Month: September 2021

Welcome to SNX DLX, our weekly roundup of the best sneaker drops of the week. We’re now officially in the month of September and if you step outside you can actually feel summer turning to fall. It’s a bummer for those that live for that summer freedom but from the looks of this week’s offerings and the sneaker drops set to release in the coming weeks, we’re going to end 2021 strong. It’s already been a great year for sneakers, so anything else we get at this point is just icing on an already delicious cake.

We here at SNX DLX love cake, so we say bring it on!

This week we’ve got some summer-inspired looks from Melting Sadness and Adidas, as well as some great Jordan colorways, and new Yeezy Slides. But the week’s best drops are easily the Nike collaborations, with Social Status and Undefeated bringing radical redesigns of two of Nike’s best silhouettes. Let’s dive in!

Melting Sadness x Adidas Melting Ice Cream Collection

Zhang Quan’s Melting Sadness label has teamed up with Adidas to drop the best ice cream-themed shoes ever. Yup, sorry Pharrell. This four-shoe collection sees the brand taking on Adidas’ 3MC and Campus silhouette, offering two iterations of each sneaker dipped in colorful melted ice cream detailing that’ll have you mourning the end of summer.

The colorways even sound like flavors, we’ve got Halo Mint, Campus Sand (gross), Cream White, and Icy Blue. Okay admittedly only one of those actually sounds like a good ice cream flavor but each pair at least looks like ice cream and features a unique waffle-cone-inspired tag.

The Melting Sadness x Adidas Melting Ice Cream Collection is out now with each shoe hitting a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair exclusively at Atmos.

Nike WMNS Air Force 1 Next Nature White & Pale Coral/ White & Metallic Grey

Nike is slowly but surely finding new ways to add a sustainable edge to its classic silhouettes. This move is a must, and while they aren’t moving quite as quickly as we’d like them to (make all the Jordans more sustainable!), at least they’re making the effort.

This week they’re dropping two new WMNS-exclusive iterations of the almighty AF-1, constructing the sneaker from 20% recycled material by weight and giving each a clean new colorway. Dropping in White & Pale Coral or White & Metallic Grey, both sneakers feature a white upper with either a pastel pink swoosh or a metallic grey outsole.

We prefer the pink swoosh but the metallic grey outsole is a fresh look as well — check them both below!

The Nike WMNS Air Force 1 Next Nature White & Pale Coral/ White & Metallic Grey are set to drop on September 2nd for a retail price of $95. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

UNDEFEATED x Nike Dunk vs. Air Force 1 5 On It Drop 2

A couple of weeks back, Los Angeles-based streetwear brand UNDEFEATED unveiled their double sneaker collection Nike Dunk vs Air Force 1 5 On It, and it was easily one of the best sneaker drops of the year. If you missed it, don’t kick yourself too hard because this week brings the collection’s second drop and, while it isn’t quite as iconic as the first, it’s still pretty dope.

Like the first set, this new drop sees UNDEFEATED reimagining Nike’s Dunk low and Air Force 1 silhouettes, combining five premium materials across each sneaker’s upper including crocodile skin patterning, canvas, two different types of leather, and suede. The Dunk features a blue, yellow and white color scheme while the AF-1 goes the all-black route and features a pony hair swoosh.

The second UNDEFEATED x Nike Air Force 1 5 On It drop is set for September 3rd for a retail price of $120 each exclusively at the UNDEFEATED webstore.

Air Jordan 4 Shimmer

How many iconic AJ-4’s dropped this year? Enough that we’re going to have to think long and hard about revamping our ranking of the greatest Jordan 4 colorways of all time. This week Nike is dropping yet another AJ-4 that is going to have sneakerheads complaining all weekend long when they catch that inevitable L on the SNKRS app.

The WMNS-exclusive Shimmer combines burnished leather and soft nubuck in a mix of coral and white with a metallic silver Jumpman at the tongue. It’s beautiful.

The Air Jordan 4 Shimmer is set to drop on September 3rd for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or hit GOAT and Flight Club to pick up a pair on the aftermarket.

Social Status x Nike SB Dunk Low Chocolate Milk

In what is probably this week’s freshest collaboration, Nike has teamed up with Social Status for a chocolate milk-inspired mid-rise Dunk that pays tribute to the concept of free school lunch. If you were more of a strawberry milk kid growing up, just wait a week because the brand has also hit Strawberry Milk and it’s just as dope, if not better.

Featuring a mini-swoosh at the toe box, a chunky wrap-around pink swoosh, dual branding, and a sky blue midsole, the Chocolate Milk combines rich brown paneling over a milk-white upper.

The Social Status x Nike SB Dunk Low Chocolate Milk is set to drop on September 4th for an unannounced retail price. Enter the raffle to pick up a pair exclusively at Social Status.

