The Hoya Guide: Sept. 30, 2011

the guide friday, september 23, 2011

the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop

BAND AID: Merging Music With a Social Conscience Late Night Noms In Dupont

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Alumna’s Folk Band Helps Veterans’ Cause

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Poetry Slam And Salsa Dancing

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

red square roundup // campus spotlight

dc great unknowns // dating dalai // poetry slam

cashins // larry’s

hirshhorn // fashion spotted

50/50 // face the music // feist

8

BAND WITH A SOCIAL CONSCIENCE

You’ve probably heard “Pumped Up Kicks,” the infectious single of indie-pop trio Foster the People playing in a campus coffee shop.

While “Kicks” launched the group to buzz-band status, they haven’t forgotten their humble beginnings of playing charity shows. To maintain its message, the band has teamed up with non-profit Do Good Bus for its cross-country tour, bringing goodwill along for a ride. For their sold-out concert at 9:30 Club, the Do Good Bus took a group of volunteers for a mystery service day.

Choosing to address D.C.’s HIV problem, the Do Gooders worked RITA PEARSON FOR THE HOYA with Grassroot Hoyas.

COVER PHOTO DOGOODBUS.TUMBLR.COM

soundbite face the music

KinneChapin

HURRY UP AND JOIN THE HOYA

Every single time I listen to this song I want to pack a small bag of my belongings and set out for California. That is, of course, until I realize that hitchhiking across the country would probably result in my death and would also mean I couldn’t keep up with watching “Modern Family.” I have my priorities straight.

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

this is a sloth. sloths are slow.

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.

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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.

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personnel@thehoya.com

RED SQUARE ROUNDUP ANNUAL LATINO WELCOME DINNER Saturday, Oct. 1 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Copley Formal Lounge

hilltop

GPB MOVIE: BAD TEACHER Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

ICC Auditorium

Campus Hispanic groups Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, Latin American Student Association and Cuban-American Student Association collaborate for a night of delicious Cuban cuisine, exciting performances and interesting dialogue.

The Georgetown Program Board’s movie for this weekend is the comedy Bad Teacher starring Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake and Jason Segel. The flick centers on an unconventional and foul-mouthed Chicago teacher trying to raise money for plastic surgery.

Tuesday, Oct. 4 5:30 p.m.

ICC Auditorium

As part of the “Labor Lab” series on food justice, Barry Estabrook, Greg Asbed and Gerardo Reyes will speak about the politics behind tomatoes grown in South Florida Estabrook wrote the recently released Tomatoland, while Asbed and Reyes will bring their perspectives as members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

FOOD JUSTICE: GROWING A MOVEMENT

Monday, Oct. 3 8:30 a.m.

Career Education Center (Leavey Center) Attend breakfast with three former Hoyas who now work as Capitol Hill staffers. Janelle DiLuccia, Michael Mahaffey and Diane Shust will share their insights in the kickoff event of Government Week, the first in the Career Center’s Industry Week series. R.S.V.P. through the Career Center website.

“FROM THE HILLTOP TO THE HILL” BREAKFAST

campusspotlight // Lecture Fund T

he Georgetown University Lecture Fund exists to provide a forum for the free exchange of speech and expression. We are a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting dialogue and to bringing the Georgetown community together in an atmosphere of discussion to better contemplate contemporary social, political and cultural issues.

Lecture Fund events cover a variety of topics and host a multitude of personalities. Every event is free of charge, open to the entire campus community and includes a period of Q-and-A. Our Associate Board members are responsible for organizing all stages of each event. The process includes reaching out to potential speakers, agents or speakers’ bureaus, negotiating details including timing, honorariums and other fees, booking transportation and hotel accommodations, seeking co-sponsors within the university, reaching out to campus media, producing fliers and posters, organizing day-of logistics and presenting the speaker. Organizing an event can take

anywhere from two weeks to six months.

An Associate Board member or a representative from a co-sponsoring student group presents each event at the Lecture Fund’s weekly meeting and must win a majority vote for financial or marketing assistance.

The Lecture Fund alternates between hosting large events, usually at the beginning and conclusion of each semester, and smaller niche events that cater to specific student groups and interests.

The Lecture Fund also assists with events coordinated through the Office of the President, including heads of state and other noteworthy figures. In recent years, the Lecture Fund has welcomed Bradley Cooper, Sergei Khrushchev, Karl Rove, Melissa Anelli, Michael Bloomberg, Jane Goodall and then-Senator Barack Obama.

Our most recent speaker will be noted documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, who will give a lecture today at 3 p.m. in Gaston Hall.

— Lecture Fund Executive Board

COURTESY ONNI IRISH

LECTURE FUN! Lecture Fund has brought notable speakers to Gaston Hall, from Bradley Cooper to Barack Obama.

9.30.11 // the guide // 3

lifestyle

Delving Into The Great Unknowns: ALUMNA’S FOLK BAND SUPPORTS RECOVERING VETERANS

LACEY HENRY Special to The Hoya

D

espite the slightly ironic nature of their name, The Great Unknowns have struck a chord in the hearts of many with their alternative-country sound. The Great Unknowns will perform tonight at the Rock N Roll Hotel in D.C. to preview their upcoming album Homefront.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the philanthropic organization Cause, Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services.

The story of the band’s journey within the music industry largely surrounds singer, songwriter and frontwoman Becky Warren. Long before she received her master’s degree from the Communication, Culture and Technology program at Georgetown University, Warren had been interested in music. However, the band didn’t form until after she attended Wellesley College and began to collaborate with other musicians in the Boston area.

What had at first been intended as a simple record to be shared with family and friends ultimately became the catalyst for her professional career. In a twist of fate, Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray received a copy of the record and loved what she heard. Ray signed the group with her record label, Daemon Records. The band members never imagined that in the coming year they would grow from recording in a college studio to traveling on tour with the iconic Indigo Girls; thus the name The Great Unknowns.

“The name just felt right, because we felt like we were doing something we would be proud of, but we didn’t think that many people would ever hear it,” Warren said.

The Great Unknowns flourished in the unexpected success of the release of their first album, 2004’s Presenting The Great Unknowns, until a combination of circumstances led the band to stop recording. After this, the band faded back into obscurity for about five years.

“We were all living in different cities, and I had also gotten married to a soldier who went to Iraq. He came back with PTSD, which made our marriage pretty difficult,” Warren said. “During

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that time I just had a lot going on with that, and everyone was in different places, so we weren’t recording.”

In the span of the next five years, Warren continued to sing for various cover bands, but she was not writing any original music. The strain of her husband’s stress disorder ultimately led to the end of the marriage.

A short time afterward Warren rediscovered her songwriting voice in the midst of what Georgetown students remember as “Snowpocalypse,” the major snowstorm that hit D.C. in February 2010. With several feet of snow confining

her t o h e r house, Warren reconnected with The Great Unknowns bass player Altay Guvench. Together they joined the online phenomenon known as February Album Writing Month, or FAWM. Once she started, Warren said she couldn’t stop. Impassioned with a writing fury, she began to express her emotions of frustration, isolation and hardship, which became a therapeutic experience for her. The songs that she wrote during this time reflected the feelings she confronted during the struggle of her marriage and formed the core

ALL PHOTOS: GREATUNKNOWNSEPK.COM

UNKNOWN KNOWNS Lead singer Becky Warren and guitarist Avril Smith performing their first studio album, Presenting the Great Unknowns.

lifestyle message of her new album.

