Holiday Play season opens at the Hipp

The thespian Christmas season began this weekend with this year’s premieres of A Christmas Carol and A Tuna Christmas at the Hippodrome State Theatre. The former is a classic and a 31-year-old Gainesville tradition, while the latter is a more modern take on the holidays..

On opening day A Christmas Carol was presented first. In slightly more than an hour, Ebenezer Scrooge (longtime Gainesville actor Rusty Salling) was visited by the ghost of his former business partner and the three Christmas spirits who help transform his dark, miserly life into a happy relationship with his community. As familiar as the story is, I couldn't help being moved as I watched Scrooge's transformation.

After the play, much of the cast joined the audience in the lobby for cupcakes and treats provided by Cakes by Jenny Wagner & Co. Some people gathered outside on the steps of the Hippodrome to chat. As night fell, the stately theatre took on a new glow, with holiday lighting illuminating the building’s columns before the evening performance and some nice barbeque from Jim’s Bar-B-Que afterwards.
A Tuna Christmas, which followed later in the evening, is a much darker (and more cynical) comedic view of the holidays. Set in Tuna, Texas, the many characters are played by two actors; as the characters grapple with the disappointments in their lives they attempt to celebrate the Holiday season. Rather than finding redemption, two of the characters find something missing in their lives at the end by “overcoming” their faith.

Both productions present life lessons, although the latter play requires more mature reflection to find the truth. I could see how the characters in both plays were guided in the end to overcome their "shackles"--literal or otherwise.

--Story and photos by John Davisson

WIN FREE TIX to see Sevendust at The Venue

Want to see Atlanta metal band Sevendust at the Venue this Thursday (Dec. 3)? You could be going for free, thanks to INsite!

The first person to e-mail editor@insitegainesville.com or RT our message on Twitter wins!

Wine of the Week

Casa Diego Carmenere $7

The holidays are here, and we're all trying to come up with wines that appeal to everybody. This seems impossible until you consider some safe bets - Chilean Carmenere is one choice that people are finally discovering. Like its Bordelaise brethren - Merlot and Malbec - Carmenere originated in Bordeaux. It made its way to Chile in the 19th century, just as it lost popularity to Merlot in France and is hardly seen in any current Bordeaux blends.

The Carmenere plant can look similar to Merlot in the vineyard, so it was often confused for Merlot until genetic testing in the 1990s revealed that it was a different varietal. Lo and behold, if you treat the grape like Carmenere, and not like "Chilean Merlot" as it was first called, you get a much better wine - Carmenere, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, ripens later than Merlot. The wine produced is Carmen red in color (rather than the blue tones of Merlot). It has more structured acidity than the typical Merlot, without the tannic weight of Cabernet Sauvignon, so it can appeal to both camps. Sometimes the acidity has tart cherry notes like a Garnacha, but with a deeper mid-palate expression of woody tannins like a Malbec.

Carmenere has become "Chile's Varietal," like Malbec is for Argentina and Zinfandel for California. It ranges from $5 to $50 per bottle. Casa Diego, from the Maule Valley in Chile, makes two excellent Carmenere wines, one at $7 per bottle and a Reserva at $11. Both have great fruit acids and a nose that includes red currants with hints of vanilla and graphite. The Reserva has more time in oak to give it a little more complexity and depth and a fuller palate, but either would be perfect for any home-for-the-holidays scenario. Enjoy!

- Daniel Eddy, Gainesville Wine Pairing Examiner and Store Mananger at Gator Spirits, Westgate Plaza

Roger Daltrey Uses It

Roger Daltrey is touring this fall to keep his voice in shape for when The Who (hopefully) tour next year; the tour is even called the “Use It or Lose It” tour. The last four dates of the tour are in Florida. I caught the first one Wednesday, Nov. 26, at the House of Blues in Orlando. You can still catch a show tonight (Nov.27) at the Barbara Mann Performing Arts Hall in Ft. Myers, Nov. 29 at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood and Nov. 30 at the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

Roger’s band including guitarist/musical director Frank Simes, guitarist Simon Townshend (brother of the Who’s Pete Townshend), keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button and drummer Scott Devours did a great job on the material, which included Who songs, some of Roger’s solo material and some covers. Roger has been changing the set list between cities, which is nice, especially for hardcore fans that want to go more than once.

