Monday, December 22, 2025

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Features

FEATURES

The red carpet

What is the academy thinking? The phrase “Best Motion Picture” nominee will diminish in value now that there are 10 Best Motion Picture nominees; it isn’t as much of an accomplishment to be nominated.

FEATURES

And the winner is...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to change the rules on us, so instead of nominating five of the hundreds (or more) movies that come out each year, they are putting 10 films up for the chance of winning the coveted award for Best Motion Picture. It also is changing the way in which it elects the winner from that group, making the academy members rank the films in order of best to worst and then figuring out which one, overall, has received the greatest amount of support from members instead of just voting for one and determining the victor by majority.

FEATURES

Local man uses music to combat disease

In euchre, when you are dealt the “ace-no-face” hand, you have the option of throwing it back, picking up the remaining cards and giving yourself a second chance. However, as Lee Abramson, who writes music under the name Ace Noface can attest, real life is a little bit different.

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Fans turn to vinyls for old school flair

It’s time to dust off the ol’ vinyl. As new record stores pop up around East Lansing, Hodge Heckaman, a professional writing junior working at The Record Lounge/Scavenger Hunt, 503 E. Grand River Ave., said the younger audience is gaining an appreciation for vinyl through its dream-like vision of the past.

FEATURES

'Taking Woodstock' slow, uninspiring

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock music festival. It’s odd that a film celebrating the monumental event neglects the most important feature of the festival: music. You’ll see weed, sex and plenty of long hair, but no more than a hint of music here.

FEATURES

Old town café offers healthier, fresh alternatives

When Mama Bear’s Café opened two years ago, its owners wanted to offer a new and healthy food market. “(Co-owner of Mama Bear’s) Eugene Hall felt like when he went out to eat in town, he wasn’t really finding anything healthy or fresh to eat. He just wasn’t impressed with the quality of food as far as small, quick service restaurants,” said Cecilia Garcia, co-owner of Mama Bear’s Café, 1224 Turner St., in Lansing.

FEATURES

Music, activities offer fun for entire family

The Lake Lansing Park South in Haslett has more to offer than a place to enjoy a cookout and spend time outdoors. On Friday, the Doowops will take to the bandshell stage at 7 p.m. to entertain families with their 1950s and 1960s music. The event and parking are free.

FEATURES

Square dance club aims for fun, exercise

Boys run, couples circulate, pass the ocean, promenade, bow to your partner and yellow rock. Square dancing is more than “swinging your partner round and round” and “do-si-do.” The Grande Paraders, the Lansing-area square dancing group, started in 1972 and has 32 members.

FEATURES

Students dive into local scuba supply shop

Purchasing books for class at MSU inspires a diverse spectrum of emotions in students. Some feel excited, some feel shocked and even more feel outraged. There is one class on campus, however, where your supplies will not be found on a bookshelf or even an electronics store, but run more along the lines of fins, masks and air tanks.

FEATURES

Variety key ingredient at local bakery

Mothers and grandmothers make baked goods out of the love in their hearts. Some people have turned their passion for baking into a career. Enter Morgan Yates, manager and head cake decorator for Bake N’ Cakes, 3003 E. Kalamazoo St., in Lansing.