If by any chance you caught Thursday’s Spree segment on Channel 7’s AM Buffalo, got revved up about the Infringement Festival that starts next week, and decided to go to the website listed onscreen, you probably noticed there was no there there. Here’s the correct link. True, you can find the entire schedule in this week’s Artvoice, but take it from me: you’re much better off going to the site to confirm things before heading out for a day/night of show-hopping. There are, I kid you not, over 600 performances scheduled in over 50 venues this year, and there are bound to be lots of last-minute changes.

Oh, and if you want to learn more about those “Entertaining Angels” who were on the tv show and are part of the fest, here’s their site.

Kinda lookin’ like I’m double booked and not going to make it to any of Punkt, the ultracool international typography conference taking place in Buffalo right this very minute. Even so, I’ve enjoyed following the online coverage of the event, particularly this pre-conference blog thread on where to find good coffee–as well as sushi, microbrews, and, uh, bacon–in Buffalo. It’s a revealing, often amusing look at what goes through the heads of (admittedly style-savvy, dare-I-call-them-snobbish?) out-of-towners in an anticipation of a trip to our town. You’ll laugh, you’ll gnash your teeth, you might even “pine for ligatures.” Fortunately, Buffalo organizers bow in now and then to set these folks straight.

Oh, and there are still a few more days of activities left, many of them–including Friday’s Gusto at the Gallery and a late-night concert by Odiorne and other bands at Mohawk Place–open to the general public. If you’ve been to anything thus far, I’d love to hear about it in the comment section, so I can feel all the worse about missing everything.

Films opening this weekend:
The Dark Knight - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Regal Quaker; Transit Drive-In; Flix
Mamma Mia! - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; McKinley Mall Dipson; North Park Dipson; Flix
Space Chimps - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; McKinley Mall Dipson; Flix
And When Did You Last See Your Father? - Amherst Dipson

Guillermo del Toro goes behind the camera again to continue the saga of everyone’s favorite demon on Earth, working for the government to fight evil, in Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. Having already worked on a sequel in his career with Blade II, I had high hopes for this work to improve upon the solid first installment. Being that he was the second director in as many films for that vampire series, he was able to come in with a fresh eye. Here, however, he may be too close to the material and thus been subjected to the sophomore curse of trying to be bigger and better, yet only making it stuffed with fluff rather than anything with increasing value. By no means is the movie unentertaining or unenjoyable, on the contrary it is a good action flick. My problems lie with the fact that del Toro decided to leave behind the simplicity of tone and plot that worked so well in the first. Instead he has brought to screen a bloated, highly comedic, and much lighter entry to the series. The transitions between laughs and borderline melodramatic moments are too abrupt and confusing without any time to recover from one before going to the other. With a few cringe-inducing scenes evened out by some stellar effects, creatures, and choreographed fights, Hellboy 2 ends up being a mixed bag whose whole isn’t consistent enough to allow us to forget those times when it does derail.

For completion of review, click comments…

Films opening this weekend:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Transit Drive-In; Flix
Journey to the Center of the Earth - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Transit Drive-In; Flix
Meet Dave - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Flix
Savage Grace - Amherst Dipson

Roman de gare is a very complex film that begins almost too convoluted, but ends on a perfect note of closure. A story about a man on a journey for research on his next book becomes a visualization of the same suspense aspects he is manifesting in his head for the novel. We as an audience are hard-pressed to decide whether this man is truly a writer, a teacher who has left his school and family behind, an escaped serial killer magician, or, yes, God himself. Much like the soon to be lead role in his latest masterpiece of fiction, he actually becomes each one, playing the parts at just the right time until we finally see how everything that occurs has been orchestrated by his actions. It is not that he meant for it all to happen, no, chance and fate played a part as well. However, when all is said and done, Pierre Laclos has put his hands to the dough and molded a series of events in the real world to mirror the freedom he has in his mind when composing his thrillers. An unlikely God, Laclos takes himself seriously for once and decides to step out of the shadows that have been shrouding him for too long. The ghost is ready to take shape.

