Theater
Finding Nemo is the movie by Disney/Pixar that has been adapted to ice. It tells the story of a clownfish named Nemo who goes through many adventures to reunite with his lost father.
* Taipei Arena (台北巨蛋), 2 Nanjing E Rd Taipei (台北市南京東路四段2號)
* Today, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 7:30pm; tomorrow, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 11:30am and 3:30pm
* Tickets are NT$800 to NT$2,300 and available through ERA ticketing
Classical Music
A Night of Recorder Ensemble Music 2007 (2007木笛重奏之夜). Under the direction of renowned recorder player Wu Ming-tsung (吳明宗), the Taipei Recorder Chamber Orchestra (台北木笛室內樂團) will present various recorder works in the forms of duet and trio in the first half of the program and with a larger ensemble in the second half of the program. The program will include duet sonatas by Gibons, Croft, Telemann, and Krahmer, Mendelssohn's Wdding March, Sousa's The Stars and Stripes for Forever, Amdt's Nola, and Desmond's Take Five.
* At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
* All tickets are sold out.
* Tonight at 7:30pm
Shelly Lu's New Year Recital (呂怡萱之新年獨奏會). Lu received her bachelor's degree in piano from Manhattan Music Academy in 2002 and studied under Nina Svetlanova, one of the most sought-after master piano teachers today. The concert will include a program of works, including Mozart's Ave Verunm Corpus, Piano Sonate, K.330, Jeno Takacs' Toccata, MacDowell's Witches' Dance, Massenet's Meditation, Gabriel Marie's the Golden Wedding, Leon Jessel's Parade of the Tine Soldiers, and Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.2, Op.31.
* At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
* All tickets are sold out.
* Feb. 21 at 7:30pm
Hsieh Shuy-yi Piano Recital (謝書儀鋼琴獨奏會). In this recital, Hsieh performs her own composition, Oiseau Triste. The program also includes Schubert's Piano Sonata in A Minor, D.845, Debussy's Nocturne, D'un Cahier d'Esquisses, La plus que lente>, and Masques, and Hsieh's Oiseau Triste. All profits from the concerts will be donated to World Vision.
* Thursday at the National Recital Hall, Taipei, and Feb. 27 at the Chih-Shan Hall, National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center, Kaohsiung City (高雄中正文化中心至善廳), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
* Tickets for both concerts cost from NT$200 to NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing.
* Thursday and 27 at 7:30pm
2007 Harmonica Tango — Maw Yenong-Tai and Friends (2007口琴探戈 — Maw Yenong-Tai & 樂團新秀口琴音樂會). Organized by the Bureau of Cultural Affairs Kaohsiung City Government and co-organized by the Kaohsiung Tien Yun Harmonica Ensemble (高雄天韻口琴樂團), the concert will present a program of 20 Tango-themed works, such as Blue Tango, La Cumpasita, Kiss of Fire, Por Una Cabeza, Don't Cry for Me Argentina, Memory, Samba Dance, Never On Sunday, The Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, and others.
* At the Chih-Shan Hall, National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center, Kaohsiung City (高雄中正文化中心至善廳), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
* Tickets cost NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing.
* Feb. 24 at 7:30pm
Contemporary
Witch House (女巫店) tomorrow presents indie singer iCat, aka Weng Yujun (翁宇君), known for her complex multi-media installation art and the unique blend of computer-composed instrumentation on her 2005 album The Mirage in Time (時光魅影). Weng's crystalline voice has a kind of operatic power that can raise the hair on the back of your neck or, when she mellows out, evokes comparisons to Portishead. She performs with acoustic guitarist Allen Loo (盧家宏).
* NT$300 admission includes one drink
* Tomorrow at 9:30pm
* 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei (北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Call (02) 2362-5494 or visit www.witchhouse.org
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) closes for the holidays starting tonight and reopens next Friday, Feb. 23, with Fusion Night>, with guitarists Geddy Lin (林正如) and Jeff Yen (嚴和邦), bassist Brian Chiu (邱培榮), Hong Yun-hui (洪筠惠) on keyboards and featuring drummer Eric Soong (宋輔仁). On Feb. 24 it's Coach (教練), normally a part-funk/part-nu-metal four-piece, in an unplugged set. Pop-rock acts Joker and New Yorker (紐約客) take the stage on Feb. 25. Monday, Feb. 26, is open-jam night, when anyone with an instrument and a song to sing can perform on stage. Feb. 27 Your Low End (憂樂團) and the neo-prog sound of Formula, Feb. 28 features Sunny 4 and girly alt-rockers Cherry Bloom (櫻桃幫), and on March 1 Hu De-fu (胡德夫) and friends sing the Hai-Yan Blues.
* The music starts at 9:30pm each night
* Entrance Feb. 23, Feb. 24, Feb. 28 and March 1 is NT$350. For Feb. 25 and Feb. 27, entrance is NT$300. On open-jam night there is a one-drink minimum.
* B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit www.riverside.com.tw
Tonight at The Living Room (小客廳) it's emo/pop-punk four-piece Riot, "high-energy originals and lots of attitude." The Living Room will be closed over the Lunar New Year and reopens Friday, Feb. 23 with performances by indie-pop singer Mayonnaise (美乃滋) and The TK Playboys, "Taipei's only bona fide Country and Honky Tonk experience. On Feb. 24 it's Hypnosis Showcase with comedy hypnotist Brian David Phillips and Peking opera actress Patsy Wu, in her debut comedy hypnosis performance, followed by rock band Goodbye Nao. On Feb. 27 it's Chit Chat Game Night with board games, and on Feb. 28 it's pop and folk singer Hank.
* Tonight's performance starts at 10pm. On Feb. 23 bands take the stage at 9pm. The hypnosis show starts at 8pm, followed by Goodbye Nao at 10pm. Feb. 27's fun and games runs from 7pm to midnight. Hank's show starts at 8pm on Feb. 28.
* Entrance is NT$300, except for Tuesday, when there is no admission charge
* 3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
Events
The Taipei Salon — an Odyssey From France to India is a series of lectures in English hosted by the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation (龍應台文化基金會). The third Taipei Salon examines the controversial issue of globalization from a diverse range of perspectives. Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, Director of the French Institute in Taipei, will give the first lecture titled Globalization: How Do the French Do It* on March 3 where he will discuss the ways in which France has defended her cultural traditions. On March 17, Indian novelist and contributor to the New York Times Pankaj Mishra will share his insights on India's democratization in the context of globalization. The title of the lecture is Poor But Democratic: Democracy in India in the Age of Globalization.
* Yue-han Hall (月涵堂會議廳), 1F, 110 Jinhua St, Taipei (台北市金華街110號1樓)
* March 3 and March 17, from 2pm to 4pm
* Tickets are free but seats must be registered in advance online at www.civictaipei.org or by calling Emily at (02) 3322-4907 by Feb. 27
Tellus Theater Acting Workshop 2. The workshop aims to train actors with a focus on the preparations prior to going onstage, such as warm-ups and various exercises to build trust. A non-refundable fee of NT$2,200 will be charged. To apply, send an e-mail to tellus_drama@yahoo.com.tw or contact Leslie at 0939-872-083. More information can be found at www.wretch.cc/blog/tellus
* 3F, 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei, Taiwan
* Mar. 4, Sunday from 2pm until 6pm (March 11, March 18, March 25; April 1, April 8, April 15)
Velvet Underground (地下絲絨) is closed over the holiday and reopens Friday, Feb. 23 with Rosettes Ear and alt-rock band Blue Velvets (藍絲絨). On Feb. 24 it's pop rock with Bike and Shanru (山如), Feb. 25 features indie bands Bling Bling Bling, Pardon (罪之赦免), Blue Velvets and Mary See the Future, and on Feb. 27 it's Exit 7 (七號出口), Kikirose (奇蹟螺絲) and Index.
* Shows start at 9pm, except for Feb. 25 and Feb. 27, which start at 8pm
* Entrance is NT$300 or NT$200 for students, except for Feb. 25, when it's NT$350 or NT$300
* B1, 50 Zhongxiao W Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市忠孝西路一段50號B1). Call (02) 2314-1868 or visit www.velvet-underground.com.tw
The Wall (這牆), at B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1) is closed until Friday, March 2.
Underworld (地下社會) presents DJ Zephec and pouty electronica singer Kolette tonight. On Feb. 23 it's pop-rock band 13 (拾參) and Bitter, and on Feb. 26 it's Brit-pop band 1976.
