I’ll admit that I was a fan of the Bravo TV show Blow Out, which followed around Beverly Hills hair stylist Jonathan Antin. From that show I got my initial introduction to the Pussycat Dolls who were created by Antin’s sister, Robin. Robin Antin started the dolls in the early 90’s as a burlesque dance group in Los Angeles.

A few years ago, the idea came to recast the group as a pop group. Since then, they have had great commercial success on terrestrial radio stations with catchy tunes such as Don’t Cha and Wait A Minute. The dolls will bring their music and dance show to The Centre tomorrow night. In between opening for Christina Aguilera’s nationwide tour, the group is performing several headlining shows at smaller venues and cities like Evansville and Louisville.

While It’s Evansville is glad to see a rare non-country or metal act come to town, we’d sure like SMG or some other promoter bring more modern, independent rock acts like Arcade Fire or The Killers to town.

The show is at The Centre at 7PM. Tickets are $30. Call 435-5770 for more information.

We know it’s an easy target to complain about. We’ve all heard about how it’s ironic the Lloyd Expressway is named as such since it takes so long to get anywhere in town from it. We get it. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those jokes will be around for another 28 years because the Indiana DOT has suspended it’s plans add an interchange to the Burkhardt road area (think Wal-Mart and Target).

The Indiana DOT was planning to add an interchange to the area to help alleviate the traffic nightmare that has built up there in the past ten years. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, try to drive on Burkhardt road during lunch hour or at any time on a Saturday. As part of the plan, all but one entrance point to the Lloyd would have been shut down while construction was underway. The new interchange would have added three 12-foot lanes in each direction for cars to get onto Burkhardt. An overpass would have taken Lloyd traffic over Burkhardt. Sadly, those plans have been tabled until 2035 as funding was moved to other projects that didn’t receive such a negative uproar.

While this project has been tabled, it looks like work is still on schedule for the new Lloyd interchange at Fulton Avenue is still on schedule. This new interchange will hopefully alleviate all the traffic that is being driven downtown. At least we’re getting some relief on the Lloyd.

photo courtesy of Illinois & Indiana Highway Ends

Sure MSNBC and Fox News spend most of the day talking about Hillary, Obama and Giuliani, but 2008’s other candidates are ramping up for their reelection campaign. Remember back in Government class when you learned about the legislative branch? Senators server 6 year terms, but House members are up every two years. Brad Ellsworth, our congressman is already starting to prepare his campaign for reelection.

This week congressional candidates must report their first quarter campaign finance reports. Even though Ellsworth was just elected last November for his seat, the campaign war chest never closes. In 2006 Ellsworth spent over $1.5 million to gain his seat. He’ll need just as much money, if not more, to keep his seat. While there isn’t a republican candidate to challenge Ellsworth at this point, it’s highly doubtful his seat will go uncontended considering the Republicans want you to get to know The Real Brad Ellsworth. Even though he’s only been in office four months, that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t done something to irritate republicans who want his seat. The site goal is to outline Ellsworth’s voting record against his campaign promises. I won’t comment much on the validity of the site to keep my own personal politics out. Of interest is the site’s increasing usage of social media like blogging and YouTube.

In other local political news, Aaron Ridlen, a 24-year-old USI student is running for Mayor of Evansville. Before he can target Weinzapfel, though, he has to win his primary on May 8.

photo courtesy of Putnam Democrats

Best of the Week highlights some of the more interesting things we posted about during the week.

• We started the week off with a brief tutorial about how you can contribute news and photos to be used on It’s Evansville.
• We celebrated the fact that farmers are getting paid this year thanks to the rise in ethanol usage.
• Indiana is now accepting votes for the new license plate.
• Freedom Park is getting a touch up. We got construction pics.
• We also featured our first interview on the site covering the Demolition City Roller Derby team.

Happy Easter. If you’re looking for something to eat this morning, the Pasta Grill has a brunch buffet from 11 to 3 featuring jazz from It’s Evansville favorite Cynthia McDonald & Bob Green.

