The hearth can sell the home: Fireplaces available in many styles

HACKENSACK, New Jersey ― Vikki Ruisch had a fireplace in her house, but it was in a room her family barely used. So during a remodeling project last year, she had a fireplace built in her heavily trafficked living room, where everyone could enjoy it.Ruisch figured it would add value to her Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, house, but that wasn’t really an incentive. She grew up having a fireplace in her home and just wanted one, or two. She also had one put in the master bedroom.“I don’t know anyone w

March 19, 2014

American accordionist Pauline Oliveros brings ‘deep listening’ to Korea

American musician Pauline Oliveros first picked up the accordion when she was only 9 years old. Now, more than 70 years later, she still hasn’t put it down. Oliveros’ love of the accordion had not transcended into her love of music, but her curiosity of sound and how people hear and process noise. When she was 16, she discovered her inner hearing abilities as a musician and decided to become a composer. This became the launching point for her new love affair with listening. “It became clear to m

March 17, 2014

Petition starts on stolen seals in U.S.

A group of Korean-Americans have started an online petition asking U.S. President Barack Obama to bring a set of Korean national treasures ― apparently stolen by U.S. nationals and currently under the custody of U.S. authorities ― to Korea when he visits the country in April. The motion, posted March 13 on We the People, an online petition site of the White House, calls for the retrieval of a total of 11 national seals and royal court signets from the Joseon era (1392-1910), Korea’s last ruling

March 16, 2014

London music festival to highlight Korean artists

This summer, Korean music will have its moment in London. A series of events showcasing Korean classical music, pop and gugak are planned throughout the city as part of the annual City of London Festival, which will take place June 22-July 17. It is a brand new project that the festival is starting since a new director ― Paul Gudgin who led the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1999 to 2007 ― took charge in April last year. “We are creating a strand in the 2014 City of London Festival called ‘Seoul

March 16, 2014

Around the Hotels

Special dinner package at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s signature restaurant The Lounge is presenting a special dinner package for couples looking for a romantic night out together. The “Special Moments at the Park” package features a three-course dinner for two and half a bottle of premium champagne prepared at a special window table decorated with flowers and candles. Upon request, a personalized letter can be placed inside the menu as a special surprise for someone. The package also incl

March 14, 2014

[Newsmaker] Korean Catholics deserve spotlight

It’s official: Pope Francis is coming to Korea. His visit was widely predicted. In multiple news reports, sources at the Vatican and Seoul had said the papal visit was highly likely. Still, the announcement by the Vatican on Monday was a source of surprise, and of course joy, for many Catholics here because the holy man decided to commit the entire five days of his trip to Asia, his first as pontiff, to Korea. Since becoming pope a year ago, he has received invitations from a number of countries

March 12, 2014

It’s hats off, and everything else, as nudist resort marks 50 years

ORLANDO, Florida ― Hans Stein is 86 years old and ― except for tennis shoes ― naked as the day he was born.Fit and looking much younger than his years, he has a simple explanation: “It’s the nudist lifestyle!”Stein and his wife, 81-year old Lisa, are part of a cadre of longtime members at Cypress Cove, a nudist resort near Kissimmee, Florida, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.Like the Steins ― who are German-born Canadians ― a number of members are foreign-born, and they use words such

March 12, 2014

‘Hola, Salsa’: Disputed origins of Latin music’s most popular genre

Latin music as we know it comes from a harmonious marriage of African drums and Spanish guitar, and salsa, perhaps the most popular and complex of all Latin musical genres, is no exception. However, the origin of salsa remains a hot topic of debate.Yet the exotic allure of its exciting sound is immensely popular all over the world, including right here in South Korea.The sizzling Afro-Cuban rhythms of son montuno, guaguanco, mambo, cha-cha-cha, guaracha and rumba, together with plena and charang

March 12, 2014

Three operas, three different charms

The arrival of spring means the opening of an opera season. Kicking off this spring opera lineup are three classic operas, each with a different color and charm: comedy, tragedy and something in between. ‘Don Giovanni’The National Opera Company of Korea brings an experimental, small-scale production of Mozart’s classic opera “Don Giovanni” to Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. Taking place at a 1,000-seat CJ Towol Theater at the center, which opens this spring after renovation, the production

March 9, 2014

[Weekender] Reliving good old days

When 41-year-old housewife Kim Soo-yeon recalls the early 1990s, it is with dreamy eyes and a hint of excitement in her voice. Her hero, late singer Kim Kwang-seok still roamed the stage, job prospects were bright as Korea’s economy continued to grow, and she was ready to enjoy what the world had to offer. “Those were my golden days. Back then, I felt like I could achieve anything,” Kim said. By the time she finished college in the late 1990s, however, the Asian financial crisis had struck and s

March 7, 2014

[Weekender] Retro fever sweeps Korean consumers

Twenty-four-year-old college student Rho Jyong-ho has been all about retro these days.“Lately, I’ve been spending the majority of my weekends watching movies and dramas that are set in the 1990s,” said Rho. “Although I can relate to some things from when I was growing up, there are a lot more things that I can’t recall, probably because I was too young.”Rho is one of many people in Korea who are currently immersed in “retro fever.”The craze over retro products and culture that has been spreading

March 7, 2014

Calendar

Classical musicLondon Symphony Orchestra: For the ninth time, the London Symphony Orchestra will be playing in Korea, this time with conductor Daniel Harding. It will hold two concerts at Seoul Arts Center, on March 10 and 11. The first concert will feature works by Mussorgsky, Stravinsky and Schubert. For the second one, the orchestra will play Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with soloist Kim Sun-wook, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan.” Ticket prices range from 60,000 won to 300,000 won. F

March 7, 2014

Buddhism puts everything on show

From temple food to stationery items imprinted with Buddha characters, everything about Korean Buddhism is on display at an exhibition in Seoul, offering a glimpse of how the religion is evolving to cater to modern-day Koreans. “I hope that this exhibition provides an opportunity to reflect on (the historical and current state of) Buddhist culture and look toward what the future holds,” Ven. Jaseung, chief of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, said during the opening ceremony for Buddhism Expo

March 6, 2014

Square dancing heals the heart

LOS ANGELES ― Dan Lawyer was on the dance floor with a woman who wasn’t his wife.Betty Lawyer would usually lend her husband out for at least one dance a night. The women outnumber the men by so much at Cowtown Square Dance Center, she had to. But tonight, she was sidelined by a knee injury and had to be satisfied with watching the other members of the Cowtown Singles dancing club weave and circle and shuffle across the hardwood floor, reclaimed from an old wooden boxcar.Many had danced for so l

March 5, 2014

Calendar

ExhibitionsThe Korea Galleries Art Fair: This art fair, hosted by the Galleries Association of Korea, will be held from March 6 to 9 at Coex, presenting artworks of both emerging and established artists of each participating gallery. The art fair will be showcasing more artists than last year as each gallery may introduce its top five artists. Last year’s art fair allowed galleries to present three artists each. A total of 470 artists will participate in the 32nd art fair, displaying diverse sty

Feb. 28, 2014