A holiday treat for all

It's 8 feet long, 8 feet wide and 13 feet tall and the best part -- it's edible! Harrah's Louisiana Downs created this sweet treat under the guidance of executive chef Ryan Gillespie. The team poured more than 100 hours into the project.

It took more than 600 pounds of gingerbread to create the house. Marshmallow snowmen, gumdrops, peppermint candies, Reese's Pieces, Hershey's Chocolate Bars and candy canes are cemented together with about 400 pounds of icing. It's enough to make my tummy ache.

This past weekend, I told my friend Kate we were going to top off our Sunday with a festive activity. Ornament making? Nope. Tree decorating? Done that already. Baking cookies? Getting warmer.

I picked up two gingerbread house kits from World Market. I was expecting excitement, but instead I got, "Oh dear." The kit includes everything you need to make a cute little gingerbread house. The walls are pre-baked and the concrete icing powder mixes into the perfect sugary cement with just six tablespoons of water.

However, I didn't anticipate Kate's inability to abide by the rules and the well mapped out directions. During the early construction stages, I was in deep concentration (even though I mistook my roof for my walls at first) and didn't pay much attention to Kate's craftsmanship. When I looked up, her house looked like a gingerbread house Frank Lloyd Wright would build. It was chaos!

On the other hand, I, the ultimate perfectionist, secured gumdrops in perfect rows along my roof. I lined windows and doorways with tiny candy pieces and tossed rainbow sprinkles across my roof line. I shook my head and Kate's creativity continued. When all gumdrops were in place, Kate looked at me and asked, "Are you mad at me?"

Sure, she hadn't taken our holiday project seriously. But she had fun making her house ... or tepee ... OK, I'm not exactly sure what to call it. Neither of our projects were flawless by any means. Within 30 minutes of completing my house, half of my roof had slid off the top.

It was a fun project, but likely not one Kate and I will repeat. I'll post pictures of our gingerbread houses soon.

Ian Moore talks about music making

Singer/songwriter Ian Moore is performing tonight at Sharpie's. I recently interviewed Moore and really enjoyed his views on music and performing. Here's some of what we talked about, and if you're free tonight check him out. I think this will be a really good show.

S.N.: You approached your latest album, “To Be Loved,” from a different angle. You really experimented with sound and recording. How much different was recording this album from your previous work?

MOORE: My last record, "Luminaria" was a lot quieter. Stylistically, I was listening to different stuff. I incorporated some of my favorite sounds on this album, and I think it was more ambitious.

S.N.: You built some of the recording equipment yourself. So, how long did it take you to complete this album?

MOORE: I'm a really active musician. Most people put out a record and then they go on tour. But I tour constantly. So the time I spent making the album reflects that. I wasn’t sitting there recording non-stop. I recorded it myself over a period of several months.

S.N.: Were the results satisfying for you?

MOORE: Of course, part of me is very satisfied and another part of me is never satisfied with anything in life. But, ultimately it's got its own identity that's different than what anyone else is doing right now. I'm really proud with the sounds and vocal recordings. It's an art form just like painting or writing a novel.

S.N.: Do you think fans can easily follow the changes you make from album to album?

MOORE: That really depends on the people. Most artists aren’t changing as much because they're scared of losing their fan base. But things change all time, I may have lost some fans because of it but it's who I am. The one thing that is consistent is change. Every record I've done is different from the last, and I plan to keep it that way.

S.N.: Most artists find something they do well and they really dig into that one thing. Why is change necessary for you?

MOORE: Change and art are synonymous. If I'm making records and from record to record I'm not growing or covering any different territory then why am I doing it? I don’t know, I may be at odds with some people on this, but some musicians say, "I do this because I want people to have a good time." Well, I want people to have a good time at my shows, and I want to make people happy. But it's also part of my job as pop musician to pull in different things and to open people's ears to different stuff. And in a small subtle way, I think it makes the world better. I'm idealistic. I know that.

