David Bowie art collection worth over $41mn at auction

LONDON (AFP) -- A London auction of music legend David Bowie‘s art collection has ended with sales totaling almost 33 million pounds ($41.5 million), after exhibits of the works drew record crowds, Sotheby’s said Saturday.Every item in the collection, which included over 130 works of modern and contemporary British art, was sold in a series of sales as buyers’ enthusiasm for the late musician’s collection exceeded expectations.Exhibitions of the works in London attracted some 51,470 visitors, th

PerformanceNov. 13, 2016

Sting reopens Paris Bataclan amid tears, cheers and controversy

PARIS (AFP) -- Rock star Sting on Saturday reopened the Bataclan, the Paris concert hall where jihadists massacred 90 people, with a hugely symbolic and emotional show to mark the first anniversary of France’s bloodiest terror attack.But in a sensational turn of events, the US group Eagles of Death Metal who were on stage when the bloodshed started on November 13, 2015, were turned away from the door.“They came, I threw them out -- there are things you can’t forgive,” Bataclan co-director Jules

PerformanceNov. 13, 2016

‘K2’ wraps up with top ratings

“The K2,” a star-studded political drama that delved into the essence of power and people’s hunger for it, wrapped up Saturday with a 6.2 percent viewership, according to Nielsen Korea. 　The 16-episode show presented the tangled web of power involving political parties, presidential secrets, the opulent wealth of Korea’s chaebol families and the media. Saturday’s final episode topped all cable channel viewership during its 8 p.m. time slot.  Ji Chang-wook stars in "The K2." (tvN)“The K2” stars a

TelevisionNov. 13, 2016

‘Sound of Your Heart’ web series starts off to keen response

“The Sound of Your Heart,” a web series based on the popular eponymous webtoon, is off to a good start, reaching nearly 10 million views in just six days after its release.　Short snippets of the series are being uploaded on Naver TV Cast since Nov. 7. Two new clips each will be uploaded Mondays and Thursdays until Dec. 9, when the full series will begin airing on KBS. As of Sunday, the show had reached over 9.68 million views. The number is the highest for web dramas launched on Naver TV Cast so

TelevisionNov. 13, 2016

Jeju film fest opens with ‘I, Daniel Blake’

The 12th Jeju Film Festival opened Saturday on Korea’s southernmost island.The annual film festival is being held through Saturday at Lotte Cinema Jeju in Jeju City. This year’s opening film was English director Ken Loach’s social drama “I, Daniel Blake,” which nabbed the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May. An exhibition is highlighting Korean director Kim Jee-woon’s works, including “A Bittersweet Life,” Kim’s 2005 crime drama featuring actor Lee Byung-hun as a gangster who starts a

FilmNov. 13, 2016

Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman says reading key to his success

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Frederick Wiseman is not a Hollywood guy. The filmmaker has been quietly making documentaries from his home base in Cambridge, Massachusetts, since 1967, exploring such subjects as meat production, welfare, a ski town and a hospital for the criminally insane.Though none of his films received Academy Awards bids, Wiseman accepted an honorary Oscar Saturday at the film academy’s eighth annual Governors Awards. He is being recognized alongside action star Jackie Chan, film edito

FilmNov. 13, 2016

Korean musicians pen protest song

Veteran musicians Lee Seung-hwan, Lee Hyori and Jeon In-kwon joined hands to come up with a new single whose title loosely translates to “Tossed Out on the Streets.” Written by composer Lee Kyu-ho, the song seeks to console a nation engrossed by the political scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime associate Choi Soon-sil, a civilian accused of meddling in state affairs. “The song aims to assuage the citizens, who have been left out in the cold, wintry streets,” announced Lee

PerformanceNov. 11, 2016

[Eye Interview] Rinpoche sheds light on happiness in turbulent times

Frustration is now running deep in South Korea, with the scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil. Furthermore, uncertainties about the country’s diplomacy and economy are also rising after Republican Donald Trump’s upset win in the US presidential election. The unexpected developments at home and abroad are fueling public anxiety and discontent.However, for Tibetan monk Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, the biggest source of worry is less about the turbulent su

PeopleNov. 11, 2016

[Weekender] Where to experience traditional Korean liquor hands-on

For those eager to learn about the history and making of traditional Korean alcohol, Seoul has a number of places dedicated to showcasing local liquor. One such place is The Sool Gallery, nestled in Seoul’s traditional neighborhood and tourist hotspot of Insa-dong. The Sool Gallery is a traditional Korean liquor exhibition and tasting room that opened its doors last year. Catering largely to tourists and foreign travelers, the gallery provides educational programs about traditional drinks run by

FoodNov. 11, 2016

[Weekender] From Grandma’s home to store shelves, Boksoondoga makgeolli goes global

