odyssey feature issue 2013

dysseythe Whitfield School

Feature Issue, 2013

Saying a sad farewell to

Mrs. Kathy Huls

The story behind The Hill:

Its food, history and people

One students transformational

journey in Cultural Leadership

Ultimate FanaticsAn insight into the evolution of fan worship

OO

4 The Odyssey 3May 2013

contentsMAY2013FEATURE EDITION

8COVER STORY: Ultimate FanaticsThe fan/celebrity relationship used to be one-sided. But the social media frenzy has brought new hope to fans: maybe their idols will actually return their affections. By Erin Cizek 13 and Nicolette Taber 13

6 ft. or 6th grader

Get Ready.

Field Day 2013

Wednesday, May 2910:00 am - 3:00 pm

IN OTHER NEWS

Food & Entertainment

16 GrassisFor this journalist, Grassis means more than just delicious Italian food - its a family affair. By Isabelle Nelson 13

18 The Hill: The Taste of LegacyAn inside scoop on what makes this Italian neighborhood thrive. By Samara Jatala 13

20 Arts and Concerts in the STLReady to plan your summer? Check out the back cover for a fun-filled vacay in the STL.By Lea Bender 15, Tessa Varvares 15 & Gabby Maune 15

Its All About Whitfield

4 A Well-Deserved RetirementAfter 12 years of service, Mrs. Kathy Huls bids adieu to Whitfield School. By Hiba Alvi 14

7 Mello Cello Fellows Earn Top PrizeOur own sophomore Chris Halen and his duet partner played up to the crowd and showed off their outstanding technical ability to take home first place. By Ian Williams 14

6 and 11 Sophomore Advertising Project Winners SelectedSee two of the winning ads as voted by you.Designed by Lea Bender, Jon Ferguson and Meridith Wade (Crystalline) and Andrew Ayers, Matthew Cannon and Chase Kinder (A Game)

12 The Ultimate American RoadtripEver been to a slave simulation? The members of Class 8 of Cultural Leadership have, and its an experience that wont soon be forgotten.By Elizabeth Darrell 13

14 Climbing to the Top: Inside the World of Elite Dance Training Dont ever tell these girls that dancing is not a sport. Grueling schedules and break-neck competitions explained in this tell-all feature story. By Abby Kelly 13

A Well-Deserved Retirement for Mrs. Kathy Huls

Twelve. This is the number of months in a year. The number of eggs in the rectangular Styrofoam boxes at the grocery store. The num-ber of Jesuss disciples. But for Mrs. Kathy Huls, Assistant to the principal and head of school, it is the number of years spent being as a member of the Whitfield family. She has busily worked at her remote spot behind the reception desk, separated by that wide glass wall. It was moved there to allow easier access for people. Here she has poured over attendance sheets, calendars, and schedules for Mrs. Greathouse. This is where shes welcomed new students, signed visitors in, conducted phone calls, and a lot more.

She has witnessed the Whitfield world change through her very eyes, getting bigger and then shrinking back to a smaller size all over again. She was here during the major construction of the new gym, Schmitter Gallery, weight room, band room, and cheer and dance room as well as the renovation of the IC, and she has witnessed a technology explosion. This woman surveyed the sight as Whitfield ordered hundreds of new tablets for its students and has watched it adjust to new computer systems many times, which has made

everyones life more stress-free as information becomes easier to access. She has observed some of the physical changes take place as well, includ-ing the lobby becoming more sophisticated with plush sofas and flower vases, and the adjustments to both her and Ms. Rodneys office in regards to location and space. She has moved across the hall once, and dearly misses having a window.

Mrs. Huls is the type of person who wants to see what is going on. This is where she has sat, beheld, interacted, and done her job diligently and efficiently. But Huls will not be seated on that dark brown office chair for long. Next year, someone new will take her place. This is because this family member will be retiring.

Kathy Huls loves the constant energy and various things she gets to do, and she will miss her work because it excites her.

The experience is not the same every day, and theres never a bland moment. Everything is always interesting and new to me, said Huls.

Her passion for her job and the satisfaction she acquires from doing it has helped her survive the long days of work at Whitfield and check off her long lists of responsibilities. She starts every-

day by taking late attendance at assembly. The rest of the day is pretty varied depending on the time of year. She schedules conferences, helps with getting out schedules, keeps Mrs. Great-house and Mr. Delautres calendar, and keeps faculty and student records, which she makes changes to when necessary. She also works with Athletic Director Bill Daues to get informa-tion to the state athletic board, MSHSAA, for eligibility and makes sure all the athletic events are posted on the website calendar. Keeping the calendar is another task that takes a lot out of her time. Each day is different.

If asked what her least favorite thing about work is, Huls will take a long time to answer. She has a very strong attachment to her job.

My least favorite thing is when kids are in trouble and I have to go get them and talk to their parents. Having to go try to talk to them when they are dealing with some hard things is stressful and difficult for me, said Huls.

Mrs. Huls led a very different life before Whitfield School. She worked for a German industrial gas company as office manager and did trade shows for a few years, and before that

stayed home with her two sons while they were young. A friend was assistant to the principal and head of school before her, and when her friends husband was transferred to Chicago, Mrs. Huls happily filled in for her.

She has had many highlights during her 25 year long career. Her favorite part is when the community rallies together for one reason or another. When Mrs. Nancy Clukies, a former teacher, was diagnosed with cancer, everyone pulled together and became close like a family to help support her. To the communitys dismay, Mrs. Clukies did not win this battle. But this event reminded Mrs. Huls as well as the other faculty members of how close the Whitfield Warriors are and how well they can unite in times of hardship and difficulty.

The fact that Whitfield is so close-knit and family-like is her single most favorite thing about the school. She will miss everyone so much. The students and teachers have been nothing but nice and respectful to her, and have all contributed to her experience as assistant to the principal and head of school in a unique way.

Everyone is friendly and social, and wants everyone to succeed and be the best they can be, said Huls.

Besides doing her basic everyday tasks and fulfilling her professional duties, Huls was actively involved with Whitfield in other ways too. She always came out and supported athletic games, and her older grandkids came to the Whitfield camp every summer and will probably continue to do so. She has also enjoyed going to Whitfield music and theatrical performances.

Mrs. Huls has worked to the best of her capabilities and has satisfied the needs of others around her. She juggles a lot of information and knows just what to do with it, especially in situ-

ations that might become critical. She is great at diffusing difficult situations, said Mrs. Pam McReynolds, who has known Huls for 25 years. They went to the same church every Sunday and were in the same small group of women from church who met regularly, so they share lots of friends. Their children and then grandchildren, whom they always share stories about to each other, grew up together.

Life at Whitfield will be very different when Huls leaves since she has played such a big, behind-the-scenes role in the community and all areas of the campus, while connecting with people like Mrs. McReynolds off campus. Someone else will have to schedule conferences and substitutes, and be sure substitutes have schedules and rosters and unlocked doors in the morning. Someone else will have to take care of correspondence, and communication, especially with the Board of Trustees, along with putting the official school calendar together for each year. Someone else will have to keep up with community service hours for all students. There are hundreds of things Mrs. Huls does regularly that will have to be handled by someone else to keep Whitfield running smoothly on a day-to-day basis.

Whitfield will miss Mrs. Huls amazing talents and ability to do complex jobs at the workplace and much more.

When she first came to work here as Mrs. Greathouses assistant, I knew we would be good friends. We had so much in common and she was one of those people with great energy and always positive with a smile on her face, said Mrs. Vicki Finn, the main office reception-ist. Fifteen years later, Mrs. Finn is still singing Mrs. Huls praises. She impressed me so much because she always came into her job with such flexibility and willingness to do whatever tasks came her way. Kathy has a tremendous sense of humor and we have had some great laughs together.

