2
Ads
Issue 79.1
Intro
3
Alejandro Ramos, Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Bailey Mount, Managing Editor manager@lbunion.com Nathan Zankich, Web Manager web@lbunion.com Alexis Cruz, Social Media Manager Andrew Linde, Multimedia Manager Allison Meyer, Multimedia Assistant
ART & DESIGN Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com
EDITORIAL Matthew Gozzip, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com Sylvana Uribe, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Amanda Del Cid, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Sheila Sadr, Copy Editor Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Culture Editor amanda@lbunion.com Madison Gallegos, Culture Editor madison@lbunion.com Peter R. Clark, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com Zach Phelps, Food Editor food@lbunion.com Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Elliott Gatica, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Jordan Daniels, Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Mario Lopez, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com
STAFF WRITERS Martha Quijano, martha@lbunion.com Karrie Comfort, karrie@lbunion.com
CONTRIBUTORS Augustus R. Krider
What up, young people! It’s time for another talk with yours truly where I try to sound important enough to tell you about our work while giving you life advice. Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking when I thought of going with that angle. I mean, it kind of made sense? What else was I supposed to do? Come in sounding like a scrub that has no idea what he’s doing? There was no way I was going to do that. I wanted to sound like I had it together, even if I didn’t. Fake it ‘til you make it right? I’m coming at you with a bit more honesty because the last week broke me. I am tired, y’all. I’m pretty sure the rest of the staff is just as tired as I am. We’ve been working nonstop. We had to hit the ground running to get our first issue out on the first day of the semester. From there it’s been a mess. We all have class. We all have jobs. We all have this thing we’re working on together to finish every week without ripping each other’s heads off. It’s a lot to manage.Then there was this week. First, we tabled for both days of Week of Welcome. Then we had to do Smorgasport. We finally reached the end of our week with production day. We’re ready for a vacation. When is fall break? As tired as I am, I’m excited for what’s to come. We did really well with recruiting and getting our name out there this week. We had a ton of people talk to us and sign up for our email list during Week of Welcome. I don’t know how factual this is, but I think we had the most sign ups in recent history. It definitely got Danny’s attention, who was surprised by how many names we had on our sign up sheets. “You guys usually get this many people,” he said while gesturing maybe a couple of lines of our sign up sheet. Smorgasport, which was worrying me the most, was a total success. In case you didn’t see it on our Twitter or Instagram, we had a confession booth where people could write their funny or embarrassing
stories. We then pulled one out every now and then and posted it on social media. I feel bad saying this, but I was surprised by the turnout. We ended up posting a bunch of confessions on Twitter. I was worried we wouldn’t get people to bite, especially since we were set up next to College Beat. They had a whole setup with a fancy camera and a green screen! We did it though. We managed to do well even while next to the cool kids. Speaking of which, those College Beat kids are real cool. They have good things going for them and it used to make me feel inadequate. I went to their first general meeting and I just felt my spirit sink. It made me feel like I have to start working harder so I can get us to catch up. Then I came back to the office and realized how much work it would actually take to catch up. It’s more than we can do this year. In fact, it might take a couple of years to really bring us up to the level of our neighbors. With that in mind, I’ve made the decision to just enjoy the journey. There’s no reason for me to work myself so ragged while expecting others to do the same. This is supposed to be a growing and learning experience for all of us. We’ll get better together. That’s the one thing I constantly have to remind myself. I’m not doing this alone; it just feels like it because I have this idea that I’m the only one that cares because I’m the only one in the office all day. It’s not fair for me to think that way, though. Everyone else has other responsibilities to take care of. I have let the others work at their own pace while letting them know if they do slip up. Communication is the most important thing in the workplace. That’s something for me to work on. Let me make it clear that I love the work they’ve done so far. A lot of the new writers and editors have come in and just blown me away with the progress they’ve made so far. Matt and Jordan and Sylvana came in knowing next to nothing about design but
have started to put together fantastic pages. Have you seen our Twitter and Instagrams? Alexis gave us new life on social media with little experience. Bailey, who has an aversion to technology, has been putting up articles all week on our new Medium blog, which you can check out at www.medium. com/long-beach-union-weekly. And Martha stepped all the way up to take on writing the feature on her own - a task that was usually divided amongst several people. She took the topic - callout culture and did an good amount of research to write up what I think is a fascinating dissection on a problem that affects the Internet and social media. If it sounds little vague to you, then you should definitely take the time to read it. At the end of the day, this newspaper is here to give people a place to create something for their futures. We might not be able to pay our staff and it may be thankless at times, but it’s an opportunity for them to get their names out there. I think that’s why I’m so obsessed with making this paper great. I want the students that come through our office to be able to leave and say, “Yeah, I used to work for *the* Union Weekly of Cal State Long Beach. We did the damn thing.” That’s why I’m here. I just have to learn to have fun with this job. Anyway, I’ve rambled on for way too long. I just want to give a big shoutout to Bailey and Alexis for keeping the office afloat when I go into panic mode, which is basically after any bad day. Also, thank you to all the editors for being awesome and getting their work done quickly. This is the second time in a row where we’ve finished before 11 pm. I have a feeling we’ll be finishing a lot faster than that soon enough. There you have it. Another long winded talk with me. I hope you guys enjoy this issue!
Ramos
COVER DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela FEATURE DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela CONTACT US Snail Mail: 1212 Bellflower Blvd. Suite 116 Long Beach, CA 90815 Phone: 562.985.4867 E-mail: lbunion.info@gmail.com Classifieds: classifieds.lbunion@gmail.com
@UnionWeekly
Disclaimer and Publication Information: The Union Weekly is published using ad money and partial funding provided by the Associated Students, Inc. All Editorials are the opinions of their individual authors, not the Union Weekly, ASI nor CSULB. All students are welcome and encouraged to be a part of the Union Weekly staff. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication. However, CSULB students will have precedence. Please include name and major for all submissions. They are subject to editing and will not be returned. Letters may or may not be edited for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and length. The Union Weekly will publish anonymous letters, articles, editorials, and illustration, but must have your name and information attached for our records. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 500 words. The Union Weekly assumes no responsibility, nor is it liable, for claims of its advertisers. Grievance procedures are available in the Associated Students business office.
