A restaurant makes a great date place. It’s better than a movie because you can actually talk and get to know the person. Food also tends to make people less nervous. They have something to do when there is an otherwise awkward pause in conversation.
These are some of the best date restaurants in Bloomington in various price ranges.
1.) Grazie! Italian Eatery – It’s a great place to go. It’s a little on the pricey side, but the food is delicious. It’s very quiet and the atmosphere is perfect for a date.
2.) My Thai Cafe – It’s a cute restaurant on Fourth Street. They have a great fountain in their dining space as well as some other great artwork. The food is also delicious. If neither of you have had Thai before, it can always be fun to try something new together.
3.) El Norteño – This is a fairly inexpensive restaurant, but it has a great atmosphere. It’s conveniently located down town.
One popular date destination is FarmBloomington. However, I don’t recommend it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the place. The food is fantastic. It does have an open kitchen though, which leads to a lot of noise in the dining area. When trying to get to know someone, conversation is a must. It’s a difficult place to have a conversation.
Keep in mind that the Relationships Issue drops November 29th!
In anticipation of the Relationship Issue, I thought I would give everyone a little dating advice.
Rule number 1 of dating: Do not look for love in a bar. There are a multitude of reasons for this but mostly because 1) you’re probably drunk, 2) they’re probably drunk and 3) low lighting.
Where else can you meet people?
1.) Starbucks. Lots of single college students spend their time studying and drinking coffee there. Strike up a conversation about their favorite drink or these secret Starbucks drinks and you’ll be getting a phone number in no time.
2.) Class. It sounds lame, but it really is a good way to meet people. You know they have some of the same interest as you if they’re in the class and seeing them might even give you more incentive to go.
3.) Work. Some places have rules against this but most don’t if you’re both working at the same level. During slow periods orlame tasks, strike up a conversation.
4.) Clubs. Similarly to class, you know you have shared interests. It is really easy to strike up a conversation in this setting, especially if the club offers social events.
3.)
All weekend we met people at Halloween and Homecoming events. What are you going to say when you run into those people that you might barely remember? These conversation starters can prevent awkward silences and help out in those situations.
1.) What is your favorite holiday? – With all of the holidays coming up and that have just passed, this can be a great question. You can learn a lot about someone with this question like whether or not they are more serious or fun and possibly their religion.
2.) What is the best thing that has happened to you in the past week? – This is something most people don’t mind sharing. Almost any answer to this question can be the foundation for a good conversation.
There are also a few things you should NEVER ask someone you don’t know well.
4.) How often do you shower?/Do you sing in the shower? – Not only do these questions seem slightly sexual, but they might think you’re calling them smelly. This is usually not the best way to begin a relationship.
5.) What is the most valuable thing you own? – This might make them uncomfortable because you might want to rob them or take advantage of them if they do have money.
Some typical questions that we ask on campus may be the wrong approach. What if you already asked these basic questions when you met them? Plus, they don’t build conversations because they are typically one-word answers. These are some questions to avoid:
6.) What year are you?
7.) Where do you live?
8.) What is your major?
Break out the costumes and stuff yourself sick with candy—it’s Halloween time again. Halloween-themed episodes are one of the best things about this spooky day. Who doesn’t love seeing favorite characters dressed up in costume, making fools of themselves? Want to line up a fun marathon for your holiday-viewing pleasure? These are a couple of my favorites:
1. ‘Friends’—“The One with the Halloween Party” (2001)
Friends is famous for its Thanksgiving episodes, but the series’ sole Halloween episode is a winner. The plot is simple—Monica and Chandler throw a Halloween party, and comedy ensues. The best moment has to be pink-bunny-suit-clad Chandler arm-wrestling with Spud-nik Ross for manly bragging rights. Add that to subplots about Rachel trying to understand her new maternal instincts and Phoebe attempting to save her twin’s fiancé from marital doom and you have yet another funny and engaging episode of one of television’s greatest sitcoms.
