Cookies, doughnuts, bundt cakes, and frozen yogurt, what do all of these have in common? These are all popular items at dessert chains, and many have gone out of style.

At the turn of the century, frozen yogurt was all the rage. From Smyle to PinkBerry, frozen yogurt shops were seen all across America. Later in the 2000s, bundt cakes experienced a surge in popularity with the launch of Nothing Bundt Cakes. These fun-shaped cakes led America into the doughnut craze of the 2010s, with America running on Dunkin’. In 2025, cookie shops have seen a surge. Crumbl and Insomnia Cookies have seeped into college towns all over the United States.

In my experience, there aren't hundreds of frozen yoghurt places still open, bundt cakes are no longer at the forefront of Pinterest boards, and doughnuts are no longer the same aesthetically pleasing breakfast dessert go-to. On the other hand, nearly every major city will have a Crumbl or an Insomnia Cookies. 

Why is this? Why did froyo seem to fall off the face of the earth? The answer is simple: There just wasn’t a demand for it. Same with bundt cakes and doughnuts. The demand lowered after the new dessert came to town. Now, with cookies being the new fun thing, in 10 years, it begs the question: What will the new dessert be? 

Crumbl does the dessert game a little bit differently; there is a weekly rotation of cookies, cakes, and other desserts, and it keeps the masses interested. The six different desserts give people variety, and it is one of the many things Crumbl does right with their business. On the flip side, Insomnia Cookies is open late, so college students can get a quick, sweet treat delivered for relatively cheap. These businesses are trying everything to keep their relevancy because they want to stay in the dessert game, but it is only a matter of time before a new dessert comes to town. 

The dessert game is intense, and with the new way these cookies are marketed, they are fighting to stay on top of the sweet ladder. The rotating flavors from Crumbl bring a new variety that the dessert places of the past lacked, and this is a strategy that will hopefully inspire other companies, because it has proven successful.

On Friday, August 22, many LPHS students went to Taco Bell after the exciting win against New Prairie High School, but this celebration was cut short due to the devastating news at our local Taco Bell. One of the most beloved items is gone once again. Nacho Fries have gone back into the depths of the Taco Bell seasonal items.

Taco Bell is one of the many places to go in La Porte after school functions, every game, every competition, and every dance. Taco Bell will be packed with students from all extracurriculars. This happens for one of many reasons, but one of the main reasons is that it is open late. Our local Taco Bell is open till 3 a.m., and it is conveniently located about seven minutes from the high school by car, and it is within walking distance if one has enough time. 

On the Friday of the Milk Jug football game, the cheer and football team, marching band, student section, and members from all of these sectors could be found at the Taco Bell on Pine Lake Avenue. The drive-through line was in the road, and the lobby was packed, because many wanted cheap tacos and burritos. 

“Taco Bell is a staple for La Porte students. When I’m bored, I go to Taco Bell, because I know I will always find someone there. There is something about getting a cool Baja Blast after a football game. When I get old, I'll tell my kids about the good old days of going after games,” varsity cheerleader Aspyn Beaty said. 

The Nacho Fries are a fan favorite among LPHS students, with these seasoned fries being one of the most popular items on the menu. This is partially due to the false scarcity that Taco Bell creates. With Nacho Fries being a limited edition item, it makes people feel like they have to have it and not just because they taste great.

“They put something in the oil, I swear, and that’s what makes Taco Bell so good,” Color Guard member Peyton Ford said. 

The famous Nacho Fries will likely be back later this year or early next year, but this is truly a devastating time for all Taco Bell lovers across the country. 

Hair dye is one of the many ways people change their looks to express themselves, and as someone who has experimented with every color under the sun, I've learned many things about the types of dyes that can be found at Sally Beauty and local drugstores.

Semi, Demi, and Permanent

These are the three main types of hair dye permanencies that are available. 

The quickest to fade is semi-permanent, which lasts four to six weeks with proper care. Brands like Manic Panic and Arctic Fox are among the most common that are known for semi-permanent hair color. 

The next is demi-permanent, which is not as often found in stores. This is most common in the salon setting and lasts for upwards of eight weeks with proper care. 

Finally, permanent dyes, which are not 100% permanent, will fade over time, and need touch-ups if one wants the brand-new look. Most brands have permanent variants when looking in drugstores, but my personal favorite is Ion from Sally Beauty.

