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THF MTX Page 4 _L _L _JL_ " XT _l I A Friday, Feb. 10,2006 ; j _ City caters to daring daters " with 40-foot child, nudists — / Tun Manus .STAFF WR1TEK Are you looking for a special place to take that special someone on Valentine’s Day? Is that special someone tired of romantic walks in the park, secluded picnics and expensive Italian restaurants? v If so, Columbia is filled with alternatives that offer an unforgettable, offbeat Valentine’s Day experience. Local nudist group Travelites is having a Valentine’s Day party. Travelites is a non-landed group — meaning they don’t have a central location — that was founded by a woman who prefers to go by the pseudonym Cheri Botts. She says the Travelites party is much like any other Valentine’s Day party. “We’ll have food, snacks, hot tub,” she said. “The only difference between our party and a regular Valentine’s Day party is that we won’t have a belt to loosen.” But if the only reason you’re taking a date to the Travelites party is for an easy way to see them naked, you may want to try another place, as Botts said nudism is about “destressing and family values.” Nudists develop a “respect for themselves and others,” she said. “In fact, nudism has a lower divorce rate and a lower teen pregnancy than the rest of the populations.” Botts said many from the Travelites party are likely to venture to another local nudist Valentine’s Day party, which will be held at Cedar Creek Park, a local nudist park with heated indoor facilities. Both nudist parties will be on Saturday, Feb. 11, and anyone interested can off eem • s Tim McManus / THE GAMECOCK The Art Bar in the Vista offers an alternative to traditional Valentine’s Day outings. “Something New” ★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ fllarjorie Riddle THE GAMECOCK “Something New” presents an age-old story of love and how outsiders’ good intentions get in the way of happily ever after in a genuinely humorous romantic comedy. *Kenya is a successful and Tonight At The Movies beautiful black accountant working in a white male dominated company who has hopes of meeting her perfect black male. She is a control freak who knows what she wants and won’t settle for anything less. With prodding from her friends and family, Kenya agrees to a blind date with Brian. Kenya rejects Brian the minute she meets him solely because he’s white. After running into him at a friend’s bridal shower, she hires him as her landscape architect to transform her new home’s run-down backyard into a more picturesque environment. Kenya resists Brian’s rugged charms until the chemistry between them becomes undeniable. She hides her growing affection for Brian, and when her friends and family uncover her new relationship, they tease her almost incessantly, causing her to question Brian’s place in her life. Deciding that their differences and subsequent obstacles are insurmountable, Kenya ends the relationship and begins dating Mark, who, from outside appearances, seems to be absolutely perfect for Kenya. But there are no sparks with Mark, and Kenya can’t stop thinking about Brian. Kenya has to re-examine her preconceived notions along with her friends and family’s expectations and ultimately choose between them and her own heart. This romantic comedy has the cookie-cutter ending that viewers can predict and might secretly want. But the scene just before the end discredits the film slightly with its ridiculous wardrobe centered punch line that takes a funny scene and makes it over-the-top absurd. Sanaa Lathan as Kenya and Simon Baker as Brian exude great mouie • 5 This Week in Music I “Hedwig and the Angry Inch: Original Cast Recording" ★★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ Chad Henderson THE GAMECOCK Have you ever been in a Chinese restaurant and the music rocked so hard that Confucius appeared before you playing guitar licks that were so tasty that Eddie Van Halen threw his guitar in a dumpster saying, “That’ll do pig...that’ll do”? No, of course you haven’t. With Theatre South Carolina performing the raunchy Restoration comedy “The Country Wife” this weekend, it seems only appropriate that we talk about musical theater’s raunchiest rockers: Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Some of vou mav recall the independent film that came out in 2001 by the same name, but what you may not know is that this film was born from an off-Broadway play that took flight in the “late mid-’90s.” Seasoned actor John Cameron Mitchell wrote the play, and the music and lyrics are by Stephen Trask. Even if you don’t know the story of I Hedwig, you’ll find the ; songs from this show unbelievable. Trask’s styles range from punk rock and arena rock to country and Broadway ballads. So, think again if you think you’d listen to this album and hear cheesy musical songs like “Oklahoma!” These songs are catchy, fun and emotionally charged. Mitchell, who sings the part of Hedwig, presents a powerful showtune voice that adds a new twist to Trask’s hard rock style. Listening to this album is like finding Oprah Winfrey riding a roller coaster with Britney Spears: sincere, exciting and trashy. Since the character of Hedwig is transsexual, one could consider this a female-fronted band. And with that said, there certainly aren’t any female rockers in today’s Billboard pop scene with the talent and ability to melt someone’s face with such glorious rock. Some of today’s biggest stars don’t have the chops or integrity to keep up with Mitchell’s Hedwig. Are you reading this, Ashlee Simoson? In the opening tune “Tear Me Down,” the listener is barraged with a deep piano riff that is spiced up with arena rock guitars. And the lyrics serve as an anthem for the troubled youths who are taking a stand and fighting back. Then in “Wig in a Box,” Trask and Mitchell 'take lessons from Broadway with an exciting song that is so catchy, Stephen Hawking might program it into his voice box. Lastly, there is a song on this album that is absolutely beautiful: “Wicked Little Town.” There are two versions of it on the soundtrack music • 6 DJs will spin you right round, baby Skull Baby, others to bring theory of ‘Evilution to area Deuon Ulceh THE GAMECOCK “Evilution” brings a goth and industrial dance party and concert to the New Brookland Tavern tonight. DJ Vitae, DJ Poe, Pet and guest Lord DJC will be spinning along with Columbia goth rockers Skull Baby. “Evilution” is a departure from the strictly musical concerts the New Brookland Tavern usually hosts. Along with the music acts will be performance art and some interactive presentations that will hopefully bring/ the performers and audience together. DJ Vitae spins a set list full of industrial, ‘80s and goth music from bands like Depeche Mode, KMFDM, Skinny Puppy and the Cruxshadows. She has taken her talents to many regional clubs including the Breakfast Club in Charlotte, N.C.; The Spot in North Augusta, S.C.; The Underground in DJ • S |