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About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2010)
June 14 Ixtapa offers delectable, authentic Mexican flavor M ary W ood _________________ Mexican inspired art, decorative archways and private booths at Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant in the Willamette area set the mood for the tasty, filling food. The restaurant is very clean, and the servers are friendly. When you sit down to order, they bring you a basket of chips and spicy salsa, but don't fill up on that— the entrees are huge! Although I went during lunch, when there are fewer options, there were still plenty of delicious, hearty choices available at a good price. For the full experience it might be best to go during dinner, even though meals are a bit more expensive then. At lunch you can expect to order a satisfying dish for less than $10, while at dinner it can jump up to $15 or so, depending on your choice. I ordered an Ixtapa burrito, which is basically their version of a wet burrito. It's filled with beans, rice and your choice of meat and then topped with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole. Though impossible to finish if you've been munching on chips, it's definitely a satisfying and tasty option. My mom ordered the Ixtapa special, which is an appetizer of ten mini- burritos filled with chicken or beef that have been deep fried. I sampled some, and they were very good. However, anything that's deep fried is usually good, so it's hard to tell if it was the food or the oil. When it comes to vegetarian options, there are few dishes that lack meat. However, it may be possible to ask for the meat to be removed. As far as beverages are concerned, Ixtapa has all the typical soda fountain beverages, plus other favorites like strawberry lemonade. They offer bottled Mexican sodas in a variety of flavors and horchata, a Mexican rice drink. My only complaint about the restaurant was with the service toward the end of the experience. When the server brought the bill, it took a long time for him to collect my mom's debit card. In fact, my mom had to ask another server to take it and bring it to our server. Once he had it, he took a long time to return, even wandering around to other tables with the card in his hand. This made my mom uncomfortable, and even though nothing happened as a result, it might be best to come with cash, especially if you're in a rush. Overall, though, the experience was enjoyable, and I would recommend the restaurant to others. If you're looking for some hearty Mexican food close to home, Ixtapa is a safe bet that will leave you full and happy. and unbelievable characters. The seemingly unconnected events and places that manage to come together in the novel will keep anyone entertained. A lighthearted read, this book is great for when life becomes too serious and you need a reminder to relax. "Gone Tomorrow" by Lee Child This is the ultimate novel for the action lover. Sitting on the edge of your seat is practically required for this story. A thriller that will keep you guessing, "Gone Tomorrow" has cars blowing up, people dying, and a multitude of weapons that ensure the reader doesn't fall asleep while reading. This novel is less heartwarming and more action for sure. publishing her work. She describes her work as a book that helps one leam how to react to and treat other people. "It is mostly about my past and the sad things that happened when I came to America," Yang said. "But it's also about learning what life is and how to deal with the world." Photo by Libby Kara Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant in the Willamette area, offers a pleasant atmosphere and flavorful food at both lunch and dinner. The menu includes favorites like burritos and tacos, as well as beverages such as Mexican sodas and horchata, a rice drink. Choosing books made easier, entertaining for all A lison F ieldhouse Need a good read? Often, people rarely know what is good to read and what isn't. In these last few busy months of the school year, students don't have time to browse book after book to find something they would be interested in reading. I recommend one of the novels below. These are sure to appeal to all different readers with different tastes. Whether its humor, action, love or friendship, there is a book for everyone. "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen This story of a traveling circus is sure to captivate anyone with its intriguing plot and developed characters. The magic of the circus and the behind-the-scenes look that this book gives the reader is one of a kind and great for reading in those few minutes that a person can spare. This * a book will appeal to men and women alike; the action of the circus will keep the interest of the men while the love story folded into the plot will keep women entertained. "Last Days of Summer" by Steve Kluger What makes this novel a standout is the fact that it is written through letters, signs, emails, and other random notes. This is not your traditional book, seeing as it is not written in traditional prose. The tale of a young boy and the bond he forms with a professional baseball player is both heartwarming and a fun read. ♦ | "Lucky You" . by Carl Hiaasen Almost everyone is familiar with this author's book "Hoot." Surprise! He also writes adult fiction as well as children's fiction. Hiaasen fills this novel with hilarity Cedaroak Alumni . , • i? l I you create an animal mask with Kaaren Pixton mssm - in 2002 2003? he iUxarv at Cedaroak F a it Primary School is being remodeled md the masks that adorn its walls need to be taken down. Pick up vour mask from the Cedaroak library during the week of June 1 % from a 4 p m H you are interested m more information please (>73-7100 Yang publishes self-help book about life L exi W elp Just 15-years-old, Nikki Yang, freshman, has written and published a self-help book based on her own experiences in life. The book, titled, "Where Is My Happiness?" deals with Yang's journey from China to America five years ago. The book is currently available for purchase at Amazon, Borders and Bames & Noble and is selling for $20. "A lot of my friends told me I write really depressing stories, and they said I needed to publish them, so I took their advice," Yang said. In order to publish her work, Yang signed up with a publishing company online, Xlibris. They then matched Yang with an agent. She sent a chapter to her agent every day, and sometimes twice a day. This allowed Yang's book to be published on a quicker time frame than if she had opted to send one chapter a week. "I started writing my book one to three months ago," Yang said. The book was published in April. Yang lives with her 8-year- old sister, Emily, and her parents, Joelle and Yong Xiong. Yang's entire family supported her throughout the process of Photo by Libby Kara Nikki Yang, freshman, looks over a copy of her self-help book, "Where is My Happiness?” The book was published in April and is available for purchase for $20 at Amazon, Borders and Bames & Noble.
