Things to do in Sacramento

There's more to Aaron Copland than meets the eye.

That's the focus of a Sunday performance and lecture at the Mondavi Center titled "Copland and the Cold War," hosted by artistic director and noted music historian Joseph Horowitz.

That event, which takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday at Mondavi's Studio Theatre, may prove one of the most unusual musical events of the year.

The performance will plumb how the Red Scare of the 1950's affected Copland, best known for composing such works as "Appalachian Spring" and "Fanfare for the Common Man."

More specifically, and unusual, will be the reenactment of Copland's traumatic testimony in 1953 before Senator Joseph McCarthy's closed-door hearings on communism in the United States. Many artists were blacklisted after testifying at the McCarthy hearings.

Copland is believed to have perjured himself during his testimony, said Horowitz.

As the artistic director of "The American Piano Project," Horowitz is also bringing pianists Steven Mayer and Anthony de Mare to Mondavi to perform and talk about the black virtuoso piano tradition. That event takes place on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Mondavi's Studio Theater and is in two parts - with the second half kicking off at 8 p.m.

But, undoubtedly, it is Sunday's Copland event that will prove most timely and compelling.

For those who find this fraught era in America's history of interest, that performance and talk will be a must-see event.

The American Piano Project
Copland and the Cold War
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center, UC Davis
Tickets: $30
Information: (530) 754-2787 or www.MondaviArts.org

FOX

First of all, I've been a big fan of "American Idol" from the early days. Not fair weather, by any means. I've watched the show, written about it, blogged about it, covered the tour, interviewed contestants (winners and runner-ups), judges and pretty much anyone who had anything to say about it.

I've looked forward to every January when the season kicks off. Yes, that even includes the audition process.

And now, regretably, I'm counting the months, days and hours until Season 9 mercifully comes to an end. Heck, I might not make it to May!

On a show that's delivered mega talents like Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barino, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, David Cook, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Kellie Pickler and the amazing Carrie Underwood - at least ONE success story the past eight seasons, this year's Top 24 disappoint in a way that can only be described as gut-and-ear wrenching.

I don't know if judge Simon Cowell's departure after this season has anything to do with it. He seems more ascerbic and detached than I've ever seen him. Maybe he misses Paula Abdul. Maybe he loathes Kara DioGuardi. Maybe Ryan Seacrest has tweeked his last exposed nerve.

Whatever, but on last night's results show, America's 24 million votes could have sent the whole lot packing. But only four contestants went home: Janell Wheeler, Ashley Rodriguez, Joe Munoz and a very thankless Tyler Grady. I didn't like their attitudes, but then they got nothing in return from the judges during the two nights of performances this week.

"Take risks ... don't take risks" was about all I heard. Oh, and there was something from Ellen DeGeneres about a banana ripening. This after reports surfaced that the show's newest judge is demanding a wardrobe allowance of $150,000 per season. For what? Jeans and T-shirts? Borrow something from Simon!

And the whole Casey James-Kara-"Cougar" fiasco was downright uncomfortable Wednesday night. Now you know the show would never have allowed the on-air smooch fest to take place had Casey been a her instead of a him.

But being the softie that I am, I'm going to watch again next Tuesday and Wednesday and hope for better songs, better clothing choices, more insight from the judges and maybe Season 9 has a prayer.

If not, I think 19 Entertainment, the show's parent company, should consider pulling the plug. I probably need to find some other four-month addiction anyway.

There are many conductors deserving of ultimate praise, but few are quite like San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas.

And so, it is no mystery that this protean conductor has been selected to receive the nation's highest award for artistic achievement: the National Medal of Arts.

That award will be presented by President Barack Obama Thursday afternoon at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, where Tilson Thomas will be recognized for his contributions to American culture.

So what sets Tilson Thomas apart from today's list of prestigious conductors?

Perhaps it is the fact that Tilson Thomas is currently in his 15th season as music director of the San Francisco Symphony. And in that time he has solidified the orchestra's stature as a champion of 20th century works.

Or maybe it is the fact that he has turned this orchestra into a top-notch interpreter of Mahler's symphonies.

And then there is Tilson Thomas' other job - as founder and artistic Director of the New World Symphony, the nation's premier orchestral academy for gifted young musicians.

Or maybe it is his willingness to embrace the digital world, as was evidenced last year when he conducted an unusual classical music concert when he led the YouTube symphony orchestra in a digitally-inspired performance at Carnegie Hall.

No doubt, it is his work with the SFS that is his crowning achievement. This year, the orchestra was awarded three Grammy awards for its standout live recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 8.

It was the latest installation in the orchestra's successful Mahler cycle of recordings. Those recordings have earned the orchestra seven Grammy awards to date.

Ultimately, Tilson Thomas may have outmatched his competitors because of his excellent outreach efforts, which includes the San Francisco Symphony's "Keeping Score" series.

That series involves a synergy of televised PBS series, radio programming, interactive websites and a K-12 education program. In that vein, Tilson Thomas has eloquently introduced composers like Berlioz, Ives and Copland to a general audience.

They're calling the fund-raising event "Drag Queen Bingo" and it's being staged at Hamburger Patties, 1630 J St., Sacramento, beginning at 7 p.m. on March 10. All bingo proceeds will go to the Sacramento Ballet.