The Orlando show opened with “Who Are You” and Roger on acoustic guitar, followed by an intense version of “The Real Me.” “The Real Me” has one of the most intense bass parts in rock, and Jon Button handled it well, although he was a little low in the mix. Then came the first Who rarity, “Pictures of Lily,” followed by “Behind Blue Eyes,” one of The Who’s signature tunes, and then another rarity (and one of my favorites) “Tattoo.”

Roger traipsed into some of his solo and cover material, including “Days of Light,” from 1992’s Rocks in the Head. Simon took over lead vocals while Roger played harmonica on The Who classic “Goin’ Mobile.”

Perhaps the strangest pick of the night was a medley of Johnny Cash songs, but it was definitely interesting. After performing The Who’s “Naked Eye” Roger picked a more obscure Who track that Pete sang on The Who By Numbers, “Blue Red and Grey.” Roger even played ukulele for the song, an understated ballad extolling the virtues of the simple life. It was my favorite song of the evening. Roger ended his almost two-hour set with the song “Without Your Love” from the McVicar album he released in 1980.

The Roger Daltrey concert was a wonderful show, and maybe he’ll tour again next year, maybe even with The Who. I’ve heard rumors of a Who Tribute show in New York, and that The Who will perform at the Super Bowl in 2010. Hopefully the activity will be preceded by some Who shows.

--Story and photos by John Davisson

Camelot, Canes Boils and Christmas Carols..Oh My!

Thanksgiving might be over, but the family-fun celebrations are just beginning. Starting tonight Gainesville is hosting plenty of opportunities for top-quality entertainment to help you enjoy your holiday weekend and bond with your family. Here are a few of the events we are most looking forward to.

At the Phillips Center tonight, Nov. 27, at 7:30 The University of Florida Performing Arts presents Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot, a musical set in King Arthur’s 12th century castle traces one of the most legendary love triangles in history involving King Arthur, his betrothed Guinevere and Roundtable Knight Sir Lancelot. The production is part of the Friday Night Sights Events - the Harn Museum of Art and the Florida Museum of Natural History will host extended hours until 7pm. Prior to the show, the Phillips Center will be taking new, unwrapped toy donations for Alachua kids.

Tickets are available online and at the Phillips Center box office, 315 Hull Road.

Starting at 9 am, Saturday, Nov. 28, The City of Gainesville is offering some old-fashioned fun at Morningside Nature Center Living History Farm. The farm will travel back to the 1870s as the staff, dressed in full 19th century garb, serve up fresh-made syrup and homemade biscuits. Throughout the day Morningside staffers will cut, press and boil sugar cane into syrup on the spot. The historic integrity is further preserved by the fiddle and open-string instrument sounds that will be the backdrop for the thanks-giving, harvest-welcoming day. During the Annual Cane Boil, the Longleaf Pine Youth Fiddle and Open Band Contest will take place with three different division- Seedling (ages 12 and under), Sapling (ages 13-18) and Open String Band (all ages).

Admission is $2 adults, $1 for kids ages 3-12 and free for children under 3 years-old.

Morningside Nature Center Living History Farm, 3450 E. University Ave.




At 2pm The Hippodrome premieres its annual holiday play, A Christmas Carol, followed by a meet-and-greet with the cast and cupcakes provided by Cakes by Jenny Wagner & Co. This year marks the 32nd production of A Christmas Caro1 in Gainesville and the 20th year the character of Scrooge is played by Rusty Salling. At 7:30pm, A Tuna Christmas will premiere followed by a barbeque provided by Jim’s Bar-B-Que. Local favorite, Mark Chambers traveled down from San Francisco to take part in this year’s production of the screwy Christmas play. All food and treats are free with play admission.

The Hippodrome State Theatre, 25 SE 2nd Place. Tickets available here or by calling the box office at (352) 375-4477.

Gator Basketball Takes All

It was a victorious night for the Gators as fans cheered on their favorite orange and blue teams. The women's basketball team (2-2) dominated over UAB with a 75-39 win, and set a home record with 11 treys. The men's basketball team (4-0) also took down its opponent, as it beat FSU 68-52. On Friday the men's team will go up against its toughest competition yet as it plays No.2 Michigan State in Atlantic City as part of the Legends Classic. The women will play St. John's in Miami for the FIU Thanksgiving Classic. Check out some pics from last night's winning games.