For completion of review, click comments …

As I mentioned in a very small piece in the July/August Spree, I only recently became a Beach Boys addict. With the help of Ron Ehmke’s stellar BB collection, as well as Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, And Redemption of Brian Wilson, Peter Ames Carlin’s utterly fantastic bio, I’ve been schooling myself. The news that Brian was touching down at the Fallsview Casino came at just the right time.

The show was last night, and it was a wonderful, glorious, slightly odd experience. The setlist was wayyyyy heave on the hits, shockingly so. “Wouldn’t it be Nice,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations”—this was a greatest hits set, and I did not expect it would be, nor did Ron. (My wife and I were a little annoyed he didn’t play our wedding song, “Don’t Worry, Baby,” and I was dying to hear “Heroes and Villains,” but you can’t hear everything, I guess.)

Hearing these songs was truly joyous, and watching Brian sit on a stool on the stage, I thought of the long, difficult life he’s had. That he is alive, and performing, is a true triumph. Yet I couldn’t help but feel fearful through much of the show. Watching Brian is like watching my grandmother walk down icy steps—I’m afraid there’s about to be some horrible catastrophe. He still seems fragile as a sheet of glass, especially when moving. Several times, he got up to move to the back of the stage and bow, and each time the move was awkward and clumsy. All of these observations are not criticisms, mind you; merely things that one could not help but notice.

These details added up to make a truly memorable show. (Frequent Spree contributor Joe Sweeney captures the mood well in his review of the show in today’s Buffalo News.) At one point, Ron turned to me and said something along the lines of, “This band sounds better than the Beach Boys ever would have in concert.” And that’s great. His band is solid, even if a few notable Wondermints were missing. Brian Wilson continues to find ways to reclaim his legacy, and even if he still seems a tad shaky, he also seems relaxed and comfortable in his own skin.

And by the way, he debuted two songs from his much-buzzed new album, due in September. One of them, at least, was a mind-blower, a tune that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Flaming Lips disc. That’s something to smile about.

Summer heat is rough on me. Slows me down to thunk. While plunking through my desk phleh, I sparked a bit when I refound a Springtime ad for this dress, only in the ad the model had removed the shoulder straps and added a rope belt under the first tier layer. The website image doesn’t do it justice. Killer gorgeous belted and suitable for so many figures. Perfect for over jeans, too. Still expensive, but at least now it’s on sale for $525. If you’re looking for a piece to have in the closet for big summer nights or to stand out at the crowd at Cecilia’s, this is it. For understated-sexy, try Martin + Osa’s floral print dress. While at M + A, look for the gray cover-up with bell sleeves. It looks like the perfect fix for sunning and running and sunning again.

I have fond memories of a Lionel train set my father and I had when I was little, and even though the hobby didn’t last beyond my single-digit years, many adults are train obsessives. (See the late, great Bobby Bacala, shot dead at the train store on The Sopranos, or Neil Young, a minority shareholder.)

So neat news for train-spotters: the upcoming annual convention of the Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA), featuring more than 1,000 club members will be held in Buffalo at the Adam’s Mark Hotel on July 20–26.

It’s a chance for Thomas the Tank-loving tots to gorge on all things Lionel, and for dads to grow misty-eyed at the sheer nostalgia of it all. For more info, visit Lionel’s website.

