The Hoya Guide: Sept. 16, 2011

the guide uide ALL INKED UP friday, september 16, 2011

Relax, Chill Out: Lounging in Lau

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the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop

Go Euro at the French Embassy

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Respect Your Elders: Take It From a Senior

this issue 3 hilltop lifestyle 4 food & drink 11 arts & style 12 entertainment 14 red square roundup // campus spotlight

euro night // dating dalai

ristorante piccolo // market to table

effusions // tv preview

i don’t know how she does it // das racist

8

Compared to other students at other colleges, you’d be hardpressed to find the average Hoya sporting a tattoo. We talked to eight students who’ve been inked up and asked them the symbolism behind their designs. Their answers ranged from celebrating the everyday to recognizing the spiritual. All agreed that the permanence of the medium allows for very personal expression.

MEAGAN KELLY/THE HOYA

COVER PHOTO BY MEAGAN KELLY

soundbite face themusic

STUDENTS TALK TATTOOS

It’s just one of those odd combinations that blends to create something beautiful — like chocolate and peanut butter, or Chrismukkah.

PUT YOUR PHOTO SKILLS TO BETTER USE.

KinneChapin

the guide Lauren Weber, Executive Editor Connor Gregoire, Managing Editor Meagan Kelly, Photo Editor Shakti Nochur, Layout Editor Suzanne Fonzi, Copy Chief Peter Brigham, Deputy Guide Editor Alex Sanchez, Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi, Deputy Guide Editor Chris Bien, Deputy Photo Editor Michelle Cassidy, Deputy Photo Editor Remy Samuels, Deputy Layout Editor Nikita Buley, Deputy Copy Editor Samantha Randazzo, Deputy Copy Editor

Eamon O’Connor, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Amos, Guide Editor Corrections & Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Laura Engshuber 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.

Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-8350 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741 Email: editor@thehoya.com Online at www.thehoya.com

photo@thehoya.com

hilltop

RED SQUARE ROUNDUP DAYGLOW TICKETS SALE

GPB MOVIE: THE HANGOVER: PART II

Monday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m.

Red Square

Friday, Sept. 16 and Saturday, Sept. 17 9:30 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.

ICC Auditorium

The Georgetown Program Board will be selling discounted Dayglow tickets in Red Square for $20. Be sure to get there early as tickets are limited and demand is sure to be high.

Come join the Georgetown Program Board for a viewing of The Hangover: Part II. The sequel to 2009’s beloved comedy sees the actors reprising their original roles as they travel to Thailand for Stu’s wedding.

Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.

Copley Formal Lounge The John Lannan Center will be hosting Robert Robinson for a dramatic reading. His most recent work, “The Wrecking Light,” won the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem. A reception and book signing will follow the reading.

READING WITH ROBERT ROBINSON

Wednesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, Sept. 22 8 a.m. — 2:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s Hall and Leo’s Get rid of your electronic clutter at Georgetown’s second annual E-Cycling Drive, where waste will be disposed of in a safe, ecofriendly manner. Accepted materials include laptops, smart phones, hard drives, keyboards and other electronic office hardware.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DRIVE

campusspotlight // C.A.S.A. A

re you a Cuba-lover? Then come be Cuban with us! A new face in Georgetown’s vibrant club life, the CubanAmerican Student Association has enjoyed much success in the past three years, gaining the reputation of an inclusive community that unites Cubans, Cuban-Americans and Cuba-lovers in general under one roof. The club counts on a strong membership to host a variety of programming, ranging from academic and cultural to social and political events. They have hosted Cuban scholars visiting the United States, attended national conferences to promote communication between Cuban and American youth and even led a trip to Cuba with students and staff — all of this without forgetting to include domino parties, delicious Cuban food and, of course, dancing to some Cuban salsa. Georgetown’s CubanAmerican Student Association, or C.A.S.A, brings diversity and innovation to this campus. It seeks to promote “Cuba-ness” at a whole new level. It helps promote Cuban culture and hopes to encourage Georgetown students to learn more about the island and eventually connect with Cubans living across the Florida Straits.

This upcoming year will be monumental for

Georgetown C.A.S.A., as it will bring to campus a series of very interesting speakers both from Cuba and the Cuban-American community. In addition, it will be launching a USB drive campaign that will seek to send over 300 USB drives to university students in Cuba so that they will be able to have greater access to information and use it in their educational endeavors. C.A.S.A. will also be launching the Dial2Cuba program, which will initiate a series of monthly phone calls between Georgetown students and Cuban youth. These great initiatives will then be shared with other C.A.S.A. groups throughout the United States in February when Georgetown C.A.S.A. hosts a national conference, which will aim to connect and integrate the efforts of Cuba-related clubs around the country so as to increase their collective impact.

Many great things are coming out of Georgetown C.A.S.A., and many more are sure to come.

For more information on getting involved with Georgetown C.A.S.A., you may contact them by email at georgetowncasa@gmail.com.

— Alejandro D. González Georgetown C.A.S.A. president

COURTESY SAMMY MEYER

HOT ROD The members of the Cuban American Students Association in Cuba next to a vintage car.

9.16.11 // the guide // 3

lifestyle

French Embassy by Day, European Discotheque by Night

EMMA HINCHLIFFE Hoya Staff Writer

O

ALL PHOTOS EURONIGHTDC.ORG

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n Sept. 23rd, the French Embassy will be transformed into a melange of cultures, cuisines, music and dancing.

Euro Night — the single biggest celebration of European cultural diversity to occur at any of the embassies in the District — offers diplomats and college kids alike a night of European elegance.

Since its founding three years ago, Euro Night has raised $60,000 and grown to include over 20 countries, with an expected attendance of 1,600 guests this year. The night commemorates the diverse cultures of Europe by providing a booth for each nation to showcase its unique culinary and cultural traditions. Most booths are staffed by embassy representatives, who serve traditional foods and beverages and hand out souvenirs — all while dressed in their home countries’ garb.

First conceived in 2008, the event has been spearheaded every year by La Maison Française, the cultural outlet of the French embassy, which is dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and European unity in the United States.

“It’s definitely the best opportunity to experience the embassies out of all the parties and events hosted by Georgetown and in the D.C. area,” Mary Beth Brosnihan (SFS ’13) said. Brosnihan has attended Euro Night for the past two years. “It’s one of my favorite things to do in the fall at Georgetown,” she said.

While many Georgetown students usually attend Euro Night, they don’t make up the majority of guests.

Ambassadors, embassy employees and members of the general public in D.C. attend to experience other cultures

firsthand. Each embassy promotes the event within its own community of expatriates as well, adding to the mix of fascinating people in attendance.