Air Jordan 6 Bordeaux

Is it wrong to describe a sneaker as sexy? Probably, but I mean just look at the Air Jordan 6 Bordeaux! It combines moody grey tones with black paneling and a wine-toned tongue and heel tab. We fully expect to be hit with mood music once we pop open the box.

With this sneaker, Nike has another easy win on their hands, the Bordeaux is more commonly associated with the Air Jordan 7 but it looks just as good if not better here on the 6. Rounding out the design are halloween-esque orange lace locks. Nike could’ve sat on this one for fall, but we’re not complaining about the early unveil!

The Air Jordan 6 Bordeaux is set to drop on September 4th for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or hit up GOAT to pick up a pair on the aftermarket.

Adidas Yeezy Slide Glow Green

As we mentioned earlier, the summer season is coming to a swift end so unless you live in one of the warmer states that offer year-round summer weather, you’re probably not going to be rocking sandals for the next eight months or so. This means this is the last week of the year that we’ll probably bother highlighting the latest Yeezy Slide release.

While not technically dropping this week (it arrives this Monday on Labor Day), the Slide Glow Green — which doesn’t in fact glow in the dark — features an EVA foam body that keeps the sandal lightweight but comfort-focused. Does it kind of look like barf? Yes, but let’s face it, Kanye makes better footwear than he does music these days, and the Yeezy Slides are universally beloved by Yeezy fans. Unlike Donda.

The Yeezy Slide Glow Green is set to drop on September 6th for a retail price of $60. Pick up a pair at the Adidas webstore or via Yeezy Supply.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Last month, Haiti was hit with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that caused more than 2,000 deaths and left over 12,000 people injured, with more than 300 people still missing. Since then, a number of celebrities have stepped forward to contribute what they can for relief efforts towards the country. The latest are rappers Lil Baby and Jackboy, who announced they plan on building a hospital in Haiti.

Recently Jackboy visited the country and spoke about what he saw. He revealed that many patients were forced to stay outside of the hospital because there wasn’t enough space for them inside. This pushed him to commit to building a new hospital in the area. He also announced that he would donate $100,000 towards relief efforts.

“I just walked through a hospital in Haiti & all the patients sleeping outside,” Jackboy wrote on his Instagram Story according to Complex. “I personally handed every single last 1 of them a envelope full of money but fr fr I feel like that ain’t enough…Who want to go half with me & get a hospital built it’s not really that much especially if we using dollars.”
Shortly after Jackboy shared the post on Instagram, Lil Baby replied and wrote, “I’m in.” It’s here that Lil Baby committed to helping Jackboy build the hospital in Haiti.

Time was that wrestlers didn’t translate into movie work. Professional wrestling, at least in the style practiced by the WWE, requires a ton of acting, but just ask Hulk Hogan about his Hollywood stint. It took Dwayne Johnson to break that ceiling some two decades ago. (Heck, maybe he’ll break another one and become president.) Now there are enough wrestler-actors that they can be picky. Recently Dave Bautista, who’s retired from the WWE, said he wants to avoid acting with fellow pugilists — a bold statement that colleague John Cena both mourns and understands.

Cena recently did a video chat for Esquire (in a bit teased out by Digital Spy), in which he tackled regular folks’ questions. There were light queries about his tighty-whitey scenes in The Suicide Squad. But one person went heavier, asking about what Bautista — with whom Cena has wrestled — said.

“I’m super sad about that, because Dave Bautista is an unbelievably gifted actor,” Cena replied. But I think when someone makes a statement like that, the important thing is to look at things from his perspective.”

He went on:

Dave has worked so hard on his craft, he is so dedicated to his characters, and really wants to put forth a body of work that gives him his own identity. I 100% understand that. Dave is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and one of the most generous guys you’ll ever meet. I don’t have any beef with Davie and I genuinely think Dave doesn’t have any beef with me. He really just wants to be identified and recognized for his work. And I cannot fault him for that. I applaud him for it. To be brave enough to say something like that kind of allows him to go forth on his own. And I appreciate that.

It’s an incredibly diplomatic and mature thing for Cena to say. Still, it would be nice to one day see the two of them playing best friends or brothers — something that has nothing to do with wrestling. At this point, they’ve shown so much range that few think of them as wrestlers trying out acting. They’re simply actors now. Who are, on top of that, great wrestlers.

You can watch Cena’s full chat below.

(Via Esquire and Digital Spy)

Ben Simmons would like to be traded very soon, something his camp made abundantly clear this week by ensuring it was reported that he wants out of Philly and won’t report to training camp.

The Sixers would also like to trade him, as they have been actively shopping Simmons all summer, but their asking price continues to keep discussions with other teams from advancing into a serious stage. It’s been rumored that the Sixers are asking for a James Harden-like trade package that would net them four picks as well as an All-Star caliber player, which is a price tag that, so far, no one has been willing to even really engage on.

