Who knew a little ampersand (&) could be such a big problem. Sorry to everyone who e-mailed us only to have their messages returned. Our new address is panandpraise@baltimoreexaminer.com. Please let us know if we can be your guinea pigs and try out a new bar, show, store, product or restaurant for you.

Clancy watch, Day 14

Mr. Clancy, some of your friends have contacted us, yet we haven’t heard from you.

We started the year with five e-mails and eight phone calls. We’re now up to seven e-mails, eight phone calls and one meeting with a psychic to see if our signs are compatible with yours. Come on, Tom, Scorpios and Pisces make great business partners.

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She said what?

Tribute bands — good, bad or just plain ugly?

“Rain: The Beatles Experience” comes to the Hippodrome Feb. 9 and 10, and on the same weekend Rams Head Live hosts “Titans of Tribute” — tribute bands for Tool, Alice in Chains, Metallica and Rage Against the Machine.

Emily: I’ll be completely honest here and admit that I’ve never actually seen a tribute band perform. But I’ll also admit — with little to no shame — that my best friend and I are planning a road trip to see a Queen tribute band over the summer. We’re nuts for Freddie Mercury.

Jessica: Half of me wants to channel Wayne’s World’s Garth Algar and shout “Live in the Now” to tribute bands and their fans. Yet, the other half thinks it’s nice for “silver panthers” to relive their youth through quality shows. Also, thanks to tribute bands, younger fans, who were born too late to hear the originals, get to hear some classics live.

Emily: It just seems sad that a band would completely dedicate itself to playing other people’s music exactly the same way the original band played it. It’s like sloppy seconds.

Jessica: I wouldn’t know.

Emily: I’ve interviewed two Beatles tribute bands since I started working here. Guess how many that is? Two too many. And I even interviewed one of the bands twice!

Jessica: And I’m sure they played for sold-out crowds. They’re bigger than Jesus.

Emily: It just seems kind of pointless if the whole band isn’t dead. Or broken up. Or in fake retirement. Or only performing in Las Vegas.

Jessica’s first stops

» Screening of the Academy Award-nominated documentary “My Architect: A Son’s Journey” and a Q&A with its director Feb. 8 at Park School (7 p.m.), free. For info, call 410-339-4145. Louis Kahn, internationally acclaimed architect, died bankrupt and unidentified in a men’s room, leaving behind two mistresses and an illegitimate son, Nathaniel Kahn. “My Architect,” directed by Nathaniel, follows the filmmaker, as he undertakes a five-year worldwide trip to understand his father and see his masterpieces.

» Three-time Emmy Award-winner Chris Rock at the Lyric Opera House Feb. 9 (7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.). Tickets are $52.50 to $72.50 (TicketMaster.com).

Emily’s first stops

» Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows performs acoustically with Dave Gibbs of the Low Stars for Carson’s Feel Good Fest Friday at Rams Head Live. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to the Carson Harris Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising money for pediatric epilepsy.

» See what’s below the skin in Body Worlds 2, a collection of authentic human specimens, preserved by the process of Plastination. The exhibit opens Saturday at the Maryland Science Center.

Catch us if you can

We’re counting down to the 17th annual Chocolate Affair Feb. 7, when Baltimore’s best restaurants, caterers and chocolatiers bring out their sweet and savory goods. Tap us on the shoulder if you see us tonight at Morton’s The Last Hurrah! Cigar Dinner at 6:30 p.m. We’ll puff in public while we can before the statewide smoking ban takes effect Feb. 1.