the guide november 30, 2012
the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop
Home Sweet Home Local Students Balance Neighboring Worlds
Pastrami on Rye: DC Gets a New Deli G10
It’s a Jungle Out There: A Photo Essay G13
The Best Movies For the Holiday Season G14
NO PLACE this issue 8 THERE’S LIKE HOME lifestyle 3 10 food&drink arts & 12 entertainment center stage | pardon my french
the bean counter | burleith bartender
‘relentless pursuit’ | holiday music
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Choosing a university is a difficult process, with students needing to weigh academic standing, social expectations and potential job opportunities. Location also tends to rank as a top consideration for many. But for students who live in metropolitan areas with many universities to choose from, the decision becomes even more complicated. Could proximity to home become a barrier to the true college experience? Some local high school students chose to take the risk and stay close to home at Georgetown to enjoy all the benefits of an education in our nation’s capital.
COVER PHOTO BY LEONEL DE VELEZ
soundbite
SHARING THE ARTS
“Do you remember when Taylor Swift was still considered a country artist? Neither does she.”
LIFESTYLE
Next week, we’ll tell you all about the most recent project of the GU Art Aficionados, who worked with first graders at Sacred Heart Elementary to plan, design and create a new mural for their campus.
the guide Braden McDonald, Executive Editor Victoria Edel, Managing Editor Hunter Main, Copy Chief Zoe Bertrand, Layout Editor Leonel De Velez, Photo Editor Kim Bussing, Deputy Guide Editor Nicole Jarvis, Deputy Guide Editor Emily Manbeck, Deputy Guide Editor Chris Grivas, Deputy Photo Editor Erica Wong, Deputy Photo Editor Kyle Hunter, Deputy Layout Editor Jessica Natinsky, Deputy Layout Editor Shannon Reilly, Deputy Copy Editor Jamie Slater, Deputy Copy Editor Sean Sullivan, Deputy Copy Editor
Danny Funt, Editor-in-Chief Sheena Karkal, Guide Editor Corrections and Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Braden McDonald at (202) 6873415 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. © 2012. THE HOYA, Georgetown University twice weekly. No part of this publication may be used without the permission of THE HOYA Board of Editors. All rights reserved. THE GUIDE is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus. Additional copies are $1 each. Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-3947 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741 Email: editor@thehoya.com Online at www.thehoya.com
STEVEN PICCIONE/THE HOYA
AlliePrescott Page 12
omglol :/ :D :| :(
NEWBORN TRENDS A couple has allegedly named their baby Hashtag in honor of Twitter. We can’t believe we’re following this news either. STILL A STAR Disney will produce a sequel to Life Size starring Tyra Banks. Let’s hope that Lindsay Lohan won’t come back and ruin this movie too. BROTHERLY LOVE Whitney Houston’s daughter and adopted son have reportedly ended their relationship. Looks like it wasn’t the greatest love of all.
NO MORE FOR YOUR (STAR)BUCKS Starbucks has outdone itself with charging $7 for a cup of joe. We’re worried about what they’ll overcharge for next.
saywhat?
“
I’ve had boxed wine. It’s good. And it’s a lot easier to open. — Katie Holmes in an interview with The New York Times
”
lifestyle
Editors’ Picks ‘NEIL’S PUPPET DREAMS’
‘CATCHING FIRE’
Until the end of the year, Neil Patrick Harris will grace computer screens every Tuesday with his new Internet series, Neil’s Puppet Dreams. The show, produced with Jim Henson Company, started this week on YouTube. Stay tuned for dirty-mouthed puppets modeled after Betty White and cameos from Joe Manganiello and Nathan Fillion.
Based on recently released photos from the set of The Hunger Games sequel, we have more than a few reasons to be prematurely excited for the 2013 release. Currently shooting scenes in Hawaii, the cast is busy in the new arena, which is based around the ocean. We’re just excited to see Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson back in action.
GETLIN.COM
LIONSGATE
PILLSBURY SUGAR COOKIES
GEORGETOWN COMPLIMENTS
One of the best things about Christmas is the opportunity it presents to eat many, many cookies. We love Pillsbury for making delicious sugar cookie dough with fun holiday shapes. Throw the unbaked cookies in the oven, and in a few minutes, you and your friends will be well-fed and happy — no baking skills required.
In case you missed this new online trend, the Georgetown Compliments Facebook page gives people the opportunity to anonymously compliment fellow students. Simply send a message, and in a few hours your love note will be posted. Not only is it a great way to brighten your friends’ days, it also mitigates Facebook drama with more positive posts.
CHOOSY-BEGGARS.COM
FACEBOOK.COM
appyhour Localmind
price: free
Just in time for the holiday season, Localmind assists users by connecting them to what is going on in and outside of town, perfect for those worried about feeling out of touch at home during December. Localmind also allows you to connect with fellow users to ask and answer questions about what is going on where you are and is a foolproof way to fill up your social calendar.
the apps that will make you love your favorite gadgets even more
Shopkick
price: free
Sometimes Christmas shopping can feel like a chore, but the new app Shopkick turns going to the mall into a fun and rewarding experience. Collect points by walking into stores like Target, West Elm and Macy’s. You can redeem them for free Starbucks coffee or save up for a designer handbag. Either way, Shopkick makes buying sometimes boring presents a little more enjoyable.
CAITLIN DESANTIS Special to The Hoya
iStudiez Pro
price: free
Overwhelmed with the amount of assignments due in the coming weeks? Download iStudiez Pro to organize your schedule, track due dates for papers and remind you to do your work with push notifications. The app can even track grades and store information about your instructors’ office hours and contact information.
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lifestyle KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE Theater Group Creates Community With Holiday Play EMILY GRAU Special to The Hoya
W
hile much of campus is quiet with students preparing final projects and essays, Poulton Hall is filled with Christmas carols and laughter. As they busily get ready for their annual performance of “A Christmas Carol,” members of the Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society can’t help but get swept up in the Christmas spirit. The thespians have reason for their lighthearted happiness — while welcom-
TAILORED FIT The actors put a twist on the traditional play and add modern elements for the student audience.
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ing the beginning of the holiday season, they are also celebrating the integration of underclassmen into the theater community. Mask & Bauble uses this yearly production as a way to welcome underclassmen and encourage their participation. This year, the producer, some directors and the stage manager of the show are sophomores and freshmen. The tradition provides a way for students who are new to Georgetown theater but want to try their hand at the various aspects of production to gain experience with Mask & Bauble. “It allows everyone who wants to be part of the Mask & Bauble program to get their feet wet and begin participating in Georgetown theater,” producer Nora Genster (COL ’16) said. Mask & Bauble has a “no-cut” audition policy for “A Christmas Carol.” Every student who auditions is promised a role in the production, which means directors have to add or take away characters in order to accommodate everyone, giving the production a unique aura of inclusiveness. “This is the one show a year where anyone who wants to act can,” Katie Rosenberg (COL ’13), one of the show’s directors, said. The performance serves as the culmination of the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a longtime Georgetown tradition that has become a showcase of artistic talent for several campus groups. The tree-lighting ceremony begins with a set performed by the Georgetown Chimes and carols performed by the university’s various choral and a cappella FORMING A RAPPORT Connor Joseph (COL ’16), pictured left, uses sarcasm and groups while attendees enjoy hot choco- humor as Ebenezer Scrooge while working off the light-hearted characters Fred, played by Nick Phalen (COL ’15), and Tiny Tim, played by Michelle Zhou (COL ’16). late and cookies. Mask & Bauble performs “A Christmas Carol” on the steps of Dahlgren Quad performed the show in a separate pro- Dahlgren Quad. The idea was quickly embraced,” Lignelli said. after the lighting and musical perfor- duction in the Red Square ampitheater. The combinamances. tion of a cappella Although the perfor“It allows everyone who wants to be part of the Mask groups performing mance of “A Christmas carols with Mask & Bauble program to get their feet wet and begin Carol” has quickly be& Bauble’s produccome a fixture of the participating in Georgetown theater.” tion makes the treetree-lightening ceremony, lighting ceremony Ron Lignelli, the adminis— Producer Nora Genster (COL ’16) a cheerful culminatrative director of the Detion of holiday spirit. partment of Performing “I suggested we have ‘A Christmas The show’s no-cut policy has created Arts, said the tradition is fairly new. As recently as ten years ago, Mask & Bauble Carol’ join the festivities and perform in opportunities for the theater company
lifestyle to embellish the production. Characters such as Ron, Neville and Dean — with apologies to Harry Potter — have been added as partygoers. One lucky student is cast as even a turkey. These additional features, the specifics of which change every year, ensure that the company can stage the play year after year without it’s becoming monotonous or bland. Actors playing more familiar characters such as Tiny Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge are also encouraged to make the characters their own. The production isn’t lacking in humor either. “The ensemble scenes in particular are really high energy with lots of jokes,” said Gianna Maita (COL ’15), a two-time participant in the production who plays Beth Cratchit this year. Additionally, the absence of a traditional stage inspires creativity and innovation. The original spin on traditional characters as well as the humor and setting make this production full of twists even for those well-versed in the plotline. If the atmosphere of the inclusive play, the adorable Tiny Tim and the story’s unexpected turns don’t bring you a bit of holiday cheer, you might be a Scrooge after all. The tree-lighting ceremony will take place tonight in Dahlgren Quad at 5 p.m.
