As college students, most of us are eligible to vote. Many of us, however, are not registered, don’t care about politics or just don’t vote. But what if Waka Flocka Flame was running? According to an article from MSNBC, he said, “I’m very pleased to announce today on 4/20, the best day of the year, I will be running for president.” He continued, “The first thing I’m gonna do when I get into office is legalize marijuana.” This be enough for him to win, or at least secure the millenial vote. (Waka being only 28 and ineligible for office is not within the scope of this article.).

Waka’s official policy stances are controversial. He has said that hitting the blunt will make everything okay, unless you’re not doing well in school. He claims he would ban dogs in restaurants and animals in general in food-service areas. Ridiculously, his administration plans to discourage or even ban people with size 13 feet or higher from walking in public rights-of-way. They must take some form of transportation other than walking because he does not want to see their big feet taking up all the sidewalk. In regards to academics, he would create new educational programs that include teaching “reality skills” and his lyrics, with students unable to make the pace of Waka’s educational system failing going back to third grade to start over. Waka has stated that he would not wear a suit because they’re too hot and irritating; instead he would wear a tank top and flip-flops. The rapper would raise minimum wage, and he thinks all fast food restaurants should pay $15 an hour. When it comes to women’s rights he said:  “I feel like women got all the rights already, man, what else do they want?” However, he did say women are pretty tough right now.

Asked about the competition, Waka Flocka Flame thinks Hillary Clinton is his only competitor because women love her, she is honest and her husband is Bill Clinton. His vice president would be “DJ Whoo Kid.” During the interview Waka called the potential VP. Waka asked him what they would do to change the world and DJ Whoo Kid responded with “unlimited weed smoking.” Waka has also shown a disdain for the gridlocked 114^th United States Congress, stating, “F-ck congress, I am congress.”

Rapper Waka Flocka Flame isn’t the only one planning to run. Though Waka is running as an independent, his competition is likely to include likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and a to-be-nominated Republican candidate.

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As a 20-year-old, Disney’s new “Cinderella” is all I needed to make me feel like a little girl again. This new, realistic version was just as magical as the cartoon version I used to love many years ago. In the beginning, Cinderella’s family have everything they could want, until tragedy strikes and Cinderella’s mother becomes ill and dies. After a while, Ella’s father marries Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett), who moves in, along with her daughters Drizella (Sophie McShera) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger). Tragedy strikes again when Ella’s father falls ill and dies while away on a business trip. Having nowhere else to go, Ella becomes the victim of the greedy step-mother and step-sisters. What follows is the story we have all been familiar with since childhood — Cinderella being helped by her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) to attend the ball thrown by the prince, her losing her glass slipper and destiny reuniting the prince and Ella to finally be together.

Lily James as Cinderella, did a wonderful job of playing the sweet, caring girl her character is supposed to be. She is known for her roles in “Wrath of the Titans,” “Broken” and “Downton Abbey.” Eloise Webb, who plays the young Cinderella in the beginning and for any flashbacks, also played the same character very well, as a child. Hayley Atwell, Cinderella’s mother, and Ben Chaplin, Cinderella’s father, looked very much in love like their characters were supposed to be. What I found satisfying about the characters of young Cinderella, Cinderella and Cinderella’s mother is that they actually looked alike and it was believable that they were related. I do not understand how the director of a movie can sometimes choose mother and daughter characters that do not look alike, or even worse, two characters that are supposed to be the same person, such as a child and a teenager, that do not look similar. Director Kenneth Branagh made great choices though. I could tell when watching this movie that these specific actors and actresses put their heart and soul into their characters because Cinderella’s family was a tight-knit family that got along well, and generally loved being in each other’s company. I felt that in their actions.

Richard Madden, or Prince Charming, was the perfect fit for this character. He is mostly known for his role in “Game of Thrones.” I could not think of a more flawless, charming man that should play Prince Charming. In many movies, it is typical for the main girl character to fall in love with the bad boy and then she gets hurt and by the end of the movie she ends up with the nice guy, who was there all along. However, another reason I love this movie is because she falls in love with the nice guy in the first place. The best part is that despite being royalty and having power, he is also caring. The plot twist here though is that Cinderella had no idea when she met him that he was the prince and soon-to-be king! Madden and Prince Charming’s dad, Derek Jacobi, played their characters well. They did a phenomenal job of showing their stressed relationship since they often did not see eye-to-eye. Then, towards the end of the king’s life, we can see them come together and make amends before the father dies, and the son takes over the throne.

