September 12, 2013

September 12, 2013 34st.com

where are they? queer women at penn MAC N' CHEESE TASTE TEST | PROFESSORS' FILM & TV PICKS | ADD–DROP FLOW CHART

september 12 3 highbrow LOL

2013

The round–up, word on the street, overheards, true life: I hate your snapchats

16

4 EGO

Ego of the Week, quiz

LOL

6 MUSIC

Album reviews, meet the Penn musician, music– streaming confessional Professors' choice, most anticipated tv and movies, B-roll

10 feature LOL

Queer ladies at Penn

14 FOOD & dRINK

Mac n' Cheese taste test, seafood tips, Q & A

LOL

16 arts

Walk up Broad Street, DIY, artist profile

FROMtheEDITOR discuss queer culture at Penn, why

new black

When I was in high school I had a mantra: “I’m not a feminist,” I’d say. I use the word mantra because I said it repeatedly, therapeutically.

I was a strong, opinionated young woman. But I didn’t want to be a bitch, at least not in the minds of men.

I guess in some ways I wasn’t a feminist then. I did believe that my rights were subordinate to the guys’, that dudes made society move and we were there to bolster it. College changed me. Penn changed me and I am never going back.

This week, we’ve chosen to write about queer women on campus (“Where are they?” pg. 10). To be completely honest, we got the idea because we wanted to cover “Orange is the New Black,” which we’re all obsessed with (personally, I like Boo and Little Boo). Then the conversation got deeper, as things at Street tend to do—you should see us on the roof. We began to

9 film & TV LOL

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gay men’s pride is so celebrated and so much fun to celebrate but why gay women aren’t as visible, audible, or identifiable. “I only know one lesbian at Penn and she graduated,” I said.

Turns out, I’m an idiot.

Queer women are everywhere! As you already know, or will soon find out, in 2012 Campus Price Index ranked Penn fifth on a list of the nation’s 25 LGBT–friendly campuses. That’s pretty good, considering U.S. News just tied us seventh in their rankings with Duke and MIT. But before we can start calling ourselves Mr. Rogers, it’s got to be a beautiful day in the gayborhood—for everyone.

Ladies—welcome to the party.

You're always welcome at our party.

18 lowbrow LOL

Breaking Penn news

20 backpage

Break-fast foodporn

Writers' Meetings. Thursdays @ 6:30 4015 Walnut, Second Floor

34th Street Magazine Nina Wolpow, Editor-in-Chief Sam Brodey, Managing Editor Alex Hosenball, Online Managing Editor Chloe Bower, Design Editor Sarah Tse, Photo Editor Olivia Fingerhood, Assistant Design Margot Halpern, Assistant Design Zacchiaus McKee, Highbrow Alex Sternlicht, Highbrow Faryn Pearl, Ego Mariam Mahbob, Ego Marley Coyne, Food and Drink 2

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Ryan Zahalka, Food and Drink Michelle Ma, Film and TV Michael Shostek, Film and TV Isabel Oliveres, Features Patrick Ford-Matz, Features Ariela Osuna, Music Cassandra Kyriazis, Music Gina DeCagna, Arts Madeleine Wattenbarger, Arts Zach Tomasavic, Lowbrow Michael Kandel, Lowbrow Gabe Morales, Print Copy Emma Soren, Online Copy

Emily Marcus, Online Copy Patrick Del Valle, Social Media Cover design: Chloe bower Contributors: Jordan Rodnizki, Tony Mei, Noah Shpak, Mary Cate Muschett, Olivia Rutigliano, Katherine Hartman

Contacting 34th Street Magazine: If you have questions, comments, complaints or letters to the editor, email Nina Wolpow, Editor-– in–Chief, at wolpow@34st.com. You can also call us at (215) 898-6585. To place an ad, call (215) 898-6581.

Visit our web site: www.34st.com "Do these ladies look off-center?" ©2013 34th Street Magazine, The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc. No part may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express, written consent of the editors (but I bet we will give you the a-okay.) All rights reserved. 34th Street Magazine is published by The Daily Pennsylva-

HIGHBROW

TRUE LIFE: I HATE YOUR SNAPCHATS If Facebook is where we post pictures that show us at our hottest, Snapchat is where we expose our eight chins and third nipple to our friends for three seconds. If Snapchat didn’t exist, people might actually think I was attractive.

But we all have those Snapchat friends we simply fucking hate. Although there are different types of Snapchat offenders, one thing remains true for all: opening their Snapchats brings us the pleasure equivalent of making a says/does outline. Just because the image gets destroyed after five seconds doesn’t mean those five seconds don’t suck.

Everyone has the friend they haven’t spoken to in years that sends an average of five drunk snapchats per night, with captions such as “drunq,” “where I am” and “cawledge.”

Please, let’s not rekindle our middle school friendship via Snapchat. Despite the fact that you never effing respond to these fascinating messages, opening them becomes a chore much like dealing with your too–sloppy friend when she’s blackout.

Or what about the friend who expresses details of their

personal life via Snapchat video? Snapchat videos are actually the worst. Don’t expect me to enjoy turning on the volume of my phone to listen to you cry over a mass–snapchat video about your ex–boyfriend. He probably broke up with you because your Snapchats are so fucking annoying. I would.

However, the emotional snapchatter and the mass snapchatter are tame in comparison to my least favorite snapchatter, the potentially homeless Tinder man. One of my Tinder matches, who seemed attractive and rugged in his singular Tinder photo, requested my Snapchat username— and in a moment of Van Pelt–induced loneliness, I gave it him. To this day, I receive Snapchats from this Tinder loser, an extremely bearded middle–aged man who resembles Moses on a good day, with captions like “what are you doing?” or “please snap me back.” I should probably learn to use the block mechanism, but his snaps serve as a reminder of why I should never go on Tinder. Thank you, Snapchat and creepy Michael Moore look–alike, for teaching me such a valuable life lesson.

THEROUNDUP L’Shana Tova, bitches! The year is 5774 and you know what that means? It’s time for some resolutions. Highbrow resolves to always bring you the best weekly gossip. Let’s start now.

One new Pennyloafer baby stepped up at their initiation party this weekend after hitting one too many high notes. After an intense bonding sesh with her melodious new friends, the girl in question was fashionably escorted from the party… by the MERT team. Aca–awkward. We hope she got her Penny’s worth.

Although we thought it was impossible for our nocturnal friends in OWLS to fall further, after this past weekend’s Zetes Late Night, they might have hit rock bottom. Amid the dark, smoky halls of 34th and Walnut, it was OWL v. OWL in the brawl for one girl. A crowd of Zetes guys broke it up, but not before the boys got bloody and bruised. Luckily no one was hurt, the only real harm inflicted was to their reputation.

Our freshly MERTed Pennyloafer friend wasn’t the only one who failed to perform under the influence. Nervous about try–outs, one freshman pregamed his Penn Hype audition a little too aggressively, showing up intoxicated. Dancing behind everyone, the boy soon made it obvious that he was much too Hyped up. The inebriated frosh was asked to leave. Maybe he should try out for Penn Mock Trial next time. We hear they’re more low–key.

High–waisted shorts may be in, but we know something a little more chic: breaking bottles over frat bros’ heads. A visiting lax dude got a little too social at the Social Ivy on Friday. Despite the fact that he didn’t even go here, the bro was all too comfortable drinking all day and scarfing down caffeine pills to rage at a senior girls’ party.

Perhaps he just wasn’t accustomed to the skinny–jeaned, face–kissing foreigners that permeate Penn’s parties. When one Castle monsieur entered the party, the heavily caffeinated LAXer greeted our foreign friend by breaking a bottle over his head. Highbrow hears the Castle bro was upset it wasn’t a bottle of Grey Goose.

Follow Miss Cassandra on Twitter @AskMissCass

over heard PENN at

Sad girl: I might have slept with two Penn Illusionists.

Person of small stature with hands down his pants: I used to be straight–edged, but now I grab life by the boobs.