Maybe the best evidence of just how far apart the Sixers are from every other team in Simmons trade talks is with regards to the Sacramento Kings, who have long been reported as interested in the All-Star guard. Sacramento has a number of young guards on their roster, headlined by De’Aaron Fox (fresh off signing a max extension) and last year’s first round pick, Tyrese Haliburton. On Wednesday morning, it was reported the Sixers were demanding at least one of those two be involved (along with Buddy Hield and whomever else would make the financials work).

However, the Kings are not interested in swapping out one of their young guards for Simmons, instead envisioning a world where they all coexist — something you can do with a point-forward type. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Kings have made it clear they won’t include Fox or Haliburton in a Simmons deal, which, as of this moment, means Sacramento won’t be seriously involved in Simmons talks.

According to a source with knowledge of their situation, the Kings spoke to the Sixers weeks ago and made it clear that both De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton would not be included in a possible Simmons deal. That stance, the source said, has not and will not change and the internal expectation is that the core of their roster will remain the same heading into training camp later this month. There are no current conversations between the two teams and, barring a drastic change in demands, it appears the Kings are an unlikely landing spot for Simmons.

That precludes one of the favorites to land Simmons from the conversation, which would seem to put a damper on Philly’s ability to create a bidding war for Simmons as the season approaches. That leaves the Timberwolves, who have reportedly been among the most aggressive teams in trying to land Simmons, and the Warriors as the favorites remaining, but neither of those teams seem willing to engage in talks that give up a significant haul either. The Wolves want to create a quartet of Simmons-Towns-Russell-Edwards, but if they aren’t offering those three, it’s hard to see what they have the Sixers would be enticed by.

Golden State, meanwhile, has plenty of firepower in terms of young, intriguing talent, plus the Andrew Wiggins contract to make money work, but it would seem, based on the lack of real traction on conversations, that the two sides aren’t exactly close when it comes to who should be included in a Warriors package (or if there’s enough to keep Philly in the immediate title contender conversation).

What seems to be clear is that the rest of the league refuses to come close to the Sixers’ desired return and is willing to bank on Philly eventually balking at the idea of a very awkward situation to start the season with a player who doesn’t want to be there and knows the organization also would like him gone. Once the price goes down on Simmons, though, it will be very interesting to see who tries to get involved, as it wouldn’t be a surprise if rumblings build about far more than just the few teams that have been reported as interested recently.

I’ve been to almost every state along both the West and East Coasts, but I haven’t spent too much time exploring the places in between. This left me feeling slightly anxious leading up to my first time visiting Dallas, Texas over the summer. I didn’t know what to expect. And with the state becoming both a political and pandemic battleground, it was hard to not go in with pre-established ideas.

What I found was basically one big concrete jungle juxtaposed with classic Texan warmth and hospitality. Hikes and outdoorsy excursions were generally harder to find than they are on most of my adventures, so the main attractions for me became the restaurant and nightlife scenes. From five-star steakhouses to Tex-Mex hotspots and rooftop bars serving the most Instagrammable drinks, I found no shortage of gorge-worthy establishments and proceeded to do exactly that.

For what it’s worth, I typically don’t eat meat. But when I’m traveling to a new destination, I’m pretty much down to try whatever the local delicacies may be. In this case, “delicacies” translates to sour cream enchiladas, ranch waters (tequila sodas made in a Topo Chico bottle), and ribeye steaks bigger than my head. No, I don’t regret a single bite (though all I wanted to eat was salad for a week straight after I got home).

If you’re planning a trip to Dallas, make sure to pack your stretchiest pair of pants because food and drinks are abundant. To help you eat your way through Dallas, I’m sharing eight restaurants that I would recommend to any other first-time visitor to the city.

PART I – High-End Steakhouses

Nick & Sam’s

If you’re looking for the ultimate Texas steakhouse experience and feel like balling out on a nice dinner, head to Nick & Sam’s. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the most luxurious (and gluttonous) dinners I’ve ever enjoyed. The dimly lit, elegantly decorated dining room featured sharply dressed diners and waitstaff.

The food was no less buttoned up. Your best plan of action at Nick & Sam’s is to order a ton of shareables for your table. The roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and dates literally felt life-changing. Next up, you need to order the sushi (this is non-negotiable). I normally wouldn’t trust raw fish served at a steakhouse in a land-locked city, but this sh*t was the bomb. You can get a massive sashimi and sushi platter or order a few specialty rolls (I did both). Tip: the volcano roll isn’t technically on the menu, but you can order it. And you should.

Now, for the main course. The waiters literally bring a raw meat presentation to each table so you can hand-select your choice of steak. As I said, I usually don’t eat meat. So this made me a tad queasy, but I respect the personalized service. If you’re going with a group of about five, the tomahawk is a must. It should be plenty for the table after pregaming your steak with sushi and apps.

