About Skyler Johnson

City Experiences Chicago

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City Experiences, a leading provider of world-class experiential travel offerings, is redefining how guests see the world with its expanded one-of-a-kind travel experiences across major global destinations. Part of the Hornblower Group, a global leader in experiences and transportation, City Experiences delivers a vast array of water and land-based experience offerings in top cities around the world including Chicago. Through its vibrant, exclusively curated offerings and personal connectivity, City Experiences delivers its guests an amazing experience, all provided through its own unmatched crew and expert tour guides. Supported by a refreshed website, a new brand campaign and introducing a new rewards program, these initiatives will further build brand connectivity and enhance the user journey for its guests.

In early 2021, City Experiences became the new brand name for Hornblower Group’s growing portfolio of world-class water and land-based offerings, seamlessly collecting multiple brands under one umbrella. Since then, new land-based companies joined City Experiences, including WALKS, Devour Tours and the launch of Venture Ashore. With these acquisitions, City Experiences further developed its portfolio outside its maritime roots, now providing a total experiential travel itinerary for its guests.

“Since our rebrand last spring, City Experiences has built a collection of world-renowned land-based experiences, growing our portfolio outside of our maritime foundation, into a more holistic global experiential organization,” said Kristina Heney, chief marketing and revenue officer, City Experiences. “To support our growth, we had to re-evaluate our marketing approach by dialing up the emotional engagement of our brands and lean heavily into digital technology to drive personalized communications. We focused our positioning on what sets us apart, our own tour guides and crew. It is through their passion and engagement that bridge that deeper connection with our guests and share the commitment we have in bringing people together through our unforgettable experiences.”

City Experiences’ refreshed portfolio features some of the most unique experiences in major travel destinations around the world, providing a personalized journey for guests who are either already at their destination and looking for a hidden local gem, or those booking ahead with wanderlust. Whether you are planning that long-overdue weekend sightseeing getaway with your friends, organizing a family excursion through Chicago with a guided walking tour of the premier Riverwalk, spending your dream honeymoon adventuring through Paris’ most chic locales, or experiencing that bucket list solo journey through Barcelona’s best off-the-beaten-path food and wine spots, City Experiences will help you travel smarter and experience more. Below are highlights of Chicago’s experiential offerings. For a full list, click HERE.

Chicago Offerings

Chicago Waterfront Experience: Experience all that Chicago has to offer with admission to three of the most noteworthy things to do in Chicago: 360 Chicago Observatory, Navy Pier and a Seadog River & Lake Architectural Boat Tour
Chicago Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour: Our Lakefront Speedboat Tour is the best way to view Chicago from the lake, combining an exciting speedboat ride along the shoreline with informative and amusing descriptions of the world-famous Chicago skyline!
Chicago Riverwalk: Birthplace of Chicago: Join an expert guide on an essential Chicago experience—a guided walking tour of the premier Riverwalk! Two hours spent exploring the art, architecture, and all the special local places—only spaces in between.

To further support the digital journey, City Experiences launched a refreshed website, aimed to streamline the guest booking experience by offering a centralized booking location that features the company’s full portfolio of unique water and land-based offerings across its major travel destinations worldwide. It will also roll out with a new branding campaign, celebrating both its unique offerings as well as paying homage to its unmatched crew and expert guides that make the tour even more memorable.

Additionally, City Experiences launched a new rewards program for its guests. Designed to allow for more experiential travel opportunities within its portfolio, City Experiences Rewards is completely free and easily accessible HERE. Guests can create an account and collect travel points through their confirmed bookings that can be used to save on future purchases. Full details on the program’s exclusive experience benefits will be announced soon.

