Category Archives: Entertainment

Books/Art

’Made in Korea’ book review

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By: Maggie Hong

‘Made in Korea’ is a romance novel by Sarah Suk. It follows the stories of Valerie Kwon and Wes Jung, high school seniors who run competing K-beauty brands at their school.

Valerie has been running her business since sophomore year, and it’s the most successful student run business at the school so far. Together with her cousin/business partner Charlie, she carefully stocks face masks, toners, and lip balms to cater to her customers.

When Wes Jung moves to town and begins selling limited edition k-pop merch, Valerie’s business is threatened. Not only that, but she needs the profits to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris with her grandmother, whose health is declining by the day. She immediately goes into overdrive, advertising on Instagram and giving special deals to loyal customers.

Wes didn’t intend to start selling k-pop merch, but when his mom, a PR rep for a popular group, has some lip balms left over, he can’t turn down the opportunity to make some money. He needs the money to repair his broken saxophone, and to pay application fees to music schools across the country. So, even as Valerie tries to intimidate him and warn him off her customers, Wes keeps going.

Valerie and Wes are bitter rivals. But as they compete so closely together, they start to realize one another’s situation. This book was both fun and heartwarming to read, and I felt connected to my culture and represented in a genre I don’t usually read. The characters are loveable and nuanced, and the story is engaging and fast paced. This is a great read if you like romance, or if you’re looking for a lighter read and a change of scenery from more serious books.

I would give this book a 9/10.

Books/Art

History of Impressionism

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By: Fletcher Pike

Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’ Image via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_-_Seerosen.jpg

Art comes in several different forms, many of which you have likely seen today. You might think of paintings from the Renaissance period like the ‘Mona Lisa’ or ‘The Girl With The Pearl Earring’, or maybe more abstract, modern paintings. But one art style in particular was formed as a result of one of the most popular movements in art history. That art style would be Impressionism.

Impressionism itself is a very recognizable style of painting, as the paintings featured bright, chromatic colors rather than the more dull palettes that were used for previous styles of painting. The colors also emphasized the contrast between light and shadows. These paintings very often depicted a mundane or realistic setting, rather than dramaticized historical scenes.

In 1874, a group of artists formed the ‘Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, etc.’. Its founding members included popular artists such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, and several others. They created an art installation in Paris, France, where many unique paintings were displayed. 

However, these paintings were a bit different from other paintings at the time. These paintings included loose brush strokes, vivid colors, and featured scenes primarily of nature or the simple, everyday life. These were different from the grand, historical story-based paintings that were made during this time. This new abstract style brought a sense of realism in contrast to the art featured in this time period.

Claude Monet was a significant figure throughout this movement, as he was one of the trailblazers that popularized the style of Impressionism. In one of his exhibits, critic Louis Leroy gave Impressionism its name by stating Monet’s paintings were more of an uncompleted sketch, “an impression”.

The final independent exhibition of Impressionism was held in 1886, but the painters had begun shifting towards a new direction for the movement, which was Neo-Impressionism. This was an art movement characterized by small intricate dots, distinct brushstrokes, and bright colors. 

Though the final exhibition was so long ago, the Impressionist movement had a large impact on the art community by adapting to new art styles, and allowed artists to freely express themselves through their artwork.

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Movies/TV/Theaters

The curse of reboots

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By: Hermekay Dehaney

Image made with ChatGPT

We live in a time when Hollywood is fueled by trying to replicate nostalgic content to relive popular and beloved films and shows with reboots and sequels. While some Hollywood directors and producers hit the mark with shows and movies such as ‘Cobra Kai’ and ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming,’  which are high-grossing reboots, the majority fade away, either getting canceled after one season or becoming box office flops. 

There is a popular quote that says, “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” I think that quote indirectly applies to movies/shows as well.  A key factor in good shows is that they know when to end effectively, which leaves a lasting impression on critics and viewers at home. For example, shows like ‘Breaking Bad’, and ‘The Good Place’ are often praised for ending their show successfully. When shows continue past their prime, it leads to low viewer rates and creative decline, a perfect example is the show, ‘Riverdale.’ There are obvious exceptions to this rule, shows like ‘Modern Family,’ ‘The Office,’ and ‘Friends’ are often regarded as some of the best TV shows that have run for more than 9 seasons. 

Reboots might seem safe on paper. When executives try to reboot popular shows and movies that nobody asked for, it feels like a quick money grab from executives and actors who starred in the original. They believed that since people enjoyed the original and a beloved original actor is returning to star in it, viewers will enjoy the reboot, which is not true. It only works if the execution is right. If it doesn’t have the creative magic and storyline that the original show captures, it’s bound to fail. 

