Montrose Mavens

Post Oak High School students review everything under the sun

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Jon Bellion’s Glory Sound Prep: Original, Authentic, and Fantastic

Always fearless in the face of rejection, Jon Bellion releases “Glory Sound Prep,” his second studio album goes even further away from pop, and more towards his own signature sound, a blend of pop, alternative, and hip-hop. Instead of cashing out and building on the success of his debut album, “The Human Condition,” Bellion sticks to his sound and releases a unique, unpredictable, and fantastic album.

The first song of the album, Conversations with my Wife, is a perfect choice to begin the album. Combine the layered vocals, different synthesizers, and interesting sound effects, with lyrics asking for a committed wife and love, and you get a masterpiece. Bellion also touches on many themes of which he talks about throughout the album, specifically love, loyalty, and societies reliance on technology, all of which are present in the line “Will you love me when my phone turns off?”

Bellion gives a strong opinion on the internet and social media through the song The Internet. The opening lines “Life became dangerous the day we all became famous. No one cares if you're happy, just as long as you claim it, oh,” are clearly a critique of social media, and how all that matters these days is how we present ourselves. These lines set up the lyrics for rest of the song, including metaphors such as “I don't need the good, just need you to think I did it.” Combine these lyrics with the happy, upbeat, tempo of the song, and the quick catchy drum beat, and you have a beautiful contrast that makes up for one of the best songs of the album.

Throughout the album, you’ll find yourself surprised by the twists and turns of “Glory Sound Prep”, and the changes that occur in each song- Adult Swim has three different beats in the same song. The main themes of “Glory Sound Prep” come through in most songs, and the lyrics are so interesting they’ll pull your attention from the smooth melodies and hard beats. “Glory Sound Prep” might be an acquired taste due to the fact that it doesn’t fall under a specific genre, but the message, melodies, and production is good enough to make it worth a listen.

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A taste of Britain: The Black Lab

By Nathaniel Samuels and Charlie McGill 

The Black Lab is truly one of the most unique restaurants in Houston. Based entirely off a British pub, The Black Lab serves both British and American cuisine, and has the look and taste of a classic British pub. From french fries to fish and chips, you’ll be sure to get your British fix, and have some delicious American classics.

As soon as we walk inside, we’re greeted with a life size model of a Buckingham Palace soldier. Looking to the left, we see the wooden interior and the bar, which is packed during the night. The Black Lab definitely hits on its English interior. All the rooms look as if they could’ve been taken from an old English house, and the signs on the wall remind you you’re really in a bar, with alcohol related puns on signs and dart boards. They also have private rooms for large parties if you want to host an event. The Churchill Room can hold up to 150 people, while booking the Cezanne on a Friday or Saturday night will get you live Jazz. The outdoor patio is just as impressive. Picnic tables with umbrellas for the summer months line the patio, along with an oversized chess game to play friends. The Black Lab doesn’t only feel authentic, it feels alive.

The exterior of The Black Lab with some of the outdoor seating

We started with potato skins, these were half hollowed out potatoes with the empty part being filled with mostly cheese. They were serverved with sour cream, and stuffed with not only cheese, but also filled with bacon and chives. The dish was all baked together, making the outside crunchy, and the inside melt together in a bacon, cheese mix.

Next we tried the Hamburger, with monterey jack, all the fixings, and a side of fries. The burger is above average, but not excellent. It has a slight char flavor, but it’s not overpowering which is nice. The juicy burger and the cheese combine well together, and overall the proportions between the burger, monterey jack, the crunchy lettuce, and tomato are good. However, the burger is slightly overcooked, which makes it lose a little bit of flavor. Along with this, the whole wheat bun was huge, and overpowered the flavor of the burger. We found that if we took off an entire piece of the bun, its taste was still prevalent and it would’ve been a better burger. The bright side to ordering the burger were the fries, the shining star of the meals. They were crispy from when you first bit into them until you swallowed, and they’re seasoning made them have just a hint of spice, which tasted amazing. The seasoning would come through even when eating them with ketchup, which we were surprised about considering how subtle the flavor was. The combination of the crisp and the spice made the perfect fry and the perfect bar snack. It’s not an overstatement to say these were some of the best fries we’ve ever tried, for texture and taste.

The last meal we had was the Tour of Britain, this was a combination plate of their most popular items in the english specials: The Shepherd’s Pie, A Banger which is a form of sausage, Fried Fish, Baked Beans and it came with a side of Grilled Zucchini. The Shepherd’s Pie was a thin layer of meat, covered in mashed potatoes and drowned in cheese. While enjoyable, the cheese and potatoes made the made the meat almost undetectable. The other parts of the meal were delectable, The Banger having a thick skin, and an inside that melts in your mouth. The Fried Fish had a wonderful salted inside, while keeping a crunchy and buttery outside. The Zucchini was lightly peppered, and had a slight charred taste at parts, while not losing the soft texture you expect from grilled zucchini.

The Black Lab brings England to America with their pub style restaurant and bar. From fish and chips and bangers and mash, to burgers and fries, The Black Lab effortlessly blends English and American food with a classic pub interior. Whether it be a late night at the bar, a lunch with coworkers, or a private party, The Black Lab has you covered with good food and drink for any type of event.

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The Prog Rock Titans Are Back- Distance Over Time Review

By: Luke Kirchner

     Dream Theater’s Distance Over Time is a fantastic album that was a much-needed release, following the last few albums. Distance Over Time is filled with heavy riffs, soaring melodies, and a very solid foundation, to make for an epic rally back to original form. Singer James LaBrie, bassist John Myung, keyboardist Jordan Rudess, drummer Mike Mangini, and guitarist John Petrucci deliver an excellent, energetic album that completes every task it set out to achieve.

     From the 1993 album Images and Words to 2005’s Octavarium and even 2009’s Black Clouds and Silver Linings, Mike Portnoy was the drumming backbone for a powerful, technical, and focused progressive rock band; Dream Theater. With his departure in 2010, the direction of Dream Theater began to change. After a series of auditions to fill the empty seat, they settled on drummer Mike Mangini (ex-Steve Vai) and released A Dramatic Turn of Events in 2011. While this album was already written before Portnoy left, the drumming style and production difference was immediately noticeable, and not entirely loved by longtime fans.

