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Honey's Health Power is getting Rediscovered and Mellody Food's Darko Mandich is leading the way
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Honey’s Health Power is getting Rediscovered and Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich is leading the way

By Joe Winger — 1 year ago

The magic and power of honey is getting Rediscovered and Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich is leading the way

Honey has been a staple in my people diets for their whole.  As a result, many of us take it for granted.  But that’s changing thanks now.

Let’s find out in an exclusive interview with Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich.

Darko Mandich is a food entrepreneur in San Francisco. After spending almost a decade in the European honey industry as a business executive, Darko committed to reimagining the honey industry to become sustainable. Darko immigrated from Europe to California to launch Mellody, the world’s first plant-based honey brand. Darko is an advocate of saving the bees and wild pollinators.

Mellody Food's Darko Mandich

Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich

 

Recently, I had a chance to talk with Darko.

Why honey? Was it a personal passion or where did the interest come from for you?

Honestly, at that time, it was a great opportunity and a very interesting company that had many different divisions all related to food and agriculture.

It’s my grandma’s fault that I got into the food industry because I remember when I was a kid, my grandma and my mom and dad, they were running a tiny tavern in the Mediterranean coastline.

Seeing people gathered around the food, seeing people running around prepping the food. In my family, whenever we would have guests visiting our home, there’s always gonna be like plenty of food. And I think that subliminally inserted in my brain. Even though I pursued business and entrepreneurship, that’s something that excites me. In the background of all of that was food. I don’t mind that because I’m a foodie myself.

 

Honey is being Re-Discovered. Why did honey become so important to us today?

 

There’s so many angles to that. If you ask consumers in the US their preferred sweetener is honey. Why? Because people understand that honey has the sugar part that gives you a kick, gives you energy; but honey also has a very exciting non sugary part to it, which makes it a better for you. I would say [it’s] the best sweetener out there.

Also, there’s something about the mythology of honey.

There’s this Greek goddess of honey. Honey has been presented as a divine product across many religious books in different religious and history is telling so many interesting stories about honey.

Around 200 years ago, they unsealed Egyptian pyramids, got inside, found a bunch of things, and amongst others there was honey in a pot. And you know what? That honey was edible. And no food in the world would actually stand against that shelf life because, [of honey’s ] special combinations of sugar acidity, pH. Now I’m nerding up.

 

But the thing is, honey is very special. It will never go bad. There’s kind of official shelf life to honey, but honey will actually never go bad.

And I think if you connect all these things and consumers looking for better solutions, looking for something that can satisfy them, not only on a taste, but on a nutritious level, honey [has] become so popular. I had a chance to witness this across my decade old career in the US and before that in Europe.

And look, I was very excited about honey. I didn’t know much about it when I joined that [first] company, but when I started learning about it, I was like, ‘Wow, this product is really amazing.’

 

Is the honey currently available at Eleven Madison Home?

 

This is the product from a direct to consumer collaboration. We just launched with three Michelin star, Eleven Madison Park in New York City.

Eleven Madison Home's The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

Eleven Madison Home’s The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

 

 

Yeah, the honey is currently available. The Specialty Tea and Honey Box launched for the Mother’s Day collection and Earth Month.

It’s a specially curated box of artisanal teas coming from different parts of the world with honey and also amazing, shortbread cookies. All plant-based, also made with our honey. That’s available right now

Sometime very soon a standalone jar [of honey] will also be available to Eleven Madison Home.

Eleven Madison Home's The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

Eleven Madison Home’s The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

 

Tell us again what’s available, how to find it; and how to follow you and support you.

 

Yeah, follow us on Instagram and TikTok at MellodyFoods

In terms of purchasing, head to ElevenMadisonHome.com and you can purchase it there.

Saving the bees is learning more about them. Learning more about pollinators and you can do that on our social media.

And finally, if you’re equally passionate about bees and plants as we are, ask your favorite restaurant to reach out to us to offer Mellody in your favorite restaurant. It can be a vegan restaurant on non-vegan.

We are gonna work with all the restaurants that reach out to us where people ask to see our product offered, either on the menu, either within a meal, or just if you order a cup of tea and you want a side of Mellody.

 

Partnering with NYC 3 Star Michelin Restaurant Eleven Madison Park? How'd This start-up do it?
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Partnering with NYC 3 Star Michelin Restaurant Eleven Madison Park? How’d This start-up do it?

By Joe Winger — 1 year ago

How’d a Start-up Partnerswith NYC 3 Star Michelin Restaurant Eleven Madison Park?

For most foodies, it’s a dream to even have dinner at a 3 Star Michelin restaurant like Eleven Madison Park.  But how do you go a step further?  Imagine being a food start-up company who gets to partner with a legendary New York 3 Star Michelin restaurant.  How’d they do it?

Let’s find out in an exclusive interview with Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich.

Darko Mandich is a food entrepreneur in San Francisco. After spending almost a decade in the European honey industry as a business executive, Darko committed to reimagining the honey industry to become sustainable. Darko immigrated from Europe to California to launch Mellody, the world’s first plant-based honey brand. Darko is an advocate of saving the bees and wild pollinators.

Mellody Food's Darko Mandich

Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich

 

Recently, I had a chance to talk with Darko.

 

Eleven Madison Park is a 3 Star Michelin restaurant, one of New York’s most esteemed fine dining venues. How did you start that relationship?

