826LA Good Times Vol. 6 Issue 3-Winter

DECEMBER 15, 2014 VOLUME VI, ISSUE III

CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 2014

GOOD TIMES FREE

Shop at your Risk!

Joon Kim You might think shopping is just another time of choosing, but beware during holidays, shopping takes on a whole new role. Instead of a mellow time, it’s a combat battlefield. It’s the worst nightmare of the holidays. Usually this wouldn’t happen under normal shopping conditions, but during holidays, you might witness a fiasco.

Black Friday is the day when shopping becomes really busy. It’s very common practice in America, but it’s catching on around the world. It started in China, Australia, Canada, but France barely started, and as far as we know, Cambodia doesn’t have Black Friday.

Black Friday is a time where stores lower the price of their items.

The Interview This reporter has found a scoop of interview-flavored ice cream [ Joke] at the Time Travel Mart. Here is the scoop from the manager Joon: What did the customers fight over?

Manager: The customers of the Time Travel Mart are always fighting over AEON Bottled Time which they use to refuel their time machines. They can’t get enough of it!

Joon: How did you react to the fiasco?

Manager: I was shocked at the impatience of the customers. If the problem got out of hand, I would have been forced to call the temporal authorities.

Joon: Do you know any solutions?

Manager: The customer’s problems would be solved if they simply traveled forward or backward to a time when the shelves were fully stocked with more bottled time.

Joon: What are popular holiday products in the store?

Manager: Our most popular holiday product in the store is Jupiter Farms Robot Milk. It has many uses for both robots and humans. Most customers in warm climates use robot milk as digital snow.

Joon Kim is 10 years old. He goes to Third Street Elementary School and what he likes about journalism is writing articles.

The Holiday Spirit: Superstitions and Traditions Ana Sotomayor Christmas is right around the corner, but not everyone around the globe stuffs their faces with tamales as you may think. Everyone celebrates the holidays in their own way. A few days after Christmas, there’s New Year’s. A new year, a new you! We look forward to these joyous moments of clutching the stress ball each year. Now, hold your horses, not all of us count down while slurping champagne from a plastic glass. All around the globe people celebrate the holidays according to their culture.

Christmas is different for all cultures. During Christmas in the United States, singing in public is glorified.

Oh, those passionate Christmas carolers! Christmas isn’t always just sweet songs; it can be a stressful time for families trying to make their holiday traditions special each year. While bonds are made stronger, gifts are given and feasts are eaten, Christmas can be stressful.

Think outside the gift box. Have you ever wondered how other people celebrate around the world? Europe, Norway, Germany, South America and other countries CONTINUED ON PAGE 2...

Black Friday Eddie Song WOOHOO! Black Friday! Gotta go shopping! This is what many people say as they prepare for the busiest shopping day of the year. Many people even camp in front of stores to be the first one to get the deals.

Every year, on this day, many people die for various reasons - from severe pepper spray to other things.

But what is this day? Many are trampled from people (adults) rushing into stores, tripping and walking over each other and not caring what happens. But this is also the day of highest sales and discounts from 50 to 75% off ! This is the day when businesses have most of their products sold from 75 X-Box 360s to 159 Acer laptops (most likely broken cause of all of the rush…)

Black Friday started off as a day of high sales that everyone knew was the start of holiday shopping. As the years progressed, people learned the patterns of when the sales would start, and coined the day as Black Friday. In the early years, its was ranked 5th to 10th in most sales, but after that it was ranked 1st (except for in 2004 when it came second after Saturday, December 18th) Black Friday is special for a number of reasons. It is the last holiday before Christmas and it marks the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season sales.

Statistics show that recently, not many people want to go Black Friday shopping because of the danger of death. (Statistic shown below) Would You like to go Black Friday shopping?

YES: 2 (~13%) NO:13 (~86%) I DONT KNOW: 2 (~13%) Eddie Song is a veteran reporter at 826LA and goes to Walter Reed MS. His hobbies include gaming and drawing. He likes journalism because he gets to express himself and just freely write. He has been writing at 826 for 2 and a half years now.

Christmas Countdown History Sofia Mah-Candelaria Christmas and the weeks before it used to be not celebrated in the fun way as we do today. It was very serious in the old times and was the opposite of celebrating now with gifts and surprises. People couldn’t marry or travel in the Christmas season. And on some days in the Advent period, people did not eat because they wanted to feel spiritual. They would just go to church to pray on the day that Jesus was born.

Christmas as a fun day was first started in ancient Rome. They took their old holiday called Saturnalia and put the gift giving, feasting and decorations into Christmas. Christmas then spread in Europe and all around the world.

But centuries later, Christmas became serious again. In England and Colonial America, the Puritans outlawed celebration of Christmas in 1659.They frowned on gift giving and partying. Evergreen decorations were forbidden.

