05-01-13

Page 1

05.01.13 Issue 251


w

attn: High School Seniors

L

I V E

The Tradition is Texas A&M’s most on-campus off-campus dorm, located across the street from the University. We combine the convenience of a dorm with an unbelievable range of amenities. • • • • • • • • • • •

Unbeatable location - right across the street from campus Your OWN Private Bedroom and sink/vanity area FREE high-speed Internet and utilities included Award winning Residence Life Program Fully furnished suites with mini-fridge and microwave Weekly housekeeping (yes, it’s included!) Full-service dining hall with meal plan options Academic Success Center with study rooms on most floors 24-Hour attached, covered parking garage Fitness center overlooking the pool and campus Lap and volleyball pool

LEASING NOW FOR FALL 2013!

www.livethetradition.com 979.268.9000 • 866.268.3676


contents

05.01-05.08

meet the team PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris Shepperd BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Chris Zebo CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brittany Hicks

WRITERS

Luke Murray Brandon Nowalk Amanda L. Reynolds PHOTOGRAPHERS Alana Gonzalez Brittany Hicks Amantha Hons Chelsea Powers CONTRIBUTORS KISS 103.1 KORA 98.3

Essentials:

Listen Taste Best Bets Play Think Look Etc.

4 14 16 18 25 26 29

INTERNS Amy Bauerschlag Derek Favini Alana Gonzalez Amantha Hons Roberto Molar Chelsea Powers Rebekah Skinner

Cover story:

23

Put the books away. Bust out the swimsuits. It is time for some summer relaxing.

DISTRIBUTION Chris Frank Caleb Holt

Maroon Weekly is an independent, student-operated publication and is not affiliated with Texas A&M University. Maroon Weekly receives no student fees or university funding.

Taste

14 - Zands Persian Kebabs offers affordable Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fare and flavors all their own.

Listen 6 - Phoenix is back.

Read a review of the new album and more in this week’s new music reviews.

Look 27 - Brandon gives a rundown of this week’s top 20 box offices films.

Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the editor, publisher or the newspaper staff. Maroon Weekly is not liable for omissions, misprints to typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. Maroon Weekly 216 W. 26th Street ste 29 Bryan, Texas 77803 ph: 979.574.3200 | @maroonweekly © Copyright 2013 Campus Press LP 1st copy is FREE, additional copies are $0.50 each


MAY 2

Grand Stafford Theater’s Weekend Lineup Offers Variety for All Ages by Luke

Murray

MAY 2 - QUIET COMPANY CD RELEASE SHOW W/ SCIENTIST & THE FEEBLE CONTENDERS As the Lone Star’s own proverbial Music City, Austin is known for shelling out some of the freshest talent found between California and Carolina. Quiet Company have been keeping it weird in ATX, burning up reviews to consistently land them spots at SXSW and the Austin Music Awards. Their CD release show at the Stafford is in honor of the re-recorded version of their 2006 album, Shine Honesty. Completely re-mastered and the addition of two brand new tracks led to the re-dubbing of the album, now called A Dead Man On My Back: Shine Honesty Revisited. Scientist, buried in Texas culture, is a duo best described as a fusion of The Killers and Passion Pit. They’ll follow The Feeble Contenders, a local indie band from the Brazos who will be the first to soak up the weekend’s stage lights at the Stafford.

MAY 3 - TWO TONS OF STEEL W/ ROB BAIRD & FRIENDLY SAVAGES Two Tons of Steel has been playing 200 shows a year since their first gig in the early 90s. The San Antonio-based group has continuously toured across the country and even jumped the pond to play shows in Europe. Taking the stage at the Grand Ole

Opry an impressive eight times and featured in a documentary produced by Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, Two Tons is the kind of ensemble that gives Texas music its iconic status. The show kicks off with Rob Baird, one of the hottest up-andcoming country crooners on the Texas music charts. Baird will be preceded by Friendly Savages, an epic blend of folk and rock from Austin. Larynx and Taz & Co, natives of the Brazos, will start the evening with an early and free performance before a night of folk swinging rockabilly.

MAY 3

MAY 5 - OLD BRIDGE RHYTHM BAND W/ CHAD PETTY Continuing their Big Texas Nights series, The Stafford is bringing in Old Bridge Rhythm Band. OBRB music is a suite of retro-scapes steeped in lost American memory, combining the rhythms and harmonies found in pre-1950 and old-timey American classics. What’s more down-home American than a washtub bass? Local singer/songwriter, Chad Petty, will open the show. visit grandstaffordtheater.com for showtimes and ticketing

pg 4 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13

MAY 5


Calendar

THURSDAY, MAY 2 Quiet Company CD Release Show w/ Scientist & The Feeble Contenders @ Grand Stafford Theater Austin indie pop-rockers, Quiet Company, will release Dead Man on My Back: Shine Honestly. The show will be opened with electro-pop rockers, Scientist, and indie rockers, The Feeble Contenders. 106 S Main St, Bryan, May 2, 2013 8:00 PM $8

Singer/Songwriter Night @ Village Cafe Singer/Songwriter night offers aspiring musicians a chance to show off their talent. Come out each week to listen to some original music while enjoying your favorite Texas wine or beer. 210 W 26th st, Bryan, May 2, 2013 8:00 PM FREE Karaoke @ Schotzi’s Alcohol plus karaoke always makes for good time. Sing your heart out or watch others belt out their favorites in and out of key. 205 University Dr., College Station, May 2, 2013 9:30 PM FREE FRIDAY, MAY 3 Viz-a-GoGo @ Bryan Historic Downtown

The annual showcase of student work from the visualization program at Texas A&M will take spectators on a time-traveling adventure, showing off highlights of the program’s past while introducing you to current productions from today’s Aggie vizzers. Downtown Bryan. First Friday feat. Two Tons of Steel w/ Rob Baird & Friendly Savages with a FREE Show by Larynx and Taz & Co. @ Grand Stafford Theater Country swing rockers, Two Tons of Steel, with headline the night opened up by country musician Rob Baird and Austin folk band, Friendly Savages. Stop in for a free show prior to the main event, starting at 7pm with Larynx Music and Taz & Co. 106 S Main St, Bryan, May 3, 2013 6:00 PM $8/$10 Clayton Gardner @ The Tap Come out and support this Aggie as he comes off of his successful EP release this year. 815 Harvey Road, College Station, May 3, 2013 10:00 PM SATURDAY, MAY 4 Salsa Saturdays @ Village Cafe

Voted Best Night of Dancing (2011 & 2012), Salsa Saturdays starts with a fun, “30-Minute Crash Course Salsa Lesson” at 10pm followed by a hot night of dancing. Come prepared to sweat and to meet new people at this Aggie hot spot! Visit www. mambosentertainment.com/salsasaturdays.html for more details. 210 W 26th st, Bryan April 27, 2013 10:00 PM Cost: $5 Starlight Music Series, Rick Trevino, and Fajita Cook-Off @ Wolf Pen Creek To kick-off the 2013 Starlight Music Series and celebrate the new Wolf Pen Creek festival site, the City of College Station is also hosting a Fajita Cook-Off on Saturday, May 4. Along with the Fajita Cook-Off, everyone can enjoy Folklorico and salsa dancers, horse riding/rope-twirling Charro groups, Cinco de Mayo-themed crafts, a petting zoo, bounce houses, food vendors and more throughout the day. Head over to Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater at 6 p.m. for performances by Rick Treviño and Del Castillo at the opening night of the Starlight Music Series. Admission is free. 1015 Colgate, College Station, May 4, 2013 6:00 PM Wade Hill @ Lakeside Icehouse Texas country artist, Wade Hill, will be playing at Lake Bryan. It’s the perfect time of year, with cool nights and starlit skies, to catch some free music against a most enchanting backdrop: the sun setting over the lake. 106 S Main St, Bryan, May 4, 2013 9:00 PM $5 SUNDAY, MAY 5 Festival of Favorites @ Christ United Methodist Church The Brazos Valley Chorale is closing the season with a variety of great choral music classics. Don’t miss your last chance to hear and see the Chorale this season. 4201 State Highway 6 South, College Station, May 5, 2013 3:00 PM

