October

J.K. Rowling Reveals Pottermore Site – VIDEO, PHOTOS

June 23, 2011 By Cara Harrington Leave a Comment

The secret to Pottermore and J.K. Rowling’s “announcement” has finally been revealed. After the site teased a gathering of owls for nearly a week, the question “what is Pottermore?!” has finally been answered.

Rowling has created a virtual world that combines a new reading experience with the promise of exclusive content the author has been keeping to herself. Interactive moments in the Harry Potter books will come to life for the reader with illustrations. The reader will go through the same experiences that Harry encounters along the way. From being sorted into your house to casting spells, mixing potions, visiting Diagon Alley and having your wand choose you the site will be a safe way to be a part of the Potter phenomenon.

New Music Friday – Dead By Sunrise

October 9, 2009 By Holly Stafford Leave a Comment

“Out Of Ashes,” the debut from the side project of Linkin Park’s frontman Chester Bennington’s new band, is here. Dead by Sunrise started to form in 2005 while Bennington was writing songs for Linkin Park’s “Minutes to Midnight” Album. The band also features Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh (from Orgy/Julien-K), bassist Brandon Belsky, drummer Elias Anda (also from Julien-K), and keyboardist Anthony Valcic.

Per Dead By Sunrise:

“I came up with a few songs that felt and sounded really good, but I knew they weren’t right stylistically for Linkin Park. They were darker and moodier than anything I’d come up with for the band. So I decided to work on them on my own rather than turn them over and have them transformed into Linkin Park tracks,” says Bennington.

The band’s name, which was previously “Snow White Tan,” reflects the time during the album’s recording in which the band was living a ‘really self destructive lifestyle’ and weren’t sure they were going to make it to the next day. Bennington says the albums’ name is from ‘coming out of that self-destructive path and rising from the ashes.’ Back on May 10, 2008, the band performed three songs, including the song “Morning After,” at the 13th anniversary party for Club Tattoo in Arizona. The song was written by Bennington and originally performed on December 9, 2001 at the Live in Berlin concert. This was the first time that he had officially performed the song under a new name.

Recording of the band’s debut album began in July 2008 after touring for Linkin Park had finished. “Crawl Back In” is the first official single off the album, followed by “Let Down.” Dead by Sunrise’s MySpace page is featuring the video for the band’s first single, and will hold an exclusive listening party for its debut album on their page this week. Fans will be able to stream the album, which will be released by on October 13th, in its entirety on Myspace from October 8th through the 10th. MySpace will direct users to the listening party via links on both the site’s homepage and its music page. They are scheduled to perform at The Gramercy Theatre in New York City on October 14th, and at the Roxy in Los Angeles on October 19th. You can watch the video for the song “Crawl Back In” above. HWDamers – Let us know what you think!

Filed Under: Celebrity Gossip, Music Tagged With: Album, Amir Derakh, Anthony Valcic, Arizona, Band, Berlin, Brandon Belsky, Chester Bennington, Club Tattoo, Concert, Crawl back In, Darker, Dead By Sunrise, Debut, Elias Anda, Exclusive, Julien-K, Let Down, Linkin Park, Listening Party, Live, Los Angeles, Minutes To Midnight, Morning After, Myspace, new york city, NYC, October, Orgy, Out Of Ashes, recording, Roxy, Ryan Shuck, Self Destructive LifeStyle, single, Snow White Tan, Stream, The Gramercy Theatre

Celebrity Halloween Costumes

September 30, 2009 By Holly Stafford 1 Comment

Halloween is only a month away, time to start shopping for a costume! This year, the “in” costumes are celebrity costumes that are surly to be in the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Michael Jackson, and even Kate Gosselin. While stores are stocking up for the season, it might be a good idea to shop early as costumes such as Jackson’s are expected to be in high demand the last two weeks of October when the store business hits its peak selling period. Joe Pinzone, owner of New York’s Abracadabra Super Store, says that shoppers are looking for the “real deal” Jackson costumes.

Per PopEater:

“The sequined jacket, the pants, the whole suit, glitter socks. We got the whole outfit,” Pinzone says of his inventory.

He goes on to say that shoppers are looking more for the authentic looking costumes, willing to pay for the higher quality items rather than purchasing the more inexpensive items. Denise Dougherty Vinal, owner of the Dougherty’s Masquerade store in Syracuse, N.Y., also expects Michael Jackson costumes will the big hit this Halloween, with her store featuring the complete red leather ‘Beat It‘ costume with the curly dark wig.

No word on just how much these costumes in high demand are expected to set you back, but I’m sure the Jackson costumes will be selling like hotcakes this season! I’m sure the kiddos are even wanting to go as their favorite celebrity – I know mine are! So tell me HWDamers – what are you dressing up for as Halloween?

Filed Under: Celebrity Gossip, Michael Jackson, WTF?!? Tagged With: Authentic, Beat It, Celebrity, Celebrity Costumes, Celebrity Halloween Costumes, costumes, Denise Dougherty Vinal, Doughtery's Masquerade, Elvis, Halloween, Higher Quality, Joe Pinzone, Kate Gosselin, Leather, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, New York's Abracadabra Super Store, October, Syracuse NY

Princess Diana Named Queen of the Gay Community

March 31, 2009 By Holly Stafford Leave a Comment

Britain’s late Princess Diana has been declared a Gay Icon by a panel of 10 homosexual men and women, including Elton John, Billie Jean King, and Sir Ian McKellen. They nominated the Princess of Wales as someone who “inspired them and helped shaped who they have become.” She was chosen by Waheed Alli, and executive TV producer and a member of the “House of Lords.”

Per GayWired:

“There’s no such thing as a gay community any more than there’s a straight community. Gay people are as disparate as any other group.” an organizer notes.

Photographs of the inspirational public figures will appear in a new exhibition due to open in July at the “London’s National Portrait Gallery.” While the gallery is holding back the full list of honorees until closer to the opening, former South African President Nelson Mandela was also named, along with singer K.D. Lang, entertainer Ellen DeGeneres, and politician Harvey Milk.

Per Bloomberg:

“We’re very clear that this is an exhibition for everybody,” said the gallery’s director, Sandy Nairne, at a press breakfast. “We want to get out to people who didn’t think they’d want to see it.”

Noticeably absent from this collection are Joan Crawford, Mae West, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Joan Collins, Kylie Minogue, Dame Shirley Bassey, Oscar Wilde, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, and Barbra Streisand. Because the portraits in the show had to be photographs, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, William Shakespeare and Alexander the Great were also ruled out. The exhibition is set to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York and will take place at the National Portrait Gallery from July 2 to October 18.

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