What are our tastemakers’ favorite local tastes? From thick slices of cake on Snelling Avenue to unctuous rice bowls on Lyndale, read what dishes and restaurants the Minnesota Daily arts writers are craving.

Andrea Pizza: They really do have some of the biggest slices in town. Thin and floppy crust for a modest price beats the dining hall’s thick and stiff crust almost every day. Want to try mac and cheese pizza, or any other style of pizza for that matter? Chances are Andrea carries it, and it’s hot and fresh. – Leo Witzke

Black Coffee and Waffle Bar: Waffles from this Como Avenue restaurant are more than Instagrammable — they are also delicious. With a location just outside of Dinkytown, Black Coffee and Waffle Bar covers all of your breakfast needs. Try apple strudel for your sweet tooth, or get bold with ham and swiss. It’s also a great place to sip a latte and enjoy the plant-filled, cozy environment while doing homework or reading. Whether you’re there for a waffle date or for a solo study session, everyone needs to experience this Twin Cities staple. – Sarah Horner

Yum! Kitchen and Bakery’s Patticake: There’s a reason Patti Soskin’s Patticake has developed a cult following among bakery lovers in the Twin Cities. That reason is: luscious pillows of cream cheese frosting in between pure chocolate-y goodness in the form of spongy cake layers. It’s like eating an Oreo reincarnated as a cake. You can buy the whole cake for $45 or by the slice for $6.25 at Yum! at the corner of Snelling and Selby in St. Paul, just a ten minute drive from campus. – Nina Raemont

Spoon and Stable: A little on the pricier side, this hip spot is perfect for dates or Sunday brunches. The restaurant offers menus for brunch and dinner, with many items being French. Their pastries are the most popular menu items, and for those who love croissants, theirs are definitely worth a try! For $4.25 you can get a medium-sized croissant that comes toasted, so there’s a subtle crunch from the outside. Equally as good are the French fries, which are dusted with béarnaise powder for a nice French twist. – Panache Matemba

Hazel’s Northeast: If you’re looking for an amazing selection of breakfast foods in the Twin Cities, your search will end at Hazel’s. They’re renowned for their weekend brunch selection but offer delicious lunch and dinner options as well. Stop at the corner of Johnson Street NE and 29th Avenue (close to the Quarry and Como) for a meat waffle, drunken banana French toast or any classic breakfast for that matter. My personal favorite is Jean’s mean fried egg sandwich, a toasted sourdough sammie with bleu cheese, bacon, eggs and thyme. Every time I stop in, their meals murder my senses with delight. – Bel Moran

Mango Hawaii bowl at JJ’s Poke: If you enjoy a fresh poke bowl, make sure you stop by Dinkytown’s JJ’s Poke and try out their signature bowl, the Mango Hawaii. I personally have never found an option that tops the sweet blend in the Mango Hawaii bowl. The poke bowl contains salmon, a mango mix with Hawaiian classic sauce, topped with mango sauce, cucumber, avocado, edamame, seaweed salad, crab salad and masago. With all of the ingredients mixing together into a refreshing blend, the Mango Hawaii bowl is the perfect poke bowl for your next meal. – Harry Madden

World Street Kitchen’s Yum Yum Rice Bowl: Sticky rice, cilantro, green onions, deep-fried tofu, over-easy egg, “secret sauce.” Just thinking about World Street Kitchen’s blissfully simple creation has my mouth watering. Since getting their tofu yum yum rice bowl as a naive highschool student, thinking that this would just be some other stir-fry, this dish has been a weekly addition to my eating schedule. Located off of Lyndale Avenue in Uptown, Minneapolis, heading to World Street Kitchen makes a great excuse to explore the city while trying an unforgettable meal. – Carly Quast

Step outside on one of Minnesota’s warm days (by warm I mean 40 degrees), and you can smell a hint of spring amidst the unrelenting chill and harsh winds of our state’s weather. Surely, spring will arrive, and then comes summer.

