No Ordinary Three Ring Circus!

This past Wednesday, the 13th, Cirque du Soleil came to town in a big way. The show was all that it promised and more. After having spoken to the head trainer of the show the intricate details of putting on such a magnificent spectacle became even clearer since having spoken with Ms. Ruest, the creative director, in March. Before putting on a show the performers train for 4 months in Montreal, which each performer has a background for many years in acrobatics. The youngest performer of the show is only 19 years old. After discussing many acts in the show, we discussed what he thought was the most difficult, the Russian Swing. This act was being performed in dress rehearsal during the interview so I was able to see the performers practice this high flying act before the show. The reason for the difficulty level was the sheer number of performers it takes. This act demonstrates how well all the performers and crew of Cirque du Soleil work as a team. The show is flawless. From the very first moment you look at the glowing stage through every high flying act and captivating character, the audience is on the edge of their seat at every turn of the show. For my guest and I, we couldn’t wait to talk about our favorite aspects and characters. I know I personally told everyone I am close to what a spectacular show it was. I am very excited that Cirque du Soleil will be bringing other shows on the road and through Tallahassee in the future. With 17 shows in performance all over the world definitely make it an effort to see one, because once you do, you will want to see them all.

Please visit Cirque du Soleil for any more information about the show and tickets to future shows.

Dates for the show in Florida!

Jacksonville, FL: May 20 - 24, 2009
Sunrise, FL: May 27 - June 7, 2009
Tampa, FL: June 25 - July 5, 2009
Estero, FL: July 8 - 12, 2009

The Circus is coming!

The amazing company Cirque du Soleil is bringing their highflying, acrobatic show Saltimbanco to Tallahassee. They will be performing at the Civic Center from May 13 through 17. This is a circus like no other and definitely a must see! After speaking with the creative director of the show Carmen Reust, I was given more of an insight into what the audience can expect to see from this spectacle. Saltimbanco translates from Italian as “jump on a bench” and in French it means “street performers”. These both are central ideas in the urban scene that the show displays. The setting is based in a park of an imaginary city since parks are often central meeting places. Ms. Reust explained that the idea behind Saltimbanco was to give a positive image to young people, in particular, who wanted to move to urban cities. At the time of development the Cirque du Soleil Company read that young individuals had a negative outlook on urban living, that it was unsafe. To counteract this negative view Saltimbanco was born.

In the beginning of the spectacle all the characters come into the park with one identity and as they explore their new habitat their own colorful identities come out. The audience should expect to see bright vibrant colors and awe inspiring acts. There are 47 performers on stage throughout the different scenes, each with unique tricks that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The music is a range of spectrums from African influence to opera. The idea behind such a range of diverse music was a car ride through different parts of the city with the window down and hearing the sounds and music of the different cultures. Ms. Reust described Saltimbanco as the “root, classic, and signature show” of the company. If you have ever seen a Cirque show before, you know this is not something to be missed. If you have never seen one before, it is guaranteed to impress. This is no ordinary circus, this is Cirque du Soleil!


www.cirquedusoleil.com/tallahasseepromo

Have "Your Pizza, Your Way" from Hungry Howie's (at a Steal, Too)

Hungry Howie’s Pizza wants everyone to have happiness in their tummies and their wallet which is why they’ve launched the “Your Pizza, Your Way” promotion. Save on the wallet and keep peace in the house with this deal.

For the budget price of $3.99, get a personal 10-inch pizza with a choice of one of eight crust flavors (eight crust flavors? What happened to regular pizza dough flavor?) and one topping.

And sharing isn’t an option, you can eat this cheap yet tasty pizza all by yourself. Your roommate can order his/her own 10-inch Hungry Howie’s Pizza. This special deal will be served between now (program launched Feb. 15) and May 31, 2009.

Here are the contact details for the Tallahassee Hungry Howie’s
3839 N. Monroe Street, Unit #1
Tel: 850.562.5656

3491 Thomasville Road, Unit #1
Tel: 850-894-3100

Visit the Hungry Howei’s Web site for all other locations.

Be sure to visit WhatCrustAreYou.com for an opportunity to create an image, post it, then maybe win a free pizza!

