Happy new year one and all!

We are already three days into 2011 and I am feeling a sense of excitement and promise. 2010 was a year of change, and I hope 2011 will be a year of advancement and tranquility, oh, and of course, happiness!

Surprisingly the leading trend in my 2011 has suggested this will be the year of… hockey? I have so far seen the Sabres overtake the Bruins in a shootout  on the 1st, and team Canada destroy Switzerland in the World Juniors tournament on the 2nd.  Who would have thought that in the first two days of 2011 I would have attended just as many games as I had in all of 2010.  Could it be an omen? What do two consecutive hockey victories (couldn’t help but cheer for our neighbors to the north on Sunday) foreshadow in the coming year? I hope fame and fortune, but that is hoping for a lot.

The beginning of the new year also calls for the New Years Resolution, that goal we all set for ourselves that 90% of us inevitably break. There are the usual resolutions, lose 10lbs, save more than in the previous year, pay off specific bills or items, read more books, watch more News 4, typical stuff! This year, I have decided to combine all resolutions into one big grand-daddy of a resolution: I resolve to become a better, more caring person in 2011. I know, very goody-two-shoes, but I figure its worth a try, and I still resolve to eat better and go to the gym more often, as usual, but this may really be the year!

‘Til next time, with a brand new year ahead,

-Allie

It is a sad reality to face, especially in Hollywood; most couples eventually divorce. While the odds are against most celebrity couples, and sometimes the public is too (I give Katy and Russell slightly over a year. I will also be waiting for him with open arms), it seems as if a shocking number of celebrity couples have called it quits this year.

Lets start at the beginning of 2010… well technically the end of 2009:

In December Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins announced they were filing for divorce after 23 years. They were officially divorced in 2010.

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren. This was one of the biggest scandals of the year. While his infidelities came to light in late 2009, they were officially divorced in August of 2010.

The Tiger scandal was followed soon after by yet another mass infidelity, Jesse James and Sandra Bullock. Jesse soon became the most hated man in America, much to Tiger’s relief.

These divorces were followed by: Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes, Cheryl and Ashley Cole, The Dream and Christina Milian, Sean Penn and Robin Wright, Elisabeth Moss and Fred Armisen, Ben Harper and Laura Dern, Melissa Ethridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels, Kelsey and Camille Grammer, Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller, Rachel Weisz and Darren Aronofsky, Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus; and just in the past two months: Courtney Cox and Davis Arquette, Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall, Christina Aguliera and Jordan Bratman, Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar and finally, Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds.

It has been a long and tumultuous  year in the world of celebrity marriages. I do, however, wish all ongoing and new celebrity couples the best of luck and hope the list for 2011 is much shorter!

‘Til next time, with a well drafted pre-nup,

-Allie

The Oscars are my Superbowl. Keeping with this analogy, that would make the Golden Globes my Division Championship, and the SAG awards a college football bowl game.

The nominees for the Golden Globes have been announced, and so begins my movie watching frenzy!

Every year I try to watch every film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, plus any that may have had an Oscar contending actor’s performance that was not nominated for Best Picture. This usually brings my total of films to be watched to somewhere in the 10-15 range. The Golden Globes are usually a good indicator of which films and actors will be nominated for Oscars, so I find I can usually get a decent head start on my Oscar films by watching as many Golden Globe nominated films as I can.

This year’s task is proving to be easier than most years. Unlike the Oscars, Golden Globe Best Picture nominations are divided into two categories: Comedy/Musical and Drama. While this does make for more nominated films, there is also a greater chance I have seen one of the nominated films already, which is luckily the case this year!

For Drama the nominees are:

Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The King’s Speech and The Social Network.

Of those I have already seen Inception and have plans to see both Black Swan and The Fighter this coming weekend. The King’s Speech I may drag my heels on a bit, but since both Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush were nominated in acting categories, I will head down the the Amherst Theatre sometime in the near future. The Social Network will be released on DVD January 11th, just in time for the Golden Globes broadcast on the 16th.

For the Comedy/Musical category the nominees are:

Alice in Wonderland, Burlesque, Red, The Kids are Alright and The Tourist.

I have seen Alice in Wonderland and The Kids are Alright. I have wanted to see Red for some time now, so hopefully I will get around to it soon. I am somewhat sorry to say I will not be watching either Burlesque or The Tourist. A nomination does not necessarily mean a movie is good, and I really can’t see the point in wasting valuable viewing time on these two non-contenders.

Actors nominated for films that have not earned a nomination, thus more films I strive to watch, include:

James Franco in 127 Hours, Ryan Gosling in Blue Valentine, Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine, Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole,  Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone, Jake Gyllenhaal in Love and Other Drugs, Anne Hathaway in Love and Other Drugs, and Emma Stone in Easy A.

Of these I have seen 127 Hours (It is WONDERFUL). Winter’s Bone is #1 on the Netflix queue and I am sure Easy A can be added.  Love and Other Drugs will make a lovely Saturday matinee and I’ll be first in line when Rabbit Hole and Blue Valentine are released.

With all of these planned viewings, I am sure I will be well on my way to complete Oscar knowledge for 2011. Awards season is one of the most exciting times of my year and you can bet I’ll be watching all one million hours of each and every ceremony!

For a list of all Golden Globe nominees go to http://www.moviefone.com/golden-globes/nominee-winner.

‘Til next time, with a much greater 2010 film knowledge base,

-Allie

Green. That is still the color of the ground in Buffalo, NY. A mere 5 miles south of my house, and the station, there are driving bans and feet upon feet of snow. While I know it has been a long and tortuous few days for the residents of the Southtowns, I am jealous. I’d gladly trudge out into the rapidly falling snow to dig out my car and mailbox! Fighting the snow is part of being Buffalonian, and I feel I am being denied a basic right of residency.

My only solution to curb my jealousy is to offer help shoveling and salting in exchange for some soup and hot chocolate. I’m very experienced with all types of snow shovels, though I would consider myself more of a novice with a snowblower (I can’t really make straight lines). Also, if you aren’t sure what to do with the massive quantities of snow now junking up your front lawn, I am an excellent snowman builder and would be happy to assist you in creating a snow-people community.

Any takers?

‘Til next time, hopefully with some snow of my own,

-Allie

Today, November 22nd, it is fifty-nine degrees.

I love warm weather. This past summer was ideal with consistent temperatures above 80 degrees. I was in heaven. Even now I’m am researching inexpensive last-minute beach vacations with the hope of squeezing in some end of the year sunshine.

I am, however, surprising myself with how much I am really craving some snow. The mild days and nights have been lovely, and it’s been great not having to bring up winter boxes from the basement or change my windshield wipers, but gosh darn it, I’d like to make a snow angel!

I have been skiing and snowboarding for many years, and I love coming home exhausted on Sunday evenings from a full day of snowsporting. Sledding is another favorite activity of mine, and the hills of Chestnut Ridge have been calling my name. Add to it snowball fights, snow-fort building and cross-country skiing, I am feeling a desire for snowfall like never before!

It has been since March of this year that we have seen a flake fall from the sky, and while I’m not exactly disappointed, I think we are all ready for some old fashioned lake effect! So lets all band together, cross our fingers and hope that December might bring us some notorious Buffalo snow!

‘Til next time, with dreams of toboggans,

-Allie

Plenty of big budget films have been made in Buffalo, most recently Henry’s Crime and before that The Savages, Manna From Heaven, and a wee bit of Bruce Almighty. While seeing Hollywood head to Buffalo is very exciting, what should truly get our heartbeats up are locally made and produced films, most of which have the elements of heartfelt Hollywood, only more home-based.

On Saturday, November 20th, we Western New Yorkers will have the chance to catch an exclusive screening of one such film. Bonfire, Falls, written and directed by Aaron Doolittle, is a film set in WNY, written by, directed and starring people from WNY.

Bonfire, Falls is the story of three twenty-somethings, fresh out of college and embarking upon their own “real life” journeys, all under one roof. Bill, Jackson and Rivers, three longtime friends, move into a house immediately following their graduation and begin to learn what it is like to create an existence based off of one’s own decisions, desires and needs. The three look to the past and the future to help shape their present day, and make small yet life altering decisions along the way.

Writer and director Aaron Doolittle assembled a cast and crew to shoot this film over four years ago. After years of moving back and forth from Los Angeles to Buffalo to Korea, he is back and has finally put together his freshman film effort. While Aaron recognizes that he has learned much in the film industry after the shooting of Bonfire, Falls, this script and this film is his passion project, finally being brought to life.

Bonfire, Falls will be screened at the Market Arcade Theater, on Main St. in Buffalo, on Saturday the 20th at 7:30pm. Immediately following the film Doolittle, as well as the cast and crew, will be answering questions from the audience.

For more information on the film and to view exclusive trailers and behind the scenes footage head to www.aarondoolittle.com.

For more information on the market arcade go to http://www.dipsontheatres.com/showtimes/location.php?locationid=27.

‘Til next time, with all my Buffalo film pride,

-Allie

Football and Auctions and 80′s, oh my! The past few weeks on Hellcats have been eventful!

First, the Hellcats challenge the volleyball girls to a game of flag football that forces Marti to choose between her law classes and the Hellcats. After much turmoil, Marti eventually decided to support her comrades in spirit and beast-modes her way through the game to help the Hellcats win the bet. Coach Vanessa also delivers some saddening news, the Hellcats did not make it to nationals on the bid vid, so they need to raise some big time bucks.

I can’t say I didn’t see the disappointment coming, what fun would it be to watch the Hellcats practice for a competition they already made it into? There wouldn’t be enough uncertainty and suspense in that! Plus, sectionals will be coming up soon, and if Glee has taught us anything, that will be the episode to watch!

Next, in a moment of pure genius, the Hellcats decide to host an auction. This has been done to death in TV, but it is still fun to watch! All goes as planned, except for a surprise visit from Savannah’s ex boyfriend. The meeting between the two of them leads to a reconciliation between Savannah and he estranged parents, which is heartwarming, and provides us with the best line of the series yet: “Basically I’m really into irony these days.” Well gee Savannah, who hasn’t gotten hooked on irony at one point in their lives?

Finally, the Hellcats 25 year celebration, and a potential first time for Savannah. I get that she is all wrapped up in Dan and their SaDannah-ness, but she is causing most of the drama she experiences by making life grander than it is!  Yes she has been somewhat sheltered, but she allows the past relationship of Marti and Dan to get in her head too much. She needs self confidence and has to know that what ever she feels is right for her, is right. The world doesn’t sit around and judge our every move, we are all too self involved for that, and once Savannah realizes this she will be able to have faith in herself! I am very devoted to her character.

With sectionals around the corner, the next few weeks of Hellcats will most likely be the most thrilling episodes yet!

‘Til next time, with brazen confidence,

-Allie

Vampire Diaries is one of the most watched guilty-pleasure shows on television. Who hasn’t become enthralled by the Elena-Stefan-Damon-Katherine love quadrangle at some point?

Now its your chance to show Paul Wesley, better known as Stefan Salvatore, some of your love and devotion!

Entertainment Weekly has created a list of the year’s most under-appreciated entertainers, and who is on that list? Why Paul Wesley of course! Finally his brooding talents are being recognized!

If you would like to vote for Paul as the obvious winner of the under-appreciated award head here and show him some appreciation! I most certainly will be!

