Another Saturday at the Hop
Photo by Jeff Goldberg
A few weekends before Winterim, Victoria Tan '27 and I spent a day at the Hopkins Center; two Hop Fellows taking a break from studying and enjoying all that the new building has to offer. We talked to students, caught glimpses of artists rehearsing, attended performances and spent slightly too many dining dollars at the Courtyard Cafe (the green grapes are too delectable to resist).
8:53 am
The morning was clear and sunny—just warm enough to pretend winter was farther away than it really was. Victoria and I entered the Hop, natural sunlight streaming into the entrance, and found ourselves standing outside the Moore Theater. Just beyond its closed doors, we could hear the Displaced Theater Company setting up the space for a future performance.
10:13 am
While standing in front of the Moore Theater, listening to the soft murmur of students within the building and the growing swells of people starting their days in the Hop, we were beckoned by the distant but growing hum of drums, trumpets and other instruments. When we stepped outside the building, we chanced upon a joyous weekly occurrence: every Saturday, the Dartmouth Marching Band begins its procession—or rather, march—to the football field from the Hop. The band was circling around the building, with the uproarious music trailing behind them as they walked. We stared at one another for a moment, eyes wide, before scurrying as fast as we could to catch a glimpse of them. We were enraptured by the procession, struggling to hear one another's exclamations of approval over the group's noise.
1:30 pm
Following a quick lunch, we reentered the Hop and headed towards the Top of the Hop. The room, filled with its signature yellow and green couches, was populated with students studying, chatting and listening to a student DJ named Anton. Anton was surrounded by a table of devices and other DJ materials, smiling as he played music. He was DJing as a prelude to a movie screening of Seven Samurai by Akira Kurosawa, and chose music he felt related to the aesthetics of the film and the samurai's journey. The atmospheric music permeated the room, creating a sense of calm that undercut the buzz of activity.
2:00 pm
We then took the short walk to Spaulding Auditorium, where Seven Samurai was playing. As people began to fill the venue, we spoke to some excited viewers outside and heard about their enthusiasm to view the film and to be back in the beloved space. I had never seen any films by Akira Kurosawa, and, despite the long run time, it was quite good.
6:00 pm
Later in the afternoon, Victoria and I wandered around the building like children at Disneyland, energetic and searching for excitement. We spoke to students studying in the Top of the Hop, and the bustling Courtyard Cafe, where dozens of people sat working, chatting and eating what looked to be delicious meals of salads and burgers.
7:23 pm
After dinner, we were in the new Daryl Roth Studio Theater to see the Coast Jazz Orchestra's fall performance. It was a full house—the room was packed with students, parents, families and others who gathered to enjoy the show. The performance celebrated the work of Bill Dixon, Bill Cole and Bill Low, and I enjoyed listening to the music of these artists that I had previously never heard of. I found the performance incredible, and plan to attend future concerts from the Coast Jazz Orchestra.
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9:00 pm
By the evening, we were getting tired and our artistic sensibilities were satisfied. Victoria and I once more went to the Courtyard Cafe for a late night snack before heading home. There were less students present, with a few finishing up long dinners or clicking away on their keyboards. There was a quiet kind of stillness in the room, and as Victoria and I left to finish up our long day, the Hop was peaceful. However, even though it felt like the building was preparing for bed, there remained a sense of anticipation for the following day that would be just as action-packed as this one.