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LAKEPORT – The annual talent competition at the Lake County Fair drew a capacity crowd again this year as local performers took the stage on Saturday, Sept. 5, with an array of showmanship that ranged from hip hop to gymnastics.
Five-year-old Lauren Trippeer took first place with her rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from the soundtrack to the movie "The Wizard of Oz." Lauren picked the melody on her Harmony guitar as she sang along in perfect pitch to a hushed crowd. Her efforts won her a check for $80 along with a shiny blue ribbon.
Second place honors went to the dance duo called "Fly By," who performed a rousing hip hop dance to the song "Starstruck" by Lady Gaga. Brandi Lindsey, age 12, and Victoria Zendejas, age 13, both of Kelseyville dazzled the crowd with their charm and precision that showcased each girl's dedication to her craft. The award for second place winners is a check for $60 along with a beautiful red ribbon.
Third place went to the lovely Kelci Peterson of Clear Lake Oaks, age 7. Kelci performed a song and dance routine to the song "He Could Be the One" by Hannah Montana. Kelci's efforts earned her a white ribbon along with a check for $40.
Mickey the Clown, a regular fixture at the Lake County Fair, emceed the event with his usual effervescence.
After warming up the crowd, Mickey kept the show moving with a steady stream of jokes and a couple of songs.
Volunteering to serve as judges for the competition were Miss Lake County Taylor-Paige Butler and Miss Lake County Outstanding Teen Katie Murphy.
The Lake County Fair welcomes all entrants to the talent contest. Entry is free and available to the first 20 contestants who sign up. For details on how to enter the 2010 Lake County Fair talent competition, visit www.lakecountyfair.com in the spring.
The following list includes times, dates and locations.
– Saturday, Oct. 10, 9:30 a.m. to noon: Solo piano, Steele Winery Annual Harvest Festival, Highway 29, Kelseyville.
– Saturday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
– Sunday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Appearing with Bill Noteman & the Rockets, Steele Winery Annual Harvest Festival, Highway 29, Kelseyville.
– Friday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
– Sunday, Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
– Sunday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Calistoga Inn, brunch on the beautiful shaded creekside patio. Call 707-942-4101 for reservations.
– Sunday, Oct 18, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., 10 p.m. to midnight in the outdoor amphitheater. Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
– Thursday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, Main St. in Kelseyville, 707-278-0129.
– Friday, Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
– Thursday, Oct. 29, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Final night, Hidden Valley Lake Farmers Market, commercial center behind Hardester’s Market.
– Friday, Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
– Saturday, Oct. 31, :30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
– Sunday, Nov. 1, noon to 3 p.m.: Calistoga Inn, brunch on the beautiful shaded creekside patio. Call 707-942-4101 for reservations (remember to move your clocks back one hour early that morning).
– Friday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
– Saturday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, “The New Cool” restaurant. Call 800-660-LAKE (5253) for reservations.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: All Seasons Café (indoors), Calistoga, as part of the “Jazz & Blues Festival,” Highway 29, center of town.
Sunday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Calistoga Inn, brunch on the beautiful shaded creekside patio. Call 707-942-4101 for reservations. This may be the last performance at the inn until next spring, weather permitting.
Nov. 6 and 7 will be Neft's final two nights at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa as the resort is closing until further notice.
Watch for Neft to appear regularly on weekends at a new venue to be announced soon, as well as him doing his “mellow morning tunes” from late fall to early spring at a new soon-to-be determined Sunday brunch location.
Call Neft at 707-987-4290 for more detailed information on any of the venues above and for late changes or additions to his busy gig schedule.
MIDDLETOWN – Coyote Film Festival, Lake County’s own independent film festival, is thrilled to announce two screenings of the award winning film, “Cats of Mirikitani” and provide an audience question and answer with New York director Linda Hattendorf during her first visit to Lake County.
There is a 1:30 p.m. matinée and 7:30 p.m. evening screening on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center in Middletown.
Eighty-year-old Jimmy Mirikitani survived the trauma of World War II internment camps, Hiroshima and homelessness by creating art. But when 9/11 threatens his life on the New York City streets and a local filmmaker brings him to her home, the two embark on a journey to confront Jimmy's painful past.
An intimate exploration of the lingering wounds of war and the healing powers of friendship and art, this documentary won the Audience Award at its premiere in the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival and has continued to receive awards at festivals across the country.
Hattendorf has been working in the New York documentary community for more than a decade. Her editing work has aired on PBS, A&E and The Sundance Channel as well as in theatrical venues and many festivals. She was born in Cincinnati and holds degrees in literature, art history, and media studies. “Cats of Mirikitani” is her directorial debut.
The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote of her film, “Poignant beyond words, 'The Cats of Mirikitani' is comparable to finding a pearl in a pile of oyster shells ...”
The New York Times noted, “The title may suggest a wildlife documentary, but 'The Cats of Mirikitani' is entirely, vibrantly human …”
Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center is located at 15500 Central Park Road in Middletown. There is plenty of parking, restrooms, great sound and a great screening room. Tickets are $10 at the door and $5 for kids 16 and under. Fresh popcorn and concessions will also be available.
Coyote Film Festival is a fundraising arm of EcoArts of Lake County, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization dedicated to bringing visual art opportunities and ecologic stewardship to the residents and visitors of Lake County.
For information visit: www.EcoArtsofLakeCounty.org or www.CoyoteFilmFestival.org .
LAKEPORT – Country Joe McDonald, 60s icon and legendary Woodstock performer will hold a special benefit concert for Lake County Radio station KPFZ on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre in Lakeport.
McDonald's band, Country Joe and the Fish, recorded more than a dozen hit albums and performed with everyone from the original Grateful Dead to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.
