SCENE THE
THE
Summer Issue 2
July 26, 2019
THESCENEFP.COM
www.thescenefp.com
Elevators illustrated See pages 4-5
‘Star Wars’ feels forced See page 6
St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Business major hopes to blend smoothies into success By Timothy Bold The Scene staff Jasmine Armstrong isn’t just a college student with a part-time job. She’s an entrepreneur with her own smoothie business, or as she puts it, an “infused-beverage company.” Armstrong founded the business, called “JiggaJuicedUp,” last September. “It started with my personal fashion style, Jigga,” said Armstrong, 24, a business major. “Then I wanted to embark on something else. I didn’t want to limit myself to one idea. I wanted to incorporate it into different things.” Armstrong sells her drinks at children’s parties, college activities, art shows, women’s conferences and other vendor events. Armstrong has been making her own smoothies for years, using strawberries, blueberries, oranges and other fruit. “I love drinking smoothies,” she said. “It motivated me to start my own business.” Last summer, Armstrong conducted a taste test with family and church members, who gave feedback on potential drink products. “Once they approved it, it was time to take the business seriously now,” she said. Armstrong recently expanded her product line to include fruit-infused sparkling (carbonated) water in recyclable pouches.
Forest Park leans toward Democrats Some say they’ll settle for anyone who can beat Trump
Photo by Timothy Bold
Jasmine Armstrong displays her fruit-infused water, part of her JiggaJuicedUp product line. On a recent weekday, Armstrong distributed samples of her flavored water to Forest Park students. “It’s fire,” said art major Shakir Gridiron, 24. “It tastes really good. It has lots of fruity flavors.”
See Smoothie page 2
Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Kobuchar, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and author Marianne Williamson. All are prochoice. Other debate-qualified candidates are former Vice President Joe Biden; By Zoey Tincknell Sens. Bernie Sanders, Michael Bennet The Scene staff and Cory Booker; South Bend, Indiana, Many students, faculty and staff at Mayor Pete Buttigieg; former U.S. Forest Park want a candidate who can beat Housing Secretary Julian Castro; New President Donald Trump, but they haven’t York City Mayor Bill de Blasio; former yet picked a Democrat to support. Rep. John Delaney; former Colorado At least that’s the finding of a random Gov. John Hickenlooper; Washington survey conducted by The Scene on campus Gov. Jay Inslee; former Rep. Beto last week. O’Rourke, Rep. Tim Ryan; and Nursing major Raven Ginger, businessman Andrew Yang. 19, didn’t watch the first round Ginger would prefer any of of televised Democratic debates these Democratic candidates over last month. But she wants to see Trump. She believes his adminisa Democrat in office, preferably tration has been wrong to split up a woman. immigrant families at the border “I think it’s time for a woman and needs to be stopped immediin office,” she said. “We need ately. to get rid of this new aborEducational assistant Connie tion ban and start respecting Ginger McArthur has been keeping up women.” closely with political news and Ginger was speaking of strict new knows she won’t be voting for Trump. abortion laws that have been passed or She watched the Democratic debates, proposed in several states, including which featured 10 candidates on June Missouri. 26 and 10 on June 27. The six women presidential candidates “Coming into the debates, I was very who have garnered enough support in hopeful for Biden,” she said. “But after the form of polling numbers and contri- watching, I was very disappointed in his butions to appear in Democratic debates See Candidates page 7 include U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand,
Restaurant and brewery welcomes college students
Burgers, pizza and more on menu By Shree Bhattessa The Scene staff
Forest Park students need only cross the street to enjoy a fresh meal and hand-crafted beer, and they can get a 10% discount with a St. Louis Community College ID card. Brew Hub Taproom opened at 5656 Oakland Ave. in March of last year. It replaced the Highland Pub & Grill. Brew Hub is a restaurant and brewery. It serves burgers and other sandwiches, pizza, appetizers, salads, desserts and “flights,” which allow customers to choose three items from Portell a list of tacos, kabobs, stuffed pretzels, dips and spreads. “There’s always something new to try here,” said General Manager Kara Donsky. The menu changes periodically as James “Otto” Ottolini, head of brewing operations, concocts new beers, which he calls “dab-
bling in the art and science of brewing.” Beers range from traditional flavors to those that “step outside the box,” according to bar manager Sarah Portell. Some are made with fruit. “If you think you don’t like beer, it’s a good way to get yourself into beer,” she said. Beers now on tap at Brew Hub include a strong ale called “The Dude;” “Bringing Sexy Bock”; and Donsky’s personal favorite, “Cologne Cowboy,” which is named for Cologne, Germany, where Ottolini gets the yeast. “There’s nothing fancy about it,” says Donsky. “It’s just good beer.” Another popular beer is “Gooey Butter Blonde,” which tastes like gooey butter cake. “No one else is really doing that right now,” Donsky Portell said. “... That’s a lot of what makes us unique and makes us special. We have things you can’t find anywhere else.” The help at Brew Hub includes Gwen
See Restaurant page 2
Photo by Shree Bhattessa
Customers at Brew Hub Taproom can buy hand-crafted beers for half price during happy hour.