Arts

Arts

Union Square Donuts arrives triumphantly on artisinal pastry scene

March 12

Doughnut culture is currently experiencing something of a golden age, what with bloggers and Yelpers alike fully aware of the magic and mystery of shops like Portlands Voodoo Doughnuts and Chicagos Dinkels Bakery. The Internet era has returned groups of artisans specializing in individual products to prominence whether they sell frozen goats milk yogurt, sea salt or handcrafted bicycles and artisanal doughnuts are an extension of this trend.

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Arts

Melissa MacEwen | The Roaming Fork

March 12

Li hing mui and its derivative, li hing powder, looks fairly benign when packaged it comes as either a red or taupe-colored fruit that can be eaten on its own or a red powder that is sprinkled on fruit and sour gummies, added to shaved ice or used as a replacement for the salt on margarita glasses. But thats before youve tried it. No one ever forgets their first time eating li hing.

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Arts

Little innovation in new Workaholics season

March 12

Nearing the end of an unusually long twenty episode season, the bros of Workaholics dont have much to show for it. At face value, the episode list for this season seems ambitious and wild, but it is these same ridiculous situations that ultimately cripple the result of this season.

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Arts

Tufts faculty star in Krapps Last Tape

March 11

This week, Department of Drama and Dance faculty will take the stage in a production of Samuel Becketts Krapps Last Tape in Balch Arena Theater. Members of the departments faculty both acts in and directs the play, which runs tonight and tomorrow.

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Arts

Youth Lagoon explores rich, sensational soundscape

March 11

Youth Lagoons sophomore album, Wondrous Bughouse, expands on what made its debut so magical with a cavernous and complex record. The intricate melodies and hazy synths create a feeling of openeyed wonderment on the album that is likely to stir strong emotions from listeners.

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Arts

How I Met Your Mother strives for increasingly thoughtprovoking plots

March 11

Its been a whirlwind of romance and drama in the latest season of How I Met Your Mother, although unsurprisingly, none of that excitement brings us much closer to the answer to the question posed by the title of the show. At this point, does the identity of the mysterious mother even matter? The audience has sat through seven seasons of tantalizing and ultimately empty promises of her reveal, with glimpses of her foot, her umbrella and her roommate, rabidly questioning each new female character that is introduced to the show. Will the last few episodes of the season finally give some answers?

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Arts

Rebecca Santiago | Is So Vain

March 11

First: I promise that, in this column about eyelashes, I will not use the phrase Kardashian lashes, except for where I used it right there. God. That said, I do like my ocular fringe as doe-like as can be. The minute Im gainfully employed, I will probably start eschewing groceries for eyelash extensions, which are, you know, basically just more eyelashes glued onto your eyelids. Its more glam than it sounds. (If youre a person of means, the running price for lash extensions in Boston is between $125 and $350-ish. Also, please invite me to your beach houses in exotic locations.)

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Arts

50 Years of Fun Through Song audio-visual chronicle of Bubs history

March 10

Jumbos are pretty accustomed to seeing the Tufts Beelzebubs belting their hearts out in Goddard Chapel or putting on Bubs in the Pub in Cohen Auditorium, but students can now see the accomplishments of the Bubs in a less likely locale: This semester, the Tufts University Art Gallery is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beelzebubs, Tufts oldest all-male a cappella group, by showcasing an exhibition entitled Tufts University Beelzebubs: 50 Years of Fun Through Song.

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Arts

Pretty Little Liars redundant, starting to lose steam

March 10

When the television show came out in 2010, fans of Sara Shepards book series Pretty Little Liars were ecstatic. The books tell a thrilling story of how a group of teenage girls is being stalked and blackmailed by an anonymous villain only indentifying themself as A. It is a great premise for a young adult series and has a pretty large fan base, which only grew when ABC Family decided to create a television show of the same name based on the series. The TV series was released at an opportune time, when the story in the books had slowly started to become convoluted and repetitive. Fans now turned to this new medium to get their weekly share of Aria (Lucy Hale), Spencer (Troian Bellisario), Hanna (Ashley Benson) and Emily (Shay Mitchell) all of whom are more endearingly known as The Liars onscreen. Currently in its third season, however, the television show seems to be on the brink of turning to the same mistakes as its book counterpart.

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Arts

Elizabeth Landers | The Clothes Make the Woman

March 10

Since fashion blogger Man Repeller coined and copywrote the term arm party a few years ago, it seems that stacks of bracelets, beads, rings, rhinestones and even bones are de rigueur for craftier ways to make a statement in an outfit. As someone who prefers to focus on the cut and color of clothes instead of bedazzling myself in jewels, this has been a learning curve for me. Im starting to get the hang of it, mixing my ubiquitous colored friendship bracelet with antique silver bangles from Mexico that have just enough tarnish to look cool, not forced. Other than a newfound interest in accessorizing, Ive come across some seriously chic and to most males, confusing ways to bling out. My weirdly wonderful round-up:

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Arts

Innovative Metamorphosis translates novella creatively to stage

March 7

In Franz Kafkas 1915 novella The Metamorphosis, protagonist Gregor Samsa is a hardworking German man with a solid sense of morality. One morning, however, he wakes up in his own home and finds his body has morphed into that of a hideous insect. Despite his changed appearance, his humanlike thoughts and words still make sense to him. Sadly, his family is unable to understand anything Gregor says. Their relationship with him quickly sours, and Gregor is soon banned from entering any area of the house outside of his room.

