Campus Circle Newspaper Vol. 18, Issue 49 by Campus Circle

2 | Campus Circle

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

Game Day Special MedIUM

Cheese Pizza bucket of

SALAD

bucket of

SPAGHETTI BREAD PUFFS

Dec. 24, 2008 - Jan. 6, 2009 • Vol. 18 Issue 49

Editor-in-Chief Jessica Koslow editor.chief@campuscircle.net

Managing Editor Yuri Shimoda

managing.editor@campuscircle.net

Film Editor Jessica Koslow film.editor@campuscircle.net

Art Director Sean Michael Editorial Interns Nicole Boisvert, Lauren Brodsky,

17 INSIDE

Devon Klug, Farnaz Youshei

Contributing Writers Nic Adler, Ashley Archibald, Leslie Barrie, Scott Bedno, Sarah Bennett, China Bialos, Zach Bourque, Michael Buzzelli, Erica Carter, Taren Fujimoto, Jessica Go, Josh

5 THE NORMANDIE FILES 5 WOODEN NICKELS

Herman, Zach Hines, Joe Horton, Kevin Hunter, Jonathan Knell, Lucia, Ebony March, Angela Matano, Ryan McWhorter, Frederick Mintchell, Samantha Ofole. Brien Overly, Sasha PerlRaver, Parimal M. Rohit, Lauren

Must present coupon when ordering. Only one coupon per order, per customer.

Rosenblum, Dov Rudnick, Rayhané S. Sanders, Sean Schlemmer, Mike Sebastian, Henry Senecal, Alissa Simmons, Doug Simpson, David Tobin, Emmanuelle L. Troy,

www.numerounopizzaco.com

Kevin Wierzbicki

SPORTS

6 ROAD TO THE ROSE BOWL 7 TEAM STATS 8 PENN STATE ROSTER 9 USC ROSTER 10 BOWL VIEWING GUIDE 12 TEAM COACHES

Contributing Artists & Photographers Doria Anselmo, China Bialos, Crystal Lafata, Emmanuelle L. Troy

ADVERTISING

FILM

14 MOVIES TO LOOK FORWARD TO 16 WINTER FILM PREVIEW 17 HOLIDAY CLASSICS

Sean Bello sean.bello@campuscircle.net

Joy Calisoff joy.calisoff@campuscircle.net

Ronit Guedalia ronit.guedalia@campuscircle.net

David Haar

MUSIC

20 HAPPY 35TH, ROXY THEATRE! 21 FREQUENCY 22 BANDS TO WATCH

david.haar@campuscircle.net

Assistant to the Publishers Frederick Mintchell

Campus Circle newspaper is published 47 times a year and is available free at 40 schools and over 800 retail locations throughout Los Angeles. Circulation: 30,000. Readership: 90,000.

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INNER CIRCLE 13 23 24 25 25 26 27 28 29 30 30 31

ROSE PARADE HISTORY NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS SPORTS BARS DOWNTOWN L.A. PASADENA WHERE TO SHOP WHERE TO HANG OUT WHERE TO EAT THE ART OF LOVE UNIQUE MOVIE EXPERIENCES IN L.A. DAY TRIPS FASHION101

COVER: USC’s Mark Sanchez and Penn State’s Daryll Clark

CREDIT: USC Sports Information and Christopher Weddle/Centre Daily Times/MCT

Together as One

4 | Campus Circle

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

January 1, 2009

Dear Friends, On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the 2009 Rose Bowl Game. Today, the Rose Bowl plays host to the most anticipated college football game of the year, whereby it will showcase the best collegiate football athletes in the nation. The Rose Bowl, the oldest college football bowl game in American history, aptly known as “The Granddaddy of Them All,” will not only serve as a means to recognize the excellence among athletes and two great schools, but will serve to celebrate the continuation of a great national tradition that takes place in Southern California. To all spectators: Enjoy the game! Very truly yours,

ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA Mayor

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

the normandie files

wooden nickels | B Y

THREE GENERATIONS OF THE ROSE PARADE

A PARADE ON FOUR LEGS

And a Sad but Inspiring Ending

THE BLEARY EYES OF A HUNG OVER NATION will once again turn to Pasadena and its roses, to a day full of flowery foppery and furious football. But the grand Rose Bowl, nestled in its little canyon, hidden from view and underwhelming at first glance, holds its charm throughout the year. Concerts, events, soccer, Big 10 beatdowns and UCLA losses are the major events held here throughout the year, but it is the off days, the quieter moments, that I like best. And no day was better than one perfect October morning when some deserving shelter dogs found new homes. A parade without roses or television cameras is underway. Four-legged ghosts and ghouls congregate on the fields just south of the Rose Bowl. The air is crisp, daresay autumnal at 7:50 a.m., and the Rescue Train, along with six other nonprofit animal rescue groups and two city shelters, is sponsoring the Race for the Rescues, a 5k run/walk with a doggie shirtsforacure costume .com show and Give a cool gift for a celebrity art great cause. Choose from sale. nearly 250 shirt designs, “ T h e from My Chemical reality is, the Romance and Rise city itself has Against to Dillinger Four to kill about and the Bouncing Souls. 600 dogs and All proceeds go to the cats per Syrentha Savio week,” says Endowment, which helps Lisa Young, fight breast cancer in director of impoverished the Rescue communities across the Train. “We country. have one of the highest

BY SARAH BENNETT THERE IS A PICTURE OF ME – a cherubic preschooler with a black bowl haircut –standing in Sarah Bennett my grandmother’s San Gabriel driveway, grinning but visibly cold. I am weighted down with Rose Parade gear: a red barette, a 1985 adult-sized Rose Bowl sweatshirt, a rose-embroidered blanket and a beach chair. It was New Year’s Day 1990, and I was heading to catch a glimpse of the Tournament of Roses Parade. My great grandma attended the parade when it was still horses and buggies displaying local fauna in their wheel spokes. My grandma and her friend would walk down a eucalyptus-lined Atlantic Boulevard every New Year’s morning to hitchhike a ride from Alhambra to Pasadena. By the time my mother and her brother and sister were old enough to withstand the frigid morning adventure, my grandmother had devised a better plan of attack. Since she was the only parent on Melhorn Drive who would brave the event, neighborhood kids would meet at the house before the sun came up and pile into her station wagon. The secret, she says, is not camping out the night before: go at 8 a.m. My grandmother’s parade-watching brood would park at the corner of Lake and Del Mar, walk four blocks to Colorado and try to squeeze in front of the people that had been there all night. Although the Tournament of Roses Parade was a New Year’s Day tradition for most of my mother’s childhood, I only went once (wearing an oversized Rose Bowl sweatshirt and a little red barette), and, unfortunately, I was too young to remember its splendor. But years later, after my mom got sick and passed away, my grandmother and I returned to see the flower-and-seed covered floats. This time, though, they were hiding under a white big top in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl, and I was there to make a very important addition. With a blooming white orchid in a waterfilled vial, I walked up to the float sponsored by my mother’s alma mater and was directed to an empty spot along the base. As I put the flower next to the others and watched it disappear into the cacophony of white blooms, I thought about all the years my family has spent being spectators of this great event and how – because of a flower donation made in my mother’s name – one of us was now a part of it. Send feedback to normandiefiles@campuscircle.net.

JOE HORTON

One Quiet Sunday at the Rose Bowl

site pick

event pick Vanity Fair Portraits Photographs: Photographs 1931-2008 Now-March 1, 2009 @ LACMA This is the first major exhibition to feature the magazine’s historic archive of rare vintage prints with its contemporary photographs. Photographers include Annie Leibovitz, Man Ray, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Bruce Weber and more.

euthanasia rates in any metropolitan city in the United States. The sad and shocking statistic most animal lovers in Joe Horton Los Angeles do not realize is that each week hundreds of adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized.” On this day, 17 lucky shelter dogs, costumed and prepped for adoption, mingle with the collared purebred dogs brought by their owners for the race. It’s very Lady and the Tramp. A black lab wearing a witch’s hat sniffs a bulldog in a bumblebee suit. A small chihuahua-variant with only three legs wears a petite sweater saying, “Bitches ? Me.” A poodle sporting devil horns puts the moves on a pit bull mix with white wings and an angel halo. Near a hundred competitors and companions take their places at the starting line as Best in Show and The 40-Year-Old Virgin actress Jane Lynch sounds the horn. Against tough competition, yellow lab Maggie and her owner Eric are the winning tandem. One small terrier can’t quite contain her excitement and leaves a surprise for her fellow competitors four feet from the finish line. The racers then gather for refreshments in the makeshift village of sponsors’ tents and art displays. Courtney Cox is handing out samples of electrolyte-nourishing coconut water from Brazil under the watchful eyes of Victor and Rosie, two long-haired dachshunds dressed as pumpkins. A small line forms to meet “Sinbad,” the part-Afghan, part-Doberman, part-Swiss Mountain Dog mascot for the California Firefighters’ Association. Several smaller children ask their parents if the massive Sinbad is a lion.

Campus Circle | 5

Artist Elisa Leonetti stands alongside the Walk of Paws gallery featuring celebrity hand and paw prints on colorful paintings for auction. There’s Drew Barrymore and her Flossie, Jessica Alba and her Bowie, Jason Biggs and his Edgar and Harry. “I pre-paint the paintings, and then the celebrities and their dogs put on their prints,” Leonetti explains. “I had a hard time painting for Paula Abdul. I had to channel her vibe. David Faustino was stoned when he did his,” she points to a vivid, chaotic canvas. Having bid on the artwork and full of coconut water, the crowd spreads out on the grass as Lynch and her Lhasa Apso, Olivia, host the Halloween Rescue Revue, and the 17 shelter dogs up for adoption strut their stuff down a green turf runway. “I hope they all find homes,” Lynch says before taking the stage. “There’s a special quality to a rescue dog, there’s a gratitude about them. It’s extremely satisfying when we can take care of our most vulnerable animals.” The first model is a tiny rat terrier named Jade whose stuffed pumpkin head keeps falling off. Trooper, a completely deaf retriever mix, dresses as a purple-sequined pimp and dwarfs Chippy, a chihuahua “security guard.” The real champ is Laddie, an aged poodle with a deformed front paw. Lynch points out the positive: “Look, she’s always in second position!” And with true ballerina grace, Laddie pliés down the runway. Many of these rescue dogs were once “redlisted” in city shelters, scheduled for euthanasia. Some are past their prime, looking for a home in their twilight years. Others have medical conditions and need immediate care. To a soundtrack of Aretha Franklin’s “Rescue Me,” the 17 take one last parade in front of the audience. Some will find new parents, others will not. In the shadow of the Rose Bowl, on a quiet Sunday that will go quite unnoticed beyond this hidden canyon, in this costumed parade of sailors with tri-corner hats, baggyclothed clowns, devils with horns, lady bugs with antennae and caped vampires, there’s only one accessory missing – collars with a tag and address.

6 | Campus Circle

sports

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

ROAD TO THE

A ROSE BOWL OF CLASSIC PROPORTIONS Old School Joe Paterno squares programs with New School Pete Carroll. If you feel an earthquake shortly after noon on Jan. 1, odds are geologists at Cal Tech won’t have to travel far to find an epicenter. Featuring two 11-1 teams, eighth-ranked Penn State travels to Pasadena to square off against No. 5 Southern California in what promises to be a memorable, if not earthmoving, Rose Bowl game. Southern Cal is making its fourth consecutive Rose Bowl appearance, while Penn State is making its third trip ever (second for coach Joe Paterno) to Pasadena. (Paterno’s Nittany Lions won in his first trip to the Rose Bowl in 1995; however, Southern Cal defeated Penn State in its only other Pasadena appearance, a 14-3 Trojan victory in 1923.)

USC: The Trojan defense is always a force to be reckoned with. Featuring Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing, the defensive allowed just 93 total points in 2008. Three times opponents failed to score against USC, five other opponents failed to score more than seven, and twice teams were limited to just 10 points. Only two opponents surpassed the 20-point mark: Stanford (23) and Oregon State (27), with the Beavers the only team to defeat USC all season. Outscoring its opponents by around 30 points per game, the Trojan defense allowed just 11 total touchdowns, with opponents averaging 206 total yards and 7.75 points per game. Edge: Southern Cal. Penn State has Lydell Sargeant, and USC will struggle to stop the run game. However, Cushing and Maualuga lead a speedy, pressure-oriented defense that can make the stops when it matters most. The Penn

Barbara L. Johnston/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT

Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark holds a rose as he celebrates with fans after Penn State defeated Michigan State.

The big game pits a high-octane, flashy Trojan team led by Pete Carroll, while the gritty, old school Joe Paterno is looking to win his second Rose Bowl in what may be his final trip to Pasadena. Both schools have no shortage of talent, meaning Carroll and Paterno will have to earn their paychecks in order to add to their greatness at the other’s expense. To follow is a breakdown of both teams. DEFENSE Penn State: The Nittany Lions allowed a little more than 12 points per game and disposed of opponents by an average of about 28 points. Only two teams topped 20 points against Penn State: Iowa and Illinois both scored 24 points. However, every team found a way to score against Penn State, as they did not have a single shutout. Opponents scored in double digits in seven games against the Nittany Lions. The Big 10 champs allowed 17 touchdowns on an average of about 264 yards per game.

State defense needs to force a few Trojan turnovers early to compete. OFFENSE Penn State: The Nittany Lions’ offense scored 45 or more points in seven games this season, including 66 in its opener against Coastal Carolina. Only once were they held to less than 20 points: a 13-6 victory over No. 10 Ohio State. Junior quarterback Daryll Clark stepped up in his first year as starter, tossing for 17 touchdowns and four interceptions on 171-of285 passing in 12 games. Clark will have to keep up his game, however, since he will not have the security of solid back up Pat Devlin, who is not making the trip to Pasadena as he announced his intentions to transfer. Helping Clark in the backfield is Evan Royster, who scored 12 touchdowns and gained 1,202 yards rushing on 185 carries. Deon Butler (43 receptions, 713 yards, seven TDs) and Jordan Norwood (38 receptions, 605 yards, five

led the Nittany Lions to a national TDs) were solid wide-outs in 2008. championship. He has at least 12 awards USC: Mark Sanchez led an offense that commemorating his coaching successes. appeared ragged at times yet ended up logging This season, he brings a little extra more than 462 yards and 37.5 points per game, motivation to the Penn State sideline – after both ranked 14th nationally. Only twice this suffering a game injury in September, JoePa season were they held under 20 points. had hip surgery, and resumes coaching duties Individually, Sanchez was solid and for the first time since. comfortable under the gun, throwing for 2,794 USC: The Trojans have qualified for a bowl yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, game every year Carroll has coached at completing 213 of 331 passes. His quarterback Southern Cal. He is 5-1 in BCS bowl games – rating was a sizzling 159.1. the only loss to Texas in 2006 – which is a Three players filled their stats in the record. The only other bowl game Carroll lost backfield. Joe McKnight led the team in in his tenure in Los Angeles was in the 2001 Las rushing yards, finishing with 646 yards and two Vegas Bowl, his first season as coach. touchdowns on 84 carries in 10 games. Stafon This season, his Trojans finished with at Johnson added 642 yards and nine touchdowns least 11 victories for a seventh consecutive on 123 carries in 12 games, while C.J. Gable season. Clearly, he is doing something right. added eight more touchdowns and 604 yards Edge: Penn State. It is hard to argue against on 101 carries in 12 games. 42 years of experience, even with Carroll’s Receivers Damian Williams (48 receptions, experience. Paterno knows his X’s and O’s 707 yards, eight TDs) and Patrick Turner (45 quite well, and his players will want to win one receptions, 667 yards, 10 TDs) helped Sanchez in the secondary. The Trojan attack was Southern Cal’s Mark Sanchez relatively balanced, with celebrates with Thomas Herring per game averages of 206 (77) and Butch Lewis (68). yards on the ground and 247.1 yards in the air. Edge: Southern Cal. Royster is a big game performer, but the big question mark is Clark. If he can figure out the Trojan defense, he has the weapons to keep up. Otherwise, the Trojan offensive may gradually wear down the Penn State defense. SPECIAL TEAMS Penn State: Derrick Williams is a major threat against any special teams defense, scoring two touchdowns on kickoff returns and another on a punt return. On the other side, Jeremy Boone averaged a crisp 42.5 yards punting, placing many teams deep in their own territories. USC: Greg Woidneck was impressive as punter, averaging 36.6 yards per kick away, while Stafon Johnson returned 32 punts for 303 yards, an average of 9.5 yards. C.J. Gable scored the only special teams touchdown, on a 93-yard kickoff return. Edge: Penn State – Williams will truly test the USC defense, while Boone will make it difficult for the Trojans to have solid field position. COACHES Penn State: Paterno’s resume at Penn State is staggering. He has the most regular season victories (383) and bowl wins (23). Twice, he

for him after returning to the sideline after many thought he would never coach again. PREDICTION Penn State will be pumped with JoePa’s first game on the sideline since September, and the team being solid all-around will give the Trojans fits. Clearly, USC has not faced competition this tough all season, and it will show in the first half. Expect the Nittany Lions to hold a slim lead at halftime, with USC edging it out in a nail-biter. The Trojans will win their fourth Rose Bowl title in six years on a late-game field goal. FINAL SCORE: USC 27, PENN STATE 24

Paul Rodriguez/Orange County Register/MCT

BY PA R I M A L M . RO H IT

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

Campus Circle | 7

TEAM STATS #5 University of Southern California

VS.

