21Q

Bravo

Before I take last night's episode of "Project Runway" any further a plea: "Suede, please stop talking in the third person! It's annoying!"

OK. Moving on.

It's not news to viewers that Sacramento native Emily Brandle was "out" after the "Bright Lights, Big City" competition.

I get what the judges had to say, including guest judge Sandra Bernhard, who said the ruffles on Emily's black dress (pictured left) were too "cha-cha." Fashion editor Nina Garca wouldn't even offer a final comment, saying "No comment," which is a guarantee Heidi Klum will say, "Auf wiedersehen."

I did agree with designer Michael Kors' advice: "When in doubt, keep it simple."

However, and it's a big however, contestant Jennifer's dowdy sailor dress (pictured right) was a hot mess. Her inspiration was a clock but, pardon the pun, it stopped ticking when it came to the design. She was up against Emily in the bottom 2 and should have been "auffed."

Here's what mentor Tim Gunn wrote on his blog about Emily:

"I was concerned about her look from the moment of my first visit to her workspace. The black sheath was constructed with some problematic darts at the hips, and the multicolored flounces of ruffled fabric were awkwardly placed and looked like a stuck-on afterthought. She was confident that her design was strong enough to survive the possibility of a runway pummeling. Regrettably, the design didn't."

Emily was happy with the dress, even before the runway show. Afterward, she said, "That dress was beautiful. It was finished. I'm disappointed to leave so early, but I'll take this experience and run with it."

You go girl!

By the way, did you catch Tim's new catchphrase? It was inspired by (I think) crazy Blayne, who was yelling "Holla at cha boy" in the workroom. He said it so much, Tim took it with him. You can vote whether he should keep it or not by clicking here.

Leanne Marshall, formerly of Yuba City, redeemed herself after last week's fashion disaster with a wearable outfit inspired by a tree grate. She'll be around for next week's challenge: "Rings of Glory."

The contestants must design an outfit for the world's largest sporting competition, inspired by one of its most decorated participants. Guest judge? Speedskater and "Dancing With the Stars" winner Apolo Ohno.

I'll admit, one of the most refreshing things about a concert program is when there's a mix of the established with the untested work of a living composer.

And if that composer is the performer, all the better.

This was the great appeal of local pianist Tanya Plescia's concert at Sacramento's Westminster Presbyterian Church during its Music at Noon concert series yesterday afternoon.

In a 70-minute concert, Plescia offered the untested with the familiar. She began with the familiar -- Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 15 "Pastorale." But it was with the untested that Plescia made an impression.

The three original compositions Plescia played after the Beethoven showed a wide range of influences, and at times, a taste for pushing musical boundaries.

Here I'll talk about the most ambitious of the three -- the premiere of her "Theme and Variations for Violin and Piano." For this, Plescia was joined by violinist Ingrid Peters.

As one idea, the work does not hold together that cohesively. But Plescia's set of variations are everywhere full of color, and she's not shy about taking risks and being provocative.

The work began languidly, with a timid theme on the violin over static tentative chords. Not great food for thought.

But by the third movement things evolved into something different and entirely interesting -- a fast in-your-face scherzo. In the the sixth movement, where the best music was to be found, the piano and the violin exchanged potent musical ideas.

In this, violinist Peters proved a most willing medium for Plescia's ideas. Peters was not afraid to go for broke with her violin playing. She really brought to the fore many of the tactile and difficult ideas Plescia wrote for the violin.

Some of the latter movements offered motifs with a burnished Sibelius-like infuence. Her best writing was that which conjured the dark and the fraught. And many of the variations were musical ideas that begged a larger canvas. A string quartet perhaps?

The fact that this work, in total, was a hit and miss affair is less important than the fact that it came across as music that makes you think and feel.

And if that isn't the point of original music, I don't know what is.

Rock Band, the popular video music game, is the sponsor of a new mammoth emo-pop tour.

Break out the Kleenex and black eyeliner: Panic! At the Disco, Dashboard Confessional, Plain White T's (pictured) and cab will headline Rock Band Live, scheduled to arrive Oct. 12 at Arco Arena..

There will also, apparently, be a chance for local bands to compete for the opportunity to take the stage. Details are pending but I'd suggest you do more than just practice your Kurt Cobain riffs on Rock Band if you want a shot at 15 seconds of fame.

I'd also suggest checking with the Panic! at the Disco site for more info.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 8 through TicketMaster.com.

Do you need a little help from the "Supernanny?"

In other words, is it chaos in your home?

