Merge Fest: Arcade Fire and Spoon at the Garden

I'll be honest, I only started getting into Arcade Fire this year. When they were starting to get (big) in 2004 and 2005 with their debut album Funeral, I still probably had no idea they existed. At some point they caught on with me but I still wasn't impressed. It took tickets to their show to get me latched on but once I was gearing up for the show, I was already hooked. Their new album The Suburbs leaked and I really liked what I heard. So August 5th came and I finally got my chance to see the indie darlings on one of the biggest stages: Madison Square Garden. Oh and some band named Spoon was opening for them. Deeeecent.

I got to the city around 5pm and waited to meet General Ducks Mazzoli who had recently returned from the battlefield with a broken shoulder blade (what the fuck.) Despite the injury, Ducks was just as pumped as I was for what was going to be a legendary show. We had dinner at one of New York City's finest eating establishments, Chipotle, although Ducks was unsatisfied with his burrito from the god like amount of rice that was thrown into the thing.

After being sent off by Pavement fanatic Jeff Feldman, Ducks and I hit up a bar for a few drinks before the show. We finally met up with Eddie Small and his friend Jim who were also attending the show but were too cool to meet up with us for dinner and drinks. (Actually Eddie got lost, what an idiot.) Ducks and I found our seats fairly easy and while we weren't in the pit up front, we were still on the ground floor with some great seats that were only 50 bucks. (Well worth it for an Arcade Fire and Spoon show.) Some Canadian named Owen Pallett opened at 8 as we were walking in. He wasn't terrible but I wont be downloading his music anytime soon.

I would say it was a little after 9 when the Garden got dark for Spoon to come on. So for the record, this would be my sixth time seeing Spoon and the first time they would not be the headline and the first time I was seeing them in a huge venue. They started the show with just lead singer Britt Daniel coming on to do an acoustic performance of "Me and the Bean" followed by the rest of the band coming on to do a cover of The Dammed song, "Love Song." An interesting start to say the least.

Here is the deal with Spoon. I thought they were very good but it just wasn't the same. Spoon is a band meant for a smaller club like venue and when you see them, you want to be near the front to watch Britt Daniel go crazy on stage and just spaze out like a mad man on his guitar while wailing out his lyrics. At the Garden on Thursday, he was very toned down with his performance and the lights were very bland. Now you have to understand that they were not the main performers so a lot of this toned down act is expected. Still, I feel that this is a chance to reach out to people who have never seen the band play and they were kind of boring on stage. For a band as talented as Spoon, it was a bit of a disappointment. Nothing like the other 5 times I had seen them. So just remember, if you are going to see Spoon: smaller venue, get close and enjoy!

And before I forget, while I thought Spoon was still great, the set list was not. First of all, I'm sorry but "The Ghost of You Lingers" is just not a good song. There are so many other legendary Spoon tracks to choose from. And while I may have been disappointed by their new album Transference, to not include "Written in Reverse" and "The Mystery Zone," the two best songs off the album and your lead single is an outrage. I did like the inclusion of the fan favorite "I Turn My Camera On" and "I Summon You" and "They Never Got You" was a nice surprise but again, on that ending guitar part, Britt Daniel kept it very tame instead of going nuts like he usually does.

(For Jeff and Eddie: Remember when the opened with this at Prospect Park: Unbelievable!)

Anyway, while Spoon was good, they were not the reason I was there. It was more like an added bonus to see them opening up for the headline: Arcade Fire!

What should you expect from a band with 9 members filling up a giant venue and playing from a new album that was released 2 days ago? Pure Fucking Insanity would be correct. Arcade Fire hit the ground running and never stopped. They opened the show with the perfectly titled "Ready to Start" from their new album which got the crowd humming. Things really got going with their second song of the show and second song off their breakthrough debut Funeral, the accordion driven banger "Neighborhood #2 (Laika.) The lights blared while everyone joined along screaming the lyrics. Definitely one of my favorite Arcade Fire songs. (By the way, my opinions deviate little from popular opinion. What usually happens when you have just started liking a band.)

