01.01.70

1. "You see sugar plums. We see dollar signs."

Ah, "The Nutcracker." That celebration of all things Christmas, that choreographed ode to childhood, that visual spectacle replete with parties, pageants and even candy canes come to life. Oh, and yes: that show that pretty much ensures every ballet company can survive another season. As much as "The Nutcracker" may be an artful expression of holiday cheer, the two-act ballet is also a moneymaker in an industry that's otherwise heavily dependent on the largesse of deep-pocketed donors. As a result, almost all ballet companies -- large and small, professional and student -- put on an annual "Nutcracker," and the larger companies have been known to pump more than $1 million into their lavish productions. Generally, there's a good return on the investment. Dance/USA, a national service organization, estimates that "The Nutcracker" and other holiday performances account for nearly half of the annual ticket revenue its member artistic groups earn. "I think it's pretty safe to say virtually any midsize to major ballet company would not exist without 'The Nutcracker,'" says Roy Kaiser, artistic director of the Pennsylvania Ballet.

Source: Smartmoney.com

Is your movie. At one time or another, the actors take quite a believable pummelling from rogue CIA agent Mallory (Gina Carano) in Steven Soderbergh's experimental action picture. Soderbergh first spotted his new muse, a real life mixed martial arts champ, while channel-surfing and was so transfixed he ended up building a feature around her. 'Why can't there be a female James Bond?' went his reasoning. He must have meant it in a loose sense for Mallory is no Bond. She's not super verbal, isn't at all comfortable at elegant black tie events, and has no discernible signature catchphrase. She orders no martinis, neither shaken nor stirred.

Carano's lack of acting experience shows when she's not fighting but thankfully that isn't often. Soderbergh, ever a resourceful director, keeps forcing her to dodge bullets, fists, and sharp objects.

Source: Towleroad

Oh, New York. The city that doesn’t sleep. Luckily for you, neither does CollegeCandy. Don’t you sometimes wish you could read CollegeCandy’s New York thoughts-and-rants in real time? Well, you can actually. Follow CollegeCandy NYC  on Twitter, so you can find out more about New York – like the correct reaction when someone touches your hand on the subway. I know I’ve always wondered. Whether you live in the Big Apple or not, we’ll keep you up-to-date on everything from bars to yoga to awkward situations. Tweet us!...

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Congers History Museum Opens For The Day

When/Where: Saturday, November 12 , 12:00 pm, Burnside Ave and Lake Road, Congers Why Go: Check out local history, locally Cost/Contact: Free

E-Z Learn To Draw Class at 'Arts Alive'

When/Where:

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