Los Bukis – Una Historia Cantada

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Los Bukis have announced a unique and limited number of special stadium and amphitheater shows being added to their record-shattering Una Historia Cantada run. Planned as the final opportunity U.S. audiences will have to see Los Bukis perform live, this new run of shows will close the band’s reunion chapter with dates beginning on Saturday, July 30 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ and making stops in Las Vegas and Los Angeles before wrapping up in Seattle at The Gorge Amphitheater on Friday, August 26. This is in addition to a historic run of upcoming stadium shows already announced in México, with performances in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana and Morelia

General public tickets will go on sale May 6 at 10 AM local time through Live Nation. Citi is the official pre-sale credit card for the Una Historia Cantada tour. Therefore, Citi cardholders will be able to purchase their pre-sale tickets at 12 PM PST on May 3 through Citi Entertainment. For more information on pre-sale, click HERE.

The 2021 run of the tour broke multiple records including the first ever sold-out shows at Los Angeles’ new SoFi Stadium. It was not just the biggest Latin tour of 2021 but the second biggest tour worldwide for the year, selling out 9 stadiums with almost half a million fans.

The Una Historia Cantada Tour also created one of the Latinx community’s biggest viral trends of 2021, as thousands of fans took to social media—posting the moment they presented tickets to their parents as a gift around Father’s Day. With the 2022 dates set to go on-sale this week, look for a possible repeat social presence in tandem with Cinco De Mayo and Mother’s Day.

With an announcement taking place at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in LA, Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price recognized Marco Antonio Solís, Joel Solís, Roberto Guadarrama, Eusebio “El Chivo” Cortés, Jose Javier Solís, Pepe Guadarrama and Pedro Sanchéz by officially declaring May 3, 2022 as Los Bukis day in Los Angeles. In addition, event MC Carlos Alvarez and famed comedian Gabriel (‘Fluffy’) Iglesias helped present the band and special plaques from Live Nation commemorating the record-setting success of the 2021 tour run.

The press conference ended with Los Bukis presenting a Mother’s Day gift to a special group of mothers who won the chance to be flown into Los Angeles for the announcement. The mothers in attendance came in from different cities on the upcoming U.S. and Mexico tour to help celebrate the final shows. Each of them were gifted two tickets to the tour stop in their cities together with a beautiful Mother’s Day flower bouquet and Los Bukis memorabilia.

About Los Bukis

Founded in 1976 by cousins Marco Antonio Solís and Joel Solís and dissolved in 1996, Los Bukis recorded 16 studio albums that quickly won the public’s heart and produced numerous chart-topping and Multi-Platinum to Diamond certified songs that are among the most revered by fans across the Latin Music spectrum. The Houston Chronicle details that, “Los Bukis emerged in the 1970s as a new force in the grupo genre with a cornucopia of hits. By the ’80s, they completely dominated Mexico’s pop-music scene.”

May at HD Museum

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Did you miss the Harley-Davidson Museum’s Bike Night Concert Series as much as we did? Have you spent countless hours shining the chrome on your bike as you counted down the days until the first Thursday of May? Your patience is rewarded this week when Bella Cain kicks off the season on May 5. All wheels are welcome to roll down to campus every Thursday to enjoy free live music from some of Milwaukee’s favorite bands, drool-worthy rolling sculptures, and tasty treats hot off the grill and ice-cold beverages.

And if you’re looking to throw a leg over the latest Harley-Davidson motorcycle to experience the fun and freedom that only H-D can deliver, mark your calendars for May 7 (and nearly every Saturday this summer) for the H-D Museum’s Saturday Demo Rides powered by Harley-Davidson Insurance. Choose from a dozen of the newest models and take a cruise through the neighboring Menomonee Valley. And yes, it’s offered for free at the H-D Museum.

Plus, make sure you show mom some love on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8. Roll two-up or bring down the whole family and take advantage of our Annual Pass perks for discounted admission, gifts at The Shop and meals at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant. On Mother’s Day, spend $150 or more at the shop and receive a free bracelet. And, make sure you fuel up at MOTOR’s Mother’s Day Brunch. Raise a glass to mom with bottomless mimosas for $14.95 or our Bloody Mary Bar for $12.95. Be sure to look out for complimentary carnations for moms and temporary tattoos for kids (while supplies last).

