Princess Elena, the first Disney Princess inspired by diverse Latin American cultures, will make her Disneyland Resort debut as part of the Festival of Holidays. She will perform a song in “Princess Elena’s Musical Grand Arrival,” and she will appear at a character greeting location. Guests will recognize this brave and adventurous teenager from the Disney Channel series “Elena of Avalor.”
The new Festival of Holidays celebrates holiday festivities of diverse cultures with music, dance and craft-making, plus food at the Festive Foods Marketplace. The daily lineup of entertainment includes nearly 50 performances of nine unique shows, with special Disney characters, street parties, cavalcades, musical ensembles and dance performances. The celebrations include Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas/Navidad and Three Kings Day. Guests can look for performances of traditional Indian dance that builds to a Bollywood party, a Klezmer band with a new global sound, the Mariachi Divas and an a cappella vocal group that puts an R&B spin on holiday songs.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort is a time many guests celebrate as an annual tradition, visiting the parks for Disney-themed treats, snowfall on Main Street U.S.A., the glistening décor and holiday entertainment. This year, guests will find Santa Claus in a fun, new location at Disney California Adventure Park, at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and guests at Disneyland Park will enjoy the one-of-a-kind transformations that create “it’s a small world” Holiday, Jingle Cruise and Haunted Mansion Holiday. Now celebrating its 20th holiday season, “it’s a small world” Holiday has added some “Hidden 20s” for guests to discover on their voyage.
For many guests at the Disneyland Resort, a visit during the holidays means a must-do voyage through the heartwarming “it’s a small world” Holiday. Now in its 20th season, “it’s a small world” Holiday is transformed from the classic attraction into one that depicts children of the world dressed in seasonal costumes and happily singing a mix of holiday songs, along with the “it’s a small world” theme. The story of the attraction changes from a charming party with dolls, toys and decorations representing children of many nations, all joining in a song of unity, to the winter wonderland of “it’s a small world” Holiday.
Watch the 20th Anniversary Celebration:
Guests who enjoy searching for “Hidden Mickey’s” at the Disneyland Resort will discover a new challenge for Holidays 2016: There are at least half a dozen “Hidden 20s” in “it’s a small world” Holiday, a tribute to its 20th holiday presentation.
Jolly decorators use 50,000 lights on the façade of “it’s a small world” Holiday, and an additional 350,000 mini-lights in the trees, hedges and animal topiaries surrounding the attraction in whimsical Fantasyland. Thousands of additional lights decorate the shops and food kiosks around the attraction, bringing the total to more than 400,000 lights adding sparkle and wintry ambiance to the plaza area around “it’s a small world.”
The warm holiday atmosphere of the plaza area is further enhanced with colorful garland, festive poinsettias and beautiful, international holiday wreaths.
After dark, the smiling clock at the front of “it’s a small world,” decked out in a Santa hat, reveals a sparkling projection show. On every quarter hour, the brightly light façade of the attraction is transformed into an enormous clockwork mechanism with advanced 3D-projection technology presented by Siemens. The gears and springs pull back to reveal a world of holiday wonders hidden behind the whimsical clock.
Guests on “The Merriest Attraction on Earth” sail through 10 scenes inspired by places around the world, such as Europe, Asia and Africa, each representing unique cultural holiday traditions celebrated in these regions.
Among the holiday special effects inside the attraction are scents of fresh pine from a glistening winter forest and peppermint from tantalizing candy canes in the European scenes. In the South Seas scene, hundreds of iridescent bubbles float through the air.
Nearly 150 giant candles decorate the Christmas Tree in the European scene. Once a common tradition in Western European countries, the lighting of candles has inspired the string lights seen on modern Christmas trees today.
The attractions’ finale features a 14-foot snowman made of glimmering crystal snowflakes that shine with thousands of luminous lights. The snowman stands atop a 10-foot-wide snowflake and holds a beautiful “icicle” sign that spells out “Happy Holidays” in colors that change as guests drift along. The snowman joined this festive attraction in 2011, bringing an extra sprinkle of holiday pixie dust with him.
