To our campus community and beyond, Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a happy new year ahead!
May your winter season be restful and filled will many good books and wonderful memories with family and friends.
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.
Photo by Kate Laine on Unsplash
From Home Alone to How the Grinch Stole Christmas to cheesy Hallmark movies, Christmas movies have worked their way into the hearts of many, regardless of whether or not they celebrate the holiday. It might only be a week into December, but as “25 Days of Christmas” suggests, it is still the perfect time to get cozy and watch some Christmas and holiday-themed specials.
With finals coming up this week, the mood might not be joyous and cheerful, but some lighthearted movies and shows might be just the thing to warm up even the Grinch-iest of hearts. (And if traditional Christmas movie really aren’t your thing, don’t worry. You can still watch Die Hard, Harry Potter, Gremlins, and Black Christmas).
If you have 10 minutes…and are a Birds fan, read this article about the Eagles’ new Christmas record.
Photo by Игорь Лушницкий
If you have 22 minutes…and want to watch one of my personal favorite Christmas special episodes, watch Bob’s Burger‘s “Bob Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins,” available on Hulu. It’s definitely got the absurd tone of the earlier seasons of Bob’s Burgers.
If you have another 22 minutes…and want to watch my favorite Hanukkah special, watch “The Hanukkah Story” from The Nanny, available to stream on Max.
If you have 42 minutes…and love watch “A Benihana Christmas” from The Office‘s third season, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. This was one of the best seasons of The Office, and I think this Christmas episode reflects that.
Bonus: check out this list of the best sitcom Christmas specials for some more Christmas recs you can stream.
If you have 1 hour and 34 minutes…and are a fan of the classics, watch A Christmas Story, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. This is one classic I’ve never gotten around to watching (unless you count seeing the play), so it’ll definitely go on my watch-list this holiday season.
If you have 1 hour and 48 minutes…and enjoy ballet, watch The Nutcracker, available to stream through Falvey. Seeing our local Nutcracker productions was always one of my favorite Christmas traditions, but it’s hard to compete with this professional performance.
If you have 2 hours and 10 minutes…and want an even older classic, watch It’s a Wonderful Life, available to stream through Falvey.
If you have 2 hours and 30 minutes…and want some light reading, read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, available online through Falvey.
Bonus: if you want even more Christmas book recs to read once the semester ends, check out this list of new releases.
Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.
Photo courtesy of Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager.
Falvey staff members Brian Warren, Library Technology Developer (second row, second from right), and John Banionis, Metrics and Assessment Librarian (bottom row, first from left), along with Nicole Subik, Director, Learning Support Services (second row, first from right), sing joyful carols to all those in attendance at the University’s staff Christmas party on Thursday, Dec. 15. Interested in joining Villanova’s Faculty-Staff Choir? The volunteer choir accepts singers of all ability levels and interests. For questions or more information please email Betsy Springuel (elizabeth.springuel@villanova.edu). Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Looking for more holiday tunes? Check out this playlist by Olivia Dunn ’23.
Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Library. Her favorite holiday albums—The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait and A Swingin’ Little Christmas by Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and The Tony Guerrero Quintet.
By Olivia Dunn
With Christmastime approaching, it’s time to start listening and appreciating the season before it passes you by. Rather than opting for the classics such as “Jingle Bells” or “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” at every chance you get (although there’s nothing wrong with that), consider checking out the multitude of pop music various stars have offered over the years with the convenient broken-down guide provided below. Happy Holidays!
Classics:
These pop hits have stood the test of time and are just as likely to be heard on the radio as any other Christmas carol. Out of all the classics, these three are the best of the best.
“All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey – Say what you want about this song, as it has gained a reputation for being overhyped, but it’s simply not Christmas without at least a few (or hundreds of) listens.
“Last Christmas” by Wham! – This song is the perfect choice for those who could do without the same cheery tone of most Christmas songs.
“Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber – Upon its release in 2011, this song easily became a staple for both middle school girls and non-Justin Bieber listeners alike.
Sleepers:
While these songs often get overshadowed by their more-famous counterparts, they are just as deserving of multiple listens throughout the holiday season.
“Cold December Night” by Michael Bublé – While Michael Bublé has become known for other famous tracks off his beloved holiday album simply entitled Christmas, “Cold December Night” deserves fame in its own right.
“Christmas Eve” by Justin Bieber – One of the more soulful tracks off of Justin Bieber’s Christmas album, “Christmas Eve” makes for the perfect listen during your family’s Christmas commute.
“Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson – Once you hear this song for the first time, you’ll never be able to get it out of your head, and you’ll enjoy every minute of it.
Worthy Covers:
With a limited amount of Christmas carols in existence, it can be difficult to decipher which covers are the best. Over the years, these three have remained tried and true staples.
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé – While it was hard to choose just one cover from Michael Bublé, this song sums up the simultaneous anticipation and nostalgia associated with Christmas perfectly.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Sam Smith – This slowed-down take of a classic Christmas song is a match made in Christmas heaven with Sam Smith’s vocals.
“Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Darling” by Pentatonix – Pentatonix gives a fun and unique spin of “Winter Wonderland” by pairing it with Bob Marley’s fan favorite hit, “Don’t Worry Darling.”
View my full holiday playlist below. From all of us at Falvey, we hope you give these picks a listen and have a happy and healthy Holiday season!
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.
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.
Photo by joshua herrera on Unsplash
Christmas is a little over a week away, and this means that Christmas specials will begin (if they already haven’t) filling the airtime of most cable channels and streaming recommendation lists. In the spirit of the season, or simply as a way to bring some merriness into the bleak week of finals, this weekend’s recs will share some Christmas specials for festive enthusiasts and Grinches alike.
If you have 4 minutes and 18 seconds…and need some (violent) humor in your day, watch this SNL “A Christmas Carol” sketch. If you’re a fan of old SNL, you’ll be happy to know it features prior cast members, Steve Martin and Martin Short.
If you have 22 minutes…and need some Michael Scott cringe (or hilarity), watch “Christmas Party” from The Office‘s 2nd season, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. Although The Office has quite a few Christmas episodes, “Christmas Party” was the first and, arguably, one of the best.
If you have another 22 minutes…and look forward to another Belcher family Christmas each year, watch the most recent Bob’s Burgers holiday special, “The Plight Before Christmas.”
If you have 51 minutes…and are a fan of the family-friendly classics, watch The Year Without a Santa Claus. If you have cable, you will likely have ample opportunities to catch this old-timey Christmas special, and it is, in my opinion, one of the bests. (I mean, the Snow Miser and Heat Miser songs earn their iconic status).
If you have 1 hour and 28 minutes…and have a chaotic family that keeps the holidays interesting, watch Four Christmases. An ode to children of divorce and emotionally immature parental figures, this Reese Witherspoon/Vince Vaughn comedy might just make you feel a bit better (or at the very least, validated) about your Christmas-time family antics and woes.
If you have 1 hour and 45 minutes…and want to watch a slightly newer “classic,” check out the ultimate Jim Carey holiday film, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. In all honesty, this is my favorite Christmas movie of all time, so I might be a bit biased when I say it is worth a watch, but…it’s worth a watch.
Photo by Samira Rahi on Unsplash
Bonus: this recommendation practically goes without saying, but watch Elf this holiday season, also available in Falvey’s DVD Collection.
If you have 2 hours and 7 minutes…and are tired of re-watching old Christmas films, watch Spirited. Released over Thanksgiving, this film updates Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a comedic twist. Plus, as a bonus, it stars Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.
Bonus: For all the MCU fans, Iron Man 3 and Hawkeye are both set around Christmas time and are perfect for those who want something only tangentially related to the holidays.
Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.
Thanks to all the Wildcats that stopped by Falvey’s Semi-Annual Stress Busting Open House yesterday. Donut stress about finals—Good luck, Nova Nation!
Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Library. Photos courtesy of Stahl and Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager.
Photo courtesy of Shawn Proctor.
Photo courtesy of Luisa Cywinski.
Photo courtesy of Gina Duffy.
It’s the holiday season! Falvey Library staff assembled the Christmas tree on the first floor yesterday. Staff (and students passing by) were able to hang ornaments on the tree and enjoy some hot chocolate and an assortment of desserts. Stop by the library to enjoy the decorations during the remainder of the semester: The building is open 24/7. View the full listing of service hours here. Looking for research support? Subject librarians are available for assistance Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. or by appointment.
Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Library.
In Othello, Shakespeare wrote, “Our bodies are gardens, to which our wills are our gardeners.”
Happy Labor Day, Wildcats! By going to Villanova and furthering our education, we are all tending to our gardens. We have the immense potential to better ourselves in the process, but a garden that is over-watered or overworked will wilt.
Take a break this Labor Day. Do something that makes you happy. It might just make your garden bloom.
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4:00-9:00pm | Room 301 | Free
Villanova Gaming Society Meeting | 2:30-4:30pm | Speakers’ Corner | Free & Open to the Public
Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash
Today is Labor Day, as you likely know, but there also are some other fun holidays coming up this week.
Tomorrow, September 6th, you can cross off a book from your reading list by celebrating National Read a Book Day. Whether it’s one of your favorite re-reads, a recommendation from a friend, or a new novel you’ve been dying to start, this Tuesday is a perfect day to crack open a book and read (But we might be a little biased at Falvey).
If you’re more of a numbers person, this Friday, September 9th is International Sudoku Day. So, find a newspaper, grab a puzzle book, or open your app and play some Sudoku.
Friday is also International Box Wine Day. If you’re 21 or older, buy some Franzia to celebrate and (responsibly) enjoy the weekend.
Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.
In Verse 64 of Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Welcome and welcome back, Wildcats! A new year at Villanova brings new beginnings, whether it’s your first year or your last. As you embark on your 2022-2023 journey, remember that all of your fellow Wildcats are taking the step with you. Happy fall semester!
Mindfulness Mondays | 1-1:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to all Villanova Students, Faculty, and Staff
Celebrate We Love Memoirs Day on Wednesday, August 31, by reading or listening to one of your favorite memoirs. If you need a bit of humor in your day, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel provides some genuine laughs and things to reflect on (and, bonus, as a graphic novel, it’s a pretty quick read).
September 2 is College Colors Day. So, if you’re stuck picking out an outfit for Friday, throw on some blue and white to show your ‘Nova pride.
Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.
Happy Holidays, Wildcats! Enjoy this new mashed potato mashup playlist while studying for finals, traveling home, or just for some relaxing backgrounds tunes. These calm tracks are perfect for any gathering. Looking for more music? Check out the original mashup here.
Bonus playlist: Kallie’s Chords—Merry Everything. Play the holiday hits here.
Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.