As much as I hated the cruel Lady Tremaine, Drizella and Anastasia, they all played their characters amazingly. The step-mother was incredibly evil, and her daughters were younger, idiotic versions of her.

Overall, I thought the movie was wonderful, and there was nothing I disliked. My favorite part is when the prince’s men realize that there is another maiden in Cinderella’s house. They find her, and her foot fits the glass slipper. She and the prince finally end up together, and they leave the ugly step-mother and step-sisters behind. I also liked that this new version stuck to the original plot well, there were not any major changes. The worst is when a new version of a movie or book comes out and a main event is changed because it takes away from the initial story you loved. The modern twist they put on the movie is also a plus. To understand what I mean, you will just have to go see it for yourself! The movie comes out Friday, March 13. Buy your tickets early to be prepared for this magical adventure!

The post ‘Cinderella’ brings classic tale to silver screen yet again appeared first on The Triangle.

Mexican food is possibly my favorite cuisine. I have come to find that there are two kinds of Mexican restaurants — fake and authentic. I found El Vez to be in the middle. As far as the food goes, I felt the authenticity. However, I didn’t feel it in the environment as well as the decoration of the restaurant.

The decorations are flashy and colorful. The bar is located in the middle of the restaurant. Rotating at the core of the bar is a bike, which is lit up. The walls are covered in large and vibrant tiles. Lights hanging above tables all vary; some are covered in dashes of color and pictures, others are circular tins and some are even different than that. The booths and chairs are unique in their colors as well. Obviously, this restaurant is splashed with different hues, creating a fun atmosphere, especially for a younger crowd.

As all great Mexican restaurants do, El Vez has specific spots for guacamole, nachos, salsas, margaritas and cocktails. It has an assortment of quesadillas, fundidos, ceviches, soups and salads, enchiladas and tacos. The main reason I went there was because I found an article on Food Network’s website with a list of where to get great nachos from coast to coast, and El Vez was on it. Its Food Network-worthy nacho dish is called Nacho Mamma. For $10, I received a large pizza pan-like dish with nachos laid out, topped with black beans, smoked chile salsa, crema fresca, white cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses. The nachos were the most satisfying dish that I have ever had. They had all the elements of an enticing entree of nachos that can possibly be desired.

My dad ordered the oxtail enchiladas, an entree for $14. The dish consisted of salsa guajillo, Chihuahua cheese, crema and red onion. Neither of us had ever had oxtail before, and we are both fans of trying new foods. We were pleasantly surprised, for it tasted like brisket. Along with the enchiladas came a side that had a rice, bean and a vegetable concoction, but we never found out what it was. Both the entree and the side were scrumptious. Unfortunately we did not order any drinks other than water, but according to the waiter they are known for their margaritas, as many Mexican places are and should be, in my opinion.

The location is great; El Vez is right in Center City, on 121 South 13th St. For any native New Yorkers out there, they also have a location at 259 Vesey Street New York, New York. The price is affordable and even cheap for the quality of food that we received. In addition, the service was great; our waiter was polite and sociable, and we were served within 15 minutes of ordering even though we were there at their prime dinner hour. I found nothing wrong or negative about this restaurant — El Vez receives a five out of five stars from me and I would recommend it to everyone.

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If you are from Philadelphia or in the surrounding area, you know how big of a deal cheesesteaks are. Even if you are not, many people across America know that this city is home of the original cheesesteak. In fact, Philly is so famous for its cheesesteaks that when you go to other cities in the country, that city will have cheesesteak restaurants that try to replicate Philly’s. They will go as far as calling it a Philly cheesesteak. Caution: If a restaurant has to say their cheesesteaks are Philadelphia cheesesteaks, it is more than likely that they are not.

