If you were to tell me there was a restaurant that serves high quality pastries, breakfast, savory cheesecakes and gourmet hotdogs, I would think you are clearly drunk and mixing three different restaurants into one.

But lo and behold, there is Happy Fatz, a love child of five-star food served out of a homey bungalow in the Heights.

The waitstaff was extremely helpful and friendly — helping me with my selection and actively engaging me in conversation, which made me feel right at home. The cashier recommended the St. Louis, a quarter-pound beef frank on a Challa bun with baked beans, bacon, grilled onions and a basil garlic mayonnaise.

I could smell the bacon and beans before the plate even got to the table, sending flashes of childhood memories of weekend barbecues through my mind.

Challa is a Jewish bread made with eggs that gives it a beautiful golden brown color and is similar to the flavor of bagels when the starches break down and turns to sugar as it is chewed.

From start to finish, it was nothing short of amazing, a constant clash of sweet and savory — bacon on bean, the frank on Challa and onions on mayonnaise.

The dogs at Happy Fatz require a fork and knife — you literally have to arm yourself. This is not a typical dog; it is a Pitbull.

When I saw the sign hanging above with the words “Savory Cheesecakes,” I had to investigate.

I asked the owner to describe them for me. A rich, cream cheesecake that has all the sweet ingredients substituted for savory combinations like olive pesto or smoked salmon and served with fresh fruit and crackers. For people who are big on cheese, this is something you have to try.

I ordered the olive pesto cheesecake. The herbs tasted so fresh and were accented by the pine nuts perfectly. The most impressive thing about the cake is how light it was — I could have easily eaten the entire thing if I didn’t have to bring some home for my wife.

Happy Fatz is truly a hidden gem in the Heights, and is a place I will definitely be coming back to again, and again. It is food that is well worth the money and then some. I give Happy Fatz a five out of five.

Food lovers in town should know about a new French restaurant that offers exceptional food at a reasonable price.

Kris Bistro is an effort by the Culinary Institute LeNotre to provide world-class dishes with locally-grown ingredients.

The restaurant sits inside the cooking school while executive chefs Kris Jakob and Mathew Lynn train students and help them practice their culinary skills.

LeNotre is a famous name in the culinary world — the institute hails from the family of the late Gaston LeNotre, known as one of the finest pastry chefs in the world.

Good restaurants present complimentary food and drinks to be in tune with restaurant service etiquette.

I was offered a complimentary shot of fresh grapefruit-raspberry juice and was informed it was prepared with locally-grown organic produce from Utility Research Garden. This was followed by complimentary artisan bread with butter.

Being a fish lover, I thoroughly enjoyed my salmon winter provencale, which was pan-roasted with a delicious sauce made from tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. The dish was then decorated with a layer of squash to top it off.

Surprisingly the cost was only $15.

I also ordered garlic spaghetti in a pine nut pesto sauce, which was served with Gulf shrimp with the heads still on for $10.

I wasn’t enamored by just the low prices, but the quality as well. The students developed brilliant French culinary skills and were serving us food at a low price with remarkable service.

Since the restaurant had an open-glass view of the students inside preparing our food, the kitchen looked alive. It was a neat concept that went well with the dim and quiet restaurant ambiance.

The place was decorated with artwork, but like any good foodie, I was more interested in dessert.

I ordered a LeNotre Classics, which is a $10-tribute dish to the institute’s family history. The dessert was large enough for two.

The trio of crème brulee was also an extraordinary dessert at $6.

The amazing dessert presentation contributed to the lasting impression left by this restaurant.

The classic French dining met my standards, and was a great experience that is definitely worth a visit.

Kris Bistro is on Interstate 45 and Crosstimbers and is open for dinner from Tuesday through Saturday.

Coming out on stage with giant confetti balloons bouncing everywhere to a rambunctious crowd at Fitzgerald’s, Asli Omar, lead singer of local band The Ton Tons, told the audience exactly what she wanted: Everyone get down and dance to the band’s “baby-making music.”

Friday, local indie-blues band The Ton Tons celebrated the first night of their West Coast tour to promote their October release “Golden. The EP.” It is an autobiographical record inspired by a familiar theme of love and loss.

“For two years I was going through a relationship that was extremely consuming. It was a very intense relationship,” Omar said.