And the annual Armed Forces Day Celebration lands at the Harley-Davidson Museum on Saturday, May 21. Join the Harley-Davidson Museum and active military and veterans as we honor the brave individuals serving in the United States Armed Forces. Together with the Milwaukee Armed Services Committee, the H-D Museum invites everyone to show your support for our troops on Armed Forces Day.

Programming/Events

H-D Museum Bike Night Concert Series powered by Budweiser and Bulleit Bourbon: All wheels unite every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Join riders (and non-riders) for free live music from some of Milwaukee’s favorite bands, fun, drool-worthy rolling sculptures and outdoor food and beverage. The Bike Night Koozie Special is back. Enjoy $3 Busch Light all-season long.

5/5 – Bella Cain
5/12 – Big Al Wetzel Band
5/19 – Ten Feet Tall
5/26 – Mighty Miss Erica

Saturday Demos powered by H-D Insurance: Visit the Museum campus on Saturdays to experience the fun and freedom of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Visitors with their motorcycle endorsement/license will be able to choose from a dozen of the latest and greatest #FreedomMachines from Harley-Davidson, including Touring, Softail and Sportster models. A pre-determined scenic route through the Menomonee Valley will give riders the chance to explore the Museum’s surrounding neighborhoods. Sign-up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Riders and passengers must be at least 18 years of age. All riders (and passengers) must wear a helmet, eye protection, shirt, long pants and closed-toe shoes with a heel strap. All riders and passengers must also bring their own riding gear.

Mother’s Day at the Harley-Davidson Museum: Celebrate the most important woman in your life by giving her an unforgettable experience at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Spend the day touring the collection and campus, including The Shop, where you can find a special gift just for her. Spend $150 or more at The Shop and receive a free bracelet. Take a self-guided audio tour of the H-D Museum and if you bring the kids, make sure to check out the newly reopened Imagination Station! Don’t forget to score a complimentary carnation for mom and a temporary tattoo for the kids (while supplies last). End your visit by taking in the sights of our beautiful 20-acre, park-like campus on our walking tour. It’s the mother of all Mother’s Day celebrations and it’s only found at the crossroads of 6th & Canal.

Armed Forces Day Celebration: Join the Harley-Davidson Museum and active military and veterans as we honor the brave individuals serving in the United States Armed Forces. Together with the Milwaukee Armed Services Committee, the H-D Museum invites everyone to show your support for our troops on Armed Forces Day. Military equipment and interactive displays are available for attendees to see and experience. This free event offers a unique experience to talk with all branches of the military to learn about their experiences and the challenges they face in maintaining our freedom. Please note that military discounts are found throughout campus. New this year is the Wisconsin Warrior Challenge. Open to kids and young adults ages 7-18, participants will join one of six teams and compete in a series of activities for the title of Wisconsin Warrior Champions. Activities will include obstacle courses, survival skills, drills, marching and more! Sign up to participate in advance on the Milwaukee Armed Forces Week website.

Upcoming Exhibit

1977 FLH “Blackula”: Milwaukee man Freddie Franklin purchased his Electra Glide from its original owner, 95-year-old Wallace Brzezinski, with only 4,500 miles on its odometer. And in short order, he completely re-envisioned the bike to reflect his timeless style. The motorcycle incorporates some hallmarks of Franklin’s disparate tastes. A dash of the Coney Island-style bikes—decked out with lights and reflectors—he mixed in elements of Willie G.’s seminal Knucklehead and topped off with details that harken to the 1970s blaxploitation films he watched back in the day. A clear statement of Black pride via the language of vintage motorcycles, this is a bike you must see in-person. On display May 13.