* The bar opens at 8pm and bands take the stage at 9pm
* Entrance is NT$300
* B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.underworld-taipei.blogspot.com for more information
Tonight at Taichung's Groovecity in Tiger City (台中老虎城旁停車場) Red-I rolls up and blows out reggae, roots and Aboriginal music. Thursday is Taiwan Exposed Open-Mic Night, a jam session for established and amateur musicians, poets, comedians and other performers. On Feb. 23 it's The Joel Holmes Trio, a jazz combo from Baltimore, Maryland, and on Feb. 24 it's rock bands Consider the Meek and The Idiots.
* The music starts at 9pm
* Entrance tonight, Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 is NT$300. There's no cover on Thursdays
* 120 Henan Rd Sec 3, Taichung (台中市河南路三段120號老虎城). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 for more information
Baraka Bar, a newly opened lounge bar with outdoor terrace and deep, funky beats by Chi Funk has a Spanish Fly bash tonight with exotic beats and Latin house, tomorrow it's Connected New Year's Party party with house, electro and funk and Sunday it's Rasta Lounge
* Open from 10pm until 4am.
* 163 Tsuenzhong St, Taichung (台中市存中街號)
visit www.revevolution.net for more information.
Exhibitions
The World and Fantasy of Niki de Saint Phalle (妮基的異想世界). Featuring 71 piece of Niki de Saint Phalle's (1930 to 2002) works on loan from the Musee d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain in Nice, the exhibition introduces to Taiwan for the first time one of the most popular French artists of the 20th century whose abundant artistic undertakings span different genres and media. Featured works include the artist's early assemblage works on wood and panels, the renowned shooting paintings that make De Saint Phalle the only female member of the Neo-Realism movement in 1960s and the celebrated Nana series.
* National Museum of History (國立歷史博物館), 49 Nanhai Rd, Taipei (台北市南海路49號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2361-0270
* Until April 29
Architecture of Tomorrow Exhibition: Physical-Virtual-Interactive-Space (明日建築展:實體—虛擬—互動—空間). Outlining future architecture in a virtual reality environment, the exhibition is divided into five themes that take visitors beyond the traditional concept of architectural space and experience the virtual, interactive, and intelligent space of tomorrow.
* Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 181 Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段181號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 5:30pm.
* Call (02) 2595-7656.
* Until April 22
A Solo Exhibition by Liao Yu-an — Death Pretentious … * (廖堉安個展 ─ 活殺自在之術?). Inspired by animation aesthetics, the young artist veers away from his previous series of self-portraits, turning to make mimicry of crowds making failed attempts to escape from their homogeneity.
* IT Park Gallery (伊通公園), 2-3F, 41 Yitong St, Taipei (台北市伊通街41號2/3樓). Open Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 10pm.
Call (02) 2507-7243
* Until Feb. 24
Open Surface, showcases works by 11 well-known Taipei-based stencil artists both from home and abroad who enjoy expressing their creativity on the streets as well as within a gallery setting. The stencil art exhibition aims to expose the public to each artist's distinct style and approach to the urban art medium.
* AMPM Gallery, 4F, 24, Ln 55, Neijiang St, Taipei (台北市內江街55巷24號4樓). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 3pm to 9pm.
Call (02) 2389-2896.
* Until March 3.
Abstract Photography Exhibition (抽象攝影展). Featuring works by five local and foreign artists, the exhibition aims to break the primitive notion that photography as a copy of reality by drawing attention to the materiality of the medium itself, playing with its boundaries and manifesting the dialectics between the concrete and the imagined.
* Por Que Base (知然堂藝廊), B1, 36/5 Tianmu E Rd, Taipei (台北市天母東路36-5號B1). Open Sunday to Thursday from 12pm to 10pm; Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 11pm.
Call (02) 2874-9529.
* Until Feb. 24
Sept.16 to Sept. 22 The “anti-communist train” with then-president Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) face plastered on the engine puffed along the “sugar railway” (糖業鐵路) in May 1955, drawing enthusiastic crowds at 103 stops covering nearly 1,200km. An estimated 1.58 million spectators were treated to propaganda films, plays and received free sugar products. By this time, the state-run Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖, Taisugar) had managed to connect the previously separate east-west lines established by Japanese-era sugar factories, allowing the anti-communist train to travel easily from Taichung to Pingtung’s Donggang Township (東港). Last Sunday’s feature (Taiwan in Time: The sugar express) covered the inauguration of the
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