PAGE 10
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
The 814: Visit Zodiac Dinor By Victoria McGinty Managing editor
If you crave the traditional American diner experience, the Zodiac Dinor is Erie’s own American Dream. Located at 2516 State Street, this place is a staple for breakfast or brunch in Erie. Like any true diner, the Zodiac is home to an amazing staff. They will give you tips on the best menu items and make sure your coffee is always hot. When dining there to craft this article, the restaurant was packed, but the staff still made sure to give us a memorable dining experience. Our server was very talkative and friendly, and she went above and beyond. While the venue is on the
smaller side and can easily become cramped due to its popularity, it is worth it for the menu and pricing. The restaurant’s theme is iconic with a colorful exterior and a retro outer space theme to compliment the inside of the restaurant. While most diners aim to capture the essence of 1950s American culture, the Zodiac does something different—and it works. The result is a quirky, zany spot with incredible food and service. As for the menu, the diner has an array of breakfast classics, lunches and a rotation of seasonal specials. As someone who loves breakfast food, it was a very hard choice to pick just one thing off the menu. Everything sounds absolutely delicious, so making a selection was nearly impossible. While visiting the Zodiac, I
chose the “Big Dipper.” This is a breakfast menu item that includes two eggs of any style, bacon or sausage, and toast. Priced at $4.99, this plate was bigger than one could have anticipated. I dare you to find another diner in Erie offering better for less. The serving sizes are enormous and almost impossible to finish. The price is definitely worth the size and quantity, especially on a college student’s budget. While one can find joy in the traditional breakfast choices, the Zodiac also offers a variety of Belgian waffles, French toast as well as Big A$$ pancakes. Yes, that is actually what it is called on the menu, no joke. While one can enjoy these griddle classics plain, the diner is always featuring these items with
special toppings or inclusions. As summer is quickly approaching, the diner is currently offering a special on strawberry Belgian waffles and apple pie French toast. If sweet breakfasts are not your style, there are plenty of options to choose from. Everything you try on the menu is sure to surprise and delight you. If you are one who does not particularly like breakfast, the diner also has some classic lunch menu items as well. One can choose from a variety of grilled favorites such as hot dogs and hamburgers, chicken sandwiches as well as a variety of salads. The atmosphere of the restaurant is similar to any hometown restaurant. It is very family-friendly and resembles what any small-town din-
er is good at, which is hospitality. The staff is incredibly welcoming and attentive and the service, even on a busy Sunday morning, will go above and beyond to make your experience memorable. While the restaurant may not be the most spacious in Erie, it is still incredibly special to the area. Even better, it’s not too far from campus! I would highly suggest you stop in at least once. Currently, the diner is open from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm every day. If you are looking for a new spot for a girls’ day brunch or somewhere local to try just because, then I suggest the Zodiac Dinor. You’ll be back for more before you know it!
Hurst Hot Take: Freaks and Geeks
Contributed photo
The main cast of Freaks and Geeks.
By Hannah Brooks Features editor
When you think of your favorite television series, you most likely envision shows with wonderfully written character arcs, stories and other exciting components to them. You most likely are not thinking of a show that did not even last one season and had a total of eighteen episodes before its demise. However, a show that was arguably written before its time, “Freaks and Geeks” is the perfect comfort show to watch. The show premiered in 1999, but is set in 1980 in a small town in Michigan. The show follows Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) and her younger brother Sam (John Francis Daley) through their interactions with friends, family and peers. Lindsay is a mathlete who has started hanging out with the “burnouts,” aka “freaks,” at school.
Her brother and his friends belong to a group who has been given the title of “geeks.” “Freaks and Geeks” focuses on a lot of the normal coming-ofage components that most shows touch on. The Weir siblings are caught in teenage dilemmas of doing what is right versus wrong, standing up for their friends and choosing between friends and family. Though the show was shortlived, in the first and only season of the show we got to see each sibling deal with relationships and the subsequent drama that comes with dating as a teenager. The awkward interactions and cringey dialogue perfectly capture what it is like to be a teenager. We are able to watch both characters grow and find themselves and what makes them truly happy over the series. As mentioned, the show takes place in the 80’s but aired two de-
cades later. Funnily enough, it is interesting even now how similar situations are from both of those times to today. For example, being that technology was not nearly where it is now in 1980, or in 1999, it is interesting to see a show without cell phones or any mention of them. There are also many pop culture references made throughout the show that are so different from now. References that would have been innovative or funny at the time remind you that the show was made before our time. It also provides insight into what it must have been like to be in high school in 1980 compared to being a high schooler during the 2000s. Though the show only lasted a season, the project was actually the first for many stars who ended up breaking out and becoming very successful.
A number of the actors rose to unbelievable success, and you may recognize many of these names today. Linda Cardellini is well known for many shows and movies such as “Scooby Doo” and more recently “Dead to Me.” Jason Segel is known for “How I Met Your Mother” as well as many comedies. James Franco is well-known for many movies including “Pineapple Express” and the original “Spider-Man” alongside Toby Maguire. Seth Rogen is known today not only for his many movies including “Knocked Up,” but he is also become somewhat of a TikTok celebrity with his pottery hobby. While many of these stars rose to fame shortly after the demise of the short-lived show, they were just starting out when the show first aired. Judd Apatow, the director, has also risen to prominence in Holly-
wood and is known for a number of movies that he has created over the years. His family is a powerhouse in Hollywood, including the likes of Leslie Mann and Maude Apatow. Getting to see so many actors that are famous today as teens is really unique, and I think that is what makes the show special. “Freaks and Geeks” is the perfect comfort show and is one that would not require much attention to detail being that the show does not provide much of a conclusion. Though that may seem like a bit of a letdown, that is just another interesting part of the show. You get to ultimately decide where the characters of the show may be today. As of 2021, the show is available to stream on Hulu. This summer, as you look for new shows to binge watch and get lost in, make sure to check out “Freaks and Geeks.”
