Bryn Mawr: The Blog

2003-05-02T22:52:00.000-04:00

To my surprise, people still visit the BMCB. Not a lot of people, but it seems that a couple people come here everyday. The BMCB died when I left Bryn Mawr for the semester. I make no promise to revive it when I return in the fall, but it was a really good experience for me (and hopefully for you) while it lasted. If you're looking for stuff to do, scroll down a bit and try some of the links I provided in my last posting. And remember to get off your ass because there's plenty to do outside your room (and outside of Guild, Carpenter, Collier, Canaday, and Park). Get a life, or at least get a blog.

P.S. If you're interested in reviving this old thing, let me know. There are currently over twenty posting members, but none wanted to step up to the plate of "administrator."

2003-01-18T16:28:00.000-05:00

The time has come, the owlet says, to get our butts back home. There was a large flurry of posts to the activites mailing list welcoming us back with a pile of stuff to do. It'll be nice to be back in the swing of things.

2002-12-20T12:12:00.000-05:00

So long, farewell...

I am taking next semester off from Bryn Mawr, so I will not be updating the blog. I'm glad I started it though -- it's been fun. Hopefully, it's served you well, too.

In its 101 days of existence (including the recent period of dormancy), there have been 1,961 visitors to the blog (from Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore) and 2,447 total page views. In November alone, the BMCB was accessed 634 times. Along with all of the students who simply read the blog, twenty-four BMC students are BMCB "members" and many made postings themselves.

Just because I'm no longer posting here does not mean the blog has to die! Please feel free to continue posting, and if anyone has any desire to take over maintenance of the blog for the semester, let me know, and I can transfer administrative responsibilities to you. No HTML or programming knowledge is necessary.

The pages I consistently used to update the blog are:

     + Today @ Bryn Mawr
     + Haverford Activities Calendar
     + Swarthmore Schedule of Events
     + Today at Penn
     + Campus Philly
     + Citysearch Events by Calendar
     + Digital City Phildelphia
     + R5 Productions (Shows)
     + The Point (Calendar)
     + Bryn Mawr Daily Jolt

So, thank you all for your help and support that made this possible. Good luck keeping it up, and I'll see (some of) you in September.

2002-12-11T22:59:00.000-05:00

Good luck with finals!

And hey, you wouldn't be here if you weren't procrastinating. So quit it.

(If you need a break, this weekend's the Lighted Fools show, the musical revue, senior cocktails, and Brecon prom.)

2002-12-04T23:22:00.000-05:00

Welcome to crunch time. I hate that it has to be this way, but I'm afraid it has to be this way.

I can't make regular time for the BMCB over the next two weeks, and, really, who has time to do fun things anyway?

So I probably won't be updating much. But you should all post about stuff you're organizing or attending, and I'll do the same.

2002-11-26T10:38:00.000-05:00

One last bit o' fun before break...

+ Don't miss the great concert tonight at 8 in the Campus Center! Mirah, The Haggard, Sextional, and The Badger King are playing. Whether you've heard of any of them or not, be aware that we are so lucky to have these amazing artists performing at our humble little college, so you should come out and show your support so they'll want to come back. It'll be an awesome show.

+ It's Glamour-Puss Ladies' Night at Bump (1234 Locust at 13th)! Bump calls itself "Philly's first gay-luxe lounge," and this night's especially for the ladies. From 10pm - 2am, 21+, "$3 to purr."

+ If you'd rather a quieter night, poet/renaissance woman Kimmika Williams is reading tonight at Robin's Books (108 S. 13th) at 7pm. You can read some of her poetry online here. On a sidenote, Robin's Books, which opened in 1936, is the oldest independent bookstore in Philadelphia.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving!

2002-11-25T15:15:00.000-05:00

Mondays don't have to suck. Ever.

+ Over at Swat, you can catch a lecture at 7pm (in the Scheur Room in Kohlberg) delivered by F. Nii-Yartey, who has served as the artistic director of the National Dance Company of Ghana since 1976. Nii-Yartey, a published scholar on both traditional and contemporary African dance form and technique, will be discussing the development of African dance theater in Ghana.

+ Ready to flex your cerebral muscles for fun instead of for school? Check out "Quizo" tonight starting 9:30 at the New Deck Tavern (3408 Sansom & 34th). The trivia questions are reportedly super-tough ("they're a cinch if you're a social studies teacher"), but we're Bryn Mawr students! Let's show those Penn brats what we got. 21+.

+ Chris Matthews (who, in my humble opinion, possesses the single most abrasive voice imaginable) will be promoting his new book, American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions, tonight at 7pm at the Rittenhouse Barnes & Noble (1805 Walnut). You may know Matthews as the "combative commentator" from NBC's Hardball, a show in which he grills politicians and other public figures until he gets a bullshit-free answer out of them. His new book, presenting ten "uniquely American notions," is a celebration of America and Americans, from 1776 up till the present. Matthews will also answer questions for 15-20 minutes.

+ Does the name O.J. Simpson ring a bell? Remember that guy? That trial? Remember his spitfire lawyer? Well, Johnnie Cochran himself is speaking tonight at 8pm about his book, A Lawyer's Life, at the Free Library of Philadelphia (19th & Vine). According to the website, Cochran's memoir discusses "police negligence and outright perjury, the difficulties minorities face in securing impartial justice, and the inherent unfairness of racial profiling" as well as explaining "the reason for his rhyming summations like 'If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit.'"

+ If you're in the mood for a concert, you have a couple of options. GZA (of the Wu-Tang Clan) is performing at 8pm at TLA, Smog (lo-fi indie) plays The Five Spot at 9pm, and Tegan & Sara (chick folk with punch) do their thing at The Fire at 7pm.

+ As with every other Monday, it's Movie Monday at The Troc (1003 Arch at 10th). Tonight at 8pm, it's Austin Power in Goldmember. Remember: it's 21+. (If you're under 21 but still feel like taking in a big-screen movie tonight, Mondays are also SWIL movie night at Swat. Tonight at 10 in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin, you can see Time Bandits, starring Sean Connery.)

Have a lovely, unsucky Monday.

2002-11-22T15:56:00.000-05:00

It's Friday night... is the feeling right? It doesn't really matter either way, considering the blog hasn't been updated since Monday. Instead of apologizing, I'm going to encourage blog members to post more often. Extensive lists are not necessary, but if you're going out to do something, why not post about it? And if you haven't joined yet, what are you waiting for? No more whining, it Friday. Here's what's up:

+ Today is Meredith Kendrick's 20th birthday. If you see her, wish her a happy one. I promise she'll be friendly.

* First, because I'm in it and this blog is the least democratic thing ever. *

+ At Haverford tonight, in Stokes, you can catch the Lighted Fools and The Throng in the BiCo's first-ever... IMPROVATHON! It starts at 7pm, and it goes until both groups simply collapse from exhaustion. It will probably go until early Saturday afternoon, so stop by when you can, stay for however long, leave, come back. You get it. And bring a couple bucks for the Philadelphia Food Bank. (Donations are being collected throughout the night.)

* There's a wide selection of theater tonight, if you're into that. *

+ In the mood for a musical? Carousel, a Rodgers & Hammerstein staple, is about as classic as it gets. The Penn Players (professionally directed) and Intuitions (experimental group) have collaborated on this adaption of the well-loved show. It starts at 8pm at the Annenberg Center Harold Prince Theater.

+ 7:30 tonight is your second-to-last chance to catch the BiCo theater production of Antigone in Goodhart. This Sophocles play has been updated and alterna-rized for your theater-going pleasure. Come watch a sassy girl stand up to her father, Greek style.

+ Penn's Arts House Theater Company (student-run) is presenting John Guare's play Six Degrees of Separation tonight at 7 and 10pm in Houston Hall Auditorium. While I've never seen it, I know John Guare is a most excellent playwright, and that I've heard at least that the movie version of this play is pretty awesome.

+ Stones In His Pockets, which was nominated for three Tonys, was possibly the most popular play in New York before The Producers (yech!) came to town. And now it's come to Philadelphia (Stones, not The Producers). You can see it tonight at 8pm at the Zellerbach Theater at the Annenberg Center.

* There's also plenty of music, for your listening pleasure. *

+ Come catch the BiCo orchestra concert at 8pm in Marshall. They will be playing Haydn's Symphony 103 in E flat and movements from Holst's The Planets.

+ Penn's nationally-recognized a capella group, Off The Beat, has its fall show tonight starting at 8pm in Dunlop Auditorium (off 36th & Spruce, in the med school complex). Off The Beat is a "cutting-edge" group that travels all over the place, has supposedly awesome percussion, and strives to sound more like a band than an a capella group. They're charging $7 for this show, so it'd better be damn good.

+ O.A.R. ("Of A Revolution"), the now hyper-popular roots-rock jam band is playing The Electric Factory tonight at 8:30. I've heard they do a really high-energy live show. Call the Electric Factory to make sure it's not sold out before you truck on down there -- they've got a pretty faithful following.

