A bomb exploded outside a luxury hotel in a major city in northwest Pakistan Tuesday, killing at least five people, according to a government official.
The blast went off near the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar.
Gunmen stormed the hotel just Tuesday night before "a big bomb went off," said police official Liaqat Ali.
At least five people were killed and 25 were wounded, said Sahibzada Anis, a top government official in Peshawar.
Pakistan's Express Television also reported at least five deaths, but said 35 people were injured.
Police official Liaqat Ali said gunmen stormed into the Pearl Continental Hotel in the north-western city just before "a big bomb went off" and sparked a major fire.
Officials are trying to establish whether a device had been planted or it was a suicide attack.
Pakistani television channels quoted witnesses as saying it was a gun and bomb attack.PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Officials says a huge bomb has exploded at a luxury hotel in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least five people and wounding 25 others.
Police official Liaqat Ali says gunmen stormed into the Pearl Continental Hotel in the northwestern city on Tuesday night just before “a big bomb went off.”
Sahibzada Anis, a top government official in Peshawar, says at least five people were killed and 25 wounded.
The blast is the latest in a string of attacks in Pakistani cities in recent weeks that officials say are revenge for a military offensive against Taliban militants in the Swat Valley.
An explosion has killed five people and injured at least 25 at a luxury hotel in the north-west Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials say.
Police named the hotel as the five-star Pearl Continental, and an unconfirmed report suggests that foreign guests are among those hurt.
Peshawar is capital of Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province.
A series of bombs have hit cities including Peshawar since a government crackdown on Taliban militants.
One report said the hotel had been subjected to a gun and bomb attack.
Pearl Continental's website describes its hotel in Peshawar as "overlooking the famous Peshawar golf course and the historic Bala Hisar Fort".
God sent me to protect Suu KyiThe Myanmar court trying opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi heard testimony Wednesday from the man who swam to her house, sparking her trial on subver…Bodies found at Turkish copter crash siteForty-eight hours after a harrowing distress call from a helicopter crash survivor in the mountains of eastern Turkey, Turkey’s interior ministe…5 die in U.S. military copter crashA U.S. military helicopter crashed Thursday in northern Italy, killing five people on board and wounding several others, Treviso police said.
TV reports said the hotel had been subjected to a gun and bomb attack.
A government investigator, Sahibzada Anees, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying officials were trying to establish whether a device had been planted or it was a suicide attack.
Pearl Continental's website describes its hotel in Peshawar as "overlooking the famous Peshawar golf course and the historic Bala Hisar Fort".
Government forces launched an offensive earlier this year to crush a Taliban-led uprising in the Swat valley aimed at enforcing Sharia law.
Taliban leaders have promised to launch revenge attacks on major Pakistani cities and claimed a bombing in Lahore last month which left at least 28 people dead.
A Pablo Picasso sketchbook has been stolen from the museum in Paris that is named after him, police have said.
The collection of drawings by the legendary Spanish artist is worth about £9m. The sketchbook was taken from the Picasso Museum in the centre of the French capital. Officials discovered the theft this morning, police said.
PARIS -- A notebook of 33 pencil drawings by Pablo Picasso has been stolen from the Paris museum that bears the painter's name, authorities said Tuesday.
The book is reportedly worth several million euros (dollars).
The theft took place between Monday and Tuesday morning at the Picasso Museum, France's Culture Ministry said. It was discovered Tuesday morning, a police official said anonymously, as police are not authorized to discuss cases publicly.
The stolen sketchbook, shiny red with the word "Album" inscribed in gold on the front, dated from 1917 to 1924, the Culture Ministry statement said. It measured 6.3 inches by 9.5 inches (16 by 24 centimeters) the ministry said.
The Picasso Museum, in Paris' old Marais neighborhood, is dedicated to the Spanish-born painter, a founder of the Cubist movement and leading 20th century artist.
The exact time and how the theft was carried out are not yet known but the sketchbook has been taken from the Picasso Museum. The sketchbook is valued at more than £10million.
The BRB which is a special unit of the interior ministry is in charge of the investigation.
It is likely the theft was carried out between Monday evening and noon on Tuesday.
The initial investigation shows there was no sign of a break-in. This suggests professional art criminals could well be behind the crime.
Alarms in the fortified museum were somehow switched off, and no windows were smashed or doors broken open.
Apparently, the sketchbook, which was once the property of one of the world's best known artists, was kept in an unlocked display case on the first floor.
The museum's management are not yet commenting.have so far refused to comment on the theft.
The Picasso museum is set to close this summer for at least two years for renovation work put at 20m euros.
The museum contains more than 250 paintings and 1,500 drawings by the Spanish artist. t has more than 250 paintings, 160 sculptures and 1,500 drawings by Picasso in a former mansion in the fashionable Marais district.
He is a founder of the Cubist movement and a leading 20th century artist.
Two Picasso paintings worth about £43m were taken from the Paris home of Diana Widmaier-Picasso, the artist's granddaughter, in February 2007.
And four Picasso works stolen from a museum in Sao Paulo, Brazil in June 2008 were recovered undamaged a few weeks later.
Bret Michaels got lit up after performing at the Tony Awards. Just watch the video below and pay close attention at the end. Every rose does indeed have its thorn.
Michaels and his band Poison performed during the opening number, singing "Nothin' But a Good Time" with the cast of "Rock of Ages." Could this be setting the stage for Poison to become part of the '80s hair band Broadway show?
