Posts made in January 2019

Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival

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Birders descend on Morro Bay each year over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend to attend the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival and capture glimpses of the massive migrating madness as they dive, swoop and scatter by the hundreds. This is Insta-worthy at its finest. But, you don’t have to attend the festival to marvel at these fine feathered friends because Morro Bay is a distinctive coastal destination for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway through March.

The coastal Mediterranean climate sets the stage and creates the perfect backdrop for bird watching, no matter where you roam: the Morro Bay State Park boardwalk, bustling Embarcadero, iconic Morro Rock, or up close and personal from kayaks, paddleboards and boat tours. The Morro Bay National Estuary Preserve and its unique 800-acre wetland filled with salt marshes and mudflats are home to more than 250 species of land, sea, and shore birds as well as dozens of endangered species all winter long, including Peregrine Falcons.

ߦ The 23rd Annual Winter Bird Festival: January 18 – 21

This popular Winter Bird Festival, hosted by the Morro Bay Audubon Society, takes place each year over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. With more than 130 events, including nature treks, presentations, workshops, and lectures, there is a lot to discover. This event is designed to promote the understanding and appreciation of wildlife and environmental conservation. Topics range from geology and biology, to photography and more.

ߦ Saturday Art, Wine & Nibbles Reception – NEW

On Saturday, January 19, from 5:30 – 6:30 pm attendees have an opportunity to browse festival exhibits at a wine reception that includes light snacks. Afterwards, attendees will head over to the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos for James Currie’s keynote presentation.

ߦ Bird Festival Bazaar

Check out birding and bird inspired vendors, public presentations and environmental groups at the Bird Festival Bazaar Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

ߦ Self-Guided Tours

Get out in the field on your own schedule and at your own pace with the Winter Bird Festival self-guided tours. Try El Moro Elflin Forest Natural Area. With a raised board walk over the edge of the Bay, this is a great place to observe the unique plants and spot over 100 species of birds. Find the 13th Street entrance of Santa Ynez Street by following the signs in Los Osos.

ߦ Family Day

No preregistration or registration fee is required to participate in the family day events which take place on Saturday January 19th at the Museum of Natural History. Programs include arts & craft, educational talks, hikes, kayak and canoe rides, and up-close encounters with birds, reptiles, and insects. Children participating in Family Day will also be given a gift from the Morro Coast Audubon Society. Programing runs from 9:30 am-3 pm.

ߦ Mind Walks Series: Peregrine Falcons

Biologist Steve Schubert chronicles the efforts of nest site attendants and endangered species management techniques, captive breeding, double clutching, captive hatching of thin, fragile wild eggs, and the fostering of falcon chicks into the wild nests that have assisted in the recovery of a once-imperiled species. Author of the book The Peregrine Falcons of Morro Rock: A 50-year History, he is past president of Morro Coast Audubon Society. In its 25th year, the Mind Walk Series offers lecture on topics of interest to residents of the Central Coast, including cultural history, natural history, and current issues every Monday, January-March.

Maggie Rogers Named YouTube’s Next Artist On The Rise

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In a striking, single-shot video, acclaimed producer/songwriter/performer Maggie Rogers performs her No. 1 single, “Light On,” with 50 fans and guitarist Elle Puckett.  Produced by La Blogothèque (Justin Timberlake, Chris Stapleton), the video was filmed last November in Paris and directed by Elie Girad. View the clip HERE. 

Rogers has been chosen as the first YouTube Artist On The Rise (AOTR) of 2019. The program features eight artists of varied genres over the course of a year. 2018, the inaugural year of AOTR, featured such artists as Rosalía, Brockhampton, Ella Mai, and many more. Rogers has also been named a Twitter Music #ArtistToFollow. The new program highlights one emerging artist per month by using their Twitter Music profile to showcase their voice and personality.