11-1, 8-1 Pac-10

#8 Pennsylvania State University 11-1, 7-1 Big10

Rose Bowl Stadium • Pasadena, California • January 1, 2009, 2 p.m.

Dec. 6 Nov. 29 Nov. 15 Nov. 8 Nov. 1 Oct. 25 Oct. 18 Oct. 11 Oct. 4 Sept. 25 Sept. 13 Aug. 30

USC USC USC USC USC USC USC USC USC USC USC USC

The Trojans’ Season 28 UCLA 38 Notre Dame 45 Stanford 17 California 56 Washington 17 Arizona 69 Washington State 28 Arizona State 44 Oregon 21 Oregon State 35 Ohio State 52 Virginia

7 3 23 3 0 10 0 0 10 27 3 7

Away Home Away Home Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Away

Nov. 22 Nov. 15 Nov. 8 Oct. 25 Oct. 18 Oct. 11 Oct. 4 Sept. 27 Sept. 20 Sept. 13 Sept. 6 Aug. 30

Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State

The Nittany Lion’s Season 49 Michigan State 34 Indiana 23 Iowa 13 Ohio State 46 Michigan 48 Wisconsin 20 Purdue 38 Illinois 45 Temple 55 Syracuse 45 Oregon State 66 Coastal Carolina

18 7 24 6 17 7 6 24 3 13 14 10

Home Home Away Away Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Home

USC Team Statistics Statistic SCORING Points Per Game FIRST DOWNS Rushing Passing Penalty RUSHING YARDAGE Yards gained rushing Yards lost rushing Rushing Attempts Average Per Rush Average Per Game TDs Rushing PASSING YARDAGE Att-Comp-Int Average Per Pass Average Per Catch Average Per Game TDs Passing TOTAL OFFENSE Total Plays Average Per Play Average Per Game KICK RETURNS: #-YARDS PUNT RETURNS: #-YARDS INT RETURNS: #-YARDS KICK RETURN AVERAGE PUNT RETURN AVERAGE INT RETURN AVERAGE FUMBLES-LOST PENALTIES-YARDS Average Per Game PUNTS-YARDS Average Per Punt Net Punt Average TIME OF POSSESSION/GAME 3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS 3rd-Down Pct 4TH-DOWN CONVERSIONS 4th-Down Pct SACKS BY-YARDS MISC YARDS TOUCHDOWNS SCORED FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS ON-SIDE KICKS PAT-ATTEMPTS ATTENDANCE Games/Avg Per Game Neutral Site Games SCORE BY QUARTERS USC Opponents

USC 450 37.5 278 122 138 18 2472 2682 210 468 5.3 206 26 2965 353-226-12 8.4 13.1 247.1 32 5437 821 6.6 453.1 21-579 48-390 17-276 27.6 8.1 16.2 21-9 97-888 74 43-1573 36.6 32.8 31:11 70/154 45% 11/18 61% 28-213 0 61 8-12 0-0 60-61 98% 520756 6/86793 0/0 1st 110 41

2nd 148 30

3rd 94 7

Opponent 93 7.8 162 60 76 26 999 1417 418 387 2.6 83.2 7 1474 345-178-17 4.3 8.3 122.8 4 2473 732 3.4 206.1 34-688 12-122 12-81 20.2 10.2 6.8 15-9 72-586 48.8 92-3884 42.2 36.2 28:49 46/173 27% 5/13 38% 17-109 24 11 6-12 0-0 9-10 90% 328546 6/54758

4th 98 15

Total 450 93

Michigan Team Statistics Statistic SCORING Points Per Game FIRST DOWNS Rushing Passing Penalty RUSHING YARDAGE Yards gained rushing Yards lost rushing Rushing Attempts Average Per Rush Average Per Game TDs Rushing PASSING YARDAGE Att-Comp-Int Average Per Pass Average Per Catch Average Per Game TDs Passing TOTAL OFFENSE Total Plays Average Per Play Average Per Game KICK RETURNS: #-YARDS PUNT RETURNS: #-YARDS INT RETURNS: #-YARDS KICK RETURN AVERAGE PUNT RETURN AVERAGE INT RETURN AVERAGE FUMBLES-LOST PENALTIES-YARDS Average Per Game PUNTS-YARDS Average Per Punt Net Punt Average TIME OF POSSESSION/GAME 3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS 3rd-Down Pct 4TH-DOWN CONVERSIONS 4th-Down Pct SACKS BY-YARDS MISC YARDS TOUCHDOWNS SCORED FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS PAT-ATTEMPTS ATTENDANCE Games/Avg Per Game Neutral Site Games SCORE BY QUARTERS Penn State Opponents

UofM 482 40.2 281 130 132 19 2539 2749 210 482 5.3 211.6 35 2887 346-203-4 8.3 14.2 240.6 22 5426 828 6.6 452.2 32-821 25-259 16-199 25.7 10.4 12.4 23-9 40-336 28 38-1583 41.7 36.9 32:02 85/161 53% 5/11 45% 32-194 0 60 20-24 60-60 100% 757775 7/108254

1st 83 31

2nd 182 51

3rd 128 23

Opponent 149 12.4 179 69 101 9 1151 1443 292 395 2.9 95.9 11 2016 364-197-16 5.5 10.2 168 6 3167 759 4.2 263.9 74-1585 11-62 4-64 21.4 5.6 16 17-6 56-504 42 77-3084 40.1 35.6 27:57 53/172 31% 12/22 55% 12-93 0 17 10-13 15-16 94% 360830 5/72166 0/0 4th 89 44

Total 482 149

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

sports

Christopher Weddle/Centre Daily Times/MCT

Lou Eliades (77), Jeremy Boone (41) and Kevin Kelly (23)

Barbara L. Johnston/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT

8 | Campus Circle

Derrick Williams

TEAM ROSTER Barbara L. Johnston/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

Evan Royster

No.

Name

Pos. Yr.

Hometown (High School/JC/College)

No.

Name

Pos. Yr.

Hometown (High School/JC/College)

38 35 28 67 25 94 41 18 83 49 3 76 32 15 17 53 9 81 13 11 88 77 48 27 78 44 20 47 15 20 39 21 5 43 52 29 36 19 23 68 95 73 44 56 33 45 12 40 50 8 26 58 30

Tyler Ahrenhold Jesse Alfreno Drew Astorino Quinn Barham Brandon Beachum Mikel Berry Jeremy Boone Navorro Bowman Brett Brackett Ryan Breen Deon Butler Gerald Cadogan Brent Carter Paul Cianciolo Daryll Clark Chris Colasanti Kevin Cousins Jack Crawford Andrew Dailey Tony Davis Jon Ditto Lou Eliades Maurice Evans Jacob Fagnano Mike Farrell Larry Federoff Devin Fentress Josh Gaines Bani Gbadyu Ryan Gmerek Tom Golarz Stephfon Green Jerome Hayes Josh Hull Brian Irvin Cedric Jeffries Kyle Johnson David Keisling Kevin Kelly Doug Klopacz Abe Koroma Dennis Landolt Kevion Latham Eric Latimore Dan Lawlor Sean Lee Evan Lewis Sean Luchnick Mike Lucian D’Anton Lynn J.D. Mason Pete Massaro Josh Matzkin

S CB S G RB DL P LB WR P WR T TB QB QB LB WR DL LB CB WR T DE DB OL FB WR DE LB S DE RB LB LB LB S S S PK CB DT T DE DE FB LB DB DB G CB WR DL LB

Blue Bell, PA (Chestnut Hill Academy) Grove City, PA (Grove City) Edinboro, PA (General McLane) Durham, NC (Hillside) Youngstown, OH (Cardinal Mooney) Upper Arlington, OH (Upper Arlington) Mechanicsburg, PA (Mechanicsburg Area) District Heights, MD (Suitland) Lawrenceville, NJ (Lawrence) Clarkston, MI (Clarkston) Woodbridge, VA (C.D. Hylton) Portsmouth, OH (Portsmouth) Pottstown, PA (Pottsgrove) Charleston, SC (Fort Dorchester) Youngstown, OH (Ursuline) Leonard, MI (Brother Rice) Richmond, VA (Huguenot) Longport, NJ (St. Augustine) Massillon, OH (Washington) Warren, OH (Howland) Monroeville, PA (Gateway) Ocean, NJ (Ocean Township) Brooklyn, NY (Christ The King) Williamsport, PA (Williamsport) Pittsburgh, PA (Shady Side Academy) Aliquippa, PA (Hopewell) Chesapeake, VA (Western Branch) Ft. Wayne, IN (Northrop) Gaithersburg, MD (Quince Orchard) Houtzdale, PA (Moshannon Valley) Bloomington, IN (North) Bronx, NY (John F. Kennedy) Bayonne, NJ (Bayonne) Millheim, PA (Penn Valley) Orrtanna, PA (Gettysburg) Egg Harbor Township, NJ (Egg Harbor Twp.) Landenberg, PA (Avon Grove) Clarks Summit, PA (Abington Heights) Langhorne, PA (Neshaminy) Hasbrouck Heights, NJ (St. Joseph Regional) Hershey, PA (Milton Hershey) Burlington, NJ (Holy Cross) Greensboro, N.C. (Page) Middletown, DE (Middletown) Mechanicsburg, PA (Cumberland Valley) Pittsburgh, PA (Upper St. Clair) Gettysburg, PA (Gettysburg) Helotes, TX (Sandra Day O’Connor) New Market, MD (Linganore) Celina, TX (Celina) Phillipsburg, PA (Phillipsburg-Osceola) Newtown Square, PA (Marple Newtown) Tampa, FL (Berkeley Prep)

42 84 59 72 16 8 55 11 87 6 24 91 85 64 92 75 40 79 12 14 10 70 22 9 46 10 7 57 82 28 54 51 71 34 37 26 80 60 22 4 74 54 36 1 65 99 86 2 61 33 31 5

Michael Mauti Patrick Mauti Aaron Maybin Nerraw McCormack Shelton McCullough James McDonald Tom McEowen Matthew McGloin Greg Miskinis Derek Moye Jordan Norwood Jared Odrick Ollie Ogbu Rich Ohrnberger Chimaeze Okoli DeOn’tae Pannell Andrew Pitz Ako Poti Chaz Powell A.J. Price Andrew Quarless Andrew Radakovich Evan Royster Mark Rubin Tyrell Sales Lydell Sargeant Anthony Scirrotto A.Q. Shipley Mickey Shuler David Soldner Matt Stanklewitch Jonathan Stewart Devon Still Nathan Stupar Joe Suhey Nick Sukay Andrew Szczerba James Terry Shaine Thompson Knowledge Timmons Johnnie Troutman James Van Fleet Collin Wagner A.J. Wallace J.B. Walton Brandon Ware Mark Wedderburn Derrick Williams Stefen Wisniewski Michael Yancich Michael Zordich Graham Zug

LB WR DE T CB WR DT QB TE WR WR DT DT G DT T LS T WR WR TE OL TB S LB CB S C TE K OL DE DT LB TB S TE OL LB S G LB K CB G DT TE WR G LB LB WR

Mandeville, LA (Mandeville) Mandeville, LA (Mandeville) Ellicott City, MD (Mount Hebron) Bronx, NY (Nassau CC) Randallstown, MD (Randallstown) Washington, D.C. (Dunbar SAS) Feasterville, PA (Neshaminy) Scranton, PA (West Scranton) Lewistown, PA (Indian Valley) Rochester, PA (Rochester) State College, PA (State College Area) Lebanon, PA (Lebanon) Staten Island, NY (Milford Academy) East Meadow, NY (East Meadow) Virginia Beach, VA (Salem) Southfield, MI (Groves) Bettendorf, IA (Bettendorf) Daly City, CA (City College of San Francisco) New Freedom, PA (Susquehannock) Reston, VA (South Lakes) Uniondale, NY (Uniondale) Steubenville, OH (Steubenville) Fairfax, VA (Westfield) Amherst, NY (Amherst) Butler, PA (Butler) Lompoc, CA (Cabrillo) West Deptford, NJ (West Deptford) Coraopolis, PA (Moon Area) Enola, PA (East Pennsboro) Lititz, PA (Manheim Township) Orwigsburg, PA (Blue Mountain) North Huntingdon, PA (Norwin) Wilmington, DE (Howard) State College, PA (State College Area) Deerfield, IL (Loyola Academy) Mt. Pleasant, PA (Greensburg Central Catholic) Wilmington, DE (Salesianum) New Castle, DE (Brandywine) Bronx, NY (John F. Kennedy) York, PA (William Penn) Brown Mills, NJ (Pemberton Township) Williamsport, Pa (Loyalsock) State College, PA (State College Area) Waldorf, MD (McDonough) Indian Head, MD (Lackey) Harrisburg, PA (Harrisburg) Upper Darby, PA (Cardinal O’Hara) Greenbelt, MD (Eleanor Roosevelt) Bridgeville, PA (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) Washington, PA (Trinity) Canfield, OH (Cardinal Mooney) Manheim, PA (Manheim Central)

Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So.

Fr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. So.

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

Campus Circle | 9

sports

Brian Cushing

USC Sports Information

Rey Maualuga

TEAM ROSTER

USC Sports Information

Fili Moala

USC TROJANS

USC Sports Information

No.

Name

Pos.

Yr.

Hometown (High School/JC/College)

No.

Name

Pos.

38 94 9 89 30 40 21 71 52 1 18 83 53 46 23 37 80 91 87 72 38 15 45 46 10 59 4 40 38 2 54 57 73 45 29 14 93 25 7 98 26 28 31 7 74 92 77 41 78 23 96 30 76 97 8

Tyler Ahrenhold Armstead, Armond Ausberry, David Ayles, Blake Baucham, Brian Boyer, Robbie Bradford, Allen Brown, Charles Brown, Luthur Bryant, T.J. Buehler, David Butler, Brice Byers, Jeff Calcagnie, Sean Cameron, Jordan Campbell, Jordan Carswell, Brandon Casey, Jurrell Cavignac, Preston Coleman, Martin Congdon, Jordan Corp, Aaron Crittenden, Omari Cumming, Ross Cushing, Brian Deckas, Dan Ellison, Kevin Ellison, Rhett Erickson, Robert Gable, C.J. Galippo, Chris Garratt, Nick Gatena, Steve Goodman, Adam Green, Broderick Green, Garrett Griffen, Everson Harper, Daniel Harris, Cary Harris, DaJohn Harris, Will Hart, Justin Havili, Stanley Hazelton, Vidal Heberer, Zack Henderson, Trey Herring, Thomas Hillier, Matt Holmes, Khaled Horton, Shane Horton, Wes Houston, Joe Howell, Nick Jackson, Malik Johnson, Ronald

S DT WR TE CB WR TB OT LB CB PK WR OG-C WR WR LB WR DT WR OG-OT PK QB CB LB LB LB S TE S TB LB LB C-OT FB TB QB-WR DE CB CB TE-DT S S FB WR OG DE OG FB OG S DE PK OT DE WR

Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. So. So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. So.