4
Culture
Submarine Lovers Poem by Mario Lopez Travel Editor
Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator
A graze over blue sheets of my bed, my hands in naval pursuit, sifting shallow water. Languid lover, you assumed I knew what love was, is, and ever will be, but Drunken sex and strained laughs only drag the night so far. Your toes tip and your lips sprout up so far, never breaking the surface tension. Just oscillating with shimmer of black depth below, heads held above water. And I ask why you haven’t killed yourself, what it is you want? but I didn’t, and the dark dissuades into satisfying sighs, and you curl up on your end. Your hands never held clutch on my arm. Only finger-dawdle scrapes of my skin sifting the night through subtle talk. I never asked. I just looked.
The dips in the bed, a submarine echo of your navel. I can’t dun you for a touch. Flesh on flesh is all you knew of connection; one piece goes into the other. And all I knew was silent admiration.
“...you assumed I knew what love was...but drunken sex and strained laughs only drag the night so far.”
Done day. when I saw you at night and felt you with a tenderness. Dun day when I miss you now at night and I’m left with a tenderness. not because I miss my head on your breast-because I didn’t listen to the beat. Never a we, just a you, a me. Two sublunary lovers— entwined, and wading.
Culture
5
Their Eyes Were Watching God Vertigo’s comic series about a group of misfits on a divine mission Words by Bailey Mount Managing Editor
With those words, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s “Preacher” immediately establishes itself as a comic apart from the rest. The Vertigo comic series tells the story of Jesse Custer, a reluctant preacher imbued with the Word of God, a power that forces people to do his bidding. Joined by his girlfriend, Tulip, and an Irish vampire named Cassidy, he sets off across America with a singular goal in mind — to hunt down God. Running from 1995 to 2000, the comic series came to prominence in an unprecedented period of authoritative disillusionment and doubt. By 1998 — the middle of its run — 14 percent of Americans were now claiming to have no religious preference, double its previous percentage in 1991, and increased aversion to organized religion. That same year, the Lewinsky scandal reflected a similar dissonance growing between citizens and those purportedly above them. With a story that its creator referred to as “blasphemy,” “Preacher” mirrors the dissatisfactions of readers who read it now or back then. It has everything. Its storyline is unorthodox. Following the destruction of his church and the murder of his entire congregation, Jesse heads out to confront God, who has fled from Heaven for unknown reasons. Along with Tulip and Cassidy, he begins a cross country hunt for the being. Its dialogue and characters are witty
and distinct. Jesse is a faithless preacher. Tulip is a hired hitwoman, introduced when she carjacks Cassidy at gunpoint after a failed hit. Cassidy is a vampire with a voracious drug problem and an overwhelming desire to be loved. Its minor characters, everyone from a heavily disfigured boy who fails suicide to an undead assassin, are introduced with purpose and never anything but multi-faceted. And it’s got action so unrelenting in its grip that I finished it in three days upon reading the first issue.Five years of a comic, gone in a 72 hour whirlwind of anticipation at each panel, each line, and detailed facial expression. After all, how many writers could say that their plot was something as grandiose as making God answer for his indifference toward humanity’s suffering? And even then, how many writers could turn this from a cheap gimmick into something spectacular? Ennis and Dillon had prior experience in this regard when they worked together on another Vertigo comic, “Hellblazer.” This series followed the life of occult magician John Constantine in his constant battle against the supernatural and his own selfloathing. Mixing gritty realism with vibrant fantasy, the pair succeeded in demonstrating a harsher side to the fantasy genre. The comic was also the first to show its protagonist age along with the publication. The pair spares none of this innovation when it comes to “Preacher.” Elements from “Hellblazer” follow over into it, from
its fantastical characters to its morally ambiguous human ones. More often than not, it is the supernatural creatures that tend to be more dichotomous and traditionalist than the seemingly fallible humans. Of course, the series relies on a few of the standard cliches of Christian folklore. Angels don’t like humans because God loves them best. God is a bearded old white man that insists to everyone that he is a “loving God”. God is no doubt a focal point in the story. He spends the majority of the series running from our three main characters and doesn’t even interact with Jesse until he’s forced to. Plain and simple, he’s a coward. If “Preacher” has a single failing, it’s the one-dimensionality brought to his character. But that’s what God is in this narrative — a character. He’s not made into an unattainable idea. He’s not given special treatment, because our main characters refuse to see him as anything but an absent father. It is this grounded execution of such a lofty plot is what keeps “Preacher” from becoming another cheap shot at an organized
institution. Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy are hunting down God out of anger and resentment, for answers, not punishment. Along the way, they find that they are just as capable of being cowards themselves. In the end, “Preacher” reminds us that good and evil are not mutually exclusive. Regardless of position, people are inherently fallible and injustices should never go unresolved. In its time of publication, it echoed the discontent of the masses toward authorities that had either failed them or ostracized them with their choices. In the present, it creates a good discussion in theological philosophy and a good read.
Images taken from the “Preacher” series. Illustrations by Steve Dillon and Glenn Fabry
6
Ads
Travel
7
Travel Blunders Waiting for a plane and waiting By Martha Giron Quijano Staff Writer Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator The experience of going to places I’ve never gone before has always been something I enjoy doing. Despite the night-before-panic from the last minute packing or lost passports, getting on a plane for a new adventure makes it all worth it. The only thing that could ruin a perfectly good trip is not being able to make it back home. Last summer, I went on an annual family trip to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday. That year, we decided to have our get-together in our neighboring country — Canada. My relatives who live there took us to all the tourist spots like Niagara Falls and the CN Tower in Toronto. It was a trip for the books. As much fun as I had on the trip, after almost a week of not sleeping in my own bed,
I was ready to go back home. But clearly that wasn’t going to happen for me or my parents. We were able to catch an early connecting flight from Toronto to Philadelphia. My family always gets a Buddy Pass, which is a reduced rate, whenever we travel. The worst thing about using the pass during peak season is not being guaranteed a seat on a flight on the day you’re scheduled to go to your destination. This means that if your flight is packed with people who paid the full price for a ticket, you’ll have to be on standby until the next plane arrives. We were put on a waitlist which we could access online based on our flight number. When it was time to board, we anxiously waited to see our names get called on the list.
You were lucky if you were number one. Luck was not on our side as our numbers went from 15 all the way down to 28 in a matter of hours. Hungry and exhausted, we continued to be on standby until we got bumped up on the list. As the day turned into night, our names just kept going further down the list for no known reason. Eventually, we had made friends with people who were in the same situation as us. We would even do a little cheer whenever one of us gets lucky enough to get a seat on the next trip to Los Angeles. When they announced the final flight for the day without our names being called, we were beyond disappointed, frustrated, and angry. Fortunately, we also have relatives
who live in Delaware, which was about an hour away from Philadelphia International Airport. We were able to rest up in an actual bed as opposed to the uncomfortable seats in the airport’s waiting area. The following day was a fresh start. We were more optimistic about finally being able to go home after spending a whole day waiting around the day before. We learned that some of our friends ended up buying a full priced ticket for the first flight out the next day, while others, including me and my parents, were still crossing their fingers to get back home to the West. In the afternoon, nearly 24 hours later, our names were finally called. My name never sounded better than hearing it through the PA system.
