Lilah Nick Archives - the bird on fire

The Yearbook is Coming!

May 24, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Lilah Nick

Palm Valley’s yearbook committee has been working hard all year long to put together the 2021-22 yearbook. Mrs. Bernstein is the advisor for this class; Sara Habibipour is the editor in chief; and Abby Assefa is the business manager.

This year’s theme for the yearbook is Reflection. If you bought a yearbook, you’ll receive it this week, the last week of school, and you’ll be able to go around to get them signed on May 25th, the second to last day of school. If you didn’t buy one, there will be a limited few for sale for $70.

Here’s what the committee has to say about their experience making the yearbook:

“This is my 6th yearbook, so I’ve been here for a long time, and I’d say this year went by really fast with making it, but I think it’s definitely one of the best ones.”
– Sara Habibipour, Senior

“I love to take photos, and I thought it was interesting. Making the captions for photos was kind of difficult, but it was really fun overall, and being here with Mrs. Bernstein was really nice and fun.”
– Mia Meyer, 8th grade

“I basically joined Yearbook because I didn’t want to do chess, but after being here . . . I actually really enjoyed it, and I made a lot of new friends.”
– Rachel De La O, Freshman

“It’s fun, sometimes difficult, but the process is super enjoyable. In the end when you get to see the yearbook in person, it’s very rewarding.”
– Evan Wang, 7th grade

“It’s not easy, it takes a lot of hard work, passion, and dedication, so the people who have stuck through all year deserve the highest praise for their persistence. But, it is still fun.”
– Mrs. Bernstein

Geocaching–Modern-Day Treasure Hunting

May 10, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Lilah Nick

What is geocaching? Geocaching is sort of a “global treasure hunt” where people look for hidden “treasure” or stashes. Geocaching can also be considered as a series of hide and seek games. People online will provide clues to where their cache is for other seekers to find. The seekers use a GPS to find the hidden cache.

There are three main rules in geocaching:

Take something from the cache.
Leave something in the cache.
And write about it in the logbook, which is inside the box.

The caches are usually in some sort of box, but they are usually small, waterproof, and made of something like plastic, metal, or wood. You might find things like a camouflage Altoids container, an old can of nuts, or an emptied ammo box. Caches are usually hidden, but cannot be buried or intrusive.

Photo credit: NPR

When Geocaching launched in 2000, there were only 75 caches, and now there are over three million around the world. There are also millions of players finding caches. Some people play to see how many caches they can find or to see how many new places they can visit. Geocaching is a great way to get outside and find some hidden places you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. A common way to search for caches is to go on to the official geocaching website geocaching.com. Once you make an account, you’ll get access to a map that has the locations of all the caches around you.

My family and I mostly went letterboxing (the older version of geocaching), which is the same thing just using a series of clues instead of a GPS. I mostly went geocaching and letterboxing in Northern California. When I would go, we would sign the logbook with individualized stamps. I had an owl stamp, and my brother had a palm tree. We also made our own stamps.

Overall, geocaching is a really fun hobby to try out this summer.

“I’ve been geocaching! And it was a blast!”
Luke Sonderman, sophomore

“Geocaching is a really fun to explore your communities, and I often find really cool areas in nature that I didn’t know existed.”
Indy Behr, sophomore

I say, try it, it’s a great way to get out of the house.

Senior Spotlight: Isabella Goetschel

April 26, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Lilah Nick

In just about a month we will all have to say goodbye to our beloved seniors. While they are still here gracing our company, let’s talk about them. Here’s graduating Senior Isabella Goetschel.

I have known Izzy since I was a freshman. We’ve acted together. We share ASB responsibilities. So, I talked with Izzy and asked her some questions about high school.

How was your high-school experience?

I think I have had a pretty good high school experience. I have been so lucky with some of my teachers and the friends I’ve made have been…interesting. Interesting but hilarious. I’m truly grateful to have been able to enjoy it as much as I have.

Do you have any favorite memories?

There are so many funny memories. A lot of them are probably from lunch in the student lounge. I do have a really good one from golf, but I can’t expose Jane like that–lol.

What’s your favorite thing about high school?

My favorite thing about high school has got to be the people. My friends and teachers have just been the best!

What’s your favorite subject?

