A 2021 Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Gift Guide

A 2021 Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Gift Guide

Let Mom & Dad Know How You Feel

Every year it seems like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day creep up on us faster and faster. Which weekend do the days fall under this year? Well, Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 9th, while Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 20th. There’s still plenty of time to get those gifts, and if you’re looking for some help in deciding what’s best for your fam, you’re in the right place!

Our Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Gift Guide for 2021 will highlight all the things that your parents are bound to love, and even a few that may be questionable. Who knows? You might find their new favorite drink! Whether you play it safe, or take a chance, let them know how you feel with a special surprise!

Food & Drink

Dahlia

If you’ve ever heard your parents exclaim that you would someday “drive them to drinking,” why not give them a little help?

Dahlia launched in February with its sights set on a new wave of tequila aficionados — offering an enchanting, modern and masterful Cristalino expression that can be sipped or mixed, day or night. In this 100% Blue Weber Agave Reposado Tequila, each drop is filtered through charcoal for purity and balance. The end result is a smooth, clean, true transformation of agave into art that straddles time by honoring the past.

Cann

Okay, so maybe helping drive your parents to drinking alcohol is a bit much — and who wants to see their parents get sloppy drunk, anyway? Well, what if the alcohol was replaced by cannabis? Yup. Imagine mellow mom and dandy dad — with the best part: no hangovers!
 
With 3 classic flavors and 3 relatively new refreshers, Cann is both light in calories, and in additives. Each Cann has a fast onset for a light buzz, and gets packed with flavor.

Poppi

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is known for a ton of health-boosting properties, but who ever thought about sneaking it into a soda? A carbonated beverage that’s good for your gut is too good to be true, right? Wrong.

Poppi is the replacement to your parents’ old-fashioned sodas — complete with all their favorite flavors! Welcome to the 21st century, mom & dad. Poppi, low on sugar (5g or less) and calories (20 or less), is good for you due to being packed with probiotics and big on flavor (which isn’t ACV flavor).

The Chef & The Dish

What’s a parent who can’t cook? Time for them to learn! Help your parents liven up their meal options with The Chef & The Dish. The Chef & The Dish features a chef from around the world, hosting a monhtly cooking class to bring together food lovers to cook, connect and educate over a delicious traditional dish, in their Wednesday night Supper Club classes!
 
If you’re not quite sold, check out tthe upcoming schedule, which makes a perfect excuse to spoil mom and/or dad early:
  • Wednesday April 28th-  Empanadas with Chef Lucia from Peru 6-8 PM EST 

  • Wednesday May 5th – NOLA BBQ Shrimp With Chef Gaston from Louisiana 6-8 PM EST 

  • Wednesday May 12th – Mastering Risotto with Chef Carlotta from  Italy with her mom 6-8 PM 

Who would pass up the convenient opportunity to randomly drop by for risotto!?

Beauty & Health

Underlining

Eyebrows, cosmetics, skincare, and nails are Underlining’s specialty, and everyone wants to look their best these days. Underlining is one of the most innovative beauty companies out there, featuring top brands like TatBrow, Hide, and Nailboo. The best part is that each of these brands are holding their very own Mother’s Day sales right now!
 

Dr. Squatch

Dads and dudes everywhere have at some point struggled to find a deodorant they like — that actually works. Dr. Squatch has somehow found the perfect formula for long lasting freshness, refreshingly natural scents, and an aluminum-free product!

In addition to deodorants, Dr. Squatch has a line of amazing shampoos and natural soaps to complete a B.O. squashing trifecta that not even Big Foot himself could go up against. 

 

Ritual

You want the best for your parents and their health. If they aren’t already taking supplements, Ritual is quite possibly the one they didn’t know they needed.

With traceable nutrients, a vegan-friendly profile, and no artificial colorants or synthetic fillers, Ritual give men and women the best in what they need based on their age range and most likely nutrient gaps. Couple that with a minty taste, and Ritual is definitely an easy pill to swallow.