ALL PHOTOS AMY LEE/THE HOYA
A STARK CONTRAST Tiny Tim is an inspirational, endearing character that drives the thrust of the plot and whose demeanor directly contrasts with Scrooge’s curmudgeonly personality. Mask & Bauble’s “A Christmas Carol” debuts tonight.
pardon my french
My Not-So-Glamourous Life as a Hill Intern
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his summer, when I was making plans for the current semester, I knew I wanted an internship. For me, it was all going to be a part of my greater Georgetown experience, and, like many enthusiastic government majors, I knew I wanted to intern on Capitol Hill. I figured working for my own congressman was out of the question, as my only prior political experience was working for his Democratic challenger in the November elections. Luckily for me, one thing California has plenty of is congressional districts. I applied to work for the congresswoman from the district next door and was accepted. Thus, in September, I started a biweekly ritual of stopping at Wisey’s after my 9:30 class, hopping on the GUTS bus and taking the Metro to work like a big girl. When I applied to intern this semester, I thought it would be awesome. It was the beginning of the craziest part of election season, and I thought being on the front lines in Congress would expose me to the great bipartisan power struggles of our government firsthand. In reality, my job was the complete op-
posite. In my first two weeks, there was This all makes it sound like I had a a single voting day — which I admit was horrible experience and hated every really cool to witness from inside the minute of it, but that’s actually not true. office — but then it happened: the six- I met and worked with some really nice week recess. Every man, woman and and interesting people, including the independent in Congress went home to only other intern in the office who was his or her local district to fight the good working full time for her fall quarter. It fight in seeking bids for re-election. turns out her dad and my mom went to Where did this leave Redwood High School in me, the lowly part-time Marin County, Calif., at intern? High and dry. the same time, though My job was a lot less they didn’t know each glamorous than I had other. Weird, right? hoped. I was mainly I learned about the tasked with answering small, well-oiled maphones that rarely rang, chines that support NicoleJarvis sorting mail and email, each and every member booking tours of variof Congress and how ous government facilities (especially the uniquely connected to the constituents White House) for constituents and occa- the staff members are. Many were resionally making trips to the Flag Room sponsible for helping people resolve conburied deep within the tunnels under fusing and difficult conflicts with their the Capitol Building. While interns in banks or helping local residents take other offices were leading guests on advantage of the DREAM Act to avoid tours of the Capitol, I was sitting at my deportation. I got to attend interesting desk in Longworth House Office Build- and unique briefings and I got a spiffy ing doing my homework and intensely government-issued ID with my face and browsing Politico and the THE HOYA’s the word INTERN on it in huge letters, just in case my lowly status wasn’t obviOpinion section.
ous enough already. Most importantly of all, I learned that I couldn’t work in Congress in any capacity as a career. The two-year election cycle is innately hectic and I already find myself frustrated with the wheeling and dealing of Congress so often described on the news without having to be immersed in it 24/7 as my job. I appreciate what the people I worked with are able to do, but I couldn’t do it myself. Ultimately, I think that the point of having an internship is to not just to boost your resume or make your schedule that much busier, but also to figure out what you might do after college. It’s strange to think about, but in 2 1/2 years, I am going to be a Georgetown graduate and I’m going to have to start thinking about real life, as scary as it may be. Though I may not know exactly what I want to do yet, at least now I know something I don’t want to do. And for me, that’s as good a place as any to start.
Nicole Jarvis is a sophomore in the College. This is the final appearance of PARDON MY FRENCH this semester.
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lifestyle GIVING A BIG HAND
centerstage CAROLINE DESANTIS Special to The Hoya
Entrepreneur Provides a Stage for Charities When James Li (MSB ’13) saw a void in the nonprofit sector, he used his passion for business and philanthropy to create Encore last December with two fellow Georgetown students. Inspired by a collaboration of classroom and real-life experience, Encore is a web platform that makes it easy for charities to tell their stories in order to inspire donors to give more. Using hard work and dedication while balancing both a hectic academic schedule and life as young entrepreneurs, Li and his team developed their simple idea into a successful business and now have plans to expand Encore further after graduation. What sparked the idea to start this business? Back in high school, I did a lot of YouTube surfing, and I found a channel called Uncultured Project. It was one guy named Sean in Bangladesh doing a lot of water projects, which wasn’t really extraordinary on its own, but the big difference was that instead of the really stereotypical black-andwhite sad commercials that get you to donate, he was doing a lot of positive storytelling and capturing how he was spending his money. He showed the smiles of the kids after they got the school supplies and the wells, and as a result, he got more YouTube subscribers than Save the Children or the Red Cross. I asked myself how come he was getting all of this buzz
SPOTLIGHT What’s on your iPod now? “Hall of Fame” — The Script Favorite word? Philanthropy — the “love of man.” Favorite place to eat in Georgetown? Pizzeria Paradiso What’s your dream car? Audi R8 What’s your motto? “You can’t change the cards you’re dealt. It’s how you play the hand.”
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and support, and I realized it was a really simple concept. People really love to see where their money goes, and most of the time when you donate to a foundation, you don’t get to see how your money is being used. Just going off that concept, Encore was sparked by the simple idea that if you show somebody how their money is making a difference, they’ll trust you a lot more, and they’ll give you a lot more money. We’ve taken Sean’s model and applied it to organizations all across the world because there is no reason why other organizations shouldn’t tell their stories in the same way.
COURTESY JIM MCCORMICK COURTESY JIM MCCORMICK
What gave you the motivation to put your ideas into action? Coming into Georgetown, I didn’t necessarily have the mindset that I wanted to be a social entrepreneur but I jumped head first into the Compass Fellowship. I was really inspired by all of the mentors and the advisors, and they really inspired me and got me started on this path. In the business school, you end up spending a lot of time in a room with a whiteboard planning things out, but you have no idea if your ideas are actually practical in the real world. Another motivation behind Encore is to be able to learn by doing — to be able to apply the ideas we learn in class in an actual business environment and see how they do in the real world. How has being an entrepreneur changed your perspective on your life as a student? We see ourselves not as students who happen to be entrepreneurs but entre-
ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA
A SIMPLE CONCEPT Knowing that donors like seeing how their money is used, James Li (MSB ’13) started Encore to help charities share their stories. preneurs that happen to be students. That dramatically changes things, because I’m the sort of guy who wants to get my homework done as soon as I can so that I can work on Encore for the rest of the time. That’s not to say that my classes aren’t engaging — it’s just that I love putting what I learn into practice a lot more than just reading the textbook and memorizing terminology. I would say that everyone in Encore would agree that it’s made school a lot more exciting because there are immediate applications of things we’ve learned, which makes our experience a lot more enriching.