Get the Goods: Tuesday giveaways on

Facebook facebook.com/maroonweekly

#TakeItHome Thursday on

Twitter @maroonweekly Check us out on

Instagram @maroonweekly Find us on

Pinterest pinterest.com/maroonweekly

Big Texas Nights feat. Old Bridge Rhythm Band w/ Chad Petty @ Grand Stafford Theater Blending Americana, folk, and country roots music, Bryan musicians, Old Bridge Rhythm Band, will play a Big Texas Night! Opened by Bryan singersongwriter, Chad Petty. 106 S Main St, Bryan, May 5, 2013 6:00 PM MONDAY, MAY 6 Trivia Night @ Revolution Cafe and Bar Monday nights are pretty boring; it’s too early in the week to party and too early in the week to study. What if you could spend a Monday night with a drink in your hand and “study” at the same time without feeling like you’re partying or doing your homework? Revolution Cafe hosts Trivia Night from 9pm till just before midnight 211B S Main St, Bryan, May 6, 2013 9:00 PM TUESDAY, MAY 7 Texas Country Tuesday @ Ozona Drink and menu specials and live entertainment provided by 98.3 KORA. Who knows–you might even dance! 520 Harvey Road , College Station April 23, 2013 7:00 PM

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 5


Album Reviews By Amy Bauerschlag

Phoenix

Bankrupt! Released April 22, 2013 In 2009, French alt-rockers, Phoenix, launched themselves into American radio play with hits “1901” and “Lisztomania.” However, Phoenix has transitioned from the power pop that gave them their fame and into a realm of groovy atmospherics. Full of keyboards and observational lyrics, Phoenix sways in and out of brooding tones and 80s alterna-pop. Although different in so many ways from their last release, Bankrupt! is sure to make waves, just in a different manner. With their blend of high-brow rock & roll and energetic numbers, there is just enough in the mix to keep old fans around whilst embracing a new side of the band that may attract new listeners.

Wild Belles Isles Released March 12, 2013

The Shouting Matches Grownass Man Released April 16, 2013

Snoop Lion Reincarnated Released April 23, 2013

Junip Junip Released April 22, 2013

Wild Belle, comprised of siblings Elliot and Natalie Bergman, injects reggae guitars and Natalie’s smoky, sultry vocals into blues-rock and psych-pop. The warm island, hippie vibe makes for the perfect summer album.

A mix of three famous indie faces (also longtime buddies), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Phil Cook (Megafaun), and Brian Moen (Peter Wolf Crier), spawn blues-rock trio, The Shouting Matches. Disconnecting from all things that made Vernon famous, The Shouting Matches are more of what you would expect from a Wisconsinite: some bar blues peppered in classic rock riffs.

Snoop Lion, the new reggae Rastafarian persona, is the new trail that Snoop Dogg has decided to wander down.

Three years since their debut LP, Field, Junip finally returns for their follow-up, self-titled album.

Produced by electronic DJ, Diplo, and featuring collaborations from a very random slew of characters (Miley Cyrus, Major Lazer, and Drake), the album manifests the most dumbed-down version of reggae and comes off as more of a joke than anything else. Reincarnated has fans wishing Snoop Dogg—Lion—would stick to what we know he can do: rap.

Singling out Jose Gonzalez as the frontman of this band is no longer so easy as each of the three members take part equally for a collaborative effort. The music features a commanding synth and keyboard from Tobias Winterkorn and pounding drums from Elias Araya. Their efforts make for a dark but beautiful album that is powerful yet low-key at the same time.

Although, lyrically, the band keeps it simple and sweet, the rhythms and grooves give it just enough complexity to keep you piqued. Key tracks are the standout “It’s Too Late” and the laidback “Keep You.”

Vernon has stripped away his falsetto vocals for his growly speaking voice on an album that is simply meant for a good time.

pg 6 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13


THINK

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 7


Artist Spotlight: Cody Hodges by Luke Murray

A&M former student, Cody Hodges, has been burning up the red dirt rockabilly scene from Houston to Austin. Making his way to Aggieland at the cusp of spring’s end, Hodges has a day lined up with a Candy 95 session followed by a live performance at Ozona’s. Upon graduating from Texas A&M in 2006, Hodges took off to Nashville to pursue a career in music. It was there that he decided to enlist in the Army. During his service, Cody got hooked up with an act called Harmony in Motion. The group took off across the states, consistently booking shows to play at large entertainment venues. After completing his military term, Hodges left the band in search of other prospects. Not one to close the door of opportunity, he had a conversation with his old man about pursuing a different career venture. “Upon discharge, dad had a talk with me about the power line business,” says Hodges. “Being a songwriter, every experience taken in eventually comes out in song. This sounded like something exciting, so I joined the energy field in 2010 and started a band.” Three years down the road, music started to play a bigger role in Cody’s life. “In March of 2013, I decided to focus on the music and see what plans God has for me in this direction.”

LISTEN

pg 8 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13

So far, the new focus was the right choice, as Cody Hodges & the Lineman have seen nothing but success in recent months. Tune in to Candy 95 or stop by Ozona’s on May 9th to catch their first of three visits to the Brazos lined up in the next two months.


Downtown Bryan Association Presents Fest for West by Luke Murray

April was a month stricken by incomprehensible tragedy, and none hit closer to home than the fertilizer plant explosion that devastated our neighbors in West. We have all seen the pictures and watched the videos of the explosion that registered on Richter scales as far as the Panhandle, unable to fathom the fear realized by the town’s inhabitants. Like any disaster, the aftermath is often worse than the event itself. The struggle to house families who have lost their homes, to procure clean water and clothes or even a little peace of mind can be a taxing chore. Every effort to lend a hand pays off exponentially. The Brazos community scrambled together in efforts to provide first-response relief to the victims of the explosion, garnering supplies and monetary donations along with man-power to send up the road for West aid. Efforts, such as that by Aggieland Outfitters who loaded up their game-day RV with supplies, brought the first wave of support to the humbled community. As a whole, Aggieland refuses to rest when our neighbors are in need. The Downtown Bryan Association in partnership with The City of Bryan, the Bryan Police Department, and the Bryan Fire Department, has announced an event that they've dubbed "Fest for West." “In light of the tragedy that they have suffered, we are compelled to come together and raise funds to assist them in rebuilding and restoring West to the town we all know and love,” says Kristy Petty, of the Downtown Bryan Association. Scheduled to take place on May 5th, the one-of-a-kind Cinco de Mayo celebration will consist of a crawfish boil and benefit concert for the victims and families of the West tragedy. To be held at the Palace Theater in Downtown Bryan, festivities will kick off at noon and last until 7pm. Make it out to Downtown Bryan for Cinco de Mayo and show your support for your fellow Texans in true Texas fashion, with music and crawfish. All proceeds will benefit the people of West, Texas. Music lineup & ticket sales info will be released soon. Check out the Downtown Bryan Facebook page for details pertaining to tickets and music lineup for the benefit concert. If you are interested in sponsoring, volunteering, or request additional information, please contact festforwest@ downtownbryan.com by email or by phone at 979-822-4920.

