Author Archives: Jit

When a #ShitShow named after Hulk Hogan Comes to Jax

What a #shitshow but a cool concept marketing wise.

Was unable to get the beer (long story see below will have a recording released later) or to interview or take pics (another long story) but I can predict that this beer will tank because the Chicago-based Marketing team which lacks “midwestern values” has completely disrespected their customer base in Florida and the local media-friendly personalities by rebuffing, annoying, staring, giving hand and mouth signals to each other to keep them away from the Man behind the product – HULK.

This dude JAMES MASELLO deserves to be fired EOB today.

He knows what he did.

And the other venue owners and and out of town RUDE posse just running around looking busy are going to bring Hulk down with them. Careful who you associate with. You can’t win customers with HATE. Would be interesting to see if any of the beer is actually sold!!!!!!!

And it’s sad that @taponwheels isn’t even open for business for taking calls, texts or emails.

What a compete #SS.

They claimed Netflix was making a documentary on him hence their busy doing nothing attitude, but no cameras followed the old man as he sluggishly got out of his car and didn’t even wanna greet his crowds and just the hell inside! 

To be continued….

A long Journey Home

See the long journey our cigars make from the time they are shipped to the time they supposed to arrive. We prefer DHL despite delays that one can never predict.

This shipment is handled by: DHL Express

Processed at ATLANTA – USA

Friday, March 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM (UTC -04:00), ATLANTA – Georgia – USA

Origin Service Area : SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Destination Service Area : JACKSONVILLE – Florida – USA

More Shipment Details

Service
EXPRESS EASY XEP
1 Piece ID
Waybill Number

All Shipment Updates

  • FridayMarch 21, 202510:31 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Processed at ATLANTA – USA

    ATLANTA – Georgia – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • FridayMarch 21, 20258:27 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Arrived at DHL Sort Facility ATLANTA – USA

    ATLANTA – Georgia – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 6:30 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment has departed from a DHL facility CINCINNATI HUB – USA

    CINCINNATI HUB – Ohio – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 4:59 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Processed at CINCINNATI HUB – USA

    CINCINNATI HUB – Ohio – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 1:14 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Arrived at DHL Sort Facility CINCINNATI HUB – USA

    CINCINNATI HUB – Ohio – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • ThursdayMarch 20, 202510:50 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment has departed from a DHL facility ORLANDO – USA

    ORLANDO – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 10:18 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment is in transit to destination

    ORLANDO – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 8:38 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment has departed from a DHL facility MIAMI GATEWAY – USA

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 6:32 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Processed at MIAMI GATEWAY – USA

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 5:09 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Clearance processing complete at MIAMI GATEWAY – USA

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 1:56 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • 1:27 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • 4:56 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • WednesdayMarch 19, 20252:12 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • 9:02 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • TuesdayMarch 18, 20253:53 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • MondayMarch 17, 202510:43 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Clearance Event

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 12:27 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • ThursdayMarch 13, 20258:36 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Clearance Event

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 5:19 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • MondayMarch 10, 202511:27 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • 11:16 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Clearance Event

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • Processed for clearance at MIAMI GATEWAY – USA

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 10:17 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment is on hold

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 10:15 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Arrived at DHL Sort Facility MIAMI GATEWAY – USA

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

    1 Piece ID:
  • 6:55 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    MIAMI GATEWAY – Florida – USA

  • 6:51 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment has departed from a DHL facility SANTO DOMINGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    SANTO DOMINGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:
  • 5:14 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Processed at SANTO DOMINGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    SANTO DOMINGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:
  • 3:06 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Arrived at DHL Sort Facility SANTO DOMINGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    SANTO DOMINGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:
  • 2:47 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment has departed from a DHL facility SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:
  • 2:39 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Processed at SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:
  • SaturdayMarch 8, 202511:56 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Scheduled to depart on the next planned movement

    SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:
  • 11:18 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Processed at SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:
  • FridayMarch 7, 20253:14 PM (UTC -05:00)

    Customs clearance status updated. Note – The Customs clearance process may start while the shipment is in transit to the destination.

