Tuesday, October 17, 2017

The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Unleashes Nightly Shows, Sliders Unite, Annual Halloween Costume Contest & Drag Show, and More Chilling Entertainment Through Nov. 1

Dark Harbor Unveiled with Largest Opening Weekend in History of Attraction


The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor opened on Thursday, September 28 unveiling a spectacle of new, terrifying attractions with more monsters and scares than ever before. Thousands of brave thrill seekers joined the cast of spirits and phantoms for a completely sold out opening weekend. The blood curdling terror of Dark Harbor will continue with themed entertainment and thrilling special events on select nights through November 1.

Dark Harbor offers hair-raising-fun entertainment and special ghoulish events throughout the frightful season. Nightly shows on the fire stage welcome the Queen Mary spirits showing off their terrifying talents with fire breathing, circus performances, monster dance parties, live music, and more. The Ariel stage holds nightly spine-tingling performances by the world-renown contortionist, a silk aerialist, magicians, nightly DJs and more.

Dark Harbor Sliders will skid fear down Monster Midway, showing-off their death defying tricks and popular Slider Olympics, with two shows per night. On October 14 and November 1, Dark Harbor will once again push the artistic boundaries of ‘sliding’ by bringing the top sliders from across Southern California together at the authentic haunt with Sliders Unite.

On Halloween night, October 31, Dark Harbor will celebrate the haunted holiday with its annual costume contest. Then November 1 will welcome the Dia De Los Muertos celebration. Thrill seekers are invited to don their best costume, dance with monsters, and sip specialty spirits for a frightful fete like no other.

Dark Harbor 2017 unveiled multiple new attractions including the gruesome new maze, FEAST, that tells the tale of the newest resident spirit, Chef, and his long-forgotten legend. FEAST is the 4th maze onboard the actual Queen Mary ship, venturing into previously unrevealed areas. Also new this year, the Chef’s Meat Locker unveiled the frozen depths of the one-of-a-kind ice bar experience taking guests into a 9-degree environment for a curated selection of flavored tasting flights.

Iconic Dark Harbor mazes Deadrise, B340, Lullaby, Soulmate, Intrepid and Circus returned, each with new enhancements and horrors, haunted by the spirits of The Captain, Half Hatch Henry, Scary Mary, Graceful Gail, Iron Master, The Ringmaster and more than 400 terrifying monsters.

For the first time, Dark Harbor offers three parking options for convenient and cost effective festival arrival and departure. General parking is located at the Long Beach Court House for $15 a vehicle and in the Aquarium of the Pacific Parking Structure for $3/hour or $16 per vehicle. General parking guests can hop on the FREE shuttle bus for complimentary rides to Dark Harbor from 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., or board the FREE Dark Harbor Express boat at Dock 4, operated by Aqua Link open 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Premium parking is limited and available onsite at the Queen Mary for $20 per vehicle.

Dark Harbor will be open on select night through November 1 from 7 p.m.-12 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday nights, and 7 p.m. - 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday evenings. Happy Haunting Hour is available 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the all-new Voodoo Brew in Voodoo Village before the gates open to Dark Harbor. Tickets to Happy Haunting Hour are very limited, start at $20 and include general admission to Dark Harbor with arrival prior to 8 p.m. General admission tickets start at just $24 online. For more information, or to purchase tickets visit www.queenmary.com/events/dark-harbor.

Monday, September 25, 2017

2017 Knott's Scary Farm

Knott's Scary Farm kicked off Thursday night at Knott's Berry Farm for its 45th year of Halloween haunts, scares, and clowns. This year there are 9 mazes to go through.
One of the new mazes this year is "Dark Ride", an abandoned carnival attraction. There were fire-breathing dragons and possessed furniture, tons of blood and guts.
Also new this year "The Pumpkin Eater", taking visitors into the lair of a seven-foot creature that likes to have its visitors for dinner. The maze takes you through the inside of a giant pumpkin, seeds and all, as well as through all sorts of other creepy obstacles, including a cave of creepy insects, a labyrinth of thorns, and a cornfield.
Next the Re-Vamped "Trick or Treat": One of Knott’s most popular mazes has gotten a very scary new twist this year. This maze is now in the dark! You’ll be given a flashlight to make your way through this well decorated house. But beware, your flashlight is defective. Along the way, your flashlight will turn itself off and on, blink, change colors, and vibrate. This was a highly entertaining attraction. There’s a lot of psychological terror that comes with walking through a maze filled with monsters in the dark! Cool and fun, my favorite!

Returning Mazes:

"Paranormal Inc.", which returns from last year. This maze includes a pre-show that sets up the maze, with its earnest parapsychologists trying to capture a ghost spirit. The pre-show leads into a trek through an abandoned hospital returned to life, with corpses, vengeful nurses, high flying aerial stunts and ghostly special effects as guests investigate a haunted hospital.

