If you are looking for a new place with a bar-like atmosphere and a “where everybody knows your name” feeling, then Uno’s Chicago Bar and Grill is the best restaurant in which to spend your evening. Uno’s Chicago Bar and Grill is located in Janaf Shopping Center on E. Virginia Beach Blvd. and Military Highway in Norfolk. This is the place where my friends and I chose to celebrate two events: the end of midterm week and my best friend’s 18th birthday. Once you enter the restaurant, you feel as though you are at home. The server takes the number to be seated, and surprisingly they ask a strange question. What are your names? Upon telling them our names, they seated us facing Military Highway, which was fine. We were only seated for a couple minutes when our waitress, who also addressed us by our names, asked what we wanted to drink. We all chose to have Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiris, which cost $2.99. Once she took the drink orders, two minutes later she came back with five daiquiris. The first thing you notice of the daiquiri is the actual amount they serve, because you cannot get refills on those particular types of drinks. These were plentiful drinks. After we received our drinks, our waitress asked us if we decided what we wanted to have for dinner. My first impression was to order appetizers, which consisted of Tuscany Bread for $4.99 which is garlic bread with pesto, spinach, Muenster cheese and seasoned plum tomatoes.

Other types of appetizers included Pizza Skins for $6.79, Chicken Strips for $6.49, and Grilled Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla for $7.89. The waitress recommended that since the appetizer portions were so large, that we should go straight to the main course. The main courses consisted of different categories, such as pizzas, salads, pasta, burgers and sandwiches. I ordered Sirloin Tips, which was priced at $9.99. It was served with sauteed onions and a baked potato with bacon, cheese, and sour cream. The others in my group ordered Rattlesnake Pasta, which was priced at $9.99 as well. It consisted of grilled chicken breast in a creamy cheddar jalapeno sauce and fried jalapenos as well. While waiting for the waitress to return with our dinner, we listened to the Top 20 Billboard hits of the week over the music system. Also we noticed on the wall that there were old paintings, circa early 1900s. Twenty-five minutes had passed and the waitress finally returned with our food. When we saw the mouth-watering meals, our appetites grew even stronger. We realized that once again, we were getting a lot more food than the price we were going to pay! Once I put some A-1 sauce on my sirloin tips, I took the first bite and it was truly delicious. They cooked the steak to perfection thoroughly and it literally “melts in your mouth.” The other members of my party were equally satisfied with their meals as well. When an hour had passed we were finished, and it was time for dessert.

They had a picture menu which consisted of the Brownie Bowl, which comes with an Oreo brownie, ice cream, fudge and whipped cream. Other types of desserts they had were the Oreo Cheesecake, the Cookie Blast, and the Cappuccino cake. The price of all the desserts was $3.99. I ordered the Oreo Cheesecake for later on that night, so I took it to go. Upon receiving the Oreo Cheesecake, we all received our checks. My total was $17.90 for the Sirloin Tips, Oreo Cheesecake and Strawberry Daiquiri. My friends’ checks were $15 and under because they chose not to order dessert. Overall, the food was delicious and very prompt. The server and waitress were very friendly and helpful as they checked on each of us every few minutes until we were tired of seeing them. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give Uno’s Bar and Grill a perfect 10 because the food was great and the service was wonderful. If you ever wonder where to take your friends out for a celebration or spend time with that special someone, Uno’s Bar and Grill is the best place to visit during the fall and winter season.

We have seen Ben Stiller in a wide variety of roles in films such as “There’s Something About Mary” and “Meet the Parents”, but none compare to the empty-headed, simple, downright idiotic character of Derek Zoolander. “Zoolander” is a Paramount Pictures production, starring and directed by Ben Stiller. The film also stars Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Christine Taylor, Milla Jovovich, Jerry Stiller and Jon Voight. There are numerous guest star appearances, such as Tyson Beckford, David Bowie and Billy Zane. I wasn’t excited to go see “Zoolander,” from the previews on TV, but they proved me wrong. There was a dry sense of humor that you couldn’t help but laugh at. Derek Zoolander, the most famous male model in the world, is tired of being made fun of by paparazzi. He is ready to show the world that there is more to him than being “really, really good looking” by facing off the evil fashion underworld and giving his millions of adoring fans a real reason to cheer. After constantly competing with modeling newcomer, Hansel (Owen Wilson), Zoolander loses the Male Model of the Year award to him and decides to take a break to rediscover his roots. His father and brothers do not accept Derek as a model after he moved to New York City and became a mermaid for a bottled water ad.