Well, the casting team of ABC's "Supernanny" is coming to Sacramento this Saturday in search of families with unique interests to appear on the fifth season of the show. They will be at The Bounce Spot (2939 Promenade St., West Sacramento) from 2 to 6 p.m.

Producers are coordinating with two national nanny and baby-sitting registries - Nannies4hire.com and Babysitters4hire.com - to seek out parents who have both ordinary and extraordinary circumstances: blended families, teen moms, culturally diverse parents and, of course, parents with kids who simply like to misbehave!

Make the cut and you might get help from TV's No. 1 nanny, Jo Frost, who has no problem telling it like it is.

If you think you're that family click here to apply. You also can call (877) 626-6984 for more information.

It's Tuesday which means today's the day for new CD releases / downloads, etc.

A couple that have caught my attention: U2's new self-titled six-disc deluxe edition box set.

The set, sold exclusively by Amazon (Island, $79.98) includes expanded, remastered two-disc versions of the band's first three albums, "Boy," "October" and "War." Each bonus disc includes B-sides, live takes and other rarities.

There's also room in the set for a fourth, as yet-to-be-released album.

Also out today, The Walkmen's "You & Me." The New York-based indie rock band is releasing the album - for now - exclusively through the Amie Street online music store. For the next three weeks you can get it for just $5. For each album purchased, Amie Street will donate $5 to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as part of the site's ongoing Download to Make a Difference campaign.

And, finally, Mojave 3's Neil Halstead has a new solo disc, "Oh! Mighty Engine" (Brushfire Records, $13.98). I've yet to hear the whole disc but I love Halstead's dusky voice and smart, melancholy lyrics so it's pretty high on my to-buy list. You can sample songs here.

It's official - U. S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is returning to her classical music roots.

The 53-year-old, who is a lifelong pianist, will be performing chamber music at the venerable Aspen Music Festival on Aug 3. It's a homecoming of sorts for Rice who studied piano there when she was 17 years old.

Rice, in an interview with Great Britain's Independent newspaper, listed Mozart's
Piano Concerto in D minor as her favorite piece of music although she has said that her favorite composer is Johannes Brahms.

For her Aspen appearance she will perform the first movement of Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A major, B. 155, op. 81 and the 2nd movement of Brahms' Piano
Quintet in F minor, op. 34.

A conductor like James Levine comes along only once in a generation.

And so it was disturbing to hear about his recent kidney cancer diagnosis, and news that the tumor was malignant.

Fortunately, the tumor was successfully removed last week, according to a recent Boston Globe article. That story said that Levine's cancer was caught in the early stages and his prognosis good.

Levine, 65, who has had health issues in the past, is expected to be on the podium for the beginning of the Met's season opener of Richard Strauss's "Salome" in September.

As current conductor of the Boston Symphony and longtime conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, Levine has earned legendary status in classical music and opera circles. He is equally beloved by musicians and fans.

And you would be hard pressed to find many recordings with him conducting that are not noteworthy.

He first conducted the Met orchestra in 1971 and became its principal conductor two years later. Since then, Levine has turned the Met orchestra into one of the world's finest.

My teen son has absolutely no problem extending a long night's sleep well into the next day.

That is, until the rude awakening of a new school year.

But infants and younger children need plenty of sleep, too. And the National Sleep Foundation is jumping on the snooze patrol. The Washington, D.C.-based group has been studying sleep patterns of small kids and realized that, while most adults need nine to seven hours of blissful rest, infants need even more.

That's why foundation has launched the "My Baby Loves Sleep Gallery," on its Web site. There, parents and grandparents can share photos of their sleeping wee ones.

Remember: The goal is not to be clicking away and waking the baby. That defeats the whole purpose!

But slumbering babies are sweet.

So, if you have a pic you want to share you can post it by clicking here.

The rules: Submit a color digital image with a maximum file size of 150K, an image size of up to 600 pixels and a resolution of at least 71 dpi. Photos will remain on the Web site for six weeks and will be accepted until Sept. 1. You can even get e-cards online.

If you're curious about the recommended number of hours of sleep children at a certain age need, here they are:

* Newborns (1-2 months): 10.5 to 18 hours
* Infants (3-11 months): 14 to 15 hours
* Toddlers/older kids
12-18 months: 13 to 15 hours
18 months-3 years: 12 to 14 hours
3-5 years: 11 to 13 hours

Sacramento's four-member Desario crafts perfect slices of soft, jangly pop.
The band, with John Conley (guitar, vocals), Mike Carr (bass), Michael Yoas (guitar) and Jim Rivas (drums), is like a Who's Who of the NorCal pop scene - their musical pedigree includes members of California Oranges, Holiday Flyer, Sinking Ships and Rocketship.
Desario's new album, "Zero Point Zero," will be released in October on Darla Records.