Getty Free Concert Series

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Returning for the first time since 2019, the Getty’s free concert series Off the 405 is back with an impressive lineup, kicking off May 21 and running through August 27. Featured artists include Zsela, Bartees Strange, Los Retros, Hand Habits, and Standing on the Corner.

Concerts take place from 6 to 9 PM and attendees are welcome to arrive early, explore the Getty Center‘s current exhibitions, bring a picnic, or purchase food and beverages onsite before the show begins.

Since 2009, Off the 405 has brought some of today’s most exciting music artists to the Getty Center for memorable experiences amid stunning architecture and breathtaking sunset views. Past performers include Moses Sumney, Allah-Las, Cate Le Bon, L’Rain, Chicano Batman and Thundercat among others.

The Getty Center is also reinstating Saturday evening hours on June 18, in time for the second “Off the 405” concert, featuring Bartees Strange. For the first time since 2020, the Center will stay open on Saturdays until 8 PM, and the restaurant will take dinner reservations. It’s also a great opportunity to take advantage of “Pay Once, Park Twice” where visitors can hop from one Getty location to another in one day, using the same parking ticket.

Off the 405 Lineup

Saturday, May 21 — Zsela: Pronounced ZHAY-lah, singer-songwriter Zsela first turned heads with the vast range of her deep, mesmerizing voice in the molten and moody single “Noise,” released in 2019. Known for taking her absolute time with careful songwriting and recording, Zsela worked with renowned producer Daniel Aged (Frank Ocean, Kelela) to craft her debut EP, Ache of Victory, featuring idiosyncratic pop that blends intimate virtuosity with an aesthetic edge leading to her first tour supporting Cat Power and a string of unique performances at MoMA PS1, the Whitney Museum, Black Rabbit Rose magic bar, Joe’s Pub and more. Accompanied by DJ Slauson Malone 1, Zsela’s captivating voice marks the return of live outdoor music to the sunset-lit atmosphere of Getty’s courtyard stage.

Saturday, June 18 — Bartees Strange: Next up in the series is Bartees Strange, an English-born and D.C.-based producer and songwriter whose music is described as akin to Bloc Party featuring a lively mix of indie rock, hip hop, and jazz. Named an Artist to Watch by Stereogum in 2020, Strange will perform with a full rock band that will energize crowds with songs from forthcoming album: Farm To Table.

Saturday, July 9 — Los Retros: Los Retros, aka Mauri Tapia, grew up in Oxnard, CA, and has been making music since his early teens, playing every instrument on his recordings. Tracing his musical inspirations to both American and Latin American left-field pop and soft-rock groups from the ‘70s and ‘80s, Los Retros is an homage to Chilean pop band Los Ángeles Negros. Los Retros will perform songs from his latest album, “Looking Back.”

Saturday, July 23 — Hand Habits: LA-based indie-folk band Hand Habits will take the stage with energizing new-wave beats and harmonic vocals by solo member musician and guitarist Meg Duffy (they/them). Duffy, who recently toured with Perfume Genius, will perform songs from their three studio albums, Fun House, placeholder and Wildly Idle (Humble Before the Void).

Saturday, August 27 — Standing on the Corner: The New York collective Standing on the Corner (SOTC) often calls itself an “art ensemble,” a nickname that helps outline its approach to music and performance, while hinting at its creative roots and perspective. With composer, conductor and co-founder Gio Escobar at the center of a band line-up, SOTC moves freely yet decisively between jazz improvisations, dub excursions, garage-noise freak-outs, and lo-fi hip-hop collage.

This special iteration of the Off the 405 concert series also celebrates the dynamic creative exchange of the Harlem-based photographers chronicled in the exhibition Working Together: The Photographers of the Kamoinge Workshop, on view at the Getty Center from July 19 through October 9, 2022. The photographers fused the energy of jazz and improvisation into their stylistically untethered approach to representing the African American experience.

Conan Gray × Met Gala

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Platinum-selling singer, songwriter, and Gen-Z pop king Conan Gray made his Met Gala debut wearing custom Valentino. The look was a dreamy white and silver embellished ensemble with a flowing chiffon cape and was accompanied by shoes by Valentino.

