THE CURRENT
Your weekly dose of arts and entertainment • Thursday, February 13th, 2014
Shawarma Showdown
New Mediterranean restaurants square off BY HAYLEY GLATTER After I returned to Evanston from my trip to Israel this Winter Break, the last thing I wanted to do was eat Mediterranean food. I turned up my nose to all mentions of the word pita and was insulted by dining hall hummus. I claimed I had seen and tasted the best the world had to offer. However, Evanston is now home to two new Mediterranean food locales, Naf Naf Grill and Olive Mediterranean Grill, and I couldn’t exactly ignore all of the delicious new food located just blocks from my dorm. The only question that remained, though, was deciding where to eat. Naf Naf Grill Since opening in November, Naf Naf Grill, 1629 Orrington Ave., has been serving up falafel, shawarma and pita to Evanston residents. General manager Jordan Maman said Naf Naf Grill provides a fast, high-quality customer experience that keeps people coming back for more. “We’re always smiling, thanking the customers and greeting the customers,” Maman said. “We’re moving at an efficient pace, so there isn’t a line out the door. But we’re not rushing.” Maman said Naf Naf Grill’s most popular item is their chicken shawarma sandwich and that the restaurant gets a lot of student traffic. Olive Mediterranean Grill Just a few blocks from Naf Naf Grill, OMG, 1726 Sherman Ave., has a similar menu but a different customer focus. Rather than emphasizing speed and efficiency, OMG partner Irfan Zia said healthy food is what sets the restaurant apart. “We want them to come in and have that homely feeling where it’s a comfortable environment,” Zia said. “The food is all fresh, and nothing is processed. They feel like they’ve just prepared themselves a meal, but they haven’t actually cooked for themselves.” OMG opened Jan. 10. Zia said his interaction with students has been very positive, and he hopes OMG can fill the role of a healthy choice alternative. Now that you know a little bit about each place, read on to find out which of these Mediterranean juggernauts reigned supreme. Hummus Naf Naf Grill killed it with their hummus. First of all, you can decide whether or not you want the chickpea spread on your sandwich or bowl, and they even gave me a little bit on the side for free. The hummus was very flavorful and memorable. OMG, on the other hand, has a more defined menu, and not all of the sandwiches come with hummus on it. For $2.50, however, you can enjoy a side of hummus and few pieces of pita. Unfortunately, though the portion of hummus was certainly more generous than at Naf Naf Grill, the pita to hummus » See MEDITERRANEAN, page 2
Hayley Glatter/The Daily Senior Staffer and Facebook
@thecurrentnu
INSIDE: Odds & Ends 2 | Columns 3 | Reviews 4
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MEDITERRANEAN
ratio was totally out of From page 1 whack. I had way too much hummus for the amount of pita I received, leading me to waste a lot of it.
few other flavors, enhanced the falafel well. The only drawback to the OMG falafel was that the homemade pita it was placed on got a little flimsy under the weight of the food, and some spillage occurred. Messiness factor aside, however, this falafel was top notch.
Falafel The falafel award definitely goes to OMG. The $6.50 sandwich at OMG, in comparison to the $5.99 offering at Naf Naf Grill, was excellent. The pieces of falafel were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The potatoes that came on the sandwich were also delicious and complemented the falafel well. In addition, the Mediterranean salad, consisting of tomato, onion, pepper and a
Chicken shawarma Both restaurants claimed chicken shawarma was their most popular dish, and I understand why. The sandwiches were absolutely delicious, but in very different ways. At OMG, the meal came with a garlic spread that really highlighted the nice flavors in the chicken. The sandwich was $6.50 at OMG and $6.79 at Naf Naf Grill. At Naf Naf Grill, the chicken wasn’t dry at all, and the
BY SOFIA RADA
basmati rice had excellent spices that mixed well with the chicken. In the end, I have to give the nod to Naf Naf Grill. The chicken was phenomenally flavorful, and because the sandwiches are more customizable, customers have the chance to decide what toppings they want. Overall Naf Naf Grill feels very much like a Mediterranean Chipotle. Customers move quickly through the line, and the staff doesn’t interact much with patrons aside from asking what toppings they want. If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, this atmosphere is definitely appealing. The food at Naf Naf Grill is very good, and the prices were