Mrs. Huls is the reason I came to work at Whitfield. She has been a wonderful friend

and mentor, and I can always depend on her to be understanding and supportive. Ill miss knowing she is right down the hall, and I think Whitfield will miss her calm, competent manner. Im trying not to think about her being gone! said McReynolds.

Huls is now ready for a restful and relaxing retirement. Because she was so busy with work, she did not get to spend as much time as she would have liked with her family members.

I want to be a grandma and watch my grandkids grow up. I just want to be there for them and make up for lost time, explained Huls.

As she moves on to the next stage of her life, Mrs. Huls will not forget what she is leaving behind at Whitfield. And Whitfield will not forget her.

When she retires, we all will miss her smil-ing face and her warm personality. Working with Kathy Huls has been a great pleasure and privilege, said Finn. I know we will definitely stay in touch by having lunch or dinner together or possibly playing some golf. It is never easy to see friends leave the Whitfield Community, but she has definitely worked hard and has earned and deserves this next phase of free time and relaxation in her life.

Mrs. Huls has left a legacy by focusing all of her time and energy on our school. After right-fully earning the title of assistant to the principal and head of school, she is ready to embrace her own identity again and simply be Kathy.

Huls has a whole plan set up for her retire-ment. She relishes spending time with her husband, Skip. They love to travel and they have a trip to the Oregon coast planned for the summer. They are also taking their grandsons to Cooperstown to the Baseball Hall of Fame since they are all huge Cardinals fans. They love to visit the national parks as well. Australia and New Zealand are in the plans in the next year or so they hope. She plans on volunteering a lot during her time off as well. She wants to get involved with Meals on Wheels since they were a big help to her father in his later years. They have three grandsons and one granddaughter and she will be a willing babysitter for them. She is a fervent golfer and golfs with friends and looks forward to doing that on a more regular basis. In fact, if she had to pick one other job in the school, it would be coaching golf.

Twelve may be the number of years weve had the pleasure of knowing Mrs. Huls, but from now on, one will be her favorite number, as Kathy lives one day at time.

WHITFIELD NEWS

By Hiba Alvi 14, Staff Writer

Photo right: Mrs. Kathy Huls in her twelfth year at Whitfield. Photo below: Mrs. Huls grandkids, with whom shes looking forward to having more time to spend: Austin (15), Sylvie (2), Joey (6 months) and Logan (10).


Ive enjoyed my twelve years; its been fun. Mrs. Kathy Huls, retiring assistant


Talented teens have what it takesMello Cello Fellows earn top prize in area talent competition

Ian Williams 14, Design Editor

Two friends walk onto the stage, cellos in hand, then sit down and squint at the bright spotlight shining from above. They put on their black framed sun glasses and the audience goes crazy, chuckling, whistling and applauding. They know they are in for a good show even before the two start to play. Bows touch strings and the whole audience enters a state of complete awe and admiration. Normally containing a loud spirited audience, Woods Hall is in utter silence filled only with the harmony and flawless coordination of the two sophomores, their bows and their cellos on this early Friday morning. The sweet little medley is immediately followed by a standing ovation. This is the moment theyve been waiting for: a priceless opportunity to shine and showcase their talents to the private world of Whitfield School.

But this was only the beginning of Chris Halen and Grant Views journey as the Mellow Cello Fellows. The performance was only a warm-up for the St. Louis Teen Talent competition, as they entered the final round of competition on Friday, April 12 at the Fabulous Fox.

The talent competition was an ongoing competition for three months, a quest to find the most talented and unique teens across the St. Louis area. Hundreds of kids from many schools participated and only the top 12 teens made it to the finale. There is a high range of talented teens from violinists, opera singers, dancers, even whistlers to our very own cello players. The panel of judges then selected the best act by focusing on technical ability, stage presence, interpretation and originality. The 1st place winner would receive $7,000, 2nd place $5,000, and lastly, 3rd place $3,000.

Technical Ability: Our own sophomore Christopher Halen is Whitfields side of the Mellow Cello Fellow. On stage, he is accompanied by his friend and group mate, sophomore Grant View of John Burroughs. They have been playing together for over three years, so you could say this wasnt their first rodeo, although the piece they have been showcasing for this past month in the talent competition has been rehearsed for only about four months. By April 12 they were ready to give their final performance and vow to never have to hear the same songs again.

Chris grew up around music with his father being the lead violist and the head chair of the St. Louis Symphony, and his mother is a singer and pianist; needless to say, he has been playing others instruments since about the time he could walk.

Chris has played several times at Whitfield including many of his well-rehearsed performances at the annual variety show. Chris said, I watched it [St. Louis Talent Show] the

first year it happened two years ago, and I wanted to compete with the cello but I didnt feel ready. Seeing a bunch of other high school students on the Fox Stage inspired me to compete.

Stage Presence: The two have practiced their on-stage actions rigorously throughout the months of the competition. They focused on scanning the audience, giving everyone equal attention. Throughout these months they have also evolved in their wardrobe from head to toe. They started with a simpler outfit, one where you could see the whites of their eyes. They later touched up on their wardrobe, adding similar wide-framed glasses and brighter, dressier clothing. With each performance they added a little change, finishing in pastel pants, white shirts, black bowties, blue blazers, and the famous wide-framed glasses.

Interpretation and originality: Their originality can be seen from a mile away with their diverse music choice. Grant said, Well all pop music has sort of the same four cords that is utilized in everything in Pachelbels Canon starts with four cords, so we made a sort of Pachelbel-pop music. Chris and Grants routine radiates a classic music feel, although it incorporates a faster and more modern feel with the new pop songs used, which helps students connect to the songs being played. The performers start with Pachelbels Canon, they then transition into Im Yours by Jason Mraz, then they shift to Baby by Justin Bieber, where they then progress into Thats What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction, then converting Viva la Vida by Coldplay, and then they end with Final

Countdown by Europe.As you can see the two had all the right tools

to win it, but the final say went to the judges on the night of April 12

The two friends marched once again onto the stage wielding their cellos with the same professionalism a knight would his sword or a king his scepter, the only difference between them is how they dressed. From head to waist they look nearly identical, with dark, square glasses comforting their eyes. Matching shoes that were handed to them by Mrs. Halen moments before they went on stage, and blue blazers, white French-cuff shirts, and bowties all matching - but there is something still very different about their wardrobe: they both have different vibrantly-colored, pastel pants. The audience knows they are in for a good show even before the most talented teens of the greater St. Louis start to play. For over four minutes the audience is in a trance of the majestic sounds, bow and strings. The Fabulous Fox Theater was awestruck by the performance. After Pachabellas Pop medley, the two musicians were left to wait. They nervously watched other performances from ballet to hip-hop.

The moment had finally come; all of the performers were put on the stage at once. Whatever name was pulled out of the envelope would be receiving $7,000. And like the Mellow Cello Fellows stunned the audience of Whitfield they also caught the attention of the judges; they were their favorite. This made the months of practice all worth it. They were the most talented teens in the St. Louis Area.

Chris Halen 15 (right) and Grant View (left) of the John Burroughs School were bright spots in the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition - both figuratively and literally.

A Dreamis a wish your heart makes

(and never forgets)

COVER STORY

How technology is evolving the fan / celebrity relationship forever - maybe dreams can come true...

Its 1999. Already mid-morning, the kitchen smells of Oreo Os and Mr. Sketch scented markers. A plethora of butterfly hair clips sits on the counter beside a Tamagotchi gadget and a Furby doll. A Walkman blasts the latest N*Sync single into my ears as I impatiently await the start of MTVs Total Request Live with Carson Daly and the premiere of the songs music video. Anx-iously, I tap my tiny toes and twirl my sequined scrunchie in the same way I would anticipate which candy is inside a chocolate Wonderball.

