I spend a considerable amount of my time daydreaming, people watching, observing and contemplating. I reset by going for walks, journaling in coffee shops while watching people come and go. I sit on park benches with a book and disappear into the crowd. I gain satisfaction from small things. Smiles from strangers and the lilacs blooming at Confluence Park. I can’t help but be overcome with childlike joy and wonder by the stars on a clear night. Four years ago, I came to college nervous about everything I did and painfully concerned with what others thought of me. I defined myself with the words that came out of other people’s mouths. If someone I barely knew called me smart, then I believed it. If they called me pretty, then I was pretty. If someone said I was too emotional, I’d make an effort to appear expressionless and steely. I had very little understanding of myself beyond other people’s definitions of me.

In all honesty, the last four years have presented me with some of the toughest challenges I have ever faced. Having experienced interpersonal violence, I quickly lost grip of my sense of self. The teenage spunk I carried into freshman year was shattered. I turned my back on the things I loved. I stopped dancing, worried about how my talent would compare to those around me. I stopped picking wildflowers and waking up for the sunrise.

In yoga and meditation, we often use descriptive imagery of calming scenes, locations and experiences to bring peace to our bodies and minds. I frequently refer to descriptive images from my journal and personal life when I lead meditations. Even though the scenes are imagined and will never materialize no matter how much we try to manifest it, simply activating our imagination the same way we did when we were kids has the power to uplift us and make us comfortable in our own bodies again — something survivors often struggle with.

Through the pandemic, I resorted to simple pleasures all over again to find excitement and joy. As I acclimated to life during COVID-19, I found myself slowly beginning to heal. Sitting on a city bench and imagining the lives of the people that go by, or standing barefoot on damp grass with the sunlight on my face, simplified life even for just a moment. Those small moments allowing my imagination to overtake my mind had significant healing power for me. I slowed down my thoughts and learned to live my life moment to moment. I impressed myself with emotional and mental strength and independence I never knew I was capable of. I learned to embrace myself as I am: a sensitive and curious person, who frequently gets lost in their own thoughts and loves to dance in their kitchen late at night.

When I graduated high school, I made a promise to myself to never lose touch of my inner child or the smile on my face. I even wrote it in my high school yearbook. Four years later, I can proudly say I’ve done well on that promise. As I continue into post-grad life, I look forward to more nights spent gazing up at the stars and more bouquets of stolen flowers on my nightstand. I know I will continue nurturing and healing my heart and mind as I continue to grow and learn.

Neel: Thank you for being my best friend since day one. When we were younger, I looked up to you in every single way. I wanted to do everything you did, be just as smart as you, just as witty, just as cool. I wanted to light up rooms the way you do. The past four years, living farther than just a train ride away from you, I’ve had the opportunity to grow into my own person using the stepping stones you laid for me. As I grew up, you have progressed beyond merely an older brother to a guardian and friend. Through every heartbreak, you were my shoulder to cry on. For every accomplishment and milestone, you were the first to know. As I begin work at Paramount this summer, it is in no small part due to your constant support and guidance. Thank you for giving me the confidence to believe in myself, respect my own intelligence and inspiring me to pursue a career as a woman in finance. I can’t wait to be back in the city with you as I embark on my next chapter. Thank you for being the best big brother ever. I hope I made you proud.

Lakhsmi: Working alongside you has been a blessing. I have immense respect for you as an outspoken, intelligent and highly talented leader. Even on your hardest days you never failed to bring a smile to my face. I admire your work ethic and the passion you pour into everything you do. If anyone is going to fly high, it will be you.

Makoto: I don’t know if I would have made it through Binghamton without you. I will miss our late nights at Bartle, chaotic State Street outings and the hours passed at our kitchen table in endless conversations. You’ve experienced me at my best and worst. You’ve made me laugh to the point of stomach cramps, and you just as easily cooked me up food to make it through the rough nights and tears. You radiate beauty both inside and out and have been nothing short of an amazing friend. I love you so much.

Sam, Jamie and Eli: All three of you are such characters in your own way, and I love you for it. You joined our team and matched our energy, making production something I enjoyed going to. The Arts & Culture team truly felt like a team this year. Getting to watch you guys blossom as writers, people and leaders has been my favorite experience on Pipe Dream. I have no doubt that the Arts section will be in good hands. I am so proud of each of you and cannot wait to see how you continue to grow. If you ever find yourself in the city, you know you can hit me up.

To my writers: You were the best team I could ever ask for. Each of you displayed your talents brilliantly and never failed to amaze me with your writing skills. Thank you for letting me know which album drops were valid and which movies were worth watching. You guys were the highlight of my Mondays. It was a pleasure getting to know you all and being your editor.

Krishna Patel is a senior majoring in economics and was assistant Arts & Culture editor from 2020-2022.

This academic year, the Binghamton music scene has been burgeoning with student bands. Maybe due to a cultural drought after being relegated to bedroom jam sessions for the past couple of years, the student band scene has recently exploded with vigor and creativity. For many, countless weekends have been spent at basement shows on the West Side, gigs at local bars and even shows at the Bundy Museum of History and Art.

From The Bronx consists of four lifelong musicians. Omar Acosta, a freshman majoring in philosophy, politics and law, is the lead vocalist and guitar player. Dahlia Bekong is an undeclared freshman and doubles as a vocalist and bassist. Emmanuel “Manny” Fuentes, an undeclared freshman, takes on guitar while Chris Dennison, a freshman majoring in business administration, plays drums for the band. From The Bronx formed during Mountainview Jams in Appalachian Collegiate Center early fall semester. In an email response, Dennison recounted how the band members met and From The Bronx’s inception.

“Chris, our drummer, had heard from his roommate about a music event going on, so he ran over from his dorm with a pair of drumsticks hoping to play for the first time in a while,” Dennison said. “Omar and Dahlia, who had first met in the dorms at Seneca Hall, were at the event ready to play a cover of ‘Valerie’ by Amy Winehouse. They had friends covering vocal and guitar — all they needed was a drummer.”

Dennison described his impromptu yet successful performance alongside Bekong and Acosta.

“When [Dahlia and Omar] ran into Chris, the group delivered a performance that ignited the audience, setting a precedent for the return of Mountainview Jams and the foundation for From The Bronx (named after the home of our bassist),” Dennison said. “Emmanuel, who was friends with Omar, would soon join the band at the 2022 Earth Day Festival.”

The members of From The Bronx were naturally drawn to the music scene at Binghamton University and Binghamton proper. Dennison said the desire to captivate and bring amusement to a crowd has motivated and inspired them.

“At the end of the day, we just want to continue to bring a good time to Binghamton,” Dennison said. “The satisfaction we get from bringing enjoyment to others is the best feeling in the world.”

From The Bronx is primarily a rock band, performing and exploring various subgenres of rock music. However, unlike many other BU student rock bands, From The Bronx emphasizes experimentation and often integrates musical elements from other genres as well.

“We like to experiment with programmed beats and incorporate genres that fall outside of ‘rock’,” Dennison said. “We like to pride ourselves with being flexible with genres.”

From The Bronx mainly performs and writes original pieces, such as “Lover’s Requiem,” “And I’ll Go” and “DCL,” to name a few. They also frequently perform covers of popular classics, including the ’70s hit “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and the early 2000s alternative rock song “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes.

As freshmen, the members of From The Bronx are new to the Binghamton music scene in addition to the BU community as a whole. Despite their fresh status, the band has received a warm welcome and support from other student bands.

“The student band community has been very kind to us — bands that we’ve played with in the past have always shown their support of our music,” Dennison said. “The best part of belonging to the community is that we all share the same passion for music. People involved in the band community are very helpful, whether it be with sharing equipment or planning transportation to shows and events.”

With performances at the Earth Day Festival in Recreation Park on Binghamton’s West Side, house shows, Mountainview Jams and Battle of the Bands in the University Union Undergrounds, the members of From The Bronx have extensive experience performing alongside one another for crowds of BU students. When asked about their favorite memory together, the band described their first house show off campus.

“It was the first time we got to meet and play with a lot of the other top student bands such as Mote and The Plasters,” Dennison said. “The basement was packed and seeing everyone rock out to our music right in front of us was a wonderful experience.”

Comprised of Black and Hispanic band members, From The Bronx discussed the lack of diversity that typically plagues rock music and what their presence in the Binghamton music scene means for other aspiring artists and musicians.

“As a Black and Hispanic band, we love the fact that we add to the diversity of the Binghamton music scene,” Dennison said. “Minority representation in the rock music industry has traditionally been low, and so our music helps to take a step in the direction of changing that. We hope to inspire future generations of rock musicians to follow their passions, no matter what race they are.”

From The Bronx has left quite an impression on BU students and the local music scene from their short stint. For those interested, you can follow the band on Instagram, @fromthebronxband, where they frequently post their upcoming shows.

Follow From The Bronx on Instagram @fromthebronxband

Gunna has been active on the international music scene since 2013. After being introduced to Young Thug through a mutual friend, Gunna signed on to Young Thug’s record label, Young Stoner Life Records. Gunna rose to prominence with his debut mixtape “Drip Season” in 2016. Since then, mixtapes and albums like “Drip Season 3,” “Drip Harder,” “Drip or Drown 2,” “WUNNA” and “Slime Language 2,” featured Gunna rapping alongside artists such as Roddy Ricch, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Lil Baby. This past January, Gunna released his most recent album, “DS4EVER.” With hits like “pushin P” and “idk that bitch,” students have the rare opportunity to listen to an artist perform recently released music live at no cost.

In addition to Gunna, Pittsburgh-based duo Social House will be performing at Spring Fling. One of the duo’s most popular songs, “Magic In The Hamptons,” led them to take off back in 2018. The Plasters, a student band and winner of Battle of the Bands, will be opening for the featured acts.

Olivia Le, SAPB concerts chair and a senior majoring in business administration, said this Spring Fling will be many students’ first.

