by Niki Smart | May 28, 2021
The statistics for chronic illness worldwide are going through the roof. Degenerative diseases are cropping up in younger and younger people and, at this point, nearly half of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease. On top of this, Covid-19 emerged and has us all thinking about our health. Now we all want to know how to boost our immune systems and get healthy. The problem is that the primary degenerative diseases are directly connected to malnutrition and toxins we take in by eating toxic foods, drinking toxic water and breathing toxic air. We released 84,000 synthetic new chemicals into the air in 2020 alone, and we’ve depleted our soil of vital microbes, bacteria and fungi by spraying chemicals and over farming. Okay, so now that we’ve contaminated our earth and our bodies are suffering, are we screwed? Sounds grim, doesn’t it
Well, here’s something you should know—actually everyone needs to know this: chronic disease can be reversed by eating the right food. Plus, your immune system gets a big boost when you eat the right food. Well, what is the right food?
The answers are discussed in the documentary, “Farmacy of Light”— A Quantum Leap in Healing. This film, by Ryan Wirick, is his follow up to the popular documentary “Need to Grow”. Farmacy of Light follows Erik Cutter as he introduces us to his high performance urban farm company, Alergria Farm and teaches us about regenerative soil and how incredibly important that is for not only our health, but for the health of our planet. The optimized soil biology results in superior nutrient dense vegetables, salad greens, fruit, flowers and medicinal herbs.
Erik Cutter, who has over 35 years experience growing food using natural, nutrient-dense techniques and is a leading pioneer in developing the use of hybrid food production technologies says it perfectly:
“We have to stop fighting nature and start working with her…and learn her.”
Luckily, I’m fortunate enough to know Erik personally, and when he offered to make me dinner, I jumped at the opportunity. Why? Because I know that at Erik’s house everything he serves is pure health. And true to form, Erik had a bowl full of freshly picked, nutritious “amazingness” standing ready when I arrived. The “amazingness” is a salad that includes Romaine lettuce, Fennel, Avocado, Yellow and Orange Calendula, Nasturtium, Lemon and more, all grown at Alergria Farms with regenerated soil and without any chemicals. Erik had also prepared a flower/herb tea blend tea that helps strengthen resilience and protects you from colds, flus and viruses. The freshly harvested ingredients include: Ginger and Turmeric root, ground black pepper, Indian blanket, Yellow and Orange Calendula, Yellow Cosmos, Nasturtium, Oregano, Parsley, Celery, Kale, Red-veined Sorrel, Garlic, Lemon and Lime—basically, an Elixir of Health.
Erik and the team from “Farmacy of Light” are committed to getting the word out that healthy soil equates to healthy plants, and healthy plants equates to healthy humans. Add to this that Climate change is upon us, so developing new urban food production systems to grow profitable urban farms using drought resistant farming techniques is imperative.
Another well respected, forward thinker featured in the Farmacy of Light is Dr. Zach Bush. “Plants are the delivery system for the sunshine,” says Dr. Zach Bush. “It is like eating light. We need the sun. Eating healthy plants is like eating sunlight.”
Indeed, while having my amazing salad at Erik’s home, I felt as if I was eating light and good health. My body was getting all the nutrients and minerals it needed to heal. Don‘t you want that, too?
You can visit Alegria Farm in Irvine at the Great Park, or sign up for a class, or boost your energy and improve your health by eating the cleanest, just-picked greens and vegetables from Alegría Fresh. If you’re not near Irvine, California, then make sure you watch “Farmacy of Light” when it is released in August 2021.
Instagram: @alegriafarms. @theneedtogrow
by Dennis Richardson | May 28, 2021
There are some things that people just flock to in the summer: ice cream, the beach, and iced coffee, for starters. This weekend is the perfect opportunity for the latter! Internet phenomenon, Emma Chamberlain’s coffee brand, Chamberlain Coffee, is taking over Levi’s, Century City (located at 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Unit 235, Los Angeles) this Memorial Day weekend from May 29th – 31st to celebrate the launch of Levi’s secondhand collection.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can stop by Chamberlain Coffee’s pop-up within the Levi store and enjoy an 8-oz hot cup of their special Early Bird blend — also available for purchase! As if that weren’t enough, customers will also have the ability to shop select Chamberlain Coffee merchandise including mugs, reusable straws, and totes. Coffee is great, but matching merch, too? Sign us up!