“I feel a renewed and more intense drive to be out there playing the music for people, because I missed several years of doing that,” Warren said. “I feel really proud of our first record, but it didn’t say anything the way this record does, so it’s a change that this time; I’m hoping the record will be a way of shining a light on the needs of veterans and their families.”

The next album, Homefront, is expected to be released this winter.

Warren said the title song “Homefront” encapsulates the fundamental meaning of the album.

“The song is from the point of view of a veteran, and it’s about what it’s like to return and to feel like, you know, you don’t have this supportive homefront that people had in previous wars,” Warren said. “It’s also about the burden on families that comes from having to become that homefront for them because it doesn’t sort of exist naturally. So that is really the center of the record.”

Fellow band member Guvench said he was excited to restart the band. “This is what Becky was made to be doing. I feel like my purpose was to be a catalyst and support her in making the music,” Guvench said.

During the band’s hiatus, War-

Q & A

ren was also inspired to become involved in efforts to reach out to returning veterans and their families.

She began to volunteer for Cause at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in D.C. The nationwide organization was founded in 2003 by veterans of the Vietnam War who graduated from West Point. They wanted to ensure that this generation of war fighters received the comfort and support on the homefront that they had been denied. The mission of Cause is to offer recovering veterans and their families a variety of entertainment and healing programs.

“We provide recreation, relaxation and resiliency programs for the wounded veterans. Our mission is to bring them comfort, laughter, smiles and just to get them to take a break from their stressful lives during the healing process,” Brianna Broad, development coordinator for Cause, said. “The wounded need to be shown that our nation supports them.”

As a volunteer, Warren was impressed by Cause’s commitment to the veterans and the strong impact of their work. While searching for an organization with which to partner for the upcoming performance, she said that Cause was the obvi-

ous choice, and her band members agreed.

Lead guitarist Avril Smith said, “I think it’s a fantastic partnership. It fits really well with the stories in the songs. There’s a connection with the work they do of providing positive experiences for wounded veterans.”

Cause was also enthusiastic about the collaboration.

“Their message is very patriotic and that is exactly what we stand for. … This is definitely a great way to raise awareness, and people are having fun listening to music, but doing it for a good cause,” Broad said.

As of now Warren works for the British Embassy in internal communications but says she wants to further her music career. In the future she hopes to collaborate with more organizations and continue to make an impact on the lives of recovering veterans and their families through her songs.

The performance begins at 9 p.m. tonight at the Rock N Roll Hotel.

Admission is $10, and attending veterans will receive complementary gifts. Natalie York and Owen Danoff will be opening for The Great Unknowns.

For first-time listeners, it may be time to face the music and discover something great in the unknown.

GREATUNKNOWNSEPK.COM

KNOWN THYSELF The Great Unknowns will be performing Friday night at the Rock N Roll Hotel, and proceeds from the show will benefit veterans.

When was the last time you were able to get out of “the Georgetown bubble”?

“Open gymnastics in Maryland. I took a GUTS bus and a Zipcar last weekend.”

“Last Tuesday for a class. It took a really long time and was an inconvenience.”

Ben McAfee SFS ’12

Delphine Kanyandekwe GRD ’12

“Last Thursday, I took myself on a date to the National Gallery.”

Deanna Arthur SFS ’14

“I went to the [Nationals] game last Saturday to see Strasburg pitch.”

Mike West COL ’13

9.30.11 // the guide // 5

lifestyle

CENTER STAGE Undergrad Artist Adds a Splash Of Color to the Hilltop Julien Isaacs (SFS ’12) first began painting when he was a child, when his GG (Gorgeous Grandmother) introduced him to watercolors. He has continued his passion for art throughout college and has sold several paintings for $350 each, earning him roughly $5000 since sophomore year. His latest project focuses on the four values Georgetown has taught him, and one of those pieces is intended to go on display at the end of October. Isaacs will graduate in the spring and hopes to earn a masters degree in Fine Arts.

What first got you interested in art and painting specifically?

I’ve loved painting my whole life. …

It’s the highest manifestation of my caliber as a person … [Painting] is a marathon. … You’ve got to have so much diligence, dedication and patience because it’s a slow art. … For me, an interesting element is blending painting with modern society. … I love putting my paintings on Facebook because that’s a great digital manifestation of them in our culture. They can exist just as oil

paintings, or they can exist as pixels and JPEGs. Have you gotten a lot of feedback about your paintings from [Facebook]?

I’ve gotten amazing feedback. I love digitally promoting myself. [Painting] is a real-world craft, but you can really promote it on the internet. In many ways, art is human flourishing. … If humanity is a cake, art is like the frosting.

Have you taken any art classes here?

I’ve taken an art class almost every semester. … I’ve done four independent thesis studies. First semester of freshman year, I took Painting 1, and then I skipped straight to Advanced Painting because I love creating my own ideas and concepts; like, I love painting animals. There’s just something in animals that’s innately good and really resonates with me. Being a human means, to quote Lil Wayne, “I am both good and evil,” but animals are just good. They lack that human complexity, which is the evil.

PEACE AND LOVE Julien Isaacs posing next to his paintings. He likes to paint animals because of their innate goodness.

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Special to The Hoya

What is your greatest accomplishment to date with painting?

I redid my dad’s office and did these really cool, abstract sunsets with Looney Tunes characters, so that’s definitely my biggest accomplishment.

But, honestly, painting is giving, so I make paintings for people. … That’s how I express my love as a human being … My thesis this semester is the four values I learned to love in college and the four teachers who taught me them, so I gave my best friend Laura a puppy in an elephant suit, and it’s called “Jubilation.” … Then, to my Chinese teacher, I gave a talking toucan, and it’s “Conversation.” … For my friend Gina … I really think I’m going to do a Dalmatian in sunglasses against a pink background and have it be “Education.” … For my friend Laura’s mom, it’s “Aspiration” because she really encouraged me to reach for the stars, and for her I painted her favorite animal, the hummingbird.

Do you think your time at Georgetown has really shaped you as a painter?

It’s so ironic … when I came to Georgetown, I wanted to speak Chinese. … I thought I was going to be on the China track, … but my passion is painting.

The act of giving someone a painting is, for me, the best thing in the world.

That’s what I want to do with my life. … I still love speaking Chinese, … but I think you have one shot at life to make your mark on the world. I don’t want to just make marks. I want to make beautiful paintings that hopefully will be around a long time after I die.

So, then, you’re definitely going to continue with it after college?

I’m applying to MFA programs now … just to see if I can get in. … I’ve just got to go with painting. It’s my passion in life. … You have one life. Do something amazing with it that everyone knows you for.

