Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with entertainment

Help me find some good movies that give you the warm fuzzies

GlowWyrm — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:54:07 -0800

moviefilter: Can you recommend a movie(s) that has fairy tale type magic in it. By magic I mean movies like Secondhand Lions and Big Fish for example. Movies where what seemed at first a fairy tale ended up being the truth or things of that nature. Finding Neverland and Hearts in Atlantis also have that particular type of magic. I guess another way to describe it would be magical things happening in an otherwise normal, realistic setting; nothing animated or set in an alternate universe. Not sure how else to describe it so I hope this makes sense. :)

What do you suppose this "clown" is selling?

kryptos — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:06:15 -0800

That was the caption to this picture.Can somebody tell me what the sign says? I stumbled on it on a site about the entertainment district for American troops , The Ville in Okinawa . Interesting photos from the late 50's.

Find me a great Broadway video

moof — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:48:44 -0800

Can you recommend a good live-but-recorded upbeat Broadway performance in the style of MTV's Legally Blonde or the London Oklahoma with Hugh Jackman a few years back? I'm not looking for a Hairspray Movie (though I loved it) but rather recordings of shows performed as shows, not as movies. Thanks!

I know how to find Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas. How do I find Wilt Chamberlain and Mick Jagger?

rileyray3000 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:42:31 -0800

Is there anything like an IMDB for rock music? or for sports figures? I'm trying to do a search for famous men over 65 who haven't kicked the bucket yet. With IMDB it's pretty easy to do so for guys in entertainment (TV, Film, radio even). But when it comes to rock or sports, not so much. Any idea if such sites exist with similar functionality to IMDB?

Wining/Dining in Cambridge, MA?

lassie — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:39:00 -0800

Dining and entertainment options in Cambridge, MA, this weekend? My girlfriend, I, and some friends are going to be in Cambridge, MA this weekend. We're staying at the Sonesta, and they're staying at the Kendall. I'm looking for suggestions about a good place to grab dinner on Saturday night in that area, as well as possible post-dinner entertainment options.

For dinner, I'd be interested in places that are not vegetarian necessarily, but which offer substantial and good vegetarian options, as well as a good wine list. For entertainment, bonus points will be awarded for gay/lesbian bars where you can hear yourself think (we're probably too old for the thumping night clubs, I fear).

If you also feel like telling me that there's something going on Sunday morning in that area that I absolutely must see before we come back to NY, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that too. Thanks in advance for suggestions.

What to do at night in a small hotel room in a small country town?

b33j — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:13:46 -0800

My husband and I are going on a road trip this weekend and have plenty of places and things to do during daylight hours. It's just the two of us (yay, no kids!) and we'll no doubt chat all day during the drives, hikes, sightseeing. We need something to do between checking in and going to sleep. I'd like an activity that's cheap, and involves the both of us. Nights are in prebooked hotels in very small country towns (that is, we don't have the option to keep driving until we need to sleep). We don't drink. One laptop between the two of us, with no guarantee of internet access. Apart from the obvious bedroom romps, what the hell else do we do during the night time? Normally at home, we (introverts) work (online), study(online), interact with the kids, he plays WOW (not installed on my laptop). Not big TV watchers.

We're Australian, married 17 years, 40+, travelling through Central NSW.

'Office Outings' and 'Team Building' ideas in the Seattle area.

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:25:33 -0800

'Office Outings' and 'Team Building' ideas in the Seattle area. I work with a fun, young company on the Eastside. We are brainstorming for fun, interactive 'team building' events.

THIS DOES NOT entail trust falls, ropes courses, or get-to-know-you games. We're talking about fun, adult, hang-out time.

What we're looking for...
- Something that can be done between the hours of 3PM-10PM (doesn't have to fill up the entire block of time) on Mon-Fri of any week.

Things you should know...
- This is for a group of 10-12 individuals.
- Average age: 28
- All but 3 are either engaged or married.
- My company has a very large (but not unlimited) budget.
- Alcohol is always served at other company events and placed on the company tab.

