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alittleroseandhoneyblog-blog · 5 years

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Boymom- It’s an experience not a description

Boy: (Boi)

1. The wildest of all animal

2. A noise with dirt on it

3. Most precious to their mothers!

Mom: (Mam)

1. Hero that does whatever it takes to get shit done

2. Absolutely never wrong about anything. Ever!

“You’re crazy” – I have heard that about a dozen times leading up to this weekend but mostly from parents as they happily dropped their children off at what has turned out to be a “thing” two years in a row. But here is what I learned this week about being a little crazy – It makes for one hell of a time.

I’ve always had a thing with parties, as a teenager my birthday was a month long event that usually ended with some sort of party (which was the benefits of living in the country) my sweet 16 went down as one of the best parties of the year – and probably one of the best memories looking back and but now parties and holidays are no longer about me, which is fine (I guess) but they’ve become about everyone else because I am so busy putting it together- because Christmas Cheer and birthday parties would not exist without someone creating it and I can’t remember the last time “Santa” left a gift under the tree for me (which maybe puts me on the naughty list.) Either way, I’ve admitted it before I am guilty of being that mom who totally goes over board for Colton – his birthdays, Christmas, Easter – even Valentines day the kid expected something just because he exists but honestly, I obsess over it.

We celebrated his birthday 4 times this year – I am not even joking and not because I found it necessary to eat that much pizza, cake and ice cream (although I will not complain) We come from a family who are all separated- This means 4 nannies, 3 grandpas, 2 great grandparents, 3 aunts, 4 uncles, 6 cousins and 21 kids from their class all within the last 14 days.…. I am going to let you all process that for a second because I am not sure I have even processed it- I had nightmares about never ending birthday parties last night lol.

But I have the secret for surviving being able to pull off the party of the year without going bat shit crazy….

are you ready for the secret?

Find a mama who is just as crazy as you are and suddenly your crazy won’t seem as crazy lol!

I just so happen to have found a mama that is not only pretty bad ass herself, just as obsessive over her kid and guess what- just as crazy, if not crazier then I am! lol But she has a son named Logan (who is also pretty bad ass) who just so happens to be best friends with Colton who just so happens to be born 5 days apart from on another and when they aren’t getting mad at one each other for butting in line they are completely inseparable-

Kayla and I along with the boys (and without-which usually includes sangria and apps lol) have made some pretty awesome memories from waterparks and splashpads to family zoo trips and demolition derbies but I have to admit my favourite have been the last 2 years where we have combined the boys birthday parties and not only cut the costs in half but realistically the work- last year we had a smaller party of about 12 kids (at my house) with a magician- the theory was that they would stay upstairs in the attic where all of the toys were (WRONG btw, lol) and any of the adults who were brave enough to stay could hang out in the kitchen and graze the abundance of food they Kayla and I seem to always make- Better to have more, right?

This year was a no brainer to do the party together again, so when the boys birthday started to creep up we started to explore our options, but as they get older birthday parties get really expensive, we looked into sky zone which is about $400 for just the venue alone and we still needed to feed the minions, not to mention it was capped at 8 kids. Kingpin was slightly cheaper but again limited to 8 kids and anyone additional was about $10 each and that left us at picking and choosing who the boys would want -so we thought about maybe hosting it again at my house? but last year I swore off multiple children running around playing tag in my house and If I am being honest I didn’t have it in me to host it, so Kayla suggested the indoor soccer field where it holds up to 30 people, was perfectly priced and didn’t leave us picking and choosing kids - not to mention it came with an hour of running around on the soccer field. But birthday parties at 7 are so different then birthday parties at 5- it used to be family and close friends and their kids because up until JR kindergarten they aren’t running in any circles but then all of a sudden they have little friends, and in our case- girlfriends – and with our kids, although they are in the same class they have different friends as well so when it came to who to Invite how could we not invite the entire class- yes, all 21 of them…and the theory behind that (which we should stop doing because we are NEVER right lol) was to invite everyone, thinking not everyone will come…. Absolutely not the case lol they all showed up and let me tell you this- I have a new found respect for their teacher…any teacher actually- and I thank you because when every single one of them were screaming at the top of their lungs around the party table and it was me against 21 wild lions, you’re clapping method saved me- and I had a brief moment of silence to say what I needed to say.. but it was brief…let’s not get excited here

Lol- they went back to their regularly schedule screaming directly after.

What we learned from last year was that the children did not stay in the attic with all the toys and fun, they wanted to run, and jump on my bed or up and down the stairs and that putting the candy out at the beginning of the party was seriously not the brightest idea- and this year we used it to bribe the kids into a group photo! Lol We thought this year that providing a massive soccer field was just a brilliant idea and for many reasons it was, but we did not account for the multiple soccer balls being kicked around or the 32 year old man (aka my husband) who forgot he was playing with a bunch of 7 year old’s and lets just say Colton got a soccer ball to the face! (way to go dad) lol but honestly with very limited injuries- we survived and without alcohol – not to say we didn’t drink after!

So yes, “Crazy” was warranted, but is it crazy to want to include every single child when kids these days already struggle to fit in- to teach them at 7 to be inclusive – and Kayla and I struggled with the girls vs boys thing because many of the girls have been in their “circle” for 3 years now and it was impossible to not include them even when both the boys were against the girls coming (for about 5 minutes) I said it at the beginning, being a boy mom is not a description-it’s an experience and you kind of just have to go with the flow- where as the girls were more easier to deal with and just wanted to run wild, one of the boys told me he touched poop….while his hands were behind his back…. I’m not even joking – and outside of laughing a little I simply asked him to wash his hands and moved on- because it’s an experience Lol

Many of the parents though once they realized Kayla and I had it completely under control did comment on how genius it was to combine the party and I couldn’t agree more- the best of both worlds in my eyes!

