Located in the heart of the Miami Art District, Wynwood Walls is filled to the brim with colorful brushstrokes that emphasize the colorful and creative aesthetic of the area. The Miami Art District is known for their chic restaurants and of course artsy vibe.
In some situations, my inner creeper truly comes out. I decided it would be fun to take pictures of people in New York City, people I have never met, and give them fake or "stereotypical" back stories based on what they look like. I enjoyed doing this a little too much...scroll over the picture to see the captions!
After spending three days trekking around the Columbia campus, it's safe to say that I now know my way around. While I don't claim to be an expert, I finally got the hang of how to get around campus without being late to class.
The campus itself is complex, with tall brick buildings and forbidding architecture. Each subject has it's own building, which seems to be pretty standard in colleges. It's only one building though, while other colleges have while series of buildings. Though some buildings are old brick, and a few of the newer ones are completely glass.
The vibe given off is old, regal money. The type where you would be afraid to walk on the grass or touch anything for fear of irreparably damaging a piece of history. Presidents, leaders, idols, all walked these paths, which is overwhelming when you think about it.
But along with the pretentious vibe, there's an energy about the campus that draws you to it. It makes you want to be apart of it, to be a part of the legacy. To follow in the footsteps of those leaders, those politicians, those idols. I've fallen in love with the campus against my own will.
However, the love affair will be short lived when I look at tuition prices again.
Picture of Milly Shapiro as Matilda and the "Matilda" cast from nytimes.com
After the monstrosity that was "Cinderella" on Broadway, I was hesitant to watch "Matilda" at a different theater whose name escapes me. My class and I walked into a fairly small theater to find our seats at the very top row (which were still not too far away from the stage). The show started only to hear British accents and right away my friend Vivian and I were holding on to our seats hoping this play would not be completely terrible. After a short singing and dancing number, I could say I was hooked. The small girl who played Matilda, Ripley Sobo, automatically won my heart. Her small yet impactful voice merged with the whimsical and well written script had me crying one minute and laughing the next. Miss Trunchbull's character, though unexpected, was geniously casted and played by a man, Ben Thompson. Mr. and Mrs.Wormwood's characters were brought to life by Lesli Margherita and Matt Harrington. The two on the stage shared the perfect amount of chemistry and brought a large amount of laughter into the audience. Now, the children in this production of "Matilda" were something else. Both their amazing dancing and singing skills were displayed during their roles in the majority of the play. I am telling you, these kids each demanded the stage, and when put together, they made the most impressive child cast I have ever seen. They say music really determines whether or not a movie or play has the power to control the watcher's emotions. Well, the music in "Matilda" was phenomenal and achieved just that. In each musical scene, the orchestra was able to set the mood perfectly, whether it be through heart racing pieces or sad, emotional ones. At curtain call, I feel as thought they got the loudest claps from the audience! The totality of the play owned a very fun and whimsical feel to it. The lights were so compelling as well as the special effects throughout the production. The sets were detailed enough so the audience could tell where they were. Surround sound and spots in the theater where cast members would appear during the plot aided the production in making the audience feel as though they were really in the play. I bet you're thinking, "how could 'Matilda' the play possibly be so exciting and suspenseful?" Well, the people at Broadway smartly changed up the story in a subtle yet noticeable way. They added small parts to Roald Dahl's Classic children's novel. In conclusion, watching this play made it seem as though I was watching history in the making. I personally think "Matilda" is a classic, and the best play Broadway has put on since "Annie."
A dream is a wish your heart makes, or so they say. This famous lyric comes from the beloved Disney movie, "Cinderella." This song, however, is one of the many thing the Broadway production of "Cinderella" changes. Starring Carly Rae Jepsen as Cinderella and Fran Drescher (from the hit T.V. show "The Nanny") as the evil step mother, "Cinderella" is the story of a girl named Ella who works for her step mother and step sisters. The entire play was a morph between the Disney version of "Cinderella" and "Cinderella II." The play goes back and forth between King Topher, or Christopher, and Cinderella, or Ella (Come on Broadway pick one name and like it). I personally did not like the plot of the story (probably because I am a die- hard Disney fan) though it does have surprising twists that the audience does not expect! Even though I love the classic cartoon movie, my unbiased opinion would have to be that the story was too childish and I was expecting Broadway to at least turn the classic version of the story into one with a deeper message. Overall, the plot was some-what childish and (sadly) did not reach my expectations.
Carly Ray Jepsen is a wonderful singer, especially while listening to her songs with the top off of a car on the way to the beach. On a professional stage known for displaying some of the most amazing voices, however, her voice is not exactly ideal. Let's face it, Carly is no actress, and she is barely a singer. She is given the opportunity of a lifetime and I feel as though she did not properly prepare for the role. But Carly, it's not your fault, the people at Broadway should have worried less about getting a well- known singer and should have invested time into the thousands of young girls across the country trying to get on Broadway.
Fran, who is known for her raspy voice, used it to her advantage and played the roll of an annoying and persistant step mother extremely well. Being in the show biz for quite some time now, she used her knowledge of what she is good and bad at and restrained from any singing in the production. Smart move Ms. Fine!