“Light On” – which is from Rogers’ Capitol Records debut album, Heard It In A Past Life, set for January 18 release – topped Billboard’s first Adult Alternative Songs tally of 2019.  Rolling Stone awarded the single four stars, and praises “Light On” as “a cathartic counterpoint to today’s pop-empowerment anthems.”Streams of “Light On” surpassed one million globally in under a week and are approaching 25 million.

Rogers will celebrate the release of Heard It In A Past Life with performances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (January 16) and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (January 22). She made her “Saturday Night Live” debut last fall. Rogerswill play a sold-out album release show at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on January 17. Most of her North American dates, sold out at on sale including a March 29 show at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom which sold out in minutes.  She will embark on her global headline tour on February 14th in Dublin, Ireland before hitting the U.S. in March.  Rogers will also perform at Coachella in April- visit http://www.maggierogers.com/live/ for itinerary.

Heard It In A Past Life is now available for pre-order in CD, digital and vinyl formats. Fans who pre-order the digital album will instantly receive the five tracks that have been released thus far: “Light On,” “Give A Little,” “Alaska,” “On + Off” and “Fallingwater.” Cumulative streams for these five songs already exceed 230 million globally.

Maggie Rogers grew up in Easton, Maryland. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she released her critically acclaimed debut EP, Now That The Light Is Fading. The BBC, Tidal, Google Play, Vevo, Pandora and numerous publications – including Rolling Stone, NYLON, SPIN, Billboard and more – have tipped her as an artist to watch. NPR named her one of its Favorite Musicians and The New Yorker declares, “Maggie Rogers is an artist of her time.”  Rogers’television performances include “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”

Thomson Safaris Announces New 2019 Itinerary

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Thomson Safaris, the leading luxury safari operator in Tanzania, has announced a brand-new itinerary for 2019, which will highlight the best of the country’s wildlife, and explore its rich culture from a culinary perspective, including a visit to the “spice island” of Zanzibar. 

Guests will experience remarkable wildlife viewing on a safari through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, and dive into Tanzania’s rich culture with fun, culinary excursions in Arusha, including a colorful local market visit and an interactive Tanzanian cooking demonstration.

For three days, guests will explore the iconic Serengeti plains, and complement the wildlife viewing with an off-the-beaten path visit to the village of Robanda, where they will learn how to make banana beer.  In the afternoon, they will partake in a traditional goat roast with Maasai warriors. The journey continues through the Ngorongoro Crater — one of the only places on Earth where you can see all of the Big Five — and a stay at Gibb’s Farm, the award-winning property owned by Judi Wineland and Rick Thomson, the owners of Thomson Safaris. The itinerary will also include walks through the organic farm where coffee, fruits, nuts and vegetables thrive in the rich, volcanic soil, and over 200 species of bird can be found. Guests will learn about sustainable agriculture through farm-to-table culinary activities in the bakery, gardens and kitchen, and, of course, they will indulge in farm-fresh cuisine.

This itinerary wraps with an adventure to Zanzibar, exploring the spice farms for which the island is known, along with excursions to Stone Town and the bustling Forodhani Gardens night market. Guests will cap off their final night with a sunset dhow cruise, featuring classic Swahili Coast dishes, drinks and a vibrant equatorial sunset. 

Your Music Calendar For 2019

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If you have a ‘just take my money’ approach to music festivals and events each year, then putting money aside well in advance is probably advised when there are so many events to choose from. Creating a calendar with the events you’re most looking forward to, or have just penciled in out of curiosity, is the best way of allotting your hard-earned money. 

With plenty of festivals and events on American soil, it’s worth taking a broader look, particularly if you happen to be a music fanatic with wanderlust. With that in mind, here’s a look at some interesting and big events across the globe this year. 

The USA music scene

It almost seems controversial to call Coachella an ‘indie festival’ when artists like Ariana Grande are headlining it nowadays. However, with some nostalgia-fueling throwbacks such as Weezer, Aphex Twin and Wiz Khalifa taking the stage it’s one that’s worth putting yourself down on the waiting list if you enjoy your indie served with plenty of sunshine and glitter. Dress up your most glittering and outlandish outfits when heading to Coachella.

