This document provides information about The Rendezvous bar in Turners Falls, Massachusetts and discusses its atmosphere and offerings. The bar has a variety of nightly events and food and drink options to appeal to a diverse clientele. It books mostly local musical acts from the area in a variety of genres like folk, jazz, and indie to keep the atmosphere relaxed. The bar is owned by four partners who each maintain other careers to prevent the bar from becoming their sole focus.

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A&E 5
What’s a curious college coll
ing
G
ect
October 2, 2008 Mount Holyoke News
Haute t
ra Q&A with Wendy Watson ion
BY KATIE FRICK ’10
MANAGING EDITOR Cu
Trying to track the next big
wave in fashion? Well you don’t BY KAYLA LAMBERT ’12 MHN: Do you organize the exhibi-
have to be a forecaster to see that CONTRIBUTING WRITER tions to suit the Mount Holyoke
Scottish inspired prints have students?
taken the runways by storm. A Wendy Watson has been the cu-
quick flick through any of the rator for the Mount Holyoke College WW: Yeah, absolutely. Every-
fashion glossies over the past Art Museum since 1974. As curator, thing we do, really, relates to the
couple of months will have tipped she has organized numerous exhibi- curriculum one way or another.
you off that tartan and check are tions that have ranged in subject mat- When we’re considering exhibi-
emerging as a top trend for this ter to collaborate with many of the tions, we organize a lot of the ex-
fall/winter. departments across the liberal arts hibitions ourselves. We have one
Dolce & Gabbana, House of curriculum. Many of her original ex- that’s Jane Hammond, who is a
Holland, Ralph Lauren, Chanel hibitions have gone on to be shown at contemporary artist, who hap-
and Vivienne Westwood are just other museums around the country. pens also to be a Mount Holyoke
some of the big names putting The Mount Holyoke News sat down alum, and that show was used
plaid back in the limelight, using with Watson to discuss her career as very much by people in art his-
it for everything from elegant tai- an academic curator. tory and studio art, but also by
lored coats and jackets, to shift people in English literature and
and maxi dresses, trousers and Mount Holyoke News: When you first some of the languages and all dif-
even tights. came to work as curator for the ferent kinds of departments.
But tartan is most definitely Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, And the show we have now is An-
not a new thing. Designer heavy- the museum was very small. There cient Bronzes from the Asian
weight, Alexander McQueen is were only two employees, including Grasslands, and that one is being
the receptionist. So, why did you Photo by Sadie Shillieto
notorious for his plaid inspira- used by students in Russian stud-
tion. No one will ever forget choose to work here instead of at a objects now and anybody can come in and ies and even science students who are
Sarah Jessica Parker’s quirky bigger institute? handle any of them, anytime. And we’ve ac- studying composition of bronzes and things
tartan gown, courtesy of Mr. Mc- tually got an online database now and you like that. So every show that we do relates
Queen. He has always loved the Wendy Watson: There were three of us, actu- can look things up and see what we have. If in one way or another to the curriculum, al-
Scottish inspired print and we are ally, and now we have about eight or so. I somebody wants to come in and look at a ways.
finally catching on. came here because I am really interested in Greek vase or a New Guinea sculpture or
However, the print that once academic museums and museums where Japanese scrolls or anything like that they MHN: What was your favorite exhibition so
represented anarchy teaching is the most important thing, and it’s can come and look at things. When you look far since you’ve been working here?
and rebellion during interesting. In an academic museum, you’re at prints and drawings and they’re inside be-
the 70s and then dealing with a really high level of students hind glass you really don’t get a sense of WW: One of them I found really fascinating.