When the weather doesn’t afford us that pleasant-temperature optimism, our music selection can. Here is a selection of songs to transport us to warm weather days by the lake and nights near a bonfire.

“Home Maker” by Sudan Archives: Maybe it’s the airy strings, or the steady snare drum that takes you through this ethereal, musical journey, but all of the fluttery and delicious noises you hear while listening to Sudan Archives’ “Home Maker” feel like a cool entrance into warm weather. Brittney Denise Parks, the artist behind Sudan Archives, is both a seasoned singer and a violinist. Sprinkles of violin sparkle among layered instrumentals and a medley of percussion. The song is pure, suave joy, the type of music you’d find in the background of a summer montage of fluorescently lit party scenes and ocean scenes. – Nina Raemont

“As It Was” by Harry Styles: The king of pop has returned in all of his glitter and bell-bottom glory with “As It Was,” an anthem sure to be on nearly every summer playlist created this year. With its indie-pop sweetness and airy-light vocals, Harry Styles’ most recent single is long awaited after a two-year hiatus from the boybander-turned-pop-star. After a year of COVID-19 delayed touring for his 2019 smash-hit album, “Fine Line,” the release of his new single is sure to mean one thing – an album is on its way. A summer full of picnics, swimming, sun and Harry Styles tunes? That sounds like a good one to me. – Carly Quast

“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire: In Minnesota, there’s no guarantee of good weather in September – which is why I remember those warm Septembers, the ones with starry nights and shiny days. This disco classic is nostalgic for that September when the weather was nice and love was in the air. Let’s hope this September is just like the one Earth, Wind & Fire are singing about. – Leo Witzke

“One More Weekend” by Maude Latour: In the universe of Maude Latour, it’s nothing but summer all year long. The Columbia University senior spends half of her time studying and the other half creating magical music that sounds like sunshine. “One More Weekend” channels the exhilarating energy of summer in the city: the love, the heartbreak and the memories. Latour provides the fresh pop perfection you’re looking for with this cheerful, upbeat tune. Blast it in the car, play it by the pool or listen while riding a bike for guaranteed main character syndrome. – Sarah Horner

“No Going Back” by Yuno: “No Going Back” is classified as rock/funk/soul and gives off the feeling of warmer weather. The beat is held down steadily by a set of snare drums, while a dreamy piano melody plays and a sick guitar riff goes off on the bridge. In the song, Yuno sings about his unreturned loyalty to a love interest. Though it’s sad, it’s freeing. The “la la la la” chorus feels like skipping through a dandelion field in the spring. The tune overall is in a major key, giving us all the happy feels. – Panache Matemba

“The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer” by Dr. Dog: This song feels like warm air flowing through open car windows on a road trip through the backroads (that’s mostly when I listen to it). Though the subject matter is quite sad, its jangly melody and joyful, rapid instrumentation make me want to do a little jig in a flowery field. The energy is impeccable as things build and build to the chorus, addictive lyrics making it difficult not to sing along at the top of your lungs. This song has been on almost every playlist I’ve made since I discovered it years ago and will certainly be on my next hundred. – Bel Moran

“First Class” by Jack Harlow: After much anticipation from various TikTok frenzies, Jack Harlow finally released his highly anticipated lead single, “First Class,” for his upcoming album. What drew the attention of many listeners is the clever remix of Fergie’s iconic track “Glamorous” that plays throughout the chorus of the song. Throughout the track, Harlow uses clever bars to talk about the different glamors that come with his recent boost in fame, and how he plans on using his money on people that he cares about. – Harry Madden

Finding a good show to watch these days, with all of the streaming platforms at our disposal — HBO Max, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Peacock, I could go on — sometimes feels like a 21st century take on “Where’s Waldo?” With the infinite options available to us, the illusion of choice and the search for a movie or show that suits us is real. Luckily, our A&E writers have a few sure-fire suggestions.

