In an age of technology, the rise of no phones events is growing. Many musicians and comedians have started no phone tours. Earlier this month Grammy award winning artist Phoebe Bridgers started her no phones tour. The announcement started a lot of mixed opinions on what the show was going to be like and how it would impact the experience. Maja Fira is a senior … Continue reading No phone zones on the rise. How does East feel?
International Fest is an event that gets hosted at East every January. The Event consists of performances, food stands, and lots of stands about countries across the globe. Esmeralda Foster, a Sponsor of Mosaic, has been sponsoring Mosaic for the last 10 years. Foster also assists with setting up events for Mosaic. “We had the Filipino students association performing. We had one of the students … Continue reading A Recap of East’s Mosaic International Fest
In recent years, concerts are not just music but an experience, encapsulating the entire intention of a project. They’ve taken a new form, everything from production, choreography, costumes, features, stage presence, and improvisations. Students at East are amongst the concertgoers who feel the energy of live music. According to Nielsen Music’s 2018 Music 360 report, “More than half of Americans—52 percent—attend live music events each … Continue reading To Go or Not to Go: Are Concerts worth it?
Over the past weekend, East Theatre premiered its production of “Airness” at Bednarcik due to the closure of the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Kathleen Belovsky is an English teacher and tech director at East Theatre, guiding students through the creation of the sets for the show. “We accept the challenges and we get it done, because that’s who we are as a theatre family,” Belovsky … Continue reading East Theatre stays “In Tune” despite Venue Change
Taylor Swift released her album on October 3rd, and has since received mixed reviews, and an abundance of scrutiny for her lyricism and song production. Many people claim that too many of the songs are sampled or reminiscent of other songs. Critics also said that one of the songs Actually Romantic may be a diss track targeted towards pop singer Charli XCX. This is due to their relationship history with band members of The 1975. Continue reading The Life of a Showgirl: A Glamourous, Record-Breaking Disappointment
From Apr. 24 – 26, East Theatre presented the classic musical, Grease. It was a smashing success, with an audience filling up the auditorium each performance. Not only that, but the musical was a great way to congratulate seniors as they go off to further their education. The play sends the audience back to the 50’s, from diners and drive-in movie theaters, to even a … Continue reading Grease, The Musical – A Goodbye to East Seniors
Since 1943, April 5 has been a holiday dedicated to celebrating deep-dish pizza. Pizza was founded in Italy and was brought to the United States when citizens migrated to New York. The love for the cuisine slowly spread southwest. By 1943, Ike Swell and Ric Riccardo opened Chicago’s first deep-dish pizzeria, Uno’s. Chicago has a rich and deep history with pizza, creating a sense of … Continue reading National Deep-Dish Day Hits Naperville
On Thursday, April 3, East is officially bringing back the yearly talent show. Students with all different talents, ranging from dancing to magic tricks, will have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the PAC, thanks to the student council. In past years, however, the event was quite different; the talent show was originally a fundraiser for the yearbook club. Mrs. Colleen Calvey, who used … Continue reading Wolves Got Talent: Rebuilding East Community
On Saturday, Feb. 22, an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast will be held at Oswego High School. That morning from 8-11 am, Key Club members will be volunteering to help with making the food, band students will perform in ensembles, and there will even be a pancake flipping contest. Tickets can be purchased at door 11 for $10 per person, however kids five and younger get in … Continue reading Cakes for the Community: Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
On Jan. 23-25, East Theatre performed their winter play, Sense and Sensibility. Each night at 7 pm, the cast, as well as the crew, put their all into their performances. The play, created by Kate Hamill, is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel of the same name. It is set in the late 18th century, and takes place in southern England. The play revolves around … Continue reading Sense and Sensibility: East Theatre’s Sense of Solidarity
On Dec. 6, the video game Fortnite developed by Epic Games, brought back their season one game mode. As many have missed and treasured chapter 1, season 1, Fortnite has decided to keep this season in the game by permanently having a mode named Fortnite OG which will have its own battle pass. When Fortnite became a trend back in 2017, it was all the … Continue reading Tis’ the Season for the Return of Fortnite’s Original Season
All of the actors lined up on the stage, taking a bow in unison after their wonderful performance. Photo by Payton Lanzara. East Theatre made a strong start for the school year with its fall play, Almost, Maine. The play was performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Oct. 17-19. The play featured stories of heartbreak, tragedy, loss, discovery, and most importantly, love. … Continue reading Almost, Maine – The Recap
