Your Magazine Vol. 4 Issue 13: December 2014

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Congrats to our expecting faculty advisor Rachel and her husband Christian!

7PMVNF *TTVF t %FDFNCFS CLAUDIA MAK

Creative Director & Head of Design

KATHY COLLINS

Photo Director

MADELINE BILIS

Living Editor & Web Editor

RIANA ODIN

Asst. Living Editor

LEIGHA MORRIS

Marketing Director

DANNY LEMAR

Editor-in-Chief

PEYTON DIX

MATT MULLEN

Managing Editor & Romance Editor

CAITLYN BUDNICK

Head Stylist

Head Copy Editor

MICHAEL MAHIN

ANDREA PALAGI

A&E Editor

CHRISTABEL FRYE

Asst. A&E Editor

HANNAH PERRIN& RIVKA HERRERA

Style Editor

HALEY SHERIF

Talent Manager

KAREN MORALES Web Editor

YMtv Directors

Copy Editors JACQUELYN MARR, JANELLA ANGELES, PAULINA PASCUAL, JAMIE KRAVITZ, CHRISTABEL FRYE, ARIELA RUDY, DIANA DILORETO, ISABELLA DIONNE, JULIA ROBERTO

Marketing DAN SALERNO, CHRISTIAN LOPEZ, KATJA VUJIC, SYDNEY HANNIBAL

YMtv AMANDA GOMEZ, LINDSAY GUALTIERI, TERRENA SCANNELL, MEGHIN HEWITT, RORY MCCANN, WILLIAM VICKROY, STEPHANIE PUMILIA, JAIME TOSCANO, ALEXANRDA JAMES, TATIANA OCHOA, ANDY KEYES

Layout Design by CLAUDIA MAK Editorial Credits: SCOTCH & SODA, AllSAINTS SPITALFIELDS, AMERICAN APPAREL

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

XO,

INTRODUCTION

My birthday is on the ninth of December. I’m the youngest of my two siblings, the baby of the LeMar family.

But with each year and each birthday, it has become more and more clear that I am no longer a baby. By the time you read this, I will be 22. Right now, I am preparing myself for the Taylor Swift lyrics I will soon be bombarded with: “I bet you’re feeling 22!” or “Are you happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time?” (Jokes on you guys because I love that song.)

Twenty-two. It sounds like a real number, doesn’t it?

It sounds to me like a mature number, an adult age. It sounds like the age where you really, really aren’t a kid anymore. This comes with the culmination of the last registration I will ever do and the constant reminders about life after college, just a few months away. Twenty-two is a year all about moving forward. It might be a different number for you but it’s how I feel.

Please don’t think that this is one of those cryingbecause-it’s-my-birthday rants (which I have mastered, by the way). I’m only sad in the good way, the kind that makes me sentimental and reflective on how far I have come, and how far I am going to go. My birthdays always evoke deep introspection about milestones, growing up, and age. And ice cream cake. Lots of ice cream cake.

I apologize for sounding like a bad editor-in-chief but I don’t know when Your Magazine’s birthday is. That actually makes me sound more like a bad parent. I was not there for Your Mag’s conception, its birth, its potty training, or its first steps. I became a sort of stepfather this year, marrying my way up through positions until I reached the top. At the unbalanced age of 19, I joined the Romance section with eagerness and ambitions to be the next Carrie Bradshaw. But that’s the thing about ambitions: they change, and in my case, for the better.

Although I might not know my baby’s birthday, I have seen it grow and mature into the exceptional product you hold in your hands now. Each time we publish an issue I am beyond impressed at how talented and passionate the Your Mag family is. From writers to copy editors, from our design to the minds of our creative team, this is so much more than just a magazine. It is extremely hard work, a collection of artistic expression, and innovative thinking on the culture we live our lives in. It’s an extracurricular, but we make it our business. Your Magazine has changed drastically from when I joined, transforming with every new voice and perspective of the Emerson community.

So in addition to the milestones and the birthdays, I think that we at Your Mag have a whole lot to celebrate. I would like to thank each of our staff members for all of your time and your effort, your creativity and your energy. Here’s to a great semester and here’s to what comes next.

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CON REWRITING MY NARRATIVE

CONDOM CENSUS PILLOW TALK SWEET N’ SAVVY SEEKS WITTY COMPANION

CARINA’S RINGS SCANDINAVIANLY CLAD WHAT’S STOPPING BOSTON? OUT OF THE BOX CHROMA

BAGS THAT GIVE BACK INTRODUCTION

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ALL WRAPPED UP

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HALEY SHERIF

BRITNI BIRT ELLIE ROMANO MECHI LAKATOS

PHOTO ESSAY MEGAN CATHEY KAREN MORALES SERENA KASSOW PHOTOGRAPHED BY JABARI CANADA

PEYTON DIX ANDREA PALAGI

DATA DRIVEN DRIVING BEDSIDE TABLES MARKETING HOLIDAY CHEER SLATE

THE PRESSURES OF POINTE NO DOCTOR DIAGNOSES GIFT YOURSELF REINVENTING THE LATKE A VERY MERRY MICHAEL CHRISTMAS FROZEN FANTASY STORIES FROM ALICE MUNRO ANNIE THROUGH THE AGES

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MADELINE BILIS PHOTO ESSAY LINDSEY GONZALEZ PHOTOGRAPHED BY CLAUDIA MAK

ARIANAARIANA MARINI RIANA ODIN SYDNEY HANNIBAL JAMIE KRAVITZ PEYTON DIX WENDY EATON MATTHEW MULLEN LINDSEY PARADIS

INTRODUCTION

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Re-

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By Haley Sherif Photo by Claudia Mak

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writing my narrative

picket fence. I didn’t know that at the time I was imagining up a narrative– creating a story in my head of what the future should look like for myself once I just grew up. I also shared that American Dream, which seemed to be inserted into all children’s heads, into their malleable sponge-like brains, “this is what you want,” it said, “this is what you’ll one day have.”

Fast-forward 17 years and I flashback to this little girl, how small her world was, her mind, and her narrative before I squeak out to my roommate, “I like girls.” The first time I say the words out loud they feel foreign, like some food I have never tasted before, unsure if I am going to be able to swallow or not. Even reading them on the page makes me nervous, makes me sweat and twirl my curls like I do when I’m scared.

Recently I read an essay in Lena Dunham’s book, Not That Kind of Girl, in which she recalls when her sister Grace came out to her– she told Lena all about YOU WOULD THINK that people would forewarn this girl she had kissed back at a summer program. Years you of all the funny business that takes place after you later it came out that Grace had lied, she simply created have a first kiss But, then again, maybe it’s impossible to a false narrative because she didn’t think anyone would warn someone of something so intimate, exchanged on a believe her otherwise. I felt the same way. Before I told street corner or in a vinyl booth in a back of a dodgy bar my friends I was already worried about how I would or in your doorway. Kissing is one of the most natural justify it. I had never kissed a girl the day I told my now things in the world, but, like writing, it’s often awkex-roommate I liked them. I had never been with a girl ward at first. All of these thoughts come to my mind as or even went on a date with a girl. All I knew was I was I sit curled under an orange blanket, listing to Noah & madly attracted to them. the Whale on repeat watching the first snow drift onto One of my favorite writers is Cheryl Strayed.

Boston on the second day of November. This moment is Her book Tiny Beautiful Things changed my life. She warm and cozy. I feel content, unburdened, though I can writes, “I’ll never know, and neither will you, of the life feel the future staggering in the distance, threatening to you don’t choose. We’ll only know that whatever that collapse under it’s weight, looking amused, maybe, at all sister life was, it was important and beautiful and not that is yet to come. ours. It was the ghost ship that didn’t carry us. There’s This moment reminds me of similar moments nothing to do but salute it from the shore.” And that’s back when I was a child and the only thing that matexactly what I did one early morning as I waited for a tered to me was pretending to be an adult, sitting on flight to LAX to visit my brother. I watched the sunmy mother’s back, brushing her hair as she flipped rise from Logan Airport and thought to myself in the through catalogues and me occasionally shouting, “when simplest of ways: You’re gay. You have always been gay.

I grow-up I’ll own that chair,” or “that table will look Your fear is born of the most natural thing in the world, nice in my first house.” I had a wild imagination even that of stepping into the unknown, completely alone as a small child, on the sidelines I would stand with and completely uninhibited. You need to start living the other adults watching the other five-year-olds run your narrative and let go of this other one, Haley. It isn’t around madly, picking their noses. I had bigger things yours. No matter how much you want it to be or try to going on in my small head, dreaming up my future life force it to be or tug at its coattail. Let. It. Go. with my future husband and our adorable blonde haired And I did. I boarded my flight and I came out to children, and our dog, all encased by a very, very white my brother that very weekend.

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“I WANTED TO WRITE THIS ESSAY FOR SO MANY REASONS, BUT THE BIGGEST REASON WAS THIS: BECAUSE THERE AREN’T ENOUGH NARRATIVES OUT THERE THAT I RELATE TO.”

That moment in the airport was a very raw one for me. I wasn’t hiding anything from myself anymore; I was being 100 percent honest with myself, which felt great. But it’s easy to get the idea from that one moment that the following weeks were just as easy as that one– they weren’t. Coming out is the hardest thing I have ever done. I have had to do some really tough stuff in my life, but nothing compares to this. And the hardness isn’t from necessarily saying the words out loud (that’s a gift, a very freeing gift) it’s in the aftermath, it’s the dealing with friends opinions and judgments and doubts and stubbornness and all of those other things that come when someone thinks they know who you are but are wrong.

I recently went on two dates. On one of those dates I had my very first kiss that made me forget my name, and my lips tremble for hours afterwards, and my heart swell inside my chest until I thought it might burst through my skin. It didn’t, because that very same kiss led to a few weeks of feeling exhausted and sad and heart-dented. (I like the word heart-dented because juxtaposed to heartbreak, it suggests a lesser pain, an easier fix. Dent’s can be pushed back into shape, but breaks are harder to put back together.) I emailed my very wise step-mom describing in vague detail how I was feeling.

Then this is what happened: she asked me if, “she had to go after him with a baseball bat.” I could’ve ignored the pronoun, found something witty to say, and changed the subject. But I didn’t. “Nah, she’s a cool chick,” I wrote back, “we just didn’t vibe.” And with one pronoun, I had started a conversation with her that I had dreaded having for weeks. And things kept getting better and opening up, like I had twisted that one little bulb on the line of Christmas lights and suddenly all the rest lit up, like warming the first had given life to the others. I felt stronger. My dad texted me: he was happy if I was ROMANCE

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happy. My other brother congratulated me. I felt warm and cozy and relieved. My sister narrative was starting to feel like only the smallest of mirages, just glimmering in the foreground of my mind.

