[Weekender] ‘Designers should be socially responsible’

Designers should be more than a beautifier, but a person who makes improvements for the world, said Daniel Kim, principal of Daylight Design. By following the “design thinking process” to draw out user-based solutions, designers can improve the community, the environment and the world, said Kim, who heads the Asian division of the San Francisco-based design consultancy.Kim started his career at IDEO, the cradle of “design thinking,” moved on to work for online game developer Nexon America and th

Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014

[Weekender] Art toys dazzle kidults

Toys are no longer just for children. The website of Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, has separate pages for parents and collectors. Male adults go to Lego cafes where people can play with Lego sets and buy them.The designs of Barbies and Lego for adults are highly refined and precise to meet the grown-ups’ tastes. Such toys produced in small quantities by artists and designers are called art toys, or designer toys.Art toys are immensely popular among kidults, or adults with interests traditio

Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014

Calendar

Pop music“Singing in the Smile with Michael Bolton”: American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton is gearing up for two solo concerts in Seoul. The multi-Grammy Award-winning artist is the voice behind some of the greatest American rock ballads, including “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “Said I Loved You … But I Lied.” In Bolton’s illustrious musical career, which spans nearly four decades, he has sold more than 75 million records worldwide with more than 15

CultureNov. 21, 2014

‘Beyond the Lights’ director gave film’s star a crash course in diva

A 90210 ZIP Code. A 12-meter interior waterfall. Private movie theater. Rooftop deck equipped for 500 people.The $14 million Beverly Hills mansion had all the trappings of a verifiable celebrity home. With its antiseptic glass and concrete and steel, it looked just like the kind of place the new-money pop star at the center of “Beyond the Lights” would live.An unruly group had recently decamped from the residence, and their all-night ragers had left neighbors irked. Now a film crew blocking stre

FilmNov. 21, 2014

Eyelike: Florida Georgia Line fun on 2nd album

Florida Georgia Line fun on 2nd albumFlorida Georgia Line“Anything Goes”(Republic Nashville)Busting out with a record-breaking country single, as Florida Georgia Line did with its multiplatinum smash, “Cruise,” doesn’t always ensure long-term success. But “Anything Goes,” the duo’s second album, suggests they have enough talent and ideas to get past the backlash that comes with overexposure. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley keep the mood fun and grooving, with producer Joey Moi bringing plenty of

PerformanceNov. 21, 2014

Box Office: Late Spring, Set Me Free, Cart

Late Spring (Korea)Opened Nov. 20Drama. Directed by Cho Keun-hyunIn rural 1960s South Jeolla Province, prominent sculptor Jun-koo (Park Young-woo) finds out that he is slowly dying of progressive total paralysis, he loses his will to live. In order to spark his artistic passion and help him find meaning in life, his wife Jung-sook (Kim Seo-hyung) hires Min-kyung (Lee Yoo-young) to sit for him as a nude model. With the help of Min-kyung, Jun-koo regains his passion and rediscovers a sense of beau

FilmNov. 21, 2014

When in Aspen, ski, shop, dine and hunt for shrines on the mountain

ASPEN, Colorado ― Stevie Ray Vaughan is hidden somewhere here on Ajax Mountain, and we’re on a mission to find him.Finally, following directions scrawled onto a scrap of paper, we steer our skis toward a little hollow in a grove of trees. We dip into the hushed alcove and find a single laminated picture of the Texas blues guitarist tacked to the bark of a towering pine.The Vaughan memorial is one of about 70 shrines that have popped up here in the past 30 years. Some are simple, just a few photo

TravelNov. 21, 2014

Alamo’s mythic past lives comfortably with San Antonio’s lively present

SAN ANTONIO ― The most famous building in Texas is smaller than you expect, and it’s about as pretty as your average California mission. In fact, it was once a mission, though these days it stands across the street from an unholy row of Ripley’s and Guinness tourist operations. You can cover it in about two hours.Yes, it’s the Alamo. And yes, it’s worth remembering ― and maybe some rethinking too.This is where William Travis, David “Davy” Crockett, Jim Bowie and about 200 other rebels died fight

TravelNov. 21, 2014

Sweet treats at Garosugil

Sweets can be found in almost every nook and cranny of Garosugil and its adjoining streets.In fact, one can practically gauge the latest dessert trends of the city by taking a stroll through the scenic area that is located in Seoul’s Sinsa-dong. There one will come across at least three different takes on soft serve, uber-popular roll cakes, variations on the bingsu and other delights. One will also find sister shops of established dessert stops, like sibling stores Pumpkin Terrier Cake Shop and

FoodNov. 21, 2014

A guide to Thanksgiving turkey labeling

Once upon a time, buying your Thanksgiving turkey was easy. You went to your neighborhood grocery store and picked up whichever frozen bowling ball they were selling. No more. Today, a high-end grocery may sell as many as a half-dozen types of turkey, and telling one from another takes a bit of homework.What’s the difference between frozen and fresh? It’s not as obvious as you think. And then you’ve got organic, free-range, pastured and heritage birds.Here’s a handy guide to some of the definiti

FoodNov. 21, 2014

Around the hotels

Gala dinner by Michelin-starred chef at The PlazaThe Plaza will provide a gala dinner prepared by Italian chef Philippe Leveille, whose restaurant Miramonti L’altro in Italy received two Michelin stars for 13 years. French-born Leveille is known to add a French edge to his Italian dishes. Leveille will use luxury ingredients such as caviar, truffles and foie gras for the gala dinners on Nov. 26 and 28, accompanied by Albert Bichot wines. The first gala dinner will be held at 7 p.m. at the Maple

FoodNov. 21, 2014

Singer-songwriter Choi Gonne talks ‘I was, I am, I will’

After releasing her debut EP in 2010, local indie singer-songwriter Choi Gonne has spent the last four years bringing her music around the world and taking all the leisurely yet methodical steps she needed to perfect her soon-to-be-released first full-length album, “I was, I am, I will.” Gonne unveiled a number of her newest singles during a press showcase held at the KT&G Sangsang Madang on Thursday, where she admitted to having recorded the entire 13-track album using only one-take sessions wi

PerformanceNov. 21, 2014

[Newsmaker] Will price controls save publishing?

Korea will introduce a new book price control system on Friday in an effort to salvage its moribund publishing industry. But whether it will be sufficient to turn around Koreans’ dwindling interest in books remains an open question. “The new measure is about taking the bubble off book prices and bringing about a healthier ecosystem in Korea’s book industry,” said Kim Hee-bum, vice minister of culture, sports and tourism. “It is intended to plug loopholes in the existing regulations, which have l

CultureNov. 20, 2014

Author recounts friendship with late President Roh

Not many people can say that they were close with the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, even though he was known for his folksy disposition and down-to-earth upbringing. Kim Soo-kyung, a 65-year-old woman of many titles including poet, businesswoman and book editor, however, confidently refers to Roh (1946-2009) as one of her friends. They first met at a Korean barbecue restaurant in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, in 1989. They ate together, went to a noraebang (karaoke) with other friends and talked

BooksNov. 20, 2014