There will be drink specials and the opportunity to win two tickets to the ballet's upcoming production of "Carmina Burana" March 25-28 at the Community Center Theater. You can also buy some of Patties' fine food to nosh as you knock off the numbers on that bingo card.

Participants can play five games for $10 or 10 games for $20. For more information: (916) 441-4340 (the restaurant), (916) 552-5800 (the ballet company), or go to: www.sacballet.org

Fans of classical spanish dance will be very interested in the the Camellia Symphony's
next concert at Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium this Saturday evening.

The program for that concert will see the orchestra performing Manuel de Falla's enchanting "El Amor Brujo," with spanish classical dancer Fanny Ara (pictured, right), and mezzo-soprano Zoila Munoz performing.

Ara began dance studies at age three, studying ballet and contemporary dance in France. She later trained in the Spanish classical dance idiom with Catalina Gommes.

Ara has also pursued intensive flamenco studies with Juana Amaya, El Torombo, and Manolo Soler, and studied at the prestigious Mario Maya academy. She is now an established performer in the Bay Area, and a member of the Caminos Flamencos dance company.

The concert program, which will be conducted by artistic director Allan Pollack, also includes Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring."

Camellia Symphony
"Charms, Spells and Enchantments"
WHEN: 8:00 p.m., Saturday
WHERE: Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St., Sacramento
TICKETS: $25; $20 seniors; $15 students; $8 children
INFORMATION: (916) 808-5181 or www.camelliasymphony.org

Ladies, if you've spent any time recently cleaning your clothes closet you might have stumbled on a suit you don't wear. If so, consider donating it.

Starting Thursday, the Dress Barn clothing company is teaming up with several non-profit organizations, including Dress for Success, for the eighth annual Send One Suit Weekend, which runs through Sunday.

Here's how it works: Gently used suits, pants, shirts, skirts, shoes and other professional items can be donated to any Dress Barn location. The apparel will be distributed to local non-profits to be given to women who are preparing to re-enter the workforce and want to look their best.

Having access to an interview suit through Send One Suit has helped thousands of women get that extra confidence boost, so anything you can donate will help. Last year, more than 26,000 items were donated.

There are 837 Dress Barn locations nationwide. Just click here for a store near you.

In case you missed it, a repeat episode of WE's Platinum Weddings featuring a Sacramento couple's lavish wedding will be aired at 11 p.m. tonight.

Natalie and Bob spared no expense for their $1.25 million wedding in the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria at the Sacramento Central Library.

Yes, you read that figure correctly.

The galleria was decked out in 48-yard long panels of red fabric and tables were festooned in centerpieces featuring 20 types of red flowers and silver-edged plate settings, according to a news release.

An architectural lighting director was even on hand to make sure the bride's $1 million in wedding day jewelry sparkled just right.

Click here to go to The Bee's local TV listings.

The Pamela Trokanski Dance Theatre of Davis is putting out a call for "non-traditional" dancers -- men and women 35 and older -- who would like to be involved in a movement project that explores social networking, the internet and interpersonal relationships.

No previous dance experience is required, nor is any specific body type sought. Choreographer Trokanski says her only requirement for the 12 to 16 participants she seeks is "a willingness to play and an interest in the theater/performance experience."

A general meeting and audition will be be held 12:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at Trokanski's Dance Workshop, 2720 Del Rio Place, Davis.

Trokanski issued a similar call for dancers in 1993. The resulting choreography, supported by a City of Davis Arts Contract, was "Coming of Age." Later that year, the Third Stage Dance Company, a multi-generational contemporary dance company, was formed.

The new call for dancers will result in a work to be performed at a yet-to-be-determined time.

For more information or to sign up for the audition, call (530) 756-3949.

John Clifford, who is widely considered George Balanchine's choreographic protege, will rehearse the dancers of the Sacramento Ballet as they prepare to perform Balanchine's "Theme and Variations" in an Inside the Director's Studio event Tuesday. Clifford began working with the company on Monday.

The workshop will provide an introduction to the dance as well as insight into the process of transferring dance from choreographer to dancers. This Homeric tradition of orally passing dance down through "generations" of dancers is how many companies learn new choreography.

Inside the Director's Studio will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the ballet company's studio, 1631 K St. Tickets are $15 each and are sold only through the Sacramento Ballet box office. Call (916) 552-5800, ext. 2 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Sacramento Community Concert Association announced its 57th season with the presenter bringing the likes of Canadian all-woman string and piano ensemble Angele Dubeau & La Pietà (pictured, right), the San Diego-based Presidio Brass ensemble and Opole -The Philharmonic of Poland, to Sacramento, among others.

SCCA's 2010-2011 season:

The Lowe Family
WHEN: 8:00 p.m., Sept. 24
WHERE: Community Center Theater, 1301 L St., Sacramento

Presidio Brass
WHEN: 8:00 p.m., Oct. 27
WHERE: Community Center Theater, 1301 L St., Sacramento

Tango Buenos Aires
WHEN: 8:00 p.m., Jan. 20, 2011
WHERE: Sacramento Community Center Theater, 1301 L St., Sacramento

Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà
WHEN: 8:00 p.m., March 5 2011
WHERE: Sacramento Community Center Theater, 1301 L St., Sacramento

Opole, Philharmonic of Poland
WHEN: 3:00 p.m., March 20, 2011
WHERE: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St., Sacramento

Subscriptions tickets are now on sale. Single tickets will be available 30-days before each concert. A five concert subscription is $90. Single tickets cost $46.50. For information call (916) 974-1357 or visit www.saccca.org.

