A&E

Classic novel inspires local upcoming arts fundraiser

A smoky speakeasy, an elegant piano bar and women in flapper-style costumes dancing the Charleston will be seen in Bloomington this week.

Organic-minded visit open air market

Between the aisles of tables packed full of fresh and organic produce at the city of Bloomington Farmers Market, community members were serenaded by the sweet sounds of local musicians and they were dazzled by the twinkle of sunlight reflecting off of local artwork dangling in the breeze Saturday morning.

Artistic relevance questioned by Art Museum, students

When you take college students overwhelmed by a Vanity Fair of electronics, pile on some unusual architecture, followed by an awkward location, you begin to ask yourself the question IU Art Museum Director Heidi Gealt asks herself: how do you get IU students to visit the museum?

FDA Nutrition Guide

TIPS ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:

Farmer's Market produces more than fresh produce

IU students and Bloomington residents have the upper hand in the battle to maintain a healthy diet, thanks to the Bloomington Farmers' Market, offering an array of fresh fruits and vegetables grown by Hoosier farmers. Community members can stock up on cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and a plethora of palatable treats from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday from now until September at the Showers Plaza in downtown Bloomington, 401 N. Morton St.

Frills: expensive. Graduation: priceless

Saturday is a huge day for 7,222 students on this campus. Many will put on a black cap and gown, walk the processional into Assembly Hall and move their tassel from one side to the other.

ARTifacts

WHAT:"Yerres, Effect of Rain," Gustave Caillebotte (1875, French)

Graduate student and writer debuts first novel

The back of the novel describes it as "A Nabokovian goof on Agatha Christie; a madcap mystery in the deceptive tradition of 'The Crying of Lot 49;' The Third Policeman meets 'The Da Vinci Code.'" Confused yet? Then you're right on track.

Transformed

Daniel Shirley and Bethany Barber perform in a series of plays during "Transformations," an opera based on the book by Anne Sexton, Friday night at the Buskirk-Chumley.

Ellen DeGeneres repeats sweep of Daytime Emmys

LOS ANGELES -- Ellen DeGeneres swept the Daytime Emmy awards, winning best talk show host for the second time and earning talk show honors for the third consecutive year.

Nintendo for the brain

What if Nintendo was good for your brain? Video games would improve things other than your hand-eye coordination. Perhaps parents would encourage kids to use them to keep their brains sharper than those of non-users.

US ARTIST IMMIGRATION CONTEST

US ARTIST IMMIGRATION CONTEST -- Japanese sculptor Nao Matsuomoto works on a figure made of tape after fashioning another from chewing gum and ramen noodles, foreground, in his space at White Box, an art and performance space, April 25, in New York. Matsuomoto is one of 10 emerging artists from around the world participating in AsylumNYC, a project conceived by Berlin-based Wooloo Productions, who invited the artists to apply for "creative asylum" at White Box April 24-29, while the space is converted into a "detention center." During that time the artists are not permitted to leave the space and were stripped of all supplies they brought from home. At week's end, one artist will be selected to receive free assistance from an immigration lawyer to be able to remain legally in the United States. The project was developed to call attention to immigrants' difficulties and asylum-seekers worldwide.

Southern rappers use dance to sell music

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Some people dance for entertainment. Some dance for self-expression. Some do it for money and fame.

Art trafficking network uncovered

ROME -- Italian prosecutors on Wednesday named a New York art gallery as a key link in what they say was a vast conspiracy to market stolen artifacts that allegedly involved a former J. Paul Getty museum curator on trial here.

Alum shows film

An award-winning film by an IU graduate was recently mentioned in Grammy magazine and on the 2006 Grammy ballot. The film will be shown at 7 p.m. in Ballantine 109.

Vera Bradley booms

FORT WAYNE -- Inside a bustling warehouse, new hires at Vera Bradley Designs practice stitching paisley placemats and pink coin purses in patterns with names like Petal Pink and Chelsea Green. Nearby, others slice swatches of bold pink, blue and green quilted fabric destined to become handbags, purses and luggage.

TINY DANCERS

IU's Straight No Chaser celebrates 10 years of being All-a-chord

For the past 10 years, IU's only men's a cappella singing group has been gracing venues across the nation with its harmonized sound. The student-run group was founded in 1996 by Dan Ponce. Since then, Straight No Chaser has molded itself into IU's premier men's singing group, said junior Tyler Trepp, Straight No Chaser member and music director. The current group consists of nine members, who have formed a steady fan base by performing twice a week at various fraternities, sororities and other groups on campus, in addition to performing at other universities and off-campus events. Straight No Chaser will perform its spring concert celebrating its ten-year anniversary 8 p.m. Saturday at the IU Auditorium.

TINY DANCERS

Friends make the fashion happen