Sad girl #2: I like to send hungover selfies to my one–night stands the morning after, just to make sure they feel at least as much regret and disappointment as I do.

Dude: This feels like the kind of place where you’d find a lot of syringes.

wordonthestreet iPHONE-SOLATION

BY GINA DECAGNA

This past summer, I was just one of a thousand eager Penn students interning in New York. Four trains—and an hour and a half of smelling body odor—later, I commuted to the Brooklyn–based office from my boring Jersey suburb to gain “experience” and seize “opportunity.” I learned the ropes of tri–state area public transportation, hustled through the corporate crowds of Wall Street and hopped across the East River to be among the hipsters of Park Slope. And though I went through so many different neighborhoods every day and saw a great diversity of people, I noticed how little these folks really interacted with each other. They all had something in common: the cesspool breeding of antisocial customs, the “fuck you, don’t mess with me” grudge, the fact that everyone had their eyes glued to their smartphones.

The idea that our touchscreen gadgets make us antisocial in person is age–old. The theme of technological sedation runs rampant in classic dystopian novels, and, a few years ago, an MIT professor wrote a whole book on the topic called “Alone Together.” Jeeze.

But are we so lost in our own virtual worlds that, though we may be physically together with other people, we ignore social etiquette? New York City would answer an immediate ‘yes’ to that question, but how about here at Penn and in greater Philadelphia?

For the past couple of years, I have been that odd one in the bunch for having a ‘dumb phone,’ and if I dared to maybe even glance at the stranger next to me, often, his eyes would instantly shift to his phone like a method of self–defense. Am I that ugly? One time, I sat next to a woman who voraciously chugged a jumbo bag of Skittles while texting. How stressful was her day? I didn’t ask the questions in my mind. There were’t many “hello, how are you”’s. I truly think it has become a public norm in some places not to look up from your smartphone.

I’ll admit—I purchased my first iPhone three weeks ago, and I’m guilty of sometimes avoiding awkward social situations by looking at my phone. On my 23–floor elevator trip down from my high–rise apartment, I’ll browse Facebook or check my email rather than talk to the people who share such an intimate metal box with me. There’s always this initial fear to extend a ‘hello’ to the person on the other side. So, I’ve been trying to talk to the strangers in the elevator more often to test my hypothesis. And nothing horrible has happened. I think I’m making some pals, actually.

So while the semester is fresh, I propose a daily goal to all of us treading the grounds of Penn: let’s not be New York.

We don’t need to walk down Locust like investment bankers walk down Wall Street. When you’re making the irritating run to class from Huntsman to DLR, don’t be afraid to make a random travel buddy by looking up from your iPhone 5. Say "hey" and be friendly to the guy next to you. Whether you’re a freshman, a construction worker, A–Gutt or a post–doc, I can’t get to know your personality with a six-second Vine.

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EGO

egoof the weeK:JEN CHAQUETTE

Jen Chaquette controls all your money. When she’s not handlin’ the Benjamins as the chair of SAC, she’s uniting sorority sisters as the Panhellenic VP and debating like there’s no tomorrow in Mock Trial. But above all, she’s an Allegro VIP. Street: What do you do on campus?

Jen Chaquette: I’m the chair of the Student Activites Council, which is responsible for allocating about a million dollars worth of trustees’ funds to varying student groups. I’m the Executive Vice President of the Panhellenic Council and the former president of AXO. I’m also on the Mock Trial team, I’m doing Seniors for the Penn Fund and I’m in Omega and Friars.

Street: As head of SAC, what’s the one student activity you wish you could try?

JC: I think being in Penn Lions would be really cool. Basically,

we give them a couple of thousand dollars and they buy these lion costumes and just dance.

I can’t dance and I’m not artistic, but because they’re in lion costumes, I would love to be in Penn Lions.

Street: What part of the lion costume would you be? Front, middle, or back?

JC: Front. I’m a go–getter.

Street: If you could start a student group on an activity that’s not at Penn, what would it be?

JC: My requirements for this club would be that it literally had unlimited money, so that you can taste all of the food.

Street: Would you be a Judge Judy or a Judge Joe Brown?

Defend your case.

JC: I think I would be a Judge Judy. She’s sassy, but fair.

Street: Hypothetical—if you were defending yourself in the courtroom for one crime, what would that crime be?

JC: It would definitely be something white–collar. It would probably be like fraud or embezzlement. Embezzlement is always a good one.

Street: What would be your spirit animal?

JC: Probably Dean Furda. He’s kind of a boss.

Street: In your opinion, what’s the biggest misconception about Greek Life?

JC: That you’re only friends with people in your chapter.

I remember when I got into my sorority I thought that this was going to define me almost—that these were going to be my friends, that I was

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only going to mix with the frats my sorority mixed with… but especially junior and senior year I realized that’s totally not true.

After freshman year, everyone hangs out together. Everyone goes to Smokes. It really doesn’t matter what chapter you’re in.

Street: What’s your theme song?

JC: “Mo Money, Mo Problems.”

Street: Do you have a secret talent?

JC: I can eat a whole pizza by myself. I also used to play the hand bells competitively.

Street: There are two kinds of people at Penn…

JC: People who are on the VIP list at Allegro, and the people who don’t even know it exists.

I’m on the VIP list.

Street: Wait, what?

JC: Okay, so for the past two years I’ve lived on 39th and Spruce—my sorority house— and I would just order delivery from Allegro very often. It was great. Then last November or December I got this email that said, like, “Congratulations!

You’ve been added to the Allegro VIP list!” When I call they’re like, “Hey, is this Jen?” I don’t even need to say “hi.” I think that’s the perk of being on the VIP list.

I wouldn’t call myself a regular anywhere else, so it’s cool to be a known entity somewhere.

Street: If you are what you eat, what would you be?

JC: Chocolate ice cream. Or a filet mignon. Those are my two favorite foods, but I identify more with the filet mignon.

EGO

SHOULD YOU DROP THIS CLASS? Is it fulfilling a requirement?

Yes

No

Will it be offered again?

What year are you?

Senior

Not Senior Is the professor good?

No

Does he or she have an accent?

What time is it at?

No

9 am

Yes

How many classes are you already taking?

Is there class on Friday?

No

Yes

Suck it up.

You brought this upon yourself

No

Yes

5 or more

3 or 4

Yes

How heavy is the courseload?

Not 9 am

S

L

M

Do you actually enjoy it?

Is it British?

No

Yes Yes

No Are any of your friends in it?

Is it recorded?

Yes

No

Is it their major?

Yes

No

No

Yes Are they a good friend?

Yes

KEEP

No

DROP S E P T E M B E R 1 2 , 2 01 3 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E

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MUSIC

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ALBUM REVIEWS

"KISS LAND" – THE WEEKND

Canadian–born artist Abel Tesfaye, or as we know him, The Weeknd, releases his sophomore album “Kiss Land” this week. Back in 2010, Tesfaye uploaded three songs—“What You Need,” “Loft Music” and “The Morning”—to YouTube, immediately spawning an internet sensation and leading the "PBR&B" movement. Featuring Drake, Kavinsky, and a remix by Pharrell, this album

entraps you in a matrix of pain, loneliness and uncensored sex.

At times, Tesfaye’s falsetto whispers to you on top of guitar samples, reverberating percussion, inaudible screaming and robotic voices. The tracks are agonizing and jarring, yet provocative and enthralling. Tesfaye calls “Kiss Land” a “horror movie”—it’s a feature film you won’t want to miss.

MARYCATE MUSCHETT

GRADE: A99–CENT DOWNLOAD: “Kiss Land” SOUNDS BEST WHEN: You’re feeling insecure and a little lost (mind you, the album won’t relieve how you’re feeling).

"APAR" – DELOREAN 2013 has seen the summer of electro–pop, and Spanish dance outfit Delorean offers a contribution in the form of its new album “Apar.” The band has Basque origins and a characteristic sound—a sunny, melodic optimism that drives the album forward with relentless cheer.