COURTESY JULIEN ISAACS

JOANIE GREVE

Can any of your paintings be found at Georgetown?

Actually, I think the toucan is going in Midnight Mug the last week of October. … I’d really love to get a good painting in the library. … We live in a boring world sometimes. Just bring color to it. … Color is joy. … If I could just bring color into the world, I would be happy with my life.

COURTESY JULIEN ISAACS

Five things you didn’t know about Julien Isaacs: I really love color coordinating.

Sparkly leopard is my new thang.

I love Alicia Keys.

My passion is pudding.

My favorite color is fluorescent beige.

lifestyle

Courtship Customs Transcend Culture dating dalai AnastasiaTaber

T

he first time I entered a room in the all-girl Chinese dorm at my host university, I was welcomed with the sight of a happy cat face smiling widely like a Japanese anime character. The smiling face belonged to a rather massive stuffed animal, propped up on one of the room’s five beds to greet visitors. My first thought was: “Who would buy such a thing?” (My second thought was, I hesitantly admit, “Where can I get one?”)

Answer: someone’s boyfriend. The allgirl dorm is sometimes jokingly, sometimes seriously referred to as the “princess dorm.” The girl with the gargantuan anime kitty had a rather straightforward, “no-frills” kind of personality though, so I doubted whether she would ever demand

such a gift. Something didn’t add up.

Later that week I had the opportunity to talk with a Chinese girl named Eva. She explained that during the courting process, it is common for a Chinese guys to write many love letters and give the girl several small gifts. The guy will even consult her friends in search of the perfect gift.

Eva described a gift she had received from her boyfriend of one year — a cat figurine that bobbed from side to side without falling over. After a few days, she was surprised to spot a token of his affection. On the back of the cat’s head, he had drawn a tiny, nearly invisible heart.

She followed this story with the reflection, “He’s not that romantic.”

Eva met her current boyfriend in high school. They ate lunch together as friends throughout their junior year, yet it was not until the end of senior year that he started to express a serious interest.

Evaisaspecialcase, as she was in a relationship for three years during high school with a boy from her hometown, a long-distance

relationship of about 185 miles. Though her high school boyfriend would diligently write her love letters, the long distance began to wear on their relationship and their bond started to fizzle as she prepared for the gaokao — the college entrance exam.

As her high school relationship deteriorated, her current boyfriend wrote her a 20-page novella expressing his affection for her. He mentioned how one night he decided that if she responded to his text, he would tell her then how he really felt.

She went to bed early and didn’t receive the text. So, he wrote the novella.

Entering a relationship with a former high school classmate in college is common in China. Many girls desire a safe choice and seek a reliable and honest boyfriend. The easiest way to do that is to date someone from your hometown whom you’ve known for a while.

Eva said that she considers herself more “traditional” in this way — she expects a long courtship. However, some Chinese girls will enter a relationship more readi-

ly, One of Eva’s friends dated a guy for only one day. Holding hands to and from the movie theater, the girl decided that she wasn’t really interested in that guy. Eva’s friend argued that it was more important not to tie yourself down too early and to test out different people to see what kind of person you want.

When I asked Eva if she thought this was an attitude influenced by western culture, she said yes.

When it comes to the daily grind of relationships though, Chinese and American attitudes start to look eerily similar.

Take, for example, Eva’s complaint about her boyfriend: “He’s bad at understanding what I want when I say things indirectly.”

Halfway across the world, the mystery of what women want remains universally confounding.

Anastasia Taber is a junior in the College. She can be reached at taber@ thehoya.com. THE DATING DALAI appears every other Friday in the guide.

Spice Up Your Saturday With Salsa and Poetry MADELEINE JOELSON Special to The Hoya

H

ead over to Bulldog Alley this Saturday night and you’ll get a taste of poetry, music and Hispanic culture. Georgetown’s What’s After Dark is teaming up with Be-Well Week 2011 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a Late Night Poetry Slam on Saturday, Oct. 1. The event will last from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and will feature a spoken word artist and a live salsa band, as well as several student readings.

Kernysha Rowe, a graduate assistant for What’s After Dark, had the idea to relate Be-Well Week’s “Be Connected” night to the cultural aspects of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“I thought it would be a great thing to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as connect with Be-Well Week,” she said. “The two seemed to go hand in hand.”

The Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad, also known as the Lambda Pi Chi sorority, is equally excited about the event. Cassandra Saenz (SFS ’12), president of the Lambda Pi Chi sorority, said it is the first time an event centered on Latina Heritage has come through the Center for Student Programs. One of the hermanas, or sisters, in the sorority will also be reading poetry at the event.

In addition to a full list of students who have signed up to read their poetry,

What’s After Dark has arranged for a spoken word artist, Advocate of Wordz, to perform on Saturday. Based in New York, Advocate of Wordz is a writer and performer of Puerto Rican heritage. The “word chemist” performs in a permanent slot at the Nuyorican Cafe in New York City and is a founding member of El Grito de Poetas, a Hispanic poetry movement that originated in the city.

Advocate of Wordz is also a performing poet for Lincoln Center’s “Meet the Artist” series and has appeared at several venues and universities around the country.

However, the event on Saturday promises to be more than just poetry. Saenz put Rowe into contact with the salsa band that plays at The George Washington University’s Noche Cultura, a major Hispanic heritage celebration that occurs every spring at GWU. “The band is very lively and vibrant,” Saenz said. “They really get the crowd involved.”

In addition to the live band, the Late Night Poetry Slam will also feature two salsa teachers who will be able to break down the often-intricate steps of salsa dancing for students who wish to learn.

The event, although Latina based, will not be exclusive.

“The event is geared towards Latino

ADVOCATEOFWORDZ.COM

SPOKEN WORD Artist Advocate of Wordz will be performing at the poetry slam. heritage celebration, but … [the organizers] don’t want to limit the spoken word pieces, because Georgetown rarely has Late Night Poetry Slams,” Saenz said.

“The theme is to celebrate Latina culture, but there should be a variety of pieces.”

Lambda Pi Chi is especially excited about the event because they are hop-

ing it will help put them on the map as a recognizable student group.

“For our chapter, this is a significant collaboration because it really gets our name out there,” Saenz said.

So if you’re looking for something different in your night life this Saturday, spice it up with some Latin flare.

9.30.11 // the guide // 7

FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

I

t’s one in the afternoon and the Do Good Bus is parked outside the 9:30 Club, right beside the tour bus of smash-hit indie band Foster the People.

While the band is inside warming up, excited volunteers climb on-board, not knowing quite what they are getting themselves into. Inside, paper lanterns are strewn about, and board games and kids toys are stuffed into overhead compartments. Foster’s album, Torches, plays on loop.

The nonprofit disguised as a decked-out bus brings together participants in a party-style ride and takes them to a mystery volunteer site. Riders don’t know exactly where they’re going or what they’ll be doing.

COURTESY ADAM PIERATT

RITA PEARSON FOR THE HOYA

RITA PEARSON FOR THE HOYA

PLAY BALL (Above) Matt Mullman, group coordinator, and middle school student Nene.