LISTEN 05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 9


Yesterday’s Bar & Grill Great food, full service bar and pool since 1979

Ptarmigan Club Home of the Flaming Dr. Pepper and the Aggie Martini

We’re known for our delicious 1/2 lb. homemade burgers and daily drink specials. Enjoy playing pool, darts, Golden Tee Golf, Buck Hunter & shuffleboard, or relax while watching the flatscreen TV’s. For food, fun & spirits, check out the best bar food in town, open 365 days a year.

TUESDAY- $3 Calls $3 Kamikazees WEDNESDAY- $1.50 Domestic Drafts $3 FMG & Purple Fun Shots THURSDAY- $1.75 Wells $4 Drop Shots FRIDAY- $3.50 Jack Daniels, Absolut, Bacardi, & Bombay $3 Water Moccasins SATURDAY- Happy Hour All Day

4421 Texas Ave, Bryan 979.856.2625 Mon. - Sat. : 11:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sun. : 1 p.m. - 2 a.m.

2005 South College Ave, Bryan 979.822.2263 Tues. - Sat. : 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Featured

Joe’s Place Your one stop shop for burgers, beer and good bull since 1940 Joe's Place is a long time local tradition opening in 1940. Known for the monsterous burgers, cold beer and good bull. The relaxed atmosphere is the perfect place to hang out with family or watch the game with friends. Available for Private Parties Good For Groups Good For Kids Take Out Waiter Service Outdoor Seating

Yesterday’s Bar & Grill

It’s Crawfish Season! Join us each Wednesday evening for mudbugs and music on the patio!

9376 East St. Highway 21, Bryan 979.589.2693 Mon. - Sat. : 11 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Word of the week @nibsradio

Word of the Week: Realia realia (plural noun) /ree AL ee uh/- objects or activities used to relate teaching to real life. Example: When we were learning about WWII in high school, a kid got in huge trouble for bringing in a real Nazi helmet. He might’ve gotten out of trouble if he’d just explained it was realia . . . instead he explained it was his grandpa’s.

www.kissfm1031.com pg 10 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13


@adamdrakeonair

Starlight Music Series Featuring Rick Trevino by Amy Bauerschlag

Kacey Musgraves: “Blowin’ Smoke” Man this girl has just got it. She’s country enough to be considered real country, she’s also got a mass appeal sound!

Josh Grider: “Summer & Sixteen”

Load up your coolers, blankets, and lawn chairs and head out to the kick-off night of free music at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. Wolf Pen presents the Starlight Music Series featuring Rick Trevino with special guest Del Castillo, Saturday, May 4th.

The follow up to his first ever #1 on the Texas charts, Josh gives us a great summer song about first love.

Texan Trevino emerged in the 90s as one of the few popular Hispanic singers in country music. Drawing influence from Tejano country artists and mainstream pop/rock, Trevino released music in English, Spanish, and then in bilingual versions. He topped the charts with hits such as “Honky Tonk Crowd” and “Bobbie Ann Mason.”

Roger Creager: “For You I Do” To be fair, I think I love everything that Fightin’ Texas Aggie puts out, but this is a different radio song for him. It’s got a lot of heart to it.

Del Castillo blends flamenco, rock, Latin, blues, and world music into a cross-cultural music tapestry. The Austin-based band, named after two brothers, Rick and Mark del Castillo, earned themselves the title of Best Latin Traditional Band three years in a row at the Austin Music Awards and South by Southwest, along with countless other awards. For all Mexican food lovers and those wanting to kickoff Cinco de Mayo early, from noon-6pm, it’s time to fire up the grill and prove that you’re a fajita aficionado when Wolf Pen hosts a fajita cook-off as part of the grand-opening. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three places in both commercial and non-commercial categories. The event will also have folklorico and salsa dancers, horse riding and rope-twirling Charro groups, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and food vendors throughout the day. Admission is free. Gates open at 6pm and the concerts will begin at 7pm. For more information, visit cstx.gov/ starlight.

where: Wolf Pen Creek when: May 4, 7pm info: cstx.gov/starlight

Listen weekdays 3-7pm

Lee Brice: “Parking Lot Party” This song isn’t the worst song out there, but I give it thumbs down because I expect more from Lee. This is the only song he’s put out that has disappointed me. That being said, it’s not an immediate “channel-changer” for me.

LISTEN 05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 11


LISTEN

pg 12 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13


Tell the world your story

Brazos Valley Symphony Presents Derby Day by Derek Favini

The Brazos Valley Symphony will host their annual fundraiser dinner this Saturday, May 4 at the College Station Hilton. Guests will experience music from multiple local productions in the classy affair. Conductor Marcelo Bussiki will be wowing guests as he directs familiar classical pieces. Also contributing to the evening's entertainment will be the Party Machine and the Brazos Valley Symphony Dance Band. So get ready to get up and boogie your way down to the dance floor. With the theme of the evening being Derby Day, guests are encouraged to arrive in race day attire. Contributing to the fashion fun will be a hat contest with multiple category's, including most sophisticated, most outrageous, best in show, and largest hat. The evening will also include both a live and silent auction with prizes including a chance to conduct the symphony orchestra, a dinner for eight with the Loftins, and many more prizes. Tickets can be purchased online at bvso.org.

where: Hilton when: May 4, 4pm info: bvso.org

Sterling silver charms from $25

Experience at... 1501 University Drive • E. #100 College Station • 979.691.0677 Starbucks Center across from Home Depot Not Associated with John Douglas

Mother’s Day Bracelet Gift Set Available Starting April 15 Purchase the PANDORA Mother’s Day gift set for $200, featuring a sterling silver bracelet, two “Beveled” clips, one “Mom” charm, and a charm of your choice valued up to $35 with a travel jewelry case (a retail value of $250).* *Good while supplies last. See our store for details.

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 13


GO EAT Zand’s Persian Kebabs

3105 S. Texas Ave. Bryan 979.822.4444 Hours: Sunday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Details: Price- $$ Cuisine- Mediterranean Parking- Private Lot Patio- No Atmosphere- Casual Noise Level- Average Dress Code - Causual Signature dishes: Lamb (Kubideh) Beef Steak (Barg)