Blue Bell, PA (Chestnut Hill Academy) Sacramento, CA (Pleasant Grove) Lemoore, CA (Lemoore) Orange, CA (Orange Lutheran) Torrance, CA (West Torrance) Newport Beach, CA (Mater Dei) San Bernardino, CA (Colton) Chino Hills, CA (Diamond Ranch) Lakewood, CA (Lakewood) Tallahassee, FL (Lincoln) Anaheim (Canyon/Santa Ana JC) Norcross, GA (Norcross) Fort Collins, CO (Loveland) Coto de Caza, CA (Tesoro) Newbury Park, CA (Newbury Park/BYU/Ventura JC) Corona, CA (Norco) Milpitas, CA (Milpitas) Long Beach, CA (Poly) San Diego, CA (Francis Parker) Huntington Beach, CA (Edison) San Diego, CA (St. Augustine/Nebraska) Villa Park, CA (Orange Lutheran) Modesto, CA (Johansen/Modesto JC) Laguna Niguel, CA (Santa Margarita/Naval Academy Prep) Park Ridge, NJ (Bergen Catholic) Edina, MN (Edina) Inglewood, CA (Redondo Union) Portola Valley, CA (St. Francis) Ojai, CA (Nordhoff) Sylmar, CA (Sylmar) Corona, CA (Servite) South Lake Tahoe, CA (South Tahoe) Westlake Village, CA (Westlake, Air Force/UC Davis) Huntington Beach, CA (Edison/Saddleback CC) Little Rock, AR (Pulaski Academy) Chatsworth, CA (Notre Dame) Avondale, AZ (Agua Fria) Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Damien) Pacoima, CA (Notre Dame) Inglewood, CA (Serra) Covina, CA (Charter Oak) West Covina, CA (South Hills) Salt Lake City, UT (Cottonwood) New York, NY (Hargrave Military Academy) San Pedro, CA (San Pedro) Vancouver, B.C. (Vancouver College) Los Angeles, CA (Fremont) La Canada, CA (Loyola/Pasadena CC) Santa Ana, CA (Mater Dei) Chatsworth, CA (Notre Dame, UNLV) Chatsworth, CA (Notre Dame) Redondo Beach, CA (Mira Costa/El Camino JC) Fresno, CA (Bullard) Northridge, CA (Birmingham) Muskegon, MI (Muskegon)

13 27 48 75 35 68 43 9 50 47 58 2 19 19 86 4 49 22 66 88 75 84 17 16 28 64 61 25 56 17 8 36 62 67 6 10 90 6 70 99 34 42 85 82 15 44 1 26 81 81 79 18 44 24

Johnson, Stafon TB Jones, Marshall S Jordan, Matthew CB Kalil, Matt OT Kaveinga, Uona LB Lewis, Butch OT Maiava, Kaluka LB Manoogian, John QB Markowitz, Abe C Matthews, Clay LB-DE Maualuga, Rey LB Mays, Taylor S McCaffery, Chris QB McAllister, Drew S McCoy, Anthony TE McKnight, Joe TB McMahon, Ryan S McNeal, Curtis TB Meyer, Matt OG Miller, Jimmy TE Moala, Fili DT Moore, Kyle DE Morgan, Michael LB Mustain, Mitch QB Ness, Drew WR Nolan, Garrett C-OG O’Dowd, Kristofer C O’Malley, Billy P Parsons, Alex OT-C-OG Patterson, Travon WR Perry, Nick DE Pinkard, Josh S-CB Pousson, Chris SNP Reardon, Michael OT-C Sanchez, Mark QB Shoemate, D.J. FB-WR Simmons, Derek OG Smith, Malcolm LB Smith, Tyron OT Spicer, Averell DT Spiegel, Spencer S Stephens, Scott WR Stephenson, Cooper SNP-TE Sylvester, Duron WR Thomas, Kevin CB Tupou, Christian DT Turner, Patrick WR Tyler, Marc TB Vigoren, Spencer WR Washington, Gerald DE Weiss, Andrew DE Williams, Damian WR Woidneck, Greg P Wright, Shareece CB

Yr.

Hometown (High School/JC/College)

Jr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Sr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr.

Compton, CA (Dorsey) Agoura Hills, CA (Oaks Christian) Los Angeles, CA (Campbell Hall) Corona, CA (Servite) Hawthorne, CA (Leuzinger) Denver, CO (Regis Jesuit) Wailuku, HI (Baldwin) Los Angeles, CA (Windward) Hawaii Kai, HI (Punahou) Agoura Hills, CA (Agoura) Eureka, CA (Eureka) Seattle, WA (O’Dea) Hillsborough, CA (St. Ignatius) Danville, CA (Monte Vista) Fresno, CA (Bullard) River Ridge, LA (John Curtis) Diamond Bar, CA (Damien) Los Angeles, CA (Venice) Stockton, CA (Lincoln) Thousand Oaks, CA (Westlake) Buena Park, CA (Western) Kathleen, GA (Houston County) Dallas, TX (Skyline) Springdale, AR (Springdale/Arkansas) San Diego, CA (Westview) Northridge, CA (Chaminade/Holy Cross/Moorpark JC) Tucson, AZ (Salpointe Catholic) Novelty, OH (St. Ignatius) Irvine, CA (Woodbridge) Long Beach, CA (Poly) Detroit, MI (King) Oxnard, CA (Hueneme) San Diego, CA (Hueneme) Anaheim, CA (Orange Lutheran) Mission Viejo, CA (Mission Viejo) Mira Loma (Servite) Suisun, CA (Armijo) Northridge, CA (Taft) Moreno Valley, CA (Rancho Verde) Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Rancho Cucamonga) Los Angeles, CA (Harvard-Westlake) Pasadena, CA (St. Francis) San Diego, CA (Torrey Pines) Los Angeles, CA (Westchester) Oxnard, CA (Rio Mesa) Sacramento, CA (Grant) Nashville, TN (Goodpasture) Lancaster, CA (Oaks Christian) Dana Point, CA (Dana Hills) Vallejo, CA (Vallejo/Chaffey JC) San Marino, CA (San Marino/Pasadena CC/UCD) Springdale, AR (Springdale/Arkansas) Brea, CA (Brea Olinda/Arizona State/Mt. San Antonio JC) Colton, CA (Colton)

10 | Campus Circle

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

sports

DEC. 24

at quarterback. Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill (1,021 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns) and John Clay (845 yards, 9 touchdowns) are a difficult tandem to stop and will be the difference makers in the game. PICK: Wisconsin

DEC. 26 MOTOR CITY BOWL Florida Atlantic (6-6) vs. Central Michigan (8-4) Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. 4: 30 p.m., ESPN Quarterbacks Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic) and Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan) will bring a lot of fireworks to this game, so expect a high scoring one. Smith led the Sun Belt in passing with 2,918 yards and 22 touchdowns, but he needs to keep his interception total low if he wants to lead his team to victory. LeFevour

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Contra Costa Times/MCT

HAWAII BOWL Hawaii (7-6) vs. Notre Dame (6-6) Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii 5 p.m., ESPN Hawaii’s offensive line is among the weakest in the nation, and it showed – the Warriors’ running game is ranked 108th in the nation. While they are not the same team led by Colt Brennan last season, the Fighting Irish are not exactly stiff competition, and the Warriors would like to beat a top-flight program like Notre Dame on their home turf. PICK: Hawaii

2008-09 COLLEGE Twenty-Eight Bowl Games from Dec. 24 to Jan.8

MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL West Virginia (8-4) vs. North Carolina (84) Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. 10 a.m., ESPN Bowl-inexperienced North Carolina faces off against a West Virginia team that has two BCS wins in the last four years. Yet, the Tar Heels blew out two Big East bowl-bound teams in Connecticut and Rutgers. The Mountaineers will try to rally behind quarterback Pat White, California’s Jahvid Best will try to out step the Hurricanes in who is playing in his the Emerald Bowl. final game for West Virginia. Yet, the Tar Heels are EMERALD BOWL playing in their own backyard. Miami (Fla.) (7-5) vs. California (8-4) PICK: North Carolina AT&T Park at San Francisco, Calif. 5 p.m., ESPN

Led by Corey Wootton, Northwestern’s defense will try to stop Mizzou’s explosive offense, which was among the nation’s top six in total yards, passing yards and point scored. Stopping that offense will not be easy. PICK: Missouri

DEC. 30 HOLIDAY BOWL No. 13 Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. No. 17 Oregon (9-3) Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif. 5 p.m., ESPN Both teams feature top 10 offenses

TEXAS BOWL Western Michigan (9-3) vs. Rice (9-3) Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas 5 p.m., NFL Network Rice was granted home field advantage for its first bowl game since 1954. Western Michigan’s pass defense was ranked 96th in the country, which should be a delight for Owls receivers James Casey and Jarrett Dillard, the only wideout duo to average 100 yards receiving each game. PICK: Rice

DEC. 31

DEC. 28

Rashaun Rucker/Detroit Free Press/MCT

DEC. 29

Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour is set to throw a winning game against Florida Atlantic.

was also impressive, completing 66.4 percent of his passes for 2,531 yards and 19 touchdowns. PICK: Central Michigan

DEC. 27 CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL Wisconsin (7-5) vs. Florida St. (8-4) Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, Fla. 1:30 p.m., ESPN Both teams have a solid running game, and both teams had struggles

The Emerald Bowl will be decided in the trenches. California has a talented yet injury-laden offensive line. Behind that line is the savvy running back Jahvid Best. However, the Miami defensive front is young and energetic. If that line can improve its run-defense, Miami may have a chance. Yet, Best will be hard to slow down, especially in a virtual home game for Cal. PICK: California

PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL North Carolina State (6-6) vs. Rutgers (7-5) Legion Field at the University of Alabama Birmingham Noon, ESPN2 This year was a tale of two seasons for both teams – Rutgers started 15 while NC State was a measly 2-6 entering the season. But the Wolf Pack won its final four games, including two against ranked opponents. Rutgers averaged 46 points per game and blew out opponents by an average of 29 points in its last five games. PICK: Rutgers ALAMO BOWL No. 21 Missouri (9-4) vs. No. 23 Northwestern (9-3) Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas 5 p.m., ESPN

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Contra Costa Times/MCT

INDEPENDENCE BOWL Louisiana Tech (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6) Independence Stadium, Shreveport, La. 5:15 p.m., ESPN Neither team has much bowl-game experience, with Northern Illinois fresh off a two-win season in 2007 and Louisiana Tech playing in its first bowl game since 2001. Tech is on a roll, winning five of its last seven games. Both teams have weak passing games, but Tech has a stronger ground game that will make the difference. PICK: Louisiana Tech Oregon’s Jeremiah Masoli looks for a Holiday Bowl win against Oklahoma State.

and weak defenses. However, Oklahoma State’s trio of Zach Robinson, Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter will probably trump Oregon’s Jeremiah Masoli in a game that is expected to be a shootout. PICK: Oklahoma State HUMANITARIAN BOWL Maryland (7-5) vs. Nevada (7-5) Bronco Stadium at Boise State University, Idaho 1:30 p.m., ESPN2 Nevada has the nation’s secondbest ground game, averaging 291.4 yards per game behind Vai Taua and dual threat Colin Kaepernick (WAC Offensive Player of the Year). Conversely, Maryland’s offense has been erratic this season and averages just 20 points per game. PICK: Nevada

ARMED FORCES BOWL Air Force (8-4) vs. Houston (7-5) Amon G. Carter Stadium at TCU, Fort Worth, Texas 9:30 a.m., ESPN Houston’s total offense and passing game were both ranked No. 1 in the nation, with Case Keenum (4,768 passing yards, 43 touchdowns) leading the way. However, Air Force’s fifth-ranked running game can slow a game down, but it will not be enough to defeat the Cougars. PICK: Houston CHICK-FIL-A BOWL LSU (7-5) vs. No. 14 Georgia Tech (9-3) Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga. 4:30 p.m., ESPN The Tigers have a respectable triple threat in Jarrett Lee, Charles Scott and Brandon LaFell, but Louisiana

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

B Y PA R I M A L M . R O H I T

Bob Snow/Macon Telegraph/MCT

on their defense to slow the Cornhuskers, though their healthier-than-normal offensive line will help. Will Clemson ride the wave of a just placed coaching staff? Or will Joe Ganz (3,332 passing yards, 23 touchdowns) lead Nebraska to victory? PICK: Nebraska

Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer runs toward a Chick-fil-A Bowl victory.

State is nowhere near the championship form of last season. Also, the Tigers’ defense will struggle to stop Jonathan Dwyer, who was instrumental to Georgia Tech’s third-ranked ground game. PICK: Georgia Tech INSIGHT BOWL Kansas (7-5) vs. Minnesota (7-5) Sun Devil Stadium at ASU, Tempe, Ariz. 2:30 p.m., NFL Network Kansas has a relatively potent offense, led by junior quarterback Todd Reesing (3,575 yards, 28 touchdowns). The Jayhawks also enter the game on a high, defeating Mizzou in the season finale after losing four of its previous five. However, Minnesota is trying to forget its 55-0 season-finale loss to Iowa. PICK: Kansas MUSIC CITY BOWL LP Field at Nashville, Tenn. No. 24 Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt University (6-6) 12:30 p.m., ESPN Both teams allowed 241 points, yet Vanderbilt will have to overcome its anemic offense (19.4 points per game) to have a chance to win. Thankfully, Boston College’s offense is not much better. However, if Boston College can score at least 30 points, they are nearly unstoppable, losing only once since 2001 when passing that mark. PICK: Boston College SUN BOWL Oregon State (8-4) vs. No. 20

Pittsburgh (9-3) Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas 11 a.m., CBS Both teams have solid running games that will keep the defense on its heels. However, Oregon State’s Lyle Moevao has more options in the secondary and has thrown for 10 more touchdowns than his counterpart, Pittsburgh’s Bill Stull. PICK: Oregon State

JAN. 1, 2009 CAPITAL ONE BOWL No. 15 Georgia (9-3) vs. No. 18 Michigan State (9-3) Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla. 10 a.m., ABC Georgia (Knowshon Moreno) and Michigan State (Javon Ringer) feature top-notch running backs, with each back finishing 16th and third in the nation in rushing average, respectively. However, Georgia’s Matthew Stafford put up impressive numbers compared to his Michigan State counterpart, Brian Hoyer. If Stafford and Moreno step up, Georgia should win. PICK: Georgia GATOR BOWL Clemson (7-5) vs. Nebraska (8-4) Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla. 10 a.m., CBS Nebraska brings a top 20 offense to the Gator Bowl, but Clemson’s defense allowed just 16.6 points per game. The Tigers need to rely

ORANGE BOWL 19 Virginia Tech (9-4) vs. 12 Cincinnati (11-2) Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Fla. 5 p.m., Fox Cincinnati overcame several key injuries to win the conference title. The Bearcats, who started five different quarterbacks, need to rely upon Tony Pike to lead them to victory. If it is close, Cincinnati is tested; they won six games by eight points or less. Running back Darren Evans (1,112 yards, 10 touchdowns) needs to be on his game for Virginia Tech to have a chance to win. Pick: Cincinnati OUTBACK BOWL South Carolina (7-5) vs. Iowa (84) Raymond James Stadium at Tampa, Fla. 8 a.m., ESPN Iowa running back Shonn Greene will dominate this game, as his 1,729 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground shadow all other individual statistics for both teams. South Carolina’s offense is relatively anemic, scoring just 21.7 points per game, compared to 30.3 points per game for Iowa. PICK: Iowa ROSE BOWL No. 8 Penn State (11-1) vs. No. 5 USC (11-1) Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. 2 p.m., ABC See the Campus Circle “Road to the Rose Bowl” feature on page 6 of this issue. PICK: USC

JAN. 2, 2009 COTTON BOWL No. 25 Mississippi (8-4) vs. No. 7 Texas Tech (11-1) Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas 11 a.m., FOX Texas Tech’s potent offense finished fourth in the nation in total yards, second in passing yards and fourth in points scored. Quarterback Graham Harrell may be slowed by recent surgery, but receiver Michael Crabtree should

sports help the Red Raider aerial attack. The question is whether Jevan Snead, who was a backup with Texas last season, will prove he is worthy of being a big game starter. PICK: Texas Tech LIBERTY BOWL Kentucky (6-6) vs. East Carolina (9-4) Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tenn. 2 p.m., ESPN Both teams are relatively equal on

home game for the Bulls. PICK: Buffalo

JAN. 5, 2009 FIESTA BOWL No. 10 Ohio State (10-2) vs. No. 3 Texas (11-1) University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. 5 p.m., FOX Texas ranks in the top 10 in all four major offensive categories. Quarterback Colt McCoy will be out to prove he should have won the Heisman

Sharon M. Steinman/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT

BOWL PREVIEW

Campus Circle | 11

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy guns for a Fiesta Bowl victory.

paper, but Kentucky comes into the Liberty Bowl slumping, losing four of its final five games. The Tigers, conversely, are riding high after claiming the Conference USA title. The time off may help Kentucky regroup, though. PICK: Kentucky SUGAR BOWL No. 6 Utah (12-0) vs. No. 4 Alabama (12-1) Superdome, New Orleans, La. 5 p.m., FOX Alabama settles for the Sugar Bowl after losing its regular-season finale. Both teams have stellar defenses, but if Alabama’s Glen Coffee can maintain a solid running attack, the Crimson Tide may redeem its one loss and defeat a solid Utah team. PICK: Alabama