(Below) Mullman gathered the kids in a circle to kick off the day with an icebreaker.

A few years back, Los Angeles locals Rebecca Pontius and Stephen Snedden volunteered at a nonprofit that was beautifying L.A. metro stops.

They enlisted the help of Rebecca’s kid brother Mark Pontius and his then-undiscovered band, Foster and the People, to jam out at one of the stops.

Now re-dubbed Foster the People, the indiepop trio has gone from playing for under ground audiences to more high-profile stages across the United States and the world.

“Pumped Up Kicks,” their electro-pop single, went viral and catapulted the group into the blogosphere, making them the buzz band of the summer. The rest of their album made the Billboard Top 10, with “Kicks” reaching Platinum.

Despite their meteoric rise, members of the band haven’t shaken their do-good roots.

“We always wanted to do something with charity from the get-go,” drummer Mark Pontius says. “When we first started the band we thought, ‘Every penny we make, let’s try to put it to a good cause somewhere.’”

But rather than just writing a check, the group once again teamed up with Rebecca and Snedden, who then co-founded the Do Good Bus. “It was inspired by volunteering … and birthday party buses,” Rebecca says with a laugh. She and Snedden had been working in different organizations around L.A. for years, and friends were always asking the pair how they could get involved in volunteer work.

“We always say ‘Just do it, just go volunteer,’” she says. But newcomers didn’t always know where to start. Then last August for Rebecca’s 30th birthday, a group of pals rented out a party bus to celebrate, bringing together friends of friends as well as regulars in the local volunteering circuit.

“It was all people who didn’t know one another,” she says of the strangers who got to know each other and move freely about the party bus.

“And then [Snedden and I] thought, what if we put people on a bus and took them to a volunteer activity and says, ‘Here’s how you do it,’ and have fun at the same time.”

When Foster the People kicked off their “Foster the Future” tour, they used their newfound

star power to get the Do Good Bus’s wheels moving and onto the road with them. Mark says he was “floored” by his big sister’s idea, as it fit with a band that sought, literally, to foster the people.

“We’re interested in trying to do things differently,” he says of the band’s mission.

“This Do Good Bus was such a cool idea because nobody has done that before. It’s just a different idea of helping people, and we’re more turned on by that, because any big band can just take money and put it somewhere, and say ‘Here, now do it.’ But we really wanted to dig in and do something great and realize it as a team.”

To give their idea some traction, the band helped raise $130,000 from fans in less than a month. Donating fans were rewarded with band “swag,” such as signed drumsticks, their picture on the back of the bus or personalized postcards sent from the road.

Upgrading from a yellow school bus, the party bus was tricked out with the band’s logo and Torches album art. The band and the bus began their 24-city sweep this September in Santa Ana, Calif., traveling cross-country to cities like Austin, Texas, Atlanta, Ga., and Richmond, Va. before rolling into D.C. This Monday, the group sold out two back-to-back performances at the 9:30 Club.

Snedden and John Grindle (the official “Do Good Bus High-Five Guy”) are leading an icebreaker with the fans, who range from high schoolers to young professionals. Most discovered the project through the band’s website — clearly huge Foster fans. To get on board, they filled out an online application with the question of what “community” means to them.

“We weren’t looking for someone who strictly wanted to meet the band. We were looking for people who love the band and want to volunteer,” Snedden says. In fact, there’s no guarantee that the volunteers will even get to see the band.

But, Rebecca says with a smile, the members like to come by and meet the bus if they finish sound check in time.

As the Do Good Bus pulls out of the venue’s parking spot, Rebecca, Mark’s older sister, tells the participants more about the mission of their organization.

“We have three goals with the Do Good Bus: The first is to create awareness for people here locally so they can find out about causes where they can give back,” Rebecca says. “Second goal is to create community on the bus as well, as when we’re at the activity and we want to pull like-minded people together and have them

meet in the city.

“And our third goal is to encourage continued support of volunteering in general. It may not be the cause you went to today, but we want to inspire people to give back in some way.”

Driving through the District, participants still don’t know where exactly they’ll be going or what cause they’ll be serving. Why the mystery?

“It’s just fun,” Snedden says with a laugh.

“Part of the surprise is, because you don’t know what you’ll be doing, you can’t be scared of it, and it also encourages people to try things [that] maybe they wouldn’t have done. We’ve gotten people involved in organizations that they had no idea they would enjoy or want to do again.”

Today’s trip includes both veteran volunteers as well as 16-year-olds who came in hopes of meeting the band.

“We’ve gotten a younger group of volunteers, because of Foster the People’s fan base. Hopefully we’re reaching people at a crossroads, where they’re being introduced to volunteering, and this is their first chance, so we’re making it fun for them.”

The mysterious location is revealed as the bus slows to a stop, dropping the Do Gooders off at Meridian Public Charter School in Northwest D.C. Today they’ll be working with The Grassroots Project, founded by alumna Tyler Spencer (GRD ’09), which pairs student-athletes with urban youth to educate them about the risks of HIV/AIDS. Spencer came up with the project after he volunteered in South Africa for a similar program, Grassroots Soccer, which pairs professional soccer players with at-risk youth. When Spencer came back to the states, he realized that with one in 20 residents HIV positive in the District, the situation here wasn’t far from South Africa’s.

“I thought it’d be really cool to take this model and implement it in D.C.,” Spencer says.

“At the same time, I also felt that in addition to the kids being influenced positively by college athletes, the athletes had a lot to gain by getting out of the Georgetown bubble and into the community.”

Starting with 40 Georgetown athletes working with three middle schools in 2009, the initiative has grown in three years to serve 33 schools with over 300 athletes hailing from the Hilltop and District locals Howard University and The George Washington University. Georgetown’s project targets 11- to 14-year-old middle school

students, aiming to educate them before they reach the critical demographic age group —14 to 21 — that is most affected by the virus.

“We want to reach these students before they turn 14, before they take risks or make choices,” Managing Director Deidra Sanders (SFS ’11) says.

“We don’t try to tell them what choices to make, but we try to give [them] the information to make good choices.”

Lessons range from the risks of certain choices to how to build a support network. The “Do Good Bus” crew has made it to the first session of the semester, so the lesson is a little lighter — a game of speedball. For the group of eighth grade boys, the game quickly turns into a fast-moving competition.

“In the first couple minutes, everyone’s all shy and timid because today was our first session, but after five minutes, it’s all gone,” says Sanders.

The Do Good volunteers throw themselves completely into the game, with each team shouting out to their players nicknames like “Wizz” and “Moussie,” because Grassroots encourages the kids to be who they want to be, including their names.

At halftime, group coordinator Matt Mullman (COL ’13) asks the kids what they’ve learned and what they can improve on. Eventually this leads to a discussion about listening to advice and to “coaches” in life. When college athletes guide the kids, it proves more effective than when traditional authority figures teach them, says Spencer.

“You see the types of people doing HIV prevention education, and a lot of them are school nurses and older people, who have good intentions; but when we’re talking about an issue like this, you need to be able to connect with the kids,” he says.