“The best part of the event is meeting new people,” Richa Goyal (SFS ’13), who had also attended Euro Night in the past, said. “This old Polish guy showed us the Polish stall and handed me his card with an offer to call for a job at the state department.”

Marie Daubourg, an intern at the French embassy, has been responsible for planning the logistics of this event over the past five months of her internship.

These responsibilities involved ordering tables, tents and tablecloths and making sure the night runs smoothly. Aside from setting tables, Daubourg has also had the important job of recruiting embassies to participate in the event. When it came to the many smaller embassies, this work was challenging, since these embassies lack the manpower to put together and staff an elaborate booth.

Daubourg combatted these problems by finding interns

from the larger French and Spanish embassies to spend the night working for another country’s stall. In this way, the cultural education of Euro Night will extend beyond the experiences of its guests.

At the start of the event’s planning, a committee of five countries is chosen to oversee and organize the entire process. For 2011, this committee is composed of France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Cyprus, the current head of the European Council. As the five embassies mainly responsible for the event, each country will have a special cutural or musical highlight in addition to its own booth.

“People are invited to discover cultures,” Daubourg said of the purpose behind Euro Night. The event will be emphasized as a benefit more so than in the past, she said, with proceeds going to European cultural activities at all of the embassies — not just the French — over the upcoming year.

This year, there will be a cash bar open starting at 9:30, but for those on a budget and over 21-years-old, there will also be many different types of free alcoholic beverages at the different embassy booths.

In addition to German bier and Greek ouzo, European musical acts are highlights of the night. In the past, entertainment has included French bands and other musical guests. For Euro Night’s fourth incarnation, there will be performances by the Irish duo Sean McComiskey and Shannon Dunne from the Kitchen Quartet and the Polish Highlanders folk group. Fresh from the discotheque scene, DJ Digital 21 from Spain will pump up the dance floor for the guests.

The dance floor is certainly an

COURTESY MARY BETH BROSNIHAN

lifestyle interesting sight, with ambassadors and students alongside one another, dressed in their best formal attire. “It’s best to dress up and get there early,” advised Mary Beth Brosnihan. “There are massive lines outside to get in, and it’s not the type of event to be fashionably late for. There are lots of galas in the spring, but this one is the biggest in the fall.”

Tickets cost $35 for general admission, and the price is well worth it according to Brosnihan and Goyal. For Georgetown students, the event has a special significance as well.

“I have so many friends from other countries [at Georgetown],” said Brosnihan. “It’s a great way to get to know their cultures, governments and countries in general.”

Though Euro Night obviously promotes unity among the European Union, there is also a sense of friendly competition among the embassy booths. “It’s the largest event that the embassies do together all year, so they’re all in competition with each other and go all out with their flyers and souvenirs,” Brosnihan said.

“It’s cool to compare the cuisine and clothing of each country side by side.”

This healthy competition has led to some elaborate displays over the past three years. Goyal recalled one booth

Q & A

in particular, set up by the Swedish embassy, which featured a giant structure made out of waffles.

But at its core, Euro Night is a celebration of different cultures that have been able to come together through membership in the EU and cooperate on an international scale. Despite any political or economic turmoil in the outside world, the nations of Europe and their embassies in the United States demonstrate their commitment to maintaining a larger, European presence in America and acceptance in the cultural sphere.

“There’s no other event quite like this one,” Goyal said. “It’s very special to see all the major European countries come together.”

Euro Night 2011 French Embassy 4101 Reservoir Rd NW $35 ticket includes food and drinks from EU booths.

Cash bar after 9:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at euronight.org.

Performances include Sean McComiskey and Shannon Dunne.

EURONIGHT.ORG

GET JIGGY WITH IT Irish dancers at last years’ Euro Night. This year, acts include

Irish duo Sean McComiskey and Shannon Dunne from the Kitchen Quartet, the Polish Highlanders folk group and Spanish DJ, Digital 21.

Would you ever get a tattoo? Why or why not?

“The question is, would I get another one? I found something I really wanted. It’s from Harry Potter. It’s the Deathly Hallows.”

“No. Later in life I would regret it, and I would have to get it removed anyway. Plus, I think it would be painful.”

Dan Galloway COL ’13

Bridget Mullen COL ’15

“I would not, because you get saggy skin.”

Amy Liu SFS ’15

“Yes, I would. But I don’t know where or what I would get.”

Julia Christiansen COL ’15

9.16.11 // the guide // 5

lifestyle

CENTER STAGE Georgetown Alumnus Delivers Emotional Message in New Documentary Jim Whitaker (COL ’90) debuted his documentary entitled Project Rebirth at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011. Beginning a month after Sept. 11, 2001, the film chronicles the lives of 10 individuals who have been personally affected by this national tragedy. Whitaker teamed up with fellow Georgetown alumni and faculty on the project and, from this collaboration, a new idea emerged. Using the film as a starting point, they crafted an initiative to teach coping tools for those dealing with grief. The Guide sat down with Whitaker to discuss the creation, process and ultimate emotional message of his film.

Could you tell us a little bit about the start of Project Rebirth?

I had an experience of going to Ground Zero a month after September 11. … I went down to the site with my wife and saw the debris and just kind of had a moment of thinking, “One

SHILPA CHANDRAN Special to The Hoya

day, this place might look different.”

I had this feeling of going from dread and anxiety to a sense of hope. It made me think that it’d be great to bring that experience to an audience. So … we decided to begin to follow 10 lives of people that have been affected by the day. The film is a combination of the physical and emotional healing of the site.

When did you finish this project?

I completed the film officially a year ago. We were lucky enough to go to Sundance [Film Festival], and that began a process of having the film get sold. We just recently aired on Showtime on Sept. 11. The cameras will keep rolling, because … we’re creating an installation for the Memorial & Museum, as well as some programming that will be a part of the daily activities at the museum.

How much work had to go into this

film?

Well, it’s hard to narrow, ... There were hundreds of people on the crew.

The center of the film is a non-profit organization that has really been run by my fellow alums at Georgetown.

Brian Rafferty’s the Chairman. Nick Wood is the Vice President. John Wood is the Treasurer. Pat Ryan — a fellow Georgetown alum — brought the idea to his father at the Aon Corporation.

The project wouldn’t have happened without the funding that the Aon Foundation gave to the project. It’s been very much a Georgetown effort in the … thousands of hours of time on everybody’s part.

What were some of the obstacles you had to overcome in order to create this film?

Initially, the first challenge was just to get the cameras up. We needed to find a location in the buildings, and then we had to convince the building owners to allow us to put the cameras up.

Were they willing?

