On the show Cupcake Wars, bakers participate weekly face-offs based on cupcake presentation and taste.

Each week, cupcake decorators go head to head on Cupcake Wars, a show about tasty competition on the Food Network. Four renowned cupcake bakers face off in three challenges, until only one sweet victor remains. The winner receives $10,000 and the opportunity to display their cupcakes at a large event. Justin Wilman hosts the show and Candace Nelson and Florian Bellanger serve as judges. Each week, a third guest judge is also present.

Competitors battle it out in taste and decoration challenges, often coming up with imaginative new recipes. Carpenters assist the top two competitors in building large displays of 1000 cupcakes each. The cupcakes are scored based on taste, decoration, and display. I love watching this show because the competitors come up with the craziest recipes incorporating ingredients that are normally unheard of when making cupcakes.

Some shows, like Two and a Half Men, should have ended after the first few seasons.

There are many shows that we watch and say, “Why didn’t you end four seasons ago?” These shows include 90210, Pretty Little Liars, Lost, Two and a Half Men, Grey’s Anatomy, Glee and Gossip Girl. These shows began great and entertaining, but unfortunately the writers didn’t know when it was time to call it quits. We started out loving them but ended up despising them. These shows seem never ending due to their inability to please audiences. Hopefully future writers will learn from others’ past mistakes and create the series finale while people still want to watch it.

Photo CC: Jamie Luther

“[The ice cream social] was a great opportunity to introduce the coming year and start us off on the right track with our new season,” junior Percussion Captain Jacob Hardman said.

Photos by Laura Rey, Photo Manager

In the season finale of How I Met Your Mother, viewers finally met the mother.

After eight long seasons of waiting, we’ve finally met the mother. That’s right – Ted Mosby’s awkwardly detailed, eight-year-long story is finally coming to a close. The season finale last Monday gave viewers a first look at the mother, complete with her trademarked yellow umbrella. The actress is Cristin Milioti, who is known for her Tony-nominated performance in Once, as well as her appearances on shows such as 30 Rock and The Good Wife. I think that she lives up to everything we were expecting, and I’m excited to see more of her interactions in the show.

Photo CC: kwintin

The final scores were Westhill 94, Ridgefield 5 and Staples 125, Westhill 25.

This year Alive@Five features an impressive list of performers such as The Wallflowers, Michael McDonald, Poison Front Man, and Bret Michaels. Other acts include The Mavericks, Ryan Cabrera, Wynonna & the Big Noise, Matt Nathanson, and Howie Day.

One of the most anticipated acts is The Wallflowers, a rock band from Los Angeles, California, which was originally known as The Apples. They have released a total of six studio albums and have also had a variety of songs featured on television and movie soundtracks. In addition, this group has proved themselves by winning two Grammy awards for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Song (for their song “One Headlight” in 1998). The members include Jakob Dylan, Rami Jaffee, Greg Richling, Stuart Mathis and Jack Irons. They will be playing on June 20 on the Heineken Light Stage, so make sure you make The Wallflowers one of your must-sees at Alive@Five this summer!

Other notable performers are Matthew Nathanson, known for his hit “Come On Get Higher,” Bret Michaels from Poison, and Ryan Cabrera with his hit single, “On The Way Down.”

Whatever your summer plans include, you may want to consider heading to Stamford Downtown to enjoy an atmosphere full of life and great music. Below is the set list for this year’s Alive@Five series.

June 20- The Wallflowers

June 27- The Mavericks

July 11- Ryan Cabrera

July 18- Wynonna & The Big Noise

July 25- Bret Michaels

August 1- Matt Nathanson

August 8- Howie Day

August 15- Michael McDonald