“Death on The Nile”: Open on war; it’s black-and-white, desolate and crushing to the human soul. Then, don’t reference the scene again until the end of the film and reveal it’s the backstory for a mustache. It may not be the best written or a well-handled mystery, but Kenneth Branagh’s followup to 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express” sees Branagh reprise his role as detective Hercule Poirot to investigate a new batch of suspects including Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot and Letitia Wright. Branagh’s exceptional ensemble staging keeps the film afloat until a shrinking list of suspects leads to fading tensions. The weight of a dull second act is put on the cast whose immense talent manages to keep the film captivating until the end, at which point you’re reminded of the opening scene, how odd of a choice it was and remember the film’s a silly movie with bad CGI – but still thoroughly enjoyable. Available in theaters, on Hulu and HBO Max. – Leo Witzke

“Fresh”: This rollercoaster of a film starts with a familiar narrative that morphs into something just a little bit crazy. A young woman named Noa is ready to give up on dating until she has a surprising meet-cute with Steve in a grocery store. Steve seems pretty perfect — he is a handsome doctor who always knows the right thing to say. So when he invites Noa on a weekend getaway shortly after they met, she agrees. All is well until Noa learns Steve has an unusual appetite … for human flesh. The red flags showed up a little too late, and now we must watch in horror as Noa tries to escape an unthinkable situation. “Fresh” provides a humorous reflection on modern dating and keeps you on the edge of your seat while the charming cast of characters continue to shock and surprise. Available for streaming on Hulu. – Sarah Horner

“Abbott Elementary”: Quinta Brunson’s Office-esque mockumentary sitcom about the realities of being a public school teacher in Philadelphia reinvigorates the genre. Brunson, (of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and Buzzfeed fame), wrote, produced and created the show, and also plays second-grade teacher Janine Teagues as she tries her best to navigate the cruelties that come with being an educator in a system that doesn’t prioritize education to a laughable extent. The show is heartfelt and sincere in its coverage of the all too real failures of America’s public school system while balancing out the nihilism with killer comedy writing and performances from the ensemble cast. The show’s finale will air this Tuesday, so there’s plenty of time to catch up before the next (hopefully) thirty seasons air. Available for streaming on Hulu and Apple TV. – Bel Moran

“Life & Beth”: After watching Amy Schumer’s hilarious stand-up at the Oscars this past week, I began to get into her new TV show, “Life & Beth.” The series follows Beth, a middle-aged woman who has had notable success as a wine saleswoman. Viewers witness Beth confront her past and the troubles that still affect her from her childhood growing up on Long Island. Schumer’s self-aware and slightly raunchy comedic approach blends well with the tackling of serious emotional issues. Like most of Schumer’s projects, “Life & Beth” closely correlates to Schumer’s own life, and with the series being written and directed by Schumer, it helped make the show feel authentic. Available for streaming on Hulu. – Harry Madden

What have your arts and entertainment writers been loving this week? Read more to learn their top five faves.

“As It Was” by Harry Styles: It would be completely off-brand if I didn’t mention the new Harry Styles song as my pick of the week. After being busy with touring and acting, Styles finally released his first new song since 2019. “As It Was” is the debut single from his upcoming album “Harry’s House,” which is set to be released May 20. The song steps into new territory for Styles with its synth hook, backing bells and fragmented lyrics. An accompanying music video shows him stripping down and reflecting the tune’s intimate vulnerability. If “As It Was” is any predictor of the full album’s success, it’s sure to be a chart-topper — the single already broke two major Spotify streaming records. – Sarah Horner

“Good Girls”: Three suburban moms taking on the world of money laundering. What could be better than that? Netflix’s hit show “Good Girls” has returned for a fourth season jam-packed with hilarious one-liners, minivan car chases and everyday money laundering shopping sprees at Walmart. If you’re looking to give your nervous system a break from Ozark’s high-intensity, stress-inducing, money laundering entertainment but want to stay in the same genre of TV, “Good Girls” is its distant cousin — both funnier and more fun to be around. I am shamelessly admitting that I watched the entire first season in two days this week and have no plan of stopping anytime soon. – Carly Quast

