[Travel bits] Spring getaways

 Spring hiking trips around the country　The Korea Tourism Organization has selected 10 hiking trails as “pleasant paths to stroll along” for the month of April.　Included in the list are the Ansan Jarak-gil on Seoul’s Mount Ansan, filled with cherry blossoms in the spring, the Namsan trail on Seoul’s Mount Namsan, the pathway next to Daecheongho Lake in Daejeon, South Chungcheong Province, and the Taehwagang River trail in Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province.　Also included is the fossil trail in Hwa

TravelApril 1, 2016

Beyonce jumps into athleisure market with Ivy Park clothing line

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Recording star Beyonce launched a women’s fitness clothing line on Thursday featuring bodysuits, leggings and headbands.　It is named partly after her 4-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy. Called Ivy Park, the 200-piece active wear collection is a joint venture with British businessman Sir Philip Green, who owns the Topshop fashion chain.　The collection will feature leggings, T-shirts, crop-tops and jackets all designed for fitness and leisure wear. It will go on sale at selected To

PerformanceApril 1, 2016

Chinese company to give Dick Cook Studios $500m for movies

BEIJING (AP) – A private film company in eastern China has agreed to invest at least $500 million in the studio of former Walt Disney boss Dick Cook to make movies to be distributed worldwide, the companies announced. 　The deal is the latest tie-up between Hollywood and Chinese companies as China is offering overseas producers more investment opportunities. Both look to increase their presence in each other’s film industries. 　Los Angeles-based Dick Cook Studios and Film Carnival, a film produce

FilmApril 1, 2016

[Around the hotels] Round up of hotel events and news

‘Brunch at the Park’ at Park Hyatt　Park Hyatt Seoul is presenting the “Brunch at the Park” promotion at its Italian restaurant Cornerstone, Cucina Italiana from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.　The brunch includes buffet-style appetizers and desserts; a main dish choice of fish of the day, steak, lobster, grilled lamb or beef burger; a glass of champagne, cocktail, or juice; and a cup of coffee or tea.　Buffet menus will change weekly. The brunch buffet is priced at 99,000 won for adults and 50,

TravelApril 1, 2016

[Album Review] Beautiful harmonies from Teddy Thompson, Kelly Jones

Teddy Thompson & Kelly Jones　“Little Windows” 　(Cooking Vinyl)　Teddy Thompson’s musical influences come from this side of the Atlantic, so his first duets album sounds nothing like the British folk rock produced more than 30 years ago by his parents, Richard and Linda.　“Little Windows” does share one thing with Richard and Linda’s music: It’s terrific.　Teddy meshes beautifully with singing partner Kelly Jones, whose background is in California power pop. Their two-part harmony is the lead instru

PerformanceApril 1, 2016

[Album Review] Cool rockin’ granddaddy Willie Nile glorifies untamed aging

Willie Nile　“World War Willie” 　(River House Records) 　Willie Nile is loud and proud. While other rockers merely strut around leathered and weathered, Nile takes one giant leap for mankind, glorifying the aging process with the party-hearty song “Grandpa Rocks.” Its featured character depicted in a Clash T-shirt and dirty combat boots. 　Soul mates, seekers -- even seductive sociopaths -- populate the storytelling in Nile’s robust new album, “World War Willie,” coproduced with Grammy winner Stewa

PerformanceApril 1, 2016

[Album Review] Cheap Trick still wants you to want them -- and you will

Cheap Trick　"Bang Zoom Crazy... Hello" 　(Big Machine)　Some classic rock bands limp into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the basis of past reputation. On the other hand, Cheap Trick -- the hard-charging, melodic rockers from Rockford, Illinois -- is racing full speed ahead into the Rock Hall, fueled by its best album in decades.　“Bang Zoom Crazy... Hello” kicks off with a blast of feedback and a classic guitar-bass-and-drum roar on “Heart on the Line,” which would make a great concert opener if

