| Regional calendar
Wine lovers can savor a sweet evening at the Philadelphia Wine Festival on Friday. The sixth annual festival features a Grand Tasting Event of more than 100 wines from around the world, 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown. Winemakers, winery presidents and other winery representatives will pour samples and discuss their wines with attendees. Participating wineries will include La Chablisienne, Robert Mondavi, Marchesi de Frescobaldi and Clos du Bois. The festival also includes other events, such as the Winemaker Dinner Series at fine Philadelphia restaurants Wednesday and the VIP Tasting Event 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Friday.
The Marriott Philadelphia Downtown is at 1201 Market St. The Grand Tasting Event is $125. The VIP Tasting Event is $225. For Winemaker Dinner Series locations and fees, and for general information and tickets, go to phillymag.com/winefestival.
Newsweek's Meacham: "[L]ong time" since Dems have let Americans ...
On the April 22 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, Newsweek managing editor Jon Meacham repeatedly suggested that Democrats are out of step with "American value[s]." Meacham claimed that Democrats "are still struggling to find out how do they signal to the broad American public that they share their values ... whether it's religion or guns or life" and that "Democrats are living in terror of ... look[ing] as though they're being unsupportive of the troops, because ... that's an American value." In fact, recent polling indicates that Americans think that Democrats are more in line with their "values" than Republicans. Following is Meacham's response to host Tim Russert's assertion that "Democrats seem to have been relatively careful in their response" to the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision upholding the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003: MEACHAM: I think you have Democrats who are still struggling to find out how do they signal to the broad American public that they share their values, that it's a party that understands and believes -- whether it's religion or guns or life -- that they, too, are in tune with the public.
Northern student brings Japanese culture to class
Alaine Seyfried is turning a blank panel above a window at Port Huron Northern High School into a portrait of a Japanese rock star. Alaine, 16, of Fort Gratiot brought her interests in Japanese and art together to paint an acrylic image of Miyavi, a guitarist, singer and pop-culture icon in Japan. .
Historian talks anti-imperialism
Cultural historian Jackson Lears explained the importance of America's anti-imperialist tradition Thursday night at the Silver Center in a lecture titled "The Anti-Imperial Tradition," sponsored by Steinhardt's Department of Culture and Communication Studies.
Lears is this year's visiting scholar for the Phyllis and Gerald LeBoff Distinguished Visiting Scholar Program, which brings "the world's most prominent scholars, writers and creative thinkers" to Steinhardt, according to the department's website.
He spoke about America's long tradition of anti-imperialist thought and about the relevance of this mind-set to contemporary foreign policy. He called for the creation of a a "useable past" that would create a solid doctrine of anti-imperialism.
"It may be invented," said Lears, who teaches a Steinhardt seminar called "Fictions of Modernity." "But it would emphasize restraint, war as the last option and concrete, particular thought as opposed to sweeping, abstract universalisms."
He spoke for about an hour, locking eyes with various people in the audience while criticizing "neo-conservative pundits and apologists for empire," like New York Times columnist David Brooks.
Takashi Murakami at Gagosian Gallery
NEW YORK.- Gagosian Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of new paintings by Takashi Murakami. This is Murakami's first exhibition with the gallery. Beneath its bright and playful appearance, Murakami's art is hard at work challenging established dichotomies. In his approach, high art and popular culture, East and West, present and past, humor and gravity, skepticism and belief are all sides of the same coin. Visually, his work merges the dystopic worlds of popular contemporary Japanese anim and manga cartoons with the ultra-refined techniques of traditional Japanese art. Operationally, he combines the work of the guild with that of the factory and production studio, resulting in a staggering body of work ranging from rare masterpieces to inexpensive, mass-produced commodities.
Departing from his well-known utopian and dystopian themes which feature masses of smiling flowers, elaborate scenes of toonish apocalypse, and the ever-morphing cult figures of DOB and Mr.
Commentary: Hip-Hop Must Brave Twin Assaults
Even though the tragedy at Virginia Tech has chased the Don Imus uproar off the front page and cable-TV screens, some of those who led the successful campaign to expel the crotchety shock jock from the airwaves aren't ready to let the issue fade. They have already set their sights on a new target: hip-hop music. Emboldened by compelling Imus' corporate masters to finally cut him loose, many seek to continue the fight and exorcise those that they blame for popularizing racism and misogyny in other pop culture arenas. The Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the most outspoken advocates for Imus' dismissal, told CNN that the entertainment industry is on his radar screen. "It would be wrong if we stopped here and acted like Imus was the only problem. There are others that need to get this same message," Sharpton was quoted as saying on CNN.com .
Trivia Night at Haggin Museum
STOCKTON - The Haggin Museum has teamed up with members of the Pacific Historical Society of University of the Pacific to host an entertaining and educational Trivia Night from 7 to 9 p.m. today. With inspiration from the mid-'90s Nickelodeon game show "Legends of the Hidden Temple," the evening event will challenge teams of players with questions about pre-Columbian culture, pop culture and more. The winning team and other participants will receive prizes. Admission is $5 per person at the door, and free snacks will be provided. Soda, mixed drinks and beer will be available for purchase. For more information, contact Eddie Hargreaves at (209) 940-6312 or info@hagginmuseum.org. .
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