The Skyline Post - Volume 1: 2023-2024 Winter Issue

Special Winter Edition

Ann Arbor Sledding Review: Here are the Best Places to Sled

Cate Howard, Nati Murrell

You wake up to a world covered with a blanket of white, school has been called off, and you are looking for something to do. Look no further: The Skyline Post has curated a list of the best sledding hot spots that are sure to keep you active and having fun on snowy days.

Veterans Memorial Park 2150 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 With only one giant hill, Vets is best suited for intermediate to advanced sledders. The hill provides amazing speed and distance but it can be too steep for some. Vets can get very crowded so watch out for little kids! Vets is also attached to an ice skating rink that provides restrooms and concessions at certain hours. Hot chocolate, here we come! Vet’s park is free and located just 5 minutes from Skyline.

4.5/5:

Huron Hills Golf Course 3465 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Although Huron Hills Golf Course is on the other side of town from Skyline, it is definitely worth the commute. There are a plethora of hills to sled from smaller hills for newcomers to bigger hills for the risk takers. There are no available restrooms for those who choose this hill so it’s best to go for only a few hours.

3 out of 5:

February 28, 2024

Leslie Science Center 1831 Traver Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Located on the Southeast side of Ann Arbor, Leslie Science Center is home to a small but scenic sledding hill. Great for beginner sledders, this quiet sledding hill surrounded by woods will get any younger kids interested in sledding. While not the best choice for older kids, it is free of charge and often very empty.

Unfortunately, other than the hill itself, there aren’t many other perks – including no restrooms.

2 out of 3: Rolling Hills 7660 Stony Creek Rd, Ypsilanti Charter Twp, MI 48197 This waterpark turns into a sledding hill for the winter and is a great option for thrill seekers. Similar to Vets, there is a very tall and steep hill that will guarantee speed. Additionally, there is a protected area allowing sledders to safely climb back up the hill. Rolling Hills not only has sledding but they also have tubing and a winter playground. Unfortunately, there is a cost of $10 per day to sled here but they provide many amenities such as sled rentals and heated bathrooms.

4 out of 5: While Ann Arbor is home to a variety of amazing sledding hills, we would have to rank Vet’s Park as our number one pick: a perfect combination of thrills and amenities – you are sure to have a great time!

Cate Howard (‘25) ready to hit the slopes! Credit: Nati Murrel

Ten Michigan Universities Guarantee Admission to Those with 3.0 GPA

Eda Kirca, Lucas Caswell, Cecelia Brush, Ashley Han

On September 22 2023, ten out of Michigan’s fifteen public universities signed the Michigan Assured Admission Pact, guaranteeing admission for students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The new pact benefits students and universities alike, giving students more opportunities and an easier application process while boosting universities’ enrollment rates.

“They feel confident in our schools that if you get a 3.0, you’ve demonstrated that you are ready for college and you will fit in with their rigorous demands,” explains College and Career Center (CUBE) advisor Nick Lacy.

For students with a GPA below 3.0, the regular admission process is required. Their applications will still be considered.

In the last two decades, Michigan universities (excluding the University of Michigan and Michigan State

GIRLS AND BOYS HOCKEY GOING STRONG

University) have seen a decline in enrollment. Taking down the barrier of college application for those with higher GPAs is aimed at ensuring a new surge of student enrollment.

“There are so many great schools in Michigan, and people don’t think about them,” says Lacy. “All they want to think about are the biggest schools, so this is a great opportunity for students to explore.”

Even with guaranteed admission, the CUBE invites students with open arms for assistance with career planning and college applications. The CUBE hosts universities and employers regularly. “I also want students to know that [the CUBE] is not just about going to a four-year college,” says Lacy. “If they are not feeling the whole college thing and they want to do a trade or they want to do a different kind of career, they should still come in.”

Mason Stagner, Nate Werns

SAVORING THE SEASON: A CELEBRATION OF WINTER HOLIDAY FOODS Sylvie Bleckman, Ashley Han

THESE MENTAL HEALTH CENTERED BOOKS SAY WHAT YOU CAN’T PUT INTO WORDS Veronica Terry

A REVIEW OF SKYLINE STUDY SPOTS, WHERE TO WORK AT IN A2 Oliver Pung

PAGE 5 Both the boys’ and girls’ hockey teams have started their seasons with a bang. Hear what the hardworking players have to say about thir accomplishments and the onset of the season!

PAGES 6-7 With many winter holidays being celebrated, let’s share the different dishes that make our cultures unique. Delve into the recipes that represent the diversity of culture here at Skyline!

PAGE 8 Mental health is a common struggle among high school students.

Here are some books about teen mental health that depict this struggle and help raise awareness.

PAGE 11 Students often find themselves stuck looking for a place to power through their homework and obligations. This article covers the pros and cons of various common Ann Arbor study spots.

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LIFESTYLES

What to Do in A2 in the Wintertime Grace Letzmann

Are you sick of staying home during the dull winter months? Looking for activities to enjoy with your friends or family? Fortunately, Ann Arbor offers tons of fun and fulfilling options.

Known for its “fine dining, cutting-edge innovation, and world-class attractions,” according to Pure Michigan, Ann Arbor is the perfect place to explore in winter.

Go Ice Skating at Veterans Memorial Park Pool Go bowling at Revel and Roll & Ice Arena (1950 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48104) (2150 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) Revel and Roll is a bowling alley and arcade that offers Veterans Memorial Park offers many activities, but du- a variety of food and drinks to enjoy while you play. ring winter, it features an indoor ice arena with open It’s an ideal venue to host parties and spend time with skating. It’s a perfect spot to bring your friends and fa- friends and family. “Revel and Roll is a pretty cool plamily to make funny memories. “Vets is a great place to ce to go to if you like bowling and playing games,” says get out on the ice and have a good time with friends,” Mikira Bennett-Cole (‘25). says Owen Simmons (‘25).

See a movie at the State Theater (233 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104) or the Michigan Theater!

(603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104) The Ann Arbor State and Michigan Theaters show a wide range of movies and occasionally host plays. Some movies currently showing include “Mean Girls,” “Poor Things,” and “All of Us Strangers.” They are great places to warm up on a cold winter day with friends, and see a new movie or play. “State Theater is really fun because there is so much going on,” says Isabella Sommers (‘24). “There is always a great mix of people there, from seniors to students.”

Read more on our website!

