Friday, June 5

Jessica Gao uses music as creative outlet, way to explore identity

This post was updated June 3 at 8:34 p.m. From writing to music video editing, Jessica Gao is following her north star of creative fulfillment when making music. Read more...

Photo: Jessica Gao, a recent UCLA graduate, smiles as she stands in front of a tree. Gao began releasing music last September and aspires to release an EP. (Gabby Yang/Daily Bruin)


Theater review: ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ brings viewers to ’90s New York for a coming-of-age story

To Alicia Keys, “Hell’s Kitchen” is still a concrete jungle where dreams are made of. Featuring music and lyrics by Keys, inspiration from a book by Kristoffer Diaz and direction by Michael Greif, “Hell’s Kitchen” is a coming-of-age musical about a biracial teenager growing up in the city of dreams. Read more...

Photo: Maya Drake dances in an orange shirt and dark jeans. The 19-year-old makes her professional stage debut in “Hell’s Kitchen.” (Courtesy of Marc J. Franklin)



Woody Brown depicts diversity in communication through bestselling novel “Upward Bound”

This post was updated June 3 at 8:44 p.m. Following the success of his debut novel “Upward Bound,” Woody Brown returned to his alma mater to promote his book and discuss disability and communication. Read more...

Photo: Woody and Mary Brown sit in front of an audience in Kaplan Hall to discuss “Upward Bound,” Woody Brown’s new book. Mary Brown has been both Woody Brown’s companion and translator along every step of his academic journey. (Gabby Yang/Daily Bruin)


Restaurant review: Xibei Eatery serves flavorful northwestern Chinese cuisine in new Westwood spot

This post was updated June 3 at 8:50 p.m. Westwood is benefiting from the addition of a new Chinese restaurant. Xibei Eatery, which opened a new location recently on Weyburn Avenue, specializes in northwestern Chinese cuisine. Read more...

Photo: A sign is posted on the window of Xibei Eatery, celebrating their “soft opening” with red and gold stars, balloons and streamers. The Eatery has over 400 locations, and the new Westwood outpost is among the first in the United States. (Jiah Jung/Daily Bruin)


FAST runway show threads together couture, ambition and self-expression

This post was updated May 28 at 10:23 a.m. Crochet, corsets and camp took center stage Friday night. Fashion and Student Trends at UCLA held its 25th annual spring runway show at Pauley Pavilion on Friday at 7 p.m. Read more...

Photo: Models walk on the runway at FAST’s annual spring runway show. Fashion and Student Trends at UCLA hosted its 25th runway last Friday at Pauley Pavilion, featuring 25 student collections and the work of the club’s 230 members. (Courtesy of Hannah Morgan)


Hanlin Su’s story-driven animation brings Alan Walker’s song ‘Faded’ to life

This post was updated May 27 at 8:57 p.m. Hanlin Su has been telling stories since before he knew what he was doing. Su, a first-year psychology student, runs Retrever Entertainment, a boutique animation studio he launched after enrolling at UCLA last fall. Read more...

Photo: Hanlin Su sits down on a bench with his dog Marshmallow. The first-year psychology student animated the 10th anniversary music video of Alan Walker’s “Faded.” (William Gauvin/Daily Bruin staff)