Cost Ratings: $ ($5 - 10)

ramen noodle budget

$$ ($10 - 15) part-time job

$$$ ($15 - 20)

hard-earned cash

TASTE by Amanda

L. Reynolds

Walking into a non-descript restaurant with very little décor on the walls might turn one off and lead to the assumption that the food wasn’t worth your tastebuds. However, Zand’s proves to be quite the opposite. The restaurant’s owner is also the cook. He also personally greets all diners to ensure that all meals are satisfactory. As you might have guessed, the mainstay of Zand’s is kebabs. The nice thing about their kebabs is that they remove the skewers for you, so there’s no awkward tussling with removing the meat at the table. Our waitress suggested beef steak (barg), and when we ordered it, surprisingly, she asked how we wanted it cooked. We ordered ours medium and only a few of the pieces were pink in the middle (we would suggest maybe ordering yours a little more rarer than usual). That being said, the beef was still very tender and wellseasoned. We highly suggest trying the lamb kubideh, which was ground lamb mixed with Mediterranean spices. The lamb was perfectly cooked and the seasonings reminded us of gyro meat. We also ordered the chicken kebabs. Just a heads up, so you’re not freaked out when it’s served: the chicken is seasoned with a curry powder which gives it a yellow tint. The chicken had a slight char on the outside, but was tender inside. All kebabs are served on a pita, either open or wrapped. We tried ours open, and the kebabs were arranged on one side with a salad on the other. The salad consisted of lettuce, tomatoes, pickled red cabbage, and a delicious garlic sauce. The garlic sauce had a creamy yogurt base and was indeed heavy on the garlic, so make sure your date has some, too (so you’re not the only one with pungent breath). It was so good we ordered an extra side of it to keep dipping our pita in. We do suggest that if you plan to eat it rolled like a wrap that you do let them attempt it, because we had zero luck trying to get ours to stay assembled. Zand’s also offers other options to enjoy their kebab meat. Instead of a pita, you can opt for rice or fries. They also offer platters, which consist of two kebabs, rice, and salad. During lunch from 11am-2pm, they add an additional kebab at no charge! One interesting thing we learned is that the chef/owner lived in Ireland before coming to the United States, so he serves authentic fish and chips. He buys fresh fish and batters them in house. Unfortunately, we learned this after we had placed our order and eaten lunch, so we didn’t get to try the fish and chips. We’ll definitely be back to give it a go. Zand’s also offers homemade hummus, dolmas, and baklava. The hummus is a real steal; approximately eight ounces of the smooth, creamy dip for only $2.00 and better than anything you can find in the store. Everything at Zand’s is cooked to order, so it’s not fast food, but it’s worth the wait.

$$$$ (Over $20)

mommy and daddy are in town

pg 14 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13


Grub for by Luke

Murray

<$5

We’ve seen you trying to get a bite to eat and having to ask the cashier for a water cup; not because you prefer water, but because you can’t(or won’t) shell out an extra $1.50-$2 for a drink. We get it. And we’re here to help you get the best bang for your buck—well, 5 of them or less. Where can you eat for $5 or less? Of course, any fast food drive thru has a value menu these days. But if you want something other than fast food, here are a few choices to eat on a between-the-couch-cushion budget.

Fuego Tortilla Grill

If you’ve been in Aggieland for any length of time, you’ve likely heard of this place. The best thing about Fuego, besides being open 24 hours, is that their portions are Texas-size. You can grab a mealsize taco and load it with all the pico de gallo and sour cream you want for around $4.

Antonio’s Pizza by the Slice

Located in Northgate, Antonio’s is a great choice when you’re trying to stretch your dollar. Their pizza slices are anything but small, and a slice of pepperoni is only $2. Splurge and get 2 for under $5. If you’re looking to eat healthy, try their vegetarian slices. You can be health-conscious and still eat on spare change.

Spoons

Maybe you have a sweet tooth or perhaps it’s breakfast time. Froyo has increasingly become a healthy meal replacement for those watching their waistlines. Spoons, and a list of other places in town, charges you by the weight of your bowl. If you want to avoid the bad calories, stay away from the candy options and go for the granola and fruits. You can get a belly full for under $5, and most of the froyo places give you a punch card to eventually earn a freebee.

Cenari Italian Restaurant

Family-owned and operated, this Italian restaurant is College Station’s version of Downtown Bryan’s Caffe Capri (and that’s because they’re owned by the same family). Classic dishes such as pollo Parmigiana and veal picatta are favorites, while their pasta dishes are just the right size and very reasonably priced. Good luck getting a table during parents’ weekend or graduation weekend. Dine in • 404 University Drive East, College Station – 979- 696-7311 • $-$$

The Village Café

The Village Café is adamant about making sure your food is locally sourced from farms, vendors, and even breweries. Most menu items—from sandwiches, wraps, eggs, milk to chicken and wines—are sourced within the Texas border. Equally parts Texas pride and food conscious, the Village serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and local-roasted coffee drinks. Dine in or take out • 210 West 26th Street, Bryan – 979-703-8514 • $-$$

their own plates or ordering one of their signature sandwiches. C and J’s is a carnivore’s delight. Enjoy brisket, jalapeno cheddar sausage, pulled pork, mac ‘n’ cheese, banana pudding, and many other Texas barbeque classics. Dine in take out • 105 Southwest Pkwy College Station, TX 77840--(979) 696-7900 • $-$$

Frittella

Frittella serves all the usual suspects of Italian dining, including artisan, handmade and cut pastas. But what separates Fritella from the pack is its namesake, the frittella. The classic frittella comes in the form of fresh raised dough filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce. Then the whole thing is deep fried in the finest olive oils and topped with tomato sauce. Multiple versions of the classic are available, including a signature desert frittella. Dine in or take out • 3901 South Texas Avenue Bryan, TX 77802--(979) 260-6666 • $

The Proudest Monkey

Los Molcajetes

A molcajete is a mortar and pestle tool that’s been used since ancient times to grind spices and to prepare salsas and guacamoles. Los Molcajetes is a Mexican restaurant that uses molcajetes beyond their original utility, by preparing and serving their entrees in them, resulting in richer-tasting foods from residues of previous cooking. Sound technical? Let’s put it this way: it’s some pretty darn good Mexican food. Dine in or take out • 725 East Villa Maria Road, Ste. 100, Bryan – 979775-3104 • $-$$

With attentive service and a large menu, Los Cucos serves classic Mexican food, such as grande sized burritos, delicious tacos, and stuffed avocados with your choice of beef, chicken or shrimp. Having a hard time getting your week started? Los Cucos understands and wants to help with their $1.99 draft beers and $1.99 margaritas, offered every Monday and Tuesday. Los Cucos keeps the fiesta rolling with a happy hour every Wednesday thru Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. Dine in or take out • 1521 S Texas Ave College Station, TX 77840 -- (979) 680-8896 • $-$$

Rosa’s Café & Tortilla Factory

Sully’s Sports Grill and Bar

Rosa’s continues to turn out outstanding traditional Mexican cuisine just like they turn out their light and fresh tortillas. Be sure not to miss out on their weekly taco trio special every Tuesday consisting of not one, not two, but three tacos accompanied by rice, beans and a side of their freshly, in-house prepared tortillas. Dine in, take out, or drive through • 710 University Dr E College Station, TX 77840 -- (979) 691-8501 • $-$$

Taz Indian Cuisine

If you have never tasted Indian food, stop everything you’re doing and run down to Taz Indian Cuisine. With a wide selection of menu items and an outstanding lunch buffet, Taz is a must for any spicy food enthusiast. The blended curries in entrees such as the Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken are complex and savory. All portions are filling and come with the lightest, freshest naan(bread). Dine in or take out • 2416 Texas Ave S College Station, TX 77840 --(979) 696-6560 • $$

C&J’s BBQ

With barbeque being a staple of the College Station diet, C and J’s is among the best. Patrons are given the choice of creating

The restaurant formerly known as Fowl Digits has evolved from just another chicken strip joint, saying to their neighbors on chicken finger row, “I see your chicken fingers and raise you burgers and booze!” Sully’s serves burgers, chicken wings, sandwiches, quarter pound Black Angus hot dogs, and of course, chicken fingers. Sully’s caters to the sports enthusiast, with TVs mounted on every wall, making it impossible to miss a second of any sports action no matter where you’re seated. Looking to escape the noise of the crowds? Then relax on the open air covered patio. Dine in • 1037 Texas Ave College Station, TX 77840 – (979) 703-4072 • $-$$

