the guide friday, february 3, 2012
the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop
let’s make a deal.
Follow the Trend: Nail Art
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Nhaca Le Talks Learning Enterprises
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Mortara Center Presents Qarantina
this issue 3 hilltop 4 lifestyle 10 food&drink 12 entertainment red square roundup // hide & seek
nail art // learning enterprises
fiesta // culinary quips
face the music // lana del rey
nextissue
8
The story Behind LivingSocial
Tim O’Shaughnessy (MSB ’04) founded LivingSocial, a website that allows its members to purchase vouchers for restaurants, movie theaters and other activities at discounted prices. Using skills learned from his time spent at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, O’Shaughnessy was able to grow and nurture his enCourtesy lIVINGSOCIAL deavor from what began as a slew of disjointed Facebook apps to an enormously successful company that boasts more than 60 million members in 25 countries. COVER PHOTO COURTESY LIVINGSOCIAL
soundbite
Feature: jack’s crew lifestyle In next week’s issue, learn about the elite group of students who care for our beloved mascot, Jack the Bulldog, and not just during basketball season.
the guide Upasana Kaku, Executive Editor Suzanna Fonzi, Managing Editor Chris Bien, Photo Editor Remy Samuels, Layout Editor Samantha Randazzo, Copy Chief Victoria Edel, Deputy Guide Editor Alex Sanchez, Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi, Deputy Guide Editor Christie Shely, Deputy Photo Editor Sari Frankel, Deputy Photo Editor Zoe Bertrand, Deputy Layout Editor Jessica Natinsky, Deputy Layout Editor Emory Wellman, Deputy Layout Editor Nikita Buley, Deputy Copy Editor Emily Perkins, Deputy Copy Editor
Connor Gregoire, Editor-in-Chief Steven Piccione, Guide Editor Corrections & Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Upasana Kaku at (202) 687-3415 or email executive@ thehoya.com. General Information The Guide is published each week during the academic year with the exception of holiday and exam periods. Address all correspondence to: The Hoya Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of The Hoya and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University. Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of The Hoya. Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors. The Hoya does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, national or ethnic origin. © 2010. The Hoya, Georgetown University twice weekly. No part of this publication may be used without the permission of The Hoya Board of Editors. All rights reserved. The Guide is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus. Additional copies are $1 each. Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-8350 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741
face the music KinneChapin
Caring about where our chicken entree spent its life and casually painting birds on vintage finds? i need a nap and a Mcflurry just thinking about it.
omglol :D :( :| :)
Spice Up Your Life — The Spice Girls are set to reunite for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, since that’s what she wants, what she really, really wants. Baby, Baby, Baby No — Justin Bieber is set to host and be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in April. Maybe the Mayans were right about 2012. Rocket Man — Newt Gingrich said he’d like for Brad Pitt to play him in a movie, finally voicing an idea more preposterous than an American moon base.
C
Come On! — The cast of “Arrested Development” has officially signed on for new episodes. We hope there’s enough money in the banana stand.
saywhat?
“
“She did the secretary of state job, she was a G, she held it down, she didn’t cry. Obama will support her, and she’ll be the first woman president.” - Ice-T on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
”
RED SQUARE ROUNDUP feb4
jesuitsecrets
hilltop feb3
gpbmovie
Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ICC Auditorium
Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Wolfington Hall As part of Jesuit Week, the Office of Mission and Ministry is sponsoring an evening at the JesRes where students can hear the stories and adventures of some of our favorite Jesuits on the Hilltop, including Fr. Howard Gray, S.J., and Fr. Otto Hentz, S.J.
Catch 50/50 , the acclaimed comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a young man who receives a life-altering cancer diagnosis and struggles to beat his 50/50 odds. Hailed as one of the best of the year, the film is guaranteed to make you laugh and cry.
bi(g)life
feb3 Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. Davis Performing Arts Center $5 The theatre and performance studies program is proud to present the thesis projects of two of their brightest seniors, Jeremy Guyton (COL ’12) and Allie Villarreal (COL ’12). This night of solo theatre performance highlights the confounding and controversial myths surrounding race, gender, sexuality and body acceptance.
hide&seek lastweek
hypnogiciannight
feb4 Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. Bulldog Alley
What happens when you combine a hypnotist and a magician? A night of fun and wacky entertainment presented by What’s After Dark. This is sure to be a quirky and entertaining performance that is not to be missed.
The photos onleft theisleft an example ofof what appear in &Hide Thetwo photo on the theare complete image last will week’s Hide &Seek Seek, but for next on campus is the photo on the right? challenge. Canweek: you finWhere d the location in the photo on the right?
findme findme
all photos leonel de velez/thehoya
2.3.12 | the guide | 3
lifestyle
getnailed
Samantha ranDazzo Hoya Staff Writer
Social media and self-expression go hand-in-hand
N
ail art continues to take social media outlets by storm. It’s almost impossible to browse sites like Tumblr, Pinterest or Instagram without coming across photos of shiny, ornate creations adorning women’s hands. They may even pop up on your Facebook newsfeed. From professional manicures spotted at runway shows to do-it-yourself designs, fancy manicures are a hot topic. The accessibility of nail art inspiration through social media is one of the things that has made it so popular. It’s cheap, low-commitment and can make whatever statement you want it to make, be it edgy, girly, playful or tough.
But one of the most appealing things about the nail art trend is that, unlike most trends, it doesn’t dictate exactly how your nails should look. It’s undefined; there is no “one” look or design that everyone wears, and you can’t buy nail art in a store like you could a generic, of-the-moment item that the fashion industry — or the increasingly-influential fashion blogosphere — has deemed cool. There isn’t a certain color or pattern that you’ll see on every third girl walking down the street. It’s an artistic statement that only the artist can make. Luckily, there is no one “cool” way to adorn your nails, the cool-
est thing you can do is something that no one has ever done before. The point, much like that of social networking, is to make something that’s personal and that allows you to express yourself. It’s best to make it your own, because who wants to see the same design recycled over and over? So give it a try yourself. Play around with polish and make something that’s uniquely yours. All you need is a little inspiration, and it’s just a mouse click away. Samantha Randazzo is a sophomore in the College, the copy chief of The Hoya and also a writer for collegefashion.net.
zigzag
Split down the middle with a zigzag, nails that are half-matte, halfmetallic create an eye-catching, textured look.
semigloss
Use a matte topcoat all over, then a shiny topcoat at the base and tips for a subtle contrast. 4 | the guide | 2.3.12
All Photos Chris bien/The Hoya
chicchevron
To make a fun graphic print, start halfway up the nail and make a diagonal stripe that ends in the middle of the tip. Repeat on the other side.
fingerbling
If you’re feeling bold, apply rhinestones by dabbing topcoat on their flat backings.
artdeco
For a vintage pop of color, add a half-moon shape of bright polish to the base of nude nails.
lifestyle
Unlike other trendy items, you can’t buy nail art in a store. It’s up to you to play with polish and show off your individuality.
nailspiration • thebeautydepartment.com • alllacqueredup.com
schoolspirit
• thefreshmani.tumblr.com • chalkboardnails.tumblr.com • nailside.tumblr.com • daily-nail.blogspot.com • polishhoarderdisorder. blogspot.com • shortnchic.blogspot.com
For handiwork that screams “Hoya Saxa,” paint G’s on navy nails. Show your Hoya pride with shimmer by brushing on some glitter.