Nope, we’re not done yet. It might be difficult, but make sure to save room for dessert. They have light-up cotton candy and a giant sparkling rainbow cake. Let me say that again…A SPARKLING RAINBOW CAKE. It’s topped with gummy bears and paired with ice cream for the final touch. This is what I imagine the more fun, excessive, partying corners of heaven being like.

Visit here for the full food menu.

Perry’s Steakhouse

You didn’t think I would only include one steakhouse, did you? This is Texas we’re talking about! Perry’s wasn’t originally part of my Dallas agenda, but it ended up being one of my favorite restaurants in town. The backstory to my meal is that I somehow ended up scoring a date within my first few hours in Dallas. Being a nice southern gentleman, my date took me to what turned out to be one of the most renowned steakhouses in the city. Unlike the Saturday night party at Nick & Sams, Perry’s was a much more intimate environment. The best part (aside from the food) was the floor-to-ceiling windows on the second floor — offering a look Dallas’s picturesque nighttime skyline. It was romantic, to say the least.

Oh, the date? He’s engaged to someone else now. At least I got a nice meal out of it.

Perry’s is a steakhouse, but the establishment is actually best known for its, “Perry’s Famous Pork Chop.” It’s slow-smoked, caramelized, and carved tableside on a hot cast iron plate – everything at Perry’s is a performance. I also ordered the bacon-wrapped scallops to start, which sounds like a sodium overload. However, the balance between the juicy fats and fishy flavors worked magically together. For the sides, you will likely regret your entire existence if you don’t order the asparagus. It’s topped with blue lump crab and charred to veggie perfection. The lobster mac & cheese and whipped potatoes can also do no wrong at Perry’s. The entire meal effortlessly fused every food group together.

As I said, everything at Perry’s is a show, including the dessert. The menu features a whole list of flaming desserts that the waiter sears right next to your table. I ordered the Bananas Foster, which consists of sliced bananas flambéed with brown sugar, rum, cinnamon, and nutmeg served over vanilla ice cream. Yes, it was as good as it sounds. The perfectly charred sugary sweetness and layers of spice keep the banana flavors from overpowering the rest of the dessert. Worth every calorie.

Check out the Perry’s menu here.

PART II – Trendy Hotspots

Paradiso

In my opinion, a restaurant’s meal presentation and ambiance can make or break the dining experience. In Paradiso’s case, it’s what earned it a spot on this list of Dallas must-haves. The whimsical vibes and elegantly plated dishes were like a trendy culinary fairytale. There are literally two massive trees adorned with twinkling bohemian-inspired chandeliers and a fountain in the center of the patio area. If it’s too chilly to sit outside, the indoor dining space is just as nice — with lush greenery, brightly colored decor, and abstract art covering the walls.

Aside from the dreamy environment, Paradiso has some delicious Southern European-style food. The menu consists of classic hand-made pasta favorites, wood-fried pizza, and all the main course protein meals you know and love. I ordered the seared scallops, which come with celery root purée, pear, cranberry, and hazelnut. Mmm, I’m hungry just thinking about it. Paradiso’s desserts are probably the most unique thing on the menu. With options like a grapefruit cheesecake infused with elderflower, your taste buds are sure to get a kick out of the final treat.

What I loved most about Paradiso is the little bar adjacent to the patio where you can lounge and sip while waiting for your table. Its swanky, old-school vibe is the perfect place to chill out and try one, or two, of Paradiso’s signature cocktails. I like things sweet, as you may have gathered, so I ordered the Ciao Bella, a glass of strawberry-infused Campari, sweet vermouth, Cocchi di torino, and prosecco.

Ready to add Paradiso to your Dallas foodie bucket list? Check out the menu and restaurant photo gallery here.

Sky Blossom Bistro

Skyline views are aplenty at Sky Blossom Bistro in the heart of Downtown Dallas. The rooftop restaurant and bar is six stories high and sits next to one of Dallas’ most peculiar landmarks, the Giant Eyeball. It’s a 30-feet tall fiberglass sculpture of a human eyeball placed in the middle of a fenced garden. Weird, I know. But it definitely adds some zest to the otherwise concrete landscape. Sky Blossom Bistro serves Asian fusion appetizers, salads, and entrees like Bo Kho beef stew and shrimp garlic noodles.

The popular rooftop food spot is also known for its sushi tacos, which are essentially a hand roll served in the shape of a taco. I, of course, had to try them for myself. I ordered the spicy tuna tacos, but they also offer shrimp tempura tacos and avocado tacos. I recommend that messy eaters request extra napkins before digging in, as these can get a bit flimsy after the first bite (I learned this the hard way).

If you need something to wash your sushi tacos and spring rolls down, Sky Blossom Bistro has a slew of fruity cocktails that are equally as colorful as they are strong. One of them even comes with sour candy ropes on top!

