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A soldering device has two or four stirrup electrodes secured to a soldering stirrup holder and a centrally-arranged suction pipette between the stirrup electrodes for picking up, conveying and placing components onto assigned soldering locations. Sensitive mechanical and electrical parts, particularly machanical guides and electrical contacts are protected against undesired precipitation of soldering vapors that arise during the soldering process. This protection is achieved by an extraction device for solder vapors which includes an annular extraction opening between the suction pipette and the soldering stirrup holder. The extraction opening discharges into an extraction chamber arranged above the soldering stirrup holder and is in communication with at least one extraction port.
1. A soldering device for soldering components onto printed circuitboards, comprising:
a soldering stirrup holder;
at least two soldering stirrups mounted spaced apart on said stirrup holder for electrical resistance heating;
said stirrup holder comprising aperture means defining a central aperture therethrough between said soldering stirrups;
a suction pipette extending through said central aperture for picking up, conveying and placing a component onto an assigned soldering location on a printed circuitboard; and
vapor extraction means mounted adjacent said stirrup holder for extracting soldering vapors, and including extraction opening means defining an extraction opening communicating with said central aperture to support vapor flow away from said soldering stirrups, said vapor extraction means comprising a first plate mounted on said stirrup holder and including said extraction opening therethrough aligned with said central aperture, a second plate spaced from said first plate and defining an extraction chamber therebetween, port means defining at least one port at the peripheries of said first and second plates in communication with said extraction chamber, means defining a pipette opening through said second plate for receiving said pipette therethrough, and a flexible bellows sealing said second plate to said pipette on the side thereof opposite said extraction chamber.
This application is related to an application Ser. No. 444,831, filed Dec. 1, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,890, to an application Ser. No. 459,946, filed Jan. 2, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,804, to an application Ser. No. 506,922, filed Apr. 10, 1990, correctly pending, and to an application Ser. No. 07/587,746, filed Sept. 25, 1990.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a soldering device for soldering components onto printed circuit boards, comprising at least two stirrup electrodes secured to a soldering stirrup holder and heatable by electrical resistance heating, and comprising a suction pipette arranged centrally between the stirrup electrodes for picking up, conveying and placing the components onto a signed soldering locations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Soldering device having two stirrup electrodes lying parallel and opposite one another or having four stirrup electrodes lying opposite one another in pairs are particularly utilized for soldering electronic components having many terminals, such as micropacks, flat packs and the like. When such a soldering device is then additionally equipped to the suction pipette arranged centrally between the stirrup electrodes, the soldering device can then be utilized for the automatic equipping of printed circuit boards with the components to be soldering thereon. When equipping in accordance with what is referred to as the pick and place principle, the combined equipping and soldering head moves over the delivery modules of the components and over the printed circuit board arranged in the equipping region, whereby the suction pipette picks up the respective component from the delivery module and places it onto the printed circuit board in the prescribed equipping position. After placement of the respective component, the soldering stirrup holder is then lowered, so that an optimally reliable contact between the working surfaces of the stirrup electrodes, the terminal legs of the component and the interconnect or, respectively, the terminal pads of the printed circuit board results before the soldering process as well as over the entire duration of the soldering process. The suction pipette remains on the component until the end of the soldering process and thereby presses the component against the soldering location on the printed circuit board with a limited force.
During the soldering process initiated by the electrical resistance heating of the stirrup electrodes, solder vapors that can contain both volatile constituents such as dilutants of the employed fluxing agent and solid constituents of the employed fluxing agents such as, for example, colophonium arise. The solder vapors that already arise before the soldering temperature is reached then precipitate on colder locations of the soldering device, whereby this precipitation can lead to a destruction or at least to a considerable deterioration, particularly in the region of the mechanical guides, in the region of bearings or articulations and in the region of electrical contacts. A manual removal of the precipitation, as is still possible given an occasional employment of the soldering device, must be excluded given utilization of the soldering device in mass production.
In a soldering device of the type initially set forth, the object of the present invention is to at least largely prevent a precipitation of soldering vapors onto sensitive parts of the device.
The above object is achieved, according to the present invention, by an extraction device for solder vapors having an annular extraction opening and which is arranged between the suction pipette and the stirrup holder.
In a soldering device constructed in accordance with the present invention, therefore, the solder vapors arising during the soldering process are suctioned off, whereby this extraction should be optimally effective and optimally uniform in the area of the entire soldering locations. Since an extraction with two or more extraction openings would lead to a mutual deterioration and to the formation of neutral zones, only a single extraction opening is provided in the extraction device constructed in accordance with the present invention, this single extraction opening being arranged above the soldering location between the suction pipette and the soldering stirrup holder and being aligned coaxially with the suction pipette. An undesired precipitation of soldering vapors onto sensitive parts of the soldering device, such as mechanical guides and electrical contacts, is thereby at least largely suppressed. A possible precipitation of the solder vapors onto the suction pipette is thereby intentionally accepted since the suction pipette can be removed at certain time intervals without particular expense and can be cleaned or replaced outside of the soldering device.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment and feature of the invention, the extraction opening discharges into an extraction chamber arranged above the soldering stirrup holder and which is provided with at least one extraction nozzle. As a result thereof, the entire extraction device is integrated into the soldering device at a central location, whereby the extraction nozzle merely has to be connected to a ventilator or the like for accelerating the extraction of the solder vapors. The upper opening of the suction pipette through the extraction chamber is then advantageously sealed. When the upper opening is sealed with an elastic bellows, then the required displacement between the suction pipette and the extraction chamber can be
with particularly little expense.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention, its organization, construction and operation will be best understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, on which there is a single FIGURE which is a highly-simplified, schematic view of the structural components for illustrating the basic principle of the soldering device constructed in accordance with the present invention, whereby those parts such as power leads and the like that are not required for an understanding of the invention have been omitted.
The illustrated soldering device has four U-shaped stirrup electrodes secured to a soldering stirrup holder LH, whereby respectively two stirrup electrodes B1 and two stirrup electrodes B2 are aligned parallel to one another at a distance such that the working surfaces on the underside of the stirrup electrodes B1 and B2 form a rectangular or quadratic frame that is not closed in the corner regions. The dimensions of this frame are thereby matched to the shape and position of the terminal legs A of a component BE this is to be soldered onto the terminal pads AP of a printed circuit board LP.
The components BE are taken from a magazine or from a delivery module with a suction pipette S of an equipping head (not shown in detail on the drawing) and are placed onto the prescribed soldering location on the printed circuit board LP. The structure and operation of an equipping head equipped with a suction pipette are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,630, fully incorporated herein by this reference.
When the component BE is placed onto the prescribed soldering location of the printed circuit board LP, the terminal legs A come into contact with the assigned terminal pads AP. The suction pipette S is thereby additionally employed to press the component BE against the printed circuit board LP with a limited force F1 of, for example, 0.1-0.5N until the end of the soldering process. After the placement of the component BE, the soldering stirrup holder LH is then moved down to the position shown on the drawing, whereby the working surfaces of the stirrup electrodes B1 and B2 press the terminal legs A against the assigned terminal pads AP with a force F2, for example, 40 N. The actual soldering process then occurs by melting the solder of the terminal pads AP as a consequence of a corresponding electrical resistance heating of the stirrup electrodes B1 and B2.
During the heating of the working surfaces of the stirrup electrodes B1 and B2, the formation of solder vapors LD already arises before the soldering temperature is reached, the soldering vapors LD particularly containing constituents of the fluxing agent employed as a solvent and colophonium. In order to prevent an undesired precipitation of these solder vapors LD onto sensitive mechanical and electrical parts, an extraction device AE is provided and constructed between the suction pipette S and an opening of the solder stirrup holder LH to include an extraction opening AO, the extraction device AE being arranged coaxially with the suction pipette S. The extraction opening AO discharges into an extraction chamber AK arranged on the soldering stirrup holder LH and is likewise arranged coaxially with the suction pipette S and has two extraction muffs or nozzles AS lying opposite one another. For generating the required draft, the extraction nozzles AS are connected to ventilators (not shown on the drawing).
It may also be seen that the upper opening DO for receiving the suction pipette S is sealed by the extraction chamber AK with the assistance of an elastic bellows B which allows a separate lifting and lowering of the suction pipette S, on the one hand, of the soldering stirrup LH together with the extraction chamber AK, on the other hand.
As already mentioned above, the above-described extraction of soldering vapors serves the purpose of protecting sensitive electrical and/or mechanical parts. The sensitive electrical and/or mechanical parts particularly involve the contact locations of the power supply and the contact locations of the thermoelements. The sensitive mechanical parts particularly involve guides that enable the lifting and lowering of the soldering stirrup holder and the lifting and lowering of the suction pipette. Given an articulated suspension of the soldering stirrup holder, the extraction of the solder vapors also serve to protect the corresponding articulation. Such an articulated suspension of the soldering stirrup holder for guaranteeing a reliable contact between the working surfaces of the stirrup electrode, the terminal legs of the component to be soldered on and the terminal pads is illustrated in detail, for example, in the aforementioned United States patent application Ser. No. 444,831, filed Dec. 1, 1989.
Although we have described our invention by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. We therefore intend to include within the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of our contribution to the art.
Patent Citations
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What does MYL mean in Chat?
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Do You Like the Heavy Celeb Presence on Project Runway?
by Fashion 16 Reactions 0 Shares Print
It was to be expected that when Project Runway moved to Los Angeles, the show would feature more celebrities. Heidi Klum once said that Hollywood has had a major influence on the world of fashion. We're three episodes in, and there have been three celebrity guest judges: Lindsay Lohan served as guest judge on the first episode, Rebecca Romijn was the subject of the episode two's maternity challenge, and last night, Rachel Bilson gave her two cents on the surf-wear challenge. PR has had celebrity guest judges in the past, but now it's become a regular component of the show. So I want to know, do you like the heavy celeb presence on PR?Get Rachel Bilson's PR look from last night!
Read More Project Runway Season 6CelebrityRebecca RomijnFab PollProject RunwayHeidi KlumRachel BilsonLindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Rachel Bilson
Heidi Klum
Project Runway
Rebecca Romijn
kitkatherine 5 years
i like it. though lindsay lohan being on there made me chuckle. i think people like rebecca romijin and rachel bilson make sense, but lindsay is just so...wrong
5 years
Having the three celebrities (so far) on have been refreshing. Only beit due to their background in fashion and the ever presence niche of baby-fever. Lindsay, obviously, has her own particular perspective on fashion and it was interesting to see how she evaluated the contestants. Rachel. I mean c'mon. It is Rachel, people. She is the queen of chic and to have her on the show was just icing on the cake.
BintFozi 5 years
I think Rebecca Romjin and Rachel Bilson are great choices; Lindsay Lohan, not so much. Diane Kruger would make the ULTIMATE guest judge, for sure.
KrisB 5 years
Yea, this season is kinda blah. The celebrity judges haven't been bad but the designers just don't seem to be blowing me away. Bravo is doing reruns of old seasons and they are just fantastic. I doubt I would bother watching reruns of this go round.
SDTransplant 5 years
Eh, I could do without the celebrities. I know some of them have their own fashion lines, but we all know how much designing they actually do on their own lines. And I agree that the vibe of the show is totally different in LA than in NYC...bring the show back to NYC and Parsons!
iheartstyle 5 years
i havent seen it but would like to see the Rachel Bilson episode
db849 5 years
I voted that I didn't mind it, but I hope they don't do it every week. I like having just the 3 original judges.
cupcakers 5 years
It totally does seem different since it's on Lifetime and in LA, so I actually look more forward to celebs on the show since the show just doesn't feel the same. But overall I don't mind celebs on it but I think they should be ones that are worthy of being on the show, who know fashion (Rachel Bilson) or are part of the challenge (outfit for pregnant Rebecca Romijn)...I don't think messes like Lindsey need to be on it.
lizzylu49 5 years
I'm just not loving this season in general. I don't think it has anything to do with the presence of celebs, it just seems different in LA and on Lifetime.
5 years
PR is the worst kind of show. I am over the bafflingly awful judging. The All-Star challenge, where Korto was screwed over for nothing again was my last episode.
thedesignerchik 5 years
I love it, it spices things up a bit and the designers enjoy meeting celebs and might even make a connection.
Faylinn 5 years
I don't mind celebrities if they know something about fashion and the industry, that is they actively take part in it. If they are chosen just for their celebrity, like Lindsay, then I get annoyed. Then it's just done for a ratings boost.
secondstar 5 years
I don't mind it as long as they pick quality celebrities. Rebecca Romijn and Rachel Bilson were fine, but I'm still questioning their judgment on Lindsay. These days she's better known for her crazy antics than being a fashion authority.
Shadowcat14 5 years
I don't mind it-assuming they don't replace Michael Kors with an influx of random celebrities.
marcied23 5 years
it doesn't matter, i'd watch either way because the fun of the show is in watching the designers create.
Lorelei-LeFae 5 years
I have no problem with it. I'd watch without the celebs, but the guest do ad a bit of fun.
Link Love
- Sophia Amoruso outlines the basics of being a boss — Who What Wear
- Shopping for luxe gifts for your girlfriends? Try looking here — Style.com
- How to master monochrome and maintain your style — InStyle
- The best dressed star of the week is 4 years old — HuffPost Style
- The wear-everywhere crop top that belongs in your closet — The Cut
- So, how do all those superhot male models get discovered? — Fashionista
- There's a serious problem with Anna Wintour's new office . . . — Racked
- If District 12 wore couture, it'd be courtesy of this designer — Lucky
- Rumi Neely lets you into her stylish home — StyleList


