Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

NANA MINT: MEDITERRANEAN DELIGHT from Wizzotzky

American tea drinkers haven’t had news this revolutionary since the Boston Tea Party: Nana Mint is here. This slightly and naturally sweet cultivar of Mentha spicata, found only in the Mediterranean region has long been prized by Israelis, Moroccans, and other nearby Middle Eastern cultures.

Now Wissotzky Tea is introducing this exotic mint closer to home with a full line of carefully-crafted Simply Nana Teas – incomparable to other teas.

That’s exciting news for American tea drinkers looking for the Next Big Thing. And since the Nana Mint trend is just beginning to move the needle in the U.S. tea category – which is more than ready for a caffeinated jolt – it’s a great time for retailers to get in on the buzz.

So, what is Nana Tea? Nana is unlike any other variety of mint. Reminiscent of the sun-drenched warmth of its Mediterranean origins, it unleashes a subtle layer of earthiness and invigorating minty flavor in every tantalizing cup. Nana Tea is sure to awaken the spirit whether served hot or icy cold.

Consumers can get “Nanafied” in a variety of delicious, all-natural ways:

  • Simply Nana Mint Black Tea
  • Simply Nana Mint Green Tea
  • Simply Nana Mint Herbal Lemon Tea
  • Simply Nana Mint Herbal Ginger Tea
  • Simply Nana Mint Herbal Chamomile Tea

In addition, Wissotzky is providing multi-tiered support to drive the Nana Tea revolution. Promotions include digital advertising, shopper marketing, social media, influencer marketing, demos, and a presence on Amazon.

Family-owned since 1849, Wissotzky is beloved throughout the world for its superior blends of the highest quality teas and infusions. Every bag of Wissotzky Tea contains 100% natural tea and hand-selected herbs and spices for a full-bodied, GMO-free, certified kosher tea drinking experience.

Nana Mint Iced Green Tea & Honeydew

Green tea pairs perfectly with Honeydew Melon and the refreshing & invigorating finish of exotic Nana Mint and just a little touch of honey makes this an iced adventure you won’t want to miss.

How to make:

  • Brew two Nana Mint Green tea bags per 16oz of water
  • Let steep for 3-5 minutes
  • Remove tea bags and let chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours
  • Dice Honeydew and lightly coat with honey
  • Add to a glass and muddle slightly to release its sweetness
  • Top with ice and chilled tea and enjoy!

Nana Mint Iced Simply Black Tea Half & Half Sparkle

The rich and refreshing taste of our premium Black tea and exotic Nana Mint are artfully paired with sparkling lemonade to create a refreshing twist on the traditional half & half. Add fresh lemon and mint and you are ready to sip back and enjoy the warm weather.

How to make:

  • Brew two Nana Mint Simply Black tea bags per 16oz of water
  • Let steep for 3-5 minutes
  • Remove tea bags and let chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours
  • Add lemon slices and fresh mint to a classic Highball glass
  • Fill each glass halfway with chilled tea
  • Top with sparkling lemonade
  • Garnish with a lemon wedge and fresh mint

For more information click here

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Pair with Parrano during National Dairy Month

This Summer

“Pair with Parrano” Whether Together or #Alonetogether

And Celebrate June National Dairy Month

Paramus, N.J. (June, 2020), Parrano® cheese invites you to re-imagine your favorite summer ideas and to “Pair With Parrano” for the perfect kick off June National Dairy Month and at home summer celebrations! Parrano® Originale is a one of kind cheese that is aged for five months, blends the smooth, creamy texture of a Gouda with the nutty, buttery flavors of a parmesan. It’s complex but approachable flavor is sure to elevate the everyday and the unique blend of flavors makes for a must have cheese when entertaining.

With the nation “Sheltering at Home” the simple pleasure of enjoying delicious food with family is more important than ever before. Parrano® wants to help make your Summer more enjoyable by encouraging you to craft your next favorite entertaining recipe using Parrano® cheese! Incredibly versatile, Parrano® can be served in a variety of ways and is great for all occasions of the day. From Breakfast, Lunch, Dinners, snacks and appetizers, your creativity is the limit. Parrano® is asking fans to share their favorite “Pair With Parrano” creation on Facebook and Instagram for a chance to have their unique content featured! Join the fun, simply share your favorite recipe using #PairWithParrano and automatically enter your creation for a chance to be featured!