The UK music scene

The UK has a long history of producing exciting and innovative artists (just a few small names like David Bowie, The Beatles, and Adele). BBC Radio 1 even helped propel artists like Lana Del Rey into the mainstream, and British radio stations have exported many of our artists onto American soil over the generations. British music has also influenced American music, too, with the likes of The British Invasion. 

Octavian is the name currently on everyone’s lips, and if you make a trip over he has plenty of dates across all of the UK’s major cities. If you go to see him in his native London, or any other great UK artists for that matter, make sure to check out ticket prices before they sell out.

London, however, is not all about concerts but also musicals and theater nights. Popular London musicals such as the Book of Mormon have been taking audiences and the press by storm and are well worth dropping in to see. 

Music festivals such as V Festival, Reading and Glastonbury are also consistently star-studded events, if sometimes a little muddy. 

The German music scene

If techno music is a secret passion of yours, then you won’t be surprised to hear that the Germans have that covered. Time Warp is a high-energy festival that’s dedicated to all things techno and dance. Getting your blood pumping over in Europe is also a great opportunity to get out and see some culture too, depending on how techno-crazy you are. 

The Spanish music scene

Sun? Check. Beach? Check. A wide range of music royalty and up-and-comers? Check. Lana Del Rey joins a stellar line-up at the FIB Benicassim festival in sunny Spain. Jumping crowds and streamers make this the ideal summer getaway festival for those who want to hear some familiar sounds and maybe pick up a few new names. Music and sangria on the sand is a combination that’s well worth making a note of in your calendar. 

Traveling for your festival or gig fix is the perfect combination of partying, music and vacations. You might also get to see some of your favorite performers who haven’t yet announced a US tour, or who might not for a long while.

Japan Tourism Breaks Record

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The Japan National Tourism Organization announced that more than 30 million overseas travelers visited Japan in 2018, an all-time record and an 8.7% increase over 2017 (the previous record year).

“Tourism to Japan from the United States – about 5% of the total – soared 11%,” says Naohito Ise, Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization in New York, “with more and more Americans seeking beyond the classic tourism destinations of Tokyo and Kyoto to discover lesser-known parts of the country.”

In 2018, America’s two most influential travel magazines gave travel to Japan a major thumbs-up, with Travel+Leisure pronouncing Japan the “Destination of the Year” for 2018 and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards citing Tokyo and Kyoto as the top two big cities in the world.

“American tourism to Japan is expected to continue to rise in 2019 as the country builds up to host major international sporting events,” continued Ise, “with a host of prestigious American media including Japan in their much-valued annual lists of the most recommended places to visit in the coming year.” The list of media is unusually impressive, including the New York Times, theWall Street Journal, AFAR, Architectural Digest, Departures, Fodor’s, and Frommer’s.

For more information about travel to Japan, visit JNTO on its Website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To contact the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) New York office directly, please e-mail jntonyc_press@jnto.go.jp or call 212-757-5641.

City Girls Video Twerk feat. Cardi B

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Today Yung Miami and JT — together known as City Girls — release the highly-anticipated video for Twerk (feat. Cardi B). In it, City Girls own the dance for themselves, rallying their troupe of women to get cheeks flying and take control of their own sexuality. And hell if it doesn’t look like a good time.

WATCH HERE

The Broadcast Premier will be on BET Jams and will air every hour on the network. City Girls’ Yung Miami — painted as a zebra — and featured artist Cardi B — painted as a tiger — lead a group of agile ladies on yacht, on a beach, on a pole, even on a muscle car without a man in sight. Ladies are twerkin’ it for themselves, showcasing insanely amazing athleticism, and looking bodaciously fly while doing it. And they can slap their own ass thank you.