• A Nebwurgh man is charged with allegedly tossing a molotov cocktail into an apartment down by the University of Evansville last Thursday night. He was upset with his ex-girlfriend. Obviously the thing to do when you’re upset is to use improvised explosives.
• The Hucks in Newburgh had an attempted theft Friday afternoon. The unidentified man was found rummaging thorugh the employee’s office, but didn’t take anything.
• Did you know part of Evansville used to be known as the town of Lamasco?
• The University of Evansville unveiled their new student center.

photo courtesy of ClatieK

Time for another rundown of whose been naughty in Evansville. There’s a common theme with this week’s criminals in that each story has something to do with a child. Maybe next week these perps can leave the kids out of it.

• Milton Nelson was arrested on Friday for allegedly dealing marijuana near McGary Middle School.
• Ronald Scott of Evansville was arrested for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Chris Hansen is on the case.
• Indiana leads the nation in child abuse related deaths with more than one child dying a week.
• A mother locked her 14-year-old in a truck bed. Mother of the year claims its ok because she stopped and fed her periodically.

photo courtesy of Dateline NBC

Last October the 163rd Field Artillery unit returned to Evansville from Iraq to a heroes welcome in town. After being home a little less than six months, they just received notice that they’re going back.

Unit members received alert that they would be heading out in 2008 to somewhere in the middle east. They were not told whether it would be Iraq or Afghanistan that they’re going to. The redeployment is part of the regular troop rotation and not part of President Bush’s surge of troops to try to turn the Iraq war around.

photo courtesy of bulldog65

Our second week online has been a big success. Thanks to all our new It’s Evansville readers for getting us going. To celebrate, here’s a few things you can do in town this weekend.

Friday

• Start your weekend off with open mic acoustic performances at Crawdaddys. The fun starts at 5PM.

• The Matt Lloyd Project and From Beginning to End will be playing at Wired Coffee House on Main 7PM.

• The Jungle has jazz pianist Matt Clark starting at 9PM.
• Stompbox 40 is at Fast Eddy’s down by the Casino starting at 10PM (Saturday night as well).
• Gonzo’s Toybox is playing Woody’s at 10PM (also Saturday night).
• Rendition is at Ri Ra’s starting at 10PM.

Saturday

• If you’re not hung over Saturday morning, you can head to Central Library to meet your local legislators from 9:30 to 10:30AM.
• After meeting your legislators, hang out at the library for a few hours and then watch KZ at 2:00PM as part of the International Film Festival.
• The Koch Planetarium is showing The Sky Tonight at 3pm. The Sky Tonight is a star show that examines the bright stars, constellations, visible planets and the moon. Admission is $3.
• If you want to see the UFC Fight, head to Fox & Hound, Hooters, Jillians, Show Me’s, or Buffalo Wild Wings starting at 8PM.
• Rich Hardesty is at the Duck Inn. He plays all around the state and is a fan favorite of college kids all around.

photo courtesy of Stompbox40

• The Pool task force is down to six locations for put two pools. Bellemeade Park, Stanley Hall, and Tepe Park being favored for the south part of town. Golfmoor, Helfrich, and Howell Parks were the sites picked for the westside.
• Whirlpool is laying off another 25 workers by the end of the month thanks toa decline in refridgerator sales. They are hoping 25 people will voluntarily lay themselves off. Otherwise, they’re passing out pink slips.
• Gas prices are on the rise again. Happy Spring!
• Our favorite alleged meth producing attorney wants his trial moved out of Evansville because of media publicity surrounding his trial.

photo courtesy of fatleearnold

There’s only one movie that even needs to be mentioned this week, but if you’re not into watching masters at their craft, we’ll give you a few other choices.

• Grindhouse: Directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez present two full-length movies in a new horror double feature. Grindhouse is more than a movie. It’s an experience. Grindhouse films are an old school type of flick chock full of violence, sex and other anti-mainstream occurrences. Even cooler is between each director’s film are previews for upcoming attractions.
• Are We Done Yet?: Now married to Suzanne, Nick Persons (Ice Cube) has bought a quiet suburban house to escape the rat race of the big city and to provide more space for his new wife and kids Lindsey and Kevin. But when his new home quickly becomes a costly “fixer upper” and he finds himself at the mercy of an eccentric contractor, Nick’s suburban dream becomes a riotous nightmare.
• The Reaping: A supernatural tale that centers on a myth debunker who tries to prove that a small boy is not the supernatural force behind the devastation of a small, religious Texas town.

We’ll be going out to see Grindhouse this weekend and will post a review of it here on the site.

image courtesy of Dimension Films