Max Fish 2nd Annual Tiki Dinner ? Cait Plus Ate

Ahh, my latest foodie event has come and gone, and now it?s time to recap for you all! I was definitely getting a lot of Instagram love (just recently joined, follow me @CaitPlusAte!) as I live-tweeted and shared the food and drinks I was having during this tasting dinner, which was held this past Thursday evening. The host was Max Fish, one of the excellent restaurants in the Max Restaurant Group of CT and MA. You may have seen it pop up on the blog when I went there for late night happy hour during my 23rd birthday, as well as in this post in which I attended an oyster and wine tasting there, left, and then came BACK for more food during late night happy hour!

After reading my recap of the oyster and wine tasting, the manager of Max Fish, Brian Costa, was kind enough to invite me to a future event. I selected the 2nd Annual Tiki Dinner, 5 courses of food and cocktail pairings. I have never done a multi-course dinner with cocktails, so I was DEFINITELY intrigued. My readers know I love me some classy cocktail imbibing.

The tiki bar ? all the cocktails were made in front of us.

My usual foodie companion Jeff and I arrived on time for the event?s start at 6PM, but the first round of drinks was not served until 6:30PM. This annoyed me because I really rushed from work to fight traffic and get to the event on time, but as people trickled in the waiters used the first half hour to ask us if we wanted to purchase any additional drinks before the dinner started. I can understand a restaurant wanting to make additional money off of drinks. Also, it seemed that many of the attendees didn?t show up until 6:30, so starting right at 6 might have made them upset since they?d have missed the first course but been charged the same amount of money as everyone else. Still, I am just a punctual person, and my outlook is if you say an event starts at 6, that?s when it should start. Or, the flyer could have mentioned that the first half hour would be a ?cocktail hour? of some kind and include passed appetizers, like the tasting dinner menus at CW?s Chops n Catch do. Just my two cents :-)

Brian welcomes the guests.

Unfortunately the event was moved from the patio to indoors due to the extreme heat CT was experiencing that day. That bummed me out because I am essentially allergic to AC (AKA it?s always too cold for me) and it also resulted in seating being cafeteria-style at long tables to ensure enough space for everyone. Jeff and I were not fans of that, but we did end up sitting across from a fun couple on a blind date and they were cool to talk to, so it all worked out! OK, I swear this dinner was awesome ? I sound like a Negative Nancy right now. Let?s get to the good, and there?s plenty of it.

Bermuda Triangle (aka a Dark ?n Stormy plus honey and lime).

Course One?s drink was a variation on one of my favorites, the Dark ?n Stormy, called the Bermuda Triangle. There was a lime ?sunk? at the bottom like a ?ship? ? cute! It also had honey added. I loved the color variation in the presentation and was so excited to take my first sip that I did so without stirring the rum at the top into the drink.

Most attractive face EVER.

OOPS! After mixing the drink?s ingredients and taking another (cautious) sip, my facial expression certainly changed.

Getting into the tiki vibe with our sunglasses. And OK, it?s not mixed yet in that photo.

Course One?s dish was a plate of conch fritters with lime-coconut aioli, candied ginger, and hearts of palm.

THIS WAS SO GOOD. The aioli was so amazing, and Jeff and I were both glad that the dish was served with plenty of it. The fritters were way flavorful and the fried exterior didn?t overpower the seafood taste of the interior. The greens were excellent too, even though they weren?t even listed on the menu as a part of the dish ? so they made for a nice surprise. I?d never had hearts of palm before but remembered seeing them on Allie?s blog. They were way saltier than I expected but that made for interesting flavor combos on my plate! The Bermuda Triangle also paired well with this dish, especially given the fact that both it and the food had both lime and ginger flavors.

The dish and the drink.

Course Two?s drink was the Tiki Torch, another beverage shrouded in ?mystery? to me when I first read the menu since its name gave away nothing about what would be in it.

Phone is hiding in the background waiting to tweet, as always.

