Oz

L. Frank Baum's classic about a wonderful wizard is getting a new look, in a movie prequel called "Oz: The Great & Powerful. " This isn't a true adaptation -- in fact, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and other key characters do not even appear, and references to Baum's work are kept to a minimum. Early reactions show that the movie may be more appealling to general sudiences than to critics . It's a reimagining of the background of the huckster who is swept away to a magical land and is thrust into an uncomftable role as leader.

Well folks, spring is officially upon us and it's time to start wetting our whistles with some light, fun, refreshing drinks that are more conducive to outdoor frolicking than hermiting next to an open hearth or space heater. And what better liquor to inspire such a creation than sweet, beloved rum, everybody's favorite molasses-based distilled booze, which Station North's (and Power Plant Live's) Joe Squared happens to have an enormous selection of. Joe Squared has a number of classic rum cocktails on its list, a few innovations to boot, and one particular take on Brazil's national cocktail - the Caipriña (or Caipirinha, if you prefer)

Watching the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz" always makes you feel like you're not in Kansas anymore. The theatrical version of this immortal musical at Toby's Dinner Theatre does a pretty good job of making you feel like you're not in Columbia anymore. This is a challenging musical to adapt for the stage. Let's start with the special effects. There is the twister that spins Dorothy's Kansas farmhouse around and then deposits it in Oz. There is the water-soaked witch who must shrink until she disappears.

Lions and tigers and Oz movies, oh my! With the recent release of Disney's “Oz the Great and Powerful” and the expected release this year from Summertime Entertainment of the animated “Dorothy of Oz,” we think it's the perfect time to plan a birthday party down the yellow brick road. Click your heels three times, and follow us to Oz for step-by-step instructions on how to throw a DIY birthday party that will have your child and his or her guests over-the-rainbow. The Big Surprise Some of the best advice we can pass on for party planning is this: Always plan an element of surprise that no one will be able to stop talking about.

Everyone who has ever sat before a television or movie screen to enjoy the fantasy of "The Wizard of Oz" should plan to see how magical this family favorite becomes onstage at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia. The production brings the beloved characters live and up-close, so that we feel we are traveling the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and her newfound friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. Director David James transfers this 1939 film classic — which was based on the book by L. Frank Baum — to 2012, and dazzles us with a fabulous cast and exciting special effects that include swirling tornadoes that whisk us away from Kansas.

Every fan of the 1939 classic film "The Wizard of Oz" should plan to travel to Columbia during the next two months to visit the magical land of Oz at Toby's Dinner Theatre. Toby's production brings the beloved screen characters — Dorothy and friends Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion — live and up close to us so we feel we are traveling with them along the Yellow Brick Road. Director David James moves this film classic to 2012 with increased magic created by his fabulous cast and by using special effects including swirling tornadoes, fearsome thunderclaps and lightning flashes along with billowing smoke.

Food ** 1/2 (2 1/2 stars) Service ** (3 stars) Atmosphere ** 1/2 (2 1/2 stars) Every steakhouse has to have a gimmick to differentiate it from the rest. In the case of oZ. Chophouse, it's all in the name. It's an awkward name -- do I capitalize it when it starts a sentence, for instance? And I can only imagine the various ways it's pronounced. (The correct way seems to be oh-zee, not Oz, not ounce, and not oh-ZEE.) But the name does say in two letters and a period quite a bit about Maple Lawn's first steakhouse.

There are custom-made homes, custom-made clothes, and now custom-made steak, courtesy of Howard County's newest restaurant, oZ. Chophouse. That's pronounced Oh-Zee, as in the abbreviation of ounce. Not Oz, as in "The Wizard of." The name, and the concept, come from owners Tim and Katie Buscher. "We were going to call it Ounce Chophouse because we can customize our steaks and serve them by the ounce, but it didn't sound right," Katie Buscher says. Little "o", big "Z," period was born. Although, from the sounds of it, this eatery may have more than just the slight similarity in nomenclature to the land of Dorothy.

Be forewarned: "Oz," the award-winning HBO drama about life in a maximum security prison, returns for its second season tonight, and the news is that it contains one of the most graphic scenes ever shown on television.Those familiar with the series produced by Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson, of "Homicide: Life on the Street," might wonder how it could top last year in terms of brutality. That pilot featured one inmate branding another after he raped him. The season went on to include an electrocution and several especially gory murders.

Toto is not in Kansas anymore.He followed the yellow brick road east to a theater on the hill and won star billing in the "Wizard of Oz," one of two summer productions at Western Maryland College.An actor, so unknown he was nameless, landed the part of Dorothy's faithful pet two weeks ago.The college's Theatre on the Hill put out a cast call for a black cairn terrier to accompany Dorothy on the road to Oz. In addition to stage presence, the pup had to be smallenough to fit in a basket.After a few fruitless auditions, Ira Domser, the producer, began a kennel search for an amateur.