“It honestly catalogues for me the stage (from when) we were very happy all the way (to) our break up. It’s just five songs based off of two years. I wish it was something more complex and deep, but that’s it.”

The band wrote the album while Omar was studying art in New York.

On one end of the country, Omar focused on the lyrics while bassist Tom Nguyen, guitarist Adam Martinez and drummer Justin Martinez wrote the music back home.

“The (album) was two years of us going back and forth — they would write one thing and I would come home and work with them on another thing,” Omar said. “It was very time-consuming, but it’s five different songs that show how much we have grown since 2009.”

Over the next few months the band plans on touring the West Coast and the Midwest before coming back home to play festivals such as South by Southwest and 35 Denton.

As a band, they are happy to be touring and to be a part of the growing Houston music scene.

“There’s so many amazing things happening and I think for the first time people are turning to Houston and looking at it like something cultured and willing,” Omar said. “It’s exciting to be a part of this generation of artists and to experience it and reap the benefits because it’s really been a slow process.”

The Ton Tons hope to inspire people with their latest release and encourage local artists to get out there and perform.

“If you have a vision and you have an idea, there’s a way to achieve it, especially through music,” Omar said. “There are people doing amazing things with music and there (are) so many amazing musicians.

“Houston needs more musicians, more artists, more writers. We need to be a force to be reckoned with.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

Extra weight had been a problem for me throughout high school, but I was determined to stay healthy in college.

With a gym membership and sack lunches from home, I managed to remain at a steady weight for my entire freshman year at UH.

But then classes started to overwhelm me when I enrolled in summer courses to jump-start my sophomore year.

In order to focus on my studies, I quit going to the gym. That’s when the infamous ‘Freshman 15’ finally got a hold of me.

My summer courses were fast-paced and left me little to no time to exercise at all. With so much homework due by the next morning, my only food options were Wendy’s or Dairy Queen, since I couldn’t prepare my own meals and write an essay at the same time.

I ended the summer of 2010 nine credit hours ahead, a 3.7 GPA, but also with a larger waistline. In only one year, I gained 30 pounds and two sizes.

When my sophomore year began, I found myself wheezing after going up a few steps for a class and my feet aching after walking around campus. I visited the Health Center and weighed in at 156 pounds, which is technically obese for a 5-foot-tall woman. I knew something had to be done.

During my sophomore year at UH, I was enrolled in an introductory genetics class with professor Dan Wells and had to make a mini-documentary on a genetic condition as part of my grade.

I chose to study the “thrifty gene”, a gene found in Native American and Hispanic populations that causes the body to store extra fat.

Since Native Americans went through periods of starvation in the days of hunting and gathering, extra fat was necessary to survive. Nowadays, the extra fat produces diabetes and other health issues because the thrifty gene is still present.

As I completed my project, I interviewed multiple people with weight issues/diabetes. When I heard of their experiences, I officially decided I was going to lose weight right away.

At the end of the Fall 2010 semester, I kicked off my winter vacation by joining a 24 Hour Fitness club near my home. My first workouts were hard and I felt like giving up after a few days. Whenever I wanted to quit, I thought of my project in Wells’ class and gathered the energy to keep going.

The New Year showed up soon after that, and though I had dropped six pounds, there was still a long way to go.

arts@thedailycougar.com

The Nathan Carter exhibit, “Always Vocal on the Interboro Crosstown Local,” is a project of Blaffer’s “Window into Houston,” which seeks to highlight Houston’s artistic landscape. The project is being housed in a space owned by Jim Petersen Jr. at 110 Milam. The project is a fictional cityscape that the press release says, “seeks to capture the essence of the contemporary city, version 2012.”

The Dallas-born artist currently resides in New York City.

Carter’s works will be on exhibit through April 20.

For more information, visit www.class.uh.edu/blaffer/window_nathan_carter.html.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Harris was the first African-American to walk in space and is the author of “Dream Walker.”

The series is presented by EPM in partnership with Cup and Chaucer, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Nicoletti, the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists and The Urbanite.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the community.

For more information or to RSVP, call (713) 743-6032 or e-mail uep@mail.uh.edu.

arts@thedailycougar.com

For the past three years, students minoring in the Honors College’s creative works minor have been given the chance to expand their talents and explore what it means to be a part of a city “Dionysia” — a kind of ancient festival where Greek comedy and tragedy were developed.

Auditions were held Jan. 30 and 31 inside the Honors College commons in preparation for the 2012 Dionysia.