My favorite subject in my whole high-school experience was probably AP Government or Algebra II. I’ve just always loved politics and math. AP Gov really allowed me to learn more about the government and things going on in real time, which I loved. As for Algebra, I just find math to be fun when you understand it, and I just have fond memories of that particular math class.

Are you involved in any club?

In school, I’m the Captain of the Owls, Founder/ President of Amnesty International Club, President of United Way, President of Film Club, and Vice President of Junior Statesmen of America (JSA).

Are you excited to graduate from PVS?

Let’s just say I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited in my life.

What university are you going to?

As of right now, I’m going to UC Santa Barbara, but it all depends on whether I get accepted from the waitlist at UC Berkeley.

What are you planning on majoring in?

I plan on majoring in Political Science with perhaps a double major or minor in French.

What are your plans for the future? Dream Job?

I would love to become a civil rights attorney. If not that then something with human rights and perhaps public administration.

What are you most excited about in the future?

I’m definitely most excited about the independence and freedom that comes with college.

What are your favorite hobbies?

My favorite hobbies are definitely dancing and acting.

What are some things you do outside of school?

Outside of school, I’m usually at work. I work at the movie theater. I work at the Cinemark at the River. Honestly, it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve had in all of high school. I love working there! I also do dance! I mainly do contemporary and lyrical dance. I love hip hop as well, but I find it much harder to find a good teacher for hip hop. I tried to find a lot of places to dance here in the desert, but they were either too far or just not the right fit for me. I danced at Starlight Dance out here for a while, but then Covid hit. I plan on just picking up dance again in college rather than finding a place now.

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

My favorite thing to do in my free time is read. I loveeee reading!! I also love to watch youtube. I can’t say I have a favorite book because there are just too many good ones, but one of my top books is for sure the Shadow and Bone/ Six of Crows series. If you read them, READ THEM IN ORDER!!! Do not start with Six of Crows!!

What’s a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I used to go to a French school.

What is your favorite kind of music?

My favorite kind of music would have to be rap. I’m really the type to listen to everything from classical to rap, but there’s just something about rap music. I have wayyy too many favorite songs. I love music so much, I could never pick one, and they constantly change. Right now some of my favorite songs are probably “Lucky You” by Joyner Lucas and Eminem, “Parents” by YUNGBLUD, and “Achilles Come Down” by Gang of Youths. Veryyy different songs but all so good! I usually use the last one to study or do homework.

So, let’s all congratulate Izzy on her future endeavors. Izzy, keep us in the loop; drop us a line; let us know how you’re doing as a Gaucho or a Bear.

Everything That Happened at the Oscars

April 14, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Lilah Nick

By now you have probably heard about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock over a joke involving Jada Pinkett Smith looking like G.I. Jane. You’ve probably also heard that Will Smith went on to win Best Actor for King Richard. I have watched the video of The Slap at least 20 times. It’s all my family and friends could talk about the next day. Despite this crazy interaction between Smith and Rock, so many other things happened at this year’s Oscars–from outlandish outfits to the first deaf man to win Best Supporting Actor.

Best of the Red Carpet

Let’s start with the beginning of the night, the Red Carpet. So many beautiful gowns and tuxedos were worn–but also some really bad ones that make you question, “Who’s idea was that?” We’ll start with the best of the night.

Lena Waithe

Lena Waithe wore a neutral tone suit. It was my favorite suit presented on the Red Carpet. It looks so good on her. It’s classy, looks amazing, and isn’t just a plain black tux.

Lily James

Lily James, who you may know from playing Pamela Anderson in the new show Pam and Tommy, wore one of my favorite dresses on the red carpet. It’s so beautiful, elegant, and looks incredible on her. I love all the embroidery and the added train in the back.

The Worst

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart, nominated for best actress for her performance in Diana, was wearing Chanel. I totally get that her outfit was much more than a fashion statement, but it definitely could have been . . . better. I don’t think she should have worn shorts for a red carpet event. The jacket would have been classier with a pair of pants. Her hair is also not my favorite. I just don’t like it. The deep side part is not in right now. It’s not 2012 anymore.

Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer, one of the hosts of the Oscars, was wearing Oscar de la Renta. Whoever decided she was going to wear this seriously did her dirty. I hate the bow; it’s so unnecessary, and it could be so much better for being The Oscars. This looks like something that’s sold at Macy’s for six year olds. Her dress also received a lot of backlash on Twitter. People were calling it “Hideous,” “God awful,” “so ugly,” and “unnecessary.”

Firsts

Ariana Debose won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and was the first openly queer woman of color to win.
Troy Kotsur won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and was the first deaf man to win an Oscar.
CODA was the first movie from a streaming platform to have debuted at Sundance to win an Oscar.

The Jokes

After The Slap, everyone stopped making the kind of jokes that might have made things less awkward. Everyone was waiting for someone to get on stage and make a joke to release the tension in the room. Amy Schumer finally came back out and relieved that tension, but it was about an hour after the incident. She came out and said, “There’s like… a different vibe in here,” and there was a roar of laughter.

There was absolutely no way that everyone would have forgotten about The Slap. But, more jokes to ease the tension would have made watching the rest of the Oscars more comfortable.

On that note, there were a few jokes that worked. These from co-host Amy Schumer:

“I’m Amy Schumer or as they know me in Hollywood, ‘Melissa McCarthy said no.'”
Independent

“After years of Hollywood ignoring women’s stories, we finally got a movie about the Williams sisters’… dad.”
Independent

Student Led Conferences: Good Educational Practice or … What’s the point?

April 12, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Lilah Nick

Quarter 3 ended on March 11th, and the school year is quickly coming to a close. Thus, Student Led Conferences (SLCs) arrived on April 4th. SLCs are conferences with students, advisors, and parents. The purpose of them is for students to talk about all of their classes with their parents and advisors and then come up with ways for them to improve. But are they really necessary?

Most teachers and parents will argue that SLCs are good because you work together as a team, there is communication and transparency, and it allows the student to be in charge of the conversation. For certain families, there isn’t much communication about grades, so SLCs might be a good idea for them.

Personally, I don’t really like the SLCs. I have never liked them. You get a script, fill in the blanks, and talk to your parents and advisor about it. I’ve always found that most people fake their way through the scripts and put minimal effort into them. For example, there’s the value question. The script asks, “Which of the PVS values am I exhibiting regularly? How?” In my personal experience and that of my friends, we all fake this question the most. I’ll usually just select the value “Inquiry and Exploration.” I say I exhibit the value regularly in that I “ask questions” and I’m “interested” in my classes. It’s one of the easiest answers that we can just slap on the page.

My parents are always looking at My Backpack and checking my grades. If I have a low grade, they’ll ask for me to get it up. I don’t find SLCs necessary for me, but for other students whose parents don’t check their grades, it might be.

Let’s ask around: How do you feel about SLCs?

“It’s half an hour of my life wasted.”
Sienna Price, 8th Grade

“I hate SLCs. There is no point to me when I can just talk to my parents on my own.”
Alyna Llapitan, Sophomore

“My mom doesn’t check my grades. So, if that report card comes back with anything other than what I promised, it’s game over.”
Jessica Denyer, Senior

”I always think it’s good when parents, teachers, and students work together as a team.”
Ms. Zachik, Teacher

For better or for worse, Quarter 4 has no SLC. In fact, we have only 27 school days remaining in the 2021-22 year. But, get ready; SLCs return in only six months . . . .

Dress Code: Sound Educational Practice or Suppression of Self Expression?

March 23, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Luke Sonderman and Lilah Nick take on the age-old argument over dress codes. Ripped jeans, crop tops, and short shorts all get called into question. Dr. Sherman even contributed to the matter. Read on to find out the fashion fate of Palm Valley. – Editor-in-Chief, Jesse Denyer

By Lilah Nick and Luke Sonderman

Dress Codes:

Dress codes are a common rule set at schools, workplaces, and special events. Most dress codes create a uniform and appropriate look for a body of people, but some dress codes can be unfair and suppressive of self-expression.

