Weekend Arts Wrap-Up
This past weekend, arts groups across campus were busy sharing their talent and work from all over the world with our Harvard community. This week, we’ll be highlighting four student-run performances that wowed their audiences on Friday and Saturday.The Harvard Undergraduate Candela Latin Dance Troupe Annual Showcase: “Un Viaje Por El Mundo”This past weekend, Harvard’s […]
“We’re Not in Kansas Anymore”
Softness Breaks Quietly you’re breakfast in bed takeout when it’s raining jumping over cracks in the sidewalk lying on fresh laundry after a shower skipping down an empty street but we fall you tear out a page and leave it with me you smile with your eyes and hesitantly touch don’t start without me! but […]
A Superstar in the Loeb
Ever wondered what a more modern-day version of Jesus might look like? Do you think you would be on Jesus’s side of history? The hit rock opera musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” sets out to answer these very questions. Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the musical follows Jesus in his final days of […]
Earth Poems
swamp poem (i) we came to see gators of course but saw ourselves in a new wetness. this is an environment, different than we’ve known. in a new place you learn fastest at first, a child adapting to challenges, joys. everything touches me; i give body. on the other side of the imprint i feel […]
G.A.N.J.A.
Gummy Galore You take it at midnight. A single gummy, peach-flavored, soft in the center and hardened at the edges. It’s wrapped in cheap plastic, the kind that sticks to itself. No label—just a smiley face drawn in fading Sharpie. You bought it for seven dollars from a guy in a denim jacket standing outside […]
Made With Weed
Yes, I know that was a strangely morbid subtitle. But it’s true. There are some things I just need to see infused with marijuana before I pass on from this Earth. Over the years, humanity has progressed beyond just merely smoking marijuana. Instead, we have developed a myriad of ways by which an individual can […]
Horrible Harvard Things That Would Be Better High
I know you’ve thought about it before. Whether it was sitting in Sanders during the election watch party or writing three essays in one day, the thought has crossed all of our minds: “This would be way better if I was high.” I’m not encouraging anything illegal (Hi Mom. Hi Harvard.)—I’m just saying that if […]
Dis(joint)ed Journaling
So. I’ve been feeling a little bit off-kilter lately, and with the perfectly-timed Weed Issue of the Independent, I have decided that this is the perfect excuse to engage in my favorite form of catharsis: writing while high off my ass. This week, I plan to get high and write every single night. (Okay, so […]
Roll Crimson
Although weed is strictly forbidden by the Harvard College Student Handbook, for the sake of this article, let’s pretend that killjoy little booklet of rules magically disappeared. Harvard is well-known for its diverse and impressive student body. It is likely one of the reasons you gave for wanting to attend this school aside from its […]
Light on the Charles
Sundazzles enormous stretch across the surface Of the Charles River, informing ripples From the sun through space directly splashing Upon the water of my eye to the depths Of this woven candle, this riverring starstuff. We are the ones learning now, we living Blood of the spirit, ancestors of the moment, Brainvessels beating an experience […]
Calling All Artists!
