A+E

The key word this month is "organic." East Wind Crunchy Organic Peanut Butter and Cascadian Farms Organic Harvest Fruit Spread are perhaps the most harmonious combo yet to come from the Peanut Butter and Jelly of the Month Club. While some may fear that "organic" means "flavorless," both the peanut butter and the jelly are full of flavor, without being overpowering like so many past selections. Although labeled "fruit spread," the Cascadian Farms jelly is not full of fruit chunks, but smooth and tasty, while not too sweet. Combined with the chunky, peanuty peanut butter, it makes for an excellent sandwich experience.
(4 stars)

More info:
www.lovepbj.com

The National Trust, a lobby group dedicated to saving historic places, is accepting nominations for its 2006 list of Dozen Distinctive Destinations and we at the Weekly think Vegas belongs on the list. Criteria include a dynamic downtown (check), interesting architecture (double-check), cultural diversity (we call them "tourists"; check), an economic base of locally-owned small businesses (Hellooo? Steve Wynn? Check) and walking access for residents and visitors (triple-check). There was some other restriction about having a commitment to historic preservation but we imploded it.

Sunday Slacks (5 stars)

Falling for Nothing

We always try to come up with our own takes on music we review, but sometimes the artists nail it themselves, as do Sunday Slacks: "Alluring melodies, captivating music, thoughtful dynamics and emotional lyrics help create the rich vibe ...." See if we aren't lying at the band's CD release party July 23 at Hurricane Bar & Grill.

Producing Adults (NR) (3 stars)


$24.95

One needn't be a student of Scandinavian cinema to get a kick out of Finland's entry into last year's Oscar derby. But those who are will know to be patient, waiting for the story to decide if it's a comedy or drama, gay or straight. Not that it matters, as the dilemma faced by a pair of longtime lovers—a psychologist desperate for a child and a speed skater afraid of losing his competitive edge to parenthood—isn't limited to any one audience. The emotional chaos that ensues when they become entangled in their own webs of deceit is neither predictable nor dull.

Michael Palin: Himalaya (NR) (4 stars)


$49.98

What a delightful traveling companion Palin makes for those of us unlikely ever to step foot in such exotic destinations as the Sahara, North Pole, Lake Titicaca, the outback or Mount Kilimanjaro. In this three-disc set, the former Monty Python treks the 1,800-mile length of the Himalayas, from the Khyber Pass to Bangladesh. What was so fascinating about the series—still airing on BBC America— was not only the diverse cultures and natural wonders on display, but watching Palin test himself against various odds, including the region's many political extremists.

Up and Down (R) (4 stars)


$29.95

Anyone who thinks life has become a picnic for the citizens of Eastern Europe, once controlled by communists, hasn't been paying attention to films like Cabaret Balkan, Good Bye, Lenin, Before the Rain, Lilja 4-ever, and now, Up and Down. The film's Prague is populated by petty thieves, smugglers, soccer hooligans and a dysfunctional middle-class. The absence of good-paying jobs doesn't stop legions of desperate Asians from risking their lives to get to the work that does exist. Meanwhile, babies and cell phones are sold at a premium at the local pawnshop, and crimes often come disguised as good deeds. As the seemingly unrelated vignettes begin to merge, it's clear the Velvet Revolution has begun to wear a bit thin.