Ask Geo

OMG, good thing I don’t go to movie theaters very much

Georgette Braun — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:28:46 +0000

A medium-size popcorn and medium soft drink at the nation’s largest movie chains pack the nutritional equivalent of three Quarter Pounders topped with 12 pats of butter, according to a review released Wednesday by the consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest. Read this Chicago Tribune story for more.

Faith Center hosts free Thanksgiving dinner for 400

Georgette Braun — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:29:44 +0000

Faith Center, 4721 S. Main St., Rockford, will host a free dinner Wednesday, Nov. 25, for about 400 people.

Dinner will be served from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and reservations are required. Register at thankfulfriendsdinner.com or call 815-964-8000.

You may attend the event without having dinner from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be music and giveaways, including plane tickets from the Chicago Rockford International Airport.

Should pot be legal? Cheech & Chong think so

Georgette Braun — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:01:42 +0000

Comedy duo Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong will appear at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. Tickets go on sale at 4:20 p.m., a time associated with cannabis, on Friday at coronadopac.org, 815-968-0595 and the box office at 314 N. Main St., Rockford. They cost $50 or $35.
For this tour, “Cheech and Chong: Get It Legal,” the duo has partnered with the Marijuana Policy Project. Chong’s wife and comedy partner Shelby Chong will open, and DJ Joey Mojo will perform.

Should marijuana use be legal?

Rockford College professor’s donation in bonus scenes for Lena Extreme Makeover

Georgette Braun — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:46:33 +0000

Chemistry professor Deborah Breiter of Rockford College was slated to be included in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” last Sunday about the Stott family from Lena, but her scene did not make the final cut.

You can see her segment from the show’s online bonus scenes here. Crews filmed her during their taping of the construction of the Stott home in September. She is shown donating lab glassware to family members and demonstrating a fun experiment, making ice cream with liquid nitrogen in the lab.

Local music awards nomination deadline Dec. 1

Georgette Braun — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:34:20 +0000

Until Dec. 1, you can nominate local musicians for Rockford Area Music Industry Awards in categories that include rock, Latino, Christian, jazz, gospel and more by going to the group’s Web site here.

You can vote online from Jan. 1 to March 20 to choose winners, but only RAMI members can vote for the technician awards. The 19th annual RAMI Awards Ceremony will be April 29.

The organization also has outlined at its site how it selects winners for the Lifetime Achievement, Community Service, Outstanding Achievement and D.J. awards.

Other related dates: Jan. 30, deadline for nominations for recordings for song, composer and album of the year awards, as well as Youth Charity Jam application deadline; Feb. 27, jam auditions; March 27, jam. Auditions, jam, awards ceremony take place at Tebala Shrine Temple in Rockford.

KATY MULL | RRSTAR.COM
Fall Asleep Sober vocalist Brandon Torzeski, 16, of Machesney Park
performs Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, at the Rockford Area Music Industry
Youth Charity Jam Auditions at Tebala Shrine Temple in Rockford. The RAMI
Charity Jam is scheduled for April 3, 2009, at Tebala Shrine Temple
with proceeds going to the Gary S. Wilmer Memorial Scholarship Fund
administered by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.

If Mary E. Larson can go outside her comfort zone, so can we

Georgette Braun — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:40:31 +0000

Did you learn to swim later in life? Are you in your 30s and decided to give up your job as a lawyer to make cookies for a living? What have you done after deciding it’s never too late to start something new? Post your comments here and read about Mary E. Larson of Pecatonica here. She’s an actress this weekend in her first play since high school.

Why I appeared as Catwoman

Georgette Braun — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:02:09 +0000

In case you were wondering, I donned a Catwoman costume last Friday, the 13th, for a black-cat-themed luncheon fashion show, Puttin’ on the Glitz (other photos here), to benefit SwedishAmerican’s Regional Cancer Center.

(Me and Kevin Haas, KHaas Theory writer, who also was in the show.)

Former Rockfordian plays at Carnegie Hall venue

Georgette Braun — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:53:48 +0000

Joe Jencks was a member of Kantorei, The Singing Boys of Rockford, Dorothy Page Turner’s Black Theater Ensemble and performed at shows put on by Charlotte’s Web for the Performing Arts in Rockford.

On Saturday, the American folk song singer and guitarist who graduated from Boylan High School in Rockford in 1990 will perform at Brooklyn College. Each day this week, he is performing in the intimate Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The Zankel shows bring elementary school students in for interactive concerts.

Caledonia artist donates works for Extreme Home

Georgette Braun — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:31:11 +0000

Caledonia photographer Sherry Pritz of Pritz Photography donated art work for the home of the Stott family of Lena, who were featured Sunday night on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

Pritz’s work captured images of the Nachusa Grasslands in Ogle County and complemented the “country” theme designers pursued for the Stott home.

The Stott home on a 39.9-acre farm had been destroyed by fire.

Taylor Swift could take top CMA award tonight, wonder if MetroCentre could get her back now

Georgette Braun — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:32:56 +0000

Country singing sensation Taylor Swift, 19, is the “hottest ticket in music,” and could take the top prize at tonight’s CMA awards, so says a headline on this Associated Press story.

Swift appeared at the MetroCentre in Rockford two years ago, opening for Brad Paisley. (See Register Star story HERE.) I get tired of hearing that the MetroCentre doesn’t book hot acts. True, she’s even hotter now than then. Wonder if the MetroCentre will try to get her back as top headliner anytime soon?

(Register Star photos by Scott Morgan)