If you missed the story about Lowell’s Revolving Museum last spring on WCVB-TV Channel 5’s Chronicle news magazine, you can catch it again tomorrow in a re-run of the show taped in April. The story focuses on Bay State arts organizations that are succeeding despite the current money crunch. Artistic director Jerry Beck will be interviewed. Chronicle will also give an update on new doings at the Revolving, including fall classes and Toying Around Town, the Harmony Park Arts Festival, slated for Sept. 7. Tune in at 7:30 p.m.

Bay State rockers Staind will play the Tsongas Arena in Lowell with their pals Seether and Papa Roach on Sunday, Nov. 16. The show starts at 6:30 p.m.

Staind just released their sixth studio album “The Illusion of Progress” this past week. The album was recorded in the Greater Springfieldd, Mass. area, where the rock band hails from.

Papa Roach is nearly finished recording their new album “Metamorphosis” that is set to hit stores by the end of 2008. This will be the band’s fifth major release and a follow-up to 2006’s “The Paramour Sessions.” Papa Roach is currently touring with Motley Crue and Buckcherry this summer as part of Crue Fest.

Seether hail from South Africa and is currently on the last half of their North American tour. Their single “Fake It” stayed in the number one position of the Billboard Hot 100 for several weeks.
Tickets are $35.75 and $39.75 and will go on sale Saturday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.

Move over Richard Simmons there is a new guy in town and he wants Lowell to look good naked.

Carson Kressley, the former "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" fashion specialist, now hosting the Lifetime network series "How to Look Good Naked", will be special guest at a Lowell General Hospital event “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Lives: Winning at Weight Loss,” aimed at inspiring local folks to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The event, at Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Oct. 2 from 6-9 p.m., is sponsored by Lowell General’s Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery.

In addition to commentary from Kressley, the evening will also include makeovers of some of the hospital’s successful weight-loss clients, and presentations by Lowell General’s medical team.

Tickets are $20, available at the auditorium box office, and at the hospital’s cashier’s office or Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery. For tables of 10 people, call Christine LaBrecque at (978) 788-7200.

Comedienne Chelsea Handler makes no bones about her sex life, drinking habit and love for steamers. The blonde host of the E! Channel’s Chelsea Lately and author of two New York Time best sellers gave a shout out to Fishbones Restaurant in Chelmsford on one of her shows that aired last week.

Handler was sitting with her frequent sidekick and fellow funny gal Heather McDonald when the two began to dish on the delicious plates of seafood they gorged on while visiting the east coast. Handler then thanked the eatery on Route 110 for their heaping portions of steamers with butter.

Handler and McDonald both appeared at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Aug. 14.

The Billerica Mall and Crackers in Dracut will be a ghost town on Friday, Oct. 3.

Why?

Because Total Nonstop Wrestling is coming to the Tsongas Arena in Lowell!

The arena is trading in its typical angst-filled teen screamers for some body slams when TNA Wrestling returns with a TNA Live! Event on Friday, Oct. 3, starting at 8 p.m.

Appearing live and in person will be TNA World Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe, Booker T, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, TNA World Tag Team Champions Beer Money Inc., Jacqueline, Abyss and many more!

Tickets go on sale this Friday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m., at the Tsongas Arena Box Office in person only; all Ticketmaster locations by calling 617 931-2000 or via www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are $21.50, $36.50 and $51.50.

We got to chat with Chelsea Handler about her upcoming show here in Lowell, Saturday. Though a lot of her interview was censored, there were some little nuggets that slipped through.

Read it all here!

"Every guy in the area that's under the age of 50 knows it was once Matthew's," said the enthusiastic Eric Sideri, owner of Angela's Coal Fired Pizza who just bought the former panty peeler's palace in Tyngsboro.

Make your own assumptions, but that one almost blows the "I was just showing the hooker where the bathroom is" out of the water.

Tomorrow night’s sell-out show at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell will be a memorable one. That’s because it all will be caught on tape.

Boys Like Girls will be filming the concert for their new DVD at the downtown digs. The angsty pop rock band from Boston will be joined by Good Charlotte, Metro Station and The Maine.

Good Charlotte is fronted by identical twin brothers Joel and Benji Madden, who date Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton respectively. Joel Madden is also the father of Richie’s daughter, Harlow Winter Kate Richie-Madden. She shouldn't have a problem with spelling in kindergarten.

Could the two celebutants grace Lowell with their presence this weekend?

The wine flowed and it was sunny and warm on Martha’s Vineyard over the weekend — ideal weather for Dacey Zouzas to mingle with the beautiful people at the Divas Uncorked wine fest.

Zouzas, of Chelmsford, produces and hosts Dacey’s Divas, a local cable show focusing on women who make a difference. She rubbed elbows with celeb chefs Jody Adams of Rialto, Gordon Hammersley of Hammersley’s Bistro and Marvin Woods of Woods on South in Charlotte, N.C. Also there and chatting with Zouzas was Will Gilson, chef/owner of Garden at the Cellar in Cambridge, and son of David Gilson of the Herb Lyceum in Groton.

“He had a table set up with a beet salad and goat cheese and a cold watermelon gazpacho — how delicious,” said Zouzas, noting that the weekend was a “great experience, I had a blast.”

Zouzas helped cover a VIP party in Oak Bluffs with Bob Tankeard, who hosts Tank Talk for Martha’s Vineyard community TV. He’s invited her back to help host from time to time. She’ll also present her own show taped there in the near future.

File under Diva-licious!

Weezer will launch their first major U.S. tour in more than three years at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. The alternative rockers known for their sarcastic sound and quirky personalities will kick things off on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The tour is to support their latest self-titled album, known as the “Red Album.”

The show is slated to start at 7 p.m. All tickets are $50 and go on sale Saturday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m.

The opening act, Angels & Airwaves, is a mish-mash of musicians from other notable bands. It is fronted by Tom DeLonge of Blink-182, guitarist David Kennedy of Over My Dead Body, Offspring drummer Atom Willard and 30 Seconds to Mars bassist Matt Wachter.