reasonable. On the other hand, upon walking into OMG, employees offered free samples and were very pleasant. The restaurant was well lit and clean and certainly gave off a more organic, healthy feel. The food at OMG was good, but I would have liked more of an opportunity to select my own toppings as opposed to having the sandwich fixings pre-determined. Overall, the food at Naf Naf was better in two of three categories, but the experience of visiting OMG definitely came out on top. If you’re looking for good Mediterranean food, Evanston definitely has two solid options. hayleyglatter2016@u.northwestern.edu
Ryan & Hokudo
Best known for winning season three of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, Quest Crew has appeared all over the world and performed with the likes of LMFAO and Sean Kingston. The Crew performed at Northwestern’s Celebrasia 2014 and taught a workshop the day after. The Current spoke to two of its members, Hokuto Konishi and Steve Terada, about their backgrounds, memories and heritage. Konishi hails from Japan and placed in the Top 12 on “So You Think You Can Dance” and currently teaches workshops and choreography. Terada is a California native with a martial arts background, who has done stunts for movies like “Memoirs of a Geisha” and works with various philanthropic organizations around the world. The Current: How did you start dancing? Hokuto Konishi: I was back in Japan and watched dancers on a Japanese TV show. I was really inspired, and ever since then, I got started. I was 15. Steve Terada: I actually started because my sister started doing collegiate dance at UCLA and non-collegiate dance too. I started going. I was also in martial arts that used music. So I kind of crossed those two together and started dancing. The Current: How did Quest Crew get together? HK: We used to be part of a different crew. There were different things we wanted to do, so we partnered away and got together and became Quest Crew. The Current: What has been your favorite performance? HK: Being able to win “ABDC.” It’s one thing to win something like that by yourself, but to do it with your best friends was a nice achievement and a good feeling. ST: It was a whole journey. It was something we worked towards full of highs and lows. There was also the stress of reality television. It was probably the biggest bonding experience we’ve had. The Current: Do the Quest Crew members do things individually outside the dance crew? HK: We all do other things too. Steve does his martial arts. Feng and I teach and do choreography for different artists. Ryan has his music. So we all have our different things going on, but it’s a nice balance that way that we can all come together and still do shows like this. The Current: What did you like about performing at Celebrasia? ST: It was our first show back as a full size crew. A lot of us were injured or got busy with individual things. We usually have a hell week, or few weeks, where we just meet up every day and create and make things for the set. It was one of those things that just bring us back. The Current: Do you have any advice for people who want to pursue dance? HK: Work hard. That’s the first thing. Things don’t come easy.
If they do, that’s really lucky. We actually got very lucky with certain opportunities. There are a lot of people out there that work hard and are extremely talented, but the opportunity just doesn’t come to them. But no matter what, you need to work hard. ST: And do your research. You could be working really hard at something but in the completely wrong direction. That happens a lot, too. You see some dancers say, “I’ve been dancing for 16 years,” but they don’t know any of the things that are current. The Current: Did your common Asian heritage affect the formation of the group? ST: Actually, in California especially, the dance scene is predominantly Asian. I didn’t really know that but realized it as I got into the dance scene. There’s a lot of Asians out there. But I do think that with Quest, having similar Asian backgrounds helps us relate to each other in that sense too sofiarada@u.northwestern.edu
This year’s Winter Olympics have been atypical, to put it politely. From journalists tweeting hilarious pictures highlighting their favorite “#sochiproblems” to politically charged messages from gay rights activists, Sochi has become a media hotspot. No matter your opinion, there’s no denying there’s a lot more going on in Sochi than just figure skating and snowboarding. Here’s what a few Daily staffers think about these Sochi shenanigans.
5 WORDS
Q & A
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Odds & Ends
— Compiled by Kendall Siewert
“I’m bored... Where’s Michael Phe
lps?” — Hayley Glatter
“I love me some curling.” — Josh Walfish “Pink eye makes me sad.”