Films opening this week, the annual Will Smith holiday bonanza:
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Regal Quaker
The Children of Huang Shi - Amherst Dipson
Bigger, Stronger, Faster - Amherst Dipson
Hancock - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Regal Quaker; Flix; Transit Drive-In

Hancock has the kind of premise that you wonder why it took so long for someone to put it on the big screen. With the plethora of comic book movies coming to cinemas this decade, it was only a matter of time before we were given a tale of a washed up superhero, drunk and lonely, being berated for his destruction rather than praised for his bravery. Alan Moore delved into this realm with his graphic novel Watchmen, (for which it seems Zack Snyder has not massacred turning it into a film itself), and Pixar’s The Incredibles touched a bit on the subject with the disbanding of heroes by the government, however, here is something different. This guy doesn’t hide his identity or pretend he is something he’s not. No, he lets it all out on the line and most of it is unflattering and just plain rude. Jaded from the lack of respect he receives, John Hancock finds that he’d rather wallow away in solitude than try and make people like him. Sure he will still go out and help where he can, while making 9 billion dollars worth of damage, but when he’s done, it’s back to the bar and the bottle, his only friends in the world.

For completion of review, click comments…

In honor of men’s fashion weeks ending and starting all around us around the world, I thought I would mention Bonobos. Not to be confused with the endangered Bonobos (f/k/a pygmy chimpanzees), one of the two species making up the chimpanzee genus, Pan, the group from which we humans split, the Bonobos I’m talking about are pants, men’s pants that fit an athletic man’s body. As soon as I saw the slacks (no jeans) on the website I thought, “There have to be a bunch of guys who would love these.”

Or maybe these in a solid color. Unfortunately, I can’t get past the name. Sure, this chimp is known for its finesse with the ladies (where its cousin, the regular ol’ chimpanzee would rather fight), the imagery and semantic inconsistency of it all messes with my head. Say what you will about them, at least with Dockers the name never kept me from evaluating the shape of the guy walking in them. When I see the “Bonobos” label, however, mind wanders off to flirtatious pygmy chimps, Zippy the Chimp throwing birthday cake at his chimp friends, and Darwin’s study of Galapagos birds, destroying any chance I have at saying anything coherent during an introduction.

So tell your clothes designer friends to keep the idea but reconsider the branding. It’s like all those sweat pants that say “HOTTIE” across the buttocks, and how counterproductive that message is. We know you’re all randy, guys. You just come across more that way if you don’t have it sewn into your big boy pants. (Image from here.)

Oh, and apparently Zippy the Chimp still loves a good bash. Thanks WCA.

For those of you tired of reading about men and chimps, check out the Jenny Ayayo blog.

If you read Spree, or if you write for Spree, take a moment out to mark the death of Clay Felker, the founder of New York magazine, and the guy who really invented the City/Regional magazine as we know it today. There isn’t a word that I write for publication that isn’t influenced by the style he helped to create, and that’s probably true for just about everyone working in magazine journalism today.

I love it when my skin genius is confirmed. During this week’s style shoot for the September issue, somebody touched my forearm then said, “Wow! You’re soft!” So, what have I been experimenting with? One Brazil-based butter, one soul softener, and one volcano.

Nidasii’s Babassu Butter is killer, so killer that I just left my own jar with a friend overseas and I only give her stuff from my personal must-have stash. Work enough of this product into your knees, heels, ankles, and everywhere on the leg not covered by a skirt, then hit the forearms and elbows up to the shoulders, decolete and neck, and there you have it: fabulous skin luster - a jar of skin luster. Perfect for Friday and Saturday night glow, or days when you want to show off your legs without stockings. Time for me to reorder …

Africa Spa Salt Scrub with Shea Butter. The next time you’ve worked hard in the yard, have sweated yourself silly at a sport, or ended the day feeling beach-fried, grab this baby from The Body Shop’s Spa Wisdom collection. Then take a quick warm rinse in the shower before calmly coating yourself while you let the water fill in the bath. This product requires no effort, really. It’s not a bit messy because it clings to your skin like a thin coating of mud, won’t irritate, and dries quickly. I don’t even rub again after putting it on. There’s something beneficial enough about the coating and drying process. Then slip into the tub for a few minutes. Purifies and exfoliates without the mess, and leaves you with a light coating of shea butter. Great for the skin, a solid for the soul. The Body Shop.