They followed with "No Cars Go," a hit from their second album Neon Bible. The thing that stood out on this song was the almost Méliès like image of the two women on the big screen. Very trippy and weird, especially at the end of the song when their faces matched the songs ending of "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." Next was "Haiti" which was another show highlight for me. Régine Chassagne, the wife of lead singer Win Butler, came to the front of the stage to belt out the homage to her home land and the band seemed to put some extra life into this one. She stayed on the mic to lead "Empty Room" which is one of my favorites from the new album. Again, the energy was top notch for this song.

Arcade Fire came back with their new single "The Suburbs" which I really enjoyed although the crowd seemed like they were taking a break. I guess it is kind of a mellow song so I wouldn't expect the crowd to be jumping around. This was followed with "Crown of Love" which I probably enjoyed the least out of the entire show. They went back to their new album with "Rococo" which was funny because as they announced they were going to play this, some guy near us just screamed out "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES." Definitely a highlight from their new album. The next two songs were "Intervention" and "We Used to Wait." The latter saw lead singer Win Butler entering the crowd and trying to balance on the railing. This all seemed to be a set up for their four song medley that would send the crowd into a frenzy and close out their first set in epic fashion.

Win Butler chimed on about the people who ask politely for the people next to them to stop dancing and how those people need to shut the fuck up cause this is a rock concert. Everybody started screaming and red lights drowned the stage with the opening chords of "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out), an absolute show stopper. Except they didn't stop and went straight into my favorite Arcade Fire song "Rebellion (Lies)." These songs back to back was definitely the best part of the show. The place was in complete euphoria the entire time. Can I go back now?

While everyone was catching their breath, Arcade Fire went into the fast paced "Month of May" off their new album which was filled with energy but failed in comparison to the two songs prior. They closed the set with "Keep the Car Running," one of the better songs from their lesser second album Neon Bible.

For the encore they could not have chosen three better songs. They opened with their classic opener "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), the song that started it all. It was simply fantastic. Another favorite from the concert. Second was "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) which is definitely my favorite from the new album so I was very happy they played it. And although the drum machine faltered, Butler said that the song was too good not to start over. They got it right the second time and while it was great, I pictured this song to be so much better live and it failed to live up to my expectations. To no ones surprise, Arcade Fire thanked the crowd and dived into their most popular and arguably best song "Wake Up." The crowd sang along to every word as the Garden was actually shaking. I cant remember a better ending to any concert. A truly fantastic experience. The walk home from the train station......not so much.

CockDoc Tips For Maximizing Your Grizzly Potential

The following blog post was written by Eric Blazar, former Dickinson Student and Jive Legend. This post is by far the most useful thing you will read on my blog....enjoy!


As a medical student and future physician, we are taught to manage and monitor a patient’s weight and encourage them to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a statistical comparison of height and weight across a population, to establish a norm (20-24), obese (29+) and underweight values (< 20). As a perpetual spectator and one-time participator in “getting grizzly”, I fully endorse everything that “getting grizzly” represents, no matter how fat Jake Rainwater will become once his freakish metabolism slows down.

Grizzlyness requires the gorging and consumption of considerably unhealthy foods both in substance and in quantity. From a scientific standpoint, “getting grizzly” can become a science rather than an art. First, we’ll start with the physiology of eating. It all begins when that first bit of fried/refried scrumptious morsel reaches your stomach. Your stomach is equipped with stretch receptors that relay information to your brain. The more you eat, the more your stomach stretches and the more rapid your stretch receptors fire to your brain. The main regulator of hunger in the brain is the hypothalamus. With many subsections within it, mainly the ventromedial and the lateral areas of the hypothalamus are responsible for hunger. When the information from the stomach reaches the brain, the brain creates a hormone called lecithin. Lecithin then in turn stimulates the ventromedial hypothalamus stimulating hunger and inhibits the lateral hypothalamus, which is responsible for satiety (fullness). This is about as basic as hunger physiology can be.

