So, there’s a movie coming out this week called The Last Exorcism Part II (the sequel to The Last Exorcism). Now, one would think that a movie called The Last Exorcism would not have a sequel—presumably because that exorcism was the last one (still, a movie called The Second-to-Last Exorcism might not have had the same box office draw). In any event, apparently the ability to do a back bend is synonymous with demonic possession and we have another last case. A last, last exorcism, if you will.  Of course, if Weekend at Bernie’s II taught us anything, it’s that Hollywood can make a sequel out of anything.

In all fairness, I have to say it is virtually impossible to review this movie accurately without giving away every idiotic unoriginal plot twist in it. I will say this: You have seen this movie before. That being said, the story, albeit familiar, is suspenseful and at times extremely well-acted.

OSEA founder and ‘chief seaweed officer’ Jenefer Palmer comes from a long line of healers. In fact, her grandmother was one of the first female chiropractors in the world, who always told her granddaughter, Always read the label. She took the advice to heart when working as spa director at Murrieta Hot Springs, which at the time was a premier holistic destination spa. But what she found came as a surprise: Many of the most expensive products used inexpensive and sometimes dangerous synthetic ingredients. Palmer now uses 100 percent natural marine-based organic ingredients in her products, which are carried at luxury spas around the world. We caught up with her on a recent visit to Soft Surroundings, St. Louis’ exclusive provider of OSEA products.

Some places just make you want to smile. Nova Scotia is one of those places. Halifax, the capital of the province, is the perfect anchor city for exploring; and The Prince George Hotel is the perfect place to stay.

New on DVD

Local residents don’t have to leave the city to take in top-notch art, music and theatrical entertainment. Find out which of the past year’s productions wowed some of our town’s most prominent names.

Hurricane Ophelia and a pervasive northern low decided to join us on an early October drive from Nova Scotia to St. Andrews By- The-Sea in New Brunswick...

Story: Jack Shore makes his living primarily as the “flying carpet guy” in TV commercials. He’s held that gig for 11 years and nervously awaits the go-ahead from his client for another annual extension through his agent, Ted. In the meantime, Jack has traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago at the request of his mother Esther to appear in a benefit tribute to his grandfather, legendary Yiddish Theater star Jacob Shemerinsky.

Back in 1994, Scott Schoonover launched a daring initiative: His Union Avenue Opera (UAO) was founded to bring affordable, professional, original-language opera to St. Louis. UAO has thrived in the last 18 years, and continues to build its loyal following. This season’s schedule of three works begins with George Frideric Handel’s Acis and Galatea, which will be performed on April 27, 28 and 29 at UAO’s performance space in the sanctuary of Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 N. Union Blvd in the Central West End.

Story: Picking up where Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches ended, Prior Walter copes with his diagnosis of AIDS in early 1986. His lover, Louis, has abandoned him in his critical condition and taken up with Joe Pitt, a conservative, Mormon, Republican attorney who struggles to come to terms with his own homosexuality. Joe’s wife, Harper, a depressive agoraphobic, relies on pills and her own hallucinations to cope with the imposing and impersonal vastness of New York City, thousands of miles from the Salt Lake City of her youth. Joe’s mother, Hannah, has moved from Salt Lake City to her son’s home in Gotham, at first to deal with his stark confession but eventually to care for her mentally ill daughter-in-law.