Your Magazine Vol. 3 Issue 5: January 2014 by Your Magazine

JANUARY 2014

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5

HUMANS OF EMERSON

WHO WANTS SECONDS? This new cookbook makes saving the world look easy and taste great.

The story behind Emerson’s newest phenomenon.

THE NEW YEAR’S KISS

It’s the question on everyone’s lips: Who should I kiss when the ball drops?

2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 STAFF PICKS: 2014 2014 NEW2014 YEARS 2014 RESOLUTIONS 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 20142014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 “THIS YEAR I RESOLVE TO DO SOMETHING SPONTANEOUS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.”

“MY RESOLUTION IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOME WAY.”

ABBY WOODMAN, Head Stylist

OLIVIA JACOBINI, Managing Editor

“THIS YEAR I’M GOING TO SLOW DOWN SO I CAN ENJOY MORE OF THE LITTLE THINGS.” MADELINE BILIS, Blog Editor

“MY RESOLUTION IS TO READ ALL 1,440 PAGES OF WAR AND PEACE BY NEXT CHRISTMAS!” ANDREA PALAGI, Style Editor

“READ AS MANY BOOKS AND TRAVEL TO AS MANY PLACES AS POSSIBLE.”

MEGAN TRIPP, Blog Editor

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Ahh, thank goodness this year is done! Now we can look forward to new beginnings and leave all the baggage behind in 2013. I will admit that I am going to delay my resolutions for Chinese New Year, because I’m kind of Chinese and need to think very hard about them you feel? Also, Your Mag has some new staff members and a new Editor-in-Chief ;) I can’t wait to watch our staff continue to make Your Mag the best we possibly can for our readers. I hope this issue reaches you at a comfy couch at home and helps ease you into returning to Boston. When January rolls around, you’re supposed to get a new everything: wardrobe, classes, interests, outlook on life. It’s a time for reinvention and change. As the former Romance Editor and writer, my relationship with the magazine blossomed early in my college career. Now, as the brand-

spanking new Assistant Editor-inChief of Your Mag, I have been given the invaluable opportunity to be a part of the process the magazine undergoes as it transforms from concepts and pitches to images and text. Every page we put to press is another possibility for a fantastic future at Emerson and in Boston. Here, you will learn about the evolution of love letters and also read about how to rent the runway. Turn a few pages and you can mull over the best Boston museums, make heads turn with makeup looks for the New Year, and acquire an awesome playlist. Seeing the amount of energy, creativity, and passion that goes into making this magazine, my relationship with the Your Mag has not changed but only grown stronger. I hope that reading the January Issue will do the same for you. From all of us at Your Mag, have a healthy, hopeful, and happy 2014!

CLAUDIA MAK Editor-in-Chief

DANNY LEMAR Assistant Editor-in-Chief

YOUR MAGAZINE Volume 3 Issue 5 • January 2014 CLAUDIA MAK Editor-in-Chief ELIJAH CLARK GINSBERG Creative Director

DANNY LEMAR Asst. Editor-in-Chief

OLIVIA JACOBINI Managing Editor

BEKAH SKOPIL Design Director

KATHY COLLINS Photo Director

DANNY LEMAR Romance Editor

ANDREA PALAGI Style Editor

SIENNA MINTZ Living Editor

CEDRINE STREIT A&E Editor

CAITLYN BUDNICK Head Copy Editor

MEGAN TRIPP & MADELINE BILIS Blog Editors

MELANIE MCFADYEN Marketing Director

MATTHEW MULLEN Asst. Managing Editor

ABBY WOODMAN & OLIVIA POST Head Stylists

CHEN XU & HANNAH PERRIN YMtv Directors

Layout Designers MADISON FISHMAN, MEGAN TRIPP, ELISE SABBAG, AMBER CUNNINGHAM

Copyeditors DEVAN NORMAN, MORGAN METZ, JANELLA ANGELES, MEGAN TRIPP, JACQUELYN MARR, MADELINE BILIS, JULIA LOEWENTHAL, MOLLY LEGROW, CHRISTABEL FRYE, ELISE SABBAG, OLIVIA JACOBINI

Marketing ELISE MESA, JAMIE IANNACE, KINSEY MINSCHKE, REBECCA FLUHR, KELSEY JOHNSON, TRACY PARCO, LIA BROUILLARD, CAMILA ORIOL, BRIANNA MARTINIELLI, LEIGHA MORRIS, ESTHER GLASIONOV, MAX CHERRY, NATALIE BENJAMIN, STELLA SANGUANSIN, NIKOLAI JACKOWSKI

YMtv AMANDA GOMEZ, LINDSAY GUALTIERI, ASHLEY JURANICH, TERRENA SCANNELL, MEGHIN HEWITT, RORY MCCANN, WILLIAM VICKROY, STEPHANIE PUMILIA, JAIME TOSCANO, ALEXANRDA JAMES, TATIANA OCHOA, ANDY KEYS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ROMANCE

6 Romance Resolutions by Jenna Giannelli 8 A Look at Love Letters by Ava Marinelli & Rivka Herrera 10 Do It Yourself by Hannah Perrin

STYLE

12 Makeup for the New Year by Serena Kassow 20 New Year, New Closet by Antonia DePace 21 Out with the Old by Molly Coyne 22 Commitment Free Shopping by Andrea Palagi

LIVING

24 Chai This by Mimi Walker 25 Beyond Boston by Madeline Bilis 28 Amazing Museums by Madeline Bilis

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

16 26

29 Books to Cozy Up With by Joanne Paquin 32 Some Bands Really Do Care by Heather Mulgannon 34 January Playlist

FEATURED

7 THE NEW YEAR’S KISS by Eleanor Romano

16 AS THE BALL DROPS 26 WHO WANTS SECONDS by Sienna Mintz

30 ‘HUMANS OF EMERSON’ by Pimploy Phongsirivech

front & back cover photos by kathy collins

ROMANCE RESOLUTIONS text by jenna giannelli illustration by pimploy phongsirivech

Look forward to romance, relationships, and love in 2014!

JANUARY 2014

Once a year when the clock strikes 12, people everywhere gather in celebration to bring in the New Year. It’s a Cinderella story with chapters full of selfimprovement goals and romantic resolutions -- both of which create a snowball effect that build off of the other and make a big difference in your life. Emerson College students have already begun constructing their romantic resolutions for the 2014 New Year and had this to say: “My New Year’s romance resolution is to allow myself to be open with sharing with someone I may see a potential spark with. I’m a great listener, but love, or extreme like, is a two way street. Alternatively, go on a date a week for the month of February.” –Najah Muhammad ‘14 “My New Year’s romance resolution is to set up some of my guy friends with some of my girl friends. For the first time in my life, I hooked up one of my good guy friends with one of my good girl friends a few weeks ago, and now I’m ready to just go on a tear. As for me, I can’t look for the right girl, because the more I look the unluckier I get. I just have to let it come to me.” –Charlie Greenwald ‘16 “I would really like to work on letting my guard down and letting people in. Also I want a boyfriend I can completely spoil.” –Monique Medina ‘17 “My News Year’s romance resolution has always been to find someone that I could be in a relationship with; I

haven’t been really aggressive in finding someone because I have always been too focused on work. I am going to try harder to take girls out on dates.” –Cal Liard ‘17 Bianca Buono ‘17 said, “My New Year’s romance resolution is to have a romance resolution…” For those of you who are struggling to find a romance resolution, a good place to start is by recognizing that romance is important. Studies have shown that being satisfied with your love life is one of the best predictors of happiness. Here are some resolutions that may help you find that happiness: • Cultivate your creativity. Creativity is sexy, so make sure you keep pursuing your own passions. • Keep it classy. Don’t give yourself a bad reputation by going after everyone you meet. Pick someone you’re interested in and work hard at the potential relationship. • Don’t underestimate the power of laughter. “Funny people tend to be smart and smart people tend to be good mates because they can solve problems.” –Dr. Geher • Make yourself look nice by dressing up. This is a fun way to attract the opposite sex along with making you feel, and therefore look, better. • Quit positing on social media. Instead, get out of the house and participate in activities. You have a much better chance at finding a partner that way.

