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Skiing Michigan

Matt Treadwell
January 26, 2001

Marf Khan stood at the bottom of a 250-foot tall ski hill, staring it down like a timid David mustering up the courage to battle the giant Goliath. Mount Brighton Ski Area’s highest peak was to be Khan’s crowning achievement on his first day with skis attached to his boots. It was an achievement that could come one of two ways - either he would overcome his anxiousness or be dragged up the hill kicking and screaming by his two more experienced friends who talked him into joining them for a day on the slopes. Khan and his friends are among thousands of Michiganians taking advantage of nearby slopes during what is being called the state’s best ski season in three years. “I’ve done the bunny hill and the other small stuff,” said Khan, a graduate student at Wayne State University.

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Mardi Gras free-for-all

Juliana Keeping
January 26, 2001

Last spring break, Andrea Simonelli indulged with the best of them at Mardi Gras, drinking Cuervo Boats - Jose Cuervo, Malibu rum and ice - out of fishbowls and partying with her best friend. And although the New Orleans celebration, chock full of elaborate gaudiness, body parts and bright plastic beads, doesn’t fall on MSU’s spring break this year, she plans to do it all again. “We fell in love with the place,” said Simonelli, a political theory junior.

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Local band says goodbye to U

Dan Julian
January 25, 2001

After 12 years, three CDs and a plethora of sold-out performances, Lansing-based folk outfit Second Opinion is calling it quits. Its career will be celebrated with a final performance at 8 p.m.

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Survivor II promises adventure

By FRAZIER MOOREThe Associated Press NEW YORK - It’s here again. Gather around the television for the game everybody is waiting for. “Survivor” is back, kicking off right after that football thing Sunday night. As everybody knows, Super Bowl XXXV is just a warm-up act, a bloated prelude to “Survivor II,” where two teams of Type-A contenders will meet on the parched earth of northeastern Australia. At hour’s end, the 16 contestants will become 15 when someone gets “voted off the tribe” (in the show’s current lingo). Then the show will move to its regular CBS time slot on Feb.

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What do U want?

I’ve always been pretty good at accepting criticism. Being a music critic, I’ve become accustomed to it.

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Boy band on tour

Backstreet Boys started world tour this week SUNRISE, Fla. - Eager to reclaim their place atop the pile of boy bands, the Backstreet Boys opened their world tour with a show mixing harmony driven pop and dance with playful asides that worked fans into a frenzy. The Boys - Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J.

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Vinyl Addict Records adds literature to store

Dan Julian
January 23, 2001

Michael Krueger, member of the anarchist collective Brighter Days, wanted to put together an infoshop to better inform area residents about issues pertaining to his group. So he recently added the Brighter Days Infoshop to his store, Vinyl Addict Records, 503 E.

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Hannibal hits Berlin film festival

BERLIN - Ridley Scott’s “Hannibal” and a version of Fritz Lang’s 1926 silent classic “Metropolis” with a new score are among 16 world premieres scheduled at the 51st Berlin International Film Festival, to be held Feb.

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Roberts walks away with Golden Globe, Gladiator triumphant

The Roman arena epic “Gladiator” was named best dramatic motion picture at Sunday’s Golden Globes, while “Almost Famous,” Cameron Crowe’s fictionalized story about his experiences as a teenage rock journalist in the 1970s, won best comedy film.Julia Roberts won best drama movie actress for “Erin Brockovich” and Tom Hanks won best dramatic actor for “Cast Away.”Roberts said of the real-life lawyer’s aide whose battle over water pollution inspired her film: “Erin Brockovich, the real gal, is awesome and should be a lesson that we are all powerful individuals that can make a difference in the world.”No one film dominated the night’s awards.

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Hip-hop hits Carnegie Hall for historic musical event

NEW YORK - It’s not surprising that Carnegie Hall gave Wyclef Jean the distinction of being the first hip-hop artist to play the revered concert hall. As was clear on Friday night, when Jean played host and entertainer during an all-star benefit for his self-titled foundation, there is perhaps no other artist in hip-hop - or most other music genres - as multifaceted and as talented as the engaging Jean. Jean proved that in his Carnegie debut, as he mixed Bach with hip-hop, jazz with rap, and collaborated with the likes of Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston for a captivating, cross-cultural concert. “See, I’m the new Sammy Davis Jr.,” Jean joked during the event, which also included performances by Destiny’s Child, Charlotte Church, Macy Gray, Marc Anthony, Steve Marley and reggae band Third World.

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Sundance Film Festival attracts stars

PARK CITY, Utah - Some entries in the Sundance Film Festival may sound familiar.There’s a movie about a middle-aged man’s relationship with a teen-age girl, but it’s not “American Beauty.” There’s a war story about cracking the German U-boat code, only it’s not “U-571.” There’s a tale of a rock journalist profiling a difficult subject, and it’s not “Almost Famous.” And there’s Samuel L.

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Critic spins globe, bottle

Vince Estes
January 19, 2001

I know. Awards shows tend to be way too long and self-involved. Plus, the ceremonies often deteriorate into just a parade of stars.But nothing’s more rewarding than gathering a group of friends together and gloating over knowing who’ll win.

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All that glitters...

Vince Estes
January 19, 2001

When the Golden Globe Awards are televised live Sunday night, millions of viewers will either tune in to watch the entire production, view bits and pieces, or ignore it entirely. And being no stranger to entertainment’s production side, Rob Kennedy knows what to expect come Sunday night. “I like to watch award shows,” the James Madison freshman said.