The Valentino Custom Made look was specially designed for Conan Gray by Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli. Silver sequins are all over embroidered pants, with a white tulle embroidered shirt and a chiffon cape with Valentino Garavani platform white boots.

Here is what Gray had to say on the look/inspiration: “It’s an honor to attend my first MET Gala dressed by Valentino. I wanted to create a look that felt simultaneously Gilded Age, yet modern Valentino. My main goal with Pierpaolo and Katie Qian was to capture the message of gilded age elegance and glamor. Above all, I wanted a cape.”

Stylist Katie Qian commented, “I think the final look really captures a modern take on the excess and extravagance of the Gilded Age, all while tying in Valentino’s bold elegance and Conan’s regal personal style.”

This is the third time Gray has teamed up with Valentino, as he made his Coachella debut wearing custom Valentino for both weekends. The looks were put on numerous best-dressed lists for the weekend and had Vogue saying “Conan Gray’s Hot Pink Valentino Look Shut Down Coachella.” Find the review HERE.

Up next Conan will be headed to Europe to continue his 2022 Conan Gray World Tour in support of his sophomore album, Superache, out June 24th.

About Conan Gray

Since releasing original demos on his YouTube channel at the age of 15, Conan Gray has emerged as one of the pre-eminent pop superstars of his generation. Even after the commercial success of global multi-platinum hits “Heather” and “Maniac“, his music continues to maintain its unflinching authenticity and originality. Gray’s debut album, Kid Krow, crafted by Gray and longtime collaborator and producer Dan Nigro, reached #5 on the Billboard 200, #1 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart and became the biggest new artist debut of the year. In the summer of 2020, when “Heather” topped charts around the world, Sir Elton John publicly praised Gray for being the only artist on the Spotify top 50 to have written the song entirely on their own. With over 7 billion streams, Gray has attracted unanimous applause from a who’s who of tastemakers including Vogue, GQ, V Man, Paper, Fader, Billboard, NPR, MTV, I-D, Wonderland, Clash, Notion, and has delivered rapturous performances on television shows such as Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show with James Corden and The Today Show. Gray’s much anticipated sophomore album is set for release on June 24th, 2022.

LIGHT × DAYLIGHT Draft Performances

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LIGHT Nightclub and DAYLIGHT Beach Club, located at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, wrapped the final day of Vegas’ first-ever professional football draft with performances by two of the biggest hip hop artists Saturday, April 30. Ludacris asked the crowd, “What’s Your Fantasy,” at LIGHT, while Iggy Azalea got “Fancy” with fans at DAYLIGHT. The weekend party continued with hip-hop star Plies with fellow artist Slim Thug also in attendance Sunday, May 1.

Making his first performance at the club since his residency in 2018, Ludacris lit up the stage at the popular Las Vegas nightclub wearing sunglasses, matching black leather pants and a jacket trimmed in flames. Starting his performance shortly after 2 AM, the superstar performed several of his most popular songs including “Move B*tch,” “What’s Your Fantasy,” “Area Codes” and “Cadillac Grill” among others, energizing an already lively crowd.

Earlier in the day, Australian hip-hop superstar Iggy Azalea brought extra heat to DAYLIGHT Beach Club with a steamy performance of her biggest hits. Showing off her signature hour-glass body in a full bodysuit with a plunging neckline and cutouts, Azalea took the stage around 5 PM performing “Kream,” “Started,” “Sally Walker,” “Fancy” and “Sex on the Beach,” plus several others. Visibly enjoying the energy of the beach club, the bombshell from down under spent time after her performance talking to and taking pictures with fans.

