The Hoya Guide: Sept. 23, 2011

the guide uide friday, september 23, 2011

the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop

GETTING IN

hiring at the corp and guasfcu Chocoholics Delight in Gourmet Tours

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French Festival, From Paris to the District

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ShopHouse: Chipotle Debuts Asian Eatery

this issue 3 hilltop lifestyle 4 11 food & drink arts 12 entertainment 13

red square roundup // campus spotlight

nuit blanche // choco tours // take it from a senior

shophouse // cafe bonaparte

leap into the void // concerts

fall music preveiw // hulu saxa // drive // dj shadow

8

EXCLUSIVE ONCAMPUS CLUBS

At the beginning of every academic year, SAC Fair brings together over 100 student organizations eager to recruit new members.

With music blaring and fancy signs, clubs attempt to lure students with free baked goods, but there are two groups in particular which need no fancy gimmicks. Based on their reputations of exclusivity, The Corp and GUASFCU receive hundreds of applications, but accept less than 10 percent of them, making the organizations two of the most selective on campus. So, what then is the great allure of these groups? Why do so many students want to pour coffee for minimum wage or MICHELLE CASSIDY/THE HOYA manage bank transactions for free?

COVER PHOTO BY MEAGAN KELLY

soundbite TAKE IT FROM A SENIOR

I pictured the seniors living a kind of double life for two weeks: calm, collected and collegiate by day, engaged in some kind of secret senior society replete with drunken debauchery by night.

MargaretDelaney

the guide Lauren Weber, Executive Editor Connor Gregoire, Managing Editor Meagan Kelly, Photo Editor Shakti Nochur, Layout Editor Suzanne Fonzi, Copy Chief Peter Brigham, Deputy Guide Editor Alex Sanchez, Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi, Deputy Guide Editor Chris Bien, Deputy Photo Editor Michelle Cassidy, Deputy Photo Editor Remy Samuels, Deputy Layout Editor Nikita Buley, Deputy Copy Editor Samantha Randazzo, Deputy Copy Editor

Eamon O’Connor, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Amos, Guide Editor Corrections & Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Laura Engshuber 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. Š 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.

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hilltop

RED SQUARE ROUNDUP GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS

GPB MOVIE: CARS 2

Friday, Sept. 23 at 6:15 p.m.

Riggs Library Free

Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

ICC Auditorium Free

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-Ind.) stops by the Hilltop to give an exclusive lecture and sign copies of his new book Keeping the Republic: Saving America by Trusting Americans. Presented by the College Republicans, this event is sure to keep politically-minded students talking for weeks, so don’t miss out.

As a part of their ongoing movie series, Georgetown Program Board presents the Disney/Pixar film Cars 2. A sequel to the smash hit Cars, the movie follows heroes Lightning McQueen and Mater as they race around the globe with Secret Agent Finn McMissile.

Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m.

ICC 101 Free RSVP Required

Saturday, Sept. 24 6:30 a.m. — 6 p.m. $20 Register at www.gpb.georgetown.edu

Join the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program in welcoming U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black to the Intercultural Center for an intimate discussion about his personal spiritual journey. From 27 years of distinguished military service in the Navy to the steps of the Capitol, Black’s story is one that will be sure to inspire many.

A CONVERSATION WITH BARRY BLACK

Head on out for a day of adventure with Georgetown Outdoor Education and the GPB on the roaring rapids of the Youghiogheny River.

Make sure to register and bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes, because you’re going to get wet!

WHITE WATER RAFTING

campusspotlight // The Big Hunt The Big Hunt is a daylong adventure that you’ll remember forever and an experience a first-year Hoya must not miss. The Big Hunt combines the fun of a night out with your friends with the urgency of The Amazing Race.

Freshmen and transfer students compete in teams of four to six and arrive early in the morning on the WhiteGravenor Hall patio, perhaps with heads aching from the night before. A breakfast of bagels and coffee is provided, and at check-in each participant receives his or her Big Hunt t-shirt. At the start, teams line up in front of Healy Hall to hear the coordinators shout, “Go!” After that, the Hunt begins, and it’s a chaotic rush.

As teams head into the city by bus, cab and metro — any of these modes of transportation is acceptable — volunteers wait to give the teams a chance for extra points by completing tasks such as proposing to strangers, singing the fight song at the top of a Metro shop in Chinatown or racing around the Reflecting Pool. The most enthusiastic teams get the most points.

When not around volunteers, teams must complete their booklets. iPhones won’t help you here, as the questions are designed with Google in mind. Many of the answers come from business signs that either change or have information that is different from what is posted online, so teams must visit these places in person. From

Dupont Circle to Union Station to the monuments the booklet takes teams all around the city.

Teams must plan their routes carefully, and the best teams pack snacks so that they don’t have to stop during the day. There’s never enough time to complete the booklet alone by 3 p.m., when teams are required to return to Healy’s steps.

A few hours later, all teams gather for the awards ceremony. Prize packages include box seat tickets to a basketball game and gift certificates to Georgetown restaurants like Mie N Yu and 1789. All participants get discounts to local businesses no matter how they finish.

This year’s theme for the Hunt is time machine, so each team will pick an era to represent and should dress accordingly. Eras include, but are not limited to, caveman, the roaring 20s, the 80s and the tuture.

To register for the Big Hunt, chat with a representative outside of Leo’s 6 - 8 p.m. from Sept. 19 to 23 and 5 - 8 p.m. from Sept. 26 to 30. The Big Hunt will take place all day on Oct. 1, so clear your schedule. It’s a day at Georgetown you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

COURTESY RICH RINALDI

Rich Rinaldi Coordinator of the Big Hunt

GONE HUNTING Participants travel across D.C. to places such as Chinatown and the reflecting pool.

9.23.11 // the guide // 3

lifestyle

Pulling an All-Nighter: French Festival Comes to the District

ELIZABETH GARBITELLI Hoya Staff Writer

ART ALL NIGHT PREMIERS THIS SATURDAY

P

ierre Charles L’Enfant envisioned the boulevards and bridges of the United States’ capital as an incarnation of Paris in the new world, with the Potomac akin to the Seine and the Washington Monument starring as America’s Eiffel tower. On Saturday, Sept. 24, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., the District will have something else in common with France as D.C. unveils the first Nuit Blanche Art All Night festival hosted in the ShawChinatown neighborhood. “ N u i t blanche” literally t ra n s l a te s as “white night” but loosely connotes “all-

COURTESY NUIT BLANCHE

4 // the guide // 9.23.11

nighter” in French, according to Maria Edmundson (COL ’12). Edmundson spent her junior year abroad in Paris and experienced the original festival first-hand in her host city.