--Photos by Rodney Rogers

Holiday Plays at the Hipp

Saturday, Nov. 28, marks the premiere of the Hippodrome’s annual holiday plays, A Christmas Carol and A Tuna Christmas. The theatre is kicking off the season with a double opening day, with A Christmas Carol showing at 2pm and A Tuna Christmas at 7:30pm. After both plays, guests will be treated to food and desserts.

A Christmas Carol is the classic holiday tale of the grouchy Scrooge, who gets visited by the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, there to teach him a lesson in kindness. In its 32nd year, this year will be the 20th year Scrooge is played by Rusty Salling, says Kara Winslow, the Hippodrome’s director of development and assistant director of A Christmas Carol.

“A Christmas Carol has been a tradition in Gainesville for over 30 years,” she says. “It’s very special.” Following the play, the cast, including 25 kids, will join audience members to mingle and eat treats provided by Cakes by Jenny Wagner & Co.

At 7:30pm, it’s back to the Mainstage for A Tuna Christmas, a quirky comedy surrounding the members of the Tuna, Texas community and their annual lawn-display contest. This year, the Hippodrome has brought back Mark Chambers, a local favorite all the way from San Francisco to do the play. After A Tuna Christmas, the Hippodrome will be serving up a barbeque dinner courtesy of Jim’s Bar-B-Que. The Cakes by Jenny and Jim's Bar-B-Que foods are free with production tickets.
“This is a fun way to get into the spirit of the holidays,” Kara says. “It’s going to be a great weekend.”

INsite is giving away 4 tickets to both productions. First to e mail sgranadaob@gmail.com wins!

--Stephanie Granada

Look of the Day: Internationally Known

Samantha, UF anthropology senior

Samantha pulls off rocker-chic with an inspiring dose of Parisian fashion. She layers a vintage Christian Dior sleeveless tank over a form-fitting little black dress for the sleek illusion of a multi-piece ensemble. Her black leather belt separates the look, and tights are just right to add some edge. Ankle booties are a winter must-have that can be paired with just about any piece. Sam loves collecting clothing and jewelry from vintage shops and small boutiques around the world, like these studded cuffs and metal earrings that are the perfect finishing touch.

Tank: Vintage Christian Dior, Dechoes Resale, $35
Dress: H&M Paris, 20 Euros
Tights: Free People, $15
Booties: Les Galeries Lafayette, Paris, 60 Euros
Belt: Banana Republic, $30
Jewelry: Bloomingdales, $20, Loop-de-Loop, $25

--Brooke Johnson

AC/DC Keeps On Rocking

AC/DC returned to Florida as one of the last dates on their Black Ice US Tour, and they gave the fans exactly what they wanted at the Amway Arena in Orlando last week: larger than life arena rock. For some 30 years now, AC/DC has delivered hard-hitting, straight-forward rock and they have done it with an inimitable bombastic style that has garnered their fans, and kept them.

(KEEP READING...)

Hawthorne Heights plays Common Grounds

JT Woodruff, lead singer of Hawthorne Heights, is standing at the merch table when I walk into Common Grounds at around 8 o' clock on Sunday night. He looks like he's in disguise with a black cap, polo shirt (red rim around sleeves) and black rimmed glasses - and a mini Groucho Marx mustache.

"Are you doing no shave November?"

"Yeah," he said. "But just the mustache part."

(KEEP READING...)

A GLAM-orous weekend

GLAM, Gainesville’s Local Art Mart, set up shop at the Thelma Boltin Center yesterday (Nov. 22). Kim Taylor, the director of the event (and blogger The Sassy Crafter), said that she wanted to create a venue where local artists—like herself—could share their work with the community.

There were more than 30 artisans displaying and selling their work, which created a nice alternative to shopping at the mall. Shoppers could try some of the handmade makeup or eyeliner at one of the tables. Other vendors had a variety of items including handmade perfumes and soaps, home decorations, clothing, accessories, gifts and food.

