Prom proves to be a true Polynesian paradise

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Students were blown away by the effort put forth at this year’s prom. The “Polynesian paradise” took place at the Embassy Suites in Cary on Saturday night.

“My favorite part of prom was by far the people and the scenery. Those things combined really made the night feel alive,” said senior Jake Wnuk. The prom committee went as far as to bring a van into the venue and placed pineapples on every table, which attendees enjoyed taking home after prom.

Plausible post prom parties

Natalia Ghan
Staff Writer

If you don’t want your prom night to end at midnight, here are some fun and safe after prom ideas. 

Bonfire - A great way to get to know your friends better is to have a bonfire. Roasting marshmallows, playing guitar, and telling ghost stories with friends who supported you through high school will make for a fun night.
  
Bowling - Bowling is a game that a large group of people can play, is relatively inexpensive, and something most people know how to do. Conveniently, midnight munchies can be overcome by the nearby concession stand.

What to do instead of prom

Natalia Ghan & Maya Horton
Staff Writer

If prom isn’t your ideal way of celebrating the end of another educational year, here are some alternatives that offer just as much (and sometimes even more) fun than you would find at prom.

Go Camping- Putting yourself in the middle of the wilderness with your friends is a great idea if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience. However, you might want to make sure you have a certified scout with you, or someone comfortable with fire safety precautions.

Hike - Strap on a pair of Chaco’s with wool socks and take a breath of spring air whistling between trees and flowers.  Exercise and meditative all in one, great memories, photos and likely more than a few ticks to bring back home with you.

All about corsages and boutonnieres

Natalia Ghan
Staff Writer

Prom season is coming up and corsages/boutonnieres are a tradition no one wants to miss out on. Flowers have been a popular accessory for formal occasions since the ancient Greeks, who believed floral accessories to not only be decorative, but also powerful tools in warding off evil spirits. Throughout history they have also been utilized as a natural deodorizer and can provide for an aroma to go with the night.

Ask Apex: Prom preferences

Kenison Garratt & Jo Gatlin
Staff Writers

Apex High students have begun their meticulous preparations for this year’s prom scheduled for May 2. This year’s prom theme will be Polynesian Paradise, and tickets will be available for sale and pickup April 20 to 24 during lunch and after school until 3 p.m. But aside from tickets, students have been planning their outfits and their evenings. The results of a recently conducted poll reveal the students prom preferences. 

Potato "promposal" mashes the competition

Adam Mancini & Zane Muzzillo
Staff Writers

Apex High senior Nick Fowler has clinched victory in the “promposal” contest. Fowler asked Andrea Gorcynzski by carving the word prom into a potato. “It was my first try, it took like three minutes,” Fowler explained. The post began to gain attention immediately, reaching 400 (each favorite counts as a vote) favorites in less than a day.

“I don’t understand why this happened. I don’t think anyone really knows why it happened,” Fowler said in reaction to the popularity of his proposal. The young potato whittler was never in it for the fame or the victory. “I didn’t do it for the favorites. I did it for her. I won when she said yes,” said Fowler. The contest ended Monday night, with Fowler’s post standing at 950 favorites, compared to the second place post with 409 favorites. Fowler and Gorcynzski will win free tickets to prom as a result of their first place finish. 

Restaurant guide for prom night

Alexandria Sands & Maya Horton
Arts & Entertainment Editor & Staff Writer

It’s time to start making dinner reservations for prom night, but first you need to decide where you’re going to eat. Do you want Italian, Japanese, or American? Do you want an over-the-top atmosphere or a more casual vibe? We have a guide for the best places to eat in a half-hour radius of the prom venue.

Italian

Daniel’s Restaurant & Catering in Apex serves all the Italian cuisine you could ask for. Pizza, ravioli, pasta, and seafood are just some of the choices. Prices range from $10 to $20. The inside is cozy while the outside features an alluring patio and fountain.

Prom dress shopping guide

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Prom is sneaking up on us and girls are on the hunt for that one dress. Here are some of the hottest trends. The following dresses can be found at the following locations: Chique Prom, An Affair to Remember Bridal & Formal Wear, Jewel’s Formal, Kannon’s, and Kristina’s:

If you want to be the topic of conversation…

Two piece prom dresses are a new, unique trend this season. Above is a fun, an elegant, and a romantic example.

Prom committee announces theme

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

The Apex High Prom Twitter account announced that the 2015 prom theme will be “Polynesian Paradise.” Prom will be held May 2 at the Embassy Suites in Cary, from 8 p.m. to midnight.

“The reason we chose Polynesian Paradise is because it is a super fun theme with a bunch of really awesome decorations,” said senior prom committee member, Jennifer Friedler. “I feel like it pleases most people because who doesn't want to go to like a luau?”

The committee has announced there will be free, unlimited snowballs provided by Pelican’s Snoballs. Students will also be able to send their music requests to the DJ via text message.

Was it a fairytale kind of night?