Until then, get your sugar fix by listening to "Cane Cola"

Desario
Song: "Cane Cola"
Style: Sweet, melancholy power pop
Influences: XTC, Interpol,the Shins
Behind the song: "We were at practice, and John (Conley) and Mike (Yoas) started fooling around with the two-part guitar interplay you hear at the beginning of the song," explains Desario bassist Mike Carr. "I really liked what I heard - it already sounded like a (finished) song. I just assumed it was a song they had already played in some other band together. I love it - it's one of the band's favorites."
See them: Desario performs at 9 p.m. Friday Aug. 1 at Luna's Cafe (1414 16th St.).
On the Web: www.myspace.com/desario

Here's the player to hear "Cane Cola":

Bravo

Last night's episode of "Project Runway" was a first - as opposed to last week's repeat of a Season 1 challenge.

The 15 designers had to choose models and then were told they would be making cocktail dresses for the models, who are now their clients. The twist? A go-green theme.The outfits would be made from eco-friendly fabrics. Nothing so twisted about that, right?

Wrong!

The models - not the designers - were given $75 to shop for the fabric. And, if you didn't catch it, they pretty much had no clue what to buy and definitely no clue as to how much fabric was needed. Most of them came back with barely enough material to construct a scarf.

There was no immunity this week, but the winner would have his or her dress sold on Bluefly.com.

To be honest, as Season 4 winner Christian Siriano might say, this challenge proved a "hot mess" for the majority of designers, especially the ones working with all-natural satin, which is soooo unforgiving of errors.

At one point, mentor Tim Gunn got flustered and told the group, "You're making me a wreck! Work it out!"

Guest judge this week was the petite and pretty Natalie Portman, who was quite gracious, considering some of the outfits she had to score. Not so judge Nina Garcia, who, at one point, said, "Skinny, tight and short is the quickest way to look cheap."

The majority of designers, including Sacramento's Emily Brandle, came up short in terms of fabric. "I was excited about the garment (pictured)," Emily said, "but I wish I had more fabric."

Not to fret. Emily is in.

The bottom two, however, included Leanne (originally from Yuba City) and Wesley. Both designers had to work with the awful satiny fabric. Leanne was told her dress looked like "a school project." Wesley's was just, well, a disaster and he was out.

Suede won the challenge with his flirty dress of organic tulle and sewed-together strips of fabric.

If you caught the "Watch What Happens: After the Sew," show after last night's episode, Wesley revealed that he and fellow designer Daniel are actually a couple now. Daniel is still on the show, so I'm sure Wesley will be cheering him on.

As for next week's challenge, it's titled "Bright Lights/Big City.". Here's Bravo's description: "When the sun sets over the Big Apple, the real fashion of New York comes to life. The designers use the city as their muse." Guest judge? Sandra Bernhard.

If you missed the Carolina Liar's last Sacramento performance, you're in luck. The Los Angeles (by way of, well, South Carolina) band is going to play the Hard Rock Cafe in Downtown Plaza on Monday.

But you can't exactly buy tickets to the pop band's performance - you have to win them via 106.5 (KWOD).

Which means if you snag a pair, they're free.

Visit the Hard Rock site or the KWOD site for details.

Read my story on the band, who just finished a tour with OneRepublic, here.

Have you got the brains to buy a ticket on the "Jeopardy! Brain Bus?"

If so, the 32-foot bus (read: Winnebago) is headed to Jackson on Friday in search of potential contestants for TV's favorite quiz show. The "Jeopardy! Clue Crew" (Jon Cannon and Jimmy McGuire) will be holding court from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel.

If you're there, you'll get a behind-the-scenes peek at how the show unfolds - from the audition process to the actual game-playing. You can ask questions and then take the quiz to help determine if you've got the brains it really takes to play "Jeopardy!"

The "Clue Crew" guys have the best job. They get to travel the country - and the world - with cameras to bring "Jeopardy!" clues to life. How? They illustrate historical sites, landmarks and great locations, which then become the basis for the "answers" on the TV show.

The Friday event is open to the public. The casino is at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson.

Sugarcube Society Shop

I chatted recently with Melody Claussen-Furry of Sacramento whose son, Christian, now 14, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2005. The family spent a lot of time understanding what Melody calls "the diabetes ropes."