Play arcade games at Pinball Pete’s (1214 S University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104) Pinball Pete’s is an indoor arcade that is perfect for those cold winter months. It has a large variety of games and activities, including multiple pool tables. There are plenty of fun prizes available to exchange for the tickets you win. “It’s a great place to go if you want to hang out and play some games,” says Shriya Patel (‘27), “and it’s indoor and warm.”

Enjoy a warm tea at TeaHaus (204 N 4th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104)

See a concert at Hill Auditorium (825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)

TeaHaus offers great options if you’re looking for a refreshment, with more than 260 flavors of tea, specialty drinks and food, TeaHaus is the perfect place to warm up. “I like to get tea and other drinks from downtown places like...TeaHaus,” says Vivian Raupp (‘27).

Hill Auditorium is the largest venue on the University of Michigan campus, seating over 3,500 people and offering concerts all year long. Especially appealing on weekends, or snow days, it’s a perfect place to enjoy entertainment with friends. “I really like Hill Auditorium because it’s a great place to watch a variety of shows, concerts, and any sort of entertainment,” says Amelia Repp (‘24).

EDITOR’S NOTE

humble me. Each of them brings their interests and background, enriching our reporting and changing us for the better.

There are two things I have come to appreciate about Skyline. First, our administration has never shied away from trying new things. Second, our community is rich with individuals willing to take action and make their voices heard. These two factors came together to create The Skyline Post – what you hold in your hand today.

I remember our first days as a club on Zoom in 2020. It was chaotic and messy but it proved enough to pilot Journalism as a course. Every once and a while, I think back to those days and I am astonished. The Skyline Post has become more than I could have ever imagined in just three and a half years. In that short span, we have moved into our excellent website and published hundreds of stories on a wide variety of topics from March Madness to career resources, netting tens of thousands of story views. This issue is the next step.

The Skyline Post is the result of bringing together disparate voices. The ingenuity and creativity of the dozens of journalists each trimester continue to

This is evident in our first print issue. There are stories about sledding, snow days and study spots next to recipes from many cultures. The diversity of our writers yielded confidence that there is an appealing article here for everyone.

“Holding a paper makes us confront the weight of what is written. Our move to print marks a major step forward for The Skyline Post. It will take years for us to reach our final destination, but we still celebrate this milestone. A special thanks to our graphic designers on staff who have made this issue possible through their tireless work.

Special thanks to Layout Editors Benji Davidoff, Ashley Han, and Eda Kirca for their tireless work producing this issue. It would not have happened without them!

Thank you for reading our first issue; we hope you enjoy it.

Lucas Caswell (‘24) Editor in Chief

LOREM IPSUM

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS

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A Dive into Dating with Fish in the Sea: A Review Avni Gupta, Ember DuPont

Benji Davidoff (‘24) and Svea von der Lieth (‘24) introducing the show.

Visit The Skyline Post’s website for a full list of all upcoming Theater, Choir, Band, and Orchestra events!

“Funny, Deep and Reflective,” says Paul Minock (‘24), describing the plot of the original stage play, Fish in the Sea, about a heartbroken man trying to fill the ex-girlfriend-shaped void in his heart. The comedy One Act co-written and directed by Svea von der Lieth (‘24) and Benji Davidoff (‘24) showed in the Black Box Theater this January, starring Huck Amick (‘25) as Daniel Lurin.

“The idea for Fish in the Sea came from a skit I wrote for an internship,” said Benji Davidoff, “[It was] a mini skit for the young campers about a man going on multiple hilarious dates.”

Fish in the Sea shines with a cast of colorful characters.

Ranging from Maisie White’s (‘27) thoughtful Sebastian to Sara von der Lith’s (‘27) murderous Ruby, every character brings a strange experience to Daniel’s life.

As date after date ends exceedingly badly, and Daniel’s precarious relationship with the waitress piles up higher than his unpaid tab, Daniel sees his ex again. Sofia, played by Mara Mocanu (‘27), is on a date with a man named Louie (Lex Zain ‘27) and looks completely happy. Daniel, still plagued by heartbreak months after their breakup, is angry.

“It has been amazing,” Maisie White said. “The directors are very nice and supportive…and everyone is very friendly.”

He begs Sophia to take him back, charging her with fixing the heart she broke. And she refuses. Telling Daniel of her own heartbreak, a concept he hadn’t considered. Now even more lost and even more confused, Daniel’s only successful date, Ava (Alison Kauffman ‘27) gathers with every failed relationship he has tried to kickstart to help him get back on his feet.

From the fake bottle Daniel smashes in the opening scene to the merry-go-round of dates shown during the dating app scene, every bit of the show was executed wonderfully.

With the production’s rehearsals being cut short by snow days and stormy weather, the cast and crew put in amazing work to pull every string of this production together. “The other actors are pretty fun to work with and the directors are both great, really fun to work with, and the stage managers are very helpful,” said Ashton Woods (‘25), who plays Alexander.

Now preparing for their Spring Stage Play, Skyline Theater is excited to present Clue later this April 12th, 13th and 14th.

Community Profile: The Life of Rosa Ildecinda Montalvo Max Feliks

“I had a pretty normal childhood,” said Rosa IIdecinda Montalvo. Now the sous chef at the downtown Ann Arbor restaurant, Isalita Cantina Mexicana, Montalvo was born in Iglesia Vieja, a small town in El Salvador with around 10,000 people. Her mom worked there on a cow farm. When Montalvo was about two years old, her mom gave her to her boss. They officially adopted her, and they became her new parents.

Although Montalvo didn’t live on the farm for long, when she was there, it was “violent and scary.” The guerrillas, a leftist group that wanted to overthrow the Salvadoran government in the 1980s and early 1990s, were particularly known for hostage-taking and stealing. Montalvo knows this firsthand. “The guerrillas came and took over my family’s farm….I don’t know why.”

Montalvo got her first job washing dishes at a small restaurant. She was going to college and still spoke little English, so “that’s all they would let me do.” Seeing the line cooks inspired her. This job would ultimately launch her career as a chef.

Montalvo didn’t plan on staying in the U.S., but with the birth of her daughter Melanie, her priorities changed. “The thought of her growing up without me, I knew I had to stay.” Because it was then right after 9/11, getting citizenship was harder than ever. “I mean I understand why it was hard.”

Working at Isalita, Montalvo comes up with new menu items and prepares the food. Almost everything at Isalita has little bits of her inspiration in them, from the traditional tuna tostadas to her own version of the pork shoulder quesadillas. She helps manage the kitchen and makes sure everything runs smoothly.

Living in Michigan for Montalvo is “great” but not perfect. “Obviously I get some weird comments. Someone once told me to go back to Mexico, but it was funny.

