The Bowdoin Orient

Over the centuries, people of many cultures have centered festivals and celebration around that glowing celestial orb, the sun. This Saturday, Sustainable Bowdoin and the Evergreens are holding SolarFest on the quad from noon to 5:00 p.m., with dance performances and lessons from 11:00a.m.-2:00 p.m. sponsored by FUZION. The festivities are open to Bowdoin students and staff as well as members of the Brunswick community.

Michelle Branch has teamed up with friend and Missouri-based singer-songwriter, Jessica Harp, to form The Wreckers, producing a sound similar to Branch's, with a little of Harp's country influences thrown in for good measure.

What do you get when you cross a queer activist, feminist, progressivist, and poet? Come to Jack Magee's Pub tonight at 8:00 p.m. to find out. Nationally touring folk poet and activist Alix Olson will be performing, with singer-songwriter Ellis opening for her.

While the focus of the Oscars is ultimately a celebration of talent and achievement in film, it is also a display of red carpet fashion that sometimes has us impressed and other times wondering: what were they thinking?!

What do you get when you mix together student talent and music lovers with a pinch of activism and a dash of refreshments? This Tuesday's V-day and BQSA sponsored Coffee House at MacMillan emceed by Emily Sheffield '06.

Whether you are spending Valentine's Day with a date or a group of friends, watching a movie is a great way to celebrate (or remonstrate). There are too many options to include them all here, but these are some of the highlights.

Johnny Carson's recent passing saddened the entertainment community, where he was known as the original king of late-night television.

Audiences left 2000's blockbuster hit Meet the Parents starring Ben Stiller, wondering, "What kind of people would name their child Gaylord Focker?" Meet the Fockers answered just that. Released on December 2, 2004, the sequel brought back the comedic cast of the first movie with the addition of Barbra Streisand and Dennis Hoffman as Greg Focker's parents, Roz and Bernie.

Following in the steps of other notable Bowdoin alumni, Edward Sweeney '03 has earned fame...as Cosmopolitan's Hottest Hunk in Massachusetts. Sweeney's friend, Laura Quinlin '03, also a Bowdoin alum, nominated him for the honor. Sweeney said he was hesitant to agree at first. "Cosmopolitan is definitely not my type of magazine. I've never read it before," he said. "I knew I probably would get mixed reviews from family and friends. But I thought it was a good opportunity and would be a good experience."

Minnie Driver...isn't that the girl from Good Will Hunting? The actress has returned to her singer roots and released her debut CD, Everything I've Got In My Pocket, on October 5. Unlike other actresses who recently decided to try their hand at singing, Driver began her professional career as a singer. Driver was signed to Island Records in London when she was cast in Circle of Friends. She put her musical career on hold to pursue acting.

The movie develops their relationship with humor and sentiment, beginning with their fish-and-chips date that quickly evolves into a tumble in bed because as Dunst says, "A little fooling around can be good for your game" and ending with a full-fledged romance with the necessary elements of star-gazing, climbing into bedroom windows, and incredible lip-locks.

Jason Spooner may be a Colby grad but don't hold it against him. His band will return to Jack Magee's Pub next Thursday to regale students with another unique performance.

What is "quite interesting" this weekend? Comedian, author, and "media gadfly" Mo Rocca will perform at Morrell Gymnasium at 8:00 p.m. on September 11.

Give It All Away, the debut album from young singer-songwriter-producer Ben Jelen, is a refreshing twist on the new brand of pop music epitomized by artists like John Mayer and Jason Mraz.

Quality over quantity. While the audience was not very sizable, nor the dancers very tall, the Kelly Peters Dance Group performance on Tuesday night was nonetheless impressive. Peters is a teacher/choreographer with extensive training and experience in hip hop.

Robi Draco Rosa's fifth solo album, Mad Love, is an eclectic mix of hits and misses. The singer-songwriter-producer took two years to create the record and his efforts are evident.