Introduction to Newspaper: photo essays ~ march 2013 wsspaper.com
room 109
Iowa City
Venues A PHOTO ESSAY BY// GRAHAM BLY Whether you’re looking to see a big time artist, or a local legend, Iowa City’s the place to be. With several venues around the downtown area, it’s easy to find a great show at a great price. Iowa City is a home for the arts, and these five venues are key places to check out, if you’re interested in witnessing some of the greats.
The Englert has been a historic theater for more than 100 years, not even a fire can put out this hot spot. The Englert hosts plenty of shows from well known artists like Iron & Wine, and Ingrid Michaelson. Gabes has more of a earthy underground feel to it, they play all kinds of genres of music from electronic to punk. The Blue Moose is a place like none other, they’ve put on more shows than one can count, everything from hip-hop shows, to bluegrass, to metal. The Yacht Club is unmistakable, huge wooden door and large collumns out front make it a must for anyone who loves atmosphere. Though not actually a yacht, The Yacht Club hosts many local musicians, as well as nationally acclaimed artists. Public Space One, a small basement filled with a lot of hope, home to some of the best local shows ever played. So next time you want to see a great show, check out one of these terrific venues.
Clockwise from left: out front of Gabes located on 330 E Washington Street. The Yacht Club’s signature door on a dreery March morning. The historic Englert sign, since 1912 still hanging high. Inside Public Space One located at 129 E Washington Street.The Blue Moose‘s logo guards over an empty stage.
MidWestOne Bank Annual Kids’ Art Exhibit BY AKASH BORDE
borde.aka.sh@gmail.com
A parent peruses the Featured Artists wall for his child’s painting. This wall showcases art that is chosen for the annual MidWestOne Bank’s calendar.
This March 1st marked the eleventh year of MidWestOne Bank’s Kids’ Art Reception and Gallery walk. Young artists from schools around the Iowa City area had their works of art featured at the annual event. More than 950 students from area elementary schools submitted artwork and 25 pieces were selected to be featured in the 2014 MidWestOne Bank Kids’ Art Wall Calendar. Artists from Kindergarten to 6th grade showcased their original compositions to the public. Parents as well as members from the community came to enjoy a night of art and snacks provided by MidWestOne Bank. Event partner Blick Art Materials donated a portion of the framing materials and services to create keepsakes for these students. The artwork will be on display through the end of March at the MidWestOne Bank, 102 South Clinton St.
Fourth-grader Aditi Borde shows her picture “Pretty Flowers” Children admire art from Penn Elementary
Art from every elementary school in the district covers nearly every surface of the bank’s interior.
Left: “Flower” by B. Trout, Coralville
Central Elementary, 3rd grade Bottom Left: “Crocodile” by Caleb Ottoson, Solon Elementary, 5th grade Bottom Right: “Two Books” by Ana Koch, Hoover Elementary Middle Right: “Parrot” by Penny Top Right: “*Toad” by Emilly Hill, 5th grade *Art featured in 2014 MidWestOne Band Calendar
(At Right) Mondo’s Sports Cafe located on 516 2nd St, Coraville, or more wellknown as off the Coraville Strip is a lively sports restaurant with dozens of t.v.’s Aaron Carter
Mondo’s Sports Cafe Mondo’s Sports Cafe on 516 2nd St, Coraville is one of the most popular restaurants in Iowa City and Coraville, and for good reason. Whatever you are feeling like eating that night they either have it or have something close to it. The diversity of the menu and even the beverage list was fascinating. They had foods from all corners of the country. Jambalaya, Buffalo Burger, Clam Chowder, Pork Tenderloin, and Fish and Chips, the list goes on and on. What my family and I ordered for starters blew our minds, but mostly our mouths. The fried pickles were outstanding. The fried outside and the sour inside made for a tasty mouthwatering combination. It seems a little exotic for some people, but for us Iowans it is nothing in comparison to how exotic the fried butter sticks are at the Iowa State Fair, but they are far more tasty. For our entree’s we ordered a ceasar salad, pasta alfredo, and a fish and chip wrap. My mom, who ordered the ceasar salad, first thought the ceasar salad was just going to be a normal, plain, old salad, until the waitress brought the secret sauce. She added it on and said it was spicy but deinitely made the salad better. My sister ordered the pasta alfredo, and she said it was really good. It was her first time trying pasta alfredo and she told me she would be ordering it again next time. I along with my sister tried something different: the Fish and Chip Wrap. It was very good: the fish was perfectly cooked and the fried outside was a nice compliment to the chipotle sauce on top. The food was great, the service was great, and the atmosphere was great. Did I say it was great? Overall, Mondo’s Sports Cafe BY AARON CARTER
aaroncarter51298@gmail.com
(Above) One of the exotic choices at Mondo’s the Fish and Chip wrap with Chipolte sauce is great tasting and
Aaron Carter
Aaron Carter 03/06/13
Q & A with a Mondo’s Lover
(Above) The greatest appeteizer of all-time: the Fried Pickles, which may not be the healthiest but definitely the tastiest.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Mondo’s? Did you like your Pasta Alfredo?
(At right) one of the frequent customers who hands down loves Mondo’s, Caroline Carter. Aaron Carter 03/06/13 Aaron Carter
A: I love the restaurant and how you can watch almost any sport you want to here. My meal (the Pasta Alfredo) was really good. I had never had pasta alfredo before but for a first it was very good. I can definitely say I will be having this more often now.
(At left) The ceasar salad which tastes just like a regular ceasar salad until adding the secret sauce to make it blow your mind.
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DID YOU Mondo’s has been a full functioning restaurant for 15 years, even when the restaurant was flooded in 2008.
]
Downtowns Underground Art Gallery
Art comes in many forms, in the words of Banksy, “Graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that’s only if it’s done properly.” Banksy is a famous street artist and has inspired me to find and document the exotic and intricate art on the walls of downtown Iowa City. It was amazing to see all these works of art that were hidden behind the stores in the A PHOTO ESSAY BY//KEVIN CHIN dark wet alleyways of downtown. Having to go through tight squeezes to find these pictures in iself was a journey that came with great rewards. The first picture I came across happened to be my favorite, photo #8 shows a crazy colorful bright mural creature leading down stairs. This mural is definetly an eyestopper and I knew i needed to capture it immediately. My second favorite piece is in photo #4 it shows many exotic and trippy creatures in great detail. Amazingly Iowa city has a wide spectrum for the many styles of graffitti, photos #1 and #6 show tags which are the artists signatures, “su-
per” is a signature I noticed alot. You can see super in both these photos and a super “super” in photo #3. Photos #2, #9, and #10 shows “slaps” which are big stickers that artists have made and designed. while photos #5 and #7 show the most common style of graffitti which is spray painting. There are many more amazing art pieces and it’s almost like a gallery being displayed on the alley walls. Graffitti truly is ugly irresponsible and childish but in the best of ways it makes fascinating art.