There are moments when the art world feels like a quiet, distant thing—locked behind gallery walls. But in certain spaces, art belongs to everyone. Art breaks free, and the walls speak louder than ever. From April 18-21, Harvard University’s Gallery at 92 Seattle St. will host an exhibition that promises more than just art on […]
Got Me Singing in the Shower
It’s springtime again, and with the changing seasons comes the annual event that everyone’s talking about: the annual Cultural Rhythms Festival. Throughout the week, student groups strutted the fashion runway, prepared their favorite foods from home, and showcased their heritages through dance and music—all to celebrate cultural identity and community at Harvard. This year’s culminating […]
Heff’s HUDS Hacks
As a self-proclaimed foodie, it is an understatement to say that Harvard University Dining Services is a massive disappointment. The cost for the meal plan for the Spring 2025 semester totaled $4,134, which breaks down to about $35 per day. This cost is widely agreed upon by the student body as simply too high, especially […]
Russell’s Sprouts: Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Clusters
It is officially munchies season, which means there must be “healthy” snacks and treats on hand at all times. Considering these cookies contain oats, milk, and peanut butter, they’re basically a hearty breakfast alternative. This recipe is no-bake and only takes about 10 minutes to throw together on the stovetop, so it’s perfect for a […]
Addicted To My Air Fryer
Steve was your typical Harvard first-year. He planned on studying economics and had never felt freer now that he could hide his grades from his parents. He was in love with a girl who lived above him in Canaday, but he couldn’t remember if her name was “Chloe” or “Zoe” and was too scared to […]
Dressed-Up Fries: A Mash-Up
After interviewing Will McKibben ’25 on cooking as an art form for the Independent, I could not stop thinking about the tension he described between fine dining and foods that are affectionately known as “munchies.” He made me realize that foods often dismissed as messy—late-night nachos, over-sauced burritos, crinkle-cut fries doused in mystery condiments—have the […]
Munchies vs. Michelin: Exploring the Art of Cooking
In the culinary world, there seem to be two opposite realms: the casual, crave-worthy indulgence of “munchies” and the meticulously crafted masterpieces of Michelin-starred dining. At first glance, the two could not be further apart—one is messy, quick, and easy; the other is precise, time-consuming, and technically arduous. The former could be viewed as artless, […]
Exposé of EXposé
On Saturday, March 29, the Harvard hip-hop group Expressions Dance Company put on their spring showcase, EXposé, in Lowell Lecture Hall. The show was an hour long and featured seven distinct and powerful performances. Founded in 1978, Expressions Dance Company is a student-operated dance group showcasing hip-hop dance. Their ‘Direx,’ EDC’s current board of directors, […]
Open 25/8
Tucked just off Massachusetts Avenue on Linden Street sits a narrow glass art display that was once a Bank of America ATM. Illuminated and on view to passersby around the clock, the display space is aptly named the “25/8 artspace.” The display space features a rotating exhibition by local artists, with an emphasis on work […]
Limited Color and Liminal Space
When art emerges from the debris of war, it carries memories, lingering with cold uneasiness. On March 29, Nikita Ivaniuta ’28, a first-year student from Ukraine, opened a solo art exhibition at the Signet Society, Harvard’s arts and letters society. Through his work, Ivaniuta reflects on the devastation caused by the ongoing war between Russia […]
Sanders Theatre: On Referentiality
My favorite essay of all time is “Simone Weil” by Susan Sontag, from her watershed 1966 essay collection “Against Interpretation.” Here’s the first line, for a taste: “The culture-heroes of our liberal bourgeois civilization are anti-liberal and anti-bourgeois; they are writers who are repetitive, obsessive, and impolite, who impress by force—not simply by their tone […]
Thoughts from New Quincy: Thursday
I. You left early, like always. Same time you do every day. The buildings hadn’t lit yet. The sky was a pale gray, the kind that can’t commit to any particular kind of weather. You hadn’t checked the forecast before you left this morning, so you didn’t bring gloves. Your headphones were in before you […]
Artmaking in Antarctica
I invite you to traverse the ancient desert; that southern wintry world, wherein I cut my teeth on the icescape, scrambling up rocky moraine, journal and camera in hand. I sat in the shadow of a glacier; partitioned the ether in my mind’s eye, drank up the liquid landscape, inhaled the burning cold; carved myself […]
April Showers, May Flowers
