Who says God doesn’t watch over his own?
“Nunsense” creater Dan Goggin and Kultur Film and Video have announced the DVD release “Nunset Boulevard: The Nunsense Hollywood Boat Show,” with 50 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, where former actress, Mother Dolores Hart and the Benedictines reside. The well-known abbey is in the midst of a major building and renovation campaign.
Here’s the story:
Need to be “party ready” quickly and affordably?
Hair cadets, pay attention! Blo Blow Dry Bar is coming to West Hartford’s Blue
Back Square! The new franchise offers a quick wash and dry when life just demands a good hair day.
Popular in New York City and other metropolitan areas, the blow dry bar offers only that service, no cuts, colors or other service amenities.
Stylists offer several choices from a menu of hairstyles like High Society, Red Carpet, Holly Would, or Sex, Hugs and Rock ‘n Roll. the wash and blow dry service is advertised for $35, and appointments can be made online or by calling. Walk-ins are also welcome.
And be prepared for the “blo” culture! Hair cadettes are clients, bloer is a session stylist, pink wig girl is the official pink-haired blo mascot and blo u(niversity) is where the bloers go to learn the trade. Blo bro? Guys who “dig dryers.”
The salon will open on June 2 at 71 Memorial Drive. Java, perpetually in need of a good hair day, may have to give it a try.
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Stephen Hanna is one of featured stars in the Bushnell production of “Come Fly Away,” opening Tuesday. The show, a dream combination of Twyla Tharp choreographed dance and Frank Sinatra tunes, tracks the emerging relationships of four couples at a nightclub 
one evening. A former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, Hanna also starred in the Broadway production of “Billy Elliot.” Now, as part of the touring production,” he took a break from the show to Spill the Beans with Java.
Q: What was the first Frank Sinatra song you ever heard?
A: It was in Cleveland, “Strangers In The Night” and I didn’t even know who he was. As kids we would make up funny lyrics to the song, but I don’t want to tell you what they were.
Q: Do you have a favorite Frank Sinatra song now?
A: “I Did It My Way”.
Q: How did you end up being a ballet dancer?
A: My father was a ballet dancer with the former National Ballet in Washington D.C. but his parents made him quit his senior year of high school and he went on to work for General Motors. I was drawn to dance when I was three or four. I liked how physical and challenging it was. At seven or eight I got a video of “The Nutcracker” and as soon as I saw that I knew what I wanted to do.
Q: It had to be tough being a teenager and pursuing ballet instead of football or some other sport?
A: I was extremely picked on as a kid. It was a hard time but my dad very supportive. Both of my parents are very supportive and I am very lucky for that.
Q: With reality shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” and “America’s Got Talent” and “Dancing With The Stars” there is a lot of renewed mainstream interest in dancing. Do you think that helps ballet’s image? Makes it more culturally mainstream?
A: I think ballet has always been mainstream to people who live it and love it. To them it is popular. But I do think the dancing on the reality shows helps its popularity.
Q: How many hours a day do your practice?
A: It depends on the show. Today, I practiced a couple of hours for the show. I try to be a disciplined young man.
Q: I understand you have a Connecticut connection, that you got married here?
A: I did. I got married in Connecticut about a year ago to Bret Shuford. We got on a train in New York City and took it to Greenwich, the first stop. We got married at the town hall, outside there. Luckily the weather was good. We came to Connecticut because our marriage would be legal. After the ceremony we all got back on the train and went back to Manhattan for the reception.
Q: What can the audience expect to see at the show here at the Bushnell?
A: They will see unbelievable dancing from some of the greatest dancers out there now. The combination of the music and the dancing makes you feel like Frank Sinatra is there. Dance fans will get to know more about his music and music fans will get to know more about dancing.
Q: Something no one knows about you?
A: I am really into “Tiny Wings” on my iPhone. I am a master.
Tickets for “Come Fly Away’’, which runs through June 3 at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford, range from $17 to $72. Go to bushnell.org for information.
