by Liz Allen
Friday+Saturday editor
Welcome back for another semester of the Friday + Saturday section. Now seems like a good time to reiterate what you can find here—events both on campus and in Jackson. I recently had the pleasure of hearing Councilman Melvin Priester welcoming a group of freshmen to this college town and capital city we call home. He urged them to be explorers of Jackson, to find all it has to offer. I want to dedicate this section to that same call. While we’ll keep you up to date on weekend events on campus, every week we’ll also offer music, art events, parties, and restaurants of the month to get us all out of the Bubble. This week, we are bringing you a Jackson regular, as well as a rarer opportunity, alongside a classic campus event.
Event 1: Furrows
When: Friday, Sept. 5, 10 p.m.
Where: Martin’s Restaurant and Bar, 214 S. State St.
Local band Furrows doesn’t disappoint. Self-labelled as skeletal rock, and headed by well-known Jacksonian Cody Cox, Furrows is a good introduction to the Jackson music scene. Oxford-based band And the Echo (you can listen to its tracks here) will play too.
Here’s a taste of Furrows performing “Tape Hiss Afternoon” at Martin’s:
Event 2: Arkham ASSylum
When: Friday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m.
Where: Duling Hall, 622 Duling Ave.
Cost: $15
Three words: Batman. Burlesque. Play.
If that does not at least peak your curiosity then this event is not for you. This travelling show by Xena Zeit-Geist will feature all of Gotham’s classic villains: the Riddler, Catwoman, Poison Ivy and more, for what the show descriptions declares an evening of “crime-fighting and tassel-twirling.” This type of show does not pass through town often and is worth the sticker cost if only to have a story to tell your friends.
Doors open at 8 p.m., show begins at 9:15 p.m. For more info, check out the Facebook page. Advance tickets are available here.
Event 3: LXA Watermelon Bust
When: Friday, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
Where: West Lawn (in front of the Christian Center)
Price: $50 for a team of 5
by Cali Longo
Friday+Saturday assistant editor
Watermelon Bust is Lambda Chi Alpha’s traditional beginning-of-the-school-year philanthropic event, open to everyone on campus. This year will see the usual events, such as the Seed Spitting Competition, Watermelon Eating Contest, and Watermelon Slide, as well as two new events that you will have to attend to learn about. If being covered in watermelon isn’t your thing, the Lambda Chis will be selling raffle tickets ($2 each) for prizes that range from a $10 Beagle Bagel gift card to a new pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. And even if you don’t want to put up the money for the events or the raffle, spectators are guaranteed a good show.
Lambda Chi Alpha raises money in conjunction with its national philanthropy, the North American Food Drive. All profits from Watermelon Bust will go to Stewpot, a local nonprofit that serves the Jackson area that provides a soup kitchen, food pantry, clothing and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to Stewpot’s food pantry.
Watermelon Bust is traditionally a great way for those interested in Greek Life to meet people and to get to know the different Greek affiliations on campus. But even if sorority or fraternity life doesn’t interest you, the event is a great time to meet people in general. So, if you are a freshman and want to find some upperclassmen friends or are an upperclassman and want to figure out who all these new kids are, bring some canned goods and head on out to the West Lawn on Friday. Stop by the Lambda Chi table outside the Caf’ to sign up or get more information.