The Greek playwright Aristophanes’ “Frogs” will be performed for this year’s festival. The play was adapted by John Harvey, director of the Center for Creative Work, and will debut April 26.

After three years of tragedies, “Frogs” will be the first comedy for the Dionysia.

Students in the creative works minor who enroll in the Honors College course “City Dionysia: Attic Drama in the Modern City” are required to participate as an actor, assist in production or be involved in some fashion with that year’s play.

Dionysia plays are open to all UH students and actors from different universities and throughout the city.

“Dionysia is not just a student production, it’s more than that,” production manager Joana Trojanowski said.

Juliet Childers, a creative writing senior and student in the creative works minor, has been involved in musical theatre for 12 years.

One of her dreams is to be on Broadway and star in a movie.

A part of the original cast of the first Dionysia, “Children of Herakles,” and “Electra,” she enjoys the fact that the auditions are open to those with and without experience and the fact that it is a paid opportunity.

“I want to gain more acting experience, a wider variety of skills and techniques (and) networking opportunities,” Childers said.

She said she is also doing it to have fun.

Natalie Brown, a sophomore honors student studying psychology and human development studies, auditioned for her first Dionysia and is excited about the production.

“When I was in high school, I didn’t really get a chance to get involved in theatre as much as I had liked,” Brown said. “Being here at UH and in the Honors College, I’m taking advantage of all the acting opportunities available to me.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

When Final Fantasy XIII released a year ago, Square Enix had plenty of media criticism to deal with and just about every harsh comment that fans could dig up were thrown at them, citing atrocious linearity in the storyline and boring character development.

They’ve taken a step back and approached Final Fantasy XIII-2 with the intention of addressing all these problems, making the weak aspects of the previous game better and making the highest points even higher.

In the most basic explanation possible, the story takes place three years after Final Fantasy XIII. Lightning, the main heroine from the previous game, has supposedly been missing, trapped inside a place known as Valhalla and profusely in a battle with the main antagonist, Caius.

Lightning sends out a mysterious boy named Noel to find her younger sister, Serah, who eventually believes Noel’s story of Lightning being alive and sets out on a journey to find her. All along the way, the two travel in and out of different gates that lead to different parts of the world during different time eras.

The character development still suffers and it seems that some of their actions throughout the game are without real cause.

The story, however, isn’t very long. So unless players plan on completing all of the side quests, they are likely to get through the game in about a week.

The game does a splendid job in its overall visual and musical presentation.

The graphics have been noticeably improved with a greater use of brighter colors and landscape throughout various time levels in the game.

The audio is a brilliantly executed aspect of the presentation with the experimentation of different styles of music, such as jazz, rock and dance playing during the right moments at the right time.

The musical soundtrack is satisfying and could possibly be one of the most interesting Final Fantasy soundtracks to date.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 also excels in tying its time travel theme into the game play.

The choices you make in the game can greatly effect what you’ll encounter in the future. However, players will find themselves going back and forth between various levels of the game to play through a level again using “close gate” – essentially a redo button.

It allows for better choices in the dialogue options or a chance to trigger an event that unlocks something else in another level.

Once you learn the ability to throw Mog, Serah’s trusty moogle sidekick, you’ll find it rewarding to go back to areas that have treasures and items you couldn’t reach before and get them.

The linearity of XIII is finally absent, so players will be free to wander off and choose where they go and how they play towards the end of the storyline.

The battle and level up system is one of the greatest points of the game. The Paradigm shifts and Crystarium system returns with a few minor tweaks and an added bonus as well.

In addition to switching a party member’s job class on the fly, players will also be able to capture different types of monsters in the game and add them to their party – yes, even a Chocobo can be added to your party if you can find one.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to take direct control of these monsters as you would with Noel and Serah, but you will have the option to trigger their special attack known as “Feral Link.”

What’s really neat and new about battles is that the game automatically switches to another character when the one that you’re controlling dies.

Instead of engaging with monsters that run amok on the field to start a battle, enemies will randomly pop up out of nowhere to start a fight with you, but you have the option to try and run away from them if you can. It’s a notorious trait of the Final Fantasy series.

Most of the battles feel very watered down in terms of difficulty. The battle, as well as the entire game itself, seems very easy to get through if you know what you’re doing. Gamers seeking an even tougher challenge this time around might be slightly disappointed.