Opening track “Spirit” layers synths and choral voices before progressing into an airy, if somewhat predictable, indie dance number. “You Know It’s Right”

blends guitar with dreamy vocals that are electronic but not overproduced. The album lacks a standout anthem and all ten songs have the tendency to pass by with little variation in musicality, but that’s okay. Delorean offers a seamless listening experience, and “Apar” is a versatile album, one fit for a club on the Spanish coast or solitary reminiscence of warm summer evenings.

TONY MEI

GRADE: B 99-CENT DOWNLOAD: “Spirit” SOUNDS BEST WHEN: You’re trying to convince yourself summer isn’t over.

“ELECTRIC LADY” –JANELLE MONAE “Electric Lady” is comprised of the fourth and fifth installments of Janelle Monae’s “Cindi Maywater Android” series that began with her 2007 debut EP. The album, a follow–up to critically acclaimed “ArchAndroid,” is definitely more laidback than her last effort. Featuring a slew of crooner guests like Prince, Miguel and Solange Knowles, Monae delves deep into her R&B roots. “Primetime,” which features Miguel, is a prime example of this as it showcases Monae’s sultry side with the current reigning king of sultriness. The two jammiest 6

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songs on the album, “We Were Rock and Roll” and “Dance Apocalyptic,” are fun departures from the general tone of the album and leave you wanting for Monae's upbeat side.

She is even found rapping on some tracks, but there are a few too many relaxed songs for an album boasting a 19–song tracklist. Overall, the album showcases Monae’s undeniable musical talent, but the fierceness Monae is striving for is sometimes too understated in the series of slower tunes.

CASSANDRA KYRIAZIS

GRADE: B 99–CENT DOWNLOAD: “We Were Rock and Roll” SOUNDS BEST WHEN: Drinking wine on a Spruce porch with close friends, detachedly observing stumbling partiers.

MUSIC

ALBUM REVIEWS

“A.M.” – Arctic Monkeys “Do I Want to Know?” the first track on the Arctic Monkeys’ highly–anticipated fifth studio album, starts out with a thumping bass like the stomping of a marching band announcing its arrival. Soon enough, the electric guitar finds a smooth loop and Alex Turner reaches a soaring falsetto—confirming that, yes, the Arctic Monkeys are back.

Titled “A.M.”—both an acronym for the band’s name, inspired by The Velvet Underground’s “VU,” and a reference to post-midnight rock—the album’s late–night underground vibe could not be more fitting. Their sophomore album, titled “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not”—the fastest selling debut album in British history—proved they were here to stay. With each subsequent album, the Arctic Monkeys have cultivated the winning underdog attitude that brought them to the spotlight, all the while adding in a fresh taste of retro hip–hop that ventures in a completely new direction.

Described by Turner as a “chemical reaction,” “A.M.” incorporates elements from multiple genres and features contributions from Elvis Costello

drummer Pete Thomas, Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and Domino’s Bill Ryder-Jones. Most specifically, there is a unique blend of retro rock and 90s hip–hop that comes across song after song. Standout song, “Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High?” is reminiscent of The Beatles’ “Why Don’t We Do It On the Road?” with a raplike stutter in the background.

The glamorous shoo–wop in “I Want it All” incorporates a 50’s tune that could’ve been produced

by Dr. Dre. “Arabella” is the most dynamic song on the album. The song begins with Turner’s witty lines delivered over a persistent bass. After Turner belts out “My days end best when the sunset get itself behind that little lady sitting on the passenger side” in the chorus, a pulsating guitar string transforms the simple ballad into a 70’s post–punk anthem.

Following the melodic bridge towards the end, guitarist Jamie Cook throws in a guitar solo Jimi Hendrix would be proud of. Despite the chaos and diverse sounds, “A.M.” is one of the best albums 2013 has seen so far.

ARIELA OSUNA

MEET THE PENN MUSICIAN: MEEKA KATES New Jersey native and College senior Micah Kaats has been singing and playing the guitar since sixth grade. What started out as a way to pick up girls has recently turned into the release of two EPs and a burgeoning career in music. A philosophy major and consumer psychology minor, Micah never thought of music as a realistic option. But after a semester abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, Micah concluded, “might as well give this a shot because if I don’t, I’ll regret it.”

Under the name Meeka Kates, a phonetic spelling of his real name, Micah has been releasing self–described “acoustic electronic” music on Soundcloud and Bandcamp, both online spaces for music distribution.

According to Micah, Penn “has a kick–ass music sense” and “has been a great place to get started.” He has been heavily involved in the a cappella group PennChants and in SPEC Jazz & Grooves on campus. On top of that, Micah has been DJ–ing since he was a freshman and has DJ–ed all over Philly— from Castle frat parties to clubs like Rumor, Whisper and Ten Six Club. Despite his resume, Micah considers DJ–ing a “side project," saying, “it sort of influenced the music I’ve been doing now, but in terms of my own music I’m not trying to play so much as a DJ.” "I’d rather play at coffee shops or World Cafe Live.”

Now under the management of Find New Jams, “a boutique management and music discovery company” based in New York and

Accomplished musicians in our own backyard: the first installment of Meet the Penn Musician.

San Francisco, Micah is writing, recording and producing his own music. His first EP, “Study Abroad,” fuses his DJ–ing skills with his love for the acoustic guitar. Talking about the EP, he explains he likes to “incorporate ... an acoustic element because I kind of grew up playing acoustic guitar.” "I think that I’ve only heard a couple electronic songs that really incorporate acoustic instruments into them, and I think that can make a pretty cool sound.”

Citing his influences as Frank Ocean, The Weeknd and James Blake, Micah released his second EP, “Junior” with a more alternative R&B sound in mind. Nowadays, he's been more and more influenced by Disclosure, the British electronic music duo, and Four Tet, the post–rock and electronic musician, and is looking into incorporating a similar “classic house beat sound” but “slightly less ... house– y” yet still danceable.

Next time Micah takes to the turntables, it’ll be for Castle’s annual graffiti party on Sept. 20. “It’s not going to be technically my music but a good time nonetheless," he says. His next single will drop by the end of September on SoundCloud. If not music, he says, “I think I’ll go into graphic design or, also, I would go into marketing or advertising.” If so, he hopes he ends up “somewhere in the music industry.”

ARIELA OSUNA

Listen to Meeka Kates on SoundCloud and BandCamp. All his music is downloadable and completely free.

And check him out on Facebook and on Twitter.

GRADE: A+ 99-CENT DOWNLOAD: “Arabella” BEST FOR: Post–midnight veg–out for when you’re feeling retro.

Facebook.com/meekakates Soundcloud.com/meekakates Twitter.com/meekakates Bandcamp.com/meekakates

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MUSIC STREAMING CONFESSIONAL Spotify or Pandora? Casual music listeners tell us about their preferences.

Premium option for $9.99/month Unlimited for $4.99 Free with ads

#music Connects to your Spotify or Rdio subscription; otherwise, you can only listen to 30 second song previews from iTunes

Free trial $4.99/month with most features Unlimited subscription for $9.99/month

Free Pandora One: $3.99/month

8

When I first heard the buzz about Spotify, I truly didn’t trust it. Spotify advertises itself as music streaming on the spot—whatever you want to listen to whenever you want to. Following the death of Limewire, YouTube was my last resort to music streaming.

Paying on iTunes? Psh, ain’t nobody rich enough for that. 10 minutes into my first use I was hooked. Every album I could ever think of—including The Beatles (which were unavailable for a long time on iTunes). In addition, I used to hate when people copied my music or knew what I was listening to but seeing what my music–savvy friends were listening to ultimately grew on me. The idea of "free streaming" sounds beautiful. Nonetheless, it didn’t take long for the ads to annoy me. Seriously, there’s no bigger buzzkill than, when trying to show someone a song, a Trojan condom ad comes on. I ultimately took the plunge and upgraded all the way to premium. My bank hates Spotify, but I'm never looking back.

