10.03.13 - VOL. 10, NO. 7
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Adult Swim Exclusive Interview:
Aqua Teen and Squidbillies Masterminds
José González and the Return of Junip
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Justin Timberlake: 20/20 Part II
Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival
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ACL Exclusive Interview:
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10.09.13 - VOL. 10, NO. 8 - MAROONWEEKLY.COM
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contents
10.10-10.16
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 Discover Taste Calendar Play Look Etc.
4 8 14 16 18 26 29
Feature:
14
Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Squidbillies’ creators and voices share behind-the-scenes anecdotes about producing their hit shows.
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
14 - From pupusas to aquas frescas, Centro American features authentic flavors from El Salvador and Ecuador.
Listen 6 - JT returns for part II
of The 20/20 experience. Does he deliver twice in a row? Read this week’s review.
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
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acl feature interview
José González and the Return of Junip By Chris Zebo
If you’re a fan of Breaking Bad, you may have been introduced to Junip’s music recently and not even have known it. During the penultimate episode’s end credits, a song called “Line of Fire” from the band’s latest album soundtracked the promo teaser for the series’ upcoming finale. Fans of the show flocked to the Internet in search of the song’s author, leading many to a Reddit thread where others had also congregated inquisitively. One commenter on the site remarked, “Because of the promo, I have now listened to all of Junip’s songs and I love them. Thanks, Breaking Bad :-)” Within hours, similar threads across the Internet funneled thousands of the newly enlightened to the song’s YouTube video, jumpstarting a viral engine that continues to accelerate. Junip’s frontman, José González, is no stranger to this kind of accidental success. In the mid 2000s, the Swedish musician took a break from the 3-piece band to pursue a solo career. He released two critically-acclaimed albums, Veneer (2003) and In Our Nature (2007). However, González’ solo career really took off when a song from Veneer, a cover of The Knife’s “Heartbeats”, landed in a commercial for Sony BRAVIA televisions in 2006. The advertisement featured 250,000 multicolored bouncy balls bouncing in slow-motion down one of San Francisco’s vertical streets, a mesmerizing scene all soundtracked by, you guessed it, “Heartbeats.” González’ voice has a signature nasality and warm tenor—like a woodwind vocalized—and his guitar work is sensuously spare and meticulous, like the somber side of Nick Drake or Elliott Smith. The pairing resulted in marketing magic; the commercial was a hit and fueled one of the earliest viral success stories. In addition to other songs making random cameos—in the video game Red Dead Redemption, on series such as Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill, House, and many more—González’ music achieved mainstream success by piggybacking other media from the world of entertainment and commerce. Yet, instead of taking that momentum and channeling it into another solo album, González reunited with Junip drummer Elias Araya and synth player Tobias Winterkorn. The band released their first full-length album, Fields, in 2010 and released their second self-titled album in April of this year.
Junip is currently touring the States and headlining both weeks of ACL this year.
process of adding words to the melodies was in itself like adding another instrument to the repertoire.
González never intended to put the band on hold years ago; he also didn’t forecast his solo career’s ascendancy; it happened serendipitously. But the same wasn’t true of Junip in the early days.
“When I have a demo for the music,” he said, “I usually either walk or sit at home and hum around it, to feel the notes that sound good together with the music, to try to find the melodies. For a couple of the recordings, I made consonant sounds and vowel sounds—mumbo jumbo words which many times lead to real words and sentences. I also factor in images and ideas of what the song could be about.”
“With Junip, we started around ‘98, but not much happened with Junip or any of the other bands I was in,” González told us over the phone from Gothenburg, a few days after wrapping a European tour earlier this year. “My acoustic
As the words begin to take shape and as ideas congeal
González’ voice has a signature nasality and warm tenor—like a woodwind vocalized—and his guitar work is sensuously spare and meticulous. music happened to work out best commercially,” he says with a giggle implying a pun.
around them, the thrust of each song’s meaning is often added later.
The self-titled release has been a critical success and builds upon the chillwave, slow-prog foundation the band established in 2010’s Fields. The 10-track album is bit more worldly but without being world music, with bossa nova flourishes and an animated folktronica edge endowed by Winterkorn’s mood-setting Moog and Araya’s inventive percussion. “Headfirst” opens with Gonzalez’ token solocareer guitar picking and sounds like it was lifted directly out of Nick Drake’s songbook; but by the time Winterkorn’s synth enters the fray, the comparison to Drake ends there, instead evoking the downtempo trip hop of Zero 7—a group González collaborated with in 2006.
“I look into poems and texts and try to search for words. It’s only in the later stage, when I have an idea and I have a couple of sentences, that I start thinking more consciously about what the lyrics will be.”
Where González was up front and center vocally during his solo career, he instead shares the stage equally with his bandmates on Junip, almost self-effacingly. However, his trademark lyricism and the lockstep cadence his words saunter across the band’s soundscape are still very much a distinguishing characteristic of the music. González said the
pg 4 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
For the attention deficit millennial, Junip might not hit its mark. The group’s sound isn’t one that washes over you, one that offers immediate gratification; instead, it’s more like a warm bath in which to soak your ears over time. It takes some time before the music’s expansiveness and nuances grip and entice you. But for patient listeners, slow-burning songs such as “Beginnings” and “After All is Said and Done” have a way of creeping into your head and, coincidentally, soundtracking your daily life. Junip will take the stage again this weekend at ACL, performing on the Honda Stage on Saturday at 3pm. They are also playing a late night show off the festival circuit at Antone’s on Friday at 9pm. Visit antonesnightclub.com for ticketing information.
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 5
By Luke Murray
Justin Timberlake Album: The 20/20 Experience, 2 of 2
Release Date: September 30, 2013
Rating: Sounds Like: Michael Jackson Prince Chris Brown
Recommended Tracks
On March 19, seven years since the biggest full-record release of his career, FutureSex/LoveSounds, JT decided to step back from his Hollywood ventures long enough to record another chart-topping album. In an attempt at asking forgiveness for keeping faithfuls waiting, the Grammy Award winner compiled a list of tracks—including a pre-release single and a hit with JAY Z—that was all but certain to throw him back into the spotlight. Timberlake was back.
