Category Archives: Entertainment

4 places you should visit in Minnesota

May 21, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Jooney Freddieson & Aalovely Lor

Are you bored with time to waste but can’t decide where to go? Saint Paul, Minnesota, offers a variety of indoor and outdoor venues where you can enjoy fun activities, eat delicious food, and create fun memories.

Puzzle Works – Located in the Twin Cities, offering the most exciting and intense escape rooms.

They provide a variety of rooms including The Loose Sleuth, The Vault, The Dungeons, The Hospital, and The Nightmare at the Museum, difficulty levels ranging from 5-10.

The game allows you to work together with a minimum of 4, and maximum of 10, people to solve puzzles located inside the rooms. Your mission is to complete objectives within a set time and escape.

The Vault: Assist an exiled prince into retrieving treasures from the bank.
The Loose Sleuth: Investigate the mysterious disappearance of a top detective.
The Hospital: Return a misplaced heart before the upcoming surgery.
The Dungeon: Escape execution after being caught stealing from an enchanted avocado.
Nightmare at the Museum: Bring an end to a doll exhibit that has been terrorized by a ghost.

A minimum of four participants are required for bookings. Tickets cost $32.99 per person Sunday through Friday and $34.99 on Saturdays.

Location: 755 Prior Avenue North, Suite 007A, Saint Paul, MN 55114

The Burrow – A multifaceted venue that offers a variety of entertainment that is suitable for different age groups.

They offer various entertainment like axe throwing, pickleball, a private karaoke room, rope courses, outdoor mini-golf, laser tag, and multiple arcade games.

Axe throwing allows you to throw axes on targets, engaging in sessions ranging from 30-60 minutes. $20 per person for 30 mins and $30 for 60.

Pickleball can be played on their indoor courts with a price of $15 per person for 2 hours. The private karaoke room rents for $55 an hour.

Rope Courses and Outdoor Mini-golf are seasonal, only being offered in specific weather conditions. Both activities are filled with their creatively designed courses and are set at a price of $15 per person.

Laser Tag is a fun elimination game where you get to shoot players with a laser gun, earning points for either yourself or your team, costing only $10 per person each round.

Not only does this place offer various entertainment options but they also offer dining areas with delicious food and an adult menu allowing people to relax and chill.

Location: 7053 10th Street North, Oakdale, MN 55128

Can Can Wonderland – An artistic entertainment venue filled with vintage arcade games, live performances, a mini-golf course, and a unique food and drink menu.

They offer over 150 vintage arcade games along with modern arcade games that are free to play.

They include regular live performances including music, themed nights, and talent shows. The venue updates its event calendar with upcoming shows and performances.

Can Can Wonderland offers a diverse food and beverage menu that complements its whimsical and wacky atmosphere while also including an adult menu, making this place suitable for various age groups.

Location: 755 Prior Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN 55104

Spirit Mountain – Located in Duluth, approximately 150 miles away from Saint Paul.

They offer outdoor activities, including snowboarding, skiing, adventure parks, and mountain biking. They also include a jumping pillow attraction for young kids, making this place suitable for all ages.

Winter Sports: Include 22 ski runs, terrain parks, and snow tubing.

Mountain Biking: A lift-accessed trail that caters to various skill level courses, offering both smooth and rugged paths.

Adventure Park: Features a 3,200 track alpine coaster, a 700-foot zip ride, scenic chairlift, jumping pillow, and mini-golf.

Winter Lift Tickets:

Alpine (13+): $80 (weekday), $86 (weekend)
Youth (6-12): $65 (weekday), $70 (weekend)
Senior (80+): $40 (weekday), $45 (weekend)

Adventure Park Tickets:

Alpine Coaster: $16 (online), $17 (ticket counter)
Zip Ride: $10 (online), $11 (ticket counter)
Scenic Chairlift: $14 (online), $15 (ticket counter)
Jumping Pillow (30-minute session): $10 (online), $11 (ticket counter)

Location: 9500 Spirit Mountain Place, Duluth, MN 55810

These spots offer many different activities and entertainment that are suitable for all interests. Next time you’re wondering how to spend your free time, consider one of these places for a fun experience and memories.