Yeah, they were very willing. It’s just that it required a certain amount of effort…There was the physical challenge, and there was just the challenge of finding the subjects for the film, and then beginning the process of making it.

After obtaining all of the footage, what was your process for putting it together?

It took a year and a half of full time work with myself and the editors. It was a pretty complex process because we were editing Ground Zero as a character, and then we had five different characters whose lives we were editing into longitudinal pieces. It was a pretty involved process.

OSCILLOSCOPE.NET

REMEMBERING Whitaker’s new film profiles the lives of 10 people affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks 10 years later.

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How do you hope this affects the viewers?

I hope this film provides people with hope, frankly. I think most people who have seen it find it very inspiring to watch these courageous people go through their lives and come out the other side in a very different place.

So my hope is that it provides hope for people, and not only those that experienced 9/11. … And I hope that for any-

CINEMA.USC.EDU

STORYTELLER The center of the film is a non-profit run by other alums. one that’s experienced loss that they will be able to look at the film and be able to say, “OK, I think I can get to a better place eventually.”

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

One thing I’d like to add that I think is important is that about halfway through the project, we had a meeting with Jack DeGioia, myself and Brian Rafferty. We showed [the film] to a group of academics at Georgetown, and they all raised their hands and said, “We could use the film. It could be helpful to people.”

So Brian Rafferty then spearheaded an initiative that’s an outgrowth of the film to create teaching and learning tools for people that are going through grief. We’ve been working with Randy Bass at Georgetown University … Michael Kessler at the Berkeley Center … and Bernie Cook. There’s a great deal of tie-in to the University, and I’m very grateful to the University for all the support they gave to the project. It wouldn’t be what it is today without my alma mater.

See the rest of the guide’s exclusive interview at thehoya.com.

lifestyle

Sit Back and ReLAUx With a Music Blog Created for Stressed Students MAURA HOHMAN Special to The Hoya

H

as Pandora got you listening to the same songs over and over?

Tired of sifting through all the weird mixes and bad quality MP3s on 8tracks? And don’t even get me started on having to make a playlist myself on Grooveshark. If you want some study music that’s free, readily available and gets your juices flowing — without putting you to sleep — The Guide has found you a solution.

Created by Will Dickey (COL ’13), ReLAUx.com is a music blog inspired by overly stressed, perpetually procrastinating Georgetown students. ReLAUx is the next phase of “The Noctuary,” Dickey’s defunct late-night radio show on WGTB, which played music similar to what’s currently on his website, centering on artists like Ratatat, Bonobo and Emancipator. These three artists epitomize what he calls “chill-out music.”

“It’s its own genre, I swear,” Dickey said. “Chill-out music” must have no lyrics but must also avoid the study coma

that inevitably comes with any classical or smooth jazz playlist. Surging in popularity across the blogosphere, the new genre has allowed ReLAUx to grow daily since its launch last spring.

The website gets about 50 new listeners each day, but it reached an all-time high of 200 hits in a single day during finals week last May. Dickey uploads a new playlist of about 10 songs every week and spends roughly four hours making each one, ensuring that everything is perfect, from the song titles to the track sequence.

Initially, ReLAUx was exclusively for Georgetown students — hence the clever pun on the name of our beloved library/gulag — but now Dickey has his sights set higher. Advertising solely through social networking sites and word of mouth, the website has almost 5,000 total views, including followers from outside the Georgetown community. Dickey has also started a line of T-shirts.

MEAGAN KELLY/THE HOYA

HIBRARY MUSIC Will Dickey (COL ’13) founded music blog reLAUx.com, inspired by his many late nights in Lauinger Library spent listening to “chill out music.”

In Dickey’s ideal world, ReLAUx would evolve into a brand that sold everything from organic beverages to small-venue concert tickets for artists like Bonobo and Emancipator, he said. Even with such success, his mission would remain

the same: to help college students destress.

In Georgetown’s fast-paced environment, “chill-out music” may be exactly what you need to chill out and finally ReLAUx.

Cultural Differences Abound in the Art of Aiqing dating dalai AnastasiaTaber

M

y life has taken a foreign turn since I wrote my last article: I have spent the last month in China. I’ve been in Beijing for the last two weeks and have become accustomed to life in a country not only geographically opposite of the United States but culturally opposite as well.

And that includes dating. As a “dating dalai,” I’ll put my study abroad experiences to good use while simultaneously indulging my obsession with relationships. I will discuss the differences between the American and Chinese styles of aiqing: romantic love.

Anyone who has taken the time to ponder the Chinese way of life will understand that there is no way to form speedy conclusions about Chinese culture.

I just returned from a 16-day ex-

pedition from Beijing to northwest China. What I immediately noticed on this trip is how geographically diverse China is. I think this geographical complexity is an apt metaphor for the intricacy of Chinese society. And this society is a-changin’.

Thirty years ago in China, public displays of affection were a one-way ticket to trouble. Here lies another cause of the difficulty of getting a firm grasp on Chinese culture — what was outright condemned 30 years ago is now considered par for the course.

I may have held the misinformed perception before I came to China that Chinese people don’t date much.

I imagined them as a stereotype — studiously bent over their books, pouring their hearts into the processes of chemistry, not poems of love.

For Chinese high school students, at least, this still rings true. My Chinese roommate informed me (and I dedicate this column to her for her endless help in understanding the Chinese way) that for adolescents, relationships are out of the question.

The conjunction of parents, teachers and classmates creates an environment in which having a relationship is impossible. The competition for admission to a prestigious university is so intense that parents expect their teens to be singularly focused on earning As, not on practicing the art of hand-holding.

College, however, presents a whole new ballgame — though not one anywhere close to liberal by American standards. Hookup culture does not exist on Chinese campuses. I have come to three conclusions about this obvious void, compared to my knowledge of American schools.

First, China hasn’t experienced a sexual revolution on the scale of 1960s America; theirs began in the ‘80s and has been far more gradual. Second, Chinese society on the whole is still pretty conservative.

Third, Chinese students generally don’t get drunk.

So it is safe to say that the sexual behavior of Chinese students, especially when compared to their American counterparts, is fairly conservative. I mistook this quality for

inexperience in relationships, too, but my roommate informed me that it is common for Chinese college students to date.

And boy, have I observed this: At the table next to me in the cafeteria, walking in front of me to class, on the bench as I return to my dorm, Chinese students can’t seem to get enough PDA. Twice now, I have seen a couple sitting on a bench, the girl so entirely wrapped around her sweetheart that you wonder if they’re trying to form one person.

All this public hand-holding and body-wrapping made me wonder — where is all the PDA on Georgetown’s campus? Maybe I walk around staring at my shoes, or maybe Georgetown couples don’t like to flaunt their “official” status anywhere but Facebook. Whatever the reason, it appears that no matter the society, nothing is ever straightforward in the art of aiqing.

