Tuesday, May 8, 2012
'Riot-n-Roll' has a dramatic breakdown, but still takes home a trophy.
A team from Columbia’s Riot Creative Imaging on Red Branch Road spent more than 1,000 hours building a human-powered, amphibious Big Wheel. They then brought their craft, dubbed "Riot-n-Roll" to compete—for the first time—in Baltimore’s Kinetic Sculpture Race on May 5. The 8-foot wide, 14-foot long craft was designed to complete a 14-mile race course, floating in the Inner Harbor and then through sand and mud obstacles. Sculptors Chester Stacy and Brian Heyer used two tandem bikes braced together with metal pipes. Each had independent drive shafts to increase maneuverability of the super-sized Big Wheel encased in a Styrofoam tub. In order to finish Big Wheel’s watertight tub and modular foam-filled bike pedals, plus transport it to …
Monday, May 7, 2012
The Columbia native was not asked to reprise his 2008 Hulk role in 2012's smash hit The Avengers.
The Avengers is estimated to be the biggest opening weekend in movie history, pulling in a whopping $205 million, according to Marvel/Walt Disney Studios, the makers of the film. The film stars superheroes who themselves have been the subjects of recent movies. There is Robert Downey Jr., who played Iron Man in 2008 and the sequel in 2010. Chris Hemsworth, who took up the hammer in 2011, plays Thor. Chris Evans, who played Captain America in the 2011 film, was also invited back for The Avengers. However, not reprising his 2008 role as The Incredible Hulk is Edward Norton, the grandson of Columbia’s founder James Rouse and a native of Columbia. The role of Bruce Banner/ The Hulk is played by Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers. Should Norton have …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Have you seen the bandit's art?
If you’ve driven on Old Columbia Road over the past month you may have seen the art bandit’s work posted on lamp posts and trees. There has been a replica deer’s head placed high on a tree, a kid's shovel shaped like a fish, voodoo signs, a tiki doll attached to a tree and a couple of grotesque wood-carved faces, according to the front desk workers at the Preston Country Club for Pets, located at 7363 Old Columbia Rd., in the center of the art bandit’s posting zone. On Monday afternoon, only two wood-carved faces remained. One was posted just across the driveway of Preston's, the other was located on a speed limit sign near the intersection of Old Columbia Road and Johns Hopkins Road. The police have been taking down the bandit’s work, …
Monday, April 30, 2012
The new facility will expand the operations of two local theater companies.
A 200-seat theater that will feature two established local adult and youth drama companies broke ground on Red Branch Road in Columbia on Thursday. The theater is a partnership between the Drama Learning Center, an educational and professional youth drama company, and its sister group, the Red Branch Theatre Company, a semi-professional drama company. Both groups currently share a 120-seat theater and learning space at 9130-I Red Branch Road in Columbia. The new facility will feature a 200 seat arch-ceilinged theater, a large lobby and reception area, according to an article on Baltimore Broadway World. Tiffany Underwood Holmes, managing director of Red Branch Theatre, said the new facility will also have two huge rehearsal studios, more…
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Hollywood rolls out its list of blockbusters with The Avengers.
A few sequels, one or two reboots, and Johnny Depp in weird costumes. The summer movie season is about to start. MTV is calling 2012 a nerdy movie summer, and also one of the biggest. Says MTV: It's a crowded landscape to be sure; you'll want to spend your hard-earned theatergoing cash wisely if you want to weed out the fantastic, can't-miss movies from the [ugly], must-miss ones. Here's a few of the movies planned for the summer. Which ones excite you the most? Did we miss any? Tell us in the comments.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Have you seen this new art?
Patrons of local libraries and public places around Columbia may find the scenery a little more aesthetically pleasing these days. Structures approved by the Howard County Arts Council have been installed in several locations across Columbia and Howard County. The installations are part of ARTsites, a year-long public art project celebrating 30 years of the Howard County Arts Council. HCAC anticipates putting the following 12 sculptures around the county:
39.21145
-76.85906
Howard County Library Central Branch
10375 Little Patuxent Pky, Columbia, MD
/articles/look-public-art-popping-up-around-town
438987
/locations/6877896
39.21621
-76.88018
Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Pky, Columbia, MD
/articles/look-public-art-popping-up-around-town
439246
/locations/6877897
Friday, April 20, 2012
Have you seen this leather-capped air artist?
For more than two decades, Barry Gibson has showered the spring and summer days on Main Street in Ellicott City with thousands of fleeting masterpieces. Gibson has been known by folks in Ellicott City as "the bubble guy" ever since he began showing off his bubble blowing talents in front of the Forget Me Not Factory, the magic-themed shop where he works. "It's very soothing. You don't think about anything when you do bubbles," Gibson told Patch. In addition to attracting patrons to the fantastical gift shop, Gibson occasionally uses his hobby to help entertain autistic children with what he calls "bubble therapy." He says watching the bubbles is soothing for people, much like watching the ocean or night sky. "I just tell them, 'Play with …
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
And You Say He's Just a Friend ... of Ken.
Who knew Ken Ulman was down? As in, you know, cool. A May 10 fundraising event for the county executive will feature rapper/dj Biz Markie. If you’re a parent, you may be familiar with his appearances on the music-heavy children’s show Yo Gabba Gabba. If you’re like me, the first thing you thought was: “Yooooou got what I need, but you say he’s just a friend, you say he’s just a friend …” from his 1989 top-ten hit, “Just a Friend.” According to Rachael Rice of Rice Consulting, which is handling Ulman’s fundraising, “the host of the event knew [Markie] and thought it would be fun.” The invitation, which Patch noticed on HoCo Rising, also lists Kevin Liles, former president of record label Def Jam Recordings, as a special guest. Def Jam …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Check out some of the best student artwork on display at Columbia Mall
In case you haven't seen it, there's some great work by local artists on display at the Columbia Mall this month. This is the 40th year the Columbia Mall is hosting art displays from schools throughout the county. There are currently over 3,000 pieces of student artwork on display throughout the mall from 73 elementary, middle and high schools in Howard County, according to a spokesperson for the mall. The project is organized by the Office of Fine Arts at the Howard County Public School System. On Monday, Patch navigated the mall and picked 36 pieces that stood out. Editor's Note: You may find some distortions in the images caused by the camera's lens. Which piece is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The county executive and other officials attended kickoff for county's new art project.
Andrew Metcalf
4:18 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
That's a good point, no one was asking, "Why did Eric Bana get snubbed for the Avengers?" more ›