May 2009 Archives

It was a short week, but the weekend still feels nice. Remember all those awkward prom memories? Nothing beats this story about a 1939 prom. (Watch the video.)

Click here to find out how to get tickets to summer music festivals. Click here to find out how to win a sweet PA getaway. Click here to read about a summer concert series.

Are you going to watch Leno's last late night show tonight? Or the MTV Movie Awards Sunday? Check back Monday for recaps and, of course, the Weekend Roundup. Ciao for now.

The new Fox comedy series "Glee" premiered after American Idol last week, but the series doesn't air until the fall. (What a tease.) But the pilot was enough to create a buzz. (Think "Fame," "High School Musical" and "Freaks and Geeks" rolled into one hilarious show.)

An optimistic teacher (Matthew Morrison) tries to transform McKinley High School's Glee Club (ragtag group of misfits) to help them make it to a national competition. In the meantime he has to deal with jocks, his scary wife (Jessalyn Gilsig) and the intimidating cheerleading coach (Jane Lynch). The show also features an outstanding soundtrack. Read a review, and check out the trailer above.

Thank goodness for XPN.

Not only do they play music that transcends the noisy din of commercial radio, but they post their playlists on the Web so you can track down the various tunes that inevitabaly get stuck in your head.

Like this one by the Avett Brothers:

That's right. Put a ring on it.
Tangled relationship webs are a key component to dramz in several TV series, movies and even comics. I practically need a flow chart to figure out who's hooking up with who each week on "Gossip Girl."

But a famous love triangle is getting broken. Archie Andrews, the protagonist of Archie Comics, has been torn between blonde Betty and brunette Veronica for about 65 years. But it seem that Archie's proposing to Veronica. The issue hits comic shops Aug. 19 and newsstands Sept. 1.

There are plenty of real-life celeb love triangles as well. Which ones - real or fictional - stand out in your head? Discuss while I listen to "Bizarre Love Triangle" again.

The pantless wonder/pop diva Lady Gaga graces the cover of Rolling Stone this month. Skip to the jump to see the racy photo. It shows why she made the top of the mag's annual hot list. Kanye West already compared her to Madonna (and added to rumors that he and Rihanna are dating). Some are a little skeptical about her sudden stardom, but if Perez Hilton worships her and her album "The Fame" is selling like hotcakes, then she might have staying power. Or her celeb status might go to her head.

I must admit that I admire her daring fashion choices. (But not the hair and makeup so much. Cue the slideshow.) Honestly, who can treat pants like an accessory and get away with it (sort of)?

The first season of "Designing Women" came out on DVD this week. The Monkey See blog has a great game that lets you write your own Julia Sugarbaker rant.

Each episode, something would inevitably send Julia (played by Dixie Carter) on an indignant rant that would make CNBC's Jim Cramer blush. Monkey See encourages you to make up your own in the spirit of Mad Libs.

Write a list of the following 20 things, which you later plug into your rant. (See jump.) Don't forget to share your rant in the comments section!

'Tis the season to be attending amusement parks. Just because the economy's in the tank doesn't mean you and your friends and family can't have fun. Check out the YDR Amusement Park Roundup to find out how to save some money if you're planning to hit one up this summer.

Hersheypark is even offering a Family Stimulus Package. Check it out. Here are some more money-saving tips.

Some area amusement parks might actually get a bump in attendance since people might opt for staycations. (Sorry, it's this season's buzzword.) It looks like people are even competing for jobs at regional parks. Writing about all of this really just makes me want to see "Adventureland."

Missed ya, Blink
In February, Travis Barker, Tom Delonge and Mark Hoppus took the stage at the Grammys to announce the Best Rock Album award. During the presentation, they announced that Blink-182 was reuniting.

The pop/punk act plays Hersheypark Stadium, 100 W. Hersheypark Drive, at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12. Panic at The Disco, Fall Out Boy and Chester French open the show. (Talk about a stacked lineup.)

