The best of last year’s lego sets, 125 years of DePaul and Dim Sum in Uptown
plus the end to the UIC faculty strike
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! It's your newsletter team — Kate, Billie, Citlali, Eiman, Faith, Lauren, Monique, Bridget and Emily — here with the news you need this cold Monday.
To all the Lego fans out there, 14 East Staff Writer/Lego employee Billie Rollason shares her top picks from Lego’s 2022 releases … or at least the sets that are still on the shelves. Plus, check out Chicago’s recognition of 125 years of DePaul and the details on the resolved UIC faculty strike.
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That’s all from me, let’s get into the newsletter!
The best of what’s left: Lego 2022
By Billie Rollason
The new year rings in with the release of around 130 new Lego sets. This hefty launch accompanies an already wide range of sets released in 2022 (and a bit beyond). Though, not every kit you see in stores right now will remain on the market for much longer.
As sets age further from their release, the less time they stay on the market. Some sets have remained on the market for over nine years, and others won’t last past a year. This is because Lego sets are made in a limited production cycle. Product retirement is generally a quiet process on Lego’s part, which means you might want to know what some of the best sets of last year were.
Well, the ones that are not yet sold out.
To provide transparency, I am a Lego employee … who LOVES Legos, but these opinions are all my own and are not affiliated with/or endorsed by the Lego Group.
Best set under $15 — Vespa 40517
This sweet red Vespa set was released March 2022, and is a personal favorite of mine. This love may stem from my obsession with the much larger blue Vespa 125.
At just $9.99, it’s a bargain. At least compared to the $99.99 Vespa 125 kit, or a $4.2k real-life Vespa.
Best set for ages >3 — Bath Time Fun: Floating Animal Train 10965
I love DUPLO bath toys because they are multi-functional. The Floating Animal Train kit in particular comes with a couple unique features. It comes with three different animal bricks which promote imaginative play-pretend, and floating discs that require a little bit of simple baby (or parent) assembly.
The addition of a rain cloud brick which is functional when run under water is a unique trait to this set, and will hopefully engage your little one during tub time.
Best floral set — Orchid 10331
Not all Lego flower sets are made equal but the Lego Orchid checks every box for me. This flower set is one of only four Lego Botanical kits which feature a pot (or stand) within its build.
This may seem like something all plant kits would contain, but a few do not. In my personal collection’s case, the sunflowers did not come with a pot or vase build; but neither do the rose or tulip kits.
Aside from the convenience of the featured pot, it is genuinely just a beautiful build. The orchids will never die and can be simply integrated into the decor you already have. The pink is eye-popping and it remains a set that I still need to get my hands on.
Personal Favorite — Motorized Lighthouse 21335
In true finale fashion, the best was saved for last — Lego’s latest Lighthouse kit! This set was released in September of 2022 and has been on my mind ever since. The Lighthouse build is targeted at the 18+ market, in reference to their skills at 2065 pieces. It is a great challenge, but definitely not a boring (very gray) one. In this set you will build not only the lighthouse, but also the lighthouse keeper's home. The interior of the lighthouse can also be opened and used as small playable levels.
The most exciting element being its unique spinning tower light, which was designed to emit a light similar to an actual Fresnel lens. This set is all around incredible, and an entertaining build with little surprises throughout … though I must warn you of its steep price of $299.99.
That just about wraps up my personal Lego suggestions, but don’t just panic buy! Hone in on what you really want, and from there take a peek at which product has been on the market longest. You might wanna go with that one.
Find what suits you, but don’t miss out on older kits and find yourself left with buyers remorse.
DePaul News
By Citlali Perez
January 25th is DePaul Day!
In honor of the university’s 125 anniversary, City Council declared January 25 Depaul Day. This city-wide recognition expands the celebration of 125 years to the rest of the Chicago community. Beginning January 23 the skyline will be lit in the DePaul colors – blue and red. DePaul has also partnered with the Chicago Park District to give away free ice skating sessions on the 25th. More information can be found here.
Blue Demon week
Can’t make it out to the ice rink? You are sure to find various things to do on campus for this year's Blue Demon Week. Stock up on DePaul-themed merch throughout the day on Tuesday, come through the Student center for the 4th annual Pasta Dinner on Wednesday and get ready to celebrate DIBS’ birthday on Thursday. Check out the list of activities here.
DePaul Newsmakers
According to Newsline, the DePaul News social media account will be featuring the contribution of faculty and staff who have written on important social topics. Keep an eye out for these spotlights or check out the list of op-eds here.
Finally, here is your weekend sports update (Jan. 21-22):
DePaul women’s basketball lost 81-72 to St. John’s on Saturday.
DePaul women’s tennis lost 0-7 against North Texas on Sunday.
DePaul men’s tennis won 5-2 against Princeton on Saturday.