The Gin Diaries #1 Augustus’ travels abroad in England I am Augustus R. Krider and you are reading the first installment of The Gin Diaries. It could only be described as too easy to get shipped off like this; I am not even sure it was my own idea anymore. I was a kid raised in Fresno, and I worked my ass off to get to Long Beach. I hadn’t even been there a year when a cute little local girl convinced me to take her to Europe. Now I am heading to England, full of fear, a little loathing, and imagining myself as a Hunter S. Thompson character. Don’t worry, I’m not alone out there; the part of Hunter’s fat lawyer/companion will be played by the aforementioned cute Long Beach local: CSULB’s own President’s Scholar, self-appointed princess, and master manipulator, Megan E. Calhoun. That’s right. We’re going abroad to The University of Coventry in Coventry, England. Our term starts this September and I’ll be writing about it every other week. However, since we haven’t left yet, I’m going to write about what it takes to go abroad at CSULB. Studying abroad is ridiculously easy. It is scary how bad the CSU system is willing to pawn slackers like me onto unsuspecting nations. My study abroad experience started when Megan told me we were going in the
By Augustus R. Krider Contributor Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator same manner of which she tells me to go to the store, or to do something involving her sister. I had no choice. I then told my parents; my mom was concerned of course, but when are moms not? My dad, however, told me that the Navy would send me abroad for free, and even pay me money to go. Then, he pulled a box of condoms out of a CVS bag and told me, “it’s this or the Navy child.” Now I in no big way needed that lecture, or their consent to go, and I’m not sure that I even got it, but I was really just laying the ground work for the asking of money that was coming in a few months. Going abroad isn’t as expensive as you might expect. There are some obvious hurdles like flights, but student aid and scholarships transfer. You also have to pay rent and buy food no matter where you are, so those expenses are frankly no excuse not to go. I’m sorry, but there are few places where you won’t find better deals than the Southern California rent so many of us are beholden to. Also, ASI gave both Megan and I a thousanddollar scholarship each just for going abroad. Easiest money I ever made without driving to the house of a grandparent. So once you decide to go overseas, you have to apply. Another incredibly easy step, the folks inside our study abroad office
helped me through the whole process. The hardest step to the application is the essay. “Why do you want to go abroad?” For this, the essay can be answered in any way: I want to go meet English people. I want to go earn my knighthood so that I can force all the lifeguards that work for me in the summer to call me Ser Augustus of the English Channel, because I am going to rescue a drowning Lord. I want to go find the cave of Merlin and use his powers to resurrect all the dead Beatles and force them to admit that Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is about LSD. All of these are good answers; almost anything can be said about going abroad, but the essay is still hard, because you can’t tell the truth. The essay I couldn’t write I’ve made a column for, entitled the Gin Diaries: it goes like this, I am a 19 year old who wants to get blasted in England with English spirits. I can’t do it legally here, so goodbye contraband Rum and Coke—my Long Beach staple food. Hello Gin, I’ve planned carefully, my flight leaves soon, and we will be together in no time. Until next time, follow me on twitter @guskrider for my adventures in real time.
8
FEATURE
T U O L
L CA
By Martha Giron Quijano In the age of social media, anything and everything can be said online with the click of a button. Often times, just one post can change a person’s whole life. Say one wrong thing and you can bet that the people of the Internet will be ready with their pitchforks and torches. With the events happening in the United States today, political commentary online is at its all time high. However, not everything that gets posted will get the support from the people who read it. According to Asam Ahmad from Briarpatch Magazine, call out culture puts anyone who posts anything remotely sexist, racist, or ableist, on the spot. He sees call out culture as “a public performance where people can demonstrate their wit or how pure
their politics are. Indeed, sometimes it can feel like the performance itself is more significant than the content of the call out.” He further explains how calling out someone has always been a public event, whether it occurs outside of city hall or behind a computer screen. In contrast, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen from Daily Life believes that call out culture is not necessarily a bad thing. She recalls the time when she received a Facebook message from someone whom she called out for posting a rape joke as an example. The man who messaged her thanked her for doing so because it changed his views. Nguyen says that call out culture can “allow the oppressed to protect themselves from everyday language, actions and microaggressions that
threaten their safety, and hopefully influence a trickle-down shift in societal thinking.” This trickle-down shift experiences a setback when dealing with a more popular individual. When our favorite celebrities post something that more than half of the population might not agree with, we might not hesitate to call them out on it. We might think people that we look up can never do anything wrong. So when they do, that perfect image of them is shattered and we might not be quick to accept that. In the case of basketball legend Michael Jordan, his speech on ESPN in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement demonstrated how easily public opinion could be swayed. “I was raised by parents who taught
FEATURE
E R U T L
U C me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent,” he said in a statement for ESPN’s The Undefeated. As soon as his statement was released, an uproar occurred on Twitter. People either praised him for speaking out, or were humorously critical of his statement. Those who criticized him called him out for not speaking out about the issue when it became the most prevalent in the country and said that he was “a little too late,” according to Hip Hop Wired. Even such criticisms against a public icon do not compare to what regular social media folks might experience when sharing their views. Instead of a
simple “I disagree” or a choice to stay silent, some people may blatantly attack that person for their remarks. Two years ago, a Tumblr blog titled, “Racists Getting Fired,” was dedicated to publicly shaming individuals who posted racially offensive material or comments on social media. Eventually, the submissions were either seen or shown to employers for the purpose of getting those people terminated from their jobs. The Washington Post revealed that the blog had backfired on certain people who were being wrongly called out or shamed for hate speech they themselves did not post. Such was the case of Brianna Rivera, who was accused of posting “racially charged hate speech to her Facebook account,” when it had actually been her ex-boyfriend doing the posting with the
intention of getting her fired. A similar situation occurred in May of 2016 when Azealia Banks’ Twitter account was deactivated after a series of racist and homophobic tweets. Many users were quick to call out the rapper and reported her to the website. The Huffington Post reported that it is not certain whether she deleted her account on her own or if Twitter suspended her. Either way, her words resulted in the removal of her account. Sometimes it can take a nasty departure from the Internet to leave you with an important life lesson. More often than not, however, the so called “call-out culture” only works if the goal is to make the person you call out disappear from the face of the Internet.