     In 2013, Dream Theater released a self-titled album, something bands usually do at the start of their career. This bold statement was made to show that the ‘new’ DT was born and Mike Mangini is now the permanent drummer. Once again, this album was met with mediocre to good reviews, with the most notable track, “Illumination theory”, clocked in at around 22 minutes. With a 2 year hiatus, they returned in 2016 to release The Astonishing, a two hour progressive rock-ballad concept album, written entirely by Petrucci and Rudess. This album was not met with positive reviews, with critics and fans claiming it dragged on and was not true to the typical Dream Theater sound.

     Understanding this feedback, all the members secluded themselves in a barn in upstate New York to write, record, and produce their new album. Their main goals were full band inclusion, powerful energy, and a more concise outing. And they absolutely fulfilled their goal; and more. The album is full of heavy, powerful riffs and catchy choruses, an ode to many of the fan favorite albums.

     The album's opening track “Untethered Angel” is a great ‘mood setter’, basically because it is a preview of the entire album. Its slow chugging verse riff creates tension that gets unleashed with the vocals in the chorus. Although it is a great album opener, I found myself not revisiting this particular track after the full album release, because it was released as a single beforehand. Next up is “Paralyzed”, the shortest song in the album, at just around 3 minutes. It starts out with a riff that sounds like something out of the 90’s grunge scene, breaking down into a slower, headbanging riff to then cut out into an emotional guitar solo. Although this song was great, it was my least favorite on the album, due to the fact the overall atmosphere and phrasing wasn’t too original, as if I had heard it before.

     Thankfully the next track, “Fall Into the Light” is a spectacular song with a new, Metallica-esque ‘thrash’ riff, something I did not expect. The chorus vocals have an incredibly melodic sound to it and is one of my favorites. At around three and a half minutes, the song cuts out into an acoustic guitar build up, almost reminiscent of the song title. After an accumulation of energy, the song fires back into the fast riff, with one of the best Jordan Rudess keyboard solos on the entire album. Following this song is “Barstool Warrior” and, besides the name, is easily one of my favorite dream theater songs- period. The intro follows a more typical progressive guitar and keyboard harmony, with the polyrhythmic drumming and bass playing providing a solid base. The small drum interlude shows the speed and technicality from Mangini is his short “prodigy section”, which then transitions into a very enticing melody from Petrucci. Just when you think the song ends, Rudess plays a short, clean piano interval while the guitar comes back and the powerful solo fades out until the end of the song.

     “Room 137” is next, with a heavy and pounding guitar riff chugging along. While the vocals don’t take long to come in, I wasn't a fan of the vocal melody following the guitar riff in this song. The different solos, on the other hand, were by far some of the most creative I have heard in a while, as they incorporate different genres of music and rock. “S2N” follows, starting with a Rush-type bass riff and the rest of the band dynamically jumping in. This track has my favorite chorus on the entire album as well, as it is catchy and follows the instruments extremely well. The many solos on this song are purely insane, as they are technical but suit the overall theme of the track. Then comes “At Wit’s End”, easily my favorite song on the album. The fast intro with Petrucci and Rudess in sync erupts into a perplexing main riff, in a sudden burst of energy. This is the album’s longest song, at just over 9 minutes. The lyrics address recovering from domestic violence, which really fits the dark and gloomy tone of the song. The band plays through many different chord progressions and rhythmic patterns, changing up the mood of the song. They finally end on a very melodic and tranquil guitar melody/solo which fades out and soon fades back in, recorded using only room microphones.

     “Out of Reach” is the next track, which is a short and soft ballad. It does a fine job of creating a good standalone song, but its real beauty is the power to perfectly set up the final song, “Pale Blue Dot”. This 8 and a half minute album closer is the type of progressive metal power that you can expect from a band like Dream Theater. Although it is not the 20 minute closer we usually get, it does a spectacular job of showing off fast, virtuosic, and very fast styles of playing, for all the instruments. After the short drum intro, it gets into a militaristic march- Imagine Darth Vader marching down a hall- very fitting. The soundscapes used on this song are staggering and the amount of times it changed into something completely different is astounding. With odd time signatures and polyrhythmic playing, this song can be compared to some of the genre’s greats. Although “Pale Blue Dot” is technically the album closer, the bonus track is fantastic. This jam session of 5 amazingly creative musicians shows off that they really can have fun making this complex music. Its blues-inspired riff reminded made me think about what Deep Purple would sound like if they had figured out how to crank up the distortion. The organ playing from Rudess provides a solid background melody for a chorus that flies high. And both the guitar and keyboard solos are just spectacular in this bonus track.   

     After listening to this album many times, on both vinyl and through earbuds, I can say that the production and mix is superb. The bass is clearly heard throughout (finally!), and the drum sound is a breath of fresh air. It is very natural and fluid, unlike previous Mangini Dream Theater recordings. While, in the past, James LaBrie has had a tough time keeping his vocal range, after coaching he sounds much improved. The (almost) over-processed vocal effects production works in creating a sound that suits the band, but I couldn't help but notice times when the vocals almost felt buried. The guitar tone is massive, partly due to the fact that John Petrucci himself produced the whole album. Like Petrucci said during an interview “...it jumps out at you. It has a huge voice, it has a ton of character, it's very bold - just like Five Guys - it's very rich, definitely not cheesy, and it has a lot of layers”.

     In Summary, Distance Over Time is a very welcoming addition to Dream Theater’s vast catalog. From beginning to end, it makes for an incredibly interesting listen, due to the focus on melody, energy and sheer skill. This is by far the best Mangini era Dream Theater album, really showing off his technical prowess as a drummer and as a bandmate. The mix is remarkable and is very clear, truly displaying just how proficient these musicians are at their instruments. Because of this original writing style, this album almost is a rebirth for Dream Theater and their energy, promising an extremely bright future for a band that has already been around for 30 years. It, in no way, is re-imagining progressive rock/metal, but really building off of the foundation of a genre they essentially pioneered.

Rating- (5/5)

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A Tasty Tex-Mex Experience: El Real

By: Jack Gross and Luke Kirchner

     Established in 2011, El Real is a Tex-Mex restaurant located on Westheimer, with a large flashy outside that contrasts the interior which, even though it is spacious, still feels like a place where you can sit back and take it easy. This could be due to the smell of freshly baked bread, from the tortillas that they make in house or perhaps this atmosphere is caused by the lighting from the bulbs that hang over the seating area. In the main seating area, there is also a movie being cast onto the wall by a projector. This is quite fitting as the location began as the “Tower Theatre” around the mid-30s. This restaurant had an abundance of seating options, from a bar to standard tables, booths, an upstairs section with more tables, and an outdoor seating area. 

