The Hoya Guide: Nov. 18, 2011

the guide THE DISTRICT’S DISH friday, november 18, 2011

Bobby Flay Masters The Burger

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the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop

Das Racist: Balancing Indie and Mainstream

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Cracking the Code Of the Rangila Files

this issue 3 hilltop lifestyle 4 food & drink 10 arts & style 12 entertainment 14 red square roundup // campus spotlight

das racist // rangila // catholic school girl // occupy washington times

bobby’s burger palace // cafe milano

leap into the void // black movement dance theater

the descendents // hulu saxa

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For years, dodgy steak houses and power lunches have dominated the D.C. culinary landscape. Yet since Barack Obama’s election in 2008, the District’s food scene has gradually come onto the national radar.

With regular date nights and lunchtime visits to local restaurants, the president has garnered as much attention for his food choices as he Courtesy think Food Group has for his politics. Coinciding with the arrival of the White House’s newest residents in Washington was an influx of renowned chefs who have since helped define the District as a thriving gastronomic hot spot.

COVER PHOTO BY THINK FOOD GROUP

soundbite hulu saxa

StevenPiccione

Half-naked, smelling like garbage and exhausted from running, I brainstormed ideas for my column name in the locker room so the editor wouldn’t hit me anymore. ... The moral of this story is that “Hulu Saxa” was born of a sweaty and smelly man who was doing nothing more than thinking about Hawaii in the men’s locker room after a run on the treadmill.

the guide Upasana Kaku, Executive Editor Suzanna Fonzi, Managing Editor Chris Bien, Photo Editor Remy Samuels, Layout Editor Samantha Randazzo, Copy Chief Peter Brigham, Deputy Guide Editor Alex Sanchez, Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi, Deputy Guide Editor Christie Shely, Deputy Photo Editor Michelle Cassidy, Deputy Photo Editor Zoe Bertrand, Deputy Layout Editor Jessica Natinsky, Deputy Layout Editor Emory Wellman, Deputy Layout Editor Nikita Buley, Deputy Copy Editor Emily Perkins, Deputy Copy Editor

capitol hill’S own culinary landscape

we saved a spot for you on the hoya.

Connor Gregoire, Editor-in-Chief Steven Piccione, Guide Editor Corrections & Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Upasana Kaku at (202) 687-3415 or email executive@thehoya.com.

General Information The Guide is published each week during the academic year with the exception of holiday and exam periods. Address all correspondence to: The Hoya Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of The Hoya and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University.

Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of The Hoya.

Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors.

The Hoya does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, national or ethnic origin. © 2010. The Hoya, Georgetown University twice weekly. No part of this publication may be used without the permission of The Hoya Board of Editors. All rights reserved. The Guide is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus. Additional copies are $1 each.

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hilltop

RED SQUARE ROUNDUP Black Movements Dance Theatre

Noshes and Networking

Friday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m.

Walsh Black Box Theater

Monday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

Georgetown Career Center

Black Movements Dance Theatre brings you an evening of signature works and new collaborations featuring both students and guest choreographers. Support your fellow Georgetown students and buy your ticket in Red Square. For only $8, this is an event you shouldn’t miss!

Calling all ambitious Georgetown ladies! This speed dating-themed networking event sponsored by Women in Politics invites women from a wide range of industries and careers to mingle for an evening of food and fun. This low key event will be a great opportunity to explore your interests and meet women with first-hand experience.

Friday, Nov. 18 at 9:30 p.m. and 12 a.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 at 9:30 p.m. and 12 a.m.

ICC Auditorium

Friday, Nov. 18 at 10:30 p.m.

Skate-N-Fun Zone, Manassas, Va.

This Friday, Georgetown Program Board will present 30 Minutes or Less, a comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg as a guileless pizza delivery man, who becomes coerced into robbing a bank by bad guys Danny McBride and Nick Swardson. Aziz Ansari co-stars as Eisenberg’s best friend and partner in crime.

GPB Movie: 30 Minutes or Less

Join Black Student Alliance and What’s After Dark for Hoya Late Sk8, a chance for you to release your inner child and roller skate the night away. Break out of the Georgetown bubble and journey with your friends to Manassas, Va., to enjoy some disco music and get your groove on.

Hoya Late Sk8

campusspotlight // PHANTOMS T

he Georgetown Phantoms is Georgetown’s oldest co-ed a cappella group.

Founded in 1988, the Phantoms began as a loosely-organized holiday caroling group, putting on spontaneous performances around campus and popping up like “Phantoms” (hence our name). Over the last 23 years, we have developed into a dynamic group of about 19 Hoyas, maintaining a yearly repertoire of 50 plus songs ranging from classical music to Top 40 hits. The Phantoms have performed all across the Georgetown and greater D.C. communities. We have also performed as the opening act for Chingy and the Black Eyed Peas on BBC Radio 1, as well as at venues including the State Department, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the Kennedy Center. In 2010, the Phantoms competed for the first time in the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella and won “Outstanding Soloist” in the quarter-final and semi-final rounds.

By far the most exciting time of year for the Phantoms is the annual D.C. A Cappella Festival, or DCAF, which is co-hosted by the GraceNotes. DCAF, now in its 20th year, took place

these past two weekends in front of sold-out crowds in Gaston Hall. The festival featured various Georgetown a cappella groups, as well as guest groups from around the country; this year, the Phantoms invited the Yale Whiffenpoofs (from NBC’s “The Sing-Off”) and the NYU N’Harmonics (a DCAF staple) to perform. The reach and reputation of DCAF continues to grow immensely each year.

The Phantoms are finishing production of our sixth CD, which will be released by Christmas. In the meantime, the Phantoms look forward to continuing to sing for the Georgetown community and extending our reach. Most recently, we have been invited to perform at the White House on Dec. 3 as part of the White House’s holiday festivities.

Spring auditions are quickly approaching, so if you’d like to audition, feel free to email us at contact@georgetownphantoms. com, find us at facebook.com/hoyasaxa, follow us @guphantoms or visit our website at georgetownphantoms.com. michelle cassidy/the hoya

Alex Field (SFS ’14), Public Relations Director, The Phantoms

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA The Phantoms perform “Bad Romance” on Healy Lawn during their final show of spring semester 2011.

11.18.11 // the guide // 3

lifestyle

Das Makes a Statement

DANISH ZAIDI Hoya Staff Writer

wgtb brings rap group to bulldog alley

W

alk around campus and you will see the same poster of two men everywhere. The one on the left has a scarf draped around his neck a necklace of chili peppers, and the other has his nose full of cigarettes. That’s Das Racist.

The up-and-coming Brooklyn-based rap group was flying under the radar just a year ago, but broke into the mainstream this past September with its debut album Relax. Since then, more people have searched for their mixtapes and singles, excavating into the works of three really smart guys.

