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Starting from a few gigs on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, she got her own series, Xena: Warrior Princess. From there, she did a cameo in Spider-Man, then became a Cylon on the new Battlestar Galactica, and even showed off her golden voice on Celebrity Duets. Now Lucy Lawless will perform live in concert this January.

According to a her blog entry, Lawless plans to make the gig "hot and heavy, so dress appropriately." She even wrote that she was "debating the merits of stage-diving. So don't stand up the front if you can't support 140 lbs coming at you full force."

The concert is part of a Xena: Warrior Princess convention being held by Creation Entertainment. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.creationent.com/cal/lucy_concert.htm.

Oh, and Lawless offered a little advice in her blog post, too. "Make sure you smell good to start with because by the end it's going to be awfully close in there and we don't want to smell like a pack of truckers."

DETAILS
What:Lucy Lawless In Concert
One Night Only

Where:
The Roxy
9009 W Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, Calif.

When:
Jan. 13, 2007
8pm

I just learned about one of the weirdest festivals I’ve ever heard of – Frozen Dead Guy Days. Held each year in Nederland, Colo., it "celebrates" the cryonic storage of Grandpa Bredo. I kid you not.

Bredo Morstoel [pronounced "Bread-dough More-stul"] , a Director of Parks and Recreation in Baerum County, Norway for over 30 years died of heart failure on November 6, 1989. His grandson Trygve Bauge, had him put in cryonic suspension and has kept him there ever since. Originally stored in a cryonics facility in California, the body was moved to Nederland in December 1993.

When the locals learned of this, an emergency ordinance was passed to legalize the storage of dead human or animal bodies or parts on one’s property. Because laws can’t be passed after the fact, Bredo was "grandfathered" in.

The next festival, created by the the Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce in 2002 to provide a lively weekend in the quiet months of winter, will be held March 9-11, 2007. So mark your calendars!

For more information, visit www.nederlandchamber.org/FrozenDeadGuyDays.

Genre Travel Across the US, Part One
Caves and Caverns, Section Three: New Mexico, Arizona and More
Continued from Wednesday

(NOTE: There are so many caves and caverns across the U.S., I broke this section of “Genre Travel Across the US, Part One” into four posts, each one focusing on a single state – except for this last one.)

NEW MEXICO
Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano -- The Lad of Fire and Ice
www.icecaves.com
Located off New Mexico’s scenic Route 53 you’ll find The Land of Fire and Ice. The Ice Cave is naturally cooled, never rising above 31 degrees F. Ice formations glisten blue-green inside, but outside the volcanic land has been called "the most moon-like expanse of country on Earth." The Bandera Volcano is an excellent example of an erupted volcano, offering views of volcanic craters and lava tubes. Also at this attraction, you'll find opportunities to mine for gemstones and a trading post that deals in jewelry, pottery, rugs and other products from the local Indian Pueblos.

ARIZONA
Grand Canyon Caverns
www.grandcanyoncaverns.com
The largest dry caverns in the U.S., Grand Canyon Caverns is located of Route 66 in Arizona, between Kingman and Seligman. The attraction has an Inn, RV Park, restaurant and gift shop. An elevator takes you 21 stories below ground to the base of the caverns, which are so large that three football (American) fields could fit inside. AAA and AARP members receive a discount.

Colossal Cave
www.colossalcave.com
Located southeast of Tucson, Ariz., off U.S. Highway 10, Colossal Cave is a dry cave where the formations are not growing at present. Staying at an even 70 degrees F, the Cave was most likely formed by an upwelling of deep, hot sulfur-rich salty water. Guides take guests on 50-minute tours and tell of the Cave's history, legends and geology. The attraction also sports a gift shop, open-air café, and a wide variety of family-friendly activities. A RealPlayer virtual tour is available at www.colossalcave.com/cavetour.html.

Hungry for more U.S. caves? Check out the National Caves Association at www.cavern.comfor the National Cave and Cavern Directory.

BATS
While in Texas, I picked up a little brochure called "Bats 'N' Bridges," provided by the Texas Department of Transportation. According to this flyer, there are 33 species of bats that call Texas home. If you'd like to see bats fly at dusk, the best time is between March and the end of October, when Mexican free-tail bats reside in Texas bridges and culverts. The best places to see them include:

• The bridge over Town Lake, Congress Ave., Austin;
• The U.S. 77 bridge over Los Olmos Creek, Riviera;
• The Interstate 35 bridge over McNeil Road, Round Rock; and
• The Foster Street bride over Loop 306, San Angelo.

For more information about bats, visit the Texas Department of Transportation's website at www.dot.state.tx.us or the Bat Conservation International website at www.batcon.org.

