The spring season brings to mind flowers blooming and plants springing back to life, making it the ideal time to enjoy fresh produce in meals throughout the day. Salads are of course one of the easiest ways to combine the flavors of your favorite fruits and veggies, but you can take your greens to the next level with refreshing recipe ideas.
Creating a cool, satisfying salad can be easy when you start with quality ingredients like Fresh Express salad blends, NatureSweet Cherubs Tomatoes and Litehouse dressings for versatile bases in a nearly endless array of options. For example, salads aren’t limited to lunch or appetizers – this Breakfast Salad Bowl makes for an energizing start to the day by combining classic salad ingredients with quinoa, bacon, and avocado.
Perfect for those busy weeknights, heartier salad recipes can also provide quick, simple dinner options. As a more traditional mix to enjoy at the family table, this Salmon and Grains Salad Bowl brings together salmon, tomatoes, and chickpeas on a bed of lettuce topped with ranch dressing.
Heat oven to 350 F. Sprinkle salmon with 1 teaspoon paprika;season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake on lined baking sheet 15 minutes,or until it reaches desired doneness.
In bowl, toss chickpeas in olive oil and remaining paprika; addsalt and pepper, to taste. Add chickpeas to lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 F 30-40minutes.
Add lettuce to plate or bowl. Top with quinoa, chickpeas,salmon and tomatoes. Drizzle with ranch dressing.
Breakfast Salad Bowl
10 oz NatureSweet Cherubs Tomatoes
2 tbsp Olive oil (divided)
2 oz Fresh Express Baby Spinach
1 Egg
2 Bacon Strips (halved)
1 cup Quinoa (cooked)
1/2 Avocado (sliced)
2 tbsp Litehouse Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
Heat oven to 400 F. Toss tomatoes in 1 tablespoon olive oil.Bake tomatoes on lined baking sheet 40 minutes.
In skillet, add remaining olive oil and cook baby spinachuntil wilted, stirring as necessary.
Cook egg as desired. Remove egg from skillet and set aside.Add bacon to skillet and cook until crispy, turning halfway through.
In bowl, layer quinoa, bacon, avocado, egg, spinach andtomatoes. Drizzle with jalapeno ranch dressing.
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller “Black Widow,” Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.
Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour portrays Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz is Melina.
Directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige, “Black Widow”—the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—hits U.S. theaters on May 1, 2020.
The first full-length animated Scooby-Doo adventure for the big screen is the never-before-told stories of Scooby-Doo’s origins and the greatest mystery in the career of Mystery Inc.
“SCOOB!” reveals how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy first met and how they joined with young detectives Fred, Velma, and Daphne to form the famous Mystery Inc. Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world.
As they race to stop this global “dogpocalypse,” the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined. Check out the trailer below.
Starring in “SCOOB!” are Will Forte (“Booksmart,” TV’s “The Last Man on Earth”) as Scooby-Doo’s best friend, Shaggy; two-time Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg (“The Fighter,” “The Departed”) as Blue Falcon; Jason Isaacs (the “Harry Potter” films, TV’s “The OA”) as the infamous Dick Dastardly; Gina Rodriguez (“Deepwater Horizon,” TV’s “Jane the Virgin”) as Velma; Zac Efron (“The Greatest Showman,” the “Neighbors” franchise) as Fred; Amanda Seyfried (the “Mamma Mia!” films, “Ted 2”) as Daphne; Kiersey Clemons (“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” TV’s “Angie Tribeca”) as Falcon Fury pilot Dee Dee Skyes; Ken Jeong (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “The Hangover” trilogy) as the Falcon Force’s Dynomutt; Tracy Morgan (“What Men Want,” TV’s “30 Rock”) as Captain Caveman; Simon Cowell (“American Idol,” “The X Factor”) as himself; and Frank Welker (the “Transformers” franchise) as Scooby-Doo.
“SCOOB!” is directed by Tony Cervone, Annie Award nominee for the feature “Space Jam” and two-time Emmy nominee for his work on “Duck Dodgers.”
The film is produced by Pam Coats and Allison Abbate. Serving as executive producers are Adam Sztykiel, Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Jesse Ehrman, Dan Povenmire, and Chris Columbus.
The screenplay is by Adam Sztykiel and Jack C. Donaldson & Derek Elliott and Matt Lieberman, story by Matt Lieberman and Eyal Podell & Jonathon E. Stewart, based on characters created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. Cervone’s creative team includes editors Ryan Folsey and Vanara Taing, and composer Tom Holkenborg.