Drip. Drip. Drip. After a downpour, remnants of the rain dribble from the trees to the ground, and the earthy smell of petrichor fills the humid air. At last, the rain has paused for a brief moment. The dark skies slowly lighten, rays of sunshine seeping through the breaks in the clouds as glimmers of […]
To Sleep, Waiting, and Memory
I still can’t bear to wipe away the tears and constellations you painted across my face All I see in the mirror is the unfinished painting you made of me: Untitled Sleep The best sleep is the kind you sneak away with My illicit affair She creeps up from behind and surprises me I’m stolen, […]
Chaos and Comedy: A Review of Arcadia
The Harvard Radcliffe Dramatic Club’s recent production of “Arcadia” masterfully intertwined intellect and emotion, showcasing the dedication and talent of the cast and crew in four shows from March 27 to March 30. The events of the play unfolded in Sidley Park, an English estate, shifting between the early 19th century and the present day […]
Technically Speaking
On a brisk Friday afternoon, after exiting Harvard Yard, we had the opportunity to see the Harvard Art Museums’ new exhibit, “Edvard Munch: Technically Speaking,” on its opening day. The experience felt like more than a casual weekend stroll through a gallery; it was a journey through a man’s fractured and perhaps disturbed psyche, stretched […]
Ode To The Residents of the Charles River
I walk along the river, wondering how the great poets claimed to love and how I might write this unordinary love letter. The idea of mimicking Shakespeare seems futile and unprepared. My mind momentarily errs as if to stop my aimless wandering, meeting me with a moment of clarity. Suddenly, I no longer remember where […]
From Studio to Showcase
From March 28 to March 30, about 20 Harvard students will display more than 50 original artworks, including photography, watercolors, acrylics, ceramics, basket weaving, and other mediums, at Harvard’s Office for the Arts Student Art Gallery. This pop-up exhibition in the main OFA offices will showcase artwork from both undergraduate and graduate students, celebrating the […]
Harvard’s Very Own Battle of the Bands
Though Harvard is known for its academic excellence, students have proven their talents span across disciplines. For one, there are many skilled student musical groups on campus, and each spring, they come to the stage at Harvard’s annual Battle for Yardfest. Yardfest is a concert hosted by Harvard’s College Events Board where student performers showcase […]
The Story of a Symphony
At Sanders Theatre, performers dressed in concert black are ordered in rows upon the stage, their bows moving in unison. As the strings swell into a racing melody, conductor Federico Cortese’s audible and emotional breaths guide the orchestra forward, cueing the dramatic crash of the cymbals, the militaristic drum of the timpani, and the brass […]
River Runnin’
After what seems to be a never ending first half of the spring semester, it is finally the long awaited week before spring break here at Harvard. If you’re a first-year student, you have likely already come to face many battles this far in your Harvard journey. After claiming that you were going to stage […]
Thoughts from New Quincy: A New Home
I wandered too long,a stranger in my own life,watching laughter through glass,close enough to see, too far to touch. I lived at the edge of things, where streets stretched into silence, where each step away felt like exile, where the night ended not in sleep, but in the long breath before loneliness. It was waiting—always […]
Somewhere Between Performance and Reality: A Review of “be cozy”
The real world is never as stable as we think—especially when a story dares to break it right before our eyes. From March 6-9, Harvard students sold out the original play “be cozy,” which distilled a whole world into a living room—a living room where the lines between performance and reality blurred with unsettling ease. […]
Bassett & Vance Join the Sphinx
For the first time since 2019, the Hasty Pudding Institute hosted their 8th Annual Golden Sphinx Award Ceremony on March 2. The Order of the Golden Sphinx, named for the Pudding’s traditional symbol, “recognizes individuals in the entertainment industry for their extraordinary contributions to the performing arts” and is the Institute’s highest honor. This year, […]
Underground at the Ag
Painted lehengas and Parle-G cookie boxes adorn wooden set panels of the Agassiz—affectionately dubbed the “Ag.” Bollywood vocals mixed with piano, guitar, and percussion echo through the theater. Spots, PAR cans, and Fresnels illuminate the stage. 12 dancers in classical Indian attire stand in four lines. The first dance of Ghungroo 2025 is about to […]
Kate Hamill’s “Odyssey” Makes Waves
Jules: I have a troubling confession to make: I cannot help but spoil things for myself. Every time I see a Broadway play or start a new television show, I look up the entire plot beforehand so I know what to expect. Something about reading the Wikipedia summary of a particularly shocking moment—say, Tony Vlachos’s […]