How has it been juggling schoolwork with your business? It is a big trade off in terms of your lifestyle here at Georgetown because the fact of the matter is that the business world doesn’t wait ... If you are an entrepreneur that happens to be a student, you have to have the mindset that you are always working and that you are always working for your goal. I’m really proud of the work that our team has done so far not only because we have come this far but also because a lot of us have made sacrifices. The one thing that we always remind ourselves of is that the hardest things are the ones worth doing.
lifestyle ring by spring
Television’s ‘New Girl’ Cramping Women’s Style
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arning to my male readers: I will use the words “period”, “menstruation” and similar terms three to five times in this article. (That’s what I’m aiming for, at least.) This past week, I had my heart broken by a television show. Many of you may be familiar with the witty Fox sitcom “New Girl,” starring that blue-eyed gal, Zooey Deschanel. Deschanel plays Jess, a young school teacher who, after discovering her live-in boyfriend has cheated on her, must move in with three single men — all of them at varying levels of comedic dysfunction. The status of this most recent episode is that Jess has been let go from her teaching position due to cutbacks. I’ve been a regular follower of this show since being introduced to it this past spring. Last week, however, I found myself deeply disappointed and ever-soslightly peeved by the turn of events. Maybe it’s just that I’ve become old and cranky, or perhaps it’s finally taken this long for college to open up my mind, but I’ve become increasingly critical of the mindless television I once guiltlessly
enjoyed (except for those Kardashians then refers to the dog in the past tense, — I can’t get enough). In this particular revealing to Jess that the little pup is no episode, Jess is looking to apply to a job longer alive. Expectedly, she loses all teaching young adults. The episode be- control of her emotions. As a result of gins, however, with Jess confessing to this outburst, Jess does not get the job. her male roommates that she is PMSing Let’s take a minute to review. Fox: (ew). This scene is humorously crafted are you telling me Jess does not receive with Jess confessing that she “wants to employment because she is menstruatcry and punch someone but also wants ing? The menstrual cycle of a female is a soft pretzel.” Psh, womso debilitating that it ofen… am I right?! ten makes us unfit for the When it comes time working world? Post-grad for her interview, her life is going to be tougher period seems to get in than I thought; I’m really the way. The interview going to have to schedule begins on a positive note, interviews strategically. MeaganKelly and Jess and the female The episode proceeds interviewer are getting with Jess continuing in along great. All is going well until the a downward spiral of emotions due to interviewer shows Jess a picture of her her paralyzing womanhood that appardog. Being emotionally volatile and frail ently no one has taught her how to deal as all women are while menstruating with yet. This continues until one of her (insert eye roll here), Jess begins to tear male roommates takes Jess to a spa and up. Through her tears, she manages to talks her down from the metaphoriask how the dog was able to fit inside cal cliff that is the female menstrual the large teacup shown in the picture. cycle. It isn’t until then that Jess brings At first, it is the mere size of the dog that herself together, returns to that same makes Jess emotional. The interviewer interviewing office and finally gets the
Alumnus Offers New Spin on Soda
O
ut of the many challenges facing optimistic new college graduates, the search for a job is among the most stressful. Many seek the seemingly impossible — a fulfilling career that not only keeps their bank account full, but also keeps their interest. Entrepreneur Bill Creelman (COL ’96) has set an example by combining his own experience at Georgetown with elements of his childhood in rural New England to make and sell a uniquely inspiring and delicious product — Spindrift Soda. Spindrift is a beverage company that is notable for being the first producer of sodas and seltzers that incorporates allnatural ingredients and fresh-squeezed fruit. The company was a natural evolution of Creelman’s love for locally sourced products, but it also served to remedy his need to eliminate traditional sodas from his otherwise healthy diet and began as a sort of personal experiment. “After ... striking upon the idea of fresh squeezed juice sodas, I started messing around in my kitchen to work on a product,” Creelman said. Born in a small town in Massachusetts and raised on a farm, Creelman has always been surrounded by organic and locally sourced food. After graduating from Georgetown, Creelman translated this appreciation for the benefits of fresh, organic and local food and drink into a highly
successful business propelled by his passion for better products. Creelman attributes much of his passion for entrepreneurship to a class he took at Georgetown. Centered on the intricacies of entrepreneurship, this class is where Creelman struck upon the idea that would later become his first business out of college. Oddly enough, this idea was not as much of a hit in his presentation as it was later in the market. “During the final presentation, my professor gave me a cue to hurry up that I misinterpreted to mean wrap it up. So I rushed through my presentation, cutting half my material. The panel of judges tore my presentation and plan apart,” Creelman said. But instead of putting away thoughts of entrepreneurship, Creelman resolved to never cut corners or undersell his ideas. With this resolve and a newly minted diploma from Georgetown, Creelman founded Nantucket Harvest Co., a mailorder and online supplier of fresh seafood products from Nantucket. As his business underwent a number of transformations, Creelman credits his liberal arts education for helping him continue to innovate and advance. “I think a liberal arts degree gives you a perspective, at least for entrepreneurship, that you might not get as just a busi-
job. So what I can take away from this totally accurate depiction of women in the workplace is that if I truly want to be successful in life, I should make sure to always be living with men so that there is someone around at all times to talk me down from my hysteria. Here’s how it really works, gentlemen. We know about hormones. We know they are curses cast on our bodies once a month to make us think that everyone hates us, that our significant other will surely leave us (and/or that we will be alone forever) and that we gained 10 pounds over night. But despite common belief, our brains do not implode into irrational mush. We know about this dark magic and how to defend ourselves against it. And heck, I’d really appreciate it if television and media could quit making us ladies look all helpless and loony. I’d really like a job one day, no matter what time of the month it happens to be.
Meagan Kelly is a senior in the College. This is the final appearance of RING BY SPRING this semester.
JERROD MACFARLANE Special to The Hoya
ness student,” he said. What had begun as a small distributor of fresh Nantucket seafood products evolved into the country’s first producer of organic cocktail mixes. Creelman eventually sold to Diageo, the world’s largest producer of alcoholic beverages. Creelman took his experience and success from these businesses to found Spindrift Soda. The road from there wasn’t easy, however. Carbonating fresh juice was significantly more complicated than Creelman and his partners could have anticipated. “Our biggest difficulty was finding someone to produce the soda,” he said. “Fresh juice has pulp, and thus the [carbonating process] is very difficult because the producer first has to remove the pulp in order to make the juice usable.” Creelman and his team returned to the drawing board. He and his partners reworked the entire carbonating process and still continue to perfect their method with each new batch of sodas and seltzers. Today, the company produces more than five flavors of soda and three flavors of seltzer, ranging from raspberry-lime seltzer to mango-orange soda. In addition, Spindrift has teamed up with a number of nonprofits to support sustainable food and drink practices on both the production and the consumption side to expand their business without losing sight of their fresh and humble beginnings.
COURTESY BILL CREELMAN
JUICE MASTER Bill Creelman (COL ’96) is the founder of a new soda company that uses all-natural fruit juice.