+ SONiA (of Disappear Fear) is playing The Point tonight at 7 and again at 10pm. If anyone caught her when she was here last year for the RAWA Benefit concert, you'll want to check her out again. She rules. She sounds a little like an Indigo Girl, but her songs tend to be more political. Tickets are $12, and well worth every penny.

* How about a movie? *

+ Grease is being shown tonight at "Uncommon Grounds" (that's the Campus Center cafe's official moniker, if you were wondering). Who doesn't love that movie? It starts at 8pm.

+ The classic film Dr. Strangelove is showing tonight at Swat, at 7:30 and again at 10, in the Lang Performing Arts Center. It's one of those flicks that you just have to see, but I suppose you can always rent it.

* Two more options, just cause not everything is theater, music, or cinema. *

+ 8pm, you catch cheer on our basketball team in Schwartz at their first (?) home game of the season. They're playing Lancaster Bible College. Lancaster Bible College?! Come on. You want us to win extra-badly this time.

+ La Fiesta is tonight in Founders, starting at 11pm and going until three. It's some crazy dance party/drink(?) thing, but that's really all I can tell you. And maybe that's all you really need to know.

Have a fun Friday! And stop by the Improvathon for a little, maybe in between activities? Cool.

2002-11-18T23:34:00.000-05:00

Like live music? Me too. Check out the BMCB's new concert calendar. It'll be cooler later, with links so you can buy tickets, get directions, and read info about the artists, and without a blurry ugly photo on the left. But for now, it is what it is. Leave a comment if you like it/don't like it/have an idea.

2002-11-18T11:37:00.000-05:00

Mondays don't have to suck. Not ever! Not even when it's freezing rain outside and you didn't get any sleep!

+ Considering law school? Thinking of maybemaybe becoming a public interest lawyer? It's never too early to get some info on some career (any career!) so you feel like you're being proactive about your future. Or something. Anyway. At 4:30 in Thomas 224, the pre-law club is sponsoring a talk by the Assistant Director & Public Interest Specialist in the Office of Career Services at the Washington College of Law, American University.

+ At 7pm in Thomas 110, the Spanish Language and Literature Cultural Series is presenting a lecture entitled: "Ribera's 'Disputation between Sts. Peter and Paul:' Crypto Judaism in the Spanish Mind in the Seventeenth Century," if that sort of thing is up your alley.

+ Women's Center meeting is tonight at 9 in (surprise!) the Women's Center. On the agenda for tonight is a discussion of whether or not the Women's Center as a group and as a space is best serving the needs of the broader Bryn Mawr community. If you have an opinion, get it heard. (I have a feeling this meeting might, in part, be a response to this article that appeared in Sage, the newest member of Bryn Mawr's Jolt-BMCB-Sage web trinity.)

+ If you're in the mood for a (free) movie, you have a few options.
      - At 7pm in the cinema room of the Lang Performing Arts Center at Swat, the Gender and Power in the Middle East class is showing the 1998 Egyptian movie Date Wine, which has won and been nominated for several awards at various international film festivals. I quote (from a random movie-goer): "If you are someone who loves symbolism and likes to think for yourself, rather than be spoon-fed by Hollywood style films, then this film is for you." I must warn you though -- this film is being shown for a class, and, assuming you're not in said class, you might have to be stealthy and sneakysneaky as you slip into Lang. Best of luck, comrades.
      - At 10pm, in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin (at Swat), SWIL is showing Artificial Intelligence: A.I., that Steven Spielberg film with Haley-Joel Osment that struck me as some futuristic Pinocchio-esque "I want to be a real boy" drivel. ("His love is real. But he is not."?! Bleh!) But I didn't see it, so I'll shut up. (And, if it's really awful, you can always just stare at Jude Law, who, in my humble opinion, is a rather perfect human specimen.)
      - 21 or over? Yeah, that rocks for you. That means you get to go to Movie Monday at the Troc (1003 Arch at 10th), where tonight they're showing Creature From The Black Lagoon, a 1954 cheesey horror flick. 3-D glasses are only $2!

+ Up for some funky new music? Ozomatli is playing tonight at 8 at the TLA (334 South). Tickets are $14. Citysearch describes the group as: "A multicultural musical jambalaya with a sound as diverse as its members and as unique as its name."

Happy Monday. You know you can make it through this week -- you made it through last week, after all.

2002-11-17T14:18:00.000-05:00

it's sunday so it's sga day
and a special one at that
at 7 come to the weekly meeting of the assembly and share your input on any of the following agenda items

-Roll call
-Approval of Minutes
-Announcements
-Appointments
-Key Principles/Themes regarding the surplus
-Wants Fund
-SGA on Blackboard
-Old/New Business

the wants fund should be a really interesting discussion about a previous surplus that's been saved to create a fund for "things that you want". tonight we are going to make some more guidelines about that money, so if you think that you might ever "want" that money to do osmething on campus you should come to the campus center main lounge and let your voice be heard.

immediately following the sga meeting tonight, around 8:30, also in the campus center main lounge, will be a community forum on the _other_ surplus. y'know, that $140,000 you keep hearing about. i can't understand why you wouldn't want to go to this forum, so all i can say is, if you don't go, don't complain. if you can't go for some reason, you can contact yasmin m, julia switzer, or tanika stewart - the three members of the surplus steering committee.

or if you don't feel like being an active member in the community but still don't want to do your homework that you've been putting off all weekend you can watch some movies
at 8pm in thomas 110 there will be an oscar wilde movie marathon
the film series will be showing "the importance of being earnest" and "an ideal husband"

cheers

2002-11-15T16:25:00.000-05:00

Just a quickie...

+ The bi-co student dance concert (see Emily's post below) is where you want to be. Tonight & tomorrow at 8pm in Founders. It's really not something you want to miss, b just in case you're planning on going tomorrow, there are some other things going on tonight...

+ 7:30 (and again at 10) in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin, at Swat: Wayne's World showing

+ 8pm in the Campus Center: live music by Andrew Dykers.

+ 8pm in Goodhart: Bi-Co Theater production of Antigone

+ 8pm in the concert hall in the Lang Music Building at Swat: the Swat student Wind Ensemble performs

+ 8pm in Marshall Auditorium (at Haverford): student-directed performance of the comedy Lend Me a Tenor

+ 8pm in Sharpless: showing of the Harry Potter movie

+10pm in the Campus Center: Welcome to the Jungle deans-sponsored bi-co party (wet)

That's the trico roundup, I'm going to New York, check ya later.

2002-11-14T23:53:00.000-05:00

Amazing dancers... fabulous music... tight costumes.

The 10th annual bi-co student produced dance concert is THIS WEEKEND!!! Fri and Sat in Founder's at 8pm. Modern, Ballet, Hip-hop, Irish, and b-boys. Life doesn't get much better. :) It's entirely student produced and run and choreographed... I think it's pretty amazing what we can do without grown-ups. Come check it out, it will be a good time.

2002-11-14T00:15:00.000-05:00

Just when you thought the BMCB had died a gruesome death... we're here for you, like an old friend, like a dry towel, like another paper. I don't know about your Hump-Day, but mine was totally shot. So let's talk about Thursday instead:

+ Wanna think outside the box? BMC's pretty awesome Center for Visual Culture is making it easy for you to do just that. At 4:15 in Carpenter 25, Kathleen Kennedy is giving a special lecture entitled "Facing West, Facing East: Orientalism and the Unmaking of the 'Just' Warrior in Xena, Warrior Princess." Who knew you could hear about Xena in an academic setting? Ms. Kennedy, a Professor of History and Gender Studies at Western Washington University, is an expert: she's a co-author of the forthcoming a forthcoming book called Athena's Daughters: Television's New Woman Warriors.

+ As another cool part of Afro-Latin Culture week (sponsored by BACASO, Mujeres, and Sisterhood), you can learn some hot-to-trot Afro-Carribbean dance moves. The two-hour workshop starts at 7 in the PemWest dance studio, and is limited to fifty students.

+ At 9pm, there are some jazz and poetry performances in Lunt Basement, sponsored by the Black Student League. The performances promise to provide "a rich blend of the rhythmic sounds and energy of Jazz with the power of the spoken word."

+ Speak Spanish? I don't. If you do, you might be interested in catching the Spanish Film Series' latest offering, La vida es silbar (Life Is To Whistle). It takes place in 1998 Havana and revolves around three characters who must choose between clinging to their self-restricting beliefs, or getting rid of them to live more freely. Stephen Holden of The New York Times had this to say: "Visual zaniness! Heavy sensuality! The throbbing music makes its erotic pulse race even faster!" H-o-t.

+ If you were me, you'd spend Thursday evening (starting at 8) in Meyerson Hall (210 South 34th Street) at Penn, taking in a little Nikki Giovanni. If you've never heard of Giovanni, you're missing out. She's considered a leader in the Black Arts Movement, and, as such, much of her poetry is politically-charged, but much of her work is deeply personal, capturing life moments. That sounds cheesey. But she's not. To read some of her poetry for yourself, go here. One of my favorites of hers has always been "Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day."

