NEWS & FEATURES

He may be one of the runts of this season's litter, but Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich is also the only one who appeals to Greens and other third-party members. Can he rebuild the Dems' left wing? Adam Reilly finds out.

As politicians push for a showy but meaningless expansion of civil-commitment laws in the wake of Alexandra Zapp's murder, the state refuses to implement a pilot parole program for sex offenders that actually works. David Bernstein reports.

Editing one's way into a literary lion's world: Max Alexander with an appreciation of George Plimpton.

In 'Don't Quote Me': From Massport head to editorial writer, Virginia Buckingham is settling in at the Herald, Dan Kennedy finds. Plus, Edward Said, man of controversy, and Democratic political consultant Michael Goldman figures the odds on his own health.

Sure, Dorothy Kelly Gay may have messed up, says Susan Ryan-Vollmar, but it's hard for anyone to balance city management and progressive politics.

He looks like a furniture salesman. He talks like your uncle Frank. And yet Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy is a bona fide celebrity. Chris Wright talks with him.

Adrian Zupp wonders: as an influential humanitarian, is it incumbent upon the Dalai Lama to ask world leaders the tough questions?

When most people think of art in Boston, they do not, as a general rule, think of Roxbury. Tamara Wieder explains how Candelaria Silva and ACT Roxbury are working to change that.

In the Phoenix editorial, we explain why Ally's Law is a bad idea.

In "Out There," Kris Frieswick has dance-face fever.

Genevieve Rajewski finds a bounty on the city's streets in "Urban Buy."

Letters to the editor

Moon Signs

Plus, this just in:

EDITORS' PICKS

In Arts News, A regal presence
Remembering Julie Ince Thompson, plus actors protest.

In Performance, Hey Babe!
The Zeitgeist Gallery gets Ruth-less.

In Theater, All that Hairspray
Bruce Vilanch is dame Edna.

In Galleries and Museums, Artists & antipodes
George Condo, Bindo Altoviti, and Gerry Bergstein on John Currin.

In Classical, Mahler time
Ben Zander and the BPO celebrate their 25th.

In State of the Art, Big Black
Jack Black, Black Sabbath, and the Jews-for-Jesus school of rock

Plan your week:

MUSIC

Brett Milano says R.E.M. remain on the cutting edge in the digital age.

Jonathan Perry says Richard Davies lives locally and thrives musically.

Kurt Rosenwinkel stays sharp on Heartcore. John Garelick reports.

Brett Milano says Neil Young's still rockin' in the free world.

Ted Drozdowski says David Bowie stays current.

Lloyd Schwartz on Teatro Lirico's firebreathing Don Giovanni; plus Steffen Schleiermacher at NEC.

Live reviews of: the Brad Mehldau Trio, Fleetwood Mac and Nada Surf and Ozma .

Also, short reviews of:

...and Roadtripping: Back in the high life: Mission of Burma, TV Smith and Steve Winwood ride again, plus more.

MOVIES

Peter Keough takes a look at the films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder at the Harvard Film Archive.

Chris Fujiwara says Clint Eastwood makes another masterpiece with Mystic River.

Peter Keough has high grades for Linklater, Black, White, and School of Rock.

In Filmculture, Gerald Peary sails with Clint into the Mystic.

Also, short reviews of:

THEATER

Carolyn Clay watches BTW downsize Antony and Cleopatra.

Carolyn Clay says Memphis is ebullient rock history.

DANCE

Forty years of Boston Ballet: Jeffrey Gantz on Nureyev’s Don Quixote, plus the Kirov and the Dance Collective.

ART

Christopher Millis loves Pat Keck's kinetic menagerie.

BOOKS

William Corbett reads Ross Feld exploring the tumult of Philip Guston.

Jon Garelick says David Kirby's new book of poems is funny, but it's also more than funny.

TELEVISION

HOTDOTS: THURSDAY 9, 9:00 (2) Frontline: Truth, War, and Consequences. Why is Iraq a mess? Frontline traces the tragic blunder back to September 11, 2001, when Donny Rumsfeld decided he was going to manufacture a reason to bomb Iraq despite all evidence. By Clif Garboden

Carolyn Clay on PBS's 'Our Town' featuring Paul Newman.

FOOD

SPECIALS