thelegendonline Cultural Corner, Fun Page, Uncategorized

Fun events to go to in the summer

By Trisha Trinh

Do you feel like you’re not going to have anything to do over the summer? There are a couple events during the break to keep you feeling rejuvenated and great. You will be having the time of your life and feel as if you aren’t wasting your summer away cooped up in your room.

Fanime- Are you into Japanese animation and culture? This event has it all with guest speakers at panels, merchandise, artwork and cosplayers. The event was created by the fans themselves to bring a community closer with their passion and love for anime. It’s filled with fantastic activities to do and you can interact with others that share the same interests with you. Fanime starts on Fri., May 24 and ends on Mon., May 27, and it is a way to fill your event with Japanese culture.

Corgi-Con- It is an event that happens every year at the beach in San Francisco where you can hang out with corgis of all kinds. The event is on June 15 and starts at 10 a.m. It is a great event for all dog lovers and a reason to get out the house. There will be competitions such as costume contests or even corgi races. A perfect way to bond over lovable and friendly dogs.

San Diego Comic-Con- This convention is made for all comic book lovers and those who are into the pop culture. With special guests from movies like the “Avengers” or “Star Wars” to ask burning questions you might have. The event includes artists from around the world showing off their expertise and artwork created for the fans. Cosplayers from all the popular shows and movies gathered at one place to show off their love and passion of their fandom. It is a spectacular event for all ages to experience and go to. Comic-Con is from July 17-21 and it happens every year, so don’t miss it.

Outside Lands- A perfect way to end your summer with a bang by hearing your favorite music artists at the largest music festivals located in the heart of San Francisco. With headliners like “Childish Gambino” or “Flume”, this music festival will rock your heart out. Aside from the music, you can experience the taste of the Bay Area with a wide variety of food. Not to mention, a huge milk tea party for those boba lovers. If you are into music and food, this festival might be for you.

These events will keep you company in the summer if you cannot seem to find anything to do and to create memorable things along the way.

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thelegendonline Cultural Corner, Fun Page

Summer recipes

By Henry Zheng

Summer is right around the corner, and along with all the amazing weather, sunsets and free-time you’ll most likely cherish, summer time food is something we all look forward to, from its freshness to its use of seasonal foods.

From brunch to dinner, we have compiled a bright summer recipe list, perfect for all your summertime needs.

