Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

Introducing International Dark ‘n Stormy® Day (June 9)!

Tuesday, June 9

A refreshing combination of Goslings Black Seal Rum and ginger beer, the Dark ‘n Stormy® is a summer classic. Dating back to the 1920s, when British Naval officers stationed in Bermuda began adding Goslings to the ginger beer they’d been brewing to combat seasickness, the drink is named after its black and yellow hue – the color of a cloud only a fool or dead man would sail under.

On June 9, 1980, the Goslings family trademarked the Dark ‘n Stormy® to protect its signature cocktail’s integrity. Now, in partnership with NationalToday.com, Bermuda’s national cocktail and a persistent favorite of the global sailing community, the Dark ‘n Stormy is finally getting its own holiday. Celebrate the cocktail’s history with a glass, Ready to Drink Can, or even Dark ‘n Stormy Ice Cream on the 40th anniversary of the trademark, now known officially as International Dark ‘n Stormy® Day!

For more information click here

DIANA KENNEDY: NOTHING FANCY – Virtual Cinema

Friday, May 22

**OPENING DAY MEMO**

Greenwich Entertainment presents

DIANA KENNEDY: NOTHING FANCY
Nominated for 2020 James Beard Award

DIRECTED BY: Elizabeth Carroll

FEATURING: Diana Kennedy, Alice Waters, José Andrés, Rick Bayless and
Gabriela Cámara

DIANA KENNEDY: NOTHING FANCY will open nationwide on Friday, May 22nd as part of Greenwich Entertainment’s virtual cinema partnership with theaters throughout the country. 50% of proceeds will go to local theaters to support them during this unprecedented time.

New York and LA Theaters

New York, NY – Angelika Film Center (entire circuit)
Los Angeles, CA – Laemmle Theaters (entire circuit)
Los Angeles, CA – Metropolitan Theatre
Beverly Hills, CA – Lumiere Cinema

For more information click here

411 on Mezcal – Izo Agave Spirits

Enjoyed for centuries throughout Mexico, it wasn’t until 1994 that the Mexican government officially applied the name “Mezcal” to the agave spirits made in nine specific Mexican states, including Martinez’s home city of Durango. Today, any agave spirit originating outside of these designated states cannot be called Mezcal. IZO Agave Spirits brings a distinctive approach to producing a pure, all-natural Mezcal Joven perfect for all occasions!

“Mezcal stands out as a distinctly versatile spirit,” explains Martinez. “IZO’s clean, smooth agave flavor blends seamlessly into mixed cocktails and goes does smooth in a shot glass, but its complex flavor is best savored by the sip. This is not true of all Mezcal, because the taste, texture, and profile of each are very different depending on the agave used and the exact process by which it is made.”

Try IZO Mezcal Joven in a delightfully tart Margarizo using:

2 oz IZO Mezcal Joven
1 lime
½ oz Triple Sec

Simply cut the lime in half, reserving a slice for garnish. Salt the rim of a small glass filled with ice. Place additional ice into a shaker, then fill it with the fresh-squeezed lime juice, Mezcal, and Triple Sec. Shake and strain the liquid into the glass. Add the lime slice garnish and enjoy!

For more information click here

A Sea of Possibilities: Changing Human Relationships with Plastic

Wednesday, May 20 at 6:00 PM

Join us for a special evening with
National Geographic Explorer and sustainability entrepreneur

AGUSTINA BESADA

Please join us at our Annual Meeting, when UNA-NY will celebrate our collective accomplishments over the past year, and when we will warmly welcome our special guest speaker Agustina Besada, who will share her experience exploring first-hand the problem and solutions of plastic pollution.

Agustina is a National Geographic Explorer and sustainability entrepreneur specializing in circular economy and triple bottom lines, with a focus on the life-cycle of materials. In May 2018, Agustina crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a 36-feet sailboat — twice — to research firsthand the reality of plastics in the ocean and to study international solutions.

Building on this voyage, she founded and now co-directs Unplastify, an organization that is focused on Latin America and which seeks to promote awareness and solutions to rethink human relationships with plastic, through exploration, education and impactful actions.

Agustina will cover and highlight her science knowledge about different aspects of the problem, such as sources, scale, and effects. She will also cover the possible types of solutions to this global problem with real examples, and the roles of the different stakeholders that could have great positive impact in being part of the solution.

Together we will reflect on what are our roles and actions that would allow us to meaningfully change our human relationships with plastic.

For more information click here

SOCIALLY DISTANT THEATER: The Solo Show As Seen By Hirschfeld

Monday, May 11 to Saturday, June 20
online

The Al Hirschfeld Foundation is proud to announce the first in a series of online exhibitions exploring the work of one of the most iconic artists of the last century. On May 11, the Foundation opened a special exhibition for these times: “SOCIALLY DISTANT THEATER: The Solo Show As Seen By Hirschfeld”, a collection of 25 drawings, paintings, collages, and prints documenting a half century of one person shows. This special digital exhibit will be online for six weeks through June 20 at AlHirschfeldFoundation.org/exhibitions before a new exhibition is presented.

