Los Angeles County Air Show Flying in March 19 – 20

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February 25, 2016

There is an awesome getaway on my radar and its not just a minor blip or some kind of bogie. It is the Los Angeles Country Air Show and it is flying into the William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster, CA – March 19 – 20.

The show, powered by Lockheed Martin, will feature a host of amazing, gravity-defying performers, including the legendary Blue Angels, a tribute to Pearl Harbor featuring the Commemorative Air Force’s Tora! Tora! Tora!, wing-walking demonstrations, numerous historic aircraft, a patriotic parachute team, a jet-powered semi-truck and more.

The Air Show will also feature several of the top air show performers from around the country such as high-energy aerobatics, barnstorming and various warbirds, while additionally focusing on the innovative aircraft whose roots are tied to the Antelope Valley and the Lancaster area. On the ground, spectators will be able to explore static aircraft displays, interact with pilots and crew members, and experience attractions and educational exhibits designed to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“We have an epic line up of performers planned for the 2016 Air Show,” says Dennis Dunbar, executive director of the Los Angeles County Air Show. “We are bringing some of the best aerobatic performers and wing-walkers from around the country to the Aerospace Valley along with warbirds, military aircraft, pyrotechnics and so much more.”

Wing-walker performing thrilling stunts

I can’t wait to the see the US Navy’s Blue Angels. Demonstrating incredible mid-air precision, this team elite pilots will maneuver their Boeing F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter jets across the sky, sometimes flying only 18 inches apart. The Blue Angels demonstration will also include a performance by their Lockheed C-130 support aircraft, affectionately known as ‘Fat Albert’.

I’m also looking forward to seeing Tora! Tora! Tora!, a recreation of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, which signaled signaling the beginning of America’s involvement in World War II. An emotional and factual narration complete with President Roosevelt’s address, the interactive exhibit will take visitors back in time as it salutes fallen soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

The performance will include replica Japanese “Zero” fighters, Kate torpedo bombers and Val dive bomber aircraft. Designed as a living history lesson, it is choreographed with realistic explosions, fire, smoke and precision flying all set to music.

ShockWave! The jet-powered semi-truck

Another must-see performance for me will be SHOCKWAVE!, the reigning Guinness Book World Record Speed holder for fastest jet truck. Owned and operated by father and son team, Neal and Chris Darnell of Darnell Racing Enterprises, Shockwave is a triple-jet engine Peterbilt Semi, boasting 36,000 horsepower and a top speed of 376 MPH.

Other show highlights are sure to include the Third Strike wing-walkers, who will not only demonstrate the team’s original wing-walking routine, but will be followed by the industry’s only dual wing-walking act featuring two stunt-women traveling atop a vintage Stearman bi-plane. And the Patriot Parachute Team. This group of professional parachutists who formerly served as Navy SEALs, will stun the crowd with their precision aerial antics and landings.

The Los Angeles County Air Show will be held March 19-20, 2016 at William J. Fox Airfield at 4555 W Avenue G, Lancaster, CA 93536. Air Show gates open at 9 am and close at 4 pm, with performances from approximately Noon to 3:30 pm each day. Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 ages 6 – 12; and 5 and under free. Food will be available for purchase. Organizers advise guest to bring things such sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, cameras, comfortable walking shoes, lawn chairs, blankets, ear plugs, and cash for parking and concession purchases. For more information, tickets, a list of nearby lodging, visit:www.lacountyairshow.com.

Knott's Boysenberry Festival Returns March 19 – April 3

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 23, 2016

Celebrate Knott’s historic berry during Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, March 19 – April 3, in Ghost Town, the heart of the theme park. The 16-day food festival features over 70, one-of-a-kind boysenberry inspired fare, drinks and more, the Wine and Craft Brew Tasting Garden, plus live entertainment and fun the whole family will love! From sun up to sun down, the festival features dueling fiddlers, PEANUTS Party in the Park, vine dancing, live music, Jammin’ in the Dark (a nighttime dance party). Festivalgoers can also shop for the perfect handmade gift at dozens of craft vendors located in Ghost Town. The limited-time festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm.