+ Also at Penn, you can catch Parts of the Arts, a collaboration between Arts House Dance Company and Counterparts that combines dance and a capella. It starts at 8 at the Iron Gate Theater (37th and Chestnut).

+ I probably should quit while I'm ahead, but there's a band you may want to check out based on their name: Double Fisted. They have a $5 concert starting at 9 at Chemistry Nightspot (4100 Main Street). Yup. That's about all I can tell you.

Okay. Knock yourself out.

P.S. The new logo stays until (a) I have some more time to play with it or (b) you design me a better one. If you know what you think it should look like, leave a comment. Thanks for voting.

2002-11-11T16:18:00.000-05:00

Looks like this rainy Monday is trying pretty hard to suck...but that doesn't necessarily have to happen! Now, I'm certainly no Lauren; hell, I'm not even as event savvy as Amanda has proven to be, but it being Monday, and this being the Bryn Mawr Blog and whatnot, it seems like someone, however inept, should continue the weekly tradition that is Mondays Don't Have to Suck

*Movie Mondays are still happening at The Troc. This week they're showing The Creature from the Black Lagoon and even providing the 3-D glasses for it. That's kinda hot.

* Woody's is hosting Karaoke Night for all you 21+ kids. Quite frankly, you should've just come to Senior Cocktails on Saturday, but if you missed out on all that fun, head out to Bryn Mawr's favorite Wednesday night joint at 9 to do your own Madonna covers.

Meanwhile, back at the Mawr...
If you feel like meeting up with some potentially like-minded peers:

*Women's Center is meeting at 9 in Erdman to discuss the possibility of coordinating a women's spiritual celebration

*One World is meeting at 10 in the Quita Woodward Room to talk about the upcoming School of Americas protest and to most likely continue an on-going dialogue about the current situation with Iraq. And, furthermore, if you're opposed to the idea of going to war with Iraq, there is a meeting of Tri-Co students at 9 in the Pem West living room planning some sort of direct action or event to publicize their dissent. Email swebbhal@brynmawr.edu if you want more information.

Sadly, I'm not too good at this blogging business. And, even more sadly, it just seems like it's a slow night both on and off campus. Maybe the best thing to do is curl up with some hot tea or coffee, sit by an open window so you can hear the rain and feel the breeze, and read something that has absolutely nothing to do with any of your academic obligations. Besides, Monday's are only ruins if we make them such. I reckon.

Have lovely Mondays and even lovelier weeks, ladies!

2002-11-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

I tried again... holla back.

If you don't like the logo, cast your vote and all, but then tell me me exactly what you want it to look like, and I'll try my best to make your, er, dream a reality. I never said I had an eye for design, but you can't hate me for trying.

P.S. Look at Amanda's posting below for some great ideas for what to do tonight!

2002-11-09T15:07:00.000-05:00

saturday night can feel even better
especially if you are a senior because tonight is Senior Cocktails: Karaoke Style!!
9 pm in Rock Living Room
you can come even if you haven't paid your dues, but no drinking without putting some money down (not necessarily the whole thing)
guests are more than welcome, but if they want to drink it's $5
start practicing your dance moves now!

or if you're not a senior you could go to the BACASO culture show in TGH tonight at 8
go to the after party at Perry House, starting at 10 pm, DJ Craig will be spinning, and it's supposed to be H-O-T-T

hamlet's shorts is still going strong, also at 8 tonight in the Goodhart Music Room
and if you can't make tonight's showing it will still be playing tomorrow night, same bat time, same bat place
i also hear they are selling some funny shakespeare shirts

i think there is also some party going on at haverford, or something ;)

or if you want to get off campus try any of these lovely choices:

* The G-Room! "Where Queer Girls go with the Gay Boys they know" is happening tonight at Key West (juniper and st. james streets) from 10pm-2am and is only a $5 cover. DJ Hollis P Monroe and DJ Zeda. Artwork by Lori Albright. I hear it's great fun but haven't been able to make it to one yet, myself. They happen the 2nd Saturday of every month at a different location. Next month it's at La Tazza

* Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon of Phish at TLA They are touring to support their new cd they collaborated on. I haven't heard it but it should be pretty good. I don't know much about Leo except that he was a big influence of the Violent Femmes, who I adore, and I got Mike Gordon't signature once at a book signing and I thought he was an asshole, but that's a whole different story. Anyway, I think that this show might be a funkyliscious experience. Plus you can get two super cool dudes for the price of one show. Furthermore, the TLA is one of the best venues around, so you could at least go to just enjoy the ambience.

*there's lots of other cool stuff, too, but i'm just not as good at compiling it here as lauren. or i'll tell you what i know but i'm not going to look too hard for info about stuff i don't know ;)

2002-11-08T16:56:00.000-05:00

It's Friday night. Is the feeling right? I don't care whether the feeling's right... get your ass out of your room and into the streets. You've earned it.

So many choices right here in the TriCo:

+ There's an open mic poetry slam tonight at 8 in the Lusty Cup, as part of Afro-Latin week.

+ Unless you're boycotting it because of the excessive amount of email they've sent, you might want to check out Hamlet's Shorts, also at 8 tonight in the Goodhart Music Room. The "shorts" include diverse range of pieces, such as a poem by Shel Silverstein, The 15-Minute Hamlet by Tom Stoppard, and an interpretive dance routine. This ain't yo daddy's Shakespeare.

+ The Cross and the Switchblade, presented by the Saltmine Theater Co, is going up tonight at Haverford in Marshall at 7:30 -- it's $5 for students. I quote: "The Saltmine Theatre Company is committed to presenting the Christian faith through professional and innovative theatre, and has developed a national reputation since its formation in 1985." Just so we're clear.

+ There's a Korean Students Association party tonight at 10 in Lunt (at Havford, duh). Don't say that I said so, but I think everyone's invited to get down.

+ John McCutcheon and Holly Near are performing tonight at Swat, in the Pearson Hall Theater (in the Lang Performing Arts Center) at 8pm. McCutcheon, who has been making quality folk music since 1975 (hell! his website is folkmusic.com), has released 21 albums in his life, four of which were Grammy finalists. To hear some of his politcally-charged songs, go here. Ms. Near might as well be Ani's mom. She was the first woman in the U.S. to "go independent" when, in 1972, she founded Redwood Records. Along with being a singer who's been making "social change music" for 30 years, she's a producer, actor, activist, author, and teacher. Some mp3s of Near are available here.

Party time, kids.
You're not in the mood? Well get in the mood.

2002-11-08T02:22:00.000-05:00

I've been away from Bryn Mawr this semester, but I still get the activities listserve e-mails and check out the on-line calendar. I've really realized how much is happening that I couldn't see when I was right in the midst of it all. (Absence makes the heart grow fonder. -- Maybe you should try it, too.) So I'm going to add to the BMC Blog with "What would Promise do if she were on campus?" Futile wishing on my part, but perhaps it will be some consolation until I can be there for real again in January. And maybe once or twice, you'll find something to do yourself that you wouldn't otherwise have done.

This weekend I think three things would be on the docket. I'd go to the poetry slam on Friday night in the Lusty Cup, if not to read my own poems to hear other Mawrtyrs and their bad-ass poetry. Saturday I'd be at the swimming match, watching Crystal Biruk, Julia Switzer, Katherine Williams, et al looking sexy in their swimsuits. :) And Sunday, for my own political and current events knowledge, I'd go to the lecture on the Arab-Israeli conflict in Carpenter at 7. I'm leaving out the best parts, though: Pastabilities on Friday night in Erdman (including the garlic smell that won't come off your shirt even after you wash it), two full afternoons of procrastinating on the main floor of Canaday, and a two-hour Sunday brunch.

Enjoy where you are, despite it all!

2002-11-07T09:35:00.000-05:00

hey lauren,
there was an SGA workshop for mawrters to start new clubs yesterday. as part of SFC i was there to share advice and such and i mentioned bmc.blogspot.com as a good place for publicity of BMC club events, so i just wanted to verify something, any mawrter can publicize club events here right?
see you in bio.... well, bio lab. ;) good luck with this.
roma

2002-11-06T11:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Hump Day. Todays' theme: What better way...

+ What better way to make it through Wednseday than with the Radical Menstruation Workshop? Co-sponsored by the Sewing Club and the Women's Center, this workshop will address taboos about the crimson wave and school your brainwashed ass on the (unbelievable) dangers of commercial tampons. You'll also get to make neato pads (I think that's where the Sewing Club comes in) and eat yummy vegan food (I think that's where Michelle Mueller comes in). It's from 7 to 8:30pm in the Women's Center (go through the front door of Erdman, turn right down the hall; it's on your right).

+ What better way to celebrate the day after Election Day than with the West Wing Tea? Everyone knows fake politics are way more fun these days than real ones. Take a study break, eat some food, watch some TV. Open to freshmen and stalemen alike. From 8:30 to 10:30pm in Merion living room.

