Jack’s Third Show with Billy Idol, Blondie, Devo, The Psychedelic Furs, REO Speedwagon, Twisted Sister

Saturday, September 27, 2008 - Billy Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X. He then embarked on a successful solo career, aided by a series of stylish music videos, making him one of the first MTV stars. Idol continues to tour with guitarist Steve Stevens and has a fan base all around the world. Along with Duran Duran, Billy Idol was one the first pop/rock artists to achieve massive success in the early ’80s due to a then brand-new U.S. television network, MTV. Mixing his bad-boy good looks with an appealing blend of pop hooks, punk attitude, and a dance beats, Idol quickly rocketed to stardom, before hard living derailed his career and almost proved fatal.

Blondie was the most commercially successful band to emerge from the much vaunted punk/new wave movement of the late ’70s. The group was formed in New York City in August 1974 by singer Deborah Harry (b. July 1, 1945, Miami), formerly of Wind in the Willows, and guitarist Chris Stein (b. Jan. 5, 1950, Brooklyn) out of the remnants of Harry’s previous group, the Stilettos.  In August, Chrysalis Records bought their contract from Private Stock and in October reissued Blondie and released the second album, Plastic Letters. Blondie expanded to a sextet in November with the addition of bassist Nigel Harrison (born Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, England), as Infante switched to guitar. Blondie broke commercially in the U.K. in March 1978, when their cover of Randy and the Rainbows’ 1963 hit “Denise,” renamed “Denis,” became a Top Ten hit, as did Plastic Letters, followed by a second U.K. Top Ten, “(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear.” Blondie turned to U.K. producer/songwriter Mike Chapman for their third album, Parallel Lines, which was released in September 1978 and eventually broke them worldwide. “Picture This” became a U.K. Top 40 hit, and “Hanging on the Telephone” made the U.K. Top Ten, but it was the album’s third single, the disco-influenced “Heart of Glass,” that took Blondie to #1 in both the U.K. and the U.S. “Sunday Girl” hit #1 in the U.K. in May, and “One Way or Another” hit the U.S. Top 40 in August. Blondie followed with their fourth album, Eat to the Beat, in October. Its first single, “Dreaming,” went Top Ten in the U.K., Top 40 in the U.S. The second U.K. single, “Union City Blue,” went Top 40. In March 1980, the third U.K. single from Eat to the Beat, “Atomic,” became the group’s third British #1. (It later made the U.S. Top 40.) Meanwhile, Harry was collaborating with German disco producer Giorgio Moroder on “Call Me,” the theme from the movie American Gigolo. It became Blondie’s second transatlantic chart topper. Blondie’s fifth album, Autoamerican, was released in November 1980, and its first single was the reggaeish tune “The Tide Is High,” which went to #1 in the U.S. and U.K. The second single was the rap-oriented “Rapture,” which topped the U.S. pop charts and went Top Ten in the U.K. But the band’s eclectic style reflected a diminished participation by its members - Infante sued, charging that he wasn’t being used on the records, though he settled and stayed in the lineup. But in 1981, the members of Blondie worked on individual projects, notably Harry’s gold-selling solo album, KooKoo. The Best of Blondie was released in the fall of the year. The Hunter, Blondie’s sixth and last new album, was released in July 1982, preceded by the single “Island of Lost Souls,” a Top 40 hit in the U.S. and U.K. “War Child” also became a Top 40 hit in the U.K., but The Hunter was a commercial disappointment. At the same time, Stein became seriously ill with the genetic disease pemphigus. As a result, Blondie broke up in October 1982, with Deborah Harry launching a part-time solo career while caring for Stein, who eventually recovered. In 1998, the original line-up of Harry, Stein, Destri and Burke reunited to tour Europe, their first series of dates in 16 years; a new LP, No Exit, followed early the next year. 

Devo (pronounced DEE-vo or dee-VO, often spelled “DEVO” or “DEV-O”) is an American New Wave music group formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973. They are best known for their 1980 hit “Whip It”, which made it to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their style has been variously classified as punk, art rock and post-punk, but they are most often remembered for their late 1970s and early 1980s New Wave sound which, along with others (such as Gary Numan, Peter Gabriel, and The B-52’s) ushered in the synth pop sound of the 1980s.

