QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Silver Linings Playbook, Pat Solitano Jr. said, “You have to do everything you can. You have to work your hardest, and if you do, if you stay positive…you have a shot at a silver lining.”

Welcome back, Wildcats! As you return from Fall Break, hopefully refreshed and recharged, try to channel your newfound energy into something that you think is meaningful. Whether it’s academics, your job, athletics, or a hobby, give it your all (or at least all that you can reasonably give without overworking yourself). Great things can come out of any situation when you work hard and, although often unbelievably difficult, stay positive.

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, October 17

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, and Staff

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

Tuesday, October 18

Cultural Studies Food Matters Week: Food as a Universal Human Right Talk & Tasting | 4:30-6:30 p.m.| Room 205 | Free & Open to the Public

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

Wednesday, October 19

Fall 2022 Falvey Forum Workshop: Introduction to Data Visualization | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to the Villanova Community | Register Here

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

Thursday, October 20

Cultural Studies Food Matters Week: Food as a Universal Human Right Talk & Tasting | 4:30-6:30 p.m.| Room 205 | Free & Open to the Public

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

Friday, October 21

Villanova Gaming Society Meeting | 2:30-4:30 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | Free & Open to the Public

Sunday, October 23

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

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

For all the Italian food-lovers and carb connoisseurs, today is National Pasta Day. Celebrate by eating your favorite pasta dish. Pasta seems to be on the menu at St. Mary’s Hall and Dougherty Hall, so swing by either dining hall for an easy on-campus option.

Information Overload Day falls on Tuesday, Oct. 18. With the unfathomable amount of information at our disposal everyday, it is unsurprising that we get stuck in the doomscrolling loop and experience information overload. Information Overload Day is a day to unplug and give yourself a break. Although many of us did just that over Fall Break, routinely making time for yourself is still important to continue throughout the semester’s entirety. Celebrate the day by taking some time, whether it’s a minute or an hour, to relax (preferably without technology, but if the only way you can relax involves technology of some sort, c’est la vie).

Saturday, Oct. 22, is National Color Day. Colors are all around us, and they can often make our surroundings come to life. Whether its neons, pastels, or neutrals, celebrate by appreciating the colors around you. We take them for granted, but colors truly have a larger impact of our lives than we often realize.

National Crocs Day is this Sunday, Oct. 23. Do you remember when crocs were deemed as one of the ugliest shoes on the market? I do. But as a former swimmer (and lime green girl), crocs have always held a special place in my heart, and now, many of our closets. Celebrate the day by wear your favorite pair of these semi-aquatic shoes. I will definitely be wearing my worn-down black crocs (with Spider-Man and Captain America charms) in celebration.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.

Photo courtesy of Kallie Stahl.

Hope you had a great fall break, Wildcats! Some beautiful autumn colors await your return to campus.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

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.

As Fall Break comes to a close, it may be easy to mourn the loss of your free time and feel stressed for what is to come. While (sadly), we can’t exactly change our upcoming workloads and schedules, we can take a moment to breathe and take care of ourselves before it gets overwhelming. This weekend’s recs are some of my self-care favorites to keep you rejuvenated as you enter the semester once more (but even if none of these are your cup of tea, I still hope you are able to take some time to prioritize your own self-care).

If you have 49 seconds…and are dealing with negative thoughts, watch this soothing and uplifting TikTok. It might not cure you of all the negativity swirling around in your (I’m sure beautiful and capable) brain, but it might be a helpful reminder when you’re struggling.

If you have 4 minutes…and want to relax with an oddly calming classic Internet video, watch “MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON.” Perhaps an early version of ASMR, Marcel the Shell is an oddly endearing sentient clay-mation seashell with a small voice (provided by the very talented Jenny Slate) and positive vibes.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

If you have 5 minutes…and need to do something tactile, play with some putty (slime’s less messy cousin). I use Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, which comes in a wide variety of colors, textures, and scents. (Also, if you can get your hands on one, Falvey’s stress balls are great).

If you have 15 minutes…and want to learn more about self-care and what it looks like for others, read this New York Times article. It might give you some ideas for new self-care practices you could work into your own routine.

If you have 20 minutes…and need to find a new calming soundtrack, listen to Alice Kristiansen’s recent album Memos from Maine. “Lucid Dreaming” and “Oregon” are my particular favorites for taking a few minutes for myself. (And of course, Hozier’s self titled album is also great for calming any nerves).

If you have 1 hour…and need to get your endorphins pumping, go on a walk or a hike. If you don’t want to leave campus, check out Villanova’s self-guided tree tour. It’ll take you on a walk around campus and show you some interesting greenery.

If you have 2 hours…and need to throw something on in the background, watch one of your comfort movies or TV shows (perhaps from Falvey’s DVD Collection). Addams Family Values is my favorite comfort film, especially during October. Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing is a more recent comfort movie of mine (even though it’s not entirely comforting).

If you have 8 hours…and have been bogged down with reading for classes, read a book for fun. Although we might be a bit biased at Falvey, reading something you actually enjoy might help rekindle your love for reading (or at least make it seem less like a chore), while keeping your brain active. Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen has been a comfort book of mine since middle school.

Bonus: If you want to set-up a good habit for the rest of the semester, join Falvey’s Mindfulness Monday virtual session this Monday, Oct. 17. Campus Ministries will lead us through a guided meditation/mindfulness exercise that will leave you feeling less stressed.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.

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.

By Ethan Shea

Lake Pocotopaug in Ethan’s hometown of East Hampton, CT

Dear Falvey Patrons,

After midterms week, this Cat in the Stax is dog-tired. I’m sure plenty of you are too, so I hope you’re having a restful Fall Break.

I’m writing this blog from my parent’s home in Connecticut, where I’ll be spending the week. It feels great to return home and see your family for the first time in a while, but if we’re being honest, it feels even better to be greeted by your dogs.

Ethan’s Dogs, Lola and Ted

While I’m away, there are a million and one ways to keep in touch with my human family members.  I can text them, call them, DM them on Instagram, FaceTime them, send them a letter, an email, or even a package in the mail. On the other hand, my dogs are unable to communicate with me when I’m away, as a lack of dexterous digits prevents my pets from responding to my instant messages.

I’m happy to enjoy some repose and sleep like a dog if you will, but as you know, even during break there’s work to be done. Luckily, even when you’re away from the stacks, Falvey Library is just a click away.

I know I’ll be doing some research during break, and having access to a plethora of online material is a life-saver. There are hundreds of well-known databases, such as JSTOR and Project Muse, in addition to way more online books than anyone could read in a week. Not to mention the ability to live chat with librarians at a moment’s notice.

It’s odd that I’m just now noticing the irony in me being a thoroughgoing dog person while also being the Cat in the Stax. What strange double lives we lead…

Anyways, I hope that maybe, for just this week, cats and dogs can get along while I visit my canine companions.

Sincerely,

Falvey’s Cat in the Stax

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.

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 might not be Halloween yet, but as far as I’m concerned (and according to Freeform‘s “31 Nights of Halloween” programming), the first day of October marks the beginning of spooky season. Even if you hate spooky things, the season still brings sweater weather, pumpkin-flavored treats, and Fall Break with it. Plus, I am a firm believer that there is at least one Tim Burton movie out there for everyone. For a whole week without classes, as Fall Break begins tomorrow, here are some recs to help you get in the spirit of the season.

If you have 15 seconds…and want to reminisce on spooky season in the 2000s, watch this TikTok. Halloweentown marathons and spooky Kid Cuisines definitely make me nostalgic.

Photo by Alex Simpson on Unsplash

If you have 28 minutes…and think the characters in horror movies always make the worst decisions, watch this Youtube video about how to survive the recent vampire flick The Invitation, (beware: there are spoilers), and check out the rest of the channel for other videos on how to survive all of your favorite scary movies.

