Will Oscar Lose Its 'Crazy Heart' for Jeff Bridges
82nd Academy Awards Oscar Nominations

Jeff Bridges is vying against George Clooney (Up in the Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man), Morgan Freeman (Invictus) and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker). To the millions who tune in to the Oscars on March 7, these terrific performances. Every one deserves an award. But this is Jeff Bridge's year. The same goes for Sandra Bullock. Here's why

Pink Flies High at the Grammys
Liz Smith

In some ways, I thought the Grammys belonged to Pink. Ten years after her initial surge to fame with 'Get This Party Started,' the soulful-voiced blonde, had one of those classic gasp-inducing performances -- I've rarely seen or heard anything as astonishing as Pink's rendition of 'Glitter.'

Hollywood Has Seen the Enemy ...
Jonah Goldberg

I do love movies and I'm fascinated by what they say about American life. Of course, movies don't always reflect or articulate what moviegoers are thinking. Often they merely express what Hollywood thinks Americans are thinking or what Hollywood thinks they should believe.

J.D. Salinger: Artist Who Never Wanted to Be an 'Idol'
Mitch Albom

When someone told me J.D. Salinger had died, I jokingly asked, 'How do they know?' It was dark humor and a tad disrespectful. But I was trying to be complimentary. Salinger, who was even more passionate about his privacy than his writing, had managed, at age 91, to die a legend in both areas.

America Through the Reality Lens
Jonah Goldberg

Culturally, this has been the decade of the reality show. And what do we have to show for it? Not much more than the contestants themselves.

National Building Museum

The World's Top Architecture Museums
Jonathan Lerner

Spending so much of our lives inside them, and surrounded by them, we often take buildings for granted. But architecture can help us understand history and grapple with the future. The following fascinating museums are dedicated to buildings, cities and landscapes

Taking the Kids To San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences
Eileen Ogintz

We're at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which in the year since it has re-opened has emerged as the city's top cultural tourist attraction, drawing more visitors than Alcatraz

Political History of the Stars & Stripes
by Andrew Burt

The history of the American flag is the story of a nation struggling to find its identity, Woden Teachout argues in her new book, Capture the Flag: A Political History of American Patriotism. Teachout, a professor of graduate studies in history and culture at the online Union Institute and University, recently spoke about the evolving meaning of the flag in American culture.

Gallery: My Morning Jacket - Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA 8/19 & 8/21
My Morning jacket opening for Tom Petty at the Comcast Center in Mansfield MA on August 19th and 21st, 2010.  All photos by Brian Diescher

Feature: Jonny Lang: Back To Basics
Jonny Lang, best known for fiery guitar licks and from-the-gut singing, has been playing onstage since he was fourteen. His debut album hit big in 1997 with the single “Lie To Me”, propelling him into a meteoric rise to fame and fortune, partying and drugs. Along the way, Jonny also became a well-respected musician, playing at the first Crossroads concert with Eric Clapton, winning a Grammy, and jamming alongside legends like Buddy Guy and BB King.  With his new live CD, Live At The Ryman, Jonny is getting back to his roots.

Sights & Sounds: Balmorhea - "Night Squall" [mp3]

Sights & Sounds: Fistful Of Mercy (Harper, Harrison, Arthur) - "In Vain Or True" (YouTube)

CD Review: Fran Healy - Wreckorder
Do you like seminal Scottish rockers Travis? Well, you’re going to like lead singer Fran Healy’s first solo jaunt, Wreckorder. Imagine, if you will, Travis, circa The Invisible Band, adding in a bit more orchestra and slightly lacking a bit of the energy brought by Andy, Dougie, and Neil. 

Show Review: Cyndi Lauper - House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV 8/21/10
The band finished with one more blues tune, a Memphis Slim cover of ‘Mother Earth’ before stepping away as Lauper sent the appreciative audience home with the gentle ‘True Colors’. It was just enough of the popular hits to satisfy her loyal followers and everyone left in awe of Cyndi Lauper, the blues singer.

CD Review: STS9 - Axe The Cables
Sans loops, laptops, and samplers, STS9 hit the stage in Denver, CO this past December and made music using just the basics - fingers, wood, wire, sticks, and keys – doing it live, without a net. The results are documented on STS9’s latest release, Axe The Cables. And they are nothing short of pure pleasure.

Gallery: Katy Perry - NBC's Today Show 'Summer Concert' 8.27.10
Katy Perry performing in the plaza for NBC's Today Show on August 27, 2010.  All photos by Kenny Pusey

The Hot Spot: Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate’s sophomore album Sugar, recorded by John Agnello (Hold Steady, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.), was shaped by touring with legends such as Dinosaur Jr. and Meat Puppets and gave Dead Confederate an increased appreciation for the early underground bands of the 80s and 90s that laid the foundation on which their sound is built. Writing songs in their studio on full instrumentation, Dead Confederate’s songs are shorter and more concise this second time around,  dropping some of the ragged glory repetition of their heralded 2008 debut Wrecking Ball.