“You could pick up maps of your zone to navigate between sites. One really cool installation was set up on one of the bridges across the Seine,” Edmundson said. “Another installation was a work in lights on the outside of the Hotel de Ville, which is City Hall. A beautiful, meditative light and sound installation called ‘Offrez-moi votre silence’ … was in Notre Dame.”

An art festival fits Paris. With some of the most impressive art collections in the world housed at famous museums like the Louvre and D’Orsay, Paris has a long history of attracting a hive of musicians, artists, writers and actors in its

COURTESY NUIT BLANCHE

VOULEZ-VOUS COUCHER A tradition in Paris, Nuit Blanche brings art to the District — and all for free. (Below) Christylez Bacon performing at Nuit Blanche’s launch party. bohemian neighborhoods, such as the Latin Quarter. On the other hand, a city as notoriously preppy as Washington might not seem like an obvious choice to host an originally Parisian art event.

D.C. may have the hill, but it is no Montmartre and some might wonder if the beauty of the French festival could get lost in translation.

“The greatest challenge in transplanting Nuit Blanche to the United States is that we do not have the same cultural, historical relationship with art — both visual and performative — that the French do,” Edmundson said. “Going to the theater or a museum is a rarified activity here. We see them as supplements to our society instead of as central to it, or we see them as the cultural vegetables that we have to force ourselves to eat, unlike the junk food of television and movies.”

Alex Padro, executive director of Shaw Main Streets, a nonprofit working to revitalize and preserve the Shaw-Chinatown neighborhood between seventh and ninth Street corridors, also experienced the Parisian festival first-hand.

Early on, he believed in the potential of a Washingtonian version.

“So two years later, instead of reading the program brochure for [Paris’s Nuit Blanche], I’m writing the introduction to one, after having spent months helping to select the artists and make the

preparations to host this festival,” Padro said. “And I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to help bring Nuit Blanche from Paris to the Potomac.”

D.C.’s version will include world-renowned and District native Craig Kraft’s neon sculptures featured in an old firehouse studio and a live street show by German graffiti artist Scotty76. Other highlights include international street disc jockeys at several locations, short film showings in venues as well as alleyways, gallery visits and live avant-garde performances throughout the neighborhood. In keeping with the spirit of Washington’s Smithsonian exhibits, the entire festival will be free of charge, although the restaurants and cafes open late will provide somewhere to spend the cash you save.

“We are enjoying such an artist renaissance here,” said District-born-and -bred artist Rosina Memola. “D.C. is hungry to compete in the trend arena.”

Memola is one the artists featured in Nuit Blanche. She takes an urban, fresh approach to her photography and cites the District’s “literal writings on the wall,” including signage, graffiti, public art or even building signs as inspiration for her compositions.

Other participants in the festival share her enthusiasm including Georgetown graduate student Metasebia Yoseph. “The arts scene is

lifestyle really burgeoning,” said Yoseph. “D.C. is definitely coming into its own as a worldclass arts city.”

Yoseph produces art herself and curates the art of Jati Lindsay, a D.C. photographer who will also be featured at Nuit Blanche.

Since 2005, Lindsay has focused on observing the transformation and gentrification of the U Street area — a process that seems to be at work in the Shaw neighborhood as well.

Although our capital is known for politics, D.C. — and specifically the Shaw neighborhood — has been home to countless artists and musicians over the course of its history, including legendary jazz composer Duke Ellington, painter Alma Thomas and poet Langston Hughes. Remnants of the jazz era such as the soon-to-be restored Howard Theatre also bolster the neighborhood as an appropriate location for a festival, which for some symbolizes a rebirth of the District’s art culture.

Shaw Main Streets Incorporated supported the introduction of several art galleries, performance venues and more than 80 new retail stores during its lifetime, according to Padro. The surrounding community looks forward to the upcoming festival for its potential to bring in significant business to local retailers and restaurants with little to no impact on traffic and commuters.

Although Padro could not promise that Nuit Blanche will become an annual

Q & A

event, he stated that there will be continued efforts to promote arts and celebrate Shaw’s history, such as walking tours, open houses and smaller-scale festivals.

The walking art festival will take the city in a new cultural direction, but the foundation of any art scene — inspiring new artists to create — is more difficult to establish. Memola offered simple advice to students and aspiring artists at Georgetown alike: “Be there. Be present. Be involved. Document what you have done.”

“Take advantage of this city and the myriad events and programming that are going on,” Yoseph said. “There’s so much to share and experience culturally. Go find your favorite events, attend, meet, mingle and repeat.”

Nuit Blanche presents the perfect opportunity to do just that. Rhino can wait until next weekend: Think about spending your Saturday night in Shaw.

Nuit Blanche: Art All Night Saturday Sept. 24 7 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Shaw-Chinatown Metro: Shaw-Howard U, or Mt. Vernon Square / 7th Street-Convention Center artallnightdc.com

COURTESY MARIA EDMUNDSON

OOH LA LA Maria Edmundson visited Nuit Blanche in Paris last year. Notable attrac-

tions included neon sculptures on historic buildings such as the Hotel de Ville and Notre Dame Cathedral. The District’s night, unlike the original, is free of charge.

What club on campus do you wish you could participate in?

“Boxing club, because I’d like to learn how to mess someone up if I get in a fight.”

“International Relations Club, because it seems really cool, but I’ve never really had time for it.”

Guillaume Cossard COL ’14

Bethany Ellis SFS ’13

“Sailing, because we crave the sea breeze.”

Hayden Freedman, COL ’15 and Rachel Schappacher, MSB ’15

“Eco-action; I like what they do. They’re very active, they have a clear mission they stick to.”

Alice Antunes SFS ’12

9.23.11 // the guide // 5

your future is sealed at the hoya

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lifestyle

TAKE IT FROM A SENIOR // Dis-Orientation MargaretDelaney

T

he first time I ever heard about Senior Dis-Orientation was the fall of my sophomore year. I was taking an elective course in the English department and the class was full of juniors and seniors. The second week of school I noticed that a majority of my class seemed to have sprouted lime green wristbands overnight. It took me a minute to glean that these students were all seniors and that this must therefore be some sort of “cool senior thing.” As I discussed the ins and outs of “Dis-O” (as I quickly learned this was what was behind those esoteric wristbands) with my friends, my mind ran wild with possibilities. I pictured the seniors in my English class living a kind of double life for two weeks: calm, collected and collegiate by day, engaged in some kind of secret senior society replete

with drunken debauchery by night. Man they are so cool; can’t wait until I’m a senior.

And of course, because time has this way of, well, passing, it is now my turn to be a senior and partake in the great myth of Dis-O. For those of you who do not know, we’re in the trenches of Dis-O right now (look for the blue wristbands on the kids with the bags under their eyes in your classes. I feel like I am not only participating in some major right of passage, but Dis-O is also proving to be a lot of fun.

