A&E

Rare IU film collection digitized

By Jordan Majewski · Thursday, Dec. 8,2005 11:42 p.m.

With the digitization of 129 rare and out-of-print films from the Lilly Library's David S. Bradley Film Collection, IU students, faculty and cinephiles have received an early holiday gift.

Author tells women to reach pre-marital potential

By Kacie Foster · Thursday, Dec. 8,2005 11:40 p.m.

Every time a woman in junior Julie Liebenthal's sorority becomes engaged, the members hold a candlelight ceremony and pass a lit candle around the room. Upon receiving the candle, the newly-engaged member blows it out, revealing the news to her sisters.

Lighting up the night

By Mary P. Hansell · Wednesday, Dec. 7,2005 10:50 p.m.

It is that time of year again. Christmas shopping has begun, popcorn and cranberries are being strung on the trees, and in downtown Bloomington, the annual holiday lights have been hung for all to see. Starting from the Courthouse, stretching down Kirkwood Avenue and outside local businesses, each year Bloomington nights are lit up to celebrate the season.

'Art Mart' sells handcrafted work for holiday season at Waldron Center

By Rorye O'Connor and Rorye O'Conner · Tuesday, Dec. 6,2005 11:36 p.m.

For people interested in giving unique gifts to their friends and family this holiday season, the annual "Art Mart" sale at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St., is the place to look. The sale, which features items by local artists, runs through Dec. 23 and is located in the Flashlight Gallery. There will also be a sale called the "Cash and Carry," located a floor above the "Art Mart," which features wall art for $40 or less.

Ladies First takes over Buskirk

By Kevin Caldwell · Tuesday, Dec. 6,2005 11:35 p.m.

Every year, "Ladies First", IU's female a cappella group, puts on a winter show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. The ladies are now making their final preparations for their concert, and couldn't be more excited about the show. Member Liz Buchanan, a junior, said this year's show has some changes.

Art Sinsabaugh's work on display at Art Museum

By MichaelLyn McBride · Tuesday, Dec. 6,2005 11:34 p.m.

The IU Art Museum special exhibitions gallery is currently playing host to "American Horizons: The Photographs of Art Sinsabaugh" until Dec. 23. This distinctive collection highlights Art Sinsabaugh's incredible landscape photographs, which were captured by the artist's giant "banquet" camera, so named because it was originally intended to photograph large social gatherings. With this colossal piece of equipment, Sinsabaugh was able to produce 12-by-20-inch negatives, which he often dramatically cropped to evoke the massive sweep of the horizon.

Irish Lion hosts classic Christmas play

By Meghan Lucas · Monday, Dec. 5,2005 11:43 p.m.

This Christmas season, amid the hustle and bustle of finals and early bird specials, one play in town will have audiences singing and believing in the power of Christmas. Brought to life at the Irish Lion is a classic tale of hope, repentance and maybe a "bah, humbug!" or two. Running at 8 p.m. Dec. 6, 12 and 13, the Monroe County Civic Theater presents, in the spirit of the yuletide season, "A Christmas Carol."

Christmas cookies help missionaries, women's groups

By Katie Peck · Monday, Dec. 5,2005 10:59 a.m.

Thanksgiving break is gone, and the Christmas season is now upon us, bringing good times with family and friends, a long break from classes and fun traditions unique to the season, including making Christmas cookies. Fun to bake, decorate and -- of course -- eat, these treats attracted many local guests to a local church Friday and Saturday.

'Csárdas' preserves folk tradition

By Lisa Braverman · Monday, Dec. 5,2005 10:58 a.m.

On Friday evening, the Hungarian dance ensemble "Csárdas" displayed a passionate folk tradition and East European tango. Part of the Lotus Education and the Arts Foundation's mission to bring world music and culture to Bloomington, "Csárdas: The Tango of the East" also served as a celebration of Hungarian artistry and athleticism.

Playwrights Project rings in holiday season with Ballot Box Blizzard

By Mike Wilson · Friday, Dec. 2,2005 9:03 a.m.

