The Netflix original series “Ginny and Georgia” caught my interest when a Taylor Swift tweet  flaming the show for its outdated joke about the songwriter went viral. When I noticed how popular the show had become, breaking Netflix records, I decided to join the bandwagon.

When young mother Georgia (Brianne Howey) moves to Massachusetts with her two children, the up-and-coming suburb is the perfect getaway. Her daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry), tired of moving from city to city, begins her new high school with no friends to speak of. As Ginny transforms from “quiet nobody” to “actually popular,” she faces the normal high school drivel. Her side of the story follows the familiar cliches of any teen drama: love triangles, school dances, and a  not-so-sweet sweet-sixteen. The formulaic teen soap is entirely average, up until Georgia enters the equation. Escaping a checkered past, Georgia is all too eager to begin a new life in Massachusetts. But when potentially criminal secrets begin to unearth themselves, Ginny and Georgia’s close relationship turns sour.

The main fault of “Ginny and Georgia” is that the show has no direction whatsoever. Georgia jokingly compares her relationship with Ginny to the “Gilmore Girls,” but unlike Ginny and Georgia, “Gilmore Girls” has a solid foundation. The show obviously mimics “Gilmore Girls” with its sharp cultural references and dialogue, but fails to capture the softer moments. Somehow, “Ginny and Georgia” attempts everything and accomplishes nothing. The show begins as the typical teen drama, becomes a dark, gritty “Euphoria”-esque show, then takes a jab at the murder mystery genre. If the characters were somewhat interesting, the show would be redeemable. Unfortunately, the characters are ridiculously cliche, almost to an amateur fanfiction degree. “Ginny and Georgia” uses some of the most outdated archetypes and dialogue I’ve ever seen in a teen drama. Some of the moments were so genuinely cringe-worthy, I had to turn my laptop off. Hot, loner boy climbs through the window of the girl next door to exchange witty repertoire — yikes.

With that being said, I understand why the show is so popular. As trashy as it is, “Ginny and Georgia” is self-indulgent and addicting and entirely aware of its effect. Although I won’t be watching the next season, I hope “Ginny and Georgia” finds a voice as the story progresses.

This spring, the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection (FHCC) launched its first online exhibition, a reflection on the tumultuous events of the past year. “2020: The Clothes We Wore and the Stories They Tell” recounts the experiences of the Drexel community during a year defined by social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic.

I reached out to Professor Clare Sauro, Director of the FHCC, to learn more about the process of putting together this community-based exhibition. According to Professor Sauro, the FHCC struggled to come up with a concept for its first digital exhibition.

“After the events of 2020,” Sauro recounted, “it was clear that a traditional fashion-focused exhibition would seem trivial and possibly offensive. We have always made the argument that the clothing we wear is deeply personal and more than just clothes — this was our opportunity to make that case in a public way.”

The objects in the exhibition are far from traditional — leggings, t-shirts, pajamas, and several masks, both purchased and handmade. Many of these objects represent the shift we made in our wardrobes as work, classes and social interactions moved online. Others reflect the significance of clothing and accessories as a means of engaging in political and social movements. Yet others reflect a longing for normalcy, objects from our pre-pandemic wardrobes that we continued to wear throughout quarantine.

This exhibition was a community-based endeavor, reliant on the generosity and enthusiasm of Drexel staff and students. An inspiration for the exhibition, according to Sauro, was the Victoria and Albert Museum’s “We Want Quant!” outreach campaign to support the exhibition on the British designer. The museum crowdsourced photographs and stories from women who had worn Mary Quant clothing.

Each of the objects in “2020: The Clothes We Wore and the Stories They Tell” was submitted with a brief comment by its owner explaining its significance. Sauro noted that “the logistics involved with borrowing the objects during a pandemic was an enormous challenge.” An additional challenge was that the FHCC relied on the Drexel community to select objects to appear in the exhibition and write the commentary on these objects.

“It was a humbling experience for someone who is accustomed to mounting exhibitions with little interference,” wrote Sauro.

The FHCC is currently planning its next exhibition, which will focus on 1920s fashion. The exhibition will be in-person with a companion version online, as will all FHCC exhibitions moving forward.

“The world has gotten smaller during the past year,” Sauro reflected, “and online content will be expected.”

