Drawing while intoxicated

Here's something you don't see every day. The Museum of Drunken Art's "vast holdings of drunken art" is coming to Beacon this weekend.

The collection, which ranges from drawings made on napkins, found paper and cardboard to more elaborate three-dimensional sculptural displays, will be exhibited at beacon artist union, 161 Main St.

Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., and by appointment. The show opens this Saturday and will be on view through Oct. 7.

The Brooklyn-based MODA collection includes work by: Enoch Emory, Ben Shambaugh, Tom Smrtic, Donald O'Finn, Katie Welty, Sam Crees, Nate Walker, PFC Timothy Miller, Justin Kase, Fred Mc Fate, Peter Teraberry, Some Professor from Pratt, Clayton Vogel-dreck, Shane Caffrey from the collection of Clay Vogel, Paula Bollers, Timothy Harrod, Damien Leibold, Alex Bell, Greg Henderson, Chris Beams, Anthony R. Toe, Ross, Maurice Lester, Rust Post, Scott Harder, Gregg Samosa, Bon Scott, N. E. Vretta, J. Otto and Fred Thompson.

In addition, one wall in the gallery will be left empty for donations of drunken art made by Beacon-area residents.

Try the dumplings

As promised, I returned to Twisted Soul in Poughkeepsie Thursday to sample the food. I ordered the crab/corn/lemongrass dumplings.

The sous chef/counter help person, who was preparing a homemade waffle batter, asked me if I was staying -- yes, I was -- but he still ended up serving the dish in a to-go container. Maybe they don't do dishes there?

Anyway, the homemade dumplings were melt-in-your-mouth delicate and the fillings were very tasty. The dumplings were garnished with carrots, bean sprouts and scallions and served with two sauces. I preferred the sweet chili sauce to the spicy Sriracha sauce. My only complaint: because they were so delicate the dumplings disappeared in a flash. I wanted more for my $5.95.

At 1 p.m. Thursday, I was the only customer in Twisted Soul, which is a bit of a schlep from the Poughkeepsie Journal offices. While I was there, a young man came in and asked the sous chef if they sold beef patties. "No, but we have empanadas," he offered.

I asked the chef what he was doing with the waffle batter. He said the waffles would be served with a pork shoulder that had been braised for 24 hours in an apple compote. He was taking this interesting version of chicken and waffles to the Arlington Farmers Market. Apparently, Twisted Soul has a booth there every Thursday. Lucky Vassar kids.

Go see 'Sunshine'

I caught a screening of "Sunshine" tonight (Wednesday) at Upstate Films.

I could hardly breathe through most of the sci-fi drama, directed by Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting, "28 Days Later.")

If I had to describe it I would say it's a cross between Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Event Horizon" (1998).

"Sunshine's" last screening is 6:10 p.m. Thursday at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck. I predict this will be a big hit on Netflix. Be able to say you saw it on the big screen.

Cheap eats update: Twisted Soul

I'm really excited about Twisted Soul, a 2-month-old eatery on the 400 block of Poughkeepsie's Main Street.

I just popped in today to pick up a menu. The place feels sleek, yet comfortable. And they have bubble tea! I will try it out later this week and report back.

Here's some of the highlights of the menu:

Dumpling Concept
Dumplings
6 pcs -- $5.95
Pork -- Cured Sausage -- Ginger, Beef -- Green Onion -- Garlic, Crab -- Corn -- Lemongrass, Tofu -- Moong Bean -- Sesame

Chef's Special Dumplings
6 pcs -- $6.45

Sauces
Sweet Chile Sauce or Sriracha Sauce

Rice Bowl Concept
$5.95
Jasmine Rice
Sauces
Thai Sweet and Sour, Thai Red Curry, Malaysian Curried Coconut, Hoisin-Peanut

Proteins $2
Grilled Chicken, Shrimp, Flavored Tofu

Empanada Concept
Authentic Argentinian Empanada
$1.75, 3 for $5, 12 for $18

Beef
Corn -- Goat Cheese, Chicken, Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion and Portobello Mushroom

Chimichurri Sauce

Noodle Concept
$5.95
Udon Noodles
Sauces
Thai Sweet and Sour, Thai Red Curry, Malaysian Curried Coconut, Hoisin-Peanut

Proteins $2
Grilled Chicken, Shrimp, Flavored Tofu

Drink Concept
Bubble Tea
$2.75
Bubble Green Tea, Bubble Peach Green Tea, Bubble Lychee Green Tea, Bubble Milk -- Green Tea, Bubble Hibiscus Tea, Bubble Milk Hibiscus Tea

Smoothies
$3.50
Honeydew, Passion-Fruit, Coffee, Pineapple, Taro, Strawberry, Coconut

Fresh Fruit Smoothies
$3.50
Seasonal Fruits

Chef's Smoothies Infusion
$3.75

Twisted Smoothies
$4
Avocado-Banana-Mango, Carrot-Mango-Ginger, Tofu-Banana-Orange, Tofu-Mango-Orange

Twisted Soul is located at 442 Main St. Hours are Monday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m.

A peek at my weekend plans

It's going to be a jam-packed weekend for me.

Friday night I'll have a quick bite and glass of wine at Elephant (left, photo by A.J. Soto) in Kingston before heading to the Sarah Perrotta (right) show at the Bearsville Theater.




Saturday, I'll start with coffee at the Mudd Puddle in the Water Street Market in New Paltz then join other Hudson River Valley Ramble participants at Lake Minnewaska.

Then it's back to New Paltz for supper at the Village Tearoom.

I'll end the evening in Poughkeepsie's Waryas Park, where Suzanne Vega is playing for free.

I hope she sings my favorite "Left of Center" from the "Pretty in Pink" soundtrack. Does anyone else know/love that song but me?

Gallery screens provocative 9/11 film

The Kingston Museum of Contemporary Arts will present a free screening of Jarek Kupsc's "The Reflecting Pool" tonight at 8.

Here is the synopsis of this fiction story based on "confirmed" research: "An investigation of the 9/11 events by a Russian-American journalist and a father of a 9/11 victim implicates the US government in the attacks."

I will let you decide what you think of this film. KMOCA is doing what it does best: sparking debate.

Seating is limited. Arrive early.

As promised, details on Upstate late nights

This weekend, Upstate Films in Rhinebeck stays open for the late-night crowd.

"Paprika," a 2006 anime from director Satoshi Kon and based on the novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui, launches the series. Late-night screenings are this Friday and Saturday at 11:30 p.m.

The $7.50 regular admission is reduced for college students: $6 with valid ID. Be on the lookout for coupons for free popcorn at area colleges and local businesses.

Here is the rest of the current 11:30 p.m. screenings:

"Sunshine," Sept. 14 and 15.

"Exiled," Sept. 14 and 15.

"The Ten," Sept. 28 and 29.

I am most looking forward to "Purple Rain" with costume contest, Oct. 26 and 27.

Also, for all you hipster parents out there, Upstate has brought back its "Bring Your Own Baby" series. Now you can watch the latest David Cronenberg film without having to worry about your crying infant annoying the rest of the audience.