I have to say watching them play together almost as if it was just a regular gym class was pretty neat- even with the 2 hours full of “I’m thirsty, I’m Hungry, and I need to go to the bathroom” and Kayla tied the same little girls shoe about 12 times because apparently we don’t use Velcro anymore lol but honestly – It was complete organized chaos and was a gentle reminder on why I only have one child and not a small army! They were cute but I was happy when 2:30 rolled around and parents started showing up to claim their children! Lol

I love being able to do those things with Kayla, these two have become such a huge part of our lives since we all met 3 years ago and although the boys fight like brothers and sometimes the waters get a little high they have always worked through it and Matt has even accepted that he has 2 wives and 2 children lol but honestly we are so lucky to have them!

One thing we did learn from this year though is that with 21 children and in my case 4 nannies, 3 grandpas, 2 great grand parents, 3 aunts, 4 uncles, 6 cousins comes with a mountain full of presents that truly is the last thing this kid needs- I could probably open my own toy shop with the amount of unopened boxes of lego, robots, cars and so much more- and if we could have changed one thing it would have been instead of bringing a present to have each child bring 5 bucks that the kids could have donated or put together and done something for their class- something I think we will try next time, that is if the boys don’t outgrow double birthday parties!

6 was a real treat- here’s to 7 and whatever experience is next!

#boymom

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rickhorrow · 5 years

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15 + 5 + 5 To Watch : 31819

15 TO WATCH/5 SPORTS TECH/POWER OF SPORTS 5: RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 18

with Jacob Aere

This week, we finally march into the Madness…with bets in hand. Last May, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal law that previously withheld legal sportsbooks to Nevada. According to Bloomberg, seven more states have now begun to allow betting, and a couple dozen others are considering to follow suit. Nationwide, operators’ gambling revenue could reach $6.5 billion by 2023, and bettors in New Jersey, where legalization arrived last June, are already wagering almost $400 million every month. Tens of millions of Americans who otherwise rarely bet on sports will fill out a March Madness bracket and put down $10 or $20 to enter a pool with friends or co-workers. This is where Action Network wants to convert these casual bettors into regular customers. Action Network offers detailed previews of each game, ranks which underdog teams are likely to make a deep run, and provides a service that will fill out brackets with optimized picks based on the number of entrants in a pool. Action Network says it’s averaged almost two million unique visitors per month over the past three months. If other sports betting companies can capitalize on mega events like March Madness, they too will bring in new fans to sports betting.

March Madness is a big stage for student athletes. It’s also a major opportunity for brands like Unilever. This year, Unilever's Dove Men+Care partnered with menswear designer Don C. on a line of limited-edition jerseys that celebrate college basketball rivalries, according to the company. The first March Madness jersey will pay homage to the Tobacco Road rivalry of North Carolina college basketball. Two other jerseys will roll out during March, and each vintage-inspired item blends elements of the featured teams' heritage and culture. Consumers can follow the conversation on the Dove Men+Care website or by searching the hashtag #ReptheRivalry on social media. Dove Men+Care also partnered with past basketball rivals, including former Duke University player Jay Williams and the University of North Carolina's Antawn Jamison, to inspire fans to #ReptheRivalry. The former players will wear the jerseys as part of the campaign. Another cool feature: the jerseys will be "dropped in surprise locations,” and available exclusively to rival fans and former opponents in the rivalries' markets.

This year, March Madness could cost employers over $13 billion. According to the annual study done by global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., every hour spent on games can cost employers $2.1 billion, for a total of $13.3 billion over the length of the tournament that will end with the NCAA National Championship game on April 8. Research done by staffing firm Office Team indicates that workers spent an average of 25.5 minutes of their workday on March Madness-related activities. And a survey by TSheets and QuickBooks showed that at least 48% of people participating in March Madness won their brackets during work hours. However, the basketball tournament can foster a little excitement among coworkers. “Streaming games during work hours, heading to a local restaurant to watch the games, filling out brackets or just discussing the games with co-workers will mean hours of distractions during the three-week tournament,” said Andrew Challenger, Vice President. But Challenger adds that employers should use the tournament games to build morale and not restrict employees. About 97 million people watched March Madness games last year, according to CBS – tens of millions of them during work hours.

As always, entertainment and the fan experience are a huge part of March Madness and its economic impact, from regionals up through the Final Four. This year, for example, the 2019 NCAA March Madness Music Series in Minneapolis will see singer and songwriter Katy Perry headline the Capital One JamFest on April 7, with DJ and producer Zedd tipping off the night. The three-day Music Series will be held at The Armory in Minneapolis and open with the AT&T Block Party on April 5, followed by Coca-Cola Music on April 6. This will be the fourth time Minneapolis has hosted the NCAA's iconic men's basketball championship. The Twin Cities could get an economic boost of $142 million in spending and bring 94,000 nonresident visitors to the metro, according to a study done by a Pennsylvania firm for the Minnesota event’s local organizing committee. Fresh off Super Bowl LII last year, hosting the Final Four is yet another opportunity for Minneapolis to showcase its vibrant downtown, world-class venues, and welcoming community to the world.

The NFL has decided to swap Super Bowl networks in two years, giving CBS the 2021 game and NBC the game in 2022. Both NBC and CBS pushed for the change, since the 2022 Super Bowl competes directly with the 2022 Beijing Games. According to the New York Post, this is believed to be the first time that the Olympics will have been preempted off broadcast TV since NBC first started producing them in 1988. The Beijing Games start February 4, 2022, and the Super Bowl is scheduled for Sunday February 6 – the opening night of the Olympics. By taking the 2021 Super Bowl, CBS can sell its own Super Bowl without going up against the Olympics. By taking the 2022 game, NBC can package both its mega events together – and make combo ad sales deals instead of competing against another network for many of the same sponsors. The switch was a win-win for both networks. NBC is able to provide a more comprehensive advertising package and viewing experience, while CBS is able to keep as many people on their network during television’s most-watched night of the year.

