Growing up in New York City, specifically a neighborhood with a strong LGBTQ community, I was used to same sex-couples walking by as I went to the corner deli to grab some candy. It never truly occurred to me until middle school that having an attraction to a girl was wrong. For the longest time, I was confused about how to define myself because I had crushes on both girls and boys. Even my very first kiss was not from an awkward boy in middle school: my first kiss happened with a girl, and it felt just as natural as it did when I kissed a boy a few years later.
Dreaded by some, eagerly awaited by others, inescapable for all, Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. This particular day at Amherst (and beyond) can stress us out for a multitude of different reasons. For those without significant others, it can be a lonely 24 hours overflowing with jealousy and handfuls of food that we will regret consuming later.
Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) has been having a difficult time processing the dissolution of his marriage to his first wife, Katherine (Rooney Mara): they grew up together, they went to college together, they saw each other through the hardships of establishing careers and beginning their adult lives. But he’s met someone new — her name is Samantha and she’s really great, super funny, smart, friendly, kind. She also sorts emails and files with ease, keeps track of calendar dates and events and wakes Theodore when it’s time to get out of bed in the morning.
Classes have begun. My back tingles in anticipation of hunching for hours during late night writing sessions while my brain savors a few fleeting moments of peace before entering the hum of heavy caffeine intake. For now, however, I am sitting at my computer, sipping red wine with more thought and concentration than ever before. I am indeed drinking on a Sunday evening when I have class in less than 24 hours.
Every college town needs its own trendy coffee shop where undergrads can hide out on Sundays equipped with lattes, muffins and Macbooks. Luckily, the Amherst area has a plethora of hot spots to choose from. Each coffee shop in the Pioneer Valley has its own set of quirks and secrets, and there is enough variety for every college student in the area to find one that they can call “their spot.” Here is a compilation and review of the Pioneer Valley’s most popular hangouts:
I remember for about 18 months while I was five and six, I made it a point to watch “The Lion King” at least once a week. When I realized just how excessive this pre-adolescent binge watching was, I felt sorry for all the people who had to watch with me to make sure the VHS worked. This person was usually my mom. Recently, my mom reminded me of these frequent screenings.
With the Oscars around the corner, a month of marathon movie viewing behind me, and no Student articles to share my opinions through, I had a difficult time deciding which film to review with the start of the semester. So, allowing myself to make matters easier, I thought I’d review all of the films vying for Oscar glory I haven’t had the chance to share my opinion on already. Yeah, it’s a bit of a cheat, but who can complain about five reviews for the price of one?