Only When I Walk Away True Blood Take Back the Night
Track Listing:
Give Me What I Don’t Know True Blood Cabaret T.K.O. Take Back the Night Murder Drink You Away You Got It Amnesia Only When I Walk Away Not a Bad Thing
Of course, we’re talking about part one of his dual-record smash, The 20/20 Experience. He’s come back to release the second half of the double-length release, 11 tracks to continuously fuel your addiction to his epic beats and smooth vocals. 20/20, being only his third solo studio endeavor, shows us an ever-evolving Timberlake. Maturity has become increasingly evident with both parts of this release—considering that it was seven years in the making, we aren’t all that surprised. Regardless, Timberlake’s skill as a performer, both on screen and behind the mic, is unsurpassed. For part two, he’s enlisted the help of JAY Z once again, along with Drake to back him up on a couple of tracks. The album has balance and class, traits that have become signature Timberlake lately.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
pg 6 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
Tyler Farr
“Redneck Crazy”
Release Date: Sept. 27, 2013 Country music is popping out more new artists than we can keep up with, but once in a while, there’s a voice that just happens to stick with you. Tyler Farr has released his debut album, Redneck Crazy, and it’s currently sitting at number two on the iTunes country chart—impressive for an artist’s first studio release. The album’s title track is already taking over Lone Star radio, becoming borderline inescapable on radio dials. Farr’s also released a video for the song—search it on YouTube— that brings out some of the track’s humor dramatically. He even recruited his buddies Lee Brice, Colt Ford and Willie Robertson (yes of Duck Dynasty) to make hell of his ex-girlfriend. If you haven’t seen the video, check it out, and then snag this album while you’re at it. Recommended Tracks: Makes You Wanna Drink, Wish I Had a Boat
Glorious Steven Curtis Chapman“The Unfolding”
Release Date: Sep. 27, 2013 Being a singer/songwriter requires an artist to develop a connection with his or her listeners; musicians in the contemporary Christian genre are required to take this to an even higher level. Arguably one of the best evangelical writers in the business, Steven Curtis Chapman finds a way to evoke passion and excitement with every track. Being a published author along with penning countless chart-pleasing hits, Chapman is no stranger to the art of scripting a masterpiece. With his 18th studio album, the Grammy Award-winning Chapman releases 12 high-energy hits that feature rich melodies and even deeper lyrics. The Glorious Unfolding is currently sitting near the top of the iTunes Christian & Gospel chart. Recommended Tracks: Beauty Will Rise, Glorious Unfolding
Lorde
“Pure Heroine”
Release Date: Sep. 27, 2013 Our wildcard pick of the week happens to already be well-established in the United States as well as in her home country of New Zealand. Ella Yelich-O’Connor, known worldwide as Lorde, released her debut full-length album to much acclaim. In the 10-track album, Lorde included her previous hit “Royals” from her 2012 EP. “Royals” hit number one on the charts in three countries, including the U.S, making her the first New Zealand solo artist to have a number one song in the States. Her newest release, Pure Heroine, embodies her trademarked electro-pop with flares of indie fusion. At 16 years old, Lorde set herself up nicely for a lucrative career in the industry—starting with this album which we highly recommend. Recommended Tracks: Royals, Tennis Court maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 7
[mw exclusive] interview with squidbillies & aqua teen hunger force creators and voices By Chris Zebo When Adult Swim swung open its animated doors to the public in 2001, Cartoon Network’s late-night-into-the-morning programming block became a magnetic lodestar for those disillusioned by cable’s spiritless predictability. For viewers, Adult Swim was a refuge; for writers, a manifesto. Early shows such as Space Ghost Coast to Coast—one of Cartoon Network’s first original, late-night shows launched in ‘94—established the block’s signature disavowal of the status quo. With the revolution moving deeper underground (or at least later into the night), AS could now recruit daring, intrepid writers from the fringe with nothing to lose; and because of empty-bucket budgets, there was hardly anything to gain, as well. However, the new block—under the direction of eccentric, free-spirit producer Mike Lazzo—granted creators something priceless, something other networks couldn’t afford to offer: a blank canvas with a prescription to paint outside the lines. Two writers for Space Ghost, Dave Willis and Jim Fortier, were on the scene when AS was just an aboriginal, transmogrifying baby. Willis, with writer Matt Maiellaro, spun off Space Ghost and created Aqua Teen Hunger Force in 2001, now the longest-running original show in AS history. In 2005, Willis partnered with Fortier to create Squidbillies, now in its eight season and one of the most popular shows on the block. Aqua Teen and Squidbillies are cut from the same fabric and yet fitted onto two different torsos. Aqua Teen’s anthropomorphic fast food characters, Meatwad, Frylock, and Master Shake, share an absurd affinity with Squidbillies’ makebelieve, redneck, Appalachian mud squids. The affinity is that they are equally, deliberately absurd. Storylines from each production are known for their surreal, bizarre twists and acid-trip turns. It’s as if Willis and Fortier flipped open the lids of their skulls and allowed their irrational yet refreshingly brilliant brains out for a walk—or a swim. In addition to writing and producing, Willis and Fortier also voice characters depicted in the shows. Willis is best known as the voice of Aqua Teen characters Meatwad and Carl Brutananadilewski; Fortier occasionally lends his voice to secondary characters in Squidbillies. We talked with Willis, Fortier, and voice actor Dana Snyder about the creative atmosphere at Adult Swim and also learned the hilarious circumstances which led to Snyder becoming the voice of
pg 8 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
Master Shake (TEASER: It involves beer and drunk dialing). MW: Dave, you’ve been with Adult Swim programming since the beginning. And, Jim, you were involved in the early days, as well. Jim Fortier: Yeah, we were there during Space Ghost in the ‘90s. We were young; kinda young 12 year olds then. Dave Willis: I’ve been there since Space Ghost, 18 years ago. MW: In the early days of Adult Swim, were you both conscious of how revolutionary the programming block was? When you were writing, did you ever think, “This stuff is really going to push the envelope,” or, “This might be over people’s heads, but we’re gonna do it anyway.” Both of your present shows, Aqua Teen and Squidbillies, must have been ahead of the curve when they launched. Dave Willis: I don’t know that I think of it that way. Or I certainly don’t think of it that way anymore. I mean, we came from Space Ghost, you know? And my Boss, Mike Lazzo, has always really encouraged any envelopes being pushed as far as they can. We made that Conan O’Brien episode, where Space Ghost is following a fire ant around for 19 minutes. This is on television, you know? You might as well put up a sign that just says, “Turn it off, you stupid viewer.” I think we gave Space Ghost that line once; “You’re stupid. Go. Change the channel, you stupid viewer. You’ll be back.” I just think we try to make cartoons that are kinda funny and tell stories. We had no budget. So, on Space Ghost we’d do these long, ruminating pauses, where Space Ghost would just sit there at his desk. I’m not saying we’re the
first people to do that kind of thing; you see that in Family Guy, a timing that might exist in nature—not just the TV pattern of “bop, bop, bop, joke; bop, bop, bop, joke.” You know, just crazy rhythm. Jim Fortier: I think that Squidbillies has just sorta taken a while, too. What is this, the seventh season? It seems to have a pretty slow swell over the years. Dave did Aqua Teen right at the get-go, one of the premier shows on Adult Swim. It’s a show that I think is like Squidbillies in a lot of ways, right? Dave Willis: Yes. Jim Fortier: I also think that, in terms of putting out an episode where we said, “Wow! This is gonna cross the barrier” or something—I don’t see it that way. I see it as an environment that is at Adult Swim, one that allows you to try pretty much what you wanna try. So you’re not thinking, “We’re gonna say ‘#@&%’ in an episode 52 times...and let’s just float that out there.” We just do what we wanna do, and I guess it’s up to legal or standards to tell us when it’s too far. Dave Willis: Space Ghost had no ratings pressure. It was just a handful of us. MW: So, essentially, you’ve had an unfettered playground to test things. Dave Willis: Yeah. Our boss just wanted us to be funny. Space Ghost didn’t cost much money to make, so there was no real pressure there. And I think in the early days of Adult Swim, the same thought was that if you keep the budgets low, then there won’t be pressure to deliver this crazy amount of success that it needs to have for it to move forward. It was good. And it was during the Internet, certainly in the earlier days—before people were making whacky parody videos like 2 hours after real events unfolded. It preceded the Internet, I think, in a lot of ways: short shows, cuts for shortened attention spans—a lot of what works on the Internet is what I think we were striving for as well.
No other TV shows had that as goals or parameters. That and they were just competing for so much attention: so many networks, so much on the Internet. I’d like to think that some of the things that we’ve done have helped influence things in some ways, like we’ve been influenced by people before us. People always said that with Aqua Teen and Squids we don’t tell stories. Yeah, we do! We just tell them in a different way. Things happen, their characters have dilemmas, and they need to have them solved. We just solve them in different ways. MW: Dana, when you first started reading scripts for Aqua Teen, what was your reaction to them? Did you say to yourself, “This is exactly the kind of show I want to voice,” or, “These guys are completely nuts,” or, “Thank god I have a job—I don’t care what it is.” Dana Snyder: Maybe all of ‘em. I never really got a script ahead of time. Even still, it’s very rare that I get a script before I literally go in and record it. I’ll show up, and usually as soon as I show up, we go in and start recording it. So I don’t ever really read the scripts. But Dave and Jim—when we’re recording them—will say, “Okay, now what’s happening is that you guys all decided to work at the Ballmart and you’ve become a greeter, and that’s why you say this line here. [In Granny Cuyler’s voice] “Hey, welcome to Ballmart.” Dave Willis: Tell him how we came to hire you, Dana. Dana Snyder: Oh, yeah. Which my hometown paper has reported inaccurately. Dave went to high school with a girl I went to college with. Dave had called her up and said, “We’re tryin’ to find some guy for this voice. Do you know anybody that has an interesting voice.” And she goes, “Oh! Call my friend, Dana.”
