Don’t go clamoring to put your orders in just yet, Twilight fans – Stephanie Meyer might (but not surely) make another addition to the Twilight saga. In an interview with Oprah, the best-selling author admitted that she always envisioned the series to be longer but as of now, she is satisfied where she ended it. But for you disappointed vampire lovers, check out Meyer’s sci-fi “The Host” because she might expand it into a trilogy.

For those Carrie Bradshaw fans, you won’t have to wait until ‘Sex and the City 2’ – Candance Bushnell is publishing a new book (The Carrie Diaries) to document the famous main character in her high school days! According to People, the story will follow the young fashionista as she goes through her first love, her relationship with her mother, and most importantly, how she became a writer. It’s due out April 27, 2010, one month before the film hits theaters!

The beloved comedian and MTV personality Ken Ober died this weekend at the age of 52. He hosted the MTV quiz show “Remote Control,” and worked behind-the-scenes in productions of “Mind of Mencia” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” As of now, the cause of his death is unknown.

Courtesy of ctruongngoc, Flickr This isn't too difficult, is it boys?

Returning to the U.S. in a little over a month is going to terribly difficult.  How am I expected to shift from Italy’s version of fast food (fresh pizza with mozzarella) to America’s (Taco Bell)? 

In addition to transitioning from less delicious food and no more European traveling, the change from well-dressed men to t-shirt laden American guys is going to be, to say the least, a bit tough.  I am almost certain my eyes are going to bleed when I set eyes on the first pair of light-wash American Eagle jeans (bought circa 2001) worn with an old pair of skate-y sneakers and last year’s Relay for Life shirt. 

So, for the boys, here are some things you can learn from your counterparts across the Pond:

• Jeans are supposed to fit: So we all have the stereotypical view of European men in skin-tight jeans, but in all reality, those guys are the minority.  Mostly, men’s jeans are straight leg (meaning slim fit, not skinny) and are in a dark wash.  They fit snugly around the hips and belts are worn.  Accents on the jeans are minimal—a permanent wrinkle around the hip or at the ankle or buttons on the back pockets.  American guys can find this style of jean in the United States. 

Check out the J. Crew 484 slim fit or the Selvedge fit.  Levi’s makes several skinny and straight options sold at Urban Outfitters.  Try the 514 or 511 if you’re more conservative and the 3D Tux jean or the 511 Rigid Villain zipper jean.

• Shoes: A European wouldn’t be caught dead in the Nike ‘trainers’ that American wear from the gym, to class to a party.  Sure, they have sneakers, but they are colorful or metallic and are reserved for the daytime. 

At night, pubs, bars, and clubs are full of guys in what we would call ‘dress shoes’.  They’re black or brown leather, come in many styles like a modified loafer or lace-up wingtip, and depending on where you are in Europe, can be rather pointy.  To summarize the European viewpoint on shoes put in perspective that all of the major European designers (e.g. Gucci, Louis Vuitton) create ‘fancy’ sneakers for day and sleek shoes for night or business.  You don’t need to buy Gucci to get the look though.  For sneakers, choose something simple and made of sturdy material.  Classic Vans are always a simple option.  Try the corduroy or Prison Issue styles.  For night, try the Bed Stu Brown lace-up available online from Urban Outfitters or the UO brand Wingtip.

• Embrace plaid: Especially when I visited the UK, I felt like I was swimming in a sea of plaid.  A plaid button down that fits well (meaning there shouldn’t be too much room in any one place) is an easy way to look classy, but still casual.  Keep in mind the jeans and shoes stuff from above and don’t be afraid to go for a macro- or micro-plaid or gingham in bold and fun colors.  Try Commander Salamander or Up Against the Wall in Georgetown if you’re feeling adventurous or the Gap for some classic checks.

• Fall accessories: Scarves and hats are often reserved for snow in the U.S.  They are, though, a really easy way to add color and texture to an outfit.  They are also available in a multitude of styles to match your taste.  J. Crew and Ralph Lauren Rugby have the best preppy and colorful options while Urban Outfitters can take care of the rest.

• Looking good takes time: The November issue of British Cosmo revealed that British men spend 1 hour and 44 minutes getting ready for a night out—only 19 minutes less than British women.  That time is spent “picking out an outfit, ironing and dressing” for 49 minutes, showering for 12, fixing their hair for 9, and the rest of the time fussing (read: pre-gaming and general organizing of plans). 