It can be infinitely more complex, but now we’ll get to the reason for reading this post, how to maximize your grizzliness in a scientific fashion.

I’m not claiming with this knowledge you will be as grizzly as the legends, but with this knowledge you may be able to at least compete with them and hold their eating jockstrap. For those that are wholeheartedly dedicated to getting grizzly, the simple way to fix your “fullness” problem would be to remove your lateral hypothalamus, which can most effectively be done by beating your head against a brick/ cement wall until you are always hungry (side effects may include major brain injury, inability to think, compute or function as a human-being). For those less dedicated, but still interested in improving on your grizzly state here are some recommendations from the Cockdoc.

1) Don’t fill your stomach with anything that day except water and some juices. Reason: Not eating will make you ultimately hungry (which is great), however, not filling your stomach with anything for as little as 8 hours will shrink and ultimately inhibit your stomach’s ability to stretch. So, consume lots of liquids and little to no food day of and by the time your set to get grizzly, you’ll be eating like a champ.

2) Eat as much as you can, as quickly as you can. Reason: This seems to be a generally well known principle. However, the 20 minutes that you are claimed to have before your brain computes you are full is vastly overestimated as the receptors from your stomach travel a bit quicker than that. Alternatively, for those readers attempting to lose weight, eat slower, you’ll feel full in the same amount of time and have consumed less calories.

3) When getting grizzly, DO NOT drink anything but water, and drink minimal amounts of it. Reason: While liquids will help keep your stomach expanded throughout the day when prepping for a grizzly sesh, consuming beer and coke during is just a rookie mistake. Both beer and coke will dry out your mouth leaving you more thirsty and causing you to waste more time and more stomach space on unmeasurable liquids that will not contribute to your grizzly conquest.

4) Finally, protein LAST. Reason: Proteins are undigested until the last part of the stomach and early small intestine, thus it remains the same sized chewable bites throughout the stomach not allowing it to take the shape of the stomach as well as emulsified fats and carbohydrates.

A. For weight losers: eat lots of protein, you’ll feel fuller faster and longer.

So there you have it, Cockdoc’s tips for getting grizzly. I can’t say that I am very grizzly or ever will be, but the above principles should help you in your quest for always improving on your path to grizzly nirvana.

*the scientific information in this article is still being debated by the greatest minds in our society; thus, things may be true, or may not be true.

CB Wiffle Resumes Play

On a perfect summer night with the moonlight flushed and the wind taking an off night, Dan Breslauer and Tom Monte squared off in a tightly contested game featuring some fantastic play from both teams. Monte selected Jake Rainwater and Tom Marks while Bres chose Jeff Feldman and Andrew Smith.

In the top of the first, Bres worked around a one out walk and retired Monte on a little bloop back to the pitcher. Already in the first inning, Bres was showing great life with his fastball pounding it inside on the hitters. Monte took the mound in the bottom of the first and made quick work of the hitters, striking out Bres and getting Feld on a sharp grounder right at Rain. Feldman took the mound in the top of the second and was greeted rudely by a leadoff double from Rain. Feldman composed himself and got both Tom's out to escape the inning unscathed. Rainwater having fully recovered from the shoulder injury from one year ago, fired bb's at the batters and finished both off with sliders to strike out the side.

Bres pitched the top of the third and found early trouble when he walked the leadoff hitter and gave up a double to Marks making it 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. Seemingly unfazed, Bres reached back and froze Monte with three fastballs and got Rain to chase a dirty cut fastball to strike out the side and keep the score knotted at zero. Marks worked around 2 singles in the bottom of the third, getting Feldman twice on hot shot ground balls that were fielded cleanly for the out. With Feldman on the mound in the top of the fourth, he got both batters to ground out to Breslauer who was showing some superb "glove" work in the field.

The game shifted in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Monte gave up the goods to Bres on a big fly to left field that reached the streets for a solo home run. The inning would continue with a single and a walk bringing up Breslauer again who doubled home another run to make it 2-0. Feldman would follow with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Smith kept it going with a ground ball to Rainwater who made a critical error to allow another run to score. The inning ended with Bres' squad sitting on top 4-0. Rainwater led off and looked to make amends from the error and sat dead read on a Bres fastball and pounded the first pitch he saw to dead center for a solo shot to cut the lead. Bres took his lumps and kept firing, striking out Marks and Monte with some serious heat to keep the score at 4-1.

