What to do in Oklahoma on July 29
Today’s featured event:
TULSA – Hear Texas-based rock band the Toadies, along with The Whigs and The Effects at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 North Main Street.
Doors open at 7 p.m.; the show starts at 8 p.m.
For more information, go to www.cainsballroom.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
The airport and Ali Harter
Approximately 25 hours after I was originally scheduled to return to Oklahoma City from my weekend assignment in New York, I stumbled into the baggage claim of Will Rogers World Airport. I missed my goal of making it back to OKC by midnight by about 45 minutes.
Exhausted, rumpled and totally bemused by most of my travel mishaps, I made it back home to the BAM Cave less than an hour ago.
One of the few aspects about air travel that I actually enjoy – and I assure you that’s a list that’s gotten steadily shorter over the course of this day – is the weird way you encounter people you know far from home. I’ve shared flights from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City with people from my hometown of just 3,000 residents, and I’ve been on a connection from Dallas to OKC with a dear friend and colleague from The Oklahoman who was headed home from the East Coast while I was en route from the West.
As I was waiting in line to board a flight from Houston to OKC – naturally, this flight was more than an hour late – I noticed a familiar face. When I spotted the sticker-covered guitar case, it confirmed my suspicions: I was sharing the flight home with OKC singer-songwriter Ali Harter.
Like me, Ali was feeling a bit worn, having spent more than 16 straight hours trying to get home from touring in France. She spent a week performing in Paris, Avignon and Dijon.
With the exception of traveling to Brussels, Belgium, at the end of August, the smoky-voiced singer will be sticking closer to home over the next few weeks, with upcoming dates at The Deli, Sauced and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s Cocktails on the Skyline.
For more on Ali’s music, go to http://www.myspace.com/aliharter. Check out one of her shows - after she’s had the chance to get over the jetlag.
Speaking of jetlag, I’m going to bed. Sweet dreams, BAM’s Blog readers.
-BAM
Tim Burton to take Aussie to Wonderland
Australian actress Mia Wasikowska is in final negotiations to take a fantastical trip with director Tim Burton, as the star of his new version of “Alice in Wonderland,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Disney and Burton have conducted a long search to find the right actress to play the pivotal part in the big-budget take on Lewis Carroll’s beloved fantasy novel.
According to the trade mag, Burton’s film, which is sure to feature all manner of eye-popping visuals, will blend live-action and performance-capture footage and will be released in Disney Digital 3-D.
Of course, Disney already has created one version of Alice’s adventures: the 1951 animated classic, which is one of the most inventive and colorful of Disney’s golden age of animated features. It will be interesting to see what Burton’s vision will eventually become and how it will compare.
Principal photography on his version is set to begin in November, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Wasikowska, who is 17 or 18, got her start on the Aussie TV series “All Saints” and is a regular on HBO’s “In Treatment.” She next will appear opposite Daniel Craig in Ed Zwick’s war drama “Defiance” She plays a young Amelia Earhart fan in Mira Nair’s biopic “Amelia,” which has two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as the adult Earhart.
I think going with a relative unknown is probably the best bet for the leading role in this movie, as long as she as the acting chops to handle what’s largely a reactionary part. There’s so much that goes on around Alice, you don’t want a big name necessarily competing with the magic you’re trying to make.
But the rumors swirling on the Web indicate that Burton may go with a very familiar big name to play the Mad Hatter: Johnny Depp.
I tend to agree with Colin Boyd’s assessment at GettheBigPicture.net: Depp may be too good to be true. And he may just be the obvious pick since he and Burton have worked together so much.
But if anybody can play a in-the-flesh version of the Mad Hatter, it’s Depp, particularly with Burton at the helm.
This is definitely one of the films that will be interesting to follow as it makes its way to movie screens.
-BAM
Celebrating Beatrix Potter
Check out the Google logo today, and you’ll find it adorned with lovely rabbits. The occasion: English children’s book writer and illustrator Beatrix Potter was born on this date in 1866.
Potter was truly a woman ahead of her time, and in the Victorian era, that wasn’t exactly a cinch to pull off. Along with writing and illustrating books, she was a mycologist (one who studies fungi), farmer and conservationist. She courted a man of her own choosing, her publisher Norman Warne, despite her parents’ objections, but he died before they could marry. She eventually became financially independent because of the success of her books and married in her 40s to her solicitor, again over her parents’ protests.
She published 23 books before her death in 1943. Her most famous is “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”; many of her stories focus on animals.
In February, I found charming copies of “The Tale of Benjamin Bunny” and “The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck” at the huge Friends of the Metropolitan Library System Booksale. When I read them to my younger son, I was amazed; I had forgotten how different her writing is than modern-day children’s books.
