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Davis

Davis, California

Friday, March 29, 2024

Arts & Culture

Arts Week

MUSIC

Mylo Jenkins, Brethren, Brethren & the Brethren

Today, 9:30 p.m., $5

Primary Concepts at 219 E Street

Santa Cruz band Mylo Jenkins makes the kind of down-home rootsy indie-folk that reminds me of my childhood days sippin' lemonade out on my front-porch. OK, so I may be embellishing a bit - truth be told, the apartment I grew up in San Jose didn't have a porch to host impromptu folk jam sessions - but the idea is nice, no?

A spotlight on contemporary Chinese cinema

As the third largest film industry in the world, Chinese cinema is getting some much-deserved attention in the city of Davis.

The 2008 Asia Pacific Film Festival opens today and runs until Sunday. The event is free. A short presentation will accompany each screening, and a public symposium titled "Understanding Chinese Cinema: Gender, Modernity, Identity" will be held on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Olson 6.

CD Review: Microcastle/Weird Era

Atlanta rock band Deerhunter is defined by two simple characteristics - teenage angst and sexual exploration. The latter I got from a sticker on the album that described their sound as "a distrubing plea for erotic asphyxiation." Um … is that supposed to make me want to buy the album?

CD Review: There’ll Be Diamonds

There'll Be Diamonds by Portland-based band Super XX Man is the kind of album that should accompany a long-distance road trip. The effortless transitions between tracks make it an easy listen from beginning to end.

Variations on a Theme

The brilliance of the Internet (besides self-promotion and e-endorsing presidential candidates - I like to think all those Obama pins I sent out on Facebook did some good for his campaign) lies in its ability to make even the most boring day seem exciting, or at least marginally interesting enough to care about. Why else would people create blogs that chronicle their lives or to follow things like random street fashion?

Mraz, Hannigan deliver strong performances at Freeborn

Much like a romantic comedy - you know, that old standby you rely on to give you the warm fuzzies when you're feeling down - Jason Mraz did what he does best as he took the stage in Freeborn Hall on Nov. 3: deliver feel-good pop tunes.

A Written Reward

Despite late night hours, research and writer's block, the time and effort poured into class papers and assignments is not always in vain.

The University Writing Program's 20th annual Prized Writing Student Authors Event will present three winners from its 2007-2008 competition. The free event will be held today in 126 Voorhies at 4:30 p.m.

THIRDeYE Theatre Festival puts student talent on center stage

The annual UC Davis theatre and dance department THIRDeYE Theatre Festival returns this year with three new plays written, directed, produced and performed by undergraduate students. This year's selected plays are The Readers by Joe Ferreira, When Marcelli Met the Dream Maker by Carolyn Duncan and A Piece of Water by Julie Friedrichsen.

A sunny musical forecast

In a world where irony and self-deprecation have become the norm for all things cool, singer-songwriter Jason Mraz has maintained his sunny position in the music industry.

Mraz will perform tonight at 7:30 in Freeborn Hall. Opening for Mraz is Irish singer Lisa Hannigan. Tickets to the show are sold out.

From his first album Waiting for My Rocket to Come to his latest release We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., Mraz has carved a niche for himself with his signature upbeat tunes.

Artsweek

MUSIC

Thin Air Trio with Margriet Naber Tchicai

Today, 7:30 p.m.

Delta of Venus

Feeling a bit anti-brocial lately? Good food and some live jazz from Thin Air Trio and pianist Margriet Naber Tchicai should do the trick. Problem solved.

Variations on a Theme

I don't know about you guys, but Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. Beautiful autumn weather, carving pumpkins, scary movie marathons, all the candy I could ever want (I'm a big fan of Smarties and Almond Joy, FYI). Of course, the best part about the holiday is that it allows me to indulge in my wardrobe fantasies via the Halloween costume.

On-campus costume shop wraps up Halloween season

Davisites looking for something a little more detailed than the traditional mass-produced Halloween costume are turning to the UC Davis theatre and dance department for help. For the entire year - including all of October - the department runs The Enchanted Cellar, a costume shop located on campus in 15 Wright Hall.

Re-vamped Halloween fashion

Last minute and environmentally conscious costume shoppers still have time to brainstorm before Friday night, and today they might find plenty of inspiration.

A focus on Haiti’s social conditions

Lining the walls of the Memorial Union's Art Lounge are photographs of children, staring intently into the camera. Their beaming faces fill the canvas and command attention, even more so than the piles of filth that they are standing in.

Halloween Happenings

Cool Patch Pumpkins

Open now until Nov. 9, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., $10

8850 Currey Road or 8700 Sievers Road in Dixon