#high strung free dance icons

[doveherty]

Happy Halloween guys! It's spooky timeee 🎃

[hale-gif-icons]

under the cut, there will be multiple 100x100 thomas doherty gif icons

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[ithomasdoherty]

Thomas Doherty as Zander Raines.

High Strung: Free Dance (2019), dir. Michael Damian

[peachpeachpp]

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twitter : @dove_peach

[bisexual-horror-fan]

"From Back Then To Now." Amber Cottrell X GN! Reader.

Hey! So someone asked if I would ever consider doing an Amber one-shot and I thought it over and figured hell yeah why the fuck not? Now this one isn't super dirty but I love it, think it is really fun and if people like it I would totally do more! Also after the updated version of TMOMD I felt in the mood to write her again. I hope you all enjoy it! Let's get into it! (Also this is a TMOMD AU where Freddy is actually into the idea of sharing Amber.)

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Rating. NSFW. Length. 3.7K. Amber Cottrell X GN! Reader. Warnings. Drinking. Making out. Teasing. Grinding. Hair Pulling. Fondling. Dirty Talk. Tease And Denial. Pining. Mentions Of Dom/Sub Dynamics And Free Use Kink. Nothing Crazy. Amber Being A Bisexual Icon Like Usual.

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You weren't even sure if you wanted to go out tonight. It's not like you didn't enjoy the party scene in college, you just weren't sure if this was the kind of party you'd even like. Your friend was rushing a sorority and they were the type who had DREAMT of getting into one forever, they were also a classic overachiever. So they decided recon was necessary to be ready for the sorority they actually wanted to rush, which led to tonight, your friend insisting on dragging you to a different college campus then the one you both attended, one where they knew some people, to go do a practice run at a different sorority mixer. You thought it was very unneeded and frankly ridiculous but it was a Friday night and you had no prior plans meaning you had no real reason to turn your friend down.

You still got a little bit dressed up and figured that if you did this they would owe you a favor and you could at least try to have a bit of fun in the process. Free food and drinks, music and meeting some new people, couldn’t be all bad, could it?

One thing you hadn’t thought of was the fact your friend was going to be far too busy doing her research to actually hang out with you and ditched you basically immediately. After being on your own for over an hour you had managed to track your friend down again, “There you are!”

Your friend turned to look at you and immediately just had the most apologetic look on, a weak smile as they said, “Hey! Sorry for running off! I just got so caught up-” You were a little less than impressed, arms crossed as you said, “Uh-huh, I am so sure.”

And then your friend pouted, “Don’t be mad at me!” And you shrugged your shoulders, “I’m not mad, I’m just a little bothered you INSISTED I come, dragged me along to a party where I don’t know anyone.”

“Awe isn’t half the fun of college meeting new people! Meet someone new, live a little.” Your friend was looking around and you were worried they were about to bail again already but instead their smile widened and they waved calling out, “Rach! Rachel! C’mere!”

Then some woman, Rachel you presumed came over, a smile and small wave, “Hey what’s up?” Your friend put a hand on her arm as he said, “So good to see you again, this here is my friend-” A gesture to you as she shared your name and then said, “-I was a totally tactless fool and dragged them to this party where they don’t know anyone, mind doing me a favor and introducing them to someone fun?”

“Duh of course I can do that.” Rachel said, turning to you and you looked at your friend, “Alright, fine but you aren’t off the hook yet, we are talking about this later-”

“You’re the best, bye!” So your friend was off and you were left alone with Rachel, she was scanning the crowd, considering her options with a hum and then a smile broke out on her face, “Oh here we go. Come with me.”

You followed her, seemed like the best option for you and she took you over to the other side of the room and Rachel called out, “Amber!” Then she turned her head and you saw her for the first time. Wild curly red hair and blue eyes and freckles, pink glossy lips pulled up in a smile as she greeted her enthusiastically, “Hey Rach! What’s up?”

“I’m afraid I have a party guest who doesn’t know anyone here and was hoping you could show them a good time.”

The red-head’s gaze turned to you and she looked you up and down, smiled a bit brighter and you took the moment to take her in as well. She was fucking cute first off, one of the best dressed people here, made you feel undressed with her make up, the cute and tight blue dress she had on, the tall heels her sported that matched her obviously carefully chosen accessories. She had a glass of something delicious looking in her manicured grasp, and her speaking pulled you out of looking her over so intensely, “Well sure I’d love to!”

And Rachel was saying “Fantastic, bless you Amber.” and she was off and you were now left alone with apparently, Amber. “So you obviously know my name now but you are?”

You told her your name and she repeated it, she brought her glass up and took a sip, after she swallowed she repeated your name once again like she was truly trying to commit it to memory. It was endearing, she seemed like the kind of person you would want to remember your name. She asked, “So you came alone?”

“No uh I came with a friend.” She cocked her head at that, “And they abandoned you? Terrible for them but great for me I suppose. Let’s have a good time.”

She was certainly in a good mood, it was a bit infectious, she looked at the red solo cup you were holding and she pointed to it as she asked, “First off. What are you drinking?”

You looked into the cup and said, “Uhm bud light lime I think-” She made this disgusted sound. “Ugh! Which frat bro gave you that swill? Was it Todd? I bet it was Todd, not like you’d know who Todd is but whatever-” She reached out and took the cup from you and set it on a nearby table, “- point is, no more of that.”

You let out a small laugh and said, “What am I supposed to drink then?”

“Something actually good. Come on.” She took your hand with hers that wasn’t currently holding her glass and started to lead you away. “Where are we going?”

You were looking at your joined hands, hers felt so soft, she responded to you with a look to you over her shoulder, “To get you something worth drinking.”

She was looking for someone and found them in a few minutes and soon you were meeting her friend, Colby. You were in the kitchen and Amber was sitting up on the counter, you beside her as she told you, “Colby here is minoring in mixology and can make you something delectable. No one at this party can make you a better cocktail I guarantee it.”

“What do you like?” He asked and you weren’t sure how to respond, “Fuck, put me on the spot, I am not sure what to say.”

“So do you trust us to pick something for you?” Amber was looking at you with that smile and you could only say, “Yeah, sure. I trust you.”

She turned her attention to Colby and asked, “Thoughts?” He hummed and looked up to the ceiling before a snap of his fingers and pointed to her, “How about your drink?”

“Fucking shit are you trying to embarrass me? I just met them but yeah sure.” She rolled her eyes and you asked, “Her drink?”

Colby turned to the kitchen island and started work at it and said, “I had this exam where we had to come up with an original cocktail and make it in class for everyone to try and Amber stayed up with me way too late to help me out with it. I ended up passing with flying colors and have her to thank so it’s her drink.”

You let out this little shocked laugh at that, “Look at you in college and you already have a drink named after you. Aren’t you going places.” You teased and she nudged you with her shoulder as she said it, “Oh teasing me already? You’re getting comfortable! I like it.”

You decided at that moment that you liked her. The drink was presented to you shortly thereafter and it was unfairly good.

The time you had was also unfairly good. Turns out Amber knew basically everyone, she had so many people come up to her, talking to her, waves and hugs, little jokes but she didn’t linger on them, she kept you involved in the conversation and introducing you to people but mostly keeping her attention on you. She made you feel heard and listened to. She was funny, she asked you questions about yourself and told you some things about herself too.

There was this moment when you and her were in the living room and this song came on and she perked right up and she grabbed your hand and pulled you to her saying, ”I love this one! Dance with me?”

And what were you just going to say no to her? Having her in that tight dress up against you because of how many people were on the makeshift dance floor, the way her hips swung and her lips moved along with the words, you got a bit lost in it and several songs later you were being led upstairs by her with a wide smile.

She pulled you into this dark bedroom and you asked, “What are we doing?” She walked across the room and opened the sliding door and held her hand out, gesturing to the balcony strung up with lights, “Cooling down and getting away from the crowd for a bit.”

So you sat out on the balcony, and could still hear the music pouring out from the open windows on the lower level. She was leaning against the railing and looking up at the night sky and you were sitting on this chair and just looking at her. She caught you staring and glanced at you, a soft smile as she asked, “Are you having a good time?”

You gave a nod and said, “Yeah. I’ve been having a lot of fun.” She took a sip of her drink and said, “Good.”

“So are you in this sorority?” You asked and she scoffed and laughed and turned to face you, “No way! A lot of my friends are and the parties are fun. My program can be stressful and I like to unwind on the weekends.”

“Oh what is your program?” You asked and she took the seat across from you and crossed her legs, the hem of her dress rode up and more of those long legs were exposed to you, eyes lingered a moment longer than they should have, you wondered how high those freckles went before looking up to her face and she was smirking.

She caught you looking but let it go as she said, “Has to do with math, business and finance. All terribly interesting to you I am sure.”

She took another sip as you said, “I mean it isn’t really my thing but you like it?” She nodded, “I like the career options it offers me and I am good at it.”

You appreciated her honesty and said, “Fair enough.”

The conversation continued and she asked about your major and other things about you and you both ended up scooting your chairs closer together, she took off her heels and rested her feet on your lap which led you to asking, “How tall are those anyway?”

She looked down at them, “Oh about four and a half inches.” You almost choked on your drink and pulled the glass away, “Four and a half inches?!”

She walked and strutted and danced in them like they were nothing, she shrugged, “They aren’t even my tallest ones.” She said it so easily and you were very impressed.

“How tall are you then?” She finished her drink and set the glass down, she brought her feet off your lap and stood up in front of you, “Five foot two inches.”

You couldn’t help your laugh, “Oh God you are so cute. No wonder you wear those, how could anyone take you seriously otherwise?”

She looked at you, cock of one of her brows and she took the glass from your hand and set it aside, her hands came down and hiked the hem of her dress up just a little which made your own brows raise and she came forward. She sat on your lap, straddling you, her thighs on either side of your hips and you were taken aback by her boldness. Her arms hung loosely around you, hands behind your neck and she was leaning in close, her chest against yours, lips an inch away from yours as she asked, “Can you take me seriously like this?”

You could take her anywhere, anytime, any way like this. You breathed against her mouth, “Yes.”