I am sure that a survey of American men would yield very different results.  I have seen boys get ready in, literally, 5 minutes.  Forget ironing or messing with their hair—they just throw on a polo, brush their teeth, and are ready to leave.  Boys: British guys already have their accents going for them and still take that long to get ready!  You may not need almost two hours, but at least spend 15 minutes (not including your shower) thinking about what you’re going to wear, putting it on, and fixing your hair.

• Gender roles in clothing: Men in Europe are very secure in their sexuality (sometimes too secure, in Italy)—so wearing clothing that fit snugly is natural.  It’s not seen as ‘feminine’ or ‘gay’ to wear tight jeans or tight shirts here like it is at home and frankly, it’s sad that we still have this backwards point of view.  Clothes should fit well and just because a guy spends time making himself look good or shopping, he shouldn’t be criticized as a ‘girl’ or a ‘bitch’, ‘gay’ or a ‘homo’, or any other gender stereotyped phrase.  It’s time that American boys and girls became men and women and stop characterizing certain clothing styles according to outdated definitions of masculinity and femininity.  So boys, feminist rampage over: stop caring if your buddies make fun of you for taking more than 10 seconds to get ready—you’ll impress girls who take longer than 10 seconds to get ready, too.

Sure, I’ll be happy to return to Target, Comcast digital cable, the English language, and football (the real kind!), but I hope to see more fellows donning at least some aspects of the European style!

~Taylor Swift brought her A-game to SNL when she spoofed the popular series “Twilight.” The spoof – “Firelight” – centered on Swift’s character Stella wearing a Bella-like wig as she falls in love with Frankenstein, who cannot kiss her because he chokes people he kisses. Parodying several “Twilight” scenes, viewers are sure to get a laugh from the blonde-haired singer.

~After Rihanna opened up about her assault to 20/20, Chris Brown has something to say. According to MTV, Brown says the details of the situation should remain private between the two of them and not aired publically. In other words, he doesn’t need this assault to keep ruining his image.

~Gwyneth Paltrow replaced Charlize Thereon in “The Danish Girl,” a film that depicts the first post-operative transsexual starring Nicole Kidman. Kidman plays Einar Wegener who is at first a man but, with the support of his wife Greta (Paltrow), makes the transformation to female Lili. Tension arises from the arrangement and within the marriage. So far, the film has no release date.

~To no one’s surprise, Twilight took home the most People’s Choice Award nominations. According to ABC news, Robert Pattinson who plays mysterious Edward Cullen was nominated for favorite movie star and his co-star Kristen Stewart was nominated for favorite movie actress. Taylor Lautner, who recently underwent a physical transformation that drove fan girls crazy, was nominated for favorite breakout movie actor. The film itself was nominated for favorite movie franchise, up against Harry Potter and Transformers 2. It’ll be an epic battle between vampires, wizards and robots, but if the new vampirism fad is anything to go by, the blood-suckers might end up on top. Tune in January 6th to find out the results!

*Fan obsession took on a new meaning after celebrity homes were broken into last week. Rachel J. Lee, believed to be the mastermind of the break-ins of the homes of Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Audrina Patridge and Lindsay Lohan, was arrested Thursday, according to People. She and other women had found the stars’ homes then calculated when they would least likely be home to steal expensive fashionable clothing. She also may have burglarized homes belonging to Rachel Bilson and Hayden Panettiere. Last weekend, Kourtney Kardashian was the latest victim. In all the burglaries, thousands of dollars worth of clothing, jewelry, bags and other items were stolen.

*A few weeks ago, Miley Cyrus surprised the world when she said goodbye to Twitter and closed her account. Despite pleas to return, Cyrus instead rapped a video saying goodbye and that was that. Now, however, the teen starlet wants Twitter to be banned everywhere. According to MTV, she told people that it was a waste of time and people needed to go live life instead of living hunched up in front of their laptops.

*Eighth time is the charm! Mel Gibson had his eighth child last Friday with girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, who gave birth to baby girl Lucia, according to the Associated Press. Congrats to the eighth-time daddy!

We are at the forefront of another civil rights movement. Not “The” Civil Rights Movement, bur certainly a civil rights movement, one of the last major forefronts of American civil rights—the push for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. This was made abundantly clear when up to 200,000 LGBT activists and their allies showed up this past Sunday on the National Mall for the National Equality March. 

A once-controversial call-to-arms, the National Equality March, called for by LGBT activist Cleve Jones and organized by Equality Across America, was a display of solidarity in the queer community, as thousands marched through the streets of D.C. and rallied seven blocks deep on the National Mall. 

