AltWeeklies Wire
A Wine Maven Explains What's So Special About Champagnenew
Cruising the aisles of the wine department, holiday shoppers will quickly realize that only a fraction of the bottles contain "real" Champagne. So what on Earth do all those other green glass bulbs hold?
Seven Days |
Michael Olwell |
12-29-2008 |
Food+Drink
Eugene Jarecki Has the 'Big Picture' and a New Book on Warnew
Jareki's print debut supplements his 2006 film, Why We Fight, while the cafe he co-founded in Vermont expresses his "desire to support social betterment."
Seven Days |
Mike Ives |
12-29-2008 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Embracing Skepticism in a World of Networked Identitynew
The real purpose of networking sites, we think, is to make it easier to stay close to the people you want to be close to, rather than perform for the world, and for that reason I actually Facebooked up last week. And will not, after consideration, blog next year. Facebook will work if I do nothing to it -- a blog entry is obsolete immediately.
Boulder Weekly |
Dave Kirby |
12-29-2008 |
Commentary
Brad Pitt Nails 'Button'new
How crazy ... or bold ... or foolhardy ... do you have to be to make a big, expensive movie out of F. Scott Fitzgerald's least adaptable short story?
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-29-2008 |
Reviews
'Benjamin Button' & 'Gran Torino': Showcasing Artful Codgersnew
Two of the holiday season's most prestigious, Oscar-baiting movies seem informed by the resentment of aging and mortality summed up in Dylan Thomas' poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night."
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
12-24-2008 |
Reviews
Hollywood Product: 'The Spirit'new
Imagine the stark, monochromatic visuals of Miller's Sin City as a backdrop for the campy humor of Adam West's Batman series. Then imagine that the visuals hurt your eyes and the humor leaves you cold, and you get a sense of The Spirit as a wearying waste.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
12-24-2008 |
Reviews
What's Your Year-End List?new
I've written two year-end lists: the Top Five Best-Named World Leaders of 2008, and the Five People Who Also Should Have Had Shoes Thrown at Them in 2008.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
12-24-2008 |
Commentary
The Avett Brothers Herald Fame with a Rick Rubin-Produced Albumnew
Acoustic roots-rockers the Avett Brothers are poised for their big break, but even as they look forward to the coming year, band members seem unwilling to make any predictions.
Mountain Xpress |
Alli Marshall |
12-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Avett Brothers
Inside Western North Carolina's (Re)burgeoning Woodworking Scenenew
After WNC's mass-production furniture industry has all but faded, artisans and crafts peopled are reviving the area's tradition with handmade, gallery-quality one-of-a-kind furnishings.
Mountain Xpress |
Alli Marshall |
12-23-2008 |
Culture
Drive-Thru Prayer Proves Jesus is a Convenient Guynew
Houston's Succeed in Life Center has been offering drive-through prayer service to members and nonmembers alike a couple of Saturdays a month since October, and pastor Damien Jackson tells Hair Balls the event has garnered praise from participants.
Houston Press |
Richard Connelly |
12-23-2008 |
Religion
Pastor Wiley Drake Thinks He Still Has a Prayer of Unseating Barack Obamanew
Drake is not discouraged in light of the Dec. 8 announcement the U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a New Jersey man's case that argued Barack Obama cannot be sworn in as president because his father was a British citizen.
Hispanics Delivered by Border Midwives Are Having Trouble Getting U.S. Passportsnew
David Hernandez just wants his passport, but the State Department won't give it to him. There is a history of midwife deception along the border, so the U.S. government has to be sure applicants are not using fraudulently filed birth certificates. Thus far, Hernandez has not convinced them that his is the real McCoy.
Houston Press |
Chris Vogel |
12-23-2008 |
Sex
Video Game-Influenced Music Isn't Just Playing Aroundnew
Bands like Minibosses and California's The Advantage have found a nice little niche playing covers of classic game music. Other acts are drawing inspiration from the sounds of the eight-bit world to create chiptune soundscapes that are among the most interesting electronic music out there right now.
Phoenix New Times |
Martin Cizmar |
12-23-2008 |
Music
Ask a Mexican: Special Navidad Shopping Guide Editionnew
A couple of columnas ago, I published a short list of my favorite books regarding Mexicans and Mexican-Americans and urged ustedes to submit better choices so that gabachos can have a Christmas shopping list for their favorite Mexicans or can understand nosotros better. Muchos responded.
Trendzilla: The Return of Quiksilver's '80s Stylesnew
One long-standing company that's actually making good on the '80s is Huntington Beach sports-action giant Quiksilver, which has re-introduced elements of its most iconic pieces from the '80s, when people weren't afraid of color (in an un-ironic sort of way) and thigh-bearing short shorts.
