LA dining classics impress visitors


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In the cozy microcosm of Los Angeles that is USC, one can easily forget how big this city is. Sometimes, it takes the arrival of friends and family to drag you out of this patch of the Figueroa Corridor. With no designated Trojan Family Weekend in the spring semester, your family might decide to visit […]

Popular musicians draw inspiration from personal lives


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The 2012 Grammys have come and gone, but an interest in the honorees’ artistic inspiration remains. For many of the hottest artists, their personal lives make for songwriting gold — and sometimes the messier their lives are, the more brilliant an artist’s work becomes. Adele took home a whopping six Grammys, including record of the […]

Diverse comics top superhero storylines


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When people think of comic books, they tend to think of superheroes. It’s not surprising; the superhero genre originated in comic books. It was the dominant genre after censorship in the 1950s restricted the industry, and now the phrase “comic book movie” is used synonymously with “superhero movie.” But comics are about more than this […]

Flavored pastas fuse convenience and taste


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There are days when nothing sounds better than a heaping bowl of pasta. Perhaps you return home late from class, starving and in need of a quick meal. Or maybe you’re experiencing pangs of nostalgia for that old Italian restaurant you used to frequent with your family — you know, the place with the red-checkered […]

A transition to television grows in appeal for film stars


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“Do TV and no one will ever take you seriously again.” If viewers were asked to explain why they laughed at this line, spoken by ultra conservative network executive Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock, the most common response would likely be along the lines of: “Because it’s true.” Context certainly plays a role in understanding […]

Museum of Death pays tribute to more than the dead


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Not many parking signs in Los Angeles bear the words “Death Customers Only.” But it’s only fitting considering the realm said “death customer” will enter. Once you come face to face with a giant skull, you’re only steps away from entering Hollywood’s Museum of Death. Be warned: This isn’t a Universal Studios tour bus stop […]

Bands bounce back from loss of members


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Paramore, Green Day and MxPx have lost at least one founding member. But these bands have redefined themselves and have emerged stronger than ever. When bands lose a member, they often go through a natural grieving phase but proceed with a willful determination not to disappoint their fans. Maybe the departure was on good terms, […]

Comic prequel receives backlash


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Last week, DC Comics dropped a bombshell by announcing the Before Watchmen line, a set of miniseries designed to serve as a prequel to the landmark 1986 series. The seven titles, plus a stand-alone wrap-up issue, are set for release this year and the announcement set off a flurry of heated discussion among comic book […]

Creative methods enhance seafood


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Traditionally a showcase for pork and beef, charcuterie is a delicious assortment of smoked and cured meats and pâtés, often served with bread, cheese and a pickled veggie or two. But charcuterie is now having a seafood moment. A survey of popular chefs in the Boston Globe determined that seafood charcuterie is the number one […]

New show Smash revives TV musicals


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If you happened to watch NBC on Sunday, you might have noticed a sporting event that  was going on in the interim between on-air promos for the network’s highly touted mid-season launch of a new scripted series called Smash. The media blitz has been relentless in the months leading up to the official broadcast premiere […]