Pappadeaux serves exotic dishes

Questions? Comments? Tell us what you think? DECEMBER DUE DATES Articles Due: Friday, December 21, 2001 Ads due: Friday, December 14, 2001

By Cassandra D.

On Saturday, October 20, my family, my friend and her mom went out to eat at Pappadeaux. It is located on 798 West Algonquin Road in Arlington Heights.

They serve great seafood, along with some other things as well.

We all had fried alligator for an appetizer! The alligator appetizer was very good, except that it was spicy. It came with sauce. It was a cross between chicken and calamari. My family and friends liked it and so did I. My brother really liked it.

My friend and her mom each had steak with mashed potatoes. My dad had crawfish etouffee and a pappadocious to drink. A pappadocious is a frozen fruit punch with rum.

My mom had Catfish Orleans with dirty rice. My brother and I each had mini corndog bites because we don't really like seafood very much. It came with fries.

Pappadeaux has live music on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You should probably call before you go because it gets very crowded. This is my rating of Pappadeaux on a scale of 1-5:

Food-5
Atmosphere-5
Service-5
Cleanliness-5
Value for money-3
Kid friendliness-3
Overall Experience-4

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Famous Dave's
O.K., but not great
By Nikki A.

Famous Dave's is an alright chain of barbeque restaurants. There is one located on 1631 West Lake Street in Addison.

Its atmosphere is country, and typical for a barbeque place.

I went not long ago with my family and my friend. I ordered the pulled pork meal. The food was pretty good. When I tasted the ribs, however, I didn't like the sauce.

The service was good and prompt, and the atmosphere was friendly to all ages. However, dinner was fairly expensive.

Overall, Famous Dave's in Addison wasn't a bad place, but there are better barbeque restaurants.

Food: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Cleanliness: 4
Value for money: 3
Kid friendliness: 4
Overall experience: 4

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Zoolander needs more work
By Paul P.
Op-Ed Editor

Zoolander was a pretty good movie. I went to the theater with pretty low expectations for a good movie, so I guess it turned out OK.

Zoolander is about Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), and his quest to find himself. Somehow, the evil Mugatu (Will Ferrell) tries to use him to kill the Malaysian Prime Minister.

Sound convoluted? Are you confused? Me too. Somewhere and somehow along the way, Zoolander meets up with Hansel (Owen Wilson) David Bowie, and some guy who's played by David Duchovny.

The movie turned out all right with some moments that had me reeling (in a bad way), and some moments that had me reeling (in a good way).

Will Ferrell was a great character as usual and Ben Stiller was pretty funny.

Zoolander would have been a better movie with a little more work. Overall, however, Zoolander was worth the money for the laughs it provided.

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Bandits
Entertaining but not hilarious
By John G.

"Bandits," starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thorton, and Cate Blanchett was a good movie. It was not, however, non-stop laughs as the reviews claimed.

Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thorton are two bank robbers who break out of jail to rob enough banks to get the money they need to get to Mexico to start a new life.

Cate Blanchett joins up with them after she hits Billy Bob with her car. Willis and Thorton both fall in love with Cate, which really complicates their situation.

The ending is full of action, along with an unexpected surprise.

I would give "Bandits" a rating of three stars, since it was entertaining.

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Hardball will soften your heart
By Rachael R.

A man living an awful life is about to find some hope. Keanu Reeves plays Conner O'Neill in the movie "Hardball."

Conner is in trouble for betting large amounts of money at sports games, but a friend helps get him out of this mess.

Then his friend asks Conner to coach a little league baseball team in a troubled part of Chicago. What Conner thinks is a slap on the wrist actually helps him wise up.

The boys who Conner is coaching also become healthier in life out of their experience with him. They will try to overcome what obstacles life gives them.

"Hardball" will make you laugh at the same time as you are crying. It is an all around good movie and I recommend it to everyone!

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New band for boy band fans
By Elysia B.

That's right, there's a new boy band, VP215! This is a rock/pop band. They might not look like 98° or Boyz II Men, but they do have a lot in common with these more famous groups.

VP215 consists of five members, Carlos, Eli, Kraz (craze), Mr. Mic, and Raul. Carlos is a bass, Eli is a second tenor, Kraz is a first tenor, Mr. Mic is a baritone, and Raul is a baritone-tenor.

The band first got together in a neighborhood in Philadelphia. They got their name by combining VP for Vocal Pointe (which was the original name for the band) and 215 for their area code.

VP215 played a lot of block parties and community festivals before they released their first CD, Horizon, this September, on a major record label.

