Mr. Candy man can... and he did.

Skittles.

They're tiny. They're round. And now they're chocolate?

chicka- whaa?

For real?

yes.

I couldn't believe it myself. Though its not completely on topic here, I think it is arguable that the creation of such an object is one of culinary and confectionary artistry. Naturally, I was positively floored with curiousity.

They're skittles... but they're chocolate... but are they made of chocolate?... but skittle? ... Squishy M&Ms ...?

These I needed to try.

So i embarked on an endless (and friutless) hunt for the little devils. Drug store after drug store, cashier after cashier, I left empty handed, with disbelieving employees giggling behind my back. I was nearly at the quitting point. Surely I had been fooled.

But hark! Weeks into my search, I received a phone call from my sister who is touring New England in search of colleges. At a ramshackle snack stand in "the middle of ishkabibble, nowhere" she had finally found the little brown skittles package which was the container for the beautiful creatures. Finally it was the moment I had been waiting for. The moment of truth.

As soon as I got my hands on the little thing, I savagely tore through the wrapper, however paid special care as to not destroy it completely so i could save it as evidence of Chocolate Skittle existence.

They came in different flavors. Vanilla, S'mores, Chocolate Pudding, Brownie Batter, and i believe there was another.

The first one I tried was the chocolate pudding. I placed it on my tongue and much to my surprise, it was not made of chocolate, and was in fact, of skittle consistency. But it tasted JUST LIKE chocolate pudding!!!

I tried every one. I'm still out on my decision to say that they were anything more than interesting. I honestly couldn't say whether or not they were pleasant or unpleasant. I definietly think that they're too confusing to gain much popularity though. Especially when the only place you can buy them is "ishkabibble."

Teen Arts

The Monmouth County Teen Arts fesival was held on Monday, with a student festival that took place on Tuesday. Students from Wall attended the festival and displayed visual art peices as well as performances from students in the beginning guitar program.

Workshops were held throughout the Brookdale campus for students. I didn't go, but I heard it was tonsss of funnnn.

From Wall, six peices were selected as winners that will move on to a state level showcase. yay!

A fierce victory

Last Wednesday night at 11pm marked the end of yet another stitching season of Bravo TV's Project Runway. This year's group had to have been far the fiercest competition yet.


I never could have told you who was going to win. I could have speculated in the beginning, picked out my bet, and even if they won every challenge of the competition i probably still would have been wrong in the end. I think that's why so many people watch Bravo's competition shows.

Recap to prove: First there was underdog Jay McCarrol coming out over super-star Kara Saun, and the malitious momma who was Wendy Pepper a la season 1. Then there was Chloe Dao, the boring (in my oppinon) pattern maker win over the eccentric Santino Rice and cutting edge newbie Daniel Vosovic - that no one expected in season 2. And season 3 was host to four finalists from witch the judges (Victoria's Secret supermodel Heidi Klum, Elle Magazine fashion director Nina Garcia, and legendary designer Michael Kors) chose the rebelious Jeffery Sebilia out of the pool to win over German gone Miami beach Uli Herzner, chic hip-hopper Michael Knight, and New York City's own red-headed baby-boomer Laura Bennet. When it comes to the winners there really is no pattern.

This season, the final three contestants left to present their very own 12-peice collection at the prestigious Bryant Park tents at New York fashion week were Jillian Lewis, Rami Kashou, and winner, Christian Siriano.

Why it was collectively, AWESOME:
1. Posh Spice was a judge.
2. Christian won.
3. All of the collections were actually good.
4. Rami did NOT win.
5. Tim Gunn announced he is running for office in the 2008 election. (I wish)

In sum, Project Runway is a good show, and it ended well.

indie, defined.

Independent. Differnt. Straying from "the norm."
These are all words people think of when they hear about "indie music" or "indie films."
Some people get it. Some people are offended by the use of it.
But what does the word "indie" actually mean?

Urban Dictionary quotes: "The term: Short for independent rock. In terms of music it would be independent of major labels/mainstream stuff."

Scrolling down the definitions, I see alot of almost rants, like this one, that are particularly tied to indie music, explaining it as something of a sub-genra of alternative rock and examples of bands are given. All the bands listed have a similar type of sound. Can hip hop music not be indie then?Can not jazz? or even pop?

Even indie movies have the connotation of being ones that no one has seen, and have a "trippy" quality to them that give them a particular flavor. But do all indie movies really have to involve some type of drugs? Does the main character always have to be depressed? Do all indie films need to be shot in the heart of Sarcasticteenagerville?

In reality, the term indie means neither of these connotations. When something is categorized as being indie, (i stress not characterized) it means quite simply that the product was created by an independant process, on grounds from an independent idea. It doesn't matter in terms of where you see it or hear it, or what it looks like or sounds like at all. The term can not (and should not) be removed by any amount of popularity or success either. There are no standards of the product itself in its quality, presentation or sound.

In years prior to the myspace revolution, this definition was known and accepted. Since then, it has been merged, added to, and twisted to follow oppinions of people who claim to "like all things indie." The term indie has grown to be more of an idea, with a whole new set of rules and reguations. Today, people often say:

"oh that band isn't indie! They played MSG last summer!"
"Pshh, man that isn't as indie as it used to be."
"I used to like Little Miss Sunshine back when it was an indie film."
"I hate rap. I'm more into indie music now."

Used in these terms, the word "indie" seems to describe some type of jaded term people use to describe things so that they might sound "cooler" or more "unique" than someone else. Our culture has become obsessed with people trying to have their own ideas and like something different than the rest of the (to quote Julia Styles in 10 Things I Hate About You,) "meaningless consumer-driven world." And the even greater obsession? -Trying to get there first.

Independent artists have accidently and innocently been used as a crutch in this recent stirr of pop-culture madness. Independence in art is something well, to say it correctly, independent of the factor of popularity. It has nothing at all to do with its consumer and the way in which it is received. Independence lies rather, within the origin of the art. Some of the most popular forms of entertainment art are independent. The line between what separates Independent and not isn't necessarily as vague as culture makes it seem.

So, I hope this has been informative, and helped to untangle the knot. Don't leave it up to Susie McMyspace to tell you what's indie. Its out of her hands and beyond her ethical authority. Consider the artist. Consider the art. Consider the idea.

Sufjan Stevens is ACTUALLY, FINALLY making an album about my state!

I was sitting at my kitchen counter Monday afternoon skimming the pages of New York Magazine, (which earns the number one spot on my list of the greatest things to ever come out of mailboxes) and I don't know how i missed it. I must have been distracted, or perhaps fell to a temporary fit of relative insanity. Either way, it took me until about 4:17pm today to realize that my life was about to change. I report:

After having completed already Michigan and Illinois, melodic mastermind Sufjan Stevens is ready on his way to achieve his goal of recording an album inspired by every state in the United States.

Being a massive fan of the pure glory that is his being, I am sooooo excited that...

oh my goodness...

Sufjan Stevens is currently working on an album for none other than...

NEW JERSEY!!!

whoo-hoo!!!

I absolutely cannot wait. Sufjan is a personal favorite. His sweet, almost lofty voice backed by an acoustic guitar, a horn or two and the more than just occasional banjo (all played by him) feels like a calming breeze in the shade. (listen to "Chicago [acoustic]" or "That Dress Looks Nice On You")

New York explains his fascination with the New Jersey Turnpike, and the beginnings of his inspirations.

New Jersey loves you, Sufjan!
Check out the article here

"Getting a text from Bono is the biggest thing that can happen to an Irishman."

Oh the Academy Awards...

Whether boredom had the best of me, or I convinced myself to be interested, I somehow landed myself in front of my television yet again to watch another entire Hollywood award show. I hadn't planned on watching the 8oth Anniversary Academy Awards, but after my recent Grammy experience I suppose I thought "why not?" and tuned in all the way from the Gary Busey/Jennifer Garner surprise attack hug to the final credits. Expecting to be left with the generic guilty satisfaction of having viewed such a program, I was surprised to find that what I ended up with was a different product all together. I'm hopeful.

Being an actress, an artist and a prospective filmmaker myself, I have alot of respect for the film industry. Whether it be feature dramas, comedies, documentaries, whatever, i indulge in watching. Unfortunately (maybe) for me however, I guess I missed most of the front runners this year. "No Country for Old Men" - missed it. "There Will Be Blood" - missed it. "Michael Clayton" - missed it. "Atonement" - it's on my list. "La Vie en Rose" - can't wait.

Although they were the big winners of the evening, I think this year's Oscar celebration was the year of the lesser known. That part kind of excited me. Indie films are on the rise. "Juno" was nominated for best picture, had star Ellen Page up for best actress, and even won best original screenplay! Months ago, it wasn't even intended for viewings beyond a few stops at theaters who specialize in indpendant film.

Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose” won best actress. The surprise and excitement on her face was thrilling. She's young, French, and you never see her or hear about her in people magazine. To win such a prestigious award for her first big role in an American acclaimed film you could tell was truely an honor.

On front closer to home, best documentary or short subject film was taken by a little movie called "Freeheld" which is about an infamous court case that took place involving a homosexual couple of female police officers from Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth took home the prize.

My favorite small star moment was when Glen Hansard (to whom I quote for the title of this blog) and Marketa Irglova accepted their award for best original song for "Falling Slowly" in the movie "Once." What an incredible moment for independant artists! Not only was it an absolutely fantastic movie, (that I highly reccomend) but it was shot on a budget of i believe less than $100,000. (which makes "Little Miss Sunshine" look like "Pirates of the Carribean") It beat out three nominations for the colorful and commercial movie "Enchanted," as well as "August Rush."
Glen and "Mar" are best friends in real life and wrote all the songs for "Once," which they also starred in as the nameless lead roles of "guy" and "girl." They weren't originally even going to act, but they decided to as a favor of their director/friend, John Carney. (who was a member of the band The Frames, with Glen Hansard) They are artists who stay true to their craft and have and incorporated such honesty into their work. I was awed by their genuine delight in receiving the academy's recognition. I think everyone else must have been too.

The startled Glen Hansard took up most of their time allotted for their accepatnce speech and they "played the music" before Marketa Irglova got a chance to get a word in. Thankfully she was given special permission to come back out on to the stage to finish. (which is rarely done for award recipients) When she skipped back to the microphone, she sweetly delivered a speech expressing her immense grattitude for being able to recieve the award and its meaning to her as a truely struggling artist. You could really feel her sincerity in her encouraging tone, and she didn't waste a second of her oppertunity by saying "thank you" to every person she's ever become aquainted with.

With the writer's strike this year that put a cork in the bottle of big business blockbusters, the world of indie film saw a serious boom. The competition for companies to buy smaller, low budget, independant films at festivals like Sundance in Park City, Utah was more feirce this January than ever before. So what does this mean, really? Perhaps nothing, although I'm optimistically pondering that it means a turn around from the popular and ordinary to a realm of something a little more left of center. Entertaiment is growing from every angle.

Perhaps next year, the little gold man will be presented with his arms unfolded. I'm very optimistic. Martin Scorsese could be up against Lance Hammer for best direction. Maybe George Clooney will face the competition of Lou Taylor Pucci. Best actrice - Natalie Portman vs. your aunt Sally from Wall, New Jersey. It's a stretch - but hey, It might just be anybodys game.

"Every artist was first an amateur."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a great American writer said once that every artist was first an amateur.
This is true in many respects and I think thats why its so important for young people to get involved in the arts.

Every year, the Monmouth County Arts Council hosts the Teens Arts Festival, a two-day arts festival held at Brookdale Community College that is open to the public in order to celebrate and encourage young artists. They've scheduled the event to take place this year on Tues., March 18th, and Weds., March 19th!

I can't wait to check it out!
I'll follow up.

info @
http://www.monmouthartscouncil.org/taf.php