After a glass of Pinot Grigio, I was all set to listen to Professor Eric Lott's lecture on Bob Dylan, hardly able to anticipate just how fun it would be. The lecture was given by the Graduate English Club, sponsored by the Office of the President, Graduate Investment Funding, and the Graduate Student Association.
MAY The One Movie to See: Iron Man (May 2). It's out already, so we already know it surpassed all the high expectations we had. Long live Robert Downey Jr. The One I'm Sorta Embarrassed to Be Excited For: Sex and the City (May 30). If Big fucks over Carrie one more time, I'm, like, totally gonna scream.
There was a moment in Talib Kweli's much-hyped performance at Hunter where he paused to let the crowd recite his lyrics for him. His gesture left most of the crowd confused over the words to Kanye West's verse on "Get'm High," and left the rest of the crowd in silence, since they simply didn't know the words.
Another act that's played at Hunter in recent years-Philadelphia's own the Roots-have a new album out, Rising Down. The album, which also features Talib Kweli, follows up their '06 masterpiece, Game Theory. The bar for the Roots is high, but they remain consistent with the release of their eighth studio album.
The candy-colored cartoon world of Speed Racer is the Wachowski brothers' first foray into family films. The dynamic duo behind The Matrix and V for Vendetta has brought the beloved anime racer to the big screen in glorious Technicolor. Although initially wary of the PG rating, I appreciated that the Wachowski's weren't tempted to adhere to the Japanese cartoon's originally violent action (which was toned down for the American and European versions) and succeeded in making a kid-friendly film.
Ever since her first solo, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" at the age of three, Tara J King, who often bartends and caters Hunter's special events, knew she had a passion for singing but didn't know if she could carry a tune. Fast forward a few years and her doubts were pacified after consecutive solos at church, choir, and various schools.
Its 85 degrees out, humid, your air conditioner broke and you are sticking to your parent's black, leather couch with a dusty fan's breeze-and with no job in sight. Bring on summer '08! But there is hope: three authors sat down with The Envoy to talk about their successful careers, their books and why they could help you off the couch and into an office.
MAY The Record You Have to Buy: Narrow Stairs, by Death Cab for Cutie (May 13). Dark and magical, with new guitar textures and earnestly earnest lyrics. The DVD You Have to Buy: Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything (May 27). A complete series release for Patsy and Edina, my two favorite drunken fools.