Set for a May 15, 2020 release, “SCOOB!” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is an annual food-inspired event that celebrates the park’s historic roots by highlighting the little berry that started it all, the boysenberry. This year’s festival will feature more than 75 unique boysenberry-inspired creations crafted by the Knott’s culinary team. Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a tantalizing line up of dishes ranging from savory foods with a boysenberry twist to one-of-a-kind specialty desserts and drinks that can only be found at Knott’s Berry Farm during this time of the year. In addition to the numerous food and drink offerings, the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival offers a wide selection of local crafters, live music, musical stage shows, and fun activities for guests of all ages to enjoy. The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival runs 31 days starting March 20, operating daily through April 19, 2020. This year’s event will introduce an entirely new food lineup featuring a selection of 26 food and drink tasting items. The new lineup includes:
Refreshing lemonade with basil and boysenberry
Boysenberry Beer cheese soup with a boysenberry drizzle topped with brown butter croutons
Sautéed brussel sprouts topped with boysenberry balsamic and bacon
Tender beef tips served with creamy boysenberry mashed potato
Rich chocolatey boysenberry chicken mole on cilantro rice
Boysenberry Sangria
Boysenberry Cajun shrimp served over a bed of buttery grits
Two chicken drumsticks bathed in boysenberry BBQ sauce
Hearty boysenberry steak chili with an oven-fresh boysenberry cornbread muffin
Samosa’s with boysenberry chutney
Pork Bao bun dumpling with boysenberry kimchi and Nam pla
Citrusy boysenberry ceviche with crispy tortilla chips
A sweet boysenberry smoothie packed with fruity flavors
Homemade crunchy chips paired with a zesty boysenberry onion dip
Grilled boysenberry sausage in a bun with boysenberry ketchup
Elote rolled in boysenberry mayo topped with a boysenberry tortilla crumble and cotija cheese
Creamy mac and cheese bites with a tangy boysenberry ketchup
Glazed donut holes served with rich boysenberry ice cream and topped with boysenberry coulis
Boysenberry bread pudding topped with boysenberry coulis and anglaise sauce
Hot pastrami sandwich on a pretzel bun with boysenberry mustard
Boysenberry macaron, a sensational French dessert
Churros powdered with boysenberry sugar
Extra creamy boysenberry ice cream
Boysenberry Beer
Boysenberry Wine
Boysenberry Mimosa
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A great way to indulge in the new boysenberry food items during the festival is by purchasing a tasting card priced at $40 and $38 for season pass holders. The tasting card will offer eight tastings from a selection of 26 boysenberry-inspired dishes and drinks. A variety of signature boysenberry items will also be available for purchase a la carte. Tasting cards are available at Knotts.com or at the theme park.
Guests can also take home a taste of the boysenberry festival with limited edition merchandise found throughout the park. This year’s new merchandise includes a new selection of event themed apparel, pajama sets, festival-inspired parasols plus new packaged food items perfect for take-home souvenirs like the new boysenberry tequila and whiskey and spiced wine preserves, boysenberry Irish cream coffee, boysenberry cake batter cookies, boysenberry vinaigrette dressing, boysenberry hot sauce, and boysenberry sarsaparilla. The Knott’s Berry Market also features signature boysenberry items like the delicious boysenberry BBQ sauce and our classic jams and preserves. Unique boysenberry inspired artisan products will also be available at the Boysenberry Festival Craft Fair returning with 30 local craft vendors, each crater will feature boysenberry theme items.
Entertainment:
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival offers endless entertainment options for the festival goer:
Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree! – Guests are invited to join Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts Gang in a musical stage show that will have families dancing along at the Calico Mine Stage
Riverboat Revenge – Knott’s pays tribute to its past at the Legendary Bird Cage Theatre with a special presentation of the brand new comedy melodrama, Riverboat Revenge. All Aboard for this Boysenberry Bon Voyage!
Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies – A group of krazy talented performers will have guests toe-tappin’, vine dancin’ and knee-slappin’ to a comedic country music show at the Wagon Camp stage.
Boysenberry Fun and Games – Get in on the fun of some of the craziest and messiest games along with our famous Boysenberry Pie Eating Contest.
Old MacDonald’s Farm – Young ones and young at heart are invited to cozy up to the cutest critters on the farm including horses, sheep, goats and other furry friends. Old MacDonald’s Farm pays tribute to one of the farm’s original attractions
Knott’s Totally Tubular 80’s Dance Party – A Classic returns! Travel back to the 80’s as you dance the night away to the best songs of the decade.