Also, the Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte and Metro Station concert at the Arena next Saturday has sold out. Who would of thought all those Emo kids got the hair out of their eyes long enough to get out and buy tickets early?

Lock up your daughters. The Girls Gone Wild bus is pulling into Chelmsford on Aug. 10. The videos known for their amateur girl on girl action and flashing females is taking over the Big Kahuna Grill & Bar.

The pool-side tiki bar’s website says doors open at noon with the fun beginning at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

There will be girls, but no Joe Francis. The Girls Gone Wild video founder settled another of the many legal cases against his soft porn empire this week.

The 35-year-old multimillionaire reached a settlement with a Panama City woman who said she was 16 when filmed flashing her breast in 2002. Her picture was on the cover of a popular video.
Francis’ attorney says the woman will not be paid but will be freed of a countersuit alleging she abused the legal process.

Francis was released following a year in jail in March after pleading no contest to child abuse and prostitution for filming underage Panama City girls. He is facing federal tax evasion charges in California.

The video game Rock Band is turning in its pixelated musicians for the real ones.

The Rock Band Live Tour will hit the Tsongas Arena in Lowell on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Headliners include Panic at the Disco*, Dashboard Confessional and Plain White T’s.

All three acts have appeared at the downtown venue before, when Panic at the Disco still had that strange exclamation point as part of their name.

Tickets are $36.50 and go on sale Friday, Aug. 8. They can be purchased at the arena box office or through Ticketmaster. Show time is 7 p.m.

Craig Gates, the general manager of the arena, says there are more announcements to come as they line up their fall and winter schedule in the next couple of days. He says there will be another big announcement on Monday for an act coming this September.

The next show is Friday Aug. 15 with Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte, Metro Station and The Maine. All seats are general admission and $25.

*The bikini clad model does not come with the band. She finds guy-liner creepy.

It could be another blow to Lowell boxer Micky Ward’s bio-pic "The Fighter." Actor and Boston homeboy, Mark Wahlberg told reporters at Comic Con in San Diego this past weekend that he is planning to take some time off when his third child is born in early September.

The 37-year-old Wahlberg also said he plans on marrying longtime girlfriend and mother of his children, Rhea Durham, sometime next summer.

Wahlberg is slated to portray Ward in the gritty tale about his boxing triumphs and trouble with his half-brother and onetime trainer, Dicky Eklund. Filming was rumored to begin in Lowell this fall.

Another famous father, Brad Pitt, was reportedly in talks to play opposite Wahlberg as Eklund. Pitt just had twins with his gal pal, Angelina Jolie, this month.

IMDB.com lists both Wahlberg and Pitt as cast members. It also says the film will be directed by Darren Aronofsky, whose credits include "Requiem for a Dream" and "The Fountain."

Anyone out there know if the fight is called off?

Farm Aid, the long-running benefit concert, will be held this year in New England for the first time.

John Mellencamp held a news conference in Boston on Tuesday to announce that the show will be held September 20 at the Comcast Center in Mansfield.

The Boston Globe reports that Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Dave Matthews will headline the concert, and more performers will be announced.

Farm Aid executive director Carolyn Mugar says organizers have long wanted to have a show in New England to highlight the region’s agriculture. The organization is based in the Boston suburb of Somerville.

Anyone hit up the Dropkick Murphys show with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones last night?

Was a good time except for the long, long, long lines. Some waited 45 minutes for a beer! That's commitment!

What do you think? Was it a hit or did the DKM strike out?

Too read more click here!

The Frosting is going to the other LA and it's not what you think!

We're jet setting to New Orleans, LA tomorrow morning for five days. Look for daily updates and celebrity sightings from The Big Easy.

You never know, Brangelina could fly home to NOLA and have the twins while we are there! Or we could bump into new mom Jamie Lynn Spears.

We'll have the exclusive right here on The Frosting.

Miriam Vieira of Tyngsboro worked the camera with Andre Birleanu, the runner up of VH1’s "America's Most Smartest Model". Vieira bumped into the model at the Farmer’s Market at The Grove in Los Angeles while she was on vacation.

Birleanu covered his mouth with the newspaper because he had a bruised lip. The 25-year-old model was one of the more aggressive and short tempered of all the contestants. I wonder who punched him out?

Just got some info that there will be a sale this Friday and Saturday of props from the movie set of "This Side of the Truth."

Fans should get there early to get first dibs on a glass Jennifer Garner sipped from. The sale starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. at the sound stage from 92 Bolt Street in Lowell.

Were you an extra on the film "This Side of the Truth" that just wrapped filming in Lowell? Or have you been an extra on any of the many movies that are being shot around the Bay State?

We want to talk to you. E-mail us here

Dracut resident Kerrie Staite, right, rubbed elbows with Rumer Willis, left, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, pictured here at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Staite spent five days on the West Coast, attending two parties at the mansion where Hugh Hefner lives.

The Cox Bridge on Bridge Street will be closed on Friday from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. The closing is due to the filming of scenes for the movie "This Side of the Truth."

There will be one lane open for buses and emergency vehicles only. An alternate route will be posted as traffic will be diverted by five officers at the location.

The bridge should reopen by 2 p.m.

Get your cameras ready! This will be the last day of filming in Lowell!!!!!!

Dropkick Murphys and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have announced Red Sox-themed performances back-to-back in Boston in July. And they will be coming to Lowell AGAIN! The two bands will be playing LeLacheur Park on July 10.

Tickets go on sale Saturday May 17 at 10.

My feet are really sore today after hanging around the film set of "This Side of the Truth." I know it's hard work.

The cast and crew took over Cobblestones in downtown Lowell. The restaurant was transformed for a date scene and owner Scott Plath is planning on keeping some of the props. Drop by and peek in the dining room to get a little taste of Hollywood.