— Ava Wallace
hite?” Shaun W to d e n e p p ager “What ha — Tyler P
THE CURRENT
HERE WE GO AGAIN “If you say ‘no offense’ to someone, you 100% are about to say something offensive.” — Jessica Biel, on Twitter
“Don’t watch tv while chopping vegetables.” — Harry Styles, on Twitter “It’s official: nothing is grosser than when an automatic toilet flushes before you are ready for it to.” — Kristen Bell, on Twitter
“I find it relatively easy to keep my clothes on because I don’t really feel like taking them off. It’s not an urge I have.” — Taylor Swift, to Glamour on why she won’t ever pose naked
“Bought a swimsuit to rebel against snow. Tried it on at home, got immediately cold and now I’m in bed in a swimsuit. You win again, winter.” — Alexa Chung, on Twitter — Compiled by Erica Witte Source: Facebook
Editor in Chief Devan Coggan Assistant Editors Laken Howard Hayley Glatter Design Editors Jessica Fang Susan Chen
Writers Mollie Cahillane Sofia Rada Chelsea Sherlock Kendall Siewert Erica Witte
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Current | Page 3
Columns
Valentine’s DIY snacks for the millennial generation HAYLEY GLATTER
In my dark, Tay l or Sw i f t obsessed days, I was really excited about the 2010 movie “Valentine’s Day.” Tay had a small role in the film alongside thenboyfriend Taylor Lautner, and I was totally jazzed to see my idol make the transition from singer to actress (hopefully more successfully than that time Rihanna was in a “Bring it On” movie). However, the movie, like the holiday it was
PINTEREST COLUMNIST @heyhay94
based on, was anticlimactic. Valentine’s Day is one of those things people love to hate, especially if their love lives are less than greeting card worthy. That being said, whether you’re excited for a V-Day with your significant other or you’re excited because it’s an excuse to eat a lot of sugar, you’ll probably want something sweet to snack on. I turned to Pinterest to find some treats for Feb. 14 and have likened their success to various social media interactions because millennials like the Internet. Favorited tweet You’re kind of interested in someone, but you don’t want to be too forward. And you for sure don’t want him or her to know you’re a borderline crazy online stalker. So, you favorite a tweet because it’s quick, simple and shows you are paying a socially acceptable level of attention. Chocolate-filled raspberries have the same effect: they seem sort of healthy and don’t make you look like you’re trying too hard. This recipe can’t even be called a recipe: All you do is rinse raspberries and stick chocolate chips inside. Fruit and chocolate are a killer combination, and this recipe requires minimal effort. Facebook official It’s time. You’re friends with your one gossipy aunt on Facebook, and you know as soon as you click that relationship status button, the entire family is going to know about your new significant other. That confirmatory mouse click takes commitment and so do these cookie
sandwiches. Though I have no idea if your FBO relationship will pan out, I can tell you that these treats are better than getting 72 likes on that new couple profile picture. To make these masterpieces, shape pre-made cookie dough into hearts. To do this, flatten a dough ball and use a knife to create an indent at the top. Then pinch together the bottom of the dough. After baking the cookies, put frosting between two of them and dust with sprinkles to make a heart-shaped sandwich. AIM “brb” Getting a prolonged “brb” from a crush was seriously the most detrimental thing to ever happen to middle schoolers circa 2007. It was basically saying “talk to the hand” but in a more digitized way. You knew he or she was totally still online talking to someone else, and you were shunned. You should apply this level of coldness to these Fruit Roll-Ups fortune cookies because they deserve to see an away message forever. The recipe made it look so easy to form Fruit Roll-Ups into fortune cookies, but it wasn’t. I wrote cute Valentine’s Day messages and then attempted to use a peanut butter jar lid as a cookie cutter to make circles of Fruit Roll-Ups. It was all downhill as the lid did not cut through the candy, and I was unable to fold the Fruit RollUps into the desired shape. This recipe was definitely a Pinterest “cya l8er.” hayleyglatter2016@u.northwestern.edu Hayley Glatter/Daily Senior Staffer
Let’s talk about V-Day LAKEN HOWARD
It’s that time of y e a r again. Your newsfeed gets clogged with statuses like “Happy Valentine’s Day to my bae! I’ve loved you so much ever since we first met three months, eight days, 11 hours and 27 minutes ago!” Your eyes can’t seem to avert themselves from the Instagram selfies of happy couples feeding each other chocolate-covered strawberries and/ or tongue-f--king each other. And God forbid someone in your building gets a ProFlowers box in the mail and you don’t. I know it’s almost as cliche to hate this holiday as it is to love it now, but I can’t deny that for me, Valentine’s Day has always been a toss-up between a cry-fest and a temper tantrum. Being perpetually single can seem like such a negative thing on Valentine’s Day, so this year, I’ve decided to focus on a V-word I find much more important: vibrator. Let’s face it: When no one else will do it for you, sometimes you just have to f--k yourself. I’ll never forget the first time my mom mentioned masturbation to me. We were in the car and presumably I was complaining about how single I was, droning on and on about how if nothing else, being single sucked because you’re never sexually satisfied. It was at this point that my mom — being the bad bitch she is — casually mentioned that you can “take care of yourself,” and that you don’t need a man to have an amazing orgasm. Believe it or not, I was 17 at the time and had never tried masturbating before.
