As the Beastie Boys drift towards middle age, Adam Yauch tells the 'Taipei Times' why they're bringing the Tibet cause to Taiwan, and even a little bit about the music
By David Frazier
I call up the Tokyo hotel, give the desk clerk the correct alias, then wait for her to ring the room.

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By Gavin Phipps
Jedi forces are set to land in Taipei tomorrow, when the nation plays host to what is already being dubbed "the most powerful unofficial Star Wars fan gathering ever held in East Asia," in order to celebrate the first Chinese-language publication of Timothy Zahn's popular Star Wars saga novels.

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By Yu Sen-lun
It should not be inappropriate to describe Lee Sin-jie (李心潔) as the lucky girl of Chinese language films last year. For the film The Eye (見鬼), she took both Taiwan's Golden Horse award and the recently announced Hong Kong Academy Award for best actress. And last week, she also received the Media Award for Chinese-language Films of the Year (華語電影傳媒大獎) for her performances in The Eye and Princess D (想飛), both ranked among the most popular films in Hong Kong in 2002.

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While there are plenty of opportunities to hear classical music in Taiwan, most performances are of the well-worn names of Mozart, Beethoven and the other big names known even to those who have no interest in classical music. In a violoncello and piano concert scheduled for this Tuesday, Tu-chiang (涂強) and Li Mei-wen (李美文) will offer up the world premiere of South Muse II by Taiwanese composer Lee Tzyy-sheng (李子聲), who is currently a teacher in the department of music at the National Sun Yat-sen University.

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By Yu Sen-lun
Although its a party/arts event at Huashan organized by lao-wai, this is a far cry from the "foreigner head-shaking party" that tabloids enjoy getting steamed up about. It is, in fact, the Urban Nomad Film Festival (城市游牧影展), now back at Huashan for the second year.

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Tibetan freedom may be the weekend's cause celebre but at least one group of Taipei denizens is more concerned with peace in the Middle East. Taipei Peace People have been tireless in their campaign to raise the local collective conscience and have organized their biggest event yet: the Hoping for Hoping Music Festival (渴望和平音樂會) tomorrow at Kunlun Herb Garden (崑崙葯用植物園) in Lungtan, Taoyuan County.

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By David Momphard
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but for paparazzi it can be worth thousands of dollars. Anyone who has picked up a tabloid magazine knows that the most candid images aren't captured by hiding in the bushes, but rather by standing in the middle of the room. Technology has aided both paparazzi and spies alike by miniaturizing the tools of their trade. Your mission -- should you choose to accept it -- is to learn about the smallest cameras on the world market today.

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Address: 12 Chungching S Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市重慶南路三段12號)
Telephone:(02) 2303-5015
Open: 11am-10pm (Monday to Friday); 1pm to 5pm (Sun); closed Saturday
Average meal: NT$250
Details: Chinese Menu. Credit Cards not accepted
By Vico Lee
At Pantagruel, everyone knows everyone else. Even newcomers to this cafe quickly become friends with the Hus, the easy-going couple who run the establishment. Pantagruel's clientele, mostly government employees and students in the neighborhood, know the place so well that there's no need for a menu.

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Address: B1, 76 Changan W Rd, Taipei (台北市長安西路76號B1)
Telephone: (02) 2550-0421
Open: 11am-10pm
Average meal: NT$300
Details: Italian and Chinese Menu. Credit Cards not accepted
By Vico Lee
La Boheme got its name from the Italian opera by Puccini. A passage describing how a flower can receive warm sunlight despite growing in an attic, says proprietor Hu Chia-yuan (胡家源), says it all about the cafe restaurant, which is located in the basement of an apartment building in a narrow alley.

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