I’m not even from Mexico.” But, all in all, she thinks that this is a good community, and most people are very kind. She has friends.

Not only did they take over the farm, they abducted her adopted mother. Montalvo’s family was forced to pay a large amount of money for her safe return, but they still didn’t get the farm back until the government stepped in to help. “[It was] still dangerous to own anything.” They were forced to get rid of the farm.

Just because a student is in the ELL program does not mean that they don’t know English. They just might need a little extra time to take tests or additional written or verbal instructions. Even though a student is receiving ELL accommodations, it does not mean they are “any less smart than anyone else,” says Brose.

“Think about how much extra work they have to do.”

Even though our newcomers are a very small number of people, “everyone wants someone to talk to,” says Brose. Even if someone’s primary language is not English, just trying to talk to them goes a long way.

Many newcomers have amazing stories. You never know what you might learn.

San Salvador had a dark side for Montalvo. “You don’t want to be outside after the sun goes down.” There’s a lot of violence, but she says it’s not because there are a lot of bad people, it’s because they don’t have any other options. If they don’t go to university, there’s not a whole lot people can do to make money. Joining gangs is a way to provide for their families.

She went from having money and living on a farm to sleeping on a “paper-thin mattress” in a living room that wasn’t fully built yet. They were building their house little by little. Even with everything that happened, she still speaks very fondly of San Salvador. “I wish I could smell the ocean and fish like that again.”

When Montalvo got to the U.S., she spoke no English at all. “It was hard. I didn’t have any friends, and I couldn’t talk to anybody except my family.” While living in Chicago, she went to Chicago Community College to learn English. Not only did she learn English, but she also made friends.

At Skyline we serve our newcomers through an English Language Learner program (ELL) taught by Jennifer Brose. She teaches special English classes for people who are learning academic English while developing English language skills. The ELL program allows students to get help learning the state’s standard English skills.

When asked if people should try to talk to newcomer students, Brose said, “Yes! Imagine going through your day and not talking to anyone. Sometimes a simple ‘Hello, how are you?’ can help make a new student feel comfortable and accepted.”

They moved to the capital San Salvador, a beautiful city by the ocean and the San Salvador Volcano. Montalvo described how she would often get fresh fish from the fisherman.

Montalvo lived there until she was 18 when her parents decided to send her to Chicago to stay with her uncle. “They didn’t approve of my boyfriend….He was the love of my life.”

spoken. There are an estimated 25 newcomers who moved to the U.S. in the last 3 years who currently attend our school.

After she studied and passed her citizenship test, she officially became a U.S. citizen. She bounced around the U.S., living in California, New Mexico and Chicago again. She had a son, Lucien.

She was still working in the restaurant business, and then she found her way to Michigan. “This is the place I will stay.” Montalvo is very rooted in the community. Her daughter goes to Michigan State and works in

Montalvo tells everyone to try to talk to people even if they don’t speak English. “When you think about Ann Arbor It’s easy to think about the doctors but immigrants are the unseen workers…. There are more [immigrants] here than people think.”

When people think about immigrants, it is common to think just about Latino people, but here within our community Skyline there are 21 different languages

4

SPIRIT WEEK

WINTER SPIRIT WEEK GALLERY Ashley Han, Eda Kirca

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Cozy Holiday PJ Day Bundle Up Day Holiday Accessory Day Winter White-Out Day Ugly Holiday Sweater Day Long Winter’s Nap Day N/A Surf vs Ski Day Flannel Day Class Color Day

LOREM IPSUM

WINTER SPORTS

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Girls and Boys Hockey Going Strong Mason Stagner, Nate Werns

Boys hockey has started off hot, defeating Milford 8-0 and Dexter 5-2. Last season the Eagles ended with a 12-15 record. They are off to a better start this season with a current standing of 10-10-1, ranked first in the southeastern conference red division. “I think some of the upsides are the fact we work well together as a team,” says Lucas Deyoung (‘26). “We are all friends.”

The boys are optimistic for the rest of the season after beating cross-town-rival Pioneer 6-5 despite trailing 2-4 early in the game. The team is now on a three game win streak, and looks to end the season strong. “I’m looking forward to playing more with my team and possibly making regionals,” says Deyoung.

The boys are looking forward to more than just finishing the regular season well. “We are playing some of our best hockey of the season right now as the regular season wraps up and the playoffs begin,” says boys’ head coach Matthew Meyer. “We are extremely hungry to bring Skyline its first ever Regional Championship in MHSAA Hockey.”

After finishing 19-1-1 last year, the Skyron (Skyline and Huron combined) Girls’ Hockey team has hit the ground running this year with a record so far of 156. They may in fact be even better than their record shows.

“So far we have lost a couple very close games that we could have won,” says Molly Greenburg (‘26). The girls look to keep their foot on the gas for the remainder of the current season and end with a similar result to the year prior.

Last season the girls’ only tie was to Pioneer, but this year they defeated Pioneer 8-1. “I’m looking forward to going to states [and] if possible also going to a tournament in Traverse City,” says Greenburg.

Overall, the girls are excited to move forward and possibly make a deep playoff run with “a full team effort and contribution…as we head into the playoffs beginning the first week of march,” says girls’ head coach Paul Dionne.

Ann Arbor United Figure Skating Team Skates into the New Year Paige Bazzani

#9 Graham Newton (24’) and #6 Edison Hannis (24’) standing over a fallen player. Credit:734.flicks

Skyline and Pioneer Bowling Battle for the PIN Nate Werns

“It’s a very competitive atmosBoth Skyline and Pioneer bowling teams have been fi- phere, but at the end of the day ghting for the coveted trophy known as “The PIN” since its creation in 2018. Roger Ratkowski, the Skyline everybody is just there to have a Bowling Coach, created “The PIN” to give both teams good time and bowl.” more interest in the rivalry matches.

“The PIN” trophy is a donated bowling pin on top of a wood base with a metal boy and girl figure on each half. “I let both schools have some input on the name of the trophy,” said Ratkowski. “‘The PIN’ is what they came up with. I wanted the trophy to be a legacy trophy that would get passed on for many years to come, and I used the University of Michigan and Minnesota’s Little Brown jug as my inspiration.”

Skyline/Pioneer 23-24 Girls Figure Skating Team. Credit: C. Misfud.

Soccer, basketball, football, and baseball are all mainstream sports that typically attract a lot of student attention. There is almost always a big turnout of fans at the games. Some sports, however, are not as well advertised and can be overlooked – like figure skating.