Within Philadelphia, there is a debate on what cheesesteak restaurant is the best. Common answers are Pat’s King of Steaks, Geno’s Steaks and Jim’s Steaks. Other not so common answers include Tony Luke’s and Steve’s Prince of Steaks. That is where I come in. I am going to do my own personal analysis of these cheesesteak places and judge them for myself. I am going to judge them for the actual food, the quality of it, their location, their staff and the price. After taking these into consideration, I will give each place an overall score.

First up is Pat’s King of Steaks. This is the restaurant I hear everyone rave about. I have only been there once, but to be honest, I think people hype this place up way more than it deserves. First of all, the location is not very central. Coming from University City, there is a subway ride that requires you to switch lines and a decent amount of walking in a not-so-great area. Little did I know, this restaurant does not have indoor seating. For a place as famous as this, I would expect there to be indoor seating. Do not get me wrong; it is fascinating that they have been around for 80 years and owned by the same family the whole time, but isn’t that more of a reason to try to renovate, expand and improve your restaurant by including that? If I had known that, I definitely would not have gone there in 30 degree weather.

The staff was friendly and the price was decent; I paid about $10 for a meat-packed cheesesteak and a water bottle. I have to admit that it was a disappointment because I only ordered two toppings on my cheesesteak, and they somehow managed to mess that up. I made sure I ordered correctly –– yes, for all those who are foreign to the cheesesteak life, there is a correct and specific way to order a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. Maybe this is a rare occurrence for them to make a mistake, but for my first time here and for my first real cheesesteak, it was indeed a let-down. What I ended up with was “one American witout.” This means one cheesesteak with American cheese, without onions. Yet I had ordered “wit,” meaning with onions. Overall, the cheesesteak itself was delicious. The steak was cut up nicely, and the cheese was melted throughout. Somehow these two simple ingredients tasted extremely flavorful and scrumptious.

If I had gone when the weather was warmer and if they had not messed up my order, my visit would have been more enjoyable. Overall though, I would recommend Pat’s King of Steaks with a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The post Long-established Pat’s King of Steaks provides adequate food, quality service appeared first on The Triangle.

Photo Courtesy Albert Yee
The Franklin Fountain in Old City is known for its traditional touches, including workers’ uniforms, aged wood signs and antique machinery. The beloved ice cream shop serves hot sundaes and beverages for those wishing to enjoy their treats into the winter season.

The Franklin Fountain, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, is by far one of the most pleasant ice cream shops I have ever been to. The Franklin Fountain opened in 2004 by the Berley family, who had a passion for antiques and were inspired to build an ice cream parlor and soda fountain. After buying a building in 2002 in the heart of Old City, Ryan and Eric Berley recognized that the original porcelain mosaic tile floor and decorative tin walls and ceiling of the first floor would be the perfect setup.

I was speechless the first time I walked into The Franklin Fountain. I was impressed with how authentic the shop is. To start, the employees dress in old-fashioned clothing — that is how you know the owners of this place are committed and want to give their customers a real blast from the past. All of the machines are old and original, collected and traded by the Berley family themselves. These include lamps, blenders and the milk dispenser. There’s a large dresser behind the counter that serves as the hub for the servers. There are bottles lined up in front of a mirror with samples of syrups and sodas. The table, chairs, signs and cabinets are all made of wood, giving it that traditional feeling. Even the bathroom is labeled “WC,” which stands for “water closet” and was used years ago here and in Europe.

The menu includes an assortment of desserts and baked goods including sundaes, splits, cups and cones, phosphates, ice cream sodas, milkshakes, thirst ades, New York egg creams, pies, cakes, and more! In the winter Franklin Fountain has special additions such as hot milkshakes, hot soda, hot chocolate, more baked goods and caffeinated concoctions. Additionally, it has seasonal sorbets, sugar-free flavors and non-dairy ice creams that cater to even more customers. Everything is homemade and ingredients are all locally sourced. Most of the ice cream flavors are typical, but they are the richest flavors you could imagine. For instance, you can get cookies and cream anywhere, but only at The Franklin Fountain is it called the Hydrox Cookie, in which Hydrox cookies (the original chocolate sandwich cookie, before Oreo) are used. So even though the flavors are not crazy and constantly changing, they have quality natural ingredients.

