A jazzy story
MIT is unquestionably known for science and technology — many of the world’s cutting-edge research projects and ideas have either been developed here or are at least somehow connected to the Institute.
A new take on arts and entrepreneurship at MIT
Startup companies competing in the MIT $100K Launch Contest now have a chance to win $10K for incorporating art or design into their business. The $10K Creative Arts Competition, sponsored by Arts at MIT, will be awarded annually starting this year. To be eligible, a $100K entrant must have art or design at the core of its business model. The goal of the prize is to promote art-focused startups and put MIT at the forefront of art and design competitions.
Contemporary classical celebrity
Seventeen years ago, my grandmother presented me with my first violin, and introduced me to the world of classical music. That same year, at the age of sixteen, violinist prodigy Hilary Hahn made her debut recording.
Best vegan bites
If only this truck parked in front of Building 1, instead of behind MIT Medical, I would eat at Momogoose every day. I usually order a tofu and rice/noodle entrée, which comes in a variety of flavors, including Korean Barbecue, Thai peanut, and a daily special. The servings are generous, and the staff is quick and efficient. If you see a long line, don’t worry, you’ll get through it faster than you think. The only downside is they only take cash, so plan ahead (although I forgot cash one time, and the server said I could just pay for it next time!). If you have class on the east side of campus and want a generous and economic ($5–6) lunch, my vote is for Momogoose.
Puritanical about food
Puritan and Co. excites me. It is not in Harvard Sq., and it is not in Central Sq. It is not in the Back Bay or the South End.
HIPSTER COFFEE CAFÉ Where to go when you need a break
When I need a thoroughly non-MIT place to escape to, Atomic Bean Café is one of my favorite places ever. Tooling may be a way of life but I too, need my regular dose of free WiFi, delicious espresso, and even ridiculous pastries made with kale.
The 2013 Oscars
I have not missed a single Oscars award ceremony since 2002, and as a devoted viewer, it’s no surprise that I watched them again this year. Feb. 24, 2013, marked the 85th presentation of the annual Academy Awards to highlight cinematic achievements. The red carpet leading into the Dolby Theatre (formerly the Kodak Theater) held the attention of the public as celebrities sauntered down its length adorned in luxurious evening gowns and smartly tailored suits. My favorite dresses this year was one worn by Amanda Seyfried, designed by Alexander McQueen, and another worn by Jennifer Lawrence, designed by Dior. Both of these gowns were white, and decorated with subtle, intricate floral patterns. The Dior dress resembled a huge layered cake, carefully iced around the edges.
Older and better — the Batman is back
A massive tank roars through a waterfall into a dark cavern. A criminal pleads with his interrogator as he dangles over the roof of a building. A costumed figure emerges from the shadows to fight for the heart of his city…
In vegan heaven
Omelets stuffed to bursting with every topping under the sun.
Do you wanna dance?
The ArchiTEKS are something of a present day legend in the hip-hop scene. The members of this Houston-based crew were finalists of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew competition, have collectively garnered millions of YouTube views, and are easily recognized by their unique, controlled movement style. They travel around the world to teach aspiring dancers, and came last weekend to MIT to perform and hold workshops as part of the Chinese Students’ Club Lunar New Year celebrations.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Beautiful Creatures is the story of two teenagers, one supernatural and one mortal, whose destinies are intertwined. They dream of each other months before actually meeting, and fall in love at first sight. But they must fight a battle and learn about each other’s family histories before their relationship can succeed.
INTERVIEW:
The main actors in Beautiful Creatures, Alice Englert and Alden Ehrenreich (characters Lena Duchannes and Ethan Lawson Wate in the movie), visited Boston at the end of January for interviews with the press. British stalwarts Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson played supporting roles in the movie, but regrettably did not make the press tour. Nevertheless, it was fun to meet the young stars. They were entertaining, energetic, articulate, and as endearing as their characters the movie. Gone were the Southern accents from the movie (Englert has a soft New Zealand accent, while Ehrenreich, an NYU alum, speaks with your basic Midwestern accent), and both seemed relaxed during our short interview. Ehrenreich had his feet on the table at one point, and Englert was eating strawberries and doodling on a Ritz Carlton notepad. Here are some of their thoughts:
Getting into the Dramashop’s Margo Veil
Dramashop’s production of Margo Veil plays this weekend and next. The play starts with an explosion, indicating a war. Set in a recording studio, the cast makes a radio-show with entertainment of all forms: romance, action, magic, religion. The titular character is an actress whose soul gets transferred to different bodies. The Tech interviewed cast member, Princess Len M. Carlos ’13.
Valentine’s Day Movies?
If you’re going to be oh-so traditional Valentine’s Day next week and take a date out to a movie, here’s a quick list to help you out.
Video games of 2012
The first in the eighth generation of home consoles, the Wii U made it to shelves just in time for the 2012 holiday season. Nintendo’s latest console is its first to have HD output, but there’s a slow loading time for nearly everything. The system itself is sleek, and the newest addition, the gamepad, offers a new twist on console gaming. It allows one person a different view of the TV in what Nintendo is branding as “asymmetric gameplay.” While the gamepad’s touchscreen display is crisp, the controller is uncomfortable to hold for more than a couple hours and its charge depletes quickly. Despite these setbacks, the Wii U seems promising. Only time will tell if the Wii U can find its niche with hardcore gamers, and if the system can compete with the next generation of Playstation and xbox. —JJP
The Best Films of 2012
Amour: A poignant portrayal of Georges and Anne, an old couple living quietly in Paris. After Anne has a stroke, Georges cares for her until the bittersweet end. The film is rich in detail, and the acting is compelling. Emmanuelle Riva is unforgettable as Anne, and we empathize completely with Jean-Louis Trintignant as Georges. Anne’s relentless deterioration in health and Georges’ decisions to cope with it are sensitively and heartachingly depicted. The film says “there may be no dignity in death, but there can be love”. —Angie
Arts on Campus
2012 had quite a number of exciting arts events on campus. The List Visual Arts Center presented In the Holocene, an exhibit that explored mathematical and scientific concepts from an artistic point of view. MIT students produced a parody of the Gangnam Style video that was featured on YouTube’s front page. Students wrote, orchestrated, and acted in an original new musical Hack, Punt, Tool. Both DanceTroupe’s winter performance 50 Shades of Plie and Dramashop’s plays packed little Kresge many times. 2013 looks bright with arts coming from the List and students alike.
ARTS IN REVIEW
Neither the economy nor the impending flu epidemic cast their gloomy shadows over the 2012 arts scene, especially in the Boston area. MIT established the Center for Art, Science & Technology and awarded the Eugene McDermott Award to multidisciplinary artist Robert Lepage, who is now an MIT artist in residence and will use the $80,000 prize to further his work in nearly every form of theater craft.
Dishonored: a clever blend of action and stealth
It’s rare to come across a proper stealth game these days — by which I mean it is so rare that it’s hard to know if what I consider good stealth games are even stealth games at all. Maybe it’s the stealth genre that I dislike, and I just happen to enjoy a couple games that call themselves stealth games.
Ellipsis, an open-ended approach to music
MIT alumna Amanda Wang ’03 performed on the violin in Killian Hall last week with her group, the Ellipsis Piano Trio. Having just finished her doctoral degree in music at Boston University, Wang also competes with the MIT ballroom dance team. She took time Sunday afternoon to tell us about her experiences with engineering and music.