Historic recognition: Washington's family tree is biracial

ARLINGTON, Virginia (AP) -- George Washington's adopted son was a bit of a ne’er-do-well by most accounts, including those of Washington himself, who wrote about his frustrations with the boy they called “Wash.”“From his infancy, I have discovered an almost unconquerable disposition to indolence in everything that did not tend to his amusements,” the founding father wrote.At the time, George Washington Parke Custis was 16 and attending Princeton, one of several schools he bounced in and out of.

CultureSept. 19, 2016

Topshop debuts faster buying at London Fashion Week

LONDON (AP) -- London Fashion Week swung into its third day Sunday with Topshop Unique debuting a new “runway to retail” model for fashion-hungry consumers, while luxury goods brand Mulberry showed off a collection rich in feminine ruffles and school uniform-inspired stripes.Some highlights from day three of the five day style extravaganza:Faster fashion at Topshop UniqueTopshop Unique’s ‘80s-inspired collection has something for everyone: Zebra prints, sassy high-slit dresses, tuxedos and hot p

Arts & DesignSept. 19, 2016

Upcoming performances worth adding to the fall calendar

With the Chuseok holiday behind us, temperatures will soon begin to drop and live performance lovers will flock indoors to enjoy nights of cultural programs. Whether one’s interests lie in dabbling in the arts scene or head-banging the night away to the latest rock hits, the upcoming fall season promises a variety of performances. The country’s two biggest ballet companies will be staging two classic programs this year: “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sleeping Beauty.”The Universal Ballet is gearing up

PerformanceSept. 18, 2016

Artifacts damaged in record-breaking Gyeongju earthquake

Numerous historical sites in Gyeongju suffered damage ranging from severe to minor cracks during the earthquake that hit the city last Monday, the largest to be recorded on the Korean Peninsula.The Cultural Heritage Administration, which is in charge of preserving the country’s cultural sites, announced Sunday that some 60 cultural assets have been damaged. Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. to 935) and located north of Busan on the southeastern coast of the peninsula, hous

CultureSept. 18, 2016

Van Gogh may have been ‘bi-polar’: researcher

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) -- Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh was possibly bipolar or had a borderline personality, but a combination of factors likely drove him to cut off his ear and commit suicide, a researcher said Friday.“We’ve come to the conclusion that it’s impossible to draw a final conclusion about his illness,” said Louis van Tilborgh, a senior researcher at Amsterdam‘s renowned Van Gogh Museum.Van Tilborgh last week led a two-day panel discussion with researchers and medical experts

PerformanceSept. 18, 2016

Snoop Dogg honored in politically charged BET Hip-Hop Awards

ATLANTA (AP) -- Snoop Dogg said he initially felt misunderstood at the beginning of his rap career while accepting his “I Am Hip Hop” honor during a politically charged BET Hip-Hop Awards show near Atlanta. Rapper Kendrick Lamar surprised attendees Saturday evening by introducing and handing Snoop the award during the 11th annual awards, which was taped. Lamar, in front of a packed crowd at the Cobb Energy Performing Centre, said the ultra-smooth West Coast rapper “paved a way into many hearts”

PerformanceSept. 18, 2016

Japan choosing 88 animation travel spots to boost tourism

TOKYO (AP) -- Eighty-eight places in Japan are going to be designated as “animation spots” to encourage tourism, using train stations, school campuses, rural shrines and other fairly everyday places where the characters of popular “manga,” or Japanese comics, are depicted. Such landmarks number in the tens of thousands, given the popularity and volume of manga in Japan. But this is being billed as the official list for any fan’s animation “pilgrimage,” as the places are known as “seichi,” or “sa

TravelSept. 18, 2016

‘Magnificent Seven’ against Trump, says Hawke

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (AFP) - US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump might well enjoy “The Magnificent Seven” movie remake, but the film’s characters would join forces to defeat him, actor Ethan Hawke quipped Saturday.“I bet Donald Trump would like the film, but he doesn’t know that what the film is actually about is people gathering together to defeat him,” Hawke told reporters at the San-Sebastian film festival in northern Spain.“I like to say that Peter Sarsgaard plays Donald Trump in

