Dating is hard. It’s messy, aggravating, exhilarating, exasperating and irritating. Want to make it even harder? Try being a homosexual person going through the same process in a society that often shuns such a lifestyle in subtle and not-so-subtle...

Sweeps brings you the story of a man who never was an also-ran; who gave NIU all that he had and now has to say goodbye. That’s kind of sad, but don’t fear - open mic will be back next year. {Editor’s note: Apologies for that. Mark Pietrowski lost...

Just because a few newcomers in the rock world (cold stare in the direction of Jet) have soiled the names of a few classic bands doesn’t give critics an excuse to bash all acts wearing their influences as proud badges. If done right, embracing influences...

When I work out, there is always at least one person who is yapping on his or her cell phone while they are trying to lose weight. Do you think I should say something to them? No, I do not. These people obviously have physical trainers motivating them...

The Weekender you know and are holding in your hands right now is about the same age as most NIU students. First dubbed Spotlight when it premiered on Thursday, September 8, 1983, the eight-page entertainment section was considered a bit risky. "Our newsroom...

As we come down the stretch (and stench) of the school year, it’s time to start locking down plans for summer. Some will choose the path of Kevin Federline and do absolutely nothing, mooch off of more successful loved ones and scratch their genitals...

It’s a weekend of shows for Otto’s Niteclub, 118 E. Lincoln Highway. Motion City Soundtrack will hit DeKalb tonight along with Cardinal Sun, Small Towns Burn A Little Slower and Somerset. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. No strangers...

The smell of spray paint looms in the air and party lights flash all around. From the turntables, to the black-lit bar and right down to the stylized murals -this is one serious party pad. The roommates of 1111 Spiros Court all have one thing in common:...

The pope, Terri Schiavo and Sean Connery: what do these three people have in common? They’re all dead. Well, Connery isn’t, but his career is. Some would say the three are with the man upstairs. To those people the man upstairs is good. But for me,...

If "Sin City’s" $28 million box office take means anything, it means that film noir is back. But you don’t have to wait for Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller to get back to the drawing board. You can check out some old classics to satisfy your appetite....

It can be said that bands and artists that sound the same all emerge around the same time as one another. In 2001, it was the year of the "The" bands. The Hives. The Vines. The Strokes. Every band that graced the scene needed an indefinite article. 2002...

Over the last few years, Beanie Sigel has been better known for his legal trouble than his music, films or State Property clothing line. Sigel also switched labels when Damon Dash and Jay-Z split in different directions. Dash took Sigel under his wing...