Check out their Instagram here for a peek at their tasty meals and vibrant drinks.

PART III – Classic Tex-Mex

Mi Cocino

I obviously couldn’t visit Dallas without eating Tex-Mex at least once. Mi Cocina seemed to be one of the popular Tex-Mex spots, as there are several locations scattered throughout the city. After pigging out here on my last night in Dallas, I completely understand why. I never thought a sour cream chicken enchilada would be something I’d choose to eat, but Mi Cocina proved my apprehension wrong. Every bite was a greasy, cheesy, and confusingly satisfying ball of goodness – okay, now I’m daydreaming about cheese. Anyway, if you’re opposed to trying the rare delicacies of Texas, there are plenty of other options. The menu features all of the classic favorites you can expect to find at a Mexican restaurant, from tacos to tortilla soup.

Everyone knows you can’t have a true Mexican supper without a margarita, but Mi Cocina takes it to the next level. Their signature drink called the Mambo Taxi is a dangerous combination of Sauza silver tequila, lime juice, housemade sangria with pinot noir, brandy, and fruit juices. You’re going to want to drink your Mambo Taxi slow, despite the irresistible slushy-like texture and great flavor. If I’m being candid, I was borderline hammered after drinking only one. I may just be a lightweight, but those things will get you if you’re not careful. It gives you a buzz and a sugar rush at the same time, so you’re sure to be feeling yourself after a few sips. No wonder Mi Cocina limits all guests to order no more than two Mambo Taxis.

Browse the menu and find the Mi Cocina location closest to your hotel here.

Meso Maya

Meso Maya may not have Mambo Taxis, but they do have avocado margaritas. It sounds interesting, I know. But the signature concoction of mulled avocado, freshly squeezed pineapple and lime juices, Cointreau, and tequila blanco is surprisingly palatable and refreshing. Their outdoor dining area is the perfect place to sip on your avo marg (or try a Texas ranch water!) on a summer day. The space is enclosed within brick buildings, so you’ll get plenty of shade and a cool industrial atmosphere to chill out in. The little light bulbs strung across the top of the patio add a nice touch, too.

Now, for the food. At this point in the trip, I needed to take a short break from all the red meat. I ordered the shrimp tacos, and they offered a unique twist to your average tacos de camaron. In addition to the classic cilantro and cabbage, mango was also thrown into the mix. It was a sweet and salty Tex-Mex masterpiece. Some of their popular house specials also include the enchiladas en mole (you can never go wrong with that), Oaxaca steak, and queso poblano.

For the Meso Maya menu, click here.

PART IV – Casual Dining Options

Dallas Farmers Market

If you’re someone who likes to have diverse options, head to the Dallas Farmers Market. There’s a 26,000 square foot food hall and vendor market called The Market Shops, open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The market features four restaurants, as well as local specialty and artisanal food vendors and seating areas both inside and outside (where you can get yet another view of the city skyline). It’s also a great place to shop for gifts, boutique clothing, and other artisan trinkets like handmade soaps and souvenirs to bring home. I ordered the vegan tikka from one of the local vendors, 8 Clove. It was the spicy kick I needed for an afternoon pick-me-up.

There are so many food spots to try all within The Market Shops. You could likely go there for a meal every day of your trip and never run out of new options. Overall, it’s the ultimate casual, diverse dining location in Dallas. Pursuing through all of the intriguing food choices and quirky tourist gifts makes the Dallas Farmers Market both a tasty and fun experience.

For a full list of the local fare, boutiques, and other vendors, click here.

Katy Trail Ice House

One way to get your dose of the outdoors in Dallas is by taking a stroll on the Katy Trail. It’s a 3.5-mile long jogging, walking, and bike path that runs through the Uptown and Oak Lawn neighborhoods. Located along the trek is the Katy Trail Ice House, a laidback beer garden and restaurant where you can stop for a cold one and barbecue munchies. I always lean toward something light like a Pacifico or a cider, but the beverages menu features 50 beers on tap ranging from Texas domestics to regional and international imports. There’s a brew for every kind of beer drinker!

If you worked up an appetite while walking the trail, Ice House’s food menu is all about classic backyard barbecue favorites. They’ve got gourmet burgers and hotdogs, loaded cheese fries, steakhouse onion rings, grilled cheese sandwiches, and all of the Southern fixin’s of your dreams. Being here really does feel like a summer party with friends. 10/10 recommend for a long (and tipsy) afternoon outside.

View the full beer and beverages list here.

The world today is exhaustingly unpredictable, every day a flurry of Mad Libs news stories of random nightmares no one was expecting. For instance: A lot of anti-vaxxers sick with the disease they don’t believe is that big a deal are taking horse dewormers, then making themselves sicker. That one came out of nowhere. But this story was bound to happen eventually: Joe Rogan, noted free thinker and spreader of pandemic misinformation, tested positive for COVID. And of course he’s taking the aforementioned animal drugs to treat it.

