SAN DIEGO-This week marks the 41st annual Comic Con in San Diego. What began as mainly a comic book convention has turned out to be one of the biggest media sensational events of the year. Hollywood embraced the convention and have featured a slew of celebrities to promote their latest films. Last year’s guests included Johnny Depp, Robert Downey, Jr., Meghan Fox, Cameron Diaz, and David Tennant. This year’s line up should be no different as Angelina Jolie and the cast of Harry Potter are rumored to be attending. The four day convention has got to be the biggest event that I had ever attended. Sprawled out over a couple of nearby locations, it boasts the biggest and best in pop culture. Hollywood has not only tapped into the fanboy market after realizing that comic book movies are big money, but it is those comic book aficionados that are on the cutting edge of pop culture. The event is so huge that it (as well as most surrounding hotels) are sold out quickly. The four days will go so quickly, and my camera will have so many images, that by the time it is all over, I will need a few days just to take it all in and relax. For those of you fortunate enough to have gotten tickets, you will have a great time. Just keep in mind that between programs, they do not clear the rooms. That means that once the room has reached capacity, they will not let anyone else in until someone leaves. It is recommended that you get in line at least a couple of hours before the panel that you want to see if you want to get in. The good thing is that if there are a few panels you like in the same room, once you are in, you are in until you decide to leave. Last year I got lucky as the Glee and Heroes panels were back to back.

FMI on the coolest event on the planet, click onto www.comic-con.org for a listing of panels and pretty much anything else Comic Con. Last year I got to interview Lucy Lawless and Eric McCormack, as well as attend a lot of star studded panels and photograph a lot of celebrities. When I get back, I plan on doing a few articles on the event so stay tuned. Until then…..

“We pride ourselves in thinking outside-of-the-box,” says Rick Medina, spokesperson for Animal Based Charities, “our first pet adoption event set the tone for future adoption events. At our pet adoption event, we will not charge animal rescue groups for their space, tables or chairs so they can come and find forever homes for their rescued pets. We will advertise the event to attract as many people as possible so the rescue groups have a realistic expectation of a crowd who is coming to an event TO adopt a pet. And, we will pay for all the expenses for the arena rental, tables, chairs, sound, lights and other event-related expenses so the rescue groups have literally no-cost to attend our events.”

This mind-set of supporting animal rescue groups may not be new, however, this new twist offered by Animal Based Charities, will also change the method by which charity-run thrift stores will be run in the future. People who come to the store will be greeted by volunteers….there are no plans to hire anyone to run the store, to stock the shelves or to help run the operation. In addition, the money raised will be used by the charity for purposes of supporting animal rescue groups. No salaries for any store personnel will be paid from the monies raised from sales at the thrift store. The charity, Animal Based Charities, is an IRS approved 501 c 3 not-for-profit corporation, and outside of the monthly operational costs of the store, all monies from thrift store sales will help to fund the adoption event costs and other costs related to animal rescue groups. Unlike some other non-profit thrift store operations, more money will be set aside to fund the mission statement of the organization than other non-profit thrift store operations.

Ken Hagan, an advocate for animal rights and a Commissioner for Hillsborough County, will be present to support the Grand Opening of Animal Based Charities Thrift Store. He is a self-proclaimed supporter of Animal Based Charities and will speak at 7:05 pm on the benefits of pet adoption. Volunteer information will also be available for those who wish to volunteer for Animal Based Charities for its thrift store operation and its upcoming Fund-Raising Dinner and Fall Pet Adoption Event.

Monday June 21st is the Grand Opening at the Animal Based Charities Thrift Store at 4340 South Manhattan Avenue in Tampa, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be available for those who attend and fill out a registration card.

The next pet adoption event will be held on September 25th, 2010, at the University of South Florida’s Sun Dome Arena.