In the 1930s Walter Knott harvested the boysenberry, a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry, and named the new berry after its originator, Rudolph Boysen. Today, all boysenberries in the world can trace their roots back to Knott’s Berry Farm. In 2015, the Park made delicious history with the debut of the Fun Bun during the Boysenberry Festival. Returning in 2016, the widely acclaimed culinary creation is a deep fried cinnamon roll with boysenberry cheese topping that will not disappoint. During the food fest, over 70 unique boysenberry inspired food, drinks and more will be offered, including the delectable Berry Market Boysenberry BBQ sauce which adds the perfect flavor to ribs, BBQ chicken, chicken wings, and more. Other must try items include crispy deep fried alligator bites that are paired with farm-made zesty boysenberry aioli, deep fried boysenberry ice cream, finger-lickin boysenberry BBQ wings and many more delicious treats. Additional fee for tastings. Guests who want to take home the exquisite Boysenberry BBQ sauce, Boysenberry Butter, Boysenberry Mustard and more, can do so by stopping by the Berry Market located in the MarketPlace and General Store located in Ghost Town. Select items are available on the online Berry Market store.

In honor of the famous berry, guests can wine, dine, dance, and buy boysenberry inspired products throughout the winding streets of the Old West. Festival entrances will feature rustic banners and oversized boysenberries, just ripe for taking that special photo.
Walter & Cordelia Knott’s Original Roadside Boysenberry Stand will be recreated for the special event, from which guests can purchase authentic boysenberry plants. The Knott family sold freshly picked boysenberries from the original stand, and the rest, as they say, is history!

As part of the festival, the Wine and Craft Brew Tasting Garden, located inside of Ghost Town’s Wilderness Dance Hall, will feature boysenberry wine, beer and cider, plus an assortment of wine and craft brew labels, in addition to a variety of gourmet food that’s just bursting with flavor. Just outside of the Dance Hall, towering sculpted topiaries provide shade during warm spring days and twinkle brighter than stars at night.

The Boysenberry Festival also features an extensive line up of live entertainment. At the heart of all of the excitement is Birdcage Square, located in front of the famous Bird Cage Theatre. Here, a stage will be set for daily contests like pie eating, a pie walk, Grandpa’s Boysenberry PJs Contest, where guests will race to stuff the oversized long johns with balloons, and more. In the evening, the Square will have guests kicking up their heels with vine dancing, a down home jug band and dueling fiddlers and banjos! At night, just inside of the Bird Cage Theatre, things get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies mount their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, gut-bustin’ country comedy show that will have audiences clamoring for more! Just across from the Theatre on the Fireman’s Brigade stage, live bands will play Country music’s best tunes from dusk to Park closing.

Right up the road from Birdcage Square, kids can join the classic Bear-y Tales characters in their very own pie making kitchen inside of Ghost Town’s Craft Barn. With the help of Razz Bear-y, Boysen Bear-y and the other Bear-y family members, each beautifully painted scene will follow the world famous boysenberry from field to blue ribbon winning pie! The pint sized chefs can also make their very own delightfully sweet boysenberry tarts complete with a crumble topping. Additional cost applies for tart making.

Check-out this Photo Gallery of Some of the Food Offerings during the Festival!

Located in the Boardwalk area, the iconic Charleston Circle fountain transforms into a beautiful floral fountain, adorned with colorful flowers and boysenberries creating an iconic centerpiece for the celebration. PEANUTS Party in the Park celebrates spring in a big way with infectious music, vibrant set design, and an invitation for the audience to be a part of the show! After sundown, Calico Stage will transform into an immersive nighttime dance party, Jammin’ in the Dark, complete with LED lighting effects affixed to the stage where DJ HowLy will spin the hottest dance music for all ages. The boysenberry celebration is almost too much fun to stomach!

While strolling through the bustling streets of Ghost Town, guests can capture the moment and the memories at boysenberry themed stand-in cutouts, like wanted posters, a boysenberry farming family and more. Festivalgoers can also watch special demonstrations including a chainsaw wood sculpting, glass blowing and blacksmithing. While enjoying the festival, guests may meet Ghost Town’s mayor, Mayor Desmond Ryder and his lovely wife, Josephine. From day to night, Ghost Town has never looked so lively.