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Not Far From Home: Stud
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he appeal of studying in the seat of national power attracts sudents to Georgetown from every state and over 30 countries. Washington, D.C., is renowned as prime real estate for undergraduate education, yet such attraction is not limited to those who come from far away. For students like sophomoe twin sisters Julie and Betsy Abraham, the draw of the District brought them to the Hilltop after growing up just a short drive away. “I thought that I would rather have my mom be able to come here in 20 minutes if I ever had to go home, rather than have to wait an hour or four or for a plane ride before I had to go home,” Julie Abraham (MSB ’15) said. The Abrahams grew up in McLean, Va., situated about 13 miles west of Georgetown. Their parents’ jobs in the District and frequent school trips to Georgetown made both the city and the university familiar sights by the time they arrived on the Hilltop as freshmen. “It wasn’t like we were overexposed to anything,” Julie said about her childhood. Her sister, Betsy (COL ’15), said she tells friends, “We’re technically in a different state.” “We live in a suburb of D.C. [and] we
rarely would go to Georgetown specifical- because of the location, job opportunities Despite the advantages of studying ly, so it’s a completely different environ- and professors,” she said. at Georgetown and continuing to enjoy ment,” Betsy said. Lauren Spak (MSB ’15), who grew up in the offerings of life in the District, many Students from the D.C. metropolitan Potomac, Md., transferred to Georgetown prospective local students harbor a simiarea do not only choose Georgetown be- from the University of South Carolina this lar fear — that spending their formative cause of its proximity to their homes. year. college years in their home city might Betsy Abraham was also attracted to “I was really excited ... to [transfer] to a compromise their independence and perGeorgetown’s government department school that focused a lot more on academ- sonal growth. and wanted to conGarriott originaltinue participating ly considered the “Even though I am close to home, the proximity is in D.C.’s political university’s proxkind of in my head. My parents and my family aren’t scene after serving imity to his home constantly visiting me, so a lot of it is up to me and as a congressional in Falls Church, intern during high Va., as a drawback how close I want to be to them.” school. and did not intend “People, [even if apply. — Ashton Garriott (SFS ‘15) to “I they] aren’t familwas planning iar with Georgeon going sometown, view a government degree as good ics and education and getting something where either farther away from home in out of that education,” she said. the Northeast, like an Ivy League, or a VirSpak added that Georgetown’s spirited ginia state school,” he said. “I had thought community and diverse array of extracur- about [Georgetown], but I wasn’t really ricular activities influenced her decision planning on [attending].” to transfer. After his brother suggested that Still, the proximity to home was pivotal Georgetown might be a good fit for him, to Spak’s choice of Georgetown over an- Garriott decided to look into the univerother school in the South. sity. Having lived in Panama for five and The decision of Mike Oliver (MSB ’15) to a half years and participated in his high apply to Georgetown was influenced pri- school’s Model United Nations program, marily by factors other than its short dis- Garriott developed an interest in pursutance from his home in Arlington, Va. Oli- ing international affairs at the School of ver grew up in a family of Hoyas sports fans Foreign Service. and attended Mass at Holy Trinity Church Studying so close to home can bring chalon N Street as a child. He fell in love with lenges, too. Garriott recalled feeling conflictthe school at a young age and ranked it as ed about visiting friends who still live near a frontrunner in his college search because home because he did not want to detract of its strong school spirit, extracurricular from his new social life at Georgetown. offerings and robust opportunities for “Sometimes I feel pressured to hang out business internships in the area. with them on the weekends, or sometimes “The proximity to home didn’t affect they want to come up here,” Garriott said. my decision to come here. If anything, it “So I feel like that’s one drawback.” made it easier. For move-in and move-out, Spak, who said she goes home to Pothe short distance made it so much easi- tomac about every two weeks, said she er,” Oliver said. does not feel pressure from her family Although some local students opt to to visit. She has communicated with her live at home and commute to school in or- family more this year and considers them der to save on housing costs, Ashton Gar- a valuable support system, but she does riott (SFS ’15) and many other students not think that attending a university from the D.C. metro area still elect to live close to home has hindered her transition on campus. into adulthood or the real world. “I didn’t want to [live at home], and it “A lot of people I talk to who are from turned out that because of financial aid, the West Coast [say], ‘I’m here to do my I wouldn’t actually save money because four years away from my family and then NATALIA ORTIZ/THE HOYA [the university] just takes the money out go back,’” Spak said. “But I don’t think HOMEBODY Laura Spak (MSB ’15) chose to return closer to her home in Potomac, of your scholarship,” Garriott said. there’s a set rule you have to abide by to Md., when she trasnferred to Georgetown from the University of South Carolina.
udents From the Suburbs
EMILY MANBECK Hoya Staff Writer
get that growing up experience.” The Abrahams believe that having their parents nearby has helped them become more independent because they can determine when and for how long they stay at home during the week. “I can tell a huge difference between [when I go] home for Sunday dinner every week and going home for Thanksgiving — there’s a completely different atmosphere,” Betsy Abraham said. “And, I can tell the difference of being on my own; when I go home on a Sunday, I can dictate when I get to go home and when I get dropped off versus when I go home for Thanksgiving, [when] everything is dictated for me.” The Abraham twins, like Spak, say they do not constantly look to their family for guidance but find comfort in knowing that they are just a phone call or short drive away if needed. “I think people here do the same thing, but we just do it in person,” Julie said. “If you need help with something, say deciding what classes to take, I think [our roommate] Skypes with her mom, [whereas] we go home or have lunch with our dad.” Oliver added that, for students whose families reside in area suburbs, going to
school in the District itself contributes to his feeling of being away from home. “You don’t have access to the things that are in the city, like restaurants and internships, when you’re living 15 minutes away,” he said. Julie Abraham agreed. “We have a lot more freedom here in how we use our time and where we want to go, and in that way, the city is different from the suburbs,” Julie Abraham added. Oliver emphasized that people define “close” differently, and prospective students from the D.C. metro area should approach their decision to apply to Georgetown in the same way as any other student would. “If you’re trying to get a comparison between one of the state schools and here, then [you should] focus on the fact that you’re living in the city [and] you’re not going to be with as many people from your high school,” Oliver said. “Even though [Georgetown] is a smaller school, it doesn’t feel small. … It’s not so small that you feel like you’re seeing the same person over and over and over again.” Ultimately, Garriott has come to believe that the college experience is an
individual one and that people whose homes are close to the Hilltop should not automatically feel compelled to exclude the university from their shortlists. A member of the International Relations Club and the Ultimate team, Garriott has now successfully carved out a distinct social life on the Hilltop. “There might be this idea that the college experience has to be that you go away, but I don’t think that’s necessarily what is has to be,” he said. “Even though I am close to home, the proximity is kind
of in my head. My parents and my family aren’t constantly visiting me, so a lot of it is up to me and how close I want to be to them.” Julie Abraham noted how staying in the area gives her a respected perspective when she encourages younger friends from her high school to apply to Georgetown. “Even though it’s close to home, it’s not like you’re living at home. It’s still the college experience, but you get to stay in the area,” she said.
