Monday March 1st, stop in Natural Concepts Salon & Day Spa from 9a-5p for half price haircuts and massages to benefit the children of Haiti who still need our help. Regular price $27, your cost $13.50; regular cost for a 1-hour massage is $60, your cost is $30! Walk-ins welcome but appointments suggested for massages--limited availability. Proceeds go to Samaritan's Purse. Call 309.693.8950, visit www.naturalconceptssalonspa.com.
Show Your Support for a Great Cause!! Tell them you saw it in Numéro!
Natural Concepts Salon & Day Spa 3408 Willow Knolls Rd. Peoria, IL 61614
This month we did an article on Salsa dancing at the Contemporary Art Center, tomorrow night they are hosting swing dancing! It's from 8:30p-12:30a, $3/members, $6/nonmembers. So grab a date and kick up your heels!
When I was in grade school we had this great hole in the wall library chuck full of vintage books, leftover gems from the 60s and 70s that captured the imagination with their bright and eerie graphics. Years after I graduated I found myself missing some of the strange stories from my childhood and set out to find them at various thrift and antique stores, even online. My favorite one is SpiritTown, cover wise and story wise. Oftentimes I don't find myself as intrigued by present day covers, the ones that do intrigue me are often throwbacks. There's just something about the books from these times that gives you the immediate feel and mood of the story in one image. They're not cold and homoginous, but rather lived in, vibrant, worn and wonderful. This weekend see if you can remember a book from your childhood that you want to revisit.
Today marks the 224th birthday of the younger Brother Grimm, Wilhelm.
The Brothers Grimm, for those not familiar with them, are among the most famous European storytellers ever to live. Noted for a streak of darkness in their fairy tales not shared by many other childrens' writers, the Brothers traveled around Europe recording people's "unusual" experiences and tales and then writing them as stories.
Many of the tales told by the Brothers survive today. Stories such as "Snow White," "Rumpelstiltskin," "The Frog Prince," "Cinderella," "Rapunzel," the list goes on and on. It bears mentioning that the brothers did not actually write every one of these stories, they simply collected folk and fairy tales from peasants and servants, dressed them up with better writing and shared them with the world.
Born in 1786, Wilhelm Grimm lived his early years near Frankfurt but, after the death of his father, the family of seven moved to a tiny, cramped city home. Many have said that this miserable period of their lives was blamed on their mother, which explains why most of their stories involved female villains (wicked stepmothers, witches, hags, etc.) and idealized fathers.
When they were old enough, Wilhelm and his older brother Jacob left home to study law.
While studying, the two became intensely interested in linguistic research, and that is where they began recording and telling these stories. They also published a much-less-popular book of legends involving dragons, dwarves, elves, and the like. However, nothing has ever surpassed the popularity of their collection of fairy tales. After all, those tales have been reproduced countless times as novels, standalone books, movies, even video games!
So happy birthday, Wilhelm. Reminisce on the old days. Think about poisoned virgins and children being eaten and all those other horrifying things you somehow passed off as childrens' stories. And do it with a smile, because we're still telling those stories to kids today.
Joanna Newsom's latest opus Have One On Me is a jaw-dropping 2-hour long, ethereal joy ride that is truly a pleasure to listen to, at least for a Newsom fan such as myself. Each tracks feeds into the next like a musical ouroboros but the effect is one of cohesion rather than repetition. The blend of instrumentation and composition here is dreamy and atmospheric and allows for Newsom's voice and lush, clever lyrics to act as the focal point.
Newsom's approach to music has become more sophisticated as she's grown into her craft. Her 2004 debut, The Milk-Eyed Mender, is a precious, homespun quilt of songs that are so sweetly antiquated in their lyricism the album seems like a period piece. Mender also introduced Newsom's unusual voice that to some is pleasingly elvish and child-like and to others conjures comparisons to Lisa Simpson (and that's one of the more generous comments). But on Have One On Me Newsom has discovered some semblance of vocal restraint, abandoning much of the urgency she sang with on Mender.