There is no doubt that dress codes do serve important purposes in a professional and educational setting–such as to prevent offensive symbols and wording on clothing and accessories, but do dress codes go too far? Laura Bates, a founder of The Everyday Sexism Project, says, “There’s a real culture being built up through some of these dress codes where girls are receiving very clear messages that male behavior, male entitlement to your body in public space is socially acceptable, but you will be punished [for your clothing choices]” (theatlantic.com). At many high schools in the United States, dress codes restrict clothing that women wear: such as not allowing shoulders or collarbones to be visible or not allowing short skirts, bare midriffs, or leggings. When dress-coded at most schools, students are usually forced to change into other clothing provided by the school which may cause embarrassment and distraction. Sometimes, a student will even get sent home. “That’s crazy that they’re caring more about two more inches of a girl’s thigh being shown than them being in class,” says Anna Huffman who recently graduated from Western Alamance High School in Elon, North Carolina, and helped organize a dress-code protest involving hundreds of participants (theatlantic.com).

Many schools around the country, and specifically in California, have reformed their restrictions to be more accepting of women’s fashion. Alameda Unified School District in the Bay Area is a new leading example of a no-shame, accepting dress code. This dress code allows tube tops, tight pants, ripped jeans, short skirts, and pajamas as long as they don’t show underwear (USAtoday.com). According to Dani R., Staff Writer of the Grizzly Growler, a young person’s social-justice news source, “Women’s shoulders, knees, or stomach, should not have to be covered up on a hot summer day due to men being ‘distracted’” (grizzly growler.org).

Uniforms:

Having uniforms in private schools is very common, but do uniforms oppress student expression? According to the National Youth Rights Association, “Uniforms restrict students’ individuality, expression, and creativity” (youthrights.org). Although dress codes and uniform systems are being reformed all over the United States, “[T]he percentage of public schools requiring uniforms increased from 12 to 20 percent” (youthrights.org). The NYRA website adds, “The increase in the use of uniforms may be due to a mistaken belief that uniforms prepare students for the workplace and reduce bullying in schools” (youthrights.org). But, there is controversy even amongst the experts on the effect of uniforms on bullying in schools. Tony Volk, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Brock University, stated, “Overall, there is no evidence in bullying literature that supports a reduction in violence due to school uniforms” (Britannica).

David L. Brunsma, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), analyzed a group of 10th graders and discovered “no effects of uniforms on absenteeism, behavioral problems (fights, suspensions, etc.), or substance use on campus” and “no effects” on “pro-school attitudes, academic preparedness, and peer attitudes toward school” (Britannica). In addition, Brunsma found a “negative effect of uniforms on academic achievement” (Britannica). Some ways that uniforms have a negative effect is they take away individuality; they can be an additional school expense; and they can be pretty uncomfortable and stressful. Brunsma’s research found that uniforms did not improve academics or reduce bullying with even elementary students and 8th graders (Britannica). “A peer-reviewed study found no significant effects of school uniforms on performance on second-grade reading and mathematics examinations, as well as on 10th-grade reading, mathematics, science, and history examinations.… [In] many of the specifications, the results are actually negative” (Britannica). Studies suggest the common argument schools make–that uniforms take away distractions from the learning environment–has little scientific basis and may actually have a negative effect on a student’s performance.

Relevance to Palm Valley School:

At Palm Valley, there is only one day a month where students wear their own clothes to school, and many students have to purchase separate clothes to wear on these free-dress days. In the past few years, the uniform dress code has become more relaxed as to what types of pants and shorts are allowed, but the free-dress code has stayed the same. By our interpretation, all preschool, lower school, middle school, and high school students follow the same clothing dress code found in the Students and Families Handbook 2021-2022. When asked to comment, Dr. Sherman, Palm Valley Head of School, countered, “It actually is not the same for Preschool through Upper School.” Dr. Sherman adds, “[I]f you are referring to certain freedoms that you would like to see given to Upper School students, I would encourage you to involve Mr. Coffey in a conversation that you might foster towards that end.”

Palm Valley School is a preschool, lower school, middle school, and college-preparatory upper school. Although it is common for college preparatory schools to have uniform policies, colleges do not implement uniforms unless they are a special academy or military school. It is important for high-school students to be able to express themselves socially before going to college and through allowing students to wear their everyday clothes, students begin to embrace freedom of expression.

In an email interview, Dr. Sherman explains the school’s position: “[T]he objective in having uniforms as part of the PV dress code is to eliminate clothing issues from the social, disciplinary, and academic agenda of our school. Sometimes, clothing can be polarizing and controversial – leading to a distraction from our sole purpose as a school. As students mature, they often choose to express their individuality in overt ways by their choice of clothing and outward dress.” Dr. Sherman went on to say, “[Free dress days are] an attempt to allow students some freedom of expression as it relates to their dress.”

