Vol. 10, No. 16 by Maroon Weekly

12.04.13 - VOL. 10, NO. 16 - MAROONWEEKLY.COM

attn: High School Seniors

I V E

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contents

12.05-12.11

meet the team PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris Shepperd BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Chris Zebo CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brittany Hicks ASST. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bekah Skinner LAYOUT/DESIGN Sally Franckowiak PHOTOGRAPHY Catherine Neil SALES MANAGER Caleb Holt WRITERS

Topher Hawkes Katie Lea Luke Murray Brandon Nowalk Amanda L. Reynolds

Essentials: Listen Taste Discover Play Look Etc.

4 10 13 16 18 20

Exclusive Interview:

Nathan James Allen of the Denton indie folk group, Seryn, talks about the lost art of performing live, analog vs. digital, and a whole lot more.

INTERNS Kathleen Callison Claire Hand Chandler Hodo Olivia Montagna Cheyenne Mueller Catherine Neil Kaitlin Vickers Dani Wilkins DISTRIBUTION Chris Frank

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

Taste 11 - Salad Sculptors,

a new creation by restaurateur Charles Stover, introduces healthy food to the mall food court.

Listen 6 - Jake Owens’

new album is like a backwoods party on the beach. Read our review of the new album out this week.

Look 27 - Brandon gives a rundown of this week’s top 20 box office 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 or typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. Maroon Weekly 707 Texas #207D College Station, TX 77840 ph: 979.574.3200 | @maroonweekly © Copyright 2013 Campus Press LP

1st copy is FREE, additional copies are $0.50 each

BY CHRIS ZEBO

Seryn Seryn, a 6-piece indie folk group out of Denton, take sound seriously. When you peel away the band’s layers of instruments—of guitars, ukulele, accordion, bass, viola, banjo, and percussion— you get to the people playing them. That all might sound trite and obvious to you, but in today’s soundscape of digital over-production—of multiple takes, post-production edits, Pro Tools’ copy-and-pastes—the “musicianship” of the player gets produced out of the final mix. If Seryn had it their way, they’d go back in time and record purely analog. Fortunately for them, they don’t’ need a Delorean to go back; they only need a venue, their instruments, and your eardrums. If you listen to them—and we mean really listen to them—they’ll take you with them. Last week, we caught up with Seryn’s Nathan James Allen to talk about how the band operates as a collective of musicians, what it means to play before people and to capture an audience, and what music needs at the moment. Seryn will perform at the Stafford Theater on Thursday, December 5. MW: The 6 of you take the idea of “band”ing together quite seriously. You don’t believe in having a frontman/woman; you believe Seryn--all 6 of you-- front the group. Talk a little about that philosophy. How does it differ, in your day-to-day operations, with everyone contributing equally, compared to how other groups operate. Allen: How do other groups operate? I don’t think we even understand our own operations, which might be one reason we are able to continue making music together. Having a lead singer is different. The voice is simply another sound maker, albeit the one that makes the strongest connection with the reptile/horse remnants of the human brain. Everything else is a man-made, sound-making machine, and yet they allow for other complexities, namely polyphony, which is totally miraculous. MW: The Dallas Observer said your music “seems more fitting washing over dilapidated wooden pews in an old church than the usual torn-up couches, vinyl booths and barstools of area venues.” What would the ideal venue be for your music? Have you ever dreamed of “the” ideal place to perform? Allen: Honestly, wherever we can sound best, the most people can fit, and the alcohol is the cheapest. We want the same thing as anyone else does: attentive listeners and people who are prepared to be taken somewhere slightly unexpected. MW: Your live shows are quite an experience. The band tends to take over the room and captivate audiences. What do you think it is about Seryn’s “presence” that transforms the room? Allen: I think we are too busy making music to even have any idea what you mean. We have been in plenty of places where we were kicked to the curb and ignored, no matter how passionate we were about what we were doing. Honestly, what makes that energy is a room full of people who are all there for the same purpose. If two or three hundred people show up ready to be immersed in song, then its fairly easy to have a really cool experience. If that same number of folks show up to talk to their friends and drink Pabst, then its a little more difficult to win them over, especially because we also love talking to our friends and drinking Pabst.

MW: If you were to give one thing back to music today, something that’s been lost, what would it be? Allen: I think the biggest thing that has been lost in music today is the idea of performance. It seems obvious, but you almost never hear any performance on a record these days. In the past, you had to get it right, all the way through, and so did everyone else. Nowadays, the norm is to patch it all together inside a computer. My favorite recordings have substantial live elements in them—some records that we helped make, actually, like Foreign Fields new EP, Tuscaloosa. Nothing sounds as good to me as that record, or Doug Burr’s The Shawl, which we are still trying to collect all the stories about, because it is just a stunning, fascinating piece of art. These are records where real

musicians performed, and a recording engineer (artists in their own right) properly captured a moment in time that is totally unique and can never be reproduced. That is the amazing thing about old records. When you put on Kind of Blue you are literally listening to electricity that was moved by a dead man’s trumpet. That is literal time travel, especially if you can find a vinyl that was cut off the original master lathe. That is what I would want back for music: To have pure analog recording be revived. I wish Seryn was able to make records like that, but it is even more expensive now and requires an entirely different skill set and preparation. I hope some day we will. My dream would be to make a record that is cut straight to the master lathe and only pressed to vinyl. Do it all in one or two days and only three takes for each song. Its a monster undertaking. MW: The band blends guitars, ukulele, accordion, bass, viola, banjo and percussion into one wall of sound. Did all of you have backgrounds in your instruments, or did you learn them for the band? Allen: Everyone played music from a young age, whether it was Suzuki Method, bluegrass lessons, honor choir, or middle school band. We have all played worship music at churches, and that vibe certainly influenced us as well. Blending the things and using tons of instruments is largely a result of being ADD. We get bored of bands that use the same five sounds for an entire record. Variety and new sounds keep us interested in our own music, and we hope that translates to our listeners as well. MW: The 6 of you are known for producing stirring vocal harmonies in many of your songs. They become another instrument all together. Describe a session when you’re working on vocals together. Does it happen in a living room, in an open field?

