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All-New Expanded Terror Feat’d in Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood runs September 8 – Oct 31

By Marty Neehin — 3 years ago

All-New Expanded Terror Feat’d in Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood runs September 8 – Oct 32

All-New Expanded “Terror Tram” Features Jordan Peele’s Blockbuster Films, Nope and Us, in a Crossover Experience at the Original Jupiter’s Claim Set

During Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, Beginning Thursday, September 8

In Addition to “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare,” the Terrifying Line-Up Includes“Killer Klowns from Outer Space,” Inspired by the Cult Classic Film, along with All-Original Haunted Houses, “La Llorona: The Weeping Woman,” “Scarecrow: The Reaping” and “Universal Horror Hotel,” and the All-New Jabbawockeez Hip-Hop Show

When Halloween Horror Nights Kicks Off Thursday, September 8

This year’s iconic “Terror Tram”

expands to include a cinematic twist on Jordan Peele’s blockbuster films in a crossover experience that reimagines Us, featuring The Tethered, a revolutionary army of vengeful doppelgangers, whose uprising invades the all-new Jupiter’s Claim set from the filmmaker’s latest pop nightmare, Nope, as part of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, which kicks off on Thursday, September 8.

The “Terror Tram” is unique to Universal Studios Hollywood, inviting guests to explore by foot parts of the famous movie studio backlot, home to some of the most notorious movie sets. Once guests disembark the Tram, the terror is unleashed.

This year, the villainous Hollywood Harry unravels “Hollywood Harry’s Halloween,” a nightmarish spectacle with a demented cast of characters that winds past the iconic Psycho House then through Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds set.

As guests make their way through a choreographed massacre at the Jupiter’s Claim set from Nope, they will encounter The Tethered from Us in a frightening finale of epic proportions. After the success of the 2019 “Us” house, this experience will feature all-new choreography by conceptual artist and choreographer Madeline Hollander.

The madness continues with thrilling haunted house experiences. The full line-up follows:

  • “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” takes guests into the twisted mind of multi award-winning artist The Weeknd as they step into a surreal living nightmare filled with grotesque characters and themes inspired by his music and short films.
  • “Halloween” ventures back to where it all began in an eerily authentic haunted house that depicts the most chilling moments from the critically-acclaimed original film.
  • “The Horrors of Blumhouse” brings to life Blumhouse’s supernatural thriller The Black Phone and horror-comedy Freaky. 
  • “Universal Monsters: Legends Collide” expands on the thrilling legacy from Universal Pictures as the most notorious horror icons, The Wolf Man, Dracula and The Mummy, come together for the first time ever in an epic battle.
  • MGM’s “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” traps guests in a frightening funhouse of murderous clown-like creatures.
  • “La Llorona: The Weeping Woman” features the legend of La Llorona who comes to life to terrorize the living as she mourns the children she murdered.
  • “Scarecrow: The Reaping” finds that Mother Nature’s retribution against the homesteaders for their sins of the past will be carried out by the farmland’s scarecrows who have remained mute witnesses – and are now guardians of destruction for anyone who crosses their path.
  • “Universal Horror Hotel” lives ups to its reputation as the original owner, who was executed years ago for his dastardly deeds, continues to haunt the place today – and guests must escape his vengeful spirit or risk becoming a permanent resident.
  • Award-winning hip-hop dance crew Jabbawockeez brings an all-new, high-energy show nightly to this year’s event, featuring their gravity-defying dance moves, special effects and pulse-pounding music.

All-new scare zones will taunt and torment guests as they navigate the darkness from one terrifying house to the next:

  • “El Pueblo del Terror” is an extension of “La Llorona: The Weeping Woman” as the horror continues once guests exit the haunted house and discover there is no escaping the frightening legend along with other supernatural characters from Latin America’s most frightening myths.
  • “Sideshow Slaughterhouse” turns New York Street into a battle zone as the performers and workers from a seedy carnival sideshow are on a murderous rampage.
  • “Clownsawz” features a demonic troop of clowns who band together to terrorize guests with chainsaws as they enter the park.

Guests also can revel at select theme park attractions open during the run of event, including “Jurassic World—The Ride,” “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” “Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride”

and “The Simpsons Ride™.”

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” will also be open during Halloween Horror Nights, inviting guests to experience some of their favorite attractions, including “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™.” For the first time ever, Death Eaters™, a group of Voldemort’s most devoted followers, will roam Hogsmeade™ village, looking to find others willing to show loyalty to the Dark Lord’s cause.

Halloween Horror Nights tickets can be purchased online or at the Universal Studios Hollywood front gate, providing guests with Early Event Admission to select houses, beginning at 6pm each night of the event (subject to change). Various ticket options are available for purchase; click here for more information, including terms and conditions:

  • R.I.P. Tour is a premium product, inviting guests to scare with a VIP treatment that includes an expert guided tour of the event with exclusive experiences along the way.
  • Universal Express includes one-time express to each haunted house, Terror Tram, ride and attraction. Express access is a separate line with a shorter wait time and does not apply to food and retail locations.
  • After 2 P.M. Day/Night
  • Popular passes: Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which allow guests to experience the scares again and again.
  • General Admission

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror inspired by TV and film’s most compelling horror properties.

