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Top Five Fall North By Brandon Mitchell Intern Scarowinds From early September to late October, Carowinds is fully transformed into a land of horrors and haunts. In addition to the normal thrill rides of Carowinds, Scarowinds is filled with terrifying haunted mazes, themed “scare zones” and several spectacularly spooky shows. It is not a cheap activity but it’s worth it for a night of fantastic frights and some of the best roller coasters on the east coast. If you’re brave enough, I definitely recommend riding the Fury 325, the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster, and visiting all six of the haunted mazes. Gate tickets are normally $59, but online tickets only cost $41. There are also discounts for active/ retired military personnel and students. Tickets for military personal are only $33, and students can get tickets for only $39.99. In order to save money, I recommend carpooling since parking is $15 per car and eating beforehand since in-park restaurants are a bit pricey.
Photo Courtesy of Carowinds
Pumpkin Carving Pumpkin carving is one of my favorite fall traditions. It’s simple, fun and it’s perfect for artists or people who just enjoy stabbing things. Gather some friends and go pick out pumpkins from a local patch. Once you have found your perfect pumpkin, carve it into whatever image your heart desires. A medium sized pumpkin will cost around five dollars, and, if you feel inclined, you can purchase a specialized pumpkin carving kit for less than ten dollars. I have always used a normal kitchen knife though and it has never hindered my artistic abilities. With a low price tag and simple setup, pumpkin carving with friends is a perfect way to spend a relaxed autumn night. Photo Courtesy of Pixabay
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Things to do in Carolina Horror Movie Night Gather as many friends and blankets as you can and head to that one friend’s dorm with the good TV and the Netflix password. Binge watch some classic horror films like “The Shining” and “The Conjuring” or catch up on some modern horror films such “It” and “It Follows.” If horror movies are too spooky for your liking, there are plenty of non-scary movies like “Beetlejuice” or “Ghostbusters” that will still get you into the Halloween spirit. This shouldn’t cost anything, except for maybe the price of snacks, and it makes for an awesome laidback night with friends.
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay
Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains is a 469 mile long mountain range that shows off the best sites in North Carolina and Virginia. Explore mountains sides, waterfalls and vast wilderness at your own pace. There are over 100 hiking trails and numerous camping sites. If hiking or camping isn’t your thing, you can stick to the parkway and still enjoy a plethora of beautiful sites from the comfort of your car. I recommend making a day trip out of it. Get up early, pack a picnic and spend a day exploring the mountains. A couple sites do charge an entrance fee; they are typically worth the price, but are always totally optional. For the just the cost of gas and food, exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains is the best autumn activity for its price.
Carolina Renaissance Festival The Carolina Renaissance Festival allows you to travel with your friends to a land of magic and make believe. The festival is filled with over 500 costumed characters that are constantly entertaining guests through comedy, music, dance and many circus style acts like jousting falconry. The interactiveness and overall excitement of the festival will be sure to fully thrill your inner child. For $24, you are fully immersed into the times of the Renaissance. The park also has several rides and games, but they typically cost $1-$5 extra. They also have some fantastic themed food but expect to overpay for it. There are several vendors where you can buy some awesome souvenirs. To make the most of the Renaissance experience, buy into the experience wholeheartedly. Plan with your friends beforehand and wear costumes to the event. Talk to the characters like you are from the Renaissance. Fully unleash your inner fantasy geek and it will transform a fun experience to a downright phenomenal day filled with geeky memories.
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Celebrating How I’m celebrating, and
By Sara Zimmermann Staff Writer Halloween, as I see it, is not a day but an entire season which should be celebrated from the first cooled off days of September until the day that your RA takes down your spooky decorations over Christmas break (yes, this did happen to me). SCarowinds, which has been open for business for weeks already, seems to agree with me here. As adults, it’s a lot harder to know how to enjoy the creepy seasonal spirit without being an actual creep. As sad as it is, we can no longer trick-or-treat; if we did, we’d have a lot of doors shut in our faces. And frankly, most adult Halloween parties just don’t hold a candle to this beloved childhood activity. It seems like the older we get, the more we are excluded from nostalgia. However, this doesn’t mean we can’t dress up and have fun, and more importantly, this doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy candy and all things macabre. For me, my celebration of the Halloween season will consist of a ritual of, first, buying candy -- which I realize isn’t as fun as being given it for free, but at least we have the option to opt out of candy corn and instead buy as many bags of reds-only Starburst. Next, and most importantly, I will devote as many of my October evenings as possible to watching movies, reading books and playing video games, all of which will be creepy and haunting in nature. Here is my list of books, films and games that I’ll be enjoying over the next month. Some of them are classic no-brainers, while others may be titles you’ve never heard of.
