Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Here Comes NRBQ on DVD! : NRBQ – One In A Million has just been released on DVD.

Generally recognized as “the greatest bar band in the world”, NRBQ got their start in 1968 when they signed with Columbia Records. The future looked promising for the band, but soon third-stringers started getting similar contracts with big record companies.

Although NRBQ’s records didn’t shoot up the charts, they and their fans were more than satisfied with the results. Coming off a few regional hits and rabid east coast fandom, things began to fall into place for the band. Musicians like Dave Edmunds and Elvis Costello showed interest and NRBQ was finally in the limelight.

The release of “One In A Million” is a representative slice of NRBQ in their prime. Shot in 1989 and featuring the classic quartet of Terry Adams on keyboards, Joey Spampinato on Bass, “Big Al” Anderson on guitar, and Tom Ardolino on drums, it demonstrates the frightening ease with which one of America’s best bands can perfectly play prime material that is fun, showing their fans what rock ‘n’ roll really is. Retails for $16.95


Bonus material includes an NRBQ slide show, and a bonus video from the title track, 2004 release, “Dummy”.

Track List:

I Got a Rocket In My Pocket

Girl Scout Cookies

It’s A Wild Weekend

Little Floater

You’re So Beautiful

12 Bar Blues

Crazy Like A Fox

Here Comes Terry

Shake, Rattle & Roll

Supporting Same Sex Marriages : DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATE LEADER DAVID A. PATERSON HONORS SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM FOR HIS HISTORIC SUPPORT OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Hollywood, Broadway Stars and Top Gay Leaders Gather for Gay Pride Awards at NYC's City Hall

WHO: New York State Senator David A. Paterson; Actress Laura Linney; Actress Joyce Randolph; Tony Award winners Harvey Fierstein and Alan Cummings; Queer As Folk's Hal Sparks; John Tartaglia; Larry Kramer Star of Tony Award-Winning Avenue Q; Playwright Ronald Johnson; Creator of Hedwig and the Angry John Cameron Mitchell; Mayor, New Paltz, NY Jason West; Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom

WHAT: Paterson and the New York State Democratic Conference will lead a press conference honoring exceptional champions of equal rights and cultural expression for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community.

There will be an awards ceremony immediate following the press onference-open to the public-in City Hall Chambers.

WHEN: Thursday, June 24, 2004
PRESS CONFERENCE
4:30 PM
AWARDS CEREMONY
5:30 PM

WHERE: PRESS CONFERENCE
City Hall Red Room
AWARDS CEREMONY
City Hall Council Chambers

BBC America's "Family":

Driving tests, teenage parties, annoying neighbors, young love and a never-ending job search are just a few of the trials and tribulations awaiting Robert Lindsay (G.B.H., Oliver Twist) and Zoë Wanamaker (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Gormenghast) in a new season (Season 2) of "My Family," Wednesdays from July 21, 2004 at 9:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. PT.

Family life never runs smoothly, at least that is the view of creator and U.S. sitcom writer Fred Barron (Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show and Caroline in the City). Based on his own family, he and a British team of writers have created a family that is funny but flawed.

Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay) is a dentist who finds family life a frightening prospect. His wisecracking wife, Susan (Zoë Wanamaker), is the one who keeps order in the busy household – although her culinary skills would be enough to make anyone leave home as soon as they were able.

The children, couch potato Nick (Kris Marshall, Love Actually), ‘mature’ Janey (Daniela Denby Ashe, EastEnders) and sensible Michael (Gabriel Thomson) bring their own problems to the family, making Ben wish he was far away from the disordered life in which he exists.

Brit Gardening: Back in the U.S. by popular demand this summer, the Ground Force America team pack up their gardening kits and head across the pond for an all-new season of inspirational makeover programming. New shows premiere every Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. ET\PT beginning July 13 with Ground Force America: Santa Barbara.



Gardening goddesses Charlie Dimmock and Kirsty King join forces with construction kings Tommy Walsh and Will Shanahan to present five all-new episodes filmed across the west of the United States in California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. In each location the team have just 48 hours to secretly tackle and transform lame looking backyards while one of their owners is away from home. There are two new faces lending a helping hand this season, Tommy’s trusty building assistants, Jason and Chris.

New terrains create tough new challenges and exciting new creative possibilities for television’s original gardening gurus. From the slopes of the Santa Barbara hills to the desert landscapes of Santa Fe and Las Vegas and the stunning woodland backdrop of San Antonio, the Ground Force America team tame the wildest gardens and confront the trickiest problems to create awe-inspiring new spaces.