But, amongst all of these gifts, there were a few bits of coal rolling about. Some people couldn’t accept me anymore. That was heart breaking. Close friends who I cherished simply couldn’t swallow my new story, couldn’t hear what I was telling them, couldn’t reconcile this Haley with the one they had known and loved. And so I lost some people, some people I really did love, like my sister life I had to watch them walk out of my life, wish them the best, but recognize that we no longer could be friends– if they couldn’t accept this very important part of who I am they didn’t really have a place in my life anymore.

I wanted to write this essay for so many reasons, but the biggest reason was this: because there aren’t enough narratives out there that I relate to. I needed to write this essay because I need there to be more stories like mine out there in the world. Because being in a world where you pick up a book or workshop a piece or hear a poem and can’t relate is a very lonely place to be.

And the last thing this world needs is loneliness. But life is so remarkably beautiful. You will find in the darkest corners gifts piled high. You’ll see. One night when you’re feeling a little sad you’ll read an essay in the Modern Love Column of the New York Times about a couple, a lesbian couple, and you will look into your pizza and soak it with your tears because there is a narrative you feel from the very bottom of your heart to the tips of your toes. You can see yourself in that place in the future and that is enough. You’ll see that all those moments of heartache and confusion and sadness make up only the smallest part of this very wonderful life that lies ahead of you.

Your belly is soft Your eyes are heavy, you snore Who needs a boyfriend?

A Haiku for my Cat, Mark

By Claudia Mak Photo by Claudia Mak

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CONDOM?

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED A FLAVORED CONDOM?

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COND

DOM AN EMERSON SURVEY

HAVE YOU TRIED VARIATIONS OF THE TRADITIONAL CONDOM?

By Brtni Birt

WHO DOES THE RESPONSIBILITY FALL ON TO PROVIDE THE CONDOM?

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i l l ow t a l k ROMANCE

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By Ellie Romano Artwork by Pimploy Phongsirivech

IT’S LATE in the evening on a Saturday

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night. Your body is tired and teetering on the edge of sleep. Next to you is the person you brought home from the party that evening. You think back to how this all started. Catching their eye across the room, the conversation next to the keg, the inevitable invitation: Would they like to spend the night? The flow of conversation never stopped until you got all the way back to your place and clothes started to be ripped off. The sex was amazing.

Days later, you would even refer to it as making love when recounting the night to your friend. But you don’t know that now. Now, as you lay next to your new partner, you notice the thin layer of sweat coating their body. You realize you haven’t learned anything truly personal about them. With this newfound lack of information you have the sudden urge to ask them about every aspect of their life, their deepest darkest secrets. And you can. It’s one of the only times you can talk about such topics: post sex during pillow talk.

Sex isn’t just about physical pleasure. It creates a bond between us and someone else, if only for a short period of time. Because of this bond, there is a wall that can come down when in the presence of each other. You can allow yourself to be vulnerable. Post sex is when you’ll feel most connected to your partner, which is why you don’t have to be afraid of the vulnerability or worry about revealing too much of yourself. There are no rules in pillow talk. You can ask anything you want, share whatever crosses your mind, and there is no judgement. Pillow talk is the perfect time to get to know your partner on a deeper, intimate level.

Brandon*, a junior at Mass Art, recounted his experiences with post-sex conversations: “I learn too much. More than I ever wanted to know. But sometimes I can relate to the problems that she’ll tell me and it will feel good to talk it out and get things off my own chest.” He went on to explain the different subjects that have come up during pillow talk: “Sometimes the topics will be as trivial as the girl telling me she is self-conscious of what people think of her or as deep as her telling me she wants to get a tattoo in memory of her cousin who died. That ended up turning into this really long talk

where she would ask me to tell her a secret and then she would tell me a secret.” Brandon finished by saying, “We learned so much about each other that night.” Topics that come up during pillow talk involve the problems we are currently facing since those are usually what we think about at the end of the day. Sharing your life experiences is another great way to get to know someone. Life experiences can be a list of your firsts: the first time you had sex, your first day of college, the first time you threw up from partying, the first time you failed a test, the first time you came out to someone, the first time you got a tattoo, your first love. The list can go on and on. “I learned that I had just taken someone’s virginity in pillow talk,” said Andrew* ‘17 on his most memorable post-sex conversation.

Talking about family also seems to be a recurring topic in pillow talk. “There was this one time when a guy told me about his family problems. His parents were divorced and he hated his father because he treated the family terribly the few times he was around. I just listened as he vented and tried to make him feel better,” recalls Shannon* ‘17. Emma ‘17, also learned about family problems post sex. “He told me his dad was in jail and then made me guess the reason why. Turned out his dad was in jail for assault.” Pillow talk does not always have to be as heavy as in the stories recounted above. “One time this guy and I talked about traveling for what seemed like hours.

He really wanted to see the world but has never been out of the country. I’ve been all over Europe so he kept asking me questions about different places I’ve been and we made jokes about planning our own trip around the world together,” Shannon adds.

Unfortunately, not everyone is open to pillow talk.

Not everyone is comfortable with breaking down the barriers necessary to openly talk about anything in a judgement free zone. Some people are just more reserved and shut off. Some people just like to fall asleep right after sex, which makes pillow talk almost impossible. Since you might not always be paired with the most open person post sex, it is important to remember how lucky you are when you do get to experience eye-opening, trusting pillow talk.

The sun is just starting to come up. You stir out of your light slumber. Your bed sheets are in disarray from all the excitement they endured the night before. The dull light from your window illuminates the room just enough for you to scan the room for the articles of clothing you are missing. You turn over on your side and now what you see is no longer a stranger, but a lover. Each conversation you had the night before replays in your head. You sigh with relief —finally knowing the kind of person you brought home that night. You can now fall back to sleep with peace of mind and an eagerness to see what breakfast will bring.

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S W E E T N ’SAV V Y

SEEKS WITTY COMPANION

By Mechi Lakatos Photo by Carina Allen

IF ASKED about my personal ideals, I would classify my-

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self as a feminist, fiercely independent, and someone with a strong moral compass and unwavering commitment to my beliefs and integrity. If asked about my past, I would also have to classify myself as someone who has, on multiple occasions, been a “sugar baby.”

We all know what sugar daddies are: rich men who seek out often much younger women to date, and, essentially, spoil into submission. They make their home on the internet, scouring profile photos of young, often barely-legal girls, and throwing around words like “net worth” to attract those same girls who, most likely, don’t even yet understand what a net worth is. I was one of these girls.

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I first made a profile on a sugar dating website in my first term of college—I was enrolled in a small, isolated liberal arts college that I had found, immediately, was not for me. In November, I was accepted for transfer to Emerson, with no merit or financial aid. I had a merit scholarship at my present college and my parents told me I could transfer, sure—but I had to pay the 6K difference in tuition per semester out of pocket.

I was at a tiny school in the middle of nowhere with no viable means for income, and I felt trapped. So when a friend from high school told me about being a sugar baby, I immediately looked into it. It seemed really easy, and she had a sugar daddy that paid her just to talk on Skype—which seemed ideal. Making $300 an hour to put on a push-up bra and Skype with a bored, middle-aged man? Probably not a story I would be eager to share with my children, but the only feasible way I could come up with to make the money I needed at that juncture in my life, outside of actually being a stripper.

Unfortunately, the “Skype-me-for-300-dollarsan-hour” types are hard to come by. The discrepancy I’ve found, from the friends and acquaintances I know who have done it, and the men I’ve encountered and what they are looking for, is that most (all) girls: 1. get into it for the money and 2. are not looking for an emotional relationship that takes up large amounts of time and energy. The men, on the other hand, are usually bored, unsatisfied with their marriages, too busy and successful to date normally—so they are looking for a woman they can spoil into being their girlfriend, or, at least, “special friend.” Very different ideals, which, from the start, I think, make for a failed relationship, amidst other emotional traumas.

The first man I met in person was very sweet.

In his 60s, a successful film score composer, bashful, and slightly overweight, he showered me with compliments. “Artful Artist” was his screen name. I can’t remember his real name. We met at a Starbucks in L.A. near my house, 45 minutes away from his. Two of my friends sat at a nearby table. I don’t remember anything I said during the meeting, except that I ended it by saying I had a flight to catch (of all things). He offered to drive me to the airport. I clumsily declined, bolted away, ran the three blocks to the parking garage.

My heart didn’t stop racing until I was safely five exits away on the freeway. He sent me a number of followup messages over the next weeks and months, but I did not reply.

I went home angry with myself, wondering why I couldn’t just suck it up and do it when it seemed like everyone else could. My friend in New York was making thousands of dollars, and lavish gifts from

“I AM NOW TOO AFRAID TO LEND MYSELF WHOLLY TO ANY EXPERIENCE.” her multiple Daddies were always showing up on the doorstep of the $6500 Bushwick two-story walk-up she could not have afforded without their help. And I was still broke. The start of the spring term was encroaching, and I had $45 to my name saved to pay the steep tuition bill I had guaranteed my parents I would be on top of.

So I logged back on, connected with the first four men who contacted me, and met up regularly with them in the next few weeks before I moved to Boston. My parents thought I had gotten a babysitting job, and would ask me about how the children were when I arrived home late at night. I told winding tales of Chutes and Ladders and baking homemade pizzas.

Meanwhile, I starved myself, worrying that the men would think I was fat, wouldn’t be attracted to me, and wouldn’t give me as much money. I never told them my real name. I denied all requests to stay longer, go out to a theatre show, take a ride on Jim’s yacht, stay the weekend at Steven’s beautiful oceanside Santa Barbara mansion. I stayed awake all night and made appointments to get tested for STDs. When I arrived in Boston, I made attempts to connect with new, local sugar daddies, to keep my cash flow coming. I’d acquired a job in a café, and was working 40 hours a week in addition to being in school full-time, but I still had nowhere near enough income to make the school payments I needed to make, and my parents were insistent that I was not to take out loans. I met for “first dates” with various daddies, but would end up never replying to their incessant texts and calls. I’d delete their numbers over and over, hoping that that message would be the last. I felt afraid to log on to the Internet—I couldn’t face them, even online.

One man I met, an interesting, young guy who was a high-powered photographer and who I might have been interested in in “real life,” offered to pay me $1000 to go out shopping with him, let him buy me expensive clothes, and photograph me in them. That was it—no strings attached—$1000 cash.

I couldn’t do it. The whole process had left me feeling so insecure about my body and objectified that I turned down something that literally sounded like a dream.

