Daily Loaf

Remember those sharply dressed fellows in last week’s What to Watch? You know … the ones desperately trying to gain entry into that South Beach BCS night club? Their names were Iowa, TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State and LSU. Well, the lights are coming on and last call is rapidly approaching. This weekend, one of those teams has the opportunity to finagle its way to the front of the line. The others must continue to sit back and watch, hoping the BCS voters who work the door look favorably upon them, which is unlikely if Florida, Texas and Alabama continue to handle their business. The NFL doesn’t rely on doormen, but its season is no less exciting. This Sunday, the NFL reaches its midseason. As one avid SportsChump reader pointed out, we have six games pitting over-.500 teams against each other this weekend, a rarity for this late in the season. Sounds like a separation Sunday worth watching. Read the rest of this entry »

I think the editors have finally started to pay attention to this little blogger here in St. Pete, because we automatically start this week by learning that Althea and Irina aren’t speaking. Love it…finally Irina picked on the wrong girl. I have the feeling that Althea has a little trailer park in her and we all know, those girls can fight. Watch your back Meana Irina, watch. your. back.
Besides those two lovely ladies giving each other the silent treatment, Gordana, Carol Hannah and Christopher are the only designers around. And Chris looks soooooo lonely in that little apartment all by himself. Are the girls not allowed to move over there? Because I am pretty sure that would relieve some of the tension, thicker than Gordana’s accent, that is happening in Casa de la Girlies.

The challenge this week, the final challenge if you hadn’t gathered that from the 400 times they have said it, brings us to The Getty Center, which is apparently the heart of Los Angeles culture but seems mostly like a mish-mosh of art stuff. Whatever, I like it, it gives the designers some freedom to show their point of view. I like all the inspirations they have chosen from the Getty Center, but am a little concerned because so far they haven’t done awesome with that whole “get inspired” thing…I have faith in them though, except for Gordana. I have no faith in Gordana, ever.

I am really wishing I would have kept a log of how many negative things Irina said about people throughout this episode, because she is on it tonight, at least in the double digits. Did anyone else hear her call Carol Hannah a cute dog? That is not a compliment. I love a good Jack Russell terrier as much as the next girl but I do not ever want to be called one…just mean, so mean. Despite some messy looks and harsh critiques from Tim Gunn, everyone is keeping it together…untiiiiiiil the crazy Eastern European starts talking about her spiritual dress or some crap. Yep, we got our first cry of the show from your fave and mine, Gordana. Prepare yourself, because I don’t want to spoil anything but let’s just say the cry count is going up like the spaceship this week, straight to the moon (is it wrong that this makes me happy?).

The editing is really making it looks like every single designer gets torn apart on the runway. But do they??

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For a movie whose title references the most sinister level of encounter with an alien life form — abduction — The Fourth Kind should probably have come with a modest “buyer beware” warning.

That’s because the film is less about getting prodded and probed by little green men than it is a test of what we are willing to believe and be frightened by. As The Fourth Kind opens, actress Milla Jovovich addresses the audience directly, telling us that what we are about to watch is based on a series of strange occurrences that purportedly happened in Nome, Alaska, during the first week of October 2000.

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If Alfred Hitchcock and Edgar Allan Poe got together to do their own version of The Matrix, it would look a lot like Richard Kelly’s The Box. The Donnie Darko director returns with a morality tale that twists and turns around a complex story like barbed wire around a rose. No matter what notion you have of the film going in, you’ll have a drastically different one coming out; that I can guarantee you.

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Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week, a three-day interactive multi-media art event, 11:11 – Let There Be Light, Art, Sound, is a celebration of the creativity that molds our communities and keeps us from falling prey to the everyday tedium of mainstream mediocrity.