It sure wasn't "nothing but a good time" at the Tony Awards for Brett Michaels last night -- because after performing in the opening number, dude ran smack into a falling set piece and landed flat on his ass.
A spokesperson for the Tonys tells the AP Michaels just "missed his mark" but wouldn't comment on any injuries except to say his nose wasn't broken. See Also
Broadway did what Broadway does best to open Sunday night's 63rd annual Tony Awards – delivering an electrifying musical number that starred Dolly Parton, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, the casts of West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Pal Joey, Shrek, 9 to 5: The Musical, Next to Normal, Rock of Ages and Billy Elliot and finished off with a love-in: a rousing rendition of "Let the Sun Shine" from the new best-revival production of Hair that got all 6,000 attendees inside Radio City Music Hall dancing in their seats.
When the spectacle concluded, the evening's host, How I Met Your Mother star Neal Patrick Harris, called it "the biggest and most expensive number in the history of the Tonys. That is why I am your host tonight."
But not everything went smoothly during the elaborate number, which was broadcast live on CBS. Rock of Love reality star Bret Michaels – who hit the stage with his band Poison along with the cast of Broadway's Rock of Ages – ran into a piece of scenery when he missed his mark after performing Poison's hit "Nothin' But a Good Time." He was knocked to the ground, and while the extent of his injury was not known, he did not break his nose, despite wide speculation that he had.
A publicist later told PEOPLE that Michaels was hoping to hit some after-parties but was "getting X-rays." Calling him "a trooper," she added that Michaels "had a blast performing."
Besides the singing and dancing, there were awards, with Billy Elliot, composer Elton John's adaptation of director Stephen Daldry's 2000 film about a boy who lives to dance, sweeping the night as best musical and winning 10 Tonys in all – while French dramatist Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage was named best play.
God of Carnage – an unmannered "comedy of manners" about two married couples in Brooklyn – was also honored for its direction and its leading actress, Marcia Gay Harden.
Angela Lansbury Wins Oscar winner (for the 1996 film Shine) Geoffrey Rush added to his trophy case with the best actor Tony for the revival of the French existential absurdist tragic-comedy Exit the King, by Eugene Ionesco.
Sopranos star James Gandolfini, now starring in God of Carnage, served as a presenter and "set the record straight," he said. "I am not Shrek." He and costar Jeff Daniels handed over the best featured actress Tony to Broadway favorite Angela Lansbury, for her role as spiritual medium Madame Arcati in the revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit.
The win marked Mame and Murder, She Wrote star Lansbury's fifth Tony, and the audience – which included Anne Hathaway – received her with a standing ovation.
"This is amazing," said the veteran actress, 83. "Who would have thought? Who knew at this time of my life that I would be presented with this lovely, lovely award. I can't believe I am standing here."
Audience in Tears West Side Story's Karen Olivo, who played the defiant Anita, was named best featured actress in a musical. In her acceptance speech, which brought tears to members of the audience, she stressed the importance of surrounding oneself "with people who love you."
Liza Minnelli's concert, Liza's at the Palace, beat Will Ferrell's one-man show, You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush, as best special theatrical event. The indomitable star thanked her parents, showbiz legend Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli, for giving her her godmother, musical stylist Kay Thompson.
Next to Normal, an offbeat musical about a family's coping with a bipolar mother, beat Dolly Parton (for 9 to 5) and Elton John (for Billy Elliot) in the best score category, with Tonys going to composer Tom Kitt and lyricist Brian Yorkey – who acknowledged Parton and John's inspiration. Its star, Alice Ripley, was named best leading actress in a musical.
Ouch! Brett Michaels got some karmic retribution for Rock of Love at the 2009 Tony Awards last night. As the newly-reunited Poison left the stage after performing Nothin' but a Good Time, Brett had a run-in with a dropping set-piece, and was knocked on his butt. Who says theatre is dead?
Admit it: you didn't watch the Tonys, but you would've if you knew this was going to happen.
No rock stars were injured in the filming of this awards show.
As David Carradine's family awaited the arrival of his body from Thailand, they threatened to sue any media outlet that reprints images of the 72-year-old actor's death.
David Carradine's distraught family is outraged over a Thai newspaper's publication of explicit photos taken of the actor's body hanging naked in a hotel closet.
The grisly image of the "Kill Bill" star ran on the front page of the paper, and another outlet published an autopsy shot of his body at a morgue.
"The family is outraged about the release of these photos," said Mark Geragos, an attorney who represents Keith Carradine, the actor's brother.
In an interview with RadarOnline.com, Geragos also threatened to sue if the photos are published in the United States.
The shocking front-page picture shows Carradine with his hands tied in front of him, hanging from the support bar in a closet. Tattoos on the lower half of his nude body also are visible.
Carradine, 72, who also starred in the 1970s television series "Kung Fu," was found dead on Thursday.
Carradine had a history of engaging in autoerotic asphyxiation, a sexual practice that often involves tying a rope around the neck, friends said.
He was in Bangkok filming his latest movie, "Stretch."
The announcement was made after a Bangkok tabloid on Saturday published a purported photo of the actor's death scene. The family also asked the FBI to help investigate his death. Carradine's body was found in a Bangkok hotel room on Thursday.
TMZ is reporting that after examining a higher resolution photo of the body of David Carradine, fishnet stockings are seen on his body and a dark wig may have been worn on his head.
The photo, which was published this weekend in a Thai gossip magazine, shows Carradine hanging by a closet bar, hands tied above his head with his genitals also tied. Women’s red lingerie can also be seen on the bed.
