Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - Movie fans are in for a treat as the American Film Institute airs its 11th annual countdown celebration Tuesday night. The show is a three-hour salute to the Top 10 American movies from 10 film genres.
Jessica Alba, Sigourney Weaver, Kirk Douglas and Gabriel Byrne are among the stars counting down the 10 greatest films in 10 different genres: animation; courtroom drama; epic; fantasy; gangster; mystery; romantic comedy; science fiction; sports and Western.
Each category will be presented by a separate star. Three of the biggest names are Clint Eastwood (Westerns), Alba (Romantic Comedy) and Quentin Tarantino (Gangster).
“AFI’s 10 Top 10″ airs Tuesday night at 8/7c on CBS.

allheadlinenews.com

ONGOING Bellevue Botanical Garden: 12001 Main St., Bellevue. Free. 425-452-2750;
Garden d’Lights: Learn to make flower lights the Bellevue Botanical Garden way. The classes are low-cost or free to members, but what is created stays at the garden to be enjoyed by others. Call or click for dates and times.
SAT City People’s Garden Store: 2939 E. Madison St., 206-324-0737;
11 a.m. — Outdoor Rooms and Intimate Garden Spaces: Jean Zaputil, author of “Jean Zaputil Garden Design,” will teach you the ins and outs of creating outdoor living spaces. Free.
SUN Dig: 19028 Vashon Highway S.W., Vashon Island. Dress for the weather. Registration required: 206-463-5096;
1 p.m. — Pondless Water Feature with Ross Johnson: Gain ideas on how to create a water feature in your garden without digging a pond. $25, includes a how-to handout.
SAT/SUN/WED/JUNE 22 Emery’s Garden: 2829 164th St. S.W., Lynnwood, 425-743-4555;
Saturday, 11 a.m., Sunday, noon, Wednesday, 1 p.m. — Springtime Pruning: Learn how to create and keep your maples and conifers beautiful.
June 22, noon — Good Gardening, Healthy Body: Join physical therapist Julie Jacobs, for an informative presentation on smart and healthy gardening practices.
THURS/JUNE 19 Floral Design Institute: 911 Western Ave., Suite 575; 800-819-8089;
flowerschool.com. Cost includes all materials.
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. — Basics of American Floral Design: Learn the methods and techniques used to create floral designs in floral foam as you create your own beautiful traditional American styled arrangement of fresh flowers. $40.
June 19, 6:30 p.m. — Entertaining With Summer Flowers: Using summer blossoms, fruits and vegetables found at the local farmers market, learn how to create the setting for a spectacular summer patio party and a summer party centerpiece. $55.
SAT/JUNE 21 Molbak’s: 13625 N.E. 175th St., Woodinville. 425-483-5000;
Saturday, 1 p.m. — Pruning Techniques for Summer Garden Beauty: Learn pruning techniques that will keep your plants happy, healthy and beautiful looking throughout the summer and into fall.

seattlepi.nwsource.com

For this series, we’ll start with the most important question – Why are the games on Tuesday and Thursday being played an hour earlier than originally scheduled?
In case you missed it, the Boston Red Sox apparently sought permission to move the game times for those two games up one hour from the original 7:05 p.m. start. The Orioles sent out a press release on Monday, which stated that the move was made so the games won’t interfere with the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics are playing against the Los Angeles Lakers and the games will begin at 9 p.m. each night.
Are the Red Sox worried about traffic problems being caused by two professional sports being played in the same city on the same night? No, that can’t be it since the basketball games are being played in Los Angeles on Tuesday and Thursday.
Could they be worried about the potential loss of ticket sales if fans decide they would rather stay home and watch the Celtics? Well, that’s probably not it either. According to this April 28 article from MLB.com, the Red Sox are on pace to break the record for most consecutive sellouts later this season. In other words, there is a pretty good chance that the games will be sold out even with the Celtics playing in the NBA Finals.
What exactly is the motivation behind this decision? I just don’t understand how they can change the time of two games – virtually at the last minute – and the only justification is that another professional team from that city is playing a game later that night on the other side of the country.
What if there were some Orioles fans with flight arrangements to Boston that would give them just enough time to get from the airport to the game for the 7:05 p.m. starting time? Now they’ll have to be late to the baseball game because it’s more important that Red Sox fans will be able to watch the Celtics and Lakers play on television.

