04/17/09 Intermission [pdf]

inside

Intermission teaches you photography ... page 2 “State of Play” interesting but confusing; “American Idol” nice but dry...page 3 Fashion artist Karen Lum talks to Intermission...page 6 Intermission tries Crepes Cafe before jetting off to Coachella...page 8

FRIDAY

4.17.09

intermission

stanford’s weekly guide to campus culture

VO LU M E

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ISSUE

10

a publication of the stanford daily

steve lesser

ALSO INSIDE

“ S TAT E

O F P L AY,” O P E N -

INTERMISSION

INTERVIEWS

I N G T O D AY, I S I N A

C H A R I T Y FA S H I O N S H O W

S TAT E O F C O N F U S I O N

DESIGNER KAREN LUM

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karen lum

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INTERMISSION’S 10-MINUTE GUIDE TO AMATEUR PHOTOGTRAPHY IF YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT BUYING AN AMATEUR CAMERA, HERE’S INTERMISSION’S ADVICE . . .

photos by steve lesser

Get either the Nikon D-40 or the Canon EOS Rebel XTi. Priced just under $500, the Nikon D40 is the ideal starter camera; it has a good system and is the smallest of the dSLR (digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras on the market. The Canon Rebel is very similar in size and function. If money is no concern, you may consider buying a more expensive camera body — they can go into the thousands. But in terms of image quality, you’d be doing yourself a favor if you bought a cheaper digital SLR body and saved your money for better lens or wireless flash; lens and lighting have more impact on your photos anyway. Rest assured that Nikon and Canon are the best; they make better lenses, have been around longer and have very high-quality gear all the way to high-end professional stuff. They’ve been the standard in the industry for a long time because everyone knows a camera is only as good as its lens. From here on out, all we say will only be applicable to digital SLR cameras.

WHERE TO GO FOR INSPIRATION

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

The Strobists Blog http://strobist.blogspot.com This site is all about learning to use your small wireless flash, and has a ton of general pointers. It has plenty of do-it-yourself techniques that won’t break the bank and has a very large international following.

...about learning to be a photographer is just know-

Chase Jarvis’ blog ing where to look for ideas and inspiration. We’ve http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/ Chase Jarvis offers unique perspectives left you with tons of links and fodder to play with, so into life as a photographer, and the get started! Know, though, that it’s all right to try to effort and techniques used to get his recreate a picture you really like — in the process amazing shots. Some of the most interof re-creation, the image always changes and esting windows into being a photograLENS becomes uniquely your own. Try to soak up pher can be found in his FRAMES videos, The biggest bang for your where he shows all the pictures taken for a whatever you see and whatever you live, buck lenses are the 50mm photo session in rapid succession so you can and you’ll be sure to improve! f/1.8 prime (they do not zoom)

FRIDAY

4.17.09 BONE TO PICK?

lenses for both Nikon and Canon. Both are much sharper and can gather several times more light than the kit lenses that come with most cameras, and at only around $100 new they’re as cheap as you’re going to find.

well then, email us! [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR LAYOUT EDITOR

Part coffee table, part how-to book, “The Hot Shoe Diaries” teaches how to expertly wield your small flashes (such as the SB-600 or 580 EX) while sharing very inspiring pictures from McNally’s esteemed career and how he took them. It also covers everything from steady camera holding techniques to establishing a connection with your subject.

Jin Yu

COPY EDITOR Jane LePham

DESK EDITORS

Flickr

Annika Heinle joe mcnally

PHOTO EDITOR Amanda Zhang

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Drew Gardner’s blog http://thedarkart.com Most of us can’t afford cameras with prices reaching five digits, thousanddollar smoke machines or casually renting a water buffalo — but it sure can be fun to read about someone who can. In his blog, Drew goes over his gear, techniques and the hurdles he faces to achieve his breathtaking location photography. Watch him fly to India for an authentic elephant photo session, or re-create a swarm of tornadoes in his room. This blog is definitely a source of inspiration.

Joe McNally’s “The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes”

Joanna Xu

Kyle Evaldez

witness how a shoot evolves and narrows down from thousands of pictures to only a few.

