What To Do in NYC: Date Night Edition

Tired of eating on campus?  Longing for a lip-smacking, mouth-watering, gratifying, straight titillating dining experience?  Want to get out of the dorms to do something new and fun?  Most importantly, do you want to get a bang for your buck?  In this special, “What to do in NYC” date night (or daytime) edition, we will be uncovering 3 lively, unique and, all around, stimulating activities to experience with your sweetheart, best friend, roomies or new group of friends.

            From now to February 8, you have the opportunity to take part in the city’s acclaimed NYC Restaurant Week!  With over 300 restaurants to explore, you are sure to experience, what NYC Restaurant Week proclaims, "the quality, variety and hospitality that embody the NYC dining experience."  Each eatery guarantees a three-course meal for the price of $25 for lunch and $35 for dinner.   And trust me, these restaurants were chosen for a reason!   Not only is the food great; the ambiance and atmosphere definitely enhances the experience.  As mentioned before, this is perfect to experience with others!  You can turn this affair into GNO (girl’s night out!) or a fun night with a great mix of girls and guys!   With over 20 cuisines to choose from, you can indulge in a festive Mexican feast or a hearty southern banquet.  The choices are endless.  To glance over the restaurants, go to http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek.  Be sure to check the lunch and dinner times at the restaurant to prepare accordingly! Saturdays are excluded and Sundays are optional.  This is a fun way to discover new treats in NYC!

            It doesn’t just stop at Restaurant Week; you can top off this incredible deal by scoring two off Broadway tickets for the price of one!  Once again, if you want to show your boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend or loved one that they are number one in your world, treat them to a great night out.  This deal will be featuring a 2 for 1 ticket special for some of the most popular shows, such as Annie, The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Spiderman, Wicked, and Mamma Mia!  Just as quickly as it came, this deal will be off the shelves this Thursday, February 7!  Don’t miss out on these awesome deals. For ticket prices, please visit http://www.nycgo.com/broadwayweek.      

Are you overwhelmed by the start of school?  Do you need to let off some steam?  Do you need a day to relax?  If so, I have the perfect solution for you—Spa Castle.  Located in College Point, Spa Castle is a luxurious in-door spa with three floors of pools, saunas, massage areas, bars and restaurants.  Not to mention, they also have an awesome outdoor heated pool that feels ravishing in contrast to the cold weather.  There are quiet rooms (perfect for novel reading) located throughout this huge building.  Admission is generally $35 dollars, but you’d have to call to confirm the price.  This place is perfect for all occasions, whether you’re going with your girl friends, guy friends or by yourself.   It’s a wonderful experience.  Be prepared to spend a significant chunk of your day indulging in peace and relaxation.  I’d recommend that you go during the weekday when it’s less busy.  Spa Castle is an experience you must encounter at least once in your life!  For more information, call (718) 939-6300.

- Brittany Spell

Wale x Timberlake x Superbowl

Hey friends, and welcome back to school life!  I hope your Christmas' and New Years were filled with good music like mine was!  I couldn't get enough of Wale's Folarin this Christmas.  It was a great mix of the different sides of Wale as a rapper, without going too far off track of who he is.  I always love the way Wale can tell a story and tap into his emotional side without being too Drake.  My favorite's off the mix tape include Bad featuring Tiara Thomas,Cool Off featuring Jhene Aiko and Money Changes featuring Chrisette Michelle.  

Welcome back Justin!  I have always been a big Justin Timberlake fan from his first solo album Justified to the full feature that is Futuresex Lovesongs.  While the JT Jay Z calbo had a few people saying it had to grow on them, I'm feeling the soul / pop vibe of the song.  Jay kills it with a all too swaggy verse while JT keeps his classic flirty signature sound.  Have a listen to the new single below.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KReoTOZK9W8

Next sunday is Superbowl sunday and our beautiful Beyonce will be the half-time star.  While we all can't wait to see how Beyonce will hypnotize us next, more good news comes with her hooking back up with Kelly and Michelle for a Destiny's Child new CD.  The girls sound better than ever on their two tracks so far entitled, You and Me andNuclear.  Keep a look out for Destiny's Child Love Songs.  

- Alyssa Jones

Maison Margiela Partners With H&M

Have name brands and high end fashion become too available? If so, will this decrease the desire to possess- and even the supply and demand for it? 