Springtime fun has also taken root in Camp Snoopy and Fiesta Village. During the limited-time event, the whole family can meet the Easter Beagle in his Camp Snoopy home, blooming with colorful springtime décor. The meet and greet location is the perfect place for shareable moments with the boisterous beagle and his friends – Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally, and Linus. In Camp Snoopy Theatre, Lucy’s Really BIG Spring Show will showcase the PEANUTS pals singing, dancing, and celebrating springtime. The theater will be filled with the sweet sound of little ones as they singing-along to the to the show’s cheerful tunes! Guests don’t have to be experts at the cha-cha-cha to enjoy nighttime dancing with the Opa Opa Salsa Band in Fiesta Village. Everyone will be sure to take to the floor and dance to the rhythmic beat of popular Latin music.

The Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm, additional cost for food tasting experiences within the event, which also offers a full day of thrilling coasters and family fun rides. Knott’s has extended hours, 10am to 10pm, from March 19 – April 3, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of all of the limited-time offerings.

Join the conversation and share your day of boysenberry fun by using #BoysenberryFestival on Twitter and Instagram.

An Exclusive Sneak Peak at Disney's 'The Jungle Book'

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 22, 2016

“The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli, a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan, who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera, and the free-spirited bear Baloo. Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa, a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie, who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire.

Based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories, “The Jungle Book” is inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, with an approach all its own. “We embrace the mythic qualities of Kipling in the more intense tonal aspects of the film,” says director Jon Favreau, “but we left room for what we remember from the ’67 film, and sought to maintain those charming Disneyesque aspects.”

THE JUNGLE BOOK (Pictured) SHERE KHAN ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Filmmakers employed up-to-the-minute technology to tell the story in a contemporary and immersive way, blending live-action performances with stunning CG environments and extraordinary photo-real animal characters that artists stylized to elevate the storytelling.

During an exclusive first look presentation of “The Jungle Book,” Director Jon Favreau and Visual Effects Supervisor Rob Legato discussed how they brought this movie to life by using technology to actually bring these characters to life, make them photo-real and put a real kid into the environment in a seamless, believable way.

“When I think about Disney’s legacy, I relate to Walt’s original dream,” says director Jon Favreau. “Walt Disney’s work has influenced my work. He was considered high-tech for the time. He was the first person who locked soundtrack with picture, so the characters were perfectly choreographed to the musical score—something that absolutely blew people’s minds. Disney was on the cutting edge of technology.”

THE JUNGLE BOOK - (L-R) MOWGLI and GRAY. ©2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. — THE JUNGLE BOOK – (L-R) MOWGLI and GRAY. ©2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Filmmakers assembled a team of experts with movies like “Life of Pi,” “Gravity” and “Avatar” under their belts. Visual effects supervisor Rob Legato boarded the project very early on to design a workflow, a system and VFX pipeline, employing the very latest iteration of movie magic, which would allow his director the freedom to push the limits of what’s possible in filmmaking. “It’s a photo-real film grounded in the real world,” says Legato. “There’s something very interesting about that.”

Filmmakers employed cutting-edge CGI to capture the animal’s performances. “Each animal has a unique emotional language,” says Favreau. “A tiger expresses anger much differently than a wolf or a bear would.”

In lieu of matching CG environments to an actual jungle, filmmakers decided to build an almost entirely digital jungle. “We found we were able to exaggerate and enhance certain elements like scale,” says Favreau. “We can take foliage from India’s jungles and heighten certain colors. But it’s all rooted in reality.”

“The audience will feel the grandeur of the Indian jungle,” adds Legato. “They’ll experience this exotic land. That’s part of the fun of going to the movies—seeing a place you’ve never seen before. Living it. Walking through it.”

“It’s a coming-of-age story about a kid who is figuring out his place in the world,” adds producer Brigham Taylor. “The adventure is real, the stakes are high, but at the same time, the film is warm and humane. It’s hard to find that combination, but Jon brings it all to the table.”

According to Favreau, it’s that balance that appeals to viewers of all ages. “As a parent, I’m so grateful when there’s a film that’s appropriate for my kids see but doesn’t talk down to them. Kids can keep up with sophisticated storytelling. Walt’s dream was always to pull families together but not necessarily in the most obvious or predictable way.