Palm Valley Student Survey:

In a survey, we asked Middle and Upper School students if they had ever been “dress-coded” (approached about violating the dress code or ever asked to change because of violating the dress code), and, out of 66 responses, 32 had been “dress-coded.” 70% of these “dress-coded” students were female.

We also collected quotes from students about the dress code. Indiana Behr of the 10th grade said,

“Clothes are a way for people to express themselves, so when we have a day once a month to wear clothes that we are comfortable in, telling girls all of these excessive rules is completely unnecessary.”
Indiana Behr, Sophomore

Ciera Carr from the 8th grade responded to the Handbook guidelines prohibiting cleavage:

“This society really needs to desexualize breasts…. I don’t understand why girls are being taught to be ashamed of their bodies.”
Ciera Carr, 8th Grade

Other students who responded under anonymity said, “We should be comfortable while learning”; “[The dress code] makes [students] feel shameful about their own body”; “Boys have almost no dress-code, on the other hand, girls struggle to find things to wear”; “School should be a place where you can explore yourself freely and respectfully and not be shamed for it.”

As a small preparatory school, it is important to improve the social aspect of the school environment in all ways that we possibly can. In the past five years, too many studies have shown that uniforms have no positive impact on academic performance, and the lack of social expression actually has a negative impact on academic performance and mental health. The Palm Valley School dress code and uniform policy is something that needs to be continually discussed and possibly reformed. As social change progresses, the policies and code on student expression need to change with it.

Is Din Tai Fung Overhyped?

March 22, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Lilah Nick, Restaurant Critic

Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese restaurant that specializes in Xiao Long Bao and noodles. The restaurant has won multiple awards–like the Michelin star five times (dintaifungusa.com). It is also one of the largest chains in the world with over 170 locations (dintaifungusa.com). Michelin stars are given to restaurants that have very high standards and are exceptionally good. Thus, it’s no surprise it was named one of the top ten best restaurants in the world by the New York Times. Din Tai Fung has recently been popping up on my social media accounts. I came across many different videos of people eating there and saying how good it was. So, in February, I went to the Santa Clara location and got to see what the hype was all about for myself.

First, I tried the Iced Green Tea with Passion Fruit.

It was amazing…until I took another sip. I was super thirsty and then got this cold tea and was excited. The first sip was super good, and then I took another, and I wanted to spit it out. It just tasted like hand sanitizer. I had my family try it, and they all agreed with me–not yummy. 5/10

Spicy Chicken Wontons

The chicken wontons were good, but the chicken wasn’t flavorful enough. I could tell it was there, but I couldn’t really taste it. The only real flavor was the spicy sauce. The sauce was good though; it wasn’t too spicy where it overtook the rest of the food. Overall, they were good but pretty bland. 7/10

Spicy Vegetarian Noodles

So far in the meal, these were my favorite. The spicy sauce was the same as the one from the wontons, and it was honestly great. It’s a simple but good dish. 9/10

Garlic Broccoli

Wow. Just wow. This broccoli was AMAZING. Honestly, my favorite thing I had. I’ll eat broccoli, but it’s not my usual go-to. Din Tai Fung’s had the perfect amount of garlic, and it was also perfectly steamed. I could have eaten the whole bowl. 1000/10

Chocolate Buns

I had these when I got home, so I have to admit they had been in the fridge for a bit. I microwaved them and then ate them. They were probably 70% bun and the rest was chocolate. They would have been super good if there was more chocolate because I was pretty much eating buns with a little piece of chocolate melted in the middle. 6/10

Din Tai Fung happens to be one of Ms. Zachik’s favorite restaurants. Her favorite items are the Xiao Long Bao pork buns and the spicy shrimp wontons.

“I dream about their shrimp wontons.”
Ms. Zachik

Ani Madanyan, writer for The Bird on Fire blog, also loves this restaurant.

“Their cucumber salad is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth in my 15 years of living, and their chocolate buns are extraordinary. If you’ve ever been to a Din Tai Fung you will never go back to Panda Express.”
Ani Madanyan

My mom didn’t think Din Tai Fung was that great either.