Jennifer Garner was there, perched behind the front desk getting her makeup touched up. She smiled as I gawked and stared at her.

Later in the day, the shooting moved outside. That's where I got to steal Ricky Gervais away for a few minutes to talk about his movie.

Click here to have a laugh with Ricky

The cast and crew are inside Cobblestones of Lowell in the heart of downtown today.

Ricky Gervais is here...obviously and Jennifer Garner to film a date scene for the romantic comedy "This Side of The Truth."

We'll have more updates throughout the day from the set.

Actress Jennifer Garner met Ricky Gervais at La Boniche in downtown Lowell for a lunch date today. No need to call Us Weekly, Garner was not secretly meeting with the Brit comedian behind her hubby Ben Affleck’s back.

Jen is in town to play the love interest of Gervais in his new movie This Side of the Truth. The French bistro was taken over by the stars and crew for the day in what is called a “key scene.”

In between takes Garner joked with the extras who were seated at tables scattered about the restaurant asking if they were getting bored yet.

Crew were also in the main dining room of Cobblestones around the corner all day today setting it up for tomorrow's takes. Garner and Gervais will film another date scene and the eatery will remain closed on Tuesday.

Here is a little bit of truth to jump start your work week...actress Jennifer Garner is in town filming scenes for the romantic comedy "This Side of the Truth." The film also stars Ricky Gervais, who has been in Lowell for the past three weeks.

Today the duo will be at La Boniche and tomorrow Cobblestones.

Make plans to take a long lunch outdoors downtown and bring your cameras!

We sipped margaritas, did the salsa and tasted the best burritos north of the border!

Check it out here!

Billerica native Keith Dorrington was on "Chronicle" Tuesday night talking optimistically about the movie "The Fighter." The Micky Ward biopic has been all talk, no show for a couple of years. Now, Dorrington says that the flick is a go and Paramount Pictures is on board.

The movie is about the rise of the scrappy boxer from Lowell’s Acre neighborhood and the relationship between Ward and his brother Dick Eklund, who once got in the ring with Sugar Ray Leonard before struggling with addiction.

Ward stepped into the ring for three fights against Arturo Gatti that have gone down as one of the greatest boxing matches ever.

Hollywood heavy weights, Mark Wahlberg and Brad Pitt are rumored to be casts to play the boxing brothers. Wahlberg appeared on "Live with Regis and Kelly" last fall and told the hosts he was training to play Ward in the film. After the writer’s strike there has been no buzz about "The Fighter" until now.

The movie industry encyclopedia, imdb.com lists Dorrington as the executive producer of "The Fighter."

Red Sox nation never looked better. The web site SexySOXgirls.com hosts pics and profiles of Sox kittens in their team garb and very little else. Visitors of the site are then asked to vote how many sox each girl gone wild deserves.

Amanda from Lowell is a nurse who loves her Sox, especially Jason Varitek and David Ortiz. As of yesterday the flirty blonde was rated 3.8 sox out of five. Michelle from Billerica is no slouch either. Root for your hometown team by casting a vote.

Can you handle the truth? I was on location of the new Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais film. Check it out...

Click here to watch!

We went inside Markus & Leslie's new location in Chelmsford.

Check this video out!

Not sure what the truth is, but we have heard many rumors here in the Mill City about Ricky Gervais' new flick "This Side of the Truth"

Gervais and Co. left behind some papers at one of their shooting locations last week and we got some inside info on the film. From the notes it looks that Gervais is playing Mark in the movie; Tina Fey is Shelley; Rob Lowe is Brad; Louis C.K. is Greg; and Jeffrey Tambor is Anthony.

Also, one of our reporters chatted with comedian Kathy Griffin on the phone who went bananas to learn that Gervais is in Lowell. Griffin wants Gervais to join her on stage when she performs two shows at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on May 1.

Maybe we can set the two up!

* We stole this pic from Ricky's blog....sorry Rick.

Steve Shemchuk of Lowell was ready at 7 a.m.

He gripped a felt-tip pen in his right hand yesterday and kept a manila folder snug under his left arm. Inside were laminated headshots of Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey and Ricky Gervais.

Did he get an autograph?

Click Here to read more

We got a tip here this morning from the rumor mill that Rob Lowe will be on Market Street this afternoon to film scenes for "This Side of the Truth"

Take a long lunch break or skip out of work for the afternoon and don't forget your camera!

See you on the set.

Lowell is ready for its close up!

Today filming begins for "This Side of Truth" at The Dubliner on Market Street and I just got back to the office from the set where I met the producer, Lynda Obst (Happy Birthday Lynda!) The spunky woman told me that the scenes they were filming today are when Ricky Gervais' character learns how to lie.

We spotted Gervais taking a smoke break around lunch time. We also saw Louis C.K. pacing back and forth in front of the Athenian Corner.

No Jennifer Garner — yet. We hear she will be here on Friday. We also heard some say that Rob Lowe was in the pub today though we did not see him yet.

Any sightings????

Ricky Gervais was also seen walking to the set.

We WILL have pics soon...keep checking back.

We got tipped off that there will be a kick-off party this Friday night at the Dubliner on Market Street for the cast and crew of "This Side of The Truth"

Those that get their fish and chips on Friday night will have to get Greek at the Athenian Corner next door instead. The restaurant will be closed that evening.

Party starts at 7 p.m.! Get you cameras ready, any pics taken send to rbriere@lowellsun.com and we will publish them.

Rob Lowe and his wife are suing their former nanny, claiming she told secrets and lies about their family.

The complaint filed Monday in a Los Angeles Superior Court asks for at least $1,000,000 in damages and charges Laura Boyce with violating a confidentiality agreement, defamation and infliction of emotional distress on the former “West Wing” star; his wife, Sheryl; and their two sons.

Lowe is cast in the Ricky Gervais movie This Side of the Truth that will begin filming in Lowell next week. Jennifer Garner and Tina Fey are also part of the cast. Scenes will be filmed at downtown businesses such as The Dubliner, Cobblestones, Lowell 5 Cent Bank and La Boniche.

