Category: News

Leslie Knope‘s love for Joe Biden is damn near legendary. The Parks and Recreation character famously brought to life by Amy Poehler harbored a frequently-cited crush for the then-vice president during the show’s seven season run on NBC. In an amazing casting coup for the sitcom, Biden actually appeared on the show in the 2012 episode “Leslie vs. April,” and Leslie’s interaction with her deepest obsession launched a thousand GIFs as she struggled to compose herself before eventually being removed by the Secret Service while screaming “He is precious cargo!”

And it’s that classic scene that came roaring back to life on social media during Biden’s inauguration as Parks and Rec fans made “Leslie Knope” trend by claiming that she knew this day would come.

Of course, it didn’t take long for the “Leslie Knope knew” reactions to evolve into enjoying the thought of how Biden’s inauguration would feel for Leslie. Heck, after the past four years, who wouldn’t enjoy a day where Leslie Knope is trending instead of things like insurrection or #RIGGED?

After looking at these reactions, it really drives home how synonymous Poehler is with Leslie Knope who almost missed out on the iconic role. Back in December, Parks and Rec creator Mike Schur revealed how NBC wanted to debut the show after the 2009 Super Bowl, but there was a major problem. Poehler was pregnant with her first child and was due to give birth right as the show needed to start filming its pilot. Schur said they could’ve recast, but he told Literally! With Robe Lowe that he made the “insane” decision of asking NBC to shorten the first season order and wait three months. “We just kept feeling that debuting after the Super Bowl is a short-term fix,” Schur said. “Getting Amy Poehler on the show is the long-term solution.”

Regardless of where you live, you’re going to need something (usually in beer or whiskey form) to help you warm up on those bone-chilling winter days. What constitutes “bone-chilling” depends on where you reside, of course. If you’re located in San Diego, a day with a high of 50 might be enough for you to bundle up from head to toe. A denizen of Buffalo might feel the same way when thick, blinding snow is cascading down and the temperature dips below 10.

Either way, both of these cold-weather stalwarts require a warming beverage at the end of the day. And since we write about whiskey almost every damn day, we’re focusing on beer this time around.

“The best winter warmer be for me is a Schwarzbier,” says Tyra Demarest, bartender at V Lounge in Solvang, California. “It’s dark as a stout like a Guinness, but the difference would be that it’s not necessarily brewed like a stout — so there’s not much thickness to it. It’s brewed like an ale with dark, rich hints of chocolate. You might get some vanilla in there and in the very, very distant back of your palate you’ll get currants as well.”

If that doesn’t sound like your vibe, we asked 16 more bartenders for their picks, too. Check the beers they shouted out below.

Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Stout

Jerry Skakun, bartender at Cucina Enoteca in Newport Beach, California

If we are talking warm beers, anything Irish or German would be awesome, if we are talking a beer to opt for that warming sensation, I would say Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Stout. Throw some vanilla ice cream and dulce de leche in the pint glass — it’s the ultimate game-changer.

Spaten Optimator

Christopher Wright, bartender at Don Camillo Tuscan Cuisine in Corinth, Texas

While not labeled a winter warmer, in particular, my favorite beer to enjoy during the colder months is the Spaten Optimator doppelbock. Do keep in mind that this delicious beverage carries a 7.6 % ABV, so it is best enjoyed where and when no travel is required.

The Spaten Optimator carries all the malty and spicy traits which you would expect from a winter warmer, making this my personal recommendation for the category.

Westbrook Mexican Cake

Allen Lancaster, master cocktail craftsman at The Bar at The Spectator Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina

Westbrook Brewing Mexican Cake is a must-have for me. Cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, and habanero pepper make it the perfect choice for a winter warmer that hugs you from the inside.

Hitachino Nest Weizen

Ilan Chartor, head bartender at MILA in Miami

I like Hitachino Nest Weizen. It’s a German-style Hefeweizen inspired Japanese Beer. It has notes of orange, vanilla, banana, and clove, making it a great winter beer.

Bristol Winter Warlock

Anastacio Garcia Liley, USBG bartender in Colorado Springs, Colorado

I love Winter Warlock from Bristol Brewery. It’s a drier, toasty flavor profile that makes you wish you were out camping with a nice cold bottle by the fire.

Wicked Weed Milk & Cookies

Kirstin Sabik, mixologist at Sneaky Tiki in Pensacola, Florida

Wicked Weed Milk & Cookies feels like coming home for the holidays. Sitting around the kitchen with family and friends protected from the winter chill, this one warms the heart and soul. What flavors make it great? Sweet vanilla, oatmeal, and cinnamon and raisin cookies, just like grandma used to make.