A new NFL contest will give one fan season tickets for a century. The NFL is launching a first-of-its-kind contest, “Tickets for 100 Years,” in which it will "present two season tickets for the next century to a contest winner as part of the 100th season of play" according to the Associated Press. To qualify to win tickets to their team of choice for 100 years, fans "must describe their loyalty to their favorite team in a social media post." The contest closes April 7. Three finalists will be flown to Nashville for the NFL Draft, and the "winner will be announced during the first round" on April 25. Said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, “This is the first of a fan-focused series that speaks to the spirit of the ‘Fantennial’ celebration at the heart of our centennial year.” The contest marks the first of a series of fan experiences NFL fans will be able to enter throughout the league’s 100th season, following the launch of the NFL100 campaign during Super Bowl LIII.

The Raiders are officially staying in Oakland for the 2019 season thanks to a stadium lease extension. The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Stadium Authority board at its latest meeting last Friday "voted unanimously to approve" the Raiders' lease extension at the venue for the 2019 season. The Raiders, according to the San Jose Mercury News, will pay $7.5 million, plus $750,000 they owe from "previous parking fees." The team "pays $525,000 for the practice facility and is allowed to continue using it for 36 months after relocating to Las Vegas." The agreement also includes an "option to stay" for the 2020 season in case the Raiders’ new $1.84 billion, 62,228-seat stadium in Las Vegas "isn’t ready next year." The deal comes on the heels of the latest proposal by fellow Coliseum tenants, MLB’s Oakland A’s, to build a new mixed use stadium on the Oakland waterfront that includes 3,000 housing units, with another 3,000 to be built on the current Oakland Coliseum site.

The purse for the just-completed The Players Championship increased for the second consecutive year. The purse at TPC Sawgrass expanded from $11 million in 2018 to $12.5 million this year, making the purse the "largest currently on the PGA Tour schedule," according to Golf Channel. This marks a "dramatic bump considering that last year’s increase for the Tour’s flagship event was $500,000." The Masters and PGA Championship had $11 million purses in 2018 and the Open Championship was at $10.5 million. Golf Digest noted 2018 Players winner Webb Simpson's share of the $11 million purse was $1.98 million while 2018 U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka "took home" $2.16 million of the $12 million purse. Based on the same formula of 18% "going to the winner,” this year's Players champion Rory McIlroy earned $2.25 million. McIlroy, who bested 48 year-old Jim Furyk to win The Players title – Furyk pocketed $1.35 million – is clearly the man to beat heading into The Masters next month. While The Players is a benchmark win for Rory and his brand, The Masters is the sole Slam trophy missing from his extensive trophy case.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association agreed upon a series of rule changes that will kick in over the next two seasons, subject to ratification by all 30 clubs. Changes set to begin this year will include (but are not limited to and subject to broadcast partner buy-in) inning breaks being reduced from 2:05 to 2:00 in local games and from 2:25 to 2:00 in national games. The All-Star Game will now see fan voting conducted in two rounds, a “primary round” that mirrors the All-Star voting of old, followed in late June or early July by an “Election Day” in which the top three vote-getters at each position will be voted on by fans. In addition, total player prize money for the Home Run Derby will be increased to $2.5 million with the inner receiving $1 million, while in typical games, maximum number of mound visits per team will be reduced from six to five per game. Changes for 2020 will include an opening day roster increasing from 25 to 26, while the 40-man active roster for September will be eliminated. The changes are meant to make America’s pastime more fan friendly – and less time consuming.

After a change in venue and some heavy investment from IMG, the Miami Open hopes to regain its premier status within tennis. Of late, the longstanding tournament has fallen behind the likes of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the winner of tennis’ Tournament of the Year award every year since 2014. Now, with former top player James Blake in his second year as Miami Open tournament director and the relocation to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens complete, the time is right for a revival. The Dolphins’ home was secured as the tournament’s new site by IMG after expansion plans at Key Biscayne were shuttered. The new venue sees its prime matches played on a 14,000-seat show court within the main stadium, with 29 additional new match and practice courts adjacent. Hard Rock also offers commercial upgrades on parking, hospitality, and fan engagement. IMG has invested $60 million in the ‘"festivalization" of the event, with as much as $10 million from the budget also reserved to renovate Crandon Park. With a new location and a new vision, Blake and his staff are looking to return the Miami Open to marquee status.

Members of the U.S. women's national soccer team have filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer. 28 players accused the federation of paying them far less and subjecting them to far worse working conditions, comprising travel, medical treatment, and field quality, than their male counterparts. It also "brings to the fore an issue that affects all women's sports, not just soccer,” as the New York Times noted. The suit has a precedent. After threatening to boycott the world championships in 2017, the U.S. women's hockey team received a new contract that paid each player more than $71,000 annually, a huge increase over the roughly $10,000 on average they had been making, along with travel accommodations and insurance coverage on par with the men's national team. "We feel a responsibility not only to stand up for what we know we deserve as athletes, but also for what we know is right," said USWNT co-captain Megan Rapinoe. This issue now becomes the dominant storyline leading up to the Women's World Cup, kicking off in June.