But perhaps I should clarify that thus far, for me, Dis-O has been about much more than the drink specials and the dancing (but oh! The dancing!). For the first time in a long time (perhaps ever in college), Dis-O provides the opportunity for you to go to one place and be with all of the people you’d like to hang out with on any given night — and then some.

Yes, of course you’ll miss seeing underclassman friends, but there’s something great about being with your own class.

There are the friends you made on your freshman floor — who, if you are lucky enough, happen to include some faces you see pretty regularly; perhaps they even include those people you have gone on to live with for all four years. There are the friends you met in your IR discussion section, in your General Psych class, in line at Leo’s, at a friend’s party in Henle; there are the ones with whom you traveled abroad, with whom you pulled all nighters, whose shoulders on which you’ve cried (read: vomited) — the faces you’ve seen around campus for the past four years. Hell, there are even people you first met on your GAAP weekend, and they are likely chatting with the kids you talked to on Charms before freshman year. They are all here and accounted for. And, take it from a senior (that is, after all, the elusive point here): It is really good to see each and every one of them.

People who know me well (or have the distinct misfortune of catching other columns of mine) know that I have a pro-

pensity for the nostalgic, and this is no exception. Dis-O provides the senior class with the privilege of getting to reconnect with one another. It’s only a sneak preview of senior week’s festivities in May, but I love that it happens in the beginning of the year because it means that, if you so choose, you have the entire year to catch up with/hang out with/grab dinner with your classmates. It underscores the importance of living your senior year intentionally, of soaking it all up and reveling in it. It’s funny, the word “disorient” means to lose direction, but that’s just not true. Sure, my plans for the future remain nebulous at best. But for senior year? I’ve never felt more certain that I am in the right place at the right time.

And I don’t even need a blue wristband to tell me that.

TAKE IT FROM A SENIOR is a rotating, biweekly column written from the viewpoints of graduating seniors. MARGARET DELANEY is a senior in the College.

Most Expensive Walk Down M Street You’ve Ever Taken HARVEY HINMAN Special to The Hoya

W

alk down M Street on a Sunday afternoon and you may be able to catch a glimpse of the eight-month-old Sweets of Georgetown Chocolate Tour. Though these tours are relatively new to Georgetown, they have existed for several years in Boston and more recently in other locations around D.C. The brainchild of

HANNAH HILL/THE HOYA

SUGAR HIGH A small sample of the treats available on the tours.

entrepreneur David Goldstein, these tours take an eager crowd of chocolate lovers on what Tour Manager Nicole Keimer describes as a “pub crawl for chocolate.”

The tours, capped at 14 people, meander for about two and a half hours from shop to shop and include tasting samples, hearing a presentation and shopping for sweets at each location.

The Georgetown tour visits shops all around the M Street area, from Dean and Deluca to Fleurir Hand Grown Chocolates to Sprinkles Cupcakes.

These tours are a great way to hear the stories of various small business owners, learn about how chocolate is made and learn how to taste chocolate.

The weekly explorations have almost always been sold out in advance. Due to their popularity, DC Metro Chocolate Tours is considering adding a new route in the area.

The vast majority of the guests are reportedly older women and couples in their 20s. The slow pace of the tours ensures that no grandma is left behind in the chaos of the Georgetown sidewalks.

Most of the guests live in the D.C. metropolitan area and are looking for a fun adventure aside from the museums and the National Mall.

Keimer considers the most interesting part of the tour to be the opportu-

HANNAH HILL/THE HOYA

SWEET DREAMS The tour visits shops such as Dean & Deluca, among others. nity to discover obscure vendors that you would not chance upon yourself.

For example, on one tour, she discovered what has become her favorite cafe.

The one downside is the cost. Despite the many free samples, $48 is quite a price to pay for a walk down M Street with the local knitting club and a few lovebirds. If you do go, be sure to do so on an empty stomach, or you may feel sick at the end. It might be more worth

your time to see a new part of town with the Dupont or U Street tours or to commit a day to exploring D.C. with friends. That way, you’ll` get the added bonus of a more adventurous day and the pride of self-discovery.

If, however, you prefer to do your exploring with a knowledgeable guide or are tired of the usual museums and have 50 bucks burning a hole in your pocket, the DC Metro Chocolate tours could be a great weekend activity.

9.23.11 // the guide // 7

Making the Cut for The Corp and GUASFCU

E

ach year at the Student Activities Fair, students man over 100 tables on Copley Lawn, each station decorated with sign-up sheets, giveaways and baked goods. Students have the opportunity to window shop for their favorite club, volunteer organization or sports team.

But for the fresh faces sifting through countless emails and planning nights around a slew of general interest meetings in these first weeks back to campus, some neon fliers seem to shine a bit brighter than the rest: Two organizations boast an average “acceptance” rate of less than 10 percent, making The Corp and the Georgetown University Alumni & Student Federal Credit Union more selective than Georgetown University itself.

GUASFCU, which wrapped up interviews and selection in the past week, accepted only 8 percent of applicants this fall. Vital Vittles, The Corp’s convenience store, hired only 11 of over 200 applicants

in the most recent hiring cycle, which ended last Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Both organizations rival Harvard University’s 2011 acceptance rate of 6.7 percent. But when the goal is serving coffee at minimum wage or managing bank transactions without pay, what’s the point of enduring such a lengthy application process?

Something about the high standard that comes with low acceptance rates may have to do with it. To an outsider, this perceived exclusivity may seem a bit odd for a group of students who work as tellers and baristas, but as hundreds of applications flood each organization during hiring

season, it becomes clear that the appeal lies in something extra: a select community that extends beyond the confines of the bank counter or cash register.

service skills, while touching on a potential employee’s ability to have fun, think creatively and keep a high energy level on the job.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

Picking the Right People

“I’m really not that cool,” admits Alex Pon (COL ’12), president and CEO of The Corp. A self-proclaimed huge nerd, Pon applied in the fall of his sophomore year to the IT department, not expecting much. “I thought, ‘OK, I’ll apply, if I get in that would be fantastic, but I’m not expecting too much.’ I realized that it’s pretty selective,” Pon said. Just two years later, Pon sits at the helm of a company that employs 240 proud students, reported a revenue of over $4.3 million last year and boasts one of the most notable names and logos on campus.

For GUASFCU CEO Katie Cohen (COL ’12), it was about the social connections. “I was trying to make friends,” Cohen said about applying to the credit union internship (GUAFSCU refers to their employees as interns since they are not paid) her sophomore year.

Like Pon, Cohen now serves in the bank’s top leadership, balancing books with peak assets totaling over $16 million and a staff of over 100 students.