Examples include  ‘Gossip Girl (2021), which is a reboot of the original ‘Gossip Girl’ that was first released in 2007; ‘Fuller House’, a reboot of ‘Full House’;  ‘That 90’s Show’, a reboot of ‘That 70’s Show’; and ‘Gilmore Girl: A Year In The Life’, which is a reboot of ‘Gilmore Girls’. All of them were betting on brand recognition to be successful, but ultimately flopped, some canceled after only 1 season. 

I’ve noticed that when reboots don’t evolve with their original audience, the reboot falls flat. I remember in 2019, Disney+ announced a ‘Lizzie McGuire’ reboot, but it was later shelved before it was filmed due to creative differences between the executives and Hilary Duff, who plays the main character. Hilary Duff wanted it to be a more “mature” show because the original audience of the show has grown up, which means their tastes have evolved. She also wanted her character who would’ve been in her 30s to be in a more realistic real-life adult situation. Disney+ disagreed and wanted it to be more of a family-friendly show approach. This disagreement ultimately led to a cancellation of production. I think it was the right choice because if they had let Disney+ win,  the show would’ve been added to the list of canceled reboots after 1 season due to it failing to connect with the original audience for being too juvenile. 

Rebooting cartoons to live-action also always fails. Animated shows have different rules compared to live action, cartoons operate on a totally different scale, and their visuals and tone are totally different. What might look good in 2D sometimes looks awkward In live action. These projects struggle to have the features that only animation can capture.

Reboots are just a lack of creativity, they fail to understand what audiences want. It’s not always just the familiar face and nostalgia that pulls viewers in, it’s the creative vision that involves mixing something old with something new without trying to completely change the storyline from the original. Viewers want a new perspective but a similar style. So, if Hollywood wants to keep on revisiting classics, they need to start creating something worth watching.

Travel/Food

Recipe review: Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

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By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

Ingredients for Cupcakes:

  • 1 ⅔ cups of flour
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • ¼ tsp of baking soda
  • 1 ½ tsp of baking powder
  • ¼ tsp of kosher salt
  • ¾ cup of unsalted butter
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tbsp of vanilla extract
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup whole milk

Ingredients for Frosting:

  • 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate
  • 2 cups of heavy whipping cream

Instructions:

Cupcakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  2. Sift the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and powder into a large bowl.
  3. Mix the butter, egg whites, vanilla, sour cream, and milk into a separate bowl.
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until fully combined.
  5. Put cupcake liners into a muffin tin and fill them ⅔ of the way full.
  6. Bake for 18 minutes.

Frosting

  1. Heat the heavy whipping cream in a pot over the stove until simmering.
  2. Put chocolate into a medium sized bowl and pour the simmering cream on top.
  3. Cover the bowl with a plate for 2 minutes before mixing.
  4. Take the plate off and cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill until smooth, creamy and set
  5. Beat the mixture until fluffy

Piping

  1. Put frosting into a piping bag.
  2. After cupcakes have fully cooled, pipe the frosting to cover the top
  3. Enjoy!

Review:

These cupcakes were absolutely divine. The cake was so fluffy and dense at the same time. The frosting was so creamy and the chocolate was so rich. I loved the sweet flavor of the vanilla cake and the frosting went with it perfectly because it was so rich. The two flavors complement each other perfectly.

I made these cupcakes with my friends, and we got the recipe from her grandma. They were very enjoyable to make, and we had a great time. It took us a while to make everything, but it was so worth it in the end. They were honestly the best cupcakes I’ve ever made and I will absolutely be making them again in the near future.

These cupcakes are perfect for any occasion, birthdays, holidays, celebrations, or just for fun! They are perfect for chocolate lovers and are so easy to share with everyone!

I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did! Enjoy!

Travel/Food

The history of Bubbl’r

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By: Teagan Mack

Bubbl’r, a refreshing sparkling water, has become a favorite drink in high schools across the country. But how did this fizzy drink become so popular? Let’s take a look at the history of Bubbl’r and how it went from a simple idea to a beloved beverage among students.

Bubbl’r was created by a company called Bubbl’r Beverages and launched in 2019. The idea behind Bubbl’r was simple: make a sparkling drink that’s not only refreshing but also healthy. They wanted to create a drink that had all the fun of soda but without all the sugar and artificial ingredients. Unlike most sparkling waters, which often taste plain, Bubbl’r added fun, fruity flavors to stand out. With zero calories, no added sugars, and a variety of exciting flavors, it was the perfect alternative to sugary sodas.