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Hear What People Are Saying about Ordering from PCH
PCH Staff
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Greetings, fans and friends! When I'm not writing blog posts for PCH, my job involves writing about our terrific products. These "ads" appear in the colorful flyers inside our bulletins, as well as in our online emails. I think it's so cool that I get to see and touch the products – and sometimes, when [read more…]


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News Feed for Alex Bentley - CultureMap http://austin.culturemap.com/feeds/author/alex_bentley/ 2014-11-21T15:40:00-06:00 Mockingjay - Part 1 sets up final Hunger Games chapter brilliantly 2014-11-21T15:40:00-06:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/11-21-14-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-movie-review-atx/
 Splitting the final film of a popular book-turned-movie series into two parts is all the rage these days, as the makers of the Harry Potter, Twilight and now The Hunger Games series have all opted to do so. Detractors decry the overt commercialism of these moves, while supporters rejoice in an extra chance to spend time with their favorite characters.

 Whatever side of the debate you fall on, the results have been iffy at best. But The Hunger Games is looking to buck that trend with Mockingjay - Part 1, the first step toward all-out revolution in the world of Panem.

  Instead of just throwing Katniss into war, they make her struggles fully real for the audience, which results in a more powerful drama.

 The film throws the audience directly into Katniss Everdeen's (Jennifer Lawrence) new reality: living underground in the recently revealed District 13. There, 13's President Coin (Julianne Moore), former gamesmaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and others try to convince Katniss to become the face of the revolution against the Capitol, something she is loath to do.

 But when she sees videos of Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) suffering at the hands of President Snow (Donald Sutherland), along with what happened to her former home in District 12, she complies. With the help of Effie (Elizabeth Banks), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Katniss starts to become whom she is meant to be, whether she likes it or not.

 One's enjoyment of Mockingjay - Part 1 depends on two factors. First and most obviously, you have to know that you will not get closure in this film. Second and most important, there is very little action. The first part is all about setting up the battle royale in part two, and the filmmakers have saved most of the big set pieces for that film.

 That said, there's much to love about part one. Commercial qualms aside, splitting the final film in two is good for both lovers of the books and movie fans. By devoting almost an entire film to Katniss' uneasiness at being the virtual leader of the revolution, director Francis Lawrence and his team were able to really delve into details that would be glossed over otherwise.

 Instead of just throwing her directly into war, which would happen if the whole story was told in two-and-a-half to three hours, they make her struggles fully real for the audience, which results in a more powerful drama. It also makes the few action scenes in the film impactful in a way that they wouldn't be if the movie were full of them.

 The filmmakers also deserve credit for not sugarcoating the darker parts of the story. The film definitely falls in the PG-13 range, but the themes it covers make it feel closer to an R. The film is definitely not for younger children, and even older viewers may find themselves shocked at various violent acts, implied or otherwise.

 At this point in the series, the interactions between the characters are as important to the story's success as any plot twists. Despite their somewhat dire circumstances, it's a pleasure to see Katniss, Effie, Haymitch, Gale and others band together to get things done. They all feel essential to the plot, especially in a film that features more dialogue than fighting.

 The film is an actor's idea of heaven and nearly all of them rise to the challenge. Lawrence is as great as ever, as is the late Hoffman, Banks, Harrelson and newcomer Moore. Even actors in smaller roles, like Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin and Natalie Dormer, make the most of their moments in the spotlight.

 There is no real resolution in Mockingjay - Part 1, but it delivers more than enough to satisfy fans while they endure the yearlong wait for Part 2. War is coming, and the calm before the storm is the perfect way to prepare the audience for the end of the story.
 The Theory of Everything favors love over science in Stephen Hawking's life story 2014-11-14T09:13:00-06:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/11-14-14-theory-of-everything-movie-review-stephen-hawking-atx/
 Stephen Hawking, who has developed scientific theories that boggle the imagination, would be an impressive individual based solely on his intelligence. But when you also consider that he's done the vast majority of his work while battling a motor neuron disease, and that he's confounded doctors by surviving the disease for 50 years, he becomes all the more amazing.

 The Theory of Everything attempts to take stock of Hawking's life, following him from his days as a doctoral student at Cambridge University through his storied career to his roles as husband and father.

 Much of the film is set up as a love story between Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his wife, Jane (Felicity Jones), whom he met at Cambridge before his diagnosis. Theirs is a classic "opposites attract" situation, and neither their disparate beliefs — his in science, hers in religion — nor his debilitating disease can keep them apart.

  Much of the film is set up as a love story between Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his wife, Jane (Felicity Jones), whom he met at Cambridge before his diagnosis.

 Director James Marsh and screenwriter Anthony McCarten do their best to make both Stephen and Jane into three-dimensional characters. Not only do we get to see Stephen's brilliance, but we're also treated to his biting sense of humor and his occasional irritable demeanor. Jane, whose book serves as the basis for the film, is also shown to have both positive and negative characteristics, which prevents her from being a do-no-wrong angel, a portrayal that would ring false.

