All the latest in local entertainment, every Friday in Festiva, only in The Monitor!

• COVER STORY

BATTLE OF THE BANDS Jericho Machine and Broken Poetz go head to head in a fight for the top.

• MOVIES

DUDE, SERIOUSLY? Our brand-new movie review column, a loving tribute to the worst of the worst in cinema. This week, we're throwing down at Road House, that Patrick Swayze classic.

• MUSIC

RAVEN-SYMONE: THE FESTIVA INTERVIEW Miriam Ramirez gets up close and personal with the former Cheetah Girl and Cosby Show star as she's becoming a woman.

BAND PROFILE Highway 7

BAND PROFILE Bleed The Sky

KNOW YOUR ROCK STAR hopeforthestars

CD REVIEW: THE READY AIM FIRE! Amy Nichol Smith reviews their new CD.

CD REVIEW: DIGNAN Amy Nichol Smith critiques the album from Valley indie kings Dignan.

PLACES TO JAM OUT Cine El Rey

THE JERICHO MACHINE: EDUCATED DONKEYS We review the much-hyped debut CD from the Valley's breakout rock stars.

SECRET & WHISPER A profile of the guys everyone is gossiping about.

A BEAUTIFUL LOTUS The avant-garde McAllen musicians give us a taste of their everyday lives.

JAM OUT WITH MADORE See where the precocious punky popsters perfect their sound ... and let them give you the tour themselves in an exclusive video!

• ART

SURFACE TREATMENT Nancy Moyer reviews New Stuff, an exhibit by Carl Vestweber.

• NIGHT LIFE

HOT SPOTS Miriam Ramirez reviews Martini's

Sapphire We ambush the new night spot to tell you exactly whether it's worth going or not.

>> HOT SPOTS goes to BARCODE Looking for an alternative kind of night club? Peek into Barcode ... you may never want to check out.

• FOOD

RESTAURANT REVIEW La Parrilla Grill

Alonso's Alonso Tex-Mex Restaurant Festiva reviews the food and service ... and it's double trouble.

****** ADD US ON MYSPACE