Books:
Stephen King’s “IT:” I am suggesting this in its novel form rather than
suggesting the movie or TV show adaptations. It is a novel I have read before and I find it to be much more haunting and simply better overall than any of its counterparts. Put simply, seven childhood friends bond together while being haunted by a formless being which taps into each of their greatest fears. Alvin Schwartz “Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark” (Volumes 1-3): Horror fanatics may already know that there is a film adaptation of this short story series coming out in the vague future. The directing role has been given to Guillermo Del Toro, who is highly esteemed in the horror and greater film community. This compilation of short stories and illustrations is perfect for peoPublisher: Harper Collins Publishers ple who want both a hit of nostalgia and a refresher in anticipation of seeing it on the big screen.
Games:
“Silent Hill:” This series is quintessential to the genre. These games are horror classics that are highly revered as some of the bests. They are immersive and atmospheric, and the series has a large variety of installments with varying plots and styles to choose from. I suggest the second game in the series, but each continuation has a unique exploration into the haunted town of Silent Hill.
Courtesy of arastark3 via deviantart.com
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Halloween arguably how you should too
“Outlast:” This game is fun to play with a group of friends watching along. I certainly haven’t been able to play it alone. In “Outlast”, follow a reporter along his descent into corruption as he investigate a seemingly abandoned asylum.
Movies
“The Last Shift:” “The Last Shift” is a low budget Indie horror film with a small but strong cast. As a rookie police officer finishes out the last shift at a closing-down police station, she alone must confront supernatural and occult forces. “Black Mirror:” “Black Mirror” is a TV series rather than a film, but the seasons contain many very lengthy episodes. Each is eerie and thought-provoking, and all of them confront a very pressing issue prevalent in modern society: pervasive technology. My favorite episode is Play Test, which has many classic horror elements and a rich plot.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
“Nocturnal Animals:” This may be more of a thriller to hardened horror fans, but it’s still worth watching. A woman receives a brutal and traumatic transcript about a family tragedy from a man she hasn’t heard from in years. “The Blackcoat’s Daughter:” This is a fairly recent horror flick starring Emma Roberts. This one is dark and atmospheric with heavily religious themes. Two girls are left at a Catholic school over the break and are left to the mercy of the nuns there who may be involved in less-thansaintly cult rituals.
Classic Horror Films:
My favorite of the holy-grail classic horrors are “Scream,” “Nightmare on Elm Street,” and “Friday the 13th.” All of them have multiple installments (too many, depending on who you ask) but for each of them, I believe that the original first movies are the best. “Scream:” This is a genre-defining movie that remains an iconic 1990’s staple. It is simple but effective: A masked killer terrorizes and brutalizes a score of middle class teenagers. “A Nightmare on Elm Street:” Freddy Krueger is one Photo Courtesy of Pixabay of the most terrifying horror villains, as victims cannot even escape him in their sleep. Just like “Scream” (by the same director, Wes Craven), a group of teenagers is at the center of the cast. They must fight for their lives as they figure out how to escape a monster who can kill them in reality by appearing in their dreams. “Friday the 13th:” Another horror necessity from the 1980s, merciless killer Jason ranks among the iconic villains like Freddy Krueger (many of you know there is a crossover film). Oblivious camp counselors are stalked and murdered by yet another mask wearing killer.
