The holiday season is officially making its way to the University of Minnesota, marked by the return of the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte at Starbucks and snowfall.

Lee Carter, the co-owner and beverage director of Five Watt Coffee in Marcy-Holmes, shared his extensive knowledge of the process of making holiday-themed coffee drinks at home.

Five Watt Coffee has four locations in the Twin Cities, including one on East Hennepin Avenue near Marcy-Holmes.

Most of the drinks at Five Watt are made with espresso, milk and a sweet base, usually in the form of syrups, according to Carter.

Choose one flavor and build
Carter recommends starting simple with flavors and building from there.

“I start with one idea or one ingredient and kind of go from there,” Carter said. “I find that when I start with too many ideas at once, it’s hard to tell where it is that something needs to be fixed. I’ll usually just build little by little.”

Figure out where you can extract the flavor from
Those setting out to make syrups can take inspiration from and experiment with almost anything to make syrups, according to Carter.

“Anything can be an inspiration really. It kind of just comes down to one idea that can spark the journey,” Carter said.

Carter created much of the Five Watt menu beverages using cocktail bitters as an ingredient.

“Whatever you want to turn into a syrup, you can really try anything,” Carter said.

For minty holiday drinks, Carter suggests tea as an easy source for flavor.

“Historically, I’ve always really liked using tea to make the mint syrup base. Again with tea, there are so many mint teas that you can find, and you can have something really interesting,” Carter said.

Buy the right sugar
Carter recommends finding the right sugar for what you are trying to create based on its flavor profile and how that fits in with other surrounding flavors.

“There’s a lot of different sugars in the world that you could choose from and different sugars carry different flavor profiles,” Carter said.

Granulated cane sugar is a transparent sweetener, whereas brown sugar and sugar in the raw both have more depth to them because of the molasses in them, according to Carter.

“We use cane sugar in our vanilla, and the reason that I chose that sugar is that I wanted the vanilla to come through and be really clear in its flavor profile,” Carter said. “Molasses, especially on its own, has a really harsh deep, earthy, tangy flavor, which is not bad, but with vanilla, for example, I want more of that clear vanilla flavor to come through.”

Cooking the syrup
Carter explained the process he goes through to make syrups:

1. Carter recommends starting with equal parts sugar and water by volume. “Let’s just say a cup to the top full of sugar and a cup to the top full of water,” Carter said.
2. Put the sugar water in a pot and heat it until the sugar fully dissolves.
3. After the sugar dissolves, but before the water begins to boil, add the flavor (mint tea, nutmeg, etc.)
4. Boil for ten minutes and then turn down to a low simmer. The cooking reduces the amount of water left in the syrup and determines the thickness of the final product. “I’ll let it reduce about 30% of the water volume,” Carter said.
5. After the syrup reaches a favorable consistency, strain it, refrigerate it and enjoy it in coffee beverages for two weeks.

“I usually try to encourage people to make smaller amounts too. If you make a ton of syrup, you might need to be drinking a ton of coffee to use it all within those two weeks,” Carter said.

Enjoy going down that rabbit hole
Carter’s last piece of advice is to not only have a good time while creating syrups for coffee beverages but to chase that creative itch.

“Just have fun and get creative,” Carter said. “It’s definitely fun to go down the rabbit hole of different ideas and different flavors. Again, I’d say keep it simple to a degree, but there’s a lot of room to play within that.”

Moos Tower, the tallest building on campus, ranks among the least visually appealing buildings at the University of Minnesota.

Along with its 17 floors, 853-foot height and local fame, come the opinions of all who gaze upon it. No matter the preconceptions some have about the building’s appearance, its origin story offers a glimpse into 1970s University politics.

The Architects Collaborative, a well-known architectural firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, designed and built the concrete tower in the early ‘70s. The University named it after Malcolm Moos, a political scientist who served as the University’s president from 1967 to 1974.

The building represents a design style called brutalism. Tom Fisher, a University professor of architecture, said during their peak popularity at the time, designers created brutalist buildings to purposefully stand out among cityscapes. Architects who used a brutalist approach believed materials should be showcased as they are, without decorative alterations.