For more information, call 1-877-799-PETS (7387)

Above: Thorsten Kaye, Susan Haskell and Walt Willey

Story and photo by: John Chambrone

MARCO ISLAND-For the past twelve years, Marco Island’s Soapfest has hosted actors from various daytime dramas. Having been to a variety of soap opera related events, I have to say that this particular event is my favorite. Taking place on Marco Island, the beautiful city plays the perfect back drop to the fun events that take place within the city limits. Scheduled to take place May 15 and 16, the two days boast a line up of festive activities including “A Night of Stars”, “Cruisin’ & Schmoozin’with the Stars”, “Celebrity Bartender Bash” and “Specter”. The proceeds benefit children with autism, a cause that ‘All My Children’ star Walt Willey is very familiar with. His son has autism spectrum disorder. Willey will be in attendance once again to host the event. He will be joined this year by fellow ‘Children’ stars Thorsten Kaye (Zach Slater) and Stephanie Gatschet (Madison North). Kaye’s real life wife, ‘One Life to Live’ star Susan Haskell joins fellow ‘One Lifer’ Scott Evans to represent their show. It has been a few months since ‘Guiding Light’ has been off the air, but last year, Soapfest promised to continue to include actors from the show in their event. They kept their word and delivered with possibly the soap’s most popular character. Sopafest is proud to be bringing back Kim Zimmer, who has portrayed ‘Reva Shayne,’ for nearly twenty five years. Zimmer will be reunited with on screen son’s Jeff Branson and Tom Pelphrey, who played her sons ‘Shayne’ and ‘Johnathan.’ Also returning this year is former ‘GL-er’ John Driscoll, who is now featured on ‘Young and the Restless.’

One reason I love this event so much is that most of the actors are from ‘As the World Turns,’ the one show that I have been watching religiously for twenty seven years now. The intimate settings of all of the events gives you the opportunity to actually sit down and chat with all of the actors, something that you hardly get at other soap related events. This time around, you can expect to hang out with ‘As the World Turns’ actors Alexandra Chando, ‘Maddie Coleman,’ Evan Alex Cole, ‘Hunter,’ Trent Dawson, ‘Henry Coleman,’ Ellen Dolan, ‘Margo Hughes,’ Billy Magnussen, ‘Casey Hughes,’ Marnie Schulenburg, ‘Alison Stewart,’ and Jake Silbermann, ‘Noah Mayer.’ This may be one of the last chances Floridians get to mingle with the actors from ‘As the World Turns.’ The show will air it’s final episode in September after a run of fifty four years. Tickets range from $50 - $175. Visit www.soapfest.com or call 239-394-0080 for tickets and event details. Be sure to check the website regularly for updates.

Animal Based Charities was founded by a group of like-minded friends and is a non-profit whose mission is to raise funds to support the local animal rescue groups. To that end, ABC held its first fund-raising event in August of 2009. ABC raised $29,000.00 in one evening and rescue groups who had not previously worked together, joined forces to save these animals. The Hillsborough County Animal Shelter and the Humane Society were also in attendance, as well as Big Cat Rescue, known for their commitment to save rare and exotic cats. We were very pleased with the outcome of our first fund-raising event.

Since August, ABC has distributed over $15,000.00 to local animal rescue groups as well as over 12,000 pounds of free food. These small rescue groups are committed to saving animals, and ABC felt it made sense to form an entity that can help raise funds and save animals. Since August, ABC has developed a tremendous collaboration between the rescue groups, who, before this effort, had rarely talked to each other.

The Tampa Bay Pet-A-Paloosa is the first of 2 major adopt-a-thons to be presented by Animal Based Charities this year. The need is massive. ABC has the full support of Rose Ferlita and Ken Hagen of the County Commissioners. Never before have so many different and distinct organizations come together on behalf of saving the animals in the Tampa Bay area.

The Tampa Bay Pet-A-Paloosa will be held at the USF Sun Dome on Fowler Avenue in Tampa. Doors open at 10:00am and the event concludes at 3:00pm. Admission is FREE and parking is FREE. ABC invites everyone to come out and adopt one of the many animals available for adoption. All animal food donations are accepted. WQYK is the media partner and will be on-site to greet people and help publicize the need for an event of this magnitude and size.

For more information, contact Animal Based Charities at 1-877-799-PETS (7387).

Tickets for the concert must be returned to their point of purchase for a refund.

The team of local artistic celebrities joining forces for the production includes Todd Olson, Producing Artistic Director of American Stage, as the stage director, set designer Scott Cooper, also from American Stage, and Michael Della Penna, a local hair and fashion designer who is creating original costumes. Mark Sforzini, Executive and Artistic Director of St. Petersburg Opera, will provide musical direction and conduct the St. Petersburg Opera Orchestra.

