Wizards, Vampires, Kendall's crazy....oh my!

Last updated: 08/29/2008 13:24 EST

With help from Fay, I have rediscovered reading. For the last two weeks I have been submerged in stories about wizards and vampires- two entities I normally steer clear of.

After visiting my roommate’s elementary classroom, I decided to give Harry Potter a chance. I have never seen a movie or read one of J.K. Rowling’s famous novels, so my knowledge of Mr. Potter was merely that he was a literary phenomenon.

I never understood what all the hype was about and how so many different types of people, ages, girls and guys, etc could be so obsessed with wizards! Well after reading about Harry’s first year at Hogwarts, I get it.

I think the best way to describe how you can get sucked into these books is by the quote:
" Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are." Mason Cooley

So far I have read Year 1 and 2 as well as seen the movies, which just like the books- are captivating. I’m about to finish Year 3, and then it’s movie time before moving on….
Now, not only have I hooked myself on this series- I have also been introduced to the author Stephenie Meyer.

Enter Twilight. And here’s where I thought, I must be nuts! I am reading about vampires- and loving it! I finished Twilight in one day- I think about 6 hours altogether. You can’t help but want to see how a vampire can truly fall in love with a human… I mean hey, a little escape from reality now and then can do you good!

This book, like the Harry Potter series, leaves you wanting more…so conveniently there are 3 more stories to the chapter of what is Twilight. Not to mention the movie comes out this fall. Perfect!!!

I have been getting many funny looks and “shouldn’t you be reading something more on your age level” remarks when I speak about my current obsession (wizards and vampires) but you just can’t argue, when a book is good, it’s good!

KRB

Ode to Fay

Last updated: 08/22/2008 17:26 EST

Due to the recent stormy weather, Jacksonville has turned into “Overreactionville,” a new nickname for the River City that I just recently read on one particular social network. I, like most others (except those three teenagers that were trying to row a boat in an overflowing ditch on Philips Highway) have spent most of the last few days indoors. I finally was able to go back to my Riverside apartment this morning only to have to leave again a few hours later due to the warnings of flash flooding. Okay okay, so there was flooding in Riverside. Maybe it was a good idea that I left. But come on now.

I am a person who loves to be out and about, so this stint of rainy hibernation is making me a little crazy. All rain and no play makes Katie a really, really bored girl. But thank goodness for the electricity at my parent’s house and this old, but very functional laptop that allows me to write my blog this week.

So for Fay, the dame that has drenched our city, I dedicate this elementary, yet fitting poem. Swell.

Fay, Fay, go away.
I’d rather you not come back another day.

My driveway’s flooded.
There’s trees laying in the streets.
Debris is all around,
All from some rain that came down in sheets.

I haven’t slept in my own bed
For what will soon be the third night.
The couch here just isn’t the same,
Head home in this weather? I might, I might.

It’s difficult being in this marathon thunderstorm.
I’m really missing the gym, my computer, my cat.
But it could be worse, you know,
At least I’m inside and not in all that…rain.

But like all things,
This too shall pass,
But great googly moogly,
This “hurricane” sure isn’t going fast.

Okay, so maybe that poem was lame, but it is a testament to how this weather and my extreme case of cabin fever has stifled my creativity.

I hope everybody stays safe and dry, and has at least some board games at their house. Till next time Jacksonville…

You can't help but to be proud...

Last updated: 08/15/2008 15:21 EST

I’ve got it. I really didn’t see it coming. It keeps me up at night and constantly distracted.

I have Olympic fever. Woooooo!!!! Go USA!!

It all started last Saturday night. A group of us (about 10 people actually), were enjoying dinner at Al’s Pizza when we realized- MICHAEL PHELPS is going for his first gold medal in this Olympics. As we all huddled around to get a view of this iconic athlete, the energy was contagious. We caused quite a scene, but it didn’t matter- the cheering continued and the celebration had everyone on their feet when his first gold was achieved.

And that’s when it started.

So for the last 5 nights I have been glued to NBC.
I’ve caught a few beach volleyball games, but my main focus has been swimming and gymnastics (and when track and field begins, I’ll have my fix!). I’ve seen Mr. Phelps win all 6 of his Gold’s so far, the girls get their silver and the boys get their bronze gymnastics medals. Why am I so tired at the moment? Because I had to see Nastia and Shawn battle it out…and it was amazing!

The thing I really like about the games, they tell you SO MUCH information about the athletes, their stories, more info about Beijing than you can handle, calorie intakes, etc…

Here are a few things I’ve learned and/or decided:

The Chinese confuse the age 16 with a small child.

Michael Phelps eats 12,000 calories a day, his wingspan is 6’7 and he doesn’t have time for girls. (but when you do Mike, CALL ME!)

Shawn Johnson and Nastia Luckin are roommates in the Olympic Village- last night must have been interesting!

Wedding rings can get lost in the sand easily.

There is a soundtrack on iTunes! I for sure bought it.

When it’s 8:00am here, it’s 8:00pm there- thanks today show!

The Chinese architecture is out of control! The Water Cube and Bird’s Nest- wow!

Pretty kids can’t sing.

I heart Bella Karoli.

Shawn Johnson had THE BEST floor exercise music- August’s Rhapsody.

The French should not talk smack.

Goggles filling up with water would make me upset too.

Watching the USA Men’s gymnastics team prove everyone wrong w/ a medal was inspiring.

I haven’t given too many other sports a chance.

The men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay was breathtaking.

If you go to the official Olympic website it pops up in Chinese first.

Just a few of my observations that my exhausted brain could think of….

The best part is, you really can’t help but to be proud.
Needless to say I am looking forward to what’s to come! I almost declined an invite to the new restaurant Orsey tonight, due to Michael’s 10:10pm 100-meter butterfly race, but hey- a girl’s gotta eat! DVR it is!

KRB

Today we drive...tonight we celebrate!

Last updated: 08/08/2008 10:51 EST

I will be taking a road trip today.

Packing up the Honda, plugging in the new 80 gig and peeling out. Ahead of us, my best friend Brittany and me, will be about two-and-a-half hours of beautiful Florida highway, some ridiculous singing, a possible caffeine pit stop and a college town, complete with our two other best friends. Yes, Jacksonville, I am calling the next two days a Tallahassee weekend.

And it couldn’t come at a better time. A transitional period always calls for a vacation. Our season will begin soon, within the few months (so be on the lookout for all our upcoming shows!), and with that the sleepy summer will pass. Many nights out of the week will be spent at the theatre, far past the usually 9-5ers. Everyone kicks into high gear, and we all become a little nuttier than before. But that’s the sparkle of working in a theatre; it gets your blood moving and your mind working.

So before that tidal wave comes, I’ll wade myself across the state to spend some quality time with the people I love, but don’t get to see very often anymore. Once we arrive, let the festivities commence. I’m not positive of the agenda for the weekend, but I think the four of us could sit in an empty room and still have fun.

I’m not the only one taking some time off of reality. A trip to Colorado for some…a mini vaca at the beach for another…but like I said it’s about time. Everyone needs to take that sabbatical to preserve what sanity there is left. It helps keep our feet on the ground and our eyes on the prize. To allow yourself to loosen the reigns and wander freely for a while, even if it is only a few days, even if you are only a few miles away from home.

I still know some people who have a full summer vacation, which is totally awesome…for them that is. Since I entered this working world I am in, the phrase summer vacation takes on a different meaning. You learn how to pack all that fun and freedom into a smaller package, like condensed milk. Notice it’s sweeter? Okay so that’s all the added sugar, but you get the point. So my summer vacation will be a weekend in Tallahassee, and you know what, I can’t wait.

Good eats- a K-girl week in review…

Last updated: 08/02/2008 10:35 EST

Katie and I are collaborating on this blog and going to put the food critics of the world to shame. No, not really, but we will tell you about the great places to eat here in Jacksonville!

Monday
Al’s Pizza (Riverside) - definitely one of our favorite places in Jacksonville. On this particular day I had a BBQ Chicken calzone, which sounds crazy, but the combo of cheese, chicken and bbq sauce is unbeatable!
Katie had the classic- Al’s Chicken Salad, and that will make anyone a salad lover.

Tuesday
Lunch:
We were lucky enough to have a “lunch meeting” with Gayle (AAF Prez, boss’s wifey, good friend!) and ordered a little bit of everything they had!!! We munched on tabouleh, stuffed grape leaves, fried kibbie, meat pie, falafel, labneh and makdous. If you are unfamiliar with any of these terms (which we were, no worries) visit http://www.thecasbahcafe.com/. All was delicious!

Dinner:
Moss Fire Grill!!!! (Five Points) First of all we got the best place to sit- the couches upstairs! Feels like you are lounging at home with your good friends.
Katie enjoyed the Mayport Shrimp and Chicken dish and I got what I ALWAYS get- the Chicken Empanadas. Of course with some yummy Margaritas- good times!

Wednesday
Breakfast:
Jax City Café (downtown)- the most convenient breakfast spot for us, right on the corner. They are sometimes slow and at times forget things, but we keep going back because it is DELICIOUS!

Lunch:
Again, Jax City Café. I recommend the Riverwalk Sandwich and Katie says grilled chicken salad.

Thursday
San Marco Grille (San Marco). This is a very new find for us, and a good one at that! I loved my tuna melt and Katie her club wrap. Toni also ordered the salad she swears by- the Caribbean Chicken. Everything on the menu looks like it is worth trying, so we will be going back there often.

Friday (Happy One Year Anniversary to ME- at the theatre!)
Chew (downtown)- to celebrate, the K-girls started with prosciutto wrapped asparagus. We then shared Salmon over risotto and a chicken salad sandwich. (Sounds like we are on a date!) We ended on pistachio cake w/ pistachio ice cream- who knew!!! Wonderful! Good job Chew, as always.

Okay, so we aren’t really the best food critics and you really just have seen how much we eat out. Hopefully we inspired you to try a place you haven’t before!

Not sure where we will do dinner tonight, but it will be somewhere in this area because we have a show tonight!!!! Don’t miss Uncommon Music…for a Common Cause- 7:30pm and only $13.50!

KRB

Home

Last updated: 07/25/2008 17:11 EST

Home.

Home sweet home.

Home is where the heart is.

Home is where you lay your head.

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. Nice one, Rob Frost. I think I like that one—like a proverbial insurance policy.

Home is an interesting concept. There is no concrete position of home. You can’t find home on a GPS, now matter how that little Tom Tom tries. Home is an abstract reality that one creates to satisfy the need for belonging, the need for refuge. It is often a place of biological reference and often a dwelling for all the loves of your life, be they human, animal or mineral.

When I get a call from my parents’ house, my caller id rightfully says home. Now it would be ridiculous to say the house was calling me. Houses don’t make phone calls, unless it was one of the houses of the future where all the appliances talk to you. Maybe those houses make…house calls…So it is not the house calling. It is my home.

Actually, when home calls it also plays O.A.R.’s “I Feel Home,” which is rather appropriate. It works because it was the place I grew up in that holds all my memories of life before adulthood. But it also works because the comfort I find from the home that is the actual structure, I also find in the home that is the voice on the other line.

The apartment I live in right now is getting to be home. Walls need to be fixed with mud and paint. Ceilings need patching. But it won’t be the renovations that do the trick. It’s what is in those boxes that still need to be unpacked. Pictures of family. Frames filled with friends. Drawings from my old roommates that will hang on the walls. Funny notes from work. Memories from back in the day, tid bits from lifetimes before this one.

My office is my home. Lots of things that I love are there. I feel like I belong. My friends are my home. I find strength in them. My family is definitely my home. They are proof. Home gives me a place to come from and a place to go to when reality is a troubling destination or some place too amazing not to share.

