Class of ’88 alumnus Kyle Fuller has made a point to stop by Division Brewing almost every Friday since the year it opened. What has kept Fuller coming back for 10 years is bigger than the taste and variety of India pale ale, stout and sour beers brewed in-house. It’s the environment he’s greeted with weekly. “Not only is it the only brewery in Arlington, it’s very much a community feel,” he said. “I feel like I’m home here. Every time I walk in here, the owners Wade and Sean, are happy to greet me.” Wade Wadlington and Sean Cooley founded Division Brewing located at E. Main Street in 2015. As home brewers, they fell in love with beer making. A decade later, their careful attention to crafting a good beer and curating a welcoming spot in downtown Arlington has helped Division Brewing receive the best brewery in North Texas honor from KERA readers in February. When Cooley began brewing beer around 20 years ago, he said his hobby became real early in the craft beer industry. He said the beginning was a very exciting time when there was a variety of new flavors to try and explore in craft beer. Early on, however, craft beer wasn’t popular in Texas. “Those early days of craft beer, trying all these new flavors, but then not being able to find them easily at the store," Cooley said. "You’re like, ‘Well, I guess I’m gonna try and make it.” He said he and Wadlington began brewing together through a mutual friend. They started by brewing for themselves and their friends, hosting tastings and cookouts to have them try the brews. “That began an email list to keep people updated with when the next tasting is going to be,” Cooley said. “Then once you get 75, 80 people in your house, your wives start telling you to take this somewhere else.” Cooley said he didn’t know their hobby would become a career. It was just a fun pastime. Growing up in Arlington and having briefly attended UTA, Wadlington said the pair knew they wanted to open their business in the city. At first, when they were looking for a space, they focused on the best place for beer production, not intending it to become a venue itself. They weren’t expecting to change from being open one day a week to five based on demand. “We still struggle at times, and we’re busy to keep up with the demand,” Wadlington said. “Right now, we have a spot for 10 different or maybe more IPAs, and we only have four because we’ve sold beer so quickly.” Cooley said they’re a very small and local business in the grand scheme of craft brewers — you have to come in person and drink from the tap. He said he prefers it that way so they can brew more often, keep their beer fresh and have a larger selection to choose from. Instead of only having four core beers in a season, Cooley said they wanted to do more. “We were one of the first in the market to say, ‘No, we want to have 20 beers on tap, and we’re going to try and do what we can to make that happen all the time,’” he said. Wadlington said they were never afraid to break the mold in the brewing industry. Inspired by different breweries, Cooley and Wadlington traveled to Colorado and California, where the craft beer scene was ahead of Texas at the time of their visit, a decade ago. Professional brewing has a learning curve, and while each brewer has a recipe and style, there are basic, necessary fundamentals to follow. Every brew day, on Wednesdays, Wadlington wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to arrive at the brewery at 5 a.m. With the process taking hours to complete, he likes to start early before opening at 5 p.m. Cooley said in the simplest form, beer starts with malted barley, which provides sugars. Yeast ferments these sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Hop pellets, made from a plant, are then added to impart bitterness and flavor to the beer. “With craft beer, you take that process and then you go wild,” he said. “We’re just exploring all kinds of fruits, spices, herbs, chocolates, any flavor you can think of, we’re throwing it at a beer to see what it’s like.” The brewing process takes about eight to 10 hours, but the batch isn’t used for about 21 days, Cooley said. The batch will ferment for two weeks and then be conditioned another week to two weeks after. “It’s a process. You can’t be impatient and do this,” Cooley said. “A lot of work goes into whenever you’re drinking a beer that’s poured for you in a glass.” What makes Division Brewing unique, apart from its beer, is the two other businesses they opened alongside the brewery. The space next to the brewery used to be a boutique, and after it shut down, Cooley and Wadlington decided to turn it into Growl Records in 2017. Classic original CDs and records are sold and there is a stage for bands to perform. “The Growl brings in a whole group of people that wouldn’t necessarily even visit a craft brewery,” Wadlington said. When a restaurant next door closed, they decided to take the opportunity and start selling and in-house pizzas in 2022. Wadlington makes all the pizza dough, he said. He traveled to Chicago and Wisconsin to ensure his pizza tastes like where the best is served. He worked hard to perfect the thin-crust pizza. While every day may be a little different, they works to make it consistently as good. “We’re just doing things that we like. We like music, we like records, we like pizza, we like beer,” Cooley said. “It may seem odd, like ‘What? A brewery is doing a record shop?’ but it’s like, no, it’s just us. We just like doing the things that we enjoy doing.” Having three businesses that come together brings in a unique demographic. With the brewery bringing in the older crowd and the pizza restaurant and record store bringing in families and younger kids, the whole community can congregate in one spot. “Call me old-fashioned, but it’s important that people share a space together,” Cooley said. “To have a pub to go and get to know each other, to have a place to see live music. It’s important and people gravitate towards that.” Marcus Stephens, Clayton Wills and Hunter Lawson come to Division Brewery every two to three weeks. The combination of being a relaxed hang-out spot with a good variety of craft beer and a patio kept this brewery in their rotation. “Up until we found this place, we had no idea something like this was back here,” Stephens said. “It’s kind of a crown jewel of Arlington, it really is.” Lawson was surprised to find not many UTA students visit the spot. He said it left him thinking how one misses these places. Fuller said that there wasn’t a place like Division Brewing when he was a student at UTA in the mid to late ’80s. He said they had J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill and J. R. Bentley’s, but a brewery has a different vibe to it. “It’s not a restaurant. It’s not a fancy bar, we’re sitting on stools here,” he said. “We can just have a beer and be ourselves.” @amandaLaldridge news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From quilting basics to Dallas sports, Texans have plenty to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this week. Music Celebrate Elton John through singing and dancing to The Elton Johns at 8 p.m. Friday at the Arlington Music Hall. Sing along to Elton John’s rock hits through the decades with songs like “Bennie and the Jets,” “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Tickets are available online starting at $20 and doors open 6 p.m. Listen to a live orchestra 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Will Rogers Auditorium play Toshio Masuda’s score in “NARUTO: The Symphonic Experience,” alongside clips from the show. Tickets are available online. Sports See the Dallas Stars take to the ice 5 p.m. Sunday at the American Airlines Center against the St. Louis Blues. Doors open 3:30 p.m. Tickets are available online starting at $26. The Dallas Mavericks finish out a homestead against the Sacramento Kings at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the American Airlines Center. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a Kyrie Irving collectible pin. Tickets are available online. Entertainment Learn how to quilt 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library during their Quilt Basics: Quilt As You Go event. The class will introduce attendees to the quilting process and techniques, allowing them to take home their finished product. This event is limited to the first 10 attendees and materials are provided. Have a laugh at the movies while watching Pee Wee’s Big Adventure at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Studio Movie Grill in Lincoln Square. This showing is part of SMG’s retro series. Tickets are $5 before fees and can be purchased on their website. @wall035203 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Black voices within The Shorthorn newsroom carry individualistic stories. For Black History Month, The Shorthorn staff members step beyond the reporter's notebook to share our journeys and explore what it means to navigate life as Black students while carrying our cultures’ weight and wits. Figures of Black history News reporter Taylor Sansom credits her mother’s grit for balancing three jobs and attending college all while raising her. As a Black woman, she said she resonates with her mother’s drive and sees her as an inspiration. Sansom said when people think about Black history, icons like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks are ingrained in the minds of many. While these figures played a big role in the Civil Rights Movement, she said there is so much more to Black history. “There are so many other notable people that we should also be focusing our attention on,” Sansom said. “My younger sister, she’s in high school right