TipSheet : Checklist

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:23:47 GMT

See “Children’s Hospital” (thewb.com), a Web series from former “Daily Show” star Rob Corddry. The free five-minute episodes spoof the melodrama and preposterous plot twists of TV medical shows.

Hear “Music for Abraham Lincoln” ($23.93; amazon.com) by Anne Enslow, a NEWSWEEK correspondent, and Ridley Enslow. Recorded from original sheet music found at the Library of Congress, this meticulously researched album takes listeners back to the heyday of parlor music. Each tune was written for or about the former president, born 200 years ago next month.

Surf Mother Nature Network (mnn.com), an environmental-news site cofounded by Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell. It aims to be the CNN of all things green, featuring breaking stories, celebrity interviews, blogs and video reports from around the country.

Read pediatrics.org for a rousing debate on vaccines. Dr. Paul Offit of the University of Pennsylvania takes on bestselling author Dr. Robert Sears for promoting an alternative vaccine schedule in “The Vaccine Book.” Sears responds that parents need pediatricians to take their concerns about vaccine safety seriously.

Shop aggregator dealnews.com for the best after-Christmas sales on items like flat-screen TVs, iPods and ski gear. Sample deal: an eight-gigabyte iPod Nano for $133, or 15 percent off.

Checklist: Our Top Picks For the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:05:22 GMT

See “Two Museums, One Culture” at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Mass. This ambitious survey of icons from the 16th through the 19th centuries includes 16 rare works from Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery ($5; russianiconmuseum.com).

Hear “Don’t Believe” by Cherry holmes III. This family of six has created a bluegrass sound that explodes with exuberant fiddle, expert banjo and passionate harmonies. With energy to spare, the new album is a foot-tapping delight ($12.98).

Rent “The Edge of Heaven.” Cultures, generations and lovers collide in director Fatih Akin’s stunning, moving drama, which whirls from Germany to Turkey, tenderness to terrorism. It’s a multicultural epic.

Surf MyPyramid.gov and click on FOR PRESCHOOLERS for the USDA’s new nutritional guidelines for kids 2 to 5. The Web site answers questions about your child’s level of physical activity and eating habits and also provides information on food safety and creating customized eating plans.

Go to Hawaii with new sale fares from United (united.com). Sample round trips include New York to Kona ($674), Boston to Hilo ($676) and Chicago to Kahului ($398). There’s no booking deadline, so the deals could vanish as suddenly as they arrived.

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:26:28 GMT

October 13, 2008

See “Dialogue Among Giants: Carleton Watkins and the Rise of Photography in California.” This exhibition of approximately 150 works by Watkins (who became the official photographer of the California State Geological Survey) captures the social, political, economic and artistic developments in California as it reached statehood in 1850 through the mid-1880s (through March 1, 2009; getty.edu).

Rent “Le Doulos.” Is JeanPaul Belmondo a crook or a police informant? In Jean-Pierre Melville’s tough, tricky, fatalistic 1964 film noir classic, nothing is as it appears to be, and the twists come as fast as a speeding Citroën on a rainy Paris street.

Hear “Only by the Night” by Kings of Leon. These Southerners have executed a fourth album that stays true to their hard-rock edge yet interjects raspy wails and guitar riffs with sweeping mellow tracks you’ll be singing in your head. Try: “Closer.”

Shop Target starting Sunday for the debut of its line of Anya Hindmarch handbags ($19.99 to $49.99) and Sigerson Morrison shoes ($29.99 to $39.99).

Get away for Columbus Day. Check smartertravel.com for a review of last-minute deals, including early-season ski trips, Oktoberfests and spas.

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:03:30 GMT

See “Leonardo da Vinci: Drawings From the Biblioteca Reale in Turin” at the Birmingham (Ala.) Museum of Art. One of the most significant groups of drawings by the great draftsman, the works appear here for the first time in their entirety outside Italy (through Nov. 9; artsbma.org).

Hear “Rattlin’ Bones” by Australian husband-and-wife duo Shane Nicholson and Kasey Chambers. This raw country album has pitch-perfect harmonies, quick guitar and exuberant banjos, and will get any foot tapping. Song to wind down to: “Wildflower.”

Rent “Ken Russell at the BBC.” Early in his notorious career, Ken Russell reinvented the biopic on TV with these wild and marvelous dramatizations of artists’ lives. This collection features his feverish film on Isadora Duncan and the lyrical “A Song of Summer,” about Frederick Delius.

Pledge to brew your own coffee. In an effort to raise awareness about the environmental costs of our “takeout” coffee culture, Good Earth Coffee will donate $1 to the Trust for Public Land for every pledge received. Sign up at goodearthcoffee.com.