In her role as The Corp’s director of human resources, Colleen Cacciabeve (COL

has to be some reason why students want to join The Corp.” He used the term “Corpfessional” to describe the ideal candidate: someone who can have fun on the job, but always keeps the customer as a first priority.

As far as the application process goes, leaders of both organizations empha-

Although Aramide Alaka (MSB ’15) said she did not get an interview after applying for The Corp, she said she would definitely consider giving it another shot.

“There’s always next semester, or next year,” she said.

But for some freshmen, the allure of telling behind the credit union counter or serving up a latte at a Corp coffee shop only becomes apparent once they’ve settled in after the first few weeks — past the fall semester application deadlines.

“I didn’t consider applying for the Corp. I thought I would go over and just brew coffee for people. I didn’t want to just brew coffee,” Phil Seiler (COL ’15) said. “I didn’t know that the Corp does much more, because I would have applied, but now it’s too late.”

Need for Friendly Connections

Although The Corp starts its application process with a nameblind form before hiring teams decide interviewees, Pon said that it can be beneficial to know who you’ll be working with once the identities are revealed at the interview stage.

“We’re balancing avoiding looking at names and playing favoritism … however, if you have somebody’s best friend applying then you know more about their character,” Pon said. “It’s not fun being rejected from anything … but at the same time we have an obligation to pick the right people,” Pon said. After all, it’s more fun to be working with friends, he admitted, adding that he had many Corpie friends prior to applying.

For some students, a perception of a possible who-to-know culture prevails in GUASFCU as well. “I heard it’s really hard to get into and people inside the credit union only give jobs to their friends,” said Seiler. “So for me, going in not knowing anyone and as a freshman, it would be hard to get in.”

MAKING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE MAZE

Learning to Work the Lingo

DOLLAR COFFEE Midnight Mug draws students at all hours for their convenient coffee.

It also attracts student employees to work as late-night baristas.

KATHRYN DEVINCENZO Hoya Staff Writer

For GUASFCU, the interview process is modeled after a banking interview — Western business attire included. Candidates must submit a resume accompanied by essays explaining what they hope to gain and give back to the Credit Union, as well as an essay describing their problem solving skills. For the 223 potential interns this year, a little over 15 percent made it to a second-round interview. From that number, fewer than 20 freshmen and sophomores were up to snuff, receiving a final “offer” and joining the ranks of the student bank.

For The Corp, the initial online application includes questions for all applicants as well as prompts for students’ individual applications to any one of the nine Corp services, both internal and storefront. From the professional (“Tell us about a time you received perfect customer service.”) to the more lighthearted (“Tell us your most embarrassing story in all its grisly detail.”), the prompts target focus areas like work ethic and customer

’12) oversees the hiring process for each of the company services. With hundreds of applications to review in a matter of days, the upper management of each service has to narrow down the field of applicants they will call back for an interview.

“It depends on how competitive the applicants are and whether or not they seem qualified or would fit into store culture,” she said.

For Pon, interest and fit are driving factors in any decision to interview and eventually hire.

“We go to Georgetown — almost anybody can do a great job,” Pon said. “But we’re also looking for people who are just good people and who we want to be hanging out with. … Making coffee or taking out groceries is not a hard task, so there

sized the need for a good personality.

“You just have to be a fun, social person. … We’re going to be working in close quarters; we want to be working next to people who want to have a good time,” Cohen said of potential credit union interns.

“Part of working for the credit union is about being part of a team,” Cohen said.

“So we’re definitely looking for people who are aware of what that means and are looking to add that aspect to their college career.”

Try, Try Again

For Lucius Lee’s (SFS ’15) friends, getting a “no” from GUASFCU dealt a blow.

“They said it was really tough. Most of my friends didn’t get in.”

Making it Social

For those students not on the invite list to the credit union’s annual holiday gala or The Corp’s semesterly employee appreciation event commonly referred to as “Holiday Inn,” overhearing chatter from the night before at a Leo’s Sunday brunch can serve to fill them in.

“They have a lot of fun,” James said about The Corp. “But basically all my friends got rejected.” Sitting with a cup of

DEBIT OR CREDIT? Cash a check and get a lollipop at the Credit Union. Applicants for the intern position undergo multiple rounds of interviews to land a spot there.

Corp coffee in hand, it did not seem to deter her from visiting their services, which she describes as “great.”

With the absence of an on-campus Greek life, students tend to seek out other social outlets — and for many, The Corp and GUASFCU may fill this void. Perhaps for this reason, The Corp has gained a reputation of being the “unofficial frat,” says Pon. “Right now I think it’s kind of upsetting that The Corp still has this reputation.”

For Cohen, the social perks should be thought of as customary for on-campus groups, no matter their acceptance rate or if they ask for an application at all.

“There’s an entire social component that comes along with the internship, which I think tends to happen with nearly every organization on campus because we don’t have a Greek system,” Cohen said. “It’s a very natural flow for social life to come from where people gather in groups, whether that’s a sports team or a club or The Corp or GUASFCU,” she added.

While these organizations may come off as highly social entities, Pon emphasized that not all members opt in to that part of the culture. “Being a part of The

Corp’s social aspect is a choice. … We have fantastic employees who never show up to a single social gathering.”

Finding a Niche

Seeing members sporting their Corposaurus shirt or GUASFCU pullover may create an in-group, out-group dynamic for non-members — but for some it becomes a defining part of their Georgetown experience. For those cashing checks to toasting bagels, being a part of these two organizations becomes more than your typical job or internship.

For Cacciabeve, who transferred to Georgetown as a sophomore, the organization helped her find her place on campus. Breaking through the transfer bubble was difficult in her first months on campus, but after applying to Vital Vittles and becoming a cashier the next semester, Cacciabeve is now in charge of overseeing personnel for all services, as well as alumni relations.

“I don’t think I would have met half the people I know right now if I hadn’t joined The Corp,” she said.

Hoya Staff Writer Peter Brigham contributed to this report.

food&drink CHIPOTLE’S YOUNGER ASIAN SISTER ARRIVES IN DUPONT CAROLINE HORWICH Special to The Hoya

 SHOPHOUSE

1516 Connecticut Ave. NW cuisine: Asian Fusion price: $$$$

T

he student-favorite restaurant chain, Chipotle, has broadened its cuisine and recently opened up its first Asian restaurant, the ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen, just off Dupont Circle on Connecticut Avenue. In keeping with Chipotle’s tradition of fast, tasty and cheap eats, ShopHouse provides an equally delicious alternative to the old Mexican standby.

ShopHouse offers customized Asian food that is created at the counter by a team of chefs. For less than $10, customers can choose from a noodle bowl, a jasmine or brown rice bowl or a banh mi sandwich as the base for their dishes.