Her only response was to lean in that bit extra and kiss you and she tasted like strawberry lipgloss and hints of citrus and vanilla from those drinks she had tonight. She pulled away far too soon and asked, “This is okay, right?”

You nodded, “More than okay.” and that was all that she needed to hear she kissed you again and took the lead, you followed, returning her affection, kissing her back. You were kind of in disbelief she had been flirting with you all night, lingering touches and looks, jokes and innuendo laced in what she said but you didn’t think she was serious. She just seemed like that kind of person, still it was hard to believe it. She seemed like the kind of girl who could have anyone she wanted at this party but she picked you.

You had her in your lap and she was kissing you, nipping at your bottom lip and her tongue invading your mouth and she let out this sweet little sigh, a soft moan and she pulled away to say, “Put your hands on me.”

So your hands went to her hips immediately and you felt the soft silky material of her dress and you squeezed, her hips stirred and she leaned back, she ground on you, her head fell back exposing the long column of her throat and her hair fell in the most inviting way. You gripped tighter and ground back onto her and she bit her bottom lip and you got this crazy urge and just went with it, your hands moved. One slid up her back and into her hair and pulled her back down to you to kiss her and your other hand slid down to grab her ass and she moaned into your mouth and you wanted to make her do that again and again. Her hands were still on the back of your neck and it just kept going.

It kept escalating, hands getting a bit bolder, kisses getting hotter and messier and she was breathing so hard and you were kissing her neck and about to finally slide your hand between her legs and up her dress when she was all of a sudden gone. She slipped out of your lap and got up, she looked flushed, hair a little messy from your hands being in it, her lipgloss was a mess and you were panting, looking up at her, wondering what she was doing when she said with this warm smile, “That was a lot of fun.”

What?

You were confused, she reached down and picked your drink up, she downed the rest of it and set the glass back down and you asked, “Was?”

She gave a confident nod, “Was. You’re a good time, thanks for a memorable Friday night. I got some stuff to do tomorrow so I gotta go.”

Her hand met your cheek and you were staring into those blue eyes and she said, “Enjoy the rest of the party. I introduced you to enough people that you should have fun.”

She pressed another kiss to your lips and it was way too short, she pulled away and you tried to follow, she booped your nose and stood up straight, “See you round.” She said it so lightly with this little wink and you melted a bit.

She picked up her heels and slid the door into the bedroom back open, a look at you again over her shoulder with a small wave and with a flip of her long red hair she was gone.

You were fucking stunned to be honest. It was going so well. You wondered if you did something wrong? You sat there, legs feeling a little weak and also still feeling absurdly turned on. When you regained enough of your composure you trekked back downstairs and came across Colby.

“Hey! You need another drink?” he asked and you nodded as you followed him to the kitchen.

“Something wrong?” He said it and you realized you hadn’t said anything the entire time he made your drink and you took the glass and you explained what happened. That you and Amber hung out all night and had a really great time, a good connection and even started to hook up but then she left really abruptly, you felt you did something wrong and that is when he started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” You asked and he said with a comforting hand on your shoulder, “Sorry to be the one to tell you this but this is Amber’s trademark.”

“Huh?” You asked and he elaborated. Amber had a reputation as being a tease. She was fun, well liked, friends with many but whenever she was at a party she would end up finding someone she clicked with and an intense make-out would happen mid-way through of which she would leave for the night. “But why?”

“No one is sure. Just a thing she does. Up to her tho if making out is as far as she wants to go, more power to her. Everyone around here knows what they are getting into with her, sorry you weren’t informed though. Nothing against you, it’s just how she is.”

Your friend found you again shortly afterwards and you both left, you never went back to that campus, didn’t get any of her information and so you never saw Amber again. Your friend listened to you vent and took you to a sympathy brunch the next day as a thank you for coming and as a sorry for what happened. Your friend did get into her sorority by the way.

You would still think of her sometimes throughout the years. Other people came and went but you still sometimes lingered on that party on a Friday night where the flirty red-head straddles your lap and takes your breath away when her mouth meets yours.

It was years later. You had been graduated and working for years. A close friend wanted to meet at this bar to get a drink and get caught up, it wa a Friday night again and you went up the bar to order a drink, you waited for the bartender and heard this light humming that got your attention and you looked down the length of the bar and your breath caught.

It couldn’t be.

Long curly red hair, blue eyes, freckles, a tight dress, a leather jacket, obscenely tall heels, manicured nails, and scarlet painted lips it had to be, it just had to so you slid down the bar with her name falling off your tongue, “Amber?”

She looked up from her phone to you and she thought for a moment, looking you over like she was really thinking about it before the wash of recognition hit and she said, “Wait, wait, I know you-” she hummed and then snapped her fingers and pointed at you as she said your name and you nodded. “Yeah it’s me!”

You were honestly shocked she remembered you and told her as such. “I try to never forget a face but especially not a name. And if memory serves, we had a really good time.”

She remembered you. Thought fondly of you and it made you smile wider. “That good time was cut a little too short in my opinion.”

She turned on her bar stool, looking you over, leaning on one hand under her chin as she asked, “Oh yeah? You think so?”

You leaned in closer, a confident nod and she said, “Maybe we should do something about that.”

Your friend ended up flaking but you did not fucking care. You talked, got caught up on what happened after college and flirted shamelessly and it ended up going the same way. You and her in the bathroom of this bar and in one of stalls, another furious make out, she was even better than you remembered, she tasted delicious, she seemed more fit, was somehow even more confident and aggressive sexually. Her back was to to the wall of the stall and your hand was almost up her dress when she stopped you, “Wait!” You stopped, confused and she said, “Not me. You can’t do me.”

You were again, confused, this kept happening around her. “Why not?”

She looked a little more serious and said, “I’m spoken for.” She was wearing this odd necklace, you noticed earlier, it was this silver bladed glove and she was playing with the charm of that necklace.

“He and I have an agreement. I am allowed to hook up with other people and uhm ‘service’ them but they can’t do me. Only he can.” She said it a bit shyly, you hadn’t seen her like that, you liked it, she was normally so confident, you wondered who it was that made her act that way, the power they held over her to make her of all people stumble over her words when thinking of them. “He likes the idea of me offering myself up and letting other people ‘use’ me to get off. I like that idea too. It’s fun.”

Did that son of a bitch know how lucky he was?

“Is that okay with you? Because I would love to get on my knees for you.” She asked with a cock of her head and you couldn’t believe it. You have Amber, this hot and sweet little thing that has been on your mind for years wanting you and so you asked that burning question, “What can you do?”

She smiled. “Anything you want.”

Oh this Friday night was going to beat out that last one for sure.

[taekcck]

thomas doherty in 'high strung: free dance' pt 1.

on this gif page, you’ll find #121 gifs (268x150px) of thomas doherty in the first half of 'high strung: free dance'. these were all made by me from scratch. please do not redistribute, claim as your own, crop, edit or repost. if you’d like to turn these into gif icons for your personal use, please send me a message. a like or reblog would be appreciated.

GIF PAGE.

[girlonfilmmovies]

The Top 25 Films of 2019

25: Shadow (dir. Zhang Yimou)

"Without the real, there can be no shadow. A principle no one's understood."

After a string of terrible films trying to play to Hollywood audiences, Zhang Yimou manages to successfully return to the goldmine he stuck in the early 2000s and craft another absolutely gorgeous wuxia. Here he swaps out the poetic, colorful beauty in favor of monochromatic, surprisingly violent tone poem about deceit. It ultimately works against it, as by the seventh or eighth double cross you kind of just give up trying to figure out who's on what side, but the main action setpiece is so wonderful it deserves a spot for that alone. Hopefully a good sign for Yimou's future, as long as we don't have another nationalist war epic that somehow inexplicably also has a white savior narrative too.

24: Climax (dir. Gaspar Noé)

"...something's kicking in..."

Noe takes us for another plunge into the dark, twisted, vomit-inducing, neon-lit hellscape that is his mind and at least has the common courtesy to put the pleasant parts upfront this time. While it will eventually devolve into the same type of chaos that we all love/hate from him, the first act is kind of a wonderful departure from him. He basically accidently makes a musical for a while, with wonderful and deeply intricate dance choreography as well as a fantastic extended sequence where every character jumps in and out of frame and gets a chance to strut their stuff. That movie would have been a strong top five contender, but alas, the man has his particular quirks that he must abide by. But at least he also strung together probably the best soundtrack and sound design of the year, with the fantastic EDM bangers rumbling through the walls throughout the entirety of the film.

23: Long Shot (dir. Jonathon Levine)

"Oohhh boooy!"

Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen doing a political comedy that manages to be both smart and extremely funny seems like a long shot indeed, but Johnathon Levine finally strikes gold again after a number of disappointing duds. He manages to make a pretty good story about how navigating the political minefield destroys what little hope and dreams high level politicians still manage to have, but then he also happens to make it all absolutely hilarious too. Theron demonstrates a surprisingly strong comic game too, easily matching all the other talent and cracking jokes along with them. It ends up being a charming romance where the woman takes charge in a very pleasant change of pace. And if nothing else, the way Seth Rogen yells "oh boy" in that video is always going to make me laugh no matter what.

22: 6 Underground (dir. Michael Bay)

"Ghosts have one power above all others: to haunt the living. Haunt them... for what they've done."

Theoretical question: what say Netflix gave Michael Bay a blank check and no restrictions, and he turned in the most overblown, dialed to eleven, nonsensical spectacle that he ever crafted and was allowed to put it into almost every American home for free? Now what if I told you that it was actually kind of awesome? Sure, it's basically a child playing with his $150 million dollar GI Joe set, smashing his toys together and making pew-pew sounds, but it's also probably the best testament to the power of conventional effects work over the increasing insistence on CGI for big setpieces. Let's face it: explosions are pretty cool, every one likes exotic locales and bright sports cars, and there's at least someone here to appeal to you (least surprisingly for me, it was Melanie Laurent with bangs wearing a suit). It almost reaches a late Michael Mann kind of abstraction, as both are respectively breaking apart the action movie into stranger combinations. Bay gives plot only because he contractually has to, and even then doesn't seem as committed to characterization as he is showcasing surprisingly brutal ways for the gang to dispatch their enemies. It's nonsense, but the damn best nonsense of the year.