LEFT TO RIGHT ----------------
1)Red dumpster full of tags. 2)Face on downtown apt. 3)Super. 4)Bright alleyway mural. 5)Soda-drink man. 6)Door with tags. 7)Alien Heads 8)Trippy Mural down stairs. 9)Brother A 10)Brother B
walking in a
winter
wonderland
PHOTO ESSAY// BY LYDIA HINMAN lydiahinman29@gmail.com
Remeber that time, years ago, when you would go to the park in the dead of winter? Maybe? Yes? When you would go to sled down the big hill, or run through the snow, make a snow man, or maybe play on the snow laden equiptment. Or maybe you never went there, so the park lay blanketed in the snow, untouched with footsteps. Here, at Hunters Run park, the snow lays untoched in most areas. Only sledding marks cut through the snow on the hill down to the park. By some equiptment, footsteps arise, but in most areas, the only blemishes in the snow are from the footprints of racoons.
Snow is actually colorless
A single snowstorm can drop more than 39 million tons of snow
As snow falls snowflakes connect to make bigger snowflakes
It can get cold enough that it doesn’t even snow
For it to snow the tops of the clouds must be below 0 degrees Celsius, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Snow at the North and South Pole reflect heat into space ice acts like a mirror with the heat of the sun, and the heat bounces off the ice and
Wim Hof holds the world record for running the
into space.
fastest half marathon barefoot on snow and ice.
The Never Ever Ending Snow of 2013 Photo Essay Brooke Lofgren Spring Break is fastly approaching, the first sign that the winter blues will soon be over. A time when the wool sweaters and fuzzy socks can be thrown out the window, I mean who am I kidding... fuzzy socks were made to be worn year round. whether you love building snowmen or hiding under a blanket where your homework can’t find you, I think its safe to say the it’s time to wrap this winter up! Besides spring is the first sign that maybe we can make it through the rest of the school year finishing strong. Its time to put the Uggs away and the holiday cookies for that matter because I know I can’t be the only one still eating them. The only thing to do is to wait while sipping that same hot cup of cocoa for the first spring storm that somehow washes away the grey slush on the sidewalk and pushes ahead to spring.
Dynamic Ceramics PHOTO ESSAY /// BY MADIE MILLER madiemllr@gmail.com
Fired Up is a contemporary art studio in downtown Iowa City. ÂDuring a visit one can purchase a ceramic item of choice from a large closet lined with crowded shelves. Prices range from $10-$100, but a majority of the items fall in the $20-$30 range. Choose from a varitey of mugs, plates, bowls, picture frames, and various other items. The price includes all the accessories you will need for your project. A vast selection of colors is available for unlimited use. After you have selected a ceramic item and paint of choice you may pick a table and enjoy painting your pottery with your friends and family as colorful folk music plays in the backround. The store owners put your project in the kiln and you can come back and pick it up in a week. If you like to take your time, and you cannot finish your project in a day, the owners will keep your project and you can stop by and work on it whenever you wish.
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1) iPad holders, picture frames, and children’s dishware displayed on a shelf in the ceramics closet
2) Additional dishawre displayed for purchase
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3) Choose ceramic paint from a chart on the wall.
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4) The store owners’ dog relaxes under a hand painted table.
5) Hand painted charis are found around the shop. 6) Bowls, plates, and mugs designed by the store’s owners are also available for purchase.
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8) Decorative plates are on display in the party room.
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7) Stamps are available on the top shelf of the fireplace for use on pottery.
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Shadows By Alena Mueller
When summer’s colors fade away, world can seem dreary and dull. can provide just as much beaty as
A branch grows curved out of the snow. Animal prints left are in glistening snow.
The pattern of a window is left on a wood tabletop. Sunlight reflexs on a door.
Ice and snow on a driveway.
all that’s left is a dull grey. At times like these the But winter doesn’t mean ugly. Shadows and light bright flowers on days that the sun shines. Footprints in the snow going off into the distance. The sun turns trees to silhouettes.
Shadows from a screen on a window latch.
A glow from a window is seen on stairs.
Backpocket “Untap the Fun”
by Micah Otterbein
If you are under the legal drinking age you may think that the new Backpocket Brewing at the Iowa River Landing near the Marriott is all about the beer. Once you have made a visit to the Brewery and Taproom you will find yourself thinking more about delicious draft root beer and a wide selection of scrumptious brick fired pizza. On a recent visit to Backpocket, we entered the lively atmosphere of the taproom with its front wall made entirely of glass windows, which connects you to the ample outdoor seating of the beer garden (complete with a large outdoor gas firepit). There are lots of wood tables arranged in parallel lines to the bar. There are tables for 2, 4, 6, and even a couple of larger long tables that could fit up to dozen people each. Backpocket is filled with people talking and laughing, which makes it a great place to gather with friends. We sat at one of the tables in the bar area and order our beers: of course, I ordered the home-brewed
root beer and my parents ordered two hand-crafted ales brewed at Backpocket. We received our drinks in time for the 5:30 tour of the brewery. We were able to bring our drinks with us on the free tour which gave us an inside view of the workings of Backpocket brewery. Our tour was led by Adam, one of the brewers, who showed us how the they go through the process of combining grain, water, hops, and yeast to create one of their diverse beer styles. I was intrigued by the how the fermentation vessels were designed to keep the beer at a chosen temperature during the fermentation process. A good way to end a tour is by ordering some pizza. I love pizza that has meat so I ordered the Meatza with a good balance of sausage, pepperoni, and bacon. My mom had one of the vegetarian options: a flavorful Margherita pizza. My old man decided on the Drunken Clam, a combination that featured clams, bacon, and lemon,
and which turned out to be one of my favorites (after the Meatza, of course). So if you are looking to “untap the fun” Backpocket is the place to to. [above]Brick fired pizzas include such tasty selections like the “Meatza” and the “Drunken Clam” along with a vegetarian option like the “Margherita Extra”. [vary top]This collection of special edition Backpocket beer steins located above the bar were available to the first 200 customers and are theirs to use for one year before they take them home. [right]Backpocket has table seating for approximately 100 people along with seating at the bar. Outside has ample space and a large outdoor fireplace.
[left] After the wort is cooled it is moved to large, stainless steel fermentation tanks where the yeast is added to begin the fermentation of the beer. Beer styles use different yeasts and temperatures. Brewer Adam shows the mash tun and lauter tun where the grains are combined with the water and hops. This allows the starches from the grain to be converted into the sugars that when boiled creates the hot liquid wort. Later the mash is separated into the clear liquid wort and the residual grain. Af-
ter mashing the beer, wort is boiled with hops (added at 3 different points to create the bitterness of the beer and the hop aroma.)
