A&E

Runcible Spoon serves up open mic poetry series

By Jennifer Griffin · Friday, April 23,2004 2:15 a.m.

Without Edward Lear, the Runcible spoon would never have become famous. Regen Ton, an owner of the Runcible Spoon restaurant in Bloomington, said Lear, a British poet and painter, is credited as the first to coin the term. The term finally gave a name to the sharp-edged fork with three broad, curved prongs in the owl and pussycat story Regen said. Without Lear, the Runcible Spoon, located at 412 E. Sixth St., and the poetry series it hosts might never have existed.

Holocaust museum raising money after fire

By Alyson Brodsy and Deanna Wrenn · Friday, April 23,2004 12:32 a.m.

In the five months since a Holocaust museum in Indiana was burned to the ground in an arson, museum officials say they have raised about half the money they need to start rebuilding. Mary Wright, education director for the CANDLES Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute said Thursday the total rebuilding cost was estimated at $500,000.

Soul comes to Buskirk-Chumley

By RonNella Moore · Friday, April 23,2004 12:30 a.m.

The Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center booms every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon with the sounds of traditional and contemporary R&B music. Upstairs, the African American Dance Company immediately recognizes the music, and some begin to dance to the beat of the bass.

'No Logo' holds provocative message

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Friday, April 23,2004 12:29 a.m.

The fact that we live in a branded world is undeniable; everywhere we turn we see ads for Pepsi, Levi's and any other brand which you can possibly think. Hell, even IU is a brand, with Indiana sweatshirts dotting our campus, courtesy of Steve and Barry's.

Toby Keith sweeps awards

By Alyson Brodsy and John Gerome · Friday, April 23,2004 12:27 a.m.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --Toby Keith took home three awards Wednesday in Country Music Television's Flameworthy Video Music Awards show, including video of the year for his patriotic song "American Soldier."

Country Runway

By Patrice Worthy and Patricia Worthy · Thursday, April 22,2004 1:59 a.m.

Saturday night at the "Chicken Ranch," a crowd of about 100 people saw the only student runway show this semester. Jesse Deckard, a senior majoring in fashion design through the Individualized Major Program, said goodbye to IU with style. In a rustic setting on the outskirts of Bloomington, friends and family gathered under a white tent to see Deckard's final project, "Because I'm a woman." Before the show started, all of the guests received a free glass of wine. The speculation was present on everyone's face as they looked at the white 50-foot runway bearing the collection name "Esseja Creations." The event was complete with flowers on each table, a cash bar and a decorated runway. Anticipation was hard to contain as old classmates returned to Bloomington to see the show everyone had been talking about.

Playwright Mark Medoff and his muse get primitive on Broadway

By Alyson Brodsy and Mark Kennedy · Thursday, April 22,2004 1:55 a.m.

NEW YORK -- When playwright Mark Medoff first met actress Phyllis Frelich, there was no sign she would soon become his muse. The two ran into each other in 1977 during a writers' workshop at the University of Rhode Island. She was an actress with the National Theatre of the Deaf; he was a hot off-Broadway playwright. It took only 20 minutes before Medoff wanted to write a play for her.

East meets West at Honolulu Academy of Arts exhibit

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, April 22,2004 1:54 a.m.

HONOLULU -- East and West cross, clash and meld into cityscapes, landscapes, portraits and nudes in an exhibit of works by European masters purchased a century ago by Japanese industrialists and rarely seen outside Japan. "Japan & Paris: Impressionism, Postimpressionism, and the Modern Era," an exhibit of French and Japanese paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is on view at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

A bag for all occasions

By Patrice Worthy and Patricia Worthy · Thursday, April 22,2004 1:49 a.m.

While flipping through my April issue of Vogue, I stumbled across a letter to the editor about one of the most important accessories a woman can have, the handbag. The writer, Jessica Scicchitano, said she never understood the rule of fashion for having one must-have handbag per season. I must say, I completely agree, I have never had one bag for one season. I know there are must-have bags, but one bag -- that is crazy.

Exhibit blends Egyptian, Greek artistic traditions

By Lyssa Rebholz · Wednesday, April 21,2004 1:46 a.m.

