Arts

Screenshot of the social post for "CatVana" created by Kayla Delcoure for Pippi's Place.

Arts

How a cat rescue worker created an internet splash with a 'CatVana' adoption campaign

3:58pm May 19, 2023

by Matt Adams

If you're on the market for a "2015 Furcedes" named Buddy you're in luck, thanks to a social media manager's campaign modeled after Carvana. Pippi's Place in Atlanta has a Furrari and a Meowzda, too.

Romance writer Kennedy Ryan made history in 2019 as the first Black author to win one of the most prestigious romance fiction prizes — the RITA Award in the Best Contemporary Romance: Long category, for Long Shot.

Books
Arts

Kennedy Ryan's romances are coming for your heartstrings

10:24am May 19, 2023

by Chloe Veltman

The author's high-emotional-stakes romances are about to reach a wider audience, with a five-book deal and an upcoming TV adaptation. Ryan says her "happily ever after" has been "hard-won."

Queue Listen Now

Julie Mabry, the owner of Houston's only lesbian bar, says her business is in jeopardy after the bar was denied insurance coverage. Mabry says the blame is due in part to an anti-drag show bill moving through the Texas Legislature.

Houston lesbian bar was denied insurance coverage for hosting drag shows, owner says

5:00am May 19, 2023

by Jonathan Franklin

Julie Mabry, who opened Pearl Bar in 2013, said the bar was created to provide a safe space for those in Houston's LGBTQ+ community.

Author Salman Rushdie responds to questions during a news interview for the 2023 PEN America Literary Gala Thursday, May 18, 2023, in New York.

Arts
Books

PEN America gala honors Salman Rushdie, his first in-person appearance since stabbing

1:51am May 19, 2023

by The Associated Press

Rushdie, whose attendance had not been announced beforehand, spoke briefly, and dedicated some of his remarks to those who came to his help last August while on stage at a New York literary festival.

Hollywood writers picket outside of Paramount Pictures this week.

Arts

Striking Hollywood scribes ponder AI in the writer's room

8:52pm May 18, 2023

by Mandalit del Barco

One of sticking points in the negotiations that led up to the writer's strike was the use of AI. Movie and TV writers worry they'll be asked to rewrite whatever AI programs come up with.

Books
Arts

Writer Sam Irby bears her soul – again – with new essay collection 'Quietly Hostile'

5:46pm May 18, 2023

Writer Sam Irby talks about her newest collection of essays, Quietly Hostile.

Queue Listen Now

Christian W. Poole, a Montana resident and TikToker, isn't sure what's next following his state's pending ban on the app.

He's the 'unofficial ambassador' of Montana — and isn't buying its TikTok ban

5:19pm May 18, 2023

by Manuela López Restrepo

Last December, Montana banned the app on government devices. Now, it is banning the hugely popular platform outright. Where does that leave the content creators?

A portrait of Prince taken by Lynn Goldsmith (left) in 1981 and 16 silk-screened images Andy Warhol later created using the photo as a reference.

Supreme Court sides against Andy Warhol Foundation in copyright infringement case

5:18pm May 18, 2023

by Chloe Veltman

In its 7-2 ruling Thursday, the Supreme Court said the late artist infringed on a photographer's copyright when he created a series of works based on an image of the pop star Prince.

Love to Love You, Donna Summer debuts on Saturday, May 20, on HBO.

'Love to Love You, Donna Summer' documents the disco queen — but at a distance

4:09pm May 18, 2023

by Eric Deggans

The HBO documentary struggles to define who the singer-songwriter actually was — despite knitting together interviews with family members, archival clips and home movie footage.

Queue Listen Now

Sara Bareilles plays the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods. She says the first thing she did after taking the role was give her character a real name: "I named her Rebecca."

Sara Bareilles thought 'Into the Woods' would last 2 weeks — she ended up on Broadway

2:20pm May 18, 2023

by Ann Marie Baldonado

What started as a stripped-down production with a limited run became a Grammy award-winning Broadway musical with six Tony nominations. Bareilles plays the Baker's Wife: "I'm so glad that I said yes."

Queue Listen Now