Ann Arbor’s United Figure Skating Team consists of 18 students and is exactly what its name implies: the Ann Arbor high schools’ figure skating team. “We are made up of Figure Skaters from Skyline, Huron, and Pioneer,” says head coach Claire Misfud.

“As a team the skaters make up three Varsity teams: A, B, and C.” The teams compete against schools in Michigan throughout the winter to fight for the top spot. “Each team will compete in three district competitions,” says Misfud, “With the chance to accumulate enough team points to finish top two in the district, giving them a bid to the team component of States.”

During the process of states, not everyone participates in all the same contests. “Last year our A team placed

1st in all three district competitions and placed 8th at States,” Misfud says. “Individually at states, we had eight skaters compete in different events.

This year’s team holds a lot of experience, as most skaters already know each other from club skating.

“I’ve skated for the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club for around seven years now,” says skater Ellie Min (‘27).

“Most of the people on the high school team were part of the club already too.”

Those who partake in skating gain not only skating experience but also friendships and connections that can last a lifetime. “I do it for the enjoyable feeling of satisfaction that comes with improvement,” says team captain Sarah Marquardt (‘25), “as well as the lifelong friendships that come with the sport.”

Figure skating is a very in-depth and poised sport that deserves greater attention. Check out Ann Arbor Skyline Athletics for the team schedule and more information on the season. There is an upcoming competition date on Saturday, February 17 at Hartland Ice Arena.

Show out!

AJ North (‘24) Bowling Team Captain titive atmosphere, but at the end of the day everybody is just there to have a good time and bowl,” said North.

“No matter who wins or who loses, everybody is a good sport about it, and sort of like cheering each other on.”

“The PIN” is split right down the middle, one side designated for the boys’ team and one for the girls’. “Each year we take the combined total number of points won in both our home and away matches with our rival for both the boys and the girls,” said Ratkowski. “It’s possible that ‘The PIN’ could end up in two different trophy cases” Although for some sports the rivalry between Skyline and Pioneer creates a tense atmosphere, the rivalry between the bowling teams changes year to year. “There have been years where it has been really really competitive, and everybody gets really into it,” said Captain AJ North (‘24). “Recently it has kinda died down, because Pioneer hasn’t had a huge team. On any normal year it is normally pretty competitive, and it’s one of the more serious matches of our season.”

Regardless of team size though, Skyline is out to win it.

“I care about it a lot,” said North. “Not only as a captain of the team, but also because we have had both halves of ‘The PIN’ at Skyline for the entirety that I’ve been here, so it’s a really cool thing to have both.”

Unfortunately for North and the rest of the bowling team however, Skyline won the boys’ side but lost the girls’. “There was no chance we were going to lose the boys’ side,” said Ethan McElmeel (‘24). “I am glad the girls got almost all the points possible in the championship.”

Even with these high stakes, the sportsmanship between the two teams has remained. “It’s a very compe-

The Pin being displayed in front of Skyline’s home bowling alley, Station 300. Credit: Roger Ratkowski.

6

MULTICULTURAL RECIPES

Savoring the Season: A Celebration of Winter Holiday Foods!

Sylvie Bleckman, Ashley Han

No matter our differences, all cultures can agree on one thing: food! With many winter holidays being celebrated, there is no better time to share the different dishes that make our cultures unique. Delve into the recipes that represent the diversity of culture here at Skyline!

Winter Solstice – Leek and pork dumplings (韭菜猪肉水饺) Makes 40 dumplings

Dongzhi (冬至), or Winter Solstice, is observed on the longest night of each year to celebrate the start of winter, marking the beginning of longer days and shorter nights. “On the Chinese calendar, the first day of winter is the day we make dumplings,” says Skyline parent Li Yan. “Although we make dumplings pretty regularly, on the winter solstice it is said that since dumplings look like earlobes: by eating dumplings, your ears won’t freeze off because of the cold.”

Yan wetting the ring of the dumpling skin with water. Credit: A. Han

Ingredients: 50 dumpling wrappers, 500g ground pork, 500g finely chopped young leeks

1. Add sesame oil and leeks to a bowl and stir evenly.

2. Mix all filling ingredients and seasonings needed to prepare the meat filling into the pork.

3. Pour leeks into the meat mixture and stir.

4. Put an appropriate amount of filling (enough that it will fill up the dumpling when folded without overfilling) in the middle of the dumpling wrapper.

Trace the edge of the wrapper with a wet finger.

Fold in half and pinch the middle of the dumpling skins together. Begin pinching the edges. Use the palm of your hands to clamp the dumpling. Ensure the dumpling is completely sealed.

5. Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Gently place the dumplings into the pot one by one. Use a spoon to stir slightly so that the dumplings do not stick together. When the water in the pot boils again, add a cup of cold water, boil it again, add more cold water, boil it 2 to 3 times, and then remove.

Hanukkah – Sweet Kugel Auntie Ester’s Noodle Kugel Recipe (courtesy of Shriberg)

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday also known as the Festival of Lights. It commemorates the Jewish victory in the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Kugel is a baked casserole typically made from lokshen (Jewish egg noodles) or potato. “This recipe means a lot to my family and me since it has been passed down through generations,” said Sarah Shriberg (‘24). “[It] represents our Jewish culture and heritage.”

The history of kugel is complex, but the abbreviated version is this: noodle Kugel was created in Eastern Europe In 1500, with the potato version coming around 300 years afterward.

Ingredients: 1 pkg. softened cream cheese ½ cup softened margarine 1¼ cup sugar 8 eggs well beaten 4 ½ cups milk 2 tsp. Vanilla 1 tsp. Lemon ice Dash of salt 8 oz. wide noodles ½ cup graham cracker crumbs 1 tsp. Cinnamon Steps: 1. Beat cream cheese and margarine 2. Add sugar and mix well 3. Blend in eggs.

Lighting the Menorah for Hanukkah. Credit: S. Bleckman 4. Stir in next four ingredients.

5. Cook noodles.

6. Combine cream cheese mixture.

7. Pour into 13x9 pan.

8. Mix crumbs and cinnamon and sprinkle on top.

9. Bake at 350 degrees for 1¼ hours.

10. Cool for 30 minutes and serve.

The Jemison-Blais family’s New Years Day good luck foods. Credit: A. Blais

New Year’s Day – Hoppin’ John

New Year’s Day is celebrated in many African-American homes in part because the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on New Year’s Day in 1863, declaring “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states would be henceforward set free.

While this holiday may be one filled with joy and love for many families, it is also important to remember why these traditions are held and to make sure we never forget the past.

Read more on our website!