 

Yeah, thank you for asking that question, because this is an opportunity to tell the story. It started at the beginning of 2022. We were busy with our process of making this honey. Still not having the final product and bringing it to the market, but we’re getting there. I was really excited with what our team was delivering at that time. And I started thinking, okay, at some point sometime soon we’re gonna have a sample, and who should test that sample?

The reason why this sample was important is because it was a one ounce jar, like a very tiny jar, but the cost of that sample was $300,000.

 

I was thinking who should open this? Who should be the person to taste this? And that week I came across this podcast featuring Chef Daniel Humm, leading one of the most well-known restaurants in the world, Eleven Madison Park.

 

[On the podcast he explained…] When covid kicked in, it taught him a lesson about the importance of the interaction of foods and the world around us, and how the stories around if the virus came from an animal. That inspired him to think more about the interaction between animals and people. And he took this responsibility as a chef to really think about what he wants to do next. And what he wanted to do was one of the boldest moves in the world. To transform a well-known restaurant that serves all kinds of products, including meat to a fully plant-based restaurant.

 

So this Chef from Eleven Madison Park, the finest French cuisine. [Food and fine dining] experts were very skeptical about that decision. But what I really cared [about as a person] at that time is that there was someone who took responsibility to reflect on his own role in the food industry. And that immediately connected me with my story of being part of the honey industry before working with bees, and now taking the responsibility to build the future that’s kinder and sustainable.

I said to myself, we have to get to this person. He should be the one to taste [our] $300,000 one ounce of honey made without bees.

 

So, I reached out to my network to [find ways to] send them a sample.

In that process, I got to learn a lot about high-end, Michelin Star restaurants and how they operate. It wasn’t going to be easy or straight-forward to do.

So my co-founder and I, we decided to book a dinner at the restaurant. They just re-opened and [so even booking a reservation was hard.] We flew from San Francisco to New York, show up as regular guests for dinner. We loved the dinner, we loved the food. And then we asked if someone from their team would talk to us, that was just the beginning of it.

They were very excited. They quickly assembled a panel of people and they wanted to hear what we had to say. For me, that was really amazing. That was a dream come true.

As a kid growing up in Eastern Europe and thinking about the impact I wanna make in my career, I never thought that I’m gonna be having a company in San Francisco and then pitching to the highest culinary authority of the food industry honey without bees.

That was the beginning of the relationship.

They are very careful around the food that they incorporate. [While] they are a plant-based restaurant, they don’t usually work with mainstream plant-based brands that they don’t believe in the level of their quality. So for us it was a big honor.

Seeing our company brand next to the brand of the best plant-based restaurant in the world is really amazing.

From the time you’re at the restaurant Eleven Madison Park that night to getting the deal, what did that journey look like?

What lessons did you learn from going through that process?

 

From the “cold dinner” to this jar, was hundreds of hours of conversations. And what I learned as a business owner is that conversations are necessary for trust to be built.

 

If there’s a culinary authority with 3 Michelin stars and so many awards, and [then another company] basically a new company, a startup, there’s a big dis-balance in terms of authority and brand equity and the image and reputation.

 

When they asked us how it’s made, let’s go beyond the ingredients list. Let’s show them the photos of the plants that we source. Let’s tell them a story of where these plants are found. Let’s tell them the story of the terroir. Because if you think about all these future of food products, all these companies creating the new industries, these companies are led mostly by amazing scientists who know how to make products in a different way.

 

But what’s very often forgotten, this culinary story, the story of terroir, the story of the plants around us. And I think the Eleven Madison Park team was amazed to see the other side. A bunch of experts who are forward thinking, who understand that we wanna advance towards a better process, a better product, but we also don’t forget the nature around us, and we are actually doing this for the nature that’s around us.

 

So I think that level of thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and our ability to go the extra mile for them, I think that paid off.

 

So all of that plus lots of patience because these people take time to move, these are the best culinary minds in the world.

 

When we would be following up, I would be adding more, “Here’s something more on that plan. Here’s the report on the bees. Here’s the video that we did.”

 

Last year in May, there was kind of a mid-step [in the process]. We pitched them this idea to partner for World Bee Day, which is May 20th.

 

So for May 20 2022, we pitched the idea of organizing an event at Eleven Madison Park and invite The Mayor of New York, investors, people from the business community, the United Nations diplomatic core. Invite all these people to taste Michelin star food made with our product, a specialty menu for dinner.

 

Is your honey currently available at Eleven Madison Home?

 

This is the product from a direct to consumer collaboration. We just launched with three Michelin star, Eleven Madison Park in New York City.

Eleven Madison Home's The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

Eleven Madison Home’s The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

 

Yeah, the honey is currently available. The Specialty Tea and Honey Box launched for the Mother’s Day collection and Earth Month.

It’s a specially curated box of artisanal teas coming from different parts of the world with honey and also amazing, shortbread cookies. All plant-based, also made with our honey. That’s available right now

Sometime very soon a standalone jar [of honey] will also be available to Eleven Madison Home.

Eleven Madison Home's The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

Eleven Madison Home’s The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

 

Tell us again what’s available, how to find it; and how to follow you and support you.

 

Yeah, follow us on Instagram and TikTok at MellodyFoods

In terms of purchasing, head to ElevenMadisonHome.com and you can purchase it there.

Saving the bees is learning more about them. Learning more about pollinators and you can do that on our social media.

And finally, if you’re equally passionate about bees and plants as we are, ask your favorite restaurant to reach out to us to offer Mellody in your favorite restaurant. It can be a vegan restaurant on non-vegan.