Q & A
• fingerspolishmania.com
If you could work for any tech or social media company, WHICH would it be? “Google. They have really high employee satisfaction ratings.”
“Google. They have so many benefits.” Rahwana Amare (COL ’13)
Abby Harrison (SFS ’14)
“Apple. I own so many of their products.”
“Facebook. It reaches everywhere around the world.”
Michael Dulfer (MSB ’15)
James Mumma (SFS ’13)
2.3.12 | the guide | 5
lifestyle
center stage Enterprising Student Manages to Further Education With Nonprofit Organization Since 2010, Nhaca Le (SFS ’12) has been serving as the managing director of Learning Enterprises, an entirely student-run, nonprofit organization that sends American college students abroad to teach English in remote locations. Founded by a Harvard student in 1992, the organization has grown exponentially from a handful of volunteers in Budapest, Hungary, to having 150 volunteers in 11 countries worldwide this year. The organization continues to expand with programs currently available in many countries such as Romania,
NICOLE JARVIS Hoya Staff Writer
Panama, Mauritius, China, Turkey and a new pilot program in Mongolia. Le sat down with the guide to talk more about her role at Learning Enterprises and her experiences tutoring abroad. What inspired you to get involved with Learining Enterprises? I was born in Vietnam, but had never left the United States once I moved here, and as a freshman here at Georgetown, I was passionate about education. Neither of my parents went to college, and so being able to go to Georgetown
has already changed my socioeconomic status so much. I am passionate about education and Southeast Asia, since that’s where I’m from originally. I saw a flyer and saw that Thailand was one of the available programs, and it just seemed perfect for me. I applied to teach in Thailand that summer of 2009. My sophomore year, I was the recruiter at Georgetown. In the summer of 2010, I lead the program in China and since August of 2010 I have been the managing director. What do you do as the managing director? I oversee day-to-day operations and am in charge of everything at a very macro level. I make our budgets and try to meet the demands of the budget through fundraising. I work with insurance; I hire and oversee the staff. I do a lot of legal stuff, like with our program in Honduras, which we had to cancel after the Peace Corps pulled all their volunteers out due to violence. I also work closely with the board of directors to make sure that we are keeping in line with our mission and staying true to the spirit of [Learning Enterprises]. How does the process of sending students abroad work? It is a very simple process. Once communities have been chosen, each country is designated a number of volunteers, which depends on the number of students there are, what the demonstrated need is and how many host families are willing to host. ... Campus directors heavily recruit in the fall throughout the United States and Great Britain. You apply, you interview and if you are great, you are selected. Most of our programs run from five to eight weeks.
Connie Yang For the hoya
FOREIGN STUDIES Nhaca Le, managing director at Learning Enterprises, is able to pursue her passion for education through service abroad.
6 | the guide | 2.3.12
What has been your favorite part about working with Learning Enterprises? I think my favorite part about working with [Learning Enterprises] is the personal stories that come out summer after summer. I think a lot of people question how much we can really teach these kids in just a few weeks, since most of the kids have never even seen an American, but [it’s important] that we show these communities that Americans are willing to fly thou-
sands of miles and devote their whole summer to teach these kids English, and it just makes education seem really important. What we hope is that these volunteers can inspire hope and a belief in the power and importance of education. Even if one child is inspired to continue their education beyond the elementary level, maybe even to college and beyond, I think it’s a job well done. How does Learning Enterprises choose where to establish operations? We believe in a bottom-up approach where people, usually natives of a country, come to us because they see a need in their community and want volunteers to come and teach English. We partner with them and have someone in-country, called the country coordinators, who finds the host families and the schools and then we, stateside, find volunteers that are willing to go.
Five Facts about Nhaca: She eats a gluten-, sugar- and dairy-free diet. She studies international political economics, but hates economics and econometrics. She is from Seattle but hates the rain. She has never been to Europe. She is the president of DPE.
lifestyle
Clothes-Conscious in Constantinople grandma goes to turkey
T
MeaganKelly
he airport terminal is always a hot bed of entertainment (I don’t get out much). As the meeting point and cross sections of cultures, it is where those both coming and going come to … well, get pissed off. No one enjoys airport travel. There are those who “don’t mind it” or handle it with ease. But show me one person who says, “Gosh, oh golly! This full-body security search is so fun!” and I will first tell him to ease up on the “Nick at Nite” reruns and then recommend to him an excellent therapist. So where do I find the entertainment, you ask? Well in this particular moment, I’m finding it endlessly enjoyable to watch six little birds and one abnormally large pigeon fly around the terminal. No, I am in fact not in one of those outdoor boarding gates that exist nowhere. I’m inside, and crossing my fingers that the pigeon decides to defecate a little closer to the little man across the aisle who is giggling
to himself a little too much for my comfort. But even more than the birds, I find it especially entertaining to watch the people. As I sit several seats removed from the closest person, with headphones on and a look on my face that hopefully says, “Please don’t talk to me. I’m scared of you and have terrible social skills,” I pay close attention to my fellow fliers. So here at JFK’s Gate 3, patiently waiting for Delta Flight 072 to Istanbul while listening to Beyoncé (because what screams Istanbul like “Single Ladies”?), I have begun to think … is my outfit OK? As the saying goes, “the clothes make the man.” In this case, however, I will amend the phrase to “the clothes make the awkward American tourist more noticeable.” I stressed over this during the shopping extravaganza that took place during the week and a half prior to my departure. I needed the basics: a pair or two of new jeans, comfortable walking shoes, warm-weather clothing for the spring months and the necessary travel accessories. Yet shopping with my mother is a never-ending battle between the practical and the fashionable. I am, of course, the fashionable.* That pair of jeans with the expandable and awkwardly set waist: practical? Sure. Comfortable? With-
out a doubt. Cute? Not since 1963. After my extensive research (read: Facebook stalking) of the Turkish culture I’ve gotten a fair grasp on what I’m in for. The girls are hip, yet effortlessly dressed. While wearing simple, white, fitted T-shirts with something casual and high-waisted, women are able to throw on elaborately patterned scarves and look like they’re ready to dine with royalty (if that’s what they do). You say this sounds simple? Not something totally out of the ordinary in the good old U.S. of A.? Ha! Oh, my sweet naive reader. You are either a male (thank you for reading) or a female who is an incredibly talented dresser (regular emails with dressing tips are encouraged). The point is, within my 51-pound checked suitcase are my only tools for fashion success. Now please, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not operating under the superficial idea that my appearance will be the most important part of the next six months. If you are someone who has already undergone the study abroad experience, and can look me in the eye and tell me you were not at least a little concerned about how your wardrobe would stand up in your chosen country, then I call malarkey. You cared. A lot. I’m going up against the
Don’t Sweat the Homework at Yates
T
he zero-credit courses offered at Yates Field House are some of Georgetown’s best-kept secrets. The courses, listed under leisure and recreation education on MyAccess, are introductory-level classes in areas such as strength training, ballet, yoga and sea kayaking. Rather than pay for yoga classes or swim lessons, students, many of whom have no experience in these areas, can participate in these classes and have an experience that will expose them to a recreational activity that they might not have experienced before. Senior Anna Chichura (COL ’12) was lucky enough to find out about these classes from a friend during her sophomore year and has since taken two of them, ballroom dance and tennis. “I just like having the opportunity to learn new things that I just wouldn’t take the time to learn otherwise,” Chichura said. These classes finally gave Chichura a way to pursue her interest in tennis without having to enroll in formal lessons. “I will probably take private tennis lessons after the class to continue learning, but I probably wouldn’t have done that if it weren’t for these classes.” As a high school athlete, Grace Brown (COL ’14), a copy assistant at The Hoya took one of these courses as a fun way to stay active. “It’s a super fun and low-pressure