The final straw was a 52-year-old man with the same name (and age) as my father. His messages were crude and his grainy pictures were dirty-looking. He told me he’d pick me up from my dorm room in his Toyota, drive me around the block so I could give him road head, and drop me back off right after. I agreed—easy, simple, no strings.

My favorite type of arrangement. I needed the cash to pay for the outrageous hospital bills I’d just incurred when I’d had an egregious anxiety attack and passed out in the lobby of a school building. I’d been having a lot of those lately.

I got dressed and headed downstairs. In the elevator, I ran into a friend, who asked where I was going. I broke down crying. She brought me back to her room and made me tea as I cried openly for a long time. I had 10 missed calls on my phone from the man and had two violent panic attacks wherein I feared for my safety, even though I was in a college building with security downstairs prohibiting the man from getting to me. I felt like a victim of sexual assault. I know I can’t say that because it was my choice, but it is how I felt. I’ve never felt more dirty, used, or cheap in my life than I did at that moment, after the culmination of those months.

I had absolutely no self-respect or self-worth. I had entered into this world voluntarily, but I don’t think I had any idea how it would affect my mental and emotional health. When I began, I was mainly just worried about meeting up with a man who was actually a serial killer. I thought the actual act would be fun and easy, no big deal. Especially since I had never felt anything towards any of the boys I’d had sexual encounters with in the past, and those had been fine. It was just a transaction for me. I thought it would be the same.

But sugar daddies were different. I felt like a commodity. I couldn’t take the casual, business-like attitude my friends seemed to have toward the ordeal. It really destroyed me. I certainly was not conscious of the extent that it affected me, and though it’s not something I really associate as a trauma now, thinking about it in that light, it undoubtedly was. It still affects me in every relationship I have had since. I am now too afraid to lend myself wholly to any experience. I have to keep my guard up, fight with all my might to keep things empty and myself safe (emotionally), even when I am with someone that I love

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and trust. No school tuition, amount of money, and certainly no pair of expensive shoes is worth that.

It definitely changed and shaped the way I see relationships with men—it made me feel like a total object and, in turn, associate heterosexual relationships as misogynistic in that way. Since then, I’ve not been able to trust men in any regard and have exclusively withheld romantic love for women. I identify (begrudgingly) as bisexual, but I don’t think I will ever be able to have a romantic relationship with a man, or even a sexual one—at least not any time in the near future. I don’t know how much my experiences with sugar dating account for this handicap I now possess, but I would estimate that it has played a large part.

I have friends who have had vastly different experiences than me—one diehard lesbian who rakes in $900 a week giving out blow jobs to financial advisors without batting an eye. Another who loves being spoiled and shopped for by one extremely generous man who rents a hotel room for the two of them every weekend. I think that everyone is different, so you really have to know yourself to know if you will be able to be okay with yourself and be able to separate your personal life from this “job” of sorts. I thought I knew myself, but I was too young and inexperienced in my sexuality to know how I would react to the extremity of this type of relationship I have not deleted my online profile, and still occasionally talk with men online when I feel desperate and strapped for cash. I romanticize this option as an “easy out.” But I’ve not met up with another man since. When I log on now, the feeling of impending wealth and male attention that once filled me with excitement now just weighs my body down with dread.

Regardless of the candy-coated name put on the arrangement, sugar dating is, in all honesty, nothing more than poorly-veiled misogynistic objectification and female exploitation. In her new memoir, Lena Dunham writes, poignantly: “When someone shows you how little you mean to them and you keep coming back for more, before you know it you start to mean less to yourself. You are not made up of compartments! You are one whole person! What gets said to you gets said to all of you, ditto what gets done.” I think this is the most valuable piece of knowledge anyone could impart in regards to the destruction that this type of relationship can hold for young girls.

If you asked me to really describe myself, “sweet n’ savvy” would be nowhere near the top of a true compiling of my personality, and that witty companion I’m seeking—yeah, I’m sure they’re out there somewhere, but the more time I waste on that website, the farther and farther I will get from finding them.

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“A few of the rings were my mom’s or my grandma’s. It’s nice to have a piece of them with me.

After my grandma passed away, we went through her jewelry and I kept some of it . I also gave some to my friends; it’s nice to think that my friends hold a piece of her too. My thumb rings are actually earrings that were my grandmother’s, but I took the hooks off them. I don’t take them off or I feel naked without them.”

Photos by Kathleen Collins

STYLE

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THE BRANDS: Everyone probably owns at least one thing from Swedish giant H&M. But H&M sister companies like Collection of Style, & Other Stories, and Monki are all worth checking out. & Other Stories’ first American store opened in Soho in New York City on Oct. 17th, while Cos’ first stateside shop opened in Los Angeles on Oct. 30th. Monki as of now has no American stores, but you can find them on online retailer ASOS. If you are looking to invest in a well-made coat, sweater, or pair of boots, look no further than Sweden’s Acne Studios. A long time favorite of fashion editors and bloggers, Acne has gained a reputation for stylish yet functional pieces. From mohair knits to shearlinglined coats to sturdy Chelsea boots, Acne doesn’t compromise practicality in the name of fashion, true to the Scandinavian style ethos.

THE LOOK: The Nordic nations’ egalitarian views on childcare extend to their views on clothing, i.e. traditional gender roles are irrelevant. Scandinavian women love masculine pieces like trousers, oversized coats and brogue shoes, whereas Nordic men aren’t afraid to rock slimmer, tailored silhouettes.

Both men and women favor simplicity and comfort over flashy and over-the-top designs.

Where many American women love wearing bold color and prints, the Nords prefer a color palette of neutrals with the occasional and strategic pop of color. But don’t think that because the Nords aren’t adventurous with color, that their style is boring. They rather focus on high quality pieces that are well tailored and flattering, and perhaps most importantly will get them through cold weather.

Their love of practical pieces is also evident in choice of accessories: Nike and New Balance sneakers instead of stilettos, and backpacks instead of fussing with carrying a purse or briefcase. Instead of a basic Jansport backpack, they’ll opt for one

by Swedish brand Fjällräven. The New Balances they pick are far from the ones you’d see a gym teacher wearing, but rather retroinspired styles like the 420s or 574s. From navigating city centers via bicycle or trekking across cobblestone streets, Scandinavians need accessories that will help get them from A to B, and preferably as stylish as possible.

By Megan Cathey

THE BLOGGERS: If you can’t book a flight to a Scandinavian country any time soon, you can easily get inspired by browsing through a number of fashion blogs. Some notables include Elin Kling (http:// www.elin-kling.com/the-wall), arguably the queen of Scandinavian fashion. Kling is a master at combining luxurious basics to create laidback, minimalistic outfits. There’s Caroline Blomst’s blog http://carolinesmode.com/, which along with sharing photos of her outfits, also profiles other stylish women in Stockholm. Like most Scandinavian women, Marie Hindkaer Wolthers (http://blameitonfashion.freshnet.com/) is a pro at mixing style and function, as well as high end and low end pieces in her ensembles. Veronica Mike Solheim’s (http://worldofmike.no/) blog is primarily in her native Norwegian, but you don’t need to understand the text to appreciate her effortless style. Fair warning: all these blogs might induce some serious style envy.

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scandinavian(ly)

CLAD

Ikea, Swedish meatballs, to the discovery of insulin, we have many things to owe to the Scandinavians. Now it’s time to add style to the list, because Scandinavian fashion has crossed the pond, and fortunately so. Not only are the Scandinavians countries some of the happiest, they’re also some of the most stylish.

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WHAT’S STOPPING BOSTON?

By Karen Morales Illustration by Niki Current

ALTHOUGH PUBLISHED

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more than three years ago, Boston’s number one spot on GQ’s “The 40 Worst Dressed Cities in America” list is still a sore subject among city residents. Alex Weaver, managing editor at BostInno, readdressed our place on GQ’s list in an article published this past July.

In Weaver’s opinion, there are plenty of well-dressed Bostonians. “I hear people to this day reference our ranking thereon,” he says. “For those who have never been here, that might be the reputation they go on. And that’s a bummer.”

It’s easy for outsiders to shrug off Boston as a real fashion hub, especially since the Big Apple casts such an impressive shadow on us. But the truth is, there is a vibrant fashion scene just simmering beneath the Red Sox jersey-and-Uggs clad surface. It may not be as prominent or obvious as the fashion industry in New York or Milan, but it’s certainly there and open for anyone to participate in.

One may only need to look a little more closely to find it.

“BOSTON FASHION IS SMART.” headdresses, garments with LED lights embedded, and structured clothes representing cells or tissues in the human body. Ministry of Supply, a menswear brand that incorporates technology and engineering to create everyday clothes with performance wear qualities, has its roots in Boston when it was founded by three MIT students. As Calderin says, “Boston fashion is smart.”

Renata Certo-Ware is a self proclaimed “fashion anthropologist” and creator of fashion blog, Scorpion Disco.

While studying at Boston University to earn her bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Certo-Ware hadn’t quite entered the fashion sphere yet. “When I was in college, it was all coats and Uggs and that’s kind of what I was wearing back then,” she says. After graduating, she moved to Turkey and started a blog to share her experiences. After realizing that she enjoyed blogging about fashion related things, whether it was interviewing local Turkish designers or posting outfit photos, Renata decided she wanted to pursue a career in fashion. With this epiphany, the prospect of returning to Boston became less desirable. “I thought I would have to choose a different career, [I thought] there’s no fashion in Boston,” says Certo-Ware. “I thought it would be really hard and impossible and nonexistent. But I was wrong.”

Soon after she moved back to Boston in 2011, CertoWare googled “Boston Fashion Bloggers” and was surprised to see pages and pages of results of local bloggers who were all a part of each other’s networks. “It’s a really tight community, so everyone linked to everyone else which I think is really cool and supportive,” she says. She was welcomed with open arms to the community. “I just emailed all the bloggers and said, hey I just moved here, I want to be friends with you, let’s talk about fashion,” says Certo-Ware. From there, she met other bloggers who she has still remained friends with.

In addition to blogging, which she continued as a way to connect with friends, Certo-Ware has had experience working with local designers and taking on gigs in freelance writing, styling, marketing, and PR. Scorpion Disco’s readership grew, opening up opportunities for the blogger in fashion brand collaborations, invitations to preview new clothing collections, or press passes to cover Boston events. Currently, Certo-Ware is also a User-Experience Lead for a fashion tech start-up company, and copy editor at Rue La La. For up-and-coming designer Chynna Pope, Boston’s fashion scene is all about networking. Pope grew up in Beacon Hill and currently studies at The School of Fashion Design.

