“One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight” echoes through the dance studio as girls rehearse the same movements over and over again. To non-experienced eyes such as mine, I thought the first go through was good. How I missed one dancer step on two and not three and one girl spin before the other girls are beyond her, and obviously beyond me.

ST. LOUIS – When Sheila Effan found a Kindle electronic reader among her gifts last Christmas, one of her first thoughts was whether she would miss the smell and feel of real paper. She got her answer five months later.

That’s when a friend lent her a paperback.

Robert Downey Jr. as the Master of Deduction. Peter Jackson directing a movie with no hobbits. Meryl Streep without an accent. Robert De Niro as the father of Drew Barrymore. Yes, the holiday movie season is upon us, and the films poised to descend on the multiplexes and the arthouses before the end of the year just might make it to an Oscar ballot – or might vanish, forgotten, into the cold night.

For those hungry college students working off of a budget this holiday season, Diego’s, “an atypical Mexican gourmet restaurant,” is most certainly the find of the season. Located at 11 Bowen’s Wharf, right on Newport’s historic sea front, Diego’s offers both patio and indoor dining options.

Family of the Year recently released their first full length debut album, “Songbook,” on independent label, Washashore Records. The CD consists of 15 songs which will brighten anyone’s day. This feel good album can easily be listened to at work or on a long drive to the beach.