A&E

'Oprah' giveaway closely watched

CHICAGO -- Pontiac wanted to draw attention to its brand-new sport sedan, and Oprah Winfrey wanted to celebrate the start of her 19th season. The result was a Pontiac G6s for 276 surprised audience members on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" -- and an event that marketing executives say could set a new bar for product placement.

Fall drama line-up offers unique mix of plays

Audiences will see a blood-sucking villain and a half-boy, half-bat, get a lesson on the human condition and meet a hero resembling Odysseus from the "Iliad." All these and more will be features in this semester's IU's Department of Theatre and Drama productions.

Buskirk screens film competition

The first page of the program for the annual Manhattan Short Film Festival boldly announces that this year is "undoubtedly the most exciting year in the festival's history." With a total of 621 entrants, the most in the festival's history, each of the 12 finalists has been chosen for public viewing out of hundreds of internationally submitted films, as well as American films.

Usher leads American Music Award nominations

LOS ANGELES -- R&B casanova Usher, whose album "Confessions" steamed up the charts with songs about sex, affairs and breakups, received a leading four nominations Tuesday for the American Music Awards.

Sounds of Poland come to Lotus Fest

In ancient Greek mythology, the lotus was a fruit that was said to produce a drug-induced state in those who ate it. The flower was mentioned by Homer in "The Odyssey," "all they wished was to stay in the land of the eaters of lotus/ drowsily nibbling the fruit and forgetting their hopes of return."

An Irish wedding party

I broke out of my American nutshell Thursday with the beautiful Guinness and a wedding party south of Dublin. Though I was off to a very rocky start, things turned out to be literally better than I ever could have imagined.

Fred Ebb, lyricist for 'Chicago,' 'Cabaret' dies

NEW YORK -- Fred Ebb, who wrote the lyrics for such hit Broadway musicals as "Chicago" and "Cabaret" as well as the big-city anthem "New York, New York," has died of a heart attack.

Fashion Week continues in NY

Bloomington Area Arts Council offers classes to the public

Students looking for a way to release their creative talents in college are not limited to the classes offered to them through the University. Several area venues offer classes to the general public in a wide array of arts genres. The Bloomington Area Arts Council is among these institutions and provides classes in the fine arts, jewelry making, photography, art appreciation, woodworking, music, dance, acting, creative writing and magic, among others.

Entertainers perform for church's Third and High Street Festival

The clacking of tap shoes blended with the 'ahs' of the gathered crowd watching trapeze artists. Shoppers browsed the offerings of local artists and craftsmen while chatting with each other. Children squealed as they were towed by a tractor loaded with hay in front of St. Charles School and Church.

Manhattan Short Film Festival visits Buskirk

This Sunday, Bloomington residents will have the opportunity to join the ranks of Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Roger Corman, Eric Stoltz and Laura Linney. The Manhattan Short Film Festival, a competition evaluating quality film submissions, is coming to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, and viewers will help determine the competition winner.

High Holy Days put stress on cantors

It's an overwhelming annual challenge, both musically and spiritually. For Jewish cantors, the High Holy Days are a tense time. "It is, first of all, an awesome responsibility to be a messenger of prayer," said one of the Reform branch's most prominent cantors, Jay Frailich of University Synagogue in Los Angeles. "It is the one time of the year you have everybody there. The singing load is quadruple any other time."

'Identity Crisis' remakes DC comics universe

LOS ANGELES -- Superheroes die all the time. Superman kicked the bucket a few years ago but was back in no time soaring through the skies. Batman's sidekick Robin also bit the dust once. Capes fall and refill again, a new story begins and crime-fighting goes on ... So after that, what's the worst thing that could happen to a fantastical crusader?

Fashion Week descends upon New York

NEW YORK CITY -- Fashionistas descended on New York City this past Wednesday for the Spring 2005 Olympus Fashion Week. This is the second year Olympus has hosted the event, and with it, they have brought many changes. The week started off buzzing as Olympus along with coordinator Jacque Kelleher set aside room for the Olympus NCCRA auction press conference. Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended the conference. He warmly greeted visitors, thanking everyone for coming to Fashion Week.

Customizing the Basics

Friday marked the launch of WEDGE, a new furniture, home furnishing, accessories and decorative arts store. WEDGE replaced the All Ears record store at 401 E. 10th St. The opening of the store was a dream come true for WEDGE co-owner Marc Cornett.

Illinois woman pursues passion by manufacturing her own harps

BETHANY, Ill. -- Christina Marshall's dictionary may lack the word "impossible." But the 23-year-old Bethany, Ill., resident's picture could appear next to "tenacious."

Filmmaker Kevin Smith plans second 'Clerks' movie

LOS ANGELES -- Ten years ago, Kevin Smith became the patron saint of the slothful. The aspiring New Jersey filmmaker proved that if a guy worked hard enough, he could still make his dreams come true while spending a lot of time collecting comic books, debating the merits of peculiar sex, and selling cigarettes and candy to dead-eyed consumers.

Hello Kitty featured in touring art show

TOKYO ­-- Quintessentially cute and incredibly lucrative, Hello Kitty is turning 30, and what better place to celebrate than atop Venus de Milo? The playful character with the yellow nose and ribbon in her hair, as seen through the eyes of about 60 artists, is celebrating on the road in traveling exhibitions taking her into new territory -- to the excitment of fans.

IU Art Museum displays still lifes

The IU Art Museum recently put up a three-painting installation titled "Late Twentieth Century Still Life." The international exhibit consists of paintings created during the 1970s and '80s.

Farmers' Market to feature artwork

There is more to peruse than fresh produce at the Bloomington Farmer's Market. The second Saturday of every month, the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department invites local and regional artists to display, demonstrate and sell their arts at A Fair of the Arts, held in the Showers Civic Plaza next to the Farmers' Market.