9
10
Music
The Walls Close in Slower than Normal An Autumn for Crippled Children release a slightly different album By Peter R. Clark Entertainment Editor
It came as a shock to me that An Autumn for Crippled Children (AAFCC) released a new album towards the end of August. “Eternal” is AAFCC’s 6th full-length album. Much like their previous albums, “Eternal” is a claustrophobic romp more felt than heard. AAFCC is a post-black metal band from the Netherlands. The group consists of 3 members who use ambiguous names. Since their formation in 2008, AAFCC has been making extremely experimental black metal music utilizing synths as well as the standard instruments. To the casual listener, “Eternal” may sound like more of the same. The standard of being buried six feet deep in a coffin full of synths, drums, whiny and distant guitars, and scratchy vocals, but to the veteran listener this album is a bit different than the others so far. “Eternal” feels as if you are buried four feet deep, with maybe an air hole to breathe. While still quite claustrophobic like other albums, there are moments of clarity. There are moments where AAFCC wants the listener to hear the bigger picture, but these moments are fleeting. Before you know it, you’re right back in that coffin, suffocating and enjoying every moment of it. Much like AAFCC’s other albums, the vocals in “Eternal” are merely another instrument in the chaos. Since no lyrics are ever posted for any of their songs, and they are mostly incomprehensible as it is, it is safe to listen to each song with the mindset that the lyrics are unimportant to the songs. The most information you get about a song lyrically is the title of each track, which all have s o m e By Alejandro Ramos sort of
depressing title. “Eternal” also feels like previous albums in many ways, as each track seems to blend into each other. The album is one, with little breaks, and sometimes it is hard to tell one song from another. However, there are some tracks that stand out on this album. “I Will Never Let You Die” is an example of AAFCC trying to bring you further up from the ground. The track begins with a wall of sound, a melodic approach to the oncoming descent into madness once the vocals kick in. It is one part beautiful, and six parts tragic. This song heavily uses synths to convey emotion, especially during the bridge of the song. Another standout song on the albums is “This Small Space you Occupied is So Empty Now.” It’s a fast-paced song from the get-go, emphasizing the distant guitars, and bass with in-your-face drums. The vocals here, as always, are distant like a person screaming into a microphone at a concert, but the microphone is turned off. Overall, it’s a song that does little changing, except for slight variations in the melody. It’s a unique song for them, and really showcases how far they have come. “Cloud Mood,” the second to last track on the album, focuses on a piano. It is one of the cleanest sounding pianos they have ever used. It pierces through the track and stands out from every other chaotic noise of the coffin. It takes a while for the vocalist to start in this song, but when he does, he matches the melody of the piano for an i n te r e s t i n g e f f e c t on the track.
Para Siempre, mi Principe
Remembering “El Divo de Juarez” growing up
Editor-in-Chief Photos by Juan Enriquez
“Farewell” is a song that mixes things up for them. It starts off with only synths, making them sound like a completely different band for quite a while. A lot of the instruments sound clear, and less claustrophobic than normal. This all changes once the vocals come in. The song then reverts back to their normal tight quarters. Perhaps this is song is the future of the band. Overall, AAFCC’s 6th album is one to be enjoyed. It’s a lot better than their previous one, but not quite as good as “Only the Ocean Knows” (2012) and “Try Not to Destroy Everything you A beautiful Love” (2013). soul has “Eternal” is a great left us to bless entry into their the heavens discography, with song. Juan and one I’ll be Gabriel, dubbed “El listening to for Divo de Juarez”, passed quite some away last week, leaving time. behind a great legacy of music and humanitarianism. He challenged social norms and inspired millions around the world with his signature style and charm. With over 100 million records sold and 1,000 songs recorded, he reached a level of fame few reach. He was all of this, but to me, he was a part of my childhood, and now he’s gone. I remember Juan Gabriel well. His name was a staple in my family’s house when I was young. His voice filled our house every weekend when my mom would wake up early to cook and clean for us. His ballads were grand and awe-inspiring. As annoying as it was to be woken up early in the morning, it was nice when it was to the stylings of Juan Gabriel. He wasn’t always known as Juan Gabriel, though, let alone “El Divo de Juarez.” The man that captivated Mexico and the world and my living room with his charm and his voice had humble beginnings. He was born Alberto Aguilera Valadez. He was the son of farmers and the youngest of ten siblings. He joined choir while in boarding school and the rest is history. He had many names as he ascended through the ranks of the music world, but only one became widely known. Juan Gabriel hit the
scene and gained the admiration of millions. Thus, Juan Gabriel was perfect, in every sense of the word. He exuded confidence and poise. He approached everyone with grace that was unmatched. His persona was above and beyond the rest of us. The world was his stage and he played a character that embodied everything he wanted to be. In doing so, he became his true self. And he was loved for it. He filled us with emotion. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t know love, happiness, sadness the way that we do now. He gave these feelings life in his anthems. Adoring fans — men, women, and children — recited them in times of pain and times of joy. The one that stayed with me over the years was “Asi Fue”, an intense ballad where Juanga tells a woman that he doesn’t love her anymore and has moved on to someone else. Of course, as a 5-year-old I didn’t pay too much attention to the lyrics. I just thought the song sounded amazing. The thing I realized when I got older was that Juan Gabriel was a little different. He wore glamorous make-up, dressed fabulously, and moved flamboyantly across the stage. None of this seemed odd to me until I reached that age where kids start to think about gender and sexuality. It was then that I realized he danced along the line between straight and gay but never confirmed anything. In the end, he chose not to define himself on other people’s terms. He defined himself through his actions and his music. He was Juan Gabriel, the man whose voice shaped weekend mornings with my family. That’s how I’ll remember him.
Athletics
11
Long Way to the Apex Women’s volleyball win opener at The Pyramid but remain inconsistent By Matthew Gozzip Athletics Editor
“Varying levels of play won’t get it done for an entire season for the Beach.”