In the film “Woodstock,” McDonald is seen shouting “Gimme an F” as tens of thousands echo in response.
In the 40 years since his signature Woodstock performance, McDonald has continued to give concerts and record music as well as to remain involved in peace and social activism.
His recent shows include a tribute to folk singer Woody Guthrie and this year he has toured internationally with the Heroes of Woodstock show along with Jefferson Starship, John Sebastian and others of Woodstock fame.
Tickets for the show are only $25 and are available at Watershed Books in Lakeport, Wild About Books in Clearlake, Java Express in Clearlake, Live Oak Grill in Kelseyville and directly from the show’s producer, Herb Gura at 707-350-1150.
Tickets also may be available at the Soper-Reese box office on the night of the show.
All proceeds from ticket sales go to benefit KPFZ. Lake County’s all volunteer community radio station.
The Soper-Reese Community Theater is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.
- Lake County News Reports
Comic relief reinvents itself in alternate world of 'Lying'
Image courtesy of Warner Brothers.
THE INVENTION OF LYING (Rated PG-13)
The concept of fabricating alternate realities may have conceivably originated with politicians and lawyers, both usually interchangeable. I say this only because these two professions appear to predate advertising and public relations.
And getting back to the original notion, it seems such a reasonably easy case to make these days about shady political leaders, if you are paying the slightest bit of attention. Thus, it is a revelation to find that dishonesty has, in fact, been created by some loser working in a dead-end job as a documentary filmmaker.
Well, that’s the premise behind “The Invention of Lying,” where British comedian Ricky Gervais, the original egotistical office manager in the BBC series “The Office,” is going through the motions of being the same likable oaf he played most recently in “Ghost Town.”
Here, Gervais’ Mark Bellison labors at Lecture Films as a screenwriter for historical documentaries. His chosen field is the 14th century, and he’s incapable of making the Black Plague anything but depressing. Mark inhabits a world where the concept of lying is unknown (obviously a make-believe place). No one is capable of telling a lie, even a small white one that could avert hurt feelings. In fact, people blurt out all sorts of insulting opinions.
Mark is about to be fired from his job, except that his boss (Jeffrey Tambor) has to screw up the courage to tell him. Meanwhile, his mean-spirited, acerbic secretary (Tina Fey) has no hesitation in expressing her extreme distaste for Mark, as she gleefully anticipates his departure.
Making matters worse is that Mark’s rival, personally and professionally, the obnoxious Brad Kessler (Rob Lowe), is the perfect physical specimen who will interfere with any chance for Mark to find romance with Anna (Jennifer Garner).
In an unlikely blind date, Mark finds himself arriving to pick up the pretty Anna, only to find out that she expresses great doubt how the evening will turn out. At dinner, she frankly tells Mark that he is out of her league, and even the waiter chimes in to agree with her. Anna believes her future is with the tall, handsome type who will be the perfect genetic match to fulfill her child-bearing desires. Apparently, truth in this alternate world leads to a lot of superficial thinking.
Losing his job and facing eviction from his apartment, Mark hits upon the idea of lying in order to solve his problems. At the bank, he insists that he has more money in his account than the computer shows. Armed with a fistful of money because the teller believes him, Mark starts to turn his life around by fibbing his way to fame and fortune. He gains acclaim as a screenwriter by concocting a fanciful documentary about aliens invading the earth during the 14th century. He convinces his depressed neighbor (Jonah Hill) that everything will be OK and to forget suicide.
“The Invention of Lying” works best at originating its comedy when spoofing a world without guile or deception. Even advertising works with certain catchphrases, such as the ad for Pepsi that reads “When They Don’t Have Coke.” A motel bills itself as “a cheap place to have sex with strangers.”
Hitting closer to home for Mark is that his dying mother (Fionnula Flanagan) is at a retirement home which is called “A Sad Place for Homeless Old People.” The story takes a big turn when Mark tells his mother in her waning moments that she is going to a better place where she will live in a mansion.
To soothe his mother’s fear, Mark tells her about the Man in the Sky and the afterlife. Word spreads quickly that Mark is a prophet, and soon he is forced to emerge from his apartment with a set of commandments written on pizza boxes.
All along, the storyline is attempting to work in a romantic angle between Mark and Anna, which is mostly sabotaged by Anna’s insistence on a mate who’s not pudgy and snub-nosed. On the other hand, it veers off into a spoof of organized religion, since Mark is pressed by anxious mobs to explain faith in a higher being.
If you take what you find on YouTube at face value, Ricky Gervais claims to be an atheist, and since he’s half of the writing and directing force behind “The Invention of Lying,” one could assume that his own beliefs (or lack thereof) factor into the movie’s underlying theme.
In any event, this is a comedy that starts strong, mainly because fertile laughs are mined from the inevitable fallout from strict adherence to the truth, regardless of feelings or good sense. But it runs out of gas and peters out to a weak finish. Maybe I should have checked out “Zombieland.”
DVD RELEASE UPDATE
Whenever you mention Murphy’s Law, it usually refers to something that goes wrong. But for the BBC TV series “Murphy’s Law,” now being released on DVD for its first season, everything goes right, particularly for delivering an undercover cop drama starring the award-winning actor James Nesbitt, who became a household name in Britain for his roles in “Waking Ned Devine” and “Cold Feet.”
Nesbitt brings his considerable Irish charm to the role of hardheaded, hard-drinking undercover cop Tommy Murphy.
The tough maverick Irish cop takes on the London crime world, accepting the most dangerous assignments that include drugs, blackmail and murder.
“Murphy’s Law” offers Nesbitt to be as interesting a character to watch as Helen Mirren in “Prime Suspect” or Robbie Coltrane in “Cracker.” Here’s hoping the Brits will keep turning out compelling crime dramas.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