Chicago Headlines
By Eiman Navaid
UIC faculty reach deal, end strike — The faculty union at the University of Illinois Chicago reached a deal with the university and ended their strike after multiple days. Each union member will receive an immediate $2500 raise, and a new contract is in the works. Mack Liederman and Colin Boyle of Block Club Chicago have the details.
Accomplice in Marlen Ochoa-Lopez case sentenced to four years in prison — The boyfriend of the woman, along with her daughter, who is accused of strangling 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez in 2019 and cutting her baby out of her womb was sentenced to four years in prison for obstruction of justice. The woman, Clarisa Figueroa, and her daughter, Desiree, were charged with murder and other felonies for their roles in the crime. Madeline Buckley of the Chicago Tribune has more on this story.
Old Navy closes flagship Downtown store —After 10 years in business, Old Navy is closing its flagship store on State Street. This move follows a number of retail stores closing in Chicago’s downtown area. The store will close on Tuesday, January 24. Melony Mercado of Block Club Chicago has the details.
Homeless people take shelter in O'hare —With the constant cold weather in Chicago, many homeless people take refuge in O'hare Airport to stay warm, with the numbers increasing every year as temperatures hit new lows. Adriana Pérez of the Chicago Tribune reports.
National Headlines
By Faith Hennig
Mass shooting on Lunar New Year – In Monterey Park, CA, a gunman opened fire in the Star Ballroom Dance studio on Saturday night during a Lunar New Year celebration. Eleven people were killed in this violent act, as of Monday, January 23, four of the 11 lives lost have been identified and are waiting for relatives to identify the others. Officials say My Nhan, Lilan Li, Xiujuan Yu and Valentino Alvero, were four of the lives lost in this attack, all of the victims were over 50. The suspect, Hu Cann Tran, 72, is said to have been motivated by “jealousy or some relationship issues,” officials say. Tran was found dead Sunday afternoon in a van in Torrance, CA, Tim Arango and others give multiple reports in the New York Times on this tragedy.
Disney World’s Splash Mountain officially closed –Disney World located in Orlando, FL has officially closed one of its most famous attractions, Splash Mountain. After the conversations that took place during the George Floyd protests, Disney decided they would close Splash Mountain due to its racist ties. The ride is based on the 1946 film, “Song of the South,” a movie that promotes racial stereotypes and takes place on a plantation. Over 21,000 people signed a petition to change the ride’s theme, leading Disney to close the ride for good on Monday, January 23. Splash Mountain will reopen as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in late 2024, more can be found about the history and the reopening of Splash Mountain from Kaitlyn Radde on NPR.
Baby formula under investigation –One of the largest baby formula plants in America recently closed due to contamination, along with a global supply chain issue has led to the worst formula shortage in history. Abbott Laboratories, the company that ran the Michigan plant, did reveal that it was under investigation. The FDA confirmed it found evidence of unsanitary conditions within the factory. “The FDA investigated reports that as many as nine children had died after consuming formula from the facility, although it could not definitively link the plant to the deaths,” states Madeline Halpert in the BBC News. More can be found in their article on the matter.
More classified documents found in Biden’s home –The FBI spent more than 12 hours at Biden’s Wilmington Delaware residence on Friday searching for more classified items which have been found. Items found dated back to Biden’s time during his run as a senator, as well as his time as vice president under the Obama Administration. Handwritten notes by the President are under review as well. It has been confirmed that this is a consensual search executed by the FBI, all parties are giving the Justice Department full access to these documents. Biden has been adamant about the matter, stating that he has “no regrets”, Biden tells reporters, "I think you're going to find there's nothing there.” NPR’s Scott Detrow speaks more about this here.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Lauren Sheperd
Hello and happy Lunar New Year! Welcome to the year of the rabbit. Today, I have a recommendation that will take you up north to the Uptown neighborhood. Furama Restaurant is just a block from the Argyle Red Line stop and offers Dim Sum meals daily. I went to Furama back in November and need to go again.
According to their website, Furama is recognized as one of the 16 best Dim Sum restaurants in America in Time Out Magazine. Furama has been a staple in Uptown since 1985, and is committed to serving “authentic Chinese cuisine and Dim Sum.” Going to Furama was my first experience with Dim Sum and it was incredible. Dim Sum is a great choice for when you’re not sure exactly what you want or if Chinese cuisine is new to you. Rather than looking at a menu and placing an order for just one dish, servers walk around the restaurant offering tastes of different dishes from all different courses. During lunch, I was able to try more dishes than I can remember to count.
Not having to choose is just one great aspect of Dim Sum in general, especially for indecisive people. However, Furama went above and beyond with their options. I consider Chinese food my comfort food, so it was incredible to get so many options I had never seen before such as BBQ pork bun. However, these options were mixed in with some of my favorites like the pork and peanut dumpling. You can find a full list of Furama’s Dim Sum menu here.
It’s most important to share a Dim Sum meal with a group of friends or family. So the next time you’re looking to try new foods with friends, go to Furama!
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team