Your home may be in your pet or in your music. Home could be in the finger paintings on your refrigerator or the dent in your car that tells quite a funny story. It could be in an old movie …that could possibly be playing in our Summer Movie Classics series…maybe? Sundays at 2 pm? No?

But seriously, I think Oliver Wendell Holmes may have summed it up best, “Where we love is home—home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” Looking at the clock now, it is a bit past 5. Ah, time to go home...wait, I’m already there.

Inspiration.

Last updated: 07/18/2008 15:17 EST

Earlier today I wasn’t feeling inspired to write a blog, maybe after reading my horoscope- “Today is a 7, you have had a tough week”, my creative juices were lacking. I didn’t know what to write about or what direction I wanted to go in. So it got me thinking, what does inspire me?

Reflecting over the last week I realized that I may be one of the luckiest people ever, because I can think of a number of things that have inspired me in just one short week.

Last Friday I made the trip home to Brevard County Florida to attend my Grammy’s 80th surprise birthday party. Talk about inspiring. The experience of sharing the moment with her was overwhelming. The pure join, shock and appreciate was contagious. She is more than just a grandmother to me, she is a best friend and someone I truly look up to. I turn to her for guidance and for the extra push to get me through the day, week or month. She is an abundant supply of inspiration.

This week we had our monthly board meeting. For the last year I have only been able to attend one, due to another professional obligation each month scheduled at the same time. Being able to actually go this week was something I really was looking forward to. I find that at these meetings it brings me motivation and stimulates me to do more and do it better. To share the passion of the theatre with other people in our community from all different walks of life is something that can re-charge your professional batteries. Needless to say, the great talks, wonderful food and company was quite inspiring.

Last night my inspiration was drawn through our show. Classic Albums Live was back with their performance of Aerosmith’s Toys in the Attic. It is a great group of musicians that makes the music actually come alive. With four more of their performances scheduled for our upcoming season, I am motivated to really experience the different albums I am not completely familiar with. Stepping outside of my comfort zone in music through a show is inspiration.

Tonight I will be inspired by about 20 professionals in Jacksonville who serve on the American Advertising Federation board with me. I will be inducted as this year’s president-elect, yikes!!! Talk about needing constant inspiration. Whenever somebody asks me, “what do you do for fun?”, I always find myself replying with- “I am a board member for the AAF JAX”. The organization is my fun, and as the theme of this blog has shown you, a part of my inspiration.

So it isn’t just one thing or person I turn to seeking inspiration- it is an everyday occurrence which surrounds me. Lucky me!

KRB

One of These Things is Not Like the Others...

Last updated: 07/11/2008 16:03 EST

One of These Things is Not Like the Others…

When I was growing up, one of my favorite shows was Sesame Street—wasn’t it everyone’s really? I think Sesame Street has been on since the dawn of time teaching children numbers, letters and the simplest yet most important lessons in life, like sharing and equality. One of my favorite song snippets from that show was “One of These Things is Not Like the Others,” where you had to choose which of the three or four things in a series didn’t belong. The lyrics went:

One of these things is not like the others.
One of these things just doesn’t belong.
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
Before I finish my song?

They would show four Weimaraners in a row, but one of them peculiarly had spots. Oh that sneaky Dalmatian! He doesn’t belong! It was always great fun, but certainly taught a lesson in identifying those things that stick out of the crowd—those things that are unique, those things that are uncommon.

Have you ever seen that two-headed cow? Yeah, that’s pretty uncommon. What about that guy who battled the great white shark...and won? I would have to say I don’t hear too much of that happening. It would definitely fall under the unusual category. Or the suit made completely out of bees? Those sorts of things don’t make much of a buzz often…hence it’s uniqueness.

Okay, so maybe these things are all commonly found at Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums, but they are uncommon none the less to nature and to all of us. They certainly have a way of standing out, like that shifty Dalmatian.

At the Florida Theatre, we do uncommon too.

We often present interesting and unique acts that you wouldn’t find anywhere else in Jacksonville, making our venue shine beyond the marquee lights of our performing arts peers. But one show is especially uncommon—Uncommon Music…for a Common Cause on August 1 at 7:30 pm.

Uncommon Music is a showcase of local musicians bringing their talents together to perform in benefit of a Jacksonville non-profit, Body & Soul—The Art of Healing. The eclectic twist to the show is that the performers are unlike each other. You stand them in a line on Sesame Street, and you wouldn’t have three Weimaraners and a Dalmatian, you would have four completely different animals performing their individual genre of music, but for a common purpose. What better showcase then to bring things that are different together to celebrate something they do have in common? Sesame Street would be so proud.

As the lyrics do go, “One of these things is not like the others; one of these things just doesn’t belong,” I will have to say that even if our musicians are like each other at this event, the one thing that does belong there is you. Come out and support local music with a mission.

Peace.

American Idol auditions in JAX!?!

Last updated: 07/03/2008 16:12 EST

So Katie and I have decided to audition for American Idol this year, because as luck would have it auditions will be held right down the block from us in Jacksonville, FL. We really feel that this could be our shot to take our act nationally. Katie has already reached a national level of fame with her amazing appearance in the HBO movie Recount, but the extent of me on any kind of screen has been in the UNF Freshman orientation video. So this just seems like the most logical idea for instant fame.

We are back and forth on what song we want to sing- because we figure a K- girl audition would be better than individual. How could they not love us?

Maybe we’ll sing a Sara Evans song- so when she comes to play the Florida Theatre in September we can tell her all about it. Perhaps “Born to Fly”, that could represent us well.

Or maybe a past performer’s song that has inspired us, like Trisha Yearwood’s - “She’s in Love With the Boy”. Maybe not so much inspiration, but it is a catchy tune and surely a crowd pleaser.

How about what is playing on my Pandora at the moment, let’s see…”I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers. I think not.

At least we have until August 13th to figure this out.
And then there is what to wear? Should we plug our theatre, wear matching outfits, express our individual styles? So much to decide because of course the first impression will be what could make or break us.

Let me look up the time auditions….

7 AM?!?! Which means people will be lining up in the wee hours of the morning!

That is far too early for the K-girls, how about we just sit back and watch the other crazy, talented and downright entertaining people bring it home for Jacksonville.

Did you really believe we could sing?

Have a happy 4th!

KRB

The Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Come to Our Summer Classics Movies

Last updated: 06/27/2008 17:03 EST

1.Your old favorites resurrected on the big screen.

Many of these movies feature actors and actresses who are sadly no longer with us. But thanks to technology—and I’m not talking cryogenics—we are able to bring them back to life, well sort of. Gene Kelly, Laurence Olivier, James Dean, that guy from the Bee Gees. See them all relive the glory days in some of their most famed roles.

2.Be one to see some of the survivors of the recent Universal Studios fires.

Yes, some classic films did perish in the fires that damaged sets and video vaults earlier in the month, and for a few nerve wracking days, the fate of a few of our Summer Classic Movies was unknown. Luckily, those films came out unscathed, so that really only means one thing. They survived so you could come see them. If they had burned then you would have never been able to tell them how much they are appreciated. So get yourselves out. Don’t be rude.

3.So it’s Sunday and it’s raining for the 8 gillionth time that week and you’re sick of sitting inside your house.

Okay, so come sit inside ours. We have cocktails...that you can bring inside. And snacks. And you don’t have to sell your firstborn into indentured servitude to pay for any of this.

4.The viewing of all these classic movies makes for great dinner party conversation.

How cool would you feel next time you’re at a social gathering where the chit chat is just drowning you. Save yourself with a little something like this: “I was just contemplating on how you felt about the internal struggle John Wayne incurs in The Searchers? I mean I’m not sure how I would handle a situation like that. How do you feel?” Use big words, maybe some hand gestures. It would totally work.

5.Reinvent the dinner and a movie date.

You could have a movie and the dinner date instead. Shake it up a little bit. You could even in fact have a salad shaker from McDonald's simply to carry on the theme. Okay so maybe not, but see you watch the movie first and then eat. This way you will definitely have something to talk about, and all that weird awkward silence that sometimes begins a date is completely taken care of because you have to be quiet anyway. There. Summer Classic Movies bring the people together.

6.Audrey Hepburn

Come on. She’s just so dang classy.

7.Jeopardy

What if you happen to make it on Jeopardy, clicker thingy in hand, and you have just chosen the last daily double. You’re feeling confident and have made it a true daily double, risking it all. The answer is “A coke bottle causes a tribe great consternation in this 1980 film.” Now if you had not seen The Gods Must Be Crazy then you simply would lose all your money and bad luck sets in to where you never make it out of the red and probably don’t even get to play final jeopardy. Then Alex Trebek in all his mustache-less glory would probably not even shake your hand at the end. And that would be embarrassing. So just save yourself the trouble and come see the movie.

8.The Hand Jive

I don’t care how old you are or how cool you try to act, you know you know the hand jive. Just come out and do it. You were born to.

9.A Hickey from Kenickie’s like a Hallmark card.

Learn priceless movie quotes like the one above. Or what about I am not an animal! Then there’s Good. Ham makes me self-conscious. Aw yes, then the ever memorable Stella! Alright so that last one isn’t in any of this year’s movies. But the rest are, and if you don’t know what movies they are from, then guess what…yep, that’s right, come see some movies.

10.Your kids

With all the Hollywood blockbusters these days with their 3D’s and their computer animations and all their fancy pants promotional materials, kids just don’t understand that at one point in time movies relied on the talent of its actors and the strength of writing and direction—sometimes with absolutely no strings attached. They are classics for a reason. Give the next generation of movie goers the appreciation they should have for classic cinema.


And one last one for good measure… you know like the extra birthday spanking or something, just to make sure the point was made.

11.Because you love the Florida Theatre. You know you do. So come chill with us Sunday afternoons. There’s no football. No school. No excuses—well good ones at least in our book. The Florida Theatre. 2 pm. Be there or be square.

I heart Disney.

Last updated: 06/20/2008 15:35 EST

It’s a big day. A big day in the wonderful world of Disney.

That’s right, it is the premier of the newest Disney Channel movie- Camp Rock!
Can it top High School Musical and High School Musical 2? Will it be able to compare and draw in millions of bagillion fans and build a crazy empire?

Well one thing that may put them in the running- having the Jonas Brothers to star in it. Any movie that has a pop star group that goes to summer camp is a winner in my book! Camp movies are always fun- like the classic “Camp Nowhere”, great movie! I am an avid Disney Channel fan, I grew up on it! It’s also where so many young entertainers start, to then move on the big things with big fan bases. Heck! Justin Timberlake started out there!

There are the classic shows like Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens and now Hannah Montana and That’s So Raven- all very entertaining and if on while flipping through the channels- I will watch.

So yes, I will be watching Camp Rock!
Disclaimer: I do however have plans tonight, so it will be watched on my DVR later this weekend. (at least I’m not lame enough to stay in on a Friday night just for Disney, lol)

You know what it is about those movies- they are fun. Just as simple as that, fun. For all ages, clearly. Disney movies do a great job of sucking you into the world of dancing, singing and easy to follow plot lines.

It’s nice once in awhile to feel like a kid again- and Disney Channel movies are the perfect way to do so!

KRB

Public Transportation

Last updated: 06/13/2008 14:30 EST

Have you ever taken the bus in Jacksonville, maybe to get to the movies or pick up a few groceries? What about a cab, other than those good calls coming home from your favorite beachy hangout? And please, someone tell me if you’ve taken that sky cab thing any other time than when the Super Bowl came to town. Public transportation in Jacksonville leaves much to be desired. Maybe it’s just too hard for the public transportation gods to wrap their arms around our big city with our many boroughs. So we all mostly keep to our own private modes of transit, no matter how high gas gets.

One of my first memories of public transportation that clearly stands out in my mind was the Walt Disney World monorail. The ride was like the walk down the hallway on Christmas morning, a journey of such anticipation. I couldn’t wait to finally catch a glimpse of Cinderella’s castle—the epitome of a wonderland. Aw, what a happy memory of conveyance.