Boysenberry Blues – Pull up a chair as our blues trio conjures up some of the smoothest tunes performing at the Boardwalk BBQ patio
Musical Performances – Various musical duos playing Country and Bluegrass tunes will take the stage at Fireman’s BBQ.
DJ Cruz – Knott’s resident DJ keeps the night pumpin’ with the latest dance hits sure to make you hit the dance floor
History of the Boysenberry – Grab a slice of history in our museum dedicated to the fruit that made it all possible
The Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm. Additional costs apply for food tasting experiences within the event. Knott’s will have extended hours on select days March 20 – April 19, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of all of the limited-time offerings.
Club Serrano members get lots of great deals at San Manuel Casino (photo courtesy of San Manuel Casino)
You don’t have to be a gambler to have a great time at San Manuel Casino. While the place does have some of the best gaming in Southern California, it also boasts great restaurants, exciting nightlife, and a comfortable hotel. And best of all, the casino is only about an hour’s drive from downtown Los Angeles and minutes from LA-Ontario International Airport.
My dad and I recently snuck away to San Manuel Casino for a night of food and fun.
Our getaway began when we checked into a spacious room at Bear Springs Hotel (www.bearspringshotel.com), the preferred hotel partner of San Manuel Casino. Located in the city of Highland, at the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, the property is a couple of miles from the casino and is also a gateway to Big Bear.
Bear Springs Hotel offers free shuttles to the casino (photo – www.bearspringshotel.com)
As the Inland Empire’s newest full-service boutique hotel, Bear Springs offers 105 guest rooms, including 30 spacious studios, plus amenities such as a restaurant, bar & lounge, outdoor terrace with a heated pool, hot tub, and a cozy fire pit.
Our deluxe king room at Bear Springs featured a large, comfy king bed with a Beautyrest mattress, lots of closet space, an oversized armchair, a 43-inch flat-screen TV with an integrated entertainment system controlled by your in-room tablet, as well as a Keurig Coffee machine. The room also featured free high-speed wireless internet and great views of the nearby mountains.
The rooms at Bear Springs are comfortable and spacious (photo by Greg Aragon)
Once acquainted with the room, we walked outside the hotel lobby and took the complimentary shuttle to San Manuel Casino. The 24-hour shuttle picks up hotel guests from the lobby and the casino every 30 minutes.
After a 5 minute ride, we arrived at the casino and headed directly for the Serrano Buffet. I may not a big gambler, but I do enjoy a great an all-you-can-eat restaurant and the Serrano Buffet is a sure thing. Boasting more than 200 dishes from around the globe, the buffet is highlighted by an incredible array of American, Asian, Italian, and Mexican cuisine as well as special selections and seasonal delights.
Serrano Buffet boasts hundreds of tasty international dishes (photo – www.sanmanuel.com)
The buffet is renowned for its extravagantly delicious specialty nights. Monday is all about steak; Tuesday is Latin; Wednesday and Thursday is for lobster lovers; Friday is seafood night; Saturday and Sunday is steak and seafood. It is easy to see why people drive-in from all over just to experience the Serrano Buffet!
My four, carefully stacked plates at the buffet included delectable items such as tender pork ribs, shrimp pasta, succulent steak, spicy tuna rolls, roasted cream corn, an authentic tamale, pizza, chilled large shrimp with cocktail sauce, and much more. For dessert, I literally sampled the best cheesecake I’ve ever had. The buffet entry price also includes unlimited beverages, with beer and wine available for an extra charge.
Desserts at Serrano Buffet are memorable (photo – www.sanmanuel.com)
After filling our bellies at the buffet we hit the casino to try and fill our pockets. San Manuel has more than 4,900 slot machines, including over 115 video poker machines and the most Konami machines in the world. It also offers more than 130 of the hottest Vegas-style table games, including two exclusive gaming rooms – High Limit Room and Lotus 8 Palace.
Our first stop in the casino was the Club Serrano both where we signed up to become members and get a player’s card. Since we were first-timers we received some free slot plays on the card and a chance to win prizes. Once you join Club Serrano you automatically receive promotional offers, special invitations to casino events and tournaments, entries for monthly drawings, and discounts to over a hundred local businesses, along with other special offers.
The slots were good to me at San Manuel Casino (photo by Greg Aragon)
With my Club Serrano card, I sat down at the 25-cent slot machines. I decided to invest $20 in trying to hit it big and after about 30 minutes of ups and downs, I won a $50 jackpot. With this windfall, I headed across the casino to the Tukut Lounge for live band Karaoke with “The Reel Band.” Here I tried my voice at a classic Beatles song and sipped a cold beer.
