Friday, January 30, 2009

Drop Dead Gorgeous in North Chuck

Posted by John Stoehr on Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 3:33 PM

The Olde Village Talking Picture House continues showing new and familiar quality movies you won’t find anywhere else with the mockumentary Drop Dead Gorgeous. It's about a beauty pageant in a small town in the Midwest that unleashes all the bad things you’d expect from a gaggle of beauties competing for the big prize. Showtime is Sat. Feb. 7 at 4 and 7 p.m. Admission is $2-$5. Free popcorn. Seating is limited to 50.

I’ll quote the press material, because it’s just too good. Contestants include “a non-deaf teen obsessed with communicating in sign language; a Caucasian whose adoptive Japanese parents encourage her to boast of her proud Asian heritage; and the two favorites — poor but noble mortuary make-up artist Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst) and rich and evil Becky Leeman (Denise Richards)."

So you’ve seen it before, but isn’t it time you see Drop Dead Gorgeous again?

I thought so.

Topics: Film

Meet the Army Wives

Posted by John Stoehr on Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 3:28 PM

You’ve seen them on TV. Now’s your chance to see them live and in person. The cast of Army Wives holds a meet-and-greet at Mt. Pleasant Towne Center on Sat. Feb. 7 at 12-4 p.m. Army Wives is the popular Lifetime Network show that’s about to begin filming for a third season in Charleston. We don’t know exactly which TV star is going to be there, but chances are you’ll see and get an autograph from Catherine Bell, Kim Delaney, or Sally Pressman. Or maybe all three.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

House passes $50m for NEA

Posted by John Stoehr on Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 9:09 AM

That's really not much money, but it's something to get the NEA back up to pre-1990s levels. From the Times' ArtsBeat blog:

The House approved $50 million in recovery funds for the National Endowment for the Arts on Wednesday as part of the economic stimulus bill. The legislation, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment bill, was not included in the Senate’s version.

Full story . . .

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Either: "It's about time!" or "Wait and see"

Posted by John Stoehr on Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 4:17 PM

Mayor Joe Riley gave his State of the City address last night.

Among other things, he noted this, according to David Slade of The Post and Courier: "The city is currently undertaking a more than $20 million renovation of [the Dock Street]. Riley said the city has determined that a major renovation of the Gaillard Auditorium will be the next major step in improving Charleston's performing arts facilities, though he said that project will depend on 'substantial sums' of private money being raised."

Renovating the Gaillard is exactly what's needed as long as it's done in the right way. You might say that it's about time the Mayor publically drew attention to that eye-sore, but then again, renovating it has been the stuff of the grapevine for a few years now. I'll make some calls and see what I find.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Documentary about Charleston Development Academy

Posted by John Stoehr on Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 1:47 PM

A documentary about the Charleston Development Academy (CDA) will be screened on Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at Marriott Hotel, 170 Lockwood Blvd. The movie follows steps taken by Director Cecelia Gordon Rogers as she aimed for smaller classroom sizes and specialized teaching styles.

"My whole purpose is to emulate what I have been given,” Rogers in a written statement. “Anybody can be successful if they have the right environment to learn in.”

The film shows how the CDA demonstrated progress in improving student achievement, high levels of parent satisfaction, and the management and leadership necessary to create a viable charter school that other schools can emulate.

For more information, (843) 722-2689. —John Stoehr

Topics: Film
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