Eva Longoria shows passion for acting, activism and philanthropy

At a notoriously schmoozy West Hollywood lunch spot, former “Desperate Housewife” Eva Longoria pays far more attention to the soft-spoken busboy than any of the nipped and tucked Hollywood types vying for her attention.“Mi amor!” she greets the slight Latino man as he approaches her table with a coffee refill. He converses with her in Spanish as if the two have known each other for ages. “How is the family?” she asks. “Your son is going to UCLA now? Felicidades!”After he leaves, Longoria beams.

FilmSept. 5, 2014

Eyelike: R&B singer Tank unbalanced on ‘Stronger’

R&B singer Tank unbalanced on ‘Stronger’Tank“Stronger”(Atlantic Records)Tank made a mark in R&B over the years for earnestly pouring his heart out on ballads such as “Maybe I Deserve” and “Please Don’t Go,” as well as writing songs for Jamie Foxx, Aaliyah and others.Showing passion is Tank’s strong suit, but the singer lacks some of that fervor on his latest release, “Stronger.” He sounds like a different version of himself on the first half of his sixth album, and that’s not a good thing. On th

PerformanceSept. 5, 2014

Box Office

Lucy (France)Opened Sept. 3SF, Action. Directed by Luc BessonTwenty-five-year-old Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) lives an ordinary life in Taiwan before she is abducted by Mr. Jang (Choi Min-sik), a brutal drug lord of the town. She is forced to serve as a drug mule to smuggle a synthetic drug called CPH4 to Europe by having it sewn into her abdomen. But the drug pouch accidently breaks inside her body, mysteriously giving her superhuman powers, including telepathy, psychokinesis and the ability to e

FilmSept. 5, 2014

Hot pepper town swept by heat wave

Though the hot peppers of Korea may not be as famous as the habanero of Mexico or bhut jolokia of northeast India, one local variety hangs high above the rest. When served on the stem at restaurants, to be dipped in doenjang sauce, customers are warned that it’s a Cheongyang pepper. Often, these warnings come with a touch of affection and pride in these sometimes green, sometimes red firebrands, called “gochu” in Korean.After many scorching encounters with these peppers in restaurants across the

TravelSept. 5, 2014

In Denver, finding people willing to share car, room and meal

DENVER ― Meet my friends Joanna, Jo and Brenton, and Beth. They really helped me out on my recent trip to Denver.Joanna lent me her car. Jo gave up his room and crashed in Brenton’s room so I would have a place to sleep. Beth invited me for a lovely dinner.Thing is, I didn’t know any of them before my recent trip here.These trusting souls are part of the sharing economy, also called collaborative consumption or peer-to-peer sharing, which may be the hottest trend in travel since the birth of fre

TravelSept. 5, 2014

Whitewater, wineries add to Boise vacation value

With easy access to multiple national forests and recreation areas, an extensive Basque community with food and cultural offerings and an impressive urban green space, the city of Boise, Idaho, has a surprising number of experiences to offer the high-energy traveler. And with direct flights from cities such as Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and Denver, it’s easier to get to than many people might realize. It’s also particularly affordable, allowing you to make the most of your vacation dollars.Ac

TravelSept. 5, 2014

Around the hotels

Fall package at Lotte Hotel Seoul Lotte Hotel Seoul is presenting a fall package that includes a picnic at a royal palace in Seoul. The “walk package,” priced at 280,000 won, includes a one-night stay in a superior room, breakfast for two, a picnic box containing four pieces of bread and two cups of coffee, and an admission ticket to four major historical sites in Seoul, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine. The hotel will hold Oktoberfest 2014 from Sept. 20 to Oc

FoodSept. 5, 2014

Panda Express opens in Seoul

Korean staff present sample dishes during a celebration marking the opening of the first Asian branch of Panda Express in Seoul on Wednesday.Panda Express, a chain of restaurants serving American-Chinese cuisine, launched its first Asian branch in Seoul on Wednesday. The global restaurant chain joined hands with Seoul-based SF Innovation Co. to open Korea’s first Panda Express in the basement of Lotte Department Store in downtown Seoul. SF Innovation is a Korean restaurant business well-known fo

FoodSept. 5, 2014

Perks of pickling

It used to be that pickling was something only your grandmother did. But that doesn’t apply anymore.Younger generations are embracing pickling as a way to explore their interest in food, preserve the season’s bounty and cut their food budgets.These days, pickling is so trendy that it’s even been parodied by the comedy show “Portlandia.” In one skit, the actors’ penchant for pickling gets out of control as they drop everything from parking tickets to dead birds into jars of vinegar.Jokes aside, p

FoodSept. 5, 2014

Wanjajeon (pan fried meatballs in egg batter)