The event begins on Thursday, September 8 at Universal Studios Hollywood with eight frightening haunted houses, and on Friday, September 2 at Universal Orlando Resort with 10 terrifying haunted houses. Both events will run select nights through Monday, October 31.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

SoCal’s Newest Vietnamese Restaurant Serves Up Honest Taste of Vietnam -- TAY HO Restaurant
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SoCal’s Newest Vietnamese Restaurant Serves Up Honest Taste of Vietnam — Tay Ho Restaurant Chino Hills Saturday, August 13th

By Joe Wehinger — 3 years ago

SoCal’s Newest Vietnamese Restaurant Serves Up Honest Taste of Vietnam — TAY HO Restaurant Chino Hills Saturday, August 13th, 2022!

Named after the Tay Ho District located in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, Family Business Director Vivian Yenson introduces Southern Californians to Tay Ho Restaurant Chino Hills, her second newest Vietnamese restaurant honoring the timeless tradition of preparing authentic and delicious Vietnamese street food and eclectic Asian dishes.

Vietnamese Grand Opening with a full day of Giveaways

Like her first restaurant in San Gabriel, Tay Ho Restaurant Chino Hills is taking tradition to-go as they celebrate their official Grand Opening with a full day of Giveaways featuring 100 Complimentary Entrées, 100 BOGO Complimentary Entrées, 100 Complimentary Drinks

A chance to win some amazing Prizes such as a 50” Flat-Screen TV, Nintendo Switch, Apple AirPods Pro and much, much more this coming Saturday, August 13th, 2022, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm!

Tay Ho Restaurant Family Business Director Vivian Yenson, a twenty one-year-old college graduate is the eldest granddaughter ofLinda Tuyet Nguyen, the original matriarch of this family-owned business and the eldest daughter of Nguyen’s eldest son Jayce Yenson, CEO of Tay Ho Restaurants and Tay Ho Food Company.

Tay Ho was originally established in 1986 as a traditional Vietnamese sit down restaurant, but the family story began long before.

As newcomers to America, the Yenson family worked all together in tiny bánh cuốn shops where Linda Tuyet Nguyen grew to be a trusted member of the community with folks looking to her for her excellent palate.

Her passion for Vietnamese cuisine and the numerous bonds she created with her customers led to a larger vision and this is where it all began.

Vivian Yenson, a business major with a concentration in finance and operations supply chain got more involved at Tay Ho working side-by-side with her father where he could see her entrepreneurial spirit and that she was becoming more and more inspired each day realizing she could combine her love of business and her lifelong love of food.

It was then Vivian’s passion was parlayed into acreative vision bringing Tay Ho’s authentic and delicious Vietnamese street food to the masses by taking the Tay Ho tradition to-go and introducing Angeleno’s to her first new concept, Tay Ho Restaurant San Gabriel which opened in January 2022.

Tay Ho Restaurant’s love of Vietnamese cuisine is for its rich history and versatility. Tay Ho’s sole focus is on the preparation of each dish utilizing handcrafted techniques, slow cooked broths, and steamed vegetables with their commitment to creating top notch takeout food made from the finest ingredients and fresh locally sourced herbs.

Tay Ho’s signature Bánh Cuốn (pronounced bun kuon) is a premier example as their Specialty Rice Crepes take upward of five full days to prepare and it all starts with the rice. The Tay Hoculinary team grinds the rice grains with fresh water and then they let the rice sit for twenty-four hours. The next day the rice flour settles towards the bottom of the water and a milky water rises to the top. The water is then discarded as are the impurities, in which to make the cleanest batter possible.

Tay Ho continues repeating this process for approximately five days until the water is completely clear as this is the sign that it is ready to be eaten. Next, a thin cotton cloth is pulled tautly over a pot of steaming water and the rice batter is very carefully spread over the cloth.

As the Tay Ho kitchen has mastered this extensive preparation and the art of cooking their crepes to delicate perfection, they remove each crepe after just a few seconds with a bamboo stick bringing Vivian’s full vision to fruition and allowing Tay Ho to offer their Tay Ho Bánh Cuốn Set presented with classic rice crepes, pork and mushroom rolls, Vietnamese ham, and a shrimp and sweet potato fritter, and Pork & Mushroom Roll Set featuring pork and mushroom rolls, Vietnamese ham, and a shrimp and sweet potato fritter for all to-go.

Tay Ho’s Six sublimely savory Appetizers

The Khai Vi (pronounced khai vee) section offers up six sublimely savory Appetizers including Crispy Egg Rolls, Shrimp & Sweet Potato Fritters, Viet Style Chicken Wings, Shrimp Spring Rolls and Vegetarian Spring Rolls.

Tay Ho’s Banh Xeo (pronounced bun seo) is a Vietnamese Crispy Crepe and a staple in Vietnamese cuisine. Banh Xeo is a mix of potato flour, rice flour, salt, steamed mung bean, and turmeric to achieve its vibrant look. Each Banh Xeo is cooked-to-order offering a choice of either Pork & Shrimp or Mushroom & Tofu, each served with a fresh vegetable basket of mint leaves, lettuce, sliced cucumbers, and daikon, as well as Tay Ho’s Famous House Dipping Sauce.

Tay Ho’s house made Garlic Noodles

Mi Xao (pronounced mee saow) showcases Tay Ho’s house made Garlic Noodles showcasing perfectly paired with selections such as the Garlic Seasoned Filet Mignon Steak, Lemongrass Marinated Chicken, Garlic Shrimp, and Tofu & Varietal Mushrooms.

Chay (pronounced CH-ai) will satisfy and excite veggie lovers across the board with seven super tasty Vegetarian Options including the Vegetarian featuring a classic rice crepe, served with a sweet potato fritter and fried tofu, Beyond Roll Set with rice crepe rolls filled with Beyond Meat and served with a sweet potato fritter and fried tofu

Vegetarian Spring Rolls, a varietal of mushrooms with vermicelli rice noodles and fresh herbs wrapped in rice paper and served with Tay Ho’s vegetarian dipping sauce, Vegetarian Banh Xeo, Vegetarian Rice Plate, or Vegetarian Garlic Noodles.