Boyce was hired to take care of their sons for most of 2007 before she quit in November, according to the complaint.

The court papers make no specific reference to what information Boyce passed along, or to whom, only that Boyce had “betrayed their trust and engaged in a scheme to hurt the Lowes by spreading malicious lies” both during and after she served as a nanny.

Word on the cobblestone streets is that Tony Orlando landed in Lowell today. The singer is staying at the DoubleTree Hotel and the rumor has it that he asked for a downgrade from a suite to a standard room. Who knows, if you knock three times at his hotel door he might answer.

Orlando is set to perform Thursday night at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Spolier alert: We hear that "Tonight Show" host, Jay Leno, will call in to Orlando’s show to wish the entertainer a happy birthday. The Andover native will appear via video conference on a screen set up in the auditorium.

Speaking of the personality with the prominent chin...soccer hottie David Beckham made amends with Leno on his show Tuesday night.

Becks with the pecks moved into the same neighborhood as Leno since he relocated to play for the Los Angles Galaxy. He apologized for the paparazzi hanging around their hood, but also said American celebrity photographers “have been kind to us” compared to those across the pond.

Leno quizzed Beckham about Emporio Armani ads that feature the soccer star appearing in briefs.

“Do you normally sit around the house like this?” asked Leno.

Women in the live audience screamed and applauded the black and white photo showing Beckham’s ripped stomach. However, Beckham said he was nervous during the photo shoot because his “mum” was going to see him lounging around in almost no clothing.

“When the photos came out, she was the first one to call me and say, ’What are you doing?’ I had to try and explain it to her and it didn’t go down that well,” he said.

I

The humor-impaired media mockers at the Web site Gawker are trying to stir trouble between actor and producer Ricky Gervais and The Sun.

You’ll remember that Gervais read The Daily Dish aloud on a video on the blog for his movie, This Side of Truth, which begins filming in the Mill City in April. Gawker says Gervais was “vaguely threatening” when he wisecracked about a gaffe that appeared. When The Dish replied that we can’t wait for shooting to start, the Web site’s faux journalists took that to mean we were “either threatening a Page Six-style vendetta against Gervais, complete with journalistic sniping, or the paper is just continuing to turn out the same type of writing the movie star had so much fun lampooning in the first place.”

Well, the joke’s on them. We like Ricky, and he likes us, too. The British actor, famous for the across-the-pond original version of The Office wrote:

“Some rival New England news outlets are trying to stir up trouble between me and the good people at the Lowell Sun.

These miscreants, who shall remain nameless, suggested that I insulted the local Lowell tabloid and that the editor replied with a threat to have me whacked.

May I point out that we were BOTH JOKING.

And to the Lowell Sun, don’t listen to them. I’ll give you an exclusive before we move out of your lovely parish.”

The flick that stars Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey, Jason Bateman and Christopher Guest.

A casting call for This Side of the Truth, the Hollywood film being shot in Lowell next month, takes place Saturday at 92 Bolt St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The film's extra casting director Marisa Kushner is looking for 1,000 people from the area to appear in the film. A portion of the background roles will go to members of the Screen Actor's Guild, but "we want people who live in the area to be in it," she said.

Those interested should go to http://www.truthextras.com and fill out a sizecard. Bring an unreturnable photo to the call.

Upon many requests for a list of guys to avoid, here are my Top 10:

1. The Double-Dipper
At any gathering there are unwritten rules about taking a scoop from a shared bowl of guacamole. Same goes in the dating pool. When a man delves into the same circle of girls, it is like double-dipping into the French onion dip. They are bound to pick up something from the last one who had their hands in there and also leave a little behind. Dating a guy who hooked up with one or more of your friends, breeds jealousy, resentment and scorn. And there is no cream to cure that.

2. The Tom Brady
No matter what the defense is, leaving a longtime girlfriend who is carrying your child, for someone else is a personal foul. There are no challenges or replays to this penalty. On this one, it is time to hate the player and not the game.

3. The Free Spirit
Or as my father puts it — a bum. There is nothing wrong with being adventuresome if the man’s choice of venture is followed by capitalism. Living off the land is code for the three Cs: no car, no career and no cares. Money isn’t everything, but when it buys his love for you then there is nothing free about him.

4. The Bitterati
This is the man who is “bitter” toward the glitterati. No matter who they are pols, movie stars, athletes, even reality TV rejects, he cannot get over how he has to work for “the man” and they get everything handed to them. Come to think of it, anyone who refers to “the man” is not one.

5. The MySpace John
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with a man over 25, who is not a musician, promoter or artist that maintains a MySpace profile. One can tell if he is dateable by his top friends. If the first 16 are littered with Glamourtini, Ginger, Crystal, Cinnamon, Bunny, Client 9, or any other generic pole-climber’s name, it is time to hit delete on this guy.

6. The Mama’s Boy
Eeeeek! It is reassuring if a man has a great relationship with his mother and sisters. These men tend to be respectful toward women in general. We’re not talking about the normal call mom up on Sunday afternoon to chat boyfriend. We are talking about the one whose “mommy” stocks his fridge every week with Tupperware filled with homemade meals, complete with the directions and expiration dates taped to the outside. The “boy” whose mother washes, dries and folds his laundry for him is who we’re talking about. Eventually you will become a lesser version of his mother and never live up to his expectations.

7. Mr. Perfect
If he is too good to be true, than he is probably married, in the closet, a serial killer or a deadbeat dad. Move on.

8. The Texter
He flirts with you through text messages all day. Asks you to meet him “4 drnks @ 7.” His Blackberry never leaves the palm of his hand, yet he never picks up when you call. If his only form of communication with you is through poor English, it’s time to press end on this guy.