[left]The finished product in kegs and cases of bottles are stored in the “big *ss cooler” along with some of the fresh hops from around the world. [below]Automated bottling equipment insures that no air enters the bottles during bottling.
Backpocket specializes in German-inspired ales with branding that hearkens back to an earlier time. Their motto is ‘You can tell a lot about a man by what he keeps in his backpocket.”
[above]At Backpocket you can order from a selection of wood-fired pizzas and homemade bread. [left]After the wort is cooled it is moved to large, stainless steel fermentation tanks where the yeast is added to begin the fermentation of the beer. Beer styles use different yeasts and temperatures.
[above]Bottles are cased by hand on the bottling line.
Brewery Tours are available every day at 5:30 pm. Taproom Hours: 11am-close, 7days a week | Kitchen Hours: Sunday – Thursday 119, Friday-Sat 11am10pm
319-466-4444 | 903 Quarry Rd. Coralville, IA 52241 | info@backpocketbrewing.com
As I walk down the area between the Iowa City Public Library and the Hotel VetroBread Garden Complex, I notice a dash of color in the corner of my eye. To my left is a bright bench full of tasteful but messy paint splatters. I smile. Lifting my eyes to further down the sidewalk I see more of this joyous benches, each one unique in its content. The benches are part of Iowa City’s Downtown Community Gallery Program. Currently, Downtown Iowa City is home to over 100 benches. I stop at a blue and orange bench with a nine surrounded by a two-dimensional spider web on the back of it. The front of the bench is painted royal blue and orange letters read the words “LIVE LIKE LINE”. The saying is familiar among West High students. The bench was painted in honor of West High student Caroline Found who died in a moped accident in August of 2011. A community bench painting was held on site of where the bench sits now next to Formosa Bar. Each bench is individual. Thoughts and stories were put into the dozens of benches that surround the sidewalk in this area of Downtown Iowa City. Next time you’re down there, take a look at the beautiful pieces of outdoor furniture and put to use the friendly reminded to always “Live Like Line”.
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6. The dedication of a bench is painted on the arm rest of a bench.
8. A bench against the Iowa City Public Library wall shows smiling faces and a rainbow background.
7. Spaceships are painted on a sci-fi styled bench across from the playground at the Iowa City Public Library
9. The number nine is painted on the back of the “Live Like Line” bench. Nine was Caroline Found’s volleyball and softball number.
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A Place to
Rest
Benches in Iowa City promote the Downtown Community Gallery Program | Photo essay by Katie Peplow 1. The “Live Like Line” bench is partially covered with snow on a cold Frebruary afternoon. The bench is a landmark for West High Students
2. Outside of the Iowa City Public Library sits the bench with batting eyes and “Iowa City” scraweled with grafitti letters. The perfect place to read your newly checked-out book.
3. A bench painted by Carlos Maloando depicts a wintry scene. This bench is located across from the playground.
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4 4. A “Bench Marks” sticker attacted to the bench showed in picture three tells who painted the bench and the year it was painted. Not all benches in the pavillion indicate who painted the bench. 5. Painted benches line a wall of the Iowa City Public Library. There are over two dozen benches in this area between the libray and the Hotel Vetro/ Bread Garden
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David Wu, of Iowa City HSL, practices Zerg at the Team Donic Gaming House in March. High level players can reach speeds of over 380 APM (Actions per Minute)
By // Anthony Pizzimenti Everyone has heard the old saying “practice makes perfect”, right? This can be a common misconception - practice makes better, not perfect, especially in the case of Starcraft. A hugely popular game in European countries and South Korea, Starcraft is an extremely complicated game, of which there is no perfect player. It takes a great amount of intelligence, strategic knowledge, and technical ability to play this game, and it takes just the same amount of practice to perfect (or, should I say, better) these attributes to play at a higher level. Most professionals practice upwards of 8 hours a day, each session focusing on a different aspect of the game.
CM Quickfire Rapid keyboard, used by Starcraft II account Login Screen many of HSL’s players
With school, however, it’s a different story. Semi-pro gamers in high school, like the Iowa City West High School Starleague team, have an extremely packed and carefully worked schedule. After homework and instrument practice, as well as other extracurricular activities, members of the team get anywhere from David Wu manages mining at his natural expansion in a 1v1 game of Starcraft II 2-4 hours of practice a night.
Jan. 2012 Starcraft II, Blizzard’s premier RTS, debuts in 2010. A tough transition from Starcraft Brood War, most players, like the West HSL Team, begin playing in early 2012.
After playing for a few months, a new team is created in Iowa City for Starcraft II players. Most of the current West HSL players join, including VapoR, Morph, NeoDaWn, and Psiangle.
The largest repeat-event gaming tournaments, GSL, Dreamhack, and MLG, are all held with record numbers of viewers from May to September. Tournament prize pools increase with numbers in the thousands.
+ =
At the near end of the first season of High School Starleague, Twitch.tv (an online streaming company) decides to sponsor the new High School Starleague in late 2012. With a new website and all-new management, the organization takes the e-sports scene to a new level. After the Twitch sponsorship, HSL is more publicized and regocnized. The Team Donic manager begins the registration process in January, and by late February, West High has a school-sponsored team in the High School Starleague.
Jan. 2013
Maya Magaraci ’16 Maya Magaraci ’16 doesn’t remember where she got her shoes, but she has had them for one year
Megan Kann ’16 Megan Kann ’16 bought these navy TOMS Botas off of the TOMS website two years ago. She also made the colorful red, green, and blue shoelaces.
Chris Jung ’16 Chris Jung ’16 got these navy blue sneakers during a trip to New York City a year ago.
Fresh Kicks
Joe Feldmann ’16 Joe Feldmann ’16 bought these brown and white saddle shoes in the store Second Act just last week.
by Sharon Xiang
West High School is full of diverse clothing. There’s maxi dresses, sweats, jeans, combat boots, etc. Many freshmen are attempting to find their identity through experimenting with their fashion, such as unique shoes. Shoes are a very important part of an outfit, and often times an advertisement for the brand, such as Ugg and Nike. Here are some interesting freshmen shoes that I found in the hallways of West.
Morgan Schmitt-Morris ’16 Morgan Schmitt-Morris ’16 bought these purple Puma kicks in Denmark during her soccer trip to Europe last summer.
Jena Brooks ’16
Jena Brooks ’16 got these black knit Uggs for Christmas and has had them for three months.
Nick Deerburg ’16 Nick Deerburg ’16 bought these checkered Vans in the store Journey’s and he has had them for five weeks
Liz Anderson ’16 Liz Anderson ’16 bought these leather boots in a boutique in Pavia, Italy eight months ago.
Leela Bassuk ’16
Leela Bassuk ’16 bought these shoes online and has had them for one month
Paige Brazina ’16
Paige Brazina ’16 bought these black riding boots off of the online shoe store DSW four months ago.
Left, the dog runs to get his balnket off his collar, in his domain.