The iconic music of “it’s a small world,” written by the legendary Sherman Brothers, is one of the attraction’s signature elements throughout the regular season. During “it’s a small world” Holiday, guests may still hear this classic tune weaved in between the joyous caroling of holiday favorites “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls.”
Many languages of the world can be heard serenading guests, with cheerful tunes in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Scandinavian languages. Festive signs and banners throughout the attraction spread holiday greetings in such dialects as French Canadian, Dutch, Asante and Hawaiian.
The Disneyland Resort has its own team of holiday “elves” who help create the magic of “it’s a small world” Holiday each year. It takes a talented and dedicated team of nearly three dozen cast members 35 days to install the glittering façade, and nearly 18 days to decorate the holiday attraction’s dazzling interior.
Throughout the regular year, 100 percent of the holiday props and scenic elements are actually stored inside the attraction. A merry reminder: Do not open until the holiday season begins!
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort create unforgettable memories for guests with sparkling décor, enchanting entertainment, themed attractions, specialty merchandise, and delectable food and treats. Now is the ideal time to bring some of that Disney magic home as a holiday gift for friends, family and loved ones. For shopping list ideas, here are 12 holiday gifts that can be found at the Disneyland Resort, including a new 13-for-12 annual passport offer.
12 Holiday Gift Ideas from the Disneyland Resort:
Get 13 months for the price of 12: Beginning Nov. 17, guests who purchase a select 12-month annual passport will enjoy 13 months of unsurpassed passholder magic filled with seasonal events, exciting attractions, stellar entertainment and delicious dining opportunities. New passes must be purchased between Nov. 17, 2016, and Feb.11, 2017*, and pass renewals with this offer are permitted through Nov. 16, 2017**. Prices vary depending on pass type selected, and the offer is valid for Deluxe, Signature, Signature Plus and Premier Annual Passports. This special offer, which includes passholder benefits such as discounts on dining and merchandise, is available online and at Disneyland Resort ticket booths. For details, see com/13for12
Decorate Disney style: Guests will have fun selecting festive holiday ornaments for themselves or those on their gift list. The ornaments come in many styles and shapes, with themes from Disney Princesses to Pixar stories. A Holiday 2016 ornament also makes for a special keepsake and can start a family tradition of collecting ornaments.
Hop on board: There’s nothing like a charming holiday train set to bring the spirit of the season to any home. Little engineers will love the 30-piece Disney Parks train set that features a locomotive, four train cars and fun Disney characters.
Stocking stuffer treats: Seasonal treats such as white frosted pretzels and chocolate bars, packaged Mickey’s Coffee available in flavors such as egg nog and pumpkin spice, and Mickey’s Cocoa mix in white and mint chocolate flavors make sweet stocking stuffers. Some treats come in colorful holiday canisters featuring Disney characters.
Grand Gingerbread: At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests will enjoy the return of the popular Grand Gingerbread House. Designed as a replica of the hotel, this homemade gingerbread house weighs more than 500 pounds, is decorated with real frosting and it fills the hotel lobby with the scent of gingerbread. For the bakers in your life, Gingerbread Cookie Mix is a tasty gift, and includes a fun Mickey-shaped gingerbread cookie cutter. It’s available at World of Disney at the Downtown Disney District.
Festive attire: Traditional, red-and-white Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Santa Hats, along with festive Minnie Mouse Holiday Headbands featuring holiday sequined bows, are popular gifts for people of all ages. These can become special reminders of a guest’s holiday visit to the Disneyland Resort.
Setting the table with Disney fun: Holiday Home Decor and Cookware is available in the new woodland winter product line, inspired by vintage winter holiday scenes with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and rarely seen friends from the 1942 film “Bambi.” These festive new items include dishes, bowls, salt and pepper shakers, aprons, mugs and kitchen towels.
The gift of Disney storytelling: Guests who appreciate Disney storytelling will especially love this gift: the “Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort” Guided Tour. This special, 2 ½-hour walking tour includes Holiday tales about the resort, reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade,” seasonal treats, a personalized name button and a special collectable pin***. Guests may get details and make reservations by calling (714) 781-TOUR.