The Yankees, Amazon, and Sinclair Broadcast Group have agreed to buy Disney’s 80% stake in YES Network for $3.47 billion. YES is considered the crown jewel of the 22 Fox RSNs that Disney acquired for $20 billion as part of a $71.3 billion purchase of Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment assets. The Yankees, who already owned 20% of the regional sports network, will become YES’ new majority shareholder as the club’s interest grows “close to 30%.” When Disney agreed to buy the Fox RSNs, it presumed that on an open market YES would command bids between $5-6 billion and that the remaining 21 networks were worth upwards of $15 billion, so Disney wasn’t planning on taking a loss in its efforts to comply with antitrust regulations. When Fox increased their stake in YES in 2014, it was valued at $3.9 billion. But as TV bundles continues to deteriorate and the number of cord cutters/cord-nevers opting for streaming services grows, the RSNs are simply not as valuable as they once were. YES would have commanded significantly more money if it held nationwide streaming rights to Yankees games – or local streaming rights past 2019.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed a jersey patch sponsorship with Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, a deal that now puts jersey patches on all 30 NBA teams. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Oklahoma City-based Love’s is a longtime Thunder sponsor. The team premiered the patch over the weekend during a home loss against the Warriors. Other elements of the patch deal include media and social media as well as a community service component. Love’s Travel Stops counts about 500 retail locations in 42 states across the U.S. The family held company has also invested in sports sponsorships including NASCAR – Michael McDowell’s No. 34 Ford Fusion, Minor League Baseball, and collegiate teams. The Love family is worth $7.3 billion, according to Forbes. Overall, the NBA’s 30 different jersey patch deals have been estimated to average $9.3 million annually, with top ranked, big market teams obviously commanding a bigger price tag.

The Dallas Cowboys are making a play in the co-working office arena. The organization is creating an exclusive shared-office facility at its Star development in Frisco. Called Formation, the membership-only operation will include workspaces, access to fitness, entertainment and networking. According to SportsBusiness Daily, along with the office space and access to facilities at The Star, membership includes "custom business events developed exclusively for Formation by Dallas Cowboys front office staff, unique members-only digital content, and advanced access to most events at Ford Center and AT&T Stadium." Mixed use developments, some including co-work space, have become commonplace in sports facilities – multi-billion dollar projects are currently under consideration in Oakland, San Diego, Miami, and other cities. But the Cowboys’ Frisco facility is somewhat unique in that it has a suburban address rather than being located within a city center footprint.

FIFA is set to ask its council members to approve an expanded 24-team Club World Cup pilot tournament in 2021. However, plans for a global Nations League are expected to be put on hold, according to the Associated Press. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has made no secret of his plans to revamp the current seven-team annual Club World Cup since the soccer body received a $25 billion offer from a SoftBank-led consortium to overhaul its tournament calendar in return for a 49% share in the competitions. The FIFA Council will now vote on the proposal in Miami on Friday. If approved, the trial Club World Cup will take place between June-July 2021 – the slot previously reserved for the FIFA Confederations Cup national team tournament - rather than during its traditional mid-season December date. The 24 participating clubs will comprise eight European teams, six South American squads, three each from Africa, Asia, and the Concacaf region, and one from Oceania. A FIFA task force has been evaluating plans for the revamped Club World Cup since November after the proposal was put on hold amid intense European opposition.

Top Five Tech

OTT Platform DAZN looking to go all in on the advertising world. The broadcaster has been quietly testing different variations of advertising in key markets Italy, Germany, and Japan since November. In the coming months, DAZN expects to have an ad server in place following talks with vendors that will eventually allow the sports streaming company to manage and target ads that have been sold directly to advertisers rather than the clunky process where ads were placed from the DAZN team. According to Digiday, the approach seems a bit backwards in an advertising market that in many ways is going toward programmatic ad options. Yet DAZN’s focus on ad budgets embodies how difficult it is to build a successful OTT business with staying power. While subscriptions will drive the bulk of the business, the margins to be gained from something as profitable as sports advertising could be a game changer in the long run.

ESPN adds DirecTV as a distribution partner for the ACC Network launch. ESPN has coerced yet another in the distribution world to take on the ACC Network for its late-August 2019 launch. ACC Net previously signed launch deals with Altice, Verizon, and Hulu TV. With the latest deal, ESPN will now depend on Hulu's and DirecTV’s national footprints to negotiate with other distributors, including Comcast, Charter, Dish Network, and AT&T U-Verse. According to SportsBusiness Journal, ESPN is launching an ad campaign around the web to coincide with the start of the ACC men’s basketball tournament. The campaign is called “We Do This,” and provides an inside look at each of the conference’s schools and traditions with advertising running across ESPN platforms and on local channels in ACC markets. Further, ACC schools will be able to customize the spots, which can run via digital or in-venue. With schools like Duke, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and UNC, the Network will be primed with talent including Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and more to provide plenty of entertainment value.

Minnesota Twins roll out monthly passes to fix 2018 attendance dip. According to SportsPro, the new “Twins Pass” initiative will allow fans to gain entry to the team’s Target Field for as little as $49 per month without a designated seat. What this means is that fans wanting a regular seat at the 39,500-capacity venue can pay $99 each month for a vantage point in the upper level, or a monthly $149 for a perch in the ballpark’s lower level. Fans wanting to watch the game with friends or family signed up to the same package can link their tickets using a “sit with friends” function built into the platform which is managed through the MLB Ballpark app. Following in the footsteps of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, who last year introduced a first-of-its-kind “In the Building Pass,” the Twins are the latest U.S. sports franchise to roll out a monthly ticket offering. As stadiums are becoming smaller and OTT platforms are created, sports team are going to be forced to continually renovate their strategies to bring fans to live events.

Usain Bolt signed by e-scooter concern Bolt Mobility. Gold Medal-winning sprinter Usain Bolt has become the official brand ambassador for e-scooter company Bolt Mobility and was in New York last week "to urge lawmakers to make electrical scooters legal in the city," according to CNBC. Bolt said it was an "easy choice" to partner with the company, largely because of the name. He said electric scooters are "definitely a way to get to where you want to get to efficiently and safer" in New York among the traffic. Bolt Mobility Co-CEO and Co-Founder Sarah Haynes said the scooters are a "transportation solution for all areas." She added it is "not a matter of when these will be (implemented), it's just how, and we want to do it safely and partner with communities." The move is seen as a savvy post-career endorsement for Bolt, who has speedily shifted his full attention to all of his business initiatives.