+ What better way to show your support for cool scientific research than by attending Dr. Karen Strier's 8pm talk in Chase Hall (at Haverford)? Strier, a world-renowned field primatologist (a world-renowned what?), is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Haverford's lucky to have her (being the dinky old school that it is). While the bootleg Haverford events page did not seem to find it necessary to specify exactly what she's speaking about, Strier's main research has been done on the rarest and largest South American primate, the muriqui or woolly spider monkey, the most peaceful primate known to man.

+ What better way to laugh than to attend the second annual Female Funnyfest, featuring nineteen "funny and fanatical female performers armed with quick wit and sharp tongues." The press release gives the details. Starting at 9pm at the Adrienne Theatre (2030 Sansom), $15, 21+, 215.888.MUSE to reserve tickets.

+ Also, a couple of concerts worth mentioning (ever-so-briefly) are happening tonight. Lords of Acid are performing at the Trocadero (7pm, $18), New Found Glory at the Electric Factory (7pm, $15.50), and Fountains of Wayne at the North Star Bar (9pm, $12).

But really... what better way to celebrate Hump Day than to hump? (That was so unnecessary. I apologize for my lewdness.)

P.S. Please vote in the little poll below if you haven't already. Thanks.

2002-11-06T03:35:00.000-05:00

Let me know what you think of the new logo. By the way, if you happen to be slick with Photoshop and the like (clearly, I am not), whip me up a real nice logo, and send it my way.

2002-11-05T17:36:00.000-05:00

Let it out. Tuesdays mean Open Mic Night at The Point with Andy Kimbel. If you've never been, you ought to check it out. If you've never performed, you ought to consider it. It tends to be folk music-heavy, but I've seen a range of styles well-received. It's free and starts at 7:30pm. To quote one Citysearch user: "There is little doubt that Andy Kimbel runs the best open mic in Philadelphia and maybe the whole east coast." Right here in Bryn Mawr. Imagine that.

2002-11-04T14:51:00.000-05:00

Movie? Amanda posted some good ideas for tonight below (yay!), but if you're in the mood for a free movie, tonight's the night. You have two options:

SWIL (at Swat) is showing Metropolis tonight in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin at 10. This 1927 classic, ranked #104 of all movies ever made (at the IMDB) is freaky. Or so I hear. I've never seen it. But I should.

In the mood for some lighter fare? The cult classic Brat Pack movie Pretty in Pink is showing tonight at the Trocadero's (10th & Arch) Movie Monday, FREE as always. What could be better than watching Molly Ringwald get dolled up, drinking beer, and throwing popcorn at the screen? Nothing.

2002-11-04T14:27:00.000-05:00

mondays don't ever have to suck
unless...
but we're not going to deal with that here
my monday is going grrreat so let me help you along with yours
tonight at 8pm in Thomas Great Hall Octavia Butler, famous science fictionist, will be talking about "A Parable: Writing Science Fiction in These Times"
there isn't too much music going around in this area, but if you need to go hear something new i would try susan gibson and clumsy lovers at the fire @ philadelphia bar and grill (412 W. Girard b/n N. Leithgow and 4th) because they have a cool name
or you could always participate in my favorite monday night activity which is visit julia in the campus center
(if you can't make it tonight you could retry tomorrow night and visit amanda [me] in the campus center)
sorry guys, that's all i can muster

2002-10-30T11:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Hump Day. It's that time again. That middle of the week time, when you need something, anything, to get you through the day. You know you deserve a study break. Dinner and showering don't count. Here are some real options:

There's another great-sounding concert in the CC main lounge tonight at 8 as part of the awesome concert series. Calvin Johnson, Little Wings, and the Blow (all on Johnson's K Records) are performing.
      + You may not know it, but Calvin Johnson is fucking huge. He has been in a couple of bands over the past twenty years (including Beat Happening, The Halo Benders and Dub Narcotic Sound System), created the highly kickass K Records, founded the International Pop Underground Festival (featuring Fugazi, Bikini Kill, and others), and worked with Beck, Built To Spill, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and countless others. This dude's sure got that sought-after "indie cred." With all those accomplishments, he had not released any solo material until this past summer, with What Was Me. Now it's back to basics: a guy and his guitar (and sometimes not even a guitar). One review of his new album makes reference to The Smiths in describing one song, and an "avant-Guthrie" in describing another. Another reviewer writes that in this new solo album, Johnson is "in torch singer-/campfire balladeer-mode, leaving the funky struts and giddiness of his other groups aside in favor of more stately, refined singing in the tradition of the jazz and pop vocalists of yesteryear." As for content, the same reviewer writes: "There's always powerful, real emotions in the songs, along with nice melodies and lyrical non-sequitors."
      + Little Wings, an alt-country band in the vein of Will Oldham, has released two vaguely conceptually-linked trilogies since their formation in 1998, the much-lauded Wonder Trilogy plus their new one, Light Green Leaves. An article in The Olympian says that the most recent Wonder Trilogy album, Woderue, "brings to mind the hazy, country-styled leanings of acts such as Mercury Rev and Grandaddy filtered through the intimacy of Will Oldham." The rather harsh Pitchfork reviewer writes of Little Green Leaves: "Unfortunately, the record gives more indications of stagnation than of progress, asking the listener to marvel at how many disingenuous folk songs one man can author."
      + The Blow, a.k.a. Khaela Maricich, formerly known as "Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano," has toured with the lovely Mirah and is the new not-so-angry girl in town, perhaps a tamer and more juvenile Liz Phair. (Pitchfork describes her as "Phair's little sister doing anatomically correct crayon drawings for you to hang on the fridge.") The press release makes a stab at describing The Blow's first album, Bonus Album: "These songs have a playground feel; some are made-up for entertaining oneself while leaning against the chain link at the far edge of the field, others are singing games where the notes get woven between a pair of singers or a roomful." Whatever that means.

Ghanaian poet, scholar and educator Kofi Anyidoho is giving a reading at Swat tonight at 7, in the Scheuer Room in Kohlberg. Anyidoho has been credited with "returning written African poetry to its dramatic oral roots." Some of his poetry can be found online here.

Did you miss Rennie Harris PureMovement when they took BMC by storm last week? Fear not, they're at Swat tonight, performing with Zakir Hussain and Spoken Hand, in a dance and percussion concert entitled "Flammable Contents." The show (which seems like it's going to rock pretty hard, in my humble opinion) is in the Pearson Hall Theatre in the Lang Performing Arts Center at 8pm.

If the cool bands here aren't enough for you, there are also some indie rockouts at Temple tonight, though these ones you have to pay $8 to see. Common Rider, The Pattern ("flailing spazzy rock and roll"), Hot Hot Heat ("danceable pop oddities combining ¡®60s mod rock, ¡®70s prog and ¡®80s new wave/punk"), Planes Mistaken For Stars ("loud and abrasive but extremely melodic screaming and singy type hardcore"), and Armor For Sleep perform at 7pm at the Owl Cove (on Temple's campus, in Mitten Hall, on 1913 N. Broad Street). Check out some sound clips from all of the bands here.

Of course, if you really want to break it down, it's 18 & up night at Woody's (13th between Walnut & Locust). It goes from 9pm to 2am, $5 if you're underage, FREE if you ain't.

Now go out tonight and give yourself a break. You deserve one. Wink.

2002-10-25T16:47:00.000-04:00

It's Friday night, and the feeling's right. Whether or not that is the case, there are a couple things worth noting that you may or may not want to participate in this evening.

If you're a senior: You'd best hie thee to Senior Cocktails, tonight at 8 in Brecon. Dress nice, drink martinis, and shmooze with the other old fogies. Wink.

If you're a sophomore: Yas and Elissa, class presidents extraordinaire, have gone out of their way to plan a supa-fun class evening. You know they already came by your room to personally deliver the invitation. So go! There will be pumpkin carving and candy-eating commencing at 7 (?) in the Campus Center.

If you are cool: Improvapalooza is TONIGHT! Haverford's third annual comedy festival features the comedicimprov stylings of the Throng (formerly the Sketchy Players), the Lighted Fools, and Dual Exhaust, an awesome professional improv duo. It's FREE this year, at 8 o'clock in Founders. (Doors open at 7:30.)

If you are cultural: Solas is an Irish band, but they integrate many styles of music in their performances. Earl Hitchner wrote in The Irish Echo: "Solas is the rarest of all Irish bands - able to play traditional music with the best of them and also perform original music with exceptional style and imagination. Solas has to be ranked among one of the most exciting Irish bands anywhere in the world." Check it out at 8pm in Goodhart.

There are some options. Now go have fun, but rest up for tomorrow night. Yeah, dog.

2002-10-23T12:57:00.000-04:00

Happy Hump-Day. The week after a break is always tough business, but here are three ideas to make your Wednesday more interesting:

(1) Scott Ritter, former U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq, is speaking tonight at 8 in Thomas Great Hall. Ritter is considered one of the nation's foremost experts on the crisis in Iraq, so we really should feel quite lucky to have him speaking here. Earlier this month, he spoke at St. Lawrence University and Clarkson University. To hear his speeches and answers to questions from those speaking engagements, go here. Then you can decide whether or not he's worth a trek out to TGH.