She is also the founder of The Beacon Hill Bow Tie Club, a

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It’s hard to pinpoint just how Boston gained its unfashionable reputation. It’s a lot easier to try to understand how other cities gained their fashion capital titles. The world famous fashion industry of New York City has its roots in the Garment District. A comprehensive study on the Garment District titled, “Fashioning the Future: NYC’s Garment District,” published by the Municipal Art Society of New York in 2011 outlines the history of the Garment District and its integral role in creating the city’s fashion industry.

The District was where manufacturers and laborers produced ready-to-wear clothing for the masses. It became a flourishing and expansive industry over time, largely due to the fact that New York was a major seaport with access to materials and supplies from overseas and wide-reaching markets. The industry’s success also relied heavily on the cheap labor of skilled immigrants workers who came in large waves. According to the report, by the 1920s, 78 percent of the nation’s clothing was made in the city.

Although New York was at the top in mass-producing clothes, it was Paris that was known for its artistic and innovative fashion designs. This changed during World War II, when the Nazi occupation of Paris isolated the French city from the rest of the world and the media turned its attention to New York designers. In addition, New York was the first to host Fashion Week, or “Press Week” as it was originally called in 1943. According to the study, these social movements coupled with New York’s growing relevance as a cultural hot spot helped catapult it into fashion capital status.

New York’s high status in fashion has a long legacy and is embedded in history, culture, and social and artistic movements. Boston, in contrast, has legacies in educational and medical institutions. To contrast even further, Boston Fashion Week is a relatively new institution, founded by Jay Calderin in 1995. Boston’s “worst dressed” reputation has a lot more to do with history and less with the poor taste of some individuals. The world isn’t paying less attention to Boston because of the inaptitude of its professionals or lack of talent in the city. It is because of legacy and history, and that is simply hard to compete with. The world doesn’t have to discount the fashion and style of one city over the other, just because of the way history played itself out.

Fashion in Boston has developed differently than in other cities, which gives it its distinct qualities. “Every city has something unique to share when it comes to fashion,” says Jay Calderin. “And unique means different so it’s a waste of time to compare apples and oranges.” In Boston, there are burgeoning and established local designers, models, photographers, editors, and stylists; a strong fashion blogging community; and active participation from all industries of the city that make up the scene. For example, during Boston Fashion Week this past October, science and fashion joined forces as part of Descience’s runway show at the MIT media lab. Teams of scientists and designers produced wearable 3-D printed

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custom bow tie business that she runs from home. Gaining exposure for her fashion endeavors isn’t one of her biggest challenges however. “Breaking in as a Bostonian...it’s been a little bit easier because my social network is already set, people know me, they know my style,” she says. Pope’s designs have been showcased recently throughout Boston Fashion Week including at The Launch, an annual show featuring five budding designers, and at Copley Catwalk Series, a fashion show held at Copley Place.

As someone with an insider’s perspective of the scene, Pope has observed that Bostonians can be standoffish and almost wary of newcomers. “Boston is one of those cities where as a newbie you break in and they’re like, ‘who are you?’” she says. “Whereas take for example, California people are excited like, ‘Who are you? I want to know your story.’” Being a Bostonian is a big part of the student designer’s brand. “I want to prove the stigma wrong because we are dubbed the worst dressed city,” she says. One way Pope set out to prove this stigma wrong was by taking photos of people while walking through different Boston neighborhoods one day. She noticed that each neighborhood had its own distinct style, from the “uptight preppy Back Bay look” to the “earth tones” Cambridge look. “There are fashionable people everywhere,” she says.

Certo-Ware has experienced the fashion scene in New York and compares its Fashion Week with Boston’s. “NYFW is geared towards the business of fashion and commerce,” says Certo-Ware. “It’s about buyers and people who can propagate the business. And here it’s more of a social scene.” In her experience attending Boston shows, Certo-Ware has seen few, if any buyers present. Jay Calderin, who is not only founder but also executive director of BFW, explains this social element.

“The show is status, often a perk that provides bragging rights and/or a photo op, which have a different kind of value,” he says. “Most people are under the impression that buyers that do attend shows are actually using these runway presentations to buy for their stores.” Calderin says that in reality, if a buyer is taking the time to attend a show, they research the line, are familiar with the designer, and have most likely already made a buy. “The real value of investing time, resources and money into putting on a show during Boston Fashion Week is to create content,” he says, “...great photos and video that can be edited to tell a great story for the press, the public, and buyers.”

Another artist who is developing her career in Boston is Gina Manning who started four years ago as a nightlife photographer and is now pursuing fashion photography full time. According to Manning, the creative industry in the city is small and everybody just knows each other. “This is a great city for collaborating,” she says. “So many people want to work with one another just for the sake of making art.”

Manning has worked behind the scenes and on the runway at Boston Fashion Week shows and has collaborated with local STYLE

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designers and fashion companies such as Dune Jewelry and Rue La La, helping them brand their art. “I think Boston is a great place to make a name for yourself and, in my opinion, a great place to cultivate your style,” says Manning. “You have a lot more space to grow here than you might in a more competitive and cutthroat city when you’re just starting out.”

There are many reasons to remain optimistic for the future generation of aspiring fashion folk in Boston. The consumer scene, which is inextricably linked to the fashion scene, has been flourishing. “If you look at Newbury Street openings, there is a new Chanel, a new Dolce and Gabbana,” says Certo-Ware. “I think it’s a sign it’s getting more serious, like game on.” In 2011, the late Mayor Menino closed down Newbury Street for the first time in 15 years to host Fashion’s Night Out Boston—a celebration of fashion that originated in New York City to boost retail sales with various store parties, discounts, fashion shows, and in-store events. Our city became star struck when fashion heavyweights Anna Wintour, Olivia Palermo, Karlie Kloss, and Gisele Bundchen attended the MFA’s Mario Testino exhibit in 2012. And according to Chynna Pope, BFW is growing every year. “This year we just celebrated the 20th anniversary and we had a really big turnout,” she says.

The city’s younger residents are just as hungry for the fashion scene. The Junior Sartorialist, also known as Tobias Otting, is a Boston-based blogger who writes about topics ranging from local fashion designers to his favorite places to eat. According to his About page, he was “discovered” at age 8 at BFW, and at age 9, gave a TEDx Talk in Cambridge.

The Junior Sartorialist, who is now 10, has a keen interest in fashion and strong sense of personal style. Otting said that although someone who is interested in pursuing fashion in Boston may feel discouraged, “you can be what you want no matter where you’re from.” In his short, yet valuable experience on the scene, Otting observes that Boston is unique in that, “You have to look around very closely” to be involved in fashion. Similarly, when asked whether it is hard to break into the fashion industry in Boston, Certo-Ware says, “It depends on your age and your goals because obviously there’s not a lot of money invested in fashion here yet.” She says that because of this there aren’t a lot of paying opportunities but “there are a lot of creative ways to do it. You just have to sneak in from another angle.”

There’s a sense of mission among the local fashion crowd. “Everything is so accessible now that there’s no reason things can’t happen in Boston,” says Pope, referring to technology and modes of transportation. “I’d like to be the one, or one of the first to really make it happen.” Like many things in life, fashion in Boston is what you make of it. It has its misconceptions, but those passionate about the industry have embraced every aspect of it and are willing to continue to push its boundaries.

1.

BIRCHBOX

Cost: $10/month https://www.birchbox.com/ Definitely at the forefront of recognition in the category of beauty boxes, Birchbox creates a personalized experience for the user by having them fill out a survey at the time they set up their account. At this point, they are sent boxes every month, containing samples of high-end makeup, skincare, and hair brands. Most beloved by young, trendy urbanites, Birchbox has reached monumental success in cities like New York. They offer a full online store as well, and the user receives special discounts on the products they are sent in their boxes.

IPSY

Cost: $10/month http://www.ipsy.com/new/ Ipsy is basically a follow-up on Birchbox: with the success of a product comes competition. Just like Birchbox, Ipsy creates your user profile and tastes based on a survey conducted when you sign up. Ipsy offers Sephora-esque brands, such as Urban Decay, Buxom, Benefit, and Josie Maran. Designed for a slightly less yuppie crowd, Ipsy caters to the Sephora shopper who likes to treat herself once in a while. What’s more, Ipsy gives you a great opportunity to test something out before buying it.

OUT OF

THE BOX

By Serena Kassow Artwork by Rachel Simrose

TAKING THE TIME from your busy schedule for Sephora runs can be such a hassle- here’s how to get all things beauty delivered right to your door!

TEST TUBE

JULEP “MAVEN”

Cost: $19.99/month for three months http://www.julep.com/# With ultra-girly beauty brand Julep’s “Maven” program, ladies are treated to new, never-before released nail colors and treatments, whose totals add up to $40. This box is perfect for the girl who tries to save on mani-pedis and likes to experiment with new colors and products during girl’s night in. Always be on the cutting edge when a friend asks, “what’s that color?”

She won’t be able to find it in any salons.

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Cost: $29.95/ 3 months http://testtube.newbeauty.com/program/ For ladies with slightly more upscale taste, Test Tube is perfect for you. Subscribers receive a TestTube filled with deluxe sample and full-size products, as well as gaining access to a community of how-to videos, beauty enthusiasts, and experiences and feedback. A TestTube subscription would make a wonderful gift for Mom or any girlfriend with a birthday coming up!

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chroma LIVING

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PHOTOGRAPHY: jabari canada models: Clara Huergo Miranda Quast Olivia Harvey Ashley Tenn Maggie Ambrose Carina Allen

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BAGS THAT GIVE BACK

By Peyton Dix Photos provided by stone+cloth

NOT MANY PEOPLE are lucky enough to have a transformative experience on one of the highest peaks in Africa,

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overlooking all of Tanzania. Such a unique experience can only be attributed to a unique man. Matthew Clough, a Canadian native, is the founder and creator of the raw, modern, and socially-conscious backpack company, stone + cloth.

In 2008, Clough achieved his goal of hiking the highest peak in Africa. It was there, on the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, that he realized something about his porter, Benson. The two spent a lot of time together on this grueling journey. Over time, Clough discovered that Benson was unable to afford schooling for his child. This realization profoundly humbled Clough and prompted him to help the best way he knew how.

Clough wanted to “create a product to solve a problem.� His background is in design and while thinking of a product to create, he asked himself what he would consider a strong symbol of education. The inspiration to generate stone + cloth, a backpack and tote line, stemmed from many different sources. Clough loves to hike as a pastime and whenever he goes hiking he takes a backpack with him. He combined the classic appeal and simplicity of a JanSport backpack, with the durability of a utilitarian rucksack, that resembled the kind he uses for hiking. This duality allowed him to produce not only a symbol of education, but a recreation of his unique and personal experience on top Mount Kilimanjaro. His first backpack produced at stone + cloth was called The Benson, in honor of his porter.