From the beginning, Bubbl’r quickly gained popularity, especially among teens. The drink became a hit because it was both tasty and refreshing, offering a light, fizzy taste with flavors like Cherry Lime, Mango Passionfruit, and Tropical Blast. As Ellie Harris remarked, “I love how Bubbl’r have a such diverse range of flavors.”

Bubbl’r also caught the attention of students who were looking for a healthier option to quench their thirst. As more people started to realize the benefits of drinking sparkling water instead of soda, Bubbl’r became a popular choice for students trying to cut back on sugar while still enjoying a delicious drink.

The reason Bubbl’r became such a hit with high school students can also be traced back to its clever marketing. The bright colors and fun, youthful branding caught the eye of teens, and the drink became a social media sensation. Teens shared their love for Bubbl’r on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, helping the brand spread quickly. Its fun design and catchy slogans made it impossible to miss in stores, and soon it was everywhere. Even teachers like Ms. Rise couldn’t help but notice Bubbl’r, “I saw students in my IB Geo class drinking bubbl’r and I became interested about why it was so popular. So I got it and I tried it an I loved it. I love it because it tastes like a soda pop and it’s supposed to be really healthy.”

Another factor that made Bubbl’r so popular is its convenience. The drink comes in easy-to-carry cans, making it perfect for students who are always on the go. Whether they were grabbing a can from the vending machine between classes or taking it to lunch, Bubbl’r became the drink of choice for busy high schoolers. Its simple, fizzy taste made it the perfect companion for after-school activities or study sessions. Just take it from Evie Beaumaster, “It keeps me alive and energized throughout the long days of school.”

In addition to its great taste, Bubbl’r is also environmentally friendly. The company uses recyclable cans, which is something that many students appreciate as they become more aware of environmental issues. Bubbl’r’s commitment to sustainability has only helped it grow in popularity, as more teens are looking for brands that care about the planet.

So, the next time you grab a Bubbl’r from the vending machine or share your favorite flavor with a friend, you’ll know a little more about the history behind the drink that’s become a hit in high schools everywhere. From its simple beginning to its rise in popularity, Bubbl’r has made its mark—and it’s here to stay.

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Movies/TV/Theaters

‘To the Bone’

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By: Chloe Rocha

*Warning: This article contains details related to eating disorders

‘To the Bone’ is a movie that was directed by Marti Noxon, and it stars Lily Collins as Ellen who later goes by Eli, Keanu Reeves as Dr. William Beckham, Alex Sharp as Luke, and many other brilliant actors.

This film follows the life of Ellen, who is a 20-year-old woman, while struggling with severe anorexia. Anorexia is a form of an eating disorder which causes the person who is suffering from it to obsess about their weight and what they eat. Ellen undergoes treatment at a recovery home that isn’t like the typical treatment place.

This film was able to portray the raw realities of eating disorders and the tolls it takes on the person and also the loved ones all around them. It was inspired by Marti Noxon’s own personal experience with an eating disorder.

Ellen had been to many other treatment facilities before arriving to the one that she is at during the film. The recovery home had a different approach at trying to help the patients.

Rather than solely focusing on weight gain, like a typical treatment facility for eating disorders would, the one run by Dr. William Beckham, was designed for a more personal approach to battling their illness.

It focused a lot on self advocacy and healing at their own pace. At the house, it wasn’t just a place filled with patients, all of the people who were there, were there for very similar reasons. This created a strong bond between them all. They were more than just a group of patients there, they were all a family.

I think that the fact that Marti Noxon made this movie based on her own experiences with an eating disorder was what made the film such an accurate representation of what it can be like. One example I have is when Ellen’s sister said “I don’t get it, just eat”, those words are what many people who struggle with eating disorders constantly hear. They are told to just eat, and the people telling them this usually don’t understand how challenging it can be.