As awards season presses on in Hollywood, a rising star from Sacramento is basking in the glow of his "Eddie." Andrew Hellesen, 23 (pictured), is a 2004 graduate of Sacramento's El Camino Fundamental High School.

A second-year graduate student in film (production and editing) at Chapman University in Orange, Hellesen was honored with the 2010 student Eddie Award this past Sunday night during the 60th annual American Cinema Editors awards event in Beverly Hills.

Hellesen, an alumnus of El Camino's Eagle Polytechnic program, was one of three finalists in the ACE student editing competition, chosen from a field of 78 entries. No, he didn't have to re-edit "Avatar," but Hellesen and his fellow competitors did receive footage from a pilot show for NBC called "State of Romance."

"We each had to take the same footage and edit a scene," Hellesen says on the phone from school. "They wanted to give us a pilot so we wouldn't be influenced by a show we already had watched."

The student editors had about a month and a half to complete the task.

The 60th annual Eddie Awards, emceed by Joel McHale of NBC's "Community," were presented at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. And yes, that's where the Golden Globes were held back in January.

ACE, the professional film editing guild, honored among others Bob Murawski and Chris Innis for "The Hurt Locker" in the feature film drama category, while Debra Neil-Fisher of "The Hangover" received the Eddie for the best-edited comedy or musical film.
Rob Reiner received the Golden Eddie filmmaker of the year award.

"It was amazing to meet some of the professionals at the awards," Hellesen says.
For sure he plans to stay in Southern California after graduating next spring because that's where all the action is.

His definition of film editor is simple: "Serve the director and help him or her tell the best story possible."

The job requires both technical and creative skills because the film editor plays a major role in a movie's structure.

His favorite TV show? "That would be '24,' " he says. He's also seen a number of the Academy Award-nominated films.

Where's his Eddie now? "Sitting in my apartment," Hellesen says. "It's pretty cool."
Hellesen was accompanied to the awards ceremony by his mother, Kathy Morrison, who is a features copy editor at The Bee. His dad is playwright and American River College film and theater instructor Richard Hellesen.

Melissa Sandvig, a star of the television show "So You Think You Can Dance" and who guest-starred with the Sacramento Ballet for some performances of "The Nutcracker" in December, will return to dance with the company in its next production, "Carmina Burana," to be staged March 25-28 in the Community Center Theater.
"Carmina Burana," an epic dance spectacle set to music by Carl Orff, is choreographed by the ballet's co-artistic director, Ron Cunningham, and will be performed with a live orchestra and full chorus. The dance premiered in 1991 and was last performed by the company in 2006.

The program will open with George Balanchine's "Theme and Variations." one of 18 Balanchine dances in the company's repertory. It was last performed in 2002.

Tickets, which range in price from $15 to $68, are on sale now at the Community Center Theater box office (916) 808-5181 (Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm). For more information, call the ballet at (916) 552-5800.

The refrain "Assassin's Creed II" may be heard more than once at the upcoming award ceremony for the growing genre of video game music.

After all, the video game has been nominated in six categories by the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), the non-profit dedicated to the advancement and recognition of game music and audio.

The music will be honored during the 8th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards on March 12th, in San Francisco during the Game Developers Conference.

The awards are evidence that video game music is coming into its own.

As a result, orchestras devoted to playing video game music are sprouting up on both coasts, and game music composers - like Nobuo Uematsu, who wrote the music for the "Final Fantasy" series - are now big celebrities.

Below are the nominees for the 8th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards listed below by category:

AUDIO OF THE YEAR
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Need For Speed: Shift
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

MUSIC OF THE YEAR
Assassin's Creed II
AVATAR: The Game
Dragon Age: Origins
Flower
Halo 3: ODST
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BEST SOUND DESIGN
Assassin's Creed II
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Need For Speed: Shift
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
Assassin's Creed II
Brutal Legend
Dragon Age: Origins
inFAMOUS
Tom Clancy's: H.A.W.X.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BEST INTERACTIVE SCORE
Assassin's Creed II
Flower
Halo 3: ODST
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BEST HANDHELD AUDIO
Gran Turismo (PSP)
Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PSP)
Mecho Wars (iPhone)
Resistance: Retribution (PSP)
The Secret Of Monkey Island: Special Edition (iPhone)

BEST CINEMATIC/CUT-SCENE AUDIO
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Need For Speed: Shift
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BEST DIALOGUE
Assassin's Creed II
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Brutal Legend
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BEST ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL
"Ezio's Family" - Assassin's Creed II
"Flight Over Venice" - Assassin's Creed II
"Spirit of Bladehenge" - Brutal Legend
"Sonny Tang" - Eat Lead
"Reunion" - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL - CHORAL
"Venice Rooftops" - Assassin's Creed II
"A Creature Shall Rise" - Brutal Legend
"Sad Theme" - Tom Clancy's: H.A.W.X.
"Washington Under Seige" - Tom Clancy's: H.A.W.X.
"Halls of Iron" - World of Warcraft: Fall of the Lich King

BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL - POP
"I Am The One" (High Fantasy Version) - Dragon Age: Origins
"Lelianna's Song" - Dragon Age: Origins
"Silent Melody" - inFAMOUS
"Best Friends Menu Theme" - Littlest Pet Shop Friends
"Pray - Theme Song" - Resident Evil 5
"Plants vs. Zombies" - Plants vs. Zombies

BEST USE OF MULTI-CHANNEL SURROUND IN A GAME
Bayonetta
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Forza Motorsport 3
Left 4 Dead 2
Resident Evil 5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

BEST USE OF LICENSED MUSIC
Brutal Legend
DJ Hero
Guitar Hero: Van Halen
Rock Band: The Beatles
SingStar: Queen

BEST GAME AUDIO ARTICLE, PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST
"Avoiding Tedium - Fighting Repetition in Game Audio" - AES Conference Paper
"Dynamics of Narrative" - Gamasutra.com
"The Future of Game Audio / The Game Audio Mixing Revolution" - Gamasutra.com
"Less is More" - Game Developer Magazine
"Surviving the Crunch - Being Healthy Sound Designers" - Designing Sound
"Surviving Your First Composing Gig" - Shockwave-Sound.com

Sacramento's Olympic pair - Karl Alexander and Jeremiah Mayhew - need your votes to win the title of Ultimate Mobile Explorers, a $24,000 grand prize and a chance to blog for Samsung, the contest's sponsor.

They're currently at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, competing against four other Mobile Explorer teams.

And, three challenges into the competition, TEAM KINETIC - the Sacramentans - is trailing in fan votes.

To watch their snappy, humorous Olympian videos and cast your votes, go to:

www.facebook.com/samsungusa

-- Dixie Reid

Previous coverage:

Social-media 'Olympians' to represent Sacramento at Vancouver Games - Feb. 8, 2010

Last week I wrote about actor Peter Story, a longtime B Street Theatre favorite, and his fiancee, Megan O'Neil, who had entered an online contest to win the wedding of their dreams.

From more than 600 entries, they were selected as one of 10 semi-finalist couples in the 2010 Southern California Deam Weddings Giveaway. With more than 34,000 votes cast, the contest went down to the wire with Peter and Megan pulling a win. The wedding will be held June 27, 2010, at Rancho de Las Palmas in Moorpark.

If you go to www.socaldreamwedding.com and click on the "terms" tab, you can view the incredible list of gifts they'll be receiving.

Sandy Nuyts, a 23-year-old Lodi resident who works at Stoney's Rockin Rodeo in Sacramento will appear Friday on CMT, the country music television channel.

Nuyts (pronounced Nights) was picked after producers for "The Singing Bee" showed up at her workplace to audition potential contestants.

She was working and couldn't audition, but after the producers saw her singing with the scheduled band, they stayed around until she closed the bar and counted receipts at the end of her shift.

"I actually didn't audition until 3 o'clock in the morning," Nuyts said.

They told her she'd be hearing from them. "How many times have I heard that before," she said.

But they called her while she was shopping in the Lodi WalMart and she was so excited she dropped and broke her cell phone.

She was flown to Hollywood, not knowing what would happen. In the show, audience members are picked out to try to finish songs that the performers have started. You have to know the lyrics to win.

Though she couldn't reveal the show's results in advance, she was able to talk about how it felt to go and be there.

"If I could bottle it all up and have a taste of it now and then, it would be amazing," she said.

The show airs on Friday on CMT. Check your listings for local air time.

An American flag, a Santa Claus costume, lecterns, tripods and assorted folding chairs will be among the non-art items - along with pair of Chinese Fu dog sculptures and baseball exhibits from Chukchansi Park - belonging to the late, great Fresno Metropolitan Museum that will be auctioned tomorrow (Feb. 17.)

The museum was forced to close after 25 years in downtown Fresno when a three-year renovation project went way over budget. The auction is intended to help reduce the museum's $4 million debt.

So, if you're interested in running down to Fresno for some shopping, the auction starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday at 1515 Van Ness Ave.

Check out the offerings in advance - until 5 p.m. today and starting at 7 a.m. tomorrow.

Read details in the Fresno Bee:

www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1820248.html

-- Dixie Reid

The writer T.J. Stiles will be in Sacramento tomorrow (Feb. 17) to talk about his latest, "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt," winner of the 2009 National Book Award for nonfiction.

His appearance and book-signing (Avid Reader will sell copies of "The First Tycoon" for $40) is part of the California State Library's ongoing Food for Thought series.

The program begins at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) in the California History Room of the Library and Courts Building II, 900 N St., Sacramento.

Admission is free. The California State Library Foundation will provide refreshments.

RSPV your attendance to Rebecca Fontaine by e-mail - rfontaine@library.ca.gov - or call her at (916) 653-9942.

Stiles, who also wrote the well-received "Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War," lives in San Francisco.

In its review of "The First Tycoon," the New York Times said: "This is a mighty -- and mighty confident -- work, one that moves with force and conviction and imperious wit through Vanderbilt's noisy life and times."

-- Dixie Reid

Renew Denim boutique in Davis (pictured) was overwhelmed back in December during its drive to collect jeans for people in need.

"We received nearly 400 pairs of jeans," says co-owner Samantha Ballard. "Amazing!"