Anastasia Taber is a junior in the College. She can be reached at taber@ thehoya.com. THE DATING DALAI appears every other Friday in the guide.

9.16.11 // the guide // 7

The peacock is actually from my father, because his favorite god, by Hindu mythology, was Lord Murugan, and his favorite animal was the peacock. My dad and I didn’t have the best relationship, so I was always too angry with him to take the opportunity to get to know him as a person. After he passed away, I heard so many stories about all the good things that he did for people. It was basically just a reminder to myself to never judge anyone and that I should take the opportunity to get to know someone before I make judgments.

KINNE CHAPIN

“Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish” by Euripedes. It means you have to know where you stand, because if you know what you stand for it doesn’t matter how other people perceive you.

Deanna Arthur

The first one I got was the “A” behind my ear. My last name’s Arthur, so I got it, because it’s kind of cheesy, but when I was younger, we always said “A” is for Arthur, “A” is for always.

My second is a little heart on my toe from my brother. My third one, my first big girl tattoo, as my brother would say, is the peach on my foot (shown on opposite page, bottom center). My last one is a teapot with “Mom” written on it. Since I was little, my mom and I have been really into tea parties, and my room was decorated in teapots and tea cups, so I got the teapot with the banner that says “Mom,” and my mom actually got a matching one with a banner that says “D” on it. ... My brother is a tattoo artist and I’ve learned about different technical aspects of it and

it’s something that’s really deep in tradition.

MICHELLE JOHNSON

It is a mosaic, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. ... Just because I have always been pretty spiritual. I knew I wanted to get something meaningful.

delaney ozmun

It is a symbol of the church in Egypt, and Egyptian Christians for the most part have it either tattooed on the inside of their right wrist or the outside of their left wrist. I went down to Egypt a few summers ago and I worked with this guy who works with the underground church. So that was really mind-blowing just to see the kind of persecution people go through. I got the tattoo just as like a reminder to, for one, be praying for them, and two, to remember to have some sort of perspective on my life to get to be a Christian in the United States is pretty easy.

Madhuri Vairapandi

It’s the “Heart of Darkness.” Marlo has such a hard time telling a story, just because he doesn’t have the words to share an experience with somebody who comes from a different background ... and he himself comes from the context of a culture where he’s not allowed to say certain things. I’m from two different cultures, so it’s always hard for me to find what I should say and what I shouldn’t say and how to find the words to say.

It’s an ohm on my back. It’s basically just like the fine line between being Indian and being American, so that I don’t give up my culture, but at the same time, I know that my culture isn’t going to work in America. So I’ve lived in India for three years, and it was just kind of like having to be a proper Indian girl and then, not be, because I was still American. It was context and culture. It’s like trying to balance two things but not lose anything of value.

indelible expressions - a photo essay Photographs by Meagan Kelly / THE HOYA Interviews by SARAH AMOS / Hoya Staff Writer marjorie Joly

CJ Houser

It says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.” It is Peter 1: 5-7.

Matt Mandel

It was 10 o’clock at night, and I had been in the pool for 10 hours that day at Big East Championships. The tattoo artist actually kept the place open, because he was supposed to close at like eight, and I sat down and got a tattoo at 10 at night and it was just as painful as they described it but I’m glad I got it. ... I got it along with my twin brother by my side.

It says, “Emancipate yourself.” It’s comes from “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley, and the full quote is emancipate yourself from mental slavery. I’m the type of person that worries a lot about what other people think and say.

I realized that I worry about what other people think about me and I was slave to my environment, so it makes me think about how I should be more independent, stand alone and create my own ideas and be free.

Malik davis

It has my name with a cross and wings.

food&drink The Restaurant May Be Piccolo, but the Food Is a Big Delight MARIELE MARKI Hoya Staff Writer



1068 31st St. cuisine: Italian RISTORANTE PICCOLO price: $$$$

I

n America, Italian cuisine is well-known, well-appreciated and, well, delicious. And Ristorante Piccolo is no disappointment. The name means “small restaurant,” and accordingly, Piccolo is a little but charming Italian restaurant, perfect for a lovely night out. Located at 1068 31st St., it can be found right past Moby Dick’s and nestled across the street from Cafe La Ruche. Stepping inside, you can see that this restaurant has an elegant and inviting ambiance with lighting and decor that are warm, simple and romantic. Piccolo has two levels, with outdoor options during pleasant weather both outside its front doors and on its second-floor balcony. The wait staff is pleasant, inviting and attentive, adding even more to the experience.

Ristorante Piccolo has a good variety of Italian dishes, ranging from classics such as calamari and bruschetta for appetizers to cioppino tutto mare (seafood stew), chicken

parmesan and spaghetti puttanesca for entrees, with more regional dishes mixed in as well. There are selections of fresh handmade pasta as well as pasta secca (dried) imported from Italy. There are plenty of options sure to satisfy both vegetarians and meat lovers alike.

To start, I had the bruschetta al granchio, a grilled piece of bread topped with crabmeat, peppers and lemon. The combination is delicious, although I would suggest eating the dish as quickly as possible: By the time I got to the last piece, the topping had made the toast’s texture quite soggy and the dish a bit difficult to eat.

One can’t go wrong with the piccolo antipasti, a selection of cured meats and cheeses. It is quite basic, but one should never underestimate the timeless simplicity of bread, artisan cheese and aged meat and olives.

For the main course, I was excited to try the fresh handmade pasta,

Hoya Happy Hour

and the Taste of Georgetown-winning agnolotti ai porcini, (mushroom ravioli) which sounded tasty. In the end, though, I opted for the spaghetti ai frutti di mare al cartoccio. This dish featured spaghetti topped with seafood and a spicy tomato and basil sauce. The flavors were well-balanced, the sauce perfectly seasoned and the seafood properly cooked.

If you are not in the mood for pasta, there are many chicken and veal options. One of the most attractive choices was the pollo farcito, a chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto, aged Fontina and sage sautéed in Marsala wine.

To end, there was tiramisu. The flavors of the dark coffee and sweet mascarpone cream were perfect compliments, and the cookies were neither too soggy nor too dry. From start to finish, the meal was excellent, the restaurant beautiful and the evening a sweet memory.