For the past year or so there have been a lot of collaborations with high end fashion designers and mainstream clothing stores. H&M first paired up with Versace in 2011, and the informal debut was during Kanye's performance on the runway at Victoria Secret's Fashion Show. His bomber jacket with the staple Versace print on the sleeves was quite the piece. Not long after, the craze for Versace and for H&M was on the rise. I always wondered, with a man like Kanye West and how he presents himself we all know he takes pride in his "exclusive" high end image. So, why doesn't he mind wearing a $129 jacket that he knows everyone else will also (Or does he care)? 

This year, Maison Martin Margiela has paired up with H&M for their collaboration. At the launch party, celebrities in attendance ranged from Alexander Wang, Sarah Jessica Parker, and of course, Kanye West. The pieces, from men's sneakers and jackets to women's dresses and blouses, are nothing less than amazing. Looking through the look book, nothing is more than $500, which is, for lack of a better phrase, a bargain sale for such a renowned fashion designer. With this being said, is the outcome of the collaboration going to be more than a huge hit for H&M, will it be a signifier of less exclusivity for Margiela? I personally think what makes high-end fashion so classified in its caliber is the mere fact that the pieces are very particular and rather limited. It allows the line to remain in high demand because collectively, we as humans enjoy having what others don't. Kanye West embodies this desire. 

I hope to see some progression for Margiela within this year of collaboration, because his work is outstanding. If I could afford it, I would be a young Kanye myself, showing off rare pieces and basking in every moment. However, if such collaborations for H&M continue, what is the outlook on high end fashion vs. mainstream? Is this the beginning of fusion and somewhat equality, or will hierarchy continue to reign in the fashion world? 

- Olivia Khoury

Best of Luck on Finals!

Greetings Harayans!

On behalf of our executive board, we would like to thank all of our Harayans who have shown us love and support this semester and who have been to practically every event and service initiative from Project Hype to the Jumpoff! Next semester we will be hosting many events, including the Jumpoff Pt. 2, our annual Black and White Ball, DreamGirls, and much more so stay tuned for more information! 

We understand that this is finals week and academics come first, but if you are available this Friday, December 14, 2012, at 5:00 pm we will be shooting a promotional video for the Jumpoff Pt. 2, which will take place on Friday, January 25, 2013! If you would like to be a part of the video please email us at harayastj68@gmail.com for more information. 

We wish you the best of luck on finals and Happy Holidays!

Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert

For one-night-only, a star-studded cast of music industry’s most valuable players will be gracing New York City’s legendary arena, Madison Square Garden, to put on a benefit concert for Hurricane Sandy!  This event, officially tagged the 12.12.12 concert, will be featuring performances from Billy Joel and Paul McCartney to Alicia Keys and Kanye West.  If you haven’t guessed already, the show will be going down this Wednesday, December 12!  You have a chance to attend a viewing of this benefit concert for free—yes FREE!

Many people can recall the momentous Concert for New York City benefit that took place weeks after September 11, 2001 in honor of New York Fire Department and New York Police Department’s first responders, their families, those lost in the attacks and those in recovery.  Well, the same organizers of that event are putting on the benefit concert for families affected by Hurricane Sandy’s wrath.  This benefit is expected to be a remarkable event in history and it’s happening right here in New York City!   All proceeds will directly benefit Hurricane Sandy victims through the Robin Hood Foundation.  

You don’t have to worry about this performance costing you a single penny, as selected movie theatres in hurricane-affected areas will be screening the show live for free with complimentary snacks!  Because tickets are distributed on a first come, first serve basis, it’s advised that you contact the listed movie theatre to ensure your seat at the screening! 

Additionally, the concert will be broadcast globally!  For one magical night, the United States and international television stations, Clear Channel radio stations and premier websites, such as YouTube and Yahoo, will be broadcasting the event worldwide.  Event producers James Dolan, John Sykes and Harvey Weinstein expressed their anticipation in this disclosed statement: "The live simulcast of this historic benefit concert in movie theatres will provide a welcome opportunity for those people still recovering from the devastation to have an enjoyable and a much-needed night out. Seeing this incredible all-star lineup on the big screen and hearing it in surround sound will certainly make for a memorable evening."

All in all, victims still recovering from Sandy will be able to experience a well-deserved night out to forget about their troubles and rock out with their favorite musicians!  Spread the word; you won’t want to miss out!  To check out the movie theatre locations visit this website: http://www.121212concert.org/watch#section-5 

Did You Say Etsy?