Then the law changed and people were able to celebrate. The tradition of Father Christmas began in the 1700s. He was a jolly, chubby and bearded man who was drunken. That turned into the more friendly and fun character we now call Santa Claus who brings gifts to the children all over the world.

So people began to plan for a Christmas countdown celebration. As Christmas got closer, people would decorate their houses and go shopping for gifts. They would sing Christmas carols and watch shows about the holiday. Now there was happiness all over the world!

Sofia is in third grade at Eagle Rock Elementary school.

She is 8 years old and likes to play with her dog named Charlie, who is a terrier mix.

GOODTIMES The History of Reindeers By: Monica Lee Santa Claus always makes his trip Christmas day to every child’s house. He always makes his trip, with his trusty reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. Everyone accepts the fact that, that was how Santa Claus traveled, but why did he choose reindeers? Well Santa Claus chose these reindeers, to be his ride, because apparently there were reindeers living somewhere near the north pole, or in other words they were found in the northern part of the Arctic.

The eight reindeers names, came from the famous poem, A Visit From Saint Nicholas, or commonly known as The Night Before Christmas. This poem, which was published in 1823 by the Troy Sentinel, was

the first poem that identified the eight reindeers. Later on a writer named Robert L. May wrote a story about a new reindeer, Rudolph. A song created by Johnny Marks, soon declared Rudolph to be Santa’s most famous reindeer.

A reporter, Oiville L.. Holley, had interviewed William Gilley, who was the author of a sixteen page packet, A New Year’s Present. During this interview, the topic about reindeers popped out. Mr. Gilley had responded,, “... these hooven and antlered animals resemble the reindeer and are feared and honored by those around, as you see he claims to have heard they could fly…”(www.altogetherchristmas.com). Reindeers were thought to be able to “fly” high. In another myth, it is believed that Santa’s eight reindeers were allowed to fly, because the amazing great wizard, Kris Kringle, had fed those eight reindeers a magic corn, given them the power to fly.

Reindeer are a perfect ride for Santa, besides their ability to “fly,” reindeer are able to haul a huge wagon filled with toys for every child in the world and also carry Santa. Besides carrying heavy luggage, they are adapted to the cold weather, since they live there and they have thick wooly fur that is waterproof. They also have an undercoat, which keeps out the cold by trapping the air near the skin. Their hooves are like snowshoes. They help the reindeers trudge through the snowy ground.

So overall, they are the perfect ride for Santa.

Monica Lee is thirteen years old. She attends Eagle Rock Jr./Sr. High. She likes to come to journalism, because it improves her writing skills.

The 1914 Christmas Ceasefire Jereme Lua Five months into what many say to be the “worst war in history”, World War One’s first Christmas still gleams as a symbol of the camaraderie and friendship between people. The mutual friendship between the German and British army came to be known as the “Christmas Ceasefire”.

The accurately named, “No Man’s Land” was the site of the cease fire. It was a long stretch of trenches scarring France. It started on the German side, celebrating Christmas with gifts given from the homefront.

The stalwart British forces were on guard that night.

Their sentries overheard laughing and singing from the other trenches. German soldiers were singing Silent Night, “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, alles ist ruhig.” The confused British troops who dared to cross No Man’s Land stumbled through to see the German troops having a good time in the musty trenches. “German infantryman appeared holding a small tree glowing with light. ‘Merry Christmas. We not shoot, you not shoot,” The Guardian, an online newspaper, quotes an

VOLUME VI, ISSUE III “The Holiday Spirit” continued... have their own traditions. According to Fox News, in South Africa, locals eat deep fried caterpillars with the uttermost happiness. In Japan, most families eat KFC during the holidays. Not all Christmas traditions are related to food. In Norway, brooms are hidden so they’re not stolen by malevolent witches and evil spirits. In Caracas, Venezuela, some people journey to Mass on their rollerskates. In Germany, they hide a pickle in the Christmas trees on Christmas Eve and the first child who finds it gets an extra present. This holiday magic can sometimes turn into superstition.

New Year’s Eve is a cultural fascination because it’s one night that represents the rest of the year. New Year’s Eve dinner is a big part of the tradition. The funky things we eat for good luck for the New Year can be quite humorous. Here are some of the superstitions on the dinner plate: black eyed peas, to bring good luck and prosperity, lentils and any greens, to bring good fortune, and twelve grapes, so each month of the year is sweet to the tastebuds. Superstitions for New Year’s aren’t only limited to food, it is said that the first person entering your home influences your whole year. So don’t bother inviting your mother-in-law!

unknown German troop.Without the approval from officers, men from both sides joined in the festivities. German troops welcomed the opposing side in celebration. More troops joined in that night, enjoying food, and games of soccer. “‘I’d no use for the cigarettes so I gave them to my friends” says Alfred Anderson, a soldier who was present at the ceasefire. Anderson received a postcard and a Bible. The celebration lasted one and a half days. The officers on both sides became very angry at their troops and called them back to war. The soldiers said goodbye and returned to their trenches.