    CINCINNATI HUB – Ohio – USA

  • SaturdayMarch 8, 202510:58 AM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment picked up

    SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:
  • FridayMarch 7, 20254:04 PM (UTC -04:00)

    Shipment Accepted

    SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    1 Piece ID:

Latest from Amelia Island Music Scene

Coming up at The Festival 🎶

Free Family Concert: Musical Animals 🫏🐢🐘
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Fernandina Beach Middle SchoolDesigned for young audiences but perfect for music lovers of any age, our annual Free Family Concert, Musical Animals, features the humorous musical suite Carnival of the Animals and The Pied Piper of Hamelin, performed by pianists Julie Coucheron & William Ransom, violist Yinzi Kong, and narrated by the Island’s favorite actor, Frank O’Donnell. Choreography and dancers will be provided by Amelia Island Dance Festival Founder Susan Dodge. You’ll be taken on a fun musical journey that will delight your imagination and fill your heart with joy!
RSVP
The Rites of Spring 💐
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Prince of Peace Lutheran ChurchCelebrate the arrival of Spring with three monumental works in this unique program – Beethoven’s glorious Spring Sonata, Stravinsky’s earth-shaking Rite of Spring, and “Spring” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Featuring Festival favorites, siblings David (violin) & Julie (piano) Coucheron and Elizabeth Pridgen (piano), this exciting program will leave audiences wanting more!
Purchase Tickets
*Almost Sold Out!* Beethoven & Beer 🍻
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Mocama Beer CompanyThe American String Quartet will delight audiences with an intimate concert at Mocama Beer Company. Internationally recognized as one of the world’s finest quartets, the American String Quartet has spent decades honing the luxurious sound for which it is famous. The group’s presentations of the complete quartets of Beethoven, Schubert, Schoenberg, Bartók, and Mozart have won widespread critical acclaim, and their MusicMasters Complete Mozart String Quartets, performed on a matched quartet set of instruments by Stradivarius, are widely considered to have set the standard for this repertoire.
Purchase Tickets
Festival Finale: Christopher Rex String Seminar 🎉
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Prince of Peace Lutheran ChurchThe Festival’s 24th season comes to an exciting end with our annual Christopher Rex String Seminar, bringing together two rising star young quartets – the Candide Quartet from Juilliard and the Suzies Quartet from the Blair School of Music, collectively called our Beth Newdome Fellows – with the distinguished American String Quartet. The student quartets will come to the island for a week of coachings with the American String Quartet, community outreach activities, and public concerts. The end of season concert will bring these three quartets together for an exciting concert which includes music by Mendelssohn, Barber, and Schubert.
Purchase Tickets

Ticketing Specials

Visitors to Amelia Island
If you are visiting Amelia Island you may be eligible to receive a 50% discount on Festival tickets by presenting a valid confirmation from any lodging establishment located on Amelia Island. To get the discount – check availability, make your lodging reservation, and then call the Festival office at 904-261-1779 to purchase your discounted tickets.

Students Tickets
We are thrilled to offer students under the age of 25 tickets to most events for $15. Tickets are available for purchase on aicmf.org. Some exclusions apply.

The Festival on News 4 JAX 🗞️

Our Executive Director was recently featured on News 4 JAX’s “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition” podcast. Check out her interview with host Kent Justice in the video above!

Enjoy Spring in Bordeaux

Brewing tea removes lead from water

Brewing tea removes lead from water

Process passively removes significant amount of toxic heavy metals from drinking water
tea

Good news for tea lovers: That daily brew might be purifying the water, too.

In a new study, Northwestern University researchers demonstrated that brewing tea naturally adsorbs heavy metals like lead and cadmium, effectively filtering dangerous contaminants out of drinks. Heavy metal ions stick to, or adsorb to, the surface of the tea leaves, where they stay trapped.

“We’re not suggesting that everyone starts using tea leaves as a water filter,” said Northwestern’s Vinayak P. Dravid, the study’s senior author. “In fact, we often utilize model experiments and tweak diverse parameters to probe and understand the scientific principles and phenomena involved in capture/release cycles of contaminants. For this study, our goal was to measure tea’s ability to adsorb heavy metals. By quantifying this effect, our work highlights the unrecognized potential for tea consumption to passively contribute to reduced heavy metal exposure in populations worldwide.”