ESPN is set to launch its own collegiate video game sports championship. According to Reuters, ESPN will hold its first-ever college championship for competitive video gaming later this May in Houston, where players will compete in five games: Overwatch, Hearthstone, StarCraft II, Heroes of the Storm, and Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition. College-level esports have been part of the sports overall expansion in recent years with colleges developing their own competitive teams as they would for traditional sports. Players will come from hundreds of North American schools that are currently competing in qualifying matches with portions of the qualifying rounds, as well as the championship, to be streamed globally. The Overwatch championship matches will even be streamed on Twitch – this offers a whole new opportunity for advertisers to capitalize in the bursting esports sector.

Power of Sports Five

Milwaukee Brewers longtime broadcaster Bob Uecker gives his 2018 playoff dividends to charity. When deciding who would get full playoff shares after the Brewers advanced within one game of the World Series, the players voted to include Uecker who received $123,000. According to the Journal Sentinel, Uecker is really part of the Brewers team - they even included him in their 2018 playoff clubhouse celebrations by dousing him in plenty of champagne. However, instead of holding onto his share, Uecker divided it among some of his favorite charities – the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Milwaukee, Wounded Warriors, and the Froedtert Cancer Center. Away from the radio booth, Uecker prefers to stay in the background but has agreed to allow his name to be placed on a new wing at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa where he is an active philanthropist. Even at 85, Uecker isn’t planning on sitting on the sidelines, and continues to give back through his classic radio voice and charity around Milwaukee.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Matt Boyd is helping combat sex slavery in Uganda. Matt and his wife, Ashley, have essentially adopted 36 girls in Uganda, trying to protect them from the sex slave industry. According to the Detroit Free Press, the Boyds purchase the girls food and clothing, and rent them a home. To make this possible, the Boyds have created their own nonprofit, Kingdom Home, completing the process a few weeks ago. Currently, the Boyds are raising money to buy land to expand in Uganda. Over the next three years, they want to build four new homes, so they can help more girls and young women because the need is so great. The Boyds are holding multiple fundraisers in Florida and Michigan to increase awareness and raise funds for these lofty goals. Amid sex prostitution scandals including Patriots owner Robert Kraft, the Boyds, like the Kershaws in Los Angeles, are helping to fight sex slavery.

Infiniti commits a $1 million donation commitment to the American Cancer Society through March Madness. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Division I men's basketball coaches battled against one another for fan votes for the automaker’s Timeout for the Win campaign. Steve Prohm, the men's basketball head coach of Iowa State University, came away victor with Infiniti donating $360,000 to Coaches vs. Cancer in his name. Meanwhile, second and third place vote getters, Bob Huggins of West Virginia University and Chris Holtmann of The Ohio State University, had $150,000 and $90,000, respectively, donated in their names. Infiniti has been an Official Corporate Partner of the NCAA since 2011 and again March 17-22, the company will donate up to $350,000 for every bracket entered into the Infiniti Bracket Pool Challenge. Since 2009, the automaker has donated more than $9 million to a variety of charitable organizations in connection to the partnership with the NCAA and is using this year’s legal gambling during the NCAA tournament to give back.

HERO Golf Cup raises funds for military orphans in the Philippines. Now on its 4th year, the recent charity golf tournament hosted in Quezon City was attended by 163 participants, surpassing their initial goal. Moreover, HERO Foundation was able to raise over one million Philippines pesos in donations and pledges that will help fund the educational needs of military orphans. According to the Manila Bulletin, the event brought together sport, military, and charity to help people like HERO Scholars Jamina Alexa Mendez and Jon-Jon Tambong. Alexa Mendez is an honor student who never got to meet her father who died in an encounter in Calauag, Quezon while she was still in her mother’s womb. This proves that golf and its inevitable sports business community has made its mark in the Philippines, and the sport can be used as a means to get people together for charity.

The Washington Capitals’ Go Green night raises $62,625 for charity. Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s foundation held the event for the Anacostia Watershed Society and the Washington Youth Garden. The auction featured autographed, limited edition green jerseys worn during the pregame warmups, autographed sticks wrapped with green tape, and autographed green Capitals pucks. According to nhl.com, T.J. Oshie's warmup jersey went for the highest bid at $3,750, followed by a team puck set at $3,200. The mission of the Anacostia Watershed Society is to protect and restore the Anacostia River while Washington Youth Garden nurtures curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land and each other. Combining the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with a charity movement is exactly what other NHL franchises should be doing to better demonstrate their charitable arm to the public while engaging fans at a higher rate.

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wikitopx · 5 years

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Portland has so much to offer.

So with a short weekend on hand, you will have to know where the locals head for their day to day activities. Here we have found where the locals drink, hang out, relax, and do their shopping! Read on to find out about 7 unique things to do in Portland, Oregon at night.

1. Portland Night Market

Portland Night Market is a great outdoor place for young people, old people, locals, and tourists alike! Come here for the best Portland has to offer in all areas - food, drinks, shopping and live music or events! Doors open at 4 pm Friday and Saturday and are keeping the small outdoor venue packed all night long until closing at 11 pm. Looking for local art, jewelry or food? You can get them all here and for the best prices. Get here early if you want to avoid the crowds and to get the best selection of goods!

2. Floating at Float On

Ever had one of those nights, weeks or months where you can’t sleep and have trouble relaxing? Well, Portland has found the cure. One of the locals’ favorite past times here is something called floating. If you have never heard of this or never been to a ‘floating place’ as they are called, it is basically a dark, half water filled chamber, that a person sits in for a certain amount of time to allow the brain to relax, heal and come out rejuvenated.