The star of the event is Alex Grey (pictured), who, along with his artist wife Allyson, leads today’s psychedelic/spiritual/visionary/postmodern art movement. Alex’s most well-known works are his glowing “x-ray” paintings of human bodies, which offer detailed, anatomical-style examinations of his subjects’ physical and metaphysical anatomy. On Thursday, Alex stages a reading from his book, Art Psalms. Afterwards, he’s joined Allyson for the first two hours of a six-hour painting demo, which is paired with video projection painting by Johnathan Singer, and live multi-sensory music by Scott and Anne Kennedy. During the Friday night “Alex Grey Gala Event,” Read the rest of this entry »

The City of Tampa’s fiendish plot to have you get up at an insanely early hour of the morning and groggily lace up your sneakers continues this Saturday with Keeping Tampa Fit. The biannual event is devoted to increasing awareness of personal health and the city’s numerous parks, while also offering the chance to keep up stride-for-stride with Mayor Pam Iorio (pictured, center), who plans on strolling four miles. As if that weren’t incentive enough, the first 200 registrants will receive a free T-shirt commemorating the event, which participants can then proudly wear to showcase their dedication to receiving free T-shirts. Sure you’d rather sleep in on what is likely your day off, but just think how good that coffee and artery-hardening cheesy omelet are going to taste when you reward yourself for forsaking a few extra hours of peaceful slumber. No pain, no gain, right? Sat., Nov. 7, Rowlett Park, 2501 River Hills Drive. Registration starts at 6:30 am, the walk begins at 7:30 am. Call the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department at 813-274-8615 for more info. – Anthony Salveggi Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next weekend, you can shuffleboard boogie it down at the St. Pete Shuffle or get crazy with a few rounds of Bingo at your community theater in Tampa. The average age of Florida citizens might be rising higher than the heat index, but the youth of Tampa Bay are reclaiming these traditionally geriatric activities for their own. Next weekend, theater-goers young and old alike can enjoy a game of Bingo while they see the story of Babe and Sis unfold onstage in The Queen of Bingo.

The two sisters are polar opposites: Read the rest of this entry »

I mentioned a few weeks ago that Fuse will be airing a John Mayer concert on Tuesday, November 17, the same day his new Battle Studies album hits the shelves. The concert, which takes at New York’s Beacon Theatre, will be broadcast live across the country beginning at 9 p.m. Fuse has also partnered with American Forces Network to broadcast the show to troops overseas via AFN Radio’s Hot AC to troops and their families stationed in 175 countries and on 140 U.S. Navy ships at sea. AFN Television’s “Spectrum” channel will also be airing the concert on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. and on New Year’s Eve.

It’s great that Mayer fans, no matter where they are in the world, will be able to listen to his new music and his live performance the very day it’s been made available. Go, John Mayer! Go, Fuse and AFN! And GO, U.S.A.!

For a big budget, Hollywood-style disaster film, 2012 probably wouldn’t come to mind as an “eco film” to most people. But not only does the movie serve as a message (or warning) of the effects of impending climate change, the director, Roland Emmerich, and producers took great strides to be as green as possible when making it.

Roland Emmerich, known for directing and producing other big budget disaster movies such as The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day, has been living a green lifestyle himself – driving a Prius and using solar energy to power his home – and wanted to carry over some eco-friendly practices into his filmmaking. He stated to MNN at the Environmental Media Association Awards, “After making The Day After Tomorrow, I said to myself, ‘From now on my movies should have a green footprint’.”
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The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Marcus Jones, defeated the UFC veteran, Mike Wessel, on episode eight of The Ultimate Fighter season ten (TUF 10) last night. After two months of restless waiting Jones finally got his chance to prove his worth in the octagon as the last fighter on Team Rampage, after being labeled as ’softy’ and ‘drama queen’ by his coach, Rampage Jackson.

Maybe Coach Rampage wanted to save the best for last, as he finally put some effort into preparing Jones for his upcoming fight against Wessel by sharpening his submission techniques. Rampage’s extra attention pays off when Jones sets a shining example for Rampage’s coaching skills by swiftly submitting Wessel in round one via arm bar.

Watch the video of Jones paying tribute to TUF 10 after the break.

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Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday; 8 am- 1 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday.

Tampa Downtown Market- Fridays October-May; 10 am-2 pm. The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food & gourmet products. The mission of the Tampa Downtown Market is to serve as a community-gathering place where local farmers, producers, and artisans can offer fresh agricultural and related products to generate a sense of local pride and further the economic development of Downtown Tampa. With a strong focus on sustainability, the Tampa Downtown Market intends to provide a vehicle to educate the community on the importance of good health as we create more business opportunities and residential benefits. Located in Lykes Gaslight Square- Tampa St. & Kennedy Blvd., Downtown Tampa.

Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturdays; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers’ Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in “green” natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle and a better environment. Located just North of the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton, Florida (exit 224, Old Exit 43, off I – 75).

St. Pete Saturday Morning Market- Every Saturday; 9 am to 2 pm. Downtown St. Petersburg in the Al Lang Stadium parking lot /1st Ave. S and 1st St. Open October 3 through May 29.

Land O’Lakes Saturday Market- Every Saturday; 9 am-2 pm. The Land O’Lakes Saturday Market is a weekly community event with live music and a threefold mission: 1. To foster a healthy and productive lifestyle of “buy fresh, buy local” by facilitating the connection of local food producers with local consumers.; 2. To promote the development of local green businesses, as well as artists and craftsmen.; 3. To bring our community together for networking and fun in a relaxed atmosphere. Land O’ Lakes Saturday Market donates profits to the Heritage Park Foundation and the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank. We are located at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, on the west side of US 41 – Land O’ Lakes Blvd., three miles north of SR 54 (across from the Land O’ Lakes Post Office- Directions). website: www.lolsaturdaymkt.com; email: lolsaturdaymkt@aol.com
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Dr. John’s stage persona (pictured), “The Night Tripper,” is as big and colorful as the Big Easy — he embodies the culture and heritage of his hometown of New Orleans, and his latest project is a tribute to Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer. Dr. John and the Lower 911 take the stage with “The Sauce Boss” Bill Wharton. Visit mypalladium.org for more info. Thurs., Nov. 5, 8 p.m., Palladium Theater, $45.

This week’s installment in the Dalí and Beyond Film Series of shocking and surreal cinema is  5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, a live-action Dr. Seuss adaptation about Bart, who hates his piano lessons with Dr. Terwilliker and is dragged to a dream world where his piano professor is ruler and the students become his subjects. Visit salvadordalimuseum.org for more info. Thurs., Nov. 5, 6 p.m., Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, $5 after 5 p.m. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Those of you seeking your Jack Hanna fix, here it is. Next weekend, the renowned animal expert and frequent guest on Late Night With David Letterman will appear not once, not twice, but four times at Busch Gardens to regale you with stories of his adventures in the wild and drop some knowledge about the world’s exotic beasts.

Take a Serengeti Night Safari, where Hanna will share his tales on the African continent, or bring your pj’s and the kids for a fun-filled Family Sleepover Featuring Jack Hanna at an on-site dorm.  In the morning, fill up on tasty eats at Breakfast With Jack Hanna, which comes with priority seating at the first showing of Meet Jack Hanna, a conservation-themed show in the Moroccan Palace. Serengeti Night Safari Featuring Jack Hanna, 6:30-9 p.m., Nov 13, and 7:30-10 p.m., Nov. 14, $60 per person; Family Sleepover Featuring Jack Hanna, 6 p.m. to 9 a.m., Nov. 13 and 14, $78 per person; Breakfast With Jack Hanna, 8:30 a.m., Nov. 14 and 15, Crown Colony restaurant, $16.95 adults, $10.95 children; Meet Jack Hanna, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m, Nov. 14 and 15, Moroccan Palace. Go to buschgardens.com to purchase tickets and find out about discounts for Passport members or call 1-888-800-5447 (call 1-877-BGT-CAMP for the Family Sleepover). – Anthony Salveggi

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It used to be that film festivals in the Tampa Bay area were a rarity. No longer. Totaling up all the fundraisers, workshops and side programming that go along with the ever-expanding number of festivals, it’s clear that fest-hopping has become a year-round sport. And that’s great, because we can all stand to broaden our horizons beyond the standard Hollywood pulp that fills the multiplex each Friday. In the next few weeks, there are two festivals of note: one with lots of local appeal, and one a bit farther south that attracts filmmakers (and filmgoers) from all over the world.

Independents’ Film Festival
Hosted by Tampa’s The Education Channel, the 16th annual Independents’ Film Festival promises an intimate look at locally produced films, including a strong program of student films out of USF. I say intimate because all screenings will be held at The Education Channel’s beautiful, newly upgraded screening room with seating for about 65 people. Festival organizers also promise ample opportunity to hob-nob with filmmakers and other fest attendees, as each themed evening begins with a food and drink reception and ends with coffee and dessert. (All included in the $15 ticket price.)