PANOR AMIO.C OM

Dishes you have to try:

Antipasti Bruschetta al Granchio // $8 grilled Italian bread with a medley of jumbo lump crab meat, bell pepper, garlic, and a touch of lemon Entree Spaghetti ai frutti di mare al cartoccio // $22 spaghetti topped with seafood and a spicy tomato-and-basil sauce, baked in a parchment pocket

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

Summer’s Over Shandy Summer is wrapping up here in D.C., and there’s no better way to bid farewell to the warm weather than with an ice-cold beer. The twist here is that instead of drinking it straight, we take a cue from our counterparts over the pond and add lemonade. The mix of the familiar childhood treat and the adult drink creates a unique flavor that will make this bittersweet ending to summer a little sweeter than usual.

10 // the guide // 9.16.11

+ 1 beer

+ 1 lemon wedge

6 oz. lemonade

Rain Makes Corn ... market to table

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BethanyImondi

hen I was younger, I looked forward to summer evening barbecues when corn on the cob appeared on the menu. Whether bought from a local farm stand or the grocery store, the sweetness of the buttery kernels put every other side dish to shame.

In preparation for the meal, my sister and I would sit outside with the ears and some trash bags in order to collect the outer husks and silk from the cobs.

Once we finished cleaning the corn my father would bring a large pot of water to boil or heat the grill to cook them. On these occasions, the addition of some salt, pepper and a slather of butter made it very easy for me to secure my daily servings of vegetables.

Unfortunately, my love of corn suffered a serious setback when orthodontia came into my life. Once I had braces, eating corn on the cob became nearly impossible. While I could technically do it, I denied myself the treat, knowing that the meal would be followed with me picking my teeth endlessly in the bathroom. Scraping the kernels with a knife simply did not have the same appeal as digging my teeth into the cobs, and so I stopped eating the summer vegetable that I craved as a child.

Now, braces-free, I can happily dig in again. Many of the local markets are selling their last batches of the season, so now is the time to stock up.

This recipe for Italian-style corn amplifies the traditional vegetable and butter combo with a flavored compound butter. Although it calls for boiled corn, the ears can be wrapped in foil and grilled for about 20 minutes. Even if eating corn on the cob leaves you checking your teeth in the mirror, just think how much worse it would be if you had braces.

Ingredients: Serves 4

4 ears of corn, husked 1 stick of unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 cloves of minced garlic ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 tablespoon fresh-chopped parsley Salt Pepper 1 cup of Parmesan or pecorino Romano cheese, or a combination

food&drink

Das Some Good Ethiopian Food!

MARIELE MARKI Hoya Staff Writer

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o matter how much time you’ve spent on the Hilltop, there are always new culinary discoveries to be made, even in the Georgetown neighborhood. Take Das Ethiopian, formerly known as Zed’s.

Still in the same location, on the far end of M Street, the restaurant has maintained the same ambiance and element of pleasant surprise, and of course, they are still serving Ethiopian food.

Ethiopian cuisine is centered around spicy stewed meats and vegetables

and the signature bread called injera.

Injera is one of the most interesting things about Ethiopian food. The texture of the bread is spongy and similar to that of a thin, flexible pancake, with a flavor similar to that of sourdough bread. The bread is also the key component to another aspect of Ethiopian cuisine: it is the utensil used to pick up food. In other words, you eat Ethiopian food with your hands.

While dining at Das, I suggest starting with the Ethiopian cheese, kaisa, which is a great, mild start to the meal

SDGSDG SDG SDG SDG D

ZED’S NO MORE The popular Zed’s Ethiopian restaurant may have changed ownership, but the familiar flavors still reign.

Directions: 1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Once

boiling, use a pair of tongs to submerge each of the ears into the pot.

2. Cover the pot and return to a boil.

Boil the corn for 5-7 minutes, or until done to your liking.

3. Meanwhile, prepare the garlic butter. Stir to combine the butter, minced garlic, red pep-

 DAS ETHIOPIAN 1201 28th Street NW cuisine: Ethiopian price: $$$$ and a good way to taste the injera. Ethiopian food in general is pretty balanced in offering both vegetarian and nonvegetarian options, and Das Ethiopian is no exception. There were choices in both groups that seemed delicious, but we decided to go with the chicken and beef entree sampler, which was savory and incorporated a range of spices and flavors.

Unfortunately, the meat was slightly overcooked and on the dry side, but the juices from the stew more than made up for it.

The spice is not as strong as the typical “hot” that you get with wings or salsa but a deeper and mellower kind.

The service was quick, the wait staff attentive, polite and helpful. The ambiance was lovely: calm and exotic. Das is a great place for a date or a nice night out with friends.

Along with our food, we ordered sparkling water, which our waitress told us traditionally accompanies dinner in Ethiopian culture. The decision just added to an authentic, cultural night out. It was a great time, and our food was interesting and wonderful.

The menu has a variety of options for the more adventurous diner as well as for the more cautious. For those who were fans of Zed’s and haven’t had a chance to check out Das Ethiopian, it is worth a trip.

Italian-Style Corn per flakes and parsley in a bowl. Set aside.

4. Spread cheese onto a large plate. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

5. When

corn is cooked, carefully remove from the water. Allow to cool slightly. Serve by slathering the ears in garlic butter and then rolling in the cheese.

6. If grilling, wrap husked corn in foil

and cook until slightly charred, about 20 minutes, rotating every 5. Once done, open the foil and coat the ears in butter and cheese.

Bethany Imondi is a junior in the College. She can be reached at imondi@ thehoya.com. MARKET TO TABLE appears every other Friday in the guide.

9.16.11 // the guide // 11

arts&style

TAISA GOODNATURE Special to The Hoya

Exhibit Explores Human Experience L a Maison Francaise, the cultural arm of the French embassy, currently hosts an exhibit by Washington-based artist Danielle Bensky, whose husband is a professor of French at Georgetown. The show, efFUSIONS, combines bronze sculpture and acrylic painting, unified by their muted tones and curving lines.

“It’s about the human spirit — the emotions — the hope and also the inner turmoil,” Bensky said of the collection.

Many of the sculptures portray abstract figures, struggling to reach upward from contorted positions. In particular, “Woman Not Falling” appears at first glance to be tipped on its side, with a flat base facing the viewer and the subject’s shoulders and knees touching the ground.

However, one arm reaches upward, lifting the body to fight gravity’s pull.

In many of the sculptures, the artist explores the conflict between the desire to reach upward and the forces dragging us down.

In the exhibit program, writer Michele Sarde describes Bensky’s work as a “[refusal] to admit the degradation of physical reality, an intrinsic assertion of our humanity.” One of the sculptures, “Spirit Ascending,” belongs to the same family as a piece the artist made for Lauinger Library.

“Spirit Ascending” is modeled after a

bird, and Bensky explained that the bird’s flight represents the notion that, “We are all aspiring.”

