Olivia Valdes's Page

I arrived at last Sunday's holiday festival - held at Coconut Creek's Promenade - unsure of what to expect, but excited, nonetheless. I expected a lot of little kids, which was of course true, but otherwise, I was absolutely unaware.

I was first put to work at the "Teddy Bear Hospital," a station at which kids were encouraged to walk up, dress one of the five or six stuffed bears in bandages and gauze, and take them to the back field to play. The thought was sweet, and the booth was popular (sa… Continue

The Buzz Bake Sale is a yearly event sponsored by The Buzz 103.1, the south Florida station known for being slightly more "alternative" than others. This year's lineup is destined to be a success, however, as it features a broader selection than just the stereotypical "alternative" set - so I'd recommend you give it a try!

Although the Buzz doesn't release a schedule of performers until the day of, the festival runs from 10 am to 11 pm, generally beginning with lesser known bands and leading up… Continue

Album leaks have become so commonplace that they’re almost expected. Instead of planning camp-outs at the CD store, we’re planning late night downloads.

Just this week, two of this year’s major pop artists, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, have had albums leak to the Internet. Convenient for fans, yes, but the releases have sparked debates about the ethics of these leaks.

Spreading your music with technology is a fantastic way for an artist to gain publicity. Once the entertainment blogs start talking,… Continue

As a sophomore in high school, I've never felt more proverbially "stuck in the middle." Each other year seems to come with a specific label, something to be remembered for, but 10th grade? The Forgotten Semesters.

Freshmen, the newcomers, stumble through the hallways, all awkwardness and nerves and broken rolling backpacks. Junior year is notorious for being the most difficult, at least academically, and it's not rare to realize that fifteen juniors have been missing for a week because they're… Continue

Spontaneity is a trait most teenagers hail as an essential virtue. Being up for anything, initiating random parties, jumping at the chance to drive three hours to Orlando in the middle of September - it's all part of high-school-dom, and rightly so. When else in our lives can we escape to a concert for a band we don't even know on a Wednesday night with all of our friends?

APs and IBs and SATs and ACTs and prep classes and tutoring sessions and band practices and club meetings and sports games… Continue