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The visitors have returned to Earth, and this time they’re bringing more intrigue and drama to prime-time TV. V is a science fiction reboot that debuted this week on ABC after a load of publicity and excitement. The original was a major event over on NBC during the ‘80s, and the mouse house’s flagship network is hoping for similar results with this update. The premiere episode landed Tuesday night, but did it live up to the hype?

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Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. We don’t need special incentives for a scenic stroll through the hills of St. Pete’s Historic Roser Park, but this weekend there’s even more reason to check out the bungalows, brick-lined streets and moss-draped, overgrown oaks that shade the roads: the Historic Roser Park Art Festival brings together more than 70 artists from all over the country who shut down the streets with their displays of paintings, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, photography and craftwork. Read the rest of this entry »

Comedian Roy Johnson has been beefing up his funny resume since his first-ever open mic at Tampa Improv in 2000. A year later, he headlined and produced his first homegrown showcase of local talent (eight followed) and the Improv eventually hired him on as the house MC in 2002. He continued to carve a name out for himself on the road, got a ringing endorsement from standup legend David Brenner (who said Johnson “is absolutely brilliant and is destined to be a world class headliner”), won the Maxxim/Bud Light-sponsored Real Men competition and enjoyed a cushy gig opening for Charlie Murphy, Joe Rogan and John Heffron on the Read Men of Comedy Tour, released a CD, Love Notes From the True Romantic, and triumphed in the I-4 Comedy War against the best comics of Tampa and Orlando. Johnson is headed to LA and performs one more night of his observational comedy at Roy Johnson’s Hollywood or Bust – about anything from his experiences living in Florida and dealing with hurricanes and redneck neighbors, to the follies of romance and life after marriage – tonight at his farewell show. See him off, buy him a beer, and be prepared to laugh your ass off. Wed., Nov. 4, 8 p.m., Tampa Improv in Centro Ybor, Ybor City, $8, tampaimprov.com. – Leilani Polk Read the rest of this entry »

“Sometimes it’s hard to see the lines we’ve drawn until we cross them. That’s when we rely on the ones we love to pull us back and give us something to hold on to. Then there are the clearly marked lines, the ones that if you cross you may never find your way back.” -xoxo Gossip Girl

This election day, no Upper East Sider was far from scandal. Between Olivia’s bathroom boy story on Jimmy Fallon, Tripp Van der Bilt’s election day hoax, and the possible destruction of Serena and Blair, election day was definitely not just about the ballots (but who ever said politics wasn’t dirty anyway?)

Although there may not be ballots involved in Dan and Olivia’s relationship, they might need to start keeping score. After an appearance on Jimmy Fallon, Olivia let the story of their first date slip off the tongue — and it wasn’t the best first date, considering Dan came back from the bathroom with his shirt inside out, not the best impression for any girl. After she told this story on national television, everyone started to call Dan “bathroom boy,” which is definitely a step down from his previous nickname, “lonely boy.” But in true Humphrey, style Dan did not let her scandal affect him, and he let it brush right off his shoulders. Good for you Dan, don’t let the fact that your girlfriend told an incredibly embarrassing story about you on national television get you upset!

National television may not have been kind to Dan, it was kind to Tripp Van der Bilt — at least at first. No one loves a good election day hoax likes the Van der Bilts. In an attempt to bring up his points in the polls, his wife hired someone to fake drown in the Hudson, so Tripp could save him, portraying himself as a hero.

In good gossip girl fashion Vanessa was there to capture the entire thing on film, including filming the part where the fake drowner jumped into the Hudson and swam to a more convenient place to drown. Read the rest of this entry »

The USF Fall Dance Concert lives up to its billing as a “vibrant mélange of ballet, modern, swing and flamenco-fusion.”

Not having seen one of the USF dance concerts for many years, I was very pleasantly surprised at the exceptional quality of dance, choreography, music and costuming. The execution of the dances demonstrated a high degree of quality and professionalism, particularly in the pointe work. This show makes it very obvious that USF School of Theater and Dance has attracted some esteemed faculty and visiting choreographers with impressive credentials.