“CLOUGH WANTED TO ‘CREATE A PRODUCT TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.’” Clough was able to fuse his passion for design with his innate drive to help others into one cohesive and novel product. But, like any start-up, the struggle to become established can be a lengthy, tedious, and expensive one. After getting fired from his job in 2010, Clough moved to California to work with another start-up at the time: TOMS. He worked there at a time when it was a “young and hungry organized chaos of a community.” This work experience helped him to not only iron out a business model but also get a full glimpse of how a company, especially one based on helping others, can truly build and grow.

At TOMS, Clough was lucky enough to gain both wisdom and support from his co-workers in creating his own product. When Clough eventually left, Blake Mycoskie, the TOMS founder, bought backpacks from Clough for all of his employees. The support he received from this purchase was extremely helpful for Clough. Not only did it help get his foot in the door but it was a huge financial boost, which is one of the biggest struggles for start-ups. He left TOMS with great connections and invaluable experience (and probably a couple pairs of shoes).

After receiving the financial push, Clough decided to headquarter stone + cloth in Los Angeles, California. He sought out other creative and passionate people in L.A. and people who were passionate about “being a force for good.” He partnered with Zach Keller, the web, brand, and production manager, put together a creative team, and began bag making.

Clough describes this process as “rapid prototyping.” The conceptualization can start with inspiration from Clough, Keller, or even an intern. The focus for each bag is how to make people’s lives and loads as minimal as possible. Then the process becomes taking canvas and cutting up pieces to put together a general shape for a bag. He says it is a “fun, messy, and crafty process” while also lending a physical feel for the functionality through “a tangible sample, not just a sketch.” Clough describes it as a more time and cost efficient way to create a solid understanding for what the product can look like. After this is done and the

prototype is satisfactory, the process to generate samples begins soon after.

Some of their current and best-selling products include The Benson, The Lucas, and The Simple Tote.

All products are minimal in design, mimicking the company’s primary and earthy name. The simplicity of each project is what also makes them so unique. Their angular zippers and simple shapes set them apart as the new musthave backpack. Their color schemes range from simple prints to casual neutrals or nautical designs. Clough has successfully began to produce a product reflective of his goal: a strong, elemental bag designed to help provide something fundamental: education.

Clough teamed up with a non-profit called The Knock Foundation, located in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. The revenue gained from backpack sales help The Knock Foundation fund scholarships and development projects for young students in need. Clough’s enthusiasm for helping others is infectious. He constantly reiterates how “from a bigger picture or perspective the coolest thing about what we’re doing is building a movement to advocate and invest in education on a global scale.”

Clough thinks it’s important not just for himself but also for his co-workers and employees to always remember who the beneficiaries are and who they started the project for. He never forgets the reason this incredible idea began in the first place. He thrives in the feeling of “being a part of something larger than yourself ” and he finds it incredibly satisfying. It is a rarity in this day and age to see someone so genuinely and passionately motivated by the misfortune of another human being.

Stone + cloth sells totes, backpacks, tote-packs, iPad cases, and journals. Their product range is limited, but it doesn’t bother Clough. He realizes that what makes certain companies successful is that they produce few things really well. With this smaller concentration of products, he intends to focus on building the best bag for his consumer. He plans on doing so by focusing on the products he offers now and not getting distracted with trying to make as many products as he can.

With plans like building a new general store with beanies and holiday items, stone + cloth is definitely on their way to becoming the new backpack of TOMS. They are perfecting their designs, and product, while simultaneously increasing awareness about globally extending education opportunities.

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THE FUR SCARF Channel your inner Anna Wintour this winter with a fur stole. This thin fur (or faux fur) scarf is a 1930s throwback intended to be draped elegantly over both shoulders and to hang straight down the front of the body. Fur stoles look best when paired with tailored, front button wool coats. This style can also be worn indoors over a formal dress for a little warmth. Anthropologie has a collection fur stoles in playful colors like turquoise, wine, and peach for $98 each. Second-hand shops are also a perfect place to find vintage fur stoles for a reasonable price.

ALL

By Andrea Palagi Stock Photography

THE INFINITY SCARF Sometimes called a circle or loop scarf, the infinity scarf is an endlessly stylish winter staple. With literally no ends, this round scarf comes in two slightly different styles. First is the single loop infinity scarf that fits snugly around the neck. Second is the looser, longer double loop infinity scarf that can be wrapped around the neck two or three times. Both of these sub-styles can come in many materials ranging from jersey to cotton to thick knit. Infinity scarves are the perfect addition to jackets without collars and can also be pulled over the head to double as a hood. This winter, AllSaints has a line of single loop knit infinity scarves (also known as snoods) in neutral greys, blacks, and cremes that cost between $120 and $140 each. Known for its timeless basics, American Apparel has a less expensive selection of double loop cotton infinity scarves that range between $28 and $44.

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THE SQUARE SCARF Oh là là! In 1937, Hermès introduced “le carre” (literally, “the square”) which became the foundation of today’s beloved square scarf. While the original square scarves were made of silk and intended for the headscarf look that you might see on a woman wearing oversized sunglasses while driving down Rodeo Drive in her convertible with the top down they now come in more useful cold weather fabrics. These days, square scarves are made from wool, cashmere, and cotton. Perhaps one of the most versatile styles, the square scarf can be worn with almost any kind of jacket: hooded or un-hooded, with or without a collar, tailored or casual and loose fitting. This type of scarf can also be worn indoors with a sweater, long after the jacket is gone. A little less expensive than the Hermès original, the Tory Burch square scarf is priced between $135 and $195 and available at retailers like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

WRAPPED UP THE BLANKET SCARF For those days when it’s so cold you don’t want to get out of bed, the blanket scarf is the next best thing to staying under the covers. These oversized blanket-like scarves are usually made of a soft acrylic polyester blend which make them not only cute but cozy as well. Some popular patterns for the blanket scarf this season are plaid, grid, and thick stripes. Blanket scarves scan be worn in many different ways: draped around the shoulders like a shawl, hung over the shoulders and belted at the waist, or bunched up and wrapped several times around the neck. While these massive scarves can easily be worn on their own, they are also the perfect match for a simple, lightweight denim jacket. Zara sells a wide selection of plaid and thick striped blanket scarves priced from $29.90 to $49.90.

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DATA DRIVEN DRIVING

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By Madeline Bilis Photo by Madeline Bilis

I LOOK down at my phone as I stand on

Harvard Street in Coolidge Corner. It’s 9:26 a.m.

My Bridj should be here by now. My boarding pass says 9:30.

A black minibus pulls up at 9:27, to my relief. The door opens and I head inside. Normally it would take me about 40 minutes to get to Cambridge from Brookline via the T, but I’m traveling to Kendall Square using Bridj this morning.

Bridj is the world’s first pop-up mass transit system. It’s working to make commuting in Boston easier through the use of data.

“What allows Bridj to become a living, breathing, learning, smart mass transit system is the data that powers it,” says founder Matt George.

“Data allows us to create a system that makes cities smarter by crunching millions of data points to see how people are traveling and conforms to meet their needs.”

I settle into a comfy black leather seat and look around. A strip of tiny blue lights line the ceiling of the vehicle, illuminating the wood flooring.

It’s swanky— For me, at least.

The venture-backed startup launched in beta in June 2014 after much number crunching.

“There are two parts of the formula,” explains marketing manager Ryan Kelly. “On one hand we have a team here that uses up to 19 different data streams, like data from the census that’s publicly available to data from cell phones and social media.”

“On the other hand, we’re collecting data on our users, like where they live and where they want to go. We’re essentially combining all of these data sources, putting them into our algorithm, and out spits a route.”

Chief scientist David Block-Schachter, former director of research and analysis for the MBTA, leads a team of five data scientists who work on the data analysis and route development. There are currently four routes, each with a few stops in between: Coolidge to Kendall, Coolidge to Seaport via Copley and Downtown, Allston to Seaport via Copley and Downtown, and Southie to Longwood via Seaport and Downtown. These paths are based on data, customer demands, crowdsourcing, traffic times, and other factors which ultimately work to cut commute times in half.

My Bridj leaves exactly at 9:30 a.m. It’s the latest bus offered, so there aren’t many passengers on the 14-seater. One woman named Jocelyn Shrigley is visiting her husband while he’s working in Cambridge. He takes Bridj all the time, and she tells me she loves it, too.

“I think it’s so convenient. They have amazing prices and it’s so much more convenient and more comfortable than public transit,” she says.

Right now, Bridj tickets are $1. When it launches out of beta, prices will be “slightly more than the subway, but cheaper than a cab,” according to Kelly. This looks to be about $5 to $8.

The company raised $4 million in funding in September and hired the former head of transit for Chicago and Washington D.C., Gabe Klein, as chief operating officer. It is thought that Klein will help Bridj as it fights regulations from local governments. Bridj is required to apply for jitney licenses in the towns that it services. It acquired licenses from Boston and Brookline fairly easily, but ran into trouble with Cambridge. In August, a memorandum was issued from Cambridge which put restrictions on Bridj’s pick-up and drop-off points. But on Nov. 10, the City of Cambridge decided to approve a six-month pilot program for Bridj. Klein’s knowhow might be what is speeding things along.

I look out the tinted windows and see a green line train passing Boston University.

Commuters clutching coffees are packed into the car like sardines. Then I stretch my legs out.

Jocelyn is right; this has public transit beat. But then the bus hits a few bumps and my bag goes flying. It’s not a super smooth ride.

Bridj was born from a start-up George created while attending Middlebury College.

The biology major saw students struggling to get home during breaks and founded BreakShuttle to transport students when school wasn’t in session. Raking in six figures from a project that started in his dorm room was a good gig. After graduating in 2012, the beginnings of Bridj were formed.

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“BRIDJ IS THE WORLD’S FIRST POP-UP MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM. IT’S WORKING TO MAKE COMMUTING IN BOSTON EASIER THROUGH THE USE OF DATA.” LIVING

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I notice the driver has a cooler up front. I imagine it’s filled with hip locally-made drinks and snacks. Probably Spindrift soda or something. He’s a courteous, subcontracted driver. I see Jocelyn on her phone, making use of the Wi-Fi. I’m too busy to tweet.

“The minibus is sort of a cross between a much larger capacity bus and a small car, so we’re able to transport 13 or 14 people at a time,” explains Kelly. “It doesn’t cause a whole lot of noise like a large city bus and it’s more efficient than a car because of all the people we are seating.”

Kelly says the company will probably go with a lighter color once the buses are branded. I think that’s a good move.

“We’re able to provide a little bit of a premium environment. You’re always guaranteed a seat.

It’s definitely a different experience than some other methods of transportation that are out there,” he says.

We pull over in Kendall Square at 9:43 a.m.

That’s 13 minutes. Considering there was minimal traffic and rush hour was just about over, I’d say that’s pretty impressive. Kelly told me I could make the trip between Coolidge and Kendall in under 20 minutes and he was right.

“In an entire day, it can give you an hour back, which can be totally life changing,” he says.

Life changing for not just people going to work every day, but Emerson students, too. The Allston route makes stops at 640 Boylston st. and 40 Milk st, which are both 13 minute walks from campus.

George plugs his company, “Emerson students, faculty, and staff should give Bridj a try! The college is one of the few schools in Boston that’s currently in our service area.”

Bridj tickets are available for purchase through bridj.com in a web browser, but a mobile application is set to release in late 2014 along with a list of solidified service areas. The company hopes to move to other cities sometime next year.

I step off and take a photo of the minibus.

The driver gives me a thumbs up and takes off.

jamaica plain

(YOUR SPACES)

brookline

bedside tables

beacon hill

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marketing holiday cheer

By Lindsey Gonzalez Photo Art by Chris Garcia

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AS SOON AS EVERYONE’S Thanksgiving tur-

keys were carved and digested, consumers hit stores to prepare for one of the year’s most anticipated holidays: Christmas. On Black Friday, consumers were overwhelmed with a rush of holiday cheer as they sought out the perfect presents for their loved ones. But for most shoppers, tinsel and poinsettias were shoved into their faces long before Thanksgiving.

For years, retailers have been steadily increasing the duration of the holiday season by beginning advertisements as early as October. In many stores, holiday products go on display before Halloween or Thanksgiving items can reach the shelves. And once Christmas is over, retailers do their best to make it seem as though it never happened.

For Brookline Booksmith, holiday decorations are minimal but are actually put up in October. The independent bookstore in Coolidge Corner sells new and used books as well as a variety of other gifts—stationery, mugs, gift wrap, and picture frames. When the holidays arrive, store manager and co-owner Dana Brigham is careful not to overdo the decorations. At the end of October, employees embellish the storefront with small white lights. And the gift shop located within the bookstore features a wide variety of holidaythemed items, such as ornaments, bags, and cards. Otherwise, the layout of the store remains the same. Brigham sees these decorations as “tasteful yet festive.” She says that customers and employees never feel oppressed by holiday cheer because they “don’t use conventional deco.”

Once Dec. 25 is marked off the calendar, Brookline Booksmith hosts final sales on its holiday-themed merchandise, packing the rest away for another year. But Brigham says, “We leave the lights up all winter as a warm, inviting touch for the cold months.” With simplistic marketing strategies, Brookline Booksmith is not afraid to embrace the holidays early or extend some of the festivities into the New Year. Unlike many retail stores, Brookline Booksmith markets the joy of the season as a guard against the depressing weather.

Much like the relaxed tone of Brookline Booksmith’s decoration, Black Ink’s strategies for the holidays are nontraditional. Black Ink is a shop of knick-knacks that began in Beacon Hill 20 years ago and has since expanded to a second store in Harvard Square. As far as marketing the holidays is concerned, general manager Hannah Diamond says that both stores begin putting out holiday-themed items around the third or fourth week of November, with a focus on wrapping paper and cards followed by the display of ornaments.

“We tend to play it by ear and do it differently year to year, depending on customer response and how many

shopping weekends there are in December,” says Diamond.

Understanding that their marketing strategies differ from most retail stores, Diamond says that in the five years she’s been with the company, she’s never felt competition from other businesses. “I’ve already noticed full Christmas displays up at Target, CVS, etc., which seems far too early to me!” says Diamond. Still the tendency of the holidays to come early does not faze the employees, who typically receive holiday orders in August and begin unpacking ornaments in the summer.

Once the holidays have come and gone, Black Ink immediately disbands all window displays and obvious decoration. However, the stores continue to differentiate themselves from the masses by keeping discounted festive merchandise in stock well into the New Year. By shortening the shelf life of their holiday merchandise, this company extends the power of holiday cheer.

With a wide-reaching audience, the Yankee Candle Company’s holiday advertisements are much more forceful than those of Brookline Booksmith and Black Ink. As a household name that grew out of Massachusetts, the Yankee Candle Company has set up shop all throughout the country and even ships its products internationally. When the holidays arrive, they are one of the first storefronts to adjust, setting out decorations and merchandise by the end of September.

However, these festivities do not last long once Christmas is over. On Dec. 26, the Yankee Candle Company hosts a sale to rid the store of every last bit of holiday merchandise. Whatever products remain after this day will be packed away the next morning, almost as if Christmas never happened.

With Christmas being a major topic of discussion from October to December, a few local shoppers shared their thoughts on this seemingly eternal holiday cheer. Lucy Philips-Roberts ‘16 is a Glen Ridge, New Jersey native who feels that the bombardment of holiday cheer is a bit excessive.

“I work at Papyrus and we had our cards and a lot of Christmas gifts out at the end of September,” says Philips-Roberts.

“I think that companies know if they put it out people will buy it; they’re just taking advantage.”

Local businesses seem more attuned to customers’ distaste for premature holiday celebration, but major retailers like the Yankee Candle Company are somewhat indifferent.

Although it’s almost impossible to avoid decorative storefronts and nationally broadcasted corporate advertisements during the holiday season, shopping at local businesses will alleviate some of the pain. So, Christmas may come too early, but only if we let it.

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PHOTGRAPHY: CLAUDIA MAK MODELS: lenny alcid + pablo calder贸n santiago clothing: scotch + sodA, Allsaints

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THE PRESSURES

By Ariana Marini Illustration by Claudia Mak

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OF POINTE

AS THE HOLIDAYS draw near, one of the most

famous ballets makes its way into theaters across the country: The Nutcracker. The audience watches the battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker and Clara’s travel through the Land of Snow to the Land of Sweets, but what they don’t see is an industry plagued by health hazards and discrimination.

HEALTH HAZARDS

Ballet dancers are constantly pushing their bodies to the limit. Researchers at Monash University in Australia tracked 266 students from ages 15 to 19 who attended preprofessional ballet academies for the duration of one school year. They found that ballet dancers were at greater risk of injury than other adolescent athletes: 76 percent of students injured themselves during the course of that year and 72 percent of those injuries were caused by overuse. “Injury risk and rate increased as students progressed through their three years of training,” according to the researchers.

Unfortunately, injury is not the only health risk ballet dancers face. Ballerinas are also at quadruple risk of developing serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, eating disorders, and menstrual cycle dysfunction, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. The researchers studied 22 professional ballerinas and found that 36 percent of them had eating disorders and 77 percent were calorie deficient.

They also found that 27 percent had stopped menstruating at the time and 23 percent had low bone mass density.

THE PERFECT BODY

Eating disorders are just one of the ways some women try to attain what they think is the perfect ballet body. “I know some women have had breast reductions,” says Tony Williams, a ballet dancer and owner of the Tony Williams Dance Center in Jamaica Plain. “I know several girls that say ‘I’m not going to get a job with having big breasts.’” This elective surgery can cause scars, unevenly positioned nipples, and the inability to breast-feed. Some less common risks include damage to the breast’s blood supply, blood clots, and infection.

Williams has been teaching in New England for 30 years. Before that, he danced for the Boston Ballet and received soloist roles with America’s premier ballet company, the Joffrey Ballet. He has seen the professional ballet world evolve and understands the pressures of auditions. Ballet dancers need to have the right body choreographers are looking for or they won’t be hired. “For example, if you don’t have feet that have a nice arch, you’re not going to get a job,” Williams says. “That’s just feet. We’re just talking about feet. You could have a beautiful upper body and perfect proportions, in whatever the tradi-

tions is for that, but if you don’t have nice feet you’re not going to make it.”

Williams does not subscribe to this cookie-cutter aesthetic in his own productions and often receives positive feedback about his casting choices. He says, “A good dancer is a good dancer no matter what she or he has for a body.”

But major professional companies have their choice of dancers because there are so many pre-professional dance companies that train incredibly talented ballet dancers. The more talented people in the room at auditions, the easier it is for a ballerina without the perfect body to be cut.

“There is a certain aesthetic that is associated with ballet dancing,” says Janelle Gilchrist, a ballet dancer, teacher, and choreographer who has studied at many professional ballet schools including the Boston Ballet. “You have to be in good shape, usually the skinnier the better. As an African American woman, I do have some curves. I try to stay in good shape to the best that I can, but there’s definitely an aesthetic that ballet strives for.”

BEING BLACK IN BALLET

For some choreographers, that aesthetic does not include a dark skin tone. Aside from maintaining a fit body, Gilchrist also has to struggle with the discrimination that comes along with being an African American ballerina. “It’s definitely there and sometimes even if they don’t come out and say why you didn’t get a part, it’s just underlying, but I try to work hard and try not to let that be the reason why I don’t get something,” Gilchrist says. She recalls a time with one company’s Nutcracker production pursuing roles for either the Snow Queen or Sugar Plum, she was told she wasn’t “icy” or “princess” enough.

“I try really hard to be in the best shape that I can be so that I can fit in,” Gilchrist says, “although I’ll never completely fit in because of my skin color. Unless you’re in a company where there’s more diversity, but that doesn’t happen that often.”

THE UNSEEN COSTS

Ballet undoubtedly has an ugly side, but it’s a source of enjoyment and income for the many ballet dancers around the world. It teaches discipline and precision, is an impeccable form of exercise, and fosters a sense of community for all those involved. Nailing a particular piece or performance can be incredibly rewarding and, for many dancers, that reward is worth all of the hard work.

But it’s important to remember that the price of enjoying the beautiful choreography of the Nutcracker may be more than the dollar amount on the ticket. For some, it can come at the cost of health disorders, discrimination, and the struggle for that perfect ballet body.

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By Riana Odin Stock Photography

/no doctor diagnoses

DUE TO the panic of the Ebola epidemic

in recent months, many Americans turned to the Internet as a source of information. Everyone wanted to know more: where it came from, how to identify symptoms, and what they could do to prevent infection. This is not the first instance of such a phenomenon, however. As anyone with Wi-Fi and a few unusual symptoms knows, there are a variety of online options for doctor-less diagnosing. While doctors are the most efficient way to reassure ourselves that no, it is not a flesh-eating virus, they can be a pricey inconvenience. Though not taken seriously in the past, the world of online self-diagnosis has since come a long way.

