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Culture

Trials and tribulations of a drama king

Graham Gentz | January 24

Frank Melcori’s “Playboy of the Western World” has been a special kind of hell. Albuquerque is dirty and bursting with community theater — the kind of theater you do for free, the kind you do for fun. Those who populate it are usually lawyers-turned-song-and-dance men, students led or ruled by a hobby and retired bodies looking for new labors. “Just try it,” our director, Frank, would repeat again and again in rehearsal.

Culture

‘Always-fresh cabaret’ available for limited time

Graham Gentz | January 18

“The Reptilian Lounge” is simply the best on-going theater event in town. It’s also unique. The lounge has been around since 1996, serving as a rotating, always-fresh, always-hysterical, late-night cabaret.

Culture

Sex, power, death make for bold theater

Graham Gentz | January 18

Hailing from faraway Yerevan, Armenia, Theater 8’s production of “The Maids” opens the first week of Tricklock’s Revolutions International Theatre Festival 2011.

Culture

Rare event brings comic relief to fanatics

Andrew Beale | January 18

“Eclectic” is not a strong enough word to describe the mix of people and exhibits found at the Albuquerque Comic Con.

Culture

Year in review Hindsight is 20/10

January 10

2010 is the most sci-fi-sounding year yet. I mean, 2000 sounds pretty sci-fi, and 2001 is the best sci-fi movie with a year for a title, but 2010?

Culture

Laugh your tail off at Aux Dog

Graham Gentz | January 10

Someone once said to me, “Ask me what the first rule of comedy is.” I began, “What’s the first rule of —” “Timing,” he blurted out, right in my face.

Culture

Actor talks theater, beavers

Chris Quintana | January 10

Law Chavez is an M.F.A. UNM student and actor who traveled across the country for 12 years before returning to New Mexico.

Culture

Skiers scrape savings to stay on the slopes

Alexandra Swanberg | January 10

While the recession has created a financial slippery slope, it has not deterred skiers and snowboarders from shelling out hundreds each season to indulge in their sports. Representatives from local skiing hotspots said the recession has made little difference in how well-attended their slopes are.

Culture

The last-minute- crappy-gift guide

Chris Quintana , Alexandra Swanberg and Graham Gentz | December 13

Well, you f****d up. You spent all your holiday money buying yourself snow cones, monogrammed pants and the entire Boyz II Men discography.

Culture

Scholar, adviser looks ahead

Ioan Belovarski | December 13

Some students might have to choose between a teacher with years of experience or one with novel ways of thinking. If accepted into the UNM Honors Program, students might be lucky to study under professor Diane Rawls, who is knowledgeable in both capacities.

Culture

Get your band booked over break

Andy Beale | December 13

Now that the semester’s over and we’ve all got some free time on our hands, we can start getting into things we meant to do, but couldn’t because of all that damn required reading.

Culture

Club sells prints to get to St. Louis

Alexandra Swanberg | December 9

The blueprint to leaving a world impression starts in St. Louis — if the UNM Print Club can get there. To do so, the club is hosting a student print sale to fund a trip to the Southern Graphics Council International conference in March. Shaurya Kumar, assistant professor in the printmaking program, said the craft is about creating long-lasting relationships, which students will make at the conference. “Printmaking is a very community-oriented activity,” he said.

Culture

Skaters Sharpen up for show

Andy Beale | December 9

Some things come only once a year: Harry Potter movies, Christmas and the Outpost Ice Arena’s Christmas Show. Student Krista Keay will skate in the show, and she said it attracts about 100 spectators every year.

Culture

Web exclusive: Beer, sketch comedy and live music. What more do you want?

Graham Gentz | December 8

Have you ever wished SNL didn’t suck? Well, have no fear and do not sneer or jeer. For the Box is near, and dear Blackout’s here to make you cheer. Wait.

Culture

Play trades quality for money

Graham Gentz | December 6

This time last holiday season, the Albuquerque Little Theatre produced “White Christmas,” selling out houses throughout its run.

Culture

Banding together to feed the hungry

Alexandra Swanberg | December 6

Contrary to its name, local band Frostbite has warmed hearts for the past four years by putting on benefit concerts for the hungry. Band vocalist Isidro Garcia said he grew up in a poor neighborhood in Albuquerque and alongside impoverished people, and it motivated him to give back now that he’s able to. “I always find it kind of interesting that more people that have been around it (and) that have seen it firsthand tend to give back more often than people that could do it in a more significant way,” he said. The band will put on a show at Launchpad with local musicians and invite people to donate nonperishable food items that will go to Roadrunner Food Bank.

Culture

Hookah offers alternative nightlife for minors

Andy Beale | December 2

Albuquerque has your hookah hookup. Because of rave-like atmospheres with live DJs, Albuquerque has seen an explosion in the number of city hookah lounges, Bubble Lounge manager Ahmad Al-Qasem said. “We used to have a big line in here,” he said.

Culture

‘Ugly’ statue conveys passion

Alexandra Swanberg | December 2

Luis Jiménez’s gaudy, on-campus fiesta dancers have spurred unfavorable reactions from passersby, but their appearance is intended to portray Southwest working class members’ lives. Graduate student Eric Castillo is writing his thesis on the artist.

Culture

You have to wait to donate

Chris Quintana | December 2

It starts with something simple but expensive, say, a $276 speeding ticket from the grand state of Oklahoma.

Culture

No Muslim extremists here

Andrew Beale | December 1

The most remarkable thing about the Muslim Student Association is how unremarkable it is. As a Daily Lobo reporter, I’ve covered countless student group and organization meetings.