For most of the artists, crafting is a hobby and not a full time job. Each piece of art had a story behind it, and one of the nicest things about GLAM was that all of the artists were at their tables to answer questions about their work.
A very nice added touch to GLAM was the live music playing while people were browsing. For shoppers, GLAM was a wonderful way to spend a lightly soggy afternoon looking for fun and unique items that also make great gifts. For artisans, it was a great way to showcase their work and engage the public in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. To join GLAM’s mailing list, send an e-mail to sassycrafter@gmail.com.

—Story and Photos by Timothy Carswell

Look of the Day: Topped with a Bow

Erica, UF Telecommunications Senior

Erica looked cute enough to gift-wrap in this silk mini dress on her way downtown. The detailed threading runs vertically to elongate and accentuate her shape and adds special interest to the piece. Erica’s matching bow cinches in at the waist, creating the perfect silhouette--but if your dress doesn’t come with one a skinny belt will do the trick. Throw on a pair of metallic heels to glam up for nighttime like Erica did, and don’t forget: a handful of bangles is a great way to accessorize without going overboard.

Dress: Mom’s Dallas boutique, $70
Heels: Nine West, $72
Bracelets: Forever21, $8

--Brooke Johnson

Beauty Giveaway: Laura Geller 2-in-1

Win one of these Laura Geller eyeliners and get the look featured in our November beauty story!

The first person to e-mail editor@insitegainesville.com or RT our message on Twitter wins!

Fashion Shoot Behind-the-Scenes

Our recent December "holiday party" fashion shoot at the Alachua County Fair was so much fun! The weather was beautiful, and the colorful setup gave us some great shots and matched the festive theme perfectly.

Photographer Sean Kelly catches the models as the pass by on the Carousel.

We got some great ideas for holidy beauty from MAC (hint: think "eyelashes"). Everyone had a blast; model Carla (below) even ate her candy apple after the shoot wrapped!

Lifestyle editor Stephanie Granada (center) and editor Maghan McDowell touch up Carla's lips after a spin on the Carousel (and some sticky cotton candy!). Next stop: House of Mirrors.

For the full story, including our favorite party frocks, shoes and accessories, check out the December issue of INsite, out soon!

—Photos by Sarah Hsu

New Moon Review

The New Moon midnight premier opened to cloudy skies, and a surprisingly uncrowded theater in Gainesville. The number of movie-goers sharply increased following a more saga-appropriate turnout for the 3am screening, as people lined throughout and outside of the Regal Cinemas in Butler Plaza. Walking out of the movie, found a mixed-bag of reviews, with avid book fans disappointed at the movie translation and others enthralled by the magic that is the Edward-Bella love story.

The second installment of Stephanie Meyer’s vampire book series continues the fantasy love story between a vampire, Edward Cullen, and a human teenage girl, Bella Swan. We see as Bella’s world falls apart after being abandoned by Edward, and she eventually finds comfort in Jacob Black, an old-friend, and mid-way into the movie, a werewolf. The story leads up to the final choice of Bella having to choose between Edward and Jacob (as if there was ever really a question).

If you go into New Moon with high expectations, you will leave disappointed. The below par acting, overdramatized, unsound special effects and the beyond corny scenes will leave you feeling a bit cheap and undersold. On the other hand, if you approach New Moon for what it is- a silly adventure romance – the movie doesn’t fail to amuse.

The true and undeniable flop of the movie goes to Taylor Lautner, who plays Jacob. Not even his Greek-god physique or Hollywood-watt smile can make up for his complete lack of acting skills. The cast is saved by the obvious chemistry between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison as Bella and Edward, which is all that really matters as the true catalyst behind the Twilight-mania. Dakota Fanning also impressed in the role of underworld princess Jane. The small role might just be what she needed to make the transition from creepy child actor to more grown-up roles. We still can't imagine a better Bella than Kristen, whose naturally awkward disposition make her perfect for playing the insecure and clumsy teenage role.

If you’re in for some mindless fun this weekend put aside your snobbery – no, the movie will never be as good as the book, and a beefed-up budget does not an Oscar-worthy make - and get lost in some New Moon fun. If anything, check it out for the soundtrack. With tracks by Bon Iver and Thom Yorke, New Moon might serve the higher purpose of introducing mainstream-loving teens to some good artists.

