Thursday, May 28, 2009

Updated Taste of Pinellas schedule

Taste of Pinellas 2009
Entertainment Schedule

Friday May 29th

5:00 – 5:30 pm RAS featuring Ronnie Dee
5:45 – 6:30 pm The Greg Billings Band
7:00 – 8:00 pm Lita Ford
8:30 – 10:00 pm Night Ranger

Saturday / May 30th

1:00 – 1:45 pm Basic Rock Outfit
2:00 – 3:00 pm Saint Tone
3:30 – 4:30 pm Dive Bar Stalkers
5:00 – 5:30 pm The John Kelly Band
6:15 – 6:45 pm Suite Caroline
7:00 – 7:30 pm Jessica Harp
8:00 – 10:00 pm Travis Tritt
10:00 – 10:20 pm Fireworks

Sunday May 31st
Showmobile Stage
1:00 – 1:45 pm Josh Magwood
2:15 – 3:00 pm Holes and Hearts
3:15 – 4:00 pm Hangman Jury

Main Stage
4:00 – 4:30 pm (KC sound check)
4:30 – 5:15 pm Adam 8*1*2
5:30 – 7:00 pm KC & The Sunshine Band

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Olympia Theater reopens

Olympia Performing Arts Center is hosting a masquerade ball 8 p.m. Saturday to celebrate its grand opening - a project that's been 14 years in the making, said Matthew Mayo of the center.

Mayo said the performing new arts center will host cabaret-type shows and other events. A season schedule, with productions through December, will be announced at the ball. Though Mayo was mum on details, future events will include the Greenbridge Improv group, concerts from Ghost Agency and other productions through the Diversity and Arts Project. The venue will also host the Miss Palmetto and Bradenton pageants in August.

Opening ball attire is black tie or costume. Tickets are $10 through http://www.opacfl.net/ until Friday or $40 at the door. The celebration will last until 2 a.m.

The center is at the site of the old Olympia Theater, 512 10th Ave. W., Palmetto. For more information, call 721-0800.

-January Holmes

Monday, May 11, 2009

"Sordid Lives" tonight

Get your laugh on while supporting area charities during the seventh annual Night of Alternative Theatre. The event, presented by the Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project, is at 7:30 p.m. today at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. Featured will be a hilarious romp called "Sordid Lives."

"Sordid Lives" is a play centered on a southern family whose worst comes out during the funeral of "Grandma Peggy," who died falling over her lover's wooden legs. There's a jumpy aunt addicted to cigarettes, feuding daughters, a cross-dressing relative and a strip-tease hostage situation that may leave you rolling in the aisles!

This show isn't for children as it contains mature subject matter.

Tickets are $10. Doors open at 6:30. For more information, call 366-5454.

Proceeds benefit Trinity Charities and the Michael Boch Health Center of Manatee - both serve people living with HIV/AIDS.

-January Holmes

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Bradenton couple wins tickets to Idol finale

Bradenton residents Julie and Steve Barnes won an all-expenses paid trip to see the "American Idol" finale at the end of the month.

When I talked to Julie briefly this morning, she said the news still hasn't completely sunk in.

"I can't believe I won," she said. "I've never won anything in my life."

Juile won her coveted prize through Regal Entertainment Group, which sponsored the contest. When she took her daughter to see "Hannah Montana: The Movie," she brought a soda using her Regal card, which automatically entered her in the contest, she said.

It wasn't long after that Julie received a phone call from Regal saying she won a trip for four to Hollywood - with paid airfare and hotel - to see "Idol" live. It's one of her favorite shows.

We're not sure who Julie will be rooting for, but she, like us, was suprised to see Allison get voted off last night.

- January Holmes

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

A tasty fundraiser

Enjoy a wonderful meal while helping the Manatee Players' reach its goal to fund its new performing arts building in downtown Bradenton.

On May 16, two fundraiser dinners will be held at Bonni Bakes Edible Art in the Village of the Arts, 930 12th St. W. The chef for the evening will be artistic director Rick Kerby, who, we're told, also holds a culinary degree.

Tickets are $50 per person. Seating is very limited, so RSVP early.

Dinner begins 5:30 and 7 p.m.

For more information or tickets, call 749-1111.

- January Holmes

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Bravo Sarbarite Chamber Players

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Sybarite Chamber Players free concert in Sarasota. If you weren't there, you missed quite a treat.

I don't think I've ever walked away so excited about chamber music. Yes, I listen to classical music every now and then. But sometimes watching it can be . . . well not as thrilling as it could be. It all depends on who is performing the music. It is one thing to play and another to actually perform. The Sybarite Chamber Players aren't merely players but performers. As young as they are (late 20s/30s I'm guessing), they perform with passion. It's almost as if they are singing through their instruments.

The hour-long concert featured the savory Piotr Szewczyk song "The Rebel" (one of my new favorites), Samuel Barber's beautiful "Adagio" (you could literally hear a pin drop in between movements) and a few wonderful medleys from Paul Kim's arrangement of Radiohead music aptly titled "Radiohead Remixed."

Part of the group's claim to fame (they have been featured on NPR and the CBS Early Show) is that it plays remixed arrangements of 20th century rock and alternative music, including Radiohead, The Who and Led Zeppelin.

Basically, this chmaber music group really rocks out.

The setting for the concert had a contemporary flair to it, too. The stage and part of the VIP seating was set up like a living room, with couches and comfy chairs. Not to mention coffee tables that held a dessert tray.

The audience loved the group so much, it gave the gift of a long standing ovation, which brought an encore.

Such a wonderful event should be a yearly affair. The buzz after last weekend's concert was that it very well may be.

-January Holmes