State budget cuts over the past two years have affected nearly every inch of the UCLA campus in some way or another. But these cuts have hit the university’s performing arts departments especially hard and, in turn, have forced department chairs to devise innovative ways to raise additional funds and support for their programs, especially for student and faculty concerts. Read more...

They flew out all the way from Florida. Ten hours, two layovers and one crappy on-flight bag of peanuts later, a conservatively dressed middle-aged housewife and her balding husband had arrived at their final destination: a live taping of “America Idol.” OK, I know I wrote about “American Idol” in my last column, but I can’t help it; I’m obsessed. Read more...

Pop quiz: name at least three Asian American actors who are regular characters (appearing in about eight out of 10 episodes) on a prime-time television show. Read more...

Whether you’re lured by the catchy tag line, “Slay. Prey. Display.” or by the even more eloquent promise to, “See Paris Die,” “House of Wax” is one film that doesn’t renege on its customer guarantee. Read more...

INDIO “”mdash; The only thing better than cleaning up at Casino Morongo is blowing your winnings on junk food like a 5-year-old who just found a $20 bill. Read more...

I’m normally not one to watch classic television. Growing up, I always hated when my favorite kids’ channel Nickelodeon transformed into Nick at Nite and old re-runs of “The Honeymooners” or “Bewitched” came on. Read more...

Guacamole may be the ultimate traditional Mexican food. The name itself comes from the Aztec words “ahuacatl,” which means “avocado,” and “molli,” which means “sauce.” Avocado trees were brought to California from Mexico in the late 1800s. Read more...