features


Teen production of "The Crucible" is on its way

By Meaghan Mallari | March 3, 2006, midnight | In Features »

Four actors stand in a circle, rolling their heads, breathing deeply and meditating in a room of the Roundhouse Theatre Educational Center on Feb. 8. They are releasing their stress and preparing to leave their own personalities, thoughts and feelings for each another being. These actors, like actors in any play, must cease being themselves to assume the roles of their characters.


A piece of Takoma Park

By Alexis Egan, Meaghan Mallari | March 3, 2006, midnight | In Features »

It is a Sunday afternoon in Old Town Takoma Park and the shops on Carroll Avenue are bustling with people. Bells ring as customers filter in and out of stores carrying bags, holding their children's hands and completing errands. Vendors at the Farmer's Market are packing up their remaining produce into trucks and vans. The clock at the center of Old Town reads 2:15 p.m. It is windy outside, but the sun is shining and the storefront windows decorated with merchandise, mannequins and glittery hangings invite passerbys to enter.


When divorce drives parents apart, academics take a back seat

By Devon Madison | Feb. 22, 2006, midnight | In Features »

He wakes up at 6:30 a.m. Instead of getting ready for school, he ignores his alarm clock and goes back to sleep. After an argument with his mom last night, all that junior Marty Viger wants is to be with his dad. But Viger's parents are divorced, and he has to stay at his mom's for another week. This stressful knowledge makes going to school out of the question; he needs a day off to recoup.


Obtaining alcohol underage

By Natasha Prados | Feb. 14, 2006, midnight | In Features »

Shoving his hands deep into the pocket of his sweatshirt, Cornelius, a senior, strolls towards the liquor store, doing his best to appear nonchalant. Before entering the store, Cornelius and his friends held a rigorous debate about who could best pass for 21 years old - taking hair cut, shoes and clothing style into account - but as soon as Cornelius walks up to the check-out, he is promptly asked for an ID.


Movies to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day

By Alexis Egan, Natasha Prados | Feb. 10, 2006, midnight | In Features »

Looking for a good movie to watch on Valentine's Day, one that is not overly sappy or just cheap jokes? Fortunately, there are a lot of great movies out there for everyone. These nine movies are perfect for a date or an afternoon hanging out with friends.


A new kind of art

By Mary Donahue | Feb. 9, 2006, midnight | In Features »

Junior Lauren Atha spreads a thick coat of paint over her canvas, glancing every now and then at her reflection in a nearby mirror. As her self-portrait begins to take shape, junior Erin Fincher also works diligently on her self-portrait, looking contemplatively over her work.


Escaping from problems into disorder

By Alexis Egan | Jan. 17, 2006, midnight | In Features »

Lucas walks down the street, a nervous feeling increasing with every new step, rain pelting down on him. Anxious thoughts bounce around in his head as he contemplates where to go, what to do and whom he can trust. Whether he turns back now and returns home or keeps traveling, his actions will stay with him for the rest of his life. Running away always does.


Ready, get set… study!

By Merlyn Deng | Jan. 10, 2006, midnight | In Features »

Blazers sit quietly at home. Moody, if not hostile, they have stopped seeing friends, talking and going to parties or to after-school activities. Instead, they hide themselves from the world, occasionally venturing out of their rooms for a snack or break. The explanation for this behavior is simple, if not a bit daunting: exam week is almost upon us.


Fear and loathing in MBHS

By Bridget Egan | Jan. 2, 2006, midnight | In Features »

Since the beginning of time the famous and the powerful have been subject to fear. Bruce Wayne developed a fear of bats when he was young. Nicole Kidman is afraid of butterflies. Howard Hughes was known for his intense fear of germs. Slightly less famous, but considerably more unique is junior Elizabeth Chang who fears ... mustard?


Hot holiday gifts for your Christmas lists

By Devon Madison, Zoe Norvell | Dec. 22, 2005, midnight | In Features »

Last year it was iPods, now there's the Nano. Last year it was Halo, now everyone's got to have a PSP. Either way, it's clear: this holiday season the hottest items are electronics once again. This December, you don't always have to be rich to snag the perfect gift. Popular and acceptable alternatives are making it easier for you to keep your friends and family happy, as well as your wallet.


'Tis the season to be cooking

By Alexis Egan, Meaghan Mallari | Dec. 21, 2005, midnight | In Features »

With the holidays comes gift giving, sleeping and visiting with family, but no winter would be complete without great food. The aroma of hot chocolate and cookies baking are enough to soothe any cold soul. Whether you are an inexperienced cook or an expert one, these five recipes will be a fun and tasty addition to your cold holiday nights.


Rogers, Leslie

By Mary Donahue | Dec. 21, 2005, midnight | In Teacher Feature »

One of the fascinating things about Leslie Rogers is that he brews his own beer. And that he rides a motorcycle. And that he worked in Australia. And that he didn't start college until he was 26. Get the picture? Rogers is an all-around fascinating guy.