In the bottom of the 5th, Rain worked around a lead off walk to Smith and got Breslauer and Feldman on two filthy sliders to strikeout the side. Feldman took the mound in the top of the 6th and ran into a hot hitting Rain who led off with another first pitch double. Feldman escaped further trouble when Breslauer made a great catch off a deep fly from Marks just in front of the right field wall. Feld finished the inning by striking out Monte to keep the score at 4-1. Marks pitched the bottom of the 6th and worked around a single and a walk to get out of the inning while demonstrating impeccable control with his over the top lefty fastball. Bres worked the top of the seventh and Rainwater led off with another single to keep his consecutive at bat hitting streak alive at 4. Bres came back and struck out Marks and got Monte on a come backer. Monte took the mound in the bottom of the seventh and found himself in early trouble with a leadoff single and walk. Smith came up and crushed a pitch to deep left that hung in the air long enough for Rainwater to run back and make a spectacular one handed catch to save three runs. Monte then froze Bres on a full count change up that nicked the outside corner.

Feldman would pitch the top of the 8th, holding on to a 4-1 lead. He walked Rain to lead off the inning but followed by getting Marks. With one out and one on, Feldman fell behind the count 3-1 to Monte before the game was called on an unofficial Rain Delay. The game will be picked up tonight at 11pm eastern time.

Both teams vented frustration as the game that was far from over was called early. An especially heated Breslauer wanted to finish what he had started.

"We really had a great rhythm last night. I thought Feld pitched about as well as I've seen him all summer. He definitely justified me picking him with my first slot. Smith was smart as usual at the plate and kept some good banter going on there. Obviously to have it be PPD in the 8th is disheartening but we were plying very confident wiffle."

Bres was on his way to game MVP with a home run, 2 rbi's and 5 k's. He also set himself up for the save situation. "I've been in the right mindset for a good chunk of the summer. Hitting has really been there for me especially to left field and I cam make plays. I was disappointed with the knuckle yesterday but the fastball and location. This game will be, no, must be continued. It was too well played not to be. It'd be an injustice to both squads not to have a resolution."

Rainwater looked extremely dejected after the game and could only offer his Verbal Kint reply...."fucking cops!"

My 10 Grizzly Challenges

For those of you unfortunate enough to have never participated in a Grizzly Challenge, I seriously feel bad for you. You think the World Cup is exciting? You thought Game 7 of the NBA finals was entertainment? Well I have news for you! None of these events compare to the spectacle and competitive nature of a Grizzly Challenge. You will never learn more about yourself when you sit in front of a ridiculous amount of food with the one goal of downing it all. Adam Richman would agree.

This year I have taken on two Grizzly Challenges. The first in London which consisted of a large Lamb Doner and Dixie Chicken Meal 8 (Footage to come soon!) and the second in Bremen at the famous Ismet III Doner Stand. Both were successful victories and huge character building moments for myself. Anyone who has participated in one challenge can say the same for themselves.

While I am still young, healthy and in the prime of my eating career, here are ten challenges that I hope to complete before my first heart attack.

And if you have not seen Grizzly Nation: get on that!

1. The Ben Morales Special: 10 Mcdonalds hamburgers/cheeseburgers

When Ben was challenged, he only had 30 minutes to accomplish this brave feat. And he did it outside on the street in front of over 15 screaming fans. This is a true test of endurance as I hear the first 4 to 5 burgers go down without any pain. By the time you begin unwrapping that 8th one, you begin to think that Super Size Me might have been on to something.
Degree of Difficulty: High

2. Fudds or Dudds: 1 Pound Chili Cheese Burger with fries from Fudruckers

I have only conquered the 1 pound burger before and it was a slow and painful process. Throw in the chili cheese and fries and you have something worth talking about. Some strategies include the "John Rametta" which is cutting the burger into quadrants and using precision chewing to take down your food.
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate

3. White Rose System: 3 Breakfast sandwiches from White Rose

Ok so I have actually managed this one during my senior year of high school. While White Rose may be known for those delicious Cali Burgers, one can never underestimate the amazingness of their breakfast sandwiches. My go-to has to be the Bacon Egg and Cheese. The scene was Rob's basement and after pounding through the first two, I could feel my chest caving in as it became nearly impossible to breath. Needless to say, I got all 3 down in about twenty minutes while only shaving off a few years of my life. Hey, I'll take it!
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate

4. The Tandem: 5 Guys Burger and Fries and a Chipotle Burrito

Serious eaters like myself might have noticed that these two restaurants can usually be found in the same complex. The reason: because they are both fucking delicious. To do this, you have to finish one of the items at that restaurant then move on to the next eating establishment and finish off the challenge. I'm sure the walk would be good. The perfect combination one could say.
Degree of Difficulty: High

5. Morning Glory: 5 McGriddles Sandwiches

When McDonalds introduced this sandwich, one might have been skeptical. But come on, who doesn't remember their first McGriddle. In theory you have the perfect breakfast sandwich, now you just have to eat 5 of them. I once had 2 of these plus a breakfast bagel sandwich and I swear that I felt nothing. 5 of these should be no problem (famous last words?)
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate

6. Value Challenge: Take down the Wendy's Super Value Menu

Remember when everything on these menus used to be 1 dollar. Yea neither do I but that's the world we live in. For this, a smorgasbord of cheap Wendy's items or really on any fast food value menu would do. For this one, you would need:
-5 Piece Nuggets
-Crispy Chicken Sandwich
-Double Stack
-Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
-Value Fries
-One Go Wrap
-Chili
-Value Soda (Yea Refills)

It's funny. This might be one of the more expensive challenges on the list. I'll spare you the Mandarin Oranges
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate

7. These Hallowed Grounds: 3 Grease Truck Sandwiches

I have been able to take down 2 once. But to ingest a third would be the true kicker. Yes we saw Man vs. Food legend Adam Richmond take down 4 and a half in an impressive 45 minutes but we all saw his mistake. His veggie fat cat at the end would doom anyone. I have heard of people talk about doing three, and while this is very possible, this challenge might have the highest probability of immediate death. They need to do something about those awful fries
Degree of Difficulty: High

8. Seafood Special: 3 Fish sandwiches from the 3 giants of Fast Food

This is hard for a couple of reasons. First, you need to locate a Mcdonalds, Wendy's and Burger King in a general vicinity of each other which is tough. Wait nevermind, this is America. Drive for like 5 minutes and you should be good. And while you might have to only eat 3 sandwiches, they might be 3 of the last things you would order at these places. You have the BK Big Fish, the Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich and the classic Filet-O-Fish. Mmmmmm delicious. Ok now this is a fun game: Match the description of each sandwich to its restaurant. Ready....GO!

Hand-cut fillets of North Pacific cod in a crisp Panko crumb breading, served with crisp lettuce and creamy tartar sauce on a warm bun. Now that's a great-tasting catch!

Dive right in. Don’t hesitate, cuz it’s made with light, flaky filet of white fish from the deep, cold waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Bering, Baltic and North Seas. Topped with tangy tartar sauce in a lightly steamed bun. Down you go!

Crisp, golden breaded 4.3-ounce filet, tangy tartar sauce, and fresh lettuce all served on a corn-dusted bun. This sandwich commands attention, and delivers satisfaction. Who are you to resist?
Answers at the bottom.
Degree of Difficulty: Easy/Impossible

9. Thinking Outside the Bun: The Taco's at the Bell

The original Gettin' Grizzly spot. To be honest, there are a million challenges that you could do at this legendary eating establishment but I will leave you with one: The Taco Medley. This consists of downing 5 Tacos (sooooo easy)............in 5 minutes. You have the Crunchy Taco, Soft Taco, Taco Supreme, Soft Taco Supreme and the kicker...the rare Crispy Potato Soft Taco.
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate (Had to put some speed challenges in here.)

10. The Final Domino: Conquer the 5-5-5 deal.

One of the greatest deals ever: 3 medium pizza's with one topping for 5 dollars each from Domino's. If you can take down one of these, you can think about taking on some of these challenges. Anyone who can do the impossible and eat all 3 is a true legend in my book. You think it cant be done? You are probably right.
Degree of Difficulty: High

Good Eats!!!






Answer to disgusting fish challenge

1. Wendy's
2. McDonalds
3. BK

Finer Feelings on London

So this is where I tell you that studying abroad has changed my life and it was the greatest experience ever. This is where I tell you that studying abroad has made me a new person, more mature, cultured and open minded to the world. This is where I tell you that I had the most amazing time ever and I can’t imagine having to go back to America. This is where I tell you that I have been to the most amazing places and that I have made the best friends a person could have. Of course right? Well let me start with an emphatic no and then let me finish with a bittersweet and resounding yes.

Looking back at all of it, what did I get out of this experience? Then I realized that that is a trivial question. Someone might ask me “What did studying abroad mean to you?” It’s a hackneyed interrogation, another practice essay question for a college application. I don’t really have an answer to that and to try to quip back with one, it just wouldn’t be true.

Wait…this is starting to sound negative. So let me change that. While there is so much I miss about being “home,” the decision to study abroad in London was one of the best decisions of my life. A few weeks in summer wouldn’t be enough. It is something that I recommend to everyone. If you are unsure about it, that means you should. And a semester is the perfect amount of time. A year is too long; I love Dickinson too much. But no matter what, everyone must get away from Carlisle for a time. Studying abroad has just made me that much more excited to come back to Dickinson for my senior year.

Regrets are a nasty thing and I unfortunately have too many of them. But thank god that I came to London for a semester. And yes there are far too many things I didn’t do but who cares? That’s not important. So maybe I didn’t make it to all the amazing places that London offers, I had some of best and most unique months of my life. And the friends that I made, the people I met was ultimately the best part of studying abroad. I miss you all!

So where do I begin…or rather where do I end? Without sounding too sentimental here is my abbreviated rundown.

I went to Glasgow to play in the Indoor Nationals Tournament with Dickinson buddy Matt Hartwig and his university St. Andrews. Met some great people and made quite the impression. Note: Don’t play Kings with just a bottle of liquor. I moved to Paris, shot some heroin and fucked with the stars. Ok so I didn’t move there but I visited the City of Light, watched seasons 1 through 5 of the Wire (again) and listened to a lot of MGMT. I saw three great concerts in a city that offers millions. Got grizzly on Dixie Chicken and Lamb Doner enough times to feed all of East London. Played in a beer pong tournament in Rome then wandered around in some random park in the pouring rain only to return to our hostel where a mysterious bakery sometimes existed. I played in a Frisbee tournament with only 6 people and won more games than lost.

I smashed glasses while listening to live cover bands in American filled bars. I turned 21, created a beer pong tournament then proceeded to lose in the first round to the last place team. I barely went to my Tuesday morning lecture because my school sponsored alcoholism every Monday night. I played Frisbee on the beaches of Rimini, Italy while partaking in the occasional Jagerbomb. Went to the ummm Beer Festival in Munich…climbed to Neuschwanstein in the rain. I ran up a down escalator only to puke and return to the New Globe. I ate Lamb Doner…..again. I went to Amsterdam on 420. Was stranded by a Volcano and got pick pocketed in Prague. I returned to Germany to brush up on my Nazi history in Berlin while averaging 3 Lamb Doner’s a day.