Her pastel watercolor illustrations and quaint country stories about rabbits and ducks are not at all sickly sweet and sappy. Her prose will challenge youngters rather than indulge their ADD tendencies. At 19 months, Gabe the Babe rarely gets through the whole story, but he’ll get there and he’ll be all the better for it.
If you get the chance, take a minute to read one of Potter’s books – borrow someone’s kid if you have to – and you’ll see why her animal tales have endured.
-BAM
Bonus Monday Catchy Quote: It’s fun to fly
This week, dear readers, you get a bonus Monday Catchy Quote in honor of my being stuck in the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
After spending the weekend in New York City on assignment, my flight back home was canceled because of Sunday night’s stormy weather on the East Coast. Then, I couldn’t get on a flight out this morning because of a mixup. So, I’m stuck here for the day, with high hopes of getting back to Oklahoma City before midnight.
In the words of comedian Brian Regan: It’s fun to fly.
In the spirit of making lemonade and all that, I’m posting this bonus Monday Catchy Quote with some of my favorite feature and short film lines related to flying, airports and travel. I’m kicking it off with a group of one-liners from one especially obvious comedy from this category.
Enjoy and feel free to contribute your own travel-related quotes.
***
Steve McCroskey: Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.
Steve McCroskey: Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking.
Steve McCroskey: Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.
Steve McCroskey: Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines
- Click here to learn the source.
***
Amelia: I have to go.
Viktor Navorski: I have to stay.
Amelia: Story of my life.
Viktor Navorski: Me too.
- Click here to learn the source.
***
Neville Flynn: Well, that’s good news – snakes on crack.
- Click here to learn the source.
***
Narrator: There was a demon that lived in the air. They said whoever challenged him would die. Their controls would freeze up, their planes would buffet wildly, and they would disintegrate. The demon lived at Mach 1 on the meter, seven hundred and fifty miles an hour, where the air could no longer move out of the way. He lived behind a barrier through which they said no man could ever pass. They called it the sound barrier.
- Click here to learn the source.
***
Bugs Bunny: Well, here we are! Pismo Beach and all the clams we can eat!
Daffy Duck: What a way for a duck to travel. Underground. Hey, wait a minute! Since when is Pismo Beach inside a cave?
[Daffy's eyes glaze over as he sees the treasure; Bugs doesn't notice it]
Bugs Bunny: I wonder … You know, I bet we shoulda turned left at Albuquerque, and then maybe a right turn at La Jolla. Hmm, er … Well, we can’t be too far off. …
- Click here to learn the source.
Monday Catchy Quote
A catchy quote from a movie, TV show or other source to brighten the beginning of your week:
Vanessa: Your parents are probably wondering where you are.
Juno: Nah … I mean, I’m already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?
- Click here to learn the source.
- BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on July 28
“Passport to Plants” exhibit photo by Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman.
See beautiful foliage from around the globe at the Myriad Botanical Gardens’ new exhibit, “Passport to Plants.”
The exhibit explores the unique plants of six countries around the world.
The Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W Reno, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and $3 for children ages 4 to 12.
For more information, call 297-3995 or go to www.myriadgardens.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Box office report
“The Dark Knight” broke more box office records in its second weekend of release, as it crossed the $300 million mark in just 10 days.
The “Batman Begins” sequel grossed another $75.6 million over the weekend, again topping the box office and bringing its total gross to more than $314 million, according to the Associated Press.
The widely praised comic book movie became the fastest movie to ever break the $300 million barrier, zipping past 2006′s ”Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” which took 16 days to plunder $300 million.
The Batman film’s $75.6 million (if that estimated number holds, which it probably will) also made it the new record holder for biggest second weekend take, according to Entertainment Weekly. It topped the $72.7 million “Shrek 2″ made in its second weekend in theaters back in 2004.
Warner Bros. head of distribution Dan Fellman told the AP today that “The Dark Knight” could reach the $400 million mark in about 18 days. That would demolish the “Shrek 2″ record set by making $400 million in 43 days.
Fellman told the AP he was surprised that the Batman movie made $300 million in just a week and a half.
“What can you say? We’ve been getting a lot of repeat business coming in,” Fellman told the AP. “Our audience is expanding, like you would expect with terrific word-of-mouth and strong reviews. Our audience is getting a little bit older, that’s the good news. We’re finding the younger demographic, male and female, coming back.”
Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers, told the AP that “The Dark Knight” has a legitimate shot of surpassing James Cameron’s 1997 epic “Titanic” as the highest-grossing film in U.S. history. “Titanic” made $600,788,188 domestically, a huge, seemingly untouchable record – until now.