Chamberlain Coffee’s Pop-Up at Levi’s Century City:
10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Unit 235
Los Angeles, CA, 90067
Hours:
-
Saturday, May 29th: 10 AM – 3 PM
-
Sunday, May 30th: 11 AM – 3 PM
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Monday, May 31st: 11AM – 3 PM
About Chamberlain Coffee:
Chamberlain Coffee is high quality organic fair-trade coffee beans sustainably sourced from around the world and roasted in California, so you can feel good about the coffee you’re sipping on. No pesticides, no BS.
by Contributor | May 26, 2021
The “Crazy Old Lady of Comedy” talks Transitioning and Trailblazing in New Documentary Releasing Nationwide June 1st
By Scott Motisko
They say laughter is the best medicine, and no one may know that better than veteran comedian Julia Scotti, the self-proclaimed “Crazy Old Lady of Comedy”.
Born Rick Scotti, she knew something was not right her whole life, and made the bravest and boldest decision of her life: put a pause on her exemplary stand-up career where she was performing with the likes of Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld, and become the woman she always knew was inside her. Now, the senior trans comedian returns to the stage and tells her story in the new documentary Julia Scotti: Funny That Way, arriving June 1st to kick off Pride Month.
Shot over a period of five years, Julia Scotti: Funny That Way tracks Julia’s triumphant comeback, the rough life on the road, and the complex process of reuniting with her children, as comedy becomes the shared language of identity, healing, and joy.
The directorial debut from Golden-Globe nominee Susan Sandler (Crossing Delancey), Julia Scotti: Funny That Way takes audiences on an entertaining emotional roller coaster in this tender, funny and triumphant comeback story.
The story begins in the comedy boom of the1980’s, where Rick Scotti was a busy guy– a headliner in clubs across the country– when he came to the dawning realization that nothing felt right. At a time when the words gender dysphoria and gender reassignment surgery were rarely heard, Rick’s true awakening at age forty-seven led to a year of hormonal treatments, surgery, and, ultimately a new identity as Julia Scotti.
And then everyone turned away—former wives, friends, family, comedy world buddies, and most painfully Julia was shut out from any contact with her children. She reinvented herself, spent a decade teaching, and then several years ago, stepped back on stage at an open mic and began her journey back to the world she loves. And just as she returned to comedy, her children reached out to her after 15 years of silence.
As Julia says, her comedy always has to be “fearless and honest”, and America can feel both in her performances. Since coming back to comedy in 2011, she has been named one of the Top Five Transgender Comedians in the Country by Advocate Magazine, and has performed at LGBTQ events across the country, and was one of the winners of the Laughlin Laugh Festival in Nevada.
Scotti introduced herself to national audiences on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent. Simon Cowell said that “you genuinely made me laugh”. She was the first transgender comedian to appear on national television and was a quarter-finalist on the show. But she wasn’t done yet. Scotti appeared on the Showtime Television Network Special, “More Funny Women of a Certain Age”, and colleagues have described her as, among other things, “a force of nature”, and “a comedy chainsaw flying through the room”.
Sandler takes the explosively funny and moving Julia away from the stage – prodding at the edges of her private life—revealing a story that is delicate, vulnerable, and real. Julia Scotti: Funny That Way allows audiences to experience an entertaining emotional roller coaster as they journey through this tender, funny and triumphant comeback story.
If laughter truly is the best medicine, we could all use a dose. So, sit back, relax, and have a few laughs to cure all your ills.