Incorporating regional plants and landscaping styles, Charlie and Tommy bestow stunning original garden designs to compliment the local style and culture of each new location. Look out for an artistic garden in Santa Fe with a southwestern flavour, a swinging pergola and path in an elegant Fort Worth garden and a majestic gothic ruin in the heart of Santa Barbara.


Get Your Retro Groove On:
Fast cars, dashing do-gooders, high-kicking heroes and international intrigue… The Avengers, The Saint and The Prisoner swing into action in BBC AMERICA’s new Friday night line-up beginning July 9, 2004 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Cool, classic and quintessentially British – Friday nights kick off with The Avengers as BBC AMERICA presents some of the show’s most popular episodes featuring Patrick Macnee (Scrooge, The Fantastic Seven) as debonair expert agent John Steed and Dame Diana Rigg (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Mrs. Bradley Mysteries) as aristocratic widow and amateur secret agent, Emma Peel.

Men envy him and women adore him… Roger Moore (A View to a Kill, Four Your Eyes Only) stars as Simon Templar – The Saint. In an action-packed hour of international intrigue, the debonair daredevil steals from criminals and keeps the spoils for himself.

Finally, BBC AMERICA offers one of the most ground-breaking series of the ’60s, The Prisoner. Patrick McGoohan (Danger Man, Mary, Queen of Scots) plays a man known only as Number 6 who wakes up in a surreal and disturbing place called “The Village” – where nothing is what it seems and everybody knows too much.

Another retro British series comes to Friday nights in November as two millionaire playboys team up to bring justice to an unjust world. Tony Curtis and Roger Moore star in The Persuaders.


Get Your Bling Here: Debra Savage the jewelry designer for Chad Allison Designs uses symbols in her jewelry line. One of her most popular is a cross with four equal sides. "This represents balance in life and was originally the symbol of the goddess," explains Savage from her Scottsdale design studio overlooking Camelback Mountain.

Fleur de lis and hearts are other themes running throughout the Chad Allison line. The collection features wide, diamond cuffs, large pendants, a large selection of diamond hoops and chandeliers and a collection of rings. The Chad Allison Collection has been expanded to include several new pieces.

A commonality to her line, "All my pieces are big. They make a statement. They are not for the meek woman," said Savage. They are, she insists, "for the woman who embraces excess - the woman who can buy for herself and will enjoy the purchase".

Chad Allison was co-founded in l999 by diamond dealer David Goldstein and designer Debra Savage. Prices range from $500 to$500,000. For information www.chadallison.com or 877.947.7844.

More Bling : Players Club jewelry line from Mirabelle features more than 80 pieces featured in this new collection, gaming pieces feature jeweled encrusted heart, spade, clover and diamonds necklaces, chandelier and drop earrings, bracelets and cufflinks. Handcrafted in 18k white and yellow gold, the pieces featured diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

Mirabelle plans to enter the winner's circle with this line with a July 4, 2004 launch in Las Vegas. Celebrities wearing Player¹s Club include players Dave Navarro, Jennie Garth, James Woods, Kathy Najimy, Star Jones, Mena Suvari, and Rosario Dawson. The line has already been featured on Bravo's Celebrity Poker.

Available at Saks Fith Avenue and other retailers nationally. www.Mirabelle18k.com

Celebs Get Comfy: Super hot Mischa Barton and Jessica Simpson are just two celebs who love the designs of Peddy Ebrahimian, 27. He created "One Life," a new sportswear line.

With no formal training, Peddy's inspiration comes from the streets. His marketing approach is also very "street." "The best way to advertise my line is for people to wear it," says Ebrahimian. "It's cut to fit and accentuate curves. It's comfortable, durable and extremely wearable and I want to get everyone-- from the hipster, or car pool mom, to the Ivy luncheon society babes sporting it."

Made from double-knit fabric the line is reversible and Ebrahimian likes the practicality of this design. "No one else is doing this, and today who has the time to shop for multipleoutfits or pack too much," says Peddy. "We live in a fast paced world. I like to pack and go".

"Cowgirl", the reversible line, is available at Fred Segal, and Kitson in Los Angeles, as well as on ­line in a variety of colors including reversible black to grey, pink to blue, grey to white and other solids including orange, baby blue, black, and tan. All items carry the One Life logo and unique finishing studs.

New collections will hit stores mid-summer and fall and include Gothic, Desert Fatigue and Kaleidoscope.