"We're still learning new things all the time," she says.

Diabetes awareness became a goal of Melody's, as well as raising funds for research. That's how she came to open her own "shop" on Etsy, an online independent crafters' marketplace. She put some of her own crafts there and enlisted help from her "craft sisters" at the Sacramento Craft Mafia.

"They all quickly gave from their own shops for my son's (and millions of others) cause," Melody says.

Today, her Sugarcube Society Shop is getting donations worldwide, even from Australia.

The shop has some really interesting and unique items, including the Blue Moon knitted hat (pictured) hat was donated by Stacey, a local craft mafia member. Two vintage moon-shaped wood buttons accent the front, and it sells for $20.

All proceeds (after etsy fees) from Melody's shop will go to JDRF (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). If you're interested in donating an item for this shop, please contact Melody at handmade.luck@yahoo.com or shop her "shop" by clicking here.

OK, so here's a first - or at least for me.

I've heard of eating contests, holding-your-breath contests, etc., but I'm unaware of a "gift-wrapping contest."

Well, there is such a thing - and it's been going on for 11 years!

It's called the Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest, and it's sponsored by parent company 3M.

Now, I can tie a pretty darned good bow, but from the sound of this contest you'd better be able to tape flawlessly. No exposed corners!

The contest seeks folks (nationwide) who believe they can "outwrap" anyone. If you're that person - or know a gifted wrapper - here are the contest details:

They want a 100-word or less written entry on why you or the nominess has what it takes (wrapping experience, creativity) to be crowned the most gifted wrapper.

Include the following:
* Name, home address, city, state, Zip code, daytime phone number, fax number and e-mail address (if available).
* Whether the nominee is entering as a professional or an amateur. For example, you're considered a pro if you wrap gifts at a department or speciality store.

Entries must be received no later than Oct. 6 and can be submitted three ways:
* By mail: Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest, Hunter Public Relations, 41 Madison Ave., fifth floor, New York, NY 10010.
* By fax: (212) 679-6607.
* By e-mail: giftedwrapper@hunterpr.com.

Eight finalists (four pros, four amateurs) will be flown to New York for a three-day, three-night trip to compete in the gift-wrapping finale on Dec. 5 at, well where else, Rockefeller Center. Grand prize? $10,000 and the crown as the most gifted wrapper. If you nominate the winner, you'll get $1,000.

For more details, click here.

And as they say in the biz, that's a wrap.

Autumn Sky is one of the rising artists on the local singer-songwriter scene, armed with an acoustic guitar and some bittersweet yet lovely songs. She's got an album coming out in September called "All Which Isn't Singing," and "Sunday Single" brings you a sneak peek with a song called "Rockets!"

AUTUMN SKY
Song: "Rockets!"
Style: Folk-pop with a pointed edge
Influences: Cat Stevens, June Carter Cash, Bright Eyes, Devendra Banhart
Behind the song: "When I first started to write 'Rockets!,' it was going to be a song about how much I disliked the local music scene, and how tired I was of the same old circuit, which never seemed to change," she says. "And worse, (it was) filled with people who never seemed to notice or care. But the chorus changed it from an 'I dislike' song to a 'give me something new' song, which makes it a little less depressing, and honestly, was more true to how I felt."
See her: Autumn Sky performs on July 30 at Luna's Cafe (1414 16th St.)

Here's the player to hear "Rockets!":

On the Web: www.myspace.com/autumnskymyspace

There are some interesting fashion-related events worth checking out this weekend - from downtown to Roseville.

For example:

* Artifacts boutique (907 K St.) is hosting a one-day event, "Lucid: An Evening of Fashion and Art," at 7 p.m. Saturday in the MARRS Building, 1050 20th St. It's open to the public and will showcase fashions from both Artifacts and DVI boutique, also in Sacramento. Local designers will also be featured, including Jesus Medrano and Lindsay Rickman and Amy and Melissa Hemmans. Artist Jeff Felker will display his artwork, too. Eliz Salon is doing the hair; music is provided by Sam I Jam and Adam J.

* The Galleria at Roseville is the setting for Sunday's "Serving Up Style" event to benefit the Keaton Raphael Memorial. It's being presented by the Sacramento Capitals World Tennis Team. Members of the Capitals (who will serve as models) will be dressed by the fashion experts at Macy's. The event is from 6 to 9 p.m. at Macy's. Cost is $35 per person at Macy's or call (916) 784-6786. You'll see the likes of tennis stars Sam Warburg and Elena Likhovtseva, along with hors d'oeuvres, hosted libations, music and silent and live auctions.KRM was founded by the family of Keaton Raphael after his death from neuroblastoma (cancer of the nervous system) in 1998. The non-profit organization works to help childhood cancer victims.