This is true not just of the FHCC, but of museums and archives everywhere. While many larger museums had online exhibitions and collections prior to the pandemic, the pandemic has prompted smaller institutions to find ways to increase their online presence. Digital exhibitions and digitized collections may become the new normal in the post-pandemic world.

“The response to the exhibition has been favorable and we are very grateful for those who shared their 2020 stories with us,” Sauro wrote. “We have been asked what OUR objects are, and I now realize that, while I was being mindful of making room for other voices in the exhibition, we did not share anything ourselves. We will have to correct that!”

“2020: The Clothes We Wore and the Stories They Tell” can be viewed at https://theclotheswewore.com/.

Many of us live in ignorance. We think that our actions do not have consequences, that since we are one person, we don’t make a difference. That belief is not only wrong, but also dangerous. A plastic bottle here and there — it won’t matter right? Wrong.

On March 24, the film “Seaspiracy” was released on Netflix. This film directed by Ali Tabrizi and produced by Kip Anderson (who directed “Cowspiracy” and “What the Health”) shows the detrimental effects that our actions have on marine life and our oceans.

While the deaths-by-plastic of whales, dolphins and other marine species have been entering the mainstream media as of late, there are much bigger problems happening behind the scenes in the fish industry. This documentary brings those hidden issues to light.

“Seaspiracy” touches on a number of different issues, such as whaling, the decrease of endangered species, shark fin hunting, the downfall of the marine food chain, seabird population decline, bycatching and so much more. It is a documentary that is better watched than explained, as there is no string of words powerful enough to stress the importance of its message.

Tabrizi explains in detail that if the ocean suffers, we do as well. Sharks help maintain the ocean. If they are taken out of the equation by fin hunting, bycatching or other methods, the balance of the ecosystem is completely thrown off. Tabrizi explained that sharks are predators of small fish, driving them up to the surface of the ocean. Seabirds feed off of these tiny surface fish. Without sharks, the fish will stop swimming to the surface of the ocean, leaving no food for seabirds and causing them to die. In the ocean, species do not stand alone; they are all connected and affected when something goes wrong.

Tabrizi also covers the deception within the fish industry, showing forbidden footage, exposing companies for incorrect labelling, and revealing that fishing gear is a huge part of the problem that is killing marine life. The media loves to focus on using metal straws to “save the turtles,” but there is virtually no coverage of these much larger problems happening behind the scenes (including human rights issues).

This documentary is all-encompassing. I strongly suggest that everyone give it a watch. It is shocking and thought-provoking in a way that will definitely warp how you see the world and your actions. Tabrizi challenges and changes the definition of sustainability, and after watching this film, you will too.

“Home (Toro y Moi Remix)” by Caribou

While Caribou is a familiar name to me, I can’t say I have heard much of his music. However, upon seeing “Toro y Moi Remix” tacked onto a song, I am then required to listen, no matter who the original artist is. What are the chances of regretting my listening?

This was the case exactly with “Home.” Yet again, Toro y Moi shows off his diversity in sound. The song blends electronic indie sounds with hip hop elements very well. A gang vocal chant and 808 bass can be heard over synths and jangly drums. The focus of the song is on the noisy and messy beat, more than Caribou’s simple vocals. It’s a balance that is necessary, though, considering how little space is left for lyrics in between the interjecting noises and drum fills.

In another edition of “Five Notable Tracks” from the past year, I ranted about my hopes for more high-profile remixes. Each of my 2021 rankings have included a remix so far, which makes me very excited for more. I hope this trend will keep up, and I expect Toro y Moi to provide more candidates in the future.

“The Kiss of Venus (Dominic Fike)” by Paul McCartney & Dominic Fike

This collaboration is the leadoff single for McCartney’s newest project: “McCartney III Imagnined,” a reformed version of his 2020 album featuring reworked tracks with many guest stars. Along with being a talented young songwriter and guitarist, Dominic Fike has the ability to deliver a very theatrical vocal performance. Prior to this song, he showcased this skill on tracks “Dominic’s Interlude” and “10x Stronger” last year.

The instrumental on “The Kiss of Venus” is very showtune-esque with multiple sections and energetic cresiendos. Fike is a perfect fit for the song, and his rendition brings a comfortable new energy that you may not have imagined when hearing the original. The chorus, although a bit hard to discern, introduces the song beautifully and simply. From then on, it’s a showing of creativity and songwriting fit for a huge concert hall.

