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Mastering the Movie Night

Movie Night

Every now and then, even the most self-possessed Georgetown students will come to find themselves at the point where they just. Can’t. Even. Whether you’ve been #raging every night or you’ve spent so much time on Lau 5 that you’re starting to develop a fluorescent glow (’cause you know, here on the Hilltop we’re all about the Work-Hard-Play-Hard), what you really need is a healthy dose of downtime. Here at 4E, movie nights are one of our favorite ways to chill out after a long week on the daily grind – and we’re bringing you a list of the best ones, and how to do them right:

The Binge Night

Everything you do on Binge Night must be to absolute excess. Bury yourself in a mountain of pillows, then pick a classic series like Harry Potter or something absurd thrilling like Saw (things really pick up around number IV) and watch it through from start to finish. If you don’t consume at least 4,000 calories – I’m talking a large Domino’s pizza, a pint of Ben & Jerry’s per person, all the Wisey’s cookies (even oatmeal raisin) and a never-ending supply of cool ranch Doritos – you’re doing something wrong. Binge Nights typically end around 4 in the morning, when the last kid standing feebly finds the remote under one of his snoring friends, hits mute and promptly passes out on an empty box of donuts.

Also recommended: the Bourne series, The Fast & The Furious, Mission: Impossible, Transformers, Twilight, Lord of the Rings, the Scary Movies, James Bond

The Disney Night

Coming home to some milk & cookies and a Disney movie is just as satisfying after midterms week as it was back in the 90s after an arduous half-day at kindergarten. Take a trip down memory lane with a timeless pick from the Disney vault like The Lion King, or stay young and hip with the more recent hits like Up, Tangled, and Frozen (FYI: resisting Frozen does not make you cool/hipster). If you’re not into cartoons, there are plenty of awesome Disney Channel Original Movies (#tbt to the kids jumping on the blue film roll) that will make you wish you were ten again, when all your favorite celebs had yet to check into rehab.

Also recommended: Finding Nemo, The Parent Trap, Pocahontas, The Cheetah Girls, High School Musical, The Aristocats, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Holes, The Princess Diaries, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Jungle Book

The Girls’ Night

Girls’ night is romantic comedy central. Grab your closest galpals, bust out the facemasks and copies of Cosmo, and snuggle up to a three-hour gossip sesh/pity party set against the dulcet tones of Dirty Dancing or Sweet Home Alabama. As awesome as Girls’ Night is, tread with care: it will inevitably leave you at best bemoaning the lack of Brads/Leos/Channings in the general DC area, and at worst texting that only semi-attractive kid in your Calc class with the hopes that he might be the Aaron Samuels to your Katie Cady Heron.

Also recommended: The Breakfast Club, Bridesmaids, Step Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, She’s the Man, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, John Tucker Must Die, Pretty Woman, Friends With Benefits

The FTB Night

The male equivalent to the RomCom fest, #ForTheBoys Night involves spending some quality time with your number one bros – no chicks allowed. Testosterone levels will be through the roof once everyone starts doing the Matthew McConaughey Wolf of Wall Street chant in unison whilst snacking on beef jerky.

Also recommended: the Batman trilogy, The Godfather, American Pie, Scarface, Superbad, Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds, Animal House, Wedding Crashers, Remember the Titans, Gladiator

The Cultured Night

Cultured Night is the perfect opportunity for you and your friends to revel in the fact that you’re fancy and intellectual, because hey – you’re in college now! Gather round an obscure indie (or something slightly more mainstream) flick like The Grand Budapest Hotel, and dive into some fair-trade organic Trader Joe’s popcorn (the Kettle Corn is seeerrrriously good). You don’t really gets what’s going on, but you still feel really impressed with yourself because would you look at this artsy movie I’m watching!? If you’re feeling really brave, you might just even go foreign. Did someone say Sundance?

Also recommended: Chef, Rust and Bone, Her, The Master, El laberinto del fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth), Mean Streets, Le scaphandre et le papillon (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)

The Wine Night

For those who are 21 and up, wine can be the perfect complement to a movie night at home.  Just as you drink different kinds of wine with different meals, so too must you carefully choose your grape in accordance with your featured genre.  That said, there is one specific wine-movie pair that stands out above the rest: Reds and Romance.  Let’s face it – it’s a cliché for a reason: crying hysterically over Titanic is so much more rewarding if you’re a little (or a lot) drunk.

