http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/articles.sec-234-1-arts-and-culture.html Sergei Kvitko strangled his water bottle and looked at the clock. It was just before 7 p.m. on April 30, and he was due on stage at 7:30 for a grueling solo piano concert at Michigan State University's Cook Recital Hall.]]> There are some natural complications that go along with being a 15-piece gypsy folk band, and being about 80 years out of time is only one of them. Stage size is obviously a key issue, as is the coordination of more than a dozen independent work and personal schedules.]]> One of Dennis Preston's favorite places to conjure up grotesque and whimsical characters was the Biggby Coffee at 536 Elmwood Road in Lansing, just south of the Lansing Mall. The local illustrator, designer and caricaturist would draw on coffee napkins and leave them at the store, which could then be "purchased" by giving $10 to the barista on duty. It was a tradition that had been going on throughout Lansing-area Biggby's for the past 10 years.]]> If Ruth McNally Barshaw has her way, Ellie McDoodle will never see 13, play a video game or use a cell phone. And the Lansing author and illustrator will have her way, since she is the creator of the five-book young adult series "The Ellie McDoodle Diaries," about a 12-year-old who journalizes her life, accompanied by doodle drawings.]]> After six years, Jessica Decker has handed over the keys to Decker's Coffee Co., 220 S. Washington Square in downtown Lansing, to a new owner. J.T. Dachtler took over the reins at Decker's Saturday, but Decker is sticking around for a week to smooth the transition.]]> After an electrifying breakthrough performance in 1996's "A Time to Kill" — followed by solid showings in "Contact" and "Amistad" — Matthew McConaughey mostly slummed it through the '00s.]]> Drake White, an EMI-signed singer/songwriter based in Nashville, plays the Whiskey Barrel Saloon on May 30. The Alabama native has a rootsy modern country sound, blended with southern gospel vibes.]]> Friday, May 17 — This week on Deemable Tech: Why do web browsers open inconsistently? (Editor’s note: “Deemable Tech” is a weekly syndicated column by Jacksonville, Fla.-based writer Ray Hollister. It will appear weekly on lansingcitypulse.com.)]]> Thursday, May 16 — Tickets go on sale tomorrow for “A Prairie Home Companion,” Garrison Keillor’s long running variety show. The program is broadcast weekly on public radio outlets across the country, including 90.5 WKAR-FM, locally. “A Prairie Home Companion” is known for its musical guests, especially folk and traditional musicians, tongue-in-cheek radio drama and Keillor's storytelling segment, “News from Lake Wobegon.”]]> Thursday, May 16 — Thrash metal, “gypsy art rock” with a little Brooklyn folk on the side makes its way to Lansing this weekend. The hard-pounding Sin Theorem and experimental Stikyfüt bring a harder edge Friday to Uli’s and The Loft, respectively. Meanwhile, New York singer songwriter Laura Stevenson hits Mac’s on Sunday.]]> It's easier to complain about a lack of local entertainment options than do anything about it, but Nate Dorough isn't going to get pissed if you start ripping on the local music scene — he's too busy making it happen.]]> With their crunchy exoskeletons, compound eyes and yellow blood, insects seem more like alien creatures than our fellow Earthlings — but humans have more in common with the six-legged beasties than you'd think.]]> Solutions for socio-economic problems are typically addressed at symposiums where speakers use PowerPoint presentations, not turntables. But this weekend, the Lansing Hip Hop Fest will use facets of hip- hop culture — including graffiti art, spoken word, dance and music — to explore some of these heady themes.]]> You'd never know you were looking at Carol Burnett's yearbook photo unless you scanned the bottom of the page for her name. And even then, you're like, "Could there have been two Carol Burnetts who went to Hollywood High School in 1950?"]]> Leo Tolstoy was quite a bastard — check out his wife's diary for some hair-raising stories — but he made a good point now and then. He once asked arch-Romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, with typical cruelty, "Is such music needed by anyone?" ]]> To commemorate the 50th East Lansing Art Festival, the annual event's planners are taking full advantage of the late debut of spring. They know what locals want: to be outside again.]]> It feels twisted that "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" opened Mother's Day weekend. Martin McDonagh's darkly comic play is an unsparing portrait of a severely dysfunctional mother/daughter relationship perfect for Riverwalk Theatre's blackbox — just not for mothers.]]> Dan Frazier has long been drawn to comic books. The Lansing native, 52, has been collecting comics since he was young, and throughout his life he's accumulated more than 30,000 — about a third of which are signed.]]> Jammin' Round with Jamie-Sue Songwriters Series turns 10 years old at its season commencement concert Saturday in Dewitt. Among the diverse batch of performers are organizer Jamie-Sue Seal, Elden Kelly, Jason Dennie, and Greg Jenkinson & John Latini.]]>