Fashion and More…

Chérie

Imagine jewelry for mom, made to order. Chérie has you covered, so that bracelet means more than just something picked out at a store counter. What helps Chérie stand out from other jewelers is that this brand is Direct to Consumer — cutting out the middleman — and keeping your costs low. Check out some highlights and favorite pieces below:

  • Diamond Circular Ring – $810
  • Double Diamond Loop Earring w/ Detachable Bottom Hoops – $2100
  • *Spiral Pendant Necklace – $1100
  • *Spiral Diamond Earrings – $600

(*):Great as a set!

All33

This as-seen-on-Shark-Tank item boasts incredible benefits for (aging) spines like those of the mom and dad in your life. Jokes aside, we really should all do more to watch our posture and take care of our backs.

All33 created the perfect office chair for back pain, preventing the user from slouching, effectively moving all 33 vertebrae within the spine.

Flare

Do you ever wish you could be a super hero and watch over your mom when she’s alone in public? Thanks to Flare, this is more of a reality than ever before. Flare is a discreet, “invisible bodyguard” that can initiate pre-recorded incoming calls for exit cues, call 9-1-1, and alert friends and family when in danger. The bracelet connects to the Flare smartphone app via bluetooth simple operation.

Stylish and functional, Flare has saved lives, and helped women get out of unsafe and uncomfortable situations before they escalate. For everyone who worries about their mom, Flare is here to help save the day.

Where to Watch (Oscar-nominated Movies)

Where to Watch (Oscar-nominated Movies)

Ready, Set, Go: Don’t lose the Oscar party competition because you haven’t seen all the films. Here is an inclusive guide as to where to watch the winners

this weekend:

Best Picture:

“Judas and the Black Messiah” — in theaters (no longer on HBO Max); VOD release TBA

“Mank” — stream via Netflix

“Minari” — in theaters; stream on VOD

“Nomadland” — in theaters; stream via Hulu

“Promising Young Woman” — in theaters; stream on VOD

“Sound of Metal” — stream via Amazon Prime

“The Father” — in theaters; VOD starting March 26

“The Trial of the Chicago 7” — stream via Netflix

 

Best Animated Feature Film: 

“Onward” — stream via Disney Plus

“Over the Moon” — stream via Netflix

“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” — stream via Netflix

“Soul” — stream via Disney Plus

“Wolfwalkers” — stream via Apple TV Plus

Best Documentary Feature: 

 “Collective” — stream on VOD

“Crip Camp” — stream via Netflix

“The Mole Agent” — stream via Hulu

“My Octopus Teacher” — stream via Netflix

“Time” — stream via Amazon Prime

Best International Feature Film:

“Another Round” (Denmark) — stream via Hulu

“Better Days” (Hong Kong) — stream on VOD

“Collective” (Romania) — stream on VOD

“The Man Who Sold His Skin” (Tunisia) — TBA

“Quo Vadis, Aida?” (Bosnia and Herzegovina) — stream on VOD

Best Animated Short Film:

“Burrow” — stream via Disney Plus

“Genius Loci” — stream via Vimeo

“If Anything Happens I Love You” — stream via Netflix

“Opera” — TBA

“Yes-People” — stream via Vimeo

Best Documentary Short Subject:

“Colette” — stream via YouTube

“A Concerto Is a Conversation” — stream via YouTube

“Do Not Split” — stream via YouTube

“Hunger Ward” — stream via Pluto TV

“A Love Song for Latasha” — stream via Netflix

Best Live-Action Short Film:

“Feeling Through” — stream online

“The Letter Room” — stream via Vimeo

“The Present” — stream via Netflix

“Two Distant Strangers” — TBA

“White Eye” — TBA

Additional Feature Film Contenders:

“Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm” (Best Supporting Actress; Adapted Screenplay) — stream via Amazon Prime

“Da 5 Bloods” (Best Score) — stream via Netflix

“Emma” (Best Costume Design; Makeup and Hairstyling) — stream via HBO Max

“Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” (Best Song) — stream via Netflix

“Greyhound” (Best Sound) — stream via Apple TV Plus

“Hillbilly Elegy” (Best Supporting Actress; Makeup and Hairstyling) — stream via Netflix

“Love and Monsters” (Best Visual Effects) — stream on VOD

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (Best Actor; Best Actress; Production Design; Costume Design; Makeup and Hairstyling) — stream via Netflix