The seven varied dances, none overly long, provided a perfect amount of entertainment. When so often dance shows are composed of one modern piece after another that all tend to look alike, it was great to see a dance concert that had enough variety to be truly entertaining. Also, it was gratifying to see a number of talented male dancers. From the vantage point of dead-center front row, we could see all of the footwork at close range.

The opening number, “Noches Argentinas,” for my taste, is the best Read the rest of this entry »

Last week I posted a column about how I thought DirecTV had taken their ad campaign a bit too far by using a scene from Tommy Boy featured dead actor Chris Farley. In the article, I had said that while I wouldn’t stop using DirecTV if I had it (which I don’t because satellite TV sucks in Florida), I don’t particularly find the commercial to be in good taste. There were several comments on Loafing’s website, some positive and others telling me to suck it. There was also a comment released by David Spade’s crew to People Magazine saying, “That [DirecTV] would include Tommy Boy in that [ad campaign], I thought was very flattering.” Spade added, “Oh, my God if [Farley] was here, I guarantee he’d be stoked that this little movie is included,” Kevin Farley, Chris’s brother says it “shows him doing what he loved to do most, making people laugh.”

Yesterday, I found a great post on /Film about the whole mess, which includes a video that might just be next for DirecTV. The clip uses several now dead celebrities — including Heath Ledger, President Kennedy and Jesus Christ. The video is meant to be funny and illustrate a point, but I’m sure some will find it offensive. However, the point is made, and in my opinion, there’s no difference between what is done in this spoof and what is shown in the Farley ad.

Check out the Heath Ledger/Jesus Christ DirecTV ad after the jump …

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Two nationally-acclaimed exhibits are in their final days at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art: Epitaph / Roadside Memorials in America is a collection of 33 photographs taken on artist Angelo Mantas’ travels in the United States — and a stark reminder of the frailty and transience of life. One World / One People is a  collection of 50 photographs by Arnold Newman, depicting “national and international Jewish public figures who have made a significant impact in their respective careers,” including Mark Chagall, Woody Allen, Saul Bellow and many more. (Pictured: “Leonard Bernstein,” 1968 by Arnold Newman) On display through Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, 600 E. Klosterman Rd., Tarpon Springs, $5 adults, $4 seniors, free for children, members and students, spcollege.edu/central/museum. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. No, a tattoo-faced, ear-chompin’ Mike Tyson isn’t going to guest star at this Saturday’s shindig: the Boxer Bash is a fundraiser for the Florida Boxer Rescue, which has saved more than 3,000 homeless or abused pups since its inception in 2000.

Bid on a Bucs Game Day package, Big Cat Rescue tickets and baked goodies (for people and pooches!) in the auction, let your furry friend compete in the agility contest or the Boxer and Friends pet parade, create a keepsake at the pawprint painting station, visit the boxer kissing booth for a big, sweet, slobbery smooch, and, best of all, feel good about lending a helping paw to a pup in need. (Pictured: Secret, a boxer up for adoption at the Florida Boxer Rescue) Sat., Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa, 813-740-0045, flbr.org/BoxerBash2009.html. – Franki Weddington 

The upcoming mixed martial arts (MMA) event, Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers, on Nov. 7, 2009 is one of the most anticipated fights in MMA history, as it is expected to reveal whether the Russian MMA fighter, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko is indeed the best heavyweight in the world pound-for-pound. His challenger, Brett “The Grim” Rogers may only have a third of Fedor’s fighting experience, but he has a knock-out power to be reckoned with as his spotless record of ten wins and zero losses proves.

The only blemish on Fedor’s record is the loss to Tsuyoshi Kosaka at Rings: Kings of Kings in Dec. 2000 due to a cut, which hardly makes anyone question his superior fighting skills. Aside from that he has been stacking up 30 victories over high-caliber opponents including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski while fighting for the MMA promoters Pride, Affliction, as well as Bodog Fight. Not one single opponent truly challenged Fedor who seems to lack any weaknesses on the ground or in his stand-up game.

Watch the preview video after the break.