way to learn something new for free,” said Brown about her experience with a tennis class last spring. Many Georgetown students were athletes in high school and, other than through intramural or club teams, have had no chance to broaden their athletic horizons. Whereas intramurals are ideal for those who want to improve skills that they already posses or compete with others, the classes offered at Yates provide an opportunity to engage in new and exciting recreational activities. Jan Taylor, who teaches the very popular dance classes at Yates, wants to give her students a learning experience that differs from the one to which they’ve grown accustomed in the classroom. She says, “Dance technique is not just a ‘follow-theteacher class,’ but one [in which] you have to think and direct yourself.” Her classes are frequently filled with students of both genders who have never danced before, but by the end of the semester, they can swing, waltz and foxtrot. Since Georgetown does not have any type of physical education requirement, these courses help promote healthy lifestyles through kinesthetic learning and the acquisition of new skills. Beyond that, Taylor encourages students to take one of
best of the best here, Turkey’s finest. Not to mention the slew of other exchange students coming from fashionably hip European countries! So play it cool, Meagan. Ease your way into the scene. Unassumingly rock the fitted jeans with noticeably sophisticated tops. Then burst out onto the scene with skirts that make your booty look rockin.’ I mean ... beautifully elegant outfits for casual nights out on the town. Looking around the terminal now, I’m put at ease. I am not intimidated by the styles of any of the passengers here, except for that chick with the red combat boots and the tight black jeans. Whatever. If the Turkish 4-year-old with the same haircut as me is any indication, I’ll be just fine. *Note to my mother: You’re extraordinarily fashionable and put all the other women in your tennis club to shame. You’re also, of course, painfully practical. It’s your gift. Also, your hair looks 100 percent natural. Meagan Kelly is a junior in the College and is a former photo editor for The Hoya. She can be reached at kelly@thehoya.com. GRANDMA GOES TO TURKEY appears every other Friday in the guide.
BISI ORISAMOLU Special to The Hoya
LEONEL De veles for the hoya
LET’S GET PHYSICAL Yates’ zero-credit courses are one of Georgetown’s best kept secrets; from yoga to ballet, there are classes for every Hoya. these courses because there is nothing to lose as there are no grades and no prerequisites. Chichura supported this attitude — she acknowledged that everyone was nervous on the first day but, once everyone realized everyone else was on the same level, they were able to relax, grow and learn as a group.
Chichura highly recommends these courses and hopes that younger students will take advantage of them. “The overall sentiment has been that it’s more of a senior phenomenon,” said Chichura. “People don’t know about it until later in their Georgetown careers and they regret not knowing about it sooner.”
2.3.12 | the guide | 7
All photos courtesy livingsocial
from leo’s meals to daily deals: K H S creating livingsocial
Beins taff Writer
aley
oya
E
ight years ago, Tim O’Shaughnessy (MSB ’04) was frequenting The Tombs and walking campus with other ambitious undergraduate students. Now, he is co-founder and CEO of a $3 billion business. Although the road to success hasn’t been the easiest for LivingSocial, with 2010 corporate losses estimated at $558 million, O’Shaughnessy seems driven to propel his Internet deal giant to the ranks of Groupon. He has no regrets about the professional path he’s walked so far. “Don’t get lost in graduation,” O’Shaughnessy warned. “Don’t just do what seems ‘normal.’ You’re going to end up being a lot more successful if you work in something you like.” This entrepreneurial philosophy guided
O’Shaughnessy to help found LivingSocial, a social buying website that now counts a daily income of $1 million. The company got its start in the D.C. area just four years after O’Shaughnessy graduated, when he and three other young entrepreneurs decided to join forces. In 2007, the four co-founders of LivingSocial, O’Shaughnessy, Val Aleksenko, Aaron Batalion and Eddie Frederick met while working for Revolution Health, an AOL startup. Soon they began creating successful Facebook apps together.
“A lot of people remember this [period] as the era of sheep-throwing and other ridiculousness. We saw it as an opportunity,” O’Shaughnessy said. The four decided to venture out on their own as a consulting firm, and the opportunities grew. In 2009, they purchased buyyourfriendadrink.com, a website that, as its name suggests, allowed customers to buy a friend a drink by sending them a gift certificate. With the success of their apps and new site, the group took a crucial step toward Internet success. Out of a few Facebook apps and a quirky website, LivingSocial arrived. O’Shaughnessy took into consideration a crucial aspect of consumerism and made it the organization’s entrepreneurial foundation. “Consumers like saving money, finding new things to do and enjoying our city,” he said. “We keep these as the pillars of our foundation.” Today, only a few short years after its cre-
ation, LivingSocial has more than 46 million members in 25 countries and the numbers continue to rise. Although it’s based in Washington, D.C., LivingSocial sponsors deals as far away as New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The company finds its edge in the market in spanning the gap between local business and consumers, allowing people to purchase vouchers for restaurants, movie theaters and numerous activities at significantly discounted prices. The company also organizes “Escapes,” which focus on marked-down hotel rooms, and “Adventures,” which feature local events from snow tubing to sushi making, appealing to consumers who look for more creative ways to explore their area. “[We feature] real-world, active types of activities, the kind I did during and after college,” O’Shaughnessy said. While consumers are the focus of Living-
PRODUCTIVE TECH GIANT (All photos) LivingSocial, co-founded by Georgetown graduate Tim O’Shaughnessy, has its headquarters on New York Avenue. Social, companies benefit from its unique business model, too. By partnering with LivingSocial, businesses — especially those that are smaller — gain a larger clientele that they could not have otherwise reached. Although its success has proved impressive, O’Shaughnessy admits that not everything was a calculated move. “There’s no ‘secret sauce,’” he said. Along with their successes, there have also been hardships for the co-founders of LivingSocial, with a less than impressive second year of operation. In February 2011, The Washington Post reported that LivingSocial had revealed a loss of $558 million to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the previous year. Despite financial woes, charity remains another important aspect of the company’s work, according to O’Shaughnessy. When a devastating tsunami struck Japan last year, the company promised that if people made a donation through LivingSocial, the organization would donate the same amount; in a mere 24 hours, LivingSocial had raised about $2.4 million. Through entrepreneurship, charity and innovation, what began as a few people developing Facebook apps has become a phenomenon. For employees of the company, including
many Georgetown alums, working at LivingSocial has its perks, too. “We’ve grown so quickly, so it’s hard to get to know everyone. When everyone else is grow, grow, grow and try to make the company as big as possible, I try to keep it small,” Andrew Dolan (COL ’10), the culture manager for LivingSocial, said. Dolan added that employees often participate in the activities offered by LivingSocial. “An entire group of people plan these events and go on them,” he said. Dolan remembers one LivingSocial Adventure he particularly enjoyed called “Canadian for a Night.” Participants went to an ice hockey rink in Maryland to ice skate, curl and play broomball. They also ate Canadian food called poutine (French fries and gravy). This sense of fostering community is one of LivingSocial’s goals, according to O’Shaughnessy. “[The local community] is where people live, and local commerce is the makeup of the community,” he said. In recent years, some students have followed O’Shaughnessy’s footsteps to intern or work at LivingSocial. Mike McClain (SFS ’12) has been interning at the company’s Washington, D.C. office since May, working in both the product management and editorial divisions.