The appeal of Das Racist comes from the way they shroud their intelligence with stupidity. The facade sometimes undermines the depth of their subject matter, but to those who simply don’t hear it, the duo still has fantastic production, sampling and flow. And to those who understand the self-parody — of their education, of their background, of hip-hop — the music is all the more spectacular.

Bringing a name like Das Racist to Georgetown isn’t easy, though. I recently sat down with Caroline Klibanoff (COL ’12) and Charlotte Japp (COL ’12) of WGTB to ask how and why they got the group to per-

form. The next morning, I phoned in with Ashok Kondabolu, also known as Dap — one of three members of Das Racist — to figure out what actually goes on in the mind of a rapper. Both agreed on one thing: Georgetown offers a platform for

who went to Georgetown,” Dap said.

Beyond the familiar connection, Dap added that there’s also a financial incentive for appealing to a young crowd: “College and high school kids set us up for future markets.”

“We could have written a structured treatise attacking corporate proliferation. Or we could just say ‘Pizza Hut Taco Bell’ over and over. That s***’s way funnier.”

— Victor Vazquez rising artists to launch themselves.

When Japp would emailed representatives for Best Coast or Reptar, she received positive responses due to Georgetown’s prestige. “Their interests were piqued because they were like, ‘This school is legit,’” Japp said.

Das Racist finds performing at Georgetown appealing not just for its receptive audience, but also because of a bit of history. “Other than just getting paid, we also had two good friends

The rap group does just that. Throughout their history, they have been trying to establish themselves as heavy and philosophical, even if in a jarring and bizarre way.

“People think it’s a joke,” Dap said, “the way we look and talk.” Yet, two of the three members went to college, and two of them went to Stuyvesant High School — New York City’s premiere magnet school. Rapper Victor Vazquez, in a previous in-

INKKE.COM

DAS THE SPIRIT! The alternative rap trio, who met while two of them were studying at Wesleyan, blends intelligent snark with ridiculous parody. They will be coming to Bulldog Alley this Saturday night, sponsored by WGTB Georgetown Radio.

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terview for New York Magazine said, “‘We could have written a structured treatise attacking corporate proliferation. Or we could just say ‘Pizza Hut Taco Bell’ over and over. That s***’s way funnier.’”

Over the last few years, WGTB had been criticized for being “too indie.” “People were voicing these opinions that we weren’t representing, effectively, all of Georgetown,” Japp said. Of the performers that the radio station had brought to campus, most were bands, and there was very little focus on hip-hop or rap. “One thing that’s important,” according to Klibanoff, “is that this semester we have a ton of more hip-hop shows on our broadcast.”

Securing Das Racist by outbidding other schools has forced WGTB to double its budget for the show. The $3.00 ticket charge (really!) will not keep the station from cutting into its own funds and, fortunately, the expected revenue of the show is twofold.

“The whole point of us doing concerts … is to bring live music to campus,” Klibanoff added, “but also to increase our visibility as a station.” By hosting performances like this, WGTB builds more applications for shows, more listeners, more bloggers and a greater general awareness for the station.

Beyond the fact that it will appease both indie and hip-hop persuasions, WGTB feels the intimacy of a performance in Bulldog Alley will make this concert a success. “If Das Racist played anywhere in D.C., it would be $20 minimum at a huge venue,” Japp said.

From a market standpoint, Das Racist has a massive amount of indie appeal as well. They’re not the stereotypical rap group. Himanshu Suri (Heems) and Kondabolu (Dap) are both of Indian decent; Victor Vazquez (Kool A.D.) is Cuban and Italian. Heems and Kool A.D. met at Wesleyan where Vazquez was Suri’s RA. Atypical.

The origins of these social critics are parallel to those of the students rapping for fun on GarageBand all over Georgetown’s campus. Kondabolu would often visit Suri at Wesleyan; they, alongside Vazquez, recorded three songs with their friends who were in a band.

“I find that a lot of rock people are super eager to record rap groups because, you know, a lot of them, in the back of their heads — they’re thinking it would be pretty cool if a guy just came in here

lifestyle and rapped for 20 minutes and then just left,” Dap said.

Of the few songs they put together, one — “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” — put them in the spotlight.

“That became, whatever people now call it — watched it on YouTube. I guess that’s called a ‘hit song’ even though no one makes any money,” Dap added.

Since then, Das Racist released two well-received mixtapes, and this September they released their first commercial album.

On the topic of social stigmas from “selling out,” Suri admitted to giving some of their work a more mainstream tone. “There definitely was some effort to make songs that had a larger appeal, or whatever,” he said. “But I don’t think we pandered. I don’t think we made anything that people were surprised we made.” Indeed, while Relax was a bit more pop than Das Racist’s usual work, they stayed true to their roots.

Das Racist’s debut album proved to be a commercial and critical success.

Their small fan base only circulated it among themselves, but it lacked the star power that could popularize it among a broader consumer base. Hopefully, Georgetown can set the stage for Das Racist: Open them to a wider audience, push them into mainstream and make their brand of intelligent stupidity all the more appealing.

Q & A

Michelle Cassidy/the Hoya

COMBINATION PIZZA HUT AND TACO BELL The group’s hit song highlights the band’s signature intelligent absurdity.

What are you looking for on Black Friday?

“If I go out, a black North Face fleece.

Everyone has one, and I’m freezing.”

“Sleeping in until 1 p.m.”

Evan Markley (COL ’15)

Kate Sciamanna (COL ’14)

“Victoria’s Secret always has the best deals.”

“I need a new pair of boots to keep me warm in this weather.”

Tess Trotter (COL ’14)

Akriti Kumar (MSB ’14)

11.18.11 // the guide // 5

lifestyle

center stage Just Dance: Rangila Coordinators Bring Together 400 Performers This Weekend Aanika Patel (SFS ’13) is a coordinator of this year’s Rangila, the 17th annual celebration of South Asian song and dance, along with Shreya Kundur (COL ‘12). The show is one of the largest events on campus, with over 400 dancers participating. Patel believes that this year’s show, “The Rangila Files: A Mystery at Gaston,” will be the best yet.

What is Rangila?

Rangila is this amazing [event] on campus every year that showcases Southeast Asian culture. It is about the Georgetown community coming together and doing something that is just so not normal. It’s interesting to watch people who don’t know that much about South Asian culture or society come together and perform traditional South Asian dance on stage for two nights.

When did you first get involved with Rangila?

My freshman year I actually almost didn’t join Rangila, but I lived in Darnall, and my roommate really wanted to

Victoria Edel Special to The Hoya

do it, and they had signups in St. Mary’s, which is close by, so I went. The room was packed, and it seemed so cool. I choreographed my sophomore year. As a junior, I’m choreographing and coordinating the show.

