| Floral jackpot: Not all of the shows in Vegas are on stage
It's a safe bet that almost no one heads to this gambling mecca in the Nevada desert looking for pretty flowers and lush landscaping. But if you look past the slot machines and green-felted blackjack and poker tables, you can find some natural greenery. Best of all, the view is usually as free as a casino cocktail, and you don't have to gamble to drink it all in. The Bellagio is the big winner here, with a 30,000-square-foot conservatory and botanical garden near its lobby. Although best known for its musical, dancing fountains, the hotel/casino has been creating five seasonal flower shows (including one for Chinese New Year) since it opened in 1998. Each one is unique, with a clever blend of plants, ornaments and water features. Less colorful but almost as impressive, given the intense heat, are the Bellagio's grounds, which feature privet and boxwood amid rows of olive, cypress and pine trees.
Today's events: Friday, April 20
1 YEEEEEAH The Snowman will be doin' it for his 'hood at Smirnoff Music Centre at 7 p.m. Joining Young Jeezy are Fat Joe and Lil Wayne. $20 to $65. 1818 First Ave. 214-373-8000, 972-647-5700 or www.ticket master.com. 2 PLAY THE TAPE Indie band Tapes 'n Tapes loves to play video games and now headlines a tour sponsored by game developer 2K Sports. It stops tonight at the Granada Theater. With special guests Harlem Shakes and Red Monroe. 8 p.m. $14. 3524 Greenville Ave. 888-512-7469 or www.frontgate tickets.com. 3 GO GREEN Celebrate the earth at the city of Dallas' EarthFest 2007. The all-day green party features exhibits on recycling, gardening, transportation and food. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Pegasus Plaza at Akard and Main streets. There'll also be a fashion show judged by the Dallas Fashion Incubator at AT&T Plaza at 10 a.m.
Remake Is Very Quiet
Its all but quiet on the Hollywood remark front. This afternoon, CB received word over the movie war wire that ex-Washington Post managing editor Ian Stokell and Lesley Paterson have optioned the classic novel, All Quiet on the Western Front to blow it up into a Hollywood light show. The two will use the novel as a starting point for a bombastic Hollywood remake, says Dark Horizons.
"By creating new storylines ourselves, we believe this modern rendition will encompass greater depth and historical context, but still remain congruent with the spirit of Erich Maria Remarque's work," said Paterson in a press release. "We plan on recreating the spectacular visual ambience of trench warfare - miles and miles of desolate, bombed out and cratered landscape - we also intend to add more texture and emotional layering to the overall story."
Thats a lot of angles up in the air historical context, spirit of the original novel, spectacular visual ambience.
Shade, soil are important factors
Every gardener plants with success in mind. How to achieve optimum results with a bountiful vegetable crop and abundant flower blooms is what every gardener hopes for with each new gardening season. Some things we have no control over. Mother Nature may give us an unexpected frost at the beginning of the growing season as well as periods of either excessive rain or drought throughout the summer months. But there are some factors that should be considered to help ensure a successful gardening season. As you decide what to plant, keep in mind the needs of shade or sun for each species. This can vary from full sun to deep shade. I usually make this assessment each year as the landscape changes. For example, removal of a tree or shrubs may create more sunny areas.
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