(2) Alix Olsen, a kickass spoken word poet/activist/artist, is performing in the Lunt Cafe (at Haverford) tonight at 9:30. Alison Bechel (of Dykes To Watch Out For) called Olsen "a red hot fire-bellied feminismo-spewin' volcano," and added: "Plus she rhymes." Singer-songwriter Catie Curtis was quoted saying: "Alix Olson is a riffing sparkplug of tremendous political, social, and sensual magnitude." If you want to see for yourself whether or not this Olsen chick is a sparkplug volcano or what, go here to hear some clips of her in action. But I have a feeling this show is not something you'll want to miss.

(3) It's 18 & up night at Woody's (13th b/n Walnut & Locust). How about some underage (dancing!) action? The DJ spins mainly house, but really, that's beside the point. It's $5 if you're under 21, FREE if you're 21 or older. From 9pm-2am.

First the politics, then the culture, then the party. Wahoo!

2002-10-21T21:51:00.000-04:00

Snazzy. If you look to the left, you'll notice that you can now search the BMCB (the search includes the archives). You can also use the handy form to tell someone about this site. Use them both! More fun gizmos to come.

2002-10-21T11:30:00.000-04:00

Mondays suck. I don't usually let my personal anger out on this here blog, but I just spent quite a while compiling a long juicy "Mondays Don't Have to Suck" entry, and then my browser decided to crash, and I lost it completely. So here is the very short, very basic version:

At Swat, SWIL is showing Attack of the Killer Tomatoes at 10pm in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin.

At Penn, there's a jazz trio playing for free in Houston Hall (3417 Spruce) at 8pm.

If you're in the mood for some theatre, I Stand Before You Naked by Joyce Carol Oates is being performed at the Playground at the Adrienne Theatre (2030 Sansom) tonight at 8. Tickets are $12 - $15. Call 215.563.4330.

If you like Halloween and such things, there's a $12 Philly ghost tour tonight at 7:30 that leaves from 5th & Chestnut, in Singer's Garden, right next to Independence Hall.

If you want to dance, you can check out The Remedy (hip-hop, 10pm-2am, $7, 21+) at Fluid (613 S. 4th St), Fuck It Mondays (hard-hitting electronica, 9pm-2am, $3) at Atlas (2063 South St), or the Bomb Congress w/DJ Jolo ("musical interpretation with turntable, guitar and guest artists," 9pm-?, FREE, 21+) at Filo's (408 S. 2nd St).

Whatever it is anyone is doing tonight, we all know we'd rather be at the Tower Theatre with David Bowie. Sigh.

2002-10-11T02:49:00.000-04:00

What now? I will not be updating the BMCB (that's this thing, kid) over October break (from 10/11 - 10/20 as far as I'm concerned). If you are going to be around over October break, please remember that you can still post here. If you haven't joined yet, what are you waiting for? Start posting today.

When I return, look for helpful new sections and features on the BMCB such as: concert calendar, search tools, MawrterWeb, guestbook/tagboard, TriCo/Philly link list, venue listings, and automated update alerts. Please note that none of these ideas are promised by any date, they're only plans. If you have any ideas, you will let me know, won't you?

Enjoy your break!

2002-10-10T13:09:00.000-04:00

If you're in the mood for some live music tonight's a good night. Oh, go ahead... you deserve it. Screw that midterm tomorrow and check out:

Hot Water Music. Hot Water Music (HWM), classified as punk by normal people and "post-hardcore" by pretentious music snobs, are reputed to give quite an awesome live show. Interpunk.com describes their latest release as "heartfelt punk, guttural rock, and explorative neo-hardcore." I've never seen them, so I can't stamp them with my personal approval, but I hear what I hear. 8pm at the sucky no-smoking Troc (1003 Arch at 10th). Tickets are $12, and you can buy them here if you don't mind paying $4.50 extra in Ticketmaster fees.

Tarbox Ramblers. This country blues quartet from Boston has intrumentation that includes guitar, violin, bass fiddle, and a variety of percussion. According to Citysearch, they mix "Delta blues, rockabilly, white gospel, country and bluegrass...with hints of early jazz and jug band sounds." The hoedown commences at 8:30pm at the Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd off Market). Tickets are $8, snag 'em here. 21+, sorry.

Departure Lounge, The Sunshine Fix, and The Glands. My not-so-qualified self would classify all these bands as playing some form of jangle indie pop. Departure Lounge, a quartet from the UK, has been compared to and influenced by a wide range of bands/artists including Primal Scream, Biff Bang Pow, Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, Gomez, and the Beta Band. (Hear them here.) The Sunshine Fix, signed to my darling Kindercore, is the latest project from Bill Doss, one of the founding members of the legendary Elephant Six pioneers The Olivia Tremor Control. They have been described as blending elements of psychedlic pop, acid, bubblegum, mid-period Beatles, and the Beach Boys. (Hear their song "Age of the Sun" here.) The Glands, who have toured with Modest Mouse, glide back and forth easily from pure, classic pop to moody, brooding soundscapes to straight ahead rock. Some Joe described them as a wackier Guided by Voices. The Austin Chronicle's review, which also compares them to Sparklehorse, says that The Glands "have stolen from the same sources available to everyone else, yet reassembled them into something catchy but not cold." (Hear them here.) Show starts at 10pm at the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar off 27th). (I have this funny feeling that Sunshine Fix & Departure Lounge are opening and therefore play earlier. Check this.) Get tickets here. 21+, don't kill the messenger.

Okay, that's enough for now. Go hear some good new music.

2002-10-08T15:18:00.000-04:00

As if you didn't already know...

BITCH & ANIMAL!
tonight at 8
CCML

Be there. I'd get there early if I were thou, because they've got quite a devoted fan base. And bring your ID, because otherwise it's $10. There will also be "booty olympics," but I'm a little frightened to find out just what that entails.

2002-10-07T06:04:00.000-04:00

Mondays don't have to suck, even when you realize at 5:30am that you will be getting only two hours of sleep anyway so you might as well update the blog now.

I'm going to make a major plug for Dorothy Allison (click here for a bio / click here for an interview), who is doing a reading at Giovanni's Room (345 S. 12th St) at 5:30pm. While she's best known for books such as Bastard Out of Carolina, Two or Three Things I Know For Sure, and, if you're in my Thinking Sex class, Skin, she'll be reading from her racy and supposedly "shocking" collection of short stories, Trash. (Many of these stories were incoroporated into Bastard, but they are apparently more "raw" in Trash.)

There are a few other options which are less cool, but valid options all the same.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a classic, for sure, is showing at Swat. The screening begins at 10pm, in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin.

The Kelly Writers House (3805 Locust Walk - don't worry, you'll find it on a map once you're on campus) at Penn is playing host to a Songwriting Workshop Group's inaugural meeting, which starts at 5pm. Bring your instrument if you have one. Any genre welcome. The group plans to focus on the needs of its members, so come with ideas for what you think the group should do. Email Dan Fishback for more info.

If it's another nice day, you might feel motivated enough to go cheer on our tennis team (but SHHH! - no shouting on the tennis court) when they play Cedar Crest at 3:30pm. At the tennis courts, duh.

For some reason, the fact that I'm in the mood for a low-key night leads me to believe that you are too. If this is not the case, feel free to check the archives for past "Mondays Don't Have to Suck" features, which list plenty of options to unleash boogie in you.

2002-10-05T16:06:00.000-04:00

It's Saturday night. By the power invested in me, you will get off your ass tonight. Amen.

At Bryn Mawr:

- Sugar n' Spice: Everyone knows the ladies at Perry House throw a better party than anyone else at this whole freaking school. This one goes from 10pm-2am. If you've never been to a Perry House party, check this out. You'll be grinding so hard you'll forget you're at Bryn Mawr.

- Come Get Your Debauchery On: It's party time at Erdman. If you missed the dining hall rockout at Haffner last night, now's your chance. (Fine, this one's not actually in the dining hall, but hey.) They promise full kegs, real DJs (wow.), and two floors of dancing. Get it on from 10pm-2am.

- Jim Boggia: He's playing at The Point, at 7pm and 10pm. Tickets are $10. This guy sounds like pop/rock from the 1960s and 1970s. He's also supposed to give a really good live show. If you want to hear some sound clips, go here.

At Haverford:

- S-Chords Concert: If you're an a capella fan (and really! who's not?), the S-Chords are performing in Lunt tonight. Starts at 7pm.

- Movie: They're showing a movie in Sharpless tonight. I can tell you that it starts at 7:30pm, and that if you need more info you can contact aham@haverford.edu. I can't tell you what the movie is, or what is has to do with. I can't do all the work around here! Sheeeeeet.

At Swat:

- Nothing. Nerds.

In the illadelph (that's Philly, for the uninitiated):

- Mythos: Penn's hot new LGBT center is hosting a dance! They promise "hot-bodied dancers," as well as live DJs and one fabulous drag queen (Vanessa Sterling). It's $5 and goes from 10pm-2am. (Wouldn't you know it... they provide two different addresses: One is the address of the GLBT Center [3907 Spruce] and the second is the Hall of Flags, Houston Hall [3417 Spruce]. Fortunately they're right near each other, but still. Arg for confusing information.