Whitacre, David

By Bridget Egan | Dec. 20, 2005, midnight | In Teacher Feature »

Relaxed at his desk, which is covered with books, educational movies and a miniature skeleton, David Whitacre, teacher of Cultural Anthropology and Modern World History, sits sipping his Starbucks drink. What someone cannot tell from just looking at Whitacre is that he a brillant teacher, with a flair for making dull classes interesting.


In uniform for the United States

By Natasha Prados | Dec. 20, 2005, midnight | In Features »

Decked out in a military-issue gas mask, Blair graduate Jamie Platky feels sweat drip down his skin as he tries not to let panic creep down his spine. He stares at the words scrawled across the cinderblock hut he is about to dash into and tries to obey them. "Conquer your fears. Don't let your fears conquer you," the words read.


You: It's who's for dinner

By Zoe Norvell | Dec. 8, 2005, midnight | In Features »

Meatballs on Monday, turkey on Tuesday, whitetail rabbit on Wednesday, hamburgers on Thursday and...human flesh for Friday?


On the Rhode to Oxford

By Lois Bangiolo | Dec. 6, 2005, midnight | In Features »

It was 9:45 p.m. on a Friday when Rahul Satija received a call that would lead him to Atlanta and, later, on a path to Oxford University. He was informed that he was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, and that his interview would be held in Georgia.


All the president's men redux

By Eve Gleichman, Alex Hyder | Dec. 6, 2005, midnight | In Features »

By now, you've probably heard something on the 6 o'clock news about a scandalous mess going on just across the Beltway. You've most likely read about it in your Washington Post, heard about it over the radio on your way to school and perhaps even talked about it in class. There has been a lot of clamor and hubbub about a case regarding New York Times journalists, investigations in Africa, uranium, undercover CIA agents and more finger-pointing than a Three Stooges film.


Internship opportunities

By Merlyn Deng | Nov. 30, 2005, midnight | In Features »

Looking for something to do during the summer but don't know what? Silver Chips Online has compiled information about a variety of internships and student testimonials to help you out.


Helping the homeless — and themselves

By Alexis Egan | Nov. 28, 2005, midnight | In Features »

Every month, five hundred volunteers in D.C. help over ten thousand homeless and poor citizens through the D.C.-based Bread for the City program. Simultaneously, a group of Takoma Park teens practice and plan for their next theater production, a short locally-produced play. These two seemingly unrelated groups have been brought together by charity, caring and an urge to help the less fortunate.


The early bird gets the sale

By Merlyn Deng | Nov. 26, 2005, midnight | In Features »

The sky is still dark and most Blazers are still sleeping off their Thanksgiving meals, but sophomore Ashley Wilson has already dressed and left her cozy home to join the hordes of people waiting outside of department stores, malls and electronic stores.


Seat, Kenneth

By Mary Donahue | Nov. 18, 2005, midnight | In Teacher Feature »

Kenneth Seat does not like to talk about himself. "I've never really felt comfortable talking about my personal life," he said, taking a sip from his mug, which is adorned with Japanese characters. "But if you want to get personal, here's a recent picture of my daughter."


Nurdles and squidgers and winks, oh my!

By Alex Hyder | Nov. 18, 2005, midnight | In Features »

In its long, storied history, Montgomery Blair has produced more than its share of dominant athletes. Gymnast Dominique Dawes, hero of the 1996 Olympics, attended Blair. So did Washington Wizard David Vanterpool and Orlando Magic point guard Steve Francis. Now, Blair is the proud home of another rising athletic star, a junior who, at age 16, has become a tour de force — number 52 in the world rankings — in his chosen sport.


Teens tempting fate

By Natasha Prados | Nov. 16, 2005, midnight | In Features »

Suddenly, the world contorted. Everything seemed eerier, scarier. The glowing streetlights appeared menacing. The October air felt unusually chilly. This wasn't supposed to happen. Senior Pham Bui's heart pounded fiercely in his chest as he spotted the police officer in his rearview mirror. His breath abruptly shortened, his palms got sweaty. This wasn't supposed to happen. He had just been driving a friend home.


The old versus the new

By Alexis Egan | Nov. 7, 2005, midnight | In Features »

Do you feel that the $12 million municipal building, without the promised gym, is a success or a failure? Unless you are a Takoma Park resident, this dilemma means as little to you as the price of tea in China. But to the families residing in Takoma Park, a city so liberal it has been nicknamed "The Berkeley of the East," the gym may be the deciding factor in the Nov. 8 election.


Dealing with disabilities

By Devon Madison | Nov. 7, 2005, midnight | In Features »

B-e-c-a-u-s-e. For most high school students, "because" is not difficult to spell. But for junior Robert Ginsberg, spelling "because" would be a struggle if his second grade teacher hadn't taught him to sound it out.

We found 861 results.