“In a young company, there are a lot more open doors. I was given a lot of freedom from the start,” he said, pointing out a crucial aspect of the foundation of LivingSocial. O’Shaughnessy, McClain and Dolan all cited a large number of alums working at LivingSocial, but McClain said there is no “funnel” that helps Georgetown students find a job at the company. They send in their resumes, and sometimes they are hired. They might have connections with people who work for the company, or like Dolan, they might come across a job opportunity through a simple Google search. “I pretty much just kind of lucked out,” Dolan said. Already a LivingSocial subscriber, Dolan sent in his resume. He earned an interview and was offered a job about 48 hours later. According to McClain, the company’s young employee base allows for more flexibility and communication. “People that are above you [in rank] are pretty similar in age and interest. In spite of rank divisions, everyone is pretty much on the same page,” McClain said. O’Shaughnessy also emphasizes the importance of a cohesive, energetic employee base. “We need to make sure you’re having fun
with what you do,” O’Shaughnessy said. To help grow their base of young employees, LivingSocial created Hungry Academy, a five-month tech immersion program that prepares students to create software. At the end of the program, particularly skilled students could be offered a position on LivingSocial’s computer engineering team. While many LivingSocial employees share a past at Georgetown, they come from a wide variety of backgrounds within the university. O’Shaughnessy studied marketing and operations and information management, McClain currently studies political economy and Dolan completed a double major in English and theater and performance studies. “At the end of the day, your Georgetown experience varies tremendously from person to person, and that depends on your interests,” Dolan said. But he added that it is the way in which many Georgetown students are similar that draws them to LivingSocial. “You come in, work hard and see tangible results, [which is] what a lot of Hoyas want,” he said. McClain agreed. “[Georgetown gives us] motivation to step outside [of our] comfort zone. We learn quickly and from each other,” he said.
food&drink Take a Short Trip South of the Border
Tapas Restaurant Opens in Dupont JACLYN PROCTOR Special to The Hoya
FIESTA
A
1327 Connecticut Ave. NW cuisine: Mexican price: $$$$
fter a long week of hard work, I crave nothing more on a Friday night than a full-on Mexican feast. Sure, Georgetown has a few choices to appeal to Mexican food fanatics with Chipotle and Qdoba on M Street and Los Cuates further up Wisconsin, but none of the choices truly appeases my hunger for an authentic Mexican meal. Fiesta, a tapas and Mexican restaurant, recently opened in Dupont Circle. Known for a variety of small plates, drinks and hearty Mexican food, I feel as though I’ve found the final answer to my quest. The restaurant has a vibrant interior with festive orange walls and high ceilings, colorful cultural accents and a surprising amount of space for a restaurant in its location. Fiesta’s crowd clamors for their happy hour: drink specials and two-for-one tapas every night from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Fiesta’s menu consists of typical Mexican fare as well as interesting tapas, with innovative gems ranging from the white shrimp and
fresh mango quesadilla to almond-crusted goat cheese tapas. During my visit, I was served chips and salsa once seated. The salsa was fresh and full of flavor, albeit a bit spicier than most Mexican restaurants. The beef empanada tapas were a great starter as the flaky outside pocket gave way to juicy ground beef with the perfect amount of seasoning, then dolloped with salsa. For dinner, I shared the Tierra Combo fajitas for two. A sizzling plate of beef and chicken on a bed of onions and peppers came accompanied by warm homemade tortillas and a side of rice and beans. The chicken was incredibly juicy and tender, with thigh meat instead of only white meat. The steak was sizzling in a succulent marinade with hints of pepper and citrus. The side of rice and beans was a generous portion, with fluffy, spiced rice and rich black beans. The only drawback was that Fiesta
happyhour POM BEACH BLAST Need an excuse to drink? Since pomegranates have antioxidants, you can tell yourself that you’re being healthy by sipping on this simple, yet flavorful combination of fruits from the tropics. With the tartness of pomegranate, sweetness of pineapple and a little zest from lime, you can’t go wrong with this drink. 10 | the guide | 2.3.12
charges extra for a side of grated cheese. While this is quite normal in many restaurants, you receive a dismal amount of cheese for the price— hardly enough for one, let alone two people. Overall, the meal was a great experience and left me yearning for more every time I stand in line for tacos at Leo’s. Located in the heart of Dupont at 1327 Connecticut Ave. NW, Fiesta is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy an authentic Mexican meal. Prices are reasonable and the location is close to campus, while enabling you to explore beyond the Georgetown bubble.
Erica Wong for
the h oya
Dishes you have to try: shrimp and mango quesadillas
with white shrimp and fresh mango
almond-crusted goat cheese tapas with apple citrus honey
A weekly roundup of some of the best shots, mixes and punches.
+
+
4 oz. PAMA 4 oz. Van Gogh vodka pineapple pomegranate liqueur
splash of lime juice
food&drink
This Is Why America Eats Let Them Eat Cake
KATHERINE FOLEY Hoya Staff Writer
I
t was no coincidence that America Eats opened last year on July 4. Yet another culinary creation of José Andrés (Jaleo, Cafe Atlantico), this eatery offers diners a modern take on fine dining from America in the 1930s. Coinciding with the opening of the exhibit at the National Archives of the same name, the restaurant was only supposed to open for a few months, but it lured too much business to close. America Eats was bustling when my date and I arrived. It was so busy, in fact, that though we were on time we had to wait 20 minutes before our table was ready. But we were happy to wait — the ground level is a contemporary bar with chic white tiles and an impressive collection of vintage whiskeys adorning the walls. Once our table was ready, we passed blown-up black and white photographs and ads of Uncle Sam reminding us to buy American-grown produce. Quotes from famous Americans adorn the walls, like Mark Twain’s “When one has tasted watermelons, he knows what angels eat.” As we took our seats, we had a full view of the menu’s preparation in the open kitchen. The menu offers several classic “American” options, ranging from macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly to crabcakes and chicken potpie. The menu was a history lesson in and of itself. We held on to a menu to read about all the options, including descriptions of the food, background information and any other interesting facts about the options available. Even with these items, our friendly waitress said, “You have to try the oysters. It was once said that a meal can’t be started without oysters.” Unfortunately, the extensive oyster selection didn’t do it for us, but we did try the buttermilk biscuits with blackberry jam and butter. They tasted like everything we like to think this country was
culinary quips
AMERICA EATS 405 Eighth St. NW Washington, D.C. cuisine: America Eats price: $$$$ founded on — solid morals, hard work and a mother’s love. When my chicken potpie arrived, it was more of a performance than your typical meal: The waiter lifted the buttery crust out and put it on the plate, then ladled the entire contents of warm, steamy goodness on top. It was delicious. Between the chicken potpie and the crabcakes my date ordered, we cleaned our plates. It was an enjoyable experience, but definitely not a casual meal. Our suspicions were confirmed when we received the check. Ladies, this place is definitely somewhere to go if you want to make sure he’s a keeper. Though the food was amazing, it’s not within range of your typical collegiate budget. We ordered off the regular menu in an attempt to be somewhat economical, but there were fixed menus ranging from $35 to $200. At the end of the day, we may have been better off getting a fixed menu that included a dessert option. We certainly ate our fill at America Eats, but it’s not a place to go for your typical night out. It’s a celebratory venue, or at least the kind of place to take your parents, show off your history skills and flavors of D.C. while leaving the bill to them.