PerformanceApril 1, 2016

Droll French comedy ‘Marguerite’ puts socialite-turned-awful-opera-singer at center stage

If only love were all! Then loving what you live for -- for Ed Wood, it was the cinema -- would make you an interpretive artist of the highest order.　In “Marguerite,” the title character is working on a cruel passion-to-talent ratio. She’s a terrible, screechy, off-pitch would-be opera singer, but she loves Mozart and Bellini and Handel so much that her delusions prevent her from hearing how little she can bring to her pursuits. It’s a movie about a sweet-natured mediocrity and her social circle

FilmApril 1, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

Misconduct  (U.S.)　Opened March 30　　Drama/Thriller. Directed by Shintaro Shimosawa　　Ben (Josh Duhamel), an ambitious lawyer, becomes mired in a case of corruption and blackmail, caught between Denning (Anthony Hopkins), an unscrupulous pharmaceutical executive and his firm’s partner Abrams (Al Pacino).  　The Great Actor　(Korea)　Opened March 30　　Comedy. Directed by Seok Min-woo　　Obscure actor Jang Sung-pil (Oh Dal-soo), who has been playing a dog with no lines for nearly 20 years in a play, dream

FilmApril 1, 2016

[Weekender] Dansaekhwa, force behind globalization of Korean art

At K Auction’s Hong Kong sale on March 25, Korean monochrome paintings, dubbed Dansaekhwa, led strong sales, proving its steady popularity among international collectors. 　A 1975 abstract painting by Kim Whan-ki fetched 2.2 billion won ($1.8 million). All six paintings of Park Seo-bo were sold. A white monochrome painting by Chung Sang-hwa sold for 710 million won, higher than its highest estimate of 473 million won. 　“We could see that the Dansaekhwa boom was continuing. They attracted attentio

PerformanceApril 1, 2016

Why we can’t stop talking about ‘Produce 101’

A total of 101 girls claw their way to the top, but in the sweetest way possible -- smiling, singing “pick me” and gesturing imploringly into the camera toward an unidentified mass. At home, the viewers, or “producers,” vote for contestants they deem most worthy of becoming actual K-pop girl group members.　Titled “Produce 101,” the popular music audition reality program is coming to a close, with its final episode set to air Friday night on Mnet, wrapping up 11 weeks of buzz. Promotional image f

PerformanceMarch 31, 2016

Is Korea Asia's next casino tourism hub?

With China’s continued crackdown on corruption, revenue is plummeting at Asia’s major casino and gambling hub Macau. 　Meanwhile, the lackluster performance of Macau’s casino tourism is lending credence to Korea. Many investors argue that Korea is an ideal alternative destination that can attract tourists who want to gamble at casinos. 　Korea is pushing to increase its number of integrated resorts, which refer to large-scale resort complexes that include a wide-range of entertainment and leisure

TravelMarch 31, 2016

What to look out for at this year's Jeonju Film Festival

Jeonju International Film Festival is striving to return stronger than ever this year for its 17th installment, reinforcing its aim of showcasing some of the world’s most experimental and avant–garde films -- while also reaching out to the wider public.　It is slated to run April 28-May 7 in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, some 1 1/2 hours away from Seoul by high-speed train KTX. Most of the festival will take place on Movie Street, a street dedicated to films in Gosa-dong. This year’s edition boa

FilmMarch 31, 2016

Girls' Generation Taeyeon delays first solo concert

Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation has postponed her first solo concert to spend more time preparing for it, her agency said Thursday.　“We decided to delay the concert to the second half of this year to increase its level of perfection,” SM Entertainment said. Taeyeon (SM Entertainment)　“We’ll announce the rescheduled date as early as possible.”　Taeyeon had initially planned to hold the concert “Taeyeon, Butterfly Kiss” at the Olympic Park in southern Seoul from April 23-24.　Girls’ Generation, includi

PerformanceMarch 31, 2016