The Psychedelic Furs, whose name belies their punk-influenced music, were formed in England in 1977 by brothers Richard Butler (vocals) and Tim Butler (bass), along with saxophone player Duncan Kilburn and guitarist Roger Morris. By the time they released their self-titled debut album in 1980, the group had become a sextet, adding guitarist John Ashton and drummer Vince Ely. That album, featuring Butler’s hoarse voice (the tone of which suggested John Lydon without the sneer) was a bigger hit in England, where it reached the Top 20, than in the U.S.
Talk Talk Talk (1981) did better, reaching the U.S. Top 100 and producing two British singles chart entries, one of which was “Pretty in Pink,” later also a hit in the U.S. when a new version was used as the title song of a film. Forever Now (1982) saw the band reduced to a quartet with the departure of Kilburn and Morris. The rest moved to the U.S., turned to producer Todd Rundgren, and scored a U.S. Top 50 hit with “Love My Way.” Ely then left, and the remaining trio of the two Butlers and Ashton made Mirror Moves (1984), the biggest Psychedelic Furs hit yet.

REO Speedwagon took its name from the REO Speed Wagon, a flatbed truck, manufactured by the REO Motor Car Company. (”R.E.O.” are initials of the company’s founder, Ransom Eli Olds, who also founded Oldsmobile, once a division of General Motors.)REO Speedwagon was formed by students attending the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois in the fall of 1967 to play cover songs in campus bars.

Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from New York City. Their work fuses the shock tactics of Alice Cooper, the rebellious mood of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and the extravagant image of glam rock bands such as New York Dolls and Kiss, notably the makeup. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands. The band is generally categorized as glam metal for their earlier work, although that is a somewhat derogatory label to those in the genre so the band does not consider itself “glam metal”.  Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618, Contact: 949.855.8095.

The Art of ED UNITSKY - complex and captivating Surrealistic Images that expand the mind, creating an imaginary place where one can journey into the fantastic realms of the imagination.

Ed Unitsky’s - “Space Prayer” has been chosen to be part of the Featured Artwork on the homepages at World Wide Arts Resources and absolutearts.com. The feature will be on September 19, 2008!  World Wide Arts and Absolute Arts with over 29,000 Artists, approximately 179,762 artwork, is a premier art site for the avid collector.  This is the third time Ed’s artwork has been selected in the past four months to receive this honor!  Please stop by at: http://wwar.com and http://www.absolutearts.com and take a Look!

Ed Unitsky is known for his complex and captivating Surrealistic Images that expand the mind creating an imaginary place where one can journey into the fantastic realms of the imagination.
Ed’s art has been set on par with the likes of Roger Dean, H.R. Giger, Rodney Matthews, Storm Thorgerson, Paul Whitehead and many other prestigious master fantasy artists and is being touted as the modern day Dali.

Ed’s creative range is remarkable. Ed’s unique signature style resonates an old world Russian influence with an innovative Pop Culture flare. Many seem to believe it is inspired from the Divine.

Ed’s creative abilities began when he was small child. After years, of painting, sketching, large scale mural work, air-brushing, and many other mediums, in 2002, Ed sat down at a computer to apply is artistic capacity. Instantly, he fell in love with this new digital forum to create his ideas. Digital artistry has become a medium which has expanded his artistic range enormously.

Ed is an artistic master of digital painting, collage creation and photo manipulation. His creations continue to amaze and inspire all those who become familiar with his artistry.

In 2002, Ed sent some of his artistic creation to Roine Stolt of the Flower Kings. Roine decided to use Ed’s images on the Flower Kings Fan Club CD 2002. Subsequently, Ed’s career began to flourish.
Roine was soon to create a new band The Tangent with Andy Tillison of Parallel Degrees and PO90. Ed was an easy choice for this new bands artwork packaging.

Ed’s very first full length commercially released Album Artwork on the Inisde Out Label, received received Best Artwork in 2003 in the Dutch Progressive Rock Polls. 
In March 2007, The 10th Annual Dutch Progressive Rock Poll Awards – Ed’s spectacular artwork for The Tangent’s – “A Place In The Queue”, won by a two to one vote! Ed previously topped his own previous poll award in 2003 with his artwork for The Music That Died Alone and he shared second place with Carl Glover’s artwork for the Marillion Cover in 2004 for his artwork cover The World That We Drive Through.

