Last spring, the Ruby donated funds to co-create and support the Manson Book Project along with Riverwalk Books, Lake Chelan Community Services Council and the Sea Squirt Society. The goal was to give a book to each of the Manson Elementary students ...
Last spring, the Ruby donated funds to co-create and support the Manson Book Project along with Riverwalk Books, Lake Chelan Community Services Council and the Sea Squirt Society.
The goal was to give a book to each of the Manson Elementary students (over 200 students) to encourage reading for fun. The goal was achieved and the book distribution happened when school opened this fall! Below are images of the kids receiving their new books with bookmarks created by the Manson Staff.
Ben Rippii, Manson Elementary Principal wrote: “It went so well. All students received a new book and bookmark with the donors name on it. We posted a big thank you on our school district Facebook page. Here are some photos of the drive thru book giveaway. Thank you so much for your donations!”
This awesome initiative inspired us to find This List which includes the some of most “get lost in a book” worthy novels turned film over years for you to enjoy! We picked a few of our favorites shown below. To see the complete BookBub list visit, 40 of Our All-Time Favorite Book-to-Movie Adaptations.
Whether it’s a book or a movie, our hope is that both the students of Manson Elementary and you are able to indulge in a literary escape this week or anytime you need to. Wishing you all another safe week full of imagination!
Summer has ended but the days are still long. We’ve been inspired by all of the new and existing restaurants in the Chelan Valley during Covid. All industries took a big hit but the service industry might be the leading example on how to pivot and thrive during these unprecedented times. In honor of independently owned restaurants around the world and in our small town, we’ve found a list of film’s that remind us how much work it is to own, operate and thrive in the service industry. Bon Appétit!
Big Night is set in 1950s New Jersey, starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub as two brothers running an Italian restaurant. Despite their efforts and magnificent food, their business is failing, with a rival Italian restaurant out-competing them. In a last-ditch effort to save the restaurant, the brothers plan to put on one big night, spending their entire savings on food and inviting people to join them for a magnificent feast.
Helen Mirren scored a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Madame Mallory in The Hundred-Foot Journey, playing a restaurant owner in France challenged by the threat of a new business in the neighborhood.
When an Indian family opens up a new restaurant, Maison Mumbai, across the street from Mallory’s establishment, a feud between the two restaurants begins. The movie tackles the stress felt by both new and seasoned owners, underscoring that healthy competition isn’t always healthy.
Written and directed by and starring Jon Favreau, Chef is a perfect little film in its own right, but it’s become a special gem to restaurateurs. Chef and food truck entrepreneur, Carl Casper, is a character who starts his own business, stands up for himself, surprises and satisfies customers with his cooking, does what he’s good at, and ignores the words of spiteful critics.
He embodies many of the qualities of a great restaurateur, mainly because he’s in this business for all the right reasons.
Yes, the plot of Ratatouille follows a rat named Remy who dreams of becoming a chef. And yes, it’s an animated film. But it’s still, without a doubt, one of the best movies ever made about the authenticity and passion of working in a restaurant. It also perfectly captures the stress of making your work in the kitchen stand out.
Anyone who’s worked in a restaurant knows that anything that can go wrong will go wrong at one point or another – especially during the dinner shift of a popular New York City restaurant. And that’s exactly what Dinner Rush tackles.
The film spends one night at a NYC restaurant, with its owner dealing with converging pressures from his son and his gambling sous-chef, on top of run ins with organized crime.
Where has the time gone? As September approaches, so does the coveted Labor Day weekend. What most of us know as Labor Day is an extended weekend, how we cap off the summer and of course, for Chelan, one of the busiest times of the year! But Labor Day’s roots stem from a very real and powerful Organized Labor Movement which brought us the eight-hour workweek, overtime pay, sick days, vacations and holidays, not to mention safe working conditions. We don’t get taught much of this in school but there are some incredible films made to celebrate this holiday and we’re here to share them with you!
Check out this list and learn some history behind Labor Day!
