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Thursday June 11, 2009

Flying is fun, but not effortless

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 12:00PM CST on June 11, 2009

I forgot to post this on Tuesday. Here's the account of my flying adventure.

I weighed in at 125 pounds this morning, thanks to a little cheating that involved sweating out the fifth and final pound I had to lose to meet the weight requirement to fly like Peter Pan at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse.

Before letting Quad-City area media representatives and their kids "fly" around stage, we watched a scene from the upcoming musical in which the actors showed us the ropes, quite literally.

I figured if the kids could do it, so could I. So I signed a waiver, strapped on my helmet camera (aka the "Stephanie-cam") and got strapped into the harness.

Stage flying isn't exactly effortless. There were two men backstage operating a pulley system to get me airborne. And I had to keep my shoulders back in order to keep from flopping over like a marionette. The harness, which fits a little bit like a jock strap on the lower body and a back pack on top, doesn't exactly provide a weightless feeling.

It exerted quite a bit of pressure on my rear end as it supported my body weight and made me think, "Oh, Lord, what have I gotten myself into?" when I was turned around so that my compressed rear end was on display for all to see as I swung from one end of the stage to the other.

Landing is also a little difficult since you have to come down on one foot. Otherwise, you feel as if you just might plant your face when you hit the ground with two feet and the harness tips you forward.

Just when I thought the adventure was over, Times Entertainment Editor David Burke, wielding a video camera himself, asked me what I thought. I answered that "flying" wasn't so bad because they didn't take me as high as I thought they might. I should have known not to open my big mouth while still strapped in, though, because my comment was taken as a dare and up I went to the rafters over the Circa ‘21 stage.

Overall, however, "flying" was fun, not too scary and I celebrated with a piece of much-awaited chocolate.

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Tuesday May 5, 2009

‘Amazing Race’ host blogs about the Q-C

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 9:34AM CST on May 5, 2009

Phil Keoghan, the host of reality TV show “Amazing Race,” has blogged about his experiences in the Quad-Cities last month during his ride across the country.

Video on the blog features views of the LeClaire Park, the Davenport skyline and the Government Bridge. The blog can be read at philridesacrossamerica.com.

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Tuesday March 3, 2009

‘America’s Next Top Model’ casting call in Davenport

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:48PM CST on March 3, 2009

Calling all short ladies. On Saturday, March 7, there will be an open casting call for Cycle 13 of the “America’s Next Top Model” TV series at La James International College, 5205 N. Brady St., Davenport.

The casting call is open to women 18 to 27 years old, and, for the first time, women need to be 5 feet 7 inches or shorter, which is a big change from the towering ladies required for previous seasons.

Applications and additional eligibility requirements can be found online by clicking here. The show is broadcast on the CW network.

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Monday February 23, 2009

‘Mamma Mia’ at the Oscars

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:58PM CST on February 23, 2009

I love watching the Oscars, and I have to agree with host Hugh Jackman’s statement that the musical is back. But did he have to illustrate his point by referencing “Mamma Mia!”?
Yes, Meryl Streep was in it. Yes, she was nominated for best supporting actress, but it certainly wasn’t for her performance in the movie version of the popular musical.

I watched the movie last week, and while I usually love any production that involves singing and dancing, I thought the only thing worse than “Mamma Mia” was having ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” stuck in my head the next day.

I also thought the Oscars montage of musicals that have gained fame throughout the years was a little much.

There was so much going on that you hardly noticed the younger stars (who could pull off the skimpy costumes) from “Mamma Mia” and “High School Musical” when they joined Beyonce and Jackman onstage.

There’s quite a discussion about the Oscars going on at the Quadsville Council. You can chime in on the discussion thread under by clicking here.

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Thursday January 29, 2009

The Quads

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:08PM CST on January 29, 2009

Show to see

No Budget TV will host a screening of “Episode Seven” on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Racers Edge, 936 15th Ave., East Moline. The screening also will feature performances by Reelfoot Rift, D’z Nutz, Speedfinger and The Pimps.