“I think what’s most exciting about this one in particular, is that for many students (freshmen, sophomores and juniors), this will be their very first-ever Spring Fling,” Le said. “But even seniors like myself look forward to this because it’s the biggest annual event on campus.”

Spring Fling will include an outdoor festival during the day with clubs tabling, food trucks, carnival rides and games with prizes offered to winners. What sets this year’s Spring Fling apart from other pre-pandemic years’ events is that the concert will be outdoors rain or shine, in order to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infections. Le also mentioned the relocation of the Spring Fling concert from outside the Classroom Wing to the East Gym parking lot.

“We also decided on a different outdoor location — the East Gym parking lot (Lot E) instead of the Classroom Wing quad,” Le said. “This change will provide attendees with more space and better accessibility if needed.”

The SAPB will provide hand sanitizer and masks at water stations to provide students with safety options.

Spring Fling will take place Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the East Gym parking lot. Festivities include a carnival during the day and the concert at night. The event is free for all Binghamton University students and will be held outdoors, rain or shine.

In an interview with Marissa Colleluori, Legacy Lounge manager and Jones’ mother-in-law, Colleluori emphasized Jones’ affinity for the Binghamton area and the community.

“[Jones] was drafted right out of college,” Colleluori said. “He went to Penn State, but he always has a connection to his home, his hometown and the support system he had here.”

As a Philadelphia native who was new to the Binghamton area, Colleluori said she was shocked with Binghamton’s limited entertainment options.

“Coming from a larger city, I was under the impression that what Philadelphia offered was typical of other areas,” Colleluori said. “I have only traveled to New York City and getting that reasserted by what’s available there and seeing how Philadelphia doesn’t live up to it, I thought that every town had something to offer similar to what my spaces did. [Jones] would always say, ‘No, you’ve never been to Binghamton,’ and when I came, I personally thought it was a tad bit depressing … There’s a lot of great people in this community and there’s just not a lot of options.”

The flooding of the Susquehanna River and Chenango River in 2011 as a result of Tropical Storm Lee severely impacted businesses in the area. The resulting void in options inspired Jones and his team to explore opening up a nightclub in Downtown Binghamton.

“After the flood, a lot of people didn’t rebuild,” Colleluori said. “A lot of jobs were lost … [Business] is what this town needs because so many had left after the flood. I wondered how long ago the flood was because I’m not from Binghamton. And I was thinking two years ago, five years ago, but it’s been over 10 years and they still haven’t rebuilt? So there’s a lot of opportunity because the people haven’t gone away, just the business.”

Colleluori described her and the team’s vision for Legacy Lounge.

“We want this to be a place where everyone feels welcome,” Colleluori said. “In visiting the area, it just seems like there’s nothing that’s a little swanky yet inclusive. [Jones’] whole mantra is to create a legacy, live your legacy and share. Through the Legacy Lounge, he’s living that out and keeping it alive.”

Jones intends for Legacy Lounge to be heavily rooted in the local community, employing Binghamton natives. Legacy Lounge is a family venture — the Legacy Lounge food truck is operated by Jones’ father.

Colleluori said they hope to inspire others to invest in Binghamton and open businesses of their own in the area.

“We get to be the first,” Colleluori said. “We’ve been given the tools to bring that into fruition, bring that into a reality, so it’s exciting to be able to give other people the confidence that they can do it and to consult them. It was very difficult getting open and it shouldn’t be so whatever I’ve learned during this process, I definitely want people to know that information is not proprietary. It’s not an easy road, but you can walk through it.”

Legacy Lounge is open on Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., on Fridays from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., on Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Sundays for game day hours. They are also open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For updates, follow their Instagram page.

Sun Salutation

Sun Salutation, or Surya Namaskar in Sanskrit, is the most common flow sequence. It involves moving from a Standing Pose (Mountain Pose/Tadasana) to a Downward-Facing Dog and Upward-Facing Dog. In traditional yoga practices, Sun Salutations are dedicated to the Hindu sun deity, Surya. This flow can be repeated as many times as you’d like and incorporated as transitions in between other poses and flows as well. Sun Salutations are a great way to stretch out the whole body, explore your range of movement and get your blood pumping. It can provide a welcome break from the monotony and stillness of working at your desk or sitting in a classroom.

Upward-Facing Dog

Upward-Facing Dog can be practiced as a stand-alone pose or as part of a Sun Salutations sequence. For this pose, you lay down in a prone position and lift your upper body off the floor, pushing through your arms, without lifting your legs off the floor. You can lift your upper body as far as feels comfortable for you. This is pose provides a deep stretch all along the back and reverses the direction in which we tend to hunch over, providing relief.

Supported Fish

This pose requires you to lay down on your back, with a block lined up underneath and parallel to your spine. Allow your body several minutes to melt around the block and fully accept the pose. It is highly relieving and relaxing and can even be done with a pillow and/or textbooks in place of a yoga block. This pose is great before going to bed for the night.

Wide-Legged Forward Bend

A Wide-Legged Forward Bend has you standing in a straddle position, folding your upper body toward the floor. This pose offers numerous variations including hinging at your hips and twisting one arm toward the sky, opening your shoulder and chest sideways or swaying back and forth in your forward fold. This stretch activates your legs and thighs which can often feel dormant after sitting in a chair for extended periods of time.

Other suggestions:

Cat-Cow

Warrior III

Camel Pose

Standing Side Bend

Seated Spinal Twist

We hope you enjoy these poses and your yoga practice!

As my dining partner Michael and I walked through the doors, we immediately noted the contemporary yet timeless ambiance developed by the LED lights and exposed brick interior. We were seated at the bar and greeted by friendly servers and waitstaff. For appetizers, I ordered the beet & burrata salad, intrigued by the unexpected combination. The salad presented a wonderful balance of flavors with sharp arugula, earthy beets and walnuts and tangy oranges that left a sweet, citrusy note on the whole salad. It felt like the perfect transitional season dish as we enter fall. The burrata was creamy and light.

Michael ordered the butternut squash croquette as his appetizer. The croquette was presented beautifully, perfectly centered in a black-and-white striped bowl. Michael said the croquette had a nice outer crunch with a creamier, cheesy center. The croquette was topped with a squash sauce which Michael approved of, despite his typical dislike of squash.

For entrees, I ordered the stuffed acorn squash while Michael got the braised short rib. The squash was stuffed with farro, golden raisins, applesauce, cranberries, currants and roasted walnuts. The combination of sweet, nutty, warm flavors felt very seasonally appropriate and the squash itself pulled apart nicely, indicating a well-cooked squash. The farro was a great choice of grain to include, offsetting the smoothness of the squash with more body and bite. As a lifelong vegetarian, I did not try the short rib. However, Michael said, “The meat pulls apart very smoothly and the flavor of the meat is incredibly divine.”

Finally, for dessert, Michael ordered the Nutella ice cream sundae. The sundae consisted mainly of espresso ice cream with melted Nutella and hazelnuts sprinkled on top. Michael said all the flavors worked very well together and the nuts sprinkled on top gave a lovely extra crunch. I tried the pumpkin spice panna cotta, which turned out to be my favorite part of the meal. As someone who doesn’t typically like sweets, I gravitate toward pumpkin spice flavors in desserts because they usually aren’t too overpoweringly sweet. However, artificial pumpkin spice can often taste like chemicals, synthetic and too sugary. Social on State’s take on the classic fall flavor did not disappoint, as the pumpkin flavor tasted authentic and not too sweet. It complemented the maple whipped cream and when I mixed the custard and whipped cream together, it created a heavenly, fluffy texture.

The staff was incredibly friendly and presented us with the barbacoa chicken tacos and grilled swordfish at the end of our meal. I took the tacos home for my roommates. Michael took the swordfish home and allowed our Arts & Culture Editor, Lakhsmi, to try some.

Lakhsmi said, “It’s quite nice. The fish is really soft and the mushy rice is a nice touch with it.” Lakhsmi also noted the strong lemon flavor on the fish.

Social on State provided an upscale culinary experience coupled with a hip, modern vibe and a fantastic deal for restaurant week. I highly recommend Social on State as a great spot to enjoy some fantastic food with a fantastic company.

The Troll Bridge

Located behind Broome Hall of Newing College, the Troll Bridge crosses a small brook and leads off campus to Murray Hill Road. The bridge has a painting of a troll underneath it, welcoming all visitors and anyone daring to cross the bridge. This is the perfect spot to go for a quick stroll, catch some fresh air and listen to the peaceful sounds of the babbling brook and chirping birds. Not too far from the Troll Bridge is a path connecting the main campus to the Innovative Technologies Complex (ITC). From Newing College, a walk to the ITC through the Troll Bridge is a great way to beat the cabin fever that comes with campus isolation from the surrounding community.

Mountainview Quad

While almost every dorm community has its own quad (except for College-in-the-Woods), the Mountainview Quad has the most stunning views of the BU campus and the surrounding area, making it totally worth the uphill trek — especially for the sunrise and sunset. You can see far into the horizon and enjoy the vistas with some ice cream or fried food from Appalachian Collegiate Center’s Nite Owl.

The Spine

Right outside the Library Tower in the center of campus, the Spine stretches from the Pegasus Statue to the Harpur College monolith and is lined with benches on either side with a fountain located in the center. This area serves as a great outdoor study spot or even a spot to drink some coffee, people-watch and recharge between classes. This spot is easy to get to from nearly anywhere on campus. Spend an hour on one of these benches and you are bound to run into friends or someone you know in this highly trafficked area.

The Memorial Courtyard

The Memorial Courtyard is a confined area only accessible through the Fine Arts Building. However, with beautifully manicured gardens and trees, the Memorial Courtyard is worth a visit, especially in the fall or spring. If you have classes in the Fine Arts Building and need a break to eat lunch and relax for a little while, the Memorial Courtyard provides a peaceful ambience in the middle of one of the campus’ largest buildings.