Bleach or no Bleach

Bleach is extremely dependent on what color others are looking for, as well as the permanence. Bleach can be very temperamental, so it is crucial to do a strand test, as well as consult with a hairstylist. For me personally, I use a kaleidoscope blue ice bleach and 20 volume developer. This combination gives a good life while still keeping a bit of health. One thing to note, bleach is very damaging, so if your hair has been previously bleached, heat damaged, or you are prone to breakage, consider a lower volume developer and multiple rounds of bleach over time. 

When dying bright colors, bleaching before is often a good option if you have dark hair, since the color will not be very bright without it. I recommend that if you are doing your hair at home, leave a day in between bleaching and dying so it gives the hair a small break, and there is a smaller likelihood of irritation. 

Brands

As previously mentioned, my favorite brand of dye to use is Ion, but this is not true for every color. I am not a fan of their light blues, but everyone’s hair is different, so it may work better for other hair types. Ion has a wide variety of permanent and semi-permanent dyes for a good price, but they do require the purchase of 20 volume developers if you are using the permanents. These colors usually fade well, and there is minimal shade change. For all of the brands that I will mention, the price ranged from $10-$15. The amount of dye used will depend on hair type and how much hair the user has.

Arctic Fox is known for their bright colors and how good their dye smells, so if users are sensitive to the smell of bleach and other strong smells, this would be a great option. Arctic Fox has only semi-permanent colors, and most fade very well, but some are known to fade into some interesting colors, most notably the greens and blacks. 

Manic Panic is another great semi-permanent option, especially if one wants a color that won’t last a crazy amount of time. Manic panic fades fast, especially if the user's hair is washed daily, but their bright colors are some of the best you can find. They also only come in semi-permanent.

Iro Iro is one I have not tried as much, but from what I have tried, they are high-quality dyes; many just fade quickly, which would be another good option if wanting one that will not last until hair is fully grown out. 

Finally, Splat Dye is one of the few that I will never recommend. Splat dye is known to stain the hair and not come out with rounds of bleach, color remover, and at-home treatments. Salons struggle to get splat out, so I would recommend staying away. 

Color Removing

There are many ways to remove dye, and the first, of course, is a color remover, which can be found at Sally Beauty as well as salons. My personal favorite is the Ion color remover, and it has removed stubborn black box dye from my hair with minimal damage. Salon color-removing treatments are also a good option, but can be expensive if one changes his/her hair a lot.

There are also a few ways to speed up fading at home. The main one is clarifying shampoo or Head and Shoulders dandruff shampoo. Both of these products are known to completely cleanse the hair and remove all oil. Therefore, they take off dye well and quickly. Many also recommend crushed vitamin C tablets in shampoo, but I have not tried this.

Hair Care

The process of taking care of dyed hair is simple, but very annoying if someone is a fan of warm showers. First, cold water is a must when getting bright color, because the cold water helps the hair fade more slowly. The second is to consider how much one washes their hair. The more often the hair is washed, the more times that water hits it, so the faster it fades. Absolutely, still wash the hair, because that prevents oil buildup and keeps your scalp healthy, but washing every other day or every two days will help preserve the life of the dye. Finally, avoid pools, lakes, oceans, etc., without a swim cap or one’s hair up. The chlorine in pools will suck the dye out, and having your hair in water for extended periods slowly fades the dye.

Closing Thoughts

Hair dye is a wonderful thing that makes changing one's look effortless, but it is very important to be careful with one's hair. It's very easy to fry off the ends with bleach if the user leaves it on for too long, or burn the user’s skin because one didn’t do a test strand. So before doing anything with bleach or anything similar, please consult a stylist. All dyes require different processing times, so make sure to look at the directions and follow them carefully for the best results.

Slicer Performing Arts Club is hosting its first annual SPArC 5K on September 7 at 10 a.m. beginning at La Porte High School to Kesling Park and back.

This event was put in place to support all performing arts at LPHS, from jazz to choir, and from theater to marching band; all of the arts will receive a portion of the proceeds. 