The casino is currently building a brand new luxury hotel that will open in 2021 (rendering – www.sanmanuel.com)
The casino is also undergoing a major expansion, as a brand new, luxury hotel and a world-class entertainment venue are currently under construction onsite and set to open in 2021.
San Manuel Casino is located at 777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA 92346. For more information, call 800.359.2464 or visit: www.sanmanuel.com.
In summer 2021, Disney Cruise Line will sail a variety of itineraries around the world including a return to Greece – back by popular demand – and exciting and varied European destinations, Alaska ports and tropical locales. Plus, Disney Cruise Line will visit three first-time ports of call in Greece, Sweden and Norway.
Bookings open to the public on Feb. 28, 2020. More details can be found on the “Summer 2021 Itineraries” page of disneycruise.com.
Explore the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Beyond
In summer 2021, a new collection of itineraries is part of Disney Cruise Line’s grand tour of Europe. From May through July, the Disney Magic will visit captivating locales in the Mediterranean including the Greek Isles, Spain and the French Riviera. From late July through September, the ship will transport guests to bucket-list destinations in the British Isles, northern Europe, the Baltic, Iceland and Norwegian fjords.
The Disney Magic will return to the awe-inspiring beauty of Greece in summer 2021, where guests can marvel at the stunning landscapes and archeological wonders of the region, like Santorini with its iconic whitewashed cliffside dwellings and Mykonos with beautiful beaches along the azure Aegean Sea. Four special voyages will visit the Greek Isles, with cruises ranging from eight to 11 nights.
Each of these unique Mediterranean itineraries combines a selection of stops in Greece with visits to other notable cities in the region. Noteworthy ports of call in Greece include Katakolon near ancient Olympia – home to the first Olympic Games – and the gorgeous Greek island of Kefalonia, a first-time port of call for Disney Cruise Line.
One cruise features a stop at the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” The walled medieval Old City of Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage site that offers spectacular seaside views and centuries-old cobblestoned lanes to explore.
Additional first-time ports of call for Disney Cruise Line include the medieval city of Visby, Sweden, considered to be one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Scandinavia and the village of Eidfjord, Norway, home to geographic wonders and situated at the foot of Hardangervidda, Norway’s largest national park.
Adventures in Alaska
The Disney Wonder will return to Alaska for the 2021 summer season to explore the region’s breathtaking natural vistas, glaciers and wildlife.
Departing from Vancouver, Canada, seven-night itineraries will visit Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Dawes Glacier. One nine-night Alaskan adventure will visit Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan. A special five-night cruise will travel to Dawes Glacier and Ketchikan.
Each Alaska sailing will offer adventure and fun in port and aboard the ship, with stunning scenery, exciting Port Adventures and special Disney Cruise Line touches that will bring the splendor and spirit of “The Last Frontier” to life onboard.
Tropical Vacations to the Caribbean and Bahamas
In summer 2021, Disney Cruise Line will embark on a variety of vacation voyages to tropical destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Ranging from three- to nine-night sailings, the varied itineraries allow guests to experience charming island cultures, sunbathe on golden beaches and revel in local marketplaces. Most itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
In addition to seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, near Orlando, Florida, and the Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney Fantasy will embark on an assortment of itineraries throughout the summer of 2021. These include a six-night sailing and an extended nine-night Caribbean cruise. Three-, four- and five-night Bahamian cruises round out the Disney Fantasy summer season – all including a stop at Castaway Cay. One special five-night cruise features two stops at Disney’s private island.
The Disney Dream will provide even more opportunities for guests to visit Castaway Cay in the summer of 2021 with all three- and four-night Bahamian cruises calling on the private island paradise.
Guided Experiences with Adventures by Disney
In summer 2021, Disney Cruise Line guests can enrich their cruise vacation with a variety of add- on packages from Adventures by Disney, a leader in family guided group vacations. Highlights include a return to Alaska and popular packages in northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
With Adventures by Disney, guests can book the ultimate Disney cruise experience on select sailings in Alaska and Europe. Throughout the voyage, knowledgeable Adventure Guides provide dedicated service both onboard and in port, as they lead guests on specially curated excursions, interactive activities and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Onboard the ship, guests enjoy unique experiences and premium amenities exclusive to Adventures by Disney, such as an intimate talkback session with Walt Disney Theatre cast members followed by a behind-the-scenes costume and prop activity.
Adventures by Disney also offers popular pre-cruise vacations in London; Barcelona, Spain; and Copenhagen, Denmark. These two- to three-night Escapes feature unforgettable experiences in iconic cities. Plus, activities like flamenco dancing, mosaic making and preparing local cuisine immerse families in the culture of each region.