Besides the endearing mixtapes I sometimes give away to my friends, I’m not one to share my music. Call me overprotective—but I discovered that song ages before you played it at a pregame that one time. We are Hunted was my hidden gem—a website to easily discover “unearthed” and “unhunted” jams to stay ahead of the game. When the website was shut down, I was truly devastated. #music is the revival of We are Hunted, now part of Twitter Inc. It’s not intended to be your typical music streaming app; it’s specifically designed for music–overy. As someone who sends an average of 4.8 tweets a day, I find the “trending” and #nowplaying tabs particularly accessible. This is not some random blog deeming some song lame and one pop–star amazing. The charting is a true reflection of its popularity online. It’s as democratic as music can get. You won’t see me posting a #nowplaying tweet on my favorite songs, but I’ll definitely be keeping tabs on whatever Pitchfork posts.

No ads. Rdio doesn’t have any ads. And all was right with the world. As a fairly new user of the app, I was a little lost at first, but I quickly realized Rdio’s supremacy over other music streaming services. The Internet service is essentially on par with Spotify; it lets me pick my own playlists, follow other people, etc.

The mobile app offers a two–week trial, which allows me to create playlists on the go and sync my phone with my computer’s playlist. If you decide not to pay, you can still stream tons of albums, check out other people and influential music outlets are listening to (sup, NPR?) and listen to radio. It's like Pandora, but without ads. Rdio, thank you for answering my mobile music prayers.

Song availability Most albums are available; obscure remixes and upcoming songs are not as prevalent Mobile features Downloadable music with premium subscription and free radio on your phone Mobile features App with full features available for iPhones

Song availability No songs on demand; limited searchable feature.

Music discovery Songs trend based on how much buzz they are getting on Twitter; “Superstars”, “Popular”, “Emerging” “Unearthed” and “Hunted” tabs make it easy to discover up–and– coming bands and songs

Social experience Connects to Twitter account and you can tweet what you are #nowplaying

Mobile features Sync music over wifi to your phone or tablet; only with unlimited subscription Song availability 20 million and counting: songs and albums are available as soon as they are released

Pandora’s been around for 13 years now, and it still delivers exactly what it promises: solid music recommendations. Easy listening that has the potential to lead to fun new favorite song discoveries is exactly what a lazy music fan like myself needs. It’s possible that I may stab something/ someone the next time I hear an ad about gynecological care for Main Line Health, but that’s the trade–off for free music. Plus, Pandora gets to know my music preferences everytime I emphatically embrace a Ke$ha song or kindly skip over Avenged Sevenfold. Maybe that has a “big brother” feel, but it also has a mom–and–pop pizza shop feel that’s comforting. A DJ who’s known me all my life and understands what I mean when I say “Give me Cat Stevens,” but also when I say “Give me Disney classics.” Except when Rebecca Black comes onto my Beyoncé Station. Seriously, what the f***, Pandora? But otherwise, Pandora is about as dependable as it gets when it comes to music streaming, and I’ve been a loyal listener for six years now.

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Social experience Follow friends or your favorite bands to discover new music; linked to Facebook account Music discovery “Discovery” tab that finds recommendations based on your music taste

Mobile features App with full features available for iPhones Music discovery Streams songs based on individual preference for songs, artists, and genres

Social experience Sign in through Facebook and see what your friends are obsessed with on the “Heavy Rotation” feature Music discovery Based solely on following friends or artists Social experience Music activity can be published automatically on Facebook

Song availability Create up to 100 "unique" stations

B Roll: Holy Cinema In the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, Batman This is nothing new. For over a decade now—this summer and its lineup being the most recent and obvious example—critics, professionals and amateurs alike have locked their hawk–eyed gazes on the biggest fad in Hollywood. The fad in question? Turning comic books into epic, morally–charged, action–packed dramas and subsequently writing up clouds of pensive, pervasive analyses of what this means for cinema.

I don’t mind being repetitive in my decision to critically discuss this—namely because it is one of the most repetitive traditions the industry has ever seen. Perhaps the only way to accurately comprehend a movement that, much like the liquid metal dude in “Terminator 2,” keeps reproducing itself in slightly different forms (different uniform, different villain, different female, different moral quandary, different city that experiences billions of dollars lost in property damage) is to play the corresponding criticism again and again.

Though souped–up superhero movies are a thing of the millennium, Hollywood’s fascination with charismatic, masked vigilantes predates this era by a long shot, even though the melodrama of say, "The Dark Knight," didn’t materialize perhaps until Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman” straddled the different realms of campy, comic–book pleasure and modern urban warfare. Until this point, the tradition was: George Reeves played cinema’s Superman through the 1950s, Adam West was Batman on TV, and J.D. Salinger’s only son Matt played Captain America, and superhero media, though enjoyable enough for sequels to be recycled through the Cold War into the ‘90s, were more frivolous. Now, superhero films take on the ethical questions they long have ignored—for example, “are super villains merely flamboyant terrorists?” and “should the American criminal justice system work with (caped) laypeople in the name of the greater good?” And in some cases, “what even is the greater good?”

The question is if the sobered–up superhero movie template can accommodate so many different superheroes. Every powers–packed movie from “The Avengers” to “X–Men” puts at least science, religion and love on this grand, cosmic canvas (look at how many actors known for their Shakespeare work are now in these films!).

Forget the suspension of disbelief necessary to even understand the Thor/Loki relationship, or even the fact that when movies such as “The Avengers” link multiple superhero universes together on the same planet, it defies realism that at least the urban planners and construction workers haven’t boycotted because the buildings they have just rebuilt have been blown apart again—but now every movie in this mold is kind of the same. Perhaps the superhero movie that did it best, or most meta, is “The Incredibles”—representing both pop culture’s nostalgic fascination with heroes and moral need for them alongside the criticism that their enduring presence has, at least in a grand cultural metaphor, flown a tad too close to the sun.

FILM & TV

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9

F E AT U R E

F E AT U R E

It's a (gay) man's world T

he graffiti–covered walls of one frat house on 39th and Spruce streets had never housed more women than it did on January 25th last semester. The Queer Ladies at Penn group was throwing a party for the queer women of Penn, Bryn Mawr, and Swarthmore. After months of planning and communicating with women’s groups at other schools, finding a venue, and bussing in the girls, over 100 women were in attendance.

I stood in the corner talking to the few I knew, sipping my drink and bopping along to Marina & the Diamonds.

Despite the large amount of women (and some men) present, it was a relatively low– key party, especially considering Penn’s frequent and wild “LGBT” parties—which usually consist of attractive men making out and dancing on elevated surfaces. Although I enjoyed talking with my friends and the women from other schools, it soon became very apparent that this wasn’t a party intended for my demographic.

I walked home, certain that there would be another gay party—for men—next week. But for the queer women at Penn, this event was one of the only opportunities of the semester they could party with a large group of women that shared their interests.

“It’s not like anyone’s actively excluding queer women on campus,” said Sarah*, when asked about the presence of

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queer ladies at Penn. “Nobody in the LGBT community hates lesbians. But like, where are they?”

“But like, where are they?”

Good question. In a school with such a thriving and vibrant gay male community, what about the ladies? “I would say there’s definitely a lesbian community at Penn. I wouldn’t say that it’s necessarily the most accessible or cohesive,” Jordan, a Wharton senior, tells me.

“The people are very nice for the most part, but there’s a certain type of girl that tends to be very active in the lesbian community.”

Rosa, a College junior, puts it differently. “I think it’s hard for LGBT women. There are girls and you know them, but I wouldn’t say it was like, ‘Hey girl, our feminism and vagina power cements us as queer sisters for life!’” Yet a sense of a queer male community is central to the lives of many gay men at Penn and ostensible to everyone else. So why isn’t it the

queer ladies is definitely lacking in a school so lauded for accepting each letter the LGBTQ acronym. “The atmosphere can be very exclusionary. I don’t feel like there’s a place for me to be involved,” Jordan says.

