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September 2013

SeaWorld’s Free Halloween Party Returns

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Only one of the big three parks in Orlando offers a Halloween party that’s free with the price of admission. The family friendly Halloween Spooktacular is full of spooky fun. During this daytime event, families will be immersed in an underwater “fantasea” filled with trick-or-treating, dancing with sea fairies and pumpkin fish and sea-themed arts and crafts. My family and I enjoy the party-like atmosphere as much as the bigger pay events at the other parks in town.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place weekends in October: 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27, from 12 to 8 p.m., leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for all of the fun-filled activities. When you’re there, make sure you take advantage of this social media promotion, you could end up with some cool VIP treats.

Spooktacular Highlights below the jump:

Read More »SeaWorld’s Free Halloween Party Returns

First Picture of Meryl Streep as The Witch from Disney’s Into The Woods

Disney’s production of the feature film musical “Into the Woods” has just started production. I’ve been waiting for the first image from the set to drop, and here it is. Meryl Streep as the Witch: Meryl Streep ventures “Into the Woods” as the Witch who… Read More »First Picture of Meryl Streep as The Witch from Disney’s Into The Woods

Chris Colfer Returning to Disneyland for Book Signing on Oct 12

We already know that Chris Colfer is a big Disney fan. I mean look at that cute photo of him with Pinocchio. What you may not know is that he’s also a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Golden Globe winner, and all around nice… Read More »Chris Colfer Returning to Disneyland for Book Signing on Oct 12

New Trailer for Disney’s Frozen debuts

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The first real trailer for Disney’s Frozen indicates it is going to be a bit goofy.

There’s nothing wrong with goofy humor. Disney has never lost money by packing in the laughs. That said, I hope we’re also going to be served a great story with heart-felt moments. You can see hints of them above, but we’ll have to wait and see. Read More »New Trailer for Disney’s Frozen debuts

Chase Invites Disney Card Holders to Experience Unique EPCOT Lounge

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Okay Disney fans. You’ve seen all those Disney Visa kiosks springing up like mushrooms around the parks? Yeah, it’s definitely a blight on the parks. But if I told you Chase was going to give its cardmembers access to a previously exclusive area of the parks, would you make that trade?

That’s the choice you get during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. As the presenting sponsor for the marquis culinary event, Chase will offer debit and credit cardholders, including Disney Visa® Cardmembers, exclusive access to the Chase Lounge at the Festival.* The lounge, which will be located on the third floor of the American Adventure Pavilion within the Epcot World Showcase, offers an inviting space to relax, enjoy complimentary beverages, electronic charging stations, and other amenities exclusively for Chase customers. The lounge will be open daily during the Festival from 11 a.m. to park close.

“We greatly value our 10-year relationship with Disney, which is why we’re thrilled to be the presenting sponsor of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival again this year,” said Robert Belan, general manager, Chase. “The festival is one of the most renowned events at Walt Disney World and attracts Chase customers from across the country and visitors from around the globe. The lounge for cardholders is ideally located within the heart of the festival and gives us the ability to create a truly unique and special experience for all Chase cardholders attending the event.”Read More »Chase Invites Disney Card Holders to Experience Unique EPCOT Lounge

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. Episode 1 – Pilot

Editor: Please welcome new blogger Chris Fox. He’s got the Marvel beat! He promised me no spandex.

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Tuesday marked the premiere of the most highly anticipated show in television history – at least by me. I have been a huge fan of The Avengers franchise since the beginning and I’ve had a man crush on Agent Coulson from the moment he threatened to taze Tony Stark and watch Super Nanny.

So let’s talk about episode one shall we?

The show opens with long shots of L.A. and Skye’s voice over giving us the background info we need. Basically, after we were attacked by aliens the world went crazy – makes sense.

We also meet Michael (played by veteran to Joss Whedon T.V. shows, J. August Richardson) and his son, Ace. They have a touching moment right before the building beside them explodes.Michael reveals that he has super strength as he scales the building and saves a woman from a fiery doom.

Skye sees the whole event and records it on her phone.

Next, we fly to Paris to meet Agent Grant Ward as he is searching for a Chitari neural link. He gets into a bit of a tiff with some goons from the group known as The Rising Tide who also want said neural link. He returns to S.H.I.E.L.D. and gets debriefed by Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders reprises her role very well).

Then comes the moment we’ve all been waiting for – the return of Agent Phil Coulson.Read More »Marvel’s Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. Episode 1 – Pilot

Pork Two Ways at the California Grill: An Old Friend Returns, Only Better.

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I have a confession to make:  I’ve been having a deep, personal relationship with the pork two-ways from California Grill.  You may say “Oh, it’s just another pretty dish” or “How can it be any better than its previous incarnation, the pork loin?” Well, it’s better, trust me. And it’s completely worthy of its own post.

If you dined at the California Grill before the recent refurbishment, you know that the pork loin was its number one dish for two decades. It was simple peasant food really, just a basic polenta flavored with goat cheese and topped with a few slices of lightly seasoned tenderloin and some button mushrooms. It’s simplicity, of course, was also what made it perfect.  But while it was filling and satisfying, it had gotten a little bit boring. In recent years, I’d found myself straying over to the scallops or, if I was feeling especially adventurous, the sushi.  It, not unlike the décor and the overall feel of the rest of the restaurant, was in serious need of an overhaul.

When the California Grill opened back up a few weeks ago, I was pleased to see that they had updated, but not removed entirely, some of its best dishes, the pork being one of them. Now you’ll get a smaller serving of pork loin topped with fried sage and another serving of pork belly. Pork belly, you say?  Think a big square of bacon. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.Read More »Pork Two Ways at the California Grill: An Old Friend Returns, Only Better.

Jay Leno at 2013 Pixar Motorcade

Late night talk show host Jay Leno has a thing for cars. Those who live in Burbank have grown accustom to seeing Leno driving around in anything from a steam powered car to a classic roadster. As part of his YouTube channel dedicated to the… Read More »Jay Leno at 2013 Pixar Motorcade