* It comes only once a year, but Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, which starts today, is a shopper's first look at what's coming for fall. Not only to see but to buy - at reduced prices. The sale covers everything from women's and men's apparel to kids' clothing, plus accessories (shoes, handbags, jewelry) and lots of great deals in the cosmetics and fragrance departments. Heck, I already found a great stylized trenchcoat that's marked down $60 for the sale. Prices are in effect today through Aug. 3 in stores or online. Just click here.

Bravo

Last night's first installment of "Project Runway" Season 5 was like a class reunion of sorts. Guest judge was Austin Scarlett from Season 1, and the first challenge was to create an outfit from $75 worth of "stuff" from a supermarket - again the initial challenge of Season 1.

Ah, nostalgia!

But the 16 new contestants, including Emily Brandle (shown above), 27, who grew up in Sac, did great for the most part. Of course, there were waaaay too many tableclothes turned into dresses, even an awful raincoat, which got contestant Jerry "auf'd."

Judge Michael Korsblogged this note: "As for Jerry's dress, both Nina (Garcia) and I thought that it looked suspiciously like something that Christian Bale would have worn in 'American Psycho.' "

Nice to know Kors returns with that razor-sharp wit of his.

Emily wasn't among the top 3 or the bottom 3, which means she wasn't on anyone's hit list. I liked her dress (shown above), especially the top part. It was made from, I believe, cut-up beach balls!

Kelli won the challenge with her dress made out of coffee filters and her own handmade, hand-dyed "fabric." It was pretty cool.

And I got an e-mail letting me know that contestant Leanne, 27, also has a local connection. She's originally from Yuba City and moved to Portland several years ago. (Guess the Bravo folks don't know Yuba City is near Sac.)

Anyway, Leanne has done local fashion shows and went to design school in San Francisco. The e-mail says she also worked as a graphic designer at the Appeal-Democrat newspaper in Marysville. So now we've got two contestants to keep an eye on!

Next week's challenge: "Grass is Always Greener" in which the designers are forced to think "green" - with the help of their trusted models. Guest judge is actress Natalie Portman.

For more gossip on the show, click here.

I was out on the river this past weekend, and wakeboarding seems to be all the rage - especially with teens. But it's not just for the younger set.

Now, local women - and girls - will have several opportunities to attend wake clinics at the Delta Wakeboard Camp coming up Sunday and Monday.

Oakley (sunglasses and accessories) is partnering with Maven Sessions, a nationwide tour of wakesports clinics for women and girls taught by female pro wakeboarders. The sessions focus on gaining confidence on the water, learning proper technique and helping girls meet other local girls who love to ride.

Here's the schedule:

Morning sessions: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Evening sessions: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Classes will be held at 11530 W. Eight Mile Road in Sacramento. The cost is $50 per session. Sign up and you'll get a bonus Oakley gift at the clinics.

You can register for the event by clicking here.

I've just watched archival footage of the lovely Maria Callas singing Bellini in Paris. And this just seconds after I checked out some of the current offerings from the Aspen Music Festival and the great summer music at this year's Aix en Provence in France.

So, did I just teleport myself to Colorado and Provence?

Hardly. Used the Internet, of course.

I visited http://www.medici.tv.

The European-based webcaster (a collaboration between EuroArts in Leipzig and Ideale Audience, among others), now in its third year, is offering free webstreams of current and archived performances of summer classical music festivals, and other concerts.

The webcaster typically charges about 25 euros ($40 give or take) for the streamed concerts and other offerings. But this summer it is trying to entice subscribers with the free streams.

Right now it's fronting archival footage of Claudio Abbado conducting Mahler's Sixth Symphony with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. It's a vivid performance of the symphony and Abbado is coaxing a highly nuanced performance from the players.

In addition to the live-concert webcasts, medici.tv also offers a library of music on film consisting of more than 150 titles, with 200 additional coming. Subscribers can choose 24-hour, one-month, and six-month packages.

One of the more appealing aspects of this webcaster is that it also offers a wide variety of documentaries focusing on the lives and careers of composers and performers, including the likes of Philip Glass, Glenn Gould and Yehudi Menuhin.

The website is also seeking to become a community destination for those that love classical music, as evidenced by a soon-to-launched on-line magazine, plus artists and tastema