With over 215 million overall streams and 39.3 million from Twerk (ft. Cardi B), the world sure seemed ready to listen and dance. Twerk was an immediate track stand-out for fans on City Girls new album, Girl Code (Quality Control Music/Motown/Capitol Records), so the Girls decided to send a challenge to the world. The Goal: To find the world’s greatest twerker. The winner would not only get flewed into Miami on “Flewed Out” airlines and $50k in hard cash, but would be — and now is — featured in their video taking back the twerk.

Refreshingly, JT and Yung Miami bluntly set their own terms on what can be a taboo subject for women. Most recently City Girls’ genuineness caught the ear of Drake, who recruited them for his 10-week chart topping song In My Feelings. And when City Girls rap to a lovelorn Drake, “I’ll show you how to network. F*ck that Netflix and chill; what’s your net worth?” they make it clear they are looking for any broke boys.

JT and Young Miami are uncensored, unapologetic, sharing a commitment to their hood roots and a bold insistence that the culture they come from should stop them from getting a piece of the cash pie. One of the most provocative female hip-hop duo in years, the Miami duo of JT and Yung Miami are the next generation of female speak out as raw and confident — and with as much swagger as the boys.

As Refinery29 states: “This emerging group taps into the same enterprising spirit applauded in male rappers when they wax poetic about selling drugs or pimping to escape bleak financial circumstance. This female version is just as inspiring. The male gaze only succeeds in objectifying women when the sole outcome considered is male gratification. City Girls set the terms of engagement for a payday they’ve orchestrated.”

With JT currently serving her sentence for credit card fraud, City Girls worked hard and banked a lot of material before she went in. As Yung Miami states: “It is a minor setback for a major comeback.”

Coach K and Pierre “Pee” Thomas of the renowned Quality Control Music label discovered the girls and took their first song “Fu*k Dat N****” from a regional hit to a national smash when it appeared on the seminal Quality Control Presents: Control The Streets Vol 1 compilation. Recently Quality Control Music released City Girls’ heart-wrenching documentary Point Blank Period. The documentary follows the City Girls as they break into a predominantly male-dominated industry with the release of Period. It features their reactions to hearing Drake shout them out on his record to JT working in the studio until her jail sentence starts.

Exclusive interviews are included with Yung Miami and JT, as well as industry trailblazers Trina, Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “Pee” Thomas, exposing the complicated road to breaking female artists in the changing music landscape.

LISTEN TO GIRL CODE HERE

Western River Expeditions

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One river rafting company anticipates one of its best years in its history is just around the bend, thanks to the unprecedented strength of its early season bookings.
 
Western River Expeditions reports that its 3, 4, 6 and 7-day Grand Canyon trips for 2020 are full on many dates. And 2019 is already completely sold out. Western River is taking a wait list for spots that open up due to cancellations.
 
Opening day to place 2020 reservations was Nov. 15, 2018. “We booked over 1,000 seats on that day alone,” says Brandon Lake, CMO of Western River Expeditions.  “Online bookings are way up, with over 70 percent of some trips being booking online. Compared to the 40 percent average norm, this is a huge increase!”
 
He adds that, “other rivers are also seeing booming interest and bookings.” Bookings for 2019 five-day trips on Desolation Canyon, Green River are up three-fold over 2018. ”We have as many bookings for Desolation Canyon now as we usually end the year with.”
 
Other rivers favored in this booking uptick, comparing same time 2018 and 2019 include 

Lake attributes these record sales in part to:

  • Good overall US economy (to this point),
  • Swell of retiring Baby Boomers,
  • Popularity of the bucket list and desire to experience lifelong dreams like running the Grand Canyon and Cataract Canyon, 
  • Increasing interest in National Parks, particularly Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park which many guests visit while in Moab, Utah, before their trip to Desolation Canyon or Cataract Canyon.
  • Many new, excellent accommodation choices and availability for pre- and post-trip stays on adventures that depart from Moab, Utah (Cataract Canyon and Desolation Canyon). 

For those chomping at the bit to get on a raft in 2019, Western River advises that people call soon to reserve their space. “There are still some spots on some of our most popular expeditions and this is going to be an incredible year to experience the river.”
 