Although the March drew controversy for its last-minute organization, it was clear that now is the most opportune time to demand LGBT rights. The LGBT community is reaching a point where visibility is no longer an impossibility. Though, of course, there are a multitude of instances where one may garner discrimination or hostility due to one’s gender or sexuality, we are now moving into an era where being out is no longer on the periphery of possibility, but rather a common sentiment of what we may achieve.

This sentiment was best summed up by the crowd’s chant, “Harvey Milk was right/Show your pride and fight!” Milk, the first openly gay politician to be elected to public office in California and slain civil rights leader, has become something of the LGBT rights movement’s martyr. His message: no one can attain equality if they are not willing to be out about who they are. 

This message was echoed by the speakers at the rally, whose number somewhat unnecessarily totaled over 30, who urged members of the crowd to be out not because they sought legitimacy or validation, but because they owed it to themselves to live their lives truthfully.

The line-up of speakers ranged from huge figureheads in the LGBT community such as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell activist Lt. Dan Choi and politician/activist David Mixner to celebrities such as openly-queer Cynthia Nixon (“Sex and the City”) and out-and-proud ally Lady Gaga. Also present were a number of young leaders from organizations such as Join the Impact, whose persistent campaigning managed to organize the largest LGBT rights protest only a week after Proposition 8 passed last November.

Sunday’s rally covered all the bases in the fight against inequality. Instead of quietly accepting the generation gap that exists between the gay liberation fighters from the ‘70s and the equality marchers of today, they painted the new generation of activists as young and enthusiastic but always looking reverently to the past for advice from those who fought for liberation before them. 

Not only referencing Milk and other early leaders of the LGBT movement (and actually acknowledging every facet of that, a rare feat at mainstream LGBT events), speakers at the rally addressed leaders in past civil rights movements as well. Reading a letter from Desmond Tutu, Rev. Metropolitan Community Church founder Rev. Troy Perry rallied the crowd by invoking the spirits of African American leaders, advocates for education, and activists fighting AIDS and breast cancer.

In spite of the strong start, the rally dwindled as the afternoon wore on. The topics covered by the speakers began to become redundant, and the speeches seemed more like face time for less widely-known leaders to get their 15 minutes. Rather than focusing on a few strong speakers and allowing them to fully develop their points, the structure of the rally seemed only to further solidify the greater problem in the LGBT movement—it’s lack of one solid leader. 

Despite these setbacks, by rousing the spirits of the past and taking the climate of the present, it was made clear that our generation is moving toward great change. As Mixner pointed out, “They can’t take away our freedom—we already have it. It is ours, and we are going to fight to protect it!”

BY: Caitlin Smith

In the food world, cupcakes are the hottest accessory. In almost every major city, gourmet cupcake stores have opened their doors to a salivating public and Washington, D.C. is no exception. I am quite certain you have walked around the city and have been enticed into these cupcake stores, with their bold colors, playful fonts and delectable display of cupcakes in the window. Who would not want to go in? Do not be fooled, not all cupcakes are created equal! This is the case with the two leading cupcake stores in D.C., Hello Cupcake in Dupont and Georgetown Cupcake in, you guessed it, Georgetown. I take desserts seriously, probably a little too seriously, but it is my sincere effort to direct you to the best cupcake joint this city has to offer. 

When you walk into Hello Cupcake, you will be greeted with a pink and brown color scheme, a little too close to rival Georgetown Cupcake in my opinion, but still cheerful and fun. Pink chandeliers hang from the ceiling and give a much-needed twist to the otherwise boring office buildings surrounding the small store. I will admit, I had high hopes for Hello Cupcake: cute name, adorable looking cupcakes and a fun atmosphere—what could go wrong? I ordered a peanut butter blossom cupcake; it had a small chocolate cake base with a medium amount of peanut butter frosting, and finished off with a Hershey’s Kiss. My favorite part of the whole cupcake? The Hershey’s Kiss. My main issue with the cupcake was the frosting, which seemed to lack an important ingredient: peanut butter, causing the icing taste purely like butter, too heavy and too greasy.

The actual cake portion of the cupcake was dry and crumbled easily, making it extraordinarily frustrating to eat. In my later experiences with Hello Cupcake, I was told to fold the cupcake in half, giving it the appearance of a sandwich. Personally, I do not want to eat a cupcake sandwich, I want my cupcake to be straightforward without any special tricks involved. I have been hard pressed to find a worthy cupcake at Hello Cupcake; the cupcakes are small, the frosting too heavy and the flavors lacking. I suggest Hello Cupcake only as a last resort but even then I would suggest one of the tastier frozen yogurt places in Dupont before going to this disappointing cupcake establishment. 