MW: Now that Adult Swim has traction, and after years of re-wiring our brains to accept Adult Swim’s unique entertainment, do you think if you’d dropped shows like Squids and Aqua Teen on the public in ‘99 that they would’ve been received well? Or have years of Adult Swim programming paved the road for those shows to exist? Jim Fortier: Who knows how the show would’ve been perceived if we dumped it on people in ‘99 or 2000. But we would’ve done it. I think if we had had the idea, where the show was ready to put out there, the environment at Adult Swim we worked for would’ve said, “Put it out there. If they like it, it’ll be on.” I don’t think we had to wait for a time period to pass where we thought the American public was ready. Dave Willis: Not to pat ourselves on the back, but I think the show has gotten better over the years. It’s really blossomed, and like Jim said, I think it’s had a little bit of a swell. It’s been successful for the network, so we’re making more. We used to do a lot of non sequitur things that you didn’t really see a whole lot on TV. And I think we were just—in a lot of ways, too—we were on a kid’s network, we couldn’t be particularly coarse or vulgar, so we would end up being willfully weird because if we weren’t gonna be funny, we were at least going to be interesting.
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 9
They did, and they said, “We want you to read this little scene.” And I said, “What’s [the character] like?” And Dave said, “We’ll, the auditions we’ve had so far are sounding like a Christopher Walken thing. And a lot of people were trying to sound like a super hero.” I said, “Okay. I will not be doing any of that.” He said, “Leave your audition on my voicemail. Do it once I leave.” My friend came to town, and we went out and had some beers, and we didn’t get home until 2 or 3 in the morning. I finally got the script and I was like, “Oh #$&@! I gotta do this now!” At 3 in the morning, pretty much drunk. They get it, and Dave was like, “Dana, that was great! That’s exactly what we wanted: a whiny jerk. But I accidentally erased it. Could you do it again, because we have to play it for our boss?” I said, “Sure! No problem.” It’s in the afternoon now; I do it again. He calls me back. “Yeah, man...I don’t know. It’s...like it’s missing something that it had before.” And I’m like, “Yes, I think I know what that was. May I leave it at 3 o’clock in the morning again?”
again. They call me the next day, “Dana, that was it! It’s perfect. There it is!” And I’m like, “Oh, great. So I gotta be an alcoholic from now on.” Strangely enough, I was interviewed in my hometown paper. They had a special in there for people that work in TV and stuff. And the woman completely misremembered the story and said that for years I would get up at night and drunk dial Dave Willis and the people at Adult Swim to see if I could have a job. MW: Is that the norm for acquiring voices, Dave? They get drunk, leave voicemails, and they’re hired? Dave Willis: [Laughing] No. It’s not. The voice of Rusty in Squidbillies is a friend of ours from high school—because we got 300 voice auditions from a bunch of people doing just terrible Hollywood versions of a southern accent, like Forest Gump and Foghorn Leghorn. Our buddy is a pilot for Delta Airlines, but he was just always funny and could crack into this voice and we ended up hiring him. MW: Dana, are people surprised when they discover that Granny Cuyler is voiced by a guy?
And Dave says, “Yeah.”
Dana Snyder: Some people are. It’s amazing; some people who know that I do Aqua Teen, like know Aqua Teen very well, are like, “So who do you do on Squidbillies?”
Went out with my friend again to the bar, had the same four beers we had, I left it
I say, “I do Granny,” and they’re stupefied.
pg 10 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 11
By Chandler Hodo
The Circle - by Dave Eggers The Circle is the world’s most powerful internet company based in California and it links users’ social media, banking, personal emails, and purchasing history with their universal operating system. When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, she is enthralled by the company’s activity; with famous musicians at frequent and extravagant parties lasting through the night, elite clubs and fancy brunches, and even an aquarium of rare fish that the CEO of the company collected from the Marianas, the Circle operates as its own exclusive society distant from normal life beyond its private California campus. As Mae’s role at the company becomes increasingly public, she begins to experience unsettling encounters with colleagues that leave her shaken, which raise questions about privacy, memory, and the limits of human knowledge.
Humans of New York - by Brandon Stanton Humans of New York is based on photographer Brandon Stanton’s personal blog that has captured the attention of over 1 million loyal followers. The book chronicles Stanton’s mission to get to know the people of New York City and to capture it all on camera. It features brand new stories and over 400 colorful photographs and portraits paired with quotes and anecdotes from the people featured in each image. In the book, Stanton provides a new perspective into the personalities of New Yorkers by introducing and spotlighting the fascinating individuals inhabiting the Big Apple.
The Night Guest: A Novel - by Fiona MacFarlane Ruth is a 76-year-old widower living out a simple life alone in her isolated beach house in Australia. One night, she awakens to what she swears is a tiger lurking around inside her house. The next morning, a peculiar woman named Frida shows up on her doorstep. Frida claims that she has been sent from the government to act as a caregiver for Ruth, so Ruth invites her into her home. However, things quickly take a sinister turn and a series of mysterious events begins to unfold as the houseguest continuously hints that she is not at all who she appears to be.
The Family: Three Journeys into the Heart of the Twentieth Century - by David Laskin David Laskin gives readers a glimpse into his Jewish ancestry in his new book, The Family, as it traces three very different paths his family members have taken over the last 150 years. Laskin’s great-great-grandfather was a Torah scribe in the Russian empire, where he and his wife raised their six children who were always expected to carry on the family business into future generations. The twentieth century brought new challenges and opportunities, causing the family to break apart into three distinct groups who went in very different directions. One group immigrated to America, where they flourished and founded the still successful Maidenform Bra Company, while another group made their way to Palestine, where they participated in the birth of the state of Israel. The third group of Laskin’s family members chose to stay in Europe and unfortunately suffered the Holocaust. As each story evolves, Laskin takes readers deeper and deeper into successes and failures, family secrets, and the visible mark that his ancestors left on the world. pg 12 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
By Katie Lea
The Sinister Truth about Climate Change and…Water Vapor? We’re all familiar with climate change and global warming, which brings to mind images of sinister greenhouse gasses lurking in our atmosphere and heating things up. But what if these two villains have a silent sidekick, a seemingly innocent assistant we’ve all been overlooking? Well, they do: it’s water vapor. Andrew Dessler is a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University and works closely with members of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), Science and Technology Corporation, and the University of Colorado. They have been studying the effects of water vapor and something called climate feedback – a cycle wherein warming surface temperatures and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cause higher humidity in the stratosphere; water vapor in the stratosphere then causes additional surface warming, completing the cycle. Stratospheric water vapor is actually a greenhouse gas, and it contributes to greater warming than carbon dioxide would cause on its own.
CREATE SOME NOISE.
Dessler and his colleagues confirmed their suspicions about water vapor’s involvement in climate change using readings from NASA’s Microwave Limb Sounder on the Aura satellite. The system tracks anomalies in stratospheric water vapor. Accounting for other factors, examination of these observations proved the existence of the stratospheric water vapor feedback. Analysis of NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System Chemistry Climate Model showed that it also had a similar water vapor feedback, further confirming suspicions.
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It’s important for us to remember that our climate system is a delicate one – even something as simple as the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere can exacerbate the warming affect currently occurring (the stratospheric water vapor feedback is responsible for 5-10% of climate warming from the addition of greenhouse gases). Many climate models are not accounting for the feedback effect. Hopefully, the conclusions drawn by Dessler and other scientists on this study will aid in correcting current and future climate models.
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maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 13
By Amanda L. Reynolds
Centro American 317 Dominik, College Station, 979.703.1266
Sunday - Saturday 11 AM - 10 PM
Price - $ Cuisine - Central American Parking - Private Lot Patio - No Atmosphere - Informal Noise Level: Low to Average Signature Dishes - Pupusas, Fruit Juices
$ ($5 - 10) ramen noodle budget $$ ($10-15) part-time job $$$ ($15-20) hard-earned cash $$$$ (Over $20) mommy and daddy are in town
Centro American Restaurant and Pupuseria Centro American is the culinary marriage of two countries: El Salvador and Ecuador, literally. Owner Daniel Hernandez and his wife have created a menu that reflects traditional dishes from their respective native countries. Tacos make an appearance, but most of the menu is Central American food that can’t be found elsewhere in town.
as not to taste unnatural. Instead, the essence of the fruit shined through. To us, lemonade generally sounds unappealing; it’s either too tart or tastes like we’re drinking straight sugar water with artificial lemon flavor. At Centro American, that couldn’t be further from the case. The bright lemon flavors shine through, lightly sweetened and refreshing.