Lake explains that Western River is bound by the permits granted to them. These permits limit the number of guests that can travel with them each year. “This number doesn’t change, but guest demand for what is essentially a limited opportunity does.”
 
“Utah’s Cataract Canyon, deep within Canyonlands National Park, is near enough in scale, appearance and proximity to the Grand Canyon that it works the same kind of magic found in the Grand herself. Just one canyon upstream on the Colorado River in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park is hands down the best alternative to a Grand Canyon rafting vacation,” he says.
 
Farther north from the confluence, Utah’s Desolation Canyon was carved by the 730-mile Green River, born from glacial melts on the Continental Divide in the Wyoming Rockies. The Green has created such rare and unique universe that Desolation Canyon has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. The Green’s whitewater promises soft adventure thrills over 60 fun-filled Class II and III rapids.
 

Calling Desolation Canyon “the ultimate, back-country family river trip,” Jason Taylor, an operations manager who oversees all of Western River Expeditions’ trips in Utah, noted that the five-day program is appropriate for children as young as 5. It’s also a great river trip for extended families and first-time rafters.
 
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2019 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.

We All Shine EP Tracklist

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YNW Melly latest project, WE ALL SHINE features Kanye West and Fredo Bang, the project is due out this Friday, January 18, 2019.
Melly is the exciting Florida rapper, who captivated music lovers everywhere with his massive single, “Murder On My Mind” and popular documentary, MELLY. YNW Melly’s critically-acclaimed EP, I Am You, dropped in September of 2018. Less than a year into music, the 19 year-old has accumulated over 165 million views on YouTube. Stands out tracks such as: “Murder On My Mind,” “Virtual,” and “Melly the Menace” has shot Melly to the forefront of Florida rap and caught the attention of The Fader, Forbes, Pitchfork, Complex, Genius, Hypebeast, Hot New Hip-Hop, Elevator, and many more.
WE ALL SHINE will be available on all streaming platforms Friday, January 18th.
TRACKLIST – WE ALL SHINE:
1. City Girls
2. No Heart (Love No More)
3. Rolling Loud
4. Robbery
5. Beat A N*gga Block
6. Hold Up (Wait 1 Min)
7. No More
8. No Holidays
9. Mixed Personalities Ft. Kanye West
10. Why You Gotta Walk Like That???
11. F*ck PNC Bank
12. Ingridientz Ft. Fredo Bang
13. Curtains (Burtains)
14. Control Me
15. Alarm
Bonus Track: Butter Pecan
DOCUMENTARY – MELLY: http://youtu.be/TGIp4H_JvZg
EP – I Am You: Tidal | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | Soundcloud
MUSIC VIDEO – Murder On My Mind: http://youtu.be/hqDinxaPUK4
MUSIC VIDEO – Freddy Krueger: http://youtu.be/FWC9pBfrUwg

Prince Debuts Updated Tour Racquet

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WHO/WHAT: Prince Tennis, the American-born leading global racquet sports brand is excited to partner with Lucas Pouille, top 30 ATP player, to debut the updated Tour 100P racquet at the tournament in Australia. The new Tour racquet launches with the global campaign, Live the Tour: Any Shot, Anywhere, which features a behind the scenes look into Lucas’ training and preparation leading into the upcoming season.

Developed with TeXtreme x Twaron, the Tour 100P is designed to further enhance the incredible feel and support of the popular Tour racquet. The new TeXtreme material increases laser-like precision while the addition of Twaron provides greater vibration damping for a better feel and sound. In addition, the new TourSeries re-introduces the O3 technology with the O3 Tour 100 bringing the benefits of an expanded sweet spot and more forgiving impact feel. These new racquets will provide the player with the confidence to hit any shot from anywhere on the court.

The new updated Tour will be available at Tennis Warehouse for $189.

SHOP: www.TennisWarehouse.com/Prince

VIDEO: Live The Tour: Lucas Pouille