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday and cost $20, $31, $55 and $69. Discounted admission is $32.95 for concert-goers who buy a Hersheypark ticket the day before, day of, or the day after the concert. Fans are permitted on the Hersheypark Entertainment Complex property at 7 a.m. Saturday. The wristband policy will be in effect

I'm back to the blog after dying and going to concert heaven an extended vacay. (See attached "Life in Technicolor II" video shot by someone who wasn't sitting on the lawn. I'm still in awe.) Even in my euphoria, I realize that Coldplay might not be everyone's cup of tea. (Thank you, "The 40 Year Old Virgin.") Back in the day, when I saw the band in 2003, they were very polite and piano ballad heavy. But Thursday, those British blokes threw down and showed they can party.

You can read the Twitter feed from Thursday's show to get the gist of things. (I might have suffered a thumb sprain, but it was totally worth it.) Read more on the jump.

While celebrating our puppy's fourth birthday/Memorial Day with my family, my parents raved about "Slumdog Millionaire."

"It's shocking what the main character suffered," my mom warned, "but it's worth seeing."
... and my Dad had already downloaded the soundtrack to his iPhone.

What's a girl to do besides rent it? So, hubby and I settled in for the Oscar-winning flick. Wow. It was a compelling, heart-wrenching story about a true rags to riches to rags life. One of the many lessons -- people will always surprise you, for the better and for the worst.

If you're not quite ready to get back into the workweek routine, check out the York County School of Technology's production of "Don't Say No to the USO."

It's tonight at 7 p.m. and it's free. It's in the school auditorium, 2179 S. Queen Street in York Township.

The show is about an hour long.

The school's phone number is 741-0820.

You know the alien/human commercials for Hulu.com?

Well, it turns out that the Dave Matthews Band concert at New York's Beacon Theater will stream live on June 1. How cool is that? As a DMB fan since forever ago, I can't wait to check it out. The group is touring for their new album "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King."

Read this for more.

Season 7 "American Idol" winner David Cook will perform at this year's York Fair at 8 p.m. Sept. 18.

Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. May 30 at the York Fair Box Office, 334 Carlisle Ave. in West Manchester Township, at 848-2033 or www.yorkfair.com.

Prices are $35 for center track, center plaza and center grandstand and $32 for side track, side plaza and side grandstand.

FlipSide is headed to the Coldplay concert in Bristow, Va. We're bringing all York music fans with us thanks to Twitter. Follow along as we post updates about the show and share your own comments. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Check out Thursday's FlipSide for a story about Coldplay's Sunday show at Hersheypark Stadium. Follow Coldplay on Twitter here.

The all-star cast of the new comedy "The Hangover" is proof of how hilarious it should be. Players include: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Zach Galifianakis and Mike Tyson (Yes. You read that right.)

OK. So the plot looks a little cheesy, but at least you'll know it will be better than "What Happens in Vegas." It opens June 5.

I think America has been on Apatow overload for a while, but "Funny People" actually looks pretty, well, funny.

It hits theaters July 31 and boasts a stellar cast that includes: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman. Both trailers start out the exact same way. Let the battle for laughs begin. Watch the trailer on the jump.

The FlipSide ladies check out the new Esaan Thai Restaurant in downtown York. Read "Cheap Eats this week to get more info about the eatery.

It's not even June and the major networks are all ready for fall. Here's a cheat sheet.

NBC: Thanks to the 2010 Winter Olympics, the network is splitting up its schedule into two shorter seasons. Regular shows will air fewer episodes.
New: "Parenthood," "Mercy," "Trauma" and "Day One"
Axed: "My Name Is Earl" and "Medium"

ABC: Over in alphabet world, the new lineup is giving me A.D.D. The network should focus on a few shows and make them really good instead of making a lot of OK TV.
New: "Flash Forward," "The Forgotten," "Hank," "The Middle" and "Cougar Town"
Axed: "Samantha Who?" and "According to Jim"
Almost axed: "Scrubs"
Coming midseason: "Deep End," "Happy Town" and "V"

CBS: Unlike NBC and ABC, CBS doesn't have to play catchup. The network seems to be trimming some fat and sticking with what's made it No. 1.
New: "Three Rivers," "House Rules" and "U.S. Attorney" and "Moonlight" returns
Axed: "Worst Week," "Without a Trace," "The Unit" and "Eleventh Hour"

Click to find out about the fate of Fox and CW shows.