And maybe we aren’t seeing them because we aren’t creating an environment where they can be seen. Regardless of their political leanings or level of activist engagement, gay men have a space—at the bars, in the basements, even on frat row. The gay male scene seems predominantly defined by its social character. “We don’t hold pregames or go out together.

It’s very different than the male community, which I think is focused on the social. [The queer lady community] is more focused on activism.”

Lezzie. Lesbo. Scissor sister.

Femme. Butch. Lipstick lesbian. Suddenly I found myself thrown into a world that in theory should feel familiar, but in practice, seemed so fringe. The members them-

“Nobody in the LGBT community hates lesbians.

But like, where are they?” same for queer women?

Every woman I talked to agreed that the presence of

selves didn’t consider it a true community. When women make up half of the popula-

tion here, why are queer women on the periphery of the larger LGBT community? Are there simply fewer of them?

Or is something else turning them off? “You’re never getting a simple answer to that question,” Lauren, a sophomore in the College told me.

Beyond academics, let’s look at what draws people to Penn—especially queer people.

It already has a significant gay male presence. Philadelphia is a cosmopolitan city with an established gayborhood, and that can be very appealing to gay men looking to come here. “Especially sexually appealing. You’re going to get it in here as a gay man. For certain queer women, those aren’t necessarily appealing factors.

Queer women may be more attracted to small liberal arts schools,” Rosa said after considering where her queer female high school friends ended up going to college. “They may be going to rural areas in Massachusetts or Wisconsin, not West Philly.”

So numbers–wise, yes, there may be less of a pull for queer women to come to Penn. Unfortunately, due to the still sketchy legality of homosexuality as a minority, the University has not maintained statistics on the male to female ratio of LGBT individuals on campus. Still, while it may be that there are fewer queer ladies than gay men walking down Locust, it’s doubtful the discrepancy is as great

as their quiet presence would suggest. Maybe we aren’t seeing these women for another reason. “Queer women who are more masculine might be assumed to be athletic, or a tomboy. And queer women who are more feminine might be looked over. There’s an uncertainty people have about female sexuality that they don’t have with guys,” Sarah said, “The default is that everyone’s attracted to men.” Feminine men may not be gay but are labeled as part of the LGBT community, while feminine women have to constantly reaffirm their queerness. “It got to the point where people just straight up didn’t believe me.

People would tell me, ‘Come on, I’m convinced you’re going to give this up someday and go back to men,’” Jordan said. “Gay men don’t have to face that.”

There’s kind of a self–perpetuating cycle: LGBT spaces are commonly dominated by cis–gender** gay men, who talk about cis–gender gay male issues, which attract more gay men, to an extent blocking out anyone who doesn’t identify with that subset of the LGBT community. “It can be hard to break into. Eventually you just stop trying,” Sarah informed me. There are very few queer female–specific spaces available at Penn or in the larger Philadelphia community—even fewer now that Sisters, a popular lesbian bar in Philly, closed last month due to poor turnout. When

Being gay isn't easy. Neither is being a woman. For a school that prides itself so much on its robust LGBT community, Penn's queer scene seems to be running low on ladies. By Zacchiaus McKee these areas get dominated by gay men, intentionally or not, women tend to get pushed out.

Jordan couldn’t believe it when two of her sorority sisters told her in confidence that a picture of her kissing her female date at Theta formal made its way onto AEPi’s listserv. She regrets not immediately sending an email to their president demanding an apology. “I was sick of going to mixers and getting hit on by guys—which isn’t their fault, to be fair, I understand a mixer is a place where guys hit on girls. It just wasn’t fun for me, and that’s such a big part of what Greek life is about,” Jordan explained concerning her time in a sorority. Tired of her relationships being fetishized by frat brothers, she ultimately left the Greek system.

“Given the very, very miniscule number of gay women in sororities, and the very largenumber of women in sororities in general, I think we can safely assume there are women in Greek life who aren’t being open about their sexuality. Why exactly? I don’t know,” College junior Dawn expressed in an interview. Although gay men may dominate the LGBT community at Penn, even if only a third of Penn students are active members of the Greek community, these organizations do have social dominance across many circles. While historically

Greek life has been portrayed as gender–blind in its hostility to LGBT individuals, the few Greek queer women to whom I spoke expressed the opinion that the Greek system was significantly easier to navigate if you were a queer man than a

present yourself in rush is how they decide if you’re an appealing candidate. A feminine gay guy would still wear a suit and tie. Any effeminacy in body language might not be judged as harshly because of that. But if I, as a woman, had to get

Women have to constantly reaffirm their queerness. queer woman.

Shaun*, a gay male senior, discusses his views on the Greek system: “Sororities aren’t there for sister bonding. They’re there to mix with frats. And say there’s a gay guy in that frat, he can still go to the mixer because every woman loves a gay guy.

They’re going to be the ones dancing with all the girls and afterwards he can go on Grindr and hook up with whomever he wants. Gay guys have a power to them that gay women don’t.”

Male privilege is exacerbated when you think about how being a queer woman constitutes a double minority. “This might not be the most politically correct way of putting it, but it’s ‘cool’ to be a gay man here.

There’s a social capital. It’s not seen as ‘cool’ to be a lesbian,” Jordan says. The commoditization of queer men raises a wholly separate set of issues, but in the Greek system, it can have its advantages. “How you

dressed up for rush, I’d wear khakis and a button–down shirt. I wouldn’t wear a dress and heels, and I think that plays a huge factor,” Lauren explains. The incompatibility of Greek life—which is so central to Penn—and nontraditional female gender expression may be keeping queer women out of the public eye.

“I think for better or worse, lesbian interactions are much less hook–up focused than those of gay men. So when your community is centered and focused on hooking up by nature, you need to gather in large groups and frequently,” Jordan tells me in a text after we finished our interview. “The gay male community is a lot more focused on the hook–up culture, but I think if there were more women here, it’d be a hook–up culture for women

too,” Lauren agrees. “But now, it’s not as much a party culture.

It’s a lot more a coffee shop culture.”

Jordan says she spent forty– five minutes before our interview panicking and being comforted by her girlfriend. “I thought the lesbians would hate me for saying certain things. I was scared.” In a school that is supposedly so LGBT–friendly, why are we scared to talk about issues that need addressing?

Anastasia, a College senior, wanted to end her interview with a shoutout: “Girls, if you’re out there, and you’re not super visible, please get active. Stop hiding.” It seems you can’t go a day without running into a different queer guy on campus. If we have to tell queer women to stop hiding, there’s a problem.

There’s no one reason, but the culture surrounding the LGBT community here could stand for some more diversity. Maybe we shouldn’t be telling girls to stop hiding. Maybe we should be creating a place where they don’t need to.

Zacchiaus McKee is a senior from Pittsburgh, PA, majoring in anthropology. He is Highbrow Editor for 34th Street Magazine. *The names of these individuals were changed because they wished to remain anonymous. **cis–gender: one whose gender identity matches his/her assigned sex at birth.

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FILM & TV

Most Anticipated FilmS & TV Shows of Fall 2013

Embarrassed about your addiction to Pretty Little Liars? We don't judge. But expand your horizons with these fall premieres.

TV "How I Met Your Mother:" Ted’s kids have the patience of a buddha. After seven seasons of hearing incredibly awkward and detailed stories about their dad’s old hookups, it’s revealed that they’ll finally find out how Ted met their mother in the show’s final season (and we’ll find out who she is). The actress in question has already been cast (an enigmatic Cristin Milioti), who looks nice enough, but can we just talk about how she resembles a cross between Robin and Lily? Subliminal friendcest much?

Final Season Premiere, Monday 9/23, 8pm, CBS "Homeland:" After last season’s blundering soap opera of a mess that stunned us all with the terrorist attack on the CIA, “Homeland” returns in uncharted territory. We find Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) out to clear fugitive Brody’s (Damian Lewis) name, Saul (Mandy Patinkin) head of the CIA, and Quinn (Rupert Friend) still adhering to his sketchy agenda. Expect some jazz music, another Carrie freakout and more of baller Mandy Patinkin.