"Special Ops": Armed with specially designed laser guns, brave groups of guests will embark on a mission to fight blood thirsty zombies. There are more interactive targets this year. This maze has changed significantly over the years and moved from its outdoor location in Camp Snoopy to a controlled environment behind Mystery Lodge.

"Red Barn": If you like blood and gore, this one is for you not to be missed! Take a trip to a blood-soaked barn filled with carnivorous animals seeking to prey on human flesh in the Red Barn gore maze. Legend has it the farmer who owns the barn was transformed into a heinous creature that sends his sadistic sons to ensure his legacy. None dare enter the barn, for those who enter never escape.

"Voodoo": This old favorite has been significantly rethought for the 2017 season, breathing new life into an old swamp. By switching the flow of traffic in the maze and having guests enter through last year’s exit, they’ve made the experience feel new. This is a seriously impressive maze with actual swamps filled with water, stilt houses, and a patchwork of voodoo hexes and creatures from the bayou.
"Tooth Fairy": This twisted tooth fairy steals more than just baby teeth as he drags his victims out of their bedroom window and into a world of cruel dentistry. Tooth Fairy is a bloody and gory maze.

"Shadow Lands": There were some great enhancements here, including a show scene at the beginning and an enhanced finale. The story takes place in an ancient Japanese temple and into the midst of the shadow lands.

Also, this year marks the end of the road for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, who is concluding her run at Knott's Scary Farm after more than two decades. But she still is bringing it after all these years.
 Knott's other Scary Farm show is “The Hanging”, which this year runs with the subtitle "Fake Noose."

Other attractions include Scare Zones: Fiesta De Los Muertos, CarnEVIL , Ghost Town Streets, the Hollow and unlimited rides on some of the famous Roller Coasters and Rides!

This is far most one of the funnest Halloween Parks to go to!

Thursday, September 21, 2017

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION'S TWO COASTS ONE OCEAN FUNDRAISING EVENT IN THE PACIFIC PALISADES TO PROTECT CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY BEACHES

The Surfrider Foundation hosted the second of two annual Two Coasts One Ocean bicoastal fundraisers to support clean water and healthy beaches on Saturday, September 16th in the Pacific Palisades, CA.
Guests were invited to enjoy handcrafted cocktails at the open bar and a seated dinner by renowned caterer L.A. Roots, bid on custom surfboards and specialty items at the silent auction, win once-in-a-lifetime surf experiences, and dance to the sounds of DJ MAXV and an acoustic set by Ethan Tucker. The evening was sponsored by KROQ, JetBlue, Uber, SALT., Don Q Rum, Gucci, and DaKine.
With 33 years of fighting for the protection of our ocean waves and beaches, and more than 80 local chapters and 60 youth clubs across the nation, the organization has made incredible strides including working with a coalition to help pass the first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, making California the first state to outlaw single-use plastic bags. Funds raised from TWO COASTS ONE OCEAN will go towards furthering Surfrider’s mission and activist network dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our ocean and coasts for the future. 

Ashley Judd, Keke Palmer, and more at PaleyFest Fall TV Previews

On Saturday, September 16, 2017, The Paley Center for Media hosted the final day of its 11th Annual PaleyFest Fall TV Previews, honoring the EPIX series Berlin Station at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills.
Panelists included: Richard Armitage, “Daniel Miller”; Leland Orser, “Robert Kirsch”; Ashley Judd, “BB Yates”; Keke Palmer, “April Lewis”; and Executive Producer & Showrunner, Bradford Winters; with TV Guide Magazine’s Jim Halterman as the moderator.
The Paley Center for Media hosted the ten-day festival celebrating Fall TV’s most anticipated new and returning series including shows from all four major broadcast networks, cable television, and premium streaming services.

Women in Film’s Emmy Nominees Party

The weekend kicked off with the annual Variety and Women in Film’s nominee party on Friday night held at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood, presented by Halo Top Creamery. Emmy nominees included Viola Davis, Samira Wiley, Claire Foy, Alexander Skarsgard and Cicely Tyson. Many attendees also stopped to pose with the Mercedes Benz on display before moving on to enjoy mini bean burgers, fig appetizers and the Halo Top Creamery ice cream bar that awaited them inside. Some celebrities like Kathryn Hahn and Abbi Jacobson choose to spend the bulk of the evening on the patio, sipping Svedka cocktails with the Variety logo stenciled on top and chatting under festive blue lights with a soundtrack from DJ Daisy O’Dell in the background.