Let’s trade!: For the pin collector in any family, special edition commemorative Disney Pins are a joyous present to receive, and many styles for 2016 share the beauty of a sparkling winter.
Light up their smiles: For children of any age, Holiday Plush will bring warm smiles to the faces of those who receive them. Some of the beloved characters represented include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Dumbo, Donald Duck and Goofy.
Mine, mine, mine!: The Disneyland Resort offers Personalized Embroidery to customize select items with names or years. Items such as sweaters, hats and holiday stockings can be embroidered at Disney Showcase inside Disneyland, at Elias and Company inside Disney California Adventure Park, and at World of Disney at the Downtown Disney District.
For a cold winter’s night: Unwrapping a cozy pair of warm Disney pajamas or Disney-themed socks is a tradition for many families, and the Disneyland Resort offers a variety of cotton, flannel and fleece options styled in vibrant red and green colors for infants, children and adults.
*Offer not valid on previously purchased passes. Passes are 13 consecutive months and non-refundable. Block out dates apply to certain pass types. Passes do not guarantee theme park admission, especially during high attendance periods, and admission is subject to capacity and other closures. Excludes activities/events separately priced. Other restrictions apply. Pass types are limited in quantity, and Passes may no longer be available for purchase and/or renewal at any time. Annual Passholders must present their valid Annual Pass prior to purchases to receive any applicable benefits or discounts. Benefits and discounts are determined solely by Disney or applicable offer or, are subject to restrictions and exclusions and may be valid at only select locations. The passes and their benefits are nontransferable, subject to restrictions and change without notice, and may not be combined with any other discount, offer or promotion. The passes are for personal use only, and the passes and their benefits may not be used for commercial purposes or for the benefit of others including, without limitation, the purchase of merchandise with the intent to resell such merchandise or the sharing of benefits with persons who are not the Passholder. Subject to the Annual Passport Terms and Conditions.
**Renewal must occur prior to Passport expiration date and no later than November 16, 2017. Other restrictions apply.
***Separate Theme Park admission is required. Tour times and offerings are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability, restrictions and change without notice.
House of Blues Anaheim, Southern California’s newest and ultimate entertainment destination, announced its first schedule of shows to run through 2017. The venue is set to open February 28 and will offer four unique and immersive entertainment environments all under one roof, making it the most advanced House of Blues built to date and the only venue of its kind on the west coast.
Social Distortion is set to christen the House of Blues Anaheim on its first two nights, celebrating the grand opening on February 28 and performing a second night on March 1. The full schedule of shows announced includes: Billy Idol, Wu-Tang Clan, Chase Rice, Korn, Death Cab For Cutie, Jason Isbell, Café Tacvba, 311, Daya, Common, Yellowcard – The Final Show, Ramon Ayala, and Santana among many others performing in the main concert hall. Tickets for all shows are set to go on sale November 19 at 10:00 a.m. PST.
Lead singer and founding member of Social Distortion, Mike Ness said, “We are excited that we have been asked to open the new House of Blues Anaheim. We’ve performed at the House of Blues across the country many times over, but this is a special honor because it’s Orange County, our living room. See you all in February.”
“This really is an epic grand opening lineup that is unparalleled in the live music scene,” said Ben Weeden, COO of House of Blues Entertainment. “We’ve spent months curating performers and we are honored to have many artists that played the old HOB Anaheim as well as welcoming in new artists. I think we will make Orange County proud and stay tuned for some big upcoming announcements.”
The main concert hall will host 2,200 concert goers yet still maintain the intimate feel that House of Blues is known for. The Parish will offer an even more intimate musical experience for 400 guests. Designed for singer/songwriters, local artists, smaller touring bands, and intimate showcases, the room can adjust to accommodate lounge seating or a standing-room configuration with optimum sight lines from every angle. The Legendary Foundation Room will be Orange County’s newest social scene and feature upscale cocktails, food and late nights, where guests can indulge in the exclusive VIP club for the ultimate access to concerts, invitation only after parties and member only events. House of Blues Restaurant and Bar will be a unique food-meets-music experience, with soulful comfort cuisine, a creative bar program and a spacious open-air patio.