“Marley” by Gouda

Gouda is a small artist from Drexel who is currently building a solid foundation of local notoriety in Philadelphia. While he is a friend of mine, I remain unbiased in this review and praise for his new release, “Marley.” This is a remixed version of his debut single from August 2020. Since then, his writing, production quality and array of sound has improved.

I was very excited when I heard that a remixed version of “Marley” was in the works. I have always liked the piano parts on the verses of “Marley,” which bring a very joyous energy. The introductory verse is layered and textured intensely with many thin synths and drums, and the sunny verses come and go alongside calm, echoey guitar passages.

The vocals are sung with bravado as Gouda describes daily activities with his cat named Marley. Along with a haunting piano section added to the end of the track, this version is a vast upgrade over the already enjoyable song from Gouda.

“BERNADETTE” by Zack Villere

This newest release from indie artist Zack Villere is his most accessible track yet. I praised his single “CAUSEWAY” for the same reasons last year, but with a feature for Spotify’s POLLEN playlist, “BERNADETTE” marks a noticeable step towards pop music (in both sound and songwriting) for Villere.

Luckily, the awkward characteristics that define his past work still show. Villere’s lyrics progress through a young relationship, and the moving on that seems impossible until it begins to happen naturally. The instrumental is simply guitar and bass that ride a strong enough groove to make up for the lack of drums.

Villere’s vocal delivery is less mumbly than usual, and his melodies are as strong as ever. “BERNADETTE” proves that Villere can be an indie-pop star any time he wants now. As a big fan, I’d personally love to see this happen — as long as his creative control is still there.

“BUZZCUT” by BROCKHAMPTON

BROCKHAMPTON’s rise and recovery has been unrivaled in the past five years, not only in music, but also in cultural trendiness overall. Throughout each era the band has gone through, they manage to be possibly the most consistently current act with their art. Now entering the “ROADRUNNER” era, featuring their sixth album, the group has nailed it once again with their comeback single “BUZZCUT,” which enlists colorful rapper Danny Brown for a rare guest appearance.

Head member Kevin Abstract leads off the track with emphatic delivery on the only full verse by one of the BROCKHAMPTON boys. A siren-like synth echoes over choppy drums, making a fitting background for Danny Brown’s energy. Around half-way through the track transitions into a foreboding outro with interjections from the rest of the band. As the drums fall away, the track fades into cloudy vocals and a dramatic saxophone line; it’s an ending that leaves you needing another track to follow it up. Along with an eccentric music video, this song is stimulating to the brain in a way that’s hard to achieve.

Long gone are the simple days of “Dawson’s Creek” — over the last decade, the teen genre has taken a sharp turn. With an emphasis on race, sexuality and mental health, teen soaps bear little resemblance to their predecessors. In the dark and gritty world of teen melodramas, the Netflix show “Grand Army” offers an interesting take.

When a bomb goes off near Grand Army High School, students grapple with life-after-lockdown. The story revolves around the lives of five teenagers, each completely different and unique.

Beginning with Grand Army’s insta-feminist icon, Joey Del Marco (Odessa A’zion) wrestles with the trauma of sexual assault committed by her best friends. Jayson Jackson (Maliq Johnson), having stolen a friend’s wallet during the lockdown as a joke, faces heightened charges because of his race. Dominique Pierre (Odley Jean), whose wallet was lost, struggles to make ends meet in her large and bustling family. Student athlete Sid Pakman (Amir Bageria) experiences the pressure to act normal, especially as a closeted Indian-American after a mass bombing. A freshman he mistakenly befriends, Leila Kwan (Amalia Woo), is adamant on using his lapse of judgement to shed her insecurities as a Jewish-Asian and become popular.

With so many characters and stories, there’s evidently a lot to digest in the nine episodes. Although I generally avoid teen dramas, I found “Grand Army” to be refreshing. Often compared to shows like “Euphoria” and “Dare Me,” “Grand Army” is a more solidified attempt at capturing the darkness of adolescence.

What I enjoy about the show is that it stays within the realm of reality, unlike other shows of the same genre. The dialogue is quick, witty,and actually sounds like teenagers, unlike other shows in the genre (we’re looking at you “Ginny and Georgia”).

Although the variety of perspectives is somewhat chaotic, “Grand Army” has built the foundation for a decent second season. Definitely on the vulgar side — so no, I don’t recommend this to everyone. With that being said, if teen dramas are your vice, I highly suggest taking up “Grand Army”.

