Charleston Gazette

Gazz Notes

'Movie Finder' arrives Forget calling up the local movie theater and having to listen to the bored teenager mumbling through local movie times and then - in a split-second of distraction - missing the time of the movie you want. And having to call back and go through the whole #%@!! spiel again.

Pony Power

Join the Mustang Club of West Virginia this weekend for the annual All Ford Show and Chili Bash on Saturday and Sunday in Charleston. The group has been holding the show since 1980, but this is the first year the car show has stretched to two days. Events kick off with a cruise-in open to all cars 1973 and older at the state Capitol Complex, followed by a parade at 4 p.m. from the Capitol to Patrick Street along Kanawha Boulevard, across the Kanawha River to MacCorkle Avenue and back to 35th ...

On the Road (Kill)

Sample some opossum or rattlesnake Saturday when the annual West Virginia Road Kill Cookoff kicks off in Marlinton. No, dishes aren't really based on road pizza, but, according to cook-off officials, "Anything goes, as long as the main ingredient is an animal commonly found along the road." Box Turtle Surprise, anyone? Cooking begins at 11 a.m., with judging starting at 2 p.m. Samples are available to those with the nerve to actually taste them.

Your Wish Is Their Command

Psychedelic Texas swingsters Commander Cody will be one of the featured acts when Hippielympics 2005 comes to Sunshine Day Dream music park near Terra Alta on Friday and Saturday. The two-day festival of music and mayhem includes loads of live music and plenty of fun and games. Though hippie-in-charge Tim McClenny says the exact games lineup remains shrouded in mystery, past Hippielympics have included tomato golf tournaments, scooter races and grilled- cheese sandwich making. Other bands on ...

Stolen Rembrandt, Four Sale Suspects Moved to Sweden

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Four men arrested in Copenhagen last week for allegedly trying to sell a stolen Rembrandt painting were extradited to Sweden on Wednesday to face charges, investigators said. The painting, a self-portrait from 1630, was also flown back to Stockholm, and was to be put on display today at the National Museum, from which it was stolen with two Renoir paintings five years ago.

Wide Awake Dreamer: ; in Back-Road Southern Churches, Lizz Wright First Found Her Voice but Had to Leave to Bring It to the World

IF YOU GO Mountain Stage, featuring Lizz Wright, the John Pizzarelli Trio, Al Kooper and the Funky Faculty, and David Jacobs- Strain, begins at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Cultural Center, state Capitol Complex. Tickets $12.50 advance, $18 at the door. At Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., or call (800) 594-8499. Online: www.lizzwright.net For the Gazette

New Sounds

Longer versions of the following capsule reviews can be read online on the "New Sounds" blog at thegazz.com. CD: "Make Believe" (Geffen Records)

Son Volt Requires More Than a Quick Listen

CD: "Okemah and the Melody of Riot" (Transmit Sound/Legacy) PERFORMER: Son Volt

Film Clips

* "THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE": Grade: B minus. Marquee Cinemas, Park Place Stadium Cinemas. Based on a true story, this thriller has the illuminations of a typical horror flick, but categorically takes form as a courtroom drama. The ability to combine both aspects makes it better than average, and the ability to make us question our beliefs, if only for a few minutes, makes it even more interesting. Rated PG-13. - Mickey Ellison * "THE MAN": Grade: D minus. MC. One of the worst films of 2005...

Bessie Sings the Blues

All's Fair

In Concert

* MANHATTANS: Adult soul by a reconstituted version of the 40- year-old singing group, 8 p.m. Friday. Davis Fine Arts Building, West Virginia State University. Admission $15. Call 766-3196. * INDIAN: The South Asia Cultural Society Inc. sponsors "Kathak Gunjan," a performance of Indian classical dance and music featuring dancers Kaveri Agashe and Manasi Tapikar, percussionist (tabla player) Ramdas Palsule, sitarist Subhash Dasakkar and vocalist Shekhar Kumbhojkar, 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tamarack, ...

Field Commanders

Sure you see them at football games during halftime performances, but on Tuesday, high school bands, flag corps and majorettes in the area will have a night all their own during the 59th Annual Daily Mail Kanawha County Majorette and Band Festival, which starts 6:30 p.m. at Laidley Field, Elizabeth Street and Piedmont Road. Categories in the contest include Miss Kanawha Majorette, Band Champion, Best Feature Twirler, Best Flag Corps, Best Percussion, Best Band Marching, Best Band Playing and ...

Ghostly Green Bottom

Spotlight

Pop Cult: ; Wrestling Film, Sc Theater Looking Good

For a longer version of this blog posting on "In the Ringer," see thegazz.com blog "PopCult." For the Gazette

Game Player: ; Depth of 'Advance Wars' for Nintendo Ds Amazing

Copley News Service Since the release of the inventive Nintendo DS handheld system, there have been few games that take full advantage of its dual- screen and touch-screen features. Nintendo's turn-based strategy title, "Advance Wars: Dual Strike," is so innovative and enjoyable that it makes most other DS titles seem archaic by comparison.

Political 'War' Nearly Perfect

REVIEW Lord of War Grade: B plus Rated R (strong violence, drug use, language and sexuality) Directed by Andrew Niccol Starring Nicolas Cage, Bridget Moynahan Marquee Cinemas, Park Place Stadium Cinemas rustymarks@wvgazette.com

Next Week

5 Questions: ; Going to Barber with Cerovsek

IF YOU GO The W.Va. Symphony Orchestra and Corey Cerovsek will perform Friday and Saturday. The symphony will also play Shostakovichs Festival Overture and Respighis Pines of Rome. Both end spectacularly with an augmented brass section placed in an unusual way in the hall. The concerts are at 8 p.m. at the Clay Center. Tickets $9 to $49 for adults, $5 to $13 for students. You can buy tickets at the door, by calling 561-3570 or by ordering online at www.wvsymphony.org/ tickets.php. For th...