  1. Brunch:
    1. Eggs Benedict
      1. A perfect blend of hollandaise, fresh dill and bright capers, this dish is bound to impress any of your friends and is perfect for any bright, sunny day. Just be warned that hollandaise is a bit tricky to prepare and only practice makes perfect.
      2. Ingredients: 1 tbsp. capers, 5-10 slices of smoked salmon, 2 English muffins, dill, 2 eggs, 3 tbs. butter, 1 lemon, 1 tbsp. vinegar, 1 shallot.
  • 2 Servings.
    1. In a bowl, separate one egg yolk out from an egg. Place into a clean metal bowl and drop in your chopped butter along with a squeeze of lemon juice.
    2. Either over very low flame, or a double boiler (over a pot of boiling water), whisk this mixture until homogenous. Add salt, capers, dill and chopped shallots to your taste
    3. Get a pot of water to a boil, then turn it down to med-low heat, and pour in your vinegar. Swirl the pot until it forms a sort of “vortex”, and drop your raw egg in. The white should begin to twirl around the yolk. Wait for about 3 minutes, then remove from water and place in a bowl of ice water. (Repeat for 2 eggs)
    4. Get a hot pan, cut and butter up the English muffins, and toast them until golden brown.
    5. To plate, place your English muffins down, follow it up with, smoked salmon, your egg (drained and pat dry), and then a hefty serving of you hollandaise sauce. Top with more dill and capers, and you’re done!
  1. Dinner:
    • .
  1. Steak
    • .Nothing is better in the summer than a nice steak on top of some fresh greens. This recipe is bound to have you hooked from the start, with the nice crisp crust of the steak to the bright greens that are served with it. Perfect for outdoor parties, beach barbeques and backyard cookouts.
    • Ingredients: Steak of your choice (Use NY strip preferably, but flank works good too), butter, chopped garlic, shallots, arugula, various greens of your choice, balsamic vinegar, olive oil.
    • 1-2 Servings.
      1. In a pan pour some olive oil and your chopped garlic. Let that sit on very low heat for about 6-10 min until garlic has turned golden brown.
      2. Season your steak with salt and pepper as needed. Get a pan ripping hot (either stainless steel or cast iron), add some canola oil (or grapeseed), and place down your steak.
      3. Let the steak sit for 5 min to develop that crispy crust, then flip it over and repeat. Lower the heat, and add butter and 2 whole garlic cloves, along with some rosemary if you have some. “Base” the steak (use a spoon to constantly spoon hot butter over your steak). Usually for thinner steaks you would be done at this point, but if you steak is thicker you can stick it into a 425 degree oven to continue cooking (about 5-6 min, depending on your steak).
      4. Let the steak rest for 10 min. On the side prepare your dressing: olive oil, a pinch of salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar. Swirl and set aside.
      5. Cut up your steak, plate it on your greens, and top it off with your dressing! Super easy and yummy.
  1. Dessert
    • . Fresh Berry Ice Cream
      • .This ice cream contains all you could ever want in a dessert – soft, smooth cream and fresh, bright fruit. Seasonal berries are in their peak season, but feel free to include any other fruits such as plums and peaches into the mix.
      • Ingredients: 4 cups heavy whipping cream, sugar, 2 tbsp. vanilla extract, seasonal fruit, 1 can condensed milk.
        1. In a pot, place your cut, seasonal fruits and add a bit of sugar. Simmer on medium/low heat until fruits have significantly shrunk or start to have a syrupy consistency. Set aside in the fridge to cool.
        2. In a cold bowl, whisk together your heavy cream, sugar and vanilla extract. Stop until it resembles very thick shaving cream.
        3. Add in your condensed milk.
        4. Pour your ice cream base into some tubberware, alternating between layer of ice cream and fruit.
        5. Freeze, and enjoy! (No churning needed for this recipe)
  1. Seasonal Berry Granita
    • This smooth ice granita topped with fresh whipped cream is bound to have you hooked, from the start.
    • Ingredients: ½ cup heavy whipping cream, 5 tbsp. sugar, 1 cup seasonal berries
      1. Put your berries in the blender with a 4 tbsp. sugar and about 100 ml of water.
      2. Blend until the consistency is like a thick smoothie, or runny cake batter.
      3. Pour into a thin sheet pan, and place into the freezer.
      4. Stir the mixture with a fork every 30 minutes to ensure no huge ice crystals form.
      5. After 4-5 hours, get a clean bowl, pour in your heavy cream and rest of the sugar and whip until the consistency resembles thick shaving cream.
      6. Serve your granite in small bowls or cups, and top them off with the whipped cream you made. Enjoy!

From steak to granitas to fresh fruit ice cream, these recipes are a sure-fire way to impress any of your friends and make your summertime hangouts just that much better.

thelegendonline Centerspread, Cultural Corner, Uncategorized

Local Summer Shenanigans

By Devonna Dang

 

If you’re looking for a summer adventure but don’t have much money, you’re in luck! Here in the Bay Area, there is so much to explore.

First, let’s discuss how to get from location to location. Our very first option is public transportation if you currently do not have your own car. Luckily, again, the Bay Area has an amazing public transportation system. If you’re looking to go anywhere from Fremont, Downtown San Jose, Palo Alto or San Francisco, you’re covered. Some local transportation systems are the VTA buses, the VTA light rail, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Caltrain.

Public transportation is very affordable. For the youth, a VTA bus fare is a discounted $1.25 and Caltrain and BART also offer a discounted fare.

Currently, the closest working BART is in South Fremont. However, a Milpitas BART is having an opening in November 2019.

A place that is calling for adventure and is only a $10.50 Caltrain fare ride away is San Francisco. Golden Gate Park is a great place to visit in San Francisco.

Golden Gate Park is a large urban park consisting of 1,017 acres of public grounds. Some establishments that should be visited is the Japanese Tea Garden, the DeYoung museum, Conservatory of Flowers and Cal Academy of Sciences. There is much to explore and to appreciate when you are there.

The Bay Area is also a great place to go hiking. Some hiking places include Mission Peak (10.4 miles from school), Sunol Regional Wilderness (24.1 miles from school) and Alamere Falls (88.7 miles from school). Mission Peak is a six mile hike that has a poll at the top to signify your hike’s success. Sunol Regional Wilderness is a great place to hike if you are on the pursuit of finding a waterfall. Despite the distance, Alamere Falls’ scenery and experience you get is quite worth it.