Were you involved with this type of dance before coming to Georgetown?

I danced a little in high school and middle school. My mom was afraid that I wasn’t going to be very cultured, so she made me dance and get out of my comfort zone a little. The great thing about dance, especially Rangila, is that a lot of people have never danced before, and they’re jumping into a very specific kind of dance.

Why did you decide you wanted to be a coordinator?

It’s been exactly a year since I decided this was something I really wanted to do.

The show had finished, and, after the last dance, everyone stormed the stage. Two guys from my dance lifted me up in the

air. I was on their shoulders looking out at the entire audience and everyone on stage and I thought, “This is amazing. I want this to be mine next year.” When you’re [a] coordinator, every little piece of the show has a bit of you in it, and it’s a little part of you.

What would you say is the best part of being coordinator?

[The best part is] seeing everything come together. For choreographers, this journey has been about four and a half months long. For dancers, it’s been about two and a half. For me, it’s been seven months ever since I was elected. You start on the ground running from the very first day. It’s exciting to see everything come together, to see my dancers take the stage in costume for the first time because they are so excited.

And the worst?

There are some [not-so-great aspects to being coordinator]. The emails never stop.

I think in the last hour I have gotten 75 asking me for tickets. The good thing is Shreya and I work really well together. We weren’t good friends before this started, but now we have become great friends because of this. It’s nice to have that support system.

What’s your most embarrassing Rangila story?

Last year during dress rehearsal I had to go through a costume change, and it was very quick. I went on to do the next act, and there’s a tie on your pants that I just didn’t have. There was a move when I was literally front and center, jumping up and down, and all of a sudden I feel something slipping down my legs. My pants were around my knees. Luckily, I had on leggings underneath.

Courtesy AANIKA PATEL

DANCING UP A STORM Annika Patel and Shreya Kundur have devoted almost a year to planning Georgetown’s annual South Asian dance and culture showcase.

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What charity does Rangila benefit?

It’s called the Kumarappa Institute of Gram Swaraj. They do a lot of vocational training. Tara Hill (SFS ’13), our philanthropy chair, is going to give a short presentation about it, and she’s going to wear a sari that was made by the women in the vocational training program. It’s a great charity that we’ve been supporting for over a decade. We used to provide the entire operating budget for them; they’ve grown since then, but we’re still their largest donor.

Some things you didn’t know about Annika and Shreya: The two got lost in a cornfield while picking up costumes in New Jersey.

Aanika had to haggle in a different language to get the costume prices down. (“They gave us a lower price because I was speaking it, apparently, and they thought it was cute that I was trying.”)

Aanika was asked to choreograph Raas last year. They thought she had a ton of experience, but she had never done it before, so she learned it all from YouTube.

Shreya’s mom came up with this year’s name, “The Rangila Files.”

lifestyle

Extra! Extra! Reporting on a Protest the occupied washington times publishes in the district Harvey hinman Special to The Hoya

T

hough it may be only a small group of protesters based out of a tent city in McPherson Square, the Occupy DC movement has a newspaper. At a modest length of four pages, the first issue of The Occupied Washington Times was published on Nov. 8. The newspaper reports on the happenings of the Occupy DC movement and provides a venue for participants to voice their opinions on the movement and political happenings.

The Occupied Washington Times is not to be confused with The Occupied Washington Post, a similar publication created by another Occupy movement going on in Freedom Plaza.

“The main goal of the Times is to show people the issues with our current government, show them what’s really happening,” says Sam Jewler, a member of the publication’s editorial board. While not authorized by the general assembly of the movement to give official opinions, the newspaper does have the support of the group, as it is occupiers who write the articles published in the paper.

One quality that sets the Times apart from most other, more traditional publications is its “bottom-up” nature. Instead of having control of the newspaper and its content concentrated at the top, the power over the publication lies in its

Occupy DC base. Only 25 percent of the articles in each issue may be written by editors, and editorial board membership rotates, meaning that no member may be on the board for more than three consecutive issues. This keeps articles focused on the issues that really engage the Occupy population and the board’s perspective diverse.

As a concrete manifestation of the Occupy movement, an important use of the paper is to involve the public. To do this, occupiers have been passing out newspapers at Metro stops and distributing them on the streets near McPherson Square. Because the paper is completely independent in terms of funding, the paper also involves the general public by inviting them to financially support the paper.

For the first edition, a company in New York printed 10,000 copies of the paper for $12,000. The vast majority of that money came from individuals outside of the Occupy DC base but sympathetic to the cause.

Just as the Occupy movement seems to be around for the long haul, so does The Occupied Washington Times. The paper’s goal is to release a new edition every two weeks with more and more papers being printed every time.

LEOnel de velez for the hoya

SIGN OF THE TIMES The Occupied Times publishes 10,000 copies biweekly.

Many of the paper’s goals for its growth have been set following strong reception from other Occupy movements such as Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Baltimore. Both movements received several hundred papers and are eager for more.

Whether or not one agrees with the Occupy movement, the ability of the occupiers at McPherson Square to create a publication out of a city of tents is remarkable. If you would like to see an online version of the paper, check out the website at owt.occupydc.org.

Guilty of These Seven Deadly Sins catholic schoolgirl SarahAmos

A

year and several awkward sexual encounters ago, I began recounting the anticlimactic tales of one Catholic school girl.

This is my final column, and in the spirit of my first column over a year ago — the 10 Commandments for freshmen — I will run through the Seven Deadly Sins of the Hilltop.

Don’t feel guilty, this lapsed Catholic has committed of all of these.

Pray for me.

Gluttony Where do I start? The sheer quantities I consume during jungle-juiced

adventures? The third and fourth helpings of bacon I consume at Leo’s brunch to soak up the previous night’s adventures? The packets of chocolate chip cookie dough I eat on Saturday nights in my room while watching “Millionaire Matchmaker?”

Greed The best part of Georgetown’s elite status of bringing world-renowned speakers is the fancy receptions that follow. I’m that girl who loads up her small appetizer plate with all the available Stilton cheese and raspberries.

Wrath I usually don’t commit this sin, except when dealing with University Information Services. SaxaNet is the spawn of Satan, so I feel justified in my anger.

Sloth I live in a townhouse with five other girls, and I am the only one among them who does not attend an exercise class of some kind. But that doesn’t keep me from living in workout leggings at least three days out of the week. People will ask me if I just went for a run, but the truth is I most likely slept in until noon and didn’t feel like wearing real pants.

Pride As an SFS-er there’s a special place in my heart for this vice. Any good, brown-nosing I-Pol major will quickly make you feel like a worthless human being if you haven’t interned for your senator, spent a summer teaching English in Mauritius and/or received top-level security clearance.