We are gonna work with all the restaurants that reach out to us where people ask to see our product offered, either on the menu, either within a meal, or just if you order a cup of tea and you want a side of Mellody.

 

NYC wonders how bees are involved? How do they actually make plant-based honey?
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NYC, How do they actually make plant-based honey?

By Joe Winger — 1 year ago

New York City wonders how bees are involved? How do they actually make plant-based honey?

Traditionally bees have a massive role in producing honey.  So, removing their support seems unrealistic, or does it?  And sure, scientists can try to explain it.  But can someone explain it in simple terms, in a way that a curious foodie could understand it?

Let’s find out in an exclusive interview with Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich.

Darko Mandich is a food entrepreneur in San Francisco. After spending almost a decade in the European honey industry as a business executive, Darko committed to reimagining the honey industry to become sustainable. Darko immigrated from Europe to California to launch Mellody, the world’s first plant-based honey brand. Darko is an advocate of saving the bees and wild pollinators.

Mellody Food's Darko Mandich

Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich

 

Recently, I had a chance to talk with Darko.

 

From a science point of view, how are you creating plant-based honey products?

 

The process has to start with philosophy. When people think about science, engineering and process, what comes to their mind is what’s the science? What’s the engineering behind that? What’s the process of making something?

 

But I would argue that every process, every science starts with a philosophy in the first place. So for us, our philosophy was there’s honey made by the bees in the market, the real ones, that product quality-wise is amazing, but has negative baggage in terms of how it’s made. Next to that, there’s fake honey. There’s basically adulterated honey that’s made by people taking fraudulent activities and blending a little bit of real honey and a lot of rice syrup.

That’s done outside of the US by people trying not to get caught. The third group are vegan honey alternatives, made out of tapioca, dates, maple, pure sugar. These products are just not honey. Trying to impersonate honey, but it’s not honey. It’s a legit product. It’s in the market. People can buy it.

What was missing is the fourth group, which is the category that we pioneered.

Honey, the product that has the composition of real honey but that doesn’t have any rice syrups, nothing that doesn’t belong to honey. But, it’s not made by the bees and therefore by default is vegan and plant-based. So that was the category that we started, and we didn’t start it only for vegans. Obviously vegans are our early adopters. They love what we’re doing. I’m vegan myself. But I want this to be an inclusive company and brand, and therefore we launched this for everybody. For everybody who likes delicious and nutritious foods. By choosing this you’re basically voting for those little creatures to survive on this planet.

You asked me about the process.

You wanna make honey only from something that in nature that touches bees and honey, it’s very strict. Our team studied a lot of different honeys, the different anatomy of the bees, the science behind honey production. Bees land on a flower, they suck up nectar. And there’s a couple of things in a bee’s anatomy. We came up with this proprietary process where we interact with the plants, we take different parts of the plants.

 

What’s really exciting and cool is we can take the whole plant, break it into different ingredients, and take parts of the plant that maybe bees don’t have access to, like its roots. So we take different ingredients from different plants. We have more than 30 different plants in our product that we launched and we created this process that is basically mixing all those ingredients in a food facility in a regular culinary approach, and basically create a product that looks, tastes, and behaves like honey.

Is your honey currently available at Eleven Madison Home?

 

This is the product from a direct to consumer collaboration. We just launched with three Michelin star, Eleven Madison Park in New York City.

Eleven Madison Home's The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

Eleven Madison Home’s The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

 

Yeah, the honey is currently available. The Specialty Tea and Honey Box launched for the Mother’s Day collection and Earth Month.

It’s a specially curated box of artisanal teas coming from different parts of the world with honey and also amazing, shortbread cookies. All plant-based, also made with our honey. That’s available right now

Sometime very soon a standalone jar [of honey] will also be available to Eleven Madison Home.

Eleven Madison Home's The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

Eleven Madison Home’s The Specialty Tea and Honey Box featuring Mellody Honey

 

Tell us again what’s available, how to find it; and how to follow you and support you.

 

Yeah, follow us on Instagram and TikTok at MellodyFoods

In terms of purchasing, head to ElevenMadisonHome.com and you can purchase it there.

Saving the bees is learning more about them. Learning more about pollinators and you can do that on our social media.

And finally, if you’re equally passionate about bees and plants as we are, ask your favorite restaurant to reach out to us to offer Mellody in your favorite restaurant. It can be a vegan restaurant on non-vegan.

We are gonna work with all the restaurants that reach out to us where people ask to see our product offered, either on the menu, either within a meal, or just if you order a cup of tea and you want a side of Mellody.

 

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Global Movie Lover Chris Gore Chooses Best Destination in the world, Attack of the Doc Available April 24 

By Joe Winger — 1 year ago

Global Movie Lover Chris Gore Chooses Best Spot in the world, Attack of the Doc Available April 24 

Attack of the Show! was unique, way ahead of its time and was a milestone that had a huge impact on geek culture.  Available for streaming and more as of April 24, 2023.

This deep dive documentary features pop icons including Wil Wheaton, John Cena, Joel McHale, Peter Jackson, Kumail Nanjiani, Whitney Cummings, Danny Pudi, and many more! 

“Attack of the Doc!” is written, directed & produced by Chris Gore.  

Today I sat down with Chris Gore, the writer / director / producer of  “Attack of the Doc!”  to talk about the huge effort of editing a generation of content down to a tight 90 minutes.

You’ve traveled the world, from Comic-Con cities to film festivals and gaming projects. Do you have a favorite destination?