Another great way to spend summer is exploring museums. Some museums to visit include the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Exploratorium, San Francisco Museum of Art, Asian Art Museum, The Walt Disney Family Museum, Cable Car Museum and the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

There’s no better time to do something you never do than in the summer. Go zip lining in the redwoods, complete a 5k or do some rock climbing. All in all, the Bay Area has adventure everywhere. If you’re free in the summer, get on a transit and explore what is out there for you.

thelegendonline Centerspread, Cultural Corner, Uncategorized

Take a Teacher to Lunch

by Devonna Dang

 

CSF will hold its annual Take a Teacher to Lunch at the PHHS Library this Wednesday to recognize all of the talented and dedicated staff on campus. All teachers and staff are invited to this event.

“We want as many teachers to come, because they have all done amazing things for the students at school, so we usually hand-deliver invitations to teachers and staff,” says Co-Publicist Lauren Lin.

CSF provides the main course. This year’s main course is from Jade China and includes Chow Mein, salad and Eggrolls.

The students who volunteer to participate in the event get split up into groups. Each group has a theme and is responsible for providing any decorations, appetizers and desserts. They decorate the meal based from a theme of their own choice.

“These themes are entirely up to them and often people have fun themes like Hawaiian, Disney, etc. The main goal of this event is both to thank our teachers and get to know them outside of a formal environment,” said Tech Chair Jerry Xu.

This tradition has become the heart of CSF, as the club revolves around academics and education.

“My favorite thing about Take a Teacher to Lunch is the fact that this event is a chance to say thank you to your teachers and really get a chance to know your teachers outside of school,” said Co-Secretary Ritika Randhawa.

“I probably don’t say it enough but I do appreciate everything my teachers do. They have all pushed me to be better and didn’t focus on getting only good grades but actually learning and retaining valuable information,” said Lauren.

 

thelegendonline Cultural Corner

Asian cuisines for Thanksgiving

By Vincent Hoang

 

On Thanksgiving, many families and friends will come together to enjoy the great holiday. However, even though coming together is great, food is very essential to these gatherings. That is why The Legend wants to give some options for foods anyone can make this upcoming Thanksgiving.

Although the traditional turkey is the obvious, delicious option for Thanksgiving dinner, a seafood option can work just as well. More specifically, a lemon dill grilled salmon can be a fantastic alternative than turkey. It’s simple, tasteful, healthier and less expensive. Using lemon sauce for this dish will help enhance the fish’s flavor, turning it a bit sweeter. Along with grilling the salmon flavors the surface of the fish, giving it a smoky taste as well. Most salmon dishes have the skin taken off, but, in my opinion, leaving the skin on gives a crunchy feeling to the dish in contrast to its soft counterpart.  After being put on a grill on medium heat, you are left with a tender, sweet and savory meal for the entire family. Served with white rice and green beans, this quick and easy meal can be done in around fifteen minutes.

Another amazing option is a Thai Chicken Coconut Curry. This meal is a bit more difficult than salmon, but as long as you have the ingredients and spices, you can make this meal in under 30 minutes with a great quantity of it. The ingredients consists of chicken, curry paste, carrots, canned coconut, coconut, ginger, white rice, basil, spinach, lime juice and red chili pepper. How to make it is first having a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add onions after and stir for five minutes until it softens. Add your chicken to the pot and cook until chicken is done. Add some garlic and ginger and stir for around one minute. Then add your curry paste, salt pepper and carrots. Let the skillet boil for around 5 minutes under medium heat now then add lime juice, spinach and red chili pepper and stir for two minutes to finish the meal. What’s good about this meal is that it has many powerful flavors, from spicy to savory from the chicken and coconut flavors, it’s a very filling meal with the white rice balancing these flavors out. Since this dish creates a great amount, there will always be good for everyone, this is fantastic meal for the whole family.

Some side dishes now are another great way of filling the stomachs of everyone on the dinner table. One being a chicken satay. Having peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, curry powder, garlic and small portions of chicken breasts, this can be great sides other than the classic mash potatoes or green beans. Using a mixing bowl, mix all the in a bowl and place the chicken breasts in to marinate in the refrigerator for at least a while. After place on grill on medium heat for five minutes on each side and you have a mouth watery, juicy side to go along with your other dishes.

