Arts

Guster charms at acoustic show with Jeff Garlin at Paramount Theater

While Guster is sure to deliver a crowd-pleasing set at this year's Spring Fling, this past weekend the group of Tufts alumni treated fans to a unique and energetic performance as they closed their acoustic tour at the Paramount Theater in Boston. Billed as "Guster and Jeff Garlin Present a Night of Acoustic Music and Comedy," Saturday's concert deftly combined music and comedy in the intimate setting of the 550-seat theater.

Chris Poldoian | The Gourmand

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. I love foie gras.

Director of upcoming summer blockbuster 'The Avengers' talks about the process

As part of a promotional campaign for the highly anticipated Marvel Studios production, "The Avengers," director and writer Joss Whedon recently took part in a college press conference, fielding questions from students across the country.

Zaftig's brings hearty cuisine to Coolidge Corner

If you are strolling through Coolidge Corner, either visiting John F. Kennedy's birthplace or shopping in one of the quaint shops in Brookline, Zaftig's Delicatessen is the perfect place to stop for some food. Situated at the Coolidge Corner stop on the Green Line, Zaftig's is about an hour away from Tufts' campus, but the lengthy trip is well worth it thanks to the amazing food at this well known delicatessen.

Why you should be watching 'Doctor Who'

As the show that inspired "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989), instigated a new interest in sci?fi, and was the stepping stone for BBC's recently revitalized popularity, "Doctor Who" has deservingly become the longest running sci?fi show in the world, and for good reason.

Spiritualized loses its edge to sentimentality

As their most famous album, "Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space" (1997) shows, Spiritualized are masters at channeling heavy emotions through dense, elaborate arrangements and production techniques. The noise?filled droning and expansive soundscapes were all skillfully employed in conveying the album's dark themes. Songwriter Jason Pierce's penchant for lavish melodies was always tempered and obscured by these production choices, making for a tense listening experience that never quite resolves itself, leaving listeners with a desire to start all over again.

Alex Kaufman and Jacob Passy | Sassy Cinema

In honor of GAYpril, which is slowly coming to a close, we give heed to gay movies of the ages - and for us that means the past 30 years or so. Gay movies come in all different shapes, sizes, genres and styles, from full?on drama like "Brokeback Mountain" (2005) to biopics such as "Milk" (2008) to musical fantasies like "Were the World Mine" (2008).

Dead Campus' gives zombie apocalypse a Medford twist

If and when the zombie apocalypse strikes Tufts University, will you be ready? Since the days of George A. Romero's seminal work "The Night of the Living Dead" (1968), the idea of a re?animated corpse feasting on human flesh has intrigued viewers and artists alike. Recently, zombies have been the subjects of numerous films, ranging from intense horror flicks such as "28 Days Later" (2002) to slacker comedies such as "Shaun of the Dead" (2004) to a dramatic AMC series, "The Walking Dead."

The Artsy Jumbo: Kira Patterson

Kira Patterson has been performing since she was four years old, but over the course of her freshman year at Tufts she has taken her acting career to the next level, appearing in an impressive five productions. Patterson's sincere love for the stage led her to declare as a drama major, and she intends to major in psychology as well. Eventually, she hopes to turn this passion into an actual livelihood.

Niki Krieg | Queen of Cibo

Maybe it's because I'm about to start the next chapter of my life - that being anything and everything post?college, which is really scary to consider - but this semester has brought about a ton of changes.

Ted Simpson's 'The Underpants' promises laughs, wild antics

The last play the Tufts Drama Department is offering this semester is a change from the graveness of performing previous productions "Oedipus and Antigone" and "Our Class." In a refreshing contrast, "The Underpants" is a comedic farce that will have the audience tearing up from laughter instead of sadness.

TV Review | Weak characters, laughably dramatic storyline sink ABC's 'Scandal'

Some TV shows try too hard. Through excessively eccentric writing, over acting and forced drama, they push the boundaries of authenticity a bit too far, never realizing just how over?the?top they actually are. ShondaRhimes' latest ABC production, "Scandal," happens to fit just such a formula and the result is atrocious.

M. Ward returns with subtlety and poise

Fans of hushed folk music rejoice: M. Ward has released a new album. His latest record, "A Wasteland Companion," follows the example set by his previous albums. Though fans may not see a new side of singer?songwriter Matthew Ward, they'll get a solid dose of everything they liked about him the first place. What "A Wasteland Companion" may lack in originality it more than makes up for with its poignant, understated songwriting and high production values.

The Mentalist' features solid writing, great cast

Currently in its fourth season, the procedural show "The Mentalist" is showing why it was just renewed for a fifth. The show is centered on protagonist Patrick Jane (played by Simon Baker), a consultant with a haunted past who works for the fictional California Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Having previously used his smarts and observational skills as a pretense on a faux?psychic show, Jane was punished cruelly for his baiting of a notorious serial killer known as Red John when he murdered his wife and daughter.

'The Mentalist' features solid writing, great cast

Glee' searches for its lost panache in third season

"Glee" has stopped at the Daily for its midseason checkup, and the prognosis isn't looking good. This season has left viewers confused with crisscrossing story arcs, weak subplots and a lack of a true lead.

The Artsy Jumbo | Katie McNally

Sometimes it can be too easy to pigeonhole any particular musical instrument with the genre it is most frequently associated with. While many people are comfortable with this attitude, senior Katie McNally shows that the violin can offer far more than the classical repertoire one might expect from it. That's because McNally has been studying the fiddle since she was 11.

Graham Coxon continues successful solo career with 'A+E'

Graham Coxon, formerly a member of Britpop harbinger Blur, has released his eighth solo studio album, "A+E." Blur helped shape the direction and style of the music industry during the 1990s, and Coxon has been attempting to branch out from that niche ever since the release of his first solo album in 1998. Still, Britpop will always be in his blood.

Celebrity Autobiography' showcases private lives of the famous

Did she really say that yesterday on television? Did you see his picture on the front page? Are they still together or did she cheat on him again? The lives of celebrities are entertaining to those of us who have not achieved fame or status. It is almost unbelievable what happens to professional movie stars in their daily lives, and how normal these same people can seem when showing fear and emotion if they allow you to look behind the scenes.

Helen's Roast Beef & Pizzeria exceeds reputation as late-night student hangout