Beat that Holiday Boredom

The upcoming holiday festivities are when students get to spend time with their families, have a relaxing break from school, and catch up with old friends. Everyone on campus has gone home, and there are no more students walking to and from their dorms to their classes, or going out with their friends. However, what if you are on co-op or another job where you only have a few days off, not a few weeks? How do you keep yourself entertained day in and day out when your roommates are gone? Of course Netflix can be good to fall back on from time to time, but after a few hours, the dishes and candy wrappers begin to pile up next to your bed and you begin to feel less like a person and more like a lump that can’t be separated from your bed. Alternatively, here’s a list of things you can do, both at home and out and about in Philly that can help you beat winter break boredom:

1. Shop your kitchen

Rummage around your fridge and see what sort of food you have. Use a website like myfridgefood.com and click on all the things you have, from fruits and veggies to spices and snacks. Pick a recipe and try to make it for dinner.

2. Watch a movie

It can’t be just any movie though. Think of one from your childhood that has a serious nostalgia factor. Space jam anyone?

3. People watch

Head to the park and just sit down and watch people. Look at their clothes and mannerisms and make up stories in your head about who they are and what they do. Make sure to grab a coffee to keep your hands warm.

4. Try a new place

You know that cafe or bar that you always pass to and from work? It looks cool, but you’ve never actually been there. Now that you don’t have any plans waiting for you after 5pm, now is the perfect time to stop in and check it out.

5. Make new friends

While you’re at that bar, talk to someone there as well. A lot of bartenders are super talkative and could be a refreshing change from people that you talk to day in and day out. This one can be a bit intimidating, but could also turn out to be a really great conversation.

6. Thanksgiving Day Parade

Take advantage of being a few blocks away from the oldest Turkey Day Parade in the US and enjoy the holiday festivities. And speaking of holiday festivities…..

7. The Christmas Village

Love Park right by City Hall hosts an annual Christmas village outdoor shops selling seasonal gifts, crafts and food. Buy your parents a gift or just check it out to get into some holiday cheer!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Shop Small this Saturday

Not long ago, Thanksgiving was the highlight of November. Now, seemingly being eclipsed by a week of shopping, the commercialization of Christmas has taken over Turkey Month. That’s right, the 12 days of Christmas is now the 28 days of Christmas. I remember when there was only one day of shopping, Black Friday, which began around 7:00 AM Friday morning. Then came cyber Monday, the day of online shopping that took hold after the popularization of e-commerce, debuting about 8 years ago. This year, stores are opening Thanksgiving morning and remaining open over 40 hours straight. This, perhaps, is a solution to combat the insane trampling scenes that took hold of the country in previous years’ Black Friday fiascos. However, it moves me to ponder, what is this society in which a few big Goliaths of corporations are turning the mass hard-working civilians into animals, stampeding a Wal-Mart just so they can afford Christmas presents, or perhaps solely to buy more unnecessary cheap, disposable junk.

Within this Thursday-Monday weekend shopping bonanza, one day actually worth partaking in that exemplifies patriotism is another new, but good, day of shopping, Shop Small Saturday. Although started by American Express as a marketing ploy to get people to shop using their credit cards, the sentiment is valid and encouraged. We need to take the power back from these mega corporations who resemble a minuscule percentage of the population, and instead invigorate our middle class. Our obsession as Americans towards the cheapest deal, while commendable in terms of frugality, is a product of our throwaway culture and the enormous gap in disposable income from the notorious 1% and the rest of us.

Shopping locally means shopping at independently owned stores, whether a mom and pop corner store, or a hip boutique in Northern Liberties. It is incredibly important for communities to support their members through commerce because it encourages fairer business practices. Locally owned businesses also offer better quality products because they are made on a small scale. More care means better ethical treatment of workers in both the manufacturing and retail side of business. Additionally, the more prosperous our businesses are, the more prosperous the community is as a whole.  Local business allow a steady stream of cash flow whereas big corporations stockpile exorbitant amounts of money in inventory and self-interest.

Before going out to begin Christmas shopping, remember this; every time you make a purchase, you are essentially voting for what you like and practices you wish to see continued. When you purchase from big name stores, you are only fueling the rising disparity in income that exists in the US. You are also likely purchasing cheaply made commodities that are meant to be thrown away in the near future, thus creating more physical and monetary waste. Is this the quality of life you want for yourself and for future generations? This weekend, be sure to go out on Saturday and buy from a locally owned business. The unique quality and care that is put into local businesses will be far greater appreciated than another piece of mass manufactured glorified piece of junk.