“I grew up watching my parents work hard to make the best bánh cuốn possible.

I sat in our family restaurants doing my homework while my mom helped customers and watched my grandmother bring us all together as a family for dinner every night,’

says Vivian.

“Being able to create something that people love and share with everyone is our goal. As our new vision of Tay Ho continues to grow, our number one priority is to bring our guests delicious homemade food just like I had growing up with my family.”

Vivian also wanted to ensure the Tay Ho Drinks selection offered a delicious variety with something for everyone to enjoy.

Growing up in a Vietnamese family, she set her sights high on making sure Tay Ho’s signature Vietnamese Iced Coffee is celebrated and not to be missed. Vietnamese Iced Coffee is a beverage native to Vietnam which has one of the best coffee cultures in the world. Vivian and her team tested and tasted for months until they found the finest Vietnamese coffee and proper slow drip brewing method, combined with the perfect amount of condensed milk for sweetness and Vivian’s secret ingredient – a touch of chocolate!

True coffee enthusiasts can savor Tay Ho’s slow dripped Vietnamese Black Coffee and tea lovers can sip Thai Tea, Strawberry Peach Black Tea, Lychee Green Tea,Taro Milk Tea, or Lychee Lemonade.

“Looking up to those who have come before me is what inspires me to work hard and give back whenever I have the chance. It also helps me believe in myself, that I can do anything I set my mind to,” states Vivian. “Family is why I love what I do so much as it means getting to continue their dream and fulfilling their legacy. As Tay Ho continues to expand, I want all our guests walking into any one of our restaurants to feel like they are family, to enjoy our recipes that have been passed down across generations, and to get a true and honest taste of Vietnam.”

 

The Tay Ho Restaurant Chino Hills Official Grand Opening is coming up this Saturday, August 13th, 2022, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Tay Ho Restaurant Chino Hills will be open every Thursday through Tuesday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, and they will be closed on Wednesdays. For more information, please visit www.TayHo.com or call Tay Ho Restaurant Chino Hills directly at 909.978.2946.

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Oryx Desert Salt supports !Xaus Lodge community

By Joe Wehinger — 3 years ago

Oryx Desert Salt supports !Xaus Lodge community

Transfrontier Park Destinations (TFPD) has a long-held vision of partnering with communities to commercialise their tourism assets, create sustainable job opportunities and encourage sustainable economic activity.  It is with the invaluable support of homegrown, global companies that it’s been possible to build on this vision.

One of TFPD’s projects is !Xaus Lodge, (pronounced Kaus, with a traditional click) a now thriving 4-star graded and Fair Trade Tourism certified community-based tourism initiative, offering a unique Kalahari desert environment experience for visitors.   It has recently championed the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park, the ancestral home of the ǂKhomani San and Mier communities, being declared an International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

!Xaus means ‘heart’ in the Nama language and the lodge is built on a dune overlooking a large heart-shaped salt pan. Born out of the !Ae !Hai Kalahari Heritage Park land claim settlement of 2002,  it is owned by the local ǂKhomani San and Mier communities.

Glynn O’Leary, co-founder and CEO of TFPD, says:  ‘ the ǂKhomani San and Mier communities are some of the most  marginalised communities in South Africa so we are always delighted to channel funding from local businesses towards upliftment in these communities.”

He goes on to say, “I am excited that the historic multi-million rand global Rooibos industry has recently made its first annual pay out to the National Khoi and San Council and the South African San Council in a world-first, landmark agreement.” The Rooibos industry has pledged its commitment to environmental stewardship and protection of biodiversity, which is in alignment with TFPD’s own values of responsible environmentalism and tourism.

Similarly, Oryx Desert Salt  supports !Xaus Lodge on an ongoing basis.  O’Leary says, “We’re proud to be associated with Oryx Desert Salt as they sustainably harvest their sun-dried salt from 300 million-year-old underground rivers in a pristine area in the Kalahari Desert as well as package their product in a sustainable way.

It was their generous sponsorship that enabled our head chef, Lientjie Isaks, to travel to the UK for a once-in-a-lifetime UK- chef exchange experience.”  Lientjie was able to bring back her freshly acquired skills to !Xaus Lodge, improving recipes and menus.

 

CaliWater's Vanessa Hudgens and Oliver Treveno
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Your Summertime Adventures Deserve a Refreshing Taste, Here’s the drink for you

By Joe Wehinger — 3 years ago

Your summertime adventures deserve a refreshing taste, with healthy results and supporting a good case, taste CaliWater.

This summer many families are going on adventures – from a fun night out, to local road trips to traditional vacations and everything in between.  Families are looking for flavor, looking for healthy options, when possible choosing to support social good.

Recently we tasted a solution that solves all of this and more.

caliwater-vanessa-hudgens oliver treveno

CaliWater is the latest celebrity-driven brand on an already crowded grocery shelf to promote flavor, fun and health.

Before you judge it, have you tried cactus water?  If not, honestly it’s worth a taste. 

Open your mind (and your mouth) to the world of cactus water. Try the taste of CaliWater.

CaliWater Flavor

CaliWater comes in two subtle, but very different flavors:

Ginger + Lime

It’s a drink that adds a pop to your tongue.  