“Loner” by Kali Uchis: This past week, I have had “Loner,” by singer and songwriter Kali Uchis on repeat. Before you ask, yes, I am doing okay. Throughout the song, listeners can hear Kali Uchis’ beautiful, soft vocals repeating lines like “I don’t wanna be a cigarette, I don’t wanna be an ashtray. I don’t wanna be your doormat, don’t wanna be ignored but all of sudden you’re not into me.” The song is part of Uchis’ first album, “Por Vida,” and falls under the R&B/Soul umbrella. If you want to be sad with me, add “Loner” to your playlist. – Harry Madden

Minesweeper: It’s an old game with simple rules: find all the board’s mines using information on how many mines are adjacent to a given cell. Besides misclicks and having to guess your way out of a jam, once you get the hang of the game, it’s a peaceful way to relax between classes. However, if you’re looking for a challenge, variations on minesweeper are extensive: three-dimensional Minesweeper, triangle-celled Minesweeper, a Minecraft variant with creepers instead of mines and many more exist to present a familiar problem in a new situation. It’s a game you can get lost in again and again. – Leo Witzke

“I Got the Juice” by Janelle Monae: This is probably one of my favorite songs. It’s a refreshing, upbeat song infused with Afrobeats and a bit of funk. The song, from Monae’s “Dirty Computer” album, combines a catchy rhythm with lyrics that exude confidence. As per the title, “I Got the Juice” is about knowing your worth. It’s a fun summer jam, but I love listening to it during the winter to lift my spirits. – Panache Matemba

What’s on the radars of Minnesota Daily’s art and entertainment writers? Read to find out.

Graze Provisions + Libations: You’re looking for a great spot to grab some food, maybe a drink or two, located in a great location with an amazing patio? Look no further than Graze Provisions + Libations. Graze, located in Minneapolis’s North Loop, is set up cafeteria-style and offers six different local restaurant stalls, two full bars, one coffee and wine bar, an upstairs patio and a dog-friendly outdoor lawn equipped with bonfire pits and corn hole. During the day, the restaurant mimics a college dining hall filled with swing chairs and pillow-covered nooks. Once the moon comes out, the two-leveled restaurant turns into the perfect place to grab a drink, hang out with friends or head to one of the endless nighttime options that the North Loop has to offer. Yes. It is that cool. – Carly Quast

The Bell Museum: The natural history museum located on the University’s St. Paul campus is seriously underrated. If you’re looking for some cloudy day entertainment, you could easily kill a few hours exploring the gallery exhibits on birds, space and evolution. Plus, admission is waived for University students. The Bell Museum makes it easy for all ages to have a good time and learn something new. My favorite displays showed off colorful butterflies, giant beetles and stick insects the size of my forearm. I also got to pet a tarantula, which was pretty cool too. – Sarah Horner

MILOE Concert and Conversation: Miloe is a local 21-year-old Congolese singer and instrumentalist. On Friday, he performed at the Cedar Cultural Center in partnership with Alliance Française Mpls/St. Paul, a nonprofit promoting French language and culture in the Twin Cities. The event featured a concert in which Miloe debuted a new song and a discussion and Q+A session led by some local journalists. Miloe’s goal is to host more shows this year, so definitely be on the lookout for tickets! – Panache Matemba

“Nathan For You”: How does a body builder lying about a childhood friendship with Steve Jobs help a moving company stay profitable? A slippery slope of unconventional marketing ideas is how. Nathan Fielder, the host of “Nathan For You,” specializes in helping struggling businesses through unorthodox methods. In the world Fielder creates, everything makes sense, which makes the nonsense reality of the situation comedic gold. It’s hard to capture Fielder’s bizarre trains of thought in a blurb because of how dense the episodes are. Miss a couple scenes, and you’ll have no idea how baboons kidnapping a kid relates to keeping that moving company afloat. There is an explanation, but only Fielder can tell it with a straight face. – Leo Witzke