“WandaVision,” a classic sitcom with a Marvel twist, was released to Disney+ in a weekly episodic format from Jan. 15 to March 5. The show stars Marvel heroes Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) as the couple lives the idyllic small town life. The show draws inspiration from classic sitcoms, like “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Bewitched,” and “The Brady Bunch,” from the past 70 years of television.

I’m a casual consumer of Marvel media, really only getting into the Marvel Cinematic Universe after watching “Captain Marvel” in my freshman year. When I heard that Scarlet Witch was getting her own TV show, I was excited. It’s nice to see a diverse range of characters in positions of power, and “WandaVision” delivers. Wanda is not simply the love interest of Vision, nor is she the strong and unemotional lead who doesn’t need anyone’s help. Wanda is a complex character with deep emotions and flaws—something that is rarely explored in action films and TV shows.

The performances in “WandaVision” were strong, and each actor really committed to their part, even if that part was only the stereotypical sitcom boss or nosy neighbor. One of the strongest performances in my opinion was that of Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau. Parris perfectly balanced the vulnerability and strength of a character mourning the loss of a family member while also dealing with the crisis at hand. Overall, the show had the same high-quality acting and effects as Marvel’s movies do, which isn’t a surprise considering many of these actors will appear in future movies.

Before getting into the plot of the show (which will contain spoilers), I want to voice my few criticisms of the show—namely, its inaccessibility for people new to the MCU. “WandaVision” does an okay job of contextualizing larger events that the show is based on. However, knowing the concepts of past films definitely improves the viewing experience. Ideally, you should watch “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “Captain Marvel”  before starting “WandaVision.” When watching the show with my family, who had never seen “Captain Marvel,” I found myself pausing to explain how characters knew each other. While I understand that Marvel is known for its interconnected storylines, I wish that “WandaVision” was created with the intent of bringing in new viewers, instead of depending heavily on the understanding of four other movies.

Spoilers Ahead: Skip to the final paragraph of this article if you want to avoid spoilers for the first four episodes of “WandaVision.”

The first few episodes of the show are framed as sitcoms from the 50s, 60s and 70s starring superheroes Wanda Maximoff and Vision. How and why they got there is a mystery, seemingly even to the characters themselves. In these episodes, Wanda and Vision deal with classic sitcom shenanigans, such as having to hide their powers from Vision’s boss or investigating an odd noise outside their window.

It is only in episode two, when Wanda finds a red helicopter in a bush, that we realize that the world might be a little more complicated than expected. In episode three, things grow increasingly more sinister, with Vision’s neighbors warning him about the new girl on the block, Geraldine. By the beginning of episode four, we are taken outside the sitcom world and placed back in the present era, just after the end of “Avengers: Endgame.” We learn that Geraldine is actually the recently un-snapped SWORD employee Monica Rambeau, and that the town where Wanda and Vision live is unenterable and under investigation. This modern-era outside investigation is featured alongside Wanda and Vision’s sitcom hijinks in the following episodes.

At this point, the show starts to look more like an action movie and less like a simple sitcom. For those who came into the show with the expectation of a lighthearted, fun sitcom, this may be a disappointment. But for those who know the characters’ history and were curious as to why Vision is alive or how Wanda and Vision got there, this might be exciting. The show does not have one style, and that can be a strength or weakness depending on your preferences in genre.

“WandaVision” is a new twist on the superhero genre and a creative homage to classic sitcoms. It explores the power and despair of Wanda Maximoff and does a great job conveying the complexities of grief. The performances are compelling and fit well in the dynamic style of the show. Whether you will enjoy “WandaVision” depends on your own MCU knowledge and your expectations going into the show. If you are interested in a sitcom featuring two superheroes that has a few twists and surprises along the way, the show is definitely worth a try. All nine episodes of “WandaVision” are available now to stream on Disney+.

Have you ever turned in a final project and wished you had another three years and $70 million dollars to make it just right? Well, two weeks ago, we got to see what that looks like. “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” the film whose very existence was uncertain for a long time and whose release wasn’t guaranteed has finally arrived in 4:3 aspect ratio on HBO Max. Reception so far has been pretty positive, with the general consensus being that this director’s cut is much better than the theatrical cut of “Justice League” from 2017.

