Clearwater Academy International is, among other things, a school of sports and a school of arts, and since I already reported on their latest (as of this writing) undefeated football season, I thought now I would talk about their fall stage production: Seussical Jr.  

The younger kids in the school do this one, but that doesn’t mean the production aspect gets the short end of the stick. Far from it actually. The quality of the stage set is well-done, with controlled lighting and audio, hand-painted physical backgrounds, and a tree prop that I still don’t understand how characters are able to climb.

And as to the acting, it’s good.

In fact, I’m impressed how good it is. Especially with how well all the actors keep to their lines. Because the entire thing’s in rhyme, there’s no room for errors. Which is fine, because I didn’t hear any.  

Speaking of the actors, I’d like to give some special mentions to a few specific ones, who were--for me at least--a joy to watch. The first being whoever played the cat. I enjoyed every moment he was on stage, and I got quite a few chuckles out of his antics. My favorite moment being when he started playing a piano out of nowhere during another character’s song.

And then there’s the elephant and his bird love interest. Both do a tremendous job of acting and staying in character. The boy who played the elephant, even when he’s not the center of attention, kept up his character’s mannerism and elicited numerous smiles whenever I looked over. And the bird? The girl who played the bird was heartwarming. That’s the best word for it: heartwarming. Her story, her singing, her acting. All of it.

So, if you’re in Clearwater and want something adorable and uplifting, then come to the show at 7pm on the 7th. It’ll take an hour of your time, and it’s worth it. These kids worked hard for an awesome play.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Nerd culture is taking over America. It’s seeping into every aspect of what people consume and enjoy. From comic books to Star Trek to video games, the old stigmas are falling away, leaving in its place an acceptance of unabashedly and openly loving nerdy things.

And in the wake of this, the entertainment industry gave the people what they wanted, and the resulting numbers are staggering.

The latest season of the cult classic series Doctor Who had over 2 million tune into the premiere, and that’s not even counting British viewers.

Blizzard’s Hearthstone, a free-to-play online card game, clocks in at thirty million players, and is in the midst of releasing a fourth set of cards after only being around for a year.

And the trailer for the upcoming Star Wars film has a whooping fifty-seven million views and the movie is projected to earn two billion upon release.

Clearly, the market is well saturated, but for those of us who don’t want to spend all our time staring at a screen, I can think of no better option than Magic: the Gathering.

Created more than two decades ago by Richard Garfield, Magic is a fantasy card game you may already be familiar with if you’ve ever walked among school children. But what a lot of people don’t know is it’s not only for kids. In fact, it’s got a massive following and community.  One that, whether you know it or not, surrounds you as you’re reading this. Marketed seemingly by almost just word of mouth.

In Pinellas County alone there are nine different shops that sell cards, including Firefly Games on Seminole Blvd and Shortstops Sport Cards off of U.S. Highway 19. And in places like these on any given weekend you can see how big the game is, with rows of tables populated by people both young and old laughing, chatting, and slinging cards back and forth. I called it a community before, and that’s really the best word to describe it. Friendships and rivalries are made over cardboard, and some people have been involved with the game for years.

But that’s not to say it’s hard to get into for newcomers. Far from it actually. The game’s design makes it easy for novices to learn the basic ropes, and the community is often incredibly friendly to people who want to give it a try. With the most common entry-point being a weekly casual tournament called Friday Night Magic.

So, for those of you who just had their interested piqued, why not give it a shot? A world of monsters, magic, and competition awaits you, if only you’re willing to step inside.
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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Walking down Cleveland Street, I see it off in the distance.

The sun’s on my back, and the beginning of a temperature that every Floridian looks forward to half-graces my every step. Making my way down the hill, a cluster of colorful tents brings a smile to my face.

And there it is: The Pierce Street Market, and it is absolutely bustling with people.

A couple of things become apparent right off the bat. #1: There are conversations everywhere. In true marketplace style, customers and merchants bring lively chatter to the entire area. And #2: They sell a lot more than just food and crafts here.

I recognize a couple of faces from around town as I get deeper into the market. There’s a massive line of shops going all the way back to the end of the pier. And with the concentration of tents and people in those fifty or so feet, it puts any mall I’ve been in to shame.

In fact, that was perhaps my favorite part of the whole affair: the variety. Unlike most malls or shopping centers they actually had items that interested me outside of clothing. My first stop landed me at “Fandomonium Designs,” a store that immediately appealed to my nerdy sensibilities. They sold personally engraved metal wristbands, and after some discussion and soul searching as to what I should get on it, I ran off to see more of the sights while they finished preparing.

From there I came across “Running Smoothie,” a health-food smoothie stand. The drinks, though a little different than what I was used to, turned out to be excellent, and under the Florida sun I finished mine in ten minutes flat.

The rest of my trip went by fast. A hand-crafted piece of art, a local band I quite like, a burst of intercostal air with entertaining results, and then it was time to go.

Driving away, with the market behind me, I had only one lingering thought. It hung on my mind and kept me with a grin.

“There’s another one on the 24th!”
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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Give technology to a bunch of 9- and 10-year-olds who love to dance, draw, and sing and great things are bound to emerge.

Public schools across America are cutting arts programs, but at Academie Da Vinci Charter School for the Arts (ADV) elementary school students enjoy art, music, and dance every week as part of their regular curriculum. Now, their 4th and 5th grade students will have the option of adding technology to the mix.

A new Technology Elective class will start in the fall, led by new-hire Katie Pacana. Students in the Technology Elective will learn about and use technology in a hands-on environment, and see how it can be applied to academics and productivity, as well as creating art.

Conner Gaines, a 10-year-old incoming 5th grader, is excited about the Technology Elective. “I signed up for it because it’s new and I like technology,” he says. “I’m interested in learning more about computers and websites.”

ADV is also purchasing iPad Air 2 tablets for 4th and 5thgrade students to use in the new school year. “The art and music that people are creating with iPads is amazing. We’re really excited to have these iPads for our students this year, and will have them loaded up with both educational and arts-related apps,” says Lucy Foran, ADV’s principal.

The school does have seats open for 4th and 5th graders for the 2015/16 school year. Interested families can call the school at (727) 298-2778 to set up a tour.