July 2008

The Princeton Review has released its 2009 version of the “The Best 368 Colleges Rankings”, which chooses the 368 best colleges in the country and ranks in several favorable and unfavorable categories ranging from academics to professor accessibility to campus aesthetics.

The following rankings were given to Drexel based on surveys conducted by The Princeton Review:

• #3 in “Least Beautiful Campus”
• #7 in “Long Lines and Red Tape”
• #13 in “Professors Get Low Marks”
• #15 in “Least Accessible Professors”
• Top 25 in “Most Connected Campuses”
• Top Tier in “Top Entrepreneurial Programs:  Undergraduate”
• “This school is one of the colleges designated as one of the best 368 colleges in North America based on its outstanding academics and the opportunities provided to students.”

Photo source:  PrincetonReview.com

Two men were shot July 26 at 32nd and Haverford Streets, Philadelphia Police said.

Lt. John Walker of the PPD Southwest Detectives said police are searching for two suspects in the shooting.  A motive and description was not clear, Walker said.

One victim was treated and released from HUP while another is in critical but stable condition, according to a Philadelphia Police spokeswoman.

There was a flood on the 3rd floor of Curtis Hall this morning at 5:11 a.m. due to an air conditioner chiller water line that broke. A DPS officer was conducting scheduled security rounds and noticed water and notified University Facilities maintenance engineers.

The water line break was due to corrosion of the pipe. The water was able to make it down to the second floor and into several offices and classrooms. There was no major damage, but some personal belongings in offices were damaged.

The pipe was fixed by 9:00 a.m. and air conditioning was fully operational in all of the building shortly after that.

Source:  James Katsaounis, Executive Director Communications and Marketing, Student Life and Administrative Services

Photo:  Dave Hernandez, The Triangle

A new survey has ranked Philadelphia as the fifth most walkable city in the nation, according to an article on KYW1060.com.

The website Walkscore.com ranked the walkability of 40 U.S. cities and placed Philadelphia in the number five slot (with Centery City as its most walkable neighborhood), behind San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Washington.

According to Paul Levy, head of the Center City District:  “Philadelphia’s competitive strength is that we were designed, particularly in and around the downtown, before the automobile created really wide streets. So the ability to walk here is extremely good.”

Levy also believes that Philly’s walkability can be greatly improved. One project that he points to is thejust-announced renovations and improvements to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Photo courtesy of KYW1060.com.

University City District is teaming up with the Science Center to renovate and rejuvenate Market Street between 34th and 41st Streets, according to an article in The Daily Pennsylvanian.

University City District Executive Director Lewis Wendell is teaming up with Science Center Senior vice President of Real Estate and UCD board member Curt Hess to revitalize the blocks on Market Street in a more than $5 million project aimed at “creating uniformity in the streetscape.”

Some of the improvements will include light fixtures  powered by the sun and wind, stormwater collection systems that prevents runoff, sidewalks embedded with Wissahickon schist to create a “sparkle effect”, reduced on-street parking, a new bike lane, planted median areas, and more pedestrian lighting.

The improvements are currently being reviewed by the Streets Department and SEPTA. The project is slated to start in about 6 to 9 months when the design is finalized.

“This is going to be part of a gateway into University City,” said Hess, “a much more elegant boulevard.”

Photo courtesy of DailyPennsylvanian.com.

The popular Naked Chocolate Cafe will be opening a new branch of their store at 34th and Walnut this coming September, according to an article in The Daily Pennsylvanian. The cafe will be replacing University Jewelers, which closed in May.

According to cafe’s founding owner Tom Block, the plans for this store began about four months ago, but he has wanted to open a store in University City since his original store opened at 1317 Walnut Street almost 2 years ago.

“We’re hoping we’ll get a very positive response from the students and the entire community out there,” Block said.

Another Naked Chocolare Cafe will be opening on 18th and Chestnut in October.

Photo courtesy of NakedChocloateCafe.com.

I first heard of Bound Stems when I picked up a Flameshovel sampler at Pitchfork a few summers ago. Their song “Western Biographic” from the band’s 2006 full-length release, “Appreciation Night,” appeared on the mix and reminded me of a concoction filled with Modest Mouse and the Arcade Fire with a little dash of M. Ward.

The five-piece from Chicago are hitting the road and stopping in Philadelphia to promote their new album, “The Family Afloat,” due out later this summer on September 9.

You can catch Bound Stems playing at the M Room (15 W. Girard Ave) on Wednesday, July 23 at 8 pm. $12, 21+.