Books/Art

The 10 minute art challenge

May 20, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Maggie Hong

The 10 minute art challenge, popularized by the New York Times, asks you to spend 10 minutes with one painting, uninterrupted. Usually, people only look at paintings for a minute or so, if that. Even if you study a painting repeatedly, spending uninterrupted time with it gives you a whole new perspective. As you look at the painting for ten whole minutes, you will probably find your eyes drawn to details you didn’t see at first. You may also find you see the painting differently; with changing focal points, colors, and even movement within it. Spending this time with a piece of art not only helps you to learn about art and expand your attention span, but to relax and ground yourself.

I tried this challenge at a common starting point: ‘The Starry Night’ by Vincent van Gogh. I love van Gogh’s style, and this painting has always been a favorite of mine.

When I started the challenge, I was a bit worried I’d get bored. My eyes didn’t really focus on a specific spot, instead they wandered around the canvas. But as I stuck with it, things started to jump out at me. I noticed the texture of the paint, and that colors I’d once thought were blues were actually shades of green and brown. I also felt my breathing slow down, and my body relax. Because I was focused on this one task, my mind had a clear directive: only think about this painting. It didn’t have time to wander to other worries or annoying thoughts, or even to get bored.

Overall, I think this is a great challenge for everyone to try. I was surprised by how calming and centering it was, and I noticed lots of new things about a great piece of art. You can try this with any piece, whether it has a lot of things to look at, like ‘The Starry Night’, or not very many. You can also adjust the timing; sit for only 5 minutes, or as long as you want. Find an art piece and give it a try!

Music/Concerts

Jill Sobule

May 16, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Teagan Mack

Singer songwriter Jill Sobule passed away on May 1st, 2025, at the age of 66. She was known for her hit singles “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel” from the ‘Clueless’ soundtrack. Sobule died in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota early Thursday morning on May 1st.

Firefighters reported to Pinehurst Road around 5:30 a.m., after receiving a call about a fire. When firefighters arrived at the house it was in flames. The homeowners stated that a woman in her 60s was possibly still inside. Later on Thursday, Woodbury Public Safety stated that there were no immediate signs of foul play, and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office is pending toxicology results which can take up to 6 weeks. Sobule was in town visiting friends and recording an episode of a podcast called “The Brian Oake Show”.

An article from INFORUM News got statements from both her manager John Porter and her booking agent Craig Grossman. John Porter said “I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client and a friend today. I hope her music, memory, and legacy continue to live on and inspire others.” Craig stated “I was fortunate to know Sobule beyond a professional relationship. No one made me laugh more. Her spirit and energy shall be greatly missed within the music community and beyond.”

In 2008, Sobule was dropped from multiple record labels, and a couple indie labels she worked with went bankrupt. Due to this inconvenience, Sobule became an early pioneer of crowdfunding to support her music. This basically means she raised money from her audience to help her produce her music. Sobule ended up raising close to $89,000 to help fund her album ‘California Years’ which was later released in April of 2009. Sobule was not just a singer, but a human rights activist. She made history with her song “I Kissed A Girl” being the first openly gay-themed song to crack the billboard top 20.

In Sobule’s music, the lyrics are about identity, love, societal norms, and brain surgery. Sobule battled with anorexia and depression, which she likes to mention in her lyrics. Since her 20s she’s had tremors, but always thought it was from excess energy. Her tremors made it hard to focus especially when she was working. Due to this she underwent DBS. DBS is a brain surgery commonly used to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, and essential tremors.