“In our version, if you’re a Disney fan, you’ll notice attention to detail that honors the film’s legacy,” continues the director. “If you’re a kid seeing ‘The Jungle Book’ for the first time, you might forget to eat your popcorn it’s going to be a really fun ride.”

The wild adventure swings into theaters in 3D on April 15, 2016.

Samsung Unveils Next Generation Smartphones

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 21, 2016

Samsung Electronics announced the newest additions to the Galaxy family of products, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Created for today’s consumer lifestyle, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge lead the industry with a refined design, more advanced camera, streamlined software functionality and unparalleled connectivity to a galaxy of products, services, and experiences.

“We believe in a world that is brighter, sharper, more convenient, and more fun. We strive to deliver on that vision with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge by marrying elegant design with functionality and providing a seamless mobile experience,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “We empower consumers with technology to help them get more out of life and will continue to push the frontier of what’s possible.”

Advanced Camera: High Quality Images No Matter the Time of Day or Location
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge introduce the first Dual Pixel camera on a smartphone, delivering brighter and sharper images, even in low light. Thanks to the revolutionary Dual Pixel technology, brighter lens with wider aperture, and bigger pixel, the camera has a faster shutter speed and a more accurate autofocus even in low-light conditions. Motion Panorama, a new camera mode, brings movement to traditional panoramic photos, giving the user a completely immersive visual experience.

Refined Design and Function
The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge are constructed with 3D glass and metal – all in a sleek design with durability and ergonomic curves for a comfortable grip. From work to play, the device’s new Always-On Display, gives users a simplified, zero touch experience where they don’t need to worry about missing a call or important notification.

Without compromising design, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge both have increased utility with IP68 water and dust resistance. Edge UX, the advanced edge experience available on Galaxy S7 edge, provides convenience and increased efficiency by creating easy shortcuts to users’ most loved functions such as email, selfie mode, panorama mode or third party applications.

Enhanced Performance: From Charging to Gaming
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge deliver fast wired and wireless charging technology. Additionally, the hybrid SIM card tray allows users to insert a microSD card for up to 200GB of additional storage and in some select countries, the tray can be used with a dual SIM card.

Samsung also made significant hardware and software updates to optimize gaming performance on Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. The powerful processer and bigger battery capacity ensure longer playing time, and the internal cooling system keeps the device from overheating. Game Launcher, a new add-on for gamers, allows users to manage battery consumption and minimize notifications. Additionally, users can record their gaming experience or share their screen to play with others. Paired with Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Vulkan API gives users the ability to play high-performance graphic games with lower battery consumption.

The Galaxy Experience
Samsung continues to push the boundaries of hardware, software and services to create devices that are designed to improve how consumers connect, share, organize and get more out of life. The company is redefining what is possible, beyond the limits of today’s technology, by introducing a constellation of seamless mobile experiences.

Whether it’s the seamless connection between Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge and the new Gear S2 Classic to monitor fitness, or connecting with Gear VR to “travel” the world – Samsung redefines what’s possible for the mobile experience and beyond.

Beyond the phone, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge users can also get the best mobile payment service with Samsung Pay; it’s secure, easy-to-use and accepted almost anywhere. Protected by Samsung KNOX, fingerprint scanning and advanced tokenization, Samsung Pay works with NFC (Near Field Communication), MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) and Barcode technology, making mobile payments available to more merchants and consumers than ever before.

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will be available starting mid-March 2016.

Disney's Pete's Dragon – Teaser Trailer

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 21, 2016

A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories.

With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon. Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

'Wicked' Makes Its Triumphant Return to Segerstrom

By

Joel Covey

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February 19, 2016

The massive hit for the past decade has left the Emerald City and returned to Costa Mesa! Oz is back on stage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in one of the biggest, most magical and engaging musical productions you’ll ever see. The big green Broadway superstar just hit the milestone of being named the 10th longest-running Broadway show and is now here till March 6th. There is a reason why it’s been in Southern California so frequently. WICKED is a must-see and constantly building thousands of repeat audience goers. This one tops the cake of celebrated musicals of this generation!