ElizabethSabol-Jones
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or this week’s quip, I thought I would take readers through a couple of scenarios in which baking a cake can go awry. As a Chinese language major, the nuances of the language bleed into the various facets of my life, including the kitchen. In Mandarin Chinese, when you run into an unfortunate situation and feel the need to shout out your frustration, zaogao is a pretty common expression. Now, you may be asking yourself, What does a Chinese cry of distress have to do with a foodie column? Here’s your answer: Zaogao’s direct translation into English is “wretched cake.” And honestly, when you think about it, what could be worse in a kitchen than taking the time to make something, especially a cake, only to taste it and realize you messed up. As I wrote in my previous column, cooking and baking are about taking risks. I would definitely propose that when you first start your culinary adventures in the kitchen, you must recognize that success is one part skill, one part intuition, two parts precision and a whole lot of luck. So even if you think you’ve made a mistake, make sure you try to problem solve a bit before abandoning your culinary efforts. So, here are some tips for when things get dicey in the kitchen so that you don’t have to start over from scratch, literally: 1. If you have noisy roommates who jump around too much or you mistakenly slam the oven door at the wrong moment, your cake could collapse in the center. It could be still tasty, but if you were aiming for presentation, the Chairman from “Iron Chef” would definitely take off points. Your cake goes flat due to the fact that the rising process was disturbed. As the rising agent (baking soda, baking powder, etc.) works its magic, the stability of the cake’s structure becomes
more sensitive to disturbances that affect the chemical processes. Remedy: Never fear, icing is here! If you’re concerned about the looks of your cake, and you’re planning to frost it, the icing will cover up any sunken-in appearance the cake may expose. Additionally, flipping the cake upside down and then frosting it will give you an even surface. If you want to add an extra ingredient to your solution, fruit could be used as a cake topper that fills in the space where the cake went flat. 2. On some occasions, you might sit down with a lovely slice of cake only to realize it’s incredibly dry. This usually happens when the cake pan is too shallow for the amount of batter, or if the cake has been left in the oven too long. Remedy: One way to prevent this from happening is to use the “toothpick method.” First, make sure you check on your cake a few minutes ahead of the suggested bake time. Often the time a cake needs to bake varies based on the oven, altitude and ingredients, so it never hurts to check a couple of minutes early. Second, stick a toothpick straight into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean or with a couple of crumbs, you’re basically done. If you’re very worried about dryness, then don’t wait for the toothpick to be clean, and take the cake out when only a few crumbs are left. Now, if you’ve already removed the cake and found it is incredibly dry, here’s a creative solution: Pour something on it. Yes, it is as simple as pouring a bit of liquid over your finished product to add some moistness back. A bit of orange juice will give it a citrus flavor or a cup of coffee can curb the sweetness while rejuvenating the cake’s texture. And, for the over-21 crowd, a little Bailey’s never hurt anyone. The sky’s really the limit on what you decide to use, but be sure to pour in small increments so as to avoid flooding your creation. Elizabeth A. Sabol-Jones is a junior in the College. She can be reached at saboljones@thehoya.com. CULINARY QUIPS appears every other Friday in the guide.
how to:save your dessert
AMERICAEATSTAVERN.COM
COSTLY CUISINE American eatery serves up quality food at less-than-collegiatefreindly prices.
1. 2. 3.
Remain calm. There’s no use crying over spoilt cake. Soak it. Whether you use orange juice, coffee or liquor, these beverages will moisten up a dry cake and add an extra punch of flavor. Cover it up. Whether you use frosting or fruit, these sweet additions will please the crowd and hide your mistakes
2.3.12 | the guide | 11
entertainment
New Flick Not Worth a Dime Television Writer Details ‘Office’ Life JEREMY TRAMER Hoya Staff Writer
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ntil now, I’ve only given one movie — out of the two dozen or so films I’ve reviewed for the guide over the last few years — a rating of one star. That review, in case you’re wondering, was for a mercifully forgotten British war film called Centurion. The only compliment I could muster up about Centurion is that the blood looked pretty realistic. Unfortunately, that’s one more compliment than I can bring myself to write in defense of One for the Money. Perhaps my judgment is clouded by bad self-haircut-induced despair, but One for the Money is a horrible movie — it has received only three percent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, so I know I’m not alone in this opinion. It’s not horrible in a so-bad-it’s-funny kind of way like Centurion; it’s just boring. It’s a suspense-lacking, unfunny attempt at an action comedy. It has no notable redeeming qualities. It was IWATCHSTUFF.COM bad enough that from this day forward, I’m ending my strategy of purposefully re- BOO FOR THE SHOW Katherine Heigl’s viewing bad movies in order to make fun newest movie disappoints. of them. As the old saying goes, it’s all fun and games until someone sees One for the events going on around them. It’s not a Money. stoic fearlessness, either, but an inexpliAlleged movie star Katherine Heigl plays cable carelessness. For example, as some Stephanie Plum, a woman who loses her bad guys plant a bomb under Plum’s job at Macy’s. Rather than getting a job that car, she coincidentally just lends the car won’t involve killing people and fending off to someone else. Unfortunately for that murderers and rapists, she decides to get a someone else, the car promptly bursts into job that involves killing a fireball outside her people and fending off apartment when the murderers and rapists: unlucky fellow turns She becomes a bounty on the engine. As she hunter. And it’s not and Morelli casually like she’s some kind of peer at the smoldertough woman — she’s ONE FOR THE MONEY ing ruins of the exploinept, a little ditzy and sion that was meant afraid to shoot a gun. starring: Katherine Heigl, for her and killed an She even admits that innocent man, MoJason O’Mara “keeping it cool” isn’t relli says something her “strong suit.” Drag- did you know?: Katherine Heigl and along the lines of, Jason O’Mara were both on “Grey’s on tattoo? No way. “Looks like you won’t Anatomy”. Plum’s first job is to be using that car any hunt down an accused time soon.” Plum rolls murderer named Joe her eyes and playfully Morelli (Jason O’Mara) and bring him in to punches Morelli’s arm. Good times! court in exchange for $50,000. Soon enough, In the film’s climactic scene, Plum kills she somehow tracks him down, but he con- a guy with five gunshots to the heart (after vinces her that he’s innocent (which he is, of fumbling around in her purse for 30 seccourse), and the two of them spend the rest onds to find her gun) but not before she gets of the movie in the dangerous underbelly hit in the thigh with a bullet herself. A batof Trenton, N.J., trying to uncover the truth tered Morelli yells to her, “You’ve been hit!” about how Morelli was framed. There’s tech- to which she responds, “Oh, my god! Ohh, nically chemistry between Plum and Morel- my god! Oh, my god! I just killed a man for li, in the same way that mixing water and the first time in my life, and I’ve been shot dirt in a laboratory is technically chemistry. and I’m freaking out right now! I’m going The only memorable thing about One for to faint!” No, just kidding. She rolls her eyes the Money is the ludicrous lack of concern and deadpans, “Thanks, Einstein.” So yeah, Plum and Morelli show for the harrowing don’t see One for the Money.