Rooted: The Rhythm of Our Roots
What defines a home? Is it the soil where we are born and raised? Or is it the roots that weave within us? “Rooted” marks the 37th year of Ghungroo at Harvard, an annual tradition that has grown to become the University’s largest student-run production. As Harvard’s premier showcase of South Asian culture and heritage, […]
The Faults of Human Connection
“Gruesome Playground Injuries,” written by Rajiv Joseph, is an unconventional play that blends heartbreak, pain, humor, and recklessness into the complex, lifelong relationship between Doug (former Independent Editor-in-Chief Andrew Spielmann ’25) and Kayleen (Lauren Mei ’27). Directed by Texaco Texeira-Ramos ’26, the show ran from Feb. 20–23 in the Loeb Experimental Theater, offering the audience […]
A Guide to Jules Sanders’s Room Decorations
Last weekend, my friends pointed out to me that they had never seen my dorm. My room—a Canaday hallway single that cannot imaginably exceed about 120 square feet—isn’t somewhere I spend a lot of time, largely on account of the (probably wrong) size estimation I just provided. Yet my friends’ assertion that my room was […]
A Trip to Berlin: Willkommen to the Kit Kat Klub
As one of Harvard’s closest neighbors, MIT has long drawn students to its campus for academics, events, and even the occasional frat party. Alongside the school’s many academic attractions, the MIT Theatre Guild stands out for its impressive productions. This season’s performance of “Cabaret” was no exception. “Cabaret” is a musical set in 1930s Berlin—a […]
Encountering “A Complete Unknown” at Harvard
Last December, my classmates and I had the privilege of attending the Boston premiere of “A Complete Unknown,” the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet. We had just spent an entire semester in “Bob Dylan: The Classic” exploring the man, myth, and legend. True to its name, the course was housed in the Classics department […]
Your Guide to the Arts on a Snowy Day
We’ve reached the bleak midwinter here at Harvard, where all students are tempted to stay in bed and out of the icy winds until spring break. It’s what I like to call “museum weather”—perfect for spending the day inside appreciating the arts. Here’s how you can get up to that in Cambridge this winter: Spotlight […]
How to be Single on Valentine’s Day
So, you’re disappointed about spending Valentine’s Day alone. Maybe you’re used to buying yourself chocolate, or maybe this is the first time in a long time you don’t have a Valentine. Either way, you’re dreading that inevitable pit in your stomach that will accompany seeing the countless affectionate Instagram posts and boys walking in Harvard […]
Six Poems You Shouldn’t Send To Your Brand New Situationship
BY: SHAMELESS SHAKESPEARE ’27 It’s been too long since you’ve made me cum, It’s not your fault Zoloft’s making me numb. Still, though, a girl has needs And I don’t like to plead So I think we should have a threesome. Shakespeare’s sonnets fall short of describing The pounding in my naughty bits when I […]
The Florecitas
For Lizbeth Ibarra ’26 and Kathy Villanueva ’26, flowers are more than just beautiful—they’re a way to express affection and connection. “I see it as an act of love and self-care. Flowers always signify an embrace,” Villanueva said. The Independent spoke to the duo, known as the “Florecitas,” about their decision to share their passion […]
My WOY’s Wicked Smaht
May Art always fill your caps. This, which the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 75th Woman of the Year, actress and vocalist Cynthia Erivo signed in the Pudding honoree guestbook, rings true to the Hasty Pudding’s motto, Concordia Discors (discordant harmony or organized chaos), christening a day full of joy, love, and laughter. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, […]
I Think I’m Lovestruck
Tucked in a semi-basement unit in a retail building on Brattle Street awaits a romance book lover’s paradise. Lovestruck Books opened at the beginning of January, offering a bookstore, boutique, and cafe in one. Romance is more than a Valentine’s Day specialty here; the store captures the heart of the holiday year-round. An archway of […]
Love Poems, Redefined
you stir and i respond (for a puppy) you stir, and i respond… to press upon you tenderly my love, to bless life and growth like breath on fire, to wash my hands over you with so exactly the pressure of god, as i would want the hands of creation to wash over me, and […]
Hamm Sandwich
You might be surprised by the abundant similarities between Jon Hamm and a pound of deli ham, but according to Bernardo Sequeira ’26, they do not share one thing: an Oscar win. On Friday, Jan. 31, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals (HPT) honored actor Jon Hamm with their prestigious Man of the Year award. During the […]
“Foreigners Everywhere:” A Weekend at the Venice Biennale
