[Prefrosh, do this.]

Crystal Stilts, a somewhat established surfy NY garage band, bring their “zoned dream pop a la 1986” to Terrace this evening. For those ballsy previewers looking to get scrapey on a moped out dancefloor, tonight’s the night. I can personally assure you the Stilts will top most any Preview activity on the official docket (although the prefrosh may have some trouble getting in…)

The Guardian had these remarks about the band:

If you like the idea of an American singer whose barely-there vocals makes him sound as though he’s auditioning for a part in Thames Valley: The Movie, if you like splashy drums that make Moe Tucker sound like John Bonham, bashy tambourines, tinny, surfy 60s organ, wheezy harmonica, echoey spectral guitars and la-la-lee melodies that sound like nursery rhymes played by an extra-miserable Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (because they’ve just been dropped, possibly) at 18rpm, the whole thing coated in lo-fi gloom, then grab your stripey blue and white T-shirt, squeeze into your black drainpipes, and we’ll see you down Syndrome on Oxford Street to celebrate. What, it’s closed? Now we’re really depressed.

Apr 19, 2012

Crystal Stilts Play Pop at Terrace Tonight

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Welcome, orange-lanyard-clad Prefrosh!  We’re thrilled you’re here–and the campus is abuzz for the next two weekends with exciting performing arts events that give you a useful glimpse of Princeton’s thriving arts scene.  Any of the following would make for a wonderful introduction to the artsy side of Old Nassau:
  • McCarter Theatre Center's Matthews Theater (known by members of the Princeton Triangle Club as "the house Triangle built") on the night of a Triangle show.

    McCarter Theatre Center's Matthews Theater (known by members of the Princeton Triangle Club as "the house Triangle built") on the opening night of a Triangle show.

    Looking for a night of pure hilarity, along with a glimpse at a Princeton arts institution?  The Princeton Triangle Club, which produces an annual musical that is completely conceived, written, produced and performed by Princeton undergraduates, is presenting its spring show, Are You There, Dod? It’s Me, Marquand (don’t worry, prefrosh; you’ll understand the title if you come here. And/or if you’re too young to remember Judy Blume, we are officially ashamed of you).  While their fall show is directed by professionals and goes on a national tour, the spring show is more casual: it’s where the writers try out new jokes, the Club hunts for new talent, and the audiences are in stitches.  Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, tickets $7 in Frist or at the door; Class of 1970 Theater in Whitman College.

  • …speaking of high hilarity, the Princeton South Asian Theatrics’ play Bombay Confidential is sure to be a fun-filled night.  One weekend only in the Wilson Black Box, so get tickets before they’re gone! $7 at Frist or at the Door.
  • "Amulets," a senior thesis art show from Visual Arts Certificate student Ruthie Nachmany '12, opens this Thursday at the Lewis Center for the Arts. 185 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ

    "Amulets," a senior thesis art show from Visual Arts Certificate student Ruthie Nachmany '12, opens this Thursday at the Lewis Center for the Arts. 185 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ

    Still feel entirely wrapped up in the admissions process?  Admissions: An Original Musical, written by Dan Abromowitz ’13, Clayton Raithel ’12, & Nora Sullivan ’12, and directed by J.T. Glaze ’13, is a perfect fit: its depiction of the high-jinks and heartbreaks of senior year is completely irresistible.  It also represents a collaboration between artists from three major theater groups on campus: Dan, Clayton, and Nora have all been writers for the Princeton Triangle Club, and the play is co-produced by Theatre Intime, Princeton’s oldest entirely student-led theater group, and the Princeton University Players, the campus’s musical theater company.  Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, this weekend and next; tickets $8, student events eligible.  Voucher accessible for pre-frosh; buy your tickets ahead of time in Frist!

  • Curious about getting a certificate in theater?  Pippin, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts in the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center, is a senior thesis production for senior Adam Hyndman, who plays Pippin and the Lead Player. It’s an incredible production, with top-notch performances and a professional director and designers. Thursday-Saturday at 8pm; tickets $10 for students, $15 for adults.  Tickets in Frist or at the Berlind Box Office.
  • "Pippin," a senior thesis project at the Berlind Theater.

    "Pippin," a senior thesis project at the Berlind Theater.

    Want to learn more about the arts on campus? The Lewis Center for the Arts, which houses the Programs in Creative Writing, Dance, and Theater, will be holding an open house for prefrosh from 12:30-1:30 on Thursday at 185 Nassau Street.  Learn from students about how they’ve integrated the arts into their undergrad careers!

