Arts

Tai Frater | Chewing the Fat

One of the most wonderful things about studying abroad is the international community of which I find myself a member — many students hail from lands far more exotic than my London, England. Through my international contacts, I have become involved with Tufts' Intercultural Conversation Program, which aims to pair up native and non−native English speakers to practice English−language skills and learn a bit about each other's cultures.

The Artsy Jumbo | Opera safe from obscurity in Marrero's hands

While opera may not be the most popular genre of music among today's youth, many students at Tufts are keeping the tradition alive in the Tufts Opera Ensemble. One of these passionate musicians is BryanaMarrero, a senior majoring in music.

Ma and Mena bring Symphony Hall to its feet

On Oct. 13, Yo-Yo Ma teamed up with Spanish guest conductor Juanjo Mena to deliver Antonín Dvo?™ák's Cello Concerto at the Boston Symphony Orchestra's (BSO) Symphony Hall. A name like Yo-Yo Ma tends to speak for itself, but, as this performance came to prove, he deserves his acclaim. Not many cellists have the ability to make a 40-minute piece feel as if it happened in a few minutes.

Bondir offers diners different and exquisite menu choices every day

Offering an impressively arrayed, elegantly prepared menu on a regular basis is one thing, but doing it with constantly rotating dishes is another thing entirely. Bondir, the culinary progeny of head chef Jason Bond, not only makes good on this ambitious promise but does so almost effortlessly.

Alexandria Chu | Hit Li(s)t

Mayer Hawthorne says 'How Do You Do' to mature sound

On Mayer Hawthorne's sophomore effort, "How Do You Do," the falsetto−crooning soul singer coyly opens the album by wooing an unnamed woman. The artist sets a seductive tone as he sweet−talks, "So here we are, it's the end of the night … [but] it doesn't have to end here."

Cummings' 'Whitney' flops as a forgettable sitcom

Taking a great standup routine and making it work as a television sitcom requires some development and finesse. It's a difficult process that can go wrong in many ways. NBC's new unfunny comedy, "Whitney," fails to make that transition work.

Weekend' portrays gay relationships, ephemeral romance

Everyone lives for the weekend. A stressful week of classes, assignments and extracurricular activities often results in the well−knownpressure−cooker effect on most college students, who use the weekend to blow off steam and indulge.

BATTLE' encompasses successful two years for Bubs

If you're still humming and tapping your toes to the beat after tonight's Homecoming A Capella Show, keep the music going with The Beelzebubs' (Bubs) latest album, released yesterday. "BATTLE" is the latest of the Bubs' biannual releases, and the CD covers an exciting time in the group's history.

Collected Stories' explores complex mentoring relationship

"There are some things you don't touch," Ruth Steiner (Bobbie Steinbach) tells her protegee, Lisa Morrison (Liz Hayes), after recounting to her one of the most formative and secretive tales of her life. Lisa waits, but then does exactly that with Ruth's own story.

Audio Slideshow | Degas and the Nude

Our latest Weekender Feature discussed the Museum of Fine Arts' latest exhibition, "Degas and Nude." In this audio slideshow, Adam Kulewicz offers his commentary as he walks you through this stunning exhibition.

Top Ten | Better ways to waste four hours than watching the Kardashian wedding

Much like the rest of the Kardashians' self-indulgent lives, Kim's wedding to Kris Humphries — how serendipitous that they both spell their names with a "K" — was televised over the long weekend. If you were one of the 4.4 million viewers who tuned in for the two-part segment on Sunday and Monday night, we've compiled a list of 10 better ways you could have wasted four hours of your life.

Modern art becomes approachable in 'Dance/Draw'

"Dance/Draw," the Institute of Contemporary Art's celebratory centerpiece in honor of its 75th anniversary, is an overt celebration of humanity's obsession and fascination with movement. While most art represents a single moment in time, the pieces featured in "Dance/Draw" focus more on a work's untold story — the process involved in finding and capturing that single moment.

Tai Frater | Chewing the Fat

It seems that we olde English and the New Englanders have something special in common. It's red, juicy and rhymes with Snapple. That's right — this week we focus on all things apple.

The Artsy Jumbo | Delaney-Winn puts new spin on Shakespeare

Considering the large commitment it takes to orchestrate a play, one might assume that nearly all students involved in Tufts theater must be drama majors. After all, who wouldn't want school credit for all those long hours?

Cambridge restaurant not quite Toast of the town

In the same way college students are required to love Wes Anderson movies and Vampire Weekend, we are practically obliged to enjoy a novel and creative restaurant like The Friendly Toast. It's delightfully offbeat, and the decor and menu reference lovable classics like Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" (1954) and old Hardy Boys novels. If a '50s diner theme and rockabilly waitresses don't set your heart aflutter, its Cambridge location and proximity to indie-crazed theater Kendall Square Cinema will at least make you admire the restaurant for its convenience.

Jordan Teicher | The Independent

I was suffering from a mild case of writer's block this weekend when a truly bizarre film−related news story fell into my lap. Sarah Deming, a Michigan resident, is filing a class−action lawsuit against FilmDistrict Distribution LLC for deceptively marketing the indie−action film "Drive" (2011), a fast−paced blockbuster featuring Ryan Gosling and lots of car chases. Deming is also suing the movie theater where she saw "Drive." The lawsuit specifically calls for "an end to misleading trailers" and claims the film's advertisements violated the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.

What's Up This Weekend

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

Ethan Sturm | Rules of the Game

Students serve gourmet fare for fair price at Technique

After experiencing lunch at Technique in early June, I immediately made the next possible reservation for six … which was in September. For all of you liberal arts students, that's over a three−month wait. Eventually, September rolled around and my friends and I set off to Kendall Square for the meal.