When we sat down and were trying to take in all of the unfamiliar items on the menu, Hernandez informed us that the pupusa is the most frequently ordered item. This Salvadorian dish is a thick handmade corn tortilla stuffed with shredded pork and cheese. The corn “tortilla” is more akin in thickness to a pancake and very similar in texture to masa in tamales. The inside was full of white melted cheese, which makes it quite rich. Hernandez, who was incredibly helpful in guiding us through our new dining experience, instructed us to place the (cabbage slaw served with it) on top of the pupusa and then to eat it with their house salsa (more on that later). Centro American offers a healthy selection of tacos, as well. The street tacos are heartily filled with juicy, seasoned shredded beef and topped with raw green cabbage and grilled. For those of you who normally stick with flour tortillas, we encourage you to try the corn tortillas here. The delicate texture that comes with these homemade tortillas allows all of the delicious juices from the beef to be absorbed into the tortilla. Their fajita tacos boast some of the bestseared meat in town. Chicken can often be boring and bland; but their chicken fajita was seasoned well and juicy, and it had an outstanding crispiness to its exterior. One item not to miss at Centro American is their fresh fruit juices. They offer fresh watermelon and cantaloupe juice, similar to Mexican aguas frescas, only without any pulp. To achieve the delicious nectar, fresh fruit is blended with water and strained. There potentially could have been a little bit of sugar added, or it could have been the natural sweetness from the fruit, either way it was just the right amount so
pg 14 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
The afternoon we dined, Hernandez was our waiter and our cook. It took a little bit of time for our food to come out, but we did not mind at all because everything was piping hot and fresh. Everything is made from scratch at Centro, even the chips and salsa. Their chips are thick, crunchy, and somehow airy as well. Generally, we are pretty good identifiers of salsa ingredients, but we could not put our finger on how it was made or what was in it. It was a reddish-orange color, completely smooth, and thin in consistency. It was also 100% delicious. We almost consumed the entire order of chips and salsa before we decided on our order. Centro American also has a small section of traditional Central American food items for sale, much like you would find in a convenience store. Located in a shopping center off Dominik Drive, you probably wouldn’t notice the place unless you were looking for it. But we recommend looking for it.
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 • $$
FALL-LA LA-LA-LA Cheap Eats Easy to Make and Easy on Your Green By Cheyenne Mueller 4. Cookie dough will resemble very thick batter.
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 • $-$$
Cenare Italian Restaurant For over three decades now, Cenare has been a versatile, traditional Italian restaurant, perfect for large gatherings or romantic evenings. With an extensive menu featuring multiple variations of chicken, seafood, veal, and pasta dishes, hardly anyone will be able to leave with an empty stomach. But should you finish your meal and still find a little room to spare, Cenare’s desserts--tiramisu, triple chocolate silk cake, chocolate dipped cannoli, and cheesecake--will sate your sweet tooth. Dine in • 404 University Dr E, College Station, TX 77840 -- (979) 696-7311 • $$-$$$
Downtown Uncorked Downtown Uncorked offers those looking to escape the loud, hectic bar scene a quiet relaxing refuge to have a glass of wine and sip away the day’s troubles. Though primarily a wine bar, Downtown Uncorked offers a healthy selection of beers from Miller Lite to Chimay Grand Reserve. The wine bar also serves light appetizers, such as hummus and cheese plates to complement your glass of vino or beer. Choose from a variety of Chardonnays, Merlots, Cabernets, and many more varietals. Don’t feel like you’re up to snuff on your wine knowledge? Let the helpful staff talk you through their wine list and help you select the best glass or bottle. Dine in • 206 W 26th Bryan, TX 77803 -- (979) 823-4837 $$-$$$
PUMPKIN COOKIES WITH SUGAR GLAZE Pumpkin season is among us! And have you ever met someone that didn’t like cookies? Didn’t think so. What’s not to love? They’re delicious, easy to carry, easy to make, and easy to share... if you’re feeling generous. It’s hard to mess ‘em up and they’re a lowmaintenance dessert everyone can enjoy. Ingredients: • 2 ½ cups bread flour (all purpose would be okay too, but we used bread flour) • 1 tsp baking soda • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice • 1/2 tsp ground cloves • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted, and cooled • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 3/4 cup brown sugar • 2 tsp maple extract • 2 Tbs milk • 1 egg Glaze: • 2 cups confectioners sugar • 1 (15 oz) can pureed pumpkin Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray two baking sheets with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cloves. Set aside. 3. In the bowl of your mixer, beat melted butter and both sugars on medium speed until combined. Add egg, pumpkin, maple extract, and milk and beat on medium until combined, scraping sides of bowl as needed. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture and beat until mixed.
5. With a large cookie scoop, scoop dough onto cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes or until cookies are puffy and edges are just starting to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes before removing to cooling racks. 6. Once cookies are cool, whisk together confectioners sugar and water. If it’s too thick, add more water, one teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Frost cooled cookies and let them set before serving.
SPIKED HOT CARAMEL APPLE CIDER Four ingredients and only a minute for prep time for something delicious? Yeah, you’re welcome. Ingredients: • 8 cups of apple cider • 2 cups worth of caramel vodka • 2 tablespoon cinnamon • 1/2 cup brown sugar Instructions: 1. Mix all of the ingredients above in a large pot. 2. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until liquid just begins to steam (don’t overheat or else the alcohol will burn off). 3. While cider is warming up, take your mugs or glasses and rim them with brown sugar. 4. Pour cider into your rimmed glasses, serve and enjoy!
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 15
THURSDAY
SATURDAY
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
The Academy for Visual and Performing Arts Presents Armitage Gone!
Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival Showcases Brazos Dance Collective.
Les Misérables Continues Shows at the Theatre Company through Oct. 13.
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WEEKLY // PICKS WEEK
OF
OCTOBER
10 - OCTOBER
16,
2013
FIND MORE AT: WWW.MAROONWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS
group resembles a touch, here and there, of REM and early Cure. MEMORIAL STUDENT CENTER 275 Joe Routt Blvd., College Station, Oct. 10, 2013 6:00 PM
FRIDAY
10/11 SATURDAY 10/12
SPHYNX
Sphynx, the self-proclaimed “trillest band in Texas,” is coming to College Station and bringing with them a slew of other Texas native talent; Major Major Major, Mike The Engineer, and Marmalakes will join Sphynx GRAND STAFFORD THEATER 106 S Main St, Bryan Oct. 11, 2013 9:00 PM $5
NO JUSTICE
BAND OF HEATHENS
THURSDAY 10/10 BAND OF HEATHENS
Since crawling out of the wood-work in Austin during the late 2000’s, The Band of Heathens have had immense success with the College Station crowd. Experience their bluesy, southern-rock set that has been celebrated by the New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The Dallas Morning News. GRAND STAFFORD THEATER 106 S Main St, Bryan Oct. 10, 2013 8:00 PM $10/12
BRANDON JENKINS
In addition to Brandon Jenkins’ success as a solo artist, he is well known for his writing and the co-writing of hit songs for other musicians, most notably Stoney LaRue and Cross Canadian Ragweed. THE TAP 815 Harvey Rd. College Station, Oct. 10, 2013 8:00 PM
ARMITAGE GONE!