  • Still around at 6pm on Saturday? Don’t miss an outdoor performance by They Might Be Giants in the courtyard by the Princeton Public Library–a great chance to see an even greater band for free!  For prospective students, it’s a great way to see how townies and undergrads join forces; for current students, it’s an unmissable study break.  Sponsored by the Princeton Record Exchange, the town’s out-of-this-world wonderful record store; with its walls and walls of dirt cheap used CDs, it’s a music nerd’s idea of heaven.
  • Speaking of those music nerds, there are two great events on the docket on Sunday.  First up is Driving Music, Kevin Laskey ’12′s senior thesis concert for the Department of Music.  Three student ensembles will perform Laskey’s original compositions, which run the gamut from classical to jazz: it’s a prime example of the exciting opportunities available at Princeton for talented up-and-coming artists.  Sunday at 1:30pm in the Rocky Common Room; free.
  • Next up is the Princeton University Glee Club’s spring concert on Sunday at 3pm, featuring performances of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” and “Five Mystical Songs,” and Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem.  One day only; it’s sure to be a beautiful event.  Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall; tickets $5 for students, events eligible.
Apr 19, 2012

Weekend Arts Roundup: Prefrosh Edition!

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Hey Prefrosh,

As you visit campus this weekend and next, we know you’re going to be impressed (and overwhelmed) by all the things they tell you in info sessions, by the theater, dance, a capella, and comedy groups you see perform, and by the general neatness and tidiness of your hosts’ rooms (maybe not).

But when you’re walking around campus, you’ll probably either be looking at your map or trying to figure out how to stuff your lanyard away so it’s not obvious you’re  a prefrosh. Here’s my suggestion: look up. Try to find these gargoyles (and other building ornaments). There are some pretty good (and strange) ones around campus, and lots of people pass them by because they just don’t look up. Let us know which ones you find!

These four are all on the same building--should be easy to spot

These four are all on the same building--should be easy to spot

Princeton loves sports--or at least its architects do

Princeton loves sports--or at least its architects do

Animals, and animals with cameras

Animals, and animals with cameras

Aliens? Tongues sticking out?

Aliens? Tongues sticking out?

Totally random

Totally random

Wright Brothers get a little help from the wind

Wright Brothers get a little help from the wind

Apr 18, 2012

Hide and Seek with Princeton Gargoyles

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Spotted Friday afternoon: Princeton male students sporting blazers and khaki shorts while their female counterparts were clad in preppy sundresses. They were playing croquet near Dillon gym on the lawn outside some dorm rooms. And blasting classical music. While drinking. Another one of your What in the world?! musings of the day. It’s not Lawnparties yet, guys.

Cricket

Evidently this “polo and top-sider” prefrosh won’t feel out of place then. Here come the College Confidential posts…

Apr 15, 2012

Preppy Princeton?

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Below is an example of the thesis-induced clutter that has been littering the Edwards basement for at least a couple months. DSCN9910I count more than forty books stacked every which way (some opened), plus a candy wrapper, an empty cup of Small World coffee, an empty Snapple jar, lots of loose sheets of paper, a tube of lotion hidden behind the computer (not visible in this picture), plus a very, very dirty computer screen (see all the fingerprints?).

This particular carrel has looked like this (though the number of books may have decreased) since the beginning of second semester–and maybe even since first semester finals.

That’s more than nine weeks!

Finally, it seems, the clutter is getting on someone’s nerves–and not just the nerves of those who live in Edwards and have been banished from their building’s cluster:

An email sent by the College Administrator of Mathey, Patricia Byrne, and forwarded to Edwards residents

An email sent by Mathey College Administrator Patricia Byrne, and forwarded to Edwards residents

Apr 12, 2012

Cluster Clutter

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Last night was vegetarian night at Forbes College and smiling faces abounded. I sort of felt like a Brown student, which is a rare feeling to have on this campus. I saw a couple of pairs of Birkenstocks and plenty of OA shirts, and light poured in from the golf course on a sun-kissed hummus bar. I talked to a couple of bros who were like “bro, I never knew about this. You go to this often? Let’s go next time,” also to one member of an unnamed co-op on campus who said something of the form “bro, this sucks, are you kidding…” An astute bypasser  noted the large gender disparity in the room and per capita attractiveness of the primarily female population (full disclosure: said friend was more a crunchy-granola type himself).

Apr 12, 2012

Forbes Vegetarian Night: Meet Hot Chicks

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One week later, and still no answers. The rubber duck art installation entered a new phase of development today, when ‘duck depositors’ convened in Frist MPR B at 5:30 pm as per instructions.

And what did they see?

Initially, a dark room, with glow sticks covered by a mass of yellow and orange plastic. The lights were turned on, and a few unidentified students went to work. [They provided no details when prompted. Code of silence, perhaps?] They hooked up a tube into the plastic and began pumping air into it. Soon, the mass morphed into…a giant, yellow duck.

DUCK pic

Some 20 students stood around, watching the action. They began discussing hypotheses:

“I heard this is for some visual arts class, about art in public spaces.”

“Do you think this is a psych experiment? Maybe there are hidden cameras.” Eyes furtively dart around.