JULIA SCOTTI: FUNNY THAT WAY will be available via VOD RELEASE on June 1,2021 and available on: iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Xbox, Vudu, DirecTV, and more! PURCHASE LINK: https://geni.us/JuliaScottiFilm
Press Materials: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0wr8ookxd3uou9y/AADjOf3jtfkihg4dr_83W2RRa?dl=0
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z01ubBhiHD8
See Poster below
by Dennis Richardson | May 26, 2021
The travel bug has spread as the weather heats up, and Travelocity is reporting that family travel is at the top of the wishlist for those who have not roamed since the start of the Pandemic. This summer is forecasted to be the season of family reunions, and as such, Travelocity, the trusted resource for all things family travel and safety, is teaming up with Thrifty Car Rental to take two family reunions on the road with an all-expense paid road trip worth up to $25,000.
From Monday, May 17, 2021 through Monday, May 31, 2021, individuals will have the chance to score the best family reunion around the Lone Star State or American Southwest, and the entry rules are incredibly easy!
On TravelocityxThriftyRoadTrip.com, customers can submit a short essay on why they want to take their family on a road trip of a lifetime to enter the giveaway. Travelocity and Thrifty Car Rental will select two winners, who will receive an email notice in early June. Winners will be able to invite nine family members (10 individuals total) to hop aboard their road trip with a predetermined, curated itinerary, to either central Texas or across southwestern US national parks.
by Kara Reynolds | May 22, 2021
Spring is the perfect time to take advantage of the nice weather and get your whole family outside. Outdoor activities allow you to soak up vitamin D and improve your overall mood. With so much to explore, you and your family can create lifelong memories. Here are 10 activities to do with your family this spring.
1. Go to Legoland
If your kids enjoy playing with legos, this is the perfect place to keep them entertained. It offers amusement park rides and buildings made out of Legos. In 2019, Legoland received over 15 million visitors spread across its eight parks. Consider checking out the Adventures Club attraction, which takes you on a journey through the Amazon rainforest.
2. Wander the Carlsbad Flower Fields
If you enjoy looking at beautiful scenery and brightly colored flowers, then this is the place to be. The main attraction is the giant ranunculus with its vibrant hues and fluffy exterior. If you prefer more classic plants, there is even a miniature rose garden.
Visiting this field is an excellent opportunity to teach your kids about nature and increase their appreciation for it. The open space allows them to run around and explore freely.
3. Hike at Yosemite National Park
Discovering new wildlife, trekking to waterfalls and enjoying scenic views are just a few of the Yosemite National Park’s main attractions. Walking along the trails also encourages your family to engage in physical activity. Exercising allows them to release pent-up energy and improves their mental health.
Plus, the scenery makes for beautiful photo opportunities and Instagram selfies. Along with stunning views, the secluded area allows you to connect with your family with limited distractions.
4. Check Out Universal Studios
This is the place for hardcore Hollywood movie fans. The studio offers attractions like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Revenge of the Mummy and Jurassic Park the Ride. Be sure to join the Universal Studio Tour to get a behind-the-scenes look at how filmmakers produced some of their classics.
Younger kids will enjoy the interactive dino play area. They can dig for fossils or climb around on the jungle gym.
Universal Studios is the perfect activity when you’re looking for an all-day adventure with your family.
5. Enjoy the Views at Huntington Beach
This beach provides volleyball nets and basketball courts if you’re up from some family competition. Head to the south end and explore the nature preserve to check out the wildlife. If you’re hungry during the day, hit up the concession stands spread across the beach.
6. Visit the San Diego Zoo
This attraction is perfect for animal lovers. It offers a wide range of exhibits, from leopards to arctic foxes. However, there is much more to explore. There are also guided bus tours, a botanical garden and a 4D theater.
The zoo puts on animal shows so you can see exotic creatures up close, and this interaction will help your kids learn more about them. They also gain a better appreciation for wildlife conservation.
7. Spend a Day at Moorpark Farm Center
Moorpark Farm Center offers an authentic farm experience. There are multiple family-friendly attractions, such as wagon rides and an animal center. Also, take a look around the market to pick up fresh produce for your next meal. This is a great way to spend an afternoon and teach your children about where their food comes from.
8. Explore SeaWorld
Your kids can observe and interact with marine life at SeaWorld in San Diego. It offers amusement park rides for thrill-seekers and live shows for animal lovers, as well as shopping and dining options. In the dolphin encounter tour, a trainer will guide your child as they meet and feed these amazing creatures.