Derek feels alone in the world when his model friends were in a “freak gasoline fight accident.” Out of luck, out of friends, and without his family, he is comforted by evil fashion designer, Mugatu (Will Ferrell), whose male models always seem to die before they are 30. Mugatu and his sidekick, Katinka (Milla Jovovich), pick Derek to model a new line of clothes. All the while he has been brainwashed to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia at the opening show of the new line. Matilda (Christine Taylor), a reporter for Time Magazine who also recently trashed Derek’s image, catches on to Mugatu’s plan. With the help of Hansel, she wants to take action to stop him before Derek and the Prime Minister end up dead. The film is full of comedy, insane action, and even an orgy you’ll never forget. Since it revolves around the fashion industry, the costumes are outrageous. Derek chooses to wear mostly snake skin and vinyl in bright colors. Mugatu, the biggest designer of the time, describes his new garbage look line as “a fashion, a way of life, inspired by the very homeless, the bums, the vagrants who make our wonderful city so unique.” His models look like they jumped in the Dumpster and rolled around. So, if you and your friends can’t find anything to do on a Friday night, go to a movie theater with some Milk Duds and you are sure to get a good laugh. Ben Stiller always keeps viewers falling out of their seats.

“The Girl From Samos,” written by the comic Greek playwright Menander, is currently being performed here at VWC. Bentley Anderson is directing the play at the request of Edward Gutting, Professor of Classics at VWC, to help launch the new Classics program. “Students can learn something about Greek culture from this play,” said Anderson. He points out that although it was a completely different time, we are not so different from people in ancient Greece. The interactions and concerns of the average person were very similar. Menander’s plays were a part of western European Literature for 800 years. After 500 A.D. the play scripts were considered lost or destroyed. One complete play and several smaller fragments were discovered again in the 1950s. “The Girl From Samos” was one of them. Anderson said they had not attempted improve or repair the play. He explained that most archeological finds, such as Venus de Milo and Winged Victory, are presented as they were found, without arms or head. According to Anderson there are five acts, but they did not have much of acts one and two. The play begins with a young Athenian gentleman, Moschion, explaining his shameful behavior while waiting for his adoptive father, Demeas, and his father-in-law to be, Nikeratos to return home from business. The old men return home to find out that Demeas’ mistress, Chrysis and the Nikeratos’ daughter, Plangon, have both given birth to a child. Only Plangone’s baby lives. The identity of the father is at question, and the play takes off from there. Greek music sets the mood for this comical play. It presents itself much like a sitcom does today. The actors and actresses knew exactly what they were doing and lines were spoken flawlessly. Dimming lights and Greek music (imagine Busch Gardens) signaled the end of each act. Cameron McKay was in charge of lights and sound.

“His purpose was to maintain pace and continuity and he did a wonderful job,” said Anderson. Anderson has been pleased with the turnout so far. The Friday night performance Oct. 26 was the most popular, with an audience of about 32. The costumes were designed and built by Henriette Emmanuel, who has a degree in costume design and construction. VWC will be making good use of these costumes since they will be worn in the upcoming musical as well as a play in the spring. Finding a cast to perform proved difficult for Anderson. “People took roles and did not follow through,” explained Anderson. He sat through three auditions at which no one showed up. Taking matters into his own hands, Anderson went to the GHill and talked a few students into reading over the lines with him. That is how VWC students Mindel Hale and Elise Goldstein became involved. Mindel took on the role of Demeas having to memorize over 400 lines. “They took on a challenge and stuck to it,” said Anderson, “I’m really proud of them.” The final cast was together only three weeks before opening night. Jeb Black, a Junior at First Colonial High School, played the role of Moschion. Professor Edward Gutting played the role of Parmenon. VWC student Melanie Sanchez played Chrysis, Demeas’ mistress, and was also part of the stage crew. The Cook was played by Etta Malcome, the drama teacher at Norview High School. VWC student Sara Jones played the role of Plangon. VWC students Elizabeth Hunt, Cameron McKay, and Sara Jones played parts as servants as well as being the stage crew. Considering half of the cast is from off campus, Anderson had quite a bit of anxiety about pulling this together in time. It did come together, and the performance was excellent. As Anderson put it, they “[gave] this piece of archeology life.” There are two more chances to catch the performance of "The Girl From Samos” tonight and Saturday night at 8pm in the Studio Theater, Room 6, Fine Arts Building. Admission is free with a VWC I.D.