I personally have not seen the pic (nor do I choose to) so I cannot verify this information.
I do know that Carradine’s family is extremely upset about the photo and has threatened legal action to anyone who publishes it. Which, good for them. I think it’s awful that everyone wants to see it.
The family has also asked the FBI for help in the investigation of his death.
Carradine’s brother Keith released the following statement: “The family wants it understood that, per attorney Mark Geragos, any persons, publications or media outlets will be fully prosecuted for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress if the photos are published.”
Meanwhile, Carradine’s third ex-wife, Gail Jensen, has been flapping her gums to the media, saying that David like to spend days creating intricate bondage devices. She said, “David was pretty strange. He would like to get tied up. He would tie himself up and I would walk in and see him and say ‘Oh my God, David, you got to be kidding me, and I would walk out. I would leave him to his own devices.”
TheSmokingGun.com also published legal documents from Carradine’s 4th ex-wife, describing his “potentially deadly” sexual appetite.
Mark Geragos, the lawyer for Carradine's brother Keith, says the family got involved because of conflicting information about the actor's death. Relatives are hoping his body arrives in the USA by today.
Keith Carradine said in a statement that his family was "profoundly disturbed" by the publication "of photographs taken at the scene." The statement continued, "Any persons, publications or media outlets will be fully prosecuted for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress if the photos are published." FIND MORE STORIES IN: Michael Baden
The family also wants famed forensic pathologist Michael Baden to perform a second autopsy to determine whether another person could have been involved. Results of an autopsy Friday in Thailand were not expected for three weeks, the Associated Press reported.
In one of his last performances, Carradine appears on Fox's Mental Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Billy Elliot The Musical" swept the top U.S. theater honors on Sunday, winning 10 Tony Awards for a Broadway season that defied a recession with record ticket sales. "Billy Elliot" is based on Oscar-nominated director Stephen Daldry's 2000 film about a ballet dancing schoolboy in a mining town in northern England. Elton John, who suggested the film be adapted for theater, wrote the music for the production.
Family upset over photos of Carradine's body
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The family of late actor David Carradine is "profoundly disturbed" by photos published in Thailand that are said to be of Carradine's naked body hanging in his Bangkok hotel room, according to family attorney Mark Geragos. Geragos said a statement from the actor's brother, Keith Carradine, shows that the family will take legal action against people or media outlets that publish the photos "for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress."
David Carradine was found dead in his room at the Swissôtel Nai Lert Park Hotel on Wireless Road, near Sukhumvit, in central Bangkok, Thailand.
Police Lieutenant General Worapong Chewprecha, Commander of the Metropolitan Police, remarked that the closed circuit television installed within the hotel supported the theory that no other persons were involved with the death.
Carradine’s representative and family members told the press that they believed the death to be accidental and not a suicide.
A Thai publication Thai Rath has published a Crime Scene Photo recently.
RadarOnline.com described the image like this :
The shocking published photo shows Carradine with his hands tied in front of him, hanging from the support bar in a closet.
Discoloration of the skin on the lower extremities indicates he had been dead for hours before being found, according to people familiar with the situation.
According to the sources David Carradine was hung accidentally by his neck and other body parts. Natural assumption from this is that he was engaged in some sort of auto-erotic asphyxiation.
The family of the late actor David Carradine is outraged over the publication of Crime Scene Photo by Thai tabloid Thai rath.
The photo shows Carradine, 72, with his hands tied in front of him, hanging from the support bar in a closet. Tattoos on the lower half of his nude body can be seen. Discoloration of the skin on the lower extremities indicate he had been dead for hours before being found, according to experts.
The doctored image has also been posted on several blogs but a lawyer for the Carradine family blasted the publication of the photo, which is believed to have been leaked by police in Bangkok. And they threatened to sue any US publication for 'invasion of privacy and distress' if they reproduced the photo.
Attorney Mark Geragos, who represents David's brother Keith Carradine, said: "The family is outraged about the release of these photos. "I will legally go after any publication for invasion of privacy and emotional distress if the photos are run in the United States."
BANGKOK – Police are speculating that accidental suffocation, not suicide, may have caused the death of American cult actor David Carradine, whose body was found in a hotel closet in the Thai capital with a rope tied to his neck, wrist and genitals.
Celebrity blogs and social networking Web sites were abuzz with news of the death of Carradine — best known for the 1970s TV series "Kung Fu." The circumstances under which he died have led to speculation that the 72-year-old actor may have been engaged in a dangerous form of sex play known as auto-erotic asphyxiation.
The practice involves temporarily cutting off the supply of oxygen to the brain to heighten the effects of a sexual climax.
Carradine's body was discovered Thursday morning in his luxury suite by a chambermaid at Bangkok's Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel, said its general manager, Aurelio Giraudo. Police embassy representatives while preparations were being made for its repatriation to the United States, expected to be in the next few days. Under U.S. privacy laws, the embassy is not allowed to release further details without permission of the family of the deceased.
Dr. Nanthana Sirisap, director of Chulalongkorn Hospital's Autopsy Center, told reporters that the autopsy was conducted because of the "unusual circumstances surrounding Carradine's death," but did not elaborate.
Police Lt. Teerapop Luanseng had said Thursday that Carradine's body was found "naked, hanging in a closet," and police at that time suspected suicide. However, no suicide note has been found.
Carradine's friends and associates insisted he would not kill himself.
"All we can say is, we know David would never have committed suicide," said Tiffany Smith of Binder & Associates, his management company. "We're just waiting for them to finish the investigation and find out what really happened. He really appreciated everything life has to give ... and that's not something David would ever do to himself."
Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science, said the circumstances suggested that Carradine may have died performing auto-erotic asphyxiation, which is said to result in a form of giddiness and euphoria — similar to alcohol or drug intoxication — that enhances the sexual experience.
"In some cases it can suggest murder, too. But sometimes when the victim is naked and in bondage, it can suggest that the victim is doing it to himself," said Pornthip, who is considered the country's top criminal forensics expert but who did not take part in the autopsy. "If you hang yourself by the neck, you don't need so much pressure to kill yourself. Those who get highly sexually aroused tend to forget this fact."
Carradine had flown to Thailand last week and began work on a film titled "Stretch" two days before his death, Smith said. He had several other projects lined up after the action film, which was being directed by Charles de Meaux.
Carradine was in good spirits when he left the U.S. for Thailand on May 29 to work on "Stretch," his manager Smith said by phone from Beverly Hills.
Monica Donati, a spokesman for the French film company MK2, which was making "Stretch," said in statement from Paris that the film crew in Bangkok was "clearly shocked" by Carradine's death but would finish shooting. Carradine only had three more days of filming left in Bangkok, she said.
"David was apparently very happy about this new role and about filming again," she said.
Hotel manager Giraudo described Carradine as "very much a person full of life" who chatted with the staff.
"He was a great piano player and played a few nights in the hotel lobby," he said, "He also played the flute and the guests really enjoyed it. I mentioned to him that I had seen (the movie) 'Crank' with my family and that was the last smile he gave me."
Carradine, a martial arts practitioner himself, was best known for the U.S. TV series "Kung Fu," which aired in 1972-75. He played Kwai Chang Caine, an orphan who was raised by Shaolin monks and fled China after killing the emperor's nephew in retaliation for the murder of his kung fu master.
Carradine also appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby.
He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill." Bill, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill — Vol. 1." In that film, one of Bill's former assassins (Uma Thurman) begins a vengeful rampage against her old associates, including Bill.
The story seems like a throwback to the Cold War era: an American couple arrested by federal authorities and accused of spying on the U.S. for a communist country. But the couple in question are in custody right now. U.S. officials believe Dr. Walter Kendall Myers Jr. and his wife, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, have been spying for the Cuban government for 3 decades.
The following are excerpts from the Dept. of Justice press release regarding the couples' arrest:
An indictment and criminal complaint unsealed today in the District of Columbia charge Walter Kendall Myers, 72, a.k.a. "Agent 202," and his wife
Friendly's is offering its customers a free ice cream cone today to start the summer season. Friendly's afficianados are advised to call their local Friendly's to make sure it is one of the 500 franchises participating in this nationwide free ice cream promotion before setting out to Friendly's Offers Free Ice Cream Today claim their cone. The free cones or cups are available at Friendly's from noon to 5 pm.
Along the stretch of Main Street that wends its way through this largely Orthodox Jewish community in Queens, Bruce Becker’s candy-colored shop stands out among many of the other businesses.
Like many of his neighbors, he sells a kosher product and draws in regular crowds after Sabbath. But while many fellow shopkeepers are feeling the pain of slower sales in the recession, Mr. Becker’s business, Max & Mina’s Ice Cream, recently added eight workers, and he is working the longest hours he has in 12 years.
Mr. Becker, who owns the shop with his brother, Mark, is struggling to keep pace with a growing appetite for ice cream.
Since last August — a month when New Yorkers typically feel sated from a summer of scoops — customers have continued to pour in for comforting flavors like cinnamon babka and strawberry shortcake: Sales are up by 40 percent. Demand jumped by 70 percent for the Beckers’ wholesale business, which supplies Manhattan shops and restaurants that sell ice cream as a main dessert or in the supportive, à la mode role.
“There’s no question people are eating more,” Mr. Becker said as he darted around his shop in a blue pinstripe suit, a navy baseball cap and flip-flops. “This is an affordable comfort food. What kind of a life is it if you’re not eating something good?”
It is a sentiment shared by Melissa Lowinger, 20, a senior at Yeshiva University who visits the shop weekly with her grandparents and her younger brothers. While her family tries to be more cost-conscious during the recession, she has chosen not to sacrifice the mint Oreos that she likes mixed in with her ice cream.
“It’s been a tradition,” she said. “We try to be careful as we can. But ice cream is important, too.”
Max & Mina’s success, however, has not necessarily helped draw shoppers to neighboring businesses. While Kew Gardens Hills may not have been hurt as much as other neighborhoods by the recession, a sandwich shop and two clothing stores have disappeared from Main Street, said Patricia Dolan, president of the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association.
She could not recall seeing empty storefronts in the neighborhood for “many years,” she said.
Mr. Becker, who has watched businesses — including a Thai restaurant and a bakery — close in the past year, said he had tried to help his neighbors. He suggested that the owners of one store, Ramat Gan Fruits and Vegetables and Israeli Imports, a market that has served the neighborhood since 1975, draw more customers by playing classical music and offering free samples.
Menashe Israeli, one of the owners, said that while business might have dropped about 20 percent, he did not need Mr. Becker’s advice.
“We help them,” he said, referring to the ice cream shop.
Meanwhile, Mr. Becker said he was receiving more orders from midpriced Manhattan restaurants. Mara Levi, who runs Mara’s Homemade in the East Village with her husband, David, stopped by the shop on a recent Monday morning to pick up two tubs of French vanilla to serve with her homemade peach cobbler and chocolate pecan cake. Ms. Levi said that while customers typically order fewer desserts in the warmer months, she had seen no slowdown this year.