     As soon as we arrived, the attentive staff set to work pulling tables together to accommodate our party of 11, and the drink orders were taken rather quickly. This was probably due to the fact that it was not too busy at the time. We were then brought chips and queso after not waiting for a substantial time. The queso was very flavorful and had a nice consistency to it, while the chips were also not too crunchy and thin.  

    We ordered one pound of Vegetable Fajitas to share with everyone, which was more than enough. When it arrived we were amazed by the captivating smell of the onions, carrots, mushrooms, and zucchini that came on the plate. We had to try one immediately! The tortillas were light and fluffy, but not fragile as they worked well to soak up any dripping juices from the fajitas. When all of the ingredients were put into one tortilla with rice, the result was amazing. The onions were not too powerful and let the flavor of everything else shine through while adding a nice crunch. The carrots, mushrooms, and zucchini all provided different flavors that contrasted well with each other. The carrots were slightly sweet and the mushrooms gave a savory taste and added a spongy and squishy texture. The zucchini was mostly bland but had a slight flavor and crunch that went really well with the rice, that we added to our tortillas.

     Another tasty dish was the Carne Asada. The grilled steak was cooked to perfection and the onions added a sweet but balancing flavor. The rice and beans complimented the steak very well, as they were traditional Tex-Mex style. It also came with a chili relleno, which was a spectacular addition that added some spice. 

     Overall, this was a solid restaurant that benefits from its mostly appetizing food and good service. Although some of the food was occasionally bland, the portions were substantial and we got amazing value for our money. The overall ambiance, both inside and out, made for a nice dining experience and a great meal. While some aspects could be slightly improved, we see can ourselves coming back in the near future. 

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The Next Big Rock Band? Feral Roots Album Review

By: Josey Gregg

Rival Sons released their sixth studio album, Feral Roots, on January 25, 2019. The band was formed in 2009 in California with members Jay Buchanan (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Scott Holiday (Guitars), Michael Miley (drums) and  Dave Beste (bass guitars). Through their songs, blues-rock influence is audible and presented. Although they gather influences from Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones, they do not fit the standard you might commonly find in rock n’ rollers; one member is a dedicated Christian, while another is Hindu priest, and a third follows the Native American Red Road religion. Several members were skeptical after their first album was released, however, it became a hit and they were invited to perform onstage with AC/DC and Kid Rock. After this, their fame continued to grow as they released more albums as they started to go on tour and perform other places.  

The album “Feral Roots” draws inspiration from the outdoors and “Getting in each other's heads,” says Buchanan. To write the music, they went to a remote cabin with no connections and just wrote all the songs, so as you might guess many of the songs relate to being in nature. They were in a place where they could not reach anyone else (because of no cell service) so they relied a lot on each other and ideas.

One of the more popular songs on this album is ‘Do Your Worst.’ This song captures the classic sound of rock with its strong beat and guitar solo. The song has an audible steady beat the whole song with solo vocals, and group vocals at the chorus. A guitar riff is audible almost the whole song. There is also a short drum solo leading up to the guitar solo seeming to take inspiration from many rock songs you may hear. The namesake song: ‘Feral Roots’ has lyrics that seem like they are relating back to the outdoors where they wrote the songs. This song starts much more laid back with acoustic guitar and vocals that stand out against this. At the chorus, the guitar comes in heavier but recedes back as you come back to the verse. Another song shows off Miley’s skills with a drum solo opening. This song, “Back in the Woods Again,” is one of my personal favorites. It has a heavy guitar and strong vocals throughout the song. There are also some guitar riffs that stand out especially at the beginning. The vocals in the songs are very strong and talking about getting out of the city and into the woods.

Throughout the album Feral Roots, you can hear the strong rock and blue influence through the guitar riffs and vocals through the music. All of the songs fit a theme while still being able to branch out and sound different from each other. Each of the eleven songs shows you a little more of what Rival Sons can do with their music. Is a great take on modern rock and we are able to hear this. Strong guitar riffs make the songs more original and make them differentiate from each other. The vocals are something that sounds like they could have inspiration from Led Zeppelin or AC/DC.

This is an album I would definitely recommend listening to. Only around 45 minutes long its eleven songs are quick to listen to and bring you back to an original classic rock feel. Rival Sons are a talented group of musicians who have shown this off through the music they have written, and through their influences, you can hear in the music. The guitar and vocals sound like their inspirations, while the guitar riffs still give all of the songs an original sound. The bass is not something that stands out through the music, but when you listen to it, it blends together perfectly with the other instruments to bring all the sounds together for people to enjoy.  

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An Amazing Assortment - A Star is Born Soundtrack Review

By: Sutton Walsh

      The A Star is Born soundtrack ties together an assortment of contrasting music styles including bubblegum pop, bop, blues rock, instrumental, and country as well as various snippets of dialogue from the recent musical film. Released on October 15, 2018, A Star is Born has hit the top of the charts in 15 countries and millions of copies of the heartfelt soundtrack have been sold worldwide. The film stars Lady Gaga, who writes and sings in a more pop/bop style, and Bradley Cooper, who composes and sings a hybrid of blues rock and country music. However, despite being different styles, these catchy songs compliment each other well, creating a unique soundtrack that is sure to draw in even those who are not familiar with the movie. 

