THE BEHREND BEACON
Winter fun hits Peek season at NY resort
by Katie Przepyszny
staff writer
Well, it happened once and it won't
be long until the snow flies again.
And when it does, Peek 'N Peak will
be the perfect place to cure your win
ter blues.
Peek 'N Peak is a 1,000-plus acre
year-round resort area not far from
Erie in the southwest corner of New
York State. As always, this winter's
features include downhill skiing.
snowboarding (including the popular
half pipe), snowshoeing, cross-coun
try skiing, and snow tubing. Behrend
student Brian Jaworski, 01 D S, rec
ommends the Peek for everyone. lie
says, "The slopes at the Peek are the
perfect place to meet your friends."
The Peek has a total of nine chair
lifts, a vertical drop of 400 feet, sev
eral snow making machines, and 27
trails that range from easy to difficult.
For those of you who are beginners,
Anywhere is fine with Portman
by Kristin Grudowski
staff writer
So you say you're feeling guilty
because of the arguments, bickering
and just general disagreements be
tween you and your mom oker the
short Thanksgiving break. Well,
first of all, take it easy—you're not
alone. Second, try to reach a whole
new appreciation for the woman by
seeing Anywhere But Hen , .
Anywhere But Here is the story of
an off-the-wall mother, played by
Susan Sarandon and her emotional
daughter, played by Natalie
Portman. The two move from their
small town to Beverly Hills in hopes
of obtaining a better lifestyle.
What happens while searching for
this improved lifestyle is what
makes the movie what it is. Furni-
Usher lights
in new film
by Jermaine Hardy
staff writer
Usher Raymond sparks the big
screen in his new film. Light it Up.
Holding a policeman hostage in
school, Usher proves that he really
does like it his way.
Usher's character. Lester, is forced
into a tough predicament once he sees
his friend get gunned down by a po
liceman. In this tense situation the
cop ends up getting shot. Lester de
cides to take matters into his own
hands in order to clear his friend's
name. Along with the help of Rosario
Dawson and Fredro Starr, the team
holds the school police officer hos
tage.
Produced by Kenneth "Baby Face"
Edmonds and directed by Craig
Boloton, the movie tells the story of
six students who find this particular
day appropriate to take their school
captive because they simply want to
be heard. Now, I wish I could tell you
that this was a good movie, but the
great theme didn't make for good en-
Usher Raymond, Robert 12
the Bunny Hill is the perfect starting
point. But once you're ready, go ahead
and move on up. Some hills to check
out are Alan-A-Dale, Arden Wood,
Rohin's Byway, Willy Nilly, Ox Bow,
and Will-O-The Wisp.
To make sure you get your fair share
of ski time in, the Peek is open daily
offering four-hour. eight-hour, all day,
and night passes ranging in price from
$2O to $36 ( plus extra cost if you need
to rent their equipment), and once a
week, weekend, and season passes
ranging in price from $7O to $450.
And if you feel the need for improve
ment. there is no need to worry. There
are special passes, lessons, and schools
for beginning skiers and
snowboarders, and those who want to
learn to ski and ride better.
Also available from the Peek for
mini vacationers are special Stay 'N
Pia) Midweek packages and Weekend
Lodger lift tickets. In addition, new
this year is The Peak Five, a special
tune shopping means driv ing through
the streets on garbage day. Pretend
ing to be people they are not gets
them a tour of a house they cannot
afford. Roth examples are meant to
illustrate the bitarre relationship be
tween the mother and daughter.
While there is a story line, a more
important aspect of the film is the de
velopment of the of the mother/
daughter relationship. Their relation
ship is strictly one-on-one, as
Portman's father has been out of the
picture for a long time, and she has
no siblings. Sarandon acts as a
mother who can't live up to her
daughter's expectations, or her own.
She makes choices for her daughter
so as to live vicariously through her.
Portman's character is more parental
than her mother. She is more respon
sible and thinks more realistic
it up
tertainment at all. It's cool that these
kids \‘. ant to stand up tOr what they
believe in, hut couldn't Usher and
gang have come up with any better rea
son than a leaking ceiling or a text
hook shortage to take their school hos
tage?
It becomes evident that the film is
pleading for reason, as the character's
personal tribulations become the drive
for this life-risking venture. It turns
out that Lester never got over the loss
of his father who was killed by a cop,
and that his friend is a victim of child
abuse. Here the movie makes it seem
as though it is saying, we (Generation
X) are willing to go to insanely dras
tic measures to get empathy from the
world, but that's not us. How many
times must I tell you, Hollywood, if
you're going to portray us, do it right?
We are complex. We'd rather you
make a parody of our generation than
to take our serious issues and address
them all wrong. Good effort though.
Light It Up may not make for a great
film, but it could pass for a pretty good
after school special.
i" , "1 P
FEATURES
through which you can buy four tick
ets and get one free for a total of $136.
If that isn't enough for your large
group of friends, the Peek also offers
group rates for 20 people or more.
And if you want the ski season to last
forever, keep in mind that the spe
cial spring rates are in effect from
March 1 until the end of the season.
The Race Arena is also a main at
traction at the Peek. This timed race
course offers the opportunity to race
a friend or your own best time. If
you like the winter weather but ski
ing is not your thing, go catch some
thrills tubing. The Peek's tubing area
features two lifts that assist you for
some old fashioned sledding fun.
While you spend your time out on the
slopes, don't worry about your
things. You can always leave your
belongings at the ski check, in the
coin lockers, or in your own season
locker.
When a day on the slopes leaves
thoughts than her mother. Al l
Portman wants is a normal life while
Sarandon longs for everything she
cannot have. Through their own dif
ferences, the difficulties of daily dis
appointments and the joy of their tri
umphs show that Sarandon and
Portman are not only mother and
daughter, but also best friends.
By the end of the movie, I began
to have a better understanding of
what protective, unconventional
mothers (or any mother really) sac
rifice for their daughters, even when
it seems they don't have anything
to give of themselves.
So repent for your shameful ways
and treat your mom to a movie, and
of course, accompany her. This
movie is enjoyable, and mom will
enjoy the time with you.
Holiday feasting with the X-Files
by Katie Galley
editorial page editor
Thanksgiving weekend is typi
cally a time of excess. Too much tur
key, too much
football,
many parades,
too much pie, too
much TV...t00
much X-Files?
Okay, there can
never be such a
thing as too much
X-Files and for
the people who
love the show,
known as Philers,
it was a Christ
mas present in
November.
Starting .at
noon on Thanks-
giving Day,
Philers were
treated to the Se
cret Ballot Mara
thon, on the FX
station. It was a
virtual cornuco-
pia of everyone's
favorite X-File
episodes. Fans
voted on line
throughout the
month of Novem
ber in different
categories, and
the results were
shown all day on
Thanksgiving.
The episodes
ranged from the
extremely hys
terical Bad Blood to the deeply mov
ing Christmas Carol/Emily episodes.
The Marathon was hosted by the al
ways eccentric Lone Gunman, who
are a trio of computer geeks that are
friends with Agent Mulder. How
ever, the stars of the Marathon wp,
the determined Ago
DECEMBER 3, 1999
you cold and hungry, you can warrn
up and relax at one of the three lodges.
The Main Ski Lodge. also the focal
point of skier services, houses a caf
eteria and a circular fireplace to sit
around. The Sugar 'N Ouse (a.k.a.
The Sugar Shack) is home to
Pizzaiolo's Italian Eatery and the
Winter League Sports Bar. And when
you find yourself near the tubing area
on the North end of the complex,
check out the cafeteria-style Mexican-
American flavored food of the lower
level, or the sub/sandwich feature on
the upper full lounge level of The
Retreat.
Before you leave, don't forget about
the Peek's indoor pool, sauna, indoor/
outdoor hot tub, game room, fitness
room, and ski shop, all perfect to fin
ish off a winter evening. For more
information on specific Peek rates call
716-355-4141 or go to the Peek 'N
Peak homepage at www.pknpk.com/
<http://www.pknpk.com/> .
Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon in Anywhere But Here, a new
release from Twentieth Century Fox
the enigmatic Agent Scully. So while
people all over the country were
feasting on turkey and gelatinous
cranberries, thousands were gorging
themselves on the Files.
Agents Jlder and Scully ward off the living dead FILE PHOTO
and help in the new year
Then Sunday night came and it was
once again time for a second helping
of the X-Files, with an all new epi
sode on Fox. It was the fittingly
named episode, Millennium. This
episode was doubly exciting because
ith Chri , r•irter'
A cottage (below) and clubhouse (above) FILE PHOTO
nestled in the hills of the Peek
Mulder and Scully teamed up with
former FBI Agent Frank Black to try
and solve a mystery involving an
end-times Millennium cult. This epi
sode was the whipped
cream on my pumpkin
pie! It had everything
from people returning
from the dead to "tra
ditional New Year's
Eve activities," wink,
The living dead
were all former FBI
Agents who were part
of this Millennium
group. They were all
brought back to life by
a necromancer, who is
someone that has the
spiritual power to raise
the dead. They all be
lieved that the world
we live in now is evil,
and that Armageddon
would be triggered by
the turning of the cen
tury so they had to
come together to stop
the evil.
Of course, our he
roes stopped the cult,
detained the necro
mancer and saved the
day, all in time for
some of those "tradi
tional New Year's Eve
activities." Yes folks,
that's right, after seven
l-o-n-g years, Mulder
and Scully finally
came to their senses
and indulged in a kiss.
Maybe it was a kiss of friendship,
maybe one of romance, however,
only time and Chris Carter's warped
sense of humor will tell. One thing
for sure is that this series is just get
ting better and better and will surely
YiK - i".! make its , i• into
Websites offer
histmas Bests
by Douglas Smith
staff writer
It's that time of year again to hear
the sounds of Christmas. From sil
ver bells to "Ho, Ho, Ho," many
sounds classify December. Of
course there are the traditional
Christmas caroling songs also. If
you are one that really gets into the
spirit, polyholiday.com has selected
the top 30 holiday albums ever
made. It is an interesting list that
covers many decades with artists
from Nat King Cole to the Squirrel
Nut Zippers.
This list is good for those of us
who may become a little annoyed
by the traditional songs like "Deck
the Halls" or "I Saw Mommy Kiss
ing Santa Claus." Many albums on
the list have tracks that were newly
written for their respective album
with that holiday feel. Also, the list
helps us keep in touch with those
Christmas specials we loved as kids
and probably still watch today. It
has the soundtracks from many
such shows.
In fact, the number-one Christ
mas album according to
polyholiday.com is A Charlie
Brown Christmas by Vince
Guaraldi. John Denver and the
Muppets' joint effort is also on the
list. It is called Christmas Together.
The list contains a variety of mu
sic styles from jazz or piano based
to new-age to ska. Many well
known artists appear on the list.
These include Vanessa Williams,
Mariah Carey, and Harry Connick,
Jr. The list also pays respect to
some artists that were prominent
earlier in the century such as Ella
Fitzgerald and Al Green. Of course
Elvis Presley is also on the list, as
well.
There are a few albums that may
come as a surprise to those that view
the list. Two such albums are the
Squirrel Nut Zippers with Christ
mas Caravan and the Beach Boys
with Ultimate Christmas. The
Squirrel Nut Zippers released their
Christmas album in 1998 and it con-
tains eight original tracks. They
also offer their rendition of "Sleigh
Ride" and "I'm Coming Home For
Christmas."
The Beach Boys' Ultimate
Christmas also came out in 1998.
It contains 26 tracks that are mostly
old time favorites with a few new
songs and public service announce
ments thrown in. One such new
song is "The Man with All the
Toys." However if you are looking
for some classics, the Beach Boys
cover "We Three Kings of Orient
Are," "Frosty the Snowman,"
"Auld Lang Syne," and many more.
98 Degrees brings one of the
newer Christmas albums out this
year to listeners. It was released
after the survey was done. For the
complete list log on to
www.polyholiday.com/lists/
30v ' '
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