Home Tags Posts tagged with "2011"

2011

Monday, October 10, is Columbus Day 2011 and many banks, state and local offices as well as U.S. post offices will be closed. In New York, the Columbus Day Parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, lasting until about 3:00 p.m.

New York’s Columbus Day Parade starts on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and continues up Fifth to 79th Street.

A Columbus Day Mass will take place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street and Fith Avenue at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.

The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing New York’s Columbus Day Parade since 1929.

More than 35,000 participate in the Columbus Day Parade each year, including more than 100 groups sporting floats, bands and an assortment of entries. About one million spectators view the parade – including almost 500,000 lining the streets to watch live – and it is among the largest celebrations of Italian-American culture in the world.

The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing New York's Columbus Day Parade since 1929

The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing New York's Columbus Day Parade since 1929

Traditionally, Columbus Day is held on the second Monday in October.

The first record of an event commemorating Columbus Day in the United States was on October 12, 1792.

Columbus Day celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ “discovering” Americas.

Columbus arrived in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Observance of Columbus Day varies throughout the United States. It became an official holiday in Colorado in 1906, and a federal holiday in 1937, although Hawaii and South Dakota do not recognize Columbus Day at all.

In New York, and in other cities around the country, Columbus Day celebration is a big, annual event, however.

Columbus Day Parade is one of the New York City’s annual big events

Columbus Day Parade is one of the New York City’s annual big events

 

Regarding this year’s Columbus Day Parade in New York Columbus Citizens Foundation said in a press release:

“On October 10, 2011, Fifth Avenue will be transformed during the Columbus Day Parade, the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture. The parade was led by Grand Marshal Joseph Plumeri, proud philanthropist, and Chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings.

“The Columbus Day Parade is a fun filled parade that gets bigger and better every year. Participants from all over the world march in our Parade with pride.

“This is already a special year for us, as we have invited and received confirmation from some of the most talented performers. Pia Toscano (American Idol Favorite) as well as the Italian Musical, “The Italian Fairy” are just some of the notable performers. The Sacred Heart University Marching Band as well as Stony Brook University Marching Band will be just a few of our new and exciting musical acts in the Parade. This year, the Parade will be marching up Fifth Avenue from 44th to 72nd Street. The grandstands will be located on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets.

“The parade celebrates the spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus’s 1492 expedition and the important contributions Italian-Americans have made to the United States. Over a dozen high school bands, as well as virtuosi professional groups from the United States and Italy, marched up Fifth Avenue and filled the canyons of midtown with joyous, heart-pounding music. Traditional folk groups performed centuries-old dances, and cutting-edge designs were brought to the parade route in displays of the vibrant culture that is Italy today.”

 George Enescu Festival 2011: Magic Exists and starts tomorrow

 

George Enescu Festival 2011: prestigious european classical music event

 

George Enescu International Competition 2011

 

Watch online on the Romanian National Televison website (starts at 19:30 local time, 16:30 UTC, today, September 8, 2011)!

George Enescu Festival 2011 LIVE

Nicola Benedetti plays at George Enescu Festival 2011

Nicola Benedetti plays at George Enescu Festival 2011

London Symphony Orchestra (Conductor: Horia Andreescu, Soloist: Nicola Benedetti – violin) of Great Orchestras of the World series is performing Glazunov’s  Concerto for violin and orchestra and Mahler’s Symphony no. 6

Nicola Benedetti, 24, a pretty Scottish violinist plays a 1723 Stradivarius that took its sobriquet from Princess Diana’s  grandfather, the 6th Earl Spencer.

The 20th edition of one of the biggest Europe’s  classical music event, George Enescu Festival 2011, started on September 1 in Bucharest, Romania, and some of its concerts are broadcasted live on the Internet.

 

The festival opening with Residentie Orkest / The Hague Philharmonic conducted by Christian Badea was available online on September 1, as well as the performances of the London Symphony Orchestra (conductor Horia Andreescu and violin soloist Nicola Benedetti) on September 8.

