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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

All content by Bella Simonte
An illustration of four colorful Christmas stockings hanging above a fireplace. From left to right are purple, turquoise, green and red stockings that contain vinyl albums.

8 pop Christmas albums to broaden your holiday horizons

A collection of pop music’s best holiday albums based on nostalgia, sentiment and spirit.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer December 12, 2024

Every winter, pop stars, actors and even comedians take on the same monumental task: creating a bestselling Christmas album. Some recreate the melodies of classic Christmas tunes,...

Dancers dressed in soldier costumes lined up onstage.

The Rockettes don’t know when to tap out

The Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes has complicated its timelessness and tradition with too much technology, instead of fixing existing issues.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer December 6, 2024

After 91 years of cancans and kicklines in the annual Christmas Spectacular, seeing the Radio City Rockettes remains a staple in many families' holiday traditions. Sitting on the...

Three men in suits sit at a table in the front of a courtroom. Behind them are more people.

Review: ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ is an inaccurate portrayal of the infamous murder case

The second season of Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters” doesn’t fully grasp the complexity of the Menendez brothers’ childhood and subsequent 1989 Beverly Hills crimes.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer October 17, 2024

Biopics and true crime have gained traction after Netflix docuseries like “Baby Reindeer” and “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” each retelling tragedies in...

A stadium is packed with people around tables and chairs. In the stands, above the scene, are large white and blue letters spelling out “EEEEEATSCON.”

EEEEEATSCON NYC 2024 deserves all 5 of its Es

This year, The Infatuation’s star-studded food festival featured 28 vendors and three unique restaurant collaborations.
Bella Simonte, Staff Writer October 16, 2024

Your local Shake Shack burger probably isn’t served with pickled bamboo and green chili relish. But at EEEEEATSCON NYC, these culinary crossovers are the rule, not the exception. Hosted...

A tan, yellow and green tub of ice cream sit beside each other. They read, “Van Leeuwen French Ice Cream” on the front.

I tried 30 of Westside Market’s ice cream pints — here are the ones that won over my sweet tooth

Choosing a single pint from the vast number of flavors offered at Westside Market is a daunting task. Having personally sampled many of Westside’s ice creams, I know a thing or two about the grocery store’s best.
Bella Simonte, Staff Writer October 9, 2024

After discovering the treasure trove of ice cream flavors at Westside Market, the grocery store right across from Third Avenue North residence hall, I set out on a mission to sample...

A paper tray on grass with six bao buns and two forks on it.

Smorgasburg: The global glory of eating through America’s largest food festival

The food festival reopened on April 5 and will continue until Oct. 27. Though every vendor served up the most delicious eats, there is only so much food one person can eat in a day.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer April 25, 2024

In need of a fix for street eats outside of campus? We got you. In its 14th season, Smorgasburg is a food festival dedicated to local vendors. Starting in Williamsburg, the festival...

A film still of two men in military outfits holding guns and walking people with black bags over their heads. Behind them, a girl sits against a wall with chalk markings of pink, blue and green, wearing a black vest with the word, “PRESS” written on it.

Review: ‘Civil War’ asks viewers what kind of American they are

Alex Garland criticizes journalistic and bystander integrity in his new A24 film “Civil War.”
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer April 24, 2024

British filmmaker Alex Garland has returned to A24 with his newest film “Civil War.” Though the title suggests otherwise, the film is less about politics and more a critique...

A girl wearing a white tank top and blue jeans sits on a store countertop, holding a wooden sign that reads, “Brandy Melville.”

Review: ‘Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion’ has been a long time coming

Australian documentarian Eva Orner calls for strikes and boycotts against the exploitation and overconsumption at Brandy Melville, within a larger conversation about fast-fashion culture.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer April 18, 2024

In the early 2000s, Brandy Melville gained traction because of its breezy, coquette-style clothing. Soon, the aesthetic turned into a stamp of approval used to brand the haves...

Chicken pieces garnished with sweet peppers and lemons.

Fossetta provides a moment to sneak away for carb-loaded solace

Fossetta in the Lower East Side is the perfect hideaway to enjoy focaccia and wine by candlelight, read alone at the bar or catch up with out-of-towners.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer March 14, 2024

At first glance, Fossetta looks like a mechanics garage with slightly better lighting and sanitation. The black rimmed floor-to-ceiling windows make it seem like the outside world...

An illustration of a young boy and girl in a courtyard, looking at each other. The girl, colored red, stands on a staircase and the boy, colored blue, stands on the sidewalk. Both the boy and the girl have yellow bubbles around them.

Why Celine Song should win best screenplay at the Oscars

Though it’s worth recognizing the visual and technical merits behind the success of “Past Lives,” Celine Song’s genre-defying screenplay is the star of the film.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer March 8, 2024

Most romantic comedies with so-called happy endings are perfect guilty pleasures, but they set unrealistic expectations that leave viewers vulnerable to heartbreak. Korean Canadian...

A large room with white walls and floors has a variety of framed paintings on display in a grid.

Review: ‘David Shrigley & Tal R: The Notebook’ is a colorful testament to friendship

A collaboration between artists David Shrigley and Tal R is on display at the Anton Kern Gallery until Feb. 17.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer February 8, 2024

Only one block away from the Museum of Modern Art, the Anton Kern Gallery hosts a collaboration between visual artists David Shrigley and Tal Rosenzweig, who goes by Tal R. The...