“William” by Graveyard Club: The Twin Cities-based, synth, dreampop-rock crooners have my moody, spooky heart in a chokehold with their third album, “Goodnight Paradise,” released in 2019. “William” in particular holds haunting harmonies and a melody that sounds like it came straight from a morally gray scene from Twin Peaks. It’s retro in a way that’s unplaceable, and utterly addictive. Though I’ve only discovered them recently, I can’t wait to hear their next album, “Moonflower,” coming out this June. – Bel Moran

“Black Dog” by Arlo Parks: I recently discovered Arlo Parks while attending Clairo’s concert. Parks was the opening act and I immediately fell in love with her heavenly voice. While I enjoy all of her content, “Black Dog” moved me. The song revolves around Parks’ partner, who is suffering from depression, making it hard for them to do simple tasks like going to the grocery store and even getting out of bed. In lines like “I would do anything to get you out of your room,” the listener can hear Parks wishing she could do more to help. Throughout the song, an upbeat sound coming mostly from a bass guitar can be heard that gives an optimistic, pensive tune. – Harry Madden

The sun is out and, for the faintest moment, it seems as though the dark days of winter are behind us. Jump into this sunny week with new media to consume.

“Jeff Goldblum” by Mattiel: Atlanta-based indie duo Mattiel released “Georgia Gothic,” their 3rd album, on Friday. The first track (and first single released earlier), “Jeff Goldblum,” is a love song as enigmatic as its namesake. “He came and met me in the bathroom, a little like a younger Jeff Goldblum,” the song begins. As the sunshine returns to Minneapolis, I’ve been in the mood for a cheerier, warm-weather soundtrack to walk around with. This song is the epitome of that feeling for me, with a vaguely vintage sound and addictive soft rock hook. The rest of the album is wonderful too, but this song in particular has been on repeat. Also, who doesn’t love Jeff Goldblum? – Bel Moran

Midway Used & Rare Books: There are tons of independent bookstores in the Twin Cities and I am determined to visit all of them. Over the weekend I stopped at Midway Used & Rare Books, which is three floors worth of bargain book heaven. Located right off of University Avenue and Snelling, the endearing store is packed with antique novels, half-off paperbacks and collectable comics. If you’re looking for something new to do in the cities, hop on the METRO Green Line to St. Paul and you’ll end up right outside a reader’s paradise. – Sarah Horner

Mother Co., Plants: The light at the end of the Minnesotan-winter tunnel has finally begun to fall upon us, and the sun is shining again. The snow is melting, the slush is gone and the imminent Minnesotan itch to add some new green foliage to our homes has blossomed again. Located in both northeast Minneapolis and St. Paul, Mother offers year-round desert plants and succulents for sale, plant accessories and gifts and an overall aesthetically pleasing plant-shopping experience as you walk through their sunlight-bathed, 65 degree shop. Venturing to the nearest location will leave your serotonin replenished and ready for summer, regardless of if we may or may not get another snowfall before permanent warm weather – I’m not jinxing anything, I swear. – Carly Quast

Squash Goals at Crisp & Green: Although the University provides many amazing food options, if you are looking for a sweet, savory and healthy option for your next meal, stop at Crisp & Green and try their Squash Goals salad. After a good workout or a long day of classes, this salad will be exactly what you need to satisfy your hunger. The salad consists of a blend of chicken, apples, maple-roasted butternut squash, quinoa, white cheddar cheese and candied pecans. With all of this tossed with Crisp & Green’s special apple cider pumpkin seed dressing, this perfection of a blend will make it hard to stop coming back for more. Crisp & Green will switch out the salad for newer and springier options soon, so go try it out before it is gone. – Harry Madden

“The Always Sunny Podcast”: If you’re not a fan of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” this isn’t the podcast for you. Not because the podcast is just for the most devoted of fans, or incomprehensible to outsiders because it’s too referential to the show, but because the podcast feels like extra episodes of the show. Our hosts (Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney) routinely get lost on Sunny-esque tangents and reveal the aspect of their characters that they see in themselves. Coffee eggs, surprise Kaitlin Olson appearances and parking debates all make the show feel right at home among the “Always Sunny” canon. If you want to get into the show, but can’t stream it for whatever reason, try an episode of the podcast. – Leo Witzke

Welcome back to reality, Gophers. As we take on the second half of the semester, here are a few songs, shops, films and shows we’re loving these days.