THE NEW YEAR’S KISS text by eleanor romano photo by emma fishman models: serena kassow & david samuels

It’s the question on everyone’s lips: Who should I kiss when the ball drops? There are 525,949 minutes in a year, but only one really counts. Midnight on New Year’s Eve, the first minute of the New Year, is the deciding moment. If acted upon correctly, this moment will supposedly bring you good luck for a whole year. But in order to receive any luck from a New Year’s Eve kiss, you need to kiss someone before 12:01 AM strikes the clock on New Year’s Day. This is a tradition that has been around for years. Whether your cuddling up with your special someone or watching the ball drop with your best friends, this moment is not meant to be spent alone. So make sure to grab someone you love, no matter who they are, for the most notorious kiss of the year. Emerson students alone have revealed a variety of kissing tales that need to be shared. If you don’t have that special someone to share the lucky kiss with, don’t forget you have your best pals to share the special moment. Brenna O’Brien ‘17 had a great New Year’s Eve experience with her home girls. “We went to a really crowded party; we could barely move around in the house because there were so many people... There was a huge TV and all my girls were around it; when the ball dropped we all kissed each other just to have someone to [share] good luck with!” Brenna was smart to have her girls around her for luck and support at the most important minute of the year. However, if you are fortunate enough to have that special someone all lined up on New Year’s Eve, then you’re just like Melissa Rosenberg ‘17. She spent her New Year’s Eve with her friends and high school boyfriend, and then, at 11:59 pm, she kissed her boyfriend for good luck in the New Year. A simple, low-key night with all the people she loved was all she could ask for. Unfortunately, not everyone gets such great

New Year’s Eve kisses. Amelia Fabiano ‘17 revealed a sad story of her New Year’s Eve spent alone. Her parents grounded her because she had thrown a party without asking permission a few weeks earlier. Since she couldn’t go out, her boyfriend promised to video chat her at midnight so they could share the moment together. The bitter ending to this story is that he was having technical problems and she had to spend the night all alone. If only technology wasn’t so fickle! No matter what you’re doing on New Year’s Eve or who you’re spending your night with, it is important to get that lucky kiss at midnight! Based on most of the New Year’s Eve kiss stories we’ve heard, it’s possible to get a little peck on the lips no matter what- as long as you don’t rely on technology!

A LOOK AT LOVE LETTERS text by ava marinelli & rivka herrera

Writing is and always has been the right thing to do in romance.

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“Love is patient, love is kind,” said Saint Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, and if an apostle knew that love knows no bounds, then we should too. Love has survived the ages, taking form as early as the Old Testament, no matter the consequence, no matter the distance. Love knows no limits and that is how it has survived, but it also wouldn’t have done so if not for communication. Look at Romeo and Juliet: Juliet’s letter brought her Romeo back to her, she said, “To be hopelessly yours: this is my fate.” The “star crossed lovers,” only fourteen, knew their destiny, to belong to one another, “[their] souls intertwined.” So her letter has survived the ages, just as Saint Paul’s, sending a message that through these lovers’ patience, though they may be far apart, their

hearts will grow fonder and their letters will aid in their passions endurance. But how have these same historical letters evolved? It started with love letters in times of war. Frederick and Elizabeth Noble were wed on New Year’s Day 1941, while Frederick was on 48 hour leave from the Royal Tank Corps during World War II, the couple was married for 70 years, until they died within three days of one another. They kept their romance alive during the war through a series of passionate love letters in which Frederick wrote, “You are the most wonderful, marvelous, precious, beloved, lovable, adoring, adorable, charming, divine, and loving sweetheart wife that has ever lived.” Their letters reveal that, though forced apart by war, their

love burned even more brightly. The couple kept all their letters in a tea chest in their attic following the war, which are now the property of their family, a commemoration of their immeasurable love. This tradition of letters between lovers during war is still prevalent today, not only through real life examples, but also in popular culture. Look at one of Nicholas Sparks’ best selling novel’s, Dear John. It’s the story of a couple that falls in love in a matter of two weeks and then is separated by John’s honorable decision to fight in Iraq. But the couple writes a series of letters to one another to keep their romance alive. Though there is a “rough patch” in the relationship, ultimately, their love prevails. Another popular love letter example is another novel by Sparks. In The

Notebook, Noah writes Allie a letter every day for a year; 365 letters to try and bring her back to him. Allie does not discover the letters until years later because her mother has kept them from her, but she finds them just in time, right before making the biggest mistake of her life by almost marrying another man. She returns to the love of her life, Noah. In Allie’s old age she acquires Alzheimer’s, but she writes down her and Noah’s story, writing her own sort of love letter to Noah, saying, “Read this to me, and I’ll come back to you.” These novels were both turned into great movies, which were huge successes. You can see from the silver screen that we’re drawn to the romance of love letters. We’re even drawn to them when we’re not writing them – just look the movie Letters to Juliet. The main character, Sophie, discovers Claire’s unanswered “letter to Juliet” from 1957, and finally writes her a response fifty years later. Claire returns to Verona to find the “sister of Juliet” who answered her letter and the two women set out on a quest to find Claire’s lost love, Lorenzo Bartolini. Sophie helps a complete stranger find her nearly impossible to find lost love. A love letter can be kept and read in the future, setting an example for future couples in their struggling distance or demonstrating a hope for those still looking for love. Look at Carrie and Big, they are not the perfect couple and they didn’t exactly write love letters. But in Sex and the City: The Movie, Carrie crawls

into bed with Big where the two read Love Letters of Great Men, which inspire Big’s apology and love emails toward the end of the film: “"I know I screwed up. I will love you forever." These letters are always around us, urging us to read them, to be inspired by them, to write them. But do you? Love letters, in the traditional sense, might seem like they are on their way out. With the ability to communicate in quick, instant blips, some might not see a need to sit down and actually write out a letter, put it in an envelope, send it through snail mail, and await a response. But

Maybe texts are the new love letters. that doesn’t mean love letters are completely out of the picture. Perhaps they are just changing to keep up with the digital age. How many times has one of your smitten friends gone on and on about the most adorable text message their cutie sent them in a moment of romance and adorableness? How many of you have taken a screenshot or saved a sweet text from a crush or lover? Maybe texts are the new love letters. They certainly have their advantages – they’re quick. It’s tough enough watching those three little dots blip back and forth, waiting for what

seems like ages for your sweetheart to respond to a poured-your-heartout kind of message. Imagine having to wait days for a response. The suspense very well could kill a love stricken guy or gal. However, there are some people who still love the old-fashioned pen and paper. Take Liz Peterson, ‘17. She told Your Magazine, “My boyfriend and I send each other love letters because he's at FSU right now and I'm here. It's a great way to keep the relationship going, because it's like having something you can touch.” When you’re in the LDR, sometimes Skype and texts aren’t enough. Having something tactile, something you know your sweetie took the time to write out makes your relationship all that more special. It really just all comes back to the little things in a relationship. Love letters can be the little thing that makes a world of difference. Whether you’re trying to keep the spark alive in an LDR or push things to that next level of romance with your local lover, a love letter might just be the magic to get the job done. Sure, a romantic text or heartfelt email every now and then can make those butterflies flutter in your tummy. But a pen and paper love letter? That’s a recipe for movie magic romance right there. So maybe come Valentines Day, instead of telling your loved one why they are so special to you, write it down à la Dear John or The Notebook. You never know what could happen.

ROMANCE

DO IT YOURSELF text by hannah perrin

Looking for some bedroom advice? Your Mag has got you covered. Sex Tips For Straight Women From A Gay Man has grown in popularity due to its appearance in the movie Hope Springs. Written by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman, the book goes into deep detail about how to not only pleasure a man correctly, but how to pleasure him so well, he can’t imagine anyone else. This book inspired many other knock offs, like The Lesbian Guide for Straight Men: on how to make love to a woman by Clit E. Taurus. These best-selling authors may give some great tips, but horny college students just might surpass them with their own knowledge.