Whether faced with a high fever or coming off of a one-night stand, most people have tried their luck with consulting Google for answers before giving up and googling the phone number for a physician. The symptom checker on WebMD was a popular first foray into the trend but all too frequently resulted in a cancer diagnosis—making it a punchline rather than a reliable resource. Recently, new websites and apps have popped up that are much more evolved than their earlier counterparts.

Just like with an actual doctor’s office, there is a spectrum of quality and specificity in the virtual medical world. Some pages are less in-depth and operate with previously answered questions.

FamilyDoctor.org allows users to access charts based on one of their general complaints. Beginning with a general symptom, the website functions along the same format as a Seventeen magazine quiz. The chart asks a question about how it started or what exacerbates the problem—much in the same way a doctor would during a visit.

Based on your yes or no answer, the chart instructs you to shift over to the diagnosis and selfcare columns, or continue down to answer more questions. It is a Choose Your Own Adventure of the medical field. Because there is no real personal interaction and only a limited set of prompts, the diagnoses are hardly on the same level as a traditional physical examination. Still, the information is from a reliable source, which keeps people turning to their laptop before their local M.D. Plus, FamilyDoctor. org is true to its name. The site and its information are maintained by the American Academy of Family Physicians, though they are sure to add the disclaimer of being intended for “general education purposes only.”

For those that wish to take the process a step further, there are pages like AsktheDoctor.com.

Instead of a computer compiling a list of potential

ailments based on an algorithm, concerned homebodies can explain their symptoms to a board-certified medical expert through a range of mediums. The answers are then tailored to your specific query, with more attention devoted to each individual “patient.”

Kyle Kennan ‘16 was a freshman when she diagnosed herself from her dorm room. Kennan had fallen ill with a high fever and the usual accompanying headache and sniffles. It was status quo for a good old fashioned Northeast cold. Without her routine caretakers, her parents and family physician, the Los Angeles native searched for her symptoms online.

“I was convinced I had mono. I knew it could have been a really bad cold or even the flu, but when you see the possibility of something worse repeatedly published online, the worry kind of sticks—and grows,” she says. By the time she made it in to see a doctor, she was fully convinced of the severity of her sickness. “The doctor I saw was confident I just had a cold, but I made him confirm it through a blood test just in case,” she says.

It isn’t just worried freshmen that consult the internet for medical attention, however. The most recent study by Pew Research Center concluded that 72 percent of Internet users searched for health information as early as 2012, and the majority were questions on treatments or procedures for specific conditions or diseases. Seeing a doctor in person is still the favorable option, but with the development of more accurate means of diagnosis, the Internet is making a case for its dot coms.

Erika Almquist, a family nurse practitioner at Emerson College’s Health and Wellness Center, suggests utilizing a combination of traditional doctors visits and online research. Almquist notes a definite value in websites such as FamilyDoctor.org, which she has used as a source of patient education materials.

“I think that it is great for people to try to be as educated as possible regarding their medical ailments, but more so after they have been diagnosed by a medical professional,” Almquist says. “The Internet is a great tool for finding information but when it comes to diagnoses of medical issues, one thing that it can not do is actually perform a physical exam or any necessary lab tests to help with diagnoses.”

Kennan decided to call it quits on her habit of no-doctor diagnoses when a rash thought to be skin cancer was later confirmed by a dermatologist as simple irritation from sweating while working out.

“Every time I have diagnosed myself online it has not only been wrong, but the absolute worst case scenario. It’s the worst enemy of a person with OCD,” she says. “I know a lot of people distrust doctors and they can be a hassle to get to, but I’ve realized these websites can do more harm than good,” Kennan says.

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GIFT LUXURIOUS FACE OIL

EYE

As the temperature falls to freezing, taking care of your skin is a necessity. Purchasing something like Josie Maran’s 100% Pure Argan Oil would be a wonderful gift to yourself and an asset to your skin. Argan oil hails from Morocco where it’s extracted from the argan tree. This product conditions and heals your skin while adding a fresh faced glow. This face oil comes in three sizes ranging from $16 to $96 and is CANDY WARM available at Sephora.

SOCKS

Websites such as Society6 offer a plethora of art and canvas prints for reasonable pricChilly feet are frustrating. Socks come in so many es. Each print ranges from $16 to $20, and, assuming patterns and fabrics that it’s easy to find a pair. Finding a a Picasso is probably not in your budget, this allows you good pair is another story. At J. Crew, you can treat yourto tap into your artsy side and get something aesthetiself by getting a pair of their “Camp” socks which are cally pleasing that will last year round. There’s a made in one of the last remaining sock mills in style for every personality and you’d be hard Vermont. Your feet will thank you. pressed to find something that doesn’t appeal to you.

THE PROMISE OF

NUTRITION

Picking up a gift card from Whole Foods allows future you to splurge on those healthier items without feeling like you’ve smashed the piggy bank to bits. By putting aside a set amount of money, you’ll be able to buy these healthy items without feeling financially guilty.

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YOURSELF

By Sydney Hannibal

REINVENTING

By Jamie Kravitz

THE LATKE

THE DELICIOUS smell of potatoes frying in oil can only mean one thing: Hanukkah is here. Potato pancakes, or latkes, are a traditional Jewish food, usually made during the holiday of Hanukkah. The oil used to cook the latkes is symbolic; it represents the miracle that occurred when the oil, which was only enough to light the menorah for a single day, burned for eight days.While latkes are delicious, eating the same food year after year can get repetitive. Here are the two best recipes Your Mag has found to spice up the traditional latke.

ZUCCHINI LATKES Joy of Kosher Serves 10 INGREDIENTS: 2 zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups) 1 red onion, diced ½ cup matzo meal 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning 4 tablespoons canola or grape seed oil ½ cup Greek yogurt

DIRECTIONS: In a large bowl, combine zucchini, onion, matzo meal, eggs, and seasoning. Stir well to combine.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Scoop ¼ cup of batter and carefully place in oil. Flatten to about ½-inch thick with a spatula. Repeat to form 4 more latkes in your pan, being careful not to crowd the pan and cook for 4 to 6 minutes. Flip and cook 4 to 6 minutes more or until golden brown.

Transfer to a paper towel lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining batter.

Serve with a dollop of yogurt on each latke.

GLUTEN-FREE LATKES Pim Pauline Makes about 15 latkes

DIRECTIONS: INGREDIENTS: 1 ½-2 lbs potatoes 2 shallots (or ½ small onion) 4 tablespoons potato starch 1 ½ teaspoons salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 egg + 1 yolk Oil for frying

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Shred potatoes and onions using the coarse side of a grater.

Place grated potato and onion in a cheesecloth (or clean kitchen towel) and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Let sit for a couple of minutes and repeat. Do this a few times, the drier it gets, the better the result.

Transfer to a bowl and mix in potato starch, salt, and pepper.

Mix in lightly beaten egg and egg yolk.

Drop about 2 tablespoons potato mixture per latke into a generous amount of hot oil and flatten to about 2 ½-3 inches. Fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Serve immediately with sour cream or crème fraîche topped with sweet or savory toppings such as sweet jam or savory caviar.

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A VERY MERRY

M I C H AE L C HRIS T M AS

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By Peyton Dix Photo by Michael Thorpe

YOU CAN’T MISS MICHAEL CHRISTMAS

with his quirky demeanor and light-footed gait, he enters Starbucks, zipped all the way up in his turquoise Columbia jacket, chilled to the bone. If he misses anything while in Los Angeles, icy Boston nights won’t be one of them. His halo of an unkempt Afro is full of more secret genius than Gretchen Wieners could ever dream of.

Growing up in Roxbury, Boston has always been home to Christmas. Allston parties and Newbury Street shopping are nothing new to this native. Although Boston is not exactly considered as the hub of music or hip-hop culture, Christmas is easing his way into the limelight and bringing Beantown with him.

He was able to record his first song thanks to an after-school program in the seventh grade. The inspiration to pursue a rapping career stemmed from not only his innate musicality, but from the fact that he felt as if he “sounded like Soulja Boy.” Let’s be frank, no one can deny that back in 2007, sounding like Soulja Boy was the only validation one needed. Some of his other rap idols included the Cool Kids, Dom Kennedy, and Red Man. After countless nights in his uncle’s studio and a poorly timed mixtape drop titled The Golden Toilet, Christmas began learning the rules and ropes of hip-hop. Despite the poor outcome of The Golden Toilet, from then on he has continued to work, record, and perform for the sheer joy he finds in it all.

His upward spiral to success has been smooth sailing thus far, which almost makes Christmas tentative. Having received nothing but support and motivation from his family and friends, he tells me, “You hear all these stories growing up about how rappers don’t get love...

I almost feel like I’m doing something wrong, because I have not endured the amount of hate that people talk about.” This tightly bound support system about his career move comes as no surprise. The people he’s chosen to surround himself with have only the best intentions and the highest of hopes for him. Usually, making the career choice to become a rapper is quickly belittled by a parental figure. Thankfully, Christmas’ mother, father, and friends couldn’t be more encouraging of the adolescent artist.

Last year, Christmas headlined at the Middle East in Cambridge. The crowd was packed with soulful hipsters, lax vibes, and the scent of stamped-out cigarettes. His family, friends, and fellow rappers filled the stage. Not only did the audience bounce in sync to his funky rhythm, Christmas cracked them up in between sets. If he decided to stop rapping, comedy could easily be a backup career for the curlyhaired kid. He says, “performing is my favorite thing to do,

period. I like to make people laugh and make people turn up.” With an infectious smile and intrinsic positivity, he does just that. The crowd went wild when he proudly spouted one of his iconic lines, “I’m the overweight Drake in every single type of way.” With the ease and comfort Christmas has with the crowd, you’d think everyone present were a bunch of his close friends.

Michael Christmas’ career began and continues to be based off of his pleasure in creating music, and performing it with his family, friends, and, of course, his fans. His most recent self-debuted album Is This Art? is the perfect pregame playlist you’ve always wanted and never had, until now. Songs like, “Taco Truck” revolve around the everyday debauchery exemplary only of the millennial generation in the digital age.

His beats bounce between the earthy tones of A Tribe Called Quest with the raw energy of Odd Future. Christmas provides the perfect middle ground sound that allows for both getting hype or getting high. Most of Christmas’ music revolves around his experiences in his everyday life. The young rapper says he’s “trying to make something that inspires people that are like [him], with nothing really in life” while simultaneously capturing a sound that makes everybody want to dance and sing. So far he has begun to accomplish this both through his lyrics and beats. His lyrics are not only accessible but hilarious, relatable, and realistic. His smooth grooving beats allow for anyone to get down.