Mullman, or “Matty Boy,” his nickname of the day, says that simply playing with the kids is the most rewarding part of the program. “I found that through sports, they really pick up the messages well, and they have fun doing it, and so do I,” he says.

“You just get to be a kid for an hour and half.

You just get to be in eighth grade again, and if you can do that, you can work with them,” Connor Smith (COL ’14), or “Cookie,” according to his nametag, says.

Spencer credits the program with teaching not only the kids, but the student-athletes as well. Program participants have gone on to work with Teach for America and other public service organizations after graduation.

“I think a lot of college athletes can go through college with their sport being a part of their identity, and so being able to bridge sports, like we do in this program, with real life is helpful connection for them to make,” he says.

After a day of volunteering, the Do Good Bus pulls up to 9:30 Club once again, and Foster the People has just wrapped up sound check. Early arrivers, mostly teenagers donning skinny jeans, are wandering to the venue, looking at the Foster-decorated Do Good Bus and hoping to catch

a glimpse of the band.

Rebecca and Snedden, slightly sweaty after the intense speedball game, are gregariously meeting up with the crew and saying good-bye to the volunteers. Snedden offers the volunteers­­­ homemade brownies. (“Fans make us stuff all the time!” Rebecca says.)

“We’ve been really excited about seeing how the volunteers respond,” Rebecca says, reflecting on the day. “They come into it not knowing anything and come out of it thinking ‘Oh wow, that was actually really awesome,’ and they might do it again.”

The Do Good volunteers are lingering around the back of 9:30 Club, waiting to hear from Rebecca whether the band has time in between sound check and that night’s performance.

RITA PEARSON FOR THE HOYA

SARAH AMOS Hoya Staff Writer

When Mark breezes out of the venue, the starstruck volunteers grow quiet and then rush forward to ask for pictures and autographs. Off to the side, Rebecca observes her little brother posing for soon-to-be-uploaded profile pictures with fans.

“For me, it’s almost an excuse to be on the road with him,” she says. “We also have the same mentality for what we want out of this.”

And that do-good, feel-good mentality has worked well. Touring together, they’ve traveled over 9,880 miles with 750 volunteers in 24 cities.

“You always hear that big artists try to do big things because they have a big footprint,” Mark says. “I wasn’t aware that we could do that.

That we could raise money through the band for something good.”

RITA PEARSON FOR THE HOYA

COURTESY ADAM PIERATT

WHEELS ON THE BUS (Above, left) Tyler Spencer, founder of The Grassroot Project.

(Right and bottom) Meridian Public Charter School students playing speedball.

food&drink Hip Late-Night Spot Gives Tuscany A Run For Its Money MADELINE JORDEN

Special to The Hoya

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1819 Columbia Rd. cuisine: American CASHION’S EAT PLACE price: $$$$

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ired of gorging on the same old Tuscany pizza every Friday night? If you find yourself in Adams Morgan this weekend, or are simply feeling a bit more adventurous, a more refined latenight experience awaits you at Cashion’s Eat Place. Located at 1819 Columbia Rd., just off 18th Street, the Adams Morgan institution is now offering an “after dark menu” from midnight to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The bar, over which hangs a reproduction of French artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’s 19th-century masterpiece the Odalisque, offers late-night enticements including cheesesteaks, pork carnitas and homemade French fries.

Though these snacks may cost you double or triple the price of a slice of pizza at Tuscany, you’ll find that the quality of the food and the elegance increase proportionally, and you might even be lucky enough to avoid the customary queasy stomach pains when you sit down in Lau come Sunday afternoon.

There’s also the chance to do some Georgetown-style networking — Yo-Yo

Ma’s son has been counted among the posse of Cashion’s locals and regulars who stick around for late-night socializing.

When former chef Ann Cashion decided to sell the restaurant to longtime sous-chef John Manolatos four years ago, he partnered with his brother George and friend Justin Abad to form a new ownership team. Their dedication is obvious — every night, you’ll find John in the kitchen, George slinging bottles behind the bar and Justin overseeing nightly operations, which include attending to his customers and playing the role of sommelier. The new ownership brings a lighter, more youthful touch to the classic Cashion’s tradition.

The concept for the after-dark menu was devised when John and Justin, after nights out in Adams Morgan, grew weary of the idea of patronizing the usual neighborhood late-night falafel or pizza haunts. Instead, they would head back to their apartment and whip up something sophisticated and delicious using whatever they could find in

Hoya Happy Hour

the fridge.

But the after-dark menu is only one original aspect of this restaurant. Cashion’s also has a nightly dinner and Sunday brunch menu, which reflect head chef Manolatos’ infusion of traditional American cuisine with Mediterranean influences from his native Greece. By no means cheap, Cashion’s should perhaps be saved for a special occasion, such as a birthday meal or parents’ weekend, or one can stick with the more affordable late night snacks.

A word of advice if you do opt for Cashion’s over Tuscany this weekend: You’ll likely have to compete with the hoards of party animals looking for taxis as they depart the bars, with the added challenge of drivers who seem to be unfairly prejudiced against taking paying customers to Georgetown. But don’t tolerate the discrimination, and refuse to take no for an answer. After all, you’ve just had enough style to choose the classiest late night ever.

PANOR AMIO.C OM

Dishes you have to try: Mezzethakia traditional greek spreads // $9 Salad arugula salad with marcona almonds, figs, goat cheese and lemon vinagrette // $12 Entree new frontier shaved ribeye sandwich with provolone, broccoli rabe and onions // $12

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

Captain’s Apple As the fall weather gets chillier and the days get shorter, memories of hayrides, hot apple cider and homemade apple pies begin to surface. Bring back a taste of home with this recipe for relaxation straight from the Captain himself.

10 // the guide // 9.30.11

+ ½ oz. spiced rum

+

+

½ oz. coconut rum ½ oz apple schnapps

apple cider

A Warm Remedy for Fall Chills market to table BethanyImondi It’s official: Summer is over, and fall is here. Last Friday marked the autumnal equinox, but despite what the calendar says, for many of us fall has been here for much longer than a week. Gone are the lazy summer nights, and here are late-night study sessions on Lau 2. Shorts and tank tops have been swapped for jeans and cardigans, and iced coffees have been replaced by Starbucks’ seasonal pumpkin spice lattes.

In addition to the changing of leaves and wardrobes, fall’s arrival brings with it a change in produce at the farmers’ markets. Instead of luscious juicy peaches and tomatoes, local markets are now teeming with the flavors of the season: squash, pumpkins and, of course, apples.

I have vivid memories of elementary school field trips to local farms and the bouncing hayrides through the apple orchards. Once we finished our rides, we had the chance to pick from the trees and collect into our bags as many apples as our 8-year-old arms could carry. For me, this usually meant three or four pieces of fruit, but that was plenty to make me happy. Although I had no complaints about finding apple slices alongside my grape jelly sandwiches, my favorite way to eat them was, and still remains, in a dessert.

Whether in a pie, a crumble or a crisp, the possibilities are endless. By simply combining apples, cinnamon and butter, the smells and tastes always create a sense of warmth on even the chilliest of fall days.