9. The Tainted Lover
If his last gal pal left him for someone else, specifically another woman, this leads to insecurities and jealousy issues. There can be times when he is envious of your best girlfriends. But the main concern is why would his ex switch teams midseason?

10. The Sticky Suitor
If he is more clingy than a cheap polyester blend sweater, it’s time to buy this guy a one-way ticket out of your life. Clingons belong on another planet, not in your world.

Have you meet any of these men? Are you sleeping next to one? Send your pleas for help to lowellita@lowellsun.com and I’ll see what I can do.

The Chelsea Handler show at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium has been rescheduled from Saturday, March 29 to August 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets that were purchased for the March 29 show will be honored at the performance in August.

For those who are unable to attend the rescheduled show, refunds are available at the point of purchase.

Handler hosts her own TV show Chelsea Lately on E!. She is also the author of the books "My Horizontal Life" and "Are You There Vodka It's Me Chelsea?"

Know what the local glitterati are up to? Send tips to rbriere@lowellsun.com

WARNING: Today the Dropkick Murphys play two shows at the Tsongas Arena. Anyone who is not in the mood to spend the day with an influx of beer guzzling revelers should stay home.

I'll see the rest of you downtown!

Tip: There may still be some tickets available for the 8:30 p.m. show.

Directors and key people working on This Sideof the Truth, which starts filming in Lowell next month, have leased apartments for three months in various locations in the area. No word where Jennifer Gardner, Rob Lowe, Jonah Hill and Ricky Gervais will be bedding down.

By the end of the month, Truth Productions will be setting up an office at Wannalancit Mills. And we hear they are looking for extras!

Production beginsthe second week of April and shooting locations being bandied around are The Courtyard Bar and Grill on Central Street, Lowell Five, a Maynard movietheater, Cobblestones on Dutton Street and Ricardo's Trattoria on Gorham Street.

Wanted to give the 411 out to DKM fans in Greater Lowell. The second Drop Kick Murphy show on Saturday, March 15 will be moved from the Lowell Memorial Auditorium to the Tsongas Arena.

All tix purchased for the Auditorium will be honored at the Arena for the 8:30 p.m. show. An additional 3,300 tickets went on saletoday at noon at the Arena and all TicketMaster outlets, phone lines and internet.

Tickets are $32.50.

Lowell is on the menu for TV and radio personality Billy Costa. The host of New England Cable News channel’s “TV Diner” will sink his whitened chicklets into five downtown Lowell eateries.
In a segment on the weekly foodie feature, Costa and crew adventure out to what they dub “Delicious Destinations.”

Next Tuesday they will film at handful of restaurants and will interview the students at the Lowell High School culinary academy. Costa will pop into downtown Lowell anchor, Cobblestones; new kids on the block Centro and the Blue Taleh; martini Mecca, Caffé Paradiso; and the go-to Greek mainstay, Athenian Corner.

“We pick areas that are up and coming great culinary neighborhoods,” explained producer and on-air talent Jenny Johnson. “Each week we feature a different city, town, neighborhood that are places of culinary interest.”

According to Johnson, Costa will also interview Steve Ramirez, co-owner of the Blue Taleh as part of the program. The swank sushi joint has been creating quite the buzz within the local hipster community for it’s fresh food, funky atmosphere and reasonably priced cocktails.

The segment on Lowell will air Saturday, March 22 at 10 a.m. and then again at 7 p.m. on NECN.

Yesterday afternoon, scouts for the flick "This Side of Truth were scooping out Cobblestones, a downtown Lowell hot-spot and home-away-from-home to Lowell’s glitteratti. According to the rumor mill, the producer and entourage arrived about 11 a.m. to view the location. Word is they will use the historic brick building for a scene in the film that includes star Jennifer Garner.

Filming for "This Side of Truth" is set to begin in the spring here in the Mill City. Ricky Gervais, creator of "The Office" and the HBO series Extras, directs and writes with Matt Robinson. The cast includes Gervais, Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe and Louis C.K., according to industry Web site IMDB.com.

Lowell is ready for its 15 minutes

There is more Hollywood buzz in Lowell and this time it has nothing to do with that Irish boxer and his brother.

Filming for “This Side of Truth” is set to begin in the spring here in the Mill City. The movie is directed by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson, with a cast that includes Jennifer Gardner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe and Louis C.K. according to IMDB.com. The industry web site also says it’s a Lynda Obst Production, who produced “How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days” that starred Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey and will be distributed by Warner Bros. productions. The movie is a comedy set in a world where no one has ever told a lie — doesn’t sound like Washington or Hollywood.

Deborah Belanger, the executive director of Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau says that scouts for the movie contacted the organization about six weeks ago. The CVB has been providing information on possible site locations for various scenes in the comedy. Production is likely to begin in April. According to Belanger, the producers liked Lowell because it is a small, easily contained town.

“Obviously this will give Lowell an economic boost and incredible publicity. We are very excited to help with this movie,” Belanger said in an e-mail to The Sun.

It’s a battle of the sexes on Boston’s morning television. News babe Bianca de la Garza has been named the new early morning co-anchor on WCVB-TV. This will put her head to head against her husband, David Wade, who delivers the morning’s headlines at WBZ.

Bianca told a certain Boston tab that her hubby is a “big boy” and she is happy they will have time off together to spend with their daughter.

No word if the Tewksbury townies will commute together or take separate cars.

Local spotlight
Yes that was WBZ’s culture queen Joyce Kulhawik at the Revolving Museum Wednesday afternoon. The Channel 4 arts reporter was in town taping a segment on ways to entertain kids during school vacation week. The Shattuck Street museum’s exhibit “Toys and Games: More Than Amusement,” was a buzz with tikes making origami birds.
Another local luminary, Wendy Lepore, made prime time Wednesday. Her Westford shop, the Finer Consigner, was featured on Chronicle as part of a piece on ways to stay fabulously frugal.

Knock-out night
All the action was outside the ring Wednesday evening during the championship finals of the New England Golden Gloves at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Boxing legend Micky Ward rubbed elbows with Craig Gates general manager of the Tsongas Arena, State representative Kevin Murphy, former state senator Phil Shea, and Cobblestones owner Scott Plath.
Ward began his boxing career in the Lowell tournament and eventually won the “fight of the century” against Aturro Gatti. His rise from the streets of the Mill City to an Atlantic City ring will be captured on the big screen in “The Fighter.” Boston boy, Mark Wahlberg will play Ward and Brad Pitt is rumored to portray his brother Dicky Eklund. Shooting could begin this fall and bring the acclaimed actors to Lowell.

East coast glamour
In other Hollywood news, Newbury Street in Boston may just become the new Sunset Strip. Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner are in town to shoot the romantic comedy “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” The cast includes Lacey Chabert, Emma Stone, Christa Allen, and Breckin Meyer.
The celeb radar will be off the charts in a couple of weeks when director Martin Scorsese starts production in Boston on his new film “Ashecliffe” an adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s novel “Shutter Island.” Leonardo DiCaprio, Michelle Williams, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, and Patricia Clarkson all have roles in the movie.
Get your cameras ready and watch out for those pesky paparazzi.

Last Friday night, rock’s scrappiest heavy weights kicked off their national tour for a sold of crowd at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. About 7,000 people packed the venue to pump their fists to the guitar crunching sounds of Breaking Benjamin, Seether and Three Days Grace.

A dozen fortunate fans, got to take in an intimate performance before the show in the Club Room at the arena. Members of Three Days Grace along with Seether’s front man, Shaun Morgan, and drummer, John Humphrey, played an acoustic set of four songs as part of a contest rock radio station WAAF hosted.

“It was great,” said Tsongas Arena general manager, Craig Gates. “To kick off their tour to a sold out crowd and get about $10 a head for merch, they were thrilled.”

Gates spotted the band’s tour busses parked near the DoubleTree Hotel in Lowell a couple days before the show. No word yet if they frequented any of downtown’s many watering holes.

The arena announced yesterday that Jimmy Eat World and Paramor will play there April 30. Tickets are $30 and go on sale this Saturday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m.

Irish eyes are smiling in Lowell...and there are a lot of them. The Dropkick Murphys have added a second show on Saturday March 15 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Tickets go on sale tomorrow moring at noon, a nice late ticket time for those who enjoy a few pints tonight.

The doors will open at 7:30 and show time is 8 p.m. The Muphys will play a sold-out show at the Tsongas Arena earlier that same day at 2 p.m. Should be quite an intersting Saturday at the Dub, OC and Majors.

The suburb nestled at the end of Route 3 and parallel to the dreaded 128 is home to something more than overpriced townhouses, a Whole Foods and an air force base. A big loser, Jay Kruger, claims Bedford as his home address.

Kruger, 31, and his brother, Mark of Dartmouth, are contestants on the wildly popular NBC reality show "The Biggest Loser." The super-sized siblings were found by casting agents while walking down Yawkey Way.

Since the show started, Jay, has lost 45 pounds from his 300 pound frame. That's a lot of Fenway Franks!

Are there any other reality TV stars in our midst? I hear MTV's "Made" was filming at Chelmsford High about a month ago. Anyone have the 411?

An assignment last Friday morning took me to a place where many Lowellians never venture to. I am not talking about the lower Highlands, I am talking about Andover.

After a quick jaunt up 495 North and only a few exits past Tewks-town, I pulled Putt-Putt off onto Route 28. I sailed to what I would call its downtown, (does Andover have a downtown?), and was amazed by the sights. Here it was 9 AM on a dreary Friday morning in February. The sky was gray, the temp was a balmy 32 degrees and snow clouds were spitting on my Marc Jacobs cashmere trench. Miserable...but on my left was people jockey for sreet side parking spots in front of Starbucks, on my right more than a dozen people carrying colorful shopping bags as they sprinted from store to store.

Looking down the side streets of this quaint little shopping mecca was a similar sight. Parking lots were filling up with Volvos, Audis and my fabulous Carolla took one of the last spots on Chestnut Street. I was there for a fashion shoot at First Date for the Valentine's Day spread in today's Lowell Sun.

Why was I so enarmoured with the Big A? Because this could be Downtown Lowell.

The coffee shops were littered with students from Merrimack College sipping non-fat lattes while reading the New York Times on their Mac Books. Shoppers darted in and out of unique bodegas that sell everything from beads to shoes to chocolate.

Here in DTL we have the potential. There is already the Mambo Grill, Brew'd Awakening, The Coffee Mill and many others finding a niche. Also, Centro and The Blue Taleh are making a splash. What is wrong with the picture here? They are all restaurants. Where is the retail?

I have to say that an afternoon at the big commercial heaven called the mall always ends with a trip to the food court or a martini and piece of cheesecake at some ordinary chain. We have the built in audience of foodies already here, why not a gourmet goodie hawker with Euro spices on Middle Street? UMass Lowell has one of the best sound recording programs in the country, why not a hip clatch that sells political tees and green products, where local bands can sell their EPs?

This sounds granduer but seeing is believing. DTL has the buil-in audience, it now has to find something to captivate them.

Where would you want to shop in DTL?

New England Patriots defensive back Willie Andrews lost one bowl but he picked up another. Andrews was busted this morning in Lowell on charges of marijuana possession and driving an unregistered motor vehicle. He was arraigned this afternoon in Lowell District Court.

Altogether now, "I was going to win the superbowl, but then I got high. Woo-hoo!"

It looked like the whole team was smoking dope on Sunday.

We here at the Frosting love us some eye candy. If we can't have Tom Brady, we'll take Jared from Lowell.

There is one more day to vote. Click the link below to vote for a hometown hottie.

If you’re shopping at The Burlington Mall this spring, you could score more than a pair of designer denim at a discount. You may just be an extra in a major motion picture.

Columbia Pictures is set to start production of the film, “Mall Cop” starring comedian Kevin James. The flick is set in a fictitious mall during the holiday season and is a Happy Madison Production — actor Adam Sandler’s company. James has appeared with Sandler previously in “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.”

Filming is schedule to start in mid-March and continue through early May. Most of the movie will be shot after hours, with only select scenes filmed during regular mall hours. The Burlington Mall will also be decorated in a holiday theme complete with a Santa set since the movie takes place in December.

Simon Property Group, which owns the Burlington Mall, notified employees of their retailers in a memo on Wednesday. Location manager Charlie Harrington was set to visit the mall’s stores to share more details on the film.

Harrington could not comment on the film.

With the writers’ strike still in effect, Andover native Jay Leno turned close to home for fodder one night this week.

On Monday night’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the host whipped out an obituary that appeared in The Sun during a weekly segment called “Headlines.” The segment consists of viewer-submitted newspaper clippings, advertisements, packaging and oddities that end up in print. Leno then takes some of the most comical, holds them up for the audience, and puts his own humorous and often sarcastic spin on them.

After a few engagement announcements with suggestive surname pairings and an ad for a goat for sale as a companion or for meat, Leno softened his voice and proceeded with the next clipping.

Saving the best for last, the late-night talk show host took out the Sun obituary of Lowell resident Athanasia “Ethel” Eliopoulous, who died Oct. 5, 2007. The obituary was the standard short biography outlining her education, employment, leisure activities and survivors.
The kicker, Leno explained was the last line, where this 94-year-old world traveler made her final joke. It read: “With her passing, Eliopoulous’ final wish was ultimately granted when she did not have to see Hillary Clinton become president.”

There were a few sneers from the audience, but afterwards the crowd erupted into laughter and applause. Leno chuckled as well and slammed his fist down onto his desk in reaction.
Eliopoulous’ sister-in-law, Ann Holis, was told this week about Leno’s on-air reading of the obituary.

“She was something else,” Hollis said of Eliopoulous. “She always made everyone laugh. She had a lot of friends who loved being in her company.”
Hollis thinks her deceased sister-in-law would have been “thrilled to pieces” to know she made national television. As far as another Clinton making it back into the Oval Office, she believes Eliopoulous would be incensed.

“If she does, Ethel will turn over in her grave five times,” Hollis said.

Gives a whole new meaning to getting the last word.
But it wasn’t the first time The Sun made Leno’s “Headlines.”

Nearly two decades ago, Leno’s segment featured a story about local officials being unable to pinpoint the source of a foul odor in a neighborhood next to a waste-treatment plant.

“Noxious odors a mystery at waste plant,” that headline read.

To watch Leno's headlines Click HERE!

A couple of months ago, Rusty G's Place, turned its lights off permantly. Nothing has been done with the outside of the place since. Now, another Lowel watering hole looks like it has poured its last pilsner.

Gus & Pauls has been closed now for a few weeks. The Chelmsford Street instituiton got a makeover within the past couple of years but it now seems that it didn't attract too many new patrons.

Anyone out there have some inside information on G&P's?

The Sun had its 15 minutes of fame this past Monday when it appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". With the writer’s strike still in effect, Andover native Jay Leno had to rely on his hometown newspaper for fodder.

An obituary that was printed in the paper this past October was part of Leno's headlines section.

For the full story make sure to grab a copy of tomorrow's The Sun at your local mart or visit www.lowellsun.com.

We're only one day away from saying so long to 2007. Is anyone upset? This will go down as the year of the three B's -- breakdowns, babies and Britney...b!tch. O.K. so maybe four B's.

Either I am getting old or this New Year's Eve is just lacking its usual party like the world is about to implode feeling. Maybe because we now know that due to Global Warming it will. Thanks Al, you couldn't give us a little bit of cushion with this hot button issue? Way to make an entire nation dependent on Zoloft. Someone should investigate if Gore is on the dole for one of these pharmaceutical companies that puts out anti-depressants. Just a thought.

Without shelling out a $25 cover to get into a local sports bar or traveling outside of the six mile radius of Lowell tomorrow night where is the action?

Has New Year's Eve finally jumped the shark?

The Frosting has exclusive inside information that will put a smile on everyone's face. Just in time for St. Patty's Day the Dropkick Murphys are set to tear up the Tsongas Arena on Saturday, March 15!

This is going to be one, if not THE biggest shows in 2008 that the venue will host.

Stay tuned to The Frosting for the 411 on ticket info. We will be the first to know.

We here at the Frosting support all things hot on the Lowell scene. One of those happens to be Jared. As we posted before Lowell's own Jared is in the running to appear on the next season of the VH1 reality show, "America's Most Smartest Model".

All this hometown hottie needs us to do is vote for him. It's simple, do your civic duty and vote By clicking here!

p.s. There are also fabulous pics of him in different stages of undress. That's our present to you this holiday season.

The show must go on.

Despite almost a foot of snow being dumped on Greater Lowell Thursday afternoon into the evening, the annual KISS 108 Jingle Ball at the Tsongas Arena went on as scheduled.

“It’s a radio show with seven major national acts that have four shows just this weekend in New York, Los Angeles and Florida. You can’t reschedule this type of show. The tickets say right on them ‘No refunds. No exchanges.’,” explained Craig Gates, general manager of the Tsongas Arena.

Since the majority of the fan base for acts like Avril Lavigne and Good Charlotte are tweens and teens, many parents called to complain about their decision to proceed with the concert. The arena received calls and e-mails from irate parents, as did the Boston radio station, Lowell and state police according to Gates. Many were concerned about the driving conditions. Overall about 5,000 ticketholders attended out of the 6,400 sold. It was ultimately KISS 108's decision to hold the concert.

One of those angry fathers was, Martin Kardenetz of Billerica. His 17-year-old daughter paid $126.50 for each of her two tickets, one of which was for her handicapped mother. Kardenetz was watching the forecast and logging onto the arena’s web site to see if there was any cancellation announcement.

