Experience the world of PANDAS

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February 21, 2018

IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that Kristen Bell (Frozen, TV’s “The Good Place”) will narrate the latest IMAX documentary adventure Pandas, a heartwarming global story about reintroducing captive born pandas to the wild. The film will be released in select IMAX^® and IMAX^®3D theatres starting April 6, 2018.

The filmmakers from the acclaimed IMAX documentaries Born to Be Wild and Island of Lemurs: Madagascar take audiences on an exciting and educational new journey for the entire family, this time in China with a species loved the world over—Giant Pandas.

“I am thrilled to team up with IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures to help tell this incredible story in the larger-than-life IMAX format,” said Kristen Bell. “Pandas not only spotlights the important work being done to protect these beloved and ridiculously cute animals, but it provides us with inspiration and hope and showcases the great things we can achieve when we work together.”

Greg Foster, CEO of IMAX Entertainment and Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp., added, “We’re tremendously excited to have the talented and engaging Kristen Bell join the IMAX family to narrate Pandas. We can’t wait to share this heartfelt journey that will transport IMAX audiences to the mountains of Sichuan in China and spotlight the incredible steps scientists are taking to protect and reintroduce these magnificent and adorable pandas into the wild.”

Jeff Goldstein, President Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, said, “We are so pleased to continue the tradition of bringing these wonderful IMAX adventures to families. We’re proud to add Pandas to our slate and to give people an opportunity to see these amazing animals as never before.”

“I am delighted to continue my longstanding partnership with IMAX and Warner Bros. on Pandas,” said producer/writer Drew Fellman, who co-directed the film with David Douglas. “Shooting with IMAX cameras helped us deliver a dazzling and intimate experience and we’re thrilled to have Kristen Bell onboard to guide this one-of-a-kind IMAX adventure.”

Kristen Bell currently stars as Eleanor Shellstrop in season two of the TV series “The Good Place,” with Ted Danson, which has been renewed for a third season by NBC. Up next, she will star in the Netflix comedy “Like Father,” opposite Kelsey Grammer, and lend her voice to the animated film Teen Titans GO! to the Movies, both set for release in 2018. Bell most recently executive produced and appeared in the ABC special “Encore,” about former high-school classmates who get together for an encore performance of their old musical theater productions. She also reprised her role as Anna in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, a featurette based on the blockbuster animated feature Frozen, released alongside Coco. She is working on the sequel to Frozen, scheduled to hit theaters in fall 2019. Frozen has grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Bell also recently starred in A Bad Moms Christmas, alongside Mila Kunis and Kathryn Hahn. The film is a sequel to 2016’s Bad Moms, the first STX film to gross over $100 million domestically.

In 2016, Bell was seen as Jeannie Van Der Hooven in the Showtime series “House of Lies,” opposite Don Cheadle, which wrapped its fifth and final season. In 2014, Bell reprised her beloved title role in the film Veronica Mars, which raised $2 million on Kickstarter in less than eleven hours and broke the record at the time for the fastest project to reach $1 million and $2 million. She appeared in a guest-starring arc on NBC’s hit series “Parks & Recreation,” and played the lead role in the independent film The Lifeguard, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. She also starred in and co-produced the comedy Hit & Run, written and directed by her husband, Dax Shepard. Her other film credits include CHIPs, How to Be a Latin Lover, The Boss, Movie 43, Some Girls, Writers, Big Miracle, You Again, Burlesque, When in Rome, Couples Retreat, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pulse, Serious Moonlight and David Mamet’s Spartan. Her television credits include “Veronica Mars,” “Unsupervised,” “Deadwood,” “Heroes” and “Party Down.” Her Broadway credits include “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Crucible,” opposite Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. Her Off-Broadway credits include “Reefer Madness” and “A Little Night Music.”

Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time” Soundtrack Set for Release on March 9.

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 20, 2018

Walt Disney Records is set to release the digital version of the original motion picture soundtrack to Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” from visionary director Ava DuVernay on March 9^th as the film opens in theaters nationwide.

