Can No Doubt’s New Album "Push and Shove" its Way into our Hearts?

By Catherine Drussell
What happened to the days of Gwen Stefani bantering about making out and screaming, “Hey Baby,” or “Hella Yeah?” Eleven years later, No Doubt is still rocking steady with its edgy-pop tone, but the band's recently released album, Push and Shove, has combined synthesized tones with more seasoned ballads and grown-up themes. The album may not lack Gwen’s signature Ska-Cali feel, but the band has seemed to stray away from the raw-punk edge they were once known for. With acoustic sessions and softer choruses, the only song that seems to feed our hunger for the '90s No Doubt is “Push and Shove.” The title track has guest appearances from Jamaican dance hall star Busy Signal and producer Major Lazer, who have kept it youthful and catchy. Although Gwen has stuck with her ska roots for "Push and Shove", the song is a product of its time with auto-tuned voices and hints of Dubstep. There is a good chance that Gwen’s new album will “push and shove” its way into fans hearts, and they won’t be reminiscing too much of No Doubt’s Rock Steady days.

Discovering Food Heaven

By Maggie Reid

When my sister casually text messaged me, “So I got two free tickets to the NYC Wine and Food Fest on Sunday, do you want to go?”

I nearly had my first heart attack at the young age of 22 (this was before I had the bite-sized duck confit with poached quail egg sandwich!) We arrived at our new Mecca, Pier 57 on W.15^th Street and 11^th Avenue, at around 12PM and could not have anticipated what the next four hours had in store.

Upon entry, we were given a wine glass for the various tastings and a tote bag full of sample-sized food products. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. Table after table of local food vendors and restaurants sprawled across the intimidatingly large warehouse. The many wine, beer, and liquor merchants that were waiting to give us as many free samples as our hearts desired.

Though everything we tasted was delicious, some of the food highlights were as follow: tender pulled pork quesadillas with chipotle barbeque sauce, sharp cheddar, and avocado cream, and creamy chicken liver mousse with flavorful caramelized onions on a toasted crostini. Not being a huge drinker, the alcohol aspect of the event didn’t make as big of an impact on me, however I must say that I did taste a variety of red and white wines ranging from fruity and light to bitter and heavy. The grand tasting was just the appetizer (if you will), leading to the main course: a cooking demonstration by Bobby Flay. For 30 minutes my sister and I sat in our food coma stupor watching Flay perfectly prepare a Thanksgiving meal complete with turkey, mascarpone mashed potatoes, and marinated carrots. As I sit here with a bloated stomach two days after the fact, I still have to admit that it was all worth it.

Stephen Chbosky Still Makes Me Feel Infinite

By Emily Stall 

When I heard that Stephen Chbosky’s young adult novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, was being made into a movie, I was first excited and then a little nervous. Everyone knows that film adaptations of books are rarely as good as the original novel. This movie is an exception, probably because the author actually directed the film.

Perks is a coming of age story about a lonely, depressed boy named Charlie who is starting his freshman year of high school. He befriends an eccentric senior, Patrick, and his beautiful stepsister, Sam, who welcome Charlie into their friend group in an act of genuine kindness. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Charlie’s past and the difficult situations he has been through.

Chbosky explores difficult topics including homosexuality, abuse, drugs, alcohol and love. Even with the serious subject matter, there are many witty and humorous moments, like when Charlie inadvertently tries marijuana for the first time in the form of brownies. As someone who is notorious for crying at movies, I actually did not find myself sobbing during this film, though there were many moments that were so touching my eyes just filled ever so slightly. The three mains characters are so sincere and good that you can’t help falling in love with them, and wanting to be more like them.

In one of my favorite moments of the film, Sam, who just learned that her boyfriend had been cheating on her for months, asks Charlie, “Why do I and everyone I love pick people who treat us like we're nothing?” To which Charlie replies, “We accept the love we think we deserve.”

Charlie learns to be active and participate in his life, something we could all be reminded of. Driving through a tunnel at night with his two best friends, listening to his favorite song and standing up on the bed of Patrick’s truck (as any fan of the book will remember), Charlie asserts, “Right now we are alive and in this moment I swear we are infinite.” 

Something Old, Someone’s New

By Emily Raduzycki

Clothing from mainstream retailers is becoming rather dull and repetitive, wouldn’t you agree?  Sure, we can still find pieces in our favorite hot spots but it's rare that we hear someone say “wow” anymore when out shopping.  Where to turn?  Vintage. 

The Urban brands have led the way in vintage retailing, often upping the price to match the one-of-a-kind nature (see photo).  Their vintage pieces are less focused on a particular brand or designer name but the retro style.  The dresses are primarily sourced from SOR Select, the label of Some Old Rubies, which reworks and sources vintage pieces.  Each of the pieces is an original and available in a limited size.  