Now I have a craving for pizza, catch ya later…

Celebrate Valentine's Day Early at Carrabba's Italian Grill (and it's Great for the Budget)

What are you doing for Valentine's Day? This year February 14 falls on a Saturday. Here's an idea to avoid the crowds and shower your love a little longer. Take advantage of Carrabba's Dal Cuore Nights, Feb. 11 & 12, 2009. "Dal Cuore" means "from the heart" and the good people at Carrabba's have devised a tasty prix fixe menu with three yummy courses and a price that's oh, so right for the budget (less than so $20 person). Plus, take $10 off a bottle of wine.

The delicious Italian meal and admiration from your loved one for treating her (or him) to a fabulously, romantic evening, aren't the only things you'll receive during Dal Cuore Nights. Each guest receives a special Dal Cuore Nights Valentine including a "heartfelt" quote. One lucky quote recipient will win the ultimate romantic getaway, a seven-night cruise Italian cruise for two aboard MSC Cruises.

Imagine that, win a groovy cruise just for dining at Carrabba's Feb. 11 and/or Feb. 12 (I say "and/or" since the food and price are right, why not take advantage of two consecutive Dal Cuore Nights?)

Visit Carrabba's Italian Grill in Tallahassee:
2752 Capital Circle NE
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Tel: 850/297-1100

Fashion Update

School has started up again and winter has definitely set in for Tallahassee. This is a great time to bring out those scarves and boots you couldn't wait to wear back when it was blistering hot just a few months ago. For those of you, who can't wait for the beach weather to return, don't worry. Spring is right around the corner. Along with the arrival of spring, so is the Florida State annual spring Fashion Show. This is the longest standing fashion show at Florida State University and is a great way to see what the designers of tomorrow are creating today. The designers for the show are FSU Apparel Design students. This is a great event to watch for some possible future trends. The event will be held at the club called The Moon. The theme is Fashion Reality. Media affects fashion greatly through shows like Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, and even all the media hype on the designers dressing the new First Lady. More information will be coming out as the FSU Fashion Show develops.

I know at the end of last semester I was not as up to date as I would have liked to have been on writing for the blog. Fall Fashion Week, though, went off without a hitch. The main event, Project Reconstruction, was a great success for all those Fashion students involved. A mantra that has been quoted frequently of late is "green is the new black". This is also true with your fashion. FSU apparel students created clothing with sustainable and recycled items. There were also other items on show that were all reconstructed. Check out the photos. Maybe they will inspire you to fix up a few items in your house and wardrobe instead of throwing them out. Get creative!

How the Fashion Industry is dealing with the Recession

This season for fashion has never been like any other in recent decades, because of such hard economic times upon us. As the models walked down the runways showing this fall season collections all waited with baited breaths on how it would be received. Reported by The Fashion Spot, a website that reports on the fashion industry and how it affects us, buyers were not applauding this season. The general consensus was that the designs were”Safe but a general lack of zing”. They were looking for a “perfect balance between normal and special”. What is even more nerve racking in the design world is the limiting of new labels buyers are picking up due to recession, which is not good news for all up and coming designers. Designers and retailers alike are dealing with the change in pocket money for women of the working world. It seems that those retailers that target the young women or teenagers are not feeling the pinch. Some, like the retailer Topshot, which also target teens and young adults, are actually reporting a gain in profit. Children are always the last to feel the tightening of belts. Even the stock market is down for all major retailers such as J.C. Penny’s, Kohl’s, Macy’s and the Limited. Total sales are down 1.2% between August and September. This is down 1% from a year ago. These kinds of retailers are bracing for the lowest recorded sales to be reported for the holiday season since the early 1980’s. On the other hand discount retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco are experiencing an increase in stock value. You are most likely going to be finding some good sales this winter season. So kill two birds with one stone by taking advantage of opportunities for some great gifts and helping out the fashion industry in these hard economic times.

Fashion that gets your Heart Racing!

Sorry I haven't been around lately, apparently this year midterms last from labor day till Thanksgiving. Have some really fun fashion news. This coming week Nov. 2-8 is Florida State's annual Fall Fashion Week. The first event is this Sunday, November 2, and is a 5k run (or walk). Sign up is at one pm at the Sandels Building on campus. The fee is $15 and goes to the Tallahassee Refuge House. The race officially begins at 1:30 and ends back at Sandels. There is even Free food and Prizes! This event is supported by a organization I belong to called Fashion Inc. and also Collegiate Merchandising Association. So put on your running shoes and run, jog, or walk your heart out for a good cause and fashion!!! If you need any directions feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me.