Then the McDonalds McPizza commercial ends, the neon TRL logo fades in, and thou-sands of hysterical girls line up in Times Square to witness the boy band in person. Pulling off the headset, I rush and put my face two inches from the TV screen as if to somehow make myself a part of the crowd. There is an agglomeration of posters and screaming faces, but what catches my eye is a twenty-something girl sporting a wed-ding dress and a sign asking J.C. to marry her. Obviously he wont say yes because he currently has a girlfriend, but I cant help but feel a little jealous that she stole my idea.

As the camera pans over to the five hotshot boys with gelled hair and frosted tips, I brush off my envy and focus on the spotlight jumping to Justin Timberlake. He steps out of the group-pose to point his finger and look directly into the lens. My face is red maybe because Im blushing or maybe because my forehead is now pressed against the hot screen. Or maybe both. When he says, God must have spent a little more time on you, I cross my fingers in hopes that hes talking to me.

WHITFIELDS FACULTY

FAN FAVORITESWhen I was studying abroad, I went to Ireland to see Dave Matthews because he wasnt coming to Spain, so the whole reason I went to Ireland was for him.- Ms. Michelle Librach

I got [Troy Aikmans] jersey for Christmas and even had one of my se-nior pictures taken in it. - Ms. Laura Lotz

When I was 13 and saw Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, I fell in love. I was seriously jealous of his co-star, Jennifer Grey. - Mrs. Emily Chrsyler

Its 2013. My Tamagotchi and Walkman are long lost, Wonderballs and McPizza are discontinued, and TRL has been off the air for years. Ive gotten over my Justin Timberlake crush and countless other Cinderella story dreams since then, just like the Elvis fans and 80s groupies did before me. For years weve seen this same girl drooling over Prince Charming, waiting for the magical chance to meet him. Gradually pop culture crazes shift, heartthrob hairstyles evolve and the favorite genre changes. Though its a new age, it seems romantic dreams arent extinct.

Today, instead of lining up in Times Square and even concert rows, infatuated aficionados can watch videos and performances online. We can pause and rewind and replay that moment when our heart first melted over and over and over again. While I could only imagine Justin

Timberlake looking at me, todays celebrities actually talk to you through social mediums like Twitter and Facebook, so much so that we have begun to expect their reply.

Sometimes, you can do more than sim-ply chat online- in early March, senior Jake Davidson of Los Angeles, California tested the boundaries of social networking by posting a video of himself inviting supermodel Kate Upton to be his prom date. Such an unlikely Cinderella story became the subject of national headlines when Upton tweeted at Davidson, You can call me Katie if you want! How could I turn down that video! Ill check my schedule.

Davidsons fifteen minutes of fame culminat-ed when Upton called him during her appear-ance on The Today Show. You seem like so much fun. And if everything works out, I would love to go with you, she said.

That twenty-something girl in the wedding dress on Times Square nearly fourteen years ago must have been wishing she had had the power of YouTube instead of a measly poster.

Although Upton hinted her flirtation may have only been for publicity when she ultimately declined the offer due to a scheduling conflict, Davidson was content, telling the Huffington Post, If you have any type of goal or dream, just pursue it with reckless abandon.

Perhaps thats why in late March, our own senior Nicolette Taber kept with the times and released an original video on YouTube, featur-ing herself asking the rapper Hoodie Allen to the Whitfield Prom. A comical and innocent proposal, the clip garnered unexpected attention thanks to its advertisement on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Though she was spotlighted on Fox 2 News, the most thrilling moment for Taber was when Hoodie Allen himself responded to

the video in a tweet, Allen wrote @iamNICO-tine: u gonna fly me out and rent a limo for all ur friends or what?

Ive been such a big fan. Its the coolest feel-ing to know that all my friends helped spread the word to make it happen and to think that he actually knows who I am, said Taber. And Im sure all of us daydreamers understand. It would have been utterly indescribable had Justin Timberlake actually been staring at me through the TV set, much less calling me by name or Twitter handle.

She is a senior in high school, but she, too, hasnt lost her starry-eyed kindergartner self. The video proves that no matter how old we get and how much the world around us changes, its never too late to pursue a dream.

However, in the case of sophomores Gabby Maune and Lea Bender, its never too early ei-ther. On the morning of Hoodie Allens St. Louis concert, the pair channeled classic 80s groupies and shivered in 40-degree weather in an attempt to be the first fans to take a photo with the rap-per. Their dedication paid off, and they proudly- though they also admitted nervously- posed next to the star in an unforgettable photo-op. In theimage, the girls smile as wide as the corners of their mouth will go. Standing in between them, the short, brunette 24-year-old slyly smirks in a retro black workout suit and sunglasses.

Reaching out to a TV screen is one thing, but actually touching your dream can never be fully described. Bender could only post the photo with the caption Omg.

We missed some school, but now we have that picture and the memory forever. It was so worth it, said Maune.

Allen uploaded the image on his Twitter and Instagram accounts, broadcasting his love for

fandom like Benders and Maunes. It wasnt a dozen red roses, but it was personalized, and it their minds, romantic.

Technology has enhanced the celebrity crush experience, but what about those original Elvis hounds and Prince Charming zealots? Accord-ing to several Whitfield faculty members, the old love bug seems entrancing all the same.

While we may only recognize the premier Hollywood heartbreakers as the grandpas in todays flicks, Madame Carine Terras has not forgotten the allure of a dapper, smooth talking gentleman. I had the biggest crush on Gary Grant and then Robert Redford. I thought American men were so cool, and I still think that way! Looking at a photo of young Redford as the scruffy Sundance Kid with striking blue eyes and tousled blonde locks, its not so hard to remember there were great days before frosted Timberlake tips and Bieber bangs.

But the Redfords and Grants had to age, and the next generation dirty danced its way into a full-blown teenage girl phenomenon as Mrs. Emily Chrysler revealed. When I was 13 and saw Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, I fell in love! I was seriously jealous of his co-star, Jen-nifer Grey. For the diehards, nothing could be truer. Jealousy is a passion nearly as strong as the crush; we all felt the ache of the sting and cried the buckets of tears when Britney Spears was photographed holding Justin Timberlakes hand. We all wished on a shooting star for the failure of that relationship and thanked God when People Magazines cover boldly announced the split.

Of course, not every fantasy man can be found on TRL or in People. On her love for for-mer Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, junior English teacher Ms. Laura Lotz...

(continued on page 10)

By Erin Cizek 13, Staff Writer


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The author at five years old poses with her favorite t-shirt - she liked to keep J.T. close to her heart.

Above photos from Google Images


...said, I did get his jersey for Christmas and had one of my senior pictures taken in it; check out the 1995 yearbook. Her senior portrait does in fact bare Aikmans jersey, but it also emanates the five-seconds-left-in-the-fourth-quarter-to-win-the-Super Bowl kind of excitement you can only find in the smile of a girl in love. Up until shout-outs on Twitter or phone-ins on The Today Show, memorabilia was the next best thing to the actual thing, be it a jersey, a poster or a tooth-brush that played N*Sync when you stuck it in your mouth. I also bought the book [Aikman] wrote for children, Things Change. She joked, Im sure Quinn will enjoy it someday!

Jumping into yet another era, Coach Maggie Young and sophomore history teacher Ms. Au-drey Lampe fell victim to the 90s heartthrobs undeniably infectious charisma, but who can blame them? A synthesized beat combined with parachute pants or simply a jutting jaw line with a dramatic script creates the ultimate swoon-worthy recipe. Young admitted, In order of importance, according to my younger self, however, I still love all three of them: Leonardo DiCaprio when Titanic and Romeo and Juliet came out, Jared Leto from Prefontaine, and Matthew Fox from Party of Five. Lampe may have been watching the same TRL episode

as me, as she recalled, I had a major crush on Justin Timberlake. His singing and dance moves from N*Sync were amazing!