now, and she had no idea who Emmett Till was because they want to teach parts of history where Black people overcame, but they never want to teach the uncomfortable parts.” Emmett Till was killed at 14 years old by two white store clerks, bringing nationwide attention to the racial violence and injustice prevalent in Mississippi, according to the Library of Congress. Generational divide and identity defined Design editor Haley Walton struggled with her racial identity and being “ostracized” by both Black and white communities. She has received criticism for not speaking “Black enough,” which she said in itself implies how Black people are supposed to sound. Such statements are harmful even to those who are not biracial. “I’ve always had issues with my identity in all different shapes and forms,” said Walton, who is mixed race Black, Swedish and Creole. Walton found that some believe coping mechanisms used in Black culture are deemed meaningless, including the divide between her family on historically negative slurs. She said her family has multiple generations of mixed-raced identities who all share unique perspectives. “It’s just two different generations finding different ways to cope,” Walton said. Illustrator Candys Mena said Black history has shaped her identity as an Afro-Honduran woman through “strength, pride and resilience,” drawing on the history of African Americans in her pursuits. “I have always kept the history of my African American brothers and sisters close at heart," Mena said. “Black History Month is a moment to reflect, respect, celebrate and share what makes us who we are, and I’ll always be proud of that.” Page designer Anayah Darrett said in a statement that both societal beauty standards and racial stereotypes significantly shaped her self identity, allowing her to challenge preconceived notions. “I am just a reserved, young Black woman living life — nothing more than that,” Darrett said. “Especially not an angry one.” Beyond the textbook Graphic designer Jordan Johnson said she hopes for a future where Black history is taught more engagingly and equitably. The current public education system presents Black history in an intangible way, leaving many students without a clear understanding. “History is a living, breathing thing — it is not meant to be passively taught and learned,” Johnson said. She said she spent her childhood in predominantly non-Black communities, so her mother set a strong foundation for Black history growing up by prioritizing her education. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve taken more initiative to learn on my own,” Johnson said. “My understanding of the true expanse of my history has grown far beyond the 400-year span they try to limit us to.” Celebrating through melody Growing up in a single-parent household, my father defied societal expectations by raising me himself, something you don’t often see in the Black community. The reality is engraved into me. It’s a truth I carry like a weight on my shoulder: I would always have to work 10 times harder than my non-Black peers. The consistent pressure coupled with ever-present shadows of racial bias created self-doubt. Every skill and endeavor I took upon myself was met with the internal question of “Am I good enough?” whispering self hatred and being overwhelmed with societal prejudice. It threatened to silence my voice. Within the complexity of Black history, music has played a huge role in it. I am inspired by the voice of Nina Simone, a singer, pianist and music arranger who used her craft as a weapon for the Civil Rights Movement. Her lyrics, which reflect pain and resilience, illuminate a path for us today. I find inspiration in today’s artists like Doechii, whose rhymes and unapologetic narratives continue that path of Black expression and empowerment. Music within our community is the sound of hope, unity and strength. It’s the heartbeat of Black history and continues to bring unity to the community. Celebrating Black history is more than mere observation. To celebrate means to come together even through the toughest of times and the division of our country or our community. We should always continue to celebrate and preserve what we have historically while also uplifting each other and building beyond our countless years of oppression. @PixaPerfect_ photo-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From book-themed markets and unique collectibles to thrilling concerts and sound bath experiences, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has something for everyone this week. Entertainment Catch the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship at 6 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium. Tickets start at $44 on Ticketmaster. Join the Bookish Bazaar at Inclusion Coffee for a lineup of local vendors selling book-themed items 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Attendees can purchase bookmarks, literary apparel, book art and prints, stationeries and more. Head to the Metroplex Collectibles Show from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Meadowbrook Recreation Center to browse a variety of collections. The show includes collectibles such as action figures, Funko POPS!, Hot Wheels and statues. Music Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen’s first American tour with Bohemian Queen at 8 p.m. Saturday at Arlington Music Hall. The tribute will take attendees through Queen's earliest songs to their well-known hits. Tickets start at $33. Meditation Unwind 7:30 p.m. Thursday during the New Moon Sound Bath at the Hearth Wisdom Store in Pantego. Bringing comfort items like floor pads, pillows blankets, eye covers or any huggable peace-bringing item is recommended for attendees. Tickets are $35. Sports Watch the Dallas Mavericks take on the Charlotte Hornets at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the American Airlines Center. Tickets start at $17 on Ticketmaster. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

In the span of two years, downtown Arlington has become a hub for vintage clothing pieces and streetwear. “We’ve been working for a long time at trying to grow this place into a vibrant downtown,” said Maggie Campbell, Downtown Arlington Management Corp. president and CEO. “What we’re seeing in recent months and years is a momentum that is building on itself.” Since 2006 when the organization was created, she said the goal has been to try and make downtown Arlington a college town. Vintage stores flocking to downtown happened organically, and Campbell said she’s excited to see the area welcome more retailers. Commodities In December 2022, co-founders Brandon Avaroa and his wife Ashley Flores opened Commodities, a vintage sneaker store on 200 E. Abram St. Commodities is derived from its full name, The Cultures Commodities, because vintage is a culture in of itself, Avaroa said. “Having the store Commodities locate here, that was one of the first retailers that planted a flag and took a brick-and-mortar here,” Campbell said. “And that sent a signal out to others.” Avaroa said making ends meet as a bartender in Dallas was difficult after shops closed during COVID-19. Selling sneakers became a necessity, so he started watching YouTube videos to learn how to enter the reselling business. He began selling on Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, soon attending major sneaker conventions. “People go to those conventions to buy, sell, trade, and that’s exactly what I did,” Avaroa said. He noticed a lot of vintage traction in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but Arlington was always overlooked. Being born and raised here, Flores’ history made it easy for the pair to “marry” the city, Avaroa said. After seeing the vacant space on Abram Street, they decided to take the opportunity to open their first storefront. Avaroa said he always wanted a location in a centralized area to feel like a destination. Multiple restaurants already lined the strip, so this allowed them to bring a retail opportunity to the area. From stickers to one-of-a-kind shoes, the shop offers something for everyone, Avaroa said. He most enjoys offering local brands and giving local artists opportunities to thrive. “People are just looking for something that identifies them, something that allows them to express themselves,” he said. Whether it’s sneakers or streetwear, Avaroa said he ensures that what he sells is unique and nostalgic. Stash VHS In November 2024, CEO Angel Espinoza opened his vintage thrift store Stash VHS a block from Commodities. Before placing roots in downtown Arlington, Espinoza sold his vintage pieces to make extra money while working all week at General Motors. Espinoza realized he wanted to take his business to the next level and begin selling at shows and conventions. Avaroa said Espinoza and Flores went to school together, so when he saw Avaroa selling shoes, he reached out. “After that I remember him saying, ‘I don’t know if sneakers are my route, but definitely vintage is,’” he said. “And that’s where he’s stuck to.” Espinoza said before he started his business, he kept to himself and would spend his time either at work or selling clothes online from his room. He was limited to hosting events at Traders Village in Grand Prairie on weekends. Eventually, he wanted to push himself and his brand out. “Our goal is ultimately to have a hangout hub,” Espinoza said. “It’s not even so much about vintage. It’s more about building relationships and connections.” A big part of vintage culture is the history behind the clothes, he said. He picks pieces that speak to him and caters to his audience. Price is based on an item’s rarity, but overall, his pieces range from $20 to $30. While being next to two other vintage stores invites friendly competition, it provides options for customers. If his store doesn’t have what someone needs, he points them in the right direction. Deep Dive Vintage Store manager Estephanny Jimenez said Deep Dive Vintage opened its doors over a month ago, sandwiched between Commodities and Stash VHS. Owner Lauren Ballentine started the company by selling clothes online right after high school in 2020. “Things got crazy, and here we are,” Jimenez said. Before working for Deep Dive Vintage, Jimenez was a regular shopper there. She said she has seen the store through its phases, always feeling welcomed and a sense of community. Their goal is to curate and give customers what they want, she said. Shoppers are always in the back of their minds, and Jimenez said there are times they pick a piece they know a regular would love. “Our vibe is all the way back to the 1930s to Y2K, so we’re really trend inclusive,” Jimenez said. The vintage shop used to be located in Hurst for around four years. “We obviously loved it and it was great as it was, but we outgrew it. It was time for a change,” she said. Being right next to UTA, Jimenez said they knew moving to Arlington would bring in foot traffic. One of their biggest focuses is sustainability, ensuring clothes are mended and handled with care, Jimenez said. Clothes range from $18 to $27, excluding their gowns and true vintage options. She said they try to keep prices as affordable as possible so customers can have unique pieces for a doable price. “I was a student and I remember that being very difficult for me. I had to feed myself but I also wanted to feel good, look good,” Jimenez said. “I feel like that’s huge here in Arlington just because we want everybody to feel like themselves and good. And it’s hard when you’re a student.” @amandaLaldridge news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Captain America: Brave New World flew into theaters Valentine’s Day as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 35th movie. As the second to last movie of the MCU’s Phase Five and Anthony Mackie’s first film as Captain America, the movie served as the next installation of The Multiverse Saga. The story centers on Mackie’s character, Sam Wilson, marking his first appearance since “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Joaquin Torres, played by Danny Ramirez, takes up the mantle of Wilson’s Falcon — following his comic counterpart. Carl Lumbly also reprises his role as Isaiah Bradley, the “forgotten Captain,” leading to the main conflict of the film. First mentioned in TFATWS, Bradley helped Wilson realize he was a suitable carrier of the stars and stripes. Harrison Ford entered the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross after William Hurt’s death in 2022. Ross first appeared in The Incredible Hulk, his presence often hindering the heroes. For the first time ever, the film did not open with the Marvel comic book fanfare opening, instead opting for a quick black and white opening. This kept the story moving without letting the audience linger too long. Set three years after the events of TFATWS, Wilson has embraced his role as Captain America, working to save the world in any way he can. Like 2021's Eternals, CABNW did poorly with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, sitting at a 50% rating, but performed pretty well with audiences who gave it an 80%. When watched in an IMAX theater, the aspect ratio of the film changed during action sequences, according to an article from Forbes. The change was both seamless and jarring, depending on the scene. The title of the film served as a double entendre. The “Brave New World” references a world with the element Adamantium and Wilson’s role as Captain America. My expectations walking into this movie were optimistic but cautious due to extensive rewrites and reshoots leading up to its release following bad reviews from test audiences. The reshoots, rewrites and cut scenes worked in favor of the film, making action sequences bigger and changing aspects of the film for the better, like the funeral from the trailer. Unlike Captain America: Civil War, Captain America: Brave New World was truly a Captain America movie, letting Wilson’s character shine without other heroes overshadowing him. Reintroducing themes from TFATWS, Wilson actively struggles with the pressure and responsibility of being Captain America. Constantly compared to Steve Rogers, Wilson wonders if he is up to the task of being the man Rogers was, especially since he wasn’t a super soldier. Early on the press tour, Mackie received backlash regarding his take on what Captain America stands for. “Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations,” he said in a panel. “It’s about a man who keeps his word and who has honor, dignity and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable. This is like an aspect of a dream coming true.” Mackie’s statements echo Chris Evans’ response to a similar question in 2011 during an interview with CBR, stating that he didn’t want to get too lost in the ‘America’ of it all. Being a superhero is hard but bearing the weight of the shield is harder, especially without the advantage of the super serum. Wilson holds his own, however, managing to defeat the antagonist by doing what he does best: being a kind and compassionate human being, traits of a good Captain America. The movie cemented Wilson’s place in the MCU, proving Rogers was right to pass on the mantle of Captain America. For those who want to avoid spoilers: STOP READING HERE. It wouldn’t be a Captain America movie without fan favorite Sebastian Stan’s character James “Bucky” Barnes making an appearance. Unlike his appearances in the previous Captain America trilogy, Stan’s character played a brief cameo, reiterating the Wilson and Barnes’ friendship from TFATWS. Although there wasn’t a mid-credit scene, the post credit scene reiterated what was already known; this universe isn’t the only one out there. Text saying “Captain America will return” flashed on the screen to signal Mackie will be back as the titular character in a future Marvel project. @marupudisairam opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From treats made with love to an arcade stoplight party, residents can enjoy multiple Valentine's Day-themed activities. Sweets Sugar Bee Sweets Bakery is offering a special menu for Valentine’s Day preorders 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Cakes, cookies, cake balls, brownies and a mini chocolate espresso pie are all available in the shop. The bakery will also have an in-house flower shop with premade floral arrangements and customizable live arrangements available. Dining Students can enjoy an on-campus Valentine’s dinner 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Connection Cafe. Hosted by Maverick Dining, the menu offers a variety of courses including steak and vegan options. The dinner costs one meal swipe and seven dining dollars for meal plan holders and $18 for those without a plan. Students can rsvp online. Head to Division Brewery on Friday to order their Valentine’s Day special, featuring a heart-shaped pizza and two beers for $25. The shop is open 11 a.m. to midnight. Reserve your seat for Valentine’s Day at Cafe Americana this Friday and Saturday. The restaurant fuses international cuisine with American classics, ensuring a romantic dining experience. Cafe Americana is presenting a three-course meal and wine pairing for $85 per person. The menu is available on their website and the restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Self care Residents can treat themselves or their partners to a relaxing spa Friday and Saturday at the Sanford House Inn and Spa. There are three Valentine’s Day packages available through Saturday. Prices range from $195 for the “Dream a Little Dream” package, $249 for the “Can’t Help Falling in Love” package and $359 for the “Leave Your Worries Behind” package. Entertainment Stop by 7 p.m. to midnight Friday at Cidercade for their Valentine’s Day Stoplight Party. The arcade bar will have colored wristbands indicating the status of an attendee’s relationship — green is single, yellow is complicated and red is in a relationship. Attendees must be 21 or older. @amandaLaldridge news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Listen to the story's audio here: As a director, J. Austin Eyer wants to give agency to his actors and stay aware of the power dynamics he has over them. As a UTA assistant professor and head of musical theater, Eyer wants to empower his students' ability to reject discomfort during intimate scenes to promote their autonomy in saying no to acting partners or anyone on set. To support their freedom to change boundaries by the day — or by the minute. Enter: This is where intimacy coordinators for film and intimacy directors for theater come in. Intimacy coordinators serve as “an advocate, a liaison between actors and production” regarding nudity and simulated sex or other intimate and hyper-exposed scenes, as defined by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Jamie Pringle, UTA alumna and current theater professional, began intimacy coordinator training about three years ago through her connection with Laura Rikard, a director, SAG-AFTRA member and co-founder of Theatrical Intimacy Education. “We’re there to make sure everybody in the room is not having harm done to them because of past trauma or because of not feeling like they could stand up for themselves, or power dynamics or things like that,” Pringle said. About a decade ago, Rikard began intimacy coordination work after acting and exploring different career paths. Her intimacy coordinator credits include the 2022 TV series “Interview with the Vampire” and “Ramy” and the 2024 movie Mothers’ Instinct. Although the role’s title is new, intimacy coordination isn’t, Rikard said. Costume designers and fight coordinators have been bridging the gap between what a director wants and what an actor is willing to do. In 2017, the #MeToo movement gained prominence in Hollywood, marking a change in the entertainment industry, where stories of shame, confusion and, at times, assault have been shared in worldwide theaters and TV/movie sets. The following year, HBO became the first network to commit to hiring intimacy coordinators. Movies and TV shows soon followed by crediting their intimacy coordinators. ‘How do you feel about that?’ When Eyer directed On the Town on campus last November, he provided disclosure forms detailing scenes that included intimacy before casting to prepare his actors before callbacks. During rehearsals, Eyer carefully choreographed kissing scenes down to the seconds. “One of the biggest things that I learned to do going into this process was, ‘Do not be afraid to ask questions’ because there are things that can be discussed,” said musical theater junior Nicole Giddens, who portrayed Hildy in the production. Before her audition, Giddens was asked about boundaries from her wardrobe to hypothetical intimate acts with her acting partner. Consent can change throughout the production process, she said. Some days, she felt confident, and other days, she harbored insecurities that compelled her to put up boundaries she may not have had previously. Giddens and her acting partner rehearsed intimate scenes for about a month before trying to figure out the timing and counts. As rehearsals progressed, they would inject more authenticity into their intimate acts, adding a natural flow to the performance. “There's choreography, so we're not gonna play around and figure out what it is,” Eyer said. “I'm gonna say, ‘Here's what I have in my mind, and here's what I'm seeing.’ And then the question is, ‘How do you feel about that?’” As an intimacy director, Pringle typically attends first rehearsals to introduce herself. Her depth of involvement can range from a few hours for one or two scenes to multiple days of rehearsal depending on how much intimacy is included in a production. Another layer of Pringle’s intimacy coordination involves working with young actors. She understands the responsibility and possibility that she may be the first person to discuss consent and boundaries in a theater context with groups like this. And when it comes to children, whatever their parents say goes. “If I had a kiss in Romeo and Juliet, and I had a student whose parent said, ‘I don't want them to kiss on stage.’ That's fine. I'm a good director, and I'm going to find a way to convey some vulnerability and convey that love between the two of them,” Pringle said. Rikard said her experience as an actor, acting teacher and theatrical director all taught her different perspectives of working on set while building her confidence as an intimacy coordinator. She has learned various methods that honor the actors' individual processes while staying true to the storyline. Modest garments, different lighting and using multiple props are all ways of achieving this purpose. “There's nothing we can put on stage that's as powerful as what we can put into the audience's imagination,” Rikard said. ‘We’re not the police’ Despite the impact of this emerging role in the industry, many involved with films have preconceived ideas before working with intimacy coordinators. Sometimes, actors think intimacy coordinators or intimacy directors judge what is being performed. Pringle said that couldn’t be further from the truth. “We’re not the police,” Pringle said. Intimacy is not just sex. Coordinators and directors also have different conversations when productions may bring up an actor’s past. Once, in a production of “The Crucible,” Pringle recalled discussing religion with actors as the plot revolves around accusing women of witchcraft. Such conversations could potentially dredge up prior traumas and triggers, she said, but she reminded the actors that they aren’t required to disclose anything to her. Respecting boundaries goes both ways. She’s not a sex therapist. She’s not a mental health professional — nor does she want to be. She’s so not human resources. “If it's not happening on the set or in the play, I am not the person,” Pringle said. ‘Making films is not comfortable’ Rikard noted one of the biggest misconceptions about the purpose of intimacy coordinators is that they make sets “comfortable.” “Making films is not comfortable. Making theater is not comfortable. The whole point is to create stories that are about the most uncomfortable moments of characters' lives,” she said. “It's never comfortable doing intimacy, even if you were doing it with the person you're married to on a film set or in a theater.” Rikard’s job focuses on helping people work through productive discomfort — while still working within their boundaries. Each actor's process is different, so Rikard sometimes has to remind those with more power and privilege that they may need to slow down to accommodate their less experienced acting partner. Pairs on set may have a large discrepancy in experience and comfort and Rikard is there to bridge that gap. The goal, she said, is for everyone to be their best selves to achieve the best product. Sometimes, recasting does happen — and that’s OK, Pringle said. “Not every show is for every person. If they have values and morals that do not line up with what that character does, then maybe that's not the show for them,” she said. “But it is best to have these conversations before they have a contract.” Instances of filmmakers worldwide abusing their power to take advantage of simulated scenes have been apparent. In December 2019, The Hollywood Reporter revealed actor Ruth Wilson left Showtime’s ‘‘The Affair’’ partly because of how the show handled sex scenes and ignored her objections. As a result, the network hired an intimacy coordinator for the show’s final season. After the release of the 2013 film Blue Is the Warmest Colour, lead actors Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos spoke about feeling ‘‘horrible’’ and ‘‘manipulated’’ during shooting, where they spent days devoted to creating satisfactory performances of simulated sex. In the theater world, the respected nonunion Chicago theater company Profiles closed in 2016 after The Chicago Reader reported a widely known, 20-year pattern of abuse by its artistic director that included sexual harassment of actors during intimate scenes. Rikard is aware of the industry’s reputation of appearing to force actors to do things they don’t want to do. But she said, despite these horror stories, most sets aren't rife with abuse. “It's actually the opposite,” she said. “This is a joyful industry. This is an industry of really wonderful people who love to collaborate and who are there for each other. And most days it's really positive.” Then, why are intimacy coordinators hired? They’re there to help make collaboration smoother among all the people involved in a project, injecting joy and efficiency into the process, Rikard said. “A set should be safe, whether we are there or not,” she said. ‘If they don't want you there, it's not a fun day’ Intimacy coordinators aren't always considered a welcomed necessity. Actor Mikey Madison, who plays a sex worker in 2024 film Anora, told fellow actor Pamela Anderson that she declined to have one on set and decided with her acting partner “to keep it small.” The decision was met with heavy discourse from intimacy coordinators and online film fans. Rikard understands this sentiment. Madison, 25, is an adult artist, and Rikard said she respects her right to define her work environment. “As an intimacy coordinator or choreographer, you have to really understand how much the actors want you in their process,” Rikard said. “And if you force yourself in a way that they don't want, that's kind of another violation of boundaries.” While Rikard appreciates networks like HBO or organizations like SAG-AFTRA suggesting having intimacy coordinators on every set, she maintains that if the production team and actors feel confident in supporting a consent-based process, then filmmakers don’t necessarily have to spend money to hire them. “You can only do this work as much as people are going to let you in the space to do your work, and if they don't want you there, it's not a fun day,” she said. “It's not a fun day to be on a set where you are hired, and you are really not needed or you're not wanted.” Eyer is happy about the industry opening up to intimacy coordinators. He supports the shift to a healthier dynamic among actors and directors that intimacy coordination now brings. “There are conversations that needed to be had 50 years ago that I think we’re finally having,” he said. “And I think it’s a good shift in the business, both in theater and in TV and film.” He knows some actors fully know their boundaries and can speak up for themselves. This work is not only for them. It’s for the director who changes their mind on a whim or hires actors who they’re attracted to. It’s for that young actor who just booked their first role — or has worked for years to land one. As a Broadway actor many years ago, Eyer didn't always have the choice to push back on directors’ requests that made him uncomfortable. Now, he has an opportunity to help young actors find their power. @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From Super Bowl watch parties, Valentine’s Day-themed movies to a chili