It isn’t always about the destination though, as we all know from that popular saying. It is about the journey. I am reminded of my trip to Japan several summers ago. One never truly thinks of how lucky we are to be able to scan a paper and understand what the characters are and what they mean or to walk down a street and read all the signs. You can take it for granted, until you’re in a situation like we were. Language barrier or not, we needed to get to our many destinations. We worked as one team to put the puzzle pieces together. This character meant this direction. This other one meant this subway line. And through the confusing translation, the snack machines of unidentifiable goodies and that strange encounter with a Yakuza member whilst reading our maps, we made it to every destination. At the end of that trip we weren’t just a bunch of college kids in a foreign country, we were adventurers who had stood up to our challenge. It was a learning and growing experience we’d always share.

Traveling in a group certainly brings the people together in the most interesting of ways. Just think about that movie Speed. If that bus hadn’t been rigged with a bomb that would explode if that hunk of public transportation went below 50 mpg, then how would Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock get together? What about the ending of The Wedding Singer with the classic love ballad performed at 30,000 feet by Adam Sandler to Drew Barrymore? No, it just wouldn’t have been the same in a Mazda.

Just recently a trip to Atlanta and a poorly labeled Marta train led to some travel confusion on my group’s way to the airport. I couldn’t fully compare this train to my Disney monorail experience since it came to a point where we weren’t sure what our destination was. We weren’t alone. A group of boys across from us were confused on their stop as well. Before we fully realized we were actually lost too, we tried to help the boys map out the rest of their trip. And it wasn’t until a young man, sitting in our vicinity listening to his mp3, caught notice of our troubles and lent a helping hand…or compass I suppose. He directed the boys then helped us get back on track. The power of the people around you will surprise you sometimes.

So even if public transportation doesn’t sound like something you’ll use on a regular basis, I’d give it a try. Sometimes you might not know where you’re getting off, but you’ll never know quite who you’ll meet or how that person will change your journey. Happy travels.

My take on dating...oh this should be good...

Last updated: 06/06/2008 14:19 EST

In honor of the Sex in the City release, and yes Katie did end up seeing it a few days after opening night, I’m pulling a Carrie Bradshaw…

My roommate and I just had a really interesting conversation at 8:30 in the morning which ended in her saying, “That should be your blog!”

The subject - dating.

This week I ran into or had lunch or drinks- with people I haven’t seen in a while. Every single one of them asked-
“So are you dating anyone?”

The answer was and usually is- “Nope!”

And then without fail, the follow up question- “Well why not?”

Why not? Well timing, personal choice, nobody’s asking…how really are you supposed to answer that question?
I then get, “Well you have a good job.”, “You have a lot going for you.”, “You are still young.”, which yes, actually I agree with all of that.

I was explaining to a girlfriend of mine who has been married with children for years now that the last “date” I went on was, well probably a year and some change ago. After she first got over her initial shock (because apparently a girl like me should be on dates all the time), we rationalized this.

Who really says “Would you like to go out on a date with me?... I’ll pick you up, take you to dinner (pay for it), maybe see a movie after (pay for that too) then walk you to your door step and if lucky- get a good night kiss?” Good in theory of course- but the reality is that just doesn’t happen anymore.

So then there is the question- well, what is dating?
The interesting discovering in the world of my household is what we discussed this morning- the definition of dating. For example… we are seeing each other, exclusive, boyfriend/girlfriend- well it’s all dating. In our opinion (the roommate and I) - the minute you start talking about you and your “friend”, you are dating. To hear about the times you hung out, the kisses exchanged the heart skipping a beats…dating. And although you may have not had “the talk”, the general public consensus- dating.

I know, this was a topic on everyone’s mind- well, rest assure we have figured it out and got to the bottom of it You’re welcome.

So the moral of this story- go on a date. And may I suggest to see a Summer Classic Movie at the Florida Theatre and then enjoy and yummy dinner at Chew. Date on people, date on!
KRB

Sex and the City...but no Katie

Last updated: 05/30/2008 17:16 EST

I think everyone and their mother is going to see the Sex and the City movie tonight but me. It’s honestly my own fault for procrastinating, but maybe that was my subconscious telling me that I really didn’t want to stand in that line for an hour or more waiting to get a good seat that ends up being three rows from the front anyway. Or maybe that right there is just my rationale trying to make me not feel bad about procrastinating.

Either way, I’m not going. So I’m going to think of other things besides Sex and the City that would be good tonight.

What about Soup and the Kitchen. That’s what I could have for dinner…and where I could have it for that matter. Although I had miso soup for lunch, so let’s try again.

Okay, Sharp Nails and the Old Kids Bedroom, meaning I could hang up some nifty wall art that I bought the other day on my freshly painted green wall in the room that some kid used to live in. How do I know this? There was a panda border on the walls and panda stickers on the blades of the fan. It was either a kid or someone who really liked pandas...cough-cough-freak-cough… excuse me, tickle in the throat. But really that would only take like seven minutes. What to do with the rest of the night?

Umm…Sewing and the Cat. I could make those pillows I’ve been talking about making for the last year and half and hang out with my cat. I do have about ten bags of polyester stuffing in my closet room, and the cat has been alone all day. But reading that back just makes me sound like that weird old lady…with lots of cats and cat figurines. And the pillows are probably in the shape of cats. And there’s a cat maze throughout the house for all the cats. And the cats have cat outfits. Woah.

How about Shoes and the Closet? I could organize my shoes and my other closet items by color and style? That’s sort of Carrie Bradshaw-ish. Spend some time with my clothes in the closet room. But it gets kind of hot in there since there is no air vent, just a fan.

I got it. Salad and the Cable television. I could have a big, exciting salad and eat it while watching incredibly interesting cable television. Right, except I don’t have cable and the salad I have is one of those bagged ones. Not that big or exciting.

The night doesn’t look terribly promising from these last few brilliant ideas. So when everyone else and their mother’s third cousin twice removed are seeing this movie and reliving the series with all the fashion and flings, the men and the New York magic, all those cosmos and the four friends that changed television for any girl who watched the show, I will be at home—probably watching Sex and the City when it comes on syndication at midnight. Can’t wait.

The Downtown Library, great for a party- rough when you need a computer!

Last updated: 05/23/2008 14:28 EST

When the new library downtown opened and I went for the first time, I thought it was one of the most unique places in Jacksonville. I was very impressed, so impressed it prompted me to get a library card and start checking out books! Every detail from the gift store, Shelby’s, the grand staircase and especially the outdoor courtyard gave me reason to come back. So when I found out this year’s Film Festival Gala would be taking place at the Downtown Library- I was thrilled!

What a wonderful venue for a beautiful star lit party. Saturday was the night of the Jacksonville International Film Festival’s Annual Grey Goose Gala.

Before we could party the night away it was first movie time! In the chilly Florida Theatre with our chocolate covered Peterbrooke popcorn we watched “The Year of Getting to Know Us”, starring Jimmy Fallon, Lucy Liu, Sharon Stone and Tom Arnold. I though the movie was good, not great and bittersweet. It was odd to see Mr. Fallon is such a serious role- but I do recommend to check it out for some city pride! Did I mention the movie was completely filmed in Jacksonville-cool, don’t ya think?

With spotlights in the air and the red carpet rolled out we most certainly felt VIP entering the library. We were greeted first by the lovely “Bacardi Girls” dressed to kill in Valentino gowns. Yay for the Bacardi sponsorship- first stop the open bar for a beverage.

We then walked out in to the glamorous courtyard with a long lighted fountain, an arrangement of food and yet another Bacardi bar. The weather was great, the crowd was great and OH! I almost forgot…the Peterbrooke Chocolate Fountain was great!!! Pretzels, marshmallows, rice crispy treats oh my! All of the above taste awesome dipped in chocolate!

Of course my other K-girl and I were followed as though we were celebrities by the paparazzi (Jacksonville.com, Water’s Edge Magazine and Jacksonville Magazine) so be sure to look for us!

The night couldn’t have been better and the library represented well.

Now the funny thing is, Katharine and I stopped by the library this week to actually utilize the library. And the unfortunate thing- it was not as glamorous as Saturday night. As the two of us sat and shared a computer (mind you NOT on Myspace, Facebook or listening to music) doing legitimate work and research for our lovely theatre, were interrupted by an on screen message- “Only one person per computer, thanks your librarian.” Really???? We are working here!!!

Weird to be reprimanded at the library- and we weren’t even drinking!

Crazy

Last updated: 05/16/2008 17:03 EST

Last night we premiered a film at the theatre as the opening night of the 2008 Jacksonville Film Festival. The film was about a legendary guitarist who called Orange Park home for the latter part of his life. It was a film about the tumultuous life and times of this man. The film was called Crazy.

It was quite an appropriate title for the movie that punctuated a week that was nothing less than just that. Crazy.

It all began one week ago today. The sun was shining. The weather was sweet. It made me want to move my dancing feet…move my feet all the way to The Freebird in Jax Beach. Stephen Marley, the second son of reggae legend and one of my top five favorite musicians of all space and time Bob Marley, was to perform that night. Of those top five favorite musicians, I have seen three of them live. The other two…well can’t perform due to the deterrent issue of not being alive anymore. So tribute bands and performing relatives that look and sound very similar have to due for the other two. Stephen Marley works just fine.

We were amply primed for Raggamuffin himself by his trusty DJ friend Swamp King. This name became Lion King. When he said Lion, we said King. Lion! King! Lion! King! That’s what happened every ten minutes or so, I guess so we didn’t forget who he was. Although I couldn’t help but think Mufasa every time we chanted his name. He also had a thing with yelling “Lion palm!” to which we all promptly raised our palms in the air just like the little hairs on the back of your neck when you get the chills. Then enter Stephen Marley, who did what the Marleys do best. Jammed. We was jammin all night to Stephen…mon... He channeled his father right through that microphone. You could close your eyes and imagine you were right in the government yard in Trenchtown, eating some cornmeal porridge. It was incredible. It gave me the chills.

Oh and did I mention we got into this concert for free? Yep, we were on their guest list. Stephen Marley’s guest list. That’s right. But that’s also a different story for another time.

The fact of seeing the concert alone would have sufficed but the night had much more in store for us. The reggae magic continued as we actually hung out with the Marley crew. We laughed and shared stories. Even threw out some high-fives. Now talk about incredible. When we got home all we could do was stare at each other in disbelief of what had actually transpired in the many previous hours.

I’m sure you are all familiar with the Chinese philosophical concept of yin and yang. Besides that this concept makes for great hippy iron-on patches, it also explains the next two days of this week. Friday night was so mind-blowingly awesome; the next two days were the sheer antithesis yet complimentary days to such a jam-packed weekend. Saturday was moving day. And if anyone knows me, I’ve moved at least 47 times in the last three years. So maybe it was more like seven, but because I absolutely loath the process, it seems like more. But it was time, so I banded together my moving army and in a quite impressive caravan, we moved my upstairs two bedroom apartment to another upstairs two bedroom apartment, with hardwood floors. The staircase to the new apartment wasn’t a straight staircase either. It goes up about ten then doubles back on itself for the second set of stairs. Try maneuvering couches and a queen size bed around that thing. God bless boyfriends, dads and brothers-in-law.

Once the whirlwind of boxes, tape, chairs, pillow, hangers, u-hauls and all those bobbi pins that clearly signify I have been there finally settled, I had new home to unpack. Yes I still have Box Mountain in my living room. I’ll get there.

Monday came to begin a new work week and a week of battling my car insurance company over the phone because of a weird technicality of my insurance documentation on the day I sent my poor green Honda to the grave. What seemed like it would be an easy process completed in a day unnecessarily took entirely too many hands to fix. But thanks to my inheritance of my mom’s knack of getting things done on the phone in situations such as these, I was able to resolve the issue—one week later. Sometimes you don’t let them tell you no.