DAYLIGHT continued the professional football draft weekend party with a performance by Plies. The South Florida rapper closed out the weekend during the beach club’s popular “LIT Sundays” with his hits “Shawty,” “Bust It Baby,” “Lose My Mind” and “Plenty Money” among others. As part of the performance, he selected several female guests to dance on stage. Also at the beach club was MTV Video Music Award-winning hip-hop artist Slim Thug. Joined by several friends in one of DAYLIGHT’s luxury cabanas, the group was seen enjoying the performance while sipping on Clase Azul tequila and rosé champagne.

LIGHT is open from 10:30 PM to 4 AM Friday and Saturday nights and has provided guests with a world-class experience combining a state-of-the-art sound system with massive LED screens since opening in 2013. Since reopening its doors in February, the nightclub has hosted performances by Wyclef Jean, Sam Hunt and Iggy Azalea, LIGHT continues the star-studded lineup in May with Justin Quiles, Miguel and a second performance by Ludacris among other talent to be announced.

About DAYLIGHT Beach Club

Spanning 50,000 square feet at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, DAYLIGHT Beach Club offers a picturesque resort beach club experience with a massive main pool as well as two private pools for cabana guests. For an elevated beach club experience, DAYLIGHT offers daybeds, banquettes and bungalows, available with reservations. DAYLIGHT’s exceptional hand-crafted cocktails, poolside bites and VIP bottle service come together with a stellar roster of international DJs and performing artists. DAYLIGHT is open from 11 AM to 6 PM Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 PM on Sunday as well as 10 PM to close on Friday and Saturday nights for “DAYLIGHT at Night.” More information is on their websiteas well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About LIGHT Nightclub

LIGHT Nightclub at Mandalay Bay merges cutting-edge creativity with popular music to produce unrivaled nightlife entertainment. LIGHT’s DJs play a wide range of popular hits with performers and dancers immersing the crowd in a pulsating party vibe set to state-of-the-art sound and lighting. LIGHT’s massive LED screens captivate the senses and a world-class sound system keeps energy high. LIGHT is open from 10:30 PM – 4 AM Friday and Saturday nights. More information is available on their website and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Radisson Tallinn

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Located on Rävala boulevard in Estonia’s charming capital city, Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn is the newest Radisson Collection property to open in the Baltics and Estonia’s charming capital city. The hotel’s prime location is in the medieval cobblestoned Old Town, home to cafés and shops as well as the Kiek in de Kök, a 15th-century tower. Tallinn’s main square is within walking distance and is one of the many sites to visit in this UNESCO World Heritage Site city filled with character, history, palaces, churches and other historic treasures.

Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn features 287 rooms and suites including Family Rooms, Suites and Junior Suites with access to fitness and sauna facilities, and Premium Suites overlooking the old town. The hotel also has a beautiful panoramic Presidential Suite. The fourth-floor relaxation area includes a spa with swimming pool, Japanese bath and three saunas—a Finnish sauna, a steam sauna, and a sanarium—in addition to a spacious gym. All rooms overlook the buzzing cultural city.

The interiors designed by local architect Argo Vaikla feature high-quality, dark Estonian wood panels, which create an overall sense of being in an Estonian forest combined with eco-friendly design elements. For example, the floors in the corridors are covered with a relief carpet made from recycled fishing nets. Photographs by Kristoffer Vaikla of the picturesque Estonian forest captured from above hang on the walls of the rooms and invite guests to explore the surrounding local countryside.

Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn features two restaurants, a rooftop restaurant and bar, ISSEI on the 24th floor, and MEKK on the first floor. ISSEI serves Japanese-Peruvian cuisine and is the first restaurant to offer Nikkei concept cuisine in the Baltics. In the hotel’s Estonian restaurant, MEKK, its Executive Chef Rene Uusmees creates modern Estonian-inspired dishes and delicacies.

“The opening of Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn is a milestone achievement for us, as we introduce our luxury lifestyle brand to this culturally rich city and region. Radisson Collection properties embrace and represent the local culture and design wherever they are located, and this is true here at Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn as well. Guests will be able to discover Estonian art, design, and photography which are on display throughout the hotel.” says Ain Käpp, CEO of HMP Hotellid OÜ.