Tasting-wise, on the nose is heavy lime that for me became a palette cleanser.  Got a funky taste in your mouth?  This can will save you.  The lime notes carry over on your palette and the ginger adds a refreshing zing.   The linger lasts, leaving a pleasant and refreshing taste.

Wild Prickly Pear

Tasting-wise, on your nose its a bit sweet and even floral.  As you taste, it’s giving your mouth a sweet, refreshing bath similar to a bite of watermelon.  

But How Healthy is CaliWater?

The simple answer is: very healthy.  

Caliwater contains 5 naturally occurring electrolytes to boost hydration and is packed with skin fortifying antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and 200mg of Prickly Pear Extract which is a proven hangover relief. 

Prickly Pear Cactus has shown to lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar levels, and provides natural anti-viral properties. Known as a “superfruit”, the Prickly Pear Cactus has been the health solution go-to for many all over the world.

CaliWater is a Proven Hangover Relief

Let’s repeat an important part.  The drinks include 200mg of Prickly Pear Extract which is a proven hangover relief. 

Cali water also serves as a fantastic mixer for your favorite cocktail.

Created with passion, love, and a clear mission in mind

Earth-friendly activists Vanessa Hudgens and Oliver Trevena bonded while enjoying a prickly pear margarita.

They launched CaliWater, California cactus water that goes beyond just hydration. 

Created with passion, love and a clear mission in mind CaliWater hopes to promote healthy eco-friendly lifestyles and to make the world a better place. 

With up to 75% of Americans being considered chronically dehydrated CaliWater offer the tasty yet healthy alternative to water that also presents benefits for health and well-being. 

Giving Social Good

CaliWater’s goal is not only to provide health benefits to their customers, but also to raise awareness about the fight against childhood hunger. 

Partnering with No Kid Hungry a charity working to stop hungry children, Cali Wter pledges to donate $0.05 for every can purchased with the goal of donating $1,000,000 by April 2022.

Read for a Taste?

You can shop CaliWater here: https://drinkcaliwater.com/

You can also browse your local Erewhon, Alfred, Bevmo,  Blueys Market & Cafe, Sunlight Organics, The Pie Hotel, Vintage Grocers.

Manuel Prieto Named Director of Education of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
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Beverly Hills’ The Wallis Names Manuel Prieto Director of Education

By Marty Neehin — 3 years ago

Beverly Hills’ The Wallis Names Manuel Prieto Director of Education, an innovative leader and tireless champion of equitable arts education.

Manuel “Manny” Prieto, an innovative leader and tireless champion of equitable arts education, has been named Director of Education of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, announced Executive Director and CEO Rachel Fine.

Manny Prieto oversees for The Wallis

Prieto, a resident of Los Angeles who assumes the post on September 1, 2022, will oversee the strategic planning and operations of The Wallis’ highly regarded GRoW @ The Wallis education and outreach programs, which serve a broad and diverse sector of the community.

He will collaborate with Fine and the organization’s artistic staff and Board of Directors to ensure the education department programs and initiatives align with the mission, vision, and core values of The Wallis.

Manny Prieto’s passion for music and art

A committed and enthusiastic advocate for the arts, Prieto most recently served as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt), a non-profit arts education institution in East Los Angeles with a 77-year history of making arts education a tangible reality for thousands of underserved youth in the community.

In that role, he has worked to recontextualize and combat the often outdated standards of fine and performing arts so that a new, diverse, and more modern cohort of students can experience the enrichment that creativity offers.

Prieto succeeds Mark Slavkin, The Wallis’ first Director of Education, who led the department for and retired after seven years, building a successful and admired program emulated by other institutions.

 

“Manny Prieto is a dedicated arts education pioneer and advocate,” says Fine.

“A visionary and community-focused trailblazer,

he is dedicated to ensuring arts education and outreach programs remain indispensable in our complicated and evolving world.

On behalf of The Wallis’ Board of Directors and staff, we welcome Manny enthusiastically to our senior management team. Under his strategic guidance, The Wallis will continue to prioritize its education department to serve the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles communities with forward-thinking educational programs that reflect the rich cultural diversity and needs of our great cities.”

 

“I am tremendously excited to join The Wallis as Director of Education,” says Prieto. “The Wallis is unwavering in its commitment to providing opportunities for audiences of all abilities, ages, and interests so they never stop learning and engaging in the performing arts – a guiding tenet of my life’s work thus far. The arts are where we create community, heal our divides, discover and embrace our visions, voices, and power to be creative agents of change, and foster a safe space to thrive. In my new capacity with The Wallis, I look forward to applying my expertise and belief in the power of the arts to facilitate an environment that encourages the community to think like artists and experience collective success as creative people.”

 

About Manny Prieto

During Prieto’s eight-year tenure with LAMusArt, he helped make the arts — and their benefits –a day-to-day experience for young students in East Los Angeles. He effectively strengthened the organization’s infrastructure by broadening board involvement, expanding program offerings and scholarship opportunities, upgrading working conditions and renovating work spaces, adopting a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, doubling the organization’s budget to over $1 million, creating an organization-wide curriculum framework, and implementing community building among staff and faculty. Prieto is proud of the organization’s mission and is also proud to reinvest in the East LA community as a means to bring forth its vibrant creative potential. When Prieto took the position of Executive Director, at a mere 25 years old, he had a vision for LAMusArt as a hub for accessible and safe collaboration, expression, and instruction so that students could see viable examples of what the arts can bring to their lives. His vision didn’t come without risks – he expanded free programming, pushed students toward challenging repertoire, and invited audience members to explore art forms unfamiliar to them. During his tenure, the community experienced considerable growth and transformation.