Season Premiere, Sunday 9/29, 9pm, Showtime "Marvel’s Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D:" Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) is back. Picking up from the end of the “Battle of New York,” S.H.I.E.L.D. follows Coulson’s small team of agents who monitor several humans with supposed superpowers. Granted, early reviews are strong, but if the show turns into a “case of the week” format, it may become dull. Expecting Robert Downey, Jr., or Chris Hemsworth to make an appearance? Think again. Regardless, one name should draw you to this project: Joss Whedon. Remember “Dollhouse” and “Firefly?” Let’s just hope “S.H.I.E.L.D.” doesn’t suffer the primetime Whedon curse if it becomes a hit.

Series Premiere, Tuesday 9/24, 8pm, ABC

FILM "Diana:" Naomi Watts will take on the challenging and exciting role of the People’s Princess in “Diana,” a film about the icon and legend Princess Diana and her untimely death.

The film focuses on the final two years of her life and her secret love affair with a Pakistani heart surgeon, Hasnat Khan (Naveen Andrews of “Lost”). This is an obvious must–see for anyone obsessed with the Royal Family as well as anyone who "claims" not to be at all interested in them.

In theaters 11/1.

"Inside Llewyn Davis:" Winning the Grand Pix at this summer’s Cannes, the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” is already teeming with Oscar buzz. “Davis” offers a portrait of folk musician Llewyn’s (Oscar Isaac) unaspiring career in New York City, circa 1960s. Downright loser or unlucky guy? It’s up to you to decide. Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund and Justin Timberlake co–star.

In theaters 12/6.

"Gravity:" Premiering out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, Alfonso Cuaron’s science fiction thriller “Gravity” garnered universal praise last month. The film follows two astronauts (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) who are stranded in space with limited air supply and no communication with Earth after a catastrophic destruction of their space shuttle. Filmed in 3–D and eclipsed with stunning visuals, Cuaron’s work also features an uninterrupted seventeen–minute opening shot. One thing is for sure: don’t let go.

In theaters 10/4.

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Professors' choice

FILM & TV

Shocker: professors like watching movies and TV as much as anyone else. Here are their picks for best upcoming films and TV shows.

Arm yourself for smalltalk.

Adam Grant, Management TV: The second season of “Arrow,” the tale of a superhero without superpowers, whose past hauntings have inspired him to become a force for good.

Movie: “Ender’s Game,” the long–awaited film adaptation of one of my all–time favorite books.

Andrew Huemmler, Engineering & Applied Science I watch zero TV except for the weather, ice hockey and liberal press coverage. That said, I’d be glad to offer Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show,” my number one source for fair and balanced news coverage.

Felicity Paxton, Communications: TV: John Stewart back on “The Daily Show.” Oliver did a fine job as stand–in host, but looking forward to having the original John back.

Movie: The new Robert Reich documentary, “Inequality for All.” I’m looking forward to learning more about the American economy from a fellow communist. That’s a joke, by the way. Watch the movie.

Rebecca Stein, Economics Ha ha. Are you sure you want my input?

TV: The only show I watch regularly is “Project Runway” because that’s the only show my 13–year–old daughter agrees to watch together.

Movie: As for movies, whatever is playing in the airplane is fine with me. :-)

Nakia Rimmer, Mathematics: TV: I gave up ratchet reality TV (no more “Love & Hip Hop” or “Real ‘Non’ Housewives”), so I guess the one show I’m excited for is “Scandal.” I caught on late to the show when I kept seeing my friends raving about it in my Facebook feed, watched the whole series on Netflix and Hulu to get caught up and now I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Movie: “Runner Runner.” It’s a suspense movie with a backdrop of poker: two things that I’m into. Poker, obviously for the math at play and the edge of your seat suspense, is in my wheelhouse. After “Argo” I’m willing to give Ben Affleck movies an honest look. I’m still having trouble seeing him as Batman though.

Keith Niedermeier, Marketing TV: “Boardwalk Empire.” I love period pieces and Atlantic City during prohibition rocks—cool suits, crime, booze, politics, hookers… This show practically writes itself.

Movie: I hate the movie theaters. Paying 15 bucks to have other people make noise while I try to choke down stale popcorn? I’d rather watch at home. If I had to pick one fall release to watch it would be “Enough Said.” It seems a little hokey, but it is James Gandolfini’s final role. It should be worth a look.

Eric Furda, Dean of Admissions TV: “Parenthood”! My wife and I love the show as it captures the challenges of raising a family, balancing careers and keeping those relationships alive and well. Brilliant writing, fantastic cast and background music. Yes, they’ve even featured Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder.

Movie: A movie that’s already been released but I haven’t seen yet (see “Parenthood” and balance) is “2 Guns.” I want Mark Wahlberg to play me when the documentary is out (right?), and Denzel is one cool Penn Parent. (Okay, parent of an alumnus.)

Al Filreis, English TV: Season 4 of “Treme.” David Simon’s “The Wire” is arguably the best TV series ever made. But, I quirkily like his beautiful “Treme” even more. The narrative is looser and the music is the main character.

Film: “Salinger” (opens in some cities 9/6). I’m fascinated by impossibly private people put out in front of us on the biggest screens we have.

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FOOD & DRINK

MAC N’ CHEESE TASTE TEST

Street assembled a panel of mac n’ cheese connoisseurs to test the best of the boxed variety. Here’s what they found.

BETTY CROCKER

bobby

kraft spongebob

annie's

BACK to nature

Creamy and cheesy, this mac n’ cheese goes down fast and easy. I would definitely eat it again.

This would be a great icebreaker mac n’cheese— the shapes are fun and ensure smiles from those who eat them.

Elegant and sophisticated, the subtle sharpness of this mac n’ cheese propelled it to the top of my list! I would eat it off the floor.

Cheese to noodle ratio was too low. Overall this mac n’ cheese let me down.

The cheese tastes really fresh and delicious, but noodles are slightly rubbery, but in the best way possible.

Spongebob shapes are really cute, but feel weird on the tongue. The cheese isn’t very well distributed, so some bites are awesome, some not so much.

The cheese tastes very sharp, so it’s a bit different than normal boxed macaroni. Not bad, just not what I expected.

The cheese is too sticky, so it doesn’t feel like there’s enough. The noodles have a very nice texture though.

Smooth noodles really slide down your throat. Relatively sharp cheddar (I like it sharp), but still creamy and delicious.

Very cheesy, not too sharp.

Smells great before you even take a bite.

The white cheddar melts in my mouth. I don’t feel like I could ever eat enough of it, I don’t want to stop. I want to marry this mac.

It didn’t really taste like real cheese. Also kind of dry and not creamy. I’d feed this to my dog.

Very good cheese flavor— Engineering '16 not synthetic tasting at all.

Traditional mac n’ cheese smell.

Unusual shape caused clumping of cheese, and not cooked as evenly as standard shapes. Fun to look at though!

Shells are an interesting shape, but good. Stronger cheese smell.

Longer noodles looked enjoyable. Aromatic.

a-

c-

College '16

shana Engineering '16

ben

Engineering '16

jay OVERALL GRADE

a

b

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Spartan Race Stadium Series Heads to Citzens Bank Park SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Spartan Race Inc., the world’s leading obstacle race series, is coming to Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, September 28 as part of the Spartan Race Stadium Series. Heats will start at 8 am and will be running all day.

Spartan Race is a series of obstacle races that involve all sorts of obstacles from barbwire crawls to fire jumping. The Spartan Race is known all over the world, and more than 10,000 racers are expected to participate in Saturday’s event at Citizens Bank Park. University of Pennsylvania students are encouraged to join the Spartan Race in September. Penn students will be able to register for only $65 ($60 value) by entering the code UPENN on the resgistration page on the website.