Iceland produces many things, but one of my favorites is a bus ride through a 1200 year old volcanic-discharge area to get to the Blue Lagoon. It’s not scary or hike-ish, either. It’s a twenty minute, inexpensive (I think) trip, where you get off the bus, walk up the asphalt path, and enter the efficient and Euro-organized spa, equipped with great lounges, showers, cafe and changing areas - you get it. Then you put on your suit and walk a few feet out the door and into a big pond/small lake - heated by a geyser that spews smoke from the center of the water. The water is filled with a silica that produces very big Texas hair for a few days afterwards and I figured that what was good for making our hair so large (and impossible to wash out) had to be great for the skin.

Actually, I know it is. I found the Blue Lagoon product line years before visiting Iceland and experienced how the silica mud mask works to dry out acne break outs, fast. It’s also supposed to have fabulous curative properties for psoriasis. Put the mud on, turn scary, scary white as it dries, then shower off. I think of this as a curative/cleansing product, not a scrub and not a body lotion. It does, however, get your skin prepped for your favorite softening agent afterwards.

It’s earth science, and for me, that makes it so cool.

After running in ShoeFly’s Stilleto Run Wednesday night, my poor feet needed some serious attention - right after I downed my complementary finish-line martini, that is. (I don’t have photos because, gosh darn it, this time I was a participant.)

All this, of course, brought to mind three nail products I have found: nuBAR’s Vineyard Collection, Sephora’s Cuticules, and OPI Nic’s Sticks.

Perfect for any nail-girl is nuBAR’s Vineyard Collection. It’s not just that the product comes in a nice (gift!) kit full of eight great shades, from Corvina and Cabernet to Muscato, I adore that the polish went on cleanly. Dark is hard for DIY’er nail girls, and I appreciate anything about a product’s consistency and brush that helps the application. nuBAR is big on carcinogenic-free nail care products, so each polish in the nuBAR collection is free of formaldehyde, toluene, and phthalate. Don’t make me type that again.

I don’t leave home anymore without my Cuticule pen from Sephora. Honest. Bad cuticles is what drives me to the manicurist, and the Cuticule pen gives me a reprieve almost as soon as I put it on. Twist the end, watch the product start to ooze out, then brush around the edges of the nail. I grab all my friends’ hands and swipe them whenever I can. Love this one. Love it.

OPI’s Nic’s Sticks are another easy way to make sure you’ve got coverage available when your life has you traveling around from place to place - never knowing what’s next. Suddenly something neat comes up or there’s a shoe change from sneaker to, well, let’s say, stiletto, and you want to look a bit more together on the - um - run? Keep a Nic’s Stick in your bag. Fast drying, easy on, and tons of colors. The brush only lasts so long, but what the heck. It’s never too soon to grab the next shade.

Films opening this weekend:
Wanted - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Flix; Transit Drive-In
Roman de Gare - Dipson Eastern Hills
The Promotion - Dipson Amherst
Mongol - Dipson North Park
Wall-E - Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Flix

Robots falling in love. There is a lot to like about the new Pixar film Wall-E. The animation goes without saying—better than anything out there. The glares, the environments, everything is rendered spectacularly, right down to the flame of a Zippo lighter. As for the story, leave it to these wizards for creating a tale that hits on a gut level, letting our simplest emotions come to the surface in order speak to our hearts and souls. With fewer words than Arnold Schwarzenegger had to speak in Terminator 2, this movie relies on its visuals and on the movements and actions of the characters. It is appropriate that we are shown clips from older musicals to show humanity before Earth was abandoned. If we harken back to them for the joys of people, why not go to silent era style in order to portray communication between beings that cannot speak? Wall-E, his crush EVE, and all the other robots involved can say little than their name, however, we understand exactly what they mean throughout. The entire film speaks on a level that most people might have forgotten. In an age of Hollywood spoon-feeding the masses by having actors preach the obvious, Pixar has shown their originality again by getting an audience to partake in a film that makes them pay attention and work a little; something that the message of the piece is trying to have come across for humanity in general.

