Monday, 08 March 2010 19:09

UWF Casts a Spell Over Area Wizards

Written by Jack Riley

PENSACOLA - With a new movie due in November ("Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1") and Universal Studios Orlando opening its "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" adventureland this spring, Hogwarts fever shows no sign of subsiding.

Meanwhile, there are burning questions to be addressed. Is Hufflepuff just for rejects and leftovers? Was Snape really evil? Were Harry and Luna meant for each other? Are Slytherins grossly misunderstood? Does it matter if Dumbledore was gay?

If this isn't just some arcane and untranslatable code to you, then you won't want to miss the University of West Florida's "Harry Potter Conference" slated for April 2, 2010 at the UWF campus in Pensacola. The conference will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the University Commons Conference Center and will focus on the cultural influences of the Harry Potter phenomenon, religious and historical themes in the series, and the features of Harry Potter fandom.

You can get more information on topics and events by e-mailing Christine Thomas at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

"This conference is meant to unite fans of Harry Potter in the spirit of academia and wizarding fun," Thomas said in a news release.

Prospective pesentations will relate to anything from themes in the books to the culture and fandom of the phenomenon, or from historical parallels in the storyline to debates on the nature of specific characters. Other possible topics suggested by the sponsors included Mudblood Oppression: The Wizarding Holocaust; What Your Wand Says About You; Keeping Fandom Alive Through Fan Fiction; and much more.

So grab your brooms, and fly over for the day. (Unless you can find a handy portkey or are skilled enough to apparate.) Or, you know, just take your Muggle car.

Published in Art & Culture

Be the first to comment!

Monday, 01 March 2010 21:05

WIN a Deluxe Spa Pedi from Bliss

Written by Administrator

Bliss is giving away a Deluxe Spa Pedicure to one lucky e5 reader this week!

Entering is as easy as 1, 2 ...

Join the e5 community (it's free and we periodically send you special deals, and you can win free stuff from our advertisers)
Join the Bliss VIP Exclusive Member List (it's also free)

You are now entered to WIN!

** This week's winner will be picked on Friday, March 5th via Random.org. You will be notified via the eight5ifty.com website & email.

-------------------------------------

Terms & Conditions:

Book at least 5 days in advance
The Bliss Spa Pedicures do not include any upgrades or a la carte services, such as: French manicures or nail designs.
A representative of e5 will email the winners name to Bliss and Bliss will mail out the winners certificate. Winner must reply to email with a physical mailing address in order to collect the prize.
Employee's (and family members of employees) of frshnk (e5 magazine's parent company) and Bliss are not eligible to win.
You are only eligible to win one prize from e5 per month.

Published in Exclusive E5 Web Content

Tagged under

Be the first to comment!

Thursday, 25 February 2010 16:53

Lessons of the 'Learned Ladies'

Written by Jack Riley

PENSACOLA - It was a time when men wore wigs and heels, and women underscored their every statement with a snap of their fans.

Times have changed, but the story of Moliere's "The Learned Ladies" is just as funny as it was in the 1600s, in part because the inspired costuming on display in the University of West Florida's current theater production is as absurd as the rhyming couplets by which everyone speaks.

“‘The Learned Ladies’ has always been one of my favorite of Moliere’s farces,” said Geoffrey Scott Bleeker, the play’s director, quoted in a news release. “We have the ‘learned’ ladies of the title, ridiculous in any era, a weak-willed husband (played by Panama City's Mark Duggar) doing his very best to hold onto his dignity and pride, and the self-obsessed fool Trissotin (played by Nathan Simmons, also from Panama City) prancing through the household.”

"The Learned Ladies" has its second laugh-filled weekend Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26 and 27, at 8 p.m. A 2:30 p.m. matinee will be Sunday, Feb. 28. Performances are at the Center for Fine & Performing Arts, Building 82, in the Mainstage Theatre at UWF. Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and active military, $10 for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $5 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards.

“The cast, designers, and I are having so much fun bringing Moliere’s insane world of fops and fools to life, and we hope that audiences will see that joy on stage and laugh their heads off,” Bleeker said.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Box Office at (850) 857-6285 or online at uwf.edu/cfpa.

----------------------------------------------

All images contributed via Facebook

(photo's L to R; Melissa Foster as Armande, the conniving sister and emotional geyser of the play, Nathan Simmons of Panama City as Trissotin, a terrible poet worshipped by the 'Learned Ladies', Meagan Parker as Philamante, stern leader of the 'Learned Ladies.')

Published in Art & Culture

Tagged under

1 comment

Tuesday, 23 February 2010 18:22

The Carolina's & The Gills LIVE

Written by Administrator

Published in Art & Culture

Tagged under

Be the first to comment!

