Articles by Susan diRende

Namco Bandai Unrolls Holiday Lineup of Games

Namco Bandai Games America hosted a preview of its 2009 holiday game releases at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles to a steady stream of press eager to try them out.

Upright Cabaret Presents Jen & Jake at Vermont-Review

The Upright Cabaret inaugurated its new venue with a double bill featuring Jennifer Leigh Warren and Jake Simpson in a show that rocked the room and delivered that electric charge that only a live performance can spark

Akasaka Sushi Restaurant Review - Sushi Addicts' Heaven

Chances are you will probably never stumble upon Akasaka. I was taken there by a friend, but I had to earn it. After discussing my love for food and especially sushi with my friend David, he decided I was worthy

Dream Island Review - Moorea Cabin Escape to Paradise

Have you ever dreamed of a South Seas getaway, a Gilligan’s Island sort of escape, you know, beautiful, rustic and isolated? Dream Island in French Polynesia offers exactly this

Cafe Pesto Review - Hilo Hawaii Island Fusion Restaurant Worth the Extra Plane Ride

On my recent trip to The Big Island of Hawai'i, where everywhere I ate was just really delicious, easily the best meal I had while there, was at Cafe Pesto in downtown Hilo

Rune Factory Frontier Review - Wii RPG Fun for All

Rune Factory Frontier, the latest game for the Rune Factory series and the first for the Wii platform, is really two great games in one: a simulation farming game and a role-playing fighting game

Air Tahiti Nui Review - Fly the Best Airline from Los Angeles (LAX) to French Polynesia

If you are flying to Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia, there is only one airline to even consider: Air Tahiti Nui

Manava Suite Resort Tahiti review - 4-Star Ultra-Modern Hotel with Traditional Tahiti Values

The new Manava Suite Resort Tahiti is the perfect tropic cocktail for an intoxicating Polynesian vacation. The resort has ultra-modern amenities and design and yet roots all of them in a deep respect and affection for traditional Polynesian culture

Moorea Pearl Resort Review - Deluxe Tahiti Hotel Value with Overwater Bungalows

The Moorea Pearl Resort is more than a beautiful place to stay. What you get at the Moorea Pearl is an feel of easy and friendly graciousness, what the French call "sympa"

Air Tahiti Nui Short Break Review - Vacation Packages to Tahiti Under $900

Tahiti. Just say the word and most people get a faraway glaze as they imagine paradise. Well, if you are one of those who dream of a South Pacific idyll, you can live your dream for under $900 thanks to Air Tahiti Nui

Tomb Raider Underworld Review - A beautiful world

Tomb Raider: Underworld from Eidos Interactive is a huge game, graphically beautiful and full of challenging puzzles just like you would expect from a Tomb Raider game.

Antimatter iPhone Game Review - Stranded in Space

I am a casual game player. My standard: Did I have fun? Did my heart race as I tried (mostly in vain) to fulfill the mission? Would I play this game over and over again to the chagrin of my friends and family?

Zenses Game Review - Nintendo DS Puzzle Games Aimed at Women

The new Zenses games are a refreshing change in the design of casual video games. Instead of juvenile or aggressive sounds and images, the Zenses game packs offer soothing music and lovely graphics that make playing as an adult more pleasant

Zucchini and Tomato Frittata Recipe - Rustic Italian Cooking by Feel

In my family, the frittata was a favorite breakfast or brunch dish made with yummy leftover dishes. So the first rule of cooking one is to make a side dish, like sautéed zucchini and tomatoes

Soul Trapper iPhone Game Review

Catching ghosts who refuse to leave this plane is difficult, often dangerous work. Kane Price, 27, ruggedly handsome (I imagine) uber hip and ironic is the man for the job with his "soul trap "

Call of Duty 5 World at War PS3 Game Review

Call of Duty 5: World at War is the 5th game in the venerated series of "real war" shooters. Treyarch decided to take a step back in time, back to W.W.II and doing so, abandoned the momentum of the previous COD release

Brain Quest Game Review - On Nintendo DS for Ages 8-10

Brain Quest on the Nintendo DS for grades 3 & 4 is designed for elementary school kids age 8 - 10 to make learning more game than chore. In Brain Quest, EA Games has applied what video game makers have learned to do better than most educators

Brain Quest - Game Review - Nintendo DS for Ages 10-12

Brain Quest Grades 5 & 6 on the Nintendo DS may be designed for elementary school kids age 10-12, but even if you have a PhD, you’ll find yourself stumped on some of the questions

Korg DS-10 for Nintendo DS Review - A Synthesizer in Your Pocket

Korg has released an honest-to-god functioning synth for the Nintendo DS that straddles the divide between game and pro app, though by doing so suffers from the typical sort of limitations found in other pro-sumer electronics

Boogie Superstar Game Review for the Wii - Every Girl a Star

Boogie SuperStar is a boxfull of dancing and singing fun. Aimed at girls, the characters, the choice of songs and the structure of the game elements all make for a teen performance game that is both fun and a good workout

Boom Blox Game Review for the Wii - Fun for the Whole Family

Boom Blox is all Wii. You throw, drag, shoot and explode blocks by moving your arm in moves that are reproduced on screen. This not a game where you learn button combinations. Here you learn to aim well, throw hard, keep steady, and be fast

The Milan International Film Festival Presents Its New Format at AFM 2008

The main business of the American Film Market is movie sales. But the Market is also a place where the players and press who cover them converge. The Milan International Film Festival is one such organization

Mortal Kombat VS. DC Universe Game Review - Kombat at Its Best

Mortal Kombat returns with a vengeance in Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe. Mortal Kombat has always been the leader when it comes to the fight game genre and this new installation is no exception

Nerf N-Strike Game Review for the Wii - Blast Off!

Nerf N-Strike for the Wii is a shooting game that ships with a Hasbro Nerf Blaster that can be configured to hold the nerf-darts that come with the gun or to hold the Wii controller. What this means is a real gunslinger feel as you play the game

The Quebec Film & Television Council Promotes the Region at AFM

The Québec Film and Television Council goes to AFM to promote its high quality services to producers. They set up a cosy space at the AFM to greet filmmakers

The American Film Market 2008 and the Business of Moviemaking

Most people imagine the film industry as primarily a movie making business. And that is true so far as the fact that movies do get made. But the reality is that it is at the core a movie distributing business

Soulcalibur IV: Game Review: Bring on the Big Swords and Bikini Warriors!

I must admit that I have never played fighting games. I've always known about them but it was never my thing. I have always played racing and platform games. So when I was presented with Soulcalibur IV, I honestly didn't know what to expect

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Game Review - Running, Jumping and More Ramen Please!

I got a chance to play Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm over the weekend, and boy am I hungry! See, Ninjas love Ramen and will run all over Hidden Leaf Village, jumping, climbing, flying and searching for the Ultimate Ramen Ingredients

在洛杉矶的中国超市－　Chinese Markets in LA

洛杉矶位于美国的西海岸加利福尼亚州南部，并且是仅次于纽约的美国第二大城市。所以在这里会有不同国家的餐馆和超市。特别是中国餐馆和中国超市在洛杉矶特别多。

SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals:Confrontation - Review - Essentially a Coaster

I pre-ordered this game months ago. I played the beta version. I made constructive comments on the SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals CONFRONTATION website and hoped for the best. And yesterday I plopped down $60 for what is essentially, a coaster