      Country and rock music are most prominent in the first half of the film with songs including “Black Eyes”,  a rock n’ roll love song, and “Maybe It’s Time”, a slow-paced poetic song with delicate guitar chords. My personal favorite of this country collection is “Alibi”. While this piece has a rock sound, it is sung with a country voice and I can hear this song being played at a barbecue restaurant but also something I would listen to during my own time. “Diggin’ My Grave” is one of the last country songs on the soundtrack and has a staccato style, making it upbeat and lively. Castanets, electric guitar, and drums make up the accompaniment. While the piece is enjoyable, the writers made the right choice in making this song on the shorter side as it is repetitive.       “La Vie en Rose” serves as a break between the country tunes and stands out for the obvious reason; that it is sung in French. Originally written by Edith Piaf, a French vocalist and songwriter, in 1947, it is no wonder that this song has a familiar tune. In the star is born film, Lady Gaga sings this piece beautifully, accompanied by only the piano. The language barrier challenges the song to maintain a connection with the listener as, obviously, the listener can’t connect with the piece through the lyrics. However, the lengthiness of the piece strains the song’s connection with the listener.       “Shallow” is the most well-known song from this recent film hit. A popular duet between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and winner of the Oscars, expectations for this love song are high. This harmonic piece starts off with quiet guitar strums and call and response solos between the two lead characters. Lady Gaga’s impressive note serves as a smooth transition that introduces the drums and piano as the country style fades into a pop style. This transition does not only occur with the instruments - Lady Gaga’s character becomes more confident as the song goes on and this moment highlights this confidence. While I don’t argue against its high ranking and fame, it was not my favorite song of the album and I found myself enjoying the verses in between the chorus’s more than the choruses themselves as they seemed more natural and less oversung.       The catchiest songs in this album included “Hands Body Face” and “Why Did You Do That?”. “Hands Body Face” has many electronic qualities and a unique chorus that is partly spoken, rather than sung. This results in a powerful transition when the softly spoken part of chorus ends, exploding into the second half. Although “Why Did You Do That” has a more repetitive style, it is equally enjoyable due to its predictability. “Heal Me” is the poppiest pop piece in the album. Showing off Lady Gaga’s higher and softer range, it had a very Ariana Grande like-vibe and I had to do a double take to see if she had written or was the one singing the song. “Always Remember” reminded me of something Adele would sing as it began with a low, powerful voice paired with beautiful piano chords. However, as the song went on and more instruments joined in, Lady Gaga herself, shined.       While this album has many catchy songs, there are definitely parts that I skip. Instrumental songs are well written and audibly impressive but seem to drag on, not grasping my attention. Additionally, the fourteen dialogue snippets are confusing because of their short length and just seem to lead up to the upcoming song, ignoring the previous one. Personally, I much rather be jamming out to songs than listening to random cuts of dialogue. This negatively impacted the album as it interrupted the smoothness of the transition between songs.         The album begins to conclude as struggles and sadness arise. “Before I Cry” is an emotional piece sung by the distressed Lady Gaga after what seems to be a large fight occurring in the dialogue of “Scene 98”. Accompanied by piano and strings, this resonating piece also shows off Gaga’s higher range but in a more belted style. “Is That Alright?” is a dramatic song dealing with relationship struggles and future plans, only accompanied by piano that’s intensity mirrors the emotion of the refrain. The final song in the album is the heart wrenching “I Will Never Love Again”. Gaga pours her heart into this intricate and touching piece and moms would definitely cry in this one.       Overall, this is an amazing album and I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves music. After all, there is bound to be a song in your prefered genre. As someone who has not seen the movie, I was not sure what most of the songs were about which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as they did not spoil the ending of the movie. The beautiful chemistry between the different genres and voices makes for a heartfelt album that is sure to impact every listener.

Rating - 4.5/5

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Apollo 11 - A Breathtaking Film

By: Josey Gregg and Sutton Walsh

      In July of 1969, the Apollo 11 mission brought two men to the moon in one of the most important space expeditions in history. Apollo 11 is a documentary-style film directed by Todd Douglas Miller, showing unbelievable footage and audio recordings from the astronauts on the mission. It tells the astonishing story of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins as they go on their nine-day trip to the moon and back, accompanied with music composed by Matt Morton. The movie also showcases footage of Americans citizens down below experiencing and observing this marvellous moment in support of the extraordinary mission. 

        The film begins with the three astronauts and small crew being transported to the Saturn V and preparing to board the rocket. Throughout the production, the scenes switch between views of the control room and views of the astronauts as they circle around the Earth and head to the moon. These scenes are made up of historical recordings of conversations between the control room and the astronauts. Once Armstrong and Aldrin land on the moon, they go about their experiments and planting the American flag, a sign of their success. The movie draws to a conclusion once they complete their journey back to Earth and celebrate the unforgettable expedition. 

        The movie excelled in tying low-quality snippets of old footage together to make a high-quality film. One part we especially enjoyed was, as the astronauts suit up for the journey, it gives a quick slideshow of photographs of the astronauts growing up. This was touching as it highlighted the incredible lives these men have had and how much they were risking for the benefit of the country. After this, the audience finds themselves anxious for the takeoff of the rocket. A faint stopwatch at the bottom of the screen serves as an indication for the time of departure and as it slowly counts down, we watch as the astronauts board the plane and American citizens wait patiently on a dock a couple of miles away from the take-off zone. At last, the ship takes off with a powerful thrust, burning fuel. We were pleasantly surprised at how phenomenal of a job the of capturing this breathtaking moment - it felt as if we were actually right under the engine. 

    One of our favorite scenes (and most powerful moments) was when the capsule landed in the ocean and the astronauts were picked up by a helicopter. They were greeted by an enormous crowd, celebrating their return after nine days in space. While most of us knew that the story ended with a success, we still worried something would go wrong, as the suspense was high. In the end, President Nixon, the current president at the time, states the importance of the mission to the country and how proud he is of their success. He also thanks the astronauts and all the crew for their bravery as the audience shouts with happiness. It was a touching ending to the film that exceeded expectations. 

      Although it was not that long, there are parts where the film hits a slow spot. During these dull times, music plays a crucial role in holding the audience’s attention. We wished that they had included more music in the background of the slower scenes that were, at times, monotonous and uninteresting. We also think that subtitles would have been helpful when the old footage of radio conversations was playing as the static made them almost incomprehensible. 

      Overall, we highly recommend this documentary to especially those who have an interest in space, history, or astronauts. The movie does a great job of pulling the attention of both people who know everything there is to know about this mission and those who know nothing about it. It also did a notable job of explaining all the parts of the mission, which is necessary for it to succeed in showing the importance of the expedition. However, don’t expect this to resemble a typical movie - it is an educational film and shares a lot of valuable historical information. Hurry up and buy your tickets to enjoy this entertaining film full of powerful moments, influential discoveries, and breathtaking footage.

Overall - 4.5/5 

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Shapeshifters - Created and Curated by Teens

By: Charlie McGill and Sutton Walsh

The Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston (CAMH) showcases the artwork of local teens biennially. This always makes for an incredibly unique exhibit as, in only a few museums, can you find not only artwork made by teens but artwork curated by teens. You find both at the CAMH in the current exhibit, Shapeshifters.

This year, over 700 teenagers submitted artwork in response to questions including “What forms you and/or your generation? How do you define your space? Can you change shapes?” Submissions increased by 400 from two years previous as this opportunity to showcase art as a teen is limited. Forty of the teen’s pieces were chosen to be on display at the CAMH from March 2, 2019 - June 16, 2019. The assigned questions were interpreted in several ways, showing both physical and emotional changes which were expressed through a variety of mediums such as paintings, sculptures, videos, photography, textiles, digital media, and even an interactive website. While these pieces are unique, they all fall under the exhibit, Shapeshifters.