12 | the guide | 2.3.12
VICTORIA EDEL Hoya Staff Writer
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ome books tell grand love stories. Others are gripping epics of tragic proportions, while others still are heartwarming tales of animals helping their owners. Mindy Kaling’s book, Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me? (And Other Concerns), is none of these things. Instead, it’s a short, hysterical look into the life of a very funny woman, briefly chronicling her journey from a chubby Indian kid in New England to a writer on one of television’s funniest shows, “The Office.” It would be incorrect to call this book just a memoir; it’s a collection of thoughts, or “concerns,” all of which are quite funny. There’s the story of how Kaling was discovered: She and her best friend Brenda, struggling 20-somethings and comedy nerds in New York, wrote and starred in a twoperson play about Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Reading Kaling’s stories from this time made me wish I’d been more than 11 years old in 2003 and could have seen it. Then, of course, there are the more mundane stories. There are tales of eating too many cupcakes, having meltdowns at work and going on miserable dates. Kaling poignantly describes the woes of being larger than a sample size in Hollywood (and life) with both humor and gravitas, allowing her to entertain while also making a point. Kaling preaches the gospel of awkward girls who spent a lot of time watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail in high school, girls like myself. While reading this book, I spent a lot of time fighting the urge to take out a pen and write, “Yes!” all over the margins. As Kaling writes, “In high school, I had fun in my academic clubs, watching movies with my girlfriends, learning Latin, having long, protracted, unrequited crushes on older guys who didn’t know me, and yes, hanging out with my family.” That was my life, and, since you go to Georgetown, I’d bet that your life was probably at least a little like that, too. One of the best things about the book was that after the 240 pages of stories, lists and gossip about Rainn Wilson and B.J. Novak, I felt like I knew Kaling, as if we were friends. We share the same feelings about men
(namely, that it’s really easy for them to be seen as attractive), the movie Elf (comedy genius) and the first season of “The Office” (it has some of the best, yet underappreciated, episodes). The book is not just stories of her life. Some chapters are merely lists of insights. Kaling’s criticisms of the current state of the entertainment industry are biting — under all her witty jokes about movies based on board games and more television shows about people losing weight, there’s a sense of true frustration at the current quality of entertainment. But in the end there’s hope: If women like Mindy Kaling are leading the future of entertainment, we’ll be laughing for a long time to come. The book’s only problem is that it isn’t long enough. If you’re like me, you will not be able to stop reading it, and you’ll be sad when it’s over. It’s not a literary classic, but I know that in five years I’ll pick up my copy and laugh all over again. The book may not be timeless, but it’s a perfect snapshot of the year 2011 and of the concerns we have, like decoding the texts of people we’re flirting with, having vain photos in our phone cameras and wondering if, in fact, everyone is hanging out without us.
shelf-life.ew.com
WITTY WOMAN Kaling presents a collection of her life stories together in her debut book.
entertainment
Qarantina Revealed at Mortara Looking for Meaning in a Collegiate Life F VICTORIA EDEL Hoya Staff Writer
erima, a Muslim woman in Baghdad, looks at her lover and says, “I want to say what I want, not what you all want.” Yet, these words were also the message Oday Rasheed, director of Qarantina, had in his post-screening conversation on Jan. 30 at the Mortara Center — he would continue to tell the stories he wanted, no matter what anyone else said. Immediately after the war in Iraq began, Rasheed and his friends began creating the first uncensored films the country had seen in decades. Rasheed made his first film, Underexposure, shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein. In it, he captured the crazed emotions of Baghdad under the American occupation. In his second work, Qarantina, Rasheed tightened his lens onto a single family, focusing on daily life in Baghdad. “There is an occupation, but the most important thing is how we deal with ourselves, our problems [and] our traditions,” said Rasheed. Rasheed’s imagined family struggles with all these problems. Salih is the domineering patriarch; Ferima, his young and obstinate second wife; Meriam, his quiet, angry daughter; and Muhaned, his loving son who only wishes to study math. Their home is disrupted by the presence of an intruder, an ominous unnamed killer who works for a local militia. Rasheed based the story of Qarantina on his own real-life experiences. “Except the killer, I’ve met all the characters [in] the film,” he said. “And the killer, I’ve heard about him. Now it’s a very common story — a friend of a friend of a friend was doing well in college, and now he’s in a militia.” This complex group of characters creates a slow, painful and mesmerizing film. Many things go unexplained — questions remain about who the killer works for and why he abandoned his own life. Qarantina is extremely critical of the way women are treated in Iraqi society. Ferima struggles against the men around her in order to protect herself, her son and her stepdaughter. At one point she asks bluntly, “Why must there always be a man?” Ferima defies societal customs not only by carrying on an affair, but also in standing up to her husband and his superstitious aunt, eventually leaving him. The film has only been shown once in Iraq, at a showing in Baghdad to an audience of nearly 1,000. The Iraqi audience did not necessarily see Ferima as a sympathetic or realistic character. “If you follow Ferima, you see her fighting it in her own way. In Iraq, they were saying, ‘That’s not the Iraqi woman, she would not make love outside marriage,’” Rasheed said. “And I said, ‘Well, if she has a bad husband, she will.’” One moviegoer at the Mortara Center asked Rasheed if he was afraid of perpetuating stereotypes of Muslim women as victims, but Rasheed
the president again. The concert started off with a choir; two Georgetown students sang lovely, haunting solos. This concert was already betCourtneyMastrangelo ter than I had expected. The climactic moment oce’re all on this road curred when Bobby McFer… to where? No one rin appeared on stage. At one really knows. We are point, he conducted the entire audience to hum one rhythm our own trailblazers. There is a greater meaning together. The sound gave me to life than we can recognize. goose bumps. There was a cute College is the place to find out couple sitting next to me and a what that meaning is. Our days lone middle-aged hippie in front are rigorous: class after class; of me. My best friend was to my Leo’s meal after Leo’s meal; left, someone twice my height late-night Lau sessions that sat behind me and the first fambecome early-morning Lau ses- ily was 20 feet away. We were all sions. Sometimes in our hectic so different. Why were we all here? At that lives, we lose moment, it all sight of the It all made sense. made sense. I path we are I got a glimspe of what got a glimpse blazing each heaven is like, what of what heavday. We may world peace would be en is like, be thinking: like and what perfection what world Why am I really is. peace would here? That be like and is the greatwhat perfection est question of really is. them all. Why We all have certain talents are we here? What is our destiny? I am a firm believer in the and weaknesses for a reason. words: “Everything happens What we lack, someone next for a reason.” What we are try- to us may have. The world is ing to figure out is what that a puzzle. These quirks bring us all together. We are God’s reason is. Spur of the moment, I de- most beautiful creatures cided to sign up for the “Let when we all come together in Freedom Ring” concert raffle. harmony; the wonders we can I mean, who really wins those bring about are inexplicable. Let me leave you with a things, right? Well, I ended up getting two tickets and hiking quote from Clarence B. Jones, out to the Kennedy Center on MLK’s draft speechwriter: Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I “Anyone can stand with you didn’t have high expectations in the warmth of the summer for the event. I was mostly ex- sunshine of August, but only cited about seeing the venue, I a winter soldier stands with have to admit. My best friend you at midnight in the alpine and I heard cheering, presum- wind.” Be your own winter solably for the president, who dier. All of this is happening for some reason or another; was rumored to be attending. “Great. We can’t even see keep an open mind and eye him,” we complained, losing and your day of enlightenment hope. As we continued to gaze will be around the corner. above us, though, we saw President Obama and the first lady Courtney Mastrangelo is a about 20 feet from us, close sophomore in the College. She enough to see the smile lines can be reached at mastrangearound Obama’s eyes. I was lo@thehoya.com MORE FROM dumbfounded, knowing that MAZ appears every other Friday I would never be that close to in the guide.