Dive bars are the new Vaudeville

self — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:44:00 -0800

I want to be a better showman during our live performances. I am the front man/songwriter/singer in my band. We play out at least once a month, and have been doing so for about a year. However, as far as stage presence and showmanship are concerned, you could compare and contrast our very first show with the show we played last night and see no difference.

I am unsatisfied with my front-man capabilities, or really lack thereof. I have confidence in our musicianship, and feel really good during our playing, but then the end of the song hits and then comes that awkward silence between the song and the (somewhat) sparse applause and cheers. I always feel compelled to say something, but feel panicked.

Then there's the moment after the applause and before our next song- that feels like an eternity (unless we play songs back to back). Again I want to say or do something to engage the audience, but fall flat and stammer out an awkward "you can find us online at.." or "so today I..." without much panache or response.

I've tried to bring a few tricks up my sleeve to the stage, such as:

-anecdotes
-introducing the band members
-introducing the next song (sometimes with a brief synopsis of its meaning)
-asking who has seen us before
-thanking venue/previous bands (though I need to remember to do this more often)
-the ubiquitous "this is the tuning song" joke (lame)

But rarely leave them awed.

I also would love suggestions on ways to spruce up our act in general. I've been toying with the ideas of having a projected video behind us, using various props/instruments for audience members, dressing in some specific fashion, etc.

I really am a humble person, and a quick "thank you" between songs and on to the next one used to be okay for me, but I really want to take the next step to becoming a better entertainer.

C'mon MeFites, what've you got? How can I wow them?

What's fun in Portland, OR?

bashos_frog — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:40:39 -0800

Going to Portland for RailsConf, and wondering about potential after-conference activities. I have a very broad notion of fun, so any and all suggestions would be welcome.

What's the name of this movie?

b_thinky — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:14:43 -0800

What's the name of this movie? It's about a guy who goes to Afghanistan (under Taliban rule) to rescue his nephew. I have no idea who's in it, what language it's in, when it was made or what it's called. I only saw about 10 minutes of it on an EVA flight from Taipei to LAX. When the plane had already begun its descent into LAX I looked over and my neighbor was watching the movie and I was able to follow via subtitles. Looked interesting and I'd like to see the rest - if only I could find the title.

I want my Wogan!

pdb — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:53:43 -0800

Where can I watch Eurovision in the USA? Last year, when we were in London, I got my wife hooked on the ridiculous absurdity that is the Eurovision Song Contest, and the commentary stylings of Terry Wogan. This year, we're not going to be in Europe during the final - is there any US-available media outlet that shows the contest? Bonus points if anybody knows somewhere in Portland, OR to watch it.

Keep me off the couch!

whiskey point — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:57:37 -0800

Please keep me entertained in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area this weekend! I'll be spending the majority of my Spring Break in the NW metro area of the twin cities-Maple Grove to be exact (traveling from Fargo, ND-leaving tomorrow morning, staying until Wednesday morning) My S.O. is currently doing an internship there, so for Friday, Monday, and Tuesday I'll be flying solo most of the day. I'll be packing my new Canon Digital Rebel XT, as well as a fancy Canon camcorder I need for school (I don't expect to use the video camera, probably at all, I just have to pick it up before my University closes down for the week)-that's about all I have to entertain myself. What can I do during the day, without my girlfriend? Any good places to take pictures? She's doing her internship at a clinic in Burnsville, do you know of any fun restaurants we could meet at for lunch?

How about this weekend? She'll have Saturday and Sunday off, what's fun on the weekends? We still don't know much about the night life, we have a favorite bar in Maple Grove, but that's about it-do you have any ideas for fun hangouts? (we're 21 and 22, so anything's fair game)

We've been to Como Zoo already this winter, and wouldn't mind going back if the weather isn't too terrible. We also might go to the Mall of America with some friends (it's not our favorite place to be, but it's usually interesting). Thanks in advance for any help!