For completion of review, click comments…

I was having a conversation last night with a veteran watcher of the Buffalo music scene, and when the subject turned to venues, he said, “You what’s not a bad place to see a show? Club Infinity.” I had to agree. Located on Main Street in Williamsville (!), it’s a solid venue that usually features an eclectic lineup, if you can tolerate the idea of seeing a rock show in the Northtowns.

Creepy case in point? Buckethead! The erstwhile former Guns N’ Rose-r, who was part of the band during phase 47 of the still-ongoing Chinese Democracy ordeal, brings his KFC bucket to Infinity on July 28.

And before then is a very cool show dubbed the Buffalo 100, featuring “fifty of Buffalo’s best up and coming unsigned rock and metal bands,” according to the press release, on July 11-12. The full lineup for the weekend is posted at the Buffalo 100 Official Myspace Page.

Films opening this weekend:
Get Smart - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Flix; Transit Drive-In
War, Inc. - Dipson Amherst
The Rape of Europa - Dipson North Park
The Love Guru - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Flix; Transit Drive-In

I’ve always been told that if you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything at all. So, I have to tell you all the best parts of the new Michael Myers vehicle, The Love Guru. You’ve got one really funny joke about Guru Pitka’s mom getting a job that kills even though it was in the trailer, Stephen Colbert finally hits one out of the park as a robot cyborg after failing three previous times to elicit any laughs, Jessica Alba is gorgeous as always if you overlook her atrocious acting abilities, and Justin Timberlake shows he has no shame and steals every single second of screentime he is given. If Jacques “le coq” Grande had his own film, I’d pay to see it. Being that he is included in one that relies on physical humor, asinine wordplay, sexual innuendo, and Myers making a complete idiot of himself as he kills the funny out of every only slightly funny gag he does, Timberlake becomes the only reason I can say it was worth going to a free preview. The Love Guru is quite possibly the worst film I have ever seen and once I’m done writing this review I am going to crawl into bed and cry as I remember So I Married an Axe Murderer and the times when Myers could do no wrong (thanks for the Wayne’s World callback Mike, you actually made me realize how inferior this film is more).

For completion of review, click comments…

A few weeks ago, following the death of director-actor Sydney Pollack, I made a very brief post highlighting his acting work in Woody Allen’s Husbands and Wives and Stanley Kubrick’s misunderstood, misconstrued swan song, Eyes Wide Shut. Interestingly, I stumbled today on this article by writer David Schwartz which analyzes the strange character of Victor Ziegler, played by Pollack, in Eyes.

It’s another example of the growing analysis of the film that has sprung up in the years since its 1999 release, including writer David Herr’s wonderful memoir-cum-bio, Kubrick, and the British Film Institute’s trippy book by Michael Chion. Definitely required reading for Kubrick obsessives, or those looking to pay tribute to Pollack.

Films opening this weekend:
The Incredible Hulk - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Flix; Transit Drive-In
The Fall - Eastern Hills Mall
Fugitive Pieces - North Park
Standard Operating Procedure - Dipson Amherst
The Happening - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; Regal Elmwood; Regal Transit; Regal Galleria; Flix; Transit Drive-In

Ah, M. Night Shyamalan. The man who was overrated until I saw the masterpiece that was The Village, followed up by the beautiful fairy-tale Lady in the Water, vaulting him into my must-see echelon, no matter what preconceptions I have based on trailers or word-of-mouth. Well, my blind faith has somewhat let me down in this instance. No, it wasn’t the left wing agenda that is subtly prevalent throughout, nor the blatant “news brief” used to shove said agenda down our throats at the end. What happened instead was really just disappointment. I saw The Happening as either being a darker version of the love stories he had told in the previous two films, or a return to the phenomenon of thrills territory with The Sixth Sense. Instead, I received a mediocre attempt at a straight-shot film, trying its hardest (and a bit too hard) to keep some of his trademark humor while beefing up the gore and blood to get his first R-rating. I should have seen the writing on the wall from the fact that the strong rating was used as a marketing push because, truthfully, it all kind of came across as forced. Not always, but much like the rest of the film, when we got something that worked on all cylinders, it most likely would be followed by an utter failure of tone, acting, set, or execution.