Artwork for The Tangent , A Place in the Queue and Oresund Space Collective’s All About Delay were both nominated for their outstanding artwork covers in the 2006 Italian Prog Awards.
Ed went on to create incredible Artwork for Guy Manning, Tomas Bodin, Etherfysh, Lyranthe, ProgNaut, Sequences, Jonas Reingold, Prog Day 2005 Compilation CD, Prog Palace, World of Adventures, Oresund Space Collective, ProgArchives - 2nd Edition, Progressive Music Society, Dave White, Chair Without Wheels, ProgSol 2006, Sequences Electronic Music Issue No. 31 - 2006, Sequences Electronic Music Issue No. 32 - 2007, RoSFest 2007, Classic Gong, Steelborn, The Last of Days, Project Aeon, Starcastle, Tangent, Tempustry, ProgSol, Proggies.ch, Robert Farmer, Soul Rider, and many others.

We have many exciting projects lined up for 2007 and 2008, so please visit again.
Ed has created over 3,000 images in these few short years. We hope you enjoy the ones we have chosen to share with you.
Please visit our shop for our Limited Editions and other Merchandise.  For more information visit Ed Unitsky’s website - www.edunitsky.net 

Wicked, Broadway’s Hit Musical at the Pantages Theatre

“WICKED IS A PHENOMENON THAT KEEPS GROWING. Still breaking box office records in New York, Chicago and London, this blockbuster musical has made L.A. its new Oz. Wicked parked its theatrical sorcery at the Pantages on Wednesday, and don’t expect it to vanish in a puff of smoke anytime soon.”
– Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles is home to a new production of WICKED, the smash hit musical that the New York Times called “one of the most successful shows in Broadway history.”  WICKED, which was developed, written and had its earliest readings and workshops in Los Angeles, is now performing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.
Winner of 15 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, WICKED is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz.  One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood.  The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular.  WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey–how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.
For more information about special Wicked Dinner Packages, go to http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/xgn5nw.  Tickets are currently flying out the door! Don’t wait to see WICKED.

Wicked is a musical with songs and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The story is based on the best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, a re-imagining of L. Frank Baum’s classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz.

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard’s corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba’s public fall from grace. The plot is set mostly before Dorothy’s arrival from Kansas, and includes several references to well-known scenes and dialogue in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

The musical debuted on Broadway on October 30, 2003. It is produced by Universal Pictures and directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. Its original stars were Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard.[1] Although the production received mixed reviews and was panned by The New York Times, it has proved to be a favorite among patrons. The Broadway production’s success spawned productions in Chicago, Los Angeles, London’s West End, Tokyo, Australia, and Stuttgart, along with two North American tours that have visited over 30 cities in Canada and the United States.[2]

Wicked has broken box office records around the world, holding weekly-gross-takings records in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London, and the record for biggest opening in the West End (£100,000 in the first hour on sale).[3] The West End production has played to more than 1.4 million people, and the North American tour has been seen by over two million patrons.[4] The show was nominated for ten 2004 Tony Awards, winning those for Best Actress, Scenic Design and Costume Design. It also won six Drama Desk Awards.

EARTHDANCE: The Global Festival for Peace!

Over 300 Locations in 54 Countries. 12th Annual Event: September 13, 2008, “Dance aid for the Millennium” -The Evening Standard, London.  THE EARTHDANCE  STORY - Founded in 1996, Earthdance – the Global Festival for Peace has grown to become the world’s largest simultaneous dance and music event for peace. Equipped with only a fax machine, a telephone, and a strong vision, Earthdance founder Chris Deckker organized 18 cities from his home in London. After moving to California in 1999, he formalized Earthdance as a California 501 {c} 3 non-profit entity. Each year Earthdance has continued to attract new participating locations, each self-funded and fueled by grassroots enthusiasm. The infectious groove spread from 18 participating cities in 1997 to 300 participating locations in 2007. The highlight of the Earthdance event is a simultaneous link up, when every event across the world plays the 4-minute Prayer for Peace track. Morning in the Australian rainforest, midnight in London, and sunrise over the Himalayas, the Prayer for Peace is a profound and powerful moment that unifies our intentions for world peace and healing.  Visit our site for more information: http://www.earthdance.org  EARTHDANCE HIGHLIGHTS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS - More than a decade of building a dedicated and motivated global community. Recognized by the Dalai Lama’s UK secretary as “the most successful event of its kind in support of Tibet.” Supported the building of a Children’s Village and Medical Center in Eastern Tibet; The TADRA Project.  Pioneered one of the earliest successful global webcast in 1999 and has continued to webcast with technology sponsors such as pseudo.com, Intervu, Macromedia, Vital Stream, and StreamGuys. Received wide media coverage including MTV, Billboard, BBC TV and BBC World Service, Time Out London, Time Out New York, Microsoft Windows Media, Yahoo and more.