Meat choices range from chicken satay pieces to grilled steak or pork to chicken meatballs. An alternative vegetarian topping of tofu is also available. Furthermore, cusomers can choose to add a side of vegetables, such as spicy eggplant or long green beans.

Next are the curry sauces, though

take caution — even the mild green curry sauce is heavy on the chili and is quite spicy. If, however, you are a spice-lover, there are bottles of spicy sauce that you can help yourself to in the seating area. Finally, you can opt for some papaya and cucumber slaw, as well as a sprinkling of peanuts or crushed garlic to complete your dish. While the combinations of dishes may be quite limited, portion sizes are decent and any option would certainly suffice for dinner.

The drinks list is surprisingly varied. It includes the conventional sodas and water, but there is also a wide array of flavored ginger beers, which are the perfect accompaniment to the spiciness of the dishes and are definitely not to be missed.

Various beers from Southeast Asia are available as well as other alcoholic beverage options.

What makes ShopHouse stand out from other similar-style Asian restaurants is the freshness of the ingredients. It advertises that it uses

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only organic ingredients and homemade curry sauces, and the dishes are accordingly flavorful and non-greasy. The ambiance of the restaurant matches the freshness of the food, with lots of natural light, bright white walls and dark wood furniture providing a minimalist and cool setting.

The young clientele of ShopHouse and its casual, loud and vibrant atmosphere make the restaurant an ideal place for students to eat. The restaurant is not particularly large, with fewer than 50 seats available, but the turnover is quick. Nonetheless, it is best for small groups to arrive early to ensure themselves a place to sit.

Outside of the Georgetown bubble, ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen guarantees a delicious and healthy dive into the Asian food world at a reasonable price, so definitely make the trip and check it out!

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Dishes you have to try:

Main Course Pasta choices Noodle bowl, jasmine rice, brown rice, bahn mi sandwich Meat choices Chicken satay, grilled steak, grilled pork, chicken meatballs Sides Spicy eggplant Long green beans Papaya and cucumber slaw

A weekly round up of some of the best shots, mixes and punches.

Harvest Moon Along with the crispness of the air and the changing of the leaves, the season’s arrival brings with it a bounty of warm and comforting flavors.

Pumpkin lattes and apple cider may be typical of fall, but a drink from the bar can be just as comforting with a touch of harvest.

10 // the guide // 9.23.11

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1 1/2 oz. tequila 2 oz. apple cider 2 tsp. honey 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice cinnamon

food&drink

One Night in Paris: Bistro Brings French Cuisine to Wisconsin Ave. MOLLY MITCHELL Special to The Hoya

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his summer, I experienced a tour-de-force of food on a trip to Paris. There, I tasted heaven daily through the delicacies of the simple yet consistently amazing French cuisine. Needless to say, upon returning to Georgetown and the dull experience of Leo’s, I began craving the food I enjoyed during my last two weeks of summer vacation. While ambling down Wisconsin one Friday, I stumbled upon Cafe Bonaparte and was instantly intrigued.

The cozy red brick walls and the hint of jazz music floating through the air instantly transport you to the City of Light.

Cafe Bonaparte is a charming, quaint bistro located at 1522 Wisconsin Ave. NW (a block closer to campus than the popular Los Cuates). Since 2003 Bonaparte has been churning out clas-

VICTORIA NGARE FOR THE HOYA

 CAFE BONAPARTE 1522 Wisconsin Ave. NW cuisine: French price: $$$$ sic French fare including a wide selection of crepes, sandwiches and staples such as croque monsieur and French onion soup. The cafe is modest, containing about 10 tables and a five-person bar, but this lends itself to an extremely friendly and attentive staff.

Although perfect for a special night out in Georgetown, Cafe Bonaparte offers a not-to-be-missed option: the daily lunch specials. For $9.99 Monday through Friday, one can order half a salad or a cup of soup with either half a sandwich or half a crepe. The soup choices include French onion every day and the soup du jour, which is always served cold. Crepe options are either sweet or savory. Another fabulous option is the quiche du jour (listed under appetizers). This is served with a side salad for $8.75. Either choice is perfectly portioned to leave you fully satisfied.

However, if you still have room for desert, you are in for a treat. Cafe Bonaparte boasts a large selection of dessert crepes and specialty coffee drinks. My favorite was the “Moulin Rouge” crepe — a

VICTORIA NGARE FOR THE HOYA

BON APETIT Enjoy classic French staples such as crepes and croque monsieurs at this quaint, Parisian cafe. Left: A Bonaparte barista prepares one of the restaurant’s specialty coffee drinks. delicious concoction filled with caramelized peaches glazed with chocolate and raspberry sauces. This and a mocha cappuccino together will satisfy the strongest of any chocolate cravings. My cappuccino was a true marriage of chocolate and espresso and it is something I encourage everyone to try.

Don’t have time for a leisurely lunch during the school week? No worries. You can still experience great French cuisine at a reasonable price on the weekends

A biweekly guide on transforming cafeteria grub into true cuisine

during Cafe Bonaparte’s brunch. The breakfast combinations are $11 or less.

Notable specials include the Belvedere, which includes eggs any style with homemade French toast and crab benedict, served over an artichoke lump atop a muffin with a special in-house hollandaise sauce.

Enjoy a departure from the daily drudgery of college cuisine and take a stroll over to Cafe Bonaparte. It will be money and time well spent.

Leo’s Gourmet

CARB LOVER’S CREATION Can’t choose between the salad bar and the Flavors of Home station? This sandwich is the new “It” Sandwich for the adventurous Leo’s patron. It’s the perfect combination of veggies and carbs.

Avoid long lines, and enjoy a meal with personality by trying this original creation. It may look unusual, but five out of five Leo’s connoisseurs agree that it tastes great!

Top it with a little marinara.

Go downstairs, and toast two Two pieces of toasted rye bread slices of rye bread.

Two scoops of raw mushrooms While they’re in the toastSpinach leaves er, grab a handful of spinach One tomato slice One scoop of whole wheat pasta leaves, a tomato and some raw mushrooms from the salHalf ladle of marinara sauce ad bar.

Pinch of salt Put your vegetables on a slice Directions: of bread, top with pasta and Start upstairs, and grab a marinara. Add a dash of salt, scoop of whole wheat penne. and you’re done. Bon appetit!

