201 Street » Entertainment

Miami Gossip

Brody — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Celebrity gossip can be a kind of love-hate thing. On the one hand, there’s an attitude that says people should just let people be people, and let them live their own lives. On the other hand, these are celebrities, who made decisions to give their lives over to the pursuit of attention, and gossip is just part of the big scheme of things in that realm. There are plenty of other attitudes toward fame that affect how one might think about gossip.

However, at the end of the day, most people, no matter what their attitudes, react to it like the proverbial traffic accident. It’s impossible to look away, because it is so terribly interesting.

In Miami, this is no exception. In fact, it’s become kind of a rule. The city continues to build itself into something that resembles an alter-ego of Hollywood, with a lot of the same players involved in both teams. It’s never been more exciting to visit, as stars and celebrities come to hang out and relax at the beach, shoot music videos , attend awards ceremonies, and sometimes even come just to be seen.

There’s something almost charming about a story where a movie star got into a little trouble during a night on the town here, and they claim they just wanted some time to themselves. Oftentimes, it turns out that the attention was the exact thing they were after.

It’s a funny game, and it’s almost like a house of mirrors, where it’s hard to know who’s real and who’s playing another role. And whether or not J-Lo is saying something about animal rights with her tiger-print dress or not, these sightings do bring people to the five star hotels in Miami . If there are no celebrity sightings nearby, the lifestyle is so good, that it doesn’t really matter, because everything is all play, just like the Frenchman says.

Miami Gossip is a post from: 201 Street

Sinking the Sea Taxi in Miami

Brody — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:59:53 +0000

On most days, the idea is to keep your ship afloat, but on December 30th of 2009, right before the end of the decade, the ship known as the Sea Taxi was towed to a spot off Key Biscayne and sunk, simultaneously changing its name to the Ophelia Brian. It became the biggest ship ever deliberately sunk to become an artificial reef in Miami-Dade County for the sport of scuba diving. This ship was originally constructed in 1965, forty-five years ago, by J.J. Sietas in Hamburg, Germany. The 210 foot vessel was christened Hoheburg, and has had a number of name changes over the years — the Marianne C., the Wilma, the Black Sea, the Ocean Breeze 1 — but ended its life above water as the Sea Taxi. Today, the Ophelia will serve as an artificial reef, which will provide another place for recreational diving, for eco tourism, even for fishing to the locals at home in Miami and the travelers in that city’s hotels. Previously, two other ships were sunk as artificial reefs — the Herbert Horn Type 458, sunk in 1984, and the Marie Horn Type 451, sunk in 1976. Below the surface of the water, their names changed, too, to Ultra Freeze and Deep Freeze.

These deliberately created wrecks will last for decades, and furnish a home for corals and marine fish, in addition to the opportunities made possible for fishing and diving. South Beach Dive and Surf is one of a number of sea diving companies that enable you to visit and explore these artificial reefs. You’ll find the PADI Five Star facility in the center of the fashionable South Beach area and within an easy walk to restaurants and hotels and other popular tourist sites. Established in 1995, they boast an experienced staff that will help you make your dives, according to your own level of experience. If you’re into diving, or know someone who is, this is an excellent way to explore a side of Miami most people don’t get to see, the world of Miami underwater!

Sinking the Sea Taxi in Miami is a post from: 201 Street

Poe Show in Phoenix

Brody — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:38:52 +0000

Twenty years ago already, I was living in a cowtown, and against my better judgement I let my friend have access to my key to the university’s black box theater. I’d been living in Phoenix before that, and saw a rise in alternative art, and was fueled by it. In this unnamed cowtown, there wasn’t a lot going on with alternative anything, except for music, so I was hungry to see interesting people doing interesting things. My friend had a group of collaborators who liked to get together in cowtowns and spend weekends creating large events with unusual art, and of course unusual people.

This was a lot like a happening, except a version 20 years later, and there wasn’t much formal training. Not that they needed it, because the aesthetic was supposed to be rough and chaotic, and it certainly was. Some people read new work out loud, there were couples performing in front of video screens with live music, and people dancing while tearing pieces of plastic off the walls. It was pretty great. I was getting ready to read a poem, and one of the L.A. artists told me that poetry was dead. At the time, it seemed like an ironic quotation of something we already knew, because we were all participating in something that had been done already, only not in this particular combination. So, when there are events in Phoenix that are worth looking into, and sound as inviting as a luxury hotel, Phoenix is the place to be.

