“Chernobyl Diaries” or, Attack of the Chernobyl Zombies
Jun 2nd
“Attack of the Chernobyl Zombies”
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
Chernobyl Diaries is a horror movie that takes place at the site of the 1985 Chernobyl disaster of the meltdown of the nuclear reactor.
And of all the horror movies that take place at the site of a nuclear meltdown, this is one of them.
Would you be surprised if I told you that there were six young people involved in the story?
Paul is an American living in Russia after having had some sort of falling out with his family.
Chris is Paul’s brother, who is traveling in Russia to visit Paul, and with him are Chris’s girlfriend Natalie and Natalie’s best friend, Amanda.
And then there are Michael and Zoe, who are tourists from Australia, and who join the group when Paul arranges an “extreme tour” for him and the others to take.
Paul knows a former Russian soldier named Uri, who is now an extreme tour guide, and Uri is going to take the six young people to visit the abandoned city of Pripyat, which used to be the home of the workers at Chernobyl and their families before the nuclear disaster.
Regarding the abandoned city, Uri tells his clients, “Nature has reclaimed its rightful home.”
Would you be surprised if I told you that the abandoned city is not totally abandoned?
After being turned back at the official checkpoint entrance to the city, Uri drives his van and its passengers around the back to his special entrance.
Uri says that the radiation levels are low enough to be safe now, and besides, they are going to spend only one day inside the city.
Would you be surprised if I told you that they end up spending more than one day there?
Okay, they hear a scary noise inside one of the abandoned buildings, and they see something that Uri says he has never seen before on his previous trips to Pripyat.
Now, would you be surprised if I told you that when they get back to Uri’s van to leave that it won’t start?
Would you be surprised if I told you that when darkness falls, bad things start to happen to seven people one by one?
Chernobyl Diaries could have been called “Attack of the Chernobyl Zombies,” and I’m not surprised that I didn’t find it scary and I didn’t like it, either.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
Downtown St. Augustine traffic interruptions 7pm Saturday and 1pm Sunday
May 31st
Reenactment of Drake’s Raid will necessitate minor traffic interruptions
Event scheduled for 7:00pm, Saturday June 2
The reenactment of Sir Francis Drake’s raid on St. Augustine will necessitate intermittent disruptions of traffic in parts of downtown St. Augustine on Saturday, June 2.
The reenactment begins at the Santo Domingo Redoubt at the corner of Orange St. and Cordova St., then proceeds east on Orange St., then south on St. George St. to the Government House where the reenactment will conclude.
Traffic in the vicinity of the Santo Domingo Redoubt and the Plaza will be halted for brief periods as needed to facilitate the reenactment. The event is expected to conclude by 8:00pm. Vehicular traffic may want to avoid these areas during this time.
Marching band procession will necessitate minor traffic interruptions
Event scheduled for 1:00pm, Sunday June 3
A procession by the Riverside Brookfield High School Marching Band from Riverside, Illinois will necessitate intermittent disruptions of traffic in parts of downtown St. Augustine on Sunday, June 3.
The procession begins at the Plaza and then proceeds west on Cathedral Place, then north on Cordova Street to the Visitors’ Information Center. Traffic in the vicinity of the procession will be halted for brief periods as needed to facilitate the event. Vehicular traffic may want to avoid these areas during this time.
For more information, contact the Department of Public Affairs at 904.825.1004.
Source: Paul Williamson, City of St. Augustine Department of Public Affairs
This Weekend in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches
May 31st
Thursday: May 31
Christening of Fuego del Mar
This evening, the St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation will christen Fuego del Mar, the 16th century boathouse and boatyard located the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine. This will be the site of the construction of a full-sized Spanish chalupa and a caravel. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature music, refreshments, silent auction, raffle and demonstration of 16th century boat-building techniques. Admission is $25 (includes a Foundation membership) or $5 for foundation members. For more details, go to www.staugmaritimeheritage.org
Christening of Fuego del Mar
This evening, the St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation will christen Fuego del Mar, the 16th century boathouse and boatyard located the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine. This will be the site of the construction of a full-sized Spanish chalupa and a caravel. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature music, refreshments, silent auction, raffle and demonstration of 16th century boat-building techniques. Admission is $25 (includes a Foundation membership) or $5 for foundation members. For more details, go to www.staugmaritimeheritage.org
Friday: June 1
First Friday Art Walk
The latest exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at more than 20 St. Augustine art galleries. Old Town Trolleys offer free round-trips to the heart of the art district from the San Sebastian Winery, 157 King Street, or go on your own self-guided art walk. Galleries are open from 5 to 9 p.m. 904.829.0065,www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.com
Parents’ Night Out
Let the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park entertain your kids (ages 5-12) from 6-10 p.m. with pizza, crafts, hand-on animal presentations, zoo tour, games and fun! $25 for members; $30 for non-members. Pre-registration required, call Katie at 904.824.3337, x29.