 They also keep the high-minded science of the film relatively accessible, which provides an interesting contrast to how very similar ideas were presented in Interstellar. While experts have praised the accuracy of the science in Christopher Nolan's film, having those ideas come straight from the horse's mouth — or computer, as it were — in a matter-of-fact manner somehow makes them more plausible and palatable.

 One of the few things the film does not address is how Hawking has been able to survive a disease that usually kills those afflicted with it within a couple of years. Perhaps, unlike Hawking's study of black holes and the rest of the universe, something like that will forever remain a mystery.

 Like Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler, the film's success mainly hinges on Redmayne's performance. The way he inhabits Hawking's famous visage is truly remarkable, and it must have taken incredible discipline for Redmayne to repeatedly contort his face and body. That, along with everything else about his performance, should put Redmayne high on the list for a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

 The film as a whole fades a bit toward the end, but that's mainly due to the familiarity of Hawking's life story. Apart from a few personal details, there aren't many surprises in the second half of the film, robbing it of some dramatic oomph.

 Still, the astounding nature of Hawking's life coupled with an astonishing performance by Redmayne make The Theory of Everything a memorable movie. Hawking's intelligence may go beyond most of our understanding, but his life is as relatable as any other.
 Big Hero 6 delivers intelligently cute antidote to superhero movies 2014-11-07T15:04:27-06:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/11-07-14-big-hero-6-movie-review-atx/
 Since Marvel Entertainment merged with Disney back in 2009, the production of films based on Marvel characters has shifted into overdrive. Given Disney's history, it was only a matter of time before an animated one came out, but the first one to make the big screen doesn't deal with Iron Man, Captain America or other now-familiar characters. Instead, the comic getting the animated treatment is the relatively obscure Big Hero 6.

 In truth, the film adaptation of Big Hero 6 has very little in common with its comic origins, which is probably for the best. In this version, Hiro Hamada (voiced by Ryan Potter) is a 13-year-old genius who knows a thing or two about making robots.

  One of the biggest reasons Big Hero 6 works is that, while its main characters are certifiably brilliant, there's nothing innately heroic about them.

 After a personal tragedy, Hiro inadvertently teams up with Baymax (Scott Adsit), a puffy white robot designed to diagnose health problems. When he finds out the tragedy may have actually been a crime, Hiro, along with a group of similar-minded students from the local university, tries to get to the bottom of things using both his sense of invention and adventure.

 One of the biggest reasons Big Hero 6 works is that, while its main characters are certifiably brilliant, there's nothing innately heroic about them. Instead, they use their intelligence to create things no one else can, which in turn gives them the ability to be heroes. It's a familiar superhero theme, but also one that doesn't get used often enough.

 The other big selling point of the film is the character of Baymax. While he (it?) definitely fulfills of the role of the requisite cute sidekick, what with his roly-poly physique and innocent demeanor, he brings more to the table than that. He's the comic relief, yes, but he also kicks plenty of butt and is the true heart and soul of the movie.

 The film is set in the fictional San Fransokyo, a blending of San Francisco and Tokyo that proves to be a constant visual delight as the group zooms throughout the city. Like many of the best animated films, Big Hero 6 has no limits thanks to directors Don Hall and Chris Williams (Bolt) and their team of animators. It is truly a thrill to watch the action unfold as seemingly impossible ideas come to life before your eyes.

 While the PG-rated film has its share of intense and scary moments, it blends in the more kid-friendly segments seamlessly, making it one that can be enjoyed by most viewers. Some purists may decry the "kid-ification" of the more mature comic, but the film really does deliver the best of both worlds.

 Big Hero 6 will no doubt spawn sequels that will focus more on the heroic adventures of the team, but they'll have to do well to beat this origin story, which combines sweetness and strength to make for a powerful debut.
 Interstellar reaches for movie heights but falls short of the stars 2014-11-05T15:11:56-06:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/11-05-14-interstellar-movie-review-matthew-mcconuaghey-christopher-nolan/
 Director Christopher Nolan has never been the type to take it easy on anyone who watches his movies. From his early works like Following and Memento all the way through his Dark Knight trilogy, Nolan has filled his films with complicated ideas and fuzzy moral compasses.

 However, his latest, Interstellar, may take the cake when it comes to his brand of hyper-intelligent moviemaking. It is a sprawling, nearly three hour trek filled with complicated ideas about space travel, Einstein's theory of relativity, food shortages and other things that makes Memento easy to understand by comparison.

  While the Nolan brothers do their best to keep the dialogue accessible to non-science geeks, it'll be the rare moviegoer understands the entire movie the first time around.

 At its center is Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former NASA pilot now toiling as a corn farmer in order to help alleviate a worldwide food shortage at an indeterminate point in the future. With the human race threatened by extinction, Cooper is recruited to lead a mission to the farthest reaches of space to find a world that will save the species.

 Nolan and his brother, Jonathan, who co-wrote the film, disorient the audience right from the start with things that are familiar yet foreign at the same time. Were it not for the constant dust storms and things like the New York Yankees playing home games in a run-down stadium in the country, the world they put forth could almost be our own.

 Once the action goes into space, things really start to get complex. While the Nolan brothers do their best to keep the dialogue accessible to non-science geeks, it'll be the rare moviegoer who proclaims that they understood the entire movie the first time around. As the crew, which includes Anne Hathaway, has to deal with wormholes, black holes, time slowing down and other factors, there's a lot of jargon to wade through.

 Were this film done by any other director but Nolan, the race to find a new habitable planet would be the overriding plot arc. Even though it's still arguably the main focus, the film makes plenty of time for other storylines, social commentary and other plot points. The film is less a thriller and more a meditation on human relationships and desires.

 The biggest issue is that what is supposed to be the film's biggest bond, between Cooper and his daughter, Murph, never really gels. The film has so much going on that the heartbreak Murph suffers when Cooper leaves on his voyage doesn't get a chance to truly register.

 From a visual standpoint, Interstellar does make an impression. Although you don't get the "you are there" feeling of Gravity, Nolan and his crew make sure to give a sense of wonder to traveling through deep space. They also amaze with blocky, sentient robots that move with a grace that is unexpected, and who are as helpful to the cause as any human.

 Interstellar is one of those films you will be thinking about long after you leave the theater, but on a purely visceral level, it doesn't measure up to some of the year's best. It could be a film that improves on second and third viewings when worrying about the details of the story becomes less important, but few will have the opportunity to do so.
 Can't shake this off: Taylor Swift snubs Austin in 2015 tour announcement 2014-11-04T12:45:21-06:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/11-04-14-taylor-swift-tour-dates-texas-concerts-dallas-2015/
 An argument could be made that Taylor Swift is the most popular musician on the planet right now, but on her 2015 tour, Texans will have only one chance to see her in-state: October 17, when she plays at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

 That's right, Swift has shaken off almost the entire state of Texas on a tour that will last five months and encompass 57 dates in five different countries. The tour officially kicks off May 20, 2015, in Bossier City, Louisiana, and will also include a concert a couple of days later in Baton Rouge, giving those in East Texas some relatively close-by options.

 Here in Austin, we shouldn't feel nearly as jilted as Spotify users. Subscribers to the services are are now living in a Swift-less world after the singer refused demands to stream her new album, 1989, and then removed her entire catalog after Spotify cried foul.

 Her tiff with Spotify hasn't hurt sales of the album, though, as it's on track to sell more than 1.2 million copies in its first week, which already makes it the best-selling album in 2014.

 Tickets for Swift's concert at AT&T Stadium, which will feature Vance Joy and Shawn Mendes as opening acts, officially go on sale Friday, November 14. As usual, though, there are a couple of pre-sale opportunities, as both American Express cardmembers and TaylorSwift.com members can buy tickets starting Friday, November 7.
 Austin-based tech firm plans to revolutionize commercial real estate marketplace 2014-11-04T09:59:00-06:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/11-04-14-austin-based-realmassive-commercial-real-estate-marketplace-expansion/
 RealMassive, a burgeoning tech firm based in Austin looking to change the way commercial real estate transactions take place, has expanded its footprint by officially launching in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and San Francisco.

 It is the first data provider to deliver open access to the commercial real estate marketplace. These five additional cities put RealMassive on track to exceed 2 billion square feet of commercial property coverage by the end of the year.

 The website connects owners, brokers and prospective tenants of commercial real estate to help make the process of buying, selling and renting properties much easier. RealMassive promises that information is accurate and up-to-date in real time.

 They accomplish this through partnerships with leading commercial real estate firms in each market they cover, as well as employing hundreds of researchers all over the country. According to a release, some of the more popular features include hosted real-time market surveys that enable property owners, brokers and tenants to collaborate throughout the search process; real-time notification when spaces come off the market; custom marketing channels; and a service that enables syndication to Twitter and other online channels.

 The listings are broken down into categories such as flex space, industrial, land, medical office, office and retail. Once a city is selected, the results are displayed on an interactive map. Users can click through to get more information about the property — including square footage, price per square foot, year built and renovated, and floor plan — and add the listing to an online portfolio.

 If the website is any indication, the company shows no signs of slowing down: There are 32 other cities listed, although RealMassive does not have a foothold in those markets yet.

 Sites like Zillow and Trulia have done similar work for residential real estate firms and prospective homebuyers, but RealMassive is the first to provide this kind of service for commercial real estate.
 Jake Gyllenhaal is at his creepy best in Nightcrawler 2014-10-31T09:36:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/10-31-14-nightcrawler-movie-review/
 With both of his parents, not to mention his sister, involved in filmmaking, Jake Gyllenhaal has every reason to live off his name and make easy, unremarkable movies. Instead, except for a couple of notable exceptions, Gyllenhaal has proven time and again that he's willing to take on challenging roles in order to elevate both himself and the art form.