Doing one simple task of just eating, can feel like a chore sometimes and especially to those who already struggle eating. I found this movie very hard to watch at times, but I think that it is one that people need to see. It shows the harsh realities of eating disorders and it lets people learn what it can be like.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please consider contacting: https://emilyprogram.com/

Travel/Food

Recipe review: Dubai chocolate bar

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By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of Kataifi
  • 1 tbls butter
  • 1 cup of pistachio paste
  • 2 ½ cups of milk chocolate

*You can get Kataifi and pistachio paste online and at stores like Golden Nuts

*need a chocolate bar mold*

Instructions:

  1. Roughly chop up the kataifi dough.
  2. melt your butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, coating the pan.
  3. Add in the chopped kataifi threads and stir occasionally until they become golden brown (about 5-10 mins) and remove from the skillet.
  4. In a large bowl, mix the toasted kataifi with pistachio paste, then set aside.
  5. Melt the milk chocolate in a double boiler.
  6. Spread the melted chocolate on the inside of the chocolate bar mold until it covers the entire bottom.
  7. Freeze for 10 mins.
  8. Spoon the pistachio and kataifi mixture into the mold. Use a knife to flatten the filling and ensure it is spread to the sides of the mold.
  9. Gently add a top layer of milk chocolate to the mold.
  10. Freeze for another 10 mins or until the chocolate hardens.
  11. Enjoy!

Background:

The Dubai chocolate bar is a viral chocolate bar filled with Kataifi, which is tiny shredded crunchy dough, and pistachio cream. It is originally a dessert from Dubai, and is from Fix Dessert Chocolatier, where the catchphrase is “Can’t get Knafeh of it”. The chocolate bar has become a viral dessert in 2024 particularly on TikTok.

Review:

I absolutely loved this recipe. I have been seeing Dubai chocolate all over the internet and I have wanted to try it for so long. I found this great recipe and got a chocolate mold and decided to try it out for myself. My friend and I followed this very easy step-by-step recipe, and the result was amazing!

The chocolate bar was so sweet and the filling was the perfect mixture of crunchy and creamy. The pistachio and chocolate went together perfectly, the flavors balancing each other out. The bar was very big and I could easily split it with my friend.

I got this recipe from https://www.chocolatesandchai.com/dubai-chocolate-bar/ by Sarah Hamouda, and she did a great job making the recipe easy to follow and have great results every time!

I will definitely be making this again, and so should you! I hope you enjoy!

Travel/Food

Cinnamon Streusel Muffin Review

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 By: Alice Rapacz

Ingredients:

Muffin

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup/8 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 eggs (at room temperature)
  • ½ cup sour cream (at room temperature)
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cinnamon Streusel Topping

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a 12 count muffin tin with cupcake liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt, combine together.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Add in the 2 eggs, sour cream, milk, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until just combined.
  5. Add in the dry ingredients and use a spatula or spoon to combine just until there are no more dry flour patches remaining.
  6. Make the streusel topping by melting the butter in a microwave safe bowl. Next add the sugar to the melted butter and mix until combined. Then add the flour and cinnamon and mix together until you have clumps of the mixture.
  7. Put the batter into the muffin tin, making sure to fill the liners all the way to the top.
  8. Sprinkle each muffin with the streusel topping.
  9. Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 425 degrees and immediately reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 12-15 minutes.
  10. Once a toothpick can be inserted into the muffin and comes out clean, the muffins are done.
  11. Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin tin, then take them out and let them cool on a wire rack.
  12. Lastly, Enjoy!

Review:

I thought that this recipe from Chisel & Fork was really good. Typically for baking recipes, I like to use Sally’s Baking addiction, but this time I wanted to try something new. I found this recipe for Cinnamon Streusel Muffins and wanted to give it a try. I thought that the recipe was easy to follow and understand. I followed the directions step by step, first measuring out my dry ingredients, and in a separate bowl my wet. I used a stand mixer to combine the wet ingredients, and I found that the end result is not as smooth as I thought it would be. There were small chunks of sour cream in the mixture even though I had mixed it for more than enough time. I was a little surprised at first, but once I added the dry ingredients into the wet, it all came together really nicely.

Once I divided the muffin batter into the tin, I topped each muffin with the streusel. I added too much on the first muffins, so I had to divide and sprinkle them onto other muffins to make sure there was enough for each one. Once they were baked, they filled my house with a warm cinnamon smell.

When I tried the muffin warm for the first time, it had a perfect texture, light, and fluffy. The streusel on top added a perfect crunch, that wasn’t too crunchy, it just added the perfect texture. The muffin itself had a nice cinnamon flavor, but I thought that the addition of the streusel was needed for extra cinnamon flavor. Everyone in my family tried them and two days later all the muffins were gone. They are the perfect sweet treat or easy on the go breakfast. Overall, I would definitely recommend this recipe if you’re looking for a quick, easy and delicious muffin recipe.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Prison Break’ review

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By: Sasha Deans

*Warning: This review contains minor spoilers

I think ‘Prison Break’ is a great series that is definitely meant for people who enjoy more serious and intense shows. It’s not at all a fun and games type of show like something you’d see on Disney. Instead, it’s very realistic and maybe even scary realistic at times. There are also a lot of very sad and heartbreaking scenes that make you think about what really happens in high-security prisons.

