Prepping the Green Machine
You don’t need the luck o’ the Irish to get you through St. Patrick’s Day. Be game day ready with our handy dandy prep guide
Text by Meredith Morrison
Countdowns have started. Liquor stores, pubs, and bars are stocking up on inventory. The boxes on the calendar are showing that we are getting closer and closer to one of the biggest celebration days of the year, St. Patrick’s Day. No doubt, this isn’t your first time to the Irish rodeo, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the crazy antics that always ensue. Break out the green paint and get ready for green game day 2012!
Pre-game (leading up to St. Patrick’s Day)
Gather your greens
Now is the time to start taking inventory. Is last year’s St. Patty’s Day ensemble still in tact, or is it time to update your green wardrobe? Stock up on foam hats, oversized shamrock glasses, green beads, temporary tattoos, stickers, plastic shot glasses you can wear around your neck, and anything else that remotely has to do with St. Patrick’s Day. You want to look the part, so do it ahead of time to avoid disappointment when you can’t find a “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” T-shirt in your size.
Make a plan of attack
If you’re planning on doing the rounds this St. Patrick’s Day, do your research. What time does the entertainment start? Are there certain bands you want to see? If so, when do they go on? Is there a cover charge, and when do they start charging? Will there be specials on food or drinks throughout the day? Call around or go online to check out the scene so you know when and where you have to be to maximize your time.
St. Patrick’s Day Eve (Friday, March 16)
Stock up
Now is the time to pick up any items you think you’ll need for the aftermath on Sunday. Gatorade, orange juice, milk, bacon, Tylenol – surely you’ll be too tired to leave the house, so do it now so you can stay in lockdown to recharge those tired batteries.
Eat up
With a full day of shenanigans, jigs, and most likely, lots of green beer now just hours away, prep your belly with a substantial meal of carbs and protein. Fight off the effects of a hangover before it even begins by filling up now. Your stomach will thank you tomorrow.
Sleep
You’ve got a long day and night ahead of you, so pull on those pajamas, turn off the television, and make it an early night. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep – you’re going to need it.
Game day (Saturday, March 17)
Get up early
On St Patrick’s Day, the early bird most certainly gets the worm. Normally, getting up early on a Saturday would be considered ludicrous, but today is an exception. Most bars and pubs open their doors early and you are almost always guaranteed a lineup waiting outside the door and around the block. St. Patrick’s Day is not for the weak, my friend. You need to get with the program and do like the pros do. Get your green game face and gear on and start the day.
Eat an Irish breakfast
In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the over-the-top celebration that it is here. It’s still a celebration, but it’s more like Thanksgiving than it is an all out, messy, drink till it’s gone, type of holiday. Here’s a traditional Irish breakfast menu to start off a full day of festivities:
Bacon
Sausage
Fried tomatoes
Black pudding
Fried soda bread
Fried potato bread
If you’re not up to the task of preparing an authentic Ulster fry up, wait to be served at the pub and let them do the clean up instead. Whatever you do, don’t forget to eat breakfast, especially if you’re planning on having drinks.
Pace yourself
For the sake of your wallet and your stomach, don’t drink like you’re trying to win a race. St. Patrick’s Day is a day of celebration that yes, does involve drinking, but that doesn’t mean you have to get so out of it you can’t remember your name. Take your time and try not to ruin yourself right out the gate. Your designated driver does not want to double as your caretaker.
Stay hydrated
The general rule of thumb is one glass of water for every drink. Yeah, how often does that happen? Try to drink water as often as you can. Staying hydrated is key fending off the dreaded St. Patrick’s Day hangover so do what you can, when you can.
Eat when you’re hungry
Belting out “Black Velvet Band” and dancing jigs for hours on end does work up and appetite. Refuel on Irish stew to get you back in the game. This rib-sticking Irish staple will keep you full longer so you can keep the party going until the wee hours.