All four of HOB Anaheim’s entertainment and food spaces will have the most advanced sound system of any House of Blues, and the location will feature live music every night.
“No other venue on the west coast is offering this many simultaneous entertainment options under one roof,” said Weeden. “In one night you could experience four different musical performances of different genres. It is truly going to be the ultimate live music fix.”
The first House of Blues opened in Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA, in November 1992. Opening 25 years later the new House of Blues Anaheim will represent the ultimate House of Blues experience, combining the best of the past with the most advanced technologies of the future.
Citi is the preferred credit card of Live Nation. Fans can visit CitiPrivatePass.com for presale information and special offers.
Show Schedule
2/28/17 – Social Distortion
3/1/17 – Social Distortion
3/2/17 – Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
3/3/17 – Chase Rice
3/5/17 – Korn
3/6/17 – Korn
3/7/17 – Thrice & Manchester Orchestra
3/8/17 – George Thorogood & The Destroyers
3/9/17 – Café Tacvba
3/10/17 – Café Tacvba
3/11/17 – Daya
3/11/17 – Adventure Club
3/13/17 – Billy Idol
3/14/17 – The Growlers
3/15/17 – Jason Isbell
3/16/17 – Julieta Venegas
3/17/17 – Wu Tang Clan – Return To The 36 Chambers
3/18/17 – 311
3/19/17 – Death Cab For Cutie
3/2017 – The Kills
3/23/17 – Common
3/25/17 – Yellowcard – The Final Show
3/26/17 – Save Ferris
4/5/17 – Frankie Ballard
4/8/17 – The Damned – 40th Anniversary U.S. Tour
4/14/17 – Ramon Ayala
4/15/17 – Ramon Ayala
4/23/17 – The Pixies
4/28/17 – Sammy Johnson
5/24/17 – Catfish & The Bottlemen
9/11/17 – Santana
NETworks Presentations, LLC and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures bring the Broadway musical ELF to Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa for the exclusive Orange County premiere December 20, 2016 – January 1, 2017. ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.
Tickets to ELF THE MUSICAL start at $29 and are available online at SCFTA.org, by calling (714) 556-2787 and at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 10 or more, please call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, December 31, 2016 will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation. The Center offers many services for patrons with disabilities including removable wheelchair locations, binoculars and assistive listening devices. To learn more visit SCFTA.org/accessibilityinformation.
Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone). The production will feature direction by Sam Scalamoni and choreography by Connor Gallagher.
Whole Foods Market has partnered with Mendocino Farms to open a location inside its Tustin store at The District, opening Thursday, Nov. 17, at 2847 Park Avenue Tustin, CA 92782. The restaurant opening coincides with the completion of a major remodel to the 60,500-square-foot store with expanded product offerings and updates in almost every department.
Mendocino Farms is located in a new 140-seat dining area shared with the recently opened Hangar Bar. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., the location will offer its full menu of gourmet sandwiches and salads for lunch and dinner. Menu highlights include the Pork Belly Banh Mi, the Avocado & Quinoa Superfood Ensalada and the Not So Fried Chicken, a lighter version of a cold fried chicken sandwich with shaved free range chicken breast. All menu items are made on site and meet Whole Foods Market’s strict quality standards. From November 17 through December 4, sales from its limited edition short rib sandwich created with local chef Yvon Goetz will benefit the Tustin Public Schools Foundation. This is the first Mendocino Farms location within a Whole Foods Market store.
“It’s a great honor for us to anchor the prepared foods section of Whole Foods Market with a full-size Mendocino Farms,” said Mario Del Pero, co-founder, Mendocino Farms. “This newly remodeled location is now one of the best food halls in Orange County and we are excited to be involved.”
Mendocino Farms and Hangar Bar anchor the store’s prepared foods and bakery departments, now offering in-house scratch bread made fresh daily, a taqueria, an all-day breakfast bar, self-serve pizza and vegan dishes, alongside the same wide selection of favorites and holiday items the store is known for.