-Stephanie Granada

Get GLAM-ed Up

(pictured above: Gainesville's craftiest blogger The Sassy Crafter, Kim Taylor.)

Eager to purchase holiday gifts for a tiny price? Look no further than GLAM. The Gainesville Local Art Mart, GLAM, is preparing for its second Annual Handmade Holiday Bazaar arts and crafts show, dated for Sunday, Nov. 22, from 2 to 6pm.

“My co-organizer and I wanted to provide an alternative to the traditional holiday shopping venues and at the same time, help give a leg up to budding local artists,” says GLAM co-organizer Kim Taylor.

Local artists, jewelers and designers will congregate at the Thelma Boltin Center, 516 NE 2nd Ave., to sell their individual handmade crafts. Customers will be able to shop 'til they drop with a variety of unusual items to choose from at bargain prices. Local bands and food vendors will be on site providing snacks and entertainment.

“We have an incredible array of vendors who'll be selling everything from handmade baby bibs to bicycle wheel chandeliers,” Kim says.

Other items include jewelry, screen printed T-shirts, reusable lunch bags and sandwich wraps, handbags, and fitness hoops.

Some of the vendors to be featured this year's event include: Michala Designs, Joffe Creations, Waldo Wildlife Collective and Sandhill Arts.

Aside from being an excellent, early holiday shopping opportunity, GLAM is also an opportunity to help those in need - a portion of the money raised will be donated to charity. “We'd like to have some of the proceeds go to a non-profit like we did last year when we donated part of the proceeds of the Handmade Holiday Bazaar to Peaceful Paths,“ Kim says.

Admission to the one-day event is free and open to the community.

--Alisha Kinman

JT Woodruff of Hawthorne Heights

INsite got the chance to chat with JT Woofruff, lead singer of Hawthorne Heights, in between a lengthy highway sojourn en route to a show in South Carolina. The band will perform Sunday, Nov. 22, at Common Grounds.

Read the full interview on our Web site!

Morningbell Debuts First Music Video

Let's Not Lose Our Heads by Morningbell from Eric Atria on Vimeo.

Check out Morningbell's first music video for its single "Let's not Lose Our Heads." INsite writer Joel Mora, who helped make the video, gives us a glimpse into the shoot process. Check the band out live on Dec.4 at Common Grounds.

Shooting a music video can be like pulling teeth, but with a band like Morningbell all you have to do is hit "record." For its new album, Sincerely, Severely, the local band decided to shoot a video for its first single “Let’s Not Lose Our Heads.” Instead of just making a bland performance video, the guys wanted to incorporate stop-motion techniques. “The song just has such good energy, and we thought the rhythm of it would fit that theme of stop-motion,” bassist Eric Atria says.

He hired local photographer Andrew Ford to help with the photographs that were used to put the video together. “It was very exciting and we only spent about four hours taking pictures,” Andrew says. After realizing that they would need more pictures, Eric called me up to help with some video that would piece it all together. All it took was three takes—the band rocked it as if it were playing in front of a crowd. Eric even admitted that the shoot was physically demanding. It’s hard to believe that such a great video came out of just two days of shooting, but it’s largely due to Eric’s editing, Morningbell’s music and some special moments by drummer Chris Hillman.
Who knows? This success might bring on more videos. Look for a review of Sincerely, Severely, soon.

—Joel Mora

Look of the Day: Light and Breezy

Lily, UF anthropology student

Lily taught us an important lesson in casual101 outside of the Hub: You can be comfortable and fashionable with four simple pieces. Her flowy top is instantly cute and can be belted or worn with a vest for extra style points. Balance an oversized top with something more fitted on the bottom like Lily’s off-white shorts, and of course, you can never go wrong with gladiator-style sandals and a sling bag. Lily enjoys finding special treasures on a budget at thrift shops and especially at Gainesville’s Salvation Army.

Top: Forever 21, $12
Shorts: Old Navy, $15
Shoes: Classified, $28
Feather earrings: Forever 21, $6
Sling bag: Urban Outfitters, $49

--Brooke Johnson

Get Your Game On

Check out the November edition of Gamer's Corner on our Web site now for reviews of the best video, online, computer and upcoming games of the month!