STEVEN PICCIONE/THE HOYA
STEVEN PICCIONE/THE HOYA
NATALIA ORTIZ/THE HOYA
NATALIA ORTIZ/THE HOYA
WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T GO HOME Ashton Garriot (SFS ’15), Mike Oliver (MSB ’15) and sophomore sisters Julie (top) and Betsy Abraham (bottom), pictured left to right, decided to attend college close to where they grew up. Staying near their families while at Georgetown has allowed them to keep in better touch with their loved ones.
food&drink DGS Perfects Classic Deli Favorites
ELISE WIDERLITE Special to The Hoya
DGS DELICATESSEN
G
ood things come to those who wait. Until DGS Delicatessen, many decades had gone by without a classic deli for Washington D.C. to call its own. DGS made its much-anticipated debut in Dupont Circle less than a month ago, serving up gourmet Jewish cuisine. This new concept redefines the word “deli.” DGS Delicatessen calls itself a “restaurant, sandwich shop and bar,” only one of which you would associate with your neighborhood deli. More of a restaurant and less of a deli, DGS is only a take on a delicatessen, upgrading the deli experience to a fine dining outing with its upscale restaurant decor and bar. It’s both suited for the refined palates of D.C. restaurant-goers and those who fancy themselves deli mavens. DGS has crafted specialty cocktails such as the “mazel tov cocktail,” made with champagne and house-made lavender syrup, to pair with its bold flavors. Although the delicatessen is in its infancy, DGS is not short on history and tradition. The restaurant gets it name from the District Grocery Stores, Jewish-owned mom-and-pop grocery stores that thrived in D.C. during the 1920s. DGS looks to
1317 Connecticut Ave. NW cuisine: Jewish Deli price: $$$$ emulate the small businesses’ special capability to foster close relationships with their customers over Jewish-style home cooking. In the spirit of the groceries, the deli is doing it the old-fashioned way by smoking and curing all of its own meat and fish in house. DGS simultaneously pays homage to its rich heritage and makes it relevant to contemporary restaurateurs. Nick and David Wiseman, the owners of DGS, have artfully crafted the decor to transport you back in time to the days of the District Grocery Stores. Brick walls are lined with real black-and-white photographs of their families, and wooden tables are set with dishcloth napkins that make you feel like you’re sitting in your grandmother’s kitchen. But inside of this cozy setting, you will indulge in food that doesn’t taste exactly like grandma’s recipes. Working with Chef Barry Koslow, the Wisemans have created a menu that freshens up Ashkenazi Jewish cooking. The menu promises nostalgic dishes with big flavors. You can tell Grandmother Dot’s matzo ball soup has been made with love; it warms you up from the inside with its hearty broth and fluffy
blogbites
YELP.COM ELISE WIDERLITE FOR THE HOYA
DOWN-TO-EARTH DELI DGS Delicatessen brings homestyle deli favorites like the classic pastrami sandwich and sweet noodle kugel to a new D.C. audience. matzo balls. DGS has taken a risk with their house-made smoked meats and fish, which take a week to prepare, but it pays off. The smoked salmon, served with a potato latke, easily overshadows its limp potato pairing. The pastrami and corned beef sandwiches are the deli’s signature dishes. This is where DGS earns its name as an authentic delicatessen. The doublebaked rye, made by Upper Crust Bakery in Silver Spring, Md., is the secret. The bread has a crisp crust with a spongy middle. The rye stands up to a hearty slathering of tangy, house-made mustard that complements the juicy meats. Corned beef and pastrami are cut thickly so you can really sink your teeth into them as they melt in your mouth. Leave room for dessert, where you should expect the unexpected. The sweet noodle kugel with salted caramel ice cream is an unusual pairing that excites and refreshes your palate after a meal of
robust spices. Its salty, sweet and hot/cold combination electrifies your taste buds. If you aren’t keen on the idea of noodles for dessert, then the teiglach (Hungarian donuts) are a sweet ending. Boiled in honey syrup, these golden-brown puffed dough pastries are dusted in powdered sugar and are the perfect complement to any meal. At this delicatessen, you will find a soonto-be neighborhood favorite full of friends and families sharing stories over black cherry sodas and chocolate egg creams. It’s the ideal place for college students who are many miles away from home and are looking for some comfort food and good company. There are few other places where you can steep yourself in culture and satisfy your craving for homemade cooking all at once. Although DGS has delivered thus far, they are still making us wait a little while longer. Stay tuned for their brunch menu and sandwich shop, which are expected to launch in the coming weeks.
a weekly review of the blogosphere’s best recipes
Chocolate Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars
Tootsie Rolls
86lemons.com
food52.com
This delicious vegan and gluten-free treat is just what you need to get your mornings started off right. Peanut butter may be the star of these no-bake bars, but you can throw together pretty much any combination nuts or berries for a yummy snack.
An updated version of a classic candy, this homemade tootsie roll recipe is quick and easy. Making it will be a great baking activity as the temperature outside continues to drop, so grab a roommate, find a kitchen and start making some chocolate treats.
10 | the guide | 11.30.12
food&drink
Hidden Cafe Makes Coffee That Counts KIM BUSSING Hoya Staff Writer
B
ecause I’m from Seattle, coffee isn’t just my favorite morning beverage, it’s a lifestyle. This also means that I’m pickier than most when it comes to my twice-daily vanilla lattes. Although I’ve survived the lines at the Starbucks in Leavey and built part of my diet around the Les Mis from Midnight MUG, I had resigned myself to settling for mediocre espresso until my return to the Evergreen State over the holidays — until I stumbled upon the Bean Counter. Located on Wisconsin Avenue and Reservoir Road, the Bean Counter is an intimate, family-owned cafe that embodies the term “hole in the wall”; if you aren’t paying close enough attention, it’s easy to miss. Upon entering, however, you are greeted by a homey space decorated with local artwork and handmade, local jewelry that is also available for purchase. The menu itself is relatively simple and offers a basic selection of coffee, all of which is organic, fair-trade and locally roasted. My vanilla latte, the standard by which I judge all coffee shops, was smooth and sweetened just enough that I could still taste the espresso itself; it made me wonder why I had chosen to order just a small. Other notable drinks include their spiced chai, which had a welcome afternoon kick and offered an aromatic alternative for those who aren’t in the mood for a coffee. Unprepared for anything more than an after-class caffeine fix, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Bean Counter also offers cleverly named sandwiches and salads inspired by the owner’s previous career as a venture capitalist. Everything was delicious, from the Mutual Fund — a mixed greens salad with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and walnuts — to the 52 Week High — a smoked chicken sandwich
KIM BUSSING/THE HOYA
CUP OF JOE The Bean Counter brews up delicious coffee at an affordable price.
THE BEAN COUNTER 1665 Wisconsin Ave. NW cuisine: Coffee and Tea price: $$$$
with provolone cheese, guacamole, bacon, greens and tomatoes. My friend and I chose to share the Bean Counter’s most popular sandwich, the Cuban, which is piled high with roasted pork, sweet ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on a pressed Cuban roll. Although presentation was a bit unimpressive — the sandwich arrived cut in half on a simple white plate — it was reminiscent of mom’s home cooking and provided some much-needed pre-finals comfort food. Flavorful and toasted, it too made me regret that I ordered a smaller portion. A sandwich could easily feed one person while leaving room for one of the freshly baked cookies or brownies. Everything is made to order, and a create-your-own-sandwich option is also available, offering additional choices for the more adventurous foodies — or those just seeking a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that they don’t have to make themselves. As a lover of coffee-shop music, I was disappointed to find that there wasn’t anything playing, although this did make conversation easier. An added detriment was the lack of a wireless network; I’m always on the search for new places to study, but the absence of Wi-Fi ruled out the Bean Counter as an alternative to Lau. As my friend pointed out, however, this does force you to enjoy your meal and relax without schoolrelated distractions, making it an ideal retreat to unwind after exams. Prices are fairly reasonable; sandwich costs are comparable to those of Booeymonger’s, and coffee costs are similar to Uncommon Grounds. Breakfast is also offered at affordable prices in the form of breakfast sandwich, muffins and toasted bagels. Without the student-and-yuppie ambience of Saxby’s, the Bean Counter provides the perfect place to grab a cup of Seattleite-approved coffee, order a sandwich when your self-pressed Leo’s paninis aren’t cutting it and escape from your computer — at least for a little while.