After a long week away from home, the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team (2-2) defeated the California Golden Bears 3-1 in a game that highlighted many of the Beach’s deficiencies to so far this season. Senior outside hitter Nele Barber recorded a spectacular line with a matchhigh 16 kills, 11 digs and four blocks, her third double-double this season. Junior middle back Ashley Murray took the Beach out of an early slump (14 kills) to lead star studded rotation in the center with sophomore Peyton Grahovac (11) and freshman Eri Xue (10). Xue hit .471 to lead the way for LBSU which hit .324 as a team. LBSU got off to a slow start in the first set, struggling to set up a strong back line against an efficient Cal front. The Golden Bears stormed to a 2-9 due to the Beach’s
lack of synchronization in switching from offensive to defensive sets. Murray swung the momentum by scoring a couple quick points to shorten the gap and the rest of the team followed suit. Xue continued her efficient hitting start to the season while redshirt sophomore Anete Brinke (12 kills, 9 digs, 2 blocks) rallied the defense together to bring the score to 20-21. The early climb ended up being too much for the Beach as they were unable to clinch the set, 24-26. LBSU dropped a point in a pivotal late rally that saw both teams exchanging hits at a furious pace. The Beach controlled the second set with a focus on fortifying the defense. Freshman libero Hailey Hayward (19 digs) steadied the ship early during a Cal attack and LBSU’s offense capitalized, leading to a breezy 25-17 victory. The third set was a match of wits. After 18 ties and 10 lead changes, the Beach sealed the set in a tough tiebreaker, 28-26. Barber continued where she left off while Murray essentially saved the team by recording three straight kills to keep the set within reach for the Beach. In the fourth set, The Beach jumped to a quick lead and ultimately were able to take the set, 25-23, despite further pressure from Cal. Though it was technically a win for The Beach, head coach Brian Gimmillaro did not like what he saw. “We did not play a very good match,” Gimmillaro said after the game.
“In any sport, you have to win when you’re not playing well..If you play well and win that’s one thing, but if you’re not playing well, you still have to win.” An even record seems like a reasonable start for the season for most team but for the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team much more is usually expected from a storied program. In the first four games of the season, the Beach’s starts have been erratic. In their second game, LBSU commanded from the get go and swept Texas Tech. However, the Beach dropped the first two sets in their opening match against Portland State and were swept in their third game against Colorado. Friday’s game against Cal could have easily been a loss after the first set loss. They should want to start quickly every set since playing from behind is not an ideal situation. Clearly the Beach can play at a very high level but besides the result of one match, have not continually played their best for multiple matches. Barber and Murray are the only upperclasswomen, so lack of experience may play a role in the early disconnect. ]Xue and Hayward have only played four collegiate games so adjusting to the pace of play and positioning themselves in optimal places may take longer than expected. This team certainly is talented and can beat most teams if they play to their potential. The “if” is the biggest factor, the toughest opponent that LBSU will face all season.
Beach Doesn’t Back Down from B-ball’s Best Daunting new schedules will test and reward By Matthew Gozzip Athletics Editor Long Beach State basketball may not be the best overall program in the nation but you can’t say they aren’t backing down from the challenge of trying. Last week, LBSU men’s basketball coach Dan Monson announced the preliminary 2016-2017 schedule for the team featuring a tough non-conference schedule. Did I say tough? What I really meant to say was “the hardest non-conference schedule in the Big West.” The Beach takes a trip to Chapel Hill to play the North Carolina Tar Heels, the runner-up in the national title game. UNC will be a herculean task for LBSU. The Tar Heels are a national brand and have one of the most storied programs in all of sports. What they are expecting other than a nice stipend for their troubles is to be determined.
Believe it or not, the next game is just as difficult. The Beach is going back to California, only to play arguably “the” most storied program in all of sports, the UCLA Bruins. Though they underperformed last year, the Bruins have an incredible recruiting class coming with some of the best players in the state. Did I mention that we also play Kansas, the second winningest program in NCAA men’s basketball history? Yeah, they are good too. The Beach will be facing three more opponents from the Power 5 conferences and not the cupcake teams in the cellar of said conferences. The University of Austin Texas have made it to numerous NCAA tournaments and several Final Fours. Washington and Oregon State are two of the better teams in Pac-
12 and have their own history of success. Not to be upstaged, coach Jody Wynn of LBSU’s women’s basketball team arranged an equally difficult non-conference schedule. LBSU plays four Power-5 schools on the set schedule: Duke, USC, Houston, Florida State and Arizona State. And that’s just the set schedule. The Beach will also be taking part in the inaugural Play4Kay Shootout in Las Vegas, featuring a strong field full of talented squads. Four teams from the NCAA tournament (New Mexico State, South Florida, Oklahoma State and Oregon State) and three teams from the NIT (LBSU, Santa Clara and Qunnipiac) highlight the field. The Beach competes in a smaller conference (Big West) but playing these titans of the sport certainly pays dividends in more ways than one.
LBSU certain gains experience playing against the best in the nation. Playing against tougher competition in the beginning of the season helps with a team’s resiliency later on during the grueling conference slate. The program also pockets a good amount of money for each game, regardless if it’s a win or not (see article on Dan Monson’s contract pay in LA Times). Travelling across the country not only means LBSU gets paid more for these buy games but they also get to promote their brand across the country. Think of it as free PR in a sense. Regardless of the outcomes of these games in the coming year, LBSU’s schedule proves that it refuses to be just a run-of-themill small school. At this point a victory is a supplement to all the positives from playing a rough schedule.
12
Opinions
When Social Media Takes Over Your Social Life Why we spend more time talking about plans than making them By Martha Quijano Staff Writer Photo By Jordan Daniels Opinions Editor You used to call me on my cell phone is not just a line we hear from Drake. It’s a line that is relevant in a situation that many of us may have encountered at some point in our lives when connecting with friends. Making plans are not as detailed or complicated as they used to be. We commit to a lunch date after class or grab a quick drink over the weekend but never actually follow through with it. Why does that happen? As someone who is the grand master at being a total flake, I can tell you why sometimes we say “let’s hang out” but never actually do it. Our initial reaction to making plans on the spot is excitement. But, sometimes we get so excited that we forget about the other things we have scheduled in our lives Getting the opportunity to hang out with our friends can make us forget about other things going on because let’s face it, nothing is better than being with great company. Often times when I get the chance to catch up with someone I haven’t spoken to since high school, time passes me by and before I know it, I’m rushing to my next class
with a minute left on the clock because I couldn’t help but use every second I have. S ome t i me s we decline our friend’s invitation because o f conf licting schedules but sometimes we are afraid to tell them that we just can’t hang out with them for that one day because we don’t want to disappoint them. They were probably looking forward to it as much as you. My solution: make mini plans. Plans for a face-to-face
interaction with friends instead of the mediated way of communication that we’re getting so used to with the devices that we’re so attached to. W e ’ r e humans. We seek real human connections with one another. We can’t just settle for a comment on each other’s Instagram every once in awhile or even a direct message (which, ironically, is an indirect way of
talking to one another) on Twitter. Our friends are what keeps us sane from all the stressors we go through daily. Sometimes life does get in the way of things that keeps us from seeing our loved ones for months on end without even realizing it, and that’s why we should make the conscious effort to make time to see them. Here’s a couple of mini-plan ideas you could try out while on campus: A Starbucks run is great, especially if you’re on campus. The long lines during lunch rush is the perfect time to get in some chat time with a friend to catch up. Lunch break. If you and your friend have the same breaks in between classes, grabbing a quick lunch on campus or anywhere nearby gives both of you plenty of opportunity to reconnect, whether it’s five minutes or half an hour. Chatting through social media isn’t a terrible thing to do. Dropping comments online every once in awhile is still better than complete disconnection from your friends. Still, nothing compares to getting off the phone and into the car with your friends.
