vol. 11 no. 14

12.04-12.10meet the team

contents

Essentials:Listen 4Play 12Discover 19Look 20

Metal:8 - Bodies hit the floor at Drowning Pool’s performance at the Stafford, along with special guests Hindsight,Signal Rising, and Wellborn Road.

Country:7 - Stoney LaRue returns to Harry’s and he’s bring a lot of red dirt with him. Special guest Zane Williams will open.

Holidays:6 - ‘Tis the season, as they say. We’ve got a number of fun holiday events inside--from a Grinch look-alike contest to 5k runs and concerts.

Cover:

5 First Friday is always fun, but it’s even more fun when the entire town is decked in holiday lights and decorations.

PUBLISHERChris Shepperd

BUSINESS MANAGERLeisha Shepperd

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFChris Zebo

ASSISTANT EDITORCheyenne Mueller

PHOTOGRAPHERAsad Panjwani

STAFF WRITERSDrew Knight

Katie LeaJoshua Russell

MARKETING INTERNSCody CarlsenValeria Cenoz

Daniella DelgadoCecilia Garcia

Rachel PickeringConnie Song

WRITING INTERNSEunice De Luna

Kate Williams

DISTRIBUTIONCody Atkinson

Lindsay CoxRandy Shepperd

Maroon Weekly is an independent, publication and is not affiliated with

Texas A&M University. Maroon Weekly receives no student fees or university

funding.

Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views

and opinions of the editor, publisher or the newspaper staff. Maroon Weekly

is not liable for omissions, misprints or typographical errors. No part of this

publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher.

© Copyright 2014 Campus Press LP

pg 4 • MAROON WEEKLY • Dec. 3, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

Album:Listen

Album:Hood Billionaire

EP:Boy Who CriedThunder

EP:Vultures

Recommended Tracks:ListenDangerous

Release Date:Nov. 24, 2014

Release Date:Nov 24, 2014



David Guetta

Brad Paisley Brad Paisley Brad PaisleyRick Ross Daniel Wilson Vaults

French DJ David Guetta, known for his dance club anthems, dropped his latest album, Listen, on Monday, November 24.

Guetta began his career DJing at local nightclubs in Paris during the 80s and 90s. After years of being an underground superstar, his fourth album, One Love, propelled him to stardom. The album had several hit singles, such as “Memories” featuring Kid Cudi and “Getting’ Over You” featuring Chris Willis, Fergie and LMFAO.

Listen is 14 songs that stay true to Guetta’s hypnotic dance beats. But the album is more than that; it is about heartache and new beginnings. After 22 years of marriage, Guetta and his wife divorced, which both devastated him and also inspiried. There are a few slow ballads, such as “Listen”, which showcases John Legend’s R&B voice. But dance fans, don’t worry: amid the heartbreak, David Guetta is still David Guetta. “Dangerous” features Sam Martin and is the fifth single off the album. The song starts off slow, with a techno beat and a deep bass line in the background, a beat that sounds straight off a Tron soundtrack.

Listen is definitely a new take on EDM, but is still worth the listen, the album is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.

American rapper Rick Ross released his seventh studio album, Hood Billionaire, on November 24.

In March 2014, he released Mastermind, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album received positive reviews and was an extremely huge success. So much so that Ross decided to drop another release.

Hood Billionaire has 16 songs and is your typical mainstream hip-hop album, unfortunately. Each song is cheap and unoriginal, with gratuitous cursing and weak lyricism. Although the album is receiving rave, let’s be real: it’s hard to find rap music that’s innovative, intelligent, or even relevant anymore. It’s not completely awful; the beats are fairly original and push the boundaries. Other than that...just...another poor rap album.

With soul-drenched vocals layered over poppy, synth melodies, Wilson hits all the high notes and takes listeners on quite an aural journey on Boy Who Cried Thunder. He jukes left and right on his new EP, and fans of Gnarles Barkley and Bruno Mars will find songs like “Killed Ya” and “Heartbreaker” to be in the same vein, albeit sung in Wilson’s signature, silky timbre. Thunder progresses from upbeat to sultry, and Wilson—known for becoming “SoundCloud famous” in the past couple years—is now breaking out. When discussing Thunder’s theme, the musician noted his inspiration came from bad love and heartbreak.“It’s about one relationship I had last year, and the words mean a lot to me, even though they might come off as simple.” His easy pop delivery underscores some tumultuous drama; but that certainly doesn’t diminish the gravity of this powerful release.

Classy and seductive, Vaults is unconventional, beautiful—a group that incorporates synthesizers with arresting, powerful lyrics.

The Scandinavian band’s lead singer will remind listeners of Lana Del Rey and Lauren Aquilina. Fans of BANKS and Imogen Heap will also appreciate her vocal delivery, glissades over piano and violin, which dutifully compliment her somber sound while keeping the music’s tempo at just the right speed.

The group’s music strips feeling down to its bare substance, and with only four songs on Vaults’ latest EP, the band proves to be more about quality over quantity. “Poison” and “Vultures” shine the brightest, but each track is equally intimate and disarming.

By Eunice De Luna By Kate Williams By Kate Williams

By Eunice De Luna

Music Reviews

maroonweekly.com • Dec. 3, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 5

Checkus out:

Facebookfacebook.com/maroonweekly

Twitter@maroonweekly

Check us out on

Instagram@maroonweekly

The first Friday of every month has a special meaning to the BCS community. Citizens love to let their hair down and gather in historic downtown Bryan to appreciate the arts and culture College Station’s sister city has to offer. This month’s First Friday will be even more special, with all of Downtown decked in holiday lights and decorations.