Far left, he slumbers peacefully until my foot plants onto his stomach. Waking him. Right, dressed up and humilated.
Far bottom, trapped, he can not move forward By midday.
“To
Slightly Annoy
A
Dog”
By. Lucy Blair he dog. Perhaps your best friend. Even though you love him or her, you can still annoy that animal when he or she pisses on the carpet. First to inspire, you can watch Will Ferrell’s “Dissing your dog.” From his famous appearance on Saturday Night Live On how to preserve your dominance over your animal. The joy of having a dog is fantastic, but when he or she refuses to get off you in the middle of the night, it’s when you know you must slightly annoy your dog the next day. Perhaps start with the pulling of his extra skin, maybe make him appear as a 70 years old man by stretching his skin forward crinkling it. Or you could stretch his face all the way back, make him appear as a 50 year old rich widow clinging to her youth. Maybe you do not want to annoy the dog, maybe just keep him happy for a few moments. Tie a towel
T
around his collar, he will attempt to make himself free. This will not only amuse your pet, but also make you thankful for opposable thumbs you were born with. You could also roll a ball towards him, so he will chase and the blanket covers his feet. “You’d like to pet him backwards, it will amuse but confuse them at the same time.” Says the employee of Petland, John Willson. I am not the only master at slightly irritating dogs. The meaningless visit to Petland, to pet the dogs, play with them. By broke teenagers. They know how to get a dogs hopes up for a solid home, that doesn’t involve pooping in his own cage. To slightly annoy your pet is easy, and simple to do. Just follow the pictures and I assure you, your pet will only be slightly upset.
Picking the Perfect Pair By Abby Burgess
So many people have glasses these days. It seems that some wear them for seeing and some just wear them to be fashionable. So if you’re one of those people you may want to know a little about your style before you go to pick your pair. Whether you’re “hipster” or more of a classic style there are so many options to explore.
Today there are so many types of eye glasses to choose from, it may be hard to decide. Knowing what you are looking for before you go to the store is better than standing there for hours trying on every pair in sight. You can dress up or dress down any outfit with ceratin types of glasses.
Olivia Ewing ‘14 wears cat eye glasses as a fashion statement. With the top corners of the frames angled out she shows off her sassy yet classy side of fashion.
Ryan Holte ‘13 wears thin framed eye glasses that are easily adaptable to any outfit. These glasses are practicle yet stylish.
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Alyssa Hancock ‘14 wears her version of geek chic glasses, they are green and white glasses with a wide frame. These glasses show off her fun personality and add flare to any outfit.
Styles to watch for
Cat Eye
The classic turned up sides are making a fierce comeback.
Geek Chic
These big round lenses will make you fashion forward.
Librarian
The always sophisticated and simple glasses are a staple.
Fashion Trends at West High By Meredith Cullen
Fashion trends are forever changing, but students at West High have seemed to favor some trends over others. These trends are popular with the students at
West and can be seen throughout the halls. Here are some popular trends at West High, and the students who wear them frequently.
Bright Jeans
Modeled by Lizzie Pruneau ‘14. Follow Lizzie’s style and pair a graphic tshirt with bright jeans for a cool yet chic look. Runway inspiration: Pucci, Thakoon and Maxmara.
Riding Boots
Displayed here by Shirley Wang ‘14. These boots are easy to wear and make any outfit look more sophisticated. In a variety of colors, riding boots have taken ahold of fashionistas at West High. Runway inspiration: Victoria Beckham, Herve Lager, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.
Combat Boots
Are worn by Hanky Song ‘13. Along with Equestrian-styled Riding boots, Combat boots are easy to find and wear, and make a typical outfit a little moregrungy and interesting. Runway inspiration: Liz McClean and Marc by Marc Jacobs.
Preppy
As seen on Justin Barry ‘15. This fashion trend has been embraced by the stylish boys at West High. It elevates a look and brings class back into fashion. Runway inspiration: Tommy Hilfiger, Francis Hendy and Prada.
Maxi Skirts
Inspired by Apoorva Raikwar ‘14. Maxi-Skirts are great for any season of the year. Apoorva is known for her solid, bold skirts, but for a more casual look, try a basic black one. They’re easy to find at a great bargain at Goodwill or any thrift store. Runway inspiration: Elie Saab, Chloe and Haider Ackerman.
Printed Tights
Shown by Abigail Brown ‘14. Tights or jeans with fun prints are seen everywhere adding spice to normally plain outfits. Popular prints seen are Aztec or floral inspired, or simply polka dots. Runway inspiration: Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, Phillip Li, Peter Som, Nicole Miller and Roberto Cavalli.
Oxfords
Worn by Alice McNamara ‘13. Oxfords are great shoes for both boys and girls and add a touch of sophistication to any outfit. Runway inspiration: Ian Michael Crumm, Temperley and Peter Jensen.
“WHAT MUSIC MEANS TO ME” Photo Essay by Nick Deerberg Music. For some, it is just background sound that they hear during a long car ride. For others though, it is more than that. For these people, music is there reason for waking up in the morning, for going through the challenges of a day, and their reason for living. These people literally live for music, and they take it to the next level and start playing their own music. And whether it’s heavy metal, acoustic rock, or jazz, these musicians are hardcore about their music, and they devote their lives to the sound they love to make. A few of these musicians can be found roaming the West High halls: Students by day, musicians by night. Some of these students include Ricky Rodriguez ‘16, Jaron Lamp ‘16, and Brenna Deerberg ‘13. Ricky has played guitar since fourth grade and is now the lead guitarist for a heavy metal band. He started playing guitar because he wanted to play songs from the radio, and “I thought it would look cool and fun.” Ricky enjoys playing metal and alternative rock music, but will
play anything thrown his way. “I started playing [bass] because I’ve always wanted to be in a band and I always thought the bass was a cool instrument and the bass players were the coolest ones.” Jaron started playing bass in June of 2012. He now plays for a metal band, and in his free time plays just about any type of music involving bass. Brenna has been playing music for about least seven years. She currently plays piano and trumpet, and enjoys singing in her church choir on the side. “I suppose for piano I especially like to play contemporary tunes that I can sing along with.” All though she can’t sing along with the trumpet, she still enjoys playing it in her free time and for school band. All three of these musicians dedicate so much of their time to their music, and none of them have any regrets. To these people, music is their everything. This is what music means to them.
Below: “What does music mean to me? I mean, it means everything. It’s a big part of my life, and it’s what I do a lot.” “Life wouldn’t really be worth living if it wasn’t for music.”
