It's a funny fall: Comedy stars like Kathy Griffin, Joel McHale and Robin Williams will all be headlining in Seattle soon, and the Seattle International Comedy Competition is in full swing at local comedy clubs.

Dustin Ronspies' Art of the Table serves contemporary American-style comfort food two ways: "Supper Club" Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights is like a private party, with a single seating for a four-course, prix fixe menu; and "Happy Mondays," featuring small plates.

Seattle indie band Head Like a Kite has been filming a new reality TV program, called "On the Brink," this week in six cities, with the final gig Saturday, Nov. 22, at Neumo's in Seattle.

Restaurant review: The culture — and food — of El Salvador thrives at Mi Chalateca Restaurant and Pupuseria in Federal Way.

Witness a star being born at Grant Barnhart's exhibition "Remember Me When" at OKOK Gallery.

Martin-Zambito Fine Arts pulls out a timely selection of American art and Northwest regionalism from the mid-20th century, including work by Spencer Moseley, Glen Alps, Paul Horiuchi and Ida York Abelman.

Sometimes it pays to have your heart broken.

"A Christmas Tale": French director Arnaud Desplechin's film is a marvel of intimate character study, revealing a wealth of behavioral complexity among the members of a dysfunctional family gathering for Christmas. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Catherine Deneuve and Mathieu Amalric.

Theater review by Misha Berson: Seattle Repertory Theatre stages a terrific script by playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, "Boom," which plays Nov. 13-Dec. 14 at the Rep in Seattle Center.

"Fuel," directed by Josh Tickell, is a dynamic and persuasive documentary about clean energy sources and America's doomed addiction to oil. It's a must-see, and not just for environmentalists.

"JCVD" is an unexpectedly ambitious vehicle for Jean-Claude Van Damme. He essentially plays a version of himself as JCVD, a washed-up action hero who returns to his native Belgium to revive his career — and suddenly finds himself in the middle of a real-life hostage crisis.

"Obscene": A fondly scruffy homage to Barney Rosset, the impish publisher of Grove Press who inspired profound cultural change with books such as "Lady Chatterley's Lover" and "Tropic of Cancer."

"White Jade and Other Stories," Washington State University writer-in-residence Alex Kuo's newest collection of short fiction, tells of the anger, humor, irony and confusion you feel when you come from two worlds, neither of which really accepts you.

Benham Gallery is holding a nontraditional holiday party and "$#*! Happens Sale." The gallery is selling slightly damaged artwork, Nov. 21-30, and holding a raffle for a photograph of singer-songwriter Tom Waits.

Preview Kanye West's highly anticipated fourth album, "808s & HEARTBREAK" before its official release on Nov. 24; it's available now at www.myspace.com/kanyewest.

Seattle Theatre Group is having a half-price sale tickets sale for shows at the Paramount and Moore Theatres. The sale goes from 10 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 27 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28.

Dates and times are subject to change. Events Live Music on the Market Stage Today-Sat Crossroads Bellevue live music; singer-songwriter...

"A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!" — with Stephen Colbert singing, dancing and musing about the true meaning of Christmas — airs Sunday on Comedy Central.

Comedy review: Kathy Griffin brought her acerbic brand of celeb-skewering comedy to the Paramount Theatre Thursday night, for a four-show stand that continues through Nov. 22.

Choreographer Crystal Pite's "Lost Action," performed by Canadian dance company Kidd Pivot, is a thrilling and sobering work about soldiers and loss. Review by Michael Upchurch.

Alonzo King's LINES Ballet performs "Long River, High Sky," a fascinating blend of ballet and kung fu, at University of Washington's Meany Hall. Review by Jean Lenihan.

Danny Boyle, director of "Trainspotting," talks about Bollywood, Mumbai and his latest feature, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Seattle's Book-It Repertory Theatre presents a new adaptation of "My Ántonia," the classic Willa Cather novel of 19th-century immigrant life on the Nebraska prairie.

Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" is the story of a young man's journey from rags to riches, by way of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

Country Village welcomes holiday shoppers Saturday, Nov. 22, to get a jump-start on their lists while enjoying the festive atmosphere of the village.

Catching the wave of a public fascination with vampires, HBO's "True Blood" has steadily increased in stature to become the cable network's...

In Silvio Soldini's well-acted "Days and Clouds," Margherita Buy and Antonio Alabanese play a couple hit by hard times.

Folk singer Joan Baez comes to Seattle's Moore Theatre on Nov. 28, the culmination of an international tour supporting her recent hit album, "Day After Tomorrow."

