Mixtape Madness #5: April Showers

According to the novel High Fidelity the making of a good mix tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. Furthermore, a good mix is never finished. You never know when you will come across a song that changes the dynamic of the mix you just completed. There is a litany of intricacies to crafting the ideal mix no matter what the mix’s intended purpose should be. This feature is merely a guide on the cosmic highway of mix making, and while experienced, the writer does not claim to be an expert.

April Showers Mix

 
As the old saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers." All talk about pilgrims aside, that saying certainly has described this past month. April has saturated us with a number of rain storms, including the thunderstorm that is making me second-guess sitting at a computer right now. But I could not let a little bit of rain get in the way of providing you with the April Showers, the ideal mix for a rainy day.


1- "The Rain" (Supa Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliot
Well, this is the obvious choice to begin with, is it not? This super slick track is a rainy day standard, and my choice to lead the charge on this rainy day. However, if the rain is not your thing...


2- "No Rain" by Blind Melon
Again, a pretty obvious inclusion to the April Showers mix. This song evokes images of a sunny day, helping you picture the exact opposite weather to what is actually happening outside of your window.  


3- "Feeling Good" by Muse
This cover is one of my favorites to rock on a rainy day. Something about the distortion used on the synths and guitars just seems to compliment the drops pelting my window.


4- "Is Anybody Home? (LIVE)" by Our Lady Peace
I have always enjoyed this song, but this particular version from a Y100 Sonic Sessions CD really stands out. The vocalist of this and the previous song sound just similar enough to let these tracks flow together.

Pickelodeon: The Philadelphia Science Festival

Welcome to Pickelodeon, a little feature where we review all that is reviewable in the world. Pickelodeon is your one stop shop for the inside scoop on the best restaurants, bars, movies, music, events, and anything else you want to hear someone else's opinion on before you try it. Drop us a line in the comment box for any suggestions on what we should review next!

The Philadelphia Science Festival

Science is everywhere! Or so says the slogan for the Franklin Institute's Discovery Camp. Over the past week, the Philadelphia Science Festival has shown the City of Brotherly Love that science truly is everywhere, from the beer they drink to the glass from which they drink. This two-week extravaganza has featured events that made astronomy astronomical, ecology economical, and physics physically impossible to ignore. Cheesy plays on words aside, the festival has inspired an interest in science and technology learning city-wide, and there is still a week to go.

Weekly Top Five - 24.Mar.11

In  High Fidelity, the characters compare their top fives in a variety of categories. Being big fans of both the film and novel, we here at the What bring you our Weekly Top Five, a feature focused on five fantastic things that you should become familiar with.

Where To Be This Month

 

April is a big month for the What, as we prepare to celebrate our first full year of bringing you colorful ideas for everyday life. As a part of that celebration, we want you to come and celebrate with us. During April, our awesome staff of writers will be out and about in Philadelphia at the following events, and we hope that you come join in the fun!

5. Glass Blowing - The majority of this list is populated with events connected to the Philadelphia Science Festival. The Science of Glass Blowing, a joint effort between Hudson Beach Glass and Philadelphia University, will be a live demonstration explaining the process of glass blowing. With mouth-blown glass being a great way to class up your apartment, the What will be in attendance to see how it's done. The event falls on April 16th, and begins at 6:30PM at Hudson Beach Glass in Old City.

4. Bingo at PYT - To longtime readers of the What, this is nothing new. We have been singing the praises of PYT and its weekly Bingo night for most of the last year. Held every Wednesday night from 8-10PM, buy in is free and prizes include beer, burgers, fries, shots, and swag. With themed nights, there is something for everyone at bingo. This coming Wednesday, fans of the epic It's Always Sunny episode featuring the dance-off can try their hand at Dance Your Ass Off Bingo. If you're looking for a trip down memory lane, there's A Night to Remember Bingo, which will feature a screening of Titanic. Finally, come celebrate the What's first birthday with Easter Bingo, complete with an Easter Egg Hunt.