The exhibition is divided into sections separating the different types of responses of the teens. One section displays the artwork of students who had interpreted the question by choosing to document architectural objects that shape our environment. There are photographs of geometric buildings, paintings of downtown, and large cities. The majority of the pieces in this section focus on urban areas and these more ordinary pieces balance out the funkiness of the rest of the room.

Another section embraces the challenges occurring in 2019 through photographs, audible clips, films, technology and social media. One unique piece that stood out to us is a simple Mac computer that shows a glitch saying to post this using a certain hashtag. This serves as a reflection that many teens crave being noticed, especially through social media. As people in our group posted a picture of the laptop with the specific hashtag, we watched as their face lit up when their post is projected on a nearby wall. The majority of the pieces are challenging to interpret as each piece does not have a written explanation beside it. Also, this area shares a common goal of combining different mediums, which is present in multiple other pieces. These few pieces with similar aspects tied the room together.

Other areas of the exhibition show reflections relating to environment and culture. “You're So Vain” is one of the first pieces seen in the exhibit and is a powerful piece of art. It is a tall mirror with the phrase “You’re so Vain” painted onto it four times, in the same font but with different colors. Narcissism is prominent in this current generation as we are always concerned with how we look and are perceived. Another piece called “Replacement” is a square mirror with a smaller opaque square inside of it. Inside the smaller square is a SIM card and next to the hanging mirror is a pile of newspapers thrown on the floor. This is a perfect example of how technology has replaced newspapers and has heavily impacted what things we pay attention to and how our world is shaped. The piece is set up perfectly so that, as you are admiring the artwork, your face (identity) if covered by the opaque square with the sim card, further proving the analogy.

Teens took advantage of the opportunity to send a message through Shapeshifters. One teen created a documentary about the history and rights of the LGBTQ community. One of our favorite pieces was simply a computer with many webpages pulled up; a piece named “Geocities Reloaded”. When you sit down to look at the first webpage, which was filled with cryptic pictures of teen icons, it is difficult to understand the meaning of the piece. However, as you look closely at the artwork and visit the different webpages, everything slowly starts to come together. The webpage that stuck out to us the most showed a GIF of a girl turning her head towards us, and below, a love letter to a boy, would only be received after she died of her terminal illness. It is a well written, emotional, and powerful letter. The thing that brought it all together was the stickers with motivational messages and happy-go-lucky attitudes that line of the bottom of the screen. These stickers act as a stark contrast to the dark and emotional content on the computer itself. While the art is up for interpretation, to us it seemed like this was a metaphor for how today, teens post only the best parts of their lives on social media, and behind that Instagram account, they could really be hurting.

Another piece of art that spoke to us was “Stretch.” “Stretch” is a small collection of four photographs that show a teenage boy wearing a pink tutu. Each photograph shows him being stretched in a different direction. Again, this art was up for interpretation, but to us, it seemed like it was a metaphor for how society will try and pull teenagers away from their real selves and toward something they want them to be, hence why the boy in the pink tutu is being stretched.

We were pleased to see work from our fellow Post Oak High School students. Asa Forman created a neon bulb in a fluorescent blue color “At Last (to Etta James who sang the blues)”. Nathan Commissariat had created a piece called “Intersection” which we believe showcased intersectionality and how this can negatively impact the lives and opportunities of those who experience it. This piece is one of the more put together and less funky pieces in the exhibit. Former Post Oak Student, Garner Lazar-Pope had created a unique sculpture-like shape that stood proudly in the middle of the exhibit called “All Isotopes Are Loved”. The quirky piece is an eye-drawer as is not a typical sculpture and is instead made with fleece and felt that has been stuffed with memory foam.

While all of the art is drastically different, the pieces fall under the same funky style. We were pleasantly surprised to find that none of the artwork is by any means perfect. This actually made the exhibit more enjoyable, relatable and interpretive. Also, by sharing the common situation of being an adolescent, all of the pieces seem to connect in a deeper way than just being a part of the same exhibit. It is also fascinating to see how all of the students had interpreted the sophisticated questions in unique but meaningful ways while also using this exhibit as a platform for their ideas.

When finally given the opportunity to let their work shine, these teens came through. Shapeshifters will send a different message with every piece of artwork and will stay in the mind of the viewer, even after they leave the exhibit. With the hard-to-decipher messages, beautiful and touching art, and strong personality of the exhibit, this is not something you want to miss. Don’t write off Shapeshifters simply because the artists are young- this artwork is built to keep sending its message far into the future.

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Almost 5 Stars

By Persi Fossi

     The Higher Brothers’ new album 5 Stars almost lives up to expectations and holds a branch between Asia and the U.S.  The 4 member group of Chengdu rappers are part of a new Asian wave with the mission of closing the gap between the East and West. They certainly achieve this, as all their songs artfully mix Chinese and English slang with tracks packed with impressive features, from popular American rappers to 88Rising’s own signed artists. The album starts off strong with the upbeat “16 Hours.” It makes the album’s beginning sound like the Higher Brothers are coming over from China to spread their music to the West. It’s the perfect length and shows how far the groups’ English has come.

     The pacing of the album is a little weird as the next song, “Open It Up” is a nod to old-school rap, a heavy influence on the Higher Brothers. It has a slower tempo and seems to be in a more minor key. The hype ramps back up and reaches a peak with “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” one of the biggest connections to Chinese culture. They originally released it on Chinese New Year, as the name is a Chinese saying meaning “Wishing you a prosperous year.” It’s a song that needs time to grow on you, as the beats can be a bit overwhelming.

     My favorite track is “Need Me Now” ft. Guapdad 4000, a lesser known American rapper. It’s a cute track, with a heavy and clean bass that doesn’t steal the show and cover their voices. It’s mostly in English and features DZ Know, the Higher Brother rapper most often related to Biggie Smalls. It’s nice that he got so much exposure, especially on this track, but I would have loved to hear more from Psy.P and Melo throughout- as MasiWei is generally the main rapper.

     The rising Asian culture wave is exciting to watch, with the label 88Rising at the forefront, and the Higher Brothers an important part. Their sound has been evolving and getting better, especially their English flow, but it would sound amazing if they continue to use Chinese lyrics and a heavy Chinese influence in their music.