Hal Colston will appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" this afternoon to talk about two programs he started to fight poverty.

The Good News Garage provides cars for low-income people. NeighborKeepers attempts to broaden the community dialogue to lift families out of poverty. Click here to watch a video.

Colston, who now lives in Vermont, grew up in York during the 1960s race riots. He's been featured in People magazine and on "The Today Show."

The queen bee of Conde Nast and "glamorous girlfriend" Anna Wintour sat down for a rare interview with "60 Minutes" man Morley Safer.
What we learned:

• Headed down to Baltimore to check out some live music. (This indie pop quartet was tight.)


• Used kitchen appliances that have been dormant for months. (Didn't set off smoke alarms.)


• Attended a house warming soiree in the Charm City. (Bypassed Preakness traffic. What a race, though.)


• Caught a hilarious Celebrity Jeopardy clip from "SNL." (Tom Hanks + pickle jar = genius.)


• Watched "West Side Story" at the Strand-Capitol. (It deserved all those Oscars.)

A man's home used to be his castle. Women were confined to the kitchen. But things have changed. These days, men have to carve out their own man caves, aka territory around the house they can call their own.

Some crack open beers with their buddies and watch the game in the basement. Others retreat to the garage or shed to soup up cars and tinker with gadgets. There is even a "Man Caves" show in DIY Network that shows men how to recapture some space. (Click here for a slideshow.) Even celebs have man caves. Share your man cave with FlipSide. E-mail you name, age, municipality in which you live and a contact number to emccracken@ydr.com. Please send photos, too.

I wasn't familiar with Taylor Swift's song "Love Story" until I downloaded the above music video. The arrangement takes an instrumental version of "Love Story" (which I prefer to the original) and transitions to Coldplay's "Viva la Vida." I've found it quite addictive.

The arranger is a Salt Lake City pianist named Jon Schmidt -- the guy banging on the Fazioli throughout. His co-arranger is cellist Steven Sharp Nelson. Schmidt sweetly dedicates the song to his 7-year-old daughter, Sarah, who is apparently a huge Taylor Swift fan. Take a listen.

Meet St. Vincent, aka Annie Clark, aka the former guitarist for Polyphonic Spree.

Her chamber pop tunes have asymmetrical melodies and ornate orchestration, but they are more flighty then fierce (unlike the tunes of her inspiration Tori Amos).

Her sophomore album "Actor," which dropped May 5, is getting major buzz, despite the fact that Brooklyn singer-songwriter might be a "creeper." She plays Bonnaroo June 12. Check out the music her "Actor Out Of Work" video above.

The week's winding down. Relax, sit back and let FlipSide handle your weekend plans.

Comedian Louis C.K. comes to town.

Have fun with Shakespeare and check out a comedy.

Meet a Stewartstown native who is a finalist in the Smithsonian's national anthem singing contest.

Did you catch any season finales this week? Read about "Lost," "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Office." Check back Monday for the Weekend Roundup. Ciao for now.

The FlipSide ladies stop by Cherry Lane take advantage of the free music and sunshine.

"Sinatra." Is. Happening. Martin Scorsese will direct. Phil Alden Robinson is writing the screenplay. Universal and Mandalay secured the life and music rights from Frank Sinatra Enterprises and will develop the film. No actor is attached yet, but rumors have been flying. The chosen star won't have to sing since Sinatra's recordings will be used.

Candidate No. 1: Leonardo DiCaprio. He's worked well with Scorsese in award-winning films "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator" and "The Departed." He seems like he could be pretty close in the looks department, too. Note: He has blue eyes.

Candidate No. 2: Jonny Depp. Depp has great acting chops, too. He's Universal's first choice. But can he pull off another big hit as a Rat Packer after playing a gritty criminal in "Public Enemies." Either way, I smell some Oscar noms. Read more names on the short list.

