Happy Valentine’s Day, lovers! This week, regular guest Julia and Leah Pickett from Consequence of Sound joins us to talk Sleepless in Seattle, the seminal Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedy from 1993! This film (about a divorcee who finds himself the talk of female America after a particularly heartfelt radio call-in segment) features Hanks and Ryan at their prime, with some solid comedy as they try to navigate the precarious middle ground between practical relationships and the romantic notion of true love. Still, the movie raises some questions, like “just how creepy is Meg Ryan for stalking a man she doesn’t know?” “Why is the whole of New York City so willing to accommodate a lost kid in his romantic mission?” and “What’s wrong with Bill Pullman, anyway?” All these questions and more are explored below, along with our custom cocktail and drinking rules!
(NOTE: This is our first episode with our brand-new setup, so we should sound a bit more profesh! We’re still messing with sound levels, however, so be patient with us as we get everything down and get used to the new equipment. If you want to help us with our expensive new equipment, too, be sure to head to the Donate button at the sidebar of each page on the site and help us out! Thanks!)
LISTEN HERE OR DOWNLOAD:
THIS EPISODE’S DRINK: “Chnockered” in Chicago
For all you Valentine’s Day lovers (and movie lovers) out there, our amorous aperitif for Sleepless in Seattle is a coffee-based drink befitting the hometown of Starbucks (and Hanks’ own wistful insomnia), with a bit of cherry and chocolate sweetness thrown in for that little bit of extra love. Curl up with your respective Tom Hanks or Meg Ryan with this particular cocktail and enjoy yourself this Valentine’s Day…just make sure they’re not allergic to anything.
1 part Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
Dash, cherry bitters
1 part white creme de cacao
5 parts espresso
1 part brandy
whipped cream
chocolate syrup (make a Washington cherry syrup if you’re feeling frisky)
1) Pick up/brew your favorite espresso (or just strong coffee if you want to go easy on yourself). French-pressed is the way to go here.
2) Spike the coffee with the liqueur, crème de cacao, bitters, and brandy.
3) Top with whipped cream, drizzle over with chocolate or cherry syrup, and top with a Maraschino cherry.
DRINKING RULES FOR SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE:
- Every time someone refers to fate/magic/destiny/stars with regards to love
- Any time a new on-the-nose jazz standard comes up in the soundtrack
- Whenever Tom Hanks yells at his child
FINISH YOUR DRINK WHEN:
Annie says, “It’s nice to meet you.”
Join us next week for some possible special guests as we dive into Oscar season! This year, we’re covering Best Picture nominee Birdman, or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance!