“Mulan” (Best Visual Effects; Costume Design) — stream via Disney Plus

“News of the World” (Best Production Design; Cinematography; Sound; Score) — stream on VOD

“One Night in Miami” (Best Supporting Actor; Adapted Screenplay; Song) — stream via Amazon Prime

“Pieces of a Woman” (Best Actress) — stream via Netflix

“Pinocchio” (Best Costume Design; Makeup and Hairstyling) — stream on VOD

“Tenet” (Best Production Design; Visual Effects) — stream on VOD

“The Life Ahead” (Best Song) — stream via Netflix

“The Midnight Sky” (Best Visual Effects) — stream via Netflix

“The One and Only Ivan” (Best Visual Effects) — stream via Disney Plus

“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (Best Actress) — stream via Hulu

“The White Tiger” (Best Adapted Screenplay) — stream via Netflix

Open Now: U Street Pizza in Pasadena

Open Now: U Street Pizza in Pasadena

 

Marie Petulla, co-owner and visionary behind Pasadena’s beloved and award-winning Northern Italian restaurant UNION, Grand Central Market’s Knead & Co Pasta + Market and Red Jungle is excited to announce the opening of U Street Pizza. This chef-driven, casual neighborhood pizza joint, featuring New York- style pizza made with high-quality, market-driven ingredients from California, is located in Old Town Pasadena and opened its doors on Wednesday, April 14th for dine-in, pick-up and delivery. 

Led by Executive Chef Chris Keyser – currently UNION’s executive chef and a protégé of Philly’s Marc Vetri – the New York-style pizza at U Street Pizza is an homage to the pies Keyser grew up with in upstate New York, but with a distinctly LA spin. This translates into a hyper-specific pie where the dough is fermented for over two days and made from a blend of artisanal wheat from Washington and Vermont, layered with CA-grown tomatoes, topped with produce from a veritable “who’s who” of local farms (like Girl & Dug and Wieser farms), and finished with 18-month aged Fiscalini cheddar used in lieu of traditional parmesan — all cooked in an impressive electric deck oven, resulting in the quintessential super crispy, chewy crust.

The pizzas are centered around classic, nostalgic pies from red versions like the housemade fennel sausage with Italian long hot peppers, bell peppers + fior di latte mozzarella and Petaluma pie with Petaluma organic mozzarella, grandma sauce, Fiscalini cheddar and California olive oil; to white pies like the little neck clams with garlic, Fiscalini cheddar, lemon zest, parsley + mozzarella; and with square pies coming soon.

Rounding out the menu are rotating seasonal salads like an red salanova, Weiser Farms baby squash, muscatel ranch and basil breadcrumbs, alongside their rendition of the requisite Caesar and chopped salads. In addition, guests can look forward to their arancini of the day (think saffron risotto and pork ragu), and sides like Japanese eggplant with Calabrian chili agrodolce, Spanish onion and basil. Chef Keyser and team will be spinning fresh soft serve and swirling in seasonal fruit in addition to housemade zeppole, risotto rice pudding and more.

U Street Pizza is aptly referred to as UNION’s “little brother”, as it’s located next door to UNION and shares a strong team that Petulla has curated over the years comprised of longtime beverage director and operators, David Castagnetti and Francis Castagnetti, and newcomer Logan Bates (Jon + Vinny’s) who completes the stellar front of house team. 

In the walls that originally housed a Cuban choreographer’s dance studio, interior designer Andee Ferrer has reimagined the space to evoke a classic New York slice joint vibe, but with a modern, spunky touch. To strike that perfect balance of old and new they retained the original stained glass along with exposed brick walls and added glossy, glazed white subway tiles, copper light fixtures, and an impressive white terrazzo bar. The aforementioned electric deck oven anchors the space and allows guests to watch Chef Keyser and the team work their pizza magic.  A custom, hand-painted mural by a local artist Eric Junker and neon art complete the space giving it a new voice within a familiar context. Additionally, the dining room and open kitchen is adjoined to a forthcoming event space with a private bar.

