D'oh! Look for this coming Tuesday's release of The Simpsons Movie soundtrack in a special, Homer-approved deluxe doughnut edition. Only available at the "big box" stores, the Adrenaline Music CD comes packaged in a pink doughnut box with a yummy doughnut CD case inside. While Green Day is promised to appear in the film, sporting its own cover of The Simpsons' theme song, the film's soundtrack is all Hans Zimmer, intriguing me with titles such as "Thank You Boob Lady," "World's Fattest Fertilizer Salesman," and "Trapped Like Carrots." Only 25,000 copies of the doughnut edition have been made, and Green Day's track can be found on a CD single released the same day.

Some things are too embarrassing for public consumption, so the man born Garrett Dutton and known as G. Love exercised some control over the content of his new documentary and concert DVD, A Year & a Night with G. Love & Special Sauce.

When the director showed him his initial cut of the documentary portion of the DVD, coming it at roughly two hours, G. Love demanded that some material come out.

The running time was one concern, but image was another, G. Love admitted in an interview last week to promote his July 12 appearance at the Redstone Room. "You've got to take this shit out," he told the director. "I don't want to come off like this."

Steve Banks' review of the Figge's Comics, Heroes, & American Visual Culture ("A Comic Evolution," River Cities' Reader Issue 640, July 3-10, 2007) draws attention to the maligned art of cartoon illustration, as does the exhibition itself, but they are both not without their considerable flaws.

About the Guide

Ask local artists where to read about the arts in the Quad Cities, and they will tell you to pick up a Reader.

Since the Reader's inception over 13 years ago, we have worked tirelessly to promote the arts in our community. We have invented and sponsored high-profile, high-impact arts events, and had fun doing it. Insightful coverage of music, dance, theatre, literary arts, and visual art has always been a top priority, and our high caliber and high frequency of writing on these topics will continue to set us apart from other Quad Cities media.

We have published an annual Music Guide each July for the past five years. This year, the Annual Manual for the Arts will absorb the features previously published in our Music Guides, but and will cover the other art forms as well, making it the first and only comprehensive guide to Art in the Quad Cities.

The Annual Manual for the Arts is directed toward the Reader's core readership - educated, affluent Quad Citians who work hard and play hard. Need to find music lessons for your child? Interested in acting in a play? Want to go see some gorgeous art? What about learning to create some yourself?

The Annual Manual for the Arts answers all these needs and more.

Advertising Opportunities

Reach the people in our community with money (and time) to spend by advertising in a publication with a shelf life of one full year.

We are offering special discounted advertising rates for the first Annual Manual for the Arts.

(If your organization has 501(c)3 status, you qualify for further discounts. Other businesses and individuals may also qualify for further discounts - please contact us for details).

All advertising must be reserved by
Wednesday, July 18 at 5pm

If you need us to create an ad
(and we are well-known for creating stunning display ads)
we must receive all text, graphics, logos, instructions, etc. by
Wednesday, July 18 at 5pm

For camera-ready art
we must receive the digital file on or before
Friday, July 20 at 5pm

The Next Step:
Call the Reader at 563-324-0049 to reserve your spot and
find out what additional discounts apply.

Thanks for helping us to celebrate the vitality of the Quad Cities, and to contribute to its continued cultural growth. If you ever have suggestions for how the Reader can better accomplish this goal, do not be shy! We want to know.