Friday, 19 February 2010 15:13

Dude Looks Like a Lady!

Written by Administrator

A fun evening (or afternoon) is in store for those who come see Kaleidoscope's next production of the 39th Season, Leading Ladies. Directed by Bunnie Hibbard and Harley Benner, this hilarious farce by Ken Ludwig abounds with mistaken identity, impossible romantic entanglements, inevitable mayhem and side-splitting comedy. The story involves Jack and Leo, two British Shakespearean actors, who find themselves running out of luck in Pennsylvania's Amish country, reduced to performing scenes before an unresponsive Moose Lodge. When they hear about a wealthy woman who is dying and looking for her two long-lost English nieces to inherit her fortune, they put on the lipstick, the wigs and the dresses and decide to try their luck. What is more fun than guys dressing up and pretending to be women! Especially if those two guys happen to be played by Jason Blanks and Jason Betz. Other talented cast members include Miranda Wheeler, Katherine Wanika, Barry Hertzog, Marco Andrews, Anthony Powiliatis and Sue Webb.

Feb. 19, 20, 26, 27 &
Mar. 5, 6 at 7:00 pm

Feb. 21, 28 &
Mar. 7 at 2:00 pm

Call 265-3226 for Reservations

Opening Night Wine & Cheese Reception

Published in Art & Culture

Tagged under

Be the first to comment!

Tuesday, 09 February 2010 13:16

And the winner is ...

Written by Dustin Bryson

Leta Daniels won our Carolinas music prize pack! Check out Leta's e5 Community page and "friend" her if you feel so inclined.

Published in Exclusive E5 Web Content

Tagged under

Be the first to comment!

Monday, 25 January 2010 16:48

Bringing Books Alive Once Again

Written by Jack Riley

They tell you their secrets. That's the thing.

How to build worlds, create characters, breathe life into plots and counter plots. The trials they endured, the triumphs they experienced. The words that made a difference.

Each February, the Bay County Public Library brings the world of words alive by gathering a mix of regional and nationally-celebrated writers for its "Books Alive!" event. Authors from a variety of disciplines lead presentations or Q&A sessions with readers and those who dream of becoming writers as well. They hobnob, sell books, sign autographs, share a massive luncheon.

This year's event (the 11th annual) is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in the second floor classrooms and conference room of Gulf Coast Community College's Student Union. Admission is free (tickets to the luncheon featuring former Senator Bob Graham as keynote speaker are $20). Go to BooksAlive.net for a full schedule, list of local and featured authors, and more information.

But only in the sessions will you hear Daniel Wallace ("Big Fish") discuss the magic of Southern fables; or Masha Hamilton ("31 Hours") tell of her trips to Afghanistan, where she works with women to teach them to write and read and learn about the world beyond that the Taliban don't want them to know about; or Karen Zacharias ("Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide?") reveal the riches of a relationship with a loving God that have nothing to do with gold.

Their secrets may work for you, too, or inspire you to find your own path, uncover your own secret ingredients to create your own worlds of imagination, and make your own way into their elevated ranks.

Published in Art & Culture

Be the first to comment!

Friday, 22 January 2010 19:28

The Carolina's Prize Pack Giveaway

Written by Dustin Bryson

Winning is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

First, CLICK HERE and join the e5 community, it's free and it rules!

Second, add a photo of yourself and a discription.

Third, comment on someone's photo's, blog post, etc to build your e5 points to win cool prizes.

We have added Facebook connect so your sign in process will be totally painless.

Published in Exclusive E5 Web Content

Tagged under

1 comment

Thursday, 21 January 2010 15:02

Stuff to do when the weather stinks

Written by Staff

Below is a quick list of cool stuff to do today because it is POURING!

1. Watch a movie; may we suggest The Book of Eli, it is amazing! Click here for movie times.

2. Go to the gym. e5 staff work out (about once a month) here.

3. Bowl, billiards and roller skating all in one place, here.

4. Stay home, snuggle under the covers and watch TV.

What are you doing to shrug off this wet weather?

Published in Exclusive E5 Web Content

Tagged under

weather

2 comments

Wednesday, 06 January 2010 22:00

2nd Annual Hurricane Film Festival in Seaside

Written by Dustin Bryson

The surf scene has always been strong in Northwest Florida. It might go into hibernation once in awhile, but that's only because the water goes flat and all the surfers are locked in their cribs watching surf DVD's to survive. Thank God Seaside throws a gnarly shin dig every year (at least the last two) in the middle of the bitter cold so surfers don't have to jones

Published in Outside

Tagged under

15 comments