On Cue

This week, we examine and discuss the movie Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), diving into the iconic soundtrack and the way it underscores the film's characters, storylines, comedy, and themes.

Also, Trish's favorite thing this week is the book THE RED TAROT, by diviner and educator Christopher Marmolejo.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail-- THE STRUMMER ("Strummah"):

1½ oz of vodka (for mocktail, use sparkling water or lemon soda)
½ oz Chambord (for mocktail, use raspberry syrup or cran-raspberry juice)
¼ oz dry Vermouth (for mocktail, use white grape juice or sparkling water)
¼ oz Alkermes Liqueur, which you'll never be able to find. So substitute with Campari... or if you wanna lean into the cough syrup experience, try Maraschino liqueur. (For mocktail, use vanilla syrup or a few drops of vanilla extract and a dash of cinnamon, anise, nutmeg or your favorite spice or extract)

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, then shake, strain into a cute glass, and garnish with fresh or freese-dried raspberries or dried flowers.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 33 - Grosse Pointe Blank

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

In preparation for 2025, we're celebrating and imagining what might lie ahead. From musicians and filmmakers we're watching, to composers we'd love to hire to score the entire year-- join us in laying out a smorgasbord of exciting possibilities.

Also, Trish's favorite thing this week is fingerless gloves.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail-- THE POMPOM SOCK:

Start by making strawberry syrup: Combine a medium-sized bag (about 3-4 cups) of frozen strawberries, 2 cups of water, and 2 cups of sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for a few minutes and remove from heat. Once cooled, strain out the fruit and refrigerate the syrup in a jar.

For the cocktail:
½ oz limoncello
½ oz strawberry syrup
3 oz champagne

Pour the limoncello and strawberry syrup into the bottom of a champagne glass or flute, then top with cold champagne. Garnish with fresh or freeze-dried strawberry and/or a lemon twist.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 32- Happy New Year!

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Happy holidays to all! This week, we're exploring Christmas songs made famous by the movies in which they first appeared.

Plus, Liz's favorite thing is The Corduroy Cuddle, which may or may not lead to a new career as a Professional Cuddle Service Provider.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail-- THE HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS:

Start by rimming a martini glass with crushed candy cane, using agave or some other sticky syrup to hold the chunks of candy to the glass.

For the cocktail:
1½  oz vodka (for mocktail, use cream soda or water if you like it less sweet)
1 oz vanilla liquor (we like Giffard Vanille de Madagascar Liqueur. For mocktail, use vanilla syrup or four drops of vanilla extract plus a teaspoon of sugar dissolved in an ounce of water)
1 oz peppermint schnapps (for mocktail, use peppermint syrup or five drops of peppermint extract plus a teaspoon of sugar dissolved in an ounce of water)

Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice, then served strained into your rimmed glass.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 31 - Holiday Songs From Movies

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Does the world need another year-end list? Probably not. But we put our own spin on one anyway. Songs and movies to ring out the year, On Cue-style.

Plus, Trish's favorite thing this week is rodent contraceptive.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail-- PEARL:

Start by making a spiced ginger syrup. Combine in a saucepan:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water 
one large ginger root, chopped or grated

Let the mixture come to a boil, then remove from heat and let sit until it's room temperature. Strain out the ginger, then store in a jar in your refrigerator.

For the cocktail:
1½  oz vodka (for mocktail, use lemon soda)
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz ginger syrup

Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice, then served strained into a chilled glass straight up. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 30 - 2024 Retrospective

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Up here in the Northern hemisphere, as the shortest day of the year draws near, we're snuggling up with our honeys and sharing our perfect movie date nights, complete with soundtracks, heartwarming films, and sexy songs. Light a candle or two and join us!

Plus, Liz's favorite thing this week is the bundle of family films she's seen in 2024 with her son, Oliver and her wife, Kathleen.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail-- THE BEARSKIN RUG:

Start by making a spiced ginger honey syrup. Combine in a saucepan:
1 cup honey
1 cup water 
one medium-sized ginger root, chopped or grated
1 tbsp ground cinnamon or 3 cinnamon sticks
1 tbsp ground or whole cloves
1 tbsp nutmeg
½ tbsp vanilla extract
Let the mixture come to a boil, then remove from heat and let sit until it's room temperature. Strain out the spices, then store in a jar in your refrigerator.

For the cocktail:
1 oz Irish whiskey (for mocktail, use 2 oz ginger ale)
1 oz Grand Marnier (for mocktail, use 4 splashes of orange bitters or a few drops of orange oil extract)
1 oz cassis liquor (for mocktail, use cranberry juice)
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz ginger syrup

Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice, then served strained into a chilled glass straight up or over fresh rocks. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a slice of fresh orange.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 29 - Favorite Movie Date Nights

Trish's sexy Bossa Nova datenight playlist.