 

When I was doing G4 TV, I went to Paris; I went to London. When I was doing Video Game Magazine in the 1990s, I traveled to Germany, France, all over. 

 

I will say one of my favorites is Austin, Texas where I went during South by Southwest for a number of reasons. One, the people. The people are very authentic and real in Austin, Texas. The food is incredible. The bar scenes.

 

I have a lot of love for San Diego, California, where I go at least once a year when I go to San Diego Comic-Con..

 

Even though I’ve been to Paris and [around the world]. Places like Birmingham, Alabama; I like a small town that has a walkable downtown where there are real people that I can connect with. I live in Pasadena, California that is sort of a mini version of San Diego’s Gaslamp. It’s beautiful. The people are real. There’s every kind of bar; there’s your college bar, there’s a dive bar, there’s your hipster bourbon bar.

 

Pasadena is this mix of everything. You’ve got rich, poor, blue collar, all the colors of Benetton. You’ve got families, you’ve also got young and old. You don’t see a lot of that in other parts of LA. LA is a very young city, Pasadena’s old and young; and I like that. I just like different types of people. That’s an attraction to me. So I live in one of my favorite places. That’s perfect. 

 

Food is a big deal, like barbecue in Austin, Texas. 

 

 

“Attack of the Doc!” is written, directed & produced by Chris Gore, produced & edited by Bobby Schwartz, co-produced by Walter Areas, with additional co-editing by Anthony Ray Bench and Phillip H. Eubanks, and with an original score composed by Austin Smith. This deep dive documentary features pop icons including Wil Wheaton, John Cena, Joel McHale, Peter Jackson, Kumail Nanjiani, Whitney Cummings, Danny Pudi, Eric Andre, Jerry Stiller, Joe Rogan, Jimmy Fallen, Kel Mitchell, Anne Meara, Stan Lee, Sara Jean Underwood, Carrie Keagan, Riley Steele, Tom Green, Anthony Daniels, Michael Winslow, Joey Kern, Joan Rivers, Chris Hardwick, Robert Kirkman, Greg Nicotero, Jessica Chobot, Tony Hawk, and Alison Haislip, among others as we search for the truth.

 

“Attack of the Show! was unique, way ahead of its time and was a milestone that had a huge impact on geek culture. Its core audience is one of the most coveted around the globe. I think viewers of the original show will be down for learning the history of the network and the show which helped usher in the age of nerd culture. Frankly, G4TV and Attack of the Show! are responsible for making it cool to be a nerd,” states Gore. “And at the end of the day, I hope the documentary entertains fans and reminds them of a time when a TV show could be dangerous and provide some laughs without fear of being canceled. Everyone who worked on the documentary is a super fan, so this movie was made by fans for fans.”

 

Attack of the Doc! Synopsis


Before the rise of big tech, social media and Marvel movies, Attack of the Show! chronicled nerd culture’s unlikely acceptance as mainstream. G4TV’s flagship show launched the careers of hosts Olivia Munn and Kevin Pereira and was beloved by fans – a unique celebration of geek culture before it was cool. Diving into colossal cream pies, wearing fat suits for comedy and putting internet servers where the sun don’t shine – anything could happen on an episode of Attack of the Show! It’s been years since the show went off the air and one question has lingered: what really happened to G4TV and Attack of the Show? Enter Attack Of The Doc! — the new film written and directed by Chris Gore, promises to answer one of pop culture’s longest running mysteries.

Available as of April 24 and watch the trailer here.

Follow the documentary and its journey available on Video on Demand and TVOD/Digital platforms on April 24th, 2023, which is the 21st Anniversary of the launch of G4TV.

 

Taylor Swift launch her big “Eras Tour”, plays May 25-26 in NYC
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Taylor Swift launch her big “Eras Tour” plays May 25-26 in NY area

By Katie Macken — 2 years ago

Taylor Swift launches her “Eras Tour” in March 2023, with national tour dates set through August and to include two shows each in both the New York metro area and Los Angeles.

Swift announced the tour dates today on Instagram. International dates will be announced later.

“I’m enchanted to announce my next tour:

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour

a journey through the musical eras of my career (past and present!),”

she wrote on instagram.

“The first leg of the tour will be in stadiums across the US, with international dates to be announced as soon as we can!”

Taylor Swift launches her Eras Tour in March 2023

Swift also announced that her opening acts on the tour will include Paramore, Haim, Phoebe Bridgers, Beabadoobee, Girl in Red, Muna, Gayle, Gracie Abrams and Owenn.

“Feeling like the luckiest person alive because I get to take these brilliant artists out on tour with me,” she wrote.

“I can’t WAIT to see your gorgeous faces out there.

It’s been a long time coming.”

The tour kicks off March 18 in Glendale, AZ, where Swift launched her “Reputation” tour in 2018. Over the spring and summer, Swift will play 20 cities for 27 dates, including May 26 and 27 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, outside NYC, and wrapping up for a two-night stand Aug 4-5 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. See the entire itinerary below.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Nov. 18.

Taylor Swift launch her big “Eras Tour”, plays May 25-26 in NYC

Taylor Swift launch her big “Eras Tour”, plays May 25-26 in NYC

The “Eras Tour” is being produced in-house by Taylor Swift Touring and promoted by the Messina Touring Group.

Pocono Park Halloween weekend
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Popular NYC Spot Poconos Park Unleashes Scares for Halloween Weekend Oct 28-29

By Joe Wehinger — 2 years ago

On Halloween weekend, just outside NYC Haunted Poconos Park unleashes fun for all ages, with a slew of events from kid-friendly trick or treating to genuine thrills, even sit down dinner and a dance party.

