Bella Saghian Writ 340

Got carbs?  A guide to LA's best (carb-loaded) Italian restaurants.  For a city that is known for its gluten-free options, LA surprisingly has plenty of carb-loaded, Italian restaurants that are worth every second spent in traffic. From authentic pasta that will transport you to the streets of Rome, to authentic pizza that will make you wish you were in Napoli, LA’s Italian food scene is truly a slice of heaven.  All it takes is a quick car ride (well, maybe not so quick, this is LA after all). As an American-Italian born and raised in LA, today we will dive fork-first into my favorite Italian restaurants in LA (and trust me, I have tried them all).     When exploring the Italian food landscape, it’s important to understand that each restaurant has its own personality. This list offers something for everyone, from the classic ristorante that embodies elegance and precision, to the warm trattoria that has the charm of family gatherings, to a casual osteria that c...

I really enjoyed watching Natalie and Vinnie’s journey of building the Russian River Brewing Company, as their love for crafting beer is evident through their history. Vinnie and Natalie, co-owners of the Russian River Brewing Company, met in 1990 when Vinnie was just 20 years old and a home brewer at the time. His passion for brewing beer was apparent since the very beginning, as he shared on their first date that he one day wanted to have his own brewing company, despite not yet being of legal drinking age.   After unknowingly creating the first modern double IPA, Vinnie went on to work at Korbel for 6 years. After learning more about the craft at Korbel, Vinnie traded his severance package for the Russian River Brewing Company when they were shutting down their brewery. The couple started with little financial means, but decided to pursue their dreams and open up their own brewery in Sonoma County. Their story is truly touching and inspiring, as their constant desire to improve ...

This past Thursday, I had the opportunity to see Ghostly Labor through USC Visions and Voices, which explores labor hisory in the US-Mexico borderlands through the power of art. Using dance as a means of storytelling, this performance brought to life the struggles and reilience of laborers for centuries in history. The polyrhythmic movement, from tap dance to Mexican Zapateado, encompassed a powerful blend of history, culture, and resistance. It was fascinating how the performers were able to tell such a powerful story through dance.   The performance touched on issues such as labor exploitation and the poor working conditions faced by workers. During the few monologues of the performance, they powerfully spoke about how women were forced to work in unhygenic environments. The sparing use of dialogue made each monologue even more powerful. These spoken moments carried significant weight, allowing the audience to reflect and emphasizing the dire need for change. Overall, I was extr...

For my book, I chose American Like Me by American Ferrera. Coming from a multi-cultural family myself and often feeling caught between different cultures, I wanted to choose a book that I could relate to. In the book, Ferrera shares her personal stories growing up, feeling as though she never fully fit into either American or Latino culture. Despite judgements and pity from others, she remains determine to pursue her dreams, such as becoming an actress (which, spoiler alert, she is recognized for today), embracing the idea that “in America no dream is impossible.” She wrestles with the conce pt of what it means to be “American,” when people say things like “Americans like you.”     So far, I have enjoyed Ferrera’s honest reflects on her struggles with her cultural identity. While reading her story, I was inspired by her resilience in the face of societal expectations and cultural stereotypes. She finds a way to include humor in her stories and make light of many situations. I ...

For the past year, I have worked at a boxing gym in West Hollywood as a studio coordinator. I help manage the day-to-day operations of the boxing gym and its clients to ensure the studio runs smoothly. What does that entail, one might ask?  Opening and closing the studio  Checking clients into their class Charging clients for glove rentals  Giving first timers the run-down of the studio Giving studio tours to prospective clients  Making sure the lights, displays, and music are running  Supporting the instructor with any technical issues Inventory Management of equipment    Much like a stage manager at a concert, a lot of the work I do is behind the scenes to make sure the studio is running properly. These tasks include turning on the lights, setting up the display screens, and running the music. My position is important so that clients have a good experience and the instructors can focus on teaching their class without any mishaps.     W...