For whatever reason, Christmas is the holiday most often associated with show-and-tell memories. They can be broken down, these memories, into three basic movie categories: memories shown to you by chain-rattling ghosts, memories shown to you by guardian angels, and the surplus category known simply as Nicolas Cage. Thanksgiving too often gets the short end of the musket, even though its very name incorporates an act of gratitude brought on by reflection. For our......

"I'll show you Clooney-like scruff." Photo: Tejal Rao. In his one-star review of Elettaria earlier this year, the Times's Frank Bruni described the atmosphere as “self-consciously adorable, with girly flourishes,” and “dollhouse elements.” Last week, in an article about gender roles and restaurants, Bruni reiterated: “The bound linen dinner menu evokes a diary and elements of the décor bring to mind a dollhouse; I spotted more women than men.” Now consider this tidbit from......

Chef Justin Smillie, who took over the helm at E.U. after Akhtar Nawab's departure, was recently fired by owner Jason Hennings. According to Grub Street, Hennings blamed Smillie's unwillingness to cut costs by forgoing Greenmarket shopping: “After six months of 45 percent food costs in a recession, Justin paid more respect to the Greenmarket than to the restaurant.” Smillie reportedly took his entire crew with him. In the meantime, Hennings has put a replacement team......