9. Take a Ride at Go Kart World
If you’re seeking a rush, then you might want to consider this attraction. It offers various driving tracks for all ages. There is a kiddie option that uses battery-operated karts. You can test your skills on the slick track or take a ride on the bumper car pathway.
Go-karting can teach your children better focus and hand-eye coordination. It also demonstrates to them the importance of safety when operating a vehicle.
10. Show off Your Skills at Golf N’ Stuff
If you’re ever in Norwalk, California, be sure to check out this mini-golf location. It includes 18 holes surrounded by lush landscapes and water features. It also offers rides and attractions, such as bumper boats. Some scenes from the movie “The Karate Kid” were filmed here.
Get Outdoors While Enjoying Family Quality Time
Spending time with your family creates cherished memories. However, at times, it can be challenging to get everyone together. With the warmer weather right around the corner, try these spring outdoor activities to connect with your loved ones.
by Dennis Richardson | May 19, 2021
Summer is on the horizon, people are getting vaccinated, and mask rules are loosening up a bit. You know what that means: everyone’s social life is set to make at least a limited return!
And just in time, hospitality duo Med Abrous and Marc Rose of the newly named Call Mom announced the reopening of their alfresco cocktail experience, The Spare Room…Somewhere Else, at The Hollywood Roosevelt last Thursday, May 13th.
Nestled behind the hotel’s iconic David Hockney painted pool, Abrous and Rose created an intimate outdoor oasis perfect for safely gathering together and enjoying cocktails alongside small Italian-inspired dishes. Playing games continue to be a focal point of The Spare Room DNA thanks to their custom pencils + paper pads of single-use games (like Battleship, Mad Libs, M.A.S.H.) and a new bocce court.
Recently named the “Best American Hotel Bar” by the Spirited Awards (Tales of the Cocktail), guests can expect incredible cocktails from the award-winning bar team like Birds Aren’t Real with Appleton Rum, cognac, Campari, pineapple, hazelnut and lime and the Highway to Bell with Aperol, red bell pepper, yellow chartreuse, lemon, black pepper and sparkling wine. They’ve developed a stellar low- and no-ABV cocktail list perfect for sessionable, summer drinking – think Chonkey Monkey with Westward whiskey, creme de banane, walnut, brown butter, cream soda; Finocolada with Fino sherry, pineapple, coconut, makrut lime leaf, lemongrass, lime; and, Matcha Fizz with Peach calpico, matcha green tea, yuzu, vanilla, aquafaba, fizzy water and kiwi bursting boba. Rounding out the list are natural and organic wines by the glass and bottle, canned + bottled beers, and more.
Complementing the drinks are small plates like burrata with apricot agrodolce, hamachi crudo with pea salsa verde, mushroom sott’olio with truffled ricotta and ciabatta, and “cacio e pepe” beef tartare.
The Spare Room has remained a top-tier destination in Hollywood for over a decade as an intimate meeting place for socializing over innovative cocktails and nostalgic games complete with vintage bowling lanes and the inside is now available for private events upon request.
In addition to finally opening, The Spare Room… Somewhere Else will be partnering with record label, Blondie Beach,
to host their first-ever live jazz night “Cabana” this Thursday, May 20th with Los Angeles-based artist, Justin Esposito (aka @freejboosie)
!
When:
Thursday, May, 20
9:00 p.m. -2:00 a.m.
(Two jazz sets with a DJ in between)
Where:
The Roosevelt Hollywood
7000 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028.
Hours & Reservations:
The Spare Room…Somewhere Else is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5-12pm, and Friday and Saturday from 5pm-2am. Reservations are recommended, and can be made via Resy. Stay tuned for The Spare Room…Somewhere Else updates by following @spareroomhwood.
by Athena Jephson | May 8, 2021
A Beautiful Garden: Best Flowers to Grow During Summer
Summer is a very anticipated season. Come summer, everyone is enjoying the sun, the warm weather, the vacations, and the swimming. Not only does everyone love the beautiful sun, but the excitement of blooms of the season. Summer hosts a parade of colorful and blushing flowers.
Flowers that bloom in summer mostly come from tropical and subtropical areas. These flowers need a humid environment and a warm temperature for them to grow and thrive. Growing plants in summer flowers could be a challenge. Growing them in blistering heat could put harm instead of bloom when done inappropriately.
Thus, aside from giving them sunlight, it is best to know the other needs of a specific plant to grow in full bloom all summer long. Check the list below and be informed on how to grow and propagate them.
Fuchsia
Fuchsias grow in warm climates native to Central and South America. It is a shrub flowering plant, but some species are grown in small treelike species that make attractive plants in your garden, pots, or hanging baskets. The plant has a bell-shaped, tubular flower hanging like a ladies eardrop, thus the name given to the plant. The flower comes in red, purple, and white color with a double or single calyx and ruffled and wavy sepals.
Propagation of fuchsia is through its cuttings or seeds. Mature cuttings are directly planted in the pot or the garden. Make sure, though, that it will receive appropriate water, and sunlight, and moist soil. At the same time, seeds will germinate in about 21 to 28 days. You can get this information in the plant seed packet or check it from GardenersPath.com for detailed information about the flower and growing and propagation.
Coleus
Coleus is a popular garden plant and is cultivated as an ornament, but the ancient people initially used the plant as a medicine. Its root, which contains a high level of forskolin, is used as herbal medicine. Forskolin is used to treat multiple health issues like heart disorder, high blood pressure, and chest pain.
The plant was to treat asthma, dry eyes, erectile dysfunction, and many more. Coleus loves the sun, and it prefers bright but indirect sunlight. The plant’s foliage will give its lush when the plant receives appropriate amounts of sunlight, especially morning sunlight. Its leaves, though, have a certain level of toxicity that is harmful to both animals and humans. And it may also cause irritation and skin rashes to some.
It is easy to propagate coleus. You can grow it from seeds and cuttings. Cuttings can be directly planted in soil or soaked in water. Get a mature cutting and soak in water; after a week or so, you would expect roots to come out. Meanwhile, if you plant it on soil, get a mature cutting and ensure proper watering and enough sunlight.
Persian Shield
Persian shield or Purple Persian Shield is also known as Bermuda conehead. It is an ornamental plant that grows anywhere in places during the summer season as a houseplant. Its foliage yields a brilliant purple color in a shaded, sunny location. Its iridescent leaves brilliantly shine when viewed from different angles in shades of purple with impressive green-colored veins.
Like any other plant, the Persian shield can be propagated through its seed or cuttings. Just cut a mature stem about 2 to 3 inches in length from the tip of the mother plant cutting below its node. Use peat soil as a planting medium and mist it just enough. Roots will grow after about two weeks, and it is now ready to be transferred to a potting mixture.
Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera daisy is a bicolor flower with many color shades like orange, yellow, pink, white, salmon, and lavender, and its center disk has shades of light-bronze to black colors. Gerbera is a symbol of beauty and cheer believed to be due to its assorted colors. Its flower is composed of hundreds of individual cluster tiny flowers with a vase life of up to 14 days. Gerberas absorb toxins and emit oxygen during nighttime instead of daytime like any other flowers.
Gerberas track the sun, and it turns from east to west from sunrise to sunset. You can propagate the plant with its 6-inch stem with its tip dipped into a rooting hormone, then plant in a container and water it lightly each day.
Hydrangeas
To propagate hydrangeas, take a cutting from the shrub with a length of 5-6 inches long. Get cutting from the branch that has no flower. Ensure that the cuttings have their nodes for faster growth, dip the cutting in a rooting hormone, and insert into a damp sterile soil. Water just enough and allow it to drain.
Takeaway
The list of plants that bloom in summer is endless. But for you to decide which flower to plant, you can refer to the list above. It provides you with the necessary info that you need about the flower, including growing and propagating.
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“Athena Jephson is a freelance writer and a gardening enthusiast. The current pandemic forced her to stay at home but in turn, made her hone her gardening skills and knowledge. Now, she is sharing tips and writing articles about it.”
