JimmyHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Hoya fan, est. 1986
Posts: 1,867
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Post by JimmyHoya on Apr 27, 2006 14:00:13 GMT -5
www.thehoya.com/viewpoint/042506/view5.cfmInteresting piece by Mooney. I agree with him (obviously) although he takes some thigns a liiiiittle bit too far at times, but is this pretty close to what the "block parties" used to be like? What's in store for Friday? I especially agree with the bit about bringing an exciting band to G'town...or more exactly, bringing anyone to the school. This is the only major school I know that gets zero music acts, zero non-serious political/social speakers. Yeah, it's nice to hear from Kerry and all that jazz, but when the biggest social events provided by the school is vh1's "best week ever", Bir Bigs, and friggin' Jason Mraz and Carbon Leaf (a show that had mainly WG students attending), it's not hard to understand why nobody has any school spirit besides for the basketball team (sometimes) and there's a supposed "drinking problem"--it gets biggidy boring around here.
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FLHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Proud Member of Generation Burton
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Post by FLHoya on Apr 27, 2006 14:43:38 GMT -5
I find it kind of weird that a Junior at GTown is writing this love letter to an event that hasn't existed since he was about a freshman in HIGH SCHOOL. So technically, they took the Block Party out from under the noses of the three classes of GTown students who were already there when I arrived on campus in Fall 2000. But that's neither here nor there.
As far as what's in store for Friday, Jimmy...well, I mean, moon bounces, balloons, and Cherry Coke isn't too far off. It's...I mean, it's something...more like an excuse to be outside for a while...in my case, it was a convenient excuse to skip work tomorrow and hang out with some people. A real "party" however? Not even close.
BTW, you inadvertantly may have BOOM'ed some sort of dynamite by mentioning the Block Party. I can't really comment b/c my freshman year was the first year it didn't happen IIRC, so I never experienced it. But from everything I heard...from people who actually did experience it...pretty good stuff.
In fact, we haven't had a good Block Party thread in a while.
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Jack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,411
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Post by Jack on Apr 27, 2006 14:54:53 GMT -5
2000 graduate, saw the last days of block party and sent it off in style. I may elaborate later, but FormerHoya can tell you about calling his mother at 10 am for the "recipe" for beer-brats. What I can add is that these discussions always turn into people claiming their era was the greatest, until we get back to all-male Georgetown with curfews:
-Late 90's/2000 had block party -Early/Mid 90's had block party, "real homecoming," and the Leavey Center version of the pub -80's had great hoops, kegs on the quad at orientation, block party, real homecoming, and the Healy ("real') pub -70's had nickel beers at Healy basemeent pub, beer everywhere on campus, Bruce Springsteen and the Grateful Dead at Gaston and McDonough
The kid's argument is ridiculous in that article- GU is not losing good students because they don't think the place is fun enough- we don't lose to FSU, we lose to Harvard. But there is something lost in the growing sanitization of fun on campus, and it is very unfortunate that no one has experience block party in the last 6 years and kids now think going to Foxfields in Charlottesville is the best thing all spring.
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Apr 27, 2006 15:05:17 GMT -5
Hey Fox Fields is fun. Not as fun as the block party would be i'm sure though ... btw, DC is an awesome college city - so if you can't find something fun to do that might be your own fault. But I would also say that a lot of the problem this year has been the the Georgetown Program Board has lost a lot of its inertia - they didn't do a movie poster, i went to one of the movies and no one was there, and they didn't do a spring concert at all. Its just kind of sad - I also think that they are ending this year with a big surplus in their budget which is a bad thing.
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FormerHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,262
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Post by FormerHoya on Apr 27, 2006 15:09:41 GMT -5
2000 graduate, saw the last days of block party and sent it off in style. I may elaborate later, but FormerHoya can tell you about calling his mother at 10 am for the "recipe" for beer-brats. It was my Grandmother. The beer brats were excellent. The mudwrestling afterwards (or was that another year? Wonder why my memories aren't clear) was even better. I liked to start off that day with a large screwdriver in Fr. Schall's class. I miss days like that. Today I got to work at 4:30am.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2006 15:27:00 GMT -5
I was lucky to experience the last two Block Parties. Although I have to say my best memories of the day were the every-man-woman-and-child-for-his/herself food fights in New South afterwards.
I remember ducking under a table to "reload" and looking up to see a cup of soup in some styrofoam container arcing the entire length of the cafeteria. It was as if everything around me was in slow-motion as I watched it travel towards its intended target. It was beautiful. That, and the kid "surfing" the conveyor belt throwing chicken patties at everyone. Good times.
I hope 'Bridge doesn't see this thread, as it will surely launch him into a "Juan Gonzalez Is Satan" tirade. Although I will say this in his defense: during our time on The Hilltop, 'Bridge, Bando, Coast2Coast and I (and others) went from having out-door concerts, Block Party, massive unregulated tailgates, and more...
... to NEXT TO NOTHING by our senior year, and Juan was the face of the governing body that did that to us.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2006 15:27:37 GMT -5
Oh, and the spring concert up here at BC the last two years have been Guster (2005) and Kanye West (2006).
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Filo
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,910
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Post by Filo on Apr 27, 2006 15:50:36 GMT -5
Do they at least still let the students do some fun stuff (party-wise) during Senior Week?
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Apr 27, 2006 16:13:31 GMT -5
Do they at least still let the students do some fun stuff (party-wise) during Senior Week? I've talked to some people on Senior Class Committee - it sounds like the beer will be flowing and good times will be had. Although they have added a significant community service aspect to it - which I don't necessarily disagree with although I wouldn't like it to get in the way of my drinking. To quote Vince Vaughn in Old School - "and we will give NOTHING back to the community what-so-ever ..."
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CTHoya08
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Bring back Izzo!
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Post by CTHoya08 on Apr 27, 2006 16:25:12 GMT -5
One of my friends was visiting GU with his older sister during one of the last block parties, and he says Georgetown Day is joke in comparison. The article posted from the HOYA is by John Mooney, who wrote a similar one about Homecoming earlier in the year. In both articles, he seems to undermine his point by writing in the style of someone who is drunk for the first time, "Drinking is sooooo cool! Why doesn't GU let us party more!?" I wish we had something like a block party, but I don't think Mooney makes a very mature argument for one.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Apr 27, 2006 16:50:26 GMT -5
Hopefully they'll have Vitamin Water tomorrow. That stuff always does it for me.
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Filo
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,910
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Post by Filo on Apr 27, 2006 17:30:46 GMT -5
How about a Fresca?
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JimmyHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Hoya fan, est. 1986
Posts: 1,867
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Post by JimmyHoya on Apr 27, 2006 17:48:31 GMT -5
One of my friends was visiting GU with his older sister during one of the last block parties, and he says Georgetown Day is joke in comparison. The article posted from the HOYA is by John Mooney, who wrote a similar one about Homecoming earlier in the year. In both articles, he seems to undermine his point by writing in the style of someone who is drunk for the first time, "Drinking is sooooo cool! Why doesn't GU let us party more!?" I wish we had something like a block party, but I don't think Mooney makes a very mature argument for one. I agree. He does sound like a bit of a two year old, but his arguement does have merit. btw, DC is an awesome college city - so if you can't find something fun to do that might be your own fault. Oh, without a doubt, and if it's my choice, I intend to stay in this area till they bury me, but still, it would be nice for the attractions to be brought to us, no? Maybe just once? I don't think this is too hard a goal to strive for. I don't know, maybe I'm a dreamer or something, but Georgetown Day reminds me of crappy high school field days, stupid "family" company picnics, NSO, etc.
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VelvetElvis
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
pka MrPathetic
Posts: 934
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Post by VelvetElvis on Apr 27, 2006 18:02:17 GMT -5
FYI, I am going to be all over this discussion...as soon as I have time to gather my thoughts and my beverage!