Fisher explained the appeal of brutalism during the ‘60s and early ‘70s as a response to civil rights protests and the outbreak of anti-Vietnam War protests, including the University’s famous anti-war student demonstrations of May 1972.

“There was a lot of a sense that cities were dangerous places, and I think brutalism had this kind of fortress-like quality to it, and certainly, Moos Tower had that aspect to it,” Fisher said. “When people think of Moos Tower as almost like a castle or something that’s very stark and foreboding, it very much captured the sentiment of the people in that early 1970s period.”

Brutalism also catered to the desire for flexibility by healthcare systems, according to Fisher, who pointed out that some of the interior walls of Moos Tower can be moved around.

“Even though the buildings were frequently concrete and somewhat fixed in character, there was also this interest in flexibility around changes going on in the healthcare world,” Fisher said. “We didn’t know what the needs of medicine would be in decades to come.”

Moos Tower was originally planned to extend all the way to Harvard Street, but this idea was shot down because it required the University to tear down Grace Lutheran Church, according to Fisher.

Elmer Andersen, a former Minnesota governor and University regent at the time, got married in Grace Lutheran and had a strong objection to its demolition, according to Fisher.

“Grace Lutheran Church still sits there because Elmer Anderson, a very well respected former governor who was on the Board of Regents, said you can’t tear that building down,” Fisher said.

Moos Tower functions well, not only as a medical hub but as a lesson about brutalism and the University’s history, according to Fisher.

“We might look at it now and think it’s really ugly and that it doesn’t really fit in with anything around it, and that’s all true, but I do think that it has worked well,” Fisher said. “It was a reflection of its time. I don’t think we will do many buildings like that in the future, but we have it, it works and it’s a landmark.”

The marching band returned to Northrop for their 61st annual marching band indoor concert, which included an evening concert on Saturday and a Sunday matinee.

Although the concert series occurs every year, the process behind converting the outdoor music act for an indoor venue remains an act of ingenuity.

Kristen Brogdon, Northrop’s director of programing, said the concerts are a compilation of the band’s favorite songs from the year.

“The marching band has a different halftime show for every single game that they do, and it’s an amazing amount of music,” Brogdon said. “When they do their indoor concerts, they select their favorites and the fan favorites from all those halftime shows.”

Betsy McCann, one of the marching band’s two directors, described the concerts as a different way to experience the band and their music.

“They are a great way to see the band up close,” McCann said. “Most of our fans see us at football games, and it’s fun, and it’s obviously part of being a marching band because we’re doing all of the marching out on the field, but the audience is so far removed from us that they don’t get a very good sense of who we are.”

In addition to the full band’s performances, audience members also experienced watching the color guard and drumline perform special feature songs, according to McCann.

When performing indoors, the band’s musicians are able to create more of a dynamic performance by using volume in ways they cannot on the field.

“Out on the football field, you can hear instruments that are naturally louder better, and naturally quieter instruments are harder to hear, but when we’re inside, you can actually hear all the instruments much better,” McCann said.

Nathaniel Nelson, a third-year alto saxophone player in the marching band, said the concerts are more engaging than they may appear at first glance.

“I think it’s more interesting than you think it would be to have a marching band marching through the aisles and stuff,” Nelson said. “We are different from a concert band because there’s more going on on stage.”

Nelson and McCann said these concerts are the only performances they have where the band is central to the event.

“It’s great for us to have something that is really truly ours. We love playing at the football games, and we love being a part of that atmosphere, but we know that the crowd is, for the most part, there for football,” McCann said.

Nelson said the indoor concert is one of his favorite marching band events.

“Northrop is big, and it’s usually pretty full,” Nelson said. “It means a lot that so many people are coming to see the band.”

College students love procrastinating, and Halloween is no exception. A&E reached out to University of Minnesota design students and local Halloween enthusiasts to get some inspiration for last-minute Halloween costumes.

Picking the Character or Idea

Claire Looker, a fourth-year student majoring in theater arts with a focus on costume design, recommends starting the process by looking at what you already have.

“If you’re kind of scrambling and it’s last minute, I think starting from your closet is a great way to do it,” Looker said.