For completion of review, click comments …

Expect more information in upcoming issues or here on the blog on these recent finds.

Plump Lips by Freeze 24/7. Feels like a lot of mint on your lips for about 90 seconds, and then, voila. Fuller lips. Not Liv Tyler plump. Not injection mishap plump. But absolutely plumper. Cruelty free (to four-legged creatures, anyway) and animal by-products free. Another must have on the list.

The Porsche Design Mobil Phone P’ 9521. One highlight in the SATC movie was when Carrie looked at all the iconography on Louise’s iPhone screen for a sec, then tossed it back saying, “I can’t use this.” If somebody tossed me this phone, I’d take the time to learn. I don’t care how much of a label sucker it makes me. I’d so take the time. s

(More in a sec …)

It’s a busy weekend of events in WNY, but I’m actually most excited about Blondie’s concert this Saturday (June 14) at the Seneca Niagara Casino.

Interestingly, the last time the band played Western New York was the second Rockin’ at the Knox two years ago. I can recall posting my disappointment at the booking on the blog, which then started quite a series of replies. Looking back on it, I didn’t mean to sound like a Harry hater. It was more the concept of this band playing this show. Following up the previous year’s Wilco/My Morning Jacket bill (which, as time passes, seems like one of the strongest pairings in local concert history), it just seemed … wrong.

Tomorrow’s show is different. A headlining gig at the Seneca Niagara Casino seems ideal for a band such as this, a group that had many, many hits, albeit, several years ago. Interestingly, the band is touring for the anniversary of the great Parallel Lines, a real classic that I must admit I finally heard in its entirety just a few months ago.

Some might find such a tour concept shticky. However, with Talking Heads disbanded, most of the Ramones deceased, and Richard Hell seeming kind of creepy, I find it endearing to see Blondie still performing, and finding ways — not necessarily artistically relevant ways, but ways nonetheless — to repackage their live show around a “new” concept. It should make for a show that pleases those seeking sing-along radio favs, and music-heads with skeptical ears.

I took a header off of my bicycle yesterday and spent the rest of the day wrapped in bags of BirdsEye frozen peas and ace bandages

I’m a living, breathing cartoon catastrophe.

But the truly bad part is that I am behind on mentioning past and upcoming events. Tomorrow night is the opening of Roland Wise’s estate collection at Michael Donnelly Interior Design, 1534 Hertel, previously featured here. Want to meet possible future dates but tired of coffee houses, bars, and Facebook? Try an opening. I’m going for the wine, great art sale, and the latest in Donnelly’s furniture collections. I’ve already had enough sparks for the week. Starts at 5:30. Check out 20th Century Finest for more information.

But do yourself a favor. Don’t think of Michael Donnelly Interior Designs showroom as a typical furniture store. It makes more sense if you make believe that for a brief spot of time, you have credentials and are allowed inside a showroom typical accessible only by the trade, the type of insider’s view allowed only to professional interior designers. You walk in and shake your head in disbelief because with almost every second step you think to yourself, “I could so work with that.”

As for my appearance, I’ll be there hoping to blend in like steampunk wallpaper. When I told one friend about my fall, I added that what I needed was a body helmet, he said I already had one: a car. Another described two near misses he and his son had cycling around inattentive drivers. Delaware Avenue is like a highway nightmare and Elmwood is so busy, cyclists blend in with all the visual noise. Hertel feels a hybrid of the two. In our efforts to be responsible and lower gas consumption costs, I suppose we have to be careful not to end up spending more on doctors and band aids. And if you are a dedicated driver, as perhaps I should be, learn to expect the unexpected bicyclist.

I’m driving to show. It’s so much easier to bring everything home afterwards.