Nothing’s better for inspiration (and learning what not to do) than browsing through lots of photos. Find some pools you’re interested in, such as the Portrait Pool or the Strobists.com Pool, and just soak in the nearly infinite photos. —joanna XU

intermission

contact joanna: [email protected]

MOViE REViEW

“STATE

OF

PLAY”

KEEPS YOU IN STATE OF CONFUSION...

suicide of a congressman’s personal aide with whom the conow deep does the rabbit hole go? “State of Play” image.net gressman was supposedly having an affair. The senator is a story of conspiracy at the highest levels of Stephen Collins, played by Ben Affleck, had also just initiated media, government and business. Just when large-scale legal proceedings against a corporation called you think you’ve got it all figured out, new information PointCorps, which is vaguely described as a private military is revealed that changes the game completely. While the operations company. But while PointCorps is instantly recogfilm is certainly fast-paced, intellectual, and fun to nizable as the “bad guys,” it’s hard for the audience to follow watch, some elements of the narrative were initially the charges against them without ever gaining a basic underunderdeveloped and confusing, which made the subsestanding of who they are even supposed to be. quent twists and turns more difficult to follow. Though Cal dismisses Della as just a “blogger,” she’s a thor“State of Play” begins with a chase scene — a ough enough journalist to find out that Cal and Stephen were young black male sprinting through the streets of roommates in college. And when Stephen shows up on Cal’s D.C., racing through stores, and finally hiding doorstep later that night insisting that his aide’s death was behind a dumpster in a dark alley. He breathes heavnot a suicide, threads begin to appear between people and ily, with deep sighs of relief — but as always in events, suggesting that nothing is coincidental. films, characters are never more vulnerable than Of course, everyone and everything is connected — but not in the moments after the danger has passed. The in the ways that the audience could anticipate. I particularly camera moves from a close-up of the young man’s loved the film because it also provided a eulogy to the dying art face to the backlit silhouette of the chaser, holding a of the newspaper — showmenacing gun, who shoots the defenseless man severing journalism at its highest al times without blinking. A cyclist passing by gets simart form while underlining ilar treatment, presumably because he was simply in the the threats it currently faces. wrong place at the wrong time. Though the murder Though the narrative is unfolds clearly before our eyes, the introductory scene the vital stats. underdeveloped at some only gives us a surface-level understanding of why these points, “State of Play” is an people were murdered — a mystery that the film spends the State of Play exciting detective story, told next two hours trying to fully unravel. in the same vein as “The Cal McAffrey, brilliantly played by Russell Crowe, is PG-13 pendent, and seems to like it that way — as he says, “I got Crime Drama Constant Gardener,” that introduced by the blast of Flogging Molly punk song, driving mouths to feed . . . goldfish.” Investigative reporters work with a will keep you guessing to the his 15 year-old Saab and eating fast food as he makes his way Back at his newspaper’s headquarters, a young and intelpolice detetive to solve the murder very end. towards the crime scene. He embodies the figure of the irrev- ligent online journalist Della Frye (played by Rachel of a congressman’s mistress. erent journalist, willing to break the rules if it leads to the truth McAdams) approaches Cal about a seemingly unrelated — kelly PETERSON because he sees himself as “above it all.” He is fiercely inde- story that she has just begun working on regarding the recent contact kelly: [email protected]

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EDITOR’S BLOG: KYLE’S TV CORNER americanidol.com

reetings all, and welcome to my new blog . . . even though it is in print. Anyway, as you know, here at Intermission, we strive to bring you coverage on the latest, exciting arts and entertainment events that are going on around campus, the Bay Area and the rest of the country. Unfortunately, one thing we noticed was that we don’t cover enough is T.V.! I know for a fact that Stanford students love watching television, since it makes for quick and amusing study breaks. Enter my T.V. Corner! Each week, I’ll be bringing you the latest scoop on some of your favorite television shows . . . or, I should say, some of MY favorite shows. First up this week is the seemingly never-ending phenomenon that is “American Idol.” To bring everyone up to speed, the show is currently in its eighth season (yes, it really has been going on for eight years), and