When I look back and think of the totality of the play, I was ultimately won over due only to the special effects and solos by professionally trained actors and singers. Take my advice Broadway, if the show MUST go on, at least replace Carly Rae Jepson.
New York City, to me, is a place filled with opportunity and wonder, but surprisingly, I didn't always feel this way. When I first visited the city back when I was in seventh grade, I did not want to go in the first place. My family and I were going to leave on Christmas day, and being from Miami, Fl, I was not used to weather below maybe 65 degrees. I had to wear 3 layers of clothing to keep myself warm, and my sister and I would have contests testing how long we could resist the cold before wanting to run into a warm room. I was snuck into hidden pathways and rooms in China Town only to discover multiple fake Prada and Chanel Bags. At the end of this trip, I could say I had a good time, but it was not a place I longed to return to. Over time and as I discovered that I wanted to become a journalist, I found myself longing for a place that is different from my warm home town. I wanted to live in a place that is constantly filled with drama and excitement, and that would serve as a canvas free for artistic expression. New York City is that place for me. Manhattan reminds me of the island of Neverland, a magical place from the novel Peter Pan. Large sky scrapers replace the tall, plunging mountains. The city's lights are like stars, guiding everyone's path as they're on their way to do something exciting. The mermaid lagoons and pirate filled oceans serve as the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. I'd like to think that I'm Peter Pan, and Manhattan is my island. I am free to roam around encountering new and distinct creatures. I have the ability to go on adventures and form memories that never fade. I go back to New York tomorrow with my class to attend classes at Columbia University. I return to not only my home, but my beacon of hope that one day I will become successful, and that one day I will reside with the strongest, smartest, and most creative people in all the country. It gives me strength to believe that one day I will live in the city of champions: the people who know they've made it. I go back to Neverland.
Don't be surprised when your Instagram feed is cluttered with pictures of crisp vinyls and newly bought record players this year. A trend has now transformed every modern teen's outlook on the once outdated record collection.
But why are records in and iPod's out?
Some say owning a physical copy of their favorite album brings more satisfaction then just downloading it. Others just enjoy the idea of starting a collection of their own. I personally agree with both even if the iPod is more convenient for on-the-go situations. Parents, specifically my own, scoff at the idea that vinyls are coming back when there is all this new and instantaneous technology at our fingertips.
Chain stores, such as Urban Outfitters, have taken the initiative to sell modern albums on vinyl seeing as vinyl sales have exponentially increased. Record stores are now beginning to make a comeback as well with there now being a growing market for vinyls.
Vinyls and record players are pricey but hopefully this trend will stick around for awhile.
We've all been there. That one day where you seem to be drowning in all your problems and/or issues. That day where nothing seems to go your way, even when you need it. A plain old crappy day. Here's a post to get you to notice the good even when you think everything is crumbling.
1. Talk it out. Keeping negativity stored inside you is never good. You mind as well be wearing a sign saying, "Caution! Subject to explosion at any given time." Talk it out with a trusted friend if possible. He or she can give some advice or even a nice hug will do the trick. If you're not that outspoken with your feelings [like me], try writing down your problems and think of solutions. Getting the negativity out of your system will really help change your outlook on the rest of your day. 2. Try some comic relief. A good laugh never hurt anybody! On a bad day, try to watch or listen to the things that make you laugh the most. A good, funny vine or youtube video does the trick for me! Believe or not, what you watch actually can have a prolonged affect on your mood. *I personally recommend a Joe Santagato youtube video. I am literally laughing at the top of my lungs during his videos!* 3. Take a nap. This may not work if you have a bunch of stuff to do (if you do, you may want to read #4), but it will help you relax. Now i'm not talking a 6-hour "nap" but maybe a 20-30 minute rest from a stressful day. And who knows, you may even get a happy dream out of it :) 4. Make a to-do list and cross out an item every time you complete a task. This one is for those days where your work is practically taking over. My friend recently gave me this advice on my bad day. This helps to make sure you don't get overwhelmed by the work you have to do. Crossing out tasks gives a feeling of achievement, with every item crossed out is a step closer to less stress in your day. 5. Focus on the positive. This is something I personally think we all forget to do. Look back at your day and point out the GOOD things rather than the bad. A good mark on a test. A smile in the hallway. Even a nice, warm cookie at school. Once you start to look at the good, the bad doesn't seem that terrible anymore.
Whenever a new movie comes out based on a book, viewers flock to the theater with raised expectations and hopes. They buy the stale popcorn and cram into theaters to see actors portray favorite characters of theirs, and then are disappointed with the portrayal because it didn't fit the exact image they had in their mind. They throw away the half eaten popcorn on the way out, disillusioned by the movie that failed to meet expectations. And in that lies the problem with movies based on books.
I have to admit, I've done this same exact thing. I'll read a book, get excited for the movie, and then be disappointed because the actors weren't the ones I pictured or didn't have the same exact mannerisms as the character in my head. Every person walks into that movie theater with a different actor in mind, a different setting, a different idea of what the movie should and shouldn't be. What we have to realize is that with all of these differing perspectives, only two will be shown: the director's and the screenwriter's. We can't all be the screen writer or director, and they can't include every single minute detail. All they can do is represent their preferences for actors, settings, and what should and shouldn't be included.