Tuesday we celebrated the birthday of our Event Services Manager and very good friend, Jenn. We threw back some margaritas in a little spot on my new side of town until the stars came out.

Wednesday will go down in history as the day I debuted as “girl crying tears of joy” in the HBO movie Recount, which depicts the true events of the 2000 election and all those damn chads. Look for me in my upcoming roles as “girl smelling fruit in produce aisle” and “girl reading book on park bench” as well as the highly anticipating “girl tripping over cat in living room.”

Thursday began the famed film festival week, which begins with a packed schedule of premieres right here at the Florida Theatre. We began the night with an opening night VIP reception before the movie at MOCA. Moved on to represent the theatre at the garage top party on Water Street only to return back to the theatre for the movie, finally ending up at the Maverick’s after party and leaving with smiles on our faces, a stubbed toe, lots of pictures, a new respect for bull riders and one shiny new dollar coin.

And yes we went all those places in one night. Just check Jacksonville.com. They tend to follow us—or is it the other way around? Hmmm…

After all that my bed never felt more comfortable. Now that’s quite a week. And looking at my calendar, I notice I have nothing going on next week. Nothing at all. For a whole week.

Crazy :)

The week in review....

Last updated: 05/09/2008 16:18 EST

Things that just made my week…

Getting the “white paper” (how our shows are announced internally) for Ashlee Simpson.

Realizing that Mama Mia! the movie will be out July 18.

The new Gold’s Gym location, which has a movie theatre cardio room.

Wilco going on sale.

Spending time w/ a best friend in from New York City.

PF Chang’s egg drop soup.

Riding the new trolley route to Riverside for lunch w/ Toni and Katie.

Staff picnic.

A very productive Friday.

The 48 hour films. Good stuff, make sure to check out the best of on May 30th.

Dinner @ Café Nola.

A late night TBS episode of The Office.

My latest purchase on iTunes- Edwin McCain’s Scream & Whisper.

Birthday cake ice cream with my roommate.

The kick-butt pilates class.

Remembering that the Jacksonville Film Festival starts next week.


Things that did not make my week…

A killer sunburn. My pale skin never learns.

The air conditioner freezing up in the townhouse.

Having a doctor’s appointment in Ponte Vedra during TPC week.

A slight case of food poisoning.

How I feel the day after pilates.


At least the good out numbers the bad ;)

KRB

The Vortex

Last updated: 05/05/2008 13:51 EST

There are many things in life that just suck—the flu, flat tires, overdraft fees, vacuums. There are other things in life that suck, well, the life out of you—screaming babies, tax season, family reunions…vampires. Then there are those things in life that simply suck you in. Without any control of your own, they just sweep you into their powerful cone of fascination and frenzy. They are the tornadoes of life. The vortex of experience.

This past weekend was a grand example of the vortex. A conference for the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation found the K-girls in St. Petersburg, FL. It began with a literal windstorm that blew doors shut, hair out of control and contents out of purses. And as if that was Mother Nature’s clever wink of foreshadowing, the rest of the weekend was nothing less than a whirlwind of early morning breakfasts, board meetings, 1001 pictures, costume changes, keynote speakers, breakout sessions, awards ceremonies, after parties, unopenable bar “gifts”, bed confetti, hilarious car rides and an unexpected series of credit card losses. I’m surprised I was able to get out of bed this morning.

But what an amazingly memorable experience.

There will be those things in life that you can’t help but give into. They will pull you in even if you never ever planned on it. You usually don’t. It will be that independent film that you stumbled into during the Film Festival. Or that lightning storm above the horizon of our eastern coastline. It will be the final game for your favorite team on the brink of a championship. Or the look in your newborn’s eyes. It very well could be that one concert that completely envelopes you with the lights and sound, the people around you, the movement of your body and that breathtaking feeling where you know this moment has changed your life.

Things like that which suck you in are always worth it, and when it happens, let it. Because when you finally come out, it’s so moving, that for even just a moment, it feels like the world stands still.

Out of the blue…

Last updated: 04/25/2008 15:13 EST

This week out of the blue…

I’ve started “shredding”. With the influences of The Biggest Loser, yes, my roommate and I purchased Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred DVD. This DVD promises to lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days…RIGHT….but you know what, it’s fun, it only takes 20 minutes a day, and we’ll see what really is lost in 30 days. I’m thinking there may need to be a diet change involved…

Discovered Pandora.com (thanks Ryan!) and now have turned the whole office onto it. Why didn’t I know about this sooner???

I attended a final campaigns presentation for an advertising class at UNF. A few students who are involved with America Ad Fed here in Jacksonville, invited me to check out the work they have done all semester for a “client”. Just 2 years ago, I was doing the exact same thing, in the exact same room. It is pretty crazy to think that this time 2 years ago I was graduating college, figuring out- what’s next? Couldn’t be happier with where I am right now in life….especially with my employment.

Facebook has added a chatting feature. If the internet could get any more stalkerish, Facebook would figure out how. Not going to lie though, I love the feature.

Toni and I had a fabulous meeting with Carrabba’s corporate. It’s interesting how many people/organizations are out there who are ready and willing to help- it just takes an initial meeting. Thank you to Holly for sending Toni and I home with yummy meals from the Italian Grill!

I went to the Towncenter last night to shop- which is normally a only a weekend thing. Turns out JCrew is having a great 25% off all clearance items…run, don’t walk.

Some of the staff and I took a walk to the downtown Farmers’ Market in Hemming Plaza. It was nice to take advantage of a beautiful day downtown and spend time outside the office. There is room to grow with the market, but the concept is great and made for a nice walk.

And finally, out of the blue I’ll be meeting a friend from high school tonight that I haven’t seen in 7 years! Randomly received a Facebook (what would we do w/ out it!) message to meet up, so here we go….

Have a great, out of the blue, weekend!

KRB

525, 600 Minutes

Last updated: 04/18/2008 17:50 EST

525,600 minutes. How do you measure a year?

The first time I heard that song, Seasons of Love, from the soundtrack of Rent I was in a jazz class at a Dance Masters Association convention in Daytona nearly ten years ago. It caused me to stop for a moment. I took mental note of the lyrics, but never really thought about them until many years later.

How do you measure a year? They measured it in daylights, in sunsets, in cups of coffee—in seasons of love. How do I measure a year?

Every year we watch the seasons change. Summer to fall. Winter to spring. Every year we watch the school year go round and catch up to us again. Football season and those ever so cheap summers of Thirsty Thursdays come and go. Even the theatre experiences the ebb and flow of a season. But what makes it all worth doing it again…and again…every season?

How do I measure a year?

I measure it in phone calls to my mom. I measure it in the funny and unnecessarily long voicemails I leave my roommate. I measure it in the hours I have spent in the dance studio. I measure it in those minutes in the morning when my cat Simon comes to wake me up with a gentle nuzzle…okay, so it’s more like a bite of the toe. But I digress.

I measure a year in the many opportunities I get to gaze up into the theatre during a performance and thank God I have this job. My year is measured in the laughter that permeates through my office and the picnics that begin my day. I measure my year in the smiles of my co-workers, the hugs from my family and the sweet surprise messages written on the side mirrors of my car. I measure a year in the moments right before I go to sleep when I remember how incredibly blessed I am.

It is not surprising that I measure my year with all the things I love. That song had it pretty right. I love my life and the people and experiences that have filled my years. 525,600 minutes and worth every moment.

Shake things up in your life, switch iPods.

Last updated: 04/11/2008 14:10 EST

I have just recently become an iPod owner. Yes, 100 years later I am finally in with the human race.

My first one is the small, square Nano- 8GB, silver…you know the apple tune “1, 2, 3, 4….” and it is just perfect for me. I’m only at about half my song limit and still figuring out exactly how to use it. I have discovered iTunes, which is very dangerous- b/c those $.99 songs add up quickly!

Music is a huge part of my life. I wake up to a clock radio, go straight to my computer and turn on iTunes to get ready to, on the way to work the car radio is on, and then either my iPod or iTunes is playing at my desk. In this industry you need to keep up with the fast paced music trends or you will be left in the dust. I’m still learning…

We’ve been throwing around different ideas on what we should book for our next season. And before the requests start rolling in- there are a few ground rules and things to consider. Check out the Occasionally Asked Questions page on our site and find the question that addresses this subject.

I had a conversation with a good friend of mine last night about this very subject. His solution/suggestion was for me to borrow his 30GB, 5000 plus song iPod for a few days to get an idea of different music that I may not know about.

Borrow his iPod???

I thought he was insane to give it up because I know it is pretty much his life. His iPod was a little intimidating…it is literally 4 sizes bigger than mine and has 22GB more than me! I’m only on song 60 out of 5,883 and I can safely say I have only ever heard about 5 before. It is crazy how until someone exposes you to a certain artist or musician, you may never know they existed.

I very much appreciate the iPod-on-loan and really don’t want to give it back…

So I challenge you- to switch iPods with someone for a day. As scary as that sounds, it is so worth it.

KRB

Never Have I Ever...

Last updated: 04/04/2008 17:48 EST

I was hanging out with some friends the other night, and we were playing a game. The four of us were sitting at each side of the kitchen table staring down at a deck of cards delicately splayed in a circular formation, each card taunting the player with what it hid underneath. The game was Ring of Fire. And by no means was this a drinking game...ahem…The point of the game was to pick any card at random. Each card depending on the number corresponded with an action.

For example, if you drew a nine, you would say a word and the next person would have to say one that rhymes and so on until one person can’t think of a rhyming word. He therefore loses and has to drink…his cup of water that is. A three is “me” so I would have to drink…my Fresca of course. A “two” is you, so you would have to sip…your diet green tea in a can. A queen is “questions”, which the players have to continually ask questions until someone slips. If by chance you pull a king, you’ve pulled the “never have I ever” card. The card puller starts the round with “never have I ever” followed by something they have never done. If any other player has done that specific thing, then they must drink their completely un-alcoholic beverage.

Never have I ever gotten angry at a Silver Strike machine.

Never have I ever fallen off a bike in front of a huge crowd of people on the fourth of July.

Never have I ever written “Call her. Love, God” in the condensation on an old crush’s truck window. Nope never.

Never have I ever crossed a moat in heels to trek up a steep hill only to behold the magnificent mansion-esque residence nestled cozily between heaven and paradise.

Oh wait. That I have.

Okay so the moat was less King Arthur’s court and more retention pond at the bottom of the driveway, but it did nothing to take away from the luster of this beautiful house my fellow K-girl and I were privileged to visit last night. We had been invited to a soiree for the Jacksonville Film Festival, which kicks off May 15. A healthy crowd of Jacksonville’s movers and shakers were in attendance, sipping their beverages, noshing on some delicate hors d’oeuvres and buzzing about the upcoming festival. The backdrop to this stage of players was the churning Atlantic Ocean, who seemed a bit angry with the rainy weather. But good spirits lifted the rain just long enough for the party to enjoy the scenic backyard pool deck.

Inside on the television looped a video of trailers of some of the films to be featured in this year’s festival. From the looks of it, this year’s selection is going to be quite impressive. The whole festival is looking to be impressive. My staff and I have the pleasure of working down the hall from the festival office. Jesse, the executive director, and Chris, who we all call Ackerman, the director of special projects, greet us all in the morning with their positive attitudes and contagious smiles. Their excitement and passion for the festival spreads through the office like the most welcomed virus you’ll ever have. Both of them, along with the board of the festival, are poised and ready to pull a Buzz Lightyear and take this festival to infinity and beyond. It is going to be bigger and better than what Jacksonville has seen the past several years. They have even extended it out to a full week of festival fun and films. The Florida Theatre is honored to host many of their special events, including the premiers of several movies like the opening night film, “Crazy”, which tells the story of guitar legend Hank Garland.

