Archive

Artists retell history at National Gallery’s Shock of the News

“Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray / South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio.”

By Mary Borowiec October 11, 2012

Taste of DC: The battle for the culinary crown

On Columbus Day, I ventured to Pennsylvania Avenue and scouted out some of D.C.’s best culinary offerings at the 2012 “Taste of DC” festival. More than 50 of the District’s top restaurants opened small stands and sold specialty items from their menus. The plethora of options made it difficult to choose between all the enticing flavors. Not surprisingly, I was “that guy” who walked back and forth in search of the most appetizing entrees, surveying unique food that expanded both my palate and my cultural horizons.

By Justin Betrus October 11, 2012

Critical Voices: The Script, #3

As a judge on The Voice UK, The Script front man Danny O’Donoghue ought to fully understand the difference between passable music and efforts that don’t quite measure up. Unfortunately, this logical assumption does not hold; the London-based outfit swung for the fences and grounded into third on its arrogantly entitled LP #3.

By Kirill Makarenko October 11, 2012

Critical Voices: Ellie Goulding, Halcyon

If Ke$ha embodies the crass and gaudy character of American electropop, singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding brings a British sensibility and sensitivity to the genre, asserting that, in the words of Downton Abbey’s Lady Grantham, “vulgarity is no substitute for wit.” In her sophomore release, Halcyon, Ellie Goulding showcases her strength as a subdued vocalist, building upon her recognizable brand of synthetic, high-energy folktronica. Lyrically, however, the album lacks originality and fails to channel Goulding’s voice into anything more than sweet, medium-paced dance records—a style she’s already perfected.

By Connor Jones October 11, 2012

You’ve got issues: Breakfast at Tombs

Dear Emlyn, I’m a sophomore and it’s housing selection time for me. I live in Southwest Quad with one of my friends from freshman year, but this semester we haven’t been that close and even disagree pretty frequently. I don’t want to live with him next year, but I don’t really know how to break the news. Advice? -Gloomy Roomie

By Emlyn Crenshaw October 11, 2012

Plate of the Union: Cookbooks are literature, too!

Even as Amazon packages filled with copies of International Economics and the Oresteia arrived on campus, almost every Georgetown student was still missing a crucial text. If you already own a college cookbook, you can stop reading now. Go make yourself some mushroom risotto and study for midterms.

By Heather Regen October 10, 2012

Standardize this! A frustrated student’s plea for change

I had one of the most upsetting experiences of my college life the other afternoon. Sitting at my desk, eyes glazed over, staring at the mind-numbingly boring online lecture for... Read more

By Claire McDaniel October 10, 2012

The truth hurler on the ditch

This past weekend, I went to Syracuse to visit a friend. Every time I was introduced to someone, and they found out I go to Georgetown, I’d get an “Oh…... Read more

By Kim Tay October 10, 2012

Adrift in a sea of causes, Occupy needs to set a course

October 1st marked the one-year anniversary of Occupy D.C. and, in celebration of the movement, the group occupied a number of lobbying firms, banks, etc. around K Street. The lobbying... Read more

By Sara Ainsworth October 10, 2012

Play that funky music: A tale of unabashed love for concerts

People who know me (or at least are friends with me on Facebook) know that I go to a lot of concerts. The Black Cat staff probably knows me by... Read more

By Johan Clarke October 10, 2012

Adjunct professors move towards unionization with SEIU

In response to the growing presence of Service Employees International Union organizers on campus, Georgetown’s provost Robert Groves addressed an email to all faculty members reaffirming the University’s respect and support of the right of employees to unionize. The SEIU, which represents 2.1 million workers in the healthcare, property, and public services sectors, began work this semester to unionize adjunct professors on the Hilltop.

