From the Refreshment Stand:

To truly explore all the facets of Cube Gleaming, we came up with some food and drinks to go along with this week's showing of Gleaming the Cube.

Since most of the movies shown at the Alamo Basement are ones I haven't seen, it can be a challenge to find appropriate food references basing yourself solely on the trailer. I, for one, had not picked up on the fact that the movie was seemingly sponsored by Pizza Hut and Coke.

I decided to focus on the fact that this movie is totally rad and from the 80's. And while my concept of the 80's might be technically incorrect, I think we got the right feel from the food. We made Hot Dog Surprise. And the surprise? It tastes good. You wouldn't think it from the look of it when you're about half way through the recipe but it does not disappoint.

These doggies were "sold out" before the Asian roommate brother was dead.

As for the drink- this was a harder task if only because I can't mix a drink with more than 2 ingredients (Need a rum and coke? I've got you covered!). To explore the rad flavors and bogus colors of the 80's I got hooked on using Watermelon Vodka- surely the most ridiculous of vodka flavors. We tossed around the idea of rimming the glasses in Pop Rocks or Pixy Stix but after finally located them (when did grocery stores stop selling this kind of stuff??) neither of these candies would stick. And cleaning stuck Pop Rocks off a plate is a little dangerous... I also wanted to include Kool aid somehow- hopefully in crazy colors and flavors. And then it hit me: flavor-gleaming-ice-cubes!

We made Hawaiian punch flavored ice cubes and then followed the instructions on the grape and strawberry Kool Aid packet to make "Sour Ice Cubes". As they melted in the drink, the sour cubes did provide that extra punch I was hoping to get from the candy rimming but they were hell-a sticky and just never seemed totally frozen. Probably too much sugar...

Some of our awesome viewers rounded out our selection of refreshments with some tubular treats: Fruit by the Foot, Gushers, Fruit Roll-ups and Capri Sun.

It was a sugar fueled event

Recipes after the jump.


Hot Dog Surprise
Adapted from my best friend Ashley's Mom
Feeds a crowd (of about 8)

• 8 hot dog potato buns
• 12 beef hot dogs, chopped
• 6oz cheddar cheese, diced
• 2 tbls sweet reslish
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• About 1/3 bag of chips

Turn the broiler to high.

Slice open and in half the hot dog buns and line them on a cookie sheet, cut side up. Make sure the buns are touching so that none of the filling will fall off later. You're going for a raft look. Toast in the oven for about 3-4 minutes until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl combine the hot dogs, cheddar, sweet relish, ketchup and mustard. It will look pretty gross. Adjust your ingredients if something seems to be lacking (maybe you guys really love relish!). Now grab a handful of chips and crumble them into the bowl. I added about 3 big handfuls. Fold the mixture together.

Evenly pile the mixture onto the sliced hot dog buns. Garnish each one with ketchup and mustard. Zig zags are an edgy touch. Bake in the oven with your eye on them for about 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melting and chips are slightly singed.

Eat right away!

Cube Gleamer
Alamo Basement original
Makes about 12 drinks


Since this drink's name involves a cube try to use ice cube trays that are actually cube shaped. I found that most nowadays are rounded at the bottom... it just ruins everything!!

• 3-6 Ice cube trays
• Blue Hawaiin punch
• 1 packet grape Kool Aid
• 1 packet strawberry Kool Aid
• 2 12oz cans frozen pink lemonade concentrate
• 18oz watermelon vodka (or more to taste)
• Water
• Soda water to serve

Start by making the necessary gleaming ice cubes:

Using your special hexahedron trays, fill one with Blue Hawaiin Punch and set to freeze. Follow the instructions on the Kool Aid packet to make sour ice cubes from the grape and strawberry packets for the other 2 ice cube trays. To make the sour cubes I think you mix the powder with 1/3 cup sugar and 3/4 cups of water. In the second batch I added more water and less sugar. These Kool-aid people are sugar freaks.

Once all your cubes are frozen, make the main drink:

In a large drink dispenser (or carafe) mix together the lemonade concentrate and use the cans to measure out and add 6 cans of water. Add 1-2 cans worth of watermelon vodka. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve:
We added all the gleaming cubes to a small cooler and set that on the bar. To make one drink we scooped up some ice cubes using the cup, filled the glass with the spiked pink lemonade and topped it all off with some soda water. As the drink melts, it will take on new and more intense flavors. Rad to the max.

- Claire