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Friday, Dec. 19, 2025
The Observer

Scene


The Observer

Fashion by Felicia

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There is no factor more challenging in any fashionista's quest for the perfect outfit then the weather. There have been many occasions upon which this element of our ecosystem has seriously cramped my style.


The Observer

Papa Roach and Trapt rock Club Fever

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This Wednesday, California rock will bring the heat wave to South Bend when Papa Roach and Trapt perform at Club Fever. Papa Roach brings music from their new album "Time for Annihilation," released in August, and Trapt will be performing songs from their new album "No Apologies," which comes out Oct. 12. Both bands originated in California, have the experience of multiple albums under their belts and have new music ahead in their careers to bring to the stage.


The Observer

The Big Red Dawg clash

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If you walked through South Quad early this week, you probably heard the din of trash talk between the Alumni Dawgs and the Dillon Big Red leading up to Wednesday's interhall football scrimmage.


The Observer

The Walkmen take it easy in their new album "Lisbon

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The Walkmen's career has been a 10-year musical presentation of "taking a chill pill." Starting off with post-punk revival fury in the early 2000's, they have progressively calmed down their sound without loosing their smooth pessimism. One of their earlier songs, "Rat," was an angry look at 21st century disconnectedness. "Lisbon," their newest effort, sounds like a bunch of buddies sitting in a sunroom, playing anthems about how life is kind of awful, but… whatever.


The Observer

Alexander's Grill: More than just a dining experience

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Since May 2009, little known Alexander's Grill has been winning over the hearts and stomachs of Notre Dame students and the South Bend community through their delicious food and commitment to making eating out a personal experience.


The Observer

Greed isn't Good, it's Great: A Look at Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" (1987)

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"The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good." Gordon Gekko says it all with this iconic line in the 1987 classic film, "Wall Street." The Wall Street scene in the 1980s was plagued by a near compulsory obsession with money and power. It was glamorously extravagant and set the stage for the emblematic financial thrill ride that is Oliver Stone's "Wall Street."



The Observer

Purchase with a purpose

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Merging fashion and social responsibility seems to be the latest marketing trend. TOMS shoes are one of the most successful examples of this business model: for each pair of shoes sold, another pair is given to a child in need of shoes. The company will give pair No. 1 million this month.



The Observer

D. Montayne is 'Goin Up' at Legends

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D. Montayne is an up-and-coming underground rapper, who also goes by Dylan Walter on campus at Notre Dame. The sophomore's second mixtape, "Goin Up" dropped recently, showing improvement in leaps and bounds from his freshman release "Extracurricular Activity."  He plays a show at Legends tonight.



The Observer

Weezer Salutes the Dudes

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Being strange is a tricky business. It's tough to tell if putting an unmodified profile shot of a character from a recent TV series on your album cover will be well received. Weezer is about to find out.



The Observer

Now & Then: SYR

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SYR season is in full swing. Whether you have already attended one this past weekend or are attending one in the coming month, take a look into the not too distant past to see how this tradition has evolved.


The Observer

Music Under the Radar: Acoustic Indie

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The Situation: Music hunters seek, read, blog and cull music from radio, print and most often, the interwebs. Music gatherers collect mix CD's, free digital downloads, and whatever their friends happen to be listening to. If you are a gatherer, this space is for you. If you are a hunter, e-mail me your latest find, and I promise you'll find it written up here. (Seriously. E-mail. Even if you're not a student.)


The Observer

Glee' Preview

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Last spring McKinley High's New Directions glee club placed third at regionals, leaving them in the precarious position of being almost disbanded. But thanks to the usually villainous Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) the glee club will be back in action tonight at 8 p.m. on FOX as the highly anticipated second season of "Glee" premieres.


The Observer

S. Carey makes his own masterpiece

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For Sean Carey, drummer for the contemporary band Bon Iver, his band's last album was a tough act to follow. In fact, "For Emma, Forever Ago" could hardly be considered the Wisconsin native's own work. The album was largely the creation of musical soul man Justin Vernon. Carey actually didn't get his start with Bon Iver until after the entire album had been written by Vernon in a remote Wisconsin cabin.


The Observer

Stone charms in 'Easy A'

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Any reputation is better than no reputation. Or at least high school student Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) thinks so. Fed up with being unknown in her high school, she decides to take advantage of a rumor so that her fellow students will finally know who she is. Now, most people would not want the identity she receives, but Olive doesn't just accept her role. She embraces it wholeheartedly, at least on the surface, in "Easy A," directed by Will Gluck.


The Observer

Affleck's sophomore effort shines

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No one would have thought, when "Gigli" was hitting rock bottom and the "Bennifer" situation was becoming more cliché and annoyingly-addressed than tabloid culture in general, that Ben Affleck had more artistic style up his sleeve than had been revealed in his contribution to the "Good Will Hunting" screenplay. "Gone Baby Gone" was something of a grand re-entrance for Affleck. "The Town" is his way of confirming his directorial mastery and promise for more good films.