Xpress, the Coolest Section of the St. Petersburg Times, is the home for features, news and views of interest to young readers. Most of the work in Xpress, which appears on Mondays in Floridian, is produced by the Times' X-Team. The team of journalists ages 9-17 from around the Tampa Bay area is selected every year at the end of the school year to serve during the following school term. The current team of 12 was chosen out of 150 applicants. Watch for X-Team application forms in Xpress during the month of May.
Read the reviews by Xpress Film Critic Billy Norris
X-Files
Rock on!
By Brian Orloff
Published March 8, 2004
You've heard of American Idol, Star Search and American Juniors. Well, the "Got Milk?" campaign, Rolling Stone magazine and MTV are teaming up to give Tampa Bay area teens a shot at stardom. The Shake Stuff Up tour is searching for America's top teen talent and a hot new band. The events will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, including the Battle of the Bands at 6 p.m., at University Mall, 2200 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Events include a Battle of the Bands competition in which bay area musicians will compete for cash and a chance to record their music professionally; auditions to win a chance to appear in a Milk Mustache ad with a rock star in Rolling Stone; and a dance sweepstakes in which teens can show off their best "milk shake" for a chance to win a trip to the 2005 MTV Summer Beach House. And you thought you had missed your chance to make it big in show business!
Who doesn't get a trophy?
Tune into the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards on April 3 for your favorites from the world of entertainment. You vote in categories including music, film sports and other categories. Seems like everything is covered, including favorite voice from an animated movie, favorite cartoon and favorite video game. And add this to the show's appeal: Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, perhaps reliving some past Shrek glory or more to come with the scheduled May release of Shrek 2, will be co-hosting. What can you do between now and April 3, you wonder? Click onto www.nick.com beginning today to vote in your favorite categories.
An active verb
Remember last summer when officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked you to pick your favorite verb and act it out? No? Well, here's a gentle reminder to do it and get moving. The campaign, set to battle youth obesity, challenges tweens (ages 9 to 13) to find physical activities they enjoy, begin to incorporate them into their daily lives and set healthy, lifelong exercise patterns. But you really don't need a reminder, according to organization officials. Apparently, tweens have been receptive to the program. So, keep up the good work and get moving!
X-Press Quote
"I love jokes, but I forget them the minute I hear them. The ones I do remember I love telling. I'm a sucker for humor."
- Actor Drew Barrymore telling "Seventeen" magazine what makes her chuckle.