And you’re invited!

Poconos Park is popular for its central location in North East Pennsylvania, with easy drives from NYC, Philly and the Lehigh Valley.  

Poconos Park is a Popular NYC spot outside the city

Poconos Park Halloween

Poconos Park Halloween

 

This time of year the road trip is gorgeous.   But as you get closer, your view turns from romantic Autumn to haunted destination.

Pocono Park Halloween

You drive deep into the dark woods, fog creeps around your car, moonlight pierces through the trees, howling wind makes screachy scratching sounds.

Just then, you expect Leatherface to run out sparking up his chainsaw – and the party hasn’t even started yet.

A moment from Haunted Poconos Park’s Playhouse

All of the festivities take place within walking distance at the newly-acquired Poconos Park, a huge indoor / outdoor destination that hosts concerts, theater shows, corporate events, weddings and private gatherings.

This weekend it’s transformed into a Halloween Haven.

Poconos Park manages to create Halloween for everyone, from you littlest goblin who wants candy, laughs, and no scares to the group of friends who want scares and thrills.   Every Halloween and horror lover has a spot here.

Pocono Park Halloween

For Halloween, event company From The Roots has taken over and promises thrills, smiles and memories for you, your friend and your family.

John M. Oakes who runs From The Roots, loves putting on a show and delights in every twist and turn from ultra scary, to the cutest moments.

John M. Oakes, From The Roots

John M. Oakes, From The Roots

Earlier this week, we got a preview tour of the most popular attraction – Playhouse of Horror. 

It’s a fast-moving, screams around every corner, standing – crawling – jump fest.  Pro tip: Go through it next to your friend who screams the most — it’ll +10 the whole experience for ya.  The Playhouse is fun, fast-paced, well-designed and has the mark of any good maze, when it’s done you’re high-fiving your friends and wanting to get right back in line to go again.

Pocono Park Halloween

One of the many rooms from Haunted Poconos Park

But that’s not all.  Oakes has a banquet planned and an 80’s throwback Dance Party. 

Check out each event listed below

KID’S TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL

4 – 7 P.M.— (Children Ages 12 & Under):

Prior to sunset, children will be sent along a fright-free, wooded trail to gather candy treats, participate in interactive games, and meet a host of kid-friendly characters—with plenty of photo opportunity stations for parents along the way. 

Cost is $5 per child with an accompanying adult. 

PLAYHOUSE OF HORROR

6 – 10 P.M.— (Ages 13+):

Beginning at twilight, our “braver” and older guests can explore the more eerie dwellings of an authentic haunted house. Meet POCONOS PARK’s playful specters, murderous villains, and Goghoulish monsters. Take in our wonderful macabre displays and get a few jump-scares along the way. (Note: ONLY those in line before 10 P.M. will be admitted. Children aged 12 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult)  

Early Bird Cost is $19.99 plus fees, Week Of Cost is $24.99 plus fees, and Day Of Cost is $29.99 plus fees. Grab a Skip The Line admission for only $39.99.

BLACK LAGOON BANQUET

5 – 8 P.M.—(All Ages):

Say “Bone-Appetit!” as we serve no tricks, just treats, at this otherworldly upscale dinner buffet. Enjoy delicious culinary treats and only the finest, delightful “spirits” curated especially for you by Event Hospitality Solutions. This family-friendly dinner will be served with paired wine from Blue Ridge Winery and distinguished ghostly guests. Tickets are LIMITED at $59.99 per guest (plus fees) and include “skip the line” admission to the Playhouse of Horror, access to the buffet, and one alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink per person. (Note: Additional alcoholic beverages cost extra.)

“SCREAM! AT THE LAKE” 90’s Throwback Dance Party

Friday, Oct. 28,  9 P.M. – 1.A.M. (21+):

Calling all ghosts and ghouls to scream with delight as we turn off the lights and on the 90s tunes! Join us down at the Lake House to enjoy some scary libations at the Bloody Bar and graze on some skull candy (aka yummy bar food). Dress to kill, as we’ll be giving away prizes for the most spine-chilling, the most scandalous, and the most striking costumes!  (Must show valid ID to enter) Tickets are LIMITED at $49.99 per guest (plus fees), and includes “skip the line” admission to the Playhouse of Horror.

“CURSED CAMPGROUND” Electronic Music Dance Party

Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 P.M. – 1.A.M. (21+):

After you’ve had your pants scared off inside the Playhouse of Horror,  join the crowd at the Cursed Campground at the Lake House! If you dare to venture through the cursed trails of this abandoned summer camp, you will reach the most electrifying dance party in the Poconos! 

Costumes are encouraged, as prizes will be given away for various spooky categories. (Must show valid ID to enter)

Tickets are LIMITED at $49.99 per guest and include “skip the line” admission to the Playhouse of Horror.

For tix and more info: Haunted Poconos Park

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Languedoc Wines bring Flavor and History to NYC Restaurants

By Joe Wehinger — 2 years ago

Languedoc Wines bring flavor and French history to NYC, led by Advanced Sommelier Erik Segelbaum, with the goal of more restaurant exposure and happy diners.

Langeudoc is a postcard perfect area of sloped hills, lush ocean views and deep horizons in Southern France nestled along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the famous Rhone river and Provence in the east.

Curious wine drinkers eyes just perked up.  Why?  Those who understand, know the area has a lot of magic.