If it’s your first time at FF, opportunities for fun are plentiful, including many restaurants and food trucks, packed bars with drink specials, live music on the streets and inside venues, shopping in numerous boutiques, and even a free movie in Gloria Sale Park at dusk.

Stop by Casa Rodriguez for some authentic Mexican food, or if you’re craving pasta, there’s always Caffe Capri. Downtown also has a great Bavarian restaurant (Brauhaus) and a localvore cafe (The Village).

Downtown’s bustling with boutiques. If you’re looking for something inexpensive, there’s Alice’s Attic thrift store; if you’re looking for something trendy, Haute Couture might be more your speed.

Live music is one of the main attractions at First Friday. Grand Stafford Theater has established quite a name for themselves as a music venue, and Revolution Café, Murphy’s Law, and the Village Cafe all offer live music, as well.

WHAT: FIRST FRIDAY

WHERE: DOWNTOWN BRYAN

WHEN: DEC. 5

thescoop

First Friday in Downtown BryanBy Cody Carlsen


CREATE SOME NOISE.

find our current media kit at www.maroonweekly.com/advertise for current rates and schedules contact one of our friendly ad reps

at [email protected]

Advertise with Maroon Weekly

Want access to more than 150k people each week and have them talking about

your business? We can do that.

Christmas Events at Wolf Pen Creek By Daniella Delgado

Christmas at the Creek On December 5th and 6th from 6-10pm, Wolf Pen Creek Park will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland. There will be an ice skating rink, a live nativity, hayrides, dance performances, inflatables, a petting zoo, live entertainment, and photos with Santa. There will also be a holiday vendor village set up to get holiday shopping started. A variety of vendors will be selling candles, arts, crafts, and jewelry to snag gifts for everyone on your list. The event is free to the public and is appropriate for all ages.

Santa Look-Alike-Contest & Movie: Arthur Christmas On December 5 at 7:30pm, snuggle up with some hot chocolate and enjoy Arthur Christmas at Movies in the Park. Guests have the option of bringing a cooler filled with their favorite snacks and refreshments. There will also be a Santa-Look-Alike contest, so come out to the park dressed as Saint Nick for this free event the whole family can enjoy.

Grinch Look-Alike-Contest & Movie: How the Grinch Stole ChristmasOn December 6th at 7:30pm, Wolf Pen Creek will be screening How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Movies in the Park. Feel free to bring your own cooler filled with beverages and snacks. There will also be concession stands on sight to purchase food to enjoy while getting into the Christmas spirit. And don’t forget about the Grinch Look-Alike-Contest!

The movie is free and open to the public.

WHAT: CHRISTMAS AT THE CREEK

WHERE: WOLF PEN CREEK AMPHITEATER

WHEN: DEC 5 & 6

thescoop

maroonweekly.com • Dec. 3, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 7dance music theatre visual art

I t ’s Time For Texas A&M

It’s Time For

For more information, call [email protected] v academyarts.tamu.eduw w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / AV PA a t TA M U

All Performances & Lectures: 7 PMAll performances held in Rudder Theatre, except The

Intergalactic Nemesis in Rudder Auditorium. Lectures held in Geren Auditorium.

Performances: Students $5, General Admission $10Lectures: Free to all attendees.

(schedule subject to change)

The Ac

ademy

for the

Visual

& Perfo

rming

Arts Spring 2015 Events

January 29, 2015Actors From The London Stage

February 12, 2015Black Violin

February 26, 2015Ragamala Dance

presents Sacred EarthMarch 26, 2015

The Intergalactic NemesisApril 9, 2015

Koresh Dancepresents Come Together

April 16, 2015The Neuland Artist Lecture

Tickets may be purchased at the MSC Box Office (http://boxoffice.tamu.edu/ or 979,845,1234).

More information about performances, lectures and tickets is available at

http://academyarts.tamu.edu.

Stoney LaRue at

HURRICANE HARRY’SBy Eunice De Luna

The Texas native turned Oklahoma resident brings his “red dirt” Texas country to Harry’s with special guest Zane Williams, Friday, December 5.

LaRue was born in Taft, Texas but was raised in Southeastern Oklahoma, where he began playing country music at a young age. In 2002, LaRue lead the Organic Boogie Band and released and album called Downtown. The follow up to that album, The Red Dirt Album, debuted in the Billboard charts. LaRue dropped his fifth album, Aviator, on October 28.

Special guest Zane Williams is a country singer from Abilene best known for his hit single “Hurry Home”. Williams has had a successful career, touring all over the US, especially Missouri, Alabama and Texas. His recent album, Overnight Success was featured on CMT and GAC. The Nashville Network also featured his video for “Overnight Success” as one of their Top 10 Rising Stars.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online and at Southern Jewlz, Cavendar’s, and Aggieland Outfitters on University. Doors open at 9pm.

WHAT: STONEY LARUE

WHERE: HURRICANE HARRY’S

WHEN: DEC. 5 @ 9PM

thescoop


Heavy metal band Drowning Pool is coming to College Station with special guests Hindsight, Signal Rising, and Wellborn Road. They’ll be performing at the Grand Stafford Theater on Sunday, December 7.

When people think of Drowning Pool, they automatically sing “Bodies” in their heads. The band formed in Dallas in 1996 and named themselves after a 1975 film of the same name. The band consists of guitarist C.J. Pierce, bassist Stevie Benton, drummer Mike Luce, and Jasen Moreno as the groups new lead vocalist.

Since “Bodies”, the band has experienced several successful singles. “37 Stitches”, a single off their third album, reached #4 on the Active Rock charts. “Feel Like I Do”, off their fourth studio album, became the band’s biggest hit, reaching #2 and staying there for 12 weeks.