“That’s a lot of à la mode,” she said incredulously, as she added up how much ice cream customers have been eating.
Compared with a year ago, she said, “we’re selling probably double the ice cream.”
Mr. Becker, a consummate food entrepreneur who chats about the investment capital backing cupcake shops and the financial limitations of gelato, has spent the past decade serving locals and promoting his flavors to the rarefied food elite of Manhattan. He found fame and a spot in People magazine’s most eligible bachelor issue along the way.
The shop walls are lined with photographs of celebrity ice cream fans, like the professional wrestler Mick Foley, who enjoyed cupcake ice cream at an event with so much “gusto,” Mr. Becker said, that he was cut off.
Dylan Lauren, who sells the Becker brothers’ ice cream at her Dylan’s Candy Bar shops in Midtown and at Roosevelt Field in Garden City, describes it as a “hippie, Orthodox, New York version of Ben & Jerry.”
These customer relationships, built in better times, seem not to be suffering in the downturn. Unemployed bankers in suits are still taking two buses and a subway for cones. And when the Barbie doll celebrated its 50th anniversary this spring, Ms. Lauren worked with Mr. Becker to blend pink ice cream with black and white cookies, in honor of the doll’s signature swimsuit.
Next door to Max & Mina’s, Suren Kay, manager of the Mr. Computer Doctor shop, said his business had fallen by 30 percent in recent months as more customers enlisted relatives and computer “geeks” to fix their computers. He recently closed a second shop, in Kew Gardens. And, an unrelated Web site that he runs, TorahAnytime.com, has suffered from declining donations, he said.
Still, he said, he would not trade his financial pressures to run an ice cream shop, even as he sees the line spilling from his neighbor’s store on Sundays.
“Everyone has their thing that they do in this world,” Mr. Kay said. “Ice cream is ice cream.”
Friendly's CEO Ned Lidvall says that the goal of the free ice cream promotion is to give as many people as possible "a cool delicious treat to kick off the summer" after having experienced "a winter that was grueling- both because of the economy and because of the weather..."
The Friendly's free ice cream promotion epitomizes the qualities on which the Friendly's chain was founded. Brothers Prestley and Curtis Blake opened the first Friendly's during the Great Depression in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1935. Their commitment to customer service was legendary even once the chain grew and expanded across the country.
The Blake brothers still owned the chain and emphasized pleasing customers in 1974 when I got my first job at the Friendly's on State Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. If a customer dropped his ice cream cone upon leaving the counter (a common occurrence with children), the protocol was to scoop up a free replacement cone. No customer was to leave the shop unhappy with the food or the service.
Friendly's was ubiquitous in Springfield, and my childhood and teen years are full of happy memories of visiting Friendly's as a customer. No one ever rushed the customers to leave once they finished their food and coffee refills were offered no matter how many times the cup ran dry.
One of my favorite childhood memories is a second grade field trip to the Friendly's plant in Wilbraham, Massachusetts where we saw ice cream being made. We were given a choice of a free vanilla or black raspberry cone on that trip; I tasted Friendly's black raspberry ice cream for the first time and it has been my favorite ever since.
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Free Doughnuts For National Doughnut Day Free Doughnuts For National Doughnut Day; Free Ice Cream At Friendly's Dunkin' Donuts And Krispy Kreme Offer Free Doughnuts For National Doughnut Day 2009
BY KORKY VANN | The Hartford Courant June 4, 2009
Dunkin' Donuts
Asma Attaoui holds a rack of doughnuts at a Dunkin' Donuts franchise in Boston. Dunkin' Donuts celebrates National Donut Day Friday. (LISA POOLE, ASSOCIATED PRESS / February 12, 2008)
Dunkin' Donuts celebrates National Donut Day Friday. Stop by participating locations, buy a cup of coffee, (or any beverage), and you'll get a free doughnut. Information: Dunkindonuts.com.
Don't miss the free ice cream Saturday at Friendly's restaurants. Between noon and 5 p.m., the chain is giving away single scoop cones or cups of any ice cream or sherbet flavors, no purchase required.
After the dreary weather earlier this week, it looks like the weekend is going to be much more agreeable. Perfect weather for one of those outdoor concerts, a little shopping, some First Friday action.
Saturday is National Trails Day. Look for events in Arvada, Aurora, and in Morrison at Triceratops Trail (one of our faves). Celebrate an oft-used but under-appreciated resource: our trail system. Along those same lines, enjoy fishing for free all weekend. The Department of Wildlife has established this weekend as a free weekend, but entry fees to parks still apply, as do bag limits and bait restrictions.
Some girl named Dora is going to do some exploring at the DCPA this weekend. If you’re going, have. . . fun. Yeah.
First Friday
It’s First Friday! Check out the art scene in these neighborhoods:
Tennyson Street between 38th and 44th Avenues, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
Old South Pearl Street, between Evans and Buchtel, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
Santa Fe Drive, between 6th and 13th Avenues, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
Golden Triangle Neighborhood, Lincoln between Speer and 13th, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
Free Days
Friday, June 5: Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield 303-973-3705, 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton.
Saturday, June 6: Free First Saturdays at the Denver Art Museum, 720-865-5000, 13th Avenue, between Broadway and Bannock in Downtown Denver. Please note that the Psychedelic Experience exhibition is not included in the free day, and does require an additional fee. But the rest of the museum is gratis. Free. No charge.