Wings also figure prominently in a sculpture titled “Beyond,” which was inspired by the ancient Greek sculpture “Winged Victory of Samothrace,” housed in the Louvre Museum of Paris. “Beyond” replicates the huge wings of “Winged Victory,” intended by the artist as a symbol of freedom. Bensky explained that she had initially included a head in her sculpture — the head of “Winged Victory” was lost and famously has never been recovered — but she finally removed it because it didn’t add anything to the work. The sculpture’s shape, expanding as it rises upward, makes a triumphant statement of hope. In this way, Bensky’s work, which has been displayed at the UNESCO headquarters and at various galleries in Paris, reflects the French revolutionary spirit.

Natural imagery is another motif throughout efFUSIONS’s collection of paintings and sculptures. The paintings “Vertige 2” and “Whirligig 5” and the sculpture “Seascape 2” share spiraling curves like those of a nautilus shell.

“I’m very much inspired by nature, but it’s imaginary,” Bensky said of this repeating element.

Like her human forms, the artist’s

you otter join the hoya.

natural images are abstract, inviting a sense of whimsy into the collection.

Bensky spoke of representing both the serious and the light-hearted in order to cover the full spectrum of human experience. Many of the nature-inspired pieces are very brightly colored. The bronze sculpture “Full Circle” is tinted a loud blue. Its title may be taken to represent the artist’s view of the range of human experience, from arduous to whimsical.

In addition to bringing lightness and color into the collection, the curving forms drawn from nature connect to the feminine character of the exhibit.

“The quintessentially human tends to express itself more and more in our time through the feminine, no longer woman-as-object … but woman creating,” Sarde wrote in the program.

La Maison Francaise is located at the Embassy of France, 4104 Reservoir Rd., just across from the Georgetown University Hospital. The exhibit is open to the public, but for security reasons, visitors must call in their names ahead of time and present photo identification at the gates of the embassy. Most of the pieces in efFUSIONS are available for sale, with prices ranging from $495 to $29,900.

The exhibit ends on Tuesday, Sept.

20.

EVENTBRITE.COM

BLEW A FUSE Washington native Danielle Bensky’s exhibit is at the French Embassy until Sept. 20.

personnel@thehoya.com

entertainment

Surprisingly Solid Lineup for Fall Television FAIRY GODMOTHERS, DINOSAURS AND PLAYBOY BUNNIES ROUND OUT THE ROSTER STEVEN PICCIONE Hoya Staff Writer

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or those who remember how terrible the majority of the new shows were last fall, it will come as a relief that this new season will usher in a multitude of promising new programs.

J.J. Abrams, the creator of “Lost,” and Jonathan Nolan, the writer of “Memento,” bring to CBS perhaps the most interesting plot premise. Starring Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson, “Person of Interest” focuses on a mysterious billionaire (Emerson) whose supercomputer provides him with the information about a single person who is about to commit a crime or become the victim of one, but not which role this specific person will play. Knowing his or her social security number only, this billionaire needs the help of a former special agent (Caviezel) to crack the case. This Minority Report, crime-predicting plot isn’t completely original, but it’s our duty as a post-“Lost” audience to trust Abrams and thank him for not casting Tom Cruise. Another indication that CBS trusts “Person of Interest” is that it has chosen to move the extremely popular “CSI” to another timeslot for this new enterprise.

Fox is known for having very cut-throat standards for its television series and has a reputation for canceling shows if viewership drops in the slightest (in the case of “Arrested Development,” for example), but this September, Fox will premiere possibly the most expensive show of the season.

“Terra Nova,” pretty much a carbon copy of Steven Speilberg’s Jurassic Park, follows a group of time travelers 85 millions years into the past. Produced by Spielberg himself, “Terra Nova” does a fantastic job of ensuring that the dinosaurs appear shockingly realistic, so the show won’t have any fake-mechanical-sharks-from-“Jaws” moments. The premise is pretty basic: A group of time travelers must colonize the dinosaur-infested area and somehow manage to survive. Add an ex-con (Jason

O’Mara), some children and a hot babe, and we have a mediocre television series.

Let’s give it two seasons.

For the men out there, NBC has your back — the next big thing is titled “The Playboy Club.” Although our generation never turned to Playboy Magazine for … you know … “the articles,” its name is synonymous with scantily-clad blonde babes. Set in Chicago, “The Playboy Club,” will be sure to have some of the same 1960s feel and success as AMC’s “Mad Men.” This show will follow a newly-hired Bunny, a seasoned Bunny and a Bunny lawyer (that is, a lawyer that represents Bunnies). This show is about Playboy Bunnies, not Playmates, with their sexual escapades, mysterious murders and classic 60s music. Expect to see “The Playboy Club” attain popularity and success, because even if the plot lacks in certain areas, sex will always be in the air.

And I like the smell of it.

Perhaps it’s the enduring bad economy or the thought that the United States might be losing its grip on economic supremacy, but ABC is presenting yet another 1960s-era show. “Pan Am,” set during the booming jet age of American history, focuses on the post-war boom that brought a whole new world of freedom to women. Creators Jack Orman (“ER”) and Tommy Schlamme (“The West Wing”) have created a nostalgia-inducing soap opera centered on a group of Pan American stewardesses. As you can imagine, there will be plenty of drama, beautiful women and “layovers,” but so far its most interesting plot includes a weak storyline with a CIA agent. Popular context, attractive cast, weak storylines.

The success of “Pan Am” really depends on whether or not the writers can come up with something that can intrigue and capture a large audience.

By a show of hands, who thought the Grimm Fairy Tales were just for children?

REMOTEPATROLLED.COM

GIRLS NEXT DOOR Shows such as NBC’s “The Playboy Club” and ABC’s “Pan Am” evoke a bygone era of smoke-filled clubs and saucy flight attendants.

You’re all wrong. NBC will air a new twist on these beloved stories and creatures called “Grimm.” Set in present-day Portland, Ore., “Grimm” follows a homicide detective (David Giuntoli), who discovers that he is a descendant of an elite group of hunters called “Grimms.” Since he is the last of his kind, it’s now his job to protect humanity from all the supernatural creatures of the world that only he can see. This show is literally about Grimm creatures trying to kill everyone in real life. Again, however, this show isn’t completely original. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” covered this idea a few times but never really latched onto it. Compliments to the creators, “Grimm” will appeal to the violence lovers, fantasy nerds and Dave Giuntoli admirers. A blue-eyed Italian? Don’t trust him.

To end on a lighter, yet still-about-fairytales note, here’s “Once Upon a Time.” Welcome to Storybrooke, Maine where time

is frozen and characters from all of the famous fairy tales appear in real life. Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), the new girl in town, must somehow defeat the Evil Queen who has frozen time and stolen everyone’s memories. Everyone, meaning Snow White, Prince Charming and the whole fairy tale dream team. But fear not, there is a little boy who knows exactly what’s going on, so it’s his job to help Emma in order to defeat the Evil Queen and save the day.