While you're there, browse our November Faces in the Crowd slideshow where we ask: what is your favorite blog or Web site?

Eye Spy

Last week, we received a ton of false eyelash samples for our beauty story on stick-on beauty, and we just couldn't wait to share these gems from e.l.f. (eyeslipsface). For the holiday party season, you're bound to buy a party dress or two (and we don't blame you). But if you're in a bind for how to dress up your look, we suggest you lash out with these falsies. At just $1 a pair, it's the cheapest bling for your buck you'll find all season. Wink, wink.

Look for our full story on all the best false lashes (at great prices) in our December issue.
Photo by Sean Kelly

Boys and Girls Club: Another Fun Event

Remember the great Boys and Girls Club Wine-Tasting fundraiser we blogged about last month? Well, the time has come for another great event to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Alachua County. This Friday (Nov. 20), The Liquor & Wine Shoppe at Jonesville will host a wine-tasting fundraiser. Advance Tickets are only $10 and are available at the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County (2700 NW 51st Street.)

The Liquore & Wine Shoppe at Jonesville is located at 14451 Newberry Road, across from the Jonesville Publix; come out for a night of free wine tasting, delicious hor d'ouevres and discounted bottles of wine!

Photo by Sean Kelly

Look of the Day: Tons of Texture

Yiran, UF advertising freshman

Yiran brought her trendy Japanese style to the Plaza of the Americas in this sleek outfit that works anywhere on the globe. Don’t be afraid to mix textures like Yiran - tweed skirt, wool tights, leather boots and a silk top - for a fun and funky look. Pair a dark-toned outfit with a vibrant piece that will pop against a more subdued color palate. Yiran loves the Japanese trends of her hometown, and says her favorite of them all is the most prominent and recurring trend: Layers, layers layers.

Shirt, skirt, tights & boots: boutiques across Japan
Necklace: Forever 21, $8

--Brooke Johnson

Song Writing Workshop

UF Hillel’s JAMnetwork is giving “soul” music a new definition. Tonight (Nov. 18), JAMnetwork’s Song Writing Workshop will be exploring the depths of a person’s spirituality through music. The event will be held from 5:45 to 7pm at UF Hillel’s Living Room Gallery.

The free event is open to the community and welcomes anyone who has a passion to explore the idea of writing with a spiritual twist. Whether you write or simply love music, the program anticipates connecting creative minds alike through one commonality. Musicians of all styles are welcome to play along with the song lyrics that will be created during this interactive activity. Although all faiths are welcome to the workshop, participants will brainstorm ideas as a group to find out what truly makes a person “Jewish.” 

“The idea behind the workshop is for people to leave this event with something meaningful and lasting,” says Mallory Zuckerman, the director of JAMnetwork, which was recently launched as a project headed by UF Hillel’s Manoah Art Committee to create a strong community of creative Jewish minds from Gainesville.

—Alisha Kinman; photo via JAMnetwork

French Invasion at the Hipp

Prepare for some French flair this week at the Hippodrome Theatre. Tonight (Nov. 17) at 8pm, the Hippo, in conjunction with the FLEX Film Fest, presents a free, special 16-millimeter print of Masculin-Feminin, an iconic French New Wave film by director Jean-Luc Godard, along with several surprise short films. While Masculine-Feminine will be showing in the new Cinema Lounge downstairs, upstairs Francophiles can enjoy Paris, an ode to the city of lights.

Masculin-Feminin was chosen for the opening night from a collection of over a thousand 16mm films collected by Roger Beebe, a professor at the UF and artistic director of the FLEX film festival. 16 mm film offers a rare cinema experience that is hardly ever available in a regular movie theatre. This special presentation of Masculin-Feminin will have greater clarity and truer colors. Based on two stories by Guy de Maupassant, Masculin-Feminin is a cynical portrait of sixties culture, colored by the pop sensibility of the director. It co-stars French pop singer Chantal Goya and Jean-Pierre Léaud.