Envy Every time I see a couple’s PDA in Lau, a little part of me dies inside.

Lust (See “Envy.”) As my pen name would suggest, this may be my greatest sin, but I am not alone.

Consider our generation’s preoccupation in discussing the ubiquitous “hookup culture.” Look at the crass drawings scrawled across the library’s cubicles or overhear two drunk Jane Hoyas at a party: “I just wanna make out with someone reeeal bad!” (Oh wait, I may be talking about myself again … ) But it’s been many years since my last confession — unless you count these guilt-ridden confessions, dear reader.

After all, you can take the girl out of the Catholic school, you can’t take the Catholic school out of the girl.

Sarah Amos is a junior in the School of Foreign Service and can be reached at amos@ thehoya.com. Catholic Schoolgirl appears every other Friday in the guide.

11.18.11 // the guide // 7

DC’S GOURMET EVOLUTION BETHANY IMONDI HOYA STAFF WRITER

I

COURTESY JASON VARNEY

OYAMEL Unique fusion dishes, like the grasshopper tacos at Oyamel, are a staple at José Andrés’ restaurants.

n a city where the power lunch long dominated, where suit-clad individuals traditionally brokered important decisions at the local steakhouse, food often took a back seat to politics and power. D.C. prides itself on being a center of power and influence, but for decades it lacked culinary power to match its political clout.

COURTESTY JASON VARNEY

DISHING THE DETAILS José Andrés brought fusion flair to the District with his culinary empire including Minibar, Zaytina and America Eats.

In recent years, Washington has seen a remarkable awakening in its culinary scene.

With the 2008 presidential election, not only did D.C. welcome a new wave of politicians, but it also saw the arrival of a number of internationallyrenowned chefs. Culinary stars such as Wolfgang Puck, Art Smith and Michael Smith have redefined the power lunch concept with more eclectic, creative visions.

“Precisely this political game of people coming in and out, bodies changing hands, government changing hands, allows a sectionalized market of people coming in, coming out,” chef José Andrés says.

Andrés first came to Washington 19 years ago to establish his first restaurant, Jaleo. Since then, he has successfully made his mark throughout the city and developed a culinary empire, Think Food Group, which owns D.C. restaurants like Minibar by José Andrés, Oyamel, Zaytinya and his most recent venture, America Eats, a pop-up concept restaurant that explored the origins of iconic American cuisine.

In his nearly 20 years in Washington, Andrés has seen tremendous growth in the District’s culinary landscape.

“When I arrived in the city, everyone always said [it] was very conservative, and to a degree it was. It was almost a

too-tired city,” Andrés explains. “Everyone used to say that Washington was a steak kind of town because people wanted simple so they could concentrate. This somehow defined Washington a lot.”

D.C. has never really owned a signature dish. While the half-smoke, a chili-covered sausage made famous by U Street’s iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl, is a local favorite, it is not tied to D.C. in the national conscience like Philadelphia is to its cheese steak, Chicago to its deepdish pizza or New York to its bagels.

In the District, culinary creativity was chronically stifled.

“People were so afraid [of getting into] trouble, or [doing] something wrong and [stepping] on the wrong feet,” Jenna Golden, one of three local writers for the D.C. food blog “EatMore DrinkMore,” says.

But over time, the city’s food culture slowly began to push the envelope.

Celebrity chef Mike Isabella attributes his arrival in Washington five years ago to his search for something different and exciting.

“I wanted to be part of a major city,” Isabella says. “I saw a lot of growth in [D.C.].”

Isabella, a New Jersey native, worked in both New York and Philadelphia before he began his time in Washington as the executive chef at Andrés’ restau-

rant Zaytinya. There, he garnered national attention for his unique take on Mediterranean cuisine.

Earlier this year, after two seasons on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” including a secondplace finish on “Top Chef All Stars,” Isabella opened his first restaurant — a casual Italian eatery called Graffiato — in D.C. Even taking the mild pushback from some diners into account, Isabella noticed a general willingness among locals and tourists to experiment with new offerings on District menus.

“People are coming in and trying things in the hopes of finding something special. I think there are definitely more people willing to experience it,” he says.

Golden also believes that Washingtonians are opening up to a broader range of culinary options.

“Something is coming more middleof-the-road so that everybody can try the best things that are out there,” she says.

This newfound appreciation for outof-the-box dining has sparked a revival across the city’s different neighborhoods. In Cleveland Park, for example, there is a strong emphasis on family dining. In Adams Morgan, funky coffee shops and dive bars attract young diners. And while Georgetown has often been considered more of an upscale dining destination, the emergence of more casual, affordable restaurants have altered its reputation — a plus for students looking for cheap eats.

Looking to build on Graffiato’s success, Isabella recently announced his plans to open a new restaurant in Georgetown in the space formerly occupied by Hook, which suffered major fire damage earlier this year. Bandolero, like Graffiato, will specialize in fusion small-plate offerings that play off classic Mexican dishes and include some of Isabella’s unique flair.

“My vision for Bandolero is a high-energy, high-volume restaurant to match the bustling vibe of the Georgetown neighborhood and feed the late-night appetite of its college students,” Isabella says. “The menu will change frequently with my twist on classic Mexican dishes and a large cocktail menu.”

Isabella isn’t the only “Top Chef” alum with an active local presence.

Spike Mendelsohn of Capitol Hill’s Good Stuff Eatery, Bryan Voltaggio of Volt in nearby Frederick, Md., and Carla Hall, one of the vibrant personalities of ABC’s new daytime talk show, “The Chew,” and owner of D.C. metro area catering service Alchemy, have all garnered attention for their accessible and creative food.

While many chefs have introduced unique and even international perspectives, the rich culture and history of the city still influences its foodie landscape, according to Andrés.

“My years in the heart of Washington accessible healthy food. Her “Let’s have been very close to everything that Move” campaign and the development created America,” he says. “Next to the of the White House garden and farmArchives, being close to Harper’s Ferry, er’s market have generated dialogue being not too far away from George- about America’s need to make respontown, all the history that goes around sible food choices, reflecting the transWashington. This is what motivated formation of D.C.’s dining scene.

“We used to be known as a city that me.” was sort of dodgy, filled with old steakIsabella agrees.

“The location definitely dictates the houses, not a lot of character,” Golden type of cuisine that you are going to do. says.

The meat-and-potatoes stereotype and … [D.C. is a] fun city to be a part of,” he says. “It is something new and exciting, repetitive menus once did little to entice food-minded visitors. But now, powered [and] it is really growing quickly.”

Andrés views D.C.’s atmosphere as by a growing collection of acclaimed distinct from more established dining chefs and with the support of the president, Washington’s culinary revival has destinations.

