Opinion

Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar

By Janayah Maddox

In So Many Words;

La Belle Dame sans Merci

The Pitt

TV Review: Derry Girls

Happy Easter!

Local Foodie

By Trinity Watson

23 March 2026

A recurring segment in The Ravenna High Times! Welcome to "Local Foodie" where we review local restaurants in Ravenna and neighboring communities. Hopefully this will give you a good idea about where to go for your next trip out to eat!

Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar

For this issue's Local Foodie review, I went to Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar in Kent. I went over the weekend on a Saturday, and it was surprisingly pretty empty, so if that’s something you like then you should definitely go over the weekend.

My friend, Josie, went with me and we both got Mango based smoothies. I got the Mango Tango and she got the Mango Bomb with regular Red Bull. I may be a bit biased here because I love everything mango, no matter what form it’s in, but it was honestly the best smoothie I've had in awhile. My smoothie was the perfect consistency, though it may vary depending on which smoothie you order, and it tasted like heaven.

The Mango Tango consists of frozen mango, orange sherbet, and passionfruit juice. I will say that while it was good, the orange sherbet was very overpowering. My smoothie tasted a bit like a sherbet milkshake, though I’m not complaining. Towards the end of my smoothie there were a few chunks of fruit at the bottom of the cup, but that is the only negative thing about it.

Josie had also said that her smoothie was amazing as well. I do have to note that if you do choose to put redbull in your smoothie, it will be a bit on the thinner side compared to if you were to get a regular smoothie. All in all, Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar is definitely worth the hype.

8.5/10!

Play Review: Macbeth

By Janayah Maddox

20 March 2026

On Tuesday March 17, 2026, I traveled to Cleveland to see a performance of the play Macbeth, at the Hanna Theatre in Playhouse Square. Macbeth was directed by Sara Bruner. I went with the junior and senior honor students from Ravenna High School. This play was the first play I’ve been to in my life and it was such an amazing experience. Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare which tells the story of a well-respected man named Macbeth who became obsessed with ambition. His uncontrolled ambition to become the king of Scotland and desire for power led him to kill the current king because he wanted to be king. Also, the three witches told Macbeth that he would be king and that it was his fate. After killing the king, Macbeth was so obsessed with power and ambition, that he believed the witches' fate for him.

When we got there, we had really great seats. We were in the front row of the balcony. You could see the whole stage and the lights, we had the best view. The set was very modernized and unique for a Shakespearean play. Some of my favorite actors were Jeffery Hawkins who played Macbeth, Cassandra Bissell who played Lady Macbeth and Joe Wegnar who played Macduff. I like MacDuff because his performance was passionate and convincing, he really took the role to a whole another level. Macbeth was another favorite character of mine because his raw emotions showed how his character declined from being good to terrible. I think that all of these actors did an amazing job and really poured their heart into this play to make it a great play. For my first ever play, I really enjoyed this play and the characters. I would recommend this play to anyone who likes the dramatics of theatre!

9/10 - A very captivating and passionate play!

In So Many Words;

La Belle Dame sans Merci

By Alexis Day

18 March 2026

John Keats’s poem “La Belle Dame sans Merci” remains one of the most haunting and memorable works of Romantic poetry. Written in 1819, the poem tells the story of a mysterious knight who has been enchanted and abandoned by a beautiful, otherworldly woman. The title, which means “The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy,” hints at the danger behind her charm.

The poem is structured as a conversation, beginning with an unnamed speaker asking the knight why he looks weak and ill. As the knight shares his story, readers learn how he met the lady, fell in love, and was ultimately left alone. Keats uses vivid imagery, such as “pale kings and princes,” to suggest that others have fallen victim to the same fate. This creates a sense of warning about the risks of blind love and obsession.

One reason the poem continues to resonate with students today is its mysterious tone. Readers are left with unanswered questions: Was the lady a fairy, a dream, or something else entirely? This ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations.

Overall, “La Belle Dame sans Merci” explores themes of love, illusion, and loss, making it a timeless piece that still sparks discussion in high school classrooms.