Broke the Guinness World Record for the largest drum circle in 2004 at the hub event in Laytonville, Ca. The drum circle was lead by famed drummer, Mickey Hart.  Successful cross-promotion with other organizations also working for peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

For a complete list of Earthdance charities, locations, allied organizations, or to make a donation, please visit our website: http://www.earthdance.org

EARTHDANCE CHARITIES: Earthdance Public Events across the world supported many charities by raising awareness, allowing their charity to speak at their event, or donating funds.  

“We made the celebration in a forest that has been very hurt and planted approximately 150 trees.”

- Earthdance Tizqui, (MEXICO).  “We adopted a baby girl, from a distance, in Ethiopia for one year.”

- Earthdance Domodossola, (ITALY).  “We bought 5 computers and donated them to a facility that cares for homeless children while their parents work, and at night provides them with food and a bed.”

-Earthdance Porto Alegre, (BRAZIL).  “We donated money to an orphanage which provided children with winter clothes, shoes, book, and food,”

- Earthdance Pila, (POLAND). CHARITIES INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: Aqua for All (Den Bosch, THE NETHERLANDS); APAE (Vitoria, BRAZIL); Aussie Helpers (Brisbane, AUSTRALIA); Bethesda Children’s Hospital (Pecs, HUNGARY); Circle of Life (Tehachapi, CA USA); Citizens for Peace (Marietta, GA USA); Earthdance International (Laytonville, CA USA); EcoShelter (Exmouth ENGLAND); Fair trade (Athens, GREECE); Friends of the Earth (Hamilton-Winona, ON CANADA);  Friends of the Mississippi (Minnesota, MN USA);  Gardners of Eden (Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA); Global Healing Association (Mexico City, MEXICO); Kerry Wood Nature Center ( Red Deer, AB CANADA); Living Oceans (Vancouver, CANADA); Orphanage in Kijaszkowo (Pila, POLAND); Peace by Peace (Toronto, CANADA); Safety Harbor Museum (Safety Harbor, FL USA);  Save Animals from Exploitation (Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND); SurfAid International (San Diego, CA USA); The Arusha Children’s Trust (Arusha, TANZANIA); The Michigan Woman’s Hall of Fame ( Okemos, MI USA); Tibet Support Group NL (Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS); Tools 4 Schools (Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA); Warehouse 21 (Sante Fe, NM USA); WSLR Community Radio ( Sarasota, FL USA)

MIRACLE MILE PLAYERS ANNOUNCE 2008 TARFEST SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Sixth Annual Event Kicks Off October 3rd With Three Days of Festivities - LOS ANGELES, CA, – The Miracle Mile Players will present the Sixth Annual TarFest on October 3-5, 2008, in the Miracle Mile District of Los Angeles.  With most events free and open to the public, this indoor/outdoor, multi-venue festival features art exhibits, film screenings, music, and a one-mile run on the historic Miracle Mile preceding an afternoon of outdoor arts education programming at LACMA.  TarFest provides an opportunity for Los Angeles artists to gain creative exposure in the cultural center of the city and brings artists and the local community together for the benefit of public enrichment.  Conveniently located in the heart of Los Angeles, the festival’s diverse programming is targeted to all types of people, encouraging Los Angelenos to explore all of the excellent, unique forms of expression that the city has to offer.

The festival kicks off Friday, October3, 2008, with an art exhibition, juried by Howard Fox, Curator of Contemporary Art and Senior Curatorial Fellow at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The opening reception will be held at the Korean Cultural Center at 5505 Wilshire Blvd. and starts at 6:00 p.m.

On Saturday, October 4, 2008, TarFest continues with the TarFest Film Festival.  This series of shorts will feature cutting-edge filmmakers and will showcase Los Angeles’s emerging music video and short film scene with no film running longer than five minutes.  The screening will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the screening room of the Korean Cultural Center.

After the film screening, the El Rey Theatre at 5515 Wilshire Blvd., will host the TarFest Music Program which will include local musical artists as well as a special guest appearance by international art star and DJ Shepard Fairey.  Admission to the theatre is $10, and guests must be 21 years old to attend.  The doors will open at 7:00 p.m.

The final day of the festival will begin at 9:00 a.m. on October 5, 2008, with the inaugural Miracle Mile Run.  The event is a one-mile run that starts at Wilshire and Sycamore and ends on Wilshire in front of Chris Burden’s “Urban Light” installation at LACMA.  The run is open to the public and has eight age divisions— free fun run for youths 10 or younger; one-mile run for youth, ages 11-13 and high school; and one mile for adults, ages 19-29, ages 30-39, ages 40-49, ages 50-59, and age 60 or older.  Entry fees are $10 for adults 19 or older, $5 for youth ages 11-18, and free for kids 10 or younger.  All participants will receive a free event t-shirt, and awards and prizes from Nike will be presented to the top three runners in each division.

TarFest is presented annually by the Miracle Mile Players and is supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and LACMA.  Financial support is provided by numerous Miracle Mile District businesses and property owners, including BRE Properties and The Grove.  Proceeds from the sixth annual TarFest will benefit LACMA’s Next Gen program, LAPD Wilshire Division Explorers and Fairfax High School.

For more information about TarFest, visit www.tarfest.com.

 The Miracle Mile Players (MMP) is a 501c(3) not-for-profit corporation created in 2000 to produce, manage, and direct events, programs and services for the purpose of developing and improving the quality of life within the Miracle Mile District and throughout Los Angeles.  Passionate about promoting the Miracle Mile district as an important nexus of both cultural and commercial activity, the Miracle Mile Players strive to enhance the lives of emerging artists and area residents through innovative cultural productions.  The group is dedicated to providing emerging artists with opportunities to perform and exhibit their creations for the community with the support of local businesses and citizens.  The principal activity of the Miracle Mile Players has been the annual production of TarFest, a multimedia arts festival in the Miracle Mile District of Los Angeles. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Megan Tharpe,  323-860-8811 , TarFestLA@gmail.com 

TOSHIBA TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL from Laguna Niguel to Dana Point Harbor - September 6 & 7

The Ocean Institute is celebrating its 24th year hosting the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival, the largest annual gathering of tall ships on the West Coast. The Festival gives visitors a glimpse into the past with a chance to learn about majestic ships that sailed this shore in the 1800s.

The Festival begins with a grand spectacle of the tall ships as they parade into the harbor on Friday at sunset.  Over the weekend visitors can enjoy a spectacular array of family-fun activities including live music, art & craft shows, exciting living-history demonstrations and a variety of tasty food.  Tour the historic tall ships and listen to the crew share tales of adventure and life at sea!

Tall Ships Parade, It’s A Sight to Behold!:  “One by one, the few remaining sailing ships are disappearing.  They drop away and are heard of no more.  With them goes much that is worthy and incalculable.  It passes like a high squall sinking beyond the horizon, wind and sea, motion and color, romance and inspiration, a whole range of human endeavor, all vanishing to leeward with tall ships in their midst… The sailing ship stood for a means whereby men were brought to their fullest development. She stood for a profession in which only merit could endure. She stood for things the world cannot afford to lose.” — Master Mariner Lincoln Colcord .

Once again, Southern California’s premier marine educational facility, the Ocean Institute, located on the shores of the broad Pacific in the harbor at Dana Point, will stage its annual Tall Ships parade at sunset on September 5th, 2008.    Seven tall ships from ports up and down the west coast will assemble off the shores of Laguna Niguel, and under full sail make way for Dana Point’s beautiful harbor, firing their cannons along the way.  Those who have seen these magnificent ships in previous years know the surreal wonderment that this sight offers.  For those who will witness this spectacular event for the first time, it will be an experience never to be forgotten!    

Inside the Ocean Institute you can explore our local ocean life, participate in live activities, play pirate games and join in on special interactive presentations. So, join us for a weekend of fun and adventure as we celebrate the areas rich maritime history.  Don’t miss the tall ships sunset cannon duel at 5:30pm each night - it’s a spectacular finale and sure to delight children of all ages.  For information or to make purchase cannon battle tickets at www.tallshipsfestival.com.

Event Date: September 6 – 7 (Sunset parade Sept. 5th), Time: 10am – 5pm (ship tours end at 3:30pm), Cost: $11/adult & $9/child (3-12yrs); Children 2 and under are FREE.

Cost includes tall ship tours and entrance into Ocean Institute; visit website for Member pricing; parking and shuttle service is free for all guests. Website: www.ocean-institute.org/programs/tallships_fest.html

Orange International Street Fair - 2008 Theme: Around The World In 3 Days!

August 29th - 31st,  Whether it’s Philly Cheese Steaks, Italian Sausages or Greek Loukoumades, the Street Fair never fails to tantalize the taste buds of the half million Fair goers every year.  The theme for the 2008 Orange International Street FairSM is “Around the World In 3 Days!”SM. The Orange International Street FairSM has served millions and remains a mainstay in Orange for over 35 years.

Every Labor Day weekend for the past three decades, the Orange International Street Fair in downtown Orange has been the place where friends, families and neighbors get together to experience a wide variety of food, music and dance from cultures and ethnicities throughout the world. Whether it’s Philly Cheese Steaks, Italian Sausages or Greek Loukoumades, the Street Fair never fails to tantalize the taste buds of the half million Fair goers every year. The theme for the 2008 Orange International Street Fair is “Around the World In 3 Days!”. The Orange International Street Fair has served millions and remains a mainstay in Orange for over 35 years. The event is free, but remember to plan ahead because parking will be a bear!

All American Stage Entertainment Schedule - Friday, August 29, 2008: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - The Blurbs, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm - The Wild Adults.  Saturday, August 30, 2008: 11:00 am - 12:00 am - Wimberley Bluegrass Band, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Possibly Seven, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Element Zero, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Vanity Killz, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Roadhouse, Sunday, August 31, 2008: 12:00 am - 1:00 pm - Tupelo Blue, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - The Fallen Stars, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Blue Dice, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Flashpoint, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm - The All American Goodtime Band.

Mexican Stage Entertainment Schedule - Friday, August 29, 2008: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm -  Latin Lowdown, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Latin Lowdown,  Saturday, August 30, 2008: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - The All Nighters, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - The All Nighters, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm - The All Nighters, Sunday, August 31, 2008: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Latin Lowdown, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm -Latin Lowdown and 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Latin Lowdown.

Children’s Street  - This year we will include the following activities: Children’s Stage, Face Painting, Spray on Tattoos, Rock Climbing, 40′ Blowup Slides, Slot Cars, Soda Ring Toss, and many other Games! 

The Orange International Street FairSM is a Non-Profit Organization comprised solely of non-paid Volunteers. 

 Contact: Street Captains - Jon Stuemke Jr. streetcaptain@orangestreetfair.org or visit their website: http://orangestreetfair.org 

Turning Heads: A Group Exhibition at Dawson Cole Fine Art, Laguna Beach

Dawson Cole Fine Art, Laguna Beach wanted to take this opportunity to personally invite you to Turning Heads: A Group Exhibition.  The face, recorded through the eyes of the artist, truly lives forever.  Portraiture has been central to the history of art for centuries and this unique exhibition examines how we view portraiture today.  The showing will include works by leading contemporary artists:

Chuck Close - The remarkable career of artist Chuck Close extends beyond his completed works of art. More than just a painter, photographer, and printmaker, Close is a builder who, in his words, builds “painting experiences for the viewer.” Highly renowned as a painter, Close is also a master printmaker, who has, over the course of more than 30 years, pushed the boundaries of traditional printmaking in remarkable ways. Almost all of Close’s work is based on the use of a grid as an underlying basis for the representation of an image. This simple but surprisingly versatile structure provides the means for “a creative process that could be interrupted repeatedly without damaging the final product, in which the segmented structure was never intended to be disguised.” It is important to note that none of Close’s images are created digitally or photo-mechanically. While it is tempting to read his gridded details as digital integers, all his work is made the old-fashioned way - by hand. Close’s paintings are labor intensive and time consuming, and his prints are more so. While a painting can occupy Close for many months, it is not unusual for one print to take upward of two years to complete. Close has complete respect for, and trust in, the technical processes - and the collaboration with master printers - essential to the creation of his prints. The creative process is as important to Close as the finished product. “Process and collaboration” are two words that are essential to any conversation about Close’s prints.

Jian Wang - If Jian Wang is to claim a style, it lies in his approach to painting. Distinguished by his ability to reconfigure the elements of a composition to his own vision, he virtually sculpts the image using energetic brush strokes and thick, buttery oil paint. “My style involves tremendous physicality and emotion,” he says. “I have a simple palette of eight colors, which I combine right on the canvas. I’m careful with my gestures; I carry many colors in a single brush stroke.” His work, influenced significantly by realism with an impressionist inference, is influenced both by the landscape and by contemporary artists such as Fred Dalkey, Wayne Thiebaud and Oliver Jackson. “Every single painting is 90 percent experiment and 10 percent of what I’ve learned,” he says. “I cannot guarantee that every painting will turn out, because I don’t want to set up that much control. I have great admiration for historical painters who developed a style and yet, each piece remains individual.” Long before he came to the United States to pursue a Masters of Fine Arts at California State University, Jian Wang dreamed of a life of painting. A child of the Cultural Revolution in China, he experienced limited opportunities for painting and exhibition, which led him to pursue the field of engineering. And yet, he did not lack background or training in art. Upon arrival in America, his work already exhibited a serious investment in the western conventions of drawing and painting. What he lacked, was the venue this country could provide.

and Richard MacDonald - Richard MacDonald is world-renowned for artistry that reveals a profound understanding of the human experience and which celebrates the ascendancy of the human spirit. His fascination of the human form and with mankind’s broad emotional range has inspired him to create dynamic, sensitive works; each infused with a quality that withstands the passage of time, of taste, of trend. Born and raised in California during an unkind era for figurative art, MacDonald was tossed into artistic waters by his uncle, then a leading graphic designer. Primed by his childhood and formally trained in Professional Arts at the Art Center, College of Design, MacDonald forged an alchemy of experience to become an artist whose drawings, paintings and sculpture portray the passion inherent in the triumph of the human condition The inspiration behind MacDonald’s 1996 tour de force, “The Flair,” a 26-foot gymnast caught in the execution of the maneuver, actually emerged from a painting he created for the 1984 Olympics. And although he based his design on the studies he did of Kurt Thomas for the painting, The Flair’s essence lies more in the struggle, determination and hours of training, all brought to that instant when performance is everything. Therein lies the metaphor for his own artistic achievements. MacDonald went on to create, among other masterworks, “Momentum”, a 15-foot, 15-ton sculpture created in celebration of the 100th playing of the U.S. Open golf championship at Pebble Beach. When not creating art, he travels on behalf of it, extensively and internationally, forging relationships with other countries, other creators. His work is collected by such people as former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton, Linda and Stewart Resnick, William Payne, Dean Koontz, Richard Marx, Leanne Rimes, and opera legend Luciano Pavarotti. The absence of opportunity and training in figurative sculpture has created a void not only in the preservation of fine art, but in the persistence of life, which MacDonald, a natural teacher and devoted mentor, works relentlessly to fill. He works tirelessly to increase the appreciation and understanding of figurative art throughout the world. MacDonald also graciously gives of his art and his time to hundreds of charitable organizations; among those Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Make a Wish Foundation, and New York’s “Free Arts for Abused Children,” which was a charity event sponsored by Cirque du Soleil and Lincoln Automotive. His commitment to fostering the future of post-modern, neo-figurative art is realized not only in creating monuments to human triumph, but by imparting his knowledge and technique, his experience and his lessons to emerging international and national professional artists through intensive master classes on location at his own 25,000 square foot studio complex. As he passes the torch, he ensures his legacy. The artist’s international reach has now captivated Shanghai, China, which recently recognized his accomplishments with a prestigious award and invited him to install his life-sized sculpture “Three Graces” in Central Green Park, a 1,500-acre expanse that softens Shanghai’s new cosmopolitan financial center of Pudong. “China is important to the world in that they are a force and on the move,” MacDonald said. “Exposing them to figurative art opens up a potential for artistic expression far greater than anyone would ever have dreamed possible until today. It is this very spirit of the struggle and determination to triumph that inspires creative expression. This is the message, I think, that will endure through my work.”

