THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, APRIL 24. 2009
NEWS
3A
ISRAEL (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
on Sundav.
Aaron Price, Overland Park junior and member of the Hatikvah board, said the event would help bring in a variety of students to start Israel week.
"It brings students together and with Israel week it makes it campuswide and gives students something fun to do on the weekend." Price said.
Jessie Lewis, Austin, Texas, sophomore, said she was part of the group "Jews In Action," which would collect donations during the events to give to charitable organizations. Her group would have jars at the events on campus and at the concert Saturday night to collect donations. She said every dollar donated would be matched with a dollar from Jews In Action and given to the Lawrence Homeless Shelter. She said if enough donations were collected, some of the money would go to other charitable organizations such as Jubilee Café, LINK
(Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen) and the Boys and Girls Club.
"Even if you don't know much about Israel, it will be a great opportunity to learn more and meet people," Lewis said. "There are all sorts of activities that people can get involved with."
To help develop and organize the events, Rissien asked Nir Gad, an emissary for the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, to give suggestions, advice and help choose a band to play for the last event. Gad said he only helped with ideas, but that the students did most of the work. He said he was amazed by how passionate the students at the University were to make the events a success.
"I think it's a good cultural experience for non-Jewish students." Gad said. "Israel is a country with a lot to offer."
- Edited by Sam Speer
ORGANIC (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
Bob Bruce, left, explains his plan to grow shitkite mushrooms on logs inside limits to customers Saturday morning at the Lawrence Farmers' Market. Mushrooms were among the few fresh produce available in mid-April after two consecutive cool seasons.
by being attentive to what produce was in season. She said she was able to buy fresh lettuce, spinach and root vegetables last weekend for cheaper than she would have at a supermarket.
"Sometimes I am amazed that people don't want to spend an extra dollar on organic, but they'll buy a latte at Starbucks," O'Conner said.
She said she visited the farmers' market in previous weeks and enjoyed knowing that her food came from Kansas. She said the prices were fair when she considered the farmer's labor and that her food would stay fresh for longer.
Tran suggested only buying some produce items organically if students were concerned about their budgets not stretching enough.
SEASONAL PRODUCE FOR APRIL & MAY
Downtown Lawrence Farmer's Market
"It can be a balance. Maybe you buy the lettuce local and the tomatoes somewhere else," Tran said. "Do what you can."
Beginning in May the market will also be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. along with Saturdays from 7 to 11 a.m.
-Asparagus
-Beets
-Broccoli
-Brussels Sprouts
-Cabbage
-Cauliflower
-Cucumber
-Leeks
-Lettuce
-Onions
-Peas
-Radishes
-Spinach
-Rhubarb
-Strawberries
-Tomatoes
-Corn
— Edited by Liz Schubauer
TREE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Duke Charitable Foundation. Various lectures, seminars and dialogues about evolution and the environment have been occurring on campus for the last two years, but this is the first time such a multidisciplinary artistic performance will occur.
The Turtle Island String Quartet plays on stage in preparation for this weekend's performance of "Tree of Life — Origins and Evolution" at the Lied Center. They will play an eclectic mix of music styles, from bluegrass to jazz to Indian music, along with the KU Wind Ensemble in the pit.
"It was daunting and at the same time exciting to take on something so huge," said Balakrishnan, who composed the music for the performance.
Rachael Gray/KANSAN
Balakrishnan said at the beginning of the project, no one really knew what they were getting into, but through collaboration it has turned into what he called a "brilliant work."
The Turtle Island String Quartet will perform on stage, while the KU Wind Ensemble will perform in the orchestra pit.
It is unusual to involve both a string quartet and a wind ensemble in a performance influenced by multiple musical styles ranging from bluegrass to jazz to Indian music, said Scott Weiss, conductor for the KU Wind Ensemble.
Mandy Shriwise, Overland Park
"I think people underestimate the way art can respond to these issues," Shriwise said. "It's not
"I know of no other work which combines a string quartet playing eclectic forms of work with a contemporary wind ensemble," Weiss said. "From a musical standpoint, it's a fascinating piece of work."
senior and one of the dancers in the performance, became involved because the performance combines her interests in dance and science. Shriftise is a pre-med student and has taken many years of science coursework.
something you're publishing in a scientific journal, but it's more accessible to the public."
Matt Jacobson, associate professor of theatre and film, is creating video sequences that will be played at different times throughout the performance. The videos will show the interaction of man and nature through such images
as oil refineries and wind farms in Kansas.
"These are all things that concern us all in a way that has to do with our cultural survival, our survival as a species and our survival as a planet," Jacobson said.
— Edited by Justin Leverett
NATIONAL
Adults make their own PlayDates Throwback events catching on for those tired of regular nightlife
BY JUANITA COUSINS Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Connect Four, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Twister are the new alternatives to speed dating, nightclubs and staying home alone.
PlayDate, a monthly social event held in more than 20 cities, is catching on among adults weary of the usual nightlife. They play old-school board games, Double Dutch and hold dance-off contests in a throwback to youth. And some pick up a few phone numbers along the way.
"The idea was to get together games that are familiar and nostalgic." PlayDate pioneer Imari Harvard said. "They see things that they are accustomed to and reach back to childhood and indulge."
The game nights began in 2005 in Harvard's Atlanta living room. PlayDate has since grown from 80 friends to more than 500 strangers who regularly attend monthly events in Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, Chicago and other cities.
The music isn't too loud. The lights aren't too dim. The disc jockey isn't too trendy. And PlayDate — at $10 admission — keeps amusement affordable in a recession.
Everyone wears PlayDate Signature Mood Tags that read "Hello my name is...". The name tags are used as ice breakers. Many fill in the blank with an alter ego
that prompts questions right away — aliases like "Clark Kent," "Beyonce Wanna Be" and "Gold Digger."
There are no lines and no sign-up sheets. Just grab an empty seat and play at dozens of booths and tables where the board games await.
In one corner, women stack a giant Jenga tower before it tumbles. Others bumble around a screen showing a Nintendo Wii bowling game. Out on the dance floor, a disc jockey calls out commands to others contorting themselves on Twister tarps.
As the night advances, tra-
just met. "You are in an atmosphere where you can't help it but have fun."
PlayDate targets professionals 25 to 55, singles, couples and "people who typically don't go out to party," Harvard said. It is held only once a month in most cities "to keep its novelty."
Nashville hosted the largest PlayDate debut in February with
"Playing chess makes one feel less desperate than one on a night out on the town trying to snag a husband."
DAVID GRAZIAN Sociology professor
"This is so much better than going to a club," said Ed Hardy, 29, who played Snakes and Ladders with a friend and two women they
And there's little wiggle room for wall flowers. Staff in "Wanna Play?" T-shirts nudge onlookers into the fray.
ditional school yard games take over the dance floor — but with an adult twist. Simon Says break dance. Musical chairs with women sashaying around men and sitting on their laps — not chairs. Virtual double Dutch has players choreographing routines with imaginary jump ropes.
some 750 players, said Eric Holt, managing partner of Lovenoise, the marketing company that helped launch PlayDate in Tennessee and Alabama.
Men have played barroom darts and billiards for centuries, but PlayDate creates an inviting atmosphere for women
because it is "not confrontational and there is very little to lose," said University of Pennsylvania sociology professor David Grazian, who studies urban nightlife.
"Playing chess makes one leer less desperate than one on a night out on the town trying to snag a husband," said Grazian, author of "On the Make: The Hustle of Urban Nightlife."
"When strangers play games, the games mediate uncomfortable silence and make personal interaction almost immediate — without need of intimacy."
Robert Jackson, 26, dealt cards
for a game of Spades with his uncle, cousin and brother and talked about his reluctance to hit the clubs.
"I feel like I am too old to what's going on in night venues," Jackson said. "I came here because it's something to do. Not to meet any women, just trying to have fun."
In 2007, Harvard and friend Ryan Hill created Timeless Entertainment Concepts to redefine American nightlife. They are managing a burgeoning operation that is testing other nightlife concepts such as an interactive paint gallery and an improv comedy theater using cell phones for audience interaction. They've also created an online social network, "Meet me at the Playground."
At PlayDate, cocktails range from $5 to $10 and some offer modestly priced chicken and finger food buffets.
First-time player Brenda Russell was eager to try PlavDate.
"My co-workers were talking about it for weeks," said Russell, who is 57, single and looking for fun. "It really inspired me to come early."
In March, she brought her 61-year-old sister, Beverly Bernett, and niece Shawn Cheatham, 31, before doors opened.
"Oh, yes. I am going to meet some men from right here playing Scattergories and having fun," Bernett said. "And they better be ready to play."
Race and Eat Pancakes Keep Me In Preschool.
Red Lyon Tavern
944 Mass.832-8228
To The River and Back 5K/10K Run & Pancake Feed Saturday, May 9,2009
Timed 5K/10K:8 am Family Fun Mile:9:30 am Pancake feed:8:30-11 am
benefits Lawrence Community Nursery School
Runners registered by April 24th will receive a free T-shirt. All participants receive a free pancake breakfast!
www.totheriverandback.com
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