Overall, I'd give this poem a 7/10

The Pitt

By Kora Scalia

23 March 2026

The HBO Max original series The Pitt has taken over by storm. The Pitt stars Noah Wyle who plays the main character Michael "Robby" Robinavitch who we follow on one 12 hour shift in the ER. Other charters include :

Katherine LaNasa as Dana Evans

Taylor Dearden as Dr. Melissa “Mel” King

Patrick Ball as Dr. Frank Langdon

Fiona Dourif as Dr. Cassie McKay

Supriya Ganesh as Dr. Samira Mohan

Isa Briones as Dr. Trinity Santos

Gerran Howell as Dr. Dennis Whitaker

Shabana Azeez as Victoria Javadi

Sepideh Moafi as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (season 2 new character)

Tracy Ifeachor as Dr. Heather Collins (season 1 only)

Irene Choi as Joy Kwon (season 2 new character)

Lucas Iverson as James Ogilvie (season 2 new character)

Alexandra Metz as Dr. Yolanda Garcia

Shawn Hatosy as Dr. Jack Abbott

And many others!

Season one is a great opening season with 18 episodes that are about an hour long. Each episode goes along with a lot of different problems an ER room faces: long wait times, not enough nurses and uncooperative patients. The plot twit(s) in Season 1 makes you want to continue watching in one sitting. Also in season one we also learn a lot about Dr. Robby and his fellow employees' backgrounds.

Season two is not finished yet with only 12 episodes released as of March 23, 2026. Season two is great so far. This season is more complex than season one because it contains with characters' backgrounds and a big plot twist. This season is really making everyone on the internet switch up how they feel about certain characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this show. I like how the characters' lines are written because it highlights their differences and complex personalities. These complexities make it more enjoyable to watch the show. The plot twists are super crazy and make me want more episodes. If you want to watch an episode of The Pitt check out HBOMAX. New episodes drop Thursday nights at 9:00 pm!

TV Review: Derry Girls

By Trinity Watson

13 March 2026

Derry Girls is by far the best TV show I've seen in a while. I first watched Derry Girls about two years ago and it instantly became one of my favorites. I even named my cat after the show. I’m not sure if it’s the teen setting or the friendship involved in the show, but it makes me feel very nostalgic whenever I watch it. The show takes place in 1990's Londonderry, Ireland, or better known as ‘Derry’, during the height of The Troubles. It explores a group of five teenage girls, one boy included, and how they navigate through those hard times. Within the show, there are three seasons, which are not nearly enough, but it’s a very easy watch that takes no more than four days to watch altogether. However, that is my only complaint about the show. I’m fine with it having three seasons, but there are only six 22-minute episodes per season, which is far too short, in my opinion. There are a lot of off screen storylines that would’ve been perfect to explore if there were ever more episodes, but unlike most modern Netflix Original series, Derry Girls feels real. The camerawork, the dialogue, the lighting, the acting, all of it just feels real and personal, almost like if you were there yourself. Nowadays, good quality television like that is unfortunately very difficult to come by. Despite the short running time, each episode will make you feel emotional some way or another, whether that be from the soundtrack or the storylines characters are given. The very last episode of the show was so beautifully executed and effortlessly at that, and during the last five minutes, it included the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and you could feel from the screen the relief that these characters must have felt. All in all, Derry Girls is a wonderful show.

10/10!!

Happy Easter!

By Lexi McAllister

23 March 2026

Easter is one of the most meaningful and widely celebrated holidays, and in my opinion, it stands out because of the balance it brings between tradition, faith, and simple joy. While it is deeply rooted in Christianity as a celebration of renewal and hope, it has also grown into a day that people of many backgrounds can enjoy.

What makes Easter special is how it combines serious meaning with lighthearted traditions. For some, it’s a time to reflect, attend church, and spend time appreciating new beginnings. For others, it’s about Easter egg hunts, candy, and family gatherings. That mix allows the holiday to feel both personal and shared at the same time.

I also think Easter is important because it comes during spring, a season that naturally represents growth and change. After a long winter, the warmer weather and blooming flowers make the holiday feel even more uplifting. It’s a reminder that things can improve and that fresh starts are always possible.

Overall, Easter is more than just a single day—it’s a celebration of hope, togetherness, and new beginnings, which is something everyone can appreciate in their own way.

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