Arts & Culture

Sometimes the most passionate singers and musicians stem from their surroundings and various cultural influences. In the concert to come to Sophia's Thai Kitchen this Thursday, Mekilt Hadero will be bringing a unique soulful and R&B vibe to the stand.

On Aug. 1, the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts officially announced that the program has been awarded a three-year $580,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. In the 10-year history of the Mondavi Center, the award marks the largest single foundation grant awarded to the project since construction.

2nd Friday ArtAbout is approaching quickly. The monthly event for Downtown Davis will take place this Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. -although times will vary among the different events. As always, this event is free and open to the public.

For those of you who are still on the grind and taking summer school, a novel might be the only vacation you'll be getting. There's nothing quite like immersing yourself fully into a great fiction or non-fiction novel. Here's a list of recommended books and novels to propel you into an alternate reality this summer:

Screenwriters have perfected the art of the great ending over the last 100 years or so.

Transracial adoption has become a widely contested and debated subject.

Described as an "intimate outdoor space that is a departure from your normal bar room stage" Sophia's Thai Kitchen hosts a variety of live events throughout the year.

With the huge popularity of Hollywood films and the major blockbuster culture, it's often easy to overlook the value of smaller budget films and productions.

Imagine if the iconic scene of Jack and Rose standing at the tip of the Titanic never happened.

Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites affect our everyday lives, such as tracking our every wall post to a friend, flirty chat with a new fling or picture from last weekend's party. But can such a technological medium influence art?

The formula for Speed of Darkness is a simple one: Celtic folk + punk rock = Flogging Molly. If you already knew this equation, you pretty much understand the experience of listening to the Los Angeles-based Irish rock band's latest album.

Ever since Lady Gaga boldly tweeted months ago that her upcoming record was going to be "the album of the decade," her "little monsters" have been hotly anticipating its release, while some critics have been hoping they can tear it, and Gaga, apart.

Culdesac is the third album self-produced by Childish Gambino, the moniker used by Donald Glover who plays the role of ditzy community college student Troy Barnes on the popular comedy, "Community."

The film Lost in Africa saw its U.S. premiere in Vanderhoef Studio Theatre at UC Davis' Mondavi Center last Saturday evening.

THIS WEEK IN DAVIS: The Who's Tommy; Or, The Whale; Rocky Horror Picture Show