Also recommended: The Notebook, Romeo & Juliet, The Last Song, Casablanca, The Fault in Our Stars, The English Patient, P.S. I Love You, The Time Traveler’s Wife

(Note: The principles of the Wine Night can be successfully applied to any of the nights mentioned above).

So those are some of 4E’s tested and approved movie nights. But feel free to gather your friends, grab some snacks and begin your own special movie night tradition!

Gifs: gurl.com, tumblr.com, elitedaily.com, reactiongifs.com; Photo: edu-cdn.com

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Jack’s Summer Splash

babyjackbirthdayOn June 27, Georgetown celebrated Jack the Bulldog’s first birthday with the Summer Splash, allowing students, faculty, staff and alumni to enjoy free ice cream on Healy Lawn while hanging out with Jack. The lovable mascot, who turned one on June 29, played around in a pool, posed for pictures and enjoyed the company of the Georgetown community.

Students like Anthony Bugeja (SFS ’15) took advantage of the weather to play with Jack and eat ice cream.

“It was awesome getting the chance to celebrate being a part of the Georgetown community with fellow Hoyas at Jack’s birthday event; the turnout was great and the atmosphere was friendly,” Bugeja said.

The Hoya interviewed mascot caretaker McKenzie Stough (COL ’13) to learn more about Jack and his relationship with the Georgetown community.

How was the Summer Splash event on June 27?

We are thrilled that so many students, faculty, staff and neighbors took the time to come together, relax, make new friends and enjoy the summer weather on the lawn with Jack.

Describe Jack’s personality. What makes him special?

Jack is a very curious and social dog so this was a nice opportunity for him to make new friends from all parts of the community. Jack, like most bulldogs, gets attached to people quickly. He is always excited when his Jack Crew students pick him up for his walks or when he sees a familiar face on campus. If you couldn’t tell from the baby pool, he loves to play in water.

What events has Jack attended so far? What are his responsibilities at the event?

Jack has attended a wide variety of sports games and events throughout the spring and summer. He made his Verizon Center debut at the final men’s home game of the season versus Creighton. More recently, he cheered on graduates from all of this year’s commencement ceremonies and welcomed alumni back to the hilltop during reunion weekend.

Here’s a brief video of the event put together by Georgetown Today, featuring one of the Fourth Edition’s own, Alexis Oni-Eseleh, in the first few seconds!

So adorable. Remember when he was just a baby?

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We’ve had so many great memories with Jack this year, so let’s take a trip down memory lane with some Hoya articles.

New Bulldog Chosen as JJ’s replacement

GU Tightens the Leash on Mascot Care

New Bulldog to Arrive Next Week

Welcome to Campus, John B. Carroll!

John B. Carroll: Great Expectations

2013 Grad New Bulldog Caretaker 

New Mascot Out of Limelight

Video: Georgetown Today

Photo: Janice Hochstetler

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Galentine’s Day: Your New Favorite Holiday

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Well, Hoyas, Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. For some, this means a lovely evening with a significant other, but for others, it means dwelling on the fact that they will be alone this Feb. 14. The bad news is that reading this will probably not help you fall in love by Friday. The good news is that NBC’s hit series “Parks and Recreation” has coined an exciting new holiday to celebrate something everyone has: friends!

Galentine’s Day is Feb. 13 and serves as a chance for women to celebrate all the other fabulous women in their lives. If you’re a guy, don’t stop reading! I suggest you spend the day before Valentine’s Day with all the friends you appreciate, too.

Galentine’s Day is basically an opportunity to kick back with friends before all the pressures of dating or the unpleasant loneliness set in. Try catching a movie, eating out, ordering some takeout or maybe watching the Olympics. Do whatever it is that helps you relax and appreciate the people you are most comfortable with. Just try not to go too hard.

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Also, don’t forget to check out the Georgetown University Women’s Center Galentine’s Day event on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Leavey 327 to really get in the spirit for this important holiday!

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 We agree, Leslie. We think Galentine’s Day is great.

 Photo: NBC; gifs: tumblr.com

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Ferris Wheel Takes The Harbor

Ferris WheelI’m going to be up front about this: I am overly ecstatic about the 175-foot Ferris wheel coming to the National Harbor in May, which will feature 42 eight-person gondolas for passengers. According to DCist, the Ferris wheel will provide a means for you and seven of your closest friends to experience what will be a magical flight over the city in a gondola!

