Arts

Niki Krieg | Queen of Cibo

I think it's an understatement when I say that I love February. The Super Bowl comes and goes −− never mind that I'm still waiting for a Gang Green win after 43 years; Valentine's Day means cute date nights, mushy Hallmark cards and all that discounted candy come Feb. 15; and I turn the big 2−2 in February, which this year also happens to be the night of the Academy Awards (Jonah Hill, represent!). In all seriousness, February is a great month because of one thing: lots and lots of parties.

Weekender Feature | And the Oscar goes to...

This Sunday at 7 p.m. on ABC, Billy Crystal will host the 84th Annual Academy Awards, doling out those illustrious gilded men to the most deserving players in Hollywood from the past year. To preview the ceremony, the Daily will take you through the six main categories (Best Supporting Actress and Actor, Best Actress and Actor, Best Director and Best Picture), enumerating the favorite frontrunners and the reprehensible snubs along the way. So, grab some popcorn and get prepared for the drawn out speeches and, if we're lucky, some wild waterworks. It's Oscar time! Best Supporting Actress

TV Review | 'Alcatraz' tempers ambitious plot with genre cliches

"On March 21st, 1963, Alcatraz officially closed. All the prisoners were transferred off the island. Only that's not what happened. Not at all."

Concert Review | Bonobo brings groove to Paradise Rock Club

Can you dance to downtempo? Simon Green sure can. Bonobo, the moniker of the British electronic musician, played a packed show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston last Thursday, proving that even the most whimsical electronic music can groove when the right artist is at the helm.

The Artsy Jumbo | Emily Weinrebe

For junior Emily Weinrebe, a cappella has been the perfect introduction to life on the Hill. Weinrebe transferred to Tufts at the beginning of this year and joined the co−ed group sQ! shortly thereafter.

Oringer's Toro brings zesty Spanish flair to Boston

In the core of Boston's South End, Toro sits proudly, just like the prized Spanish bulls after which it was named. Heralded as the vanguard Spanish culinary destination in Boston, Toro doles out award−winning tapas seven days a week.

Campus Chic Report

Hackneyed, slow plot spoils 'Luck'

What is there left to say about HBO productions? That they're gorgeously shot, impeccably acted and ingeniously scripted? That they've got more star power than a $35,800−per−plate Obama fundraiser? At this point, all of this is a given, and HBO's new series, "Luck," certainly adheres to the network's golden standard. How is it cosmically possible, then, for such a perfectly crafted show to be so outrageously boring?

Following strong debut, Sleigh Bells disappoint with unoriginal sophomore album

I'll be the first to admit that after the release of "Treats," Sleigh Bells' debut album from 2010, I was one of the many who immediately deified the noisy duo from Brooklyn, placing them atop my musical pantheon.

James Barasch | Barasch on Books

Following last week's review of Gaddis' biography on George Kennan, one of America's greatest Cold−War era statesmen, this week's review features a book by another great Cold War strategist: President Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor, ZbgniewBrzezinski. Don't be fooled by its relative brevity, "Strategic Vision" is a little gem of foreign policy analysis and a stirring call to action. It is a thorough, articulate evaluation of the decline of America's influence and the dangers therein. Brzezinski offers an astute, piercing appraisal of the waning of America's "global appeal" and the severe consequences of the shifting of power from West to East.

Richly textured samples, rhythms drive Lapalux EP

Lapalux's latest endeavor into musical manipulation showcases the essence of the creative global beat that is currently captivating producers and audiences alike.

Faculty Show' at Northeastern University disappoints with lack of depth, cohesion

The Northeastern Creates art gallery is featuring recent work done by full− and part−time faculty members of the university's Art and Design Department in the exhibit "Faculty Show."

Air's latest is lacking without accompanying film

In 1902, French writer and director Georges Méliès produced a 14−minute jewel of a silent film, "Le Voyage Dans La Lune," that was sold in both a hand−colored and a black−and−white version.

Taipei Tokyo offers array of fresh fusion dishes

Having a hard time deciding which of the many Japanese restaurants in Davis Square you should visit to satisfy that Friday night sushi or Chinese food craving? Look no further than Taipei Tokyo Cafe, located right across the street from the T stop in the heart of Davis. Taipei Tokyo is a welcoming Asian fusion restaurant that juxtaposes fine Chinese dishes with a Japanese− inspired sushi bar to provide American diners with myriad choices.

Jack Webster and Hannah Furgang | A piece of advice

Dear Jack and Hannah,

The Artsy Jumbo | Jack LeMay

Like many Jumbos, Jack LeMay played instruments in high school: piano and drums. But since moving to campus, Jack "wanted to try something a little different" and has explored a different sort of sound with the help of B.E.A.T.s (Bangin' Everything At Tufts), a group that aims to "wake people from their routine" through musical performance.

Weekender Feature | Photographer David Pendery explores unknown side of Paris

Visitors generally arrive in Paris with a list of must−see attractions: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, etc. The city's covered arcades generally do not end up on these lists, and even some Parisians are unaware of their existence. But these unique and unusual spaces — wide, glass−covered walkways lined with boutiques — are a marvelous relic of centuries past and continue to be an important part of Parisian life.

What's Up This Weekend

Looking to make your weekend artsy? Check out these events!

TV Review | 'Walking Dead' suffers from lifeless plot

It's nice to take a moment during a TV show's current season to look back at how the program has evolved. Sadly, in the case of AMC's "The Walking Dead," this evolution is more devolution. Once pegged as the one of the most innovative shows on television, "The Walking Dead" has been stretched so thin that it now chronically disappoints viewers, leaving almost nothing to praise.

Concert Review | Guest conductor van Zweden leads BSO in terrific concert

Emanuel Ax has gained a reputation as one of the world's finest pianists for good reason. His performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto #2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19 this past weekend with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) was light, remarkably clear and effortless. Joining the BSO this week as a guest conductor was Jaap van Zweden, Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Zweden led the orchestra in a tasteful accompaniment to the Beethoven and followed it with a powerful rendition of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony #2 in E minor, Op. 27.