“We chose a 5K because we are looking for new and unique ways to raise funds for the performing arts, which wasn't being done by any other fundraising group. It is a great way to bring the community together to celebrate the arts. The Slicer Performing Arts Club is the primary funding source for all the performing arts at LPHS. So, the marching band, color guard, winter guard, show choir, and all the theater productions at the PAC are funded through donations. All proceeds from the event go directly back to the programs. SPArC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of parent volunteers,” Slicer Performing Arts Club Treasurer James Lear said.

The SPArC 5K is open to everyone, with options of running or walking, and future Slicers–grade 4 and under–can participate in the Mini Slicer Sprint, which will be held before the race. Medals will be awarded to all participants. In the race, medals will be awarded to the best overall man and woman, and other medals will be awarded to top finishers in each age group.

The race will start in the LPHS south lot, which can be entered off of 10th Street. Additional parking is available off the north lot and can be accessed through I Street.

Race sign-ups are available through the Slicer Performing Arts Club Facebook Group or this link.  To sign up for the race, the cost is $30, and sign-ups before August 22 are guaranteed a t-shirt. For the Slicer Sprint, the cost is $20. Sign-ups for the race end September 6, and spots are filling up fast, so hurry and get tickets to help support Slicer Performing Arts!

The La Porte High School Marching Band (LPMB) has officially started its summer season.

 This year's field show is called “Off The Rails” and will feature selections from composers John Fannin, Harry Warren, and heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne. 

The LPMB practices diligently throughout two camps in the summer and during the school year. The first is parade camp, where students learn the parade tune, the school song, and how to march properly. The drumline learns the yearly cadence, and the color guard learns flag work for the parade songs. 

The second camp is show camp, where students learn show music, dots, which tell where they are in formations, and visuals that enhance the performance. Members will also perfect “The Star-Spangled Banner” for upcoming football games, as they continue to work on technique and tone quality.

During the school year, they continue to work on these aspects to fine-tune their personal and group performance for competitions. These competitions prepare the band for prelims and, depending on how they score, finals. The LPMB had the opportunity to go to State in 2023 and placed 10th overall. Members are excited to put forth their best to try and make it once again. 

Their upcoming performances are at the La Porte 4th of July Parade and a Fox Park performance on August 14. The band also performs at home football games, pep rallies, and at competitions around the area.

As the school year comes to a close, summer is rapidly approaching. In other words, it's Sublime season!

To begin, I cannot make a summer playlist without mentioning Sublime, and more specifically, “Slow Ride.” Released in 1991 on the album Jah Won’t Pay The Bills, “Slow Ride” is a stoner rock anthem that carries my summer every year. Sublime is notorious for its laid-back and upbeat sound, and for a long time after the lead singer, Bradley Nowell, passed away in 1996, they didn’t tour. Now, Sublime is touring again with his son Jakob, and they have brought the Sublime sound to stages around the world once more. 

The 1990s were a great decade for music, pop culture, and fashion, and some of the most iconic albums and trends came from this era. But one thing that is notorious from the 1990s is rap music. From Notorious B.I.G., Outcast, and Ice Cube, it was a great decade for that classic '90s movie sound. One song in particular embodies this nicely: “It Was A Good Day” by Ice Cube is from the album The Predator, which was released in 1992, right at the beginning of the decade. This song is truly a song of the summer, again with its laid-back style, talking about a good day, it embodies a chill day where everything just seems to go right. 

`To continue on the '90s train, “Around the World” by Red Hot Chili Peppers is an unforgettable anthem. From Californiacation, released in 1999, this song opens the album with an unforgettable bassline that keeps the upbeat vibe throughout the song. Red Hot Chili Peppers are a rock powerhouse that is synonymous with summer. The late nights and early mornings on the lake with a large fountain drink in hand, and the waves crashing on the shore. 

My next song goes in a completely different direction. “Incinerate” by Sonic Youth is an American rock band formed in 1981 in New York. This song comes from the album “Rather Ripped,” and it features a driving guitar riff that carries throughout the whole song. Sonic Youth is the sound of my summer nights, the nights watching the stars or wandering downtown Chicago. On a similar note, “Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins is another song that is synonymous with late nights in the dead of summer. From the 1995 album Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, this song is a classic ‘90s rock anthem that has been on my playlists for years.

