Libby Bondi

Recent Work

Mason Bioengineering Team Wins 3rd Annual National Design Competition | Fourth Estate

BY LIBBY BONDI, STAFF WRITER
George Mason University’s bioengineering senior design team took first place at the third annual Project S.E.R.V.E. national design competition, beating host Virginia Tech with a device designed to help Paralympic athletes compete in extreme cold.
The team, comprised of seniors Jacob Lockey, Aidan Zentner, Leah Werme and Subhi Mekki, is known as “Team 4Ward.” They developed a residual limb warming device for Dan Rizzieri, a double below-the-knee amputee who specializ...

Mason Day 2026: What to Expect | Fourth Estate

BY LIBBY BONDI, STAFF WRITER
UPDATE (Friday, April 24 at 12:20 p.m.): JT from the City Girls has replaced Waka Flocka Flame as the Mason Day concert headliner.
Mason Day, one of the university’s longest-running traditions, will return on Friday, April 24 with past favorites, new additions and a continued focus on student experience. 
For many Mason students,  the university’s end-of-year celebration is the highlight of the spring semester. Running from 3 to 10 p.m. with free entry for all Mason...
Fourth Estate •

Layered Cafe Makes Art Sweet | Fourth Estate

BY LIBBY BONDI, STAFF WRITER
Tucked beside the Fairfax City Regional Library, Layered feels less like a quick coffee stop and more like a curated experience. With its glossy, fruit-shaped desserts and crafted drinks, the cafe has quickly become one of downtown Fairfax’s hottest destinations.
The cafe was established in July of last year, slowly making a name for itself through social media. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., it caters to both early-morning coffee runs and late-night dessert cravi...
Medium •

Anime: Taking the Box Office by Storm

In a rising trend, anime movies and adaptations are taking over the box office. Anime, a Japanese animation style that is known for it’s high-intensity action and cultural themes, has moved past niche fandoms into mainstream cinemas. In the past three years, anime films have broken international records, rivaling major Hollywood releases.Jujutsu KaisenOne of the franchises fueling this surge is Jujutsu Kaisen, a newer shōnen type series that has quickly gained traction among Gen Z audiences. The...
Medium •

Stranger Things Season 5: Is Eddie Munson really dead?

Eddie Munson, D&D dungeon master and nerd enthusiast , proved to be a fan favorite in this latest season of Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things. From his dramatic entrance, to Eddie’s classic one liners, his presence gave the dark plot of season 4 a lighter mood. His last scene on screen shows him sacrificing himself against demo-bats in the fight to stop Vecna and dying in poor Dustin’s arms. But is he really dead? Many film analysts and writers will tell you his chances of coming back to the sh...
Medium •

Stranger Things Season 5: Is Eddie Munson really dead?

Eddie Munson, D&D dungeon master and nerd enthusiast , proved to be a fan favorite in this latest season of Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things. From his dramatic entrance, to Eddie’s classic one liners, his presence gave the dark plot of season 4 a lighter mood. His last scene on screen shows him sacrificing himself against demo-bats in the fight to stop Vecna and dying in poor Dustin’s arms. But is he really dead? Many film analysts and writers will tell you his chances of coming back to the sh...
LoudounNow.com •

20th Anniversary Revue: Pickwick Players Celebrates 2 Decades of Community Theater

The curtain is rising once again for the Pickwick Players this weekend, as the community theater troupe celebrates two decades of performances. They will present their 20th Anniversary Revue tonight and tomorrow at Capital Community Church in Ashburn.Founded in 2005, the Pickwick Players began with a mission to bring Loudoun’s young theater community together on one stage. The group has long been dedicated to creating a fun and supportive space where young performers can get their start. That's...
LoudounNow.com •

Middleburg Film Festival Returns with the Top Film Projects of 2025

The 13th annual Middleburg Film Festival is bringing the hottest trends in film to Virginia’s hunt country this weekend. The festival’s schedule is packed with award contenders, upcoming projects, and events that add to the cinematic experience.The festival begins today with three pre-opener films and a showing of Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” starring George Clooney, at 7 p.m. The film’s casting directors Douglas Aibel and Nina Gold will received the festival’s inaugural Ensemble and Casting Awa...
LoudounNow.com •

LoCo Wine Festival returns to Old Farm Winery This Weekend

The LoCo Wine Festival returns to Old Farm Winery at Hartland in Aldie this weekend, showcasing more than a dozen wineries for two afternoons of wine, food, and live music. Festivalgoers will receive a custom wine glass and tasting pass with admission, allowing them to sample wines from across Loudoun, from long-established vineyards like Willowcroft to newer players like Good Spirit Farm. Glasses, bottles, and even cases will be available for purchase, alongside food trucks, artisan vendors, an...
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