Scene

Grounding Kid Cudi's "Man on the Moon 2: The Legend of Mr. Rager"

Despite what the artistically inclined will tell you, there is such a thing as attempting too much. From the time his mix tape "A Kid Named Cudi" propelled his voice from underground obscurity to immediate cultural relevance, Scott Mescudi has been trying to turn hip-hop head over foot.

Food For Thought

Dear readers,

Fashion by Felicia: Fedoras

I have never been much of an outdoor enthusiast. Indeed I am proud to consider myself  "a hot chocolate skier" (I enjoy the beauty of watching other people ski whilst comfortable on a window seat in the near vicinity of a hot fireplace with a large mug of hot chocolate).  However, while many may attempt to scale my "indoor girl" castle walls, I surrender only to one proposal — the picnic.

Scene Around the World: Munich

A weekend of straight carb-ing — that is what Oktoberfest 2010 gloriously turned out to be. The beer flowed freely, the lederhosen ran wild and, best of all, soft pretzels the size of Andre the Giant's head filled the bellies of all who attended. Seriously though, the soft pretzels were amazing.

Waiting for Superman' takes strong stance on schools

Geoffrey Canada, a Bronx social activist for charter schools, said the saddest moment in his life was when his mom told him that Superman was not real. To him, Superman was the one person who would always be there, always come through, regardless of who was in trouble.

Interview with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" features Pablo Muldoon as Rosencrantz and Brian Rodgers as Guildenstern.

Weekend Events Calendar

Thursday: Best of Acousticafé

Theatre of the Absurd: 'Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead'

Junior Nick Brandt, director of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead," characterizes the play as a "well-known, funny, dark, hysterical and odd play." His statement sums up the quirky and absurdist tragicomedy written by Tom Stoppard.

PEMCo. puts on a show-within-a-show in 'The Drowsy Chaperone'

The Pasquerilla East Musical Company (PEMCo.) opens up its run of the hit Broadway musical "The Drowsy Chaperone" Thursday. The show is, at its heart, a musical for and about people who love musicals. In it, the Man in Chair decides to turn on his recording of the fictional 1920s musical "The Drowsy Chaperone," and the show comes to life in his kitchen. The musical-within-a-musical proceeds as the Man in the Chair interjects with his thoughts, opinions and explanations on the story and the songs. Though the Man in Chair openly criticizes many of the tropes of musical theatre, "Drowsy" is ultimately an ode to the musical and its iconic place in American culture.

Swift's six serious relationships

Taylor Swift has always been famous for singing about her relationships, from the very real aspects to the very imaginary. She does the same on "Speak Now," with songs inspired by some of her famous boyfriends. I won't be getting into that — much. I'd rather answer the question I've heard several people ask, which is how she managed so many relationships in her 16 small-town years. The answer: she didn't. If you look at the themes of her songs from her debut album, "Taylor Swift," her next album, "Fearless," and even a few tracks on "Speak Now," you see a few common themes that give away a fairly small number of pre-fame flings.

Speak Now': Taylor Swift gets personal

3 and 1/2 shamrocks

Irish pay tribute to Sullivan

For the members of the Notre Dame football team, attendance at Thursday night's Mass of Remembrance for Declan Sullivan was optional. But the entire team was there when Mass began, sophomore linebacker Manti Te'o said.

Scene Style Spotter

Catfish' Falls Flat as a Social Networking Film

Twenty minutes into the new viral-sensation documentary film "Catfish," I had shivers running up and down my back as I sat on the edge of my seat. I was entranced by the film's intriguing story and a shocking revelation I could feel coming. Twenty minutes after the movie ended, I felt a bottomless pit in my stomach — the kind you get after you see something very unsettling.

Weekend Events Calendar

Thursday: "Dinner for Schmucks"

Red's' Retirees Save the Day and the Movie

"Red" is, at its most basic, exactly what you expect it to be — an excuse for a bunch of aging (but still great) movie stars to wield big guns and prove they've still got "it." And is there anything wrong with that? "Red" isn't likely to be on anyone's Top 10 list this year, but it's the type of cheesy cinematic thrill that deserves a little appreciation. It's a fun movie. It's fun to watch Bruce Willis keep doing his tough guy thing, even at the age of 55. It's fun to watch Morgan Freeman pretend to be a French diplomat. It's fun to watch John Malkovich put on his paranoid-neurotic-but-deadly persona. And it's really fun to watch Dame Helen Mirren shoot a machine gun.

ARTgenda: November

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to enroll as an MFA student here at Notre Dame? Or are you just curious to find out more about the art that is created here on campus? If so, you can learn more about both the MFA program and the arts from current MFA students Friday at the Fall Walkthrough event.

The Observer remembers Declan Sullivan

"Enthusiastic" best describes Scene contributor Declan Sullivan.

Phoenix's hoax isn't quite all there

Joaquin Phoenix's self-indulgent, at times head-scratching documentary, "I'm Still Here" is, as many suspected, one big lie. But that's part of its fun and mystique, because the documentary, directed by Casey Affleck, plays it straight the whole time.

Now & Then: Legends & the 'Senior Bar'

Every current Domer has undoubtedly stepped into Legends of Notre Dame at least once. Whether you've attended the infamous "Hip Hop Night" at the Night Club, sat down for dinner with a visiting family member or listened to a student band play on the weekend, you've experienced the venue in one of its many forms.