Eat Obama and McCain cupcakes and cookies from Mrs. Beasley’s. Choose a treat imprinted with the face or banner of your choice of presidential candidate (cookies: six for $21.95; cupcakes: six for $25.95; mrsbeasleys.com).

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:57:01 GMT

Rent “Dirty Sexy Money,” the complete first season. If you need to be convinced to watch this show, you probably can’t be sold. But here goes nothing: Family secrets. Torrid affairs. Dirty deeds. Not to mention a stunning ensemble cast. You’re still reading this instead of watching?

See “Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power” at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The exhibition features five decades of rare and never-before-seen photos of prized activists, entertainers and political figures taken by America’s portraitist (through Jan. 25, 2009; corcoran.org).

Surf smartertravel.com and click on “travel advice” for tips on how cash-strapped college students can save money on flights home (or that upcoming winter break in Cancún).

Go to the Monterey Jazz Festival. A bit more than 100 miles south of San Francisco, this 51st annual event is the longest-running jazz festival in the world. Headliners this year include Herbie Hancock, Nancy Wilson and Jamie Cullum (Sept. 19–21; montereyjazzfestival.org).

Visit Orange, Va., for Montpelier’s Restoration Celebration. The five-year effort to restore James Madison’s home culminates in this daylong event. The festivities are hosted by PBS’s Jim Lehrer and include appearances by Chief Justice John Roberts and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (Sept. 17).

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:08:25 GMT

Go to the World Festival of Sacred Music in Los Angeles to see 1,000 performers from across the world—including throat singers from Mongolia and Israeli composer Yuval Ron—perform in 41 events of sacred music and movement (Sept. 13–28; festivalofsacredmusic.org).

Read “The Flavor Bible” by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg ($35). This unique cookbook encourages chefs to ditch their recipes and follow their imaginations instead. The book lists thousands of classic as well as offbeat flavor combinations. Look up “chicken” and you get “figs, honey, thyme and white wine,” among dozens of other serving ideas.

Hear “How to Walk Away” by Juliana Hatfield. After 20 years, the songstress still packs a wallop on her 10th album, featuring edgy tales of heartbreak sung with that classic sweetness.

Surf socializr.com, a new site that allows users to view each other’s social calendars to see what “can’t miss” parties loom around the corner.

Try non-ammonia hair lightener. This new salon bleaching treatment is less damaging to hair. Ask for it at Gavert Atelier in Beverly Hills ($300; 310-858-7898) or at select salons in major cities.

Checklist: Our Top Picks

Newsweek — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:16:29 GMT

Rent “Smart People.” Dennis Quaid heads a terrific cast (Ellen Page, Thomas Haden Church, Sarah Jessica Parker) as a monumentally self-absorbed widower and college professor in this sharp indie comedy about a dysfunctional family that’s, well, too smart for its own good.

Hear “This Is the Life” by Amy McDonald. This Scottish singer has hit our shores with an album that is exuberant in its folksy energy. Her quick guitar and fast-paced lyrics make for a debut that is sure to leave a bounce in your step. Standout track: the title song ($13.98).

Visit Philadelphia for “Bug Fest” at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Watch a roach race, touch live insects and sample creepy-crawly cuisine at the Ace of Arthropods cookout that’s sure to please the kids, even as it grosses them out (Aug. 16–17; ansp.org).

Go to Fisherman’s Feast, the oldest continuous Italian festival in Boston’s North End. Celebrating the devotion of Sicilian fishermen to the Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca, the event includes processions, entertainment, kids’ activities and cooking demonstrations (Aug. 14–17; fishermansfeast.com).

Surf repairpal.com. Be in the know on your next trip to the mechanic. This new site offers a comprehensive explanation of what typical repairs should cost based on car make, model, year and ZIP code. Now you can visit the shop with enough ammo to talk your way out of any scam.

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:09:22 GMT

Aug. 11, 2008 issue

Go to the New World Flamenco Festival in Irvine, Calif. Featuring performances by Spanish dancers María José Franco and Juan Ogalla, the event also has film showings, courses and an exhibit by flamenco photographer Daniel Muñoz (Aug. 8–17; thebarclay.org/festivals).

Hear “The Airborne Toxic Event.” This self-titled debut album from the L.A.-based band will rock you with energetic guitars, haunting violins and melodic hooks at every turn. Song you’ll want stuck in your head: “Sometime Around Midnight” ($12.98).

Visit Rome. American Airlines is offering round-trip fares from $750 for travel in September, October and early November (book by Aug. 7). Log on to smartertravel.com or aa.com for details.