CHRISTMAS AT THE CREEK BY CHANDLER HODO The City of College Station is hosting its annual Christmas at the Creek celebration on December 6th and 7th at Wolf Pen Creek Park. The family-friendly event offers free admission and different holiday-themed attractions each day to help spread the yuletide spirit. On Friday, December 6th at 6pm, enjoy a holiday concert put on by the Creek View Elementary Show Choir. Bring your blankets and chairs to one of the three performances of a musical written especially for Christmas at the Creek by local playwright Mark Taylor at 6:30pm, 7:15pm, or 8pm. Stick around for Movies in the Park featuring the holiday favorite, The Santa Claus, at 8:30pm. On Saturday, December 7th from 2-8pm, guests have the opportunity to skate on a synthetic ice rink, slide down a Log Jammer Extreme slide, play on inflatables, and take a train ride. There is also a designated area for the little ones to make Christmas crafts, and there will also be a Holiday Vendor Village with artwork, jewelry, and more. Enjoy dance performances, local gospel performances, and concerts by Marcia Ball and Joey McGee. Both days of the event will feature a live nativity scene and petting zoo, hayrides, and live entertainment. Santa will also be available for pictures on both days; you can bring your own camera or purchase a photo for $5. Food vendors will also be on site. There will be free parking at Post Oak Mall with hayrides running to and from the park. Attendees can bring their own refreshments in a cooler 48 quarts or smaller, but alcohol, glass containers, and pets are prohibited. For more information and a detailed schedule of events, visit cstx.gov/Christmas.

Allen: Working on vocals is always a lengthy process. There are really two main parts. The first is actually composing the melody and lyrics, which tends to happen at the same time. Trenton, our main vocalist, does the bulk of this part, with various melodic/ thematic/vocal contributions from the rest of us. Occasionally, we start with words or a melody, but most times we work from the instrumental music to make something that fits. Arranging harmonies all comes down to our bassist Aaron. He spends a lot of time trying things out and working on all the bits and pieces. Once the vocals are written, the arranging is a ton of fun and goes rather quickly. It’s something everyone looks forward to.

Design | Branding | Web

maroonweekly.com • December 04, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 5

By Luke Murray

Jake Owens Album: Days of Gold

Release Date: December 3, 2013

Rating: Sounds Like: Luke Bryan Dierks Bentley Florida Georgia Line

Recommended Tracks

Since emerging in the music scene in 2006, Jake Owen has been producing his own brand of new-age, gritty honky-tonk music straight out of Nashville. He rode the fence for 5 years, searching for something to propel him into the spotlight—finally producing his breakthrough album, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, in 2011. While being true to himself, he began to incorporate a few more huge choruses and some over-the-top production to connect with his audiences. The album produced four consecutive No. 1 singles.

1972 One Little Kiss Ghost Town

Track Listing:

Days of Gold Beachin’ 1972 Ghost Town Life of the Party Good Timing Tall Glass of Something One Little Kiss What We Ain’t Got Tipsy Drivin’ All Night Sure Feels Right

Now releasing his fourth studio project, Jake stays the course with his style of bringing the backwoods party to the beach—much like Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffet before him. Although he has the same approach as Chesney and Buffet, Days of Gold is anything but Margaritaville. With a new collection that emphasizes the Florida native’s country-surfer personality, Owen shows us subtle notions of a risk-taker and bold new approaches to the style that’s served him well—including some vulnerability, free-form dynamics, and an introspective piano ballad (similar to the hit “Heaven” from his previous album). The tight 12-song release’s tone is set by its title track—filling the entire album with sun, longing and love. Heavy percussion and breakneck banjo on the full-throttle title track gives one of the most impassioned performances of Owen’s career, setting this record up to be another massive seller.

pg 6 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 04, 2013 • maroonweekly.com

Kevin Morby

“Harlem River”

Release Date: Nov. 26, 2013 Morby’s focus on his debut record isn’t on reconfiguring old genres but rather just retracing them. He’s laid significant trust in his songwriting hand to make the difference. The opening track, “Miles, Miles, Miles”, is reminiscent of a 1950s dance track but features a dark perspective we aren’t used to hearing from such easy music. The title track, on the other hand, is nine minutes of breezy jazz that exhibit essences of Jim Morrison-style songwriting. Above all, Harlem River is easy listening. Its nostalgic nuances tend to overstay their welcome, and the record has as much edge as a tennis ball, but like spending the holidays at home with your family, there’s a comfort to it. Maybe it’s not a daily-listener, but definitely a good addition to your collection. Recommended Tracks: Mile, Miles, Miles, Slow Train

Pitbull

“Global Warming: Meltdown”

Release Date: Nov. 22, 2013 Mr. Worldwide has released a deluxe version of his previously released Global Warming album, including 5 new tracks that are also available separately if you already purchased the initial release. If not, we recommend snagging the whole thing. Since his initial breakthrough on the radio dial, Pitbull has progressively become more and more confident in his craft, producing more chart-pleasing hits and party anthems than most other pop-charters combined. His consistency has served him well, and his ability to incorporate other pop stars into his music keeps him current and adds new flavor to every song he drops. The five new tracks on this album includes “Timber”, his current chart-topper that features Ke$ha. Recommended Tracks: Feel This Moment, Timber

D-WHY

Release Date: “Young, Loved, Hated, & Broke EP” Nov. 19, 2013 Is it possible for rap to be feel-good? This kid has it figured out. From the drop of the first beat, we hear a lot of Drake in his voice, but his flows are far-more impressive—especially for a relative no-namer. Four bucks for this five-track set is quite a steal since you’ll wear down the record playing it on repeat. D-Why finds relatable topics to preach on, and he keeps it real-life. His enunciated lyricism is well-appreciated in a world of rapping-faster-than-your-synapses rappers. He takes a fresh spin on the rap game, much needed in a time where the topics simply become blurred lines and who’s more “thug.” This kid may be our wildcard of the week, but we’re hoping and betting that his next release will be more widely received from the get-go. Recommended Tracks: One Day, Young Madonna maroonweekly.com • December 04, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 7

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Hip hop artist GQ Marley, real name Randal Henderson, is a 25-year-old San Antonioan who graduated from TAMU in 2010 with a bachelors in ag com. Although he only started performing professionally about 2 years ago, he’s been in the rap game since high school. On July 5, 2011, Randal’s brother passed away. It was one of the most traumatic experiences of his life, and music became an outlet. He also cites the birth of his daughter while in college as motivation for pursuing music professionally. “Having her during my college career made me focus on becoming successful,” he says, “to show her that a dream can come true regardless of the obstacles.” Even though his heart is in his music career, his mind is still in the books, and Randal plans to pursue another degree in information technology in the near future. MW: What’s your opinion of the current hip hop soundscape? After some years of an identity crisis, the entire genre is transforming. What do you like or dislike about what’s happening? What artists do you have faith in currently?

not only my story: it’s the stories of those connected to me, those who have inspired me.