“In the world of the theater, the one-person show is perhaps the best situation and the worst,” writes David Leopold, Creative Director for the AHF in the introduction to the exhibition. “It is a supreme test of assurance and ability; of magnetism and charisma. But the format is also frightening; there’s no one to play against, to lean on, to share the criticism. For an actor, if there is no one else to take the blame, there is also no one to share the credit with as well. The applause at the end is for only one performer. In many ways these performers are all caricatures in the sense they have exaggerated elements of their subject to bring a whole life or simply a story to life. So in essence, Al Hirschfeld, the ultimate solo artist, is the ideal portraitist for this unique form of theater.”

In addition to showing the artwork in detail as it has never been seen before, throughout the exhibition are links to videos of parts or the whole of some of these solo performances. You can see Henry Fonda as Clarence Darrow, Julie Harris as Emily Dickinson, or Robert Morse as Truman Capote. Or you can see Eric Bogosian, Whoopi Goldberg, and John Leguizamo channel a seemingly endless parade of characters from their solo shows. It turns out being alone has never been so interesting

In keeping with the spirit of Hirschfeld, this exhibition is free and open to everyone. The show is part of the AHF’s continuing mission to promote interest in the theater and the performing and visual arts. to support its arts education program, there is a special gift shop of merchandise connected to the exhibition at online at AlHirschfeldFoundationshop.org/SDT.

Go behind the lines of Hirschfeld’s art with “The Hirschfeld Century Podcast,” nominated as “Best NYC podcast” by the 2020 Apple Awards. A special episode dedicated to the works featured in “Socially Distant Theater” will be available starting May 20 from AlHirschfeldFoundation.org/podcasts, iTunes and other popular podcast sits.

For more information click here

New Cocktails from Two Chicks

Introducing three new cocktails from Two Chicks Cocktails: New Fashioned, Apple Gimlet, Vodka CuTea. Convenient, gorgeous packaging, low alcohol, premium spirits, delicious. Women owned, run, and led.

For more information click here

Therapy in a Bottle

Bimble is a great tasting, all natural, preservative-free, sparkling beverage, containing 25mg of THC-free, broad spectrum hemp extract. A nod to the founder’s beekeeping practice, Bimble is made with a touch of sustainably sourced, Vermont honey, which helps to balance out the hemp. Additionally, at 25mg of hemp extract per serving, Bimble contains more cannabinoids than many other drinks on the market so you actually feel a difference and contains CBN, considered the most relaxing cannabinoid.

Jay Moskowitz, Bimble’s founder, left his high-pressure career on Wall Street to become a beekeeper in Vermont which led him to create this sophisticated and thoughtful CBD beverage that provides a safer remedy to life’s stressors, while supporting the vital beekeeping community which he is a part of and helps power Bimble.

Bimble is available in two different flavors: Grapefruit Basil Mint and Blueberry Lemon Ginger. Its SRP is $5.99 per 12 oz. bottle and also comes in packs of six for $39.99 and 12 packs for $74.99. Bimble can be found in select retailers and is available nationally at drinkbimble.com, to be delivered straight to your door!

For more information click here

Break an Egg!: The Broadway Cookbook

Recently on her blog The Geeky Hostess, author/blogger Tara Theoharis revealed the cover of her amazing new cookbook BREAK AN EGG! THE BROADWAY COOKBOOK (Insight Editions; Sept 1 2020)– the cookbook with over 50 recipes inspired by Broadway’s classic musicals.

Some of the book’s recipes include:

The Wizard and Ice – Wicked

Schnitzel With Noodles – The Sound of Music

Eggrolls for Mr. Goldstone – Gypsy

Too Darn Hot Sauce – Kiss Me, Kate

Another Vodka Stinger – Company

Mama’s Well-Peppered Ragu – Chicago

And 50+ more!!

Here are two sample recipes: “Laurie’s Prize-Winning Tarts” from Oklahoma and “Totally Shucked” from Spring Awakening. Enjoy!

For more information click here

“WRITE AND TEAR: Detox your mind” by CS.I. Csölle Ildikó

“WRITE AND TEAR: Detox your mind.” by CS.I. Csὅlle Ildikó is a simple guidebook that was written to help readers detox their minds from the endless stimulations they are exposed to on a daily basis. From a technical, non-religious standpoint, this guide outlines simple steps to help the brain work properly and to help readers heal from psychological issues. If readers follow the “write and tear” method presented in her book, the author guarantees that readers will see a positive change in their health, mood and love.

