. 

The beauty of the island comes into play in this film, with its lush jungle, stunning waterfalls, volcanos and gorgeous flowers. This looks like a wonderful location for a wedding, when everything goes right. And in the end, even though it is not the wedding Phoebe originally planned, it turns out to be even better.

The movie is now streaming on Hallmark Movies Now, son to be Hallmark+.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

image credit: Hallmark Media

‘My Penguin Friend’ is charming and endearing

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Based on a true story, My Penguin Friend is an endearing tale about one little penguin who heals a lonely fisherman and delights an entire town. This is the story of DinDim, a smart, intuitive, and amazing penguin that proved animals are indeed deserving of our attention and love.

Jean Reno stars as João, a father, husband, and fisherman. When his young son is killed in a boating mishap during a storm, João feels responsible because even though he did not feel it was safe to go out on the water due to the looming storm, his son Miguel really wanted to go so as a loving father he acquiesced to his son’s wishes and took him out for his birthday. 

Years later João is still a broken man. His hopes and dreams are gone. He still mourns the death of his son. Then one day he sees a little penguin covered in oil from a spill. He takes him home, cleans him up, feeds him, and clothes him. Yes, he put a make shift sweater on the little guy to keep him warm while he was regaining his strength. 

Up until this point João had nothing to live for. But this little flightless bird changed everything. A local girl named him DinDim, and the entire town delighted in seeing João walking through the streets with his new friend. For the longest time the man had been despondent and kept to himself, but DinDim brought life back to him, and eventually his wife (Adriana Barraza) became just as attached to the little fellow.

Then one day DinDim was gone. He traveled thousands of miles through the ocean to return to his nesting beach with all the other penguins. João thought he would never see his friend again, but about six months later DinDim returned to João and the home he adopted.

This went on for eight years. DinDim traveled five thousand miles from Argentina to Brazil to spend about six months with his human friend and back to Argentina to spend the next months amongst his penguin friends. 

(Photo credit: Adriano Vizoni/Pivô Audiovisual)

Meanwhile, on the beach where the penguins are nesting, a marine biologist and her team are studying the birds. DinDim is different than the others. He is not afraid of them but is friendly towards them. The little guy is tagged for study and when he disappears from the beach and returns to Brazil, they learn about his travels. DinDim becomes famous, and the world learns just how intelligent these birds are. Their inner GPS is so strong they instinctively know where to go.

Unfortunately, one group of scientists want to take DinDim to their facility to study him further. Thankfully, DinDim escapes and returns to João, a little worse for wear, but alive. 

DinDim has his two homes for eight incredible years. When he finally disappears for the last time, it is presumed he started his own family back in Argentina. Nevertheless, he made an old man love again, and the world realize how intelligent these birds, especially little DinDim, are.

“I was amazed that it was a true story,” Reno says, “because it felt almost like a fairytale that a penguin was able to evoke so much love from this lonely fisherman who had turned his face away from the world. It was beautiful and moving to read. And I feel that we really need more stories like this one today, stories that are touching, funny and very human.”

The movie was filmed on location in Brazil and Argentina with all the wonders and beauty of nature. It is truly a delightful story for the whole family.

My Penguin Friend is rated PG for thematic content. The film hits theaters August 16, 2024. Even though there is some sadness in the story, it is worthy of family viewing. It is a remarkable tale of love and life.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘Love in Translation’ is a light little film just for fun

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


As someone who used to be fluent in a second and almost a third language, this story caught my eye. Love in Translation focuses on Julie (Michelle Argyris), a PhD. candidate who is fluent in 6, 8, or more languages, including some extinct ones. She has one problem. Well, actually two problems. She has a difficult time finding a date who can live up to her standards. The second one is that she needs to make enough money to pay for her final semester of grad school. 

To earn her money she begins teaching languages. It doesn’t matter which language. She teaches Italian to a senior couple who are planning their trip to Italy, and she teaches French to their son who is having a problem with his girlfriend who lives in Paris. Dan (Corey Sevier) is a smart guy but doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body. Learning some French words and phrases just might help his relationship grow.

And speaking of bones, Dan just happens to work in the museum where Julie has always wanted to work. Her dream job is translating artifacts. But first she needs to pay her final tuition and get her Doctorate.

This is a typical rom/com but add in Julie’s sister Lu (Elise Bauman) and that brings the fun to the table. Literally. Lu owns a coffee shop and that’s where Julie teaches her clients.

