a prophetic voice-

River Run Fun Festival is in full swing in Winston-Salem, Triad, but it's not too late to get tickets to many promising films. So far, we've seen three- two documentaries and a narrative, and have given them scores of five, three, and four. Oh, just to explain, at each showing, the audience a is given a rating tab and asked to score their reaction to the film on a one to five scale, one being basically "I hated it" to five being  "Loved it, would recommend it." Not bad, I think, for early in our film-watching odyssey of thirteen films over nine days. This celebration of new and innovative films is a must-see for all film buffs in the area, in my opinion. To learn more, go to the River Run website (www.riverrunfilm.com )and then go, go, go to sister city, Winston-Salem, for a memorable experience. Kuddos, too, to UNCSA for their wonderful, energetic, totally fun presentation of "Guys and Dolls" at the Stevens Center. If you have neve...

I have come to love living in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina. Oh, yes, our state has its share of problems, not the least of which is our present retrogressive state government and its rush to enact laws which will do anything but enhance our state' image in the eyes of many, including many of its own residents. But this area of the state which I have called home for the past twenty- four years has been blessed with an overwhelming abundance in the realm of the Arts. And for an art/film/theater/music lover like me, it is my idea of heaven. My own city, High Point, is admittedly lacking in this realm, though we are home to North Carolina Shakespeare (which has struggled mightily with finances in recent years), the High Point Theater series, and the High Point Community Chorus- of which I am delighted to be a part this year. But living, as I do, between the other two major metropolitan areas, I am able to easily access the incredible opportunities available t...

Movie buffs, I have spent the past two Saturday afternoons viewing two absolutely delightful films. The first was "Quartet", Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut. I must agree with the author of a recent article in the AARP magazine: Dustin, why did you wait so long? Not only did this film present excellent acting and a wonderful story, but it was visually breathtaking and the soundtrack was amazing, filled as it was with classical music and operatic arias. The indomitable Maggie Smith was front-and-center, seeming to revel in the wisdom and beauty of her seventy-nine years, not trying to look like anything other than what she is- a lovely aging woman who wears her years- and wrinkles- with grace and aplomb. And Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay and Pauline Collins rounded out a stellar cast which included numerous real-life musicians over the age of 70. Oh, yes, the film is about aging musicians living in an old-age home created especially for them in the English countryside. ...