It saddens me to see a possible dessert favorite fail to meet my expectations; however, where there is a silly cupcake “sandwich,” there is a cupcake in the form of the gods at Georgetown Cupcake. Located in the heart of Georgetown, Georgetown Cupcake is small and when I say small, I mean about one-third the size of your dorm room small. There is room for one table, two chairs, a display case, and a register. Unlike Hello Cupcake, Georgetown Cupcake proudly displays their cupcakes on silver cake stands, adding an elegance to these beauties they entirely deserve. 

The line to enter the store easily extends down the street and is even known to wrap around the block. Do not be scared away when you see the line, simply take your place and begin thinking about the cupcakes you want to try and you will hardly notice the wait. Although Hello Cupcake offers a wider variety of cupcakes, Georgetown Cupcake sticks to an old mantra: less is more—preferring to keep it simple with their selection. From the chocolate2 (chocolate on chocolate) to the red velvet, simplicity is key in their creations. 

While I find the chocolate2 to be too chocolaty (a surprise to many who know me), the cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting are completely worth the $2.75. Take your pick of old favorites (red velvet, coconut and carrot cake) or try something new (chocolate mint, key lime or chocolate banana), I promise you will not be disappointed. 

To put it simply, if you would not be caught dead wearing knock-off accessories, then why visit second-rate cupcake stores? Stick with the best and you will be satisfied.

By: Melissa Chavez

*Remember that sweet redhead in “The Parent Trap?” Whatever happened to her and who is this girl with all this drama? True, it’s not only Lindsay Lohan causing a stir in the media but her parents – namely her father, Michael Lohan.

According to People magazine, instead of talking face-to-face to his daughter, Michael Lohan took to the show “Maury” and promised his daughter he would save her. Later, he said he would try and get a judge to grant him conservatorship over Lindsay but if that doesn’t work, he would just take Lindsay away, recognizing he would be charged with kidnapping if he did. Surprisingly, it was Lindsay’s mom Dina Lohan who told Michael to shut up and stop talking to national television. Now the question is – will Michael listen? Oh and if Lindsay mysteriously disappears, we’ll all know who to point the finger at.

*Trouble brews for Madonna, in the form of a lawsuit! According to the Associated Press, Madonna’s neighbor, Karen George, claims the singer turned her apartment into a rehearsal studio where music blares and the walls shake daily. The building’s board has already threatened to evict Madonna. Maybe it’s time for her to rent out an actual rehearsal studio, eh?

*According to E! Online, the Fox show “Glee” was shut out of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade – which is run by rival NBC. Apparently, NBC was worried this would be like a huge advertisement to the competitor so NBC closed down talks of the “Glee” stars appearing in their parade. But in an unexpected turn of events, “Glee” out-rated NBC’s “Law and Order: SVU.” Guess they don’t need your parade to do better than you, NBC.

We are at the forefront of another civil rights movement. Not “The” Civil Rights Movement, bur certainly a civil rights movement, one of the last major forefronts of American civil rights—the push for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. This was made abundantly clear when up to 200,000 LGBT activists and their allies showed up this past Sunday on the National Mall for the National Equality March.

A once-controversial call-to-arms, the National Equality March, called for by LGBT activist Cleve Jones and organized by Equality Across America, was a display of solidarity in the queer community, as thousands marched through the streets of D.C. and rallied seven blocks deep on the National Mall.

Although the March drew controversy for its last-minute organization, it was clear that now is the most opportune time to demand LGBT rights. The LGBT community is reaching a point where visibility is no longer an impossibility. Though, of course, there are a multitude of instances where one may garner discrimination or hostility due to one’s gender or sexuality, we are now moving into an era where being out is no longer on the periphery of possibility, but rather a common sentiment of what we may achieve.

This sentiment was best summed up by the crowd’s chant, “Harvey Milk was right/Show your pride and fight!” Milk, the first openly gay politician to be elected to public office in California and slain civil rights leader, has become something of the LGBT rights movement’s martyr. His message: no one can attain equality if they are not willing to be out about who they are.

This message was echoed by the speakers at the rally, whose number somewhat unnecessarily totaled over 30, who urged members of the crowd to be out not because they sought legitimacy or validation, but because they owed it to themselves to live their lives truthfully.

The line-up of speakers ranged from huge figureheads in the LGBT community such as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell activist Lt. Dan Choi and politician/activist David Mixner to celebrities such as openly-queer Cynthia Nixon (“Sex and the City”) and out-and-proud ally Lady Gaga. Also present were a number of young leaders from organizations such as Join the Impact, whose persistent campaigning managed to organize the largest LGBT rights protest only a week after Proposition 8 passed last November.