Based off how it looks, you probably won?t be surprised to hear that it was made with?rock candy syrup!?The crushed ice definitely mimicked the rock candy look. The Tiki Torch also included dark rum, lime juice, and an Italian?liqueur?Amaro Montenegro. Fancy presentation! Jeff and I loved the glass and the garnish. I also was pleasantly surprised that the drink wasn?t too sweet.

We both got lei?d!

Course Two?s food is brought to you by Instagram, because I?m a bad blogger and forgot to take a photo of it with my camera.

Yup, that?s raw tuna! More specifically, spicy tuna poke of raw tuna, sriacha aioli, mint, avocado, lotus root, and thin sesame crackers.?Kinda reminded me of fancy tuna nachos! Of course Max Fish knows how to do tuna. It was so perfect, especially with the sriacha. Both the food and the drink were delicious, but did not necessarily pair together in any particularly noticeable way.

This one wins the prettiest presentation award.

The candied cherry on top of Course Three?s drink, the Red Bitter Mai Tai, was so amazing that I could honestly perhaps call this my favorite drink of the evening BECAUSE of the cherry. Maybe that?s a bit extreme, but damn it was good. Max Fish?s take on the mai tai consisted of Sailor Jerry?s rum, triple sec, lime juice, and Campari.?It was a bit sweet for my usual tastes (the triple sec had me wary) but I still finished it :-D

Perhaps that explains the widening smiles.

Course Three also consisted of my favorite dish of the evening, a sampler of mixed Hawaiian dumplings.?Right off the bat I knew I?d love them because of how thin they were. Plenty of filling ? the GOOD STUFF! Jeff was accidentally served double of one type of dumpling, but the error was remedied fairly quickly.

The dumpling on white sauce (tahini) had shrimp and chile, the dumpling on orange sauce (kaffir lime sauce) had lobster, and the dumpling on brown sauce (Kahlua sauce) had duck. The center was garnished with a cabbage mix. The duck was by FAR my favorite. I just love duck and how fatty and flavorful it tastes! Its sauce was dynamite too. My favorite sauce, though, was the tahini with the shrimp. The shrimp was far from bland, but compared to the other two fillings, it was the most unique. The lobster was?lobster. How can you go wrong? Each dumpling?s soft texture paired really well with the crunchy cabbage. Again, this food and drink pairing didn?t necessarily ?go together? to me, but both were delicious (yup, I used that forbidden word) in their own rights.

This one got the biggest Instagram reaction from you guys!

The main course?s drink (Course Four) had a self-explanatory name ? the Coconut Mojito. Isn?t it beauuuutiful? And so much mint, which I used my straw to ?muddle? throughout that lovely tall glass. The coconut flavor wasn?t too much, especially since I muddled in the mint. A perfect balance! Unfortunately I could not finish this drink ? I?d already had my fair share. But it actually paired perfectly with every component of the main course. And there were MANY!

At this point it starts getting dark outside and so my natural light leaves me, and my photos get a bit less pretty.

Um, yeah. This one was NOT a small plate! Served buffet style?unfortunately I missed the money-shot of the full pig coming out to be carved, but I did catch a shot of the carver in action. He worked quickly and expertly.

Each table went up to fill its plates with Polynesian-roasted suckling pig, grilled pineapple, orange sauce, sticky rice, and steamed buns.?

I was sure to get a little bit of everything,?as you can see from my plate a couple of photos up. That pig was perfection!!! I loved it with the mojito. I also put some on top of the steamed bun and added the sauce to that combo. Amazing! I want to have a full pork sandwich on a steamed bun. The grilled pineapple was good but definitely overshadowed by the more unique parts of the plate. I don?t even really like rice (it bores me), but the sticky rice had an interesting texture and so much flavor. I?d definitely order it out another time.

Ahhh ugly photo alert.