L. Frank Baum's classic about a wonderful wizard is getting a new look, in a movie prequel called "Oz: The Great & Powerful. " This isn't a true adaptation -- in fact, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and other key characters do not even appear, and references to Baum's work are kept to a minimum. Early reactions show that the movie may be more appealling to general sudiences than to critics . It's a reimagining of the background of the huckster who is swept away to a magical land and is thrust into an uncomftable role as leader.

While the craft cocktail may be the mainstay for a quiet firelit evening at a jazz club, there comes a time in every establishment's life when patron volumes and desires trump the ability to slowly put together housemade infusions, bitters and tinctures in favor of something that can be put together quickly, efficiently, and above all else, uh, tastily. Enter the theme cocktail list. Whether at a fast paced rock 'n' roll sushi restaurant or, like Cowboys and Rednecks ("C&R Pub"), a country western joint, theme cocktails give catchy names and descriptions to cocktails that are easy to assemble for the inundated bartenders while keeping patrons' mouths happy.

Nothing says old fashioned and simple quite like the Hot Toddy. Whether you're using it to treat your flu or cold symptoms (not doctor recommended, but probably by your grandmother) or preparing to hit the hay, it's the perfect evening drink. Thames Street Oyster House makes theirs with a light flavor and a local twist. Manager Candace Beattie explains: "We try to keep all of our drinks light and locally sourced whenever possible, even our happy hour is local. " To wit, the Thames Street Toddy is composed of Maryland's crown jewel of rye whiskey Pikesville Rye, mint, lemon and sweet orange tea - and it's the pinnacle of relaxing.

When Henry Bromell won the Writers' Guild Award this year for scripting “The Good Soldier” episode of “Homeland,” he thanked Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana. Why, you might wonder, would this California screenwriter be thanking these two producers closely identified with Baltimore and New York, respectively, as he accepted an award for work on a series with which they had absolutely no connection? The answer goes to the heart of what's known in the television industry as “The Family Tree,” a group of a couple of dozen writers and producers who can trace their screenwriting roots or training back to a pair of seminal TV shows from the early 1980s, “St.

Ahhhh, the Dark and Stormy. That unmistakable sweetness that only Gosling's Black Seal can provide, mixed with the bite of ginger beer. It's the perfect anytime drink despite its reputation for being "tropical," I've had a DnS with eggs for brunch and at closing time alike, and it's good every time. One of the best Dark and Stormies you can find in the city is Riverside's neighborhood favorite Captain Larry's. Formerly owned by a City Police officer (Captain Larry), now-owner Ivars Balodis and company have kept Larry's fascination with Gosling's alive.

You don't just order a drink at B&O American Brasserie - you explore it. Sure the bartenders at the chic downtown restaurant can make you whatever you desire. But do yourself a favor: In the spirit of good spirits, accept the challenge presented by the new seasonal menu of cocktails, Flips, Cups, and Fixes. It's well worth the adventure. As head bartender Brendan Dorr explains, the menu is a nod to the richness and bounty of fall, playing upon the eggnogs, fruitful garnishes and lush classic cocktails that traditionally mark the season.

Oz Bengur insists that he knows what he's doing. Sure, hardly anybody knows who he is, and he's running against a guy whom everybody knows, in Madonna- or Cher-like fashion, by one name: Dutch. And yes, he's challenging C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger for the Democratic nomination in a congressional district drawn by the governor specifically with the term-limited Baltimore County executive in mind. Then there's the fact that Ruppersberger has won all five elections he's entered during the past 17 years, while Bengur's only campaign was to be an alternate delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention from Maine.

Pat-pat here, pat-pat there, And a couple of brand-new straws; That's how we keep you young and fair In the Merry Old Land of Oz! - E.Y. Harburg, lyricist The notice for tryouts was like nothing Vicki Smith had seen, and she has been in the theater a long time. Bring 12 performers, it said. Be sure they can sing and dance, that they show enthusiasm and that they're willing to commit a lot of time. Oh, and be sure none is taller than 5 feet or weighs more than 100 pounds - otherwise, they'd never fit into their Munchkin togs.

She emerged from the womb "like a froggy, ferny cabbage. " Some folks never did get over the shock of seeing the artichoke-colored baby, who grew up to be a fearsome threat to a girl from Kansas ... and her little dog, too. That green-skinned character known for generations only as the Wicked Witch of the West, thanks to the indelible 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," turns out to have a name - Elphaba - and an eventful back story. How this witch ended up so witch-y is the subject of the multiple Tony Award-winning musical "Wicked," which "takes one of the iconic villains of our culture and turns it on its ear," said Marc Platt, the show's Pikesville-born producer.

Oh hey, it's International Sake Week! You know what that means … wait, do you really? Admit it: Your knowledge of sake - and mine - revolves around what sushi joint serves up Sake Bombs or that it usually comes hot or cold and always quite potent. Could I tell you about the different styles of the popular Japanese spirit? Note a higher or lower grade by taste? Explain its production? Not a chance. But Tiffany Dawn Soto, beverage manager at the Four Seasons Harbor East, can - and then some.