2. ‘Bones’—“Mummy in the Maze” (2007)
The writer’s strike cut the fantastic third season of Bones tragically short, and this episode is just another reason why I have to wonder what episodes we would have seen if the strike had never happened. Seeing Booth dressed as a nerdy squint and Brennan as Wonder Woman is reason enough to tune into this episode about a killer using the worst fears of teenage girls to literally scare them to death, but the best moment by far is watching Brennan freak out when trying to save a girl from a room full of snakes. Anything that gives Bren a chance to jump into Booth’s arms is a good plot point in my book.
3. ‘How I Met Your Mother’—“Slutty Pumpkin” (2005)
This Halloween will finally reveal the identity of season one’s mysterious slutty pumpkin, a costumed woman who Ted only knows by the drink she favors—root beer and Kahlua. The episode epitomizes everything great about this show’s first season, including Barney’s multiple suit-ups, Marshall and Lily’s gag-worthy cuteness, and, of course, a small rooftop conversation that keeps Robin and Ted fans pining for their eventual hook-up. No one knows if this Monday’s episode will top the original “Slutty Pumpkin,” but even with the much-anticipated reveal of the title character (played by Katie Holmes), it’s hard to imagine it could produce more laughs this fantastically funny ep.
4. ‘Castle’—“Vampire Weekend” (2009)
Sure, this year’s Ghostbusters-themed Halloween episode had a lot of great moments between everyone’s favorite crime-fighting duo, but nothing could be better than the episode that made hundreds of Firefly fans scream out in glee when Nathan Fillion reprised his Mal costume in the show’s opening moments. Castle and Beckett delve into the world of vampire culture, including one scary-as-hell man who bites Castle, and seeing the cast in costume in at Castle’s Halloween bash is a complete delight. It’s always nice to see Beckett’s sense of humor shine.
5. ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’—“Halloween” (1997)
I actually just saw this episode for the first time a few weeks ago, and the plot’s premise was so creative that I had to put it on this list. While any episode of Buffy is great for Halloween time, watching the characters magically transform into their costumes, including a damsel-in-distress Buffy, a military Xander, and a ghostly Willow is laugh-out-loud funny. Watching the team try to save the day without the help of their fearless leader is a nice change of pace for show.
6. ‘The Simpsons’—“Treehouse of Horror VI” (1995)
I spent every Halloween during my childhood watching The Simpsons’ annual “Treehouse” specials, and this one has by far always been my favorite. As a six-year-old in 1995, seeing Homer and Bart turn 3D blew my little mind, and the episode quickly became a part of my family’s Halloween routine. Aside from the usage of 3D animation in the pre-Pixar-dominated world, the episode also features Groundskeeper Willie as Freddie Kruger, and the Lard Lad destroys Springfield. Sixteen years later, this episode still holds up as a Halloween classic.
Honorable Mentions:
‘Raising Hope’—“Happy Halloween” (2010)
‘Modern Family’—“Halloween” (2010)
‘South Park’—“Korn’s Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery” (1999)
And one not-so-great Halloween episode:
‘Glee’—“The Rocky Horror Glee Show” (2010)
It was certainly ambitious—using the cast of Glee to cover the cult film’s iconic soundtrack—but the concept of high schoolers trying to put on a production of Rocky Horror is absolutely ridiculous. The show notes this by making the kids’ show never see an audience, but that failure makes the plot of the episode seem fairly pointless. It wasn’t an awful episode, but even a slew of guest stars, including John Stamos and Meat Loaf, couldn’t save this show from what it was: a weak, gimmicky cry for attention.
Now that midterms are over, it is time to relax with some friends. There are a lot of activites to do with friends but watching movies is a top choice because its cheap and you can do it in your PJs without feeling embarrassed.
1.) A Beautiful Mind – It’s a beautiful movie. But really, it has a great plot as well as some action and romance. The perfect combination for any group of friends.
2.) Disturbia – It also has a good plot combined with action and romance. If you haven’t seen it – figuring out if the neighbor is innocent or guilty is fun!
3.) Fast and the Furious (or any of the sequels) – Guys love it because it has fast cars and action. I’m not exactly sure why girls love it but I know a lot of them who do.
4.) Titanic – If you’re with your gal pals and need the ultimate chic flick – this is it. Yes, we’ve all seen it a thousand times. However, it’s still heartbreaking when Jack dies.