I have experienced this once and I must say, if you can get a good deal on a floating place, it is worth the experience. Many say it allows their body to calm, their mind to wander and the darkness is great for relaxing. This company is one of the best known among Portlandites, called Float On. They offer a 90-minute float for 65 USD, and offer monthly memberships as well! You can read all about the health benefits of floating as well on their website, and then book a session!

3. Roller Derby

If you have never seen Drew Barrymore’s famous directorial debut entitled ‘Whip it,’ then you are in for a surprise, because Roller Derbies are not just in the movies anymore! Portland has brought them to real life! If you want to catch a glimpse of the action you can buy tickets to watch championships or youth derbies starting at 15 USD. There are discounts for large groups, as well as season passes available if you get hooked! Don’t worry, Rose City Rollers provides options for everyone, even if you want to be a part of all the action. You can get involved with Rose City Rollers as a sponsor, volunteer, official, or even join one of their skater programs and compete yourself!

4. Portland Distillery

New Deal Distillery is a hot, up and coming distillery, earning 5 stars by visitors from all around the nation. What makes them so special? Their commitment to fresh ingredients, fair prices for their products, and high-quality standards were among the most mentioned comments in reviews. A great place to take a group of friends and arrange a tasting, or take a date for a special night out! They are open from noon to 6 pm most days, so it’s great for an afternoon party or tasting as well!

Explore Portland’s virant beer culture and craft-drink scene by visiting its finest breweries, distilleries, and wineries! Consider booking a tour to make it a hassle-free trip.

5. Get lost in Powell's City of Books

If you are like me and love bookstores in general, or collect books in different languages, this is a must-visit. This is seriously one of the best bookstores I have been to in the country. Powell’s City of Books is huge and holds books of all different makes, genres, used and new titles, as well as totes, notebooks, journals, diaries and all things related to books! A great place to stop and get out of the heat in the summer, or cold in the winter. I can easily spend an hour or more here just browsing at all the options they have. Don’t worry about the prices either, as you can find tons of deals here on used books!

6. Ground Kontrol

A great place for adults to release their inner kid! If you are looking for some fun and alcohol, you have found your place. Think 70’s and 80’s arcade games, paired with your favorite brew or cocktail, and you get Ground Kontrol (some refer to it as a ‘barcade’). A local geek favorite hangout and bar all in one, Ground Kontrol maintains its allure with constant themed parties, events, and drink specials galore. Head over early to minimize fighting for your favorite arcade game to play!

7. Teardrop

A local favorite for its ambiance, outdoor seating and exquisite cocktail menu, Teardrop has won the local hipster bar award. Here you will find professional bartenders mixing up all types of drink concoctions. They open as early as 4 pm and stay open until 1:30 am for you to get your speciality drink on! Drinks start at 7 USD and snacks at 5 USD during happy hour, so get there early to avoid the crowds and save some cash.

8. Shop the Portland Saturday Market

Situated along the Columbia River is the Portland Saturday Market. It is the largest continuously operated outdoor market and is open Saturdays and Sundays from March through Christmas Eve. With rows and rows of handcrafted clothes, wooden toys and fresh foods from Northeast Africa, Lebanon, Greece and Poland (to name a few), there's something for everyone. The ever-present live music and awesome people watching provide great entertainment for little shoppers. But if you're lucky enough to visit on the first Sunday of the month, you'll catch free kids' activities like puppet shows, creative arts activities, science fairs and more.

9. Get scientific at OMSI

No visit to Portland is complete without a stop at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry—almost always known as OMSI—and if you live in PDX, having a membership is a must. The 219,000-square-foot museum is packed with five enormous halls bringing science to life through interactive exhibits and displays. The teeniest scientists can tackle the Science Playground (infant to age six) with its 7,000-square-feet of water play, sandbox digging, and an extra soft infant area. Older kids will love touching fossils, insects and animals in the Life Science Hall, experiencing an earthquake in the Earthquake House and running plenty of experiments in design, chemistry and physics labs.

10. Get the wiggles out at Playdate PDX

Head to Portland's ultimate indoor playground with a cafe for some rainy day fun. Playdate PDX houses an interactive dance floor, climbing and crawling activities, four slides and two rows of ball cannons in its three-story indoor castle. There's a separate area for toddlers while the main play space is suited for kids up to 12 years old. When it rains, they'll get their wiggles out and you'll get a much-needed break (and a glass of wine or beer!).

Read also: Top 10 things to do in Denver Colorado

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monkeyandelf · 6 years

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New Post has been published on Buzz News from Monkey & Elf |

New Post has been published on https://www.monkeyandelf.com/10-shows-that-shook-2017/

10 Shows That Shook 2017

While the harsh realities of Brexit, Trump, and five more years of Conservative rule continue to hit home, the unifying force of music at least provided some kind of escapist respite. Not least when it comes to watching live music, which despite worldwide austerity has not diminished one iota for an eager audience only too willing to immerse themselves at every given opportunity.

Its becoming increasingly important – essential even – for musicians to maintain a presence in the live market which accounts for the growing amount of shows many acts play every year. What that makes for is an exciting arena where barely a single evening passes by without an unmissable event of some sort happening in your town, your city, or somewhere nearby. The ever-increasing popularity of bands like Wolf Alice and Idles is largely down to their relentless activity as live bands having played well over 200 shows between them this year. Likewise, the resurgence of acts like Slowdive and LCD Soundsystem, culminating in two of 2017’s best-loved albums, was largely due to both reasserting themselves through the power of live performance prior to releasing new material.

For me, 2017 has continued where its predecessor left off. From January to December I’ve taken in nearly 400 shows and 28 festivals involving almost 2000 sets, and here, after much deliberation, are the 10 which stand out from the crowd.

