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The Value of Film Festivals

Jim Dyar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:34:20 +0000

Twenty years ago after tripping from one side of the San Juan Mountains (Durango) to the other (Telluride), I found myself watching an outdoor movie about a downtrodden family in Romania. Later in the day, I saw Oliver Stone hanging…

What in the World is Pecha Kucha?

Jim Dyar — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:15:34 +0000

Don’t get freaked out about a weird name. Hang with us here for a moment.

We’ll get to what Pecha Kucha means in just a moment.

One reason it sounds interesting to me is it’s being hosted by Larry and Tish Harris.…

Educators Rally Against Cuts

Jim Dyar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:57:39 +0000

Anderson High School teacher Jeff Carr boiled it down to a simple resonating sentiment: “The cuts must stop!”

Carr described the fiscal storm brewing in Sacramento that threatens to further damage public education across the state and certainly impact the landscape…

A Modern Love Story

Jim Dyar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Newlyweds Esther Crance and Art Messina.

It must have been a divinely inspired connection because Riverside’s Esther Crance only posted her profile information for one day on Catholic Singles.com. After that, she got scared and took it off.

Meanwhile, following a trip to…

Killer View of Kerouac

Jim Dyar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:07:28 +0000

Back when I slugged away in the Record Searchlight newsroom, the argument surfaced again and again between my neighboring colleagues Rob Rogers and Dave Benda. They’d battle the case of who’s better: Jay Farrar or Jeff Tweedy.

Jay Farrar

Jeff Tweedy

And many…

Returning to ‘The Weir’

Jim Dyar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:58:16 +0000

It’s fairly unconventional for a cast of actors to reunite for a play they performed three years earlier.

As Redding’s Elizabeth Johnson puts it: “Usually when an actor is done with a play, it gets put behind them and they look…

Celebration of Sounds

Jim Dyar — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:27:15 +0000

I went to see one of my favorite artists, James McMurtry, perform at the Palms Playhouse in Winters this week. More on that excellent show in a minute. First, I want to highlight what looks like a stellar weekend of performances…

Anderson’s Ray Tufts at the Olympics

Jim Dyar — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:20:41 +0000

You may be following the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, which began over the weekend. As I write this, the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team just finished its opening round game against Switzerland.

Ray Tufts, an Anderson High and Shasta College graduate, is…

Turtle Bay - the Evil Empire, Really?

Jim Dyar — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:38:43 +0000

Redding City Manager Kurt Starman has been having conversations about how to cut an additional $5 million from the city’s budget.

According to a story in last week’s Record Searchlight, one such discussion reportedly involved Turtle Bay CEO (and former city…

Not So Slim Pickings

Jim Dyar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:55:34 +0000

Traditional cowboy performer Sourdough Slim performs tonight (8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5) at Bernie’s Guitar (3086 Bechelli Lane, 223-2040) in Redding. Sourdough’s show always promises a lot of laughs and he’s a yodeler deluxe (he won the 2001 Will Rogers…

Depression Busters in Black and White

Jim Dyar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:27:05 +0000

Zimmy!

Jerry!

Neil!

George Harrison

Willie Nelson

Miles Davis

SRV

Hag

Emmylou Harris

Lightnin’ Hopkins

Gram Parsons

Waylon Jennings

Bob Marley

Lucinda Williams

Freddie King

Dave Alvin

Kris Kristofferson

Medical Marijuana and the Second Amendment

Jim Dyar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:31:35 +0000

Redding resident and Army veteran Sean Merritt says he’s been denied the right to purchase a firearm at a local gun shop owned by Redding Mayor Patrick Jones. The sticking point hinges on a line on a form required by…

The Love/Hate of the Grammys

Jim Dyar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:47:29 +0000

Ahh, the great dilemma of the Grammys.

The prime-time Grammy broadcast placates the corporate music industry by shoveling forgettable acts into our faces because they have nice legs and move units at Wal-Mart.

It’s a fashion show littered with so much horrid,…

Leipzig String Quartet

Jim Dyar — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:59:40 +0000

(Correction: The original post listed the incorrect date for the Sourdough Slim concert at Bernie’s Guitar. The concert is set for this Friday, Feb. 5)

Classical music fans won’t want to miss Monday night’s concert (7 p.m.) by the Leipzig String…

Some Music Notes

Jim Dyar — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:10:21 +0000

Allison and Victor’s CD Release Party at the Vintage Wine Bar tonight (Friday) will include percussionists Joe Furnari and Mike Harris. Also, according to Furnari, guitarist Rick Garrett will stop in for tunes.