“The food was bland and the wait was wayyyy too long. I don’t understand why it is so popular.”
Ms. Paige Brown

Overall, I think that Din Tai Fung is overhyped. I was so excited and expecting top-tier food that would have been the best meal of my life, and I was kind of let down. There was a huge line to get in, so I thought it was going to be perfect. The food was good. Not very good, just good. It could definitely be better for how popular it is and for receiving a Michelin star.

Isabella Goetschel Prepares for Poetry Out Loud State Competition

March 4, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Lilah Nick

On February 7th, Senior Isabella Goetschel found out that she won the Riverside county-level competition for the Poetry Out Loud, the national poetry recitation competition. You might remember; Isabella was our school winner. She advanced to county competition, won, and this means she will move on to the state-level competition. If Izzy wins at State, she will be awarded $200 and will move onto nationals. (The competition is virtual again this year; otherwise, Isabella would also win a trip to D.C. for two.) I asked Izzy what she was doing to prepare for the competition.

Preparing for state-level Poetry Out Loud has been really interesting. I got to pick a new poem, which is really exciting for me because there are so many options and possibilities. I finally picked “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy as my third poem. For preparation, I’ve had some meetings with Mr. Sarkis [former Palm Valley Drama teacher]. He’s really helped me perfect each poem and, of course, none of it would have been possible without the help of Ms. Zachik who helped me register and get set up. It’s a lot less stressful this year because the competition is online, so I can record my poems. That definitely has its own set of challenges though. The rules for the videos are quite strict, and let’s just say I had a very unstable stack of boxes to get my phone to the required height. Overall though, it’s really fun to be able to perform, even if it’s on a recording in my room rather than in front of people.”
Isabella Goetschel

Isabella must recite, from memory and with displayed and conveyed understanding, one poem that is pre-20th Century. She again is reciting “Epitaph” by Katherine Philips–the poem with which she won the Palm-Valley competition. She also must recite one poem that is 25 lines or fewer. She’ll bring John Berryman’s “Dream Song 14” to the competition to satisfy that requirement. Then, should she advance to the finals during state competition, she will need a third poem. That’s when Thomas Hardy’s “The Man He Killed” comes into play. We’ve reprinted the poem for you here.

The state competition poems and video entries are due to POL this Monday, March 7th. The judging takes place the following Tuesday and Wednesday. We should hear on the 11th who advances to the National Poetry Out Loud Competition. We will all be cheering for Izzy!

The Man He Killed

By Thomas Hardy

“Had he and I but met

By some old ancient inn,

We should have sat us down to wet

Right many a nipperkin!

“But ranged as infantry,

And staring face to face,

I shot at him as he at me

And killed him in his place.

“I shot him dead becuase —

Because he was my foe,

Just so: my foe of corse he was;

That’s clear enough; although

“He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps,

Off-hand like — just as I —

Was out of work — had sold his traps —

No other reason why.

“Yes; quaint and curious war is!

You shoot a fellow down

You’d treat if me where any bar is

Or help to half-a-crown.”

Why You Should Stop Going to Starbucks and Visit Some Local Coffee Shops

February 24, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

I know everyone loves Starbucks. There are so many locations. You can order ahead, and it’s just a good menu. But, I think it’s time we switch it up and start going to some local coffee shops. – Editor Abigail Horwitt

By Lilah Nick, Who Orders Tea in Coffee Shops

Koffi

Koffi is a locally owned coffee shop. The first Koffi store opened in 2002 in uptown North Palm Springs. They currently have four locations: three in Palm Springs and one in Rancho Mirage. It is a popular spot to stop in with a friend and get some coffee. Their menu consists of things like breakfast sandwiches, coffee, iced tea, their version of a frappuccino, bakery items, and small lunches. Koffi offers mobile orders. In person, I ordered an egg-and-cheese sandwich and a lavender crimson berry iced-tea fusion. It was so good, and I also liked how they cut their sandwiches in half. I frequent the South Palm Springs Koffi pictured below.

Gré Coffee House and Art Gallery

Gré is located in downtown Palm Springs right across from the Sandwich Spot. The floor is covered with vinyl records along with wall displays of rare records as well. They also have a huge selection of vinyl that ranges from their $1 section to $100 for their rare records. On special occasions, they also have live music.