21: Ip Man 4: The Finale (dir. Wilson Yip)

"Is that it?! Is this your Chinese Kung Fu?!"

The finale in the decade-long quadrilogy of supremely silly and borderline racist worship of China finally attempts to tackle America to delightfully amusing results. Scott Adkins doing his best evil R. Lee Ermey impression while slipping in modern neo-con punchlines, neverending Bruce Lee worship, and more nationalism and bad fake American accents than you could ever believe. Yet also a more bizarrely honest portrayal of racism in 1960s America than most movies would ever have the courage to acknowledge. It’s almost fascinating considering how a lot of the non-Asian racism basically serves as set dressing, but they still put more effort there than pretty much every Hollywood movie set in the 60s that isn’t directly about civil rights. But ultimately they're selling you a bill of goods saying "watch Ip Man beat the crap out of racist meatheads" and you better believe they're going to give you what you want.

20: Let It Snow (dir. Luke Snellin)

"Have you ever been with someone, and you stay up until like 4AM just talking about everything, and you're just like, I can't believe I get to exist at the same time as you?"

Okay, so let me explain myself on this one:

So yeah, it certainly is a generic teen romcom where everyone plays into basic teenage stereotypes, half the cast is clearly nowhere near eighteen, and all of the romance is oddly chaste. But there truly is something to be said about representation in a romcom, and after a thousand boring cis, straight, hetero couples falling in love for decades, this movie actually managed to hit a lot of notes that are at best rarely explored in the genre and also manages to probably sneak in some genuine firsts. While both the "tomboy/softboy" and "Latina struggling with her family" storylines have been done before, these are some nice, cute little iterations on those befitting a teen-friendly movie. But the Dorrie/Kerry story is not only legitimately groundbreaking, but also an absolutely perfect encapsulation of the types of problems that queer teenagers struggle with during that time of their lives. It's a queer romance, played by two actually not-straight people, with one of them being a nonbinary actor too. And it's not cordoned off into some bargain bin DIY indie that fell out the back of the truck on the way to an indie film festival; no, this is in a major holiday release, with well-known actors, and as one of the central storylines! Plus, it perfectly captures the woes of modern teen coming out, knowing that everything will probably still be cool, but the fear haunting you as all you can do is look jealously at someone who is out and proud. And it does it without being real shitty and horribly traumatic too. Eat your fucking heart out, Love, Simon!

19. John Wick: Chapter 3 -- Parabellum (dir. Chad Stahelski)

"Si vis pacem, para bellum!"

Another year, another John Wick movie. There's more plot; you don't care, and let's be honest, neither do I. Stahelski is here to serve up more badass characters and incredible action, and no one in Hollywood does it quite like him. It's got familiar action favorites demonstrating why they still remain supreme, with Yayan Ruhian, Cecep Arif Rahman, Tiger Chen, and the ever underrated Mark Dascascos. It's got surprising action showcases for Halle Berry, Lance Reddick, and somehow Boban Marjanović. It's got great character actors doing their thing, from the returning McShane and Fishburne to newcomers Saïd Taghmaoui and Anjelica Huston. It's got Asia Kate Dillon as an awesome nonbinary shadow organization asshole. It has a bewildering Jason Mantzoukas cameo. And above all else, it has Keanu Reeves, still demonstrating not only his incredible physical skill, but also how to perfectly utilize his particular acting style to create an iconic character.

18. Doctor Sleep (dir. Mike Flanagan)

"Man takes a drink. A drink takes the drink. And then the drink takes a man."

While not the most accurate adaption, it might be the only Stephen King adaptation that comes to mind that actually successfully channels what makes him such an appealing author. King's stories have an inherent corniness to them and for as much as you unsuccessfully try to cover that up (look to this year's The Outsider for a good example), it's where the true charm of his work shines. It's what makes this so fun, because as much as an epic, eldritch terror is exciting, it still doesn't have the goofy fun of a bunch of vampiric bohemian drifters led by a Stevie Knicks knockoff in a top hat breathing up souls. Plus, the epic three hour runtime actually allows Flanagan to at least try to cover all the more subtle serious characterizations of Danny Torrance, from his recurring alcoholism to him seeking closure with regards to his parents. It manages to actually make the final act's nostalgia play kind of work, or at the very least get the terrible memory of the Ready Player One version out of my head.

17. Her Smell (dir. Alex Ross Perry)

"I thought you were better than this, but deep down I knew you weren't."

Perry must have had some extra pent-up nastiness in him after having to restrain himself while writing Christopher Robin (by the way, that happened), because he really created one of the nastiest characters in cinema here. Her Smell is the equivalent of being locked in a room with the shittiest person you'll ever meet, as she constant lashes out at everyone and everything with the kind of delirium that the truly demented are cursed with. And credit to Elizabeth Moss where it's due: she really perfectly embodies such a horrible human being and proceeds beat you damn near to death with it during a majority of the runtime. Eventually it slows down and all of the problems become apparent once they script isn't flying by at a thousand words a minute. But Moss literally did her job so well that people fucking hate this movie because of her character, and if that isn't a testament to her acting talent than I don't know what is.

16. High Life (dir. Claire Denis)

"At 99% the speed of light, the entire sky converged before our eyes. This sensation, moving backwards even though we're moving forwards, getting further from what's getting nearer. Sometimes I just can't stand it."

Denis finally makes her English debut with what she does best: nauseatingly uncomfortable sexuality oozing from terrible people doing horrible things. In this case, she takes an innovative detour into sci-fi, setting up a decades-long story of human experimentation, murder, the horrors of space travel, and whatever unholy things are going on inside of the "Fuck Box". It has an appropriately dingy production design too; the clean retro-futurist spaceship design soon dissolves into a torn apart den of depravity, caked in a mixture of filth and dry blood. Pattinson once again manages to be likeable while also being extremely standoff-ish; only playing with his baby daughter do we seem to see him actually enjoy interacting with a human being. Kind of gets lost in the sauce near the end, but at least manages to land some surprising emotional notes considering the kind of horrors that they've shown up until then.

15. The Farewell (dir. Lulu Wang)

"Chinese people have saying: when people get cancer they die. It's not cancer that kills them, it's the fear."

Lulu Wang's followup to Posthumous is such a massive step up in talent it's not even funny. She manages to make such a wonderfully soulful and loving movie about impending death by utilizing near perfect comic timing to defuse a situation that threatens to stray too dark. Not to mention her point of view on modern China from a non state-sponsored eye actually captures a much more accurate shot of the country itself. It's almost as if an Edward Yang movie had set itself more modest expectations -- it's pleasant, goes down well, teaches you a couple of things about Chinese culture, and manages to do it all in only a hundred minutes. And Awkwafina manages to hold her own against far more experienced actors, even if you can tell her Mandarin is still a little spotty.

14. Uncut Gems (dir. Josh and Benny Safdie)

"I think you are the most annoying person I have ever met. I hate being with you, I hate looking at you... And if I had my way I would never see you again."

Adam Sandler's magnum opus performance -- there will never be another character that fully embraces every grating aspect of his style of acting and manages to weaponize them for two anxiety-inducing hours of hell. Sandler's Howard Ratner is an absolute sewer rat scumbag, an untrustworthy coward, and a perennial fuck-up of epic proportions. But he's still so charismatic and powerful on screen that you root for him every time he drives you further up the wall. And the Safdie brothers know how to keep him moving too, never letting the audience catch a breath of air for this movie-length panic attack as the odds stack further against Howard each minute. Whenever you see Sandler phoning in his comedies for fat checks, just remember this performance and how pretty much every awards committee completely ignored this film. No wonder he doesn't bother trying anymore.

13. The Last Black Man In San Francisco (dir. Joe Talbot)

"You don't get to hate it unless you love it."

A wonderfully evocative love letter to a changing city that is so full of life in every way, from the vibrant movement of the camerawork to the bombastic and powerful soundtrack blasting throughout. But it actually plays more like a New Orleans' funeral march, a melancholic chronicle of the original denizens of San Francisco even as the city warps into the caricature that it's slowly becoming. There is a definite feeling that the aggressive gentrification is unavoidable and even the love of the original quirky denizens can only stave off the metaphorical steamroller that paves over the past. It makes for a wonderful counterpoint to the previous year's Blindspotting: both about young black men dealing with gentrification in the Bay Area, but Blindspotting starts as a very angry comic satire that eventually ends on a note of hope and a will to survive the changing tide, whereas this begins as a joyous celebration of the city and ends on a heartbreaking resignation in the face of everything. Both come from respectively very different sides of San Fran culture, but it's rather interesting seeing each have such different approaches to the same topic.

12. The Standoff at Sparrow Creek (dir. Henry Dunham)

"How do we know it's not you?"

A simple "pressure cooker" scenario done to perfection: one empty warehouse, a bunch of hardened standoff-ish militia men, a missing gun, a ticking clock, and a whole lot of suspicious side eyes and probing questions. It helps that the gruff suspects are a perfect who's who of roughened character actors, all previously well-versed in playing suspicious people, and all of them hiding the kind of unspoken rage that makes a man secretly join an armed militia. All of this told with a nerve-wracking minimalism and style as weirdly detached from reality as some of these men are. One hell of a debut for Henry Dunham and hopefully a sign of good things to come.

11. Booksmart (dir. Olivia Wilde)

"How about we play a *rousing* round of J'ACCUSE!"

Profoundly silly and yet also so disarmingly sweet, Olivia Wilde whips a wildly stylized portrait of Gen Z high-schoolers and the many ways that they vastly differ from their older peers. Certainly much more welcoming and accepting of the diversity of teenagers than pretty much any other teen movies from the past, although they still poke fun at some particular brands of modern "wokeness" too. Stuffed to the brim with wonderfully weird characters, between the lovable catty theatre duo of George and Alan, the cringe-inducing desperate rich kid Jared, the endearingly dumb thirstball Theo, the dorky and blissfully unaware queer-bait Ryan, the effortlessly cool and extremely "top energy" Hope, and the absolutely batshit wildness that is Gigi. But mainly it serves as a vehicle for Devers and Feldstein, with both bouncing perfectly back and forth off each other in moments of comedy and drama. Feldstein always pulls off huge laughs pretty much every line and Devers sells a perfect amount of baby-gay awkwardness in one of the sweetest (and heartbreaking) queer romance stories in film. But above all else, it's just so damn fun and aware of what teenagers are actually like than most movies ever have been.

