This Weeks Day-By-Day Picks

Thursday, January 22, 2004

It’s hard to find time to do yoga in these hectic modern times. In the Road Runner commercial, that one totally hot lady saves ten minutes a day just by getting a high-speed Internet connection, then uses that time to sit on a mat and take deep breaths. Which is fine for her, but if we did the same, we’d need time to change clothes and steal away for some privacy — either that or distract all of our colleagues from the spectacle by yelling, “Donald Rumsfeld’s just down the street!” Altogether, it would take much longer than ten minutes. Perhaps there’s another way to fit in all the stretching, breathing and crowd management. At noon today in the Parlors Room of the Kansas Union at the University of Kansas (1301 Jayhawk Boulevard in Lawrence), a lecture titled “Yoga in the Workplace” might offer helpful pointers on assuming the lotus position while holding for the next available representative. For information, 785-864-4946.

Friday, January 23, 2004

Kym Griswold is a kick-ass designer, and we’re not just saying that because she works here at the Pitch. She earned that praise with a collection of artwork called Superior Girls, inspired by a 1960s flight-attendant training manual called So You Want to Be an Airline Stewardess? Griswold was struck by the ridiculousness of the book, which she found while making a birthday present for a friend who works in the airline industry. That it was published at a time when at least one airline required flight attendants to be unmarried women should offer some insight into these ladies’ roles on board. One airline had stewardesses change clothes during the flight, greeting people in one outfit and serving meals in another, a switcheroo advertised as the “air strip.” Some of the industry rules that Griswold mocks in her show are equally bizarre. Head to the Cube (1922 Baltimore, 816-582-8997) from 7 to 9 p.m. We hope you enjoy your flight, and if there’s anything we can do to make your trip more comfortable, that’s sorta kinda too bad.

Saturday, January 24, 2004

Math sucks. However, geometry is OK, because who doesn’t like a nice shape? Some especially nice-looking geometry is on display at Gallery HQ, now located in the Hobbs Building (1427 West Ninth Street). The Private Sea, an installation by Andrew Schell, indicates that somebody’s got mad skills with a protractor and compass. To schedule an appointment to see this stuff before February 16, call 816-916-0620.

Sunday, January 25, 2004

Sneak a Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night is so awesome. The last time we observed this holiday, we used a label maker first, which allowed us to deposit zucchinis riddled with cryptic messages on friends’ doorsteps. The best part was ding-dong ditching them and hiding somewhere to watch their reactions. Nothing but good, old-fashioned Midwestern fun, folks. This holiday seems random, but its origins are quite practical: There was once a surplus of zucchini, and people couldn’t get rid of the stuff no matter how hard they tried. (Now, we’re suspicious that there might be some sort of gourd surplus, because of the proliferation of gourd-based craft events in recent years.) Today at Powell Gardens (1609 N.W. Highway 50), for example, you can take a class called “Musical Instruments From Gourds” from 2 to 4 p.m. And that’s not all. In April, the site plans on hosting a program called “A Gourd Container.” Something’s up. You heard it here first. For information, call 816-697-2600.

Monday, January 26, 2004

Germans can do all kinds of things! Among them is paper cutting. But when Germans cut paper, they don’t call it paper cutting. They call it scherenschnitte, which is fun in and of itself. To learn how they do it, show up at the Blue Ridge Branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library (9253 Blue Ridge Boulevard, 816-761-3382) at 7 p.m. with scissors and an X-Acto knife. Adults only — sharp edges aren’t for kids.

Tuesday, January 27, 2004

We don’t imagine that From Justin to Kelly is a good movie, but then again, we haven’t seen it, and today’s 6:30 p.m. screening at the L.H. Bluford Library (3050 Prospect) is free. If you want to give it a chance, this is the plot as outlined by the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com): Two unfortunate American Idols, Kelly and Justin, meet during spring break and joyfully fall in love whilst having a fantastic time! Neither American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson nor show host Simon Cowell endorses the film, though. On The Daily Show With Jon Stewart last summer, when Stewart asked Clarkson to tell him honestly whether the movie was any good, she told him the movie was not intended for him but rather for an eight-year-old girl. Cowell, on NPR’s Fresh Air, admitted that the movie was a disaster and that the title made it sound like a transvestite story. Had it been up to Cowell, From Justin to Kelly would never have been made. But some people like it. On Imdb.com, someone who goes by “detroitrules” writes that “the same people who cannot see the wonder and amazement of such classics as Gymkata, Iron Eagle II and Troll II obviously are too intellectually inept to under stand [sic] From Justin to Kelley [sic].” Detroitrules then gives the movie “3 thumbs up.” Take that recommendation for what it’s worth, extra thumb and all. For information, call 816-701-3595.

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Friday’s a pretty big night to commit to spending in Wichita, which is why we aren’t recommending that you attend the opening of Dario Robleto’s Eunuch Euthanasia. But if you have a free afternoon, it should be worth the road trip. Robleto’s work is basically an auditory collage. Using the devices of DJ culture, he takes bits and pieces of sound from angsty grunge, bliptronica and politically charged early hip-hop and mixes it all up. He also makes sculptures from crushed, shredded or melted vinyl LPs and 45s. The Ulrich Museum is at 1845 Fairmount Street on the Wichita State University campus. For information, call 316-978-3664.