By Vanya Mehta October 4, 2012

On first anniversary, Occupy shuts down bank, K St

Starting this past weekend and throughout this week, Occupy DC is celebrating its one year anniversary. Last Saturday, Occupy Our Homes DC had actions at all the Bank of America locations across the District, aiming to shut them down for their Saturday business hours. On Monday, Occupy DC held a protest in McPherson Square on K Street, the symbolic home of lobbying in the District.

By Matthew Weinmann October 4, 2012

College Dems and Repubs come together to host debate watch party

For the first time in recent memory, the Georgetown chapters of the College Democrats and College Republicans hosted a presidential debate-watching party together. The two groups came together in Lohrfink Auditorium Wednesday night to experience and discuss the event that would become the most tweeted political event in U.S. history.

By Lindsay Leasor October 4, 2012

Union Jack: Scab shenanigans

Last Monday’s “Fail Mary” will forever be inscribed into NFL lore, with the contradicting hand motions of the replacement referees—one signaling interception, the other incorrectly signaling touchdown—encapsulating the utter incompetence and confusion that has overshadowed the opening weeks of the 2012 season.

By Cole Stangler October 4, 2012

Junk food and movies: The American dream at Angelika

The glass walls and marble floors of the Angelika Film Center and Café give the impression that this art-house complex would be more at home in New York City than in Fairfax, Va., and rightly so—the original Angelika debuted with Soho in 1989. But this upscale movie theater is out to take the D.C. area by storm, starting in Fairfax’s trendy Mosaic district. With its eclectic selection of films you’ve never heard of (think indie knockouts, vintage classics, and foreign films) and a gourmet menu designed by Chef Lee Anne Wong of Top Chef fame, Angelika attempts to make going to the movies a high-end escape from the drudgeries of daily life.

By Alexandra Golway October 4, 2012

Zero Cost House:Japan, Walden, and animals, oh my!

This past weekend I was lulled into a peaceful reverie by two people dressed in rabbit suits and playing ukuleles. This moment was brought to me by the Pig Iron Theater Company’s production of Toshiki Okada’s Zero Cost House at the Davis Performing Art Center.

By Liana Mehring October 4, 2012

Liam Neeson Commands the Screen in Taken 2

Taken 2 is the kind of movie that most people will immediately deride as another cheap money-grab by a cash-hungry film studio. Well, those people are partially right. Inevitably, as with all sequels, part two is not nearly as original as the first blockbuster action flick, which starred Liam Neeson as a coverts-op dad on the hunt for his abducted daughter. Nevertheless, those who claim that Taken 2 is nothing more than a rehash are wrong—it’s easy enough to deride any formulaic action film sequel, but it’s undeniable that Taken 2 is pure entertainment.

By James Gadea October 4, 2012

Critical Voices: Muse, The 2nd Law

Before Muse’s latest album dropped, front man Matthew Bellamy announced it as a “Christian gangsta rap jazz odyssey, with some ambient rebellious dubstep and face melting metal flamenco cowboy psychedelia.” That may sound like a bunch of attention-starved gobbledegook, but the album The 2nd Law lives up to this bizarre description. Managing to sound both like an iconic Muse album and an amalgamation of only the most diverse musical styles, 2nd Law descends into chaos while miraculously preventing the absurd mixture of influences from becoming repulsive.

By Kirill Makarenko October 4, 2012

Critical Voices: How to Dress Well, Total Loss

Nick Krell, under the moniker How to Dress Well, is at his best when his music feels personal and heartfelt. And on his sophomore release, Total Loss, Krell is undoubtedly at his best.

By Michael Mouch October 4, 2012

Idiot Box: I’ve seen those English dramas

This summer, I found myself taking a class at Fordham University that converted me from a skeptic to a believer. No, it wasn’t the standard philosophy or theology class that usually leads its students to classroom epiphanies. This was a class on early 20th century British literature, with a professor who was merciful enough to show movies or television shows during one of our inhumanly long classes per week. And I didn’t find God or purpose, but I found Downton Abbey.

By Leigh Finnegan October 4, 2012