“I’m not sure that there’s anything uniquely remarkable about tea leaves as a material,” said Benjamin Shindel, the study’s first author. “They have a high active surface area, which is a useful property for an adsorbent material and what makes tea leaves good at releasing flavor chemicals rapidly into your water. But what is special is that tea happens to be the most consumed beverage in the world. You could crush up all kinds of materials to get a similar metal-remediating effect, but that wouldn’t necessarily be practical. With tea, people don’t need to do anything extra. Just put the leaves in your water and steep them, and they naturally remove metals.”

An expert on sorbent materials and sponge entrepreneur, Dravid is Abraham Harris Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering. At the time of the research, Shindel was a Ph.D. student in Dravid’s laboratory; now he works as a contractor with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Exploring different variables

To conduct the study, the Northwestern team explored how different types of tea, tea bags and brewing methods affect heavy metal adsorption. The various varieties tested included “true” teas such as black, green, oolong and white, as well as chamomile and rooibos teas. They also examined the differences between loose-leaf and commercially bagged tea.

The researchers created water solutions with known amounts of lead and other metals (chromium, copper, zinc and cadmium), and then heated the solutions to just below boiling temperature. Next, they added the tea leaves, which steeped for various time intervals — from mere seconds to 24 hours.

After steeping, the team measured how much of the metal content remained in the water. By comparing metal levels before and after adding the tea leaves, they were able to calculate how much was effectively removed.

Cellulose bags work best — and they don’t release microplastics

After multiple experiments, Dravid, Shindel and their team identified several trends. Perhaps somewhat unsurprising: The bag matters. After testing different types of bags without tea inside, the researchers found cotton and nylon bags only absorbed trivial amounts of the contaminants. The cellulose bags, however, worked incredibly well.

The key to a successful sorbent material is high surface area. Similar to how a magnet attaches to a refrigerator door, metal ions cling to the surface of a material. So, the more area for the particles to stick to, the better. Shindel posits that cellulose, which is a biodegradable natural material made from wood pulp, has higher surface area — and therefore more binding sites — than sleeker synthetic materials.

“The cotton and nylon bags remove practically no heavy metals from water,” Shindel said. “Nylon tea bags are already problematic because they release microplastics, but the majority of tea bags used today are made from natural materials, such as cellulose. These may release micro-particles of cellulose, but that’s just fiber which our body can handle.”

The longer the steep, the more metal absorbed

When comparing different varieties of tea, the researchers discovered tea type and grind played minor roles in adsorbing contaminants. Finely ground tea leaves, particularly black tea leaves, absorbed slightly more metal ions than whole leaves. Again, the researchers attributed this to surface area.

“When tea leaves are processed into black tea, they wrinkle and their pores open,” Shindel explained. “Those wrinkles and pores add more surface area. Grinding up the leaves also increases surface area, providing even more capacity for binding.”

Out of all the experiments, one factor stood out most. Steeping time played the most significant role in tea leaves’ ability to adsorb metal ions. The longer the steeping time, the more contaminants were adsorbed.

“Any tea that steeps for longer or has higher surface area will effectively remediate more heavy metals,” Shindel said. “Some people brew their tea for a matter of seconds, and they are not going to get a lot of remediation. But brewing tea for longer periods or even overnight –- like iced tea –- will recover most of the metal or maybe even close to all of the metal in the water.”

Future opportunities

Although results depend on several factors — steeping time and water-to-tea ratio, for example — tea preparation removes an amount of lead from water that should be significant from a public health perspective.

From their experiments, the researchers estimate that tea preparation can remediate about 15% of lead from drinking water, even up to lead concentrations as high as 10 parts per million. That estimate applies only to a “typical” cup of tea, which includes one mug of water and one bag of tea, brewed for three to five minutes. Changing the parameters remediates different levels of lead. Steeping for longer than five minutes, for example, adsorbs more lead compared to the average steeping time.

“Ten parts lead per million is obviously incredibly toxic,” Shindel said. “But with lower concentrations of lead, tea leaves should remove a similar fraction of the metal content in the water. The primary limiting factor is how long you brew your tea for.”

In high-resource areas of the world, it’s unlikely that concentrations will reach such high levels. And if there is a water crisis, brewing tea will not solve the problem. But Shindel said the study’s results provide useful new information that could be applied to public health research.

“Across a population, if people drink an extra cup of tea per day, maybe over time we’d see declines in illnesses that are closely correlated with exposure to heavy metals,” he said. “Or it could help explain why populations that drink more tea may have lower incidence rates of heart disease and stroke than populations that have lower tea consumption.”