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this week the top seven remaining contestants performed songs from the cinema. The contestants were “mentored” by director Quentin Tarantino, who seemed to offer only semi-useful advice. In terms of the contestants, although they all had a plethora of excellent songs to choose from, I was actually pretty disappointed by everyone’s performances. The remaining contestants all ended up choosing and performing slow ballads, which when watched again, all sound oddly similar to one another. Of course there were a few standouts amongst the bunch. Sixteenyear-old Allison Iraheta sang Aerosmith’s “Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” and although her rendition wasn’t that great, it was a good choice on her part — not to mention it was a nice change of pace after all the other ballads. Fan favorite Adam Lambert also stood out, as usual, as he performed “Born to be Wild.” Although I am constantly displeased by his choice of songs (he always chooses really old and cliché pieces) one cannot deny his talent and vocal range. America’s sweetheart Danny Gokey also pulled in a strong performance, while Kris Allen, in my opinion, had the best song choice of the night — choosing “Falling Slowly” from the musical film “Once.” Cut to Wednesday night, the night when host Ryan Seacrest tortures the contestants with the results. This week’s bottom three consisted of Anoop Desai, Lil Rounds and Matt Giraud. Before the final elimination results were given, the show consisted of its usual fanfare, and even included two live performances from previous idol contestant Jennifer Hudson and tween sensation Miley Cyrus. Hudson’s performance was boring, and is off of her new, and first, album — apparently it took her five years after “Idol” to release an album. Cyrus’ performance was definitely the more entertaining of the two. Singing her latest single “The Climb,” Cyrus threw her passion and energy into her performance — which was horribly amusing because it simply did NOT work for her. | CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 |

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WE ARE THE JOLLY GONDOLIERS!

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THE GONDOLIERS NEVER LETS UP ITS RAPID PACE, BUBBLING WORDPLAY AND SHARP SOCIO-POLITICAL COMMENTARY.

ilbert and Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers” is a witty portrait of a sparkling and vibrant Venice, complete with gothic piazettas, dancing flower girls, bumbling political figures and, of course, the dashing and charming men who navigate the Grand Canal. Although not as well-known as Gilbert and Sullivan’s other comic operas, “Pirates of Penzance” or “The HMS Pinafore” (performed by the Stanford Savoyards earlier this season), “The Gondoliers” never lets up in its rapid pace, bubbling wordplay and sharp socio-political commentary. Our two protagonists, Marco and Giuseppe (played by Nick Bayne and Mark Thurber), are handsome, charming and have landed themselves a pair of beautiful blushing brides. Only minutes after they are married, the gondoliers are informed by the Grand Inquisitor that one of them is the longlost heir to the throne of the land of “Barataria.” While the identity of the true king is investigated, political chaos erupts and lovers are torn apart. Yet, throughout it all, the singing continues. With a full chorus and orchestra, the Stanford Savoyards deliver a rich sound to accompany the play. The chorus is able to work with Gilbert and Sullivan’s intricate score, and the vocal quality of the group is highlighted by the director’s stage choreography: the routines are light and airy, and some of his directorial choices add a playful touch to the pieces. There are

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photos by steve lesser

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very few weak performances in the chorus, if only limited to rigid dancing. The vocal talent, however, is strong and consistent throughout the cast. There are a handful of soprano soloists who are particularly excellent. Especially notable is Marisa Lenhardt, who plays the part of Casilda, the unintentional wife of the King of Barataria. Her dramatic soprano voice carries well over the seats of Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Although both male leads have competent voices, the tenor Bayne possesses a healthy combination of vocal inflection and strength. Pieces such as “Then One of Us Will Be a Queen” and “I Am a Courtier Grave and Serious” demonstrate the leads’ abilities to blend vocally and allow the actors to truly engage with one another. “The Gondoliers,” in true Gilbert and Sullivan form, is rife with humorous moments, ranging from the subtle to the slapstick. To carry off such a show requires a cast able to handle comedy. Chemistry between some of the actors is lacking; however, several actors do particularly well with the humorous material — Stanford alum Joshua Solomin, who plays the Duke of Plaza-Toro comes to mind. However, the most delightful part of the cast is the combination of the Gondoliers. From their extravagant first entrance off their gondola, Marco and Giuseppe carry themselves with the perfect air of pompousness and charisma. It is great fun to see these two play off of one another. Overly idealistic about their