Rating: 4/5

Favorite Songs: 16 Hours, Sunshine, Need Me Now, Diamond

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Singular Act I Review

By: Emory Ying

Singular Act I is the name of Sabrina Carpenter's new album, who is currently on tour in Asia. Sabrina Carpenter is a nineteen year old, rising star and three albums; currently working on her fourth. She is well known for portraying, Maya, from Girl Meets World. Her new album, Singular Act I, is inspired by her trip to Paris, France. In this album are eight songs with three hits: “Almost Love”, “Paris” and “Sue Me”. They are also the only songs in that album with music videos. Sabrina Carpenter is a great up and coming star with a great voice and songs.

Her song, “Sue Me”, is about bouncing back, stronger, after a break up. The song starts out with a piano intro with a male vocalist humming along, transitioning into the drum beat and electronic snapping sounds. The primary instrument heard in this song is the electronic bass; used to keep the beat accompanied by drums and snapping noises to create a melody with a piano coming in the pre-chorus as a buildup for Carpenters high notes. The song revolves around accentuating Carpenters ability to belt the chorus. Her lyrics are written to have staccato verses to make her voice sound thick similar to Ariana Grande's music. The pre-chorus starts staccato and fast transitioning into legato vocals so Carpenter can belt the chorus. Throughout the whole song, there are background singers echoing her. At the end of the song, after hitting her big vocals, the instruments and singing fade out.

Another popular song from this album is “Almost Love”. This songs instruments consist of electric bass and drums for the beat with an electronic sound board to create the melody. However, much of the song instrumentally is the same, except during the chorus. The lyrics are about the excitement and lust within a new relationship. Unlike Sue Me, this song is a more relaxed and keeps a constant speed within the lyrics and instruments except in the very last chorus and pre-chorus. Throughout the whole song the background singing is Carpenter herself echoing except for one pre-chorus verse in the middle of the song, where her sister sings backup. The last ten seconds of the song are just the instruments until they suddenly cut off signaling the end of the song.

Her second song released from the album is called, “Paris”. This song is about how romantic Paris is, but visiting there helps her discover that she has already found love. It opens with an electric bass solo soon joined by soft bells. Once the pre-chorus starts, a keyboard joins in with snapping noises as the beat. During the chorus all the instruments stop except for the electric drums and keyboard which keep the beat and the a soft bells acting as the melody. This stays consistent throughout the whole song. As for the vocals, Carpenters voice stays airy and soft throughout the whole song with her voice echoing in the background during each verse. The volume stays relatively the same throughout the whole song. Although at the end, Carpenter belts the last verse however it is still quieter than the chorus.  

Although I think her songs revolve a lot around vocals and while the instruments and beat are repetitive, Sabrina Carpenter is a very skilled vocalist who I highly recommend listening to.  Overall this album was very enjoyable to sing along with alone or with friends at a party.

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The Power of a Barbeque Pit

By Nathaniel Samuels

The Pit Room is a recent barbecue restaurant that opened in 2016 on Richmond. It was founded by two veterans of barbecue with the goal of using their combined experience to make handcrafted barbecue for hungry customers. This restaurant does not stop at food however, the atmosphere is great, and lets people sit in a variety of settings. Indoors, there's standard seating like you would expect at any restaurant, with square tables and chairs suitable for up to four people. Once you step outside, there is a long bar with seating in a row that lets you sit comfortably by yourself or with a group of friends. Past the bar, there is a large outdoor seating area with many amenities including a bar and a dart board.

As I got there, I were immediately dismayed by the long line at the door, and expected to be spending at least the next ten minutes waiting. I was then pleasantly surprised after being served in just under five minutes. Servers were fast and friendly. They served cafeteria-style with multiple people in a line that would help you with your meal.

The outdoor bar that our group sat at

After ordering the Three Meat Dinner with cheese pork sausage, pork ribs, and beef brisket, I went and used the outdoor seating at the bar. The Three Meat Dinner is served with two sides. I got mac and cheese, and potato salad. The mac and cheese has a rich creamy cheese that is almost perfect except for the runnieness. The potato salad has a thick consistency and enough potatoes to fill it up unlike many potato salads that load you up on the mustard outside.

With the meat itself, the brisket is very fatty but not chewy, instead it is moist and flavorful. The barbecue sauce that the meal comes with is very light and runny, but I was thrilled by the sweetness of the sauce and how it sticks to the meat with ease becoming a personal favorite of mine.

Mac and Cheese with a brisket sandwich and a side of barbecue sauce

While the cheesy jalapeno sausage is spiced well, there is a lack of cheese. While still tasty it was not what I was expecting. The sausage is made better with the fluffy bread that comes with the meal. This bread is soft and doughy and has an effect of absorbing the sauce and blending the three flavors together well and makes for an appetizing meal. While enjoyable I found myself wishing the bread was warmer as it is sold room temperature too cold, however when eaten in combination with something hot, the bread’s temperature was overlooked. The last thing we ate was the pork ribs which are very fatty and flavorful, but are lacking in meat under the fat.

A Texas Monthly issue discussing the pit room

The Pit Room satisfies everything I look for in a restaurant, the service was fast and willing to help, the food was good and filling, yet left me wanting more, and the atmosphere was open and comfortable. The Pit Room is an appealing addition to the Houston barbecue game and I will be returning often.

Price: $$

Wheelchair Accessible: yes

Atmosphere: 5/5

Service: 4/5

Food and Drinks: 4/5

Overall: 4.5/5

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Vegan Paradise: Field of Greens

By Charlie McGill and Persi Fossi

      Despite a growing population of vegans, it can be difficult to find restaurants with tasty, animal-friendly, and anti-cruelty options. Field of Greens is the perfect fix for people with this problem. Despite a dim and unsettling interior, the smell of good food had our stomachs rumbling before we even got up to the counter to order. There’s a large menu with salads, sandwiches, burgers, a selection of smoothies, and even some non-vegan, pescatarian options.     

     Things weren’t looking too good at first with the intimidating, black, tall-backed chairs and dark blue ceiling tiles. The space seemed like a cave-dweller’s idea of a field. But soon enough our dishes came out and we changed our minds quickly. We started with the California Club and the BBQ Sandwich. One of the best things that’s often forgotten about veganism is they can still eat fries! The fries were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and were the highlight of the meal. Even if you never want to eat at a vegan establishment, you must try these fries once in your life.