While the land is not as known as illustrious neighbors Bordeaux and Rhone, its quality is competitive and its price tag is far more attractive.  

The Languedoc region produces conversation bottles.  

It’s the bottle someone reaches across the table for –  because it’s different, it’s more of a mystery –  and that person’s palate is in the mood to investigate a playful pairing.   

All these curious reasons led me to NYC’s The Winery for a masterclass of learning and tasting.

Advanced Sommelier Erik Segelbaum

Luckily we were led by Advanced Sommelier Erik Segelbaum, who has more than 30 years of experience, was named Food & Wine Magazine’s 2019 Sommelier of the Year and 2020 Wine Enthusiast 40 and 40 Tastemaker.

 

Beyond the credentials, what makes Erik great for today’s class is his unique approach.  

See, Langeudoc hopes to get their wines in more restaurants:  in today’s class more than half the people in the room work in NYC restaurants and wine bars and Erik understands that territory very well.  He has been Beverage Director, Head Somm, Wine Director at restaurants around the country – so he knows how to explain to the restaurants how to get these bottles onto their wine lists and how to sell them – smart move by Languedoc!

The History of Languedoc Wines

Languedoc has a robust and varied history with winemaking proving their villages keep innovating and the world follows.

The story starts back in the 1200s (when they were discovering wine fortification) and fast-forwards to the 1700s when a twist of fate forced the vineyards to move up the hillside – which became an unexpected blessing as the grapes flourished even better in their new, windier climate.   

We keep going and in 1903, the area was a pioneer launching the world’s first organic expo.  Something that even today, over a 100 years later, many competitors around the world are still behind on.

Some wines with bold, chewy tannins? Yes.  Others with refreshing acidity? Yes.  

We’ll get to tasting shortly.  

But let’s spend a brief moment understanding the area that’s creating such vibrant flavors.   

Languedoc wine region

Languedoc Land

Five large areas with over 20 AOPs  and those twenty are grouped in three very different climates:  Mediterranean Coast, Atlantic Coast, Hills and Mountains. 

Mediterranean, as you might imagine, offers long, warm summers with heavy sunshine and mild  winters harvesting grapes Piquepoul, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Muscat. 

Atlantic is quite different with consistent chills and cross-winds that deliver Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Chardonnay grapes.

Pacific, as you’d expect from the pattern emerging, is even more different.  It’s intense.  Dry and hot in the summer, cold in the winter. Warm days,  cool nights.  And this vigorous energy delivers rich, tannic reds like Mouvedre and Syrah.

Languedoc Wines Future

Much like the wines themselves, Langedoc’s future continues to open up more and more showing a sense of depth, complexity  – while, yes, also being ready to go today.  

Nine of their wineries are less than 20 years old.  They are a leader in the “Old World” turning toward organic and eco-friendly treatments.  They’re excited to reach a new generation of younger wine drinkers with their message and their culture.

So, let’s have a taste.

There were over 20 wines being poured, showcasing varieties from sparkling to light white to big, bold reds.  Everything from pairing with fresh oysters to gamey pheasant.  

Here are my tasting highlights:

 

Domaine Saint-martin D’agel Le Pèlerin 2020

On the nose: juniper and fresh spices rise from the glass. 

Mouth: soft, supple mouth feel, with relaxed tannins 

The finish had an invigorating acidity. 

Delicious to pair with grilled herbs.

 

Gerard Bertrand AN 825 Cremant de Limoux Brut Rose 2019

On the nose:  effervescent, gushing with red fruit

Mouth: gush of strawberry; 

Finish is crisp and refreshing. 

Pair with citrus-dressed salads or even spicy BBQ,

 

Villa Noria La Serr Picpoul de Pinet

Nose: zesty, floral and refreshing

Mouth:  lemony and citrus aromas with a lovely texture

Finish: bright, uplifting finish.

Pair with mussels and fresh oysters 

 

Domaine de brau Cuvee Etymologie 2020 

Nose: Aromas of red and black fruits

Mouth: A delicate mix of vegetation and spices

Finish: A clean, crisp finish

Pair with tri tip and roasted pheasant

Back To The Future: The Musical heads to Broadway
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BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical heads to Broadway Summer 2023

By Joe Wehinger — 2 years ago

Back To The Future: The Musical heads to Broadway on June 23, 2023 starring Roger Bart and Hugh Coles at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!

Lead producer Colin Ingram together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back to the Future film trilogy, are thrilled to celebrate:

“Back to the Future Day”

…by announcing the Broadway premiere of the 2022 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical, BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical.

Starring:

Tony Award winner Roger Bart

WhatsOnStage Award winner Hugh Coles

Starring Tony Award winner Roger Bart as “Doc Brown” and Olivier Award nominee and WhatsOnStage Award winner Hugh Coles as “George McFly,” reprising their acclaimed performances from the original West End production

BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical officially opens Thursday, August 3, 2023

BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical begins performances Friday, June 30, 2023 and officially opens Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway).

Back to the future musical

Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical has a book by Bob Gale, new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.”

Bob Gale is the co-creator and co-writer of the Back to the Future film trilogy and Alan Silvestri composed the iconic film score for the series. 

BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical is directed by Tony Award winner John Rando and features a multi-Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team that includes Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone (lighting),Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, musical supervision and arrangements by Nick Finlow, illusions by Chris Fisher, orchestrations by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, dance arrangements by David Chase, music direction by Ted Arthur and casting by Tara Rubin. Hugh Coles is appearing with the support of Actors’ Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors’ Equity Association for its assistance with this production.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical Fans, who signed up for priority ticket information and received a special access code via email, have early access to tickets now through Sunday, October 23 at 11:59PM.