Despite the off-putting 25 hours of storyline and poor character utilization, Final Fantasy XIII-2 has definitely tackled the mishaps of its predecessor and was able to sharply improve on them.

Final Fantasy XII-2 is a step in the right direction and should be able to satisfy both the fans of Final Fantasy games and gamers who are just looking for something new to enjoy.

arts@thedailycougar.com

“The Grey” is the story of tough, scum-of-the-earth oil drillers in Alaska and their struggle to survive against harsh weather conditions and a pack of wolves after a plane crashes deep in the Alaskan wilderness.

Based on the short story “Ghost Walker” by Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, “The Grey” is a film about hope and the will to live — and the strain that they inflict.

Liam Neeson leads the cast as the man in charge of protecting the drillers from wolves before and after the crash, and he portrays the toughest character that he has had to do since “Taken.”

Also starring in the picture are Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Frank Grillo, James Badge Dale, Nonso Anonzie and Joe Anderson.

“The Grey” is like a new version of “The Edge” with wolves that are relentless in their stalking and killing.

The strongest point of the film is the fact that you get to know each character and care for them as they are killed off throughout the movie.

It is a survival film where the audience feels it every time someone is brutally taken by the wolves.

Filmed in a gritty and realistic way, the characters are followed closely. This makes the audience feel like they are right there with the actors.

The strong acting and settings in each of the films’ scenes establishes the extreme despair of the situation.

“The Grey” is the epitome of a survival film and how far they have come from films like “Jaws,” “Deep Blue Sea” and “Lake Placid.”

It is also going to be difficult to be topped in its genre, by films of the future as well as the past.

“The Grey” is a tough viewing experience but it is unlike anything else you will ever experience.

Neeson is dynamic as he leads these pessimistic outcasts through the tough wilderness to more despair, but with enough hope to keep them alive as long as possible.

Even with being suicidal himself after a personal tragedy, Neeson’s character Ottway finds the meaning in life through the toughest lesson of all.

If you are a fan of survival movies like the ones mentioned above, “The Grey” is a must-see. It is a worthwhile emotional experience that not too many movies can provoke out of their audiences.

It is thoroughly enjoyable for the entire hour-and-57-minute duration.

Also, be sure to stay for the short scene after the ending credits for an extra discussion regarding the movie’s conclusion.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Now in its 29th year, the festival begins with a recital by its founder Abbey Simon at 7:20 p.m. Friday at Moores Opera House.

Fellow piano masters Markus Groh from Germany and Albert Reyes of Uruguay will also present classes and recitals through Sunday.

“The International Piano Festival has been very successful for many years,” said Alan Austin, director of special projects for Moores. “It has gotten better every year, we will be doing them for a long time.”

Austin described Simon as the patriarch of the festival.

He said Simon is someone whose approach to music is something that students will take with them for the rest of their careers.

“With Simon’s history as a pianist, he will develop his students to play at these festivals with poise and confidence,” Austin said.

“The students come to (Moores School of Music) to learn that traditional sound that Simon instills in his students.”

The recitals and a special luncheon will provide festival attendees a chance to both speak with and get to know the artists.

The festival will consist of new masterworks by Groh and Reyes, Simon’s fellow masters.

Both will perform their award winning works during the festival as well.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Aquarius (Jan.20-Feb.18):

Consider how you might bring gifts of wisdom to your surroundings this week.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20):

Others might notice the added oomph to your stride and smooth-talking ways.

Aries (March 21-April 19):

Clarity and analytical thought might seem hard to find right now.

Taurus (April 20-May 20):

It’s time to move forward with your plans for artistic development.

Gemini (May 21-June 20):

Take advantage of this empowered state and you’ll probably be the class clown of the week.

Cancer (June 21-July 22):

You might find your amorous desires to be rather earthy. This sensual placement is beneficial to all matters in love.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22):

Take the inner tension and channel it into physical activities until next week when the full moon will help liven things up.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

If things aren’t going how you planned, take note on how to improve these trouble spots in your life.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

Recent lessons in emotional boundaries and relationships will begin to become apparent over the next week.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

Stand up for yourself this week in your career and scholastic responsibilities.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

The feelings of extra frustration in work and service can be channeled. Make lists of your goals to avoid distraction.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

Take note of structures that seem to be fading out in your life so you can prepare for stronger replacements in their stead.

arts@thedailycougar.com

There is always hype surrounding an artist when they are coming out with a debut album. “Born to Die”, the first album released by Lana Del Rey (Elizabeth Grant), saw a massive wave of praise (or essential lack thereof) by critics.