“The store is designed to be a one-stop shop,” said Patrick Bradley, president of Whole Foods Market’s Southern Pacific Region. “From sushi and breakfast burritos or even a full Thanksgiving meal and holiday gifts, to sandwiches from Mendocino and great craft beer from Hangar Bar – there are so many options, which was something we wanted for the community.”
Inspired by the blimp hangars in Tustin with a lattice ceiling and light fixtures that appear to be floating, Hangar Bar has 36 beers on tap, 12+ wines by the glass, signature craft cocktails, a Fall-inspired seasonal menu and daily specials. Offerings include jackfruit “crab” cakes, cauliflower nachos, an autumn squash and grilled apple salad, maple glazed pork belly, plus sushi, burgers and toasts like the “forest schroom” with almond ricotta sautéed baby kale, roasted garlic and Fresno chile. Hangar Bar offers a rotating selection of limited release local craft beers on draft and nitro served from a keg cooler enclosed by glass so that shoppers and diners can see the beers. Hours are 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily.
Additional store updates:
Made to order poke bar and expanded value pack in seafood
Smoke & Fire wood fired grill experience – opening December 2017
Huge beer and wine selection featuring “The Flight Path” with more than 850 types of beer including local limited release offerings
A dedicated pet food aisle
Combined coffee and juice bar, with gelato and made-to-order Sambazon acai bowls
Smokehouse menu in the meat department, plus expanded marinated and value section with expanded bacon, hot dogs and poultry
Renovated beauty and body care department with a curated selection of premium body care
New bulk section for spices and teas
Updated seating area in front of the store with 80 additional seats
Realigned aisles throughout the store for a more efficient shopping experience
Whole Foods Market Tustin will commemorate the grand re-opening Saturday, December 3 at noon with a “bread-breaking” ceremony with team members, Mendocino Farms and the community. The store will host a “Family Fun Day” immediately following from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., with live music, games, food and beverage demos, sampling, a DJ and more.
The City of Long Beach will once again be overtaken by the holiday spirit when the fifth annual CHILL returns to the majestic Queen Mary ship November 23, 2016 through January 8, 2017. In addition to ice skating, ice tubing, sleigh rides, and visits with Santa, Southern California’s coolest holiday adventure will unveil a new interactive and immersive experience,Alice in Winterland.
Light up the night and follow the Queen down the rabbit hole this holiday season with Alice in Winterland. The newest attraction at CHILL brings an inspired re-imagination of the classic Lewis Carroll story to life through the magic of an interactive and digitally immersive 14,000-square foot walk-through experience. Guests can unlock the hidden secrets of the adventure with RIFD technology to make each individual visit truly unforgettable. Alice in Winterland features stunning, larger than life lanterns as you follow Alice and her adventure into the Hall of Doors, the White Rabbit’s Kitchen, Mad Hatter’s Work Shop, the proverbial Tea Party, the Hedge Maze and visits from the Caterpillar and the new Queen of Diamonds.
The fifth annual CHILL welcomes back Glacier Glide Ice Tubing with six lanes of glistening ice slides standing two stories tall and 100-feet long. Ice skate under the stars on the 6,000 square-foot ice skating rink with the backdrop of the picturesque Queen Mary ship.
Stroll through the North Pole Village and stop by the Queen Mary Village’s post office to send a letter to Santa. Take a spin on the Swinging Sleigh Ride, the Giant Rocking Horse or play Prancer’s Paintball for holiday thrills.
A trip to CHILL is not complete without a stop by the Gingerbread House to make a festive edible creation, and a visit to Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Claus Cottage. The holiday fun is endless.
CHILL pricing starts at $39.99 for adults and $29.99 for kids (ages 4-11). In celebration of CHILL’s return, Queen Mary is offering general admission tickets at 50% off Oct. 4-7, now available online. Tickets include entrance to Alice in Winterland, Ice Tubing, CHILL Village and access to the Queen Mary ship. Hotel and VIP packages are also available. CHILL will be open select dates Nov. 23 through Jan. 8. For more information, including hours or to purchase tickets online, visit http://queenmary.com/chill/
Sometimes getting there is half the fun. And then sometimes it can be its own separate getaway, full of adventure, luxury and relaxation. Such was the case on my recent flight to Switzerland aboard Swiss International (SWISS) Air’s new Boeing 777-300er jet.
