WALMART TANKTOPS

This weekend, a friend of mine posted an Instagram story asking where people got cute tank tops. As an avid tank top wearer, I immediately swiped up and raved about the glorious tank tops at Walmart. I bought my first two tank tops in 2022 and since then a week hasn’t passed where I’ve worn one of these tank tops. They are perfect for the hot summers but are also great bases for layering in the colder months. Since 2022, my collection has grown to 10 tank tops, the nine pictured plus the light pink that I was wearing when I took this picture. – Noa Zilber

EATS & DRINKS

TACOS

My favorite food has always been steak. However, recently I have found that my new favorite food is tacos. I love tacos so much. I love almost any type of tacos, but my favorite is usually al pastor with onions, pineapple, cilantro, etc. The best way to order tacos is always as they are on the menu; I find that the chefs in these Mexican restaurants typically know best. Most tacos I have are very good, but sometimes they do leave me disappointed. That is why it is critical to know where to get the best tacos and what to order from the best places. My current favorite taco place is called Wa’haka on Chamblee-Dunwoody. In addition, Tacos al Pastor in Chamblee also gives an authentic feel but they aren’t quite as good as Wa’haka. I also love RReal taco, but it is more expensive. Unfortunately, the best tacos are in New York City. I love going to this one taco place in Chelsea Market; I don’t emember the name, but they have immaculate tacos. My go-to in NYC is this hole in the wall place in the west village called The Little Taco House. My biggest piece of advice when finding the best taco place is to find somewhere that looks slightly sketchy and where the employees speak Spanish almost exclusively. – Anna Kate Flood

GUS’S FRIED CHICKEN

Last week, I decided to go to Gus’s Fried Chicken before work as it is right next to my workplace. I got the mac n cheese and my friend got the chicken sandwich. The food was so good, I was shocked. My friend has already bought the chicken sandwich two more times since then. He notes that it is the best chicken sandwich he has ever had. The mac and cheese was single-handedly the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had. It was so cheesy and seasoned, and it was simply delicious. The prices are also really good. Overall, I recommend eating at this place if you want a better version of Chik Fil A. They make all their food fresh and it is so worth it. – Sasha Lapayeva

SHRIMP BOIL

This weekend, I helped my pool conduct a shrimp boil. It is a 12-year tradition for my dad and his friends. We cooked 120 pounds of shrimp, 85 pounds of corn, and 200 pounds of potatoes, garlic, green beans, and lemons. We had a couple of  tents set up with tables, pots, and a TV for all of us to hang out, watch football, and cook. Overall it is a fun bonding experience for everyone. – Seth Weiss

PESTO

At my super fun job at a restaurant yesterday, the owner was there. Because he was there, a chef let him try some new food he made in hopes that he would like it and put it on the menu. Because of this, I also got to try a bunch of cool food. One of the foods I got to try was a new pesto base for a pizza, and I realized how incredibly awesome pesto is. I don’t think the one I tried had any nuts, even though most pesto is made up of just basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and maybe a little bit of salt and pepper. It’s seriously so delicious and I think I might just go through a phase revolving around everything pesto. – Miles Forshay

THE COCONUT EDITION

As someone who has tried many different brands of energy drinks over my high school career, I swore myself as a diehard Celsius fan. For me, the brand has perfected its drinks, unlike many other brands. Alani is way too sweet, Monster just doesn’t have the right flavoring, and ZOA energy is just disgusting. Redbull with its 20 different flavors (unlike Celsius with 27), has always intimidated me. I tried their original flavor, and it repulsed me, with an undertone of citrus but also bubblegum. After that, I tried to stay away from the brand until last Thursday. My friend was walking down the hallway with a white Redbull can, and I, having not had an energy drink all week, asked for a sip. When I took a sip, it was magical. The white can labeled The Coconut Edition has 12 fl oz of perfectly created body and mind vitalizing liquid. It is perfectly sweet yet tangy, and in comparison to Celsius with 200mg of caffeine, redbull only has 114mg, which makes my mom feel much better about me drinking it. Therefore, as of right now, Celsius Peach and Raspberry have a new competitor. – Bella Avett

SMOOTHIE KING

I recently became obsessed with going to Smoothie King. I normally go to the one in Dunwoody Village, but there is also one that is on the other side of Peachtree Boulevard that seems more difficult to get to so I haven’t gone there. The last two times I went, I got the Angel Food smoothie and it is really good. It is sweet and has a blend of strawberries, bananas, milk, and turbinado. My friend got the Lemon Twist Strawberry which is more tart and kind of like a slushy type flavor. That smoothie has strawberries, white grape lemon juice blend, papaya juice blend, and turbinado. They have a free upsize on Fridays, so you can get a 32oz for the price of a 20oz which was a really nice surprise when I went last Friday. They also have a Heinz tomato smoothie which is bright red and looks really scary. I kind of want to try it but I’m too scared and don’t want to waste my money if I don’t like it. I am really looking forward to trying a lot more of the flavors in the different categories and experimenting with different kinds. – Mallory Williams