For more information, please visit:

About her death: INFORUM
About her DBS: Soap Central

Travel/Food

Recipe review: Brookies

May 15, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

Ingredients

Brownie Batter:

½ cup unsalted butter melted
¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips or roughly chopped chocolate
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
⅓ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour

Cookie Dough:

½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder

Instructions:

Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper or grease it.
Heat the oven to 350Fº.
For the brownies, melt butter then stir in cocoa powder.
Whisk in both sugar and the salt then add the eggs and vanilla and beat well (secret to glossy brownies is to beat the eggs and sugar very well.)
Add the flour and mix until almost combined then fold in the chocolate chips
Transfer the brownie batter to your prepared pan and spread into a thin layer then set aside.
For the cookie dough, cream the butter, and sugars on high for 3-4 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Mix in the vanilla and egg.
Add salt, baking soda and powder then mix until combined.
Pour in the flour and mix until almost combined then fold in the chocolate chips.
Drop spoonfuls onto the brownie batter. You don’t need full coverage, it will be nice to see the brownie batter peaking through after baking.
Bake at 350Fº for 35-40 mins.
Allow to cool before removing from the pan and cutting.
Enjoy!

Review:

These brookies were absolutely amazing. The brownie was so rich and gooey, and the cookie was perfectly browned and sweet. The chocolate chips in both were melted and tied both of them together. There was the perfect ratio of cookie to brownie, so in every bite I got a little bit of both. I paired it with a cold cup of milk and it made my night.

The recipe was easy to follow, but took up a lot of time since you have to make two different mixtures. It was all very worth it though, and now I have lots to share.

The next day while I was hanging out with my friends, I shared the brookies with them and they tasted just as good cold or warmed up in the microwave. I also gave some to my brother and he said that they were great.

I got this recipe off of Preppy Kitchen (https://preppykitchen.com/brookies/#recipe) by John Kanell. The website was easy to navigate and the recipe was amazing. He did a great job with creating the perfect brookie recipe.

I had a great time making these, and the result was so worth the time spent! It was great to share with my friends and family. Try making these yourself! Enjoy!

Books/Art, Editorials/Student Voice, Movies/TV/Theaters

Reasons why books are better than their movie adaptations

May 15, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Fletcher Pike

If you’ve ever watched a movie adaptation of a book, like ‘The Hunger Games’ or ‘Divergent’, you might wonder about the differences or similarities between the book and its movie adaptation. In this article, I will list several reasons as to why books are better than their movie counterparts.

For one, reading a book allows your mind to create your own interpretation of the story. Your brain creates your own version of the characters using descriptive words within the book that seems to make it more personal and creative. However, most movies might not correlate to your personal interpretation of what you thought characters or places looked like. This can lead to some dissatisfaction as some things might not seem as familiar to you.

Another reason is that movie adaptations usually leave out details from the book. As reading a book can usually take longer than watching a movie, the movies might leave out some interesting details or information about the plot or characters. The average film is only about 2 hours long, but books can have hundreds or even thousands of pages of descriptive words and details that can take several hours to read.

Another reason is that books help build your vocabulary. When you read a book, your brain is actively progressing in grammar and spelling. Reading several books makes you an overall smarter person as you are continuing to build your reading level and vocabulary.

Some might think that movies are more interesting than books, but books allow you to immerse yourself further into your own interpretation of the story.

Overall, I think that books are much better than movies as they provide a creative outlet for the endless stories that books contain.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Bridgerton’ Season 1 review

May 14, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Sasha Deans

Season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’ is a romantic drama that takes place in London during the Regency era, The story is about rich families who go to parties and dances to find love and good marriages, and everything is super formal and full of rules. The main focus is on the Bridgerton family, especially the oldest daughter, Daphne Bridgerton.

Daphne is just starting her first “season,” which is when high society girls get introduced to people and hopefully find someone to marry. At first, everything seems perfect: she looked super amazing, acts politely, and gets attention. But things start to go wrong, and she realizes that finding true love isn’t as simple as it looks in fairy tales. That’s when she meets Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. He’s super rich, super charming and but cold, as he doesn’t want to marry anyone. But when he and Daphne come up with a plan to help each other out things start to get really interesting and even sad.