Mr. G’s

izza toppings may be what the eyes are drawn to first, but it’s the sauce and crust underneath that makes or breaks a good pie. Mr. G’s understands this principle and delivers, with a light crust and fresh, zesty sauce. The talent doesn’t stop at pizza, though. From appetizers such as bruschetta to warm, steaming calzones, Mr. G’s might be selling themselves short by implying they only have the world’s best pizza. Also, Mr. G’s is the only pizzeria to serve gluten free pizza in the Brazos Valley. Dine in or take out • 201 W 26th St, Bryan, TX 77803 -- (979) 822-6747• $-$$

TASTE

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 15


MW’s Best Bets | THE MUST-SEE, MUST-DO EVENTS OF THE WEEK

Fest for West

@ Downtown Bryan where: Palace Theater & Grand Stafford Theater when: Sunday, May 5

As a whole, Aggieland refuses to rest when our neighbors are in need. The Downtown Bryan Association in partnership with The City of Bryan, the Bryan Police Department, and the Bryan Fire Department, has announced an event that they’ve dubbed “Fest for West.” Scheduled to take place on May 5th, the one-of-a-kind Cinco de Mayo celebration will consist of a crawfish boil and benefit concert for the victims and families of the West tragedy. If you are interested in sponsoring, volunteering, or request additional information, please contact festforwest@downtownbryan.com or 979-8224920.

pg 16 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13

Quiet Company

@ Grand Stafford Theater where: Grand Stofford Theater when: Thursday, May 2 8 pm tickets: grandstaffordtheater.com

As the Lone Star’s own proverbial Music City, Austin is known for shelling out some of the freshest talent found between California and Carolina. Quiet Company have been keeping it weird in ATX, burning up reviews to consistently land them spots at SXSW and the Austin Music Awards. Their CD release show at the Stafford is in honor of the re-recorded version of their 2006 album, Shine Honesty. Scientist, buried in Texas culture, is a duo best described as a fusion of The Killers and Passion Pit. They’ll follow The Feeble Contenders, a local indie band from the Brazos who will be the first to soak up the weekend’s stage lights at the Stafford.

Viz-a-GoGo

@ Downtown Bryan where: Downtown Bryan when: May 1-4 info: vizagogo.tamu.edu

Viz-a-GoGo is the annual exhibit from graduate students of the visualization program at Texas A&M University. The event this year is “Viz to the Future.” As the name suggests, it will pay tribute to the visualization program through a series of vignettes that will also depict the storyline of the popular film franchise Back to the Future. Viz-a-Go-Go screenings include works of visualization students (who are known for being today’s digital wizards). This year, the collection shows multimedia installations and interactive games while taking the audience through a retrospective of the program’s past productions.


GO TO MAROONWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS FOR MORE

Starlight Music Series @ Wolf Pen Creek

where: Wolf Pen Creak Amphitheater when: Saturday, May 4 7 pm info: cstx.gov/starlight

Load up your coolers, blankets, and lawn chairs and head out to the kick-off night of free music at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. Wolf Pen presents the Starlight Music Series featuring Rick Trevino with special guest Del Castillo, Saturday, May 4th. Admission is free. Gates open at 6pm and the concerts will begin at 7pm. For more information, visit cstx.gov/starlight. Texan Trevino emerged in the 90s as one of the few popular Hispanic singers in country music. Drawing influence from Tejano country artists and mainstream pop/rock, Trevino released music in English, Spanish, and then in bilingual versions. He topped the charts with hits such as “Honky Tonk Crowd” and “Bobbie Ann Mason.” Del Castillo blends flamenco, rock, Latin, blues, and world music into a cross-cultural music tapestry.

Salsa Dancing

First Friday

@ Village Café

@ Downtown Bryan where: when: info:

Downtown Bryan Friday, May 3 dtbryan.com

This Friday, plan to have dinner in one of the local restaurants, to see a concert in the newly renovated Grand Stafford Theater, or to have a beer in the Village’s alleyway while enjoying live music. All shops and restaurants in Downtown Bryan will be open and trying to lure you in with their wares. Maroon Weekly will also be in attendance, with a fun and free outdoor photobooth set up in front of our Downtown Bryan headquarters (next to the Village Cafe). All photos will be posted on our Facebook page for you to tag yourselves and download. One staple of First Fridays is music. There will be live music playing on almost every street corner to soundtrack your evening’s escapades. Music will be playing at several venues across Downtown Bryan, so before you commit to just one band, have some ice cream and walk around for a bit.

where: when: info:

Village Café Weds 8 p.m. Sats 10 p.m. mambosentertainment.com

Voted Best Night of Dancing two years in a row, the Village Cafe’s popular salsa nights are like taking a trip to Latin America in your own backyard. On Wednesday and Saturday nights, the Village dance floor takes a pounding from hundreds of Aggies and locals each week. If you’ve never danced salsa, not to worry: one of the most popular things about salsa at the Village is the lessons offered before each night of dancing. Wednesday nights offer an hour and a half lesson for those who want to learn how to dance. Saturday night begins with a fun (and often hilarious) 30-minute “Crash Course Salsa Lesson” at 10pm. After the lessons on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the dance floor opens up to social dancing.

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 17 03.20.13


Cinco De Mayo in BCS by Derek Favini

PLAY

pg 18 18 || maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com || 05.01.13 pg

Quick! What are your plans for Cinco de Mayo? If the only thoughts that came to mind were ones of you wearing a sombrero, drinking Mexican beer and tequila...then you need more options. First and foremost, with the 5th of May falling on a Sunday, the majority of College Station bars will be celebrating Cinco festivities on Saturday. No doubt Northgate will be overflowing with drink specials all weekend. But for those looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in true Latin form, the Village Cafe is hosting their 3rd Annual Cinco de Mayo Salsa Party. The night begins with a fun complimentary salsa dancing lesson at 10pm, no partner or experience necessary. Guests will learn all of the basic steps in a jovial atmosphere, with an energetic instructor notorious for making you laugh while learning at the same time. Following the lesson, the dance floor opens up for a hot night of dancing to salsa, bachata, and merengue. If dancing doesn’t do it for you but you’re still looking for a fun Cinco themed activity, check out the annual taco eating contest at La Bodega. This year, 25 hungry contestants will belly up to the challenge of eating as many habanero shrimp tacos as humanly possible. Sign ups for the gastric challenge are open now and filling fast. The competition begins at 4pm and admission is $5. Also, all participants will need to provide their own personal taco counter on the day of the event.