JAN. 3, 2009 INTERNATIONAL BOWL Buffalo (8-5) vs. Connecticut (7-5) Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Noon, ESPN2 Two bowl game newbies, Connecticut features the nation’s top rusher (Donald Brown, 1,822 yards, 17 touchdowns) and a tough defense. Buffalo, conversely, scored at least 30 points in seven games this season and features a 3,091-yard passer (Drew Willy) and a 1,308yard rusher (James Starks). Even if the Huskies defense slows both Willy and Starks, their offense may not be able to keep up in a virtual

Trophy and his team should have been in Miami Jan. 8. PICK: Texas

JAN. 6, 2009 GMAC BOWL Tulsa (10-3) vs. No. 22 Ball State (12-1) Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala. 5 p.m., ESPN The GMAC Bowl may be the best nonBCS game on the docket, as it features two of the nation’s top 15 offenses and two standout quarterbacks. While Tulsa ranks second in the nation in total offense and points scored, how will it fare against a Ball State defense that allowed less than 19 points per game? Ball State will be motivated to win its first-ever bowl game. PICK: Ball State

JAN. 8, 2009 BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME No. 2 Florida (12-1) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma (12-1) Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Fla. 5 p.m., FOX The last two Heisman winners face off in what should be a doozy of a championship game. Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford leads the nation’s highest scoring team, which scored at least 61 points in each of the last five games. On the other side, Tim Tebow will have a chip on his shoulder, as he lost the Heisman to Bradford despite having more first-place votes. However, the Sooners’ running game may prove too much for Florida. PICK: Oklahoma

12 | Campus Circle

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

sports

PENN STATE COACH

Penn State head coach Joe Paterno

THE ROSE BOWL IS CALLED “The Granddaddy of Them All” as far as college football bowl games are concerned. If that’s the case, then Pennsylvania State University football coach Joe Paterno could be called the “The Granddaddy of Them All” as far as coaches are concerned. Paterno, 82, will face USC in the Rose Bowl for his record-breaking 35th bowl game. Like his USC opponent, “JoePa” as he’s known around the college football circles, came within a win of possibly

playing for the national championship. The Nittany Lions were ranked as high as third in the nation with a 9-0 record. But the dream of a shot at Paterno’s third (and maybe last) national title ended on a last second field goal in a 24-23 loss to Iowa Nov. 8. So now, Paterno and the Big 10 champion Nittany Lions, who finished eighth in the BCS regular season poll, play USC in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1. It is the first time the two have met in the New Year’s Day game

since 1923 when the Trojans won 143 and Paterno was three-years-old. In 42 years as the head coach at Penn State, the feisty Paterno, with his trademark goggle-type glasses, hasn’t missed a step – sort of. On Nov. 23 Paterno underwent hip replacement surgery and was released from the hospital just two days later. He injured his hip while demonstrating an onside kick to his players in practice in August and spent most of the season coaching from the press box. Paterno is the winningest coach in Football Bowl Series (formally Division I) history with 383 wins. His resume reads like no one else’s in college sports. After all, he has been successful since he became the head coach of the Nittany Lions during the Lyndon Johnson administration in 1966. Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, Paterno’s record of 383-126-3 includes two national championships in 1982 and 1986. He has five undefeated, untied

seasons (1968, 1969, 1973, 1986 and 1994) and a record 23 bowl victories, including the 1994 Rose Bowl where the Nittany Lions went undefeated and finished second in the nation. Among his numerous Coach of the Year awards, Paterno was the first college football coach to be named “Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated magazine in 1986. His teams have finished in the Top 10 21 times. Paterno is the only coach to have won all the major bowls (Sugar, Fiesta, Rose, Orange, Sugar – as well as the Cotton Bowl) at least once. Paterno is 4-4 against USC. The last time the two played was during the regular season in 2000 when the Trojans won 29-5. Paterno’s last win against the Trojans was in 1996 by a score of 24-7. But with all of his success, Paterno has received plenty of criticism, too. Most of the criticism recently has been about his age and how college football today has past him by according to some of the “experts” in the game. There have

USC COACH

BY KEVIN HUNTER been demands for years from those inside and outside of Penn State for Paterno to retire. But Paterno shrugs off the criticism the best way he can – by winning. He says he plans on coaching as long as Penn State allows him to and has no immediate plans to retire. He even jokes that he could coach for another 10 years. “I don’t even care if I get a contract. I’ll be very frank with you,” Paterno told the Associated Press in March. “I think the university will do what they think is right, whenever the time comes. Right now, I’m very comfortable.” And just to emphasize his point about his good health, his love for the game, Penn State and his willingness to coach, Paterno made it clear that not only would he coach in the Rose Bowl, but he would do it from the sideline as well. He even went on to indicate that he would run out of the tunnel with his team when it faces USC on New Year’s Day.

USC head coach Pete Carroll

PETE CARROLL BY KEVIN HUNTER SINCE THE DAY the USC Trojans football team was upset by the Oregon State Beavers Sept. 25, Coach Pete Carroll has been openly critical and questioning how the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) works and why he thinks USC has gotten a raw deal all season long as far as moving up in the rankings and reaching the BCS game. During a press conference in November Carroll summed up his feelings saying the system “stinks.” “I don’t understand how the thing works,” Carroll said. “What is the criteria of the process? Is it to pick the team that has the best season, that has the season that you like the most and feel best about voting for? Or is it the best team at the end of the year, the team that would win a playoff system if you did have it?” The loss to Oregon State was the Trojans’ only one of the season as they finished 11-1. They were one of eight teams in the top 25 with one loss, but the Trojans finished fifth in

the regular season rankings after winning the Pacific-10 title for a record seventh consecutive year. Carroll’s complaint about not playing for the national championship and the stinky system is nothing new and may be justified. After all, Carroll and the Trojans think they should play for the national championship every year. That’s part of Carroll’s mentality, and he shares that with his teams each year. Carroll has brought the Trojans back to college football dominance. His teams have such confidence and swagger that he was willing to forfeit a timeout at the beginning of the UCLA game at the Rose Bowl Dec. 6, just so the Trojans could wear their dark cardinal jerseys. USC won the game against its cross-town rival 28-7. Carroll is 3-1 in Rose Bowl games and 5-1 in BCS bowl games, including the 2004 national championship in the Orange Bowl, and an Associated Press National

Championship in 2003. Since arriving at USC in 2001 after a less than stellar stint as an NFL coach, Carroll has returned the Trojans to national prominence. After finishing 6-6 in his first year, USC has finished no lower than fifth in the national polls. Carroll has won numerous Coach of the Year awards and three Pac-10 Coach of the Year awards. This year ESPN even called USC’s hiring of Carroll the No. 1 top moment in the Pac-10 in the BCS Era. Carroll’s record at USC going into the 2009 Rose Bowl is 87-15 overall and 57-10 in conference play. He has the highest winning percentage of any current coach in the Football Bowl Series (formally Division I) with at least five years of experience. That puts him in great company alongside Florida State’s Bobby Bowden, Texas’ Mack Brown, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops and his opponent in the Rose Bowl, Joe Paterno. His seven BCS game appearances

Ralph Lauer/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/KRT

Barbara L. Johnston/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT

JOE PATERNO

and five BCS wins are national records along with a record 33 consecutive weeks as the Associated Press’ No. 1 team. Carroll has coached 30 All-Americans and three Heisman Trophy winners (Carson Palmer, 2002; Matt Leinart, 2004; Reggie Bush, 2005). Another Rose Bowl victory could not only seal Carroll’s legacy at USC, but it could also signal an end. The NFL is always calling, and one wonders when Carroll will finally

accept the call and take up some needy team’s offer to coach. But in the meantime, Carroll will try continue to figure out the whole BCS mess and prepare his team for another big Rose Bowl game in front of tens of thousands of USC faithful and perhaps come back and make another run at a national title next year. And if Carroll stays at USC a little while longer he can kill two birds with one stone.

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

inner circle

2009 ROSE PARADE A Not-to-Miss Annual Tradition BY LAUREN BRODSKY he Rose Bowl, often dubbed America’s stadium, will hold the 95th Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1, 2009. However, this legendary game is not the only attraction on New Year’s Day in Southern California … the annual and always extravagant Rose Parade kicks off the game each year with floats, equestrians, bands, the beautiful Rose Court, the Grand Marshal and much more. This Rose Bowl tradition began all the way back in 1890 when the first Tournament of Roses was staged by members of Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club who wanted to show off their blooming flowers and fruit in California’s mild winter weather. Over the years the festival expanded to include floats and equestrians, and in 1902 a football game was added to enhance the festivities. The first ever postseason college football game was held in the stadium, and Michigan demolished Stanford University 49-0. Today, the Tournament of Roses has been

prepare for the days festivities,” Denecke says. The elaborate parade of hundreds of floral floats, talented marching bands and historical equestrians walk a five-and-a-half mile route around Pasadena before the game. The floats have come a long way since the inception of the Tournament of Roses in 1890. Today float building is a multi-million dollar business and float construction begins immediately after the previous year’s parade finishes. With the technological advancement of computerized animation, floats these days have life-size King Kong figures walking and float animals dancing through the streets. The Tournament of Roses committee approximates that each float is decorated with more flowers than the average florist will use in five years. Applications for floats to be used in the parade are usually accepted more than a year in advance. Each year one float gets the honor of carrying the Royal Court including the Rose

Campus Circle | 13

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DEC. 24, 2008 - JAN. 6, 2009 • VOL. 18

ISSUE 49 • campuscircle.com

FILM IN LOS ANGELES Derek Luke and Jamal Woolard in Notorius

10 FILMS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN ’09 BY ZACH HINES Sometimes it’s hard to really ascertain whether a year at the movies was a good or bad year because the bad films generally outnumber the good ones. Here are 10 of the candidates

Notorious (Fox Searchlight)

Bruno (Universal)

Director: George Tillman Jr. Cast: Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, Derek Luke Finally, the story of the Notorious B.I.G. will be immortalized on film. The film chronicles the Brooklyn MC’s struggles as a drug dealer to more struggles as a superstar recording artist. This looks like it could be the first hip-hop biopic that will be able stand among the ranks of films like Ray, What’s Love Got to Do With It and Walk the Line.

Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen After the hilarious, tear-inducing Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen is bringing another one of the his beloved characters to the screen from his hit HBO show “Da Ali G Show.” While Borat was a clueless foreigner, Bruno is a clueless gay fashionista. Some of the hallmarks of the character are putting homophobic people in homoerotic situations and watching them freak out, and getting people to inadvertently insult other peoples’ clothes. I expect this one to be another hit for Cohen.

Star Trek (Paramount) Terminator Salvation Director: J.J. Abrams (Warner Bros.) Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Director: McG Eric Bana Cast: Christian Bale, Bryce Dallas Not exactly a reboot of the long Howard, Common running franchise; rather another Salvation is the fourth film in the ‘entry.’ The new film goes back Christian Bale stars to when James T. Kirk and as John Connor Spock were just getting their in Terminator feet wet and about to become Salvation. the crew of the S.S. Enterprise. I love films that go back and realize the beginnings of iconic characters (assuming it’s done well). Sherlock Holmes

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Twentieth Century Fox) Director: Gavin Hood Cast: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds What made the X-Men films difficult was the balancing act of having so many characters to develop. Now, Marvel is breaking it down and trying out giving individual characters their own films. Hugh Jackman reprises his role from the ensemble films as Wolverine, and in this piece, we get to see the origin of the character straight from the comics. This film is supposed to have happened before the X-Men films, so it’ll be interesting to see how everything adds up and/or if there are things that conflict.

Benicio Del Toro stars as Lawrence Talbot who becomes the wolf man and also perfectly cast, while Hugo Weaving plays the detective on his trail. And Anthony Hopkins is always perfectly cast.

Where The Wild Things Are (Warner Bros.) Director: Spike Jonze Cast: Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini This film is an adaptation of a children’s book of the same name that was not only a favorite of mine when I was young but also lots of other youngsters. It tells the story of Max, a young boy who ventures into a mystical land and makes friends with big hulking monsters. This film has been pushed back again and again, most likely due to the clash between Spike Jonze’s filmmaking and the studio’s “Show me the money!” principles. Either way, hopefully it won’t get pushed back anymore, and we can see a cut of the film that satisfies everyone.

Avatar (Twentieth Century Fox) Director: James Cameron Cast: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez Back from hiatus, director James Cameron is making movies again, and the guy has some kind of chip on his shoulder where he just can’t

The film follows the story of a marine who crash-lands on an alien planet and becomes friends with the natives. After the planet becomes the target of an invasion from Earth, the marine leads the natives into battle to defend it. Apparently, Cameron and his crew have invented all sorts of 3D cameras and visual effects for this film. Once they start putting out trailers and we get a glimpse at what they’ve created, I’m sure the firestorm of hype will really get underway.

Watchmen (Warner Bros.) Director: Zack Snyder Cast: Billy Crudup, Carla Gugino, Jeffrey Dean Morgan What can be said? Unless something surprises us and is too brilliant for words, this is definitely set to be the movie of the year. NonWatchmen fans have no idea what this film means. Watchmen is considered by the majority of comic book and film fans as the greatest comic of all time. Everything from the characters, story and artwork to the setting, themes and moral dilemmas transcends comic books. Watchmen is a work of literary art. The project has been in development for years, but nobody had really figured out how to do it.

Watchmen’s Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach

The Wolf Man

Richard Foreman

(Warner Bros.) Director: Guy Ritchie Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams Stepping out of his comfort zone of gangster flicks, director Guy Ritchie’s take on the British detective is definitely going to be an exciting moment. With Downey Jr. in the title role fresh off hitting a game-winning grand slam with Iron Man, I anticipate this film doing very well.

Terminator franchise and the second one to not be under the helm of James Cameron. The first two films are not only my favorites, but are considered two of the best science fiction films of all time. Although the trailer looks promising, I’m still not totally convinced. I think the idea of setting it in the future is definitely the best way to go, but I can’t help but wonder what Cameron would have done. What’s keeping me enthusiastic about this project is the involvement of Christian Bale. That man has proven he knows a good script, so I’m willing to put my feelings aside and be open to the movie.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures TM & © DC Comics

Phil Caruso

for 2009 to be among the films that turn those frowns upside down.

(Universal) Director: Joe Johnston Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving A remake of the classic tale of a man who is bitten by a werewolf only to become one himself. Perfectly cast,

seem to make a movie without trying to re-write the book on special effects.

Enter director Zack Snyder. From the trailers and previews it looks as if he’s nailed it, so fans can rest easy.

A HANDS-DOWN, WATCH-IT“THREE-TIMES-IN-A-ROW MASTERPIECE.” MICK LASALLE

Performances Of The Year “TwoIn OfOneTheOfBest The Best Films Of The Year!” Flawless. A Deeply Heartfelt Work That “ Raises The Bar Of Filmmaking To Exhilarating Heights.” “The Best American Drama Of The Year!” ROGER EBERT

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16 | Campus Circle

film

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

holiday film guide

’TIS THE SEASON TO SEE MOVIES

Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo rich, is now a Drew Barrymore-produced movie starring Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ben Affleck, Justin Long, Kevin Connolly, Jennifer Connelly, and – wait for it – Kris Kristofferson. Basically, all you really need to know is that a hardline advice guy falls for a woman who seeks him out because she can’t figure out the men in her life. Oh, and that it marks the (commercial) return of Wilson Cruz!

DEC. 25

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount) A real treat, this highly anticipated film from director David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac) and writer Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Good Shepherd), is adapted from the F. Scott

his job and his daughter, whose wedding he has flown to in London, when she chooses to have her stepfather walk her down the aisle instead of him. As he drowns his sorrows in the airport bar, he strikes up a conversation with Kate (Emma Thompson), whose life is limited to work, the occasional humiliating blind date and endless phone calls from her smothering mother, and passion blooms.

Merrick Morton

Revolutionary Road

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Fitzgerald story about a man (Brad Pitt) who is born in his 80s and ages backwards, from 1918 New Orleans into present time. Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng and Taraji P. Henson costar.

Marley & Me (20th Century Fox) An ambitious reporter (Owen Wilson) and his wife (Jennifer Aniston), also a reporter, move to Florida, buy a house and adopt Marley, a Labrador puppy that is difficult, untrainable and, apparently, teaches them important life lessons.