While all this drama is going on, there’s a mysterious gossip writer named “Lady Whistledown”. She sends out letters to everyone in town spilling secrets and talking about people’s personal lives. Nobody knows who she is, but everyone reads her papers. It makes things fun, but also a little dangerous for the characters who are trying to keep their secrets private.

One of the best parts of the show is the music. Even though the characters are wearing ball gowns and dancing in ballrooms, the songs are actually modern ones that we know but they are just played on violins and string instruments so they sound old-fashioned but cool. This makes the show feel unique, like it’s mixing the past with the present.

“Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande, “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5, “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift, “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes are some of the songs heard. Even though the show is about things that happened a long time ago, the modern songs help you connect with the characters and feel the drama in a way that’s more fun and relatable. It also makes scenes more memorable like you’ll hear the violin version of “Thank U, Next” and actually remember the party scene it went with.

I also feel like the diversity in the show definitely helps keep it a up to date show; there’s no timely realistic race structure which is good. There’s many black and just people of color playing so many roles!

Overall, ‘Bridgerton’ Season 1 is about more than just love. It’s about figuring out what you want in life, making your own choices, and dealing with family pressure. It’s also about friendships, gossip, and standing up for yourself. With amazing costumes, fun characters, a little mystery, and awesome music, it’s a really fun and dramatic show to watch. I would definitely give it a 4/5.

You can watch ‘Bridgerton’ on Netflix.

Travel/Food

How to make tres leches

May 13, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Nereida Dominguez Remedios

Image by @joefoodie via Wikimedia Commons

According to the Loco Gringo food blog, in the 19th century, there was a recipe floating around Mexico for a bread cake that was soaked in wine and topped with custard. This is thought to be a spin of the Italian tiramisu or the English trifle, both alcohol soaked sponge cakes with heavy cream, cheese and sugar! All recipes were a great way to reconstitute leftover, stale cookies, cake or bread into a great dessert.

There are several different styles of tres leches such as, coffee, chocolate, piña colada, strawberry, and coconut. But many people enjoy and prefer regular tres leches.

Oftentimes there are tres leches that have fillings like strawberry, pineapple, cookies and cream, or peanuts and another filling could be peaches.

The things you will need to make the cake will be listed below:

cake mix of choice (I use Betty Crocker’s or make your own)
sweetened condensed milk (I use la Lechera)
evaporated milk (Carnation)
regular milk (of choice)
heavy whipping cream
sugar
vanilla extract
measuring cups

The majority of time when I make tres leches I often use cake mix. I follow the instructions on the box then when I take out the cake I let it cool down for at least one hour.

Once it is cooled down I begin to poke holes all around the cake with a fork.

While it’s cooling down, you can make the milk mixture (tres leche) by pouring a can of condensed milk with a can of evaporated milk (both contain a cup and a half) and lastly you add one cup of regular milk (of your desire).

Once you have finished the milk mixture you may add it to the cake and let that sit in the fridge for one hour to a hour and a half.

Once the milk soaks into the cake you may start the whipping cream. You use a cup and a half of heavy whipping cream and one fourth of a cup of sugar and lastly a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Once all the ingredients are in a bowl you may begin to mix them into a thick consistency. After that, you may put it on the cake.

If you would like, you also can put cinnamon as a topping, or strawberries, then you will have a tres leches cake.

You may now enjoy!

For more information, please visit:

–/food/history-tres-leches-cake-recipe

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Snow White’ controversy

May 12, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Teagan Mack

*Note: This article contains minor spoilers

Mirror Mirror on the wall, must Disney remake them all?

Disney’s new live-action ‘Snow White’ movie has been raising a lot of debate and controversy. While some are excited to see a new take on the classic, others have some concerns about the casting choice, changes in the storyline, and overall direction the film is taking. This movie, which stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White, has sparked a vast range of opinions from critics and fans. Here’s a closer look into the major issues surrounding the movie.