Other concerts of the Great Orchestras of the World series of George Enescu Festival 2011 (held at Grand Palace Hall) can be watch live on the National Romanian Television website (http://www.tvr.ro/festivalenescu/):

On September 9 at 16:30 UTC, London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nikolai Znaider, with piano soloist Saleem Abboud Ashkar, interpreting Wagner’s Overture to “The Mastersingers of Nuremberg”, Beethoven’s Concerto no.1 for piano and orchestra, Brahms’ Symphony no. 4;

On September 11 at 16:30 UTC, the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Valerie Gergiev, with piano soloist Alexander Toradze performing Wagner’s Tannhäuser  Overture, Scriabin’s Prometheus, Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben;

On September 25 at 14:30 UTC Orchestre National De France (conductor Danielle Gatti, cello soloist Han-Na Chang) performing Brahms’ Tragic ouverture, Enescu’s Concertante Symphony for cello and orchestra, Debussy’s Ibéria, Ravel’s Boléro.

From George Enescu Festival 2011 By Midnight series (held at The Romanian Atheneum):

On September 23 at 19:30 UTC Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with Choir of the Enlightenment, conducted by Trevor Pinnock, and soloists Christina Landshamer (soprano), Toby Spence (tenor), Matthew Rose (bass), interpreting Haydn’s The Chreation – Oratorio;

On September 24, at 19:30 UTC Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with Choir of the Enlightenment, conducted by Adam Fischer, and soloists Simona Saturova (soprano), Bernard Richter (tenor), Matthew Rose (bass) performing Haydn’s The Seasons – Oratorio.

 

George Enescu International Competition will also be available online on the next days.

 

George Enescu Festival 2011: Magic exists online

George Enescu Festival 2011: Magic exists online

On September 9 at 13:00 UTC The Final of The Cello section (with the participation of “Banatul” Philharmonic Orchestra from Timişoara, conductor Radu Popa) will be broadcasted live from “George Enescu” Hall of the National University of Music Bucharest.

On September 10 at 7:00 UTC The Final of The Piano section (With the participation of “Transilvania” State Philharmonic Orchestra Cluj,  conductor : Mihail Agafiţa ) and at 13:00 UTC The Final of the Violin section (with the participation of “Moldova” State Philharmonic Orchestra Iaşi conductor : Gheorghe Costin) will be transmited live from “Mihail Jora” Hall of the Romanian Radio Society.

On September 11 at 13:00 UTC Gala Concert of the “George Enescu” International Competition (with “Moldova” State Philharmonic Orchestra Iaşi conductor : Gheorghe Costin) from “Mihail Jora” Hall of the Romanian Radio Society will be available for live watching.

Other online broadcastings of George Enescu Festival 2011 will be from the Festival’s Square on September 10 at 15:30 and 17:30 UTC and on September 11 at 15:00 and 17:00 UTC.

 

George Enescu Festival 2011 has a mobile companion available in English for iPhone and iPad.

 

The application can be downloaded free in Apple App Store. George Enescu Festival app features Festival’s news, locations with Google Maps, daily programme, information from Facebook and Twitter pages of the Festival. With a WiFi, 3G or EDGE connection, you can listen to the live broadcast provided by Radio Romania Music. The organizers (Artexim) and the developers (Infoideea) of the George Enescu Festival application are analyzing the possibility of designing a version for Android operation systems.

 

[youtube BmHyR_bR88Q]

 

Brooklyn Labor Day Parade 2011: 7 deaths among 49 gunshot victims at West Indian Carnival.

 

During the Labor Day weekend in New York the number of shot people has risen to 43, after violence started at the annual West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn.

In the 24 hours, from Saturday 6 a.m. to Sunday 6 a.m., 24 people were shot, the victims were shot during 15 separate incidents, and so far no arrests have been made.

The latest shooting, left a police officer wounded and a civilian dead just a few blocks off the route where revelers had earlier filled the streets in colorful costumes.

During the Labor Day weekend in New York the number of shot people has risen to 43, after violence started at the 2011 West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn

During the Labor Day weekend in New York the number of shot people has risen to 43, after violence started at the 2011 West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn

The police officer was hit in the arm and hospitalized but expected to recover, the civilian died at the scene and at least two others were wounded.