Genre Travel Across the US, Part One
Caves and Caverns, Section Three: Texas
Continued from MondayCaves, Caverns and Bats, Oh My! (Section Three)

(NOTE: There are so many caves and caverns across the U.S., I’m breaking this section of "Genre Travel Across the US, Part One" into several posts, each one focusing on a single state.)

Natural Bridge Caverns – Texas’ Largest Caverns
www.naturalbridgecaverns.com
Located outside San Antonio (where they know how to make Picante Sauce [I couldn’t resist]), off state road 3009, Natural Bride Caverns are open daily, year-round, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. They offer a variety of tours that leave every 30 to 60 minutes between 9am and 4pm. Summer hours, Memorial Day through Labor Day, the caverns are open from 9am to 7pm.

Caverns of Sonora
www.cavernsofsonora.com
Sonora, Texas, lies North West of San Antonio, and the Caverns of Sonora are 15 miles away off U.S. Highway 10. The caverns are open daily. In the Summer, March 1st through Labor Day, they are open from 8am to 6pm. Winter hours are 9am to 5pm. A variety of activities are available at the Caverns of Sonora, including gemstone panning, camping, &quot'The Discover Challenge" for those who want a full caving experience, and two walking, guided tours.

Inner Space Cavern
www.innerspace.com
Considered Austin’s "Greatest Natural Wonder," Inner Space Cavern is located outside of Georgetown, Texas, off U.S. Highway 35. This limestone cavern was discovered in 1963 by the Texas Highway Department. Activities offered include an adventure tour along paved trails and an explorer’s tour into the "wild" areas of the cave not seen on the regular tour. You can also pan for gemstones and keep what you find.

Cascade Caverns
www.cascadecaverns.com
Cascade Caverns is the only cavern in Texas with a 100-foot waterfall and is an award-winning natural attraction. Located minutes from San Antonio, outside Boerne, Texas, the caverns are part of a 105 acre park and were the location for Father Hood, starring Patrick Swayze.

Longhorn Cavern
www.longhorncaverns.com
Located off Park Road 4, six miles west of U.S. Highway 281, in Burnet County, Texas, Longhorn Cavern State Park is one of the few river-formed caverns in Texas. Guided tours, both regular and specialty, are available 363 days a year. There is a gift shop and snack bar, as well as areas for picnicking. Guided tours have a fee, but self-guided hiking trails, the picnic area and the exhibit center are free.

Genre Travel Across the US, Part One
Caves and Caverns, Section Two: Arkansas
Continued from Yesterday

(NOTE: There are so many caves and caverns across the U.S., I’m breaking this section of "Genre Travel Across the US, Part One" into several posts, each one focusing on a single state.)

Onyx Cave
No Website
According to the flier, Onyx Cave has been "popular with honeymooners for almost 100 years." The attraction, located six miles east of Eureka Springs, Ark., includes a Button and Doll Museum, an audio tour. Other attractions nearby include Christ of the Ozarks and the Great Passion Play. The cave is open year-round starting at 8am. Closing time varies according to time of year. For more information, call 501-253-9321.

Cosmic Cavern – Home of the Ozarks Blind Cave Salamander
www.cosmiccavern.com
Located between Eureka Springs, Ark., and Branson, Mo., outside Berryville, Ark., off U.S. Highway 21, Cosmic Cavern boasts several underground lakes, including South Lake, which is stocked with rainbow trout. It is one of the warmest caves in the Ozarks – high humidity makes the 62-degree temperature feel much warmer. In 1993, the Silent Splendor Section was discovered. This pristine area contains ceiling covered with white soda straws and helictites, many of which are so clean that they are transparent. During the winter months, golden and bald eagles can be found around the cave. Average tour time is 1 hour 10 minutes. Opening times vary, but the cave is usually open on weekends.

Mystic Caverns
www.mysticcaverns.com
Located five miles north of Buffalo National River, between Jasper and Harrison, Ark., along U.S. Highway 7, Mystic Caverns stays at a comfortable 59 degrees. The caverns, which also include Crystal Dome Cavern, are open March 1 through Dec. 31, Monday through Saturday, from 9am. The attraction includes a gift shop and rock museum. Tours, which leave every 35 to 40 minutes, include information about the "pipe organ" and "spider monkey."

Bull Shoals Caverns
www.bullshoalscaverns.com
Located off U.S. Highway 178, outside of Bull Shoals, Ark., Bull Shoals Caverns feature an underground trout stream, underground rivers, a miniature lake and live formations. Considered one of the world’s oldest caverns, it is "air conditioned by nature" and has been used as a shelter by Native Americans and the Ozark mountaineers. Also at the location is Mountain Village 1890, a carefully restored Ozark community from the 19th century.