GQ: The hip hop soundscape has evolved in many ways. I personally like it today because the genre is more open to different artists and sounds. During the Golden Age, many wouldn’t consider some of the present acts we hear as hip hop artists. Growing up, I was a huge fan Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Notorious BIG, Big L, KRS-One, NWA, etc. They were conscious in their music when it came to cultural upbringing and making their voices heard. As a result, hip hop has become very relatable and proved to adapt, thanks to artists like Kanye West, Drake, J. Cole, Mac Miller, Jay-Z , Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, and Macklemore.

GQ: Grand Stafford Theater is my most favorite venue to perform because the atmosphere has a live feel, and the dynamics of the stage and facility greatly complement each other. The sound is amazing and the venue has enough space for the audience to move around. I love it because it has the feel of a professional setting, and I would love to do more consistent shows there in the future. I also like Revolutions Bar and Café because it is more of an intimate setting where you can go into more detail with the creation of songs, and it’s easier to interact with the audience because of its size. I like both, because I usually use Revolutions to test out new music and concepts before I perform them at Grand Stafford. So if you’re ever free on Wednesdays, I usually test out new music and ideas at open mic night at Revolutions.

I wouldn’t necessarily say hip hop is going through an identity crisis, because self expression and creativity through words has been the focal point throughout the genre’s history. Club songs and top 40 radio are examples of watered down formulas used to please the industry. MW: If you could take one broken thing from today’s hip hop culture and fix it, what would it be? GQ: Being from the streets is one thing I would fix. I understand hip hop did originate in the projects during times of urgency, but now that it has evolved, there are so many topics that are relatable. Everyone has their own unique story and shouldn’t be afraid to share it with the world. If you like cartoons, rap about cartoons. If you like video games, rap about them. Being authentic is more important than acceptance and compromising your artistry. MW: If you could take one broken thing from today’s music industry in general and fix it, what would it be? GQ: I would want to get rid of the mainstream formula that’s been used to restrict the creative vision of artists. The only time you will hear creative songs on the radio is when you hear classics like Juicy, Hypnotize, Stan, Hardknock Life, and any other track that occurred during the Golden Era. One of my favorite songs that made the radio was Jadakiss’ hit single “Why”, which goes to show you that you shouldn’t deny a song because it doesn’t fit the trends the general public is accustomed to. MW: Other than musicians, what other things from life have inspired your music? GQ: Many things, like being a father, not being where I want to be as far as achievements, and relationships, friends, family, San Antonio, my insecurities, my tales of fortune and defeat. Most importantly, being a nerd and being able to speak my mind on topics that people are afraid to speak on, regardless of the stakes. I was blessed with growing up with both parents in a middle class suburban lifestyle. I had family members and friends who were products of drug addiction, gang violence, abuse, and who were single parents. So this is

pg 8 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 04, 2013 • maroonweekly.com

MW: Where are your favorite places to perform in BCS and why?

MW: If you were to go on tour with one artist, who would it be and why? GQ: Kanye West, because he gives his fans and audience the experience of a lifetime. His visuals and performances make you appreciate the album more. He treats his music as a masterpiece and goes into detail on each song performed through vivid imagery and creative illustrations. West is an artist and a big influence on my music. I don’t want to give away too much from my upcoming music, but when you hear DREAM 2, you’ll hear a variety of musical influences that inspired me to create it, and West is one of the contributors to my experimentation with sounds and concepts. MW: What are some of the themes you write about in your music? GQ: I write about everything, but to sum it up: my music is the tale of a nerd who grows up in a world searching for acceptance and realizes the only important form of acceptance is with oneself. On DREAM 2: Revenge of the NERD, I tell stories of hardship, views on life, college, relationships, temptations of success, growing up in the big city, and more. The main premise of this project is all about realizing what makes you, and chasing your dreams regardless of the challenges. The concept of the album was inspired by the classic film Revenge of the Nerds, which is one of my favorite films. It’s also inspired by the nerd segment on MTV’s Guy Code, because nerds went from being lame, funny, and weird to having their own trendy style. Also, I chose to go with this theme because a nerd is defined as an individual who specializes in a particular technical field. So, in a sense, we’re all nerds, whether it be fashion, sports, exercise, education, or music. NERD is also an acronym that means (No End Reach Dreams). If anything is taken from the project, NERD is the main theme I want people to incorporate into their lives. It’s just like 2Pac’s Thuglife, but focused on the ambitions and dreams we have. Be proud of who you are and know that being yourself is the best thing you can be.

By Cheyenne Mueller

Vanished: The Sixty-Year Search for the Missing Men of World War II

By Wil S. Hylton

In the fall of 1944, an American bomber carrying eleven men vanished over the Pacific islands of Palau, leaving nothing but mystery. According to mission reports from Army Air Forces, the plane crashed in shallow water, but when investigators went to recover the aircraft, there wasn’t any wreckage. Witnesses saw the crew parachute to safety, but the airmen were never seen again. Whispered rumors were that the airmen had returned to the United States in secret and lived in hiding. For sixty years, the U.S. government, children of the missing airmen, and a maverick team of scientists and scuba divers scoured the reported islands for clues. They searched the water with side-scan sonar, conducted grid searches on the seafloor, crawled through thickets of mangroves and poison trees, and flew over the islands in small planes to shoot infrared photography. With every piece of evidence they discovered, the mystery only thickened. Wil S. Hylton piles together the true story of the missing men, their final mission, the families they left behind, and the real reason their disappearance remained shrouded in secrecy for so long, a story of the relentless hope among the families of the missing, and the unwavering determination of scientists, explorers, archaeologists, and deep-sea divers to solve one of the enduring mysteries of World War II.

