NEW YORK (AP) — A painting of a female nude by Amedeo Modigliani (ah-mah-DAY’-oh moh-deel-YAH’-nee) that caused a scandal nearly a century ago is going on the auction block for the first time. “Reclining Nude” was created in 1917 to 1918. It will be the highlight of Christie’s Nov. 9 New York sale. The work’s … Continue reading
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — When it comes to canine stars, like their human counterparts, sometimes it’s all about the look. Before he’d even conceived of what would eventually become “Max,” director Boaz Yakin knew what he didn’t want: Something cute. “It’d been a long time since anyone made a movie where the dog was … Continue reading
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — “Fast & Furious” star Vin Diesel traded the franchise’s signature muscle cars for a new kind of ride. The actor, along with co-stars Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Jason Statham, unveiled Universal Studio Hollywood’s latest attraction: “Fast & Furious — Supercharged,” which opened to the public on Wednesday. “I’m more … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. and global stocks headed lower Wednesday as negotiations between Greece and its lenders drag on and investors become less hopeful that a deal will be reached soon. KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones Industrial average was down 95 points, or 0.5 percent, to 18,048 as of 12:15 p.m. Eastern time, ending … Continue reading
HONOLULU (AP) — A battle is poised to unfold on a sacred Hawaii mountain where plans call for construction of one of the world’s largest telescopes. Work is set to resume Wednesday on the Thirty Meter Telescope atop the Big Island’s Mauna Kea, but protesters say it tramples on land sacred to Native Hawaiians and … Continue reading
FRANKENLUST TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — An auction company has sold an electronic road sign that was drawing eyes in Michigan for its beer-centric slogan. The Bay City Times (http://bit.ly/1HeL8V1 ) reports the auction company, 1Bid.us, has had the sign that says “DRINK MORE BEER” on its property in Bay County’s Frankenlust Township for about a … Continue reading
DETROIT (AP) — A woman deemed the world’s oldest person died in Michigan, about a month after her 116th birthday. Jeralean Talley died Wednesday evening at her home in the Detroit suburb of Inkster, according to her daughter, Thelma Holloway. Holloway said Thursday that her mother was recently hospitalized and treated for fluid in her … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stevie Wonder, Cody Simpson and Avril Lavigne are some of the stars who will perform during next month’s opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games, organizers announced Thursday. The July 25 ceremony will also feature appearances by actress Eva Longoria, comedian Jimmy Kimmel and athletes Yao Ming and Michael Phelps … Continue reading
DETROIT (AP) — Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Michigan is rolling out the buoys and starting another season of work on Lake Huron — the highlight of which is searching for and studying shipwrecks. This year, there’s far more real estate to investigate: The sanctuary in northern Michigan secured federal approval to expand its … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — A yearlong celebration marking guitarist Les Paul’s 100th birthday kicks off in Times Square next week. It’ll begin with Neal Schon of the rock band Journey accepting a proclamation from the Les Paul Foundation declaring June 9 as Les Paul Day. Organizers say other cities around the country also will declare … Continue reading
PARIS (AP) — Lovers in Paris, beware: City authorities are taking down thousands of padlocks affixed to the famed Pont des Arts bridge. The city says the locks, usually hung by couples to express eternal love, are causing long-term damage to Paris heritage sites. Last summer a chunk of fencing fell off under their weight. … Continue reading
PARIS (AP) — Auctioneers handling the sale of an unusual early work by the elusive street artist known as Banksy say the spray-painted trailer home has sold for 500,000 euros ($546,000). Auction house Digard says including fees the total sale price for the 1998 work “Silent Majority” was 620,000 euros. Digard had hoped to fetch … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — The trade show was the calm, the fan show the storm. From editors and booksellers to librarians and general readers, tens of thousands filled the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan last week for the industry convention BookExpo America and the public event BookCon, which ended Sunday. BookExpo, so low-key … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Neverland Ranch is up for sale. The California property that once served as Michael Jackson’s home and personal fantasyland is being listed at $100 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. The 2,700-acre ranch in Santa Ynez Valley features such amenities as a train station, six-bedroom house, 50-seat movie theater and … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway’s revenue and attendance figures both hit record highs for the third season in a row, fed largely by premium prices and a steady stream of more shows. The Broadway League said Tuesday that box offices reported a record total gross of $1.36 billion — up from $1.27 billion from the … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Disney’s original fantasy adventure “Tomorrowland” ended up earning slightly more in its debut than Monday estimates suggested with $42.7 million across the holiday weekend. While that’s within the range of what the studio and analysts predicted going into the four-day weekend, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the film … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Most theater professionals like to say that whatever they’re working on is very relevant to what’s going on in the real world. That was not possibly more true than in Baltimore this spring. The city’s flagship theater, Center Stage, debuted a musical about reggae icon and civil rights activist Bob Marley during the … Continue reading
BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — A big sinkhole discovered Friday near the driving range of a southwest Missouri golf course is attracting the attention of geological experts. The hole, which is 80 feet wide and 35 feet deep in some places, was created by two separate sinkholes that formed near the entrance to Top of the … Continue reading
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Hundreds of music fans are expected to let the good times roll Sunday at the 35th annual B.B. King Homecoming Festival, a free gathering that the legendary bluesman started in his hometown of Indianola, Mississippi. Performers this year include a country blues band called the North Mississippi Allstars; a Bentonia, Mississippi, … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Never mind the doggie bag: Spot wants a seat at the outdoor table, or rather under it. New York is considering whether to join a growing number of states that give pet dogs legal entree, if not actual entrees, at open-air eateries. Dog lovers and restaurateurs say the proposal would safely … Continue reading
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The body of blues legend B.B. King will return next week to the Mississippi Delta where his life and career began. His body will be flown on May 27 to Memphis, Tennessee, the place where a young King was nicknamed the Beale Street Blues Boy. Organizers in Memphis said a musical tribute is … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Many theater owners like to say they offer an intimate show but only one really means it. That would be Theatre for One — a 4-foot-by-8 foot portable theater that allows one audience member at a time to see one short play performed by a single actor. “There’s definitely an immediacy … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Peter Copping had hoped to work alongside Oscar de la Renta, but it was not to be: Just days after Copping was hired last October as artistic director of the luxury label, the legendary de la Renta passed away from cancer. In February, Copping presented his debut collection at New York … Continue reading
LAS VEGAS (AP) — This isn’t your 1950s bubble gum and poodle skirts rock ‘n roll. The Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend is a flashback to classic cars, vintage pinups, Tiki drinks, tattoos and a fashion aesthetic that balances high heels with just as high hair. “It’s good clean fun, with a hint of naughty,” … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — As if there weren’t enough upheaval in 17th-Century Salem, Massachusetts, this haunted village is about to welcome Lucy Lawless. Celebrated for such unflinching performances as Xena, Warrior Princess, and Lucretia in the “Spartacus” trilogy, Lawless is now casting her spell on “Salem,” WGN’s witch-war drama, as it begins its second season … Continue reading