The soundtrack was produced by DuVernay and features the end-credit song “I Believe” performed by Grammy® nominated and multi-platinum selling artists DJ Khaled featuring Demi Lovato. The song was written by Khaled, Lovato, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews and Brittany “Chi” Coney and was produced by Khaled. Both artists are embarking on a 20-date North American tour beginning February 26 in San Diego, CA.

The soundtrack also includes two versions of “Flower of the Universe” performed by Sade, one of which is a remix by No I.D. The multi-Grammy winning and multi-platinum selling artist also co-wrote and co-produced the track with Ben Travers and Andrew Hale. This is Sade’s second original song contribution to a soundtrack following 1986’s “Absolute Beginners.”

Five-time Grammy nominee singer-songwriter Sia performs “Magic,” a song she also co-wrote with Grammy nominated producer-songwriter Jesse Shatkin. Shatkin also produced the track.

Grammy nominated artist Kehlani performs “Let Me Live.” Kehlani released her debut chart-topping album, SweetSexySavage last year and will also be touring North America with Lovato and Khaled.

Also included is “Warrior,” written and performed by sisters Chloe x Halle. The duo made a cameo in Beyonce’s Lemonade visual album and were subsequently invited to join as the opening act on The Formation World Tour. The sisters released their debut EP, Sugar Symphony, in 2016 and are currently series regulars on Freeform’s “Grown-ish.”

The “A Wrinkle in Time” score is composed, conducted and produced by Ramin Djawadi. The German-born composer has scored over 100 projects including blockbuster films such as “Pacific Rim,” “Iron Man” and “Clash of the Titans” and celebrated television scores including “Game of Thrones,” “Westworld,” “Prison Break” and “The Strain.”

The Grammy and Emmy®-nominated composer recorded the score in Los Angeles with a 71-piece orchestra and a 29-person choir, as well as a 24-member children’s choir.

Speaking about the artists and composer, DuVernay said: “Each song on the ‘Wrinkle in Time’ soundtrack was crafted with great care in close collaboration with the artists. My creative partnership with Sade on ‘Flower of the Universe’ was so connected that I reverse engineered the usual process and used her lyrics as actual dialogue within the film. I truly loved working with DJ Khaled who jumped into this project with open arms and an open heart, along with the great Demi Lovato. Sia, Kehlani and Chloe x Halle beautifully embraced the visuals of the film to create distinct songs that expand and elevate Meg’s heroic journey. And working with Ramin Djawadi was a dream come true as I have been a long-time admirer of his stellar work. His musical compositions for the film are perfectly otherworldly.”

The track list for A Wrinkle in Time follows:

1 Flower of the Universe (No I.D. Remix) Performed by Sade

2 I Believe Performed by DJ Khaled Featuring Demi Lovato

3 Magic Performed by Sia

4 Let Me Live Performed by Kehlani

5 Warrior Performed by Chloe x Halle

6 Park Bench People Performed by Freestyle Fellowship

7 Flower of the Universe Performed by Sade

Score by Ramin Djawadi

A Wrinkle in Time
Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which
Darkness Across the Universe
Touch the Stars
Happy Medium
Camazotz
Home
Uriel
Is This a Dream?
Forgive Me
Be a Warrior
Tap Into Your Mind
Tesseract
Sorry I’m Late
The Universe Is Within All of Us

The A Wrinkle in Time original motion picture soundtrack will be available at digital retail HERE and streaming services HERE on March 9. The physical version will be available following the film’s release on March 30 and can be pre-ordered HERE.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Comes Home with Visually Stunning Extras

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 20, 2018

© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the next action-packed chapter of the Star Wars saga, earned critical acclaim and the No. 1 spot atop 2017’s list of highest-grossing films. The visually stunning film welcomes the return of original characters, including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Yoda, R2-D2 and C-3PO and further explores the deepening journey of the saga’s new members, Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren. Now families can bring home the movie digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and via Movies Anywhere on March 13, two weeks before the 4K Ultra HD™ Blu-ray, and Blu-ray™ disc on March 27. This release also marks Disney’s first title available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in both Dolby Vision™ HDR and Dolby Atmos® immersive audio, delivering consumers a transformative viewing experience.