Another superstition is not to cry on New Year’s Day, it brings you unhappiness. Even if it’s your party, don’t cry. Another New Year’s belief is to make loud noises so evil spirits can leave. Be sure to open the door at midnight so they have a place to exit! In the last moments in the year, the superstition that is known to all...kissing at midnight! This will ensure love and affection for the new year.

Events like the Christmas Ceasefire prove that even in the cruelest situations, humanity still shines through.

Humans can still be friendly to each other no matter what the circumstances, even if that circumstance involves political unrest and war.

Mexican Christmas Traditions

Ana Sotomayor is a 14 year old crazy cat lady that loves to dip into the creative fantasy. She was born in Peru, and currently lives with her mother and her five year old sister, Mini Godzilla.

Natalie Sanchez

Jereme doesn’t really like to write in third person, but he does like to write. He is a 9th grader in his high school’s debate as a junior varsity speaker. His favorite subjects are history and english. He has a passion for the history of war and enjoys studying war strategies.

In Mexico and the US, hispanic people (and other people) celebrate Christmas in huge ways. In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th. On Christmas or on Christmas Eve, Mexicans (and other people) cook and have a special party called a Posada.

NFL Traditions

the best commercials.

Andres Mah-Candelari

In the NFL there have only been 17 Christmas games including two playoff games. The games don’t happen every year although some years have multiple games at different times on Christmas. The NFL stopped having Christmas games in 2011.

The Posada happens at the beginning of December. At a Posada they have delicious food like tamales or posole. The people pray, sing Christmas songs. When that is done, the party starts with the pinata and games. The kids are given goodie bags.

Football like many other things has its own traditions.Some NFL traditions that include holidays are: Thanksgiving games, the Super Bowl, and sometimes Christmas games.

The first Thanksgiving game happened in 1920 also when the NFL was founded. The first football game ever played was Princeton vs Rutgers November 6, 1869 which was two weeks before Thanksgiving. Two teams that play every year on Thanksgiving are the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions.

The very first Super Bowl game occurred on January 15, 1965 and the teams that played were the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. The team with the most Super Bowl victories are the Pittsburgh Steelers with 6 wins. People normally throw a party on the Super Bowl. There is lots of food, people, and funny commercials. Super Bowl commercials are known to be

Some teams have their own traditions including: the Patriots which shoot muskets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers shoot cannons, and the Pittsburgh Steelers do the Terrible Towel. The terrible towel is when steeler fans wave a yellow towel in the air and it says the terrible towel. The Oakland Raiders do the black hole where people dress up as warriors and raiders (people who kill). They wear war paint, armor, skulls, and scream.

Football has been around for a long time and that is why it has so many traditions. The traditions are crazy, weird, and cool like football itself.

My name is Andres Mah-Candelaria I go to Eagle Rock Elementary. I am 10 years old and I like journalism because I get to learn and write at the same time.

On January 5th the Three Kings visit the kids and leave them presents. In the morning the kids get up excited to see their presents from the visitors and they hurry to see what they got. Later that day they get a round donut shape bread that is called La Rosca. La Rosca is a very special type of bread with dried fruit and powdered sugar. The bread has a baby Jesus (plastic) inside, whoever gets the baby Jesus are the godparents for the year. The bread is very delicious.

Mexican people are always excited when it is December. During Christmas Mexico is always filled with fiestas, fireworks, friends and family getting together.

So when Christmas comes, go and spend time with family and friends with a Rosca. See who gets the baby Jesus. HAVE FUN! Feliz Navidad!

My name is Natalie Sanchez. I go to Thomas Starr King Middle School. I am turning 13 on December 4. I love to write, draw, and help others.

GOODTIMES Masa during the Holidays Ivan Paz We walked down Sunset Blvd. to visit Masa, an Echo Park restaurant that opened in 2004. We talked to coowner Robert Rowe (Rob) as we sat in the busy dining room. Masa has 84 seats and 36 people on staff.

Q: What are the traditions at the restaurant during the holidays?

A: From Halloween through Thanksgiving, we do spiced pumpkin soup. At this time of year in LA, it’s chilly so that warms everything up. We are closed for Christmas, but on New Year’s Eve we are open until 9 o’clock when it’s New Year’s on the East Coast. So that everybody that works here can go and do what they want to do. Our tradition is that a lot of people come in their pajamas we watch the ball drop on TV. We serve champagne and cider and get everybody out.

Q: What is your specialty ?

A: Deep dish pizza 2 inch Chicago style. Everybody who comes here comes for it. Nobody else in LA does it like we do.

