Tom Perrotta, author of “Election” which was made into a fine film starring Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon, teamed up with Todd Field, director of the exceptionally well-made “In the Bedroom,” to turn his book “Little Children” into a film of the same name. The result is another great film. It is thought-provoking, entertaining and at times both heart-breaking and wildly amusing. It is also an absolute entry on my list of top 10 films of the year.

The Miss Northgate Pageant will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Centre for Performing Arts in Newnan at 7 p.m. This is the ninth consecutive year for the pageant and all girls, freshman through seniors, are eligible to participate. The winner receives a savings bond as do the first and second runner up.

When Offshoot Productions’ new play, “Audition for Murder,” premieres in November, a strong cast, each boasting a rich theatrical background, will take stage.

Fayetteville First United Methodist Church will again sponsor the annual Christmas Tour of Homes on Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3, 2006, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Annual event flying into town this weekend

The ninth annual Great Georgia Airshow (GGAS) will be presented Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15, at Falcon Field, Peachtree City, Georgia. The airshow, produced by the Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City and the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), Dixie Wing, will spotlight breathtaking aerobatic performers, a jet truck and modern military aircraft, as well as a squadron of vintage World War II aircraft. The United States Air Force will provide a dramatic performance of the Heritage Flight, which combines an F-16 Viper and WWII P-51 Mustang in a tribute to America’s veterans.

Direct from Broadway, winner of six 2005 Tony® Awards plays Atlanta

Direct from Broadway, the romantic new musical “The Light in the Piazza” swept into Atlanta this week for a limited one-week engagement which will wrap up this weekend at The Fox Theatre. The show, presented by Broadway Across America - Atlanta, will play Oct. 13-15 before continuing on its national tour.

Finally.

I have been waiting for a movie like this for a long time.

Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest directors in the history of film, once again tells us a story in a mob setting. Only this time, the cops get equal screen time. The film is a remake of a popular Hong Kong film called “Infernal Affairs,” which follows a mob informant working for the police and a police informant working for the mob. As things progress for these two young hotshots in their new careers, their duty becomes identifying the “rat” in their organizations, all the while trying to hide the fact that they are of course said “rat.”

Peter Gibson, the author of a new book titled “Who Moved My Magnet?” will give a talk at the Fayette County Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.

There are pigs at the Peachtree City Library. Local artisans have again been asked to contribute, in a very unique way, to the American Cancer Society’s 2006 Barons’ Ball.

Christian City will hold its annual Country Fair on Saturday, Oc. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on their campus at 7300 Lester Road in Union City.

The advanced drama students at Starr’s Mill High School will present “The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket” Oct. 13-15 at Willie Duke Auditorium at Starr’s Mill High School. Performances Oct. 13-14 begin at 7 p.m.; a matinee will be performed Oct. 15 at 2:30. Tickets are $5 at the door. 

The Rock Ranch, a 1,250-acre cattle ranch owned by Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, will officially open its doors for the 2006 fall season with a two-day grand-opening event entitled “Wagon Wheel Weekend” Oct. 13 and 14. The season also marks the first year that The Rock Ranch will offer general admission in addition to its normal policy of reservation-based group events. General admission will be $9 for adults and $7 for children 15 and under (children under 3 are free) and includes all activities and attractions. To commemorate the opening, The Rock Ranch will provide a free jack-o-lantern-size pumpkin to each family to visit on Oct.13 and 14.

It’s fall in Fayette County and that means it’s time for the annual Kiwanis fair! This weekend brings the 55th annual Fayette County Kiwanis Fair to town.

This is the second year the fair will include two weekends and the first year that the fair will be open on a Sunday. The fair, which opened on October 5 and will close October 14, will once again be held at the Kiwanis Fair Complex located at 939 Goza Road in Fayetteville.

7th annual Southern Crescent Alzheimer’s Memory Walk

Boog (Martin Lawrence) is a bear who lives the city life. He’s a metro-grizzly. His life is usually completely perfect. He’s got a beautiful owner named Beth, who is voiced by Debra Messing and is a forest ranger, a garage home that would fit 10 animals, and an acting job.