Within the past year, Michael Christmas has grown exponentially as an artist. He has been featured in blogs and magazines such as The Fader, Complex, Pigeons and Planes, XXL Magazine, Hot New Hip Hop, and Hypetrack. Now, Christmas is taking a big 3,000 mile step to the west coast to live in Los Angeles. This move is one that Christmas is extremely excited and prepared for, that is, once he actually packs his bags. While there, he’s aiming to create the best project of 2015, and this is a very plausible reality for the young up-and-coming artist. He plans on achieving this right by putting in 100 percent of his effort, utilizing all of his resources, and making the best possible music that he can. The new and improved Michael Christmas has become tedious and purposeful with his work, in the best way possible. He says, “I’m building music... I’m taking my time because I know that the people that are doing the best in music, are taking their time. I’m getting to that point where I sound like Michael Christmas.” This soon-to-be hip-hop star is making leaps and bounds by the minute. He has big plans, and everybody should be watching to see where this silly, humble, and talented young man goes. As he takes his first footsteps into the warm embrace of Los Angeles, expect nothing but the best from Christmas in 2015.

“HIS LYRICS ARE NOT ONLY ACCESSIBLE BUT HILARIOUS, RELATABLE, AND REALISTIC.”

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FROZEN FANTASY

By Wendy Eaton Photography by Nydia Hartono

HAVE YOU ever been to an ice castle smack dab in the middle

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of a city? Heading downtown to Frost Ice Bar can give you a taste of your frozen fantasy.

Its glittering walls of ice are preserved by the 21 degree room temperature—but not to worry, your $12 admission fee includes a long, hooded jacket and a pair of gloves to keep you toasty. The staff sets you up with a bar tab as well, because credit cards simply won’t work in this unique environment.

Once inside, you can grab a drink at the ice bar, which has an array of cocktails for you to sip on. The drink list includes a mango daiquiri, a twist on a blackberry margarita, and more non-alcoholic mixes. Drinks are served in glasses made entirely of ice.

Peruse the spaces for seating and find the best suited for you. Seats within the ice swan sculpture are popular, with the swan being the only ice structure that was carved entirely inside the bar. Or slide into an ice booth and admire the ice chandelier, comprised of 588 jumbo ice cubes. Don’t worry about melting the ice, as every icy seat is covered by a faux fur mat.

The bar itself took eight days to construct. It features a built-in ice tip jar and ice shelves for the drinks. Be careful to not set your glass on an iced surface, or else watch it slide off and break. However, the only way to fully comprehend the experience that is Frost Ice Bar is to see for yourself.

Frost Ice Bar, 200 State St., Boston, Mass.

STATELY COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM ALICE MUNRO

By Matt Mullen

IF THE PHYSICAL HEFT of Alice Munro’s newest col-

Family Furnishings: Selected Stories 1995 – 2014, available now, from Knopf

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lection of stories is any indication of its spiritual weight and significance, Family Furnishings is a sucker-punch to the psyche. At 592 pages, the collection gathers 24 of the Nobel Prize winner’s finest stories, pulled from the last 20 years of her impossibly bright career. Combined, they shine with magic and vigor.

It’s been said before, but Munro makes it look easy.

Her stories, in so few pages, manage to capture the profound, the ineffable, the things other writers sweep under the rug.

Nothing is off-limits, per say, in a Munro story. But—and this is the best part—you won’t realize it until after putting the book down. Munro does not tackle any traditionally grand themes—of life or death, or war and peace. Instead, it’s about the saga of the everyday experience. “She is promising,” the novelist Jane Smiley notes in her thoughtful introduction, “no drama, no transcendence, only the peculiarity of objects that contain the history of our world and our ancestors, if not ourselves.”

Many of the stories in Family Furnishings take place in the rural and suburban communities of Canada in which Munro has lived her whole life. Most revolve around women in domestic settings, though, never seem recurring. Each story is a separate universe, orbiting the other universes around it.

Three, in this collection, are what Munro calls “not-quite stories,” aka semi-autobiographical pastiches of truth and fiction.

“Time and place can close in on me, it can so easily seem as if I have never got away, that I have stayed here my

whole life,” the narrator says in “Home,” one of the “not-quite stories.” It’s not fully Munro speaking here, but the assumption of reality heightens the entire collection. Munro’s longing for escape is a recurring motif in the stories. The theme is most beautifully explored in “Runaway” in which young Carla plots an escape from her husband with the help of an older friend. Each of the characters in the collection, imagined and not, are so richly rendered, so human, so real. Their desire for change feels elemental. It’s perhaps why Smiley writes ,“I cannot read any Alice Munro story without believing every word.” Indeed, believing Munro comes easy in Family Furnishings. There’s nothing standing in our way.

The psychic sucker-punch will come nights after reading, when, sitting on the T staring into nothingness, you’ll catch yourself thinking of the haunted protagonist in “Post and Beam,” the seventh story in this collection, and realize you have chills. Days later, watching an elderly woman cross the street, you’ll feel a peculiar sense of recognition.

You’re remembering Fiona, the wife of Grant in “The Bear Came Over the Mountain,” who is slipping into dementia and death in her nursing home.

Such is the immersive experience of reading Family Furnishings. This recognition, it lasts long after the final word is read.

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ANNIE THROUGH THE AGES

By Lindsey Paradis Stock Photography

WHEN ONE THINKS OF ANNIE

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, whether it be the musical or the movie, very specific traits come to mind: red hair, freckles, Daddy Warbucks, great musical numbers, and a depression-era past. Jay-Z and Will Smith assist in the production of a new adaptation of Annie, set to be released Dec. 19, that aims to turn this association on its head.

Annie originated from a comic strip, not a musical or movie. The first Little Orphan Annie comic strip, created by Harold Gray, was released in the 1920s in New York Daily News. The comic, widely popular throughout the ‘30s and ‘40s, sparked multiple movies.

Little Orphan Annie first hit the silver screen in 1932. The film, based on the comic strip, follows Annie after Daddy Warbucks loses money in the 1929 stock market crash and goes off gold mining. She then encounters Mickey, an orphan boy, whom she helps stay out of trouble and get adopted.

In the newest version, Annie still resides in NYC, but Gluck places it in present day. This means a rehaul of slang, technology, and culture. Gluck doesn’t shy away from referencing present-day pop culture, name-dropping George Clooney, Batman, Twitter, and Facebook in the trailers alone.

Oscar-nominee Quvenzhané Wallis takes on the refreshed role of Annie—modern-day foster child in NYC accompanied by her mutt, Sandy. Wallis is not the typical Annie with red curls and freckles, although plenty of references are made to her large curly hair. Annie’s backstory remains true to the original plot; her parents leave her with a note and a locket, promising that they will come back for her. This storyline is continued when the search picks up for Annie’s parents, as is characteristic of most Annie adaptations.

As always, Annie is looked after by Miss Hannigan, played by Cameron Diaz. Diaz portrays a trashy blonde Miss Hannigan who is as mean-spirited as ever and daydreams about silver-fox George Clooney.

Daddy Warbucks is no more, though. Instead, Jamie Foxx takes on the role of Will Stacks, a cell-phone magnate who is running for mayor. Stacks has a younger energy and appearance than Warbucks, although he still retains the baldness.

Beyond that, the basis of the relationship between Stacks and Annie is quite different. While Stacks still takes Annie in as a publicity stunt, the idea unfolds differently than the plots of its predecessors. Stacks pulls Annie out of the way of an oncoming car, saving her life and gaining a lot of great press. Yet, as is characteristic of every Annie adaptation, the relationship between Stacks and Annie evolves with time.

Soundtrack-wise, some Annie fans may be disappointed. The autotune is evident in the songs that have been released and clipped in the trailers. The best example of this so far is pop singer Sia’s take on “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” which features an upbeat pop sound completely different from the original classic sound of Bert Healy and the Boylan Sisters, mixed with the mocking of the orphan girls.

Sound is not the only changed part of these classic 1976 songs—some songs face shortened or altered lyrics. This includes the famous “It’s The Hard Knock Life.” Gluck has, however, promised that the melody and lyrics of “Tomorrow” remain untouched.

To some, the modern-day adaptation of Annie will be seen as a fresh and updated take on the story, making it more relatable. But those who grew up on classic Annie may just turn up their noses at the remake. Either way, the movie makes strides to update a classic, a trend that has become popular in the movie industry.

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A different Little Orphan Annie film was released in 1938. This adaptation is different than most, as it completely disregards a central character in Annie’s life: Daddy Warbucks.

Instead, the film follows Annie as she runs away from her abusive guardian with her dog, Sandy. Annie and Sandy end up living in a warehouse building in New York, where they raise the spirits of the surrounding tenants by defending them against a loan shark while backing their friend Johnny as a prizefighter.

The birth of Annie the musical came when lyricist and director Martin Charnin bought a coffee table book of the Little Orphan Annie comic strips. Charnin fell in love with the comic and secured the rights to it in 1970. From there, he enlisted Charles Strouse, a Tony-winning composer, and Thomas Meenan, a short story writer. They began writing Annie in 1971.

An Annie similar to what we know today premiered on Aug. 10, 1976 at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut. A year later, Annie premiered on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre, now known as the Neil Simon Theatre. The show was a hit, earning 10 Tony nominations and seven Tony awards. It ran 2,377 performances.

The original production was set in 1933 New York during the Great Depression era. It was a Christmas-themed musical, something that changed in the Columbia Pictures 1982 film adaptation. Instead, the 1982 film was set in the heat of summer, around the Fourth of July. This change was due to filming time and location, as it was impossible to get snow in New York in summer.

Disney later made a more faithful film adaptation of Annie in their 1999 production of the same title.

Before the Disney film, however, Annie went back to Broadway for a revival in 1997. The production was filled with controversy. Joanna Pacitti, the actress portraying the title character Annie, was fired during the pre-Broadway tour.

The revival’s co-producer Timothy Childs issued a statement saying that they believed Pacitti did not fit the role, and that was why she was fired.

More controversy followed as Nell Carter, the Tonywinning actress portraying Miss Hannigan, was replaced with white actress Marcia Lewis in the commercials promoting the show. The second revival closed after 239 performances.

Fifteen years passed until Annie once again appeared on Broadway in 2012. The revival received a Tony nomination, played 487 performances and 38 previews, and resulted in a national tour during the 2014-2015 season.

With Annie almost done to death, one question is raised: how can one make such a familiar story become fresh and new? The answer the 2014 adaptation provide: update it.

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INTRODUCTION

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