A&E

The Secret to a well-dressed man

Men historically have received the short end of the stick when it comes to fashion in Bloomington. But now with stores like Urbanstylz, J.R. Stallsmith's and MetroWear, men can dress fashionably. Of course, the key to fashionable dress is knowing what to wear and how to wear it. Two of Bloomington's men's fashion retailers -- Branden Johnson, owner of MetroWear and an IU senior, and J.R. Stallsmith, owner of J.R. Stallsmith & Company -- can give residents insight on what's in now, what will be in soon and how to wear it.

La Centerentola, the Italian version of Cinderella, comes to IU

This Friday evening, things are going to lighten up a bit at the Musical Arts Center. No one will collapse to the floor from consumption, and there will be no love left unrequited. In fact, this will be one of your few chances this season to see true love conquer all. Rossini's "Cenerentola" might sound bizarre, but it's nothing more than the story of the little ashen-faced girl Cinderella and her dreams of escaping from the clutches of her evil stepmother and stepsisters.

Relish offers modern innovations for living

Ingredients for living don't have to be traditional, plain or even trendy. Why buy lackluster items when you can buy something luxurious with original style? There's a new store in town where you can find a fresh innovative way to decorate, dress and reinvigorate your way of living. Relish, 204 N. Morton St., provides everything to create a unique, ultra-modern look in clothes and accessories and at home.

Students bond in hip-hop clubs

For them, it's easy to let loose. They just stand in front of a mirror, watching the rhythm of their feet flow with the music. They spin in circles on the floor, and stand up to "pop" their bodies and "jerk" their arms.

Tutto Bene offers sophisticated taste of wine

Around The Arts

Bloomington Playwrights Project stuffs the ballot box On the tails of the national election, The Bloomington Playwrights Project, a nonprofit theater in downtown Bloomington, brings its seasonal fund raiser "Winter Ballot Box Blitz." During the event, the BPP's ensemble of artists will perform 30 ultra-short original plays. "Penis Dialogues," Bob Risher's response to the "Vagina Monologues," will be one of the plays performed.

McGraw wins Song of the Year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - "Live Like You Were Dying," a song that became the biggest hit of Tim McGraw's career, won song of the year at the Country Music Association awards Tuesday night. Written by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman, the song spent much of last summer at No. 1.

A traditional Irish breakfast in Dublin

I've been told I talk too much about alcohol in my articles. So during the past two weeks, I tried to figure out why. In Ireland, there are two ways a beverage is served: from a cup or a pint glass. A strong cup of tea seems to melt problems away if you have a cold or if you've lost your job. But the tea shops and coffee shops are not as prevalent as the pubs. I can't help it; so much revolves around the pint.

Famed actor, singer Howard Keel dies at 85

LOS ANGELES--Howard Keel, the broad-shouldered baritone who romanced his way through a series of glittery MGM musicals such as "Kiss Me Kate" and "Annie Get Your Gun" and later revived his career with television's "Dallas," died Sunday. He was 85. Keel died Sunday morning of colon cancer, said` his son, Gunnar.

IU School of Music alumna becomes a star in New York

The world has discovered the IU School of Music's latest superstar. IU Alumna and Indianapolis native Angela M. Brown recently received rave reviews from The New York Times for her debut performance as the lead in New York City's Metropolitan Opera's production of Verdi's "Aida" Friday.

Movement inspires storytelling at BPP

Tonight and Saturday, Nell Weatherwax will let movement take over her body in her improvisational autobiographical show "Dreaming on Your Feet" as part of the Bloomington Playwrights Project's Dark Alley late night series.

Potpourri brings variety of traditions

R. Kelley songs, spirituals and dances will be performed at the African American Arts Institute's A Potpourri of Arts in the African American Tradition at 8 p.m. Saturday evening at the IU Auditorium. All three branches of the AAAI -- IU Soul Revue, African American Choral Ensemble and African American Dance Company -- will perform separately before a finale with all three groups performing to contemporary music by R. Kelley.

Around The Arts

Children's artwork displayed in exhibit As a part of the Annual Association for Black Culture Conference, The Africana Art Exhibit will be presented at 2 p.m. today at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.

Toe shoes cost dancers big bucks

When you go to the ballet, you might think of the many different aspects of the spectacle, including the costumes, music, lighting and, of course, the graceful dancers themselves.

Groups gather to watch 'The O.C.' season premiere

It is 8 p.m. Instead of doing her usual primping for a Thursday night out, Allison Baumann, a sophomore in Zeta Tau Alpha sorority at IU, is sitting with her sorority sisters in their TV lounge watching "The O.C."

Students find creativity in composition program

Students with the need and desire to create through music have found their way to IU's music composition program. They yearn for creativity and originality, and for finding freedom in their finished products.

SOUND check

IU alumnus David Kneeland knows music from the inside out. He spends hours every day working with music videos and clips from Linkin Park, Tratt and Mystique. Kneeland, as a DVD audio authoring specialist for Warner Bros. Records, broadcasts the latest pop music onto the Internet for the whole world to hear.

Día de los Muertos celebrated at La Casa

Tall colorful candles, skeleton puppets and sugar skulls made up an altar at La Casa Latino Cultural Center to please the dead and the living. Latinos Unidos and Gamma Phi Omega sorority celebrated Día de los Muertos, also known as The Day of the Dead, Tuesday with food, fun and remembrance.

Bloomington Cooking School sparks interest in community

Located in Suite 14 on the lower level of a non-descript building on College Avenue, the Bloomington Cooking School is tucked in an out-of the way corner. Anyone searching for it could easily walk by several times without finding it. One could say that the Bloomington Cooking School is one of Bloomington's best kept secrets.

'Threepenny Opera' opens Friday

Last week, Richard Wagner's great-grandson, Gottfried Wagner, gave a lecture about the music of Kurt Weill and Berthold Brecht. This week, Bloomington residents will have the opportunity to see a live performance of one of their best-known works. Under the direction of Terence Hartnett, the Detour Theatre Company performs Weill and Brecht's 1928 work "The Threepenny Opera" at the John Waldron Arts Center this weekend.