- Remember 2/Old School Sessions: It's 18+ at Transit (600 Spring Garden) for what will be "an amazing trip down memory lane of your favorite albums and rinse outs." While that's rocking out upstairs, the basement area will feature hip-hops, breaks, house, and reggae. It's $8 before 11pm, $10 after. It stars at 10pm and keeps on going right until 3:30am (!!!). Whoa... did I fall asleep and wake up in New York?

- Deluxe Saturday: This dance party at Shampoo (417 N. 8th St. at Willow), for the 21+ crowd, features retro, alternative, and rhythmic beats in the Main Hall, and hip-hop in the Groove Garden. Be aware that Shampoo attracts a crowd of "very stylish and fashion-conscious hotties," so dress to impress or prepare to feel scrubby. It's $10 to enter, with $2 drinks from 9pm to 11pm. From 9pm to 2am.

All right, kids. Have a fun night.

2002-10-03T13:00:00.000-04:00

Thursdays are fun because Fridays are tomorrow. (Psst! Don't forget to look at Wynn's post from yesterday for two literary events going on today, too. It's not all about booze and rock n' roll, kids.)

There's some live music at the Lusty Cup tonight at 8pm. The activities list is telling me it's Jenny Brennan, and the Today @ Bryn Mawr page is telling me it's Darcie Minor. I really don't know who to believe. But it's not like you've heard of either one of them anyway. (Ms. Brennan's "style has been coined, 'folk rock,' and 'new western' with an occasional Celtic flair." She cites Emmy Lou Harris, Carole King, Stevie Nicks, Richard Thompson and Paul Rodgers as major influences. Darcie Minor was described by some random dude named Nick as having a "good mix of country/folk/rock.")

Tonight at 7, in the Graduate Student Center (3615 Locust Walk) at Penn, they're showing And The Band Played On, a 1993 movie that tells the story of the discovery of AIDS, from when San Francisco gay men started dying of unknown causes to when they finally identified HIV. In the words of one very impassioned fan: "If this film doesn't touch you, you don't have a heart." Got that?

Missed Monday night karaoke at Woody's? Fear not. Thursdays bring karaoke night at Sisters (1320 Chancellor), that oh-so-popular-maybe-cause-it's-the-only-one-in-Philadelphia lesbian club. 21+.

It's "Freak Show" night at Envy (27 Bank St), but don't be intimidated... I think Envy's a little too mainstream to be really, really freaky-deaky. The wild dance party starts at 9pm, and attracts a "still-young-enough-to-go-clubbing but too-fashionable-for-Delaware-Ave crowd." Their DJs will be spinning a mix of progressive house, dance, and hip-hop. (Don't ask me when "dance" became a descriptive musical category.) It's $10 at the door. Fifty cent drinks till midnight, but that could mean cups of milk for all I know since they don't specify exactly what drinks are only fifty cents. You've got to be 17 to boogie, and 21 to booze.

You can also get jiggy with DJ Danny Howells at Shampoo (417 N. 8th St at Willow). It's mostly house that they spin over at Shampoo, so that's probably a safe bet. Call Shampoo (215-922-7500) to find out about cover charges. 18+. Starts at 9pm.

It's a Drag Extravaganza tonight at that who-knew-it-existed gay club, 12th Air Command (254 S. 12th b/n Locust & Spruce). Philly's hottest queens will compete for some obscure best drag queen title, and there will be dancing for all after the show. Of course. $3 drink minimum, 21 to enter. (Please note that they only accept cash for everything.)

Don't forget that Alice Peacock is playing right here in Bryn Mawr tonight at 8, at The Point. Tickets are $12 (on the cheaper side for The Point!). Peacock has won all sorts of recognition and awards for her sharp folky style, and has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Rickie Lee Jones, and Mary Chapin Carpenter, with echoes of the rock stylings of Neil Young and Tom Petty.
And damn is she purty:

Well, now you officially have no excuse not to start your weekend early.

2002-10-02T15:46:00.000-04:00

We seem to be a little behind with the activities. Below are some ideas for tonight (wed.) and Thursday. I'm sure Lauren will add loads soon.

Thursday: (a more academic spin)
-Noam Chomsky is speaking at Upenn at 1:30pm about the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, and U.S. role in it. Irvine Hall. 34th and Walnut
-Nadine Gordimer who wrote the fabulous book "July's People" is speaking HERE at bryn mawr at 7:30pm in Thomas Great Hall. This is the most exciting event of the year, in my opinion. Don't miss it!

Wednesday: (the usual stress busters)
-It's 80s night at Shampoo! All Ages. Check the archives from last week for more details.
-All-ages night at Woody's. Potentially the only night at this popular sexuality friendly club where there are more females present then all other "gender" types. Again, check last week for more details.
-some band called "the Persona" is playing at the Khyber at 10pm with zymotic flow, head, and koester. 21+
-the fabulous J.Gaul and his partner Jammie are spinning at Silk City, 10pm-2am, free, 21+.

Thats all for now.

2002-10-01T17:33:00.000-04:00

I forgot that the blog is suppossed to be a postive place, without any cat-y-ness. Thus, the previous post has been deleted. Cheers.

2002-09-30T00:57:00.000-04:00

As usual, Lauren has provided you with some fabulous ideas for your Monday below.
Here is the short scenester addemdum to "MDHS":

Music at the Pontiac (304 South Street)
Monday, Sept 30. 6pm. $8. All Ages.
Azure Ray - two acoustic guitar singer/songwriters capture unsettling emotions. saddlecreekrecords.com
Broken Spindles - joel from THE FAINT's new electronic project. tigerstylerecords.com
Now Its Overhead - former bright eyes mems. moody pop influences with atmospheric indie rock. saddlecreek
Hail Social - perhaps philly's next "Big" band. rock and roll and pop done VERY well. check out the mp3 here.

(if any one wants to go to this... please let me know.)

2002-09-29T19:35:00.000-04:00

As usual, Mondays Don't Have to Suck. Here's why:

It's another Movie Monday at the Troc (1003 Arch at 10th). They're showing Barfly, a 1987 movie about a guy (Mickey Rourke) who is an alcoholic-poet who spends all of his time in LA bars. He meets a lady alcoholic (Faye Dunaway) and the whole thing turns into some sort of contrived love story. Awesome. (21+. Assholes.)
Are you a die-hard The Indigo Girls fan? Up for a little roadtrip? The girls are coming to The Forum Theatre (at the Whitaker Center) in Harrisburg for a 7:30 pm show. Tickets range from $29.50 to $38.50, and you can drop your cash here. You wouldn't want to drive out to Harrisburg and find the show sold out, would you? Look, I even got you some directions. (The trip is approximately one hour and fifty minutes. For more info call 717-214-ARTS.)
Don't forget that it's karaoke night at Woody's (13th b/n Walnut & Locust). It's free, 21+, starting at 9pm.
No time to go all the way into Philly (not to mention Harrisburg)? No problem. Flight of the Navigator is the movie this week from SWIL. It's showing in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin over at Swat, starting at 10pm. (The movie sounds pretty frickin weird: "A 12 year old boy goes missing in 1978, only to reappear once more in 1986. In the eight years that have passed, David hasn't aged. It is no coincidence that at the same time David returns, a flying saucer is found, entangled in electricity cables.")
C. C. Railroad is coming to The Point. I've never seen them, but I think I can say pretty safely that they'll appeal to those that enjoy a toe-tappin' old-style folk-bluegrass fusion sound. They have both male and female vocals. You can check out some song samples here. To quote a review from Molly Fuhr of the Philadelphia Folksong Society: "Not only can they play, but CC Railroad can entertain... variety, lyricism, audience mood, and fun are important to these guys. The band alternately employs Spanish rhythms and melodies, bluegrassy finger-picking and toe-tapping pacing, traditional folk-ballad storytelling, and humorous little ditties. It was clear from the cheering, laughing, and clapping, that the audience had just as much fun watching and listening as the band had performing." Sounds promising, but I make no guarantees.

Eh, I could go on, but I don't want to spoil ya. Now go out and do something.

2002-09-28T14:01:00.000-04:00

T . O . N . I . G . H . T

The Bryn Mawr/Haverford Lighted Fools present...

HOT & DELICIOUS

an all-sketch show

FREE! // Stokes Auditorium // 8pm

Ah, shameless self-promotion.