Ingredients: Serves 8-10

¼ cup orange juice 1 tablespoon cornstarch ¼ cup sugar 5-6 apples (any variety), peeled, cored and sliced 1 tablespoon jam (strawberry, raspberry or apricot work best) 1 roll of frozen pie crust, room temperature

food&drink

Ice Cream Shop Scoops Up Smiles VICTORIA NGARE Hoya Staff Writer

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ith the noted exception of Ben’s Chili Bowl, D.C.’s gastronomical culture is not commonly associated with the term “mom-and-pop.”

But every now and then, you stumble upon a restaurant or, in this case, an ice cream shop that fits this description and then some. For several reasons, including the homemade ice cream, Larry’s Ice Cream can be described as a smooth blend of mom-and-pop with New York City flavor and attitude.

First and foremost, finding Larry’s can be a bit of a challenge. While it is located on bustling Connecticut Avenue, the shop is partially underground, and you can unintentionally walk right past the place.

But if you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll notice a low-leveled window with a fluorescent ice cream cone light fixture and an old-school checkered patterned bar with a colorful display of cupcakes and other sweets. Trust me, the ice cream will be

worth the effort.

Upon entering the shop you will most likely be greeted, or playfully made fun of, by Larry himself. Simultaneously jolly and New York City tough, Larry is the essence of this place. He says what comes to mind as soon as he spots you. What’s more, he will have you walking out of there with a scoop of ice cream even if you “just came with someone else” who wanted ice cream.

To match the down-to-earth customer service, Larry’s is simply decorated. The cream-colored walls are lined with paintings of neighborhood people sitting down for a meal (or ice cream). A blackand-white checkered backsplash re-ignites the feeling of being in an old-time ice cream parlor. But Larry’s continuous conversation with all the customers brings you right back to the present. Additionally, photos of past customers like Jay Leno, displayed unframed, add to the

SDGSDG SDG SDG SDG D

ICE DREAM Larry’s serves up both unusual flavors and witty banter.

 LARRY’S ICE CREAM 1633 Connecticut Ave. NW cuisine: ice cream price: $$$$ friendly neighborhood feel of Larry’s Ice Cream.

By now, you must be wondering, “What about the ice cream?” Let me assure you, it is top-notch. At Larry’s, you will find flavors such as Kahlua chocolate chunk, rum raisin, creme de menthe, mud pie, chocolate on the rocks (Jack Daniels and chocolate), Fred and Ginger (brandy, ginger, ice cream and real chunks of candied ginger), as well as many more creative and traditional flavors. If that doesn’t make your mouth water, I’m not sure what will.

A friend and I tried the oatmeal cookie and creme de menthe flavors. Both were amazing. The oatmeal cookie flavor was buttery with the added bonus of texture from the oatmeal cookie itself. The creme de menthe … well, let’s just say it was way better than any old mint chocolate chip flavor. Yes, the ice cream was the best part of the experience — but it wasn’t the whole experience. Talking to Larry and watching him interact with every customer as if he were the only person there reminded me of what I miss every time I go to an overly crowded froyo or cupcake establishment: person-toperson interaction. If you miss that feeling, then take a Georgetown University Transportation Shuttles bus trip to Dupont Circle and make your way over to Larry’s before it gets too cold.

One-Crust Apple Pie

Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Combine 3. Starting at the outside, arrange the

the orange juice, cornstarch and sugar in a large bowl and mix. Add the apples and toss to evenly distribute the liquid.

2. Roll out the dough to fit an 8-or 9-inch pie pan. Carefully place the dough circle into the pie plate and gently press to fit.

Use a fork to prick holes in the bottom of the crust. If desired, crimp edges with a fork. Brush the crust with the jam.

apples in overlapping concentric circles.

Be sure to keep them tight, as they will shrink during baking. When you get to the center, you may have to lose the circle pattern, but try to keep the apples looking as attractive as possible.

4. Bake for about 35-40 minutes until the

crust is golden and cooked through. If crust appears to be cooking too quickly,

cover loosely with foil. The apples should be browned and tender.

5. Cool to room temperature and serve as is, or with vanilla ice cream.

Bethany Imondi is a junior in the College. She can be reached at imondi@ thehoya.com. MARKET TO TABLE appears every other Friday in the guide.

9.30.11 // the guide // 11

arts&style

Heating Up 9:30 Club

An Artist’s Glow That’s Close to Home WIL CURIEL Special to The Hoya

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s students sit in classrooms or at their desks, whether they are enjoying their work or counting the seconds until they are done, it is unlikely that they will notice the fluorescent lights softly humming above them, let alone give any thought to their artistic value.

Artist Dan Flavin (1933 – 1996) was different. He started his sculpting career by incorporating light bulbs into his more traditional works made of wood and stone, but as he grew older he began to use exclusively store-bought fluorescent lights.

His work “Untitled (to Helga and Carlo, with respect and affection),” currently on display at the Hirshhorn Museum, is an incredible example of his unusual but emotional style.

Soft blue light, detectable immediately upon reaching the second floor of the gallery, beckons the viewer towards one side of the museum. As you reach the entrance to the exhibit, the viewer is presented with seven fluorescent lights of varied length in the shape of a skyscraper against the wall. Although the piece is unmarked, it is another by Flavin, “monument 1 for V. Tatlin,” and serves as an introduction to what lies ahead.

Though the main piece is still out of sight, its glow is visibly strong and inviting. Rounding the corner, you are met by

what looks like a series of frames, around which are mass-produced fluorescent lights. About 4-feet high, the 35 separate fixtures overlap and span the length of the space, cutting the large, wide room down the middle. Flavin refers to his pieces as “barriers,” and this is exactly how they feel. The lights emit a radiance that is both calming and eerie, giving the room an almost sterile sense.

The viewer is only allowed on one side of the room, leaving a large empty expanse on the other side. The frames are open, giving them the feel of a window through which one is encouraged to look.

Is this Flavin’s commentary on the old “grass is greener” adage? If so, which side is the “other side”?

As with many of Flavin’s other works, “Untitled” is not site-specific. The artist hoped to create an entirely new feel depending on the environment in which his pieces were housed. This is the first time “Untitled” has been shown in a curved room; The new display accentuates and achieves Flavin’s goal of creating the sense of infinite repetition.

The piece will prove off-putting to many who prefer more classical art styles. However, those with an open mind and time to spare should certainly take the time to see “Untitled” to experience an art form that is simultaneously familiar and innovative.

LEONEL DEL VELEZ FOR THE HOYA

UNTITLED Dan Flavin’s scultpure draws the viewer in with his use of light.

12 // the guide // 9.30.11

RYAN PIKE FOR THE HOYA

PASS THE PEPPER Hawaiian natives Pepper rocked out 9:30 Club last week with their latest reggae-rock EP, Stitches.

RYAN PIKE Special to The Hoya

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his past Tuesday, reggae-rock outfit Pepper took command of the 9:30 Club to riff from its newest EP: Stitches.