“See, this whole thing is a metaphor. ‘Everything will become clear.’ Well, the plastic is kind of transparent, and the glow sticks light up. So it’s really all about ‘seeing the light’ today.”

Shrugs. “I don’t know, we’re just going to sit here and wait for things to happen…how long? Well, until 7 pm. That’s when the sign outside says this will be over.”

Continue reading…

Apr 12, 2012

Mysterious rubber ducks, revisited

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If this is your life-size inflatable basketball player, you should know that you successfully terrified me last night when I walked past your room. Congratulations.

Also, one of your co-Spelman dwellers has a life-size cutout of Justin Bieber. ‘Nuff said.

0411121601a

Apr 11, 2012

Dear Spelman Resident

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Filed under the header “Social Questions” on the endless source of high school angst known as College Confidential, one prospective member of the class of 2016 is dying to understand the complex social fabric and intersectional identities at Princeton. Sorry, what I meant to say was this:

cc pton prefrosh1

Yes, I believe he identified himself as of the “polo and top siders” clan. (To his credit, he seems to have done his research on “feeder” groups.)

So what we’ve got here just to recap is: a preppy, “Ivy-oriented” prefrosh who wants to either sail or row crew. Oh, and he’s trying to decide between ECO and ORFE.

But perhaps the best part is this forum member’s response:

cc response ivy

What can we say? It takes a lot of mental faculties, J. Crew ensembles, and blue blood to get schwasted. F. Scotty would know (even though he was in Cottage).

Apr 10, 2012

College Confidential: One Prefrosh’s Burning Questions

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Last week, we showed you pictures of admissions officers doling out the fate of thousands of high schoolers. But the admissions officers can’t rest just yet. Now, they’re busy getting ready for the arrival of the new Princeton young’uns at Preview in two weeks. Friday afternoon, they were spotted filming students in Forbes for their admissions video. And, well, it seems that they were desperate for student participants:

Admissions Vid

So much so that they came over to my table at lunch to beg us to be in their video. After the admissions officer introduced himself—“Have I bothered you guys yet? No? Okay, good”—he asked if we would move to the lobby to be filmed. When we all hesitated, he quickly responded with a, “Well, without my boss, Janet Rapelye, you guys wouldn’t be here.” True story. But did he just guilt-trip us? I think he did.

So, fair warning, you might find a camera in your face in the next few days. But, hey, it’s for a good cause:

Apr 8, 2012

The Prefrosh Are Coming! The Prefrosh Are Coming!

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DANIEL GASTFRIEND ’13, PRINCETON’S ONLY TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP WINNER THIS YEAR, ASPIRES TO PUT AN END TO POVERTY, BUT HE’D SETTLE FOR LOTS OF MASSAGES. HE ALMOST GOT EATEN BY A LARGE MAMMAL LAST SUMMER, AND LEARNED EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO KNOW IN KIDDIE LIT.Daniel Blog

Name: Daniel Gastfriend

Age: 22

Major: Woodrow Wilson School

Hometown: Newton, MA

Eating Club/Res College/Affiliation: Tower (Forbes)

What was your immediate response upon finding out you had won the Truman Scholarship?

I was pretty surprised—definitely not expecting it. The first thing I did was call my mom.

Who’s your favorite Princetonian, living or dead, real of fictional?

Charlotte Weisberg ’13!

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

I would end poverty. Or I would make everyone be my personal masseuse.

What’s the best meal you ever had at Princeton?

Pizza. No, I’m serious. It’s pizza.

In one sentence, what is it you actually do all day?

Answer press club questionnaires.

What is your greatest guilty pleasure?

I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you.

How are you planning to use your Truman Scholarship?

I’m planning on going into social entrepreneurship with a focus on income generation for the extreme poor in Sub-Saharan Africa. I might also be interested in pursuing international development policy work later in my career. So I’m thinking about getting a dual MBA/MPP, but I have some time to decide.

Continue reading…

Apr 6, 2012

21 Questions With…Daniel Gastfriend ’13

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File this under your ‘What in the world?!’ musings of the day:

A curious installation piece has popped up on campus, just north of Frist. It looks like the kind of donation boxes set at the front of restaurants or stores, but instead of asking for ‘dolla dolla bills, ya’ll,’ the box was lined with…rubber duckies. How the iconic bath toys made their way into the container is no mystery; propped atop a glass case are the instructions:

1. Drop duck

2. Take card.

What is a mystery, though, involves larger, thornier questions: Where did the installation come from? Who put the box there? What is it for? And what can we expect, come April 11 (see below)?

Musings, answers, potential hypotheses welcomed  in the comments section. Take a stab, and perhaps you can relieve this reporter from the agony of not-knowing.

IMG_0097

Continue reading…

Apr 4, 2012

Wanted: Rubber Ducks

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