FilmSept. 18, 2016

VIXX to hold European fan meeting

K-pop boy band VIXX is heading to Europe.The six-member act is gearing up for its meet and greet “VIXX Live & Meet in Europe 2016” in Milan, Italy on Saturday and Paris, France on Sunday. This will mark the group’s first European tour since its global showcase, “The Milky Way,” which took place from 2013 to 2014. Following the fan meetings, VIXX will be performing at “2016 Feel Korea in Kazakhstan,” a two-day festival dedicated to promoting Korean pop culture taking place in Astana, Kazakhstan f

PerformanceSept. 13, 2016

‘Ham-ick’ play explores psychological turmoil of female Hamlet

With this year marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, theater stages in Seoul have seen their fair share of tribute performances of some of the playwright’s most-beloved masterpieces this year. In April, the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre opened its 2016 season with a production of “Henry IV: Part I and II,” the first time the play was performed in Seoul in 14 years.Once again bringing back the works of Shakespeare this month, the Seoul theater troupe is gearing up to present “Ham-ick

PerformanceSept. 13, 2016

Kevin Bacon loves Baconfest invite, is sorry he can't attend

The town has struck out in its attempt to bring home the bacon -- Kevin Bacon, that is.Brattleboro wanted the actor to visit for its third annual Baconfest, a celebration of all things related to the fatty cured pork strips.But he tweeted his regrets Monday, saying in a video that he won't be able to make it to Baconfest because he’s filming in Vancouver. He said he appreciated the “hilarious effort” that went into trying to get him there. The Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce launched a soci

FilmSept. 13, 2016

Lee Byung-hun recalls filming alongside Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke on ‘Magnificent Seven’

According to actor Lee Byung-hun, his character on the latest rendition of Western flick “The Magnificent Seven” is both “stylish and weighty.” 　While it is not every day that an Asian actor stars as one of the main protagonists in a Hollywood blockbuster, Lee says that he was not too preoccupied with the nature of the role.“I don’t necessary prefer playing a villain or a protagonist,” he said at the press screening for the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Southpaw”), on Monday in southern Seou

FilmSept. 12, 2016

Modern meets traditional in Gansong exhibition

A towering piece titled “Between Red” by painter Lee Se-hyun stands at the entrance of the “Old & New” exhibition at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.The striking yet detailed oil on canvas painting portrays rows of crimson, rolling mountains and stacks of smoke. It is an homage to the Joseon-era artist Jeong Seon, frequently referred to by his pen name Gyeomjae, who was active in the mid-18th century and is renowned for his realistic representations of Korean landscapes.While the reference to tradit

PerformanceSept. 12, 2016

EXO and Yoo Jae-suk to release collaborative single

K-pop boy band EXO and popular comedian and show host Yoo Jae-suk have come together for a new collaborative project.　The unlikely partners will be releasing a samba-inspired dance track, “Dancing King,” through S.M. Entertainment’s digital music platform S.M. Station, according to the management agency Monday. S.M. Station aims to release a new collaborative single by the company’s artists and non-S.M. artists every week for a year.　 Yoo also made an appearance at EXO’s concert “EXO PLANET #3 -

PerformanceSept. 12, 2016

Mamamoo to release new single

K-pop girl group Mamamoo is gearing up for a new release.　The four-member act will be unveiling its new single “New York” next week and has plans to return to the spotlight as a group in October, Mamamoo’s public relations agency announced Monday. 　Sporting leather pants and skirts as well as new hairstyles in the promotional poster for the new song, the band will be showing a different side in the upcoming single. 　 Most recently, the girl group completed its first solo concert, and released it

PerformanceSept. 12, 2016