“Republican” political causes, the manner in which our protagonists respond to their changing circumstances is very amusing. The lighting, set and costume directors are commendable for bringing this jovial Venetian piece to life. The first set is that of the Grand Canal, complete with an impressive moving gondola that sails effortlessly across the stage. The costumes for both men and women are charming and visually arresting, lending themselves to the cheerful nature of the show. The lighting is also well designed, whether enhancing the actors’ emotions (some characters hilariously catch a bout of seasickness on the canals) or creating a sumptuous ambience for the royal court. The regal garments are rather impressive in these scenes. Overall, although the first act sags in momentum in some places, by the beginning of the second act, the energy of the actors and singers is palpable and carries on through to the end of the show. “The Gondoliers” is definitely directed towards a certain audience, but for fans of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, this is a well-produced and well-performed show that will surely lift the spirits on these cold, windy Stanford nights. —nina DUONG contact nina: [email protected]

ART AFFAIR KICKS OFF!

photos by steve lesser f you’ve whizzed past White Plaza on your bikes in the last few days, you may wondering why enormous white tents have suddenly appeared. Last night marked the first day of An Art Affair 2009, Stanford’s largest annual art festival. The event, hosted by SOCA (Student Organizing Committee for the Arts), spans three days and promises to deliver exciting student performances in addition to showcasing unique artistic talents. Thursday night was the Artist Reception and DJ Dessert Party, where the tents were finally opened to the Stanford public for viewing artwork and mingling with the artists themselves. Even from a far distance, the tents, with their transparent sides, allow for a remarkable peek into a world of hard work and inspiration. Upon entry, audiences are bombarded with a flurry of diverse subjects and media. The event is certainly eclectic: displayed are pieces from photographic portraits, fashion boards, large acrylic paintings, even eco-friendly mixed media. For example, Sara Woodward ‘09’s work

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emphasizes the transformation of recycling or waste materials into art pieces. Other exhibits that draw the eye include a comic book by Catherine Harrell ‘09, and well as Mae Ryan ‘09’s photos from the Middle East. With the sounds of alternative rock music floating in the background, groups of curious Stanford students made their way from wall to wall, admiring and discussing the artwork. The atmosphere at the Artist Reception is one of warmth, enthusiasm, and celebration. The cider fizzed, while strawberries and cheesecake were more than enough to sustain the groups of students who came out in support of their fellow artists. All pieces displayed come from members of the Stanford student population, and plenty of contributions are from the members of SOCA. The first tent, alongside the general artwork, offers the student exhibits supported by the Arts Grant Program, which provides up to $1,500 to undergraduate student artists, allowing them to create diverse art that benefits the Stanford community. There are two grant opportunities every year; the work displayed at An Art Affair is a result of the winter cycle. Every one of the artists socializing at the event is extremely proud of the opportunity to display their work. For students such as sophomore Sasha Engelman, who believes that “there are a lack of student arts exhibits” for the Stanford community, this event provides a fantastic opportunity to foster an awareness about the visual arts. Although emphasis is placed on the visual arts, An Art Affair is clearly celebrates all forms of art. A large crowd gathered in the second, larger white tent, where the Stanford Film Society presented Show and Tell, a film festival featuring more than a dozen student-produced films. In support of Stanford student music, copies of the Stanford Soundtrack Vol. 8, which

features 21 campus bands, will be distributed throughout the next few days. The presence of representatives from Backlight.org, an new online art forum that allows users to share writing, art, video, and music, reflects the convergence of several artistic disciplines over this Art Affair weekend. Anticipation runs high in the air, as today and Saturday bring six hours of performances on two stages, including a special encore of the winter one-act Bloodsong on Friday. “I can’t wait for the next few nights,” gushes Emma Webster ‘11. Judging by the acts lined up on the events program, neither can we. —

nina DUONG

contact nina: [email protected]