Toni Anthony, a third-year apparel design student, said she usually brainstorms ideas by looking for inspiration in the movies and TV shows she has enjoyed throughout the year.

Anthony also described it as an opportunity to venture out in one’s fashion tastes.

“I take Halloween as an excuse to go out of my comfort zone and just wear something that I would love to wear on a regular basis but just never had the confidence to do,” Anthony said.

Grace Rubas, a third-year graphic design student with an apparel design minor, recommends looking to social media for inspiration.

“I’d look at Pinterest, and you don’t have to limit yourself to searching for Halloween costumes,” Rubas said. “Sometimes I’ll look at fashion and other things in the media. Just think of things that interest you and go from there.”

Figuring out character or idea replication

Sarah McKee, a Minneapolis real-estate agent and self-proclaimed Halloween enthusiast, said social media can be a great source of inspiration.

“Scrolling Instagram, scrolling TikTok, seeing what other people are doing, especially once I already have an idea,” McKee said. “It’s nice to see how other people have executed it and kind of pull together different inspiration from people who’ve done similar things.”

Creating the costume

Mckee said she likes thrifting or using clothing rental services for Halloween costumes.

“I really like to be able to use real clothes rather than pre-bought costumes because they just tend to be cheap-looking and uncomfortable and ill-fitting,” Mckee said. “I’ve used Rent the Runway for several costumes, and obviously, secondhand clothes are really great for this.”

Serita Colette, a Minneapolis-based yoga teacher and business consultant with a love for Halloween costume-making, starts by looking at materials and online tutorials.

“What materials do I have that I can repurpose?” Colette said. “I do like YouTube for easy access. Like, if you want to make a cape, when you type in ‘how to make a cape,’ there’s going to be like 10 different videos.”

Mckee and Collette are pretty crafty in costume creation, using tools like hot glue, fabrics and puff paint, but everyone can choose their own level of effort and difficulty.

“If you want to keep it simple, cool. It doesn’t have to be mind-boggling and difficult,” Colette said.

The less-crafty Halloween costume procrastinators should focus on picking out prominent details of a character to include and worry less about the rest of the costume. Find the most obvious aspect of that costume, then work from there.

“Let yourself be okay with trial and error or making mistakes. I always make mistakes with my Halloween costumes. I see it as an opportunity to learn how to do it differently,” Collette said. “Have fun with it. Halloween is supposed to be a fun time.”

Horror movies are a Halloween must for many cinephiles, but playing Netflix roulette can be a dangerous game. Luckily, there is no shortage of movie experts on the University of Minnesota’s campus to ask for recommendations.

Eight faculty members and students from the studies in cinema and media culture (SCMC) department shared their top horror recommendations and why they love them.

“Get Out” (2017) dir. Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele’s directorial debut stars Daniel Kaluuya in his breakout role, playing a Black man visiting his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time. Social comedy soon descends into bloody horror in this treatise on racism in America.

Senior lecturer Michelle Lekas and associate professor Maggie Hennefeld both highlighted this film as being one of their top horror film picks.

“I tend to love films that intermingle genres, especially comedic satire and body horror, and I think the ‘Get Out,’ ‘Us,’ ‘Nope’ trilogy does that nicely,” Hennefeld said of Peele’s three movies.

“It’s just fabulous,” Lekas said. “I’d recommend that everyone watch ‘Get Out’ if they haven’t yet.”

“Pearl” (2022) dir. Ti West

This recent release tells the origin story of the villain from another 2022 previous Ti West movie titled “X.” and gives the audiences a look at the titular character’s childhood life on a farm as she yearns for stardom and a more glamorous life.

Lekas recommended it saying, “I think it’s amazing. I like cinema about cinema, and ‘Pearl’ really does kind of go back to ‘50s color and construction.”

“Shaun of the Dead” (2004) dir. Edgar Wright

A great option for those who aren’t fond of horror movies but want to get in the holiday spirit. This British comedic horror movie follows the antics of a lazy bloke whose life is upended by a zombie apocalypse.

Robbie Wichterman, a third-year student studying in SCMC loves the way “Shaun of the Dead” uses suspense in a comedic, not horrific, manner.