SEX COLUMNIST @lakenisahorcrux
It took a while for me to warm up to the idea, but since then, you could say my eyes have been opened. It was even later when I finally took the plunge and bought a cheap vibrator online. They’re such a fun way to explore your own body and learn what you like and dislike. Maybe you only want a bullet vibrator to stimulate your clitoris, or maybe you want one of those giant scary dildos to really liven things up during your solo sessions. You’ll never know unless you try, so check out different kinds of vibrators online and pick one that fascinates you. I currently have my eye on these incredible Leaf vibrators that look like — you guessed it — leaves. They come in a few varieties and each is so elegant and pretty, but they’re also a bit pricey. I guess there’s always next year. Even if you’re not single, you should still explore the options of self-pleasure and go vibrator shopping. Having your partner use one on you can be a very sexy experience, so open your mind to the possibility of using toys in the bedroom to switch things up this holiday. Plus it’s yours for later when your S.O. goes out of town (or even when he or she is just too lazy to come over). So this Valentine’s Day, don’t cry because you’re single. Spend the day literally doing you (even sans vibrator if you want), and feel sorry for all the schmucks missing out on the opportunity to love you. Until next time, stay safe and stay sexy! lakenhoward2015@u.northwestern.edu
The perfect TV marathon for Feb. 14
MOLLIE CAHILLANE
Valentine’s Day has an undeservedly negative reputation. Couples love it; singles hate it. I love Valentine’s Day, and I always have. I have a difficult time understanding why some people despise it. Whether it’s a boy, a girl, chocolate or my personal favorite, Netflix, everyone can have a significant other to celebrate with. So, if you’re spending this VDay with your television, here are the best Valentine’s Day TV episodes to marathon.
TV COLUMNIST @molliecahillane
6. “The Office” — “Valentine’s Day” (2006) Michael Scott accidentally reveals that he and Jan Levinson “hooked up” right before a corporate meeting in New York. In Scranton, the office gets jealous when Phyllis’ boyfriend delivers her gifts all day, Pam gets mad at Roy and we have to watch Jim heartbreakingly long for Pam. In the show’s prime, this was one of the best episodes. 5. “Friends” — “The One with the Candy Hearts” (1995) Chandler agrees to go on a double date with Joey, only to find that he was set up with his two-time ex, Janice, and Ross’s Valentine’s is tested by the presence of his lesbian ex-wife. “Friends” is a classic, and honestly I wouldn’t blame you if you decided just to watch this show on VDay. 4. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” — “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” (1998) Cordelia broke Xander’s heart, so he casts a love spell so he can break up with her. However, the spell backfires, and every woman in Sunnydale, with the exception of Cordelia, falls in love with him. Including Source: Facebook
Buffy’s mom. Gross. Buffy becomes a rat and Angel is evil, so there’s a lot to laugh at. Also, this is my second all-time favorite show. Go watch it. 3. “30 Rock” — “Anna Howard Shaw Day” (2010) Liz deliberately schedules a root canal on Valentine’s Day, only to realize she has no one to drive her home. Add the fact that she’s high as a kite, and you’re guaranteed to laugh. Jenna is devastated to discover her favorite stalker has moved on, and Jack has a date with a journalist. If Liz Lemon is single on Valentine’s Day, I think we’ll all be OK. 2. “Veronica Mars” — “Ruskie Business” (2005) This is my first all-time favorite show. Veronica gets hired by a Russian mail-order bride to find her husband, but Veronica is distracted by helping her friend Meg find her secret admirer. Logan (be still my heart) is devastated when he finds his sister instead of the mother he believes to still be alive. This leads to a funny but heartbreaking scene in which Logan shows up at the school dance without wearing pants. 1. “Parks and Recreation” — “Galentine’s Day” (2010) Leslie and Justin try to reunite Leslie’s mom with an old fling before they realize he isn’t quite all there in the head. This episode introduces us to the wonderful tradition that is “Galentine’s Day,” where on Feb. 13, women celebrate other women. Every friend group should have this tradition. It’s cute and fun and reminds you to appreciate the great people in your life. molliecahillane2017@u.northwestern.edu
Page 4 | The Current
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Reviews
What does a Pussy Riot sound like?
Source: Facebook
Two former memDAVID LEE bers of Russian femiMUSIC COLUMNIST @DAVIDYLEE95 nist group Pussy Riot headlined an international peace concert, talked in-depth with the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and gave what some consider the best interview ever on “The Colbert Report.” Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina have brought international attention to the politically radical 11-member collective within roughly a month of being released from jail. The Sochi 2014 Olympics have given Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina an enormous platform to broadcast their message, but I cannot recall a band gaining so much prominence without any of their music being known. But what does their music even sound like?