S.N.: You were well established in Austin and you chose to move. How did that shake things up for you?

MOORE: It shook things up quite a bit. The backdrop was much different. It took away the crutches. When I left Austin, I was at the height of my success there, and I moved to a town where I didn’t really have all those things going on. I wasn’t the cornerstone of Seattle's music scene, it wasn’t my town and that made me work harder and made me really look inside myself. It helped with writing. My songs got better and better and the end product is that I'm better at my craft.

S.N.: Your music has been compared to everything from The Beatles to The Flaming Lips. Does any pressure come with these comparisons?

MOORE: Just because you're being compared doesn’t mean you're as good. It just means there are elements of my music that make people think of certain groups. I think comparisons are just a frame of reference. That’s how people think. If you come out to show and you want to tell someone else what to expect, that how most people describe music.

Give love a chance

I don't know many people these days who enjoy being set up on dates. I refuse. I'd rather be a crazy cat lady than to sit through a terrible, forced date and wonder if he's going to drop me in a ditch somewhere at the end of the night. If you can't tell, I'm a hopeless romantic. And if you can't tell, that was me being sarcastic.

But if you believe in love at first sight or simply would like to meet someone new, here's an event you can attend Wednesday night.

Ronald Hayes Productions
presents
Holiday Love Jones Match up

The selections have been made and it's time to meet.
Come see who will be chosen as they meet for the 1st time.

Come join us for a fun filled evening as we try to "hook-up"
singles in this dating game style venue.
Please be our guest

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 8-10:30 pm
Party after the event
ADAMS LOUNGE-2015 Old Minden Rd., Bossier City
Special Performance by MOSLEY'S MOVEMENTS
Musical Guest- Marc Scroggins

Tickets $5 in advance, $7 at the door

Drowning Pool show cancelled

I've got some bad news for those of you who were looking forward to Saturday's Drowning Pool show at the Warehouse. The show's been cancelled. Here are the details I received in a news release.

DROWNING POOL BASSIST RUSHED TO HOSPITAL, DIAGNOSED WITH BELL’S PALSY

Band Forced To Cancel Tour Dates

DALLAS (December 6, 2007) – Drowning Pool bassist Stevie Benton was rushed to the hospital early this morning suffering from paralysis. Benton began to feel ill during last night’s performance at Stone’s Throw in Eau Claire, WI, and after the show was rushed to the Luther Midelfort Hospital where Christian F. Peterson MD, ED Physician diagnosed him with a neurological disorder called Bell’s Palsy which causes paralysis of the face and sometimes sensitivity to sound.

George Clooney, Pierce Brosnan and Ralph Nader have also been afflicted with this illness. In most cases the disease is temporary and, with proper rest, resolves on its own. Consequently, doctors have ordered Benton off the road for a minimum of six weeks.

“I’m really bummed that because of this, we can’t perform this last string of shows,” says Benton, “I want to thank the fans for their continued support and believe me when I say we can’t wait to come back and rock out with you all again soon.”

As a result, the following remaining dates on Drowning Pool’s This Is For The Soldiers Tour, which has been donating money to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the USO, have been cancelled.

12.06.07 Green Bay, WI The Woods

12.07.07 Peoria, IL Exposition Gardens Youth Center

12.08.07 Flint, MI The Machine Shop

12.09.07 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall

12.11.07 Chicago, IL House of Blues

12.12.07 Clarksville, TN Kickers

12.13.07 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom

12.14.07 Shreveport, LA The Warehouse

12.15.07 Beaumont, TX Antone’s

Meeting the other me

I don't have a common name. In fact, if you live in Shreveport and know a Netherton, go ahead and figure that I'm related to them. I have never really thought about the other Nethertons out there. And I definitely never thought I'd meet another Stephanie Netherton. After all, most of my family lives within five miles of each other.