Anything That Moves

By Dana Goodyear

Dana Goodyear’s anticipated debut, Anything That Moves, attempts to understand the implications of the way we eat by going behind-thescenes. In a universe populated by insect-eaters and blood-drinkers and others who serve endangered species and Schedule I drugs (which are considered the most dangerous class of drugs with potentially severe psychological dependence), Anything That Moves follows a conglomeration of characters that wholly embrace danger, taboo, and disgust in pursuit of something extraordinary to dish out. Their work is never a one-man show, comprised of an intricate network of scavengers, dealers, and pitchmen responsible for introducing the rare and exotic into the marketplace. The opposite of a burger and fries, the raucous entrees are far from typical but could reach family dinner tables before we realize it. Anything That Moves is a highly entertaining, revelatory look into the strange and complex world of contemporary American food culture, delving into the places where the extreme is trickling into the mainstream.

The Rosie Project

By Graeme Simsion Don Tillman, a brilliant but socially awkward genetics professor, has decided it’s time he found a wife. Maintaining the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches everything, he configures the Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, and the late arrivers.

Rosie Jarman is everything Don doesn’t want, but she also is charismatic, fiery, and intelligent. Though Don quickly disqualifies her as a potential candidate, as a DNA expert, Don is particularly inclined to help Rosie on her own quest: finding her biological father. Forming an unlikely relationship as they collaborate on the Father Project, Don is forced to confront the realization that, despite your best scientific efforts, you don’t find love – it finds you.

maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com •• December November04, 27, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 9

Salad Sculptors 1500 Harvey Rd. 979.764.0060

MONDAY-SATURDAY 10 AM - 9 AM SUNDAY 12 PM - 6 PM

Price - $ Cuisine - Salad Parking - Mall private lot Patio - No Noise Level: Low Atmosphere: Food court Signature Dishes - Thai Sesame Salad, Strawberry Almond Salad

$ ($5 - 10) ramen noodle budget $$ ($10-15) part-time job $$$ ($15-20) hard-earned cash $$$$ (Over $20) mommy and daddy are in town

Mall Food Just Got Healthy By Amanda L. Reynolds Around this time last year, we wrote an article about how Charles Stover, former owner of Stover Boys, was opening a new burger joint in Post Oak Mall. Some might say it was a crazy endeavor; after all, who opens a new restaurant concept in a mall? Well, not only is Flip and Peel doing well but Stover has decided to open a second restaurant in Post Oak Mall, and it’s a far cry from burgers and fries. Stover’s newest culinary creation is Salad Sculptors. The idea is simple: choose from one of their four specialty salad creations or create your own a la Subway or Freebirds. All salads start with a fresh base of crisp mixed greens, and then topped with your protein of choice. Some options include grilled chicken, turkey, or shrimp. The grilled chicken was seasoned well with salt and pepper and was incredibly juicy. They also have a buffalo chicken option, which is shredded chicken tossed in a mild buffalo sauce. It was spicy enough to be reminiscent of a true wing sauce without making us grab a glass of water or hand wipes. The copious amounts of toppings offered at Salad Sculptors make possibilities endless. Traditional items such as tomato chunks, shredded carrots, and mushrooms are present, but there are also non-conventional toppers such as corn and strawberries. As you move down the line, you select which toppings you want...

pg 10 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 2013 •• maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com November 04, 27, 2013

and then comes the hard part: selecting a dressing. Perhaps the best part of Salad Sculptors is their made from scratch dressings. There were three distinctive dressings we’d recommend. The green goddess is akin to ranch but has a slightly spicy and earthy flavor. It’s not the green goddess you’ll find in the grocery store; it’s more reminiscent of the original, before ranch hit the scene. The strawberry balsamic vinegar is so fresh that sometimes you’ll find a strawberry seed in it. Even though it’s a vinaigrette, it’s somehow creamy, not oily like you’d find in traditional vinaigrettes. For those in an exotic mood, we’d recommend the sesame ginger. This dressing is so fragrant that you can taste it before it hits your mouth. The toasted sesame seed flavor is pronounced, but the ginger note comes on the back end and is quite pleasing. As someone who usually orders their dressing on the side, we decided to take a walk on the wild side and have it tossed with our salad,

as is the norm for Salad Sculptors. We were surprised by the small amount of dressing that was put on our mix but were pleasantly surprised after it was all said and done. We’d received the perfect amount of dressing; no excessive pools on the bottom and every single piece was coated. In addition to creating your own salad, Salad Sculptors also offers two soups, tomato basil and black bean. While it sounds like the lesser option, we’d highly recommend the black bean. Black beans, corn, tomatoes, and onions are roasted and then pureed with hints of cumin running throughout. It’s a flavorsome, hearty soup that’s perfect anytime of the year. Also, if salads aren’t your deal, Salad Sculptors will also wrap your salad creation in a whole-wheat tortilla. A year ago, we never would have thought of recommending people to go to the mall for good food, but Charles Stover has changed our tune. Salad Sculptors will add the much-needed green to your diet without costing too much green from your wallet.

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 • $$

Get the Goods:

Rosa’s Tortilla Factory 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 • $-$$

Cenare Italian Restaurant For over three decades now, Cenare has been a versatile, traditional Italian restaurant, perfect for large gatherings or romantic evenings. With an extensive menu featuring multiple variations of chicken, seafood, veal, and pasta dishes, hardly anyone will be able to leave with an empty stomach. But should you finish your meal and still find a little room to spare, Cenare’s desserts--tiramisu, triple chocolate silk cake, chocolate dipped cannoli, and cheesecake--will sate your sweet tooth. Dine in • 404 University Dr E, College Station, TX 77840 -- (979) 696-7311 • $$-$$$

Downtown Uncorked Downtown Uncorked offers those looking to escape the loud, hectic bar scene a quiet relaxing refuge to have a glass of wine and sip away the day’s troubles. Though primarily a wine bar, Downtown Uncorked offers a healthy selection of beers from Miller Lite to Chimay Grand Reserve. The wine bar also serves light appetizers, such as hummus and cheese plates to complement your glass of vino or beer. Choose from a variety of Chardonnays, Merlots, Cabernets, and many more varietals. Don’t feel like you’re up to snuff on your wine knowledge? Let the helpful staff talk you through their wine list and help you select the best glass or bottle. Dine in • 206 W 26th Bryan, TX 77803 -- (979) 823-4837 $$-$$$

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maroonweekly.com • December 04, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 11

hearty, not heavy Crockpot Cookery: New Tricks for the Old Slow Cooker

Cheap Eats Easy to Make and Easy on Your Green By Chandler Hodo

Wouldn’t it be nice to have dinner ready for you when you walk in the door at the end of the day? With the hustle and bustle of the holidays in full swing, we can use all the help we can get, and crockpot recipes are a great timesaver.

