The NOVA Police Basketball Community College Tournament will be held Feb. 10. Interested in participating on the student team in the second annual NOVA Community College Basketball 3-on-3 Tournament? Contact Officer Tony Ong (tong@nvcc.edu) or register with Annandale Student Activities Coordinator Calvin Haney (chaney@nvcc.edu).

Photo by: KJ Mushung

A lit tunnel at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Photo illustration by: KJ Mushung

The Dominion GardenFest of Lights at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a spectacular and beautiful sight. But it only runs through Monday, Jan. 9. So if you want to go, make the time now.

The lights are on from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly, rain or shine. Each year there is a different theme. This year’s theme is “Nature’s DeLIGHTS.”

Admission costs $11 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under age 3 are admitted free.

The garden is located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue in Richmond.

Photo by: KJ Mushung

Photo by: KJ Mushung

Photo by: KJ Mushung

Photo by: KJ Mushung

Photo by: KJ Mushung

Music and gaming are quite possibly two of the most popular pastimes for college students. So it’s no surprise that MAGFest, a music and gaming festival that was held very close to Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus last year, completely sold out. People had to be turned away at the door. That’s why the event has been moved to National Harbor, so it can accommodate more bands, games and people.

This year’s MAGFest will take place Thursday, Jan. 5 through Sunday, Jan. 8.

If you haven’t experienced it, MAGFest is an annual event in the D.C. area dedicated to the celebration of video games and video game music. The event offers 24-hour console, arcade and PC game rooms, usually 12 live video game cover bands, a vendors’ area, along with guest speakers from the video game industry. The festival also features a jam space available to all attendees for impromptu music performances.

In addition to providing bands that play the gamut from rage to melodic and tons of games — from brand new to antique arcade — MAGFest will also hold its second annual charity auction benefiting Child’s Play.

According to MAGFest’s public relations rep, Nick Marinelli, Child’s Play was created by the web comic Penny-Arcade in 2003 in order to raise money for toys and games for children in hospitals. Donations are used to purchase new consoles, peripherals and games for hospitals and therapy facilities. These donations allow children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends and family, and provide vital distraction from an otherwise unpleasant experience.

Last year’s charity auction raised over $5,500.

Thousands of dollars worth of merchandise have already been donated from bands, video game developers, electronics manufacturers and more. The auction will be held the last day of the festival.

For more details about MAGFest, visit magfest.org.

Photo by: KJ Mushung

Photo courtesy of MAGFest

Trumpet player Chris Gallo, guitarist Ian Spencer and vocalist Dave Bausch of the band Dave Bausch and the Worst Case Scenario take a break from practicing. Photo by: Stephanie Tipple.

Dave Bausch and the Worst Case Scenario decided to make it a best case scenario on Thursday, Dec. 1, when they held a charity concert at the Woodbridge campus. The event, hosted by the Tutoring Club, was an effort to raise money for the local ACTS food bank by selling refreshments during the concert. (ACTS stands for Action in Community Through Service.)

The band, based out of the Stafford area, is an organic combination of ska, rock and R&B musical stylings, with a theatrical stage presence that leaves a distinct impression. They are led by lead singer and producer Dave Bausch.

Dave Bausch and the Worst Case Scenario originally started as a solo act, leading to production of a CD that is available for purchase on iTunes. Over the past several months, this party of one expanded to include Ian Spencer on guitar and Chris Gallo playing trumpet.

This event was a chance for the band to get their name out in the local music scene.

The crowd was energetic and vibrant, enthused to hear songs like “Not You” and “Our Alibi,” which could be part of the CD that the band hopes to record in the near future. The songs’ lyrics are based on real-life situations that many college students can probably relate to.

Bausch’s main passion in life is his music, and he hopes that the band will be able to “make it” with their unique approach to music and their personal fashion, which included a trench coat, a zoot suit and a Hawaiian-patterned shirt.

When speaking about concertgoers’ experience when attending one of their shows, Bausch said, “If you enjoy dance music that makes you want to sit down, then come see our shows.”

Almost $300 was raised for the ACTS food bank in Dumfries.

Rick Johnson, a former golf professional turned massage therapist, chats with Ashley Owusu-Sampah while giving her a massage. Photo by Traci Brooks.

Traci J. Brooks

Director of Photography

Looking for a way to relax during finals? Almost 50 lucky students at Loudoun got a free massage to help relieve stress on Dec. 2.

Rick Johnson, one of the massage therapists, said he got into massage therapy because of his own injuries from being a professional golfer. He noted that massage therapy was “tremendous for circulation and stress relief,” and that it releases endorphins to ease pain.

Valerie Morgan, a former nurse who has been a massage therapist for 11 years, agrees with Johnson, noting that massage therapy is great for students. “They spend a lot of time at the computer hunched over, so they get a lot of tension in their shoulders and neck,” she commented.

And the students? This was Ashley Owusu-Sampah’s first time getting a massage. She said the massage was “awesome and ticklish.” Robert Olson, an engineering student, called the massage relaxing and “definitely rewarding.”

Robert Olson enjoys a massage in between classes. Photo by Traci Brooks.

Ashley Owusu-Sampah receives a complimentary massage to help relieve the stress of finals. Photo by Traci Brooks.

Dreamstime

According to some theories, the end of the world will occur 21 December 2012 A.D. That gives us a year to plan.

Top 10 Things to Do Before the End of the World

Take a class on surviving the zombie apocalypse.

Sort friends according to “will save” & “will use as a decoy” so you won’t waste time deliberating later.

Eat whatever you want.

Have a musical performance in public that would make Simon Cowell cringe.

Tell your secret crush how you feel.

Tell off that chick in class who thinks she’s all that.

Graduate. Or at least tell your parents you did. How they gonna know?

Gorge on chocolate & watch cartoons without shame.

Even though you can sleep when you’re dead, your exam-exhausted brain wants to take a nap anyway.

Wait. Wasn’t the end of the world supposed to be May 21, 2011, as predicted by Harold Camping?

Quote of the month: “Predicting the end of the world is a bit like alcoholism,” David Richardson told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Once you get started, it’s hard to stop.”

Photo by: KJ Mushung

By Alan DeCorla-Souza

Halloween isn’t the only time Northern Virginia residents let their imaginations run wild and dress up as their favorite characters. Anime fans (called Otaku) will be out in force for this year’s Anime USA convention.

Anime USA is a convention of anime and Japanese popular culture. The convention is being held Nov. 18 through Nov. 20 at the Hyatt Regency in Arlington. It is run as a non-profit organization and calls itself a convention “of fans, by fans, for fans.”

Members of the NOVA anime community participate every year both as attendees and as volunteers.

Anime conventions a have become increasingly popular, and many are held in and around the greater D.C. area. These conventions often feature appearances by American voice actors (or Seiyu) as well as concerts by bands from overseas. Common draws for conventions include the dealer’s rooms housing stalls from local comic, toy and video game retailers from all over the area and art shows where local artists come to put their work on display.

Con-goers bring themselves in fantastic cosplay (dresses as an anime character), to meet each other and take group photos of the entire assembled cast of their favorite animated show.

Other activities at Anime USA include a military cosplay Ball, a karaoke contest, video gaming rooms and screenings of the latest anime.

Even some uniquely Japanese experiences have found their way across the pond. The “Maid Café” and “Host Club” offer an interactive dining experience. The volunteer waiters and waitresses put on cute maid costumes and cheery personalities to make their guests feel special. Dining can be accompanied by dance performances, karaoke competitions and a round of your favorite board game with your maid or host.

Anime USA this year is more than entertainment. In light of the March 11 earthquake that shook Japan, this year’s theme is Service and Duty. The convention is facilitating the connection of con-goers to various charities. Anime USA additionally has plans for its own relief fund and a partnership with Katsucon, another local anime convention, as well as other groups to hold a charity event for the disaster.

Since its inception in 1999 with an attendance of 350, Anime USA has grown to over 3,600 attendees annually.

Jimmy Thomas, a sophomore at George Mason University said, “My favorite part of conventions is meeting new people.”

Thomas will be attending with 11 of his friends.

For more information, visit AnimeUSA.org.

NOVA students compete in a pumpkin pie eating contest at a Halloween event hosted by the Student Government Association on the Annandale campus. Photo by Kama Storie.

NOVA student Andrea Salinas gets her face painted by Ginny Sieminski at a Halloween event hosted by the Student Government Association on Annandale Campus. Photo by Kama Storie.

NOVA Students play a traditional game of "apple bobbing" at a Halloween event hosted by the Student Government Association on Annandale campus. Photo by Kama Storie.

NOVA students play a game of "Cider Pong" at a Halloween event hosted by the Student Government Association on Annandale campus. Photo by Kama Storie.

Matt Nathanson brought his All Night Noise tour to D.C.'s infamous 9:30 club for two sold out performances on September 27 and 28. He entertained the crowd with his signature wit, unexpected covers and heartfelt songs. Photo by Traci Brooks.

Matt Nathanson at the 9:30 club. Photo by Traci Brooks.

Mark Sawasky, world renowned percussionist, and NOVA Music student, gives audience members a chance to try his world instruments during the kickoff of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations at Annandale campus. Photo by Kama Storie.

As students made their way up the stairs toward the CF plaza and cafeteria at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College on Sept. 21, one could hear loud music playing and singing but quickly realize it wasn’t in English. What they would have been hearing might have been a live Mariachi band, a salsa or bachata singer, or a Reggaeton duo, all of which were played that afternoon as part of the Hispanic Heritage Festival put on by the Hispanic Student Union.

Ivonne Alonzo, vice president of the HSU spoke of the importance to have different types of music in hopes of making other students aware that the Hispanic culture and its people are not “simple people that are all about Reggaeton.”

Reggaeton is a type of music characterized by a fusion of Latin rhythms and hip-hop or rap. It quickly spread worldwide due to its contagious beats along with its risque dance style commonly known as “perreo” which means “doggie” referring to the explicit sexual overtones. Richard Bautista, the advisor to the HSU, also expressed the importance of telling others about the diversity of the Hispanic community and noted that this was a way to show and tell.

The festival kept the students’ attention by interacting with them. Two students from the the club came on stage to give salsa and bachata dance lessons, and many of the boys and girls standing around didn’t have to be asked twice to join in and start learning the moves. A Zumba instructor was also present to give a high-energy aerobics lesson that incorporated music in Spanish with fast-pace rhythms.

HSU hosted other events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. A special speaker and poet was featured and a workshop about music and instruments of Central America and Latin America was held.

Mark Sawasky, world renowned percussionist, and NOVA Music student, demonstrates world percussion instruments during the kickoff of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations at Annandale campus. Sawasky is sitting on a Peruvian drum called a Cahon. He holds a Brazillian instrument called a Berimbau, and he taps the beat with his foot on an auxilliary percussion wooden block. This brilliant musician has studied with teachers from around the world, and has toured all 50 states with his band, Immigrant Sun. You can find Sawasky's music on iTunes, Amazon.com, and Facebook. Photo by Kama Storie.