2002-09-27T16:04:00.000-04:00

i was horribly wrong in my last post
both the violent femmes and the spoken word that i mentioned are indeed next weekend, i had my dates a bit confused
but in clarifying that i found out that tegan and sara are playing at north by northwest tonight at ten pm
even more exciting, it's 18+!
not sure about a cover charge, but try calling (215) 248-1000 after 5 pm
happy friday

2002-09-27T03:34:00.000-04:00

if you stay home and do nothing this friday night i will be very disappointed in you because there is so much going on that i am paralyzed in choosing what to do

first and foremost there is the fantastic fools show in stokes at 8 (which you can also catch on saturday night)

sticking to the bi-co, the rennie harris dance group is performing puremovement at goodhart, also at 8, for a mere 5 dollas. it is sexy male hip-hop dance, and if you join the performing art series you can get a deal.

for just a short walk and a mere ten dollars or so you can catch steven kellog and sarah slean at the point. for more info on the artists check out www.atthepoint.com they are cool

speaking of music, my all time favorite band from middle and early high school, the violent femmes, are playing the electric factory at 8:30 for only $17.50

rumor also has it that there is a cool hip-hop spoken word thing going on at the painted bride, but i think that is really next weekend

i'm not really sure which of these events i'll be at
i was hoping the femmes, but i'll probably end up at rennie harris with the rest of campus

2002-09-27T02:28:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I am a tool, to use the word my lovely customs person is in the habit of using. Lauren told me to post, so here I am at 2:10 at night posting this lovely little review. "Oh! Review?" you say, "Why yes," I reply. "What pray tell are your reviewing," you counter (btw, I know everyone speaks like that.) "Well," I respond, "Tonight I went to the Stanley Kunitz Poetry Reading." "Yay!" everyone says because everyone loves Kunitz (or SK as we who when to see him like to call him). The enthusiastic response pleases me, so I am happy and I will tell you all about it.
SK, who is the former poet laureate of the USA, was introduced by a distinguished Professor who I do not know. He gave the usual interesting background, for example did you know that Kunitz's father commited suicide, and Kunitz that is as old as dirt? (no disrespect meant for either illustrous gentlemen.) Then SK proceeded to read his wonderful prose poetry, a term that perfectly describes his creations, for about an hour. The poetry is really quite good and for a little old man who looks like a turtle, his voice is quite melodic. Some of the pieces that we had the honor to hear were: Lamplighter 1914 about the beginning of WW1 and the effect on a small town in Mass; Murphey's Comet (my personal favorite) about the poet as a little boy searching for his father's presence and approval in his life; Lairs (I am not sure about this title) about friends who had graced this world with their presence; and one about a whale.
Unfortunately, TGH was dark and the poetry and voice so melodic that I started to drift. I don't think any Mawrter would blame me, because truthfully, who hasn't felt the call for an 8 pm nap?
After the reading, Kunitz stayed to autograph books, but I did not, other things were calling. Afterall, I am a Mawrter and a Mawrter's job is never done.

2002-09-25T12:45:00.000-04:00

Here's my indie rock/scenester addendum to Lauren's lovely list below of activities in Philly:

If your in the mood for live music check out:
Milemarker - "bombastic heaviness, drone epics, flailing anthems and polemics aplenty" - jadetree.com
World Inferno Friendship Society - "cabaret of punk//gospel featuring horns, piano, punk rock guitar, a number of percussionists, and a mayhem-inducing live presence" - worldinferno.org
The Prosiacs - "hot sexy rock" reminiscent of some of the early more "dark" factory records bands - members from Rainer Maria
Wednesday (tongiht) at The Pontiac (304 South Street), 6pm
ALL AGES $8 (www.r5productions.com for more info)

If your in the mood to dance, check out:
The Conspiracy at Silk City (5th and Spring Garden)
featuring DJs R5000, White Lily, and Cullen Stalin
spinning post-punk, old-school electro and hip hop, new wave, early goth. and other oddities
10pm-2am, FREE, 21+

or

Shampoo(8th and Willow) where its ALL AGES and 80s night (plus industrial/goth in the main room and retro-alterna-cool downstairs)!
$7, be prepared to see the most interesting people in philly.

Cheers.

2002-09-25T10:57:00.000-04:00

Getting off campus on a weeknight is a wonderful, sanity-reviving thing to do. (Your Haverford class doesn't count even a little bit, so don't even try it.) Wednesdays are the perfect day of the week to do that. For one, it's "hump" day, so it's the best way to put the weekend back into the middle of the week. For two, I don't have Hebrew at 9am on Thursdays, like I do every other day, so you can just put that in your smoothie and blend it. For three, there's more to do Wednesday nights in Philly than most other weeknights. Your plethora of options include:

        • Tribal Verb at La Tazza. La Tazza (108 Chestnut b/n 2nd & Front), a cozy little 'tude-less lounge for the 21+ crowd, will be serving $3 Long Island Ice Teas (watch it kids, there's hella alcohol in those) until midnight. Sip those while you enjoy drum n' bass upstairs and reggae & hip-hop downstairs. (La Tazza also played host on Saturday to the worst excuse for spoken word I've ever heard, but it was so hilariously horrible it was grand. So we'll forgive them for that.) $5 to enter; opens at 10pm.
        • This Is Spinal Tap. See the cult classic on the big screen tonight at the Prince Music Theater (1412 Chestnut at Broad). It starts at 10pm and is $5 with a SEPTA value pass. Prizes will be awarded to nerds who know answers to trivia questions.
        • All ages night @ Woody's. See what all the fuss is about. By "all ages," I mean 18+. (If you're younger than 18, you can suck it as far as urban nightlife is concerned.) $5 if you're under 21, FREE if you're 21+. It starts at 9pm. Woody's is in the heart of the "gayborhood," on 13th b/n Walnut and Locust. They usually spin progressive house at deafening volumes. Great if you feel like dancing or cruising, whatever your style is.
        • Pulse Wednesdays. Egypt hosts this 17+ night for the straighter crowd (no ID, no entry). Expect more bleached blonde blowdried hair and fewer shiny tight shirts than at Woody's. They encourage patrons to "dress to impress." A whopping $10 to enter. All drinks are $3 till midnight, but that's hardly a deal considering you just paid $10 to walk through the door. They spin progressive house. Shake your booty.

There's more to come... I have to go to class right now. Check back later.

2002-09-23T16:14:00.000-04:00

Lauren, where do you get all that Monday info from? Just curious, I'm kind of impressed.

2002-09-23T16:05:00.000-04:00

"If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." -Emma Goldman
Here's another way to kick off your week:
Bombay to Brazil (DJ's Chethana and Darshana)
Silk City (5th and SpringGarden), 10pm, FREE

So kids, go dance your pants off. And if you can't get out, I will be sponsoring my nightly dance party around 11pm in 225. Cheers.

2002-09-23T11:31:00.000-04:00

*** SOPHOMORES: Last Study Abroad Info Session! Tonight from 7-8pm in Carpenter 25. ***

Welcome to everyone's favorite feature on the BMCB: Mondays don't have to suck. I mean, Mondays do have to suck, a little... but if you exercise a little creativity, they can certainly suck less. (Please note the glaring absence of a mention of the physics and mathematics colloquia. No matter how broadly you define "suck less," it does not, cannot, must not include these events. Sorry.)

Rah. Rah. Cheer on our soccer team. Why not, you know? I mean, we do have athletics here. They're playing Immaculate College at 4:30pm at the Schwartz Gymnasium sports field.
In the town where I was born... As you probably know by now, Monday means it's SWIL movie night at Swat. Tonight, they're showing Yellow Submarine at 10pm, in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin.
Not enough fish in the sea? Feeling gay? Feeling blue? Feeling like you've already slept with all the women at Bryn Mawr? Fear not! Penn's right around the corner, and tonight, from 6:30-8pm, there's a queer women's "discussion group" (read: new place to cruise, wink) in the LGBT Center Annex of the Carriage House (3907 Spruce Street). The meeting's open, as far as I know, but if you're really considering dropping by, you might want to email Erin or Ninah to make sure. And don't you dare take the obnoxious tone I'm inexplicably taking here into the meeting with you, which is really just a nice opportunity to have some open dialogue in a supportive environment.
Dancing with myself. Monday night blues enough to drive you to the point of screaming: "SCREW MY WORK!"? Sounds like you need "The Remedy," which claims to be Philly's best hip-hop dance party. It's 10pm to 2am at Fluid (613 S. 4th Street). Bring your ID. Call 215-629-0565 for more info.
Take in some tunes. Old favorite indie/power-pop band Spoon is playing tonight at 9pm at the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar Street at the corner of 27th). Click here to check for tickets, which are $10 before you tack on nasty Ticketmaster charges.

Or you could just do your homework. It's all the same to me.

2002-09-21T03:08:00.000-04:00

The Philadelphia College Festival kicks off tomorrow with College Day on the Parkway. Enjoy free admission to museums, streets spilling over with students, and the Roots & the Mighty Mighty Mighty Mighty Bosstones at 2pm at Eakin's Oval (24th & the Parkway) -- FREE! Later, Ladyfest Philly is having a cool fundraiser at La Tazza (108 Chestnut b/n Front & 2nd). It's a measley $5. There'll be spoken word poetry at 8pm and then lady DJs (Chetana and Darshana) at 10pm.

Have a fun, cheap day, kids.

2002-09-19T12:23:00.000-04:00

*** SOPHOMORES: Don't forget the Study Abroad informational meeting today at 4pm in Thomas 224! ***

Today is my little brother's fourteenth birthday. In celebration, there are a bunch of things going on here.

