LET ME BE YOUR STARQ&A about American Idol auditions

Lindsey Fridrich, 12

Q: Why did you decide to audition for American Idol?A: “I didn’t audition expecting to make it in. I just wanted to have the experience and be able to say I did it.”Q: What did you sing?A: “River”, by Bishop Briggs.Q: Describe how the experience was overall. A: “ It was interesting to see how they filmed a reality TV show... I think it was cooler to see how a reality TV show is filmed rather than, like, actually going through the process. They brought the Idol bus in like, four times just to get the right shot of people screaming.

Aryal Wilson, 12

Q: Why did you decide to audition for American Idol?A: I decided to audition for American Idol because I kind of looked at it as taking my shot. In the past I’ve struggled with confidence issues, as far as singing, and I thought this was a good opportunity to put myself out there.”Q: What did you sing?A: “Sweet Dreams”, by Jessica Sanchez. Q: Describe how the experience was overall.A: It was overwhelming...there was at least a thou-sand people there. I was full of excitement, and it was nerve-wracking, but at the same time, I feel my excitement overpowered the nervousness...I’m hap-py with the way everything went.”

Issue 1 Entertainment

GOING GAGA FOR GAGA Fiery costumes and a dangerous melody

ADRIAN ENZASTIGAStaff Writer

Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Flick-ering dark purple lights illuminate the black stage. Smoke seeps in from behind a rising cur-tain. Suddenly, blinding multicolored strobe lights flash wildly around the arena drawing in the eyes of every single person there.

“Call me Joanne!” a woman wearing a pink cowboy hat yells, standing atop an el-evated platform. Flames shoot up be-hind her as she begins to sing.

This is what audi-ences saw at the Aug. 19 Lady Gaga concert.

She performed many songs from her newest “Joanne” al-bum.

I was completely stunned with the inclusion of her Nebraskan hit “You and I”. Before the show, I was disappoint-ed that this song was not in her setlist, as it has always been one of my favorites. I practically leaped out of my seat when the first chords began to play. I was up on my toes for the whole song. “You and I” was originally written about Lady Ga-ga’s Nebraska-born fiancé. Despite their cancelled engagement, she still sang the song to its fullest. There was so much emotional power behind her voice, my eyes swelled up. It was a priceless piece of Gaga’s tour that only those here in Omaha were

able to witness.Though the spectacle and music were fascinat-

ing and brilliant, what really hit home was the mes-sage that Gaga left audiences with. Throughout the show, she would give short speeches about people coming together and loving each other no matter what or who they are. The best of these led into her song “Diamond Heart” in which she included some of the lyrics in her lecture.

“I might not be flawless, but you know I got a diamond heart.”

If anything, Lady Gaga told the audience that it is okay to mess up. All you have to do is for-give yourself and others.

I was able to relate with the message in “Born This Way”. It meant a lot that she spoke in celebra-tion of diversity: do not judge others based on cul-ture or religion or sexual orientation. More impor-

tantly, do not judge yourself. Many artists do not sound as talented live com-

pared to how they sound on their records, but Lady Gaga sounded even better in person. The quality of her tone was beyond perfection and left my jaw hanging even minutes after she had exited the stage.

The vast song selection, presentation of chore-ography and dance, her unique flare, and exposure of raw vulnerability combined with her spectacular costumes certainly made this an unforgettable expe-rience. Lady Gaga says she might not be flawless, but to me, she is one of the few artists that comes close.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL RESTAURANTUnique places to eat before the big danceSIERRA LANCASTEREntertainment Editor

It is the week before Homecoming. Your group is set, your outfit is hanging in the closet with care, and your tickets are purchased. You know you’re ready to take on whatever Sept. 23 throws at you.

When you’re finished admiring how proac-tive and prepared you are, you check your phone. Your “Hoco 2k17” group chat has been blowing up, and you’re curious to see what the buzz is all about.

But when you do check, you instantly wish you hadn’t. Someone in the group chat has asked the dreaded question:

“So, where does everyone want to eat?”The other members in the group have sug-

gested every restaurant under the sun, from the McDonald’s closest to the school, to the most extravagant restaurant in town (in which a meal would probably pay for half of your college tui-tion).

While you enjoy a Quarter Pounder with fries every once in awhile and wouldn’t mind eating delicious food with names you can’t pro-nounce, you know your stomach (and your wal-let) wouldn’t be satisfied with any of the current suggestions.

Never fear, you hungry, wandering soul. I’m here to help you find the perfect restaurant to eat at before the big dance.

The guidelines are simple, yet precise: The restaurant must have a variety of tasty food that isn’t outrageously priced. They must be in the Omaha area and cannot be chain restaurants (my apologies to the Olive Garden fans out there).

So I set out, fork in hand, to discover what

Avoli Osteria: It’s a Spicy Meat-ball

If you and your friends are searching for pasta and pizza, con-sider Avoli Osteria, a Northern

Italian restaurant located in Dundee. While it is a bit of a drive from MN, the Dundee neighborhood gives off a cozy and eclectic vibe that is great for pic-tures before the meal.

As for the food, Avoli has every-thing from Mortadella and Prosciutto Meatballs to Spaghetti Carbonara. All of the ingredients are fresh, many of them imported from countries such as Spain and Italy. Avoli prides itself on made-from- scratch dishes- the chef and co-owner Dario Schicke is a classically trained French chef. The price range is from $6 to $28.

Twisted Cork Bistro: I’ll Take One of Everything

If you have more adventurous eat-ers in your group, consider Twisted Cork as your dining destination.

One of the many gems of the Old Market, Twisted Cork Bistro has a wide variety on their menu, from Pork Belly Sliders and Laura’s Lavosh, to Juan de Fuca Tacos and Rib Eye Steaks.

If you have members of your party who are a bit more culinarily cautious, they might consider the Twisted Cork Burger, which was voted the #1 Burger in Nebraska by the Food Network, or the Plum Creek Farm Chicken, a mod-ern twist on a classic home-style dish.

Plates range from $12 to $35, and delectable desserts, such as the Ghi-rardelli Truffle Cookie or the Scratch Peach Pie, range from $4 to $9.

Jaipur Brewing Company & Restaurant: Namaste

Add some spice to your evening by dining at Jaipur Brewing Company & Restaurant, an Indian eatery located in Rockbrook Village.

Begin your evening with a Tan-doori Chicken Spring Roll or Vegeta-ble Samosa, or one of the many other appetizers, and then share some Tan-doori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, or Lamb Vindaloo with your pals. If you have any vegetarian or pescetari-an members in your group, Jaipur has multiple delicious options.

Not someone who enjoys spicy food? Never fear; Jaipur allows you to order your dish at a certain spice level on a scale from one to ten.

Appetizers and entrees range from $5 to $25.

Sierra Lancaster--Entertainment Review Writing