The developers from Peterson Companies seem to have done an incredible job spreading the word about this new wheel, recruiting all of these renowned artists to perform songs about the joys of Ferris wheel-ing! (Note: They didn’t actually do this, but you should watch the videos anyway.)

Up there soarin’ and flyin’ on the Ferris wheel, I can say with certainty that you can reach every star in heaven! There’s not one that you can’t reach!

Elfie said it right: Everyone deserves a chance to fly!

Then there’s my girl Selena who so aptly describes how once you’re on the ride, you’ll go round and round.

Get out to the National Harbor in May, Hoyas! Hop in a gondola and you’ll be flying up, up and away in no time!

Photo: (Brown Craig Turner Architects + Designers) via DCist
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ONLY 1 DAY LEFT TO APPLY FOR 4E!

One day more 2Hold the phone, it is Monday? Gasp! That means you only have ONE more day to apply to 4E.

tumblr_lblsalFFyU1qbb7dio1_500Do not fear: There is still time!

Since we know that every Georgetown student dreams of being part of our team, we are providing you with just another friendly reminder.

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(You’re so right, Meryl.)

So… Do it.

Now.

Please.

WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS POST AND NOT APPLYING?

This is not a drill; you literally only have one more day. And how sad would it be if you missed that deadline?

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Answer: This sad.

Still not convinced? Here are some things that you wouldn’t be able to do if you did not join 4E:

1. You would not be able to hang out, brainstorm and write with the most amazing people on the planet.

2. You would not be able to use gifs uncontrollably (actually you probably could but it is not the same).

3. You would not get to be Internet famous … because essentially, that’s what we are: FAMOUS.

4. You would not get to talk about Miley, 24/7. (Again, you probably could, but you secretly want to be doing it with us.)

5. You would not get to post about 4E crazily on social media. (Once again, you still can, and we actually encourage it, but it might be a little weird to other people.)

You still haven’t applied to the 4E?

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Ha. Good one. That must be a joke. Come on.

So click this link and join the magic!

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Applications are due TODAY, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.

Now, seriously, apply.

Gifs: tumblr
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How It Feels to Start Classes Again

First Day of SchoolBy now most, if not all, of you are done with the Christmas cookies and never-ending family time. The holidays were fun, but now it’s back to the Hilltop we love and the schoolwork we hate. It goes a little like this:

You get back to Georgetown, so excited to see your friends…

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… even though it’s been only 3 weeks. (But it seems like a lifetime and a half.)

Everything is fab, until you realize you actually have to take classes.

tumblr_mg3jorsMT21qh402go1_250Like any good Georgetown student, you spend an unimaginable amount of time picking out that perfect “back-to-school” outfit, which seems to not exist.

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Finally, you find “the one” and you feel like a million bucks (or like a 4.0 GPA).

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But Wednesday morning is not too friendly.

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And there is always that one person who is way too excited.

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Your teachers actually expect you to learn.

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But your mind is blank. Or possibly still frozen from the cold.

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The bookstore is a total mess.

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And then you see someone in the library already. GOOD. FOR. YOU.

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You realize that Leo’s is once again your main food option and all happiness disappears.

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But being back with Jack the Bulldog makes everything much better.

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And despite the teachers, classes and long lines at the RHO, at least you are back on the Hilltop. Now you will have about a week or so until you are actually allowed to be stressed again. So enjoy the time off, Hoyas … we are all going to need it!

GIFS: tumblr.com, Photo: paulgerst.com
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Home Sweet Home: A Personal Reflection

Home Sweet HomeGoing home is a funny thing, and it feels different for everyone. It feels different every time you go home, and the feeling can even change while you are home. So while I sit here, hanging out with my senior citizen of a dog watching Home Alone, I’ll try to capture that feeling as best I can.

I guess it all starts with the celebratory relief of finishing finals. After putting our bodies and minds through two weeks of varying levels of sleep, stress and studying, getting home simply means being able to relax. There is essentially nothing important to think about for two and a half weeks. It’s awesome.