—

Arcade Fire @ Baths Hall

Scunthorpe 07.06.17

One of the most eagerly anticipated comebacks of 2017 saw Arcade Fire return with a new album, and after hearing its lead single ‘Everything Now’ on the first day of June, their same-titled long player was a mouth-watering prospect indeed. That the rest of the album didn’t quite match its opening salvo wasn’t relevant at this point, seven weeks before the record’s arrival.

As a precursor to the album, the band announced a handful of low key dates including this one in the unlikely setting of Scunthorpe. Situated in rural Lincolnshire with a capacity set at just over a thousand, this would be as exclusive as it got to witnessing Win Butler and co’s musical circus in the flesh. What’s more, they didn’t disappoint with an hour and a half long set that focused more on the band’s back catalogue than the forthcoming new record they were promoting. With a stage set in the middle of the hall like a boxing ring which was accessible from all angles, Arcade Fire threw one of the summer’s most prestigious parties. Sadly 24 hours later we’d all wake up to a new Tory government led by a Mini-Me version of Margaret Thatcher, but for one glorious evening, all thoughts of austerity and despair were extinguished from our minds.

Bloody Knives @ Rough Trade

Nottingham 22.03.17

Some things really are worth waiting for, and in the case of post-punk noise specialists Bloody Knives their first visit to the UK was one that will be remembered for a very long time. Ever since putting out their first album Burn It All Down back in 2010, they’ve been one of the most sought-after outfits on the shoegaze and noise rock scenes.

Playing a free show above a record shop on a Tuesday evening in March might not bring out the best in many a lesser outfit, but this Texan three-piece played a brutally visceral set as if their lives depended on it. Speaking to Rough Trade’s sound engineer afterwards he said it was the most devastatingly loud set he’d ever worked on, while the band themselves seemed genuinely surprised so many had turned out to see them.

The good news is they’re back in the UK next autumn to terrorize ears and sound desks in equal measures. You have been warned!

Confidence Man @ The Deaf Institute

Manchester 05.12.17

It was around this time last year that a booking agent friend told me about a new band his agency would be working with in 2017. They’d only played a handful of shows back in their native Australia but had just signed to Heavenly Recordings over here on the back of their first single. That band was Confidence Man and the single was ‘Boyfriend (Repeat)’. It might have sounded out of kilter alongside whatever else was in vogue at the time but after a couple of listens, it was clear this would provide the following summer’s soundtrack.

Fast forward to May and three shows at Brighton’s Great Escape, and the buzz surrounding Confidence Man had already spread like wildfire. Another three shows at Glastonbury two months later saw their fanbase rapidly increase even more so it was little surprise their first headline tour of the UK during the first week of December would sell out in advance. With several musicians and the whole of the band’s record label in attendance, this show at Manchester’s Deaf Institute turned into the unofficial Heavenly Christmas Party.

As for the show itself, they’re pretty much the complete package. While all eyes are on the front pairing of Janet Planet and Sugar Bones, the veiled musicians behind them provide the perfect backbeat to a repertoire that’s jam-packed full of big, party-fuelled pop tunes. Get Down!

Six By Seven @ The Maze

Nottingham 04.03.17

If ever a case of right place wrong time could be applied to music it would have to be about Six By Seven. Arguably one of the most innovative guitar bands of the past two decades and understandably tipped for great things at the turn of the century, that bands like Coldplay and Elbow went onto filling stadiums while Six By Seven continued to play intimate venues in their native city of Nottingham might seem a travesty in itself.

But then if they’d have crossed over to the mainstream in the same way as the aforementioned, who’s to say it wouldn’t have resulted in major label marketing strategists interfering with the band’s ethos? Anyway, almost seventeen years after Six By Seven’s original line up last shared a stage, they put their differences to one side and got back together for what was undoubtedly one of 2017’s most sought-after tickets. Playing two sets here – one to commemorate the 17th birthday reissue of highly revered second album The Closer You Get and the other a band-selected “Best Of” encompassing the first four years of their existence – Chris Olley and co didn’t so much roll back the years but reignite a level of interest in a band who’ve been criminally ignored for so long.

A simply magical evening.

Eyre Llew @ The Glee Club

Nottingham 10.11.17

There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a band blossom out of humble beginnings into the gargantuan beast standing before us today. Take Eyre Llew for example, a three-piece borne out of years of playing in unsuccessful bands, spurred on by a combined love of ambient, post-rock, and classical music.

Despite having only played their first ever show just two years ago, they’ve steadily grown into one of the most dynamic live bands on the circuit. Yet at the turn of 2017, it seemed like all wasn’t well in the camp. Lacklustre shows at Sheffield’s Outlines and Derby’s 2Q festivals suggested they’d reached something of a crossroads resulting in a complete overhaul of their live set. That it paid dividends would be something of an understatement, and over the second half of 2017 they’ve astounded audiences all around the world with one of the most beautifully orchestrated shows around.

However, November’s album launch in their native city’s Glee Club that really brought it home just how far they’ve come in such a short space of time. Here’s to an even better 2018!

Idles @ The Adelphi

Hull 03.08.17

The undisputed band of 2017. It’s almost unthinkable that this time last year Idles were barely known outside the city of Bristol. Even after plugging away for the best of a decade, they’d become something of an anomaly in the local scene there. So it’s to their credit that they emerged in January with an album that captured the zeitgeist so impeccably. Brutalism lives up to its name in every conceivable way, inspired by social inequality and escapism in equal measures, it’s a record that will be looked back on in future years as a landmark of its times similar to the first Clash record or More Specials.