Ideal for families, pizza connoisseurs, and everyone in between, U Street Pizza will be open daily from 4-10pm for indoor and outdoor dining, pick-up, and delivery. Even more, they will open for lunch with beer, wine, and cocktails coming soon.

U Street Pizza is located at 33 E Union Street in Pasadena and is open seven days a week from 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. More information can be found at ustreetpizza.com or @ustreetpizza.

 

Catch It While You Can…

Catch It While You Can…

The drive to the Griffith Observatory is always a fun-filled drive. It is where Vermont Avenue meets the hills as one passes the rich homes of Los Feliz, the open spaces where the coyotes roam, the Greek Theater and up the hill to the Observatory. On a recent Friday night, the drive was interrupted by the twinkling of lights on the left—and a parking lot full of parked cars! Turns out, it was The Cinespia Drive-In at The Greek Theatre, a drive-in movie presentation in Griffith Park.

Make it an “Only In LA” event (an event that is popular but you need to be on some very hip list to know about it), but it looks like great fun. On April 17, the film Hairspray will be played against the backdrop of foliage and landscape. Here’s what we know:

Sat, April 17, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT  Doors at 6:30 PM It is $45 per car.

Limit 4 customers per car.

Patrons must remain in their car, masks must be worn when using restroom.

Bring food and drink, no alcohol permitted. (ah huh)

Occupants of your car must be members of your household.

Field Trip Health Opens Doors in Los Angeles + Q&A

Field Trip Health Opens Doors in Los Angeles + Q&A

2020 was a lot on our brains. Life can also be a lot on our brains. How do we cope with all of the trauma, anxiety, and baggage so that we’re not weighed down? A few options may have come to mind, but it’s unlikely that you’ve ever thought about anything like this!

Introducing Field Trip Health, the groundbreaking company redefining mental well-being and consciousness through psychedelic-enhanced psychotherapy, recently opened its doors to Los Angelenos. We’re excited to share the news of Field Trip Health’s Los Angeles clinic opening, and highlight the revolutionary work FTH is doing to revolutionize mental health treatments using psychedelic-enhanced psycho-therapy.

Super exciting for frequent travelers — Field Trip Health now has Clinics opened in Toronto, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Houston, so far, with a clinic coming to Amsterdam soon! At the FTH clinics, legally administered psychedelic-enhanced therapy, mindfulness, and self-care are blended with a series of sessions with trained psychotherapists. Field Trip Health takes a step-by-step, medically-supervised, integrated approach using ketamine-enhanced psychotherapy to help people heal from tough-to-beat mental conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma.

 

Field Trip’s forward-thinking and progressive therapy methods are revolutionizing the health-care industry as we know it, with the continuing embrace of psychedelics leading to a mental health revolution.

And, while you may imagine a clinic to be sterile, the clinic space is intentionally designed to promote the healing journey — clean, quiet, and alive with light + plant life, reimagined to replicate a nature-inspired oasis of peace.

 

A Q&A With founder Ronan Levy

Ronan Levy at Mastermind Talks 2014 in Toronto, Ontario. ©2014 Mark Adams www.MarkAdamsPhoto.com

Q: There’s therapy, and then there’s psychedelic-enhanced psychotherapy. How did you discover all that this alternative approach to mental health had to offer?

RDL: My journey to psychedelic enhanced therapies started about 15 years ago when I started work with meditation and metaphysics as part of my personal growth journey. (I was in the process of a breakup so sought support to help through that process.) But my interest in psychedelics was really piqued when I read Tibetan Peach Pie by Tom Robbins, in which he described his first psychedelic experience in the 1960s in a psychologist’s office. This opened my mind to the expansive potential of psychedelics. Fast forward a few years and my work within medical cannabis showed me just how therapeutic plant medicines can be. The combination led to the birth of Field Trip.

Q: Drugs typically make people feel good, right? What was the mindset you had when you decided that psychedelics were the way to go in helping treat mental health issues? Did you think it would be taken seriously from the start?

RDL: Drugs, when used therapeutically, can act as a filter that helps people tap into different levels of awareness. This is true about certain pharmaceuticals as well as plant-based medicines. I remember the moment when we decided to lean into psychedelics. It was electric. Everything in me knew that it was not only an incredible entrepreneurial opportunity, but also an incredible opportunity to create global scale impact. I had no concerns about being taken seriously — the objective data and evidence speaks for itself.

Q: Could you describe one of your favorite success stories?

RDL: I can’t speak to individual experiences out of respect for privacy, but we’ve seen incredible results both objectively and subjectively. Objectively, people’s depression and anxiety scores drop markedly and for an extended period after a journey with Field Trip. Subjectively, we’ve had survivors of sexual trauma report being able to see themselves as beautiful for the first time that they could remember, military veterans saying they’ve felt empathy for the first time in years. Powerful, beautiful stories of just how transformative these experiences can be.

Q: Based on the photos, it’s clear that FTH wants visitors to feel comforted from the moment they first step foot inside. What can visitors expect the process to be like upon their first visit?

RDL: Yes, we’ve designed all of our Field Trip Health locations to be bright, warm and inviting. The evidence indicates that set and setting (the preparation as well as the physical location) play an important role in the therapeutic outcomes so we’ve leaned into that very thoughtfully in the design of our locations. Similarly, we want people to feel safe, comfortable and supported every step along the way, from the initial assessments (to make sure psychedelic assisted therapy is appropriate for you), to meeting your therapeutic team, to all the information and tools you are provided with throughout the journey.

Q: Can you share a bit about why you chose LA as a location for one of your clinics and the main reasons that LA patients have for undergoing treatment?

RDL: As persuasive as the data is around psychedelic assisted therapies, we knew that it’s going to take time to challenge old stigmas and ideas around psychedelics. So we focussed on opening our first locations in cosmopolitan centers such as Toronto, New York and LA that have greater influence on social and cultural trends. Also, these cities are generally known for their progressiveness so we anticipated a more receptive audience. In LA, we are seeing people for a wide range of reasons but primarily it’s people dealing with the anxieties of a fast-paced life, as well as depression.

Q: What were some of the challenges you faced while creating FTH, and how did you overcome them?

RDL: Truthfully, as far as startups goes, launching Field Trip has gone as elegantly as we could imagine. For those who have been touched by psychedelics, there is a palpable desire to see legal access to these therapies and we’ve been able to tune into that momentum.

Q: What do you say to a doubtful reader struggling with mental health conditions to convince them why they should pay FTH a visit?

RDL: Don’t ignore your doubts! All emotions are valid and real and should be considered. But also don’t ignore information and evidence. Seek to be fully informed and I think you’ll find that the reasons that support exploring psychedelic therapies outweigh the risks and reservations. But ultimately the decision is yours to make and we’ll be supportive of you whatever path you choose.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

RDL: For anyone looking to get an understanding of psychedelics or what the process of psychedelic integration looks like, download our app, Trip, from iTunes or Google Play, or find it here www.tripapp.co. You can also learn more about Field Trip Health on our podcast: Field Tripping with Ronan Levy

Website: https://www.fieldtriphealth.com

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/fieldtriphealth/?hl=en

 

Renowned Mexican-American Duo Launch New Cristalino Tequila, Dahlia

Renowned Mexican-American Duo Launch New Cristalino Tequila, Dahlia


The Mexican-American entrepreneurial duo behind the largest independent mezcal brand in the country, El Silencio, has  just added a new, bright and seductive Cristalino Tequila, to their portfolio: Dahlia!

 

Dahlia launched in February with it’s sights set on a new wave of tequila aficionados, offering an enchanting, modern and masterful Cristalino expression that can be sipped or mixed, day or night. A 100% Blue Weber Agave Reposado Tequila, each drop is filtered through charcoal for purity and balance. The end result is a smooth, clean, true transformation of agave into art that straddles time by honoring the past.

 

Made in Jalisco, Dahlia is the vision of Fausto Zapata and Vicente Cisneros — the Mexican-American entrepreneurs behind the largest independent Mezcal Brands in the World — known as El Silencio. As is the case with their award-winning mezcal, there is no famous face of the brand – the star of this show is in the bottle. Packaged in a captivating glass vessel reminiscent of a classic perfume bottle, Dahlia is created for the new wave of tequila aficionados as an enchanting Cristalino Tequila that can be sipped or mixed, day or night. Dahlia is available nationwide at here at a retail price of $39.99.
 