Wanjajeon (pan fried meatballs in egg batter) (Korean Bapsang)Most Korean homes make several types of jeon dishes (pan-fried battered food) for their holiday feasts. Wanjajeon is among the popular choices. Meatballs are called gogi wanja in Korean and used in many traditional dishes such as soups or hotpots. When they are egg-battered and pan-fried, they are called wanjajeon. They are also commonly called “donggeurangttaeng,” meaning “a round thing.”To make jeon, the meatballs are gently pressed

FoodSept. 5, 2014

YG trainee rapper Bobby wins ‘Show Me the Money’

YG trainee Bobby proved he has what it takes to be a hip-hop artist Thursday night by beating out underground rapper Iron to win the third season of Mnet rap survival program “Show Me the Money.” It was an electrifying final episode of the competition, kicking off with the final three contestants squaring off in two matchups ― Brand New team’s C Jamm versus Iron and then Bobby versus Iron in the final ― with the theme being money for the semifinals. In the last semifinal matchup, C Jamm hit the

Sept. 5, 2014

Enjoy traditional Chuseok at Namsangol

Poster for “Five Noblemen’s Harvest Feast.” (Namsangol Hanok Village)For those wanting to enjoy a traditional Chuseok holiday feast, Namsangol Hanok Village at the foot of Mount Namsan in Seoul is holding a two-day festival. The village consists of five hanok (traditional Korean houses) of the Joseon era (1392-1910).Titled “Five Nobleman’s Harvest Feast,” the event showcases a traditional Chuseok feast at yangban (nobles) residence Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Highlights of the feas

PerformanceSept. 5, 2014

(Photo News) EunB’s funeral

A mourner carries a picture of EunB of the K-pop girl group Ladies’ Code during her funeral service at Korea University Hospital, Seoul, Friday. EunB, whose real name is Koh Eun-bi, died in a car crash on Wednesday. She was 22. (Yonhap)

PerformanceSept. 5, 2014

Jaejoong’s fashion brand to be released in China

The fashion brand Moldir, closely linked to the Korean pop icon Jaejoong, is set to join hands with the fashion brand Deconetishion.The two firms are currently in talks on founding a joint venture targeting China’s fashion market, according to local news reports Thursday. Deconetishion is to be in charge of product manufacturing and marketing in China.Moldir was launched in September 2013, with Jaejoong owning the largest number of shares and serving as the art director for its products, which i

Sept. 5, 2014

Jay Park makes confident comeback with new song ‘So Good’

The singer Jay Park revealed his stage performance for his new song “So Good” for the first time on the Mnet music program “M Countdown” on Thursday.“So Good” was written by Jay Park himself, inspired by the U.S. singer Michael Jackson.The style of the song and dance moves may be a homage to the singer, but Park managed to show his own style in the performance with confidence, wowing his fans.“So Good” is the title song of Jay Park’s new album, “Evolution,” which was released on Sept. 1. By Kim

Sept. 5, 2014

[Herald Interview] Making life choices through acting

Simon Abkarian, a French-Armenian actor who played Col. Amanulla in “Kaboul Kitchen,” flew from the ongoing Venice International Film Festival to receive the grand prize at the Seoul International Drama Awards. It is his first visit to Korea.Reflecting on his diverse roles in films, TV dramas and plays over the past 30 years, the 52-year-old actor said he considers two things when selecting a drama.“First, we actors have to work and make a living, at least for me,” said Abkarian. “But second, an

TelevisionSept. 4, 2014

[Herald Interview] Small changes can send big message

Norwegian actress and director of “Mammon” Cecile Mosli, the Best Miniseries award winner, says she believes that small changes from the perceived norms can make a statement. “I try to put different people from different countries, backgrounds and genders all together in my works,” said Mosli. “For example, if the role is written for a male part, I change it to female,” which makes it more interesting added. “I like putting things upside down, and this sometimes carries out the message I want to

TelevisionSept. 4, 2014

Ladies’ Code single tops charts after EunB’s death

Ladies’ Code. (Polaris Entertainment)Following the news of the tragic death of K-pop girl group Ladies’ Code member EunB, fans went on to purchase the act’s past single “I’m Fine Thank You” to propel the group to the top of the charts. As a way to offer their condolences, Ladies’ Code fans went online to purchase the year-old single “I’m Fine Thank You” from the group’s second EP “Pretty Pretty;” and as of Thursday morning, the song has topped all nine of the major online music streaming sites.T

Sept. 4, 2014

Seo Taiji’s comeback concert sells out in minutes

Seo Taiji. (Seo Taiji Co.)The first round of ticket sales for popular veteran K-pop icon Seo Taiji’s upcoming “Christmalowin” comeback concert sold out within a matter of minutes, according to a statement released Thursday by Seo Taiji Co. Exactly 6,000 tickets for the show went on sale on Wednesday at 8 p.m., and sold out within 20 minutes.The Christmas-Halloween hybrid concert to be held on Oct. 18 at Olympic Stadium at Jamsil Sports Complex in Seoul marks Seo’s official return to the stage. P

Sept. 4, 2014