Life & Style

March 10, 2018 - 5:01pm
Ashley O'Mara, a Ph.D. candidate in English, will make her TV game show debut on Monday.

When Ashley O’Mara took an online application quiz for Jeopardy!, she would have never thought a year later she would appear on the broadcasted show. Right before Thanksgiving break of this year, O’Mara received a call that would change her life; that day, producers from the show called to invite her to Los Angeles to be on the show in mid-December.

December 15, 2017 - 2:33pm
Although the cuddling business caters to different types of needs, it seems Americans are deprived of touch, and willing to pay for it.

On a brisk, fall Saturday afternoon in a small slice of the Upper East Side, 28 men and women gather in a loft with the goal of cuddling with a stranger. A full-figured woman with tattoos and a shaven head clutches her teddy bear. A burly veteran, clad in blue flannel pajama pants, shares that he is open to talking about his struggles with mild PTSD. Event facilitator Adam Lippin smiles, greets guests, and moves through the crowd in white Adidas joggers, jeans, and a purple shirt. Soft jazz floats through the apartment, and the faint scent of feet lingers in the air.

December 15, 2017 - 12:54pm
The death of a pet once left owners to suffer in silence, but with a new understanding of a pet’s role in society, efforts are being made to recognize their grief and help them cope.

A Cornell University veterinary student rolls up the sleeves of her black fleece half-zip embossed with the school’s logo, and shoves her blonde hair into a lazy ponytail. She misses a lock of hair, but there’s no time to fix it. There is a call she has to take. She stretches out her thumb and pinky, and brings her imaginary phone to her ears. “You’ve reached the Pet Loss Support Hotline. What can I help you with today?” she says. “I’ve been having a really difficult time since my dog Sparky died from lung cancer last week,” says her caller. “I’ve been having trouble getting out of bed.

December 11, 2017 - 12:37pm
Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts hosted a Campus Cosplay Contest on Sunday, Dec. 10.

Toadette’s pink mushroom hat bobbed above the group’s heads, while the Night King from Game of Thrones chatted with Jack from Mass Effect. Captain Blade stood to their right, admiring his duct tape shield.

December 4, 2017 - 12:45am
Designer Kristina Shin explores the evolution and reception of the bra design with a fashion exhibit of 14 detailed lingerie designs. Her exhibit opens Monday at 5 p.m. at the Nancy Cantor Warehouse in downtown Syracuse.

Through the decades, the brassiere has evolved from the Victorian-age corset, to the padded Wonderbra and the glamorous sequin-encrusted bra.  Not only have these hidden undergarment designs symbolized control, but they have also encouraged feminism. Empowerment and freedom characterize the new scantily clad lingerie exhibit Cross Your Heart. Designer Kristina Shin will showcase the collection Dec. 4– Dec.

November 28, 2017 - 4:44pm
Check out these secret study spots around campus when you're scrounging for somewhere quiet to focus during finals week.

Finals week is here, and students flock to the usual spots to get their studying done. The couches at Panasci Lounge are great, but you risk procrastinating by people-watching or napping instead of cramming for that astronomy exam. Avoid the fight over outlets at “Club Bird"; the intimidating silence of Carnegie Library; and check out these lesser-known study spots on campus where you can actually get some work done. Good luck!

November 16, 2017 - 12:00am
Cosplayers from all over will attend Syracuse's retro video game-themed convention this weekend at the Oncenter, donning elaborate themed costumes.

In a posted Instagram photo, John Bass looks like a knight in 21st century armor ready to take on a supervillain. Black and silver metal plates cover him from head to toe, a fiery red light glows from his chest, two square-shaped hand cannons are on his wrists and another appears on the suit’s shoulder ready to fire Nerf darts. The costume is based on the Marvel Comics character War Machine, who appears in the Marvel Studios films and is portrayed by actor Don Cheadle.

October 27, 2017 - 12:53pm
Though church attendance continues to decline, many college students still believe in Jesus.

A tall grandfather clock ticks away beneath the high-ceilinged office in Hendricks Chapel. Reverend Brian Konkol, 38, sits in a leather lounge chair surrounded by a large couch, another chair, coffee table, stacks of paper and boxes of framed art that rest on the floor. Konkol, known for his plaid button-down dress shirts, bowties, large round-framed glasses, jazzy socks, and perfectly combed short brown hair, says the messy state of the room makes it feel like walking into open-heart surgery. But he has an excuse.

October 20, 2017 - 7:27pm
Channel the latest silver screen stars — from cute to creepy — for your costume this Halloween.

While everyone else dresses as cats and clowns, you’ll get major creativity points for thinking outside the box this Halloween. Inspired by some of the year’s biggest blockbusters, these simple costumes can be pulled together from whatever you have in your — or your friend’s — closet and made even better with a quick trip to CVS or a nearby Halloween store. Pick one for yourself or grab a friend to make it a group costume.

 

October 20, 2017 - 9:16am
See what the NewsHouse staff recommend in drinks to spice up Halloween.

Three lead producers joined for a night of competition in a nail-biting contest for the best Halloween-themed drink. Be sure to check out the video to discover the winner, and use the recipes below to make the drinks yourself — if you're 21, of course. The NewsHouse staff would like to remind everyone to drink responsibly.