Chicken Enchilada Stack Ingredients: • 1 T. olive oil • 2 carrots, chopped • 1 large onion, finely chopped • 1 teaspoon canola oil • 1 cup chopped onion • 1/2 cup chopped seeded poblano chile • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle chile powder • 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce with basil, garlic, oregano, and cooking spray • 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast • 1 cup frozen baby white and yellow corn • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained • 5 (8-inch) corn and flour blend tortillas

pg 12 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 04, 2013 • maroonweekly.com

• 8 ounces shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese (about 2 cups) • Cilantro sprigs (optional) Directions: 1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion, poblano chile, and garlic to pan; cook 6 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. 2. Stir in chile powder, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Place half of tomato mixture in a blender. Remove centerpiece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape) and secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until almost smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining tomato mixture. 3. Coat a 5-quart round electric slow cooker with cooking spray; place 3 tablespoons tomato mixture in bottom of slow cooker. Combine remaining tomato mixture, chicken, corn, and beans. 4. Place one tortilla on sauce in slow cooker; pour 1 cup chicken mixture over tortilla; sprinkle with 1/3 cup cheese and top with another tortilla. Repeat with remaining chicken mixture, tortillas, and cheese. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours or until cheese melts and edges are lightly browned. Garnish with cilantro, if desired. Cut into 8 wedges.

We all know A&M’s sister school, TAMU Galveston, is well-known for their prowess in marine biology, but now they’ve added another crowning achievement under their belt. Dr. Thomas Iliffe, a marine biologist there, has been named a Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, bringing honor both to himself and the TAMU system. Research associates are esteemed colleagues of the museum who actively collaborate with it or have in the past, and they are invited based on status within the academic community and for their contributions therein. Iliffe certainly does not disappoint in this area. He has been working with the Smithsonian for over 30 years, during which time he has published numerous articles in Smithsonian journals and coauthored papers. He’s showing no signs of stopping; he will continue his work under his 3-year associate appointment with the museum.

By Katie Lea

Diving Head First Into Excellence

Iliffe studied at Penn State University, where he received a B.S. in biochemistry. He went on to get his M.S. in oceanography from Florida State University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Texas Medical Branch. In his research, he focuses on the “biodiversity, evolution and conservation of animals inhabiting marine caves.” He also strives to gain entry to normally inaccessible sectors of cave systems using scientific diving practices (he teaches a course on the subject at A&M Galveston). In addition to diving, he has also coauthored many papers on underwater life, including new species of crustaceans and shrimp. Dr. Iliffe strives to protect underwater caves and has taken dives in more than 1,500 underwater caverns, including the deepest cave in the US, the Phantom Springs Cave located in West Texas. His work has made appearances on The Discovery Channel and he often guest-speaks on cruises around the world. Needless to say, Aggies or more than happy to claim him as one of our own.

maroonweekly.com • December 04, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 13

pg 14 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 04, 2013 • maroonweekly.com

By Topher Hawkes

Killer Instinct Returns and Packs a Punch Decades ago, when Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat dominated arcades everywhere, gamemaker Rare thrust a new type of brawler to the fray. Street Fighter was all about hadokens (fireballs), shoryukens (super uppercuts), and lightening kicks and Mortal Kombat touted blood, realistic graphics, and gruesome fatalities. Rare’s entry into that bloodsport paradigm – Killer Instinct – focused on extra-long combos, 50 plus-hit finishers, and few people can forget the announcer booming “C-c-c-c-ombo Breaker” every time an iconic countermove ruined attackers’ fun. Killer Instinct is back – thanks to game developer Double Helix – but in a more concise package exclusively for the Xbox One. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding its return, it might be a good idea to read the disclaimer first. More on the way Gamers can download a free demo of Killer Instinct and play as a single character, Jago. From there, players can buy additional characters for $5 each or purchase the entire roster of six characters for $20. That’s not a typo: at launch, the game includes six characters. Veterans Jago, Glacius, Thunder, Orchid, Saberwulf and newcomer Sadira make up the cast. In addition, two more characters, Fulgore and Spinal, are set to be released “after launch.” So in theory, $20 gets players eight characters initially. It should be noted that there is no story mode included in this version, but the game does include a survival mode, pitting the player against random opponents, and a very detailed training mode, full of customizable unlockables. Also, $40 gets you the “Ultra” edition, which includes all this and two versions of the original 1994 arcade game (one with some fan favorite glitches removed). A more simplified system Fans of the original Killer Instinct and its sequel, Killer Instinct 2, will see a more streamlined system in place in the 2013 release. In the past, each character had a very specific and complicated move set that required gamers to choose one fighter and spend hours understanding and mastering them before picking another. There is a learning curve, but once players understand the basics of the game, extending their hit counts will seem much, much easier. The fighting system works like this: each character has a set of openers – and initial attack – which is the primary way to start combos. Once the opener connects, the player can extend combos with linker, and, eventually, end with a finisher (a powered-up super move). While this sounds complicated, it’s far more streamlined and simple than the previous games. Essentially, after learning a few openers, gamers can master most characters’ moves in about 20 minutes. Combo Breakers (and new Counter Breakers) have also seen the same treatment and are even easier to pull off. This makes gameplay more fluid; you won’t feel like you are a spectator forced to watch as your character is pummeled over and over again by an unrelenting opponent. Finally, the legendary ultra combos have returned in full fury. They are the coup de grace of the series, which are very inventive, and like its rival, Mortal Kombat, are incredibly fun to watch.

