Not Vanilla

Not Vanilla: Lazy Sunday shows

The future of food-decorating competitions isn’t exactly hanging in the balance, but let’s just pretend it is. I recently was introduced to the new Netflix show “Nailed It” (no, reader, this is not a sponsorship), and I realized that with the movement of media from television to streaming platforms, a lot of the smaller, more […]

Not Vanilla: The sounds of cinema

When I was younger, I did not know much about the “Star Wars” franchise. I had never seen any of the movies, and so I didn’t know the characters, the epic moments, or even what “I am your father” meant. The one thing I knew about Star Wars was that thunderous piece of movie score […]

Not Vanilla: impersonal yet personal

Reader, sophomore year has been quite a doozy. The courses have gotten more intense, as have my extracurricular activities. And in this time when I have especially needed to focus, I have fallen into the pit of emotion that is “Mad Men.” I have a complicated relationship with “Mad Men.” And I’m warning you, spoilers […]

Not Vanilla: Spending for smiles

This weekend, dear reader, I went for the first time to the Rochester Public Market. It was a chilly Saturday morning, but I came prepared with a warm winter coat and UR quarter-zip. My crew of friends and I meandered around the market, enjoying the fresh produce and the homegrown business–feel that campus lacks. To […]

Not Vanilla: Big-time halftime disappointment

This year, when I sat down to watch the Super Bowl, I was expecting two things: a decent game and a memorable halftime show. I was pretty excited, especially knowing that the halftime performer was Justin Timberlake. He’d been out of the limelight for a good bit, so I was excited to see what he […]

Not Vanilla: Decorating your room can be a like filling a canvas

I remember, during freshman year, looking with a bit of excitement and a lot of anxiety at the walls and empty surfaces of my dorm room as if they were blank canvases. It was an unprecedented opportunity to start fresh. With a couple of items and a decent idea, I could set up this whole […]

Not Vanilla: What makes a restaurant good?

With the grand opening of the new branch of Tai Chi Bubble Tea, there has been considerable hype about having a cute new place where people can get off campus. The new eating spot has got me thinking, reader: What makes a good restaurant? Of course, the first rule is that it has to have […]

Not Vanilla: The future of late night

Are there enough people watching the actual shows with the regular advertisements to keep sustaining this format of entertainment? Read More

Not Vanilla: Podcasts to pass the time

I got into podcasts this summer, when I was interning in Boston. I quickly realized the best way to pass the time and to also be semi-aware of my surroundings was listening to podcasts. Read More

Not Vanilla: Why we watch people do things

It’s much easier to watch someone else do things and live vicariously through them. Read More