Sunday’s rally covered all the bases in the fight against inequality. Instead of quietly accepting the generation gap that exists between the gay liberation fighters from the ‘70s and the equality marchers of today, they painted the new generation of activists as young and enthusiastic but always looking reverently to the past for advice from those who fought for liberation before them.

Not only referencing Milk and other early leaders of the LGBT movement (and actually acknowledging every facet of that, a rare feat at mainstream LGBT events), speakers at the rally addressed leaders in past civil rights movements as well. Reading a letter from Desmond Tutu, Rev. Metropolitan Community Church founder Rev. Troy Perry rallied the crowd by invoking the spirits of African American leaders, advocates for education and activists fighting AIDS and breast cancer.

In spite of the strong start, the rally dwindled as the afternoon wore on. The topics covered by the speakers began to become redundant, and the speeches seemed more like face time for less widely-known leaders to get their 15 minutes. The rally did not just focus on a few strong speakers and allow them to fully develop their points, instead the rally’s structure seemed to further solidify the greater problem in the LGBT movement—its lack of one solid leader.

Despite these setbacks, by rousing the spirits of the past and taking the climate of the present, it was made clear that our generation is moving toward great change. As Mixner pointed out, “They can’t take away our freedom—we already have it. It is ours, and we are going to fight to protect it!”

by Caitlin Smith

Leaves, jackets, boots and scarves. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to fall.

I know many of you must be pining for the return of summer and hoping the D.C. weather continues to play tricks on you with more seventy degree days (quite possible during the fall here in the District). Being a southern California girl, I feel your pain as I usually consider fifty-degree weather to be positively frigid!

I invite you all to fall back into summer with me by exploring a few of my favorite summer eateries. If you take these suggestions, I guarantee you will feel the warmth of summer overcome you again.

Despite living 20 minutes from Malibu, seafood is not as crucial for my survival as it is with many of my friends from the Northeast. All I have to do is mention crab cakes, fish n’ chips, or lobster and my friends from the East begin to do back flips with excitement. I must say I do owe my love of the crab cake to them.

If you want to recreate your summer clambakes or trips to the Cape, then you need to head down to the wharf (also known as the Maine Avenue Fish Market). Do not be scared, you have nothing to fear from the southwest area of D.C. and I encourage you to break out of your comfort zone and explore beyond the northwest neighborhoods of the city.

The wharf is a collection of fish markets where you can not only order food, but also purchase fresh fish. I highly recommend Jimmy’s because the portions are huge and the price is reasonable. My fellow foodie and I split the crab cake platter, which comes with two sides and two crab cakes, as well as a medium sized New England clam chowder all for $15, an extraordinarily reasonable price for seafood. The price may be low but the food is fresh and prepared only upon ordering, two good indicators of a good meal.

Be warned, there is no traditional seating (it is just a fish market), so be prepared to stand against the very few high top tables. Get off at L’Enfant Plaza or Navy Yard and you will be at the wharf within minutes.

If seafood is not your thing or the thought of veering off the red line scares you, then head on over to Georgetown for my final two summer favorites. I may be from California but my roots are in Missouri and in Missouri we enjoy a good barbeque.

The best barbeque in D.C. is hands down Old Glory located on the corner of M Street and Wisconsin. Unlike most restaurants in G-town, Old Glory is casual and unsophisticated (very necessary for a barbeque joint). Enjoy the cornbread muffins and honey butter at your table but be sure to share because it is easy to eat them all yourself! If you do not know much about barbeque, then stick with the pulled pork sandwich; however, if you are feeling a little southern, then go with the Cajun fried catfish wrap. Filled with cheddar cheese, lettuce, spicy tartar sauce and catfish then wrapped in an orange tortilla, the catfish wrap is my favorite thing on the menu. The cheese is always perfectly melted and the catfish delightfully crunchy.

The unique thing about Old Glory is that they have barbeque sauce from every region of the country, which they make in house. Play around and have fun with the options but I do recommend the Kansas City sauce, not that my entire family is from Kansas City or anything—please disregard the bias.

Once you are finished at Old Glory, turn the corner and walk up Wisconsin Avenue to Thomas Sweets for some ice cream. Yes, it is fall and yes, it is cold outside but you do not have to eat outside, so go right on in. The flavor board is enormous and written on a chalkboard because they are continually adding new flavors.