This album seems more accessible to me than some of Newsom's previous work but it's also incredibly rich and full which could put some listener's off. As an established fan, I find Have One On Me to be a decadent fantasy buoyed by Newsom's talents with harp and musical arrangement. Others might find it too much an effort to get all the way through (again, it is 2 hours long, she's like a musical Scorsese). But if you can afford the time to make the journey through it I recommend you do, it's well worth it.
I was thinking of what movie to do for today and I decided that, since I haven't seen a movie in the theater since Wolfman, I'd go for some sort of alternative selection. So I decided just to go with This Day in History from the History Channel and see if there were any movie-worthy events. Sadly, the only one directly made into a movie was the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team and I talked about Miracle last week. My bad.
Anyway, on this day in 2006, a British gang pulled off the largest robbery in the country's history. The six men stole over 53 million pounds (an absurdly large sum considering that the pound itself is an unnecessarily large currency).
They didn't make a movie about it, but I was thinking about British gangs and then I thought about Green Street Hooligans. So you get to hear about that.
Directed by Lexi Alexander, this gritty film looks into the world of British football gangs. (Note: Football means soccer, not football). When Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood) is wrongfully expelled from Harvard because of his roommate's cocaine habit, he decides to go abroad and visit his sister in London.
While there, he meets his sister's husband and, more importantly, his younger brother Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam). Pete is the leader of the Green Street Elite, a soccer gang (or firm) devoted to the team from West Ham. And in Britain, rabid fans don't just yell and drink beer and such, they beat each other half to hell on a daily basis.
Matt starts hanging out with Pete and, eventually, becomes part of the GSE. But there's trouble in the air when West Ham gets scheduled to play with their oldest rivals, Millwall, for the first time in years. Tensions come to a head, and both Pete and Matt have to make big decisions about who they are and where their loyalties lie.
This movie is all about fighting and soccer, two things I happen to enjoy watching a lot. But it also says a lot about people and how to live your life. Finding a balance between always fighting and letting the world walk all over you. In essence, you have to learn to pick your battles.
A friend brought it to attention that Photoshop turns 20 tomorrow! Photoshop has become a staple around Numéro and helps our photos look their best. Thank you Adobe!! In honor of that I'm posting a sweet stopmotion video by Lait Noir, an Italian artist who dapples in many media. This was made for an AdobeYouGC competition, I don't know if it won but it's pretty sweet! Literally...
For those of you who have not experienced the hilarity of Flight of the Concords, the 4th most popular folk duo from New Zealand and their now finished HBO show, I pity you. Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement pair up in this video with an homage to 70s-like vids and who doesn't love a good mustache? This video is sure to please all the ladies in the office and maybe make that guy in the next cubicle chuckle. It'll make you wish you never put away those derby skates and have you reaching for that button-up vest and pant suit that you swore you'd throw out. Enjoy!
Okay fine, it's not really Monday anymore. That said, go see the Wolfman immediately.
Shot as a direct homage (almost remake but not quite) of the 1941 classic, this modern adaptation of the old story is very true to the original. The main character is still Lawrence Talbot (Benicio del Toro). His father is still Sir John Talbot (Anthony Hopkins). He is still returning home after years abroad and is subsequently drawn into the curse of the werewolf.
Where the story differs is that in this new adaptation, Lawrence is home to investigate the brutal murder of his younger brother, Ben. When Ben disappears, his fiancée Gwen (Emily Blunt) writes to Lawrence begging him to come home and assist in the search.
During his investigation, Lawrence attempts to save a child from an attack by some sort of vicious beast and is himself bitten in the process. Unbeknownst to him, but suspected by many of the more superstitious locals, he is now afflicted with the curse.
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard has dispatched Inspector Francis Aberline (Hugo Weaving) to investigate the murders in the area. All threads come together at the next full moon, and the plot really starts to take off. I won't spoil anything that you can't figure out by watching the previews with the sound off though, so don't worry.