    The California Club was amazing, but as non-vegans, we found ourselves thinking it would be better with bacon. Even without the bacon, we realized we wouldn’t mind being vegan with food like this. It’s made with toasted Ezekiel bread, soy vegan chicken, avocado, lettuce, tomato, sprouts, and a grilled Indonesian tofu called tempeh. Although we didn’t particularly love the soy meats, The avocado and toasty bread make up for them. The sandwich made us feel so much healthier, almost as if we hadn’t eaten bowls of fruit loops and candy for breakfast.

     The BBQ Sandwich, made with a vegan variation of roast beef, weirdly flavorless pickles, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and sprouts, all brought together with grilled wheat toast, is aptly named, as it is totally drenched in BBQ sauce. This is needed however, as none of the other ingredients had much flavor, and the sandwich would be bland without any sauce. This being said, the actual taste of the sandwich wasn’t terrible, and if we tried it without knowing it was vegan, there's a strong chance we wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference. Our main quarrel with the sandwich was it’s temperature. We each took a bite when it was immediately placed in front of us, and it was only slightly above room temperature. A few minutes later, it was cold. This was disappointing, especially since the taste of the sandwich couldn’t quite bail out its cool temperature, however, not the most disappointing part of the meal.

     The final thing we tried was the Fruit Delicious Smoothie, made with soymilk, banana, strawberry, and blueberry. This was, without a doubt, the blandest thing we have ever tried. Ordering it off the menu, it sounded delicious, with plenty of flavorful fruits. In reality, however, it tasted like a soymilk slushie with just enough fruit to color it. On the bright side, another member of our group got the Tropical Smoothie, which was flavorful and had a nice, tangy taste.

     Overall, Field Of Greens is a great restaurant if you’re into eating vegan; although some things on their extensive menu aren’t up to par, there is plenty of good food to be had. The fries are superb, truly a reason to visit, and the California Club is the perfect compliment to them. If you’re vegan, or next time you want to have a vegan meal, we recommend heading over to Field Of Greens.

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Mediocre Mercantile

By: Sutton Walsh and Emory Ying

Mercantile is a wannabe “funky coffee bar” that falls short of expectations. It is located on Stanford and was opened on March 29, 2014. Their well-kept and aesthetically pleasing website raised our expectations which then plummeted when we found that the restaurant hardly resembles the appealing and high-quality photos on the website.

When walking into Mercantile, we immediately noticed how the decor is mismatched and has the style of the first floor of a house. One area of the restaurant is decorated like a diner, with a big neon sign, small brown tables with beige booths, and a black leather couch in the corner next to a table with magazines. Another area had large brown couches, petite tables and chairs for groups of three and bar seating. Circular pieces of artwork and splatter paint decorate the wall. The back corner of that area is a section that imitates an outdoor area with a white picket fence surrounding the section, a wooden swing, table and chairs, complete with fake grass. The space where you order resembled a gift shop at a national park with a forest wallpaper and fake tree branch decor. The hanging lights are all different styles and colors, only adding to the confusing interior. Needless to say, there is plenty of seating options that can accommodate many customers.

While ordering, we noticed how a considerable amount of the options on the breakfast menu were crossed out because they were out of stock. This left the breakfast tacos available to order on the menu along five other pastry options. We later learned that Mercantile purchases a certain amount of tacos from Taco Deli and then sells them throughout the day. While this adds a filling breakfast item to the menu, we wish that they sold homemade pastries or breakfast options as well. 

The drinks arrived promptly after ordering and while some of the food took some time - most likely due to the warming process. We were pleased to find one uniform aspect of the restaurant, the plates and cups were the same style and color white. The Chamomile Tea is served hot and has a strong smell and taste of fresh flowers. It is a refreshing and warm drink in this unusually chilly coffee bar.

The Chocolate Croissant is an overwhelming disappointment. When ordering, we requested that it was warmed and were upset to find that it was served room temperature, maybe colder. It does not give off an appetizing smell and the chocolate drizzle on top is pitiful. When taking a bite, the croissant gives off no satisfying crackle and is chewy and bland. Although it does have an airy center, the skinny strips of chocolate in the middle are tasty but would have been much better if they were melted. The Plain Croissant has a more crispy top than that of the chocolate croissant but is equally cold. It is basically the chocolate croissant without chocolate, hence the name.

The Blueberry Muffin is unappetizing. The excessive amount of blueberries dyes the muffin a gross purple-grey color (or maybe it was whole wheat?). The taste is even more unappealing. Served cold, the squishy yet chewy blueberries taste more like raisins and the muffin itself is soggy and has an excessive amount of sugar. It tastes like a muffin one would buy at a grocery store if they needed a last minute bake sale dish.  

In summary, this place is a funky failure we don’t recommend it. Our feedback includes 1) to unify the restaurant with one style as it is all over the place and 2) don’t offer to warm pastries unless you are going to warm them. We believe this place has potential as it is in a good location and has delicious drinks, but as of now, we recommend going to a different coffee shop in Montrose. 

Price: $

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Atmosphere: ⅖

Service: ⅘

Food and Drinks: ⅖

Overall: ⅖

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Mobile Maven NYC: Carve Cafe

By: Luke Kirchner

Carve Cafe is a little restaurant near Times Square, perfect for getting a light meal or snack. Carve is located just out of Times Square, next to other pizzerias, but we decided to choose this particular restaurant because of the large sign out front. Walking inside, we noticed the relatively small seating area, due to the fact we were in New York. Another interesting observation was the very large menu, from pizza to obscure sandwiches. I tried the meat-lovers pizza which was topped with baked ham, sizzled bacon, Italian Sausage, and pepperoni.

After ordering from the counter (which was very fast) and received the pizza, we sat down at the counter bar, looking out onto a very busy New York street. While the pizza was very tasty, it was incredibly greasy and the cheese easily slid off. 

Note- best eaten New York style. 

After finishing three large slices of the meat-lovers, I decided to try one piece of plain cheese pizza, as it just came out of the oven. This slice was much better than previous meat-lovers sliced I just ate. The cheese stayed on and grease was minimal, but it was still packed with flavor, even with no toppings. 

The entire arrangement inside was very cramped, but we still found seats during the busy lunch hour. The staff actually came and asked all the tables if they needed anything, which was something I did not expect and something I have never seen before (in this type of restaurant). 

While, overall, the food wasn’t special in any way, the convenient location made for a very nice experience. Everything I tried was tasty, and it made for a fine, fast lunch cafe. 