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Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. There’s nothing cozier than a handmade quilt on a cold winter night, but these blankets with humble beginnings have been elevated to the upper echelons of art at the Florida International Museum, which debuts two new quilt collections on Friday.

Rooted in Tradition: Art Quilts includes dozens of diverse works from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, which incorporate visual rather than practical elements like found objects, canvas, paper and paint. Sew – It’s Art! is a collection of quilts from Pinellas County’s quilt guilds that explores local history via the traditions, subjects, techniques and materials that combine to create our own colorful local quilt. (Pictured: French Braid Mountain Tops by Betsy Schobert) On display Nov. 6-Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., Florida International Museum, 244 2nd Ave N., St. Petersburg, $8, $6 seniors and military, $5 students, 727-821-1448, spcollege.edu/FIMuseum. – Franki Weddington

After the break: From Havana to Hell’s Kitchen: A Latin Cabaret Read the rest of this entry »

It may have been the day after Halloween, but thousands of people had plenty good reason to play dress-up this past Sunday afternoon at the St. Pete Times Forum. One didn’t have to look far to find a Yoda or Princess Leia milling about the concourses. Many congregated toward a makeshift exhibit of original Star Wars props and artifacts, including a Darth Vader costume, blasters and helmets. Nearby, children and adults alike sidled up next to Stormtroopers for photo ops. It was all a prelude to the main event inside the arena, “Star Wars: In Concert.”

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Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. For one night only, the Roaring Twenties are back, so grab your flapper dresses and fedoras and head out for a night at the theater.  Next weekend’s event features the 1920’s silent film Souls for Sale, about an ordinary girl’s rise to Hollywood stardom. There are also vaudeville acts, a 1920’s costume contest (for those of you who didn’t get enough of dressing up at Halloween) and raffle prizes.

Come out for an night of fun and contribute to the community by making a $5 donation or bringing three nonperishable foods or dried goods to benefit RCS Food Bank. Thurs., Nov. 12, 6-9 p.m., St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus Teaching Auditorium, 2465 Drew St. Clearwater; contact honors.college@spcollege.edu for more info. Sign Language interpreters provided.

• With the premiere of New Moon just around the corner, this Team Taylor vs Team Rob thing is heating up and Miss Swift has picked her side. The half-Asian (she is half Asian right? Whatever, I don’t have time to Wikipedia it) Taylor Swift is getting cozy with Taylor Lautner. I couldn’t make it through this entire article but they are totally doing it, I am sure that is how it ends.

Heidi and Spencer as Jon and Kate Plus Eight.

• I recently participated in the Twitter trend “#PeopleYouWannaKillBecauseOfTheirFace” and chose Spencer Pratt. @SpencerPratt is now following me on Twitter. His possible removal from my hit list due to befriending is nullified by the following Halloween costume (pictured left). Two things I hate do not make a right.

• Just when I was starting to be okay with this whole Miley Cyrus thing (read “okay” as, “every time I hear Party in the USA I turn it up as loud as possible and sing my little heart out”),  the teens and tweens of America have turned against her! I am always behind what the kids are doing these days. Seriously, Crocs are still cool, right?

*EXCLUSIVE: Ex: A-Rod Had Portraits of Himself as Centaur Hanging Over His Bed
The only true tragedy with this story is that it does not include a photoshopped version of what this portrait probably looks like. Thank the Lord for my unmatched talents and my college education for my art skills, that I can fill this void in all our lives (my version of Alex Rodriguez in all his mythical glory, after the jump).

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Good improv requires a lot more than acting talent. It requires intelligence, a wide-ranging imagination, split-second decision-making and an unfailing instinct for what’s comic in the human condition. Where Gavin Hawk and Ricky Wayne of The Dumb Show (photo, L-R) are concerned, it also means the willingness to appear utterly ridiculous in front of a crowdful of strangers. Whether impersonating Britney Spears trying to make up with Kevin Federline, a sadistic father and his horrified son playing racquetball, or two U.S. Airway pilots overshooting their destination by several hundred miles, Hawk and Wayne repeatedly aim for the dangerous heights – or is it depths? – of vulnerability, absurdity, insanity and just plain silliness. They’re not always successful, but at their best they find more humor in their unscripted hijinks than most actors ever find in the most celebrated of comic texts. If you love to laugh, you ought to give them a look. Read the rest of this entry »