The film is shot very much in the style of the old-generation horror flick. There isn't much camera trickery and even the action scenes are fairly straightforward. It's not hard to see what would have happened if, say, Michael Bay had been in charge of a scene in which a giant hairy man-beast went on a killing rampage. Thankfully, Joe Johnston avoids this and creates a very respectful reboot of the film.
The cast is packed with A-list stars and the script is extremely solid. Add this to good filmmaking and a classic story and you've got the recipe for a great movie. So again, go see it.
What food sounds more groovy than fondue? Honestly. Break out your swanky fondue pot and treat yourself and some friends to a tasty dipping treat. Celebrate a late Valentine's with chocolate fondue and an array of foods like strawberries, rice crispy treats, marshmallows and more. If you don't have a fancy pot then stop in at French Toast on Prospect. Their version combines the Swiss Neuchatel traditions with Emmental, Gruyére, and Champagne, melted and served with bread and seasonal fruit.
Nicole and I will soon be adding a new segment to the blog that features us and other Numéro staff members dressed as characters from certain films, albums and books we review. The shoot we just finished was a blast and our good friend over at swanky lady vintage let us borrow some awesome vintage roller skates to wear. After turning the Numéro offices into a roller rink and reassuring Dennis that we wouldn't ruin the newly polyurethaned floors we got some shots of these fantastic skates. Vintage roller skates can be used both for their original purpose, roller skating, or as a quirky decorative element. You can place a glass vase inside the boot of the skate to create a funky display for flowers or use the skates as bookends. The key is using your imagination. Sometimes you have to be able to look at vintage items less for what they are and more for what they could be. So keep your eyes peeled and your mind open.
James Brown is the godfather of soul, funk and groove and on this live album from 1980 he proves why he deserves the title. With his typical showmanship he performs classic tracks like Get Up Offa That Thing and I Got You (I Feel Good). This album is guaranteed to get you up offa your thing and dancing along to every groovy, funky beat. We here at Numéro picked up this gem at Co-Op Records in Campustown, so dust out your LPs and turntable. Many still argue that vinyl is the best way to experience music. Check your local record shop to find music by new artists on LP, some even include codes to get the mp3 download of the tracks as a bonus!
After a disappointing Super Bowl, and with no interest in basketball whatsoever, it's going to be a long, cold, dark 2 months until baseball kicks off. With no real sports to watch, I guess I'll just have to substitute sports movies instead. But not just any sports movies, THE BEST 5 SPORTS MOVIES OF ALL TIME.
5. Miracle Miracle is the true story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, a ragtag bunch of college kids who toppled the unstoppable Russian squad and took the gold medal. Kurt Russell stars as head coach Herb Brooks in this uplifting story of victory in the face of impossible odds.
4. Snatch Okay, fine. Snatch isn't really about sports as such. But it is technically about boxing, and it is a damn good movie. Jason Statham and Brad Pitt star in this fast-talking, hard-hitting, laugh-out-loud film that many call the jewel of Guy Ritchie's collection.
3. Invictus Morgan Freeman played Nelson Mandela. That's all I have to say, but I'll say more. Invictus tells the story of the 1995 South African rugby team. Faced with the task of uniting a nation made of violently independent factions, newly-elected President Nelson Mandela turns to the Springboks, long considered a symbol of apartheid government, to unite the country under a World Cup victory. Also Matt Damon was in it.
2. Remember the Titans No list of sports movies would be complete without this classic. It is widely considered one of the most inspiring films of its generation, and may be the finest performance of Denzel Washington's impressive career. During the integration of schools in southern Virginia, the T.C. Williams Titans and their black head coach Herman Boone rise above race and bring unity to the team and to their city.
1. Space Jam Oh yes. This is happening. Space Jam had Michael Jordan and Bill Murray in it. And the Looney Tunes. And they somehow got Mugsy Bogues, Carl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, and (for some reason) Shawn Bradley to admit that Michael Jordan could singlehandedly destroy all of them on the basketball court. This was the golden age of basketball and the golden age of me watching cartoons. When alien invaders steal the skills of the five "best" basketball players in the NBA and threaten to enslave the Looney Tunes unless they can beat the aliens at basketball, it's up to Michael to come back from playing baseball and save the day by schooling them. I Believe I Can Fly plays, there's a cool rap by the MonStars, and then the God of basketball beats a bunch of cartoons.