 He's at it again in Nightcrawler, in which he gives a performance that should easily earn him a second Oscar nomination. He plays Lou Bloom, a man who's just skating by on the lower end of society. That is, until he discovers the job of freelance videographer: People who troll police radio calls for car wrecks, fires or bloody crimes; film the gory results; and sell the video to local TV stations.

  Gyllenhaal's performance in Nightcrawler should easily earn him a second Oscar nomination.

 Realizing he has a knack for that kind of thing, Lou quickly develops a bond with Nina Romina (Rene Russo), the news director for a low-rated station. But faced with competition from other videographers and an unceasing desire to become something more than he is, Lou soon starts resorting to underhanded means of getting the video he needs.

 There are a number of factors that contribute to the success of Nightcrawler, including the cinematography by Robert Elswit and the score by James Newton Howard. But if ever a film were a one-man show, it is this one, as Gyllenhaal makes the movie his own from minute one.

 Lou gains more and more confidence as the story goes along, and Gyllenhaal's performance gets more and more intense. He speaks in a way that's rushed yet somehow calm, using words — written by writer/director Dan Gilroy — obviously chosen to make Lou seem more educated than he actually is. There are times when Lou is obviously threatening the other person in the conversation, but Gyllenhaal's voice rarely rises to a shouting level, which actually makes him more intimidating.

 Even more impressive is how likable Gyllenhaal makes Lou despite the number of increasingly unlikable things that he does. There is obviously something not quite right with Lou, but you always want things to go well for him, even as he gets closer and closer to truly going over the edge.

 Although there are a couple of other big names in the film, like Russo and Bill Paxton, neither of them can hold a candle to Gyllenhaal. In this respect, Gyllenhaal might actually be masking some of the movie's underlying faults, but he's so good that it's hard to care about any mistakes.

 Some may attempt to parse Nightcrawler and its indictment of local TV news, but I'd rather bask in the greatness that is Gyllenhaal's performance. Like 2013, this is turning into another stellar race for the Best Actor Oscar, and moviegoers are the clear winners.
 Gut-wrenching Whiplash is one of 2014's best films 2014-10-25T14:04:06-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/10-25-14-whiplash-movie-review-best-films-damien-chazelle/
 Jazz is probably not high on many people's lists when it comes to interesting topics for a movie, but in the hands of writer/director Damien Chazelle, it is the impetus for one of the most intense, gut-wrenching and flat-out best films of 2014, Whiplash.

 Miles Teller plays Andrew, a jazz drummer at the prestigious Schaffer Music Conservatory in New York City. He, along with every other student there, hopes to catch the eye of Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), the intimidating and exacting teacher who leads the school's lead jazz band.

  The way Miles Teller attacks the set, combined with key shots of bloodied hands and sweat-drenched drums, will have even audience members gasping for breath.

 But Andrew's dreams soon turn into the stuff of nightmares, as Fletcher, while praising Andrew in private, takes almost every opportunity he can get to degrade him in public, all in an effort to make Andrew the best he can be. Andrew, with an obsession to become one of the all-time jazz greats, can do little but push forward as best he can.

 Chazelle ramps up the suspense of the film with kinetic camera movements that match the rising intensity of the story. The camera zooms in on faces and hands, swoops across the room, and, appropriately, whips back and forth between characters to create an action feeling in an environment where very little action takes place.

 The drum set does contain a lot of action, and the combination of Teller's performance and Chazelle's filmmaking turns his playing into the stuff of legend. There's only so much of the playing that you can fake, and the way Teller attacks the set, combined with key shots of bloodied hands and sweat-drenched drums, will have even audience members gasping for breath.

 But it's the powerful struggle between Andrew and Fletcher, and stellar performances by Teller and Simmons, that make the movie. Teller literally puts his sweat, blood and tears into the role, and he makes you believe that Andrew would do anything to accomplish his goal.

 Simmons' bald head, craggy face and bulging veins are scary enough, but the way he inhabits the punishing Fletcher puts him over the top. Both he and Teller deserve Oscar nominations.

 Whiplash is not the descent into madness that Black Swan was, but it's another brutal and thrilling look at what can happen when people let their obsessions get the better of them.
 Weird and wild Birdman takes the high wire to movie greatness 2014-10-24T14:36:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/10-24-14-birdman-movie-review-atx/
 There are some films that defy classification, ones that don't conform to any preconceived notion of what a film should be despite having much in common with their predecessors. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is such a film.

 Conceived by writer/director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman is many things, but first and foremost it is a deep dive into the mental instability of a once-famous actor, Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton).

  Birdman is a thrill to watch from beginning to end, and Michael Keaton gives perhaps the performance of his career.

 Attempting to reinvent himself 20 years after turning down the opportunity to continue his stint as the comic book hero Birdman, Riggan has decided to write, direct and star in a Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story.

 He is alternately helped and hindered in his quest by his lawyer (Zach Galifianakis), fellow actors (Naomi Watts, Edward Norton and Andrea Riseborough) and his daughter/personal assistant, Sam (Emma Stone).

 The most noticeable of the high-wire elements in Birdman is that the camera and/or its characters are nearly always moving. There are only a handful of instances where cuts in the film are obvious; Iñárritu used long, extended takes and movie magic to make it appear as if practically the entire movie was done in one shot.

 So despite the fact that the movie is dialogue-heavy, it has the feeling of a great action flick, almost never giving the audience a chance to catch its breath. Iñárritu was lucky enough to use the winding backstage passageways of the iconic St. James Theater on Broadway to create a dizzying array of funny and tense situations.

 Also helping matters is a drum-heavy soundtrack by Antonio Sanchez that ramps up at all the right moments, and crisp and ingenious cinematography by Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity) that takes advantage of the claustrophobia-inducing setting.

 The parallels to Keaton himself playing Batman in the early '90s are unavoidable — and one of the key reasons Iñárritu wanted him to play the role — but Birdman is much more than just a callback to Keaton's past. It's a commentary on the perils of fame, the theater world, fandom and more.

 Above all, though, it is thrill to watch from beginning to end. Keaton gives perhaps the performance of his career, embodying a man who is this close to going off the edge so well that you start to worry a bit for his own sanity. Most of the other actors put in great performances as well, especially Galifianakis, Norton and Stone.

 Birdman may not fit neatly into any predefined movie category, but it is that type of film that often stays with you the longest. It is weird, wild and one of the best movies of the year.
 Texas parties for Halloween unlike any other state 2014-10-19T12:00:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/10-18-14-best-halloween-cities-parties/
 With Halloween falling on a Friday this year, many people will be looking to let loose at a great party. Luckily for Texans, several Lone Star cities rank among the best for Halloween bashes, at least according to NerdWallet.

 Now, this list doesn't apply for anyone headed over to a friend's house; opinions on those can and will differ wildly. Rather, NerdWallet, in collaboration with Eventbrite, focused on events that you have to pay to attend, honing in on two factors: How many people have already bought tickets (as of October 8) and the average cost of those tickets.

 Turns out that Texans love a spooky soiree, landing five cities in the top 21 — the most of any state. San Antonio leads the way at No. 3, followed by McAllen at No. 13, Houston at No. 18, Austin at No. 19 and Dallas at No. 21. San Francisco and New York City came in at No. 1 and 2, respectively.

 Of the five Texas cities, you're going to shell out the most to go to a Halloween party in Dallas; tickets average more than $40 per person. Let's hope that includes some awesome amenities, or Dallas partygoers are in for an unexpected fright.

 That's nothing compared to Houston suburb Spring, though, where parties average a whopping $197.32 per person, the second highest in the nation.
 Fury suffers from war fatigue with same old movie tropes 2014-10-18T10:03:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/10-17-14-fury-movie-review-brad-pitt-michael-pena/
 If someone is going to make a movie about World War II, he had better have a strong reason for doing so. Definitive movies about the Holocaust, military conquests and other aspects have already been made, leaving those that follow to pale in comparison.

 That is exactly the quandary in which Fury finds itself. Written and directed by David Ayer (End of Watch, Training Day), it follows one particularly resilient tank crew as they wind their way around Europe.

  No matter how you spin it, the tank crew's journey can't help but feel familiar to anyone who's seen his fair share of WWII movies.

 The grizzled Don Collier (Brad Pitt) leads a crew that includes Boyd Swan (Shia LaBeouf), Trini Garcia (Michael Pena) and Grady Travis (Jon Bernthal), who have served under Collier for a long time. Down a man, they are forced to take on the fresh-faced Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman), who's not even trained for tank combat.

 On one hand, Ayer should be given credit for finding a unique angle for a World War II story. Most war films have focused on the troops on the ground or in the air, but few, if any, have paid tribute to the men inside the tanks.

 As Ayer expertly shows, they faced their own special kind of hell; it took a certain kind of man to not only endure such cramped conditions but also thrive in the relatively cumbersome machine.

 Still, no matter how you spin it, the tank crew's journey can't help but feel familiar to anyone who's seen his fair share of WWII movies. The Spartan conditions, the stopovers in bombed-out villages, the inexperienced soldier getting thrown into the fire, the infighting followed by heroics when the group comes together — all of these and more are classic war movie tropes that feel more like checkmarks on a Ayer's list than inspired storytelling.