Walls of glass beads, each colored strand hugging the next as they hang from the ceiling. A pile of rotting fruit on a wooden desk, connected by long wires to speakers emanating a low and melodic hum. In a room that’s all chalkboard, names link in a never-ending tree stretching from floor to ceiling. A […]
A Night of Enchantment with Cendrillon
As the first week of classes concluded, many Harvard students made their way to the Agassiz Theater to experience the magic of a night at the opera. The original “Cendrillon,” a Cinderella story and French opera, was composed by Jules Massenet from 1894-1896 before its premiere in the National Opera-Comique in Paris in 1899, with […]
What We’re Watching
The past month has been filled with long-awaited releases across the publishing and film industries. Like the majority of college students over winter recess, the staff of the Harvard Independent took full advantage of our Canvas-free lull by diving into such binge-worthy narratives. Now that the start of spring semester and the inevitable need for […]
From Rejection to Rapture
Through a haze of flashing strobe lights and pounding bass, 2Hollis burst onto the stage at Paradise Rock Club on Jan. 24 to the deafening screams of a sold-out crowd. The 933-person venue, packed with teenagers and young adults in Opium-inspired all-black oversized outfits, teemed with excitement for the 21-year-old singer, rapper, and producer. For […]
Jules Sanders’s 2025 Ins and Outs
For the past month, countless people have come to me asking for my personal 2025 in-and-out list. As the CEO of Good Taste, I knew my peers would inevitably levee this responsibility—nay, burden— onto me. Never one to disappoint those counting on me, I’ve worked diligently to compile the comprehensive index below. Embrace each “in” […]
“We Real Cool”
Founded by friends in 2021 out of freshman-year jam sessions, the Harvard Black Arts Collective is still coming of age. For the 2024 fall semester, Comp Directors Helena Hudlin ’27, Najya Gause ’26, Santi Kelly ’26, and I welcomed the largest comp class to date into our fold. Despite our recent establishment, this comp class […]
Spring 2025: What’s on at the HRDC?
At the beginning of every semester, the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club (HRDC), Harvard’s primary undergraduate theater organization, announces the productions that will take the stage across Harvard’s theaters. This semester, the HRDC has announced an exciting mix of original student work and established productions that students can audition for, staff, or mark in their calendars as […]
From Dusty Shakespearean Relic to Radical Reinvention
In the arts, there are rare moments when innovation, vision, talent, and collaboration converge to redefine the creative landscape—watershed moments that signal new eras. In 1920s Paris, Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas helped shape the Modernist movement in their salon. In 1947, Marlon Brando’s Broadway performance in A Streetcar Named Desire marked a transformative leap […]
Break on a Budget
This year, we have almost six weeks of winter recess. During finals week, it often feels like those weeks will be the most peaceful, perfect break from school. But after the holidays, things start to slow down, and it is easy to find yourself with nothing to do. When everyone returns to school, while your […]
How to Talk Politics Over the Holidays
The holidays are a time marked by joy, togetherness, and at least a little bit of family drama. With the results of the latest election cycle looming large, political conversations this holiday season are likely to be more charged than ever, so why not lean into the chaos and make things a bit more memorable? […]
Experiencing the Holiday Season Through the Arts
As we transition into the holiday season, many of us seek new activities to celebrate this special time—whether with friends, family, or just ourselves. Luckily for those of us in Boston, the city brims with activities to enjoy this time of year. Whether it is a Christmas-themed play, a classic theater production, an iconic ballet, […]
Breathing Room
Life slows down at home, I find Like I had been sitting on the remote Letting fast-forward run Without realizing Without rewind The streets are empty past 8 p.m. There are no late-night Jefe’s runs, Uber Eats, Or Ubers at all. The garbage truck doesn’t come by in the morning, And there are no incessant […]
Happy Harv-idays: A Student Holiday Gift Guide
Oh no! You have four final exams coming up, you’re scrambling to complete Course Evaluations, and you completely forgot to buy something—anything—for the people you appreciate in your life. For the random friend you got assigned Secret Santa. You are assigned the one person that you have literally never had a conversation with. Honestly, how […]
As It Fell
We meet for tea every Thursday afternoon at 3:45 p.m. Today, though, I am 10 minutes early. I sit at a table by the window facing the street. The taxis drive by, pops of yellow among the otherwise muted winery whites and grays of the building facades. The city moves at its usual pace, rushed […]
Celebrating the Holidays with Food
It’s the holiday season, so we know what everyone is thinking about: food. The Independent surveyed students to determine which foods they enjoy most at this time of year. Food during the holidays is more than just fulfilling nutritional needs—it symbolizes togetherness, tradition, and family. As the semester draws to a close and finals loom […]
Creative After College: “Mai Anna” Pacheco
If music is a universal language, harmonizing celebrates our shared humanity. “Now it’s more professional, as in I go to sessions and I’m more of a recording artist. But at Harvard, I was definitely more free-flowing, just jamming with people, making songs in our dorms. It just felt way more DIY than it does now. […]
Sharing the Stage
The Game isn’t the only event under the spotlight this weekend—off the football field, Harvard and Yale groups will take the stage with their respective counterparts for numerous music and art shows to celebrate creativity and rivalry alike. This weekend promises performances steeped in rich tradition alongside new artistic collaborations that highlight the camaraderie and […]
Grief, Laughter, and Speed Bumps
Speed Bumps, And Other Things Jesus Wouldn’t Have Wanted, is a raw, funny, and deeply human exploration of complex themes including grief, love, and friendship. Written by Matthew Cole ’24 and directed by Ava Pallotta ’25, the one-act play portrays the process of coping with loss with a real sense of empathy and authenticity. The […]
A Feast for the Senses
On the afternoon of Nov. 17, I entered the historic Symphony Hall in Boston and immediately reveled in my rich visual surroundings. Symphony Hall is adorned with the inscription of Beethoven’s name high above the stage, three separate floors of seating, and sculptures of gods and goddesses that line the oval walls. Opened on Oct. […]
Harvard Ballet Company’s New Dawn
Exhibiting a dazzling combination of classical technique, graceful movements, and modern flair, the Harvard Ballet Company’s (HBC) fall production left the entire audience in complete awe. On Nov. 16 and 17, HBC ran two of their four performances of Dawn at the Loeb Drama Center, where the ballet dancers displayed the hard work and talent […]
Glam, Glitter, and Grit
Full glam, colorful dresses, fake beards, and a unique sense of liberty: this is Adams Drag Night, the signature annual event of Adams House. Every year, Adams House transforms into a place where creativity flows everywhere, gender limits dissolve, and everyone expresses themselves freely without fear of judgment. On Nov. 15, the tradition returned. Student […]
Elements of Desire
1.INT. ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB – NIGHT An organic chemistry lab. It is dark and empty. A GORGEOUS HOT CHEMIST in a tight lab coat that hugs her curves is conducting an experiment in one of the fume hoods. Her MALE LAB PARTNER walks in, tepidly. The two have always had a flirty vibe. This is […]
Behind the Scenes with The Army, The Navy
The Army, The Navy, an indie music duo made up of childhood friends Mia Cambriello and Sasha Goldberg, recently wrapped up their tour with pop musician Dora Jar. In our interview, they shared how their journey together began, what it was like touring with their idol, and the inspiration behind their songwriting process. The following […]
Promoting Peace Through Art
Art and Activism At a school historically centered around a traditional liberal arts education consisting of classic humanities and STEM curricula, more creative communities, especially those within the fine arts, can be overlooked. The Independent interviewed Nikita Ivaniuta ’28, a first-year student from Ukraine who has used his art as a vessel for activism and […]
Anastasia: A Russian Princess’ Journey to Rediscovery
One step at a time. One hope, then another. Anastasia is an enchanting musical that explores the enduring mystery of Princess Anastasia Romanov through song, dance, and performance. The show follows a girl with an uncertain past, who teams up with two questionable con men as they try to escape St. Petersburg on a fateful […]
Ordering Mysterious Drinks
When I drink boba, I think about my siblings. My sister Lucy sticks with the classics—black, jasmine, Earl Gray—all guaranteed to be very good. But my brother Jasper gets a little outlandish. He orders the wild, experimental drinks, like cheese and matcha yogurt with watermelon jelly—concoctions that feel like some sort of crime. Lucy and […]
Old Water, New Light
Weak I can still go to the river. Weak I can still let myself Go where the river flows. This is the freedom I needed— to return this adventure to well-worn waters. Skinvessel I am pulled together as but one temporary wetness,tightly. This is to witness, this […]
One of Many or One of a Kind?