Stars - 3.5/5

Price - $

Wheelchair Accessible - Most likely not

Recommended Food- Any Pizza

Overall - A very nice cafe to grab a quick meal and get back to your busy day.

Service - The staff was very fast and attentive.

Atmosphere - Fast paced, crammed and tight. 

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Mobile Maven NYC: Playwright Celtic Pub

By: Luke Kirchner

The Playwright Celtic Pub is a fantastic restaurant to spend some time in, get great food, and watch many different sports. The location of this restaurant is just outside of Times Square, offering a convenient location to go to. While the seating was a little tight, the multiple levels offered a sense of space to the environment. As this was a sit-down meal, we were escorted up to the second floor to get seated. 

The staff was very friendly and quickly attend to us. We made it clear to them that we had a show to catch in around an hour, so they made sure we could get in and out as quickly as possible. While the menu was extensive, it seemed focused and quite delicious. For our meals, we ordered the Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Cordon Bleu, while I started out with the spicy wings. 

The wings were smothered in Frank’s red hot, fried to very crispy state, and served with celery and carrots. I thoroughly enjoyed these and ate them very quickly. 

Next were our main meals. The chicken parmesan was a smaller dish, with chicken, melted cheese, freshly made marinara sauce, and penne pasta. While the chicken was cooked perfectly, I was not a huge fan of the marinara sauce. The dish was still enjoyable. The chicken cordon bleu, on the other hand, was a very delicious dish. It was served with broccoli and house-made potato chips. 

As this was not my first time at this restaurant, I can say the other menu options are equally as tasty. Overall, it is a very good option for a nice sit-down meal. Its nice location, friendly staff, and good food make for a very nice addition to the area. 

Stars: 4/5

Price: $$

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Recommended dishes: Buffalo wings, Chicken Cordon Bleu

Overall: A very nice restaurant for a tasty meal.

Food: A great place for some casual lunch or dinner.

Service: The staff are friendly and very fast.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere is fast paced, loud, but welcoming.

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Mobile Maven NYC: Bubba Gump Shrimp Company

By: Luke Kirchner

Bubba Gump Shrimp company is a great, large restaurant to get seafood at a somewhat affordable price. This restaurant is located right on 7th (which runs through Times Square) but due to the fact it is a chain, we knew what price point to expect. While the wait line seemed long at first, once we walked in we realized that line was for the shop. We walked upstairs and were almost immediately seated. The most noticeable thing was the incredibly friendly staff. We were greeted once we walked in and were treated very nicely many other times throughout the night. 

Once our waiter made it clear how to use the license plate signaling method on our table, she immediately took appetizer and drink orders. I started out with the shrimp mac n cheese. This was a spectacular dish, as it was not too heavy, but just the right thickness. The shrimp was also very juicy and delicious. 

For our main meals, we got the Shrimper’s Heaven. This included 16 shrimp, cooked in different styles and served over french fries. I ordered the shrimp tempura, grilled shrimp, fried shrimp, and coconut shrimp. These were all very tasty and cooked perfectly. It also came with many different sauces. 

For dessert, I ordered a cookie skillet with ice cream. This was by far my favorite meal of the night, as it was still hot and had an amazing flavor. At the end of our experience, our server asked to play Forrest Gump trivia, in which I got stumped, but showed how excellent the staff was. 

Overall, my time at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company was superb and exceeded my expectations for a chain I have never been to. I would recommend to anyone, if they like a lot of shrimp. 

Stars - 4/5

Price - $$

Wheelchair Accessible - Most likely not

Recommended Food- Shrimper’s Heaven, Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae 

Overall - A good chain restaurant that had good food.

Service - The staff was very fast and friendly.

Atmosphere - Fun, Interesting, and has cool boating decor.

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A Five Star Coffeebar

By Josey Gregg

FIX Coffeebar is the perfect addition to the Montrose scene. Opened in 2016 they have an exceptional selection of any type of coffee you can think of, along with a vast selection of tea; from English Breakfast to lavender. FIX is a peaceful place to get some work done in a relaxing quiet location with a modern take on the decor. Paintings decorate some of the walls, along with contemporary art pieces. Inside there are tables that can accommodate 2-3 people, or a large picnic table where you could fit many more. All the tables matched the wooden decorations around the rest of the coffeebar. In the coffeebar there is a relaxing quiet to the atmosphere on top of the decorative lights and dulcet music.

Inside we saw the abundant assortment of coffee beans for purchase, as well as the extensive menu. There was also a variety of pastries such as muffins, croissants, or danishes. We ordered our food and the baristas were amiable in accommodating our group of ten. We sat down and waited the short time it took before our food and drinks were ready.

I was pleased with the beautifully served Jasmine green tea which is delivered on a wooden tray, along with my toasted chocolate croissant. The tea is served steaming and I was more than content with the bittersweet taste of green tea along with the slight aftertaste of the flowery jasmine. My tea stayed warm in my mug and I was able to enjoy the same subtly sweet tea for the rest of our stop. I had the same experience trying my flaky chocolate croissant. The gooey chocolate melted just the perfect amount bonding with the buttery outside which left the perfect partner. The outside was crumbly but still stayed together to have to the crisp texture.

Another satisfying choice we were grateful for is the frothy hot chocolate served with the perfect combination of creamy milk and chocolatey goodness. It is a heavenly creation providing an agreeable start to our morning. One of the signature drinks we ordered is FIX’S Award Winning Nitro Brew Cold Coffee. Even without any added sugar or creamy, it has a smooth taste and a sweet undertone. No need to add anything and it still had a pleasurable flavor, even as someone who doesn’t drink black coffee, this is able to be drunk without any added cream or sugar.

Not only were our food and drinks delectable, but the service was extraordinary. With only two people working behind the bar our food still came out almost immediately and exactly to the order. We were delighted with the great service throughout our entire time at FIX Coffeebar, and would 100% recommend this to anyone. It is a relaxing atmosphere to get some work done or enjoy a delicious cup of coffee or tea.

Stars - 5/5

Price - $

Wheelchair Accessible - Yes

Dog friendly - Outside Area

Recommended - Chocolate Milk, Jasmine Green Tea, Chocolate Croissants

Overall - We had a great experience at FIX Coffeebar with incredible food and delicious service.

Service - The staff was very friendly and great at what they did.

Atmosphere - Relaxing atmosphere where you could get some work done or enjoy a cup of coffee.