DAIRY BELLE & THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER

ENTERTAINMENT INREVIEW

BY ABBY GODSEN assistant editor

Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

“The Great”

This is probably one of, if not my all time favorite Starbucks drinks. It isn’t bitter at all and it isn’t overly sweet like a frappuccino. I also love how it already comes as a dairy free option rather than having to substitute in alternative milks. I am a big fan of iced coffee so this is a real win on all levels for me.

Although I really enjoyed the plot of this series and how it is rooted in real historical events, I didn’t think it was exceptionally comedic for being categorized as a comedy-drama. I understood the satirical commentary on Catherine the Great and the acting was excellent, but I don’t think the writing matched what they were trying to go for in regards to the movie category.

Dairy Belle ice cream chain opens up new location in Crown Point

BY NOAH THOMAS co-editor-in-chief

For those who like ice cream or frozen treats, Dairy Belle, one of Northwest Indiana’s most famous ice cream franchises, recently opened a new location in Crown Point. This new sweet spot is located at 1496 North Main Street.

Walking into the store, the new modern but retro theme is clear to see. Dairy Belle absolutely nailed this theme, with the colors used in the interior and the store even has a jukebox and an old fashioned soda machine.

The staff was very friendly and even recommended items to try. During my visit, I tried the pistachio soft serve, the non-dairy pineapple dole whip, strawberry short cake sundae and hot fudge brownie delight sundae.

While the pistachio soft serve is only available in April as it is the current flavor of the month, it was very delicious and sweet. If you like a nutty flavor, this soft serve is for you.

This soft serve is the perfect amount of sweet and salty. It comes in a bright green color that appeals visually to the customer and tastes just like a pistachio. They pile and swirl the soft serve and you get a lot of ice cream for your buck.

The non-dairy pineapple dole whip is available year round and it is also very visually appealing.

It smelled like a tropical paradise and you can almost envision yourself eating this treat on a warm beach with palm trees. This was better than the pistachio in my opinion, but if you prefer a nutty flavor, pistachio is the way to go.

The strawberry short cake sundae was amazing as well. The sundae’s presentation was superb. The dish had freshly cut strawberries and cold vanilla ice cream on a short cake topped with chilled whipped cream. The greatness of these sweet flavors combined truly encased Dairy Belle’s fantastic take on this classic treat.

If you like a chocolate-themed dessert, the hot fudge brownie delight sundae is the special for you. It has pieces of brownie, peanuts and hot fudge mixed in with the vanilla ice cream, with whipped cream topping it all off.

The hot fudge brownie delight sundae was my favorite out of all the things I tried, as it was super sweet and the chopped up pieces of brownie were so good.

It was nostalgic going to this new Dairy Belle location and the flavors invoked happy memories of when I went to the original Hammond Dairy Belle as a kid. The atmosphere of the retro cafe, the friendly staff, great location, convenient prices and delicious ice cream will certainly keep me coming back.

Dairy Belle’s menu has a variety of frozen treats, including this non-dairy pineapple dole whip. PHOTO BY EMILY HELMUTH

INKLINGS 35 “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” continues to show Marvel’s new dominance on the small screen

BY ANDREW POESCHL reporter

After the relative success of Marvel’s last show, “WandaVision,” expectations were high for their next show “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”

The show follows two previously established characters Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes, played by Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan respectively, as they travel across the globe in search for the leader of an international terrorist organization.

In their search, they run into many other roadblocks, such as Falcon’s reluctance to take up the title of Captain America and Bucky’s attempts to make amends with his violent past as the Winter Soldier.

With the series having six episodes and each episode being an hour long, the show is able to explore all of these conflicts and themes thoroughly without feeling rushed.

In general, the show has a much darker tone than many of Marvel’s other projects, especially their most recent one “WandaVision.” The show tackles several serious topics throughout its run, such as modern day racism in America and the government’s inaction towards the homeless and refugees.

The show handles these topics very well and is able to accurately portray them. While this is a nice change of pace for Marvel, it may make this show a bit less enjoyable for people who are looking for a more lighthearted show to relax with.

The show’s story is extremely well written as well. The story provides many twists and is able to keep you interested throughout the entirety of the series. The characters are well done and each one has an interesting arc as the show progresses.

The plot of “The Falcon and the Winter Solider” does not have as unique of a premise as “WandaVision.” I advise to not go into it expecting it to be a one-of-a-kind type of show, but this does not take away from its entertainment factor or production value of the show.

The show’s entire cast gives phenomenal performances. Both the leads, Mackie and Stan, have great chemistry together and are able to sell their complex relationship perfectly.

The show also has Daniel Brühl reprise his role as Zemo from “Captain America: Civil War,” which was met with excitement from Marvel fans. We are also introduced to the new character of John Walker played by Wyatt Russell.

John Walker is who the government decided to name as the new Captain America, and Russell is able to masterfully portray the complex character of John Walker.

Overall I would say that “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” is a great show. I would recommend it to any Marvel fan or anybody looking for a quality show to watch.

It may be hard to get into if you are not a follower of the MCU, but, even with that in mind, I think anyone could figure it out pretty quickly. Although it may not be as unique and whimsical as “WandaVision,” it is still a well written and complex series that is worth watching.

PLAYING FAVORITES

Squishables

These are probably my favorite type of stuffed animal because they are incredibly soft and they are made to be squished and hugged which makes them even better.

WE’RE SO OVER

Improper Hallway Etiquette

Since when has it ever been socially acceptable to walk three or four people across in the hallway super slow? Some of us have places to be, and it does not help when the freshmen class and even a few sophomores don’t know how to walk in the hallway.