I returned to the net as a goalie for my uni soccer team. Went to Chipotle 4 times in its brand new international location in the heart of London. Saw Churchill’s War room and the Abbey all atop an eye. Windsor and the Tower while crusing down the Thames. Ate too many Brick Lane bagels and not enough lunch specials at the BBQ Base. Swore off Dixie then pledged my allegiance the following day. Day drinking and night bowling. I consumed whole animals and stole gigantic mugs. I got my mix tour on and slept in a tent without a sleeping bag. There was Knipp and Schnitzel. I saw Brazil v. Ireland at the Emirates. I ate the occasional bangers and mash and if I was lucky enough, the full English breakfast. I went to class (sometimes.) I went to a club that had shots for under 1 pound. I got lost in Cockfosters at 3:30am. I still haven’t lost a best of 7 and the Dream Team left London with a ridiculously high winning percentage.


And of course: the shout outs!

To flat 46: I know some of you may hate me and yes I am partly responsible for making the kitchen inhabitable, but we were by far the coolest kids and had the most ridiculous nights in that place.

The original bro: Pauly D aka Paul Wall. Hotel roommate and seeker of Dixie. Still remember coming home from Germany and spotting you in Dixie sober. Why cant we all be so lucky

The Bryant Duo: Lieutenant Dengel and Chill 5. Two true legends from the RI. Always down for anything. Too much to say, but lets keep this PG. Pretty much amazing!!

Low Cost: How much money did I fucking spend there

He is not from Arcadia: Marky Mark Avery Battles. Not only found the BBQ Base but soccer allstar and potential Frisbee stud, (You should of came.) Still remember that night where we went to Dixie and played a best of 7. Bad news bears

J Weez Jibbles J Sauce: Original Hotel Bro and classmate in the greatest module ever: Age of James I. While the wall climbing might of sucked, the golden fryer was always a good time. One of the few to understand the Doner culture.

Adam “the Rager” Rogers: Two legendary trips to Rome and Prague. Still unhappy that you did not partake in the Grizzly Challenge. You too Paul! The original Kid Cudi legend.

Brian Bri Guy McGoo BK Anderson: Had some of the best nicknames ever and I have not met a bigger Twins fan in my life. Unfortunately they still suck. Legend of the Underground London Baseball league. Also a big fan of the Base.

Nick Kipley: Actually the biggest legend in London. Everyone would agree. Also opened the doors in the flat which was awesome.

Daniel “Schlieffen plan” Schuf: Shared the same love I had with Von Hodenburg. Also down for anything…. especially getting drunk off cider. Went to the Ted Show and played on Bloody Mary, even if you didn’t make it on the second day. Too much sushi and amber jack

Golden Fryer: I will return

To all the American girls: I think some of our best memories might of came at Drapers…..and I mean might. Some of the highlights include two legendary games of twister in flat 46. Lauren’s birthday which was a ridiculous night. My birthday which I don’t think was as ridiculous but Jennie and I did lose in the first round of my tournament. Also big ups to Jennie for competing and finishing in the Grizzly Challenge. Hillary for putting up with me in Rome. (Where is my movie?) Robin and Tasha always playing horrible music in Robin’s room. (Not enough Ke$ha!) Paige and Blair’s flat was always a good time (especially when there are weird 19 year old London bros trying to hit on Blair.) My arch nemesis Jill in pong. I still cant believe we never played on the same team. Would have been domination. The legend of Paris herself: Liza! Honorary flat mate Kristen, (I’m sorry if I had to pay that book fine but the QM library is lying. They suck!

Then the British Bros: Cant say enough great things about Ash, Mike, Sam and Jack. Some of the funniest people I have ever met. True legends of the Uni life and I wish you would all come and study abroad at Dickinson College in America. You would tear this place up. I expect your pong game to surpass me by the next time I see you. Don’t let Dixie get the best of you.

And of course the Dream Team. I don’t know what I would of done in London without you. Best flatmates ever (Yes Libby you kinda lived in 46.) You honestly have no idea how much I want to visit you guys in Chicago but there will be a next time. I just wish it were sooner. Miss you guys so much. The taste of chocolate and cheese toasties still lingers sweet in my mouth. The taste of cider and that awful grape juice has me cringing months after I finally didn’t have to drink it anymore.


London City we love you, that's who made it for!!!! I will be back.