Hindsight is a five piece melodic hardcore band from Australia. They released their first EP, Love Alone Split 2014, this past year. Signal Rising is a rock band out of College Station. They’ve blown up in the past three years and have shared the stage with Ten Years, Flyleaf and Static-X. Their album, Novo, was released in 2012 and is available for purchase online via their website and iTunes. Wellborn Road was born in 2005 in College Station. The 5-piece band plays the Texas circuit regularly. They are currently working on their sophomore album, Pain-Hate-Redemption, to be released in 2014.

Doors open at 7pm, tickets are $18 and can be purchased at grandstaffordtheater.com.

WHAT: DROWNING POOL

WHERE: GRAND STAFFORD THEATER

WHEN: DEC. 7 @ 7PM

thescoop

Drowning Pool @ Grand StaffordBy Eunice De Luna

Police searching for alleged Santa imposter who robbed Australian post officeOAK PARK, Australia – The search is on for a naughty Santa who reportedly robbed an Australian post office, police say.

According to reports, the suspect was wearing a Santa suit and was armed only with his Santa suit, a bushy, white beard, and a red sack, with which he

stuffed cash from a woman working at the store in Oak Park, a suburb of Melbourne.

Footage from CCTV also shows the man jumping onto the counter and scooping

cash into the sack himself. He reportedly got away from the scene in a cream-colored Compass Jeep with an allegedly false license plate.

No reports of weapons or injuries were reported in the incident.

Authorities said employees of the post office originally thought he was

there to give them candy.

“They initially thought that he was going to give them lollies,” Det. Bryan

Strangham said. “And they got quite shaken when they realized it was a

robbery.”

READING, Pennsylvania – This Pennsylvania town could use a little advice from Charlie Brown: Their complaints are getting a Christmas tree kicked to the curb.

After complaints that its ugliness was ruining their holiday spirit, a spindly, 50-foot spruce tree is getting tossed aside for a new, picture-perfect version.

Led by Reading’s city council president, a group is raising money to purchase and decorate a more impressive tree, as opposed to the current one, which is topped with a lighted pretzel, a nod toward the area’s numerous bakers. Officials are hoping for a do-over tree lighting with the replacement.

The city was stuck with the less-than-desired tree after the farm where the city had planned to get its tree wouldn’t allow crews to drive on the wet ground when they went to pick it out. They reaped the unsightly spruce at a city park.

LONDON – In a well-thought-out scheme to get their stunt photographed and tacked to the wall of Tayyabs--a popular English restaurant in east London--a group of friends sent a tandoori lamb chop into orbit via a helium weather balloon.

Attached with a GoPro camera and GPS tracker in June, the chop went missing in action shortly after launch due to freezing temperatures in the earth’s atmosphere. They thought they had lost all hopes of seeing the footage – and also their hopes of getting onto the wall of fame.

Months later, a farmer who found the camera in Dorset, 82 miles from the launch site, contacted the group. Four months later, they got the camera back, along with 100 minutes of footage of the chop’s 18-mile high space journey.

A photograph of the adventure now hangs on the wall at Tayyabs.

‘Ugly’ Christmas tree kicked to the curb after numerous public complaints

Video shows spicy lamb chop sent into orbit by weather balloon

maroonweekly.com • Dec. 3, 2014 •MAROON WEEKLY • pg 9

The Texas Sea Grant project is a unique partnership uniting resources from the federal government, the State of Texas, and universities across the state. Headquartered at Texas A&M, it was established under the National Sea Grant College Act of 1966 and has been providing funding for marine and coastal education, outreach, and research ever since.

Currently, the Texas Sea Grant has set its sights on saving sea turtles from getting caught in commercial shrimping nets. A key component of this plan involves the use of TEDs, or turtle excluder devices (and no, we are not making this up). With

funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), Texas Sea Grant has begun a pilot program which will aid in the proper installation and operation of TEDs by shrimpers. The program will also provide certification to the vessels that properly utilize the turtle-saving devices, which will in turn allow consumers to know when they’re purchasing “turtle-safe” shrimp for their dinner tables.

Texas Sea Grant has been working with the shrimping industry for over 20 years and they think the relationship will aid in the implementation of the project. According to Dr. Pamela Plotkin, the Director of Texas

Sea Grant, since they are not a regulatory agency, people in the industry trust them. She believes “that trust is important to being able to help the industry remain in compliance.” The program benefits shrimp fishermen, consumers, and sea turtles, so we’ll have to agree with Dr. Plotkin on this one. “It’s a win, win, win for everyone.”

By Katie Lea

Saving Sea Turtles

WHAT: DROWNING POOL

WHERE: GRAND STAFFORD THEATER

WHEN: DEC. 7 @ 7PM


WHAT: MICKY & THE MOTORCARS

WHERE: THE TAP

WHEN: DEC. 6 @ 7PM

thescoop

Micky & The Motorcars is an alt country band originally from Stanley, Idaho whose members now reside in Austin. Coming from a musical family, Micky and Gary Braun, the group’s two lead vocalists, have been surrounded by great music their entire lives. Releasing a total of four studio albums and one live album, the six-piece have had several top 10 singles on the Texas Music Chart, they spent an extraordinary seven months on the Americana Chart, and have had the opportunity to tour the US, Europe, and Canada.

They’ll be playing the Tap December 6 with Jason Eady opening. Tickets are available at the door.

Micky & the Motorcars @ The TapBy Cecilia Garcia


WeeKLY // PIcKsWEEK OF DECEMBER 4 - DECEMBER 10, 2014 FIND MORE AT: WWW.MAROONWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS

FRIDAYSTONEY LARUE

SUNDAYDROWNING POOL

TUESDAYBREAKAWAY

Stoney LaRue is back in BCS as he takes the stage at Hurricane Harry’s.