“There is a lot of dramatic irony suspense, but there are no jump scares or anything like that,” Witcherman said.

“Don’t Look Now” (1973) dir. Nicolas Roeg

This thriller follows a couple grappling with the recent death of their young child as they take a trip to Venice, Italy.

Brad Stiffler, a SCMC lecturer, said this is one of his favorite horror films because of the way it turns experiences and environments that are not traditionally scary into ones that evoke fear.

“‘Don’t Look Now’ is about grief and tragedy, but in a way that turns it into an experience of dread and fear,” Stiffler said. “And, it’s about Americans in Venice, and it sort of turns beautiful Renaissance era architecture and the scenery of Venice into a frightening atmosphere.
Mulholland Drive (2001) dir. David Lynch

For those who do not like horror films, lecturer Cory Stockwell can relate. That’s why he recommended “Mulholland Drive,” which is more of an eerie drama.

An aspiring actress befriends an amnesiac and tries to help her figure out her identity in this sprawling and complex cinephile favorite.

“It is about two characters that seem to be falling in love with each other and who are constantly being mistaken for each other,” Stockwell said. “That is kind of eerie in itself if you’ve got a sort of double.”

“The Unknown” (1927) dir. Tod Browning

Hennefeld’s interests lie mainly in silent film, and her favorite horror film of all time exemplifies this passion.

“It’s absolutely ingenious,” Henefeld said.

The silent film follows a woman with a hand-phobia who falls in love with an armless knife thrower from the circus. From there, the plot only gets zanier as hidden identities unravel.

“Cinema had really figured out what it was doing, as a storyteller but also as a form of visual art,” Henefeld said of 1920s cinema as an entire medium.

“Hereditary” (2018) dir. Ari Aster

Hereditary consists of a family of four disintegrates in this instant classic that confronts the supernatural after a matriarch’s death.

Allison Macioch, a third-year student studying SCMC, said this is her favorite horror film because it continually interests her no matter the number of times she has seen it.

“I think it is such a layered film. There are so many theories about what the film means, and I find that so interesting,” Macioch said. “Every time I watch it, I find something new.”

“The Thing” (1982) dir. John Carpenter

A research crew isolated in Antarctica comes into contact with a violent and amorphous being in this creature horror.

“It’s a terrifying film, and it’s really well made,” SCMC lecturer James Snapko said. “Conventional horror films aren’t scary, but they’re entertaining and kind of a safer watch. I would say ‘The Thing’ pushes that a bit more.”

“Rose Red” (2002) dir. Craig Baxley

A group of psychics investigates a haunted mansion in this Stephen King horror miniseries.
Maansi Bhakta, a fifth-year journalism student with a SCMC minor, said this is one of her favorite horror movies because it is nostalgic in how scary it is.

“It spooked me when I was a kid, and I literally didn’t want to watch it, but years later, I think back and I’m like, wait, it’s really good,” Bhakta said. “It’s really creepy and eerie, and they are really good at jumpscares.”

Horror movies are a Halloween must for many cinephiles, but playing Netflix roulette can be a dangerous game. Luckily, there is no shortage of movie experts on the University of Minnesota’s campus to ask for recommendations.

Eight faculty members and students from the studies in cinema and media culture (SCMC) department shared their top horror recommendations and why they love them.

“Get Out” (2017) dir. Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele’s directorial debut stars Daniel Kaluuya in his breakout role, playing a Black man visiting his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time. Social comedy soon descends into bloody horror in this treatise on racism in America.

Senior lecturer Michelle Lekas and associate professor Maggie Hennefeld both highlighted this film as being one of their top horror film picks.

“I tend to love films that intermingle genres, especially comedic satire and body horror, and I think the ‘Get Out,’ ‘Us,’ ‘Nope’ trilogy does that nicely,” Hennefeld said of Peele’s three movies.

“It’s just fabulous,” Lekas said. “I’d recommend that everyone watch ‘Get Out’ if they haven’t yet.”

“Pearl” (2022) dir. Ti West

This recent release tells the origin story of the villain from another 2022 previous Ti West movie titled “X.” and gives the audiences a look at the titular character’s childhood life on a farm as she yearns for stardom and a more glamorous life.