Viz-a-GoGo in Downtown Bryan by Derek Favini

Viz-a-GoGo is the annual exhibit from graduate students of the visualization program at Texas A&M University. The event this year is “Viz to the Future.” As the name suggests, it will pay tribute to the visualization program through a series of vignettes that will also depict the storyline of the popular film franchise Back to the Future. Viz-a-Go-Go screenings include works of visualization students (who are known for being today’s digital wizards). This year, the collection shows multimedia installations and interactive games while taking the audience through a retrospective of the program’s past productions. In short, “Viz to the Future” will follow a modern-day vizzer (a student of visualization) as one of his experiments goes terribly awry and leads to him getting trapped in 1993. The vizzerturned-into-time-traveler has to find a way back to 2013—all without messing the space-time continuum or fiddling with the future. The visualization program at Texas A&M ushers a number of vizzers into the fields of digital and electronic visualization. Their creativity and their mastery of both art and science have throughout the years placed them in the workforce as computer animators, university professors, and software designers. Their talent feeds the needs of industries such as animation, visual effects, and electronic gaming. They are also part of the talentforce of silver and golden screen giants such as Pixar, Blue Sky, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Industrial Light and Magic, Dreamworks, Electronic Arts, Rhythm & Hues, Reel FX, and Sony Pictures Imageworks.

where: Downtown Bryan when: May 1-4 info: vizagogo.tamu.edu

PLAY

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 19


1000 GEORGE BUSH DRIVE WEST COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77845 979.691.4000

ADMISSION

bushlibrary.tamu.edu/students

Wood-Style Flooring Flat-Screens in Every Apartment Stand-Up Tanning Booth Fully-Equipped Fitness Center Basketball & Sand Volleyball Courts Individual Leases Resort-Style Pool Game/Activity Room

PLAY

thedistrictonluther.com pg 20 20 || maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com || 05.01.13 pg

@bushlibrary

Chec out o k upco ur ming SP

ECIA LS

“Luther” to 47464 for information* *standard text messaging rates apply

866.973.5389


SUMMERS in

AGGIELAND Four Day Trips Worth Taking by Derek Favini

So you’ve decided to stay in College Station over the summer break. Great! Summer in the Brazos Valley is one of the best times of the year and something every Aggie should experience once. For starters, the majority of the student population disappears, clearing out Northgate bars, community pools, and best of all, the roads. Seriously, to anyone who’s never driven in College Station over the summer, you can cut 5-10 minutes off your driving time. But for seasoned Ags who’ve already experienced a summer in college station and the allure the poolside beer has faded, don’t pack your bags for home just yet. Instead, load up the car and grab a few friends for some great day trips. First, go nuts as you tour Royalty Pecan Farms and get a behind-the-scenes look at a working Texas pecan farm. The quick trip down highway 21 offers those looking to get into the countryside a valid excuse. Take a covered wagon tour through the orchards and learn more about pecans than you’ve ever known possible. Tours last roughly 45 minutes, leaving plenty of opportunities to taste pecans. The tour only costs $3 per person. Additional information and tickets can be found online at royaltypecans.com. Not if, but when the temperature climbs into the triple digits and you’re looking for something to cool yourself down, consider making your way to Brenham to tour the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory. That’s right, the namesake of A&M’s own baseball field, Blue Bell’s facilities offer tours and show you all the steps necessary for producing ice cream on a grand scale. Tours are held weekdays from 8:30am-3pm, cost $6, and include a scoop of your favorite ice-cream. For more info, visit their website at bluebell.com. For Brazos Valley history buffs and Texas enthusiasts alike, the birthplace of Texas lies just down the road at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Visit the 293-acre historic state park and witness the original town site of Washington and the birthplace of Texas. Tour the visitor center and learn about all six countries who fought to call this land home. The visitor’s center is free of admission, and it’s open 7 days a week from 10am-5pm, with the park grounds open from 8am until sundown. Finally, for those looking to take the road trip experience to the next level, Shiner Texas holds a state jewel begging to be discovered. Beer enthusiasts already know where we’re going with this, but for those new to the legal drinking world, Shiner Beer’s headquarters are located in, of all places, Shiner Texas! Beer fans can tour the factory, learn about the brewing process, and even sample beers on tap. Tours run 11am and 1:30pm weekdays with additional tours opening up in the months of June, July and August. For more details about Shiner’s tours, visit shiner.com.

PLAY

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 21


NOW HIRING

First Friday in Downtown Bryan

Forget TGIF; this Friday it’s TGIFF (Thank Goodness it’s First Friday)! Every first Friday in Downtown Bryan, the community floods the streets of Historic Downtown Bryan to celebrate local arts, to wine and dine, and to hear music both on the streets and inside venues throughout town. This Friday, plan to have dinner in one of the local restaurants, to see a concert in the newly renovated Grand Stafford Theater, or to have a beer in the Village’s alleyway while enjoying live music. All shops and restaurants in Downtown Bryan will be open and trying to lure you in with their wares. Maroon Weekly will also be in attendance, with a fun and free outdoor photobooth set up in front of our Downtown Bryan headquarters (next to the Village Cafe). All photos will be posted on our Facebook page for you to tag yourselves and download. With so much to see and so much to do, your feet may need a rest. For a small fee ($20 for 4 people), a horse-drawn carriage will take you on a tour of downtown. You’ll get to hear about the town’s colorful history from a local as you peacefully roll through the streets. And for the more family-oriented experience (or for those who are kids at heart), stop by Sale Park after sundown where you can usually watch an animated feature outside in the grass, away from the hustle and bustle. One staple of First Fridays is music. There will be live music playing on almost every street corner to soundtrack your evening’s escapades. Music will be playing at several venues across Downtown Bryan, so before you commit to just one band, have some ice cream and walk around for a bit. You may be surprised where the evening takes you. There are a few slightly unconventional venues for live music: Burr’s Unfinished Furniture Store and the Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers office may surprise you. If you like music with your dinner, or dinner with your music, LaSalle Cafe also provides live entertainment, and Cafe Capri has a performance outside, while you’re waiting in line for a coveted table. But if you’re looking for the night’s “grandest” performance, head over to the aforementioned Grand Stafford Theater. The venue makes a point to bring in big talent.

PLAY

pg 22 22 || maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com || 05.01.13 pg


Summer Fun in BCS by Roberto Molar

It’s that time of the year again. We are well into the spring and soon we’ll be feeling the hot and dry Texas summer. With the end of classes, the town is drained of students. But what happens to those of us who stay in town? There’s more to a summer in BCS than shorter lines at stop lights, better seats at the movies, and more room to drink at Northgate. Let’s start simple. If you have the moxie to belt out your favorite tunes in front of a crowd, karaoke nights can add some fun to your week. There are great joints in town offering some of the best (and worst) voices in town. P.O.E.T.S. Billiards has their busiest night of the week on Friday, when people go in for a chance to sing their hearts out. Schotzki’s offers karaoke nights on Sundays, Thursdays, and Tuesdays (and Tuesdays are half price Tuesdays at Schotzki’s). On Mondays, you can also go to The Tap’s karaoke night, one of the most traditional karaokes around and voted Best Karaoke in town this year. Now, if you’re of the type that prefers to dance to music rather than sing it, Salsa Saturdays at the Village Café is where you need to be. It’s one of the few places in the region that stays busy even after students leave town. Voted Best Night of Dancing two years in a row, a fun crash course salsa lesson opens the night at 10pm followed by a hot night of dancing till 2am. Okay, enough with bars and nightlife. While summertime means walking as fast as possible in search of A/C air, it also means outdoorsy weekends, pool parties, and beach volleyball for others. And for those others, the City of College Station’s Bee Creek Park is a great all-in-one experience. The park has a 50-meter pool, a separate wade pool, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, a softball field, picnic spaces, two playgrounds, bike trails, and fish ponds. They also have a water slide! Visit maroonweekly.com/events to find out about these and more events in town this summer.