CD Review: Menomena - Pride
Menomena is a great buzz band. They burst out of Portland (Oregon) a few years back on the back of a strong second full-length album, and have gained critical and popular acclaim through an engaging, contemporary sound. They fit in perfectly with ironic hipsterdom: it’s easy to imagine them being listened to in a perfectly (fake) woodsy lodge-style bar (in a dense urban neighborhood), wearing one’s trucker hat and probably something polyester.

Glide Preview: 13th Annual Rhythm and Roots Festival
The 13th annual Rhythm and Roots Festival will kick off with sounds of blues guitar, accordion, saxophone, and a little cowbell this Labor Day Weekend, Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday, Sept 3-5 at  Ninigret Park in Charlestown RI.

Show Review: The Levon Helm Band (w/ special guest Steve Earle)/ Jenny Lewis - Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA 8/15/10
It took awhile, but the Levon Helm Band finally made it to California soil. Ever since the iconic drummer of the Band returned to performing after a nearly career-ending bout with throat cancer about a decade ago, he’s rarely played beyond the northeast. In fact, he’s rarely even left the grounds of his property in the Catskill Mountains of Woodstock, New York

CD Review: Dave Binney - Aliso
Dave Binney's Aliso is a vigorous piece of work where the production values of sparkling sound and astute track sequencing are wholly in line with the stellar musicianship.

Show Review: Norah Jones - Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham, NC 8/8/10
The Durham Performing Arts Center has quickly become known as the finest upscale venue in central North Carolina, and one of the best on the east coast. In hosting everything from Wicked to Wilco to Lewis Black to Leonard Cohen, the 2700-seat room has made an impact on a wide variety of people since it opened less than two years ago. The impeccable sound and performance-enhancing power of the ultra-modern building was on full display as Norah Jones stopped in Durham on her seemingly endless The Fall tour.

Sights & Sounds: Deer Tick - "Piece By Piece, Frame By Frame" (mp3)

Saunders writing Spice Girls show
TV comedienne Jennifer Saunders is to write the story for musical Viva Forever - based on the songs of the Spice Girls.

Hogan given leave to return to US
Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan reaches an agreement with tax authorities in Australia allowing him to return to his home in the US.

Majority 'agree with arts change'
Two-thirds of people agree with the government stance on cutting arts funding and relying more on private cash, a survey suggests.

BBC defends Thompson No 10 visit
The BBC denies the director general compromised its independence by visiting Downing Street to discuss coverage of the government's spending cuts.

Cheryl Cole 'to be given divorce'
X Factor judge Cheryl Cole will reportedly be granted a divorce from her footballer husband Ashley in a court hearing on Friday.

Blair memoirs 'break sale record'
Tony Blair's memoirs, based on his time as the prime minister, break sales records, booksellers say.

Talent contestant denied tribunal
A former Britain's Got Talent hopeful who claimed she was discriminated against at an audition fails to get her case taken to an employment tribunal.

Bob Dylan art debuts in Denmark
Some of musician Bob Dylan's artwork, never seen before by the public, is to be displayed at Denmark's National Gallery.

Singer Sami urges Pakistan relief
British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf, billed as "Islam's biggest rock star", is donating profits from his latest single to help flood victims in Pakistan.

Pepper and Piano set for top five
The UK's first talent show to make music available for download immediately propels a little known act called Pepper and Piano into the charts.

Back... but not for long as Madeley rescues show
Ex-This Morning host Richard Madeley presents the first five minutes of the show while Eamonn Holmes is stuck in traffic.

"One more bottle and we go home," Axl tells Dublin
Guns N' Roses have walked off stage at a gig in Dublin after being booed and having bottles thrown at them by the crowd.

Museum reopens after £2m pledge
A south London museum that closed for three years is officially reopened after philanthropists pledged £2m to save it.

Rare Roman lantern found in field
A metal detecting enthusiast finds what is believed to be the only intact Roman lantern made out of bronze ever discovered in Britain.

Low-key reopening for RSC theatre
The revamped Shakespeare company theatres are to have a low-key reopening, the RSC says.

Portman launches Venice film gala
Natalie Portman attends the opening of the Venice Film Festival, which launched with her film Black Swan.

Zeta Jones reveals cancer anger
Catherine Zeta Jones reveals she is "furious" that doctors failed to detect husband Michael Douglas' throat cancer earlier.

Binoche dismisses Depardieu slur
Oscar-winner Juliette Binoche hits back at the "violence" of criticism by fellow French actor Gerard Depardieu.