***Photo courtesy of Paige Brubeck for Canvas Media

On Monday, July 14, Jay Reatard was scheduled to play a show on Drexel’s own WKDU 91.7 fm. But due to some travel issues, the band didn’t make it to the studio. Fortunately, everyone still had a chance to catch Jay Reatard later that night at Fishtown’s finest music venue, Johnny Brenda’s.

Located at 1201 Frankford Avenue (a block away from the Girard stop on the Market-Frankford EL), Johnny Brenda’s hosts several concerts a week, showcasing Philly’s finest up-and-coming bands as well as indie favorites. The intimate space provides attendees with up close and personal interactions with their favorite musical artists. Johnny Brenda’s beer selection is to die for—all come from local breweries—and food is prepared using local Pennsylvania/New Jersey ingredients.

Headlining Monday’s event was Jay Reatard, the garage-punk hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. Also on the bill were two local Philly groups, The Tough Shits and Dark Horse & The Carousels, who really struck my attention.

The Tough Shits kicked off the show with some bad-ass rock ‘n roll! The lead singer’s energy definitely got the crowd moving.

Next came the quintet Dark Horse & The Carousels. The band worked some dance moves reminiscent of Iggy Pop and Mick Jagger; I felt like I could be back in the 70’s. With clever lyrics and heavy riffs, this band will surely develop into a favorite with the locals.

Last but not least, Jay Reatard and crew took the stage. Playing several less-than-two-minute jams, the trio rocked out for less than an hour, but showcased a full-filling set for the crowd of less than 200 concert-goers.

Johnny Brenda’s was a great venue to see these three bands. I recommend traveling up a little north on the EL to check out a show. With concerts between $7-$15, the price is right for college students and the well-kept venue will probably turn into one of your favorite hangouts by the end of the night.

Congratulations to Music Industry student Jonah Delso! Delso was selected to open for Coldplay on July 25 at the Wachovia Center through a video contest run by local rock station 93.3 WMMR.

Stay tuned for an interview with Delso in the July 25 issue of The Triangle, but for now, check out the winning video above.

I first heard of the Toronto based singer-songwriter Hayden when I went to see Feist at the Academy of Music this past April. Hayden’s unflappable character onstage, as well as his folky-acoustic-rock, drew me into his 2008 release, “In Field & Town.” For the past 15 years, Hayden has been creating music and touring across his native Canada, as well as the United States, Europe and Japan. He recently concluded a few tours supporting popular acts such as The National and Feist, as well as a sold out theater tour of Canada.  In his most recent visit to Philadelphia, Hayden sat down to chat a little bit about his past, the City of Brotherly Love, and his musical idols.

The Triangle: Most musicians say that their careers began when they picked up their first musical instrument, started singing or even began writing songs. When do you think your musical career began?

Hayden: My career probably began when I entered a song into a radio contest in Toronto. And I wrote the song and recorded it, but I got two of my friends to sing it because I had never sung before.  On the entry form it said “name of band” and I wrote Hayden down because it’s my middle name and I thought it was sort of ambiguous enough to sound like it might have been a band. It got on this CD and then started getting some radio play.

T: When was this all taking place?

H: I’d say ’93.

T: Who inspired you to make this music?

H: At the time, I really loved people like Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits.  And bands like Sebadoh, Airstrip, and Sonic Youth. It was a combination of older influences and what was good at the time.

T: Was that always your lifelong dream to create and produce music? Or did you have another career in mind?

H: I wanted to try to do something that had something to do with music.  I went to college for three years studying media/television.  I had a college radio show for a while, and then I got into making music videos for various bands.  None of that satisfied me like writing songs.

T: I saw you open for Feist at the Academy of Music here in Philadelphia back in April.  How was it touring with developing pop-rock artists like Feist and the National?

H: Yeah it’s exciting touring with those two bands in particular. The outside people probably just think of Feist as the girl from the iPod commercial. But she is so much more. And the National too, they work hard and they are great artists who create beautiful music. It’s a great thing to be a part of that.

T: You’ve been to Philadelphia a few times now. Have you gotten a chance to go sightseeing or experience anything in America’s birthplace?

H: Over the past 15 years, I’ve probably been here every three to four years.  I like it more and more every time I come. I ran the “Rocky” steps at the Art Museum.

T: I know you just released the album “In Field & Town”back in the spring, but do you have any plans for an upcoming album?

H: I might try to record.  I have the month of August off so I might try to get something happening then.

T: Last question, if there was one artist/band you could tour with, who would it be and what venue would you kick off the tour?

H: Venue first. I’ve never played at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.  I always hear people say it’s awesome. It’s where the first “Phantom of the Opera” used to be.  So that’s the venue.  And then maybe Tom Waits. That would be pretty great.* photo taken by Alysson Cwyk