cookoff, there’s a range of activities to pick from in the Metroplex this week. Sports Watch a triple header of America’s favorite pastime, as Oklahoma State plays Clemson at 11 a.m. Friday at Globe Life Field. Arizona plays Ole Miss at 3 p.m. and Texas plays Louisville at 7 p.m. General admission tournament passes start at $72 for adults and $45 for youth. Tickets are available on their website. Watch the Dallas Mavericks as they take on the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Witness the Mavs as they move into a new era after trading star player Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis. Tickets can be purchased on the Dallas Mavericks website and doors open 5:30 p.m. Entertainment Bring your famous chili to Division Brewing at 1 p.m. Saturday for their fifth annual Chili Challenge. Try over 20 different chilis and vote to crown a winner. Residents can head to the Big Game Bash starting 11 a.m. Sunday at Texas Live! Watch the Super Bowl on a 100-foot screen as the Kansas City Chiefs clash against the Philadelphia Eagles. There will be a live DJ, crowd games and exclusive food and drink specials from 11 venues. Tickets are $10 and can be bought on the Texas Live! website. Watch “The Notebook” right before Valentine’s Day at Studio Movie Grill on Wednesday. Tickets are $5 before fees and can be found on the SMG website. This showing is part of the movie chain’s retro series. Before it comes to a close, visit the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo on Saturday to see the conclusion of the FWSSR ProRodeo tournament and more. Residents can check out the youth rabbit show, high school scholarship rodeo and the commercial heifer show for the final time this year. Tickets are available on the FWSSR website. @wall035203 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Tomorrow has arrived. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, professionally known as The Weeknd, dropped his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow on Friday, closing the book on a generation’s worth of storytelling. A week before the release, he posted an Instagram reel showing each of his music eras. Playing over the video was his 2011 song “Rolling Stone,” a transcendent track in which The Weeknd predicts his career trajectory. Fourteen years later, The Weeknd is a global icon. The album feels like a farewell from start to finish. In the opening line of “Wake Me Up,” the album’s first track, the singer cries out the words “All I have is my legacy” over a sample of the song “Thriller” from his late idol Michael Jackson. This leaves fans to ponder life after Tesfaye retires his The Weeknd persona. The track slowly builds a synth-heavy tension along with what sounds like a heartbeat in the background. The track climaxes with a beat switch, painting shades of his 2022 album Dawn FM. He sings, “Are you real, or are you an illusion? / ‘Cause I fear your love’s my delusion.” The Weeknd appears to be questioning the existence of God, given that exploring the “After Life” was an early-set theme and the title Tesfaye led fans to believe would be the name of the album. The Weeknd has had a way of making the audience feel like they are ascending into a higher dimension. Hurry Up Tomorrow is no different. An operatic experience with seamless transitions between songs, it truly is chilling how well The Weeknd creates flowing transitions. “Baptized In Fear” into “Open Hearts” is the best of them all. The album’s second track, “Cry for Me,” is already on pace to be the most successful song of the album, offering eerie remnants of The Weeknd’s breakthrough 2015 song “The Hills.” The track begs for sympathy over a tantalizing drum, as he shows off his explosive vocals on a powerful chorus. Though “Until We’re Skin & Bones” serves as an instrumental prelude to “Baptized in Fear,” the fourth album track “São Paulo,” featuring Brazilian singer-songwriter Anitta, doesn’t really fit with the storyline of the album or the trilogy. The previously released single’s fast-paced instrumental gives disco or club vibes that seem out of place for an album as somber as Hurry Up Tomorrow. The Weeknd and rapper Future blessed fans with a duet on the 10th track, “Enjoy The Show.” In the track, The Weeknd acknowledges his previous drug abuse and while he’s left that lifestyle behind, he doesn’t mind one last encounter over a Loaded Honey sample. The Weeknd also took a moment to pop his collar and revel in his accomplishments as a high-school dropout in his twelfth track, “I Can’t Wait To Get There.” The track gives a classic 80s, slow-jam R&B vibe. He sings, “High school dropout, chillin’ with academics / And I eviscerate my enemies and piss on they grave, yeah.” The track was fittingly followed by “Timeless” featuring rapper Playboi Carti, an up-beat song boasting of success and the everlasting impact The Weeknd will have on music. Not only did the album cement the legacy of The Weeknd, but also those of producers Mike Dean and Metro Boomin. Dean, known for his synthesizing production and mixing, provides the perfect blend with The Weeknd’s falsetto. “Reflections Laughing,” “Baptized in Fear” and “Enjoy the Show” are prime examples. Within his album, The Weeknd took the liberty of mentioning a few key locations. In “Reflections Laughing,” featuring rapper Travis Scott, The Weeknd included a voice message from artist Chxrry22 referencing Dallas. In the song, she said “My girl told me she saw you in Dallas, said you didn’t look good / How much longer you in Texas for? / Don’t let this industry break you, baby / Don’t let them take you from me.” The Weeknd also highlighted his relationship with the city of Los Angeles. The city, through his ups and downs, has served as a metaphor for The Weeknd’s rise to fame and the emotional distress that came with it. In his 2011 song “The Morning,” he sings, “Order plane tickets / Cali is the mission,” symbolizing his rise in the music industry. His 2020 album After Hours catapulted him into the global superstar he is now, but it also indicated that The Weeknd was over Hollywood. The album dropped in the middle of Covid-19, helped him land a Super Bowl halftime performance and earned him the most streamed record of all-time with his song “Blinding Lights.” In “Take Me Back To LA,” the 15th album track, The Weeknd reflects on his desire to chase a life in LA, once upon a time. His imagery is second to none, detailing his life as a young man growing up in Scarborough. The track serves as a turning point in the album, a final pit-stop before the end. The Weeknd collaborated with another familiar artist, Lana Del Rey for “The Abyss,” a nostalgic track with angelic vocals from the two after asking for God’s mercy in track 17, “Give Me Mercy.” The album’s final and title track is an outcry to be freed from the life he’s chosen, pleading to be saved and begging his mother for forgiveness. “I want heaven, when I die / I wanna change, I want the pain / No more,” he sings in “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” To conclude it all, fans noticed the track seamlessly transitions into the first track of his discography, “High for This.” If this truly is the end for The Weeknd, Tesfaye has etched himself as one of the greatest artists, not only of our generation but of all time. @babyboimatt sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Michelle Phan carried a large container of sugarcane juice in a plastic bag she just bought from one of the hundreds of vendors at Asia Times Square. “Sugarcane juice is a must need during Lunar New Year,” said Phan, who shared the drink with one of her friends after sipping it. She described the juice as refreshing and festival-coded. Phan, a computer science sophomore, attended the Lunar New Year celebration with fellow UTA Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers members on a recent Saturday evening. Amid the scent of fluffy pandan waffles, fried fish balls and grilled meat skewers, the group got lost in the drums and cymbals for lion dancers and the little snaps from firecrackers thrown on the ground. Phan and her friends are among the younger generation of Asian Americans expected to continue the traditions of celebrating the Lunar New Year through food, family and friends. The festivities vary across numerous cultures, regions and households in East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures. This year, Jan. 29 marks the first day of the Year of the Snake — the sixth sign in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. Those born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be enigmatic and uncanny. Many Americans may associate the holiday with red decorations and dancing dragons, but those are just a few symbols from diverse cultural traditions. Asian Americans are the fastest-growing population in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center, and 12.5% of UTA’s fall 2024 students identify as Asian. Other traditions include decorating with the yellow Mai flower in Vietnam or kumquats in Singaporean culture. Many honor ancestors and elders, offering traditional food and lighting incense at altars. Some gather in large groups to play Chinese mahjong or the Vietnamese gourd, crab, shrimp, fish game, while others wear cultural attire. The celebrations would last for weeks. “To me, it’s just like a second Christmas, almost,” electrical engineering sophomore Tommy Phung said. Once October and November ends, the Christmas vibe comes around. Then as January creeps in, Phung starts seeing a lot more red decorations to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Phung said he came to the U.S. from Vietnam when he was five, so he doesn’t have much