In order to truly have an opinion of this album, fans need to forget all about her performance on “Saturday Night Live.” A difference must be made between what an artist can do in a live show than from what he or she can do in a studio recording.

Released in October 2011, “Video Games” is a calm and subtle masterpiece of collaboration between Del Rey’s vocals and the melodic, soothing orchestral instruments. It takes some artists more than their debut album to find a sound as sharp and defined as this track. Though it is not a revolutionary new sound, it is still something that can be admired.

In the album’s title track, there are trip-hop themed beats as well as some alternative interludes that are incorporated within seconds of the start of the song. Del Rey’s vocals match the rhythm and create an enchantingly confident vibe that some artists lack.

Though most of these tracks are something new, there is still a sense of déjà vu when listening to each composition. For example, a few seconds into “Blue Jeans” there is a screaming similar to that of Awolnation’s single, “Sail”.

In “Off to the Races”, there is a bit of Garbage’s style incorporated in the beats and lyrical compilation of the song. The track is also one of the few in which she does not use her “traditional” voice and instead uses a more feminine and higher pitched voice, making the song flow better.

“Diet Mountain Dew” is a catchy pop track which really should have been a single. It has a ’50s feel to it and gives the audience a true glimpse into the image that Del Rey tries to give off.

The remaining songs lack any deeper emotion or message. The only exception to this is “National Anthem,” which demonizes and re-writes the American dream by saying, “Money is the anthem of success. So put on mascara and your party dress.”

“Born to Die” spans many genres and does not solely focus on a specific demographic, allowing the album to have a broader appeal.

The album contains an Adele track to hook the listeners, as well as the ’90s Brit-pop tracks and the stereotypical American pop songs.

Overall, the album has respectable tunes but is not worth buying. Del Rey is still jumping around genres in this album, looking for the one that emphasizes her talents.

She is a talented signer and there is much to look forward to from her, but “Born to Die” is simply an album that serves as a stem to see in which musical direction she will chose to follow.

The first workshop, “Step-by-Step Plan to Setting and Achieving Goals,” will provide students with information about how to identify goals, develop an implementation plan and strengthen their commitment to that plan.

“It’s the perfect topic for the beginning of a semester,” said Kay Brumbaugh, outreach coordinator and psychologist for CAPS.

The workshop takes place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Student Service Center 1 Building conference room 210D.

“Students not only get a chance to see an informative presentation, but also interact and hear concerns or ideas from other participants,” Brumbaugh said.

Many students find it difficult to stick to their goals for new semesters, even after attending this type of workshop. In that case, CAPS offers private consultations for students who need extra help and support.

“It’s also a great opportunity for participants to meet a CAPS clinician and gain information about available CAPS services,” Brumbaugh said.

A variety of topics are available throughout the school year, Brumbaugh said, including “Understanding Depression,” “Communication Among Couples, Managing Anger” and “Dissertation and Thesis Survival”.

It seems as though many students disregard CAPS at UH because they assume that all services require appointments and fees.

“CAPS therapists hold walk-in hours at sites around campus and there is no appointment or fee necessary,” Brumbaugh said.

This is perfect for students not sure if they need services and just want to see what a CAPS therapist might recommend.

Following today’s premiere workshop, subsequent workshops will run every Wednesday this semester until April 25.

“Food for Thought” workshops are always free and registration is not required.

For more information on this and other workshops, visit caps.uh.edu/outreach-food.aspx

With Internet buzz and a highly scrutinized appearance on Saturday Night Live, Lana Del Rey’s debut album, “Born to Die,” has become one of the most anticipated of the season — even if it was leaked in its entirety.

Del Rey, who refers to herself as the “gangster Nancy Sinatra,” first came to the public’s attention when her single “Video Games” and its music video went viral last year.

The Internet went into a tizzy after her nervous performance on SNL in mid-January, which NBC newsman Brian Williams stated was “one of the worst outings in SNL history.” The Web was vilifying the singer so much so that the show’s host that night, Daniel Radcliffe, came to the singer’s defense.

That incident has caused many to speculate whether Del Rey is the real deal or just another manufactured star. After today, many people will have the chance to decide for themselves. Something tells us that the general public will still not reach a consensus on Del Rey.