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
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Planning The Perfect Fall Date By Katherine Herrera Staff Writer Dates during the fall are just the best. Charlotte hosts so many fall events that are so much fun for couples wanting to go on dates for a good time. You can go to SCarowinds, a drive-in movie, a corn maze, festivals and more. It’s just so much fun and a lot to look forward to doing. But what if you don’t want to go out and spend money or be in public, yet you want to have a fun date night? Charlotte has a few good things to do for a perfect fall date. Going out on dates is fun and all, but there are times where you still want to fill the fall festivities but in a private setting where you don’t have to dress up and be surrounded by people and you can be very comfortable at home. So, to having a perfect date night, you just need a few things. For the date, maybe you can coordinate matching fall pajamas or something comfortable. It sounds silly, but trust me, it’s cute and fun and your selfies will look bomb! Plan on cooking a dinner together. Comfort food is perfect, and for dessert you can have any kind of pie with ice cream on top and maybe hot chocolate or coffee on the side. That’s perfect, almost like a mini version of Thanksgiving dinner. Or you can always just order in some pizza and wings. You can never go wrong with that. For it all to come together, cook or order in, but make sure there is dessert. It is a must have for it to work. Buy scented candles so you can turn the lights off in the house and have a dim, romantic, warm setting. The room will also smell so good like fall. Set up the list of movies you want to see together and be in comfortable matching clothes. A night of movies and of course everything in between…if you know what I mean. It’s a perfect date night. It’s inexpensive and private. I feel like a lot of couples now want to enjoy each other more indoors because of that sense of privacy and comfort. You can be more yourselves with each other.
Photo Courtesy of Pexels
Another good idea is camping out for a weekend. The good thing is that it has been warmer than usual in October. It is very romantic. You can have fun fishing and go hiking out in nature. There is also the enjoyment of looking at the stars a night, listening to music and having conversations. Charlotte has a couple of places for wine tasting. Going wine tasting for a date is so much fun. If you haven’t tried it, you should. Wine lets you get loose, there is a lot of laughter, and learning and tasting new things. Wine tasting can lead to so many things afterwards. I’m just saying that sounds like a perfect start to a date. A date is perfect no matter what you do as long as it is fun and romantic. The fall is the perfect time to enjoy new things. You can keep things simple and indoors by putting effort in the first idea, as I have done date nights at home plenty of times and it never gets old, but having them now during the fall is perfect because of the movies that are out and the food. I don’t know what it is about fall, but it’s perfect.
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Falls Trendiest Accessories By Katherine Herrera Staff Writer The joy of fall is the reason we look forward to the season the most. The things we love to do because it is not too cold or too hot. Although, it has been a little too hot, but that’s okay because the most excitement comes from the fashion trends for the fall. We all cannot live without shoes at all. Every single person has at least one. It is a mustwear for life and the only change is the styles. Accessories are amazing because they change every season, but fall 2018 is going all out with every trend from makeup, hair, shoes and accessories. Fall is not playing this year and it is making a big statement! For women, the shoe types in trend are interesting. What do we love? Boots! The slouch boot is in. You can wear it with anything. It gives you some sort of edge to your outfits and dresses it up. If they are high knee slouch boots, they give you more of a sexy look. High knee boots were everywhere last year and they should be coming back since everyone loved them so much. Ankle boots, of course, and cowboy boots, now they will always be in style, but what is different this year is the colors and patterns -- snake skin pattern. A white snake skin pattern is a statement piece to have. Suede boots are so gorgeous and the colors this year to have are blue, pink, red, brown and black. Leather will never go out of style, but you will see more unique designs and patterns embedded in leather boots. Sneakers are coming back with more of an 80s style. They will have more patterns and colors and we will be seeing more high-top sneakers as well. Here is a twist, low heels are trending. Don’t get me wrong, high heels will never go away, but the focus for fall is low heels. It’s very classy and still gives you a little height, plus they are easy to walk in. Pointed toe shoes with a low heel is a favorite. It is perfect for work or any professional event. You could also wear it out if you want to be a bit dressy but not over the top. The best place to find shoes in season is Macy’s in Herald Square. I know it’s far from here, but if you ever go to New York, go to Macy’s in Herald Square and take the elevator to 12