Platinum-selling Texas Quartet makes their way to Bryan TX. with new front-man Jasen Moreno

Connect with 7,000 of your closest friends in Reed Arena for Breakaway.

THURSDAY 12/4CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGThe lighting of the George Bush Presidential Library Center’s Community Christmas Tree will be taking place at the George Bush Library. Modeled after the tree lighting ceremony that takes place annually on the White House grounds, the ceremony will include musical entertainment, a celebrity guest tree lighter and a public reception. GEORGE BUSH PRESEDENTIAL LIBRARY TAMU Campus, Dec. 4, 2014 7:00 PM FREE

PENNY AND SPARROWPenny and Sparrow are Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke, from Austin. Previously roommates, the duo makes music influenced by The Swell Season, Bon Iver, Mumford and Sons,

and others. Joseph is a band of three sisters from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are available online. GRAND STAFFORD THEATER 106 S. Main, Bryan, Dec. 4, 2014 8:00 PM $10

FRIDAY 12/5STONEY LARUETexas Country/Red Dirt music artist, Stoney Larue, will be coming to the stage to showcase his hits. Opening the show will be musical guest, Zane Williams. HURRICANE HARRY’S 313 College Ave. College Station, Dec. 5, 2014 9:00 PM $15

THE 5 BROWNSMSC OPAS is hosting The 5 Browns, a piano quintet comprised of siblings Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra, and Desirae Brown. The

siblings are Julliard graduates and were #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Classical Album Chart. They will be performing their favorite holiday classics for everyone to enjoy. RUDDER THEATRE TAMU Campus, Dec. 5, 2014 7:30 PM $30-50

CHRISTMAS AT THE CREEKActivities include: a live nativity, ice skating rink, hayrides, dance performances, inflatable’s, petting zoo, live entertainment, photos with Santa at the Arts Council of Brazos Valley and much more. A holiday vendor village will be in the festival site with a variety of vendors selling arts, crafts, jewelry, candles and more. WOLF PEN CREEK College Station, Dec. 5&6, 2014

SATURDAY 12/6TACKY SWEATER It’s that time of year again—time to bust out that ugly Christmas sweater from the back of your closet. Messina Hof will be hosting a tacky Christmas sweater contest Saturday, December 6 from 1-4 pm. Wine club members must be registered by 2:30pm and judging will begin at 3:00 pm. Whether it be old, new, light-up, or bejeweled, nothing is too tacky for the occasion. MESSINA HOF 4545 Old Reliance, Bryan, Dec. 6, 2014 1:00 PM FREE

SALSA SATURDAYSVoted “Best Night of Dancing” for three years, the Village Cafe’s popular Salsa Saturdays begins with a fun (and often hilarious) 30-minute “Crash Course Salsa Lesson” at 10pm. In a half hour, you learn enough to get down on the dance floor. No partner is necessary for lessons at the

Village. Girls are rotated counterclockwise every five minutes in the lesson circle, so everyone meets a ton of people to dance with throughout the night. After the lesson, the dance floor turns into a sizzling hot party until 2am. THE VILLAGE CAFÉ 210 W. 26th St. Bryan, Dec. 6, 2014 10:00 PM $5

WINTER CONCERTHardChord DynaMix will be having their Winter A Capella Concert, and will be performing favorite hits from this year. They also will be selling T-shirts at the event. RUDDER FORUM TAMU Campus, Dec. 6, 2014 5:00 PM $5

SUNDAY 12/7FUN RUNThe two-mile run starts at the corner of University Drive and South College Avenue and ends at the corner of Texas Avenue and Villa Maria. The entry fee is $15 and includes a shirt. All proceeds will benefit the United Way of the Brazos Valley. COLLEGE STATION Dec. 7, 2014 1:15 PM $15-20

WEDNESDAY 12/10SALSA WEDNESDAYSThree-time Best of BCS winner for Best Dancing, Salsa Wednesdays begins with a 1.5 hour professional salsa lesson for beginners, no partner necessary. Lessons are from 8-9:30pm and are followed by social dancing til midnight. $8 for lesson and dancing, $5 for dancing if you arrive at 9:30pm. VILLAGE CAFÉ 210 W. 26th St, Bryan Dec. 10, 2014 8:00 PM $8

THE 5 BROWNS


December 4 at 8 pmPenny and SparrowConsisting of former UT roommates Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke, this singer-songwriter duo began with humble beginnings recording out of their Austin apartment. With three albums under their belt, Penny and Sparrow has garnered a reputation of blending sincere lyrics and haunting melodies in every song.

JosephA band of three sisters inspired by their grandfather, Joseph, Joseph invites you to enjoy their storytelling lyrics and perfected harmonies. They want you to find yourself in them and be a part of their kinship, togetherness and belonging.

December 5 at 8 pmFree First Friday Concert featuring:KP and The Boom BoomThis Austin-based band has recently been stirring up buzz with their colorful, high-energy performances. Fronted by sparkling Kate Priestly, the band performs with a grab bag of instruments: guitar, bass, drums, horns, vibraphone, timbales, bongos, congas and more. The Boom Boom will have you moving your feet.

Hazy RayHazy Ray is an amalgamation of sights and sounds blended together distinctively. They pull from influences like Dave Matthews, Radiohead and Maroon 5 to create a sound that’s, “at the core, true rhythm & blues.”

Daniel GonzalesDaniel Gonzales is a local singer-songwriter from Dallas currently creating his craft in College Station. He will be performing with his full band this night. Check Maroon Weekly’s Live @ Maroon Weekly YouTube channel for a preview of this talented frontman.