Lekas recommended it saying, “I think it’s amazing. I like cinema about cinema, and ‘Pearl’ really does kind of go back to ‘50s color and construction.”

“Shaun of the Dead” (2004) dir. Edgar Wright

A great option for those who aren’t fond of horror movies but want to get in the holiday spirit. This British comedic horror movie follows the antics of a lazy bloke whose life is upended by a zombie apocalypse.

Robbie Wichterman, a third-year student studying in SCMC loves the way “Shaun of the Dead” uses suspense in a comedic, not horrific, manner.

“There is a lot of dramatic irony suspense, but there are no jump scares or anything like that,” Witcherman said.

“Don’t Look Now” (1973) dir. Nicolas Roeg

This thriller follows a couple grappling with the recent death of their young child as they take a trip to Venice, Italy.

Brad Stiffler, a SCMC lecturer, said this is one of his favorite horror films because of the way it turns experiences and environments that are not traditionally scary into ones that evoke fear.

“‘Don’t Look Now’ is about grief and tragedy, but in a way that turns it into an experience of dread and fear,” Stiffler said. “And, it’s about Americans in Venice, and it sort of turns beautiful Renaissance era architecture and the scenery of Venice into a frightening atmosphere.
Mulholland Drive (2001) dir. David Lynch

For those who do not like horror films, lecturer Cory Stockwell can relate. That’s why he recommended “Mulholland Drive,” which is more of an eerie drama.

An aspiring actress befriends an amnesiac and tries to help her figure out her identity in this sprawling and complex cinephile favorite.

“It is about two characters that seem to be falling in love with each other and who are constantly being mistaken for each other,” Stockwell said. “That is kind of eerie in itself if you’ve got a sort of double.”

“The Unknown” (1927) dir. Tod Browning

Hennefeld’s interests lie mainly in silent film, and her favorite horror film of all time exemplifies this passion.

“It’s absolutely ingenious,” Henefeld said.

The silent film follows a woman with a hand-phobia who falls in love with an armless knife thrower from the circus. From there, the plot only gets zanier as hidden identities unravel.

“Cinema had really figured out what it was doing, as a storyteller but also as a form of visual art,” Henefeld said of 1920s cinema as an entire medium.

“Hereditary” (2018) dir. Ari Aster

Hereditary consists of a family of four disintegrates in this instant classic that confronts the supernatural after a matriarch’s death.

Allison Macioch, a third-year student studying SCMC, said this is her favorite horror film because it continually interests her no matter the number of times she has seen it.

“I think it is such a layered film. There are so many theories about what the film means, and I find that so interesting,” Macioch said. “Every time I watch it, I find something new.”

“The Thing” (1982) dir. John Carpenter

A research crew isolated in Antarctica comes into contact with a violent and amorphous being in this creature horror.

“It’s a terrifying film, and it’s really well made,” SCMC lecturer James Snapko said. “Conventional horror films aren’t scary, but they’re entertaining and kind of a safer watch. I would say ‘The Thing’ pushes that a bit more.”

“Rose Red” (2002) dir. Craig Baxley

A group of psychics investigates a haunted mansion in this Stephen King horror miniseries.
Maansi Bhakta, a fifth-year journalism student with a SCMC minor, said this is one of her favorite horror movies because it is nostalgic in how scary it is.

“It spooked me when I was a kid, and I literally didn’t want to watch it, but years later, I think back and I’m like, wait, it’s really good,” Bhakta said. “It’s really creepy and eerie, and they are really good at jumpscares.”

After 14 years of hard work, Yejotework “Jote” Mulat opened Café Jote, an Ethiopian coffee shop, in August. Since then, the new West Bank coffee shop has found its footing as a student favorite and an authentic Ethiopian experience.

Mulat, 43, lived in Ethiopia for most of her life but now lives in Cedar-Riverside after moving there in 2008.

During her first 14 years in Minneapolis, Mulat said she worked full-time as a room attendant at the Hilton Hotel. Including her part-time gigs at Dilla’s, the Red Sea and Ras Ethiopian Restaurant, Mulat said she averaged about 70 hours of work per week.