It's Friday, celebrate with a Lava Lamp! This beautiful drink is simple to make with just three ingredients.
LAVA LAMP
1oz Absolut Citron Vodka
6oz Woodchuck (or apple juice)
1 dash of grenadine
In a tall glass pour grenadine and vodka over ice, fill with woodchuck, for a lighter drink you can substitute the woodchuck with apple juice. This drink will have you on the fast track to feeling groovy! If you happen to try it, let us know what you think!
When out on your thrifting adventure, don't forget about the toy section. This often ignored corner of the store contains some unique vintage treasures that can be used as more than just playthings. I found this invisible man figure in the toy section at a local Goodwill and was delighted to discover that his heart lights up when you push the black button on his stand. I like him on my bookshelf but he can be used as a jewelry holder (as above) or if you've got the knack for the craft, turned into a night light. Another overlooked treasure from the toy department are the board games. These discarded items can be cut up with an exacto knife and used as coasters or as unique coffee table tops when they're covered with glass. Also, keep your eye out for old happy meal toys. Clean them up and attach them to a wrapped gift with a bow and they become a fun little extra on a present. If they are light weight enough they can also be used to create a unique hanging mobile. There are numerous possibilities available to the toy lover in all of us if we keep a keen eye out for hidden treasures.
For many of us, we barely have the time to sit down and watch TV let alone read a good book. It's difficult to surrender our attention for hours to a single lengthy story. This book may prove to be a remedy for those of us who crave quality writing but don't have an excess of time.Kazuo Ishiguro has compiled five short stories to satiate your craving.
Amongst the melancholic, angst filled lives of the characters inhabiting Ishiguro's enlivened snapshot stories in Nocturnes, there is one transcendent beacon. When the light of day fades, music is the point of hope, the life force sustaining the aspirations and wills of the main characters as you follow them throughout world. Not every story may strike a cord with you, but I found a few to have hooks in them that bubble up within my memory from time to time. Throughout our lives we encounter people who change our lives and then never see them again, some of these stories embrace that cross cultural occurrence. And you are reminded that amidst every tragedy there is a hint of beauty.
Motion City Soundtrack is back in action with a new album for the loser, the dropout, the failure, the outcast in everybody.
My Dinosaur Life takes the band in a newer direction with some heavy instrumentals without losing the loser-esque nature of Motion City lyrics.
While they’ve gotten less whimsical and more grungy instrumentally, Justin Pierre’s unique vocal style and lyrics still show the band hasn’t changed their style. Chock full of breakups, misery, self-medication, and video game references (in one track he references Ocarina of Time!!!!), My Dinosaur Life doesn’t disappoint on the “Justin Pierre is miserable” front.
But don’t read too much into it, Motion City Soundtrack isn’t just for high school nerds. The instrumentals are still among the best in the pop-alternative field and they’re doing something new with harmonized vocals that I really enjoy.
My favorite track is “Her Words Destroyed my Planet,” but the whole album is worth listening to. So if you don’t mind a bit of everyday misery, I recommend heading to your local record store and picking up a copy of My Dinosaur Life.
A word of warning, six of the songs (Worker Bee, Her Words Destroyed my Planet, Delirium, History Lesson, Pulp Fiction and @!#?@!) are explicit, so make sure to check the lyrics before you get this album as a gift for your nephew.
Unless he’s a little @#!%@, in which case he probably knows all those words, anyway.
It's February which means a new issue of Numéro Magazine is out today! This month's theme is Groove and we have a fresh crop of juicy, groovy articles for you like:
Salsa Dancing at the CAC
A New Groove: Switching Careers
Groovy: Defining Two Separate Decades
The Evolution of a Music Mainstay
You can find Numéro Magazine at many fine local retailers. Click here to find the location nearest you.
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