Cover Story: Not-So-Funny Girl
Taking comedy classes at the Improv seemed like a good idea. And then, the lights came up.

News:Watching Baghdad Burn
Keeping up with the war via MSNBC.

Public Eye: Gray Area.

Biter: If Feng Shui were a superhero, Lamp Man would be his archenemy.

Techsploits: Nuclear Trip.

Two Houses: Villa Montalvo pairs Patrick Dougherty's inviting garden folly with images of some harsher homes in 'Dwelling' exhibit.

Teenage Kicks: 'Bend It Like Beckham' is 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' with a sports bra.

Unarresting: The bounty hunters of 'Cowboy Bebop' look cool even when their plans heat up.

Dial Another Day: Predictability and poor writing take their toll on 'Phone Booth.'

'Basic' Instinct: John Travolta talks about life in the make-believe military.

Raveon D'etre: Three chords never sounded so good--the peculiar attraction of the Raveonettes.

Aural Fixation: Local metal bands participate in the Powerslave.com CD-release party at the Blank Club.

All Booked Up in Wales: Paul Collins lingers in the stacks.

Bake Love, Not War: Two elegant new bakeries, Flower Flour and Cocola, remind us why it's still OK to love some things that are French.

Only Disconnect: When the power goes out, Eric Bogosian's characters talk up a storm in 'Humpty Dumpty' at SJ Rep.