Go to spartanrace.com to register and to get more details.

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FOOD & DRINK

Q&A WITH BRAHIM IGHLADEN OF MARRAKESH EXPRESS

The Moroccan native shares some insights into authentic food, caring customer service and succeeding in the food truck business.

Street: Where did you learn to cook?

Brahim Ighladen: My mom’s kitchen in Casablanca. We didn’t have a lot, but we made do with what we had.

Food in Morocco is like a religion, it’s very important­­­—if you can afford to eat, you’re okay! We Moroccans love to cook, love to eat.

Street: How did you first get involved in the food game?

BI: When I first came to America I worked in a few different restaurants. It was just a dream to have my own place, it was something I always wanted to do.

Street: Why did you make the leap from your brick and mortar restaurant to a foodtruck?

BI: It was a lot of hours, too much stress in the restaurant. It’s always a struggle.

The truck is a lot easier, actually. A lot fewer expenses and headaches to deal with. Plus, I wanted to be closer to campus.

Street: How do you like serving a mostly student crowd?

BI: Everyone’s nice and easy–going.

Very friendly. I like the college life! I’ve

been in University City for more than 15 years now. I don’t have to pay tuition, I don’t have to wake up early for classes, but I still get to live the college life.

We cook everything fresh. Whenever I go to Morocco I bring back as many spices and authentic ingredients as I can so we can serve something really special.

Street: Any complaints?

BI: The weather is sometimes an issue.

Business is definitely slow when the weather is bad, but people who really love us still come. Mix the good with the bad, the year in general is always good overall.

Street: Do you have a favorite item?

BI: Fish shawarma. Some people aren’t so sure about trying fish from a food truck, but it’s fantastic. Every day it’s the first thing that sells out!

Street: You have a reputation for being super friendly and welcoming, even during lunch rush. How do you keep it up?

BI: I’m just being me. I’m a happy person, that’s all. I don’t fake it when I’m nice to people. My customer service is like that, I’m like that with people in general.

Street: There are rumblings that the menu might undergo an expansion.

What can we expect to see/smell/taste in the future?

BI: Soon we’ll have our own commissary.

We’ve been working on it for some time.

It should be ready early next year. Then we’ll take it to the next level. I won’t get too specific, but we’re going to have more traditional Moroccan dishes in addition to the sandwiches.

Street: What went into deciding your menu?

BI: The name of the game in the truck industry is to be fast and effective. You have to come up with something that’s fast, healthy, delicious, but also different.

So that’s what we try to do in the truck.

Street: Finally, what’s your take on Crosby, Stills and Nash’s “Marrakesh Express”?

BI: I know the story behind it: they were on tour in Morocco. They were riding the train in first–class, but they got bored, so they went back to third–

class with all the regular people, and this was back in the ‘60s so there were chickens and goats and all that. I actually didn’t know about the song until after I opened the restaurant.

Marrakesh Express can be found at 40th and Locust streets and serves from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

TIPS FROM THE KITCHEN: SEAFOOD

Dan Morris, seafood connoisseur and general manager at Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, shares his insider tips on choosing the best seafood.

1

Research a reputable vendor that’s FDA certified and HACCP (Hazardous Critical Control Point) certified. Local supermarkets like Whole Foods and Wegman’s are great examples.

2

Take advantage of price bidding — search for two to three different vendors that are in your area and compare prices.

4

Fish before cooking should be firm to the touch. If you push your finger into the flesh, the meat should bounce back and not make an imprint. This could be an indication that the fish is older.

5

Buy fish with the skin on. This way you can identify the species by its particular skin color or markings, so you’ll know what you are getting.

6

Choose fish that appeals to you. There are many sustainable varieties on the market; ask your vendor for information on how they are caught, what they are fed and how they are processed afterwards.

3

Check for freshness — fresh fish should have no fishy odor.

Check the eyes (if purchasing the whole fish) for brightness. They shouldn’t be cloudy or have a film over them. Also, if the gills are in tact, they should be bright red in color and not slimy.

7

Fish being served in restaurants should be fresh with no odor. If you walk into a restaurant and smell a fishy odor, that’s a good indication that they may not be serving the freshest product. Most restaurants get deliveries six days a week. This allows the establishment to buy what they need according to their business trends. It also keeps a very perishable product as fresh as possible to serve our guests.

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KNOW WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT ON THE AVENUE OF THE ARTS

ARTS

16TH

2 3 4

11TH RACE

6

This cultured thoroughfare features renowned works of both architecture and performing arts.

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15TH BROAD 13TH 12TH

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CITY HALL

MARKET CHESTNUT

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts 300 S. Broad St.

WALNUT

As you move north through the hub of Philadelphia’s art scene, the first thing you’ll notice is the nightly “ballet of light” decorating the facades of fourteen buildings across four blocks. One of those buildings is the Kimmel Center, home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and a staple of Philadelphia architecture. This concert hall hosts a variety of jazz and classical music and is outfitted with a remarkable rooftop garden, accessible in rain or shine thanks to the building’s glass dome.

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LOCUST

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SPRUCE PINE

Wilma Theater 265 S. Broad St. Further down Broad Street, you’ll find the Wilma Theater, a non– profit theater company housed in a cube–shaped building designed by famous American architect Hugh Hardy. The space is brought to life by the diversity of Wilma’s intelligent, daring plays. Wilma has produced works by notable playwrights such as Stephen Sondheim, Doug Wright, Arthur Miller and more.

Academy of Music 240 S. Broad St. Continue your tour to more traditonal architecture like the Academy of Music. Functioning as both a concert hall and opera house, the “Grand Old Lady of Broad Street” was built from 1855 to 1857 and is the oldest operating opera house in America. The opera house’s design features an open horseshoe shape with upper balconies that are supported by 14 Corinthian columns. Here, Pennsylvania Ballet and the Opera Company of Philadelphia perform.

The Bellevue–Stratford Hotel 200 S. Broad St. As you approach Walnut Street you’ll find the Bellevue, one of Philadelphia’s best known institutions for over a century. Part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places since 1977, the Bellevue is both a world–class hotel and a wonder for the eyes. With classic architecture and rich decoration, the Bellevue may not host any theater companies or orchestras, but the building is certainly a work of art all by itself. Known for high–end service, fine dining and elite guests, the Bellevue is probably not the best place to host your next hotel party.

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The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch St.

Another impressive building with a not–so–artistic purpose is the Pennsylvania Convention Center, which hosts conventions, exhibitions and conferences.

Designed in an L–shape, the building has four main halls, a few meeting rooms and auditoriums and a grand hall that used to house the Reading Railroad terminal.

Though the entrance is located on Arch Street, the Convention Center features a Broad Street facade of glass and steel that is also a part of the street’s nightly LED lighting system. The rich detail and energy of the Convention Center make the building an Avenue of the Arts must–see, especially after nightfall.

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Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Lenfest Plaza 118 N. Broad St.

Near the end of your Avenue of the Arts stroll, you will encounter the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, internationally known for its museum and art school. Uniting the academy’s two buildings is Lenfest Plaza, a formerly busy street that is now closed off for pedestrians only. The plaza is also a space for public events, outdoor seating and an upscale restaurant. Both a destination and a gathering place, this mosaic–pavement adorned walkway is the perfect place to end your stroll down the Avenue feeling content and cultured.

Theater reviews.

Now online at 34st.com.

GABE MORALES

ARTS

DIY: INITIAL LETTERS

You’ll Need: Cereal box X–acto knife Glue gun Paint or decorative paper (optional)

Think outside your old cereal boxes.

1

Trace your desired letter backwards and forwards on the cereal box. Cut out both shapes.

3

Fold the rectangular strips around the edges of one of the letter shapes at a 90˚ angle. Fold them in so they overlap slightly with the other piece of cardboard; glue with glue gun.

2

Cut several long, rectangular strips from the box. They should be an inch or two wide­—these will be the sides of the letter.

4

Glue the second letter shape to the edges. Let dry. If desired, paint or decoupage the letter.