Bookings for these Adventures by Disney offerings open to the public on Feb. 28, 2020. For more information, visit adventuresbydisney.com or contact a travel agent.
Disney Vacation Club Charter Cruise for 2021
Disney Vacation Club will host a members-only charter cruise in 2021, a five-night western Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Fantasy on June 12, 2021. Bookings open to Disney Vacation Club members on May 2, 2020.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact a travel agent.
“The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” opens at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 27, bringing an astounding 64 animated figures to this all-new tech-savvy ride based on Illumination’s blockbuster The Secret Life of Pets films, which answer the question, “What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home?”
The entertaining new ride features original voice talent from The Secret Life of Pets films who will unleash their animal instincts to reprise their roles for this exciting theme park attraction. The talent and their alter egos include Patton Oswalt as Max, Kevin Hart as Snowball, Eric Stonestreet as Duke, Jenny Slate as Gidget, Tiffany Haddish as Daisy, Lake Bell as Chloe, Dana Carvey as Pops, Chris Renaud as Norman, Hannibal Buress as Buddy, Bobby Moynihan as Mel, and Jessica DiCicco as Princess.
“The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” is a heartfelt experience that transforms guests into stray puppies as they journey to become loved and adopted. After all, adoption day is the ultimate rite of passage for every domesticated animal and, as such, the perfect theme of this engaging new ride as these beloved puppies find their forever homes.
Technology
Combining 64 technologically-advanced animated figures, “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” invites guests to meet some of their favorite characters from the movies, who themselves have transformed into dimensional beings. From blinking eyes to eye and eyebrow movements, from head tilts to head nods, from moving mouths to smiles, from ear curls to lip curls, from full torso twists to physically walking, the depth of mobility and function programmed within each of these loveable characters creates an experience, unlike any other theme park ride.
With the addition of hyper-realistic media and projection mapping, this impressive new ride is designed to fully immerse guests in a dynamic New York City landscape. Seated within ride vehicles that resemble cardboard boxes—reminiscent of where Katie first finds her beloved Max as a puppy—guests will travel along a track towards the Pet Adoption event and the ultimate happy ending: forever homes.
The ride will feature state-of-the-art optical enhanced gesture-tracking technology, which helps to identify each guest as a unique stray puppy for the duration of the ride. With an option to be transformed into one of 15 stray puppies, guests will enjoy a unique experience each time they ride “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!”
Virtual Line technology is another component of the experience, designed to help guests maximize their leisure time at the theme park. Guests can access Virtual Line via the official Universal Studios Hollywood app, available for free in the App Store and on Google Play or they can visit the Virtual Line kiosk located in the New York City subway station, situated adjacent to the ride. Both provide guests with options to experience the ride based on the next available times and will be available to guests within the theme park as needed.
Virtual Line complements the ride’s non-traditional queue which invites guests to explore the area at their leisure and freely roam the ride’s corridors—reminiscent of Katie’s NYC apartment building—explore dachshund Buddy’s apartment, Snowball owner Molly’s living room as well as Max and Duke’s apartment until they reach the ride’s boarding station.
“The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” will be located on Pets Place, previously referred to as Baker Street, and adjacent to the popular “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” attractions. With the installation of storefront facades, Pets Place will capture the charm of a busy New York City street, including an iconic NYC subway station, which serves as the in-park location for the Virtual Line.
With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, an Annual Pass invites guests to experience the theme park’s thrill and adventure over and over again. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details and to save up to $60 on an Annual Pass when purchased online. Offer valid through April 23, 2020. Restrictions apply.
As she raced through the Disney Princess Half Marathon on Sunday, Kelly Wehman wasn’t thinking about the unseasonably cool Florida temperatures nor the nagging cough she had developed. The only thing on her mind was the courageous medical battle of her young son Andrew, which was the only motivation she needed to propel herself past a crowded field to reach the finish line in first place.
Wehman of Ringgold, GA, won with a time of 1:24:26, finishing ahead of Kellie Nickerson of Albuquerque, NM (1:24:46) and Saeger Fischer of Portsmouth, NH (1:25:38). After crossing the finish line amid confetti and cheers from several Disney characters, Wehman, 33, gave all the credit to her 6-year-old son’s journey through Down syndrome and cancer.
“He’s my hero,’’ she said. “That’s what I think about when I’m running. That’s what pushes me.’’
There was plenty of inspiration throughout the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, which included a 5K on Friday, a 10K on Saturday and several Kids races before Sunday’s 13.1-mile half marathon that took runners through Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Among the 21,000-plus runners in the half marathon was Marko Cheseto of Orlando, who was the fourth overall runner to cross the finish line despite losing both of his legs to frostbite a few years ago.
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And during Friday’s 5K, Hannah Herman warmed everyone’s heart after she completed the 3.1-mile race despite a club foot that doctors feared would prevent her from ever walking. The lovable 10-year-old ran the race hand-in-hand with the mother who adopted her from Kazakhstan where she had been left at a hospital as a newborn.
The race weekend is the third of four runDisney running events at Walt Disney World Resort during the 2019-2020 race season. The final race of the season is the Star Wars Rival Run in April. Registration for all runDisney races can be at www.runDisney.com.
Director Dave Scanlon re-teamed with producer Kori Rae (Monster’s University) in hopes to deliver a funny, yet heartwarming tale of brotherly love and the importance of family. The film stars Marvel-alumni Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot and Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot, two brothers who set out on a magical adventure in hopes to bring their late-father back for one day. Ian Lightfoot is a timid 16-year-old who likes to avoid danger, while his older brother Barley looks for adventure around every corner.
Based on an original story inspired by director Dave Scanlon’s own childhood, Onward focuses on the bond between two brothers and the importance of family history. Scanlon’s father passed away before he got a chance to know him, and the ideas and stories he heard about his father helped shape the ideas into what would become Onward. “It is a very personal story, much like the characters in the movie,” said Scanlon, “My father passed away when I was about a year old, and my bother was three. So as you can imagine we don’t remember him at all, but we always wondered who he was, and how we were like him. That question became the seed of Onward.” Pixar is known for crafting sincere, emotional films, so it is no surprise to see why Pixar threw their trust behind Scanlon’s personal story.
While Pratt and Holland sat next to each other on stage, it was clear why former Marvel duo was picked to voice the pair of brothers at the center of Onward. With a great sense of humor and a charming personality, both actors could help but make each other laugh through the entire junket. When asked how the two related the characters they portray in the film, Holland said, “Chris and I are obviously so close already before we even cam onto this film, it was almost like we were just playing ourselves.” Holland went on to describe how he has a personal connection to his character because had the same characteristics when he was younger. “The similarities between Ian and myself go back to when I was more still in my early teens. I was a little bit of an introvert,” Holland explained. “I was really happy to pour my past experiences into this process, and I am delighted and thrilled to where we got to.” Chris Pratt also chimed in on how his life experience of being a younger brother helped inspire him by saying, “My whole life my brother has only ever been encouraging and positive about what I have been able to do as an actor, and I think that’s what makes this brotherhood and this relationship portrayed in the film so special…”
When asked about the chemistry between the two actors, Pratt joked, “Now you know why it is called chemistry. You throw two chemicals together (Pratt and Holland) and there is heat, and explosion sometimes. A reaction and we wanted to get that heat in the film.” The two make a perfect pair for the bond needed to sell the relationship between the two main characters. Producer Kori Rae had nothing but praise for the actors, saying, “We are forever grateful for how much they invested themselves into the roles, and how they really, really took the characters and elevated them.” Rae went on to say how both Holland and Pratt were able to add complexity to both characters that were not originally in the script and helped the authenticity needed to give the film heart.
Onward is set in a world where magic and tradition are long forgotten, and technology has made the population unaware of the skills they possess. The filmmakers insist that the movie is not meant to bash technology but raise broader questions regarding how society learns to incorporate it into daily life. “We certainly didn’t want to make a movie that was saying technology was bad because technology is how we make our movies. It is magic in its own way,” Scanlon explained. “It was really a softer look at the ease that comes with it, the comfort that comes with it, and just not giving up on taking the hard road every now and then, and challenging yourself.”
Pixar’s latest feature aims to please younger audiences with silly humor, but still retain that heartfelt story that both adults and children can relate to. The story of brotherly love and the hardships that come with growing up is nothing new, but when incorporated with a fantasy-style setting and backed by one of animation’s most prestigious studios, Onward looks poised to be a hit.
Answer the “Call of the Wild” with an enthusiastic howl as this entertaining adventure unleashes the limits between man and dog in the untamed wilderness. Based on the Jack London novel of the same name in 1903, the movie takes on the visual perspective of a dog named Buck as he unwillingly takes on a journey that pulls him away from his California home into the unknown dangers of the Canadian Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s.