The hotel’s 1,000 square meter conference center on the second floor has been completely renovated and offers eight stunning meeting spaces, the largest accommodating up to 300 people. All eight rooms are named after cities where Radisson Collection hotels are located.

With the health and safety of guests and team members as its top priority, Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn is implementing the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol program. The in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols were developed in partnership with SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and are designed to ensure guest safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out.

Predator Variant Covers

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In anticipation of all-new Predator stories coming to Marvel Comics in July, the extraterrestrial hunter will also steal the spotlight on a series of chilling variant covers. Across twenty breathtaking pieces by the industry’s top talents, fans will get to witness their favorite Marvel Super Heroes in epic showdowns with the iconic and terrifying Predator.

Since making its debut in the landmark 1987 film, the remorseless alien killer has invaded pop culture in film, comic books, video games, and more. Now, the Predator begins a new conquest in a comic series launching this summer. Capturing the horrifying, unforgiving nature of Predator with classic Marvel Comics storytelling, these outstanding covers are sure to capture the imagination of both Marvel and Predator fans as they prepare for the launch of “PREDATOR #1!”

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy this unparalleled mashup by collecting each Predator variant cover starting this July. Check them all out now and don’t miss your chance to enjoy this unparalleled mashup by collecting each Predator variant cover starting this July.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

Shanne Wins Sing for the Stars

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What better word to describe Shanne‘s hard-won victory than the word “deserved”. Hailing all the way from General Santos City, in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago, Shanne sang her way to the finish line. Winning was no easy feat, but she had what it takes: talent, dedication, and the courage to take a leap of faith. And let’s not forget the final piece of the puzzle: the technology to reach the farthest corners of the globe, which is where Kumu comes in handy.

The Trajectory To Victory

If you want to reach the stars, you have to break the stratosphere, which is a need answered by having the best technology can offer. Kumu‘s “Sing For The Stars” was the vehicle aspiring singers and musicians rode to see how high they can reach. Hundreds of aspirants joined the country’s first-ever virtual singing contest and called upon their supporters to fuel the journey via the giving of virtual gifts. Much like an actual rocket launch with parts disengaging along the way, there were eliminations that narrowed down the contestant number from 100 down to 30, to 15, and finally, the top 3.

No rocket launch is complete without people guiding its trajectory, which comes in the form of the guest judges: Grammy Award-winning Michael Bublé, and Tony Award-winning Lea Salonga, along with other big names in the music industry such as KZ Tandingan and Ben&Ben. It isn’t really the end for those who didn’t make it to the top—a diamond in the rough is still a diamond beneath the surface. During the “Sing For The Stars”‘ virtual press conference, Lea Salonga mentioned that aspiring musicians can still get discovered even if they did not win the competition, which is a very encouraging statement to hold on to. Many can start their musical journey, but only one can call herself a Grand Champion and enjoy the perks that come with it—the title belongs to Shanne Gulle alone.

The New Star Under The Telescope

The now Grand Champion was then a regular Kumunizen live streamer who started her Kumu journey in 2020 at the young age of 16. She had a burning desire to grow her confidence and self-esteem, saying “I wanted to be a live streamer because I wanted to grow and interact with people”. She found the Kumunity to be a very welcoming place, filled with people generous with their time and support, and surely, her confidence began to grow. As Shanne put out her music content, she saw a promotion for “Sing For The Stars” on Instagram, showing the names of two huge legends in the music industry, one of which caught her attention: Ms. Lea Salonga. Her friends rightly pointed out that these types of singing competitions are not common, and was encouraged to give it a shot, to which she excitedly obliged.