While most of the main plot remains the same, a lot has been added that fills some gaps from the theatrical, particularly with the character Cyborg, AKA Victor Stone (Ray Fisher). Despite the backstory and depth that Cyborg is given, the same cannot be said for most of the other characters, even those who were introduced prior to the original release of “Justice League.” The characters are by no means disrespected in this movie, but considering the length, they are not given a whole lot of depth. Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Batman (Ben Affleck) especially feel flatter than in their previous appearances.

From a storytelling standpoint, there is a bit to be asked for. The dialogue is mostly exposition or flat attempts at humor with hardly any attempts at creating or developing relationships between the characters. Thankfully, there isn’t all that much dialogue, so this isn’t as big of an issue as it might be in another movie. The pacing is also a moderate issue, and not just because it runs a few minutes longer than “Gone with the Wind” at four hours and two minutes. Most scenes could have moments taken out of them without losing anything essential or valuable. And Snyder’s trademark overuse of slow-motion certainly pads the runtime substantially and ultimately becomes kind of exhausting.

Although I don’t have any strong negative feelings towards the movie, my own opinion of it is much lower than the general population’s seems to be. That said, it could still be very enjoyable for those who were disappointed by the theatrical version, are fans of the featured heroes, or are a fan of Zack Snyder. If you have not seen the theatrical version of “Justice League” and are not a fan of Zack Snyder, this probably isn’t worth four hours of your time unless you are simply interested in seeing what all the fuss has been about.

It is a bit early to gauge what impact this movie and the process behind it will have. While it likely won’t be regarded as a landmark of cinematic achievement, its release hardly exists in a vacuum. Given that the online release of the movie won’t generate revenue in the same manner that a traditional theatrical release would, it’s hard to say whether this has changed how profitable Snyder’s name is. The positive reception from fans suggests that maybe there is a possibility of getting more alternate cuts like this for other movies in the future. However, the unique circumstances around Snyder having to leave the project due to a family tragedy makes this particular movie unique among other directors’ cuts. The call to “Release the Snyder Cut” has changed to “Restore the Snyder-verse” which, if Warner Bros. executives allow, might mean a re-shuffling of the entire DCEU. So in the long run, I don’t see it re-shaping the entire filmmaking landscape, but at the very least it has secured itself a niche in cinematic history.

Mario the Magnificent. We all know him, we all love him. We’ve passed the statue on the corner of 33rd and Market hundreds of times. But let’s be honest — he’s not exactly known for his wardrobe. Our iconic blue and yellow does not pay him any favors. While Mario has a handful of outfits, such as his very own basketball uniform, it’s time for a revamp.

 (Picture Credit: @drexelathletics Instagram Jan. 11, 2021)

Let’s take a look at this year’s Fashion Week and see how some of the highlights would best suit our mascot. It’s no easy feat to dress an icon of this status — or with this wingspan.

 (Ludwig Bonnet-Java)

Dior’s all-blue ensemble would certainly exemplify the school spirit necessary for Mario’s day-to-day activities, but something tells me adding wing holes would be frowned upon. This jacket also doesn’t look very mobile. 6/10

(Credit: https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-2020-menswear/hermes)

This Second Look from Hermes’ Fall 2020 Menswear collection by Veronique Nichanian seems perfect for Mario’s day-to-day look, versatile for wear both for visiting food trucks for a bite to eat and catching a game at the DAC. A neutral color is always easy to pair with. Once again, wings might be a problem. 8/10

Once again, a navy ensemble would work well for Mario. This Bode pantsuit, photographed from the Fall 2020 Menswear show by Filippo Fior, features lettering. Perhaps Drexel could customize it for, say, “1891?” The colored scarf is a nice touch. 9/10

For a more formal ‘fit, this sweater from Polo Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2020 Menswear collection, photographed by Joel Griffith courtesy of Polo Ralph Lauren, seems both comfortable and classy. Paired with a patterned tie, this combo would have Mario turning heads! 9/10

(Image courtesy of Nike)

When it comes to footwear, our fantastical friend can’t have just any kicks — it’s going to take a special kind of shoe to fit the clawed toes of our scaly friend. The Nike Dunk Low Cactus Jack x Playstation have gentle hues, but branded with fun. 8/10

(Image courtesy of Supreme)

The Supreme x Nike 90s-inspired collaboration of the Fall 2020 collection features a design mimicking flames — the perfect shoe for a dragon! Never underestimate the fury of a dragon stuck waiting for the shuttle. You might just catch a couple of flames yourself. 9/10

Are you getting tired of food from the dining hall? Have you used up all your meal swipes for the day and are still hungry? Here are some easy- to medium-difficulty recipes for students who want to eat something other than Urban Eatery pasta and smoothies but don’t own a set of measuring cups and still have to use the dorm ovens.