The dessert course drink (Course Five) had another self-explanatory name, the Tremont Rum Manhattan.?At this point Jeff and I were definitely feelin? our cocktails, and we took a sip of this guy and looked at each other in shock. Damn, it was strong! We both decided that for our livers and our safety, we probably wouldn?t be able to finish the last round. However, I?m glad I had a few sips with the dessert food because the strong rum paired AMAZINGLY with the sweet?cold fusion guava sorbet, edible orchids, and pineapple upside down cake!

Definitely wasn?t blown away by this dish?s presentation, but certainly was by its taste. I dipped the flower in the sorbet and ate that first! It didn?t have much of a taste to it, but a nice crunch, always something that I like. The sorbet was tasty but soooo sweet! My favorite part of the dessert was dipping the cake in the sorbet. It was so spongy and I could definitely taste the pineapple.

Thank you, Max Fish! Also, we did not plan to both wear stripes.

Brian, the manager, came by after our meal to make sure we had a good time and enjoyed ourselves. Definitely nice to see! And we certainly had plenty to rave about, so I?m sure he was pleased too. Another successful tasting dinner for me - thanks Brian!

Does it bother you when events don?t start on time?

Which dish would you most want to try? Which cocktail?

Have you ever attended a tiki or luau themed event?

Tags: appetizers, cocktails, connecticut, dessert, dinner, friends, fruit, max fish, mojito, pork, restaurants, rum, seafood

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Dracula's Bloodline

Dracula's Bloodline

The Knights who serve as retainers of the main bloodline must keep safe Dracula's descendant from The Organisation, who seek to unleash the powers of the bloodline's last descendant and lay claim to it, using it for their own ends.

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Gii
Member for 0 years



Quite a unique twist on Stoker's novel... instead of Lucy dying Mina dose... kinda makes sense if the book is in fact a cover up in this world...

Do The Van Helsing's exist in this world? if so I may join...

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Forget~Me~Not
Member for 3 years


Sure... Why not... that would make a good twist.

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Gii
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great i'll start writting it now...

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Forget~Me~Not
Member for 3 years



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Rapper 50 Cent injured in car accident

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Is Magic Mike Headed for Broadway?

Director Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike debuted over the weekend, closing out the Los Angeles Film Festival. And while the Warner Bros film opens in theaters this Friday, fans may have the opportunity to see it live in the flesh as it were in the future.

Starring Channing Tatum, the story loosely revolves around the actor's eight month stint dancing at male strip clubs in Tampa, Florida. It is a time during which Tatum admits to witnessing a much more dark and depressing version of events than what producing partner/writer Reid Carolin transposes to the script. He meets an eager college drop out, played by Alex Pettyfer and takes him under his wing.

Carolin tipped off to USA Today that there are plans to strut Magic Mike on Broadway in the near future. ""We are working on it as a Broadway show, which would be a different story," said Carolin, adding, "More of a romp, more of a fun night out at a club with a story. I'm almost more excited about that than the movie because I think it's the perfect thing for women to go see on Broadway, to be participants in the show." And Pettyfer may have a chance to show more skin as well if and when the show hits the great white way. He said he "absolutely" would do the show. ""I think we should all do the opening night," he said.

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Cardiovascular Diseases Leads To Heart Failure

Cardiovascular Diseases Leads To Heart Failure

What is cardiovascular? It is related to the circulatory system, which compromises the heart along with blood vessels and carries nutrients and oxygen to the tissues of the body and removes carbon dioxide and other wastes from them. Cardiovascular diseases are conditions that affect the heart along with the blood vessels and insert arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease heart valve disease and many more. Today there are thousands of people all over the globe who are going through cardiovascular diseases. If you want to keep away from these diseases then you need to perform some physical activity for that. Are you one among them who is going through severe cardiac diseases? Then you require getting in touch with the best cardiology clinic. A cardiology clinic is the ultimate option for you. If you want then you can even go for the training and you can keep your health enthusiastic and you can even be ten hands far away from diseases. It is very essential to go for exercise in order to keep your body fit and healthy. It is even said that people who are going through these diseases must have a proper diet and live a happy and tension free life. Well if you are in search of the best cardiology clinic in order to go for regular checkups then you need to get in touch with drliminghaan cardiology clinic. Drliminghaan cardiology clinic is a heart specialist clinic in Singapore?s top most hospital. It offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment for all aspects of heart and vascular disease. Our main focus in on risk assessment, early screening and preventive cardiology using leading technology inserting 320 slice cardiac CT along with cardiac PET. So if you want to go for the best then contact us soon as possible.