To get your creative juices flowing, here are some #PairWithParrano summer favorites:

Breakfast pairings:

· Parrano® breakfast board

Lunch Pairings:

· Parrano® cheese, meat and veggie Kabob

Snack and Appetizer Pairings:

· Parrano® Charcuterie platter

“Parrano® is the perfect cheese to pair with just about anything. For example, try pairing Parrano® with a cold summertime drink like a Lager or Kolsch for an unforgettable experience sure to satisfy your inner cheese connoisseur. “The combination of Gouda and Parmesan offer exceptional flavor unmatched by other cheeses,” says Tara Kirch, Senior Marketing Manager for FrieslandCampina. “This Summer make Parrano® part of your at home adventures and create the perfect pairings for shelter at home companions.”

For more information click here

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Middleburg Spring Races Livestream

Saturday, June 13 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

The 100th Running of the Middleburg Spring Races will livestream this Saturday, June 13. Post time is 12:30 PM EST. Nine races will be run at Glenwood Park without spectators.

Find more information and learn how to submit entries for the virtual hat & tailgate contests at Facebook.com/MiddleburgLife

For more information click here

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2020 VIRTUAL FEST (LESFF)

Thursday, June 18 to Monday, June 29

LLESFF stands with Black Lives Matter and is committed to continuing efforts that elevate and empower BIPOC voices in the independent film landscape. We acknowledge that there are many financial barriers for indie filmmakers, especially in final production and festival submission stages. LESFF will announce a new pilot program that financially supports BIPOC filmmakers through grants, submission fee waivers, and access to resources and partnerships with the existing LESFF alumni network to ensure that more of their films have the opportunity for festival circuit visibility and impact. More details on the initiative to be announced at this year’s event.

The 2020 Lower East Side Film Festival (June 18 – 29, 2020) invites you to experience innovative feature films and specialty short showcases, exclusive industry livestream Q&A’s, trivia nights, and more throughout the virtually interactive festival. The Lower East Side Film Festival (“LESFF”) has moved online and is excited to expand viewership to a broader audience demographic while continuing their mission of supporting independent filmmakers. The first five days of the online festival will roll-out premieres of feature films, short film showcases, and virtual events. The entirety of the program will remain live for the following week to allow festival goers 11 full days to soak up everything LESFF 2020 has to offer.

This year, LESFF is thrilled to announce they are spotlighting immigrant and 1st/2nd generation filmmakers with their 2020 film line-up echoing the ethos of The Lower East Side itself, a neighborhood that has been home to many of the country’s immigrants. LESFF understands the value a diverse culture brings to the unique storytelling that the cinematic language has offered for the past 100 years, and has championed that ideal in their programming in the past decade.

Notable presentations will include a conversation with Ramy Youssef that will offer audiences free access to a talk with the Golden Globe winner and the writers behind the highly lauded second season of Hulu’s Ramy, hosted in partnership with The Writers Guild of America East discussing the process behind writing about comedy, relationships and religion, moderated by Huffington Post’s Rowaida Abdelaziz. As well as the premiere of Joshua Edelman’s Mentally AI, which features Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Sarah Silverman (Bob’s Burgers,The Simpsons), and is an exploration of how artistic success is defined. Judges will include Indya Moore (Pose, Queen & Slim), Samantha Bee (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee), and more.

ABOUT LOWER EAST SIDE FILM FESTIVAL

2020 will mark the 10th Anniversary of the Lower East Side Film Festival. Since its inaugural year, the festival has premiered hundreds of short and feature films, hosted thousands of audience members, and has been deemed “one of the most exciting under the radar film events in all of New York City” by Film.com and was featured in New York Magazine’s ‘Approval Matrix’ under “Highbrow/ Brilliant”. Past judges and alumni have included Ethan Hawke, Rami Malek, Rosario Dawson, Susan Sarandon, Willem Dafoe, Denis O’Hare, Laverne Cox, Parker Posey, Ilana Glazer, Dolly Parton, Natasha Lyonne, Marky Ramone, Rebecca Miller, Judah Friedlander, Lizzy Caplan, Amy Arbus, Justin Bond, Nick Kroll and many more. LESFF believes great films are made with creativity, innovation, and heart and always seeks undiscovered and underdog filmmakers who understand that a huge budget does not always equal a great film.

LESFF 2020 Schedule

Thursday, June 18th – 6PM
Opening Night -All Films Go Live!
The Complete 2020 Film Line-Up is available online. Viewers can purchase individual tickets for features and short showcases ($10 each) or an All-Access Festival Pass ($30).
All films will be available online through June 29th.