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Arts

Portlandia' provides offbeat comic relief

March 5

As of January, Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen are continuing to explore the alternative universe and cultural unaffectedness of Portland, Ore. in the third season of "Portlandia." Much of the comedic appeal of "Portlandia" lies in stellar performances by Brownstein and Armisen as they seamlessly move from character to character, enacting sketches that most viewers stongly identify with strongly even after the episodes are over. That seems to be the primary goal, at least, as the Brownstein?Armisen team is obviously far too cool for punch lines.

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Arts

Melissa MacEwen | The Roaming Fork

March 5

South African Emperor moths are gorgeous creatures. Brightly colored and distinctively patterned, the adult moths appear each spring to mate, lay eggs and frolic in the South African sun.

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Arts

Indie vets Shout Out Louds turn to synths on 'Optica'

March 5

Swedish indie darlings Shout Out Louds have chosen synth?pop over their previous lo?fi goodness on their fourth and newest album, "Optica," which was released on Feb. 26. Their 13?song, 55?minute lineup contains interesting, yet predictable tunes, with a couple refreshing and quirky beats.

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Arts

Electronic newcomer Kavinsky displays promise on debut album

March 4

Steeped in the nostalgic synth of the 1980s and peppered with more modern departures, "Outrun" - the debut album of Kavinsky, French house music producer Vincent Belogray - seems strangely both familiar and new at the same time. Even the name of the album, "Outrun," was named after a Sega Golden Joystick Award?winning racing and arcade game that was released in 1986. Kavinsky is best known for his collaboration with Lovefoxxx on a song called "Nightfall" that was featured in the film "Drive" (2011). The themes that permeated the film are the same themes that are prevalent throughout Kavinsky's debut: fast cars, music, sensual electro?synth and sentimental throwbacks to the golden days of the '80s. Although many artists fall victim to the expectations that a popular single can elicit when it comes to a full length?album, Kavinsky manages to dodge that bullet.

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Arts

Rebecca Santiago | Is So Vain

March 4

A mere week after making my 'Year of Awesome Skin' proclamation, I'm typing this column on a Saturday night with an alluring purplish rash on my chin. This is not necessarily because I am the worst beauty columnist in the world, although, well, maybe.

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Arts

Elizabeth Landers | The Clothes Make the Woman

March 3

With the Dow reaching a five?year high last Wednesday and the recent sequester hoopla, the state of the economy is of global importance. The fashion industry was hard?hit by the recession, with designers like Adam Lippes quietly shuttering their doors a couple of seasons ago and editors' perks evaporating. It felt suddenly inappropriate to wear ridiculously high heels or flounce intricate brocades. High?low dressing had been on the rise, but exploded as fashionistas and socialites alike bragged about their Reed Krakoff bags paired with J.Crew cashmere twinsets and Kate Spade rhinestone studs.

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Arts

Book Review | 'Soundbitten' examines darker side of biased media

March 3

"I never thought this book was going to be about the media. I thought that I was just going to go study activists at a large national convening," said Tufts Sociology professor Sarah Sobieraj on her most recent research and book, "Soundbitten: The Perils of Media Centered Political Activism" (2011). Despite her academic background as a sociologist, Sobieraj, a self?proclaimed media junkie, has found a niche in media studies. This has manifested itself in varying research, television appearances and her role as a leading media studies professor at Tufts. In light of the recent presidential campaign and Occupy Wall Street movement, the general public is increasingly interested in the way that politics are covered in this country and "Soundbitten" (2011) reveals a darker side of biased media coverage, specifically that of the 2004 Presidential National Convention here in Boston. Sobieraj's book returned to the forefront of Tufts' collective consciousness when she spoke at Tufts Thursday.

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Arts

Restaurant Review | Pavement Coffee House cozy but average

March 3

If you've been to the Back Bay in the past decade, chances are that you've been to one of Pavement Coffee House's three locations. With shops at 286 Newbury Street, 44 Gainsborough Street and 1096 Boylston Street, Pavement occupies some truly excellent real estate and will be opening a fourth location soon. Though these first three locations were originally home to Espresso Royale Caffe, they are now independently and locally owned.

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Arts

TV Review | 'The Amazing Race' reveals new twists

February 28

Now in its 22nd season, "The Amazing Race" has proven to be a huge draw for viewers in America and around the world. The promise of exciting challenges and scenic travel locations has given the reality TV show multiple Primetime Emmy awards, and the show continues to attract more than 10 million viewers every episode, a testimony to its transcending popularity and appeal.

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