If you are going for a cone, then try the Reese’s peanut butter cup flavor but if you want to be bold and daring, then go for the brownie sundae. This definitely needs to be split with someone else because it is a brownie, three scoops of ice cream (you choose the flavors), hot fudge, whipped cream and cherries. I am fortunate enough to have a partner in crime who is usually willing to make the special trip to Georgetown just to split this sundae with me.

Thomas Sweets does have soft serve and frozen yogurt for the non-ice cream enthusiasts. The place is cash only but they do have an ATM in the store for emergencies—isn’t it always an emergency when you forget money for ice cream?

According to Reuters, Lady Gaga and Kanye West have broken off their planned tour (“Fame Kills”). Instead, Lady Gaga announced a day later she plans on going solo. While Lady Gaga publically announced it was a mutually agreement, you have to think this might be due to the bad publicity that followed West after he interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance award. In any case, if you were just going for Lady Gaga, her new tour will kick off in mid-November so get ready for those tickets!

With all the vampire hype, Zombieland must have been like a breath of fresh air for movie-goers. According to the New York Times, the film opened to number 1 over the weekend with an estimated $25 million sale in tickets. However, Whip It, featuring Juno’s Ellen Page, performed extremely poorly in 6th place, only selling $4.9 million.

Better watch out – Hugh Jackman does not like people interrupting his Broadway performance! According to E! Online, during the play (A Steady Rain), a member’s of the audience phone went off. Jackman, whose character was reliving painful memories, broke character to tell the person “You want to get that?” When the phone kept ringing, he pleaded, “Come on, just turn it off.” After about a minute of Jackman pacing the stage, the ringing stopped and the show continued without another disturbance.

Weekend Wrap Ups

When you think of Pirates of the Caribbean, you instantly imagine Johnny Depp’s savvy Captain Jack Sparrow. So can Disney executives possibly even think about making two more Pirates of the Caribbean movies – without Depp? According to MTV, Depp isn’t too enthusiastic about returning to the “Pirates” franchise after Disney studio chief Dick Cook left. While he will most likely return for the fourth installment, the fifth and sixth (yup, Disney has plans for even more pirate fun) could feature a new lead. The only question is, who could possibly replace Depp’s iconic and lovable pirate?

Those who saw – and loved – Neil Patrick Harris’s Emmy Award presentation (with his big musical number) will be excited to note that 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother will feature Harris’s character – wait for it – having a musical act! According to executive producer Craig Thomas, “there will be a huge Barney story culminating in an enormous musical number that we’re going to spend way too much of Twentieth Television’s money on.” So get ready, Neil Patrick Harris fans and don’t be surprised if he ends up stealing the show!

Look out, “Melrose Place” – Heather Locklear is back and will be sure to spur up some trouble. According to Entertainment Weekly, Locklear, a star of the original series, will be reprising her role as Amanda Woodward, a tough advertising executive. Locklear’s return could go either way: the struggling show come possibly reign in some more viewers – or this could possibly mean viewers will switch the channel and be the end of “Melrose Place.”

KRISTEN PIONATI / THE EAGLE Typical German traditional garb.

Oktoberfest, above all, is about the beer…or at least I thought so until I actually arrived in Munich.  It is actually a celebration of German culture, which not only includes beer, but food and most importantly to me: fashion.  The festival is an opportunity for Germans (and everyone else) to dress in traditional garb: lederhosen and dirndls. 

Every German man, adult or child, wears lederhosen to Oktoberfest.  Lederhosen are embroidered suede pants, capris or shorts that often have coordinating suspenders that are connected by a rectangular piece of fabric across the chest.  Essentially, they are the male version of the female romper.  Underneath, the guys wear adorable gingham checkered button downs in blues, purples and the very popular red.  Troops of boys are often seen in the same color scheme all prost-ing (the German toasts chanted along with live bands in all of the festival tents) and singing along to popular German songs (and one American—“Hey Baby” by Bruce Channel.  If you hear the chant version, you will undoubtedly have a new appreciation for the song). 

The lederhosen clad men are also not shy about accessorizing.  Socks identical to the ones American Catholic school-girls wear don the calves of men in both the shorts and capris. Some men are even brave enough to try coordinating argyle.  Scarves bearing the traditional edelweiss flower are also wrapped around boys’ necks in the way an American hipster would wear a bandana.  Fedora hats bearing felt emblems of the different kinds of beers or feathers are also popular.

The beer tents at the festival open at 9 a.m., so everyone hoping to get seated at a table must be in line by at least 8 a.m.  Munich at 8 a.m. is cold—around 50 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  To alleviate the cold, men wear what I would call “grandpa sweaters”—thick cable knit wool sweaters with leather covered buttons that become oddly attractive when put on the inevitably handsome, brawny, and tall Germans.

