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Monday, Dec. 29, 2025
The Observer

Scene


The Observer

Right on 'The Mark'

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The weekend has finally arrived and you decide to stroll down to the newly-built Eddy Street Commons with friends in hopes of an early dinner out. South Bend's sleek and trendy Eddy Street is located across the street from Notre Dame's main entrance, a prime location for those students with an eager appetite. You walk through the doors of The Mark Dine & Tap and you are instantly taken in by the aroma of fresh ingredients, and the smile of friendly servers. The lavish bar is packed with people enjoying a crisp beer and good conversation. Waiting to be seated it is hard not to notice the contemporary and chic décor that drapes the restaurant's walls and ceilings. You are seated and given a colorful menu with anything and everything you could imagine. With everything from mouth watering burgers to crisp and fresh salads, The Mark does not disappoint.


The Observer

The Mark Dine & Tap: Q&A with Jonathan Lutz

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Jonathan Lutz, a native Chicagoan, moved to South Bend with his wife seven years ago, and four years later opened up his flagship restaurant, Uptown Kitchen in Granger. Now, his latest venture, The Mark Dine & Tap, is the only locally owned business in Eddy Street Commons. With "high quality and fresh ingredients," a student friendly to-go window and an upscale diner feel, Lutz is hoping it will be a stand out among South Bend  eateries.


The Observer

Sounds of British Radio

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The Department of Film, Television, and Theatre and the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts will present FTT Talks with Tony Stoller tonight. Stoller was the regulator of commercial radio in the UK until his retirement in 2006. He has just published the definitive history of the medium, in "Sounds of Your Life: The History of Independent Radio in the UK", describing an experiment in blending commercial and public service which is unique in the English-speaking world.


The Observer

ARTgenda: October

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This month marks the 13th annual Chicago Artists Month. Every year, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs hosts events across the city in an effort to raise awareness about the arts in Chicago. As part of Chicago Artists Month, free gallery tours are offered throughout gallery districts around the city, such as the River North and West Loop Districts.

The Observer

Jimmy Eat World Maintains their Laid-back Pop-punk Sound on 'Invented'

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Hailing from Mesa, Ariz., the pop-punk veterans of Jimmy Eat World have a legacy of creating albums that combine driving rhythms and massive hooks with introspective, poignant lyrics. Most famous for the 2001 breakthrough single "The Middle" and its accompanying video, the band's newest full-length, "Invented," can be accurately viewed as a combination of its previous studio efforts.



The Observer

Kanye West's new album: Push-backs and hot tracks for Nov. 22 release

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Does Kanye West have the potential to make a bad album? "808s and Heartbreaks" was a scare, but proved its worth over the long haul. With four dynamite albums behind him, three of which place on almost every American "Best of the Decade" list, Kanye West has set a high standard for himself.


The Observer

Now & Then: Campus concerts

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In case you haven't heard, OK Go is coming to Notre Dame this weekend to perform at halftime of the Pittsburgh game and later in the evening at Legends Nightclub. Some other musical acts that have graced South Bend with their presence in the last couple of years include Good Charlotte for "The Show" in 2008 and Papa Roach with Trapt at Club Fever just last week.


The Observer

Fit or fad

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Reebok Easy Tones promise a nice posterior, Skechers Shape-Ups claim to give Joe Montana better posture and myriad knock-offs at stores like Target and Wal-Mart offer all the benefits at half the price.


The Observer

Let Me In': More than just another vampire movie

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Just to get these things out of the way upfront, "Let Me In" is a vampire movie, and it's a remake of a Swedish-language movie "Let the Right One In" released two years ago. The plot of "Let Me In" does not stray too far from that of its Swedish predecessor. Even some of the scenes are shot and choreographed very similarly, and it does carry many tropes of the vampire genre: forbidden romance, fatal weaknesses and a desire to be normal, but at least they left out the sparkles.


The Observer

Better than your average Wisconsin high school squad

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We have all heard of interhall football here at Notre Dame. We know that ND has one of the only full contact interhall leagues in the country. We have followed the story of David Ruffer, the Notre Dame kicker  was plucked from the interhall fields two years ago by Charlie Weis and is perfect as the Irish starting kicker this year.


The Observer

Golden is thy helmet

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This year, there are two golden domes stand proudly on the University's campus — one atop the Main Building and the other in Sorin Hall.


The Observer

Path of least resistance

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Welsh Family's hopes for a successful season came to an abrupt halt on Sept. 25, before it really even got a chance to begin.


The Observer

Pangborn's Heisman contender

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No one would expect a quarterback like Heisman favorite Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson to wear high, fluorescent green socks, sport a soccer-style headband to hold back wild hair or even have tied shoes.


The Observer

OK Go promises an energetic show at Legends

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OK Go is coming back to campus Oct. 9 at Legends, this time to play for Notre Dame students after playing with them. In 2004 they played at Legends as an up-and-coming band and in 2007, OK Go headlined "The Show" with Lupe Fiasco.


The Observer

Music Under the Radar: Movie Scores

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The Situation: Music hunters seek, read, blog and cull music from radio, print and most often, the interwebs. Music gatherers collect mix CD's, free digital downloads and whatever their friends happen to be listening to. If you are a gatherer, this space is for you. If you are a hunter, e-mail me your latest find, and I promise you'll find it written up here. (Seriously. E-mail. Even if you're not a student.)



The Observer

Player Profile: Kaitlin Robinson

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One of the biggest sports clichés is that the only thing harder than getting on top is staying there. That hasn't yet been an issue for Kaitlin Robinson and the Ducks.


The Observer

Deerhunter dreams up their best record yet

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Animal Collective fanatics may love or hate producer Ben Allen, depending on how they look at the situation. Allen was behind the experimental quartet's 2009 album "Merriweather Post Pavilion," which managed to present Animal Collective as something you might actually hear on the radio, not a strange experimental noise sampling you might come across in Andy Warhol's basement.