Thirty different holiday plays, featuring everything from a gun-toting Santa Claus to God paying a humorous house call, opened Thursday night at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, 107 W. Ninth St.

Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Wit' opens at Wells-Metz

By Sarah Neely and Sarah A. Neely · Friday, Dec. 2,2005 9:03 a.m.

The Department of Theatre and Drama has tackled everything from murder to gay parenthood this fall, and now it will close the semester with the intimate play "Wit," a Pulitzer Prize-winner by Margaret Edson opening at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Wells-Metz Theatre.

'THE NUTCRACKER'

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12:34 p.m.

This weekend the IU Musical Arts Center will welcome the timeless holiday tradition "The Nutcracker." "The Nutcracker" is a classic story of Christmas by the German author E.T.A. Hoffmann. The story features Clara Stahlbaum, a young German girl who dreams that a Nutcracker she received for Christmas turns into a prince. The ballet was born when Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) set the story to music in 1891. Ever since, the ballet has become a Christmas tradition that conjures up childhood fantasies and the world of the imagination.

Csardas show to display 'Tango of the East'

By Lisa Braverman · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12:17 p.m.

Synchronized couple dancing, infectious boot slapping and rapid spinning are all in a day's work for members of Csardas, a Hungarian folk dance group. The group, which performs dances from the Carpathian Basin (which includes the countries of Hungary and Romania), will be featured Friday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

Freshman group writes, produces film

By Allison Richie · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12:13 p.m.

If there is a checklist for making the most of the first semester of college, Rachelle Wilson has certainly completed hers. The "Art of Acting" Freshman Interest Group, a community within the Residential Programs and Services system, decided in September to go above and beyond for their final project relating to the freshman experience. Instead of making a scrapbook or writing a short story reflecting on the previous few months, this FIG decided to make a movie.

Archaeologist suspects Bosnian hill might contain hidden pyramid

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 4:08 p.m.

VISOKO, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- With eyes trained to recognize pyramids hidden in the hills of El Salvador, Mexico and Peru, Semir Osmanagic has been drawn to the mound overlooking this central Bosnian town.

Renowned 'Lord of the Dance' troupe comes to Auditorium troup

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 4:08 p.m.

For those who don't have tickets for the IU-Duke game tonight, there's another show in town that could be just as exciting.

Co-founder of Berenstain Bears books dies at 82

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 4:07 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- Stan Berenstain, who with his wife wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bear books that helped millions of children cope with trips to the dentist, the first day of school and getting new siblings, has died. Berenstain, 82, died Saturday in suburban Philadelphia from complications with cancer, said Kate Jackson of HarperCollins Children's Books in New York.

'Narnia' books fly off of the shelves

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Nov. 29,2005 5:32 p.m.

FORT WAYNE -- Retailers and librarians say they're having a hard time keeping copies of C.S. Lewis' books on their shelves as fans prepare for the opening of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch & the Wardrobe" Dec. 9. At a Fort Wayne Barnes & Noble, customers can buy individual Narnia books, or the entire seven-book series, along with puzzles, games and books about the stories.

Chicago being slowly 'chipped away'

By Alyson Brodsy and Don Babwin · Tuesday, Nov. 29,2005 5:32 p.m.

CHICAGO -- To former Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne, the elevated train tracks crisscrossing the city are more than a mode of transport. They are a reminder of a great city that has for generations looked and felt like no other place in the world. But they are an increasingly lonely reminder.

Supreme Court pediment falls apart near tourist group on steps

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Nov. 29,2005 5:31 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- A basketball-sized piece of marble molding fell from the facade over the entrance to the Supreme Court Monday, landing on the steps near visitors waiting to enter the building. No one was hurt. The chunk of Vermont marble was part of the dentil molding that serves as a frame for nine sculptural figures completed in 1935. The piece that fell was over the figure of Authority, near the peak of the building's pediment, and to the right of the figure of Liberty, who has the scales of justice on her lap.