Sarah Kebea and Grace Fendrick

Prom King Austin Kirley and Queen Kelsey Mason
share their first dance as royalty 

Arts and Entertainment Editor & Staff Writer 

Prom, according to the attendees, was a huge success.  All the attendees favored different parts of the prom, including the decorations, that “fit the theme” according to senior Nathalie Macaleer. You walked in and you felt like you were really in wonderland. Of course there had to be a prom king and queen, senior Austin Kirley, the 2014 prom king, described his crowning as “regal” and the night as “blissful”.  Check out Kirley’s Twitter campaign, run by friends of his, @Kirley4King (the Twitter name recently changed to Kirely is King, in honor of his win, of course).

Prom Hair and Makeup Ideas

Caroline Gadsby
Staff Writer

Are you still in need of hair and makeup ideas for prom?  Well look no further!

To make the half updo shown here, follow the instructions below:

      1.) Section hair and curl it. 

            2.) Braid front sections of hair on both sides. 

          3.)  Lastly, secure the braids in the back with bobby pins.  

    It’s as easy as that!

Here’s the Before and After: 

And the back and side views:

To show your eyes off for prom, use these eye shadows to brighten your eyes:

Blue eyes:  For blue eyes, choose dark blue (the dark blue tones can help to bring out the natural blue tones in your eyes), gray, silver, violet or lavender as well as intense winged eyeliner.

Brown eyes:  Brown eyes can try green, violet or bronze colored eye shadows.  Experiment by pairing neutral shadow with metallic eyeliner in copper or bronze for evening.

Green/Hazel eyes:  For green eyes, choose color tones such as dark green, lavender, purple, plum or lilac. Gold and copper are great for highlighting green eyes. For eyeliner, it is best to avoid black and to choose browns or gray, which are much softer and not so harsh. A general rule of thumb for green eyes is to choose warm shades vs. cooler shades. Choose mascara in a brown tone as well so the face does not look harsh or overpowered.

You're late, you're late for a very important date!

Grace Fendrick
Staff Writer

Prom is on Saturday, May 3 and some of you have not bought your tickets yet! Tickets are being sold for $45 each in the main lobby during all lunches and afterschool until Friday. Online ticket sales end Thursday, and you must pick up your tickets before Friday in the main lobby. The last thing you want is to show up and not have your ticket, because tickets are not being sold at prom. 

Don’t be too late for this very important date!

#ThrowbackThursday: Prom Edition

Grace Fendrick 
Staff Writer

With all the stresses of high school, we often forget that the people around us, our parents and teachers, all got through it at one point. Here is some proof: their prom pictures. Some of the Apex High School faculty submitted their prom photos; did you guess correctly?

The Ladies:

1.   Jenny Holt   

2.   Tori Fuhrman

3.   Emily Regan

4.   Gina Winter 

5.   Megan Fackler-Bretz

6.   Kelley Simpson

       7.   Erica Hoskins

The Gentlemen:

                             8. Chris Stapleton                                     9. Matt Wight

Prom Minus the Price

Grace Fendrick 
Staff Writer

     Prom is coming up and if you haven’t found your perfect prom dress yet, we might be able to help you out:

This short length prom dress has a flowy feel without being a full-length gown. Uptown Cheapskate in Beaver Creek had it for only $15.99. To add some color, wear bright heels like this hot pink pair, also from Uptown Cheapskate for only $9.78.

This deep blue dress with jeweled detailing was earlier a part of Beaver Creek’s Uptown Cheapskate’s merchandise, before it was bought for only $23.37 according to their Facebook page.

This short coral dress has a jeweled bodice. You won’t have to worry about tripping on your dress, making this a great choice for the dance floor. Uptown Cheapskate in Beaver Creek had it at only $59.99.

Even princess-style gowns can be found when thrift shopping. The Beaver Creek Uptown Cheapskate Facebook posted this fuschia colored dress with a detailed bodice. It was only $69.99.

This gorgeous open-back gown is sure to make you look like a princess. The beading and fabric give off a very elegant look. It’s only $79.99 at Apex’s Uptown Cheapskate.

Instead of a little black dress, how about a long black dress?  The loose belt and unique detailing keeps the dress from looking church-like.  Adding the gold-sparkled John Madden heels keeps it sophisticated yet fun. Find them both at the Apex Uptown Cheapskate, the dress for $89.99, and the shoes for $17.99.  

This dress has a halter top, a neckline rarely seen on prom dresses today.  A gold brooch ties the dress together.  Find it at the Apex Uptown Cheapskate for $59.99.  

 When you think of prom dresses, earthy tones may not be what you’re looking for, but this one is sure to change your mind! The high-low skirt, as well as the neckline, will help to accentuate your body. Pair it with these Charlotte Russe heels for pop of sparkle. Both of these can be found Uptown Cheapskate; the dress is $23.99, and the heels are $14.99. You will not only look amazing but feel amazing too.