Giving back some of that love is part of the store's one-year anniversary celebration, which starts today and runs through Sunday, Valentine's Day. Ballard says her "denim partners" are clearing out their warehouses, so most merchandise, including men's and women's jeans, can be purchased as much as 80 percent off.

Styles include skinnies, boot-cut, straight-leg, flared, wide-leg, bell bottoms and capris.
She's also offering tops and yoga wear.

The hours:
Renew Denim is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 222 D St., Suite 9A, in Davis.

It you don't want chocolate for Valentine's Day, why not treat yourself to a new pair of jeans?

If you watch or listen to KQED you might want to know that the Northern California Public Broadcasting group now has a new President and CEO: John L. Boland.

Boland is currently the group's content chief - the first such position at any public broadcasting group in the country. He succeeds Jeff Clarke, who is retiring.

Boland will oversee television stations KQED, KTEH and KQET, and radio stations KQED and KQEI. The group is currently the most watched public television broadcaster in the country.

In a written statement from KQED, Boland was praised for moving the group's stations boldly into digital realms, and for forging partnerships with iTunes, YouTube and Hulu.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

The death of British designer Alexander McQueen will impact the fashion world for years to come.

Controversy and creativity are hard to come by, especially with his art-as-fashion approach. Trash bags were not uncommon accessories in a McQueen runway show.

The body of McQueen, 40, was found today in his London home, the victim of an apparent suicide. His passing comes just days after his mother Joyce died on Feb. 2. McQueen, who some close to him say was despondent over her death, was scheduled to debut his fall womenswear collection in a couple of weeks in Paris. His last collection was his menswear line last month in Milan. Even then, the L.A. Times wrote, "The
macabre was manifested as a repeating photo-realistic print pattern that evoked the neatly stacked piles of bones found in underground catacombs."

McQueen dressed rock stars and rappers and celebrities like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. Models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss graced his runways, oftentimes teetering on 10-inch heels.

Vogue editor Anna Wintour issued this statement about McQueen: "He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen's influence was astonishing - from street style, to music culture and the world's museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss."

No doubt, comparisons will be drawn between McQueen's tragic passing and the loss of another fashion master, Italian designer Gianni Versace, who was gunned down outside his Miami Beach home in 1997. His passing is still felt in the fashion world today.

The closest I came to owning an Alexander McQueen anything were several pieces from his Designer Collaborations line, McQ, which was sold at Target. That and a dress from local designer Richard Hallmarq, who was a self-described student of McQueen's. He called to break the news to me this morning.

These days corporations are the ones kicking in extra money to encourage creativity while fostering arts education.

One recent example is the company Apple & Eve which makes "Fruitables". They're searching for the best school music mash-up in America (a music mash-up is a medley of two or more songs).

And they're giving the winning school chorus, choir, glee club, or vocal group $10,000 for the best video.

The search for the best school music mash-up is a part of the company's mission of supporting underfunded music and arts programs in schools across America.

Kudos to them.

Elementary and middle school choruses, grades K-8, are eligible to enter by submitting a video of their mash-up performance via the Fruitables Facebook fan page.

Entries must be received no later than April 30, 2010 and can be submitted via Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AppleandEve

For a complete set of contest rules and regulations, visit www.Facebook.com/AppleandEve beginning February 15th.

By Marcus Crowder
mcrowder@sacbee.com

Peter Story has been one my favorite actors since seeing him steal the show in B Street Theatre's hysterical 2001 production of "Fuddy Meers." Story has returned to B Street numerous times, but in February 2008, it was a life changer. He met new B Street intern Megan O'Neil and that thing that sometimes happens between two people happened to them. A bond developed as they worked together. On April 14 for their first date, they went to a River Cats game. So the bond became, you know ... more.

But as William Shakespeare wrote, "The course of true love never did run smooth."

They realized they wanted to be together, but Story lived in Los Angeles and O'Neil went back to Chicago after her internship. It was during a trip to Alaska that Story proposed to O'Neil. And here their charming love story takes a wild left turn into the multi-platformed dimensions of modern media culture.

"Megan and I were crunching numbers and it just did not look feasible for us to get married this year," Story says.

"That was tough for us to deal with because we really wanted to be husband and wife. So Megan was searching the Internet and she found a link to something called the '$100,000 Southern California Wedding Give Away.' That would be a contest where the winners are treated to a $100,000 dream wedding."

So they entered - adding a creative flair to their application. "We wrote our entry in script form with stage directions."

Apparently it worked.

Out of 615 couples, Peter and Megan made it into the Top 10. Now it's down to the romance Internet voting.

"Our friend, Brian Kameoka, who's a marketing genius, told us about creating a Facebook fan page," Story says.

"We're using every man, woman, and child we've ever met in our lifetime to try and spread the word." It's going to be an uphill slog since the couple leading in the votes includes a fire fighter with cancer.

"We had no idea the response would be like this," Story says. "We've got over 1,000 fans on the fan book page.

"Three days ago I made a video about how I met Megan. I posted that on YouTube, that video has already got over 1,200 hits. We're just trying to get as many people to support us as possible."

Voting ends at midnight Feb. 11.

