The Hot Spot Ramblings & Rants

From frozen yogurt to film festivals — a not-so-ordinary journal of all things Hot Spot.

The World’s Best Gelato, 2025

The title might be Never Have I Ever because though there was a strong consensus, we did have the odd difference, which

The Roman Holiday Gelato Adventure – 2023

It isn’t easy to imagine that it’s been nearly a quarter of a century since we started to churn ice cream at

Mikey (1992)

The Hot Spot Rating Mikey (1992)Cast: Brian Bonsall, Josie Bissett, Lyman Ward, John Diehl, Ashley LaurenceDirector: Dennis Dimster-DenkSynopsis: Psycho kid movie is

Reform School Girls (1986)

The Hot Spot Rating Reform School Girls (1986)Cast: Robin Watkins, Linda Carol, Wendy O. Williams, Pat Ast, Sybil Danning, Charlotte McGinnis, Sherri

Drive-in Massacre (1976)

The Hot Spot Rating Drive-in Massacre (1976)Cast: Jake Barnes, Adam Lawrence, Douglas GudbyeDirector: Stu SegallSynopsis: a movie that gives cheap a new

Wasp Woman (1995)

The Hot Spot Rating Wasp Woman (1995)Cast: Jennifer Ruben, Doug Wert, Maria Ford, Melissa BraselleDirector: Jim WynorskiSynopsis: Unbelievably cheesy and tacky remake

Wasp Woman, The (1959)

The Hot Spot Rating “distant version of The Fly” – Cult Flicks & Trash Pics “minor camp classic” – Maltin “Stinker” –

Sssssss (1973)

The Hot Spot Rating Sssssss (1973)Cast: Strother Martin, Dirk Benedict, Heather MenziesDirector: Bernard L. KowalskiNutshell: obsessed mad doctor yearns to create a

Leeches! (2003)

The Hot Spot Rating Leeches (2003)Cast: Matthew Twining, Josh Henderson, Stacey Nelson, Tony CarroccioDirector: David DeCoteauSynopsis: Steroid-pumped leeches mutate into humungous huge

The Hot Spot opens in Islamabad – Officially

May 20, 2025 No Comments

We finally managed to find a space in Islamabad that we think suited us. An obsolete restaurant turned into a failed plant

The Litre Pack Arrives

May 20, 2025 No Comments

The Litre Pack, hand drawn by Sara Khan arrives…

The Big Bang – June 1995

May 19, 2025 No Comments

In the Summer of 1995, Mariam, Ali and I tried the little wooden ice cream bucket with a hand crank for the

Dark Experiments

May 19, 2025 No Comments

The Acid Test – July 1995 If you can’t do justice to Vanilla, you might as well pack your bags. As the

“It’s Alive” – The Hot Spot is Born – Islamabad ’95

May 18, 2025 No Comments

As 1995 rolled around, I found myself at a crossroads with confusion and conflict being unwanted constant companions. Teaching and especially coaching