Walking in, senior Afriza Mohd feels a bit intimidated by the face of Alexander the Great, whose statue looms overhead. She gasps at the Egyptian mummy lying in the center of a brightly-lit room. But she smiles at the showcase of beaded jewelry, consisting of coiled-snake rings, pendant earrings and beaded necklaces.

Around The Arts

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, April 21,2004 12:33 a.m.

Tom Brokaw's NBC sign-off day set for Dec. 1 NEW YORK --Tom Brokaw's sign-off date as anchor of NBC's top-rated "Nightly News" has been set -- it's Wednesday, Dec. 1. His successor, Brian Williams, will take over as sole anchor the next day, the network announced Monday. Brokaw, 64, announced two years ago he will end his "Nightly News" run shortly after the 2004 presidential election, giving way to longtime heir appar-ent Williams.

Bad dates make for a good read

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Wednesday, April 21,2004 12:31 a.m.

You Have to Kiss a lot of Frogs," the first novel from actress turned writer Laurie Graff, is a hilarious trip through the love life of Karrie Kline, a struggling New York actress living from part to part and man to man.

'Divas' show another coronation for Simpson

By Alyson Brodsy and Nekesa Mumbi Moody · Tuesday, April 20,2004 12:42 a.m.

NEW YORK --Even the folks at VH1 admit they didn't really consider Jessica Simpson diva material when they put together their annual "Divas" extravaganza last year. Rick Krim, a VH1 executive vice president, said she didn't seem to appeal to the targeted audience.

Bluegrass lives on

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 20,2004 12:41 a.m.

OWENSBORO, Ky. -- Hundreds of dedicated bluegrass music fans may have saved a music festival that was slated to end after this year. Last month, Executive Inn Rivermont officials said the third annual Bluegrass Returns to its Roots festival would be the last. But many of the 1,200-plus fans who filled the Showroom Lounge Friday and Saturday didn't want the music to stop.

When in Rome...

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Tuesday, April 20,2004 12:38 a.m.

Smelly, chaotic, noisy, beautiful and charming are only a few of the words that can be used to describe Rome; the eternal city is a mixture of old and new world, Catholicism and pagan gods. The bustle that is common to this metropolis was only intensified by the weekend I chose to visit: Easter. After navigating my way to the hotel -- no small feat in the labyrinthine streets -- I set out to see what there is to be seen. As it turns out, in Rome that means the entire city.

RZA composes for 'KiIl Bill' series

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, April 19,2004 1:27 a.m.

NEW YORK --Usually, when a rapper breaks into movies, he's in front of the camera, but that isn't true for WuTang Clan member RZA. RZA, a founding member and main producer of the Wu-Tang Clan, had a different idea -- scoring films. His dreams have come true with the "Kill Bill" films: Director Quentin Tarantino personally picked RZA to compose the music for the two-part saga.

Latin pop star Thalia launches new magazine

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, April 19,2004 1:26 a.m.

NEW YORK-- Latin pop star Thalia, who already has made her mark in the music, fashion and television industries, now wants to add magazine publishing to her resume. A three-issue monthly named Thalia was released by the singer Tuesday during appearances at Grand Central Terminal and at a Kmart. The publication will run two more issues in May and June.

Lost Valentino film found

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, April 19,2004 1:25 a.m.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- A copy of Rudolph Valentino's silent film "Beyond the Rocks" has been found in the Netherlands. Valentino was an Italian-born movie idol who died in 1926 at the age of 30. He was a star in silent movies during the 1920s. Two of Valentino's most famous films are "The Sheik" and "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," both made in 1921.

Little 500 eats

By Suzanna Lindemann and Suzanne Lindemann · Monday, April 19,2004 1:15 a.m.

Indiana may have a harsh winter, but that only makes the warm weather of spring and summer much more exciting. The unseasonably warm weather has had people out and about taking advantage of the sunshine. Because it is so nice, people now look forward to eating outside, and nothing is more popular when eating outdoors than barbeque.

Student designer reflects on past for fashion show

By Patrice Worthy and Patricia Worthy · Friday, April 16,2004 2 a.m.

When a small-town boy from Spencer, Ind., sets his sights on bigger dreams, many would call it impossible. This weekend, Jesse Deckard, a senior majoring in the fashion design program will prove with hard work and determination, anyone's dreams can come true.