When she realizes Dan is not getting much from the lessons, Julie decides to take a different direction. By immersing Dan in the real world instead of simply teaching across a table, he begins to pick up words and phrases. And, in typical rom/com fashion, he begins to fall in love with Julie and vice versa. There’s just one problem, and that would be his long-time French girlfriend. 

This is a simple little film that will brighten up a dark day. It’s not a “must see” however there are some cute moments and it fills in all the checkmarks for a light streaming rom/com.

Love in Translation is streaming on UP Faith and Family. It’s rated TV-G.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Image courtesy UP Faith and Family

‘The Engagement Plan’ mixes city people with country folk and is a fun story for the whole family

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Wade (Jack Schumacher) is a structured man. He has his days and life perfectly set out, day by day, and often hour by hour. His plan for proposing to his girlfriend Kayla (Mia Pollini) is all set and things couldn’t be better. Then everything gets changed.  Instead of both of their families spending the week together at the Waldorf, getting to know each other, they are going to be spending it at Maggie’s family’s farm in the country. Will Jack’s proposal still go off without a hitch? The Engagement Plan is still on, but a little different than originally planned. 

Jack and his father Dash (Judd Nelson) and mother Margot (Eva LaRue) are city folks. Jack has been groomed to join the family business which brings structure to their clients. Will they fit into the farm life out in the country?

Kayla’s folks are religious and rely on God’s guidance for everything in their lives. Mama Marilyn (Faith Ford) is kind and understanding however her husband Ed (Ted McGinley) is a little wary of Jack. He knows his daughter and simply wants to make sure she is taking the right path in her life. While her old boyfriend Cam (Eric Lutz) is working on the farm alongside Ed, things could get a little complicated. Actually, that’s putting it mildly. But as they allude to in the show, God will lead them in the right direction.

Jack’s first day on the farm, trying to impress Ed, is a doozy. His first step is right into a pile of poo, to put it mildly. Then being electrocuted by a fence doesn’t make the day any better. The best part, however, is calving a cow. That he manages to do to perfection without any help from anyone. This one act impresses Ed. And the icing on the cake is when Ed overhears a private conversation between Jack and Kayla. It’s then when he knows Jack is the right match for his daughter.

But that isn’t the end of the story. Don’t forget about Cam who still loves Kayla and wants her back. His involvement with the couple could derail everything. 

This is a fun comedy with charm as Jack faces many trials and tribulations on the way to proposing. The film is faith-based and the characters are endearing,  fun, and always looking out for one another. 

With Jack, Kayla’s family gets an education in structure, and with Kayla’s family Jack gets an education in life, nature, and just letting life happen naturally. Can he let go of his “plans” and give his life less rigidity? That’s the question. 

This is a “feel good” movie for the entire family. The perfect diamond, the perfect plan at the Waldorf, the perfect setting (for both the diamond and the location) might get bungled, but if the couple are meant to be together, they will find a way. 

The Engagement Plan has it’s Original World Premiere on Great American Pure Flix August 29, 2024 and on Great American Family on September 7, 2024. The movie was filmed on location in South Carolina, in all its splendor with its beautiful natural settings. The film is appropriate for all ages.

 

Images courtesy Great American Media 2024.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Halloween time food at Disneyland Resort

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Who said Halloween is only for pumpkin pie, candy corn, and licorice ice cream? The chefs at the Disneyland Resort have come up with some goodies for the season that will tickle your tastebuds and delight foodies of every age.

Returning to Disney California Adventure is the Plaza de la Familia, with things to do, see, and eat. At the Paradise Garden Grill there is a variety of options: Al Pastor Tacos, Huarache with soy chorizo beans and seasoned steak tips (plant based), street-style watermelon, chile verde chicken flats, street-style tacos, and vanilla layer cake.

The Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta is offering a special Horchata cheesecake.

At the Alien Pizza Planet in Disneyland Park guests can select the Dark Matter Pizza, Alien Buzz Macaron, Blush Pasta, and Apple and Pecan Salad.

Over at the Blue Bayou Restaurant there is a Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake special for the season.

Cafe Daisy offers plenty of select holiday treats as does the Carnation Cafe.

The Galactic Grill has a “Ghost” of Anaheim Burger, Pumpkin Pie Chai Tea, Darth by Chocolate, and more. And at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor chocoholics can indulge in the Rest in Chocolate Sundae.

As always, there are plenty of different churros throughout the parks.

