Skip Navigation
Falvey Library
Advanced
You are exploring: Home > Blogs

Weekend Recs: Heist Movies

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

It could be an over-generalization, but everybody likes a good heist movie, right? Whether it’s the Ocean’s series, Money Heist, or a classic like The Asphalt Jungle. There are twists and turns, detailed plans that leave us on the edge of our seats, and usually a ragtag team of criminals that make for a wild ride. If you’re a fan of heist movies, here are some recs to keep you guessing this weekend.

If you have 4 minutes and 55 seconds…and want to watch a great heist scene, watch this clip from The Dark Knight. Although it’s not technically a heist movie, the Joker’s bank heist in the beginning is iconic.

If you have 18 minutes and 16 seconds…and want to learn about the biggest bank heist in history, watch this video. It details the 2022 bank heist in Iraq that stole $2.5 billion.

If you have 19 minutes and 49 seconds…and want to watch a former jewel thief rate heist movies, watch this Vanity Fair video.

If you have 1 hour and 55 minutes…and haven’t already seen it, watch Baby Driver, currently free to stream on Amazon Prime. It was probably one of the most popular heist movies to come out in the past decade.

Bonus: if you want to watch a slight more underrated heist movie from the same year, watch Logan Lucky.

If you have 2 hours and 5 minutes…and want to watch a classic film, watch Dog Day Afternoon, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. This bank robbery movie starring Al Pacino is so iconic, it even inspired a Bob’s Burgers episode, aptly titled “Bob Day Afternoon.”

If you have 4 hours…and want to take a deep dive into the heist film genre, read Daryl Lee’s The Heist Film: Stealing with Style, available to read online through Falvey.

If you have a free weekend…and want to read a heist book with a fantasy twist, read Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, available in Falvey’s new Popular Reading Collection. From Bardugo’s fantasy Grishaverse (although the Shadow and Bone trilogy is not required reading to enjoy this duology), Kaz Brekker and the rest of the crows bring everything a quintessential heist book needs and will keep you guessing until the end.


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

Peek at the Week: February 12

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Nothing Personal, James Baldwin wrote, “The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love—whether we call it friendship or family or romance—is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats! Love isn’t simply a warm feeling. Love, whether it’s romantic or platonic, is something you work at every day. It’s not an passive state of being, but an action.

Whether it’s your partner, your sibling, or your best friend, if you love them, mirror and magnify their light. Be happy for their successes and cherish their joy. Remind them that they are special. And remember that you deserve the same.


THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, February 12

Overdose Reversal Training | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Andy Talley Athletic Center, Room 191 | Free & Open to Students, Faculty, & Staff

Introduction to Data Visualization | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to the Public | Register Here

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Tuesday, February 13

Intro to Python | 10-11 a.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to the Public | Register Here

Excel for the Humanities | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to the Public | Register Here

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Wednesday, February 14

Scraping Data from the Web (into R) | 12-1 p.m. | Room 205 | Virtual Option | Free & Open to the Public | Register Here

Introduction to Citation Metrics and Research Impact | 4-5 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to the Public | Register Here

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Thursday, February 15

Text Analysis: Gale’s Digital Scholar Lab and Copyright | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to the Public | Register Here

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 12-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

2024 Literary Fest Event: V. V. Ganeshananthan | 7 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to the Public

Friday, February 16

Falvey Data Visualization Competition Awards Ceremony | 10-11 a.m. | Speakers’ Corner | Free & Open to the Public

Sunday, February 18

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 3-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free


HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

Valentine’s Day is coming up this Wednesday, Feb. 14, but here are some other holidays you could be celebrating this week:

Today, Feb. 12, marks the beginning of Love Data Week, a week dedicated to all things data. If you want to learn more about Love Data Week, check out our Love Data Week page under “Data Services”. If you want to participate in our Love Data events, check out our jam-packed events line-up this week.

If you want to celebrate the love you have for your closest friends, Galentine’s Day is tomorrow, Feb. 13. While NBC sitcom Parks and Rec popularized the idea of Galentine’s Day as a day for women to celebrate their cherished female friendships, it’s not just for women. It’s an opportunity to celebrate platonic love and friendship.

Photo by Josh Felise on Unsplash

Wednesday might be Valentine’s Day, but it’s also Library Lovers’ Day, a day for library appreciation. We might be a bit biased, but libraries are a vital pillars of our communities, whether here at Villanova or in your local community. They provide immense (and free) resources, from community safe spaces and quiet study areas to research guidance and educational programming. Not to mention the countless collections and databases that allow academia to flourish. If you want to celebrate both holidays, check out some of the romance books in our new Popular Reading Collection.

If you’re not sick of sweets by the end of the week, this Friday, Feb. 16, begins Girl Scout Cookie Weekend. If you want to enjoy a treat while also supporting a non-profit and local girls, buy some Girl Scout cookies this weekend.


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

Weekend Recs: Romance Fiction

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, making it prime time for all things love and romance. Although I believe this is also a time to celebrate platonic and self love, romance typically takes the spotlight. In the spirit of the holiday, here are some romance recs to get you feeling festive.

If you have 5 minutes…and want your faith in humanity restored, read the latest “Tiny Love Stories” from New York Times.

If you have 15 minutes…and want some ideas for Galentine’s Day (or to learn more about Galentine’s), read this article. Galentine’s Day, observed Feb. 13, is all about platonic love and celebrating your friends (and despite the name, it’s not just for female friendships).

Bonus: if you have a Peacock subscription, you can watch the Parks and Recreation episode that popularized this holiday.

If you have 1 hour and 42 minutes…and love the classics, watch Casablanca, available to stream online through Falvey.

Bonus: if you want to watch a newer classic, watch Clueless, available to stream online through Falvey.

If you have 7 hours…and want to support Black romance authors during Black History Month, read You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi, available in our new Popular Reading Collection. While this romance novel (obviously) involves somewhat steamy romance, it also focuses on healing from the trauma of loss.

If you have 9 hours…and haven’t already jumped on the bandwagon, read Red, White & Royal Blue, also available in our new Popular Reading Collection.

Bonus: Yes, obviously if you’ve read the book, you should watch the film adaption of Red, White & Royal Blue, starring Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez. But if you want to watch another queer romance rife with similar angst (just the right amount), watch The Wedding Banquet, available in our DVD Collection.

If you need a date night idea for Valentine’s Day (or the rest of the week), check out Villanova Theatre’s latest production Crazy for You, a romantic musical set in the 1930s directed by Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. Tickets are available here


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

Peek at the Week: February 5

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou wrote, “Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats! These are words to live by. A college semester, very much like life, is a roller coaster of ups and downs. It’s always good to be prepared for bad things to happen, whether it’s failing a test or losing a loved one, but hope is an important, powerful thing. It helps to make our dreams, whatever they may be, a reality.

So, hope for the best, expect the worst, and everything in between will start to seem a whole lot easier.


THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, February 5

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff

Popular Reading Launch & Reception | 1 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | Free & Open to Villanova Community | Refreshments Served

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Tuesday, February 6

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Wednesday, February 7

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Thursday, February 8

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 12-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Sunday, February 11

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 3-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free


HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

For those with a sweet tooth (and no nut allergies), today, Feb. 5, is World Nutella Day. Whether you put it on toast, crepes, in a dessert, or eat it straight out of the jar, today is the day to enjoy some of this chocolate hazelnut spread.

Tomorrow, Feb. 6 is Pay a Compliment Day. Have you ever gotten a confidence boost after someone paid you a compliment? Sometimes, the little acts of kindness really make a difference. Tomorrow is an opportunity for you to be that act of kindness for someone else, whether it’s your close friend or a stranger with nice shoes or a cool jacket.

Don’t know what to eat for dinner? National Pizza Day is this Friday, Feb. 9. Pizza is an American staple when it comes to takeout foods and for good reason. It’s convenient, it’s customizable, and it’s delicious. Personally, I’m a fan of garlicky white pizza (especially from Mannino’s in Pottstown) but whatever your preference is, you can celebrate by enjoying a slice.

Saturday, Feb. 10 is Global Movie Day, a great excuse to take a break from studying and get something off of your watchlist. Or, if you want a fun night in with some friends, you can throw a watch party.


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

Weekend Recs: Black History

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

Happy Friday, Wildcats! It’s the beginning of February, which means it’s officially Black History Month. Last year, I kicked off Black History Month with some Black independent film recommendations, which you can check out here. This year, I wanted to focus on the history part of the holiday. So, if you want to explore works on Black history and the contributions of Black activists and historical figures in American history (and not just The Help), here are some recommendations to get you started over the weekend.

If you have 5 minutes…and want to learn about the origins of BHM and the theme for this year, read this article.