If you’ve never festivaled, you must make it a point to come out this year. For a full week, downtown Jacksonville will be the hippest place to be. It’s going to be cooler than the other side of the pillow. And you know you want to be a part of that. So come out and support the big things happening in your city.

Go ahead and buy your tickets, and while you’re at it get a whole bunch for Jake Shimabukuro who performs with us on April 17…

And I’ll see you… at the movies.

Family.

Last updated: 03/31/2008 09:51 EST

Seven years ago, I moved out of my house, away from my family and came to Jacksonville. The idea of being on my own and independent was exactly what I wanted and needed. I felt moving away my mom, dad and brother would be just fine and the occasional visits and holiday get-togethers would be just enough time to spend and see.

Lately I have been thinking so much about this. When you move away from your family, do you ever get to move back? I do get jealous of the people who surround me who have their families here, in town- so holidays like Easter are just a drive across town- instead of over 2 hours on 95 South. Too often, life gets in the way and the time you want to be there with them, sometimes passes you bye.
So this is where I am very blessed. If you are lucky enough, you find yourself making “additional” families as you go through life.

In no way can I replace the one I have, absolutely not. They are the people who put up with me better than anyone ever could and support me more than they even know. Love them and miss them oh so very much!

Coming to school here began the makings for my family that consists of friendships. Through campus life, my sorority, dorms, apartments, late night studying and the numerous activities and situations you face in college- I did develop one form of family. Still seven years later we make time, not as often as we should, to have what we call “Family Dinners”. This group is incredible because of the diversity represented. Our conversations are never dull and the stories are always supplied in mass quantities because of all the different lives we lead and careers we are pursuing.

My next family- well not everyone can be so lucky. It is the family of where I work. My experience has been with jobs people either love it, or hate it; have close friends at work, or stay completely to themselves. Well staying to myself would just never work for me, so thank goodness that I am in the most perfect environment to foster a bond that allows me to have another family.

Recently I have reconnected with extended family and that experience has really meant a lot to me. Undiscovered family, who knew how fun that really could be until it happens to you.

Families can come in all shapes and sizes.

Lucky me :)

Lucky...

Last updated: 03/21/2008 17:36 EST

I vividly remember celebrating Easter at Southside Methodist, my pre-school that held an annual egg hunt in the lawn in front of the church. There was always some level of competition for these things, but being the youngest of three, for some reason the Easter egg finding gene must have been nearly depleted by the time it got to me.

Let me set the scene. It was a beautiful day, breezy and cool, with the sweet smell of spring just beginning to waft through the air. Parents and children alike were dressed in their freshly pressed Easter attire. Frilly hair bows framed the faces of little girls and clip-on ties and jackets made the little boys spitting images of their fathers. All around pre-schoolers ran, with keen eyes and brimming baskets. Every now and then the sunlight would glimmer on a precious plastic egg in its secret hiding place, which most definitely was filled with something that at that time would be considered some jewel of a prize—like some jelly beans or if you were lucky, maybe a quarter. That egg didn’t last long before finding itself nestled in a new home of pastel grass that looked unmistakably cut from the fields of Candy Land.

Then there was me. My yellow seersucker dress favored the afternoon sky and my unruly blond curls. My basket was a sturdy one, woven tight with many festive colors. I stood under the canopy of a big oak tree and my parents’ watchful eyes. With one look at my face, you would have thought I was deeply strategizing my next egg find, but the fact of the matter was that furrowed brow on four-year-old Katie wasn’t one of tactic. It was one of sheer discouragement. And with one look at my basket, you would know why. It was empty.

Maybe it was the foreshadowing of the bad eyesight I would develop later on in life, but at the time, I considered it a result of bad luck. The other kids just got to the eggs before I did. Or they had a secret map of the eggs. Maybe there was a whole egg conspiracy going on that I wasn’t let in on…no, just bad luck. Although that is a sad image of Easter Katie circa 1989, the day did end somewhat well. I did happen on a few by myself, but funny enough, I would occasionally look down at my basket to miraculously find a growing number of eggs. I thought the Easter bunny was feeling sorry for me and my bad luck and was giving me a hand in this whole operation.

Well, years later I found out it was simply my dad sneaking them in when I wasn’t paying attention. Nice.

Luck is an interesting concept. Many people don’t believe in it, for the whole reason that you create you own destiny. At my ripe ol’ age, I would like to think that I have firm control over the things that happen in my life. I set my alarm clock. Then I firmly decide to hit the snooze button four …or seven times. I create a healthy diet, then firmly resolve to have a chai latte and some almonds for lunch. I vow to read my news books, then firmly choose to watch back-to-back episodes of Sex and the City reruns.

But somehow, some of the in-betweens just simply can’t be planned or really explained. It definitely wasn’t luck that filled my Easter basket all those years ago, but maybe it was luck that made the Panera guy mess up my sandwich, resulting in one free one for me. Maybe it was luck that got me the car I have now. Maybe luck just so happened to play a part in the past few good weeks I have been having. Who knows, maybe luck will be on your side when you bid on some silent auction items Friday, March 28 at Art After Dark. Yep there’s the plug.

No matter what your feeling on luck is, it definitely has a mainstay in our culture. For example, there are some fairly well known superstitions that involve luck, good and bad. Stir with a knife, stir up strife. Bad luck. Rabbit’s feet. Good luck. Friday the 13th. Bad luck. You’re a beginner you say? Good luck! Black cat crossing your path? Oooh, bad luck. Well, I just so happen to have a flock of black cats that live in the parking lot and adjacent grassy knoll in front of my apartment building. Seriously there are at least 24. Maybe even 36. I don’t know; they seem to multiply like cockroaches. There is another take, however, on that black cat superstition. In Great Britain, it is quite the opposite. A black cat crossing your path is considered good luck.

The good news is…I’m half English. Lucky me :)

These are a few of the K girls favorite things...

Last updated: 03/14/2008 15:59 EST

Breakfast- Bay Street, Jax City or The News Café.

Midday Starbucks:
KT- grande soy chai latte
Kendall-this week venti iced carmel macchaito

Anomoly in 5 points- both of us ALWAYS find a dress on our lunch break.

Sushi Café in Riverside-edamame!

Tuesday nights @ Mellow Mushroom w/ bartender Brett.

Dance parties to Hannah Montana.

Mass w/ Saul.

Boy updates.

Sports bar @ the Plaza for show night dinners.

AAF JAX weekend getaways.

Hospitality Suites.

Al’s Pizza.

Zen sessions on the couch.

Lunches w/ bossman.

“K” girl meetings.

Family breakfast/lunch in the board room.

Mervin’s stories in general.

Buritto Gallery- LOVE THE STAFF and Chicken Salad!!!

Toni’s talks in the AM on the comfy chairs.

The adventure’s of Jon Bosworth.

Dancing Stage right.

Zoe’s!

Escaping for a snack before a show.

MC’s weekly office supply orders.

Backstage brick signing- like when we accidently ran into Ben Harper!

Merch t-shirts-Ben,check. Gregg, check. Trisha, check!

Underground secret tunnel.

Celebrity gossip updates from Mrs. Chadwell.

Finding ourselves on Jacksonville.com

The Film Festival guys and office.

Text message updates.

Trips to NYC.

Jen’s shutterflies!

Small world mtgs.

Itunes.

Ipod wall chargers.

Searching through the Kendall Kollection.

Staff mtgs in PJs.

Dinners w/ the AAF JAX Prez.

Debbie’s menu and condiment collection.

Birthday parties in the box office.

Sam’s sassy style.

Running out of gas.

Solantic.

Floor length mirrors.

Window decorating.

Basically we love what we do and have fun doing it...

Flu Meanies

Last updated: 03/07/2008 14:01 EST

I really couldn’t tell you the last time I had the flu. It has been too many years and the memory of how it felt was expunged from my brain. So every year when it came to be that time when on the news you would hear about flu vaccines, I would be smug in my thoughts of Pssshh flu shot…I’d way rather have soy chai tea latte from Starbucks. Well although I’m sure all of you may think the same way as I did, I am here to shed light on the truth. The truth that overpriced, over caffeinated and over hyped beverages are simply not the best combatants for influenza. Darn. It was upsetting to me too.

Thus I found myself sitting in the office of a certain urgent care center in town. I don’t want to name any names, so let’s just call it Poclantic. The nice people at Poclantic told me upon arrival that the wait was going to be at least two and a half hours. So I sat and waited, and with every passing minute I could feel myself slipping—slipping into the realms of fever-induced insanity, morphing into some sort of Gollum-like creature lurking from my chair. Hours went by as I watched what seemed to be very healthy people go in before me. I silently became very impatient and greedy, and with head in hand, I began to think crazy things. That is my turn! Mine! My precious! My time to see the doctor!

I was thoroughly confused on the hierarchy of urgency they apparently have at Poclantic. One girl who was literally frolicking through the office went before me. If you can frolic, you can wait. Another asked one of the nurses to change the office TV channel. If you can focus on the TV, you can wait. Then the rest of the office was all laughing at the aforementioned frolicking girl at one point in time. If you can laugh, you can wait. If you can even smile, you can wait.

At hour marker two and a half, I had most definitely remembered what the flu felt like and also remembered why I chose to forget it. I knew my fever was high as I was nearing delusion. If I had in fact fallen into a hallucinogenic state, as I was most positive would happen if I was not called back soon, it probably would have gone something like this:

I instantaneously was no longer in my seat in the cold and sterile Poclantic waiting room but was whisked off into a strange but beautiful psychedelic field where the people had small heads and really big hands. All the colors of the rainbow were in everything. The band had green beards and wore groovy bell bottoms. There were song lyrics and Blue Meanies flying through the air, and Ringo used the hole in his pocket to save Sgt. Pepper’s band out of some weird snow globe thing.

So maybe that wasn’t so much my possible hallucination as it was a scene from The Yellow Submarine, but speaking of the Beatles, you really need to go to the theatre on March 16 as Classic Albums Live presents Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band. It is going to be glorious.

Anywho, before I reached the point of no return, I was called back. I had a 103 degree fever, and guess what, the flu. Curse you Starbucks.

So the moral of the story here is, get yourself a flu shot. It really is worth it, unless you like feeling like your head is stuck in an oven and the rest of you body is stuck in the freezer, all the while little flu meanies are beating down on your achy joints. The more important moral of the story is take some inspiration from fever-induced insanity and go see some Florida Theatre shows. Get well soon Jacksonville!

A day like this won't exist for another four years...

Last updated: 02/29/2008 15:11 EST

Happy Friday (and Leap day)!

I will admit I am still depressed after watching Robbie Carrico’s American Idol career end last night. I was rooting for him and no, I don’t think he wears a wig! Oh well, I’m voting for David now.

I am however thrilled to know that it is the weekend! Mainly because I need to mend my health and get rid of the 11 day old cold! (Yes mom and dad, I’m going to the Dr. this afternoon).

New favorite singer alert! Kevin So- he was the opening act for Keb’ Mo’ on Wednesday. This guy was amazing. He is one of those artists who have been around for a while; I just didn’t know he existed. Get it? He was an absolute pleasure to work with the night of the show. Very friendly, charming and graciously signed one of our “brick” templates for a project we are working on here.

The first song he sang- All I Need is You, is what hooked me. His mixture between folk, pop and blues was captivating and had me downloading his songs off iTunes as soon as I got home. Check him out on www.kevinso.com.
Okay, now I have shows I need you to consider and pick at least one (preferably all) to attend.

March 6- Freda Payne a Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, you don’t want to miss this endearing performance! Relive timeless classics like “Come Rain or Shine” and “Too Darn Hot”. I’m hoping maybe she breaks off and throws in one of her classics, “Band of Gold”.