Sigh.

It seems in all of us theres an N*Sync fan gluing her face to the TV. Theres a Cinderella waiting on her prince. It doesnt matter whether you sing that a dream is a wish you heart makes or that God must have spent a little more time on you, the clock never strikes midnight on those childhood fantasies.

So You Think Youre a Fan?

During college, Ms. Michelle Librach spent a whole lot more time on her favorite band, Dave Matthews Band. She camped out for them when they used to play two consecutive shows. She would spent all night in sweltering heat chatting with fellow Dave fans as the anticipa-tion of yet another two hours with their favorite musician crept closer. No matter who they were, the camped-out DMB fans would excitedly con-gregate and discuss their dedication to Dave in the hours counting down to show time. Her days of educating the youth on basic Spanish in an air conditioned school highly contrasts the evenings spent outside with devoted, nearly obsessed, Dave fans in between legendary shows. I do not think I would go to this extent for my beloveds. Camping overnight to see two Dave Matthews Band concerts in a row was simply not enough. Traveling to a foreign country for the sole reason of seeing them? That was more like it.

If you think driving five hours to Kansas City proves your devotion to your loves One Direc-tion, you cannot even compare to Librach. She was student teaching in Spain when she heard news about Dave Matthews putting on concerts throughout Europe. I went to Ireland to see him because he wasnt coming to Spain, so the whole reason I went to Ireland was for him, she recalls. I went for one night. It was totally worth it. One of the best concerts Ive ever been to. I was like five people away from him and we could touch him. Ive seen him like every year since I was 12, so to see him in a totally different country was amazing.

To have the memory of being in close proximity to a celebrity you admire is extremely rewarding. Not many people can say that they have been in range of actually making eye con-tact with their beau. Librachs trip to Ireland with the sole purpose of seeing Dave Matthews was done with no regrets. She looks back at the ludicrous days of spending hours and hours

awaiting the band with a smile. If you have that opportunity and can do it, definitely take advan-tage of it because youll remember it for the rest of your life as a positive, as opposed to I wish I wouldve done that and be regretful, she says. Per Librachs advice, I took advantage of a wild opportunity before not too long ago. Ill take you back to it.

It is a painful twenty-nine degrees outside. A harsh wind constantly whooshes through the alleyway and whips any face in sight. Bodies huddle close together to obtain any possible warmth. The median age of these three hundred or so people idling in this downtown St. Louis alleyway is about twenty-eight. I, however, am a sweet thirteen years old. Accompanied by my dubious mother, we stand in these conditions for a few more hours. My toes begin to turn numb in my baby blue skater shoes, but that does not faze me. Knowing that just inside the minis-cule, nearly run-down building that I have been leaning on for the past few hours stood Fall Out Boy, my obsession of the time, all of that painful waiting time is worth it.

Librach camped out for Dave Matthews and I waited hours in the freezing cold to see Fall Out Boy. It is close to insanity to examine what we have done in the recent past for bands, but this trend is not new thing. The answer is simple. We are fans. Why do we go to bizarre lengths to see a band?

Merriam-Websters definition of a fan is an ardent admirer or enthusiast, but that terminol-ogy simply lacks depth. Where does skim-ming Twitter for countless hours, re-watching YouTube videos throughout math class, and Googling your favorite celebritys girlfriends name come into play? As ridiculous as it seems, the intensity of being a fan has risen since the days of simply screaming and fainting for Elvis Presley.

My friend Andrea Mirror, when she was about 12 years old, was a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, Ms. Sheila McCarthy explains. She would go to concerts with her older brother and stay up really late, which of course I thought was crazy. My parents didnt like pop culture, we didnt listen to pop music, and so Andreas be-havior to me was just completely off the charts. McCarthy says that Mirror would gush to her

teachers the day after concerts about Springs-teens setlists during class. That was something I used to do with Ms. Courtney Garrow about Fall Out Boy.

McCarthy is known for being an avid Elvis Presley fan, but claims that there is definitely a difference between his followers and modern day musicians followers. When we were growing up, there were basically three ways to experience a band. You bought their album, maybe listened to them on the radio, and if you were really lucky, theyd come to town and play, she says. Now you go on YouTube, discussion boards, that kind of thing. It does seem to me crazy in the sense that theyre just everywhere.

I reminded McCarthy that, in my opinion, my generation is not that much different than Andrea Mirror. Yes, we have technology on our side, but we still splurge on concert tickets to experience our favorite musicians in-person. Al-though memories of my favorite rapper Hoodie Allen Tweeting me get my heart racing, what truly brightens my day is reliving standing front row at his concert.

McCarthy sees the relationship between the generations of fans, but she is still amazed by how easy it is for teenagers to see their favorite musicians. If you want to go to the Taylor Swift concert, theres just so many ways to go experi-ence Taylor Swift. Shes on your iPod, shes on your YouTube, she probably has a pay per view concert somewhere on your cable system, she says. It does seem to me crazy in that the more readily available the stars are, the more people want to go seem them. Not only are the celebri-ties more readily available, but also because of Twitter and Facebook, fans receive constant updates on the whereabouts of them, and fur-thermore stalk them.

I admit that I am a perfect example of this in-sanity. During the summer before eighth grade, I showed up to an outdoor Jonas Brothers concert seven hours early in hopes that I would meet the charming trio. Rumor had it that the brothers greeted the first fans at their shows. Unfortu-nately, all that I experienced in those seven hours of hell was an intense rainstorm followed by hair-frizzing humidity and berserk preteens.

Social media has permanently transformed... (continued on page 19)

By Nicolette Taber 13, Assistant Editor

Evolution of the Ultimate Fan (continued from previous page)

FEATURE STORIES


The Ultimate American Roadtrip

By Elizabeth Darrell 13, Staff Writer

We had just arrived in Selma, Alabama after a four-hour bus ride. Some of us were anxious to escape the cramped quarters while others still slept wedged in the back. It was time for us to escape this bus that had quickly trans-formed itself into more of an RV with its seemingly endless supply of pillows and food. So far we had graced the social justice organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. We had made small talk with Senators McCaskill and Blunt, but nothing could have prepared us for what we had in store that chilly summer day.

When the bus came to a halt, students looked out to see a rundown street looking over what appeared to be a com-munity park sitting upon the river. Confusion swept across my peers faces as the doors of the bus opened and a figure stepped on. In front of us stood a black woman dressed in African robes. Her head was shaved, and she carried a walk-ing stick even though she appeared to only be in her 40s. At first glance her appearance could have been confused for Rafiki in the Lion King, but her stern disposition soon wiped away all remnants of the kid-friendly Disney movie.

Get off the bus, she said in a stern tone. I glanced around the bus trying to see if anyone was as baffled as I was. They were. Uncomfort-able snickers echoed throughout the bus.

I said, N!@@$#, get off the bus! she bel-lowed.

The bus went silent. Nothing could be heard except the frantic head turns of Tori Liggins, a senior at Villa Duchesne, who was asleep in the back. Her big hair stood up every which way.

We all stood up one by one, heads down with fear. I managed to glance back before walking off, catching Seckman High School senior Dylan Walkers face that only read one thing, oh crap.

We were divided up by gender and forced to walk with our hands on each other shoulders. To an innocent bypasser who couldnt see our faces, we came off as teenagers in conga lines, but our faces read anything but fun.

Dont look me in the eyes. Were not equals, she said.

Even a mistaken glimpse from the corner of the eyes was met with cruel orders and profanity. Melville High School senior Marlee Cox eyes welled with every vicious word.

