TLC’s story of fame comes to life in biopic on VH1

For Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, there were several uncomfortable moments watching actresses portray them in a new TLC biopic.But it was especially strange to watch Lil Mama, who played the role of the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes ― the third member of the Grammy-winning R&B group who died in a car crash in Honduras in 2002.“She totally came into character,” Chilli said of Lil Mama, who wore contacts to mimic Left Eye’s distinctively large, dark pupils. “It was kind of scary

PerformanceOct. 20, 2013

Yogurt entrepreneur looks to expand 16 Handles franchise

From helping managing his parent’s Japanese restaurant in San Diego, California, to establishing one of the most successful frozen yogurt franchises in the U.S., 16 Handles founder Solomon Choi stands by his belief that staying within the reach of one’s customers is the key ingredient to a thriving franchise.The 33-year-old Korean-American entrepreneur has his sights set on revamping the culture of the frozen yogurt industry and creating a new lifestyle when it comes to desserts. “I had that ent

PeopleOct. 20, 2013

Bae Yong-joon wins grand prize at Japan’s hallyu awards

Bae Yong-joon, as known as “Yonsama” in Japan for his huge popularity among Korean TV drama fans, received the grand prize at the Korean Entertainment 10th Anniversary Awards in Japan on Saturday, his agency KEYEAST said Sunday. Bae also won the best actor award in the category of Korean drama. At the ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the airing of “Winter Sonata” -- a KBS TV that fueled the “Bae Yong-joon syndrome” in Japan -- Bae expressed gratitude. “This is a meaningful event, being a

Oct. 20, 2013

'The Lion King' to set new milestone on Broadway

NEW YORK (AP) – ``The Lion King'' has more reason to roar – it's on pace to end the week as the first Broadway show to earn $1 billion.According to The Broadway League, the show ended last week with a 16-year gross of $999,267,836, and it regularly pulls in between $1 million and $2 million a week over eight performances at the Minskoff Theatre.The show, featuring the music of Elton John and Tim Rice, including the Academy Award-winning ``Can You Feel the Love Tonight,'' brought the 1994 animate

PerformanceOct. 19, 2013

Artisanal roasters take coffee upscale

More than two decades ago, a cup of freshly brewed, whole bean coffee was not so readily available. Then, Starbucks opened its first Korean store in 1999. Green bean importer M.I. Coffee’s quality control team executive director Sohng Hyun-geun marks Starbucks’ first landing as the moment when coffee shops started proliferating and a new cafe culture’s golden era started taking root, spurred by “positive interest from trend-sensitive younger generations” and by dramas and films like MBC’s “Coffe

FoodOct. 18, 2013

Coffee with a Korean twist

An egg yolk, a pinch of salt, some pine nuts, walnuts and a drop of sesame oil: Sounds like some tasty ingredients for a light salad or quick meal, but no, these are the ingredients of Korea’s once-popular coffee concoction “morning coffee.” In the 1960s and ’70s, morning coffee in Korea had an entirely different meaning than the ritualistic cup of joe so many people grab before heading out to face the world. Morning coffee was the beverage of choice at the local “dabang” ― old-time Korean coffe

CultureOct. 18, 2013

Learning to make the perfect cup

Seoul offers a number of places where one can learn to make coffee, using various machines and techniques. If you prefer a cup of latte over espresso, there are latte art classes available as well.Latte art is a method of preparing coffee by pouring steamed milk into a shot of espresso that results in a pattern or design on the surface of the drink. Local coffee company Hollys Coffee ((02) 2188-7100) offers latte art classes at its Hollys Academy in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul.  The introducto

PerformanceOct. 18, 2013

Calendar

Exhibitions“Waiting Room”: Wooden utility poles cut through a gallery space from one end to the other in a new exhibition of Brazilian artist Carlito Carvalhosa in Seoul. The poles, each measuring 8-12 meters long, pierce through the gallery walls at Kukje Gallery in Jongno and extend to the bottom of the floor while supporting other poles delicately placed one on top of another. The position of wooden poles in a white cube triggers questions among viewers as his past works did by transforming e