 That's not to say the actors don't do their damnedest to sell the story. Pitt, perhaps by virtue of starring in another World War II movie, Inglourious Basterds, shows himself to be a true leader. And although a lot of their dialogue consists of expletives aimed at Nazis, LaBeouf, Pena, Bernthal and Lerman have moments in which they make the story their own.

 If Fury is your first foray into World War II storytelling, it has all the right elements to make for an effective drama. But those elements have been done before — and better — by many previous war films, leaving more experienced moviegoers unsatisfied.
 Internet-obsessed Men, Women & Children will scare parents to death 2014-10-10T09:28:11-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/10-10-14-men-women-children-movie-review-jason-reitman-jennifer-garner/
 The Internet age can often be challenging and confusing, and although some films have touched on aspects of this, no mainstream film has made it the sole focus of the story until Men, Women & Children, the new movie from writer/director Jason Reitman.

 Reitman and co-writer Erin Cressida Wilson, working off the novel by Chad Kultgen, explore the of-the-moment topic through a variety of avenues.

 Don and Helen Truby (Adam Sandler and Rosemarie Dewitt) are struggling in a listless marriage, and Don often resorts to using his son's computer to search for porn. That son, Chris (Travis Tope), finds himself helplessly addicted to Internet porn himself, resulting in the inability to relate to real girls.

  For anyone who's currently a parent of a teenager or younger, there are times the film feels akin to horror.

 Patricia (Jennifer Garner) monitors every single thing her daughter, Brandy (Kaitlyn Dever), does online or on her phone, a militant devotion she says she's doing for Brandy's protection. On the flip side, Donna (Judy Greer) attempts to advance the modeling/acting career of her daughter, Hannah (Olivia Crocicchia), by putting up questionable photos of her on a for-pay website.

 Kent (Dean Norris) finds it impossible to relate to his son, Tim (Ansel Elgort), since Tim quit the football team and devoted most of his time to an online role-playing video game. And Allison (Elena Kampouris) derives her self-worth by chatting with people on a pro-anorexia website.

 All of these characters live together in one Texas town, leading to multiple crossovers between their individual stories. Reitman devotes an equal amount of time to almost every character, ensuring that each of them gets a chance to become fully developed.

 For anyone who's currently a parent of a teenager or younger, there are times the film feels akin to horror. Although Garner's character is obviously an extreme example of the overprotective parent, the amount of information, rumors and innuendo with which kids are bombarded nowadays makes her crusade seem almost understandable.

 On the flip side, the film rarely seems concerned with how adults actually use the Internet. Aside from Garner's character, the few times they're seen interacting with computers or smartphones are fairly pedestrian. It would have been nice to have their storylines be more involved, tech-wise.

 And while the film is definitely current, you can't help but think that, given the speed at which technology moves, the movie won't already be hopelessly dated within a couple of years. Mentioning Facebook and Twitter is probably safe given their ubiquity, but the use of other real website names could lead to regret.

 Ultimately, though, the film is about relationships in this age of seeming disconnectedness. Reitman and Wilson are able to craft a taut drama that makes us care about the fate of almost every single main character, which is no small feat given the number of cast members.

 Men, Women & Children may not have many answers as to how to survive in a time when much of our lives plays out online, but as a time capsule look at how people of all ages relate to each other, it's highly effective.
 Sinister Gone Girl makes for a wicked good time 2014-10-03T15:08:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/10-03-14-gone-girl-movie-review-atx/
 The central mystery in Gone Girl, the new film based on the best-seller written by Gillian Flynn, is one that fits right in with today's media-saturated culture. Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) returns home one day to find his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has disappeared from their house under mysterious circumstances.

 When the police start to investigate, they discover all sorts of clues that seem to point toward Nick's having killed his wife, even though Nick proclaims his innocence at every step. But as days go by with no sign of Amy, Nick starts to be convicted in the court of public opinion, especially after he continues to show little to no outward signs of remorse about her disappearance.

  In addition to being a crackerjack of a thriller, the film also acts as an indictment of mass media and perhaps even the institution of marriage.

 The gloominess and sinister feeling hanging over the film has long been a signature of director David Fincher. And as with films like Fight Club and The Social Network, Fincher, working off a script by Flynn, draws you in even as the main characters do their best to repel you.

 It's clear to see why Affleck was a good choice to play Nick, as he has a face and demeanor that seem to ooze both affability and animosity at the same time. We the audience desperately want to believe him because he is the protagonist, but as time goes on, it gets more and more difficult to do so, a duality that Affleck plays to near perfection.

 If you've read the book, you know that there is no talking about the second half of the film as it contains one whopper of a twist that essentially resets the entire narrative. What can be said is that the first half, which contains occasional flashbacks to Nick and Amy's happier days, narrated by Amy reading her diary entries, is the ideal setup for what transpires later. Whether you know the twist, can guess it or have no idea, it's a highly interesting and effective premise for a mystery such as this.

 In addition to being a crackerjack of a thriller, the film also acts as an indictment of mass media and perhaps even the institution of marriage. A Nancy Grace-like figure pops up at various points, jumping on even the smallest of morsels and blowing them up until Nick can't help but appear guilty as hell. And even though the film is obviously only about one couple's relationship, the level of toxicity detailed between Nick and Amy can't be easily shaken.

 In addition to Affleck's great performance, Pike is also memorable as Amy. Her breathy, haughty delivery of her lines makes Amy a bit of standoffish enigma, even as we should be worrying about her character's fate.

 Also giving the film some punch are Carrie Coon as Nick's twin sister, Kim Dickens and Patrick Fugit as the investigating police officers, Neil Patrick Harris as one of Amy's old boyfriends, and Tyler Perry as Nick's slick attorney.

 Fans of the book should be thanking their lucky stars that Fincher decided to take on Gone Girl, as only he could do justice to the wicked creepiness that pervades Flynn's story. For both first-timers and Flynn devotees, it's a hell of a ride.
 Neil Diamond says "Hello Again" to Austin with first concert tour in six years 2014-09-30T12:53:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/09-30-14-neil-diamond-says-hello-again-to-austin-concert/
 It's been six long years, but music icon Neil Diamond is finally going out on tour again in 2015, including a stop at the Frank Erwin Center on April 19.

 The Neil Diamond Tour 2015 will visit 30 cities across North America, starting in Allentown, Pennsylvania on February 27. In addition to Austin, Diamond will make two other stops in Texas: Houston on May 26 and Dallas on May 28.

 Diamond is touring in support of his first new album in four years, Melody Road, which will be released on October 21. Melody Road is also his first album of all-new material since 2008's Home Before Dark, which was the first No. 1 album of his career.

 The tour will, naturally, feature songs from Melody Road, along with the favorites you know and love, like "Sweet Caroline," "Cracklin' Rosie," "I'm a Believer," "Love on the Rocks" and more.

 Tickets for the Austin show are not yet available.
 Even Denzel Washington can't rescue The Equalizer from cheesy thriller fate 2014-09-26T09:29:27-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/09-26-14-the-equalizer-denzel-washington-antonine-fuqua-movie-review-atx/
 Denzel Washington has taken a long and winding road to becoming an action star. He nearly started out as a perennial Oscar contender in the 1980s, and it wasn't until 2001's Training Day — for which, ironically, he won an Oscar — that he decided that playing with guns on a consistent basis might be good for his career.

 His latest crowd-pleaser role is in The Equalizer, in which he plays the mysterious Robert McCall. By day, he's a mild-mannered employee at a Home Depot-like store, but haunted by memories of a vague past, he finds himself unable to sleep, choosing instead to frequent a 24-hour diner every night.

  It's still satisfying to see Washington stick it to the bad guys, but only in the way that a candy bar momentarily sates your hunger.

 It's there that he befriends Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), a prostitute who dreams of better things but can't escape the Russian mob that pimps her out. When she takes one beating too many, Robert decides to use some hidden skills to try to get her out, a decision that sets in motion a violent cat-and-mouse game between him and some seriously pissed-off Russians.

 Despite containing a lot of lowbrow elements, there's a lot to like about The Equalizer. First of all, director Antoine Fuqua, teaming with Washington for the first time since Training Day, gives the story a lot of time to breathe, letting us really get to know the characters before getting down to the business at hand.

 Also, keeping Robert's history vague for most of the film gives a little more oomph to the action scenes. Is he able to do the things he does purely out of a sense of right and wrong, or does he actually have the type of training necessary to take out a roomful of men while barely getting a scratch himself?

 Unfortunately, the film can't maintain its early momentum, and by the time the final act rolls around, it's devolved into your standard cheesy thriller. It's still satisfying to see Washington stick it to the bad guys, but only in the way that a candy bar momentarily sates your hunger before you realize it contains almost nothing that's good for you.

 Still, Washington knows how to make this kind of role his own. His Oscar-laden background lends a certain cachet to everything he does, even if the surrounding story doesn't match up to his talent.

 Moretz is fine in what turns out to be a surprisingly limited role, and Marton Csokas is suitably chilling as the Russian mob's enforcer. But aside from late movie appearances by Bill Pullman and Melissa Leo, almost no one else makes any kind of impression.