Next were the killings. We were pinned up against each other-the good n!@@$# and the bad. Parkway North High School Junior Jamie Powell died at the hands of Parkway South High School junior Barri Wishne. Ladue High School senior Kelsey Burns held her head high refusing to speak. She was trying to be brave, but it only led to more severe consequences as we were all picked apart one by one.

The full impact of the slave simulation finally hit me when we boarded the ship. Although it was just a dark little closet in the corner of the room, it really felt real. As I could hear more and more students descend down stairs, the walls closed in on me. Twenty or so people were now cramped in an 8 by 5 shed.Sobbing came from every direction. As anxiety and adrenaline rushed over me, I ferociously grabbed for the hands next to me. John Burroughs senior Taylor Ingram was overwhelmed as well.

I did not know if the hand I was holding was black or white, I just knew we were feeling the same pain, said Ingram later. And that was exactly the point.

When I filled out that paper application in September of 2011, I had no idea that the program I had signed up for would lead me through slave simulations, political discussions with sena-tors, and the transformational journey of a lifetime through six cities, 60 different sites and for just four weeks, a journey that would change us forever. Cultural Leadership is a nonprofit year-long edu-cational and leadership program that teaches high-school students from all over the St. Louis region to be future leaders - activists, and troublemakers of the best kind. This simulation was only a sliver of the erratic ventures that this class of 24 endured: sleep deprivation, ethical conflicts, clashing beliefs, mental strains and even metal breakdowns.

As rewarding, enriching, and fulfilling as the program was no one can deny that it was utterly stressful.

For me, scheduling was my biggest weak-ness. Giving up a whole entire weekend from 4pm Friday to noon Sunday proved to be almost impossible. For others leaving their beds, nicely stocked kitchens, and free laundry to board a crowded bus with bags of chips and stinky clothes was an absolutely struggle, but ask any student from class 8 and they will tell you that the slave simulation, as well as the rest of the transformational journey made it all worth it.

Social justice issues have always been a huge part of my life. Ive always had strong opin-ions, but I never knew how to change my words to actions until I joined Cultural Leadership. I used to think that being able to cast my vote in an election was enough to be able to make change, but obviously it is so much more than that. By myself I am merely one opinion. Sena-tor Claire McCaskill used to knock on peoples doors to get votes. Cultural Leadership showed me I should be going out there and trying to change others opinions just like the Senator.

On our transformational journey we made connections through speakers. Listening to people talk about their religion was the most rewarding part of learning on the trip. When learning about the Jewish experience, we went to the New Jerusalem synagogue, in Selma, Alabama where we discussed the importance it had to the small community. The synagogue had diminished over the years to only ten members...


Class 8 of Cultural Leadership visits the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. monument in Washington D.C.

Climbing to the Top: Inside the World of Elite Dance Training

Maybe its the grace, the sparkly costumes or maybe even the passion that the young dancers have. On stage it looks easy, but when the curtain closes, a whole other world opens. The hours of practice each day go longer than any basketball practice and the bumps, bruises and broken bones are like those suffered by soc-cer players-maybe everyday.

People watch the reality show Dance Moms and think that all the dancers are ranked on a pyramid and that moms cause rehearsal stopping arguments causing their kids to get suspended from the studio for their hat falling off on stage. Indeed those moms are truly crazy, but thats not what being elite dancer is either. An elite dancer is defined as a dancer who dances more than 8 hours a week. A dancer is someone who tells their body to do things that it should not be able to. They defy gravity and stretch to infinity while wearing a costume that they can hardly breathe in. From classes to convention to competitions, if you dont live it, you have no idea what it is like to be an elite dancer.

I am a dancer. For almost 14 and a half years, I have danced anywhere from 7-19 hours a week. I was selected as a member of the first Senior Ensemble at Krupinski Academy of Dance this fall which is a group who performs and competes around the Mid-West. I am technically not a competition dancer, but I have competed before, and I have seen enough to know that Im glad Im not.

Thankfully my studio is a happy medium: a balance of intensity and positivity. We are com-peting for [our students] to be able to perform,

and then learn from some of the best in the business [during classes], said Ashley Krupinski, back in September 2012, when she announced the inaugural season for the Krupinski Junior and Senior Ensembles. So, like all other dancers, I go through hours of training and rehearsing even though Krupinskis is not competition-focused.

I do not know anything more demanding and cut throat, than convention/competition dance.

Its an uphill battle. A dance to the death. All for trophies, medallions, tiaras, scholarships, and invitations to nationals: The Title. Dancers put everything on the line where there can only be one winner. Everyone just wants to dance because they love it, but with a name that is not your own on your back, that love can be taken away. Even I lose the reason why I love dance sometimes, but I cannot imagine what is like for those whom competition is the only thing that they know.

Taking the First Steps

An eager little girl in her pink tights and tutu, sings, screams, and smiles while her class jumps around the room and the teacher tries to catch their attention. She is probably around age three. She loves dance and is fulfilling her dream of becoming a ballerina. I was her once.

Down the hallway at the studio, grown-up versions of those little girls are on their way to that dream. August doesnt mean the end of summer and the start of the school year; it means the start of the new season. Classes are

back into gear, the music has been selected and the numbers are casted.

The older you are, the harder the competi-tion is. There are four divisions: Mini/Petites (4-8), Junior (9-12), Teen (13-14/15) and Senior (15/16-19). Controversy among studios cheat-ing by putting younger and older dancers in the same routine is common because the division is determined by the average of the dancers ages. And if the question comes up if dancers are in the correct age division, the teachers, parents and dancers must have the birth certificate with them as proof.

But months before the competition starts, dancers spend anywhere from 2-9 hours a day at the studio, learning pieces, improving their abilities to learn choreography quickly and perfecting their technique. Classes during the week start right after school and do not end until late at night. On most weekdays, I go home from school and sleep, go to dance around 6:00 and sometimes dont get home until 10:00 at night. Then I start my homework. Then there is the weekend. While preparing for a performance, the entire day is spent at the studio on Saturday and Sunday, giving up sleeping in, partying with friends and staying home for no good reason.

In the studio, its tough love and a reality check. Teachers yell counts at you, tell you to push yourself harder. Its to make you a better dancer, but its hard to hear for multiple hours a day. Dance is definitely no longer like it was back in preschool.

Testing the Talent

Traveling miles from home to take classes in ballrooms filled above the legal capac-ity, Jason Erwin (Parkway West High School 14) puts on the wristband that defines his age division so tightly that he cannot take it off. He pins on his number, which will be his name for the next two days at DanceMakers Inc. Branson, Missouri Regionals, and steps past the security guard checking wrist bands at the front of the door and he sees the hundreds of dancers he will be going up against.

After the warm up, classes begin. Danc-ers push their way to the front to try and get the attention of the teacher demonstrating the combination on the stage. Half way through the class, the teacher divides the dancers into groups. Birthdays: January, February, March on the floor, they yell.

Jasons birthday is in December, putting him in the last group, so he joins everyone else on the sides of the room as the dancers remaining on the floor shake out their nerves before the music goes on.

While in groups, Jason tries to perform the combination without getting too close because he doesnt want to be the one that some other dancer accidently kicks in hope that their number gets called up to the stage. Because if you get called up on to the stage it means they saw something in you against everyone else. It doesnt mean they won anything though, not yet; it just means they beat the dancer next to them that was hoping for the same thing.

But that is only the first eight hours of what

could be the best or the worst 48 hours of their life. For Jason he loved his time at DanceMakers. Through all the craziness that went on during the classes, he said It was such a fun experi-ence and the teachers really made an effort to make the convention, welcoming and inspiring everyone!

The Crucial Checkpoint

Right when the last class of the day lets out there is anywhere from 1-3 hours before dancers have to have their fake eyelashes, hair and makeup done to go compete.