Instead of mashed potatoes, pan-fried potatoes is a spectacular alternative for a side dish. Simply skin and cut potatoes into small, cube shapes. Put it into a container, add some olive oil and season to your preference with one clove of minced garlic. Add to a low-heat pan to cook the potatoes slowly in the inside without burning the outsides. Let the potatoes sit in the pan for around a minute then stir or shake the pan to cook all sides then let the potatoes sit once again and repeat the process. After the potatoes turn brown on all sides, they are ready. With a crispy outer and a fluffy interior, it has a beautiful taste to go along with the many other dishes you have on the table.

There are many more options rather than the regular turkey, potatoes, and green beans. However, in order to make each Thanksgiving different and fun, we must find different ways of making it enjoyable, such as creative meals from different cultures.

thelegendonline Cultural Corner, Uncategorized

VSA practices for MAYS

By Nghi Nguyen

 

VSA (Vietnamese Student Association) practices their performances for MAYS (Mid Autmun Youth Festival) which happened last Saturday at Mount Pleasant High School. As mentioned in October’s issue, VietAYA (Viet-American Youth Association) hosts the festival every year for VSAs from high schools in the East Side Union High School district to bond and compete through various activities.

“We are having a ribbon fan and a regular fan dance. The ribbon fan dance is typically for officers and the fan dance is for members,” says VSA President Maggie Nguyen.

The ribbon fan dance is influenced by the song “Như Hoa Mùa Xuân” sung by Hồ Ngọc Hà, Thủy Tiên, Minh Hằng, while the fan dance is guided by the song “Em Trong Mắt Tôi” by Nguyễn Đức Cường. Both of these songs are able to represent commonly played songs in the Vietnamese community.

“It’s me and Isabella’s first year as choreographers for MAYS, so the way we created our dances has a different vibe formt the past choreographers. We’re going for an upbeat and fast kind of vibe. We also want to showcase traditional Vietnamese dances and all the hard work that was put into our dances,” states Co-Cultural Chair Carolyn Le.

These dance performances provide snippets of what traditional Vietnamese dances are, while still showing VSA’s own unique flare. Through their hardworking performances, VSA hopes others are able to have a greater appreciation for Vietnamese culture.

“We’re excited about being able to bond with each other through this experience because performing is such an amazing thing, and the thrill of being on stage is breathtaking. We want VSA to grow as a club, and we’re hoping to be more connected to each other,” comments Club Representative Christine Do.

thelegendonline Centerspread, Cultural Corner

Cultures, not costumes

cs-02-culturalappropriation-vivianlin-f

By Vivian Lin

Still don’t know what to wear for Halloween?  While Halloween brings fun nights of trick-or-treating in your costumes, it is important to be mindful towards other people’s cultures in your costumes.  Cultural appropriation has been a raging issue in the media, from music festivals to holidays, especially Halloween.  But what is cultural appropriation?

“For me, cultural appropriation is using someone else’s culture without understanding it, using it frivolously, ” claimed sophomore Aayushi Shah.

Certain costumes depicting “native” headdresses and “oriental” qipaos can be offensive towards people of that ethnic background because it is turning their culture, something with centuries of rich history, into a silly and shallow costume.

“You’re taking something that is very sacred and you’re being offensive with it.” remarked social science teacher Jeff Loggins.

With all this controversy over cultural appropriation, some people might be hesitant to engage in discussions or events regarding other cultures.  That’s where cultural appreciation comes in.

“If you’re trying to learn something about a culture, and a teacher dresses a certain way to teach a lesson, then it’s cultural appreciation,” explained Spanish teacher Claire  Gonzalez.

“Appropriation is when you pick it for yourself and you don’t respect the other culture.  It’s appreciation if you respect the culture and if someone from the culture invites you to celebrate,” elaborated sophomore Kristle Dela Cruz.

To avoid insensitivity this Halloween, make sure you check yourself before going out in your costume.  Ask yourself: Would you wear it in front of a person of that culture? If you’re having doubts about whether or not it is offensive, chances are that it is.  Better safe than sorry!

thelegendonline Captain's Log, Cultural Corner, Features

Martin Luther King Jr. writing contest returns

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By Phuong Nguyen

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. contest returns with the chance for students to win up to $250.