Tattoos, Hair Color and Society, Oh My! A commentary on why tattoos and colorful hairstyles should be embraced By Alexis Cruz Social Media Manager As someone who has had the compulsive urge to dye my hair pink and get a tattoo, I’ve always wondered why I was so hesitant to do those things in the first place. My mom chastised me for bleaching my hair and dyeing it and when I got my tattoo I made sure that it was somewhere hidden. Then it hit me, a single word: stigma. Putting ink into the skin and dyeing hair to a color outside of the natural spectrum has either been criminalized or deemed unprofessional. If this is such an issue why would anyone consciously get a tattoo or color their hair in the first place? Let’s look into the crazy process(es) that it takes to achieve these stigmatized styles. Tattoos cost a of money. I’m talking hundreds of dollars here. If you’re serious about a tattoo do your research on the cost, the artist, the design, the placement and the aftercare. Most artists charge up to $100 per hour,
but if you’re like me and want the best quality design and application you should be ready to spend $120+ per hour. That’s not including the cash gratuity fee. You also need to be patient during both the tattooing and healing process. An intricate piece of work can take up to six hours and even multiple sessions to apply. As for healing, you need to clean and moisturize the area of skin everyday until the it stops feeling raw.
Both are painful. So why must tattooed people experience this pain only to cover themselves up for society? If someone has a tattoo don’t act harshly towards them. It’s a literal work of art that is permanently on their skin that they paid and cared for and it deserves to be shown off. When it comes to hair, it shares the same issues with tattoos: m o n e y , finding a stylist and aftercare. Bleaching hair is extremely damaging, but is necessary for
vibrant colors. It takes a professional to ensure that your hair doesn’t get too fried during the process, then it becomes your responsibility to maintain the health and color once you step out of the salon. Think of hair as an extra accessory to your overall “look.” Everyone styles their hair to finish off their outfit of the day. If you can wear a colored shirt or colored pants, why can’t anyone have colored hair? Overall, those who judge obviously aren’t fun and their bland lives refuse to be painted with color. We have a right to make ourselves feel beautiful whether that be having a creative hair color, or getting an artsy or meaningful tattoo. Society should not make us feel hesitant to get a tattoo or dye our hair. To get rid of the stigma placed on these looks we need to have the courage to go out there, strut our stuff, and make it popularized. Photo by Inky
Opinions
13
Kaepernick Sits for Freedom Athlete’s anthem demonstration is a celebration of rights By Matthew Gozzip Athletics Editor Two weeks ago, on the sacred grounds of the sport that invokes as much patriotic pride as any other, Colin Kaepernick challenged the conventions of what it meant to be an American. While the crowd stood in salute to the flag during the pregame rendition of the anthem, Kaepernick sat on the bench in silence. The action went largely unnoticed at the time, despite him doing for two weeks prior, but after the game the NFL Network’s, Steve Wyche, confronted him about it during an interview. Kaepernick explained he did not want to stand for a country that continues oppress black people and people of color, that the issues were “bigger than football and it would be selfish on [his] part to look the other way.” Immediately thereafter, a media firestorm ensued. Political talk shows critiqued his demonstration, labeling him “un-American” and ungrateful of military service members. Social media lambasted him further as general rhetoric regarding his race and his overall “disrespect of American values.” Despite all the vitriol, Kaepernick noted that he was aware of the backlash and continued to stand by his actions. I also stand by Kaepernick in his decision to sit during the anthem. I love my country. I partake in Americana: everything from cooking mesquite BBQ to playing the most popular sports. I celebrate national holidays with enthusiasm and every time the anthem is played I am at an immediate attention, a proud Asian American respecting the freedoms granted to my family when they immigrated here a century ago. I will never understand what it’s truly like to be black in America and that’s okay. I don’t need to be black to have empathy for Kaepernick’s cause. If anything, I respect him even more for knowingly putting himself in a vulnerable position and still choosing to move forward. It’s important to note that pluralism is what has allowed our nation to become diverse and free in times of oppression. Kaepernick is allowed to openly protest a system he doesn’t believe respects people of color because the representation of all beliefs
is just as American as the flag itself. Kaepernick’s original intent was to start conversations about problems that affect people of color with those who do not fully understand said problems. He noted that he had more discussions about human rights and calls to change “in the past week then he had had in his whole life.” Though the channel he used to incite discussion may seem excessive, it was effective in starting dialogue. Kaepernick’s social progress and goal for the future appears to be the ideal model for solving social issues moving forward. Rarely has an athlete used their role as efficiently as Kaepernick. Even with the straw man arguments about his salary (though empathy for people of shared ethnicity is possible for him regardless of his salary), his perceived nonblackness (though he is black, regardless of the rest of his mixed race) and declining ability on the field, Kaepernick has been calm in his role as ambassador-at-large. On Tuesday, Kaepernick met with former Green Beret and current NFL player Nate Boyer to discuss issues that affected each other. The two discussed race relations and veteran wellness in a cultural exchange that promoted willingness to create perspective. Kaepernick also recently revealed that he will be working with local community groups about how to further the form of his protests and that the first million dollars earned from his contract would be donated to these groups. Kapernick’s impact continues to grow for the time being. When he protested the flag again this week, his teammate joined him. Down the road in Oakland, another player on an opposing team joined him. A trending hashtag on Twitter, #VeteransforKaepernick, shows many other veterans supporting him. I will continue to stand during the anthem but I stand in respect to those who protect my right to and those like Kaepernick who prove that even in protesting a country that allows them liberty, you are only a true American if you exercise your right.
Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator
“Though the channel he used to incite discussion may seem excessive, it was effective in starting dialogue.”