Q: Have you won any culinary awards for your food?

A: A lot of mentions in magazines and newspaper but no awards per se. I’m not a big awards guy. I don’t really believe in saying something is better than something else. How can you compare what we do to what they do at Patina. It’s completely different.

Q: Is there anything different about having a restaurant in Echo Park?

A: The thing I like about Echo Park is that in terms of Los Angeles, it feels like a neighborhood. A lot of places in LA don’t feel like a neighborhood . We know all our neighbors. I live 5 blocks away. I get to walk to work...compared to the way things were 10 years ago, things have really changed. Echo Park is becoming more and more diverse. Lots of taco trucks in Echo Park and now we are getting into more unique and designer vegan food. I think it’s cool that it is getting more and more diverse. I think Echo Park likes everything.

ASK A KID Monica Lee

Q:What has the restaurant business taught you?

A: The more you work , and the more effort you put into it, the better things get. You can’t give up.

Mall Santas

by Christina Lee In 1891, a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco had placed a large pot at the Oakland Ferry hoping that he to collect enough money to provide a free Christmas dinner to the needy. That was how the tradition of the bell and the red bucket caught on.There are about 25,000 bell ringers and some who get paid.

Salvation Army uses the money to provide Christmas gifts and food for local needy families. The money leftover goes to support the local philanthropic work.

Some people give money because they feel sorry for people who are needy. 82 cents of every dollar spent sustains life-changing programs that bring hope to the hurting souls. 82% of the funds go to programs and services, 12% goes to administrative support and 6% to fundraising. Salvation Army feeds the hungry, gives Christmas gifts, gives food to the needy, provides disaster relief, runs rehab centers, food pantries and thrift

Q: My boyfriend is being distant and I think he is going to break up with me. What should I do?

A: Break up with him. You don’t need no man.

Elsa had Ana, Meleficent had Aurora, Merida had her mom, and Nemo had his dad.

Q: I want to visit South America, but which country or city should I visit there?

A: You should visit Paradise Falls, and see a house with balloons.

Q: How old is the world?

A: Well you see the world is a mysterious part of life and it is a very ancient, decrepit, and geriatric.

Overall it is very old.

Q: How can I deal with annoying sisters?

A: Place the most annoying sibling at the window with a “for sale” sign.

Q: Great layout for your newspaper! Well done.

Great writing too!

A: Awwww shucks :). I know, I know it is the best and most brilliant writing I have ever done. You are soooooooo sweet. I bet your writing is also great (maybe mine might be a little bit better.)

Q: I think I saw a zombie, what should I do?

A: Take a selfie and a video of it then run in terror.

Light up your holidays Kaylin Lopez Christmas lights are very popular around the holidays, mostly Christmas and New Years. These very small lights have a pretty cool history. In the beginning they were nothing like they are today. They were not electric powered light bulbs. Instead, candles were hung up on a long string. These were used to represent shining stars in the dark nights.

The first Christmas tree was decorated with actual lights in 1882 by the Vice President, when he put up red, blue, and white light bulbs on the tree. Not many people noticed that light bulbs were used, so many kept using candles. Using candles was dangerous though, because there was a possibility of things catching on fire or the person burning themselves accidentally.

The tradition of putting Christmas lights up using

Q : How is your relationship with the staff ?

A: Everyone here is pretty much family. If they don’t get along, they don’t last very long. Some people have worked here for 9 years; so people stick around. In the kitchen half of my cooks have been here over six years, some almost ten.

Q: Can you explain how you chose the name?

A: Masa means dough, our deep dish pizzas are dough, our breakfast croissants are dough, the pannini and all the sandwich are dough. Pretty much everything here has dough. I know everybody else is doing low carbs and say they are allergic to gluten ….but as soon as it’s cold and rainy, the first thing you want is comfort food.

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light bulbs, didn’t start until the president, Grover Cleveland, decorated using lights. He decorated a christmas tree in the White House and most people noticed and started doing it themselves. In 1903, Albert Sadacca came up with the idea of multicolored light bulbs and inspired more people to use lights instead of candles.

Christmas lights are very popular to decorate trees and walls. They can be bought in mostly any store during the holidays. There are colorful and white Christmas lights available. A survey was taken at 826LA Good Times to see if colorful or white lights were more popular. Twenty students and staff were surveyed in total. Eleven said they liked colorful christmas lights while nine said they preferred white lights.

Many people enjoy just seeing christmas lights, and a great place for that is the L.A. Zoo. The L.A. Zoo offers a great display of lights all around the zoo in the evening when all the animals are sleeping. It starts November 28, visit from 6-10 p.m. Admission is $13 for adults, $11 for children (2-12 yrs. old) and $8 for everyone before December 11.

Merry Bright Christmas!!