Lobster Month(s) at Route 6

            My family and I recently had the great opportunity to dine at Stephen Starr’s new restaurant, Route 6. Route 6 had deemed October “Lobster Month”, offering half priced lobster, lobster roles, New England clam bakes for two, and other seafood items. The deal was then continued through November, where I had the chance to take part in the experience.

            The restaurant is located in North Philadelphia, but once you step into the restaurant you feel like you have been transported to Nantucket or another northern east coast beach town. Although the restaurant is pretty large, there is an element of warmth and home. From the wicker chairs to the beach-style nick-knacks, I felt like I was in the comfort of someone else’s beach house. The open kitchen fed more into the glamorous lobster shack theme.

            Of course the food! We started off with an order of the New England soft shell clams that were served with a garlic and butter broth that you dunked the sweet delicious clams into. That broth was so tasty, perfect for soaking oyster crackers and sharing to the very ending wishing there was more! We then shared an order of the fried Point Judith calamari, which gave you a little surprise of a fried hot cherry pepper in every other bite.

            Surprisingly for our main courses, only my dad ordered a whole lobster, the rest of us got other seafood dishes. When presented, the steamed lobster was delivered on a large beach-style platter, beautifully cooked and smelling of the ocean. My mom ordered the lobster roll, which was served on a plank of wood, with a side of French fries. The buttered split top roll was stuffed with large pieces of lobster lightly tossed in mayo. Finally we come to my main dish, the seafood stew. The stew felt as if it was comprised of the whole menu of seafood, including: shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, calamari, white fish, and potatoes in a garlic filled tomato broth. Each sip and bite was increasingly more mouthwatering than the next. I was experiencing a plethora of amazing flavors, which I thought were never going to end because of the size of the bowl.

            What is the point of experiencing a restaurant without ordering dessert? To end our fabulous meal we share the chocolate bread pudding served with homemade banana ice cream with bourbon and caramel sauce. The pudding was so decadent and scrumptious, but not overly sweet like some bread puddings. Once the bread pudding was gone, we raved to our waitress about how amazing it was, when she then told us that the pastry chef came from the famed restaurant Le Bec Fin, a smile was brought to our faces.

            If you have not been to Route 6, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of their continued half-priced deal! Even if you do not get there in time, if you are looking for a comforting and delicious seafood meal, Route 6 is the place to go.

A Night at Audrey Claire's Cook

A delicious five course meal, wonderful paired wine, pleasant company, and a cozy cooking lesson taught by a talented chef, sounds like my idea of a perfect Friday night. This past weekend I did exactly this, thanks to a perfect and thoughtful birthday present from my best friend (she knows me too well!).

It is an intimate environment that allows foodies (like myself) to not only enjoy the food and the service, but to also experience it and to truly learn about the dishes that are placed in front of you.

Two weeks ago she surprised me with this present and I was counting down the days until I finally was able to experience the fun at Audrey Claire’s COOK. Located on 20^th and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia, COOK consists of a beautiful exhibition and classroom kitchen, surrounded by 16 seats.

The night began at 7:00pm when we entered the private “restaurant” and were showed to our seats. We were immediately greeted with a glass of Beaujoulias (a French red wine), a warm baked roll, our menu for the evening, and a pad and paper to write down tips and recipes.

It was so exciting when our chef, instructor, and our friend for the evening, Katie Cavuto, introduced herself to the class. She is a chef, but also a registered dietitian, food network star, business owner, and a Philadelphia native. Her work experience is so inspirational. She has previously worked with the Philadelphia Phillies, addressing each player’s personal nutritional needs. Katie currently owns a business called Healthy Bites, where she works as a personal chef and provides healthy meal delivery throughout the city.  Katie takes on other projects such as writing for the Food Network blog and other publications, she is even working on her own book! After learning all of her credibility, I was more than excited.

Our class for the evening was focused on healthy side dishes for the holidays. Yes, I know part of the fun around the holidays is to indulge and enjoy the foods that you don’t allow yourself to have all of the time, but it is nice to know that some of these seasonal dishes can be healthy and delicious without loosing flavor and nostalgia.

Below was our menu for the evening, she took us step by step through each dish as she prepared and personally plated all of our meals.

1^st Course: Raw Kale Salad with Fall Pears and Pomegranate Seeds

2^nd Course: Farro with Roasted Acorn Squash and Dried Cherries

3^rd Course:  Curry Peanut Chickpea Stew

4^th Course: Mustard and Maple Baked Salmon, Shaved Brussel Sprout Slaw

5^th Course: No bake, Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie with Cashew Cream

All of her recipes were dairy free and could be easily altered for other dietary restrictions and allergies. I have already decided, without a doubt, that I am preparing one of these dishes and bringing it to my Thanksgiving in Connecticut!

Throughout the evening, Katie was happy to answer any questions we had, she also gave us many useful tips on how to eat healthy even when we aren’t following a recipe.

I left full and happy, but still healthy! It was truly an experience I will never forget. I will definitely be planning another trip to COOK. It is a place that is new and different, a wonderful way to celebrate a special event with a friend, loved one, or even alone! 

The 20/20 Experience

The Stage

 It’s not often that I get to stand a few feet from one of the world’s most talented musicians, but this past Sunday, November 10, I did just that at the Justin Timberlake concert, part of the 20/20 Experience tour at the Wells Fargo Center. Of course I expected Justin to put on an amazing show, but he far exceeded my expectations beyond what I could have imagined.

         I had been looking forward to the concert ever since my friend and I ordered our tickets during the MasterCard presale back in August.  Our seats were third row, to the left of the stage, and mid way down the arena giving us a perfect view of his every move.  We were seated in section 102, which is split in half, divided by the player’s locker room. 

That locker room is where other high profile people entered and exited the venue such as Justin’s wife Jessica Biel and his manager Johnny Wright.  Biel was so close in proximity to us that we could literally reach out and touch her, had we wanted too.  She was dressed casually wearing, wedge booties, skinny jeans, a simple tee, and leather jacket.  She was clearly enjoying the show, dancing to the music, singing along, and standing to cheer on her husband.  JT’s manager Wright was friendly as can be and was going in and out of the stands to greet fans and take pictures.

Timberlake singing on stage B

At exactly 9pm the lights went down as Justin hit the stage with his band the Tennessee Kids, his back up dancers, and vocalists. They were all styled out in black or white suits and put on a three-hour show.  They performed a variety of songs from his latest album as well as a bunch of classics including Pusher Love, TKO, Strawberry Bubblegum, Holy Grail, and Cry Me a River. 

After a 10-minute intermission Timberlake and team returned to the stage, which transported the performers over the crowd and onto a second stage located in the middle of the arena.  There they performed songs including Only When I walk Away, Tunnel Vision, Senorita, That Girl, a mash up of Not a Bad Thing and Michael Jackson’s Human Nature, followed by What Goes Around Comes Around.

Timberlake performing on the piano

The crew then returned to the main stage to close the show with Suite and Tie, SexyBack, and finally Mirrors.

When the lights came back on I didn’t want the fun to end.  I felt like I was floating on cloud nine.  Justin is an incredible performer and musician.  It was the most entertaining and high-energy concert I have ever been too.  I don’t feel like I can ever have enough Justin Timberlake in my life, and if you feel the same you can catch him again on Tuesday February 25 when he’ll be returning to the Wells Fargo Center. 

Designer Consignment in Philly

For women who appreciate the craftsmanship, the fashion legacy, and the high style associated with products from renowned designers like Chanel, Christian Louboutin, and Diane Von Furstenberg, I am about to share with you a valuable resource. Philadelphia women have already been in on the secret since July, but now everyone can make use of the fashion asset that Bryn Mawr claims. This valuable asset I am referring to is Rachelle Consign, a new consignment boutique that purchases and resells new or gently worn designer items.

For anyone that may be skeptical of buying anything considered “used,” I can assure you, their inventory is high quality, practically new, and timeless; everything can be considered a wise investment in your wardrobe. Upon closer inspection, most items have never been worn. Shoes lack scuff marks, handbags show little to no use of wear, and many items of clothing still have price tags on them.

This shopping arrangement is ideal for a young woman with an entry-level job income, but a chic and luxurious sense of style. I highly recommend purchasing basic fashion items that every woman needs. The store is filled with items such as classic black and nude heels, metallic formal shoes, versatile tote bags, and little black dresses. They are items you can wear as a fresh twenty-something, and a mature forty-something.

Additionally, the recent launch of their website gives budget conscious women all over the country a reason to rejoice! You can finally allow yourself to indulge in that Chanel handbag you have always wanted. Or perhaps, you can buy your fashionable friend a luxury holiday gift in a price range that works for you, and she will never know what you really spent on it.

When One Door Closes, Another Opens

 Internships have often been considered the stepping-stones for students to get their foot in the door in the working world. With Drexel University's education being so strongly based around the co-op system, it is easy for fellow Drexel students to understand the importance of these opportunities. At the same time, in recent years there has been an on going debate regarding the fairness of internships, specifically ones that are unpaid. In many creative fields, the line is blurred between where educational internships end and where unfair and exploitative internships begin. This blurred line has caused several lawsuits to pop up within the past year. The question on many people’s mind now is, will these lawsuits help or hurt young inspiring professionals?