recollection of the celebration in his home country. Even so, his family still practices cúng — the religious practice where three specific dishes are made and they light incense to worship their ancestors. He isn’t into the practice, but he hopes to get into it as he grows older. “It’s a huge part of my culture and my background, and it’s something I want to be a part of me forever,” he said. “I don’t want it to be slowly forgotten.” One of Phung’s favorite traditions is to receive red envelopes containing cash from older family members. Now that he is older, he doesn’t receive the money anymore, but he still loves the food and the cultural significance of the Lunar New Year. Phan, however, still enjoys receiving those red envelopes. While there are no set rules as to the age limit when one stops receiving them, her family decided it ends once you own a home or get married. She said she will start giving them once she’s 21. “Two more years, oh wow,” she exclaimed as realization hit. She grew up in an Asian-dominated area of Arlington, and the holiday connects her family through huge parties. Phan said she would sit at the cousin’s table, where they would either talk, play games and make videos. She recalled those memories as the best parts of the parties. Phan has grown to appreciate more street food served at those parties like bánh khọt — a Vietnamese crispy, savory mini pancake made from a batter of rice flour, corn starch, turmeric powder, water and coconut milk, topped with shrimp and brushed with scallion oil. For computer science junior Steven Nguyen, this year’s Lunar New Year will be a bit different. His family usually eats out and attends a temple where they would shake bamboo sticks that tell them their fortune. Before it was shut down years ago, they would also gamble at Asia Times Square. This year, however, his parents are in Vietnam, and Nguyen spent time with his friends. He dropped the eating out tradition because he said he was broke. He didn’t attend the temple because Plano was too far. He held onto one tradition, though. Nguyen still carries a $100 bill in his wallet out of the $300 he won last year — that will be used for his first social gambling between friends this year. “My mom’s like, ‘I see the big notifications that you always get a low balance. Why don’t you spend the $100 bill?’ I said I be gambling it every year,” Nguyen said. “She said, ‘Do you be gambling it like you win?” “I said, ‘I’m not like you and dad, I win,’” Nguyen said, grinning. @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From a dancing competition to a showcase of NFL Draft talent, there’s something for everyone to do in the Metroplex this week. Entertainment The Dallas Museum of Art is hosting a “Meet me at the Museum: Jazz” event, offering a lounge night full of live jazz 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. General admission tickets can be bought the day of the event. Gather with family and friends at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library for their third annual Family Vision Board Party from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Participants will create vision boards to help inspire and motivate them throughout the year. Watch 10 celebrity Arlington dancers take the stage for the second annual Dancing with the Arlington Stars at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Texas Live!. The reception starts 5:30 p.m., followed by 6:30 p.m. dinner. Tickets can be purchased online. Music Art and music unite at the “Mosaic Nights: Art & Music Showcase” from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Mesbelle Gallery. This art and music showcase features talented visual artists, DJs and musicians across the Metroplex. Presale tickets are $10 or $20 at the door. Food, drinks and vendors will be available on-site. Sports Head to AT&T Stadium for the East-West Shrine Bowl at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 to watch top NFL Draft prospects showcase their talents in front of all 32 NFL teams’ scouts and executives. Tickets are available online. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From Bieber hits to city sports, there’s something for everyone to do in the Metroplex this week. Music Bieber Fever is hitting Dallas as Club 90s presents: Justin Bieber Night on Jan. 24 at The Echo Lounge and Music Hall. From 8:30 to 11 p.m., the night will be filled with Justin Bieber hits and live performances. Tickets are available online at varied prices. Entertainment The Arlington Museum of Art has two new exhibitions opening Friday, “Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition” and “Wicked Threads: The Artistry of Costume in Oz.” The Diana exhibit will showcase images of the late princess, taken by her close friend and official royal photographer, Anwar Hussein, and his sons, Samir and Zak. The Wicked exhibit will feature costumes and props used in the 2024 Universal film based on the Tony award winning Broadway musical. The exhibits will be open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission. Bug lovers of all ages, bring the family to the Bug Squad exhibit at River Legacy Living Science Center. This interactive display features talking animatronic insects with super abilities. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Feb. 8, residents can explore hands-on exhibits, jump like a grasshopper, and learn about the unique traits of each bug superhero. Ticket prices vary, and can be found online. Preacher Lawson, an America's Got Talent finalist, will be performing 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at Mic Drop Comedy Plano on his Funny As Bleep Tour. Whether a fan of his AGT performances or just looking for a night of laughs, this show is sure to deliver. Tickets are available online. Sports The Global Sports Gauntlet All-American Bowl and Combine will start 2:30 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium. Sports enthusiasts are invited to witness high schoolers and young athletes from across the country be coached, evaluated and tested by top college and high school coaches, as well as former professional and collegiate athletes and trainers. Cheer on the Dallas Stars as they take on the Vegas Golden Knights at 7 p.m. Jan 24 at the American Airlines Center. Tickets are available online. Doors open 5 p.m. @ taylor._.sansom news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

There’s typically a curse when films adapt works made for other mediums, but Wicked breaks that spell, along with all my expectations. Released Nov. 22, the film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her green skin, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the popular girl. The two become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz, but after meeting the wizard, their friendship is put to the test. In the opening sequence, Wicked is revealed to be part one of a duology, capturing the first half of the original Broadway musical. The film features catchy musical numbers I didn’t know I remembered until I found myself mouthing along. I found “Dancing Through Life” and “One Short Day” most impressive in terms of choreography and cinematography. While the actors and extras danced, the camera twisted and turned around the characters, creating an immersive experience. The “Dancing Through Life” sequence takes place in the Shiz library with Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey, dancing and performing amateur gymnastics on the giant rotary machine used to find books. I’m not sure how that was filmed, but kudos to whoever made that set because it looked so real. “One Short Day” gives a grand tour of the Emerald City through Elphaba and Glinda’s perspective, with sets and costumes matching the city’s green hue and the chaotic, gorgeous dancing from the extras. It also features a pleasant surprise for fans of the original play. This film defied my expectations in many ways, but the one I never saw coming was Elphaba’s younger sister, Nessarose, played by Marissa Bode. Like me, Bode uses a wheelchair, and Nessarose is a disabled character. This authentic disability representation is rarely seen in big productions like Wicked. I related to her character so much that I found myself holding back tears of sadness and joy. As for the stars of the show, Erivo didn’t just fly; she soared with her rendition of “Defying Gravity.” I have never gotten chills during a musical film before, and no, it wasn’t cold in the theater. She was just that good. Grande’s portrayal of Glinda shows how far she’s come since her Nickelodeon days, but she still taps into that bubbly personality as Glinda. Although mildly annoying at times, the personality is essential to Glinda’s character. Grande’s angelic, opera-like voice fits Glinda perfectly as she belts out notes in the opening act for “No One Mourns the Wicked” and later for her scene-stealing “Popular.” With 2 hours and 40 minutes of runtime, Wicked dragged a little around halfway through, but I wasn’t bored. In fact, I wish the film was longer. Luckily, Wicked: Part Two is scheduled for Nov. 21, 2025, according to Universal Pictures. Wicked is everything a musical film should be. The sets and costumes were designed with careful attention to detail, the actors sang live and, most importantly, it stayed true to the original. It made me realize and appreciate how much time and effort went into this film, from the singing and dancing to the camera work and visual effects. I can’t wait to see how part two plays out next year. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Residents have various entertainment options for the upcoming break including a Dallas Cowboys game, holiday brunches and local shopping deals. Entertainment Explore new pieces at the Holiday Art Walk from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Goldmark Cultural Center in Dallas. With free admission, the event will feature over 175 local artists, exhibitions, art activities, demonstrations and more. Residents can show off their skills for a chance to win prizes during Community Beer Co.’s Ping Pong Tournament from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 30 at Commonwealth Drive in Dallas. Registration is available online for $10. Check-in begins at noon. Support local businesses during The Mosaic Market’s Small Business Saturday Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 30 through Dec. 1. Shoppers can enjoy 10% off gift baskets and other discounts from local vendors. Food Gather with friends and head to Dallas for a Friendsgiving brunch 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Community Beer Co. Reservations are recommended and available online. Attendees can enjoy patio seating with “Friends” playing on the televisions, and an array of food and beverages. Sports Residents can enjoy the staple Thanksgiving combination of turkey and football as the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at AT&T Stadium. Tickets are available online and seats start from $36. The Dallas Stars will face the Colorado Avalanche at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at American Airlines Center. Tickets are available online and start at $61. The game will be available to stream on Max. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The entrance to Taste of Europe features wooden, medieval-inspired double doors and warm, lantern-style lights on both sides of the doorway. Inside, cabinets on the walls display rows of colorful, painted nesting dolls — a mix of whimsical and cultural collections of Eastern European folk art. The decor was recently renovated with wood walls, terracotta tiles and new lighting to bring out the restaurant’s brown tone. The lights were dimmed and smooth jazz flowed through the dining room. This is the world of Alexandre Tsalko, a Belarusian who took over the restaurant in 2021 after his wife’s father, Mikhail Frumkin, retired. Frumkin didn’t want to close the restaurant because they had regular customers, so he told his son-in-law, “You can try. If you’re good, good. If you’re not good you can close,” Tsalko said. In 2002, Frumkin founded Taste of Europe on West Pioneer Parkway, about three miles from UTA. The restaurant was temporarily closed in August and reopened Nov. 1 following renovations. Outside of serving a variety of Eastern European dishes, the restaurant also has a small section in the corner selling European snacks, beverages and ingredients. When Tsalko took over the restaurant, he learned the business step by step from Frumkin. The family recipes, which haven’t changed, require all components of the dishes to be made from scratch. The restaurant’s signature dishes include golden brown potato cakes with a side of applesauce and sour cream, as well as beef stroganoff, served with a cream onion and mushroom sauce on top of egg noodles. Its flavors were once featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in 2012. The jagerschnitzel, thinned tender pork fried in breadcrumbs and covered in a mushroom sauce with sautéed sauerkraut, has brought Grand Prairie residents Deborah Cypert and Holli Blackwell back to Taste of Europe for almost a decade. They bring each other to the restaurant on their birthdays, Cypert said. They don’t eat out much, but if they are going to, “We want to come somewhere special where the food is excellent,” Blackwell said. Although Taste of Europe only opens for dinner Wednesday and Thursday and all day during weekends, Tsalko drives an hour and a half from Rowlett, Texas, to arrive at the restaurant at 7:30 a.m. every day to either clean, order or pick up food and do the prep work. His two sons live in Arlington, so he sometimes stays with them over the weekend. In the morning, Tsalko prepares in the kitchen. In the evening, he greets guests and serves tables. “This is family restaurant,” he said. “We check in everything, and it’s hard work, but it’s good. For business, it’s good.” His first order of business every day, though? “Coffee,” he said, laughing. Tsalko didn’t have much experience running a restaurant other than a pizza franchise from 2001 to 2008. He was a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician before running Taste of Europe and is the only one in his family to have run a restaurant. The Taste of Europe crew is small, with only a few full-time employees, but most of them have stayed for years. One of whom is Terry Petersen, a chef who started at the restaurant in the summer of 2019. Petersen typically comes in an hour before opening to check if all the sauces are heated up and all the proteins are prepared, he said. He used to work at breakfast places. Here, he learns a different way of cooking instead of prebagged, frozen foods. “It’s real nice to get into an actual kitchen and cook scratch,” Petersen said. In August, Tsalko briefly planned to close the restaurant and move elsewhere. News of the closure spread on local Facebook groups like Real Arlington Foodies and Reddit, where he saw hundreds of messages asking him to stay open. He changed his mind and began redecorating. “I love my customers, and I stay,” he said. Blackwell and Cypert said they missed the old decorations, where artifacts reminded them of a museum. Now, it looks more like a restaurant. “But, the food is still the same, excellent,” Cypert said. As conversations went on, Blackwell, Cypert and their friend continued to taste the flavors of East Europe. And before the waiter could take her plate and clean the table, Blackwell wanted one last bite of beef stroganoff. @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Ian Gillies, UTA alumni and artist, said UTA has been instrumental in getting him to where he is today as a musician. Students gathered for Gillies’ acoustic EP release party for The Practice Room Sessions, at Brazos Park from 7 to 9 p.m. The concert was held by UTA Student Records, UTA’s music label, and featured Gillian Jolie along with Abigail Hill, who opened for Gillies and performed their own songs. Amy Franco, music business and biology major, said that UTA Student Records is a class that brings music students together to produce music. In order to achieve this, she said their class has a regular lecture and has conversations about the music business industry. “It’s all student-run. It’s all student-motivated,” Franco said. “The professor assigns a CEO of a group, and we all basically collaborate together with our ideas,” Franco said. She said that so far, they’ve signed two artists. Jarod Silverio, UTA Student Records president and audio production major, said that in the class, students learn about what goes into managing a record label, like copyright law, marketing and publishing. “I’m overseeing the operations of our marketing, distribution, artist and repertoire and our contracts team, where we take in artists and consider them as projects for our semester,” Silverio said. In this position, he said he's had to learn new organizational skills and what it’s like to spend time in a studio with artists. “Having a taste of that really excites me for what I want to do after school,” he said. “Now, I see artists and label management as something I want to get into.” As someone who’s trying to make his way in the industry, Gillies said that UTA Student Records has helped him release his new EP. “They've been a massive help in terms of just advertising and producing and helping with so many different facets of, especially the show, putting it all together,” Gillies said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without them.” @mn.alansari news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Residents have various entertainment options this week including a Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans game, a yappy hour event and a chili cook-off, including seasonal events like Coca-Cola Classic Christmas and The Nutcracker ballet performance. Sports The Dallas Cowboys will take on the Houston Texans at 7:15 p.m. Nov. 18 at AT&T Stadium. Tickets, required for ages two and up, are available online and. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Holiday entertainment Coca-Cola Classic Christmas is an immersive holiday event held 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. daily from Nov. 22 to Dec. 29 at Choctaw Stadium. Guests can enjoy a Christmas light display, holiday market, ice skating, snow slide, live entertainment, themed nights and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Tickets are available online. The United Performing Arts Guild presents The Nutcracker Ballet from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Arlington Independent School District’s Center for Visual and Performing Arts Robert C. Copeland Concert Hall. This ticketed holiday performance invites the audience to experience a journey to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Seating is reserved and prices range from $32 to $47. Local Dining Doggie Depot Yappy Hour will be 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21 at The Tipsy Oak. This event supports The Doggie Depot, a new off-leash dog park in downtown Arlington. The restaurant will donate a portion of sales to help fund the park. Attendees can enjoy food, live music and the company of fellow dog lovers. Leashed dogs are welcome on the patio. Residents can bring the heat to On Tap’s fifth annual Chili Cook-Off from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 17 Participants can enter their chili recipes for a chance to win the judge’s choice $100 prize or taste and vote for their favorite chili in the people’s choice competition for $5, with a $50 prize for the winner. Entries must check in and pay the $15 entry fee by 1:45 p.m. @fluffsjourney news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