According to police, earlier in the day four people were shot and wounded during the parade along its route. A 15-year-old boy was grazed by a bullet nearby.

Charles Walters, 53 – who’s 11-year-old son was one of the victims on Sunday – to the New York Daily News:

“These people come with guns and shoot at anyone.

“They don’t care if there are children around.”

Shaquan Walters, his son, was the youngest of eight shot in the early hours of Sunday as he partied in his Bronx back yard.

At the same event, a 14-year-old girl was hit in the back, while a 13-year-old girl was hit in the left thigh during the 3:39 a.m. shooting.

In the Williamsbridge shooting, there were five young men wounded, aged 17, 18, 19, 21 and 24.

According to police, Oneil Dasilva, 17 could be the suspect in connection with the incident.

After Brooklyn violence at the Labor Day Parade, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called on politicians in Washington to enact stricter gun laws.

Speaking at the Christian Cultural Centre in Brooklyn yesterday Mayor Bloomberg said:

“It is just unconscionable.We cannot tolerate it.

“There are just too many guns on the streets and we have to do something about it.

“We need the federal government to step up. Both ends of Pennsylvania Ave., both sides of the aisle.”

Michael Bloomberg is a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns and has rallied Washington for tighter gun laws in the past.

Bloomberg added:

“We cannot continue to have these guns in the hands of kids who don’t understand the value of life.”

The Labor Day weekend’s shootings began at around 6 a.m. on Saturday when a 35-year-old woman was wounded in Brooklyn.

Monday at 2 a.m., a 30-year-old died from bullet wounds to the head and back in Flatbush.

From 2:12 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Sunday five men were shot in three separate incidents.

[youtube Q9bQlBiISU0]

Pukkelpop Festival stages collapsed in Belgium. At least 3 deaths confirmed.

 

Indiana State Fair stage collapsed before Sugarland concert.

 

 [googlead tip=”patrat_mediu” aliniat=”stanga”]Today, police and safety investigators inspected the Saturday night’s tragedy site at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where the stage collapsed. Governor Mitch Daniels was among those who put the biggest blame on wind gusts that came sooner than expected, ahead of a powerful storm.

 

Today, police and safety investigators inspected the Saturday night's tragedy site at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where the stage collapsed

Today, police and safety investigators inspected the Saturday night's tragedy site at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where the stage collapsed

[googlead tip=”lista_mica” aliniat=”stanga”]In the morning, family members of dozens of injured concert-goers and workers were standing vigil at area hospitals. The collapse of overhead stage rigging onto thousands of people waiting for country duo Sugarland to take the stage and killed 4 people at the scene and sent other 45 to hospitals, according to revised injury numbers issued by Indiana State Police today. At least other 20-25people checked themselves into hospitals overnight.

Total deaths of 2011 Indiana State Fair tragedy grew to 5 early this morning.

Total deaths of 2011 Indiana State Fair tragedy grew to 5 early this morning.

 

Total deaths grew to 5 early this morning, when a lighting crew member – who had climbed atop the structure to aim a light before the collapse – was pronounced dead at the hospital.

 

The four who died at the scene were:

Tammy Vandam, 42, Wanatah, Indiana;

Glenn Goodrich, 49, Indianapolis, Indiana;

Alina Bigjohny, 23 Fort Wayne, Indiana;

Christina Santiago, 29, Chicago Illinois.

 

Nathan Byrd, 51, from Indianapolis, died at Methodist Hospital early this morning. Byrd, the lighting crew member, who had been working up in the rigging when the collapse happened, was crushed when the rigging came down.

 

[googlead tip=”vertical_mare” aliniat=”dreapta”] Saturday night, about 9 p.m., after the opening act at the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand had finished, but before Sugarland performance, an announcer told the attendees of approaching severe weather. But officials held off on ordering an evacuation.

 [youtube nv3lrkbcOHY]

A timeline issued today by Indiana State Police showed that at 8:49 p.m. – about 25 minutes before the storm’s forecasted arrival – a strong gust of wind blew through the fairgrounds, toppling the stage setup onto those closest to the stage. As the crowd scattered, scores of fans rushed toward the metal structure to lift it off victims.

“What you saw last night was a display of best qualities of both public and private Hoosiers,” Governor Mitch Daniels said during a news conference this morning in the Farm Bureau Building at the fairgrounds. Governor became choked up as he talked about the emergency response.

 

The Indiana Fairgrounds was closed today, but activities were scheduled to resume on Monday. Indiana State Fair officials are still considering alternate plans for events set for the grandstand this week, including concerts by Janet Jackson and Train, but no details have been announced.

 

After the fair’s tomorrow reopening at 8 p.m., there will be a public remembrance for the victims at 9 a.m. at the Free Stage.

At the morning’s news conference, Daniels was joined by State Fair Director Cindy Hoye and State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten. First Lady Cheri Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard both attended but did not speak.

Dave Bursten said the early indication was that the “isolated significant wind gust” took authorities and event coordinators by surprise, since the storm itself was still about 30 minutes from arriving. They had been in contact with the National Weather Service for much of the evening.

Bursten noted that the midway and other areas on the grounds weren’t damaged so severely, and some not at all.

Cindy Hoye said the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) is investigating the structure of the stage rigging, which was provided by Mid-America Sound Corp. of Greenfield.

“Some survivors’ injuries are still considered life-threatening,” Dave Bursten said.

“For others, they may be life-altering,” he added.

The extent of most victims’ injuries or their conditions is still unclear, but at least few people were reportedly in critical condition or intensive care units. Three children were still being treated today at Riley Hospital for Children.

Gavin DeGraw resumes tour 15 days after was beaten and hit by car

 

 

 

[googlead tip=”lista_medie” aliniat=”stanga”]Early Monday morning Gavin DeGraw, musician, was admitted at Bellevue Hospital, New York. He was beaten by a group of men and he was hit by a cab.

TMZ was the first website that reported this awful incident and mentioned that DeGraw was under observation at the hospital. According to New York Post,  on Sunday night Gavin went out for a drink, then left his friends around four o’clock in the morning. Police said several people  assaulted him on the street. They cut his face and broke his nose, then run away. DeGraw rose up and as he was walking, a cab struck him causing him mild injuries. It did not seem to be a robbery, NY Post sources said. It could be an argument that started the fight, said others (CBS New York). Anyway there were no arrests until now.

 Still no further  information could be found regarding Gavin’s  current status.[googlead tip=”vertical_mic” aliniat=”dreapta”]
Apparentely the wounds were not severe. On Gavin DeGraw‘s official website the schedule is the same. He had planned to sing in Saratoga Springs, NY  at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, as part of his summer tour, Tuesday night, August 9.

Also a news posted on August 8, 2011, 1:19 pm says:

“Want to hang out with Gavin this Wednesday, August 10, at 5:30pm EST? Then head on over to LiveStream at that appointed day and time for a one-of-a-kind LIVE webcast, featuring performances and casual banter from Gavin. […]”

However, probably he will have to cancel his agreements.

Gavin DeGraw‘s “Chariot” went platinum.

Gavin DeGraw with Students at The Art Institute of Portland

Gavin DeGraw with Students at The Art Institute of Portland

[googlead tip=”patrat_mic” aliniat=”stanga”]  The  singer-songwriter is also famous for his songs “In Love with a Girl”, “Follow Through” ,”I Don’t Want to Be”. The last mentioned song is featured as the theme song for One Tree Hill, the TV drama.

This summer he performed as opening star for  Maroon 5 and Train, star rockers. On May 2011 he launched “Not Over You” single and another album, “Sweeter”,  is scheduled to be released on  September this year.

Gavin DeGraw and his brother Joey own a venue in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. That bar was opened because they wanted a meeting place for friends, musicians, good music-lovers.

 

 

What Happened At The MDA Telethon? Tribute To Jerry Lewis.

 

Jerry Lewis Is Missing From Today Telethon.

 

Jerry Lewis NOT back to the MDA Labor Day Telethon hosting.

 

Jerry Lewis reinstated as MDA Labor Day Telethon host?

 

Latest Updates on Jerry Lewis and 2011 MDA telethon.