However, it’s the live show where most people experienced Idles for the first time and what incredible shows they were. Having first encountered them at Eurosonic in January and endeavouring to see them at pretty much every festival in between, they became something of a must-see attraction throughout the year. Every performance became an event with no two sets ever the same. Indeed picking a favourite Idles show for this year proved a nigh on impossible task, but August’s low key show at Hull’s Adelphi as part of the 53 Degrees North conference took some beating.

Supported by the excellent Life and False Advertising, it soon became apparent to everyone present this was one of those “I was there!” moments people talk about in years to come. The world is their oyster in 2018 and only a fool would bet against them owning that too. In the words of one of their songs, they may have always been poor, but we were certainly never bored.

Senseless Things @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire

London 25.03.17

Back in the early 1990s, guitar bands of a left field persuasion would regularly set up camp in the higher echelons of the UK singles chart. One of those bands whose name appeared several times were Senseless Things, a four-piece from the suburbs of London. Fuelled by a shared love of bands like Husker Du, Buzzcocks, and The Replacements, they attracted a rabid army of devotees who’d follow them up and down the land whenever on tour. Which was pretty much twelve months a year. Every year. They put out four albums during their decade-long existence, eventually calling it a day in 1995 as Britpop swallowed everything in sight that wasn’t bathed in nostalgia or a moth-eaten union jack.

So it was something of a surprise that they announced their return at the end of last year, particularly as all four individual members had gone on to achieve varying levels of success ever since. Fast forward to late March and it was almost like they’d never been away. A warm-up show at Hull Adelphi the weekend before lit the touch paper for what was to follow in the main event. And what an event it was. Playing a set encompassing the unsurpassable highlights of their back catalogue alongside the band’s first (and hopefully not last) new recording for over 20 years ‘Lost Honey’, Senseless Things owned Shepherd’s Bush for one glorious spring evening. The first of (too) many more to come? We sincerely hope so.

Slowdive @ The Arts Club

Liverpool 28.03.17

When Slowdive reformed in 2014 they made it clear from the outset there was unfinished business. Their reunion was anything but an exercise in nostalgia, and when their first album for 22 years arrived in March, it proved to be one of 2017’s most distinguished and ultimately forward-thinking records.

Prior to its release, the band scheduled a bunch of low key warm-up shows and their hour and a half long set at Liverpool’s tiny Arts Club venue was undoubtedly one of the finest of their career. Exhibiting sonic perfection from start to finish, their expertly selected mix of material from both back catalogue and forthcoming album was breathtaking in its execution while providing an insight into what was to follow. Which Slowdive delivered in every conceivable way.

Thee Oh Sees @ Rock City

Nottingham 16.05.17

The previous time I saw Thee Oh Sees frontman John Dwyer was confronting a bunch of security guards at a holiday camp in North Wales. Playing the penultimate All Tomorrow’s Parties event in Prestatyn, he’d (rightly) taken exception to the way fans were being manhandled, the tipping point being an assault on a female crowd surfer resulting in her being thrown out the venue and Dwyer threatening to stop the show until she was allowed back in and the security team started treating the audience with respect. The bouncers backed off, the fan allowed back in and the band resumed playing one of their most brutal sets to date.

I say “to date” because that was two years ago. Since then they’ve released three albums and acquired a second drummer, enhancing their sound to almost catatonic levels. At first the decision to play Nottingham’s 2000+ capacity Rock City may have been an ambitious one for a band who’ve become something of an underground word-of-mouth phenomenon. However, all tickets soon sold out in advance, and their blistering textbook exercise in psychedelic garage rock turned the dancefloor into arm flailing moshpit of blood and sweat, ultimately creating one of the most memorable evenings that venue has housed in a very long time.

Wolf Alice @ The Venue

Derby 16.08.17

2017 will be remembered for many things and one of those must surely be the unstoppable ascent of Wolf Alice. Already assured of the award for the most hard working band in rock thanks to a relentless tour schedule that doesn’t seem to have ceased since 2014, they came back with a flawless second album which delivered on every level, highlighting them as one of the most distinctive yet musically diverse bands on the planet right now.

This show at The Venue in Derby was the first of a week-long tour road testing material off their then-forthcoming second record, and from the moment ‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’ introduced them to an awestruck crowd it became obvious Visions Of A Life was certain to be one of this year’s finest. However, what this show also demonstrated was how much they’d developed as a live band. Confident, assured and determined, with each of the band’s four members’ personalities shining through, it felt like the last time we’d get to see them in a rooms of this size, a point reaffirmed November’s sold out tour of 2000+ capacity venues. Arenas surely beckon, and deservedly so too.

—

Honourable Mentions

While the aforementioned 10 stand out for reasons mentioned above, there were numerous other shows which caught the eye in what’s been another incredible year for live music. The Killers headline performance at BBK Bilbao and subsequent world tour reiterated why they’re still held in such high regard as one of the most formidable live acts in the world. Similarly, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club‘s showstopping performance at Nottingham Rock City in November reminded us why people still care so much sixteen years after their debut while wetting the appetite for January’s eighth record Wrong Creatures. The return of Liam Gallagher in June at Brixton’s Electric venue might have raised eyebrows among those that saw him as a spent force after Beady Eye, but they were all proved wrong as he delivered an incredible, vocally flawless set of material old and new. Also rewinding back to the future as if they’d never been away were Nottingham shoegazers Amusement Parks On Fire, their hometown show last month at the Bodega setting the scene for what promises to be an exciting 2018. Elsewhere, Halifax trio The Orielles started the year emphatically at the Hebden Bridge Heavenly Weekender and ended it in similar style on their week-long UK tour, while Glaswegian outfit Spinning Coin rocked Sheffield’s Picturehouse Social in November and look set to do so throughout next year.

Discuss: Which were your favourite live shows of 2017? Who are you most looking forward to seeing next year? Join the discussion over on our music forum.

Eyre Llew photo by Emma Ford Davis.

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