Table of contents for week of December 10, 2004
NEWS & FEATURES
A GUIDE TO THE SEASON
Gift giving ideas and recommendations as only the Phoenix can deliver. What to buy for a weekend on the slopes, where to splurge for a holiday dinner on the town, one-of-a-kind creations that you wish you had time to make and more!
As long-time House Speaker Tom Finneran prepares to bow out, Adam Reilly takes a look at his would-be successors in the 12th Suffolk, who are stepping into the spotlight for a race that may hold the key to the city's future.
The Catholic Church, still feeling the financial fallout of last year's precedent-shattering abuse-case settlement, looks as though it's getting ready to do legal battle with a second - largely suspiciously delayed - onslaught of claims. Harvey Silverglate reports.
Deirdre Fulton says that while prices keep climbing for milk, child care, and everything else under the "cost of living" umbrella, Massachusetts's stagnant minimum wage is steadily backing low-income workers into a corner.
For one Providence TV reporter, what began as a narrowly defined case of source confidentiality in a corruption case has become something far more complex. Then again, Ian Donnis points out, that shouldn't really be a surprise in Rhode Island.
Scott Getchel sketches out Playing Mary.
In "Savage Love," Dan Savage on sex and the occasional relationship.
In "Out There," Steve Almond on television without pity.
In "Urban Buy," Nina Schwartz plays the pajama game.
In the Phoenix editorial, the White House continues to pursue its tragically mistaken policies, despite a world of evidence that it's wrong.
Letters to the editor
Moon Signs
Plus, this just in:
VALEDICTION
Finneran bids farewell
TUNING IN
Air Somerville
HATE GROUPS
Heil-raisers move into Bay State
RAËL LOVE
Eminem gets religion
CLUBBABLE
Rock beats path to the Overdraught
MERCH BOOTH
Brandwashed defends your ’hood
EDITORS' PICKS
In Galleries and Museums, 'Marks of Enlightenment' at Harvard, 'Blue' at the Cambridge Art Association
In Classical, It's that time of year
In Theater, Barrage fiddles its way to the Wilbur
MUSIC
Matt Ashare makes holiday shopping easier and suggests some of the more interesting label comps, deluxe reissues, DVDs, and box sets.
The Phoenix take a look at more special sets from the Beatles, the Dead Boys, the Screamers, Wilco, NOFX, Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Velvet Underground, and more.
On Sandbox, Matt Ashare finds the full Sandman experience included everything from the minimal instrumentation of Morphine to larger configurations with a full horn section, guitar, four-string bass, and keyboards
Albert Ayler and Lenny Bruce get boxed, and Jon Garelick listens to two different kinds of improviser.
Ed Hazell says a new Mosaic set lets us see that if the Jazztet of Golson and Farmer were slightly out of synch with their times, they nonetheless made timeless music.
Chris Rucker gives us the news on Jericho, Angelo Petraglia, and the Ducky Boys; and in "Out," Will Spitz hits the clubs.
Live reviews of: The Pixies
, Jim Hall & Dave Holland.
Also, short reviews of:
John Lennon
ACOUSTIC
Various Artists
MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS
Phish
IT
Various Artists
LIVE AID — JULY 13, 1985: THE DAY THE MUSIC CHANGED THE WORLD
Dolly Parton
LIVE AND WELL
AFI
AFI
Dwight Twilley
HAVE A TWILLEY CHRISTMAS
...and Roadtripping: The Walkmen all around New England, plus the Rock and Roll Camp for Girls and more
BY CARLY CARIOLI
MOVIES
Peter Keough sees Oceans Twelve and thinks Steven Soderbergh sails on the mainstream fun of a satisfying sequel.
Chris Fujiwara says African director Ousmane Sembene's Moolaadé is a model of gripping political filmmaking.
Gerald Peary watches Anya through the eyes of her father at the MFA, and gains appreciation for film editors through a new STARZ documentary, The Cutting Edge.
Also, short reviews of:
BLADE TRINITY
TESTOSTERONE
RECONSTRUCTION
MOTHRA
A
COMME SI DE RIEN N’ÉTAIT/AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED
THEATER
Carolyn Clay says the American Repertory Theare takes The Provok'd Wife and gives a modern spin on classic morals and mores.
In Who's Afraid of the Virgin Mary?, the Gold Dust Orphans invade Bethlehem for a booze- and revelation-soaked holiday orgy of sacrilege. Carolyn Clay reports.
Liza Weisstuch takes a look at Rough & Tumble Theatre's I'm Away from My Desk Right Now, and Matter Familias at the Boston Playwright's Theatre.
Sally Cragin looks ahead to Barrage's Vagabond Tales.
PERFORMANCE
Jeffrey Gantz thinks the Rockettes hold up their end of the bargain at the Wang, but the rest of the Christmas Spectacular doesn't live up to its name; plus the Boston Ballet's Nutcracker at the Colonial.
Marcia B. Siegel sees a transitional Nutcracker; plus Caitlin Corbett's retrospective.
ART
Randi Hopkins looks forward to "Marks of Enlightenment" at Harvard's Sackler Museum and "Blue" at the Cambridge Art Association.
BOOKS
Julia Hanna enjoys the challenge of the stories in Joy Williams's Honored Guest, where the sudden, arbitrary nature of life and death is an ongoing puzzle.
TELEVISION
HOTDOTS: SATURDAY 11 7:00 (4) Holiday at Pops. The annual televised Boston Pops Christmas concert. (Until 9 p.m.)
By Clif Garboden
FOOD
Dining Out: Sibling Rivalry
On the Cheap: Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
Noshing and Sipping: Mistral's pumpkin martini
SPECIALS
Digital Photography Guide
The Best 2004
Liquid - Fall 2004
Fall Preview
Education Section 2004
Best Music Poll 2004
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