December 6 at 8 pmSt. Paul & The Broken BonesSt. Paul & The Broken Bones deliver the promises of a great band: elemental rhythm, tight-as-a-drumhead playing, and a profound depth of feeling. “I’m going to be dancing, getting in the aisles, climbing on tables,” frontman Paul Janeway says. “When I get on stage, it’s, ‘Alright, it’s time to pour it on.” If you’re a fan of the Alabama Shakes, this is not a show to be missed.

Somebody’s DarlingAn inventive rock band from Dallas, Somebody’s Darling are rising stars across Texas. With unrefined yet tender vocals that command attention, the group has gained comparisons to a Bonnie Raitt, My Morning Jacket, Wilco and the Black Keys.

December 7 at 8 pmDrowning PoolAs a platinum-selling Texas quartet, Drowning Pool continues to roll forward fearlessly in their most focused, fiercest chapter yet. As they welcome new singer Jasen Moreno to the band, have no fear: their patented arena-rocking, head-banging, slam-dancing energy is still very much intact.

Grand Stafford Weekend LineupBy Drew Knight

Christmas Fun Runs


By Daniella Delgado

WHAT: ST. NICK FUN RUN/JINGLE BELL FUN RUN

WHERE: ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL/UNIVERSITY DRIVE

WHEN: DEC. 6 @ 8AM / DEC. 7 @ 1:15PM

thescoop

1501 University Dr. East #100 • 979-691-0677Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 10a.m. to 6p.m.

(Starbucks Center across from Home Depot)In Store FInancIng avaIlable

Round Diamonds0.70ct retail $3,150 sale $2,350

0.79ct retail $3,950 sale $2,499

0.90ct retail $6,500 sale $4,899

1.01ct retail $5,959 sale $4,025

1.20ct retail $9,900 sale $6,699

1.50ct retail $15,900 sale $10,750

2.05ct retail $26,700 sale $18,099

Princess Diamonds0.51ct retail $1,400 sale $899

1.00ct retail $4,000 sale $2,499

Oval Diamond1.03ct retail $4,000 sale $2,799

Cushion Diamond1.03ct retail $5,665 sale $3,900

Sparklingloose Diamond sale

What better way to show your holiday spirit than participating in fun runs that benefit good causes.

The St. Nick Fun Run at St. Thomas Episcopal ChurchThe St. Thomas Early Learning Center will be kicking off its 3rd Annual St. Nick Fun Run on December 6. The run is a 5K and a 10K run benefiting the St. Thomas Early Learning Center. Admission ranges from $25 for the 5K and $35 for the 10K run. All proceeds will go towards tuition assistance. With a ticket comes a t-shirt, goodie bag, and food and drinks for runners. The fun run will start at 8am at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church and make its way through the historic district of College Station. Runners of all ages are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Jingle Bell Fun Run at University DriveIt’s time for the 25th Annual Jingle Bell Fun Run to get underway. On December 7, the two-mile run will start at 1:15pm on the corner of University Drive and South College Avenue and go all the way to the corner of Texas Avenue and Villa Maria. Following the run, there will be the Bryan/College Station Christmas parade. Admission to the run is $20 and dogs are welcome to join the fun, too.

ALLY WHITE

At my house

PAUL WEBB

The SCC

JAKE ALLEN

2nd floor SCC; it’s like my second home

CODY GARCIA

Lupa’s Coffee on Texas

JACY MOODY

Starbucks on Rock Prarie

Finals are coming. Where’s your favorite place to study?


WHAT: HOLIDAY SPIRIT OF AGGIELAND

WHERE: BRYAN CIVIC CENTER

WHEN: DEC. 7 @ 3PM

thescoop

Every year, the Texas A&M University Choral Activities put on a holiday concert, “Holiday Spirit of Aggieland”, where three choral groups from TAMU--The Women’s Chorus, Century Singers, and the Singing Cadets--gather together to perform musical selections that vary from favorite holiday songs to traditional carols. The program will end with a combined performance of the Hallelujah Chorus by Messiah. (Yes, it’s that same chorus you hear in your head whenever you pass a test you didn’t study for.)

The three choirs have made quite a reputation at Texas A&M, and are the only groups asked to perform at Muster every year. The Women’s Chorus is a female choir that was founded in 1979, and they are widely known for their singing grams for birthdays and Valentine’s Day. They’ve also traveled around the state, country, and even internationally, performing pieces by Whitacre and Mendelsson to pop songs from artists such as Adele and Taylor Swift.

Founded in 1971, the Century Singers was the first choral ensemble at A&M to allow both male and female members. Over the past few decades, they’ve become known for their variety of musical repertoire, performing classical choir pieces to show tunes and popular songs.

Lastly, the Singing Cadets, alternately known as the “Voice of Aggieland”, are a premier, all-male choir. Beginning in 1893 as an all-male glee choir, the group has achieved national acclaim, performing for more people than any other collegiate choir every year.

The organizations have been practicing hard and have even performed snippets of their program for our segment “Live at Maroon Weekly.” You can attend the event, which takes place at the Bryan Civic Center on December 7 at 3pm, by purchasing tickets ($5) online at the MSC box office.

The Holiday Spirit of AggielandBy Connie Song


AGGIELANDSCOOTS.COM979-446-0900

MARCH 22

GRAND OPENING

140 MPG

979-446-0900aggielandscoots.com

2048 Texas Ave S.College Station

$44A YEAR*

TAMu

MARCH 22

GRAND OPENING

140 MPG



$44A YEAR*

TAMu

MARCH 22

GRAND OPENING

140 MPG



$44A YEAR*

TAMu

2048 TEXAS AVE S. COLLEGE STATION

ride. save. smile. repeat.

FUEL COST COMPARISON*Scooter $13

Car $118

Truck/SUV $171*with avg. of 500 miles driven per month

Whether you need a scooter for a day, week, month, year, or forever Scoots has you covered!