 

Jerry Lewis dropped by MDA for 2011 telethon.

 [googlead tip=”patrat_mare” aliniat=”nu”]

Fellow comedians are just outraged about the MDA decision to drop Jerry Lewis as host and chairman of  the Telethone.

The yesterday, Aug. 4, Muscular Dystrophy Association announcement that Jerry Lewis won’t host MDA Labor Day Telethon raised a lot of question marks among fans and fellow comedians. All of them are just as outraged about the decision to drop Jerry Lewis as the former host of  MDA Telethon TV show.

Did Jerry Lewis leave the telethon?
Jerry Lewis

Tom Arnold, Paul Rodriguez and Albert Brooks, among others, said Jerry Lewis was treated unfairly.

Paul Rodriguez said:

“As a fellow comedian, it’s really crappy the way they treated him,”

“The man is an institution. They should have found a better was to let him go. The way they did it, it’s gonna hurt their charity.”

 

 [googlead tip=”lista_mare” aliniat=”stanga”]Jerry Lewis is the face of Telethon

Jamie Masada, the longtime owner of the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, said he’s received a dozen messages from comedians, including Dane Cook and Dave Chappelle, expressing anger over the way Jerry Lewis had been dropped from the MDA annual show.

“He’s the face of the telethon,” Masada said.

“Without him, there’s no show.”

A Jerry Lewis’ spokeswoman said the star had no comment on his exit from the telethon. But others rallied to Lewis’ defense.

The decision represented an about-face from the MDA’s announcement in May that Jerry Lewis would host the telethon for a final time this year, and would appear in the closing moments of future telethons to sing his trademark number, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Jerry Lewis: “Get the cure for muscular dystrophy, then I’m fine.” [googlead tip=”patrat_mare” aliniat=”dreapta”]

Jerry Lewis said Saturday at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Beverly Hills that he saw himself continuing, in part because his role as host went beyond a show business opportunity.

When a questioner asked what he would have to do to be satisfied with his life, he replied:

“Get the cure for muscular dystrophy, then I’m fine.”

According to MDA insider sources:

 “The organization made an executive decision to part ways with Lewis, who, by and large, discredited the very industry that made him who he is,”

“And because the telethon is one of the biggest television events of the year, they couldn’t take a chance at more bad publicity, especially from its pitchman and host.”

 

Jerry Lewis, 85 comedian, started hosting MDA charity events in 1952.

Since the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon first aired in 1966, according to a June report by ABC News, Lewis calculated that after 61 years the telethon has raised $2.6 billion. Since 1966 when the telethon became what it is today – the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon – until 2010 Jerry Lewis has been the face of the Muscular Dystrophy Association .

The telethon is now called the MDA Labor Day Telethon.

The marathon telecast was once a must-stop venue for comedians and entertainers. During the height of its popularity, the telethon featured performances from show business luminaries, including Sammy Davis Jr., Liberace, the Supremes, Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra.

Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra

In recent decades, the event’s appeal faded with younger viewers who found the format somewhat dated. Indeed, the telethon model itself as a fundraising vehicle lost much of its force, particularly with the rise of the Internet, which emerged as a more potent generator of donations.

Even before ousting Jerry Lewis, the MDA was poised to scale back the telethon from more than 20 hours to as few as six, primarily because stations were threatening to drop all or part of the telecast.

The telethon’s earning power had declined in recent years. According to public tax filings, the telethon brought in $56.4 million in gross receipts in 2005.

But in 2009, the latest year for which records are available, the tally dropped to $45.6 million.

Jerry Lewis 2009 MDA Telethon final hour – Youtube

The MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) has not announced a replacement for Jerry Lewis.

The MDA said it did not expect to name a new host this year and that the Sept. 4 event would be shepherded by entertainment personalities Nigel Lythgoe, Jann Carl, Alison Sweeney and Nancy O’Dell.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of more than 40 disorders that affect more than 1 million Americans. The maladies, sometimes referred to as neuromuscular disorders, weaken the muscles and eventually result in profound disability. The most common form of the disease is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which affects about 1 in 3,500 males worldwide.