Fox Searchlight does it again with the heartwarming flick "500 Days of Summer" starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

It's tagged as a post-modern love story but any promo that features Regina Spektor and Hall and Oates is OK in my book. This movie started out indie at the Sundance Film Festival back in January. But it's created enough buzz to be a sleeper summer hit. It's release is slated for July 17.

Michelle Pfeiffer teams up with "Dangerous Liaisons" director Stephen Frears in the period pic "Cheri."

Retired courtesan/1920s cougar Lea (Pfeiffer) seduces her pal Charlotte's (Kathy Bates) 19-year-old son Cheri (Rupert Friend). The film, which seems worth the watch just for its costume, debuts at the Berlin Film Festival (May 27 to June 3) and is scheduled for limited release June26.

FlipSide's bringing you a whole new page of sweetness. Check out the new music directory. Browse a list of more than 120 meet-the-artist interviews. We guarantee you'll find some local and national names you recognize. Listen to tunes in our music jukebox and watch music-related videos.

Do you have a band that we haven't interviewed yet? Share your suggestions with us.
E-mail lburkey@ydr.com. In the meantime, keep on rockin,' rappin' and ragin.'

Win tickets to the 12th Annual Micro Brew Festival with FlipSide. Enjoy beer and ale in souvenir glasses, barbecue and live music. The fest runs 7 to 10 p.m. June 26 at the Agiculture and Industrial Museum, 217 W. Princess St. in York. Tickets are available for $35 and $15 for designated drivers. But sign up today and you might be able to get in for free.

Is this art?
Is this art?
How do I learn what art is?
Wikipedia says: Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music and literature. But I don't really know that that means and I'm pretty sure people who are "art aware" don't consider Wikipedia a respectable/esteemed source of info. I feel insecure/ashamed/worthless because I don't know a lot about art. Help.
How do I distinguish a meaningful/significant/profound work of art from a pile of junk?
Should I just fake it and talk about "Baroque Eggs" and people like Andy Warhol a lot?

The 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival kicked off today and runs through May 24. Check the Web site to keep up. Check out the official selections here.

Here are some highlights:
"Inglorious Basterds" -- directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Brad Pitt.
"Taking Woodstock" -- directed by Ang Lee and starring Emile Hirsch
"Double or Nothing" -- a 10-minute short film made by four Oxford Brookes University students as part of their coursework
"Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky" -- French fashion designer meets Russian revolutionary

You read this blog post and watched the video of Manchester Township native Elisabeth Ketterman singing with Bruce Springsteen.

Now read the follow-up story. The Kettermans almost saw the Springsteen show at Giants Stadium instead of State College, but they ran into trouble purchasing tickets online with TicketMaster.

Have you ever had a bad experience with TicketMaster/ LiveNation? I wonder what will happen when these two companies merge.

Stop reading now if you're going to see 'Wolverine' and don't want to know a key plot point.

OK, for those of you left ...

Wolverine's hunting for the folks he thinks have done him wrong. He's told they're on 'the island.' Nobody knows where that is except one guy, Gambit, who escaped. So Wolverine hunts him down, and after some gently persuasive conversation -- I mean, some super-destructive fighting -- convinces Gambit to fly him to 'the island.'

Turns out 'the island' is Three Mile Island. "Hiding in plain sight," Gambit says, adding that no one would want to poke around a nuclear reactor. (Except, perhaps, people who are comfortable in the company of mutants.)

Anyway, the moviemakers give you a couple of overhead views of one of central Pennsylvania's most recognizable landmarks. One of the cooling towers later becomes the scene of a big ol' battle that leaves the fictional TMI a bit less recognizable. You can see a glimpse of it in the trailer (above).

1. Found out about the new club opening in York. (Just dance.)
2. Ate sushi and watched others sing karaoke at Yakitori Boy in Philly. (This is the only setting in which I'd ever do karaoke.)
3. Took mom out to brunch. (The restaurant's piano player could have been Robert Palmer's twin.)
4. Saw "The Visitor." (Richard Jenkins gave a memorable performance.)
5. Set foot inside a mall for the first time in months. (A good sale can lure me just about anywhere.)

