My family has always been big into traditions, from reading of A Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve to baking monkey bread for breakfast on holiday mornings. Another custom we celebrate is on Easter, having our grandma (sometimes accompanied by our little cousin) join us for dinner, along with her signature batch of cinnamon sticks. With…

In the midst of this pandemic, when every waking moment of our lives is plagued by news concerning COVID-19, music can provide solace and offer an escape from reality. Over the course of the quarantine, I’ve been listening to a lot of classical repertoire that I haven’t touched in a long time, and the reasons…

This year, many Americans were disappointed to see March Madness, one of the biggest annual sporting events in the country, cancelled by the Coronavirus pandemic. Closer to home, our Columbus Academy community has been disappointed that Governor DeWine has – rightfully – shut down schools until May 1, subsequently leading to the cancellation of April…

  Thirty-five years ago, an unprecedented musical gathering took place. Beginning at London’s Wembley Stadium and continuing in Philadelphia’s JFK Stadium, that “superconcert” lasted 16 hours and raised over $125 million dollars.  The event was called Live Aid, and its mission was to fundraise famine relief for Africa. Artists performing at both stadiums included Queen,…

If you have already finished Netflix’s Tiger King, my condolences: you’ll never get back those five wasted hours of your life. Tiger King: Murder, Madness, and Mayhem follows private zoo owners and big cat breeders as their rivalries spiral out of control and shows how obsession can become deadly. Directed by Eric Goode and Rachel…

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” cements itself as a timeless coming-of-age film, recently added to Netflix when everyone is looking for something to watch.  The 2012 classic involves complex yet relatable characters.  Set in the 90’s, the story follows an introverted “wallflower,” entering his freshman year of high school by counting the days until…

Jeremy Collins and Kim Spradlin eat rice and talk strategy. (Wikimedia Commons)The merge is really when Survivor kicks into full gear. That’s when the game officially shifts from tribal to individual and the cream rises to the top. After the insanity of this episode, it is clear that Winners at War is just getting started.…

Two Indiana teenagers search for “bright places” in their state for a school project. But their hunt turns into something neither had expected as Finch and Violet (Justice Smith and Elle Fanning ) bond over their dark pasts.  Spoliler alert: Something to consider is that this movie focuses on mental illness and the loss of a…

 This hot cocoa recipe has been a go to for me because it really delivers! Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar1/4 cup baking cocoa1 pinch salt (Yes. Salt!)1/3 cup hot water4 cups milk3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Steps: In saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, salt Add water, bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes Pour in…