Heart disease is a life threatening disease. Heart disease can be caused by a congenital problem with the heart by infections such as rheumatic fever that damages the heart valves. Majority of the people all over the planet go through heart diseases. If you want to prevent heart disease then you need to have a healthy diet, lead a happy life, eat foods with less oil in it, do not take too much of stress, stop excessive smoking and drinking, have a normal weight, go for exercises and go for regular checkups. So keep a healthy diet and lead a happy life in order to avoid heart diseases.

You must be thinking what coronary artery disease is? Well it is a disease of the heart that occurs when you have a lot of fatty deposits on the walls of the coronary arteries. And it is called atheroma that is made up of cholesterol along with other waste substances. The causes of coronary artery disease is it can be hereditary, being above the age of 65, diabetes, excessive smoking, high blood pressure, menopause in women and many other motives. There are certain symptoms that can aid you to recognize coronary artery disease and they are chest pain, pain in the left arm, shortness of breath, and many other symptoms.

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10 cities where buying actually beats renting

It?s the latest aftershock from the housing bust: Across the country, rents are rising. Nearly 4 million families have transitioned into rentals since the foreclosure wave began; meanwhile, new construction largely dried up after the housing bubble burst. The result: Vacancy rates in many cities are low and prices are going up.

The National Association of Realtors projects a 4 percent average increase in rents nationally this year and 4 percent in 2013. It has motivated aspiring landlords to snap up property and pushed Wall Street firms to pursue buying lender-owned properties in bulk. It also means the deals renters could finagle during the worst of the downturn no longer exist in the cities that have rebounded most strongely.

Forbes.com: 10 U.S. cities where buying beats renting

Take Minneapolis. With a tight vacancy rate of 2.5 percent, the average rent in the metro area is $965 per month, up 2.3 percent from this time last year. With home prices down more than 30 percent since 2006, it?s actually cheaper to buy. The average monthly mortgage payment on a home bought now would be $122 less than the average rent. That put Minneapolis in second place on Forbes? annual list of the worst cities for renters this year. ?The rental market here has been hot for about a year,? said Teresa Boardman, a realtor with Saint Paul Home Realty. She said rental properties in downtown Minneapolis and around the University of Minnesota have been in particularly high demand. ?My daughter had a one-bedroom apartment for almost $900, and I mean it was very small. I have clients renting efficiency apartments, and those are going to $850 to $900 a month.?

Forbes.com: In Pictures: The best and worst cities for renters

To find the places where renters fare the best and worst, we started with the 44 largest U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and Metropolitan Divisions (MSADs). These are cities and their surrounding suburbs as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

With the help of Marcus & Millichap, an Encino, Calif.-based real estate investment firm, we ranked these metro areas according to four criteria: average rent in the first quarter of 2012; how much that price has changed year-over-year; vacancy rates, because more empty units mean more choices and, typically, better prices; and the difference between the average monthly rental payment versus monthly mortgage payments (including taxes and insurance on a home at the local median asking price with a 30-year mortgage at 4.5 percent with 20 percent down).

Forbes.com: America's most affordable cities

If the Twin Cities? rental market is sparking, New York is on fire. While rents have always been notoriously high in the Big Apple, it still has long been considered a place where renting beats buying. That?s changed. The New York metro area now takes the top spot on our list of worst places for renters.

A mortgage payment on a median-priced home in the metro area currently costs $217 less than a rent check. ?They?re almost on par, which is amazing because it has usually been the reverse,? said Hessam Nadji, a managing director at Marcus & Millichap.