Everyone gets ready in two rooms: boys in one, girls in the other. Costumes drape the chairs; bobby pins fly everywhere as hair changes are made. It is not like in Dance Moms, the real-ity TV show where every studio has their own room - there is no room for that in a convention competition.

Chaos reigns from every dancer in the convention center. Waters are being spilt on other dancers costumes; personal items, like cell phones and necklaces, are being stolen out of dance bags. Putting on the matching pair of earrings and slipping on the shoes, they are ready. Outside the dressing rooms, everyone is stretching, trying to scare the other dancers with their tricks, and choreographers tie up the loose ends on their numbers and wait for the one of the competition staff to call your for rotation, which is a fancy word for lot of waiting to go back stage. There is another number going on stage, and the teachers pep talks are going through their danc-

ers heads is going through my head. Thoughts of fear rushing through their heads with the biggest one being: What if I forget something? You better not forget something.

There is no time to worry now because the MC announces Judges this is number (he mumbles a little bit, so you dont really know.), and the girl going on after you smirks, Good Luck! You know she doesnt really mean it, so you shake it off quickly before your feet hit the stage.

Cracking Confidence

Most, if not all, conventions hand out a variety of scholarships to the dancers who did outstanding work in the classroom. Some are to come back to the convention or to take a week of classes at another studio, in California or New York for free. After two days of learning the combination, First group on the floor please, the faculty yell. Every dancer in the room wants the same opportunity. They all want to bring pride to their families, friends and studios. But with 170 strong, beautiful, elite dancers in the 15-19 age division, and only 18 scholarships up for grabs, chances are slim.

At DanceMakers Inc. (DMI) Regionals in Nashville, Tennessee in December 2012, I face planted on the floor during my audition. I knew my opportunity probably vanished. I struck the final pose of the combination, and walked into the one line to hear our fate.

Conducting the audition was DMI Jazz Teacher, Tommy Alexander....



From baby ballerina to competitive dancer, this author tells the story of practices, performances and auditions through her own eyes.

By Abby Kelly 13, Guest Writer

A group of girls burst into the restaurant, at-tempting to control their loud laughter as they step up to the food line. The sounds of sizzling grease and crashing plates fill the building and get louder as they walk down the stairs towards the commotion. Shhs and stop its are whispered from the pack as they shove their way up to the food line. The first girl flips back her long blond hair and leans in to admire the numerous food options. What should I get? she asks the girl to her left, a tall, curly-haired girl with sparkling, brown eyes that instead follow the young male waiter passing out dishes of hot, steaming pizza.

Julie! What?Staring much? Jake isnt single, you know! Oh!Julies cheeks turn bright red and she looks up at

her friend. I am obsessed with the house salad and hamburger pizza! Thats what you asked, right?

The girls order their meals and slip into a wooden table below a black sign with large, metal letters that read Grassis Pizza. Julie digs into the large hamburger pizza and stabs her fork into the house salad, occasionally taking large sips of her iced tea and lemonade mix. She sways back and forth in short movements to Def Leppards Pour Some Sugar On Me playing loudly over the radio. The new manager, clad in a red Grassis apron walks by the table, asking how the girls meal is. Their mouths too full to speak, they simply nod their heads in satisfaction. He walks off smiling and readjusts the photo of a soldier on the newly painted wall, the newest addition to the growing collection of photographs.

2013

Directly in front of me stands an oversized black and white photograph of a middle-aged man and his twenty-something daughter, the man smiles brightly with an obvious sense of pride, wearing a Grassis apron. I, too, am hit by a delicious wave of grease and pizza sauce that fill my nostrils with pleasure. As I make my way towards the stairs,

Customers stream into Grassis for more than just the food: its a delicious, family tradition.

Grassis Ristorante & Deli: Happily Serving Four Generations Since 1972

chatter and boisterous laugher echo off the concrete walls while the sound of a guitar strumming plays loudly over the radio to Mumford & Sons I Will Wait. I grab my food tray and slide down the line next to my mother. We order the large hamburger pizza and house salad. No olives. Perfection.

As I place the pizza in my mouth, the gooey, cheesy sensation melts inside and I drown it down with fresh iced tea (no added lemonade for me). My mother and I share knowing glances and con-tinue to eat our lunches in silence. She takes a bite of her salad. I take a bite of mine. A collection of old photographs spreads across the wall above the tables. The first photo that captures my attention is a black-and-white image of a soldier. Aside that photograph is a large Grassis sign that has rusted from old age. My mother tells me that the sign has been there since she was my age, when she used to come here with her friends.

An attractive, middle-aged man walks by to take our plates and my mother smiles brightly.

Hello, Jake! my mother says.

April 6, 2013

After introducing ourselves to one another, Grassis owner Frank Dyer leads me to a table in the back corner. I admire the retro dcor, from the vintage windows separating tables to an array of metal Gs in all different shapes and sizes hung on the wall. I immediately have a feeling that I have gone back in time to St. Louis in the late 1970s, yet part of me is still locked in present time. Theres a lot of history here that has to do with St. Louis and

that is our focus. My wife is a designer and she put this all together, Dyer says. The tables are the old tables, the chairs are the old chairs. We took the colors of Italy, the red, white and green that used to be on the buffet lines on the walls, and we put it around the walls. Now theres a more current and relevant picture of this restaurant.

Grassis Ristorante & Deli was established in 1972. Originally located on The Hill, Grassis served the local community from the corner of Kingshighway and Potomac. In 1976, a second location was introduced on the southwest corner of Route 66 (Lindbergh) and Conway. Grassis third location opened in the Central West End along Eu-clid a few years later. Although the third and origi-nal location have been closed for many years, the second location continues to prosper and generate popularity amongst the active midtown communi-ties of Frontenac, Creve Coeur, Olivette, West-wood, Huntleigh and Ladue. Grassis Ristorante & Deli has had five different owners over the past 40 years. Current owner, Frank Dyer, has delighted Grassis generation of customers by revamping the St. Louis-founded restaurant while also maintain-ing its authentic from The Hill roots.

Beginning his evolution into the restaurant business as a busser at a country club in Kansas, Dyer exercised his passions to be a restaurant owner from a young age. He tells me that after he stopped playing baseball at University of Mis-souri- Columbia, he began to focus on school and essentially work full-time. I went to school year-round and worked at various restaurants in and around Columbia, Dyer says. After he gradu-

ated from college, Dyer worked for Applebees in Atlanta, Georgia in the mid-80s and eventually moved to St. Louis with the company when it grew into Applebees International. We opened up all the Applebees in town, he says. Through that, I went on to work at Outback Steakhouse when it first came to St. Louis. After 10 years, Dyer left Outback and moved on to his next venture at The Bonefish Grill in St. Louis, this time as a joint-venture partner for five years.

At the question of how he discovered Grassis and went about transforming it into his own business, Dyer begins to move his hands excit-edly, occasionally gesturing towards the original Grassis sign. I always said, What if I got out of corporate America and went into a business for myself? What if I did something with a concept like Grassis? he says. He describes how his wife attended University of Missouri-Kansas City where she became close friends with a woman named Mary-Joe Agnello, for whom the Mary-Joe special at Grassi is named. We were invited to their wed-ding, which is when I met Vito and Cynthia, the patriarch and matriarch of what is Grassis. After hitting it off and eventually forming a tight friend-ship with Grassis original owner, Vito Angello, Dyer expressed his interest in purchasing the restaurant after taking his last buy out from The Bonefish Grill. After speaking to the then owner in 2009, Glen Pariani, it took two years to get the deal finalized. At that point we had planted a seed and then we worked on it overtime, Dyer says. Eventually, Glenn came to me and asked if I was still interested. Then last year, in May of 2012, we

got the deal done and bought it.Dyer begins to loosen up, keeping firm yet

gentle eye contact. Earth Wind & Fires Shining Star plays over the speakers and Dyer begins to dig into his motivation of buying Grassis. I enjoy restaurants. I enjoy people. I like the environment. I like the culture. I wanted a place that already had a good cliental basis, which Grassis has, he says. I wanted to find a restaurant that fit what I believe St. Louis is known for, which are these indepen-dent owners in a niche restaurant location that has its own history, a story.