I have been to The Franklin Fountain a few times and every time I am amazed. The service is always excellent. The employees are polite, polished and pleasant. I have never had to wait long, they are always smiling and they always offer to let me try samples. I have tried maple walnut, Hydrox cookie, rocky road and a limited edition flavor that consisted of nougat pieces, salted caramel and chocolate nibs. I am usually not a fan of maple walnut, but The Franklin Fountain may have changed that. I kid you not, the maple tasted like savory syrup, but straight out of a tree, which really complimented the walnuts. The Hydrox cookie took cookies and cream to a whole new level and I truly believe it’s because Hydrox cookies are better than Oreos. Go try it if you do not believe me.

The rocky road was out of this world, complete with chocolate ice cream, salted chopped almond pieces and real marshmallow swirled in. Last but not least, my favorite, which is the limited edition ice cream: the combination of nougat, salted caramel and chocolate nibs was genius. Each one of these was flavorful, light and heavenly. I could tell everything was homemade, and that made all the difference.

I give this ice cream parlor a five out of five stars. Scrumptious desserts, charming staff and this classic setting make for a great date night or a night out with the family. Head over to 116 Market St. and take a delicious trip back in time.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Or in this case, gelato. Gelato is the Beyonce of the world of frozen treats: it is real, it is unique, and everybody wants it. I have found countless ice cream and frozen yogurt joints on and around campus, but finding a gelato shop is an infrequent yet sweet find. When I heard of Capogiro Gelato Artisans, I was ecstatic.

As I was researching Capogiro, I was impressed to find that the company has four Gelato Cafes throughout Philadelphia as well as cafes throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and gourmet grocers in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Another remarkable feature of this chain is that the workers make 27 flavors of gelato fresh each morning. This is a factor that really sets Capogiro apart from other ice cream and frozen yogurt shops. It has a blog, called “Capoblog,” which has helpful information, facts, and more. Capogiro also ships and delivers for events, parties, or if you just want a ton of gelato next week and you are too lazy to walk and get it! For delivery, each order must consist of six pints of gelato or sorbetti. You can choose from Italian classics, the vegan or dairy free list, herbs and spices, seasonal gelati, and seasonal sorbetti.

The University City shop is located at 3925 Walnut Street, easily accessible for Drexel and University of Pennsylvania students as well as anyone in the surrounding area. I had high expectations going to Capogiro because I heard the gelato was delicious. However, as I looked up reviews, I noticed wonderful comments about the gelato and food but many negative comments about the staff. When I got there I was not greeted, even though they were not busy. There were about five staff members behind the counter just talking. Most of them seemed bored and acted like they would rather be anywhere but there. For a customer, that is a huge turn-off. But in my book, if the food is satisfying, that usually will override a discourteous employee.

I am a fan of quaint stores, shops, or just about anything that stands out from your typical franchise. Capogiro has a modern vibe when you walk in. There are normal tables and chairs but also a miniature bar, chalk boards with the shop’s creatively designed menu, unique lighting, and bottles lined up on shelves on the wall. When I went to order I was captured by the extravagant flavors, including bourbon butterscotch, Cara cara orange, kiwi, Mexican coffee, Nutella, sea salt pistacchio Siciliano, Caribbean sunrise papaya, fior di latte, Thai coconut milk and mojito. Miraculously, one of the staff members kindly asked if I would like to sample any flavors; obviously I accepted. Every flavor I tried was rare and out of this world. Even basic flavors had a new, refreshing taste. I ended up getting a scoop of lemon which was tart and crisp on top of a scoop of luscious chocolate with peanut butter that was roasted right on the premises creating a natural, savory flavor. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they also sold other fare with their own Italian twist, such as panini, grilled cheese, breakfast items and espresso.

Overall, I’d rate this place four out of five stars. The atmosphere was relaxed, the gelato was delectable, there were other delicious options, and the location is great. The only downsides were the price and the staff. I chose the smallest size and paid over five dollars. What was interesting though was that everything else seemed decently priced — I assume they overcharge for their gelato because it is made there and is made daily. However, top-notch gelato is worth the few extra dollars. If the staff was more welcoming and engaging, my experience would have been more enjoyable. I would not make the trip there every week, but I would definitely recommend Capogiro Gelato to anyone looking for exquisite gelato.