Day

1 Month

Week

Rent-to-own

Home Game Day

3 Months

Weekend

2 Months

Home Game Weekend

4 Months

daily

monthly monthly monthly

one time

monthly

daily

monthly

one time one time

$2999

$17999

$11999

$14499

$8499

$14999

$7499

$16999

$14999

$13999

BUY OR RENTFINANCING AVAILABLE

MSC Opas Presents: The 5 BrownsBy Kate WilliamsOn December 5, The 5 Browns will be gracing the stage at Rudder Theater with their extraordinary musical talent. The 5 pianists--Ryan Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desira Brown--all attended New York’s famous Julliard School of Music and stood as the first family of five siblings ever to be accepted at the same time. They currently perform in various combinations, from duos to complex five-piano arrangements--all in synch with one another. Their dream, the group says, is to “wake up classical music.”

People magazine, Oprah, and 60 minutes gave them the attention they deserved. The group has released 6 albums that have climbed to the top of Billboard Magazine’s Classical Album Chart. The Browns have appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, the Martha Stewart Show, Entertainment Weekly, and more.

The family has also performed in numerous world-renowned venues, including the Grand National Theater in China, The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Symphony Hall in Chicago, and Alice Tully Hall in New York City.

Not only can their fingers dance across the keys, but they are also published writers who have penned a book, Life Between the Keys, a lighthearted collection of personal stories published by Phoenix Books in 2009.

The innovative quintet takes a nice new twist on classical music. Fans of Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Mozart will thoroughly enjoy them. Tickets are on sale online and at the Rudder Box Office, ranging from $30-$50.

WHAT: THE 5 BROWNS

WHERE: RUDDER THEATRE

WHEN: DEC. 5 @ 7:30PM

thescoop


GAMETIME - BY DANIELLA DELGADOGametime is the app all sports fanatics have been waiting for. Finding the perfect seats to sporting events is now at your fingertips. Spending hours of your time searching for the best seats and deals isn’t necessary anymore. Gametime examines thousands of tickets and only presents you with the best values, eliminating the extensive search process.

The app also gives you a panoramic view of the stadium from all seats, so you’re not surprised at the view when it’s game time. Purchasing your ticket is a snap with Gametime’s 2 Tap checkout process. Simply tap on the tickets you want straight from your phone and you’re all set. Easy as that! After you purchase the ticket, it’s sent straight to your phone. Say goodbye to printers, just show your phone and you’re good to go!

GIFT PROFESSOR - BY RACHEL PICKERINGTrying to find the perfect holiday gift? Download Gift Professor. The app is an advanced gift matching system that asks you a few short questions about the person you’re trying to find a gift for. After you answer the questions, you’ll receive a personalized gift list.

Thirteen different filters are applied to 700 product categories in order to match your answers for the perfect present. New gifts are added each day, so you’ll always find something new and fresh. Gift Professor will also save products that you find to personalized stores for each person. This will allow you to go to the store right on your smartphone, so you won’t have to spend hours wandering around the mall.

STICK HERO - BY CONNIE SONGStick Hero looks like an easy game, but it’s not. The object is to make a stick that is long enough to help you go from one platform to another. But if you make your stick too long or too short, your character falls and dies. However, once you become a pro at this, you can attempt to collect extra points.

For instance, there are cherries you can collect for bonus points, and if you can place your stick right in the middle of the platform, on a red line that is marked, you’ll also get extra points. This is a stupid but weirdly addictive game. So if you’re good at judging distances, you’re going to rock this. If your judgment is a little challenged, good luck getting past level one.

#APP4THATTHere’s An

COST: FREE

COST: FREE

COST: FREE

TEXAS GRAND SLAM11.07.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 23

maroonweekly.com • Dec. 3, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 19866.973.5389

Wood-Style Flooring Flat-Screens in Every Apartment Stand-Up Tanning Booth Fully-Equipped Fitness Center Basketball & Sand Volleyball Courts Individual Leases Resort-Style Pool Game/Activity Room

“Luther” to 47464 for information* *standard text messaging rates apply

Check out our upcoming SPECIALS

thedistrictonluther.com

WHAT: SONGS OF THE ANGELS

WHERE: FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

WHEN: DEC. 8 @ 7PM

thescoop

The Brazos Valley Chorale will be having their December concert, Songs of the Angels, at 7pm in the First Presbyterian Church in Bryan.

Gloria in excelsis Deo (the angels’ announcement to the shepherds), Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus (the song of the six-winged seraphim), and Magnificat (Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s visit) will all be performed by the group. Vivaldi’s Gloria, Stanford’s Magnificat in G, and Arvo Pärt’s Magnificat will also be performed.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students and can be purchased at bvchorale.org/node/139. At the door, tickets will be $20 for adults and $10 for students.

Songs of the Angels @ First Presbyterian ChurchBy Rachel Pickering


By Cheyenne Mueller

Suicide is never funny. Yet A Long Way Down looks at suicide with a comedic eye. Pierce Brosnan (or 007) plays Martin, a self-righteous former news anchor who fell from glory after sleeping with a minor (he swears she looked 21). Standing atop a building infamous for suicides, he teeters on the roof’s edge just as Maureen (Toni Collette, Little Miss Sunshine) walks out. She, too, is there to commit suicide, though her reason is that the state will be able to provide better care for her disabled son. Another jumper, Jess (Imogeen Poots, That Awkward Moment) arrives. She’s the daughter of a government official with a missing sister and a two-timing boyfriend, and she wastes no time charging for the edge.