My journey began at Los Angeles International airport, where I checked into SWISS Business Class at a separate, “no waiting” desk for Business passengers, and made my way through TSA security. I then found comfort at the airline’s VIP lounge, a plush, private area for business and 1st class passengers, as well as other “honored” travelers and frequent flyers.
At the lounge I filled up at the all inclusive gourmet buffet and full, open bar. I then hooked my laptop on to the free wireless Internet and relaxed in a big leather chair until it was time to board my flight. When flight time came, I strolled passed the line and took advantage of priority boarding.
Once aboard the aircraft, I found my seat / “suite,” grabbed a welcoming glass of champagne, and then I leaned back and dreamed of my upcoming trip to the majestic Lake Geneva Region of Switzerland.
Business Class aboard Swiss Air is pure luxury and comfort
As one of nine new Boeing 777-300ERs that SWISS Air recently ordered, the jet boasts sophisticated technology, outstanding reliability and high levels of cabin comfort, while accommodating 340 passengers. And with advanced General Electric GE90-115BL engines – the biggest in the civil aviation sector – the $339 million-twinjet 777-300ers also offer better fuel consumption.
“This is a milestone in the history of SWISS Air,” says Patrick Heymann, SWISS Senior Director for the Americas. “With the new Boeing 777-300ER, we will be setting new benchmarks in terms of our customers’ inflight comfort and overall air travel experience.”
My mini-business class suite aboard the 777-300ER included plenty of privacy and personal space. The experience was highlighted by a seat that reclined a full 180 degrees to a length of 80 inches for sleeping; a fold out table for eating or working on the computer; a 16-inch touch screen with movies, TV shows, music, maps and podcasts; a convenient push button, seat control panel; big soft headphones; and lots of privacy and stowaway space.
Business and first class seats fold all the way into comfy beds
And then there is the pampering service and gourmet food that rivals most restaurants.
Created by renowned top chefs, the SWISS menus are made with fresh, regional products. My dinner began with Swiss white wine and a smoked salmon tartare appetizer, with potato salad and horseradish beets. For a main course I devoured sautéed beef tenderloin with Bordelaise sauce Anna potatoes, and pattypan squash. For dessert I had an espresso and toffee cheesecake with chocolate sauce.
The food on board is gourmet and rivals most restaurants
After dinner, I leaned the seat into “bed mode” and watched a couple classic Charlie Chaplin movies. I choose Chaplin because my trip included a stop in the charming town of Vevey, Switzerland where the famous comedian retired to a massive estate. The estate is now home to the brand new Chaplin’s World museum (www.chaplinsworld.com).
Somewhere into my second Chaplin film, “Gold Rush,” I fell asleep on the comfy bed, as the jet made its way to Zurich. In a few hours I awoke to the aroma of fresh coffee and the soothing voice of the Swiss flight attendant asking me what I would like for breakfast. The 11-hour flight was coming to an end and I was well rested, well fed and ready to explore Switzerland.
Besides business and first class, SWISS Air’s economy class aboard the 777-300er is also a comfortable experience. In this section there are 270 seats that offer the latest seat-cushion technology, more legroom than previous planes, 11-inch touch screens with USB and audio port, leather headrest covers, and cup and smartphone holders. The service here also features delicious food choices and friendly Swiss service.
Swiss International Air Lines is Switzerland’s national airline, serving 102 destinations in 46 countries from Zurich and Geneva and carrying more than 16 million passengers a year with a 94-aircraft fleet. The airline currently offers daily non-stop flights from Los Angeles to Zurich. For more information, visit: www.swiss.com
Delightful, delicious and hot. Three wonderful words that describe hot Butterbeer™, the newest addition that will be offered seasonally at Three Broomsticks™ at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” at Universal Studios Hollywood™.