Yellow Rage is performing in Sharpless tonight at 7pm. They are a spoken word duo who explore "topics from fetishes to cultural appropriation to ethinc pride" while challenging "mainstream misconceptions of Asianness." If you've never seen a spoken word performance, you'd better have a damn good reason not to check this out tonight.

Throng, formerly known as the Sketchy Players, is doing an improv show in Lunt tonight at 9pm. Coffee, cigarettes, and improv. Yum.

There's a poetry reading at the Kelly Writers House at Penn tonight at 6. Hoa Nguyen and Dale Smith, editors of Skanky Possum magazine will be reading. I don't know these poets, but things at the Kelly Writers House tend to have a nice, cozy vibe.

Glen Loury, professor of Economics at BU is giving a talk in Carpenter 25 tonight at 7:30. Loury argues that the realities of racial inequality in this post-civil rights era require that we reconceptualize the classical concept of "racial discrimination." He takes the first step in this direction by sketching a new theory based on the notions of "biased social cognition" and "racial stigma."

I'm also going to make a plug for the Electra meeting tonight at 9pm in the Lusty Cup. Electra is a student theater group that helps put together any sort of theatrical production students want to do.

2002-09-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

I want to hear some of Meghan's stories about the Chronicles of Elsinore... and I have a question- weren't they in Denbigh last year? Anyway... I am here to broaden the minds of all you bloggers by telling you about a new group on campus called Empty the Shelters. It is the college branch of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union. KWRU is a movement led by the people most affected by this issue- those living in Kensington and other poor areas. This group has a ton of cool plans for marches, "Reality Tours," and tent cities. Visit the site to find out more, it's amazing. If you want to get involved, Jessica Knapp is the one who founded this campus chapter.

2002-09-18T11:01:00.000-04:00

Don't EVEN get me started on the Chronicles of Elsinore. I do, however, have tons of stories.

2002-09-18T02:27:00.000-04:00

Found it. As it turns out, The Chronicles of Elsinore are hardly a secret. They're up on the internet for all to learn about. Of course, you have to visit the Erdman Back Smoker to actually contribute to the Chronicles. But you can read the FAQ here. Elsinore is defined as "a collaborative fantasy novel written by Bryn Mawr students." So that's that. Do post comments below. I'd love to hear other people's reactions to this.

2002-09-17T02:00:00.000-04:00

yeah, and now our running shorts smell like balls.

2002-09-17T01:52:00.000-04:00

here's a better post.

we caused a riot at bryn mawr college tonight. it included boys in my tight running shorts and zorro masks. some uptight mawrtyr called public safety on us. it was at 12:30 at night. get a life.

2002-09-17T01:50:00.000-04:00

ROCK N ROLL DUDES!!!!!!!!!!

2002-09-16T13:15:00.000-04:00

BMCB presents: Monday nights don't have to be a drag. There's plenty to do, as always, just in case the workload here is not enough to keep you occupied.

       - Dottie Attie, a NY-based painter, is showing some new work and speaking at Penn from 5-7pm, in Meyerson Hall B-3.

       - One World -- the club for all you left-leaning activist folks who appreciate having Fair Trade coffee in the dining halls and love marching on Washington -- is meeting tonight at 10pm in CC 105. Go forth and change the world.

       - Attention, feminists and fem/gen concentrators: There's a Women's Center meeting tonight at 10pm in the Erdman Women's Center. Personally, I think Bryn Mawr is just one big women's center, but nobody asked me.

       - Swat, your place for movies, is screening three different ones tonight. Goya en Burdeos is showing at 8pm in Kohlberg 302, Scarface is showing at 8pm in the Cinema room at the Lang Performing Arts Center, and Dark City is showing at 10pm (for you late-night party kids!) in the Kirby Lecture Hall in Martin.

       - If those films don't tickle your pickle, how about The Muppet Movie? It's free at The Troc (1003 Arch St.) tonight at 8pm. Oh yeah, and the people at the Troc are assholes, so you have to be 21 to go sing along with the freaking muppets tonight.

       - Wanna booze it in a swank electronica lounge and forget the weekend ever ended? Check out Fuck It Mondays at Atlas (2063 South St.). It goes from 9pm-2am, and there's a $3 cover. 21+, obviously.

That should be enough to keep you busy. Now go finish up your reading so you can do something interesting later!

2002-09-15T19:41:00.000-04:00

And you thought Greyhound was cheap... Consider this the tip of the week: You can get from Philly to New York for a measly $10 on Dragon Coach. This special service goes from Chinatown Philly to Chinatown New York. Now nothing's stopping you.

2002-09-13T12:38:00.000-04:00

Tonight. Considering I just missed Bio because I was on the phone, I've decided that it's time to put the day behind me and start making plans for this evening. You have a couple of options:

1. If you want to just stay on campus and drink a little, you can check out the parties in PemWest or Erdman Pit (which Tiffany posted about before).

2. There's a band performing in Lunt (at Haverford) tonight, at 9pm. I wish I could tell you more, but I can't. They might suck, but, then again, you might get lucky. And Lunt always has tasty things to eat and drink. And, last time I checked, you're allowed to smoke there, which is always sure to win you friends and lovers.

3. Those crazy nerds at Swat are showing Lord of the Rings tonight at 7:30pm (and then again! at 10!), if that sort of thing's your style. It's in the Cinema room at the Lang Performing Arts Center. Don't ask me where that is, I have no idea.

4. There are a bunch of things going on in Philly tonight (as always), I'll just hit the highlights:
   - Midtown, who can be described as punk/pop (in the vein of Saves the Day, A New Found Glory, Blink-182 etc.), are playing tonight at the Trocadero, at 7pm. Tickets are $10, and you can buy them from evil Ticketmaster here.
   - Strangefolk, a roots-rock jam band, are playing at the Theatre of the Living Arts at 9pm. Tickets are $10, get 'em while they're hot.
   - Some dance party described only as "House Party IV," costs $5 and is going on tonight at 10pm, at 908 (click here if you have no idea where 908 is). Sounds like a grindin' singles scene to me. Email houseparty908@yahoo.com to get on the list, and don't blame me if it's skeevy.
   - If you're a classier type, or like to pretend that you are, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has the thing for you. Fridays from 5pm until 8:30pm, the musuem lets you stroll around as you take in fine art, live jazz, and some scrumptious culinary delights (which might cost extra). Students can partake in this delightful soiree for only $7.

Now don't whine about how there's never anything to do. Go do something!

2002-09-13T07:35:00.000-04:00

Today is Fall Frolic. Dare you miss Hibly, the skinny German juggle boy? It's on Merion Green from 4-6pm. Eat food, sign up for more activities than you'll ever have time for.

And don't forget to psych up for ice cream novelties, dessert for lunch today. Woo-woo!

P.S. The interest in this humble little endeavor has been very encouraging... 50 people have visted the BMCB on its first day up, and more people are joining every day. Thanks for your support!

2002-09-12T17:10:00.000-04:00

So I am the third person to enlist as a member of the new secret society, The Bryn Mawr Blog, duh duh dummmmmm.
Ahem. I'm Wynn, a senior sociology major with an affinity for indierock, nights in philly, wearing hats and drinking tea. I think this could be a great way for the community to discuss social activities. It's not dorky at all, really.
Now then, lets all dress in black and meet on merion green with our computers, he he he.

2002-09-12T14:48:00.000-04:00

Hm looks like I'm the first one to post (other than Lauren of course.) So does that make me (Tiffany) the second biggest "web loser?" Oh well. Anyway those of you who know me know I love a good party so I'm here to publicize two going on this Friday. The first is in Pem West and the second is in Erdman Pit, in the basement. The more people who know about them and go, the better they will be for everyone. Yeah so that's that. Post on the Blog people. It's a great procrastination tool.

2002-09-12T10:53:00.000-04:00

Welcome. If you're here, you probably know me personally. And that's okay for now. You may be asking yourself: what is this nonsense? Doesn't Lauren, that web dork to end all web dorks, have anything better or more productive to do with her time? The answer is: yes. But I'd rather be doing this. And, whether you admit it or not, you would too. That's why this I'll just delete this blog if no one else is interested. My intent is for this to be a "team" blog. That means anyone can post here, as long as I say you can. And as long as you go to Bryn Mawr, I say: YOU CAN.

Here's how I see this happening. I'll try to post basic stuff everyday -- if there's anything going on that's of general interest or importance to the community at large. I'll probably make shameless plugs for things that I care about. But you can do that too. And you know you want to. I'd like to assert that if you want to talk about who slept with who last night, this is just not the place. I think you'll find what you're looking for with Telnet, and many happy returns, friend.

What's the point? I think that if we get the word out, this could be both a useful community tool, and a fun new way for all of us to help each other procrastinate. So, how about it? If you want to join, you don't need to know HTML or any fancy internet know-how. As long as you're passably literate, you're okay with me. Just drop me an email (please mail me from a Bryn Mawr email address), and I'll send you an "official" invitation, which will contain a link you need to click on. After that, you can start posting. Easy as pie.

Let's get this party started.