burleith bartender
A Different Spin on Gin
P
eople who like gin are hard to and esoteric to most people; a quick find. The last time I asked some- look at Beefeater’s London dry gin one what he thought of gin, he reveals that it contains juniper, orris wrinkled his face in disgust as if I’d root and angelica root. asked him to lick a broken bottle of My personal favorite is Bombay SapLady Bligh. phire, though I prefer the relatively In my experience, few people light inexpensive New Amsterdam for its up at the mention of gin. After all, sweet fruity flavor, making it perfect gin is basically a bitter, herbaceous for gimlets. For cheap drinks, I pick version of vodka, and a up bottle of Seagram’s. lot of people don’t like Finally, there are drinks that taste bitter some distinctions beor herbaceous. Its tarttween different kinds ness makes it terrible of gin. Most labeling compared to vodka for differences are geoboth taking shots and graphical, while the mixing. flavor differences are PrestonMui That being said, rather vague. As a rule, gin can be quite good London dry gin has when done correctly. A friend once very little sugar, and Plymouth gin, told me that she didn’t like gin while usually more herbaceous, is made I was making a pitcher of gimlets; af- only in Plymouth, England. Sloe gin ter tasting the gimlets, however, she is fruitier and sweet, and it varies hoarded the pitcher for the rest of the enough from other gins that most evening. We later found the pitcher recipes will call specifically for Sloe. — intended for the entire party — hidden in our living room. Preston Mui is a senior in the ColGin is made by distilling neutral, lege. This is the final appearance flavorless alcohol with aromatics and of BURLEITH BARTENDER this seherbs. The ingredients are obscure mester.
remixing the classics NEGRONI
1 ounce gin 1 ounce campari 1 ounce sweet vermouth Pour over ice and stir gently. Sip slowly and garnish with a thin orange slice or an orange twist. Know that this drink is not an amateur’s drink. It’s two parts bitter to one part sweet, but it’s an absolute staple and a classic.
CLASSIC MARTINI
1 1/2 ounces gin 1/2 ounce dry vermouth In a shaking glass, combine ingredients with ice and stir quickly but gently. Yes, James Bond asks for shaken, not stirred, but that releases too much water into the drink. Strain into a martini glass and squeeze the skin of a lemon peel over the drink, dropping the lemon peel into the glass before serving. There are many ways to make (using more or less vermouth) and garnish a martini. (Olives are popular, too.)
GIMLET WITH JAM
1 ounce jam of your choice 2 ounces gin 3/4 ounce simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water by volume) 3/4 ounces fresh lime juice Lay out the jam on a plate, then dip the glass rim into the jam, coating the rim. Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake vigorously. Strain into glass and serve with a spoon of jam.
11.30.12 | the guide | 11
arts&entertainment ‘Pursuit’ Falls Short Of Excellence A
KALEY BEINS Hoya Staff Writer
lthough Georgetown University produces graduates with diverse interests and academic concentrations, including some that seek to immediately jump into graduate school or the traditional job market, Georgetown has also generated the third-largest number of Teach For America recruits of all medium-sized universities in the country. Donna Foote’s critically acclaimed book Relentless Pursuit: A Year in the Trenches with Teach for America explores the development of the organization and the experiences of new teachers. Following the experiences of four firstyear Teach For America recruits at a Los Angeles public high school, Foote reveals the difficulties the TFA program presents to the young teachers. From dealing with seemingly incorrigible students to navigating TFA’s own cold bureaucracy, the recruits face massive challenges from day one. One of the stuRELENTLESS dents urinates in a classroom; another writes an obscene message on the board. The school frequently loses power. Kids bring guns to campus. Teach For America consistently requires more and more from its teachers while simultaneously giving them less and less support. Naive idealism and inaction run rampant. Foote’s depiction of the TFA dream is classified more as a nightmare.
The beginning of the book paints a vivid picture of life as a TFA teacher. Each story reveals the many hardships and occasional triumphs of life as a teacher within an impoverished innercity school system. As the book continues, however, Foote’s engaging writing style derails. The numerous pages detailing both the economic woes of Teach For America and the many people required to solve them are lackluster at best. In an effort to appear unbiased, Foote constantly switches point of view, alternating between the thoughts of a new recruit, a principal and even those of minor characters that only appear for a few pages. She skips back and forth in time, repeating stories and memories as though she does not trust the reader to retain anything she has already written. Unfortunately, this makes her writing appear as disorganized as the school she is studying. Instead of flowPURSUIT ing smoothly, her book reads like an essay question on an exam for which a student rambles with insignificant details as he tries to prevent the professor from deducting points. Foote does not seem to know where to draw the line. “Relentless pursuit,” a TFA phrase used to motivate the recruits and students, is repeated throughout the book from the recruiting period to the very last sentence of the epilogue. Foote’s overuse of the catchphrase comes across as gimmicky. Despite some of the book’s lackluster passages, Foote succeeds at capturing the essence of Teach For America. She cultivates an impressive mix of sympathy and amazement with regard to the L.A. high school students, expounding upon the very real dangers of their neighborhood while still revealing their sweet sides from time to time. Overall, the book did what Foote set out to do: explore and reveal the Teach For America experience with less of a rosy hue than the recruitment brochures. While reading Relentless Pursuit, I felt frustrated by the situation, just like the TFA recruits must have felt directly experiencing it. This book should be required for anyone who is seriously considering joining Teach For America.
GOODREADS.COM
A NEW WARZONE “Relentless Pursuit” follows new recruits as they work with difficult students and the TFA program.
12 | the guide | 11.30.12
amplify
Sounds That Define 2012
T
o be honest, I’m the biggest flipflopper I know. I’ve gone back and forth between my views on everything from political issues and people to fashion and food so many times, I could give Mitt Romney a run for his money. Too often I see both sides of an issue. I nod during debates regardless of who is speaking, unless I hear something outrageous. But if there’s one part of my life where my opinions run deep, it’s music. With that in mind, I now bring to you the Definite Best and Worst Albums of 2012, according to Amplify.
DEFINITELY THE MEH Mumford & Sons | ‘Babel’ If you love ragged vocals tinged with an English accent and accompanied by lots of banjo, you will like the title track of Babel. If you love listening to nothing but the aforementioned music for fifteen songs in a row, you will like this album. But if you, like me, could go for a little more variety in your music, this album is one to skip. DEFINITELY THE WORST Maroon 5 | ‘Overexposed’ Unlike Muse, Maroon 5 doesn’t quite have a grasp on how to tastefully update its sound, as proven by all the songs on the aptly named Overexposed. If you like Maroon 5 best for the soulful, daring songs on their debut album, Songs about Jane, you — like me — will be completely and utterly disappointed by this album. Overexposed could also have been named Overproduced. Cue the bells as we mourn the self-destruction Maroon 5 has put their music through.
DEFINITELY THE BEST Muse | ‘The 2nd Law’ In many ways, this album isn’t entirely different from Muse’s previous work. Pounding drumbeats, guitar solos, string sections and raging bass lines accompany Matt Bellamy’s bellow-to-falsetto vocals. The sound is epic in Muse’s traditional style. Somewhat surprisingly, Muse manages to tastefully incorporate a divisive genre — dubstep — on the entirety of Ellie Goulding | ‘Halcyon’ The 2nd Law. Whether AlliePrescott I’ve already written manifested in the heavian earlier column deness we think of as true dubstep or in lighter electronic beats, tailing my disappointment with Elthe influence is all over this album and lie Goulding’s sophomore slump. In case you missed out, this album is yields a new sound that never bores. to be avoided at all costs unless you want to hear a girly breakup album Sharon Van Etten | ‘Tramp’ Sharon Van Etten is not for the faint that is somehow supposed to be of heart. Her aching guitar-and-vocal- danceable. based music is frequently lumped into the singer-songwriter category, but Taylor Swift | ‘Red’ Let me start by saying that I am a that designation, reminiscent of tired coffee-shop talent, doesn’t begin to en- big T-Swift fan and not ashamed of the compass the depth of her music. Van number of times I’ve listened to Speak Etten paints not-so-pretty pictures of Now and Fearless. Do you remember her past and sets them to subtly com- when Taylor Swift was still considered plex rhythms and harmonies that re- a country artist? Neither does she, as sult in some of the best word-painting evidenced by the majority of the songs I’ve ever heard. Van Etten isn’t a one- on Red. While T-Swift has always toed trick pony either; she recently recorded the country-pop line in the past, on a cover of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Red, she has full-on crossed to pop, Rufus Wainwright that beautifully cap- and it hasn’t served her well. Her efforts to keep up with musical trends tures Christmas romance. like electronica and dubstep leaves Red as a collection of cold, genre-less Macklemore & Ryan Lewis | ‘The Heist’ Admittedly, I am completely unqual- bunch of songs that — as we say in the ified to judge hip-hop and rap, but this country — is getting a bit too big for album has some of the greatest mass its britches. appeal of any album I’ve heard in a long time. With meaningful, thought- Allie Prescott is a junior in the Colful lyrics and catchy beats and hooks, lege. This is the last appearance of AMPLIFY this semester. this album is a clear winner.
