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Laya Neelakandan

Laya Neelakandan, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Laya is a Medill freshman from Baltimore, MD, studying journalism and sociology with a minor in music. She currently serves as the Arts & Entertainment Editor and also reports for the city desk. In the winter, she was Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor. Outside of The Daily, Laya dances for Northwestern Raas. You can reach her via email or Twitter.

All content by Laya Neelakandan
A man and a woman lean on the railing of a porch of an apartment, looking out into the city at sunset. There is a bridge in the background.

Students get exclusive early screening of “In the Heights” film adaptation

June 11, 2021
The Rock has layers of chipped paint laying on the ground on the left side.

Students chip away paint on The Rock, “Free Palestine” messages left intact

May 28, 2021
A pencil drawing of a Kenyan woman. She wears colorful beads around her neck and a colorful headband, but the rest of the drawing is black and white. Her hand sits in front of her mouth holding a stick.

Evanston Made to showcase local artists in annual art exhibit

May 25, 2021
A sideways microphone with a wire is in the center. Surrounding the mic are purple musical notes.

A year into virtual performances, students reflect on original music projects

May 18, 2021
Tayari Jones, wearing a black top, is on the left, and multiple copies of her book, “An American Marriage,” are featured on the right. The background is an ombre from orange to blue from left to right.

Award-winning author Tayari Jones talks race, marriage and incarceration in Leon Forrest Lecture Series

May 11, 2021
A children’s book cover. A young Black girl with braided hair, colorful beads and a pink shirt looks at other children in the background playing in a park. She has a thought bubble which reads, “I hope they understand.”

Evanston resident publishes children’s book celebrating racial and cultural diversity

May 11, 2021
A painting of a Burmese monk looking straight at the audience and wearing orange cloth. The background has a blue sky and green hills.

Q&A: Artist Matt Braun talks latest exhibition, “For Burma, With Love,” supporting Myanmar’s Civil Disobedience Movement

May 3, 2021
Several people stand several feet apart on the grass in front of Lake Michigan at sunset. They are holding large black megaphones with lights on the outer rim.

Bienen hosts first in-person, walk-through performance on the Lakefill in over a year

April 27, 2021
A brown scroll of papyrus with branches on the top and bottom. The ink on the papyrus creates a circle design. Below, there are various hanging objects.

Local artist, educator, community activist and art therapist Melissa Raman Molitor creates space to uplift work by APIDA artists

April 21, 2021
A man in the background behind the counter of a restaurant uses his phone, while another prepares a plate. To the right, one customer eats. There are red booths and red and orange hanging lights.

NU alumna Woojae Julia Song captures immigrant-owned restaurants during the pandemic

April 21, 2021
On a pink and orange ombre background, four figures dance. From left to right, there is a yellow modern dancer, a blue ballerina, a green hip hop dancer and a teal modern dancer mid-leap.

Members of Dancers Amplified, network of dancers striving for inclusivity, discuss equality in the industry

April 12, 2021
A picture of a Zoom screen with speakers on the right side and a slide deck on the left side. The slide, with a red banner at the top reading “Contemporary Composers,” lists names of Black art song composers.

Bienen event highlights importance of studying and performing Black art songs

April 7, 2021
A blue circle graphic, which reads “Soul4Real Presents Hard Times 4 Real April 3, 2021 | 8PM CST.”

“Hard Times 4 Real”: Soul4Real’s first concert since the pandemic’s onset

April 1, 2021
A wide shot of a colorful jewelry store, with color-coordinated beads hanging in the back.

Q&A: Ayla’s Originals boutique co-owner talks pandemic pivots, future plans

March 31, 2021
A pair of folded blue jeans on top of a tan canvas bag, both with rainbows and hearts sewn on.

Artist and shop owner Barbara Ruiz talks upcycling, sustainability in fashion

March 9, 2021
(Left to right) Ari Lennox, posing in a photoshoot. Druski posed with a funny gesture toward the camera. Up close of J.I.D. singing while at a concert. Text reads: “A&O Productions presents Ari Lennox, J.I.D., Druski March 11 8 pm CT.”

A&O to virtually host Ari Lennox, J.I.D. and Druski on March 11

March 4, 2021
Sticks wrapped in colorful yarn are tied together with blue-dipped corks hanging beneath them on strings. There is snow in the background.

Evanston youth create art project entitled “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

March 2, 2021
Dr. Murphy in a tan suit and tie mid-sentence. He is sitting in a church.

YoFresh Yogurt Cafe’s Larry Murphy featured in PBS documentary on the Black church

March 1, 2021
A colorful book opens with “Storytime” written in white lettering over it; there is a bookshelf in the back.

Children turning into apples: Imagine U Storytime’s latest installment

February 23, 2021
Owner of TaKorea Cocina and Founder of West Town Feeds Robert Magiet with a local street vendor. Over the last few weeks, Magiet has been buying out local vendors and donating the food to people experiencing food insecurity.