The Spirit (Lionsgate) Writer/director Frank Miller (Sin City), does what he does best – it’s not for everybody – and adapts the comic book series by Will Eisner, in which the Spirit (supercutie Gabriel Macht from A Love Song for Bobby Long), tracks the coldhearted killer, the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson), while facing a bevy of beautiful women (Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson) all trying to seduce, love or kill him. Waltz with Bashir (Sony Pictures Classics) Nominated for the Golden Palm at Cannes, and for, among others, a British Independent Film Award, this animated feature documents the filmmaker’s journey toward recovering his memory of – and discovering the truth about – an Israeli Army mission he participated in during the first Lebanon War of the early-1980s that left him with severe posttraumatic stress disorder and memory loss.

DEC. 26

Last Chance Harvey (Overture) New Yorker Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) isn’t doing so well: He loses

(Paramount Vantage) Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) adapts the Richard Yates novel – a universal story – about a young couple (the reunion of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet!) who get married, move to Connecticut and start a family to live out society’s suburban ideal of adult life, only to find that they are perfectly miserable and feel cheated by their lives. Set in the 1950s, the cultural questions are still relevant today.

Valkyrie (United Artists) Set in Nazi Germany, Tom Cruise stars in this true story of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, who dared organize a group of men to overthrow and eliminate Hitler. Directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) and costarring Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Izzard, Tom Wilkinson and Terence Stamp, it’s 50 percent morality play, 50 percent action movie. Think Schindler’s List meets Mission: Impossible.

DEC. 31

Good (ThinkFilm) Adapted from the play by C.P. Taylor, here is another story of how not all Germans during Hitler’s time were bad (hence the title). John Halder (Viggo Mortensen) is a German literature professor in the 1930s whose book, a novel advocating compassionate euthanasia, is unexpectedly enlisted by Nazi political figures in support of government propaganda. Excited by the rise in his career, Halder becomes increasingly conflicted as he considers his role in a country that is spiraling out of control.

Defiance (Paramount Vantage) Based on a true story – and far more interesting than Valkyrie – this is the story of four Jewish Brothers (including Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber) who escape Nazi-occupied Poland into a forest where they join up with Russian resistance fighters, build a village and save the lives of more than 1,200 other Jews.

JAN. 9

Bride Wars (20th Century Fox)

Claire Folger

B Y R AY H A N É S . S A N D E R S

FEB. 13 Bride Wars’ Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) delight in catching the bouquet at a friend’s wedding.

Two best friends (Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway) engage in bridal warfare when their weddings end up on the same day and neither one will budge about the location of the Plaza in New York. Candice Bergen and Kristen Johnston round out the cast.

Gran Torino (Warner Bros.) In this latest from director Clint Eastwood, Eastwood (who else?) plays a grumpy, widowed Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1973 Gran Torino he keeps in mint condition. Chronically unhappy, he is content to stay out of the world’s affairs and insists on being left alone himself ... until the troubles of his neighbors, an Asian family, visit his front yard, and he is drawn against his will into the brutal gang violence that is taking over the neighborhood.

them dead. Rosario Dawson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt costar.

The Lodger (Sony) Adapted from the book by Marie Belloc Lowndes, which also inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s 1927 silent film of the same name, this thriller puts a modern spin on the tale, trading London for West Hollywood, where a serial killer hopes to recreate the work of history’s most famous murderer: Jack the Ripper. Starring Hope Davis, Simon Baker (The Devil Wears Prada), Alfred Molina and Donal Logue. JAN. 30

Serbis (Regent Releasing)

JAN. 21

Nominated for the Golden Palm at Cannes, this Filipino-language film is a day-in-the-life portrait of a family-run movie theater in the Philippines. But the family business is actually a porn house, a seedy theater that plays graphic pics and allows prostitution among the aisles, and the family members are embroiled in a million little dirty and dark dramas of their own. Though not a documentary, the film is shot on video, and its grainy and graphic scenes recall, both aesthetically and in content, such Dogma movement masterpieces as Festen.

Of Time and the City

FEB. 6

JAN. 16

Notorious

(Fox Searchlight) They’ve finally done it. They’ve made a drama biopic about Biggie. Angela Bassett plays Voletta Wallace, Biggie’s mom; Anthony Mackie plays Tupac; Derek Luke stars as Puffy and newcomer Jamal Woolard channels Big Poppa himself.

(Strand) Nominated for a British Independent Film Award, this poetic film is both a love song and a eulogy to filmmaker Terence Davies’ hometown of Liverpool, whose essence has changed alongside its skyline over the years.

JAN. 23

Killshot

(Weinstein Company) Adapted from the Elmore Leonard novel and produced (at least initially) by Quentin Tarantino, this thriller stars Diane Lane and Thomas Jane as a husband and wife for whom the Witness Protection Program is no match for a mob killer (Mickey Rourke) who wants

Coraline (Focus) Writer/director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) adapts Neil Gaiman’s (Stardust) book into a morbidly magical animated feature about a young girl who unlocks a mysterious door in her new home and enters into a parallel version of her troubled life, seemingly perfect, but really dangerous. With the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders and John Hodgman. He’s Just Not That Into You (Warner Bros.) The line that “Sex and the City” made famous, and that made dating book authors (some might say hacks)

The International (Sony) What sounds like another boring thriller may just be interesting because of Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola, Run, Winter Sleepers). Tykwer directs Clive Owen and Naomi Watts as Interpol Agent Louis Salinger and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman in their effort to bring one of the world’s most powerful banks to justice.

New York, I Love You (Palm Pictures) In this next stop in the series started by Paris, Je T’aime before the producers head to China, a camp of 12 diverse directors, including Mira Nair (Mississippi Masala, The Namesake), Scarlett Johansson, Brett Ratner, Natalie Portman, Joshua Marston (Maria Full of Grace) and Allen Hughes (Menace II Society, Dead Presidents), and a cast that includes Kevin Bacon, Rachel Bilson, Orlando Bloom, James Caan, Julie Christie, Chris Cooper, Ethan Hawke, Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman, Christina Ricci, Olivia Thirlby and Robin Wright present a collection of short films shot in each of the city’s boroughs that explain how we love in, and just plain love, New York.

Two Lovers (Magnolia) Nominated for the Golden Palm at Cannes, and what Joaquin Phoenix announced was his last movie, this romantic drama follows an aspiring photographer (Phoenix) who moves back in with his parents in Brooklyn after a break-up. His concerned mother (Isabella Rossellini) tries to fix him up with a family friend, but he becomes enamored with their troubled new neighbor (Gwyneth Paltrow) instead. FEB. 20

Youth in Revolt (Weinstein Company) An adaptation of C.D. Payne’s novel by Gustin Nash, screenwriter of last year’s immensely flawed but still admirable Charlie Bartlett, here we have the journal of Nick Twisp (Michael Cera), an 18-year-old high school student who goes on a quest to lose his virginity after his parents separate. Justin Long, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Fred Willard and Mary Kay Place costar.

[DEC. 24â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 08 - JAN. 6 â&#x20AC;&#x2122;09]

Campus Circle | 17

classic holiday films 1) A Christmas Story (1983): Ooohhh, fuuudddgggeee. We double dog dare you to name a film more intrinsic to the holiday experience. All Ralphie Parker wants is â&#x20AC;&#x153;an official Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a thing which tells time,â&#x20AC;? but everyone thinks heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll shoot his eye out. Proof that a boy with a dream can overcome adversity, from neighborhood bullies to soap wielding mothers. 2) Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Wonderful Life (1946): So classic itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost clichĂŠ, the holidays wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the same without Frank Capraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tale of what would happen to Bedford Falls if it werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart). Every time you hear a bell, an angel gets their wings, and every time you watch Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Wonderful Life, it gets better and better. 3) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): Charlie Brown is overwhelmed by the ravenous materialism he feels is devouring the Christmas season. Nowadays, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be diagnosed with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seasonal Affective Disorderâ&#x20AC;? and prescribed Wellbutrin, but in this holiday classic it takes a small, limp, shedding Christmas twig, the Peanuts gangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s putting on a holiday play and wise-beyond-hisyears Linus to teach Charlie the true meaning of Christmas. 4) Miracle on 34th Street (1947): Need proof that Santa really does exist? Watch this movie. When a nice old man claims to be Santa Claus, he gets tossed into a mental institution and is forced to stand trial to prove heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the real thing. 5) Die Hard (1988): Perhaps not the most traditional choice, but John McClane definitely brings his own version of yuletide cheer. The first installment of the Die Hard series sees McClane (Bruce Willis), an NYPD detective, flying to Los Angeles to reconcile with his estranged wife. When terrorists crash her office holiday party, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to him to save the day. Nothing says Christmas quite like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!â&#x20AC;?

TOP 20 CHRISTMAS FILMS BY SASHA PERL-RAVER 6) The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): Bah-humbug! Michael Caine stars as bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge while Kermit the Frog is kindly Bob Cratchit in the classic, redemptive Charles Dickens tale. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Muppets; obviously itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be awesome. Love Actuallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Juliet (Keira Knightley)

ghost of Christmas past, present and future, that he must change for the better. 10) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966, animated TV movie/2000, theatrical release): Dr. Seussâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; classic tale of the Grinch with a heart â&#x20AC;&#x153;two sizes too smallâ&#x20AC;? who decides to ruin Christmas for the Whos in Whoville. Whether you prefer your Grinch animated by Chuck Jones or played by Jim Carrey shoved into a latex suit, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to be reminded that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christmas â&#x20AC;Ś doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come from a store â&#x20AC;Ś Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.â&#x20AC;? 11) Elf (2003): Will Ferrell stars as an adult huma, raised at the North Pole by Santa and the elves, who goes to New York City in search of his birth father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). From the first shot of Ferrell in banana yellow tights, you know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in for a good time.

7) Love Actually (2003): Interconnected love stories weaving through the city of London play out during the five weeks leading up the Christmas in a film that encapsulates the holiday spirit by proving that â&#x20AC;&#x153;love actually is all around.â&#x20AC;? 8) Home Alone (1990): Before the franchise got totally sucky in New York City and battled North Korean terrorists, eight-year-old Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin, in the role of his life) had to defend his house against two bumbling burglars when his family accidentally forgot him as they jetted off to Paris for the holidays. Anyone got a hankerinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for some Little Neroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizza? 9) Scrooged (1988): Dickensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; A Christmas Carol modernized and starring Bill Murray, at the zenith of his gargantuan comic brilliance, as a cynical, narcissistic TV executive who realizes, after being visited by the

14) Gremlins (1984): Billy Peltzer is given a very special Christmas present, a Mogwai he names Gizmo, but he fails to follow the three simple rules of care. 1) Keep it away from bright light or youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hurt it. 2) Keep it away from water or itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll multiple. 3) Never ever let it eat after midnight or itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll turn into one of the cutest horror movie creatures imaginable. 15) White Christmas (1954): Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney star in this Irving Berlin classic about two song-and-dance duos putting on a show at a floundering ski lodge in Vermont. Who could say no to Crosby and Clooney crooning â&#x20AC;&#x153;Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheepâ&#x20AC;? next to an open fire? 16) Bad Santa (2003): Two conmen who have no interest in spreading good cheer go on a mall road trip posing as Santa and his elf

17) National Lampoonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas Vacation (1989): Wanna feel better about how crazy your family is? Spend some time with the Griswolds, masters of disaster. 18) Meet Me in St. Louis (1944): Set in St. Louis, Mo. in 1903, as the city was preparing for the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fair in 1904, the film about a family uprooting their lives and moving to New York City features Judy Garland singing the timeless classic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.â&#x20AC;? 19) The Santa Clause (1994): When Tim Allen accidentally kills Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, he dons the red suit and carries out the rest of the present deliveries. Finding himself back at the North Pole, he discovers heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now contractually bound to become Kris Kingle complete with white hair, a beard thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s untamable and a massive, sudden weight gain. 20) The Polar Express (2004): Based on the best-selling childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book by Chris Van Allsburg, a young boy on Christmas Eve is desperate for confirmation and proof of the true spirit of Christmas when a magical

12) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): Tim Burtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brilliant stop-motion masterpiece about Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, who discovers a portal to Christmas Town and decides to take over as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sandy Claws.â&#x20AC;? Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s this? A multi-holiday classic. 13) Trading Places (1983): Trading Places stars Dan Aykroyd as Louis Winthorpe III, a successful Philadelphia commodity broker with the world as his fingertips, and Eddie Murphy as Billy Ray Valentine, a street hustler (â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have no legsâ&#x20AC;?), who are thrown together when Winthorpeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s employers make a bet to see if switching the lifestyle of the two will change who they are morally. One of the greatest scenes in an already impeccable comedy has Aykroyd shoving an entire salmon into his filthy Santa suit. Looking good, Billy Ray. Feeling good, Louis.

Willie (Billy Bob Thorton, left) and Marcus (Tony Cox, far right) greet a child in Bad Santa.

so they can rob stores when the till is overflowing with holiday spending, a plan that gets complicated when they meet an 8year-old boy who teaches them the true meaning of Christmas. Yeah, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heartwarming, but more importantly, everyone loves a drunken Santa who screams at children in the mall food court â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M ON MY LUNCH BREAK!â&#x20AC;?

train pulls up in front of his house and invites him to the North Pole. Not since clapping for Tinkerbell has a film made us believe so thoroughly in unseen magic. Honorable mention: Reindeer Games (2000) - The truth is that Reindeer Games kind of sucks, but nothing says â&#x20AC;&#x153;Happy Holidaysâ&#x20AC;? like getting to see Charlize Theronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boobs.

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THIS FILM IS RATED PG-13. PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13. Please note: Passes received through this promotion do not guarantee you a seat at the theatre. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Theatre is overbooked to ensure a full house. No admittance once screening has begun. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of tickets assumes any and all risks related to use of ticket, and accepts any restrictions required by ticket provider. Rogue Pictures, Campus Circle and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of a prize. Tickets cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. We are not responsible if, for any reason, winner is unable to use his/her ticket in whole or in part. Not responsible for lost, delayed or misdirected entries. All federal and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. Participating sponsors, their employees and family members and their agencies are not eligible. NO PHONE CALLS!

20 | Campus Circle

music

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

THE ROXY THEATRE

Nic Adler is now at the helm of the Roxy.

Nic Adler’s 10 Most Memorable Moments In honor of the Roxy Theatre’s 35th anniversary, Nic Adler, founder Lou Adler’s son and the current owner, shares his favorite shows. Tyler Boye

Stone Temple Pilots It must have been at least 110 degrees in the club. Everyone had their clothes off. [Scott]

Jane’s Addiction ’97

Weiland was almost naked and was at his

Everybody was in the house, and to this day,

prime. Amazing!!!

anyone who was there puts this show in their top 10.

System of a Down and Snot in ’96 The most people I had ever seen in any club

Ozzy, Slayer, Primus and SOAD

ever. This show marks a change in music and

All in one night? ’Nuff said.

the scene. From that came Incubus, Papa Roach, Everyone took off their clothes during Stone Temple Pilots’ Roxy show.

Alien Ant Farm, etc. Nu metal had arrived.

Amy Winehouse Amy Winehouse intoxicated the Roxy crowd March 17, 2007.

MSTRKRFT

Felt like you were watching something you might not see again.

This was the first time DJs put on a full-blown

of the way “DJ booth.” MSTRKFRT was front

Jay-Z and Linkin Park Mash-Up

and center on stage, and kids were losing their

Wow. If you don’t know, watch the DVD. He

minds. Stage diving, moshing, fist pumping. I

really is the best rapper alive.

rock show. No longer were DJs stuck in an out

knew that day music was changing again. Crystal Lafata

Rage Against the Machine Sound Check

Run-D.M.C.!!! I will never forget it. What an honor to see this show.

I had to leave to New York but was able to see sound check. Best sound check I have ever

Other Notables

seen. Heard the show was better.

Duran Duran, Gnarls Barkley, Mickey Avalon, Crystal Castles, Tenacious D, Michael Buble,

Steel Pulse

Pussycat Dolls, Shwayze.

Hands down the best reggae show at the Roxy in the last 20 years (Bob Marley was the best, but I wasn’t there.).

Jay-Z and Linkin Park mashed it up at the Roxy.

For more information and calendar listings of special anniversary events, visit theroxyonsunset.com.

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

frequency | essential concerts | B Y Shwayze

Dec. 29 @ Club Nokia: Robin Thicke

Dec. 26 @ Canyon Club I hate to admit it, but I bet these dudes are awesome to party with. I mean, have you all seen their videos? And we all know music videos and everything else we see on MTV are accurate depictions of reality [end sarcasm] … But regardless, even in very un-glam Agoura Hills, I have nothing but the utmost faith that Shwayze and Cisco (or is Cisco Adler considered part of a more collective Shwayze now?) will still bring their signature party style to the stage.

might be able to learn how to dance. While sober.

music Because as much as I piss and moan about fake music, the one

See Rocco Deluca every Monday in January at Spaceland.