Mulat said she always knew she wanted to open an Ethiopian café in this community.

“I was always dreaming and always saving,” Mulat said.

Mulat studied the area and saw a need in the community for another place to eat breakfast, and she wanted to fill that need, according to her husband Abreham Tola.

“After 11 a.m. there are many regular restaurants open here, but early in the morning for breakfast, it’s only Hard Times Cafe,” Tola said.

Lydia Hester, a third-year student studying political science and global studies, said she was glad to see a new coffee shop on West Bank.

“It’s really nice to have another coffee option because there are less on West Bank,” Hester said. “It’s just across the street from Hubert Humphrey, so I walk by it almost every day.”

Hester said she recommends this place to students in the area because of its location and environment.

“It was such a great place to study,” Hester said. “I definitely recommend the café to anyone who has a lot of classes on West Bank because it’s so close and it’s definitely a good option for coffee or anything else.”

The menu Mulat created offers Ethiopian breakfast cuisine and a variety of classic coffee beverages like lattes and cappuccinos. The menu highlights three main Ethiopian dishes: chechebsa, kinche and fuul. These dishes include options for those on vegan and gluten free diets.

Beyond the food, Café Jote offers a glance into Ethiopian culture through the jebena coffee pot. This coffee ceremony, practiced often in Ethiopia, displays how central coffee is to Ethiopian social life.

Mulat said in Ethiopia, people would have coffee with different neighbors and friends multiple times throughout each day.

The jebena coffee order comes as strong black coffee in a special pot with small decorative cups for two people alongside some burning incense, similar to how coffee is served in Ethiopia. Customers who order jebena can expect a slower and more social experience than the typical coffee trip of a student on the go.

“I want everyone to come in, and I want people to love Ethiopian coffee and the culture,” Mulat said.

Itcel Solana, an Afro Deli employee who works next door, said she has been a frequent customer there since it opened and commends Mulat.

“I think she’s a really nice woman, and she especially gives a lot to the homeless and people in need. She is just the sweetest owner and barista,” Solana said.

Mulat said so far, the progress within her business has been good and the community has been encouraging.

“I want people to come and see beautiful things and to relax,” Mulat said. “I want people to leave feeling fresh and happy. That is what makes me happy.”

King Princess, born Mikaela Mullaney Straus, drew an energetic audience on Oct. 15 at the Palace Theater after not having performed in Minnesota for two years.

Halfway through the show, she acknowledged the absence and expressed some surprise saying, “I’ve been gone for two years, and I didn’t know if you guys were gonna show the fuck up for me, but you did. And, I’m not going anywhere ever again.”

King Princess’ newest album, “Hold On Baby,” held a solemnity that contrasts her previous releases. Her new introspective lyrics dive into some complex feelings.

King Princess arrived in her classic androgynous fashion. She wore a “69% Angel” ribbed white tank top layered over a sparkly mesh tank top, paired with baggy patterned jeans, a bandana on her head and sneakers.

The concert-goers were dressed in a diverse array of styles, but nearly everyone wore their Doc Martens. As with most indie concerts, that shoe choice did not surprise … I wore mine too.

Everyone in the audience was ecstatic, jumping and screaming. Her first few songs were highly engaging, with her sensuous voice, frequent interactions with the fans in the front rows and excellent ability to visually and vocally portray the emotion in her songs.

King Princess played her way through all of “Hold on Baby” along with several songs from her album “Cheap Queen” and her single “1950.” Her voice skillfully jumped between the smooth soulful tones of “Winter is Hopeful” and “I Hate Myself I Wanna Party” and the more edgy, strained songs like “Little Bother” and “Dotted Lines.”

Early on, King Princess took a break in between songs to address the crowd for the first time, affirming the night’s already carefree and lively atmosphere.

“What’s up? Are you guys ready to party?” she said. “I want you guys to have the best fucking time.”

Just as she described it, King Princess’s show felt less like a performance and more like a party she all invited us to. It was all so interactive. We laughed, we cried a number of times, we sweat, we danced and we had many epiphanies.