Jolly Holiday Bakery has several unique selections for the season as do many other locations throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Actually, there are too many new and returning treats for the season to get into here so for a full list as well as descriptions of each item, check out the Disney Parks Foodie Guide where you can read all about the new selections this season. If your mouth isn’t watering now, after reading the guide it will. The chefs at the Disneyland Resort never fail to impress foodies of all ages with their savory delights as well as the sweet selections that will delight every sweet tooth.

Images courtesy Disneyland Resort

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Pro Stylus 2 from ZAGG

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The Pro Stylus 2 from ZAGG is more than a simple stylus. And it comes in a variety of colors to fit your mood or for each person to have his/her own stylus when using the same tablet. It might not seem like a big deal, but the different colors add a little fun to your work or play. 

What’s impressive about the Pro Stylus 2 is that its power can be turned on or off with just a click. Also, the USB-C charging cable comes attached to a little cradle to hold the stylus in place while wireless charging the device. Charging it is easy and an LED light will turn on on the cradle during charging. It will turn itself off automatically after approximately 15 minutes.

The Pro Stylus 2 also comes with an additional color coordinated replacement tip.

The units are also magnetic so they will attach easily to your tablet or other device, and yes, the magnet is strong enough to hold it in place while carrying your iPad (specifically the iPad Pro 11 and 12.9) around. Take note: this is not comparable with the iPad Pro M4.

It’s also nice to have a spare stylus for those times when, (confession) you might misplace your stylus or drop it in between the seats in a car. Yes, I really did that. Luckily I had a spare and also was able to retrieve my original. 

The colors are fun and the yellow actually looks like a Number 2 pencil. As a matter of fact, it says No 2 on it to recreate look of the actual pencils we all used in school. The tip is black whereas the tips on all the other colors match the color of the stylus.

There’s not much to say about this stylus other than it serves two purposes: the rubber end and the tip end each do their jobs. These days it’s often necessary to sign a document. Sure, there’s docusign, but first you need to scribble your signature. With the tip it looks more like an actual signature than with the rubber side, however both do the job. 

If you have a tablet that lets you draw, the stylus will recognize when it is tilted to create thicker or thinner lines. To turn it on simply press down on the rubber end and you’ll hear a click.

It might not seem like an important piece of equipment, but when you are without your stylus once you are used to using it, you instantly feel like you’re back in the stone age. Maybe not that far back, but remember when we had to use our finger to write or move pieces and letters around on our favorite game? Take it from me, this little gadget really makes a difference.

Any device that supports the Apple Pencil will support the Pro Stylus 2. (Not the M4)

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, travel, and all aspects of entertainment (for over 30 years). She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites.

‘Love, Romance, and Chocolate’ is mouth-watering fun

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

This 2019 Hallmark original movie might put some weight on viewers, cause cavities, and chocolate cravings. It definitely hits your sweet tooth. Love, Romance, and Chocolate is a cute story about Emma, a New York food photographer and baker who is dumped by her boyfriend right before they were supposed to go on a romantic trip to Belgium for Valentine’s Day. Why waste a good trip and some delicious chocolates? Emma goes on her own to Bruges where she not only wants to sample all the delicious Belgium chocolates but also intends to see the spots where her grandparents fell in love and spent their time. Armed with photos of her grandparent and letters sent between them, she heads off to Bruges.

Emma (Lacey Chabert) is wide-eyed and excited about being in the country and the city where her grandparents met. On a tour of a chocolate shop she meets chocolatier Luc (Kill Kemp) who owns the shop. When she discovers he is in a bind and needs additional assistance while his assistant is off on maternity leave so Emma immediately volunteers.

Luc and all the other chocolatiers are competing to be the official Belgium Royal Chocolatier and create the official Valentine’s chocolate. Combining their two talents, Lucy and Emma begin trying out new recipes.

While tasting the competition’s chocolates, Emma meets Max (Guillaume Dolmans) who is not only a friendly foe of Luc’s but also trying to entice him to join his own company. Luc, however, will not sell his shop. It has been in his family for generations and he loves it and loves creating special chocolates. And with Emma by his side, he is learning some new ways and ingredients that just might help him win the competition.

This being a Hallmark Channel film, viewers already know where this will lead, but along the way they are treated to some amazing images of chocolates and how the delicacies are created. Many of the scenes are absolutely mouth-watering.

Chabert and Kemp have good chemistry on screen and as the story unfolds their relationship not only grows, but viewers’ also see the beauty of Bruges and gain a respect for the chocolate industry. 

Love, Romance, and Chocolate is currently streaming on Hallmark Movies Now, which will become Hallmark+ later this fall.

Photo credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Marianne Grimont

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.