10. Luce (dir. Julius Onah)

*chuckles* "You really think I believe that stuff?"

One of the most wildly uncomfortable experiences in recent cinema history, but not due to any horrifyingly explicit graphic content being shoved in our faces. No, Onah and Lee created something much more discomforting: a constant challenging of all our biases and stereotypes, of us wanting to give chances and have faith in those that we trust. Kelvin Harrison Jr. delivers one of the best acting performances in recent memory because he's able to literally do everything; his Luce somehow manages to perfectly walk the tightrope required for a performance like his. With him behind it, Luce is such a charming, loving, likeable character but there's always just something that seems off about him. And even if Spencer's Wilson has a fixation on him that crosses all sorts of legal and moral boundaries, wouldn't we be cheering her on under different circumstances? In a way, she herself is trying to communicate a lesson about perception too, one that also mires in deep, troubling waters. Even if the film still feels very stage-y due to it's source material, the cold clinical aesthetic only further helps it make us squirm in our seats.

9. Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (dir. Haruka Fujita)

"Nobody wants a letter that cannot be delivered."

An absolutely magical experience that artistically excels over the original TV series it's based off of. The production is still as impressive as any other KyoAni work, but the composition and lighting in particular are outstanding, selling the social isolation of the first half and the childlike wonder of the second half. Beginning with a sublime Victorian romance in the first half, the story eventually morphs into a tribute to the workers of the world, the cogs in the machine. But in the context of the studio's recent history and the horrific arson attack that claimed 36 members of the studio, this instead comes off as a battlecry against the opposition against them. It's a story valuing those who are overlooked in the process of creation, a story about strong determined women, a story of a young girl defining her own future against society. KyoAni as a studio were most known for treating all their employees exceptionally as well as being a primarily female-led studio, both unfortunate exceptions in the industry as well as the target for a lot of unfair online hatred against them (and surely played some sort of role in why the arson attack happened to them specifically). To see the studio make their first post-attack work so proudly emblematic of what made them unique makes this so much more powerful than you would expect.

8. The Nightengale (dir. Jennifer Kent)

"You know what it's like to have a white fella take everything that you have, don't ya?"

The classic revenge fantasy narrative warped into a bleak, cynical portrait of racist cruelty in 1800s Tasmania. Jennifer Kent, improving leaps and bounds from the relatively straightforward Babadook, crafts a searing indictment of the foundations of colonialism and the misogynistic undercurrent of the barbarous society. It's a revenge movie where the vengeance is horrible and unsatisfying -- there's no crowd pleasing murderous money-shots, just brief moments of comeuppance in the face of everything in the world working against our two protagonists. Those who are squeamish should be aware that it is exceptionally graphic and grueling at times, although Kent does manage to keep up a very good pace for the two and a half hours of hell.

7. Transit (dir. Christian Petzold)

"They say that those who were left never forget. But it's not true. They have the sweet, sad songs. Pity is with them. Those who leave, no one is with them. They have no songs."

Hitchcock by way of Kafka -- a classic existential mystery told in a disorienting separate reality not quite like our own. It's a bold move to take a Holocaust set narrative and completely throw out the actual setting itself, but Petzold only enhances the weird themes of the story by taking it to a completely different but still very familiar time. This is a classic tale of becoming the person you say you are but really aren't -- then begging the question of what if you're not the only one also living a false identity. Buoyed by an excellent and very enigmatic lead performance from Franz Rogowski, who displays a tremendous skill for playing somebody so closed off but also very charismatic and watchable.

6. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (dir. Quentin Tarantino)

"When you come to the end of the line, with a buddy who is more than a brother and a little less than a wife, getting blind drunk together is really the only way to say farewell."

Tarantino trades in his B-movie worship and penchant for comical bloodbaths (well, for the most part) to make something I certainly didn't expect from him: a relaxed hangout movie about getting old and falling out of fashion. Exceptional production design whisks us away to the height of Hollywood and three different people all looking at their future careers in very different lights. Leo gets to stretch his wings in all sorts of silly fun ways and Brad Pitt finally lets go of the young superstar image and easily slips into his more natural "hot single dad" swagger, playing the most effortlessly cool character of his career. Tarantino sets aside time to look back on his own flaws as well and playfully reflects on his own particular ...quirks. Easily his best since his 90s prime and the first time in a long time I've felt the maturity that he showcased in Jackie Brown.

5. The Lighthouse (dir. Robert Eggers)

"Damn ye! Let Neptune strike ye dead Winslow! HAAARK!"

Hyper-masculine mania as told through a wonderful blend of dark comedy and cosmic horror and with some of the most lush black-and-white cinematography maybe ever in a film. Eggers' now trademark devotion to absolute accurate period detail in both visual design and dialogue greatly helps this reach transcendent heights. But it's truly the two performances of Dafoe and Pattinson that help it weave a perfect spiral of insanity that also manages to be so oddly fun. Never could there be any other paring of actors that would perfectly showcase these two dirty sea-dogs going stark raving mad at each other so well.

4. Midsommar (dir. Ari Aster)

"As Hårga takes, so Hårga also gives."

(Director's Cut) Every generation deserves their own paranoia-fueled pagan horrorshow, but Aster strikes a much deeper vein in his epic take on the classic territory The Wicker Man had previously claimed. The brutal rituals of the Hårga are only set dressing most of the time, with much more focus poured into the vile toxicity plaguing the relationship between students Dani and Christian. Reynor's Christian is such a perfect portrayal of a terrible influence -- he's charming, fun, and likeable when he's on your side, but the second anybody goes against him his seedy manipulation begins to seep into everything he says. Pugh continues her winning streak too, delivering a broken person desperately trying to put a smile on while falling apart on the inside as she realizes she truly is all alone in the world. While some might be disappointed by the lack of actual "terror" for a good chunk of the movie, Aster has found something much more likely to scar us than these friendly Swedish cultists.

3. Sunset (dir. László Nemes)

"The horror of the world hides behind these infinitely pretty things."

After striking gold with Son of Saul, Laszlo Nemes takes a hard turn into a very different genre but manages to create a wonderfully unique spin on classic detective noir. His signature camerawork powers this yarn, successfully taking the claustrophobic eye of Saul and using it to give a truly immersive sense of place in the tumultuous world of 1913 Budapest, where danger is simmering under the surface and ready to boil over at any moment. After all, noir is always about the eye of the detective, so Nemes' style takes it to a literal degree where everything outside of Irisz' field of vision is incomprehensible. We catch the same shady sideways glances and hushed whispers at the same time she does too. The plotting, like all noir tales, gets a little too complex for its own good, although it's less because of double-crossing and deceit and more from the story slowly dropping its connection to reality to function on a far more allegorical level. But as far as immersive, experiential cinema goes, not even 1917 can stack up to this film's highs, as the enraged lower-class populace eventually comes for the heads of the bourgeoise and Irisz suddenly realizes she is in the very wrong place at the very wrong time.

2. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (dir. Céline Sciamma)

"Do all lovers feel they're inventing something?"

An absolutely breathtaking portrait (hehe) of yearning and love, so astonishingly romantic and actually aware of what will make a woman swoon. Every technical aspect is perfect, from the gorgeous locale to the lovely windswept dresses to the soft, classical cinematography. But the true magic comes from Merlant and Haenel perfectly delivering every line of Sciamma's wonderous script. Those two have a sexual tension strong enough to burn down the theater, as their shy glances turn into deep longing stares and both their steely professional reserves give way to poorly suppressed joy at just being able to be with the other. Even their initial terse dialogue melts into pure romantic splendor, as they lovingly catalog all the little gestures the other does when flustered. Their connection during filming was powerful enough to fuel rumors around the two in the press and is currently providing the desire for every thirsty lesbian who finishes this to immediately pull up videos from the press tour and hunt for those same things between the actors themselves. And trust me, they are there.

1. Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho)

"Not 'rich but still nice.' Nice because she's rich, you know? Hell, if I had all this money, I'd be nice too!"

Very rarely does a film come along that actually warrants to be described as "perfect", as in one that literally generates no critiques in any way even if I was forced to pick something at gunpoint to complain about. But Parasite truly does every single thing right. Even Bong's tonal whiplash style, which does grate on me at times, somehow fits perfectly here as the schemes become increasingly madcap and the increasing sense that this will all come crashing down horribly mounts ever higher. Until then, it's an absolute joy to watch in every way, as Bong stacks the card deck higher and all the characters dive further into the sewer for their own benefit. The midpoint pivot works wonderfully too, as it goes to show that literally every person is getting played in the world of Parasite. It's massive success is only surprising to those who haven't seen it: it's the perfect movie for the era it came out in and may as well be the watershed moment for a new age of cinema where Hollywood finally admits that it's not the king of the world anymore.

[exploringatlanta]

Celebrate the Holidays - 2017

It’s finally cooling down here in Atlanta after a long and steamy summer, so now that Halloween has come and gone, it’s time to look ahead to fun holiday events in Atlanta! Some are must-do decades-long traditions, some are new ones to add to your list. Light displays, shows, shopping, and more.

Atlanta has something for everyone, so don’t miss out this holiday season!

Light Displays:

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights - Atlanta Botanical Gardens. 11/11- 1/7/2018 5-10pm. $13+ (non-members). Over 1 million lights and 200 show-stopping color changing topiaries transform the garden into a must-do holiday event. Enjoy a new feature this year, Nature's Wonders, illuminating the world's natural phenomena through countless strands of synchronized dancing lights strung high over Storza Wood. Coming back this year are the Walk of Flame, Tunnel of Light, Orchestral Orbs, Glittering Galaxy, Radiant Rainforest, and Model Trains that continue to make the exhibition a must-see holiday tradition. Ticketing options include a Premium Ticket (3D glasses & drink ticket included) and a Flex Ticket, in case your plans change. For adults who can stay up a later, the cheapest ticket is a walk-up after 9pm for $13.95, but only gives you an hour to see everything. Highly recommend buying tix in advance to secure family plans on premium nights/weekends.