Dyer seems caught off-guard when I ask him what the most challenging part about owning a restaurant is, and a more serious expression comes over his face. The hours are challenging. You have to be present and get to know the client base. he says and then pauses to think some more. You know, everybody has their story to be told, their history of what Grassis is to them and Im learning that. There are generations of customers. Each person who comes in here has their own idea of what they remember, what they like about Grassis. The biggest challenge is not to lose that. To keep Grassis, Grassis. But also to update it, make it rel-evant to what is going on today and give it a chance to be here for a long time. He looks up and smiles at a young female waitress who walks into the back. As the music continues to play old tunes such as I Want Candy by The Strangeloves and Mrs. Rob-inson by Simon & Garfunkel, Dyer mentions how everyone is famous when they come into Grassis because everyone knows everyone. Doris, she has been here for 27 years as a waitress! Shes a hero.

Anyone can be a sports hero. The Tkachuk family comes in all the time. But its really about people like Doris. People who come in here want to see her. If shes not here, theyre worried about her.

Grassis menu is simply Italian and the service is fast. The retro nostalgic layout could arguably be the original Italian quick service restaurant. The Italian salad and hot ham and beef sandwich (the House Special) are the most popular menu items. Thats a big time sandwich, he says. We have a very unique approach to the pizza. Its mainly about the sauce. We have a very good sauce be-cause its a family recipe that has been passed down for generations. Dyer has made it his purpose to modernize Grassis while also keeping it recogniz-able for older customers through the serving of beloved meals from years past.

Grassis just fits everything: you can put a check mark on every column for everything about it, Dyer said proudly. Weve had the awesome ability to reintroduce Grassis to people. Its worked out really well. I thank Mr. Frank Dyer for meet-ing me and tell him that I will be picking up a soda and gooey butter cake to go. Its on the house, he yells from the back. Come back soon!

As I step out into the humid air, I watch a car pull up next time to mine. A family exits their vehicle and begins to walk towards the entrance to Grassis. The mother and son help smaller children get out, a girl and boy, while their grandfather waits patiently by the stairs. The small boy sud-denly runs out from the car, his feet stomping the ground, and grabs his grandfathers hand as they glide into the restaurant together.

Until next time, Grassis.

By Isabelle Nelson 13 , Staff Writer


...the relationships between fans and celebrities. Having a conversation with your favorite rapperon Twitter is the new front row at a concert. Although it is frightening to think about how creepy we have become because of social media, there are still some positives to being a modern music fan. I think the choices your generation makes about the music they listen to are more sincere, McCarthy says. The kids can go to iTunes and can download anything they want.

No matter where you fall on the modern day fan spectrum, from casually listening to artists songs, to creating YouTube videos in their honor, to knowing their blood type, it is refreshing to know that you are continuing a long, strange tradition. I blame Elvis Presley. Girls used to pass out if he looked in their direction.

Please. I am happy to defend my generation by saying that we have found superior ways to satisfy our hunger for our beloved celebrities.

So You Think Youre a Fan? (continued from page 10)

The antique feel of the faded brick walls and simple shotgun style houses reminds that its the same street Italian immigrants started their booming business on in the 1890s. Authenticity rings from every corner of the scattered group of restaurants, markets and homes known simply as The Hill. One light pink pastel house stands out from the group of dull gray ones, and a single strand of Christmas lights shines from the cof-fee shop on the corner. Its a Tuesday night, and couples stroll into the dimly lit restaurants for a dinner of exquisite pastas, pizzas and wine. Wheth-er its for date night, a birthday, an anniversary or just a pasta craving, you cant go wrong with this collection of successful businesses and delicious dining options.

But its not just a popular spot to dine. An attraction to local, everyday residents as well as hungry tourists, this stable neighborhood serves as a great financial benefit to the city of St. Louis.

And it all started when Italian immigrants came to New York from Italy where they had worked in the clay mines. When they were coming up out of the clay mines at the end of the day, they were coming up the hill to get home, and this is where this St. Louis little Italy got its famous name. Early Italian immigrants filed into this area of St. Louis in the early 1890s, and with an economic renais-sance after 1920, businesses started to pop up. The Hill, as the only ethnic-immigrant settlement that remains intact in St. Louis, offers the unique experience of true Italian ties.

As one of the more original restaurants that re-sides on Shaw Ave, Charlie Gittos gives one of the most classic Italian experiences. In 1947, Angelos House of Pasta sat on The Hill until it became Charlie Gittos in 1981. In the late 80s the small, dark room was extended even more to become the popular foodie spot it is today.

Coming from the tiny parking lot through

thick, black double doors, I have to readjust my eyes to the very dim mood-lighting to see the man I will be speaking with. Manager Todd Newman smiles as he directs me to a table at the back of the enchanting nook. Newman describes exactly why The Hill is such a great place to manage a business; he gets local cliental and sees some of the same faces everyday, but he also receives recommenda-tions by a number of hotels and traveling agencies that gives him a lot of out of town business. Its nice to host a lot of people from all throughout the world and throughout the United States. You see a really nice mixture of people, Newman said. And Charlie Gittos certainly sees a lot of people as the pasta is extraordinary. Senior Sarah Whelan agrees and said she would go again after trying a simple

dish of angel hair pasta with marinara sauce. Even I can say that the dishes are heavenly since I got the pleasure of bit-ing into the steaming hot cannelloni.

Down the street, a small but mighty pizza parlor sits on a Corner of Macklind Avenue. Nine years young, Anthoninos Taverna is more on the casual side of The Hill restaurants. One lone woman sits at the bar with a baseball cap on, and the tables are filled with families who filed in with the dinner crowd. Owner Rosario Scarato sits down with me at a high top table and beams about the gratification of owning his own business. His family grew up in the restaurant business. Its sort of bred into us, he

said. Young hostess Katie Brusati chimes in since her whole family is from The Hill. She went to Saint Ambrose church and high school right down the street. Her grandpa and great grandpa owned a painting company and did most of the houses on The Hill. Her uncle lives across the street and her grandparents live a couple blocks away.

There are people like Brusati covering The Hill, but is it still 100% Italian? Charlie Gittos waiter Josh Duncan says 85%. He explains that if you see a building with a last name, youre going to find a family on The Hill with that same name. The authenticity is true to their family background, he said.

People from all over St. Louis, the United States and even the world come to this tiny Italian neigh-borhood for one reason: the food. Duncan said, You have different tiers and different levels as far as whats more casual and whats more fine dining. Whether youre looking for fancy or the everyday place, you cant get better Italian food anywhere else. And there are not only fantastic dining op-tions but bakeries, markets and shops as well.

Beyond the pasta, this neighborhood is one of

the safest in the St. Louis area. It primarily consists of all families, many that own or work at busi-nesses on The Hill. In the city of St. Louis, to find a place where nearly no crime occurs is rare, but The Hill perfects this hard task. The Hill crime index is 8% lower than the St. Louis average. This stable environment makes it even more attractive. Be-cause of this, The Hill brings a large amount of city income to St. Louis, and the city returns the favor by providing sufficient funds back to neighbor-hood. This symbiotic relationship benefits every St. Louis resident and out of town traveler that visits the Hill.