The No Budget TV boys also will be doing filming for their season finale during the same event. Doors open at 7 p.m. and cover is $5 before 8 p.m., $7 thereafter. The episode screening is at midnight.

Free event

The Bier Stube will host a Winterfest celebration Saturday, Jan. 31, at its Moline location, 417 15th St.

Winterfest will feature a Snow Queen contest, the Chili Challenge, 6-foot penguins, a Fish Toss, beer tasting, a human dog sled, the Polar Plunge and a vodka slide.

Winterfest will be 3-9 p.m. and admission is free.

He said what?

Dierks Bentley is about to put out his fifth studio album and has recorded 10 singles that have reached the top spot on the country music charts. But despite his success, he has only one television in his house because he thinks too much TV is bad for you.

“On a tour bus, there are like 10 TVs; everyone has one on their bunk. It’s all news that, God, you walk off there and you’re so depressed.”

To read the Quad-City Times story on Bentley, click here.

For the family

Mike Granger, the Wapsi River Center naturalist, will lead a snowshoe walk at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 31.

Participants will start at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center, 3155 52nd Ave., Dixon, Iowa, and walk through the Wapsi woods on snowshoes, looking for animal tracks. Pre-registration is required and can be made by calling (563) 328-3286.

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Wednesday January 21, 2009

'Lost' Live Chat 7 p.m.

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 7:43PM CST on January 21, 2009

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Get ‘Lost’ with me

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 9:51AM CST on January 21, 2009

There are 9 hours and counting until the “Lost” season five premiere. I’ll be chatting live here on Quadsville during the three-hour event. Sign up below for an e-mail reminder and then come back to Quadsville at 7 p.m. to join in.

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Monday January 19, 2009

Two nights until 'Lost' premiere, live chat

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:45PM CST on January 19, 2009

Hey all,

As if all you "Lost" fans didn't already know, there are just two more days until the season five premiere. I'm super excited as I'm sure all of you are.

I'll be here to chat with all of you live as we try to figure out all the answers to the questions brought out in previous seasons and the new ones I'm sure will be introduced on Wednesday.

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Wednesday January 14, 2009

Calling all 'Lost' fans

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:17PM CST on January 14, 2009

The Quad-City Times will host a Live Chat during the three hour premier of season five of “Lost” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 21. We'll talk about the show as the characters try to figure out not just where the island went to, but when.

I'll be hosting the Live Chat because I just might be obsessed with the show and have watched the first four seasons over the last month to gear up for the premiere.

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Thursday January 8, 2009

Willey answers questions, causes mom to blush

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 6:51PM CST on January 8, 2009

Walt Willey made my mom’s day today.

Knowing that everyone in my family is a fan of “All My Children,” the soap opera star offered to call my mother after I interviewed him and Kim “Howard” Johnson, an author and improvisational comedian who is Willey’s childhood friend.

My mom, who had already called during the morning to see whether I was nervous and to ask what I was wearing, excitedly answered the phone and asked how my interview went. Then she got quite the surprise when I handed the phone over to Willey.

Mom later said she was tongue-tied and glad that Willey couldn’t see her blushing over the phone. But she did manage to ask whether his Jackson Montgomery and Erica Kane characters will ever get back together on the show.

(Now here’s where that age-old of adage of “like mother, like daughter” comes into play. I had just finished asking Willey the same question. And, to be honest, interviewing him and Johnson was easily the highlight of my week, too.)

“I think we will. It’s what people want to see and they keep it in their back pocket and trot it out every so often,” Willey said of the writers’ handling of the on-again, off-again relationship between the two characters. “I think they’ll do it, even if it’s an exit story for me. I think they’ll do it at least one more time.”

Willey added that of all the actors Susan Lucci has been paired with on the show, her real-life husband likes him the most.

To read the story about Willey and Johnson’s upcoming comedy ventures, click here and make sure to check out the video above to see Willey’s answers to readers’ questions.

Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.

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About This Blog

Follow first-time homeowners Stephanie De Pasquale and her husband as they learn the skills needed to bring their Quad-City house into the 21st century.

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