Sunday, June 7: Free Sundaes on First Sundays, Boulder History Museum, 1206 Euclid Avenue, Boulder. Free admission and free ice cream, all day. Now that’s my kind of free day.
Sunday, June 7, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls, and Toys. 1880 Gaylord Street, Denver. A free day, but this unique museum will never turn down a donation.
Wednesday, June 10: Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver. 303-322-7009. The Expedition: Health exhibit is included in the Free Day, but you still need to make reservations to see it.
Summer Concerts
By mid-summer, there’s likely to be a concert just about any night of the week. Sometimes two on the same night. Point being: No matter where you live, there’s something close by. Summer concerts should be called “summer no-brainers.” Got nothin’ to do? Head to the nearest park and listen to some music. How hard is that?
Wednesday, June 10, 6:30 pm: (doors open at 6:00 pm) Swallow Hill’s Shady Grove Picnic Series at Four Mile Historic Park, 715 Forest Street, Denver. This week: Danny Barnes w/ Jake Schepps Duo featuring Greg Schochet. Tickets are $10/adults, $2 kids 12 and under.
Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Littleton Historic Museum Concert Series, 303-795-3950, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. This week: Dakota Blonde.
Friday, June 5, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Northfield Stapleton Summer Concert Series, Main Street at Northfield Stapleton, 49th and Quebec. Catch the Northfield Stapleton Summer Concert Series on first and third Fridays, June through August. This week: Chase N’ the Dream.
Sunday, June 7, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: City Park Jazz, at the Bandstand at City Park Pavilion. This popular series runs Sundays through August 9. Park either at the Zoo or the Museum for free, then take the shuttle to the bandstand. Free bike parking is also available. This is a great opportunity for a Sunday evening picnic, but if you’re not in the mood (or you’re not that organized), there is always food available, as well. This week’s band is Cocktail Revolution.
Sunday, June 7, 6:30 pm: Summer Concerts in the Park, Memorial Park at 25th and Chase, Edgewater. 303-238-7803 x28. This series runs through July 6. This week: Quickdraw.
Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Bands on the Bricks, 1300 Block of Pearl, Boulder. This one runs through August 12—catch a different band every Wednesday night. This week it’s Funkiphino.
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 pm: City of Thornton’s Summer Concert Series. Runs Thursdays in June, and then again from July 9 – August 6. This week it’s the Manuel Molina Band, at Community Park, Thornton Parkway and York Street.
Summer Movie Programs
I’ll say it again: These programs are awesome! I can’t wait to take the boys to see Journey to the Center of the Earth on the big screen, because we missed it the first time around. Now if they’d only play all the Star Wars movies, we’d be set.
Saturday, May 30, 3:00 pm. Kids Saturday Nickelodeon at the Starz FilmCenter, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver This week’s feature is Pete’s A Pizza and other Picture Book Classics. Free.
Saturday, June 6, dusk: Babe, courtesy of Movies in the Parks. This week’s movie is at Skyline Park, 1775 Arapahoe. Free popcorn, cotton candy, and sno-cones; other concessions available for purchase. This series runs through the summer at various parks throughout Denver; check the website for more details. But you know we’ll always try to provide complete information here. In addition to Babe, they’re showing some of our other favorites this summer, like Princess Bride, The Iron Giant, and E.T.
Saturday, June 6, 6:30 pm: Starlight Summer Movie Night, Festival Park, 300 Second Street, Castle Rock. Start the evening with live music and children’s activities, then settle in and watch Kung Fu Panda when it starts to get dark.
Tuesday, June 9, 10:00 am Summer Movie Clubhouse at the Century 16 in BelMar, 440 S. Teller Street, Lakewood. Tuesdays through August 4, the Century 16 in BelMar offers a different PG or G rated movie for the kids. Buy a 10-pack for all 10 movies for $5, or pay as you go for a buck a show. This week’s movie is Hoodwinked.
Tuesday, June 9, and Wednesday, June 10, 10:00 am Regal Free Family Film Festival, West Village Stadium, 14225 West Colfax; Greenwood Plaza 12, 8151 E Arapahoe Road; Park Meadows 12, 9355 Park Meadows Drive; Continental 10, 3635 S Monaco Pkwy. Free movies for the family; movies vary by location, so check the website for complete listings.
Harkins Kid Summer Movie Program, Northfield Theater, 8300 E 49th Avenue. This movie program runs through August 1st; buy a 10-pack movie pass for $5.00, or individual movie tickets for $2.00. Adults must be accompanied by a child. Check the website for complete details and movie listings specific to this program.
Happenings and Other Fun Things to Do
Saturday – Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday through July 5: Family Summer Camp at Bass Pro Shops, 7970 Northfield Blvd, Denver. Head over to the Bass Pro Shop and partake in one of several different fun, camping/outdoor-oriented crafts and activities. Check the website for complete details and times.
Saturday, June 6, 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Stories in the Park, West Side of City Park, behind the Graham-Bible House, at 21st and York. This series runs Saturdays through June 27th, and features special guests reading stories to kids. Best for ages 3 – 7. Lemonade served after.
Saturday, June 6, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Centennial Spring Fling, deKoevend Park, 6315 S. University Blvd, Littleton. Kick the season off with activities for the kids, including a creation station, as well as wandering entertainment, food. . .all the things you simply must have at an event of this kind. If you haven’t been to deKoevend Park, you should go. It’s huge, and it’s adjacent to the Highline Canal trail, so bring your bikes. Go north and travel through some truly lovely areas.
