College

Let me make this clear - having to go through college working and supporting myself made me appreciate my education, and I took it very seriously. Practically hallucinating due to lack of sleep because I had to stay up all night writing a paper on the history of the radio made me the person I am today (one that doesn't remember a much about the history of radio, but now values good old fashioned time management skills and all of those other important real life professional things that are good to know).


Seeing as I'm finally graduating college at the ripe old age of 23 next week, though, it's only right that I look back and minimize my journey as a series of hilarious and (so completely right-on) internet memes. Right?


Sorry if you hate memes.

And my personal favorite...

In which someone manages to find yet another way to make money off of The Beatles

Apparently there has been this lost footage of The Beatles first ever concert in America at the Washington Coliseum in 1964 floating around. Someone's found it (how convenient), so they're playing it for two days only at cities across America.

Clearly, as a rabid Beatles fan, I immediately bought a ticket. 


I am very skeptical of this documentary being any good at all, though. Some of the celebrity interviews seem to be weird choices (Steven Tyler? The Stokes? Really?), but I'm holding out hope due to the inclusion of Chuck Berry. The trailer seems a little low budget and cheesy. I suppose I'll get every bit of unofficial Beatles goodness that they can muster for my $10, though. Which is ok by me (note earlier case of Beatles rabies).


It's only playing two nights, so if you miss out, you're SOL.


Watch the trailer below, and find where it's playing near you to buy tickets here.

What I'm listening to in the middle of the night

Photo from www.brooklynvegan.com

Just an hour and we'll be homeWith my family that i choseYou're my familyAnd on the pavement still gripping the phoneYou came and wrapped your arms around my soulAnd we were shaking and you're so much a part of meAnd so this is why i'm hereWhen we called youYou came so fastAnd sat beside me while hours and days pastI'll always thank you for thatAnd there you wereWith your heart made of goldSo strong, the only thing holding us upAnd we knew you would always be so closeAnd so this is why i'm hereAnd then there was youYou always made us laughAnd you would help us to find the right pathAnd there is no one as full of lifeAnd so this is why i'm here
- Azure Ray "Home"


 


A first in a series of songs that I like to listen to in the middle of the night.

Help out a Philadelphia non-profit this weekend AND have fun

Tomorrow afternoon, a wonderful local music organization that I work with, Rock to the Future, will be hosting a fun scavenger hunt to help benefit the program! The teams with the most points will win some cool prizes like concert tickets, bike gear...maybe a gift card to the Memphis Taproom (who have their truffle asparagus mac & cheese on the menu right now).

Not only that, but by participating, you get a free t-shirt and free entry into the all ages after party/show at Kung Fu Necktie featuring Cheers Elephant. Why don't you take a minute to check out their new video CAUSE IT'S REALLY RAD AND THEY ARE COOL BROS:

P.S. Some of the performance shots at the end were actually filmed right at the Rock to the Future space (after hours, of course)!

Register here for the event. Don't regret not going.

Free Stuff in Philadelphia

I know how it is to feel broke (I've been in college for six years). I also know how it feels to think you're missing out on all of the most fun things that the city of brotherly love has to offer. Fear not! I have rounded up some fun, and FREE, things to do coming up in the near future in our fair city of Philadelphia.


1. CITY HALL JAZZ WEDNESDAYS


Every Wednesday in April, City Hall is throwing down some fresh jazz in the Mayor's Reception Room. This Wednesday, the Marina Vishnyakova Ensemble will be performing at 5:30pm. It's free to RSVP. Only catch is this: just because you RSVP doesn't mean you're gonna get in. Show up on time (as in early) to get a spot. RSVP here:

2. Justin Duerr: Stranger Things Have Never Happened

At Gallery 309, go check out some art by Justin Duerr, running through April 30th. The opening is April 6th during Philadelphia's famous First Fridays. If you can't make the opening, go check out one of the two FREE showings of "Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles." This movie documents the bizarre tiles sighted all over Philadelphia and attempts to decipher the meaning behind them. 


You must reserve tickets online and you can find more information here. 


3. A Love Letter For You


This is a fun thing you can do all year 'round, but it's probably even nicer to do in the Spring.

Ok, so this isn't free (unless you're interested in walking all over deep West Philly), but it only costs you $2 (or less if you have a token). Take the Market Frankford El to and from 69th Street Terminal to get a peek at the Steve Powers mural series all along rooftops in West Philadelphia. They're mostly adorable and heartwarming. You can pay for a tour where they'll give you some information about the murals, but for those on a budget, just take the train and go without the added features of the tour.

If you check out any of these wallet friendly events, let me know what you thought! If you have any cool suggestions of your own, don't hesitate to leave me a comment.