It was ridiculous. They did not think up a contingency plan? We all have to suck it up and pay for it,” he said.

Kardenetz teenage daughter was very disappointed she could not attend the show. He offered to drive them, but after hearing horror stories about traffic jams and accidents, they decided it was not safe to venture out. He called SMG Management who informed him that there was nothing they could do about it.

“No matter what we couldn’t win. They were asking ‘how dare we put their children in danger’. But ultimately it is the parents’ decision on whether or not to let their kids go,” he said.

Gates called both the Lowell Police and the Department of Public Works to warn them that they were going through with the snow even with the foul weather.

There were a few hitches. The headliner, rapper producer extrodinaire, Timbaland, was stuck in a traffic snarl in Hartford, Conn. After going two miles in two hours, he decided they were not going to make it in time. It also took singer, Colbie Caillat, 45 minutes to arrive at the arena from The DoubleTree Hotel only a couple blocks away that ordinarily it is about a 10-minute walk. Morning on-air talents, Matt Segal and Billy Costa were also no-shows.

“Otherwise, it was a great show. People were so thrilled to get out of the snow and the traffic. It was great,” said Gates.

So who would of thought Lowell could produce one of the best looking AND smartest men around?!?!? I don't know if anyone out there follows the VH1 reality show, America's Most Smartest Model, but a fellow Lowell High School classmate of mine is in the running. I am not sure what he wins, but it everyone should help out this hometown hottie.

He is asked a question daily, like explain communism to a five-year-old or should vegetarians eat animal crackers. His answers are pretty witty, so he gets my vote!

Check him out here!!
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Word in Lowell is that production for the Micky Ward biopic, "The Fighter" has been paralyzed by the writer's strike.

Senator Steven Panagiotakis called out for building owner in Lowell to offer up their locations in order to host a sound stage to support the movie's filming on WCAP this monring.

We hope that the strike will not effect Brad Pitt's role as Ward' s brother Dickie Eklund. He recently pulled out of the film, "State of Play" because he was not pleased with the script but there was no one available to rewrite it. He was replaced by Russell Crowe.

We stepped out of Greater Lowell this week and interviewed Celtic rocker, Larry Kirwan, the lead singer of Irish band Black 47. Kirwan is a native of Ireland and now calls New York his home. Due to space restrictions in our print version of Steppin' Out, we could not publish the interview in its entirety. Below we have the full interview with Kirwan who chatted about The Beatles, Hillary Clinton and the war in Iraq.

Make sure to grab Steppin' Out every Thursday in The Sun.

WHO: Black 47

AKA: Larry Kirwan, lead vocals and Stratocaster; Geoffrey Blythe, tenor and saxophone; Joe Burcaw, bass; Thomas Hamlin, drums and percussion; Joseph Mulvanerty, uilleann pipes and flute; and Fred Parcells, trombone and pennywhistle

VISIT: www.black47.com

HISTROY: They are political and trying to make a statment about the war in Iraq, but they will josh with their fans and throw back a couple of pints. Black 47 has been telling tales through their tunes since 1989. Frontman, Larry Kirwan, is an accomplished muscian, writer, playwright and host his own Sirius radio show. Kirwan fit us into his busy schedule to chat about his life as an artist.

You are a muscian, radio host and playwright. How do find time for them all?

And a novelist. (Laughs). I am trying to finish off a new novel inbetween. I don’t watch TV. I stopped watching TV during the Gulf War. It was so slanted.

No reality TV then?

I have never seen that, but with all that I have been reading I am curious and may actually turn the TV on.

Song, novel or play writing — which is the most satisfying?

The music I get the most bang out of. It’s an immediate reaction on stage in front of people. Books and novels are great because you are writing it on your own, it’s a great feeling, but there is no feedback from the audience. A play is great to watch the actors interperet it.

What are your novels about?

I wrote an autobiography, “Green Suede Shoes” that came out two years ago, I also wrote “Liverpool Fantasty” about The Beatles if they never were famous.

Really, what happens to the Fab Four?

Paul goes to U.S. and becomes a Frank Sintra kind of singer. Then 25 years later, he goes back to England to look up the other three. John is unemployed and still singing, George is a Jesuit preist and Ringo plays drums with Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Sounds like a great movie. Your songs are part truth and fiction. Do you use the fictional details to embellish the story?

Sometimes I do that. There is almost a paralel line in life between fiction and truth. I take an incident, move it a distance away from myself, exagerate and build up some aspects of it. There’s an essence of the truth. I have never been a confessional songwriter like, Jackson Browne. I found it gets limiting after a while and it gets boring. If you take the great writers like Kerouac, I am sure he took the experiences with Neal Cassady as the basis and then embellished.

Do people think all the tales you sing about are true?

You see some of the songs the are about political figures, Bobby Kennedy or Bobby Sands, they’re real people. In essence I am trying to portray them, I try to get into their heads. It was part of my training as a playwright. Bobby Sands, I could not get into his head for 20 years. Then when I sing I am being that person on stage. Some of the other songs have a wild sense of humor with a basis of fact. I am not Bono, I don’t have three chords of truth. I have 53. (laughs).

Is there any current figure you would like to get into the head of?

Hillary Clinton would be an interesting one. She originally supported the war, and I can’t believe someone so intelligent like her would. She then becomes a Shakespearian figure, she tells a lie to further herself feeling she knows best. I think that is fascinating and that is the basis of her canidacy.

Do you think she will be the next president?

Probably. I would vote for her, though I totally disagree with her war policy, but giving who she is up against. Guiliani will probably blow us all up with his ego. I have big issues with her on the war, but isn’t it time to have a woman? Men have f$%*@# it up so much. Though I lived under Thatcher. So long as Hillary stays a women and does not become a man. That’s what happened to Thatcher, it becomes dangerous.

In your opinion, how has the music scene changed over the past tw