Above: “What music means to me is a way to show and express emotion. And it’s also fun to play and jam with friends.” -
Jaron Lamp ‘16
-Ricky Rodriguez ‘16
Above:“Music is a way for me to relax when I’m really stressing out about something. Whenever I have a big test coming up, I like to sit down at the piano and play a few tunes [...] as a way to relax”
-Brenna Deerberg ‘13
fear factor F by Valerie Hsieh
ear has played with people’s emotions since the beginning of time. ‘Here There Be Dragons’ was put on maps of ancient lore to indicate the perilous dangers that lay beyond the borders of charted territory. While we may not be afraid of dragons anymore, fear is still a daily part of ours lives. Whether you are afraid of the dark, terrified of heights, or even simply scared of getting called on in class, everyone has a fear, even if it’s not diagnosed as a phobia. That menacingly leering clown from your first childhood trip to the circus still plagues you in your nightmares. The itsy bitsy spider innocently creeping along the bottom of your chair has you huddled up on the top of your desk and screaming for your mother. Here are some of the most common phobias in America from the past decade. What’s there to be afraid of?
Top: cynophobia (fear of dogs), image used with permission from Grace Young. Bottom: acrophobia (fear of heights). Background image: gephyrophobia (fear of bridges) or fear of the future. Opposite pageTop: thanophobia (fear of death and dying). Middle: fear of getting bad grades, bottom right: ornithophobia (fear of birds), bottom left: arachnophobia (fear of spiders)
“How are you NOT afraid of the future? Anything could happen.” -Allie Pearce, ‘16
“I’m terrified of getting bad grades because I know my parents would disown me.” -Elizabeth Han, ‘16
“I hate birds. They are nasty. Period.” - Madie Miller, ‘15
The light watercolor of the baby blue and the almost smile of the robot makes it a very warming picture. But this piece brings up conflicting ideas of the childlike robot and the winged bullets.
Zebby Wahls
From the Margins By Megan Kann
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ebby Wahls ’12 has always drawn, doodles in the margins of the page or images from her favorite books and shows, but she never took an art class until her junior year. When she was young it was fairies with butterfly wings and aliens. Wahls has always been inspired by other artist and artistic periods in history. The exaggerated motion and drama of the Baroque period and the contrasts of light and dark in tenebrism style are clear influences on Wahls’ art. The great artist of history have always been inspiration for artist of today. Van Gogh’s rough beauty, emotional honesty and bold color, has a far-reaching influence on Wahls’ art. It is hard to see in what direction her art is going because her art is a reflection of what is happening in her life.
(Top, left) Wahls flips through her sketchbook showing the page she has been working on recently. (Top, middle) This is a picture of Sander Cohen. Sander Cohen is a fictional character in the 2007 video game, BioShock. (Top, right) This piece is very clean and simple, but the simplicity of the style doesn’t take away from it’s meaning. (Middle, left) This piece was designed for a friend who was diagnosed with skin cancer. (Middle, right) This eye catching picture is of the regeneration of the tenth Doctor from the show Doctor Who. (Bottom, left) This it a character that Wahls made up for Creative Writing named Johnny Altava. (Bottom, right) With quick movements Wahls shades in the image on her page.
My backyard was a winter wonderland; roughly 6 inches of snow covered the ground.
Doodling is a great outlet for a snow day,
It looks like a good day for snow frolicking.
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Spending the Perfect Snow Day By Kelsey Keranen
hen your phone rings at 6:45 am, there’s only really one possibility; somehow, your little town has been covered in a blanket of snow thick enough for even the burliest of buses to be unable to penetrate. Officially, you have a snow day. Of course, snow days are hard to predict, and chances are you didn’t have any real plans beforehand. Right after the initial exhilaration of discovering you have no school, there comes the ultimate question;will you spend another day lounging around on your couch, watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and gorging yourself on ice cream? Of course not (except for the ice cream part maybe)! With this handy guide, you will always be prepared for when snow hits, never being subject to another monotonous day of snow again. School is cancelled on March 5.
instead of watching the same television shows and eating obscene amounts of sweets, watch some old movies and treat yourself to guacamole. Building a snow fort is a fabulous way to inadvertently obtain exercise.
tbere’s always time for Pancheros. Just make sure the roads are safe first.
A photo essay by Alora Kraus
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INGREDIENTS 1 stick butter 1/3 cup milk 2 cups sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups oatmeal
STEP ONE
vens are a menace. They take too long to heat, they take too long to bake, and there’s always the possibility that you’ll burn and die. You run the risk of being scarred and disfigured for the rest of your life when you mess with ovens. Not to mention that horrible mass of heat that whooshes right into your eyes when you open the oven door to check if the chocolate chips in your huge, sticky mounds of cookie dough are melting yet--but there’s a solution. In your hands you hold the cookie recipe that might save your life someday. These delicious, no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are both easy and fun to make...on the stove!
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Turn the burner of your stove on to medium heat. Melt one stick of butter into a medium sized saucepan. Continually stir the melting butter to prevent it from burning.
ABOVE: one whole stick of butter melts in a medium sized saucepan on medium heat. LEFT: all the ingredients needed to make these delicious cookies.
TIP: ADD THE SUGAR BEFORE THE OTHER INGREDIENTS IN STEP THREE AND STIR UNTIL IT DISSOLVES COMPLETELY SO YOUR COOKIES DON’T TASTE GRAINY!
]
CHOCOLATE OAT M E A L NO-BAKE
STEP TWO
Add sugar, milk, cocoa, and vanilla. Mix the ingredients well and bring it to a boil.
COOKIE
HOW TO STEP THREE
Remove the chocolate cookie sauce from heat. Add the oatmeal slowly and stir.
Spoon small chocolate oatmeal balls onto wax paper and let the cookies dry.
STEP FOUR
STEP FIVE Wash your dishes and enjoy your cookies!
“Piccaso”, portrait by Jason Uhm
Jason
Uhm
by Jaeho Lee
Jason Uhm’s arts show a boundary between realism and transcendentalism.
“The Eye”, sculpture by Jason Uhm This art represents “searching for dreams”
“Old Man”, pen drawing by Jason Uhm
“Untitled” by Jason Uhm Alternative suface drawing. This art is drew on the kitchen towel.
Signs
of Spring by//Consuelo Mendoza ‘16 Beyond all the clouds there is always sunshine. Even through the cold winter days, the sun peaks out and brings in a nice warm happy feeling . Birds are starting to migrate back and each time there’s less snow. Sunglasses always bring back the feeling of summer, and the reflection of all those good memories. May all the snow melt and the flowers bloom, so that Spring can finally be here! Above: the reflection on the lenses of winter fades, and brings hope for spring. Right: Connie Mendoza lays in the snow and looks up at the beautiful sun.
Right: Connie Mendoza ’19 enjoys a warm winter day, as she looks into the snow with her stunning purple glasses. The sun peaks out from the left corner, bringing in a warm spring feeling. Middle left: Evergreen trees are the symbol of winter, but when the sun shines its beautiful light they bring a sense of comfort. Middle: Although temperatures are still low, the birds are starting to slowly migrate back. Middle right: Enjoying spring shoes (Converse) as i look beyond the snow and get a feel for the warm air.
left: Even through the cold winter the sun is start-
ing to peak out. Connie Mendoza looks beyond the horizon and feels the warm breeze for a change. above: The reflection of snow appears on Connnie’s sunglass lenses as she looks into the camera.