It’s no secret: Harvard Square has a lot of Mexican eateries. From late-night classics like El Jefe’s and Felipe’s to the more recently opened Achilito’s, satisfying that craving is easy. Yet in a market oversaturated with established competitors, Tenoch Mexican’s newest location on Mount Auburn Street (right where Jefe’s was two years ago) seeks to […]
Turning Death Into Art and Joy
“Quien quiera gozar de verasy divertirse un ratón, venga con las calaverasa gozar en el panteón.” – José Guadalupe Posada “Whoever wants to truly enjoy and have a bit of fun, come with the skeletons to delight in the graveyard.” – José Guadalupe Posada Imagine a poem that jokes about your death, turning the inevitable […]
Take It Off: A Night of EDM, Pashminas, and Vomit
I arrived at Roadrunner, a mid-sized music venue in Allston, at 9:30 p.m. for the Friday night Fisher show that advertised a 9 p.m. start time. Two lines snaked around the long blocks in opposite directions from the main entrance. Our foursome was told that one line was for regular GA tickets while the other […]
Haunted Houses of Cambridge
As the crisp air settles in and the days grow shorter, the spirit of Halloween awakens, covering the streets with an array of ghosts and goblins. If you want to get in your autumn feels and into the Halloween spirit, stroll down Appleton St., Cambridge, where the leaves are falling and the decorations are out. […]
Lighting Up the Stage: “Raunak” Takes the Spotlight
On Oct. 26, Harvard’s Undergraduate Bhangra cast and team buzzed with vibrant energy as “Raunak 2024,” a much-anticipated showcase, drew in spectators and performers to celebrate Punjabi culture through one of its most dynamic dance forms—bhangra. The event welcomed not only Harvard Bhangra’s own dancers, but also groups from Boston University, Tufts, and Yale, making […]
Halloween Haikus
Cold Fall The air holds a chill. A cold dampness hits my face. The cold fall is here. Candy Sweet sugary yum, I take a bite happily, Chocolate goodness! Pumpkin This is for the porch; I carve the Jack-O-Lantern, Light it with candles. Early Night Darkness is around, Stars twinkle the sky above, Night comes […]
Casted
In the city where shadows came to life, we were overjoyed (after the initial shock). That day, it was an immemorable rainy Saturday morning, with that kind of constant downpour that makes you forget how a clear sky looks. But when the clouds parted, the shadows suddenly came to life. It started slow. We noticed […]
Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue
Kyle was petrified to come to Harvard. All of his buddies from back home were headed to Alabama, Texas A&M, and BYU. On their last night together, Kyle’s friends sat him down, said a prayer for him, and reminded him to try to keep his mouth shut so he doesn’t get canceled by his overly […]
The Apprentice on the Big Screen
Written by New York magazine journalist Gabriel Sherman and directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice is the so-called “origin story” of former president Donald Trump, chronicling his early days under the mentorship of lawyer Roy Cohn and his marriage with Ivana Trump. Arriving just weeks before the 2024 presidential election, the film has […]
Stop and Smell the Roses at Brattle Square Florist
When you step into Brattle Square Florist, not only are you greeted by a vibrant array of flowers, but owner Stephen Zedros welcomes you with a smile. At this remarkable flower shop, fresh-cut flowers coexist with the deep-rooted family history the shop has in Harvard Square. Brattle Square Florist is the oldest flower shop in […]
Cambridge’s New Luxor Cafe
There are enough coffee shops, restaurants, and stores in Harvard Square that a college student could likely spend all four years between Massachusetts Avenue and Brattle Street and never need to venture further for sustenance. Though I’m certainly a regular at Tatte and Blank Street, this week I decided to wander just outside of the […]
Migration, Unification, and the Art Nation
Lynette Roth, curator at Harvard’s Busch Reisinger Museum which specializes in art from Germany and Northern Europe, would describe her new exhibition Made in Germany? as “pushing back against this idea that the Busch Reisinger is just a museum for German art, but actually looking into its complicated history and taking that as a cue […]
The Hidden Wonders of HAM at Night
After walking up the steps from Quincy Street, I pulled open the double-doors to the Harvard Art Museums (HAM) and a wave of music immediately poured over my ears. I wove through the traffic of people as they walked from one exhibition, through the courtyard, to another—some trailing away from the herd to explore adjacent […]
Dissolution of Unrequited Love
Before the sun rises The sound of bound paper striking the door Summons me to start a fire To procrastinate retrieving what has been delivered Least I risk meeting you And recall how If you were to churn brown sugar Over a gas stove While inhaling the rich, smokey molasses Take a moment to turn […]
Let’s Talk about SWEAT, Baby
A sea of lime green and black descended on TD Garden last Saturday for the Boston stop of the SWEAT Tour, co-headlined by artists Charli XCX and Troye Sivan. While the color palette of the crowd was relatively uniform, their outfits were anything but. Fans sported everything from customized t-shirt renditions of the BRAT album […]
Russell’s Sprouts: Lasagna Soup
Fall has officially begun, which means it’s unofficially soup season! I don’t know about you, but my wellness can always flip from unwell to well with a delicious home-cooked meal (and no, HUDS doesn’t count). If you’re looking for a kitchen, it’s time to rent out Cabot H101 or hit up your super senior friend […]
Night at the Museum
Halfway through my third-ever visit to the Fogg Museum, one of the three museums that make up the Harvard Art Museums (HAM), I began to truly appreciate the surreal experience of walking through gallery rooms completely alone. Aside from the faint sounds of upbeat tunes and art-focused chatter echoing throughout the grand halls of the […]
Creative After College: Treasure “SOL” Faith Brooks
“I’m pursuing the path of a mogul, quite frankly,” SOL said, regarding her dreams. “I want to be able to act upon all of my creative imaginations.” After graduating from Harvard College, multidisciplinary artist Treasure Faith Brooks ’22 reinvented herself as SOL. “It was a process of self-possession and self-sovereignty, because I’ve been in institutions […]
Fall Poetry
is twilight over? Do you remember how the plastic firesdanced away as we tip-toedlate but unworriedI only remember you turning back for my smilewhen you thought you recognized the song Do you remember how many timesthe wheel spun and how manytickets we wonI only remember you asking that mother topress our picture intothe shape of […]
Consulting Fair Chronicles
Today is the day. Ever since I missed the McKinsey application deadline, I marked this day down in my calendar. I’ve been losing sleep, haunted by the McKinsey monster that invades my dreams each night. But today is going to make all of the nightmares finally go away. Today is the annual Business and Consulting […]
A Tribute to Hollywood’s Greatest Voice
“Luke, I am your father.” All of you reading that seminal line from The Empire Strikes Back likely did so in a low, metallic, baritone voice, perhaps the most recognizable in Hollywood history. James Earl Jones, the legendary actor who brought Darth Vader and countless other characters to life, passed away last week at the […]
Grounds for Discovery
Yes, you can get a cup of coffee in the d-hall and study in the library. But there’s something about getting a deliciously overpriced coffee in a cozy cafe that makes spending hours staring at your computer screen far more enjoyable. In Harvard Square, you’ve probably visited Starbucks, Dunkin, and Blank Street. But this fall, […]
A Refreshing Romeo & Juliet at the A.R.T.
Shakespeare’s famous tale of love and tragedy has been read, studied, and performed by millions over the course of the last four centuries. It has become a household name, recognized as one of the most culturally significant pieces of literature of all time. So, when a director wants to put up a new production, it […]