Every year, students respond to Martin Luther King, Jr. through a poem, essay, drawing or multimedia (animation, stills, live action, etc.).

This year, students had to submit their entries to an English or art teacher by Nov. 10.  The rewards for winners are the district Grand Prize of $250, school prize of $100 for first place and another school prize of $75 for second place.

“I wrote an essay about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ideals and how it applies today,” remembers senior Sean Tseng, who won last year’s Grand Prize.  “I was really excited (when I won) because I wasn’t sure how my entry would do (since) it was the first time I entered a school contest.”

English teachers Nancy Kennett, Ryan Lundell and Peggy Lee take a similar approach to Martin Luther King’s quote this year: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“When I saw the quote, I (immediately) thought of the immigration crisis around the world,” recalls Ms. Kennett.  “These refugees are facing enemies at home and so we need to be the friends to accept them into our lives.”

“This quote seems to be asking us, ‘What are we doing today, tomorrow, next week to improve this country and to continue the legacy that Martin Luther King started,’” points out Mr. Lundell.

“I think (the quote) is really relevant because the people with the most power are really the people who are the bystanders,” states Ms. Lee.

The teachers believe that this year’s quote implies that we need to speak up today and defeat racism together.

thelegendonline Captain's Log, Cultural Corner, Features

VSA competes in cultural competition

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FAN FAVORITE! VSA wows their fans with their traditional fan dance.

By Melody Li

On Nov. 6, VSA (Vietnamese Student Association) competed in the annual MAYS (Mid-Autumn Youth Summit) competition at Yerba Buena High School to celebrate Vietnamese culture and raise funds for the club.

At this event, VSA clubs from San Jose high schools meet together to compete in multiple categories: skits, speech, cultural jeopardy, olympia, dance and singing.

“There’s a financial prize for the competition, but it’s honestly more about the fun and getting to know other VSA clubs from different schools,” exclaims Secretary Annie Nguyen.  “It’s a huge bonding experience because everyone comes together through one culture and cheers each other on like a family.”

Cash prizes are awarded to the top three schools in each category.  Ranging from $75 for third place to $300 for first place, each category receives different amounts.  PHHS placed second in skit, third in cultural jeopardy, third in olympia and third in dance.  Activities Coordinator Daniel Johnson and senior Tina Tran took home first and second place in speech, respectively.  In total, PHHS VSA won $475 from this year’s competition.

As PHHS was unable to receive an award for speech last year, Daniel was surprised to find out he won first place.

“Finding out I won first made me feel so elated and almost euphoric after waiting anxiously for hours and going through (numerous) rounds,” reveals Daniel.

Both the club’s officers and members worked rigorously to plan and prepare for all the competition categories.  According to Co-President Roselyn Mai, the club switches up the performances every year and the officers choreographed three different dances this year by themselves.

“We started planning for MAYS a few weeks into school and started practices in September,” explains Roselyn.

MAYS is an event coordinated by college VSA members and various active members of the Vietnamese community in San Jose.

VSA officers plan to use the funds earned from MAYS for their annual PHHS VSA show in January.

thelegendonline Cultural Corner

Halloween Movies

 

By Jacqueline Nguyen

Halloweentown
Marnie Cromwell wants to go to a costume party on Halloween, much to her mother’s disapproval.  When Marnie discovers she’s a witch, she is put to the task of solving the case of the disappearing creatures in Halloweentown.

Ghostbusters (1984)
A team of four middle-aged scientists lose their jobs and are faced with a war against the supernatural in this classic.  Now they are tasked with not only defeating ghosts, but also preventing the apocalypse.  Who you gonna call?

Hocus Pocus
After moving into Salem, Massachusetts, clueless teenager Max Dennison explores an abandoned house with his sister Dani only to release a coven of evil witches.  The kids, with the help of a magical cat, must find the book of spells before the witches can become immortal.

The Nightmare Before Christmas
A classic for both Halloween and Christmas seasons, this movie is about Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, “who has grown so tired of the same old thing.”  He craves more in his life than the banal Halloween props and traditions he sees every year in Halloweentown and hopes to spice things up.  Catchy musical numbers ahead.

 

The Haunted Mansion
Realtor Jim Evers, played by Eddie Murphy, and his family go on a vacation after Jim is accused of neglecting his family.  They make a detour at a mysterious mansion to find that they become trapped in it.  As they try to make it out alive, Jim learns an important lesson about his family.