I went on YouTube to find out, and I was completely blindsided. I was at Norbucks searching when I was hit with a grungy, hard-hitting punk song. I had heard they were a punk band, but Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina seemed so softspoken during interviews that it was surprising to find that they created this kind of music. The lyrics to “Putin Lights Up the Fires,” were screamed, not sung, with an incredible amount of rebellious angst. The music video, which involves women taking off their clothes and then engaging in a sort of female “Fight Club,” also left me feeling completely vulnerable. Everybody at Norbucks definitely thought I was some crazy pervert — maybe I should have taken the video off full-screen mode. “A Punk Prayer” is probably the group’s most well-known song, as it is also the title of the 2013
HBO documentary regarding their court cases. The song begins with a choir, mockingly singing lyrics like, “The Church praises rotten leaders. The march of the cross consists of black limousines.” The video depicts the group donning ski masks, bowing down as an apparent satire to the church and then rocking out as officials of Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow try to escort them away. The lyrics are abundantly clear: Russians are being severely wronged by President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church. As the clergy line their pockets, Pussy Riot sings, “Freedom’s ghost (has gone to) heaven. A gay-pride parade (has been) sent to Siberia in shackles.” The actual music, again, is nothing special. They sound like a bunch of teenagers in a garage, blurting out their feelings with reckless
FASHION COLUMNIST @KESIEWERT
Although New York is always a fashion capital, this week the city gets a little trendier. New York Fashion Week is a chance for a select few to preview future designer collections. And even though I love the runway, my favorite part is always the celeb outfits. Each year, celebrities take fashion and risk to the next level during Fashion Week, steering away from red carpet glam and toward runway fabulous. Here are a few of my favorite celeb looks from the week. Solange Knowles She may be Beyonce’s younger sister, but she’s also a style icon in her own right. Solange sported a long-sleeved, blue-patterned blouse under a boxy, jeweled shortsleeve sweater to the Noon by Noor fashion show. She completed the look with a black skirt and small white heels with a black cage detail. Her naturally curly hair and bright orange lip made sure that she wouldn’t be lost in
Beyonce’s shadow, much less anyone else’s. Tina Fey Poor Tina always gets criticized on the red carpet. My advice? Repeat an outfit similar to the one she wore at the Carolina Herrera show. She nailed the mixed prints trend with a floral skirt, black top and tweed coat. Her oversized glasses and T-strap heels made the outfit edgy. What I love so much is that Fey doesn’t look like she’s trying to be something she’s not, which is what I sometimes find with her red carpet looks. She’s quirky and funny, so her outfits should highlight that, not disguise it. Her New York Fashion Week look shows that her stylist is on the right track.
Karolina Kurkova This supermodel’s look was 100 percent original and eye-catching. She paired a black turtleneck with a long fur-trimmed coat and multicolored loose pants. Kurkova finished off the look with black sneakers and her blonde hair pulled up loosely. The whole outfit seemed effortless, like she threw on various pieces that shouldn’t go together but oddly did. How I truly love New York Fashion Week. kendallsiewert2017@u.northwestern.edu
Shirley Temple dies at 85 Beloved child star Shirley Temple Black passed away Monday surrounded by family and friends. Temple made her onscreen debut at just age three, but unlike other child stars, she transitioned gracefully into adulthood. After leading the box office for three straight years as a child, she eventually became the U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. There’s no doubt Shirley changed show business, and I’ll be drinking a Shirley Temple tonight in her memory.
Rundown
KENDALL SIEWERT
davidlee2017@u.northwestern.edu
The
Celebrities step it up for NY Fashion Week
abandon. I realize, though, maybe that is exactly what they want. The group does not want the public to be distracted by things as trivial as musicianship. Rage Against the Machine held similar revolutionary views, but the band members seemed to be upstaged by their own skill. When the fourpiece band signed to Epic Records in 1996, many questioned the legitimacy of the group’s political agenda in light of its financial success. There is no such risk with Pussy Riot. Everything about them — the name, worldview, lyrics and interviews — calls for controversy. They are not a band with a political stance. They are a political machine with instruments and they shout because they want to be heard.
Taylor Swift cuts her iconic hair Taylor posted an Instagram video showing people cheering with the caption: “Haircut.” A few hours later she posted another photo of herself and singer Ellie Goulding captioned, “London, I could never thank you enough. See you next time! PS: Short hair, don’t care. (!!!)” There aren’t many people who could make breaking news with a haircut, but like it or not, Taylor is one of them. Check out pictures; it’s glorious. Derek Jeter to retire from baseball after 2014 season I grew up going to Yankees games, and for me, Jeter is the Yankees. So when he announced the 2014 season to be his last, it was hard not to cry. The Yankees are criticized often for paying their players too much and not having any true loyalty, but just look at Jeter. His entire career has been with the Yankees, and he represents the heart and soul of this truly American sport. With the exception of a playoff appearance, captain Jeter’s final game will be Sept. 28 at Fenway Park.
— Mollie Cahillane Source: Facebook