Arguably a better movie premise than television series, you have to give it up for “Once Upon a Time,” because this is the most original premise seen in years. The show will hopefully receive good ratings and a sizeable audience, that is, unless the producers somehow fumble the “frozen time” concept or get too cheesy and quaint. Because — let’s be real here — those problems are like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, because nobody likes a cliche.

ALL PHOTOS IMDB.COM

9.16.11 // the guide // 13

entertainment Fight for Your Right:

Songs That Tear Down the Roof which hails from Kentucky, sounds like a more “electro” version of Phoenix. Suffice it to say, it’s happy music that has a good beat for groovin’ without the worry that it will KinneChapin become a mainstream dance track.

You can put it on and use the chance n any given Friday, I to show off your super hipster dance can go out and hear moves — you know you want to!

If you enjoy those two songs as some Chris Brown, Kanye, Ke$ha or Gaga. When I do, much as I clearly do, you’re going I’m guaranteed to freak out, say each to be having entirely too much fun song is my favorite and proceed to by the time they’re through. When scream along as loud as I can, ruin- that exhaustion hits at the end ing the music for all within earshot. of the night and it’s time to slow So, what’s the problem? The prob- things down, press play on “Black lem is that the next night I will hear and Yellow” by Chris Cab. OK …

I know we’re the exact same all pretty tired songs. And unof the Wiz like a fine wine, So there you have it: evKhalifa origiTop 40 hits erything you need to have a nal. And we’re don’t tend to rollicking good time, no Katy all probably get better with Perry necessary. pretty tired of age.

Except mash-ups of The Beatles.

“Black and YelAnd maybe the low” as well. But you’re just going Spice Girls. Or perto have to take my word for it — haps some Livin’ on a Prayer. That metaphor didn’t Chris Cab’s cover of the song turns work at all — apparently, most mu- it into an entirely different beast. It sic ages better than wine. But that gets slowed down, chilled out and doesn’t erase the fact that I am sick overall a little bit reggae. But even of gettin’ my party on to the same if you’re not ready to start making worn-out jams. The following songs rasta pasta and hanging a poster make pretty darn good alternatives. of Bob Marley in your room, you’ll When I studied abroad in London still love this song. It’s just one last semester, I couldn’t leave the of those odd combinations that house without hearing “Frisky” by blends to create something beauTinie Tempah. Tinie Tempah is Brit- tiful — like chocolate and peanut ain’s answer to Kanye West: a rapper butter or Chrismukkah.

So there you have it: everything with smart lyrics and an exceedingly large ego. The main difference be- you need to have a rollicking good tween Tinie and American rappers time, no Katy Perry necessary. If you is that the U.K. obsession with dub- play these songs this weekend and step music is apparent in the beats find yourself longing for your old to Tinie’s songs — but don’t worry, Top 40 standards, I promise to buy it doesn’t sound so much like house each and every one of you the puppy music that you’ll need a strobe light of your choice. (Not really, because to make your party complete. Plus, that could get pretty expensive, but your fellow partiers will be really that should show you how confident impressed with how foreign and cul- I am. I might buy you a goldfish if tured your music taste is … and you you ask me nicely.) So what are you can spend the evening trying to de- waiting for? Invite all your friends cipher British-isms in his lyrics. It’s a over right now. Case closed. win-win situation!

If you’re looking to make your Kinne Chapin is a senior in the Colparty a little more alternative (you’re lege. She can be reached at chapin@ pretty cool, aren’t you?), rock out to thehoya.com. FACE THE MUSIC ap“Vultures” by The Pass. This band, pears every other Friday in the guide.

face the music

O

14 // the guide // 9.16.11

I Don’t Know How You Could Watch This

ALL PHO TOS IMD B.CO M

JEREMY TRAMER Hoya Staff Writer

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hen I go to screenings of mov- rible at it. For example, although she lives in ies I’m going to review, I write Boston, where approximately 72 percent of “lol” in my notes for failed at- the residents are college students, she can’t tempts at humor, and “haha” for things that find a good babysitter for her kids. She settles are actually funny. The lol-to-haha ratio for I for some incompetent girl who has literally Don’t Know How She Does It was absolutely dis- been an undergrad for eight years. By the way, at one point we see the babysitter surfing at mal. There were like 10 “lol”s for every “haha.”

Rarely have I seen a comedy in which the the beach. Is there a thriving surfing scene in amount of times the audience laughed at Boston that I’m unaware of? something could be counted on one finger.

Another example of her terrible parenting I Don’t Know How She Does It stars Sarah is that she doesn’t think anything of the fact Jessica Parker (whom you might recognize as that her son hasn’t said a single word yet, unFrancis the Talking Mule from the film Fran- til someone points it out to her at his second birthday party. Yeah, cis the Talking Mule) as Kate, a Boston busiI just Googled it, nesswoman with a kids are supposed to six-year-old daughter say their first words and a two-year-old earlier than that. son. Her daughter Shouldn’t she have I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT been alarmed? And if looks like Dobby from Harry Potter. she really hadn’t ever starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, (That’s not mean, it’s noticed, shouldn’t Greg Kinnear, Seth Meyers just a fact.) someone call Child The premise of the Protective Services? film is that Kate has The movie makes a trouble juggling the demands of parenting few weird stylistic choices. Like “Modern Famand the demands of her job. This dichotomy ily,” it has interviews with characters in which is shown in the most uninspired ways: In one they talk about events we see, but the actual scene, she has a really important business events are not shot in documentary style. That meeting, but also has her kid’s birthday party style is annoying on TV, and it’s even worse later that day, and since the party supplies in movies. They also randomly allow Kate to store will be closed by the time the meeting freeze time and speak directly to the audiends, she has to bring 50 balloons with her to ence, but it only happens two or three times, work. She tries to get in an office elevator with so it always feels jarring and out-of-place. these colorful balloons and all the people in There are really only two good things about the elevator have looks on their faces like, this movie: One is “Saturday Night Live’s” “Hey, that’s un-businesslike behavior! I don’t Seth Meyers as Kate’s asshole coworker. I’m approve of it!” LOL! pretty sure most of his lines were improvised, Initially, it’s clear that Kate is horrible at jug- though. The people who wrote this film are gling these demands. She chooses her job over definitely not funny enough to write most of her kids pretty much every time. She’s offered the things he said. The other bright spot was an important job in New York with Pierce the performance by Olivia Munn as Kate’s Brosnan (who at times seemed unsure about uptight assistant, Momo. whether he was supposed to be masking his I suppose if I were a working mother, I Irish accent), and she takes it, even though it might have appreciated this movie a bit means spending many days in New York. Her more. On the other hand, I may just as well husband, played by Greg Kinnear, is angry have resented the film’s implications that about his additional parenting load, especial- it’s impossible for parents to raise kids withly considering that all signs point to her being out letting it spill into their professional romantically involved with Brosnan (spoiler lives in ludicrous and extremely noticeable alert: She isn’t). Can you guess if she eventu- ways. I don’t think this movie will open up ally comes around and lessens her workload a significant dialogue on parenting and in order to spend more time with her kids? I gender roles, though. For that to happen, bet you can! people would actually have to see it, and I I don’t think the filmmakers realized how suspect reviewers are going to do a good job incompetent they made Kate seem. Even of talking people out of seeing it by the time when she does do stuff for her kids, she is ter- it comes to theaters.