Magical Night of Lights - Lake Lanier. 11/17- 1/3/18. $35+ per car. This year the 25th anniversary display celebrates the 12 Days of Christmas!  7 miles of lights, Snowflake Bridge, holiday village, Santa, Petting Zoo, Carnival Rides, s’mores, and more. 

Fantasy in Lights - Callaway Gardens. 11/17-1/6/2018. $10.50+. Named “Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights,” as named by National Geographic Traveler, experience an amazing light and sound show! 8 million lights, 15 scenes, Christmas Village with kids activities, Grinch Holiday Dinner Show, Character Breakfast, Story Time with Mrs. Claus, pictures with Santa, shopping, and train rides. Also check out the specialty nights.

Lights of Life - Marietta/Life University. 11/23- 12/31. $5-$10. One of the most affordable and always delightful light displays OTP, check out Life University’s iconic holiday scenes in lights. The 65 foot tall rendition of Santa and his sleigh is the tallest display in the Southeast!

Ice Skating Rinks:

Skate at Atlantic Station - 11/18 kick off. $10+. right in the heart of Midtown - enjoy the largest outside ice skating rink in town! Unlimited skating and skate rental included. Make a day of it with shopping, eats, Santa’s Cottage, and ice skating. The lighting of the AS tree happens on 11/18 to kick off the holiday season. 

Avalon on Ice - 11/19-1/21/18. $14+, includes skates. Spend the day shopping and skating at Avalon in Alpharetta! Holiday festivities kick off on 11/19 with the lighting of the tree and the arrival of Santa. Also offered, private skating lessons, skate school, private party rental, and a Disco Skate Party on 1/14!

Skate the Sky at Ponce City Market - 11/20-12/31. $15/$8 + rooftop admission. New skating rink opens this year at Skyline Park and enjoy games, eats and drinks.

St. Regis Astor Holiday Rink - 11/24 - 1/1/2018. $18-$30 per hour. Reservations recommended for this upscale skating experience with holiday tunes, s'mores, and hot chocolate.

Holiday Shows/Events:

Adults Only:

Invasion: Christmas Carol - Dad’s Garage Theatre. 12/1 - 12/30. $17.50+. The ultimate holiday improv experience, what happens when a new character gets introduced to a classic tale? With new characters added each night - each show is unique and will keep you laughing all month long!

Miracle on Monroe. 11/24-12/24. Holiday themed pop-up bar was a big hit last year and is back with TWO locations, one in Midtown and the new second spot in Buckhead! Fun cocktails, the bar’s ‘halls’ are decked to the max and patrons can enjoy themed cocktails in custom Miracle glassware including Santa’s Pants mugs and reindeer Collins glasses. 

The Santaland Diaries - Horizon Theatre. 11/17 - 12/31. $25+. Hilarious David Sedaris holiday play about the life of a department store elf. Always a fun night out - check out the cool VIP Experience offered that features reserved seating & holiday beverage.

12 Dates of Christmas - Aurora Theatre. 11/25-12/23. $20+. Laugh off the stress of shopping and family hijinks with this new comedy show about dating craziness & the holidays. Amazing one-woman show.

Atlanta Santa Speedo Run - Midtown. 12/9 2pm. One of the most hilarious ways to raise $ for an amazing local charity. Proceeds benefit Bert’s Big Adventure!

Family-Friendly:

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Center for Puppetry Arts. 11/7 - 12/31. $11.25+. One of the hottest tickets in town for families, don’t wait to get yours as they will sell out. This year also features a Create-A-Puppet Workshop™ to create a King Moonracer™ Rod and String Puppet. Your ticket also gives you access to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum.

Wake Up Santa - Georgia Aquarium. 11/18 9-10:30am. $9.95+. Kids can help ‘wake up’ Santa with fun activities, hot cocoa bar, cookies and of course photos with the Jolly One. Reserve your spot online! 

A Christmas Carol - Aurora Theatre. 11/24 - 12/23. $20+. Those outside the perimeter can also check out a local production of the classic holiday tale in Gwinnett! This performance is a one-man show starring Anthony P. Rodriguez. his 11th year using classical storytelling to bring you into the world of Charles Dickens. 

Madeline’s Christmas - Horizon Theatre. 12/2- 12/31. $12-$15. The little girl from Paris embarks on a holiday adventure! Family-friendly holiday favorite.

The Nutcracker by The Atlanta Ballet - The Fox Theatre. 12/8 -12/28. $21+. Classic holiday ballet that is a must-see every season! Stunning performance by Atlanta’s best dancers. Runs 2 hours with a 25 minute intermission.

A Christmas Carol - Alliance Theatre. 12/8 - 12/24. $24+. A performance of the classic Christmas tale that features live music and ATL-based actors that always deliver an amazing experience. Create a new holiday tradition for your family today, best enjoyed by ages 5 and up. Performances sell out quickly, so get your tickets ASAP!

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Venkman’s. 12/10 and 12/17 6-7p. $5pp. Get into the holiday spirit with this family-friendly live musical performance of the score for the classic Peanuts special. 

Mighty Mo' & Miracle on 34th Street - The Fox Theatre . 12/19 7:30p. FREE w reservation. Movie Screening, Snow on Ptree, Sock Donation, organ show and more. 

Atlanta Classics & Art:

The Pink Pig - Macy’s Lenox Mall. Now thru 12/31/17. $3 a ride, purchase tickets on-site! An Atlanta family tradition and a portion of the ticket sales goes to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. 

Stone Mountain Christmas - 11/11- 1/3/2018. $21.95+pp (Flash Sale Price- Christmas Adventure Pass). Enjoy the Rudolph The Red-Nosed-Reindeer 4-D movie experience and the Skylights Spectacular, which is a musical walk-through experience of lights! Also back are live performances of The Littlest Christmas Tree, Forever Christmas, Twas The Night Before… A Holiday Cabaret, and A Christmas Carol.  Ride the Sing-a-long Train and enjoy a nightly Christmas Parade, Snow Angel® Snowfall and Fireworks Finale. Named by USA Today as one of the ten best places in the country to catch Santa Claus, don’t miss out on meeting the man in red!

Winter Wonderland - Fernbank Museum. 11/17-1/7/2018. Free for members/included in museum admission. Exhibit features two floors of decorated trees that feature the cultures, holidays and traditions celebrated around the world. 

Festivity + Trees Reveal Party -  Colony Square . 12/1 4p. FREE! Get into the spirit of the holidays in the heart of Midtown as 25+ local artist trees are revealed. Also enjoy hot cider, live music and themed eats.

Cookies with Santa - Zoo Atlanta. 12/2-3. $12+. Sign up for one of 4 time slots each day - 8:30am (members only), 10:30am, 12:30p, 2:30p. $10+. Tix sell out fast, so get yours ASAP. Kids can meet Santa, enjoy cookies and hot cocoa!! Also, crafts, costume characters and caroling.

A Victorian Holiday - Oakland Cemetery. 12/2 11-4pm. $6+. Tickets go on sale 11/4. Enjoy a day in this historic park with a Holiday Artists Market, carolers, historic crafts (Victorian Ornaments) cocoa, and a special mausoleum tour. Attendees will have the chance to meet Saint Nicholas himself and also purchase one of Oakland’s signature Balsam fir wreaths. Step back into time with costumed characters that will bring the past of Atlanta to life.

Virginia Highlands Tour of Homes. 12/2-3. $25+. Children 10 and under are free. Tour 8 gorgeous homes and shop locally for holiday gifts. Also enjoy food tastings in John Howell Park from local restaurants including neighborhood faves Atkins Park, Highland Tap, Fontaine’s, Marlow’s Tavern, Press & Grind, San Francisco Coffee, Tapa Tapa and newcomers The General Muir & St. Germaine Bakery.

Candlelight Nights at the Atlanta History Center. 12/15 & 12/22. $20+. Candlelight tour of 3 historic houses, Christmas market with local crafted items, food/drinks, jump start that holiday spirit with this great event.

Holiday Shopping:

ICE Holiday Shopping Extravaganza - 11/18-19. $5. This is a very cool holiday expo featuring handmade gifts from 175+ local/regional vendors. Free swag bags for the first 250 attendees each day! Soaps, clothing, artwork, jewelry and more! Photo booth, local food vendors, gift wrapping station and all kinds of fun. A must in Atlanta! Holiday Pop-Up shop opens 11/9.

Christkindl Market at Atlantic Station - 11/24-12/23. FREE! Enjoy Atlanta’s version of a traditional German market with great holiday gift options, themed foods/drinks and holiday cheer. 2 hours free parking! 

Root City Holiday Pop-Up Shop - 11/25-12/23. Shop local this holiday season at this Decatur pop-up. Shop features gifts from local artisans and will feature maker demos, adult and kids workshops, and an opening night party.

Holiday Pop-Up Shop - 11/28. Small Town Creatives hosts 20+ makers with unique gifts at Reformation Brewery in Woodstock. Shop, sip and support local artists! 

Back to Nature Holiday Market - Chattahoochee Nature Center. 12/2 12-2p. Shop 40+ local vendors selling handmade and eco-friendly gifts. Skip the traditional retail options and get really unique gifts for family and friends.

Open Studios & Holiday Sale at the Goat Farm. 12/8-9. Meet artists in their studios and shop for locally crafted gifts at this annual open house event! 

Holiday Artists Market - Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market. Sat 12/16. Shop 30 local artists and vendors at this special holiday Farmer's Market. 

Holiday Craft Bazaar at the Grant Park Farmer’s Market. 12/17 9a-1p. #FREE! Stock up on locally made gifts, goods, and veggies for the holidays! Live music, more.

Don’t see your fave holiday events, shows, and local shopping on here, send me a note! This list will continue to grow as we get closer to the holidays.

Enjoy everything our city has to offer this holiday season!!

[amandakaiserwrites]

festival recap: juggalo fest

for Ladygunn Magazine

How to Achieve to Juggalo Enlightenment: You too can be a down-ass Ninja

It's the crack of dawn and I'm sleeping in the back of a dust-covered Prius smooshed up against a family-size cooler, and the Juggalos are screaming. 