If you have 45 minutes…and are in the mood for a scary podcast that might send shivers down your spine, listen to a Let’s Read episode. This episode is Halloween-themed, but scroll through the channel to find stories with a number of different spooky twists, including ghosts, stalkers, murderers, and cryptids.

If you have 1 hour…and want to try out some Halloween-inspired recipes, try a recipe from this cookbook. They may be a bit silly, but they look delicious and might get you into the Halloween spirit.

Bonus: if you’re looking for a simple dessert you can try out in your dorm kitchen, check out this Halloween cookie-cake recipe from TikTok.

If you have 1 hour and 45 minutes…and want to give yourself a dose of nostalgia, watch Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+. Hocus Pocus is one of the most iconic Halloween movies of all-time, and I have high hopes for the sequel.

If you have 4 hours…and want to experience an interactive cult classic (or live out your The Perks of Being a Wallflower fantasy), find a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show near you. Philly is a great Rocky Horror hub in October, and if you’ve never been to a live screening, it’s quite the experience. I know I will be at the Oct. 15 screening at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville.

Photo by Erin Minuskin on Unsplash

If you have another 4 hours…and want to get your steps for the day in…visit a local corn maze with some friends. If you’re heading out West toward Lancaster, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm has been one of the highest rated mazes in recent years. I have personally gone to Wilcox Farms, located in Boyertown, (and gotten lost in their previous corn mazes).

Bonus: if you want to get some steps in and get scared while doing so, visit a local scary Halloween attraction. Field of Screams is a major attraction that typically garners a crowd, and The Valley of Fear is usually pretty fun, especially if you have some squeamish friends.

If you have 6 hours…and want to learn about some Halloween history, read Nicholas Roger’s Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. This one is for all my history buffs.

If you have 8 hours…and want to brush-up on the classic thrillers, read Stephen King’s The Shining or virtually any other Stephen King novel. (Misery is also a good, less supernatural option). Hearing his name in the month of October may seem cliche to some, but there is a good reason that he is a horror household name.

Bonus: put DCDE’s Halloween Haunts event on your calendar for Oct. 31. The event will feature some of the most festive items from Distinctive Collections and some delicious (free) Halloween treats.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.

By Olivia Dunn & Ethan Shea

Happy Thursday, Nova Nation! It’s midterm season, but don’t fret. Falvey has your back. With Fall Break just around the corner, there’s plenty to look forward to once you finish up that last essay. That’s why for this installment of the Curious Cat, we chose to clue you in on some tips for making it through midterms. Hence, our question this week is: “What’s key to surviving midterms?” Keep scrolling to check out the responses we received!

“Taking breaks to cook and chill. Avoiding cramming.”

— Hannah Phelan ’23

“Setting up camp in the first floor of Falvey for the week!”

— Shannon Foley ’23

“Making time to schedule my week.”

— Paige Henige ’23

“Planning and scheduling the work I need to do.”

— Isabella Stone ’23

“Mapping out what needs to be studied and working through my to-do list.”

— Trevor Coleman ’23

“Coffee and listening to movie soundtracks while I study.”

— Bridget Caste ’23

Olivia Dunn is a senior at Villanova University. She works in Falvey Library as a Communications and Marketing Assistant and majors in Communication with specializations in both Journalism and Public Relations.

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.

By Ethan Shea

As someone who is a bit weary of the supernatural, I tend to keep the season’s ghouls and goblins at arm’s length. If you feel the same, you can check out my blog from last year with some fall films that are far from frightening.

However, this doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate some high-quality Halloween decor! The big question is, when should the autumn adornments make their appearance?

Most people (emphasis on most) can agree that mid-July is too early to assemble the plastic skeletons, but is mid-September premature as well? I feel like everyone has a relative who’s known for either decorating far too early or keeping their artificial cobwebs up for far too long, so this topic carries weight for many.

Now that it’s officially October, it’s safe to say that any and all spooky decor is welcome. In fact, according to Martha Stewart, the first half of October is the most popular time to break out the frightful fall decorations.

However, this all depends on your community. Whether it’s your neighboring dorms or the cul-de-sac you live on, if everyone is up for coordinating some early ornamentation, why not go for it? I personally love when communities coordinate their decoration plans. This applies to all holidays but especially Halloween and end-of-the-year festivities.

Decoration timing also depends on the potency of your Halloween decor. You can probably get away with leaving a mushy pumpkin on the doorstep, but a faux undead corpse propped up in the front yard may begin to turn heads (in a bad way) not too long after Halloween.

Lately it’s been too damp to spend time decorating outdoors, but regardless of the weather, let us know what your thoughts on Halloween decorating are? Is it ever too early for eerie embellishments, and when, if at all, will you be decorating this year?

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.

No subscription required!

Villanova students, faculty, and staff can check out DVDs from Falvey Library for up to 30 days. Falvey’s collection includes a wide variety of feature films, international films, TV series, documentaries, theatrical productions, and science and educational videos.

Don’t have a DVD player in your dorm? No problem. Portable DVD players can be checked out from the service desk to watch DVDs. Players are USB and USB-C compatible, and can be checked out for 1 day with 1 renewal. Visit the Library website for additional information on equipment loans.

The DVD collection is located right inside the door to the Falvey West book stacks, on the first floor. With the holiday season quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to host a movie night with friends, or enjoy a quiet evening watching one of your favorite films. Explore some recommendations below and search for more titles on the Library website.

Hispanic Cultural Heritage Month

• Real Women Have Curves (online video)
• Y Tu Mamá También
• También la Lluvia
• El Norte
• Like Water for Chocolate
• Maria Full of Grace
• In The Time of The Butterflies
• Frida

Halloween

• Get Out
• The Exorcist
• Frankenweenie
• Psycho
• The Sixth Sense
• Frankenstein
• The Witches
• Alien
• Cujo
• The Birds
• Dracula
• Let Me In
• The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
• Vertigo

Oscar-Winning Films

• Moonlight
• Argo
• The Artist
• The King’s Speech
• The Hurt Locker
• Slumdog Millionaire
• The Departed
• Crash
• Million Dollar Baby
• American Beauty
• Shakespeare in Love
• Schindler’s List
• Rocky
• Forrest Gump
• No Country for Old Men

Binge-Worthy Favorites 

• Harry Potter
• The Lord of the Rings
• The Office
• The Wire
• Seinfeld
• Doctor Who
• Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
• House M.D.
• Star Wars
• The Matrix

Musicals 

• Chicago
• Annie Get Your Gun
• Singin’ in the Rain
• Moulin Rouge
• Grease
• West Side Story
• The Wizard of Oz
• All That Jazz
• Cabaret

Staff Favorites

• Shawn Proctor: Layer Cake
• Gina Duffy: Field of Dreams
• Ethan Shea: Across The Universe
• Annie Stockmal: Mamma Mia!; 10 Things I Hate About You; Do the Right Thing
• Kallie Stahl: Casablanca; Pride and Prejudice; A League of Their Own
• Joanne Quinn: Titanic
• Michael Foight: Restless Heart
• Christoforos Sassaris: Pulp Fiction
• Luisa Cywinski: Doctor Who (The Complete First Series)
• Darren Poley: An Introduction to the Eastern Catholic Church; Introduction to Theology of the Body Discovering God’s Glorious Plan for Your Life
• Michael Sgier: Yojimbo; The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
• John Banionis: Persepolis
• Roberta Pierce: Oliver!; The Lives of Others; Clueless; Fiddler on the Roof
• Laurie Ortiz Rivera: Balseros

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Jose Antonio Vargas snaps a photo with Luciana MacNamara, a Staff Psychologist at the University Counseling Center.

Thank you to everyone who came to the 2022 One Book Villanova talk and book signing with Jose Antonio Vargas on Wednesday, Sept. 28. If you were unable to attend, please join us on Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 1-2:15 p.m. in Falvey Library’s Speakers’ Corner for an interactive luncheon discussion on this year’s One Book Villanova selection, Vargas’ Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen.

Copies of the memoir are available at Falvey Memorial Library.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.