Families come together and enjoy “good luck” foods to ensure health and wealth in the coming year, including a dish of black-eyed peas and rice called Hoppin’ John, which symbolizes having coins in the new year.

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Brown one smoked ham hock in a heavy-bottomed iron pot Leave the rendered fat in the pan In that fat, sautee: one diced green pepper, one diced onion, diced celery (1-2 cups) Put this mixture in slow cooker Add black eyed peas and their water, from can or dried peas soaked overnight Add the ham hock from Step 1 into the slow cooker (you may need to add more liquid) Cook all day Season to taste. Seasonings can be anything; Cajun/chili spices, whatever your family likes!

Serve with rice

“My dad makes it with bacon and it’s even better every year,” says Malcolm Jemison-Blais (‘26). “It’s a family recipe so it’s very close to my heart.”

LOREM IPSUM

MULTICULTURAL RECIPES

7

Chocolate Holiday Heart Cookies Divya Verma

These chocolate holiday heart cookies are a balance of both buttery and rich chocolate goodness for any sweet craving. They will be loved at any gathering! Collect your ingredients and let’s get baking: Ingredients: 1 stick of softened butter 1 tsp of vanilla extract 3 ½ tbsp of sugar 1 room-temperature egg, beaten 1 ½ cups of flour ¼ tsp of salt ¼ cups of chocolate chips Directions: 1. Cream butter and sugar together: in a large bowl, add one stick of softened butter and 3 ⅓ tbsp of sugar. Cream the butter and sugar together with a whisk or mixer until light and airy.

2. Add egg and vanilla extract: fold the room-temperature beaten egg and 1 tsp of vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture until well mixed.

3. Add flour and salt: in a separate bowl, mix the flour and salt. Once mixed, slowly add the mixture in thirds to the butter-sugar mixture.

4. Mix all the ingredients: mix until the flour is completely incorporated into the butter and sugar mixture and a dough is formed.

You may have to add more if the dough is too moist/ incohesive. If this is needed, add ½ a cup of flour each time until the dough is not sticky. If your dough is too dry, add 2 tbsp of butter.

5. Chill: chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes.

6. Preheat oven: preheat your oven to 350ºF. 7. Creating the Cookie: shape the dough into a big circle and cut it into 8 equal sections.

Roll the sections into balls and flatten them, ensuring even thickness.

Using your thumb, make double thumbprint indents in the shape of a heart in each cookie.

Roll each dough section into a ball, making sure to press down. Credit: Mia Griffin (‘27) and Reed Jemison-Blais (‘28) 8. Filling: melt ¼ cup of chocolate chips in the microwave in ten-second intervals. Stir occasionally to ensure no burning. Melt the chocolate until 90% done, the residual heat will melt any remaining chunks. Take the melted chocolate out and spoon the chocolate into the divots in the hearts.

9. Bake: bake the cookies in the oven for around 15 minutes or until they appear fully cooked. These cookies stay pale, not golden.

10. Cool: let the cookies cool for at least 10 minutes.

Make sure that you don’t burn the roof of your mouth!

Let the newly baked cookies cool for at least 10 minutes and then enjoy!

Credit: Mia Griffin (‘27) and Reed Jemison-Blais (‘28)

Carrot Ginger Soup Lucas Caswell This carrot ginger soup is the perfect combination of rich and bold to warm you to the bone in the dead of winter. This serves 4.

Ingredients: 2 lbs large carrots, peeled and quartered Olive oil 5 tbsp salted butter 4 tbsp ginger, minced 3 tbsp garlic, minced 4 oz white wine 2 cups (about 3-5 depending on size) shallots, diced 5 cups water 2 bay leaves 1 star anise 1 cinnamon stick Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup + 1 tbsp heavy whipping cream Parsely for garnish Directions: 1. Set oven to 400 °F. Toss Carrots in olive oil and roast for 20-30 minutes, until carrots soften and some of the tips blacken.

2. While the carrots cook, melt 2 tbsp of butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.

Add garlic and ginger, and saute for 2 minutes.

Add white wine, boil, and stir to remove any browned bits.

3. Add water, shallots, bay leaves, star anise, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove bay leaves, star anise, and cinnamon stick.

4. Add carrots, 3 tbsp of butter, and cream, bring to a boil, and remove from heat. Blend using an immersion blender or stand blender until smooth. Salt and pepper to taste.

5. Garnish with parsley, cream, and fresh cracked black pepper.

8

BOOK REVIEWS

These Mental Health Centered Books Say What You Can’t Put Into Words Veronica Terry

Trigger warning: This article touches on heavy subjects, such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, sexual assault, and abuse. Remember, there are many resources available to help you. You should never have to hurt in silence. See your counselor or any trusted adult to access these resources.

Mental health is a common struggle among high school students. We often seek out comfort and understanding through media, such as songs, TV shows, movies, and books. Here is a list of books about teen mental health that have really spoken to me.

These contemporary fiction books have greatly impacted me emotionally. Some lines left me speechless, breathtaken by the pure raw emotion in them. They were all a beautiful read and absolute page turners.

While they’re all works of fiction, they feel like reading about the emotions of real life people.

This article is written to raise awareness about mental health and to provide books that may comfort those who are struggling. It is also a reminder to be kind to people in our community, as you never know what somebody could be going through.

The Way I Used to Be (Amber Smith) This book will expose you to the deep hidden vulnerability in long lasting hurt in silence. It follows the story of a high school girl struggling socially and making poor decisions after being assaulted by a close family friend. We can see her loneliness and isolation through her thoughts and actions. She often makes risky and dangerous decisions in order to give herself a false sense of control over her life and to convince herself that her trauma is not weighing her down.

The Way I Used to Be portrays trauma, self isolation, and unhealthy coping mechanisms very honestly and realistically. It doesn’t water down how it affects the main character socially and emotionally for years. We see with her thought process and inability to explain what she is feeling to others. This goes on until it breaks her; until her only choices are to risk it all by revealing her secret to the people she missed the most or to spend the rest of her life alone, smoking and drinking away all her pain.

A line that stood out to me was a thought she had from her inner monologue, “I’m trying so hard to just go back to my life. The way it used to be. The way I used to be. ”You can truly see how much those moments in her life changed her, and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it.”

Watch Over Me (Nina LaCour) You can run from the ghosts of your past for as long as you want, they will always hunt you down. The only way to be free from your own self doubt is to accept yourself as you are.