Manchester Township resident Jeff Ketterman, a very excited dad, sent us this video of his daughter, Elisabeth, singing onstage with Bruce Springsteen during his show Friday in State College.

Ketterman wrote that The Boss dedicated a song to the 10-year-old and gave her his harmonica to keep.

"Not many people can say they sang with Bruce Springsteen," he wrote.

We agree.

It appears to be a trend that whenever Justin Timberlake hosts "Saturday Night Live" something really funny comes out of it.

This past weekend, he teamed with Andy Samberg for another hilarious digital short. The two form a ridiculous looking early-90s R&B duo for this faux music video about what to get their mothers for Mother's day.

The answer may surprise you. Or maybe not given the title of the song.

I heard the best TV news in month (at least in my opinion) last week when HBO confirmed it will produce "Treme."

I'm eager to see what David Simon, creator of "The Wire," my all-time favorite show, has to say about a city so tragically rife with dysfunction. The series will examine the rebuilding of post-Katrina New Orleans through the eyes of the city's vibrant musical culture.

The Wire told the story of Baltimore's struggle from the perspective of people in the drug trade, whether they were dealers, narcotics detectives, addicts or shipyard smugglers.

I was hooked the moment I watched the show's brilliant first scene, which you can check out after the jump.

"Star Trek" hit theaters today. It already made more than $7 million. Click here to read a review and watch the video to the left to find out how to be a true Trekkie.

Find something out of the ordinary to do: Click your heels in court or scarf down pickles. Don't forget that Mother's Day is Sunday. Take mom to the Olde York Street Fair. Click here to take a quiz about TV moms. Check back soon for the Weekend Roundup. Ciao for now.

Meet Passion Pit. The Boston synth-rock quintet is blowing up. Think: Animal Collective with a few more keyboards.

Their debut "Manners" drops May 19. They were recently the hot ticket at Austin's SXSW festival. Click here to check out a live performance. (So many keyboards.) Warning: You'll be humming the song "Sleepyhead" for the rest of the day.

Mark your calendars for July 17 when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince comes to the silver screen. Can't wait!

You better come correct if you score an invite to the Costume Institute Gala at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Watch this slideshow to see who who dazzled and who didn't.

I enjoy the risk-takers. Rihanna was a surprise guest and looked dashing in Dolce and Gabbana. Work! But, oh Lord, child. What was Madonna wearing? (It was Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton and it should have stayed in the closet.)

Canadian folk rockers Cowboy Junkies perform at 7 p.m. Jun 19 at The Capitol Theatre, 50 N. George Street in York. Lee Harvey Osmond is also on the CapLive concert's bill. Tickets are $35.

Cowboy Junkies formed in 1985 in Toronto. The group recently celebrated the 20th Anniversary of its album "The Trinity Sessions." In 2008, the quartet went back to the Church of the Holy Trinity to record an album "Trinity Revisited" with the help of Ryan Adams, Vic Chesnutt and Natalie Merchant.

Watch live performances from Green Day's new album "21st Century Breakdown" (due on Reprise Records May 15) and more than 30 of the band's videos and concerts on Comcast.

Two videos will debut each week for five weeks. Check out 10 new songs live from a recently recorded concert at Oakland's Fox Theater and the music video for the album's first single, "Know Your Enemy." The content will be available On Demand under "Top Picks," under "Green Day HD" and online. Follow the post to read about their upcoming shows.

Smalls (the club behind the Bourbon Street Saloon in York) will re-open as Smalls Lounge May 23.

Harry Colón, owner of Da Underground and two-time Mover and Shaker of the Year winner, will promote the club's parties and events. He plans to convert the former live metal and punk venue into a dance club Friday and Saturday nights. He'll bring local DJs in to spin each week, enforce a dress code and ramp up security.

Can he bring classy back to York? Was York ever classy to begin with? And what about Smalls York's funky bathrooms? What about the memories they collected during the club's 11-month run? (Did I just answered question No. 2?)

Michael J. Fox aka Alex P. Keaton from "Family Ties," returns to the TV screen for a special that encourages Americans to stop acting like negative Nelly's.

