Find this year’s latest flicks
with our Summer Movie Guide.

The summer’s barely begun, but perhaps you’ve had your fill of pirates, webslingers and crazed killers.

Have we got a deal for you? Check out more than 50 movies coming to a neighborhood near you, and more than half of them for free. Free! FREE!! They’re all in our Summer Movie Guide 2007.

Kick back and enjoy classics and family films, cutting edge and in concert. Whether it’s in the park or in the air-conditioned comfort of the indoors, you’ll find it here. No megaplexes, no inattentive ushers — just the best movies outside of the chains from “The Ant Bully” to “Zoom.”

Updated with Israeli Cann’d Film Festival …

Updated with Movies on the Mall …

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The latest photos from City Stages Flickr group … Check back often for more images from the festival.

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Complete City Stages 2007 coverage.

The 19th edition of City Stages kicks off today. Choosing from all those acts can be a challenge, so we again present our multimedia guide to the festival, including a playlist of 12 tracks representing the best of the fest.

Three are freebies, the rest will run you about $10 on iTunes. Plus, videos of performances and more.

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I’ve been a faithful City Stages fan for years, at least 15 or so. Most of the last 10 years, I’ve paid for my tickets and happily headed downtown for three days of music and fellowship.

I dare say I’ve spent more supporting the festival than most people I know. I consider that a point of pride, almost to the point of foolishness.

After all, even if the lineup was weak — and many a year, the lineup was weak — I could count on seeing old friends and discovering worthy up-and-coming acts.

Not this year. Not with my money.

Updated with Preserve Jazz Festival attendance, plus additional links.

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Montgomery contestant finishes in final four on ‘Top Model’

Shoe seller. Dental student. Mom. And now, TV model.

For two months, Dionne Walters of Montgomery lived the fantasy of flashy clothes, international travel and celebrity encounters. But on last week’s episode of “America’s Next Top Model,” the 21-year-old hopeful went home in fourth place.

The CW reality show ends its eighth season Wednesday with one of three contestants winning a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl.

Walters spoke by phone today to talk about facing the panel, being away from family and keeping it real.

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The mean girls may love Sydney but hate Natasha. The fab four turn ugly on “America’s Next Top Model.”

The contestants learn the art of aboriginal storytelling, but the real story ends up being poor, sick Natasha vs. Renee, Jaslene and Montgomery’s Dionne Walters. Go native, go overboard or go home.

All the photos, after the jump …
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The Football Capital of the South has taken up a different kind of foot-ball.

Birmingham Kickball has assembled dozens of players for monthly matches in the sport of (schoolyard) kings. The group’s most recent match pitted two semi-randomly selected teams in an 18-17 extra-inning blowout at Crestwood Park.

And while the trash talk ran high — including a mooning — it was all for fun, if not charity.

The good-natured rivalry always leads to the same results: a post-game celebration at Rojo on Southside.

We interviewed Sam Frazier Jr., indie filmmaker and self-described kickball lackey, about this retro-hip game.

• Who started kickball in Birmingham?

As far as I’m concerned, kickball for adults started with Arik Sokol when he organized a charity game day three years ago. With the exception of a very painful and unpleasant personal incident I experienced at the hands of one of the “charities,” it was considered a smashing success and the most fun any of the participants had had with his or her clothes on.

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Surf’s up as “America’s Next Top Model” heads to the beach.

The final five, including Montgomery’s Dionne Walters, take in Sydney’s sands while working with boy toys and Tyra, who’s not only judging the pics but snapping them, too. But before that, the contestants race to see who can book the most gigs.

Plus, Brittany cries. A lot.

All the photos, after the jump …
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Even supermodels-in-training need a break. And thus, the “America’s Next Top Model” clip show.

Whee.

At least Tyra gave us some new clips of our current and departed contestants, including Top Five finalist Dionne Walters of Montgomery and long-long-lost Samantha Francis of Pinson.

All the photos, after the jump …
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Models at work head to a land down under. Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the blunders?

Yes, our gang of six head to Australia for the latest episode of “America’s Next Top Model.” Can they handle the jetlag, the slang and the work on camera? Also, can Montgomery’s Dionne Walters speak Aussie Aussie Aussie?

Oi oi oi.

All the photos, after the jump …
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It’s not enough to be pretty, or make good pictures. It’s about (hand flourish) acting!

And so, our contestants become double threats as models and thespians on last week’s (sorry so late!) “America’s Next Top Model.” Hey, Dionne Walters of Montgomery, we said thespians, not lesbia– never mind.

All the photos, after the jump … (more…)

What happens when models pick their own names and unleash them on Hollywood’s C list? An annoyed rapper, soaked contestants and Paris Hilton?!

Yes, we’re making faces, on purpose, after Wednesday’s episode of “America’s Next Top Model,” and our weave is about to fly the coop. Plus, Montgomery’s Dionne Walters puts her best feet forward.

All the photos, after the jump … (more…)

Maybe the Hoover Bucs didn’t have the best season ever. Their hopes of a mythic national championship crashed hard earlier in the season. But the high school football powerhouse could still fulfill one record-breaking goal: a fifth straight state championship.

And so, Coach Propst and company are back on familiar turf, battling for the ring in one last game. It’s time for players, couples and teams to face their destiny in the hour-long season finale of “Two-a-Days.” (more…)

To make it in the cutthroat world of modeling, ya gotta have balls.

And so our nine finalists, including Montgomery’s Dionne Walters “man up” for the big photo shoot on tonight’s “America’s Next Top Model.” What. A. Drag.

All the photos, after the jump … (more…)

The Hoover Bucs love the smell of manure under the bleachers. Smells like … victory.

And so our heroes once again face their bitter rivals, the Vestavia Hills for a grudge rematch, this time during the state semifinals. If you hate the Rebels, well, this episode of “Two-a-Days” is for you. (more…)