PLAY

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 23


PLAY

pg 24 24 || maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com || 05.01.13 pg


MW New Reads by

Roberto Molar

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Nobel Prize Laureate in economics, winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award in 2012, and major New York Times bestseller, Daniel Kahneman presents an insightful tour of the human mind. There are two systems that control how we think: (1) the fast, intuitive, and emotional system, and (2) the slow, deliberative, and logical system. These two systems of thinking define things such as the impact of overconfidence on corporate initiatives, what will make us happier in the future, or the effect of cognition predeterminates on choosing a stock market or a vacation spot. Our mental processes, all of them, can be understood beforehand just by knowing how our two systems shape our decisions. Kahneman’s engaging and conversational style captures readers in a lively dialogue. He explains how we can learn to trust our ability to identify a good or bad intuition and how slow thinking can benefit this. He also offers new practical approaches to our choicemaking in both our professional and personal lives.

On Heaven and Earth by Jorge Mario Bergoglio

Wedding Night: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella

The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud

The Tooth Tattoo by Peter Lovesey

You may have noticed this hasn’t been the best year in Vatican City as Pope Benedict resigned the papacy and Pope Francis took on as the new leader. So, who is this new guy running the Vatican?

Remember FRIENDS, when Phoebie and Ross make a deal to get married if neither of them are already married by the time they’re forty? Those two didn’t get a chance to fulfill their promise. But the story might just be different, and more fun, in Wedding Night.

Nora Eldridge used to dream of becoming a prominent artist, a loving mother, and passionate lover. Now she is just the woman upstairs: an elementary school teacher in Cambridge, Mass. who despite being a reliable friend never gets a real achievement of her own. Then she meets the Shahids, a glamorous and cosmopolitan family.

The cadaver of a young woman has been found in the canal of Bath, England and Peter Diamond, head of Criminal Investigation Division, investigates the crime scene. It’s going to be a tough job, as the only clue to identify the victim is a tattoo of a musical note on one of her teeth.

Before becoming Pope Francis, the Argentinean archbishop was known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. His religious pluralism is unique, as he sought to seek points of agreement between Catholicism and Judaism. In this book authored in conjunction with Rabbi Skorka, Bergoglio presents dialogues about theological and worldly issues including God, fundamentalism, atheism, abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, gay marriage, and globalization. On Heaven and Earth shares the philosophies of the man who leads 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide through the 21st century.

Lottie is certain her boyfriend is about to propose once he takes her to a fancy restaurant in London. But she is crushed, as her prince never actually pops the question. Then Ben, her old flame, comes around reminding her of their old pact to get married if both of them were single at thirty. Lottie accepts Ben’s offer. Families and friends from both sides of the crazy couple are terrified; their marriage is too sudden, it will ruin them. The two lovebirds set off to Greece, to the island where they first met. They’ve planned a memorable honeymoon, but their friends have different plans.

Their boy, Reza, is her new student. Reza is an enchanting kid, as if pulled out from a fairy tale. His parents are Skandar, a prominent professor at Harvard, and Sirena, an alluring Italian artist. The teacher gets involved more and more with the Shahids, as Reza is victim to schoolyard bullying. Nora falls in love with each of them, in her own way. But her happiness comes with a price: a devastating cost of embracing an authentic life.

Meanwhile, violist Mel Farran finds himself in a classical quartet whose last violist disappeared without a trace. Mel is in the middle of a mysterious dilemma, but cannot let go of the chance to be part of the group and spends his time in the cushy residency at Bath Spa University. As the story unfolds, Peter and Mel learn the terrible truths surrounding the world of professional musicians.The Tooth Tattoo is a most enjoyable and crafty police series delivered by a master of the mystery genre.

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 25


Movie Review: Mud by Brandon Nowalk

Mud is a great Southern coming-of-age movie, a decent tragic love story, and a convoluted crime episode smashed together and fried in a skillet. It’s too soon to say young writer-director Jeff Nichols has a problem with endings, but Mud falls apart right when it all comes together, just like his previous film, Take Shelter. That’s when Mud’s naturalistic rhythms explode with larger-than-life violence from a two-bit potboiler. Only the bottom gets burned, but it taints the whole thing. It starts as a story about two boys who live on a river their folks work on, outdoorsy kids who spend all their time exploring the wilderness. Tye Sheridan plays taciturn Ellis, and Jacob Lofland plays his loyal buddy Neckbone. Let the Oscar bloggers have McConaughey. For my money, Sheridan and Lofland are the treasures in Mud. Sheridan’s only other film is the Texas family saga The Tree of Life, which must have been good practice. Both films feature a lived-in southern childhood, with the dueling senses of old-fashioned obedience and

reticence around adults, and Sheridan wears this stuff like old jeans. Lofland has no other film credits to his name, and he’s as naturalistic as Sheridan. They make a perfect pair, Ellis supplying the angst and Neckbone the laughs. Good thing, too, because the untested heroes are surrounded by world-class character actors. Ellis’ parents hail from Deadwood— truly, the greatest thing about this late wave of southern reclamation movies is spotting actors from the HBO masterpiece— with Ray McKinnon restoring honor to the authoritarian dad type and Sarah Paulson bringing some steel to the doting mom. Nichols regular Michael Shannon plays Neck’s not-so-grown-up uncle. But the big stars are Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey. Witherspoon’s a stereotype trapped in the worst parts of the movie, held back less by talent than by script, but McConaughey could do this in his sleep, and sometimes seems to. McConaughey’s performance as the titular tramp Mud is disappointingly predictable.

pg26 26 || maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com || 05.01.13 05.01.13 pg

That predictability fits the moral universe of a modern Huck Finn, but Mud avoids all satire and eventually heads into the fabled south of self-reliance and vigilante justice. It’s unsettling to say the least. The climax doesn’t make perfect sense for narrative reasons, since the final showdown begins at an arbitrarily disadvantageous point in time, but get past that and the “Don’t Tread On Me” politics linger. The government’s taking the river, and the cops are ineffective, and, well, I won’t spoil the wannabe warm ending, but it’s morally complicated. Then again, learning to see black-and-white as gray is what coming of age is all about.

Drama |PG-13|


P TO

13. Oz the Great and Powerful 1/2

0 2 n

ndo by Bra

Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions: G - General Audiences. All ages admitted. PG - Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. PG-13 - Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children. R - Restricted. Under 18 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. NC-17 - No one under 17 admitted.

Star Ratings: stay home if you’re desperate has moments worth price of admission

don’t miss it

14. The Company You Keep 1/2

Shia Labeouf plays a reporter who tracks down a Weather Underground activist and terrorist played by Robert Redford in this star-studded (Nolte, Tucci, Sarandon, etc.) thriller written by the snappy Lem Dobbs. R (125 min.)

Nowalk

Ratings:

good stuff

Casting sleepy James Franco as a charismatic con man is the worst idea since explaining the Wicked Witch, but the real wizard in this movie about movies is splashy genre director Sam Raimi. PG (130 min.)

15. Tyler Perry’s Temptation 1/2

1. Pain and Gain

In a basically true story, Mark Wahlberg plays a gym rat who pulls together some buddies for a heist that pits Michael Bay’s garish adolescent style against his garish adolescent misanthropy. R (130 min.)

2. Oblivion

Tom Cruise is sent to extract Earth’s remaining resources and discovers there’s more to his mission than he realized in this sci-fi from the writer-director of Tron: Legacy. Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko co-star. PG-13 (126 min.)

3. 42

1/2

Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier when he signs to play baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers in this feel-good slice of American pie starring Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Lucas Black, and Alan Tudyk. PG-13 (128 min.)