Director Rian Johnson takes fans on an intimate journey into the creation of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in a feature-length documentary, explaining his unique interpretation of the Force, detailing the painstaking process of creating Snoke, and deconstructing action-packed scenes from the film such as the epic space battle and the final confrontation. Johnson also reveals two exclusive scenes, featuring Andy Serkis as Snoke prior to his digital makeover, as well as 14 never-before-seen deleted scenes, in addition to his audio commentary.

Bonus features include*:

The Director and the Jedi – Go deep behind the scenes with writer-director Rian Johnson on an intimate and personal journey through the production of the movie—and experience what it’s like to helm a global franchise and cultural phenomenon.
Balance of the Force – Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.
Scene Breakdowns
- Lighting the Spark: Creating the Space Battle – Get a close-up look at the epic space battle, from the sounds that help propel the action, through the practical and visual effects, to the characters who bring it all to life.
- Snoke and Mirrors – Motion capture and Star Wars collide as the filmmakers take us through the detailed process of creating the movie’s malevolent master villain.
- Showdown on Crait – Break down everything that went into creating the stunning world seen in the movie’s final confrontation, including the interplay between real-word locations and visual effects, reimagining the walkers, designing the crystal foxes, and much more.
Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only) – Writer-director Rian Johnson presents two exclusive sequences from the movie featuring Andy Serkis’ riveting, raw on-set performance before his digital makeover into Snoke.
Deleted Scenes – With an introduction and optional commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
Audio Commentary – View the movie with in-depth feature audio commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.

* Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is packaged several ways to ensure fans get the most out of their in-home viewing experience. The Multiscreen Edition (formerly the Blu-ray Combo Pack) includes Blu-ray, and a Digital copy, giving viewers the flexibility to watch the film on different devices. Those with 4K Ultra HD capability may opt for a 4K UHD Collector’s Edition, including 4K Ultra HD disc with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, Blu-ray disc, and a digital copy (where available). Dolby Vision delivers greater brightness and contrast, as well as a fuller palette of rich colors. Dolby Atmos places and moves audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. Together on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, viewers will practically feel the Force in their own home.

Cayucos by-the-Sea Welcomes Spring with Sea Glass Festival

By

Greg Aragon, Writer Greg's Getaway

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February 19, 2018

California’s majestic Central Coast is speckled with hidden gems lining the Pacific Ocean and none shine brighter than the tiny town of Cayucos by-the-Sea. This is especially true in Spring, when the temperature rises, flowers blossom along the hillsides and the city hosts its annual Sea Glass Festival.

Located off California Highway 1, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Cayucos by-the-Sea sits peacefully between the Pacific Ocean and rolling hills of open ranchland that are dotted with grazing cattle and old oak trees. Often referred to as “the last of the California beach towns,” the town possesses a colorful history that dates back to the days of Spanish land grants, sailing ships and steamers, as well as rum runners and revenuers. Gamblers and seafarers met in the Old Cayucos Tavern, and adventurers and romantics of all kinds still meet there today.

One of my favorite times to visit Cayucos is spring, when the weather is perfect for hikes and walks along the beach, and the town comes to life for the annual Sea Glass Festival, which is now in its 8th season.

One of the premier cultural events on the Central Coast, this year’s Sea Glass event, held Saturday and Sunday, March 10 – 11, will treat guests to a weekend of sunshine, local artisan goods, live music, and authentic mermaid creations. Visitors can shop in an extensive marketplace of the finest sea glass art, curios and collectibles, as well as enjoy regional food and beverages from local wineries and breweries. Accompanying the Sea Glass Festival is the 2nd Annual Cayucos Sea Glass Festival’s Mermaid Ball on Friday, March 9.

The festival, held in the Cayucos Sea Glass Festival Pavilion on the beach at the base of the historic pier, is a chance to shop and explore an extensive marketplace shimmering with the finest sea glass art, curios and collectibles. And when not shopping, festival goers can enjoy delicious local food and beverages and groove to great live music all weekend long.

After a day of fun, guests can also enjoy a night of merriment at the Mermaid Ball. This exciting evening will feature live music and dancing, photo-ops with live mermaids, a seafood chowder cook-off, and locally produced wine & artisan brews. Guests are encouraged to come in costume for the chance to be named the Sea Glass King & Queen of 2018. The queen will be crowned with a sea glass bejeweled tiara designed and created exclusively for this occasion by Jason of Cabana Jewelry.