“Single Drunk Female”: Single, drunk female. When it comes down to it, everything about Freeform’s new series is described in its five-syllable title. After an embarrassingly public drunk mental breakdown at her job, Sam Fink – the stylish, sarcastically hilarious 20-something protagonist – moves back home with her mom to avoid jail time. After being sentenced to attend Alcoholics Anonymous, Sam begins her journey of a sober (but still very messy) lifestyle. Meandering between exes, friends, new flings and finding a new job, “Single Drunk Female” opens a candid and honest conversation about the ups and downs that come with alcoholism and the way it affects the relationships and daily lives of the people around us. Packed with humor, a wonderfully diverse cast and top-notch clothing choices, this show dismisses the stigma surrounding alcohol addiction and the path to recovery. If I do say so myself, watching Sam’s over-exaggerated facial expressions and incomparable one-liners take on the world of sobriety is one of my favorite ways to spend a Friday night when new episodes are released on Hulu. – Carly Quast

“The Batman”: Admittedly, I am more of a Marvel girl, but I couldn’t miss out on this new era of Robert Pattinson as the beloved and brooding Batman. With the suspenseful score, smudged eyeliner and gloomy setting of Gotham, it’s no surprise that fans are calling Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne the “most emo” Batman yet. If that alone isn’t enough to convince you to see the film, Zoë Kravitz’s performance as Catwoman should do the trick. Her phenomenal fight scenes and captivating chemistry with Pattinson exceeded all expectations. I was honestly a bit frightened by the movie’s nearly three-hour runtime, but the fast-paced film noir seemed to fly by and left me longing for a rewatch. – Sarah Horner

Rewind Vintage: If you’ve ever marveled at the earrings of campus cool folks, desperately wanting to become them, have I got a shop for you. They might have found their earrings at Rewind, and you can too! The store features walls and displays chock-full of locally made, weird and wonderful accessories, along with an assortment of constantly rotating vintage clothing finds. It’s nestled on a cozy stretch of Johnson Street in Northeast Minneapolis, between a yummy coffee shop, brunch spots galore and several other quirky small businesses to wander aimlessly through. Some of my recent favorite finds are a hand-embroidered grandma cardigan, fabric hair clips that look like various fruits and a pair of enamel earrings showing No-Face (of Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away”) holding a little umbrella. Check them out; shopping locally is always a good idea! – Bel Moran

“Freaky Deaky” by Tyga & Doja Cat: This past week, I had Tyga and Doja Cat’s new fun and upbeat song, “Freaky Deaky,” on repeat. Along with the song, a video was released where both Tyga and Doja Cat showcase their sensual style. Both artists showed off their pen game. Since both Tyga and Doja Cat write their own lyrics, their delivery of flirty dialogue was more believable and enjoyable. Throughout the song, the beat mostly stays consistent, with a catchy electric guitar and background vocals from Doja Cat. – Harry Madden

Okay Gophers, one more week of midterm exams and projects and essays and then we’re finally free from responsibilities – for five days. Take some of our weekly favorites and implement them into your spring break or show-binging plans.

“Legend of Korra:” After a week-long binge of “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” I couldn’t help myself from diving into “Legend of Korra.” Set 70 years after its parent series, the Nickelodeon show is based in an early civilization where some people have the ability to manipulate the elements while others don’t. In every generation, there is the Avatar born with the ability to manipulate each individual element, visit the spirit realm and be tasked with the challenge of keeping peace among all people. Korra, this generation’s overconfident and witty Avatar, evades multiple disastrous events over the course of the show’s four seasons. Whether it be 15-feet-tall dark spirits threatening to take over the South Pole or a masked vigilante with the capability to remove a person’s ability to manipulate the elements, Korra, alongside her friends and family members, work together to jump every hurdle thrown their way – one way or another. – Carly Quast