You know the type, they doubt one day to the next, maybe it's the economy or the swine flu, but they're determined they're going to lose their jobs or end up in the hospital. Reality is, that might happen, or maybe it already did. But Fox, at 47, who's lived with Parkinson's disease for 18 years, continues to find reasons to smile.

The FlipSide ladies celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the lunch crowd at El Rodeo in York.

Sam Mendes directs and John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph star in the heart-warming flick "Away We Go."

It looks like a cross between "Junebug," "Knocked-Up" and "Garden State."

It's limited release is scheduled for June 5.

"Twilight" hottie Robert Pattison plays a loser musician in the new movie "How To Be."

The movie hit the festival circuit and has a pretty sweet soundtrack that features a few songs from R-Pattz himself.

I missed Trailer Wars, so I decided to bring it back. Let me know what summer movies you're psyched to see.

OK, so I'm a fan of "Grey's Anatomy." While the seasons have been lacking somewhat in creativity and out-of-the-blue twists, I'm still addicted to the quirky romance. But, seriously? This has gone too far.

Meredith and Derek have a wedding page that Izzy apparently set up. Check it out here.

The best part?

Comic actor Dom DeLuise died Monday in Santa Monica after a long illness.

He got his start on Dean Martin's variety show in the 1970s and was best known for his roles in Mel Brooks movies including "Blazing Saddles" and "Spaceballs."

One of my favorite Brooks/DeLuise clips is the "The Godfather" parody in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." (Watch the video to the left.)

1. Saw local dancers throw down their hip-hop moves at GYCDE.
2. Had my first Granfalloons deck experience. (Apparently, it's a black hole for keys and closes at 1 a.m.)
3. I didn't get to the Fairie Fest, but YDR reporter Tom Joyce talked politics and pixie dust with participants. (You must watch this video.)
4. Went on a vinyl hunt. (Walked away with "Thriller" and "Stop Making Sense.")
5. Was blown away by two best actress nominees in "Doubt" and "Rachel Getting Married." (Meryl Streep should have won the Oscar. I want to marry Tunde Adebimpe.)

Nominees for the 2009 Tony Awards were announced this morning. "Billy Elliot" picked up 15 noms including best musical and best original score. For a complete list of noms click here. Watch the awards show at 9 p.m. June 7 on CBS.

Nominees for the 2009 MTV Movie Awards were released Monday. "Twilight" and "Slumdog Millionaire" are up for several golden popcorn statues. Cast your votes
before May 27 and watch the show at 9 p.m. May 31 on MTV. "SNL" funnyman Andy Samberg hosts.

Party for a good cause at the Third Annual Black & White Party fundraiser at Club XS. Proceeds benefit the AIDS Fund of South Central Pennsylvania.

Find out about local films and filmmakers.

See a band that jams with recycling junkyard materials at York College.

Coldplay is giving its live album away for FREE at its upcoming tour dates. (Now I feel better about blowing all that dough on tickets to their May 21 show.)

Now that you're in the know, have a wonderful weekend and check back Monday for the Weekend Roundup. Ciao for now!

"Home," an independent film had its limited theatrical release today in New York City. Parts of the film were shot in Lancaster and Samuel S. Lewis State Park and Lauxmont Farms in Lower Windsor Township by Haverstick Films.

The movie stars Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden as a woman attempting to move past addictions for the sake of her daughter (Eulala Scheel, Harden's real life daughter). It was officially selected to screen at several festivals including the Montreal World Film Festival, Boston International Film Festival and International Film Festival of England.

Read about how filmmaker Mary Haverstick made the movie here.

Bluegrass musician Del McCoury honors folk artist Pete Seeger at his 90th birthday celebration Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

McCoury will perform at the event along with Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews and John Mellencamp. According to the Associated Press, McCoury plans to sing "Oh, Mary Don't You Weep" with Arlo Guthrie and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and "Worried Man Blues" solo.

York County native McCoury, who turned 70 in February, is celebrating his 50th year in the music business. His career-spanning box set "Celebrating 50 Years of Del McCoury" is released May 12. His bluegrass festival Delfest is May 22 to 24 at Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Md.