This special event marks the grand opening of the Hippodrome’s newly renovated basement, now known as the Cinema Lounge. A project almost a decade in the making, the Cinema Lounge will feature a new marble bar and cabaret-style seating. Tables and chairs will be set up in front of the screen, so that audience members interact as much with each other as with the film. “The benefit of this is that you are going to be sitting across from people in a way that represents the sort of dialogue we’re hoping to have about these classic films,” says Robert Matrone, cinema manager for the Hipp. “Plus, you can get up and go get a drink and popcorn without missing anything.”

If this first screening is a success, the Hippodrome hopes to feature other films from Beebe’s extensive collection in future Cinema Lounge screenings. “We could do this for quite a long time and never repeat a film. It’s an exciting prospect,” Robert says. To fund future screenings of free films, the Hippodrome will be asking spectators for donations of $3-$5.

The French extravaganza does not end with the Godard film. The Tuesday screening is followed by the showing of Cédric Klapisch’s film Paris on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 18 and 19, in the main cinema room upstairs. “Part of the reason we ended up going with the Godard film is because we’re also showing Paris in our main cinema this week, and so Masculin-Feminin ties into that,” Robert says. Tickets for the general public to this event are $7.

—Allison Griner

Wine Dinner: Manuel's Vintage Room

Marco Chavez

(by Jason Henry)

Last night (Nov. 16), we had the chance to try something we've been eyeing for a while: a wine-pairing dinner at Manuel's Vintage Room downtown. Now, we eat at a lot of restaurants, and we drink a lot of wine, but this truly took the cake (or, chipotle white chocolate mousse).

Once a month, father-son and owner-chef duo Manuel and Marco Chavez close the restaurant for a private wine-pairing dinner that is the brainchild of Marco and inspired by various themes. Last night, for example, Spain took center stage. For $75 a seat, guests enjoyed a five-course dinner paired with five wines from various regions. Included with the menu was a program explaining the nuances and details of each wine and a detailed map of Spain.

This evening was genius. We enjoyed meeting a representative from the wine company, chatting with Marco about his inspirations for the menu, and even getting to thank Manuel for hosting such an intimate, entertaining, delicious evening, from the pan-seared scallops with apricot glaze and pineapple-mango salsa (paired with a light and fresh 2008 Hermanos Villar "ipsum") to the aforementioned mousse (paired with a thick, sweet 2004 Bodegas Olivares Dulce Monastrell).

After dinner, we couldn't help but pick up a couple bottles of 2007 Vinos Sin Ley "G5" (paired with oysters baked with chorizo sausage and cilantro cream sauce) and 2004 Bodegas Vina Magana (paired with chicken in a bacon roja sauce over saffron rice). Bella!

Diwali Dance Festival

Last Friday (Nov. 13), we were invited to attend a Diwali Dance Festival at the Indian Culture and Education Center (SW 13th Street), put on by the Hindu Cultural Society, and we're so glad! We didn't know much about the history of the festival, also called the "festival of lights" (you can learn more here) other than what we learned from Kelly on The Office, but it turned out to be a fun celebration with bright clothes, great food and—perhaps the best part—beautiful music, dancing and song.

With only a $3 entrance fee and tons of Indian food to sample, this was the ticket to have. (Proceeds benefitted Indian education, flood victims and the ICEC, according to the web site.) After sampling one of each of the dishes (the samosas were our favorite—sort of reminded us of an empanada, in a stuffed-triangular-pastry way), we enjoyed a dance performance and were thrilled when the floor was opened up to the crowd. With the sounds of Raas, Bhangra and Bollywood, we did our best to keep up.

Then, of course, we made our way to the cupcake-decorating table and bought a bunch of sparklers and firecracker things, being, as this was, the festival of light. After being entertained by an incredible beat-box performance, we followed the excited children outside to light our sparklers.

Look for us next year!

Photos by Sean Kelly

Look of the Day: SoCal Inspired

Zach, UF advertising senior

Zach was looking casual and put-together on his way to Turlington Hall in this blue and brown getup. His brown corduroys are an inspiring departure from everyday denim, and this color combination is flawless. What really pulls this whole look together? Zach’s patterned jacket adds interest and depth to a T-shirt-and-sneakers daytime look. Zach describes his look as “laid-back and trendy” and his ultimate "don’t" advice for male fashion is jean shorts.

