"Miracle" author to visit Amarillo on Tuesday

As part of Amarillo College's Common Reader program, Nando Parrado, author of Miracle in the Andes, will be visiting Amarillo and discussing his experiences at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.

The book is Parrado's account of the crash in the Andes Mountains of a plane carrying rugby players from Uruguay. Those who weren't killed by the crash survived by eating the remains of the dead.

After about two months on the mountain in frigid temperatures, Parrado and another team member made a descent down the mountain that led to a rescue of the survivors after 72 days.

The book was an excellent selection for the Common Reader program because it involves a number of controversial topics including the eating of human flesh, the differing roles of faith among the survivors and the teamwork it took for many to survive.

The event is free and the book is a quick read that you could get done before next week's presentation. It's an extremely interesting book from the perspective of one of a handful of people who survived a harrowing event.

Thursday's Best Best: Lone Star Ballet's TimeSteps

The Lone Star Ballet of Amarillo is bringing back a favorite from last season and if you don't go see it this weekend, shame on you.

TimeSteps is a lesson on our country's history through the eyes of music with the ballet providing spectacular choreography to help tell the story.

As the saying goes: "This ain't your grandmother's ballet."

The performance features music from the 50s to the 80s, from Buddy Holly to Michael Jackson. I've got to tell you, it's the type of show that I think would be a hit anywhere.

It's also a tribute to David Simpson, one of the creative minds that helped develop the show. He died less than a month after last year's staging of TimeSteps.

Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets to the weekend productions range in price from $13 to $48, depending on seating. For tickets, call 806-378-3096 or visit http://www.panhandletickets.com/. Buy a ticket, go see it. And I’m so confident you’ll enjoy it, I’ll give you your money back if you give me a good reason why you didn’t like it (or at least a newspaper subscription of equal value).

ANOTHER BEST BET: The Amarillo Globe-News and Amarillo.com 2009 Best of Amarillo Party is tonight at Sunset Center, Plains and Western streets, from 5 to 8 p.m.

There will be 53 businesses at the event that you voted the best of Amarillo, including 26 restaurants serving samples. Tickets are $15 at the door.