“It is this mix of being in a big city D.C. gastronomes and tourists alike flockwith high buildings, high rises, but still ing to local restaurants. While the power lunch may never die, the new items on that small-town kind of feel,” he says.

According to Golden, President power brokers’ plates represent a culiObama has also played a role in reinvig- nary coming-of-age that has pushed the orating the D.C. dining scene. From his District beyond the cliched steak-anddy meal. regular date nights with the first lady bran“I think [D.C.] is an to his penchant for local burger joints, exciting place to be, Obama’s eating habits have gradually and it does feel like brought Washington into the nationit was left out for al culinary limelight. so many years,” “The Obamas have made D.C. Golden explains. hipper and cooler,” says Golden. “It “It is, after all, might just be that it’s the first time the capital. in a long time that we have had peoSo why not be ple in the White House who seemed here?” excited about the culinary options in the city.”

Since President Obama was inaugurated in 2009, he and his wife have gradually dined their way across Washington. From Todd Gray’s more upscale Equinox to the more casual Ray’s Hell Burger and Good Stuff Eatery, the president has not only promoted local businesses but has helped boost the national recognition of these establishments.

The Obamas have also become strong advocates for food policy, especially on the local level.

Perhaps even more so than her husband, first lady Michelle Obama has promoted the imporCAPITALSPICEBLOG.COM tance of nutrition and TOP CHEF Mike Isabella will unveil a new restaurant in Georgetown, a f fo r d a b l e , Bandolero, located in the space previously occupied by Hook.

RESTAURANTS TO CHECK OUT

volt

bryan and michael voltaggio 228 N Market St., Frederick, Md.

good stuff eatery

spike mendelsohn 303 Pennsylvania Ave. SE

graffiato

mike isabella 707 Sixth St. NW

equinox

todd and ellen gray 818 Connecticut Ave. NW

food&drink Bobby’s Burgers Pile on Flavor New Joint Worth the Price Elizabeth Garbitelli Hoya Staff Writer

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BOBBY’S BURGER PALACE

Hey, Five Guys, you’ve been challenged to a culinary throw-down by one guy — Bobby Flay. Sink your teeth into one of the famous TV chef’s burger creations, and you’ll become a Bobby’s Burger Palace fanatic, too.

Open since the beginning of the summer, Bobby’s Burger Palace joins the ranks of D.C.’s already-crowded burger scene. But unlike other stops, such as Ray’s and BGR, Flay’s first foray into the District offers carnivores options beyond the basic beef patty.

When choosing what to order, diners have the option of Angus beef, ground turkey or chicken breast — and it doesn’t stop there. The menu includes a list of designer burger topping combos that range from homestyle to gourmet. The Palace Classic features American cheese, red onion, lettuce and tomato, or you can throw all health caution to the wind and order the signature Crunchburger, topped with double American cheese

2121 K St. NW cuisine: Burgers price: $$$$ and potato chips.

Flay also crafts some more exotic offerings like the Napa Valley Burger, served with goat cheese, watercress and Meyer lemon-honey mustard. Other extravagant patties include the Miami Burger, which is pressed with an extra layer of ham.

Since Flay is known for his Tex-Mex fusion, my personal choice was the Santa Fe Burger. It was smothered in queso sauce and garnished with spicy pickled jalapeños and blue corn chips — not just good, but so good. I’m not one to over-praise a burger (Shake Shack, for example, left me unimpressed), but my Santa Fe was handsdown one of the best things I have had in months. And I swear Bobby Flay is not paying me to write this.

Bobby’s Burger Palace is also home to the Topless Burger Salad, which allows diners to order any burger from the menu served on top of baby greens and dressed with a balsamic

Hoya Happy Hour

vinaigrette. This option provides a sigh of relief for all those who felt their arteries hardening just by reading the above descriptions.

For sides, options include fries, sweet potato fries and beer-battered onion rings. Wash down the feast with a milkshake or malt with flavors such as blueberry-pomegranate and mango. For those of age, Bobby’s Burger Palace also serves beer and spiked milkshakes like the Mocha Kahlua Vodka.

The joint is located at 2121 K St. about a block away from Washington Circle Park, and it is well worth the $2 trip via Circulator. Though the burgers, priced between $6.75 and $7.75, cost more than a griddled patty from Five Guys, burger lovers will find it totally worth it.

flickr .com

Dishes you have to try: Santa Fe Burger

queso sauce, pickled jalapenos, blue corn chips // $7.75

Topless Burger Salad

any burger served on top of baby greens with balsamic dressing // $8.50

A weekly roundup of some of the best shots, mixes and punches.

Sweet and sour Go for something classy before the Thanksgiving holiday this year with this pomegranate-inspired drink. Enjoy the sweet flavor of pomegranate, enhanced by the tart grapefruit juice, and top it off with a lemon wedge for a fine -looking 1 oz. pomegranate and tasting beverage experience.

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liquor

10 // the guide // 11.18.11

+

2 oz. vodka

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1 oz. pink grapefruit juice

ice

food&drink

There’s Not Much to Get Excited About at Cafe Meh-lano

ALEXANDRA MA Special to The Hoya

C

afe Milano is not your average Italian restaurant. Opened in 1992, Cafe Milano has become like The Tombs and Tuscany’s — a place of tradition.

Of course, Cafe Milano is very different from either of those restaurants. Having won “Power Spot of the Year” in the 2005 RAMMYS, the “Oscars of Washington, D.C. restaurants,” and the Star Diamond Award for hospitality four years in a row, one can expect no less than quality Italian dining. The restaurant’s website boasts that it is the “hub” for diplomats, lawmakers and celebrities — even a (failed) plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador was planned to take place here.

With all this in mind, my friends and I set off to Cafe Milano with high expectations.

Unfortunately, I have to say it was a bit of a disappointment. While the restaurant strives

cafemilano.net

 CAFE MILANO 3251 Prospect St. NW cuisine: Italian price: $$$$ for the down-to-earth feel common in Italian cuisine, it really is only a small step away from “fine dining.”

The decor of the restaurant, however, is worth noting. With wood paneling and painted ceilings, one could easily imagine one is in Europe. Don’t be fooled by the word “cafe” in its name; while “cafe” in Europe denotes cheap, quick food, this isn’t the case at this restaurant. Starters cost about $20 and entrees about $30 — rather pricy for miniscule portions.

As typical college students, my group and I finished three breadbaskets in approximately four seconds. Soft and warm, the bread was just how it ought to be, and the accompanying balsamic vinaigrette made the basket disappear even faster.