“Inventing Anna:” This Netflix special series follows journalist Vivian Kent as she uncovers a groundbreaking story about one of New York City’s hottest and fakest socialites. Inspired by the true investigation by New York Magazine’s Jessica Pressler that documented Anna Sorokin’s rise and fall through New York society – and all the scams she had to perform to get herself there – the show is pure, post-capitalistic pleasure. – Nina Raemont

Merge Mansion: After viewing multiple ads for the game on TikTok, I was convinced to download Merge Mansion over the weekend, and I have not been able to put my phone down. The game follows a young woman and all the secrets that her grandma is keeping at her old mansion. In order to unlock these secrets, you must play a puzzle to create various tools and items. Not only will wanting to solve the mystery keep you motivated, the satisfying movement of the puzzle will as well. It’s a relaxing puzzle game to lose track of time with. – Harry Madden

“Transcendent Kingdom” by Yaa Gyasi: An impactful story is one that burrows into my brain and changes the way I think. Yaa Gyasi’s second novel “Transcendent Kingdom” did just that. Themes of immigration, family, depression, addiction and religion all converge to create the truly transcendent experience that is this novel. The reader goes on a contemplative journey with Gifty, the main character, whose brother passed away from an overdose when she was young. Now, as a doctoral student, Gifty attempts to explain her brother’s addiction and her mother’s depression through science, but in doing so, realizes that human behavior is not that simple. Although I read this book in an embarrassingly short time, it will stick with me for years to come. – Sarah Horner

“The Anthropocene Reviewed” by John Green: Romanticizing your daily life may be a trend right now, but writers have been doing it for centuries. Lately, I’ve been doing it along with well-loved YA fiction writer John Green in his podcast series (turned non-fiction novel) in which Green examines relatively random and obscure elements of human life and rates them on a five-star scale. Some of my favorite episodes include “Capacity for Wonder and Sunsets” and a special covering a species of Ginkgo tree. Each one holds a lovely amount of research and care for the subject at hand, no matter how mundane. Whether he’s talking about Halley’s Comet, chemo or hot dog stands, Green lovingly demonstrates what it means to be human. – Bel Moran

Read up on all that the Minnesota Daily A&E writers are loving this week.

Disney+ Session: There is little that a marathon of late ‘90s and early 2000s Disney movies can’t fix — and that includes Minnesota’s never-ending February gloom. After finishing four homework assignments and an eight page outline for an upcoming essay this week, I was in need of a pick-me-up that went further than a single two-hour movie. And that turned out to be watching four two-hour movies in a row. After buttering some slightly burnt popcorn and closing the blinds to hide the pale gray haze hovering over Dinkytown, turning on “Hercules,” “Monsters Inc.”, “The Parent Trap” and “Cruella” let me breathe a breath of fresh air in Disney’s all too familiar world of cinema. If you’re looking for a change from the gloom and doom of the winter flurry’s I highly recommend letting your mind escape into the world of Disney+. – Carly Quast

Experimenting with makeup: One of the many mundane routines I lost to the pandemic was the ritual of slapping glitter and fluorescent eyeliner on my face before running errands or going to get coffee with a friend. This semester, as I’ve become more adjusted to going to in-person class and wandering around campus, I’m trying to get back into makeup as a hobby. After placing a large ColourPop order that would have made middle school me cry tears of joy, I’m starting to enjoy my little morning routine more than usual. This week, I’ve sported hot pink shadow, canary yellow eyeliner and cherry red mascara (on different days, of course). Is there anything that used to make you happy before 2020 hit that you could pick up again? Try it out. You might find that you have a newfound appreciation for it now. – Bel Moran