Rapper TI is arrested for drugs
Rapper TI and his wife Tameka Cottle are arrested in Hollywood for drug possession, police confirm.

Apple launches MySpace challenger
Apple launches a music-based social network called Ping as part of its latest upgrade to the iTunes music software.

Sony rolls out rival to iTunes
Sony has unveiled its own music and video download in an announcement timed to coincide with an Apple media event.

Corrie to go live for anniversary
Coronation Street is to broadcast a live episode as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, soap bosses confirm.

Miliband story dramatised on film
Channel 4 dramatises the rise of Labour party leadership candidates David and Ed Miliband, it is announced.

Recovering Cracknell is due home
Olympic medallist James Cracknell is expected home later this week, after fracturing his skull in a bike accident in the US.

Meet The Author: Sir Terry Pratchett
In the latest in the BBC News Meet The Author interviews, Sir Terry Pratchett discusses I Shall Wear Midnight, the latest in his best-selling Discworld series.

Black Swan opens Venice Film Festival
The 67th Venice Film Festival has opened with the premiere of three films, including the thriller Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman.

Tunnel season for Spacey's Vic
In a bid to go beyond the confines of the auditorium, the Old Vic company - run by Oscar winner Kevin Spacey - is putting on a season of work in a tunnel.

Writer 'missed' Shopaholic character
Writer Sophie Kinsella has described how she missed the main character of her best-selling ''Shopaholic'' series and how she seemed ''real'' to her.

Alesha confirms return to Strictly
We get the dirt from the dancefloor from Alesha Dixon as she confirms she will still be a panellist in the new series of Strictly.

Zeta Jones' fury plus more showbiz
Catherine Zeta Jones says she's "furious" over her husband's cancer, Natalie Portman's Black Swan opens Venice and the rest of the day's showbiz news

Never eat fish on a Monday?
The BBC speaks to Anthony Bourdain who returns with his long awaited sequel Medium Raw, taking stock of the changes in his life and in the culinary world.

James May: 'I was The Stig'
James May mischievously reveals to Richard Bacon that he also held the position of The Stig for five years.

Musician creates bridge symphony
Nick Franglen is using London Bridge and its human traffic to create a 24-hour piece of music

Price of fame
X Factor's Olly Murs attempts leap from talent show runner-up to pop star

Hitting the books
Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan re-launch their book club

'Edgy town'
Canada provides backdrop for Kerouac's On The Road

The Stig
A profile of Ben Collins, the man in the mask

Breakfast TV quiz
Seven questions on Roland, Lizzie and morning sofas

Once Around the Park, Then Farewell
Getting ready to leave New York, but already missing the High Line, the Shakespeare Garden and more.

Time Marches ... Backward!
The Museum of Modern Art and TCM are revisiting “The March of Time” series, short films created from 1935 to 1951 that examine foreign affairs and social issues.

Movie Review | 'Going the Distance': Nothing Keeps Them Apart Except a Continent
In “Going the Distance,” Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are young lovers struggling through a cross-country romance.

Flouting the Mainstream, Forgoing a Corporate Stamp
This weekend’s All Tomorrow’s Parties music festival in Monticello, N.Y., promises to be hugely loud and, as always, sponsor free.

Art Review: Antics Aside, a Dalí of Constant Ambition
An exhibition counters the notion that late work by Dalí is bad, and that most Dalí is late work.

Movie Review | 'Machete': Growl, and Let the Severed Heads Fall Where They May
Robert Rodriguez’s splatter comedy “Machete” is a live-action comic book with roots in the pungent swamp of 1970s B movies.

'Yank!' Won't Reach Broadway This Season
The musical, about two World War II G.I.'s whose friendship turns into romance, has been delayed until the fall of 2011.

Au Revoir, New York. Hello, Paris!
Which way to the Eiffel Tower?

'You Can't Take it With You' Revival Off for Fall
Producer Elizabeth I. McCann, who had announced she would mount the show in November, said on Thursday that she is now aiming for a spring opening.

Art Review: Landscapes Framed by a Chevy
Lee Friedlander’s “America by Car,” opening Saturday at the Whitney Museum, consists of black-and-white photographs taken from inside cars.

Books of The Times: Simon Wiesenthal, the Man Who Refused to Forget
A detailed biography of the legendary Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal shows him to be a complicated hero, an angel with dirty wings.

Movie Review | 'A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop': Remade in China: Coen Brothers’ Tale of Infidelity and Revenge
The director Zhang Yimou honors the unlikely affinity between himself and Joel and Ethan Coen with a remake of their movie “Blood Simple.”

Art Review: A Language Explorer Who Heard Echoes of Africa
Lorenzo Dow Turner dug deep to find many African-inflected elements in the Gullah language and culture.