More specifically, it's a bare-chested Jugalette wearing a tutu and cloth dreads, and she is probably ninety pounds soaking wet. She's lying in the medical tent writhing manically, screaming bloody murder while the medical attendants strap her down to the cot. Homegirl is definitely on one - or two or three.

The Juggalos hanging out by the car next to me chuckle through the cracked window. With every scream they bust out little one-liners like "This one's definitely on some bath salts" and "We've got a live one!" My sentiment is similar - I want to feel badly for this broke-down chick but her nonstop screaming is just getting goddamn ridiculous. With one more bloodcurdling cry my hope for an extra hour of shuteye is completely lost. I open my bleary eyes (my contacts have been in for 3 days straight) and check my phone for my messages from the outside world - but oh right - no reception in Cave-In-Rock, IL. Welcome to Day 3 of the Gathering of the Juggalos.

If you're like me, your Juggalo knowledge can be counted on three fingers at best:  clown face paint, magnets, and Faygo may come to mind. The Gathering of the Juggalos is a "family" reunion for the loyal fans of rap icons The Insane Clown Posse (ICP), and when I scored a ticket to the annual 4-day festival at Cave-In-Rock  I had no idea what was in store. Carnival carnage and hip hop was the very least of it. Documentaries like Brooklyn filmmaker Sean Dunne's "American Juggalo" have attempted to document this subculture, but it's still too easy to draw assumptions that all Juggalos are cornrowed, violent, gay-bashing gang whose primary interests are getting violent and getting fucked up.  After a weekend at the Gathering I'm here to tell you that (despite the zombie Jugalette story), this is definitely not the case.

Being a Juggalo is a way of life, and these Family-approved steps will help you achieve enlightenment their way, so you too can be "down with the clown".

1. Immerse yourself fully in the experience, staying mindfully present.  

I admit that I judged the eff out of Juggalo culture before the festival. I imagined garishly face-painted goons maniacally laughing while throwing puppies into a bonfire, or something. It didn't help matters that everyone I talked to wished me luck on getting back from the Gathering alive. The closer we neared on our 6-hour ride to Cave-In-Rock, IL, the less our 3LW  Pandora playlist and roadies succeeded in calming our nerves. Night was falling, and everyone in the car fessed up fears of clowns lurking behind shadowy trees, creepy Faygo initiation rituals, and more John Wayne Gacy-esque situations. When we finally reached the campgrounds however, what emerged from behind the trees was surprisingly...normal. People walking around, talking excitedly. Juggalos eager to fill our cups with vodka. Barely a clown face in sight - the greasepaint actually became totally normal over the weekend, but given our fragile state the less clowns we saw that night the better.

2. Surround yourself with inspiring spiritual leaders.

ICP members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope are studied hip hop geeks themselves,so the lineup was sheer rap fantasticness. The five days of nonstop music included the sharp-tongued Detroit rapper Danny Brown, 90s hip hop heavyweights like DMX, 36 Mafia and the Pharcyde, a ton of late-night metal bands as well as all the acts on Psychopathic Records, ICP's horrorcore homebase. The Michigan-based label also brought out juggalo VP's Twiztid (nom de plume of Michigan rappers Jamie Madrox and Monoxide), Blaze Ya Dead Homie, and more face-painted purveyors of white collar gangster rap. The rappers' energy was infectious and we definitely got into it - by the time Twiztid performed we were turned up on Rock & Rye-flavored Faygo (it has a bubblegum taste that is not found in nature and is also strangely addictive) and we got into a serious discussion about which clown-faced member was hotter, the way some people might compare the likes of Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum. It was a weird scene, basically.

The culminating musical experience was the ICP set on Sunday night, which took extreme mental preparation on my part. Do I want to get doused in Faygo and get my world rocked or run for cover like an outsider zombie? Ultimately I chose the middle ground, leaving a safe distance between me and the stage. The show began with a circus ringleader MC'ing, introducing psycho clowns dancing maniacally around the stage and stiff, bloodied zombie-types that managed to stay in crippled character throughout the entire the theatrically gory two-hour set. Following two "Faygo Breaks" where the clowns came out and whipped exploding Faygo bottles into the faces of ecstatic fans, songs about chicken hunting, magnets and maniacal murder schemes, and an intense skit where a whip-thin, lollipop-wielding blonde Jugalette was frisked suggestively by a burly Juggalo in a cop uniform, the entire dark carnival was topped off by an epic fireworks show combined with a neverending Faygo shower. Fifty Juggalos and Jugalettes mobbed the stage and this point and threw Faygo into the audience for a good twenty minutes, which was taken to the next level by - I shit you not - a firehose connected to a tank of blue Faygo. The next day I emerged from the festival grounds back to civilization looking like a strung-out seapunk. So at least I had that going for me.

 3. Allow your inner beauty to show through. 

Dear Free People Fashion Blog, you got scooped on this one. The Gathering of the Juggalo Handbook calls out mainstream "zombies" who are slaves to trends, yet many a Jugalette - -and hell, even most Juggalos - have their own particular aesthetics. Several girls admitted to planning their fest outfits out weeks in advance, and nary a single one involved high-waisted shorts and/or a bandeau top (thank gawd). Instead, embroidered, crocheted, tie-dyed, ripped, splattercore, studded and worn DIY elements reigned supreme. Cornrowed hatchet men (ICP's logo) danced on pirate-jagged hemlines, camo and 90's B-Boy style was everywhere - sports bra tops, snapbacks, colorful kicks, baggy pants, and neon everything. Every Juggalo and Juggalette seemed to have their own take on festival style, from the ubiquitous toplessness to one guy who wore his puppy as a shawl. 

4.  Quiet the incessant chattering of your repetitive mind.

 I know what you're thinking: "Drugs? At a music festival? My word!" The actual presence of drugs wasn't the baffling part, but rather the designated "Drug Bridge" where most festival commerce occured. Juggalos flaunted their wares by scrawling on torn Cheez-It boxes and showing salesmanlike charm that would put Sears and Roebuck to shame. This seemed pretty fitting with the Juggalo lifestyle - don't be something you're not, don't be afraid to let people know what you're all about - and in the case of the drug bridge, that would be Ether! Oxcotin! MDMA! Xanax! 

5. Embrace and release all mental, emotional and physical attachments to everyone and everything. 

Something you need to know about the Gathering -  almost everything is for sale. Many a juggalette will flash a "titty" or two for ten bucks. One guy tried to sell us tabs for a dollar - amazing deal right? We thought so too, until they turned out to be pop tabs. Like, of the freshly-ripped-from-the-Pepsi-can variety. 

6. Free yourself  from the illusion that you are separate from an infinite source of love and energy. 

 All the rumours are true: the Gathering is definitely the most controversial, out-there music festival of all time. The drugs, naked bodies, general disorder, and insane rap are not the main reasons for this though -  it's being in a music festival still untouched by judgement, trends, societal norms, and hipsters.  The juggalos bitch-slapped my world in a weird and awesome way, and I've got the memories and the Faygo-stained backpack to prove it.

[doveherty]

Thomas Doherty in High Strung Free Dance

[ithomasdoherty]

nobody is doing it like him

[foundtheworl]

New Post has been published on Found The World

New Post has been published on https://foundtheworld.com/toronto-canada-hidden-gem/

Canada’s Hidden Gem: Toronto

As a Canadian who travels the world, I have come to a strong conclusion that the majority of people don’t know anything about Canada. They sometimes know about our ‘overly polite’ stereotypes or the mountains in British Columbia, yet whenever I talk about the amazing city of Toronto, people are always surprised. It is one of my favorite places in the world, and yes I am 100% biased when I say this, but once you visit Toronto you will understand why. It is a vibrant, fun, fast paced, and is an extremely multicultural city with millions of things to do.

Toronto is a hidden gem because the city is a lot more fun than people would assume, when visiting other countries around the world cities usually have one strong identity. In the case of Toronto there are thousands of identities that are mixed together. There is not a stereotypical look or style of a Torontonian, everyone who comes here feels welcomed. The friendly vibe of the city allows visitors to feel at home while exploring a new place.

The weather in Canada is extreme, winters are awful and I would strongly advise against visiting from December to March, and the summers are a lot warmer than expected from a Nordic country. Yet the four distinct seasons allow Toronto to have unique activities and events throughout the entire year.

In the winter there is free public skating in the downtown square, following this are the beautiful cherry blossom trees in High Park. The summer is filled with outdoors festivals like Caribana and the Toronto Island is visited frequently.

During the fall the orange and yellow leaves make for beautiful scenic strolls along the lake. Because there are so many things to do and visit such as beautiful gardens, attractions, museums, interesting stores, neighbourhoods bustling with personality and culture, and festivals that this is my list of places I think every tourist should explore.

The CN Tower

CN tower is the most iconic part of the city, it offers fantastic views of and at the top there is an area with a glass floor that allows people to look down at the ant like people walking on the street below. It is 553.3 meters tall, and it is possible to have an intimate dinner inside of the revolving 360 Restaurant.

It stands directly beside the Rogers Center, which is a place to visit for any baseball lover that wants to see a Blue jays game.

AGO – Art Gallery of Ontario

Not a lot of people think going to the Art Gallery of Ontario is a really fun activity, however I think this is an incredible museum to see and has an amazing array of art from different areas of the world and time periods.

There is a section on Canadian Art, Photography, Modern and Contemporary Art, Sculptures, and much more. On Wednesdays the public gets into the museum of free and I highly recommend going to check it out- even for a short period of time. The architecture of the building is extremely unique and it is worth exploring.

Queen Street

My favorite street in Toronto is Queen Street, because of the mile long shopping strip that is dotted with independent cafes, unique boutiques and some of the most random shops. There is so much character on this street, making it a really fun way to spend an afternoon.

Start at the massive Eaton Center and continue down Queen Street West to go window-shopping. Leave room to eat because there are so many little restaurants that serve cuisines around the world, making this a food lovers dream.

A popular place on Queen to visit is the Warehouse, this restaurant is known for its $5 menu and during the night it turns into a vibrant bar. Further down Queen, my absolute favorite place to grab drinks is at the Drake Hotel, the cocktails are unique and are filled with flavor, it is a relaxing place to go and hangout with friends. Right off of Queen there are the famous Kensington Market and China Town, which are both sections of the city that are filled with Charm and character.