Although there are many talented artists at West, Emily Hollingworth ’15 has an eye for creativity and a clear strength in pencil sketching. “I started taking art classes at west when I was a freshman and I’ve always done doodles, but the classes at west really helped me to do things that are actual art, and not little dumb things.” Said Hollingworth. Outside the walls of West, Hollingworth could have a promising future in art. “I’m not really sure. I think i do want to keep doing it in the future. I don’t think it could be a career, but definitely just for fun.” Whether or not Hollingworth is the next Picasso, judging by her pictures, she has definitely made her mark on West’s art program.
AN EYE FOR INN
OVATION
Emily H o on Wes llingworth ’15 t’s is maki ng her at a tim art program, o e . n e By: Ann pencile mark a Mond d pictu anaro re
“I’m in love with him. I just found a picture of Harry Styles and decided to draw it.” Said Hollingworth. “My parents and I went on a vacation in spain and it was really beautiful. Our assignemnt in art was to choose a landscape and draw it with colored pencil. I really wanted to do that one because Spain is such a pretty place.” Said Hollingworth.
“I like working in pencil because it comes the most natural to me but I’ve started taking painting classes and I’m starting to like that too.” Hollingworth said.
“We were just told to draw something so Christian knows where we were at the beginning of the trimester. It’s so creepy, though. The actual doll is so scary.” Said Hollingworth.
Best Finds at Walgreens A photo essay by Apoorva Raikwar
Walgreens is a great place to find everyday necessities ranging from ibuprofen to nutella. But besides these basic items, there are many treasures hidden among the aisles of makeup products, unhealthy snacks and cheesy birthday cards. These goods may not be considered imperative to one’s health and well being, but they do make life a bit more interesting.
Squishy Animals Toys-You’re never too old for these.
Lava Seat
Tissues on the Go- Because a normal box of tissues siimply won’t do.
Justin Bieber Brush Buddy-Finally an incentive to actually brush your teeth.
Fuzzy Toe Socks Pocket Hose
1D Collectible Dog Tag and Chain-You know you want to collect all of them.
Non-permanent hair chalker Perfect Fry Cutter
Who Knew? 10,001 Easy Solutions to Everyday Problems Tiara Sunglasses-Even the Queen will be jealous.
Light-up Pillow
The Secret ofFettuccine Bolognese
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By Julia Shriver
Ingredients
merica’s concept of Italian-style pasta is typically a simple tomato sauce drisled over a heep of noodles, betterwise known as spaghetti. Although the iconic pasta dish remains an American household favorite, its relatively bland flavor and simple set of ingredients could use a tune up. Fettuccine Bolognese, a classic in Italian cuisine, is of similar concept to spaghetti, but its variety of vegetables gives it a unique boost of flavor and heartiness that most spaghetti sauces lack. The strong, licorice-like flavor of fennel mixed with the soft, sweet flavor of celery, carrots, and tomatoes contribute to this dish’s original taste. It is best served with a topping of parmesan cheese and basil for added flavor and freshness, but it stands well on its own as well. Though lengthly in indredients and preparation time, the dish is well worth the extra work in the kitchen.
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2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, finely diced 1 fennel bulb, finely diced 2 medium carrots, finely diced 2 large celery stalks, finely diced 1 garlic bud (or less, depending on your taste) 16 oz or 2 12 oz container white mushrooms 11/2 tablespoons fennel seeds crushed thyme to taste (or thyme sprigs if availible) 1 lb (lean) ground beef 2 teaspoons salt 1 cup red wine 9 ripe tomatoes (about 2 3/4 lbs), diced 2 cups tomato sauce 1 cup chicken broth 1 1/4 lbs fettuccine noodles Fresh basil, chopped (optional) Fresh parmesan cheese (optional)
Chop the onions and garlic into finely diced pieces. Remove leaves from fennel bulb and chop up green stems and bulb.
Chop carrots into to small square pieces by cutting them into lengthwise quarters and chopping each one into smaller pieces. Slice the mushrooms, making sure to thoroughly rinse them under Set aside all ingredients on plates. Dice tomatoes, and leave on cutting board cold water before- to allow their juices to drain. hand. Add fennel, carrot, celery, garlic, fennel seeds, and thyme. Let Heat the olive oil simmer about 15 in a large pot over minutes or until medium-high heat vegetables are and add onions. tender, stirring Stir with a large occasionaly. spoon or spatula until onions are slightly tender
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Add mushrooms and allow them to cook until they are no longer white.
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If beef is very lean, add it directly to the vegetable mixture with salt and pepper. If it is not particularly lean, then it is best to cook it separately in a frying pan over high heat until it is no longer pink and drain its fat in the sink using a metal collander.Be sure to have the hot water running to avoid clogging the sink! Next, add the beef to the vegetatble mixture along with wine, salt, and pepper. Let simmer until wine is mostly reduced.
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Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and leave pot uncovered for about 1 1/2 hours to allow the sauce to thicken.
Put lid on pot and allow mixture to cook for about another hour if time permits. This extra step may not be necessary if the vegetables are sufficiently cooked by this point.
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10 When the sauce is nearly done, heat a large pot of water over high heat, bring to a boil, and add fettuccine noodles. Cook for about 10 minutes until al dente, stirring occasionally to avoid clumps. Drain the water and coat noodles with a thin layer of olive oil to keep them from sticking.
To serve, put noodles and a spreading of sauce in bowls and top each serving with a sprinkling of fresh parmesan cheese and chopped basil, if desired.
[Batman: Arkham Asylum, 2010]
For anyone who’s ever expressed even the slightest interest in Batman, or even someone who has no idea who he is and what he’s about, I would reccomend this title. And then instruct them to immediately play Arkham City upon finishing this game. I can’t say too much without spoiling the game, but developer Rocksteady perfectly
[DMC: Devil May Cry, 2013] DMC: Devil May Cry is a
modernized reboot of the beloved Devil May Cry franchise. There has been mixed reception about the direction of the new game- ranging from fiercely impressed to explosively outraged. Having never play ed any of the games in the original series, I’m not sure how much weight my opinion holds- but I will say that this game is one of the most visually appetizing I’ve ever
[Fallout: New Vegas, 2010]
Like its former, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas is set in a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by the devastation of atom bombs. In the first game, people live in underground vaults which were initially only for protection from the bombs, but expanded into more permanent living quarters. The second game shows people having become more accustomed to the world above the vaults and explores the idea of communities and factions
[Batman: Arkham City, 2012] The very succesful se-
quel to the groundbreaking title Batman: Arkham Asylum, this game is every bit as good as the one before it- and probably better. The first game managed to give the player an immensely enjoyable experience with the Dark Knight even though he wasn’t in his natural ele-
DOING360 Kaden Smidt
Gaming is a bit of an addiction for me. The first game my family bought for our new Xbox360 when we finally moved into our new Iowa home was Rock Band 2 (pictured below). The game itself was alright, but what really got to me was the experience of holding the controller in my hands for the first time and having my virgin mind exposed to the world of gaming. Rock Band 2 wasn’t the game that cemented that feeling for me, however. My first owned RPG (role-playing game) was Fallout: New Vegas. The post-apocalyptic wreckage was facinating to explore and gave me so much room to explore and learn the “ways of the Box”. The rest of the games pictured were gathered over the period of five years that I’ve lived in Iowa- with my two most recent buys being Hitman: Absolution and DMC: Devil May Cry. There are other XBox360 games in my basement that belong to my siblings, but these are the only ones I really play.
