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Mix up a festive beverage with Mariah Carey’s new liqueur, Black Irish

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

If Mariah Carey was going to sell any sort of alcoholic beverage, you’d figure it’d be spiked eggnog, right? Well, the elusive chanteuse has confounded our expectations once again by launching her own brand of Irish cream liqueur: Black Irish.

“Introducing BLACK IRISH. Two years in the making. Truly a cause for celebration,” Mariah wrote on her socials. “A cause for celebration” is a lyric from Mariah’s 2005 track “It’s Like That.”

Available in original, white chocolate and salted caramel, the liqueurs are 17% ABV, and made by blending “aged Irish whiskey and superior dairy sourced from Irish farms.”

According to Food & Wine magazine, Mariah dubbed her liqueur Black Irish as a “a playful nod to her Black and Irish lineage.” Her mom is of Irish descent, while her late father was Black and Venezuelan.

Food & Wine quotes Mariah saying in a statement: “I have been putting my heart into this project for almost two years and I am so excited to finally share this news with you all. I wanted to create something that embodies the holidays and gives everyone a reason to celebrate year-round, and I really think we have done that with Black Irish.”

Black Irish is now available online. And should you ever get so drunk that you forget whose product it is, the bottlecaps are emblazoned with an “MC” as well as Mariah’s signature butterfly.

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Not-so-happy little trees: Netflix goes behind the canvas with ‘Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed’

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Netflix has just released an eerie teaser for its anticipated documentary Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed, about the rise of late, legendary soft-spoken painter Bob Ross.

According to the streaming service, this “shockingly untold story” examines the life of the prolific landscape artist and The Joy of Painting host, whose “kind and gentle demeanor…encouraged everyone he met to embrace their creativity and believe in themselves, becoming a cultural phenomenon along the way.”

However, Netflix teases, “Beyond the iconic hair, soothing voice and nostalgic paintings lies a mystery that many have yet to discover.”

The teaser is no less mysterious: “We want to show you the trailer,” a title card reads as off-putting xylophone music tinkles in the background, “but we can’t.”

“Find out why on August 25,” it concludes.

Melissa McCarthy and her husband and producing partner Ben Falcone co-produced the film, which was directed by Joshua Rofé, who also called the shots on the documentaries Lorena and Sasquatch.

Lorde premieres third ‘Solar Power’ song, “Mood Ring”

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lorde has released a third advance song from her much-anticipated upcoming album, Solar Power.

The latest cut is titled “Mood Ring,” and is available now for digital download and via streaming. The acoustic-driven jam follows the lead single title track and the song “Stoned at the Nail Salon.”

“This is a song I am very excited about, it’s so much fun to me,” Lorde says of “Mood Ring.” “Obviously when making this album I did a deep-dive into ’60s, Flower Child culture. I wanted to understand the commune life, dropping out from society and trying to start again. That really resonated to me when writing this album.”

Fittingly, “Mood Ring” is accompanied by a video that finds Lorde in a hippie-commune setting.

“One thing that occurred to me as a major parallel between that time and our time is our wellness culture and our culture of spirituality, pseudo-spirituality, wellness, pseudo-wellness,” Lorde explains. “Things like eating a macro-biotic vegan diet or burning sage, keeping crystals, reading tarot cards or your horoscope.”

She continues, “These were all things that they were dabbling in back then, and that me and my girlfriends are dabbling in today. I was like, ‘I think there’s a pop song in here.’ So this is kind of my extremely satirical look at all of those vibes.”

Solar Power the album arrives this Friday, August 20.

In other news, Lorde will be joining The Late Late Show with James Corden for a week-long residency starting August 23.

Food stamp benefits get permanent boost thanks to Biden administration

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Millions of Americans who struggle to get food on the table will soon receive new assistance thanks to a historic increase in funding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a reevaluation to its Thrifty Food Plan, marking the first major update in over 45 years to reflect current cost realities for low-income families.

The plan estimates the price of a budget-conscious diet for a family of four and calculates the average need for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits. The recalculations to the program, formerly referred to as food stamps, will go into effect Oct. 1. Each qualified recipient, on average, will see a rise from $121 to $157 per month.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called the modernized plan “an investment in our nation’s health, economy, and security” that will better provide healthy food to low-income families.

“Ensuring low-income families have access to a healthy diet helps prevent disease, supports children in the classroom, reduces health care costs,” he said. “The additional money families will spend on groceries helps grow the food economy, creating thousands of new jobs along the way.”

The historic increase approved by President Joe Biden’s administration will help food aid rise by more than 25% from pre-pandemic levels for all 42 million program beneficiaries.

According to the Agriculture Department, the retooled plan’s average monthly benefits, which were $121 per person per month before the pandemic, will rise by $36.24 under the new rules.

“The reevaluation concluded that the cost of a nutritious, practical, cost effective diet is 21% higher” than the current plan, according to the Agriculture Department.