     When shopping for your dress, remember that prom is a school function, and your attire must be appropriate. “We realize it is a special event… We have in the past had to draw the line when clothing is too revealing,” said Principal Matthew Wight when asked about the dress code. If a student is in violation she will be asked to correct it; if she refuses the student can be denied entrance, Wight stated, “We try to be as reasonable as we can.”  

Pictures by: Sarah Hirst and Grace Fendrick 

Prom do's and don'ts

Michael Lyday
Editor-in-Chief

With prom only a month away and closing in fast, many people are unsure as to how to approach it. Here are a couple of tips on what to do when it comes to prom:

The Apex Prom Shoppe

If you know someone who is not able to afford a prom dress/ prom accessories send them to the Apex Prom Shoppe!  The Apex Prom Shoppe will be held at the Apex United Methodist Church and Meredith College on Friday, March 28, 2014 from 2:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.  

Prom Alternatives

Sarah Kebea 
Arts and Entertainment Editor 

If you aren’t going to Prom this year, don’t sit around and eat ice cream, go out and do something!  Below are some fun ideas you can either do with a group or alone on Prom Night:

• ·         Go out to eat: Remember to wait until after Prom starts, and it shouldn’t be as busy.
• ·         Catch a movie: The long awaited sequel of The Amazing Spider-Man comes out the night before Prom night, on May 2.  The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will feature Peter Parker battling super villains, sent by Oscorp, while trying to keep his relationships intact.  Another movie coming out close to Prom night is Brick Mansions, based in dystopian Detroit, brick mansions are home to dangerous drug lords.  The movie is also the final fully completed film starring Paul Walker, who plays Damien Collier, an undercover cop in the film.  Brick Mansions comes out April 25. 
• ·         Go bowling: Buffalo Lanes in Cary offers a price of $4.50 a game from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Saturday night.  But if you get there at 10:30 p.m., you can bowl as much as you want for $10 a person until 1:00 a.m., when Buffalo Lanes closes. 
• ·         Go late night golfing: Knight’s Play Golf Center is offering green fees for nine holes at $10 with a golf cart rental of $5 and a green fee for eighteen holes at $15 with a golf cart rental of $10.  If you’re not up to going on the course, go to the driving range and practice your line drives until midnight.
• ·         Go to a concert: Philadelphia rockers Daryl Hall and John Oates (Hall & Oates) will be at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre starting at 7:00 p.m. on Prom night.  Tickets are on sale now starting at $69.  Classic rock not your style?  Shame on you. 
• ·         Take the SAT: What a great excuse, right?  “Guys I can’t go to Prom because I’m going to be exhausted from the SAT”, but in reality you’ll be sitting around, eating junk, and watching American Horror Story, perfect. 

Skipping out on Prom doesn’t mean you’re missing all the fun, so don’t sit around and cry because you couldn’t find a date, go out and make some memories, stay safe, and watch out for couples.  

Tweet your Promposal

Marley Shattuck
Staff Writer

Prom season is nearing, which means Promposals are coming in full force. Apex High is hosting the very first Promposal contest on Twitter. The Apex Prom Twitter account is tweeting Promposals and the winner will be determined by the number of favorites each tweet receives. The winner will win an Angus Barn gift card to take their date out for a nice dinner before Prom on Saturday, May 3. If you’re planning on entering, tweet the Prom Committee at @ApexProm, or e-mail them at apexprom2014@gmail.com. The deadline to submit is April 18. Get creative with your Promposal this year! Apex students have been demonstrating clever ways of asking a date to Prom. Sophomore Grace Fendrick was asked by her boyfriend Michael Donahue at her 16^th birthday party. He gave her a photo album of their pictures and then surprised her with a huge sign asking her to Prom.  Another student, Senior Austin Pisacane, led the student section to spell out Prom at the state championship basketball game, asking his girlfriend Sarah Arbes. Check out the Apex Prom Twitter account for some potential ideas, and remember that Prom will be here before you know it!

Guys vs. Girls: Prom to-do lists

Casey Nash
Staff Writer

People often make a big deal out of prom, and an even bigger deal out of getting ready for it. Both guys and girls have a lot of things to do to prepare for prom night.

Prom: the pros and cons

Casey Nash & John Santos

Staff Writer and News Editor

PROS (Nash):

Prom is THE night to remember. Whenever thinking back on high school, many remember their prom; it’s a rite of passage in a teenager’s life.

Dressing Up:

Everyone wants to look like a prince or princess, to get out of everyday clothes and to dress to the nines.

Friends:

You get to spend an entire night with all of your friends. You get to dance and have a ball, out of the ordinary “hang out” like simple movie nights or going to dinner and in a completely new element. You get to do something extravagant rather than your everyday run of the mill activities. 

Dancing:

Prom is all about the dancing. It doesn’t matter if you can barely keep time or if you are a professional break dancer, you can still get out on the dance floor and enjoy everything prom has to offer.