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entertainment

Hipster Hop: Rap Duo Das Racist Doesn’t Relax DANISH ZAIDI Special to The Hoya

I

n the first promotional single for Watch the Throne, Kanye West coined the term “H.A.M.” In Das Racist’s first commercial album, Relax, the rap duo simply does that — they “go H.A.M.” with an eclectic blend of electrofunk, throwback-Brooklyn flow and parody. The album title is certainly misleading, because Das Racist immerses

STEREOGUM.COM

themselves into all 14 songs. The prod- beat. The fusion is not always laid back though; “Punjabi Song” juxtaposes uct is fresh.

Lyricism aside, the production of the samples of Bikram Singh with massive synth transitions album is superb. and booming base The title song drums. opens the album That’s not to with a beat remisay that all songs niscent of earlyhave a more tradiday Neptunes. This RELAX tional sound. Dash same flavor carries Speaks guest proon to the album’s artist: Das Racist car bumper, “Misong to download: “Punjabi Song” duces on “Power.”

The beat is hipchael Jackson.” hop-ified dubstep, Here, however, the a concept few in familiar rhythms the rap game have of synths and snares are fused with a Bollywood-like picked up since the product always melody in the background. The album sounds so funky.

At the same time, Relax continues really takes off from here, with Heems and Kool A.D. adding a bit of their own to embrace Das Racist’s intelligent traditional spice with lyrics in Spanish stupidity. Their self-parodying style of or samples of Punjabi bhangra. “Middle hip-hop shrouds almost every track. of the Cake” wraps clever bars around They sound like a pair of nerds in “Booa slow, psychedelic, snake charmer-like ty In the Air” and start “Happy Rappy”

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New Releases

by rapping from one to 20. At the same time, the flow evokes old-school Brooklyn vibes, and one can’t help but appreciate their education: “They write down my Agatha Christie mysteries/ Officer Rick Ross, gold chain, Mr. T’s.”

Has anyone referenced her in any song before?

Later in the album, Heems rhymes “wonderful” with “Tumblr full.” It’s random and kind of dumb, but it’s clever — and it works.

It’s unfortunate that Das Racist does not have a huge following, otherwise this album could have been big. It’s production and humorous social criticism help it to stand its own ground during a summer of albums like Watch the Throne and Tha Carter IV. It has beats to ignite a dance party, blow up your car stereo, and mellow you out. Relax just doesn’t have star power — but maybe in a few years, Das Racist won’t need any.

NICK DONAHUE Hoya Staff Writer

“Let Them Talk” Hugh Laurie Let Them Talk

“Sail Away” The Rapture In The Grace of Your Love

“Is This Power” The Field Looping State of Mind

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Hugh Laurie, that jerk from the show “House,” is a talented blues musician and also an accomplished actor. This doesn’t mean, though, that his first album demands many high regards. Let Them Talk speaks to Laurie’s performance aptitude, but not to those seeking above-average blues music.

New York-based trio The Rapture hasn’t made much of a stir since its hit album Echoes in 2003. The dance-punk that brought them acclaim and a strong fan base is back in full swing. “Sail Away” may prove to be one of the better songs in its genre this year.

Too often we assume that electronic music with catchy beats only serves one purpose — to make us dance. The Field’s “Is This Power” serves as a brilliant challenge to those who don’t put their minds into electronic music. The song will put you in a looping state of mind and get your body moving at the same time.

POPDOSE.COM

NITEVERSIONS.COM

DROWNEDINSOUND.COM

9.16.11 // the guide // 15

best bets

“When I was in Ghana working to implement water purification centers in villages, I saw this boy standing in the same water that the cow is drinking from. After the implementation of the water system, he no longer has to drink the E. Coli-infested water.”

— hannah hill

BETHANY IMONDI & ALEX SANCHEZ Hoya Staff Writers

friday Take a trip to Crestwood this weekend for the Greek Festival at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Come hungry because there will be a wide assortment of Greek food and fare, from mousaka to baklava. After having your fill of food, beer and wine, peruse the Greek marketplace for jewelry and books, or listen to some live performances of authentic Greek music. With so much to do in the area and in neighboring Adams Morgan, you could easily make a day of the event.

WHERE: Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 4115 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. WHEN: Noon INFO: (202) 829-2910 PRICE: Free METRO: Georgia Avenue — Petworth Metro Station (Green Line)

saturday This Saturday head downtown to one of D.C.’s most vibrant, upcoming neighborhoods for the H Street Festival. An annual tradition aimed to draw attention to the H Street corridor, the festival has something for everyone. Foodies will enjoy the Dangerously Delicious Pies’ pie eating contests and visits from city food trucks, while music fans can enjoy the sounds from two live performance stages. The carnival games, cotton candy and rock climbing will make anyone feel like a kid again.

WHERE: H Street, NE between Eighth and 14th Streets, NE, Washington, D.C. WHEN: 12 — 7 p.m.

INFO: (202) 543-0161 PRICE: Free METRO: Union Station (Red Line)

sunday For the past 17 years, St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Fairfax, Va. has put on its annual Egyptian Bazaar. Now, St. Mark invites you to join them for the Bazaar’s 18th run.

Come enjoy authentic Egyptian and Mediterranean cuisine as well as jewelry, art and wares straight from the banks of the Nile. With an arts and crafts corner, rides and games, the event is family friendly as well. After browsing the merchandise for sale, take some respite from the heat and join a guided tour of the historic Coptic Orthodox Church.

WHERE: St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, 11911 Braddock Rd., Fairfax, Va. 22030 WHEN: 11 a.m.

INFO: (703) 591-4444 PRICE: Free METRO: Vienna/Fairfax-GMU (Orange Line)