To begin the meal, I ordered the crispy calamari and zucchini. While it looked massive at first due to the uncountable amount of calamari, the tininess of the individual pieces made them satisfying without being overly heavy or filling. The zucchini was superb: thin, crispy and full of taste. However, like some of the calamari, there was perhaps too much batter coating the vegetable.

SARI FRANKel/the hoya

LITTLE ITALY Expect to pay high prices for small portions at this Italian eatery.

Next, we ordered the mussels in lemon and white wine broth which, unfortunately, were much different than I had expected.

Rather than the standard garlic and white wine, the broth was made with lemon and white wine, giving it a sour taste that I avoided soaking up with the bread at the end of my meal.

As an entree, I opted for the roasted black grouper with a chickpea, porcini mushroom and fresh tomato guazzetto (fish stew). The grouper had great texture, but what struck me was the burst

A biweekly guide on transforming cafeteria grub into true cuisine

Leo’s Gourmet NICOLE JARVIS

Cavity in a cup Have a sudden craving for something sweet and decadent that must be satisfied? If so, whip up this triple chocolate concoction with some of Leo’s most popular items all in a single cup.

Ingredients:

1 swirl of chocolate soft-serve ice cream 1 handful of Cocoa Puffs 1 pump of chocolate syrup 1 chocolate chip cookie

of flavor from the guazzetto. However, the saltiness of the dish made everything else taste bland in comparison, and, after a while, it became inedible and loaves of bread had to be devoured in order to restore the balance of my palate. The halfmoon ravioli that my friends ordered looked and smelled great, but they complained about the tiny portion size.

While Cafe Milano is a must-visit as a Georgetown student, don’t bother frequenting it because one, college kids are poor and two, college kids are hungry.

Special to The Hoya

Directions:

Add a layer of soft-serve to the bottom of a cup.

Add one handful of Cocoa Puffs.

Add chocolate sauce Repeat steps 1-3 until you reach the top of the cup.

Top with a swirl of ice cream and a cookie.

Matt Joseloff/The Hoya

11.18.11 // the guide // 11

arts&style Gotta Hand it to the Artist Have an ‘Epiphany’

caroline horwich Special to The Hoya

T

his Friday and Saturday in the Walsh Black Box Theater, the Black Movements Dance Theatre will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with the production of the show “Epiphany.” Consisting of nine short dance pieces, “Epiphany” symbolizes a reawakening of the roots of African-American culture, which is expressed through the energetic medium of African-fusion dance in the Horton modern style.

Dressed in simple black costumes, the all-female ensemble delivers a mesmerizing performance with its extremely lively choreography. One of the pieces, entitled “Endangered Entity,” is particularly fast-paced, with the dancers entering and exiting the stage to create a continuous flow of movement.

Directed by professor Cathy Smith from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, this piece opens with several small groups of five dancing one by one at different times. They demonstrate their skill with an electrifying mix of jumps, spins and turns on different levels that occupy the entirety of the floor space. More dancers then join them from all sides of the stage and the ensemble performs a group routine where their rapid, synchronous arm movements create a fluid and uniform rhythm. The final pose of the group clustered together, crumpled with their arms outstretched and with

somber expressions, is especially powerful and evokes the feeling of fear that Smith tries to convey.

The quick tempo of the performance’s music adds to this tension, though it never detracts from the visual show on stage. Starting off with a steady beat, the drum rolls and exotic melodies get faster and faster in a way that further builds up this feeling of fear. The ever-present deep red background and dark lighting also bring elements of danger and urgency to the piece.

The Black Movements Dance Theatre has enjoyed great success since its founding 30 years ago by several African-American women on campus. Winning the title of Outstanding Student Organization in 1992 and the Professional Photographers of America’s Special Directors Award in 2006-07, individual members of the BDMT have also won awards in the performing arts department. The company has also worked with preeminent guest artists, such as the founders of hiphop, Assane Konte of KanKouran Dance Company, and Mama Kadiatou Conte of Balafon West African Dance Ensemble Overall, “Epiphany” is a riveting dance performance that engages with its audience through its emotive and expressive style. It reflects African-American culture, and it is a definite must-see.

georgetown.edu

FAST PACED Dancers move and express African-American culture with powerful choreography.

12 // the guide // 11.18.11

new prints. There’s no denying that the images themselves were the product of the man behind the lens. Yet, as I’ve come to learn from my photography classes, a finished photograph is not simply the result of that single moment of point and shoot; so much of the final product ClareDonnelly depends on the decisions made during the prorecently interned at a small, local gallery cess of creation, of transformation from film to that specializes in selling prints by well- paper. It’s what I’ve come to appreciate about known modern artists. When I say prints, film as a medium. So who would these new I don’t mean the stuff you find at the Leavey prints belong to — the person who clicked the poster sale; rather, these are hand-printed im- shutter button, or the one who transformed pressions of original works done by the artists that moment into a material image?

Then there are the artists who rely on the (engravings, etchings, et cetera).

Each week, I’d watch D.C.’s wealthy elites assistance of others in the creation of their waltz in, wallets in hand, floating around the work. Warhol — whose work I’ve been explorspace, trying to decide if a Matisse or a Picasso ing all semester due to his recent takeover of would look better in the bathroom of their sec- the National Mall — asked friends at his New ond guest bedroom. Some had no trouble drop- York studio, the Factory, to help him complete ping several hundred on the Chagall on the far his large-scale screen prints.

The “Shadows” exhibit at the Hirshhorn wall that had immediately caught their eye, while others chose to take their time, wanting right now consists of a vast series of huge silkscreened and painted canvases displaying the to know every detail about a particular piece.