Finally, my current favorite summer song is “Take It Easy” by the Eagles. Released in 1972 on their self-titled album, this song embodies the laid-back summer experience. This is the song to listen to when cruising down county roads with all of the windows down. This song is deeply rooted in my soul, and it is extremely nostalgic to my time growing up in the Midwest. 

This summer, I want to live life like a Baja Blast because you never know when it will be your Baja last. Overall, summer is a time of joy, whimsy, and fun, and I can’t wait to see what new music I will discover.

Are we living in a coming-of-age movie? Because there’s a Battle of the Bands in Michigan City on Saturday, May 24, 2025.

This event is at the Michigan City Food & Music Fest at the Guy Foreman Amphitheater, and it is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The Battle of the Bands is held from noon to 6:40 p.m. on Saturday.

The bands that are playing are Here for Today, La Porte’s own Hard Copy, 9 Months Later, CXPITAL, Massasauga, Yold Buzzard, Carroll Ave, Rebel Noire and the Accomplices, Geddy Trezak Band, Ashlyn, and Mayor’s Kids. 

Hard Copy features members from La Porte High School, both current and graduated. They have developed their unique sound through their experiences in and out of school, performing in Northwest Indiana. They cover music from punk to jazz to alternative rock. Hard Copy has captivated audiences through the performance of older music with a modern perspective. Their performance is a must-see and is a testament to the band’s energy and passion for music.

Each band will have a 20-minute set to perform any songs of their choice, either originals or covers. This is the first year this event is happening, and it is a worthwhile festival to attend.

The Guy Foreman Amphitheater is on 115 Lakeshore Drive.

Come be a part of this coming-of-age story and support local high school students!

L.S. Dunes is an American Rock powerhouse that has been sweeping America since 2022. With vocals by Anthony Green from Circa Survive, guitar by Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance, guitar by Travis Stever from Coheed And Cambria, bass guitar by Tim Payne from Thursday, and drums by Tucker Rule also from Thursday.

L.S. Dunes originally started as a project called Dad Bods, but it changed soon before their debut performance at Riot Fest in 2022, which I attended. I was also at their 2024 Riot Fest performance and their most recent concert at The Outlook in Chicago. 

The openers from this most recent show were Plague Vendor and From Indian Lakes. Plague Vendor is an American post-punk and post-hardcore band that has been active since 2009. They have a similar sound to bands such as She Wants Revenge, Christian Death, and Death From Above 1979. Their high-energy performance and charismatic stage presence made for an unforgettable set.

 In my recent listening, my favorite songs from them are “Black Sap Scriptures,” “I Only Speak In Friction,” and “Jezebel.” Their discography has a wide variety of songs with powerful basslines and dramatic vocals that are definitely worth a listen.

From Indian Lakes is a shoegaze and indie rock band from, ironically, Indian Lakes. They have been active since 2009, and they have taken influence from Radiohead, The Dodos, and Mew. Their set was like a dream, and Joey Vannucchi’s vocals made their songs sound almost angelic. Some similar artists are LSD and the Search for God, Panchiko, and Turnover. Overall, their set was a sight to behold and a must-see again in the future. 

Some of my favorite songs from their discography are “Blank Tapes,” “Did We Change,” and “Label This Love.” Their dream-pop and shoegaze sound is unique and a refreshing listen from most modern shoegaze music and is a band I’d highly recommend to anyone.

L.S. Dunes has been described as a rock supergroup, with members from all different post-hardcore and hardcore bands from the ‘90s and the 2000s. Out of the three times I have seen L.S. Dunes, this was easily their best performance and not just because it was a longer set. The energy was unbelievable, and the crowd picked up on it. Nearly every song someone was crowd surfing, including me, and there wasn’t a moment of boredom.

 Finally, some of my favorite songs were “Violet,” which is from their latest album, “Sleep Cult,” and “Benadryl Subreddit.” Their discography combines post-punk and hardcore from the ‘90s and puts a modern spin on it. With all of their members being pillars in the emo scene of the 2000s, they really know how to make good modern hardcore.

The Outlook is a smaller venue on the North side of Chicago with an open floor, nearly everyone had a good spot to see the stage, and the bands were able to interact with the crowd more easily. This meant a close-knit show that I’ll never forget and may even be one of my favorite concerts I’ve been to.