 

Prior to joining LAMusArt, Prieto worked in the education department at Center Theatre Group (CTG) coordinating accessibility programs at the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Kirk Douglas Theatre and implemented bilingual curriculum for their education department initiative “The Shop: Theatre In Your Everyday Life.” He has worked as an educator at CTG and P.S. Arts, among other Los Angeles institutions, leading discourse on pedagogical strategy, artistic curricula, and theatrical design. As a designer, Prieto has worked on productions for E! Network, CTG, Pasadena Playhouse, Cornerstone Theatre, El Teatro Campesino, 24th Street Theater, and LATC.

 

Prieto earned a B.F.A. from the University of Southern California in Theater Design and a M.A. in Nonprofit Management from Antioch University. He was co-chair of the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Council, a member of the steering committee of the Latinx Theatre Alliance-LA and a former LACDAC internship program participant and peer mentor. He brings his background and perspective as a student of design and an arts educator to his role as a leader and works for the communities he himself recognizes from childhood – communities with abundant artistic potential and very few resources. He has remained an authentic and steadfast captain through many evolutions and challenges in the arts landscape, never losing sight of a greater sense of purpose.

 

About the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts:

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national and international artists share their artistry with ever-expanding audiences. The campus, located in the heart of Beverly Hills, CA, is committed to robust and distinctive presentations and education programs curated with both creativity and social impact in mind. Distinguished by its eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles and its location in the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis has produced and presented more than 350 theater, dance, music, film, cabaret, conversation, and family entertainment programs since its doors opened in October 2013. Hailed as “au courant” (LaLa Magazine), The Wallis was lauded by Culture Vulture, which proclaims, “If you love expecting the unexpected in the performing arts, you have to love The Wallis.” Its programming has been nominated for 79 Ovation Awards and nine L.A. Drama Critic’s Circle Awards. The campus itself, a breathtaking 70,000-square-foot facility, celebrating the classic and the modern, has garnered six architectural awards. Designed by acclaimed architect Zoltan E. Pali (SPF:architects), the restored building features the original 1933 Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places), which serves as the theater’s dramatic yet welcoming lobby, and includes the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater; the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater; an inviting open-air plaza for family, community and other performances; and GRoW @ The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education, where learning opportunities for all ages and backgrounds abound. Together, these elements embrace the city’s history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for L.A.-area visitors and residents alike. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is led by Chairman of the Board Michael Nemeroff and Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Rachel Fine.

 

For more information about The Wallis, please visit: TheWallis.org.

New summer dishes and cocktails at A.O.C. in Brentwood
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Got Lunch? New summer dishes and cocktails at A.O.C. in Brentwood

By Kelsey Ridley — 3 years ago

Got Lunch? New summer dishes at A.O.C. in Brentwood and head
barman Ignacio Murillo’s seasonal cocktails.

AOC Brentwood summer lunch menu

Reserve a table at a.o.c. Brentwood for their new summer lunch menu and fresh cocktails

New summer dishes and cocktails at A.O.C. in Brentwood

 

A.O.C.’s New Additions

the larder plate 22
two cheese, salumi, chorizo, dried fruit, nuts, fig jam & grilled toast

butter lettuces & heirloom tomatoes 20
jimmy nardello peppers, aloreña olives, paprika & buttermilk

chilled weiser melon & grilled shrimp 29
purslane, greek feta, persian cucumber, lime & urfa

semolina strozzapreti 25
yellow tomato, salmoriglio, spinach & pecorino

wood-grilled white bass 34
summer squash, green harissa, crema & hazelnut dukkah

hanger steak frites 36
niçoise olive butter & pine nut crumbs

marcia’s favorite grilled cheese 20
mahon, two chorizo & romesco

prosciutto tartine & local stone fruit 22
triple crème, arugula & pistachios

and

Refreshing cocktails
to get you through
the heat created in partnership with head
barman Ignacio Murillo

campesino
mezcal, alejandro’s honeydew, basil & jalapeño

esperia
rye, meletti amaro & empirical spirits fallen pony blend

fiesta jalisco
tequila, watermelon, lime & hibiscus-chili rim

flower of fresno
bourbon, peach, honey, lemon & lavender

harry’s g&t
strawberry gin, house rhubarb tonic, herbs & harry’s berries

tartarian old fashioned
bourbon, house cherry bitters & cherry liqueur

gold dragon
gin, house aperitivo, dry vermouth & orange bitters

green goddess
green tea infused vodka, cucumber, arugula, jalapeño & absinthe rinse

Visit AOC Brentwood

a.o.c. Brentwood

is located at 11648 san vicente blvd
los angeles, ca 90049

at the intersection of san vicente and darlington

phone: 310.806.6464

Boys-Girls Club- Hydro Wild lab
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Wild Elements is teaming up with Support + Feed and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles (BGCMLA) to launch a new community and education initiative

By Susan Schuler — 3 years ago

Wild Elements, Support + Feed, & Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles Come Together to Launch Community-Based Hydro-Wild Initiative Addressing Food Insecurity and Climate Crisis Through Innovation

Wild Elements is teaming up with Support + Feed and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles (BGCMLA) to launch a new community and education initiative – the Hydro-Wild Lab is a working hydroponic farm nestled in a shipping container as a learning and innovation hub for young people starting July 2022.

Through classes, community building, and hands-on sustainable agriculture experience, the Hydro-Wild Lab will deepen the connection between personal and planetary wellness while restoring food-growing power back to a Los Angeles community.