Should be a nice party with the acoustic…

Portland by Train

Jim Dyar — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:51:48 +0000

For no good reason (or, maybe for every good reason) I took an Amtrak train to Portland, Ore., this past weekend. I had such a good time, maybe I’ll try Portland, Maine, next time.

I like trains (and that’s also a…

What’s the Haps?

Jim Dyar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:46:44 +0000

Got a few things kicking around in the mailbox that sound interesting. You can’t, after all, stay trapped inside forever because of the rain.

• Tapas Downtown is celebrating its one-year anniversary from 5 to 10 p.m. tonight at the restaurant/bar…

Power Still Out For Many in Mount Shasta

Jim Dyar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:50:48 +0000

A series of snow storms pounded Mount Shasta this week and left thousands without power. It continues to be a very hazardous situation. One of the biggest problems has been the weight of the snow, which has snapped trees into…

Catch Conan Right Now

Jim Dyar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:05:12 +0000

A big blowup between NBC and Conan O’Brien has sent ratings for “The Tonight Show” soaring.

But it appears the boost will be too little too late for Conan to save his position with the illustrious program.

For those who somehow missed…

John Prine at the Cascade

Jim Dyar — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:05:35 +0000

On the short list of incredible songwriters I absolutely must see in my lifetime is John Prine. It appears I’ll get a chance right here in Redding on April 12 at the Cascade Theatre.

Though not yet listed on the Cascade’s…

Artful Connections

Jim Dyar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:48:55 +0000

I did some 2nd Saturday ArtHopping last weekend and a few key thoughts occurred to me.

• At first it seemed like the numbers of people participating might be down, but several venues reported having excellent nights.

• When I see people…

Did You Feel That Earthquake?

Jim Dyar — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:47:04 +0000

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 6.5 offshore earthquake 27 miles southwest of Eureka.

The quake happened at 4:27 p.m. Saturday at a depth of 10.2 miles, according to preliminary information on the USGS website.

I certainly felt the quake in…

Heringer’s Band Was Really Nice

Jim Dyar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:46:28 +0000

I’m so glad I didn’t miss the Andrew Heringer Band on Thursday night. I was staying home watching the college football championship game (Alabama beat Texas in a good one) when some friends called and said get on down to…

Where Capone’s Fits In Downtown

Jim Dyar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:29:19 +0000

The new Redding bar Capone’s has been in business about three weeks and co-owner Jayson Burris says the speakeasy-style lounge has exceeded the business plan so far.

Located across from the Cascade Theatre at 1724 Market St., Capone’s has been drastically…

Magnificent Show by Merle

Jim Dyar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:39:35 +0000

There was something so stripped down, honest and emotionally connective about Haggard's set. The sold-out show was a benefit for the Northern California Veterans Home and it generated about $15,000 for the cause. It was also Merle's first concert in his hometown since recovering from his recent bout with lung cancer.

Merle Haggard Show Sold Out

Jim Dyar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:19:18 +0000

It’s good to see that tonight’s Merle Haggard concert at the Cascade Theatre in Redding is sold out. Haggard is waiving his fee to make the show a benefit for the Northern California Veterans Home. That’s a nice gesture by…

The Joys of Holiday Flying

Jim Dyar — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:15:11 +0000

Considering there was a failed terrorist attack on a U.S.-bound airliner on Christmas Day, the fact that I made all my connections on flights from Oakland to Grand Junction, Colo., the day after Christmas seems like a miracle. ... Picture me in the Salt Lake City airport on the way out -- I'm running on a moving pathway with a laptop bag in one hand and guitar in the other...

On A Christmas Mission

Jim Dyar — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:04:43 +0000

It’s the time of year when many of us wonder how we can give of ourselves to the less fortunate.

There’s always plenty of opportunities at Redding’s Good News Rescue Mission . The mission is currently packed with some 160 men, women…

Rainy Day Favorite Films

Jim Dyar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:36:35 +0000

Getting outside has lost much of its appeal in the midst of these rainy, cold conditions. So we turn to indoor pursuits.

It prompts the question: What films do you feel compelled to watch again and again?

Maybe you think they’re brilliantly…

Ski Park Set to Open Thursday

Jim Dyar — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:39:03 +0000

The Mt. Shasta Ski Park plans to open its season on Thursday (Dec. 17) as some two feet of snow are expected to fall on the slopes over the next 48 hours, says ski park Marketing Director Jim Mullins.

The park currently…