The shoewear choices of the guys indicates one of the large themes surrounding lederhosen and Oktoberfest itself—one German, Arnie, who was about my age, told me that Oktoberfest was a chance for them to remember the past while celebrating the present (with beer, he was careful to note).  The traditional shoe is a sort of suede Doc Marten-ish shoe that laces up diagonally, but many the younger guys wear anything from boat shoes to Converse (my favorite) to very Rugby Ralph Lauren-esque work boots. 

The easiest way to describe a dirndl to an American crowd is to call it a beer maid’s outfit.  The bottom layer is a white blouse that falls in a deep-v with a pleated sleeve that cinches to create an extra puff.  Over top is a dress with a corseted waist, a-line skirt, and very lower décolletage.  The dirndl is, perhaps, the most flattering traditional garb I have ever seen.  If purchased in the appropriate size, it sucks in your waist while pushing up your bust and can be worn in a variety of lengths. 

The girls don’t accessorize as much as the boys because dirndls come in innumerable colors and patterns—they wear heels or flats and also don the same scarves as the men, but attach a heavy silver edelweiss charm.  They do, however, use their hair as an accessory.  Braids in any form are the fashion of choice.  The more traditional girls do a Heidi-esque braid headband or French braid pigtails, but others choose a trendy braid pinned on the side. 

Oktoberfest and the clothing that go with it are distinctly German—most Americans don’t seem to have a loyalty to the clothes that had an impact on our history and I don’t think they would be willing to wear them anyways.  Americans are just going to have to buy some lederhosen, catch a flight to Munich, and drink a stein at Oktoberfest!

by Alex Rudolph

One of the great ironies of Yo La Tengo is how little they have changed as a band in the seventeen years since James McNew signed on as bassist, but how incredibly wide their range has become.  Thursday’s set at the 9:30 Club showed off this range, covering the quiet, late-night introspection of 2000’s “And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out,” the heavy, near-psychedelic qualities of new album opener “Here To Fall,” and the stripped down covers that have consistently shown up in Yo La Tengo’s shows and albums since their original, McNew-less 1986 inception. Ira Kaplan still burst into long-but-never-too-long guitar solos; Georgia Hubley still played the drums better than she will ever receive credit for.

The lack of change to the trio’s set-up has been a boon if anything, leading to near-psychic connections between the band mates: when Kaplan turned the normally succinct “Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House” into an extended jam, McNew and Hubley did not miss a beat, continuing the song and playing off of their guitarist’s improvisations. When Kaplan made a passing reference to the group’s hometown of Hoboken and his marriage to Hubley in between songs, it was acknowledged that if you had paid to see Yo La Tengo, you were probably familiar with their history.

As is the case on their albums, Hubley and Kaplan’s voices were often overtaken by their instruments.  Even during quieter, sparer songs like “Autumn Sweater,” where the only noises come from two drummers and an organ, Kaplan’s vocals were mixed so low that it was easy to wonder whether or not he was still singing.  The decision to keep the vocals low seemed like a defense mechanism at times, especially when Kaplan was whispering out lyrics like “I try my best to hide in the crowded room; it’s nearly impossible.”  When his more aggressive work kicked in during initial set closer “Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind,” though, there was no question that Kaplan was capable of being heard when he wanted to be.

Surprisingly, when James McNew sang lead vocals in a falsetto familiar to fans of his solo project, Dump, he was able to rise above the instrumentation, as was displayed during a cover of Black Flag’s “Nervous Breakdown.”

While the first half of the band’s two hour set was heavy on songs led by organ, the back half brought out Kaplan’s guitar hero ferocity. There were highlights with the classics “Tom Courtenay” and “Sugarcube,” which was introduced with 30 seconds of random noise by each band member. Only then was it clear it was Yo La Tengo’s highest charting single and the song that tried to turn the band into a radio sensation. “Sugarcube” is still catchy ten years later, and when the small guitar solos that punctuate the chorus broke out, McNew was clearly smiling.  “Sugarcube” led one man in the front row to take his earplugs out.  If you’re going to lose your hearing, there are much worse soundtracks to be deafened to than a Yo La Tengo song.

Toward the end, Hubley came out from behind her drum kit to play acoustic guitar, a move that Kaplan said was “quickly becoming [his] favorite part of the show.”  It was clear that there was affection amongst the band members.  The evidence was in every one of Kaplan’s smiles to his wife and in every nod to McNew that signified the introduction of an eight minute solo.