Ingredients:

BISI ORISAMOLU FOR THE HOYA

9.23.11 // the guide // 11

arts&style Concert Listings 9 - 23 // FLEET FOXES //

MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION // $20

9 - 25 // WILCO //

MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION // $30

9 - 26 // FOSTER THE PEOPLE // 9:30 CLUB // SOLD OUT

10 - 1 // DAS RACIST // 9:30 CLUB // $20

10 - 6 // SKRILLEX MOTHERSHIP TOUR // CLUB GLOW // SOLD OUT

10 - 9 // JAMES BLAKE // 9:30 CLUB // $25

10 - 14 // BLUE OCTOBER // FILLMORE SILVER SPRING // $30

10 - 14 // G. LOVE AND SPECIAL SAUCE // 9:30 CLUB // $30

10 - 21 // THE WOMBATS // 9:30 CLUB // $15

10 - 23 // ODD FUTURE // 9:30 CLUB // SOLD OUT

10 - 25 // PORTUGAL. THE MAN // 9:30 CLUB // $20

10 - 26 // MOBY // 9 THE FILLMORE SILVER SPRING // $30

10 - 31 // PANIC AT THE DISCO // 9:30 CLUB // SOLD OUT

11 - 7 // COLD WAR KIDS // 9:30 CLUB // SOLD OUT 12 // the guide // 9.23.11

In Art and in Life: Speaking the Same Language hearing that always made me feel better, as it meant that it wasn’t just my limited grasp of the French language that was preventing me from comprehending the inner workings of Magritte. When it came to the visual lanClareDonnelly guage of this peculiar artist, we were on the same playing field. And it was exciting that he most memorable class I took during we got to work together to learn this new my semester abroad in Brussels was, language. without a doubt, my class on Belgian I chose an interesting time to live in Belsurrealism. As an art history major, the op- gium: Only a few weeks into my stay in portunity to take a class focused on the artis- Brussels, the country surpassed Iraq as the tic philosophy of the Belgian surrealist artist nation that had gone the longest without René Magritte at the Royal Museum of Fine a government. Longstanding tensions beArts of Belgium (home to the world’s larg- tween Belgium’s linguistic regions — the est collection of Magritte’s works) taught by Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north and the museum’s director himself in the artist’s the French-speaking Wallonia in the south, home city and native language was all kind as well as the small German-speaking region of a dream come true for me. I, along with in the east — have prevented any majority my friend Lauren — another devoted art his- decisions to be made in national elections. tory major in our tiny study abroad program Many Flemish and Walloons alike feel that — leapt at the opportunity, and together we the country should split and have allowed anxiously anticipated the first lecture. their linguistic and cultural pride to get in However, we quickly discovered that this the way of any move toward unity. class was to prove the most challenging of all Then there are the Belgian youth, who our courses at our francophone university. seek to create a generation composed neither Not only were we faced of Flemish nor Waloons, with the already dauntbut of Belgians. Students If I’ve learned anything from ing obstacle of comprefrom my French-speak... my host county, it’s that it’s hending lectures, reading university and its ings and interactions nearby Dutch-speaking important to accept each othwith professors conductcounterpart came toer’s differences and embrace ed entirely in French, but gether to organize the that which brings us together. an additional, unexpect“Révolution des Frites,” ed hurdle presented itself or the “Fry Revolution,” to us in that first lecture: finding that, despite the language of Magritte. A partheir linguistic differences, they could find ticularly intellectual painter, Magritte con- common ground — a common language, if structed his complex works using an icono- you will — in those delicious, golden, deepgraphic vocabulary that we needed to master fried treats that are such a cherished part of if we hoped to better understand his paint- their national identity. ings. He took pipes and apples and birds and That these students chose to put their differeggs and cages and clouds and trees out of ences aside and instead focus on what united their context in the real and into a new, for- them was truly inspiring. Just as my surrealeign space — the surreal. They weren’t sym- ism class had the common, albeit confusing, bols, but their juxtaposition in his pictures language of Magritte to bring us together, held some significance, and it was up to us to the Belgian youth had their fried potatoes to try to understand what that was — to speak create a sense of unity. And at Georgetown, his visual language. we have our own language: that of Jack the As the class progressed, we only seemed to Bulldog, of “how long hass it been,” of bleedbecome more and more confused — it was ing blue and wearing gray — of Hoya Saxa. We like watching Inception for a second time may all have different interests, opinions and and finding yourself even more lost than beliefs, but we also have all these longstandbefore. Except in our case, it was a painting ing traditions that form our common identity within a painting rather than a dream with- as Hoyas. And if I’ve learned anything from in a dream. But I suppose we should’ve pre- the messy political state of my host country, dicted our growing frustration when dealing it’s that it’s important to accept each other’s with an artist who said that his paintings did differences and embrace that which brings not mean anything, because mystery means us together. It seems like such a no-brainer, nothing either; it is unknowable. Thanks, but as emails regarding bias-related incidents René. continue to fill our inboxes, it seems that this Despite our weekly struggles with the message needs repeating. Let’s not forget it. class, however, we did begin to make friends with a few of the Belgian students. I spoke Clare Donnelly is a senior in the College. often with one in particular, and whenever She can be reached at donnelly@thehoya. our class came up in conversation, he would com. LEAP INTO THE VOID appears every complain that he was completely lost. Oddly, other Friday in the guide.

leap into the void

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entertainment

Bands Spring Ahead With Fall Music NEW ARTISTS AND UNEXPECTED COLLABORATIONS TAKE OFF The Whole Love by Wilco, due out Sept. 27 Beloved Chicago boys Wilco are set to come out with the follow up to their underwhelming 2009 release Wilco (The Album) later this month. Based on NPR’s streaming preview of the album, The Whole Love seems to continue the band’s departure from its original alternative country roots back into the realm of more experimental alternative rock. Jeff Tweedy is undoubtedly one of this generation’s defining songwriters, and he seems to be pushing his reputation even further with this new batch of songs. The single “I Might” sounds similar to the sunnier quasi-psychadelic material from Summerteeth, but still doesn’t sound like a regression in style at all. Since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco has polarized its fan base with consistently more progressive production and effects. While not an overwhelmingly forward leap or fatal step backward in their sound, The Whole Love may prove to be a perfect midway point for those seeking the many sides of this band on one album.

Lulu by Lou Reed and Metallica, due out Oct. 31 Whether you’re repulsed or excited by the idea of Metallica and Lou Reed collaborating on an album together, you have to admit it’s definitely an interesting concept. The idea for this collaboration apparently started when the two performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary ceremony in 2009, where they joked around about the idea of making an album together. Two years later,

the two forces in rock are coming together to make what Metallica frontman Kirk Hammett is calling “not a 100 percent Metallica album.” Regardless of how strange this idea sounds, give the album a shot.

Parallax by Atlas Sound, due out Nov. 7 Bradford Cox is currently one of the most celebrated experimental rock artists, and he deserves that recognition. His work with acclaimed band Deerhunter as well as his praised solo work under the name Atlas Sound has earned Cox a name for himself in the underground music scene.