Kaylin Lopez is a 14 year old 8th grader at Bancroft MS. She really enjoys Christmas because it is one of the couple of times she gets to stay up until around 4 a.m. and not get much sleep. Her favorite thing about journalism is she gets to get the opportunity to work with great tutors and improve her writing.

stores according to salvationarmy.com.

blush to maintain a rosy visage.

Salvation Army bell ringers don’t wear a Santa suit.

Instead, they wear a red salvation apron and sometimes a Santa hat. To become a mall santa, people can apply to work in a smaller mall center directly or work with a national staffing service which looks for talent in larger malls. Mall santas go to mall santa schools to learn the proper way to hold a child, manage sticky conversations and care for their hair and beard. Some Santas are stuffed with pillows, wear a scratchy beard, a hat, and a red suit. Slate.com says: “This holiday season, the average shopping mall will hire about two mall santas.”

Christina Lee is ten years old, goes to Eagle Rock Elementary and enjoys sleeping and doing homework.

Slate goes on to say the best Santa suit is hand-sewn with pants, a jacket trimmed with white fake fur, a black belt, and long white gloves. “Beards should be manicured daily and bleached professionally,” says Slate. A program called,” Noer Program Corp.” gives mall Santas a list of what to do and what not to do.

One of the “don’ts” is breaking character. Trained Santas have to maintain a jolly disposition. When they ask for gifts the Santa will also say a positive phrase to avoid making the child disappointed. Noer provides the Santa suit but the santa had to provide their own wire-rimmed glasses and boots, as well as enough

GOODTIMES Holiday Treats Amy Ma with Rachael Kim

½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup cold water 3 tablespoons meringue powder 2 cups confectioners sugar optional: Food coloring: Blue, White Garnish: White sugar Directions on youtube: http://youtu.be/v7yXisKl7tM This is the same recipe as the easter egg cookies, drumstick cookies, pumpkin cookies, and heart cookies.

Ice-cream treats

Snowflake Sugar Cookies Let’s put some tasty treats together on Christmas!

How about Snowflake cookies? This is a good time to make cookies and eat them! (Especially with Santa.)

Let’s start with the ingredients: 1 cup of softened butter 1 cup of sugar 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of almond extract 3 ¼ cup all purpose flour 2 teaspoon baking powder

Hello again, rocking cook ! This is another article about ice-cream recipes. Make them in the……. sssssssuuuuuummmmmmeeeerr (or if you insist, Winter…)

Ingredients: 3 large egg yolks, slightly beaten ½ cup sugar 1 cup milk ¼ teaspoon salt 2 cups (heavy) cream 1 tablespoon vanilla 3-5 drops of food coloring Again, this is the same recipe for Mint Choco.(Christmas) orange swirl (Halloween and Thanksgiving), Rainbow Sherbert (Easter), Strawberry (Valentine),

Ultimate Christmas Playlist

Talking about Face Painting

Arianna Mah-Candelaria

Yamilka Martinez-Lozano

Christmas is one of the best times of the year. Not only because of the presents, but because of the food, the shows, mood, spending time with family, and most of all the music. It’s festive fun, who doesn’t love Christmas?! It just sets a lovely warm holiday mood. So sit down, prepare your hot chocolate or milk with cookies, because I’m about to list the 21 best songs for your upcoming holiday playlist.

For this article this reporter interviewed , Ali Pearl, an 826LA volunteer and Karina Konupek of ArtisticEntertainmentLA.com.

21.Vince Guaraldi Trio: ChristmasTime is Here 20. Mariah Carey: All I Want for Christmas is you 19. The Drifters: White Christmas 18. Beach Boys: Little Saint Nick 17. Johnny Mathis: Sleigh Ride 16. Chuck Berry: Run Rudolph Run 15. Andy Williams: Most Wonderful Time of the Year 14. Burl Ives: Holly Jolly Christmas 13. Brenda Lee: Rockin Around the Christmas Tree 12. Lou Monte: Dominick the Donkey 11. Mavis Staples: Christmas Vacation 10. Judy Garland: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 9. Trans~Siberian Orchestra: Carol of the Bells 8. Perry Como: Home for the Holidays 7. The Ronettes: Frosty the Snowman 6. Bing Crosby and David Bowie: Little Drummer Boy 5. John Lennon: Happy Xmas (War is Over) 4. Josh Groban: “O Holy Night” 3. Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song 2. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Santa Claus is Coming to Town 1. Darlene Love: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Q: Do you face paint adults?

Ali Pearl: I haven’t ever face painted an adult.

Hope you enjoy these holiday tunes :) And have Merry Christmas!

Arianna Mah-Candelaria is a 13 year old girl attending a junior/senior high school. She has loving friends and family that she is so thankful for. One day, she hopes to be able to attend Cornell to study at their science labs. She loves music and spending time with her friends at the movie theaters.

