http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo GO columnist Georgette Braun is curious about a lot of things. She'll answer your questions, pose some of her own, and comment on everything from entertainment to life and death. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:01:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The first story I've written for our new GO Relax section that will run Saturdays in the newspaper deals with, well, ways to relax. Some laugh about it, others smell the roses (or rose oil, anyway), and the list goes on. Tell here in comments about your stress-busters. http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/11/06/stressed-out-whats-your-fix/ Walk through the Screamatorium Haunted House in South Beloit from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday for the Dark Stalkers experience. Each group is given one glow stick and upon entering the haunted path at 6512 Manchester Road, the group is left alone to find its way out in darkness. ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/11/04/post-halloween-haunt-with-no-path-one-glowstick/ The days of pureed peas and lukewarm meatloaf are gone at today's retirement communities. So says the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, which is hosting its own "Iron Chef" competition Monday through Wednesday at McCcormick Place Lakeside Center in Chicago. The group has 5,300 member organizations. Christina Fox ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/11/03/rockford-retirement-community-chef-in-chicago-culinary-contest/ Are you scared of self-checkout machines? I've used the one at the Hilander (a Kroger store) on Main Street and Riverside Boulevard in Rockford just once. I tend to avoid it because I don't want to make a mistake and feel foolish. I'm not alone. Researchers studied the patterns at a lane ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/11/03/we-best-shed-fear-of-the-self-checkout-machine/ Hard rockers Shinedown, Papa Roach and Halestorm will play at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the MetroCentre, 300 Elm St., Rockford. Tickets cost $32.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at metrocentre.com, 815-968-5222 and the MetroCentre box office. Shinedown is known for hits "Save Me," "Devour," "Second ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/11/02/shinedown-papa-roach-halestorm-at-metrocentre-dec-15/ J.R. Sullivan, who founded the now-defunct New American Theater in downtown Rockford that is informally being referred to as The Sullivan Center at 118 N. Main St., won't make it for a variety show there that he has led for 15 years. So Hometown Holiday will not be held this December, ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/11/02/jr-sullivan-wont-be-home-for-holiday-show-here-so-its-on-hiatus-a-year/ The 2005 documentary, "The Real Dirt on Farmer John," featuring John Peterson, owner of Angelic Organics in Caldeonia, will be presented Saturday and Tuesday at Film Streams' Ruth Sokolof Theater in Omaha, Neb. The film is one of eight documentaries in the American Stories film series presented with the Nebraska Humanities ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/10/29/local-farmer-documentary-on-omaha-screens/ A third Ghost Tour by LOLTOS at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, has been added after two tours sold out. The new tour will be at 9 p.m. Saturday.  Arrive by 8:45 p.m. Cost is $10. Reservations are required. 815-968-2722, ext. 12. http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/10/29/third-ghost-tour-added-at-coronado/ The Oct. 15 Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center 125th anniversay fundraising dinner at Franchesco's Ristorante in Rockford netted the group $46,000. Coming up soon is Emily Bear, 8, of Rockford performing  at 7 p.m. Nov. 19, at the center at 415 N. Church St. Cost is $15. 815-964-9713. She'll play piano after ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/10/29/mendelssohn-fundraiser-nets-46000/ The 2009 Murder Mystery Dinner at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort in Rockford on Oct. 17 netted the Pec Playhouse Theatre more than $5,500, including silent auction items. It was the fifth annual event for the Pecatonica theater, and money from "Terror in TV Land" will help fund theater programs and pay the ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/askgeo/2009/10/29/tv-terror-fundraiser-nets-pec-theater-more-than-5500/