“The `Titanic’ record has sat in a lock box for 10 years. It’s a tall order but if any film has a chance to surpass that number, it’s got to be `Dark Knight,’” Dergarabedian told the AP.
Believe it or not, there are other movies at theaters, and Will Ferrell’s new comedy “Step Brothers” opened in the No. 2 slot with a respectable $30 million.
The raunchy R-rated comedy puts Ferrell back in prime box office shape. “Step Brothers” raked in almost as much in one weekend as Ferrell’s last movie, the comic basketball flop “Semi-Pro,” did in its entire theatrical run. (“Semi-Pro made $33.5 million the entire time it was in theaters, according to EW.)
“We’d hoped to be in the mid-to-high $20 (millions), so to hit $30 (million) is a great start,” Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony, told the AP. “Having the chemistry of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly together again, reuniting with (director) Adam McKay who did `Talladega Nights,’ it’s great. They both immerse themselves and the humor comes from their connection.”
In the No. 3 spot, it was another flashback to last weekend, with the movie version of the ABBA musical “Mamma Mia!” singing and dancing its way to another $17.9 million.
According to EW, the effervescent musical’s second weekend gross dropped only 36 percent from its opening weekend. See, I told you those peppy ABBA songs are tough to resist.
The news wasn’t so perky for the other new release at the box office (besides “Step Brothers”). The sequel “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” made an estimated $10.2 million for fourth place.
Released 10 years after the last movie and six years after the sci-fi TV series went off the air, the sequel clearly didn’t make people believe they wanted to spend money on it.
“The hardcore `X-Files’ fans, they’re happy. And frankly, that’s who the movie was made for,” Chris Aronson, distribution executive for 20th Century Fox, told the AP.
Here are the top 10 movies for the weekend. Notice Will Smith’s “Hancock” sitting pretty in sixth place after its July 4 weekend release. The superhero movie made $8.2 million this weekend, which pushes it past the $200 million mark, according to the AP.
1. “The Dark Knight,” $75.63 million.
2. “Step Brothers,” $30 million.
3. “Mamma Mia!” $17.9 million.
4. “The X-Files: I Want to Believe,” $10.2 million.
5. “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” $9.4 million.
6. “Hancock,” $8.2 million.
7. “WALL-E,” $6.3 million.
8. “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” $4.9 million.
9. “Space Chimps,” $4.4 million.
10. “Wanted,” $2.7 million.
-BAM
Oklahoma City attractions get Nick votes
Holden Sigle, 3, of Edmond, tries to lasso a plastic cow’s head during the Chuck Wagon Gathering and Children’s Cowboy Festival in May at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. (Photo by Matt Strasen/The Oklahoman Archives.)
The Oklahoma City Zoo, Harn Homestead Museum, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and other city attractions have been voted Nickelodeon’s “Parents Pick” Award winners.
From May 19 to June 30, parents from all over the United States logged on to Nick’s Parent Connection Local Web site to vote for their city’s best family resources, from birthday party spots and museums to clothing stores and day camps. Parents voted on the best places for little kids, big kids, teens and families.
The zoo was named the best place for family bonding and best environ-friendly place for families.
For little kids, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman was voted best museum. Gymboree Play & Music was named “best artsy class.”
For big kids: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum was named best museum; Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, best artsy class; and Harn Homestead Museum, best day camp.
In the teen category, the Oklahoma Heritage Center was designated best museum; Oklahoma City Museum of Art, best artsy class; and Chesapeake Boathouse, best day camp.
“We are honored to receive top honors by parents of this Nickelodeon networking site. We offer such a fun and unique summer camp experience,” said Harn Homestead Executive Director Cher Golding in a news release.
“Our week-long program expands upon our territorial farming program that is taught during the school year. This program incorporates teachings about a different agricultural crop each day. These crops were essential to homestead living 100 years ago and the camp offers children fun lessons about growing up on a homestead or farm before Oklahoma became a state.”
To see the full lists, click here.
-BAM
Museum offers Roman scavenger hunt
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is offering another way for families to enjoy the “Roman Art from the Louvre” exhibit.
Museum education curator Chandra Boyd has created a scavenger hunt for the exhibition. The guide is designed for families with children to take with them into the exhibit, and it includes questions to stimulate conversation about the artwork. Plus, it’s just plain fun.
The answers can be found on the different artworks and antiquities or the labels in the exhibit.
A limited quantity of scavenger hunt guides are available for check out at the museum’s visitor services desk. A better option is probably to download the PDF of the hunt and print out it before your visit.
You can do that by clicking here.
For more information on “Roman Art from the Louvre,” go to www.okcmoa.com.
-BAM