Playing to already countless sold-out crowds at The Pantages and multiple visits to Segerstrom Center for the Arts, WICKED features some of the best stage production and production value out there. If you haven’t already made it out to a showing in the past few years, why have you waited so long?! It is time to get out there and see what all the fuss is about.

Once lead by roles made famous by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth, WICKED features some of the already most iconic songs in the business with such greats as “Defying Gravity”, “Popular”, and “The Wizard and I”. This is a story long before Dorothy ever arrives over the rainbow, in fact, you begin already in Oz with a story of a another girl, Elphaba. This young innocent, born green, girl has grown up teased and misunderstood for years. It’s her extraordinary wizardry talent that brings her notice to others including to a bubbly blonde exact opposite of herself. The two rival and soon become an unlikely friendship that leads to a trip to see The Wizard where not everything may be as it seems.

For those that may be a little more unfamiliar with the plot, WICKED is a twist on the cherished 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. It’s a tale seen through the perspective of “The Wicked Witch” that may throw you for a twist(er). It’s clever and sneaky in its ability to incorporate memorable themes and characters from the film we all know, but it throws everything on its side and shakes it. Elphaba, your mighty wicked witch of the west, is klutzy, dorky, and socially awkward while Galinda the Good may not be as kind as we once thought. It’s quite enjoyable to see how the writer of the novel, Gregory Maguire, has twisted the story showing the tale of the two witches beginnings all the way to that fateful night in the castle. Be prepared for significant changes to your perception of the characters or else you find yourself frustrated that it doesn’t align with the film.

While the story is an unique telling of a classic, it’s a show where the sets shine, literally and figuratively, and the music triumphs. Unfortunately, for my performance the vocal talent missed the mark entirely. Elphaba played by Emily Koch takes a bit go getting used to. Her deep and un-heroine like voice may be absolutely fitting for this role, her singing however never seemed to reach a note. As many may know, WICKED contains incredibly powerful ginormous ballads that require a huge range and enormous belting. It’s a show that doesn’t allow for mistakes, there’s no masking it. Sadly for s
everal of the performers, the mistakes were all too noticeable.

The show finished still entertaining and whimsical including astounding applause, but those familiar with the music may be left feeling a little cold. Leading man Fiyero, Chad Jennings, played the role superbly but also felt blah during his featured songs. His character has beautiful solos and multiple duets yet I felt tiresome of him halfway through each song. Our understudy for Nessarose was satisfactory, but also quite uninspiring.

Let me preface the previous statements as to say I understand how difficult this music is, and what big slippers they had to fill, but it’s worth mentioning the singing wont come close what many are familiar with. The performers all still played their characters well. In fact, quite perfectly sans their vocal attributions. However, Galinda, played by the wondrous Amanda Jane Cooper, was the star!

Cooper shined with comedic timing that could challenge some of the greatest and probably some of the best Galinda’s of the past. Her charisma and well-timed bits, range, acting, and tremendous singing all provided for a joyous experience. Now let me take her off the pedestal for a moment and state that the entire show still contained some of the best characterization work and entertaining scenes of any musical.

WICKED is one of the largest feeling shows out there. It’s able to capture the nostalgia while bringing something fresh to the theater. The show is still vibrant and bold and downright exciting. It will bring the child out in everyone yet memorize children of all ages in the same process. It’s one of those shows where you can picture that adorable little kid on the edge of their seat pointing down at the stage turning to mommy to say “Look!” with those giant wide-open glistening eyes as they stare back down in astonishment. That child, will be you.

WICKED is now playing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa until March 6th.

Tickets start at $49 and are available at scfta.org.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Serves Up Tasty Butterbeer & Delicious English Fare in Universal Studios Hollywood

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 19, 2016

A foray through Hogsmeade village at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” at Universal Studios Hollywood will please the palate with an enticing array of savory fare and beverages, served up at the land’s Three Broomsticks™ and Hog’s Head pub as featured in the Harry Potter books and films, and where guests from around the world can dine on traditional British dishes and sample Butterbeer™.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood opens on April 7, 2016.