Celebrity fans include Christina Aguleria and Rachel Bilson who own several sets in four colors. Stacey Ferguson (Black Eyed Peas) packed a suitcase full of One Life for her concert tour while Dennis Rodman favors the new One Life beenie cap. www.onelife-2live.net

What's That (Great) Smell??: Fruits & Passion, a Canadian(www.fruits-passion.com) offers consumers products from skincare to home care to gourmet foods.

Fruits & Passion’s CUCINA DOLCE collection, a
collection of candles, soaps, and home-fragrance products are inspired by Italian cafés and desserts. This new collection also includes a wonderful diffuser which fragrances the home and bathroom with CHOCOLATE ORANGE, CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT, and CHOCOLATE MINT wax slabs wrapped like candy bars. They’re not edible, though you’ll certainly be tempted.

A quartet of candles scented like Italian coffees features ESPRESSO, FRESH CREAM, NUTMEG AND ORANGE ZEST, and HAZELNUT candles are poured into genuine Italian espresso glasses for a sophisticated collection that creates a warm and welcoming ambiance.

Gelato Soaps come in three fragrances that are reminiscent of
Italian bonbons. STRAWBERRY, PISTACHIO and LEMON Italian ice soaps smell like ice cream and are wrapped like candy.

Don't Miss This If You're In Town : Mother Jones & AEG Presents, A Madison House & Spire Artists Production
THE STATE OF THE UNION
A benefit to assist the voice of independent media

Starring
JANEANE GAROFALO, MARC MARON, WARD SUTTON, LIZZ WINSTEAD AND FRIENDS
DON’T MISS THIS SPECTACULAR EVENING OF POLITICAL COMEDY, AT NEW YORK CITY’S TOWN HALL ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2004.

Mother Jones Magazine’s State of the Union project represents a year-long campaign intended to inform millions of Americans of important trends and facts that are relevant to the 2004 elections in November. As part of these continuing efforts, Mother Jones, together with Madison House Inc. and Spire Artists, will organize a spectacular evening of political comedy. This special event will be held on September 4th, 2004, the weekend following the Republican Convention, at Town Hall in New York City,

This show will benefit various independent media outlets in an effort to increase the reach of information that is often dismissed by mainstream news organizations. By using humor as a vehicle for artists’ social and political commentary, the producers and participants of this presentation hope to connect important content of independent political issues with a broad cross section of Americans.

Who's Wearing What :

A glamorous bosomy Catherine Crier wore a pale yellow silk satin Donna Karan dress with dangling diamond earrings to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Mariska Hargitay chose a black silk satin backless sexy Vera Wang dress to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Deborah Roberts elected to wear a lingerie styled Ralph Lauren dress in champagne with sleeveless lace to accentuate her fit arms to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Tracey Ullman channeled the 80s in a vintage dress -- a black print, with a bold purple pattern and wide matching belt to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Elisabeth Hasselbeck wore a grey tank top and coordinating long grey skirt (and ribbon belt) from H&M to to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Meredith Vieira, wore a black pantssuit, tux style by Calvin Klein to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Gayle King wore a tangerine print Carmen Marc Valvo dress to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Eva LaRue Callahan chose a lavender silk chiffon Jean Paul Gaultier dress to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Rene Sylar wore a turquoise Carmen Marc Valvo dress to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA, chose a strapless red satin dress with sexily exposed sides designed by Stephen Yearick to the American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards held at the NY Hilton

Kelly Ripa chose a classic black Roberto Cavalli dress, with a "V" at the back and simple and elegant otherwise to American Women in Radio & Television 29th Annual Gracie Allen Awards

At the "Spider-Man 2" Los Angeles Premiere, Kirsten Dunst wore her living-room curtains. OK, she didn't but it looked a little like it. Of course, it's something we would probably like and wear, but the gorgeous Dunst was hiding all her assets.

At the same premiere, former Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar wore pinstriped taupe capris, super high heeled sandals and a seafoam green silk chiffon floaty top.

Soon to be wed Rachel Leigh Cook looked beautiful (she's engaged to a Spiderman 2 co-star), in a pale seafoam green strapless dress, with ruching at the bodice and a slit in the front. A peachy pink silk fringed shawl was shrugged over her shoulders and her sexy high-heeled sandals were very strappy and tied at the ankles. Her hair, once elfin and short, is now long and feathered.

Talk about classically elegant! Ashley Judd at the Window Unveiling of Armani Fashions Inspired by her New Film "De-Lovely" appeared in a knee length, traditional black silk sleeveless Armani sheath, with Armani shoes in white with black accents.