Though it would be fine if he built off the atmospheric melodies and the stream-ofconscious nature of his lyrics found on his last solo album, Logos, Parralax may in fact be something completely different. Cox’s new album apparently uses his seemingly simple lyrical themes as an undercurrent for an ambient and lonely mood. Competing in a genre focused on challenging itself with every new project, Parralax will be a step forward in the right direction for Bradford Cox and Atlas Sound.

Camp by Childish Gambino, release date to be announced Comedian/actor turned emcee Donald Glover is undoubtedly a talent to be reckoned with. It’s hard to know what his rap alter ego, Childish Gambino, will have in store for us on his debut album. His first single, “Bonfire,” presents an ingenious set of rhymes filled with puns, metaphors

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NICK DONAHUE Hoya Staff Writer

and alliteration, all thought up by a very sex-driven mind. Glover’s real challenge on the album, however, is to prove himself as a rapper to be taken seriously. As a wellknown comedian, Glover has a lot of work to do to shed his personas from “Derrick Comedy” and “Community.” We still aren’t sure whether to expect a comedy album or a rap album. If he continues to rap with the same ingenuity and aptitude on Camp as he did on “Bonfire,” though, Childish Gambino should deliver some serious results.

Regardless of whether or not the album features more comedy than rap, Glover’s new work deserves a listen.

Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay, due out Oct. 24 Those hoping for Coldplay to come out with a genre-defying, awe-inspiring album shouldn’t hold their breath. Although the band does have some good songs every once in a while, Chris Martin and the boys aren’t coming out with anything that will really take your breath away. Their new album Mylo Xylto, though, may still prove to be more of a win then a step back for the English band. The single “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” shows a very safe arrangement with some flare, but it packs more of a punch than most of the band’s previous material. Based on that single and other tracks the band has played on tour already, there’s nothing about this album that’ll change the way you interpret music, but it will still turn more heads than their previous albums.

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(From left) Wilco’s The Whole Love, Lou Reed and Metallica on Lulu, Atlas Sound’s Parallax. (Above) Childish Gambino’s Camp and Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto.

9.23.11 // the guide // 13

entertainment Crime and Corruption Run Deep in Baltimore hulu saxa

into this cocaine dynasty is launched when Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) notices a Barksdale interference with a key witness in a court case, allowing D’Angelo Barksdale (Larry Gilliard Jr.) StevenPiccione to walk free after being convicted of murder. ince the finale of HBO’s The title of the series comes from “The Wire,” no show has a key part of the investigation: been able to deliver the wiretapping. After having to deal same level of complexity and with infuriating city bureaucracy, gruesome realism. Having aired from McNulty and his team are able to 2002 to 2008, the show hasn’t had a tap the phones of the Barksdale Orcontemporary audience for a few years. ganization in hopes of compiling a Although here at Hulu Saxa we tend sufficient amount of evidence for a to write about current programs that criminal case. Meanwhile, the oppoare worth your time (minus the Kar- site side of the investigation reveals dashian piece at the end of last spring), the multiple layers and complexity a recent revision of this Baltimore- of a prominent drug organization. based drama Perhaps the compelled me most intriguing to give it some character is Omar Omar never deviates from his attention and (Michael K. rules, foremost of which is that Little praise.

Williams), a rehe never hunts people who are nowned and shotCreated by David Simon, gun-strapped sticknot involved in “the game.”

“The Wire” up man. Omar, provides a who is openly gay, glimpse into the demaintains a strict moral code and caying infrastructure never deviates from his rules, foreand society of Baltimore, Md. For over most of which is that he never hunts five seasons, the show managed to people who are not involved in “the build on itself over year. Its blunt de- game.” Marked by a dramatic scar piction of societal corruption and the that runs across his face, Omar comdrug trade leaves new viewers fearful ments on his vigilante nature: “Out of what devoted, more jaded, fans of there it’s play or get played.” the show prize: grim realism. Many Without giving too much away, I critics regard “The Wire” as the great- can tell you that the Baltimore Police est television series ever created due Department deals a serious blow to to its realistic portrayal of dark socio- the Empire, but in no way does it repolitical themes that plague almost solve the crime and corruption that every city in the United States. continue to curse a future Baltimore So let’s spell it out. Each of the five that is potentially both peaceful and seasons focuses on a specific realm of prosperous.

Baltimore: the illegal drug trade, the My best advice to whoever wants seaport system, the city government to take on the challenge of watchand bureaucracy, the school system ing “The Wire” is this: Try your best and the print news media. I’ll focus to get through the first season, even on the first season, since it’s the dark- when it seems too complicated. There est, and if you can get through its 13 will be a certain point in the second episodes, you’ll only want to see more. season when everything will “click.”

Season one depicts the root of al- When you hit that point, you will enmost all poverty and corruption in Bal- joy every following episode. Prepare timore: the cocaine trade. The Barks- to be depressed and amazed. dale Drug Empire reigns supreme over the narcotics trade in Baltimore, with Steven Piccione is a junior in the ColAvon (Wood Harris) at the head and lege. He can be reached at piccione@ Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) as his second thehoya.com. HULU SAXA appears evin command. A major investigation ery other Friday in the guide.

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14 // the guide // 9.23.11

Gosling Takes a Wild And Dangerous Ride SARAH AMOS Hoya Staff Writer

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pening with a suspenseful Driver’s character is a study of subtlety. car chase, Drive may at first His face barely registers the impending seem to be your typical fast- violence around him, save an implacable driving, muscle-car movie. But as soon sadness behind his eyes. as the opening credits roll (in a florid, hot When he meets Irene (Mulligan), his pink font) to the tune of an ’80s-inspired vaguely pretty neighbor, his life begins to electro-pop song, it becomes clear that the brighten a bit. You could easily get lost in drama, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, the dreamy montage of their drive around is not your average action flick. the valley on a lazy Sunday, with Irene’s Starring Ryan Gosling, the film has some son Benicio in her lap. At one point Irene noir elements — a Los Angeles setting, places her hand on his, and the sexual crooked mob men, stylized violence, a bux- tension is quietly electric. But Driver and om femme fatale (played by an overly made- Irene don’t progress very far into their up Christina Henbudding relationdricks) and a sweet girl ship, because Beninext door (literally, Carcio’s father and ey Mulligan lives next Irene’s absent husdoor to Gosling) who band, Standard, is becomes entangled released from jail.

DRIVE in the world of crime.