This Christmas she is really hoping for a smartphone which would be a huge upgrade from her phone right now. Hopefully Santa receives her memo ;)

Q: Do you have class that teaches people how to face paint?

Ali Pearl: I don’t have a class that teaches face painting.

Q: Do you enjoy face painting?

Ali Pearl: I really enjoy face painting! It’s a fun way to be creative that also makes other people happy Q: What is your favorite face painting that you have done?

Ali Pearl: My favorite face painting is the one I did on your sister Ana when she had me paint her like a tiger on Halloween.

Q: Where do you buy supplies?

Ali Pearl: I haven’t ever bought supplies. Andrea brought them for the 826 Halloween party.

Q: How old were when you learned to face paint?

Ali Pearl: I only face painted for the first time a couple weeks ago at our Halloween party.

Q: What is the strangest painting you have done on a person?

Ali Pearl: The strangest painting I did at Halloween party was on a girl who asked for the cheshire cat painting.

Q: Do you have class that teaches people how to face paint?

Karina Konupek: I love teaching. I have been a teacher since I was 13 yrs old. Yes- I do teach others who are interested in face painting. Usually I teach in private settings, more like mentoring.

Q: Do you face paint adults?

Karina Konupek: Absolutely. It is unfortunate, though an observation of mine is that people lose their imagination very young. Even some grade school aged children have forgotten to use imagination as part of their day. So when I get the opportunity to paint an adult, I am even happier. I ask them for a mood or some adjectives that I can use to create something for

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and lastly, Green Tea (St. Patrick’s) We asked some 826LA students and tutors if they liked any of the treats we wrote ingredients for.

Here are the RESULTS: Q: Do you like Snowflake Sugar Cookies?

A: No:1 Yes: 14 Kind Of: 3 Never Ate Before: l Q: Do you like Ice Cream?

A: No: 2 Yes: 17 (Kind of and never ate before are 0.)

Q: If you said “Yes, I like ice cream”, then what flavor do you like best of all? (You may choose 2 flavors if you can’t choose just one) A: Mint Choco: 3 Orange Swirl: 0 Rainbow Sherbert: 3 Strawberry: 0 Green Tea: 2 Don’t Know: 1 Other: 15

Amy Ma is 10 years old, is in 4th grade, and goes to Hancock Park Elementary. She is working with Rachael on this article.

them. I always arrive to events with my face painted so they can see my style.

Q: Do you enjoy face painting Karina Konupek: I very much enjoy face painting.

I graduated college with an art degree and I drew my whole life. Until face painting came into my life, I was never truly happy with how I painted. Face painting has helped my own expression and self confidence. I love the connections I make with people during our time together whether that is 3 mins doing a little design or 3 hrs doing a big design. I know we touch each others lives.

Q: What is your favorite face painting that you have done?

Karina Konupek: Ok, this will sound weird, I don’t have a favorite face painting or design. I never repeat my designs. When I paint I use the special qualities of the person I am painting to make something unique.

My favorite part is showing the painting for the first time in the mirror and feeling their world open up in their heart.

Q: Where do you buy supplies?

Karina Konupek: When I buy my supplies I do my best to support my fellow painters that sell products first. Then I go to local cosmetic stores, I am thankful that I live in a very makeup intensive part of Los Angeles. Otherwise, I will go on line to find what I need.

Q: How old were when you learned to face paint?

Karina Konupek: Funny answer.... 41 years old.

That’s old right? I started drawing at around 5 years old....My college degree in art was reached when I was 22 years old. And even though I always did art of some kind... I started my face painting business only 7 years ago.

Q: What is the strangest painting you have done on a person?

Karina Konupek: Oh my gosh!... Well , since I don’t use a picture board as samples for people to pick from, children like to challenge me. I remember at a party the kids would try to top each other’s imagination. Let’s see, I remember a request for sushi - salmon to be specific, a taco, spaghetti and meatballs, and, oh yes.... the angry banana chasing an orange! That one I remember well.

GOODTIMES Amy Ma and Rachael Kim’s Cooking Advice Column

Christmas Tree History Chloe Kim The tallest christmas tree in Los Angeles, California is in the farmers’ market at The Grove. The tree is 100 feet high! Can you believe that? It is so high! That tree is a white fir. I didn’t know that white firs could be so high. These are the five different common Christmas trees: -fir -pine -spruce -cypress -cedar

Hey you cooks out there! Want to know some cool baking tips to help you for future reference?

I’ll cook up some tasty ideas for you when you are baking for a de-li-cious result.

TIP UIMHIR TRI (IRISH: number three): If you are making a layered cake, wrap layers in saran wrap and freeze it for 30 minutes.