ICE CREAM

For those who don’t know, I consider myself an ice cream connoisseur. I love ice cream so much, and I look forward to every Friday night when my family goes to Good Vibes in Dunwoody. Their brownie sundae is immaculate. I’ve also tried their Chocolate Peanut Butter and their Cookie Dough, which are also just as good. They give substantial portions for their prices. I have experience with many local ice creams, as well as ice cream from all across the country. I have been to 49 out of 50 states and have experienced ice cream in almost every one of them. The most memorable ice cream I have had was in Port Angeles, Washington. This ice cream was labeled as “fruit” ice cream, and although I am usually against adding fruit to desserts, this ice cream was exceptionally delicious. Another ice cream stop that has stood out to me has been The Bent Spoon located in Princeton, New Jersey. Once again, their brownie sundae was delicious and far better than Good Vibes. The Sundae had just the correct amount of fudge and brownie without it being difficult to reach the ice cream at the bottom of the cup. As you can see, I am very opinionated and passionate about the subject of ice cream. Ice cream as a dessert is truly underrated and can be enjoyed anytime. – Sydney Moss

PLAYS

OVERCOOKED

I’m surprised this is the first time that I’ve written about this game! Overcooked has been a staple game on our family Xbox for years now. With challenging multiplayer levels as well as competitive versus games, Overcooked is a perfect mixture of teamwork and competition. It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and visually appealing with an even better soundtrack that is constantly playing in my head! Yes, it has led to a multitude of food-related arguments among my family and friends, but for the most part, I try to keep it lighthearted. If you want a competitive, fun, fast game to play with friends and family, try Overcooked! – Finley Malone

PERSONA 5

Persona has been consistently one of my favorite series ever since I played Persona 5 way back when. Fortunately, I’ve had some extra time before dual enrollment starts to play Persona 5 for the first time since 2019. Revisiting this gem of a game is like discovering leftovers in the back of the fridge you thought you already ate. The art style, the character design, the story, the atmosphere, the gameplay, everything about this game you can tell was made with the utmost love and passion by its creators. However, I neglected to mention the single most important part of these games for me: the music. Whether it’s “Layer Cake,” “Beneath The Mask,” “Tokyo Daylight,” or “Alleycat,” the music is the real heart and soul of this game. While every aspect of this game could work on its own, it’s the music that ties it together to make it the masterpiece of a game it is. – Michael Bryant

TWO WEEK MINECRAFT PHASE

This weekend, I finally downloaded Minecraft, and gee whiz I’ve been missing out for the past 15 years. This game is really fun and I wish I had played it sooner. I’m really bad at playing, but I was playing with one other person and I would say I did a pretty good job at building a mansion while they did everything else. I died a lot of times and accidentally exploded a lot of stuff, but it’s okay because I’m learning, and on a brighter note I learned how to place a water bucket when I fall so I don’t die. The game was a bit of an investment at $40, but it was worth it to improve my skills. I will be investing in a mouse soon because playing with a touchpad is a tad difficult, and I can’t wait to play this in class all the time! – Afomia Gezaei

READS

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

I just finished a book called We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, and I have so, so many thoughts. The book was published in 2003 and was later adapted into a movie by the same name in 2011, starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, and Ezra Miller. I watched the movie years before I read the book, so I figured (like with most movie adaptations) that the book would be better, and I was excited to read it. I did not think, however, that the book would enrage me far more than the movie ever could have—which is why it is now one of my favorite books. It is set from the point of view of Kevin’s mother, Eva, as she writes letters to her husband after Thursday, the day that Kevin massacred a group of his peers at their high school. As Eva writes, she slowly reveals tidbits of her life pre- and post-motherhood. We soon realize that not only Kevin, but Eva as well, is a horrible person. The author does a wonderful job of developing the intricacies of each character, especially the mother. My entire life was consumed by this book—it was all I could think about. The rage I felt towards these characters consumed every waking moment of my life. I rarely can find a book that evokes such intense emotion as We Need to Talk About Kevin. Surprisingly, the infuriating characters and disgusting plot did not make me hate this book, but quite the opposite. 4.25/5 stars. – Addy Bair

CALVIN AND HOBBES

This week, I decided to reread all of the Calvin and Hobbes collections since I was out of books to read. The comic strip by Bill Watterson was/is a staple of my childhood, and still makes me laugh. The strip is a smattering of loosely connected jokes and one liners starring Calvin and his stuffed toy Hobbes. Calvin’s questionable imagination leads him to duplicate himself, turn himself into animals, and time travel, all at the expense of his parent’s sanity. The strip was a popular staple in newspapers during the 80s and 90s, so parents and grandparents alike are possibly familiar with the strip. – Eli Lineberry