The casting of Rachel Zegler as Snow White has struck significant debate, mainly because of her being a Latina actress in a role traditionally associated with fair skin and black hair. In response to the backlash, Zegler has stood by the casting, expressing that the story of Snow White is not just about appearance, but about kindness and bravery. She also pointed out that people who look like her are rarely cast in such iconic roles. In a 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, she stated, “You don’t particularly see people who look like me or are me playing roles like that,” highlighting the importance of representation in fairy-tale stories. Instead of focusing on the negative criticism, Zegler focused her attention on the significance that this role portrays for audience members who identify with her background.

This new version’s depiction of the Seven Dwarfs has also sparked debates among audiences. Peter Dinklage who advocates for dwarfism rights disagrees with Disney’s choice to feature CGI dwarves in their remake by labeling it a “backwards story”. Dinklage disagrees with this decision, and believes they should use real actors with dwarfism to play the dwarfs. The selection of a Latina actress by Disney prompted his worries about the continued existence of old stereotypes. They planned to replace them with “magical creatures” and consult the dwarfism community to prevent negative stereotypes. This decision has prompted further discussion. Some worry about losing the dwarfs’ charm and humor, while others believe it’s important to address how disabilities are represented today.

Another significant change involves Snow White’s character development. In the original animated version, Snow White is passive, waiting for her prince. In the new version she is more active and independent. Some argue that showing women in movies as self-reliant, and strong is essential, while others feel it moves further away from the original plot of the fairy-tale.

After watching the new remake of Snow White, I’m not sure how I feel. I grew up watching all of the original Disney princess movies, and even though Snow White was not my favorite, I still found her story interesting. The movie looks good, and the costumes have a nice touch, but it doesn’t feel the same. There are no dwarfs like in the original, only magical creatures, which deviates from the old storyline. Snow White doesn’t sing “Someday My Prince Will Come,” and we don’t get to see much of the prince either. She acts more serious and tough, unlike in the original where she is kind and gentle. It feels like a completely different story with the same name. Although I liked a few parts, I missed the songs, the animals, and the magical feeling from the original. I wish they had kept more of the Disney charm that made me love the old movies.

The controversy around the new ‘Snow White’ movie highlights the challenges Disney faces when remaking classic fairy-tales. While some appreciate the effort to make this franchise more diverse and more empowering towards women, others fear the changes could alienate fans of the traditional stories. This could include cultural aspects like ethnic representation, or sensitive portrayal in disabilities. Right now it’s unclear if this new movie will live up to the original, but its impact on bigger conversations is certain.

One person I talked to, Evelyn Lundy, summed up her thoughts about the new movie: ”The movie was revolutionary and it brought a different perspective to the story of Snow White.”

You can still see ‘Snow White’ in theaters.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Adolescence’ review

May 9, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Chole Rocha

‘Adolescence’ is a limited series on Netflix, directed by Philip Barantini. This show is not like many other TV shows on Netflix because each episode was filmed in one shot. This means that from the beginning to end of each episode, there is not a single cut in the camera.

This show is a coming of age drama that touches on subjects that many children go through during their teenage years. It is set in a school in the UK, with young teens that are being exposed to the toxic environments that social media provides.

Each character faces their own troubles and are all unique in their own way. Some struggles that were shown in the show were gender identity, depression, substance use, bullying, and academic pressure.

The actors were able to display raw emotions that made everything feel real to the viewer. The main character, Jamie Miller, was played by Owen Cooper. This show was Owen’s first acting role. I think that he did amazing at playing this character and taking on such a difficult job for his first time.

Jamie Miller, is a young boy who was bullied online and he eventually committed a crime that could not be undone. The first episode shows Jamie being arrested as a suspect for a murder, but by the end of the show, you can see the impacts that his decisions had on his family and the other people around him.