maroonweekly.com • December 04, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 15

3 APPS YOU WON’T REGRET DOWNLOADING

By Luke Murray

FOODIE RECIPES During the holidays, we gather together with family to do what we do best as Americans—eat copious amounts of food and then go back for seconds. You want to be sure that you have the perfect meal set up to impress mom—or worse, the in-laws. No one wants to hear their nit-picky grandma talking about how dry the turkey is or that the dressing needed more sage. Get it right the first time with the Foodie Recipes app. With a variety of contributors to the recipe list, get the best of the best from experts in everything from gravy to green bean casserole. Go through the list, pick your favorites, gather your ingredients and get cooking. Follow easy step-by-step instructions with clearly labeled prep times and yields. Invite the family over for a little more chewing and a lot less complaining. – FREE ICYCLE: ON THIN ICE This game is a bit on the random side, slightly all over the place, but with something new around every corner. In short, it can’t get boring. Travel through this platform-style runner game going from world to world on everything from tiny bikes to shopping carts. You take the role of Dennis, the initially naked biking hero, as you go through the game to find clothing and transportation upgrades. Dress Dennis in a variety of ensembles to get a good laugh, and find hidden treasures as you scale the landscapes of the game’s highly-detailed levels, riding your bike over rooftops, ice, and rainbows. Enjoy a vivid soundtrack across a spread of 80 missions or your quest to find...love? Plot twist. Surely you can help this hero go from a naked-nobody to a hard-pedaling heartthrob? Grab the chain oil and get going. – $0.99 SNIPSNAP COUPON APP For some, the only thing that trumps food and football this time of year is that shop-till-you-drop, get-thebest-deal, and come-out-on-top feeling. Oh, the gift of giving. With all the stresses of holiday shopping, a little organization goes a long way. The SnipSnap Coupon App is designed to give you peace of mind during holiday time. Take pictures of coupons and keep them stored for later so you aren’t fumbling through them at the register, pull up the barcode and let the cashier scan it for a quick getaway. The app notifies you about upcoming expiration dates and even shows you links to e-coupons related to your interests. SnipSnap will even monitor what stores you enter and remind you of what coupons you’ve logged for that location. Bargain shopping couldn’t get easier. – FREE

pg 16 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 04, 2013 • maroonweekly.com

Roadtrips and Getaways Within a Day’s Drive

Dickens on Main By Dani Wilkins

It’s one of those places that makes you think of your favorite old-timey Christmas movie: beautifully decorated shop windows, families strolling down sidewalks, the scent of cinnamon and pine wafting through the air, snowflakes floating on the breeze. Except you’re not in a movie; you’re in downtown Boerne, in the middle of the Texas hill country. Lose yourself to the holiday spirit at one of the best Christmas events in Texas, in the quaint town of Boerne during the annual “Dickens on Main” event. Dickens on Main is a replica of a Norman Rockwell Christmas with a Texas twist. For 13 years, the city and its charm have fascinated the community and tourists alike. Between the Festival of Tress, Tannenbaum Trail, Weihnacts Parade, and Boerne Business Alliance Annual Pet Parade—in addition to all of the goodness of the city itself—you’ll have plenty to do during “O’ Tannenbaum” Weekend.

TEXAS GRAND SLAM

11.07.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 23

Dickens on Main events begin each night at 5pm; but for the whole experience, get to Boerne around lunch time to check out some of the best shopping in the Hill Country. And if you’re hungry for a Bumdoodlers sandwich, for pub grub at Dodging Duck Brewery, or café eats at Bear Moon, you can’t go wrong with some of Boerne’s best dining venues. As the afternoon progresses and you’re aching for Christmas festivities, the Boerne Business Alliance Annual Pet Parade begins at 5pm. With prizes for the best Dickens costume and for best pet costume, you can either compete or be a spectator. After the pets have strutted their stuff, the famous Weihnacts parade will kick off at 6pm. Featuring grand marshal Boerne Village Band, the twinkling Christmas custom will get you into the holiday spirit. If the parades aren’t quite enough, be sure to walk the Tannenbaum Trail – a collection of wildly decorated Christmas trees along the banks of Cibolo Creek at the River Road Park. Warm holiday treats and eats will be provided throughout the stroll. For more information about antique shops, coffee shops, fashion-forward boutiques, and all Dickens festivities, visit dickensonmain.com.

maroonweekly.com • December 04, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 17

- By Brandon Nowalk -

Homefront ACTION (R)

Oldboy

ACTION (R)

Oldboy, the remake by Spike Lee, has a hell of a hook. Josh Brolin plays sleaze incarnate, a drunken, lecherous ad exec who skips his baby daughter’s birthday for a meeting with a client. After puking outside his buddy’s restaurant and accosting a woman with a distinctive umbrella, he wakes up in a sort of motel room. He’s fed at intervals, he’s allowed certain television shows and books, and he has appropriate toiletries. He’s kept there for 20 years watching the news reports of his ex-wife’s rape and murder and his baby girl’s subsequent adoption and maturation as a moving cellist. And then he’s released. His captor promises to give him a confession and a purse of diamonds if he can figure out why. I’m not against American remakes, or remakes in general, and if Oldboy 2.0 increases the exposure of the original—Park Chan-wook’s 2003 poster child of Korean extremity—more power to it. It’s just that Spike Lee doesn’t do much with his material. The original is as stylish as stylish gets, all distorted compositions and subtly unsettling touches. This one’s at its best when it nods to Park, as when Brolin contemplates a live octopus in a restaurant aquarium, a reference to a notorious scene in the original. Lee can’t help but fail to live up to another notorious scene, a tracking shot down a hallway as the original protagonist takes on a whole gang with just a hammer. Still, Oldboy is such a provocative story that even a mild telling is interesting, bringing up questions about imprisonment and justice even before the real fireworks. Oldboy is basically a film noir, a style of movies about beat-up losers succumbing to a single moral, failing in a dark universe, helped along by a mysterious femme fatale. Lee has a certain flair for urban creepiness, from up-to-no-good warehouses to the hackle-raising hum of neon gas. The solution wipes away some of the moral gray, but the fun is in the mystery.

pg 18 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 04, 2013 • maroonweekly.com

Homefront puts you in the mind of an old Woody Allen bit. “The food in this restaurant is terrible,” it goes. “And such small portions!” So it is with Homefront: not just an awfully put together action drama about a single father in a rural Louisiana community that turns on him, but one with such meager action. The trailer suggests a big siege for the climax, but it’s over in a flash. The fight scenes are shot and edited into oblivion. You can never tell who has the upper hand until the end, when somebody apparently wins. And it’s such a shame because Jason Statham is perhaps our greatest action star right now, and this role allows him to have some fun in between all the punches. Meanwhile, Kate Bosworth, of all people, dances circles around a cast with the likes of James Franco and Winona Ryder.