 Although Washington has the chops to make The Equalizer into a decently entertaining film, it sure would be nice if he didn't feel the need to keep proving himself as an action hero at an age when others have turned to the type of roles that originally made him a star.
 Benedict Cumberbatch movie leads Lone Star Film Festival 2014 lineup 2014-09-21T16:17:06-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/09-22-14-lone-star-film-festival-lineup-benedict-cumberbatch/
 The Lone Star Film Festival has released the first eight films for its 2014 edition, taking place at Fort Worth's Sundance Square on November 6-9, with movies featuring actor Benedict Cumberbatch and director Mike Leigh leading the way.

 The Imitation Game, starring Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the genius British scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win World War II, is the most high-profile film of the eight. It recently won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Cumberbatch is among the early leaders to secure an Oscar nomination for his work.

 Leigh, known for films like Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake and Happy-Go-Lucky, will bring his latest, Mr. Turner, to the festival. It chronicles the last 25 years of artist J.M.W. Turner's life, during which his famously eccentric personality only grew. Leigh's last film, Another Year, showed at the 2010 Lone Star Film Festival.

 The festival had previously announced that artist-director Julian Schnabel will receive the Achievement in Film Directing Award. Three of his films — Basquiat, Before Night Falls, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly — will be shown as part of the festivities.

 Texas Monthly film critic Christopher Kelly will present his annual Modern Cinema event as part of the festival. Seven films, including some of the ones just announced, will be part of the series running at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

 Other films in this initial batch include Winter Sleep, the Palme d'Or winner at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival; X/Y, a character drama directed by Ryan Piers Williams and starring Williams, America Ferrera, Melonie Diaz, Common and Jon Paul Phillips; The Great Invisible, a documentary about the fallout from the Deepwater Horizon oil leak; The Roughnecks, a documentary about a Fort Worth Pee-Wee football team's quest for a championship; and a retrospective screening of George Lucas' classic 1973 film, American Graffiti, featuring an appearance by Candy Clark, who earned an Oscar nomination for her role in the film.

 The full Lone Star Film Festival lineup will be released in early October. Discounted early bird passes are now on sale through lonestarfilmfestival.com, with the prices increasing when individual tickets are released along with the full lineup.
 This Is Where I Leave You charms with all-star cast 2014-09-20T10:00:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/09-20-14-this-is-where-i-leave-you-movie-review-jason-bateman-tina-fey/
 Since his career revival as the lead in the TV show Arrested Development, Jason Bateman has played many roles that have traded upon his essential goodness. While others commit crimes, moral or actual, Bateman's characters usually stay on the straight and narrow, making him relatable if a bit bland.

 He's at it again in This Is Where I Leave You, playing Judd Altman, who returns to his hometown following his father's death. It's also shortly after he discovered his wife (Abigail Spencer) cheated on him, lending extra drama to his reunion with his three siblings (Tina Fey, Corey Stoll and Adam Driver) and his now-widowed mother (Jane Fonda).

  Despite the story missteps, it's still fun to see this group of actors together.

 With the father's dying request for the five of them to sit Shiva, despite their not being Jewish, the family is forced to be in proximity to each other for seven days. Each family member's various issues, foibles and screw-ups come to the fore quickly, testing the bonds of the family.

 By any measure, there is a lot going on in this movie. Each person has a significant other who's putting some kind of pressure on him or her. The return to their hometown also brings up memories from the past for several people, leading to unforeseen complications and more than a couple poor choices.

 Screenwriter Jonathan Tropper adapted his own book, and it's obvious that he and director Shawn Levy were determined to include almost everything that made the book so popular. Unfortunately, because of all the plots and subplots, it's nearly impossible to adequately pay off every one of the storylines.

 In book form, Tropper could take his time with all the characters, allowing them to become fully formed. In a 103-minute film, it's almost inevitable that some stories will feel forced, which not only gives them short shrift but also downgrades the elements that actually work.

 Tropper and Levy would have been wise to cut down or excise a few subplots, including Driver's relationship with his ex-therapist (Connie Britton) and Fey's pining for her high school boyfriend (Timothy Olyphant), who now lives a sad life following a brain injury.

 Despite the story missteps, though, it's still fun to see this group of actors together. Bateman, who appears in almost every scene, is the glue that keeps everything together. He interacts with almost every other character at one point or another, and his even-keeled nature keeps the film grounded when it threatens to be over the top.

 This Is Where I Leave You suffers from the "too much" syndrome that usually only affects superhero movies, but the quality of its actors and the winning nature of its prime storylines make it a worthy venture in the end.
 Rangers manager on reason for shocking resignation: 'I was not true to my wife' 2014-09-19T11:55:16-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/sports/09-19-14-manager-ron-washington-texas-rangers-resignation-reason-affair/
 Former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington broke his silence on the reason behind his sudden resignation on September 5, indicating that he had an affair and that he needed to recommit to his relationship with his wife.

 Here is Washington's statement in its entirety:

 When you respect baseball, baseball respects you. I made a mistake, and I'm embarrassed more than I've ever been in my life. I don't run when I make a mistake. 'When you put yourself in situations, you own it.' Those are the types of things my wife would always say to me.

 I was not true to my wife after 42 years. I broke her trust. I'm here today to own that mistake and to apologize to her and those I disappointed, and those who have trusted in me, and I let them down.

 When I was 22 years old, I went to Mexico and a lot of things started making sense to me about the game of baseball. I began to figure it out. I was able to see things that maybe other people weren't able to see. And I remember calling my wife and letting her know that, 'I feel like I have arrived' and I had figured this game out. In reality, you never figure the game out. But I did tell her to quit her job.

 It was a really proud moment for me, and something I'll always remember, and she's always stood by me. Today I'm at a very low time in my life. I'm sorry for breaking the trust that I had with my wife, and for disappointing my players, for disappointing my coaches, for disappointing Major League Baseball, and for disappointing the Texas Rangers.

 All I ask is for your forgiveness and your understanding. I also ask that you respect our privacy as we go on with our lives. This matter is certainly personal and we're trying hard to put it behind us.

 I was born to be a baseball player – I'm a baseball lifer. The Rangers gave me a home and I'm thankful for that. And I'm also thankful for the experience, to have the opportunity, to manage here in Texas. I look to the future and getting back in the game and continuing my career.

 I wanted to give a final thanks to the fans, Texas Rangers fans. You've been good to me and I will miss the Metroplex, and I will miss you.

 The Rangers have made a bit of a resurgence since Washington's departure, going 6-5 under interim manager Tim Bogar, including a current five-game winning streak. They're playing the role of spoiler this September, sweeping the Atlanta Braves and taking the first two of a three-game series against the Oakland A's.
 Tusk proves Kevin Smith should stick to comedy 2014-09-19T09:21:13-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/09-19-14-tusk-movie-review/
 A good horror comedy has to strike the right balance between two seemingly disparate genres. It needs enough horror to please aficionados, but it also requires the right amount of comedy to draw in more squeamish viewers.

 Try as he might, writer/director Kevin Smith can never find that equilibrium in Tusk. Borne out of an episode of Smith's Smodcast, the film follows Wallace (Justin Long), who runs the outrageous podcast The Not-See Party with his friend, Teddy (Haley Joel Osment).

 The podcast thrives on Wallace's talking with weird people and reporting back to Teddy, a duty that now takes him to Canada.

  Smith reveals too much too soon, and then finds himself with virtually nowhere to go.

 When his initial interview falls through, Wallace happens upon an intriguing flyer from Howard Howe (Michael Parks) promising great stories. His fateful decision to try and interview Howe leads to some truly strange stuff, much more so than anything he had previously encountered.

 Smith, as he always has been throughout his career, is most effective when focusing on the comedy side of things. Whether it's Wallace's smug and condescending attitude, potshots at Canada or an over-the-top late movie appearance by a very famous actor in disguise, he hits on 90 percent of his jokes.

 But when it comes to the horror part, he just doesn't seem to know how to make it effective. Granted, what Wallace endures at the hands of Howe is ghastly and not something you'd wish on your worst enemy, but Smith reveals too much too soon, and then finds himself with virtually nowhere to go.

 As a result, the last third of the film, which should be the funniest and most intense section for this type of movie, is essentially inert. A rescue mission by Teddy, Wallace's girlfriend Ally (Genesis Rodriguez) and a Canadian detective played by that very famous actor has no urgency to it because we, the audience, know much more than those doing the rescuing.

 Although each of the actors has individual enjoyable moments, none of them truly stands out. Wallace is supposed to be a jerk, but Long can't quite pull it off. We don't spend enough time with Teddy to get a true read on who he is, so Osment is kind of left in the lurch. And Parks is more sad and odd than menacing as Howard, despite the atrocities his character commits.

 The idea behind Tusk and the actual execution of it are two entirely different things. It's far from a disaster, but Smith should probably stick with comedy and leave horror to others.
 Maze Runner stars explain why this movie is no Hunger Games lite 2014-09-17T12:42:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/09-17-14-maze-runner-movie-hunger-games-lite/
 If you didn't know any better, you might dismiss The Maze Runner as yet another book-to-film adaptation set in a future dystopian world. But that would be a mistake.

 The story uses a unique setting to build its own brand of drama and suspense, making it measure up favorably to any of its forebears.