With Standard Such a combination back in the picture, starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey could easily become tirDriver and Irene Mulligan ing, but Refn’s unique ”brake” off their nadid you know?: After Gosling cinematography gives scent relationship. the film a glossy veneer, Although Standard signed on to the role, he chose transforming the acclaims to have left Nicolas Refn as the director. tion movie into somehis old life behind thing more artistic and him, his criminal thoughtful. past follows him, In the fashion of a modern-day noir, and Driver steps into the fray. From this Gosling is neither good nor bad. Name- point on, the film departs from the sunny, less throughout the film, his character is relationship-based plotline, both in story referred to simply as “the driver,” adding and style. to the mystery of the handsomely droopyHere Refn shows his darker side, chanfaced loner. He works as a stunt driver in neling Tarantino with blood-soaked scenes, Hollywood by day and a get-away car driver but all characteristically set to Cliff Martifor whichever criminal calls him by night. nez’s score featuring artists such as CSS’s Lovefoxxx and The Chromatics. The juxtaposition of dark scenes and lighthearted pop is strangely grotesque, yet poetic.

The second half of the film follows this new artistic formula as the plotline becomes more sinuous. Mob wars and double-crossing ensnare all the characters.

Driver becomes relentless in his quest to protect Irene from Standard and soon becomes a target himself. And he does this all for a relationship with Irene, which culminates in only a single kiss — something revealed in the 30-second trailer.

While the stylized violence practically borders on the absurd, and the mob war storyline has been done before, the film ALL PHOTOS: ONLINEMOVIEHUTS.COM redeems itself with Refn’s romantic cinIN THE BACKSEAT Driver (Gosling) and ematography. The seamy glitter of Los AnIrene (Mulligan) begin a smoldering geles perfectly underscores the gorgeous friendship that ends up deadly. violence.

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entertainment

Mashup Mixer Trapped in His Own Shadow WIL CURIEL Special to The Hoya With his debut album Entroducing ..., DJ Shadow (born Josh Davis) was hailed as the artist that would bring turntablism out of dark, seedy clubs and into the light of mainstream culture. He created an entire album out of samples and, upon massive success, found himself a niche. Instead of using samples from songs that topped charts in their day

911.COM

like mashup artist Girl Talk, DJ Shadow and a range of vocal samples, all seamuses hooks that only the most hardcore lessly transitioning and blending into fan of a genre would know. The listener one another.

The shift to the can therefore second song, “Borfocus more on der Crossing,” is how the songs fit exactly that. Shadtogether, rather ow forays out of than anticipathis normal soul/ ing the next Lil THE LESS YOU KNOW, THE hip-hop realm Jon verse. and into the unInstead of playBETTER charted territory ing it safe, as artist: DJ SHADOW of hard-hitting some artists do song to download: “Border Crossing” and intense guiwhen the spottar. But then the light falls on furious drums them, Shadow, armed with a sequencer and thousands and riffs cut out and are followed by a of vinyl records, has constantly evolved. jazz rap beat and smooth lyrical flow His newest work, The Less You Know, the reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest’s Better is the next step in his progression. “Stay the Course.” It certainly catches The album starts out strong. “Back to the listener by surprise, but perhaps Front (Circular Logic)” is everything that that is Shadow’s intent.

However, the album seems to lose listeners have come to enjoy about DJ Shadow: catchy loops, vinyl scratching its way somewhere in the middle. The

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New Releases

appropriately named “Tedium” seems out of place, and the subdued-turnedaggressive spoken word “Give Me Back the Nights” seems to be trying to start an unprovoked shouting match. In addition, the songs stop transitioning as seamlessly as in the beginning, so the second half of the album is disjointed.

Within the span of a few tracks, the album switches from toe-tapping innovation to head-scratching frustration.

The album dabbles in a vast array of genres (mournful ballad, acoustic psychedelics and electronica, to name a few), and as a result, it successfully creates a sound of its own. Sadly, just as it finds its groove, it loses everything it had achieved. The cover of Shadow’s last EP, which featured two songs that appear on The Less You Know, the Better, shows a creature regarding a monolith asking itself, “What, is that supposed to be clever?” Surely listeners will ask the same of his latest work.

VICTORIA EDEL

Special to The Hoya

“Is It Me” The Kooks Junk of the Heart

“Paradise” Coldplay Mylo Xyloto

“Never Too Far Away” Ashanti Dream House Soundtrack

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The English indie-rock band The Kooks has a catchy hit on its hands with this first single from its third album, Junk of the Heart.

Infused with more melancholia than some of the band’s earlier hits, “Is It Me” is a fastpaced take on heartbreak that’s enjoyable, but not memorable.

Coldplay’s first single from Mylo Xyloto, “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” wasn’t great, but with the ethereal “Paradise,” they’re back to making amazing, inventive music. This song soars with an electronic influence that lends a sharp edge to the band’s iconic style. Expect to hear it everywhere as the year comes to an end.

Ashanti’s first song since 2008, “Never Too Far Away,” shows off some of her considerable vocal skills. While it is a little cheesy, it’s still a satisfying song with a more mature sound than she’s been known for in the past. It is a sound that will surely come through on her newest album when it is released at the end of this year.

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9.23.11 // the guide // 15

best bets

“I took this photo a couple of years ago when I went sailing with my family before my uncle’s wedding. I really like how the black and white captures the shadows and the harshness of the metal chains.”

— sarah amos

MAURA HOHMAN Special to The Hoya

friday Hop on the Metro to downtown on this Friday evening to see a free concert put on by famous musician and D.C. legend, Chuck Brown. Known as the “godfather of go-go” — a genre of music that started right here in D.C. — Brown will be performing his original funk music in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Everything from the location to the price makes this event a must-see for those passionate about music and D.C. culture.

WHERE: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW WHEN: Friday, 5 p.m.

INFO: (202) 312-1300 PRICE: Free METRO: Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange lines)

saturday This weekend, the Library of Congress is sponsoring the National Book Festival, an event exclusive to the District. Instead of spending your afternoons poring over your IR textbook, have famous authors like Toni Morrison, Dave Eggers and David McCullough read to you. The public festival also boasts writing workshops, organized book discussions and a chance to meet some of the authors. After all, how can you say no to an event chaired by the Obamas?

WHERE: The National Mall, between the United States Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial WHEN: Saturday, 10 a.m. — 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, 1 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.

INFO: (202) 485-9880 PRICE: Free METRO: Smithsonian (Blue and Orange lines)

sunday The Capitol Skyline Hotel is showcasing the work of both famous and unsigned artists alike for the Emerge Art Fair. The groundbreaking exhibit exposes D.C.’s traditional art scene alongside contemporary art. A similarly styled event was held a few years ago, so be sure not to miss round two, which is guaranteed to be a success. Though the admission is not free, discounted student ticket prices mean that it is within the budget of any Hoya interested in contemporary art.

WHERE: Capitol Skyline Hotel 10 I Street, SW WHEN: Friday — Saturday, Noon — 7 p.m.

Sunday, Noon — 5 p.m.

INFO: (202) 488-7500 PRICE: Students, $10 METRO: Navy Yard (Green line)