The study was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy. Dravid is the director of global initiatives at the International Institute for Nanotechnology, founding director of the Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental (NUANCE) Center, founding director of the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, member of the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and faculty affiliate of the Trienens Institute.

Record Bond Cigars – a PartyDigest initiative

A prominent industrial age family born and bred in Pennsylvania’s rich tobacco factory past today donated 50,000 cigar bands, box labels and related memorabilia and provided seed capital to recreate the Record Bond cigar that the family once made out of York County PA.
The family, which prefers to stay private, made the donation agreement with Lak Vohra, President and Founder of the Hamptons Cigar Manufactory & Museum.
“We are indeed proud to add yet another Americana cigar to our portfolio,” said Vohra in a press announcement distributed globally. “The family in Pennsylvania contacted us a year ago when we launched the EnigmaSegar and they were very pleased to see how well the Sag Harbor cigar history has been preserved with the recreation and decided to move forward to formalize an agreement to have Record Bond be reborn at our cigar factory in the Dominican Republic.”
Under the agreement, the Hamptons Cigar Manufactory & Museum will create a handmade premium cigar using the original cigar labels and packaging that was used when the factory was producing cigars in PA.
“A full range of vitolas will be produced using premium tobacco and wrapper and fillers from the factory in Tamboril, DR where we grow Cuban seeds over 90 acres,” added Singh.
“The family has first rights to purchase when the vitolas are released following which they will be sold exclusively to our clientele around the world through #CigarPopUps, charity galas, golf tournaments and at our CigarVillas,” Singh noted.
More details on the vitola ring, gauge, price will be released after the factory master blender tests and finalizes the Record Band cigars.
For more information, please contact 904-955-5465 or send an email to lak@partydigest.com.

 

Knix Just Changed Underwire Bras Forever

 Knix, the intimates and apparel brand that redefined comfort with its game-changing wireless bras, is turning its innovation to underwire bras. Introducing the FreeFlex™ Demi Bra, Knix’s first-ever wired bra—designed to reinvent everything you thought you knew about the underwire.

The FreeFlex™ Demi Bra marks a new era of underwire that moves with you, combining cutting-edge engineering with thoughtful design to deliver unparalleled flexibility, lift, and support—without the discomfort.  Underwire bras have long been synonymous with rigid, restrictive discomfort—wires that dig, pinch, and poke.  But not anymore.

A First-of-Its-Kind Innovation in Underwire

Unlike traditional wired bras, the FreeFlex™ Demi Bra features a fluid, adaptive underwire made of flexible carbonized wire (not metal!) that flexes and moves with your body, offering all the lift, separation and support you want—without the stiffness you don’t. Designed with lightly molded demi cups, providing great shape that looks amazing under lower necklines and t-shirts.

“After years of innovating wireless bras we knew that when we made an underwire bra we would have to raise the bar – and with the FreeFlex we have,” says Joanna Griffiths, President and Founder of Knix. “We honed in on the number one pain point – the wire itself – and meticulously perfected the fit for all available sizes. FreeFlex provides the lift, shape and support of an underwire with the comfort of a wireless. It’s a bra dream come true.”

Support You Can Feel—Not See

The FreeFlex™ Demi Bra delivers everything you want in an underwire bra, without the discomfort of traditional wired designs. Whether you’re moving, bending, stretching, or just living, this is an underwire, reimagined for real life.

Available in 42 inclusive sizes (28–40 A-E, 42 A-D) and a selection of classic and limited-edition colourways, the FreeFlex™ Demi Bra is setting a new standard in underwire comfort and flexibility.

The FreeFlex™ Demi Bra launches February 27, 2025, exclusively at retail locations across Canada, as well as online at Knix.ca, and retails for $78 CAD.

About Knix
Founded by Joanna Griffiths in 2013, Knix is an industry leader in redefining intimates through innovation, inclusivity, and a commitment to breaking boundaries. From pioneering Leakproof underwear to revolutionizing wireless and underwire support, Knix challenges convention with thoughtfully engineered designs that blend function, comfort, and style. With a product range spanning bras, period-proof activewear, customizable shapewear, and everyday essentials available in an extensive size range, Knix continues to set new standards for how intimates should look, feel, and perform. For more information, visit knix.com or follow @knix and @ktbyknix on social media.