For more information click here

Pantry Staples

If you are looking for pantry staples that will satisfy just about the every family member, the Mighty Sesame Co. and Wissotzky Tea come to the rescue. Both brands have stepped up to the “ho-hum” plate with shelf-stable products you can use to add variety and versatility to your daily routine.

Consider today’s tahini trend. At a time when hummus is the new “it” food – seriously, who could have predicted a Snickerdoodle hummus revolution? – consumers are excited about tahini, the smooth sesame paste that’s so essential to traditional Middle Eastern hummus.

The healthy-minded people at Mighty Sesame Co. know a thing or two about tahini. In a recent taste test of 18 tahini brands on the market, no less an authority than Epicurious anointed Mighty Sesame Tahini The Best Tahini You Can Buy. They praised the clean, delicious taste and smooth texture that make it “a great tahini to use for anything and everything,” and applauded the no-stir convenience of the squeeze bottle.

So, think of Mighty Sesame Tahini as a game-changer for sandwiches, marinades, dips, baked goods, desserts, salads, and even cocktails. Use it in soups or drizzle it over meat and fish. Why not start a hummus revolution of your own? Just let your imagination take the reins. (MSRP $_5.99_per 10.9 oz. bottle.)

Mighty Sesame has also made a splash for snackers with three varieties of all-natural tahini bars – Pistachio, Cocoa Nibs, and Vanilla – each at only 100 calories per bar. Like their squeezable cousins, these addictive grab-and-go treats promise a premium-quality product that is gluten- and dairy-free, vegan, kosher, halal, non-GMO, 100% guilt-free, and delicious. It all adds up to a healthy and exciting change of pace for the back-to-school days ahead. (MSRP: $3.99 per box of 6 individually wrapped 0.63 oz. bars.)

Face it: tea is an elixir for the blues and good times alike. Nothing says ‘cozy’ like a good cup of hot tea. And nothing says ‘summer’ like a tall glass of sweet tea with plenty of ice. Wissotzky Tea Company has dozens of varieties of teas to satisfy any mood on every occasion. Its Artisan Spiced Tea collection artfully pairs hand-selected premium black tea leaves with market spices, herbs, and other natural ingredients. Serve Salted Caramel Chai, Ginger and Turmeric, Spiced Nana Mint, Pumpkin Spiced Chai – or any of Wissotzky’s premium teas and infusions – hot or iced. Now you can indulge in a trip around the world without leaving home. (MSRP $3.99 Nana Mint; $4.99 Chai)

Mighty Sesame brand products and Wissotzky teas are distributed by Kayco, the top purveyor of kosher foods in America. They are available at Whole Foods, Publix, Walmart, supermarkets and independent and kosher food stores across the U.S. and on AMAZON.

Reel Recovery Film Festival

It’s Friday night, your Zoom meeting is over, laundry is done and it’s time to curl up with a good movie. With so many choices even Lola is cross-eyed wondering what to watch.
This week’s film recommendation is:
AMY

The Virtual REEL Recovery Film Festival presents new original films about addiction and mental injury.

Coming this fall in partner with Film Festival Flix.

Be part of our transition to the digital world. Please visit our GoFundMe page. No gift is too small.

Help us spread the message that “treatment works and recovery is possible.”

For more information click here

BeeKonscious Artisanal Honey

Denver-based Purveyor of Raw, Single-Origin Honey Launches Website

Denver, CO – Denver-based startup Bee K’onscious Artisanal Honey is now offering its nutritious raw honey online at https://bkshoney.com/. Each jar of Bee K’onscious’s single-origin honey is sourced from the finest beekeepers around the world, with a QR-coded label that allows customers to scan and trace the honey to the single beekeeper who produced it. The “hive to home” honey brand has partnered with TagOne, a provider of blockchain technology, to provide customers the ability to ensure the source of the jar is producing 100% pure, unfiltered, unpasteurized, non-blended honey.

“Many people enjoy high quality honey, not only as an alternative sweetener, but for its natural antibacterial qualities and disease-fighting antioxidants. What consumers don’t know is that many mass-produced supermarket honeys are cooked and, thereby, lose their nutritional value,” says Bee K’onscious owner Matt Kollmorgen. “Every jar of Bee K’onscious is raw, unadulterated and uncooked and retains all the good stuff your body needs to fight disease.”

Bee K’onscious currently offers four varietals: Brazilian Cipo Uva, Brazilian Marmeleiro Prateado, Montana Clover and a much sought-after California Sage. The selection of unique honeys will continue to expand as the Bee K’onscious team continues to search the globe for beekeepers that have integrated best practices. Bee K’onscious Artisanal Honey retails for $18 per jar.

Bee K’onscious only partners with beekeepers that maintain ethical and sustainable beekeeping practices. The company is also committed to packaging their honey in glass jars and shipping to customers using only recyclable, corrugated packaging.

For more information click here