the shoe department. It is the best feeling ever because the whole floor is dedicated to women’s shoes. There are shoes everywhere! Now that we got our shoes down, we can’t sleep on accessories. They are just as important! Carrying a large handbag will be eye catching. Last year it was little handbags, but this year, bring out your large handbags and wear them. Any color, any pattern; it doesn’t matter as long as it is big, you’re good. Want to know what else is going big? Oversized sunglasses! No smaller thin sunglasses. For this season, oversized, bold, unique sunglasses are the new must have. We used to think that they were an old-style decade ago, but not anymore, and they are trying to remain in style for the rest of the year. We will see if this trend will remain in style next summer. It is an exciting time for jewelry. As there is no surprise, jewelry is also going big. Big statement pieces and chunky earrings are trending, but that’s not all. You will be seeing bling, crystals and shiny pieces. They are so beautiful and can take your simple look to another level. We love shiny, pretty things when it comes to our jewelry and now we can have it all for fall. These trends may seem funky and odd and you may be wondering how they all tie together. Well they do, and you can get inspiration by looking at the fashion shows for Fall 2018. Don’t be overwhelmed in trying to do it all because you may like something but not all, which is totally okay. If you love some of the trends, make it your own, you got it. I guarantee you people will want what you have. It is all about being creative. One more piece of advice so you don’t break the bank, look in your closet, because every season they always bring something back and you may just have it! Fall 2018 is making a bold statement, don’t fall short this season.
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Photos Courtesy of thenosleeppodcast.com
By Sara Zimmermann Staff Writer
By Kam Fitzgibbons intern
Our tradition of listening to spooky podcast stories came from our desire to kill time while we roomed together freshman year. Both of us have a love for things morbid and haunting, and while searching the depths of YouTube, we discovered someone who did readings of spooky stories found on the internet. YouTube user Cryaotic primarily makes videos about games but has a small collection of videos in which he voice-acts scary stories he finds on Reddit. His lack of content lead us to the NoSleep podcast. This sparked a ritual that we still enjoy years later. We spent many nights picking stories and then failing to find enough peace to fall asleep afterwards. Based on experience, we can both say that the title of the podcast is very accurate. The NoSleep podcast is an online series that features original horror stories. This podcast boasts 11 seasons, each season containing upwards of 20 episodes with each episode featuring a handful of similarly-themed stories. The NoSleep podcast is 16
expertly done. There is a talented and experienced cast of voice actors, atmospheric music and immersive sound-effects which bring life to the haunting readings. One of the strengths of this podcasts is that it pulls stories from a diverse batch of authors. Amateurs, published authors, hobbyists and career writers have all been featured on the podcast. Even better is that the NoSleep podcast seems to have no boundaries or limits to its horror content. Each story seems to be more haunting than the last. The website for the NoSleep podcast is very user-friendly and provides suggestions on where to start if you are new. Many of these stories are great places to begin if you are unsure of your limits or do not have a particular taste or preference for horror. You can start there with any of the episodes they have listed, but if you’re interested in delving deeper, here are our suggestions based on what we have heard so far:
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Borrasca: Borrasca was written by published author C.K. Walker and it can be read in its entirety online. Episode 25 of Season 7 is a special full-length episode clocking in at 2 hours and 17 minutes; this one is a whirlwind. What draws you into this story at first are the characters and the childlike nature of their interactions. This eventually lulls you into a false sense of security as the ending of the story is far from innocent. Main character Sam lives in a small mountain town which exists under the shadow of an urban legend. When Sam’s best friend Kimber goes missing, the legend becomes more of a reality. We found this story to be incredibly memorable due to its intense plot twists and realistic use of horror content.
Photo Courtesy of thenosleeppodcast.com
The Smiling Man: This story, featured in Season 2, episode 5, won the NoSleep horror writing contest of 2012 and for good reason. This story centers around someone who, when walking alone at night, encounters a terrifying and intimidating individual. From there, the story only gets more and more disturbing. This one stuck with us because of how simple it is. It’s one of the shorter stories featured on NoSleep, yet it still has a chilling storyline that leaves listeners feeling uneasy.