Post game (Sunday, March 18)
At this point, you’ve made it through yet another successful St. Patrick’s Day and you’re feeling better thanks to this prep guide. However, if you’ve missed a step a long the way and you’re feeling like a leprechaun is dancing on your head, just rest and relax and keep it light today. But before you do anything, check Facebook for any incriminating evidence and untag, delete, or unfriend as necessary.
Erin Go Bragh!
You don’t need the luck o’ the Irish to get you through St. Patrick’s Day. Be game day ready with our handy dandy prep guide Text by Meredith Morrison Countdowns have started. Liquor stores, pubs, and bars are stocking up on inventory. The boxes on the calendar are showing that we are getting closer and [...]
G! Eats: Film In, Dinner Out
Let what you watch inspire what you eat
Photography and Text by Christina Flemming
Even though it’s slightly unpleasant (and impossible) to eat spaghetti for three hours straight, it’s still nice to watch The Godfather paired with food. The thing about cooking and watching a movie is that just when you’re pumped about Willy finally being set free, you have to rinse the pots. Why not watch a movie in and have dinner out? Here are three suggestions for film in, dinner out, and one DIY for the homebodies amongst you.
Film: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, 1966
Food: “Spaghetti Wild West” made with bison meatballs at Redwater Rustic Grille in Charlottetown.
What’s the connection?
The term “Spaghetti western” was coined in the early part of the 60’s and referred to low-budget films, usually directed and produced by Italians. According to legend, Clint Eastwood wore the same poncho for the entire trilogy of Sergio Leone films, A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Film: The Gold Rush, 1925
Food: Corn and Scallop Chowder at The Old Home Place Inn and Restaurant in Kensington (open Friday and Saturday nights during the winter).
What’s the connection?
On the wall of The Old Home Place Inn dining room, there is a mural of a large brig. In 1849, brig “Fanny” sailed toward the glittering promise of the gold fields in California. John Orr, the father of the original owner of The Old Home Place Inn, sailed on Fanny all the way from Charlottetown to California because he, like many, was tempted by the lure of gold.
In The Gold Rush, Charlie Chaplin travels through Alaska in search of gold. You might have watched the famous scene where, starving and lost in the snowy wilderness, Chaplin serves himself and a companion a leather boot for dinner. Making the most of what he has, Chaplin twirls his shoelace around the fork like it’s piping hot spaghetti. The Old Home Place Restaurant does not serve leather boot, but the corn and scallop chowder will still provide that goldish glow.
Film: The Great Outdoors, 1988
Food: The John Candy at Hunter’s Alehouse, in Charlottetown
What’s the Connection?
In The Great Outdoors, John Candy casually inquires about “The Old 96er” at the Paul Bunyan restaurant where he’s eating with his family. The waitress informs him that it’s a 96 ounce prime aged beef steak. No one has ever been able to finish the 96er, but free food for everyone at the table is promised as a reward. As astonished restaurant goers and bored teenagers watch, Candy polishes off the huge hunk of beef, fat and gristle.
At Hunter’s, if you can eat the 72 ounce steak coined “The John Candy”, it’s free. If not, it’ll cost you $64.00. But, let’s face it, a 72 ounce is nothing compared to a 96er. Hunter’s asks that you call in advance to order The John Candy (the morning of your order at the latest) because the butcher has to cut the big steak and it takes a long time to cook.
Film: Splash!, 1984
Food: A DIY Lobster dinner. Go big and stay home.
What’s the Connection?
Few things rival the hilarity of the lobster scene in Annie Hall: when Diane Keaton screams and says she cannot bear to put live lobsters in boiling water, Woody Allen replies, “What did you think we were going to do, take them to the movies?” Even though everyone should watch Annie Hall, it may be a bit of a downer before dinner. But you can’t go wrong with Splash!, a film with its own famous lobster scene.