About El Silencio

El Silencio has revived the ancient art of artisanal mezcal, pioneering a unique approach and delivering the hand-crafted spirit to a new generation of creative drinkers and cultural innovators. El Silencio is made in Oaxaca, Mexico using the traditional process carried on by generations of Mezcaleros. Meticulously picked agaves are roasted, crushed and double distilled resulting in a full-bodied flavor. El Silencio goes beyond the bottle, transforming the ordinary and disrupting the status quo.
 

About The Founders

Co-Founder and CEO, Fausto Zapata’s affinity for Mezcal, along with the creative inspiration that came from both his love of craft spirits and a deep passion for the storied state of Oaxaca, drove him — along with his business partner Vicente Cisneros — to launch Mezcal El Silencio in September of 2013. Since then, Silencio has become the leading premium artisanal Mezcal and a focal point in the spirits industry currently being served in establishments across the Country.

 

Prior to Mezcal El Silencio, Mr. Zapata was a private real estate developer and investor with projects in both Los Angeles and Mexico. A serial entrepreneur at heart, Mr. Zapata has helped launch more than a half-dozen companies, many in the food and beverage industry, but also in financial services, media and technology.

Through Mr. Zapata’s leadership, Silencio has been a strong supporter of The Chase Foundation, LAPD’s Hollenbeck PAL, LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade, #PorOaxaca and Keep the Memory Alive, among other charities. A Mexico City native, Mr. Zapata resides in Pacific Palisades with his two children, Alexia and Adriano. In his spare time you’ll usually find him skydiving, rock-climbing, skiing, or trail running on the Santa Monica canyons, all of which are usually followed by a glass of Mezcal El Silencio on the rocks.

President and CMO, Vicente Cisneros, has been the creative force behind the explosive brand Mezcal El Silencio since the spark of its conception over seven years ago. Throughout the company’s thrilling journey, he has led the emergence of product design, aesthetic development, and marketing implementation strategies. He is responsible for taking a unique product and expanding it into impactful images that deliver a distinctly provocative, mystical and cutting-edge experience.

With over twenty years of expertise under his belt, Vicente has directed the company’s creative output by developing a unique in-house digital marketing machine. This powerhouse of content creation and production remains in constant pursuit of cultural innovation and imaginative evolution, creating an unmistakable image for a quality product that promises elevated design to consumers. Establishing a clear brand identity has been fundamental to his work and vision for the company.

 

Ultimate Ears & Westbrook Media Announce Partnership

Ultimate Ears & Westbrook Media Announce Partnership

Ultimate Ears (from Logitech) and Westbrook Media (Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s digital content studio) have announced a year-long partnership to celebrate creativity and technology.

The collaboration will leverage Westbrook Media’s creator-driven, innovative storytelling approach by using short films to bridge traditional entertainment with branded content that puts the product at the center of the story. The first project from this partnership will feature Jaden and Willow Smith and focus on the recently launched UE FITS, the world’s first truly wireless earphones with instant custom-fit.

Logitech has made strides in honoring creators this year and, most recently, the brand partnered with TikTok by reimagining the award show experience with its first-ever Logitech Song Breaker Awards, celebrating top creators who changed the face of music in 2020. Ahead of his exclusive performance at the awards, 24KGoldn tried on a pair UE FITS himself.

About Ultimate Ears

Ultimate Ears redefined wireless earphones by recognizing that each person’s ear is unique, and consumers should not have to conform to standard tip sizes of small, medium and large. With Lightform technology, UE FITS mold to fit each person’s ears in under 60 seconds to deliver all-day comfort and an exceptional audio experience. This creative collaboration between Ultimate Ears and Westbrook Media shares this same spirit of innovation and inclusivity.

In addition to the UE FITS campaign, Ultimate Ears will also be participating in Creator Days with Westbrook, where it links talent with digital native creators to produce original social content.

https://www.ultimateears.com/en-us