Place the finished product on your desk and show off your excellent knowledge of the alphabet.

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LOWBROW

LOWBROW'S BREAKING NEWS

"ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FAKE TO PRINT"

Engineering junior’s ever–expanding small talk repertoire now includes “Breaking Bad” PHILADELPHIA—Fans of Walt, Hank and Jesse now have a new friend to talk to.

As of this past Thursday, Engineering junior Tom is now all caught up with the hit AMC program “Breaking Bad.” “After season four, I was like, ‘whoa,’ but this season’s pretty good, too,” he reflected. “I mean, it’s all good.”

College sophomore Kevin, a good friend of Tom who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity, was pleased Tom had finished all 58 episodes.

“I mean, he’s pretty annoying, and we’re not good friends or anything, but I’m glad he can have a human conversation about the show and stuff.”

According to Kevin, previous

conversations about “Breaking Bad” resulted in Tom putting his hands over his ears and screaming, “Spoiler ALERT! LALALALALALALA!” Now, Tom is able to delight in all “Breaking Bad” small talk, from offering his incredibly wrong interpretation of characters and plot points to letting out an obnoxious, incredulous gasp aimed at anyone who dares to admit that they’ve never seen the show.

“I just love talking about the show. Like, all the time,” Tom said. “I have this good friend Kevin and we just talk about it for hours. Sometimes he’s like, ‘I don’t know how you got my number. Please stop calling me. We are not

even friends,’ but that’s just the relationship we have. He’s a real ball–buster, if you know what I mean.”

“I guess this is a good step for Tom. He used to talk a lot about ‘Three’s Company,’ and no one really liked him,” said Sarah, a College senior who lived on the same floor as Tom in Rodin College House last year. “He says he has this really good friend now—Kevin, maybe?”

At press time, Tom and Kevin were reportedly enjoying a brunch and laughing in a park, but other sources say this montage is an illusion, and Tom was just laughing maniacally in the corner of his unlit room.

Engineering student Kevin Yu catching up on some "Breaking Bad" during his lunch break.

Report: College Freshman’s sense of self-worth moves from eighth to seventh place THE QUAD—Following a series of substantial changes to her rankings methodology, College Freshman Claire now finds herself in seventh place, consistent with the 2012 rankings of herself.

This year marked a notable shift from years past in its focus on outcome measures from peers as opposed to personal development.

Claire reduced the weight given to emotional maturity from 6 percent to 3.25 percent, and put more weight on what others think of her, increasing its weight from 20 percent to 22.5 percent.

Claire, who spoke to us on the condition of anonym1 8 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E S E P T E M B E R 1 2 , 2 01 3

ity, takes solace in letting arbitrary ordinal rankings determine her morale.

“It just feels like a seventh–place year, doesn’t it?” she said. “Things are looking up.”

Other students, however, are more skeptical of such a system. Wharton sophomore Brian, who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity, finds such determinations to be pointless.

“How did she even get that number? It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Your self–esteem should be ranked by making value judgments on other people. Ask yourself: am I better than this person? If

you’re anything like me, the answer is going to be ‘yes,’ so go ahead and rank yourself above that person.”

Still, some students think how you feel about yourself shouldn’t be decided by external factors. College senior Rachel, who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity, advocated finding your sense of self–worth from within.

“Who cares what other people think? At the end of the day, you can only control so many things, and those are the things you should care about the most. Like your G.P.A.” At press time, everybody was joining the rat race.

LOWBROW

Sister’s Snub Seems Likely to Split Sorority grief for Jessica, I wanted to make her a card out of pink construction paper immediately.”

While many sorority sisters have rushed to Huntsman’s side, a countless number of sisters have pledged their support for Tonya, leaving a house split.

“I’ve known Tonya for a long time, three months to be exact, and I KNOW that Tonya would NEVER EVER EVER do something even

Though I wasn’t really paying attention.” A. said in a tone that suggested she’d rather be at an Owls Brunch or a trendy Downtown. A third witness sought to set the record straight.

“It was a snub if I’ve ever seen one,” said sophomore pre–med Mimi Magoo.

“Tonya clearly stared in the other direction — to the point that it looked like she was actually experiencing a small amount of pain her neck.” The

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“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I felt so much grief for Jessica, I wanted to make her a card out of pink construction paper immediately.” final witness declined to speak at the meeting and was reportedly there only for the light refreshments and “tiny cupcakes” that were to be served following the caucus.

“What happened on the Walk that day is still unclear has put our sorority’s future in serious jeopardy” said Tri Delta president Jill Pullitzer.

“I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to recover from this.

It’s pure chaos.”

As of this printing it is still unclear whether or not the sorority will host its annual French Toast Dinner, a highly anticipated night for all breakfast–for–dinner fans. “There are some things that syrup can’t fix,” a Tri Delta sister said, “and I think that a snub might be one of them.”

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resembling this,” said sophomore Tri Delta Maci Peters.

“I love my big!! BEST LIN EVER!” Tonya’s little excitedly added.

Several witnesses to the alleged snub were also called to the chapter meeting on Sunday to help clear the haze of controversy. “Tonya was clearly not in a state to receive a good morning,” said pre–law witness Martin Finklewitz, “not only was she taking a call from a prospective employer, she was also eating a bagel — with a heavy amount of shmear I might add.” Another witness, who wishes to remain anonymous though if she had to be identified said it would be alright to identify her by her middle initial A., tells a different story. “No, I didn’t see a cell phone or a bagel.

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LOCUST WALK

LOCUST WALK—A Penn campus sorority is in shambles after what sorority president could only call “an unprecedented disaster.”

This past Sunday, an emergency chapter meeting took place at the Delta Delta Delta house to discuss the sorority’s future after Tri Delta sister– for–life Tonya Stein–Dietrich reportedly snubbed fellow sister–for–life, Jessica Hunstman.

At Sunday’s emergency caucus, the first in Tri Delta’s 127–year history, Huntsman accused Stein–Dietrich of “blatantly ignoring” what Huntsman described at the stand as a “very cheerful and extremely heartfelt good morning.”

“I was walking to Van Pelt via Locust, enjoying not only the fresh air, but also the campus buzz, when I unexpectedly spotted a fellow sister walking toward me,” Huntsman stated on the record to a divided chapter house.

“I was filled with pure delight to see her, especially after Tonya and I made eye contact not more than a few seconds later. I was very excited.”

Huntsman added.

What Huntsman claimed happened next, has shaken a sisterhood to its core.

“As Tonya approached me I waved my hands in the air, let out a squeal and shouted ‘Good morning, Tonya!!’ Not only did Tonya ignore my good morning, but she stared the other way, brushing right by me.”

Several Tri Delta sisters described the mood in the chapter meeting following Huntsman’s accusation as “pure distress.”

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” said Tri Delta– for–life and College junior Kiki Whethers. “I felt so much

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Food porn

For all you Jews heading home this weekend to atone for your sins (see: The Roundup pg. 3), we're here to help with Saturday night in your childhood bedroom—featuring all Kosher meat. And if you're not fortunate enough to take the Acela back to *the city*, here's how to celebrate west of the Schuylkill. Happy Yom Kipporn.

Whole wheat bagel drips all of its butter Capogiro 5:32

Metropolitan Bakery & Cafe 90%

AMATEUR: Challah first time Four Worlds Bakery

7:08

10:27

95%

Babka gets down and dirty for the high holiday

Four Worlds Bakery

97%

Back for round 2, babka takes it from behind

Fresh Grocer 17:32

Smoked salmon smothers its seeded suitor

90%

30:48

92%

AMATEUR: Brisket gets cozy with friends

Baby Blues BBQ 2:07

87%

Two slices of rye and one enormous corned beef Koch's Deli 21:08

91%

Everything bagel can't handle all that cream Metropolitan Bakery & Cafe

12:22

97%

Double meat takes advantage of cole slaw

Koch's Deli 5:45

98%