DT Fine Art

The Loyola (MD) Greyhounds take a trip north to square off with the Niagara Purple Eagles. The Greyhounds look for their third straight win after knocking off St Peters 66-54 while the Purple Eagles seek to rebound from a 71-64 defeat at Manhattan.

Loyola (Maryland) has been a surprise team in the MAAC thus far with a 7-2 record that has them in a three way tie for first with Iona and Manhattan. The Greyhounds have outscored opponents 68-65 overall which arent impressive numbers but the defense has been playing far better in conference play which has made everything fall in to place. Having said that, Loyola (MD) is not a team that is so strong at either end of the floor to win on on their scoring or defense alone but need both units on the same page which is what we saw versus St Peters. The Greyhounds game plan is to get enough small advantages in significant categories which should add up to a win and in this case it was rebounding and foul shooting. Both teams made around 42% from the floor but the Grehounds made four more free throws and held a 33-21 edge on the boards including 14 offensive pulls leading to seven more shots. Erik Etherly paced the attack with 19 points and 8 pulls with Robert Olson and Dylon Cormier adding 15 and 10 points respectively.

Niagara is several years removed from when challenging for the top spot in the MAAC was nearly a foregone conclusion. Now the Purple Eagles are trying to work their way back in to the spotlight and it has been a slow, tedious process but it does look like progress is being made. This probably isnt the year Niagara makes a move as they are just 4-5 in the conference in a three way tie for fifth. The scoring is there but the defense is not with the Purple Eagles being outscored 74-71 on the year. Interesting enough, the scoring is up when Niagara has won in the MAAC and way down when they lose which is the trend that continued against Manhattan. With both teams making shots in the 40% range, Niagara stayed competitive with ten makes from long range but Manhattan proved to be a bit too strong on the glass and won the game at the foul line 25-8. Antoine Mason led the Niagara offense with 19 points with Ameen Tanksley and Marvin Jordan chipping in with 12 points each.

Loyola (MD) is in a first place tie in the conference and is a small favorite because Niagara hasnt been bad and have beaten the Greyhounds on the road. Its tough to beat a good team twice in any league but the Purple Eagles have ability…

If I had it my way, the only kind of footwear I’d be wearing in New York in July would be two buckets of cold water strapped to my ankles.

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Alas, in the interest of vanity over comfort, I decided to take a trip to DNA Footwear on Smith Street to see if they had anything that might look better with a sundress than, say, two aluminum tubs.

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Boy, did they.

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This is the Summer of the Wedge.

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For a period of time the fashion world had banished the wedge heel, and it was forced to live only on the feet of suburban teenagers eating giant pretzels at the mall. But the wedge is back with a vengeance, from low end to high end, daytime to nighttime.

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What we seemed to have forgotten about the wedge heel is that you can actually walk in it. This means that you can add length to your legs and strut them around. There’s nothing sillier than sitting in heels, after all.

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Jeffrey Campbell “Aries” $119.99

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I am a huge fan of Jeffrey Campbell’s shoes. They are very stylish, and always look like they cost a lot more than they do. I adore his “Aries” wedges, which come both in tan and black suede. The toe and arch are open, but they lace up the ankle like a bootie. I really love the tan ones with the woven espadrille style base because they make your legs look a mile long (I always recommend tan heels), and they will go with pretty much anything, which makes them a great summer staple.

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The black is special because of the heel base, which is woven with stripes of metallic threads in red, blue and green.

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The heel isn’t low, but the wedge style gives you enough support that you’ll barely notice. Another bonus to these shoes is that you can pair them with cute white socks and wear them into Fall (not to bring up the sore subject of Fall and Winter).

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Sachelle  $129.99

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These are perhaps one of the sweetest pairs of shoes I’ve ever seen. A play on Boat Shoes, they feature the drawstring cord woven around the top and tying at the toe, but add a low wedge, a peep toe and a sling back heel. DNA carries them in a buttercup yellow as well as a cornflower blue. The yoke of the shoe is leather, and in a slightly darker hue, while the base and wedge are a lighter hue in a soft suede.

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These shoes belong on the feet of a woman in a sundress shopping for produce in a Parisian market. Not to qualify, or anything.

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Toms “Artist” $69.99, “Classic” $54

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You can’t say anything bad about Toms. People love them because on top of being comfortable, affordable and offered in every color under the sun, they donate a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair bought. One for one, you can’t beat that. (Recent controversy notwithstanding.)

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But enough about “do-gooding” and back to fashion. While the flats have that hippie slipper chic thing going (I could take it or leave it), the peep-toe wedges are quite cute. They are very 1970s feminine to me. The canvas will breathe, the wedge isn’t too high, and with all of the colors and patterns they come in, you can find one to match every outfit. I also love that the wedge bases come in woven, canvas and cork.

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***

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But for those of you that maybe can’t jive with the wedge, here are a couple other styles I found at DNA Footwear that caught my eye.

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Minnetonka “Thunderbird” moccasins “$39.99

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I used to wear these when I was a little girl and I STILL love them. These are about as classic as it gets. DNA carries them in brown, taupe, gray and black suede, each with beaded eagles on the toe in black, red and white beads. I also love the little suede fringe beneath the drawstring. These shoes would look adorable with a pair of denim shorts.

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The padded insole and lightweight rubber sole make them perfect summer walking shoes too.

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J Shoes “Rio” $139.99

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The special feature of these sandals is the carved wooden heel. They look like a cross between little Dutch girl wooden clogs and Scandinavian furniture. Beautiful!

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The foot is wrapped in multicolored cotton cords, with a peep toe. DNA offers them in both natural browns and a cool blues/purples theme. These shoes are unique and stylish, and they will be the star of any outfit.

Even if I could afford to take a trip to Rome this summer, I probably couldnt spare the time, what with an unprecedented number of new TV shows premiering across broadcast and cable dials through months which once used to be quite fallow.

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A Quick Pit Stop

Moorpark Mom, Stacie Wheeler, and her family take a trip to the La Brea Tar Pits.

Let Harry Potter inspire your own magical adventure in Western North Carolina:

Godrics Hollow: This wizardry community was the final home of Harrys parents and the location of their murder and the attack that left Harry with his lightning bolt-shaped scar. Visit Little Switzerland, known for its quaint community, for the same experience. Its about an hour away from Asheville off the Blue Ridge Parkway, but when you get there, youll feel like youre in a far away land.

Little Whinging: This town outside London is the home of Harrys guardians, his uncle and aunt, and his bratty cousin. Its described as a suburb south of the city, so South Asheville would be our area equivalent. You could even go to South Ashevilles Carolina Asheville movie theater to see the new ?Harry Potter? flick.

Quidditch: Want to feel like you are buzzing about on a broomstick during Quidditch, the popular wizard sport? Try Navitat Canopy Tours, where you can soar through the air on a zip-line and not worry about a competitor trying to knock you off.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: No offense to any of the universities in WNC, but the only place around that comes close to the grandeur of this spectacular school is the Biltmore House. Hogwarts is a boarding school, so it was a residence in that sense. Biltmores got a grand dining hall and vast, beautiful grounds surrounding it like Hogwarts. But none of Biltmores portraits talk, and as far as I know, the steps dont move.

Hogwarts Express: This magical train delivers students to the school of witchcraft and wizardry. Take a trip on Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock. Bonus: Death Eaters wont attack this choo-choo.

Butter Beer: The students of Hogwarts indulge in this drink throughout the series. It is nonalcoholic, but that doesnt mean you cant check out one of our local breweries or bars to experience something similar. Try the Thirsty Monk at 92 Patton Ave. They serve a variety of local sips, and boast a great pub atmosphere, especially downstairs.

Hogsmeade: This bustling, ancient village features many shops, restaurants and residence that are the setting for a lot of major magic moments in the book. Its also home to a train station that takes students to Hogwarts. Biltmore Village features the same mix of shopping and restaurants in a historical setting. Trains still run by the area, and it used to house a train stop, as well.

Hagrids Cottage: Harry Potter and company find refuge in Hagrids friendship and in his cottage in the shadow of Hogwarts. The Cottage is similarly secluded on the grounds of The Grove Park Inn on Macon Avenue and is used as a rentable residence.

Carol Motsinger

Posted: July 16
Updated: Today at 9:31 PM

AMY CALDER: The varied faces of pawning

By Amy Calder acalder@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

If you want to get a taste of how the economy is treating people, you might take a trip to JRs Trading on lower Main Street in downtown Waterville.

Posted at 11:47 AM ET, 07/10/2011
Former Washington Capitals goalie Semyon Varlamov: ‘I was mentally tired after these three years’
By Slava Malamud

Former Capitals goaltender
Semyon Varlamov
has finally decided to break his silence about the circumstances of his trade to Colorado and some of the late-June craziness that involved his near-transfer to the KHL.

I visited Varlamov in Lancaster, Pa., where he was living with a friend from his Hershey days. He is staying there throughout July, though he will need to take a trip to Washington to extend his U.S. visa. Apparently, when leaving for America a couple of weeks ago, Varlamov didn’t expect to stay long. He still thought he may never get traded and would have to go back to Russia, to start the KHL training camp. SKA St. Petersburg’s training camp starts July 20. Varlamov’s return flight (now canceled) was for July 19.

While Varlamov didn’t offer details about specific offers he had from KHL clubs, he did confirm that it was a real possibility.

“[If I weren’t traded] I think, I’d come back to the KHL,” he said. “I can’t say anything bad about the Capitals but it was time to change things. I was mentally tired after these three years.”

Would you also have considered the KHL if the Capitals were to trade you to a team you didn’t like?

No, I would go anywhere, I wouldn’t make demands. It’s just that at some point I believed I wouldn’t get traded at all.

Everyone knows that in the KHL you were being sought by SKA.

Not only SKA. I considered Lokomotiv, too. But SKA had the advantage because they had hired a great goalie coach in Jussi Parkkila [Varlamov’s old coach whom he considers his mentor]. This is a guy who would’ve kept me on the same high level. Logically, if I were to return, it would be to him.

Did SKA guarantee you the starting job?

Nobody could guarantee me that, neither SKA nor Lokomotiv. You always have to prove yourself and I never ask for any guarantees, simply because nobody will ever give me any.

Did you feel that Washington wouldn’t give you a chance to start this season?

You know, I honestly think they would. If I returned to the Caps and showed myself well, I would’ve been given the starting job. No, it was more about my own feeling that I needed a climate change. A fresh start.

When I asked George McPhee what he would do if you were leaning towards the KHL, he answered “Let him go.” Did this influence your feeling towards Washington?

Not at all. We simply couldn’t agree on a deal and I wanted a change.

Did they offer you the same money as Neuvirth got?

No, I was given an OK deal, though quite different from what I got in Colorado. I don’t think that McPhee was unfair to me. It’s not like I was able to show myself as someone truly outstanding in these three years. I don’t feel like I had earned huge money yet. But I wanted to sign a three-year deal so that I wouldn’t have to change teams right before the Olympics.

Ted Leonsis seemed to have given you a parting shot on his blog. Did it rub you the wrong way?

Yes, it’s not too pleasant when, after three years, you get such a farewell. But I didn’t think too much of that. Everyone has an opinion. It all turned out great for me and Washington has nothing to complain about. Three strong young goalies is a little too many. And now they also have Vokoun. The Caps have a great chance to win the Stanley Cup. As for what Leonsis said, if that is what he actually meant to say, let it stay on his conscience. I’ve always had a good relationship with him, by the way.

Did McPhee have to ensure that you would actually sign with Colorado before trading you?

It’s obvious that when a team is willing to give up this much, they know in advance that I will sign. Yes, there was an agreement. My agent called me and said there was a possibility to go to Colorado. As soon as I heard it, I said that we need to agree on a deal no matter what.

Did they tell you the terms in advance, too?

No, I found that out right before the trade, on July 1. I was pleasantly surprised. It was good money and three years, like I wanted.

So McPhee surprised you, then?

He surprised everyone. As for me, I was never expecting this; that’s why I was looking at KHL offers. But when my agent called, I thought that if I turn this chance down, I will curse myself for the rest of my life. I needed to make this decision on my own. I didn’t even consult anyone, so that nobody could confuse me. I felt it in my heart that the decision was right.

Ovechkin was in Denver during your press conference. Did he come to meet you?

Seriously, he was there? I never knew. But I was only there for half a day. We’d never have a chance to meet anyway.

What are your feelings as you are leaving Washington?

This is what I want to say to the fans. When I got out on the ice, saw the full stands and heard the “Varly” chant, I really felt their love. Washington fans are among the best in the NHL. Thank you very much. Good luck to you and your team.

Was Colorado really your favorite team growing up?

Of course! This wasn’t just something I made up for the press conference. When I was little, back in the 1990s, I always followed the Avs and Patrick Roy. Can you imagine what I felt like when the other day I got a phone call and heard “Hello Varly, this is Patrick”? Everything has turned out perfectly.