Forbes.com: The best cities to buy a home right now

He notes that rents in New York City only fell 10 percent to 12 percent in the downturn, and only during the worst of the 2009 recession. Thanks in large part to stronger-than-anticipated job growth, a rental market recovery took root in 2010; by the end of 2011, the rental market had not only recovered its pre-recession level prices, it started to surpass them.

Forbes.com: 12 must-know tips before becoming a landlord

The biggest rent increases have been in Manhattan, where the vacancy rate is an astoundingly low 1 percent, said Gary Malin, president of Citi Habitats. His real estate brokerage, which tracks local rent data on a monthly basis, reports that the borough?s rents are at an all-time high of 1.3 percent above the former 2007 peak. And they?ll keep climbing. A mere 2,600 additional apartment units are projected to become available in 2012, the lowest number in years. ?The reality is there isn?t a lot of new inventory to keep up with demand,? said Malin.

Other cities where rising rents are making it hard on the pocketbook are San Jose, Calif. (No. 4 on our list), Washington, D.C. (No. 6), and Boston (No. 7). ?The primary coastal metros are markets with incredibly low vacancies where it?s really hard to add units because of regulations,? explained Nadji. He said rents are surging in places where job growth has been relatively robust during the past year.

On the flip side, rental bargains can still be found in many of the cities rocked by the real estate bust. No. 1 on our list of best cities for renters: Tucson, Ariz., where the average monthly rent is just $652, a 1.6 percent increase from last year. The vacancy rate is 6 percent, helped by a relatively large pool of unsold, vacant homes, translating into more choices and reasonable rents for locals happy to stay away from an uncertain home market.

Forbes.com: American cities with the most construction under way

The renting is also good in Texas: San Antonio ranks fourth on our list of the best cities for renters and Houston is No. 6. The state is adding jobs and population, but thanks to a lack of building regulations and zoning, developers have little trouble erecting new houses and apartment complexes to keep pace with demand. ?Texas is the country?s highest construction region over a long-term period of time,? said Nadji. San Antonio has a 6.7 percent vacancy rate and Houston?s is 8.1 percent. Average rents in both metro areas are under $800.

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Well: New Emphasis on Running Style to Limit Injuries

Have you managed to sustain your running routine?

In recent years, the focus in recreational running has not been on achieving faster times or longer distances. Instead, longtime athletes and newcomers alike have been searching for a training method that will keep them from being sidelined by injuries.

And that quest has created a growth industry in sustainable running plans. One increasingly popular method is Chi Running, which combines the fundamentals of proper running form with the principles of the martial art tai chi. The emphasis is on posture, core strength, relaxed legs and mindfulness with every step.

The method was developed by Danny Dreyer, a running coach and ultramarathon runner from Asheville, N.C. Feeling the ravages of years of distance running, Mr. Dreyer said he was always trying to improve his running technique. After taking tai chi instruction, he began to form ideas about how to apply it to running, and in 2004 he incorporated them into a book that gained a devoted following.

Since then, he and his wife, Katherine Dreyer, have written numerous books on Chi Running and Chi Walking, most recently ?Chi Marathon: The Breakthrough Natural Running Program for a Pain-Free Half Marathon and Marathon? (Touchstone). The program now has 200 instructors worldwide, and Mr. Dreyer estimates the books have sold 350,000 copies.

?All of the practice in tai chi comes down to always developing a strong core, but relaxing the moving parts,? he said in an interview. ?Those are the things that transfer to running. Most people use their legs way too much, and that?s why most runners get injuries from their knees down. You can run more from your core and learn how to relax your legs.?

To gain a sense of how to engage your core through better posture, Mr. Dreyer suggests a simple exercise. Sit straight in a chair and lean against the back for support. Now lean forward slightly, keeping your back straight and staying mindful of good posture. You should feel a noticeable engagement of your abdominal muscles.

