"The Elephant Vanishes: Stories" (1993) Author: Haruki Murakami Plot: A short-story collection that combines the unbelievable with the everyday. Importance: This is an accessible introduction to Murakami's work. The opening tale, "The Wind-Up Bird and...

Samuel Adams Winter Lager Grade: B The Beer: "Samuel Adams Winter Lager is a dark bock brewed with generous quantities of malted wheat," according to The Boston beer company. The Good: With a 5.8 percent alcohol content, the beer is surprisingly sweet...

10. "Harry Potter" comes to an end "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows" is released, marking an end to the wizard's saga. Fans are devastated, muggles celebrate. J.K. Rowling also announces esteemed Professor Dumbledore is in fact a homosexual. The...

Finals are going to get you down, that is a promise. Whether or not you have completely given up on some classes, or are just hanging on by a thread, the Flavor section of the Northern Star is here to help! I have talked to your teachers, and they won't...

Andy Mitchell Staff Writer "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (1979) Douglas Adams Plot: An exceedingly average man goes on an intergalactic journey. Hilarity ensues. Importance: The first novel of the greatest science-fiction satire series is also...

It is no secret that in recent years Hollywood has developed an insatiable hunger for producing movie sequels. In most cases, depending on a film franchise's potential for success, a sequel eventually leads to the filming of another sequel, therefore...

"Cloverfield" - Jan. 18 Producer J.J. Abrams brings forth his hush-hush project that has had moviegoers engaged and puzzled since its trailer debuted back in July. From the little information that is carefully revealed, the story seems to focus on a group...

"Juno" - Dec. 5 (limited) Jason Reitman's satirical masterpiece "Thank You For Smoking" is followed by this melancholic film with an all-star cast. A girl gets pregnant by her best friend and ultimately must decide what to do with her baby and with love....

Sunday night, DeKalb got funky. Real funky. The House hosted the eclectic jam-band, Garaj Mahal, which boasts more than certifiable funk grooves and hazy music. Garaj Mahal's guitarist and vocalist is NIU associate professor of music and owner of The...

Track of the day - "Thriller" By Michael Jackson Personally, I don't like to "pop, lock, or drop it," nor do I "lean with it or rock with it." In fact, now that I think about it, I wouldn't "crank that soulja boy" for any given reason. Modern mainstream...

"Awake" Rating: 8.5 / 10 Starring Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard, Lena Olin, Christopher McDonald Plot Clay Beresford (Christensen) is a young, wealthy and very successful businessman who seems to want nothing more than to make everyone...

"Enchanted" Rating: 9 / 10 Starring Amy Adams, James Marsden, Idina Menzel, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey and Rachel Covey Plot Giselle (Adams), a fair maiden, loves living in the magical world of Andalasia, where dreams come true and happily-ever-after...