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January 23, 2013 A Washington showcase of work by the Chinese dissident artist reveals his preoccupation with the tragic 2008 Sichuan earthquake: To create one of the pieces, Ai ran afoul of Chinese authorities, asking for help collecting the names of children who died when their schools collapsed.

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January 23, 2013 A Chinese man in Beijing has set up a cafe identical to the New York hangout on the hit TV show. For owner Du Xin, Friends is "like a religion" — and he's not the only one. He's opened a second Central Perk in Shanghai, capitalizing on the Chinese fondness for the six friends and their laid-back, freewheeling lives.

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January 23, 2013 This month, the late-night talk-show host sets up camp in the 11:35 p.m. slot, which puts him head-to-head with Jay Leno and Kimmel's idol, David Letterman. Kimmel has put a personal mark on his show by bringing in his family to help him make it happen.

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January 23, 2013 This updated version of the traditional end-of-weekend meal is a great way to turn a lazy weekend into an occasion, to gather family or friends for good food and good times.

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January 23, 2013 In Drinking with Men, Rosie Schaap chronicles the taverns she has called her own and the friends she has met along the way. It's a wonderfully funny and openhearted book from a generous, charismatic writer.

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January 23, 2013 NPR's Renee Montagne talks to actor, comedian, director, writer and all-around funny guy Mel Brooks, the man behind such cracked classics as Blazing Saddles and Spaceballs. He has a new DVD set out that covers his career from the 1950s to today.

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January 22, 2013 The third feature by director Moussa Toure, the danger-at-sea drama distinguishes itself with richly authentic detail and a deep understanding of West African culture.

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January 22, 2013 Born from a deadly underground train crash, Manhattan's historic transit hub is credited with inventing the ramp and bringing electricity to both train tracks and terminal. Author Sam Roberts marks its centennial in Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America.

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January 22, 2013 KUERRobert Redford's annual Sundance Film Festival draws thousands of filmgoers and millions of dollars to snowy Park City, Utah. But a state subsidy contributing to the event is drawing controversy from some conservatives, who say films screened at the festival don't reflect the values of the state.

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January 22, 2013 Melissa Block talks with Steven Zeitchik, arts and entertainment writer for the Los Angeles Times, about the Sundance Film Festival. They discuss the buzz-worthy movies and emerging trends from this year's festival.

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January 22, 2013 Hundreds of thousands of people turned out in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration festivities. And boy, were they hungry. We tracked down the good stuff for you in pictures.

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January 22, 2013 Writer and psychoanalyst Adam Phillips explores the paradox of dissatisfaction: Although not getting what we want may cause us pain, Phillips concedes, we should think of frustration as a natural part of existence, and one that can provide us pleasure if we let it.

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January 22, 2013 The Newsweek editor returns with a list of new reads about people with surprising lives — a CIA investigator, a successful businesswoman who started life as a child soldier, and a private-equity pioneer whose domineering personality drove his loved ones away.

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January 21, 2013 The inaugural ball is sort of a strange event — it's not really fancy, but everyone treats it like it is. People are determined to have the experience be special, even if the surroundings aren't.

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