Friday, June 19th – 6PM
Inside The Writers’ Room of Hulu’s Ramy with Ramy Youssef
Ramy Youssef (Golden Globe winner for Best Actor Musical or Comedy) and the writer behind the highly anticipated 2nd season of Hulu’s Ramy, in conversation with The Writers Guild of America East discussing the process of writing about comedy, relationships and religion.
Moderated by Huffington Post’s Rowaida Abdelaziz.

Saturday, June 20th – 6PM
I LOVE NY Trivia Night
Festival Director, Shannon Walker hosts a night of trivia celebrating all the reasons we love New York – pandemic or otherwise.

Sunday, June 21st – 6PM
Rebecca Miller In Conversation with Shaina Feinberg
Rebecca Miller (Maggie’s Plan, Personal Velocity: Three Portraits, HBO’s Arthur Miller: Writer) talks with LESFF Alumni filmmaker Shania Feinberg (The Babymooners, Senior Escort Service) about their approaches to storytelling through indie film.

Monday, June 22nd – 6PM
Festival Awards
Festival Director, Shannon Walker and Roxy Hunt announce the festival winners.

Judges

LESFF Judges include Indya Moore (Pose, Queen & Slim, Saturday Church), Samantha Bee (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee), Matt FX (MusicSupervisor — Broad City, Difficult People, In The Mix with Matt FX), Laura Brownson (The Rachel Divide, Lemon), Julie Cohen (Oscar-nominated RBG), Sam Levy (Ladybird, Jerry Before Seinfeld, Frances Ha) Heather Burns (Manchester by the Sea, Miss Congeniality), and Shannon Gibson (Executive Producer, Refinery29).

LESFF 2020 Films

FEATURE FILMS:

Blunderpuss. Written & Directed by Shaina Feinberg (The Babymooners, Shiva, Dinette, Senior Escort Service).Blunderpuss stars Chris Manley (The Babymooners, Shiva, Dinette), Jeff Seal (Shiva, Dinette) and Drae Campbell (Shiva, Dinette) that follows a clown who goes on an apology tour after rehab.

Mentally AI. Directed by Joshua Edelman. Mentally AI, featuring Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Sarah Silverman (Bob’s Burgers,The Simpsons) is a character study of, “the funniest comedian you’ve never heard of,” and an exploration of how we define artistic success, MENTALLY AL follows Al Lubel, a former Star Search grand champion as he struggles to get by, perpetually broke and sleeping on friends couches, as he continues to pursue his artistic dreams into his sixties.

Unschooled. Directed by Rachel Beth Anderson & Timothy Grucza (First to Fall).Unschooled is beset by drugs, violence and apathy the Philadelphia public school system is failing. Desperate for a solution, some inner-city parents turn their hopes to an unlikely place; a newly opened educational resource center in the north Philadelphia neighborhood of Germantown called the Natural Creativity Center (NCC). Founded by veteran educator Peter Bergson, NCC (as it is known) is built on the belief that formalized education is just part of a larger systemic problem-the dehumanization of our children’s education. Bergson has set out to prove once and for all that the power and efficacy of self-motivation isn’t limited by race or economic background and that there is a more humane way to educate our children-one that taps into every child’s innate desire to learn. Undeterred in his belief, Bergson practices “unschooling” – a program developed over several decades at a center he and his wife Susan started 30 years ago in the suburbs – called Open Connections – empowering students to direct their own education, favoring dialogue, discovery and self-discipline over tests, teachers and timelines. When three young Philadelphia teens; Amani, Miles and Jaya enroll at NCC, all of Peter’s radical ideas are put to the test.

SHORT SHOWCASES:

‘I LOVE NY’ SHORTS
Missing your city a little bit right now? Let these short films remind you of the magic, the music, the mystery, and the magnetism of the greatest city in the world – NYC.
Films include: Yves & Variation, Sundays at The Triple Nickel, Corner Man, Cinema Rules Everything Around Me, The Cantor’s Last Cantata

‘THIS IS AMERICA’ SHORTS
This series of short films each capture a snapshot of today’s America – the search for acceptance, the fight for justice, and of course the emergency response to an accidental missile warning aimed at Hawaii.
Films include: Black Ghost Son, Coffee Shop Names, Do We Belong?, 808: How We Respond