The link to Peter and Megan's Facebook Fanpage is

www.facebook.com/meganandpeter

Peter's video can be found at:
www.youtube.com

The wedding website is:
www.socaldreamwedding.com

On Feb. 11, he'll debut a new video that has footage of his proposal to Megan in Alaska.

Again, voting ends at midnight.

MICHAEL BECKER Associated Press/Fox

Last night's first night of "American Idol" - it's Hollywood Week - answered most questions fans of the show had. The most pressing, of course, being the intro of Ellen DeGeneres as the show's fourth judge.

Ellen immediately lobbed one at departing-after-this-season judge Simon Cowell, saying: "So this is it, huh? I come on, you leave."

To her credit and probably her expertise on her own talk show, Ellen brought a balanced mix of criticism and praise as the 181 contestants from the audition process sang for a coveted spot in the final 24. I'm a little surprised the show didn't stray much from the tradition of having groups of singers come out, perform individually and then hear their fates, via a "step forward, step back" routine.

That being said, there were quite a few contestants who surely practiced and worked it out during the five-plus months between the auditions and Hollywood Week. My faves were the crooners with guitars: Andrew Garcia, who flipped former judge Paula Abdul's hit "Straight Up" into a bluesy rendition; Jannell Wheeler's amazing take on "American Boy" by Estelle, and sandwich maker Lilly Scott, who wowed with Ella Fitzgerald's "Lullaby Of Birdland."

Back to Ellen: She seemed to take the reins last night, pretty much delivering either good or bad news to the contestants. But really, it's kind of obvious who should have stayed and who should have left the building. It gets more difficult as the show progresses. Tonight is the dreaded group night, where it's tradition to see major dysfunction as the contestants try to perform in clusters. Emphasis on try!

The judges typically narrow the number to 24 in secret, so viewers don't see much of the debate. Where Ellen truly will be tested as a judge of talent will be when the show goes live and it's boys vs. girls.

And if "Idol" fans are in a dither about who eventually will replace Simon for next season, judge Kara DioGuardi said today that Ellen is a delight but that shock jock radio's Howard Stern would be a dud.

Perhaps golfer Tiger Woods will re-emerge on the scene by May, when his new biography goes on sale.

Da Capo Press just announced the upcoming publication of "Tiger Woods" by Steve Helling, a People magazine reporter. A Da Capo publicist said the book will "draw on intimate sources, many speaking out for the first time, to create a never-before-seen portrait of the golfer."

--Allen Pierleoni

Monday's edition of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune will feature Sacramento executive assistant Jamie Manjarrez.

Manjarrez waited five hours to try out when the show's mobile contestant search came to Stockton last year.

She made it through the selection process and discovered she was a different kind of winner on the day of taping: She found out that day that she was pregnant.

Manjarrez, who loves dancing and going to musicals, will watch the show Monday along with dozens of her friends at a Natomas pizza parlor.

The show airs at 7 p.m. on KXTV-10, the local ABC affiliate.

AUTUMN CRUZ/acruz@sacbee.com

Back in November, The Bee reintroduced Louise Dutton (pictured), who back in November relaunched her Bella Soap Company, which is based out of her home in Loomis.

She's scaled back her operation and is concentrating - for now - on her Bella Dry Skin Formula, which, according to Dutton, is the No. 1-selling soap for folks dealing with eczema and/or dry and sensitive skin.

It's sold at several local independent pharmacies and health food stores, including Main Drug Store, Sunrise Natural Foods and Elliott's Natural Foods.

Louise e-mailed me to say the response to her new-and-improved dry skin soap has been incredible.

"We have had so many parents tell us the itching, scratching and bleeding has stopped," she says.

So what better week (before Valentine's Day) to return the love to those loyal customers. Today, from 3 to 6 p.m., Louise will be at Knott's Pharmacy (4819 J St.) in East Sacramento to give away a free bar of soap to the first 25 customers. In addition, Knott's will offer 25 percent off the retail price of the soap today through Feb. 23. It sells for between $4.89 and $6.89.

FYI: The National Eczema Association will feature Bella Soap Company in its quarterly newsletter.

Despite gray skies and intermittent, spitting rain on Saturday, thousands of people waited in long lines to take advantage of one day's free admission to area museums.

The preliminary count for Museum Day 2010 was 86,715, up more than 2,000 over last year's attendance.

And this despite Fairytale Town's surprise closing, because last week's rains had left the playground wet and quite muddy.

Other institutions, like Stanford Mansion, Governor's Mansion and the Crocker Art Museum, saw steady lines all day long.

"We were really busy," says Crocker spokeswoman LeAnne Ruzzamenti. "It was an interesting mix of people. Some had never been to a museum, much less the Crocker. And there was a lot of interest in the new building."

The Crocker's new $100 million wing will open in October, in plenty of time for the 2011 Museum Day.

Bob LaPerriere reported record attendance at the Sierra-Sacramento Valley Museum of Medical History: 606 visitors.

"We were never above 300 in the past." he says.

Previous coverage:

Art to oddities, it's all free on Sacramento's Museum Day - Feb. 5, 2010

How Museum Day became one man's life-altering event - Jan. 31, 2010

Next up for the Light Opera Theatre of Sacramento - "The Mikado."

This comic opera in two acts, by Gilbert and Sullivan, will be performed with full, live orchestra conducted by David Möschler.

Soprano Katie Baad will sing the role of Yum-Yum.