2017 Host Committee members Kelly Kahl, David Nevins, Mike Hopkins, John Landgraf and Lena Waithe were on-hand to mix and mingle with Women in Film board member Lake Bell, “The Handmaid’s Tale’s” Yvonne Strahovski, “Empire’s” Serayah McNeill and comedy stars like Keegan-Michael Key, Sarah Hyland and Zoe Lister-Jones. But nominee Dolly Parton stole the show forming a half circle of people around her to say hello and snap a photo with her. O’Dell’s playlist included ’90s hits and modern day chart toppers, and as the night went on tunes like Mariah Carey’s “Honey” and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” even got attendees singing and dancing in front of the ice cream bar.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetit - "Grand Tasting"

The luxurious Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace hosted the ultimate culinary event, The Grand Tasting. Food enthusiasts gathered for an epicurean experience of a lifetime with a staggering variety of signature dishes, as well as free-flowing wines and spirits while mingling with more than 50 award-winning chefs including Bobby Flay, Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro, Charlie Palmer, Chris Santos, Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, Guy Savoy, Lorena Garcia, Michael Mina, Nobu Matsuhisa, Rick Moonen and more.

Various Caesars Entertainment chefs join together on the Grand Tasting red carpet by Eholly.
The Grand Tasting at Caesars Palace’s Gardens of the Gods Pool Oasis is the cornerstone event of Vegas Uncork’d. This event featured more than 100 booths from award-winning restaurants and the best wines and spirits, along with 2,500 food enthusiasts to try a variety of signature dishes.







Gordon Ramsay with HELL’S KITCHEN winners Christina Wilson and Meghan Gill, and his Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill team at their booth at The Grand Tasting by Eholly.


Buddy ‘Cake Boss’ Valastro and Chef Lorena Garcia from Sweet Escape: An evening of Buddy, Beignets, Bonbons and Booze
The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas, along with Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit, satisfied diners’ sweet tooth as everyone’s favorite baker, Buddy "Cake Boss" Valastro, as he hosted ‘Sweet Escape: An Evening of Buddy, Beignets, Bonbons & Booze,’ at The Aquatic Club at The Palazzo. As guests walked into the poolside soiree, they were greeted with a visually stunning wall made of more than three-thousand donuts, that they were able to take home and enjoy. The evening also included a unique take on bonbons and beignets from Buddy V’s Ristorante, Bouchon, Carnevino, Chica, Hong Kong Café, Lagasse’s Stadium, LAVO, Mercato della Pescheria, SushiSamba, and TAO restaurants at The Venetian and The Palazzo.


 
All Photos by Eholly


Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit - "Picnic in the Park"
At MGM Resorts' new outdoor dining, and entertainment district, The Park, culinary masters including Alain Ducasse, Charlie Palmer, Michael Mina, Julian Serrano, Rick Moonen, Tom Colicchio, Shawn McClain, Roy Ellamar, Akira Back and more came together for a one-of-a-kind daytime soiree during Picnic in The Park.



Guests enjoyed the interactive picnic, which featured creative twists on classic picnic dishes including Alain Ducasse's country terrine, pickles and country bread, Julian Serrano's wood-fired paella, Rick Moonen's grilled smoked rainbow trout, Charlie Palmer's “California” crab and avocado roll, Roy Ellamar's Hawaiian-style pig roast, Akira Back's Korean BBQ short ribs, Michael Mina's spit-roasted Moroccan-style lamb, Tom Colicchio's Tabasco-rubbed skirt Steak and Sean McClain's grilled Spanish octopus. Throughout the event, picnic-goers snapped selfies in front of Bliss Dance, a 40-foot-tall sculpture by artist Marco Cochrane, and sipped Veuve Clicquot while taking advantage of The Park's Edible Gardens and social games including giant Jenga, cornhole and croquet.




 
All Photos by Eholly

Channing Tatum Brings Magic Mike To The Stage In Sin City - MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS COMING TO HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO MARCH 2017

Fresh from “Magic Mike” and “Magic Mike XXL,” Channing Tatum brings you Magic Mike Live in Las Vegas and ShowTickets.com wants you to experience it with tickets at great prices. Calling all ladies here looking for a wild night out. If you’re a fan of the film franchise, imagine a real-life Club Domina, where the hottest men perform 360 degrees of dance and acrobatic strip tease all around and even on you. That’s exactly what you can expect at Magic Mike Live at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. A sexy, diverse cast of 13 men utilizes the intimate, state-of-the-art venue to deliver a steamy, over-the-top production that pushes the boundaries of male revues in Sin City. So prepare to get sinful and live out your Magic Mike fantasies at Magic Mike Live Las Vegas!



Show Schedule: Wednesday - Sunday; 7:30pm & 10pm
Show Duration: 90 minutes
Age Requirements: 18+
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
4455 Paradise Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Visit MagicMikeLiveLasVegas.com for more information.