If you’re still trying to figure out what to do on Friday night, let me make a suggestion…the rock/pop band Paramore is performing at The Grove of Anaheim (2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim) and as of right this second, tickets are still available for only $22.50.

Paramore has been kicking ass with radio play on KROQ 106.7 FM and INDIE 103.1 FM, its newest release, “Riot” on the Fueled by Ramen label, has launched them into spotlight. The little ditty, “Misery Business” is so damn catchy that I find myself humming it in my head during the day.

The entire album is really well-written, hookey, poppy and just really easy to listen to. Although on the somber side, I have to give kudos to the song “When It Rains.” The 18-year-old singer, Hayley Williams, coos along with the swaying guitar - it’s touching.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m. - which gives ample time to check out merch and mingle).

Check out the bands video for “Misery Business” here…

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If you’re looking at the picture to the left and wondering, “What the hell is that?” That was my first thought/question when I showed up to work and found “Wolley” the BeanStalk straddling my monitor.

“Wolley” was a “gift” from Theresa Walker, an Orange County Register editor, who had received this odd looking toy in the mail along with a rather strange press kit.

The BeanStalks are “new friends to look up to,” and are “not quite alien, not quite human, BeanStalks are a new family of plush creatures that are extremely tall, distinctly thin and forever unique.”

Um…okay. This is more like the toy your aunt and uncle from Arkansas get you for Christmas because they really don’t know you that well. “Thanks aunt and uncle,” you say while maintaining a happy grin and trying desperately not to let your eyes show your disaponitment.

My new yellow friend, “Wolley,” is just one of three of these plush characters that stand 26 inches tall and he can really stand on his own. “Wolley’s” friends, “Droc” and “Arbez” come with button hands that can be linked with other BeanStalks so they can all “hold hands.”

“Wolley” is described as the BeanStalk that is “out of this world, appearing to always be in motion with his dazzling yellow appearance, he can brighten anyone’s day.”

This might be an okay toy for a tired and easily amused journalist - but I don’t think it’s for the kids. The BeanStalks don’t “do” anything, besides stand there and stare and get toppled over by devious co-workers (Roxanne Hack, who likes to push the poor guy over to hear him go “thunk” onto my desk). I wouldn’t be surprised if this funky thing came to life when no one’s around and gets in our candy stash.

- KELLI SKYE

We get a lot of strange emails with some off the wall pitches, today SqueezeOC.com editor Iris Yokoi found a press release for Tigarah, the “critically acclaimed Japanese Rap Queen.”

The press release is really overly hyped, to the point where one can’t help but laugh out loud.

The highlight of the release are the supposed critic comments such as the one from the Los Angeles Times that comments that Tigarah sounds like “Gwen Stefani, Anglo-Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A., Hellos Kitty and crunk stalwart Lil’ Jon…”

Tigarah will be performing at the Avalon Hollywood (1735 N. Vine Street, Los Angeles) this Sunday, Nov. 4 at 10 p.m. with Peaches and Ton Loc as part of URB Magazine’s 150th Issue Celebration.

Here’s just a little taste of the rappin’ Japanese diva with her video “Japanese Queen.”

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- KELLI SKYE

Happy Halloween Kids!! It really is the best day of the year - too bad this Halloween falls on a Wednesday - could it be anymore in the middle of the week?Don’t let the holiday hump day get ya down, it’s not too late to go carve a pumpkin! Last night my friends and I dipped our hands into pumpkin guts, ripped them out and threw them in a bowl. It’s sounds terrible but it’s really so much fun!

As an adult, the pumpkin carving is probably the best thing about Halloween since you’re now too old to be trick-or-treating.

These are the ultra creative designs that my friends and I came up with (mine is the little bat looking one).

NOTE: This pumpkin masterpiece just came in (designed by Roxanne) and it’s awesome!!

If you have any awesome pumpkin photos send ‘em to me and I’ll post ‘em up here today!!!

-KELLI SKYE

What would Halloween be without giant bowls and bags of candy?! Whether you’re a costume wearin’ kid hitting the streets to Trick-or-Treat or a parent, anxiously waiting for your child to return home with that giant haul of treats - there’s definitely candy that scores on the “yummy” side and ones that tend to fall into the “gross” category.

We’re letting YOU decide this year’s Best and Worst Halloween candy.

Vote within the categories below or add your own to the list.

The results will appear in the Life, Etc. section of the Orange County Register on Monday, Oct. 29 and online at www.squeezeoc.com.

So what if it’s only the first week of October? Target and Kohl’s have had Halloween decor up for weeks by now. I’ll be the first to decorate my work space as well as throw a bash with a Halloween ghost piñata, make an unsuspecting dog wear a giraffe costume, and make Halloween themed baked goods and I have the photos here to prove it…

Share your Halloween photos with us by uploading them at squeezeoc.com/photos.

– KELLI SKYE

My friend and I have been exchanging odd gifts for the past couple of months. Our little gifts have ranged from My Little Ponies, parachute men, and Play-doh to sashes and tiaras. My mom and I recently visited the thriving Mecca that is Laughlin, Nevada and I found this little bedazzled frog in one of the Premium Outlet Shops. It was simply too amazing of a gift to leave behind, and far too awesome to not share in this public forum. This little froggy even has a name - he was dubbed “Oswaldo.” Enjoy.

- Kelli Skye

Reminder: SqueezeOC’s Top 2 poll to find the top two everythings in Orange County ends at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 15)!

If you haven’t voted yet, please take a look at our list and choose your favorite. Categories include favorite sushi bar, pizza restaurants, beach dining, local bands, and golf courses.

If you don’t like our nominations, you can write in your choices too. Thanks!

Banning’s Bikes in Fullerton is holding a basic skills clinic for women August 11 - 12 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. both days. The two day workshop will cover bicycle riding skills, cornering, pacelines and drills as well as road side repairs, nutrition and training. Bring your (mountain or road)bike and riding gear, if you plan to participate in the riding skills portion of the clinic. Participants will be able to test ride women specific bikes and check out the latest cycling apparel from brands such as Felt, Look, Speedplay, Castelli, Sidi, Canari, Motorable and Northwave.
Banning’s Bikes is located at 205 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton, 92832, 714-525-2200

- LAILA D.

Shopping carts have been pushed around since the day they were invented. Finally the rolling baskets are getting a little pick-me-up - literally.

A recently opened two-story Target at the Westminster Mall features a cart escalator so shoppers with carts won’t have a problem getting from one floor to the other.

The modified escalator has a track in between the human escalators that takes the cart up or down at the same pace as the customer.

This was so impressive that I got a cart to go up and down the escalator, each time with the same amount of amazement. I’ll admit that I really wanted to ride in a shopping cart up the cart escalator but I didn’t feel like getting kicked out of the store.

- Brian