Vance Bourjaily, Novelist Exploring Postwar America, Dies at 87
Mr. Bourjaily’s novels often explored what it meant to be an American at a particular historical moment.

Cammie King, Scarlett and Rhett’s Girl, Dies at 76
Ms. King played Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler’s ill-fated little girl, Bonnie Blue Butler, in “Gone With the Wind.”

Loving the Lowbrow (It Has Its Own Hall of Fame)
“Bad art” — rescued from trash heaps and thrift shops — has become a genre in itself, with its own fans.

Art Review: The Allure of the Homespun in the Maw of the Digital Age
“Underground Pop,” at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, N.Y., highlights the tension between college-trained sophistication and fictions of naïveté.

Theater Review | 'It Must Be Him': Has-Been Writer Hopes to Break Out of a Slump
In “It Must Be Him,” a comedy by Kenny Solms, Peter Scolari plays a television writer who’s trying to revive his career.

Movie Review | 'The Winning Season': Redemption as a Team Sport
An alcoholic finds self-respect as the coach of a high school girls’ basketball team in “The Winning Season.”

Movie Review | 'Last Train Home': A Family Caught in the Wheels of China’s Industrial Locomotive
This documentary by Lixin Fan traces the conflicts between married migrant factory workers in Guangzhou and their daughter, strains partly resulting from China’s accelerating economy.

Antiques: Furniture as Sculpture: A Craftsman’s Legacy
An exhibition about the Pennsylvania carver and sculptor Wharton Esherick, known for his mid-20th-century undulating furniture, opens on Sept. 7 in galleries at the University of Pennsylvania.

Movie Review | 'Etienne!': Rodent Road Trip and Human Bonds
A boy loses his rodent and finds a girl in “Etienne!,” a sunny-sweet fable about healing wounds with the balm of the open road.

Movie Review | 'Our Beloved Month of August': A Film Within a Film
The Portuguese director Miguel Gomes blurs the line between nonfiction and fiction.

Movie Review | 'Clear Blue Tuesday': A Post-9/11 Pop Musical
The film about living in New York post-9/11, is earnest and well meaning and, while dangerously sentimental at times, never quite crosses the line into maudlin.

Movie Review | 'Prince of Broadway': A Street Hustler Becomes a Reluctant Father
Like its subject, the movie is sharp, charismatic and so light on its feet we never know which way it will turn.

Movie Review: ‘Max Manus’
“Max Manus” is a solidly acted biopic of World War II derring-do.

Movie Review: White Wedding
The bungled wedding story and the road movie collide happily in “White Wedding.”

The Tipsy Diaries: The Kitchen Sink in Your Drink
It’s an infuse-a-palooza out there, as infused spirits make serious headway in bars and restaurants of all kinds.

Urban Athlete: Chorus-Line Calisthenics
For beginning hoofers or advanced, Broadway dance routines can be an alternative to the gym.

A Miniature-Golf Odyssey (Obstacles Included)
A tour of miniature-golf courses among the five boroughs.

Educational Deals this Weekend
Free superhero-fueled tutoring in Brooklyn, gardening classes for Young Sprouts near Battery Park and Sunday night fun on the Lower East Side.

House Tour: New Preston, Conn.
On Lake Waramaug, a converted boathouse has a stone foundation, a wraparound deck and direct access to the water.

Arts & Leisure Preview: The Unfinished Tale of an Unlikely Hero
Harvey Pekar, the obsessive chronicler of everyday lives, was collaborating at the end of his life on a Web project whose fate in print remains uncertain.

The Week Ahead: Aug. 29 — Sept. 4
A listing of cultural events this week.

Review: Venice Festival Opens With Glimpses Into the Pitfalls of Passion
Darren Aronofsky’s in-competition movie “Black Swan” and Tran Anh Hung’s “Norwegian Wood” tell of the agonies of professional dancing and of triangles within triangles.

Crescendo, in Double Time
Russians entered the French festival scene this summer with an open throttle and an open checkbook.

Venice Gears Up for 67th Film Festival
The film festival opens Wednesday and continues through Sept. 11 and will present dozens of features from 34 countries.

Beijing Opera, a Historical Treasure in Fragile Condition
Fans of the Beijing Opera Academy of China fear that it could fall victim to modernization as the economy surges, but the government is helping support the art form.

Design: An Italian Designer’s Homage to His Native Country
In a dazzlingly ambitious exhibition at La Triennale Design Museum in Milan, Alessandro Mendini has assembled a collection of objects to illustrate Italy.

Art Theft Underworld Frustrates France
The vulnerability of museums and high-end art owners to costly thefts has been a concern in France for years, but two events are forcing the issue into the open.