I was fortunate enough to sit down with band drummer Yesod Williams before the show.

The trio — Williams on drums, Bret Bollinger on bass and vocals and Kaleo Wassman on guitar and vocals — have all been friends since childhood. On the topic of growing up in Hawaii, Yesod recounts some of the music which later would have a formative effect upon Pepper’s sound.

“We found all these bands that were on these surf videos that were really popular in Hawaii,” Williams said.

“It probably started with some classic rock, like your Led Zeppelins; a lot of that 70s, Arena Rock type stuff.”

Growing up, Williams listened to a range of music: from the hard-rock sounds of Metallica to the punk-rock from groups like Pennywise, Bad Religion, Epitaph and Offspring. He adds: “I was 13 when I started listening to Bob Marley and that was the first introduction to reggae.”

“That was a cool time to be a music fan, all those realizations of just learning about the roots [of different artists’ sounds].”

After graduating from high school, the group started writing music and performing together as Pepper in their home state in 1997.

“In 1999 we quit our jobs and made the big jump to California to try and buy a van and whatever; try to take a swing and

just see ... just go over there and see what people thought of our band in the mainland,” Williams said.

“It all kind of went from there, getting hooked up with Volcom Entertainment and releasing Kona Town.”

In 2006, Pepper founded its own record label: LAW Records, which now has six bands signed (including Pepper).

Now the group lives in Southern California, that is, when they’re not busy writing and recording music, touring or managing LAW Records.

While it doesn’t match their home swells of Kona, Hawaii, Williams does mention the group’s avid surfing.

“We surf as much as we can when we’re off the road because obviously it’s few and far between that we really get out on the water. ... You always have a better day than if you don’t get in the water.”

It seems that this relaxation will be much needed, as the group prepares for more touring and their upcoming album, which Williams hopes will be available by summer 2012.

As the night winds to a close, the concertgoers begin to file outside from the 9:30 Club.

While some strike up conversation, or replay their favorite parts from the recent show in impromptu air-bands, it’s difficult to miss the palatial tour bus parked in the adjacent alleyway. It’s quite an improvement since their first van from their humble beginnings in Los Angeles, but serves as evidence that Pepper picked the right wave and is riding it just fine.

arts & style

SPOTTED Rainy Days Don’t Dampen Hilltop Style KATIE JAMES Special to The Hoya

SPOTTED: Emma Fox (COL ’12) seeking shelter from this week’s rain in Saxby’s on 35th and O Streets WEARING: J Crew sweater, Folemio top, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Havianas flip flops

SPOTTED: Dara Morano (COL’12) walking up 35th St to meet some friends WEARING: J Crew jean shirt, Forever 21 skirt, Michael Kors flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag

SPOTTED: Amanda McGeough (COL ’12) on 36th and O St walking to class WEARING: Urban Outfitters gray dress, scarf from NYC street vendor, vintage cuff, Longchamp bag, Ray Ban aviators

SPOTTED: Kendall Cronin (COL ’14) outside of White-Gravenor Hall WEARING: J Brand jeans, vintage green top, Vince leather jacket, Haute Hippie beaded necklace, Mystique sandals

SPOTTED: Shannon Foley (MSB ’14) reading by the pond outside White-Gravenor Hall WEARING: Theory black tank, high-waisted shorts, vintage belt, Steve Madden sandals, Ray Ban aviators 9.30.11 // the guide // 13

entertainment Hit the Road, Jack: Rockin’ Out on the Interstate

backdrop as you drive past green fields and maybe some farms. (You were planning to drive through the rural Midwest, weren’t you?) As you whisk by, feel free to dream that KinneChapin you’ll never turn the car around but instead will support yourself by hh, the great American road running a small roadside stand selltrip. A time when we can ex- ing fresh vegetables and lemonade. plore our nation from sea to These are the sort of dreams that shining sea, sleep in dingy motels, The Daredevil Christopher Wright eat exclusively from diners and vend- inspires.

Now I know that this column usuing machines and generally pretend to be Jack Kerouac. With Columbus ally focuses on artists who are still Day looming on the distant horizon, under the radar, but in a discussion I bet that many of us have plans to of road trip music there is one song get off the Hilltop. Most of us will that I just can’t help talking about, even if it is deprobably take cades old. What less Kerouacis this song to ian methods of Just close your eyes and end all travel travel — but the imagine yourself at some songs, you ask? great American indiscriminate point on “America” Megabus trip

by Simon and just doesn’t Route 66.

Garfunkel, one have the same of my favorite ring to it, does songs by the ’60s folk duo. It deit? scribes the fruitless experience of As anyone who has ever taken a car ride of more looking for that quintessential Pleasthan one hour knows, good music is antville, America, by hitchhiking essential to prevent falling asleep out and taking Greyhound buses across of boredom and becoming roadkill. the country. Even though they never So this weekend, here’s what I’ll be find what they seek, every single playing as I cruise down the inter- time I listen to this song I want to pack a small bag of my belongings state.

First up: “Shore to Shore” by and set out for California. That is, of Johnny Flynn. Johnny Flynn is one course, until I realize that hitchhikof my very favorite musicians — his ing across the country would probvoice sounds like Bob Dylan and ably result in my death and would Ray LaMontagne’s baby took music also mean I couldn’t keep up with lessons from Tom Waits. As if that watching “Modern Family.” I have weren’t reason enough to press play, my priorities straight.

So if you’re driving, flying or takthis song is perfect for roadtrippin’ because it’s about the transient life ing the bus somewhere over the of a traveler as he drifts from (you next few weeks, follow this recipe for a road trip playlist that will have you guessed it) shore to shore.

When the driving coma sets in, tapping your toes until you reach my best advice is to play some low- your final destination. If you’re staykey tunes. Don’t try to fight your ing here at Georgetown, these songs boredom with Rhianna’s “Shut Up can work for you, too — just close and Drive.” Like attempting to slap your eyes and imagine yourself at yourself awake, it will be a painful some indiscriminate point on Route and fruitless experience. Instead lis- 66. It will be almost as good as the ten to “The Animal of Choice” by The real thing.

Daredevil Christopher Wright. This group sounds kind of like someone Kinne Chapin is a senior in the Colrubbing sandpaper on Fleet Foxes, if lege. She can be reached at chapin@ that analogy makes any sense. This thehoya.com. FACE THE MUSIC apwhimsical track will set the perfect pears every other Friday in the guide.

face the music

A

14 // the guide // 9.30.11

Inspiring Drama Finds Humor in Unlikely Places

ALL PHO TOS IMD B.CO M

VICTORIA PERRACHON Special to The Hoya

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oing into the movie theater, I sees a therapist named Katherine (Anna knew that 50/50 was a comedy. Kendrick), who, in all honesty, initially However, Jonathan Levine’s new comes off as a total dimwit. Following her film is not your typical blockbuster come- excellent performance alongside George dy; it mingles the gravity of real-life events Clooney in the film Up in the Air, Kendwith the humor people bring to them in rick accomplishes her part quite well as order to pull through. Needless to say, you the initially awkward, “I’m just trying to would never expect to leave the movie the- help” persona. The growing relationship ater having laughed, then cried and then her character has with Adam helps him laughed again within 99 minutes. Viewers endure the mental pain of chemotherapy are taken on an emotional rollercoaster as as well as his nagging mother’s telephone they follow an ordinary individual’s strug- calls and the break-up with his airhead gle through life’s unplanned obstacles. girlfriend.