Of course, next is the terrific feeling of actually getting home. For me, that’s taking my first steps on the frozen Rhode Island tundra, taking my first sip of a Dunkin iced coffee (yes, iced) and – most importantly – the warm embrace of my family. I’d be perfectly content sitting around all break, spending my time off just chatting and catching up. If there’s one thing I miss most while away at school, it’s seeing my family every day.

But, of course, after escaping the countless hugs of your family, it’s time to see your friends. No matter how many new friends I make at school, there is still something about spending quality time with the people I grew up with that will never get old. Whether we’re reminiscing about old memories or making new ones, there is rarely a dull moment when we all get back together.

Every break, though, I really miss Georgetown. I miss the sights, sounds and most of all, the people. As great as my family and old friends are, it is always a bit bittersweet to return home.

What stands out to me the most at home are the little things, the things that I just didn’t appreciate as much as I should have before I left for school: the feeling of my bed, the smell of the air and the taste of my mom’s glorious cooking. The sense of everything and everyone coming together to celebrate. The most consistent, defining feeling of being home is appreciation.

Over the coming weeks, take the time to appreciate. While I don’t think there is anything wrong with feeling ready to head back to the Hilltop at the end of break, be sure to enjoy the little things (and the big ones, too) while you are home.

Happy holidays, Hoyas!

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What We’ve Enjoyed While at Home

HomeFor a Georgetown student, breaks from school can sometimes feel few and far between. So, as the first holiday break of the school year, Thanksgiving provided the perfect chance to travel home and recharge for a few days. Before returning to the Hilltop, let’s look back and savor the moments we enjoyed this weekend:

Sleeping in Your Own Bed

Unless you are the Muggle twin of Harry Potter and you sleep under the staircase, seeing your bed for the first time in three months is an unforgettable experience of love. Think about that mattress that comforted you throughout all those years. Or those sheets (really, though, those sheets!), which covered you in a clean sandwich of cozy cloth. But what about that pillow (that PILLOW!) that didn’t care when you fluffed it for max fluff or flipped it to the cool side because all it wanted was to provide your head stability and care? And please don’t tell me that you forgot about that comforter (THAT COMFORTER) that your parents got you so long ago that you can’t remember spending a day or night without it. It’s played such a significant role in your life that you should consider sitting next to it in this year’s holiday card! Your bed loves you and don’t you ever forget it!

Thanksgiving Dinner at Home

There are so many different ways to celebrate Thanksgiving, but they all include huge amounts of food. Ranging from classics like turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie to more personalized additions like my cousin’s beautiful lasagna or my same cousin’s grandma’s coveted stuffed peppers, these foods pile up to be quite the feast for the hungry college kid. Regardless of which foods are or are not available to your Thanksgiving smorgasbord, the Hoyas who went home for Thanksgiving dinner can all agree that we needed this meal. The copious amounts of home-cooked or semi-fresh store-bought meals and even the sheer availability of utensils and cups that don’t stick together ensured that we had a better meal than we would have had at Leo’s.

Black Friday Shopping/Sleeping

Even before the turkey gets put in the oven, people are buzzing over Black Friday sales. Conveniently for anybody searching for information regarding Black Friday, Rebecca Black’s hit song “Friday” really hits the capitalist nail on the head here. “Seein’ everything, time is goin’/ Tickin’ on and on, everybody’s rushin’!” sings Black, almost as if she were in a Walmart this hectic Friday, trying to clear her Christmas list early. Surprisingly, this “gotta have my bowl, gotta have cereal” attitude emboldens shoppers to go so far as to line up to shop at midnight.

While everybody is entitled to subject themselves to the mania of Black Friday, if any of you Hoyas are like me, you chose sleep over sales. You may have to buy that new pair of shoes at full price, but at least you will have your dignity.

(Writer’s Note: Sorry for the Rebecca Black plug, but props to the girl for being the only thing found in my google search for ‘black’ ‘friday’ ‘gifs’.)

Seeing Friends for the First Time in Forever

Finally, after three whole months, you can finally see your old friends that you left behind. For some of you, you have been waiting for this moment since you left your hometown for Georgetown. Thanksgiving is all about taking a step back from the hustle and bustle of life and remembering (even thanking!) those people who give our lives meaning. For others though, you may be dreading a return to the days of braces, acne and overall high school awkwardness. But, come on! You’ve gotta rack up some stories for the five-year reunion. And if you lose your high school friend base, who will you have to brag to about the fact that you are a Hoya?