Support + Feed and Wild Elements teach students the science behind their favorite veggies

Starting in July 2022, students at the Watts-Willowbrook Club house, located in Watts on the border of Compton and one of four clubhouses within the BGCMLA region, will have access to a multi-week curriculum developed in coordination with Support + Feed and Wild Elements that teaches them the science behind their favorite veggies, the connection between personal wellness and food advocacy, and the cultural significance of gardens and growth in their own neighborhood and beyond.

Boys-Girls Club- Hydro Wild lab

Wild Elements is teaming up with Support + Feed and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles (BGCMLA) to launch a new community and education initiative

The Wild Elements Hydro-Wild Lab, an innovative indoor hydroponic farm, brings together agriculture and technology to increase direct access to nutrient-dense food in an eco-conscious way while simultaneously providing students with hands-on farming experience and training.

Wild Elements Hydro-Wild Lab, an innovative indoor hydroponic farm

This unique program developed in partnership across all three organizations is tailored specifically for the Watts-Willowbrook Clubhouse students and community to address the nexus of food insecurity and the history of food systems, healthy eating, and climate change.

Boys-Girls Club- Hydro Wild lab

Wild Elements is teaming up with Support + Feed and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles (BGCMLA) to launch a new community and education initiative

Hydroponic farms are superstars of sustainable agriculture and are quickly emerging as an important pathway to increase access to produce in both urban and rural environments farming provides communities with a mechanism to farm in controlled environments indoors, while in rural settings, hydroponic as they require fewer natural resources.

Wild Elements is working for a Regenerative Future

In urban areas where there is no land or healthy soil to grow food, hydroponic farms use less land than conventional ones, which helps overused fields regenerate. Hydroponic farms use up to 10 times less water than conventional farms, a benefit in drought-prone areas like California. Growing produce locally is also important as food begins to lose its nutrient-density once it’s harvested. In short, hydroponics is one key way to grow food so it benefits people and the planet.

“At Wild Elements, we’re working for a regenerative future where all living things can thrive.

We can do it with innovative programs like the Hydro-Wild Lab, which merges tech, agriculture, health, education and community empowerment, all in one shipping container.

By growing fresh produce while using less water and less land,

the Hydro-Wild Lab promotes food equity, plant-based nutrition, and sustainable agriculture,

all while investing in one vibrant neighborhood and its urban ecosystem.

Wild Elements is thrilled to partner with our friends at Support and Feed and BGCMLA

to bring this transformative pilot program to the BGCMLA students at the Watts-Willowbrook Clubhouse,”

says Nikki Eslami, Founder & CEO, Wild Elements.

Support + Feed, a non-profit organization created during the pandemic by Maggie Baird (Lifetime Climate Activist, Screenwriter and mother to Billie Eilish and FINNEAS), is partnering with Wild Elements and BGCMLA to introduce the Hydro-Wild Lab, bringing plant-based food and educational resources to today’s youth and local community organizations without access. They focus on working with community innovators that have been doing the work in their city to provide tailored resources that will be most impactful.

Boys-Girls Club- Hydro Wild lab

“Through the power of partnership, we can work together, providing strategies to address existing problems and help change the futures,” says Maggie Baird, Founder & President, Support + Feed. “This exciting step (the Hydro-Wild Lab) goes back to our mission, to support organizers and nonprofits that are already doing great work. When we pool our resources, together we can uplift the community”

Committed to sustainable impact, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles is the result of a partnership unifying Los Angeles’ Boys & Girls Clubs that have been serving youth in the region’s most vulnerable neighborhoods since 1960 including Challengers, Watts/Willowbrook, Bell Gardens, Jordan Downs, and Jordan High School sites.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles offers nationally recognized programs in three core areas to ensure the achievement and empowerment of youth and their families: Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles.

“Our Watts community has been long challenged by lack of success,” states Patrick Mahoney, President & CEO Boys & Girls Clubs Metro Los Angeles. “The Hydro-Wild Lab will provide an opportunity BGCMLA youth to grow and consume healthy foods but will also serve as a critical tool for community and family dialogue around creating healthier eating habits. In a community where diabetes has a 72% higher mortality rate than the average community, the Hydro-Wild Lab will serve as a great education and awareness tool that can help save lives.”

The Hydro-Wild Lab is a pilot program that Wild Elements, in partnership with Support + Feed and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles, plans to scale and utilize as a model to bring innovative solutions to other communities nationwide. This educational and collaborative initiative unites the strengths and networks of all three organizations and further expands critical conversations about nutrient dense food access in urban communities.

 

ABOUT WILD ELEMENTS

Wild Elements is an ecosystem of content, community and collective impact building a regenerative future where all kind can thrive. Aiming to reconnect people with nature – to protect biodiversity – Wild Elements champions innovation solutions and inspires our community to take small steps toward personal and planetary wellness. Central to Wild Elements’ mission is its work to shift power and vital resources to women-led environmental solutions driving change. Today’s global traditional philanthropic model only grants .2% of funds to women-led environmental work, yet women are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. To change the game, Wild Elements distributes over 88% of its philanthropic dollars to women-led organizations. Wild Elements believes and invests in shifting narrative through inspiring storytelling to impart empathy and let good grow wild so the whole world will follow. To learn more visit wildelements.com.

 

ABOUT SUPPORT + FEED 

Support + Feed is an intersectional nonprofit organization dedicated to creating an equitable, plant-based food system and combating food insecurity and the climate crisis. Founded in Los Angeles by Maggie Baird, Support + Feed has expanded to ten US cities, worked with over 80 community organizations, and supported local economies across the country. Currently Support + Feed is part of the Happier Than Ever Global Tour which will enable them to expand globally including in the UK and Australia. For more information, visit supportandfeed.org.