American Express Pre-Sale begins now, providing American Express® Card Members with access to tickets before the general public, now through Friday, October 28 at 9:59AM ET by clicking HERE.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, October 28 at 10:00AM ET through Telecharge by calling 212-239-6200 or visiting https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Back-to-the-Future-the-Musical/Overview?AID=BWY001390400.

 

Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

Bob Gale said:

“To paraphrase Marty McFly,

you guys are ready for this, and your kids are gonna love it (too)!

If Bob Zemeckis and I time traveled back to 1980 and told our younger selves that the script they were struggling to write would become a Broadway musical 43 years later, they’d kick us out of their office and call us crazy.  Well, sometimes, crazy ideas give birth to great entertainment, and now Bob and I are eager to share our musical vision with New York audiences.  The London production exceeded our original expectations on every level, and we’re certain the Broadway version, anchored by the brilliantly talented Roger Bart and Hugh Coles, along with the fantastic songs by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, will be even better.  Regardless of whether you’ve seen the original film, Back to the Future: The Musical, with its outstanding performances and incredible stagecraft, will delight and enthrall you, your kids, your parents, and everyone you know!”

Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard said, “It all began for us with the story and characters that made Back To The Future a much beloved, cinematic classic. The magic of musical theatre presented us with the possibility of adding new dimension and depth to our familiar Hill Valley residents. Through song and dance their innermost thoughts, hopes, and dreams are now revealed. It’s a story first told in 1985, that traveled back to 1955, and will now be told in 2023 in New York City. We are thrilled and excited to invite you to join us on this epic journey through time. ‘Where we’re going’ . . . is Broadway!!”

Lead Producer Colin Ingram said, “After playing for two years in London and winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, we are thrilled to be bringing BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical to Broadway where we see it as its natural home.  Marty, Doc and everyone in Hill Valley will be living on Broadway and 50th Street for hopefully many years to come and we look forward to entertaining and thrilling audiences with this moving and spectacular musical version of the much beloved film. I’m delighted to be bringing Tony Award winner Roger Bart back to Broadway and introduce Olivier Award nominee Hugh Coles as George McFly who have enthralled audiences in London.”

Additional casting will be announced shortly.

The critically acclaimed West End production of BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical has been seen by more than half a million people to date, broken Adelphi Theatre box office records and recently extended to July 23, 2023. The production has gone on to win the Best New Musical Olivier Award as well as multiple WhatsOnStage Awards and a Broadway World Award for Best New Musical. BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical had its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House on March 11, 2020 and officially opened in London on September 13, 2021.

The Original Cast Recording of BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical is available now from Sony Masterworks Broadway in all formats, including vinyl. (https://soundtracks.lnk.to/BTTFAlbum)

Back to the Future the movie was released in 1985, starring Michael J. Fox as “Marty McFly” and Christopher Lloyd as “Dr Emmett Brown.” The film grossed $360.6 million at the box office worldwide and the total box office for all three films in the Back to the Future franchise was $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money).

 

BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical is produced by Colin Ingram, Donovan Mannato, Tom Viertel/ Steven Baruch/ Marc Routh/ Richard Frankel, Hunter Arnold, Gavin Kalin, Playing Field, Robert L. Hutt, Ivy Herman/Hallee Adelman, Teresa Tsai, Bob McLynn, Kimberly Magarro, Crush Music, Universal Theatrical Group, Sony Masterworks, Augury, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, in association with Neil Gooding Productions, Ricardo Marques, James L. Nederlander.

Follow BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICIAL at @bttfbway on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

For more information visit www.BackToTheFutureMusical.com/NewYork.

Broadway's 'Ohio State Murders' - Starring Audra McDonald
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Broadway’s ‘Ohio State Murders’ – Starring Audra McDonald – Casting Complete, Tix on Sale

By Joe Wehinger — 2 years ago

Broadway‘s ‘Ohio State Murders’ – Starring Audra McDonald now has casting completed, with the Jones Theatre Box Office open for ticket sales for this very limited engagement.

Emmy®, Grammy®, and Six-time Tony® Award Winner

AUDRA McDONALD in

OHIO STATE MURDERS

By ADRIENNE KENNEDY. Directed by Tony Award Winner KENNY LEON With Tony® Award Nominee BRYCE PINKHAM

MISTER FITZGERALD, LIZAN MITCHELL, ABIGAIL STEPHENSON,

BRETT DIGGS, BROOKE GARDNER, CHRISTINA PEDERSEN,

GAYLE SAMUELS

The complete cast for the Broadway premiere of Ohio State Murders by Adrienne Kennedy is now announced. Joining Emmy, Grammy, and Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), and Drama Desk nominee Lizan Mitchell (On Sugarland, Trojan Women),

The cast also includes: Mister Fitzgerald, Abigail Stephenson, Brett Diggs, Brooke Gardner, Christina Pedersen and Gayle Samuels.

Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, A Soldier’s Play) directs.  Ohio State Murders will be the first show to play at the newly renamed James Earl Jones Theatre beginning Friday, November 11, 2022 and opening on Thursday, December 8, 2022 for a strictly limited engagement.

Rehearsals for Ohio State Murders begin October 17.