—source: Yahoo!News

arts@thedailycougar.com

The Internet has also been abuzz with the musical stylings of Houston’s own Buxton.

At a “listening party” on Friday for the band’s debut album, “Nothing Here Seems Strange,” the ensemble played to a packed audience that ran the age gamut.

Montrose hipsters mixed with aging hippies and a bevy of other characters at the group’s first album kick-off at Cactus Records.

The 45-minute set gave the crowd a solid feel of the album and the band’s performing skills.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Designed from across the pond and fabricated in Houston, “Double Physichromie” is the product of  kinetic artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, whose work was on exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, early last year.

Cruz-Diez has two galleries in the US, including Maria Sicardi Gallery on Richmond Avenue, but this sculpture was his first US commission.

UH Curator of Public Art Michael Guidry described the artist as an important figure in art history and said the piece works best when seen in passing.

“It looks like an incredibly complicated piece of art,” he said. “But when you break it down into all of its components, it’s rather simple. I think the complexity comes in the amazing color combinations that Cruz-Diez works with, and how those colors sit together, and how they change when you move across the front of it.”

With his son, Jorge, Cruz-Diez drew very specific designs and then worked with local fabricators and a local painter to construct the piece.

“The installation was amazingly simple,” Guidry said. “The basic form, or armature, was brought over in three pieces. We had an S-shaped concrete foundation poured for it. They came over with a crane, dropped the three pieces down and, almost more simply than a puzzle, slid these pieces in along a channel.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

In World War II, a crew of African-American fighter pilots was kept from their full potential due to segregation but was finally given a chance to show their worth.

The film “Red Tails” had the same chance, but it turned out to be mediocre at best.

“Red Tails” opened Jan. 20 and, in spite of its mediocrity, still resulted in an opening weekend gross of over $18 million and a number-two spot on the box office list.

As of now, it has grossed almost $34 million and reached the number-four spot in the box office. More than two hours long, it isn’t exactly worth the money or your time to see it.

Starring Nate Parker, Tristan Wilds, Elijah Kelley, Method Man and Ne-Yo, the film relies heavily on the smaller performances of Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston and Cuba Gooding Jr. With the silly performances by the leading actors, the higher caliber appeal isn’t enough to save it.

Cranston plays Col. William Mortamus, a Southern racist who delays the major achievements of the “Red Tails” — the name the group assumes.

The performances and depiction of the white characters, at first, are shown as racist morons who are inadequate when compared to the Red Tails.

The film is based on actual events inspired by John B. Holway’s book “Red Tails: An Oral History of the Tuskegee Airmen.”

From executive producer George Lucas, it seems to have been a small project with an estimated budget of $58 million to support his fascination with fighter planes and action sequences through clouded skies.

With the lack of quality from this Lucasfilm movie, it goes to show that Lucas has a curse when making films outside of “Star Wars.”

Lucas has been completely involved with the making of additions to the “Star Wars” saga — it seems to be all he’s good for after the series’ huge success, with the exception being the “Indiana Jones” films he collaborated on with Steven Spielberg over the past decades.

On the same note, the movie seems to use the same sound effects used in parts of “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” films. And with a sub par score, it is difficult to get involved in the story.

The best parts are the fight scenes, even though they are boring. These scenes are better than longer scenes in between that only feature bad dialogues and acting.

One plus is that the costume design is fairly well done.

“Red Tails” overall is not worthwhile and the inevitable redemption of the crew and acceptance from their fellow white soldiers is incredibly weak and forgettable.

arts@thedailycougar.com

For the longest time, all I heard about was Torchy’s Tacos and how great this Austin-based taco place is. When I heard that they had opened a location in Houston, I knew I had to check it out.

On the way, I had many preconceived notions of what constitutes a taqueria — little did I know that they would soon be shattered.

When I first walked into the restaurant, I started checking out the menu they had on the wall behind the cash register.

I saw the green chile pork taco listed at the top of the menu and it was love at first read: slow roasted pork carnitas simmered with green chilies and topped with queso fresco, cilantro, onions and tomatillo sauce.

I also ordered the taco of the month, The Revolution: ahi tuna, arugula, queso fresco and hot sauce.

The descriptions promised an interesting gastro-experience, until I was told that the prices on the menu were for one taco.