Mia’s “Supernatural America” exhibit: Every time I visit The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), I am in awe of the stunning art we have available for free in our city. There’s nothing quite as therapeutic as strolling slowly through rooms of gold-framed paintings from hundreds of years ago or fascinating artifacts from every continent. Plus, the museum is always adding art to its collection, meaning there is sure to be something new every time you visit. The current paid exhibit “Supernatural America” really struck my fancy with its gothic-inspired paintings and unsettling shrines for spirits. Room G330 is also a classic and probably my favorite room in the whole museum — the high ceilings and massive religious paintings make it easy to get lost in. – Sarah Horner

Breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks: I love the breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks, and before you call me basic, just know that I do not care. The first food item that pops into my mind the morning after a night out is the double smoked bacon sandwich that Starbucks offers. If they happen to be out of this, I usually turn to the turkey bacon, cheddar and egg white sandwich. Not only do the sandwiches come out just at the right toasted temperature, they also come in perfect serving sizes. The sandwich is life-changing, full stop. – Harry Madden

Read up on all the things Minnesota Daily’s A&E writers are loving this week.

New music galore: I’ve been in what I like to call a February funk. Between these gray days and dilapidated weather patterns, it’s difficult to find something to look forward to. I find that new music helps to shake monotony up a bit — and these past few weeks have been full of it. Big Thief and Alt-J released albums this past Friday. Mitski released “Laurel Hell” at the beginning of the month. Animal Collective came back from their hiatus to give us some new sounds. And Amber Mark, known for her cool, bossa nova sound came out with another album right as January ended. Find something new to listen to this month. I promise it’ll help you get through the haze that is February. – Nina Raemont

“Kimi”: Yes, I may be addicted to thriller and suspenseful movies right now, but can you blame me? Being stuck in Minnesota’s freezing February temperatures, the only adventures I’ve been able to be a part of recently have happened on my TV — and HBO Max’s new futuristic thriller “Kimi” has been my most recent obsession. Starring Zoë Kravitz, the movie focuses on Angela Childs, a woman afraid to go outside of her apartment who works for a company that has created the newest voice-activated recognition system, similar to Siri, called Kimi. Childs, played by Kravitz, acts as a behind-the-scenes listener, someone who updates Kimi’s programming live in-time. After hearing what she believes to be an assault caught on Kimi audio, Childs tries to get help from higher-ups at the company, only to be turned away and told that she should leave it alone. When Childs decides to take matters into her own hands, events take a dark turn and lead down an unexpectedly dangerous path in order to find the truth. If you’re in need for a good adventure or if you have a not-so-secret crush on Kravitz, “Kimi” is a must watch. – Carly Quast

“Pokémon Legends: Arceus” on Switch: If you’re into the whole “healing your inner child” thing and if your childhood was anything like mine — filled with Pokémon cards in shiny plastic binders and playing every generation’s game as soon as your older sibling finished it — you should play “Arceus.” Though the game isn’t perfect, it’s everything tiny me imagined when playing Pokémon Red past bedtime under a flashlight, Diamond on a chunky, hand-me-down original DS or literally any of the franchises’ games since. I haven’t been this giddy about a game since I was that young. Try childlike wonder again and play this. – Bel Moran

“Wordle”: Although I might be a little late to the trend, the new game, Wordle, has been what I look forward to each day. Essentially, a new five-letter word is selected each day for users to guess. After you guess a word, you will receive your results, stating whether or not the letters are correct and if they were placed in the correct spot. For each day, you have six attempts to figure out the correct word. You can share your results with friends and family over text with a censored results screen that does not give away which letters were used. Because of this sharing feature, I have been competing with my family every day. If you want a nice break in your busy day with a fun puzzle, start playing Wordle. – Harry Madden

“Old News” by Alix Page: Ever since opening for Gracie Abrams at her sold out 7th Street Entry show, Alix Page has made me a superfan. The 19-year-old singer-songwriter performed a set of catchy and melancholy songs inspired by breakups, dreams and Frank Ocean. Her short but promising debut EP, “Old News,” was released just in time for joining Abrams on tour at the end of January. Page’s stunning vocal performance mixed with the relatable content of her lyrics made her an excellent predecessor to Abrams’ dreamy pop performance in the cozy, intimate venue. – Sarah Horner