5.) Casino Royale (or any James Bond movie) – If it’s you and the guys, these are great movies. Action, sexy women, sharp suits, and fast cars make up this film. What guy wouldn’t be entertained by that?
What are your favorite movies to watch with friends?
It is week two of midterms here at IU and students are frantically scrambling to get their papers done, their tests studied for, and still have time for that social life.
We all know that in times like these, we scramble for that one drug that can carry us through. I don’t mean cocaine, I’m talking about that other “c” – caffeine.
And everyone knows that Starbucks packs more caffeine and taste into a cup of coffee than anywhere else. (You pay for that kind of quality.)
So as we guzzle five cups of coffee a day, try to vary up the taste a bit with these suggestions.
1.) Penguin Mocha – get this in a frappuccino if you’re running from place to place or as an espresso late at night or early in the morning. It combines the deliciousness of a chocolate mocha with the white chocolate mocha.
2.) Raspberry Cheesecake Mocha – This also plays with the white chocolate mocha but adds a couple of shots of raspberry. Adding whipped cream helps facilitate the cheese cake taste.
3.) Gorilla Bean Frappuccino – This begins as a vanilla bean frappuccino and then adds mocha, java chips, and a banana. It is very light on the caffeine which is perfect for a slight boost.
And a couple of caffeine-free options for those of us tagging along with our addicted friends:
4.) Crunch Berry Frappuccino – If the barista doesn’t understand what you are ordering with this one – get a strawberries-and-cream frappuccino and add a shot of hazelnut. It is amazing how these odd flavors come together to create something that tastes just like the cereal. Unfortunately, by itself, it contains no caffeine.
5.) Chocolate Creme Frappuccino – Like the Gorilla Bean, this also starts as a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino. Add a couple of shots of chocolate syrup. It tastes just like a chocolate milk shake. Add some java chips for even more chocolate excellence.
Treat yourself to new things. You deserve it.
I can tell you for certain that you aren’t watching one of the best comedies on television. How do I know this? Because you can’t—it’s not scheduled to air at all during the fall.
To make matters worse, no one knows exactly when it’s coming back, either.
Despite the fact that Cougar Town has a full season pickup for its third season and a legion of fans behind it (the show-promoted Twitter account of character Laurie Keller has over 30,000 followers), no one, not even show creator Bill Lawrence, knows when the show is returning. The current rumor is January 2012, but Lawrence tweeted this week that no official date has been set.
Instead, the Cougar cast has been in the news this week because the stars are going to be performing guest spots on several other hit shows this fall, including How I Met Your Mother, The Middle, and Gray’s Anatomy, according to an article posted on Entertainment Weekly’s website. Lawrence has turned the guest spots into a grab for publicity, advertising on Twitter and offering prizes to fans that spot the stars in the other shows. It’s a decent method of keeping the show on the radar, but the question lingers—why is the show still off the air?
Cougar Town was renewed fairly early by ABC last winter, but even last season, the show was put on a massive hiatus from February to April. These long breaks aren’t new to Cougar Town, but they are troubling and confusing. The show’s ratings are decent, the fans are there, and even the critics enjoy the show. (EW in particular often raves about the series.) So why the shoddy treatment from ABC when its other Wednesday night comedies—The Middle, Happy Endings, and, of course, the golden child, Modern Family, are airing uninterrupted?
Unfortunately, the answer is that no one knows. ABC hasn’t given a proper explanation for the delay, and with even the creators left guessing about when the show will return, fans are left puzzled. The massive delays combined with the fact that Lawrence has talked frequently of changing the show’s title this season makes me worry about Cougar’s future. Fans already don’t know when the show is coming back, and a title change could confuse casual viewers, such as those who watch the Modern Family lead-in and stick around for whatever airs next.
Simply put, Cougar Town is a great show with an all-star cast that doesn’t deserve the treatment ABC is giving it. While it hasn’t been moved to Friday nights yet, the delays could just as equally serve as a kiss of death to the show. I’m glad that Lawrence and the cast are doing what they can to keep the show in fans’ minds, but they shouldn’t have to resort to gimmicks. This team is too good for that, and it should be treated as such.