The Peace Couture celebrity fashion show — with catwalk sashays by Pat Burrell of the Rays, Miss Florida Rachael Todd, Wendy Ryan of ABC Action News, Ryan Nece (pictured left), Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett and more — also includes red carpet interviews by ABC Action News, in-house spa treatments courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue and haute cuisine from Ruth’s Chris, 717 South, Square One, Bamboozle Cafe, Datz Deli, Raw Bar Sushi and more. Proceeds benefit The Spring of Tampa Bay, which works to end domestic violence. Visit thespring.org for more info. Mon., Nov. 2, 6-9 p.m., Saks Fifth Avenue, Westshore Plaza, Tampa, $50-$75.

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[Editor's Note: This is the first post by new CL film contributor Daphne Hernandez. For reasons unknown, Wordpress swallowed this post last week and I was only able to track it down today. But hey, it's Halloween and this is a flick you might want to see this holiday weekend. So please, check out the review and excuse our tardiness.]

Cashing in on the popularity mass hysteria of vampire lore, Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant falls in line with the myth-deflaters of Twilight. Vampires don’t have to kill humans to survive, bats are just rodents that live in caves, and subspecies do exist.  They’re just like you and me, but not like you and me.

Darren Shan (Chris Massoglia) lives a cookie cutter existence best conveyed in a J. Crew catalog. In an alternate universe where everyone wears pastels and drab khakis; he’s the straight-A student your mother will likely trade you in for. After his rebel-without-a-cause best friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson) convinces him to ditch class, they get caught and Darren is grounded. In an effort to prove to Steve he’s not the “Mr. Perfect” goody two shoes, they follow a flyer tossed out of an Addams Family-style Studebaker (with a Des-Tiny vanity plate) to the Cirque Du Freak, “The oldest continuing freak show in the Western Hemisphere.”

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Beware of artists…they’re out in droves for ARTGORE, armed with paintbrushes, pencils, paper and canvas, and there’s no telling whether they’re going to draw you or draw blood. More than a dozen artists from the ARTCORE collective have works on display — among them Cheeta, Chainsaw Chuck, Casey Ryan Hall, Ben Apple, Bean Spence (work pictured right) and more. DJ Sense and Anna Gavin kick out the jams. Of course, you’ve gotta get creepy and creative with your costume, too — there are cash prizes for the top three. Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Karma Bar, 206 N. Morgan St. Tampa, free, myspace.com/ArtcoreArt. – Franki Weddington

Members of the Cheap Little Punks troupe act out the ultimate Halloween cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show while the movie version plays onscreen. Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a bisexual, transsexual scientist from Transylvania, invites Brad Majors (an asshole) and Janet Weiss (a slut) into his creepy castle when their car breaks down. Chaos and myriad musical numbers ensue when Frank-N-Furter reveals his creation: Rocky, an Adonis who only wants to learn about how his life began. You can also check out the less well-known Repo! A Genetic Opera. It’s just what is sounds like: scientists are comin’ fer yer vital organs! Visit tampapitchershow.com for more info. Oct. 30-31, Repo shows Fri., Oct. 30, 11:30 p.m.; Rocky Horror shows Sat., Oct. 31, 8 and 11:30 p.m., Tampa Pitcher Show, 14416 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa,  $15 for two shows, tampapitchershow.net. – Franki Weddington

After the break: Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe, A White Halloween: Creepy Doll Show and Rock Your Horror at the haunted Centro Asturiano Read the rest of this entry »

With college football’s home stretch slowly coming into view, this Saturday offers fans another batch of important games that will lead us closer to clarity. Two national championship contenders hit the road against ranked teams while several other hopefuls remain locked outside the top of the BCS like single guys waiting fruitlessly to get into an exclusive South Beach nightclub. The NFL also has several key division matchups as well the league’s most surprising undefeated team looking to stay perfect on the road.

And there’s also a little thing called the World Series going on, so make sure your cable bill is up to date.