LISTENS

DISCO SNAILS 

The song “Disco Snails” is one of the most intriguing and creative artistic expressions that I have heard in millennia. It is also extremely catchy. This song tells the story of a group of snails who are traveling to San Francisco to dance to disco together. This song scratches the autistic itch in my brain, and I highly recommend it. A final plea to check it out: the song rhymes the word “roof” with the word “groof.” – Maren Merkel

2010’s MUSIC

We all grew up listening to it: the end-of-the-world music era was the absolute best. I just created a playlist called “2010s Jams” this past weekend and it’s my new favorite playlist. I’ve been trying to find better music lately because being in Shrek the Musical leaves me listening to “I’m a Believer” too often. Plus, we all grew up on some amazing albums! Songs to consider for your own blast-from-the-past playlist could be “Shut Up and Dance,” “A Sky Full of Stars,” “Classic,” What Makes You Beautiful,” “Timber,” and “Cake By The Ocean.” The early 2000s was the best decade for music and nobody can convince me otherwise!  – Ellie Owens

WATCHES

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS

This weekend, after swearing that I wouldn’t, I finally gave in and watched this underground movie on Netflix called “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” Not a lot of people have talked about it, so I really expected to hate it, and after 15 minutes, I was seriously debating turning it off and denying I ever tried to watch it. However, after the first few minutes, I started to really enjoy the movie. I thought that the animation was really unique and colorful, and while the humor and the dialogue were somewhat bland, I found myself really enjoying figuring out the demons’ backstory. The highlight of the movie was easily the songs. Well, the song. Other than the song “Golden,” which was at #1 on the charts for eight weeks, most of the music is kind of mid. That may be an unpopular opinion, but the music didn’t take away from the quality of the movie. I only watched an hour of it because I was tired, but I’m excited to see the end of it and whether or not those demon guys are gonna be “Done, Done, Done.” Stream K-Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix here.  – Maven Bolick

NEW GIRL

A few months ago, I wistfully finished The Good Place, and it was so unbelievably awesome I had to take a three-month TV show hiatus. But now I’m back, baby. My dad recently bought a subscription to Peacock in place of the useless streaming service, Direct TV, and I used this opportunity to start New Girl. At first, it seemed like a slightly unfunnier version of How I Met Your Mother, which it kinda is, but only a few episodes in, I realized it’s amazing. The characters all have their own individual “thing.” Jess is a whimsical and colorful optimist, Schmidt is the douchey playboy, Nick is an old man in a middle-aged man’s body, and Winston is the dorky himbo. I connected with this show quickly because I related to all of the characters. It didn’t feel like I was just watching a bunch of different characters interact, but it was like I was in the show, in the body of a kooky school teacher and her grown men roommates. – Sela Sokol

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN

On Thursday, I watched the 1951 film noir “Strangers on a Train,” which concerns two people, Guy Haines, a tennis star, and Bruno Antony, a man planning on committing a murder. On a train, Bruno suggests murdering Guy’s wife in exchange for Guy killing Bruno’s father to prevent the authorities from tracing either murder  to Bruno or Guy. Once Bruno commits the first murder, Guy spends the rest of the movie trying to avoid arrest for that crime. While not the best movie I ever watched, it was an interesting concept, and I don’t  think Hitchcock did a poor job with its execution. All in all, I do not regret spending two hours watching it. – Jackson Lee

AND

SLEEP

I love sleeping. I slept like 11 hours each night over the weekend (I could’ve gone for longer but, unfortunately, I was woken up). I haven’t been doing nearly enough of it as of late, because some teachers seem to be under the impression that I only take one class a semester, but I still love it. The only thing mildly better than getting sleep is being sleep deprived, because I’ve noticed I’m significantly funnier. I miss sleep so much. I genuinely don’t know what else to say. This is entirely self-explanatory, and if you don’t enjoy sleeping, you might want to get that checked out. – Humna Ahmad

PGA TOUR IN ATLANTA

Recently, I went with my dad to the PGA, Professional Golfers Association, Tour that was held in Decatur. This was my first time going to a golf tournament, but I have watched many on television since my dad plays golf and knows many golfers/caddies. The TV version of golf can be very uninteresting and quite boring; however, watching golf in-person and while on the green, can be very enjoyable. The main difference is the atmosphere you get immersed in. Watching golf in person has another level of interactiveness and attentiveness since you clap at the end of each hit and have to walk to each of the different holes. – Rachel Belknap

NOT BEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Back in January I decided I was spending too much time endlessly scrolling through content that I feel as though was important in-the-moment, but I could not remember a few minutes later. Eventually, I would see the same Whose Line Is It Anyway or Carol Burnett Show clips over and over. The algorithm had backed me into a corner. Too many movie trailers for films I would never see. Too many pictures of cats. Too much of everything and yet nothing. So I stopped. And I reclaimed hours of my life everyday. I got productive and made art and music and read books (the Dungeon Crawler Carl series!) and generally re-engaged with the real world. I slip back now every once in a while (weekly for an hour) just to catch up with friends and see if there’s anything happening (or happened). If you ask me, that’s the way to go. – Fred Avett