14
Entertainment
First-Time Panelist at First Desert Con By Andrew Linde Multimedia Manager I didn’t quite believe my friend Phil when he told me that I’d be on a panel at a comics convention. But then I, and about a dozen of my friends, drove into the desert for the inaugural Comic Con Palm Springs. I started going to various comic conventions around 2010. For some people, these are places to meet their idols, get signatures and pictures, or see cool cosplay. For me, I always liked attending the panels. There were panels for every interest; writing, drawing, acting, and even the famous Marvel panels where they announce the latest news about what superhero we’ll be seeing on the big screen. Phil and Brendan have actually been on the same panel at several different conventions. They create a webcomic and talk about how they make it and how anyone
“Son of Scorn” By Alejandro Ramos Editor-in-Chief
“Son of Zorn” Preview episode airs Sunday, Sept. 11 at 8:00PM on FOX. Starring: Jason Sudekis, Johnny Pemberton, Cheryl Hines, Tim Medows, Artemis Pebdani
The Housewives of the Tattoo Parlor By Alexis Cruz Social Media Manager
“Ink Master” Seasons 1-7 are available on Hulu. Season 8 is currently airing on the Spike network. Starring: Dave Navarro, Chris Nunez, Oliver Peck
can mak one. Phil used this leverage when he met one of the organizers for CCPS. From there, he offered up panels about podcasting, a specialty of mine and how we initially met. I wasn’t the only leery one when hearing we’d have about ten panels across two days of programming. Phil insisted that he didn’t have the final details yet until about a week before the event. Then we went into overtime. It turned out that the organizers of CCPS didn’t expect it to get so big so fast. They had a Groupon offer that lowered ticket prices Panelists with a variety of backgrounds talk about their experience creating and producing by about $20, which increased attendance. I podcasts (Janelle Vecchio/Contributor) was expecting a small convention, but I was 50, and it was steadily half full. I was nervous at Here’s a tip if you’re going to be on a impressed by the number of attendees. first, but talking about podcasts is like second- panel: be prepared. Don’t offer to be seen as As for my panel? I felt it went well enough. nature to me. I even got to record an episode of an expert in an area unless you can actually They had us in a room with a max capacity of my podcast in front of a live audience. back that information up when questioned.
Sometimes you get together with your friends, drink a little bit, have a couple of laughs, and come up with some bad ideas. This is one of those bad ideas. “Son of Zorn” is a hybrid live-action/ animated comedy about Zorn, a big hero from a cartoon world that is clearly out of place. He misreads situations, says the wrong things, and acts without thinking as he tries to reconnect with his real-world family. It’s actually a pretty good premise but it looks like it’ll fall flat in execution. Zorn looks really bad in the real-world. The flash animation used on Zorn and other animated elements looks choppy and date it stands out awkwardly amongst the rest of the world. Here is the thing. We’ve been here before. We’ve mixed live-action with animation long before “Son of Zorn.” Look at “Who
Framed Roger Rabbit.” Look at “Space Jam.” Those are both over 20-years-old and they look good. Put them next to Zorn and they don’t just look good - they look amazing.
At first glance, “Ink Master” isn’t what you would expect it to be. You would think that it’s a show that highlights tattoo artists’ ability to design and apply tattoos to the body, and not a place where you see people arguing as if they’re from the typical reality show, but somehow it works. Prior to watching this series, I knew little to nothing about the artistry behind tattooing and tattoo culture. But with judges who specialize in two traditional styles, Chris Nuñez and Oliver Peck, and a fanatic of the art form itself, Dave Navarro, you can’t help but get sucked into the show. They take both the viewers and contestants through the different styles and techniques behind creating tattoos and it makes you appreciate the stigmatized art form so much more. You’ll also find yourself respecting the people behind the needle - as long as they
have the human canvas’ interest at mind and the tattoo doesn’t end up looking wonky. And as someone who has been fascinated with tattoos and has been wanting to get inked I
“Son of Zorn” just looks like the kind of thing a talented 16-year-old would upload to Youtube after 3 months of work. How a team—keyword “team”—of animators made
was instantly hooked. Admittedly, if it weren’t for the drama the show would be dry. Watching grown men and women fight the judges and each other due to pride and stubbornness never
this in 3 years is beyond me. Of course, there are some shows with bad animation that are enjoyable. Those are usually held up by smart, funny writing. “Son of Zorn” is neither smart nor funny. Instead it comes off as boring and lazy. It rests on the premise that Zorn is big and strong and dumb and sexist. That’s it. Overall, “Son of Zorn” looks bad. The animation looks bad. The jokes are bad. The overall appeal is that it’s bad, which is bad in and of itself. Hopefully, the people behind Zorn can sober up from the wild rager that led them to come up with this idea. It might be too late to stop it from airing, but there’s still time to try and cover up for the decisions they made while under the influence. Rating: 2 out of 5 bad ideas
fails to amaze me. They came together to compete for the title of “Ink Master”, yet some refuse to learn different styles of art or admit their mistakes. Which leads to the fights as previously mentioned. Nonetheless, “Ink Master” is just another reality competition show. It has been going on for eight seasons and they’re struggling to keep their content fresh in the guise of themed seasons (i.e. Rivals, Master vs. Apprentice, Revenge). However, I won’t take away from its rewatch value. You can jump into any episode of any season and not feel lost, which makes it easy on new viewers. So if you ever want a refreshing take on reality television, or willing to give tattooing a try without having to sit in a parlor, go see “Ink Master”. Rating: 3 out of 5 regrettable tattoos
Smorgasport of Emotions
Community
15
Overcoming social anxiety at one of the most anticipated events of the year
Photos by Sylvana Uribe Community Editor and Alejandro Ramos Editor-in-Chief
By Sylvana Uribe Community Editor This fall marks what will hopefully be my last year as an undergraduate student. With that in mind, I want to use this upcoming year to be more active in my campus community. Instead of my eyes glazing over lists of upcoming school events, I’ll take a chance on socializing. And that’s how this socially anxious soul found herself at this year’s Smorgasport. Smorgasport got its start 16 years ago as a way for students to come out for a night of amusement. In addition to carnival style rides and inflatable activities, food trucks and live entertainment were also present to keep attendees content. It seemed fitting to fully immerse myself into the night by joining other screaming people on the round up ride. The darker tones of my knuckles turned white as I wrapped my fingers around the ride’s metal
bars. As I stood there waiting for the ride to take off, its bright lights suddenly went dark. The ride lost the connection to its power source. Waiting in the dark with other confused, restless people was not an ideal situation for my anxiety. However, the sense of regret didn’t have much time to set in before the colorful lights sprung up again and we were lifted into the fading blue of the evening’s sky. Laughter and chatter erupted from every inch of Lot 3. The atmosphere was light as representatives from campus organizations incorporated curious passersbys into their conversations. Crowds flocked to the main stage to cheer on salsa dancers while swaying along to the music. Those snaking through the masses stopped to watch members of Grupo
Folklorico Mexica trace dainty patterns on people’s faces with cold paint. The Union Weekly joined in on the night’s festivities by inviting people to partake in its confession booth. People anonymously submitted their confessions and many of them were posted on Twitter, including my own. I’ll of course never admit which one was mine. The embarrassing and hilarious tweets showcasing these submissions are on display under the handle @UnionWeekly. As the evening progressed, I gradually started to feel overwhelmed. The very reason I had avoided so many previous school events were because I get drained from navigating through booming crowds. My coping mechanism is to mentally check-out and isolate myself from the situation at hand. As I retreated to being alone with my thoughts, I wondered if I
had jumped into the social pool a little too quickly. This mindset was interrupted when talking to Monique Harris, a member of the Academic Senate and graduate student in the school counseling department. She described her days as being so demanding that time for amusement had to be scheduled. “With so much going on, I realized I needed to enjoy myself and be a part of the university,” Harris said. “It’s a part of my self-care because I know it’s something I need with the stress that’s going to pile up, so let me get me some fun in now and kind of ride the rest of the semester out.” With so many responsibilities constantly clashing, I connected with Harris and accepted that my time at Smorgasport was worthwhile.