Under 21 in Boston, stuff to do after 9PM? Night life please!

Texasjake987 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:14:53 -0800

Under 21 in Boston, stuff to do after 9PM? Night life please! I'm in college, under 21 and live in the fenway area but willing to travel a reasonable distance for decent entertainment.
What I really want to know is...
WHY DOES BOSTON HAVE SUCH A BEDTIME?!
The T closes at 12:30, and most businesses close at 11
What can I do after 9 on the weekends with my over 21 friends that isnt lame or childish?

Looking for recommendations for a baby proof TV / entertainment centre that doesn't look too shabby.

theNonsuch — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:48:38 -0800

Looking for recommendations for a baby proof TV / entertainment centre that doesn't look too shabby. My eight-month old son hasn't started crawling yet, but you can tell he's just weeks (if not days) away, so we've started baby proofing our apartment in earnest.

One of the main problem areas right now is in the living room. I have a 32" LCD TV that sits out in the open on top of a basic TV stand and I really want to baby proof this so it can't be pulled / pushed over.

We're renting, so I don't want to put the effort into wall mounting the TV. The current thought is to get it into some kind of entertainment unit that has some kind of sliding door or glass front.

(I also have a DVD player, cable unit, Tivo, and small shelf stereo that all could use some storing, too, but the TV is the priority.)

I've seen the giant wooden units that make it look like they were carved from a massive tree trunk as well as the black particle board ones that seem better suited to a guy who insists on demoing his setup using Top Gun at full volume. But finding something that's pleasantly designed and safe seems difficult if not impossible.

Any suggestions?

I love This American Life, but it's too long!

reenum — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:31:32 -0800

I need some short podcasts to listen to at work and the gym I searched the old posts on AskMeFi, but none of them really applied.

I'm looking for podcasts that are up to 20 minutes long. I love This American Life and Fair Game, but find they're too long sometimes. I want shorter podcasts so I'm not always starting in the middle of a show.

Thanks!

ISO site that does TV recommendation based on interests

seeminglee — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:15:53 -0800

Is there a cable tv listing site that suggest shows based on interests (tagging perhaps?) My friend just convinced me to get cable so I can watch Project Runway, which is a great show. But with all these channels, I am having a tough time finding out what's on and what's not?

I have tried TVguide.com but I don't find it very useful.

There are a few criteria that I'm looking for:
+ ability to enter interests as filters
+ ability to highlight popular shows (I am a designer and thus needs to know what people are watching these days)
+ ability to see a timeline that extends for the entire week.

I would like to see a way to construct a tv calendar around my regular schedule.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
See-ming

Xbox 360 over an Apple network? Help a brother out (literally!)

mattholomew — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:52:09 -0800

Xbox 360 over an Apple network? Help a brother out (literally!) My brother just got an Xbox 360 which he wants to connect to Live via an Apple Airport Express wireless router. Any advice on how to do this? Also, any recommendations for software to stream media from a Mac? I realize similar questions have been asked in the past but software etc. is always changing so I thought it worth asking again.

What shall we do before midnight?

gursky — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:22:03 -0800

Last Minute Travel Plans: I'm seeking advice on what to do in New York City this new year's eve. I've read past threads about what to do in NYC, both generally and on new year's eve. My best friend and I are going for 4 days, as a break from school...and Ontario. We have plans for what to do and see and eat while we're there, but so far the night of the 31st is still lacking anything concrete.

We were hoping we'd find a concert or show to attend, but nothing happening on the 31st caught our interest (we google'd for a few hours).

What we're looking for:

- a place to go in Manhattan
- something relatively inexpensive (we're students; the cheaper the better)
- something that isn't going to be rowdy or too crowded
- a crowd that is mixed in age (we're both 21, but we're not looking for a 21-year-old's party)

If it somehow incorporates music (indie, folk, jazz, alternative) that would be great. If it's just a good time, that'll do too.

Thanks for your help!