photoessay Concrete Jungle Y our first steps are marked by bottled-up apprehension. All of the symptoms are there: a tight chest, nervous enthusiasm, sore feet — finally, you are in New York City. As you tiptoe between the crowds, the city glows with an exhilarating incandescence. People walk with tacit intention — a purpose symbolic of the Manhattan lifestyle. As a newcomer, you wander on the periphery of these well-worn sidewalks. Your steps are the same as these New Yorkers’, but your ambition, your purpose, is different. You snap a few shots, trying to capture the mood of the city, but no photo can convey this island’s true essence. As you stumble across Washington Square Park, you begin to notice the defining qualities of the city. Taxis, like cheetahs, dart across the streets with utter indifference. The
arts&entertainment
by ariel pourmorady
buildings, like elephants, establish order in this chaotic habitat, acting as a testament to its age-old wisdom. And you, the mere tourist, buzz around corners and sidewalks trying to catch a glimpse of New York’s heart. As you bite down on the big apple, the taste slowly grows sweeter. Eventually, you make your way to the Empire State building — the ultimate tourist attraction. Camera ready, you climb to the 83rd floor and there she is. The Manhattan skyline, in all her beauty, greets you with open arms. Suddenly, you feel incredibly small — you become an afterthought in this incomparable city. And in that moment, in the awe of things, you realize, she’s not merely a city, but a jungle — one which moves, cries, laughs and lives with all of its people. A manifestation of purpose.
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11.30.12 | the guide | 13
arts&entertainment small-screen obsessions
Making the Most of Finals: Taking on Retro TV
W
ith the end of the semester ‘Arrested Development’ Do laugh. This show, which is cenfast approaching, it’s time for me to impart some of tered on the wholly dysfunctional my greatest TV-related wisdom: Bluth family, is absolutely hysterical. how to most effectively procrasti- While not quite retro yet — its last nate during study days using tele- season aired in 2006 — “Arrested Devision. While it may seem strange velopment” is the perfect comedy to to see procrastination juxtaposed marathon-watch. With its engaging with effectiveness, I’m ready to defy (and crazy) characters and its especially effective use of deadpan humor, expectations. There are two pillars of effective it is hard to believe this show got canTV procrastination: one, marathon celed after only three seasons. The viewing, and two, starting from the good news is that it is in the process beginning. If you are truly commit- of a revival; a fourth season is set to air ted to avoiding that 20-page paper, on Netflix in early 2013. Your marayou must watch your TV marathon thon watching will not only serve the style. It follows, then, that starting purpose of procrastination but also from the beginning of whatever refresh your memory before the show show you want to marathon-watch re-premieres in just a few months. is the best approach. After all, seeing every episode from the start, ‘Felicity’ Probably the least known of the especially with serialized dramas, is essential in order to fully appre- three, this gem is the brainchild of J.J. Abrams before he was ciate a show. the king of all things sciThere is a third pilfi and awesome. In his lar of procrastinating first TV effort, Abrams with TV to which I ofstayed away from the ten subscribe: going mythological elements retro. By watching that would come to old shows from the BridgetMullen characterize his later ’90s and even early work (i.e. “Lost”) and in’00s, you can be sure that many episodes are available stead created a show about something for viewing, as the programs will to which we can all easily relate: the have already come and gone. Here college experience. At the start of the are my top three recommenda- show, the title character, played by Keri tions for retro shows to marathon- Russell, is a completely scattered colwatch when you should really be lege freshman struggling through the day-to-day awkwardness of dorm life, studying: classes and relationships. The premise makes the show sound like it could be ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Don’t laugh: This show is a defin- totally cliched and incredibly off-base, itive cult classic. “Buffy” definitely but quirky characters and realistic gets better with age, so in this case, details always keep outlandish plots the second season is probably the from taking over. I’m particularly a best place to begin. Yes, the hero- fan of watching the finals-themed epiine, played by Sarah Michelle Gel- sodes during study days (I realize this lar, may spend the better part of is potentially masochistic) if only to be her nights slashing monster-faced, reassured that Felicity, too, was never cartoonish vampires, but the show studying when she should have been. has serious heart. In every episode, Really, any of these three shows will Buffy’s struggles with vampires are the perfect metaphor for the be a wonderful procrastination tool for struggles of high school and grow- you during study days, and when finals ing up. And let’s give credit to do get in the way of your “Buffy” maracreator Joss Whedon for actually thon, you always have winter break to making vampires ugly when they spend with your new favorite shows. should be. Perhaps most importantly, Whedon knew how to write Bridget Mullen is a sophomore in a great cliffhanger — once you the College. This is the final apstart watching, you won’t be able pearance of SMALL-SCREEN OBSESSIONS this semester. to stop.
14 | the guide | 11.30.12
Holiday Classics Worth Watching EMORY WELLMAN Hoya Staff Writer
A
good Christmas movie is hard to find. Annually, the average American is slapped by trailers for Christmas movies promising (among other things) laughter, Christmas spirit, love and fake snow. They usually end up so grievously lacking in the aforementioned qualities (other than the snow) that viewers are driven prematurely to the eggnog. You better watch out: The poorly disguised rampant consumerism of the holidays is coming to town. But please, don’t think for one second that I am a Scrooge. There is nothing better than a genuine, funny, enjoyable Christmas movie. I have sought out the few quality films. One of the most underrated Christmas movies of all time is The Muppet Christmas Carol. This 1992 gem pairs dozens of Muppets with Oscar-winning actor and famous butler to Batman, Michael Caine. In all honesty, it’s difficult to decide which party does the better acting. Caine makes a fabulous, snarling, cynical Scrooge who torments his Muppet employees and the general populace before embarking on a timetraveling journey led by three different ghosts (one of which resembles a walking trash bag and is actually quite terrifying). Christmas Carol is the perfect example of a movie that has everything: an acclaimed actor with an awesome accent, oodles of Muppets and last, but certainly not least, a fabulous soundtrack. Yes, Michael Caine can sing. And yes, after a couple of viewings, you will be unabashedly and joyously singing along as
DIZRADIO.COM
A STELLAR CAST The Muppets and Michael Caine spread holiday cheer in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Scrooge declares, “If you need to know/ The measure of a man/ You simply count his friends.” For kids and adults alike, there may never be a better Christmas movie. Will Ferrell movies are often as hit-ormiss as their Christmas counterparts. Ferrell’s signature style of humor is often loud, immature and somewhat disgusting. However, I will be the first to admit that I enjoyed Elf. Ferrell plays Buddy, an elf (or so he thinks) born and raised in the North Pole who must journey to New York in order to find his biological father (a pleasantly unpleasant James Caan). Although the morals of the film are predictable, it truly makes you feel warm and fuzzy and, in my case, really hungry for spaghetti by the end. If you have not seen It’s a Wonderful Life, watch it now. When the family business that George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) has sacrificed everything for is about to go under, he is on the brink of committing suicide before he is stopped by an angel named Clarence. George comes to understand the value of his, and all, lives in time to witness a true outpouring of Christmas spirit. So yes, you have to write a 15-page paper about the importance of wool in preEnlightenment France, and that genetics exam won’t study for itself, but this film will make you feel more important and necessary than ever before (and not in a selfish way). Love Actually serves as proof that when British people do something, it often comes out classier and far better than a similar attempt by Americans. This veritable who’s who of British cinema follows multiple characters in their adventures on or around the holiday. The stories range from touching to heart-wrenching to bizarre to absolutely and indubitably adorable. I initially wrote this off as being a dumb chick flick, but ended up being pleasantly surprised by a truly touching, enjoyable Christmas film. I hope this gave you a few good ideas for holiday movie viewing, whether with your family at home, on the plane on the way there or while procrastinating (which I totally respect). If you have seen all of these movies, I think it goes without saying that it just happens to be the time of year to watch them all again.