But through the wonders of Facebook, I've met the other me. Over the past few weeks we've joked about how long it takes for us to sign our names, Stephanie (not me) celebrated a birthday and it has been funny, and somewhat confusing, to read about what Stephanie Netherton has been up to. So, I thought it would be fun to compare our lives. Here are a few questions I sent to Stephanie along with each of our responses.

1. Where are you from?

Stephanie: Louisville, Ky.

Me: Shreveport, La.

2. When were you born?

Stephanie: Nov. 29, 1986

Me: May 9, 1981

3. What are your parents' names?

Stephanie: Eric and Vicki

Me: David and Amy

4. Are you named after anyone?

Stephanie: My grandma claims my dad named me after Stevie Lynn Nicks, but i think she made that up. we just happen to have the same initials... SLN

Me: My mom wanted to actually name me Stevie! My dad wouldn't have it and they settled on Stephanie after my mom's brother Steve.

5. What is your favorite color?

Stephanie: green... any shade.

Me: green, too.

6. Your favorite food?

Stephanie: hmmm.. everything, but if i had to pick one I'd say chocolate.

Me: The simple potato. It's so versatile and so good ... especially if we're talking Cub potatoes.

7. Favorite TV show?

Stephanie: "Scrubs."

Me: I love my "Grey's Anatomy."

8. Hobbies?

Stephanie: family, friends, reading, movies, music, art, working out, eating.

Me: Hanging out with friends and family, playing with my dog (Baxter), golf (if it's warm enough and I have someone to play with), swimming (this actually means laying on a raft in the pool), taking trips with friends, LSU football.

9. What do you do for a living?

Stephanie: Full-time student, and I work part time at a cafe at a gym.

Me: Entertainment editor.

10. What was the worst date you've ever been on?

Stephanie: haha.. um... had to have been a blind date when i was about 14.

Me: My senior year of high school football banquet. My date picked me up with a dip in his mouth. As we were driving down interstate he kept opening his door to spit. This was the only time in my life that I would have been happy to see a spit cup.

11. What did you do last weekend?

Stephanie: Went to my brother's football game (their in the state championship game this weekend) and did homework.

Me: Put up my Christmas tree and attended a friend's wedding.

12. Is there anything you are afraid of?

Stephanie: dying.

Me: roller coasters and large spiders. OK, small spiders too.

13. What is your favorite family memory?

Stephanie: Holidays! My family is so funny, and I love when everyone gets together for the holidays. It's good times.

Me: Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house. There's always some small blunder that gets the group laughing and the night rolls on from there.

14. What is your family like?

Stephanie: Everyone's usually coming and going, but we're really close.

Me: Everyone's funny and sarcastic. When we get together it's non-stop laughter. Although, when my older brother is making a joke, it's usually at my expense.

15. Do you have any brothers or sisters? If so, what are their names?

Stephanie: Twin sister, Christa, and younger brother, Eric

Me: Older brother, Chris, and younger brother, Taylor.

16. What do you want for Christmas?

Stephanie: Well I don't really feel like there's much I need this year, but I'd love an easel! I won't have one and it'd come in handy.

Me: I don't need much either, but you can't go wrong by buying me clothes. Or even better SHOES!

17. Did you go on vacation this year? If so, where?

Stephanie: Yep, I went to the Cayman Islands with my friend Nicki and her family.

Me: It was a crazy year and I actually got to take several trips. The first to Augusta, Ga., for the Masters, then Orange Beach for a week with my family and finally a weekend in Destin with about 10 of my best girlfriends.

18. What is your favorite band?

Stephanie: Jack's Mannequin.

Me: Rilo Kiley

19. How did you celebrate your birthday this year?

Stephanie: It was actually my 21st birthday last Thursday, and I went to the Louisville/Rutgers game with my sister and a bunch of friends.

Me: I went to dinner at Bella Fresca with three of my closest friends.

20. How many other Stephanie Netherton's do you know?

Stephanie: Just you! :)

Me: That makes two of us!