ULSAN -- A recipe for homemade rice wine that started out as one humble grandmother’s hobby is now well on its way to becoming one of the country’s top brands. Architect Kim Min-kyu and mathematician Kim Min-kook took their grandmother’s recipe for Korean rice wine -- known as makgeolli -- and established Boksoondoga brewery last year just outside Ulsan.Min-kook focused on the science of said makgeolli, systemizing a larger-scale fermentation process, while his older brother Min-kyu focused on t

TravelNov. 11, 2016

Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen dead at 82

Leonard Cohen, the baritone-voiced Canadian singer-songwriter who seamlessly blended spirituality and sexuality in songs like "Hallelujah," "Suzanne" and "Bird on a Wire," has died at age 82, his son said Thursday."My father passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles," Adam Cohen said in a statement. "He was writing up until his last moments with his unique brand of humor."Cohen, also renowned as a poet, novelist and aspiring Zen monk, blended folk music with a darker, sexual edge that wo

PerformanceNov. 11, 2016

[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Bangeo Festival on JejudoThe annual Bangeo Festival returns to Moseulpo Port this month. This popular festival is held every year in November on the southern island of Jejudo. It celebrates the yellowtail fish, which is a prized seasonal delicacy of the area. Visitors can try fishing for yellowtail as well as sample other Jejudo specialties such as grilled black pig and galchi jorim (spicy braised white fish). Festival participants can not only enjoy fresh bangeo at the festival, but can also pa

TravelNov. 11, 2016

[Album Review] STRFKR’s relaxed flow fits 4th album’s dance grooves

STRFKR“Being No One, Going Nowhere” (Polyvinyl/ADA)Frontman Josh Hodges takes command in STRFKR’s fourth album, shaping the dance grooves into a relaxed, joyous flow. Written during a stint in the California desert outpost of Joshua Tree, Hodges’ “small and slow” feelings of solitude imbue his songwriting with a coat of easygoing exuberance.The sounds across “Being No One, Going Nowhere” stay within the realm of recognizable electro pop, their graceful trot belying some of the heaviness of the l

PerformanceNov. 11, 2016

[Album Review] Love helps Jim James survive in ‘Eternally Even’

Jim James“Eternally Even” (ATO/Capitol) My Morning Jacket’s Jim James takes a melancholy turn on “Eternally Even,” a dreamy if somber overview of some of life’s pressures and challenges.The focus of James’ attention is clear from the opening track “Hide in Plain Sight,” companionship and camaraderie acting as small-scale but effective balms to the meanness in this world.Considering there are five drummers, including the legendary Jim Keltner, credited on “Same Old Lie,” the song is a model of re

PerformanceNov. 11, 2016

[Album Review] Susan Boyle has music formula down in new album

Susan Boyle“A Wonderful World”(Syco/Columbia)How to properly harness the skill of Susan Boyle is something of a pop riddle. What’s the best way to deploy the soaring voice that comes out of this shy, British, middle-aged woman? Jazz? Broadway show tunes? Christmas songs?Producer Steve Anderson thinks he’s cracked it: Give Boyle an old pop tune, surround her with an orchestra and let her start quietly before the musicians crank up and she ends up belting behind a gale of music.His approach seemed

PerformanceNov. 11, 2016

[Highlights] Arts and entertainment calendar

Classical MusicA scene from Giuseppe Verdi’s “Macbeth” (Sejong Center)“Macbeth Opera”: The Sejong Center is gearing up to host its latest opera production, Verdi’s operatic rendition of the Shakespeare classic “Macbeth.” Verdi’s rendition of the Shakespearean tragedy is often hailed as the best of the composer’s earliest works, expressing the cruelties and ambitions of humans through a powerful score. The production will star baritones Yang June-mo and Kim Tae-hyun as Macbeth; and sopranos Oh Mi

PerformanceNov. 11, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

Split(Korea)Opened Nov. 9Drama. Directed by Choi Gook-heeChul-jong (Yoo Ji-tae) is a former bowling superstar who has lost his skills to an unfortunate accident. While scraping by as a gambler and a swindler, he meets genius bowler Young-hoon (Lee David). The two partner up to make big money against gamblers in the bowling scene.Ouija: Origin of Evil(US)Opened Nov. 9Horror. Directed by Mike FlanaganWidowed mother Alice Zander (Elizabeth Reaser) invites a spirit of evil into her house by accident

FilmNov. 11, 2016

[Around the Hotels] Roundup of hotel news

Takeout turkey at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering a takeout menu of roast turkey for the Thanksgiving holiday, until Nov. 20. The set includes a roast turkey weighing 5 kilograms and stuffed with onions, along with side dishes. It comes with cranberry sauce, sweet potato with praline streusel; maple-glazed baked ham; Brussels sprouts and bacon; baked macaroni and cheese; corn on the cob; maple and pecan carrots; roast pumpkin with raisins and sunflow

FoodNov. 11, 2016