An actor can have a very distinctive voice and still have a long and illustrious career filled with a wide variety of memorable roles that live on in the minds of movie fans everywhere. Jack Nicholson is a perfect example. You’d recognize his voice anywhere, but it doesn’t distract you from great performances in films like “Easy Rider,” “The Shining” and “A Few Good Men.” Jon Heder, the star of “School for Scoundrels” and also the star of “Napoleon Dynamite” is unlikely to share the same good fortune that Nicholson does. You hear Heder speak and you instantly hear Napoleon asking you to “Vote for Pedro.”

The Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater will host a free concert on Wednesday, October 11 featuring the Band of the United States Air Force Reserve from 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Scott Slade, host of Atlanta’s Morning News on News/Talk 750 WSB and the voice of the annual Great Georgia Air Show, has been named Major Market Personality of the Year at the 2006 National Association of Broadcasters’ Marconi Radio Awards.

The Colorful Arts Society, Inc. (CAS), a nonprofit organization in the metropolitan area, will host its seventh annual Gala and Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the Atlanta City Hall Atrium. This annual event helps fund the scholarship program and year-round calendar of cultural events.

The Peachtree City Dog Park will host a party marking its first “birthday” Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The party will feature refreshments, agility demonstrations, a doggie kissing booth, face painting, dog-related vendors and a dog costume contest. Admission is free.

See amazing feats from ringside seats
The circus under the big top returns this weekend

As they said in days of old: “Hold your horses, here come the elephants!” Those hugely popular pachyderms, Tina and Jewel, have packed up their trunks to tour with Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars.

Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars features a spectacular show filled with educated animals including elephants, camels, miniature horses, Professor Elmo's Snickers, the mind-reading pony, Craig Rogers K-9 Air Sports Team as seen on Animal Planet, Abuhadba's Fantasy Poodle Review, and even a few surprising guests that aim to charm the audience! In addition to the animals, a galaxy of illustrious artists formerly featured in circuses around the world will alternately thrill, amaze, astound and amuse circus patrons.

Popular show opens at The Fred Oct. 6

The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City will come alive on October 6, 7, 13 and 14 with some hootin’ and a hollerin’, as well as the exceptional musical voices of Rob Sylvester as Curly and Alison Chambers as Laurey in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “Oklahoma!” presented by Pyke and Associates, P.C. and The Twilight Theatre.

I was discussing “Jackass” with a co-worker of mine recently and she said they must be stupid to do the things they do. If they are stupid, they are stupid like a fox. The first “Jackass” movie was a box-office hit that did even better on DVD. “Jackass Number Two” made $27 million last weekend and will do even better on DVD.

Robert Penn Warren’s 1946 novel is the basis for the original 1949 film “All the King’s Men” as well as the recent remake by the same name.

First-time novelist Renee Dodd will appear at the Fayette County Public Library on Friday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m., to talk about her new book, “A Cabinet of Wonders.” Granddaughter of legendary football coach Bobby Dodd, Dodd is a Georgia native and resident of Milledgeville, where she teaches at Georgia College & State University.

Like to win cool prizes? Now is your chance. The Citizen along with Buena Vista Home Entertainment is giving you the chance to win a copy of the film “Stick It” starring Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym.

Fayette Coweta Family Theatre, Inc. will present Disney’s “Aladdin, Jr.” at The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

Pirates and treasure maps hit the stage at Newnan Theatre Company in this classic adventure featuring Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver. Adapted from the classic by Robert Louis Stevenson, the Children’s Popcorn Theatre presentation of “Treasure Island” is directed by Lamar Payne and features a cast of local talent.

Band exhibition set for Saturday, Sept. 23

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of history. For the first time in its 185 years, Fayette County will stage a major exhibition of its own award-winning high school marching bands.

Never before have Fayette’s high school marching bands gathered in one home-county venue to perform their football game half-time shows during a single musical extravaganza.

The Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater, a.k.a. the Fred, will hold their annual end of the summer auction on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23 before the REO Speedwagon concert.