Who knows why, but the alternative art scene here never died, and neither did poetry, although you might have to dig for it. The 2010 Annual Poe Show is one such event, where some of the most essential experimental artists in Phoenix and Tempe will be coming together again for an evening of dada poetry in performance, as a birthday party for Edgar Allen Poe. Some of the town’s most iconic artists, including Robert X. Planet (still edgy), Trish Jus Trish, Jeff Falk, and the Klute, will be there to demonstrate that poetry, performance, and Poe might all indeed be dead, but that’s not stopping any of us.

Poe Show in Phoenix is a post from: 201 Street

Concert Tickets for the Old

Brody — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:09:01 +0000

I realized, luckily, at a young age that purchasing Concert Tickets at $100 a pop and then spending the whole concert standing in the spewing line in the bathroom was really to crazy. I would spend even more money on wine or beer, a really fleeting purchase if one really contemplates it long enough, when I could’ve bought a concert T-shirt. Something that I’d wear for years and it would bring back fond memories of the concert, but then again, that would be a stupid purchase too.

Spending the $100, I realized, as I got older, was so I could get pushed on, pawed, crushed and mushed, all the while my good shoes would be wading through spilled beers, sodas and who knows what else. All I can say, is thank god I managed to make it to the middle-age and no longer need to go to live concerts. What is really funny though is when I drop-off my two sons at a concert, I see so many ‘not-so-young any more,’ people at those concerts. I guess they just don’t want to admit that they’ve gotten older and that they refuse to let the new generation have their moment in the sun.

I do have to admit though, I am going to the Bonnaroo, but that is open for all ages. It will be fun to see the different mix of people and to, probably for the last time, experience the concert subculture which this music festival will bring out from the woodwork. I know I’ll be somewhat envious when I see the younger crowd run through sprinklers and dance as if they have not a care in the world. But, hell if I’m going to miss seeing Springsteen! And that’s when I’ll shine and the little teenyboppers will be a little envious of me when I scream ‘Yay! Tune! Da Boss!’

Concert Tickets for the Old is a post from: 201 Street

Event Tickets to Space Race

Brody — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:43:36 +0000

My colleagues and I were having a discussion about the space race, or the lack of it when we were standing in line to get Event Tickets for the next Nasa Shuttle launch. It seemed to us that Europe has not pulled its weight when it comes to sending people into space like the Russians, the Chinese and of course the United States. But, to be fair to Europe, it’s been almost 50 years since Russia’s Yuri Gagarin made the first orbit around earth. Still, we thought, at least Russia has that to boast about, what’s Europe got?

Europe needs to enter the playing field. We figured that they have to eventually get into the race; we figured they surely can’t stay completely out of the manned flights forever, can they? Europe does have the Europe Space Agency, ESA. It even has a module on the International Space Station, plus sent out astronauts into space as passengers on other spacecrafts, no their own. Budget isn’t the issue either for Europeans to launch their own manned spaceflight mission. It’s a matter of willingness politically.

There are companies in Europe which make space launchers that will carry items such as satellites into space and could possibly make a lunar lander if they choose to do so, but apparently, right now, it seems more viable to focus on sending paying tourists into space which will be outside the government funded space programs. My friends and I though believe Europe needs to be cautious when it comes to space tourism projects due to the financial crisis the whole world is experiencing right now and wait a while for more investments to flow in, but all the same, Europe really needs to get with it and send rocket men into space.

Event Tickets to Space Race is a post from: 201 Street

Chennai Music Festival

Brody — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:15:27 +0000

When looking for the perfect luxury hotel, Chennai, India would be a great place to begin. Southern India is an excellent place to spend a vacation, with a beautiful location on the Bay of Bengal, and a large and lively urban population. It hosts a wonderful music festival, and has an extremely vibrant theatre scene. It is also the home of Kollywood, India’s Tamil film capital, where big budget blockbusters as well as smaller features, are made. There is also a thriving industrial base, and its rich and complicated history make it a wonderful place to spend time. The hotels are splendidly designed, with an eye toward international style, and guests can expect to experience a rejuvenation of the body and mind.