Dec. 31 @ Club Nokia As the most senior of rockers in this edition of Frequency, I’d expect no less of the great Scott Weiland than to show all these other young’uns how real rock and roll is done. For all his issues, Weiland never fails to command stages of any size, and he’s been long overdue to get back to performing the STP classics live.

Paul Chesne Dec. 31 @ O’Brien’s What better way to spend New Year’s Eve than in an Irish pub, beer in hand, singing along to some of the best countryblues-rock our fine city has to offer? Sure, every electronic DJ act and their BFF are performing shows to ring in the new year, but if acoustic guitars and old-fashioned crooning you can raise a pint or five to is more up your alley, this is where you need to be.

Austrian Death Machine

I can never quite put my finger on it, but there’s just something really friggin’ cool about Robin Thicke. He doesn’t have a particularly cool name, and if anyone else who looked like he did also dressed like he did and sang like he did, that man would likely be laughed at and ridiculed (by me) for trying way too hard. But some dudes have just got it, I guess. A white boy making legitimately soulful singing look that effortless gives me hope that someday even I

Melinda Dahl

Dec. 27 @ Chain Reaction After having seen As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis parade around a Warped Tour after party in a Pabst Blue Ribbon case fashioned into a pseudo-wrestling mask, I decided that henceforth he could do no wrong. Well, his flesh-rending wails backed by his band’s bone-crushing thrashing Spend New Year’s Eve with don’t hurt either, but you Paul Chesne at O’Brien’s. just had to be there. Regardless of whether the audience, performers or subject of parody are in on the joke or not (for all I know, none of the above are), the music of Lambesis’ side project is equal parts raw brutality and ironic hilarity. Though you’ll likely be assaulted by more images of the Governator’s most famous film portrayal than any California resident should have to endure, make no mistake, Lambesis is still just as effective at shredding eardrums when his tongue is planted firmly in his cheek. Also, the photo shoot of Lambesis dressed up as Conan the Barbarian is entirely worth the price of admission.

The Rapture Dec. 31 @ Viper Room Oh cruel fate, how is this band not headlining this show? If ever there was a soundtrack to a New Year’s Eve party in a seedy Hollywood dive bar/night club, it’s the musical oeuvre of New York natives the Rapture. Infectiously catchy with their sing-along vocals and synth beats, the foursome straddles the fence

Doug Seymour

Meeno

Dec. 26 @ The Glass House Dec. 30 @ Ventura Theatre Speaking of having a signature party presence, what better way to close out the year than doing things that will make you not remember any of what transpires in your last days of 2008. If the great D-O-doubleG himself can’t get you, ahem, fired up, nothing will. And clearly, there’s no tactful or intelligent way to make a pun about excessive marijuana consumption. Don’t do drugs, kids!

Dec. 29 @ Club Nokia

between big sounding old-school rock anthems and more intricately arranged bit of hipster-friendly indie gold. If their tracks were any

Stone Temple Pilots

Snoop Dogg

Robin Thicke

B R I E N O V E R LY

Campus Circle | 21

more addictive, I’m nearly positive Snoop Dogg would make an appearance at one of their shows. Zing!

Streetlight Manifesto Jan. 4 @ The Grove of Anaheim Wait, you mean this isn’t the band that opened for Rise Against, Alkaline Trio and Thrice last month … ? That was Gaslight Anthem? And these guys are ska? And … opening for Reel Big Fish? Ugh, nevermind, do not want, not even if I’m still drunk from New Year’s. Next…

Rocco Deluca Jan. 5 @ Spaceland I’m usually very not keen on anything VH1 tells me I “oughta know,” unless it’s something I’ve been saying people ought to have known about for months if not years, but more often than not, what they think I … oughta know … is the kind of music my parents (in their mid-40s) would absolutely love to know about. But not me.

thing I dislike more is safe, docile and lifeless music. And while I’m admittedly not a fan of whatever his big single was, there’s something about Deluca’s folky, bluesy style of rock that intrigues me. Plus, I don’t think the middleaged, musically illiterate VH1 demographic has ever heard of Spaceland, and likely doesn’t know their way around Silver Lake, so if ever there was a time to try your luck and see him in an intimate venue with a crowd that wouldn’t inspire stabbing rage, this is it. This night is the first of Deluca’s month-long Monday night residency at the club.

The Best NEW YEAR’S SONGS 1) Dan Fogelberg – “Same Old Lang Syne” 2) U2 – “New Year’s Day” 3) The Bottle Rockets – “Brand New Year” 4) Bert Jansch – “The January Man” 5) Dengue Fever – “New Year’s Eve” 6) Harry Connick, Jr. – “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” 7) Otis Redding – “New Year’s Resolution” 8) The Eagles – “Funky New Year” 9) Jimmy Beaumont & the Skyliners – “Another Lonely New Year’s Eve” 10) Graham Parker – “New Year’s Revolution” 11) Rubyhorse – “The First of the Year” 12) Death Cab for Cutie – “The New Year” —Doug Simpson

22 | Campus Circle

music

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2009

“DJ” thing, where he stands at his table and silently says “check it” over and over by pointing his hand in the air. myspace.com/gangimusic

Johnson&Jonson – A hip-hop collaboration out of Long Beach between slightly established MC Blu and producer Mainframe, this pairing’s got looped, crackling soul and jazz beating under addictively smooth vocal styling. Lots of retro quality here, and with their self-titled debut for Tres Records receiving praise from publications like Vibe, no doubt their upcoming releases, like the, ahem, “Kinda Dusty” 12-inch (presently available only on Japanese import), will develop a fair bit of hype. myspace.com/jandjbabyproducts Haunted Tiger – Look these folks up on MySpace and you’ll find among their influences hotels, champagne, “whipz and furs.” Sums it up, really. This girly quartet of Los Angeles is at once glamorous, spooky, generous with raunch and feedback. Best for fans of Bat for Lashes, this year’s EP DSXCO is psychedelic and haunting, the sound of glitter raining down on a Halloween night. myspace.com/sleepyqueens

BY CHINA BIALOS

Afternoons - Afternoons is a spinoff of L.A. indie pop band Irving, featuring a few dapper lads and a classically trained opera singer, Claire McKeown, who acts as the band’s living, singing saw. It’s McKeown, actually, who sets this band apart from all the other bands in Los Angeles who are, you know, dapper and poppy. They’ve opened for other super happy pop bands in the last year (Tokyo Police Club, the Wombats), and have already gotten the royal Stamp of Approval from Indie 103. Their live show is a grand affair, as full and complete as can be. myspace.com/afternoonsmusic Blu, the Gaslamp Killer and Mainframe of Johnson&Jonson

The Cheap Leis – Finally, an outlet for (l to r) Travis Popichak, Leslie Stevens, Glenn Oyabe, Ben Reddell and Charlene Huang of Leslie and the Badgers

Rian Flynn

Slang Chickens

Slang Chickens – A refreshing breath of grimy cowpunk, poking out from the indie scene in Los Angeles. Slang Chickens are led by Evan Weiss, formerly of Wires on Fire, who can create all sorts of electricity with a banjo, and of whom there is in fact a paper doll, available online at Chicks on the Rail (myspace.com/prettyvioletcolouredshirt). For the rockabilly fans, few and loyal, the band will be at the Unknown Theater Jan. 9 and the Smell Jan. 20, opening for Crystal Antlers. myspace.com/slangchickens The Entrance Band – They look rather like a Goth cult, but Goths aren’t terribly into psychedelic shit. There’s an interesting

dynamic between the pairing of frontman Guy Blakeslee and ladybassist Paz Lenchantin (former Zwan, A Perfect Circle); it’s actually Lenchantin, hair down to here, who owns the stage – an amazing feat accomplished by an underrated bassist. Entrance has yet to announce a label signing as of press time but perform their brand of 1960s-inspired hard rock in Los Angeles on a regular basis. entranceband.com Leslie and the Badgers – It would be tempting to refer to Leslie Stevens as a poor man’s Neko Case, but as the sweetlycrooning, guitar-slinging frontlady of Leslie and the Badgers, she holds her own quite well. Sure, there might be an ironic moustache or three among the Badgers, and sure, their personal style might cave to the temptation of appearing a flock of old souls or whatever, but this band’s sound is pure

Wild Weekend

Blue Jungle – Yet another female-fronted rock group, with swirling guitars, oversized walls of distortion, vocals distant and, like, apathetic (singer Blu Blu is to thank for that one). A crop of January shows in Los Angeles will follow the release of recent LP Baby Don’t Cry – see them at the Smell Jan. 10 or the Knitting Factory Jan. 23. pleasefuckingkillme.com

“Hukilau,” typically heard in the form of sing-along sessions on Hawaiian tour buses. This San Diego group, specializing in the stuff of our 50th state, are unsigned to date but have the privilege of performing with groups like the Night Marchers and the Knitters. They’ve been around since 1997, so perhaps spending a bit more time with the punk crowd will help them Wild Weekend find some biters. One can rock a ukulele, no? myspace.com/thecheapleis

country. Albeit, diluted just enough for the Silver Lake crowd. Speaking of which, they’ll be at the Silverlake Lounge Jan. 12 performing with Olin and the Moon. myspace.com/leslieandthebadgers Gangi – Matt Gangi, multi-instrumentalist and Williamsburg resident, moved to Los Angeles and paired up with percussionist Lyle Nesse. Together they are Gangi, performing to those hip kids in Silver Lake, offering a blend of hip-hop and dance punk inspired by both of the above and all in between. Their show is rather visual, though you’ll have to get used to Gangi doing that

Wild Weekend – Another San Diego group, this one of lady-driven power pop. With only a couple of seven-inch records to their name, Wild Weekend will be recording their debut and touring up the West Coast in January. They’re not as commanding as, say, Mika Miko, and their sound doesn’t have the attitude to match the lyrics, but they’d be an ideal female counterpart to perhaps a semi-snooty, humorous garage band like the Time Flys. For now, though, they’ll be sharing a stage with the Dogs at the Redwood Bar in Downtown on Jan. 16.

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

TEN … NINE … EIGHT … SEVEN … SIX … FIVE … FOUR … THREE … TWO … ONE … JAMAICA?

Campus Circle | 23

inner circle

The typical L.A. New Year’s Eve includes a high profile club with a $300 price tag, regurgitated house music and expensive drinks. Why do thousands of people settle for this when they have the world at their fingertips? Choose from the following places that will bring Italy, Jamaica and China to you, parties that will blow your party hats off and other fun-filled options to start your New Year off right.

BY NICOLE BOISVERT

NEW YEAR’S EVE LOS ANGELES S

AROUND THE WORLD IN 10 SECONDS

Cozy under the stars and toast the New Year with Gondola Co.

authentic Chinese performances. With melodic music and vibrant visuals, this performance is sure to cure travelers’ cravings. Now if you want to stay local (so to speak), why not kick of the New Year with some of the biggest parties in town? New Year’s Eve Night Fever at the Highlands (6801 Hollywood Blvd., Ste. 433) is hosting an unforgettable party hosted by superstar DJ Eric Cubiche. Tickets are reasonably priced at $40 for general admission with $100 V.I.P passes that include dinner and an open bar from 9 p.m.11 p.m. With the party spread among four dance floors, you’ll be sure to find your niche at the Highlands. For more information, call (866) 341-0631 or visit thehighlandshollywood.com. Armin van Buuren, one of the world’s top DJs, will be doing what he does best hosting Together as One at the Los Angeles Sports Arena (newyearsevela.com). This nine-hour set features extravagant light shows, dancers, highly esteemed guests and van Buuren’s

Get your groove on to Armin van Buuren’s famous mixes at Together As One.

night will prove to be worth your while. If you aren’t feeling the tropical vibes for the evening and want to get to bed right past midnight, check out the Chinese New Year Spectacular (Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009) at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium (300 E. Green St.). Starting at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve night, experience a cultural renaissance with beautiful and

nominee Katy Perry (“I Kissed a Girl”) will be doing a mini-concert and hosting a version of Times Square in Hollywood, Gridlock ’09 (gridlockla.com). New York may have the infamous ball dropping, but in Hollywood a star will be raised to bring in 2009. Expect a huge crowd and celebrity performances galore from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Two of Hollywood’s premier clubs, Opera and Crimson, join forces for a New Year’s event you won’t want to miss (1650 Schrader Blvd.). Awesome DJs and an open bar are just the beginning. Full of dancers and live entertainment, these clubs go all out for this night in hopes of setting the tone for the

DJ Eric Cubiche will have you dancing the night away at the Highlands.

world famous mixes. Pre-sale general admission tickets are $60 and VIP tickets start at $100. If a large-scale party in the streets is what you’re looking for this year, catch Giant Maximus (giantclub.com) featuring musical talents like Moby, Benny Benassi, Mickey Avalon, Paul Oakenfold and high flying acrobatics, psychedelic circus antics, amusements, games, carnival rides and, of course, the iconic GIANT Ferris wheel. Presented by KCRW, Maximus is situated on a sevenacre estate and features three sound blasting areas all with different motifs of musical talent. This New Year’s Eve, Grammy

New Year, so don’t miss out on the action. If parties by the masses aren’t your idea of fun times, check out Universal CityWalk (100 Universal City Plz., Universal City), which is always a great option. There will be performers of all sorts and the restaurants and stores will stay open until much later than usual. This option keeps your decision making to a minimum and ensures that you’ll find something you enjoy. Two cool picks in the name of music include celebrations at Club Nokia (800 West Olympic Blvd.) and the Conga Room (5364 Wilshire Blvd.). The Stone Temple Pilots are playing at Club Nokia and the Gypsy Kings are headlining the Latin-style Conga Room. Whether you end up exploring the cultural diversity of Los Angeles or opt for the more traditional party and club scene, I’m sure your New Year’s Eve will prove to be a great time. From eyeopening performances to full throttle rock concerts, this New Year’s Eve is sure to be filled with fun and good cheer. Consider abandoning your comfort zone as you wrap up the holiday season and ring in the New Year. Just remember that when choosing your option, keep an open mind because Los Angeles has the ability to take you anywhere you want to go.

Universal CityWalk

Glenn Cormier

ay “Felice Anno Nuovo” as you and your sweetheart glide through the Newport Harbor on a romantic gondola ride, a setting even more intimate than the canals of Venice. Toast to sparkling cider compliments of the Gondola Co. and cozy up underneath the blankets. Venice may not be lucky enough to have Christmas lights, but luckily the Newport Harbor does. Call (949) 675-1212 or visit gondolas.com to make reservations for ringing in the New Year Venetian-style. You won’t be worrying about a thing because everything is going to be alright if you choose to bring the sounds of the islands to your backyard and see Tomorrows Bad Seeds with the Wailers at the Roxy Theatre (9009 W. Sunset Blvd.) in West Hollywood. With a huge stage presence and interactive show, this

24 | Campus Circle

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

inner circle

Join Us for the Rose Bowl on our Flat Screen TV

FOOTBALL & SPORTS BARS: A PERFECT COMBINATION Nothing rings in the New Year like hot wings, burgers and football. BY LESLIE BARRIE Big Wangs

classic watering hole, but also part modern sports bar, with its new flat screen TVs just in time for game viewing.

McMurphy’s Tavern

Many tasty garlic specialties Fun dining experience in five unique dining areas Big Wangs

Convenient location, with parking on Restaurant Row Open every day of the year 11 am to 11 pm

1562 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood (323) 469-2449; bigwangswings.com I must admit I have a love/hate relationship with Big Wangs. I think that comes from having to wait in line for half-an-hour (!) to get in for a Lakers’ playoff game last year. And that’s the thing – it’s such a great place to see a game, you end up doing the time to get in. It’s not just the many TVs, the wings, the girls. Every good sports bar should have that. Big Wangs just has that energy that makes a big game that much bigger. It’s like a sports bar on crack and, really, can there be any better compliment than that?

The Draft Sports Bar & Grill 12430 Riverside Drive, Studio City; myspace.com/thedraftsportsbar Now, I know what you’re thinking. There’s so little to do in Studio City, even the studios left town. Not so fast, my friends! Open a mere two weeks, the Draft has quickly become a hot spot on the sports bar scene. It’s evident that the owners cut their teeth in Hollywood, based on the attractive clientele and waitstaff. But beneath the beautiful exterior, it’s a sports bar at heart – four big screen TVs and 12 40-inch plasmas carry all the football action. Drinks specials, hot wings, hot girls; even George W. wouldn’t dodge this draft.

Follow Your Nose To…

Gordon Biersch 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena? (626) 449-0052; gordonbiersch.com Located in a centralized Old Town Pasadena courtyard, Biersch is friendly and casual but also a great place to get quality food and drinks. Its expansive bar offers fresh brewed German-style lagers, as well as wines and spirits and a “made from scratch menu.”

