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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
The 814: Andora’s Bubble Tea has something for everyone By Mackenzie Zent Contributing writer
In downtown Erie, Andora’s Bubble Tea Shop is a must-visit location for any bubble tea lovers at Mercyhurst. Owners Andy and Rora Steinmetz opened the business a little over two years ago in May of 2019, and it has been growing rapidly ever since. Customers can order inside or do curbside pick-up if they are in a hurry. There is a wide variety of teas, juices, lemonades and milk teas to choose from with the choice of tapioca pearls, popping boba or fruit jellies to put inside. Unlike other bubble tea places that only offer tapioca or boba, Andora’s offers a more unique selection with the fruit jellies. Online, the menu has all of their signature drinks like the house blend milk tea, taro milk tea, matcha latte and more. They also offer a seasonal menu with their current most popular
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Students show off their bubble tea drink orders at Andora’s Bubble Tea Shop. Pictured are Strawberry Boba (left) and Passion Fruit Lemonade with strawberry boba (right).
item being the pumpkin pie pearl milk with tapioca. The new seasonal flavors are perfect for the cool upcoming fall weather. I personally can’t wait to
go back to try them. There is another section on the menu that allows customers to create their own custom drinks. They have over 17 different flavors
of juice to choose from, and you can combine up to three flavors. I ordered the passion fruit lemonade with strawberry boba, and it did not disappoint. The passion fruit juice was sweet yet offset by the tanginess of the lemonade, and I loved it. The strawberry boba also paired perfectly with the flavors I chose. It was one of the best bubble tea drinks I have ever had. Something I really liked was instead of plastic straws, they gave out eco-friendly ones made from bamboo. I love when small businesses go the extra mile to be environmentally conscious, and I thought this was a nice touch to the whole experience. The shop itself is aesthetically adorable. Outside they have a pride flag hanging up above the entrance which makes all customers feel welcome. There are a few tables outside to sit at, and a chalkboard out front with some of the seasonal drinks they offer written on it. Inside Andora’s, the atmosphere
is positive and relaxing. They not only sell bubble tea, but also merchandise such as t-shirts, tank tops and bags with their logo on them. While waiting in line, you can browse through the international Taiwanese snacks they sell such as different flavors of KitKats, sweet bread, Ramune soda and so much more. Next to these, they also sell other fun items such as key-chains, earrings, pins and stickers. Many of the earrings and key-chains were little cups of bubble tea in different colors. Not only was the merchandise cute, it was also very on-brand for the shop. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience, and I am excited to go back and try more! Andora’s Bubble Tea Shop is located at 516 State Street; stop by and try it for yourself!
Dido and Aeneas brings opera to MU By Abigail Eyler
Contributing writer
The D’Angelo Music department has chosen Dido and Aeneas to be the opera for this year’s largescale performance. Composed between 1683-1688 with a premiere date in 1689, the opera is popular amongst English opera fans and Baroque music listeners due to it being one of the first English operas. It is also one of the most wellknown Baroque operas with the libretto written by Nahum Tate. Composed by Henry Purcell, this is his only true opera, as it is an all-sung dramatic performance. The story is based off of Virgil’s Aeneid, specifically Book IV where it recounts Dido’s love for Aeneas after he lands in Carthage and the despair she has once Aeneas leaves. Auditions for the opera have already taken place on Sept. 2 in Room 19 of the D’Angelo music building, but more information is to come for ways to get involved within the opera. Music majors and non-majors were able to try out for the opera with a variety of characters and opportunities to be in the chorus. The opera has heavy involvement for all involved musically. The characters auditioned for include: Dido, the Queen of Carthage, also known as Elissa, sung by a soprano or mezzo-soprano; Aeneas, a Trojan prince, sung by a tenor or high baritone; Belin-
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Opera Atelier’s performance of Dido and Aeneas da, Dido’s sister and handmaid, sung by a light soprano; Second Woman, another handmaiden, sung by a soprano or mezzo-soprano; Sorceress/Sorcerer, sung by a mezzo-soprano or contralto, or sung by a countertenor or bass; First Witch/Enchantress: sung by a mezzo-soprano; Second Witch/ Enchantress: sung by a mezzo-soprano; Spirit, in the form of Mercury, sung by a soprano or countertenor and First Sailor, sung by a tenor. The opera follows Dido, the widowed Queen of Carthage, as
she entertains Aeneas, a Trojan prince, after he is shipwrecked trying to go to Italy to find a new Troy. The two eventually fall in love, but witches plan the destruction of Dido. The sorceress then conjures a storm while the couple is hunting, and the impersonation of Mercury is performed by one in Sorceress’ coven. While the storm breaks and the couriers head back to town, Mercury tells Aeneas that he must sail for Italy, leaving Dido in Car-
thage. Aeneas and the sailors leave, and Dido proceeds to kill herself. Those who are music majors can receive credit if their credit load permits, and those who are non-majors may be eligible to receive REACH credit for their artistic requirements. Operatic experience is not required. Those who choose to be vocally involved in the opera must provide two songs which showcase technical singing, which can be arias, art songs or musical theatre songs, and must have a complet-
ed form along with sheet music of the two songs. Songs must be memorized. A pianist will be provided for all vocalists. Performances of the opera will be Friday, March 25, and Sunday, March 27, in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. The D’Angelo Opera Theatre will be under the leadership of its new director, Professor Royce Strider M.M. For any questions, contact Strider at rstrider@mercyhurst. edu.