RESULT: NO CRUMBLY CAKE! TIP NUMERUS lV (LATIN: number four): If you bake cupcakes and they always come out flat, then lower the baking temperature, increase the baking time, and put a little bit more batter in the tins.

WARNING: WATCH YOUR CUPCAKES! RESULT IF NOT FOLLOWED: BURNT BAKERY GOODS ONLY! TIP YNCRO 5 (RUSSIAN: number 5): Lay out all your your ingredients before you start to bake so that you are more prepared.

A cake disaster

According to christmastrees.com, the tree that most people buy is the fir. The first Christmas tree was made in Germany in 1521. The trees came to the rest of the world in the 1800s. In 2010, Target started selling Christmas trees online, but you can also go in and buy one there. They also sell fake trees. I interviewed the class and 10 people had real trees, but only 5 had fake trees. Real trees are better in some ways. Some fake trees are better because once you use it you can use it again , but you only can use real trees once and then throw it away. So these are good reasons to buy a real tree or a fake tree.

When you buy a Christmas tree, be sure to check if you want to buy a real tree or a fake tree. In my opinion, I would buy a fake tree because even though it is expensive, you don’t have to throw it away and waste your own money you bought it with. I think that fake ones are more expensive because you can use it alot, but real trees you have to throw away. So be sure to make a right decision on your Christmas trees!

TIP NUMBER 1: When baking a cake, lift the pan, drop it back on the counter to get the lumpy, clumpy stuff out.

WARNING: Do not drop your cake on the floor!

RESULT IF NOT FOLLOWED: NO CAKE FOR YOU!!!

TIP NUMERO DOS (SPANISH: number two): If you are making a cheesecake, pour batter from one side to another, not from the middle.

RESULT IF FOLLOWED: NO CRACKS!

RESULT IF NOT FOLLOWED: You might forget to get something for your baking creation.

TIP KOPURA 6 (BASQUE: number 6): If you get burned bottoms, put your muffin tin onto a cookie sheet.

RESULT IF FOLLOWED: NO BURNT BOTTOMS! TIP NOMMER 7 ( AFRIKAANS: number 7): Last, but a crazy tip about icing: If you want a shiny look on your cake or cupcakes, blow your hair dryer at it on medium heat, at half an arms length.

Rachael Kim is in 4th grade, is 9 years old, and goes to Third Street Elementary School. She is working with Amy Ma on this article.

My name is Chloe Kim. I am 8 years old. I go to Third Street School in Hancock Park. I am in 3rd grade. My favorite hobbies are to read, learn new things, and make art.

History of Presents Garland Church Do you wonder why we give presents? Well I am going to tell you why. According to whychristmas.com, they started with only a little bit of people giving gifts on the Epiphany ( January 6th.) Then it started to be December 25th to January 6th, recognized as the Twelve Days of Christmas. It came to be popular as the Middle Ages ended and the Modern Era began, around the 19th century. By the time America was settled, they began giving gifts on New Years or the Epiphany.

Dutch settlers introduced St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, and the idea of gift-giving took a new life as the workers of O. Henry Charles Dixens and Thomas Nast, the main creators, shaped our concepts of Santa Claus, and other aspects of the holidays like Christmas Eve and other religious traditions. Now we celebrate Christmas on December 25th, the day of Jesus’ birthday. So we give gifts because it’s a sign of respect of each other or that we care, and a special time for the family to be together.

Garland Church is 12 years old. He goes to Paul Revere Middle School, and is in the 7th grade.

Maligayang Pasko (Merry Christmas)

by Gem Galicinao According to CNN, the Philippine group of islands, located in southeast Asia has the world’s longest festive season. It starts in September and ends in January.

During the month of September, the people in the Philippines start to get festive; per seasite.com, they make star-shaped lanterns called parols. The website goes on to state than in addition, they sing Christmas carols, the traditional Christmas ones just like here in America. The many foods that the people in the Philippines eat during Christmas are: banana fritters, Kare-Kare (oxtail stew), tsokolate (chocolate), salabat (tea, any type of tea), and many more.

Here’s what happens before and after Christmas starts in the Philippines: Before Christmas Eve, there is a tradition where people go to an event called Simbang Gabi which is a series of masses held over nine nights and ending on

Christmas Eve. When Christmas is over on the 28th people celebrate a day called Holy Innocents Day. On that day the kids prank the adults by any means necessary; from whip-cream pies to a pesos (coins) super glued to the ground. If an adult gets pranked they will call out “Na-Niños Inocentes ka”.

I went to the Philippines last year at the end of my first semester in 8th grade. While I was there, I noticed that even though the Philippines is much hotter than most of U.S.A, the people are very nice around that time of year. There were fireworks in and around the neighborhoods of Manila, which is the capital of the Philippines. The fireworks lasted until the crack of dawn and street vendors walk all around the neighborhoods drawing kids from out of their homes to eat freshly fried banana fritters. The Philippines is good place to enjoy Christmas because of the hospitality and the good food. With that said and done, “Maligayang Pasko or Merry Christmas.”