Carefully prepared by Universal Studios Hollywood’s executive chef and culinary team, the eclectic British menu will invite guests to step into Three Broomsticks, an aged rustic tavern, where they can enjoy authentic meals while seated at custom-made wooden tables, chairs and benches, in a warm and inviting atmosphere taken straight from the wizarding world.

Sample menu items include Bangers & Mash (savory grilled English sausages with creamy mashed potatoes and minted peas), Shepherd’s Pie (ground beef and vegetables, crowned with potatoes), Beef Sunday Roast (prime rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding and gravy), Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew and Fish & Chips. Rounding out the hearty fare are decadent treats such as Butterbeer potted cream and sticky toffee pudding.

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 Whisky.

Three Broomsticks also features a selection of scrumptious traditional English breakfast items, welcoming guests to start their day at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Tempting menu choices include the Eggy Bread breakfast (French baguette, cut on the bias and served with bacon and Vermont maple syrup), as well as traditional English breakfast (fresh scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon, black pudding, baked beans, baked tomato, sautéed mushrooms and potatoes) and traditional American breakfast (eggs, sausages, bacon and toast).

Butterbeer, served traditionally and frozen as well as pumpkin juice™, pumpkin fizz and Gilly Water are Hogsmeade beverage staples.

Haven Gastropub Introduces New Lunch Menu

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 17, 2016

Haven Gastropub Executive Chef Greg Daniels and Chef de Cuisine Craig Brady have introduced a new lunch menu with additions that reflect the restaurant’s unique blend of old world European fare with a modern American twist. Guests will be able to enjoy the new items ‪from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and ‪from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the weekend.

Following are the new items now available on Haven Gastropub’s lunch menu:

HAVEN – NEW LUNCH MENU ITEMS 
Offered Weekdays ‪from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Saturday & ‪Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Prime Rib Sandwich — slow roasted prime rib, horseradish cream, red wine candied shallots, wild arugula, rosemary brioche bun 
This is prime rib that is slow roasted and served with an au jus sauce, horseradish cream, sweet shallots, and peppery arugula on a fresh OC Baking Company bun.

Fried Chicken Sandwich — fried jidori chicken thigh, pickled onion slaw, house made hot sauce aioli, brioche bun 
We start with a spicy buttermilk-battered Jidori Chicken thigh fried extra crispy and serve it on an OC Baking Company bun with a pickled onion, peppers and cabbage slaw and house made aged Fresno chile hot sauce aioli.

Fish & Chips — fish of the day, pommes frites, meyer lemon tartar sauce 
Our Chefs start with fresh black bass or grouper, and beer batter it. It’s served with our pommes frites and a side of house made meyer lemon tartar sauce.

Pork Tacos — confit pork shoulder, avocado, cara cara oranges, smoked serrano honey, radish, oaxacan mojo salsa 
We house cure pork shoulder, which we then confit in pork fat until tender. The melt-in-your-mouth meat is served in warm tortillas with fresh avocado salsa, Cara Cara oranges, carrots, radishes, cilantro, and smoked serrano honey.

“Many of our new lunch items started off as specials that were so well received by guests, we decided to add them to our new menu,” commented Chef Daniels. “My culinary team, led by Chef de Cuisine Craig Brady, and I had a lot of fun coming up with new lunch items to keep our guests excited and to demonstrate our commitment to showcasing the best ingredients, by sourcing locally and focusing on humanely raised meat and sustainable seafood. We’re confident that these new items will become guest favorites.”

Managing Partner & Beverage Director, Wil Dee, oversees a beverage program that features a rotating selection of 14 craft beers always present on tap, along with nearly 100 in the bottle. Haven Gastropub also offers more than 200 whiskeys, scotches and bourbons, as well as a 4-time Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winning wine list, with nearly 50 wines by the glass.

For more information, or to see Haven Gastropub’s food and beer/wine menus, visit http://www.havengastropub.com.

Preregistration Now Open for Miitomo, Nintendo’s First Smart Device App

By

Robbie Bulus

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February 17, 2016

Nintendo’s first-ever app for smart devices, Miitomo, launches next month, but now’s the time to sign up to receive a notification when the app is available for download. Now through launch day, anyone can preregister for Miitomo by signing up for the new Nintendo Account service at http://www.Miitomo.com and be among the first to be notified about the availability of Miitomo when it launches in March. Those who create their Nintendo Account before the launch of Miitomo will also receive Platinum Points for the new My Nintendo rewards program, which will launch simultaneously with Miitomo.