Created by choreographer Karole Armitage, Fables on Global Warming is a an hour-long
performance based on traditional animal fables from around the globe. The work, which includes 8 dancers and 3 musicians, focuses on sustainability and explores the connections between humans and nature. RUDDER THEATRE TAMU CAMPUS, Oct. 10, 2013 8:00 PM $5/10
LITTLE WOMEN FILM
Originally from Stillwater, Oklahoma, No Justice is a red dirt/Texas country band making their way to the Tap in College Station. Following the release of their most recent album, America’s Son, in December of 2012, the band announced that they would be splitting up after their final show in October, so see them in concert while you still have the chance. THE TAP 815 Harvey Rd. College Station, Oct. 10, 2013 8:00 PM $10/12
The George Bush Presidential Library is showing the black and white favorite, Little Women, as part of their Classic Film series. Anyone in the community is welcome to attend free of charge, and if you get there within an hour before the flick begins, you can enjoy free refreshments and popcorn in the lobby. GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY 1000 George Bush Dr. W., College Station, Oct. 10, 2013 7:00 PM
BRAZOS DANCE
THE MARCH DIVIDE
The 12
Self-classified as “pop rock or pop punk or indie pop or something with pop mixed in,” the March Divide is grounded, relatable, and catchy; not the stereotypical “pop” that saturates the radio waves. Featured at the coffeehouse at the MSC, this San Antonio
pg 16 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
Rose’s classic drama, 12 Angry Men, and will be showcased at 29th St. Studio. BV TROUPE 3705 E. 29th St., Bryan, Oct. 10, 2013 7:30 PM
MUDDY ZOMBIE RUN
Zombies are invading Texas World Speedway with a Mud Run that spans an obstacleridden 5K course for which you can choose to register as a zombie, survivor, or running dead. Stick around for a zombified carnival featuring games, food, music, and entertainment following the run. TEXAS WORLD SPEEDWAY 17529 Hwy 6 S., College Station, Oct. 12, 2013 9:00 AM
SALSA SATURDAYS
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. VILLAGE CAFÉ 210 W. 26th St, Bryan Sept. 12, 2013 8:00 PM $5
Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival, hosted by the Dance Collective, is exibiting performances by dancers from all over the state of Texas. The festival will also offer a contemporary jazz class taught by Marlana Doyle, the Artistic Director of the Houston Met Dance Company. DANCE THEATRE RM 217 TAMU CAMPUS, Oct. 11, 2013 7:30 PM $6/12
Brazos Valley TROUPE (Texas Repertory Of Unique Performing Arts & Entertainment) was formed 18 years ago with the intent of putting on productions geared toward the entire family. Their most recent performance, The 12, is a contemporary version of Reginald
SALSA SATURDAYS
FOOTPRINTS 5K
The second annual Footprints 5K Train Run and Walk will be held at Ecology and Natural Resources Teaching Facility on 1183 Fishtank Rd in honor of Oana Popescu. An Assistant Lecturer with the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University, this passionate woman gone too soon had an avid love for trees and teaching, and the splendor found in the growth of both. The $25 registration fee will go to the Oana Popescu Love of Trees Memorial Scholarship, and will help current forestry students traveling to the Society of American Foresters national convention. Be sure to sign up by October 4th to get the event t-shirt! 1183 Fishtank Rd., College Station, Oct. 12, 2013 8:00 AM $25
LES MISÉRABLES
Epic, grand, and uplifting, Les Miserables has thrilled audiences all over the world. One of the greatest musicals of all time, Les Miserables has been hailed as a classic of redemption, patriotism, sacrifice, and a poignant affirmation of the human spirit. THE THEATRE COMPANY 725 E. Villa Maria, Bryan, Oct. 12, 2013 7:00 PM
SUNDAY BV SYMPHONY
10/13
Vadym Kholodenko, gold medalist of the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will be kicking off the 32nd Annual Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Kholodenko will be performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26, the same concerto that earned him a gold medal at the Cliburn Piano Competition. This evening will also include Corigliano’s Voyage for Strings and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 1 in C minor. RUDDER THEATRE TAMU CAMPUS, Oct. 13, 2013 5:00 PM
BREAKAWAY
Non-denominational Breakaway Ministries’ events have already set a record for attendance, and Tuesday’s assembly of worship, inspiration and entertainment will surely set yet another one. For more details check Breakaway Ministries Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/ breakawayministries REED ARENA Oct. 15, 2013 9:00 PM
WEDNESDAY 10/16 SALSA WEDNESDAYS
MIC CHECK POETRY
MIC CHECK POETRY
Speak your mind or listen to those who perform at Mic Check Poetry Slam. Hosted by Revolution Cafe, MCPS is held every Sunday at 8:30 and completely free. Break out of the mold and channel your inner artist; you’ll go home feeling inspired. REVOLUTION 211B S. Main St., Bryan, Oct. 13, 2013 8:30 PM
PUB QUIZ
Sundays are trivia night at O’Bannon’s, so grab a group of friends to play or just to watch. Check with their Facebook page the day of to find out what the topics will be. O’BANNON’S 103 Boyett, College Station, Oct. 13, 2013 9:00 PM
MONDAY TRIVIA NIGHT
a drink in your hand and “study” at the same time without feeling like you’re partying or doing your homework? Well, you can do just that. Every Monday night, Revolution Cafe hosts Trivia Night from 9pm till just before midnight–ending just in time to sleep 8 hours before class on Tuesday. REVOLUTION 211B S Main St, Bryan Oct. 14, 2013 9:00 PM
Salsa Wednesdays at the Village Cafe offer an hour and a half professional dance lesson(8pm) followed by a night of dancing from 9:30-12am. A great night to learn new moves or to just let loose on the dance floor! Visit http://www.mambosentertainment. com/grouplessons.html for more details. VILLAGE CAFÉ 210 W. 26th St, Bryan Sept. 16, 2013 8:00 PM $8/5
OPEN MIC
PARTY IN PINK
Schotzi’s is giving you the chance to show your stuff with Open Mic Night every Monday. Get some $2 liquid courage with wells and domestics all night long! SCHOTZI’S T205 University, College Station, Oct. 14, 2013 9:30 PM
TUESDAY 10/15 10/14
Monday nights are pretty boring; it’s too early in the week to party and too early in the week to study. So, you’re kind of left with nothing to do but Facebooking, channel surfing, or Netflixing. But it doesn’t have to be that way. What if you could spend a Monday night with
CRAFT COCKTAILS
Mixing beings at 4:30pm each Tuesday and continues throughout the evening. Cocktails are expertly crafted by resident mixologist Cody Schilling. His handmade mixers, fresh ingredients, and premium liquors make falling off your bar stool delicious. GRAND STAFFORD THEATER 106 S Main St, Bryan Oct. 15, 2013 8:00 PM $8
Piranha Fitness Studio is participating in the Susan G. Komen Party in Pink Fundraiser for their third consecutive year. There will be a two hour zumbathon, one hour piloxing class, and a one hour INSANITY class. A female DJ will be spinning live music during the classes. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. PIRANHA FITNESS STUDIO 315 College Ave., College Station, Sept. 16, 2013 5:00 PM $10
Have an event for our calendar? Submit it at
www.maroonweekly.com
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 17
October walks, runs, & classes By Chandler Hodo
The month of October is crawling with benefit walks and runs in the Brazos Valley--plenty of opportunities to support your favorite cause and to get fit at the same time. You can bring friends and family, fly solo, or even create your own team. However you choose to participate, you will surely be making a difference in the lives of others. Here are a few of fall’s most popular walks, runs, and marathons in the Brazos Valley.
FreeFit The City of College Station has teamed up with Anytime Fitness to offer a free community workout, FreeFit, at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater taught by certified trainer Erika Ervin. FreeFit is an hour-long class beginning at 8:30am on October 12 and 26 that features the popular INSANITY workout. No pre-registration or personal equipment is required for the class and it’s open to all ages. Since the class is free of charge, participants are encouraged to make monetary donations that will benefit the American Heart Association. Visit cstx.gov/wolfpen or call 979.764.3486 for more information.
Footprints 5K The Texas A&M student chapter of the Society of America Foresters is hosting the Footprints 5K run and walk on Saturday, October 12 benefiting the Oana Popescu Love of Trees Memorial Scholarship. Footprints will be held at the Ecology and Natural Resources Teaching Facility in College Station and will begin at 8am. Registration costs $25 online or on-site the day of the race, and the funds raised are dedicated to the scholarship and to helping forestry students traveling expenses to the national convention of the Society of America Foresters. Visit essm.tamu.edu/footprints for details and registration.
