Story by Amber ChenStaff Writer Photo by Preston SharkeyEditor in Chief Cole Fox has a powerful presence on campus; she draws people in with her compelling poise and calm composure, speaking in a focused, captivating, and articulate manner. The ambitious senior’s involvement reaches all aspects of the South Pasadena community and beyond, earning much award […]
TAAGLAA: Galco’s Soda Pop Stop
Story by Sofia Alva & Zoe SchlaakStaff Writers Photos by Oscar WalshPhoto Editor In the fast gentrifying L.A. suburb, Highland Park, one shop off of York Boulevard chooses to remain firmly rooted in the past. Attracted by its reputation for diverse soda flavors, we went to explore the 122-year-old, family owned, Galco’s Soda Pop Stop, […]
‘Frozen 2’ is a disappointing sequel to a beloved childhood film
Story by Noah KuhnStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 2/5 stars The sequel to the inspiring and heart-warming Frozen released in theaters on Nov. 22, after six long-awaited years. Disney’s Frozen Ⅱ features Anna and Elsa’s quest to restore peace between the four nature spirits within the fabled Enchanted Forest. However, an overly complex […]
Thomas Kano: Capturing authenticity in film
Story by Noah KuhnStaff Writer Photo by Oscar WalshPhoto Editor Thomas Kano uses his passion for filmmaking to express his committed and genuine nature. Dedicated to his craft, he will often spend countless hours quietly writing and editing his films to craft cinematic wonders. Kano holds himself to a standard of responsibility to do his […]
The Donut Man remains true to a legacy of quality
Story by Haelee KimStaff Writer lepsoc2014.com Photos by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer It is hard to imagine traveling for more than a couple of miles just to pick up a box of a dozen donuts, no matter how good they are. However, The Donut Man deserves this hype, reining customers into its nondescript yet quaint storefront […]
TAAGLAA: Eataly L.A.
Story by Peter WangCopy Editor Photos by Jayden EdenStaff Photographer Eataly L.A. shares its home — the Westfield Century City shopping center — with renowned establishments such as Tiffany & Co, Din Tai Fung, a Tesla showroom, and the Consulate General of Portugal. The eclectic combination of restaurant and market spans 67,000 square feet across […]
Victoria Tskvitichvili: thriving with independence
Story by Kimberly HsuehStaff Writer Photo by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer Senior Victoria Tskvitichvili stood on the golf course, tightly gripping her club, observing the fairway ahead of her. In this moment, a sense of calm washed over her. To Tskvitichvili, playing golf is exhilarating, yet unhurried; immersed into the game and without worry, and she […]
Remy Luz Julian Lorenz: charisma and confidence
Story by Cloe MaurerStaff Writer Photo by Sarah LeeStaf Photographer Sophomore Remy Luz Julian Lorenz sweetened his tea with three packets of artificial sweetener after politely returning the plastic lid and straws. Prompted by a question that asked why his leather wallet looked like it had been through the wash, (which, it turns out, it […]
New take on ‘Looking for Alaska’ addresses identity and mental health
Story by Audrey ErnstStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator 3/5 stars Looking for Alaska, by John Green, one of the world’s most iconic young adult novels, was recently reimagined as an eight part, Hulu exclusive miniseries. The story follows Miles Halter, a quiet teenage boy, who goes to boarding school in Alabama and meets […]
Isaiah Hall: An endless fountain of curiosity
Story by Peter WangCopy Editor Photos by Ella JayasekeraStaff Photographer Junior Isaiah Hall is quite the enigma to most of SPHS; his typical perception that of a ‘token weird kid.’ What most students fail to realize, however, is that his eccentricity is complemented by razor-edged brilliance and a wildly spontaneous sense of wonder. Hall, a […]
Compelling acting and exciting set elements collide in fall production ‘Metamorphoses’
Story by Amber Chen Staff Writer Photos courtesy of Shari CorrelContributor Drama director Nick Hoffa’s goal is to bring an exciting, one of a kind experience to the stage. This year’s play, Metamorphoses, which debuted on Friday, Nov. 15, accomplishes just that, putting a modern spin on classical Greek myths in a manner that is […]
Me + Crepe puts an exciting twist on Chinese street food
Story by Lilian ZhuStaff Writer Photo by Sarah LeeStaff Photographer While dumplings and chow mein have become Chinese cultural food icons throughout the world, jian bings remain one of the culinary gems that is largely unknown outside the country’s borders. Traditionally, jian bings are savory crepes that include green onions, soybean paste, and eggs, and […]
‘Metronomy Forever’ is sentimental, but repetitive
Story by Amber Chen & Cloe MauerStaff Writers Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator 3/5 stars Artist — MetronomyLabel — Because MusicLength — 17 tracks, 54 minutes It’s been 13 years since British synth-rock group Metronomy’s debut album, Pip Paine. The moody, electric guitar heavy record sported classically bleak dance club tracks “Black Eye/ Burnt Thumb” […]
Katie Hohman: Advocating with a smile
Story by Kimberly HsuehStaff Writer Photo by Sean JinStaff Photographer A year and a half ago, Katie Hohman found herself in a crowd of 500 peers when she stepped onto Fair Oaks Avenue. On March 24, 2018, she participated in a walkout that memorialized the lives lost in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. […]
Joaquin Phoenix brings an iconic villain to life in ‘Joker’
Story by Brady Nakumura & Matthew TsaiStaff Writer & Sports Editor Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 4.5/5 stars Joker, a sadistic psychopath and the world’s most recognizable supervillain, lives to incite chaos and catastrophe. Accordingly, a R-rated film starring the criminal mastermind as the protagonist would breed a tsunami of controversy. Even before the movie […]
Yutae Kim: Vocalizing Passion and Artistry
Junior Yutae Kim has showcased his beatboxing talents in the SPHS talent show and regularly invests hours towards mixing beats into tracks, with hopes of inspiring other music lovers to pursue their passion. Story by Kimberly HsuehStaff Writer Video by Alexander ParraVideographer Musical talent runs through the Kim family. Junior Yutae Kim and his older […]