4. The Big Wedding

1/2

In this star-studded comedy, all of Hollywood comes together for a—you guessed it—big wedding that can’t help but go wrong. The cast includes Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton, and Robin Williams. R (90 min.)

5. The Croods

1/2

When they have to adapt or die out like the rest of their neighbors, a cartoon family of cavemen journey to greener pastures in this Dreamworks comedy with voices from Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone. PG (98 min.)

6. G.I.Joe Retaliation

Cobra has taken over the White House and launched a strike on the Joes, so the Rock, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki and the rest fight to clear their name. Busy Channing Tatum briefly co-stars. PG-13 (110 min.)

7. Scary Movie 5

The loud, crass horror spoof franchise takes on such horrors as the Paranormal Activity series, the stuffed-animal buddy comedy Ted, and Charlie Sheen. Lindsay Lohan also appears as herself. PG-13 (85 min.)

8. Olympus Has Fallen

When the president (Aaron Eckhart) is kidnapped by terrorists, ex-secret service stud Gerard Butler helps security rescue him in this star-studded (Dylan McDermott, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, etc.) actioner. R (120 min.)

9. The Place Beyond the Pines 1/2

Ryan Gosling re-teams with Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance as a motorcycle stunt driver who finds out he has a baby and starts robbing banks to provide for his son. R (140 min.)

10. Jurassic Park

The pioneering animatronic ’93 blockbuster about a group of scientists invited to a zoo for cloned dinosaurs is updated for the 3D age. This time the gallimimus stampede comes out at you. PG-13 (127 min.)

11. Mud

1/2

In this relaxed coming-of-age story, two Georgia boys discover a boat in a tree on an island down the river, and then they discover the mysterious tramp living on it played by Matthew McConaughey. PG-13 (130 min.)

12. Evil Dead

1/2

In this cult classic remake, four teenagers hole up at a dirty cabin in the woods to help a fifth, Suburgatory’s Jane Levy, quit heroin cold turkey. It’s going pretty well until they reincarnate a demon. R (91 min.)

An ambitious matchmaker who’s taken for granted by her husband starts to fall for a handsome billionaire client in the latest Tyler Perry melodrama co-starring Vanessa Williams and Kim Kardashian. PG-13 (111 min.)

16. Filly Brown

1/2

An L.A. street rapper gets discovered, marketed, and sold as she wrestles with selling out, maintaining her identity, and not abandoning the people she knew when she was nobody. R (80 min.)

17. Home Run

An alcoholic baseball player is forced to detox in his hometown where he winds up coaching a scrappy little league team and turning his life around. PG-13 (113 min.)

18.The Host

1/2

Saoirse Ronan somehow manages to help the last human rebels even though she’s the host for a memory-controlling alien parasite in this romantic sci-fi story from the author of Twilight. PG-13 (125 min.)

19. Identity Thief

1/2

A fat chick steals a wry guy’s identity in this lazy, old, clunky stereotype vehicle. But it is inspiring to see that even a movie starring Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman can be unfunny. R (112 min.)

20.Disconnect

Cyber-bullying, identity theft, and amateur porn are just some of the themes that unite this dated, fear-mongering, Internet-era network narrative starring Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, and Alexander Skarsgard. R (115 min.)

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 27


FORSYTH GALLERIES

Runyon Cameo Examples and Paperweights Permanent Exhibit Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm MSC OPAS February 15-April 14 Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

STARK GALLERIES Women Call for Peace March 7-May 26 Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Genome: The Secret of How Life Works Ends July 5 Mon-Sat 9:30am-5 pm Cost: Adults- $7.00 Seniors-$6.00 TAMU & Blinn Students- Free Other college students with ID- $3.00 Children (6-17)- $3.00

SEAD GALLERY

CREATE SOME NOISE. Want acc es each wee s to more than 150 k and hav k people e them ta your bus lking abo iness? W ut e can do that. Advertise with Maroon Weekly

find our current media kit at www.maroonweekly.com/advertise for current rates and schedules contact one of our friendly ad reps at advertise@maroonweekly.com

pg 28 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13

Scott McDermott: Procrastus Interruptus February 28-May 30 All Day FREE

ART 979

The Brazos Valley Professional Photographers Assoc. Nicole Photography Carol Fox Henrichs Photography Stacey Reynolds Photography Fig-Mint Photography Melonhead Photo Essence Photography Rosalee’s Custom Photography Daniela Weaver Photography K. Norwood Portraiture


“Gonna Crack” but you’ll figure it out by Matt Jones Across 1 They’re not as busy in May 5 Planned to rob 10 Jimmy of shoes 14 Square footage, say 15 “I want to play ___” (line from “Saw”) 16 Good thing to check Snopes.com for 17 Superman’s city 19 Like squid spray 20 Awaiting a court date 22 Slow mover 23 Astley who gets rolled 26 It’s north of Afr. 29 They’ll come before U 31 “Dexter” actor C.S. ___ 33 It may have a five-point harness 39 Comes up short 40 Subside 41 Sir Topham ___ (“Thomas the Tank Engine” manager) 42 Going way back? 45 Author referenced in “The Following” 46 Brit. reference that added “uplink” in 2013 47 Mining find 48 Nuremberg number 50 Eagle’s nest 55 Big trouble 61 Vulcan mind ___ 64 Old pantyhose brand with a famous Joe Namath ad 65 Berry variety 66 Pocahontas’ husband John ___ 67 Oaxaca water 68 What the four circled answers “crack” 69 Outdo 70 Bestselling 16-bit console, briefly Down 1 Pitches a tent 2 Get grooming 3 Insurer based in Hartford

4 Manhattan restaurateur Vincent 5 Rank on a cereal box 6 Wide-eyed 7 Bad substance for a 22-across 8 Mideastern ruler 9 South Asian 10 It’s rated with alarms 11 Pet name 12 Charter ___ (tree on Connecticut’s state quarter) 13 Acne-fighting brand 18 Fixed a squeak 21 Bohemian 24 Word used with defibrillators 25 He wrote “Endymion” and “Hyperion” 27 Grammarian’s concern 28 Overzealous 29 Nostalgia-evoking 30 Take the helm 32 Suffix after Rock or Raisin 33 Provide freebies 34 Tinseltown, in old headlines 35 “Did ___ tell you about the time...” 36 California-based semiconductor company founded in 1981 (hidden in FALSIFY) 37 Follower 38 That boat 43 Film ___ 44 Immature, like some meat 49 One of the Munsters 51 Watson and Thompson 52 Take to the throne 53 Problem 54 You are, in the Yucatan 56 River through Catalonia 57 “___ Flux” (futuristic MTV cartoon) 58 Carnegie or Chihuly 59 ___ Berry (Jones Soda flavor) 60 Sch. near the US-Mexico border 61 It’s un-PC 62 Earth Day prefix 63 Wee boy ©2013 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com)

ETC.

05.01.13 | maroonweekly.com | pg 29


Submit your pictures to editor@maroonweekly.com. Each week, we will feature a picture in the paper.

Like

Follow

Like Pin

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE TO GET A FUN, FRESH WORKOUT. We now have on demand workouts delivered fresh to your living room daily via your pc/mac, iPhone/iPad, or television.

Piranha Fitness Studio On Demand Now Online! Go ahead and try us out. $1 Class Pass or $9.95/month

www.piranhafitnessstudio.com

On demand workouts. Your own time. At home.

pg 30 | maroonweekly.com | 05.01.13



ww ww w w..

TexAgs.com

.com .com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.