youthful grunge in the and faculty, and you know what they’re try- what the ink looks like on the paper, but It was called “Altered States: Conservation,
90s is today creat- ing to learn. And I just thought it was much when you can turn the paper over you see Analysis and the Interpretation of Works of
ing a classic new more fun to watch works of art being put to things that might be written on the back or Art.” And that was great for me and for the
twist which is all use for teaching and learning in a situation collectors’ marks. There are all kinds of in- students because it was, again, another one
about heritage like this. Also, I chose to work at an aca- teresting stuff that’s hidden that, ordinarily, of these combinations of science and art. It
and dressing for a demic museum because my own experience museum visitors don’t see. had to do with analyzing works of art, study-
delightful stroll in at Smith was very interesting. I started out ing them scientifically, studying paint layers,
the country. As a taking art history classes and they had an MHN: What is it like to curate for the Mount and all of that sort of thing. But also study-
die-hard Vivienne art museum, so one of my first assignments Holyoke community? ing the ways in which we conserve works of
Westwood fan, I was to go to the art museum and pick out a art if they become old and damaged. There
find this transition work of art that I wanted to learn more WW: I love doing it because it’s such a great are all kinds of philosophical issues involved,
from rebel to tight- about. So, I went over to the art museum audience, and it’s students who are really cu- and just the scientific aspect about it is re-
lipped gentle- and I said, “Well I think I’d like to work on a rious and people who are interested in ally interesting. When you go into a mu-
woman rather Greek vase.” I expected the faculty to take many, many different fields. We’ve been seum, you look at things and they look like
confusing but I me to the gallery and say, “Here’s a Greek doing a lot more with classes across the cur- they’re in perfect condition, but if you study
must say, I am vase in a case, write about it, here’s some in- riculum, not just art history and studio art. them scientifically you discover that many
rather drawn in formation.” Instead, they brought in a Greek This semester, a neurobiology course is now have been repaired a million times.
by the sweet- vase and handed it to me. They said, you can meeting in the museum and the students
ness of it all. work on this. You can lift it and turn it and look at all different kinds of works of art, MHN: Would you ever plan on doing an exhi-
Yet even play with it and look at it really close up and thinking about how the brain perceives bition again of the same kind, or something
when fashion not inside a case. And I really learned so things. We also have classes in chemistry similar?
has fallen head over hills much from looking at it from not inside a that are coming here using technical equip-
for all things Scottish, case. Academic museums have places ment to look at under drawing. We use cer- WW: Well, we’re always doing something
many are finding the where you get to do that kind of work. tain kinds of infrared light. You can actually new. Of course, the objects and the ideas al-
perennial appearance of look through the paint layers and see the ways stay with you and they affect what you
tartan on international MHN: So, does this museum offer that to stu- drawing underneath, so you can get a sense plan in the future, but we try and keep the
catwalks a bit, well, tricky. But dents too? of what the artist’s original idea was for com- offerings really varied and different. We
MHN’s little weekend movie review
don’t be so quick to judge! This position. have a lot of exciting things planned for the
striking cross-hatched pattern is WW: We do. We have more than 15,000 future.
versatile, as it can made even
more dynamic by using bold hues
and dramatic tonal contrasts or
toned down with subtle, sophisti-
cated colors. Rather than the tra-
BY KIMBERLY BOYD ’10
ditional red tartans, 2008’s plaid CONTRIBUTING WRITER
embraces a palette of muted
October 10
greys, blues, greens and browns.
October 3 Body of Lies
Depending on the look of the
item, plaid may propose a diverse
Blindness Fresh from gripping performances in
array of style options including Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo and Gael Garcia Bernal star in the film The Departed and Blood Diamond,
youthful, classic, quirky, elegant, adaption of Jose Saramago’s 1995 novel. Blindness tells the story of Leonardo DiCaprio joins Russell Crowe
edgy or casual. Also, find inter- an epidemic where people mysteriously lose their sight. When they in director Ridley Scott’s Body of Lies.
esting variations on check pat- go blind, the government moves the victims into camps so that the Similar to 2005’s Syriana, Body of Lies
terns and plaids; if you want to victims can create their own society. Moore plays the wife of a victim follows two CIA agents who are searching for a terrorist. One agent
play it safe stick to a single plaid (Ruffalo), and feigns the symptoms in order to take care of her hus- hunts on the ground in Jordan (DiCaprio) while the other hunts from
piece per outfit; if you’re more band (apparently people don’t notice). Directed by Fernando his office chair in Washington D.C. (Crowe). This gripping political
daring try different pieces in mis- Meirelles (The Constant Gardener), this drama/thriller showcases thriller, based on the 2007 David Ignatius’ spy thriller, looks at a dan-
matching plaid and tartan pat- the human spirit and what happens once the civilization we know gerous alliance that could cause a major cultural and moral conlfict.
terns. comes tumbling down.
Whether dressed head-to-toe Also opening:
in plaid, or subtly popping up in Also opening: The Express - A feel-good based-on-a-true-story flick about Ernie
select pieces, if you want to be on Rachel Getting Married - In a far cry from her earlier roles, Anne David (played by newcomer Omar Benson), the first African-Ameri-
trend this fall/winter, invest in Hathaway portrays a recovering drug addict who attends her sister’s can to win the Heisman trophy. Also stars Dennis Quaid.
something tartan and give your wedding in this compelling family drama, directed by Jonathan Ashes of Time Redux - From Hong Kong comes world-renowned di-
salute to Scotland! Demme. rector Wong Kar Wai’s rerelease and remastering of his 1994 epic
Appaloosa - Ed Harris directs and co-stars in this Western that Ashes of Time. It features an updated narrative and new score.
Fashion illustration by Katie Frick, in- boasts a stellar cast: Jeremy Irons, Viggo Mortenson and Renee Zell- Breakfast with Scot - This Canadian comedy stars Tom Cavanagh
spired by Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2008 weger.
and Ben Shenkman, as Eric and Sam, a gay couple who unexpectedly
Ready-to-Wear Collection. RocknRolla - Guy Ritchie returns to his roots and directs this gang- become the legal guardian of Sam’s nephew.
ster film, starring Gerard Butler and Thandie Newton.

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6 A&E October 2, 2008 G
Mount Holyoke News
A quick bar review
BY CAITLIN HEALEY ’09 and chat and doodle and write. “We want to be com-
PUBLISHER fortable for people who aren’t usually comfortable
in a bar,” said Berger. He added, “We want to be a
t The Rendezvous in Turners Falls, bar that women will walk in by themselves.” The
A Tuesday night is craft night. Wednesday
is game night. This Thursday you can go
see the Ghost Quartet jazz group. Friday is, well,
Voo is certainly part of the renaissance that’s been
brewing in the town since the 1970s.
Emily and Chris lived next to The Voo’s prede-
Friday, and at this bar you can stuff your self silly cessor, Yesterday’s, which had a kind of raunchy
with nachos or panini or a TV dinner advertised as reputation as a loud, neighborhood nuisance. The
“frozen like Walt Disney.” You can drink anything couple decided they either had to move or buy the
from coffee to PBR to wine to whiskey. There is a bar. So they bought the bar.
gay night, Rockitqueer, once a month. But no matter What started out as a mostly drinking operation
how you spin it, everyday The Rendezvous is for has become a 50 percent drink 50 percent food es-
everybody. tablishment. After some renovations, like the instal-
Never heard of Turners Falls? The village of lation of a kitchen in the basement, The Voo now
Turners Falls is 30 minutes north of Mount Holyoke, offers an eclectic line up of foodstuffs. They have BY SARAH SCHAEFER ’11
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
a straight shot on Interstate 91. It’s got a population one fancy special a night (like Asian Salad Nicoise,
of about 4,500 folks and takes up two square miles $11.99), appetizers (grilled asparagus, $3.99) and bar
of land in Franklin Country–that’s the one next to snacks (“healthy cereal du jour…better than card- Black Kids - “Partie Traumatic”
us. By the way, we’re in Hampshire County, but you board,” $1.99).
knew that. The Voo’s other major draw is the music. With Black Kids are back and they still aren’t going to teach your
Four people own The Voo: Jamie Berger, a a sweet little intimate set up, The Voo tries to book boyfriend how to dance, but they might inspire him into some fancy
writer in the MFA program at UMass Amherst, super-local acts—like Turners Falls local, not hip thrusts. With their full length debut Black Kids deliver a campy,
Emily Brewster, a lexicographer for Meriman-Web- Greenfield local. Trying to maintain the peace, synth tour-du-disco blast which is accessible to your grandmother,
ster in Springfield, Christopher Janke, there aren’t really any loud rock acts, mostly qui- baby sister and clubbing cousin. As a real skeptic of Wizards of Ah-
who runs the kitchen and a laundromat eter folk and jazz, with the occasional indie/techno hhhs I was surprised and excited to find my head bouncing to their
and writes and Mark Wisnewski, a twist. You can expect acts like Jeffrey Foucault, enthusiasm, androgynous vocals, vivid bass lines and quirkily syn-
UMass graduate and Greenfield town Jones Trio and sometimes a national draw like thetic harmonies. Mellow enough for cleaning your room on a rainy
councilor. The idea behind having four Death Vessel. day, bright enough to play at a real partaaay.
partners was so that every owner could So bring a backpack filled with reading, bring
still maintain their other non-bar- your knitting needles or just bring friends to lounge Okkervil River - “The Stand-Ins”
owner lives. “It’s weird because with and listen to some music. Beers are on tap for
there is no average day,” said as little as 2.75 a pop and the place is pretty perfect. The New Hampshire/Texas rockers of Okkervil River have certainly
Berger over a Red Stripe, sitting on done some transforming. Where they were once refined post punk
the deck. rockers ala “For Real” they have exchanged their angsty (albeit
September brought in The Voo’s lovely) earlier sound for banjos, hand claps and subtle yet fun brass
one-year anniversary. A local, Jake, arrangements. Their newest release, which sounds like Arcade Fire
who grew up in Turner Fall’s, said that and Wilco’s dream baby, jumps off the speakers in a way which will
a year and a half ago people in their surely highlight your already colorful fall.
early 20s were never downtown. It 78
Rendezvous art courtesy Anju Schutz
was too dangerous and there was no Third Street
Valley’s best play benefit concert
comfy bar to hang out in, only sports Turners Falls, Massachusetts
bars. But The Voo has become a com- (413) 863-2866
munity hang out, a place to sit and eat and drink www.rendezvoustfma.com
Interested in movies, art, BY ANNIKA YATES ’11
A&E CO-EDITOR
A Stone for Adam Nodel-
man at the Florence VFW
stage was a beauti-
fully layered
fashion or music? presented the best attributes of the local music scene on
Sunday, Sept. 28. The show was a benefit for the family of
sound. Some of
the elements of
Adam Nodelman, a musician who recently passed away. the music may
The VFW had a distinct feeling from the moment you seem familiar, a
walked in the room. The décor, which is probably as old bluesy guitar riff,
Want to explore the as the building, was wood-paneled walls and kitschy tribal drums, but so
army paraphernalia. One side of the room is completely much about Jow
Valley’s art scene? full of musical equipment. It is quiet considering the
number of people and the nature of the event. Even more
Jow is out of the
ordinary. Some of
striking than these details is the fact that the crowd as- the vocals filter
sembled is so much older in age than that of an average through micro-
Love getting into concerts experimental music concert. Most of the people sitting in
the folding chairs are forty years old or older. There are
phones,
through
some
mega-
lots of beards, some grey hair, a lot like a room full of phones. One musician used a
for FREE? dads. They are the coolest dads, as many of them have
been very instrumental in the evolution of experimental
snare drum as a slide on his guitar. The music builds into
a dark orchestral sound and then transitions to a noisy
and noise rock. conglomeration and then back again.
The show began with Shitsweat, of whom Northampton Wools, a guitar duo made of Bill Nace
Adam Nodelman was a member. The trio pres- and Thurston Moore (a member of the band Sonic
Then come write for ent accompanied a video of a former Shitsweat
performance that featured Nodelman sing vocals.
It was a frenzied display of psych-punk music. One
Youth), was one of the most exciting acts of the evening.
Seeing Moore as enthusiastic and wrapped up in the
music as he was at the VFW is a rare event. The two mu-
A&E! of the two percussionists physically tore apart a
snare drum, constantly slipping on the worn
linoleum in the old tap shoes he was wear-
sicians both attacked their guitars to produce ear split-
ting mindless noise, playing with feedback and, in
Moore’s case, running a metal screwdriver across the
ing. The set was short but the impact of strings. The two musicians worked the music into a
the band bringing in the video of Nodel- frenzy in a way that was frantic and intense.
man was huge. Directly following Northampton Wools was Dredd
Email us at: In between sets seemed to be the
planning time for the rest of the show.
Foole and the Din, which boasted J Mascis (guitarist of
Dinosaur Jr.) on guitar. Instead of the noise and experi-
Amid ambient background music you mental music that had been the standard for the evening,
mhnews- could hear the squeaking of wet sneakers
on linoleum, as amps and equipment
and the style of Dredd Foole’s normal repertoire, the
band busted out covers of songs by The Stooges. With his
were moved, and conversations between dancing and dynamic stage presence, Foole’s impression
ae@mtholyoke.edu the musicians. Seeing how the whole
concert was organized very casually, the
of Iggy was better than the real thing. J Mascis’ guitar
added a darker ad heavier tone to the songs. The crowd
set list was determined by who could set let loose and danced, something that rarely happens at a
up equipment the fastest. noise show.
Following Shitsweat was Jow Jow, a
band from Northampton with about ten
members. The result of having such a full
Photos by Annika Yates