Like its traditional and frozen counterparts, hot Butterbeer is reminiscent of butterscotch and shortbread that’s been perfectly fine-tuned as a Hogsmeade treat.
Three Broomsticks, an aged rustic tavern, caters to guests with an array of authentic British breakfast, lunchtime and dinner fare while they are seated at custom-made wooden tables, chairs and benches in a warm and inviting atmosphere inspired by the Harry Potter books and films.
The eclectic menu offers such tasty staples as Bangers & Mash (savory grilled English sausages with creamy mashed potatoes and minted peas), Shepherd’s Pie (ground beef and vegetables, crowned with a crust of mashed potatoes), Beef Sunday Roast (prime rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and gravy), Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew, and Fish & Chips. In addition to Butterbeer Potted Cream, Sticky Toffee Pudding rounds out the hearty British fare.
Scrumptious traditional English breakfast items invite guests to start their day at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” including the Eggy Bread breakfast (freshly baked baguette dipped in a cinnamon egg batter and lightly sautéed, sprinkled with powder sugar and served with bacon, strawberries and real maple syrup.), as well as traditional English breakfast (fresh scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon, baked beans, baked tomato, and potatoes) and traditional American breakfast (fresh scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon and link sausage with butter croissant).
Gathering inspiration from historic British taverns, the adjoining Hog’s Head pub features original draught beers and spirits created exclusively for the land, including Hog’s Head Brew, Dragon’s Scale, Wizard’s Brew and Fire Whiskey. Also available are Pumpkin Fizz and Gilly Water and the three Butterbeer choices: traditional, frozen and hot.
“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” now serves hot Butterbeer at Three Broomsticks.
With credits like “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid” under their belts, directors John Musker and Ron Clements have a storied background in hand-drawn animation, in addition to CG work on several of their projects. But when they envisioned “Moana,” they knew their approach would be different. “What we endeavored to do with the ocean and island settings in this film really called for CG animation,” says Clements. “The lighting and textures and dimension we can achieve in CG create an incredible, really immersive experience.”
Adds Musker, “The islands, the skylines, the mountains, even the characters all have a sculptural quality to them that comes through really well in CG animation.”
But Musker says that they aren’t creating a photo-real look. “We have developed a world that’s a slightly caricatured version of the Pacific Islands we’ve experienced,” he says. “The colors, already rich, are pushed a little. We want the look of this film to be so enveloping that you want to jump right in.”
This past summer we sat down with Jessica Julius (Sr. Creative Executive), Ian Gooding (Production Designer), Andy Harkness (Art Director, Environments & Color), Adolph Lusinsky (Director of Cinematography, Lighting) to learn how they created the look for “Moana.” One of the challenges the team had to overcome was to make this film in a specific time and place.
Research photo taken of the atoll of Tetiaroa rgr inspired the look and feel of the outer reef of fictional island Motunui in MOANA.
Production designer Ian Gooding, who lived in Jamaica until he was 20, says that the research trips proved more valuable than he expected. “There’s a lot of things that you just take for granted,” he says. “For example, everyone imagines coconut trees swaying in the wind, but the truth is that the little leaflets might be affected by a breeze, and then the boughs will move if you have a lot of wind, but the trunks remain still. I didn’t know that even though I had five of those trees in my back yard when I was growing up.”
Gooding and his team of artists put a lot of time into capturing the right motion of breaking waves on the shoreline. “It’s very different from what we get in California,” he says. “Many of the islands there have huge coral reefs in the lagoons, so the big swells that come across the Pacific break there. What you get on the shore is a little chop. We also had to consider factors like rainfall, the presence of volcanoes and even the type of rock that forms the sand.”
The film features more than 60 species of vegetation, including varieties ancient Polynesians may have brought with them from their home islands, like specific coconut trees, bread fruit and taro. Filmmakers did take artistic license in some cases, adding color to the landscape that may not have existed on the islands till many years later.
Visual development for the island of Motunui, and the layout of the village. Artist: Andy Harkness, MOANA Art Director, Environments and Color.