As Texas results rolled in on election night, the answer to a long-pressing question came swiftly: Can Texas turn blue? By 8:12 p.m. Nov. 5, a little more than an hour after polls closed, now President-elect Donald Trump had won Texas. He eventually won over Harris by 14 percentage points. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz defeated U.S. Rep. Colin Allred by nine points. The numbers reaffirmed the Republican Party’s dominance of Texas. Democrats didn’t just underperform — they lost by bigger margins than in previous election cycles, and former strongholds flipped red. What’s left is a continuously weakening case that Texas is a battleground state. Democrats also lost three seats in the Texas Legislature and nearly every contested state appellate court race and saw Republicans win 10 countywide judicial races in Harris County — reversing several years of Democratic dominance in Texas’ largest county. “What seems clear to me from the 2024 results is that Democrats don’t seem to have a clear message that the voters are buying,” said Mark Hand, political science assistant professor. Every election cycle, the state is seen as a potential flip for Democrats although Texans haven’t elected a Democrat to a statewide position since 1994. The last time Texas went blue for a presidential candidate was in 1976 for Jimmy Carter. “The Democrats probably have a lot of soul searching to do here on what is the message that is as clear and as strong as the message that Donald Trump and more MAGA-leaning conservatives have offered to voters,” Hand said. Texas Democrats need a real rebuilding cycle if they want to be competitive, he said. The process has already begun. Gilberto Hinojosa, the Texas Democratic Party chair, announced his resignation Nov. 8, three days following the election. He will step down in March when the party’s governing executive committee is scheduled to meet. “In the days and weeks to come, it is imperative that our Democratic leaders across the country reevaluate what is best for our party and embrace the next generation of leaders to take us through the next four years of Trump and win back seats up and down the ballot,” Hinojosa said in a statement. ‘The nation’s biggest battleground state’ At the Democratic National Convention in August, Hinojosa declared Texas as “the nation’s biggest battleground state.” In 2016, Trump won Texas by nine percentage points over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. When President Joe Biden overperformed four years later, he still lost Texas by over five percentage points. Even when former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke almost won over Cruz in 2018 and built further hopes that the Lone Star State may turn blue, that’s all it was — almost. O’Rourke lost by fewer than three percentage points. That year, however, Texas Democrats flipped state House districts, local government seats and state appeals courts. Republicans still controlled the Legislature and occupied every statewide office, but Democrats saw that year as the beginning of a new era. The data points in 2018 and 2020 may have led people to think Texas might flip to blue, Hand said. Nationally, 2018 was a bloodbath for Republicans, and O’Rourke was one of the politicians who rode and powered the Democratic wave. Four years later, Republicans performed well in Texas and Democrats didn’t, including O’Rourke’s loss to Gov. Greg Abbott by double digits, Hand said. Tarrant County is on ‘the redder side of purple than blue’ Texas Democrats saw certain bright spots in this election. In Tarrant County, considered a key battleground area in the state, Allred received over 1,000 more votes than Cruz. In 2020, Biden also won the county by less than 2,000 votes. Trump flipped it back in 2024 with more than 42,000 votes over Harris. Texas Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, was reelected for his seventh term in Texas House District 101, which covers UTA. Overall, Republicans had a good Election Day in Tarrant County, Turner said, but he saw the Senate race as an encouraging sign: Cruz has lost the county twice in a row, and voters are willing to split their ticket. “Since 2018, it is clear it is a purple county,” he said. “It’s still obviously a little on the redder side of purple than blue objectively, if you look at the results in this election, but purple nonetheless.” More Republicans moved from Tarrant County to Parker County in 2020, and more Democrats moved from Dallas County to Tarrant County in that time frame, said Jay Popp, one of Tarrant County’s GOP precinct chairs in west Arlington. “We kind of recognized that and thought, ‘OK, well, we need to start getting engaged, or we really need to get those efforts out and be more grassroots-oriented,’” Popp said. Since the Biden administration started, Tarrant County Republicans have worked together in trying to recruit people, said Jan Brand, longtime board member of Republican Women of Arlington. She sent letters to 100 local pastors and held social events like luncheons for recruitment efforts and community relationship building, Brand said. “Once you create those relationships, then it’s more likely that they’re going to get involved,” she said. ‘They're not grassroots. They're definitely top-down’ Texas Republicans are well-funded and well-organized, Hand said. The party has a handful of massive donors, including West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. Influential billionaire Elon Musk may contribute to state-level elections in 2026. Abbott is also one of the best fundraisers in the country, Hand said. That type of consistent fundraising machinery is what Texas Democrats need to stay competitive and distance themselves from the national party. Texans are more conservative than national voters, and that hasn’t changed, Hand said. People believe that as the state becomes more diverse, it will become more liberal, but that also doesn’t seem to have played out. Turner disagreed that it’s a matter of organization. Instead, it’s a resource situation, with the Republican Party always well-funded, he said. He believes the Democratic Party in Tarrant County and Texas have to raise more money, start earlier and communicate with a broader segment of the electorate to build out bigger and faster campaigns — like Republicans, he said. Popp’s party has been effective in understanding the importance of turning the area from the roots up rather than being a top-down organization, he said. “That’s actually where the Democrats are failing right now,” he said. “They’re not grassroots. They’re definitely top-down. They’re kind of being told what to do and what to believe and how to believe it and I think that never worked.” The question of border, economy Democrats did not get the needed turnout from big urban counties, Turner said. The party also needs to confront a major challenge in South Texas from Rio Grande Valley to El Paso. Once a Democratic stronghold, South Texas border counties, where most voters are Hispanic, shifted to Trump. The switch is part of a national trend of Hispanic voters embracing Trump and Republican candidates, from rural communities to large cities like Miami and parts of states like New York and New Jersey. Nationwide this year, 55% of Latino voters supported Harris, and 45% voted for Trump, according to the Associated Press. In 2020, President Joe Biden got 63% while Trump received 35%. In 2024, Trump won 12 of 14 South Texas counties. In 2016, he won five. “We need to figure out why that is and do the work necessary to reverse those trends,” Turner said. AP VoteCast, a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, found that 41% of Texans listed the economy and jobs as the most important issue facing the country in 2024. Nearly three-quarters of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, Turner said. That is a difficult number for the party in power to overcome, but there’s still plenty of room to look at strategies, tactics, messaging and get-out-the-vote operations. “There really has to be an in-depth, reasoned analysis done of this election, and we have to look at things top to bottom,” he said. The future Hand said he expects to see very conservative policies nationally, but even more so in Texas, when the Legislature starts in January. Turner said he hopes Texans will be engaged in the Legislature. “​​I hope Texans will let the Legislature know when Republicans are going off on some wild partisan tangent instead of addressing the real issues facing our state,” he said. The Tarrant County GOP’s goal is to elect conservative candidates to city councils and school boards, Popp said. “I feel great,” he said. “I feel really optimistic, with a lot of hope and enthusiasm about the momentum that’s behind our party.” On election night, Popp was at a watch party in Tarrant County when he noticed a big group. Popp chatted with them. They told him they weren’t happy with the nation’s direction nor school boards and city councils. They wanted to be part of the Republican Party and voted for Trump. He is used to hearing that. The GOP usually attracts older groups of people. This group, though, was different. There were more than a dozen guys. Different races. All under 30. Popp said he is hopeful for the future of the Republican Party in Texas. @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu