At the recent media screening of the new Warner Bros. film, PAN. my grand daughters and I enjoyed the opportunity to see the film before the premiere.
The live action feature stars newcomer Levi Miller as a young Peter, along with Hugh Jackson (Blackbeard), Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily and Garrett Hedlund as young James Hook along with a short appearance by Amanda Seyfried as Mary (Peter’s Mom). Rounding out the main characters are Adeel Akhtar (Mr. Smeed) and headmistress, Kathy Burke (Mother Barnabas).
An original adventure about characters created by J.M Barrie brings us the tale of Peter as a youngster and the series of events that led to his life on Neverland.
The film starts out in England, 1920s era, where a young woman makes her way through the dark streets. She finally arrives at her destination where she is seen saying good bye to a baby in a basket, placing a pan flute necklace on him and tucking a note into the fold of his blanket. A note that promises Peter she will see him again in this world or another.
Fast forward 12 years and into the middle of World War II. Peter and his best friend, Nibs (played by Lewis McDougall) have grown up in the Lambeth Home for Boys, a dark and ugly orphanage run by nuns, included the heartless head nun, Mother Barnabas (Kathy Burke). After Peter and Nibs have a run in with the headmistress, they are plucked out of their beds in the middle of the night. Nibs jumps “ship” but Peter stays onboard and is taken to Neverland. Here along with boys of all ages, shapes and size, he must slave away, for Blackbeard and his team of pirates, working the mines in search of pixum, the stone from which pixie dust is created. The magical dust used by the fairies of Neverland is slowly being mined by Blackbeard’s “crew”. When an incident, brings Peter front and center to the attention of the feared leader, Blackbeard, it is discovered that he may be the chosen one sent to overthrow the notorious pirate and save Neverland. Learning his mother may be alive and living in Neverland, Peter with the help of his new friend, James Hook and Mr. Smeed must escape the mines. Running for their lives with Blackbeard’s henchmen in pursuit, they meet Tiger Lily and together, they help Peter find his true destiny and become the hero we all know as “Peter Pan”
Director, Joe Wright and his team of award winning producers, writers and creative team members, brings movie viewers an incredible new story. The costumes, the sets and the fight scenes bring us into a magical land full of fairies, pirates, and pixie dust. A fight scene between Blackbeard and Tiger Lily on board a floating pirate ship as well as the fight between Hook and one of the members of Tiger Lily’s tribe had audience on the edge of our seats. Seeing the fairies and “Tink” was a high point in the film for my granddaughters. While floating ships including the enormous Queen Anne’s Revenger (Blackbeard’s ship) as well as the Ranger and Hook’s Jolly Roger made the adventures all the more visually amazing for me.
Recently I had the opportunity to visit SeaWorld Orlando. I have always enjoyed SeaWorld and love both the shows and the thrill rides. When we arrived the crowds were low and we had no trouble finding seating for any of the shows. All of the rides had reasonable wait times with the highest being ‘Antarctica: Empire of the Penguins,’ which is no surprise considering it’s the newest ride and the only way to see the penguins.
Pets Ahoy
As we entered to park, the closest theater was the Seaport Theater featuring the ‘Pets Ahoy’ show. This show does not feature any sea animals but has a wide array of well trained dogs, cats, rodents, and even a few picks. As well all of the animals featured in the show are rescues. The show is only about fifteen minutes or so but is fun and comedic. not to mention it is indoors so it also provides a refreshing retreat from the Florida heat. another fun part of this show is that afterwards, you can come to the stage to pet and interact with many of the show animals. This may be fun for any children who love dogs or cats.
Clyde & Seamore’s Sea Lion High
The last time I came to SeaWorld, Clyde & Seamore’s was closed due to them changing the show. It seems Clyde and Seamore have given up their days as pirates and are trying to better their education by getting their GED and going to college. When entering the Sea Lion & Otter Theater, the Stage has been recreated into a high school-esc setting with lots of vibrant colors. The show is comedic, poking fun at highschool stereotypes, while entertaining you with the many new and old tricks performed by Clyde, Seamore, and the many other animals in the show such as the cute little sea otter, Opie. While I do miss the pirates, the show is very good.
Blue Horizons
Of all the shows, the dolphin show has always proved to be my favorite. It’s probably because I’ve always secretly wanted to be a dolphin trainer though. Even today this still holds true. The dolphin show has a great blend of animal tricks and human acrobatic performances. The show tells the story of a young girl named Marina how can travel magical places as she interacts, plays, and even rides some of the dolphins! Overall the show features a diverse performances and an intriguing story.
One Ocean
A big show with a big message. The Orca show is the largest show at SeaWorld, featuring their largest animals too! Watch as Orcas do flips, wave ‘hello’, interact, and even make a splash! of course while entertaining us, the show also sends a message of the importance of ocean protection and conservation.
Of course Seaworld is know for more than just its shows too! SeaWorld also is home to two of the best roller coasters in Orlando. Since opening, Kraken has been named one of the best coasters in the world. Featuring the first floorless coaster concept. This coaster is fast and fun! Kraken also has always been my favorite roller coaster ever! The second coaster is Manta. Once strapped into Manta, you are rotated onto your stomach! the ride then loops you and turns you through its track until you are turned upright at the end of the ride! Another exciting ride there is Journey to Atlantis! This ride combines the concepts of a flume ride with a roller coaster. Hop into your boat and take a journey through the heart of Atlantis, but beware for what else may be lurking there. Of course, work on SeaWorld’s new ride, Mako, A high speed hypercoaster could also be observed in the back of the park.
Along with thrill rides, SeaWorld also features many attractions that even the less timid can enjoy. Turtle Trek takes you on a 360 degree view of the life of a sea turtle hatchling. from inside the egg, to all over the vast ocean, you get a first hand view of the life of a baby sea turtle. At the end of this show you also get to view the rescued sea turtles and manatees! If seeing the animals is what you enjoy, you should also Shark Encounter. In this attraction, you go underwater through a glass dome to observe many species of sharks.
During the Day we ate at two different locations. The first being the popular Voyager’s Smokehouse. The food was delicious and the theme was also very good. unfortunately the restaurant seemed to majorly lacked in vegetarian/vegan options. The second place we ate was Mango Joe’s because they offered a Vegetarian black bean burger. The restaurant was a standard quick service style. really no notable theme but the outside eating area was nice. The food was okay but the buns had a weird taste.
Overall we had a joyous day at SeaWorld! I Enjoy this park, but it is not somewhere I feel I need to visit more than once a year. I absolutely love all the shows. I also find their thrill rides , such as Kraken, to be some of the best. this SeaWorld had a lot of fun dimensions to it that will ensure to entertain those of all ages!
Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax is a fighting game released on the Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita Platforms. This game features a variety of playable characters from different anime series such as Sword Art Online, Black Bullet, Oreimo, Accel World, Strike the Blood and many others as well as a major cast of supporting characters. The game features a couple of modes to play in: story mode, which includes Dream Mode and Arcade Mode; there is also a local and network versus mode which were all fun to play with.
This game is very reminiscent of the games you play at an arcade and like them I found myself getting engrossed by how easily you’re able to string combos and pull off special moves (or button smash if that’s your thing). If fighting games you’re your thing and you love to figure out how to pull off a string of combos then this game may be for you; the amount of different supporting characters as well as playable characters allow a great variety in how you play and the timing of combos can become crucial. I didn’t realize this until I checked out the online versus mode and had my opponent completely annihilate me since they had a much better grasp on the timing.
The arcade story mode has an endearing message dealing with dreams and never losing hope; I won’t go into much detail but it was delightful but pretty cheesy story. I was disappointed that the story line is pretty much the same with each character that is chosen except the only difference is the dialogue your chosen character says but otherwise there is not much variation. However, there is a dream mode that does vary depending on who you choose. This mode is fun, but at times I don’t really see the purpose of it or how the characters correlate.
If you enjoy fighting games or are a fun of the anime series then this game will be good for you; not for the story mode, but for battling your friends or playing in ranked matches. I found myself enjoying the game a lot more when I was trying to figure out different combos to defeat my opponents. The button inputs are simple but it all winds down to your play style and figuring out the timing to things. Overall this game is pretty fun but may not be for everyone.
There is a spot in Del Mar, where an old train bridge meets the beach and crosses over rocky cliffs and a dusty trail lined with flowers and coastal vegetation. It is a spot any photographer would cherish. I discovered this magical vista and much more on a recent getaway to the Southern California seaside paradise
My Fall adventure began when a friend and I pulled into Hotel Indigo Del Mar, a luxurious boutique resort set on the beach. Here we checked into a beautiful ocean-front suite with a hip, studio beach apartment vibe. Like the entire property, the room featured contemporary decor with hardwood floors, beach themed murals on the walls, California-inspired art and granite counters.
The room came with a king bed, sleeper sofa, large flat-screen TV, free wireless Internet, comfortable bathroom, and a kitchen area with microwave, mini-fridge, sink and stove, and a granite bar. The suite also boasted a large surfing mural on the living room wall, and a balcony with a table and chairs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the hotel pool.
The ocean was so alluring that once unpacked with drove about a mile and parked along the side of the road and walked to Del Mar Beach, which Time Magazine recently ranked as one of the “100 Greatest Beaches in the World.” To get to the water, we followed a dirt trail bounded by rocky cliffs overlooking the water.
As we followed the path, we came to a giant wooden eagle carved into a tree, looking over the cliffs of Del Mar and the Pacific Ocean. Continuing on we came to North Torrey Pines Bridge, a majestic concrete structure stretching over the rustic trail, against a backdrop of rolling hills and lush canyons, beach and ocean. This spot is beautiful, but if the sky is right, and you wait for an Amtrak train to pass under the bridge, you can get a picture to truly remember.
After admiring the scene, we made our way to the beach, laid out our blanket and relaxed for a couple hours, napping and playing in the water.
For dinner we hit the hotel’s signature restaurant, the Ocean View Bar and Grill, where acclaimed executive chef Joshua Soth creates delicious new and modern classics. Here, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset meal on the outdoor terrace. We began with lightly breaded crab cakes with avocado and chipotle aioli and couple glasses of smooth and elegant Oberon Oregon Merlot wine with hints of black cherry.
For the main course I went with the exciting and tasty fisherman’s pasta, with shrimp, calamari, local fish and penne pasta tossed in butter wine sauce with spinach, roasted peppers and caramelized onions. My friend with super tender braised short ribs in a succulent cabernet sauvignon demi-sauce on top of mashed cauliflower and fingerling potatoes. We concluded dinner with New York cheesecake with seasonal berries and a memorable sunset falling in the ocean right in front of the hotel.
Fall is a great time to visit Del Mar. Not only is the weather perfect, but there are also lots of fun things to see and do. Besides the beaches and world-famous Del Mar Racetrack, there is also lots of art galleries, gourmet restaurants and renown shopping. In fact, Del Mar Plaza is a European-style outdoor marketplace that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and boasts a myraid of unique shops and galleries, and an elegant atmosphere of fountains, sculptures and palazzo-style terraces with spectacular views of the Southern California coast.
For more information on visiting Del Mar, visit: www.dreamdelmar.com. Hotel Indigo Del Mar is located at 710 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014. For more information and reservations, call 877-8-INDIGO (877 846 3446) or visit: www.hotelindigosddelmar.com/
Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) and Hasbro, Inc. launched Playmation Marvel’s Avengers – the next step in the evolution of play. The groundbreaking system of connected toys and wearables fuses technology and digital storytelling to create a completely new category of play. Hitting shelves across the U.S. and Canada for the first time today, the new toy/game hybrid aims to inspire both kids and parents to get active and creative at playtime.
Dreamed up by a team of technologists, Imagineers and storytellers from across The Walt Disney Company, Playmation is the culmination of extensive research into the world of play, highlighting the opportunity for a new type of experience that combines digital technology and physical, real-world play.
The online study of 2,000 families across the country confirms that almost all parents believe active playtime is essential to their child’s healthy development, and three say that using technology is a favorite way for their child to play. Four out of five parents say their children are more likely to engage with a game if technology is involved, and nine out of ten are open to new technologies that encourage their kids to be more active.
“Playmation blends technology, storytelling and imagination in a way that’s made for today’s digitally-savvy kids. Our research shows families are looking for a new way to play that’s active, creative and technology-infused – and Playmation is just that,” said Nitin Chawla, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, DCPI.
The study also revealed the potential of Playmation as a new way for families to play together, with 67% of kids and 79% of parents saying they would like more playtime as a family. While active play is the type of play parents enjoy the most with their kids, currently only one in five finds time for it every day, and three quarters would like to do more of it. Nearly all parents (98%) also believe it is important that their children engage in imaginative play.
Recently added to Time To Play Magazine’s “Most Wanted” list for the holidays, along with other holiday “hot toy” accolades from Parents magazine, Toys “R” Us, The Toy Insider and the National Parenting Publication Awards, the Playmation Marvel’s Avengers Starter Pack includes five connected toys: one piece of Avenger Gear (Repulsor), two Power Activators and two Smart Figures – a Super Hero (Captain America) and a Super Villain (Iron Skull), as well as 25 missions. Getting started is easy, strap the high-tech Repulsor Gear onto your arm (it fits adults, too!) and listen closely to JARVIS as he takes you through the tutorial on how to control your new Gear, inspired by Iron Man technology.
“This is classic play re-imagined for the tech-savvy world. It’s narrative-based, imaginative play that allows kids to play as their heroes and imagine themselves in battles alongside their favorite Marvel Avengers characters. The immersive play experience is active and exciting for kids of all ages and represents a completely new category of toys,” said Jim Silver, Editor in Chief and CEO of TTPM.
Additional connected toys available now include: Smart Figures – Iron Man, Black Widow, HULK, M.O.D.O.K., Ultron Bot, and Hulkbuster – which help players unlock new storylines and abilities when placed on the Power Activator and connected with Avenger Gear; and the Prowler Bot – a robotic villain – who can find and hunt your Avenger Gear with 360 degree movement, while taking on dozens of enemy personas and abilities making game play even more challenging.
Along with the Starter Pack and other connected toys, fans can download and access theAvengersNet App where you can register your Avenger Gear to see progress, explore additional locations and characters, check out and test Avenger Gear upgrades, gain access to new missions and more. The AvengersNet App is available in the Apple App Store. An Android version of the app is currently in development.
Playmation Marvel’s Avengers uses familiar technologies including smart toys, wearables, wireless technology, motion sensors and more, but applies them in ways that are completely new to create a compelling play experience. Playmation is purposely not tethered to an Internet connection so players can run around and explore each adventure from anywhere they want – a bedroom, living room or yard. With multiplayer modes, players can sync their Avenger Gear to tackle missions and combat arenas together, or face-off in competitive play.
“With the launch of Playmation, we are not only creating a new play experience for today’s kids but celebrating a new chapter in our long-term partnership with Disney,” said Jerry Perez, SVP Global Brand Marketing, Hasbro. “Playmation has been a true collaboration, from global consumer research to product design and development, and we look forward to sharing this amazing new system of play with kids and families around the world.”
The Playmation Marvel’s Avengers Starter Pack has a suggested retail price of $119.99 and is available in the United States and Canada at mass and specialty retailers, such as Amazon.com, Best Buy, Game Stop, Target, Toys “R” Us, and Walmart, as well as select Disney Store locations and DisneyStore.com. Additional Playmation Marvel’s Avengers connected toys compatible with the Starter Pack, such as Smart Figures and the Prowler Bot are also sold separately.
Offered by PowerA, families can also choose from a selection of Playmation recharging solutions and accessories now available, including:Playmation Home Base – to store your gear in between battles; Playmation Avengers Lab Gear Bag – for taking your gear on-the-go; Playmation Repulsor Recharge Pack – provides up to five hours of play on a single charge and fits securely onto the bottom of the Repulsor; and Playmation Activator Recharge Pack –fits securely onto the bottom of the Power Activator and provides up to 10 hours of play on a single charge.
Families that are coming to the Disney Store to pick up Playmation Marvel’s Avengers (either from pre-orders or to purchase that day), will be given the opportunity to participate in a personalized pick-up ceremony taking place in select Disney Stores across the United States and Canada beginning now through the holidays. When guests purchase Playmation Marvel’s Avengers, JARVIS will make an announcement in-store thanking guests for choosing to help the Avengers in their fight against Ultron.
CHOC Children’s and Disneyland Resort, two beloved Southern California icons devoted to the happiness and well being of children, will come together on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015 to present the heart-warming annual CHOC “Walk in the Park.” This year’s event is all the more special as CHOC “Walk in the Park” commemorates its 25th silver anniversary against the sparkling backdrop of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration.
CHOC “Walk in the Park,” presented by the Disneyland Resort, is the largest and most unique single pediatric walk event in the nation. Among the event’s estimated 15,000 walkers are participants from across the U.S. and around the world, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and Japan.
Reaching this year’s goal of $2.5 million will represent a cumulative sum of $25 million raised since the Walk’s inception in 1990. Money generated by the Walk supports a variety of patient and family programs, as well as education, research, and the development and adoption of the latest technologies to advance the health of CHOC patients.
The 2015 Walk covers three miles through Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park where “CHOC walkers” get a special peek at the magic of the Disneyland Resort before the parks open to the general public. At the end of the 5k walk, the event continues in the resort’s Downtown Disney District where event sponsors, hospital support groups, shops and restaurants have special offers for participants.
Love, joy, gratitude and remembrance will fill Main Street, U.S.A as Walk participants celebrate the lives of children saved by CHOC Children’s, and honor the memory of those children who bravely lost their battles against serious diseases or illnesses. Nearly 1,000 teams are expected, and include current and former patients and families, as well as doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.
Another way for people to support the event is to register for the Walk as a “Sleeping Bear.” A nod to CHOC’s mascot, Choco, this special designation allows CHOC supporters who cannot make it on Walk day to still raise money and support CHOC Children’s. “Sleeping Bears” receive a CHOC Walk T-shirt and are eligible to earn prizes from their fundraising efforts. Information on how to become a “Sleeping Bear” can be found on the CHOC “Walk in the Park” homepage under “Register.”
“I want to thank everyone who has helped to make CHOC Walk such a beloved and highly anticipated annual event over the past 25 years,” said Kimberly Chavalas Cripe, president and CEO, CHOC Children’s. “With everyone’s support, I know we will reach our $3 million goal for 2015. We especially appreciate the support and love shown to our patients and their families from our valued teams, corporations, sponsors and our dear friends at Disneyland Resort. Their support is an incredible way to mark the Walk’s silver anniversary.”
“For more than five decades, the Disneyland Resort has been a proud supporter of CHOC Children’s,” said Michael Colglazier, president of the Disneyland Resort. “We congratulate them for the incredible work they continue to do for children and families throughout our community, and we look forward to hosting their largest fundraising event, CHOC Walk in the Park, once again on our property.”
The popular Walk is the biggest annual fundraising effort for CHOC Children’s, a regional pediatric health care system that includes two hospitals, many primary and specialty care clinics, and four clinical centers of excellence – the CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.
Event and registration information can be found at www.chocwalk.org and real-time event information can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
CHOC Children’s is a regional pediatric health care system that includes two hospitals, many primary and specialty care clinics, and four clinical centers of excellence – the CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes. Walt Disney was a champion for CHOC and was even on the hospital’s first board of directors more than 50 years ago.
The 2015 Walk covers three miles through Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park where “CHOC walkers” get a special peek at the magic of the Disneyland Resort before the parks open to the general public. At the end of the 5k walk, the event continues in the resort’s Downtown Disney District where event sponsors, hospital support groups, shops and restaurants have special offers for participants.
There are many great reasons for families to take part in the CHOC Walk, including the following:
1. Participating in the CHOC Walk and supporting CHOC Children’s is an opportunity to carry on Walt Disney’s passion for supporting the health and wellness of the children in the community surrounding the Disneyland Resort and the advancement of pediatric medicine. Raising money for CHOC Children’s provides parents the opportunity to teach their children about the importance of helping others, as monies raised through supporting the CHOC Walk help to support the research conducted at and care provided by CHOC Children’s, as well as the hospital’s world-class programs sought after by families throughout the country.
2. By raising money for the CHOC Walk, Walkers can earn prizes, including free Disneyland Resort tickets that can provide a cost-saving option for families planning a Disneyland Resort vacation. Participants who raise between $375 and $599 earn one Disneyland Resort 1-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket. Participants who raise $600 or more earn two Disneyland Resort 1-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Tickets.
3. By participating in the Walk, families are not only helping to further CHOC’s mission, they are also able to gain a unique look at the Disneyland Resort through the Walk experience, purchase reduced-rate group ticket admission for the parks as part of the perks of participating in the Walk and enjoy special discounts in Downtown Disney the day of the Walk. Together, all of these make the CHOC Walk an ideal time to plan a family getaway or stay cation to the Disneyland Resort.
In order to purchase the reduced-rate group tickets, Walkers must present their CHOC Walk In the Park wristband at a Disneyland Resort Ticket Booth to purchase a special CHOC-Tober Disneyland Resort 1-Day Park Hopper ticket for $81 or a 1-Day 1-Park Ticket for $51 for use on the day of the walk or another visit to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. A maximum of 5 tickets may be purchased per wristband. The offer is valid on 10/11/2015 and tickets expire 11/6/2015.
Event and registration information can be found at www.chocwalk.org and real-time event information can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The hidden gem of New York has made its hilarious return to Orange County with a brief run in the beautiful Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Forbidden Broadway has been around since the early 80’s with many renditions parading much of today’s most popular Broadway hits. It’s an outrageously funny show that left many of us with tears from laughter. This is the definition of “laugh out loud” funny! It’s a show for anyone that knows even just a little Broadway music or just wants to enjoy a mockery of the unsaid ridiculousness found it popular musicals of today.
While the show is designed truly as a night club performance, it’s the intimacy of the space and the performance that makes it a special night for the audience. The cast of 4 insanely witty and multi-talented characters will wow you with their range, physical humor and comedic timing. Each cast member is very different from the other all attributing to countless acts and characters from a laundry list of different Broadway shows.
Forbidden Broadway hits the ground running with one song after another starting with Annie to a hilariously epic number dedicated to Les Miserables. With the cast of 4 frantically running around and nearly non-stop singing, there is a brief intermission before leading to the likes of Wicked, Once, and The Book of Mormon, just to name a few! Each bit seems equally as funny while the original writer and creator Gerad Alessandrini achieves comedic gold without needing to be crude or vulgar; relatively I guess.
The show truly does not have a plot, but rather the audience is treated to medley of familiar songs all with updated lyrics poking fun at the show it is famous from. It’s downright silly and campy, and that’s okay! Forbidden Broadway isn’t trying to be anything it’s not. The performance are over-the-top, on purpose, but while the singing may not be top-notch it’s still pretty spot on. I had no complaints to how any of the performers sounded and was more impressed with how many different styles they must sing than anything else.
I would expect there may be a few insider references that most wont get, but there is enough other gags and jokes that should have your gut busting with laughter. There is a plethora of bits that work well with many standout performances based off Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Avenue Q and ones previously mentioned.
The cast includes Gina Kreiezmar who has been in the production since 1992, Kevin B. McGlynn, Trisa Rapier, and Marcus Stevens who all have an impressive background including off-Broadway experience. Each one fits their roles impeccably and were a delight the entire show. Without a perfect cast, I can see this show falling flat easily as it’s dependent on just 4 performers and one incredible pianists that plays the entire show. This show featured Catherine Stornetta who is also the mastermind behind the orchestration of Forbidden Broadway as well as the off-shoots Forbidden Hollywood and Forbidden Christmas.
While the show holds it own and has a long history, I also want to mention about the perfect venue at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The Samueli Theater is a multi-purpose venue that does small-stage productions, wedding receptions, special event dinners, and more. It has different configurations including risers, standard rows of chairs, and in this scenario a more night-club set-up with tables for four and nice little flickering battery operated candles in the tables center. It really creates a nice lounge-like setting with concessions being allowed to be brought in. Therefore don’t overly do it with drinks before the show, you can purchase more at the concession stand and enjoy during it. However, they will be at theater prices can put a dent in the wallet.
Ultimately, this is a perfect night out in a great venue. It’s nearly two hours straight of light hearted fun. It’s refreshing to see a show teasing the theater scene yet rewarding as it still evident it’s a bit of a tribute. It’s a clever show that’s been around for awhile for a reason. I can see why it was such a sensation in New York and I look forward to seeing a new rendition in future years.
The show is only playing until October 4th, so while I’m writing this there are only the weekend shows left. Check out scfta.org for more information including a dinner package option with a three course meal at Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge right next door.
Peco Bill Tall Tail Inn at Magic Kingdom has revamped there menu, featuring tasty Tex-Mex cuisine.
New entrees include rice bowls and burritos with your choice of beef, chicken, or veggies. Fajitas sizzle with delicious steak or chicken. For a lighter option, try the Southwest Chicken Salad. Fans of the fixin’s bar needn’t worry, it’s back and better than ever with tasty sauces, salsas, peppers, onions, cheese and more.
Look for traditional tortilla chips and Chicken Enchilada Soup as scrumptious side dishes. For dessert? Mini churros with dipping chocolate and Sopapillas (a crispy, puffy, fried pastry) make for a perfectly sweet ending to your meal.
We are very excited to try out the new menu. What do you think of the new options?
Electronics company Massive Audio® Inc. announces the introduction of their new Doctor Who Headphone Collection under license from BBC Worldwide North America. The Over-Ear Bluetooth and Wired collection of headphones are to be released October 1st and will be available for sale in retail stores and online in early October.
In April 2015, the company released TARDIS and Dalek Bluetooth speakers, which have been a hit with fans. They now follow those speakers up with their new headphone collection, which includes the TARDIS and DW insignia Bluetooth and Wired Over-Ear Headphones.
These high-quality, stylish headphones will appeal to fans of the hit BBC AMERICA sci-fi series and headphone aficionados everywhere. The Bluetooth Headphones feature built-in buttons for full control over tracks, volume, and phone calls, as well as a bass boost option. They also have a built-in microphone that allows for phone calls without the need of a boom. The rechargeable battery is fueled via the included USB cable and lasts 30 hours with constant music. The Wired Headphones come with an inline control box with the same features and microphone. Both include a Doctor Who-branded carry bag and flat tangle-free wire packed in a collector’s-style windowed gift box. Massive is known for its excellent sound quality, and these headphones are no exception. Ranging from $69 – $119, they are a must for the new season of Doctor Who.
“Following the success of Massive Audio’s TARDIS and Dalek speakers, Doctor Who headphones seemed like the perfect next step. Whovians are sure to enjoy listening to the Doctor’s newest adventures through these high-quality headphones,” said Soumya Sriraman, EVP Film, Home Entertainment, and Licensing for BBC Worldwide North America.
Over-Ear Headphones feature:
• Bluetooth headphones offer a 30-foot wireless range
• Auxiliary IN/OUT for linking multiple headphones together
• Tangle-free flat wire with control box & microphone (Wired Version)
• USB flat wire charging cable (Bluetooth version)
• Built-in omni-directional microphone for phone calls with noise cancelation
• Multi-function interface for Volume / Play / Pause / >> / < < / Phone / Power / Mute
• 57mm speakers tuned for accurate sound reproduction
• Fantastic low frequency bass reproduction with bass boost button
• Foldable hinges for easy travel and storage
• Doctor Who-branded carry bag
U.S. Retailers Include:
Think Geek
Hammacher Schlemmer
Hot Topic
Hastings
Game Stop
BBC SHOP
WhoNA
Alien Entertainment
Amazon
Golden Apple
Other various online and book stores
U.S. & Canadian Distributors Include:
Diamond Comics
Entertainment Earth
Ingram Micro
Move over Walt Disney Concert Hall; there is a new iconic building and tourist attraction in Downtown Los Angeles and it is one awesome piece of work. Costing about $140 million to build, The Broad contemporary art museum is a giant honeycomb-looking structure housing 2,000 masterpieces from around the world.
The mega-gallery, which opened to the public on September 20, was developed by philanthropists and longtime art collectors Eli and Edythe Broad. “We built this collection and this museum so that contemporary art could be accessible to all,” says Eli Broad.
The Broad museum is a giant honeycomb-looking structure housing 2,000 masterpieces from around the world (picture courtesy of The Broad)
Located on Grand Avenue, in the art and cultural center of LA, The Broad’s unique and innovative design by Diller Scofidio + Renfro along with Gensler, rivals the shimmering, wavy architecture of it neighbor, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, which was created by Frank Gheary.
“We wanted something that would not clash with Walt Disney Concert Hall, but we didn’t want it to be anonymous either and we found just what we were looking for in the design,” said Eli Broad, when construction on the project began two years ago.
Once the public enters The Broad they are transported upward by a 105-ft escalator (picture courtesy of The Broad)
What the architect created was a unique, three-story “vault-and-veil” design, with a strong, concrete and glass base surrounded by a flowing, honeycomb-shaped exterior component. With this style, the museum contrasts Disney’s shiny and smooth metallic finish by being porous and brittle and bringing in lots of natural light.
The exterior “veil” of the building is a structural exoskeleton comprised of 2,500 fiberglass reinforced concrete panels and 650 tons of steel that drape over The Broad and appear to lift up at two corners to expose street-level entrances. A highlight of the honeycomb exterior is the “oculus,” located in the center of the building on the Grand Avenue side. This architectural feature is a huge, curved indentation in the side of the building, making it look like it was hit by a giant golf ball.
The 120,000-sq-ft, three-story museum building houses nearly the entire Broad collection, while providing 15,000 sq-ft of exhibition space on the ground floor and 35,000 sq-ft of column-free space on the third floor, with filtered natural light from skylights and windows.
The “vault” component of the building is the heart of the interior, where the museum store’s its overflow of world-class art. The heavy, opaque volume of the “vault” is always in view, hovering midway in the building. Its carved underside shapes the lobby below and the public circulation routes.
Once the public enters The Broad from the street level, they are transported upward by a 105-ft escalator, tunneling through the vault toward the light above to arrive onto the third-floor gallery. Visitors then descend through the vault via a winding stair that offers glimpses into the vast holdings of the collection through overlook windows into storage areas.
“Our goal has been to honor the responsibilities of the museum as a collecting institution by making the curatorial functions visible front and center,” says Elizabeth Diller, principal-in-charge of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. “The porous exoskeleton that we call the veil admits filtered natural daylight, channeling light into the public spaces and galleries.”
Besides the art inside the building, the construction of the new museum also brought improvements to the streetscape on Grand Avenue and the construction of public amenities such as a 24,000-sq-ft public plaza, landscaped with a grove of 100-year-old Barouni olive trees and a tilted lawn; a new mid-block crosswalk and planted median, connecting The Broad on the west side of Grand Avenue with MOCA and the Colburn School on the east; and a pair of wide stairs and an elevator connecting the plaza with the planned Hope Street Metro Regional Connector Rail station at 2nd Street.
At the western end of the plaza will be Otium, a new free-standing restaurant developed by Bill Chait and Chef Timothy Hollingsworth that will open later this fall. The Broad has also constructed a 155,000-sq-ft, three-story, 344-space, subterranean parking garage.
The Broad is located at is located at 221 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90012. For more information on visiting, call 213-232-6200 or visit: www.thebroad.org
Welcome to the Grand Daddy of all Halloween Events! Knott’s Scary Farm! Here you will have the chance to experience 11 haunted attractions, 2 live shows, and 3 scare zones where endless amounts of monsters rise through the fog to haunt your dreams! Here you will find reviews for all mazes, shows and scare zones to hopefully help guide you into what to experience first and maybe leave behind if you don’t have the time!
The Mazes:
Trick or Treat
This maze feels to be the shortest at Knott’s Scary Farm, but delivers a great punch with its theming and scares. The Green Witch takes residence in this spooky house and her tricksters are there to terrorize you through out her home. This maze has been around for a while, but it’s still consistent in delivering scares and pulling you into the story. The maze has been tweaked a little bit with two/three new rooms and they definitely add more depth and scares to this maze. What would I like to see changed or different? Keep it the Witch’s house and have her tricksters run around inside, but give the deadly seven a home in this maze and give each of them their own rooms. It would have given a brand new twist for the maze and it would be enjoyable for years to come!
Voodoo
Last year this maze was the most talked about maze with its “choose your path” layout. Now this year it has changed to one big long path where you get to experience all rooms and all scares without having to go through multiple times to get the path you want! Because even though they told you you got to choose your own path… You really didn’t. This was a much better and much improved maze from last year! The scares were on point and the theming is absolutely in incredible from experiencing hillbillies, zombies, and viewing sacrifices and voodoo rituals to raise the dead. I loved the maze this year and I definitely cannot wait to enter it again. It has improved greatly from last year and the ending wasn’t as abrupt and awkward! Kudos!
Paranormal Inc. NEW FOR 2015
If every maze at Knott’s Scary Farm can be this immersive and themed this incredibly well with stunning scares… It would blow Halloween Horror Nights out of the water. This maze has to be the most amazing maze I have ever been in and I don’t even know where to start! The beginning of the maze to the very end left me speechless! The whole haunted sanitarium works perfectly and I believe we are entering the world of the spirits. Whatever it is… AMAZING! My one gripe? Entering a maze in groups doesn’t work at Halloween Events in a theme park. It caused problems and back ups in Quarantine in 2008 and 2009. The back ups are caused with Trick or Treat and their small groups and it’s going to be a nightmare at this maze. Hopefully a more efficient system will be found with getting more groups into the maze quickly. Paranormal Inc. cast! Don’t lose your enthusiasm. You are easily the best maze of the year! I am still trying to keep my jaw up!
The Toothfairy
This is the second year The Toothfairy has visited the Scary Farm and it is, once again, not a maze to be missed! The only change that I noticed in the maze was the ending, which I prefer last years way more! The scenes are dark and twisted and seeing the children that the Toothfairy has kidnapped is definitely not easy to get through for most. I personally love this maze and it is easily a top 3 favorite for me. The lair you try to get through is no easy task with solid scares through out. Good work again to everyone in this maze, don’t lose your enthusiasm!
Pinocchio Unstrung
Any maze that has ever graced the Wilderness Dance Hall has always held one of my favorite themes and Pinocchio Unstrung is no different. The only unfortunate thing is that this maze has ran its course. The sets throughout the maze are still holding up strong! The props though have definitely seen better days and are falling apart. The scares were very minimal, but the ones we did experience were VERY good! I still enjoy this maze, but we hope to see a new theme in this maze next year.