Cheese Quesadilla (easy)

Ingredients: tortilla, shredded cheese, butter

Optional Add-ons: veggies or precooked meat, salsa/guacamole

1. Turn on the stove and lightly coat the pan with butter
2. Place a tortilla onto the warm pan
3. Add cheese on top of the tortilla
4. Make it a little more complicated: add chopped veggies or precooked meat of your choice once the cheese has melted (personally, I love adding chopped tomatoes and green pepper)
5. Fold over quesadilla and remove from the pan
6. You’re all set!
7. Eat with salsa or guac (this really helps if the quesadilla is a little dry)

Pasta with Canned Red Sauce (easy)

Ingredients: box of dry pasta, canned red sauce, salt

Optional add-ons: chopped garlic, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano

1. Boil water on the stove, add a pinch of salt
2. Add pasta and let sit, check occasionally to see if the pasta is cooked enough for your liking — usually, if it’s sticky and bendable, it’s done
3. While pasta is boiling, pour the red sauce into a pan and let it warm up on the stove
4. If after the sauce is warm you find  it’s still bland, add chopped garlic, red pepper flakes, basil and/or oregano
5. Pour the boiling water out of pot into the sink or through a strainer
6. Pour warmed red sauce into the pasta pot
7. Stir for a couple of seconds to coat the pasta in sauce
8. Serve and enjoy (I usually pair this with a side of steamed broccoli)

Steamed Broccoli with Garlic (easy)

Ingredients: Broccoli, olive oil, garlic, water

1. Wash broccoli
2. Pour olive oil into a pan
3. Pull apart broccoli and place in the pan
4. Add about a spoonful of chopped garlic to the pan
5. Add a little bit of water to the pan — I usually put the pan under my running sink for half a second, it’s really something you have to eyeball and it’s better to have too little than too much water for this
6. Put the lid on the pan
7. Start the stove and heat until all the water in the pan has evaporated and the broccoli is bright green
8. Drain any excess water (if necessary) and serve

Stuffed Green Peppers (medium)

Ingredients: Green pepper, rice, water, ground beef (or vegetarian ground beef), onion, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Cut the top off the green pepper and take out all the seeds so it is hollow, place aside
3. Cook the pepper in boiling water for about 5 minutes or so
4. Mix the beef with the onions and cook them until the beef is brown
5. Prepare rice in a pot (remember that the water-to-rice ratio is 2:1)
6. Add fire-roasted tomatoes to the rice when there is still a little water in the pot and stir them in
7. Once the rice is done, mix it in with the ground beef
8. Put the beef-rice mixture into the green pepper
9. Top with shredded cheese
10. Cover with tinfoil and cook in the oven for 25-30 minutes

Lentil-Cauliflower Tacos (medium)

Ingredients: lentils, cauliflower, tomato paste, olive oil, soft taco shells, mayonnaise, chipotle hot sauce, chopped onion, chopped garlic

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Break up the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and place on a baking sheet
3. Cover cauliflower in oil
4. Add salt and pepper to season cauliflower
5. Place in oven and take out after 30-35 minutes or until they start to brown
6. Wash lentils
7. Put lentils in a pot and fill with water
8. Add a couple of spoonfulls of tomato paste (I recommend two spoonfuls of tomato paste per approx 1 cup of lentils)
9. Add chopped onion and garlic to the lentil pot
10. Bring to a boil and stir the pot until the lentils are soft and the water has evaporated
11. Season as desired — I really like adding chili powder and cumin, but you don’t have to add anything if you want it plainer or don’t have any spices handy
12. Whisk together the mayonnaise and chipotle hot sauce (you can also buy chipotle mayo and skip this step)
13. Place lentils, cauliflower, and chipotle mayo into several soft taco shells, and enjoy!

Happy Cooking!

 (Graphic by Laura Breidenstine)

Regardless of how we all spend our time at Drexel or who we spend it with, all of us are going to be listening to music, watching movies and TV shows, and possibly even reading some unassigned books to unwind. Here are some of the A&E staff’s go-to picks for art and entertainment that we like to share with our friends or use to unwind.

