Eddie Vs Benedict

Is it award season again yet? The Optimist's already getting a bit too excited about next year's Oscar-hopefuls. This past fortnight's seen the release of not one but two inconceivably gorgeous trailers - could one of our favourite Brit-actors be about to win a little gold man?

Boston Tea Party

If  TGI's is for Friday nights, Cheltenham's Boston Tea Party is for Sunday mornings, and, as Lionel Richie and Maroon 5 will attest - Sunday morning's are swell. I spent a leisurely AM in the cafe where there's tea on tap, burgers for breakfast and the eggs are Benedict-ified!

Begin Again

There are some films that you know you're going to love before you've actually watched them; 500 Days of Summer and Gatsby for example. When I heard the words 'New York', 'Musical' and 'Keira Knightley' I knew Begin Again would be the same. So here's a slightly redundant recommendation, for the new film by John Carney - Oscar winning director of Once (SOLD!)

Snugburys

As we all know - it's not summer until you've dripped ice cream on your shoes and today The Optimist is introducing you to a better class of ice cream: ice cream so moreish you'll just want to shove your face in it. If the picture above hasn't convinced you already, read on ...

Hello Sunshine

It's been Summer for all of an hour and I, a Brit, am already wilting in the heat. I'm hoping to subliminally bring down my core temperature with this blog, so join me for a glass of Pimms boys and girls, as I tell you about the season's most refreshing pursuits.

Costume Dramas

The troublesome fortnight between the end of "Winter Costume Drama Season" and the start of "Spring Costume Drama Season" has passed and once again, we're up to our knees in headstrong young women, smugglers and windswept moors - just the way The Optimist likes it. Excuse me a moment while I blow our national trumpet, and admit that we British are the masters of costume drama - we've been stackin' em up and knockin' em down for years and I have compiled a list of my all time favourites, along with where to find them, so that you too, reader, can bask in their glorious glory whenever you so choose. Doesn't that make you incandescent with happiness?

Central Perk

We're just a month away from the tenth anniversary of the final episode of Friends. It was broadcast on Thursday May 6th 2004 - can you believe it's been that long? Ten years since Rachel got off the plane, ten years since Chandler and Monica had their babies and ten years since the gang last met up for coffee. If you too are a fan of caffeine-laden beverages and you're still struggling to cope with your Friends withdrawals, The Optimist knows a place you might just want to visit.