The Mikado, considered one of Gilbert and Sullivan's masterpieces, was their longest running work. It ran for 672 performances after its debut.

As is the case with their other works, "Mikado" offers librettist W.S. Gilbert's trademark biting wit and brilliant satire anchored to Arthur Sullivan's inventive music.

WHEN: 8 p.m., Feb. 12-21
WHERE: 24th Street Theatre, 2791 24th St., Sacramento
TICKETS: $10-$20
INFORMATION: (530) 400-1858 or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/94408

Fans of George Gershwin will be elated, or will scratch their heads, with Steven Spielberg's latest casting choice.

Online sites like imdb.com and others are reporting that the director is prepping a biopic on the famous composer and has tapped Zachary Quinto to play Gershwin.

Quinto will be well known to most for his portrayal as Spock in J.J. Abrams' 2009 film "Star Trek," and for his work on the T.V. show "Heroes."

Biopics are notoriously hard to pull off. Luckily, few people know much about Gershwin's persona, so Quinto will not have to live up to a known standard.

Brilliant casting choice or not, it's always a good thing when the life of a composer hits the big screen, especially an American treasure like Gershwin.

Maybe it will give a big bump to Gershwin's music... like what the 1984 film "Amadeus" did for Mozart's music.

Promoter LiveNation is offering deals on a slate of country shows scheduled for SleepTrain Amphitheatre in Maryvsville in the coming months.

Under its "country megaticket" package, fans can catch Brooks & Dunn (April 23), Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum (May 28), Toby Keith (July 29) and Rascal Flatts and Kellie Pickler (Oct. 9) for a single high or low price, depending on whether one's tastes run to V.I.P. parties or that country, common-man staple: the lawn seat.

The packages range from $80 (the lawn), to $450 (the works), and include opportunities to buy presale tickets for Sugarland (April 30) at SleepTrain Pavilion in Concord.

These tickets go on sale Friday. For information, go to the LiveNation site.

Landon Cooper loves to say "please" and "thank you" - thank you very much.

The 16-year-old (soon to be 17) recently self-published a book on good behavior titled "Young Manners From a Young Man" ($12.99). Cooper, a junior at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, has been working on the book half his life. He says it's changed as he's changed - and matured.

"I see more things now than I did when I was 8," Cooper adds. "My inspiration has been my parents, because good manners start at home and blossom based on the people who surround you and their attitudes."

Cooper admits that being a teenager means he's often exposed to bad manners, and he's quick to point out to others that it's not nice to diss your mother. "Friends sometimes talk differently to their parents, and I've had occasion to say, 'Be nicer.' "

He says it shouldn't take an effort to show respect to adults and teachers, but it's also important to be kind to each other.

"Young Manners" is broken into 13 chapters with lots of tips. Cooper organized it to include "walking through a typical day together."

"There are different tips for different situations, from table manners to introductions to important settings."

He gleaned his info from his parents, online research and, of course, the doyenne on good behavior Miss Manners.

Friends at Pleasant Grove High think it's cool Cooper has written a book, but he confesses it's not always easy to practice what you preach around other teens. But he'll get a chance to ask others if they've been using their manners.

In addition to appearing on Capital Public Radio today with Jeffrey Callison, Cooper will sign copies of his book from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Elk Grove Vitamins, 9647 East Stockton Blvd. On Feb. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m., he'll be at Borders Bookstore, 7415 Laguna Blvd.

Check this out: The foreward to "Young Manners" was penned by none other than former Gov. Pete Wilson.

And Cooper secured this quote from his cousin Laura McFadden, a vet student at UC Davis: "In this day and age, manners seem to have less importance. It is worth your while to read this book, because manners are important. Manners are the key ingredient in the recipe for success."

So does Landon hope to pursue writing as a career?

"I want to go into business or marketing," he says. "The book has taken eight years of my life!"

Charles R. Schwab, board chair for San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art, today announced that $250 million has been raised toward expanding the museum and adding to its endowment.

SFMOMA's goal is to raise $480 million to triple its gallery and public spaces, offer better public services, and create enhanced exhibitions and educational programs.

In addition, the museum wants to showcase in a new wing its Fisher Collection of modern and contemporary art, one of the best in the world.

The collection, initially loaned to SFMOMA by the family of Doris and Donald Fisher for 25 years, will now be at the museum for 100 years. The family will have the right to further extend the loan after that.

Museum officials will choose an architect for the 100,000-square-foot expansion later this year. An international search is under way.

Projected completion date for the new wing is 2016.

The latest evolution of the popular Google online application Google Maps, may soon allow views of the inside of retail establishments.

As much was made clear when a photographer working for Google entered the 14 year-old Oh Nuts nut and candy retail chain in Brooklyn, N.Y. to photograph the inside of the store last last week.

"The Google people came in to our stores with cameras and took photographs every six feet, from top to bottom and on all four sides of the store with their special camera technology," said Ari Tahover, website manager for Oh Nuts.

Tahover said the photographer made sure to photograph both floors of both Oh Nuts stores and that the photographer took specific photographs of specific store items like gift baskets. Those would be added as reference items on the store's Google Maps page for the store location, he was told.

Google chose not to confirm whether it is adding a store view option to its Google Maps application.

"We are always experimenting with new features for Google Maps," said a Google spokesperson about the company's photo shoot at Oh Nuts.