Surrounding festival weekend, Cayucos by-the-Sea celebrates “Mermaids in March.” Sea glass pieces are affectionately known as mermaid tears, making mermaids an integral part of the festival. Throughout the entire month of March, visitors can stroll through town enjoying multi-media displays of mermaids ranging from stained glass and papier-mâché mermaids, to metal and wooden mermaid sculptures. Each mermaid is created by a local business and is an individual artistic expression embodying the spirit of the Sea Glass Festival.

Other things to do while visiting Cayucos include sampling the Central Coast’s legendary wine at the many tasting rooms along the coast; and a short drive to the Hearst Castle, which is one of the most sought after tourist attractions in California. The castle is the former home of famous newspaper tycoon William Randolf Hearst and is nestled 23 miles north in the hills of San Simeon with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

The town of Cayucos is highlighted by numerous quaint shops and stores, as well as the Cass House – original home of Capt. James Cass, founder of Cayucos – and the large dolphin statue at the foot of the town’s historic pier. Below the pier, Cayucos beach offers soft sand for sunbathing, tide pools for exploring, and an invigorating (five-mile) walk along the water to Morro Bay and its iconic 500 ft-tall rock.

The Cayucos Sea Glass Festival opens 10 am-5 pm on Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday. Admission is $7 per person per day and $15 per person for Saturday preview shopping. Children 7 and under are free. Mermaid Ball Tickets are $25 and are available at Sea Shanty & Shoreline Inn located in Cayucos or by emailing Carol at [email protected].

Hamilton in the OC! Tickets go on Sale Monday Feb 26

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 19, 2018

Producer Jeffrey Seller and Segerstrom Center for the Arts are pleased to bring HAMILTON to Orange County audiences for the first time May 8 – 27, 2018 in Segerstrom Hall. Single tickets for HAMILTON will go on sale to the public on Monday, February 26 at 9:00 AM at SCFTA.org and at the Box Office. There is a maximum purchase limit of four (4) tickets per account for the engagement. Tickets range from $80.75 to $200.75 with a select number of $600.75 premium seats available. There will be a lottery for all performances, with details to be announced closer to the engagement. Tickets may be purchased online at SCFTA.org and at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, May 19, 2018 will include audio description, open captioning and sign language interpretation.

With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacomoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

HAMILTON is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. An immigrant from the West Indies, Hamilton became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.

The HAMILTON creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® Winning Best Musical, In the Heights.

HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA.

The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.

The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording is available everywhere nationwide. The HAMILTON recording received a 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album.

Sellers notes, “It’s tempting to get tickets any way you can. There are many sites and people who are selling overpriced, and in some cases, fraudulent tickets. For the best seats, the best prices and to eliminate the risk of counterfeit tickets, online purchases for the Costa Mesa engagement should be made through SCFTA.org.”

Toy Story Land Opening Dates Announced

By

Maverick Bohn

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February 16, 2018

TOY STORY LAND AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT (LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.) — Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will take guests to infinity and beyond when Toy Story Land opens June 30, 2018. This new 11-acre land will transport guests into the adventurous outdoors of Andy's backyard. Guests will think they've been shrunk to the size of Woody and Buzz as they are surrounded by oversized toys. Guests will whoosh along on a family-friendly roller coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, take a spin aboard Alien Swirling Saucers and score high on the midway at the expanded Toy Story Mania! (Disney)

Break out your luxo balls and green army men, Toy Story Land now has an opening date thanks to a special announcement made on Good Morning America today. Playtime will commence on June 30th in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort. Stretching over 11 acres with three signature attractions, there’s bound to be something for every Toy Story fan.

“With set pieces, staging, attractions, and experiences, Toy Story Land represents the best of Walt Disney Imagineering’s collaboration with our storytelling partners at Pixar Animations Studios”, proudly stated by Parks and Resorts chairman Bob Chapek. “This new land will place guests inside the wondrous world of Woody, Buzz, and their pals…and invite everyone to experience the joy of being a toy.”

Disney Parks and Resorts released a full breakdown of what’s to come this summer. You can take a closer look below:

Slinky Dog Dash: Andy has assembled his roller coaster kit for maximum family fun. Tracks and supports in bright colors of red, orange, yellow and blue are put together according to Andy’s hand-drawn plans, with Rex and Jessie lending a hand. And to complete his creation, Andy picked up everyone’s favorite floppy-eared dachshund with a strrrrretch-ing slinky coil belly and dropped it on to the coaster track. Get ready to ride inside Slinky Dog’s coils! Slinky Dog Dash is inspired by the delightful pooch spinoff of Slinky, the 1950s American toy classic. Riders of all ages will delight as Slinky Dog bends and twists his coils around curves, hills, bridges and drops in the Slinky-est coaster ever. Riders will zip around and above Toy Story Land, serving up panoramic views of all that the new land has to offer. Andy’s colorful creation will stretch Slinky Dog and his coils to the max – from his head to his upturned tail – and be fun for the entire family.

Toy Story Land Opening Dates Announced — TOY STORY LAND AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT (LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.) —Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida opens June 30, 2018. Located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the new 11-acre Land will make guests feel like they have shrunk to the size of a toy in the setting of Andy’s backyard. Guests will whoosh along on a family-friendly roller coaster, Slinky Dog Dash (pictured under development), take a spin aboard Alien Swirling Saucers and score high on the midway at Toy Story Mania! (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Alien Swirling Saucers: Brace yourself for out-of-this-world thrills because the aliens have powered up their flying saucers! Alien Swirling Saucers will immerse guests in the playful world of Andy’s toys. This galactic space toy is designed as a play set that Andy won at the Pizza Planet restaurant.

Adorable little Toy Story green Aliens swirl about in their flying saucers with guests in tow in their rocket-ship toys, while “The Claw” hangs overhead. This space adventure is bathed in music re-imagined for intergalactic fun, dappled with multi-color lighting and sound effects from throughout galaxies.
Toy Story Mania! : While Andy’s away, the toys will play. One of the most beloved attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Toy Story Mania!, gets an all-new colorful toy carnival game box entrance when the new land opens. In fact, this is the box that the Toy Story Mania! game came in. Recently updated with a third track, the popular attraction will put even more guests in the carnival play-set action taking aim at 3D objects – using everything from baseballs to cream pies – in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced games. To the high-scorer go bragging rights.

Disney Parks worldwide will get to share in the Toy Story fun with the introduction of Pixar Pier at the Disneyland Resort in California as well as a new land in Shanghai that will debut on April 26th.

Concept Art for this summer's Pixar Pier at the Disneyland Resort. Toy Story Midway Mania will be wrapped in with the new themed land. — Concept Art for this summer’s Pixar Pier at the Disneyland Resort. Toy Story Midway Mania will be wrapped in with the new themed land.

With the newest expansions, there will now be a little bit of Toy Story in every Disney Park, highlighting the impact of the franchise to fans the world over. To learn more about Toy Story Land and all else Disney Parks, please visit the Disney Parks Blog!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/

Disney Home Opens in Downtown Disney

By

Maverick Bohn

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February 15, 2018

Disney Home has just opened in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort, providing a wide assortment of household goods with that magical Disney flair. SoCalThrills was at the scene, taking in all the excitement.

Disney Home is the latest in the transformation of Downtown Disney leading into the new year, joining the likes of Splitsville and the new VR experience, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire.

Take a look at the newest addition to the Downtown Disney family as well as all the merchandise options for your home below!

For more details on upcoming openings and special events throughout the entire Disneyland Resort, please visit the Disney Parks Blog:

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Returns and Introduces a New Lineup of Tasty Foods

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 15, 2018

The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is our 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 over 75 new and returning 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 refreshingly sweet and tangy drinks and one-of-a-kind specialty desserts that can only be found at Knott’s Berry Farm during this time of the year. In addition to the tasty treats, the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival offers a wide selection of daily entertainment, live music and fun activities for guests of all ages to enjoy. This year’s festival has expanded to 24 days, starting March 16 and running daily through April 8.

The historic boysenberry is a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry and is named after its originator Rudolf Boysen. The Knott family was the first to successfully harvest and sell the boysenberry on the land that is now known as Knott’s Berry Farm.

Some of the tastiest and most unique food items are rolled out exclusively during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival.

This year’s appetizing lineup includes the first ever boysenberry quesadilla made with a boysenberry-infused flour tortilla, paired with boysenberry salsa, boysenberry sour cream, sprinkled with cotija and mozzarella cheese. Plus, the boysenberry pierogies with onions, bacon and boysenberry sour cream will be bursting with a combination of sweet and savory flavors. Other flavorful items that will be prepared and served to perfection include the slow cooked boysenberry short ribs, the juicy meat is smothered in boysenberry hoisin sauce served over butter basmati rice and complete with chopped green onions will leave guests asking for more. The guest favorite and finger-lickin’ boysenberry chicken wings will also be available during the festival; the irresistible wings are smothered in the delicious and popular boysenberry BBQ sauce which is made exclusively at the Farm. The meaty and boysenberry inspired items also include the very filling boysenberry grilled sausage on a fresh roll prepared with a fresh farm-baked roll, topped with boysenberry ketchup, relish and mustard. For guests craving a refreshing drink, Knott’s is offering an all-new boysenberry boba tea which consists of boysenberry milk tea and chewy berry-soaked tapioca balls served over ice. The boysenberry elote is one of the satisfying treats guests will be able to find in the streets of Ghost Town. The lightly grilled corn is smothered in fresh boysenberry butter, mayo and perfectly topped off with cotija cheese. The Festival also offers a variety of sharable snacks for the family including a new vegetarian/vegan option like the highly enjoyable boysenberry hummus served with pita bread and prepared with garden-fresh boysenberries. Sweets and desserts are a key part of the festival and this year the culinary team is introducing the scrumptious, perfectly bite-sized boysenberry coconut macaroons, dipped in a decadent chocolate ganache, which are great to enjoy while strolling through the park. A great option to indulge in a variety of new and returning food items during the festival is by purchasing a tasting card priced at $30 which offers 8 of the new food options per card; guests can select any 8 items of their choice. Returning and other signature boysenberry items will also be available for purchase a la carte during each day of the festival. Tasting cards are available at Knotts.com or in the theme park.

Guest can also take home a taste of the boysenberry festival with limited edition merchandise that can be found throughout the park, such as a new boysenberry bath and body line including soaps, salt soaks, bath bombs, lip balms (introducing three new flavors) and candles. New to the festival this year is Knott’s sugar-free boysenberry concentrate, a low calorie, no sugar version of Knott’s popular drink, a wide selection of boysenberry chocolates including boysenberry versions of milk chocolate bars, truffles, caramel squares, peanut butter and jelly cups. New and exclusive to Knott’s Berry Farm this year is the all-new boysenberry Jelly Belly. The Knott’s Berry Market also features signature boysenberry items like the delicious boysenberry BBQ sauce or the classic jams and preserves. Unique boysenberry inspired products with a homemade twist will also be available as the Craft Fair returns offering a variety of products like boysenberry cashew nut brittle, boysenberry pie shaped homemade accessories and more.

Entertainment:

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival offers endless entertainment options for the festival goers who have a hankerin’ for some good ol’ country fun:

Tied up in Knott’s! – “Tied Up in Knott’s!” is a tribute art show to the rich history of Knott’s Berry Farm, its beginnings as a farm and its standing as a Southern California institution for millions of visitors during its (almost) 100-year history. More than a dozen artists will be contributing pieces to the show, which pays homage to Knott’s Berry Farm’s past, present and future in various mediums including: oil paintings, illustrations and digital mixed media. These original pieces will be hung on display at the Wilderness Dance Hall during the duration of the Boysenberry Festival and Guests will have the opportunity to purchase many of the pieces, as well as prints of some of the art.
Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree! – Guests are invited to join Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts Gang in a show that will have families dancing and playing along at the Calico Mine Stage.
Old Time Melodrama – Knott’s pays tribute to its past at the Legendary Bird Cage Theatre with a special presentation of the musical comedy melodrama with a surprising boysenberry twist!
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.
Ghost Town Miners – The joy of scrumptious food and country music encompass guests as the Ghost Town Miners take the stage in a fun musical performance.
Easter Beagle – Spring has sprung all around the park including in Camp Snoopy where guests can meet everyone’s favorite beagle as he celebrates the season.
Ghost Town’s Town Hall– In honor of the famous berry that started it all, guests are invited to learn the history of the boysenberry and how Walter and Cordelia Knott started the Farm.
Old MacDonald Petting Zoo – 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.

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 16 – April 8, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of all of the limited-time offerings.

The best way to savor every day of the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival and all of the other Seasons of Fun is with a 2018 Season Pass. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the recently expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. Regular passes are just $94 or six easy payments of $15.66 and Gold Passes are $113 or six payments of just $18.83. These offers end April 8, 2018. Applicable taxes and fees apply. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Partners with Disneyland Resort

By

Socalthrills Staff

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February 15, 2018

The Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® has partnered with the Disneyland® Resort to offer special, limited-time savings for Southern California Residents on both train travel and Disneyland® Resort theme park admission through May 21, 2018. The Pacific Surfliner brings nearly 3 million travelers annually to Southern California destinations including Anaheim, the gateway to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Pacific Surfliner and the Disneyland® Resort have partnered to offer Southern California Residents a magical offer including:

Kids ride free on the Pacific Surfliner to the Disneyland® Resort with a paid adult
An additional 5 percent savings on the SoCal Resident Ticket offer for Disneyland® Resort theme parks

“We are excited to partner with the Disneyland® Resort to offer enhanced savings not only on train travel, but on a quintessential SoCal experience,” said Bryan MacDonald, chairman of the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency, which oversees the Pacific Surfliner service. “Through this partnership, we hope to make passenger rail service more accessible and approachable for Southern Californians, while also providing added value to our existing Pacific Surfliner customers.”

Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) provides a convenient shuttle connection from the train station to Disneyland® Resort. From the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), board ART Route 15 to the theme park. The ride is free with your valid train ticket. Participants can travel to ARTIC by train from points throughout Southern California, including San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

Program details:

Kids Ride Free to Anaheim – Book the train to Anaheim, CA and for each adult ticket purchased, receive one child ticket free (ages 2-12). To redeem, select one “Adult” and one “Child” as your passenger types, and enter promo code V231.
Enjoy Special Savings on the Disneyland® Resort SoCal Resident Ticket – Unlock an additional 5 percent savings on the SoCal Resident Ticket offer by visiting PacificSurfliner.com/Disney.

Visit pacificsurfliner.com/Disney for complete offer details.

Elastagirl Steals the Show in ‘Incredibles 2’ Olympics Preview

By

Maverick Bohn

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February 14, 2018

SUPER FAMILY -- In Disney Pixar’s “Incredibles 2,” Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is in the spotlight, while Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home when a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot that only the Incredibles can overcome together. Also featuring the voices of Sarah Vowell as Violet and Huck Milner as Dash, “Incredibles 2” opens in U.S. theaters on June 15, 2018. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

The Incredibles are back and going for gold in Disney’s latest trailer which debuted during Winter Olympics coverage. This is the first real trailer and review from Disney since the film’s announced release and the focus is on Helen Parr, who’s super hero persona is the sassy, overly flexible, Elastagirl.

Mr Incredible, Bob Parr, is left with parenting duty while his wife is recruited to bring back the world of supers to the spotlight. Rather than jumping back into action with his wife, Bob is left with math, stress, and keeping his infant from going nuclear.

Over 14 years have passed since we last saw this super charged family and now we are all left to wonder how much has changed since the plot of the film will pick up immediately after the climax of the original 2004 film.

What is clear is that the Incredible family will have their work cut out for them in an epic balancing act between fighting crime and having a stable home life. More reveals and questions will most likely form as we get closer to the release date, in classic Disney fashion.

Similar to Solo: A Star Wars Story as well as Avengers: Infinity War, Disney is beginning to strategically place their preview slate in the mix during sporting events, which draws in a larger number of diverse viewers. It’s a great marketing strategy, but also a very obvious one. Other studios are also taking the same page from their playbook, as we saw in this past Super Bowl slate.

Special teaser posters were also released, which you can see below!

The Incredibles 2 is set to release on June 15th. You can learn more about the upcoming film on the official site: http://movies.disney.com/the-incredibles-2

Wonder: Blu-Ray Review

By

Maverick Bohn

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February 14, 2018

“You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.”

Wonder has just blasted off on Blu-Ray with over three hours of special features that will make you laugh, cry, and feel inspired. The film, based off the novel by R.J. Palacio, follows the life, struggle, and triumph of the Auggie Pullman and his family. The movie challenges us all to learn to see with a different point of view and understand that we all need our chance to shine in a world that may not always appreciate or see us the way it should.

What makes this set stand out is the level of teamwork needed bring the world of Auggie and the idea of kindness to life. From page to screen, every part of process in this film was painstaking, full of heart, and nothing short of a miracle.

The documentary pulls that craft into intricate pieces, highlighting the work with writer, R.J Palacio, the entire children’s cast and the creative use of multi camera shooting, as well as some of the struggles of filming on a very limited schedule. Unlike most feature series, this set takes a humble approach and is refreshing since it really brings forward the effort on everyone involved, rather than just focusing on the surface of the film for content.

Interviews are given by many of the major players, but you also get some feedback from the smaller parts of the crew and cast. When watching these clips, the audience really gets an opportunity to see what Wonder means to the entire production. It’s truly captivating and genuine.

The overarching message of hope endures, and the set of special features is a great guide to learning how much effort goes into this type of film, but also the many reasons that it succeeded when there was so much room for failure. Just like the story itself, there’s a real sense of hope and discovery.

Here’s a full list of the available features on the Blu-Ray/Digital set:

Summer of Fun 5-Part Documentary:

A (com)Passion Project- Part 1

“Family Matters”- Part 2

“A Technical Wonder”- Part 3

A Note of Kindness- Part 4

We All Deserve a Standing Ovation at Least Once in Our Lives- Part 5

A Child’s Sense of Wonder Featurette

What a Wonderful World Featurette

DVD/Blu-Ray Features

Audio Commentary with Stephen Chbosky and R.J. Palacio

“Brand New Eyes” Music Video

Wonder Soundtrack: Behind-the-Scenes

To celebrate the release, Director Stephen Chbosky hosted a special launch event, which was covered by SocalThrills this past weekend. Check out the amazing and heart warming story.

Learn more about the book and real stories that helped make this film a reality by visiting http://wonder.movie. Wonder can be purchased at most major in store and online retailers!

Photo Break: Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year Festivities at Disneyland

By

Maverick Bohn

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February 14, 2018

Happy Valentine’s Day Disney Fans!

It’s a special time of year at the Disneyland Resort, full of bright colors, feelings, and nostalgia. Valentine’s Day is here and in park tradition, hearts, chocolates, and lovely touches of red and pink can be found throughout the resort.

Here’s a look at some of the blossoming Valentine’s displays and merchandise for this year’s celebration!

Plenty of dazzle for those on your Valentine's list. — Plenty of dazzle for those on your Valentine’s list.

What would Valentine's Day be without chocolate? — What would Valentine’s Day be without chocolate?

Disneyland wasn’t the only park with their heart on their sleeve, as Disney California Adventure also shared in the fun of the sweetest time of the year!

Oh boy! Isn't this the greatest gift idea? — Oh boy! Isn’t this the greatest gift idea?

Plenty of love for the pin collectors too!

Minnie in her Valentine's Best! — Minnie in her Valentine’s Best!

For those wanting something else to celebrate, Lunar New Year is still in Full Swing over at Disney California Adventure. Take a look for yourself and ring in the Year of the Dog!

The Year of the Dog means Pluto is in the spotlight. This is fantastic!

Pluto is front and center for this year’s festival. It’s great to see him featured alongside Mickey and Minnie with pride!

Some of the featured merchandise for the event, including a new Pluto plush!

Let’s not forget about our other special guests for the event, Mulan and Mushu! Stepping aside for a goofy moment, they will definitely have some fun memories to reflect on!