My name is Gem Anthony Galicinao, I go to Downtown Magnet High School. I’m 14 years old and my favorite thing to do is to play video games and read.

GOODTIMES

VOLUME VI, ISSUE II

Interview with my mother Allie Kim Interviewing: Remi Kim Korean Thanksgiving is on August 15th, on the Lunar calendar.

When did Korean Thanksgiving start?

The farmers in Korea harvested the food and shared it with their family and friends and share the blessings with family, God, and neighborhood.

The meaning of an American Thanksgiving and the Korean Thanksgiving are similar, but they started at different times.

Remi Kim, my mother says it’s important in a Korean Thanksgiving to thank God and ancestors for everything. A lot of food is made.

What You Eat For Christmas Dinner

Did my mom celebrate Korean Thanksgiving when she was in Korea?

Yes. She did celebrated in Korea. When we were in Korea, parents bought or made traditional clothes for children to wear. Food: Rice cakes, soup, fruit, nuts, fish, beef.

Ally Song

What is your favorite thing about Korean Thanksgiving?

Playing games and creating memories with family. One of my (Allie’s) favorite things about Korean Thanksgiving is wearing the Hanbok, a traditional Korean dress.

From korea.net: Hanbok is the traditional attire of Korea. Its history dates back as far as the Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C. – 668 A.D.). Koreans weaved cloth with hemp and arrowroot and raised silkworms to produce silk. It is divided largely into daywear and ceremonial wear, with differences between age, gender, and season.

What do you eat for Christmas dinner? What do you like best about Christmas dinner? If you want to know about food for Christmas, then continue reading. Did you know that other countries eat different meals than in our country? Did you know that the writer, her brother, and her friends eat different kinds of traditional foods from different countries?

Some different kinds of Christmas foods are apple cider, beef steak, candy canes, chocolate coins, Christmas cookies, deviled eggs, eggnog, fruitcake, gingerbread, gingerbread houses, ham, hot chocolate, nuts and fruits, pasteles (cakes), pecan pie, peppermint bark, pumpkin pie, Korean rice cake soup, sugar plums, sweet potato pie, tamales, desserts, chicken and soup. These foods are special because you eat them once a year on Christmas, which is Jesus’s birthday.

Do you know that my favorite Christmas food is… peppermint bark, dessert, chicken, korean rice cake soup, chocolate coins, hot chocolate, deviled eggs, ginger bread, and fruit cake because I like desserts like these food.

Hello my name is Ally Song. I’m in third grade at Wonderland Avenue elementary school. I am eight years old. My teachers at school are Ms. Lamoureaux and Ms. Epstein. I have a big sister and a big brother. Their names are Hyunji and Eddie. I go to 826LA.

ABOUT 826LA After-School Tutoring From Monday to Thursday, students rush to 826LA after school for free individual tutoring in all subjects. Once homework is completed, students read books from 826LA’s library and write stories based on a monthly theme.

Students submit their writing for inclusion in chapbooks, which 826LA publishes throughout the year. To celebrate students’ hard work, 826LA unveils these chapbooks at book release parties, where students read their work to thunderous applause from their tutors, families, and peers.

In-School Support Because not all students can come to us, 826LA brings specially trained volunteer tutors into under-resourced public schools. There volunteers provide one-on-one assistance with writing projects. 826LA works with teachers to craft all projects, which are designed to engage students while targeting curricular issues. This year, 826LA will provide year-round programming at Manual Arts High School in South L.A. through a grant from AmeriCorps VISTA!

Workshops 826LA’s workshops bring students together with artists, writers, and professionals for creative collaboration. Whether the subject is journalism or preparing for the zombie apocalypse, our workshops foster creativity while strengthening writing skills.

Field Trips Weekday mornings, public school teachers bring their students to 826LA for a morning of collaboration, creativity, and writing. Whether the topic is Storytelling & Bookmaking, Choose Your Own Adventure, or something entirely different, these three-hour field trips are always in high demand.

Every student leaves with an individualized publication of the finished story under his or her arm, complete with illustrations and an author photo! 100% of teachers report that their students take a new excitement for writing back to the classroom thanks to 826LA’s field trips.

VOLUNTEER AT 826LA!

The Good Times is written by the students of the 826LA in Echo Park Journalism workshop.

826LA, a non-profit tutoring center for students and budding literary enthusiasts ages 6–18, is looking for adult volunteers in every shape, form and skilled capacity, and for all hours and days of the week.

Write to us at: iwanttohelp@826la.org Check out our website at: www.826la.org

1714 W. Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90026