 

ABOUT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO LOS ANGELES

The mission of Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles (BGCMLA) is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Committed to sustainable impact, BGCMLA is the result of a partnership unifying Los Angeles’ Boys & Girls Clubs that have been serving youth in the region’s most vulnerable neighborhoods since 1960 including Challengers, Watts/Willowbrook, Bell Gardens, Jordan Downs, and Jordan High School sites. BGCMLA offers nationally recognized programs in three core areas to ensure the achievement and empowerment of youth and their families: Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles. For more information, please visit our website at bgcmla.com.

Oryx Desert salt brings Taste, Health and Social Good to Your Gourmet Experience
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Eating & Drinking Health & Wellness Hottest News

Oryx Desert Salt brings Taste, Health and Social Good to Your Gourmet Experience

By Joe Wehinger — 3 years ago

Oryx Desert salt brings Taste, Health and Social Good to Your Gourmet Experience

Oryx Desert Salt Taste

In the crowded world of salts and condiments,  Oryx Desert Salt is working hard to separate itself from the crowd and more and more people are noticing.

Come have a taste and a closer look….

Oryx Desert Salt has a heightened taste, even when compared to other gourmet options.  Subtle, yet bold.  It adds a zest to the bite while being gentle on your palate.  A finishing salt who’s magic is pulling out an extra bit of dimension from most dishes.

I tried it on poultry, rib eye and salmon.  Bringing out the juice and flavor.  Each time the taste was noticeably enhanced.  

With its distinctive flavor profile using less salt will achieve that enhanced flavor and Oryx is still going, creating more exclusive flavored salts for exciting new taste experiences

Oryx Desert salt brings Taste, Health and Social Good to Your Gourmet Experience

So far I’ve only sampled their white salt, but judging by that experience, I’d LOOOVE to try their variety.

“Salt is the smallest ingredient in any meal yet it has the biggest impact”

Oryx Desert Salt’s Flavors

SMOKED SALT –  cold smoked over French Oak shavings

WINE SALT – soaked in Shiraz red wine and sundried

BRAAI/ BBQ SALT – free from additives, flavourants, preservatives, wheat or gluten fillers.

Oryx Desert Salt’s Health Benefits

Oryx Desert Salt has all the essential minerals and trace elements that exist naturally in salt, including magnesium, zinc and potassium.  

 

It’s 100% pure, crystal-white, natural desert salt.   Sun-dried, unrefined, no additives, no anti-clumping agents, no preservatives. Dried by the hot African desert sun. 

Oryx Desert salt brings Taste, Health and Social Good to Your Gourmet Experience

Why is this important? To really understand, let’s put on our science lab coats and get into the specifics.

There are two elements of salt – sodium and chloride – and they each play vital roles to your healthy body.

Sodium helps your nervous system, controls your taste, smell and touch, helps your muscles (and heart) work and helps your brain talk with the rest of your body.

Chloride is key for digestion and helps keep your blood moving.

 

Okay, science class is over.  

 

But, yeah, that’s how important salt is to us.  And how important Oryx Desert Salt recognises their role. 

 

Some of us, honestly, haven’t put that much thought into what kind of salt we’re using.  And now we know we should.

 

The Oryx Desert Salt Story

 

Back in the Summer of 2020 inspiration struck CEO / Founder Samantha Skyring when she took a 7 day walk through South Africa’s Namib Desert.

 

During the journey, she had several up-close encounters with Oryx Gazella (large antelopes) and learned the Oryx go a lifetime without drinking water.  

 

How do they survive it?  

 

The salt plays a big part.  The animals get the necessary minerals and trace elements vial by licking native salt. 

 

If you look on Oryx Desert Salt’s packaging, you’ll notice the Oryx, with its striking coloring and presence, because became the symbolic icon for Oryx Desert Salt.

 

Oryx Desert Salt Cares About Our World

 

They support small, local businesses, build partnerships and advocate for eco-awareness.

 

Oryx Desert Salt believes in impact sourcing which is choosing to source locally where  possible and supporting small, often women-owned businesses.

They also work to build collaborative relationships (from their chefs, cooking schools and beyond) seeing them as valued ambassadors.

Their cotton bags, aprons and shopper bags are manufactured by a women’s home industry community group.

 

They partner with organizations like the Ukama Foundation, Macassar Pottery,    Khomani San and Mier communities who own !Xaus Lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari Desert.  

Where To Buy

Available at Whole Foods throughout the county, on Amazon and on their website here.

Actress Erin Michelle Soto
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Health & Wellness Hollywood Hottest News My Best Me

Actress Erin Michele Soto Rises Through Her Trauma to Return to Her Hit TV Series

By Joe Wehinger — 3 years ago

Erin Michele Soto Rises Through Her Trauma to Return to Her Hit TV Series

Audiences know Erin Michele Soto from her work in the miniseries Shirley and Shelly and the TV series Studio City, the smash hit and Emmy – winning drama.

Around the world audiences see stars on red carpets, TV and movie screens; and often never consider the challenges these performers face to live their dreams.  

So many people recognize a star’s good looks, their talent, the laughs and tears from the characters they portray. But the audience doesn’t really get to know the person behind that work.  Today Erin is sharing a deeper look into her journey. 

Erin Michele Soto Reveals Her Bright and Her Dark

Recently we had a chance to sit down with Erin Michele Soto and she revealed the brightest and the darkest moments of her story and the excitement yet to come.

