Immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are infusing new life into ballroom dancing.

In New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, immigrants from the former Soviet Union now own 11 of the 23 Fred Astaire dance studios, the chain of franchises Astaire founded in 1947, The New York Times reports.

There are an additional hundred or so Russians who teach in the 89 other Astaire studios around the country.

In the former Soviet-bloc countries dancing lessons began in first grade and after fourth grade most parents sent children for additional lessons.

In the 1957 musical "Silk Stockings," Astaire played an American who wielded his elegant footwork to convert long-legged Ninotchka, played by Cyd Charisse, to the joys of capitalism.

The Russians have turned the tables, wielding their elegant footwork to take over Astaire's studios.

SPIKE TV WANTS MEN

Spike TV is rated "T' for testosterone -- its programming is aimed at male viewers aged 18 to 34, according to the New York Daily News.

It's shows include "Ren & Stimpy Adult Cartoon" and "Stripperella" -- featuring an animated Pamela Anderson as a crime-fighting stripper.

It's next programming announcement is expected to be a cartoon about Howard Stern's high-school days.

NBC's "Frasier's" star Kelsey Grammer brings a touch of Kafka to Spike with his cartoon about a lawyer who wakes up one morning to find he has morphed into a man-size rat called "Gary the Rat."

Director Spike Lee is suing the TV channel parent Viacom, claiming the name will damage his image. Viacom officials argue he's off-base and a judge is expected to settle the matter this week.

Woody Allen HYPES FRANCE

Director Woody Allen has said he will eat French fries and French kiss his wife as part of a video he is fronting to promote France.

The video, called "Let's Fall in Love Again," comes in the wake of the recent U.S.-led war with Iraq, which France did not support, the British Broadcasting Corp. reports.

Other stars appearing in the video include actor Robert De Niro, jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and writer George Plimpton.

The number of U.S. visitors to France has dropped 15 percent since the war in Iraq. The video is being played to travel journalists at lunches in the United States in an effort to boost the numbers of Americans visiting France.

QUIRKY TRAVEL OPTIONS

Web surfers yearning for something different this summer can check out Hampton's "Year of 1,000 Weekends" Web site.

The clearinghouse of information is designed to connect travelers with 1,000 fun and quirky events happening across the United States and Canada in 2003.

The Web site serves as a one-stop shop for vacationers looking to experience something off-the-beaten-path.

Directions are given to the Gilroy Garlic Festival, in Gilroy, Calif., on July 25-27, which attracts 125,000 visitors, as well as hundreds of other events and attractions.