Culture

Culture

Restaurant Review: Mazaya Cafe delivers mouthwatering Mediterranean

Jonathan Baca | January 18

It’s a new semester, and luckily there’s a new restaurant in the neighborhood that’s perfect for a quick meal on a student budget. The Mazaya Cafe, located on Harvard Drive right across from Main Campus, serves up an impressive range of Mediterranean-fusion dishes at very reasonable prices. A few months ago the manager Rojesh Maharjan and his team moved into their current location, a spot that has seen several restaurants come and go in the last couple years. Despite the apparent curse on the location, Mazaya has been slowly winning over loyal customers, and this reviewer is now one of them. Walking in the front door, I was immediately struck by the cleanliness and the beautiful Mediterranean-style decor. We sat down at a comfy booth under a big screen TV tuned to ESPN. We started with the lentil soup, which was shockingly flavorful and filling thanks to the chicken broth. For $3, this could easily be a light lunch on a cold day all by itself.

---

Culture

ABQ Comic Con draws huge crowds

Jonathan Baca | January 15

Last weekend the nerds, geeks and superfans of Albuquerque descended on the Convention Center downtown for three days of fandom, photo ops and costumed revelry. The 7th annual Albuquerque Comic Con brought a long list of cult celebrities, comic artists and vendors to all three floors of the Convention Center, attracting an estimated 30,000 fans. The size of the event was truly impressive, with an endless maze of vendor and artist booths. One could wander for hours around one of the many large ballrooms and still not see everything that was on display. Jim Burleson, the owner and promoter of Albuquerque Comic Con, said that the size and scope of the event has been years in the making.

---

Culture

Theater Review: 'Matilda' sure to please all ages

Fin Martinez | January 15

It’s by pure serendipity that “Matilda” proved to be a show that captured the spirit of Broadway in such an accessible and non-kitsch way. One usually hopes for a quality production when seeing a Broadway production, but it was a pleasant surprise to see such one executed in such a way as “Matilda.” The first thing that made an impression was the quirky, almost Tim Burton-esque set, which resembled in spirit the style of author Roald Dahl, who wrote the book the musical is based off of.

---

Culture

Grad Issue: Comanche student studies family history for dissertation

Fin Martinez | December 12

After a rigorous career in academia, Eric Tippeconnic, a Comanche doctoral candidate, will be receiving his doctorate degree in history, making him the first professionally trained historian in his tribe’s history. Tippeconnic said that he initially began looking into graduate school and was visiting his tribal headquarters in Lawton, Oklahoma, where the education director asked him what he was interested in pursuing.

---

Culture

Grad Issue: Answering the call to study music

Skylar Griego | December 11

For the final weeks of the fall 2016, some students are preparing for a month-long break between terms while others are saying goodbye to UNM for the final time. Students from all walks of life will be graduating with a hard-earned degree this December — some even with more than one. Christian Newman, a fine arts student, will be graduating with two master’s degrees after finals week: one in piano performance and one in music composition.

---

Culture

Grad Issue: Student hopes to use his education to serve his country in the Air Force

Savanna Molina | December 11

Many people who don’t finish college on their first shot usually never go back, but for Christopher Kennedy, his return and graduation has been a long time coming. After six different schools and 16 years since he attended his first college course, Kennedy will be graduating from UNM with honors at the age of 34. Right out of high school, Kennedy first attended the Coast Guard Academy and for several years studied at many other military schools and community colleges. He said he had a job while he was going to school, but when it was too much and his life wasn’t going in the right direction, he decided joining the U.S. Air Force was his best chance at a better future.

---

Culture

Breakdown of the World Chess Championships

Eddie Wyckoff | December 6

Magnus Carlsen celebrated his 26th birthday and a third consecutive World Chess Championship victory last Wednesday. Hundreds of millions watched while over the course of nearly three weeks the defending Norwegian champion played Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin to retain the title. Both grandmasters are a mere 26 years old. Carlsen was thought to be the overwhelming favorite going in, but, game by game, Karjakin matched Carlsen’s ingenuity, inevitably requiring an additional tiebreak series of four rapid games to settle matters.

---

Culture

Duo showcases the beauty of ceramics

Savanna Molina | December 4

Figure can complement the functional, something that was made evident at the “Figure Function Fire” ceramics show organized by UNM studio art majors Miguel Lastra and Jessi Penrod and held in the UNM art building on Thursday. These duo of advanced ceramics students presented their semester’s work from Studio Intensive Ceramics, which displayed their work that was created via different firing techniques to create a stunning collection.

---

Culture

ASUNM holds 53rd Arts and Crafts Fair

Jonathan Baca | December 1

For the 53rd year in a row, the annual ASUNM Arts and Crafts Fair is in full swing in the SUB Ballrooms, showcasing an impressive collection of artists and craftspeople from around the state. Hosted by the ASUNM Arts and Crafts Studio, the show invited over 70 local vendors in a holiday shopping extravaganza. The items on sale range from knitting and crocheted clothing, hand-blown glass figures, handmade soaps and body products, pottery, graphic art and jewelry.

---

Movies

Movie Review: "Viva" tackles LGBTQ issues with style

Audrin Baghaie | November 30

“Viva” is a hurricane. Amid fast-paced dialogue, explicit scenes of LGBTQ struggle and an overall passionate delivery, this movie keeps your attention and plays with various social issues while it has it. It’s an ardent film, sometimes too passionate, with blatant symbolism and a cliché plot. But “Viva” follows through for a fleshed-out and powerful 90-minute narrative. Hector Medina stars as Jesus, a young hairdresser that yearns to be a drag performer in the Cuban cabaret club he works at. His passion damages his relationship with his father, Angel, played by Jorge Perugorria, and propels a turbulent story that takes twists and turns all along this certain social taboo.

---

Culture

Students pack the SUB for Harry Potter Day

Emma Citizen | November 27

Last week students had the chance to get sorted into a Hogwarts house, receive a (fake) Dark Mark tattoo and put their Harry Potter knowledge to the test in the third annual celebration themed around the popular franchise. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. last Tuesday students filled the SUB Atrium, “floating” candles hanging overhead, to take part in the festivities, which were organized by Student Special Events and Geeks Who Drink, a local group that organizes trivia night-type events.

---

Culture

Q&A: Local artist dreams up American-produced anime

Fin Martinez | November 27

Anime is a widely popular television medium that’s been finding its way into the hearts of Americans ever since it was introduced to the U.S. audience in the 1980s. Traditionally, animes are produced by Japanese writers, artists and animators, but local producer David Pinter is breaking new ground with an American-produced anime called “Indigo Ignited.” The Daily Lobo talked with Pinter to talk to discuss this project.

---

Culture

Students show off work at Cherry Reel Film Festival

Savannah Molina | November 21

After they grabbed their popcorn and drinks, students settled into their seats at the UNM Theater in the SUB for the Cherry Reel Film Festival. Just a few years ago, the event — celebrating the works of UNM film students while awarding the best in show — would have taken less than an hour. But thanks to a record amount of submissions to this year’s event — 53 total — students were able to see a more diverse slate of efforts created by their peers. The films themselves were fantastic. The emotional quality was top-notch, especially when paired with perfectly selected music. There was a wide range of films, with some providing a blend of drama and comedy.

---

Culture

Album Review: A Tribe Called Quest returns with final record

Audrin Baghaie | November 20

After 18 years, a war and a recession, at long last hip-hop pioneers A Tribe Called Quest have given us one last, powerful farewell. In a political climate that couldn’t have been more suited for goodbyes, this album hits all the checkmarks music connoisseurs didn’t know they wanted from one last ATCQ record. “We Got it From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service” is a charged, righteous and smooth double-album featuring the whole Quest Tribe, in addition to a few friends they made along the way. Elton John, Anderson .Paak, Andre 3000 and Jack White join Q-tip, Phife Dwag, Jarobi and Shaheed to forge one of the best hip-hop albums this year.

---

Culture

Review: Stand-up comic impresses in visit to UNM

Nikole Mckibben | November 18

Nate Bargatze’s performance Tuesday night was the refresher UNM students and families were seeking after the recent election.

---

Culture

Five and Why: A writing instructor's favorite books

Skylar Griego | November 16

English teachers are known for their love of all things book-related, particularly those who teach one kind of literature or another. While writing teachers are less associated with the bookworm label than literature teachers are, anyone who is passionate about writing will say reading is the key to becoming a better writer. Erin Lebacqz, a composition instructor in the English department, said reading is important for her as a writer because she likes to see examples of people capturing reality through words.

---

Culture

Students show off their skills during Lobos Got Talent

Skylar Griego | November 13

In an evening full of singing and guitar playing, with occasional dancing and a rapping thrown in, the ninth annual Lobos Got Talent event gave UNM students the opportunity to showcase various styles of musical and spoken word performances on Friday. Gigi Bella, a previous winner in the last two Lobos Got Talent shows, took the $500 first prize with a powerful slam poem about the everyday commentary women must endure with their bodies and choices.

---

Culture

Concert Review: Despite technical issues, Hopsin delivers strong performance

Fin Martinez | November 13

On Friday, Albuquerque’s Sunshine Theater welcome rapper Hopsin to perform for a crowd of dedicated fans and other Hip Hop fanatics. The line to get in went around the block and had people from all walks of life coming to see the show. Along with Hopsin, there were two other acts that would take the stage that night — the young rapper Token and Joyner Lucas. The theater became packed even before Token took the stage; most in the audience came for Hopsin, but got a pleasant surprise with Token’s performance.

---

Culture

Album Review: 'Eternally Even' a psychedelic trip into tranquility

Audrin Baghaie | November 11

“Sun’s out, not a thought about rain. No trace of tears or pain, I hope you’re having a wonderful life,” croons Jim James on the eponymous track of his second solo album, “Eternally Even.” The song, much like the whole record, is a breezy, psychedelic serenade embellished with bright keys, savory bass lines and impetuous lyrics that wrap listeners up in the grooviest cyclone of 2016. James’ is most widely known as the frontman of the rock group My Morning Jacket. An alternative take on alternative music, My Morning Jacket grew upon a passionate fan base that revered the band’s versatile take on genre, and their ability to fluently change styles at the drop of a hat.

---

News

Column: A personal account of the anti-Trump protest

Fin Martinez | November 11

I arrived on Central Ave. and First Street around 7 p.m., to a moderate crowd gathered on the street corner. They were protesting the election results and renouncing the new president elect as their leader. Not 24 hours before, our nation received a shock comparable to the Kent State massacre — The Donald was elected our new president. I remember where I was that night. I was having a drink at the campus bar watching the votes come in from each of our nation’s states, and at this point I was nervous that Clinton wouldn’t emerge victorious from this vicious campaign that pitted the American people against each other.