Actress Erin Michelle Soto

Like so many, Erin moved to Southern California with big Hollywood dreams. But she did not become the struggling cliche.  She had the talent and good fortune to quickly find work as an actress and as a dancer.  

Tragedy on a Celeb-Filled Dance Floor

Erin Michele Soto’s grace on the dance floor quickly brought her attention.  She found A-list work immediately in Modern, Ballet, Jazz dance genres. Stars of the stage, small screen and silver screen all demanded her time, attention and help.

Actress Erin Michelle Soto

Actress Erin Michelle Soto

Then as her star was rising, suddenly it all crashed down.  Literally.  One day in the middle of dancing, Erin fell, hit her eye and the trauma from the fall punctured her brain.

The next moments created a chronic ailment that took Erin over a year for her to recover.  The glitz and glamour lifestyle was replaced with being bed-ridden and living a small, dark, lonely  life.

Actress Erin Michelle Soto

Hearing Soto reflect back today, there’s still a pain in her eyes and her voice.  But a growing strength and courage in her soul.

Was her journey hard?  Yes.  Painful?  Yes.  Encouraging?  No. 

But, Erin wasn’t done yet.

Ironically, her body really thought she was finished.  She rarely left the house.  She couldn’t socialize with friends.  She forgot how to do the smallest tasks constantly, things like closing her house door; she would routinely black out as she walked through her neighborhood.

The things most people find common, this talented star was suddenly struggling to complete.

“No One Can See My Pain”

Even worse, her mind was playing tricks on her.  

This normally proud, healthy, optimistic person was suddenly having thoughts of self-harm.  It was a dark time.  The good news is, she knew better.  Luckily, she never acted on those dark, harmful thoughts.

Your Village Supports Your Recovery Journey

To meet Erin is to fall in love with her.  Her energy, her spirit, her intelligence, her motivation.  Luckily, even in her darkest moments after her trauma, Erin’s community rallied to cheer her on and find ways to help her while she struggled to live daily life.  She bravely chose to get professional mental help which also supported her and returned her closer to light and happiness.

She learned to over-power her own thoughts and regain positivity.  She now meditates daily and credits that mental strength with her return to courage and creativity.

“I used my imagination

to get back into the world”

Back on Set

Just over a year after her life-changing trauma, Erin was itching to get back to performing.  The injury focused her true passions in using her voice in acting.  Performing, acting, dancing.  But she was dealing with a very foreign feeling: insecurity.  Could she remember her dialogue?  Could her body move as gracefully as it used to?  Would she feel as comfortable acting as she did before?

As a performer, Erin had to “learn to walk” again.

Erin was eager to return and try.  She chose a small, local theater in SoCal’s modest San Fernando Valley.  

“To her surprise, relief and excitement,

all of her worries went away.”  

To her surprise, relief and excitement, all of her worries went away.  Her mind and body cooperated and she had a blast performing again in front of huge crowds.

“If something brings you joy,

push through your fears”

Today, Erin is busier than ever.  She’s currently working on projects for both stage and screen, taking meetings as an actress for both tv and film.

She credits her friends, family, health professionals and community with helping her overcome her dark moments.  Her continued meditation keeps her mind clear and strong.

As a performer, she’s excited to be in front of an audience – whether you’re watching her in-person on stage, on your television or on the big screen.

With confidence, motivation, discipline and support from your community, everyone can rebound from their challenges and return to what they love.  Erin Michele Soto is a brilliant and inspiring example of this.

Follow Erin Michele Soto on her social media at:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialErinMicheleSoto

https://www.instagram.com/erinmichelesoto

https://twitter.com/erinmichelesoto

 

boyz-2-men-hollywoodbowl
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Entertainment Featured Hottest News Most Popular

Hollywood Bowl Heat: Boyz II Men & TLC, “Kinky Boots,” Michael Franti, and so much more

By Kelsey Ridley — 3 years ago

Hollywood Bowl is heating up this summer with Boyz II Men & TLC, “Kinky Boots,” Michael Franti, and so much more

The high-heeled Broadway hit comes to Hollywood in a special production adapted for the Bowl stage.

FRI–SUN  JULY 8–10
Kinky Boots  
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Jerry Mitchell, director and choreographer
Stephen Oremus, conductor and musical director
Cast includes:
Wayne Brady
Jake Shears
Kelly Marie Tran

Related:

Post Malone announces Twelve Carat Tour 33-city including SoCal’s Crypto Arena with special guest Roddy Ricch.

SUN  JULY 24 – part of KCRW Festival
A.R. Rahman  

The artist who redefined contemporary Indian music returns, performing Bollywood favorites and more!

 

WED  JULY 27

Tribute to Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra 

Special guests: Billie Eilish, Debbie Harry, Dianne Reeves, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Seth MacFarlane, Bettye LaVette, Gretchen Parlato, and more
Christian McBride, musical director
The Count Basie Orchestra
Two iconic singers are celebrated by an all-star lineup.

Related:

LA Phil Introduces Club 101 inaugural membership program for The Hollywood Bowl and The Ford summer seasons

FRI  JUL 29
Boyz II Men • TLC  

From “The End of the Road” to “Waterfalls,” take a trip through some of the greatest songs in R&B history.

 

SUN  JUL 31
a-ha with Orchestra 
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Thomas Wilkins, conductor

The Norwegian band made waves in the 1980s with their classic songs “Take On Me” and “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” Now, they’re teaming up with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for a night of hits.

 

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