1. ‘Matewan’ (1987)
One of the best, and most overlooked, films of the 1980s is this story of what is known as “The Battle of Matewan,” in which Sid Hatfield (played by David Strathairn), a sheriff in Mingo County, W. Va., decides to stand with the residents of his town, rather than side with the coal company that has taken ownership of it.
2. ‘Norma Rae’ (1979)
Sally Field earned the Academy Award for her portrayal of a young woman who becomes a union organizer at a textile mill. The film was inspired by Crystal Lee Sutton’s campaign to organize the J.P. Stevens Mill in North Carolina in the early 1970s.
3. ‘On the Waterfront’ (1954)
If you thought this list was all union positive, here’s a classic depiction of the bad side of unions. It is inspired by true events. Marlon Brando stars as longshoreman Terry Malloy, who is faced with an impossible choice of staying silent or ratting out corrupt and murderous union boss Johnny Friendly (played by Lee J. Cobb). Karl Malden stars as a priest who advocates for the truth. Brando’s romantic attachment to the sister of a murdered longshoreman further complicates the matter. “On the Waterfront” won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and three other awards for good reason. It’s a true classic.
4. ‘9 to 5’ (1980)
This comedy is not about unions, but it certainly speak to unfairness in the workplace. Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin team up and almost kill their terrible boss (Dabney Coleman), but end up fighting sexism and unfairness in the workplace. The film has been fittingly named “one of the 100 funniest movies ever made” by the American Film Institute.
5. ‘Cesar Chavez’ (2014)
There have been a few movies about iconic union figures, the almost impossible to find “Joe Hill” (1971) and historically questionable “Hoffa” (1992) among them, but this one fares better than most. Michael Pena makes for a likable Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers, and touches on issues that are as timely today as they were when Chavez was organizing in the 1970s.
It’s hard to believe the Summer is on its way out and another School year is around the corner. It can be hard to get into the spirit with the ever changing Covid climate. Some kids won’t get their first day of School this year and if they do, it sure is going to look different than what we traditionally expect.
We made a list of films to help you get in the spirit! Whether you are a new “homeschool” teacher or a student going through it all, this list will be sure to give you inspiration and excitement for another year!
1. Clueless (1995)
Can you remember the first time you saw Clueless? This is the film that helped launch the career of several big stars today (like the amazing Paul Rudd) and will be remembered as one of the greatest high school films of the ’90s. Growing up, the first day of school didn’t feel right unless I wore some sort of plaid skirt and loafer combo, and I blame it on this movie.
2. The Breakfast Club (1985)
John Hughes blazed his own trail in The Breakfast Club, the standard of all great teen dramas. This movie launched the careers of many “Brat Pack” actors, and is thought of as one of the most classic high school movies of the ’80s.
3. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High was the Superbad of its time. Raunchy humor, hysterical dream sequences, and a launchpad for some of Hollywood’s shining stars (hey, Sean Penn) all characterize this film. This movie had a large cast, memorable one-liners, and the ballsy (though controversial) way it dealt with tough teen issues.
4. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
What would you do if all the boys you’ve ever had crushes on, suddenly found out about it?
This is exactly what Lara Jean (Lana Condor) has to face in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. After her secret love letters to her crushes are mysteriously delivered, Lara must learn how to come out of her shell and embrace the fact that people might have crushes on her, too.
This back to school movie has it all: a super cute love interest (or two), adorable style, and plenty of quotable moments. It’s made for re-watching for those warm, fuzzy feelings again and again.
5. Mean Girls (2004)
Tiny Fey’s sassy comedy signature, plus the perfect supporting cast makes Mean Girls awesome. Just about everyone can relate to an antic or two depicted in this movie. It might even teach you a life lesson or five.
Whether your a nerd, a jock, an Artist or a loner, there is a back to school movie for you! Check out the full list of movies you can watch to get that back to School nostalgia by visiting The 22 best back to School Movies.