Additionally, the James Earl Jones Theatre box office (138 West 48th St.) is now open Mon-Sat, 10 am-6 pm and tickets can be purchased in person there, through Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.

The creative team for Ohio State Murders includes set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Allen Lee Hughes, sound design by Justin Ellington, projection design by Jeff Sugg, wig/hair/make-up design by J. Jared Janas, original music by Dwight Andrews and casting by Caparelliotis Casting.

“One of the finest living American playwrights…” (The New York Times), Obie Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, and a member of the Theater Hall of Fame, Adrienne Kennedy will make her Broadway debut with this production at age 91. Earlier this year, Kennedy was awarded the Gold Medal for Drama from the Academy of Arts and Letters, which is awarded to those who have achieved eminence in an entire body of work. Only four other dramatists have been awarded the Gold Medal:  Edward Albee, Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller. Ms. Kennedy has been contributing to American theater for over six decades, and is best known for her plays such as Funnyhouse of a Negro (Obie Award), June and Jean in Concert (Obie Award), and Sleep Deprivation Chamber which she co-authored with her son Adam Kennedy (Obie Award) as well as numerous other plays and books.

“I am so thrilled. It’s only taken me 65 years to make it to Broadway!” said Kennedy.

“I’m honored and humbled to be part of Adrienne Kennedy’s long-overdue Broadway debut in the newly dedicated James Earl Jones Theatre with Kenny Leon,” said McDonald. “This timeless play has a powerful resonance and relevance today, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”

When writer Suzanne Alexander (Audra McDonald) returns to her alma mater as a guest speaker, in which she explores the violence in her works, a dark mystery unravels. Adrienne Kennedy’s Ohio State Murders is an intriguing and unusual suspense play, as well as a social pertinent look at the destructiveness of racism in our society.

Ohio State Murders is presented by Jeffrey Richards, Lincoln Center Theater, Rebecca Gold, Jayne Baron Sherman, Hunter Arnold, Kevin Ryan/Lisa Alexander Taylor, Marc David Levine, Sheryl Lee Ralph/Jeremy Lentz, Brad Blume, Robert Boyett, Irene Gandy, John Paterakis, Iris Smith, Willette and Manny S. Klausner, Kayla Greenspan, Marlene and Gary Cohen, Ken and Rande Greiner/Sandy Marshall/Jamie deRoy, Jacob Soroken Porter, Concord Theatricals, John Gore Organization, James L. Nederlander Organization and The Shubert Organization.

www.ohiostatemurdersbroadway.com

Follow Ohio State Murders on social media @ohiomurdersbway.

92NY Presents “Voice and the Violin” Joshua Bell & Larisa Martinez
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92NY Presents “Voice and the Violin” Joshua Bell & Larisa Martinez Oct 20

By Joe Wehinger — 2 years ago

92NY Presents “Voice and the Violin” Joshua Bell, violin & Larisa Martinez, soprano October 20, 2022

Leading NYC cultural institution welcomes audiences to a live, in-person opener for their 22/23 season

The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY), one of New York’s leading cultural venues, presents:

“Voice and the Violin”: Joshua Bell and Larisa Martinez

 

on October 20, 2022 at 7:30pm ET at the Kaufmann Concert Hall.

 Joshua Bell, Larisa Martinez, and Peter Dugan open the season with an array of arias, solos, and duets specially arranged for them.

Violinist Joshua Bell

Violinist Joshua Bell

The concert will also be available for viewing online for 72 hours from time of broadcast.

 

Tickets for both the in-person and livestream options start at $25 and are available at 92ny.org/event/joshua-bell-and-larisa-martinez.

 

Program:

Mendelssohn, “Ah, ritorna, età dell’oro” from Infelice

Bloch, “Nigun” from Baal Shem

Massenet, “Je suis encore tout étourdie” from Manon

Hérold, “Jours de mon enfance” from Le pré aux clercs

Chopin, Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2 (arr. Bell/Wallace)

Delibes, “Les Filles des Cadix”

Rachmaninoff, “O Cease Thy Singing, Maiden Fair”

Wienawski, Scherzo-Tarantelle, Op. 16

Gimenez, “Zapateado”

Narciso Figueroa, “Mi Rancho”

Bernstein, West Side Story Suite (Arr. Brohn/czarnecki)

Larisa Martinez

Soprano Larisa Martinez

“Our concept for the Voice and the Violin program began during the pandemic, while we were quarantined and finding new ways to collaborate and enjoy music together.

 

Although finding repertoire written specifically for violin and voice can be a challenge, we discovered and fell in love with these gems featured in tonight’s performance.

 

An example of this comes from one of Mendelssohn’s lesser-known works, “Ah, ritorna, età dell’oro” from Infelice.

 

It was wonderful to explore a work by one of our favorite composers that was originally written for this unique instrumentation.

Another happy discovery was Hérold’s “Jours de mon enfance” from the opera Le pré aux clercs. This piece features exciting dialogue moments between the voice and the violin, making it especially fun for us to perform this piece together.

Larisa is especially proud to showcase the song ‘Mi Rancho’ by Puerto Rican composer Narciso Figueroa, and lyrics by Luis Lloréns Torres, as a little gem from her homeland. Closing the performance is a medley based on Bernstein’s beloved West Side Story suite, arranged by our friend Charles Czarnecki. Based on an earlier violin and orchestra arrangement of the suite, this piece now sparkles in a new light.

We are so happy to see this project come to fruition and are thrilled to be performing it with our friend Peter Dugan.” – Joshua Bell and Larisa Martínez

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