A UNESCO World Heritage Site in danger, the Buddha complex and surrounding cliffs and valleys in Bamiyan, Afghanistan survived 1,500 years before the Taliban blasted away the two giant statues in 2001. Today, many archaeologists oppose restoration for fear of future Taliban action and concerns that the damage is already far too great. While the focus turns to conservation and stabilization, Chinese family Janson Hu …
A tribute to Japanese pop act Yellow Magic Orchestra’s Haruomi Hosono, Devendra Banhart’s new single “Kantori Ongaku” taps into the singer/songwriter’s specific vein of clever, eccentric folk. The track, whose title translates to “country music,” releases with an absurdist, surreal and theatrical video directed by Giraffe Studios. “Kantori Ongaku” is from Banhart’s newly announced album, Ma, his first full-length in three years.
As some NYC residents vacate the boroughs for summertime escapes, Shelter Island provides a setting of resplendent beauty, quiet isolation and thoughtful adventure. The island’s motto “life between the ferries” nods to the fact that it’s only accessible by car-carrying boats—one of which comes from Shelter’s southern neighbor, Sag Harbor and the other, from the North Fork’s Greenport. Shelter Island’s separation from its social southern …