72 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena?(626) 666-1445; mcmurphystavern.com McMurphy’s provides a sportscentric tavern setting oriented for a young, hip crowd. It boasts awardwinning chicken wings, Nacho Mamma’s Nachos and most important, their all-day breakfast burrito. Or, if you are feeling thematic, opt for some Irish stew.

Q’s Billiards 11835 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles?(310) 4777550; qsbilliards.com As one of the best singles bars in Los Angeles, Q’s Billiards offers two perks for one destination – plenty of members of the opposite sex and plenty of sports. Q’s is a local hangout for (attractive) UCLA and USC students and alumni, so there will be many collegians to make the atmosphere exciting on game day.

Sonny Mclean’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 2615 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica? (310) 449-1811; sonnymcleans.com Sonny McLean’s is dedicated to all things Boston – the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Patriots and yes, even the Boston Bruins, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be dedicating Jan. 1, 2009 to the Rose Bowl.

Tony P’s 4445 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey?(310) 823-4534; tonyps.com Walk in to Tony P’s and you’ll think you’ve stepped into a typical dockside grill. Walk a little further in and you’ll enter sports mecca – a room set up strictly so you can immerse yourself in all things athletic. The seating is arranged so that every chair points to the televisions, so there’s never the odd man out with the bum seat. Additional reporting by Scott Bedno.

Jake’s Billiards 55 North La Cienega Boulevard (near Wilshire) Beverly Hills • 310.652.7673 www.thestinkingrose.com

38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena?(626) 568-1602; jakespasadena.com Jake’s Billiards was voted Pasadena’s best billiard, best karaoke bar and second best place for a burger. Jake’s Billiards is part

Jake’s Billiards

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

Campus Circle | 25

city guides

DOWNTOWN L.A. For the Young, Frisky and Fun BY LAUREN ROSENBLUM Downtown is quickly becoming a cultural, social and entertainment hot spot. We’ve uncovered some of the top places to go. just about anyone. They have a large selection of excellent sushi and sushi-related dishes, but also a number of tasty small-portioned Japanese specialties.

Bordello

The Original Pantry Café

Doria Anselmo

877 S. Figueroa St. (213) 972-9279; pantrycafe.com The Pantry is a 24-hour joint that opened in 1924. Supposedly, the place has never ever closed. Something about the pancakes here is special. Maybe it’s the syrup. But you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. The portions are huge, and the food is pretty greasy, but what do you expect? It’s “comfort” food. Unless you eat too much … then it starts to feel a little uncomfortable.

PASADENA The City That Feels Like a Village BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD PASADENA IS NOT A CLASSIC PARTY TOWN. It’s certainly not an epicenter of sophisticates, populated by colonies of starving artists and cognac-swirling connoisseurs. It is much what it touts itself to be: a city that feels like a village. The city is primarily known for its place at the head of West Coast college football. The Rose Bowl and its associated parade are probably the first thing anybody thinks of when they hear Pasadena’s name, but that’s hardly a fair summary of the city. Pasadena’s biggest attraction is Old Town, a 22-block district that sports over 200 specialty boutiques and food establishments. It’s the perfect place for a pleasant stroll up the promenade with a cup of coffee and a desire to empty your purse on high-end clothing or home décor. Beyond a draw for out-of-towners, Old Town is a gathering spot for Pasadena locals, especially young people.

the local nightlife, especially since its happy hour offers $2 pints (and has Anchor Steam on tap). It’s a classic pub environment – a great place to hang out and get a beer, a casual dinner and some decent music performances.

Philippe the Original Restaurant

Izakaya Haru Ulala 368 E. 2nd St. (213) 620-0977; haruulala.com Located in Little Tokyo, there’s a fun restaurant spot called Haru Ulala. What’s ideal about Haru Ulala is that there’s something on their menu for Izakaya Haru Ulala

sandwich. It has sawdust on the floor and long tables for communal dining. There’s standard deli fare – soups, sandwiches, salads, plus a slew of pies. The signature sandwich is a masterpiece. Meat (beef, pork, lamb, ham or turkey) is dunked in au jus and layered in a perfect French roll – soft inside, with a light, crispy crust.

Shatto 39 Lanes 3255 W. 4th St. (213) 385-9475; shatto39lanes.com There are no flashing lights, glow-in-the-dark balls or karaoke machines at this massive 39lane treasure. However, there is plenty of beer, balls, pins and fun. Don’t be intimidated by the intense old-timers in the fancy league uniforms. They don’t judge! But if you start to feel selfconscious in those goofy bowling shoes, there’s a cozy cocktail lounge to retreat to and play a few rounds of pool.

Standard Downtown 550 S. Flower St. (213) 892-8080; standardhotels.com The Restaurant at the Standard is a California brasserie that serves classic American cuisine 24/7. They have everything from salads and sandwiches to steak and eggs. The outrageously bright interior features yellow booths and a diner-style counter.

Pasadena is home to the Ice House (24 N. Mentor Ave.), a music and comedy club that’s been hot since the 1960s and has seen performances by Steve Martin and Robin Williams. The Ice House not only serves up great shows and artists, it doesn’t exclude the young’uns, meaning 18 and over are welcome. If movies are more your style, Pasadena offers theaters such as Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 (673 E. Colorado Blvd.), which shows the indie flicks that larger establishments normally turn up their noses at. With discounted student tickets of $8.50, it’s probably one of the cheaper excursions in the area. Now for the grub, whether you’re looking for a high-class meal, a celebrity-studded evening or a quick, greasy bite, Pasadena has the restaurants for you. For the legal crowd, we offer up McMurphy’s Restaurant and Tavern (72 N. Fair Oaks Ave.) and the Old Towne Pub (66 N. Fair Oaks Ave.). McMurphy’s is an essential part of

Old Towne Pub has a strong emphasis on live music and offers a great sense of community. It’s the kind of place you show up to when you want to leave your good shirt at home and put your feet up to the tunes of whatever band they’ve procured (live music every night!). Another place you might want to try is Madre’s (897 Granite Drive). This restaurant, owned by Jennifer Lopez, screams Puerto Rico from the traditional foods to the cigar boxshaped menus. Although it’s a little pricey for any old weeknight, Madre’s is family friendly and an excellent place to impress a first date. There is no mention of Pasadena that’s complete without talking about Rick’s Drive-In (680 E. Walnut St.). A greasy spoon to the extreme, Rick’s specializes in a delight called “The Spuderito.” Get this: a burrito with all the fixings, plus an extra helping of French fries and chili all rolled together in one heart attack on a plate that’ll send you to heaven with a smile. Hey, you only live once.

Laemmle’s Playhouse 7

China Bialos

838 S. Grand Ave. (213) 623-1050 Where can you get an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet lunch you ask? Well, Gill’s Cuisine of India should do the trick. The décor is neat: light pink booths, tablecloths and carpet are accentuated with Indian artifacts that suspend above the tables. It’s located in the back of the seedy Stillwell Hotel, but don’t let that stop you from tasting the finest Indian food around.

China Bialos

Gill’s Cuisine of India

Old Towne Pub Philippe

Doria Anselmo

901 E. First St. (213) 687-3766; bordellobar.com This very cool bar is nestled in the Artist District of Downtown. It was originally a brothel and still has a Moulin Rouge feel to it. The lady bartenders are dressed in black corsets, fish net stockings and short shorts. The whole place is covered in black lace curtains, crushed red velvet, red lacquered walls and dim red lighting. The scene is interesting, to say the least, full of artsy fartsy people with tattoos.

The Ice House

China Bialos

1001 N. Alameda St. (213) 628-3781; philippes.com For nearly a century, this landmark eatery has been serving up an original French dip

Bordello

Doria Anselmo

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Ah, the Rose Bowl and the Tournament of Roses parade. Each year, Pasadena opens her arms to men, women and children from surrounding areas, as well as travelers from all over the world who wish to witness these events firsthand. But after all the hype

WHERE TO SHOP DEPENDING ON WHOM YOU ASK, Los Angeles is the greatest fashion mecca this country has to offer. Sure, it may be the designers tucked away in their New York City lofts who are creating the looks that will adorn the public’s backs, but it’s the celebrities and media personalities who take fashions and make them legendary. One shop that has been on the lips of the rich and the famous for years is Intuition (10581 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles). This boutique

Intuition

dies down, sometimes it’s nice to just kick back and enjoy the city. However, that can’t be done if you don’t know what’s out there. We’ve rounded up the best Los Angeles has to offer in food, fun

YOUR COMPLETE SHOPPING, NIGHTLIFE & RESTAURANT GUIDE Whether you’re a visitor or a local, put these places on your radar! Both the Beverly Center (8500 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles) and Westside Pavilion (10800 W. Pico Blvd # 312, Los Angeles) contain old favorites like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s as well as younger offerings like Forever 21. But there are also some immensely unique clothing locations that have yet to be plucked from obscurity. That is, until now.

may be miles from Robertson Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, but it has managed to remain an allimportant landmark for ladies who want that special piece for their wardrobes that no one else has. Intuition is even a favorite of Hollywood wife, Pauletta Washington (who is married to a certain heartthrob named Denzel). Another great place to do some retail therapy is Kitson (115 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles). Anyone who’s picked up a tabloid or a celebrity zine in the past few years has either witnessed party girls like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan leaving the shop or seen its playful merch spotlighted with major enthusiasm. Kitson has been featured time and time again on shows like “Access Hollywood” and “Extra” and is as important to the L.A. landscape as the Hollywood sign. Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade is also highly touted. Not only is this center clean and outdoorsy, but it is home to names you know and love like Bebe, Old Navy and Kira Plastinina. Of course, no city would be complete without a great mall. Los Angeles has several.

BY EBONY MARCH

and economic stimulation (that’s shopping to you and me).

Life/Style (2727 Main St., Santa Monica) Need gorgeous designer duds for your home and body? Get the hookup at Life/Style. This boutique sits in the heart of Santa Monica’s Main Street. It’s brimming with crave-worthy and coveted vintage tees for him, or beautiful and colorful dresses for her. And for the couple that has everything, grab great items like distressed leather ottomans to accent any apartment or hillside bungalow.

your accessories, pick those up here. California Surplus Mart is a treasure trove of fun items like peacoats and berets that add a little kick to even the simplest black dress or jeans and T-shirt combo. Each piece is priced to move, so you won’t find yourself in the uncomfortable position of spending hundreds on something like a belt buckle. Space 15 Twenty (1520 Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles) It may have started as a dubious way to further exploit the Urban Outfitters brand. However, this self-professed “retail experiment” has added a David Lynch-type mystique to the Hollywood streets. Get interesting gear for your bod or your abode while taking in the fantastic and inspired architecture. Lady Studio Exotic Shoes (6500 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles) If there’s one thing a girl can’t have enough of, it’s stripper heels. OK, so maybe that’s going a bit far. Luckily, Lady Studio carries all kinds of fun and fashionable footwear.

Hey, it would be a perfect world if we could all afford Manolos and Jimmy Choos. But in this economy, sexy footwear at bargain prices is a much smarter way to go.

Space 15 Twenty

Ashley Paige (1616 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood) Got a little junk in that trunk? No worries. Designer Ashley Paige knows how to construct summer’s favorite uniform (the bikini) around any body. Whether you’re supermodel skinny or have Kardashian curves, Paige’s custom made designs with decadent and colorful accents will flatter any taste and price point. X-Large (1768 N. Vermont, Los Angeles) Trick out your inner homeboy with gear from this cool, urban shop. You’ll find T-shirts, sneaks and other skateboard-friendly styles that have been rocked by celebrities like the Beastie Boys and director Spike Jonze.

Regeneration (1649 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock) If Eagle Rock is the new Los Feliz, then Regeneration is the upgraded Urban Outfitters. Eco-friendly fashions, items for home and other assorted tchotchkes are sold onsite and also online. This quaint little shop is ripe with great gift ideas at reasonable prices and is nowhere near as loud and populated as other lifestyle stores. California Surplus Mart (6263 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles) Spend all the money in your piggy bank on high-priced designer originals. But when it comes to

formal event, try Paris 1900. Just as the name indicates, the merch here is straight out of a D.H. Lawrence novel with a sinfully European flair. Don’t settle for an

Regeneration

Paris 1900 (2703 Main St., Santa Monica) For the classy and discerning gal who doesn’t want to look like everyone else at that upcoming

ordinary prom dress or wedding gown; dare to be different. Squaresville (1800 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles) Silver Lake/Los Feliz’s best kept secret! Find one-of-a-kind vintage tees, boho dresses, to die for shades, designer kicks and jackets at this quirky second hand shop. Just bring plenty of cash because the selection is always on point. Tarina Tarantino (7957 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles) As seen on “America’s Next Top Model” as well as on divas like Katy Perry, these accessories are outrageous and sexy. Tarantino’s line features headbands, barrettes and other goodies that will take you from wallflower to Blair Waldorf in seconds. What’s more, you can shop this designer’s chic Melrose boutique, or buy these adorable trinkets online. Fashion Expo Family (1100 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles) Latina stylistas have known about Fashion Expo for years. Now you too can get in on this long-held secret. The Expo has all the current and up to the moment fashions at a fraction of the cost of some of the higher-end stores. It’s so stylish, in fact, that even the window displays scream, “Wear me! I’m gorgeous!”

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O T E R E H W

K N I R D

BY EBONY MARCH

& GO OUT

DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO POST-ROSE BOWL? Well, you could always head over to the Grove (6301 W. 3rd St, Los Angeles). The holidays at this outdoor promenade are fun for the whole family. Live musical performances in the past have included superstar Jada Pinkett-Smith’s rock band Wicked Wisdom. The dancing fountain has also been a ginormous tourist attraction. Watch streams of water sway to music from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and other voices from yesteryear. Or check out a new release at the Grove Pacific Theater. The Grove also has a twin sister – the Americana at Brand (853 Americana Way, Glendale). Another stop is the Magic Castle (7001 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles). Magic used to be

Club Nokia at L.A. Live

for mouth-breathers and Trekkies, but it takes on a uniquely elegant persona at this Hollywood Hills supper club. The rules stipulate that you must get dressed up – pay your respects to the fantasy, man. Then ooh and ah at illusionists as they treat you to old tricks like the rabbit in the hat. For an even freakier foray into family fun, take your loved ones to the Hollywood Wax Museum (6767 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles). Celebs like Donald Trump and Michael Jackson have been rendered in wax with some surprising results. This tourist attraction is both funny and disturbing.

Club Nokia (800 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles) Hats off to Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street for being the site of the coolest new nightspot in the city. Acts like CSS and Bloc Party have taken the stage here giving many Angelenos a taste of unforgettable chic among a sea of dive bars and played out venues. And since this club is still relatively new, it has yet to garner a reputation (good or bad) for its crowd. Therefore, anyone can go and enjoy the show without any certain level of snobbery.

The Highlands Hollywood (6801 Hollywood Blvd., # 433, Los Angeles) A strange phenomenon occurs every weekend at Hollywood & Highland. Shoppers, while in a mad rush to get to their parked cars are almost certain to bump into herds of 21- to

guys who take their fashion cues from men like Usher and Justin Timberlake. Where are all these fabulous folks going? Why, to the Highlands. This club is like being in Vegas for the weekend. And it’s not as niche as Silver Lake and Echo Park and thankfully not as far as Culver City.

Elevate Lounge (811 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 2100, Los Angeles) For a split second, Elevate gives off the impression that one has teleported to SoHo in New York. With its sleek, Asian-infused architecture and sprawling views, Elevate is a strong force in the newly worshipped downtown scene. And despite the overall fabulousness of the space, the staff here still behaves like human beings – warm, friendly and personable human beings. This club

However, if your idea of a good time is a bit more cutting edge (and decidedly less run of the mill), there are a number of great establishments. Eagle L.A. (4219 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles) While there’s plenty of solidarity within the gay community, there’s also a lot of diversity. For the boy who loves leatha, this Silver Lake bar is heaven on earth. Catch yourself a big bear or a studly grandpa who will be more than happy to show you the ways of the world over a tasty green apple martini.

Tangier (2138 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles) Better make your reservations quick, because this club’s restaurant was distinguished with “Best Burger in L.A.” honors. Aside from attracting celebs like Tricky, Christina Aguilera and Zooey Deschanel, Tangier has also hosted performances from bands like L.A.’s own the Good Listeners (whose music last appeared in 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada).

house and dub, which is the perfect backdrop to all the cool paintings, sculpture and mixed media works you’ll be drooling over.