Michael Rapaport & Elizabeth Pipko Launch ‘Chabad Friends

In response to the alarming rise in global antisemitism and the urgent need to foster meaningful connections and understanding of the Jewish experience, Michael RapaportElizabeth PipkoMichael SinenskyTeddy Raskin, and Moshe Levi are launching Chabad Friends—a new mission under 501(c)(3) Worldwide Friends Foundation—dedicated to creating meaningful entry points for Jewish engagement through unique experiences. Through immersive kosher dining experiences, accessible Torah learning, and dynamic community-building initiatives, Chabad Friends aims to strengthen Jewish identity and pride in increasingly trying times.

The launch will be celebrated with a Purim Farbrengen on Thursday, March 13th at the Chabad Chelsea Shul in NYC. The evening, hosted by the Chabad Friends Co-Founders along with reigning Miss Israel Noa Cochva, will feature a Megillah reading, and performances by Zusha, the Hasidic folk rock duo and DJ Levyticus.

 

“In a time when connection to our faith is more important than ever, Chabad Friends will stand as the bridge for anyone, regardless of level of observance, to find their way closer to their Jewish identity. Solidarity through Torah is the only way forward in the face of the challenges that Jews worldwide are now up against,” said co-founder Elizabeth Pipko

Chabad Friends will launch with three core initiatives:

  • Fins & Scales – A kosher omakase experience (from the world-class culinary team behind Sushi by Bou) to be located inside Chabad Houses. The first Fins & Scales, offering a communal setting for guests to connect while indulging in exquisite, top-tier cuisine, will launch at Chabad Loft in NYC this March. Offerings will include a seasonal selection of the finest quality fish, presented as 13 elegant courses including Blue Fin Toro, Japanese Hamachi with Chive, Salmon with Yuzu Pepper, and Kinmadai with lightly Charred Skin and Pickled Wasabi

Fins & Scales will operate on a ‘give what you can’ charitable model with a suggested donation of $150/person. Proceeds will be used to operate and expand Chabad Friends programming. Openings in MiamiChicagoLos Angeles and Washington, DC will soon follow.

  • Torah Time – A virtual Torah study platform, honoring the Bibas family (Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir of blessed memory), connecting Jews around the globe for what is hoped will be the biggest weekly Torah study sessions in the world.
  • Keep It Kosher – Chabad Kitchen Grants – This initiative will fund kitchen upgrades where needed to help Chabad Houses remain vibrant community hubs for Shabbat dinners, challah bakes, and more – making it easier for anyone to start participating in the mitzvah of kosher cooking.

“Chabad Friends is fighting hate with pride and faith—bringing people together through food, tradition, and the unshakable strength of our community,” said Co- Founder Michael Rapaport. “We’re breaking down barriers and fostering connection—one class, one meal, and one mitzvah at a time.”

For more information and Purim launch party tickets: ChabadFriends.org

Dubai’s Museum of the Future Makes SXSW Debut

Dubai‘s Museum of the Future (MOTF), the flagship project by Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), announces their groundbreaking participation at SXSW®. The five-day immersive experience, which will take place from March 7 to 11, is centered around collectively imagining, inspiring, and designing the future. The extensive programming includes 20 curated experiences and will take place at Dubai‘s official SXSW headquarters, the Museum of the Future House, located at Third Street and Congress Avenue in Austin, TX. It will offer SXSW attendees a window into the world-class city of Dubai.

The Museum of the Future, a seven-story cultural landmark in Dubai that opened in 2022, along with the Dubai Future Foundation, aims to spotlight the United Arab Emirates’ emergence as a global technology and innovation hub. The foundation is a sponsor of SXSW’s 2050 conference programming track, and will lead discussions on lunar colonization, sustainable food production, and artificial intelligence. Attendees can expect workshops, outdoor activations, networking opportunities, and a mix of Middle Eastern narratives exploring humanity, nature, and future technologies—from space-proofing cuisine to innovative food systems emerging from desert landscapes.

 

The Dubai-based Museum of the Future empowers people to shape humanity’s next chapter by journeying to the year 2071 and showcases a vision of progress that can inspire cities worldwide. The Museum of the Future House will offer SXSW attendees a glimpse into Dubai‘s dynamic evolution, highlighting its rapid rise as a global hub for innovation, talent, and investment.