The 20th Century Studios film opens with a historical documentary-like animation and narration by star Harrison Ford. Ford carries the narrative commentary of Buck’s life in the first portions of the movie before making his on-screen appearance later in the movie. Buck is taken and passed down from one owner to the next. Never knowing who or how his new master will treat their new dog. Buck’s fate becomes that of a member of a dog-sled team sanctioned to deliver mail across the vast Yukon facing dangers such as freezing temperatures, rocky terrain, icy rivers, and encapsulating avalanches. Danger lurks within as well when the dog sled leader grows jealous of his team growing fond of the newest member. Buck taps further into the animalistic side of his ancestral call and learns to accept his new fate in the wilderness.
Although the marketing places Harrison Ford having a starring role in the advertisement, the real star of the show is Buck. An animated dog with other computer-generated animals directed by Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon). Chris is just a handful of Hollywood filmmakers taking on the similar pursuit of animation directors tackling live-action directing duties that include Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), Andrew Stanton (WALL-E John Carter), and Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee). The use of CGI animals in live-action environments works in the context and favor to “Call of the Wild”. General movie audiences may see the CGI effects and immediately expect the animals to speak and sing in light of many recent features of that similar animation style as found in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Jungle Book” (2016) and “The Lion King” (2019). Thankfully the filmmakers went with keeping the animals as photo-realistic as possible but still have enough facial expressions and body language that may be found in an animated feature. “Call of the Wild” is this generation’s “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron”, an underappreciated DreamWorks animated feature from 2002.
Overall, this family-friendly adaptation of the book to screen adventure story is sure to delight all ages. From its fuzzy cuteness, light-hearted humor, the dazzling array of scenery, spectacular visuals, and nerve shaking challenges, “Call of the Wild” is a safe yet fun thrill that displays the sheer will of survival and connection with oneself in the unknown wilderness of life.
The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, or “Birds of Prey” for short, is a much more enjoyable and entertaining follow-up compared to its loosely linked predecessor “Suicide Squad” (2016) in the DCEU film series from Warner Bros. Studios. “Birds of Prey” borrowed what it was trying to accomplish in the first film and resulted in establishing a Harley Quinn movie that can be viewed as a standalone film without the chains of being a tied-down sequel. Little nods are given to “Suicide Squad”, and it’s for the best. Harley Quinn’s voice over speaking to the audience is peppered throughout mostly occurring in the first half of the movie. It works as both a non-linear story structure and as if Harley is speaking as a patient in a psychiatric tone. “Birds of Prey” spends more time this round actually establishing characters. Maybe not entire background stories, but the behavior of some characters like Ewan McGregor as Roman Sionis/Black Mask gives you enough to know who that person and their motivation.
The visuals really pop out starting with an animated prologue bringing up to speed where Harley came from and how she got to where she posts Joker break-up. The interactions between the characters and the world they thrive in bring a more grounded tone to the mafia plot and steps back from the supernatural (with what looks to be one superpower used). We really get to see Harley show off her batting skills and her best action sequences in a police station and abandoned funhouse. Staying true to her character, she even uses her roller derby skills outside the ring. When she gets knocked unconscious, instead of seeing swirling stars like a cartoon character, Harley sees a musical number dancing in her head. It becomes a little obvious, but not too in-your-face, with the female empowerment when Detective Montoya’s male boss takes credit for her work and the Birds of Prey fighting off a bunch of male goons. But there was that one female bounty hunter that got blown up in a brief car chase. Even Harley’s Asian restaurant owner friend, Doc, betrays her for the reward money. But his character could have had a tiny bit of redeeming quality. Maybe set up Harley ignoring a pile of mail at her doorstep with Doc slipping a note marked “URGENT” for her to find to possibly warn her of his deception. But the note is found too late by Cassandra for anything to be done. At least something to suggest men are not all evil. The movie is still a wild ride from beginning to end.
The movie is self-aware and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Slipping meta-references similar to Fox/Marvel’s on-screen portrayal of Deadpool. So you know the filmmakers were having as much fun as they can. McGregor delivered Sionis as a person with self-esteem issues trying to keep the tough guy persona past his paranoia. His fascination with cultural masks and heads was just a glimmering peek inside his head. When Sionis finally wears his black mask towards the end of the movie, it feels like he draws energy from adorning the gear. It’s like when a child wears sunglasses to feel invisible. Or in this case, invincible. Even Harley broke his character down like she would with her Ph.D. background. She displays her high psychoanalysis intelligence identifying liars and childhood traumas. Everyone feels like they play a part in interaction with one another like cogs in a machine. I appreciate the team-up doesn’t finally happen until the end of the movie. The title “Birds of Prey” works more like the female characters are the “chicks” or “birdies” that a preyed upon by Gotham’s most wanted. For those more versed in comic-book lore, the female line-up for the team is not the original nor comes with certain original character backstories. But the moniker of the team name has been played around before with “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “The Avengers”, “Justice League”, “Suicide Squad”, and “Sinister Six”. Heck, even Batgirl, Red Hood, and Robin have had different people using the same name. Best to walk into this movie and let it be its own interpretation as a fun popcorn flick.