Oddly enough, she’s stopped by Martin, and no one jumps off the building (I swear it’s not a spoiler; it would have been a very short movie if they’d plunged to death). Through sheer dumb luck, the unlikely group ends up in Martin’s car, where they soon end up in a snafu after Jess overdoses on drugs at a party (but she swears it was an accident). In the hospital, they form a pact where they will all reflect on their reasons for wanting to kick the bucket. The hodgepodge group connects and works through their demons together.

Originally a novel by Nick Hornby (the same guy who wrote About a Boy), A Long Way Down takes on some serious material and peppers it with humor. The film has a stellar group of talent portraying wildly different characters, each with their own, unique baggage. There are a number of heart-warming scenes, especially between Maureen and her son, and each character (including Martin) has redeemable qualities that engages viewers empathetically.

A Long Way Down is 96 minutes and rated R for language.

Netflix (R)

Comedy (PG-13)Dumb and Dumber To opens with Harry (Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom) visiting Lloyd (Jim Carrey, How the Grinch Stole Christmas) in a mental institution, where he’s been for the past twenty years after a failed relationship with Mary Swanson. BUT WAIT – it turns out that it’s all an elaborate joke and Lloyd was there simply to prank Harry. (Where can I find a guy with that sort of commitment?) The two are reunited and set out to find Harry’s long lost daughter, Penny.

Through a whirlwind of ridiculous events, the duo ends up heading to El Paso to find Penny. Like the first D&D, their lack of common sense prevents them from noticing someone’s trying to kill them. They’re finally able to track down Penny, and the diabolical plans to kill the dumb-duo are unraveled.

It’s one thing to constantly bemoan Hollywood for their lack of originality and stupid movies. But with this film, they’ve jumped headfirst into we-just-don’t-care-anymore territory. Both men are talented actors, but a sequel was unnecessary. The humor (if you want to call it that) is exactly the same as the film’s predecessor. The antics are wild and outrageous, and Harry and Lloyd’s ignorance is what keeps them somewhat likeable. But they’re not heroes, they’re not antiheroes – they’re just idiots. If you have nothing better to do and a few brain cells to spare, see this film.

Dumb and Dumber To is 109 minutes long and rated PG-13 for rude and sexual humor, partial nudity, language and some drug references.

A Long Way Down

Dumb and Dumber To


1. Mockingjay Part 1After destroying the Games, Katniss is rescued and taken to District 13. There, she is used as the face of the rebellion where she attempts to save Peeta from the Capitol. PG-13 (123 min)

2. Penguins of Madagascar Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private are back together again, having joined forces with an undercover agency called “The North Wind.” Their objective is to apprehend villain Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world. PG (92 min)

3. Big Hero 6Child prodigy Hiro Hamada develops a special bond with a plus-sized inflatable robot named Baymax. Together, they team up to form a group of high-tech heroes. PG (108 min)

4. InterstellarLife on Earth will soon become inhabitable. After the discovery of a wormhole, a group of explorers set out to surpass the limitations on human space travel for the fate of humankind. PG-13 (169 min)

5. Horrible Bosses 2 Back together after their first experience with god-awful employers, Dale, Kurt, and Nick decide to start up their own business. Things go south because of a smarmy investor, so the three decide to kidnap a kid for ransom…and nothing goes quite as planned. R (108 min)

6. Dumb and Dumber ToAfter Harry discovers he has a daughter who was given up for adoption, Lloyd and Harry embark on another epic road trip to find her. PG-13 (110 min)

7. The Theory of Everything A satirical comedy that follows four very different black students at an Ivy league university who converge together after a controversial theme at a Halloween party. R (100 min)

8. Gone Girl Nick Dunne’s wife, Amy, disappears and he becomes the prime suspect. He defends his innocence, but Amy’s journal paints a very different picture of her husband. The truth, however, is much different than the tales both Nick and Amy have spun. R (149 min)

9. Birdman Riggan is a washed-up actor who once played the iconic superhero, Birdman. His career screeched to a halt after refusing to make a Birdman 4, and as he attempts to reclaim his former glory, he must deal with his ego and estranged family. R (119 min)

10. St. Vincent Oliver’s parents just divorced and in his mother’s custody, they move to a new city to start fresh. He forges an unlikely friendship with their new neighbor Vincent, an abrasive war vet who manages to fend off everyone except for Oliver. PG-13 (102 min)

11. Beyond the LightsNoni is a superstar singer who is struggling with the burdens of fame. She meets Kaz, who’s a young cop, and together they help Noni find the courage to find her own voice. PG-13 (116 min)

12. Fury Right before the end of WWII, a Sherman tank and five crewmen are dispatched on a mission that leaves them outnumbered and outgunned in the face of the enemy. With a rookie slowing things down, the men face impossible odds in a heroic attempt to hold a crossroad from the Axis. R (134 min)

13. Foxcatcher Training for the 1988 games in Seoul, wrestler Mark Schultz forges a relationship with his new sponsor, millionaire John du Pont. Through unforeseen circumstances, the union leads both men to feel inferior to Mark’s brother, Dave. R (134 min)

14. NightcrawlerIn desparate need for work, Lou Bloom stumbles into the world of LA’s crime journalism. His obsession for getting the perfect story blurs the line between what’s ethical and completely immoral. R (117 min)

15. John Wick A former hitman is forced out of retirement to kill the men who took everything from him. R (101 min)

16. The Imitation Game Alan Turing is an English mathematician and logician. After being hired by the Allies to detect Nazi codes during World War II, patience is tried and loyalties tested. PG-13 (114 min)

17. Alexander...Very Bad Day Alexander is no stranger to unfortunate circumstances. After wondering if his family ever experienced the same misfortunes, his mom, dad, brother, and sister all share their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. PG (81 min)