Every day while we run from class to class, no matter what our major, relationship status, socioeconomic status, or grade point average is – we take part in one action that unites us all. We use the bathroom.
Melinda Elston reviews the best (and worst) bathrooms on campus.
*Disclaimer: this only reviews female bathrooms, sorry dudes.
The Best:
Ashton Formal Lounge: The restroom in Ashton’s formal lounge is barely used. It always smells vaguely of pineapple and coconut. It is always clean and is always stocked with toilet paper and soap. The cleanliness tries to makes up for the disgusting bathrooms on each floor of each building in Ashton.
The Musical Arts Center: The restroom in the MAC is an elegant space, much like the rest of the building. It is always stocked with soap and toilet paper, at least before a show.
Ernie Pyle School of Journalism: The SOJ’s restroom is usually tidy and well stocked.
Wright Quadrangle (near the C-store): Wright’s restroom is usually a little messy. It does not always have toilet paper. However, it ranks so high on the list because of the space in the “women’s lounge.” The couches and mirrors make it the perfect place to take a breather or freshen up.
Woodburn Hall (first floor): This restroom is usually kept up on. Sometimes the lights are off and that makes it awkward to walk into.
The Worst:
Ballantine Hall (first floor): The graffiti is definitely cool, which gives this restroom a boost. However, most of the doors do not lock. The restroom ALWAYS smells. There is never toilet paper or paper towels. Sometimes there is a line and soap dispensers never seem to be filled. Also, there is a weird mirror that hangs lower than the others so we can check out our stomachs. How flattering.
Kelley School of Business (first floor): This restroom is also very crowded and never has toilet paper or soap. One of the sinks usually leaks and there is almost always a line. It always seems to have that gross “restroom” smell.
IMU (near Starbucks): I often find toilet paper here, but one does wonder how often the restroom actually does get serviced. The floor always seems dusty and the soap dispensers only work half of the time.
When I look at my syllabus, I shudder.
On average, I have to read 100 pages a day between my journalism, history and English classes. My text books sit scattered around my room, mocking me like bullies on the playground. But as much as I worry I’ll never get anything done, I would never say I am scared of my books. But that’s exactly how Sarah Robinson describes the kids in her classroom.
“They look at a long article and can’t read it. They are scared to try because they think they will fail,” the 2011 alumna explains.
After graduating from Indiana University with a B.A. in English and history, Robinson signed up for the Teach For America. She currently teaches 8th grade students in Memphis, Tenn.—the poorest city in the United States according to the newest census.
The kids in Robinson’s class are 14 years old, but they can only manage books written for 3rd graders, like the picture book Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White. Robinson found it uncomfortable to present stories written below their emotional understanding. So she came up with a plan: teach Art Spiegelman’s Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, a novel about the Holocaust that includes text as well as pictures which would help her students with comprehension.
The only problem? She needs $394.
Robinson has created an account at DonorsChoose.org in the hopes of raising money for 25 copies of the novel. “I hope that this book will show the kids they have nothing to fear from reading,” Robinson says.
Click here to learn more and help out!
During college, especially on Thursdays, we spend the day in class but have other “social” functions to attend that night. Sometimes going home to change really is not an option. These are some quick ways to change your day outfit to a great evening look.
1.) Change the shoes. A cute flat is comfortable and perfect for day time wear. Slip into some sexy heels before a night out to make yourself party ready.
2.) Bling up the jewelry. A simple necklace and small earrings go a long way for daywear. Adding some big, sparkly earrings and a statement necklace can really take a day look to a night one.
3.) Lose the jacket. A great way to take a day look to a night one is to dress for your night out in something fun and simple like dark jeans and a sexy halter. Throw a blazer (a hot look at the moment) over it for a more professional look during the day and then take it off before going out.
4.) Lose the leggings. Leggings are great under a short dress or skirt during the day. Just take them off and throw them in your purse to instantly give yourself a night look.
5.) Invest in a day-to-night dress. One great day-t0-night dress has a zipper all the way down the front. Keep the zipper high for a day look and then unzip a little for a night neckline.
Combine a couple of these tips for the best effect. Also darker make-up and changing hair are ways to create a club look without a lot of time.
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