The pop-up museum exterior features eye-catching Arabic calligraphy, while inside, guests will explore a multi-sensory immersive experience inspired by space, humanity and the natural world. An outdoor space will highlight Emirati culture, with culinary experiences including tastings of the viral TikTok sensation, the original Dubai chocolate bars from FIX Dessert Chocolatier and traditional chai demonstrations by Project Chaiwala.

Internationally renowned Digital Visual Artist Refik Anadol (@refikandol) has created an immersive artwork called “Earth Dreams,” exploring the three elements of the Earth: air, land, and water. The AI-powered installation turns real environmental data into dynamic, ever-changing visuals. Using cutting-edge machine learning, the artwork reimagines real-life elements in a way that gives them color, immersing attendees in a mesmerizing, dreamlike exploration of nature’s hidden patterns. The exhibit is also on display at the Museum of the Future in Dubai and was first launched during the Dubai Future Forum, the flagship event of the Dubai Future Foundation and the largest gathering of futurists. This isn’t just a showcase – it’s an invitation to reimagine what’s possible.

“SXSW has always been a place where big ideas come to life,” said Majed Al Mansoori, Executive Director of Museum of the Future. “We are bringing a bit of Dubai‘s perspective and flavors to Austin, where we hope to spark new conversations about how technology and culture can create positive change. We will bridge ideas from both East and West to reimagine what tomorrow could look like.”

Engaging discussions will spotlight diverse voices and perspectives different from the ones that usually dominate conversations about the future, from Arab filmmakers and award-winning writers to astronauts, navigating topics like artificial intelligence’s evolving role in society. The food panel track takes a deeper look at the future of food, where visionary leaders converge to reimagine food systems, using technology to create sustainable, culturally-connected solutions that could transform how we nourish the global community. Expect to hear from brands like Solar Foods, for example, who pioneer sustainability using solar energy to produce food. These events will prioritize those with a SXSW badge to access.

Notable speakers include Canadian Astronaut Shawna Pandya, the first Emirati Astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri; Author and Urban scholar-practitioner Geci Karuri-Sebina; and Film Producer Gianluca Chakra, among many others.

For more information about how these visiting organizations bring Dubai to Austin through expert panels, art, and cultural programming during SXSW, please visit the landing page. To discover more about their commitment to Dubai‘s future, please visit dubaifuture.ae. Follow along on Instagram for live updates at @museumofthefuture and @dubaifuture. The event hashtag is #MuseumOfTheFutureSXSW.

FOUR COUNTRIES SHORTLISTED TO HOST THE GAMES OF THE FUTURE 2027

Phygital International (PI), the exclusive rights holders and custodians of The Games of the Future (GOTF), today announces that Brazil, Serbia, South Africaand Uzbekistan are the shortlisted applicants to host GOTF 2027. The Games of the Future is the world’s leading phygital sports tournament, bringing together sports and esports athletes from around the world.

With the UAE set to host GOTF 2025 and Kazakhstan in 2026, the competition for the 2027 edition has drawn significant interest from nations eager to position themselves as leaders in the world of phygital sports.

Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, said: “We received bids from right around the world which highlights the growing awareness and passion for phygital sports globally. We would like to thank all the nations who bid to host The Games of the Future 2027 and are pleased to announce that Brazil, Serbia, South Africa, and Uzbekistan have been selected as the nations shortlisted as potential hosts.”

Following further evaluations and detailed assessments of each finalist’s proposal, the final decision on the host country for GOTF 2027 will be announced in the summer of 2025.

Notes to Editors:

About Phygital International:

Phygital International is the global leader in promoting and innovating phygital sports, seamlessly blending the physical sports and digital gaming realms in competitive events. As the official custodian and operator of the global annual Games of the Future, Phygital International is redefining the sports experience for a new era. Through its role as a tournament organizer and host-nation bid overseer, Phygital International unites athletes, gamers, and communities in a unique hybrid environment, pushing the boundaries of both traditional sports and gaming worldwide.

For more information, please visit https://phygitalinternational.com.

About The Games of the Future:

The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The annual tournament brings together the next generation of dynamic sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The 2025 and 2026 Games of the Future will be held in UAE and Kazakhstan, respectively. For more information please visit: https://gofuture.games.