AN ART AFFAIR FESTIVAL SCHEDULE Friday, 4/17 11:30am - 1:00pm : Graffiti Art with Mural, Music, and Arts Projects @ lawn by main stage Noon - 7:00pm : Performances @ main stage & claw stage 7:00pm - 8:30pm : Bloodsong

Saturday, 4/18 Noon - 6:00pm: Performances @ main stage & claw stage 7:30pm - 1:30am : Stanford Students only Soundtrack CD Release Party @ EBF

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ARTIST PROFILE: DESIGNER In the second part of four-part lead-up to Charity Fashion Show, Intermission interviews yet another student designer . . . the talented

KAREN LUM

Intermission (i): How did you get interested in fashion in the first place? Karen Lum (KL): My mom always sewed, so when I was young, I took a community college class on sewing and how to make clothing. My mom never actively encouraged this. At first, I just did it to fix clothing, but then I started making my own things. I made both my junior and senior prom dresses. That was the first time I’d ever made whole garments. When I started, I used to make clothes because I couldn’t afford to buy them. So I thought, if I can’t afford to buy it, I’ll just make it. Now I do it more as an artistic pursuit; if I had an idea, I would make it. I don’t even care if I can wear the things I make in my life or if I have an occasion to wear it to. It’s about the design and the execution. i: Why did you decide to showcase a collection for Charity Fashion Show? KL: Well, I will make clothes no matter what — Charity Fashion Show was just a deadline to get stuff done by, and a way to showcase my work. I have to have 12 pieces done before the show; even if it weren’t for the show, I would have done these 12 pieces anyway, just not by the deadline. i: Did you participate in Charity Fashion Show last year? KL: Yes I did. It was a lot of fun — it was exciting to see my stuff on the runway. I make my clothes to be worn, so it was great having them shown for the first time. i: Tell us a little bit about your upcoming line. KL: This line will definitely be better than last year’s. I wanted my line to actually have coherency. There will be a unifying theme for my show and I’m putting more thought into it. Last year, my show was just a mix-and-mash of all the things I’d ever made; this year will be better. For example, I’m showcasing a piece that is made completely out of recycled material. Some of my friends bought a ton of sweaters for a student performance group. After they were done, they gave all of them to me to see if I could play with it. I cut each sleeve open — the sweaters were made of cheap engineered fabric, and the sweaters were so big that even when

KAREN LUM I cut the sleeve open, there were giant pieces of fabric. I made a military jacket-coat/dress out of all of those sleeves. So yes, the first few pieces in my show will be made out of completely unconventional fabrics. In my opinion, fashion is about having fun and feeling good in what you’re wearing. It can be jeans and a t-shirt. I like Rihanna’s style; it’s very badass, with lots of exposed zippers. My goal in life is to never have to wear business casual. i: What fabrics did you use in your line? KL: Well, I used those recycled sleeves. One dress is made totally from tie-dye silk that I got from China. However, I only had enough money for 3 yards, so no matter what I needed to make sure that I had enough — I can’t go back to China and buy more. A Rodarte-inspired dress that I’m making is made from four scarves from China. I bought the scarves in purple, black, red and beige. I like nonconventional color palettes; I like to mix it up a bit. I wish I could make a Herve Leger dress, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin. i: Is fashion design something you’re planning on pursuing as a career? KL: No, no . . . I’m a product design major. I want to apply the design process into creating solutions for social change, such as alleviating people out of poverty. I want to use technology to create solutions for social problems. Fashion is fun, but at the end of the day it’s not what I want to do — I want to do something that will make me feel fulfilled and truly make a difference. i: Any shopping advice for Stanford? KL: I’d encourage the people to think outside of Northface, Uggs and Longchamp. I just think Longchamp bags are overpriced — they’re made of nylon! I’d also encourage people here to not follow the trends or the seasons. Look for what’s interesting! — joanna XU contact joanna: [email protected]