They’d ask me questions about the printing same repeated, abstract image. It is an undertechnique, the number of editions made and taking that would have taken the artist years the person who printed it (often not the artist had he not received help from other Factory himself). To some potential buyers, the hand artists in copying the same design onto each that physically put this piece of paper through of the 102 canvases in the project. But, upon learning that fact, are we to the printing press to form the walk away from this exhibit impression was just as importhinking that it was any less For a while now, I’ve tant as the presence of the artist’s been grappling with “Warhol” than if the artsignature. this notion of the artist himself had completed For a while now, I’ve been ist’s hand and how each work on his own? Does grappling with this notion of important it really is. the fact that he received the artist’s hand and how imhelp take anything away portant it really is. On the surfrom the original work? face, it seems like a no-brainer And what about conceptual artists such — of course we want to see the pieces as Sol LeWitt? His colorful, geometric “wall the artists created themselves, as opposed to some copy. If we cared only about the art drawings” — one of which can be found in the itself and not who made it, we wouldn’t see National Gallery — were completed almost enmuch difference between that “Starry Night” tirely by teams of assistants or students workposter hanging in a friend’s dorm room and ing from the artist’s written instructions or a the one on the wall of the Museum of Modern simple diagram. LeWitt’s artistic hand played Art in New York. We wouldn’t see a difference a small part in the creation of these works, yet between the cover band and the real thing, be- they are all attributed to him — a reflection of tween the apple pie you bought from Safeway his emphasis on the creative process behind and the one lovingly crafted by your grand- his work over its physical execution. In his mother. Sometimes — most of the time, per- work, this traditional concept of the artist’s haps — the artist’s hand is absolutely essential hand is rendered irrelevant. to our enjoyment and appreciation of a work In the end, how much does the artist’s of art, be it a painting, a song or a warm, deli- own hand in a piece’s creation really matter? cious pie. These other copies — impressions, if Certain artists (as well as musicians, actors, you will — just won’t cut it for us. chefs, et cetera) have such a unique, defining Yet, occasionally, I encounter things that style that no other “hand” could produce the make me rethink this seemingly simple and same result. Other times, though, this aspect obvious concept. I recently learned that An- of physical, material creation becomes less sel Adams, a film photographer from the important, taking a backseat to the notion mid-20th century known for his images of of process, to the very conceptualization of a the American West, donated some 44,000 work. But which matters more: the process or negatives to the University of Arizona after the product? Can anyone really say? his death in 1984 — not for exhibition but I sure can’t, anyway. But it’s something I’ll rather for use by some lucky individuals at the be pondering as I help myself to a second slice school’s Center for Creative Photography. of my grandma’s specialty homemade apple On the one hand, I found it so cool that these pie next week. people had the unique opportunity to print from the original film of such a groundbreak- Clare Donnelly is a senior in the College. She can ing photographer; on the other, it made me be reached at donnelly@thehoya.com. LEAP INTO question who could claim ownership of these THE VOID appears every other Friday in the guide.

leap into the void

I

photoessay

arts&style Meagan kelly Hoya Staff Writer

Snapshots From Around the District From the White House and the National Mall to rallies and protests, the streets of D.C. are a photographer’s dream. My favorite part of photography — and honestly the most challenging part — is capturing that one instant, that single moment in time, which expresses the feelings and emotions of the moment. The key is always to be watching and really to get into what’s going on around you. Watch the adrenaline-high college students pop champagne in front of the White House, dance with the hippies at the Climate Rally on the National Mall and chant along while marching for equality in front of the Capitol. There are a ton of pictures around you just waiting to be taken.

would you like to be featured in the next photoessay? email guide@thehoya.com

11.18.11 // the guide // 13

entertainment The ‘Hulu’ in ‘Hulu Saxa’ the early 19th century, and then the term “hula” was added due to the experiences of some British soldiers who travelled to the Hawaiian Islands. Dudes were totally racist. I guess my mind thought of StevenPiccione “hula hoops” in order to jump to s I sat on a bench in the men’s “Hulu.” We all have our problems. locker room at Yates, I received The moral of this story is that multiple text messages from “Hulu Saxa” was born of a sweaty Sarah Amos, the senior editor of and smelly man who was dothe guide, asking me for a name ing nothing more than thinking for my television-based column. about Hawaii in the men’s locker The original name was “Pigeon room after a run on the treadmill.

Totally innocent.

Drop-Ins.” But what is Hulu? Hulu is a Here’s my rationale: My last name, which is “Piccione” for those joint venture founded in 2007 by of you who don’t know how to lo- the four main media conglomercate a byline, means “pigeon” in ates: NBC Universal, Fox, Viacom Italian. Caw caw! The second part, and Disney. These four bad boys “Drop-Ins,” was just a way for me to literally own every single media say, “Hey everyone, don’t mind me outlet in the world, but this exwhile I drop in and let you know plains why the shows that are available on this my thoughts website are from on a particunetworks owned lar show.”

The best part is the end, by these parent Also, I thought where Mike kisses the per- companies. Fox, it would be FX, ABC, MTV, funny to have son being interviewed.

VH1 and Nickelbathroom huodeon are some mor in a colof the major umn name. channels.

You can call it juveBeyond shows that appear on nile, but I call it a double entendre and pure brilliance. television, there are also some Nevertheless, Famous Amos didn’t short web series on Hulu that are think it would be a great idea to pretty solid. My current favorite have my written work so closely web series is titled “7 Minutes in tied to actual fecal matter. (That re- Heaven with Mike O’Brien.” Now alization is for the reader to make here is where I should add that I might be biased. See, O’Brien is a after a few weeks.)

Half-naked, smelling like gar- writer for “Saturday Night Live,” bage and exhausted from run- which is where I’m currently inning, I brainstormed ideas for my terning, but I promise that this is column name in the locker room not some devious way of appeasing so the editor wouldn’t hit me any- the writers. In the show, O’Brien more. The next idea was “A Dose interviews celebrities in his closet of Television,” but that was too while asking very awkward quescheesy. Then came “A Hoya’s View tions. The best part is the end, on TV,” but we can all agree that where Mike kisses the person bethat name is also awful. Unable ing interviewed, therefore giving to come up with a title, I starting the series its name.

OK, I’m tired of writing for today, thinking about how people watch television; Netflix, DVDs, the Inter- and you’re probably tired of readnet, but nothing came to mind. For ing. Get back to reading the rest of some reason, I thought of Hawaii THE HOYA, enjoy preregistering for and hula hoops before I came to classes and I’ll see you guys next semester. This is fun.

Hulu.

Now that I think about it, is there even a connection between Steven Piccione is a junior in the Colthe state of Hawaii and hula lege. He can be reached at piccione@ hoops? According to Wikipedia, thehoya.com. HULU SAXA appears evhula hoops were popularized in ery other Friday in the guide.

hulu saxa

A

14 // the guide // 11.18.11

Drama Ascends to Greatness ALLIE DOUGHTY

T

Special to The Hoya

he opening sequence of The Descen- role of “the back-up parent” to bedants, which reveals a woman’s ing the primary caretaker in the lives face against the backdrop of a tur- of his two daughters, the sassy 10-yearquoise ocean, is one of the only scenes in old Scottie (Amara Miller) and the underthe entire film without music — because standably irritable 17-year-old Alexandra music is replaced by the steady hum of (Shailene Woodley). The elder adds a nota motorboat. The scene quickly segues very-needed twist to the plot when she reto a series of images narrated by the veals to her family that her bitterness is a voice-over of Matt King (George Cloo- result of her mother’s infidelity. ney), who attempts to convey that the The title of the film alludes to the fact perception of the idyllic land of Hawaii that Matt is the beneficiary of an exquiis largely false, by explaining that residents site expanse of land on Kauai, a birthright of the islands — who live their whole lives passed down from his ancestry of Hawaiian on the islands, unlike royalty and white tourists who are there missionaries. On for a short sojourn — top of his mountain face the same everyof emotional dilemday obstacles in life mas lies the fact as mainland civilians that he alone is enTHE DESCENDANTS do. In short, problems titled to make the of the human race ultimate decision starring: George Clooney are universal, even in a of what to do with did you know?: The movie was seeming paradise. the property, and entirely shot on location in Hawaiii.