Rock Band 2, 2008
[Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, 2011] This game is the fourth instal-
ment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Since each game essentially explores a new period in history, I don’t think I was penalized too much by not playing the previous three games in the series. The gameplay and world in this game is beautiful, and has a combat system rivaled only by Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Asylum. All that said, the game can become a little boring as far as the overall story. I have to admit, I wouldn’t be able to reccount
Spider-Man: Shattered DimenAssassin’s Creed III,
Call of Duty: World at War,
Hitman,
2012
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Wintery Trees By//Megan Stewart ’16
It’s the time of the year where the trees are at their finest. To many, winter trees are prettier than summer trees. To many, trees without their leaves are nothing, but when they aren’t on, it describes and shows something more. It shows the definace of them, what they are made of and look like. The leaves hide the beauty of the trees detailed structure.
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Right:: Across the snow lies a tree in a horse ranch. Below: Three trees with the layer sky and a lake behind. Above: Looking up towards a mini evergreen tree. Top Middle: Spencer Meachum ’16 enjoying the snow day with a winter evergreen in the backgroung Top Left: A lonely tree resting against a layer sky backgroung, also against the Coralville Lake. Far Middle left: Eva Stewart looking up at a tree in the night sky. Far Left: A multicolored tree with a light blue sky background. Bottom Right (first page): Rows of trees still with their leaves
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Out of the Bag
By Jaycie Weathers
Addy Taylor ’14 likes her red purse because it adds a pop of color to everyday outfits. She makes sure to bring her headphones to listen to music throughout the day. To keep herself occupied in dull moments, Taylor carries friendship bracelets to work on. Gum is a must to offer people in awkward situations.
There’s always that who girl struggles with an oversized bag, weighed down with mysterious objects seldomly used. If you’re like me, a million questions run through your head. Where is she going? Why does she need all of that stuff? Should she see a chiropractor to deal with the impending back problems caused by that overstuffed purse? A look into the life of these notorious, carry-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink type girls’ purses can say a lot about her personality, hobbies, and other quirks.
Madie Miller ’15 brings her Justin Bieber notebook with her incase she needs to jot down a note or regain inspiration to continue her day. She always has a spare pair of goggles with her at swim practice to lend to a teammate if they forgot theirs. Miller’s favorite mid-day snack is a Cutie clementine because they are easy to eat in class.
Ceci White-Baer ’15 shuttles around a wide range of beauty products from mascara to nail polish. “It isn’t so much for me, but for other people.” She helps friends with their beauty emergencies because she is always prepared. Cough drops are an essential for winter colds and long show choir rehearsals. “I carry this note from my camp counselor to remind myself of camp when I’m having a rough day.”
Duck, Duck, ...Chicken? Grace Young, WSS Intern
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ith the recently passed chicken ordinance and break on the way, a batch of chicks may be the perfect way to stay busy this spring. New laws allow up to four hens to stay in your backyard, as long as neighbors comply. Now is the perfect time to bring home the peeping bundles to have them laying by summer. One local family made the plunge two years ago, and purchased six chicks to raise for eggs on their farm outside Iowa City. The two daughters, Natalie and Caroline Young, are now on their third batch of chicks, with counts now running up over 30. Daily chores, completed with help from their mom, Susan, consist of feeding their 16 two-week-old chicks in the basement and collecting eggs daily from the 14 grown hens kept outside in the big coop. The duo sells their “Organic eggs from happy hens!” to friends throughout the community and their business has been a great success. “Since starting up in August of 2011, we have maintained a somewhat steady profit throughout the whole time,” said Caroline. Funds are used to buy feed, make repairs, and when the time is right, purchase new chicks. Not all families have the space and resources to keep 31 chickens on their property, but the Youngs encourage anyone interested to consider adopting four new daughters. “No neighbor is going to complain about your hens if eggs show up on their doorstep twice a week,” pointed out Susan.
Tacky - Fergie - Sara - Junie - Eleanor - Violet - Waffles - Trixie - Piper - Tina - Pip - Franny - Bonnie - Sunny - Mambo - Hazel
Natalie, 10, and Caroline, 12, pose with their chickens Waffles and Tina, respectively, at their farm outside Iowa City.
Stella - Penelope - Milly - Bev - Flo - Ingrid - Doris - Wanda - Gretel - Izzy - Betty - Annie - Patsy - Nellie - Jolene
Child-marketed Snacks Malt-O-Meal Golden Puffs: 850 cal/$
*cal/$ = calories per one dollar
Lay’s chips on average: 800 cal/$
Bakery cakes: 430 cal/$
IS A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE P
THE FOOD STAMP CH Above: Great Value Beef Ravioli: 500 calories per dollar upplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or the Food Stamp Program, is running into trouble as obesity rates in America sky-rocket. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(2005-2008), children living in poverty were more than twice as likely to be obese than children from high-income households. While this counters stigma of By Kristen Lineback he value of a dollar really sinks in while attempting to purchase a week’s worth of groceries on a $21 budget, the average food stamp benefit. “We can’t afford this,” becomes a common phrase as I keep an eye on my calculator, at the same time keeping a careful Above: Kraft Macoroni and Cheese list of what I’ve already neatly placed into Below: Totino’s Pizza Rolls my sparse cart. Easy-to-make meals targeted for kids I try to stick to fresh produce and grains, like these can add up to 600-800 cal/$ weary of what dangers may lie in the large freezer-burned packages of highly-processed, but also calorie-packed dinners. However, my opinion changes when I sum the collected calories of my excursion. 600 calories a day. Will. Not. Work. And that’s with eating oatmeal and eggs for half my meals. I empty my cart, and start over.
OBESITY IS THE SECOND-LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. HOWEVER, FOR FAMILIES IN POVERTY, PREVENTING OBESITY MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT WOULD SEEM.