Saturday, June 6, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Arvada Celebrates its Trails, Majestic View Nature Center, 7030 Garrison, Arvada. Enjoy wildlife displays, hikes, and bike rides; get inspired to get out and go this summer!
Saturday, June 6, 8:00 am. Aurora Trails Day, Aurora Reservoir, 5800 S Powhaton, Aurora. Aurora pulls out all the stops for National Trails Day, with a 5k run/walk, a bike ride, and a wellness fair. Register online for the run or the ride, check in begins at 8:00 am.
Saturday, June 6, 10:00 am – 2:30 pm: National Trails Day at Triceratops Trail, 16831 West Alamada Parkway, Morrison. Walk the Triceratops Trail, and experts stationed along the trail will answer questions and provide more information. Other activities include digs and track painting. Call 303-697-3466 for more information.
Saturday, June 6, 10:00 – 8:00, and Sunday, June 7, 10:00 – 7:00: Capitol Hill People’s Fair, Civic Center Park, Denver. Going strong since 1971, this eclectic fair celebrates the diversity that is the Capitol Hill area. Family activities, tons of live entertainment on four stages, arts and crafts, food. . . all the while supporting non-profits.
Saturday, June 6, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm and Sunday, June 7, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm: La Piazza dell’ Arte: Chalk Art on Larimer Square, Downtown Denver. 303-685-8120. 200 artists create chalk art on the streets of Larimer Square. Italian food will be on hand (mmmm. . . gelato. . . ), along with beer, wine, and other delicious treats. A unique festival, featuring beautiful art. Fleeting, but beautiful. And I can’t help but think of Mary Poppins: “Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Mary. . . “ Oh c’mon, you were thinking it, too.
Saturday, June 6, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Colorado Asian Pacific Heritage Event at the Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion, 400 East 8th Avenue, Denver. Learn about Asian Pacific culture, including dancing, lei making, tea ceremonies, and more. This event is free!
Saturday, June 6, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Denver Day of Rock, at the Fillmore Plaza (2nd and Fillmore) in Cherry Creek, and the Downtown Theatre District (14th and Curtis). Support Concerts for Kids by showing up for an afternoon of free music. Part of the proceeds from concession sales benefit kids’ charities. Check the website for the lineup at each site.
Sunday, June 7, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm: Boulder Jewish Festival, Boulder County Courthouse Lawn, on the Pearl Street Mall, between the 1200 and 1500 blocks, Boulder. A celebration of Jewish culture, with live entertainment, activities, ethnic food, the works.
Tuesday, June 9, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Feast on the Fax, East Colfax between Colorado Boulevard and Yosemite Street. More than a dozen restaurants participate in this smorgasbord of food. Travel up and down this section of Colfax to sample everything from Morroccan to Mexican and beyond. Shuttles are available, but you can also bike or walk. Tickets are $20 in advance at King Soopers or online; $25 the day of the event from participating restaurants. Part of the proceeds go to the revitalization effort along this corridor. Great for the adventurous eater.
Wednesday, June 10, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Beat the Recession at Little Tykes Trading Post, 15250 East Hampden Avenue, Aurora. As if buying on consignment weren’t already a smart idea, this place is having a special night to encourage you to do it. The first 35 in the door receive a gift bag with even more deals, so RSVP to 720- 870-7191.
Sundays in June (except June 31), 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Firehouse Kitchen at the Denver Firefighters Museum, 1325 Tremont Place, Denver. This program is designed to teach kitchen safety, but you get to enjoy firehouse treats at the same time. We all know what great chefs those firefighters are! Take your favorite fire engine fanatic for a little afternoon getaway. $5 per class, or $15 for the 4 week session. Another session runs in July.
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, now through August 28, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Tebo Train Rides on the Pearl Street Mall, Boulder. Let your little ones (10 and younger, please) hop on the train and get a little tour of the Pearl Street Mall—two whole blocks of it. Adults can ride with their child. Catch the train at the Wells Fargo Bank in the 1200 block of the Pearl Street Mall.
New Museum Exhibits and Such
The Little Star That Could at the Gates Planetarium at the Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver. This animated program is geared toward younger children, and explores the life of a star. Separate ticket prices apply. The Gates Planetarium has several great shows going on right now; check the website for more information, along with show times and ticket prices.
Through September 7: Junior Jobsite at the Children’s Museum, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive, Denver. A construction site just for the little ones, complete with scaled-down hard hats and construction tools and materials. Let the little ones explore and learn about electricity, plumbing, and all the other intricacies that allow us to live in comfort. Regular hours and admission fees apply.
Globeology at the Wildlife Experience, 10035 South Peoria Street, Parker. 720-488-3300. This new exhibit is really cool. It definitely takes dioramas to the next level. Interactive, computerized, animatronics. . . need I say more? My kids (those who can form complete sentences, anyway) kept saying “Mom, look at this! Mom, look!” all the way through the entire 25,000 square feet of educational extravagance. Regular hours and admission fees apply.
Theater and Music
Through September 5: Annie at Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, 5501 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder. The Broadway musical you love. . . with dinner! Special matinees added for families, so you can bring the little ones and you can all leave singing “It’s a hard knock life. . .” Check the website for show times and ticket prices.
Through June 28: Mouse Tales at the Denver Puppet Theater, 3156 West 38th Avenue, Denver. 303-458-6446
Show Times: Thursdays and Fridays, 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 pm Doors open 30 minutes prior to show time. Tickets are $6.00. Group discounts and discounted ticket packs available.
Shows at the Denver Puppet Theater are appropriate for children ages 3 and older.
