The Buzz (1996)

Housed in a new, nondescript storefront situated on a busy stretch of Foothill Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga, Romano's Macaroni Grill looks anything but authentic Italian. But upon entering the restaurant, be prepared to be transported from a shopping center in Southern California to a bustling indoor café in Northern Italy.

For weeks, no actually months, the Walt Disney Company has assaulted audiences everywhere with a tremendous hype for their newest film, a live-action version of the classic and beloved "101 Dalmatians." Whether the promotions be commercials on television and radio, toys at McDonalds or displays at local department stores, there is no escaping those darn spotted puppies.

Created in the spirit of the holidays, there are many Christmas light presentations on display in the Inland Empire, such as the one on Thoroughbred Lane in Rancho Cucamonga, located off of Sapphire just above 19th Street.

With its second album debuting last week at the top of the national record sales charts, guest spots on television shows including "Saturday Night Live" and cover stories in magazines such as Spin, the alternative rock band Bush seems to have hit the height of its popularity. At least in the United States.

For people who want to express their creative sides without making the costly commitment of buying all the supplies, Rebecca Zenk has come up with the perfect solution: a ceramics studio where a patron can select a piece of ceramic, paint and glaze it, have it fired in a kiln and then take it home, all for a minimal price.

Once again, the end of the year is upon us and pretty soon we'll be inundated with list after list of nominees for every award show imaginable. Forget the Oscars, the Grammys or any of the MTV awards, here's my list of nominees for 1996, based on my opinion, not any type of charts or polls.