Weekend Edition: A Quick Guide to the 57th Grammy Awards

Good afternoon and Happy National Frozen Yogurt Day! I just came back from 16 Handles, where they were having an all-you-can-eat special for just $4! The Chelsea location is one of my favorites because it's spacious and CLEAN and the people are pleasant. I also love the Upper West Side location, which is certified Kosher and has pretzel M&Ms. On the other hand, the location near me in Queens Center Mall is messy and stinks to high heaven. I once wrote a complaint email and received a free yogurt!

We interrupt this month's Oscar coverage to bring you up to date regarding the 57th Grammys, which air this Sunday on CBS at 8:00 EST. This year, there are nominees in 83 categories.

Here are some things you might want to know about the awards show and its history (source: Awards and Shows.com):

• The Grammys were created during the 1950s to recognize leaders in the recording industry, and the first ceremony was broadcast in 1959.
• It wasn't until 1962 that the category of "Rock and Roll" was added.
• Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu is the official tabulator of the Grammy votes.
• In 1981, Christopher Cross was the only artist to receive the "Big Four" awards (Record of the Year, Album, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist) in a single ceremony.
• Quincy Jones holds the record for the most Grammy nominations (79).
• U2 are the most-honored band with 22 awards.
• Stevie Wonder is the most-honored solo artist with 28 awards.
• Jethro Tull was the winner of the first award in the Heavy Metal category in 1989. Note that this genre of music first came into line during the late 1960s.
• DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince were the first winners of the Rap category in 1989.
• Milli Vanilli were stripped of their Grammy in 1989 when it was discovered they did not sing on their album). It looks like a lot of milestones were reached in 1989!
• The gold-plated trophies, which depict old-time gramophones, are handmade and assembled by Billings Artworks.

The Grammys.com website provides 57 fun facts about this years nominees. Here are some that stand out (with me, at least):

• Beck is the first artist to be nominated for Album of the Year in each decade from the 1990s to the 2010s. He was nominated in the 1990s (for Odelay), the  2000s (for Midnight Vultures), and the 2010s (Morning Phase).
• Haim, comprising sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim, are the first sister trio to receive a Best New Artist nomination.
• Tony Bennett is vying for his 12th award in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Category. At almost 90, he just keeps going! 
• Katy Perry has not won a Grammy despite being nominated 13 times. She is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
• Jack White is nominated for the album Lazaretto in Best Alternative Music Album category. He previously won three with the White Stripes. If he wins, he will be the first four-time winner in this category.
• Taylor Swift is the only nominee currently featured in an exhibit at the Grammy Museum. 
• The English rock group Bastille is vying to be the first British artist since Sade (1985) to take home the Best New Artist Grammy. 
• Two of my favorite comedy stars, "Weird Al" Yankovic and Louis C.K. are nominated for Best Comedy Album. Each has won previously. Note: I had trouble linking to "Weird Al's" website (www.weirdal.com).
• Everyone's favorite awards show host Neil Patrick Harris received his first Grammy nomination this year (Best Musical Theater Album with Hedwig and the Angry Itch).

Last week, it was revealed that Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne would get a writing credit for Sam Smith's hit "Stay With Me." Apparently, there were similarities between Smith's song, and Petty's 1989 hit "I Won't Back Down." This isn't the first plagiarism controversy in the music industry, but I'm glad things have been resolved after much backstage drama.

Although have not included many music-themed games at the shop yet, we plan to create more during our "down time" this summer. This is a guitar-shaped word search puzzle featuring famous ax-men. We can customize the puzzle with a list of your favorite musicians, or songs by your favorite band. If you want, we can even include a hidden message in the grid.

Now for the usual lists:

Party Idea of the Day: Check out Kara's Party Ideas for some fabulous Valentine's Day party suggestions. Ideas range from a Valentines-themed baby shower to a contemporary theme. Personally, I liked the "Love Rocks" idea with some 80's-style pink sunglasses (see below).

Black History Month Fun Fact of the Day: Although the media portrayed the Black Panthers as a notorious militant group, they also launched programs that benefited the African-American community, such as free dental care, breakfast for low-income children, and cultural opportunities.

Oscar Fun Fact of the Day: Of all of this year's nominated movies, American Sniper had the lowest average rating among critics (74), while Boyhood had the Highest (98%).

Black History Month Fun Fact of the Day: 

Today's Birthdays: Amy Robach (42), Rick Astley (59), Axl Rose (54), Megan Gallagher (55), Barry Miller (57), Kathy Najimy (58), Robert Townsend (58), Jon Walmsley (59), Natalie Cole (65), Fabian (72), Gayle Hunnicutt (72), Tom Brokaw (75), Mike Farrell (76), Mamie Van Doren (84), Rip Torn (84), Patrick MacNee (93), and Zsa Zsa Gabor (98).

Tomorrow's Birthdays: Deborah Ann Woll (30), Tina Majorino (30), Ashton Kutcher (37), Wes Borland (40), Jason Gedrick (48), Chris Rock (50), Garth Brooks (53), James Spader (55), Robert Smigel (aka Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) (55), and Miguel Ferrer (60).

Sunday's Birthdays: Max Grahn (27), Jeremy Davis (30), Cecily Strong (31), Jim Parrack (34), Phoenix (38), Seth Green (41), Keith Nelson (46), Mary McCormack (46), Sammy Llanas (54), Vince Neil (54), Mary Steenburgen (62), Brooke Adams (66), Robert Klein (73), Nick Nolte (74), and John Williams (83).

Holidaze: Heart disease isn't just a man's disease. One in three women suffer from heart disease and strokes. In support of saving women's lives, today is also National Wear Red Day. For more information on how you can help, check out the website Go Red. Macy's is giving 20% off to anyone who is wearing red today and will also donate to the American Heart Association.

Today's "unofficial" holiday is National Lame Duck Day. This refers to a politician who is nearing the end of his or her career by either having lost a bid for reelection, a term limit is coming to and end, or the position was abolished..

Tomorrow (February 7) is National Send Your Friend a Card Day. We think this holiday was made up by Hallmark to sell more cards, but it's a nice gesture to brighten someone's day. It is also National Fettuccine Alfredo Day. This is noodle dish made with cheese and butter and is one of the most popular dishes in the U.S.

Sunday (February 8) is National Boy Scouts Day, which was founded in 1910 by William Dickson Boyce, a Chicago Publisher. There are over 114 million youth in the organization, and its roster includes many prominent people who were Eagle Scouts. the highest rank one can achieve. Happy Birthday!

It is also National Kite Flying Day, but right now I think it's a wee bit too cold to be thinking about that. Perhaps we can do so next month.

Today's Freebie Friday is Valentine's Day cryptograms for the kids. Just right-click to download and print. This game is for personal use only and not for resale. Answers will be published on Monday.

This weekend, we're off to see the SpongeBob movie and getting ready for another round of snow on Sunday. 

Have a PRINTASTIC weekend!

Kathy