To reinforce this, King Princess made herself one with the crowd by getting off the stage and performing among the front row of fans during her song “Change the Locks.” She later conversed with and dedicated her song “Talia” to a fan in the front row.

Her authenticity is and has always been a key aspect to her music and concert presence, and it really shined through Saturday.

King Princess prided herself as a “dirty little bottom” before performing “Hit the Back.” She dedicated her song “Dotted Lines” to those who have also had someone tell them to change. She made fans feel like they knew who she was and like they could be themselves in her audience because of it.

King Princess offered her fans more than just the opportunity to listen to good music; she offered them the chance to get to know and to party with their favorite performer.

The last track of her new album, “Let us Die,” brought the show to a close, and King Princess made for an emotional departure.

One can only hope King Princess keeps that promise and performs here again soon.

As the cold weather approaches and the winter blues set in, plants can be great mood-boosters or vibrant pieces of decor for those who miss the greenery.

For those without a green thumb, keeping plants alive can be a struggle. There’s nothing worse than coming home to a droopy brown pile of leaves in a pot and having no idea how it got that way.

University of Minnesota and community plant experts offered advice that applies to plant owners at any level of expertise.

Picking the plant

Laura Irish, a University propagation lab instructor, recommends beginning by researching what plants would fit best in the space you are buying it for.

“I would definitely try your hardest not to whim-buy plants,” Irish said. “You want to look at the space you’re going to put a plant in, and it is really going to come down to light and temperature and air flow.”

Irish added that students who live in dorms often have lower levels of light coming in and less air flow.

“For those types of situations, I usually recommend starting with a pothos. That’s a really good one for people getting started in owning plants,” Irish said.

Julie Weisenhorn, a University horticulture extension educator, enjoys growing sansevierias, otherwise known as snake plants.

“I think they are really easy plants to grow, and they don’t have a lot of pests,” Weisenhorn said. “They grow in low light, and they come in all sorts of forms and colors now.”

Vaughan Johnson is a third-year University student majoring in landscape architecture with a minor in horticulture.

“Sansevieria, cacti, pothos vines and tradescantia are some basic ones. They require little attention and provide great color and texture to a space,” Johnson said.

Succulents, a prevalent option among students, spurred some disagreement among the experts. Johnson and Irish both warned against them saying most students do not have spaces with enough light for them to grow properly, and people tend to overwater them.

Weisenhorn offered a different take: “Succulents can be a great option for beginners. You barely have to water them, and when you think they need to be watered, you can just feel them, and if they are soft and squishy, they are lacking water.”

Weisenhorn specifically recommended haworthias and Christmas cactuses for beginners looking to own succulents.

Buying the plant

Plants can be found at both big box stores, like Home Depot, or at a variety of local garden centers.

“A lot of the people that own these garden centers are trained horticulturists, and you can ask them for advice. They grow really high-quality plants as well,” Irish said.

You can start the search by looking for plants without a lot of brown and yellow on them.

“When looking for a plant, you want to kind of tip it out of the container a bit to see what the roots look like. You want to make sure it is not super pot-bound,” Weisenhorn said. The term pot-bound describes roots that are tangled and circling around the pot so there’s no more space for them to grow.

Bringing the Plant Home

Weisenhorn warned against immediately putting new plants alongside other plants, in case the plant harbors pests that weren’t noticed at the store.

Experts urge plant-owners to think about light when placing the plant.

“For high-light plants, you don’t want to place them directly in the window, because this can actually burn your plants, but you can place them a few inches away from it,” Irish said.
Irish also noted that during winter, the cold temperatures can transfer easily to the plants if they are touching the windows, potentially harming them.

Caring for the plant

Weisenhorn advises plant-owners to learn where a plant is natively grown.

“People just read the tag, and that’s how they take care of them, and that’s a great place to start, but it is always fun looking into where their plant is a native plant and trying to simulate that environment in your house,” Weisenhorn said.

Overwatering is the leading cause of death in houseplants, according to Weisenhorn.

“Ideally, all your plants should be in a pot with at least one draining hole,” Weisenhorn said.