Dickinson Gazebo

This small gazebo behind Dickinson Community overlooks a marsh and the Nature Preserve. While it may be a small and easily overlooked location, this gazebo is a great secluded and contemplative place. This area gets very little foot traffic, making it the perfect place to take a moment for yourself or a group of friends.

My photographer Sid and I took refuge from the overcast April day at a marble table in the center of the room. I immediately felt immersed in a warm, welcoming and classic old-fashioned ambiance. For starters, I ordered a vegetable flatbread while Sid ordered the Ramble, a gin cocktail with raspberries and lemon. Our server came out with the drink, beautifully presented, pink with a sprig of mint sticking out of the top. The raspberry and lemon were a winning combination, balancing both sweetness and zest without being too overpowering of either flavor. The Ramble made the perfect refreshing cocktail to start off the meal.

Meanwhile, my vegetable flatbread consisted of an assortment of roasted vegetables on a sweet potato flatbread. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and charred and the sweet potato flavor in the crust added a wonderful earthy complexity to the dish. The flatbread was toasted to perfection and the vegetables were well-seasoned, creating for an amazing savory snack.

For our main course, Sid ordered the BBQ burger while I ordered the strawberry avocado salad. While I initially thought the combination of strawberries, avocado and red onion was unexpected, the strawberry’s sweetness offset the sharp flavor of the red onion and blended in well with the avocado and spring mix. The poppy seed vinaigrette tied everything together, enhanced the sweetness of the strawberries and added a subtle crunch to the dish. While I didn’t try Sid’s burger, he stated that he loved how it had both a crunch and tenderness all at once thanks to the well-cooked beef and the bun, which was toasted on both sides. The cheese was creamy and had a soft flavor that enhanced the barbecue taste. The fried onions added the perfect crunch to the burger. The burger came with a side of carrot and gingersnap soup which tasted delicious, warm and hearty.

Finally for dessert, we split the vegan lemon bar and the Guinness and Baileys ice cream. A bite in the lemon bar was the perfect combination of chewy and crispy. The powdered sugar balanced the zesty, lemon flavor. The ice cream was an unexpected combination of flavors and the hoppy bitterness of the Guinness plus the chocolatey flavor from Baileys made the ice cream taste very similar to coffee ice cream.

Overall, 205 Dry is a great place if you are looking for a classy joint to spend an evening with food and drinks that don’t disappoint, a 1920’s old-fashioned ambiance and excellent service. It’s a wonderful hidden gem in Downtown Binghamton and could make the perfect spot to spend a night out with friends or a romantic date.

The conversation was hosted and moderated by Maggie Koekkoek, SA executive vice president and a senior majoring in biomedical engineering, Jacob Eckhaus, SA vice president for finance (VPF) and a senior majoring in accounting, and Sophia Cavalluzzi, SA vice president for programming (VPP) and a senior majoring in English. The second Minhaj appeared the chat blew up for the popular comedian, with students greeting him and cheering him on. Minhaj showed up wearing his Pantone 342 Binghamton University sweatshirt.

“I’m hiding here in my basement from my family and my children,” Minhaj said. “I’m thrilled to be with all of you. I wish I was in person with y’all, I’m repping my sweatshirt.”

Koekkoek began the conversation by asking Minhaj about his first stand-up comedy show, and why he chose to pursue a career in comedy. Minhaj discovered stand-up comedy in college, saying that being back at college campuses and performing for and talking to college students always evokes a sense of nostalgia in him.

Minhaj delved into his origin story, starting in high school, where one of his teachers suggested that he join the speech and debate club instead of making wisecracks in the back of the class. Being part of the debate team was Minhaj’s first taste of performing in front of others, and he would sometimes “break the fourth wall” at competitions, saying that none of the high school students really knew what they were talking about when they were discussing such heavy topics.

Minhaj cited watching Chris Rock’s 2004 special “Chris Rock: Never Scared” on his friend’s laptop in freshman year as something that interested him in comedy.

“I remember watching three minutes of it,” Minhaj said. “And I told my friend Imran, ‘Imran, this is funny speech and debate.’ He’s just making an argument, but he’s presenting it in a funny way.”

Minhaj began to see the whole world this way. He was always able to take on a humorous perspective and consider everyday occurrences and life-changing events to have the potential for comedic material.

“I Googled how to become a comedian,” Minhaj said. “The way we all do.”

Minhaj went on to explain the rest of his career, from his first show to his first big audition to when he hosted the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He then spoke about his next big project, which is meant to be a sequel to “Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King” and he’s also working on season 2 of “The Morning Show” with Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.

Much of the conversation centered around Minhaj’s South Asian heritage, and how his experiences as a first-generation American of Indian descent shaped his comedic writing and career. He also discussed how he was able to turn his experiences with racism and hate into comedy, and how it has changed a lot for him. It provided material that people could relate to and connect with, and it uncovered many undiscussed yet commonly shared aspects of the immigrant — specifically the Muslim-American, South Asian-American and Asian-American experience: “[it took] our story from the margins to the mainstream.” Minhaj was also asked about his thoughts on the current rise of anti-Asian American hate, and how it reminded him of his experiences when he was younger, and the fear he felt when 9/11 occurred.

“It was the first time in my life I felt ‘Oh bro, you have an away jersey,’” Minhaj said. “Even though you’re a U.S. citizen and you feel like you’re wearing a home jersey, and you grew up in [Davis, California] and you have all your friends, you’re wearing an away jersey. And it’s so interesting that I’m with you all tonight and I’m here 20 years later. I witnessed with my own eyes a whole community of people become otherized. We saw the, ironically enough, effects of the Patriot Act. Here we are 20 years later and I’m seeing a similar but different otherization of another group, where there’s a group of people that I know are scared.”

The last 20 minutes of the event were reserved for questions that BU students sent in. Students asked Minhaj for advice and his takes on interesting topics, such as whether he thinks jokes can go too far. Minhaj’s down-to-earth and relatable personality shone through everyone’s computer screens.

Minhaj signed off by saying thank you and goodbye, and wishing everyone Ramadan Mubarak, as the chat blew up with praise for him once again.

The resurgence of sea shanties comes at an interesting time in pop culture. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions, young people are feeling increasingly isolated and lonely. Sea shanties are meant to be sung as a crew and typically aren’t difficult to learn. They give a sense of camaraderie through difficult times and often revolve around themes of loneliness at sea, adventure, strenuous labor and hope for a brighter future. While old-time sailors may have led very different lives than young people in 2021, we can find comfort and a sense of similarity in their songs of strife, hard times, isolation and hope for better days. Listed below are several sea shanties we recommend for anyone new to and interested in the music genre.

“The Wellerman”

This whaling ballad originated in New Zealand in the 1860s. The song describes a whale hunt that destroys several ships. In the chorus, the sailors sing of hope that a relief ship, which will provide them with sugar, tea and rum, will be coming to help them soon. “The Wellerman” was repopularized by Nathan Evans on TikTok. This shanty is my personal favorite, as it has a beautiful melody and an enticing synopsis. Listeners can easily learn the lyrics, harmonize and sing along. The ingrained sense of hope and optimism despite being in a dire situation can resonate with modern audiences living through the coronavirus pandemic.

“Drunken Sailor”

“Drunken Sailor” may be the liveliest and most well known of the popular sea shanties. It originated as a work song aboard any ship with a large number of sailors. The tune is taken from a traditional Irish folk song and is upbeat and humorous as the captain and crew sing of all the possible ways to sober up a sailor who has had a little too much to drink.

“Leave Her, Johnny”

“Leave Her, Johnny” was typically sung when sailors were about to disembark a ship for the final time. The woman that the song refers to is actually the ship the sailors are about to leave. The song served as a way for sailors to let out pent up sadness and emotions during their journey.

“Rolling Down to Old Maui”

This song sings of the crew of a whaling ship returning home to Maui after spending six months hunting for whales in the Kamchatka Sea near Russia. The song is slower than most sea shanties, but it provides a sense of relief and excitement to come home to warmer weather and more forgiving, welcoming conditions.

Crime Victims Assistance Center (CVAC)

CVAC provides a safe environment for victims of crime as well as those who have been affected by it in any way. Located right on 377 Robinson St. in Binghamton, CVAC offers free counseling to survivors as well as safe spaces for victims of various crimes. You can call (607) 722-4256 for a 24/7 crisis support line or text (607) 725-8196 if you prefer to text.

STAP Prevention Services

The Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) Prevention Services is an LGBTQ+ friendly sexual health team offering communities of color preventative services. According to the Southern Tier AIDS Program’s website, the team “work[s] toward creating a world where HIV transmission is rare and those who are HIV+ lead healthy lives.” Services include HIV and/or STD tests, PrEP consultations, Hepatitis-C consultations, mental health counseling and services, and free condoms and lubrication. Additionally, they offer opioid overdose reversal training, a Syringe Exchange Program and navigation services for individuals who need assistance with finding health insurance or a primary care provider across their offices spanning from Ithaca to Oneonta. STAP Prevention Services’ main office is located on 22 Riverside Drive in Binghamton, New York. You can call their hotline at (800)-333-0892, their phone line at (607) 798-1706 or via fax at (607) 798-1977.

Family Planning of South Central NY

Family Planning offers gynecological and reproductive health services such as pregnancy testing, STD testing, rapid HIV testing, birth control, cancer screening, PrEP and HPV vaccinations, at an affordable rate. They also provide sexual health education specifically targeted for college students. Family Planning is a pro-choice organization located at 117 Hawley St. You can call them to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you may have at (607) 723-8306. They are available via fax at (607) 723-4087.

RISE

RISE, formerly known as the SOS Shelter, offers assistance to families who experience or are endangered by domestic violence through residential, advocacy and counseling services. One of the first domestic violence shelters in New York state, RISE provides families a confidential location to protect themselves, with a private bathroom and bedroom as well as a shared kitchen, dining room and living room. During their stay, residents can access transportation to the shelter and to their appointments through RISE. RISE also offers advocacy for domestic violence survivors regarding family court, law enforcement, Child Protective Services and Department of Social Services — therapeutic counseling is available to survivors in person, by telephone or through Zoom. You can contact RISE at (607) 748-7453 or for advocacy and counseling services at (607) 748-5174.