As each episode goes on, you can clearly see Jamie’s mental state start to disintegrate. The show was never a “who did it” murder mystery, it was clear by the first episode who committed the crime. The point of the show was to figure out why he did it and what led him to that point.

During an interview with GQ, Philip Barantini stated that the purpose of the show was to spark conversations about the dangers of cyberbullying and toxic masculinity. He wanted to encourage parents to engage in more deep conversations with their children about their online experiences. I really enjoyed watching this show because it was amazing to see everything filmed in one continuous shot. All of the actors that were in this show have amazing talent and were able to deliver amazing scenes for us to watch.

Books/Art

‘Chaly Goes to See the Doctor’ by Dr. Chee Vang: Book review

May 8, 2025 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Jooney Freddieson & Aalovely Lor

Before we start with the story, let’s talk about the author— Dr. Chee Vang.

Dr. Chee Vang is not only an author, but a family practicing physician in the Hmong community. He graduated from Highland Park Senior High, soon pursuing his career in medicine.

He made history as the first to write a bilingual children’s book in both Hmong and English about health for children. This helps reflect his passion and commitment to medicine and preserving the Hmong language.

Through the book, Dr. Chee Vang offers medical guidance, as well as bridging cultures and generations.

He serves his community by providing both medical care and helping young Hmong children/teens reconnect with the language that’s beginning to get lost.

This book is more than the first Hmong/English bilingual children’s book, but also a meaningful way to contribute to health education and preservation of culture.

At the beginning of the book we’re introduced to Chaly, a young boy who expresses his nervous feeling about visiting the Doctor for a checkup.

It’s a relatable opening that helps capture the reader’s attention, especially children who have similar experiences when going to the doctor’s.

As the story progresses, we follow Chaly through all the different steps of his medical examination.

He’s first introduced to the nurse who takes his vital signs, and that includes multiple steps like taking his temperature and blood pressure.

The nurse makes sure to explain each step carefully to give Chaly and the reader a sense of understanding.

Eventually, Chaly meets Dr. Chee Vang who performs a physical examination. Through the examination, Dr. Chee Vang takes time to answer Chaly’s questions and builds both trust and communication.

He uses models and diagrams as an easy-to-understand method to help Chaly learn how the body works. This is not only helpful to Chaly, but it also can provide a way for young readers to follow along.

At the end, Chaly realizes his outlook on visiting the doctor’s has changed completely. His fear from the beginning ended with confidence and he understands that it doesn’t have to be scary because the doctors are supporting them, not hurting them.

Chaly’s journey educates and prepares the readers for what to expect during a medical visit, breaking down each step and introducing medical roles in a memorable way.

This also teaches young people to advocate for themselves and communicate openly with their healthcare professional. These lessons are important for children, especially those with language barriers or cultural differences.

Although this book was designed for readers between the ages of 5 and 18, its education goes beyond the age range.

It includes Hmong translations on each page, becoming a language learning tool for everyone as well. This is important for Hmong families because younger generations begin to lose their fluency in the language they speak.

As a Hmong teenager, I (Aalovley) continue to struggle with losing touch within the language I grew up speaking. Reading this book had an unexpected impact on my vocabulary when speaking Hmong. The words helped me reconnect with my culture, and more importantly, I was able to share this book with my younger siblings. I taught them what I learned, and that helped reinforce the vocabulary/language in all of us.

We highly recommend this book for Hmong families who are seeking help with their language/further education on health knowledge because these aren’t everyday things we learn.

‘Chaly Goes to See the Doctor’ is more than just a children’s book, but also a tool for learning and reconnection. It builds relationships between doctors/patients, between cultural generations, and for kids or teenagers like us. It gives us a path back to parts of our culture we may have lost along the way.

If you or someone you know might be interested in the book, here are resources where you can find it and support Dr. Chee Vang:

Libraries in Minnesota: