Tuesday, May 22, 2012
La Mesa-based nonprofit plans to resell 5,000 canceled or returned badges on date still unknown.
La Mesa-based Comic-Con announced Tuesday it will give fans yet another chance at attending the July 12-15 event—via resale of “badges” that have been returned. In an email to registrants, the San Diego Comic Convention said it would close its Member ID website at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time Thursday, May 24, “in advance of our canceled and returned badge resale.” The actual date of the online resell was not revealed. The website said: To be notified of the badge resale date, please sign-up for a Comic-Con Member ID and be sure not to "opt-out" of email correspondence. The Comic-Con Member ID system will close at 5:30 pm Pacific Time (PT) on May 24, 2012 to prepare for the badge resale. You must sign-up for a Member ID and confirm your email …
Friday, May 18, 2012
The Kirk Jones movie should have implanted the hilarious Dudes’ Group more frequently.
Have you seen the commercials? The one where Chris Rock leads a few guys down a park along with their children? The one that makes you want to watch What to Expect When You’re Expecting so you can laugh at the popular comedian? If yes—know that you won’t be getting much of Rock in the movie that debuts Friday. The movie, based on the 1984 book of the same name by Heidi Murkoff, is endearing, heartfelt and bring tears to your eyes at times—but doesn’t tell much about what a man goes through as he is expecting. Instead, the movie focuses heavily on the women and the different obstacles and emotions they face as they expect to bring another life into the world. And, I’m not complaining—I’m just saying. The film features an all-star cast who …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Young Actors’ Theatre, a California not-for-profit, announces 10 performance dates of "Annie" to entertain East County families.
The following announcement was made recently by the Young Actors' Theatre: More than 40 local East County youth with the Young Actors’ Theater (YAT) bring Little Orphan Annie and her friends to life in this nostalgic and endearing musical in the intimate setting of ENCORE! Theater located in Spring Valley. Like other performaces YAT’s "Annie" will be a memorable and engaging production for theatre goers of all ages. This family-friendly musical, led by “Annie” Adela Colorado, an 11-year-old 5th grader from La Mesa deliver with gusto favorites like "Tomorrow," "It’s a Hard Knock Life," "You’re Never Fully Dressed without a Smile," and "Maybe." Under the sound direction of Music Director, Marcos Melero, an East County resident and music …
32.748019
-116.98947
Young Actors' Theatre
9620 Campo Rd, Spring Valley, CA
/articles/la-mesa-youngster-stars-in-annie-opening-this-week-at-the-yat
1517771
/locations/7010136
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Grossmont College's music department is holding two special performances May 11 and 12.
Does your mother have a special place in her heart for the symphony? Take her to a special concert this weekend to show your appreciation for her. The Grossmont College Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale is giving two performances of one great musical piece. The school’s orchestra and chorus on both May 11 and 12 will perform “Resonantes Musica”. The musical piece is an original creation from choral music composer Morten Lauridsen. Lauridsen, 68, is a National Medal of Arts recipient and served as the composer-in-residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale from 1994 to 2001. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles, where he has taught composition at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California for …
Friday, May 4, 2012
The summer blockbuster with a $220 million budget opens Friday.
I have to admit it: I was never a fan of comic books growing up. In grade school, I was more interested in collecting baseball cards and Garbage Pail Kids, and catching snakes. In high school, I moved on to catching girls, and raining jumpers on the basketball court. So I didn’t come into the long-awaited and much-anticipated summer blockbuster The Avengers with the same fervor as many others in the audience did. But that said, it is finally here. Fan boys and comic book savants have been clamoring for its release ever since it was announced that self-professed geek God Joss Whedon was taking over as director. So what should we make of the ridiculously expensive (estimated $220 million budget) and overhyped collaboration of some Marvel’s …
Friday, April 27, 2012
The film produced by Judd Apatow is anything but a typical romantic comedy—it’s a drag.
The Five-Year Engagement brings to life five full years of all the complexities that may come from any romantic relationship—and I mean five full years. And I mean all the complexities. The movie, which has a running time of 124 minutes, felt much, much longer. The nearest theaters to La Mesa-Mount Helix featuring the film are: GROSSMONT CENTER 10, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa. EDWARDS RANCHO SAN DIEGO 15, 2951 Jamacha Road, El Cajon. REGAL PARKWAY PLAZA STADIUM 18 & IMAX, 405 Parkway Plaza, El Cajon. Produced by Judd Apatow, the movie brings back the duo Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segal in this romantic comedy. Segal co-stars in the film as Tom alongside Emily Blunt as Violet. Tom, a sous chef on the rise in San Francisco, meets …
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Venter shares the stage with another La Mesa resident, Nancy Snow Carr.
When you say the word ‘Respect,’ it conjures all kinds of images and associations. But if you SPELL the word, only one thing comes to mind: Aretha. That demand for esteem and equality is at the heart of “Respect: A Musical Journey of Women,” which is playing at the Lyceum Theatre in San Diego through June. At the center of the musical action is the Narrator, played by well-known, multi-talented musical theater performer (and frequent director) Leigh Scarritt, who grew up in Coronado, where she still lives. The play also stars Kelsey Venter, the 2002 Helix Charter High School grad who has risen to local stardom in the musical theatre scene. The show's evolution: The show is the brainchild of Columbia University professor Dorothy Marcic, a …
Friday, April 13, 2012
The PG-13 documentary highlights problems of an estimated 13 million children each year.
It’s authentic, heartbreaking and dynamic. And, for once, the stories of the estimated 13 million children bullied each year are told in a broad way. The highly anticipated Bully is finally released and though the PG-13 documentary is certainly worth watching, stories seem to be only half told. Bully, which had its local premiere last September in the San Diego Film Festival, is showing now at two theaters—at Hillcrest Cinemas and AMC La Jolla Village 12. The film, directed by Lee Hirsch, tells the story of five children from small towns and their struggles with bullying. Two of those profiled—Tyler Long and Ty Smalley—committed suicide at the ages of 17 and 11. Filmmakers interview their parents in the movie. But the movie digs deeper by …
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Northmont Elementary student takes the Spring Harp Fest contest for second year in a row.
At the 13th annual Spring Harp Fest, Luciano Costello’s luck held for the last time. Next year, he’ll be unknown no more. Luciano, a 9-year-old harmonica prodigy who attends Northmont Elementary School as a fourth-grader, won the Unknown Players Jam contest for the second year in a row at the Harry Griffen Park amphitheater. Two dozen amateur players ponied up $10 each to play 20-30 seconds with a professional band, attempting to wow the crowd and win a trophy. The MC implored the audience to cheer and applaud for the best player, and not just the cutest. But the crowd decided Luciano was the complete package and he brought his silver-and-blue trophy back to parents Paul and Teresa Costello of Fletcher Hills. Luciano says he’s played …
32.783337
-116.991057
Harry Griffen Regional Park
9550 Milden St, La Mesa, CA
/articles/harmonica-heaven-at-harry-griffen-fourth-grader-wows-them-all-in-contest
1471912
/locations/6756510
Thursday, April 5, 2012
NCIS is investigating how ten explosive training aids ended up in the parking lot of a Redondo Beach Mall. Early reports of the explosives coming from Camp Pendleton appear to be incorrect.
Update: 2:17 a.m. Friday. Two active-duty military members have been taken into police custody in connection with suspicious devices found inside a pickup truck in a Redondo Beach parking lot. Devin Gajewski, 24, and Thomas Bazer, 20, were arrested. The two are active duty Marines stationed at Twentynine Palms. Early reports of the explosives coming from Camp Pendleton appear to be incorrect. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department bomb squad used a robot to investigate the truck, which contained a military training device called a stun grenade that can be used to simulate artillery shells, police said. Redondo Beach Police Capt. Jeff Hink said the department received a call shortly after 8 p.m. from the U.S. Military with a detailed …
Michael Cargill
9:53 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Yes, really Batman? Would you at least see the play before passing judgement? Leigh Scarritt is an absolutely wonderful actress. I have seen her in several plays at 6th@Penn. You won't be disappointed. more ›