March 14- Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of India, this internationally acclaimed company will mesmerize you with powerful imagery and dancing unlike any other. How often will you be able to appreciate the art of Indian performance, which is much more than just dancing-I’m looking forward to the gorgeous costumes!

March 16- Classic Albums Live, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper…it is incredible what this group can do! If you haven’t seen the other Classic Album shows we’ve had, you are missing out. Treat yourself to this one and come sing along!

March 30- JIGU! Thunder Drums of China (part of our Citi Family Series)…jigu means “beat or touch the drum” and there will be 28 talented drummers, percussionists and musicians doing just that!

Do yourself a favor and commit to one, or more! You will not be disappointed.

See you at the theatre….

KRB

The 2008 ADDY Awards!

Last updated: 02/22/2008 15:18 EST

The 2008 ADDY Awards


Advertising is an art. And art is all about expression. So what better theme for the 2008 ADDY Awards than Express Yourself? There simply wasn’t one more appropriate so the Jacksonville Marketing and Advertising Club took it and ran with it. Well first and foremost let me clear something up so that we can continue without any confusion. What was once known as JAXMAC has been renamed the American Advertising Federation of Jacksonville—yes, AAFJAX. No duck impersonations needed, thank you.

The name unveiling happened at the awards ceremony along with the distribution of many awards to deserving local advertisers and creatives. The American Advertising ADDY Awards is the biggest creative ad competition in American, and Jacksonville was poised and ready to represent. With around 300 entries from local participants such as Ruckus, Brown Dog Creative and Scott-McRae Advertising among many others, the evening began with a display of all the work showcased in the Promenade Lobby of the Theatre and the very hip Bay Street annex.

Inside the theatre, it was show time! Many a nod went out to The Robin Shepard Group, including the Best of Show award for their Jacksonville Film Festival work. The very special Silver Medal Award went out to John Caraway of Caraway, Grammel, Goldman for his contribution to the trade. In addition to all the other fantastic awards, two well deserving students were awarded $1000 scholarships. Certainly keep your eyes out for Shannon Page and Stacey Mammone. They will be tearing up the industry soon enough.

Ok. With the show over, what was there left to do? Celebrate! Commence the festivities! With our favorite DJ Eric Leffler conducting the crowd with his mad skills, the night went off. The back alley was transformed into a trendy, ultra-exclusive hot spot. The weather was perfect, the refreshments a-flowin’ and the urge to dance spread like a bunch of teenagers at a busted house party. It was quite a night to behold. Old friends reunited. New friends were made, but a fabulous time was had by all. The Jacksonville ADDYs keep getting bigger and better. So watch out 2009!

Valentine's at the theatre!

Last updated: 02/15/2008 16:16 EST

I survived another Singles Awareness, I mean Valentine’s Day. Much to my surprise, it turned out to be one of the best ever.

The day started with a single rose (thank you bossman) and ended with an uplifting experience.

Earlier this week I ran into an old advisor of mine from UNF and as we were chatting, the fact that I work at the Florida Theatre came up. He inquired about Trisha Yearwood tickets, which I assumed he would use to take his wife out for Valentine’s Day. To my surprise he wanted to bring his 17 year old son, who 11 years ago had met Trisha in Phoenix at a conference. Ever since then he has be her biggest fan and always asks his father to, “Tell Trisha I said hi!”, every time he traveled to Phoenix. So last night Tom surprised his son Christian, by bringing him to the theatre without revealing who they were there to see until he gave him the tickets. The pure excitement and overwhelming joy was moving in itself.

A big thank you to Trisha and her wonderful crew because I was able to arrange for Tom and Christian to attend the meet and greet. It was very special to be there and to hear the stories the guys shared with her. One they shared was how the song “I’ve Been Thinking About You” is their favorite and when Christian was younger they would sing it to each other in the car and point to one another on the “youuuu” parts. Unfortunately she informed them that that song was not on her set list for the night. She so graciously took the time to talk with them, listen, share, take pictures and give a few autographs.

I at this point felt so happy to have helped someone have a really special experience. Near the end of her show, she said she takes requests for songs in many different ways and tonight she wanted to play a song for Christian. And so she sang, “I’ve Been Thinking About You”. How cool! I was so moved by this and really felt like this year’s Valentine’s Day was a keeper.

Now I am gearing up for this evening....the B-52’s!!!!

During this Lenten season...

Last updated: 02/08/2008 16:48 EST

No, that spot wasn’t dirt.

Yes, I do wash my face.

12:20 on Ash Wednesday you would have found me standing in the back of Immaculate Conception. With ashes on my forehead, a few co-workers and I made the short walk back to the office, contemplating what we were going to give up. Lent being a time of repentance, many forego something they enjoy, a food or activity. I’m not what you would call a devout follower of some of the traditions of my confirmed religion, but thought that this would be an interesting and appropriate time to reflect of what I wanted to give up. Let’s see if I can do it.

1: I’m going to give up my disdain for talk radio. It used to really irritate me when I was driving to school back in the day (and yes for me that means like eight or nine years ago) with one of my parents and they would listen to talk in the morning. Ever since then I’ve never taken to listening to people talk at me in the car. The catalyst for such a transition? Our incredibly fun Saturday morning live radio broadcast of Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know. It was interactive, it was informative and it was just downright entertaining. I’m sure the sold-out crowd felt the same. So NPR, I’ll give you a shot, unless I hear anyone who remotely sounds like Rush Limbaugh. His voice gives me the heebs.

2: I’m going to give up letting people get away with not seeing at least ONE Classic Albums Live performance. If you haven’t made it out yet, then you have one more chance this season. You seriously don’t know what you’re missing. Audience and staff alike were simply blown away by these performers. I beg you. For the betterment of yourself and your ear drums, come see CAL when they present The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper on March 16.

3: Lastly, I think I’m going to give up eating by myself in my office. Having family breakfasts and lunches in the board room whilst watching that weird new television station are just too enjoyable.

Okay so those weren’t really things I would give up for Lent as much as they were shameless plugs. But hey, one must find creative outlets for marketing. Here’s one more plug: put your dancing shoes on and come see one of our three upcoming dance shows. Tonight we feature Jennifer Muller/The Works (come see the show we’ve been chatting up for weeks!) tonight, Hermitage Ballet on Sunday and Alvin Ailey on Tuesday.

Gotcha!

The only thing missing, is you!

Last updated: 02/01/2008 11:34 EST

January has left the building. Enter a PACKED February schedule.

We have a lot to offer this month and YOU need to take the time to check it out. Classic rock, dance, country, family shows- it is all here.

Next week the amazing group from Classic Albums Live will be here to perform Led Zeppelin’s IV. This is an experience unlike any other. If you were lucky enough to be here for the Pink Floyd show, you know what I am talking about. This group plays the album in its complete entirety. On February 5 immerse yourself in the classic music and talent- which will then intrigue you to check them out next month when they perform The Beatles Sgt. Pepper.

Dance. I know we have touched on this a few times and Katie let you have it in the last post, but here I go again….
Next Friday, February 8- Jennifer Muller/The Works. This company is unlike anything I have ever seen or experienced before. The showcase in New York gave us insight to what we will expect here, on our stage, and it will blow you away. The part that is really special is that local dance students will perform with the company in one of the pieces. This is where you come in. Community support for this show in particular is imperative. Students from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville University and FCCJ will be in rehearsal all week leading up to their performance with the company. Plan your Friday night now- come downtown, maybe have some dinner at Chew and then head over to the theatre.

And on a personal note….yesterday morning was one of those, can anything else go wrong kinda mornings. THANK YOU to the wonderful group of people I work with for having a Hannah Montana dance party with me. Dance parties put everyone in a better mood 

KRB

The Best Live Show You Will Never See

Last updated: 01/25/2008 16:35 EST

I’ve lived in Jacksonville my whole life—a soon to be 23 years. That’s a pretty long time to get used to a place. The way it works and the way it very much doesn’t work. Travel is a blessing. You must always get outside the little box you call home to experience exactly what else is out there…the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful for that matter. So when my beloved job takes me places, I gladly accept the invitation. Now don’t get me wrong about Jacksonville. I do love this place. It has been the setting of grand memories and almost every notable stride made to advance myself in life. But it simply does not have everything. It simply does not understand everything. We as a community have a lot of work to do. Let’s start here.

A recent trip to New York brought out the magnifier glass on my world back home. The city is incredible and if you have never been, you must make a point to go. I haven’t been everywhere, as that I’m almost sure is impossible, but I’m pretty sure there is no place just like it. I’ve been to L.A., Chicago and even Tokyo and still I was nearly floored. The heart that beats in the Big Apple is just like the one that beats in you, never stopping, always alive and in motion, thriving and growing. Jacksonville sleeps. It sometimes oversleeps, like me. New York holds treasures that Jacksonville can’t even dream of. All that sleeping is not doing too much good.

Let’s discuss one example in particular. My usual Jacksonville Sunday nights usually involve a Lean Cuisine, watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition, always crying at the end (I don’t know how they do it every darn week) and maybe if I’m feeling feisty, a late night trip to Starbucks on SR210, the only one open late enough (open 24 hours people!). My New York Sunday night blew my hometown weekend finales straight out of the St. Johns. Following a half-price Broadway show, thanks to TKTS, and a scrumptious nibble at Juniors, we gussied ourselves up for our evening. Kendall and Toni took in a night with Rockapella, an a cappella music group well known for singing many a commercial jingle, and Mary Claire and I went to see a contemporary ballet performance that was a part of the conference showcases. We had seen advertisements for Cedar Lake all over town and were lucky to even get the comped tickets.

MC sat across the room a few rows back. I was front row. The edge of the stage was a few feet away from me. The space was incredible. It was located off of this crazy street that I dubbed the Atlantic Boulevard of New York, away from the lights and sounds of Times Square which was where the hotel was. Okay, so it several blocks down, but that’s what I’m telling people.

The seats were set up like artistic bleachers. It had plain black wings, a plain black backdrop and the rather large stage area was blanketed with smooth black marley. It did not have intricate detailing like our theatre. There was no concession stand. No curtain. No frills at all. It was a straight forward performance space, but there was a purpose to this clean canvas. The actual space was not meant to woo you. What was about to happen was all your eyes could look at anyway. The theater went black and then the light came up the corp of 15 dancers in a straight line at the edge of the stage. Thus ensued one of the most incredible performances my eyes have been privileged to witness. But you will never see it.

Their bodies were like Greek gods, their dynamic movements expertly executed, their faces never wavering from any which emotion that fueled the dance. The choreography was raw, bold and engaging. It took chances. They were like dance machines, and you will never really know why. For lack of a much better word, it was incredible. And I’m so sorry to say that you will never get to share in my new-found passion for this company. You will never see them.

At least not in Jacksonville.

Let’s be honest. If it doesn’t involve sports, isn’t related to NASCAR or Hannah Montana or doesn’t rhyme with lonster stuck ally, the good majority of Jacksonvillians (Villites? Vill-steins? Whatever) won’t get it or won’t really care to get it. They definitely don’t get dance. It’s like a foreign language of a country with no tourist attraction. Nobody wants to go there, which is quite a thing since our city has close to 400 dance studios. So there are people that take dance here. They know what it is. But for some reason they don’t really want to climb out of their bubbles and see everything that dance can really be. It’s not just pink tutus and swans ladies and gentleman.

We recently brought a Russian dance troupe to our stage. The performance was jaw-dropping. Guess how many jaws dropped? Only around 100 or so. It was heartbreaking. But every one of that 100 was a better person walking out the door than they were walking in. They grew two hours more culturally. Their minds were just that much more knowledgeable about the world and about themselves. And all from what? Just getting off the couch and experiencing their city.