 Actors Will Poulter, Dylan O'Brien and Kaya Scodelario sat down with us in advance of the film's opening on Friday, September 19. The stars discuss why the film isn't just riding the coattails of The Hunger Games, what it was like for Scodelario as the only woman on a male-dominated set, and why they would be okay if this was the only film in the series to be made.
 Frontera's first-rate acting makes up for predictable storyline 2014-09-13T12:04:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/09-13-14-frontera-movie-review-itunes/
 There are few new ideas in filmmaking these days, so a movie is often judged not by its originality but by how well it executes a familiar story. That's certainly the case with Frontera, a film that treads familiar terrain with varying degrees of bluntness.

 Illegal immigration is the impetus for the story, which finds Miguel (Michael Peña) and a friend crossing the Mexican border into Arizona looking for work. They happen to do so on land owned by Roy (Ed Harris), a former sheriff, and his wife, Olivia (Amy Madigan).

  All involved play their roles effectively, making the film a pleasurable, if predictable, experience.

 When Olivia comes across the two while riding her horse, she shows them kindness. But some boys try to scare the Mexicans by shooting at them, which spooks the horse, causing Olivia to fall and be killed. The rest of the film plays out alternately as a police procedural and as a commentary on the state of immigration in this country.

 First-time writer/director Michael Berry does a good job of moving the story forward by spreading out the film evenly between all the involved characters. Everyone's reactions feel honest, with little overacting or storytelling manipulation.

 The problem is that nothing that happens after Olivia gets killed is surprising. Berry and co-writer Louis Moulinet assign each character an easily identifiable goodness or badness, ensuring no real twists happen along the way. Every person's conscience — or lack thereof — dictates exactly what direction the story goes.

 Still, all involved play their roles effectively, making the film a pleasurable, if predictable, experience. Harris has the grizzled cowboy look down pat, and his stoic demeanor serves his character well. Peña has a one-note role, but his open and expressive face ensures that his character never comes across as boring.

 The surprise for many will be the performance of Eva Longoria as Miguel's wife, Paulina. Eschewing makeup and speaking entirely in Spanish, she's almost unrecognizable. Whether or not her character was needed is one thing, but Longoria makes her a presence regardless.

 Frontera doesn't make a big statement about illegal immigration, and the solving of its central crime is purely by the numbers. But first-rate acting keeps the film interesting enough to forgive the film's faults.

 ---

 Frontera is available on iTunes.
 How to get every discount imaginable for State Fair of Texas 2014 2014-09-07T10:00:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/09-07-14-state-fair-texas-discount-cheap-tickets-midway-rides-atx/
 The 2014 State Fair of Texas starts its 24-day run at Fair Park on Friday, September 26. Smart fairgoers are on the hunt for any discounts or deals they can find to save a little cash.

 Luckily there is no shortage of bargains to be had. Below are the myriad ways in which you can save money on State Fair of Texas tickets, which normally run $17 for general admission and $13 for seniors and kids under 48 inches tall.

 Buy your tickets in advance
 The easiest way to get discounts is at BigTex.com, as buying in advance saves you $2 for general admission and $1 for seniors and kids. But because you can't print tickets at home or have them reserved at will call, the $8.95 you have to pay for shipping throws the discount part of it out the window unless you're buying five or more tickets.

 You can also save a little by buying advance tickets at your local Kroger. General admission tickets there cost $15.50, but no senior or children discounts are available. Keep in mind that kids 2 and under do not require a ticket.

 Season passes
 If you're planning on going to the State Fair three times or more, you owe it to yourself to buy a season pass. For only $39.95, you can romp around Fair Park as much as you like. The pass comes with a one-day-only guest ticket and a free ride on the Texas SkyWay and the Top o' Texas Tower during special season pass holder events. Buying at Kroger saves you $5, as the pass is only $34.95 there.

 North Texas Food Bank deals
 Once again, there are multiple opportunities for you to get a discount while doing some good. Anyone who brings in a full 20-ounce Dasani water or Coca-Cola product on opening day gets in for $6. No cheating: Every person in your group must have a bottle to get the discount.

 For an even better deal, every person who brings in at least three cans of food on Wednesdays gets in for $3. All food and drinks will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank.

 Senior deals
 Seniors 60 and over have it made in the shade — or the sun, more likely — as they can get into the fair for $4 off every single day. Even better, every Thursday — October 2, 9 and 16 — is Senior Day, meaning those lucky ducks get in for free.

 Group tickets
 This isn't an option for everyone, but if you're bringing a big group, you can rack up the savings. Groups of 20 or more get adult tickets for $13.50 each; $11 for seniors and kids. If your group is between 100-249 people, that price drops to $12 and $10. And if you're bringing a whopping 250 or more, it's only $11 and $9, respectively.

 McDonald's coupons
 The next time you eat at Mickey D's, make sure to check your tray liner or bag for State Fair coupons. You'll find ones for $3 off general admission any day, and ones that offer a $7 discount for kids when an adult pays full price.

 Dr Pepper deals
 Don't recycle those empty Dr Pepper cans. Save 'em up, as every person with one gets $5 admission on Tuesdays or $8 after 5 pm any day of the week.

 Coca-Cola Thursdays
 Coca-Cola repeats its opening-day deal every Thursday, except this one gives you a $6 admission price for any empty 20-ounce bottle.

 KISS-FM Fridays
 You can get $5 off general admission on Fridays simply by going to the KISS-FM website and printing a coupon for every member of your group. Discount does not apply to senior or children's tickets.

 Discount on Midway rides
 Tuesdays seem to be the day to go, as you can get your $5 Dr Pepper ticket and then save more inside, where all rides except for thrill rides and the Texas Star are only six coupons. Because that gives you a savings of anywhere from $1-$3 per ride, that may be the best deal of all.
 Frank's strange, meandering storyline tests audience's patience 2014-08-31T14:08:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/08-31-14-frank-movie-review-meandering-storyline/
 There are "normal" mainstream films. There are strange, artsy films. And then there is Frank, a film that lies somewhere in between — though where exactly that is will depend on your perspective.

 At its center is Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), a young British man who dreams of musical stardom despite possessing only a modicum of talent. When he comes upon an American band with an unpronounceable name that finds itself without a keyboard player, he jumps at the chance to be part of something bigger than himself.

  The film has potential early on, but it takes its sweet time getting to any kind of point.

 However, what that is isn't entirely clear, as each of the band members seems to be at least a little bit "off," especially the lead singer, Frank (Michael Fassbender), who wears a giant fake head at all times. Jon follows them down their particular rabbit hole to a songwriting retreat, a journey that will test his — and the audience's — patience.

 It's difficult to know what to make of the purpose of the film. Having a man with a giant fake head as one of your main characters seems to promise all sorts of absurd possibilities, but director Lenny Abrahamson and writers Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan never really go down that road. The head is not unacknowledged, of course, but it's also never made to be anything more than a slightly strange character quirk.

 It's the band's music that's truly odd, as one might guess from a group willing to employ Frank as their leader. They seem unable to complete a full song, possibly because everything they play is discordant and irritating.

 The film has potential early on, but it takes its sweet time getting to any kind of point, making the 95-minute film feel much longer. Jon's quest for musical enlightenment might have been more palatable had his reasons for sticking with the band far past most people's breaking points been clearer.

 Gleeson, who was delightful in 2013's About Time, still manages to make the most out of his role. He has a quality that keeps Jon relatable even when he really shouldn't be. Fassbender's commitment to his role is admirable, but Frank ends up being much less interesting than he's made out to be.

 Other well-known actors like Maggie Gyllenhaal and Scoot McNairy give good performances in supporting roles, but they're not enough to raise the level of the movie overall.

 Frank is not a bad film, but its peculiarities are neither all that intriguing nor all that bizarre to make it a completely watchable experience.
 The Discoverers puts quirky spin on family road trip movie 2014-08-30T10:16:47-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/08-29-14-discoverers-movie-review-lewis-clark-film/
 Awkward road trips involving dysfunctional families seem to be the theme of every other independent film, but that doesn't mean that there isn't room for another good one. All you need is smart writing and solid actors committed to the cause.

 Both are in abundance in The Discoverers, a film that takes interest in the journey of Lewis and Clark to the extreme. Lewis Birch (Griffin Dunne) is a college professor who is about to publish a book on a little-known key figure from that historical trek.

 His plans to take a road trip with his two kids, Zoe and Jack (Madeleine Martin and Devon Graye), are derailed when his mom dies and he's forced to care for his senile father (Stuart Margolin) for a few days. But even that is short-lived, as his dad escapes to a nearby reenactment of Lewis and Clark's journey, an adventure they're forced to join in order to lure him back to reality.

  First-time director Justin Schwarz hits the sweet spot with kids who can both roll their eyes at their dad's advice but also admire him.

 The premise sounds patently silly in synopsis form, but as it plays out on screen, it's a heartfelt, genuine look at the inescapable nature of families. Although Lewis is estranged from his parents, the fact that he has dedicated a good portion of his life to documenting a part of something that means so much to them shows their influence on him.

 Similarly, Zoe and Jack appear to have a good amount of respect for their dad even though they're living out the strange and confusing life of kids with divorced parents.

 First-time writer/director Justin Schwarz manages to hit the sweet spot of late teens/early 20s kids who can both roll their eyes at their dad's advice but also admire his dedication to their well-being.

 Schwarz also does well in his depiction of the Lewis and Clark re-enactors. He lightly mocks the ridiculousness of their pursuit, which includes dressing in period garb and using era-appropriate language, but also respects the individuals who choose to participate. Lewis, Zoe and Jack never act like they're above any of the people in the camp, a key distinction in making the story work.