‘ME, MYSELF, AND I’ SHORTS
Coming of Age; Mid-life Crisis; Self-exploration – we’re no stranger to seeing these themes on the big screen and these shorts tackle all the ups and downs of discovering, questioning, and owning your own identity.
Films include: Practice, A Mother, Eagle, Blocks, Mom and Me and My Little Rooster

‘OUT OF THIS WORLD’ SHORTS
Monsters, super-powers, aliens, and space travel – these shorts take you beyond the realm of reality and into a world of the extraordinary.
Films include: Below, Cosmic Fling, Balloon, Your Monster, Visitors

‘MIND F*CK’ SHORTS
If you’ve been to LESFF before – then you know. BUT if you’re new to us – strap in! These films will be tough to get out of your mind long after they’re over, for a variety of reasons. You’ll see.
Films include: Horse, Others, Gholü, Eat The Rainbow, Nailbiter

‘NSFW FROM HOME’ SHORTS
Description TBD
Films include: Symbiosis, The D, Boys & Toys, Marcy Learns Something New, Unfinished Business

‘IN THE BIZ’ SHORTS
Movies about movies! From a struggling writer, to a struggling actor, to a struggling voice over artist – we all know this business can be tough. But these shorts remind us that in the end – it’s all worth it! Right?
Films include: Avalanche, Dame, Marsha!, Ghostal Galaxies

SHORT HIGHLIGHTS:

Coffee Shop Names. Written by Deepak Sethi (Writer — Family Guy, Brickleberry, and TBS’ Close Enough.) Three Indian people starring Danny Pudi (Community, Star Trek Beyond), Karan Soni (Deadpool, Deadpool 2, Always Be My Maybe, Ghostbusters) & Kausar Mohammed (Silicon Valley, What Men Want) imagine their personas as their “coffee shop names,” the names they give baristas because their real names are hard to pronounce.

Marcy Learns Something New. Written & Directed by Julia Kennelly (Chandler). Marcy Learns Something New stars Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live, Broad City, Wine Country) as a widow who goes to a dominatrix class, “Marcy Learns Something New” explores themes of loneliness, connection and finding confidence in unexpected ways. Rather than portray BDSM as either a dismissable joke or a dark secret, as it’s often seen, the film seeks to show Marcy’s agency in finding joy during a difficult period of her life.

Eagle. Written & Directed by Jose Acevedo (Alternatino with Arturo Castro). Eagle stars Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah) and Antonio Ortiz Jr. (High Fidelity, Orange is the New Black) about a Brooklyn High School senior who receives some good news.

Balloon. Written by Dave Testa & Jeremy Merrifield and directed by Jeremy Merrifield, Balloon stars Paul Scheer (The League, The Disaster Artist) and Jonah Beres (Stranger Things, Splitting Up Together) that explores gender through a superhero myth.

For more information click here

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Have Better Sex… Naturally!

Get ready for an all-natural coconut oil-based and water-based boost in the bedroom! Coconu has USDA Certified organic personal lubrication products for stimulating, deeply satisfying sexual experiences for couples. Designed to stimulate the senses, the ingredients provide real, natural health benefits, too!

Options include the Coconut Water-Based Formula ($24.99) and the Coconut Oil-Based Formula ($24.99). Or get the combo pack that includes both ($44.99)!

Coconut Oil-Based Formula highlights include:

Long lasting formula designed to protect and moisturize dry or sensitive tissues
Works to automatically stimulate your body’s natural lubrication
Coconut oil-based formula is USDA-certified organic.
Hypoallergenic, 100% cruelty free, 100% edible and non genetically modified organisms
No alcohol, petroleum, parabens, gluten, phylates, fra- grances and dyes
Also perfect as massage oil
Coconut Water-Based Formula highlights include:

100% natural ingredients and 100% cruelty free
100% edible
Hypoallergenic
No genetically modified organisms
No alcohol, petroleum, parabens, gluten, phylates, fra- grances and dyes
Doubles as a lubricant and vaginal moisturizer
Rehydrates sensitive tissues
pH balanced to preserve vaginal environment and pro- tect against irritation
An extremely lifelike lubrication

Multiple media outlets have reported the spike in sales for products related to sex during “stay at home” orders. Coconu is the healthy, certified organic, safe and cost effective way to bring more joy to the bedroom!

For more information click here

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Wine On Earth Taste-A-Thon

Wednesday, June 17

A series of virtual tastings all on a single day. Join one (or many) at any time, from any time zone, and from the comfort of your home.