Six of the principal singers will be making their debut with the company after being heard last February in nationally advertised auditions that brought over 150 opera artists to the area to sing for Maestro Sforzini. The handsome young soldiers are being played by Stephen LaBrie and Benjamin Bunsold on Friday and Sunday, with LaBrie and Brian Kuhl on Saturday. The sisters will be sung by Toby Newman and Cassandra Black on Friday and Sunday and Newman and Perri Montané on Saturday. The cynical bachelor will be Benjamin LeClair and the comical maid will be Michelle Seipel. Singers with previous SPO appearances include Montané, who was in Die Fledermaus, and Kuhl, who was the hilarious Gastone in La Traviata.

St. Petersburg Opera returns to the Palladium Theater for three performances, January 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and January 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are priced from $20 to $61.50 and are available from the Palladium Box Office, by telephone at 727-822-3590, or online at www.stpeteopera.org .

By: John Chambrone, photo by: David McIntyre

LARGO-For those of you that heard ‘Out in the Open’ today, here is a picture of soap actor Forbes March from when he was in Largo recently. I was planning on writing up the interview today, but between work, the bf’s wisdom teeth being pulled, and it being a holiday eve, time has eluded me. I will get the interview up soon. Until then, here is a pic of the soap actor, myself, and the shirt that was ‘made for radio.’

Pictured: Carrie West, Judy B. Goode, and Mark ‘Tea Cup” Bias

YBOR CITY-The fabulously talented Judy B. Goode has had it pretty rough lately. While recovering from an accident that broke both of her wrists, the always chipper songstress was dealt another blow as her beloved dog Cloe dog passed away. This leaves her out of work for another month, this time without her faithful companion. Always the trooper, for Goode, the show must go on and the bills must be paid, so her many fans and friends held a benefit for the singer to help her through this tough economic time. Even with both wrists in casts, she continues to be a bundle of energy. In an attempt to draw in the younger disco crowd, she recorded a new song, “So Fabulous,” that has been a big hit with her audiences.

‘I’ll get by with a little help from my friends’ was pretty much the theme of the evening. Tickets were sold for a 50/50 raffle that included a ton of prizes folks donated to assist the singer. Goode took home over 700 dollars that night, which will cover her electric bill, and some other bills that were piling up. “I am so grateful to my friends in the community that were there for me through this time.” She was moved to tears on a few occasions where she thanked her fans, who she regards more as her family. Friendship and family are what the night was all about. Goode has been singing in the bay area for well over 25 years now and has quite a loyal following. If you are a friend of Judy’s, you never know who else she will bring along to the party. Be it her rendition of Sonny and Cher, at the same time, or the accompanying ‘heads’ she wears as all 5 members of the Village People, this always entertaining performer never disappoints.

Goode performs every Monday night at Streetcar Charlie’s in Ybor City. For other upcoming dates, or more information on this local treasure, click onto www.judybgoode.com.

Story & photos by:  John Chambrone

TAMPA-Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival was off to a good start this past Thursday evening. Celebrating  it’s 20th Anniversary this year, the name recently had a facelift. On closing night of last year’s fest, they announced the event’s new name. Calling itself Clip, the festival is getting underway. A little over 500 people attended the opening night festivities. It was fitting that the Quentin Crisp bio pic “An Englishman in New York,” served as the opening night’s film. The very first film festival in 1990 featured “The Naked Civil Servant,” which depicted the events up to Crisp’s move to New York. Both movies, filmed 30 years apart, featured actor John Hurt as the enigmatic Crisp.

Opening night featured the return of some old friends of the festival like Mark Puig and Keith Roberts, and appearances by great local officials Mayor Pam Iorio, newly appointed Police Chief Jane Castor, and County Commissioner Kevin Beckner. Cool media representatives on hand were veteran entertainment reporter Steve Kmetko, and local fun maker Sterling Powell, who handled the red carpet for the evening. The festival is a little more than half way over and Executive Director Chuck Henson stated that overall attendance is 40% more than it was at this time last year and general admission box office tickets are more than doubled from this time last year. It is a testament to the importance of the festival that in these hard economic times, people continue to support this vastly popular annual event. The film festival is a great social event that features over three dozen films.

FMI on the remaining films, parties and street fair, check out their website at: www.cliptampabay.com.

Pictured below: Mayor Pam Iorio, Police Chief Jane Castor and County Comissioner Kevin Beckner