Even though VP215 shares many similarities with Boyz II Men, they have their own distinctive Latin rhythms. Their first radio tracks were "She," "When You Cry," and "Fate."

Overall, I think the band is great. Again, they sound like 98 degrees and Boyz II Men and I love those bands. The remixes sound fine. I would recommend it to other students because the melody and beat is just terrific.

For more information on this exciting new band go to bryn@dreamworksrecords.com, awelch@dreamworksrecord.com, and/or cburich@dreamworksrecords.com. Their debut CD, Horizon, will be in stores soon

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ESPN X-Games Skateboarding offers virtual fun for diehards
By Evin S.

If you love ESPN skateboarding on T.V., like to skateboard, or have PS2, ESPN X-Games Skateboarding is a good game for you.

There are a couple different things to do on this game. You can play multi-player, which is where one player does a trick and the other tries to copy or beat that score.

Another is to actually play in the X-games street or "vert." You can also do that in one player mode.

The other thing you can do in one player mode is free-skate. A helpful hint is to unlock all the levels in the arcade mode.

If you want any cheats go to WWW.CHEATCC.COM

,=okay ,,=good ,,,=great ,,,,=excellent ,,,,,= buy it
Stars:,,,,
Age: 8-18
Requirement: Play Station Two (PS2)

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Halloweentown 2 is full of suspense
By Nicole D.

Halloweentown 2: Kalabar's Revenge is about the Cromwells and their evil enemy Kalabar. As shown in Halloweentown, the Cromwells, using magic, defeated Kalabar.

We do not yet know that Kalabar has a son named Cal. Cal follows his father's footsteps and tries to turn mortals into creatures, and then creatures into mortals.

As Marni, Cromwell and her grandmother go back to Halloweentown, they see that something is wrong. All of Halloweentown is under the Gray Spell, the spell that turns creatures into mortals.

As Marni's grandmother turns into a mortal, the only help she gets from is Luke, a goblin. Listening to every word Marni says, Cal plans on turning the mortals into creatures and the creatures into mortals at the stroke of midnight.

Will the Cromwells' magic be able to defeat Cal for good? Dadadone... to find out watch Halloweentown 2: Kalabar's Revenge on the Disney Channel.

Overall Rating: 3
Originally rated NR
Genre: Fantasy
Suggested Rating: G or PG

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Horoscopes for fun
By Rachel W.

Aires (March 21-April 29) "It's that time of year!" Wow, watch out for goose dirt! I see a big pile of it coming your way!

Taurus (April 20-May 20) "That's bull!" Well, I know you are a social monarch, but I see a rumor heading your way! Make sure you think logically before you pass it on.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) "We're inseparable!" Lookie here, you and your best friend(s) are going to have a blast this weekend. Hang on tight `cause it's gonna be a wild ride! Or else...

Cancer (June 22-July 22) "Don't worry, be crabby..." I have a hunch that someone has been bothering you, and you've been taking it! Don't take it, show `em who's boss! Just play nice, dear.

Leo (July 23-August 22) "Hasta la Vista, Abe-y!" Great job on that music video for social studies, if you are in seventh grade. I wonder if Arnold S. was around back then...

Virgo (August 23-September 23) "Brrr, it's cold in here, it must be something in the atmosphere!" Chill out, dude! You must be really cheesed off at someone. Try to relax and watch Bring It On if it's your style.

Libra (September 23-October 23) "You've got mail!" Start cleaning out your online mailbox now, I see digital holiday cards coming your way. Don't drown in them all!

Scorpio (October 24-November 24) "You have learned well, young grasshopper." I have a feeling that you ACED your math test. Way to go, Einstein!

Sagittarius ( November 22-December 22) "Houston, we have a problem!" Ok, nobody said the stars were perfect but they told me that a huge, grey, mutant, rubber dog toy is stomping its way to watch Apollo 13 with your pet monkey. Or is it you going trick or treating next year? Oh well...

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) "Baaaaaah!!!" I have the strangest notion that you've been a little too gabby, if you know what I mean! Perhaps you were the one that started the rumor that Taurus has to put up with?!?

Aquarius (January 20-February 18) "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!" Yo slacker, get off da couch and do some Tae Bo or somethin! So far you probably float like an anvil and sting like a pillow!

Pisces (February 19-March 20) "There are more fish in the sea." From what I've heard, a recent breakup has left you heartbroken. Don't worry, though, there are more fish in the sea.

The End (BOO HOO HOOOOOO!!!!)

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