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TROUBLES IN BADHDAD Orday Rasheed directs attention to familial struggles in Iraq. believes that it is essential to stay focused on women’s roles in Iraq and other Muslim societies in order to stimulate social change. “I’m not going to stop showing the tragedy of the Muslim woman or of the Iraqi woman because you see it as a stereotype,” Rasheed said. “[My countrymen] need to understand their relationship, not with the ‘other half,’ but with the other equal. I’m not going to stop, even if it becomes cheesy.” Yet, while Rasheed was quick to defend and explain his support for women’s rights, he scoffed at those who wished for him to explain the film’s symbolism, especially with regards to his country’s relationship with the United States. “I don’t have any message,” he said. “The film is not an article.” He explained that many of his fellow artists felt that others wanted their work to always be a commentary on the situation. “It’s very hard to be a filmmaker and an Iraqi,” he said. At the same time, the U.S. intervention plays its own role in the context of Qarantina. In one scene, Muhaned sits outside, trying to concentrate on his homework. Somewhere there is an explosion followed by gunfire. A few people run past him, but Muhaned does not move. In the chaos and confusion, his life goes on. Qarantina is an interesting film, but it’s imperfect. The film itself is extremely quiet; the daughter, Meriam, does not speak for the entire movie, driven to muteness by an awful secret. The other characters spend a lot of their time in silence as well. Because of this, some plot points are never explained. Rasheed said, “Those people live their lives for seven days in that house,” and that is the way the film feels, as though the audience has been allowed to see an average week in their lives. The film itself is extremely depressing, with little hope until the very end. At one point, Salih calls out in prayer, “These days are of the devil.” In some ways, his statement defines the film: The family’s seven days are full of pain and chaos. But while Salih wishes to attribute his misfortunes to evil powers outside his control, Ferima alone takes control of her situation, giving this dark film a glimmer of hope as she walks toward the horizon.
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entertainment Guilt-Free Music Pleasure All you former devotees of Sarah McLaughlin and Tori Amos, listen up. Don’t chuckle; I know you’re out there. I’m going to ask you listen to “Arms” by Christina Perri. I bet KinneChapin you’ve been missing empowered female singers since Alanis Morisette oes anyone else out there went underground. Never fear — watch “Portlandia”? For “Arms” is not just another love song those of you unfamiliar with about getting your man; it’s about the show, it’s a sketch comedy that being a strong woman afraid to let kind of makes me want to move to people into your heart. Remember Portland every time I watch it … even back in the ’90s when that message as it pokes fun at the city’s “alter- wasn’t a cliche? Embrace that time. native” identity. Anyway, I’ve been Let Perri’s slightly discordant voice watching the show all morning, and and soaring piano backdrop take it’s made me realize how exhausting you there. Brace yourself for this week’s last it is to be cool. Caring about where our chicken entree spent its life and song. It’s a confession that’s been casually painting birds on vintage haunting me for a while. I like counfinds? I need a nap and a McFlurry try music. What can I say? I feel mildjust thinking about it. So today, I’m ly nostalgic for a world where there’s not even going to try to be cool. Bear never a shortage of Bud Light, trucks or dirt roads, with me. even though Instead, I’m I’ve never been going to talk I have a bazillion guilty to such a place. about somepleasure songs and I am For those of thing cooler willing to admit them all you who share than being my affection, cool (no, not ice right now. ... No shame. listen to “Bagcold) — yes, my gage Claim” by friends, we are Miranda Lambert. This has all the entering the realm of hallmarks of a great country song: guilty pleasure songs. You know the ones … each time they a particularly twang-infused voice, accidentally come on at a social plenty of attitude and music that gathering you use the excuse that relies almost entirely on a standard your little sister put them on your guitar riff. Plus, it’s perfect for anyiTunes. It’s OK, don’t be shy. I have a one going through relationship bazillion guilty pleasure songs and I trouble at the moment — and we all am willing to admit them all right know there can’t be enough of those now. I actually have Mary Kate and songs. So there you have it: three new Ashley Olsen on my iPod. No shame. So this week, instead of telling guilty pleasure songs that offer a you about a new band in which little something for everyone. As each member plays the flute, I’m much as I love my indie bands, saygoing to share with you some of my ing I “went to a show last week,” new favorite songs that I don’t want and casually pretending that I anyone to catch me listening to. For know more than I do about music, you closeted lovers of rap, download I think everyone can benefit from “Young, Wild, & Free” by Wiz Khal- easy listening once in a while. Let’s ifa. This track has a breezy, carefree spend a lot more time listening to chorus and a relaxed beat — it would these songs and a lot less time debe perfect for the summer, except bating the musical significance of that I refuse to wait that long to lis- The Smith’s Meat Is Murder and disten to it. It also makes use of a piano cussing David Lynch films. Because — more rap songs should do this. Se- that just makes me want another riously, it sounds incredible. Plus, it McFlurry. has my favorite rap song characteristic, which is one hooked-on-phonics Kinne Chapin is a senior in the Colverse that people can actually sing at lege. She can be reached at chapin@ parties, since they’re far too gone to thehoya.com. FACE THE MUSIC appears every other Friday in the guide. rap complicated lyrics at any speed.
