National Lifestyle

NEW YORK — Ethan Hawke has portrayed several real people in recent years, including musician Chet Baker and abolitionist John Brown, but his new role as pioneering inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla presented the challenge of playing a genius.

NEW YORK — Gone, for now, are the days when retirees Bill and Mary Hill could do whatever they please.

Josh Turner, “Country State of Mind” (MCA Nashville) From its title to its songs and sounds, Josh Turner’s “Country State of Mind” is a tribute to his idols and beyond, a compendium of some great country music.

TORONTO — Cineplex Inc. says all its theatres and entertainment venues will be open later this week. The Toronto-based movie exhibitor says 164 theatres, 1,687 screens and 10 entertainment complexes will be in operation again by Friday.

CALGARY — The local news section of a Calgary Herald newspaper from 1883 began with a one-word paragraph: "Cronk." Interspersed between articles were similarly terse and mysterious phrases: "Cronk is good." "Buy Cronk." "Cronk is the drink.

The Waterboys, “Good Luck, Seeker” (Cooking Vinyl) Amid the drum loops, robo rhythms and digitally altered vocals on the Waterboys' new album, there's also the rattle of songwriter Mike Scott's typewriter.

James Hong is learning to do his first Zoom video chat at the spry age of 91. The actor, who has witnessed his industry continuously evolve with technology, is finding it “mind-boggling.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Max Weinberg, the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the bandleader for Conan O’Brien’s Late Night and The Tonight Show, has been appointed to a local planning and zoning board in the Florida city where he lives.

LOS ANGELES — The cast for Netflix’s new “Pinocchio” film has been chosen. The streaming service announced Wednesday that newcomer Gregory Mann will assume the title role along with Ewan McGregor as Cricket and David Bradley as Geppetto.

LONDON — The World Health Organization’s Europe office said it has begun discussions with Russia to try to obtain more information about the experimental COVID-19 vaccine the country recently approved.