East’s set crew’s hard work comes to life when the backdrop is finally put into place at the tech run-through. Photo by Syeda Zaidi. Bringing East’s annual fall production, Almost, Maine, to life involves more than just the actors performing on stage. There is a dedicated crew working behind the scenes, constructing sets, organizing props, and managing technical elements to create the world the audience … Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Unveiling the Hard Work from East Set Crew for Almost, Maine
All of East’s language honor societies celebrated their new and sustaining members on Apr. 3, 2024 at the Honor Society Inductions and Awards Ceremony, an event in East’s PAC organized by the World Languages Department. At East, students can pick between learning Chinese, French, German, and Spanish. While not required to graduate, some East students only take two years of a foreign language class in … Continue reading East Holds Annual Honor Society Inductions and Awards Ceremony
That’s a wrap! On Saturday, January 28, East Theater put on their final performance of its Winter show, The Great Gatsby. The play is a stage adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The show follows Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, who passionately pursues the elusive Daisy Buchanan. Nick Carraway, a young newcomer to New York, is drawn … Continue reading Roaring Twenties Revived: East Theater Unveils ‘The Great Gatsby’
The 95th annual Academy Awards were held this past Sunday, inciting excitement, anger, and lots of tears amongst celebrities and fans alike. However, the wins that inspired the most conversation was the sweep by A24 hit Everything Everywhere All At Once. Everything Everywhere All At Once follows the journey of Evelyn Wang as she tries to save humanity by jumping through different dimensions, each holding … Continue reading Everything Everywhere wins inspire East’s Asian community, aspiring actors
The album cover for SZA’s sophomore album, SOS. Photo courtesy of Top Dawg Entertainment. R’n’B star SZA is back on the road after the release of her sophomore album, SOS. The highly-anticipated release came five years after her critically acclaimed debut, ctrl (pronounced “control”), which solidified SZA as a name to watch, and a star in her own way. SZA also featured on chart-topping singles … Continue reading REVIEW: SZA’s “SOS Tour” rocks the boat as musical, visual experience
East’s Jazz program, made up of Big Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Combo, filled the PAC with sound last Wednesday, February 8. The concert is one of four that take place over the course of the school year, showcasing each group’s musical growth as individuals and as an ensemble. Freshman alto saxophonist Hayden Mulacek said he felt excited to show his peers, parents, … Continue reading East jazz program lights up PAC with Winter Concert
“You may be the first attractive woman I have not wanted to sleep with in my entire life.” Harry Burns, When Harry Met Sally 1989’s When Harry Met Sally follows two friends, Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan). After college, the pair carpools from Chicago to New York, each planning to start a life there. The two immediately butt heads, and decide … Continue reading When Harry Met Sally; an ode to the situationship
Julia Urso (right) who portrays Leanne gazes from a ledge with castmates Morgan Elliot and Meghan Hartigan. “The best part of this production was the raw emotion behind all of the characters, it made the show feel real,” Urso said. That’s a wrap! On Saturday, January 30th, East theater put on its final performance of their winter show, Puffs. Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years … Continue reading East Theater finds magic in wizarding world of “Puffs”
Christmas movies create the perfect opportunity for families, adults and children alike, to gather beside their fireplace, sip hot chocolate and bundle beneath warm blankets. No matter where – a getaway to your relatives house, a vacation or Christmas at your own house – the holiday season is always known for bringing family together. Most classic Christmas movies are recognized for their comedic aspect, but … Continue reading REVIEW: Violent Night, Gory Night: a Twisted Christmas Story
Christmas music is one the biggest parts of the holiday season and it’s festivities. Here are some modern Christmas albums that have done a great job at keeping the Christmas spirit alive. Merry Christmas– Mariah Carey Mariah Carey’s 1994 Merry Christmas is a timeless piece of art that set the standard for modern Christmas albums. A mixture of great production, Christmas stories and lyricism are … Continue reading Gather around the fire with these 5 classic Christmas albums
Between bouncing from party to party, picking perfect presents, and trimming the tree, the holidays can be overwhelming and difficult to soak in. But if you’re lucky, perhaps you will turn on your TV and find that a familiar holiday classic is on. Nothing ignites Christmas spirit quite like sitting down to enjoy a Christmas movie. Of all the movies that come with the season, … Continue reading The best 5 animated Christmas classics to watch this holiday season