This boost comes on the cusp of emergency SNAP benefits that are set to expire at the end of September. They were first put into place as a pandemic protection measure as part of the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion relief bill signed in March.

The USDA called SNAP “the most far-reaching, powerful tool available to ensure that all Americans, regardless of background, can afford healthy food.”

The program helps to feed 1 in 8 Americans each month with evidence showing that SNAP increases food security, including among households with children who have been disproportionately impacted by hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check out the new trailer for the anime anthology series ‘Star Wars: Visions’

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lucasfilm has debuted the first trailer for its animated anthology series Star Wars: Visions, and also has revealed the star-studded voice cast for the series.

The anthology tapped seven of Japan’s leading anime studios to put a unique spin on Star Wars tales — fitting, considering that legendary director Akira Kurosawa‘s films were a major inspiration for George Lucas, and remain so for The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau and its executive producer and anime artist Dave Filoni.

The anthology will feature voices dubbed both in English and Japanese, and both versions will be available on Disney+ starting on September 22.

The cast for the English-language episodes feature the voice talents of stars including Lucy Liu, Star Trek‘s George Takei, and Stranger Things‘ and Black Widow‘s David Harbour, as well as Neil Patrick Harris, Alison Brie and Temuera Morrison, the latter reprising his role as Boba Fett, which he played in two Star Wars movies and The Mandalorian.

The cast, character and title information for each of the nine installments has also been revealed:

“The Duel” — Brian Tee (Ronin), Lucy Liu (Bandit Leader), Jaden Waldman (Village Chief)

“Tatooine Rhapsody” — Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jay), Bobby Moynihan (Geezer), Temuera Morrison (Boba Fett), Shelby Young (K-344), Marc Thompson (Lan)

“The Twins” — Neil Patrick Harris (Karre), Alison Brie (Am), Jonathan Lipow (B-20N)

“The Village Bride” — Karen Fukuhara (F), Nichole Sakura (Haru), Christopher Sean (Asu), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Valco), Andrew Kishino (Izuma), Stephanie Sheh (Saku)

“The Ninth Jedi” — Kimiko Glenn (Kara), Andrew Kishino (Juro), Simu Liu (Zhima), Masi Oka (Ethan), Greg Chun (Roden), Neil Kaplan (Narrator), Michael Sinterniklaas (Hen Jin)

“T0-B1” — Jaden Waldman (T0-B1), Kyle Chandler (Mitaka)

“The Elder” — David Harbour (Tajin), Jordan Fisher (Dan), James Hong (The Elder)

“Lop & Ocho” — Anna Cathcart (Lop), Hiromi Dames (Ocho), Paul Nakauchi (Yasaburo), Kyle McCarley (Imperial Officer)

“Akakiri” — Henry Golding (Tsubaki), Jamie Chung (Misa), George Takei (Senshuu), Keone Young (Kamahachi), Lorraine Toussaint (Masago)

Lucasfilm is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Marvel Studios announces sneak fan screenings of ‘Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings’ in IMAX

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

If you just can’t wait for the September 3rd debut of Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, you’re in luck: On Wednesday night, it will play in dozens of IMAX theaters.

The special fan screenings will be held in 25 markets across the U.S. and Canada at 7 p.m., and will feature a special onscreen welcome from its titular lead, Simu Liu, and his co-star, Awkwafina.

For ticket info, check out gofobo.com.

In the film, Liu plays Shang-Chi, who is forced to confront his past and his destiny, which pits him against the mysterious, mystical organization the Ten Rings, first referenced back in the first MCU film, 2008’s Iron Man.

Shang-Chi features a predominantly Asian cast, including legendary performers like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 vet Michelle Yeoh, Avengers and Doctor Strange star Benedict Wong, Tony Leung, Fala Chen, and Ronny Chieng.

Here’s a list of theaters and locations that will host the fan screenings:

Atlantic Station Stadium 18 & IMAX – Atlanta, GA
Showcase Randolph 16 with IMAX – Randolph, MA
City North Stadium 14 & RPX – Chicago, IL
Cinemark 17 + IMAX – Dallas, TX
AMC Westminster 24 with IMAX – Westminster, CO
Houston Marqe Stadium 22 + IMAX – Houston, TX
AMC Indianapolis 17 with IMAX – Indianapolis, IN
AMC Barrywoods 24 with IMAX – Kansas City, MO
TCL Chinese Theatre + IMAX – Hollywood, CA
Irvine Spectrum 21 + IMAX & RPX – Irvine, CA
CMX Dolphin 24 – Miami, FL
AMC Rosedale 14 with IMAX – Roseville MN
AMC Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX – New York, NY
Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 + IMAX – Orlando, FL
AMC Neshaminy 24 with IMAX – Bensalem, PA
Arizona Mills 25 with IMAX -Tempe, AZ
Megaplex Theatres @ Geneva + IMAX – Vineyard, UT
Palladium 19 IMAX + AVX – San Antonio, TX
AMC Mission Valley 20 with IMAX – San Diego, CA
AMC Metreon 16 with IMAX – San Francisco, CA
AMC Saratoga 14 with IMAX -San Jose, CA
AMC Alderwood 16 with IMAX – Lynnwood, WA
Marcus Ronnie’s 20 Cine + IMAX – Saint Louis, MO
AMC Tysons Corner 16 with IMAX – McLean, VA
Scotiabank – 14 IMAX – Toronto, ON

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Live Nation to require proof of vaccination or negative COVID test for concertgoers

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.) — Live Nation recently announced that proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required for entry to any Live Nation owned and operated venue or festival in the U.S. this fall.

The company, which promotes, operates and manages ticket sales for live entertainment in the U.S. and around the world, said enforcement begins Oct. 4. This mandate will be applied to both concertgoers and musical acts were permitted by law.

Live Nation said best practices have also been developed for artists to request these policies at third-party venues.

“Vaccines are going to be your ticket back to shows, and as of October 4th we will be following the model we developed for Lollapalooza and requiring this for artists, fans and employees at Live Nation venues and festivals everywhere possible in the U.S.,” Live Nation Entertainment president and CEO Michael Rapino said in a statement.

The company also is mandating employees be vaccinated by Oct. 4.

This news comes after AEG, another leader in concerts and live events, announced last week proof of vaccination will be required for entry into its owned and operated clubs, theaters and festivals as of Oct. 1 where permitted by law.

While AEG makes no mention of negative COVID-19 tests being accepted in lieu of proof of vaccination, Live Nation’s policy is similar to how Broadway is approaching the situation as the country grapples with the delta variant surge.

Naomi Osaka teams up with Levi’s to release stylish upcycled denim collection

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Naomi Osaka and Levi’s have teamed up for an amazing denim launch that looks like it’s going to be a grand slam.

The tennis star and fashion brand announced the upcoming line on Tuesday, and it’s set to officially drop on Aug. 24.

The Levi’s x Naomi Osaka collection features reused, upcycled denim that includes everything from a kimono to a bustier, and is a unique mashup of sporty meets feminine pieces with subtle nods to Osaka’s Japanese heritage.

“I always loved wearing kimonos when I was a kid,” said Naomi in a statement. “So, to be able to do it in denim felt really different and a bit unexpected.”

The collection also has two denim short styles that are both made from an upcycled pair of men’s Levi’s jeans. One of the two is the lace-up short that has a sporty, raw hem that sits right above the knee and cool lace-up back detailing.

The other style features a fun vintage look that includes a short, raw hem along with draped crystal fringe.

One of the most standout pieces from the line is the trucker jacket bustier that also has a lace-up back similar to the shorts. The material is derived from repurposed Levi’s trucker jackets and has stylish flap pockets and shank buttons.

“I liked the idea of the bustier while I was sketching it,” said Osaka in a statement. “But I love it even more now that it’s been brought to life.”

She added, “It’s so cute!”

Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, ambassador for social change and mental health advocate. She also has a passion for fashion that’s translated through several other collaborations with brands such as Frankies Bikinis, Nike, Louis Vuitton and several others.

In addition to fashion, she teamed up with chain salad restaurant Sweetgreen as the company’s first athlete ambassador and youngest investor.

Volbeat notches ninth number-one ‘Billboard’ single with “Wait a Minute My Girl”

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Volbeat didn’t need to “Wait” very long to grab another number-one single.

The band’s new track, “Wait a Minute My Girl,” has hit number one on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. It arrives at the top spot on the ranking just two months after it premiered in June.

“Wait a Minute My Girl” is Volbeat’s ninth number-one Mainstream Rock Airplay hit, which ties the Danish rockers with Aerosmith in sixth for all-time charters. Shinedown has the most leaders in the chart’s 40-year history, with 16.

Volbeat will launch a U.S. tour September 24 in Atlanta.

Travis Denning says he’s “so grateful” to return to live shows

August 17, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Travis Denning is returning to the road with a renewed perspective.

As he jets across the U.S. as an opening act on Brothers Osborne‘s We’re Not For Everyone Tour, the “After a Few” singer says that he has a newfound appreciation for live shows and life on the road.

“I’m just so grateful. It’s like a totally different perspective. I try to take every opportunity now to go do things on the road, versus maybe there were days I woke up and just sat on the bus and did nothing,” Travis explains to People. “I remember the reason I love to do it is because I get to travel and do things.”

Travis also says he’s noticing a difference in the crowd, as more people seem to be in the moment and less occupied with capturing the show on their phones.

“They’re really living in the moment. I think you can just see people who missed it so much. What’s cool is everybody on stage missed it, too, so where there used to be a little bit of a wall between the audience and us, it feels more like a celebration of returning to this thing that we love,” he continues. “It’s been really amazing to experience that with people and just feel like we’re right there together. It’s almost like we’re not even on the stage.”

Travis dropped his new EP, Dirt Road Dawn, earlier this month as his current single, “ABBY,” climbs the charts.

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