WOMEN 1. DIRTY TALK

Women love to hear their partner whispering dirty sayings into her ear. The tough part about talking dirty to women is knowing the right thing to say. Some women go gaga over intellectual conversations. Some women prefer strictly dirty-dirty talk to get them in the mood. Before you start talking, know the woman you’re talking to and what she wants. If it’s your first time together, make her feel comfortable in your presence. When you see her naked body, tell her it’s beautiful. Finally, if you are not going to talk dirty confidently, don’t talk dirty at all. You can’t hesitate or stumble, you have to go all in and show her you know what you’re doing.

2. ANTICIPATION

There is something about waiting for something you know will be unimaginably amazing that makes it even more unforgettable. We’re not saying show up late to her apartment or go so slow during sex a tortoise passes you, but take your time. Invite her up. Start out in the living room. Pour a couple glasses of wine and just talk. You both know where the night will lead and having a regular

JANUARY 2014

conversation beforehand will only make both of your imaginations go into overdrive.

3. FOREPLAY IS KEY

It is no secret women need a little more than just vaginal stimulation to reach a full orgasm. If you really want to show your woman you know what you’re doing, foreplay is key to the success of sex. Start with light kissing around the neck. Lead those kisses a little lower and use your hands as you stimulate her nipples.

“Know the woman you’re talking to and what she wants.” The right amount of pressure is key here. Too little will do nothing, but too much pressure will just be painful. Of course, intense kissing is also an important aspect of foreplay. Let your hands wander and let hers wander over you. Foreplay should be fun and relaxed, not rushed or pressured. *Men, foreplay does not count as you pushing heads down towards

your area. This is her time. “The best way a partner could please me would be to remember that I am not fragile. I can be bitten, tossed around, grabbed, and I am not going to break. A mixture of softness and roughness is best.” - Michelle ‘15

4. CLITORIS = ORGASM

Flicking the bean, polishing the pearl… We don’t care how you choose to refer to this vital aspect of sexual encounters, just that you do it. It can’t be emphasized enough. If you don’t know what it is or where it is, please, for the sake of women everywhere, look it up. The act of rubbing the clitoris is probably the easiest way to get a girl off. The key here is to not directly touch it early on as most women are too sensitive down there to handle direct contact immediately. Start by grazing the skin around her vagina; as the arousal builds, so should the pressure. Cup her mons and tease the clitoris with your tips of your fingers as you move your entire hand. Stimulate the clitoris and you are that much closer to a second sex date.

5. COMMUNICATION

This may feel obvious to some, but it

needs to be said. For most women, sex is more of an emotional experience. Communication with their partner only enhances it. Being honest and saying what you enjoy and despise in bed is an awkward conversation to have, but it’s a conversation you will never regret having. It is also important to have communication during sex. “By talking to me about what I'm in the mood for/what I like. Communication is the only way that pleasure can actually be reached.” Bella* ‘14

MEN 1. DIRTY TALK

Much like women, dirty talk can turn men on as well. Men love light whispers in their ear. You need to remind them how essential they are to your pleasure. Remind him that his penis is HUGE. Tell him you’ve never felt so good in your life. Your goal is to make him feel like he is the one and only thing you need. It’s in a man’s nature to want to be in charge, to be the needed man. By you telling him just how needed he is, he will be so turned on, he can’t control it.

2. ANTICIPATION

Snapchat was invented for a reason and that reason does not involve you

sending pictures of your cats to your man. Go to the bathroom, change into something sexy, brush your teeth, brush your hair, make him wait for the magnificent creature that is going to walk out of that bathroom, and blow his mind. While you’re in there he is going to start thinking of all these amazing things you two can do. He is going to be imagining how amazing this sex is going to be, then you open the door and he can’t wait any longer.

3. ENTHUSIASM

When in a sexual experience, it’s okay to get a little rough. Obviously, we are not talking about physically hurting your partner. Sex is a fun activity between two or more people. It is supposed to be a good, pleasurable time, one you can look back on and be proud of. If you’re into it, your partner will most likely be into to it as well. Slight nail pressure in the back, light pulling of his hair— it’s all in good, sexual fun. You won’t break him; you’ll bring him into the action.

4. BLOW JOBS

The mouth is a very special tool. It is used for eating, talking, and— most importantly—blowing. The mouth is a dark, warm, and wet area of the body. The tongue is your tool to conquer. Start on his thighs and

give a light kiss or a light lick to get his nerves ready. Slowly move your way close and closer to his penis. The tongue is as crucial to a blow job as Your is to Magazine. Use it. Also, don’t be shy when exploring. His testicles are fair game to your mouth, tongue, and hands. But please, be gentle.

5. COMMUNICATION

We’re not saying every man enjoys communication. But either way, communication needs to happen. Maybe he wants to try something new, but he isn’t sure how you will react. Maybe you want to try something new. It’s okay to ask. After all, you’ve seen each other naked. You should be comfortable enough

“When in a sexual experience, it’s okay to get a little rough.” to talk about anything. You also must communicate with yourself to know where your lines are drawn. Communicate with your partner to make sure they do not cross those lines. Safe words are an important asset to sex, especially if you are into the kinkier stuff. It is always okay to use the safe word and if you don’t have one, just say no.

*Names have been changed

ROMANCE

MAKEUP FOR THE NEW YEAR text by serena kassow photos by carina allen models: serena kassow & megan kay

Diamonds are forever, but makeup is not. Update your beauty look with these trends in 2014! As we say goodbye to 2013, we open our arms wide to the new perspectives 2014 will bring. And, of course, we must look our best to take them on. In other word’s last year’s makeup trends simple will not do. Here are some new makeup trends to try out so you’re prepared for the new year- 2014 won’t know what hit it!

FACE 1. “AU NATURALE” Skin is in! In 2014, those days where you really don’t want to take the time to put makeup on are actually- believe it or not- in style. Well, kind of. Less really is more with the natural, almost androgynous look that graced the runways at fashion week, with sullen cheekbones and un-defined eyes. One thing not to skip out on, though, is skincare. Go to Sephora and find the perfect foundationwe recommend NARS, Lorac, or MAC (sold only in MAC stores) and apply evenly all over your face, then lightly highlight your cheekbones up to your temple bones, and voila, effortless beauty.

LIPS 2. BERRY LIPS Complementary of every skin tone, soft berry lips are back in style as we say hello to Spring 2014. This lip color is the perfect beauty transition from one season to another. As berry lips match with both dark winter tones and lighter warm weather colors, they are the perfect transitional beauty trend. The perfect pinkish-purple lip tone is in the eye of the beholder, but we recommend BareMinerals

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Loud & Clear Lip Sheer in Berry Remix. The trick to this look is choosing a lip color with shine, as matte pigment is too severe and rids the look of romance and flirtation. 3. BRIGHT ORANGE LIPSTICK In case winter really has got you down, simply pretend its spring by opting for the go-to lip color of the season: orange! The color sprouted up all over spring runways, so prepare to see many playful pouts this season. When going for this look, don’t forget to add a touch of foundation primer to smooth, nourished lips before applying, in order to make the color really latch on to your lips. Nothin’ like a little neon to get you through a cold winter day, right? 4. THE PERFECT RED LIP Some trends will truly never go out of style. Perfect, meticulous red lips are still ever so in for spring. This flirtatiously bold lip tone can be applied with zero shine or gloss depending on your mood. In either case, start by lining your lips and then filling in the color, so your lip lines are perfectly defined. Remember, in terms of the rest of your makeup, you can’t really go wrong. Skipping out on eye makeup is a super-cool, super-in way of updating the timeless red lip, but a classic black liquid liner will never stop being old-school glam.

STYLE

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EYES 5. FULLY-RIMMED EYES Hello, sexy! In the case you’ve been dying to relive your middle-school Goth phase, you’re in luck. Fully rimmed, jet-black- lined eyes are in for grown ups in 2014. One thing to remember when trying to pull this look off: keep everything else to a minimum to let your eyes really pop. We all know how overwhelming heavy, black eye makeup can be! Apply pressed powder, under-eye concealer, and bronzer. Then, line your lower rims with a kohl pencil, your upper lids, and then meet the two at the corner of your eyes, creating a cat/wing look-fusion. 6. WHITE EYES Just as white took over this season in clothing form, we are now seeing the trend transcending into makeup. In a new-age glamour sort of way, white graced the eyelids of the Spring 2014 runways, turning fashion week into the space age. Find a matte, saturated white kohl (we recommend MAKE UP FOR EVER Kohl Pencil in Matte White 2k, $17, sold at Sephora) and apply the color first along your upper lids, then add white eye shadow to your eyelids, and fill in the sheer parts with the pencil for a truly saturated effect. 7. PASTEL EYE SHADOW The best part about spring is the colors- beautiful gardens full of flowers and light blue skies. Similarly, the best part of fashion is being inspired by our environments and letting the natural beauty of the world influence our design. In that same spirit, designers took this idea literally and covered the spring runways with lavender, emerald, and turquoise eyes. To get this garden-ready look, you can take several approaches. For something subtler, simply line your eyelids with a pastel color of your choice. A more playful approach would be to apply white or silver eye shadow to lids, and then apply color to the creases or corners of your eyes. Finally, for full-on flower child, apply color all over your eyelids and past the corners of your eyes. 8. ETHEREAL WHITE EYES In contrast to the space age white eyes that swept the spring runways, a softer, more subdued version of the trend made its statement as well. Sheer, iridescent white

eyes were seen at the shows of designers such as Tibi, Jenny Packam, and Alice + Olivia, so all you girly-girls out there, get ready to shine this spring! For the perfect fairy eyes, we recommend STILA All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer in Pink Shimmer and Eye Shadow in Opal, sold at Sephora. To take the look one step further, grab your white pencil from step five and line your upper lids over the shadow, forming a cool, princess-like cateye. 9. METALLIC EYES Well hello there, stunning. All eyes will be on you for this perfect night-out look…if you’re brave enough to try it! Start by smudging dark brown eyeliner into your creases, filling the lids in with brown eye shadow, lining the upper lids with dark brown liquid liner, and finish off by applying MAC Pressed Pigment in Damson, $21, all over eyelids. If the powder runs everywhere, pour makeup remover onto a cotton swab and dab the skin affected by the runaway glitter. Have concealer ready in case the makeup remover grabs some of that, too.

NAILS 10. BLACK NAILS Getting tired of your usual mani? Try some black magic. Dark, witchy nails were all over the runways, contrasting classic styles like the French manicure, usually tipped off in white with black. Additionally, nails were lined halfway around in a moon shape with black and then polished off by a shiny clear topcoat. Another twist on the French: black matte nails, tipped with a shiny black lacquered stripe. When it comes to nails in the New Year, black is always the new black. 11. METALLIC SILVER STRIPES For subtler nail looks that were still cutting edge, designers amped up their pale pinks with silver metallic stripes, either on top of the nails, cutting across it, diagonal, or alternating between directions on each nail. When trying these nail trends at home, here’s a little DIY trick: dunk a cotton ball in nail polish remover, then wrap the wet cotton ball around the tip of a chopstick. That way, when you get polish on your cuticles or over the sides of your nails, you have an easy tool to help you get clean lines.

That sums up our tutorial for the hottest makeup trends of 2014! We hope this little guide has gotten you over the winter blues and ready for the New Year. We can’t wait to try out these trends, and we know you can’t either! STYLE

as the ball drops photography: kelsey davis

models: christine clayton, hilary fan & sara graybill

makeup: abby woodman & julia kimmelman

urban decay liquid line in el dorado, wet n wild liquid liner in black ROMANCE

urban decay naked palette, mac eyeshadow in carbon, nars nude lip gloss

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Coastal Scents Matte Eyeshadow Palette, Gold Leaf from Craft Store, NARS Lip Pencil in Train Bleu

STYLE

NEW YEAR, NEW CLOSET text by antonia depace photo by maya rafie

Cleanse your closet and rework your wardrobe, 2014 here you come

JANUARY 2014

Every New Year is filled with hopes for romance, success, and a new style. Many use this time to rethink past mistakes or relationships or to make new aspirations and goals for the future, but the New Year can also be a time to reorganize your closet and refresh your wardrobe. The New Year is coming! Clean out the tattered and over worn clothes from last year and replace them with new, more exciting and stylistic pieces that make you feel like a new person. Throw everything out of your drawers and reorganize them so you can see your wardrobe and know what you have. The New Year symbolizes a new start and a clean slate, so take advantage of the time to reorganize and relax. Start out by taking all of your clothes one by one out of your closet. Go crazy. If you want things to be organized from the get go then sort your clothes into three piles: keep, trash, and giveaway. Go ahead. Make a mess. Sometimes it makes your feel better, but once that closet is empty you will have to sort them into those same three piles mentioned above. Try and put any clothes that are tattered, stained, or ripped in the “trash” pile and then put clothes in good condition that you do not wear anymore into the “giveaway.” Once you have completed the three piles, put the “trash” and “giveaway” in a box and get them out of your room. Sometimes it is hard to concentrate on

your “keep” pile if the other two are still in the same are. They might make you second-guess. To make it fun, buy a bunch of colorful hangers for organizing. They make you feel like you have a pretty closet, and it will be really easy for keeping it organized for a while. Group things together by style or clothing type and then put them in order according to the hanger color. If you have a big enough closet, then buy some shoe racks that will keep your shoes organized as well. It will also make your closet feel more “posh”, like Carrie Bradshaw’s elegant walk-in complete with a mini chandelier. If you don’t like hanging your sweaters, then try and buy a hanging sweater organizer if there is enough space. This way, your sweaters will be in your closet, but will stay folded instead of stretching on the hangers. If this sounds like a chore that you do not feel like ending your year with, make it into a party! Invite all of your closest friends and throw a “Clean Out Closet Fashion Show.” Your friends can also bring clothes for swapping. Maybe you’ll snag that shimmer blouse that you’ve been eyeing in your best friend’s closet or those killer Steve Madden purple pumps. Complete your closet cleaning party with champagne, if old enough, or sparkling apple cider to celebrate your new closet and to help to happily bring in the New Year.

OUT WITH THE OLD text by molly coyne

Do good, feel good, and look good -- donate clothing in the New Year. As the holiday season comes to an end, it’s time to look forward to the start of a brand new year full of exciting opportunities, infinite possibilities, and of course new clothes. As we begin to scour our favorite websites for New Year deals and walk the city streets in hopes of spending a little holiday cash, we should also take the time to consider what to do with what we already have. Surely, we all have pieces in our closets that we haven’t worn for months, maybe in years. Instead of hoarding sweaters and scarves that, let’s face it, you’re only keeping around in hopes that they will come back into style, grab a bag, fill it up, and start the new year off by helping those less fortunate. After all, what better way is there to make more room in your closet than by donating the excess to a charity aimed at improving the lives of others? There are many Boston charities accepting clothing donations of all kinds, conveniently located all over the city. Here are just a few of the charities waiting for your helpful donations!

AMERICAN RED CROSS

http://www.redcross.org/ma/boston The American Red Cross accepts a wide variety of donations, from clothing to shoes to even some household items. A portion of their proceeds goes toward the Disaster Relief Fund. The headquarters is located on 139 Main St. in Cambridge, but there are several drop off bins throughout Cambridge where you can drop off your clothes quickly and easily.

BIG BROTHER/BIG SISTER FOUNDATION

www.bbbsfoundation.org This foundation’s goal is to help support young children throughout the Greater Boston area, Southern New Hampshire, and Maine by providing them with young adult mentors to act as an older sibling and role model. Big Brother/Big Sister contributes up to 100 percent of their net profits from donations to their mentoring programs. The program accepts all types of clothing donations, from jackets to shoes to athletic gear. You can schedule a pick –up online or drop off your donations at one of several locations throughout the Boston area, including Allston, Somerville, South Boston, and Braintree.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS-BOSTON

www.dressforsuccess.org Dress for Success is a worldwide organization with a branch located on Commonwealth Ave., aimed towards providing disadvantaged women with the business attire needed to look professional during a job interview. Their hope is to provide women with the appropriate tools to gain jobs and create a network of support so that they can succeed within the job market. Dress for Success accepts professional business attire as donations, including suits, blouses, skirts, handbags, and shoes.

GOODWILL

www.goodwillmass.org The Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries aim to help individuals of the local Boston community by providing work for those in need of jobs. Donations help to keep the industry in business and in turn support the entire community. The company also supports local youth through sponsoring an After-School Academy, a Youth Mentoring Program, and a summer camp. Goodwill accepts clothing, shoes, accessories, and many household products. You can visit for more information of donation center locations and times.

STYLE

COMMITMENT FREE SHOPPING text by andrea palagi photo courtesy of rent the runway

Every night starts with the perfect dress. The most important night of every girl’s life requires just the right dress. Just the right dress that takes weeks to find, only a few hours to wear, and costs just as much as first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit. For those who can’t afford to drop $1,000 on a dress for a four-hour party, Rent The Runway (RTR) offers a low cost, commitment-free solution to designer dress and accessory shopping. RTR is an online retailer that allows shoppers to become members for free and have access to thousands of high end and designer dresses at half the price. But how? It’s simple! The RTR site allows buyers to rent, wear and then return dresses without too many fees or too much stress. Shoppers can easily browse the website up to one or two days before their event in search of the perfect dress. With over 25,000 dresses from over 165 designers like Vera Wang and Badgley Mischka, shoppers have the option to filter their selections by designer, prices, length, and even the specific style. Once the choice is made, buyers can decide to rent for four or eight days—just enough time to find matching shoes. The rental prices range from $50 to $350 depending on the designer and style of the dress and the rental time for the event. No matter when the dress is ordered, it will arrive by 8:00 p.m. on the delivery date. After a night out, renters can return their dresses by simply sealing it into one of RTR’s prepaid return envelopes and dropping it in the nearest mailbox. If it happened to be a wild night out, shoppers don’t need to worry about dry cleaning the dress before returning it. In terms of garment care and repair, all washing, ironing, and special treatment for dresses are taken care of by RTR at no additional cost. JANUARY 2014

THE BACKSTORY

A tale of two friends united by fashion: Harvard students Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, decided to tackle the age-old dilemma that has plagued fashionistas for hundreds of years: Having a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear. Hyman and Fleiss were inspired by their friend’s struggle to find a designer dress on a modest salary for a one night wedding reception. Seeing that this was not a unique situation, Hyman and Fleiss decided to put their degrees to use and launch an online company. Bypassing the business plan phase, the girls began meeting with top designers and professional stylists until they had networked enough to create a fashion community to support their big idea. Launched in 2009, Rent The Runway seeks to allow high fashion-loving women to experiment with an array of brands without a costly commitment. No more wearing the same expensive dress to every major event.

OUR RUNWAY

You are not alone! With a selection of over 20,000 dresses, RTR knows that making a decision might require a little extra help. For that reason, the site offers a special page titled “Our Runway” that allows shoppers to find photos of fellow renters wearing RTR’s dresses on the day or night of their special occasions. On this page, shoppers can search these real life images by their own height, bust, dress size, and even age. The “Our Runway” feature allows customers to see RTR’s dresses in natural, real life settings on women just like them, rather than photo shopped models who are perfectly styled in a studio. Allowing shoppers to browse these real-life photos makes the decision to purchase a dress without being able to try it on much simpler for apprehensive buyers. In addition to an array of realistic depictions, this page also provides

renters with a fun way to show themselves off on their specials days.

be purchased online but can be reused with any future RTR dress rental.

It’s always good to have a second opinion. In addition to an online fashion photo collection, RTR provides a more interactive way for shoppers to ask for help when they need it. Those browsing the site have the option to ask questions directly to RTR style representatives while they shop. These “Go-To Girls” are on standby and able to answer any question at any time via live chat. Go-To Girls can give information on the rental process, provide styling advice, and give product and garment care information.

RTR’s iPhone app lets shoppers access their selection of online dresses on the run. Rentals can be made easily and instantly using the RTR app. This app allows users to monitor their order status and receive shipping updates. In addition to an on-the-go version of their website, RTR also offers a Dress Match option on their app. Dress Match allows shoppers to snap a photo of any existing garment, object, fabric, pattern, or color and get it matched to dresses in the site’s database. Using the Dress Match feature, shoppers can find the dress that will go perfectly with a pair of shoes they already own, their boyfriend’s tie, or the color of their newest manicure all within seconds. RTR’s app also allows for easy image sharing so shoppers can text or email their favorite dresses to their friends and family and get a second opinion before the final purchase.

GO-TO GIRL

BEYOND THE DRESS

No outfit is complete without a little sparkle. In addition to a plethora of designer dresses, RTR’s website also rents high-end jewelry. Buyers can borrow an Oscar De La Renta ring for $30 or a Kate Spade necklace for $45 versus the retail purchase prices that range from $150 to $300. Every piece of jewelry—bracelet, earring, ring, and necklace—is displayed with a customer photograph that allows prospective buyers to see how each piece looks on a real person—how far down on the neck a necklace falls or how large the stone on a ring is compared to a real human hand. Jewelry isn’t the only accessory that even the most perfect dress needs. Spanx, fashion tape, hosiery, strapless adhesive bras, seamless no-show intimates, oil blotting tissues, makeup products and lacey garters are available on RTR to ensure that buyers have every essential that they need in order to feel comfortable and fashionable in their dresses. This also eliminates the stress and struggle that comes with searching store after store to find the right bra for the perfect dress. All of these essential extras must

APP FRIENDLY

POPPING UP

Like many other internet-based companies, RTR has recently opened a pop up shop in New York in order to expand their market. This small installation in the Henri Bendel department store at 712 Fifth Avenue allows customers to browse a wide array of the products available for rent on RTR. RTR’s fitting rooms are equipped with an iPad and barcode scanners that allow customers to add garments to their virtual closets and wish lists as they try items on. In addition to simply trying on the garments, shoppers can also set up appointments at the RTR pop up shop and meet with trained stylists. RTR in store stylists can help customers choose a dress that best fits their body type, give them tips on how to accessorize and assist with the rental process.

STYLE

CHAI THIS text by mimi walker

American may run on Dunkin, but these cafes will have you converting to chai in no time. Chai is an ancient Eastern-Asian tea that has been modernized in many American cafes. Traditionally, it is made with black tea leaves and colorful, potent spices such as cloves, star anise, cinnamon, peppercorns, and ginger. Drinking it with steamed milk is an ambrosial, exotic calling to the taste buds, with layers of subdued black tea, vanilla, honey, cinnamon, ginger, and all kinds of other spices depending on the variety. Chai on ice is a more flavorful alternative to iced coffee, without the bitterness and caffeine. Chai has caught on rapidly because of its complex, invigorating layers of flavor (though if coffee people are truly in need, a “dirty chai” embodies all the bright spices with a zippy shot of espresso...the best of both worlds). Where are the best places to get this cool combination of sweet and spicy in Boston?

JANUARY 2014

1. THE THINKING CUP, 165 TREMONT ST. AND 236 HANOVER ST.

3. BERKELEY PERK CAFE, 69 BERKLEY ST.

Enter The Thinking Cup and walk into a long, narrow, dimly lit café that speaks to the beatnik in all of us. The staff is young, enthusiastic, and extremely personable and the rotating sandwiches are always imaginative. But the pièce de résistance here is the hot chai latte. The Thinking Cup uses MemTea in their latte, which is blended with sugar and milk, giving a light but creamy consistency. The latte is served in a simple white mug, topped off with a snow-white abyss of steamed milk. Beneath the thin, golden layer of froth is the sweet and spicy chai, with notes of vanilla and cinnamon. The golden froth is shrouded in tiny bubbles of muted cinnamon and a hint of ginger, keeping the taste buds refreshed.

Berkeley Perk is sleek and shiny, with beautiful lounge chairs and black marble tables. The staff is eager to help newcomers pick out a meal that suits their fancy. The place is lauded for its innovative paninis and imaginative beverage inventions. Berkeley has many different flavors of chai-fusion, including gingerbread, chocolate, and extra spicy, which uses more cinnamon. The signature drink is the hot vanilla chai latte. It is so rich and creamy; it’s practically dessert. There’s a healthy dose of vanilla, brewed to sweet perfection. The latte is underscored by powerful, spicy punches of cinnamon and nutmeg. The cooling undertone of the cooked-down black tea cleanses the palate, leaving a satisfyingly sweet aftertaste.

2. PAVEMENT COFFEE HOUSE, 286 NEWBURY ST. AND 736 COMMONWEALTH AVE.

4. IN HOUSE CAFÉ, 194 HARVARD AVE.

Pavement is literally a hidden gem...it’s a tiny brick-wall enclave, located beneath the sidewalk on Newbury Street. Regardless of its humble stature, Pavement Coffee House is small but sturdy, with a flurry of people rushing in and out for their tea and coffee fixes. It might always be crowded, but the wait is never long. Pavement uses “Masala chai,” an Indian style black tea infused with ginger and clove leaves. The steeped iced chai has a more hidden spice quality, but the chai tastes as adventurous as any. Little bits of the clove flavor swirl around the body to create an earthy flavor. The hot, steeped chai has a tempered, smoky taste, evened out with a heart of sweet honey. Both versions of the steeped chai at Pavement speak for themselves, even in a down-to-earth setting.

In House is a quirky dive that serves Syrian-fusion cuisine, which is definitely apparent by the abundance of Middle-Eastern flavors in their chai. The iced chai latte is made for spice-lovers. In House uses their own black tea and blends it with freshly ground cinnamon, orange peel/zest, and a hint of mint to give a Syrian trademark. The flavors are bold and charged, especially the earthy power of the clove, which gives the tea a subtle yet fiery body. The accents are herbal and aromatic, with notes of jasmine, peppery cardamom, lavender, and a hint of molasses and gingerbread.

BEYOND BOSTON text by madeline bilis

Rekindle your love for the winter with these snowy escapes from the city. Boston is a wicked awesome place to live, but you can’t really say you’ve experienced New England unless you’ve left the city. Winter in Boston can be rough, but luckily there are a few pleasant escapes that might even make you love the chilly New England weather.

DAY TRIP—NEWPORT, R.I.

During the Gilded Age, Newport, R.I. was the vacation spot for wealthy families. They built their summer “cottages” with about 65,000 square feet of living space, five stories, and approximately 70 rooms. The Preservation Society of Newport County opened the Newport Mansions to the public in the late 1960s. Although peak season for visiting the mansions is during the summertime, the three most popular mansions—The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House are open in the winter to show off their beautiful holiday decorations. Peter Pan runs a bus line between Boston and Newport, with the trip topping off at an hour and forty minutes. Tickets to the mansions vary from a one mansion tour, costing $14.50, to a pass to enter all three, costing $31.50. Things to know before you go… • Be sure to dress warmly. Although the walks from mansion to mansion are not long, touring the grounds can get chilly. • Pictures aren’t allowed inside the mansions. However, they are allowed outside, so bringing the camera might be worth it if you want some traditional winter wonderland photos.

OVERNIGHT—PORTLAND, ME

You might be interested in staying at the cozy Pomegranate Inn in Portland, Maine. It’s full of art, sculptures, funky furniture, and beautifully decorated rooms that go for as low as $129 a night. Cookies are served all day long in the dining lounge and the gourmet complimentary breakfasts are made with “the freshest seasonal and local Maine and New England ingredients.” You can also take advantage of the spa services at the inn’s sister property— The Danforth. The city of Portland has a lot to offer, as well. It’s worth a stop by the Portland Museum of Art or the Port City Music Hall. The Maine Foodie Tour offers some behind-the-scenes looks at Portland’s best restaurants and comes with plenty of samples. Take the “Amtrak Downeaster” from South Station and be there in two hours. Things to know before you go… • You shouldn’t plan on taking a snooze on the train because the Downeaster is a beautiful and scenic ride. • Being cozy and wearing slippers go hand in hand. So if you don’t pack any, make sure to bring some extra cash to buy a pair of “Wicked Good Slippers” from L.L.Bean.

LONG WEEKEND—BURLINGTON, VT

If you are craving outdoor adventure, you should head to Burlington, Vt. Located in northern Vermont on the border of Lake Champlain, Greyhound and Megabus run trips from Boston, both lasting about five hours. You can go ice climbing at Bolton’s Quarry and snowshoeing in Bolton Valley, both about 20 miles away. You can rent skis, snowboards, and snowshoes and there are plenty of locations about an hour away that offer dog sledding, such as Konari Outfitters in Addison, Vt. For those who are looking for the Vermont atmosphere without the physical activity, Church Street Marketplace is a pedestrian-only path of shops and restaurants. Burlington boasts loads of overnight accomodations. Made Inn Vermont is a green, chic bed and breakfast with a hip atmosphere and discounted room prices during the off-season. Rooms start at about $200 per night. For a cheaper option, you can try out the Burlington Hostel, which averages at about $40 per night. Things to know before you go… • You will get to experience more of Vermont if you take a car. (Zipcar offers discounted rates for Emerson students!) • Waterproof winter boots are a must. LIVING

WHO WANTS SECONDS? text & photo by sienna mintz

This new cookbook makes saving the world look easy and taste great Jennie Cook has one goal; to save the world. Forget superhero spandex or Oprah-esque endeavors. The key to saving the world is all in Jennie’s last name. On top of being a mother, wife, business owner, and author, she is a cook, and a very good one at that. You may still be wondering, “So what? What does cooking have to do with saving the world?” The answer is not as far-fetched as you’d think. It’s as simple as this: food is a great excuse to get together. When people get together, they spark ideas. When the food is good, those ideas probably will be too. Cook says, “Food is the vehicle, people are the light and the way. Connecting over food is the answer. It raises our spirit and calls us to action.” Cook has been creating that vehicle for many years now. First came her Los Angeles restaurant, Cook’s Double Dutch, which she closed in 2008 to focus on starting her catering company, Jennie Cooks, which is lauded for its sustainable menu. With all of this experience under her belt, it only seemed natural that Cook would create a cookbook to share her delicious recipes with other likeminded world-savers. Who Wants Seconds: Sociable Suppers for Vegans, Omnivores & Everyone In Between, is Cook’s pièce de résistance, a collection of recipes both original and adapted. The book sets the scene from the first page, “Laughter is brightest where food is best.” The colorful pages and vibrant illustrations (which Cook designed herself) bring the recipes to life. Most recipes come with a short blurb to get your mouth

watering and continue with easy-to-digest ingredient lists and step-by-step instructions. It is surprising how easy most of these recipes are. With a focus on quality ingredients and bold flavors, Cook’s recipes are all about being pretty simple and really good. But Cook doesn’t stop at the cooking part. As a caterer, she has an overwhelming supply of tricks and tips for throwing parties, planning menus, and cooking vegan, as well as a ton of advice for novice cooks and seasoned chefs alike. She says, “Writing this cookbook has been a project of the heart. From choosing the recipes to illustrating the pages, it’s all been with just one goal: to ignite joy around your dinner table. Spread love.” Speaking of love, that’s Cook’s #1 ingredient when making soup. The chapter titled “Love in a Bowl” is brimming with hearty, refreshing, and savory soups like Sunshine Ginger and Miso Barley Mushroom. The chapter begins, “I learned to make soup in my twenties, when I was a newlywed in New York and could only afford lentils and white beans.” What’s better than a delicious home cooked meal? A delicious home cooked meal that doesn’t break the bank. Whether it’s soup, quinoa fritters, sweet barbequed brisket, or even the simplest homemade meal, Jennie Cook has the same message: “We need to keep talking and connecting over food – doesn’t that sound like the easiest plan for change you’ve heard?” Who Wants Seconds is available on Amazon.com for $18.

“Food is the vehicle, people are the light and the way.”

JANUARY 2014

BEST EVER LENTIL SOUP In the midst of winter, sometimes there’s nothing better than a piping hot bowl of hearty soup. Cook’s “Best Ever Lentil Soup” does the trick, and is one of her most popular recipes. Prep time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour Serves 8 to 12 (about 3 quarts) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup finely chopped onion 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup finely chopped carrot 1 cup finely chopped celery

2 bay leaves 3 sprigs of thyme ½ teaspoon freshly ground coriander 1 teaspoon celery seed 1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed 2 cups peeled and chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned 6 cups vegetable stock 1 cup thawed frozen corn puréed in 1 cup water 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar turn to soup pot.

Heat olive oil in a soup pot and sauté onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, coriander, and celery seed over medium heat until onions are soft and translucent forabout 6 minutes. Add lentils, tomatoes, and broth and stir to combine. Increase heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until lentils are tender, approximately 45 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon in 10-minute intervals. Add corn purée and stir. Add salt, pepper, vinegar, and sugar. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired. This is a thick, chunky soup; if you want it creamier, remove 4 cups, purée in a blender, and return to soup pot. LIVING

AMAZING MUSEUMS text by madeline bilis

Boston’s museum roster extends far beyond the classics like MFA and Museum of Science. Boston is known for its top notch museums. You’re probably grateful to have places like the MFA, ICA, and Museum of Science at your disposal, but you’ve likely been to all of them more than once. While checking out the rotating exhibits may be exciting, you might need something new to marvel at. The greater Boston area has a bunch of unique museums that city-slickers at Emerson might not be aware of.

MUSEUM OF BAD ART

Somerville and Brookline Mass. “Art too bad to be ignored” is the Museum of Bad Art’s appropriate slogan. The museum curates and displays questionably artistic paintings, drawings, sketches, and sculptures for the public. This museum actually has two locations—the basement of the Somerville Theatre and Brookline Access Television. How to get there: For the Somerville location, take the Red Line to Davis Square and head to 55 Davis Sq. Total time: 20 minutes For the Brookline location, take the Green Line to Brookline Hills and walk to 46 Tappan St. Total time: 20 minutes Cost: $4 T fares + $0 admission= $4

THE PLUMBING MUSEUM

80 Rosedale Rd. Watertown, Mass. You’re not truly a history buff until you’ve learned about the history of indoor plumbing. Its sinks, bathtubs, and toilets galore in this Watertown museum, located in the former ice storage house of the Metropolitan Ice Company. The museum is open Monday through Thursday by appointment. How to get there: Take the Red Line to Central Square, then walk one minute to the Green Street bus station at the corner of Magazine St. Take the 70 bus towards Cedarwood via Watertown & Waltham and get off at the Main St. stop. Walk four minutes to the museum. Total time: 40 minutes Cost: $4 T fares + $4 bus fares + $0 admission = $8

LIVING

DECORDOVA SCULPTURE PARK AND MUSEUM

51 Sandy Pond Rd. Lincoln, Mass. The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is one of the top ten outdoor sculpture parks in the world. These sculptures, however, aren’t your ordinary clumps of clay; the park features incredible structures from giant stone heads to massive metal hearts. Admission is free if you visit on the first Wednesday of the month. How to get there: Take the Fitchburg/South Acton commuter rail to Lincoln, and then hop in a cab for a five minute ride to the museum. Total time: One hour Cost: $17.50 commuter rail tickets + $8 cab rides + $10 admission = $31.50

CHARLES RIVER MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION

154 Moody St. Waltham, Mass. This museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as America’s first factory. Visitors love the historic and visually interesting exhibits. The most popular area is the Machine Shop—it’s a fully functional re-creation of a 20th century production facility and you can see it in action. How to get there: Take the Fitchburg/South Acton commuter rail to Waltham, then take a three minute walk to the museum at the Francis Cabot Lowell Mill in Waltham center. Total time: 40 minutes Cost: $12 commuter rail tickets + $5 admission= $17

BOOKS FOR A COZY WINTER text by joanne paquin

Your Mag’s list of perilous adventure, horror, and magic filled must-reads Winter break is a great time to cozy up with a couple of great novels and to read for pleasure ra-ther than for class. If you are struggling to find that perfect book though, here are three sugges-tions: City of Thieves by David Benioff, The Shining by Stephen King, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. If historical fiction is your sort of thing then City of Thieves might be for you. About the siege of Leningrad, it follows two unique characters who are complete opposites of each other. Lev Beni-ov, a timid, heedful Jew, was arrested for stealing items off a body and thrown into the same cell as a deserter named Kolya, an outgoing, extroverted Aryan. Both are given the option to save themselves from execution by finding a dozen eggs for a Soviet colonel to use in his daughter’s wedding cake. This is a nearly impossible task seeing as the city has been cut off from all sup-plies and is nearing the point of extreme

deprivation. However, the two are persistent in their perilous hunt to find the dozen eggs. If that doesn’t do it for you, maybe Stephen King’s most popular work, The Shining, will take you on the wintery adventure you were hoping for. But mind you, it’s a horror-filled adventure and very different from the famous movie. Jack Torrence took on a job as winter caretaker for the Overlook Hotel in Colorado and brings his family, Wendy and Danny, along for the ride. After the hotel closes and a blizzard cuts them off from the rest of the world, the hotel begins to take on a life of its own. The empty hotel now has masked guests roaming the halls, a particularly “odd” woman occupying room 217, and hedge animals that seem to come to life. And to make matters worse, the evil force that has consumed the hotel is beginning to consume Jack as well. If you’d rather spend January

mystified rather than terrified, then maybe The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is the better choice. Le Cirque des Rêves is unlike any other circus: the black and white striped tents arrive without any warning and are only open at night. Within the canvas walls of these tents are awe-inspiring amazements and home to an unseen competition between two young magicians, Celia and Marco. Their volatile mentors have trained both for years for this competition, yet neither of them knows the sole intent or purpose of this game or that only one can be left standing. Despite this, the two competitors find themselves falling into an intense and magical love, yet have no choice but to play out this game to ensure the fates of everyone else involved. Whether it is City of Thieves, The Shining, or The Night Circus, any one (or all) of these books is sure to warm up your winter break.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘HUMANS OF EMERSON’ text by pimploy phongsirivech photo by evan walsh

The story behind Emerson’s newest phenomenon

JANUARY 2014

Humans of Emerson, a photography project operated through a Facebook page that began on Oct. 24, is “an original take on the Humans of New York initiative.” Through the use of photography, Sara Menendez ‘16 and Maya Rafie ‘17 have created an ongoing collection of portraits, in order to “capture the uniqueness and diversity embodied in the Emerson campus”. “There’s so many people that we see every day that we don’t actually…see.” -Sara Menendez ‘16, co-creator of Humans of Emerson Only a week and a half after launching Humans of Emerson, the project had exploded, gaining over 800 followers. While the large majority of these Facebook followers are students from Emerson, many are from other universities, cities and countries. “[Emerson] is like a village of people.” -Maya Rafie ‘17, co-creator of Humans of Emerson The Humans Of sensation started when Brandon Stanton bought his first camera in January 2010. While discovering his love for photography, Stanton stumbled upon New York City in the summer. After spending two months in the city, he was hooked; Stanton moved to New York in the following November. His initial idea for a photography project was to photograph and plot 10,000 New Yorkers on an interactive map of the five boroughs. The project changed when Stanton began to interview the people he was photographing. As his photographs became increasingly popular on his Facebook account, he was persuaded by a friend to create a public Facebook page that acted as a blog, where he would post a different photograph and story every day. Today, this blog has become a colossal project with almost one million followers. What started off simply as a photo album became a Facebook page, became an official website and finally a published book. Humans of New York provides the world with a glimpse into the diverse,