*Please note: Times change during the summer months. Check before you go!
The Denver Puppet Theater is a funky little hidden gem in North Denver. Puppets truly are art, and take on a life of their own (but not in a creepy, Poltergeisty way). Definitely worth a visit.
Thursday, June 11 (and every Thursday night during the summer) Music on the Streets in Old Town Arvada, Old Wadsworth and Grandview Avenue. Stroll through Old Town Arvada as live music plays. A lovely way to spend a warm spring evening.
Farmers’ (and other) Markets
Saturday, June 6, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm: A Paris Street Market, Aspen Grove, 7301 South Santa Fe, Littleton. Vintage, antique, and just plain cool. That’s the sort of stuff you’ll find at this funky little market down south. It only happens on the first Saturday of the month through October, so don’t miss your chance to find that cool objet that will make all your friends drool.
The Farmers’ Markets have been rearranged by region, to improve your shopping experience. Additional markets open in June.
Central:
Saturday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. Cherry Creek Fresh Market, 1st Avenue and University (in the Bed, Bath, and Beyond parking lot), Denver. www.coloradofreshmarkets.com
Sunday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. City Park Esplanade Fresh Market, East Colfax Avenue and Columbine Street, Denver. www.coloradofreshmarkets.com.
Wednesday, 9:00 am – 1:00. Cherry Creek Fresh Market, 1st Avenue and University (in the Bed, Bath, and Beyond parking lot), Denver. www.coloradofreshmarkets.com.
South:
Saturday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Highlands Ranch Farmers’ Market, Highlands Ranch Town Center, 9288 Dorchester Street, Highlands Ranch. www.denverfarmersmarket.com
North:
Saturday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. Northfield Stapelton, Northfield Stapleton Shopping Center, I-70 and Quebec. www.laughingdogfarms.net
Saturday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. Boulder Farmer’s Market, Downtown Boulder on 13th Street between Canyon and Arapahoe 303-910-2236.
Sunday, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Orchards Farmers’ Market, 144th Avenue and I-25. www.laughingdogfarms.net
Southwest:
Saturday, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. Metro Denver Farmers’ Market, Southwest Plaza SE Parking Lot, Wadsworth and Bowles, Littleton. www.denverfarmersmarket.com
Southeast:
Saturday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Southlands, E-470 and Smoky Hill Road, in the Southlands Shopping Center, Aurora. www.laughingdogfarms.net. This market opens this weekend, and will then be open Saturdays, 9:00 – 1:00 and Thursdays, 10:00 – 1:00.
Bank of America customers get culture for free this Saturday and Sunday. If you have a Bank of America credit, check or ATM card, present it at any one of 100-plus museums across the country, including the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Bronx Zoo in New York or the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and your admission fee will be waived. The "Museums on Us" promotion takes place on the first weekend of each month. For details and a list of participating museums, visit Bankofamerica.com/museums.
It's deal time at Artichoke, where you'll find deep discounts on fashions from Cambio. The sale, which includes hundreds of one of a kind pants samples, (originally $300 to $400, now $100 each), runs until discounted merchandise is gone. All reduced items are final sale. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Artichoke Inc. is at 20 LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center. Information: 860-232-4961.
TK & Brown's Flowers celebrates National Rose Month with a cash and carry special on roses. Throughout June, get a dozen roses for $12.99. The company's website, Tkandbrownsflowers.com, offers coupons for other specials. TK & Browns Flowers is at 1761 Silas Deane Highway in Rocky Hill (860-563-8880); and a new location, 38 Tunxis Ave. in Bloomfield (860-243-8882).
Tag sale and flea market lovers, take note. The Pine Grove School PTO holds a community-wide tag sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, at the Pine Grove School, 151 Scoville Road, Avon.
New Hartford Lions Club holds a giant flee market Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brodie Park, 580 West Hill Road in New Hartford. (For a $5 fee, early birds can shop from 6:30 to 8 a.m. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., admission is $1 for adults. Kids under 12 are admitted free.) The event features antiques, arts and crafts and tag sale items.
The Avery Heights Auxiliary in Hartford holds its semi-annual rummage sale through Saturday. Hours are today and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Saturday is $5 bag day. The event takes place at 550 Avery Heights, off New Britain Avenue. Information: 860-953-1201, Ext. 455.
In Good Company, a new antique, jewelry and craft store at 159 Whiting St. in Plainville, celebrates its grand opening this weekend with savings of 10 percent to 35 percent. Hours are Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 860-410-1022.
Nassau's Drexel Heritage Gallery, 15 Waterville Road in Avon, holds a "Meet the Experts" event Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Along with free refreshments, giveaways and special discounts, factory representatives will be on hand to answer questions about upholstered furniture, bedding, rugs and more. Information: 860-677-9499 or TheNassauFurniture.com.
If you're up for a summer drive, Cottage Street Gallery, 1 Cottage St. in Easthampton, holds a spring open studio and sale Saturday and Sunday. (The gallery is about an hour's drive from Hartford.) The event features a range of fine arts and crafts from more than 25 artists, with many items priced at $25 or less. Hours are Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Information: Cottagestreetstudios.com.
•Send Savvy Shopper suggestions to Korky Vann, The Hartford Courant, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115 or kvann@courant.com. For daily sale updates and tips on cutting spending, visit the Savvy Shopper's Living on Less blog at courant.com/savvyshopper.
A bomb exploded outside a luxury hotel in a major city in northwest Pakistan Tuesday, killing at least five people, according to a government official.