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Apr 27, 2006 19:05:36 GMT -5
The main problem with the program board is they don't advertise anything that they do do. Like the Mike birbiglia Comedy show there were absolutely no advertisement for this. I only found out about it cause a friend told me about it on my way to church. So i skipped church and i went to the show.( I went to a later mass i didn't skip all together) Same thing witht he spring concert not sure if it actually happened but it was suppsoed to be last saturday during the Mens Lacrosse game but it rained that morning so i don't know if they had it. And besides i'd never heard of the band that was performing. "The Hold Steady" lets just say it's not Guster or Kanye i've got two friends at BC and i was really Editeded when they told me who was playing their concert.
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miamihoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 698
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Post by miamihoya on Apr 27, 2006 20:06:49 GMT -5
As a freshmen i know nothing of block parties or even the current georgetown day (i guess i'll find out tommorow), but I do think its a major dissapointment that Georgetown fails to bring popular entertainment acts to campus. I know that friends at various schools have seen comedians such as Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia and performers such Kanye and the Killers. VH1's best week ever cast was pretty aweful, and I honestly have never heard of Mike Brigalia (or however you spell it). Mike Reiss (simpsons producer/writer) last week was pretty entertaining, but falls short of celebrity. I realize that lecture fund is busy bringing in John Kerry and Condoleeza Rice, but every once in a while it would be nice to shed our stereotype of being a bunch of political junkies, and have some fun entertainment on campus.
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VelvetElvis
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
pka MrPathetic
Posts: 934
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Post by VelvetElvis on Apr 27, 2006 20:27:57 GMT -5
Miami, Miami, Miami. So young, So Innocent! Give yourself a few years, my friend. You will come to embrace the ineptitude that is the GPB.
More importantly, let me share with you tales of the block party:
In the days of yore there were trucks of which the beer poured directly! They parked them near campus. Sometimes on 37th near Lauinger and sometimes on N St. People came to these trucks as if they were an oasis in the desert and they partook of the golden goodness. When this happened the women of Georgetown become much easier to chat up. Some coupled, some simply made merry, but after this source of fellowship had run dry we would all make our way down the stairs to new south cafeteria. It was here that we would all take part in the sharing of the foods!
Part 2 to follow shortly.
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Post by utraquehoya on Apr 28, 2006 6:02:08 GMT -5
Mooney's article was dumb, though still better than his earlier piece. His "I-can't-have-fun-unless-I'm-drunk" whine reveals more about his problems than Georgetown's.
I'd never throw a party without booz, nor could I imagine going to one where it wasn't available. But my one experience of the old block wasn't anything to immortalize.... all of us in a roped off in a crowded area, like a Village A rooftop party, only with more people.
Yes, Georgetown day is on the wholesome side, but it's been fun for me... different. The weather supposed to be great today, there'll be free food and bands (o.k. student bands, but still). If you can't get together with friends and have an awesome time on the front lawn, then you need to lighten up and get some new friends.
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Jack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,411
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Post by Jack on Apr 28, 2006 12:17:29 GMT -5
Early highlight of Georgetown Day- DJ Owens dominating Hibbert and Crawford in the pugil sticks.
Also, Roy stepping up and nailing the target with his first throw at the dunk tank.
Block party it ain't, but as good clean fun goes, it was a nice lunch break for me.
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Cambridge
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Canes Pugnaces
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Post by Cambridge on Apr 28, 2006 15:38:27 GMT -5
I was lucky to experience the last two Block Parties. Although I have to say my best memories of the day were the every-man-woman-and-child-for-his/herself food fights in New South afterwards. I remember ducking under a table to "reload" and looking up to see a cup of soup in some styrofoam container arcing the entire length of the cafeteria. It was as if everything around me was in slow-motion as I watched it travel towards its intended target. It was beautiful. That, and the kid "surfing" the conveyor belt throwing chicken patties at everyone. Good times. I hope 'Bridge doesn't see this thread, as it will surely launch him into a "Juan Gonzalez Is Satan" tirade. Although I will say this in his defense: during our time on The Hilltop, 'Bridge, Bando, Coast2Coast and I (and others) went from having out-door concerts, Block Party, massive unregulated tailgates, and more... ... to NEXT TO NOTHING by our senior year, and Juan was the face of the governing body that did that to us. You forget, I also blame Al Queda...who effectively cancelled Fall Senior Disorientation. I became a Hawk and neo-con because of this travesty.
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