If you have 15 minutes…and want to learn about some of the most influential Black Americans in history, check out this article. It’s impossible to fit every single history-making Black American into one blog, but this article does a good job of sharing a glimpse into some noteworthy figures we should all know.

If you have 42 minutes and 56 seconds…and like podcasts, listen to “The Fight for a True Democracy,” the first episode of  1619 from the New York Times. The 1619 audio series, along with the other episodes and the subsequent book 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (available to read online through Falvey), reframes the common (racist) narrative of American history to emphasize the importance of Black people in making our country what it is today.

If you have 58 minutes…and want to go on a “disturbing voyage” through racism and racist stereotypes in the United States, watch the documentary Ethnic Notions, available to stream online through Falvey, by the late Marlon Riggs (also known for his more experimental queer poetry film Tongues Untied).

If you have 1 hour and 33 minutes…and are a fan of James Baldwin, watch his award-winning documentary I Am Not Your Negro, available to stream online through Falvey. Baldwin explores his experiences during Civil Rights Movement by focusing on the lives and deaths of his friends Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Dr. King.

Bonus: if you want to watch a recently released movie about the Civil Rights Movement, watch Rustin on Netflix. Starring Colman Domingo, Rustin tells the story of Bayard Rustin, a Civil Rights activist, advisor to Dr. King, and an openly gay Black man. Not only is the topic of this film important to Black history, but Domingo’s Oscar nomination makes him the second openly queer actor to be nominated for playing a queer character and the first Afro-Latino men to ever be nominated for Best Actor.

If you have 2 hours and 5 minutes…and love biopics, watch Harriet on Netflix. As the name suggests, this movie follows Harriet Tubman as she escapes slavery and becomes one of the most prolific “conductors” for the Underground Railroad.

Bonus: If you want to see more strong Black women in history on screen, watch The Woman King, highlighting the Agojie warriors of the Dahomey kingdom, on Netflix.

If you have 3 hours…and need something to do this weekend, see Ava DuVernay’s Origin in theaters. The film follows real-life writer Isabel Wilkerson as she writes her best-selling book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, which explores race as a part of a caste system (available to read at Falvey).

Bonus: if you want to check out some of Ava DuVernay’s other films, watch Selma, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection, and 13th on Netflix.

If you have 6 hours…and want to stay on theme this year with “African Americans and the Arts,” read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, one of the most popular works of Black American literature (or just ever) by Maya Angelou, available online through Falvey.


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

Peek at the Week: January 29

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Atonement, Ian McEwan wrote, “A person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn and not easily mended.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats! Sometimes, mental health is a delicate thing. It’s far easier to succumb to stress than it is to recover from it.

The good news is that it’s early in the semester. This is the perfect time to build good habits. It’s hard to get yourself out of a hole once it’s already been dug. So, if you want to minimize burnout and anxiety later in the semester, now is an opportunity to prioritize self-care and making time for things that help you de-stress.


THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, January 29

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Tuesday, January 30

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Wednesday, January 31

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Thursday, February 1

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 12-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Sunday, February 4

Celebration in Honor of Villanova’s Digital Library and Bethel AME Church of Ardmore’s Digitization Partnership | 1 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | Refreshments Served | RSVP by Monday, Jan. 29, by emailing Beaudry Allen (beaudry.allen@villanova.edu).

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 3-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free


HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

If you’re a fan of breakfast pastries, tomorrow, Jan. 30, is National Croissant Day. While a croissant from Dunkin’ or another coffee shop will suffice, if you want to elevate your experience and support a local business, buy one from a local bakery.

If you’re looking for a warm beverage to keep you toasty, National Hot Chocolate Day is this Wednesday, Jan. 31. It might feel a bit warmer than the temperatures we had a couple weeks ago, but the chilly weather is still perfect to enjoy a warm cup of hot cocoa.

Already feeling stressed? Friday, Feb. 2, is Self Renewal Day, a day for self-care and self-improvement. If you’re feeling up to it, use the day to do something that makes you feel happier and healthier, whether that’s going for a walk, doing some cleaning, or making some time to enjoy a hobby.

If you want to try your hand in some seasonal cooking, National Homemade Soup Day is this Sunday, Feb. 4. Cooking soup might seem daunting, but it’s easier than you might be thinking. Although I’m not a huge soup person, it’s customizable and undeniably perfect for a chilly winter day.


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like

Weekend Recs: Award-Winning Acting Performances

  • Posted by: Annie Stockmal
  • Posted Date: January 26, 2024
  • Filed Under: Library News

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

It’s award season again. Whether you’re vying for one-half of Barbenheimer to secure the win or upset that one of your favorites didn’t make the cut, award season is the time of the year where people make strong cases about why their favorite filmmakers or performers should be recognized for their talent.

In preparation for the awards to come, I think now is a great time to watch and reflect on some past award-winning performances (especially on a rainy weekend).

If you have 5 minutes…and want to learn about some historic “firsts” happening this award season, read this article. Notably, in the nearly 100 years of Academy Awards, Lily Gladstone is the first Native American to be nominated in any acting category.

Bonus: check out this New York Times article interviewing Lily Gladstone about the historic nomination for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon. Gladstone is certainly a major contender, having already won a Best Actress Golden Globe for the role.

If you have 10 minutes…and were surprised by the Barbie Oscar nominations, read this article. Personally, I am so elated that America Ferrera was nominated, both as a fan and because her performance in Barbie deserved recognition. Still, I don’t think it’s a great look for the Academy to nominate Ryan Gosling without nominating Margot Robbie or Greta Gerwig, especially given the message of the film.

If you have 23 minutes and 30 seconds…and want a highlights reel of some of the best acting performances of the 21st century, watch this video.

If you have 1 hour and 52 minutes…and want to watch a historic Oscar win, watch Halle Berry in Monster’s Ball, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. In 2001, Halle Berry became the first Black Woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress in a Lead Role for her role Leticia in Monster’s Ball.

Bonus: if you want to watch an even more recent history maker, watch Everything Everywhere All at Once, available to stream online through Falvey. This film boasts so many amazing performances (that basically swept last year’s award season), but Michelle Yeoh made history by becoming the first Asian actress to win a Best Actress award at the Oscars.

If you have 2 hours…and love Jennifer Lawrence, watch Silver Linings Playbook, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection (and to stream on Netflix). This is undeniably one of Jennifer Lawrence’s best performances which, considering her impressive repertoire, is saying something. Plus, it’s set in Philly.

If you have 2 hours and 32 minutes…and are still riding the Oppenheimer train, watch The Dark Knight, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. Everyone and their mother has already raved about Heath Ledger’s performance in this movie, but it is incredibly well-deserved. Ledger stole the show and delivered one of the most iconic performances of the 2000s.

If you have 6 hours and 17 minutes…and want a throwback, watch Marlon Brando in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, both available to stream online through Falvey. They may be stereotyped as “film bro” movies (which is fair enough), but they are classics for a reason.

Bonus: for even more of a throwback, watch Bonnie and Clyde, available to stream online through Falvey.

If you have 9 hours and 56 minutes…and haven’t already seen it, watch Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri in The Bear, available to stream on Hulu. It’s one show recommendation that I’m glad I listened to because Jeremy and Ayo are outstanding.


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

Peek at the Week: January 22

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Life of Pi, Yann Martel wrote, “To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats! Sometimes, we’re our own worst enemies. We doubt ourselves, and this doubt can sometimes allow us to sell ourselves short and miss opportunities that may have changed our lives for the better. While doubt isn’t always a bad thing, it isn’t the best philosophy of life if you want to achieve your goals.

As we enter into a new semester, don’t let doubt drag you down. Confidence is often hard to master, but recognizing your strengths will pay off in the long run. And if you’re a chronic overthinker like me, faking it until you make it is usually better than letting your doubts stop you.


THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, January 22

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Tuesday January 23

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Wednesday, January 24

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Thursday, January 25

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 12-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Sunday, January 28

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 3-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free


HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

Today, Jan. 22, is Come in from the Cold Day. Although I’m sure some of you celebrated this holiday a little early with our snow day on Friday, today is a day to cozy up inside and stay warm. So, when you’re done with your classes and work, you have the perfect excuse to enjoy some time indoors.

If you’re not allergic, this Wednesday, Jan. 24, is National Peanut Butter Day. There are many ways to enjoy this versatile food, including straight from the jar, in a dessert, or in the classic American staple, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (or, if you have even more of a sweet tooth, a Fluffernutter).

Wednesday is also Belly Laugh Day. Let’s face it. The shortened days and the cold weather can sometimes make life feel gloomy. Belly Laugh Day is a day dedicated to finding the brighter side of things and enjoying things that make you laugh. Laughter might not be the best medicine, but it certainly helps boost joy and wash away negative feelings.

 


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

Weekend Recs: Latin Music

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

I don’t know about you, but with the bad weather and the start of the semester, I could use a little more pep in my step, and for me, Latin pop music does just that.

Latin music is a catch-all for music from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, Latinos in North America, and music in the Spanish and Portuguese languages. Songs ranging from the classic “La Bamba,” sung by the late Ritchie Valens to “Despacito” all make up this diverse genre. This weekend’s recs will explore some recent Latin music (and as a bonus, will be a fun way for Spanish learners to practice their skills).

If you have 3 minutes and 11 seconds…and like Bad Bunny, one of the biggest names in Latin music right now, watch his SNL skit with Please Don’t Destroy. Although he did great in all his skits, this one was my personal favorite.

Bonus: if you want to check out Bad Bunny’s acting chops further, watch him (briefly) in the 2022 movie Bullet Train.

If you have 3 minutes and 46 seconds…and want to listen to the Latin American Music Awards Song of the Year winner, listen to “MAMIII” by Becky G and Karol G.

Bonus: if you want a little throwback, listen to “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

If you have 15 minutes…and need to practice your Spanish, do a lesson on your favorite language-learning app or website. Personally, I’m a Duolingo user, but if you want a premium experience, you can sign up for a free Mango account with your Villanova email. Check out our access instructions here for more info.

If you have 44 minutes…and want to check out a new album, listen to Kali Uchis’s genre-crossing album Orquídeas, which was released this week. Kali Uchis is one of my go-to artists, and I’ve had “Munekito” and “Labios Mordidos” on repeat all week. As a bonus, given the slower tempo of her R&B influences and her Colombian dialect, her music is great for beginners learning Spanish.

If you have 2 hours and 7 minutes…and need a movie to watch, watch Selena, available through inter-library loan. Selena is a biopic, starring Jennifer Lopez, following the late and great Selena, a 90s Mexican pop singer.

If you have 3 hours…and want to discover some new songs to add to your rotation, listen to Spotify’s Viva Latino playlist.

If you have 5 hours…and want to learn more about the genre, check out Latin Music: Musicians, Genres, and Themes, available online through Falvey.


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

Peek at the Week: January 15

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Anne of Avonlea, L. M. Montgomery wrote, “Well, we all make mistakes, dear, so just put it behind you. We should regret our mistakes and learn from them, but never carry them forward into the future with us.”

Welcome back, Wildcats! It’s a new year and a new semester. That means it’s a new opportunity to learn from the mistakes you made last semester and start this semester with a fresh mindset. Maybe you slacked off on schoolwork, maybe you didn’t prioritize enough time for self-care, maybe you didn’t see your friends as much as you wanted to. Whatever you may have struggled with, now is the perfect chance to learn from those mistakes.


THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Tuesday, January 16

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Wednesday, January 17

Data Visualization Working Session | 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Digital Scholarship Lab | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff | Register Here

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Textbooks & Tacos | 5-6 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | Free & Open to the Villanova Community | ACS-Approved | Refreshments Served

Thursday, January 18

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Sunday, January 21

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free


HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

As you likely know, thanks to this day off, today, Jan. 15, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day (check out last year’s Weekend Recs on Dr. King if you want some MLK Day recs) as well as Civil Rights Day. Here are some other holidays coming up this week:

Today is also National Bagel Day, the perfect excuse to enjoy this Eastern European Jewish creation. Whether you need an on-the-go breakfast food or need some comfort food, bagels are such a versatile food. And if you really want a good bagel (and can’t travel to New York), go to a local bagel shop. If you’re out by Royersford or Pottstown, I’d highly recommend Barrister’s Bagels.

More into spicy food? Tomorrow, Jan. 16, is International Hot and Spicy Food Day. If you’re a fan of spice, you can celebrate this holiday by eating some of your favorite spicy foods, whether it’s hot wings, hot sauce, jalapeño poppers, Flaming Hot Cheetos, or any other go-tos. The options are practically endless.

Need to get some steps in? This Saturday, Jan. 20, is Take a Walk Outdoors Day. It might be freezing outside, but that doesn’t have to stop you. Even if it’s just 15 minutes around campus, going for a walk outdoors can help you get some fresh air and walk off any stress or negativity you might be feeling.

For all athleisure fans, International Sweatpants Day is this Sunday, Jan. 21. With the cold weather, sweatpants are the perfect option to stay warm and comfortable.


Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

« Previous PageNext Page »

 


Last Modified: January 15, 2024

Ask Us: Live Chat
Back to Top