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Above: Convenience meals are advantageous not only for easy calories, but for quick makes
the starving poor in America, a quick fact check will show that obesity is the secondleading cause of preventable death in the United States. However, preventing obesity is not at the top of my to-do list as I skim the nutritional content of packages, focusing on the calorie-count. Although my hypothetical children need frutis and vegetables, there’s no way I’m spending a day’s worth of food on that bunch of bananas. According to a 2007 study by the American Dietetic Association, on average nutritious foods will cost $18.16 per 1,000 calories, whereas energy-dense but unnutritious
Child USDA-recommended snacks Frozen Fruit: 60 cal/$
Fresh Vegetables: 20 cal/$
Cheerios: 360 cal/$
PLAUSIBLE AT $1 PER MEAL?
HALLENGE PROBLEM foods will only cost $1.76 per 1,000 calories. While The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 prohibits purchase of alochol and tobacco products with food stamps, it does not limit “junk food,” or luxury items. This means that candy, bakery items, energy drinks, and ice cream are all fair game. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends replacing foods such as ice cream and cake with daily fruit desserts and whole grains. However, healthier options such as Cheerios and frozen fruit cost up to five times as much as less-healthy options such as potato chips and other bulk sugary cereals to get the same amount of calories. Unfortunately, according to staff at Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center, often times families will run out of Food Stamp Below: Dippin’ Stix Sliced Apples & Caramel with Peanuts market as a cheap snack
Above: Great Value Steamable Vegatables, 70 calories per dollar
Above: While fresh produce is virtually unaffordable on a Food Stamp budget, frozen veggies provide only 65 cal/$.
benefits by the end of the month, causing them to seek assistance from soup kitchens and programs providing free meals for children, or else go without. After a couple hours and a lot of subtraction, I finally put together a liveable cart. Sweet potatoes, apples, beans, and milk turn out to be great supplements to my staples of oats, eggs, and pasta. I examine my collection, delighted to have succeeded in finding enough healthy food to survive. Hopefully my hypothetical children aren’t too picky, because carrots with canned beans and corn are going to be dinner all
Above: One week of Food Stamp budget calroie-rich groceries Below: One week of Food Stamp budget nutrition-rich groceries
the ’gu THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL Ghurties, located in Coralville, opened its doors in 2010, the dawn of the Frozen Yogurt Era in the Iowa City area. With neon chairs and stools, a do-it-yourself topping station with goodies ranging from Oreo crumbs to strawberries to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and levers that you can pull yourself (this means unlimited fro-yo, people), it was unlike anything us Iowacitians had ever seen. It became and continues to be a popular hangout place for kids on their way home from school, and has a loyal group of regular customers (including myself).
THE BEST PLACE TO CURE A SWEET TOOTH Frozen yogurt is enough to make anyone fistpump in the middle of a public place (or maybe that’s just me...). But why stop there? At Aspen Leaf, located in downtown Iowa City, there’s an abyss of chocolate and caramel apples just mere inches from the ‘gurt. This place is extremely underrated considering the great deals (when I went in, you could fill your cup all the way to the roof and it was only 3 bucks) and the taste of the yogurt. With its thick, creamy texture, you could rename the stuff “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Ice Cream.”
THE TRENDIEST Looking for a hip place to meet your buddies, or the perfect place to take that cutie you have your eye on for your first “is this actually a date, or what?” Yotopia in downtown Iowa City is the place. Located smack dab in the middle of the college scene, you can have just as much fun people watching as you can gulping your ‘gurt. The ample windows allow for a great view of the bustling streets and that Iowa slush we all love so much. To top things off, Yotopia has the greatest array of sauces and syrups I’ve ever laid my eye on.
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awards By Julia Truszkowski juliatruszkowski@gmail.com
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h, the Oscars. It’s that time of year once again when celebrities gather, clad in the glitziest of ballgowns and earrings that coast as much as a decent sized house. But Iowacitians have just as much reason to celebrate, and without spending a fortune. Frozen yogurt shops are assembling faster than you can say “fro-yo,” and that gives us not one, but five reasons to get excited. Without further ado, let’s bring out the contestants. There’s Ghurties, Aspen Leaf, Yotopia, Orange Leaf, and Topperc. And all these gems are scattered throughout Iowa City, from the always lively downtown to the ever expanding North Liberty. So get out your ballots, folks. Whether you’re looking for a plethora of unique flavors, a trendy place to meet your friends, or plain old chocolate, you’re sure to find a winner.
THE MOST FLAVORS In the mood for cheesecake? How about snickerdoodle cookies? Wedding cake? You can get your fix at Orange Leaf, located downtown. As a large chain, it has the greatest variety of flavors, which rotate out every month or so to allow for a whole new experience. With orange couches, tiles, and countertops, the decor is bright enough to provide an escape from the dreary Iowa winter. THE FRENDLIEST Topperc, a new addition to North Liberty, feels like a second home with friendly owners, TV with the remote available for customer use, and dinner food to make a whole night of your fro-yo fix. Want to have a ‘gurt themed birthday party? Topperc has got you covered. Just call in the time of your party and balloons and banners will await you. The owner will even whip you up a birthday cake- free of charge!
Photo Story By: Lauren Knudson leknudson18@gmail.com
Erin Taber: West High Twirler
Many little Iowa girls watch the Iowa Golden Girl and think “Wow I want to do that” but few stick with their dream, Erin Taber ’15 is one of the few who did. Taber started baton when she was seven, the fall of 2003. “The biggest reason I joined baton was because a lot of my friends had started taking lessons with the Iowa Golden Girl, so being a little first grader I had to be exactly like them,” said Taber. Erin does many different things with twirling, competes individually, as a team, and for West, “My favorite thing about twirling is when I finally can do a trick consistently that I’ve been working on for long time. To be a good twirler, you need to be flexible, coordinated, have en-
durance, be graceful, and a good dancer, so it’s one of those things that takes a ton of perseverance and dedication because of how difficult it can be,” said Taber. Taber enjoys twirling for at West football games, “The energy at Trojan Field is off the charts by halftime, so that makes it all the more fun to perform.” Taber also competes on her own and as part of a team at competitions, she describes competitions as “confusing” and says they are a lot like a gymnastics meet. Taber enjoys twirling and is hoping to continue in college “College is first and foremost about school for me, but I’m trying my hardest to find a university that has majors I’m interested in, along with a baton twirler/twirlers, because I’m not ready stop twirling yet.”
Right bottom: Taber waits for a baton during a practice, she has been twirling since she was seven years old. Right top: Baton twiler Taber practices for her compeitions, she competes both individually and as a team.
Left Bottom: West Twirler Taber performs during a football game this fall. Taber loves the energy at Trojan Field.
Background: Taber practices in hope of continueing in college.
Left Top: Taber practices one of her seven different routines at the field house. Left: West sophomore Taber practices, she aims to practice eight hours a week.
Photo used with permission from Erin taber