Campfire Program at Anastasia State Park
Park rangers or volunteers present campfire programs on topics ranging from bird watching to star-gazing. Admission to the park, located at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine, is $8 per vehicle. 904.461.2033 www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia
Friday & Saturday: June 1-2
Drake’s Raid
The English corsair, Sir Francis Drake, and his raiders return to St. Augustine in an authentic re-creation of the 1586 sack of the city. Open to the public, the raiders’ camp at the Fountain of Youth Park, 11 Magnolia Avenue, features displays of the arms and armor, craft skills, and lifestyles of the period explained by costumed interpreters. In the late afternoon on Saturday, Drake and his followers will descend on the city’s historic district to skirmish with the town’s Spanish defenders. 904.829.9792,
www.DrakesRaid.com
Ghost Hunt at the Old Jail
Paranormal Seekers lead late-night investigations at St. Augustine’s Old Jail, 167 San Marco Avenue. Tours are every Friday and Saturday night through October and begin at 10:45 p.m. Admission fees are $80 for Adults and $35 for children under 12. 904- 829-3800
Saturday: June 2
Anastasia State Park 18th Annual Beach Bash
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., sand castle building, scavenger hunts, nature walks, and other fun family activities. There will be interpretive programs given by park rangers, a Bird Walk, and the famous “Low Tide Bike Ride”. Prizes will be awarded! Admission to the park is $8 per vehicle for up to 8 people and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. The park is located at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine – just 2 miles form downtown.904.461.2035, www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia
Every Woman’s Handmade Arts & Crafts Festival
Featuring local and regional women artists and hand-crafted items including original paintings and prints, pottery and ceramics, beaded and semi-precious stone jewelry and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Johns County Pier Park and Pavilion, 305 A1A, in St. Augustine Beach. 904-347.3638, www.everywomansart.moonfruit.com
Historic Weapons Demonstrations at Fort Matanzas
The 18th century Spanish fort that guarded the southern approach to St. Augustine. From 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., authentically clad re-enactors will demonstrate Spanish muskets and cannons. Admission is free including the ferry ride from Rattlesnake Island. Fort Matanzas National Monument is located at 8635 A1A at the south end of Anastasia Island approximately 15 miles south of St. Augustine. 904.471.0116.www.nps.gov/foma
Sunset Celebration at Vilano Beach Town Center
See a spectacular St. Augustine sunset cast from across the bay at the Vilano Beach Town Center, 95 Vilano Road. This special event includes artistic performers, local arts and crafts and genuine Old Florida surprises. Dine on food samples from businesses along Vilano Road and see why Vilano Beach is the best-kept hidden treasure in the county. Floating docks near the pier allow for waterway transport from the mainland to the island – just as in the early Flagler days. The event is from 3:00 pm to dusk every first Saturday of the month at the Vilano Beach Pier and Pavilion. Free to the public. 904.540-0402, www.vilanobeachfl.com
Saturday & Sunday: June 2-3
Sirenia Eco Cruise
Hop aboard the 27-foot catamaran Sirenia named after Florida’s official state marine mammal – the manatee. Two hours is the perfect amount of time to cruise the estuary in search of wildlife and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Matanzas River. Lay on the trampoline to catch some rays or watch the Captain work the sails – the choice is yours! 3:45 and 6:15p.m. departure times. $45/adult and $35/kids. Call St. Augustine Eco Tours for reservations at (904) 377-7245
Nature Movies at GTM Reserve
The GTM Research Reserve will present the nature movie “End of the Line” every Saturday and Sunday during the month of June at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The world’s first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children age 10 to 17 and children under 10 are free. The GTM Environmental Education Center is located at 500 Guana River Rd., Ponte Vedra Beach. 904-823-4500
Sunday: June 3
Visiting Marching Band Parade
Tour Saint Augustine Inc. & Entourage Management present the Riverside Brookfield High Marching Band, performing & marching up Cordova Street beginning from the City Plaza at 1pm. Visiting from Riverside, Illinois the marching band will tour the Nation’s Oldest City while on a cruise of the Florida coast. The band will perform a number of musical ensemble pieces and be escorted by Tour Saint Augustine Inc. guides in period dress. This event is free to the public. For more information contact: Tour Saint Augustine Inc. at 904-825-0087 or www.staugustinetours.com
Source: Jay Humphreys, Communications Director, Visitors and Convention Bureau