Anyone else feel like this has all been one big long day? Waiting for “Tomorrow” can feel a bit hopeless sometimes. We have to remember that no matter how hard things get, there’s always hope, “Somewhere, over the rainbow.” When we can’t get negative thoughts out of our head, one of our favorite things to do is put on a feel good Musical. They bring us hope, a new perspective and a feeling that we’re not alone. Whether you need to “Put on a happy face” or you need “Money, money, money” there’s probably a song to relate to. Check out some of our favorites from the list 30 of the best feel good Musicals you need to see.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Although probably not relatable to many, this film is a CLASSIC that allows you to get in touch with your inner diva and alter ego. Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell are two showgirls embarking on a trip to Paris when one of them is entangled in a jewel heist. The costumes and songs are so over-the-top that watching this is like eating a ton of sweet, sweet candies.
Unforgettable Songs: “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” “A Little Girl from Little Rock” and “Bye Bye Baby.”
Mary Poppins (1964)
Mary Poppins was the nanny we all wanted to have. Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke have been delighting children (and adults!) for decades as Mary and Bert the chimney sweep. No one ever forgets the songs from this Disney classic; who would we be without “A Spoonful of Sugar?” Bonus: Disney is remaking this with Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda in 2018.
Unforgettable Songs: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “The Perfect Nanny,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee, “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” and “The Life I Lead.”
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
This lively musical tells the tale of a Jewish father Tevya trying to find good husbands for his three daughters, each with a story of her own. Set in the fictional village of Anatevka, life is changing in the world around them and Tevya fears for their safety as anti-semitic forces threaten their traditional way of life. The film won three Oscars and is a classic.
Unforgettable Songs: “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker,” “To Life,” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Miracle of Miracles.”
Fame (1980)
This 1980 movie musical is based on the real life LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and it follows a class of talented dancers, actors, and musicians from freshman year to graduation. It also gave us the ‘80s megahit “Fame” by Irene Cara. It’s gonna live forever.
Unforgettable Songs: “Fame,” “Out Here on My Own,” and “I Sing the Body Electric.”
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Baz Luhrmann did something really risky with this 2001 musical. He had his characters sing modern pop songs in the context of 1899 Paris, and it totally worked. It’s one of the most romantic, stunningly beautiful musicals of all time — almost like a Valentine of exploding colors for your eyes.
Unforgettable Songs: “One Day I’ll Fly Away,” “El Tango de Roxanne,” Sparkling Diamonds,”Because We Can,” “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” and “Lady Marmalade.”
RENT (2005)
*RENT * was really revolutionary when it debuted; it deals heavily with the AIDS crisis of the ‘80s, as well as LGBTQ issues, and tells the story of New York City as it was back before gentrification. We wish we had five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes to watch it on repeat.
Unforgettable Songs: “Seasons of Love,” “Rent,” “:Out Tonight,” “One Song Glory,” “I’ll Cover You,” and “La Vie Bohème.”
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Featuring gorgeous Greek scenery and the incomparable Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia! is a non-stop feel-good movie centering around a young bride’s spirited quest to find out who her father is. The only problem? There are three potential candidates, and she’s got to figure out who it is!
Unforgettable Songs: “The Winner Takes It All,” “Mamma Mia,” “Money, Money, Money,” “Honey, Honey,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “Dancing Queen.”
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
The animated classic came to life in the latest version of Beauty and the Beast. It’s a tale as old as time: girl meets beast, girl loves fall in love with beast, beast turns into prince and they live happily ever after, with song and dance all along the way!
Unforgettable Songs: “Beauty and the Beast,” “Be Our Guest,” “Gaston,” “How Does a Moment Last Forever” and “Something There.”
La La Land (2016)
Struggling to make it in Los Angeles, jazz aficionado Sebastian and actress Mia fall in love. As their careers begin to take off, their relationship struggles. The film won the Academy Award for best actress, best original music score, best director, best cinematography and best production design.
Unforgettable Songs: “City of Stars,” “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” and “Another Day of Sun.”