Georgia at (1) Florida (Jacksonville, Fl.) – (Saturday, 3:30 pm – CBS – UF minus 15)

Don’t call it the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party anymore. The powers that be don’t like the image it portrays. As if the 75,000 fans that pile into the Gator Bowl this Saturday won’t be imbibing their favorite brand of bourbon. On the bright side, that’s more fans than have seen a Jaguars home game all season. While still undefeated, Florida is a far cry from the offensive powerhouse it’s been in years past, particularly in the red zone. The Gators have scored only 16 touchdowns in 36 red zone attempts this season, not exactly reminiscent of their national championship runs. The good news for Florida is that they’re still controlling time of possession and their defense ranks among the best in the nation in most categories. A Gator victory could seal the SEC East but the Bulldogs won’t roll over, even though they’ve lost 16 of the last 19 meetings. Most Gator fans remember the Georgia’s end zone celebration two years ago. Florida exacted its revenge by winning 49-10 the following year, calling two timeouts in the final seconds to rub it in. Look for Urban Meyer to give Tim Tebow very chance to break Herschel Walker’s all-time conference rushing record against the school he played for.

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I recently wrote a ‘five overrated movies’ post that garnered a fair amount of attention. I prefaced the piece by stating that film is largely a matter of personal preference and I was just sharing my opinion. I received so much response, both positive and negative, that many suggested a follow-up article. So, at the risk of offending even more readers, here goes….

I love women. And I love film. But far too often in movies, the role of the villain is written specifically for the male. When given the opportunity, however, some women have embraced the villainous role and ran with it, giving us chilling performances that have often defined their careers.

After watching Saturday Night Fever the other night, I was reminded how much I couldn’t stand Stephanie Modano, brilliantly portrayed by one-hit wonder Karen Lynn Gorney. Throughout the movie, Modano belittled John Travolta, transmitting the abuse she received from others all day directly onto him. I squirmed every time she was on screen. Travolta was no saint, but he certainly didn’t deserve her hatefulness.

That got me thinking about the most detested female characters in film, because for me, she definitely ranks. Accordingly, here’s a list of eight women who instilled us with everlasting images that left us with a sheer hatred, if not fear, for their characters. Where do they rank on your list?

Demi Moore – Indecent Proposal (1993)

Character: Diana Murphy

Famous Quote: “The dress is for sale. I’m not.”

I know what you’re going to say. This one’s on Woody Harrelson. He’s the one who ultimately allowed, if not encouraged, his wife to sleep with Robert Redford. He could have nixed that offer in a heartbeat or simply knocked Redford’s block off as soon as it was suggested. But he didn’t and he ultimately paid the price. The movie asked whether a couple’s self-respect and marital vows could be bought. The scene in which Harrelson shouted from the rooftop, begging his wife to return as Moore and Redford flew off in his helicopter, made even the least jealous man cringe. Despite trying to put the events of that evening behind them, in the end Moore lost respect for Harrelson and ended up with Redford. While Moore may not have been entirely in the wrong in this film, she was still contemptible, torn between two lovers and ultimately ending up with neither. Read the rest of this entry »

Is Nathan Drake the best video game character of this console generation? I think he must be. Part Lara Croft and part Han Solo, the star of the Uncharted series for Playstion 3 brims over with goofy, roguish charm and is just the right amount of both badass and smarty-pants. Voice-acted to perfection by Nolan North (who you might remember from every other game in the world), Drake never grows tiresome, holding players’ interests from opening cut-scene to the make-you-want-to-smile/cry final lines of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Add in the equally alluring and well-acted characters of Elena, Chloe, and Sully combined with action and graphics worthy of a mega-budget movie, and you get one of the best games of the year.

Uncharted 2 is most definitely going for that blockbuster movie experience. In an age where open worlds and non-linear stories get all the glory, it seems almost quaint that Uncharted 2’s game play and story unfold along a very strict course. It has a complex story about Marco Polo’s lost fleet in Borneo and an ancient treasure hidden in the Himalayas to tell, and there’s no time for open world dilly dallying with side quests. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to a very special, spook-tacular edition of Kevin’s Korner. This week, as we get our costumes ready, our tricks perfected and our tolerance for candy pushed to its peak. Plus, I have some great movie news, including scary tale involving a Spider-Man villain, the newest film from the Broken Lizard crew, and so much more. So, grab some candy corn and read on. And have a great (and safe) Halloween!

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