Catherine Brady

Song: “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac

This is a banger for a reason. Hit the reset button with this bop.

Book: “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells.

When you need a break from Drexel’s rigorous timing and are looking to shut your brain down without spending all your time on TikTok, consider Wells’ classic. This book is interesting enough that it will keep the good part of your brain working, but doesn’t feel so realistic that you’ll spiral. Despite being written in 1895, The Time Machine is still whimsical and engaging for the 21st century.

Movie: “Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again”

Catchy. Classic. Cher.

Atticus Deeny

Song: “Bags” by Clairo

This song described my freshman year. I was shown this song very early on in my year, and throughout all the emotions I experienced I felt that this song could fit with the feelings that I had. I’d also credit this song for re-shaping my music taste quite a bit.

Book: “When You Reach Me” by Rebecca Stead

This is a book I first read in fifth grade, but it was given to me during the summer prior to leaving home. Before class, I would eagerly walk to the Korman Center to read before my classes began. It gave me a good habit for the year.

Movie: “Once”

I’m not much of a movie-watcher, but I was in search of this movie on DVD last year due to its absence from streaming services. It’s got a timeless soundtrack that my family used to play on repeat, and after miraculously stumbling across the DVD at Philly AIDS Thrift I was finally able to view the full movie.

TV Show: Black Mirror

Although it has become so popular, I remember showing my favorite episodes to my friends at night many times and watching them get drawn into the intricate stores.

Muntaha Haq

Song: “Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars

Every now and then, typically around finals, I have the intense urge to do absolutely nothing. After revisiting my playlist from the 2010’s, I was reminded of how much I love early Bruno Mars. While I ignore the large stack of papers on my desk, no song rings more true than “Lazy Song.”

Movie: “Dumplin’’

In times of stress, there is no better use of time than a comfort movie. Revolving around the plus-size daughter of a former beauty queen, “Dumplin” redefines the coming-of-age genre. Although my comfort movies are usually from the 80s and 90s, “Dumplin’” hits all the right spots. Romance? Check. Humour? Check. Dolly Parton songs? Check. Escape Philadelphia for an hour and 50 minutes and travel to the charming, proudly Texan world of “Dumplin”.

TV Show: “Nailed It”

If you feel as exhausted from studying as I am, “Nailed It” is the perfect show to watch on your downtime. Featuring some of America’s most laughably terrible bakers, the competition is a recipe for disaster. Even the most depressing test grades will pale in comparison to these baking abominations — find “Nailed It” streaming on Netflix today.

Evan Wessman

Song:  “Amoreena” by Elton John

This is one of Elton John’s lesser-known songs, but it might be one of his best. It’s a bittersweet song that can kind of lend itself to any mood or situation.

Book: “A Song of Ice and Fire” Series

More commonly known as the “Game of Thrones” books, the first three of these are really engaging reads. I’ll admit that I haven’t finished these, but whenever I have time to read, this has historically been what I reach for. It may or may not hit the same as the show does, but if you were disappointed by the show’s conclusion, this is a way to revisit Westeros in a new way.

Movie: “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”

It’s imperfect and it’s kind of an obvious choice for people our age, but it captures the early 20’s vibe really well and is just a really fun time. It’s great to watch by yourself or with friends, and features some insanely impressive filmmaking and one of the dopest soundtracks ever. For extra credit, you can also read the graphic novel that it’s based on.

TV Show: “Community”

A friend introduced this to me right before I went on co-op, and it’s now one of my top five favorite shows. It may not capture the actual experience of being a student, but it’s a great time with some excellent characters and has a lot better writing and a stronger emotional core than most sitcoms.

Grace Zaborski

Book: “Invisible Cities” by Italo Calvino

In a time when we are all stuck inside, Calvino’s poetry will transport you to lands that don’t exist.

Movie: “Legally Blonde”

Sometimes we just need to sit back and watch a 90s classic, “Legally Blonde” is that classic. Watching Elle Woods’s journey through law school helps remind us that undergraduate life isn’t everything and that despite life’s challenges, we can achieve our goals.

Music: “Vampire Weekend’s Self-Titled Album”

The band’s first album after meeting at Cornell University, this album encapsulates the unique college experience. Listen to “Bryn” in the academic quad this Spring, it will make you feel like the main character.

Show: “New Girl”

With over 140 episodes, this hilarious sitcom is great to binge when you want something funny to distract you from upcoming finals.