In a post on Instagram with the caption “I GOT COVID,” the NewsRadio alum-turned-podcast king reveals that he returned from a gig on Saturday feeling “very weary” and “just run-down.” Sure enough, he tested positive for the coronavirus the next day. At that point he “threw the kitchen sink at it,” taking an army of drugs — including, Ivermectin, better known as the farm animal dewormer that somehow has poisoned the brains of American anti-vaxxers (as well as their bodies).

Did it work? Who knows? After bingeing on various treatments of various efficacy and safety for three days, he said he feels “great.” The “bad news,” he said, was that he had to cancel a show he was doing alongside Dave Chappelle on Friday, moving that to late October.

He ended by giving a “wonderful, heartfelt thank you to modern medicine for pulling me out of this so quickly and easily.”

Rogan has claimed that he’s “not an anti-vax person,” advising that anyone over 16 should get one of the three vaccines designed to battle COVID. But he’s also repeatedly slammed Dr. Anthony Fauci and claimed, falsely, that those who are young and healthy don’t “need” to get dosed, which caused White House officials to correct him.

So when Rogan revealed he’d gotten the ‘rona and was taking a drug used to eradicate worms in farm animals, people weren’t that surprised.

Others pointed out that when an extremely popular podcaster beloved by people who don’t listen to experts sings the praises of horse medicine — which has led to an uptick in poisons — that might be a bit irresponsible.

In the meantime, please don’t take horse drugs to treat COVID. And just, like, generally, too. Don’t take horse drugs at all.

Unlike so many drinks businesses, award-winning (and Uproxx praised!) canned cocktail company, Siponey, didn’t have to readjust their business model to highlight diversity, inclusion, and environmental stewardship over the past half-decade. Those qualities are fundamental to the company itself and how it came about. Co-founded and co-owned by a Latina woman, Amanda Victoria, along with her partner, horticulturist Joseph Mintz, Siponey endeavors to give back to both community and the planet in everything it does.

It also tastes good, which is key if you want your upstart (non-celebrity owned!) drinks business to thrive. The canned whiskey spritz is comprised of four-year-old rye whiskey, real lemon juice, sparkling water, and honey. It features notes of honey and lemon with a touch of peppery rye — a nice break from the often syrupy competition.

As canned cocktails continue to boom, I chatted with Victoria about starting a brand from the ground up, her commitment to diversity and inclusion, and how environmentalism is part of Siponey’s overarching mission. Check our conversation below!

***

What was your introduction to the spirits industry?

I’ve been in wine and spirits for about 15 years, since approximately 2005. I started by working in, coincidentally, a Michelin starred restaurant as a hostess in the West Village, which is still there today; and was introduced to the world of wine that way. I found myself as a young 18–19-year-old, serving wine to the likes of Lou Reed, Giselle Bundchen, and some really high-end people in this Michelin star world that was popping at the time. I was really inspired by the different tastes and cultures that I was introduced to in the West Village as a young girl.

As soon as I could start drinking legally, I became more interested in learning about wine. And that led to working in other great restaurants and bars, including some of the most awarded cocktail bars in the world and in the city; falling into the right laps at the right time with mentors, including Audrey Saunders at the Pegu Club [who] was my first early mentor and teacher. I don’t have any traditional studies in my field. And I mention that just because I happen to be working alongside and for and together with a lot of the people that ended up creating a lot of the accreditations for the industry. A lot of it was being defined at the same time that I was working in these cocktail bars.

When did the idea for Siponey come along?

So much had happened between the time that I was working in bars and restaurants up to 2019. I worked for every major supplier — both public and private companies of the large liquor companies in the world — in roles that were very well regarded on a global level, and always focused on education. So I had the opportunity to travel the world for almost a decade – flying around the world, learning from families and generations of producers, from Poland to France to Scotland and beyond. Then, coming and teaching these stories of production and education back to the American audience. For these large liquor suppliers like William Grant & Sons, Louis Vuitton, and Moët Hennessy, I had been doing this so often, I would get dream job after dream job, to be honest. I love the concept of learning and teaching about cultures that are defined by specifically family producers, but people who have been making products for the lines of many family generations. Then, coupled with that, flying, teaching, traveling, and education are all my favorite things.

I was lucky to be able to do that for large companies for so long. But it got to the point where I became just overly passionate about these products to the point where people that I would be educating on the products themselves back in America would say, “Well, is this your family? Is this something that you own? Do you have equity in this company?” I even had a moniker at one point where people used to call me Lady Moët and it was just because I was so entrenched in this company that I was working for at the time that people assumed that I was for it and had an equity stake.

