Piano lessons are a pastime many children grudgingly endure during their early years. Read more...

Even performance professionals sometimes must head back to school. And for a few L.A. artists, UCLA has the right summer curriculum. Read more...

The Avett Brothers aren't afraid of singing about love and they aren't afraid of using banjos to do it. Their 2007 album "Emotionalism" has the band nominated for two Country Music Television awards, debuting on national TV on Conan O'Brien, and making No. 1 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers Album chart. Read more...

Since his novel "Norwegian Wood," Haruki Murakami's novels and short stories have been written for the youthful at heart. His brand of magical realism follows loner-like protagonists on archetypal journeys of self-discovery through modern dive bars, Beatles songs, talking cats and seedy hotels. Read more...

It is a common misconception that there are no good TV shows on in the summer. Read more...

You would think that Andy "The Lonely Island" Samberg, the man we have to thank for "Saturday Night Live" skits such as "Lazy Sunday" and "Dick in a Box," could turn anything into comedic gold. But while Samberg might have viewers rolling with laughter with his digital shorts, his brand of slapstick parodies do not transfer to the big screen. Read more...

For four days we suffered through heat, long lines and a crowd of over 120,000 fans at this year's Comic-Con International. With beer-bellied Spartan gladiators in leather Speedos and children attached to their leather-clad mothers by chain leashes, this annual convention was not for the queasy or faint of heart. Read more...