From that opening after collaborating sequence, the tragic with his cousins, tone of the drama is it is clear that they juxtaposed with merare eager to see the ry Hawaiian tunes played on serene uku- property sold to a wealthy developer.

Aside from Clooney, the cast doesn’t leles and acoustic guitars. Such is the style of director Alexander Payne, who returns boast any huge names, but all of the parts after a seven-year hiatus since the release are acted beautifully. Woodley, who unof his critically-acclaimed Sideways. The til now was probably most recognized for her starring role in the television seDescendants is well worth the wait.

Matt is an overworked land baron ries “The Secret Life of the American whose life is upended when his wife Teenager,” delivers a laudable perforfalls into a coma after being injured in mance that rivals those of the film’s a boating accident. After never hav- more experienced actors. In fact, some ing been fully present as a husband of the best scenes belong to her alone, or father, Matt graduates from the though her natural rapport with Clooney is a treat as well.

One can argue that many films incorporate the perfect amount of both comedy and heartbreak, in addition to stirring performances by the actors. The Descendants achieves this, but also goes a step farther with an impressively raw dialogue. Every witty retort, obscenity and moment of silence is extremely believable. It should be appreciated that Payne doesn’t try to camouflage the reality of human reaction but lays it bare instead.

That being said, the inevitable, supremely emotional sequence may be slightly drawn out for some viewers’ tastes, but ALL PHOTOS ROTTENTOMATOES.COM the final scene adds an extra touch that FAMILY DRAMA In spite of being set in gives you some lead time to dry your eyes Hawaii, The Descendants is doesn’t before leaving the theater, if need be. have a rosy point of view.

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entertainment

Drake Takes Care of Business on New Album DANISH ZAIDI Hoya Staff Writer

T

ake Care will confuse a lot of Drake enthusiasts because the Young Money pretty boy’s sophomore album transcends the conformity of traditional rap records. Not only does Drake flawlessly blend R and B and rap, he also touches on subject matter that

supersedes “money talk.” In the year it beauty of his production is that no instruhas taken him to come up with the se- mental overpowers Drake’s delivery. The quel to 2010’s Thank Me Later, Drake has drunk-dialer’s anthem “Marvin’s Room” managed to put together a compilation is already a popular example of this of songs that are deeply personal and re- tandem. Another instance in which the vibes and voice blend perfectly is “Crew main true to his balanced sound.

Love.” The track, The album’s profeaturing Canadian duction and guest singer-songwriter appearances help The Weeknd, has to beautifully delivthe perfect amount er Drake’s sound; of background muboth aspects amsic to compliment plify and contrast TAKE CARE Drake’s rapping. it. Luckily, Drake This balance exists kept his close artist: Drake throughout the friend Noah “40” song to download: “Lord Knows” album; in other Shebib on deck to tracks, Drake will help with the prosong to skip: “Practice” sing while guests duction of 13 of 17 like Lil Wayne and songs. Forty — who Andre 3000 (“The has been producing for Drake since 2009 — blends simple Real Her”) contrast with deliveries of synths, strings or keys with soft beats to strong bars.

One of the standout moments on the compliment Drake’s cooing vocals. The

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CASH MONEY RECORDS

New Releases

ALEX SANCHEZ Hoya Staff Writer

“The Unsinkable Fats Domino” Guided by Voices Let’s Go Eat the Factory

“Ghosts That We Knew” Mumford and Sons Untitled

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“Ghosts That We Knew” is the first single from Mumford and Sons’ unreleased sophomore album, which, if this song is any indication, is poised to follow closely on the heels of the bearded Brits’ 2009 debut, Sigh No More. The song opens with a somber guitar riff, leading into a series of angst-ridden lyrics of lost love.

The latest single from this esoteric indie rock band sees the reunion of its lauded 1993-1996 lineup. In “The Unsinkable Fats Domino,” Guided by Voices returns to the familiar downtempo aesthetic that has colored so much of its previous work and elevated the group to a level of underground apotheosis.

ISLAND RECORDS

album is the addition of “Buried Alive (Interlude),” featuring Kendrick Lamar, to “Marvin’s Room.” An up-and-coming artist, Lamar raps about how Drake blessed him with a chance to break into the mainstream. This guest appearance is eerily reminiscent of J. Cole’s feature on Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 and a nod to the popular realization that Drake is now one of rap’s greatest artists. He blesses newcomers with opportunities.

To drive the point home, Drake ends his album with “The Ride,” his self-described magnum opus. After countless bars of his highs and lows, Drake concludes it all with a promise. The last verse declares how rap’s veterans were afraid after his first album, how the world was excited for his second and how his “junior and senior will only get meaner. Take care.”

In other words, Drake isn’t going anywhere — we have (at least) two more albums to which we can look forward.

“Coast to Coast” Twerps Twerps

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FIRE RECORDS

“Coast to Coast” serves as the closing song on Twerps’ self-titled debut. Its soft-spoken lyrics and lackadaisical melodies characterize these Australian newcomers as Vampire Weekend’s musical doppelgangers, ready to take on the indie world with simple rhythms and lyrics.

NONESUCH RECORDS

11.18.11 // the guide // 15

best bets

friday Enjoy electronic beats from top-notch disc-jockeys Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano at the newly madeover Josephine club. This Friday has the potential to be a memorable night for techno fans who turn out. Try to get tickets in advance, because it will be a popular event.

Where: Josephine Nightclub and Lounge, 1008 Vermont Ave. NW When: Friday, 10 p.m.

Info: (202) 347-8601 Price: $20 Metro: McPherson Square (Blue or Orange lines)

KATRINA YEH Special to The Hoya

fade into the past

saturday Sportswriter David Elfin hosts a book talk and Q-and-A session at the Politics and Prose Bookstore for his new book, “Washington Redskins: The Completed Illustrated History.”

He will be joined by former Redskins wide receiver and Hall of Famer Art Monk. A book signing will follow the event.

Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Info: (202) 364-1919 Price: Free Metro: Tenleytown (Red line)

— katrina yeh

sunday Visit the National Gallery of Art this Sunday to learn about the multitude of decisions that go into the design of an exhibit. Several lecturers from various departments of the gallery will contribute to the talk entitled Antico: The Making of an Exhibition.

Where: National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW When: Sunday, 2 p.m.

Info: (202) 737-4215 Price: Free Metro: Smithsonian (Red line)