If you’re like me, and watched every episode of the Gilmore Girls when it first aired, and then again in syndication (and again on DVD), you’re probably also like me in that you are counting down the days, hours and minutes until Friday, when Netflix releases four brand-new episodes (The Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life) of our previously ended and beloved series.
It’s not often that a series that has ceased production comes back to air, so for devoted viewers like me, this is a HUGE deal. In fact, my friend Vanessa, who will be viewing with me, has dubbed this Friday’s viewing party “The Gilmorebowl!” In order to adequately prepare fellow fans for this momentous day, I feel it is my duty to devote my post this week, to helping you enjoy your best possible Gilmorebowl.
1. Coffee
“Do you like coffee?”
“Only with my oxygen.”
-Lorelai Gilmore
The love of coffee runs deep for Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, and drinking coffee at Luke’s is as integral and core to the series as is Lorelai and Rory being mother and daughter. Luke’s Diner is a single owner, local coffee shop belonging to the grumpy yet lovable Luke Danes, who opened the shop in his father’s former hardware store in idyllic Star’s Hollow, CT.
As much as I love my caramel brulee lattes this time of year, drinking coffee from a franchise during the Gilmorebowl seems as anti-Gilmore as skipping coffee altogether. To properly prepare for best Gilmore viewing, I would like to suggest you support a local coffee shop by starting your day with a cup of their joe.
Some great local coffee shops for your consideration:
- Yellow Mug Coffee – located at 1137 E. Champlain, Yellow Mug is a newer coffee shop on the scene in Fresno, and was actually selected to host a “pop-up Luke’s Diner” event, as part of Netflix’s promotion for the new Gilmore episodes! Baristas donned Luke’s signature flannel and backwards baseball caps while they brewed custom Gilmore-themed beverages served in special edition Luke’s Diner cups! The team did a great job and really made the event fun, and even though I didn’t make it out until just before closing, my mocha was served with a smile and was very rich and smooth.
- Cornerstone Coffee Company – located Downtown 1463 Fulton Street, Cornerstone Coffee offers tasty coffee and tea, as well as a good toasted bagel. Supporting local musicians and artists with live music events, too, Cornerstone epitomizes the community coffee feel.
- Kuppa Joy – now with two locations, but still locally-owned, Kuppa Joy’s self-titled, euphorically delicious signature drink is sweet enough to please a Gilmore sweet tooth, and smooth enough to bring a contented smile to your face before you settle in for the days’ viewing. Visit either the Fresno High location at 1900 N. Echo or Clovis at 518 Clovis Ave.
2. Take Out
Lorelai once said, “I love pizza. I eat tons of pizza. It’s one of my four major food groups.” and all of Rory’s friends, including frenemy Paris Gellar knew that if you’d had a rough day, and wanted good takeout, you’d go to the Gilmore house, as illustrated when she plopped onto their couch in season 5 and declared, “No men, just lots and lots of Chinese food.”
For the truest Gilmore viewing experience, I suggest putting on your stretchiest pants and ordering from at least two of your favorite take out restaurants – preferably with different genres of food. Below, please find a curated list of my own personal, local, tested and approved favorites:
Chinese Food
Ding Ho Kitchen – at Bullard & Marks, get a combination plate for best value and heaps of food!
Imperial Express – at Herndon and Cedar, and offering some of the very best fried rice around.
Thai Food
Gem of Thailand – on the corner of Blackstone and Herndon, try the massuman curry with chicken and sticky rice or the beef pad see ew.
Pizza
Me-n-Ed’s (it’s just a given for Fresnans I think!)
Burgers & Fries
Triangle Drive-In –at Belmont and 99 or First and Barstow, you just can’t beat their quality, old-fashioned cheese burgers and diner fare! Plus – pebble ice!
3. Junk Food
Ah… I know what you’re thinking; you just ordered a bunch of take-out, and on the very day after Thanksgiving, seeing as that’s the release date for Year in the Life. However, as crazy as it may sound to you, you also need to acquire some additional junk food. Now, yes, I know this sounds borderline insane, but, that is likely because you aren’t trained. “People don’t realize it, but it takes years of training to eat the way we do.” says Lorelai.
If you dare fully embrace the “eat like a Gilmore” challenge during your Gilmorebowl, the ideal snack items of choice to have on hand include the following:
- Pop-Tarts
- Chocolate
- Tater Tots
- Onion Rings
- Cake
- Tacos
- Macaroni and cheese
- Danishes
- Pie
Things you don’t need:
“Since when don’t you like avocado?”
“Since I said, ‘Gross, what is this?’ and you said, ‘Avocado’.”
Lorelai Gilmore
4. Clothing
Lorelai and Rory were all about that t-shirt life, flannel and jeans life (except for when headed to work or school), so in honor of Gilmorebowl, it seems only fitting that dressing comfortably is key.
In order to prepare for my own Gilmorebowl, (and being the mega-fan that I confess that I am) I took out my trusty Silhouette machine to create a couple of custom t-shirts for my viewing buddy and I. However, if you don’t have a Silhouette, but you have a unique design in mind, you can reach out to local business, Kaeton Creations, to request to have a t-shirt made, just for you, so you can sport your Gilmore pride beyond this week. Want more Gilmore-wear? Check out Etsy for tons of great options!
Not wanting to go quite as far as to sport show-specific clothing? No worries – I’m certain Lorelai would approve of a well-loved concert t-shirt, as she wears (and Rory swipes) in many an episode.
5. Details
No Gilmorebowl would be complete without the new episodes! To view, you’ll need an active Netflix subscription, (the first month is free, too, if you’ve never signed up before!) and of course, access to the internet. You can watch on t.v. through a Roku, Smart T.V. or gaming console with internet connectivity, or online via computer or mobile device. All four hour-long episodes will be available for streaming at 12:01am (PST) this Friday, November 25th.
If anyone needs me on Friday – don’t bother checking the stores, I’ll be at home streaming and probably eating waaay too much food, but I’ll sure be happy!
{Thank you to Yellow Mug Coffee for permission to use images in this post}
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