Booking.com (function(d, sc, u) var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); )(document, 'script', '//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js');

The Drake Hotel’s score at booking.com

Kensington Market

This part of Toronto is known for its colorful, whimsical, trendy, and urban vibe. It is the home of vintage and up scale thrift shopping, but has a variety of unique, bohemian shops and a lot of food places to try.

Every week there are Pedestrian Sundays, which allows walkers to rule to roads and there is always a variety of live music, performers, dancers, and vendors.

When it comes to eating, two of the best places to try are Seven Lives and Wanda’s Pie in the Sky. Seven Lives is an authentic Mexican join that serves tacos to go, making it the perfect place to grab a tasty snack before exploring the neighborhood. Wanda’s Pie in the Sky is a bakery styled restaurant that is a great place to go for coffee, perogies, and desserts, if you visit you need to try the Key Lime Pie.

After the sunsets, this area is a center for going out for drinks and dancing.

China Town in Toronto

This cultural hub allows visitors to feel as if they are in Asia for a moment before seeing the CN tower. The signs on the streets are in both English and Mandarin and food markets filled with fruits and vegetables are all along the sidewalks.

Some of the best dim sum is served in this area and there are so many authentic and traditional Asian food restaurants in China Town.

The Distillery District

This area is a bit further away from the center core, however it one of the best places to explore. With its rustic buildings from the Victorian-era and charm this district is home to fashion boutiques, cafes, bakeries, galleries, antique stores, trendy bars, and restaurants.

With beautiful cobble streets and intimate lights strung along the streets this is a wonderful area to visit. If you happen to find yourself in Canada during December, try going to the Christmas markets in the district to do some of your shopping.

Lakeshore Boulevard

For a more scenic view of the city I would recommend strolling along Lakeshore Boulevard to see Lake Ontario. There is always something going on whether it is a music festival or a food truck frenzy.

Along the harbor front is where tickets for the ferry to Toronto Island can be purchased, which is a really fun experience. From the ferry you are able to see the beautiful skyline of Toronto, and the Island is a great way to get away from the fast pace of the city.

Nathan Philips Square

This is the center of Downtown, with an outdoor skating rink in the winter and a fountain in the summer this square is a hub of activity. The old city hall is beside the iconic Toronto sign that lights up in different colors.

Near the downtown core is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Toronto, Suko Thai, for any pad thai lover this is a must visit. Another area to eat in the downtown core is the Richtree Market, designed as an upscale cafeteria there are endless options of food, such as a crepe station, it is a great place to sit down or grab something to go.

In general, the downtown core is a fun place to explore and it has a lot of character.

********************

During the day there are a lot of things to see in Toronto, because it is a great city for walking, but after dusk the streets come alive with nightlife.

There are so many bars and clubs in the urban jungle that are catered to people of different ages. Some of the best ones to visit are Union, Market Place, Cabana Pool Bar, and Ballroom Bowl and Bistro. Union is a classic, large club that has a variety of lights, sometimes-live music, and it plays R&B and pop music. Market Place falls into the category of a dive bar on the spectrum of clubs, with a variety of tapas style foods and a dance floor this trendy place is always a good time. Cabana Pool Bar is only open seasonally and is a place to enjoy a cocktail on a hot day. The Ballroom Bowl and Bistro is a combination between an entertainment center and a bar, it has bowling, ping-pong, pool, and a dance floor. Within the city there are hundreds of different types of bars and clubs to visit.

Toronto is a diverse and welcoming city and has a fantastic food scene, is tourist friendly, and is really safe. There is so much to discover and my list of favorite places only scratches the surface of areas of visit within the city.

Be sure to research different festivals that are happening throughout the year because they can be an incredible addition to a tourist’s experience. There is a never-ending list of activities to do and you should check out Toronto if you love culture, architecture, museums, food, art, and nightlife, because it is a fantastic place to learn and discover.

[cigvrrcte]

hi! this is a kind of a weird question but i was just wondering if your thomas doherty gif icon page ns is finish or if you're adding more gif icons in the future?

hiya !!  from high fidelity it’s all there and I’m not doing any more, but i do want to finish gifing high strung free dance because, thus far, I’ve added only about half the movie in the gif pack. however, that’ll have to wait until I have a bit more free time. 

[demitgibbs]

What’s Hot South Florida: May 4 – May 9

Thursday, May 4

Last week’s cover Model, Matthew Robert Pappadia, stars in “Happy Ending,” playwright Ronnie Larsen’s two-character story of a simple, benign and quite professional massage therapist who never knows who his next client might be. The show includes full male nudity and shows from today through May 28 at the Empire Stage Theater. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at EmpireStage.com

Friday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo)

Rumors celebrates Cinco de Mayo with a live Mariachi band from 9-11 p.m., followed by the Daisy Deadpetals show at 11 p.m. and 12 midnight.

Score, Athena Dion and This Free Life present The Lab Lounge Fridays, which will be celebrating Cinco de Shangela Live. That’s right! Shangela of RuPaul’s Drag Race will be performing live! The night will also star the many looks of Athena, DJ Yazz, shows by the Lab Rats and Marco Perez and his dancers.

Saturday, May 6

The third annual Diversity Honors is presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and will take place at Hard Rock Live at 7 p.m. The event will benefit Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park. The globally renowned celebration serves as a kick-off to Harvey Milk Day events around the world and spotlights those who are transforming lives by living authentically and advancing inclusiveness. Tickets are $200 per person for the black-tie optional event. A special photo opportunity with Well-Strung is available for an additional $75. To reserve tickets or for more information, please visit www.DiversityHonors.com.

The Smart Ride 14 presents the second annual Bowling Tournament from 1 to 4 p.m. at Manor Lanes, Wilton Manors. Entry is $25 plus donations and parking is free. Register individually or as a team at TheSmartRide.org/Bowling2017.

Matty’s Wilton Park presents a live performance by recording artist Cazwell at 10 p.m., and as always no cover. Cazwell will also be having CD/DVD release party at We Got The Beats Record Store at 6 p.m., where fans can meet the singer.

Enjoy an evening of wine and painting with the Miami Gay Men’s Chorus. This two-hour social serves as a fundraiser to help MGMC continue its mission to inspire and change lives through the power of music. Seats are $35 per person and 50% of all purchases will be donated directly to the chorus. The chorus will sing a few numbers at the end of the painting class. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. For more information, go to: paintingwithatwist.com/events/

Noche Latina Saturdays, inside the Ivy Dance Room and Patio at the Manor complex, celebrates Cinco De Mayo Fiesta tonight hosted by Erika Norell in character as Selena and Jose Vega as a mariachi. The night will also star resident DJ Larry Larr and hot sexy Go-Go Papis, courtesy of Marco Perez. Saturdays at the Manor Complex are from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. with no cover before midnight (Florida residents) and only $7 after midnight with a Manor card and $10 without (18-20 $12 all night).

The Ramrod presents Pig Dance #105 (first Saturday of every month) with this month featuring DJ/Producer Richie Rich from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Club Fort Lauderdale presents Res-Erection, their monthly Naked Blackout Event starting at 10 p.m. This is always a sold-out event so get there early!

Sunday, May 7

Rumors is starting a new Sunday Drag Brunch starring Mia St Patricyk, Skye Beckett, Alandra Matthews and T-Lo Ivy at noon.

Flip Flops Dockside Eatery presents their monthly T Dance, the only T dance in Fort Lauderdale on the Intracoastal. The T Dance, which is from 4-7p.m., is hosted by Amanda Austin with DJ Robert Lavalle and this month’s special guests Vauz Allen, Joanna James and Marci Mogul.

Tuesday, May 9

Lincoln Center’s critically acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The King and I” comes to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts tonight through May 14. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased at ArshtCenter.org

Hot Stuff

Adam’s Interiors is celebrating their new look with a fabulous brand new floor by taking 10% off everything until May 31, so this is the perfect time to stock up on the unique pieces that you can only find at Adam’s.

This is HOT

If you are ill-mannered, have a poor sense of social etiquette or are just plain irresponsible, then beware the cheerfully psychotic housewife Beverly Sutphin from John Waters’ wickedly hilarious cult classic, “Serial Mom”. She will stop at nothing to rid of anyone failing to live up to her moral code! Starring Kathleen Turner (Romancing the Stone) as Beverly Sutphin, Sam Waterston (Grace and Frankie) and Ricki Lake (Hairspray), writer-director and pop culture icon John Waters puts a twist on the everyday mediocrity of suburban life in this outrageous dark comedy brimming with his unique brand of perverse humor and high camp. The film also stars Mink Stole (Pink Flamingos), Patricia Hearst (A Dirty Shame), Matthew Lillard (Scream), Mary Jo Catlett (Diff’rent Strokes), Traci Lords (Cry-Baby), with special appearance by Suzanne Somers (Three’s Company). It’s a killer comedy that will take fans and audience over the edge with laughter!

“My own mom thought Serial Mom was my best picture and maybe she was right!” said John Waters. On May 9, 2016, Scream Factory is proud to present Serial Mom Collector’s Edition Blu-ray, packed with revealing bonus content including new interviews with John Waters, Kathleen Turner and Mink Stole, special featurettes and much more! Available for the first time on Blu-ray in North America, this definitive collector’s edition includes cover art featuring newly rendered artwork approved by John Waters and a reversible cover wrap featuring original theatrical key art.  A perfect Mother’s Day gift to die for, Serial Mom Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is priced to own at $34.93 SRP.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2017/05/02/whats-hot-south-florida-may-4-may-9/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/160230512950

[cynthiajayusa]

What’s Hot South Florida: May 4 – May 9

Thursday, May 4

Last week’s cover Model, Matthew Robert Pappadia, stars in “Happy Ending,” playwright Ronnie Larsen’s two-character story of a simple, benign and quite professional massage therapist who never knows who his next client might be. The show includes full male nudity and shows from today through May 28 at the Empire Stage Theater. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at EmpireStage.com

Friday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo)

Rumors celebrates Cinco de Mayo with a live Mariachi band from 9-11 p.m., followed by the Daisy Deadpetals show at 11 p.m. and 12 midnight.