I met my partner Joseph Mintz in 2018. We came together on an idea after nagging me for as many months as he could, “When are we going to launch your own product? When are you going to launch something that you actually own and that you can talk about as passionately as you talk and teach about these products that you’ve really changed the revenue structure? Why can’t we do this for yourself?” The three-tier distribution system is nearly impossible to navigate as an individual supplier, it would be a really challenging thing. He didn’t really know the full landscape of how challenging the distribution of alcohol is in the U.S. I think, if he did, we might not be where we are today. I’m glad he didn’t at that time, and he’s my partner in life and business.

I was six months pregnant and we came together on the idea to create Siponey.

What would you say helped you take that leap of faith?

Joey is my catalyst. So much of my life in the last several years has accelerated rapidly with Joseph entering my life, including this business of ours. It was his opportunity to dream and see real opportunity in me and my experience and couple it with his experience. He brings in the environmental aspect of the brand itself, coming from a background in horticultural studies from the New York Botanical Gardens. He’s always planting, and he brings in the entire environmental wellness element of the Siponey story and brand. He thought of us coming together, creating a community around apiary education, and giving back to the environment, a brand that is rooted in sustainability and environmental wellness, and ingredients. Siponey is all about people and the planet and giving back to people with our ingredients and giving back to the planet with the way we’re made. We give back a portion of profits to nonprofit partners who are out there teaching children how to make honeybee colonies in underserved communities. It’s bringing all these elements together that uniquely makes the Siponey brand story.

I say uniquely because now we’ve had some copycats at this point, which is humbling. So much of what Siponey is is who me and Joey are. So we’re really secure in who we are and putting our love into this project. I hope it shows.

Let’s get into the actual drink itself. Tell me about the whiskey and other ingredients.

When Joey was like, “You need to make a product.” He was like, “What would you make?” This is obviously before the pandemic. This is before the recent RTD canned cocktail rush, but it’s also around the same time as the initial White Claw success. And that was the inspiration for making a product. Again, with the best ingredients, we wanted to do something that we feel our customers really just simply deserve – the highest quality ingredients you’re going to find in a canned cocktail.

We use a four-year-old aged rye whiskey from New York state, made in a fashion that is pretty much biodynamic but not certified because of red tape. It’s made with that much care. All local grains, all locally aged in New York State. All our ingredients are coming from an approximately 200-mile radius of upstate New York. The wildflower honey comes locally from where the same grains are planted for the whiskey. So there’s synergy there in the elements. Then, we also use lemon juice and carbonated water, Saratoga Springs water – which is just some beautiful, delicious water to carbonate and make the soda water aspect of Siponey. The lemons don’t come from upstate New York. They don’t grow lemons very well in New York State. We work with a purveyor to get our lemon juice. That’s the only element that’s not out of New York. Because of all of the ingredients coming with such care to New York State and because Joey and I being born in New York City, we’ve created what we’ve termed as the “official canned cocktail of New York City” because everybody who’s touched this project is so New York.

I look at your social media posts and you’re very passionate about the ins and outs of the spirits industry. I want to get your perspective of what’s right and wrong in the industry. Let’s start with the positive.

So much is going right. Change is really hard. We’re at the precipice moment so to speak of some significant change or the potential for some significant change. A lot of the larger corporations are all really receptive to the, for lack of a better word, buzzwords, of the social and environmental causes that are so important right now, that have been important for decades prior; but they came to a pinnacle moment during the pandemic in the last couple of years here on many different arenas on a collective level and then have really trickled down to an industry level. So, the awakening moment is here. There is not an older male gentleman in corporate America liquor who hasn’t heard of diversity, inclusion, sustainability, environmental wellness, and how that supporting these very important initiatives will also, in turn, support their profits and revenues overall.

Just because I grew up in it, it seems very important to me to be quite vocal about action and follow-through and in these departments of specifically social justice and for Siponey very specifically environmental wellness and follow through and to see the money be redirected to support these significant changes that they’re committing to with a lot of wordplays right now. So we’re at this moment — and I think we’ve been here for a little bit under a year, at least — where we’re looking towards the future. I want to see this change that’s going to happen, the awareness is there. Whether it’s awareness from a pure level or from a profit-driven level. I think it’s the latter, but it’s there.

So, we’re here at this moment of awareness and I think that is very positive.

I agree with you, the first step to change is acknowledging there is an issue. You read my mind, it’s like “is this performative for profit, or do you genuinely care about making a change?”

For the most part, I’m not going to be the one to sugarcoat that. I think as someone as a Latina and woman – and my insights don’t match my outside sometimes – I find myself at tables with white older gentlemen quite often in my career, and it’s because my mouth doesn’t really match my outside. I feel like it’s some disconnect. I feel like it is very much for profit. I really do want to see environmental wellness. I really do want a planet left for my daughter to raise her family in, in the future. But I think short term, a lot of these companies that do commit to these bigger statements that they’re making, I’m still waiting to see it. I want to see it. I think it’s performative. It can be performative until we really look back at this time, we won’t really know. Just like you said, acknowledgment to change is huge.