The show does a good job of portraying the range of criminals in prison. Of course, the two brothers, Michael and Lincoln, have a unique story. But aside from them, you see inmates who have committed serious crimes like rape, murder, assassinations, and high-level theft. However, there are also people in there for lesser crimes, like carjackers. This variety makes the show very interesting because you get to learn each criminal’s backstory and why they ended up in prison.

One of the things I really love about Prison Break is how it shows the harsh reality of the American prison system. It makes you wonder what’s really going on in our government that we may not even know about. The show subtly reveals the dark side of the system, and it really opened my eyes to what could be happening behind closed doors.

Another huge theme in the show is the relationships between the characters. One of my favorites is the friendship between Michael and Sucre. They started off as cellmates in Season 1 but ended up becoming lifelong best friends who would do anything for each other. Their bond is really heartwarming to watch, especially considering the dark environment they’re in.

But the most powerful theme in the show is definitely family love. Michael spent most of his life resenting his brother Lincoln, but the moment Lincoln was sentenced to death, Michael did not hesitate to risk his entire life, career, and freedom to break his brother out of prison. It’s a perfect example of family over everything. You also see a similar bond between Lincoln and his son, LJ, who would do anything for each other.

I also really enjoyed the love stories in the show, like Sucre and Maricruz. Sucre literally escaped prison just to be with Maricruz and their daughter. Another powerful love story is Michael and Sara’s. Michael had to make extremely dangerous and life-threatening decisions just to protect Sara, showing how strong their love was.

The acting in Prison Break is absolutely amazing. It feels very realistic, and the suspense is heart-stopping. The show has a lot of action—like gunfights, car chases, aircraft escapes, bombs, and more. So, if you love high-action, intense shows, this is definitely one you need to watch.

Final Verdict:

I would give Prison Break a 5/5. It has everything—action, suspense, drama, romance, and shocking plot twists. It’s definitely not a lighthearted show, but if you enjoy a deep, serious, and realistic series, this is absolutely worth watching. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Highly recommended!

You can watch on Netflix!

Movies/TV/Theaters

Analysis and review of the movie ‘Aftersun’ by Charlotte Wells

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By: Chloe Rocha

*Warning: This review includes spoilers

The movie ‘Aftersun’ is written and directed by Charlotte Wells and Charlotte stated that this movie is loosely based on her personal experience of a holiday with her father.

This film follows the life of Sophie and Calum, through the view of a home video lens. It captures the themes of memory, time, love, and loss in a beautiful way that may be overlooked by some viewers. There are very small details throughout the movie that when watching the first time, you may not seem to recognize because you don’t understand the full picture.

Calum and Sophie were on a family vacation at a Turkish resort, and Calum was trying to provide Sophie, who was his daughter, the best experience she could have, despite his struggling to make ends meet. Not only was he struggling financially, but he was also struggling mentally. He tries to put up a front to give Sophie the experience she deserves, but deep down he struggled severely with depression.

As the film goes on, it becomes more apparent that this vacation may be the last one they experience together. This is hinted through the fact that despite his financial struggles, he kept on buying things for Sophie to remember him by. For example he purchased a rug for 850 pounds, and the rug is later seen in the movie when it shows up in Sophie’s adult life.

When she was younger she never fully understood her father’s struggle with mental health, she only viewed him as a distant dad. But when she is older, she is tries to recall what really went on during that vacation.

Through old films that she made while documenting their vacation, she truly sees how much he was struggling, and while she couldn’t understand it when she was younger, now she does. But there were pieces of the story that were missing for both her and the audience, which allows viewers to infer what really happened.

The ending of the movie was very heartbreaking because it shows adult Sophie watching her father disappear into a strobe lit void, and he essentially lost himself as well. I interpreted this scene as a metaphor for loss, suggesting that Calum is no longer present in Sophie’s life, and that may be due to his passing.

While this movie has a very slow pacing, I think it was so the audience would be able to capture and truly understand the characters and their emotions. At the beginning, I didn’tunderstand the movie, but I quickly realized and recognized the underlying themes throughout the film.

I think this movie was beautifully made and perfectly depicts the realities of depression and how it can interfere with the lives of your loved ones as well.

You can watch ‘Aftersun’ on Netflix.