quirky, whimsical nature of the inhabitants of New York City, inviting people to embrace the differences in all the individuals photographed and in all the stories told. Your Magazine spoke with Maya and Sara, creators of Humans of Emerson. In our short time together, it was clear that this wasn’t merely a photography project; it was something that they both were passionate about and genuinely dedicated to doing. Your Magazine: How did you two meet? Maya: I got a letter one day. After a moment of silence, Sara: (defensively) She was my orientee! It wasn’t creepy or anything. M: We clicked. Sara: Yeah, she was my orientee and we hung out after orientation. M: We went to a photo exhibit at the MFA, and we were just talking about the Humans Of phenomenon. We got along really well and [thought] it would be so sick to do it at Emerson and then we were just like, “Let’s do it.” YM: And it was decided…just like that? S: I was really into it. Talking to Maya that day…she said “I’d be down to do this with you.” M: (interrupting) I was more like, “Fuck yeah!” Giggles erupt from both. M: I met the guy who did Souls of San Francisco, and I had a really good conversation with him…I was so happy to find someone who had the same idea. YM: Was it Souls of San Francisco that really inspired you, or were you guys influenced by all the different Humans Of ’s collectively? S: I feel like all the Humans Of [inspired us] because they’re all so different and diverse around the world and they all inspire us in some way. M: It’s like every country or city takes the idea differently… in Souls of San Francisco, he writes bigger stories…

kind of have a little stake out, waiting for people? M: (laughing) The other day we were like in front of Walker, waiting for people to get out of class! S: Or the alley! The alley has really nice lighting. YM: Do you have prompts or questions you ask? How do you start the conversation? S: If they’re already talking then you just keep on asking, keep the conversation going…but if they’re like super shy or if they’re feeling super awkward we have this list of questions and we ask them things like “What’s your passion?” or “Describe yourself in three words”, and that starts to get them talking M: Usually though the quotes we use aren’t the answers to the questions. YM: Any other comments? S: I feel that our whole idea is to show the human part of Emerson that we miss sometimes…like we’re a community and we know these people but we don’t know them…it’s about what a photo can tell you about someone. We at Your Mag want to thank Sara and Maya for taking the time to speak with us. For more information on Humans of Emerson, please check out their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/humansofemerson.

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he called it “Souls of ” because it would be closer to the person he’s talking to whereas in Humans of New York it’s more like documentation…or like, just a quote…it depends on what the person in front of you is saying. YM: Most Humans Of projects are usually city-based; did you feel that Emerson was diverse enough to do the same thing? S: Yeah! At first I was telling Maya we should do it for Boston and then we were like, “No, we should do it in Emerson.” Yes, definitely diverse enough. M: [Emerson] is like a village of people, I mean…people are from everywhere and they’re all in the same place and it’s just amazing. S: There are so many people that we see every day that we don’t actually…see. You know what I mean? YM: How do you guys pick whom to photograph? M: Well, we walk around with our camera, and if we see someone chilling…or like someone who looks kind of welcoming or ready to have a conversation…sometimes people actually ask us to take pictures of them so we’ll like meet them and talk to them, but most of the time it’s random and conversational and we go for it. YM: Do you have a specific spot that you like to go to and

SOME BANDS REALLY DO CARE text by heather mulgannon photo by matt vogel

An exclusive profile of Iowa City based band Jocelyn Say you want to contact your favorite band - it’s really important. You send them a message on Facebook or bug them endlessly on Twitter. Chances are they probably won’t answer. They’ll think you’re another psycho fan trying to find their address, or looking to profess your undying love. Getting a hold of Iowa City band Jocelyn isn’t that hard, it’s as easy as texting 319-804-9727 and waiting for one of the members to answer. Jocelyn wants to be accessible to their fans at all times, to talk about anything from relationship trouble to anxiety and depression. They truly believe their motto, “Everybody has JANUARY 2014

a story and it’s important that somebody is always listening.” The idea for a band phone number came from guitarist Steve Lydick. At first the band members

“You can never have too many friends who are invested in that mutual connection.” weren’t sure how they would put it into practice. What they knew was it was something they believed in and because of that they would find a way to do it. It started off

with everyone in the band having the Google Voice application on their phone, which gave them all access to the number. Recently the band ran into the problem of trying to text too many people at once. They had to switch to a paid plan and a psychical phone. They take turns having the phone and replying to the messages. Lydick says, “The number is a great way to reply promptly and have a more authentic conversation than say via email or old fashioned snail mail.” Although, he adds the band never minds receiving a good fan letter. Lydick likes having this connection with fans because it’s mutual. He says that he has

met many great people through the number and often when he needs someone to talk to, he will text them from his own personal number. “They can help me just as much as we may be able to likewise,” says Lydick. “You can never have too many friends who are invested in that mutual connection.” Jocelyn is built around that idea of connection. Bassist, Alex Weise says that this is where the name Jocelyn came from. He says, “Jocelyn is whoever people need her to be. We didn’t just want to be a band with a name that sounded cool.” Weiss believes that it’s important for young people to feel like they can text the band whenever they want and not be embarrassed by it. Jocelyn can just be some girl you’re texting, no one has to know who she really is or what she stands for. Jocelyn stands for much more than people realize, though. Weise, Lydick, and vocalist Landon Boyer all have experience volunteering for the non-profit To Write Love On Her Arms, which deals with raising awareness for depression and self-harm. Guitarist Josh Adams, and newest member, drummer Brooks Farris also know the importance of TWLOHA and other organizations like it. The band’s involvement with the organization and what it stands for is why they often promote their band phone number as a help line for people struggling with tough

situations. In January 2013 the band set out on a three month long acoustic tour. But it was no ordinary acoustic tour. The “Living Room Tour” was exactly as it sounds like, a tour of shows preformed in the living rooms of their fans. This type of tour made more sense to them than playing in small venues for people that might not care. The band was able to play shows for fans they knew had been going through a tough time and that meant a lot to them.

“Jocelyn has done more for me than I could ever say and they possibly helped save my life.” Fans have started to take notice of what Jocelyn is doing. 18-yearold Amy reached out to the band when life started getting hard and she’s glad she did. “The past few months my life kind of fell apart, and Jocelyn was there whenever I needed someone to talk to,” Amy says. “The guys gave me some of the best advice I’ve ever received. Following it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Jocelyn has done more for me than I could ever say and they possibly helped save my life.” It’s obvious that Jocelyn is going about the idea of a band differently

than many others. Weise said he believes that a big part of it is that many bands in the pop punk scene started right after high school. Every member of Jocelyn has graduated from college already; they have a different perspective on what they want out of being in a band and how they want to get there. “I don’t really care how big or famous we get because we got to where we did by helping people along the way,” says Weise. Sam, a 17-year-old from New Jersey, met the band when they were promoting at a concert she attended. She says, “These guys actually care about their fans and they are here to make a difference. Knowing that someone will always be here to talk to you when you’re feeling upset is such a good feeling.” Despite their growing popularity, Weise says they don’t plan on stopping the band number anytime soon. He says that there will probably reach a time when they can no longer respond to every “Hey, what’s up” text but have to sift through the texts for the people whose texts require the most urgency. If one day having a band phone gets to be too overwhelming they hope to turn it over to an organization or people trained in helping with depression, suicide, and self harm. “We’re just five guys,” Weise says, “we don’t always know what to say, but we’re always here to listen.”

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JANUARY PLAYLIST stock photo

Before we bid 2013 adieu, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take the time to reflect on this whirlwind of a year. Though rife with challenges, it was a year when camaraderie and support prevailed. We at Your Mag hope 2014 will continue with the same electric energy, strength and charmâ&#x20AC;Ś not to mention plenty of adventure. Kick off this year with our playlist featuring a mix of throwbacks and tracks by artists soon to swing through Boston.

Scan the QR code for the January Playlist.

JANUARY 2014

“FEELING GOOD” Michael Bublé

“OUR DAY WILL COME” Amy Winehouse

“SOAR” Christina Aguilera

“GENERATION AWAY” Lady Antebellum

“DARE YOU TO MOVE” Switchfoot

“POMPEII” Bastille

“ROANOKE” Saintseneca

“TWO FINGERS” Jake Bugg

“THE GARDENER” The Tallest Man on Earth

“LATCH” Disclosure

“IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA” Neutral Milk Hotel

“HOLDING ON FOR LIFE” Broken Bells

“SHAKE YOUR GROOVE THING” Peaches & Herb

“DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’” Journey

“WHERE IS MY MIND” The Pixies

“ALL I WANT” Kodaline

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