While running, many adults stay in a vertical position, using their legs to power them forward and landing heel-first on the pavement. A Chi runner has a straight back, but leans slightly, letting gravity pull the body forward. The legs are used for support between strides, not propulsion. A Chi runner also keeps the knees slightly bent and lands with a midfoot strike, directly under the body. Mr. Dreyer says that most children run this way naturally, but that as adults we change our running form.

Chi Running is not the only method out there that claims to improve form and reduce injury. Nicholas Romanov, a sports physiologist in Naples, Fla., who created the Pose Method in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, now offers clinics in a number of countries to help runners master the form. More recently, Christopher McDougall?s book ?Born to Run? (Knopf, 2009), about how the author overcame injuries after adopting the stride of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, has heightened interest in barefoot running.

The Olympian distance runner Jeff Galloway believes there is no one perfect running form, and advocates a run-walk method that essentially allows muscles to recover at regular intervals during a run, rather than at the end of it. The method has also spawned books, seminars and legions of devoted ?Gallowalkers.? (I used it to complete my first marathon a few years ago.)

Reports that Chi Running leads to fewer injuries are anecdotal, but some researchers believe the method deserves more study. Dr. Rick Hecht, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, is a distance runner who was intrigued by the promise of a more relaxed running form. ?I could do my long runs, but I would feel pretty beat up afterward, sore in my muscles; my joints would feel really stressed,? he said.

Then he read a Chi Running book and took a clinic, and he says running is no longer painful. ?I feel like I could do the same kinds of distances I was doing before, and I don?t feel beat up in the same way,? he told me. ?It feels much better running, particularly long distances.?

Dr. Hecht said his personal experience sparked an interest in a scientific study of the method. He is in the midst of a diet and fitness study of about 200 people that includes Chi Walking. A pilot study to see whether Chi Running has benefits for blood pressure will also include a number of analyses, including a measure of foot-strike forces.

Ken Barnes, 59, who owns a tool-making company in Bedford, Ind., has been running for about seven years and has struggled with a number of injuries, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and knee and back pain. After he studied a book and a video on Chi Running, he said, his running pains went away.

?I?m more cognizant of running,? he said. ?Today I did a 45-minute run, and I thought, ?Boy, I could just keep going.? I feel much better when I?m done.?

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Meet Tyler, the JDRF Coach for 2012 Ride to Cure Diabetes ...

by JDRF Bay Area on 06/25/2012

Tyler Burns, personal trainer and professional coach has joined JDRF as the Greater Bay Area Ride Team Coach! Do you have a goal of participating in an endurance cycling event? Tyler can help you achieve this goal!

Ride coach Tyler Burns participating in Escape From Alcatraz 2012 on the JDRF team.

Tyler?s draw to the field of personal training is rooted in a deep desire for helping others to appreciate the importance of living to one?s greatest potential, physically and mentally. His focus is on a holistic view of our health and fitness, focusing on exercise, nutrition, and mental well-being as the keys to success and positive change.

Tyler has over a decade of experience in one-on-one personal training, small group training, group exercise instruction, and coaching of endurance athletes. With work in many different venues, from community fitness centers, private gyms, and in the elements of nature, Tyler finds that there is no limit to achieving one?s physical goals no matter what obstacles may lie ahead. He has worked through the years with a variety of individuals, from the novice gym goer to the experienced athlete.

Tyler has a unique educational background, combining advanced studies in exercise physiology, psychology, and behavioral medicine. With years of ongoing education and training, Tyler holds a strong belief in applying sound scientific knowledge to committed dedication to one?s fitness, free of gimmicks and fads. As an athlete, he began as a swimmer in high school and continuing on through NCAA?s at Ithaca College in upstate, NY. He has since continued his athletic endeavors with almost 10 years of experience competing in marathons and triathlons from the Olympic to Ironman distances.

To learn more about the Ride to Cure Diabetes, or to join the team, visit ride.jdrf.org, or contact Kat Carpenter at awinant@jdrf.org.

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'Brave' hits bull's-eye at the box office

By Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter

Pixar

"Brave" earned $66.7 million on its opening weekend.