Watering, lighting, researching, it all can overwhelm a newbie. Irish urges young plant owners to both take risks and take it easy.

“Don’t be afraid to experiment,” Irish said. “Killing plants is okay. We all do it.”

Ever look at someone in Walter Library with headphones on and wonder, what are they listening to?

A&E set out to ten different study spots around campus to ask their hardworking peers just that question. Unsurprisingly, most said their study playlists curated a calmer vibe from the likes of Phoebe Bridgers or Joni Mitchell.

No matter if the listeners’ taste skewed more Taylor Swift or Kanye West, these 11 students shared not just their recs, but a bit about themselves too. Talking about one’s music taste means talking about one’s comforts or past too.

Here’s what they had to say.

Mikayla Hegrenes – Walter Library

Hegrenes is a fourth-year student, an English major and a Swiftie. “I like to listen to music that I know all the words to, so it doesn’t distract me. Currently, I’m listening to Taylor Swift. I am preparing for her new album,” Hegrenes said.

When working on English homework, she also listens to Joni Mitchell for motivation. “I’m just obsessed with her, and I think her words make me want to write.”

Anton Semenov – Moos Tower

Semenov, a third-year neuroscience major, said his music does not change between studying and leisurely listening.

“I like to listen to R&B, chill rap and hip-hop. I’ve been listening to a lot of NAV, Pop Smoke and Tory Lanez. It just comforts me,” Semenov said.

Liana Johnson and Nina Charlier – West Bank Plaza

Johnson and Charlier, two second-year dance majors, both said they rarely take up studying with books and note-taking anymore for their classes, but when they do, they have a music taste that is described as “lowkey.”

Johnson recommended the song “Autumn Nocturne” by Lou Donaldson. “It’s like an instrumental, really chilled out jazz situation. It’s the tap dancer in me coming out.”

Charlier likes the song “Rearrange Us” by Mt. Joy. “It’s good for studying because it’s very lowkey and kinda like background music.”

Julia Cincotta – Coffman Union

Cincotta is a senior majoring in health services management. When it’s time to hit the books, Cincotta goes for Lana Del Rey, Mac DeMarco and Kanye West.

“It’s kinda just what I always listen to. I guess Kanye isn’t really calm, but I usually try to listen to quieter, calmer music,” Cincotta said.

Owen Stephenson – Middlebrook Hall

Stephenson is a Middlebrook Hall community advisor majoring in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology. This College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS) third-year student loves indie music but was caught by A&E adventuring outside the genre.

“It’s whatever I’m feeling, but it’s usually indie vibes like Peach Pit or Sarah and the Sundays. Right now though, I’m listening to Kanye,” he said.

Cindy Hong – Caribou Coffee on Washington Avenue

Hong is a third-year student majoring in psychology. She listens to a wide range of music while she does her schoolwork.

“Usually I listen to rap songs, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande or Justin Bieber, but when I want to focus, I listen to lo-fi or piano music. It calms me down and helps me focus,” Hong said.

Kerrigan Harrelson – Wilson Library

Harrelson is a first-year biology student who said she developed her music taste while living in the South.

“I like country music, but that’s just me. I listen to Kane Brown. It helps me focus,” Harrelson said.

Meg Polance – Keller Hall

Polance is a second-year computer science student who listens to a jazz playlist while she studies because there are no words.

“It’s background music, it’s relaxing and it’s not too distracting, so I can still get my stuff done,” Polance said.

Josie Johnson – The Graduate Hotel

Johnson, a second-year industrial and systems engineering student, likes different types of music for different study situations.

“I definitely like more chill music most of the time like Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift, but when I’m really grinding, I listen to rap. On a night like tonight, I like to be a lot more relaxed, but fast, upbeat music gets me more in the zone, and it helps me focus,” she said.

Jason Zhao – Starbucks on Washington Avenue

Zhao is a first-year computer science student who likes to listen to music from all sorts of languages while studying.

“I listen to some French, some Japanese and some English. French music sounds peaceful, and I like English rap. Japanese is kind of like both,” Zhao said.

Zhao said it is all about setting the mood, adding that, “sometimes, when I listen to rap, it makes me work faster and respond quicker to things.”