A set of four phallic-shaped objects wearing various political or military hats is one of the first pieces a visitor spots upon entering the Art Building's Jack Olson Gallery. One of them wears the helmet of Darth Vader. Anthony Fontana's piece, "The...

Five months ago, the band Clientel didn't exist. But last Friday, it played in front of a crowd of roughly 200 people at Stadium Club. Jim Caine, singer/guitarist, communication major and NIU pitcher, Jake Miller, drummer and biology major, and Zach Minor,...

Thank you Hollywood, we needed that. Written by James Kearns, directed by Nick Cassavetes and presented by New Line Cinema, "John Q" addresses the poor state of health care coverage in this, the richest country in the world. While a bit melodramatic at...

Tinges of warm breezes and increasingly delayed sunsets might tell you. For the literal, the calendar offers a good indication. But for those warmed by the hot stoves of winter, four words indicate spring - "pitchers and catchers report." Baseball's professional...

Before I get into what a terrible movie "Collateral Damage" was, I have something I need to say: If I'm in the mood for an old-school action flick, the Slys, the Jean-Claudes and the Seagals of the industry just aren't going to cut it. I need the one...

G-D-E-C are the chords to nearly every punk rock song ever made. The band The Ataris even wrote a song about it called "Four Chord Wonder." So there needs to be something more that separates one punk band from the other. Local punk hero Amazing Transparent...

"Group Therapy," Concrete Blonde's first original album since 1994, is reminiscent of the band's earlier works in a way that brings any fan right back to the place he or she was mentally upon first discovering what a great band this is. The first track...

An alternative, grunge rock band meets a blind, bluesy, soul street singer. The result? Detroit-based Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise. Together since 1992, "New Ground" is its third release. It may prove hard to meld the sounds of a 30-something...

"He's the exact opposite of everything I really hate." Rarely do quotes encapsulate a movie, a plot or a philosophy. But with this off-the-cuff remark from Enid (Thora Birch), a girl who is the epitome of all that's sarcastic, witty and aimless about...

Attention future Oliver Stones and Cameron Crowes: Now's your opportunity to get your foot in the door with the fourth annual Scriptapalooza screenwriting competition. The deadline for the competition is April 15, but entries postmarked by March 1 get...

Want to travel around the world in three hours and have a blast doing it? The the Miles 4 Monty Orchestra may be your best ticket. M4MO performed Feb. 8 at The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, for an enthusiastic, abundant audience. Before the golden curtains...

This Valentine's Day marks one year for my girlfriend and me. This year we will be at Medieval Times and staying at two hotels, which is a far, far cry from last year's Valentine's Day massacre here in DeKalb. It is my intention to share this story in...