Do you like vintage apparel, exclusive artwork, great deals, and one-of-a-kind garments?  If you’re answer is yes, I have three words for you—Etsy, Etsy, Etsy! 

Etsy is a fabulous online marketplace where thousands of artists, designers and crafters sell exclusive goodies for great prices!  As you enter the wonderful world of Etsy, you are sure to come into contact with designers from all ends of the earth selling funky hand-made items, as well as contemporary accessories.  With Christmas right around the corner, Etsy is the one-stop-shop you’re looking for.  One more thing, the excitement doesn’t stop there—Etsy is taking on New York City!

The Etsy Holiday Shop, which opened last Thursday, will be featuring 200 dashing boutiques exclusively hand-picked by the Etsy community.   This is a great experience for first time shoppers as well as loyal Etsy fans!   You can look forward to chic, trendy and even indigenous items derived from the bustling streets of Barcelona all the way down to the pavements of Brooklyn!   Etsy will also be bringing a refined group of gift experts that will be of assistance to shoppers searching for the perfect Christmas gift. 

If you’re an artist or crafter looking for a way to make money and are interested in becoming a part of the Etsy family, Etsy sellers will be at the store dishing the deets on what their job entails and how they create their masterpieces!  In-store events, such as lectures, tastings, entertainment and learning workshops, will be featured each day.    

Don’t miss out on this perfect opportunity!  The Etsy Holiday Shop is located at 131 Greene Street in SoHo.  The Shop is open from 10 am to 10 pm.  The last day will be this Saturday, December 8, 2012.  If you can’t make it to the store, be sure to browse the website—you will get lucky.

- Brittany Spell

Artists on The Rise: Ashley Germain

As the weeks of school are winding down, and the stress is growing its good to know that there are hard new mix-tapes and albums to help us pull through.  Though they came out last week, and oh how I missed writing to you guys over the Thanksgiving break, these two artists are just too good to skip over.  Yes yes, I’m talking about Fab and French Montana!  Fabolous’ The Soul Tape 2 overall was a dope piece by our New York native rapper. Features from J. Cole, Wale, Trey Songz and Joe Budden help the mixtape bang, my favorites are “Louis Vuitton”, “Beauty” and “Diced Pineapples”.  French Montana’s Mac & Cheese 3 got a few mixed views from some STJ students, some saying it banged from beginning to end, others saying they can only handle French on a feature. Personally, I thought it went pretty hard, especially with his long list of features from artist like Ross to Mac Miller, the mixtape was definitely diverse.  Even though I think Mac & Cheese 2 was a better mix, you have to give it to French for pulling out a great piece of work after months of delays. 

All semester long I’ve brought to you the talent of our favorite mainstream and underground artist, but never a local STJ Student; until now.  Ashley Germain is the beautifully talented singer songwriter of the Class of 2015, with a voice that chills.  The first time I heard Ashley sing was a Friday evening in Century Hall a few of weeks ago while a couple of friends and I were all in a heated conversation about the music industry.  When we all calmed down a bit we asked Ashley to sing us a song that she wrote, and when she did her voice silenced the whole room.  Her soulful full-bodied voice could hit all ranges, she went from hitting the highest of high notes to the sweet low notes of a painful love song.  Ashley is a force to be reckoned with.  Her moving voice is truly one of a kind, and her humble spirit will make you love her instantly.  While talking to her about music you can see its her passion, she loves to perform anything heartfelt by artists like Adele, Christina Aguilera or Amy Winehouse.  When I asked her what her biggest career aspiration was she replied, “I just want a lot of people to appreciate my music, if anything. I also want to win one Grammy Award, just one.  Not to say that’s where my success ends, but that’s one of my goals right now.”  Well I think its achievable for her and so many more artists here, I believe the talent at St. John’s has no limits. 

Ashley is currently working on her first major project, which will be available in December, keep a look out on her Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/BasHlEYAsHley?feature=watch or SoundCloud.  Below is her recent cover of Alicia Keys’ “Brand New Me”. 

Recent Releases
Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire
Tyga – 187
The Soul Tape 2 – Fabolous
Mac & Cheese 3 – French Montana

What’s on my Replay
Lay Up – Meek Mill ft Jay Z, Rick Ross, Trey Songz
Absolute Assassin – Ab Soul
AK47- The Dream
W.T.F.I.M.L. – Chris Brown