Minx (300 Harvey Drive, Glendale) Crooner Ne-Yo (who can currently be heard every two seconds on pop radio stations everywhere) recently played a highly publicized show at this Glendale nightclub. While it’s not

Bliss Art House Coffee (1249 Vine St., Los Angeles) It’s a fairly ordinary coffee shop with an extraordinary double life. Every Monday night at Bliss, singers and songwriters test their material in this shy little watering hole. See tomorrow’s stars today while sampling tasty treats at ridiculously agreeable prices.

Tangier

Richard Carroll

Molly Malone’s (575 S.

34-year-old girls who look like rejects from the Pussycat Dolls and

Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles) Welcome to a great Irish pub that you don’t have to be Gaelic to appreciate. Located on the edge of Miracle Mile, across the street from Park La Brea, Molly Malone’s is super fun and full of neighborhood charm. Check out fantastic The Highlands at Hollywood & Highland local bands looking to steal your heart, or make friends with any of the 21- to 34-year olds will send any scenester into an looking to kick it with their peers. orgasmic frenzy.

Create/Fixate (613 Imperial St., Los Angeles) Art and music make a perfect match at this fun and visually captivating event. It’s located downtown on the corner of shady and sketchy, but is no less fun. DJs spin the finest in drum & bass,

located in the heart of Hollywood, Minx is no less thrilling. You’ll marvel at the slew of beautiful people from Pasadena, and the surrounding Griffith Park areas who simply want a change of pace from the same-old, same-old.

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O T E R WHE

B U GR Zankou Chicken

(zankouchicken.com) has locations all over the place. Think of it as a great regional fast food chain. It’s one of the few franchises where you can get a hearty (and cheap) falafel that will fill you up until suppertime rolls around.

In-N-Out

Burger is also a pleasure (in-n-out.com). Rock your grilled cheese “animal-style” or scarf down a Double-Double. Don’t know what that means? Well, then you better find a location quick and get started on your research. But if your taste buds just won’t settle for anything that doesn’t require cloth napkins and sterling silverware, then you can always find solace in:

Everyone loves to be in the know when it comes to great food. The worldfamous Zagat guide is proof-positive. But with a McDonald’s and Fatburger on every corner, sometimes it’s just as easy to give into those familiar flavors from childhood. That’s not always a bad thing.

to wait in for service.

Cacao Coffee House (11609 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles) Open late, Cacao is a nice, laid back coffee spot that is frequented by the kind of people that hang out in San Francisco on the weekend or head to Japan for their Christmas vacation. On any given night, you’ll see guys shootin’ the breeze with one another about any number of topics. Luckily for you, said convos are much less pretentious as the ones in those chain cafes. Takami Sushi & Robata (811 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2100, Los

don’t think of Los Angeles. But that’s exactly what we are. Nestled on a block within walking distance of UCLA is this absolutely outstanding restaurant. Palomino’s food is an interesting mix of Mediterranean, French and good old fashioned U.S. of A. influences. You can get anything from a prime cut ribeye to mussels to light as a cloud crème brûlée.

Jinpachi (8711 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood) Japanese food finds a happy home in West Hollywood at Jinpachi. The ambiance is woodsy and serene. Entrees range from nicely priced to

Chinda Barbeque & Restaurant (1714 Victory Blvd., Glendale) Chinda is a wonderfully random spot to dine with friends or the ’rents when they come to town. The menu is fun and pleases with the best of the best in Thai faves like mint chicken. And for added inspiration, this restaurant is located in the exact same strip mall where McLovin got held up at gunpoint in the movie Superbad.

Food

careers in graphic design or fashion and you’ll end up here. Located on the yuppie-filled Westside, Food is a great little classic American restaurant (a.k.a. sandwich shop) that brings a bit of Silver Lake to Pico Boulevard. Each of the menu items is nicely priced, the service is great and there’s never a long line

Smith (1600 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles) If you blink, you’ll miss it, so it’s better to drive at a slow crawl along Cahuenga Boulevard to find this renowned gourmet promised land. The cooking is rich in down home traditions; appetizers like Fried Green Tomatoes and Citrus Glazed Shrimp are seriously recommended. And since it’s located in what is now the trendiest part of town, you’ll have a lot of fun walking off all those calories as you peruse many of the recently erected shops.

jeans and A Flock of Seagulls haircuts, you may want to stick with Starbucks or Coffee Bean.

Rodeo Mexican Grill (1721 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles) Sure, the neighborhood’s a bit dodgy, but with food this good, get over it! Mexican din-din gets made to order in this Echo Park restaurant. Refried beans, chicken – even ceviche – are seasoned to perfection. And the best part of it is the affordability. Take $20, a good buddy and your appetite. You’ll eat like kings!

Tutti Gelati (62 W. Union St.,

Wildflour Pizza (2807 Main St.,

Pasadena) Cleanse your palate after a long day of shopping with some fruity and delicious frozen goodness. Tutti Gelati offers Italian ice cream in every flavor and color of the spectrum. Just the visual of metal tin after metal tin housing mouthwatering tastes like Sour Cherry gelato or Granny Smith sorbet is enough to make an instant fan out of any foodie.

Santa Monica) Normally, an eatery with sawdust on the floors would be fodder for any number of jokes steeped in high school bitchiness. But Wildflour is quite possibly one of the better pizzerias by the beach. Fresh ingredients top these pies that are so rich and incredible you will immediately lose your taste for Domino’s, Papa John’s and PizzaHut.

Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill Panini Garden (2715 Main

Takami Sushi & Robata

Food (10571 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles) Follow the cool guys and gals that look as though they have

Citizen

BY EBONY MARCH

Angeles) Looking for a restaurant to make your night in the city truly memorable? Well, look no further. Takami is an outstanding example of what fine dining can be. Its Japanese, pan-Asian fusion cuisine is four star. Takami also has one of the most inventive and outrageous drink menus to compliment the food or to get your evening started with a bang. And the servers always go out of their way to promote a friendly atmosphere. Sure, it gets a little crowded on a Saturday night, but just remember: Good things come to those who wait.

a bit on the expensive side. But you won’t regret paying for quality. After sampling the miso soup, teriyaki and various sushi and sashimi dishes, you might even quit your complaining about the lack of available parking in the area.

Palomino Restaurant Rotisseria Bar (10877 Wilshire Blvd., #150, Los Angeles) When most people think of a college town, they

Citizen Smith

St., Santa Monica) Say the word “crepes” to anybody with a sweet tooth and suddenly you’ll find yourself on the receiving end of a diatribe about the battle of the bulge, fighting a personal battle with sweets and a slew of other problems that goes along with a love of this dessert. Why not give your friends and family another reason to gripe by treating them to the best crepes under $5 this city has to offer. You can also grab an excellent panini for yourself (I recommend the Panino Classico).

(6122 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles) Old school jazz singers are the perfect companion to delectable menu items. (Many talented vocalists perform here on the regular.) While it is renowned

Intelligentsia (3922 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles) Step up to the counter and order what is seen by most as the best cup of Joe on Intelligentsia the Eastside. Intelligentsia draws crowds from all over the city, but is only for its crab cake sandwich, the real frequented by those in the know. star is the filet mignon served However, a word of caution: alongside asparagus in a demiglaze This fun little java and snack atop fluffy, creamy, buttery mashed nook is hipster-central, so potatoes. Great food from an unless you’re all about skinny unlikely culinary superstar.

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the art of love |

BY LUCIA

The end of another year is once again just around the corner. In continuing with the tradition of remembering the important lessons I learned over the last 12 months, here is the list for 2008.

LESSONS FROM 2008 Instant Relationship – Women tend to be guiltier of this than men. After a month or two of dating someone, they assume they are in a relationship. Even though there has been no discussion of commitment or exclusivity, they start to behave as if they are already the girlfriend. The time between when you want to be exclusive and when he wants to be exclusive is very delicate. If handled improperly, you may never get to the relationship you want. Rejection is God’s Protection. – Danish philosopher Kierkegaard

said, “Life can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forwards.” When someone we’re interested in rejects us, it is of course painful. However, when we look back, we are often glad that it didn’t work out. If you’ve recently been rejected, take comfort in knowing there’s a good reason that you will probably understand at some point in the future. Investment = Control – The more invested you are in a relationship, the more control you want over what happens with it. Conversely, the

more control you want, the more invested you are in the other person. If you want to know how “into you” someone is, asking them is not the best way to get the answer. Look at how much control they want!

Communication Not Confrontation – People writing to me for advice often ask if they should “confront” someone. To me, this means they believe the other person is doing something wrong, and they need to call them out. This is always a bad attitude to approach someone with. Steven Covey says, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Communicate, don’t confront. The Right Time – Speaking of communication, choosing the right time is just as important as choosing your words. If you are tired, hungry, cold or hot, that is not the time to have an important discussion. Contrary to popular belief, it’s OK to go to bed mad if it’s late and you’re tired. You will wake up with a new perspective, and suddenly things won’t look as bad. Principle of Perfection – Instead of thinking that other people need to be

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Lucia

fixed or changed, it’s a lot less stressful to see everyone (including yourself) as already being perfect. On the one hand, you know they aren’t perfect, but maybe, in the grand scheme of things, they are! Inner Beauty – Everyone has an ideal in their mind of what they think their partner should look like. When someone comes along who doesn’t quite fit into that box, they reject them, even if there is a mental, emotional and/or spiritual connection. Your ego wants the “one” to look a certain way, but your heart only wants a true connection. Listen to your heart. Better or Worse – When you can’t decide between two courses of action, ask yourself: Will I feel better or worse after doing this, saying that, going here, etc. I’m not talking about feeling better immediately; I’m talking about feeling better in the long run. If you stop to ask yourself this question the next time you can’t make up your mind as to what you should do, you will make the right decision more often than not.

Commitment – The common myth is that guys don’t want to commit. I believe most guys do want to eventually make a commitment. Everyone wants to love and be loved. Guys don’t run from love; they run from making a commitment too soon. Keep that in mind the next time you are impatient and trying to move things along. Is it Acceptable – People put up with all kinds of things just to have someone in their life. They tell themselves they are being too needy when confronted with behavior that their intuition tells them isn’t right. Ask yourself, “Is this acceptable to me?” If not, then you need to communicate your feelings and decide what course of action to take depending on the response.

Write to theartoflove.net.

Lucia

Read an excerpt from Lucia’s Lessons of Love at lessonsoflove.net. Listen to Lucia live every Sunday at 3 p.m. PST on latalkradio.com. Remember: Love inspires, empowers, uplifts and enlightens.

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L.A. OR BUST!

ArcLight

A Few Notes for the First Time Visitor BY KEVIN WIERZBICKI

Hooray For Hollywood!

Gorgeous Homes in Beverly Hills The ritzy neighborhood of Beverly Hills is also nearby, and you can get there by heading west on Sunset from Hollywood. You’ll notice on the

Tom Michele Grimm

Take in the palm tree-lined streets of Beverly Hills.

way that there are dozens of places offering “maps to the stars’ homes.” Buy one if you want, but don’t expect to be led up to George Clooney’s front door. Many of the biggest mansions are set way back off the road where you can barely see them, and all of these places are gated and protected by security. You probably won’t see Brad Pitt retrieving his morning paper, but there are hundreds of gorgeous homes that you can marvel at from public streets. All the roads here loop around, and Beverly Hills covers a relatively small area, so just drive around and see what you can see and don’t worry about getting lost.

Venice Beach is a must-see.

Kenna Love

There’s no doubt about it, a first-timer’s visit to the Los Angeles area must include the Bordello Hollywood experience. Start your adventure where Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street meet; the intersection was at one time the hub of activity for the movie business. The cylindrical Capitol Records Tower (1750 Vine St.) is located at the crossroads that also serve as the center of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The sidewalk plaques honoring movie, radio, television and music stars line both sides of both streets and stretch in all four directions. Maps of the walk’s layout are available so you’ll have no trouble locating markers for Elvis, Marilyn Monroe or your favorite star. Just north and east of Hollywood and Vine, on Beachwood Drive, is a good place to photograph the famous Hollywood sign; go ahead and get a snap from here as the sign itself is inaccessible. There are countless other places of interest along Hollywood Boulevard (and a block south on the parallel-running Sunset Boulevard), and the area takes on different personalities depending on whether it’s day or night. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (6925 Hollywood Blvd.) and the Whisky A Go Go nightclub (8901 W. Sunset Blvd.) are just a couple of the attractions in the area. Put aside a few hours if you’d like to tour the massive backlot of nearby Paramount Studios (5555 Melrose Ave.). Call (323) 956-4848 in advance for tour times and prices.

UNIQUE L.A. MOVIE EXPERIENCES Try These Out of Sight Silver Screen Options B Y TA R E N F U J I M O T O Angel City Drive In

Landmark Theatre

240 W. 4th St., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles; angelcitydrivein.com Angel City Drive In is a monthly movie night hosted on the second floor of a roof parking lot. With a brand new 24-foot by 18-foot screen, Astroturf speakers and a FM transmitter, which allows moviegoers to hear the movie inside their cars, the sheer experience is half the fun. Traditional movie food items such as hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and candy are available for purchase from the Angel City Derby Girls, who arrive at the flash of your car lights. Plus DJ Morgan spins for pre-show entertainment. See The Professional Jan 17. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, and pre-sale ends at 2 p.m. on the day of the screening.

10850 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles (888) 724-6362; landmarktheatres.com Landmark Theatres’ flagship venue has all the amenities of an expensive Hollywood starlet’s home theater. With 12 state of the art auditoriums, oversized leather couches and loveseats and specialized concessions featuring items from Yogurtberry, Peet’s Coffee and La Brea Bakery, the nation’s largest theater chain of independent film has more than outdone itself. The theater also features a wine bar, where ofage moviegoers can enjoy their favorite beer or wine during certain screenings.

Beach Bound

ArcLight’s Unique 21+ Screenings

A first visit to Los Angeles also calls for a stop at the beach. Here again you have endless choices and everyone you ask will have a favorite, but a must-see the first time around is Venice Beach. The town of Venice has a reputation for being bohemian, and many of the shops and residences that are by the beach are arty and delightfully off-kilter. Along the boardwalk you’ll find plenty of beach bunnies and muscle men and pathways just for bicyclists and skaters. But you’ll find a lot more too: Buskers, fortunetellers, jugglers and dancers are among the Venice Beach cast of characters as are folksy artists working in every imaginable medium. Of course, Venice Beach can have slow days depending on the weather, but a visit generally isn’t just a dip in the Pacific – it’s an event!

6360 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; arclightcinemas.com The infamous dome-shaped venue, with a ’60sinspired layout, rounded screen and the latest in cinema technology, features 21+ screenings. It’s the first theater in California to receive a license to do so. Feel free to bring the booze of your choice for an enhanced viewing experience.

No trip to the Los Angeles area is complete until you’ve visited Disneyland (1313 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim), and all through 2009 Mickey Mouse is letting people in free on their birthday. Register for free admission in advance at disney.com and take proof of your birth date with you to the park. For more information, visit discoverLosAngeles.com.

The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre 611 N Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles (323) 655-2510; silentmovietheatre.com Built in 1942 by John and Dorothy Hampton, the Silent Movie Theatre ran as America’s only functioning silent movie theater. Since then, it has been fully restored to its original, vintage 1940s art deco design, complete with a brand new screen and sound system. The venue also has a stage, a Spanish patio and a cappuccino lounge upstairs.

Mission Tiki Drive-in 4407 State St., Montclair (909) 627-3564; missiontiki.com Two first-run movies are shown together on four screens (that’s eight movies total), seven days a week at Mission Tiki Drive-in. The ticket booths are tiki huts, and a Moai garden adds to the Polynesian-inspired theme. The formerly decrepit venue, revamped in 2006, has a snack bar complete with several different kinds of traditional movie snacks, Mexican food and breakfast items. Movie tickets are $7. It also boasts a “world famous” swap meet with over 300 vendors every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free parking. The Vineland Drive-In

Cinespace: Dinner & A Movie 6356 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood (323) 817-3456; cinespace.info Cinespace’s trademark Dinner & A Movie – what else is there to say? Every Saturday at 8 p.m. feast on a gourmet meal while watching a recent Hollywood flick. Movies are free, just show up for dinner, which varies by night. Reservations recommended. Strange Brew screens Dec. 27.

The Vineland Drive-In 443 N. Vineland Ave., City of Industry (626) 961-9262; socaldims.com/thevinelanddrivein.htm Pacific Theatre’s Vineland Drive-In boasts four screens featuring Technalight, and all showing the latest blockbuster movies as well old favorites. Films start at dusk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.

[DEC. 24’ 08 - JAN. 6 ’09]

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