Features

Third Eye Blind to play in Burruss

Third Eye Blind will play at Burruss Auditorium on Sept. 30, 2008.

Review: Canning has something for most of us

With a sprawling cast of characters, Canada's Broken Social Scene is both literally and figuratively one of the largest groups in independent rock today. So large, in fact, that members count the band as a side project to acts such as Stars, Metric, Do Make Say Think, and in the case of Feist, a solo career. Starting last year, the band decided to create a series of albums for members themselves.

The art and joy of homebrewing

Homebrewing has always been at Virginia Tech, even if you had to look hard to find it. But with at least two microbreweries soon to be arriving in or near Blacksburg, I think it's time to bring it out into the light. To help me get the lowdown on homebrewing, I talked with Sean O'Keefe, who created the brewing course (now called Brewing Science and Technology) about five years ago.

Oregon Trail exhibit comes to Armory gallery

Remember that game you used to play when you were little in school? You know, the one where your little sister got cholera traveling, your ox would be bought and sold and you would trade goods with other travelers? Yes, it's the Oregon Trail, and Heath Ballowe, a graduate of Virginia Tech, has brought out some of the animal and country style in his recent art show. The show is "Caulking the Wagon: Conversations with the Oregon Trail Generation," and is located at the Armory Art Gallery.

Ledger's role in 'Knight' leaves audience speechless

Lines wrapping around the theater, Joker imitators everywhere, and at least nine sold out theaters was the insanity that took place at midnight in Christiansburg for the first showing of "The Dark Knight." The anticipation mounted during the previews, and then applause filled the theater as the movie began.

Football opener sold out

The 2008 Hokie football season will start with a full house in Charlotte, N.C., at noon on Aug. 30, as Virginia Tech's opener against East Carolina University kicks off in Bank of America Stadium, the home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, a stadium holding a more than 73,000.

Student wins interior design contest with new door

Senior interior design major Michelle Pyne won a $3,000 scholarship from JELD-WEN, a leading manufacturer of doors and windows. In its third year, the JELD-WEN Student Door Design Contest received a record-breaking 349 entries from 89 different colleges. Winners were selected based on creativity, attention to detail, and suitability for today's architecture.

Review: 'Stay Positive' builds on earlier success

While your main goal in the months of June through August might be to relax as much as possible, The Hold Steady are concerned with building something this summer. On their fourth studio release, "Stay Positive," the Brooklyn-based band returns with more bar-rock anthems and verbose stories.

Review: 'Hellboy 2' delivers cheesy, silly thrills

"Hellboy 2: The Golden Army" can be summed up with a name and a word. The name is Guillermo del Toro, a veritable critics' golden-boy best known for his masterpiece "Pan's Labyrinth," who is also the planned director of "The Hobbit." Del Toro, known for his imagination, does not disappoint as director of "Hellboy 2;" he offers an unceasing array of strange and ghastly creatures, both costumed and computer animated, set in a fantasy world ripe with spinning martial arts and things that go boom.

Shop around to save money on textbooks

Thought carrying all your books on your back was taxing? Try having to buy brand new ones at the beginning of every semester. But, not to worry, there are many on- and off-campus resources to help your dollar go farther.

Balancing a job and academics

You haven't heard about them yet, but you will. Super seniors going onto their sixth year, the student who manages to achieve a 0.0 GPA one semester, the roommate who plays Halo 3 or World of Warcraft every waking hour (and then some), or the party beast who is in a state of perpetual drunkenness. These are the extremes, but they represent a balance problem between work, school and partying that most students must confront at some point during their college career.

Alcohol is resistable part of college

As a new semester brings life into the town of Blacksburg, thousands of new students will arrive on campus for their first year away from home. In an opportunity unparalleled, life as a freshman brings the excitement of independence and the privilege of living with people from many different walks of life.

Tech transportation options

As incoming freshmen, many of you will experience living on your own for the first time in your lives. There will be a multitude of changes and challenges that you will face during your first week here at Virginia Tech.

Web sites worthy of your browser's bookmark

You've found your dorm room and managed to haul a car's worth of belongings into your new space. Your parents are still unpacking, but you are anxious to check your e-mail and log into Facebook.

Tech's traditions have evolved

After it got its start as a land grant agricultural and mechanical school, John McBryde served as the president of what was to become Virginia Tech from 1891 to 1907. He reorganized the school's academic programs into a traditional four-year college setup.

Intramurals are popular athletic outlets

For students looking to play competitive or recreational sports at college, Virginia Tech offers one of the largest intramural sports programs in the country, with more than 13,000 students participating each year.

Safety is important priority

The demand for campus safety and awareness has become fine-tuned since April 16. Newcomers may feel uneasy as they familiarize themselves with local safety programs.

Blacksburg's growth due to land grant

The town of Blacksburg was established in 1798. Blacksburg was originally the frontier settlement of Draper's Meadow and was located on one of the earliest and best routes over the mountainous ridge.

Organizations offer chance to get involved

As of 2008, Virginia Tech has grown to over 29,000 students. Throw in our world-class faculty and staff, and we're looking at a community over 32,000 strong. This is a huge school, but there's no need to feel intimidated because this place may end up feeling smaller than your high school.

Options abound for cheap summer entertainment

The summer may be half over, but there are still plenty of convenient, relatively inexpensive ways to pass the long days until the town and campus are repopulated.