Arts

Despite dangers and hardship of war, Ukrainians enjoy Black Sea beaches this summer

6:05pm August 23, 2023

by Brian Mann

This summer Ukrainians are thumbing their noses at Putin by sunbathing and swimming on Black Sea beaches that have reopened despite the dangers of war.

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Nearly 500,000 people gathered in Cali, Colombia for the 27th annual Petronio Alvarez Festival. Nidia Góngora and her group Canalón de Timbiquí performed on the main stage.

Welcome to 'El Petronio,' the biggest celebration of Afro-Colombian music and culture

4:36pm August 23, 2023

by Betto Arcos

The Petronio Alvarez Festival has been the biggest source of income for artists, cooks and vendors in the Pacific region. But some critics say they want the festival to return to its roots.

Arts

'Star Wars: Ahsoka' has a Jedi with two light sabers but not much else. Yet.

4:36pm August 23, 2023

by Eric Deggans

A fan-favorite is finally getting her own series. But why is it so boring?

Arts

New game by Elden Ring developer delivers ace apocalyptic mech combat

3:38pm August 23, 2023

by Justin Lucas

Elden Ring developer FromSoftware revived its long-dormant giant robot series and delivered stunning omnidirectional mech combat.

Diners sidle up to the counter in Netflix's Midnight Diner: Tokyo.

Arts

Cozy up in Tokyo's 'Midnight Diner' for the TV version of comfort food

2:46pm August 23, 2023

by John Powers

The strangely addictive Japanese series is set in a small, all-night joint, run by a chef whose dishes helps strangers tap into something deep and universal.

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A woman passes by a mural of the rapper Biggie Smalls on a wall in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn.

As hip-hop turns 50, Biggie Smalls' legacy reminds us of what the genre has survived

2:46pm August 23, 2023

by Tonya Mosley

Author Justin Tinsley discusses the life and legacy of the Notorious B.I.G., who was killed in 1997: "You can't talk about the story of hip-hop without mentioning the name Biggie Smalls."

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Immortals of Aveum, Baldur's Gate 3, My Friendly Neighborhood

Arts

The biggest and best video game releases of the summer

9:10pm August 22, 2023

by James Perkins Mastromarino

From long-awaited epics like Baldur's Gate 3 to indie darlings like Dave the Diver, NPR staff review this summer's surprise hits and more.

Booksellers on the Seine get the boot ahead of next summer's Olympics in Paris

6:36pm August 22, 2023

by Rebecca Rosman

Book stalls along the Seine River have been a beloved Paris tradition for centuries. A plan to remove them before next summer's Olympic Games has not been well received.

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After falling on the street, a woman made it to a big meeting thanks to two strangers

6:14pm August 22, 2023

Vige Barrie has mild cerebral palsy, which occasionally makes her trip and fall. One day, she was in Washington, D.C., for a big meeting. Little did she know, she was about to meet her unsung heroes.

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Ayo Edebiri as Josie and Rachel Sennott as PJ in Bottoms.

Arts

'Bottoms' is an absurdist high school sex comedy that rages and soars

3:17pm August 22, 2023

by Aisha Harris

The cheeky black comedy stars Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri as teens who start a fight club to get laid.