The Chennai Music Festival is, of course, one of the most exciting events the city offers. Recently the government has teamed with the state tourism department and the music sabhas to attract more international guests. It certainly is one of the most amazing festivals in performing arts in the world, where the city hosts many music and dance artists who perform for the month of December. Performances are held in traditional music and dance venues, as well as sacred spaces, and also in makeshift performance venues. It began in 1927 to honor the anniversary of the Madras Musical Academy, and has been held every December since then. The entire city takes part, and art is in the air.

The festival is, by most standards for performance extravaganzas, very old. But its roots go much further back than 1927. Carnatic music, that is, the traditional music of South India, has always been played at this time in South India as a form of spiritual devotion. The festival, as it exists today, is a much broader entity, and includes many different dance, music, and dramatic forms. There are also different levels of experience among the performers, which make it very eclectic, and provides an excellent learning experience for the younger artists. Today it attracts a wide variety of performers, such as Sriram Krishnan , who plays in the traditional Carnatic style. This extremely important festival is an amazing opportunity to see the variety of old and new performance work, and to take part in an art event that envelopes an entire city.

Chennai Music Festival is a post from: 201 Street

Chennai 600028

Brody — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:54:33 +0000

There are 5-star hotels, and then there are 5-star hotels. Chennai can convince you, more than any other city perhaps, what it means to meet the world-class standards of luxury and excellence. Featuring exquisite design that merges the local color with international flair, and service that emphasizes a commitment to the tradition of hospitality, guests here are in for a rejuvenation of body and spirit. Chennai is a fascinating city, with a lively urban center, and many natural and historic sights that are simply gorgeous and stunning. There is a long tradition of arts here, with some of the greatest music festivals in the world, playing both classical European and classical Indian.

Chennai is also one of the world’s film hubs, being home to Kollywood. It gets its name from being in the Kodambakkam district in Chennai, and is thus a merging of its first two letters and Hollywood. Kollywood has a long and fascinating history, with silent movies in the early part of the 20th century, Tamil film companies opening in Madras in the 30s and 40s, and its steady position as a film producer for Southern India. This makes Chennai an excellent place for star-gazing, and tourists here might catch a glimpse of upcoming actress Vijayalakshmi.

She’s one of many faces to contribute her acting talents to the very successful Chennai 600028. The numbers in the title refer to the pin code of the place where the film is set, and the subject matter here is cricket. The film is the story of two young cricket teams, the Sharks and the Rockers, as they spar off in the field and also in their daily lives. Of course there is a love story, and several in fact. It has some of the steamiest scenes on the Kollywood screen, and this certainly widens its appeal. Chennai 600028 includes a lot of street slang, as spoken by the youth of Chennai, and this also gives it a certain raw energy, and demonstrates language in a state of flux.

Chennai 600028 is a post from: 201 Street

Brooklyn or Manhattan

Brody — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:22:28 +0000

This weekend was tremendously fun and extremely busy. On Friday night, we went out to celebrate our belated 4 year anniversary. We had a delightful dinner at an Indian-Latin fusion restaurant, then we went to see a movie ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. I so thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but I probably would have enjoyed it more had it not been for the jerk sitting behind us. He talked through the whole film. You’d think that an indie film would attract a more sophisticated crowd.

On Saturday, we visited some friends staying at a Luxury Manhattan Hotel and we took them to the New York Botanical Gardens to see the Orchid Show. Totally awesome. Our friends were completely impressed. My boyfriend planned the whole day, he’s really good at planning. We took the subway to get there and then we took a bus to get back. We were really inept at the just exactly how buses work, so we missed our stop and had to back track a good mile to our home, our friends were not impressed with that, but luckily the rest of our visit went well. There’s so much to do in Manhattan that we decided next time when friends are in town that we will stick to our neighborhood and skip the travelling.

On Sunday, we headed off to Brooklyn in search of an apartment. We’ve decided that we’ll get more for own money in Brooklyn and it seems like a good place to raise a family. I really can’t figure out though, if I prefer Manhattan over Brooklyn. But if we can manage to find a decent place that’s close to the water so that I can at least see Manhattan’s skyline and a place close to the subway system, then I think I’ll be happy in Brooklyn. Wish us luck!