CultureOct. 18, 2013

Box Office: Lovelace, Hwa-yi, Rush

Lovelace Opened Oct. 17Biography. Drama. Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Linda Lovelace (Amada Seyfried) is manipulated by her abusive, domineering husband Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard) into entering the porn industry. Despite her protests, she stars as the main character of a hardcore porn film “Deep Throat.” The movie is the first of its kind to gain much popularity and is screened all over the country, turning Linda into a famous porn star. Behind the glamorous fame Linda is u

FilmOct. 18, 2013

Eyelike: IU impresses on ‘Modern Times’

IU impresses on ‘Modern Times’IU “Modern Times” (LOEN Entertainment) IU, known for her “younger sister” image and songs, has shed her cutesy pop cocoon for a more mature look and sound. “Modern Times” has a total of 13 tracks with genres that range from pop, folk, jazz and swing to bossa nova and Latin. Title track “The Red Shoes” showcases IU’s vocals in a cabaret-style setting, complete with blaring horns and lively percussion. Like many of the tracks on the album, vintage sounds and modern ef

PerformanceOct. 18, 2013

Mother steals the show in ‘Carrie’ remake

Awash in blood and tears, a woman howls in unspeakable anguish as she gives birth in the harrowing opening moments of “Carrie.” She is ashen and alone, her face gnarled with fear. Believing the child to be the devil’s spawn, she grabs a pair of scissors to stab the infant to death. Only the baby’s soft mewling, the pureness of its gaze, spares it from the knife.Director Kimberly Peirce summons up the bracing thematic subtext of her stylish remake in that deeply disturbing scene. It’s masterful f

FilmOct. 18, 2013

Calgary embraces the cutting edge

CALGARY, Alberta ― John Jackson and Connie DeSousa had professional experience many chefs would envy when they opened Charcut restaurant three years ago in their hometown. But they were still scared. Literally scared.Was Calgary ready for them?Despite time in some of the most prestigious kitchens in New York, San Francisco and Bonn, Germany, they weren’t sure how pig-head mortadella and bone marrow with escargot au gratin would play in a meat-and-potatoes town on the edge of the Canadian Rockies

TravelOct. 18, 2013

Germany sees surge in Asian travelers

Asian travelers have contributed significantly to the increase in foreign overnight visitors in Germany with a rise of 3.4 percent in July, according to a German National Tourist Office tourism report. From January to July, the number of nights spent by Asian travelers increased by 2.3 percent with Chinese tourists taking up the largest share of the increase at 10 percent, followed by Koreans at 6.8 percent. Germany has seen an overall 3.4 percent increase in foreigners’ overnight stays over the

TravelOct. 18, 2013

Around the Hotels

Indonesian feast at Oakwood Premier CoexOakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul is presenting a promotion for Indonesian delicacies from Oct. 17 to 31. Authentic Indonesian dishes will be served at the Residents Lounge. Guests will be able to taste Indonesian dishes from various regions of the country, including Java, Sumatra and Bali. Executive chef of Oakwood Premier Cozmo Jakarta, Deden Sherman, will be visiting Seoul for this event. He will be introducing a variety of popular Indonesian dishes inc

FoodOct. 18, 2013

Gourmet sausages in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) ― Doug Sohn has made an art of the traditional Chicago-style hot dog, replete with mustard, onions, pickle relish, dill spear, tomatoes, celery salt and sport peppers. (No ketchup!)But if you stop your order there, you’ll miss much of the joy of eating at his Hot Doug’s restaurant on the city’s northwest side. Because what really draws the crowds ― and foodies from afar ― is Sohn’s menu filled with rare sausages curated to offer up spicy and sweet, ethnic and American, and all serve

FoodOct. 18, 2013