I’m not all about self-promotion (just mostly about it) but here’s a link to an article I wrote at Campus Progress, an online web-magazine for college progressives. The article is a response to a different and silly piece by a writer named Courtney Martin, who accuses our entire generation of not being angry and active enough about political issues. Needless to say, I disagreed. The relevant Georgetown factor is that my response grew out of a blog post I wrote here almost a year ago, and obviously my own first-hand knowledge of student activism comes from spending my time reporting on the work of our own variousactivistgroups. Anyways, a query: do you think college students, and Georgetown students, are doing enough to change the world? Or are we co-opted by the man?
God forbid we have a blog and not venture to link into the sprawling monstrosity that is Nick Denton’s world. Anyways, “Gridskipper” has published a not-so-bad guide to D.C.’s best pupusas, “El Salvador’s greatest export after MS-13 and Efren Ramirez.” I’ve never had a pupusa—apparently a corn meal patty stuffed with melted cheese and other goodies—myself, despite my love for D.C.’s Salvadorian influences. I’m just dedicated to Julia’s Empanadas, which are tasty and great, even—perhaps especially—at 2 a.m. But now I’m going to broaden my taste, and I suggest y’all do, too. And if you have any other ideas for fine D.C. foodstuffs the rest of us haven’t chowed down on yet, feel free to let us know in the comments.
— Tim Fernholz, Editor in Chief Flickr photo from user Tofu666
Everyone knows that a study day spent studying is a study day wasted. That’s why on December 11 you should check out Juno at the AMC in Georgetown. As far as I can tell from the trailer, Juno tells of the trials and tribulations a girl in high school who gets pregnant (who knew Michael Cera was such a player?) and in what IMDB calls “an unusual and bizarre decision,” chooses the adoption route. Think of it as Knocked Up does high school. Juno’samazing cast features Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Rainn Wilson, and Allison Janey, among others.
If you still need a reason to go, the screening at AMC Georgetown on Dec. 11 is FREE. Just go here, click on the “ATTEND A FREE SCREENING” button on the right side, and choose the D.C. screening on the 11th. I’d hurry too; the only other D.C. screening on November 29th is already full.
The Supreme Court announced today that it will consider a challenge to Washington, D.C.’s strict gun ban laws, marking the first time the Court will consider the basic meaning of the 2nd Amendment. We’re glad the court took up the case, but we hope they follow the rest of the advice in our recent editorial on the subject, which urges the Justices to uphold the ban. Given the rightward lean of the court, it’s hard to say if the justices will agree with our interpretation, but as the Times notes, “court-watchers who try to predict outcomes in advance do so at their peril.” Right.
The Voice has covered the controversy since the get-go last spring and into this fall’s decision by Mayor Adrian Fenty to appeal the case. No doubt we’ll keep you posted on this issue; look for Voice reporters to be in the court for oral arguments in the case, expected this spring.
You’re obviously not going to class on Wednesday, meaning this week, Tuesday is the new Friday. And really, it’s ok if you’re hung over for your plane/train/bus ride home, Mom will just think you’ve been studying too hard. Apparently, some crazy shit goes down in the District while students are struggling to get over the hump, and this week is the opportune time to find out just what the temporarily unemployed, alcoholics and nerdy eccentrics do with their Tuesday evenings.
Glam Metal Karaoke
If you’re a woman/man/transgender after my own heart, you know that life would be perfect if it were Halloween every day. Until this happens (when I become president … sigh, never) we can at least find excuses to wig out, shimmy into tight leather and glob on 99 cent Wet ‘n Wild lipstick. Hence, the glory of Glam Metal Karaoke. Ok, I’ve never been, so I have no idea if people actually dress up, but drunken people are a little confused and generally accepting; and, personally, I think you should because … why not? Stage fright? The $2 pints of Miller High Life and $5 Grey Goose will take care of that, and then it’s a head-banging good time with Poison, Guns ‘n Roses, Skid Row, etc.
Glam Metal Karaoke takes place every Tuesday night at 9:30 at The Reef, 2446 18th St. NW.
Female Arm Wrestling
The Palace of Wonders is sort of a classier version of Coney Island, without the Cyclone and garbage-strewn beach, of course. The bar/museum/vaudeville stage brings back the days of burlesque and sideshows, paying homage to the Elephant Man via wax statue and flaunting taxidermied remains of a unicorn. And ladies, if you’ve been religious about your Yates visits, you can earn your drink money back this Tuesday at the female arm wrestling competition. A cash prize of $50 is awarded to the butchest and buffest femme.
Showbar presents the Palace of Wonders is located at 1210 H St, NE. The competition begins at 10:30 pm and is limited to women only.
Quizzo (What WAS Indiana Jones’ real name?)
Finally a chance to put those hours “wasted” (pssssht) watching MTV and capitalizing on your NetFlix subscription to use. The Poor House’s Quizzo tests your pop culture knowledge, but non-pop-gurus study up, the questions can be challenging. This one starts early, so you might want to hit it up before the others. And if your brain is bursting with useless pop culture trivia, you stand to earn a complimentary $20 bar tab, which makes for a decent pre-game session, or $10 to drink away the shame of runner-up status.
The Poor House is located at 319 Pennsylvania Ave, SE. Quizzo starts at 7 p.m. every Tuesday.
With our 2-0 men’s b-ball team looking like no mean shakes on the court, it’s worth checking out this video ESPN made prior to the season. It’s mainly an interview with JT III, who doesn’t say anything ground breaking, but the practice footage of the team was interesting, especially for those of us who follow the team but don’t really know anything about basketball (that’s what I have a sports editor for—what’s a pick, again?).
“I like Washington a lot,” Sutherland told us. “But it’s really hard to film here when you have 36 different law agencies who all have jurisdiction over the same corner.”
With Thanksgiving approaching, it’s once again time for those perky “101 Things to Be Thankful For at Georgetown” fliers on the back of bathroom stall doors around campus. This year, the Voice made the list at #13, placing us in the company of perennial heavy-hitters like the Center for Social Justice and the Tombs, while both the Hoya and the Independent were left off entirely. Rock on.
Ah, fantasy epic! The books are actually a lot more innovative and, y’know, plotty, than this mash of things blowing up would seem. I think it’s still going to be OK, mainly because the casting is just so perfect. Nicole Kidman in gold is the scariest thing ever, Daniel Craig and Eva Green get to be stunningly gorgeous and good, Ian McKellan, in his butchest role yet, as the voice of an armored polar bear, and Sam Waterson as the Cowboy, er, Scoutperson thing!
No mention of the whole “God and the Church is evil” thing, but maybe they didn’t have time for it, what with all the snow and the sparkly and the heavy handed titles. Still, when Dakota Blue (they clearly cast her because her name is so awesome) yells, “I’ll never be yours!”, I’ve got chills. I think they know what they’re doing.
After the jump, Sarah Michelle Gellar and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir:
The men’s basketball team beat back William & Mary’s strangely-named Tribe Saturday to win 68-53. For more coverage, check out Tony Francavilla’s article about Saturday’s game. Maybe you’ll find out why the Hoyas can’t beat a zone.
Vox Populi is the staff blog of the Georgetown Voice, Georgetown University's preeminent newsmagazine since 1969. The opinions expressed in Vox Populi are those of their authors unless specifically stated.
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