RESTAURANT REViEW

J APANESE

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ushi is usually the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Japanese food, but it is often overlooked that Japan is also home to a diverse cuisine that goes far beyond raw fish over rice. While a bit off the beaten track as far as the Stanford bubble goes, Gombei, located on El Camino in the northern part of Menlo Park, offers generous portions of Japanese cooking at reasonable prices. Gombei is not a place that is likely to get a lot of walk-in business. Its location near the Menlo-Atherton border is hardly a center of fine dining, and the exterior of the building brings to mind that of a renovated McDonalds. But this is not a case to judge a book by its cover. If you are willing to stop, you will quickly find a very crowded parking lot and will likely have to wait for a table. There is no actual list to get on — tables are simply assigned based on who is in front of the physical queue. And for maximum efficiency, only full

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HOME COOKING AT

parties are seated. This highly utilitarian setup is managed by the busy, but always friendly, hostess. The menu at Gombei consists of very standard Japanese fair: teriyaki, tempura, donburi and a bit of sushi. Unless you have your heart set on something specific, perhaps the best way to order is the large plate special, which is not on the menu but is listed on a whiteboard in the main dining room. It included chicken teriyaki, shrimp and vegetable tempura, a few pieces of maki, a few pieces of sushi, a croquette, rice, salad and miso soup for $11. The first time I went to Gombei, I immediately assumed that the special was a choice of some of these items, but indeed all are included. The teriyaki was tasty without being too salty, and the tempura was crispy. The croquette was surprisingly good with large amounts of curry mixed into the potato, though it was a little on the soggy side. The sushi perhaps was a weaker point of the meal, but was still completely passable and superior to now the perennial but defunct sushi punching bag that was Sushi Tomo. Overall, the food can be described as solid. Gombei’s service is not the main attraction, but it gets the job done. The wait staff tends to be sufficiently friendly, albeit rushed on account of the constant crowds. The food always arrives in a timely manner, and while the servers tend not to be the type that constantly checks on you, it isn’t hard to flag someone down if you need something else.

G OMBEI

There isn’t a single part of Gombei that stands out superlatively, but putting all of the pieces together makes for a very respectable combination. The food is good, the service does what it needs to do, and for the prices, the portions are extremely generous. Be warned that Gombei is not the place to go for a first date; but for some reliable Japanese food at a price that almost seems too good to be true, Gombei will get you hooked. — theo POLAN contact theo: [email protected]

intermission amanda zhang

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11am An Art Affair White Plaza check out Stanford’s greatest artists showcasing their pieces! 10pm Club Caliente Tresidder Oak Room Los Hermanos are throwing a party to raise money for their high school scholarship fund

Sa 8pm Club UJ! Ujamaa House starting off spring quarter right

M 8pm Jazz Jams CoHo just chill out and relax

ROXY

GOES

GREEK!

raternities tend to inadvertently act as “man candy” magnets for the rest of campus (loose definition of “candy”), and with this year’s rush process now coming to an end, there is going to be a fresh supply of hot young men ready to prove their worth. On this note, the topic that Roxy wants to explore is, which fraternity offers the best sex?! Stanford’s frats all differ in terms of the stereotypes and attributes associated with them, which then affect the type of guys that join them. So how do they all stack up against one another? Muse along with me as I dive into some of Stanford’s popular fraternities. The first frat that I have to talk about is Sigma Nu. Situated comfortably on the lower Row, this frat continues to maintain a relatively upstanding reputation on campus. Their guys are incredibly diverse (even in sexuality), genuinely friendly and, most of all, they all tend to have superman complexes. Although wanting to save the world is a noble trait, it does not necessarily mean that you’ll get good sex from them. Not to mention, I definitely know quite a few Sigma Nu guys who are so focused on saving the world that they barely have time for anything else! However, if you’re looking for some romance and passion, these guys might be your best bet — Roxy would even go so far as to say that they are dateable! On the other hand, getting straight-up sex from them might be hit or miss . . . Jumping across the street takes us to the front steps of Sigma Chi. This frat is probably the most stereotypical in that it embodies what you’d expect from a frat — womanizing, chest-thumping hicks who can sometimes come off as jerks, to be blunt. Roxy doesn’t really have any problem with this and the thought of being “used” by one of them after a drunken night of partying in their newly renovated house is pretty appealing. Roxy knows that if she wants a night of no-strings-attached, hot sex, this will probably be a