 Dunne is one of those "that guy" actors, someone who elevates everything he's in despite his less-than-superstar status. Here, he makes Lewis walk a fine line between likable and unlikable with his honest performance. Although Lewis is far from perfect, Dunne keeps him appealing by never overplaying any of his crucial moments.

 Martin uses the same disaffected demeanor she did on Californication, but she makes it work for this character. Margolin, David Rasche, Dreama Walker and Cara Buono all help keep the story strong with their performances as well.

 It's unlikely many moviegoers will be all that interested in the particulars of Lewis and Clark, but The Discoverers keeps the history alive with a sweet, affecting story about the power of family.
 Star and director remain playfully cryptic about mysterious The One I Love 2014-08-29T12:00:00-05:00 Alex Bentley http://austin.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/08-29-14-mark-duplass-charlie-mcdowell-the-one-i-love-movie-interview/
 If you think all romantic comedies are the same, you'd be wise to check out The One I Love, which is now available on iTunes. It centers around Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elisabeth Moss), a married couple who go on a retreat to try and revitalize their relationship.

 But what happens when they get there is beyond their wildest imagination, a plot twist that deserves to remain unspoiled for anyone who hasn't seen the film. Suffice it to say that what the two of them experience has a profound effect on how they look at each other and their marriage.

 Duplass, who also served as executive producer, and first-time director Charlie McDowell sat down for an interview with CultureMap to discuss the mysterious nature of the film, the experience of two filmmakers working together and whether either of them could give up bacon — an idea that comes up in the film.


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You can't tell me that Ray Romano and new Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle don't look alike:
You can't tell me that Ray Romano and new Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle don't look alike:
Good because Milan Lucic plays more like Patricia Heaton every week.
Bruins president Cam Neely said that defenseman Zdeno Chara is moving in the right direction in terms of making it back from a tear in ... Read More
Brad Marchand/By S. Bradley Bruins forward Brad Marchand will not travel with the team to Columbus for their game against the Blue Jackets on Friday, ... Read More
Marchand/By S. Bradley Bruins forward Brad Marchand (undisclosed) and defenseman Dougie Hamilton (flu) returned to practice at TD Garden on Thursday. Neither player practiced Wednesday. With the ... Read More
The Bruins practiced Wednesday at TD Garden without the services of forward Brad Marchand and defensemen Adam McQuaid and Dougie Hamilton. Marchand didn't play Tuesday night ... Read More
WILMINGTON --As a kid growing up and playing hockey in Southern California, Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller was always on the lookout for a role model. One ... Read More


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This great custom product in spider baby blue from our department Men and T-Shirt category can be printed just for you in the size and style you like. The design Floral Peace Sign was created by inspirationz and uploaded to Spreadshirt for you to have printed on a T-Shirt. Next to a host of other great customized designs, you can find this Floral Peace Sign design in Spreadshirt's Symbols category. If you are interested in topics like Peace Sign or floral, then you'll love Floral Peace Sign designs by inspirationz. Spreadshirt also offers a huge selection of custom t-shirts, hoodies and accessories for the category Symbols as well as top flower clothing. inspirationz's designs have already impressed many of our customers, so we are sure that we've got right stuff for you! Spreadshirt is your destination for great designs of all kinds – whether it's Peace Sign, floral or flower. We are sure that you will find something nice in our shop, there are many amazing custom Symbols t-shirts, hoodies, or accessories for you to find! Tags: Design ID: 12120859
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This basic tie dye t-shirt has a relaxed and classic fit. The seamless rib collar with double-needle cover-stitching, shoulder to shoulder taping, double-needle sleeve and bottom hem make it a durable wear. Ladies, if you are looking for a more fitted look, please order a size down. Made from 100% cotton with a fabric weight of 5.5 oz.
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Click Here for Articles About 48 HOURS
VIDEO: Sneak Peek - 'Shattered Dreams' Episode of CBS's 48 HOURS
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On the next 48 Hours on CBS, would a husband drug his kids so they wouldn't hear him kill his wife? The 'Shattered Dreams' episode 'airs SATURDAY, JAN. 5, 10:00 PM, ET/PT. Get a sneak peek below!
From the outside, David and Karina Ditto seemed to have the perfect marriage. They met in 1993 while he was on a college vacation in Mexico. They fell in love. She moved to the United States to be with him, where they married, had kids, and created what seemed like a dream life.
Behind the facade, however, it was believed they had crumbling marriage fraught with problems most outsiders knew nothing about. The dream life was shattered in March 2011, when David frantically called 9-1-1 saying his wife had fallen down a flight of stairs and slammed her head on a tile floor. The first emergency medical responders on the scene found Karina's bloodied, lifeless body. She died two days later. The investigation into her death would reveal a life of extreme emotional and control abuse allegedly inflicted on Karina by the man of her dreams.
First responders were immediately suspicious of David's version of what happened because of the extent of Karina's injuries and where her body landed from the alleged fall. He also maintained he attempted CPR, though first responders didn't believe him. "She had so much blood on her face that if he had put his mouth over her mouth, he would have had her blood on his face," first responder Lisa Challender says.
David Ditto repeatedly told police that night that Karina's injuries were because of the fall, nothing else. "I heard the cat screech at the top of the stairs and I heard a horrible falling down the stairs," he tells 48 Hours Correspondent Maureen Maher in "Shattered Dreams" to be broadcast Jan. 5, 2012 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. "And I jumped up and ran over, and found Karina laying at the foot of the stairs. She wasn't moving - wasn't talking."
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- Watch Full Episode of Miranda Sings! on COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE


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Heaven Hill Farm Llc, Vernon TownshipSanta visits the Farm!
Warwick sports outdoors events
Tuesday, Dec 2 12:00p
Holiday Open House
Thursday, Dec 4 10:00a
Visual Mapping Weekend Workshop/Retreat
Monday, Dec 15 5:30p
Ananda Ashram, MonroeImprove your mind-body link via learning, meditation, healthy diet, exercise, and social interaction...
Holiday Train Rides
Saturday, Nov 29 12:00p
Heaven Hill Farm Llc, Vernon TownshipFreeJoin us for this festive celebration!
Mahwah, NJ | Grant Writing USA Class
Monday, Jan 12 9:00a
Mahwah, NJ | Grant Management Class
Thursday, Mar 19 9:00a
Beary Merry Holiday Party
Saturday, Dec 20 10:30a
Trailside Museums and Zoo, Bear Mountain State Park, Bear MountainCelebrate the Holiday Season by joining in the Beary Merry Holiday Party. At 10:30 am, arrive at the Bear Den. Make tasty snacks for the black bears...
Monster Mini Golf to Host Pajama Party to Raise Awareness for the Pajama Program
Thursday, Dec 18 6:00p
Monster Mini Golf, NanuetMonster Mini Golf, located on Route 304 in Nanuet, will host a cozy winter Pajama Party on December 18th from 6 – 9pm to raise awareness and donations for the Hudson Valley Chapter of The Pajama Pr...
Mindful Schools Year-Long Certification Program (East Coast 2015-16)
Friday, Aug 7 4:00p
Garrison Institute, GarrisonPlease visit our full description at: http://www.mindfulschools.org/training/mindful-schools-certification/
MW Hockey Alumni Game
Sunday, Jan 4 7:00p
Ice Time Sports Complex, NewburghAll MW Alumni Hockey Players Invited. 2 Age Divisions (Graduation Years will be determined when player list is complete.) Price includes Jersey and Referees...
Rockland Audubon Society: A Panamanian Canopy Adventure
Friday, Dec 5 7:00p
Congers Lake Memorial Park, CongersAlan Wells, birding enthusiast and photographer, will share images and stories of spectacular sightings from a trip he and his wife, Della, recently took to Central America.
Helen Hayes Hospital 2015 Classic 10K Race, Fun Run & Family Day
Sunday, Oct 4 9:00a
Helen Hayes Hospital, West HaverstrawThe Helen Hayes Hospital Classic 10K Race brings together runners, wheelchair racers & handcyclists of all abilities to compete on the same challenging race course through North Rockland...
MW Varsity Hockey Coach B Retirement Dinner
Saturday, Jan 3 7:30p
Ice Time Sports Complex, NewburghCelebrate the presentation of the 2007 MW State Championship Banner before the MW Varsity Game at 6:45...
Your First Mud Run
Sunday, May 3 1:00p
Camp Veritans, HaledonYour First Mud Run is the ONLY mud run in the country designed so both parents and kids can run together. Our courses are 1...
Public Program
Tuesday, Dec 30 11:00a
Delaware Valley Raptor Center, MilfordLarchmont Public Library, Larchmont, NY. For information, call (914) 834-2281 or see the website.
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VTHS Class of 2004 Reunion!
Sat 11/29 7:30p
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25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
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Lafayette Theater Christmas Spectacular
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Dr. Mark D. Harris, MD
Rheumatology, Carolina Arthritis Associates
- 1710 S 17th St
Wilmington, NC 28401
- 1 Office Location
- (910) 762-1182
Dr. Mark D. Harris has been practicing medicine for 22 years. Dr. Harris graduated from the Tufts University School of Medicine in 1992. He practices medicine in Wilmington, NC and specializes in Rheumatology.
Gender: Male
Years in Practice: 22 Years
Languages Spoken: English
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Graduation Date: 1992
Hospital Affiliations: Not Available
Specialties: Rheumatology