Spending Time with the Family

Now for the gushy part. Although the Hilltop provides us with so many people to be thankful for, not everybody who made us who we are today lives there. Your family, to whatever degree, has shaped the person you are and for that you had better be thankful! Don’t lie: They might be weird, annoying and/or embarrassing, but they’re still family. You don’t get to see them all the time, so be thankful for every chance you get!

From all of us at 4E, we hope you had a great break at home!

Photos/Gifs: Tumblr, Westallrealestate
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A 4E Guide to Doing Thanksgivukkah Right

ThanksgivukkahIn 1888, a miracle happened that lasted 8 crazy nights, Thanksgiving and Chanukah overlapped and all was alright.
Potatoes for presents and dreidels for dinner, the holidays fused and everyone was a winner.
This year the same fate happened again – Thanksgivukkah for everyone – and things were well with the world, among family and friends.
However, this rare Thanksgivukkah extravaganza will only return in 79,043 years, so I hope you’ve cherished this one with an extra round of cheers.

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The holiday mashup of Thanksgiving and Chanukah is clearly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so here’s a guide to know whether or not you’ve done Thanksgivukkah right … and have no fear: There are still six more nights!

1. Instagram a picture of your menorah next to your plate of Thanksgiving food.

2. Play Hanukkah music while grubbing on leftovers.

3. Play dreidel in order to gamble on which relative will pass out first after doing Number 2 (see above).

4. Go Black Friday shopping for the gifts you were supposed to give two nights ago.

5. Have a Thanksgiving brunch: bagels and turkey with cranberry sauce on the side.

With that, happy Thanksgivukkah to all, and to all a good night!

Photos: Prlimages, USA Today
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How to Survive Black Friday Shopping

Black FridaySo, you’ve decided to shop on Black Friday. You’re doing one of those activities, something that will be miserable during the event itself but will give you mad bragging rights later, like a presidential inauguration or being awake for a sunrise. Unless of course, you are of those people who loves the thrill of chasing after the perfect dress with the added challenge of overwhelming crowds. This may be the only time you are at risk for “death by trampling,” so watch out.

All of that being said, if you are going in, you better do it right. Here are a few tips to help you survive a dark – but hopefully fruitful – Black Friday.

Plan ahead – Think Dora the Explorer’s Map. It would be ideal if this map could speak, preferably in some variation of entertaining banter, and help guide you from store to store, section to section, steal to steal. Hitting the streets without a game plan is like walking into a wall-to-wall crowded Steve Madden store blindfolded. It may seem thrilling, but once you are tripping in your must-have 20% off shoes and rubbing elbows with the nearby elderly woman, you will be asking yourself why this ever seemed like a funny idea.

Be aggressive – For those of you who haven’t seen the Friends scene where Monica shops for her wedding dress, watch it. For those of you who have, channel Monica’s aggressive, stop-for-nothing “baditude.” Remember, other shoppers are only as scared of you as you are of them. Just kidding, that only applies to rats on Georgetown’s campus. If you want to be the shopper on top, you have to act like the shopper on top. See the store as your very own Hunger Games arena. Stop at nothing. This is not a friendly team exercise.

Use the buddy system – Black Friday shopping may not be a friendly team exercise, but that doesn’t mean you have to fly solo. Create a buddy system and stick to it. Have check-in points, hold hands, whisper sweet nothings to each other: whatever it takes to provide each other moral support and willpower to get through the day. When selecting a buddy, make sure you choose someone who isn’t afraid to take a swing at a fellow BFS (Black Friday Shopper) for you.

Snack, snack, snack – Shopping is work. Just ask anybody who has spent more than 10 minutes shopping ever. Not only are snacks necessary for fuel, but they also help fill your emotional needs when crying over a missed deal and/or feeling overwhelmed by all the aggressiveness around you. Why can’t we all just be friends? Because there is only one dress in your size left. Instead of breaking down, stuff your face with cookies, bubble tea or whatever helps you connect with your inner shopper. But be warned, if you overdo this, trying on tight clothing may be a bit of a struggle.

If you follow these tips, you are sure to have the best possible Black Friday experience. Before you know it, you will be rocking those sick new threads back on the Hilltop. Happy Thanksgiving Hoyas, and best of luck!

Photo: Al Fresco