Local business owner buys out street vendors, donates food to community fridges

February 18, 2021
One of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre’s lectures by Associate Artistic Director Bria Walker analyzing the life and work of playwright Ntozake Shange.

Bria Walker discusses work, legacy of playwright Ntozake Shange

February 17, 2021
The New Tradition Chorus sings one of their Virtual Singing Valentines.

The New Tradition Chorus serenades loved ones with Virtual Singing Valentines

February 16, 2021
Liana Wallace. An ETHS alumna, Wallace is known for her spoken word poetry.

“Poetry disarms people”: ETHS grad Liana Wallace on her spoken word poetry

February 11, 2021
Evanston Made’s show of emerging Black artists at Backlot Coffee in February. This month, Evanston Made is highlighting local Black artists and their work through their Black Art Drive.

Evanston Made highlights Black artists during Black History Month

February 10, 2021
Monique B. Jones, president and CEO of Forefront. Jones is this year’s recipient of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Person of the Year Award.

Evanston Chamber of Commerce awards Monique B. Jones the Nonprofit Person of the Year Award

February 5, 2021
Some Evanston/Skokie School District 65 parents have been looking for tutors to supplement their children’s education during online learning, but tutoring is not an option for everyone.

As some D65 students lean on tutors during online school, access could widen the achievement gap

February 4, 2021
Opera Projects for University Singers’ first audiobook, “Hansel and Gretel.” The audiobook was released in Dec. 2020 and was entirely student-run.

Opera Projects for University Singers releases first-ever audiobook to raise awareness around food insecurity

February 2, 2021
A scene from last year’s Cardboard Carnival. This year’s virtual program centers around building a marble run, and the deadline to submit a video is Mar. 6.

Cardboard Carnival: Marble Adventure Edition STEM challenge launches for Evanston youth, focus on underrepresented groups

January 27, 2021
Five young Evanstonians discussed racism and MLK Day during a panel Monday night.

Panelists discuss racism, significance of this year’s MLK Day

January 19, 2021
The exterior of the Hilton/Orrington Evanston.

Students scramble after Hilton Orrington/Evanston closed weeks before Northwestern move-in

January 14, 2021
Natasha Sondakh (SESP ’22). Sondakh’s debut novel, “She Smells of Turmeric,” will be published at the end of April.

SESP junior Natasha Sondakh prepares to publish debut novel exploring Indonesian identity

January 14, 2021
A sign that says “Evanston Township High School” is in front of a large, tan school building on a sunny day.

Some ETHS students notice dip in antiracist activism, but continue to fight

January 12, 2021
City clerk and 8th ward challenger Devon Reid. In an open forum Thursday night, Reid spoke about his plans for addressing racial injustice and working with the community.

Aldermanic candidates discuss racial inequity, affordable housing in open forum

January 8, 2021
Amar Shah (Weinberg ’16). After graduating from NU, Shah has been a consultant, Hindu monk, entrepreneur and motivational speaker, all in four years.

NU alum Amar Shah talks career, post-graduation journey

November 13, 2020
Sarita Kamat Designs, 1627 Sherman Ave. Sarita Kamat is an Evanston-based artist originally from India who works in a variety of mediums including jewelry, acrylics, watercolor and more.

Evanston artist Sarita Kamat talks her artistic journey from India to the U.S.

November 13, 2020
Hillary Bachelder (Communication ‘12) behind the scenes on her new film, “Represent.” The film features three Midwestern women running for local office and was released for streaming on Oct. 26 on PBS.

Northwestern alumna Hillary Bachelder’s documentary features three women running for local office

November 9, 2020
U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood. Underwood was declared the winner of her race against Republican Jim Oberweis.

Evanston residents help Lauren Underwood seek re-election in historically red District 14

November 1, 2020
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) speaks at an event in January 2018. Schakowsky is currently up for re-election against Republican Sargis Sangari.

Jan Schakowsky up for re-election against Republican Sargis Sangari

October 29, 2020
Students perform for each other at an Evanston Young Artists performance before the pandemic. EYA is one of the 2020 recipients of the Cultural Fund Grant, which aims to create a more inclusive and vibrant arts community in Evanston through supporting local organizations.

2020 Cultural Fund Grant recipients discuss plans amid the pandemic

October 26, 2020
Swantiques pop-up shop, 518 Main St. Owner and Evanston resident Lora Swanson discusses the impact of the pandemic on her shop. Amid COVID-19 restrictions, Swanson said she’s seeing a larger turnout than she had expected.

Evanston pop-up shop Swantiques features vintage and antique furnishings

October 20, 2020
A view of The Garage lounge. Two individuals stand over a table in the distance.

The Garage identifies personality traits of highly successful entrepreneurs in new study

October 14, 2020
Bienen junior Jaime An plays her cello over Zoom, utilizing the newly improved audio features. By using high-fidelity music mode, the sound is clear and consistent.

High-fidelity music mode: new audio improvements for musicians on Zoom

October 5, 2020
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