Mila is about to age out of the foster system and take on a new job on a rather isolated farm. She spends most of the book believing she is a terrible person who is unworthy of the kindness of the people at the farm because of the terrible secret she hides. She misses her mother, she misses her grandparents, and while surrounded by people who can understand her and invite her to open up, she still feels alone. She begins to see ghosts on the farm, the ghosts of a haunted past. She hides from them, she hides from her own past.

I love this book because of the metaphorical portrayal of trauma and healing through the ghosts haunting her past and her growth as a character. As a reader, you can see her grow from a reserved and afraid young girl into a loving person as she heals and finds herself in an accepting environment, all she needs to do is accept their kindness. “We have to face the things that scare us. It might be the only way to stop being afraid.”

Suicide Notes (Micheal Thomas Ford) Your whole world changes when you’re met with kindness and understanding aside from coldness and disdain. This book is about a sarcastic teenage boy waking up in a hospital bed after a fateful attempt on his life. When visited by social workers, he does not care to open up about what pushed him to this point. He stays reserved in his own irritation for the majority of his stay.

As he slowly grows closer with the other patients, he begins to develop more compassion towards them and to open up more. When a tragedy in the hospital occurs, he begins to reflect on his life and the choices that lead him to be where he is.

Suicide Notes shows the importance of compassion, how one choice can cost or save another person’s life,

A Look into 2024’s Promising Book Releases Dominic Marroni

Our new year is still young, with plenty of time to indulge in novels of adventure and drama. The most pressing question for most is simply: what to pick up next?

Heartstopper is a graphic novel series following a group of LBGTQ+ friends and romantic partners. “... one of the ones I know a lot of students are looking forward to is the latest volume in Heartstopper, which is a graphic novel series by Alice Oseman,” says Skyline Librarian Lindsey Szurek.

Fans of romances may also enjoy Funny Story, where a librarian is dumped and forced to move in with the ex-boyfriend of her ex-boyfriends girlfriend. (Credit to the New York Times, link below.) Expect a silly story full of irony and drama by Emily Henry.

Tommy Orange releases a more mature story called Wandering Stars. According to Szurek, “we have his other book, called There There, and it’s also for adults but students check it out all the time…[Orange] is a great Indigenous author…all his stories have to do with Indigenous culture.”

Szurek is also excited in the newest edition of Brigid Kemmerer’s Defy the Night, which follows a thief attempting to save her town by stealing medicine from

royals, although as supply for the medicine dwindles, tensions between the government and its people increase.

People who like their fantasies more whimsical will enjoy the 9th edition in Amulet. “You might have read it when you were a little bit younger,” says Szurek, “but students in highschool like reading stuff like that too.” The Amulet series follows a girl that learns to use magic in order to protect the strange, steampunk world she stumbled into from evil. Written by Kazu Kibuishi, Amulet is a very odd story.

Skyline Book Club president Grace Letzsman (‘24) personally is looking forward to T.J. Klune’s Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the second book for House on the Cerulean Sea. “I really enjoyed the plot and wholesome romance of the first book, and look forward to reading more in the sequel.”

Just a peek into some of 2024’s upcoming book releases. In order from left to right, top to bottom; Heartstopper #5, Funny Story, Amulet #9: Waverider, The Morningside, Wandering Stars, Beyond the Sea, Tehrangeles, and This Eventful History.

and how having someone by your side who understands changes everything.

Suicide Notes shows a lot of great character progression and development. The main character goes from being angry and bitter, hiding from his feelings and denying anything being wrong to opening up about being a lost and scared person to realizing that “no matter how bad things get, there are always people who love you.”

You’d Be Home Now (Kathleen Glasgow) “The thing about being invisible is,” says Emory, the main character of Glasgow’s You’d Be Home Now, “You’d think it would feel light and airy and easy, no pressure, but it doesn’t. It’s the heaviest thing I’ve ever known.”

Emory has always been the forgotten daughter.

Behind her overachieving sister and her troubled brother, she has always felt small by comparison. This only gets worse when her older brother returns from rehab after a tragic accident. She is afraid to return to school, afraid of being scrutinized for her relations to her brother, and she feels she has no one to turn to.

This book explores how family trauma and isolation within the home can consume someone’s whole life.

Emory’s mother struggles with alcoholism and her father is addicted to smoking cigarettes. They’re both overworked and unsympathetic towards their son’s mental health struggles, pushing him towards addiction to stronger drugs. Throughout all this chaos within her home, Emory never feels seen and doesn’t get to develop a life of her own, always focused on keeping the unsteady peace in her home.

As she returns to school after her brother comes home from rehab, she is scrutinized and further isolated by her peers due to her relations with him. She tries to take comfort in her secret meetings with her next-door neighbor, but that only ends in disaster and heartbreak.

I love You’d Be Home Now because it portrays all the characters as flawed and human. None are evil or toxic – just struggling people doing their best in difficult circumstances.

LOREM IPSUM

LIFESTYLES

9

May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor: Skyline’s Snow Day Superstitions Sylvie Bleckman

Snow days have been “an iconic part of my childhood, says” Evelyn Stansfield (‘26). Every time the weather is cold, everyone looks forward to one thing: snowdays.

As Skyline’s chances of a snow day get lower because of our many snow days this year, why not tip the odds in our favor?

To improve our odds of a snow day, many Skyline students recall traditions such as flushing ice cubes and sleeping with a spoon under their pillow. “I flushed ice cubes down the toilet,” says Andrew Hewko (‘26). “It was always fun getting out of school and sledding with friends and family.”

Some of the popular traditions include: 1. Flushing ice cubes down the toilet Some say that you should flush a cube for each inch of snow you want, others claim one for each snow day.

2. Sleeping with a spoon under your pillow Feel free to place whatever size spoon you want. Maybe even a spork for some variety.

3. Putting a white crayon on the windowsill This tradition varies: some say putting it in the freezer is the way to go, while others swear by tucking it under your pillow with the spoon.

4. Sleeping with pajamas inside out Might as well go all out and wear them backwards too!

5. Doing a snow dance The tradition of snow and rain dances have existed for thousands of years in many cultures across the world.

At this time, there is no data to suggest that particular songs or styles impact snow outcomes. Feel free to really make this one your own. Pick your favorite songs and let your dancing skills loose.

While we are not entirely sure where these rituals come from we do know that it is widespread. For years, hopeful students have been performing these rituals.

They provide kids with hope, camaraderie, and a sense of purpose.

Another thing you will always catch our students do is checking the snow day calculator. This fun website asks you a couple of questions and then gives you your percentage of a snow day. It is the talk of the town on snowy/icy days.