Vegas shows advice please

bread-eater — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:21:29 -0800

Recommendations of shows in Las Vegas, for two people in mid-20s. Looking for a few to see and for advice on how to get tickets for cheap if possible. Thanks! Hello. I've looked through the many past threads on vegas travel but my question is specifically about shows... We are two friends (female and male) looking for magic shows, comedy shows and also some kind of an adult/topless show to see while we're there in January. I'd love to hear your experiences (good or bad) about these shows. What I want to know:

1) Was it good? Why?
2) Do I need to get tickets at least a week in advance?
3) Were you able to get them at a discount? How?

Also I don't need to hear more about Cirque du Soleil as I have read the heaps of praises in older threads and have had personal recommendations from other people already :)

How are paparazzi not considered harassment?

miasma — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 08:20:53 -0800

How are paparazzi not considered harassment? I understand that certain countries/states have laws against this sort of treatment, but every time I see hardcore paparazzi in the media, it's like these celebrities can't get their car out of a parking space. How is this not considered harassment? Just because its on public property doesn't mean you're allowed to annoy me as much as possible. Why hasn't this been cracked-down?

Warm the cockles of my heart!

Shebear — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 05:17:03 -0800

Every Monday, I look forward to the Metropolitan Diary column in the New York Times. Can anyone recommend similar columns, podcasts, etc. for me to try? I'm looking for human-interest, put-a-smile-on-your face type of things. But I am not into books like Chicken Soup for the Soul - that's just getting to cheesy. In fact, I think a whole book of this type of stuff will be too much. I just like a little lift every once in a while. Any suggestions?

Which American cities have an active entertainment industry?

missjamielynn — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:52:43 -0800

Where should we move- which American cities have active entertainment industries? My boyfriend and I attended NYU and have remained in the city since graduating in 2004. He went to film school and I studied film/tv writing. We've been struggling to make our careers happen here, but it is becoming clear that the financial pressures of the city and competition in our field is too much to take on at the moment. We are thinking about a move, but not the typical move to LA.

We are looking to find places that still have some sort of active entertainment industry. We are also interested in pursuing journalism. The most important thing is that there should be a decent cost of living, but still very safe. We prefer a mild climate, being near a coast, liberal area, staying near a major city-but we do not need a megalopolis.

How long is waitlist at WMA or CAA?

dannon205 — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:33:03 -0800

How long is the wait list to start working at William Morris or CAA? I'm extremely interested in getting a job at a talent agency that represents musicians/bands. William Morris is my first choice since I think their artist roster is where the future of music will be. I have a gen'l idea about CAA's roster, but not much since it's not public.

Anyway, I want to time my start date as best as possible. I need to save up money to compensate for the meager salary. I figure that I can have enough saved up by June 1st. The second issue is that under my current contract, I have to give my employer 30 days notice.

So does anyone know how long it takes for WMA and/or CAA to call someone back in for an interview? How long from the first interview until you start work?

Lastly, how good are the job prospects for someone like me... I'm 24 and a lawyer. I don't have any direct experience in the industry, but I took several entertainment law classes while in law school. I also read billboard.biz and .com everyday, variety.com, and deadlinehollywooddaily.com about once a week. I'm extremely passionate about music and truly believe that I'll be the next David Geffen. I know what's going to be hot months before it happens. I would also say that I'm pretty good in social settings. However, I don't know anyone in the industry that can call up an agent to get me an interview. So what are the odds that w/ all the resumes and cover letters that they get at the LA office, they'll call me back?

Look at me! Look at me!

barrakuda — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:57:36 -0800

What are your favorite celebrity gossip blogs?

Bar, bar Black Sheep

strawberryviagra — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:26:06 -0800

Help me itemise the necessities for opening a small bar. Let's not concern ourselves with the licensing aspects - I'm interested in logistics - what are the things I need to open a simple, small (<5>Anybody can be a non-drunk. It takes a special talent to be a drunk. It takes endurance. Endurance is more important than truth. Henry Chinaski