You may walk out of this movie craving a bacon and egg breakfast sandwich. I know I did.
The Blue Iguana Inn is a charming place to begin a stay in Ojai (photo by Greg Aragon)
One of my favorite places in winter is Ojai, where beautiful landscapes and small-town charm mix to form pure relaxation. A friend and I recently took a day off work and snuck away to this little hideaway. It was only for the night, but the memories will linger for a long time.
The getaway began when we pulled into the Blue Iguana Inn, located on the outskirts of town. Seeped in old-mission style architecture, the Iguana is an old-world style boutique villa-inn designed and built by renowned Ojai architect Marc Whitman.
The property, which has been welcoming guests for more than 20 years, is highlighted by arched entrances, terra cotta curved roofing, and rugged outpost railings. Flagstone paths marked with intricate stone mosaics and hand-made Mediterranean tiles accent the landscape, along with lush courtyards, gardens and trees, and a pool.
The interiors are also distinctive. Every one of the inn’s rooms, suites, bungalows and vacation cottages feature authentic one-of-a-kind furniture pieces throughout, including exotic rugs, original pieces by local artists, and lots of Southwestern-type furnishings.
Our two-bedroom bungalow was no less special. The living room featured a large sofa, chase lounge, large TV and old-fashioned, wood-burning stove type fireplace. The master bedroom boasted a king bed, television and the 2nd bedroom offered a queen bed. The rooms are connected via a Jack and Jill bathroom, with a shower/tub combo. The bungalow also featured a full-sized kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, sink and dinner table. And out the side of the house, there was a large private patio area.
The accommodations were so comforting we considered going to the market, cooking a dinner and staying in all night. But then I remembered Azu Restaurant and Bar (www.azuojai.com) in downtown Ojai. More specifically, I remembered the incredible chile relleno I sampled on my last visit.
Led by Chef and owner Laurel Moore, Azu serves an exciting, eclectic menu of California, Spanish and Mexican inspired fare, with fresh local ingredients grown and hand-picked by Moore from local farms and her own garden. The menu is highlighted by an extensive tapas menu, numerous wines by the glass, and fresh homemade gelato.
Azu Restaurant and Bar serves tasty and creative California, Spanish and Mexican inspired fare (photo courtesy of Azu Restaurant)
Our dinner at Azu began with a fresh and tasty dish of ahi tuna ceviche and chips, with avocado, jicama, corn, lime, cilantro and onion. For the main course I experienced the Goat Cheese Chili Relleno, with pasilla chile, mushroom, arugula, roasted corn, capers, crema, spicy and tomato sauce. My friend went with the 8 oz Angus grass-fed Flat Iron Steak, that is dry rubbed for 24 hours and grilled and sliced and served with tequila demi glace sauce and cilantro pesto.
After dinner we strolled through artsy Ojai Village, admiring quaint shops and the majestic surrounding mountains of the spectacular Los Padres National Forest to the north. The Ojai Valley is world renowned for hiking, biking, bird watching and fishing. Ojai’s historic downtown charms locals and visitors with award-winning dining, wineries, art galleries, boutiques, and world-class golf courses. Ojai’s climate welcomes year-round festivals and cultural events, along with a long growing season producing the finest olives, citrus, and organic produce.
Ojai Valley is renowned for hiking, biking, bird watching and fishing (photo by Greg Aragon)
To sample some of the area’s olive oil, the next morning we visited the Ojai Olive Oil Company (www.ojaioliveoil.com), is a third-generation family owned and operated farm. Opened everyday from 10am-4pm, the farm boasts a grove of 150-yr-old olive trees, and a tasting room where a variety of olive oil samples and lots of interesting info on how it is made is served up by a friendly staff. The resident experts are happy to discuss the history of olive oil, how olives are grown, how extra virgin olive oil is extracted, blended and bottled, and how to properly cook with olive oil.
The Blue Iguana Inn is located at 11794 N. Ventura Ave, Ojai, California 93023. For more info and reservations and to learn about current specials and packages, call (805) 646-5277 or visit: www.blueiguanainn.com. Azu Restaurant is at 457 East Ojai Ave. For more info, call (805) 640-7987 or visit: www.azuojai.com. For more information on visiting Ojai, go to: www.ojaivisitors.com
