Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
“Music is a byproduct of experience and if I have an experience, it’s usually musical,” says Cory Chisel, 27. “To me, traveling goes hand in hand with music. Travel is just an intriguing aspect of music itself, and I’m not just talking about the touring part. It’s hard to explain. I’ve been to so many places, but I think that if I wasn’t a musician, I might never have left my hometown.”
Jonathan Bennett remembers what it was like watching famous actors check into the hotel where he worked. “There were tons of them coming in and out for work or to just get in a short vacation,” says Bennett, 28. “There was this A-list actress who needed a hairdryer brought to her room. I about lost it when she opened the door.”
Actor Noah Bean has portrayed a police officer, a shoe clerk and a doctor, but the role of cowboy is the one he most identifies with and indulges in when he leaves his apartment in New York City for his favorite vacation destination — Big Sky, Mont. A graduate of Boston University, the 30-year-old Connecticut native has spent time backpacking through Europe. But while roles on shows such as “Lipstick Jungle,” “Medium” and “Damages” allow him to travel in luxury, Bean still prefers to travel light.
It has been more than two decades since the Indigo Girls made their music debut and the duo is still going strong. On their new double album “Poseidon and the Bitter Bug,” Emily Saliers and Amy Ray show off their rich harmonies. Their versatility shines through on the CDs — one is solely acoustic; the other features a full rock band.
Academy Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen has a lot on her plate these days. Besides co-starring in Sandra Bullock’s romantic comedy “The Proposal,” which opens in theaters on June 19 — she’s the co-owner of the California home design store Rooms & Gardens (www.roomsandgardens.com) and the candle company Nell’s Compass (http://nellscompass.com/), which she owns with her daughter Lilly McDowell.
You’ve probably heard Lenka’s evocative music helping set the mood on such shows as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “90210” and “Ugly Betty.” Or maybe in a commercial for Old Navy. The Aussie actress, who was once in the same acting class as Cate Blanchett, is currently on a world tour to promote her self-titled album “Lenka.”
The story goes that actress and comedienne Judy Gold began her stand-up career on a dare. She was a student at Rutgers University, 6-foot-3 and funny. It seemed like a no brainer. More than two decades later, the 46-year-old entertainer is still going strong with her brand of sardonic, witty humor. An Emmy-winning writer and producer on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” Gold can next be seen in the “Stand-Up 360” comedy showcase, which is being released theatrically this summer across the country.
Once known as that other blonde girl who wasn’t Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera or Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore has managed to grow up in public and carve out a strong career for herself without finding her face splashed in the tabloids. After releasing her debut album a decade ago, Moore won roles in such films as “Saved!” and “A Walk to Remember.” She hits the road this month to promote her latest album, “Amanda Leigh,” which will be in stores on May 26.
James Denton is best known for playing Mike Delfino on the ABC hit series “Desperate Housewives.” But some Chicago diners may remember him as the super friendly waiter who served them at Harry Caray’s or on the Odyssey dinner cruise. “I really enjoyed being a waiter and took the job seriously,” says Denton, 46. “I never looked at it as something I had to do ’cause I was an actor. It was a really interesting and fascinating job.” Born in Nashville, Denton honed his acting chops at Chicago’s Griffin Theatre and Strawdog Theatre.
The mark of a great sitcom is whether the jokes and tone stand up to time, despite any outdated hairstyles and fashion. “Designing Women” is a great sitcom.
Robert Lamm knows a bit about traveling. In his four decades with the band Chicago, the singer-songwriter-keyboardist has been around the world multiple times. “I could be a travel agent,” Lamm says, laughing. “If this music thing doesn’t work out…” One of his favorite memories is of the trip he and his wife, Joy, took to Munster, Germany.
Based out of Canton, Ohio, the rock band Relient K first made a name for itself on the contemporary Christian music scene. The Grammy-nominated band has since crossed over into the secular market, performing at the hard-rocking Vans Warped Tour. They play hard, praise God and love to tour. Lead singer Matt Thiessen has seen most of the world, thanks to his years with Relient K. His favorite place to vacation, though, is Belfast … the one in Maine, not Ireland.
After almost 16 years together, the Donnas are still going strong with their hard-rocking live shows. Their latest album, “Bitchin’,” proves that this group hasn’t lost its punk roots or its feverish love of rock. The band, which owes more to the Ramones than it does to the Runaways, includes lead singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Allison Robertson, bassist Maya Ford and drummer Torry Castellano, who says that thanks to years of touring, the band has gotten to see a good chunk of the world — a perk of their job.
Born in Kalamata, Greece, Yanni moved to the United States to attend the University of Minnesota when he was 18 years old. Though he earned a degree in psychology, the self-taught musician decided to pursue music as his career. “I didn’t know any better back then,” he says, laughing. “I’m not sure it was the best thing to do, but it was what I needed to do. I have always just loved music.”
Located in Leith — Edinburgh’s bustling port district — the Malmaison is within walking distance of a United Nations-variety of restaurants.
As FBI agent Renee Walker on Fox’s hit series “24,” Annie Wersching is a formidable partner for Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). As tough as he is and just as smart — if not even more cunning — Renee is a girl’s girl that every man wants. Wersching says her television counterpart is a lot more skilled than she is in most things, but she says there is no way Renee could out dance her. Wersching was in a Celtic step-dancing troupe for more than 14 years and returns to her hometown of St. Louis every year for St. Patrick’s Day to watch Irish dancing.
By Jae-Ha Kim Amazon.com March 3, 2009 A complicated, sparse, and beautiful film, Ashes of Time Redux is the slightly tweaked version of Wong Kar Wai’s 1994 film. Like some of his other work, the […]
The most poignant episodes revolve around Toni and her husband Todd. After the birth of their daughter Morgan, they struggle as new parents trying to keep their marriage intact. The show does a nice job of depicting a mom who loves her child, but doesn’t immediately feel the bond that a mother is supposed to have for her baby. And it depicts how fear of the unknown can ravage a relationship.
Can we talk? Joan Rivers’ latest book — a murder mystery set in hedonistic Hollywood — is a fun mystery where the reader can’t help but hear Rivers’ raspy voice narrating the drama. That’s not a bad thing in this over-the-top whodunit.
The Jonas Brothers are burning up. Just a couple years ago, the sibling trio was best known as Miley Cyrus’ cute boy band opening act. These days, 16-year-old Nick (who once dated Cyrus) and his brothers Joe, 19, and Kevin, 21, are bona-fide heartthrobs with millions of fans worldwide. With their film “The Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience” rolling into theaters on Feb. 27 and an upcoming Disney series called “J.O.N.A.S.,” in which the brothers portray rock star secret agents, the group is smoking hot.