Check out Yo La Tengo’s video for “Sugarcube”

by Caitlin Smith

Just when you thought Adams Morgan was all about bars and jumbo slice pizza, you walk into The Diner, a modern take on a classic small town eatery. Open twenty-four hours a day, The Diner serves “early birds, night owls and everyone in between,” truly making the customer feel comfortable no matter what time of day it is. The establishment fits in well with the numerous bars in Adams Morgan, as it is a welcoming place to crash for those who partake in the wine and spirits (the place even has its own bar, so feel free to continue). No matter what time of day you go, I am sure you will love some of the suggestions I have below.

Breakfast at The Diner is fairly standard with pancakes, french toast, and various other breakfast necessities; however, you must go for the omelets. I have yet to find a better omelet in D.C., yes, even better than TDR omelet bar! Try the B&B Omelet, it’s exploding with bleu cheese and bacon (hence the B&B) and served with delicious, crunchy home fries and a perfectly toasted English muffin. I usually order this omelet because my partner in crime strongly dislikes bleu cheese; therefore, I can ensure this tasty omelet all to myself. I will warn you in advance, you will fall in love with the home fries, try to make sure the person you go with orders them too because sharing is simply not an option (I only speak from experience). For the more adventurous types, try the Corned Beef Hash omelet. Not being one for corned beef hash, I reluctantly tried this creation and was genuinely surprised when I found myself nodding in approval of its tastiness. A word of caution, The Diner is packed on Saturday and Sunday mornings due to the breakfast crowd. If you want to avoid the wait, find a seat at the bar and enjoy a good conversation with the barman, he will not disappoint!

I usually visit The Diner for breakfast but I do occasionally pop in for lunch or dinner. While the burgers are not my favorite (I prefer thinner patties), their other options are filling and crave worthy. When I cannot decide what I want, I default on one of two meals: macaroni and cheese or fish and chips. The macaroni and cheese is not your Easy Mac, mainly because they actually use cheese and not cheese powder. The Diner uses three types of cheese: gruyere, cheddar and parmesan and they are not shy when smothering the noodles in this cheesy concoction. It is best to eat the small side salad first and let the macaroni cool because it is served piping hot. Be careful though, letting macaroni and cheese cool too long causes the cheese to congeal, a horrible fate for such a delicious dish! The fish and chips are a perfect meal for the indecisive—straightforward, deep fried fish and French fries—a welcome addition to any menu. 

While I suggest coming to The Diner for its fabulous food, be sure to stop and appreciate the atmosphere. Take a look up at the metallic ceiling and admire the antique but fun, retro vibe. This ceiling always leaves me wondering what this place used to be… Maybe you will wonder the same thing, or perhaps you will ask and actually find out (let me know if you do). Listen to the music playing in the background; there is a great mix of everything from Phil Collins to Donna Summer but you are not likely to hear the top 40 being played here, a welcome relief to many. Watch the TVs around you; they are most likely playing Saturday morning cartoons, an old movie or sports. Eat, experience and embrace your new discovery!

The second half of the Emmys ended up being enjoyably predictable as the right people won their awards, unlike the first half of the show (Neil Patrick Harris robbed again!).

The Daily Show took home what feels like their 50th Emmy Award for Best Variety Program. Jon Stewart and his team of writers proved that “The Daily Show” does not need George W Bush to still be one of the sharpest, satirical programs ever created.

Supporting Actor went to Michael Emerson who plays Ben on “Lost” and Supporting Actress went to Cherry Jones who played President Taylor on “24”. Both actors were deserving of the award as both shows have proved to be consistently amongst the best on television.

Directing for a Drama went to “ER” director Rod Holcomb. The win is a bit fishy as it may be a case of a show getting bonus points for being in its last season. There aren’t any TV shows as beautifully shot as “Mad Men,” which is why director Phil Abraham missing out on the award came as a shock.

The rest of the evening’s awards were not particularly surprising as everyone seemed to deserve the win. Glenn Close picked up an Emmy for her work on “Damages” and Bryan Cranston got his second Emmy for AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” Cranston had the difficult task of being in a group of heavyweights like Jon Hamm, Michael C. Hall, and Hugh Laurie.

As always, the Emmys saved best for last. “30 Rock” picked up yet another Emmy for Best Comedy Series backing up many Tina Fey fans’ assertion that it’s the funniest show on TV. In another not so surprising win, “Mad Men” took home the Emmy for Best Drama for the second year in a row. Matt Weiner (who also won earlier for writing) has constructed one of the most entertaining and riveting dramas in recent memory. When it came down to the end, the right people took home the statues.