Leisure

Reviews and think pieces on music, movies, art, and theater.

Leisure

Indie film: “Love in the Wrong Places”

Besides the frightening presence of Joan Rivers on every entertainment channel, there may be only one thing you can predict about Oscar season. Every actress on the red carpet is thinner than you. You can avoid this strange and recurring phenomenon by exploring the assortment of films offered by the DC Independent Film Fest.

By March 1, 2007

Leisure

Critical Voices: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible, Merge

The music that tugs most at our heartstrings is often the most divisive. In one camp you have those who prefer their music served raw and doused with emotion; in the other you have vicious detractors shouting labels like “emo” and “over the top” with bitter disapproval. The Arcade Fire’s emotive debut, Funeral, won over both camps by shrouding many of its emo leanings in ambiguity and lyrical imagery.

By March 1, 2007

Leisure

Critical Voices: !!!, Myth Takes, Warp

With eight members and an emphasis on rhythm and danceability, !!! (conventionally pronounced “chk-chk-chk”) have sometimes lacked focus. While the band provides the perfect sound track to running really fast or freaking out, the human touch is often lost in the conglomeration of sounds. With Myth Takes !!! realize that those exclamation points can refer to emotion, not just excitement.

By March 1, 2007

Leisure

Mezze Madness

At some point you have got to ask yourself what’s more important, your stomach or your wallet. If your wallet is filled with your parents’ money, it’s time to check out one of Georgetown’s exotic dining options.

By March 1, 2007

Leisure

Eating in: late night for the lazy

It’s 2 a.m. and I’m two pages into my 10-page econ paper. My mouth feels like sandpaper and my forehead’s dripping sweat. I can’t leave the room, but I can order from DC Snacks.

By March 1, 2007

Leisure

Reviving the Georgetown music scene

Generally speaking, starting a band in college does not involve much of a hassle. Given spare time, money and energy, virtually anyone can pick up an instrument, gather a few friends together and have a jam session. However, for Danny Murphy (COL ’09), Sean Croft (SFS ’09) and a handful of other musicians on campus, the logistics of maintaining a band at Georgetown have proven to be more complicated.

By February 22, 2007

Leisure

Beards: like a scarf for your face

From every angle, Chris Svetlik’s (SFS ’10) beard is a sight to behold. The whiskers on his upper lip reach their full potential in two woolly peaks extending from the chin. Between these peaks, below a subtle soul patch, is a valley of shorter hair left over from an experiment in mutton chops. Svetlik and others show that campus is no stranger to the whiskery classmate and in many ways beard life and campus life intertwine as facial hair makes a fashion comeback to Georgetown.

By February 22, 2007

Leisure

Of Montreal rocks

Of Montreal, the critically acclaimed psych-pop band out of Athens, Georgia, returns to the Washington D.C. area for spring break. Fronted by Kevin Barnes, the group released their well-received eighth album, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, on Feb. 23. Guitarist Bryan Poole detailed the band’s updated sound on the new record.

By February 22, 2007

Leisure

The Chimes charm

At the 34th annual Cherry Tree Massacre, hosted by the Georgetown Chimes, you will be torn between raucous laughter and oppression, trying not to sing along to all the cheap love songs.

By February 22, 2007

Leisure

Next round’s on me

A rotating bi-weekly column about drinking.

By February 22, 2007

Leisure

Vietnamese art exhibit is pho real

At first, the road sign seems rather ordinary. Bold, green and functional, it could have been plucked from any interstate highway. Yet contradicting its mundane appearance is its content: “Little Saigon: Next Right.”

By February 15, 2007

Leisure

Critical Voices: Field Music, Tones of Town

With their third release, UK-based art-rock trio Field Music have created an album that is complex and accessible enough to merit multiple listens. Indeed, Tones of Town’s tracks draw strength from the band’s ability to weave rhythmic layers of sweet vocals, staccato piano punctuations and sharp, post-punk guitar riffs almost effortlessly.

By February 15, 2007

Leisure

Warming up to art

The snow was pretty for about an hour and now your ass is bruised from sledding on a cafeteria tray. You could retreat to your 80-degree dorm room and binge on all that fruit you sacked from Leo’s, or you could fight the winter blues with some hot cocoa and visual stimulation at one of D.C.’s warm spots.

By February 15, 2007

Leisure

Going down on the Hilltop

Winter finally paid off, and in a big way. Such wonderful whiteness can mean only one thing: sled day! Considering only one of the surveyed hills had fresh tracks, it seems that far too few Hoyas partake in this traditional leisure activity. Because they don’t call it the Hilltop for nothin’, here’s the skinny on the best campus sledding.

By February 15, 2007

Leisure

Sexy food

As anyone who saw Varsity Blues and Ali Larter’s whipped cream bikini can attest, food can be very sexy. But, as anyone who’s ever had a boyfriend who talks with his mouth full or had a propensity for poppy seed bagels can argue, food and love are not always a good mix. There is a difference between your food being yummy and you being yummy.

By February 15, 2007

Leisure

Pole dancing: not just for strippers

My arms ache and I can already feel the bruises on my inner thighs as I try to crawl sexily on all fours. The music switches to “Fergalicious,” and that’s my cue to shimmy up the chrome pole. Holding on with my left hand, I move with the music, strut my stuff for a few beats and slowly turn a full body roll into the fireman spin.

By February 8, 2007

Leisure

Punk Love sticks it to the man

In D.C., politics are inescapable—even in music. But when the founding luminaries of Washington’s famously close-knit, activist music scene came together in Georgetown last Friday, it was to praise, not preach.

By February 8, 2007

Leisure

Giving to get some

What do you call that girl you make out with on the weekend but whose hand you have yet to hold in public? More than friend or less than girlfriend, the correct sociological label is irrelevant—this Valentine’s Day only one tag matters: gift-recipient.

By February 8, 2007

Leisure

Critical Voices: Bloc Party, A Weekend in the City, Wichita

LOVES IT

Despite what detractors may say, “Hunting for Witches” is hardly the sole highlight of A Weekend in the City, Bloc Party’s lastest release.

By February 8, 2007

Leisure

Critical Voices II: Bloc Party, A Weekend in the City, Wichita

HATES IT

The British music mag NME called Bloc Party “uncategorisable.” While that isn’t a real word, the point was clear when the magazine used it to describe the band’s debut, Silent Alarm. Though it didn’t necessarily deserve that label, the group distinguished itself from the pack of poppy post-punk peers with lead singer Kele Okereke’s heartfelt lyrics and sometimes overly emotive vocals.

By February 8, 2007