So stop by Charlie Gittos and try the original toasted ravioli. Drop into Anthoninos and taste what was voted the best pizza on the Hill. Indulge in the decadent cheesecake from Missouri Baking Company and then buy some hot salami from Gioias Deli. Whatever you do, you can know that what youre getting is authentic Italian, a taste of home and the best in St. Louis.

Story by Samara Jatala 13, Staff Writer & Photos by Lexy Hubbard 14

The Hill: A little piece of Italy in our own backyard

All photos from Lexy Hubbards 14 Advanced Photo 11 Neighborhood Project. To see the rest of her photos visit www.venturestlneighborhood.com


Want to join The Odyssey?

Have a story idea?

Email [email protected]

or [email protected]

Staff

Cover PhotographersMali Gartin & Lucy Bhuyan

General StaffHiba Alvi, Lea Bender,

Gabby Maune & Tessa Varvares

Senior Feature WritersErin Cizek, Samara Jatala, Abby Kelly,

Isabelle Nelson & Nicolette Taber

Editor-in-ChiefNoah Mondschein

Design Editors Ian WilliamsDan Temmen

Assistant EditorIsabella Gross

Faculty AdvisorsMs. Sara Ringe & Ms. Sara Rodney

...but they still managed to have service. When we went to visit Temple Israel in Memphis, the rabbi still discussed all the participation even with 1600 members. That showed me Judaism is a very interactive religion. It is not merely as simple as just showing up on Fridays for Temple.

The trip was the majority of our transfor-mational experience, but the greatest part of all was being able to apply the knowledge we had learned about the inequality in American history to explore the inequalities in our own backyard.

As a member of Cultural Leadership, I had the honor of participating in a school swap, having never been in a public school before, I had no idea what to expect. Once we drove past the intersection of Delmar and Kingshighway I was out of my comfort zone. The

Ultimate Road Trip(continued from page 13)

neighborhood had transformed from the large mansions and gourmet grocery stores that made up the Central West End to rundown houses and vacant buildings.

The first things we noticed when driving up to Sumner High School was its size, and the massive architecture reflected a richly histori-cal school. Standing in the front entryway we couldnt help but admire the dozens of photos of alumni that had graced these halls. Clayton High School junior Izzy Greenblatt stared in awe at the pictures of Chuck Berry, Tina Turner, Hon. William Clay, and David Brent, a former Los Angeles Laker.

We were greeted at the second door by their principal Ms. Tista Harper, who led us through the metal detectors into the front office. We were then met by Judge Booker Shaw, a former Sumner alum who emphasized the history of the school...

Climbing to the Top(continued from page 15)

...He stared across the line and began to call numbers to dance in the next round to be a potential scholarship recipient. As each dancer walked to the stage, everyone else gave a single clap all together, a sign of congratulations to them. Everyone else nervously waited for their number to be called. Still trying to catch my breath, I had the same facial expression that every dancer had: a face of pleading hope.

Looking directly at me, 430, he said. Releas-ing the breath I was holding on to, I started to walk up to the stage to hoist myself up with the other 30 pulled dancers. As he helped me up he said, Im pulling you through this time, 430, but I need more from you. There was no time to cel-ebrate at this moment. I was the only one from Krupinskis who got pulled to the next round, so I started to feel the pressure.

I was debating on whether or not to throw in my trick to make up for lost ground. It was a risky choice, but like he said, he wanted more for me, and the biggest things to do in an audi-tion are do what they tell you to do and then set yourself a part from the others. So I threw in my illusion hoping he saw me land it. But in the end my risk didnt do anything because when I stepped into the line for the final time, Tommy Alexander stared down directly at me and said, 430, Im sorry, but not today. I bowed my head to thank him and I walked off the floor to the sound of the applause, trying to fight the anger and disappointment, and think of what I did wrong.

That scholarship audition was a microcosm to the real world of professional dance. Hun-dreds of dancers reminding you the harsh reali-ties that you might not make it. Out of the many who apply, prestigious College Dance Programs accept between 6-20 applicants, 3-10 girls and 3-10 boys. Then in the work force it goes the same way: according to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics, 6.8% of dancers are employed. The chances are slim, and everyone is hungry for it.

Sliding Back to Rock Bottom

It doesnt matter if you win or lose, but after long hours of being in the studio and travel-ing, tensions arise. Dance is demanding and disciplined, so it is not only physically difficult, but also mentally and emotionally difficult. According to dance.net, 42% of student dancers suffer from depression, and 10% overuse drugs and alcohol. Also, Eating Disorders appear to be very common among dancers, to stay small. However only 19% of student dancers have eat-ing disorders because you really couldnt dance without eating.

It happens to everyone, but for dancers its very common. Dancers bodies are being trained to do impossible things, and one cannot do the same thing the exact same way every time. That is how ankles are sprained, ACLs are torn and knees are popped out of place.

Struggling with Achilles Tendonitis and nu-merous knee injuries, Krupinski dancer...

(Story continues on The Aeneid, our online student news-paper. Visit theaeneid.org or scan the QR code to the right with your smart phone to be connected directly.)

(Story continues on The Aeneid, our online student news-paper. Visit theaeneid.org or scan the QR code to the right with your smart phone to be connected directly.)

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Green & White Games

By Lea Bender 15, Staff Writer

Cool CountryIf youre a fan of country music, then Verizon Wireless Amphitheater is the place to be this summer. With nine shows, this is Saint Louis biggest summer yet for country; in comparison to the six shows we had last summer. A total of twenty-five artists will be appearing this summer featuring headliners such as Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, and Jason Aldean. If youve never been out to Verizon, its located in Maryland Heights and is about a twenty-minute drive from Whitfield. Be sure to bring your friends and head out to Verizon sometime this summer for a night of music and fun!Summer 2013 concert schedule:Thursday, May 9: Brad Paisley with special guests Chris Young and Lee Brice Thursday, May 23: Tim McGraw with special guest Brantley Gilbert Friday, June 14: Luke Bryan with Thompson Square and Florida Georgia Line Thursday, June 27: Kenny Chesney with Eli Young Band and Kacey Musgraves Friday, July 26: Blake Shelton with Easton Corbin and Jana Kramer Friday, August 16: Rascal Flatts with The Band Perry Friday, August 23: Keith Urban with Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch

By Gabby Maune 15, Staff Writer

Fair St. LouisFair St. Louis is an annual fair on the 4th of July that lasts for 3 days: July 4th, 5th, and 6th. The fair is held underneath the Gateway Arch and features air shows, free concerts and firework displays. There is a parade called the VP Parade that begins at Washington and 4th Street and makes its way down to Union Station. The parade includes colorful floats, marching bands and giant balloons. Food is one of the main draws at the fair. They have all sorts of carnival food like funnel cakes, corn dogs, gyros and lemonade. The fair also has a kids zone with games, crafts and performances by danc-ers and magicians. The fireworks are the main event of the fair. They are set off at the Gateway Arch and each firework reflects off the stainless steel of the Arch. If the Arch is too crowded you can still see the fireworks from downtown.

By Tessa Varvares 15, Staff Writer

Zombie RunThis summer in St. Louis the Zombie Run 5k race is coming to Queeny Park. The Zombie run isnt just a 5k, there are zombies chasing you as you make your way through the 3 mile course. There are obstacles and mud that you have to make your way through in order to get to the finish line. Each person who registers gets a zombie survival kit which includes an official zombie run t-shirt and water bottle. Runners have the option to wear a balloon that the zombies will try to take or pop before the end of the race. If you make it to the end without getting caught then you survive. If your balloon is popped, then you too become a zombie. This race is coming to Queeny Park on June 14th at 11:00 am.Editors Note: Id recommend going as this will be good practice for the upcoming apocalypse.

ACT Test

SAT Test

Summer Begins

odyssey feature issue 2013

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