While this brief list may be an incomplete compilation of all sexual and reproductive health resources available in the Binghamton and Broome County Area, we hope this can serve as a good place to start reaching out and getting the care you deserve.

Each table was numbered and displayed a QR code through which visitors could scan, view the menu, order food and pay for their meal. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, furthering the welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant. For appetizers, I ordered the Stone Fox fries while Lucas ordered the Caesar salad. The Stone Fox fries were an elevated version of normal curly fries. They had the warm, crispy crunch that I personally love in my fries, with some flavor added by a dried herb seasoning. I was impressed with how The Stone Fox was able to elevate the classic curly french fry without losing the childlike joy and simple fun of curly fries. While I did not try the Caesar salad, Lucas said the combination of olives and olive tapenade led to a heavy olive flavor which he could only describe as “very odd.” The salad seemed, however, like a good choice for any olive-lover.

For our second course, we ordered the Cheese Please pizza pie along with the rosemary truffle pie. The Cheese Please consisted of crushed tomato as the sauce, topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. The high-quality toppings complemented each other wonderfully. While the soft crust was not my personal favorite, I really enjoyed the crust’s smoky flavor imparted by the wood fire. The rosemary truffle pie consisted of roasted garlic, mushroom, truffle oil, mozzarella and rosemary. It was clear the ingredients were of high quality and full of rich flavor. The rosemary was definitely the prominent ingredient in the pizza, while the truffles offered a rich, yet light and mature flavor.

The Cheese Please pizza.

We finished off the meal with desserts. Lucas ordered a cannoli while I asked for the tiramisu. As someone whose favorite dessert is tiramisu, The Stone Fox’s rendition surpassed my expectations. The deep, rich and bitter espresso flavor was perfectly balanced with the sweet frosting. Every bite melted in my mouth and left me craving more even after the whole meal. The cannoli was also a pleasant surprise, as cannolis are tricky desserts to get right. The cream was fluffy, light and not overly sweet. The fried pastry dough was wonderfully crispy and thin. While The Stone Fox is known for its delicious pizzas, I loved their appetizers and desserts most.

If you’re looking for a fun, energetic place to eat out with friends, The Stone Fox offers delicious options and a student-friendly, youthful atmosphere with a relaxing ambiance. The staff is extremely friendly and the food will not disappoint.

Have a voting plan

A great way to channel Election Day anxiety in a productive way is to create a plan as to how you will cast your ballot. This may be in-person on Election Day, early through an absentee ballot or more. Either way, formulating a plan to make sure your vote is counted and your ballot is filled out correctly is a great way to reduce anxiety, partake in democracy and make your voice heard. Don’t forget — while the presidential election is what attracts the most coverage, down-ballot local and state elections are also taking place this year, and are equally as important. Voting for your local representative means choosing who will speak for you at the local, state and national levels — they can determine the direction in which you want to take your community. Remember to educate yourself on who is running for local and state government and make sure to make your voice heard.

Don’t dwell on worst-case scenarios

It’s easy to get ahead of yourself and ponder all the ways in which you could be negatively impacted by the election. While it’s important to keep in mind what’s at stake this November, fearing the worst outcome before it has even happened does nothing but increase your stress. Realistically, your life may not be drastically different come January. Playing out “what-ifs” in your head is a poor use of your energy and time. There is no need to worry about something that has yet to happen. Instead, focus on the present and what you can do to be a better citizen, friend, family member and friend to yourself in these tumultuous times.

Keep yourself busy on Election Day

Election Day may be incredibly stressful for everyone. However, you don’t need to sit in front of the TV all day, waiting for votes to be counted and states to be determined as blue or red. You will find out who is president either way, so if watching live news coverage of the election stresses you out, there is no need to. You can avoid it by planning your Election Day so that you will be distracted by other activities while votes are being counted. For example, instead of watching the news on Election Night, plan to cook up an elaborate meal with your roommates, work on that paper you’ve been avoiding, you can even go out for a walk in nature. These may all be more productive uses of your time and energy than watching something you know will cause you a great deal of stress.

Avoid excessive media consumption and only trust reliable and verified sources

In today’s media, there is a lot of fearmongering and headlines meant to induce anxiety, thereby capturing your attention and garnering more views. With smartphones and the Internet, you can read news stories from a myriad of sources all over the world just by tapping a button on a screen. This constant flow of information can be exciting, but it can also be stressful when there are countless sources trying to push a story on you that will negatively impact your mental and emotional well-being. To combat this, limit your media consumption to a handful of trustworthy, accurate and unbiased news sources. Make sure you are reading or watching the news for only 15 to 20 minutes a day. This way, you will be able to stay informed while not letting the news and current events take over your thoughts. Avoiding media may also mean avoiding social media as many people and politicians post politically charged content on all social media platforms. Social media’s addictive nature is designed to keep you on the platform for as long as possible, even if that means you see something you didn’t want to and it takes a toll on your mental health. Set time limits for your news feed and social media and make sure you’re spending personal time away from the internet.

Volunteer

With so much negativity in the world and in politics, a great way to relieve pent up nervousness is to volunteer for a cause you are passionate about. Whether this means canvassing for a political campaign, volunteering at a shelter or food bank, protesting against police brutality or working as a poll worker on Election Day is totally up to you. Working alongside people who are passionate about the same causes as you and raising awareness is a fulfilling and valuable experience that can help mitigate Election Day stress.

I hope these recommendations will help make the upcoming weeks feel a little less heavy. As always, stay safe and informed and get out and vote!

Otsiningo Park, located near Upper Front Street on Binghamton’s North Side, provides open green spaces alongside a pond with a walkway around it. The park currently has several dozen scarecrows on display ranging from scarecrows that commemorate the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the sacrifice of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protesters, to beekeeper scarecrows, a replica of a hot dog stand and more. Park visitors can walk through and view all the scarecrows, voting for which ones are their favorites. The scarecrows were created and submitted by local businesses, various Broome County departments and offices, nonprofit organizations and even local families. In an email, Director of Broome County Parks, Recreation and Youth Services Elizabeth Woidt, 29, of Binghamton, wrote about how the creativity of the scarecrows impressed her.

“My favorite part of the event is seeing the creativity people have,” Woidt said. “There are some gorgeous displays that take a lot of planning and hard work to create and we truly appreciate everyone who participates to make this event successful and provide the community something to do!”

The scarecrows are set up along a circular walkway so viewers can safely walk through and view each display, all of which are numbered. Visitors can pick up a ballot and writing utensil at the beginning of the circle and vote for their favorite displays as they walk through. The ballots can be dropped off in a box at the end of the circle of displays. Woidt emphasized the importance of safety in planning the event.

“Participants have a three-day period to set up and a three-day period to tear down, so everyone can easily socially distance,” Woidt said. “The displays are up for voting for two weeks and will remain on display through Halloween. It is a safe event where the community can come out and enjoy the displays while socially distancing. This year we also added an online voting component.”

The scarecrow contest has been taking place for five years. In 2020, the contest was initially planned as a component of the Binghamton Fall Festival. When the Fall Festival was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, the scarecrow contest became its own stand-alone event. While most public events have been canceled as a result of the pandemic, the scarecrow contest continues to provide a safe way for Binghamton community members to get out, enjoy nature and art and feel a sense of community.

“In today’s pandemic world, we are seeing many events being canceled or going virtual,” Woidt said. “Luckily, this event is something we can safely put on for the community to participate in — both designing displays and coming to the park to vote. It gives you a reason to get outside and safely enjoy one of our beautiful Broome County Parks.”

Scarecrow contest voting will be taking place through Oct. 18 in Otsiningo Park and online. The scarecrows will be on display until Halloween.

The discussion started with Lipson explaining his background and early life. Lipson emphasized how his upbringing inspired his creativity and allowed him to form an entrepreneurial spirit later on in life.

“My dad never made us feel like we had to be a doctor or lawyer or businessperson,” Lipson said. “We had a lot more creativity growing up and I began to think outside of the box since day one.”

Lipson developed an interest in graphic design when he was a marketing major at Michigan State University in the 2000s. It was when he started to work that he gained more experience in coding, proving essential to forming his base in product development. He spent his first few years out of college working for a start-up social network company that brought men and women together anonymously to discuss romantic relationships, dating and everything in between.

“I think back to those days as a crash course to the rest of my career,” he said.

The start-up company eventually grew larger, allowing Lipson to grow alongside it. He talked about a wide variety of topics ranging from his business strategy, his upbringing, navigating state marijuana laws, founding his own business and more.

Lipson co-founded dutchie with his brother in 2017. Lipson discussed the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the legal marijuana industry and the use of dutchie as an online platform.

“What happened during the pandemic in respect to cannabis was really interesting and unique because every state deemed dispensaries an essential business,” Lipson said.

As a company, dutchie has been growing to reflect the marijuana industry’s rapid growth and path toward acceptance in the eyes of both society and the law, reaching 120 employees and still growing today.

“The culture we’re building here is very unique,” Lipson said. “We’ve borrowed a lot from companies that are at our root. We have an energetic way of doing things and we like to motivate our people.”

Lipson also talked about working alongside his brother and the importance of reciprocal relationships.

“At the end of the day, we have a lot of trust in each other,” he said. “He complements me and I complement him.”

The final portion of the talk included a question and answer session with panelists and attendees from a variety of universities. Lipson shared his advice about taking a nonconventional career path and navigating an emerging industry.

1. B Families Mart

Located on Main Street, B Families Mart offers inexpensive Caribbean, West Indian and American food.

2. Bernice Brews

This new coffee shop located on Washington Avenue in Endicott hosts poetry and music nights featuring artists from all over the country and world.

3. Caribbean Patty World

Caribbean Patty World offers authentic Caribbean food for curbside pickup and dine-in. With dishes such as jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat and “Rasta Pasta,” the restaurant offers a wide variety of items to choose from as well as a bar.

4. Dayseon’s Fashion

Located on Main Street, Dayseon’s sells apparel and clothing for men, women and children, offering a wide range of options in graphic tees and sweatshirts.

5. Family Delights

Family Delights on Main Street is a convenience store that sells imported foods such as oxtails, Jamaican plantain flour and international snacks.

6. Hair It Is

Hair It Is provides various hair services including box braids, cornrows and more. Interested customers can send photos of their hair along with a photo of what type of hair they would like for a quote.

7. Miracles Beauty Salon

This full-service hair salon on Main Street offers weaves, braids, hair-cutting, wigs and more along with eyelash extensions and waxing. The business focuses on subtle hair looks and has been in business since 1994.

8. Nature’s Design Health Food Store

Nature’s Design sells a variety of wellness products including supplements, body care products, health foods, veggie juices and smoothies, baked goods and more for a variety of diets such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan and more. The business emphasizes spreading a healthy lifestyle and offers lifestyle lectures and vegan cooking classes.

9. The New Indigo

Quinn Singer, owner of The New Indigo is a modern healer and tarot therapist. Having suffered from child sexual abuse, she seeks to heal others through tarot readings, art and more. Singer has over ten years of experience working with individuals suffering from trauma.

10. Paradise Hair World

Paradise Hair World is a beauty supply store that sells wigs, hair extensions and other hair products.

11. Shuna’s Hair Studio

Located on Clinton Street on Binghamton’s West Side, Shuna’s Hair Studio strives for inclusivity and serving all hair types. They offer treatments, cuts, weaves, makeup and eyelash extensions along with makeup products.

12. Something Different

This Clinton Street soul and vegan food restaurant has a calm and homely atmosphere. The restaurant places an emphasis on offering whole and healthy foods.

This year is Downtown Courtyard Market’s second year in the Metrocenter. According to 24-year-old market manager Eliana Epstein, ‘20, a Binghamton resident, the number of vendors has grown from four to 20 over the past year. The Downtown Courtyard Market aims to bring the community together by supporting local businesses and showcasing Binghamton’s variety of vendors, farmers and small businesses.

“We are trying to increase food accessibility to Downtown Binghamton and increase vendor diversity within farmers markets and provide a safe space for community members to support local businesses and buy local produce,” Epstein said.

Epstein recognizes the lack of diversity in background as well as lack in variety many farmers markets suffer from and hopes that the Downtown Courtyard Market can change that.

“Diversity of vendor choices and also the type of people that are present here were really important to us,” Epstein said. “Almost every single time I go to a farmers market almost every single vendor is white, and all of the farmers are pretty much men and I wanted to change that up. I’m really thankful for the ‘Support Black Businesses 607’ webpage that linked me up with a lot of awesome vendors we have here.”

One of the most well-known vendors at the Downtown Courtyard Market is Triple J Farm. Recently featured on the local radio station WSKG-FM and nationally on NPR, the poultry farm produces and delivers 200 dozen eggs per week in Binghamton and New York City. Jarrad Nwameme, the 32-year-old CEO at Triple J Farm, talked about the elaborate history behind the Black-owned business.

“Our stand is pretty simple: we’re a Black-owned farm, in Windsor NY,” he said. “The farm was started by my grandfather 12 years ago.”

Nwameme’s 85-year-old grandfather, James Minton, resides in Windsor, but originally grew up in Georgetown, South Carolina. The inspiration to own a farm came from Minton’s childhood memories of playing on the same plantation his uncle and aunt once worked on. Nwameme reflected on the setbacks that his family — and Black farmers as a whole — have faced in running multigenerational businesses.

“Black farmers in America is a challenge in itself,” Nwameme said. “Getting land [for Black Americans] is a challenge in itself. Growing and scaling — that’s our biggest challenge right now. We’ve been working for 400 years, not literally but figuratively, and trying to get what we’re doing right now.”

The vendors reflect a wide range of experiences and backgrounds. Marshall McMurray, 59, of Endicott, recently opened Bernice’s Brew, a Black-owned coffee shop in Endicott, and tabled at the Downtown Courtyard Market for the first time on Aug. 25.

“When I retired from the corporate world, I needed something to do. So I decided to open a coffee shop,” McMurray said.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Thacher, of Binghamton, has been a professional cook for ten years working at Garage Taco Bar and recently began selling desserts at the Downtown Courtyard Market as co-owner of Babushka Eats.

“I work at Garage Taco Bar and I was baking some stuff two years ago for Valentine’s Day,” Thacher said. “I did a vegan cheesecake and partnered with Parlor City Vegan for that … The year after, we did it again and we partnered with them again. Everyone loved everything so much that my boss pushed me to do my own thing.”

Epstein said the market works to secure food accessibility for Binghamton residents.

“A really big goal of mine is to raise food accessibility here, because Binghamton is in a food apartheid and we want to be helping the best we can,” Epstein said. “There are no supermarkets around the Downtown [Binghamton] area, and in order to buy fresh produce you need to have a car or take the bus.”

Epstein emphasized the importance of community bonding and support during unprecedented times.

“….While we’re in a pandemic it’s hard to feel a sense of community and pride in your city so having that central sense of pride and a safe not gathering point but a place for people to be together and a place for local small businesses to get their name out there,” she said.

Nwameme echoed Epstein’s sentiments by highlighting the connection between the producer and the consumer, as well as the close relationships that are formed through the market.

“Food comes from the earth, and the fact that you’re getting it from farm to table, it’s great,” he said. “You know where it’s coming from, you see the people, you’re talking to the people [who produce it], it gives [customers] more confidence in the food that we’re eating. Especially nowadays with everything going on when it comes to the coronavirus.”

However, depending on the species, plants can be hard to upkeep. Pipe Dream has compiled a list of low-maintenance, beginner-friendly plants that can give your room a little extra life without the worry of constant care.

Aloe vera

An aloe vera plant adds life to any room while also pulling double duty as a plant you can eat and use for various skincare applications, such as relieving pain from scrapes and burns or hydrating dry skin. Aloe vera grows best when placed in direct light. To keep your plant from rotting, wait for the soil to completely dry before watering. You can easily use your finger to test the soil’s moisture. Aloe vera plants can typically go a month without water, but check the soil to make sure.

Lucky bamboo

According to the philosophy of feng shui, lucky bamboo brings positivity, prosperity and good luck to those who grow it. Even more simply than that, the plant’s vibrant green color is sure to brighten your mood. If you keep your lucky bamboo in a pot, water it enough to keep the roots damp. If you’re growing your plant in water, add clean water to the container twice a week. Lucky bamboo thrives in indirect light and can even survive off of artificial light, so if your workspace doesn’t have an easily accessible window, this plant might work for you.

ZZ plants

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, or ZZ plants, have long, wide and symmetrical leaves that reflect light and brighten up your living space. Originally hailing from Africa, these plants are drought-resistant and can survive well with very little maintenance. ZZ plants can handle all types of lighting, but try to avoid placing them in direct sunlight for too long. Most plants do fine being watered once every week or every other week. However, it’s very important to keep your plant away from any pets, as they are extremely poisonous when consumed.

Snake plants

Thick, green-pointed leaves give snake plants a bold look that may not fit into everyone’s aesthetic. However, these plants are incredibly easy to care for. Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plants are one of the most resilient houseplants out there. They only require water every two to eight weeks depending on their size, and can survive in a wide temperature range regardless of air quality.

Cacti and succulents

Succulents get their name from the water stored in their leaves, giving them a plump appearance. These dorm room staples do best when grown with natural light and require light watering once a week. Succulents and cacti come in a diverse range of species and are relatively cheap, ensuring everyone can find one they like.

Orchids

There are several thousand orchid varieties and many of them are well suited for indoor growing. This beautiful flowering plant grows best when potted shallowly in rocks, bark or moss. While every orchid variety requires its own unique care, they typically thrive in indirect light with very little water. Most orchids can survive well with water once or twice a week.

Bromeliads

Bromeliads are a great choice if you’re looking to add color to your living space. They require bright light exposure and only need to be watered once a month. Bromeliads will only flower once in their lifetime and begin dying soon after.

Air plants

Air plants may be some of the most low-maintenance plants out there. Air plants use their leaves to suck in moisture and nutrients from their surroundings. Make sure to mist your air plant thoroughly two to three times a week. You can even water them by completely submerging them in water for six to 12 hours once a week. However, if you choose to water your plant with the bath method, make sure it is completely dry after four hours to prevent rotting. Air plants also need ample light to thrive.

Spider plants

Spider plants grow long, thin stalks and during the summer months, they sprout tiny white flowers on their stems. Spider plants are great air purifiers and can tolerate a significant amount of abuse. They will grow best in indirect sunlight and usually only need to be watered when the top two inches of soil dry out.

“Here Comes the Sun” — The Beatles

This classic Beatles song is inspired by spring itself. The sparse acoustic guitar and elegant lyrics create an image of a morning sunrise and give listeners a sense of optimism, warmth, positivity and new life. It tells us that no matter how dark our night may be, tomorrow is a new day filled to the brim with new opportunities. While there is no doubt that we are facing difficult times this year, “Here Comes the Sun” serves as a reminder of the better days ahead.

“14 Faces” — Lewis Del Mar

Hailing from Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York, Lewis Del Mar is an experimental pop duo. This song features their token acoustic guitar and Latin American-inspired drums. The eclectic mix creates a unique and memorable sound that is easy to drift off to while laying under the sun.

“Gooey” — Glass Animals

This psychedelic indie-pop song uses tropical percussion, soft melodic vocals and a synthesizer to create a dreamlike ambiance. “Gooey” easily floats in and out of slow verses to a faster and more upbeat chorus, featuring a unique sampling of sounds. It’s hard to think of a better song to listen to while wandering through nature.