Endless Summer First Fridays bid farewell to the dog days Words and Photos by Mario Lopez Travel Editor Driving down Atlantic Avenue, I could see the swarms of people gathering and walking the sidewalks between shops and booths. The streets were painted with the pounding of percussions, B-boys spinning on cardboard, a man on stilts talking in his English accent and chatter splashed through the crowds. This is First Fridays at Bixby Knolls—in fact, the last First Friday of the summer. As I walked toward Atlantic Avenue, I heard the beautiful voices from a couple singing a cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.” There is something that you get from live music and all those lively people around you joining in a moment, however fleeting, that you don’t get from staying at home. As we sauntered along, we stopped by the Expo Arts Center and admired the local artists. There was something here for
everyone, including a variety of vendors inside the gallery. I stumbled upon tables full of crochet dolls, and succumbed to buying a Pokémon in the form of a cute, little Squirtle. Other items up for purchase included a raspberry lemonade jam, which my friend was unable to get because it sold out by the time we Artistic talents of all kinds are celebrated every month at First Fridays. Shops and other spaces along Atlantic Avenue in Bixby Knolls have a variety of activities to entertain attendees of all ages. circled back around on our way to the car. The B-boys were out six-stepping, There was a mesmerizing jazz band It was my first time attending this event spinning and even allowed onlookers to hit the grooving and filling a part of my soul I didn’t and it is safe to say I will be back again. This floor to show their moves. A small girl shyly know needed filling; The conga, the funky event spans along Atlantic Avenue from approached as the bass and the beat bumped, bass, the thrumming guitar, the ringing Bixby Road to San Antonio Drive every and spun to the song with the support of the xylophone and the lively man with his first Friday of the month from 6:30 am to enthusiastic dancers and the crowd. trumpet brought the night to life. 9:30 pm.
16
Food
Smorgasbord on Wheels
Clockwise from left: Polish Sausage kielbasa from Tomski Sausage, a Chicago-style street food truck. Tomski Sausage’s Spicy Tator Tot dish, the best part of the truck. The sweet and spicy Bomb Dust fries from Korean-inspired food truck Belly Bombz.
Good eats at Smorgasport
A Cheesy Mac Melt with a healthy helping of tator tots from The Grilled Cheese Truck.
Words and Photos by Alejandro Ramos Editor-in-Chief
Here at The Beach, Smorgasport is a time for students and faculty to let loose and have a good time before the semester kicks into high gear. For some, that means mingling. For others, that means playing games and going on rides. For me, it means trying some of the good eats from the food trucks. The first was The Grilled Cheese Truck, a campus favorite known for its takes on grilled cheese sandwiches. Their most popular item is arguably the Cheesy Mac Melt, a grilled cheese with a layer of mac & cheese in the middle. Everything the truck has to offer is the ultimate comfort food. Standing next to this was Belly Bombz, which served up wings and sliders with Korean-inspired flavors. It was a bit pricey though so we couldn’t spring for much, but
we did go for the sweet and spicy Bomb Dust fries. It was delicious to me, but some in our group found the flavor strange since the seasoning was more sweet than spicy. Our last stop of the night was Tomski Sausage, a food truck that specializes in Chicago-style street food. They had all sorts of hot dogs and side dishes good for anyone looking for a hardy pick me up. The star of the truck was the Spicy Tater Tot dish that came with a good amount of tater tots topped with spicy mayo and Parmesan cheese. Unfortunately, that’s where our adventure ended. We would’ve emptied our wallets and gone into a food coma if we kept going. I only have one complaint: why can’t the food trucks be here every day?
Experimenting with Tea
I have frequented CHA for Tea three times in the past three days. Hidden in the Bixby Village Plaza on East 7th Street and North Bellflower Boulevard, this is the perfect place to start if you have never tried Boba tea. It’s always bustling with people with ample room for you to sit either inside or outside. Inside, you can tell that they went for a modern look — simple and clean. It has a nice painting of a Ferris wheel and what seems to be the Queen Mary ship. My first visit I tried their Mango Green Tea and instantly fell in love. It was a bit too much on the sweet side, but the lovely baristas always ask you how sweet you like your drink, and the option to choose that is nice. If it is your first time visiting, I would suggest you ask the baristas as many questions you have about flavors and what you like
CHA for Tea tips for new visitors Words and Photo by Mario Lopez Travel Editor
and don’t like. That way, you can avoid my mistake of ordering a Honey Green Milk Tea and utterly despising the flowery flavor and cloying sweetness. I’m by no means telling you to avoid this drink; experiment to find the drink for you. They have a wide menu variety, from tofu to their Sweet Cream Toast, and milk teas, iced teas, and good old regularly brewed tea. Their menu is inexpensive, and from what I have tried, their crispy chicken and their curry chicken, their food is good. You
The Almond Black Milk Tea is just one of a wide variety of flavors offered.
have an option to choose the spiciness of your crispy chicken, so you can play it safe or just pack on the heat. All in all, this place is a must go, and you’d be missing out if you didn’t visit at least once.