Everyone complains that there’s never anything to do in Jacksonville. I do it myself. Let’s reference my aforementioned Sunday evenings. The problem is there is no fire underneath most of us. There is no real yearning for culture. You don’t hear, “God if I don’t see a Irish jam band concert soon, I’ll just die!” We have to start getting excited about things we don’t know about yet. Interesting thought, huh? How do you get excited about something you don’t know about yet?

You trust us and come to our shows.

No seriously.

BUT all you really need to do is take some chances. Get out there. Ohad Naharin, the guest choreographer for the Cedar Lake performance we saw, did with his work and look where it got him—a phenomenal sold out show in New York. Some things may be awful, but now you know not to go again. The fantastic upside is you might stumble onto a gem, like we did. One that takes your breath away and you can’t stop talking about it, although it’s not really so much talking as it is just saying “Oh. My. God.” over and over again.

Take the Nike approach.

Jacksonville has so much to offer. There is a vast goody bag of activities and events going on all the time that are so under attended. Dance, folk music, art showings and theater is all over the River City. We have to open our eyes…and yes, even our wallets…to it, but it will be worth it. Promise promise.

***Note: To all of those readings this shaking their heads and thinking, “Well maybe if I knew about these things I would go, so maybe you should do a better job at advertising,” I have to say open a Folio, a Times-Union, an Entertaining U. Listen to the radio. Talk to your cool friends. It’s all out there for the taking in. You have to want to know about it. It’s very difficult to feed a closed mouth.

***Note #2: If this angers you, good. It was supposed to. Prove me wrong. You can start by coming to Cherryholmes, a family bluegrass that will knock your socks off, tomorrow at 8 pm :)

Take a look at www.cedarlakedance.com. They've got a cool video and lots of other info on the company.

Can it get much better?

Last updated: 01/18/2008 17:34 EST

Let me begin with this, Kathy Griffin is a tremendously funny lady. What a great show last night. The sold out crowd never paused for a breath while laughing from start to finish! For those of you who are Life on the D-List fans, I got to meet and chat with Tom! Woo!

Now for a little recap of NYC…I don't even know where to begin with my amazing "business" trip to New York City. Let's see, our hotel was on 6th Avenue, which is in the middle of everything! We were in walking distance of Central Park, Times Square, Broadway theatres and of course 5th Avenue (just to name a few). Through the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference which we attended, we had the opportunity to see and experience various showcases and events unlike anything I have ever seen or done.

As Katie reported last week, we were lucky enough to visit Jennifer Muller/ The Works studio to enjoy excerpts from new and old dance pieces. Incredible, this company will take your breath away. The best part of the experience, was knowing they soon would be here on our stage to share their amazing talents with the Florida Theatre. The company will be performing with local Jacksonville dance students from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville University as well as FCCJ. It is going to be remarkable to see the collaboration between this innovative company and the local talent. Take the time to experience something you may never have before and check out their performance on February 8th.

Next highlight would have to be the William Morris Agency party on our final night in the city. The entertainment for the evening was none other than blues rock musician, Joe Bonamassa. This virtuoso has graced the Florida Theatre stage before, but never have I seen a concert quite like this. In such a small space, the intimate performance had everyone dancing along. This talented guitarist as well as vocalist has a style all his own. Very crowd friendly, he shared with us how excited he was to have his record, Sloe Gin, represented 1 on the Billboard Blues Charts for 11 weeks in a row. After a few songs Joe stepped down for a break perfect timing for Katie and I to share with him the good news. The Florida Theatre has booked him again on May 2, 2008! Joe was thrilled to be returning to our beautiful theatre. He even promised us he would ride the mechanical bull at Mavericks. Joe- we are holding you to this! This guy is amazing; he will captivate you with his talent and charm. Check him out, www.jbonamassa.com, and on May 2- tickets will go on sale Friday, January 25.

Some quick memories…Rosa Mexicano, Don't Tell Mamma, "You can't dance!", 3 stories of performance booths, informative forums, my run in Central Park, Little Italy, Karen & Michael's Blendomatic, inspiration and passion for what you do all around you, watching the Jags game with just a handful of supporters around us, the luxury of showcases in the hotel, Rockapella, Avenue Q, Jim Breuer @ B.B. Kings, 3 hour delayed flight home….

Keep checking www.floridatheatre.com as well as our Myspace for updates on new shows!

Time to get ready for Roy and Junior!

Until next week….

KRB

The Rather Large Red Delicious

Last updated: 01/11/2008 17:27 EST

I’m in a New York state of mind….and that’s a good thing, because I also happen to be in New York. Sitting comfortably out of the drizzly cold in our lovely Hilton hotel room with a view of more windows, I will recap our first…and my very very first…day in the big city. The K-girls (Kendall and myself, Katie), Mary Claire and Toni have jet-setted to NYC for business, or we’ll call it that, wink nudge. We are participating in the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference that is held here every year. It is a chance to go to workshops to learn more about our field and our specific roles in our field, network with amazing people who do just what we do and view a variety of showcases that range from dance to musical theater to comedy and beyond. And hello! It’s in New York!

An interesting thing happened though last night. We were checking out one of the neat little hangouts following an incredible dinner at Rosa Mexicano, where a man was getting down on the piano. He was playing such good music that the dancer in me began to stir. My fellow K-girl felt the same, so we let the power of the groove overtake us. No sooner did we begin to move, we heard the strangest thing. “We don’t allow dancing.” What? Don’t allow dancing? That’s crazy—this is New York for Pete’s sake. Did we enter some weird Footloose twilight zone? As off as that was, we abided by their outlandish rule and sat back down to respectfully jive in our seats.

Although our dancing itch wasn’t scratched last night, it certainly will be soothed tonight. We are about to cab it to The Works studio for an open house reception for Jennifer Muller’s newest dance piece, Aria. What a pleasure it will be to be in the company of dance enthusiasts. And if you’re feeling a little jealous, I’ve got the remedy. Jennifer Muller and The Works company will be making a trip down to Jacksonville February 8 to perform right on our stage with the help of local college and high school dance students. You must make it out.

As for us, we better get going. I hear it’s tough to get a cab on Friday this close to Times Square. I know I know…what a thing to complain about! Geeze, if this is work, I never want to retire. More to come!

A New Year's Resolution: K-Girl's Style!

Last updated: 01/08/2008 10:53 EST

It's a New Year, why not write a blog?

For your viewing pleasure, as well as to see what is going on at the Florida Theatre, stay tuned each week for insight and overview from the "K" Girls (Kendall and Katie!). Check in every Friday to get your weekly fill from the Florida Theatre.

First "K" Girl up is me, Kendall!

Happy 2008! And to kick it off, three lovely Florida Theatre ladies and I will be heading to The Big Apple next Thursday for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference. For five days we will be immersed in talent, ideas, creativity and new experiences. Can't wait! Katie and I will fill you in when we return.

Now, what we are leaving you here with are some great acts next week and it is sad to know we are missing them.

To kick off the weekend check out Willie Nelson on Thursday, January 10th. This legend is about sold out! So make sure to get your tickets today. Come along and sing to your favorites...hopefully "On the Road Again", "Always On My Mind" and "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys".

Next the great Taj Mahal will take the stage on Friday, January 11th with opening act Ruthie Foster.

Mahal's music blends various sources: blues, reggae, Cajun, gospel, bluegrass, Hawaiian (in fact, Taj lived for many years on the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i), African and Caribbean musical traditions. While keeping true to their roots, he adds his own special touch. He also plays an assortment of musical instruments. He has received two Grammy Awards in the category Best Contemporary Blues Album, the first in 1997 for Señor Blues, and again in 2000 for Shoutin' In Key.

Finally, you don't want to miss the unique performance by Rider's in the Sky on Sunday, January 12th

With 29-plus years and well over 5,000 performances under their collective cowboy belt, Riders In The Sky, the multi Grammy Award winning Western music group whose music is firmly grounded in the rich American music traditions of such legendary cowboys singers as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers—are themselves the stuff of legend. There can be no doubt; Riders In The Sky are among the most historically significant acts in the history of American music.

What are you waiting for, call the box office now! 355.2787 J

So check back on Friday, January 11th for the next "K" Girl update!

KRB

Classic Albums Live Presents Pink Floyd's The Wall - Kat Berry

Last updated: 11/08/2007 16:56 EST

Hello.

Is there anybody in there?

There is something you should know about. I have figured out the key to time travel—well of sorts. It’s really easy. Just close your eyes, or keep them open for that matter, but just listen, and you’ll be whisked away to years gone by…say 1979. This grand invention is called music, really well done music. Apparently it’s been around for a while I hear, but this kind of music, courtesy of the Canadian troupe Classic Albums Live, has super powers.

Classic Albums Live is not a tribute band. They are not a cover band. They are an experience. Taking our favorite classic rock albums, they re-create them live on stage complete with every drum beat and guitar riff perfectly placed like a carbon copy of the original. There are no cheesy costumes or over flamboyant singers and absolutely no creative freedom with the songs. CAL performances are the real thing—with different faces. With precision like this, one could close their eyes and really feel like they are hearing the actual performers singing and playing their own music. It’s almost creepy.

Personally, it takes me back to the very first years of my life that I can actually remember with any detail. It was “Reading Rainbow” and that guy who drew while he narrated stories in the mornings if I was home sick, “The Muppet Show” in its final leg on the weeknights, and the weekends were always filled with open windows, a full house and music. Lots of music.

My dad still has the old school record player that taught me my very first lessons in music appreciation. Fleetwood Mac. The Who. The Eagles. Zeppelin. The Beatles. The Stones. The records sat right next to our Disney tapes on the entertainment center—a peculiar blend of sex, drugs and rock and roll embodied in the music with the sugar and spice and everything nice embodied in the videos. It was a crossing over of generations. I learned at a young age what great music was, which allowed me to be the conscious steward of great music today.

So fast forward to November 7, 2007, with CAL performing Pink Floyd’s The Wall in its glorious entirety in front of my smiling face. My memory may not be the trippy 1979 experience of the earliest Floyd fans, but it’s of growing up with an awareness not many others my age had of how incredible the music of decades before me were and still are—yeah and it’s still pretty trippy. That’s an endurance that warrants tribute bands, cover bands and bands like CAL that let you truly experience it all over again. It is…wait for it…a beautiful thing.

It was an extraordinary show. Standing ovations punctuated most of the bigger numbers, and as unfortunately small as the crowd was, the energy running through that theatre more than made up for it. So here comes the shameless plug. CAL will be bringing two more classic albums to life on our stage in the upcoming months: Led Zeppelin IV on February 2, 2008 and The Beatles Sgt. Pepper on March 16, 2008. If you even faintly recognize those bands…and if you don’t then seriously where have you been…you must come be a part of the CAL experience.

In the meantime, throw on some classic tunes on the iPod while you’re out and about. But stay warm. It’s getting pretty chilly out there Jacksonville. Don’t let your fingers go comfortably numb. Sorry, I had to do it…

2006 Usher Appreciation Party - Katharine Berry

Last updated: 10/30/2006 13:15 EST

Almost every day, I get to work with the same cast of characters, all of whom enrich this experience in one way or another. Each one of us has our own part to play to make sure the show does go on. The leads can take the spotlight most often, but it is the ensemble that deserves the recognition also. Within this ensemble is a special group of men and women who gladly volunteer their time to this theatre as ushers. Not one show goes by without a team of ushers manning the doors, taking tickets and assisting the patrons and staff. They allow for our events to run smoothly.

The service provided by each usher warrants recognition. They have their own jobs, their own lives, their own stories—where this theatre is only one chapter. With all of this, they appreciate this place that much to take time out of their busy lives to help with our mission. For that we hold an Usher Appreciation Party every year to turn the spotlight to this commendable group.

This night brings everyone together. It is a night for the ushers, but it is also a communion of the hard working staff. We all get to kick up our feet and become the served.

Held at the lovely University Club, the view of a downtown Jacksonville sunset, flooded with golden pinks and fleeting blues, was a beautiful compliment to the rising atmosphere in the banquet hall. Mingling at tables, flashes from cameras, fine dining, a few cocktails and lots of happy faces filled the space. At one point, all attention was on Sam Williams, assistant house manager and usher coordinator, who presented each and every usher with a prize from the annual raffle of gift certificates, wine packages, jewelry and other donated items. But to his surprise, the ushers pulled a switcheroo on Mr. Williams, who just so happened to be celebrating his birthday, by presented him with a gift certificate of his own as recognition for not only his birthday but for all the hard work he does as leader of the usher pack. What a team, if I may say so myself.

It gives you a warm, cozy feeling in your chest when you realize you are apart of an organization that is capable of pulling together like this—maybe that was the vodka, but looking around that room, I saw a group of people who share a common appreciation for one of the most exquisite buildings in Jacksonville and that made me smile. With our titles checked with the coats, we danced the night away…well until they made us leave, but nonetheless a wonderful time was had by all. Now we have entered another season of shows, another season for the ushers to show us yet again how important they are to this theatre. And so came to a close the annual Usher Appreciation Party. We work together, yes, but those that work and play together, stay together. That sounds like something I should embroider on some towels for the usher lounge….

Art Walk/Pet Walk - Katharine Berry

Last updated: 08/10/2006 15:39 EST

Wednesday, August 2, 2006


Most of the time, the audiences we welcome to the Florida Theatre are rather calm and collected, fitting for the particular event, but there are times when the event beckons for a crowd with a bit more enthusiasm—heart pounding, tail wagging, paw stomping enthusiasm.

The August Art Walk at the Florida Theatre was a tribute to our four-legged friends. Art Walk Pet Walk was graciously sponsored by PetGuard and garnered a fabulous turnout of both man and mutt…oh and not to forget the occasional feline.

Seriously, it hadn’t been more than 30 minutes until I heard the phrase I had been anticipating ever since the drive to the theatre.

“Man, this place has really gone to the dogs,” one man remarked with a grin of satisfaction on his face. I wonder how long he had been waiting to say that.

But clichés aside, I have never quite been surrounded by so many well dressed animals. One dog was all dolled up in her rock star sweater and black feather boa. The Art Walk must have fallen on another dog’s basketball night as he was all geared up for a game—jersey, shorts, ball and all. There were tutus. There were tiaras. There were denim dresses and patterned vests. And the rest of them, well, they were just naked I guess.

It was very satisfying to see how many people did bring their animals down to the theatre for this event. It just goes to show how much our pets affect our lives. They become more than the furry friends who gnaw holes in our socks, lick our ice cream cones and sleep on our pillows. They become the family members who gnaw holes in our socks, lick our ice cream cones and sleep on our pillows.

I have always been an animal person, having dogs and cats all my life, and I just couldn’t tell you the love I have for my cat, Simon, even when he jumps out from behind a corner, with arms flailed, in the utmost attempt to either trip me or attack my knees. He’s so precious—especially when he bites my toes while I’m sleeping, puts his paws in my cereal or rips the posters off the walls.

Now if my roommate did that, I’d probably have a problem with it. Why is it that we let our animals get away with so much? It is because of that silent bond, the unconditional love. It is because of the fact that no matter how many times you forget your animal’s birthday, or how many times you watch that Killer Octopus show on the Discovery Channel or even how many times you belt out Spice Girls in the shower, he will still love you. You’ll still find him with his head right on the pillow next to yours, lovingly panting that hot, fragrant breath right in your face. It is a beautiful thing.

So it is no wonder an event like this was so successful. People love their animals with a very special kind of love. And no, Simon was unable to make it out to the event. He and his claws had a prior engagement with the arm rests of the couch, although he did send his very best regards…

(Photo taken by Michael Cenci -- www.cenciphotography.com)

Rocky ---- Katharine Berry

Last updated: 07/10/2006 11:01 EST

Alright I'm not going to lie here. As a person with a rather busy schedule, it is not often I have the ability to take two hours out of my day to spend sitting in a dark room with eyes glued to a movie screen. I love movies--don't get me wrong--it is just that my mind works a mile a minute. That mile may not always be in a straight line, but it's working none the less, and with that said, a two hour silent movie theater experience is just the perfect opportunity for my brain to be thinking that I could be doing about 15 other things during this time. But when I was told I should come see this past Sunday's movie, which happened to be the original "Rocky", I decided that if it was for the Theatre, I would do it.

I'm not much of a sports fan, so I don't really follow basketball or football, and boxing is certainly never Tivo-ed. Knowing this was a boxing movie, I was even more hesitant, but to my pleasant surprise, I found myself chuckling here and there. I never expected there to be such a sense of humor to the movie. I then found myself really pulling for that Rocky. I should have known. No, I'm not a sports fan, but those inspirational, rags-to-riches sports movies just always suck you in--you know which ones I'm talking about. There's a whole lot of them, and this one is probably one of the forerunners.

I was talking with a friend of mine and his brother later that evening. I was asked what part of the movie was my favorite. I thought for a moment and said one of my favorite scenes was after Rocky and Adrian went on their first date and he is trying so hard to get her to come inside but does it in such an unruffled way with that irresistable sense of humor. Their reaction was, "Leave it to a girl to pick out the sentimental parts of the movie."

I wasn't going to let them belittle my favorite scene to the fact that I'm a girl. I took a deep breath in preparation for my response that was going to present the proper evidence to back up my argument. I exhaled and continued, which went something like this:

Yes, this is a boxing movie, but the beautiful thing about this movie was that a person like me who does not have any real consistent interest in boxing can enjoy the film for its obvious themes, not just for the rock 'em, sock 'em fight scenes. It is about triumph. It is about believing in yourself and reaching your wildest dreams. But it is also about love and finding that one person, without whom reaching those dreams would be a much harder task. It is about feeling complete.

So if love and dreams are just a girl thing...

Anywho, without needing to say it, but saying it anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed my two hours in the dark with my eyes glued to the movie screen. Okay I'll admit during this time my mind wandered to what I was going to wear to work the next day and to who might be calling me due to my serious cell phone addiction. But I bet with time I could completely forget the outside world and take some time for myself to just be, and enjoy a movie every now and then. Baby steps...

Jason Mraz - Katharine Berry

Last updated: 05/13/2006 00:44 EST

You know, when you’re young and you watch your favorite movie, you play for the next three hours as if you were a certain character living the scenes from the film. You repeat the dialogue over and over, don a cape and frolic around the house with that glimmer of youthful exuberance in your eyes. All of this behavior comes from a pure excitement from the experience of the movie; you just don’t want to let that excitement stop, so you relive it as best you can.

Well, my movie wasn’t on the big screen. It wasn’t even just on the stage. It was in my mind, projected onto the worldly screen through my eyes. The whole day was quite a production. I followed the stage crew and Theatre staff all day long to see the development of a big show, which just happened to be Jason Mraz, a musician who I have listened to and enjoyed for years.

Fast forward to sound check. Here is where the plot really got good... well, at least through my eyes.

“Love will never be lost on me…” Jason sang, going back and forth with the band on perfecting the sound to be revealed to an audience of swooning girls later in the evening.

It came to a point where I was sitting in the very last row of the Theatre and I took a look around to find I was the only one sitting in the audience. In fact, the only other people in the Theatre at all were the sound technician and the band. I took the liberty upon myself to just regard this here as a private concert. Or at least that is what I plan on telling everyone later.

“It only gets better,” Jason sang. To these foreshadowing lines, I cracked a smile. I sometimes like to think I am an intuitive person, and something just told me he had hit the nail right on the head with that one. The day would only get better. I felt quite smug with myself at this point, so I simply sat back in my chair to just relax in this moment and breathe in the music.

The music was at that just-loud-enough level to where you can still stand to listen, but you feel it reverberate in your body. It is music you not only feel in the sentimental sense of the word, but you actually feel it beat through your chest like a second heartbeat, a new rhythm of life.

It was the kind of music to which you just want to close your eyes and shake your head ever so slightly from side to side, with the intention of silently saying, “Damn, that’s good.”

It is an interesting sensation — the experience of a live band, one that you really appreciate. You begin a relationship with their music, which will grow as you become more attached to certain songs, certain lyrics, certain intonations in a voice. And if it is something really special, listening isn’t just listening anymore. It becomes more. It becomes the chill down your spine. It is the goose bumps on your arms. It becomes that clarity in your mind, or that feeling… that feeling that reverberates through your chest. Then to experience all this live, in front of your face, now that’s a beautiful thing.

The day did get better as I had expected. I not only got to see a great show in the evening, but that was after I got to spend the evening with the band and their crew, all of whom were just as kind and enjoyable as can be.

Now I find myself a few days after the concert singing certain songs over and over, replaying the experience in my head and frolicking around the office with that youthful exuberance in my eye, minus the cape of course. It is that exact childhood feeling that you just don’t want to let go.

As the days go on the excitement will fade, but that is the beauty about movies, especially this one. I can just close my eyes, flip to some Mr. A-Z on the iPod, and watch the day replay….

Cap-tivating with Sinbad by Toni Chadwell

Last updated: 04/28/2006 14:48 EST

I am still recovering from my bellyache last night. Sinbad partnered with the Community Asthma Partnership (CAP) to provide unstoppable laughter for their annual fundraiser. It is a rare occasion to see such a great celebrity come to town and be as real and down to earth as Sinbad. It all started when he arrived at the Jacksonville International Airport and well, the limo waiting for him at the airport couldn't locate the 6ft+ stunner. So what did he do? He got in a taxi cab and went to his hotel.

Before the event there was a reception for sponsors with Sinbad. I was anxious to greet him and take him safely into the theatre. I try not to be so star crazy when guests come here, but I have been a huge fan for many years (I loved him on Night at the Apollo). Plus, our new office "Wall Of Fame" has his picture on it several times from the previous years he has been here. When his car pulled up, it was like slow motion. His legs swung out of the car and his feet touched the ground with purpose. He was dressed in a chocolate silk suit, wore a flashy ear piece, and had a huge smile that would make you smile right back. Standing next to him I felt like a million bucks. Guests had already started to arrive and they were sitting on the front benches. Again, it was like slow motion with ooo's and aaa's. There was a little boy eating French fries and staring bashfully at Sinbad as we walked by. He offered Sinbad a fry. Instead, Sinbad shook his hand and said, "No thanks little Man. Be good to your Momma."

Sinbad had everyone's attention. The theatre was full of energy and contagious laughter. He spoke candidly about life, work, dating, parents, and so much more. He reached out to the audience and got them involved. It was like we were all sitting around the dinner table laughing out loud about the silly things we do and don't want to talk about. This went on for more than two hours.

I hope the event was a success for CAP and that we see Sinbad again real soon.

Art After Dark 2006 - Katharine Berry

Last updated: 04/27/2006 15:25 EST

Although Art After Dark has been held at the Theatre for 10 years, this was my first experience with the event. My excitement for this event had been building as we put together the displays for the silent auction. I had really enjoyed working on that project, so I knew that the actual event, the product of everyone's labor, would be well worth all the planning.

My task for the evening was to take care of the sales for the night's featured and student artists. It was a fabulous job because I finally got to put faces to the names of all the artists as I went around to hand out the sale folders at the beginning of the night. I spoke with many of the artists and their assistants, all of which were very warm, charming people.

Each floor was a different experience. The aroma from the food was all you needed to be lured up the stairs to each of the level's different buffets. The student art displays on the third floor of the Theatre were the ones that really caught my eye. Not to say the featured artists did not interest me, because there were several pieces I would have bought if my bank account would have allowed it, but I suppose I related more to the student artists.

I found myself returning again and again to the displays from the