Plaid Jacket: Urban Outfitters, $65
T-shirt: Men’s boutique in Brooklyn, $25
Pants: Urban Outfitters, $40
Shoes: Journeys, $32
Sunglasses: Ray Ban, $139

--Brooke Johnson

Hawthorne Heights play common grounds + WIN FREE TIX!!

Ohio rock band Hawthorne Heights will perform at Common Grounds this Sunday (Nov. 22) with guests Just Surrender, Monty Are I and Punchline. The show starts at 5:30pm, and you could get in for FREE!

We're giving away a set of tickets every day until the show. Follow us on Twitter to find out how!

The first person to e-mail editor@insitegainesville.com or RT our message on Twitter wins today's tix!

Leonid meteors light up the night

Starting at a predicted 1 am time slot, the 2009 Leonid meteor shower, named after  the constellation Leo it seems to radiate from, will burn through the sky tomorrow (11/17). Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the debris trail along the orbit of a comet, says UF astronomy department associate professor Jonathan Tan. 

"That's why each meteor shower always happens at the same time each year," he says. 

Tomorrow Earth will pass through the trail of comet Tempel-Tuttle. The spectacle of lights will be an assortment of ice and dust particles that have been left behind by the comet. From 1 am until dawn will be the best time to look out for the showers. There is an estimated peak of 30 meteors per hour expected around 4 am (Asia will see about 200 meteors per hour!). 

Head out suited up with cozy blankets and lots of coffee though because to get the best experience you will have to wait it out - meteor showers and its frequencies are unpredictable. Tan recommends you head out to a dark, rural area and allow your eyes at least 10 minutes to adjust to the dark skies. You don't need anything but your naked eye to enjoy the show. 

"Any dark location with an unobstructed view of the sky is fine," Tan says. He suggests the Paynes Prairie lookout (U.S. 441, about 8 miles south of campus) as a popular spot to catch the show. 

-Stephanie Granada

Bear Creek Music and Art Festival

The Bear Creek Music and Art Festival was a three-day celebration of sight and sound at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla. INsite was there to capture some of the most memorable moments. Check out our photo slideshow on our Web site!

—Photo by Sarah Hsu

Downtown Festival and Art Show a success

About 100,000 people attended this weekend’s Downtown Festival and Art Show in Gainesville. People, pets and children wandered through the packed roads, from city hall to the Hippodrome Theater, perusing the many white tents filled with various types of artwork.

Though each of the booths had beautiful pieces on display, the more eccentric artwork was the most fun to look through. The “silverwearable” jewelry, made entirely from the handles of old cutlery was cute, and the ceramic birdbaths looked too pretty to put in a yard.

Parents and kids took breaks from the heat and watched the music and dance performances in the shade by the Bo Diddley Community Plaza. The Gainesville Suzuki Players and dancers from the Gainesville Ballet Theater had great performances, and the Celtic harp and bamboo flute players were a big hit as well.

Ana Varela, a ceramic artist at the festival, says she saw a lot of interesting people of all ages in the crowd. This was her 20th year participating in the festival. “It’s a very predictable festival. The crowds always come out, and I see lot of friends because I’m local,” Ana says.

UF freshman Lynzee Marmor was a volunteer at the Imagination Station, where kids got to practice their creativity, and said she really enjoyed the fun and relaxed atmosphere of the event. “It’s fun to browse and they don’t make you feel obligated to buy, so it’s not uncomfortable,” she says.

—Elizabeth Behrman

Hey, all you Web-Saavy People!

Since last summer, INsiteMagazine.com and INsite's Behind-the-Scenes Blog have been growing rapidly, and we've enjoyed every minute of it. Now, we're looking to you bloggers, Web designers and journalists out there to help us continue to make our site great.

INsite Magazine is looking for a Web intern for the spring 2010 semester. Responsibilities include maintaining and continuously improving INsite's Web site and blog. The position is paid in trade and college credit, and allows for plenty of creativity, problem-solving and online media experience.

Requirements:
--Knowledge of HTML, CSS, photo editing
--A good eye for copy editing, grammar and style
--Experience with Content Management Systems a plus
--15 hours a week (preferably in the office at least 4 days a week)

Please e-mail resume and links to online work samples to editor@insitegainesville.com.