See “Hail to the Chief: Images of the American Presidency” at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Timed to coincide with the Republican National Convention, the exhibition includes presidential portraits, photos, handwritten letters and campaign materials (through Sept. 21; artsmia.org).

Subscribe to mPassport, a service for travelers that allows you to access a database of English-speaking doctors on your cell phone from anywhere in the world. The list covers more than 4,200 doctors in 180 countries. For details visit mpassport.com.

The Tip Sheet Checklist: Our Picks for this Week

Newsweek — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:18:47 GMT

Aug. 4, 2008 issue

Rent “The Band’s Visit.” An Egyptian police band en route to a concert gets stranded in a remote Israeli desert town. This droll and poignant crowd-pleaser, set several decades ago, wrings fresh and unsentimental variations on themes of cross-cultural misunderstanding and reconciliation. Its understated charm is impossible to resist.

Go to Rockland, Maine, for the Maine Lobster Festival. One of New England’s premier summer events, the event (now in its 61st year) includes a lobster-crate race, a parade, kids’ activities and—did we mention?—lots of fresh Maine lobster (July 30–Aug. 3; mainelobsterfestival.com)

Surf lotsahelpinghands.com, a free service that helps family and friends coordinate the caregiving tasks of a loved one in need. Through an easy-to-use group calendar, members can sign up for available tasks or check commitments—though the service’s e-mail reminder system will make sure you don’t forget.

Eat Bissinger’s gummy pandas. These award-winning treats come in flavors like green tea/ spiced peach, pomegranate/white tea and blueberry acai. Packed with antioxidants, these snacks are a healthy upgrade for your sweet tooth ($13.50 for a one-pound bag; bissingers.com).

Buy “The River Cottage Family Cookbook.” With more than 100 recipes and kitchen projects, this attractive book helps kids understand the importance of local, organic, seasonal and humanely raised food (Ten Speed Press. $32.50).

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:24:51 GMT

Hear Buddy Guy, “Skin Deep.” The reigning king of Chicago blues, Guy slashes his way through “Best Damn Fool,” upstages Eric Clapton on “Every Time I Sing the Blues” and plumbs his roots on “Out in the Woods.” A highly personal affair that suggests this is his time after a while.

Rent “The Bank Job.” This thriller stars Jason Statham and femme fatale Saffron Burrows, two ex-lovers involved in a bank heist that’s about much more than money. Very satisfying indeed.

See “Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Complete with five contemporary model homes, the exhibition highlights the prefab house’s centrality in the discourse of sustainability and architectural innovation (through Oct. 20; moma.org).

Surf swaptree.com, a free service that allows members to exchange books, DVDs, videogames and CDs. List items you have or want by entering their UPC or ISBN numbers, and the site will match you with users for a trade. Print out postage through the site; all you pay for is shipping.

Vote at ESPN.com to decide which sports community should be hailed the victor of the TitleTown USA contest. “SportsCenter” has narrowed it down to 20 locales and now leaves it up to its viewers to select the winner.

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:44:29 GMT

Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum. Located on 20 acres in Milwaukee, the newly opened facility celebrates the cultural icon of the H-D motorcycle through exhibits, displays of vintage bikes and a life-size still-action re-creation of a 1920s board track (h-dmuseum.com).

Rent “Mon Oncle Antoine.” Often cited as the greatest Canadian film ever made, Claude Jutra’s 1971 marvel is a bittersweet coming-of-age story set at Christmastime in a snowy Quebec mining town. Criterion’s double-disc edition offers a restored, high-definition digital transfer. Not to be missed.

Surf BabyCenter, which has launched a new social-networking site for parents (community.babycenter.com) that lets you share photos, blog, keep up with old pre-natal yoga buddies and meet new families with common interests.

Watch “The Cleaner.” The last of the 12 steps to sobriety is to carry the message to other addicts. In A&E’s new series, William Banks (Benjamin Bratt) doesn’t just carry the message, he tosses it like a firebomb. Banks, a former addict himself, leads a team that helps addicts kick their habits by any means necessary. No word yet on help for breaking addictions to this show (premieres July 15.)

Hear “Limits of the Sky” by the Bridges. This quintet (four siblings and one cousin) from Alabama blends strong harmonies with acoustic and electric guitar on their debut album. The result is a country-rock sound reminiscent of the ’70s, yet fresh with melodic energy ($10.98).

Checklist: Our Top Picks For the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:32:05 GMT

Rent “Baby It’s You.” Twenty-three-year-old Rosanna Arquette burns up the screen in this story of a smart, ambitious Jewish girl from New Jersey and the sharkskin-wearing townie she loves. This honest, class-conscious depiction of high-school life in the late ’60s is one of John Sayles’s best, and least-known, movies—and it’s never been available on DVD before.