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good place to go. Moving further up the Row will then land us in the smoky den of Theta Delt. This place is nicknamed the “stoner” frat for good reason. Roxy was recently walking their halls, and it was literally impossible not to get high from all the residual fumes. Of course, I don’t really have a problem with this, but when it comes to getting down and dirty, my only concern is that all that smoking might affect one’s . . . performance . . . if you know what I mean. Roxy’s definitely been with a guy or two who wasn’t able to meet all of her needs because of a little Mary Jane in their system. Taking a few steps from Theta Delt will lands us in the jock-infested heaven that is Kappa Alpha (KA) . KA definitely upholds its stereotype of being the “athletic” frat in that many of its members belong to some athletic team. If Roxy had to choose a frat to get her freak on, this would be her No. 1 spot. Although I like all sorts of guys, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have a soft spot in my heart . . . or my [insert other body part here] for a tall, muscle-bound jock who knows what it takes for a good work out. Home run, touchdown, SCORE — it all sounds hot to me. Now when talking about frat sex, I guess I would be remiss in not including the guys over at SAE . I’m sure that spending a night with them is definitely hotter and kinkier than most, especially if you’re with one of those mysterious members of the infamous KREs. That is, if you’re lucky enough to have a choice, or even remember the night . . . XOXO, — roxy SASS

| CONTINUED FROM “AMERICAN IDOL” PAGE 5 |

T 7pm Tango Night CoHo learn it for the ladies

W 7:30pm “Renewal” Kehillah Hall film about the interfaith action on environmentalism 8pm Stanford Photography Club Spring Exhibition CoHo come check out some seriously cool photographs

Th 8pm Admit Night at the CoHo CoHo some great music celebrating the profros

americanidols.com Her hair was a mess, and when she hit the “power notes” in the song, her face looked like a gargoyle. Getting back to the actual elimination, Anoop was sent back to safety, leaving both Lil and Matt in the bottom two. Lil totally deserved to go home that night — she actually deserved to go weeks ago, but once again she was safe — meaning that once-judge-favorite Matt was the night’s elimination. However, in a turn of events, the judges did something for the first time in “Idol” history and used their “Judge’s safe card” to protect Matt from elimination, ensuring his return for next week. As “epic” as this sounds, this was actually not that exciting. So, all in all, this was a rather ho-hum week for “American Idol.” All of the “good” performances were really only “good” at best and although all of the contestants really do have a plethora of talent, no one in my mind has yet to emerge as a frontrunner. We’ll just have to wait and see what next week brings! — k y l e E VA L D E Z contact kyle: [email protected]

friday april 17 2009

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RESTAURANT REViEW

CREPES CAFÉ

HAS GREAT TASTE UNDER WRAPS

he Bay Area has quite a few hidden food gems, especially close to Stanford campus. Don’t feel like you have egg on your face if you haven’t heard about some of them. A five minute drive or a quick CalTrain trip will take you to one of the best creperies in the area — Menlo Park’s Crepes Café. Rated one of the Best Restaurants in Menlo Park by U.S. Local Business Association, the Crepes Café has some of the finest crepes in the Bay Area in a quaint and homey café setting. Spring is an especially good time to go and take advantage of the Café’s spacious patio seating! Put simply, the Crepes Café provides patrons with a plethora of possibilities — Intermission has spent many a meal here and still hasn’t explored entire sections of the menu! On the savory side, crepe offerings include La Complete, with ham and cheese, to crepes with salmon, goat cheese, chicken or scallops. Veggie options are a-plenty, with onions, Portobello mushrooms or a medley. Also, if you can’t decide, you could also create your very own crepe. The wait staff is particularly helpful in assisting customers in navigating the Café’s array of edible delights. For our sweeter readers, the Café’s options range from fruit and chocolate mousse to its mainstay, sweet crepes. Beginners may want to stick with the Simple Crepe, with jam or honey. The more adventurous should try the Flambèed with Grand Merrier or Cognac. I usually stick with my favorite crepe in town — the Gargantua, which blends almonds, crepes and three scoops of delicious gelato. What if you went to a creperie and you don’t want crepes? Don’t fret, friend! Crepes Café’s got you covered with sandwiches, hot and cold, soups and salads. In addition, they’ve got omelets and scrambled eggs. The most expensive options at the Café are the Fondues, which, focusing on cheeses, are served with a crepe, salad and some fruit. They’ll set you back around $20 per person; the average crepe costs around $8.