arts&entertainment
MUSIC FOR THE SEASON Albums With Holiday Spirit
NICOLE JARVIS Hoya Staff Writer
D
ecember is right around the corner, and that can only mean one thing: Christmas is coming, and with it, Christmas music. While multiple schools of thought exist about when listening to this brand of music becomes appropriate, it’s guaranteed that starting Dec. 1, you won’t be hearing much else, especially if you visit a retail store. To make this transition easier, here are some of the best holiday collections to make your spirit bright during this final push towards the end of the semester and our well-deserved vacation. BING CROSBY | ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’ This is probably the kind of Christmas music your parents and grandparents listened to back in the day, and in this case, it’s wise to listen to the judgment of your elders. Crosby and other classic crooners epitomize cool. His rendition of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” is instantly recognizable and will put any Scrooge in the mood for cocoa beside a roaring fire.
THE BEACH BOYS | ‘THE BEACH BOYS’ CHRISTMAS ALBUM’ Though the tracks might be most recognizable these days from the annual Coca-Cola polar bear commercials, this ’60s Southern California album is perfect for trimming the tree, hanging out and relaxing. Its infectiously cheerful hits like “Little Saint Nick” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” are perfect for brightening any late December night in Lau and conjuring images of sunny skies and surfing Santas — something this Californian strongly associates with Christmas.
ELVIS PRESLEY | ‘ELVIS’ CHRISTMAS ALBUM’ It is a testament to the power of Elvis that even with his Christmas album, it’s hard to avoid shaking your hips along to his swinging and soulful rock ’n’ roll. When the unmistakably melancholic chords of “Blue Christmas” start, you’ll be swept away by the King.
JOSH GROBAN | ‘NOEL’ At this point in his career, it is an established fact that Josh Groban has the voice of a thousand angels, and almost no genre of music better suits his dulcet tones than Christmas music. Noel has been a holiday staple since its release in 2007 and for good reason — track after track offers delightful and dramatic renditions of familiar classics like “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night” The most impressive parts of Noel are the tracks that Groban performs in other languages. While he is a native English speaker, he certainly knows how to belt out “Ave Maria” in Italian and “Petit Papa Noel” in flawless French.
MICHAEL BUBLE | ‘CHRISTMAS’ This Christmas album was released last year against fierce competition from teeny-bopper Justin Bieber and quirky duo She & Him, but the obviously titled Christmas proves it can face the ultimate test of the holiday album — the eleven months of the year that aren’t December. Buble’s jazzy vocals are the perfect complement to your favorite classy Christmas tunes and tracks like “Cold December Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” are great to help keep your energy up all month long. His rendition of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is better than Mariah Carey’s original.
SUFJAN STEVENS | ‘SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS’ AND ‘SILVER & GOLD’ While you may not have heard of Sufjan (pronounced Suf-yan) Stevens, that doesn’t mean you should count out his indie interpretations of classic hits or his unique holiday compositions. What makes Stevens’ approach special is his inclusion of more old-fashioned carols that are lost among the modern hits. “O Come O Come Emmanuel” and “We Three Kings” are more often heard among church pews than department store shelves, but they balance out tunes like “Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)” and “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!”
ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA
HOLLY JOLLY Christmas music, from classics to new releases, make this the most harmonious time of the year.
ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST If you decide that you want to move beyond these seven awesome albums, go ahead and crank up this playlist for an instant boost to your holiday spirit. “Sleigh Ride” – She & Him “Star of Wonder” – Sufjan Stevens “Silent Night” – Bing Crosby “Blue Christmas” – Elvis Presley “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” – Dean Martin “12 Days of Christmas” – Straight No Chaser “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – Jackson 5 “Last Christmas” – Wham! “Go Tell it on the Mountain” – James Taylor “Please Come Home for Christmas” – Grace Potter and the Nocturnals “All I Need is Love” – Cee Lo Green feat. The Muppets “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – Thurl Ravenscroft “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” – Michael Buble “The Christmas Song” – Barbra Streisand
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11.30.12 | the guide | 15
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lost highway — alexander brown
on campus
ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS Friday, 7:30 p.m. — Holy Trinity Church
Experience the religious side of the holidays at thisannual interdenominational Christian service and reception presented by the Office of Campus Ministry. Featuring performances from the Chapel Choir, 7:30 p.m. Mass Choir and Gospel Choir, this event celebrates the beginning of Advent through prayer and song.
GUILD OF BANDS FALL BAND BLAST Friday, 8 to 11 p.m. — Walsh Black Box Theatre
If you call yourself a music fan this Friday you should, without a doubt, make your way to Walsh Black Box Theatre and show your support for your musically inclined fellow Georgetown students. It will be an event featuring a variety of acts new and old and a great opportunity to hear some fantastic original music.
CASINO NIGHT Saturday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.— Makom
If you’re feeling lucky this Saturday, head over to the Makom to kick off this year’s Hanukkah festivities with the Georgetown Jewish Students Association. There will be plenty of poker and blackjack as well as delicious kosher Chinese food and snacks, Come for the games, stay for the latkes and prizes.
GEORGETOWN CONCERT CHOIR: GLORIA Monday, 7:30 p.m. — Davis Performing Arts Center
Be sure to pay a visit by Monday to the Davis Center to listen to a spectacular performance from the Georgetown University Concert Choir. The night will feature performances of Vivaldi’s iconic “Gloria” as well as the opening chorus of Bach’s “Cantata Wie Schon leuchtet der Morgenstern.” With musical direction by professor Frederick Binkholder and accompaniment by local musician Jinsun Cho, this show is not to be missed.
around town saturday
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The Washington Ballet will be putting on the holiday classic The Nutcracker through the 23rd. Set to Tchaikvosky’s classic score, this performance has a twist — George Washington as the Nutcracker. Be whisked back to historic Washington, D.C., with thisperformance featuring snowflakes, cherry blossoms and dancing sugar plums.
The Washington Harbour Ice Rink opens this Saturday and will include ice skating performances, a Georgetown Phantoms a cappella performance and a St. Lucia parade. Also check out the Swedish Christmas Bazaar at the nearby House of Sweden, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Traditional Swedish Holiday songs, entertainment, crafts and food will be available.
The Christmas season would not be complete without a visit to this unique seasonal shopping “village.” The festive outdoor market features a great variety of regional artisans, craftsmen, musical entertainment and seasonal food. Check out their website for schedule of performances and list of exhibitors present.
WHERE: Warner Theatre,13th & E Streets NW WHEN: 7 p.m. INFO: washingtonballet.org PRICE: From $34 METRO: Walk
WHERE: Washington Harbour WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m. INFO: thewashingtonharbour.com PRICE: Free METRO: Walk
WHERE: 7th & F Streets NW WHEN: Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, noon to 8 p.m. INFO: downtownholidaymarket.com PRICE: Free METRO: Gallery Place/Chinatown (Red line)
KELLY LIU & JERROD MACFARLANE Special to The Hoya