18. OuijaAfter a mysterious death of one of their peers, a group of friends use a Ouija board as part of a game. What they uncover is a sinister force that forces them to confront their most terrifying fears. PG-13 (89 min)

19. Rosewater Maziar Bahari is an Iranian-Canadian journalist. After going to Iran to document the controversy behind the country’s elections, he’s detained by Iranian forces who brutally interrogate him under the belief that Bahari’s a spy. R (103 min)

20. Whiplash Andrew is a young drummer with serious potential. He enrolls at a music conservatory, notorious for its cutthroat program and intense instructors who still stop at nothing to expel Andrew’s talent. R (107 min)

Across1 City, casually4 Common mixer8 Chin dimples14 A thousand times more than a mil15 Reagan Secretary of State16 “Got that right!”17 It may need a massage18 One wing of the Museum of Poisons?20 “Veil of ignorance” philosopher John22 Tango necessity23 “___ do it”24 Archaeological find26 Oceanic backflows30 Instrument that means “high wood”32 Sinuous swimmer34 Clumsy sort35 The act of keeping a basketball player from leaving the team?40 Extra-spesh attention41 Meas. taken during a physical42 “That’s interesting!”43 Little battery45 Maximum amount of “aw” you can get from cat pictures?49 Put together50 “___ blu dipinto di blu”51 They may be pale52 Is guaranteed to work56 Two-syllable poetic foot58 Nucky’s brother, on “Boardwalk Empire”59 Grazer’s sound61 Flip side?64 Fleetwood Mac’s John or Christine, without any singing parts?69 Go one better than70 Monopoly purchase, sometimes71 Long time to wait72 Actress Mendes73 E-mail request74 Go after flies75 “Bang and Blame” band

Down1 Taxi app2 Latvia’s capital3 Welding tool4 Big gap5 Crew gear6 Buzzfeed article, often7 Get older with style8 “___: Miami”9 “Funky Cold Medina” rapper Tone ___10 Ordinal number suffix11 “___ not”12 Bridal veil material13 Isn’t buying it?19 San Francisco’s ___ Hill21 MGM co-founder Marcus ___25 Onion variety27 Italian tenor Andrea28 He was Sulu29 “___ were you...”30 Frequent, in poetry31 Leave hastily33 Redo some passages, maybe36 Grading range37 Shrek, for one38 Sudden-death game, say39 Airport terminal area44 Jerkface46 Dig in47 Intertwines48 Bear with the medium-sized bowl52 Activist Chavez53 Full of spirit54 Brother on “Frasier”55 ThinkPad maker, before Lenovo57 “This is only ___...”60 Acknowledge frankly62 Word before nest or knot63 Folder filler65 Away from WSW66 Creature of habit?67 Movie with a stuffed bear68 Gourmet Garten

2014 Jonesin’ Crosswords ([email protected])


“you missed a spot”

Answers


Transfers Give Aggie Basketball a BoostMen’s Basketball A day before A&M took on New Mexico in the Puerto Rico tip-off two weeks ago, the Aggies got a pretty big surprise when the NCAA granted a waiver request for junior guard Danuel House.

House transferred from the University of Houston last year and was expected to sit out this year, as transfers typically sit out the first year. However the 6’7 swingman has already found his way into the lineup and provided a big spark as A&M stomped New Mexico in his first game. House didn’t start but played 29 minutes and scored 17 points and took 6 rebounds—he also provided a highlight reel steal and dunk.

House had 13.6 points per game last year and added 5.3 rebounds with the Cougars last season. He was the C-USA Freshman of the Year two years ago. He, along with fellow transfer Jalen Jones, gives A&M two 6’7 swingmen who were highly regarded out of high school and who can score and rebound.

The Aggie basketball team’s misfortunes seem to be turning, after Coach Billy Kennedy has had three rough years on the job. Kennedy will get to see how much improved his Aggies are as they host Arizona State on Sunday and then travel to play rival Baylor on Tuesday. Baylor is widely considered an NCAA Tournament team, and a win over them could get A&M

some much needed national attention.

Cross CountryTwo Aggies earned All-American finishes by placing in the Top 40 in the NCAA Championships last Saturday. Senior Grace Fletcher placed 29th and ran the 6,000-meter course in a time of 20 minutes and 39 seconds while fellow senior

Hillary Montgomery came in at 39th place with a time of 20 minutes and 47 seconds. Montgomery improved her time from last year, when she finished 190th in the race.

This is the second time in school history that A&M has placed two runners in the top 40 field. The first time was in 2000. The race concluded the cross country season. The

indoor track and field teams will open the season Dec 13 as they host the Texas A&M Reveille Invitational.

Swimming and DivingThere is a No.1 ranked team on the A&M

campus and it belongs to the women’s swimming & diving team. The team opened the

season ranked 9th and have dominated out of the gates with a 5-0 record, including a blowout of #2 ranked Texas.

The Aggies are starting to reap the awards of their fast start, as Sarah Henry and Bethany Galat recently received SEC honors. Henry won Female Swimmer of the Week after winning four events at the Art Adamson Invitational. Henry leads the nation in the 200 and 400 yard IM, ranks No. 2 in the 500 and 1,650 free, and is third in the 1,000 free.

Galat earned the Female Freshman of the Week award for her performance in the Art Adamson Invitational, which included her season-bests in five individual races. The Indiana native ranks top 8 nationally in four events, including No. 2 in the 200 breasts and IM.

By Joshua Russell

On The

Bus

Route!

Get Social!CONTESTS + GIVEAWAYS

CALL OR TEXT

vol. 11 no. 14

Documents

studio album

latest album

listendangerousrelease

dance fans

number of fun holiday

dance club anthems

guettas hypnotic dance

holiday lights