It is a law in the land of tacos: Three to an order.

I ended up paying $10.25 for two tacos and a fountain drink — a taco travesty!

I pushed on with what little optimism I had left, thinking that these might actually be $4 tacos.

I started with the carnitas taco — the amount of meat they packed into the taco was impressive. It was not a full meal by any stretch, but still pretty good.

The flavor of the pork was nothing special and a little dry.

The way carnitas are traditionally prepared is by cooking chunks of the pork in its own fat for hours, or sometimes even days. The end result is nothing short of pork bliss.

Torchy’s seems like it was a leaner cut of pork, baked and then shredded.

Ultimately, it was the tomatillo sauce that saved the taco, not too hot but just the right amount of acidity.

I then set my sights on “The Revolution.” I had an issue with this taco before even tasting it.

The arugula was sitting on top of the fish — a huge taco foul.

Why would you want to cover up the sole reason why I am paying so much for one taco?

Underneath the arugula canopy, you will find a four-ounce tuna steak, not cut-up chunks or sliced fish, but a little steak.

It seemed like they took a dish that would work in a nice seafood restaurant and tried to convert it to a taco, only to have it lost in translation.

Because of the large fish, you end up having to mash everything together to fit it into your mouth.

Just like the pork taco, “The Revolution” followed suit — a tasty taco but not worthy of four dollars.

I am a firm believer in the simpler the taco, the better the taste. It is a peasant food that doesn’t need to be jazzed up with arugala lettuce and ahi tuna.

If your customers are highly sophisticated foodies with pallets to match, then by all means put foie gras with beluga caviar on the taco.

However, the patrons walking into this establishment are college students and people on their lunch break, who mash tacos into their face and make arugula lettuce and ahi tuna seem like Iceberg lettuce and tilapia.

Just two small changes would make a world of difference.

First, divide the amount of protein they have in one taco into three. It gives the illusion that you are eating more and people like to have more bang for their buck.

Second, protein always goes on top — unless the taco features cilantro, onions or tomatoes. The protein is the reason why there is a taco. Why wouldn’t you shine the spot light on the star of the show?

Until they make these changes, I do not feel the need to go back to this place while there is a Freebirds, Chipotle and an authentic taquito within a three-mile radius that knows how to make tacos and burritos.

I give this place a rating of 3.5 out of five.

arts@thedailycougar.com

By now we have heard the famous top 40 track by Rihanna, “We Found Love.”

The creator of this latest dance anthem is Calvin Harris, a world famous disc jockey, singer-songwriter and record producer. He had created many self-defining tracks such as, “I’m Not Alone” and “Colours” before his ascension to the America mainstream late last year.

On Friday, Harris stopped by Stereo Live as the headliner accompanied by British DJ Burns and Houston DJ Josh DuPont as the opening acts.

DuPont is a deep house producer and DJ who was nominated “Best DJ in Houston” in 2007 and 2008 by the Houston Press.

Upon taking the stage, DuPont began playing unpopular dance tracks which just made him seem repetitive after 10 minutes.

This was expected since opening DJs are not allowed to exceed the talent of the upcoming artist, limiting their potential on stage.

The crowd began to grow as the night progressed and the lights dimmed.

Burns then took the stage causing a loud cheer and applause from the restless audience, who were pleading for more than just the basics of a dance beat.

The music thudded louder and the special effects lighting commenced to blind the audience as they moved to the bass of the house tracks.

There was an overwhelming enthusiasm from the crowd as they swayed and jumped.

This DJ had well-rooted transitions that were barely noticeable as well as perfectly-timed drops.

Though there was still much praise for Burns, he is still nothing in comparison to Harris.

As Harris walked behind the DJ booth, the crowd’s roar filled the dimly-lit venue and the previous echoes of the drop from DJ Burns faded.

The build that Harris created as he began his set on stage was astonishing, only to be outdone by the intensely compiled drop.

The sea of people jumped and screamed as the tracks commenced and Harris took full control.

Though he has a library of self-made tracks, he is also a DJ and mixed current dance songs in his set.

There was a wide range of tracks used, the standard ones that are currently heard across the world in dance clubs.

After some wait, he began playing his own tracks, causing the already enthusiastic crowd to get even wilder.

One of the first songs he played was “You Used to Hold Me,” a track he self-produced that caused a flurry of dancing bodies to move all across the venue.