Photo Courtesy of thenosleeppodcast.com
Soft White Damn: Season 5, Episode 18 is a shorter listen, but it is no less terrifying. The main character is a disgruntled single man staying in a cabin alone during a snow flurry. As the night progresses, he begins to hear noises outside. These sounds, combined with the amount of alcohol the main character has been consuming, lead for a terrifying and convoluted night during which the main character must confront both the monster outside and the monsters in his past and in his mind. The voices and sounds in this episode are particularly important to the story. Over a year later, we can still recall the chilling noises from this particular story.
Honorable Mentions: We found the following three stories featured on the podcast memorable and felt they were too spooky to be left out. Each (for their own reasons) left the two of us unable to sleep, yet again allowing the podcast’s name to ring true. The Disappearance of Ashley, Kansas (Season 2, Episode 5) The Penpal (Season 1, Episode 11) Butcherface (Season 1, Episode 4) For anyone interested in checking out the NoSleep podcast, all of their stories can be accessed here: https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/.
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Fall Forward Into Fall Beauty Trends By Katherine Herrera Staff Writer This season is exciting for beauty trends! It is like there are no limitations; you can really do anything. Creativity is key for fall looks. Every company is launching something new and unique about every week and I have seen some of the colors from different brands that should be launching soon. This is the year where you get the chance to take your look to the next level. Of course, hairstyles change as much as the seasons do, whether it’s your hair color or style. If your hair’s on point, so is everything else. There are a few styles trending this season. Slicked back hair, the bob, bangs and wavy hair. These will complete your whole look for a night out, date, work, anything. You will also be seeing a lot of long hairstyles that are either super straight or wavy. Also, styling your hair in a high, tight ponytail is perfect for the fall, and of course, the messy bun is coming back in style. Hair colors are also changing. If you haven’t had your hair colored but you want to, now is the time. If your hair is already colored, you can change it. The color that is in is chestnut brown. It is a perfect color for the fall. Most people don’t want to change their hair color entirely, and chestnut brown is the best way to start by either doing your whole hair, the ends or highlights. Are you blonde? Or want to be blonde? Changing your hair to dirty blonde is in as well as a very cool blonde or platinum. I actually have blonde hair and went from a warm brassy color to a cooler blonde with some warm tones. Hopefully, you’re inspired to make your appointment with your hair stylist. Change is great, especially when it comes to hair! The excitement is unreal! Let’s start with highlighters. Highlighting is everyone’s must-have for this season and it is a step you can’t skip. Brands like M.A.C. Cosmetics, Becca, Nars and a few more are launching new highlighters for the season. Glitter, metallic and shine are in. They have taken their 18
highlighters up a notch. Not only is the look in, but color! You may already have a couple of these, but a pink or purple highlighter (or any that have a hint of color) is over the top amazing. If you already have a highlighter with a color or glitter in it, pull it out and put it on! Keep in mind that metallic wear is in with bright colors. Lips! Everyone wants a pretty lip, yet so many ask what dark colors are in as if you’re only allowed to wear certain colors. NOT this season! You can wear the darkest reds to the brightest purple to the nudist brown. Any color and any formula. Although, metallic overall in fashion is in because a few brands are launching metallic lip products as well as a range of color. If it’s not metallic, brands are also launching glosses, liquid lips and lipsticks in a variety of colors like pink, blue, purple, green, orange, red, brown, gold, silver and more. Lastly, skin! Many of us love a matte finish to our look and find it appropriate for the fall, but not this time. Don’t get me wrong, you can still have a matte finish; you can do anything for this year’s trend. Glowing skin is the new trend this fall! That glossy finish is everything. I know many have concerns for oily skin and find that the matte finish is the only way, which is fine, you can keep it matte or change it. Just throw that new highlighter all around the face and it will accomplish the look. You can also use one of M.A.C. Cosmetics’ setting sprays in gold or pink to get the glow finish as well. I actually got to try a new highlighter that’s launching in a month or so and the highlighter all around my face like my cheeks, my nose, my cupid’s bow, above and under the brow looked amazing. I received so many compliments all day and had people ask me what it was so they can buy it and I said it’s not out yet, but it will be. My face was glowing! I did mean what I said: creativity is key for this fall’s trend to be looking beautiful for Fall 2018.
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