Adam Lerner Another impor(Joseph Gordontant character is Levitt) is a 27 yearKyle, Adam’s wingold working for a man, who believes local radio station that through sex, in Seattle, Washalcohol and “pro50/50 ington. He has a fanity,” Adam can comfortable home get through the starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and a gorgeous, but grueling treatment.

Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick fake, girlfriend. You Kyle is the ultimate could say things are tool for comic regoing pretty well lief. However, this for him until he discovers that his back dab of humor isn’t carried so far that it pain is not from “too much sexual activ- undermines the seriousness of the disity,” as what his best friend Kyle (Seth ease, but actually underscore the imporRogen) thinks, but from a rare form of tance of the treatment. As a result, it is spinal cancer. From this point on, Lerner, worth noting that all three of the main already naturally reserved, is in a state of actors’ performances are exemplary. Nevshock as he learns that his chances of sur- ertheless, I think that Gordon-Levitt’s poivival are 50/50. gnant performance is praiseworthy and As he gradually absorbs this news, he could possibly earn him a nomination for best actor.

The one thing that really struck me at the end was that this is one of the rare movies that shines a light on the issue of cancer. 50/50 is not like an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” or “General Hospital,” because it’s actually realistic. On one hand, it honestly portrays the mental and physical struggle of cancer. On the other, despite the touch of humor, it does not take the illness lightly or for granted but makes the best of the situation while still facing the cold facts.

This constant counter-balancing of solemnity and humor shows the way things truly are: Just because you have cancer, it doesn’t mean that you have to stop living.

This positive endnote lifts the viewer’s spirits after an emotional ride and basically concludes with a big carpe diem. If BEAT THE ODDS Adam Lerner (Joseph you’re the kind of viewer who loves emoGordon-Levitt) receives support from Kyle tional intensity as much as humor, then (Seth Rogen) as he struggles with cancer. this is for you.

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entertainment

Indie Soloist Shines Brightly in Fourth Album NICOLE JARVIS Special to The Hoya

W

hile the name Leslie Feist may not ring any bells for many listeners, her music certainly will.

Performing under the mononym Feist, she released her first album, 2007’s The Reminder, to near-universal critical acclaim.

It garnered that praise for its mellow, bub-

STEREOGUM.COM

ble-gum singles, especially the infectious the perkier sound of her previous three “1234” (also known as, “that song from albums in favor of more well-rounded, dethe iPod Nano commercials”). But on her veloped and earthier instrumentation and production. fourth endeavor, The best song on Metals, Feist shows the album is witha new level of depth out a doubt the and maturity that, thumping opener, while making for “The Bad in Each pleasant and easy Other,” which inlistening, is ultiMETALS corporates a varimately forgettable. artist: Feist ety of drums and Feist’s growth as brass instruments an artist between song to download: “The Bad in to complement a The Reminder and Each Other” powerful vocal perMetals is clearly vissong to skip: “A Commotion” formance and start ible. Her vocals, in the album off right. particular, have deThe album conveloped, with her full vocal range and talents finally showing tinues with the lovely but haunting secthrough on tracks like “Cicadas and Gulls” ond track, “Graveyard.” The darker suband “Get it Wrong, Get it Right,” both of ject matter is a distinct departure from which succeed because of her soft yet that of Feist’s previous work, but her powerful crooning. The album also shows sweeping vocals lend a hopeful and resilFeist’s growth with its deviation from ient tone to the otherwise bleak track.

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New Releases

See more music and movie reviews at thehoya.com.

NICK DONAHUE Hoya Staff Writer

“We Found Love” Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris We Found Love

“Everything” Megafaun Megafaun

One of the weaker points on the album comes with “A Commotion,” a track with a punctuated backbeat and out-of-place chants which distract from an otherwise appealing bridge and vocal performance and create a generally weird atmosphere that most listeners will find jarring and unpleasant.

While Metals is easy to listen to and may serve well as quiet background music in many scenarios, the album as a whole does nothing to distinguish itself from a sea of other downtempo indie outings. None of the tracks is particularly memorable and, when listened to consecutively, seem indistinguishable from one another, creating a monotonous and somewhat boring listening experience.

Feist, with all her talent, could probably have done better.

“Black Tongue” Mastodon The Hunter

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Promising indie-folk-experimental group Megafaun has finally come into its own.

“Everything” has a straightforward Americana feel, giving it an edge over many of the band’s contemporaries. This track is definitely worth a listen from both indie and mainstream audiences.

Rihanna has had her fair share of hits. Regardless, a lot of her songs sound similar, and “We Found Love” is a prime example.

Generic beats and sub-par vocals cause this new release to fall flat.

“Black Tongue” still packs the same intensity and angular patterns as many other Mastodon songs, but it doesn’t do it in a desperate way. Anyone looking to blow off a little steam through some thrashing should give “Black Tongue” a listen.

PITCHFORK.COM

POPCRUSH.COM

METALDELERIUM.NET

9.30.11 // the guide // 15

best bets

evening at the lincoln memorial — connie yang

friday It’s hard to say no to good, cheap food, so it’s a must for any Georgetown student to attend this month’s Truckeroo. Organized by the owner of local bar Das Bullpen, the event brings together about 20 food trucks along M Street as they vend their goods for passersby. This is a great way to get tasty, low-priced food, but be sure to get there at a low-traffic time in order to avoid the lines.

WHERE: Das Bullpen, 25 M Street SE WHEN: Friday, 11 a.m. — 11 p.m INFO: (202) 297-5033 PRICE: Free METRO: Navy Yard (Green Line)

ABBY REUTZEL Special to The Hoya

saturday The school year has only just begun, which means that there’s still time to put the finishing touches on dorm rooms and apartments. Crafty Bastards is a craft fair sponsored by website Etsy that will gather merchants and vendors from all over the local area so they can vend their handcrafted goods. This is a wonderful opportunity to find those one-of-a-kind items that will put a unique spin on any living space.

WHERE: Marie Reed Learning Center, 2200 Champlain Street NW WHEN: Saturday, 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.

INFO: (202) 332-2100 PRICE: Free METRO: Woodley Park Zoo/Adams Morgan (Red Line)

sunday This festival will not only commemorate an important event — the announcement of Ankara, Turkey as Washington, D.C.’s sister city — but will also boast fabulous Turkish food, crafts, music and cultural events. This event will offer Georgetown students the opportunity to experience a brand new culture in a warm and welcoming environment.

WHERE: Freedom Plaza, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 12th and 14th Streets WHEN: Sunday, 11 a.m. — 7 p.m.

INFO: (888) 282-3236 PRICE: Free METRO: Metro Center (Red, Blue and Orange Lines), Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange Lines)