Despite the overcast weather, thousands of bookworms young and old gathered at University Park Campus at the University of Southern California to attend the 17th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The festival spanned the majority of the campus, turning the quad into a sea of white tents and enthusiastic bibliophiles. The bustling crowds enjoyed live music, games, bounce...

The release of "Transcendence" last Thursday marked the directorial debut for cinematographer Wally Pfister, known for his award-winning work in "Inception" and collaborations with Christopher Nolan, and yet another box-office bust for Johnny Depp. This latest flop for Depp joins a chorus line of expensive box-office failures such as "Secret Window," "The Lone Ranger," "Dark Shadows," and "The Rum Diary."...

Last Thursday, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and considered by many as the world's greatest modern novelist, died in Mexico City, finishing his journey into immortality. Everyone from Bill Clinton to Shakira have expressed their sadness over the passing of a man who personified the joy of crafting words. The passing of Garcia Marquez is...

Alien abductions, ghosts, demons, voodoo and government conspiracies have never created the kind of memorable, even powerful experience that was achieved by "The X-Files." Like few other TV shows it managed to tell paranormal-themed stories with intense realism and a sharp, deep sense of human drama. This gem created by producer Chris Carter not only cemented itself as an iconic...

With spring break finally here one constant will remain the same: The search for the best road trip/beach party/house party/enjoying a school-free week soundtrack. Here are 10 selections from the underground and foreground to entice your ears. 10. Motorama // "Image" (Calendar) Continuing the current Post-Punk Revival, Motorama here captivates with a ripping, brightly lit melodramatic set of surf guitar...

Hulk, Spiderman, Thor, Iron Man – you name it! Over the past few years, the love for superheroes has reached a major peak by becoming the dominating cinematic genre. Last Friday, the latest mammoth production in the comic book franchise hit theaters. After last appearing in Joss Whedon’s hugely successful “The Avengers” (2012), Captain America is back in “Captain America:...

October 27, 2006. The 2000s period was graced with an album that revisited the timeless sound that made music blossom. Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" was, and still is, one of the best albums to ever be released. It would go on to win Best Pop Vocal Album at the 50th Grammy Awards, received critical acclaim from fans and critics...

With a wonderfully dark, measured opening, the new season of HBO's "Game Of Thrones" confirmed that this is still the sharpest, most imaginative drama series on television. The season premiere, "The Two Swords," raked in HBO's highest ratings since 2007. According to Rolling Stone the show attracted 6.6 million viewers on Sunday night, with two replays boosting that number to...

Renaissance men are talented in various fields. For Michael Goode, one of his many specialties involves helping aspiring artists or established names to overcome that all-consuming demon known as stage fright. Goode is an author, musician, actor, voice-over specialist, and is currently a trumpet teacher at Santa Monica College's Performing Arts Campus. Growing up, Goode realized early on that his...

She left her head and her heart on the dance floor. Alberta Keys grew up in a rough landscape where opportunities seemed scarce and the violent, red-tinged feel of a school fight was common. But like a diamond waiting to be discovered, Keys landed at Santa Monica College in 2008 and found her home in the dance department. "I came...