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| Down With Love and Garrison’s Broiler & Tap Doris Day déjà vu? A sophisticated blonde bombshell clashes with a suave playboy in a battle-of-the-sexes plot. Add a split-screen telephone scene, double entendres and sexual innuendos up the wazoo, all in old-fashioned Technicolor. This description sounds like one of the famous Doris Day sex comedies from the ‘60s, right? Wrong. It’s “Down With Love.” Put on your white gloves and fur coat; we’re going out on the town — the classic Manhattan way! I am not usually a sucker for “chick flicks,” but the delightfully cheesy romantic comedy “Down With Love” is impossible to resist. The film has all the charms of a Broadway musical without the music. The story takes place in 1962 New York City, where Barbara Novak (Renee Zellweger) comes to the Big Apple to promote her feminist self-help book “Down With Love.” While swearing off love and endorsing no-strings-attached sex, she becomes entangled with the scheming ace journalist, Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor). Novak’s book soon becomes a global bestseller and reveals Block as a sexist womanizer. The angry playboy devises a plan to unmask Novak as a fraud, a woman who is easy to fall in love -- everything her book is against. He attempts to seduce her while taking on a false identity as Zip Martin, a naïve astronaut with geeky black-rimmed glasses and a heavy Southern accent. Meanwhile, Block’s neurotic boss, Peter McMannus (David Hyde Pierce), relentlessly pursues Novak’s sidekick, Vikki Hiller (Sara Paulson). Director Peyton Reed (“Bring It On”) resurrects the swinging ‘60s in this squeaky-clean flick full of witty dialogue, colorful sets and an unpredictable plot. “Down With Love” is the perfect date movie. A classic Manhattan-style date is not complete without a classic Manhattan-style steakhouse, and Garrison’s Broiler & Tap in Duluth is just the place. The restaurant has all the charms of a big city steakhouse but is conveniently located in the suburbs of Atlanta. Garrison’s is known for its elegant 40-foot mahogany and granite bar that offers over 30 single malt scotches, 60 bottled beers, 12 draft beers, 20 specialty martinis and over 200 wines. The ambiance is just as sophisticated and charming as “Down With Love’s” script. The tableside candlelight, contemporary light fixtures and double-sided fireplace set the warm atmosphere. For starters, I order the roasted corn lobster dip with crispy lavosh crackers while sipping on a classic Manhattan martini. Choosing an entrée is as difficult as predicting the outcome of the movie! With the help of the knowledgeable server, I finally decide on the 14 oz. bone-in filet, also known as “Garrison’s Cut.” If steak is what you enjoy, Garrison’s is the place for you. They serve quality Midwestern Angus beef, aged to 21 days and broiled to temperatures reaching 1800 degrees. The filet is so tender you can cut it with a butter knife. The extensive wine menu offers a variety of vintages to complement your meal. If you cannot decide which will best flatter your steak, I suggest Julian’s Cabernet, a mid-priced selection that truly complements the natural flavor of the beef. If it is possible to survive dinner with room for dessert, indulge in the award-winning white chocolate mousse cake. In “Down With Love,” Novak claims that women should satisfy their sexual appetites with chocolate. This moist and sinful cake is truly better than sex. After the plates are cleared from the table, it’s an opportune time to relocate to the martini and cigar bar on the rooftop patio. With the live Sinatra-style lounge music lingering in the air and the starlit sky above, this is the perfect stage for romancing. Feeling adventurous, I order a banana nut martini. The Frangelico, Amaretto DiSaronna and banana liqueur blend delectably in this fun concoction. A homemade, classic Manhattan-style date at Garrison’s is sure to leave any Doris Day or “Down With Love” girl in the arms of her Romeo. Garrison’s serves lunch and dinner every day and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to midnight. There are two other Garrison’s locations in Atlanta: in Vinings and at Perimeter Mall. For dining information, call (770) 476-1962 or visit www.metrocafes.com. |
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