The stars aligned for Shanne, whom beat more than a hundred other aspirants to the top. Kumunizens’ kind nature was also properly represented in the rapport Shanne had with the other finalists, Archie Aguilar and Christian Bahaya. The three bonded behind the scenes as they watched the finale stage being set up. With her Kumu friends along with her that day, she came home bagging the grand prize: $10,000, a one-year contract with Warner Music Philippines, and her own Kumu concert, which happened on April 24. In it, she sang huge pop hits such as Olivia Rodrigo‘s “Happier” and “Driver’s License” highlighting her winning vocals. Last on the prize list was a one-on-one coaching session with Michael Bublé himself—a Zoom session Shanne mustered up more of her confidence to join.

What’s Up On Kumu?

The Kumu-verse is a galaxy filled with various types of content that will cater to anybody’s tastes, may it be comedy, music, art, lifestyle and many more. Get in on the live streams, or start your own content and see how great the Kumu-nity can be! Here’s how to get the app for free:

Go to the Google Play Store or the App Store and search for Kumu.
Download the app and create your account for free.
Start following content creators in the genres you prefer or start creating your own content for everyone to experience.

PATH Two Years Operating

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PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) recently celebrated two years of operations at the Placentia Navigation Center, a 100-bed interim housing site for individuals experiencing homelessness in North Orange County. Wraparound services provided include housing navigation, linkage to healthcare and benefits, family reunification, and employment assistance. The ultimate goal is to connect participants to permanent housing.

Thanks to the strong partnerships PATH has forced, they are pleased to announce that the City of Placentia has extended their operational contract for two more years.

On March 31, 2020, North Orange County cities, in collaboration with PATH, opened the Placentia Navigation Center. Despite numerous challenges presented by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PATH served 179 individuals experiencing homelessness and helped 31 people obtain permanent housing in the first year of service.

Operational capacity was limited due to pandemic regulations for congregate settings, but social distancing, regular testing and on-site vaccine clinics limited the number of COVID-19 outbreaks at the site. This site also received state Pet Assistance and Support (PAS) funding that allowed the organization to welcome participants with pets and provide them with veterinary services.

PATH is proud to report that in 2021, during their second year of operations, they have served 203 individuals and helped 41 people make it home. That is a total of 72 people that are no longer experiencing homelessness.

PATH Orange County’s latest annual report can be found HERE.

“It’s been a true honor to be a part of this project from the beginning when it was just an idea, to what is now a comprehensive service-based Navigation Center that is celebrating its second anniversary. After an extensive review process, PATH was chosen to operate the Navigation Center, and they are doing an amazing job not only managing the facility, but also caring for the residents and treating them with the respect they deserve,” said Placentia Mayor Rhonda Shader. “It’s a great feeling to be able to celebrate the second anniversary and hear all of the positive stories from residents and former residents of the Center of how their lives have changed for the better. I’m so proud of the City, the residents, and all of our businesses who continue to support the Navigation Center and its mission, and I look forward to many more years of success for the Center and the residents.”

The Placentia Navigation Center is part of a regional plan to address homelessness in North Orange County. This Navigation Centers is the product of a collaboration between 13 cities (Placentia, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Orange, Villa Park, Stanton, and Yorba Linda) and is designed to provide interim housing and services for those experiencing homelessness in the area.

Tescia Uribe, PATH Chief Program Officer shared, “It takes a community joining together to accomplish great things, and the Placentia community has provided a lot of support. The Placentia Navigation Center opened at the beginning of the pandemic, but PATH’s team of essential workers continued to meet the critical needs of those we serve. As we go into our third year of operation, we are looking forward to serving more people and helping more people in North Orange County end their episode of homelessness.”

A wide range of volunteers, community partners, local businesses, schools and faith-based groups have come together to support this site. In 2021, nearly 400 people volunteered for activities that included pet clinics, holiday parties, and support groups. These efforts allowed them to provide 7,774 meals, which included hot meals served, snack bag and non-perishable donations. Some of their major supporters include the Placentia City Council, Placentia Rotary Club, and Placentia Buzz.