You can check out the full interview, in Russian, on Sport-Express.

Slava Malamud is a reporter for Russia’s Sport-Express.

By Slava Malamud
 | 
11:47 AM ET, 07/10/2011

Categories: 
Semyon Varlamov

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Hot, hot, hot is the only way to describe the Willows production of Chicago, currently playing through June 4 at the Campbell Cabaret in Martinez.

From the opening All That Jazz through Cell Block Tango to the shows closing number Nowadays, this production will have you swaying with the beat and, possibly, fanning yourself to get relief from the heat emanating from the stage. Artistic Director Eric Inman, who directs this production, has pulled together a tight, highly polished show with some knockout talent and steamy choreography by LaTonya Watts.

Nicole Helfer (Val) simply burns up the stage with her dance moves (how can anyone be that limber!) and her sultry voice. She is well matched by the lovely Kerry Wininger (Roxie), a lethal combination of a sweet coquette and deadly ambition. Mark Farrell (Billy Flinn) uses his innate showmanship to bring out the most in this sleazy lawyer — a very different attorney than the one he played in the Willows production of Judgment at Nuremburg a few years back. What a treat to be able to hear Michelle Ianiro belt out bluesy numbers as Mama Morton while Isaiah Tryelle showed his dancing acumen and acting versatility in two very different roles. I wish there was room to name the entire cast because they all delivered sizzling performances. But I would be remise if I didnt mention the great music produced by musical director/pianist Rachel Robinson with

Trout fishing is most challenging in the spring, once the warming temperatures trigger a rush of melting snow out of the mountains, swelling rivers into a torrent that brings out the whitewater junkies and anyone else whos game for a wet and wild ride.

The rafting season begins in May for most outfitters and runs through late August or early September, but certain stretches can only be run on a seasonal basis, so check with an outfitter to find out whats available when you want to go.

While options for a whitewater rafting trip abound, local rivers offer a couple of memorable rides. The Roaring Fork River, when its running high enough just below Aspen (spring and early summer), offers the legendary Slaughterhouse Falls a Class IV, white-knuckle drop to be sure.

The rollicking Shoshone Rapids on the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon is arguably the most popular section of local whitewater.

For experienced and fit paddlers, a number of guiding outfits offer Class IV and V trips on the Pine Creek and Numbers sections of the Arkansas River (the faint-hearted need not apply). Keep in mind, a trip to the Arkansas involves a shuttle drive over Independence Pass east of Aspen (a scenic outing in itself).

If a less intense float is more your speed, take a trip on the lower Roaring Fork or enjoy the Colorado via the Grizzly Creek-to-Two Rivers Park route, taking in part of breathtaking Glenwood Canyon. Later in the summer, try a ducky trip on the Roaring Fork a cooling float in an inflatable kayak.

Following is a list of local guiding outfits for both whitewater rafting and fishing.

With the yo-yo weather this spring, a recent adventure was
rained out, so we found ourselves visiting Cabela’s, the hunting
and all-things-outdoors superstore in Lehi.

And, yes, this sporting goods giant has everything from fishing
poles — my daughter honed in on a pink Barbie beginner fishing pole
to take on a future fishing trip with her grandfather — to hunting
gear to camping equipment and even home furnishings (this is the
place to find a chandelier made out of antlers). But Cabela’s also
has a miniature museum/aquarium, if you will.

A two-story tall display of taxidermy animals from moose and
mule deer to badgers and foxes, sits in the center of the store.
Arctic animals are included here, too — my 3-year-old son Caleb’s
favorite was the giant polar bear standing up on its hind legs.
Five-year-old Grace liked the bear covered in bees reaching for
some honey from a hive hanging in a tree. You’ll find this one when
viewing the display from the second floor. A mountain lion also
caught my children’s interest, especially the closer view from
upstairs.

A small pond of fish sits at the bottom of the display, and a
coin-operated machine of fish food is available for kids to feed
the fish.

A second display features African animals. Lions, a zebra, a
warthog and others are on display in a “savanna” scene.

The aquarium is a pathway with nearly floor-to-ceiling windows
full of big fish. Caleb liked pointing out the fish with funny
eyes, whiskers or big fins.

Complete your adventure in Cabela’s restaurant — elk burger? Or
maybe something a bit less exotic.

If you just need to get out of the house, take a trip for a
little animal viewing and gear browsing.