They have coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fountain drinks, and frozen drinks, along with a few bakery items that change every so often. I tried their hot chocolate one time, and it was the best chocolate I’ve ever had. It wasn’t burning hot and it wasn’t watery; it was super chocolate-y.

Photo Credit: Gré Coffee House and Art Gallery

Café La Jefa

Café La Jefa is a Latin-influenced coffee shop in uptown Palm Springs. The atmosphere there is really fun. There are many photo opportunities, and they have lots of comfy seating. They have coffee, tea, kombucha, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and pastries. Ani Madanyan says, “They have really good coffee. I really like their sitting area. Half the time the bakery items are sold out–they’re just that good. They also have shops in the store so you can shop while you wait.” They have clothing, crystals, hair accessories, necklaces, and art.

These are some popular coffee shop alternatives in the desert. They are super good, and I hope you visit these. There is coffee beyond Starbucks.

Converse vs. Vans

February 8, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Do you judge people by what they’re wearing on their feet? Most of us do. Do Converse All Stars give you a little edge over those who wear Vans Old Skool? Lilah Nick breaks down the pros and cons of each brand. — Editor Alyna Rei

By Lilah Nick, Shoe Expert

There has always been a lingering debate between my friends and people on the internet about which shoe brand is better. I always hear people say Vans when they have never owned a pair of Converse and vice versa. Personally, I was a Vans person for a long time, but then I finally bought a pair of Converse–and they changed my mind. So, which shoe is better, Vans or Converse?

Converse

The Converse brand was created in 1908 by Marquis Mills Converse in Malden, Massachusetts. It was originally called Converse Rubber Shoe Company. The first Chuck Taylor All Star shoe was created in 1922 after Charles “Chuck” Taylor, a semi-pro basketball player, joined Converse as a salesman. The company quickly started to adopt his ideas like making the shoe more flexible and adding ankle support. Converse exploded in popularity in the 70s. My dad told me he rode his bike with his friends from South Miami to North Miami to wait in line for hours just to buy a pair of Converse. Over the years, Converse shoes have changed into what we see today. They’ve added shoe types like Chuck 70s, One Stars, and different styles of skateboarding shoes.

Pros

Converse have always stayed at a pretty affordable price compared to other sneaker brands. Nike, for example, retails its shoes for an average of $100+, and other brands like Yeezys and Golden Goose shoes can cost anywhere from $450 (i.e. Golden Goose SuperStars) to $3,000 (i.e. Yeezy Boost Sneakers). Converse shoes range from only $30-$150. Their more expensive shoes are always collaborations and are never extremely expensive. For example, the Converse x Rick Owens are around $200, but they have been sold out for awhile. You can really only find them on resale websites for $300+. Overall, Converse is an affordable and fashionable sneaker brand.

Converse All Stars featured pretty much the same style since they were made, but after Nike bought Converse in 2003, the shoes became more comfortable, flexible, and still offered more arch support than Vans. Most people might say that Converse shoes are made for people with narrow feet, and Vans are for people with wide feet, making Converse not as size inclusive. But, when you are on the website trying to buy a pair of shoes, almost every pair offers a wide width option.

Converse are the perfect pair of casual shoes that you can wear everyday, and they still make every outfit look good. It’s a great, stylish, everyday shoe to elevate your style to something cooler. Whether the shoes are brand new or you’ve had them for three years, they still look good. These shoes come in many different colors and prints, and the brand is coming out with new designs all the time. For example, they just launched a limited edition line for Valentine’s Day. You can also customize almost every style of shoes from the color of the canvas all the way down to the color of the metal eyelets.

Cons

Chuck Taylors are made of canvas and a rubber sole, allowing them to be very lightweight but lacking the support. Without the build of typical footwear, wearing these for long distances or hikes would cause you to end up with some tired arches. The All Stars were originally made for playing basketball and were used for sports for a long time. Today, playing a game of basketball with these shoes might not be a good idea. The Chuck Taylor IIs were made to fix these problems and give the shoe more support and durability. These shoes ended up flopping and got discontinued two years later.

With the shoes being made out of canvas, they aren’t good at protecting you from the elements. Walking with these in the snow or on a rainy day can lead to one of the worst things in the world, wet socks. With the two eyelets on the side of the shoe, you are also prone to getting little pebbles in your shoes. Since the shoe doesn’t have a lot of support, it might not be good to wear these to crowded places like concerts or dances because you’ll definitely feel it if someone steps on your foot.