Snow day superstitions are fun and cherished memories for the students of Skyline. “I remember in 3rd or 4th grade my teacher told the whole class about these traditions and the whole class was excited,” says Hewko. “It barely snowed the day before and then boom! School was canceled due to snow.” Olivia Kreger (26) agrees that “these traditions were a great way for me to connect with my friends.”

A hopeful spoon placed under a pillow. Fingers crossed!

Driving On Ice Can Be Scary: Experiences and Tips for Student Drivers Hana Ghani

As the air gets colder and the nights get shorter, the infamous Michigan winter brings puffy coats, fleece lined boots, and icy roads. As some Skyline students drive to school, the danger of driving on ice is often wrongly overlooked: the Michigan Department of State says that “compared to older drivers, younger drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes where the road conditions are wet, icy, snowy, or the road is mud, dirt, or gravel.” Young drivers are more susceptible to danger during bad weather.

“Honestly, [driving on ice] makes me feel really uncomfortable cause you just don’t know what’s gonna happen next,” says Olivia Watters (‘26), who currently has her permit. “It’s just really scary … I feel like the roads coming into Skyline have a lot of curves and I drive alongside the Huron River so obviously it can get really icy over there so I’m just scared that I won’t make it to school.”

Watter’s opinion is shared by many student drivers at Skyline. “I really don’t like it,” states Andrew Xi (‘24), who’s been a driver for over a year now. “It’s probably one of the…scarier experiences because it’s unpredictable …. you don’t know how everyone else is going to react as well.”

Living on a dirt road is another aspect that can make these situations even scarier. “The ice at first I wasn’t too worried about, and then I drove on my [dirt] road and it was really slick,” says Emmie Pokryfke (‘25), who has had her license for eight months. “I couldn’t get up one side of my road, so I had to drive on the other, because the ice was too much.”

Obviously, the fact that many students have to drive themselves to school in bad weather won’t be changed.

Here are some tips and tricks for newer drivers on the ice:

A nighttime winter drive in downtown Ann Arbor.

Prepare First, before even getting on the road you should prepare. “My main trick is to warm up your car about 15 minutes before you leave to make sure all the frost is

off,” shared Pokryfke (‘25). “Make sure it’s not locked because of ice, and also so that you can be warm when you get in.” Having a backup plan if your car gets stranded or breaks down can never hurt.

Michigan Auto Law recommends having a safety kit containing “warm clothing, reflective clothing to wear, non-perishable food, water, a flashlight and candles with a lighter.” If you’re stranded, the Michigan Department of state says to “stay near your vehicle, and call 911 or roadside assistance like AAA.” Slow Down While on the road “[you should] decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop while on the road,” say professionals from the Notre Dame Police Department based in St. Joseph County, Indiana.

“Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you, do not use cruise control on icy roads, and keep all of your car snow clean (including windshield, back window, headlights and tail lights).”

Brake Gently “Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake,” says Xi (‘24), whose advice aligns with recommendations from the NDPD. “Go slow, take your time, be patient,” said Watters (‘26).

Take Turns Slowly “Turns are also gonna be harder because if you turn like you usually do you might slide and turn outwards or inwards more,” said Xi (‘24), “so be extra careful when you’re turning and turn your wheels really slowly.”

With these tips from our diverse range of drivers and professionals, all in different stages of their driving career, the main takeaway is this: driving to school with ice can be scary, but it’s far from impossible. Be careful, think ahead, and most importantly, as Pokryfke (‘25) said, “I just take it with a word of caution that the ice is more powerful than my car is.”

10

GAMING

Lego Fortnite Surprised Me, in a Good Way Roman Gatusso

Beautiful landscapes, open biomes, and creativity. The Lego game mode in “Fortnite” is worth playing for many reasons. Whether you want an action-packed, boss-fighting survival game with your friends, or a relaxed, solo-building game, “Lego Fortnite” has it all.

Since 1932, Lego has collaborated with video games such as “Minecraft”, Sonic, “PAC-MAN,” and most recently, “Fortnite,” an online multiplayer shooter game with the goal of eliminating others and being the last person standing. There are custom maps/regions with their own rules (“game modes”) created by both the community and Epic Games. The “Lego Fortnite” game mode is created by the latter, making it very well done and professional. Unlike the normal battle royale mode, you want to survive and build in the wild.

You can download and join in the fun of “Lego Fortnite” for free. Anyone can bring their own creative style to the table. Players continue to find new and innovative ways to make new buildings, vehicles, and more, in lots of different environments, using singular walls, floors, etc., or use in-game digital instructions to build Lego sets.

The two game modes in “Lego Fortnite” are survival and sandbox. I enjoy the sandbox mode where you can fly, build without needing to gather materials, and very easily regain health.

In the survival mode, you gather materials, talk to villagers, and explore the randomly generated map, with the goal of survival. Hunger, warmth, monsters/mobs such as wolves, spiders, skeletons, etc., all threaten your survival.

Maybe you enjoy a solitary, singleplayer gaming experience, or maybe you only enjoy collaborative, multiplayer experiences. In “Lego Fortnite,” you can have both. You can play with friends to explore, fight, or build, or you can enjoy the vast map by yourself. Personally, I like playing with friends and talking to them through the in-game voice chat. Working together with any amount of friends brings another level to this already great game.

If you and a friend have different playstyles, “Lego Fortnite” has lots of ways to exercise the way you want to play. “Lego Fortnite” has components of survival, creativity, and surprisingly, this game also has action!

You can eliminate players, monsters, and glorified bosses. Every player can enjoy the game differently, with no set goal. If you enjoy survival games like “Lego Worlds” or creative sandbox games like “Minecraft” you should definitely check out “Lego Fortnite.”

There is no official end in “Lego Fortnite.” It is a permanent game mode, according to the official “Fortnite” account on X/Twitter, meaning it will be around for years to come. Also, with no set goal, there is no pressure to do a set task. You can just mess around for hours at a time and never have to restart the world from the beginning, unless you want to. You can repeatedly add on to one world forever.

“Lego Fortnite” is one of the most well-done, enjoyable games I have ever played. I had so much fun in survival game mode chatting and dancing with NPCs (non-playable characters) and exploring the open world. I also had a blast exploring, flying around, building, and fighting things with friends. In “Lego Fortnite,” your imagination is the limit.

Everything You Need to Know About The Game of The Year: Baldur’s Gate 3 Ember DuPont

Every year, gamers around the world wait in anticipation for The Game Awards (TGA’s). TGA is officially recognized by the largest game companies in the world as the highest reward a game can win, the best title being The Game of The Year (GoTY).