Nancy Kelly and Houston Person will perform and record a live CD at Bake's Place jazz house in Issaquah, Nov. 22-23, 2008.

The New Kids on the Block will perform Nov. 22 at the Tacoma Dome.

Conductor Vassily Sinaisky leads Seattle Symphony in a distinguished performance.

Spectrum Dance Theater's "A Chekhovian Resolution," by Donald Byrd in collaboration with Israeli dancemakers Nir Ben Gal and Liat Dror and Palestinian composer Wissam Murad, takes an abstract look at how space is divided in the Middle East.

A weekly listing of new DVDs.

One of New York City's most famous food critics is out of a job.

Taj Mahal plays a long set at Jazz Alley, Nov. 21-30, supporting his latest album "Maestro" (Heads Up), which features guest appearances by Angelique Kidjo, Ben Harper, Ziggy Marley, Los Lobos and Jack Johnson.

"Bolt" Colin Covert, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) May I gush? "Bolt" is a jolt of joy, a computer-animated delight that is delirious with...

Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson is going back to the small screen after his foray into Republican presidential politics over the last year.

Tickets on sale this week.

Zeitgeist films, Jimmy Stewart and "The Wizard of Oz" alight on Seattle-area screens this week.

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz are the proud parents of a baby boy, and they're celebrating with some Bronx cheer - this one is a good one.

After the wedding in a Scottish castle, the mansion on a green English estate and the drinks in their own pub, Madonna and Guy Ritchie's eight-year marriage ended Friday in a dreary London courtroom.

Henry Rollins, the hard-core punk-rocker turned spoken-word performer, has a gig at Seattle's Moore Theatre at 8 p.m. Nov. 26.

Celebrity gossip, famous birthdays and other tidbits, compiled from Seattle Times news services.

Erwilian, which makes acoustic music with dulcimers, dobros, didgeridoos and other instruments, appears in concert at Renton Civic Theatre, Nov. 21-22.

The last time Guns N' Roses released an album of all-new material, there were no iPods or digital downloads. There was no "American Idol." No music blogs. No MySpace.

"13," a tween tale of growing up and trying to fit in, is the latest casualty of the Broadway season.

The name Brooklyn has been done before, so Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz turned to another New York City borough in naming their newborn son: The Bronx.

The BBC's governing body ruled Friday that the broadcaster acted appropriately when it suspended its star disc jockey and accepted the resignation of a fellow performer for leaving lewd messages on an actor's phone about his granddaughter.

A Malaysian technology conglomerate pledged Friday to repay $900,000 to Hollywood star Bruce Willis, but denied any wrongdoing after he took legal action to demand a refund of his investment.

European culture went digital - but it only lasted a day.

The Federal Communications Commission has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the indecency case over Janet Jackson's breast-baring performance at the 2004 Super Bowl.

The permanently suit-clad Stephen Colbert has traded in his pinstripes for a cardigan sweater, red turtleneck and furry boots.

Top-selling Japanese music producer Tetsuya Komuro was formally charged with fraud Friday in a scandal that has tarnished the image of a star whose songs once dominated Japan's pop music scene.

Add Kanye West to the list of artists previewing their new CDs on MySpace Music.

Authorities have charged a man with assault for allegedly striking "Stargate Atlantis" actor Jason Momoa in the face with a beer glass, causing wounds that required 140 stitches.

Michael Jackson's former personal assistant told a British court Friday that a Bahraini sheik who is now suing the singer was a generous friend, eager to give Jackson money and other gifts.

Paul Newman has left the assets to his wife, the Oscars to his foundation and the race cars to the highest bidder.

Michael Lohan is going to have to be patient if he's still looking for a fight.

Rapper T.I. testified Friday that he believes the bullets fired at his entourage during a wild vehicle chase two years ago were meant for him.

British actress Sienna Miller has won 53,000 pounds ($79,000) from a photo agency she was suing on grounds of harassment.

Britney Spears is making another cameo in the midst of her comeback - this time at a Los Angeles courtroom.

The last time they shared a Lincoln Center stage, violinist Gil Shaham wielded the big smiles as Gustavo Dudamel made his conducting debut with the New York Philharmonic.

Movies are increasingly creeping online, as video sites like YouTube and Hulu are adding feature films to their extensive libraries.

Spider-Man has another baby on the way.

Maybe there's something to face-to-face interaction after all.

Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality.

The country's largest trade publisher, Random House Inc., has frozen the pensions of its current employees and eliminated them for future hires, the latest cuts in an industry hit by declining sales and anticipating, at best, a difficult 2009.