When it comes to style, it’s all personal preference. I definitely know some people who hate the way Converse looks. Our very own writer for The Bird on Fire, Luke Sonderman says, “I don’t hate Converse, but I definitely think that some of them are ugly.” But there are also people like my brother (Brennan Nick, PVS ’20) who hate high tops and would NEVER think about wearing a pair of Converse even if they are low tops. He is someone who loves to wear tennis shoes all the time.

Vans

Paul Van Doren worked at a shoe manufacturer when he decided he wanted to start his own shoe brand. In 1966, he and his brother James Van Doren were selling their first shoes for $2-5 dollars. They looked somewhat like today’s Keds but with a thicker sole. After James’s son showed interest in skateboarding, he decided to start manufacturing skateboard shoes. In 1976, the “Off the Wall” slogan was born. The slogan was slang used by skateboarders to do tricks in empty pools. Very soon after the slogan’s debut, Vans upgraded their design and released the Vans #36, which later became the Old Skool shoes. In the 80s, they were pretty popular, but the shoe-business competition was crazy. Counterfeit shoes were being sold, and so Vans had to lower their prices. Vans ended up filing for bankruptcy protection. In the late 80s, they sold the brand to McCrown De Leeuw & Co for 74.4 million dollars. In the 90s, Vans released many new shoes and even snowboard shoes. In 2016, for their 50th anniversary, they released a new logo.

Pros

The iconic waffle pattern on the bottom of the shoes offers lots of traction that won’t fade with time like Converse. The shoes are also pretty durable and comfortable and offer more support throughout the shoe than Converse, but they don’t offer arch support. They do have a “ComfyCush” option. These shoes have a small reinforced toe cap inside, supportive padded collars, and are made from suede and canvas. The shoes are super comfortable and are definitely a bit more supportive (besides the sole) than Converse.

Vans are pretty much the same price as Converse. They can range from anywhere from $17 dollars (i.e.the Makena sandals) to $200 (i.e. the snow boots). Vans shoes have had many different collabs including Vans x Van Gogh Museum, Vans x The North Face, and Vans x Golf Wang. Vans x Golf Wang are currently going for anywhere from $230 to even as high as $1000. They originally went for $100 when they debuted in 2015. Overall, they are very affordable shoes, but if you see a cool pair that happens to be a collab, you might have to pay almost double the price.

Vans come in many different styles like high tops and slip ons. Rarely do they make running shoes. You can always find the basic colors like black, white, navy, and checkered, but there are always other colors and patterns, and the brand has a wide selection that changes colors all the time. These shoes are another example of really good casual shoes that go with any outfit and always look good on anyone, but once again it is all personal preference.

Cons

When it comes to price, they are overall affordable but can get very expensive, as we just discussed.

These shoes are more protective than Converse but are still not the greatest idea to wear in the rain or at super crowded places. The shoes are also not as durable as advertised. Vans are pretty wide shoes, so they would fit pretty much everyone, but I would always get blisters from them because my feet were too narrow for them. Personally, I could never make Vans last more than a year, and I took good care of them. The insides of the shoes, especially the heels, would start ripping after just a few months of wearing them. The Old Skool Vans are definitely more durable than the slip ons, but I would always get holes in the toe cap area and the sides of the shoes.

Again with personal style, it is really up to you. I don’t really like the way Vans look, but some people can make them look really good if they have the right pair. For example, Jesse Denyer, writer for The Bird on Fire, says, “I like the way they look, but I would never wear them because I don’t like the way they feel, and they’re too heavy.”

If you’re thinking about buying a pair of Converse or Vans, but think they don’t have enough arch support, check out the brand Feel your Soul. Feel your Soul is a small business that makes shoe inserts for Converse. It started in 2017 when Jacob Zander wanted a way to make Converse more comfortable while inspiring people. They fit perfectly in my Converse, and they also make them for Vans now. They are super affordable and amazing quality for $15, and I put these in all my Converse. I highly recommend buying these if you want your shoes to be more comfortable. I know so many people that are diehard Vans supporters and other people, like me, that would love to have every single pair of Converse ever created.