The Grist Mill, formerly The Reading Room, one of the most picturesque dining spots in the state, is serving its last meal tonight. The Grist Mill is moving to Avon and the toney Miss Porter’s School is purchasing the property.
A 1950- something alum of the nearby exclusive girl’s school has donated the estimated$1.2 million needed to purchase the property from the Zaco family that owns the building, according to a school source. Several hundreds of thousands of dollars need to be secured to rehab and renovate the historic riverside place that also contains The Millrace Bookstore.
Anthony Giraulo, who owns the restaurant , said his new location in space formerly occupied by Carmen Anthony’s, which also closes today, will open in the next two weeks.
And those ducks that lived by the river and were incubated and raised by the Giraulo family? The Giraulos have a call out to several farms with ponds to make sure their ‘pets’ have an easy transition.
He’s been called the greatest catcher in the history of baseball.
And on Wednesday he was spotted at Max’s Oyster Bar in downtown West Hartford.
That would be baseball legend Johnny Bench.
And what did the baseball great order from executive chef Scott Miller’s kitchen?
One guess, according to operations manager Bobby Venetianer.
Sliders, of course!
And in picturesque Kent, Katie Holmes (Mrs. Tom Cruise) sightings . She is apparently filming a retell of Chekov’s “The Seagull” there, has rented a home and is cruising the town with daughter , Suri. No hubby sightings yet, according to the locals.
The so-far unnamed Christian Carmago production stars Holmes, William Hurt and French actor Jean Reno and is scheduled for release next year.
For more go to: http://cour.at/Jq7k1L
It’s the unofficial start of summer and along with that comes some summer kinds of fun.
Mystic Seaport kicks off the season by cooking more than 3,000 lobsters for its 27th annual “Lobster Days” Saturday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Diners can sit under the seaport’s open-air Boat Shed and watch the boats cruising on the Mystic river.
The Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington will hold its 20th Annual Monet in May Dinner Auction today. It includes a champagne reception for Monet’s Circle members, an open cocktail hour, dinner and auction beginning at 6 p.m.
Of course Memorial Day means lots of parades and so many towns are celebrating and honoring its veterans. Go to courant.com for a listing.
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words and a thousand yums. Java was one of the judges at Stew Leonard’s Iron Chef and Cupcake Bake-Off competitions at Fairfield University Wednesday evening.
Executive chefs and their staffs from Stew Leonard stores in Norwalk, Danbury, Yonkers, and Newington squared off in the kitchen and a panel of four judges had to decide which low-cal, healthy meal (none of them tasted that way, trust me!) and what kind-of healthy cupcake tasted the best. For now…all I can share are these! 
Shout Out to The Newington Rotary:
It was my pleasure to be your guest today! Thank you all! It was fun to be back in Newington again!
As well-known Carmen Anthony’s prepares to close its Avon location, and the Grist Mill in Farmington prepares to move to that space, both places will be serving their last dinners in those respective locations on Saturday night.
The Grist Mill, a longtime restaurant on the Farmington River, will close following dinner Saturday night. Owners Anthony and Kristine Giraulo will relocate to the Avon location with a planned opening as soon as possible.
No word on whether the ducks and geese that provided the outdoor entertainment at the restaurant are going too!
Carmen Vacalebre, who owns Carmen Anthony’s said the Avon location will serve its last dinner on Saturday night as well.
His other locations in Waterbury, Wethersfield, New Haven and Woodbury will continue to operate and will honor any gift cards from the Avon restaurant, he noted.
Vacalebre is also offering diners who visit the Avon site on Saturday one last parting gift, a $25 gift card (with restrictions) that can be used at his other locations.
“This was not an easy decision. I have been challenged in this location for the past couple of years due to the prolonged economic recession and the severe weather last year,” he said about his decision to close the Avon restaurant. “This recession has affected us, as it has every other business and unfortunately, in this down economy, this location just couldn’t keep pace with our other locations.”
“I want to thank our loyal Avon guests and friends personally for their patronage,” he continued. I look forward to seeing you all in my other restaurants.”