Fears that a female heroine would slow down "Brave" proved unfounded as the animated tentpole opened to a whopping $66.7 million at the domestic box office -- the fifth best debut of all time for a Pixar title.

PHOTOS: From 'Toy Story' to 'Brave': Your Essential Guide to Pixar's Movies

"Brave,"?continuing Pixar's unblemished record of opening all of its movies to No. 1, also scored the second highest June opening for an animated pic after Pixar's "Toy Story 3" ($110.3 million). Overseas, the Pixar and Disney title debuted to $13.5 million in 10 markets.

The 3D event pic -- receiving an A CinemaScore in North America -- marks Pixar's 13th film and is the first movie in the company's history to feature a female lead. "Brave" did skew female (57 percent), but got plenty of male attention.

"You have to draw men and boys as well to see this number," Disney executive president of worldwide distribution Dave Hollis said. "The themes in the movie -- bravery, fighting for your fate -- transcend gender."

Hollis credited Pixar/Disney animation chief John Lasseter, producer Katherine Sarafian and directors Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman for delivering an "enveloping experience" that drew both families (66 percent) and adults.

One troubling statistic: 3D revenues only made up 34 percent of "Brave's"?opening gross, furthering worries that families find the upcharge for a 3D ticket too expensive.

Still, family product ruled the box office all the way around. DreamWorks Animation and Paramount holdover "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" fell to No. 2 in its third weekend with an estimated $20.2 million for a domestic cume of roughly?$157.6 million ("Madagascar 3"?opened to $60.1 million).?

Animation also ruled overseas, where "Madagascar 3" stayed at No. 1 for the third weekend in a row, grossing $30.1 million from 44 markets to race past the $200 million mark. The pic has now earned $208.4 million internationally for an impressive worldwide total of $366 million.

Managing only a third-place domestic finish was 20th Century Fox's 3D genre epic "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter." The R-rated film, playing like a horror title, grossed a soft $16.5 million in its opening. Fox had predicted a debut in the $15 million range -- considering there are no big stars in the film --? but box office observers believed it could get to $20 million.

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov and featuring Tim Burton in the producer's seat, "Abraham Lincoln" received a C+ CinemaScore. The pic's cast is led by Benjamin Walker.

"Abraham Lincoln,"?costing $68 million to produce, features the storied U.S. president as a vampire hunter and is based on the novel by?Seth Grahame-Smith, who also wrote the adapted screenplay. The film is an important test for the "mash-up" genre, with Lionsgate queued up to make the film adaptation of Grahame-Smith's book "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."

Fox believes "Abraham Lincoln,"?which skewed male, will have good legs.

"Audiences will continue to seek out Timur's daring and brilliant vision of 'Abraham Lincoln,' " Fox's incoming president of domestic distribution Chris Aronson said.

The news wasn't good for Steve Carell-Keira Knightley indie pic "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World," which debuted to $3.8 million from 1,625 locations. The Focus Features title, directed and written by Lorene Scafaria, came in No. 10, just ahead of fellow Focus pic "Moonrise Kingdom," which grossed a pleasing $3.4 million from only 395 theaters for a pleasing cume of $11.6 million.

"It's disappointing. The right people turned up to see "Seeking a Friend," but they didn't come in volume," Focus president of distribution Jack Foley said.

At the specialty box office, Woody Allen's new entry "To Rome With Love" got off to a strong start, grossing $379,371 from five theaters for a sizeable location average of $75,874 -- easily the best of the weekend. Sony Pictures Classics, which distributed Allen's box office hit "Midnight in Paris," is once again handling domestic distribution duties for the filmmaker.

Elsewhere, New Line and Warner Bros.' troubled musical "Rock of Ages" fell to No. 6 in its second weekend, grossing $8 million for a 10-day domestic cume of $28.8 million. Adam Sandler's comedy "That's My Boy," likewise troubled, fell to No. 7 in its second outing, grossing $7.9 million for a 10-day total of $28.2 million.

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