The island of Motunui was designed in part when it received its name. “Motu means ‘island’ and nui means ‘big,’” says Gooding. “So it’s meant to be pretty large.” That fact proved challenging, because they wanted to be able to include establishing shots that would showcase the entire island—but in reality, they found that to get far enough away to do so, the atmosphere would obscure the island. They ultimately scaled the island to make it appear large and fanciful with exaggerated verticals. “We had to adjust the scale a bit to make the height of the mountain more realistic and to make the size of the island something we could capture,” says Gooding.
Young Moana interacting with the Ocean.
Adding to their challenges was the reality that was compelling Moana to venture out into the ocean. “Trouble is brewing,” says Gooding. “All is not right on this island. The crops are failing, the fish are not as plentiful. We really battled the need to create a pleasant, beautiful setting and still show that something is going terribly wrong.”
The new House of Blues Anaheim – the first new House of Blues to be built in the U.S. in a decade – is set to open March 2017 – and will kick off a yearlong 25th anniversary of legendary music halls and restaurants.
The first House of Blues opened in Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA, in November 1992. Opening 25 years later the new House of Blues Anaheim will represent the ultimate House of Blues experience, combining the best of the past with the most advanced technologies of the future.
“House of Blues Anaheim will embrace our same familiar rock and roll vibe with contemporary flourishes that ensures our musical, culinary and sensory experience fits future generations while solidly representing our historic roots,” said Ron Bension, president, House of Blues Entertainment. “The venue pays homage to the past 25 years and celebrates the next 25 to come.”
House of Blues Anaheim combines 44,000 square feet of space, more than twice the size of the former location, with live music in four unique entertainment spaces all under one roof.
The main concert hall will welcome up to 2,200 concert goers yet still maintain the intimate feel that the House of Blues brand is universally recognized for. Bension said, “The room will offer ‘incredible’ sight lines, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, and an opportunity for fans to get up close and personal with the performers on stage.” All four of HOB Anaheim’s entertainment and food spaces will have the most advanced sound system of any House of Blues, and the location will feature live entertainment every night.
A second live music and special event space, The Parish, will offer an even more intimate musical experience with a capacity of only 400 guests. Designed for singer/songwriters, local artists, smaller touring bands, and intimate showcases, the room can adjust to accommodate lounge seating or a standing-room configuration with optimum sight lines from every angle.
The party will continue in the legendary Foundation Room, a VIP club open to all guests most nights, which includes a spectacular culinary menu, inviting lounge, the hottest DJs, and a unique craft cocktail program. The Foundation Room membership program offers enhanced benefits such as priority ticketing providing advanced ticket purchase privileges; premium seating and dedicated concierge services for the members entire evening experience; VIP tables and bottle service; insider access to pre-concert events and after show parties; and elite status savings on dining, drinks, merchandise, and for reserving private parties.
House of Blues Restaurant and Bar will introduce the ultimate food-meets-music experience. A new menu will present a twist on soulful comfort food. The bar will span from inside to out onto a spacious open-air patio with a robust craft beer menu and a creative cocktail program. The intimate restaurant stage will welcome live music most nights.
“No venue has ever combined all of this under one roof,” said Bension. “Some nights will have four bands playing in four separate performance spaces at the same time. It will truly be a 4-D live music entertainment experience.”
The first performances at House of Blues Anaheim will be announced soon with tickets on sale mid-November.
Audiences will experience a symphony orchestra performing music to the entire film from one of the most beloved film franchises in history
Segerstrom Center for the Arts announces that a live symphony will perform Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on November 11 – 13, 2016 as part of The Harry Potter Film Concert Series. The film concert will feature the live symphony orchestra performing to picture every note from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Audiences will be able to relive the magic of the film in high-definition on a 40-foot screen while hearing the orchestra perform John Williams’ unforgettable score.
Tickets for the Harry Potter Film Concert Series start at $49 and are available online at SCFTA.org, by calling (714) 556-2787 and at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 10 or more, please call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.
CineConcerts and Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, a new global concert tour celebrating the Harry Potter films, earlier this year. The Harry Potter Film Concert that kicked off in June 2016 is another magical experience from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.