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

How do we get permission to use a song in film or TV? Who needs to be paid, and what's the process? With years of experience under her belt, Liz gets into the nitty gritty of music clearances and dishes the dirt on which artists are hard to clear, which artists she loves to place in projects, and what issues you never knew had to be considered along the way.

Also Trish's favorite thing this week is a hardboiled egg.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's California sober mocktail-- THE FAVORED NATIONS:

4 oz Magic Cactus botanical elixir (we used the spiced peach flavor)
½ oz spiced pear shrub (we used the Crafted Cocktail Asian pear)
2 oz soda water

Pour all ingredients over ice, stir gently and serve on the rocks, garnished with candied ginger.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 28 - Music Clearances

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Cheers to a cozy week with loved ones! Here at On Cue, we're honoring this holiday with an exploration of inspiring music from Indigenous artists. Liz has curated a wide variety of fantastic songs, spanning diverse genres and styles. Hope you're safe and cared for this season.

Also, Liz's favorite thing this week: Will & Harper, the Netflix documentary.

Link To Donate to Black Belt Eagle Scout's (Katherine Paul) Go Fund Me Page

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail-- THE GRATITUDE: 

2 oz Wild Turkey or your favorite bourbon (for mocktail, use lemon soda)
4 dashes of cranberry bitters
5 dashes of black walnut bitters
½ oz ginger syrup or maple syrup
½ oz fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon fresh ginger juice (grate it, then squeeze or press it to extract the juice)

Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a glass over fresh rocks. Garnish with fresh cranberries or a lemon slice and a sprig of fresh herbs.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Thanksgiving Episode 

Indigenous Artists Playlist

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Some might consider them guilty pleasures. But here at On Cue, it's our mission to rescue certain songs from the shadowy depths of shame and embarrassment. We're rebranding these savory and sweet auditory nuggets as GIVE NO F*CKS songs: tracks that might have caused a cringe when we were younger, but now we openly love with full-throated and reckless abandon.

Also, Liz's favorite thing this week: Trusted HouseSitters. Get 25% off when you use this link.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail-- THE SOLDIER OF LOVE: 

3 oz fresh spearmint tea, chilled
1 teaspoon of honey
1 oz herbaceous honey liqueur (we love Casa D'Aristi Xtabentún. For mocktail, use a anise syrup)
1 oz elderflower liqueur (for mocktail, use white grape juice and a few drops of orange blossom water)

Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a glass over fresh rocks. Garnish with fresh mint, star anise, or whatever else looks pretty and smells great.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 26 - Give No Fuck Songs

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

In the wake of a dramatic, far-reaching and consequential US election, you may be feeling drained, confused, overwhelmed or even brokenhearted. While we can't offer any quick fixes, we do appreciate that the right song at the right time can bring comfort, resilience, faith and a way forward. Putting together this episode was a cathartic and restorative exercise for us. Our hope is that it might bring you some relief as well.

Thanks to the musicians who keep making music, lifting us all up and pushing us forward. And thanks to all of you for listening.

Our favorite things this week are tools we've recently discovered to help us make sense of the world:

Thoughtful, nonpartisan news and analysis via Tangle News is here.

Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness, by Dr. Jamil Zaki, is here.

The official music video for Ólafur Arnalds' song 3005 is here.

We love hearing from you! Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week's cocktail or mocktail is a variation on THE LAST WORD: 

1 oz Laird's Apple Jack (for mocktail, use gingerale or ginger beer)
1 oz St. George spiced pear liquor (for mocktail, use a spiced pear syrup; we loved Crafted Cocktails Asian Pear Shrub)
1 oz yellow Chartreuse (for mocktail, use a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup dissolved in warm water, plus a pinch of saffron, cinnamon, and anise if you've got it)
1 oz fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients on ice, then serve strained into a sweet glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or a sprinkle of nutmeg.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Songs Of Hope

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Meet our friend, Miguel Rodriguez! He's a professional saxophonist, with a love of jazz and improvisation. As a music producer, a developer of music-centered apps, and a multi-disciplinary collaborator, he dishes on his wide range of musical influences-- from Kenny G, Stan Getz and Sade, to N.E.R.D. and Mk.Gee.

Plus, we taste-test non-alcoholic adaptogen cocktails and expound upon the benefits of meditation and mindfulness.

You can check out his ongoing improvisational dance and music collaboration with Jake Kus Moyle here.

Reviews were mixed on this week’s drink, an alcohol-free "social tonic" called HIYO. It comes in a can, so there's no recipe to share!

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 24

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber