Around town and gown
Sunday the Princeton Symphony gave its annual holiday concert, which was very enjoyable, and completely sold out. Great fun was had by all, and a highlight of the programme was the March of the Wooden Soldiers danced by the New Jersey Tap Ensemble, with Maurice Chesnut doing some Savion Glover moves that had the place hopping.

In real estate news, Borough and Township are in the process of developing all sorts of projects. Just on this morning's paper, one finds that the Jazz Club Proposal Will Move Forward; 'Remand' Not Granted

A use variance granted to the the site formerly home to Mike's Tavern by the Township Zoning Board of Adjustment will move forward as planned, in spite of recent litigation and recent reports that indicated the orginal application would be sent back to the zoning board for review.

while Princeton Future wants to substantially change the Witherspoon Street area now that the hospital is moving (at least it sure looks like it's moving).

Gown-wise, I found from Betsy's Page that the Near Easter Studies department faces warring factions

Interviews with more than 20 professors and officials involved with the field at Princeton and elsewhere indicate that the Princeton NES department is seen by some scholars as isolated, increasingly out-of-touch and politicized.

Those critical of the department point to two problems.

Some believe that the perceived intellectual approach of several of he department's key scholars — Orientalism, a controversial method of studying the Middle East — is antiquated and objectionable. Others believe that the dominance of the conservative political leanings of the department's two most vocal professors — Bernard Lewis, an emeritus professor, and Doran, an assistant professor — shuns other political voices in Princeton NES. Still others believe that these two factors cannot be separated

It all makes for interesting living here in The Principality. Maybe I'll take tap-dance lessons in the new year.