“Miitomo makes it easy for people to express themselves and interact with their friends in new and fun ways,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Preregistering now is the best way to be among the first to get in on the fun when Miitomo launches next month.”

Miitomo is a free-to-start social experience that lets you spark conversations with your friends in a whole new way and uses Nintendo’s Mii characters, which first debuted with the launch of Wii Sports in 2006. More than 200 million Mii characters currently exist across Nintendo systems worldwide. To get started, users can quickly create a Mii character, customizing its facial features, eyes, hair, as well as voice and personality. Users can also use the camera of their smartphone or tablet to snap a photo that will be translated into Mii form, or they can simply import their Mii from the Wii U or Nintendo 3DS systems using a QR Code.

Once their Mii is ready to act as their social go-between, users can add friends in person, or through their existing Facebook or Twitter accounts. Once that step is complete, then it’s time to answer some questions. Miitomo creates conversations and turns discussions into a form of play by prompting users to answer all kinds of questions. Did you know that your best friend’s favorite food is pizza? Maybe, but did you know her favorite music genre is secretly polka? And that she believes in aliens? The answers get shared among friends, sparking interesting conversations – part of the fun is discovering surprise facts about your friends that you never knew before. When users hear how their friends responded to questions, they can give it a “heart” or comment through text or with a picture.

Mii characters will travel around and visit others that users have added as friends in the app, so it’s important to look good. As users experience Miitomo, they’ll earn Miitomo coins, which can be redeemed in the in-app shop to get all kinds of cool outfits. Users also have the option to get more Miitomo coins via in-app purchase. Users can set their own style with shorts, pants, socks, shirts, shoes, accessories and hats. If users want to go further in expressing themselves, they can dress up in a variety of outlandish costumes, such as a bear costume, pirate costume or hot dog costume.

Users can also express themselves with the Miifoto feature, which lets them put their Mii characters in fun poses with cool stamps, or by combining their Mii image with photos they have taken themselves. These creations can then easily be posted to social media services like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Launching alongside Miitomo in March, My Nintendo aims to become much more than a traditional rewards program. It is a more comprehensive service that rewards users for interacting with Nintendo products and services in a variety of ways. Miitomo users with a Nintendo Account will be able to take advantage of My Nintendo to enhance their experience.

For more information about Nintendo Account and Miitomo, visit http://www.Miitomo.com.

Disney Twenty-Three Celebrates Storytelling of Walt Disney Animation Studios

By

Robbie Bulus

-

February 17, 2016

In the 10 years since John Lasseter and Ed Catmull took over the reins of what is now Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney has enjoyed incredible creative and box office success with such films as Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, and, of course, Frozen. The spring 2016 issue of Disney twenty-three looks at the creative talents—from writers and directors to producers and animators—who have driven this wave of superior filmmaking that has resulted in two Academy Awards® for Best Animated Feature for the studio.

Disney twenty-three, available exclusively to D23 Gold Members, includes exclusive interviews with Lasseter and Catmull, as well as the teams behind Walt Disney Animation Studios’ run of hits, discussing the secrets behind their work and how a Disney animated film goes from concept to creation. Plus, Disney twenty-three unveils rarely seen visual development art created for the Studio’s most recent films. There are also advance looks at the upcoming animated films Zootopia—including a revealing one-on-one with star Ginnifer Goodwin—and Moana.

In addition to the animation celebration, the issue offers a sneak peek of Captain America: Civil War, featuring exclusive interviews with star Chris Evans and one of the film’s directors, Joe Russo. And director Jon Favreau details the incredible work behind crafting the stunning live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book, including how he snared Bill Murray to voice Baloo the bear.

Also included in the spring issue of Disney twenty-three:

Three cheers for the 10-year anniversary of High School Musical, including interviews with the director and members of the cast
A look at the colorful concept art from the 1967 animated hit The Jungle Book, with stories from Disney Legend Floyd Norman, who worked with Walt Disney on the film
A walk through Walt Disney’s office suite on the Studio lot, recently restored by the Walt Disney Archives
Regular features including A Walk with Walt, D Society, and Ask Dave

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving in late February.