Contact:  http://dawsoncolefineart.com

THE OCEAN INSTITUTE - 4th Annual Laguna Beach Million Dollar (PLUS) Home Raffle

On Monday, July 7, 2008 when we begin the raffle our members, friends and the communities we serve will have their chance to win one of the hundreds of cash and special prizes that will be awarded during the 2008 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle campaign.
The Ocean Institute’s goal is to be the home of California’s best home raffle with more prizes and fun than ever before. Tickets are $150 each, two or more will enter you into our multi-ticket drawing!
“Our Grand Prize of either $1 million in cash, or a $1.2 million dollar home in Laguna Beach will be a life changing event for the winner,” commented Dan Stetson, President of the Ocean Institute. “It’s fitting that our 2008 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle begins just a few days past Independence Day since our Grand Prize winner will be on his or her way to financial independence.”
The Grand Prize, a wonderful selection of dream vacations, a Lexus Hybrid 400h, hundreds of cash prizes and a surprise or two awaits the entrants and winners of our 2008 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle.

You can’t win if you don’t enter!  Your support of our 2008 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle provides us with the resources to inspire over 110,000 school children every year to the power of science, math, history and the majesty of the sea.
With every ticket you buy you secure a chance to win big with the knowledge your purchase helps school children from all walks of life.

To Order Raffle Tickets: Fill out an entry form and call: 949.542.3600, Fill out an entry form and fax it: 949.542.3601 or
Send your entry form to: Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr. Dana Point, CA 92629. The Earlier You Enter, the More Chances to Win! Enter by August 20 and be eligible for $44,000 cash prizes in Early Bird Drawing 1 - Enter by September 17 and be eligible for $24,000 cash prizes in Early Bird Drawing 2

BROKEN HEARTS CLUB - THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE IS…?

Originally a short film written in  2006  by writer/Director Angelo Bell, “Broken Hearts Club” is now a feature film in post-production.  A work-in-progress cut of the feature has been submitted to the Toronto Interntational Film Festival. The short film has just been submitted to USA IndieFest.

THE STORY: Genre: Comedy, romance, drama - In Treatment meets Love Actually.  Logline: Terrence, an apathetic clinical psychiatrist must treat a group of melodramatic, broken-hearted patients to get the job of a lifetime and save his marriage. SYNOPSIS: What does a clinical psychiatrist do when his clinically insane patients are replaced with the  clinically heart-broken?

Dr. Terrence N. Thiebold is a former All-American UCLA linebacker and now the leading clinical psychiatrist on the West Coast. He’s a stoic and regimented gentleman; apathetic to a fault but hugely successful in treating the criminally insane. However, Terrence’s very ordered and unemotional lifestyle is about to take a dramatic turn.

When Terrence’s flighty self-serving colleague, DR. KNOWLES, embarks on a journey, Terrence becomes the reluctant therapist  for twelve melodramatic emotionally distraught individuals in the midst of tumultuous break-ups. Terrence handles his new responsibilities like any uptight, anal-retentive advanced degreed professional — he runs for the hills!

Terrence’s new career-obsessed, lonely and hopeless clients take through the gamut of emotional frustrations ultimately putting his marriage in jeopardy. Matters become even more complicated when Terrence is offered a job at a prestigious Beverly Hills mental health clinic contingent on his successful results with his new patients.

Will Terrence toss pragmatic bookish methodologies away in favor of learning to counsel from the heart? Or will he succumb to his own inner demons and the ugly truth behind his obsessive rebellion against the vulnerability of love and emotions?

For more details visit their site at: http://www.brokenheartsclubfilm.com and to help spread the word: Simply click on this link to send an email to: ptraffic@tiffg.ca - and add this message: “I was wondering if you were going to screen ‘Broken Hearts Club’ at this year’s festival. Please advise on the screening dates and times.

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