Stories

Photo contributed

For the marketing of the upcoming album Year Zero, Nine Inch Nails created a series of Web sites and information using the album’s theme. Fans from the popular site The NIN Hotline, latched onto the flag emblem, “Art is Resistance,” and plastered the logo all over the country.

Big name bands look for new ways to sell their wares

By Bill Weedmark

With today’s fast-paced, digital-on-demand style of music delivery, musicians need to be able to stand out above the clutter to reach increasingly fractured audiences if they want to generate sales and prevent illegal downloads. The best way to do this is to do something unique and worthy of attention.

But when it comes to marketing a new album, some artists and bands seem content to trust their name alone to push copies out the door. Others go with the advice of their label and rely on the tried-but-true method of using print, radio and TV ads to get the word on the street.

By Sterling Robinson

Zhanras is a unique eating experience based on exceptional gourmet appetizers, specialty drinks, local artwork and an incredible design and layout.

The menu consists of soups, dips and spreads, salads, bruchettas, pizzas, tapas and desserts. The kitchen staff is made up of only certified chefs, so the food was obviously the best I’ve ever had.

By Kristen Shea

If you saw the trailer for Blades of Glory, you have to admit it would be funny to see two guys skating around in outrageous outfits, especially when the two guys are Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The movie is directed by newcomers Josh Gordon and Will Speck.

Will Ferrell plays Chazz Michael Michaels, who advertises himself as “sex on ice.” He is arrogant and cheesy, and one of the world’s best ice skaters. At the World Championship for Ice Skating, Ferrell ties for first place and must share his gold medal with Heder, who plays his rival and enemy, Jimmy MacElroy. The two get into a huge fist fight in front of the crowd and judging panel. They are banned from professional skating for life as a result.

By Jennifer Ware

Ever think of wearing a skirt made of old ties, or a dress made from shower curtains? Aveda’s network is putting on a fashion show on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, to raise awareness for the Gulf Restoration Network. The network subcontracts people to clean up the Gulf of Mexico, especially after hurricane Katrina.

Panache, a distributor of Aveda products, is putting on the eco-friendly fashion show, with the help of its employees and other local designers. Most of the models are clients or friends of clients who want to be involved with the cause. Amy Kautz, manager at Panache in St. Augustine Beach, is running the show.

There are plenty of good cafés in town for caffeine addicts to enjoy

By Kristen Shea

Drinking coffee is a ritual that millions of people indulge in every day. Luckily, St. Augustine is full of locally-owned coffee shops so fanatics don’t have to suffer from drinking Dunkin Donuts. There are many regularly traveled cafés located in the downtown area like Rockin’ Bean on Charlotte Street and St. Augustine Coffee Company on Granada Street. But there are several others in town you might not know.

By Jennifer Ware

Dr. Liz Robbins, an English instructor, is in the midst of publishing her first book of poetry, Hope, As the World is a Scorpion Fish. Robbins teaches Intro to Poetry Writing, Advanced Poetry, American Literature Survey, Modern Poetry, World Literature and English Composition classes.

Robbins has already been published in a number of individual journals. “That’s how the poetry [world] works. You have to prove yourself in the smaller journals first,” she said. Her work has been published in journals such as The Chattahoochee Review and Natural Bridge.

By Ericka McThenia

French film La Fille Sur Le Pont, translated The Girl on the Bridge, tells the tale of an unconventional job and an even more untraditional love story.

This award-winning 1999 movie (with English subtitles) stars Daniel Auteuil and Vanessa Paradis.

Adèle (Paradis) has had a long run of bad luck and falls victim to handsome, sexually aggressive men. Tired of her failures and inability to choose the “right guy,” she plans to drown her sorrows and herself in the Seine River.

By Alison McCauslin

Rosa Loves is a local clothing label created by Flagler alumnus Mike Fretto. The shirts have designs relating to the cause that they’re supporting, including St. Augustine residents, Mexican students and a South African surfing program. Though Rosa Loves has only been around for a little over five months, it has already gained national media attention.

Recently, the founders of Rosa Loves went to the Oscars. American Apparel donated 300 promo T-shirts for them to give away, which they used as conversation starters. They have been in touch with several media contacts since, but nothing has solidified yet.

The Closet, on Cordova Street, sells the Rosa Loves line.