“Cooks” — Still Woozy

Artist Still Woozy combines a funky dreamscape sound with lyrics about longing for his love and the comfort and security he feels around them. “Cooks” is a heartwarming yet melancholy song that is perfect to listen to while lounging around, letting time pass over you.

“Let It Be” — The Beatles

Uplifting lyrics combined with a lovely piano instrumental makes “Let It Be” the perfect song for the season of rebirth and new hope. Inspired by Paul McCartney’s dream about his mother, The Beatles urge us to take a deep breath and let go of whatever is causing us stress.

“Cold Canary Gaslight” — Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra

This band blends jazz, folk and blues in their single “Cold Canary Gaslight” to create a soulful tune set to the instrumental of an acoustic guitar. The band members’ voices blend together and complement one another beautifully to create an elegant, old-school sound.

Practice mindfulness

COVID-19 has caused many changes to our lives, leaving nearly everyone stressed out. Unplugging from the world, media and technology for a few minutes every day and dedicating that time to practicing mindfulness can go a long way toward putting your nerves at ease. You can accomplish mindfulness through meditation, journaling or taking a bath, as long as you truly allow yourself to unwind, relax and stay grounded.

Board games and card games

While interpersonal contact is discouraged, if you are inevitably trapped indoors with your family or your roommates, a good way to pass time, enjoy each other’s company and bond with one another is through board games and card games. With a wide variety of games available for whatever suits your tastes, you can try out many different, lesser-known games or stick to the classics such as “Poker,” “Monopoly” and “Clue.”

Cook

Staying at home for hours on end gives you the perfect opportunity to cook, bake and try new recipes or perfect an old one that you’ve been working on for some time. In our normal lives, we are often so busy running between classes, extracurriculars and jobs that we don’t have enough time to cook up a complete, delicious meal that isn’t instant ramen or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Use this time to branch out and try something new. If you don’t have a cookbook lying around, you can check out websites like Epicurious and Allrecipes.com to broaden your palette.

Play music

Extra time at home means that you have no excuse not to play the guitar that has been collecting dust in your closet for the past four years. You can get back into the instrument you used to play in your high school band, or even just take the opportunity to listen to new music and expand your taste.

Exercise

While you may not have access to your regular gym, moving and staying in shape is important. Even if you do not have fancy gym equipment in your dorm or at home, there are countless free workout apps you can use, including PEAR — Personal Fitness Coach, FitOn: Fitness Workout Plans and Workout for Women: Fitness App. Many personal trainers, yoga instructors and other physical fitness professionals have their own YouTube channels that provide home workouts, offering full-body fitness and an opportunity to break up your usual gym routine with something different. You can also try a new activity such as tai chi or high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

Jaerv performed folk and traditional music from various regions of Sweden with their own twists and renditions, as well as Scottish and Irish folk music. The entire performance was recorded to be broadcasted on the museum’s radio station.

The concert room’s wooden interior, red curtains, carpeting and dim lighting created a warm, cozy and intimate environment that allowed the audience to experience the band and its music up close. Audience members mingled as the band tuned its instruments. The concert started off upbeat and lively with a Swedish folk dance song and a song about a family enjoying each other’s company on a cold winter night. Right from the beginning, the audience swayed along to the music and clapped the band on. The band introduced each song with some basic historic background and the song’s meaning.

The music was lively and energetic and despite the language barriers, the group’s expressiveness and liveliness made it easy to get into and follow along, which made for an engaging and entertaining performance. The musicians tapped their feet and danced along while playing their music, enjoying themselves as they performed. Katherine McCarty, a Binghamton resident, said the band’s dynamic stood out to her during their performance.

“I really liked watching the band watch each other for cues because I’m trying to learn how to do that with my friends who I play music with,” she said. “Watching them very subtly nod to each other and witnessing the internal magic that’s happening up there was my favorite part.”

The members of Jaerv mentioned this was their seventh time in Binghamton. The last time they performed in the city was over the summer during the New York Faerie Festival. Many audience members, including Joan Hebb, a Binghamton resident, first heard Jaerv perform there. Hebb said she has been a fan of the band’s music ever since then.

“It’s fun music,” she said. “We had a blast at the [New York] Faerie Festival out in a big meadow so this is very different, hearing them here in this setting. It reminds me of a place I used to go when I lived in Copenhagen. It’s a very familiar feeling to me and I enjoy it a lot.”

The band played a unique array of instruments including a fiddle, guitar, flute, soprano saxophone, drums and a Nordic instrument called the key fiddle. All of the musicians frequently switched instruments between and even during songs.

“I really liked the variety of instruments,” Hebb said. “I don’t know how to describe the music. It’s not actually Celtic, but it’s a rock and folk kind of thing.”

The songs the band played were lively and upbeat and often inspired by Nordic folk stories, including a story about a farmer bargaining with a fox, a 600-year-old ballad about a pregnant girl being cursed by her evil mother-in-law, a farmer’s 50th birthday party and even a 1700s party song.

Every one of Jaerv’s songs was met with enthusiastic audience applause at the end. They received a standing ovation at the end and were asked to do an encore. CDs were on sale after the performance.

Andru Bemis, one of the organizers of the concert, said events like these can bring joy and a unique experience to community members.

“It makes people smile,” he said. “It makes people laugh. It makes people happy. It introduces us to other people who we wouldn’t meet otherwise. I can’t imagine living without music, honestly.”

The club, established this semester, was created for students who are interested in pursuing business careers within the fashion industry. Co-founders Rene Vorilas, vice president and a junior majoring in business administration, and Alexandra Lattuca, president and a senior majoring in business administration, decided to form the club when they realized BU had few resources and connections for business students who desire to work in a field not related to finance or accounting.

“[Lattuca] and I both are in the [School of Management (SOM)] but bonded over our interests in working in the fashion industry,” Vorilas wrote in an email. “She had interned at Steve Madden and Luxottica and I had interned at Brooks Brothers, yet despite all of the resources given to students for internships, we had to seek [out] these internships on our own. We realized that there was nothing for students like us to get connected with individuals in the fashion industry and learn about job opportunities so we decided to create the [BU] Business Fashion Society. We want to share that there are jobs out there for people with interests in business besides accounting and finance — and want to create a space for people to learn, create and make connections.”

The new group will strive to provide both a professional and creative outlet for students in Harpur College and SOM who are looking for opportunities to combine their business skills with their creativity.

“We find that there are many students in [SOM] and Harpur College who want to pursue careers in the industry but don’t know where to begin in their research or how to navigate the recruiting process,” said Claudian Francis, vice president of finance and a sophomore majoring in economics. “We help provide students with the knowledge and experiences to pursue opportunities in the fashion industry.”

Matthew Baker, assistant vice president of fundraising and marketing and a senior majoring in English, said the club has helped him further his interest in the fashion industry.

“I think overall it brings a sense of inclusion to the BU campus, especially for me at least,” Baker wrote in an email. “I have wanted to work in the fashion industry for quite some time, but have always felt that I significantly lacked the resources to get there at BU. So for a club to finally be accessible that’s catered to my interests is extremely welcoming and fulfilling.”

Vorilas said she wants BU Business Fashion Society to be a unique, open and collaborative space for students in every level of involvement with the group.

“We want to be a resource for people,” Vorilas wrote. “We send out weekly briefs every Sunday with links to relevant internships, professional development and even fun news sections! Since we are new, we are constantly adapting and changing to what our members want out of the club — so unlike existing organizations, we hope that every person has a say as to what happens in the future of this club!”

This semester, the BU Business Fashion Society has a number of events planned, including T-shirt bleaching and cutting, thrift sales, professional development workshops and a speaker series featuring employees from companies like Bloomingdale’s, Steve Madden and Gap. Through these activities, Vorilas hopes to bring awareness to the business side of the industry and encourage those interested in finance, management and fashion to find a career that fits them.

“At my summer internship, I was being paid the same as my friends with finance internships while being able to come in on my own time, wear fashionable clothing … and get really valuable work experience,” she wrote. “We just want to open students’ eyes to this realm of work that they may not even know is possible, as well as provide a space for people interested in fashion and design to find people that they vibe with.”

Like previous installments of the series, the event was free and open to the public, who heard the authors read excerpts of their work and answer audience questions.

Allen, a novelist who primarily writes fiction, memoirs and poetry, is most notably known for his book, “The East End,” and his poetry collection, “A Meditation on Fire.” Since graduating with a Ph.D. from BU, Murray has become the poet laureate for Tacoma, Washington and has published award-winning books such as “Hail and Farewell” and chapbooks including “How to Be Married after Iraq,” “Quick Draw: Poem’s from a Soldier’s Wife” and “Me and Coyote.”

The audience, a mix of professors, community members and students, were welcomed into Fine Arts 258 with snacks, refreshments and both the authors’ books for sale. As the guests settled down in their seats, both authors were introduced by their former instructors, who reviewed critics’ praise of their works.

Allen presented his work first, reading excerpts from his book “The East End.” In his reading, Allen presented two of the multiple points of view the book was written in, including the perspective of Cory, a teenage character loosely based on the author himself who works in the summer mansions of America’s wealthiest in the Hamptons. Ryan Stears, a second-year Ph.D. candidate studying English, said Long Island is a setting many BU students can relate to.

“I’m from out east on Long Island so when the novelist was talking about the Hamptons and the dunes, I knew exactly what he was talking about and I was immediately able to connect with that,” he said.

Allen narrated his protagonist, Cory, sneaking into the home of a Wall Street millionaire while he and his wife were asleep. While in the mansion, Cory whispers to the wife, “You are ugly.” Allen showed a side of the Hamptons never seen on TV and illustrated Cory’s desperation to escape working-class Long Island.

Allen shifted to reading an excerpt from the book from Leo’s point of view, a millionaire character who has a summer home in the Hamptons. Mike Campi, a junior double-majoring in English and Spanish, said Leo’s character resonated with him.

“What really stuck with me was the juxtaposition of the boy on the beach listening to the ocean and the rich man in the city more focused on doing lines of cocaine but still having the complexity that wasn’t anticipated from the very beginning, in my opinion,” he said.

Campi emphasized the power of complex and multifaceted characters in Allen’s works.

“Really what I was taking notes on and paying attention to was his characters and the attributes that he gave them,” Campi said. “To me, they felt very real and three-dimensional — that’s something that I strive for in my own writing.”

Murray followed up Allen’s reading with a passionate recitation of a few of her poems, including “Happy Birthday Army” and “Asking for a Friend.” Many of the poems revolved around womanhood and being a military spouse. Murray introduced each poem with some background on how she got the idea for it, what inspired it and some insight into her own life.

Abigail Widrig, a senior majoring in English, said she liked how Murray shed light on military family members.

“What resonated with me was [Murray’s] poetry on the military because it gives an inside look on what it’s like to be a military family member rather than a military member and I think that’s a very unique perspective,” she said.

Stears said Murray’s unique point of view made her poetry even more powerful.

“She said she couldn’t really resonate with the wives of military men and I think that’s very unique,” Stears said. “She’s offering a different perspective than the standard military wife point of view. I thought that was really cool and the poems were really beautiful.”

753 BC – 476 AD

Ancient Roman women wore tunics and strophiums which resembled a modern bandeau bra. These undergarments served mainly as extra support while doing physical activities, according to historians.

1368 – 1644

The Chinese upper class of the Ming Dynasty wore dudous, a bib-like cloth with strings around the neck and a back similar to a halter top. Dudous are still in use and are now often worn as outerwear.

1600s – early 1900s

During this period, corsets in their most traditional sense were commonly worn. Known for being restrictive and sometimes causing shortness of breath and fainting, corsets were designed to help women achieve the coveted hourglass figure.

1869

The modern bra as we know it was developed in France. A corset was split into two distinct parts — one to support the breasts and one to cover the waist — and were sold separately.

1940s

After World War II, an increase in raw materials and supplies allowed bras to look the way they do now, with adjustable straps, cup sizes and underwire. “Torpedo” bras were even marketed toward women working on assembly lines by claiming to provide more protection.

1977

The brand Victoria’s Secret was started by businessman Roy Raymond, who got the idea while shopping for a lingerie gift for his wife. Victoria’s Secret made sexy lingerie more accessible and available to the everyday woman.

2000s

The 2000s brought the rise of whale tail thongs as visible underwear in public became more common in women’s and men’s fashion.

Now

The popularity of bralettes has seen lingerie become a part of everyday fashion, not just something to be admired in private.

Festivalgoers were welcomed in the Bundy Museum Annex with ambient lighting, vintage decorations, felt art, wands and pixie dust for sale. Visitors were offered complimentary tea at an old-timey bar and four free scones in a variety of flavors, such as organic lemon lavender poppy seed and lemon berry with gold sprinkles. Visitors voted on their favorite flavors and had the option of purchasing more.

Janna Rudler, director of development at the Bundy Museum, emphasized the variety of scones available.

“We did a call for scone bakers and ended up with 16 dozen scones donated for today with 11 different flavors,” Rudler said.

Admission cost $5 per person, giving guests access to every event and activity at the festival as well as the entire Bundy Museum. The festival included a mini garden contest, tea tasting, a scone throwdown, goods available from vendors, a photo booth, a gratitude wall, fairy-inspired hairstyles, laughtercise led by Traci Pena and numerous other options. All the proceeds from the festival went to benefit the Bundy Museum. According to Rudler, the Winter Happiness Festival is the biggest fundraising event the Bundy Museum has hosted.

The event originated with Pena, a local community member and fairy enthusiast who organized the first Fairy Scavenger Hunt in Binghamton last summer. This year’s Winter Happiness Festival grew out of that event.

“We wanted something in the wintertime to get people’s spirits up and introduce a little bit of fun during a dark time of year,” Pena said.

In addition to having a multitude of events and activities for guests within the Bundy Museum, the Winter Happiness Festival also included off-site events such as free magical arts and crafts for children at several local libraries and The Grapevine Cafe’s fairy-themed happy hour. The cafe served fairy-themed drinks, displayed fairy decor and played fairy-inspired music.

The Winter Happiness Festival also welcomed families with a scavenger hunt set up throughout the museum. While the festival was effective at raising money for the Bundy Museum, Rudler emphasized the visibility it brought to a local organization preserving and celebrating the past and present of the surrounding area.

“It allows people to come see a place that they maybe haven’t seen before,” she said. “The vast majority of the people that have been here today have never been to the Bundy Museum. It brings in a whole new crowd of people and gives them something new to do.”

Pena said she hoped the event raised attendee’s spirits and encouraged happiness and laughter among community members during the winter months.

“In the dull months of winter when you can’t get outside and do a lot of fun things, I love adding laughter, joy and magic to things,” Pena said. “That’s something that I think everyone should take part in. It should be a part of everybody’s life. I’ve seen the way laughter transforms people and I love bringing people together and connecting them.”

According to Mary Kaminsky, director of development at STAP, the organization has more than 1,000 clients, many of whom live well below the poverty line. STAP provides prevention services and outreach for people who are HIV positive or have AIDS. STAP also works with Southern Tier Care Coordination to run syringe exchanges, a food pantry, housing, transportation to appointments, a youth center for LGBTQ youth and allies called Identity and numerous other programs and initiatives. Hair Warz is STAP’s annual fundraising event in which eight local salons compete to create the most outrageous and show-stopping hairstyle.

Kaminsky said she originally got the idea for Hair Warz 10 years ago at a conference for local AIDS resource agencies.

“One of the groups had done a hair competition and I thought, ‘What a great idea,’” Kaminsky said. “They shared with us that they didn’t have a lot of success with it and they shared why. That’s what helped me when I decided to create Hair Warz here. This collaboration of groups was really instrumental in starting Hair Warz.”

Kaminsky also explained why STAP decided to work with hair salons.

“We know that a lot of conversations happen in salons,” she said. “It’s a very intimate relationship that people develop over time with their stylists. We thought, who better to partner with than these people who can spread the word about what we do? It was a great collaboration.”

This year, eight local salons and multiple models plan to compete. The competing salons are given the freedom to choose their own theme and walk-out music. Kaminsky said Hair Warz has expanded throughout the years.

“We have salons coming from Ithaca and Pennsylvania — our reach is getting further,” she said. “Salons spend a fortune and put in countless hours, so it’s a lot that we ask of them to do this.”

This year, the event will have two judges who will travel to Binghamton from Rochester.

“L’Oréal sponsors our event and provides a judge for us every year, so the judges are artists who are very well respected in the community,” Kaminsky said.

Kaminsky emphasized the reach of Hair Warz in the community.

“What’s really valued is conversations that our stylists will have within their salons about us and what we do,” she said. “And the money that we raise will help us do the work that we do and help countless people in the area.”

Apart from raising money for STAP, Kaminsky said Hair Warz highlights the talent of local hairstylists.

“It’s amazing to see this kind of talent — you feel like you’ve gone to the city, and we try to bring a piece of that right here with the runway show,” Kaminsky said.

Hair Warz will be taking place this Sunday, Dec. 8 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Downtown Binghamton. The doors open at 3 p.m. and the show runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are available online for $35.

Erin Stahley, co-director of the show, president of HPC and a senior double-majoring in English and political science, discussed how “If/Then” was more ambitious than previous HPC projects.

“Over the past few semesters, HPC has been starting to push the limits of our previous shows,” Stahley said. “‘If/Then’ is a larger production than what we might have done a few years ago, especially from a technical aspect. For example, we did a lot of fun things to help the audience along the way to understand what’s going on with the two lives, like different lighting with our new LED lights.”

HPC performs its shows in the Hinman Commons each semester. According to Stahley, the limited space and resources serve as a challenge for the cast and crew of “If/Then.”

“The thing that makes HPC unique is definitely our space,” Stahley said. “It’s small, so we have more of a black box [theater] feeling to our shows, which I feel is really special and unique and gives the audience a more intimate experience.”

Stahley explained how the limited space restricted cast size, thereby influencing the music in the show.

“We had to limit our cast size because of our space,” Stahley said. “We had a little difficulty getting the vocal parts to fit our cast size because a lot of the music requires everyone to be on their own harmony.”

Claire Mills, music director of the show and a junior majoring in music, helped adapt the vocals for the cast size.

“Since we have such a small cast, I had to go through every written vocal part and assign who I thought would best sing every line,” Mills said. “They’re doing such a great job — I’m so happy with it.”

Sydney Perruzza, a junior majoring in psychology, plays the main character, Elizabeth. Perruzza she said portraying two narratives at the same time can be a challenge.

“I feel like this is one of the hardest productions we’ve ever done,” Perruzza said. “There are a lot of elements to the show. The music is really difficult, and for my character, her life splits in the first part of the show. You’re watching the show, but there are two lives happening at the same time. We’re trying to make it so everyone understands that. This is one of my dream roles, so I’m so excited I get to play it.”

“If/Then” is a show about choices and the impact they have on the outcomes of peoples’ lives. Stahley said the show’s message has resonated with her, especially as a college senior.

“The message of this show really speaks to me,” Stahley said. “It’s about choices and fate. Being a senior in college, I have a lot of those things to think about, a lot of what-ifs and what is to come in the future. Should I be worrying about every decision I make, or should I just make a decision and let it take me somewhere, and that’s really what the show is about. It’s been really eye-opening and has helped me a lot with senior year.”

Stahley said audiences can look forward to entertaining music, dance and a strong message.

“We have some really great dance numbers and vocals, and this show has a lot of really great messages that audiences can look forward to,” Stahley said. “You can expect to leave feeling like you saw something valuable and have a new perspective on what it means to make a choice and where it can lead you. Even if you don’t trust the universe, hopefully you can learn to trust yourself and the decisions that you make.”

“If/Then” will be performed in the Hinman Commons at 8 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 22 and on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for general admission.

On Saturday, Gregson discussed the importance of this diversity while showcasing her 2018 book, “Theater Artists Play,” at a talk hosted by the Broome County Arts Council.

“Theater Artists Play” is a guide to understanding and creating works of theatre. Gregson’s discussion mostly touched upon her life experiences and involvement in the performing arts. Attendees were greeted with hot-mulled apple cider as Gregson displayed some of her handmade masks and photos from previous workshops.

Gregson started the discussion by recalling her childhood love for putting on shows for her local community.

“I did plays starting at age 10,” she said. “I did ‘Mary Poppins,’ hired all the neighborhood kids, made them all sign contracts and of course they would all quit. I ended up playing all the parts with my sisters and we put it on for our school.”

Starting at an early age, Gregson insisted on putting on shows independently and gaining experience in all areas of theatre.

“It was all a cappella and I was standing on the stage singing, probably off-key,” she said. “We had our own costumes because my great-grandmother died and left me all these beautiful, wonderful 1800s clothes.”

Gregson said her elementary school principal was enthusiastic and supported her early endeavors in theatre.

“The respect that she had for me at age 10 was really awesome,” she said. “It made me think, ‘Okay, I can do this. Why not?’”

Gregson’s love of theatre continued through the rest of her education, leading her to study drama in London. After drama school, Gregson found work with an avant-garde theatre company in Hamburg, Germany. Because she couldn’t speak German, she mostly played mime and nonverbal part, which sparked her interest in miming. She eventually traveled to Paris to study miming with Ella Jaroszewicz.

“I love mime because it breaks all the barriers,” Gregson said. “You’re in disguise. You can be whoever you want, especially if you’re wearing a mask, and play different characters. I can be an old man, a mother, a child and you can play all the parts.”

Gregson also said miming can be a useful skill to have outside of theatre, noting that comedian Stephen Colbert has also studied it.

“Colbert does a lot of mime,” she said. “He studied acting, clowning and mime. It’s great for storytelling. Even if you’re just speaking, it’s a great skill to learn.”

Gregson’s understanding of miming helped her in her first job at a correctional facility outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she performed for inmates and worked with them to help them put on a show of their own. Gregson was hired to help improve the literacy rate among inmates and introduce them to a new art form. After performing for them, she invited them to try on her masks and sign up to be part of the show.

“One guy came up and put on the sad mask and fell down to his knees,” Gregson said. “It was a moment that affected everyone. He took the mask off and said afterward, ‘This is how this place makes me feel.’ We were able to gather an amazing group of people and put on an amazing show.”

Gregson also spent time in Italy, studying Renaissance mask making. She discussed the various types of masks with attendees and explained how each mask maker has their own unique style and techniques. According to Gregson, apprenticeships can be extremely useful for those working toward a career in the arts.

“My philosophy is that if you wanna go study with someone, you go,” she said. “I don’t believe in going to school, necessarily. I believe in apprenticing — working and studying. You learn an art form through going and doing it.”

Throughout the talk, Gregson emphasized the importance of actors and artists having multiple talents and feeling empowered to create their own jobs and become independent.

“Actors, as you may know, never get any work,” she said. “This book is about how to create your own material so you can work.”

Gregson said she values a variety of talents among the musicians and artists she works with.

“I always loved working with a musician,” she said. “That’s really important. Musicians have to be able to improvise and create new and original music. Any artist I work with has to think in that way.”

Bill Lake, a member of The Boho team and a Johnson City native, said the community responded positively to the team’s early fundraising effort.

“As we did the Kickstarter program as well as posting on our social media, we had a lot of people say, ‘This is so cool that you guys are doing this to bring comedy to Downtown and have a club,’” Lake said. “Binghamton has needed a comedy club forever because the closest legit club is in Syracuse.”

The new club will create a dedicated space for humor, something Lake said is currently lacking.

“What we lacked in Binghamton was a venue to put shows on, specifically to do comedy, so it was always shows in bars, restaurants, whatever we could grab, so that’s what led us to make this space a comedy space where there is no competition with TVs, bars and conversations,” he said.

The founding and creation of The Boho was originally spearheaded by Giordano “Giordi” DeAngelo, who passed away in September at the age of 27. The Boho team has been keeping DeAngelo’s spirit and vision alive through the final stages of preparing for the grand opening.

“Giordi loved comedy, loved to laugh, loved to bring laughter to people, and I was his wife and came along for the ride,” said Stephanie DeAngelo, widow of Giordano DeAngelo and a team member of The Boho. “I went on this adventure with him. For me, it’s about keeping his passion and desire alive.”

Lake said the team intends to carry Giordano DeAngelo’s vision forward.

“Giordi was the driving force of this and we’re just picking up where he left off,” he said. “Part of why we jumped in so enthusiastically to finish where he left off was to honor his dream of having this here and his motivation to do that.”

By doing so, the team hopes to create a community of comedians in Binghamton.

“Being completely honest, none of us are trying to make money from this,” Lake said. “This is just to bring good comedy shows to Binghamton. That’s our honest motivation for this. We just want to see a cool comedy community here.”

Paul Kozlowski, a Cortland native, recounted DeAngelo’s desire to build a space that would be based in the local community’s desires.

“He was very community-oriented and we are trying to be community-oriented in that we are trying to bring comics that we think will appeal to broad audiences,” Kozlowski said. “We are not a clean club. We’re not a dirty club. But we’re a comedy club.”

The club will be located in the basement of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, according to Stephanie DeAngelo.

“Giordi started The Boho because there are a lot of places that the Comedy Crawl team was doing comedy at,” Stephanie DeAngelo said. “Unfortunately, a lot of the venues didn’t have the capacity for seating that we needed. We were finding that we were selling out shows and having a lot of success with it. DoubleTree told us, ‘Hey, we have a room we’re not using and we’ve had a lot of events here before.’ DoubleTree needed something to go in this room and all the comedians were looking for places to come and have quality comedy shows.”

The Boho plans to put on shows twice a month, featuring carefully selected headliners. Michael Ciurzynski, a Buffalo native, said The Boho has shows and performers booked well into February.

“We know that for a lot of people, they may not be names that people recognize,” Ciurzynski said. “They’re people we are familiar with and we’re totally confident in them.”

He also emphasized the value of going to see up-and-coming comedians.

“I think it’s that level of comedian that’s the most fun to see because they’re still working really, really hard,” Ciurzynski said. “If you see someone you already know, you know their style. You have a pretty good idea of what to expect but when you come here, you know you’re gonna see somebody good and it’ll be a little bit of a surprise, but we’re pretty confident that once we’re done, the names will stick in people’s heads.”

Lake said he hopes The Boho will give Binghamton University students something to do on weekend nights apart from barhopping and house parties.

“A lot of students come from the city and are used to having comedy clubs down there,” Lake said. “This gives them an option to do something that they get to do in the city. They don’t just have to go to Dillinger’s or Downtown bars. They can go see a comedy club where there’s gonna be quality people and comics from [New York City] coming up to do shows as well.”

Kozlowski added that The Boho will provide opportunities for BU students interested in comedy to get a start in a budding community.

“A lot of my friends and a lot of famous people went to [BU] — guys like Andy Kindler,” Kozlowski said. “A lot of times, you’ll see a lot of [BU] students at open mics just starting out. From my experience, they’re always hilarious and smart so if you have any interest in performing, it’s good to have a place to see people and see what it’s all about without having to go to New York [City].”

The Boho will be hosting its grand opening with shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 in the basement of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. The shows will be hosted by Michael Ciurzynski, featuring Bill Lake, with Moody McCarthy as the headliner.

After paying a $10 admission fee, attendees were able to enjoy South Asian food and drinks like Rooh Afza, mango lassi, falooda, biryani, pani puri, samosas and kebabs. Tables were set up around the room, each featuring a different activity. One table displayed traditional earrings and bangles, as well as regular, festive, plastic-beaded necklaces. Guests could pick and choose jewelry to keep from the collection. Others included a station where guests applied mehndi to one another, a table for playing Carrom (a South Asian tabletop game), water pong, a Fall Mela 2019 photo booth and a table for food and drinks.

Party guests visited each table and intermingled while PSA played Bollywood music and introduced their executive board. Shortly after the introduction, Masti, BU’s Bollywood-fusion dance team, performed an energetic dance to a medley of popular South Asian music. Despite technical difficulties with the music frequently pausing, the audience and dance team members clapped and sang along while Masti performed. The night ended with a gulab jamun-eating contest.

Christine Kurien, a member of Masti and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, said despite the difficulties, the crowd was enthusiastic.

“There were some technical difficulties which caused our music to turn off while we were dancing, but I was so proud of how we handled this by finishing our routine without any music,” she said. “We really embodied the Masti spirit. PSA and the crowd were so supportive and hyped, which really set the tone for our performance.”

Shamalena Sookoo, a sophomore majoring in biology, said Masti’s performance was her favorite part of the event.

“I loved the Masti performance,” she said. “They were so amazing and I could tell they were having so much fun and I love that.”

Paige Foley, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, said cultural events like Fall Mela are valuable for the BU community.

“PSA always throws very good events,” she said. “The food was awesome and the people are so nice. The performance was very fun to watch. I think it is important to celebrate the cultural diversity on campus and PSA does a very good job of doing that.”

Sookoo emphasized the importance of visibility, diversity and a willingness to learn at cultural events, and said she hopes the event introduced attendees to Pakistani culture.

“There were a lot of people of all backgrounds there and that was really cool to see that people weren’t afraid to step out of their boundaries to learn about a different culture,” she said. “I was really happy to see that. I really hope they do this again and it gets bigger.”