With being a double minority — a Latina and woman — what advice would you give someone that’s also a double minority that wants to launch their own business in this space?

That’s a very good question. It’s a little heartbreaking to some extent because, in some ways, the playing field is not level. I think about just how I would speak to my daughter if this were something she wanted to pursue, but I hope change will be in a different place in her generation. I think for sure perseverance, finding a place to deal with rejection, a healthy outlet for rejection is super important. For every one “yes”, there’s going to be 100 “no’s” and in social media, you see a lot of people that celebrate those yeses, but there are a lot of things we don’t see. Take a moment and understand there’s no overnight success. It’s a long, long process, typically. Overnight success is, again, what you think you see as an observer, but so much went into that moment.

Specialize in something – that’s a big one for me – in whatever industry you’re in, whatever pursuit of passion that you have. The one thing that you do need to be successful as an entrepreneur is passion and being able to utilize that passion by specializing in something. For me in the beginning, it was French spirits. I really specialized in French spirits. Then, I moved on to specialize in Scotch whiskey and whiskey in general. Find a little niche area and put some commitment of time and education, research, and establish yourself as an expert in that area. Through dedication, time, and passion that you bring into it repeatedly, it’ll add up to something.

Don’t take “no” for an answer.

After releasing her new single “One Night” just a few short days ago, Griff is back with a dance-heavy new video for the magnetic track. Already tapped by giants like Spotify and the BRIT Awards as one of the next big things in pop, this new song just continues to prove her songwriting abilities — and doubles down on the fact that she’s a triple threat. The video alternates between Griff walking through city streets chasing down her shadow, and breaking out into full-fledged dance moves, expertly echoing the song’s tension between living in the past and wanting to move on and focus on healing the self.

At just 20-years-old, Griff — aka Sarah Faith Griffiths — has already had massive hits like her breakout single “Black Hole,” and released her debut EP One Foot In Front Of The Other back in June. “One Night” is a new single that’s not on that project, and more proof that Griff is just getting started. After early support from Spotify, another streaming giant, none other than YouTube, is also throwing their weight behind this young artist. They named her as their latest Artist On The Rise, and usually, they don’t get these kinds of predictions wrong.

Check out her new single above and keep your ears out for a lot more from this young pop star in the making.

Building on the success of his breakout mixtape Free Dem Boyz, Detroit rapper and XXL Freshman 42 Dugg maintained his momentum with a deluxe edition re-release of Free Dem Boyz last week, adding seven new songs including features from Lil Durk, Moneybagg Yo, and Nardo Wick while shuffling some of the sequencing to make for a smoother ride.

Today, Dugg marked the release of the deluxe edition by sharing the high-speed video for one of the album’s original standout tracks, “Bestfriends.” Directed by DrewFilmedIt, the video captures an exuberant Dugg as he shops for jewelry, puts the pedal to the metal in his brand-new cars, and holds court at a neighborhood gathering, enjoying the attention of his community and the fruits of his newfound success.

Free Dem Boyz, which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 in May after its release on May 21, gave Dugg his first top-10 placement on the albums chart behind hyperactive singles like “4 Da Gang” featuring Roddy Ricch and “Maybach” featuring Future and the continued support of post-release singles such as “Turnest N**** In The City” and “Rose Gold” featuring EST Gee, 42 Dugg’s fellow breakout star and compatriot on Yo Gotti’s CMG record label. Dugg is also headed on tour — more information for that is available here.

Watch 42 Dugg’s “Bestfriends” video above.

Jeff Passan seems like a pretty nice guy and is perhaps the best Major League Baseball insider in the game today. He’s also very good at Twitter, where he is known for RKO’ing people who pop up into his mentions with nonsense with a directness that you normally don’t see from people at ESPN. (Well, unless they’re emailing a United States Senator from Missouri, but that’s neither here nor there.)

Anyway, Passan tweeted out some details about New York Mets acting general manager Zack Scott getting arrested for drunk driving, which was reported earlier in the day on Wednesday by the New York Post. The details weren’t great: According to Passan, Scott was at the home of team owner Steve Cohen earlier in the night for a big fundraiser that included a number of players in attendance.

The replies featured a bunch of people making fun of the Mets, but also, a man by the name of David Wohl, who accused Passan of trying to smear Cohen, somehow.

Now, Wohl’s son is a man by the name of Jacob Wohl, a well-documented right wing grifter who is facing a number of criminal and civil lawsuits (along with a potential record fine from the FCC) relating to a widespread robocall scam that looked to suppress turnout in the 2020 presidential election, specifically in Black communities. Passan understands this and decided to bring the thunder.

I am going to be honest, I did not expect Jacob Wohl’s dad getting viciously dunked on by Jeff Passan over the New York Mets to be a thing that happened when I woke up this morning, but here we are.