face the music
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14 | the guide | 2.3.12
Promise Of Romance Falls Short inThe Vow ALLIE DOUGHTY Special to The Hoya
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ince The Vow features a melodra- ues from there. matic plot of everlasting true love, Although his heartthrob character plays I would have guessed that it would to your emotions, Leo is far too perfect and be yet another movie based on a Nicholas incessantly makes the most romantic comSparks novel. After all, both of its lead ac- ments imaginable. Girls’ hearts will melt as tors — Channing Tatum and Rachel Mc- he croons Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Adams — are all too well-known for their Love” or asks Paige to move in with him by respective roles in Dear John and The Note- spelling out the question with blueberries book. The Vow is “inspired by true events,” on a plate of freshly made pancakes. Conhowever, and while it should be noted that versely, Paige is relatively unlikable, at least this is an extremely loose interpretation of when she is clad in J. Crew and flaunting the actual story, a semblance of reality gives distasteful blonde highlights. Even though it is she who endures the film a nice touch, placing it a step above the brain injury, it the typical American seems as though Leo romance. is the victim in this The audience is situation, suffering introduced to newlyfrom his wife’s erweds Leo (Tatum), a THE VOW ratic mood swings musician who has reand lack of appreciastarring: Channing Tatum, cently opened a small tion for his sweeping Rachel McAdams recording studio, and gestures. Paige (McAdams), an The Vow is betdid you know?: The film is based on aspiring artist, on the ter than most chick the life of a real-life couple, Kim and eve of a delicate snowflicks because it Krickitt Carpenter. fall in Chicago. In the avoids the sappy pop first few minutes of song that typically the film, it is obvious that the two are com- dominates the scene depicting the realizapletely in love with one another, but their tion of love, or reunion between a long-sepbliss is short-lived. Almost immediately af- arated couple. That being said, the movie ter the opening credits subside, a snowplow is enjoyable, but the cynical side of me rear-ends the couple’s shabby sedan and a cannot, in good conscience, offer it much slow-motion sequence shows Paige being praise. The film will probably give you explunged through the windshield. A few actly what you expect: It will tug at your scenes later, Paige wakes up from a coma in heartstrings and present some eye candy, a hospital bed, only to discover that she has just in time to provide you with a holiday no memory of the past five years of her life, fix. With a Valentine’s Day week release, the during which she separated herself from publicists are really milking the sentimenher country clubbing parents, became a Bo- tality out of potential audiences. hemian vegetarian art student and met Leo. Overall, the movie does adhere to the She now believes that she is still attending standard formula of romantic dramas, and a prestigious law school and is engaged to in the process, it addresses the importance her ex-fiance Jeremy. Enter Leo’s confession of the most precious elements of life: love, to one of his many hipster friends: “I need happiness and seatbelts. to make my wife fall in love with me again.” Without a doubt, the two stars have chemistry, and they make the most of the screenplay they were given, which was at times dull and lagging. Even though McAdams probably does have talent, she rarely gets to prove it because she often plays the same character. In other words, she’s a girl raised by a rich family that spoils her and expects her to marry someone with considROTTENTOMATOES.COM erable wealth, but eventually she meets the less-affluent man of her dreams, much to TAKE A VOW Tatum and McAdams bring her parents’ dismay, and the story contin- the melodrama in this romantic drama.
Rey’s First Album Born to Be Mild
entertainment
ABBY REUTZEL Special to The Hoya
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ince her hit single “Video Games” exploded last summer, Lana Del Rey (the pseudonym under which singer Elizabeth Grant performs) has been on the tip of everyone’s tongues. The buzz surrounding her has been immense — she’s appeared on the front
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page of nearly every reputable music blog cals less than impressive, but her stage preson the web. “Video Games” caught the in- ence was also completely different from ternet’s attention due to Lana’s rich and the image she has portrayed throughout refreshing vocals. Furthermore, her lyrics her various interviews and music videos. She was stiff, awkwere a great comward and looked mentary on the extremely uncomcurrent state of our fortable and out of social interactions, place. Her bombing and the song’s on “Saturday Night homemade music Live” catapulted her video immediately even further into made her an indie BORN TO DIE the mainstream music darling. media. Suddenly, Del Rey’s expoartist: Lana Del Rey everyone wanted a sure hit an all-time song to download: “Off to the piece of her. high when she perRaces” Due to the level formed on the Jan. of notoriety she 14 episode of “Satsong to skip: “National Anthem” achieved before urday Night Live. “ the release of her The event, which album Born to Die, has since been deemed “Lanagate,” changed everyone’s expectations have been extremely high. perception of the self-proclaimed “gangster The album itself spans 12 tracks, and Nancy Sinatra.” Not only were her live vo- Del Rey has been given writing credit for
newreleases “Can’t Stop Me”
Afrojack & Shermanology // Single
This song will be sure to be popular on the dance floors in the coming weeks. The Dutch sensation Afrojack teams up with the beautiful voice of Shermanology to create a real banger.
CHUBBYBEAVERS.COM
all of them. The music and accompaniments are absolutely astounding, jumping from full orchestra to beats that are obviously influenced by contemporary hip-hop. There aren’t many missteps to name in terms of the music; however, there are quite a few in terms of Del Rey’s lyrics, which for the most part seem out of place with such a lush musical backdrop behind them. They are simplistic at times, immature and unnecessarily morbid at others. She relies on cliches and subjects that have already been exhausted by those who have come before her. Regardless of the album’s many flaws, Born to Die is performing well on both the domestic and international charts. It looks as though the public is still completely fascinated with what Lana Del Rey has to offer. The next few months will reveal whether or not this whole ride has been her fifteen minutes of fame, or if she is here to stay and take a place as a top-earning, crooning pop star.
MICHAEL HENNESSY Special to The Hoya
“We Must Go On” Pretty Lights// Single
“Young Sinatra III” Logic // Young Sinatra
Relaxing, laid back and genius — three words to describe the new single from Pretty Lights. Reminiscent of his earlier work, “We Must Go On” stands out as one of the musician’s catchiest songs to date.
JAMBANDS.COM
This new track from up-and-coming rapper Logic was well worth the wait since his last mixtape. The song has a sick beat and features a looped piano melody as well as some insane lyricism.
FRESHNEWTRACKS.COM
2.3.12 | the guide | 15
best bets
friday Break out the dark clothing and tissues, because D.C.’s Black Cat is hosting a night celebrating the emotion-filled music of The Smiths and The Cure. Not only will the night, appropriately called Cryfest, be filled with fabulous music and great atmosphere, but there will also be lots of dancing. Where: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW When: Friday, 9 p.m. Info: (202) 667-7960 Price: $10 Metro: U Street/Cardoza (Green line)
abby reutzel Hoya Staff Writer
a different angle
saturday If you’re looking to get your art fix for the month, then look no further than Irish artist Aoife Collins’s exhibit “Tickling the Ivories.” The show is being put on by Solas Nua, the only organization in the United States exclusively dedicated to contemporary Irish art. Where: Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW When: Saturday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Info: (202) 315-1305 Price: Free Metro: Gallery Place—Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow lines) and Metro Center (Red, Blue, Orange lines)
-web leslie
sunday If you’re not much of a Patriots or Giants fan, then head on down to U Street Music Hall to see British dubstep duo Skream and Benga. The hall boasts one of the best and most massive sound systems in all of D.C., so it’s sure to be a crazy, wild night filled with great music. Where: U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW When: Sunday, 9 p.m. Info: (202) 588-1880 Price: $20 (in advance) Metro: U Street/Cardoza (Green line)