entertainment
Ventura County’s Boba lacks adequate taste Sera Mohammed Staff Writer Boba is a growing sensation that consists of chewy tapioca pearls in different flavored drinks. There are not many good boba lounges in Ventura County, but as a boba connoisseur, here are the ones I have visited and rated. It’s Boba Time, a boba restaurant in Oxnard and Simi Valley, has good quality boba and is the only place in all of Ventura County that has honey boba, which are tapioca pearls mixed with honey before being put in the drink. The milk tea from It’s Boba Time has the best flavor, but where it leads in milk tea, it lacks in smoothies and slushies. It’s Boba Time is very good, but not spectacular, so it is rated a 4/5.
Matcha is a relatively newly opened boba place at the Janss Marketplace. Their tapioca pearls are very chewy and flavorful, one of the best in the area. But if you do not like boba that runs sweet, this is not the place for you. Matcha is rated a 4/5.
Next, Bobas Cuz is in Moorpark, near Magnolia Park. The quality of the tapioca pearls here are about the same as the ones at Matcha. The smoothies, while initially satisfying, tend to become icy towards the bottom of the cup and the thai tea at Bobas Cuz leaves stains on your teeth after consumption. The interior has a cozy atmosphere, as it is essentially a renovated home made into a boba lounge. The rating for Bobaz Cuz would be a 4/5.
Obviously, boba from Ventura County is not the best. Bounce Boba, although not in Ventura County, is definitely worth the drive to Northridge. The boba is of the highest caliber and the drinks there are to die for. While this is not an important factor, the shape of the cups are unique and cute. This boba lounge has a sort of sophisticated but mellow vibe that makes it a perfect place to relax with your friends. This is one of the best lounges for boba because of the high quality and great service. I would rate Bounce Boba a 5/5.
Subsequently, Wild Cherry is located on North Moorpark Road, near the Conejo Valley Plaza. Their drinks are mostly fruity and their “creations,” mixtures of different flavors that they made on their own, are the best on the menu. But the boba they put in the drinks are obviously frozen, and if left out for long enough, an opaque brown layer will settle on top of the boba, which becomes tough and flavorless. Wild Cherry’s boba would be rated a 2/5, mostly because of their frozen boba.
Pho & Tea is at the entrance of the Oaks Mall, in the food court with Great Khans, Panda Express and Sarku Japan. The only drink worth buying there is the Vietnamese Coffee Blend, which is basically just coffee with boba in it. There are much better boba restaurants in the area, it would be best not to waste time at a place like that. Pho & Tea, the worst in Ventura County, would be rated a 1/5.
Prasheetha Karthikeyan/ Prowler
Panther Prowler • Sept. 18, 2020
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“Soul Surfer” shows strength Gwen Buchanon Backcover Editor Abby Gorman Editorial Editor At the age of 13, Bethany Hamilton was free-surfing at Tunnels Beach, Kauai, with her close friend Alana Blanchard, when she was attacked by a shark. She woke up in the hospital the next morning with just one arm. “Soul Surfer”, a biographical drama released in 2011 that is currently on Netflix, tells the incredible story of Hamilton’s journey through her recovery following the traumatic incident, all the way to the Women’s Pipe Pro Invitational Surf Contest. During the attack, Hamilton lost 60% of her blood, and was rushed to the hospital, where her father happened to be preparing for a planned knee surgery at the same time. The film reveals the hardships Hamilton faces with everyday activities, including a heartbreaking scene where she tries to cut a tomato for the first time with just one arm; she puts the cutting board on the floor in an effort to steady herself, but can’t pick it up again. This scene was inspired from actual footage of Bethany Hamilton in the weeks following the incident. Despite these setbacks, the incredibly resilient Hamilton was out on the water surfing just three weeks after her surgery. Hamilton struggles to adapt to surfing with just one arm, but with the aid of her father, who makes a specialized rope handle for her surfboard, Hamilton relearns to surf with grace and regains confidence in herself and the sport she has always loved. The movie moves on to capture a trip to Thailand Hamilton took with World Vision, where she volunteers to help the people after a severe tsunami in 2005. This part of the movie reshifts the focus on the movie and expresses Hamilton’s gratitude for her life following the attack. Although Hollywood is known for its dramatization of true stories, the majority of the film is accurate to her experiences; the loss of blood, her father’s surgery and the dramatic scene in which her brother breaks open the car window in order to get a phone to call the hospital all actually happened. Hamilton and her family were heavily consulted throughout the making of the movie, and many make guest appearances as extras throughout. Especially notable is Hamilton’s role as her own stunt double for all of the one-armed surfing shots. Without a doubt, the film made a lasting impact on the surfing community. Hamilton’s board remains on display in the History of Women’s Surfing exhibit at the California Surf Museum in Oceanside, and she created the non-profit foundation Friends of Bethany Hamilton to support shark attack amputees. However, you don’t have to be an avid surfer to be inspired by her courage and humility as she adapts after this life-changing event. Hamilton’s journey can be looked at from viewers of all ages as an example of how to heal and grow following a traumatic experience.
• Music Corner • Emma Schoors Opinion Editor September kicked off with Declan McKenna’s sophomore effort “Zeros.” The record is a steep step up from McKenna’s first album, pulling everywhere from Franz Ferdinand to Kate Bush to MGMT. While these influences are clear as day, there is a certain unique magic that McKenna holds, and that magic has been fully incorporated and seeped into this record. Standout opening track “You Better Believe!!!” is a powerhouse, mending McKenna’s strong vocals with fast and effective guitars. Similarly, the closing song “Eventually, Darling” is passionate in all the right ways. A fitting and deeply heartbreaking lyric, McKenna sings, “Love is but a fleeting friend.” The British artist has inarguably found his sound, and “Zeros” is well worth the listen.
Wallows upped the ante with “Nobody Gets Me (Like You),” an upbeat track paired with an equally upbeat and fun music video that was released on Sept. 9. The band has been gaining much-deserved traction recently, adding to their highly dedicated fan base, and they have millions upon millions of streams on Spotify to show for it. September is looking to be a great month in music, and only time will tell which other artists add to their discography this month.
Prasheetha Karthikeyan/ Prowler
