QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery wrote, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats, and welcome back from fall break! Although it’s been October for 16 days, the warm spell we hit in the first week didn’t quite match our picturesque expectations of a cool autumn with trees dropping their colorful leaves, but, returning from break, it’s finally starting to feel like fall.

Enjoy the Octobers. They go by quicker than you think. Enjoy the sweaters, the leaves changing, the warm drinks, and, most importantly, enjoy some time outside. It’s an easy way to breathe in some fresh air and ground yourself.

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, October 16

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, October 17

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

2023 Cultural Studies Food Matters Week: Kurt Evans | 6 p.m. | Room 205 | Free & Open to the Public | Refreshments Served

Wednesday, October 18

Fall 2023 Falvey Forum Workshop: Introduction to Transkribus | 12-1 p.m. | Room 205 | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to the Public | Register Here

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

Philosophy and Film Series on “Creativity and Madness”: Milos Forman’s Amadeus (1984) | 5:30 p.m. | Room 415 | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Community | Light Refreshments Served

2023 Cultural Studies Food Matters Week: Eamon Ghasemiyeh | 6 p.m. | Room 205 | Free & Open to the Public | Refreshments Served

Thursday, October 19

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

Envisioning Celestial Beings: Divine Inspiration Exhibit Reception | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to the Public | Refreshments Served

2023 Cultural Studies Food Matters Week: Arielle Ashford | 6 p.m. | Room 205 | Free & Open to the Public | Refreshments Served

Sunday, October 22

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

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash

Today, Oct. 16, is World Food Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the importance of food, which is unfortunately a privilege that many do not have the fortune of having stable access to. You could celebrate by donating money, supplies, or time to a local food bank or by stopping by one of our co-sponsored Cultural Studies Food Matters Week events, happening this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. These events will feature talks about food justice with some tasty samplings.

This Thursday, Oct. 19, is National New Friends Day. College is a great place to make new friends, some of which might even last a lifetime if you’re lucky. You can celebrate by spending some time with some of the friends you’ve made this year or, if you’re feeling friendly and somewhat brave, trying to make a new friend.

If you have a sweet tooth, Saturday, Oct. 21, is National Apple Day. There are countless ways to eat an apple: right to the core, dipped in nut butter, or sprinkled with cinnamon. With October being in the middle of apple season, they’re also featured in some delicious fall desserts like apple pie, apple crisp, caramel apples, or even apple cider.

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

Enhance your palate and your mind during the annual Cultural Studies Food Matters Week featuring tastings and talks on food justice around the world. Faculty, staff, students, and friends are invited to join us to learn more about food and social justice and sample delicious cuisine! These ACS-approved events, co-sponsored by the Cultural Studies Program and Falvey Library, are free and open to the public.

Events begin at 6 p.m. in Falvey Library’s room 205.

Tuesday, Oct. 17 

Philadelphia-based chef and activist Kurt Evans will be joining us to talk about how he uses food as a vehicle to talk about issues concerning mass incarceration and systematic racism. You can learn more about Chef Kurt’s work here.

Wednesday, Oct. 18 

Eemon Ghasemiyeh, activist and educator at New Roots Institute (formerly Factory Farming Awareness Coalition), will be joining us to talk about the conditions animals are raised in, the environmental impacts, and actions to create a more just food system. You can learn more about Eemon Ghasemiyeh’s work here.

Thursday, Oct. 19 

Join us for a talk by Arielle Ashford, chef and co-founder of Unity Taqueria, which is dedicated to serving up the best Tex-Mex tacos, burritos, nachos, and queso you’ve ever had, while investing in the community and people living in recovery and those returning from the justice system. Unity Taqueria is part of a family of community-driven businesses and organizations, including Unity Yoga and Unity Recovery in Manayunk. You can learn more about Unity Taqueria here.

Join us to educate your palate and your mind during the annual Cultural Studies Food Matters Week featuring tastings and talks on food justice around the world. These ACS-approved events will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Falvey Library’s Room 205. Both events, co-sponsored by the Cultural Studies Program and Falvey Memorial Library, are free and open to the public.

Samrah Shoaib: Tuesday, Oct. 18

Samrah Shoaib will join us on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 4:30 p.m. in Falvey Library’s room 205 to talk about Hibiscus Tea and Social Justice. Shoaib is the Program Manager of the New York Botanical Garden’s Humanities Institute and a trained community herbalist. Hibiscus Tea with traditional sweet potato pie from Sweet T’s Bakery in Redding Terminal Market will be served.

Joe Haber: Thursday, Oct. 20 

Joe Haber will join us on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 4:30 p.m. in Falvey Library’s room 205 to talk about Native American food. Haber is the owner of Tomahawks, an indigenous taco shop, whose menu is inspired by Native American cuisine. Haber’s ancestry on his mother’s side is of the Mohawk people. Haber will be serving tacos from his restaurant.

Join us to educate your palate and your mind during the annual Cultural Studies Food Matters Week involving tastings and talks on food justice around the world. The theme of the series this year is Black-Owned Restaurants Building Community.

From Monday, Oct. 18 through Wednesday, Oct. 20, three influential black-owned businesses from the Philadelphia-area will be highlighted: Down North Pizza, Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, and Dre’s Homemade Water Ice & Ice Cream. Events will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Room 205 of Falvey Memorial Library.

Delicious food samplings from each restaurant will be served at each event!

In addition to learning more about these successful local black-owned businesses, attendees will also have the chance to hear from Karyn Hollis, PhD, Director of Cultural Studies Program. Dr. Hollis share some information about the benefits and process of applying to the Cultural Studies Program. Visit the Cultural Studies website to learn more about the program.

For those already taking Cultural Studies Program courses, please feel free to check out Falvey Memorial Library’s Cultural Studies Research guide, compiled and maintained by Jutta Seibert, Director of Research Services & Scholarly Engagement, who is the subject librarian for Cultural Studies.

This event series, co-sponsored by the Cultural Studies Program and Falvey Memorial Library, is free and open Villanova students, faculty, staff, and friends. All events are ACS approved.

Please join us to be a part of these exciting events, sample some amazing food, and to learn more about the Cultural Studies Program!

Regina Duffy is a Communication and Marketing Program Manager at Falvey Memorial Library.