In this Ron Howard 80s flick, Tom Hanks’ character falls in love with a mermaid played by Daryl Hannah. Ever the clueless mermaid, when Tom manages to get her away from the ocean and out to dinner, she eats the whole lobster. I mean the whole lobster, shell and all! Ironically, in an interview with People magazine Howard said they had to make concessions while filming because Hannah was a devout vegetarian. When she refused to eat the lobster meat for the scene, Howard had an assistant scoop out the lobster meat and replace it with baked potato and hearts of palm. I propose making your own lobster dinner at home because if you really want to clean up a mess, you better have a proper mess to deal with.
Next time you feel like indulging in my favourite winter sport—watching a movie—try matching it with a meal and see what you come up with.
Bon appétit and enjoy the show!
Let what you watch inspire what you eat Photography and Text by Christina Flemming Even though it’s slightly unpleasant (and impossible) to eat spaghetti for three hours straight, it’s still nice to watch The Godfather paired with food. The thing about cooking and watching a movie is that just when you’re pumped about Willy [...]
Myth: Having a great body only happens in the movies
The Myth and The Madness
Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good
MYTH: HAVING A GREAT BODY ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MOVIES
Have you ever looked at an actor/actress and wish you had their physique? Have you ever wondered how they go from being skinny in one role to jacked in another?
It’s no secret. It’s HARD WORK!
Movie stars are people. They have the same physiology and cravings that other people have. As I mentioned in June’s The Myth and The Madness article (“If you want a celebrity body, it’s going to cost you time and money”), celebrities may have more money to get the best help with their training and the best chefs to make them delicious healthy meals, but they still have to do the work. Having money doesn’t equal being fit. If it did, then obesity levels would be even higher around the world.
You don’t need an insanely overpriced personal trainer to the stars to get that movie star body. You just need some education, motivation, and dedication.
Let’s talk about education. There is no secret exercise that is going to give you the physique you want. There are better ways to train than others for the goal that you want. The best way to train is with some intensity and sticking with it for the long haul. Maybe you love running, but hate lifting weights. We know that lifting weights can be good for us. It promotes lean muscle growth, makes us stronger, can help with posture, etc. If you hate doing it though, you probably won’t stick with it. We only do things we don’t like to do if we get paid to do them. If not, we will stop after a short period of time. My advice would be to try lots of things until you find what you like and don’t like. You can get strength benefits from other things like yoga, Pilates, martial arts or even pole dancing to name a few.
Motivation is so important. Movie stars are highly motivated to get or stay in shape because their jobs and fame depend on it. Your biggest motivation should be your health or setting a good example for your children. Find what motivates you to become healthier and reach your goals.
Dedication is essential to being successful. You can have education about what to do, motivation to do it, but if you don’t do it consistently, you will never succeed. People lose weight all the time. Know how they did it? They worked at it consistently until they reached a goal. A lot of people gain weight back because they became less consistent after the goal was reached. Being active needs to be as much a part of your day as brushing your teeth or taking a shower.
Still don’t think you can get that movie star body? Try some of these tips:
Trade “slow cardio” for interval training. An example of this would be running hard for 20 seconds, then jogging or walking for 40 seconds. Repeat for 10 to 20 minutes instead of jogging your regular 40 to 60 minutes.
Trade machines for free weights. Free weights engage more muscles to help you with strength, co-ordination, and burning more calories.
Increase your range. Try doing the exercise through the full range of motion to activate more muscle fibres and choose multi-joint exercises, like squats, dead lifts or presses.
Lift heavier weight. Try to lift heavier weights. I’m not talking about bench pressing a car, but try to lift a weight that will challenge you. Women usually think that this will result in them bulking up or looking like a man. It’s hard enough for a man to look like a man lifting heavy weights. Just try it – I hear that strong is the new skinny!
Yours in fitness and wellness,
Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT
For workouts, check out Ryan’s website sparkfitnessnow.com
The Myth and The Madness Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good MYTH: HAVING A GREAT BODY ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MOVIES Have you ever looked at an actor/actress and wish you had their physique? Have you [...]
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