Letter from the Editor: 11.13.2019

Allow me to set the scene. It's November 2017. Hamilton Court's renovations haven't yet started. I'm a sophomore, it's my first semester editing for Street, and I walk into William Street Common (RIP) for 34th Street's first Battle of the Bands. Angela Huang emcees, Katherine Ross signs us in at the door, bands perform, people mingle, and the winner gets a piece written about them in Street. 

But what happened wasn't as important as the fact that I remember it, years later, as one of the most fun events I've attended at Penn. Battle of the Bands is a night to see people doing what they love. It's less about competition and more about camaraderie and genuinely having fun. 

And now after a year off, we're having another one.

Thursday of this week, at Smokey Joe's, we'll be hosting four bands for some friendly competition and great music. Writers, editors, photographers, and Street staffers will be there, and we hope to see some of the Penn community that we cover there as well. There'll be giveaways, great live music, drink specials, and more. 

It would mean the world to me if you could come; bring your friends, Romans, countrymen. Hell, bring your mom—that reminds me, I need to invite mine. 

At our first Battle of the Bands, I was new(ish) to Street. I was unsure of my place here, thinking about running for the board, and wondering where I might fit in. Now I write this from the editor–in–chief's desk and feel a certain cyclicality; I'm proud of how Street has grown, what we've cast off and what we've held close. And I'm deeply sad that soon this won't be our magazine to run anymore, that in less than a month, my time in this desk is up. 

But I'm also hopeful that Street's next editors–in–chief and leaders are out there, and that they'll enjoy Battle of the Bands as much as I did. 

RSVP to our Facebook event here.