Forevermore
Not only does the Wilderness Dance Hall hold mazes that are fan favorites, but the Mystery Lodge does as well! Forevermore is an amazing maze that has us following the route of the Forevermore Killer influenced by the writing legend, Edgar Allen Poe. This maze has been around for quite some time now and still is one of my favorites! I don’t like saying this, but even with the subtle layout changes that I enjoy, I’m ready for a new maze to take over. The scares in this maze were great here and there and hoping that the opening night jitters will soon fall through. This isn’t just in Forevermore, but the walk towards us and slam your hand on the wall or foot on the ground is not scary. It’s awkward and it makes us feel awkward. Be creative with your scares! Hide and pop out at us! That is what truly scares the guests more than anything!
My Bloody Clementine
Boy, is it great to see the monsters return to the mine ride! With a solid mining theme fit for the old west and amazing digital mapping, the mine ride brings a whole new life back to the Scary Farm. We understand that it is opening weekend and tweaks are being made to the attraction as well as the monsters finding their groove. We are sure that this will be a staple to Halloween Haunt.
Gunslinger’s Grave
Okay, Knott’s. I’m always down for a good Western themed maze to compliment Ghost Town, but this maze has never been a fan for me since the beginning. The addition of werewolves was okay and added a nice boost to the storyline, but it stills falls flat. The monsters in the beginning were absolutely great and without the Gunslinger’s in the beginning telling you what is going on, you would be completely lost with the story. When entering the saloon, there was only one older monster who does an amazing job with their scare, but everyone else in the saloon/bedroom just stood and sat there and stared at you while you walked by. This is where Universal comes in and does a better job with their scares. As much as I don’t like comparing the two, if this was a first maze for a first timer at Haunt. I would have left the house incredibly disappointed and would leave a bad taste in my mouth until I experienced other mazes. It’s time to put the ol’ Gunslinger in the Grave and start with a fresh new theme.
Dead of Winter NEW FOR 2015
Dead of Winter is a new maze housed inside the boardwalk ballroom. This maze wasn’t as scary as most, but the theming was great and the scare actors did their best with what they had to work with and that is always a plus in all haunted attractions. It’s definitely a beautiful maze! Keeping it cool and entering through ice caves that hold terrifying Viking warriors to the Snow Queen’s palace was quite a sight to behold. A lot of things, I felt, were found in Knott’s neighbor theme park (obviously) and some things didn’t make sense to help the story. A lot of these mazes (even with skeleton key) feels like you are missing the first chapter of their story. I wish there were tv’s or audio to help build the story line before entering the maze. Forevermore and Black Magic are the only ones I can honestly think of that help you understand the story.
Black Magic
Black Magic has always been one of my favorite mazes at the Halloween Haunt, but this year lacked with a small change to the maze layout this year. It took me away from the story a little bit, but it’s still a great maze to experience. With a little bit of time the monsters will find their groove and be top notch, but right now it seemed to fall a little flat with one or two scares actually making me jump. The new beginning seance room which used to be the old skeleton key room helps bring the story fully together and help us understand what we are experiencing without having to just throw us into the story. It’s a good start for this maze, but there is much need for improvement.
Scare Zones:
Ghost Town
The best scare some you will ever experience in any Halloween Event. The stage is already set for these terrifying creatures as Ghost Town takes on a new for after dark. The original sliders were found in this very scare zone and they are better than ever slipping and sliding all around you. What’s great about this scare zone are the different townspeople that inhabit this town and what creature they have transformed into by the Green Witch. I can sit in this scare zone for hours and just watch how amazing these monsters can scare!
Fiesta Village
This was a scare zone we didn’t really get a chance to spend much time in, but from what we did experience. The monsters were absolutely fantastic! They timed their scares perfectly and worked with their surrounding areas with ease! What an awesome scare zone added to Haunt!
CarnEvil
The monsters in this scare zone are always fun to watch and is the hardest scare zone to scare in because of how well lit it is in there. The monsters, just like Ghost Town, has a wide band of characters from circus performers, freak show creatures and animals! What is the most disappointing thing about this scare zone is is that the theming is very slim to none. More circus theming in this scare zone would definitely be a great sight to see!
Shows:
Elvira’s Asylum
It’s always fantastic to have one of the greatest Halloween icons grace her presence for us at Knott’s Scary Farm and Elvira is new different. From her scandalous jokes and the dancers fun and modern dances to more scandalous jokes and awesome acrobatics scattered throughout. This show is definitely not to be missed if you’re a fan of Elvira or you just want some time to rest your feet for a show. This show wasn’t as strong as last year in my opinion, but you can never not see Elvira! It’s still a fun show!
The Hanging
The staple show of Halloween Haunt has returned with its countless amounts of screwed humor and blood splatter! Make fun of today’s media and celebrities, the hanging leaves no stone unturned in offending the audience with its hilarious sexual jokes, violent deaths and fight scenes! If you’re not easily offended by these types of jokes, the hanging is a great way to have a laugh in between all the scares you will experience through out the park. Was I happy with who they hung this year? Yes, I was! Should multiple terrible human beings have been hung?! Oh yes! But one is better than none!
Haunt has definitely improved their Haunting game and hopefully with time, they will be back on top of the game! Paranormal Inc. Should be the prime example of what all mazes should be and I know Knott’s Scary Farm can make all mazes as detailed and terrifying as this maze! It was another amazing year and I cannot wait to be back!!!