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Coming Weekends in April

By

Robbie Bulus

-

February 15, 2016

This spring, Disney California Adventure® Park will be filled with even more fabulous food and an awakening of the senses when the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival begins April 1.

This month-long festival, taking place during weekends in April, will celebrate some of the best of delicious California cuisine.

A distinguishing feature will be new Festival Marketplaces, where Guests can sip and savor delicious flavors from throughout the state of California.

The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will also include culinary demonstrations, appearances by celebrity chefs and informative seminars.

Mark your calendar now for the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, weekends beginning April 1 at Disney California Adventure park.

More info coming soon.

The Original Farmers Market Announces 2016 Calendar of Events

By

Robbie Bulus

-

February 15, 2016

Los Angeles landmark and treasured gathering location for locals and tourists, The Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax, offers a variety of year-round, family-friendly events open to the public. Festivities are mostly free of charge and diverse, offering something for visitors of all ages looking to have a great time at one of L.A.’s most iconic destinations.

March
· St. Patrick’s Day Celebration – Thursday, March 17, All Day: Stop by for traditional Irish food and music, including the sounds of Glen the strolling bagpiper from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Magee’s Kitchen will be serving their famous corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. Green beer and imported Irish beers will be on tap, while the West Patio is rockin’ with the sounds of traditional Irish tunes!

Summer
· Friday Night Music at the Market – Friday Evenings, May 27–August 26, 7–9pm: Some of L.A.’s finest musicians perform an array of rock, ethnic and pop tunes on the West Patio. The open-air concerts are free. Stores, restaurants and bars are open for your shopping and al fresco dining pleasure.
· 22nd Annual Gilmore Heritage Auto Show – Saturday, June 4, 11am–5pm: Nearly 100 breathtaking American classic cars—everything from customs, to hot rods and trucks—will be on display throughout the Market for up-close viewing.
· Taste of Farmers Market – Tuesday, July 19, 5-9pm.: For one special evening, our merchants take you on a strolling gastronomic and shopping adventure throughout the Market, letting you enjoy delicious food and live music. Ticket info will be available on www.farmersmarketla.com in early June.

October
Fall Festival – Saturday & Sunday, October 15 & 16, All Day: A favorite Market event for more than 80 years, The Original Farmers Market created the free festival in 1934 to celebrate the harvest and the launch of the then brand new Farmers Market. This year, the age-old tradition continues in spectacular fashion at the Los Angeles landmark, featuring a bounty of live music, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, pie-eating contests, regional farmers and photo-op cut-outs. The two-day celebration runs all day long, each day, with merchants dressed in costume and the Market decorated for autumn.

December
· Christmas Festivities – December 18-24: The Market is decked out in Yuletide finery to welcome the season. Thousands of holiday lights illuminate the Market along with music, arts and crafts, themed shows, strolling carolers and more.
· Hanukkah Celebration – Tuesday, December 27, 2:30-5pm: The Market welcomes Hanukkah with the lighting of a giant menorah, music, arts and crafts and more.

Additional events may be added throughout the year, so please visit www.farmersmarketla.com regularly for updates.

All Farmers Market events, except for the Taste of Farmers Market, are free. Parking at the Farmers Market is free for two hours with a purchase and validation from any Market merchant.

Socalthrills.com

Los Angeles County Air Show Flying in March 19 – 20

Knott's Boysenberry Festival Returns March 19 – April 3

An Exclusive Sneak Peak at Disney's 'The Jungle Book'

Samsung Unveils Next Generation Smartphones

Disney's Pete's Dragon – Teaser Trailer

'Wicked' Makes Its Triumphant Return to Segerstrom

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Serves Up Tasty Butterbeer & Delicious English Fare in Universal Studios Hollywood

Haven Gastropub Introduces New Lunch Menu

Preregistration Now Open for Miitomo, Nintendo’s First Smart Device App

Disney Twenty-Three Celebrates Storytelling of Walt Disney Animation Studios

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Coming Weekends in April

The Original Farmers Market Announces 2016 Calendar of Events

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