weblogs.baltimoresun.com

For the second year in a row, “American Idol” transforms, for one night only, from trying to sell Coca-Cola, Apple computers and iTunes and Ford vehicles to raising money for underprivileged children. The results show, in which somebody goes home, gets moved to 8 pm Thursday night. “Idol Gives Back” is a star-studded affair, and kicks off with a group number by the Idolizers, doing “Please Don’t Stop the Music,” while “So You Think You Can Dance” hoofers hurl their bodies around the big stage of the Kodak Theater.
Why did the words “Exxon Mobil” just appear in red on the bottom of the screen? Is “Idol” selling simple word placement now? Not just commercials?
But more to the point, organizations that will benefit this year include Save the Children, Malaria No More, the Global Fund, Children’s Health Fund, Children’s Defense Fund and Make It Right, a campaign started by Brad Pitt for New Orleans recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
Last year, “Idol Gives Back” raised $76 million; this year, they’re shooting for $100 million.
Getting the taped fundraising pleas off to a bilingual start, George Lopez makes a plea in Spanish. Kylie Minogue makes a plea in an Australian accent. Maria Shriver, aka California’s first lady, comes onstage joined by what appears to be a small army. Ben Stiller appears in a spot in which he makes an unfunny joke about singing Whitney Houston songs, says we may be thinking he’s crazy, then adds the zinger: “Isn’t that what ‘American Idol’ is all about, convincing crazy people that they belong on television?”
What is that white thing on Kobe Bryant’s face? A bandage?
Paula and Randy appear in a taped segment in which they visit a school in California where the kids are forced to worry about things like drive-by shootings instead of their schoolwork. It’s touching, low-key and effective.

oregonlive.com

March 13, 2008 10:23 AM EDT
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual two-week, citywide event celebrating spring. The Festival celebrates the 96th anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the citizens of the United States and Japan. Join us for more than 90 events, exhibits, and nearly 200 cultural performances!
SPRING INTO THE FESTIVAL WITH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS:
Family time. On Saturday, March 29, 10am - 3:30pm, Family Day sponsored by Target is held at the National Building Museum; 401 F St, NW. In between the many hands-on activities for the kids, Robert Lang constructs a large-scale giraffe completely out of origami. The Opening Ceremony begins at 4pm with welcoming remarks and an appearance by Miss Universe Riyo Mori, originally of Shizuoka, Japan. The special opening performance is a collaboration between Tateshina High School’s all-female jazz club from Japan and the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. Free.
Get cultured. The Target Tidal Basin Stage presents Cultural Performances at noon daily at the Jefferson Memorial. From martial arts to marching bands, performers come from near and far to entertain visitors. Free.
Go fly a kite. The 42nd Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival on Saturday, March 29, 10am - 4pm features the ever popular hand-made kite competition and interactive activities. Returning this year is the Smithsonian Hot Tricks Showdown, where master kite flyers dazzle the crowd with trick kite moves. Free.
Light up the sky. On Saturday, April 5, DC’s Southwest Waterfront offers music, food and fun at the annual Prelude to the Fireworks beginning at 5pm. The brilliant fireworks display begins at 8:30pm. Free.
Floats galore. Southwest Airlines Presents the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, April 12 at 10am. Watch marching bands, giant balloons, and performers burst down Constitution Avenue NW. Grandstand tickets provide the best view, and also earn free admission to Madame Tussauds DC wax museum! ($15, available through Ticketmaster). Mark Indelicato from prime time’s Ugly Betty; Miss America Kirsten Haglund; Keke Palmer from Akeelah and the Bee, and Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge all sing their hearts out. Look for Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Grover, and Elmo from Sesame Place making their Parade debut. Standing along the Parade route is Free.

streetinsider.com