The O-town Scene

Editor's Note|By Emily Popek I Love College Finding My Roots Oh, college. in. Colleges place a lot of expectations Watching students unloading their beon students, and invest a lot of effort into longings into dorms and apartments over creating an environment that's stimulating the past couple of weeks fills me with a — academically, socially, intellectually and strange sense of nostalgia, envy and relief. even physically. You can read about some Nostalgia because it doesn't seem like of those expectations and hopes in letters that long ago that I was one of them. Befrom local college presidents starting on cause I went to college 3,000 miles from Page 12. home, I wasn't one of the lucky ones who I went to college in a small town where, showed up on campus in the back seat quite frankly, there wasn't a lot going on. of their parents' car. No, I got to college While a lot of kids who come to college by way of a mini-road trip with my sister, in Oneonta may be used to more metro- A3 followed by a 14-hour train ride from Chipolitan environments, I think they're pretty cago to Albany, followed by an extremely lucky to have the variety of live music, nerve-wracking wait at the station for restaurants and, yes, bars in a town of this someone from the college to pick me up. size. Let's face it — it's a relationship of It was terrifying, exhilarating — and totally mutual dependence. We would be nothing worth it. without you, college kids. And we'd like Envy because, let's face it, college is to think that you wouldn't be the same fun. I mean, not for everyone and not without us. all the time, but it's a chance to test out Here's to place a lot of expectations Oh, college. in. Collegesanother year of Friday night paadulthood, make some spectacularly bad rades down and invest pizza plates into Watching students unloading their beon students, Elm Street, a lot of effort and decisions with minimal repercussions, and puke on the sidewalks, open-container longings into get an education along the creating an environment that's stimulating maybe even dorms and apartments over violations and walks the past couple how much schoolwork you — academically, socially, intellectually and way. No matter of weeks fills me with a of shame. Oh yeah strange sense of nostalgia,to be time for a have, there always seems envy and relief. even physically. You can read about some — and school. Don't Nostalgia because it doesn't seemand if like of those expectations and hopes in letters party, a concert, a movie, a meal — forget to study, kids. that long ago you can do all of that without that I was one of them. Beyou're lucky, of roots music started off,from local college presidents starting on My love embarrassingly enough, with cause I went to college 3,000 miles from And 12. leaving campus. Just a few of the events Pagestay off my lawn! a deep-seated affection for who debut home, I wasn't one of the lucky onesPeter, Paul & Mary's self-titledtown where, local college students get to enjoy are I went to college in a small album. on authentic folk groups like The Weaverswasn't a lot going on. for me; nope, it showed upNo campus in the back seat Emily F. Popek is oflisted on Pages 19-20. quite frankly, there ofReliefstraight to No, I got tothe thought While aold. of kids who come to college their because, fun as it was, Magic was parents' car. "Puff the college Dragon" andShe can be ficially lot their almost-saccharine by relivinga mini-road trip with my sister,in the Wind." may be used to more metroreached at of way ofof Bob Dylan's "Blowin' college is exhausting. That was cover in Oneonta epopek@ followed byfour years. train ride fromcolthedailystar.com, or an Nevertheless, the squeaky-clean trio was a gateway think they're pretty intense a 14-hour I came out of Chipolitan environments, I drug of sorts, cago a pretty different person than I went lege to Albany, followed by an extremely 432-1000, ext. 217. lucky to have the variety of live music, leading me eventually to for nerve-wracking wait at the stationmore worthy pursuits. restaurants and, yes, bars in a town of this Now from the college to pick me up. someonesomehow I am the proud owner of CDs with titles like "Yodelsize. Let's face it — it's a relationship of It ing Mad: The Best of — and totally was terrifying, exhilarating Country Yodel, Vol. 2" (seriously, it's great) and mutual dependence. We would be nothing worth it. as excited as anyone when I saw that bluegrass great Noam I was without you, college kids. And we'd like Envy because, Pikelny was let's face it, college is bringing his "friends," to think bunch of other amazing aka a that you wouldn't be the same fun. I mean, not for everyone and not without us. musicians, to a chance to test out all the time, but it's the Oneonta Theatre. Here's to another year life. But I hope I didn't make it to the show, because I have no socialof Friday night paadulthood, make some spectacularly bad rades down Elm Street, pizza plates and decisions with minimal repercussions, and you did. puke on the sidewalks, open-container maybe eventhere were so along the In fact, get an education many great bluegrass, walks way. No matter how much schoolwork you violations and Americana, roots and country showsshame. Oh yeah of in the past have, there always seems to be time for a few a concert, a movie, a mealthinking about what a great months that I got to — and if — and school. Don't party, local scene can do all here. You can forget to study, kids. read all about it you're lucky, youwe have of that without And stay off my lawn! leaving campus. Just a12. of the events starting on Page few local college students getthings are starting to settle down And even though to enjoy are Emily F. Popek is oflisted on Pages 19-20. just a little bit as we head into winter, there are can be Relief because, fun as it was, the thought ficially old. She plenty college is events coming up reached at epopek@ of reliving of great exhausting. That was as well, from the Sick Puppies show at the Oneonta thedailystar.com, or Theatre to the an intense four years. I came out of college a pretty different person than I I'll even 432-1000, ext. 217. Holiday Pop Shop. Maybe went see you there ... Editor's Note|By Emily Popek I Love College of Christmas Contents September 5 - 30, 2013 2 Masthead 3 Editor's Note | Contents 5 New Music Notes | Laygirl Fashion 6 PURE & SIMPLE — A Local Gluten-Free Grain 7 DIVERSITY SCENE — Embracing My Chameleon Nature 8 PHOTO PAGE — Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 10 YOGA LIFE — Sai Baba's Practical Wisdom Contents 11-22 The O-Town Scene College Guide 23 Jimkata Reflects on Success September 5 - 30, 2013 25 — ARTIST OF THE MONTH — Stephanie Rozene 2 Masthead 26-30 — COMING EVENTS & CALENDAR 3 Editor's Note GODDESS 31 — ADVICE | Contents 5 New Music Notes | Laygirl Fashion 6 PURE & SIMPLE — A Local Gluten-Free Grain 7 DIVERSITY SCENE — Embracing My Chameleon Nature 8 PHOTO PAGE — Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 10 YOGA LIFE — Sai Baba's Practical Wisdom 11-22 The O-Town Scene College Guide Available starting November 4 Purchase a limited edition Twelve Days of Christmas gift set for 23 Jimkata Reflects on Success a PANDORA Design $500, featuring 12 new holiday charms in Center Jewelry Box (a $50 US retail value).* 25 — ARTIST See store for MONTH —may be purchased separately. 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