Hear “The Day Is Brave” by Brendan James. His compelling lyrics, soothing tenor and piano virtuosity make this debut album a stunning listen. Highlights include “Green,” a sweet musing on a former girlfriend ($13.98).

Surf pollinator.org. Due to bad environmental practices, pollinating species like bees and butterflies are being threatened. To encourage their proliferation, this Web site offers a downloadable planting guide that tells you which plants are best for encouraging a pollinator-friendly habitat.

Read “The Carbon Age: How Life’s Core Element Has Become Civilization’s Greatest Threat” by Eric Roston ($25.99). This elegant volume takes readers on a grand tour of carbon’s role in the universe, from the element’s star-crossed birth billions of years ago to its role in the fossil-fuel industry and global warming.

Go to the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Witness this three-day re-enactment of one of the most important battles of the Civil War, complete with cannons and mounted cavalry (July 4-6; gettysburg reenactment.com).

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:45:09 GMT

Rent “Persepolis,” Marjane Satrapi’s funny, defiant and unique animated vision of her tumultuous coming of age in Iran—with a hilarious detour to her exile in Vienna. It’s like no animated movie you’ve ever seen.

Surf livestrong.com, a health, fitness and lifestyle Web site launched by the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Demand Media Inc. Browse thousands of videos, articles and nutritional-food profiles, as well as networking with others trying to meet similar health and fitness goals.

Hear “Supreme Genius of King Khan,” by King Khan and the Shrines. Garage-rock shaman King Khan has been peddling his sweaty blend of psychopunk R&B through Europe for nearly 10 years. Now with their first stateside release, the man and his band are set to arrive on our shores—all blazing horns, churning organ and barbed-wire guitar. Yow! ($13.98)

See “The Impressionists: Master Paintings From the Art Institute of Chicago” at the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth, Texas. On an exclusive loan from Chicago’s venerable museum, the 92 paintings in this exhibition include signature works by Van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec and more (through Nov. 2; kimbellart.org).

Go to Salt Lake City for the Utah Arts Festival, a four-day event featuring music, art, film, kids’ events and more. This year’s featured artist is the MASS Ensemble, a performance group that combines art, music and choreography (June 26–29; uaf.org).

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:14:54 GMT

Hear Jakob Dylan’s “Seeing Things.” With the Wallflowers on hiatus, Bob’s son steps out with his first solo album. The stripped-down guitar leaves plenty of room for lush, knowing vocals ($15.98).

Buy Physicians Formula Eye Shadow Duo. All the ingredients in these two-color sets are certified organic and made without parabens, harsh chemicals or synthetics. Better still, they’re reasonably priced and found in drugstores. And when you’re done, just toss in the recycling bin ($7.95).

Surf mozes.com, a free music-networking site that connects people to their favorite artists via cell phone. By joining a band’s “mob,” or mobile list, users can receive text-message updates on the new hit single or an upcoming concert.

Rent “Caramel.” Set in a Beirut beauty shop where five women—Christian and Muslim, young and old, married, single and adulterous—grapple with love, religion and social repression, this delightful, sensual movie from Nadine Labaki is the closest thing to a Lebanese “Sex and the City.”

Go to the National Capital Barbecue Battle. Forget the strife between Republicans and Democrats—the real war in D.C. is between those vying for the National Barbecue Championship. The event also includes music, kids’ activities and more (June 21–22; bbqdc.com).

Checklist: Our Top Picks for the Week

Newsweek — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:36:25 GMT

Hear Emmylou Harris’s “All I Intended to Be.” This crisply sophisticated, sometimes solemnly tinged collection of originals and favorites of her fellow artists shows that Harris is still the stalwart songbird at the top of the roost ($18.98).

Rent “Heavy Metal in Baghdad.” Hipster American filmmakers Suroosh Alvi and Eddy Moretti plunge into bullet-riddled, paranoid Baghdad to chart the fortunes of Iraq’s only heavy-metal band, Acrassicauda, who are driven into exile in Syria.

See “End Game—British Contemporary Art From the Chaney Family Collection,” at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. The exhibition features major works of the radical London scene, from the Young British Artists movement of the 1990s (including Damien Hirst) to today’s avant-garde (mfah.org).

Read “RFK: A Photographer’s Journal.” World-renowned photojournalist Harry Benson captures intimate photos of RFK’s all-too-brief life in this book marking the 40th anniversary of Kennedy’s death ($39.95; powerhousebooks.com).

Go to the Frietmuseum, in Bruges, Belgium, the first and only museum dedicated to french fries. Learn about the history of the potato and the fry and then sample away! (frietmuseum.be)