Muddy Zombie Mud Run The zombie virus is spreading in College Station on October 12 at the Muddy Zombie Mud Run at Texas World Speedway. This 5K features unique obstacles like the Field of Screams, Intestine Climb, and Headstone Hurdles with the option to register as a survivor, running dead, or a zombie. Whether you form a team or take on the course alone, you are expected to come dressed in your best zombie attire/costume. The run is open to anyone age 14 and up, but also features a Little Zombie 2.5K for the tots. Stick around after the race for food, drinks, games and music at the carnival following the race. Visit muddyzombie.com for registration forms and more information.
Party in Pink Piranha Fitness Studio is hosting their Third Annual Susan G. Komen Party in Pink Fundraiser on Wednesday, October 16.
pg 18 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
The event will feature a two-hour Zumbathon followed by an hour-long piloxing class, with an hour-long INSANITY workout to wrap up the event. There will also be a female DJ, and the event is from 5pm-9pm. Tickets costs $10 and all proceeds from the party, as well as any additional donations made, will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival @ TAMU By Dani WIlkins
Although dance is one of the most free forms of all art, as it can be done anywhere, anytime, by anyone, dancing in a magical space is something of a different experience. As the Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival takes its new home in the state of the art Dance Theatre of the brand-new Physical Education Activity Program Building (PEAP), that magic will be created in Texas-size proportions. Hosted by the Brazos Dance Collective, a series of brilliant artists from throughout Texas will take the stage throughout the night for an unforgettable show of contemporary dance, mixed media performances, tributes, and a reading by local author Kathi Appelt. The two-night show will highlight performances and choreography by the Brazos Dance Collective as well as the Houston Met Dance Company, Charodinum Dance Works, Erika Record, Lindsay Pebble, Psophonia Dance Company, and Dana Nicolay. If your mind hasn’t been pushed to its limits during the performances, a free master class will be featured on Saturday, October 12th from 3-5pm. Led by Marlana Doyle, the Artistic Director of the Houston Met, a contemporary Jazz class for intermediates and advanced dancers will be sure to stretch minds and bodies. If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of a company, come experience the diversity and continued success of training that is the Met. The Brazos Dance Collective is a group of “dancers passionate about creating and sharing art and modern dance in Bryan-College Station, Texas.” It’s a non-profit modern dance company and provides countless opportunities for talented artists in BCS. Tickets can be purchased for either evening and are $6 for students, seniors, and children, while general admission is $12. The master class featured on Saturday afternoon is free. For more information, visit brazosdance.org.
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 19
THE
TWELVE at 29th St Studio By Cheyenne Mueller TROUPE is hosting a play aptly titled The Twelve, based upon the hit movie Twelve Angry Men. The story begins after closing arguments have been presented in a homicide case pertaining to whether a young man murdered his father. At the beginning of their deliberation, the jury has a nearly unanimous consensus: guilty. Only one member votes that the suspect in question is not guilty, and he subsequently sows the seed of reasonable doubt as the play progresses. The jury is further instructed that a guilty verdict will be accompanied by a mandatory death sentence. The twelve then move to the jury room, where they begin to become acquainted with the personalities of their peers, since no names are known or given. Several of the jurors have different reasons for discriminating against the witness: his race, his background, and the troubled relationship between one juror and his own son. The production will take place at the 29th St. Studio at 3705 E. 29th St. in the Town & Country Center. Tickets for adults are $15 and youths ages 2-12 are $6. If you’re a member of the BVT, tickets cost $12 for adults. Tickets may be purchased 45 minutes prior to show time at the door.
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Roadtrips and Getaways Within a Day’s Drive
Day Trip to Natural Bridge Caverns By Chandler Hodo
With fall weather not making its appearance as quickly as we’d like it to, Texans are still searching for ways to beat the heat. In this Weekender, we’re taking you to the Natural Bridge Caverns in New Braunfels, where the cave’s temperature is always below 70 degrees. Depart from College Station around 9am on Saturday morning and hop on 21 West towards New Braunfels. The trip will take you about three hours, so you should arrive at your destination around noon, just in time for lunch at Tom’s Ribs. The lunch spot is about ten minutes from the caverns and is regarded as a landmark since 1986. The BBQ joint resembles a family style kitchen in a rustic atmosphere; the generous servings of their famous Texas style ribs, chicken, catfish, and more will fuel your future spelunking endeavors. Once you’ve had lunch, head over to the caverns for the main attraction. There are numerous options for tours inside the caves, so you can choose your favorite or combine multiple activities. The most popular tours are the original Discovery Tour and the Hidden Passages Tour. They resemble each other in duration (about 70 minutes), walking distance (less than a mile), and depth (180 feet), but differ on what you will see. The Discovery Tour will take you to multiple large cavern rooms with monstrous formations, including the biggest cavern room in Texas. The Hidden Passages Tour shows you the caves from a different perspective; you will see smaller, more delicate, and unusual formations in an atmosphere that uses a state-of-the-art lighting system to give the cavern a more dramatic ambiance. (There is also a “total darkness” demonstration at the end of the tour.) Each tour costs $19.99 for adult admission, or you can combine the two for a 3-4 hour long experience that will only set you back $29.99. The Canopy Challenge—the newest attraction at the caverns—gives you 30 minutes to make your way to the top of a 60-foot, 4-tier adventure course while you confront 47 obstacles, such as tightropes and uneven bridges (don’t worry; you’re strapped securely into a harness). You can also take the Zip Line Challenge where you get to choose from four different zipline courses and glide across the Texas Hill Country landscape. Each challenge costs $17.99 individually, or they can be combined for $27.99. If zip lining is really your thing, you can add on two more zip line courses for $9.99. The caverns are open from 9am-4pm daily for the rest of 2013 but are closed on all major holidays. Some tours are still hosted even if it rains, so give them a call at 210-651-6101 if you’re concerned about the weather.
pg 20 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
Set in 1815 France, Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a burly French peasant of abnormal strength and potentially violent nature. The story tells of his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his starving sister’s child. Valjean breaks his parole and starts his life anew after a kindly bishop bestows kindness towards him, inspiring him to change his violent nature. But he is relentlessly tracked down by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way and nine years later, Valjean and a slew of characters, including his sister’s child, are swept into revolutionary France, where a group of young idealists make their last stand at a street barricade. Published as a novel in 1892, Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables was considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Hugo took no shortcuts, as the unabridged English-language versions can get up to 1500 pages long. The book has been adapted into numerous media, such as theatre and the more familiar film by the same name that came out Christmas of 2012.
at The Theatre Company By Cheyenne Mueller
Epic, grand, and uplifting, Les Misérables packs an emotional wallop that has thrilled audiences all over the world. Its powerful affirmation of the human spirit has earned it masterpiece status. One of the greatest musicals, Les Misérables has astounded audiences all over the world and has been hailed as a family classic of redemption, patriotism and sacrifice. The Theatre Company is presenting the UK touring company version to audiences September 27th through October 13th. Tickets can be purchased online at theatrecompany.com.
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 21
TEXAS GRAND SLAM
pg 22 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
11.07.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 23
3 APPS YOU WON’T REGRET DOWNLOADING
By Luke Murray
KAYAK PRO There are few things most people have in common. Two of those being that most of us like to travel but most of us are also on budgets. Various travel search platforms have made it easy to find the best deals and to compare rates to get the most bang for your buck. Kayak offers some of the best tools for comparing everything from room rates to booking fees. Their new Kayak Pro app (free for a limited time) puts the world’s destinations at your fingertips. Book your flight, hotel stay, and rental car while you manage your itinerary and receive mobile alerts when prices change. – FREE SEAT GEEK When it comes to buying tickets, it’s hard to know who to trust. Are you getting ripped off? Are these tickets legit? Are there better seats or better prices elsewhere? It’s a hassle; we feel you. Considered as the “Kayak for event tickets,” SeatGeek gives you the best options for affordable ticket prices for your next concert or sporting event. Pulling rates from reputable sellers ranging from eBay to Ticket Exchange, SeatGeek gives you the option to choose the price and seat location that works best for you. The app also gives you the ability to check the views from your seats before making your purchase, giving you the chance to score ideal seats to catch that epic guitar solo or game-winning touchdown before you commit. Simply search by venue, location, sport’s team, or performer, pick your price, and enjoy the show. – FREE NIELSON TOP TEN In their 90-year history, Nielsen has been producing viewer ratings for everything from television networks to record labels. Now they’ve released an app that provides users with a customizable interface of lists for all the best current TV shows, movies, music, video games, books, websites, and more. Nielsen TOPTEN allows you to personalize your lists based on gender, age, location, and preferences. The app—which Nielsen has partnered with Buzzfeed—gives you the ability to view trending stories and hot topics. From hot shows to entertainment, check out what everyone else is viewing and get feedback before checking it out yourself. – FREE
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 24 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
The Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts presents
Armitage Gone! Dance in
The Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts Presents:
Fables on Global Warming Thursday, October 10 8 pm, Texas A&M Rudder Theatre Tickets $5 Students, $10 General Admission Available at the MSC Box Office Call 979.845.1234 for Tickets For more information, call 979.847.2787 avpa@tamu.edu v academyarts.tamu.edu w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / AV PA a t TA M U
dance theatre
It’s Time For
music visual art
It’s Time For Texas A&M
Armitage Gone! By Dani Wilkins
Performed by the internationally acclaimed troupe, Armitage Gone! Dance Company, this multi-media show is a fanciful blend of familiar folk tales, music, storytelling and breathtaking choreography. A series of stories are brought to life through music and dance, and as the show artfully blends science with art, each story is told through the eyes of animals in the natural world. Not meant to focus on the negativity of science lessons, Armitage displays the spiritual connection of man with nature in a fresh and engaging exhibition, rich with metaphors relating to ecology and climate change. Fables by Aesop and de la Fontaine, familiar from our childhood, are mixed with cultural stories from China and Native America. A clever threesome of The Passenger Pigeon, The Carolina Parakeet, and The Big Thicket Hog Nosed Skunk narrate tales in clever contemporary piece by composer/lyricist Corey Dargel. As dancers transform from animal to animal, they breathe life into stories with movements choreographed by Karole Armitage. Tickets can be purchased at the MSC Box Office on TAMU campus, over the phone at 979.845.1234, or online at boxoffice.tamu.edu. $5 for students and $10 for general admission. maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 25
- By Brandon Nowalk -
Leviathan HORROR (NR)
Gravity ACTION (R)
One of the year’s best movies never played in our neck of the woods, but it’s finally out on DVD and Blu-Ray. It’s a fishing documentary, but before you change the channel, let us assure you: There’s nothing sleepy about Leviathan. The commercial fishing industry is just grist for this film, the pulp that gets ground up in the service of something much stranger. The shots and images are sometimes otherworldly, other times nightmarish. Co-director Lucien Castaing-Taylor made a more bucolic, man-animal documentary a couple years ago called Sweetgrass, a gorgeous vision of Montana shepherds. Leviathan is equally beautiful but much darker. It may not be a horror film in the traditional sense, but if you’re looking for some artier October night viewing, or if you’re interested in the cutting edge of documentary filmmaking, or if you just want to see one of the most inventive movies of the year, check out Leviathan.
Gravity is the most visceral film of the year so far. It’s virtually a visual rollercoaster, especially if you see it in IMAX or even AMC’s knockoff IMAX (which uses the name but not the full, overpowering specs of true IMAX), where the sound rumbles through the seats like you’re on Disney Star Tours ride. There isn’t much to Gravity in the traditional “great movie” sense. It’s just an intense survival tale, but one that evokes all the horror and wonder of its premise. It’s true what they say: In space, no one can hear you scream. It starts with a few facts about space—there’s no air pressure, nothing to carry sound, simple survival is kind of crazy if you think about it. The film reevaluates the popular view of space exploration., that which has become so blase to Americans, that the space program is largely on hold. But in Gravity, space is again the final frontier and one of the great marvels of human progress. I’d say American progress, but Gravity takes advantage of almost everything in orbit as part of its plot: It starts with the U.S. space shuttle Explorer repairing the Hubble telescope, then a Russian satellite demolition gone awry has a ripple effect on all the other telecommunications satellites, creating a cloud of debris which threatens the Explorer astronauts. Eventually, everyone has to fly to the International Space Station, Russian escape modules, and the recent Chinese station in a gripping last ditch effort at returning back home. The two stars, Sandra Bullock as a doctor still grieving the accidental death of her daughter and George Clooney as an honest-to-goodness space cowboy hero, take us on an emotional journey that will have you jaw-dropped, breathless, and, at the right moments, tearing up. But the real star is director Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men), whose long, fluid camerawork creates an overwhelming immediacy. It’s he who gets the first tears: Before anything has happened, the camera just touring the Explorer crew working on the Hubble puts us in awe of deep space, and it’s the greatest cinematic image of the fear of the unknown in quite some time.
pg 26 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
Much Ado About Nothing DRAMA (R)
After writing and directing The Avengers, Joss Whedon assembled a group of actors mostly from his cult TV shows at his house for a couple of weeks to film a low-budget black-andwhite modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing. The result is a promising story about mistaken identities and grudging romances at a house packed with delicious comic performances. Amy Acker, in particular, stands out as the practical Beatrice, but Clark Gregg, currently starring on Agents of SHIELD, also shines as her father. The worst part, unfortunately, is Whedon, whose black-and-white is dull and whose camerawork moves willy-nilly. But that distraction is more than overcome by the force of Shakespeare’s words and the adaptation’s cast. If this is what happens when these guys get together for a couple weeks in sun-dappled SoCal, sign them up for more!
1. 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.)
2. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
among her exes across the country. PG-13 (96 min.)
8. Insidious: Chapter 2
Patrick Wilson may have gotten his son back from the demonic spirit world, but is it really his son? And why are the demons so intent on possessing him? Rose Byrne co-stars. PG-13 (105 min.)
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.)
9. Pulling Strings
3. Runner Runner
10. Enough Said
Justin Timberlake plays a grad student who gets into online poker to pay his tuition. When he’s cheated out of his savings, he discovers an offshore site with an enticing criminal opportunity. Ben Affleck co-stars. R (91 min.)
4. Prisoners
When the daughters of two neighboring families are kidnapped on Thanksgiving, the parents take matters into their own hands, even as the police investigate in this star-studded drama (Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal). R (153 min.)
5. Rush
Beefy Chris Hemsworth squares off with brainy Daniel Bruehl through the ‘70s as they compete in races across the globe. The only thing is, as an opening monologue tells us, there’s a tragedy in their future. R (123 min.)
6. Don Jon
Joseph Gordon-Levitt writes, directs, and stars as a Jersey Shore caricature and porn addict who finds actual sex unsatisfying. Enter Scarlett Johansson’s vapid princess and Julianne Moore’s night school classmate. R (90 min.)
7. Baggage Claim
As the only unamarried woman in her family, Paula Patton and her friends use their airport connections to cook up a plan to help her find the “one”
A Mexico city mariachi singer is denied a visa for his daughter to visit their relatives in the US. That is, until he and his friend invite an embassy worker on an adventure. PG (112 min.)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus befriends a hippie poet (Catherine Keener) and her exhusband James Gandolfini at the same party. Her relationships with each start to threaten each other. Her college-bound daughter only cranks up her emotions. PG-13 (93 min.)
11. Instructions not Included An Acapulco playboy is forced to reorient his life when his daughter is left on his doorstep. Then he has to do it all over again when the birth mother shows up in this Spanish-language hit. PG-13 (115 min.)
12. We’re the Millers
A road trip comedy about a bunch of outcasts playing an all-American family (Jason Sudeikis as dealer dad, Jennifer Aniston as stripper mom) to sneak into Mexico and retrieve a marijuana package for a quick buck. R (110 min.)
13. The Family
Robert De Niro plays a gangster in witness protection in small-town France with his wife Michelle Pfeiffer and handler Tommy Lee Jones. But this fish-out-of-water comedy gradually turns into a violent showdown with his ex-associates. R (110 min.)
14. The Butler
Forest Whitaker serves as White
House butler for eight different presidents (Robin Williams, John Cusack, James Marsden, the list goes on) while his son explores the rise of the Black Panthers. PG-13 (132 min.)
15.Grace Unplugged
AJ Michalka stars in this Christian movie as a singer who finally gets her big break by taking an opportunity first offered to her father. But the higher she climbs, the more her values are tested. PG (103 min.)
16. Metallica: Through The Never
The newest Metallica concert doc takes a surreal twist when a roadie played by Dane DeHaan is sent on a mission to pick up a certain item and gradually finds himself hunted by deadly horsemen and more. R (94 min.)
17. Riddick
Vin Diesel’s night-vision superhero (or super-antihero) is back, this time pitting two crews of bounty hunters against each other so he can escape the planet he’s marooned on amid a dangerous swarm of aliens. R (119 min.)
18. Battle of the Year
In this combination of sports movie and musical, Lost’s Josh Holloway coaches an American breakdancing team as they compete for the top honors at an annual international competition, co-starring Josh Peck and Chris Brown. PG-13 (109 min.)
19. Despicable Me 2
The heroic Anti-Villain League hires Steve Carell as a grumbling supervillain turned adoptive father to help fight a new supervillain. Featuring the voices of Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, and Russell Brand. PG (98 min.)
20. Blue Jasmine
Cate Blanchett’s real housewife of New York has to move in with her working class adoptive sister Sally Hawkins when her Wall Street ex gets caught by the feds as Woody Allen tours San Francisco. PG-13 (98 min.)
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 27
Art FORSYTH GALLERIES
Art for All People: American Illustrators at Texas A&M August 2-October 13, 2013 Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm FREE
By Topher Hawkes
Pinball...In a Galaxy Far, Far Away So what do you get when you combine pinball and Star Wars? An awesome and addicting game. Star Wars Pinball costs $1.99 on Google Play and the Apple Store, and comes with one pinball table at the start of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Zen Studios also offers two more pinball tables for $1.99 each: Boba Fett and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Since the pinball tables resemble real pinball machines, serious players will find some real challenges within each table. By accomplishing certain goals and challenges, characters will appear on the table and small scenes taken from the movies will ensue. For instance, on the Boba Fett table, the bounty hunter flies back and forth across the table if the ball hits the pillar he’s standing on. If players send the ball through a pair of loops enough times, Jabba the Hutt moves onto the table and Boba Fett nods to him. Little scenes like this might break away from the action, but it does reward players for meeting goals and encourages them to see all the interactions. Also, during gameplay, Star Wars fans will recognize a plethora of sound effects from the series. Laser fire is heard when the ball is launched, Darth Vader taunts and dishes out commands, R2D2 squeals, and the snap-hiss sound of a lightsaber rings with digital clarity and never gets old. In addition, John Williams’ classic soundtrack accompanies all the action and evokes feelings of nostalgia. Out of all of them, the Boba Fett table is the most fun. The table is built around the character, and while you are knocking balls around, he talks and interacts with objects on the table. For example, sometimes when the player is about to lose a ball, he fires a grappling hook device and pulls it back, keeping it in play. In addition, after lighting up the letters “EMPIRE,” Darth Vader appears and reminds the bounty hunter that he wants the targets alive; “no disintegrations.” Fortunately, if you aren’t the best pinball player in the world, you can change the settings to increase the number of balls available or simplify the dynamics of gameplay, which makes it helpful for people who want to have more time with the tables or unlock more scenes. The only drawback is players can’t post scores to leaderboards. Zen Studios promises that more Star Wars-themed tables are on the way, and the company also offers a variety of Marvel-themed tables as well.
pg 28 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
George Woodall and the Art of English Cameo Glass August 2-December 15, 2013 Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm FREE Runyon Cameo Examples and paperweights Permanent Exhibit Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
STARK GALLERIES
Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist Works on Paper by the Artist & His Circle August 29- December 15, 2013 Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm FREE
GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM access/ABILITY July 15, 2013-September 30,2013 Mon-Sat 9:30am-5 pm Cost: Adults- $9.00 Seniors-$7.00 TAMU & Blinn Students- Free Other college students with ID- $3.00 Youth (6-17)- $3.00 Children (5 and under)- Free
SEAD GALLERY
Becky Phillips Sublime Encounters: Science and Art Collide Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-6PM
“Thinking of view” so listen carefully by Matt Jones
Open Everyday 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. 1808 Texas Ave. College Station, TX 77840 979.485.8888
10% off food purchase with this ad
Across
Down
1 AMA members 4 Defiant stayer’s stance 11 Race participant? 14 Black Eyed Peas singer will.___ 15 Place for a friend to crash 16 SOS part 17 Bed linen where bad stuff goes on? 19 Hosp. diagnostic 20 “___ fair in love and war” 21 Smooth fabric 22 Random link from some stranger, say 23 Late comedian Phyllis 26 Island show 28 Planner square 29 “West Side Story” actor Tamblyn 32 Site to search for stomach remedies 36 Drinkware crafted between the mountains? 40 “In ___ of flowers...” 42 Clearer, as the sky 43 “Silver Spoons” actress Gray 44 What sports car engines have? 47 Put at, as a price 48 Sinn ___ 49 “But ___ Cheerleader” (Natasha Lyonne movie) 52 “The Georgia Peach” 55 “Primal Fear” actor Edward 57 Roo, for one 60 Disaster relief org. 63 Better Than ___ 64 Major miner concern? 65 Technical genius at filmmaking? 68 Animation studio drawing 69 D, E and F, but not F#, on a piano 70 Quit fasting 71 Daily ___ (political blog) 72 Instant coffee brand 73 Common omelet ingredient
1 Total one’s totals? 2 Mexico’s national flower 3 Reason for insoles, maybe 4 “Was ___ das?” 5 Pursue with passion 6 Deep-sixes, to a thug 7 Language spoken in “Avatar” 8 Government IOU of sorts 9 Lizard that pitches insurance 10 Kind of poem 11 Easy win 12 A psychic may claim to see it 13 Barber’s quick job 18 Adult ed. course 22 “Jackass” crewmate once on “Dancing with the Stars” 24 Pitching stat 25 Rough game on a pitch 27 Abbr. in personal ads 30 Toby Keith’s “Red ___ Cup” 31 Tobacco type 33 Event where 13 is a good number 34 1051, to Caesar 35 Opium lounge 37 Utter madness 38 Late golfer Ballesteros 39 Senator Hatch 40 Jazzophile’s collection, often 41 Detroit suburb Grosse ___ 45 General ___’s chicken 46 “Bed-In” participant 50 Pat of “The Karate Kid” 51 Headwear of yore 53 Bingo call 54 Jeff who bought the Washington Post in 2013 56 Court judge 57 Sporty stereotype 58 Brand with a “Triple Double” variety 59 Slippery critters 61 “Walking in Memphis” singer Cohn 62 Coloratura’s offering 65 Earn a title 66 Cool, to the Fresh Prince 67 Suffix for sugars �2013 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com)
maroonweekly.com • October 9, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 29
Drink Slinger
GET TO KNOW YOUR FAVORITE BCS BARTENDERS
SLINGER OF THE WEEK
Courtnee Donavan O’Bannons
MW: If you were a drink, what would you be? C: I would be a beer, a Belgian Chappelle. It tastes sweet but will knock you on your butt. MW: What is the craziest thing you’ve seen while working behind this bar? C: Someone pooped in the sink in the girl’s bathroom on St. Patty’s Day. Also, the toilet was once really clogged, and after unclogging we found a perfectly upright pint glass was at the bottom. MW: Do you ever experiment with new drink recipes? C: Yes. MW: How often do you get asked for your signature drink? C: Fairly often. MW: If you could bar chat with one person—a celebrity, sport star, anyone—who would it be? What would you want to talk with them about? What drink do you think that person would ask for? C: Frank Sinatra. Old fashioneds and Manhattans. We’d just class it up all night. MW: What is your personal favorite drink? C: Hendrick’s Buck. MW: What is the most disgusting drink people ask you for? C: Bud, Miller, or Coors. MW: If you could only make one drink for the rest of your life what would it be? C: Jameson and ginger ale.
Slinger’s Signature Drink MW: What is your signature drink? A: Hendrick’s Buck- ginger ale and Hendrick’s gin with lemon.
Ging Hendri er Ale ck’s Lemon Gin
pg 30 • MAROON WEEKLY • October 9, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
ANSWERS from page 29
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