He then went on and played some other house and techno tracks, still causing the tension and anticipation for his next and hopefully even better track.

This formula worked out well in the sense that it did not give the audience an overabundance of his personal songs.

As the night went on, he played “Bounce,” “I Feel So Close” and “Flashback.”

As he is producer and DJ, Harris was able to create a mix that awed the audience. It was composed of an intricate and well-defined house track and the now famous alternative track of “Paradise” by Coldplay.

He also did an impressive mix and elaboration to “Around the Word” by Daft Punk.

The final wave of well-grounded mixes, self-tracks and top 40 hits ended when Harris played “We Found Love.”

The crowd celebrated the world-renowned dance anthem by using all of their energy to dance and scream as the all-too-familiar beat blast through the already booming speakers.

Every light panel and fog machine turned on, working in unison to submerge the audience in a surreal environment.

Unfortunately this was Harris’ last self-made track showcased that evening.

As time passed, the songs turned to unrefined house tracks, which only had a small window of appeal to the audience.

They were not horrible or easily dismissed, but after the performance that was just bestowed upon the crowd, there was a higher expectation than having to listen to “Sandstorm” by Darude.

After that, the mix was composed of unfamiliar tracks. This then led to the crowd awakening from the trance that they were in and just swaying and moving to the music nearly forcefully.

It was only 1:30 a.m. when this began and it followed through until the end of the show.

Overall it was an experience worth seeing despite the amazing performance falling short at the end with a lack of originality and emphasis on the tracks of the artist himself.

It was worth the opening price of the venue but not worth a marked-up or scalped ticket price.

This great artist failed to showcase a lot of his work, which led to a small disappointment and let down to his fans.

Although the set was solid and the drops and builds were timed perfectly, it is hard to recommend seeing him again.

It felt more like a large nightclub than a performance by Harris.

It is easy to attest to the great contributions he has done to electronic music in the past few years, but his live performance at Stereo Live fell short of expectations.

arts@thedailycougar.com

The nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards were announced early Tuesday morning, ending speculations on the nominations and kicking off the speculation on who will actually win the award. With the caliber of each nominee, it is going to be an interesting ceremony.

The winners will be announced on ABC on Feb. 26, during a ceremony that will be hosted by a man who is arguably the greatest Oscar host alive — Billy Crystal.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences picked nine films for the coveted Best Motion Picture of the Year Academy Award: “The Artist;” “The Descendants;” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close;” “The Help;” “Hugo;” “Midnight in Paris;” “Moneyball;” “The Tree of Life” and “War Horse.”

Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” leads the nominations with 11 votes, with “The Artist” coming in second with 10. “War Horse” and “Moneyball” both have six. “The Descendants” and David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” both received five nominations.

“Midnight in Paris” and “The Help” earned four nominations; “The Tree of Life” received three; and “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” earned two.

In the Best Picture category, “The Artist” is the one to beat, as well as in most of its other nominated categories, which include Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Like the Golden Globes, the Academy Awards have a good chance of being spread out this year; Best Director may not necessarily be from the same film as the Best Picture winner, which is typical of the Oscars.

Meryl Streep just may win her third Academy Award out of a total of 17 nominations spanning over three decades. That would put her in the company of the few who have won three or more Oscars for acting along with Jack Nicholson, Walter Brennan, Katherine Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman.

Gary Oldman has finally been recognized with a nomination for his leading role in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” Christopher Plummer, nominated for his role in “Beginners,” may also win his first Oscar.

Woody Allen has received two nominations for writing and directing “Midnight in Paris,” which are his first nominations since “Match Point” in 2006. It’d be a great surprise if he shows up to the ceremony — he’s been known not to care for awards.

Also, Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life,” excitingly enough, has been recognized with major award categories. The film was shot primarily all around Texas, with even some scenes taking place in Houston.

Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive” was snubbed with only one nomination for Sound Editing. “The Adventures of Tintin” was also snubbed, receiving only one nomination in the Animated Feature Film category, the category in which it won a Golden Globe.

The Best Original Song category turned out to be pretty weak this year with only two nominees: “The Muppets” and “Rio.”

Overall, the nominations are extremely deserved and desirable.

This year is without a doubt going to be the most interesting and entertaining to watch — with all the greatest actors and stars of old and new being recognized and looking to receive the industry’s highest honor.

arts@thedailycougar.com