‘Til next time, with adoration,

-Allie

One thing I am continuously spoiled by (depending on how you look at it) is that I have a great deal of family close by. While it may seem like a blaring contradiction, I also have a lot of family spread out across the country. Somehow it has magically worked in my favor that the holidays be spent in Western New York, and the out of towners come to us… until recently. This year I will get a glorious break from the gloom of Buffalo to check out sunny, soulful Atlanta! This trip would be positively dreamy, did it not include the horrors of holiday travel!

Don’t misinterpret,  I love to travel and I love being with family on holidays.   I do not, however, like to travel over Thanksgiving, Christmas,  Presidents, Memorial or Labor Days.  EVERYONE in the world seems to be traveling on these days, and everyone in the world seems to have forgotten how to walk quickly or sit in the seats they are assigned.  I also find it frustrating that everyone seems to be in some sort of “Harupmh-cloud” that makes every detail of every element in the journey worthy of complaint. “These seats are really too narrow,” “My water has too much ice in it,” “All these kids need to stop their crying, ” “Bloody Marys in-flight cost how much?”.  It is purely the love for my family that puts me on that plane and with the hoards of whiners, you are welcome!

I write this blog now to get all the complaints and whines out my system so my Turkey day with be full of joy and positivity! Four hour delay, NO PROBLEM! That’s what airports bars are for. Turbulence, AWESOME! I am a big fan of rollercoasters.  Kid kicking my seat for three hours, GREAT! With all that energy he won’t be a victim of childhood obesity! I am ready for it Turkey Day Travel, BRING IT ON!

Ever had a holiday trip from hell? Tell me about it! Trust me, sharing makes you feel better, and that’s what blog comments are for!

‘Til next time, with a smile on my face and my ticket in hand,

-Allie

Hello all and happy belated Halloween!

Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays. I love coming up with a unique costume, and I never wear the same costume in one Halloween season, so depending on the number of parties or events I attend, I have had as many as three costumes in a year.

This year I managed to get by wearing only one costume, which was a relief considering I had planned only a few days in advance and creative costumes don’t grow on trees.  While I love putting tons of time and effort into my costumes (I once spent hours making an Amy Winehouse wig. It was before the costume was popular and it involved a lot of melting and gluing) it seemed as though EVERYONE was really into dressing up this year!

I attended JackFM’s party at the Town Ballroom, and the number of elaborate costumes was astounding. A few of my favorite costumes included: Rapunzel, complete with a cardboard castle; a Mario Brothers 1UP block, which after removal of the mask I discovered was a friend of mine from high school; a couple as a Mexican man and a pinata, thankfully he didn’t hit the pinata with a stick at the party; the most amazing Lady Gaga in a meat dress, she was a dead ringer for the real Ms. Germanotta; and the winning costume, Bills Heartbreak. One costume that I adored, yet was very jealous of, were two friends I came to the party with dressed as a California Raisin and the Sunmaid Raisin Girl. There is nothing funnier than watching a raisin dance provocatively with the lady who is about to pick him.

This year was my first year dressing in a “couples costume.” My boyfriend and I are big fans of the Showtime series Dexter, so we decided to dress as Dexter Morgan and one of his victims. In the show, Dexter has a very specific way of dressing when he is on the prowl for new victims. He has one green thermal he always pairs with cargo pants, he is a very practically dressed murderer. Once he catches his targets, he binds them to a table using saran wrap and makes an incision on their cheek before killing them for good (don’t worry, Dexter only kills other killers). The repetition in Dexter’s ways made the costumes fairly easy to create, and instantly recognizable to anyone who had seen the show (which wasn’t too many people). I thought they turned out great, though the saran wrap dress was a little too hot and constricting to be dancing in!

I have gone on long enough about my Halloween creations, it is time to hear about yours! What did you dress as? What has your favorite costume of years past been? Did you see any really great costumes this year? As you may be able to tell I am obviously sad to see my favorite holiday come and go, but there is always next year, and a new costume!

‘Til next time, with a candy induced stomach ache,

-Allie

We got the Raisins, a Britney, Garden Gnomes, and Dex and Dead! Happy Halloween!