Score, Athena Dion and This Free Life present The Lab Lounge Fridays, which will be celebrating Cinco de Shangela Live. That’s right! Shangela of RuPaul’s Drag Race will be performing live! The night will also star the many looks of Athena, DJ Yazz, shows by the Lab Rats and Marco Perez and his dancers.

Saturday, May 6

The third annual Diversity Honors is presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and will take place at Hard Rock Live at 7 p.m. The event will benefit Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park. The globally renowned celebration serves as a kick-off to Harvey Milk Day events around the world and spotlights those who are transforming lives by living authentically and advancing inclusiveness. Tickets are $200 per person for the black-tie optional event. A special photo opportunity with Well-Strung is available for an additional $75. To reserve tickets or for more information, please visit www.DiversityHonors.com.

The Smart Ride 14 presents the second annual Bowling Tournament from 1 to 4 p.m. at Manor Lanes, Wilton Manors. Entry is $25 plus donations and parking is free. Register individually or as a team at TheSmartRide.org/Bowling2017.

Matty’s Wilton Park presents a live performance by recording artist Cazwell at 10 p.m., and as always no cover. Cazwell will also be having CD/DVD release party at We Got The Beats Record Store at 6 p.m., where fans can meet the singer.

Enjoy an evening of wine and painting with the Miami Gay Men’s Chorus. This two-hour social serves as a fundraiser to help MGMC continue its mission to inspire and change lives through the power of music. Seats are $35 per person and 50% of all purchases will be donated directly to the chorus. The chorus will sing a few numbers at the end of the painting class. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. For more information, go to: paintingwithatwist.com/events/

Noche Latina Saturdays, inside the Ivy Dance Room and Patio at the Manor complex, celebrates Cinco De Mayo Fiesta tonight hosted by Erika Norell in character as Selena and Jose Vega as a mariachi. The night will also star resident DJ Larry Larr and hot sexy Go-Go Papis, courtesy of Marco Perez. Saturdays at the Manor Complex are from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. with no cover before midnight (Florida residents) and only $7 after midnight with a Manor card and $10 without (18-20 $12 all night).

The Ramrod presents Pig Dance #105 (first Saturday of every month) with this month featuring DJ/Producer Richie Rich from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Club Fort Lauderdale presents Res-Erection, their monthly Naked Blackout Event starting at 10 p.m. This is always a sold-out event so get there early!

Sunday, May 7

Rumors is starting a new Sunday Drag Brunch starring Mia St Patricyk, Skye Beckett, Alandra Matthews and T-Lo Ivy at noon.

Flip Flops Dockside Eatery presents their monthly T Dance, the only T dance in Fort Lauderdale on the Intracoastal. The T Dance, which is from 4-7p.m., is hosted by Amanda Austin with DJ Robert Lavalle and this month’s special guests Vauz Allen, Joanna James and Marci Mogul.

Tuesday, May 9

Lincoln Center’s critically acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The King and I” comes to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts tonight through May 14. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased at ArshtCenter.org

Hot Stuff

Adam’s Interiors is celebrating their new look with a fabulous brand new floor by taking 10% off everything until May 31, so this is the perfect time to stock up on the unique pieces that you can only find at Adam’s.

This is HOT

If you are ill-mannered, have a poor sense of social etiquette or are just plain irresponsible, then beware the cheerfully psychotic housewife Beverly Sutphin from John Waters’ wickedly hilarious cult classic, “Serial Mom”. She will stop at nothing to rid of anyone failing to live up to her moral code! Starring Kathleen Turner (Romancing the Stone) as Beverly Sutphin, Sam Waterston (Grace and Frankie) and Ricki Lake (Hairspray), writer-director and pop culture icon John Waters puts a twist on the everyday mediocrity of suburban life in this outrageous dark comedy brimming with his unique brand of perverse humor and high camp. The film also stars Mink Stole (Pink Flamingos), Patricia Hearst (A Dirty Shame), Matthew Lillard (Scream), Mary Jo Catlett (Diff’rent Strokes), Traci Lords (Cry-Baby), with special appearance by Suzanne Somers (Three’s Company). It’s a killer comedy that will take fans and audience over the edge with laughter!

 “My own mom thought Serial Mom was my best picture and maybe she was right!” said John Waters. On May 9, 2016, Scream Factory is proud to present Serial Mom Collector’s Edition Blu-ray, packed with revealing bonus content including new interviews with John Waters, Kathleen Turner and Mink Stole, special featurettes and much more! Available for the first time on Blu-ray in North America, this definitive collector’s edition includes cover art featuring newly rendered artwork approved by John Waters and a reversible cover wrap featuring original theatrical key art.  A perfect Mother’s Day gift to die for, Serial Mom Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is priced to own at $34.93 SRP.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2017/05/02/whats-hot-south-florida-may-4-may-9/ from Hot Spots Magazine http://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2017/05/whats-hot-south-florida-may-4-may-9.html

[hotspotsmagazine]

What’s Hot South Florida: May 4 – May 9

Thursday, May 4

Last week’s cover Model, Matthew Robert Pappadia, stars in “Happy Ending,” playwright Ronnie Larsen’s two-character story of a simple, benign and quite professional massage therapist who never knows who his next client might be. The show includes full male nudity and shows from today through May 28 at the Empire Stage Theater. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at EmpireStage.com

Friday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo)

Rumors celebrates Cinco de Mayo with a live Mariachi band from 9-11 p.m., followed by the Daisy Deadpetals show at 11 p.m. and 12 midnight.

Score, Athena Dion and This Free Life present The Lab Lounge Fridays, which will be celebrating Cinco de Shangela Live. That’s right! Shangela of RuPaul’s Drag Race will be performing live! The night will also star the many looks of Athena, DJ Yazz, shows by the Lab Rats and Marco Perez and his dancers.

Saturday, May 6

The third annual Diversity Honors is presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and will take place at Hard Rock Live at 7 p.m. The event will benefit Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park. The globally renowned celebration serves as a kick-off to Harvey Milk Day events around the world and spotlights those who are transforming lives by living authentically and advancing inclusiveness. Tickets are $200 per person for the black-tie optional event. A special photo opportunity with Well-Strung is available for an additional $75. To reserve tickets or for more information, please visit www.DiversityHonors.com.

The Smart Ride 14 presents the second annual Bowling Tournament from 1 to 4 p.m. at Manor Lanes, Wilton Manors. Entry is $25 plus donations and parking is free. Register individually or as a team at TheSmartRide.org/Bowling2017.

Matty’s Wilton Park presents a live performance by recording artist Cazwell at 10 p.m., and as always no cover. Cazwell will also be having CD/DVD release party at We Got The Beats Record Store at 6 p.m., where fans can meet the singer.

Enjoy an evening of wine and painting with the Miami Gay Men’s Chorus. This two-hour social serves as a fundraiser to help MGMC continue its mission to inspire and change lives through the power of music. Seats are $35 per person and 50% of all purchases will be donated directly to the chorus. The chorus will sing a few numbers at the end of the painting class. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. For more information, go to: paintingwithatwist.com/events/

Noche Latina Saturdays, inside the Ivy Dance Room and Patio at the Manor complex, celebrates Cinco De Mayo Fiesta tonight hosted by Erika Norell in character as Selena and Jose Vega as a mariachi. The night will also star resident DJ Larry Larr and hot sexy Go-Go Papis, courtesy of Marco Perez. Saturdays at the Manor Complex are from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. with no cover before midnight (Florida residents) and only $7 after midnight with a Manor card and $10 without (18-20 $12 all night).

The Ramrod presents Pig Dance #105 (first Saturday of every month) with this month featuring DJ/Producer Richie Rich from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Club Fort Lauderdale presents Res-Erection, their monthly Naked Blackout Event starting at 10 p.m. This is always a sold-out event so get there early!

Sunday, May 7

Rumors is starting a new Sunday Drag Brunch starring Mia St Patricyk, Skye Beckett, Alandra Matthews and T-Lo Ivy at noon.

Flip Flops Dockside Eatery presents their monthly T Dance, the only T dance in Fort Lauderdale on the Intracoastal. The T Dance, which is from 4-7p.m., is hosted by Amanda Austin with DJ Robert Lavalle and this month’s special guests Vauz Allen, Joanna James and Marci Mogul.

Tuesday, May 9

Lincoln Center’s critically acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The King and I” comes to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts tonight through May 14. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased at ArshtCenter.org

Hot Stuff

Adam’s Interiors is celebrating their new look with a fabulous brand new floor by taking 10% off everything until May 31, so this is the perfect time to stock up on the unique pieces that you can only find at Adam’s.

This is HOT

If you are ill-mannered, have a poor sense of social etiquette or are just plain irresponsible, then beware the cheerfully psychotic housewife Beverly Sutphin from John Waters’ wickedly hilarious cult classic, “Serial Mom”. She will stop at nothing to rid of anyone failing to live up to her moral code! Starring Kathleen Turner (Romancing the Stone) as Beverly Sutphin, Sam Waterston (Grace and Frankie) and Ricki Lake (Hairspray), writer-director and pop culture icon John Waters puts a twist on the everyday mediocrity of suburban life in this outrageous dark comedy brimming with his unique brand of perverse humor and high camp. The film also stars Mink Stole (Pink Flamingos), Patricia Hearst (A Dirty Shame), Matthew Lillard (Scream), Mary Jo Catlett (Diff’rent Strokes), Traci Lords (Cry-Baby), with special appearance by Suzanne Somers (Three’s Company). It’s a killer comedy that will take fans and audience over the edge with laughter!

  “My own mom thought Serial Mom was my best picture and maybe she was right!” said John Waters. On May 9, 2016, Scream Factory is proud to present Serial Mom Collector’s Edition Blu-ray, packed with revealing bonus content including new interviews with John Waters, Kathleen Turner and Mink Stole, special featurettes and much more! Available for the first time on Blu-ray in North America, this definitive collector’s edition includes cover art featuring newly rendered artwork approved by John Waters and a reversible cover wrap featuring original theatrical key art.  A perfect Mother’s Day gift to die for, Serial Mom Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is priced to own at $34.93 SRP.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2017/05/02/whats-hot-south-florida-may-4-may-9/