Brooklyn or Manhattan is a post from: 201 Street

Brian Friel’s Broadway

Brody — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:49:06 +0000

Visitors to the Big Apple always have a secret smile on their faces when they’re holding New York Broadway tickets, a pass to one of the most exciting adventures the city can offer. Broadway has become shorthand for excellence in theatre in the U.S., and all over the world. It is the section in midtown where 6th avenue becomes simply Broadway, and the entire district is where the legends of the stage make their marks in the world’s memory banks. For over a century it has been a tradition that has seen some of the greatest actors give their greatest performances, home to some of the world’s leading playwrights, and also introduced new forms to wide audiences. One of the unique gifts from U.S. culture to the world at large, the musical, has its roots, evolutions, and revolutions here.

Brian Friel, whose career has spanned over five decades, has had a remarkable presence on Broadway. One of the rarest voices in theatre in recent history, his themes of alienation, loss, and cultural difference have caught the attention of audiences and critics alike. Born in 1929 in Northern Ireland, and now living in the Republic of Ireland, it might come as no surprise that one of this Irish playwright’s main subjects is, in fact, Ireland. Having tried and nearly giving up on playwriting for many years, working primarily in Belfast, he found some success in 1964 with Phiadelphia, Here I Come! which paved the way for a long career since then. His plays are often experiments in style and form, and his earlier work has even been called avant-garde.

These early experiments certainly contained some formal elements that would inform his later work, which on the surface seems based in psychological realism. Beneath the surface, however, they are much more complex. One of his most successful plays globally is Translations, which explores the Troubles in Ireland using language as a metaphor. His most well-known play, however, is Dancing at Lughnasa, which explores the shift from pagan to dogmatically religious culture in Ireland. Focusing on one particular Summer, he creates a brilliant metaphor for change and loss. Lughnasa opened in Dublin’s Abbey Theatre before coming to Broadway, and in 1992, it won three Tony Awards.

Brian Friel’s Broadway is a post from: 201 Street

The Whale Watching Along Coast of Australia

Brody — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:31:27 +0000

The humpback whales migrate along the coasts of Australia every winter. During this time there are many locations along the beaches that are equipped with hydrophones, which allow whale-watchers the opportunities to listen in on the mysterious communications between whales, and viewing decks which offer the best possible views of these creatures as they make their way. Along the Western coast of Australia, some of the best spots to catch these creatures, that at one time were close to extinction, are the Bay at Geographe, Albany and Dunsborough. In Albany there is an educational site as well, that offers lectures, seminars and guided tours out onto the ocean making it possible for tourists to not only enjoy the landscapes during this season, but allows them the opportunity to partake in one of the most significant aspects of the journey, which is the mating season.

And during the more temperate months of April and May they are seen regularly off the coast of Southern Australia. All in all, there are six months out of the year that the coast of the continent is surrounding by the whales in the Atlantic Ocean. Many travelers spend many months during this season, traveling via land along with the humpbacks. South Australia is a wonderful location to catch the breeding and birthing. And many cruises are set up to coincide with the various aspects of the life cycle. From the coasts of Ceduna, one can watch the whales as they do the slow motion acrobatics so famous in many of the photographs. This is a perfect opportunity for those would be photos, as in Ceduna there are viewing platforms situated such that the whales come so close one can literally almost reach out and touch them. Boats also head out each day from the whale sanctuary, Head of Bight.

Further along in the season one can watch the births of the calves from Victoria and from Sydney. In both locations, the whales are present in the waters for many weeks at a time as the newly born calves nurse and gain strength to continue on with the rest of the heard. During this time, the adolescents and the older males stay further out to sea, and the resorts of Victoria and the luxury hotels Sydney operates often schedule cruises in order to give those a chance to take amazing looks as the last months of the feeding time are carried out in these locations. One is able to catch incredible glimpses from the land, such as The Gap, which is located in the southern portion of Sydney. This is a wonderful experience for those choosing to travel to Australia in the winter months.

The Whale Watching Along Coast of Australia is a post from: 201 Street