Conde Nast, a powerhouse in the mass media industry, announced in late October that they plan to discontinue its internship program by 2014. This decision came four months after former interns slammed the mass media company with two different lawsuits. Conde Nast, which is based in New York City, owns 25 print and digital media brands including Architectural Digest, Don appetite, Glamour, Golf Digest, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vogue.  

So what does this mean for the future of aspiring journalist who will now be denied the ability to intern at these publications? Though it is unfair for these companies to ask young interns to work long hours for free, do the positives of many of these internship opportunities outweigh the long hours of unpaid work being sacrificed?

Will young students lose their chance to get an insider’s experience at the companies they wish to work at? For many former interns of Conde Nast these internships helped pave the way to their current careers through the experiences they gained. Former Vogue intern Lauren Indvik, who is soon-to-be-co-editor in chief at Fashionista, says her internship was “So valuable” when asked her opinion about these recent negative claims. Internships allow people to learn how the company is run, gain skills taught to them by their employer, and build relationships with important people in the industry. They learn what it’s like to be in a professional setting and what it means to be dedicated to that company. All of these things help lead to future job opportunities. It also allows interns to realize if that specific career path is still what they want to pursue after graduation.

However, critics say that unpaid internships make it harder for students with lower financial backgrounds to get their foot in the door. But at the same time, these unpaid jobs can be compared to the large tuition fees many students pay to receive a college education. People have said hands on experience can be the best way to learn. This is especially true for many people in a creative industry. So what is the difference between sacrificing time to work unpaid in your desired industry and sacrificing money to earn a college degree? Students go into these internship programs aware of the little to no compensation but still choose to complete them. This is similar to how students enter a University willing to pay for the knowledge and education the school will provide for the next four years. The end goal of both is getting the young professional a job in the future.

Consequently, eliminating the intern program will open more entry-level positions for young people to get hired post graduation. Publications owned by Conde Nast will now be forced to hire additional employees to complete assignments no longer being completed by interns. This means more permanent paid job opportunities, which is beneficial after all for upcoming graduates entering the work force. 

The Stotesbury Mansion Masquerade Ball

           As a college student, it is not my dream to give up my Saturday by waking up early, heading into Center City, and decorating an old mansion for seven straight hours. But this past Saturday, November 2^nd, that is exactly what I did, and it was all for a class project. Before anyone starts to feel sorry for me, let me say that not only was it fun, but it was the coolest school project I will probably ever get to do. When most people think of school, they envision students sitting in a classroom and taking notes from a PowerPoint, but Design and Merchandising students are lucky enough to say that school and learning is much more than that. So many of our classes not only give us hands on learning opportunities, but also the chance to work for real world clients.

My Visual Merchandising class was charged with designing and creating the decorations for a Masquerade Ball at the historic Stotesbury Mansion benefitting the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund this past weekend. The second annual event had about 300 attendees and was hosted in order to raise awareness for the Fund that supports families with ill children. The Masquerade Ball was even covered by local press including Philadelphia Magazine.

Our class was divided into teams, and each team presented designs to adorn the mansion’s staircase, doorways, mantles, chairs, and tables. Our inspiration was to enhance the historic mansion by adding components that would make the space sophisticated, mysterious, romantic and alluring. The client picked her favorite design for each component, and then each team executed their chosen pieces. My group was picked to decorate the staircase, chairs, fireplaces, and doorways. We were given a strict budget and a limited amount of time to install our decorations throughout the space. 

The staircase was definitely our most challenging task; draping 14 yards of white organza up spiral stairs while keeping lights from falling out took several tries and a lot of perfection, but in the end we got it just right. Next, we added intricate masks to either side of the doorways, creating the illusion of walking through a mask when entering each room. They were made from Bristol board and laser cut in Drexel’s own making lab located in the URBN Center.  

 In the ballroom as well as on the second floor, we created two different types of chair decorations: one with elegant rosettes and the other with a more mysterious feel using black netting and paper flowers.  We also wanted to bring the outdoors inside so we incorporated sticks and branches into our decorations by adding them into the fireplaces with pumpkins and skulls. When we left the mansion at 7pm, the entire place had the elegant yet mysteriously romantic feel of a true Masquerade Ball.   

Ultimately, the client was pleased, and my classmates and I gained valuable learning experience. I worked with new materials and techniques to create the decorations and was able to put the visual merchandising principles that I’ve been learning into practice. Some people may see this as another boring school project, but I have come to appreciate the opportunities that Drexel and the Design and Merchandising program gives its students. Years from now when I look back on my college experience, I’m not going to remember sitting in lecture halls listening to professors, but instead opportunities like this that taught me more than any PowerPoint presentation ever could.