Wine Regions Featured:

Barossa/Eden Valley • Bordeaux • Bourgogne/Chablis • Champagne •
Chianti Classico • Jerez-Xérès-Sherry • Long Island • Napa Valley •
Paso Robles • Porto/Douro Valley • Rioja • South Africa •
Willamette Valley • Washington • Yamanashi

For more information click here

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Give Dad the Gift of Recovery with DEFY’s CBD Muscle Balm

DEFY’s CBD Muscle Balm was designed with a powerhouse combination of 800mg CBD, 10 percent menthol and five percent camphor to soothe stressed and tired muscles. Its no-mess, roll-on design makes it the perfect gym bag accessory post-workout, post-game and beyond.

DEFY’s recovery enhancing CBD products are exclusively sourced from hemp crops grown using organic practices on licensed U.S. farms. Products are made traceable back to the batch, and are third-party tested for potency and purity.

For more information click here

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Beowulf: A Translation into English Verse, by Matthew Hutchinson

“Beowulf: A Translation into English Verse” by Matthew Hutchinson is a well-researched translation of the Old English, epic poem: “Beowulf.” Hutchinson starts the book with a detailed background on his approach to translating the poem. Then, he presents his translated version of the poem, which is easy for readers to follow. In the appendices of the book, he provides additional information about the poem including the names that are mentioned, genealogical charts and suggested readings that are about the poem.

For more information click here

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Catch some zzzz’s this summer

Wake up ready to take on the day with vitafusion™ Max Strength Melatonin Sleep Support Gummy Supplement.* It’s a yummy gummy made with a natural strawberry flavor that helps you get your beauty sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Each two-gummy serving supports sleep and helps with jet lag recovery.* It’s specially formulated to provide 10 mg of melatonin per serving. What you won’t get: no gluten, no dairy, no synthetic (FD&C) dyes, no artificial flavors and no high fructose corn syrup.

Helps Regulate Sleep Cycle*
Helps with jet lag*
Natural Strawberry flavor
Maximum Strength Melatonin 10 mg per serving
Contains NO Artificial Flavors, NO high-fructose corn syrup, NO gluten, NO dairy and NO synthetic (FD&C) dyes

For more information click here

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Son of a Barista

I am delighted to introduce you to SON OF A BARISTA, an artisan espresso based coffee maker and pod system, that combines high-quality barista level coffee at an accessible price point. Due to the current landscape, the brand is transitioning from a hotel based in-room coffee sales model, to a direct-to-consumer approach. With a fun, catchy (and tongue-and-cheek) name, Son of a Barista intends to disrupt the coffee industry and shake up the convention. SON OF A BARISTA has cut out the retailers, storefronts, and costly ads, to bring customers the highest quality coffee at wholesale prices.

Due to our current reality – with our customers now at home more than ever – we are offering the machine complimentary with the purchase of the Starter Kit, as we want to offer everyone the gift of artisan coffee during quarantine. The Starter Kit is $78 and includes a COMPLIMENTARY ESPRESSO MAKER + 2 month’s worth of coffee.

For more information click here

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Briefcase Wisdom for a Backpack Culture, by Jerry Gano

Briefcase Wisdom for a Backpack Culture” by Jerry Gano is a daily devotional that is a collection of Facebook posts that the author has written. The title of the book refers to the generational differences between readers. Gano explains that although there are generational differences, the Word of the Lord transcends these differences and can help guide all humans. There is an entry for each day of the year, so readers can follow along with the posts. Each post has “a Bible verse suggestion, so they can use the posts to help walk them through passages in the Bible. By presenting these posts, Gano encourages readers to connect with a lesson from God every day and reflect on how it can be applied to their lives.

For more information click here

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The 2020 Virtual BTN Big 10K

Sunday, July 26 to Saturday, August 1

This year, the BTN Big 10K is going VIRTUAL! Come join fellow Big 10 alum (from the safety of your home) in this special event.

Participants can walk or run a 5K or 10K on their own July 26 through Aug. 1 and log activities afterward. Participants will receive a 2020 Big Ten school-specific shirt and rave bib as well as a Big Ten-themed running buff/headband. There will also be a BTN Big 10K Spotify playlist and finishers certificates. The cost of registration in $20.

The BTN Big 10K is working with three amazing charities this year – Feeding America, Special Olympics Chicago and Alive Rescue.

For more information click here

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