This year saw a lot of conflict within the gaming community, as many fans of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023) believed it should have won GoTY. Instead, the title went to Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023).

The two are very different genres, Spider-Man being an action packed 3rd person adventure where you play as Spider-Man, while Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) is a top-down view roleplaying game based on the popular board game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

BG3 offers players a wide range of character options from species, class, and background. These choices allow for every person’s character to have different abilities and strengths. You can play a Bard who casts spells and talks their way out of all situations, a Barbarian who solves most of their problems with brute strength, or a Wizard whose amazing intellect allows them to combat anything that comes their way.

The diversity in how you play the game doesn’t stop there. Being a roleplaying game, Baldur’s Gate 3 allows you to take up the life of whatever character you chose to make and, with that, you own the decisions they make.

Within the first act alone, you face many questions that allow you to build the moral compass of your character. Some people play to be the fantasy hero that saves everyone, whether it be for glory or just the goodest of their hearts, while others choose the path of power and self gain.

With so many different ways to play, Larian Studios, the company behind the game, has been asked, “How many endings does BG3 have?” In a tweet by Michael Douse, the game’s publishing director, it was confirmed to have 17,000 different endings, with differences ranging from subtle to drastic.

As a person who has played both Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur’s Gate 3, I find the game to be a very faithful adaptation of its tabletop counterpart. There are obvious limitations, with many spells, variant versions of classes, and species missing from the video game, but I find that the things added in their place make up for it.

I haven’t completed the game as of writing this, currently being two thirds of the way through. The main storyline has been very engaging making the game hard to put down. I find myself having a hard time making some of the decisions, especially those that impact my character’s relationship with NPCs (Non-Playable Characters).

I find all of the main NPCs’ backstories to be heartfelt and dynamic, giving each one a very distinct and human nature that makes me want to help and get to know them better.

The characters are amplified by the amazing performance that each of their voice actors gives, the most notable being Neil Newborn’s performance as the companion, Astarion, which won him the Performance of the Year award. While Astarion is not my first choice of companion in the game, Newborn’s performance is undeniably moving.

If you would like to play Baldur’s Gate 3, it is available for purchase on PC, PS5, Xbox, or Larian Studios Website.

LOREM IPSUM

LIFESTYLES

11

A Review of Skyline Study Spots, Where to Work at in A2 Oliver Pung

Students often find themselves overwhelmed with homework, busy beyond belief, and stuck looking for a place to power through their obligations. This article covers the good and the bad of Ann Arbor study spots, including the pros and cons based on our eagle-eye criteria of what makes for a great study location.

To evaluate potential spots, the Noise Level, Population Density, Food /Drink, Proximity to Downtown, Accessibility, and Availability, were each reviewed on a scale of 1 to 5. At the end of each section, the Overall Average Score is displayed to give a general idea of the location’s rating in a single number.

Ann Arbor District Library: Westgate Branch 2503 Jackson Ave. A classic for any students in the area, Westgate is seldom without at least one or two study groups at any given time. With rows upon rows of bookshelves and resources, along with dedicated reservable work rooms, it sets the standard for all other study spots.

Westgate scores well with a moderate noise level and crowded population density. The moderate noise level is due to respectful and calm study groups. The population density is close to ideal: enough people to find someone to study with, yet empty enough to always find a seat.

Westgate shines when considering the many nearby food/drink options and its proximity to downtown.

Unfortunately, it’s a bus or car ride away from downtown. This is normally a bad thing, but in this case, the level of separation is preferred due to parking and proximity to the freeway. Westgate is fully accessible, making it a welcoming space for everyone with automatic entryways and ramps throughout.

4 out of 5

Shinola Cafe 301 S Main St. Cool and calm, Shinola Cafe is a hidden gem of Main Street, located below the location’s storefront. Sporting a stylish aesthetic and relaxed layout, it’s a notable part of Main Street. Unfortunately, this coffee shop isn’t a good place to work at with groups of friends.

Shinola Cafe is not an ideal place to study or work due to its quiet noise level and crowded population. It’s extremely quiet; which means a quiet work environment, but also limits conversation. It is also only able to house a small number of people in the one-room cafe.

The food itself consists of a limited selection of drinks and snacks. However, it has the benefit of being dead center downtown, surrounded by a variety of other dining locations.

Finally, Shinola Cafe has a lack of accessibility and limited seating. The store itself is accessible, however the cafe is primarily accessed through a single, central staircase. Making your way into the cafe, the lanes between tables are noticeably crowded. The location makes finding parking difficult, especially in the midst of traffic, but adds an extra layer of background noise as a distraction while you work. While not bad as a cafe, this is not a good place to study.

2.8 out of 5

Kerrytown Market & Shops 407 N 5th Ave. You can’t describe downtown Ann Arbor without mentioning the Kerrytown Market & Shops, the city marketplace and artisans market. Hosting a wide variety of stores, venues, and environments all in such close quarters, it stands to have something for everyone who visits; unless, of course, you’re in search of seating or a quiet workspace.

Kerrytown Market is not an ideal place if you’re looking for somewhere to work. It’s a challenging place to study due to the high noise level and crowded population. While nice to shop at and visit, the majority of the Kerrytown building is always a little too loud and a little too crowded after a while.

Although it’s not suited for studying, Kerrytown Market shines when it comes to proximity to downtown and the food/drink variety. A short walk from downtown and many dining options, Kerrytown Market makes for a perfect location for a regular day out.

Ann Arbor Coffee Roasting Company (A2CRC) 324 S State St Relatively new to the scene, A2RC is a local coffee shop in downtown Ann Arbor right next to Nickels Arcade.

A2RC differentiates itself from competitors in the area with a lively and fun atmosphere, decorated by modern animation posters.. Although relatively new, I can already safely say that this is the place to study due to its moderate noise level and active population.

The noise level is balanced, with just enough background volume to keep the space lively. The respectful and calm energy contributes to its suitability for studying, reflected in the population density rating: enough space to bring a small group to study with, while naturally limiting the number of people per party.

A2CRC also offers nearby food/drink options and close proximity to downtown, with two separate parking structures nearby.

Nearly every area of Kerrytown Market is technically accessible for those with physical disabilities; however, among the limited variety of seating options, there’s seldom any available on most days.

Finally, A2CRC is fully accessible. With automatic entryways with ramps, A2CRC prioritizes accessibility.

This commitment extends to their availability of space, with almost always a place for everyone upon each visit. I can safely say that this is a good place to study.

3.6 out of 5

4.1 out of 5