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amanda zhang As crepes are a utility food — useful for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks — the Café has generous hours (Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Word to the wise: Sunday brunch is particularly popular, and you may want to call about availability for a seat around brunch-time. Overall, Crepes Café is definitely worth a visit to explore their expansive offerings and — for those romantically oriented — a neat date spot! If you need additional incentive, the Stanford Unofficial Guide includes a buy one, get one free coupon to Crepes Cafe, which makes this sweet deal even sweeter.

INTERMISSION

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PREVIEWS:

COACHELLA

oday marks the launch of the ninth consecutive Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, an annual three-day odyssey into the heart of Indio, Calif. for an unrivaled audio experience. With over 120 artists performing throughout a variety of stages and tents, this year’s lineup promises to be more eclectic than ever, featuring up-and-coming artists to well-established names in electronica, rock and hip hop. While students may have been thrown off by the rocketing prices (three-day passes cost $250 a pop) or the extreme desert temperatures (Saturday and Sunday are forecasted to hit the mid to upper 90s) there is no doubt that Goldenvoice, the event’s organizers, have created a lineup with something for everyone. This year’s festival, for some, may feel like a backtrack to the ‘70s and ‘80s. Among the seasoned veterans performing are Paul McCartney, former Smith’s front man Morrissey and everyone’s favorite goth rockers, The Cure. McCartney, who has branded himself “The Fireman,” is still going on strong, 30 years removed from The Beatles, and will close out Friday night with a performance on the main Coachella stage. The Cure is set to close the proceedings on the same stage Sunday night. For those born in the last quarter of the 20th century, do not be disappointed! Indie favorites Fleet Foxes and Rilo Kiley lead singer Jenny Lewis are scheduled for Saturday. Those hoping to immerse themselves in the newest sounds from the electronic and dance scene need to look no further then Crystal Castles, performing Sunday, and MSTRKRFT and The Chemical Brothers, both slated for Saturday. One trend highlighted at this festival is the return of performers for a second bite at the apple. Among artists performing for a second time are the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, stopping by

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— tommy TOBIN contact tommy: [email protected]

intermission

before kicking off a transatlantic tour, Stanford-favorite Girl Talk, Silversun Pickups and Swedish trio, Peter Bjorn and John. Space rocker and festival regular, Perry Farrell will be making his ninth appearance at Coachella. For hip-hop aficionados, the festival has penciled in a performance on Sunday night for Public Enemy, featuring Chuck D and the “timeless” Flavor Flav. Also performing are Lupe Fiasco and Mathangi Arulpragasam, better known as M.I.A., a substitute for the visa-challenged Amy Winehouse, who was denied access into the U.S. — no surprise there! Other headliners for this year’s event include Franz Ferdinand and The Killers, both of whom are mid-tour. The musical return of Travis Barker and DJ A.M., performing as TRV$DJ-AM, also promises to be a spectacle as the photos courtesy google images

two were the sole survivors of a plane crash in late 2008. For those of you who shelled out the big bucks and are ready to brave the heat, prepare for an epic audio journey. Ready your sunscreen, tank tops and tents, and make some memories. For those spending the weekend within the bubble that is the Farm, live vicariously through the experiences of your friends and check this section out next week for a full Coachella Festival review. Annika Heinle contributed to this piece. — ryan MAC contact ryan: [email protected]