But a source at the Moutain-view-based company said Google has been shooting the inside of stores in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, and that there are plans to someday add the store view photos to Google Maps' "Street View" function.

For Tahover, allowing Internet shoppers to transit into a store online via the Google Maps application seems like a great idea.

"I think this is going to be great for business, as people will be able to locate products and tour the whole store before they come in," he said.

"Boom: A Journal of California" is now accepting submissions. The quarterly publication will explore arts, history, and culture of California with its debut issue dropping next February.

The new University of California, Davis-based journal will be co-edited by UC Davis History Professor Louis Warren and Carolyn de la Peña, an American Studies professor and director of the UC Davis Humanities Institute.

The UC Davis News & Information press release says, "the magazine-format, highly visual journal will feature scholars, independent writers and community activists engaging the most pressing issues of the day."

For submission guidelines, visit ucpressjournals.com

Dixon May Fair officials today announced the entertainment lineup for this year's fair: Foreigner, Billy Currington, Pat Benatar and Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

Tickets aren't yet available, but check for the on-sale date at TicketMaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.comm or at the Dixon May Fair's box office at 655 S. First St., Dixon.

Here's the schedule: Foreigner, May 6; Currington, May 7, and Benatar with Creedence Clearwater Revisited on May 8.

Concert tickets include all-day admission to the fair. This year's theme is "Fun For Ewe."

Sacramento's minor-league baseball team will host two job fairs -- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 6) and Feb. 13 -- to hire employees for the upcoming season.

There are 200 open positions in such areas as: EMTs, warehouse workers, concession supervisors, parking cashiers and attendants, Kids Corner and On-Deck Shop attendants, grounds crew, culinary workers and in-seat servers.

Applicants must be 18 and older. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, call the River Cats' Job Hotline at (916) 376-4783.

The Cats' first home game of the 2010 season is April 16.

"Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz as a boy had a crush on a little red-haired girl. And so, too, for years has good ol' Charlie Brown dreamed about his own little red-haired girl.

Valentine's Day is your lucky day if you're female with reddish tresses - and happen to be in the Santa Rosa area. On that day only, you'll be admitted for free to the Charles M. Schulz Museum. Hours are 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Learn more about the Schulz museum - which is a tribute to the late cartoonist, his beloved comic strip and cartooning in general - at www.SchulzMuseum.org

The museum is at 2301 Hardies Lane in Santa Rosa, about 50 miles north of San Francisco.

With the San Francisco Symphony snagging 3 Grammys last night, isn't it time for the orchestra to be included in the top 10 of any ranking of world orchestras?

At last night's Grammy Awards, the SFS' won the awards for Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance and Best Engineered Classical Album.

The awards were given for its live concert recording of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 and the Adagio from Symphony No. 10, conducted by Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas.

The recording is the last in a cycle of the orchestra's excellent recordings of Mahler's symphonies.

With these three awards, the SFS's Mahler cycle has now received a total of seven Grammy awards.

Clearly, this is one of the nation's best interpreters of Mahler's works, if not the best. And that is saying a lot.

But, the SFS has always lingered in the second tier of orchestras in the ranking of the 20 best orchestras in the world by the British classical music mag Gramophone.

In Gramophone's staid mind the orchestra ranks 13th (see rankings, below).

Sure, rankings like this are silly and irrelevant. Yet some people live by them.

Certainly a cursory look at the rankings shows a clear Euro-centric bias.

Ultimately, these rankings are like comparing apples to oranges. How can anyone compare the SFS to, say, the Vienna Philharmonic or the Royal Concertgebouw?

Wouldn't do any of those orchestras justice.

Maybe the only thing that can be said with any accuracy and relevance is that great orchestras are great in their own way... like unhappy families are unhappy in their own way.

Below are Gramophone's ranking of the world's top 20 orchestras:

1. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam
2. Berlin Philharmonic
3. Vienna Philharmonic
4. London Symphony Orchestra
5. Chicago Symphony Orchestra
6. Bavarian Radio Symphony
7. Cleveland Orchestra
8. Los Angeles Philharmonic
9. Budapest Festival Orchestra
10. Dresden Staatskapelle
11. Boston Symphony Orchestra
12. New York Philharmonic
13. San Francisco Symphony
14. Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra
15. Russian National Orchestra
16. Leningrad Philharmonic
17. Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
18. Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
19. Saito Kinen Symphony Orchestra
20. Czech Philharmonic

The Sacramento Poetry Center is holding a class on writing poetry - led by Sacramento Poet Laureate Bob Stanley - and another course on poets born in the 1930s - taught by local poetry educator John Allen Cann.

The classes are underway, but drop-in students are welcome.

Stanley's class involves a study of poets and writing in a supportive, adult environment. Held Wednesday afternoons from noon to 2 p.m., the series of ten classes is $200 or $25 for a single session.

Cann's class will study Wendell Berry, Lucille Clifton, Margaret Atwood, Gregory Corso, Marge Piercy, Ted Kooser, C.K. Williams and Charles Simic. The class is Tuesday evenings, 7-9 p.m. The cost is $160 or $20 per session.

To register or get information for Stanley's class, email bobstanley@sbcglobal.net or call (916) 240-1897. For Cann's, email johnallencann@aol.com.