I prefer, however, the classic pursuit in second-hand shops.  Philadelphia has many options to fit the college budget.  Philly AIDS Thrift or PAT, has three floors of merchandise ranging from items to furnish your apartment, to books and old magazines, to clothing.  Thrift shops such as PAT also serve as a non-profit, donating their proceeds to the AIDS Fund with volunteers as the employees.

 

My best advice when it comes to buying previously owned clothing is to go to places in or near an affluent community.  You will be more likely to come across a more valuable treasure in great condition because the donors or consigners tend to circulate their wardrobes more often.  My purchases are from a mixture of Philadelphia, New Jersey and London stores and include a Christian Dior blazer purchased for $10, a Robert Rodriguez top for $30, and many purchases under $5.  

If you’re visiting London any time soon, check out my ratings on the list of second-hand shops that I visited.  

Get Inspired by Madness: "Van Gogh Up Close" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

By Barbara Hionides

He was addicted to absinthe, ate lead and paint, vigorously mumbled to himself, cut off his ear in the name of a broken heart, and most importantly created timeless masterpieces. Van Gogh. He was a genius of his time, even if no one saw it until years later. He created art works that were soon to be highly respected in the art world, bringing a new light to perspective, psychological fears, and depiction of light in art. They say that true creativity is born from madness, and in this case it is evident.

The Dutch post-impressionist painter had created over 2,100 works in his short 37 years of life, before he committed suicide. He started painting and drawing from an early age, highly involved in building his skill set as an artist. He soon found himself working for art dealers, later wanting to become a pastor, and finally deciding to stick to art when in 1886 he moved to Paris. When studying the impressionist style, one can note small colorful brushstrokes, a great emphasis on expressing light, depiction of realistic subject matter in an unconventional abstract way, and the movement of objects expressed through color and brush strokes. Van Gogh did just that. His style changed once he had discovered this new method of expression through painting. He emphasized colors, light and objects’ angles to create an accurate depiction of how he, having a mental illness, saw his subject matter emotionally and psychologically.

Fortunately for Van Gogh Up Close, a traveling exhibition of his most notable, unusual paintings done at the time of his mental turmoil’s peak, we can view these works in Philadelphia. The exhibition opened on February 1^st and will end on May 6^th at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Be sure to visit Van Gogh’s legendary works such as “Rain,” which is a depiction of his window while staying at the Clinique of San Paul after several mental breakdowns. Other works such as “Almond Blossom,” “Garden in Auvers” and many more show the true genius use of color, shadows and lines Van Gogh created through this works. The emotional and psychological impact his paintings unleash, reveal how art can truly inspire and allow for us to see the world through the artists's eyes. 

"Rain", France, 1889.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/02/03/arts/design/20120203-VANGOGH-9.html

http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/743.html

Color, Color, and more Color!

By Anastasia Athineos

Being bold and bright doesn’t have to be just for celebrities. Anyone can rock a variety of fun colored denim to add a new flare to their wardrobe for a fresh and new look this season. Colored denim is a great way to show off your personality in a fashionable yet casual way. Celebrities have been giving this trend mainstream attention with their color blocking style by dressing up or down their outfits. What’s great about this trend is that it isn’t gender specific. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and even Justin Bieber have all been spotted sporting the current trend.

This trend is one that takes some getting used to because not every color is going to look good on everyone’s skin tone.  In order to make this style look best you are better off pairing your colored denim with a simple neutral toned top or jacket. I find that wearing white, black, or gray tee shirts are the safest and most visually pleasing routes to take. By wearing a simple neutral tone, the color from the denim is able to pop and stand out without the outfit looking too loud. Colored denim cries out for fun accessories and shoes. The style of the accessories and shoes can take the simple denim outfit from trendy and flirty to laid back and carefree in a matter of minutes.

So experiment and let your mood and personality shine through your wardrobe! If you are feeling happy, wear something bright. And if you’re feeling a little blue, well cobalt looks great on everyone! No matter your mood, one thing is for certain - you can always feel confident stomping down the sidewalk in your bold, look-at-me pants and effortless style. 

Once Wed

Everyone thinks about it…

That glorious day when love and all things beautiful meet.

From the venue to the flowers, the invitations and dress – a wedding showcases your taste and design aesthetic. Tucked away in a shoebox under the bed or in an ambiguous folder on your Macbook are pages ripped out of magazines and images downloaded from the web.

We’re not crazy. It’s just premature planning, ya know?

Once Wed is a website that finally recognizes and facilitates our obsession.

Launched in 2008, Once Wed is a daily blog that archives notable weddings, supplies fresh ideas and DIY projects, provides vendor contact information and offers an outlet for the solicitation of used dresses.

Until that moment comes, we can fixate on other's. And when the day does arrive… you’ll be ready.