As the temperatures fall and the lights get hung, there are few things that people anticipate more than the warm, soft baked goods of the holiday season. As everyone knows, this can be one of the most overwhelming times of the year. Between last minute shopping and decorating the Christmas tree, the holiday festivities consume our everyday. Everybody knows, there is no Christmas without cookies; … Continue reading Three holiday dessert recipes perfect to leave out for Santa
Since the 1950s, visiting a pumpkin patch and finding the perfect gourd to carve has been a staple in fall family traditions. Generations of families have owned and operated pumpkin patches throughout the country, cultivating a sense of humility and wholesomeness in the activities people of all ages can engage in. For me, a visit to the pumpkin patch has rung in the fall season … Continue reading Three must-visit Illinois pumpkin patches for classic fall fun
Halloween is just around the corner, and as the leaves change, the air cools, and that brisk fall breeze picks up, alarming all of the quickly approaching winter. For now, however, there is something special about savoring this season, sipping on a PSL, carving pumpkins, wandering around corn mazes, and most notably, watching movies. We like movies too, so some of our editors have put … Continue reading Five must-watch films for the Halloween season
East’s Fine Arts Department is in its final days of preparation for its upcoming performance of The Twelve Huntsmen. Shows will be starting October 20th and will run through the 22nd at 7 p.m in the Performing Arts Center. Drawing inspiration from The Brothers Grimm and their stories, The Twelve Huntsmen follows the brothers while they make their way through the forest, and stumble into … Continue reading East Theater Set to Perform “The Twelve Huntsmen”
As temperatures drop and the wind chills your skin, there are few things better at warming you up than comfort food. Fats and carbs mix together with the wonderful familiarity that comes with favorite foods to heat the body and soul. I asked one of East’s culinary teachers, Ms. Scharbert for an autumnal suggestion and she recommended Smoked Gouda and Pumpkin Mac and Cheese. A … Continue reading A warm fall recipe: Smoked Gouda and Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
It’s official, Tyler Childers is taking us to church. Childers is a country, folk, and bluegrass artist from Lawrence County, Kentucky. He has been releasing music since he was 19, with his first commercial release being Bottles and Bibles back in 2011. He then released Purgatory in 2017, Country Squire in 2019, and most recently, Long Violent History in 2020. In recent years, Childers has … Continue reading ‘Purgatory’ serves as a perfect building block to Tyler Childers’ career
Six studio EPs, four albums, and 15 years later, Mumford and Sons have grown from a small indie-folk group to one of the defining bands of the 2010s. While their discography is broad and expansive, it has come time to celebrate 10 years of the album that put their name on the map. This month marks the 10-year anniversary of Babel, the band’s second and … Continue reading Taking a look back at Babel 10 years later
‘Championships’ remains one of the finest introductions to the career of the very talented Meek Mill. Continue reading REVIEW: Meek Mill’s ‘Championships’ reigns as musical introduction to artist
Though struck with staff shortages, Pa Lian continues to serve high-quality, fresh Burmese food for those looking to try a new cuisine. Continue reading REVIEW: Pa Lian Burmese Kitchen offers authentic look into Southeast Asian flavors
East’s Fine Arts Department presented the Disney musical “Newsies” from Thursday, Continue reading East Theater makes headlines with spring musical “Newsies”
At Gia Mia, comfort blends seamlessly with innovation in their cozy, casual meals. Continue reading REVIEW: Gia Mia expertly leans into rustic roots with bold Italian fare
Based on the real-life newsboy strike, East’s Fine Arts Department prepares for their musical performance of Disney’s “Newsies.” Continue reading East Theater set to perform musical adaptation of Disney’s “Newsies”
Drawing inspiration from international cuisines, Wicker Park’s Bloom is a plant-based paradise to treat your body and the planet just right. Continue reading REVIEW: Celebrate Earth Day with plant-based food at Bloom
Perfect for a season filled with family, ‘About a Boy’ perfectly captures the inescapably awkward and wonderful nature of bonding. Continue reading REVIEW: ‘About a Boy’ captures the uncomfortable, inevitable joy of family
Ring in the pleasant spring weather at Chef Paul Virant’s okonomiyaki restaurant Gaijin for a culinary journey through Japanese street food. Continue reading REVIEW: Ring in springtime warmth with authentic Japanese street food at open-air Gaijin
‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ is Lin Manuel Miranda’s heartfelt tribute to the man who inspired his — and many others’ — career in music theater. Continue reading REVIEW: ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ serves as musical love letter to man who birthed new generation of theater
Mac DeMarco’s ‘Rock and Roll Night Club’ remains a musical origin story for contemporary indie rock. Continue reading REVIEW: DeMarco’s ‘Rock and Roll Night Club’: the origin of modern indie music
