Theater Review: ‘Cabaret’ by Marty Fugate The Nazi party wasn’t much of a party. Not a fun-loving bunch, those guys. Even so, their jackboots, leather accessories and sweaty outdoor rallies had a sadomasochistic, decadent association — a hint that, deep down, those Nazi boots were kinky boots. When it comes to this theory, “Cabaret” is […]
Get Out of Town: Pine Island by Su Byron Matlacha rhymes with “cachet.” It seems fitting. Less than two hours south of Venice, this unique island enclave has a cachet all its own. Known as the gateway to Pine Island, it’s an authentic slice of Old Florida, easily reached over a drawbridge. Once upon a time, Matlacha was a thriving fishing village. […]
Art News: Syd Solomon Exhibition by Marty Fugate “Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed” is a traveling exhibition looking back at an often-overlooking influence on Solomon’s abstract art — the techniques of camouflage. Like many brilliant inventions, it was a product of wartime. In 1941, the artist had enlisted in the First Camouflage Battalion of […]
Baby Face by Su Byron Remember that scene from Brazil where the plastic surgeon stretches the surgery-obsessed woman’s face like rubber until it looks like a hideous plastic mask? Old-school cosmetic surgery often had that effect, and maybe that’s why I am still ambivalent about the concept, even though I frequently report on plastic surgery […]
‘Spunk’ cries the blues in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe production by Marty Fugate “Spunk” is now working its spell on the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe stage. It’s a faithful adaptation of three short stories by Zora Neale Hurston, the Harlem Renaissance writer and folklorist. Playwright George C. Wolfe reworked her words; Chic Street Man wove […]
8 Great Venice Cocktails by Su Byron Here’s to eight amazing drinks. 1 At Beach Road Wine Bar and Bistro you can select from 70 outstanding wines, craft beers and wine-based cocktails and a menu of creative offerings. Try the white sangria, created with white zinfandel, ginger ale, oranges and lemons and Prosecco. Order […]
A Parisian Art Odyssey by Marty Fugate Paris is the city of lights — and the city of hype. The hype is especially thick when it comes to Paris’ art and artists. Blame that on “La Bohème,” “Moulin Rouge” and José Ferrer’s knee-walking portrayal of Toulouse-Lautrec. Movie and theatrical clichés fill our American noggins. (Close […]
Well-Being: The Path to Happiness by Su Byron Happier people are healthier people. Here’s how to get there. The pursuit of happiness is more than a philosophical quest—it’s good medicine. Studies show that happy people are healthier people; having a positive attitude has positive results. Optimism, hopefulness, enthusiasm, engagement and other upbeat traits are associated […]
NEW YORKERS IN SPACE by Marty Fugate Imagine an alien starship. Close your eyes and try real hard. See it now? Got a clear picture in your mind? It’s wrong. Whatever you’re imagining is a rip-off from faded memories of Star Trek, Star Wars, the Alien series or something. That’s not it. Now try to […]
Get Out of Town: Everglades City by Su Byron As “cities” go, Everglades City is a dot on the map. This tidy, quaint village in Collier County is home to about 700 year-round denizens—and a vacation mecca to thousands of visitors from around the planet, including eco-tourists, adventurers, fishermen, hikers, bikers and photographers. They come […]
“She Loves Me” is a Sweet Sampler of a Musical by Marty Fugate “She Loves Me” is set in a perfume shop. It might as well be a candy shop. This sweet, Whitman’s Sampler of a musical is the latest Players production. Joe Masteroff wrote the script; Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick created the music […]
How to Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist by Su Byron Contemporary dental care is astonishingly precise and pretty much pain free. Fear of dentistry. It’s a running gag going back to the Three Stooges—all those cringe-worthy scenes of a victim squirming in a chair while the dentist reaches for a pair of pliers and […]