The Act of Killing DOCUMENTARY (NR)

While it’s more of a television holiday, there are a few outstanding Thanksgiving movies. Many are about the stresses and joys of reuniting with friends and relatives, like Home for the Holidays, the recent indie Turkey Bowl, or Woody Allen’s masterpiece Hannah and Her Sisters. A darker version of the holiday family gathering is The Ice Storm, but for a more fun edgy Thanksgiving, go with The House of Yes, from the director Mean Girls. One more dark pick: Eli Roth’s trailer for a fake movie called Thanksgiving that plays in the middle of Grindhouse. For historical flavor, Terence Malick’s The New World has a centerpiece scene where the Powhatan tribe rescue the English settlers at Jamestown with maize and blankets. Best, though, is the buddy comedy Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Katniss and Peeta are thrown into an all-star season of the hunger games, but something’s different this time around. Revolution is in the air. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, and Amanda Plummer join the cast. PG-13 (146 min.)

2. Frozen

In a kingdom cursed to endure permanent winter, a young girl voiced by Kristen Bell teams up with a mountain man to rescue her sister and stop the curse in the latest Disney animated adventure. PG (108 min.)

3. Thor: The Dark World

A valuable mystical substance infects Jane (Natalie Portman), so Thor (Chris Hemsworth) brings her to Valhalla while dark elves conspire to retrieve the substance. Also starring Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, and Rene Russo. PG-13 (112 min.)

4. The Best Man Holiday In this sequel to 1999’s The Best Man, the cast of college friends reunites after 15 years to celebrate Christmas together, where the old jokes, romances, and hard feelings resurface. R (123 min.)

6. Homefront

Jason Statham plays a retired DEA agent and single father who moves with his daughter to a rural Louisiana community that doesn’t take kindly to him. Co-starring James Franco, Kate Bosworth, Winona Ryder. R (100 min.)

6. Delivery Man

Vince Vaughn plays a slacker who finds out a mix-up at the sperm bank has made him the father of 500-someodd children, which helps him find a direction in life. PG-13 (107 min.)

7. The Book Thief

During World War II a young German girl who likes to steal books bonds with a Jewish refugee hiding from

the Nazis in her parents’ basement. Geoffrey Rush stars as the family patriarch. PG-13 (131 min.)

8. Black Nativity

From the writer-director of Eve’s Bayou comes this musical set to Langston Hughes about a teen spending Christmas in New York with his estranged family. Starring Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, and Angela Bassett. PG-13 (93 min.)

9. Philomena

Steve Coogan plays a serious journalist who decides to write a human interest piece, the story of Philomena, who is trying to track down the son she put up for adoption years ago. PG-13 (98 min.)

10. Last Vegas

Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, and Morgan Freeman go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party in this fish-out-of-water comedy. Think The Hangover meets Grumpy Old Men.

11. Gravity

In this revolutionary 3-D rollercoaster, a space mission gone awry forces astronauts Sandra Bullock and George Clooney to fend for themselves among various space stations and to get back home. PG-13 (90 min.)

12. Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey plays a reallife Texan who was diagnosed HIVpositive and begins a ring to fasttrack meds not yet approved by the FDA by importing them from Mexico for HIV-positive Americans. Costarring Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto. R (117 min.)

13. 12 Years as a Slave

The Toronto Film Festival winner by chic arthouse director Steve McQueen chronicles the abduction of a free northern black man (Chiwetel Ejiofur) and his enslavement for 12 years on southern plantations. R (133 min.)

14. Bad Grandpa

Johnny Knoxville gets out the old-age

make-up to play an 86-year-old man taking his 8-year-old grandson across the country. Their goal? To prank an unsuspecting populace, like a cross between Borat and Jackass. R (92 min.)

15. Free Birds

Just in time for Thanksgiving, two turkeys get the bright idea to travel back in time and prevent turkey from becoming a holiday staple in this cartoon. Voice cast includes Owen Wilson and Amy Poehler. PG (91 min.)

16. Captain Phillips

Based on a true story, Tom Hanks stars as the captain of a U.S. ship transporting supplies to Kenya when his ship comes under attack by Somali pirates in this journalistic depiction of international institutions colliding. PG13 (134 min.)

17. Oldboy

Josh Brolin plays a sleazy ad exec who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 20 years and suddenly released. His captor will give him a full confession if he can just figure out why. R (104 min.)

18. Nebraska

Bruce Dern plays an old man who believes he won a million-dollar sweepstakes, and Will Forte plays his son, who knows there is no money... but accompanies his father to Lincoln, Nebraska anyway. R (115 min.)

19. The Christmas Candle In a rural English village, a progressive minister and a skeptic team up to trade the old legend of a miracle-granting candle for a new way of performing miracles: spreading good deeds and compassion. PG (100 min.)

20. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Our hero, Flint Lockwood, voiced by Bill Hader, leaves his job when he finds out the machine responsible for the original is still in operation, leading to another avalanche of foods crossed with animals. PG (95 min.)

maroonweekly.com • December 04, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 19

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pg 20 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 04, 2013 • maroonweekly.com

“In the cards”

- i’m kind of a big deal

by Matt Jones Across 1 Drill sergeant’s syllable 4 Formal promise? 10 Casablanca’s country: abbr. 13 Land on the Med. Sea 14 He wrote of Walden Pond 16 Diminutive ending, in Italian 17 Pop artist who used faceless stick figures 19 Big shot in the office 20 Serial piece 21 Budget brand of Intel CPUs 23 “Comfortably ___” (Pink Floyd) 24 Jazz great with the album “High Priestess of Soul” 27 Location finder, briefly 28 High-rated search engine, once 29 Hip hop fan, maybe 30 Increasingly hard to find net surfer 31 Calvin and Naomi 33 “The Devil’s Dictionary” author 36 ___ and Guilder (warring “The Princess Bride” nations) 37 They may include twists 38 Dip ___ in the water 39 Handout after a checkup 40 Choke, or a joke 43 15th-century Flemish painter 46 “Damn Yankees” vamp 47 Vlad, as the legend goes 48 Green energy type 49 You, to Yves 50 He played Locke on “Lost” 54 “I’d like to buy ___” (“Wheel” request) 55 With great skill 56 Battle (for) 57 Ave. crossers 58 Had a debate 59 Superlative ending

1 Outdoors activity 2 Depletes 3 Rainbow creators 4 “Am ___ only one?” 5 “Keep it down!” 6 Condo grp. 7 Part of ETA 8 German cameras 9 Highway sections 10 Of small organisms 11 Two-person basketball game 12 Andy and Mickey 15 “Unattractive” citrus 18 Margarine holder 22 Campfire remains 24 Parachute fabric 25 Finishes a cake 26 Message response that’s not really a response 28 “Footloose” actress Singer 30 Cold sore-fighting brand in a tiny tube 31 Mall booth 32 “___ get this party started” 33 “Gimme Shelter” speedway 34 Oft-mocked treats 35 “Helicopter” band ___ Party 36 Dish served with a distinct sound 39 “Cyrano de Bergerac” star Jose 40 Become available to the general public, as a new website 41 “Thank U” singer Morissette 42 January birthstone 44 Utah ski resort 45 “I ___ drink!” 46 Reed recently deceased 48 Flooring meas. 51 D&D, e.g. 52 “___ Mama Tambien” 53 “Bravo, matador!” �2013 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com)

Down

maroonweekly.com • December 04, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 21

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE BY CHANDLER HODO

World’s Largest Gingerbread House The Traditions Club is a private golfing community and elite club in Bryan that is also the home of the Texas A&M University golf team. The club has partnered with the St. Joseph Health System and set the goal to beat the Guinness record for the world’s largest gingerbread house. Construction of the house began in early November with the hopes of opening the house and beating the world record on November 30, 2013. There are also tours of the house beginning on its opening night and continuing through December 14, 2013. All net profits will be donated to the St. Joseph Level II Trauma Center, and donations are still being accepted. The gingerbread house sits on a piece of land owned by Traditions Club members at 3131 Club Drive in Bryan and is open Tuesday thru Sunday from 6-10pm. Admission is $2 for children and $3 for adults. For more information and ticket purchases, visit traditionsclub.com.

Holiday Magic Holiday magic is a celebration hosted by the City of Bryan that features live entertainment, pictures with Santa, train rides, prize drawings throughout the night, and a station where little ones can write letters to Santa Claus. There will even be a real snow hill that guests can sled down. The free event will take place on December 5 from 5:30-8:30pm at Sue Haswell Memorial Park in Bryan. There will be shuttle buses running to the park from the Blinn College campus from 5-9pm. Visit bryanparksandrecreation.com for more information.

Tree lighting at George Bush Library and Museum George Bush Library is hosting a Christmas tree lighting ceremony modeled after the lighting that takes place at the White House each year. The event will feature live entertainment, a public reception, and a celebrity guest that will light the 19-foot-tall tree. Families and guests are encouraged to take pictures in front of the decorated tree that night and throughout the month. The event takes place on December 5, 2013 at 7pm. Holidays in the Rotunda The George Bush Library is also hosting a Holidays in the Rotunda celebration. The event features live entertainment in the rotunda around a giant tree, Santa’s Workshop, and a craft area where the little ones can make holiday ornaments. There will also be punch, hot chocolate, and cookies served throughout the night. The event is free, but donations of nonperishable canned food items are encouraged to benefit the KBTX Food for Families food drive. There will be donation boxes at the entrance of the event. Holidays in the Rotunda will take place on Saturday, December 7 from 10am-3pm. Santa’s Wonderland Santa’s Wonderland is an annual event that boasts a path more than a mile long surrounded by more than 2.5 million Christmas lights. Santa’s Wonderland has multiple ways for guests to enjoy the lights, including the option to drive through the path in their own cars. This is the most popular attraction and costs $25 per car holding up to 10 people. There are also carriage rides and hayrides that will take you through the trail if you opt to let someone else do the driving.

Christmas Show at the Theatre Company- Whistle Down the Wind The Theater Company is hosting a Christmas show featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s newest musical hit, Whistle Down the Wind. The performance, based on the classic Christmas movie, follows three orphaned children who discover a wounded stranger in their barn. The trio then befriends him and helps him celebrate Christmas. Performances will be on weekends from December 6 to December 15 at the Theater Company in Bryan. Tickets are $5 for children, $15 for seniors or students with an ID, and $20 for general adult admission. Visit theatrecompany.com for ticket purchases and more information.

pg 22 • MAROON WEEKLY • December 04, 2013 • maroonweekly.com

Santa’s Town: A Texas Christmas Village is another popular attraction at the wonderland that features a petting zoo and pony rides, a mechanical bull, pictures with Santa, Christmas movies on a giant theater screen, and live entertainment. There are also various shops where guests can browse gifts, and there are refreshments for purchase at Frost Bites Food Village, which features smokehouse BBQ, burgers and hotdogs, and fajitas. Car tours, carriage tours, and hayride tours operate on different nights throughout the month, so visit santas-wonderland.com for more information and for ticket purchases. The Christmas Jam at Harry’s Hurricane Harry’s is hosting Christmas Jam to get you in the holiday spirit. The concert features Randy Rogers, Sean McConnell, and William Clark Green. The artists will be performing on stage together, playing acoustic favorites and some Christmas songs on Wednesday, December 18. Doors open at 9pm, tickets cost $15, and ages 18+ are welcome. For more details and ticket purchases, visit harrys.bcsclubs.com.

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