Fat Bottom Knockout IPA

Kimberly Basnight, lead bartender at Fins Bar in Nashville

One of my favorite winter warmer beer would be Fat Bottom Knockout IPA because of its unique flavors, hops to keep you warm, and a hint of grapefruit.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager

Una Green, USBG bartender in Los Angeles

I’m originally from Boston and have been living in LA now for almost twelve years. Around the holidays, and especially 2020 and not being able to travel, I get very nostalgic and sentimental. So I usually reach for a six-pack of the Sam Adams seasonal beers, like the brand’s Winter Lager.

Delirium Noel

Sire Negri, lead mixologist at Havana Beach Bar & Grill, located at The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach, Florida

‘Tis the season for Brouwerij Huyghe Delirium Noel. This seasonal release from Brouwerij Huyghe only comes out once a year. This Belgian Strong Ale has strong notes of banana bread, caramel, and seasonal spice. Clocking in at a hefty 10% ABV, Delirium Noel is a wonderful treat.

Ommegang Three Philosophers

Stephen Lasaten, food and beverage manager at The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands

Ommegang Three Philosophers. With its high alcohol content, fruity and chocolaty aromas will give you the feeling of relaxing next to a campfire.

Enjoy this in moderation and it’ll make for a smooth and warm night.

21st Amendment Fireside Chat

Raffaele Dall’Erta, general manager sommelier at Hampton’s Restaurant in Sumter, South Carolina

21st Amendment Fireside Chat is a great winter beer. English style-ale, it tastes like chocolate and baking spices. Cardamom, allspice, and clove are all soft presences in the background.

It is great for warming you up on a cold winter day, while sitting near the fireplace.

Breckenridge Holidale

Andres Rairan, lead bartender at Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel’s The Social Club in Miami

Holidale from Breckenridge Brewery in Colorado has to be one of my favorite winter beers. The ABV on this bad boy is in the double digits, so you will def warm up even after one of these. The dark, red-caramel hue on this beer makes for such a beautiful beer — drink out of a nice room temperature glass and it goes down smooth, thanks to its whiskey barrel finish.

This limited series is one I always look forward to around this time of year.

Brooklyn Winter Ale

Jane Danger, national mixologist for Pernod-Ricard USA

When I want a beer on the lighter side, I really enjoy the Brooklyn Winter Ale. It is a Scottish Style Ale that has notes of coffee, malt, chocolate, rum raisin cake with a bitter citrus bite at the end. If you want to go more traditional look to the 21st Amendment Brewery, Fireside Chat. It’s a great winter ale with spices, not the other way around.

If you don’t have a fireside to sit by this will make you feel like you do. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar toast you up all over.

Deschutes Jubelale

Joan Percival, USBG bartender in Omaha, Nebraska

Jubelale from Deschutes is awesome for winter warming. It has a nice bit of allspice without being too sweet. Pretty much a perfect winter beer.

Writer’s Pick:

Harpoon Winter Warmer

This beer literally has the words “winter warmer” in its name. You know what you’re getting into when you crack one of these open. This 5.9% ABV warming, rich beer is filled with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and winter spices. Mix it with Harpoons hard cider and you’ve got a real warming drink that tastes just like an apple pie.

A staple of El-P’s Twitter account is his regular tweets featuring photos of adorable animals to help brighten his followers’ days. The Run The Jewels member shared another one this morning, of a squirrel cramming a peanut into its mouth, and wrote, “please enjoy this picture of a squirrel munching on a peanut.” That post led to an amazing reveal from El’s personal life courtesy of his wife, comedian and musician Emily Panic.

Panic responded to El’s tweet, “Your spirit animal,” and followed that with an unbelievable illustration (as she noted, by artist Meryl Smith) of she and El sharing a hug, except her head is on a peacock’s body while El’s is on a squirrel’s. Responding to the image, El revealed, “true story: this was the image on me and @aprettybigmouth wedding invitation. originally our friend wanted to draw me as a tiger or some sh*t but i told her i wanted to be a squirrel.” Given the nature of the invitation, one can only imagine how fun the wedding itself was.

https://twitter.com/therealelp/status/1351860350661091328

El-P recently deleted all of his tweets, so sadly, his vast archive of cute and uplifting animal photos is lost forever. Still, this is a great way to start building a new collection, so here’s hoping that the content flows and that it prompts more heartwarming and adorable peeks into El-P’s life.

In his first speech as president, Joe Biden called for a divided America — an “uncivil war that pits reds against blues” — to come together. It’s already working on one anchor for Fox News, the network most associated with Donald Trump’s administration.

“I thought it was a great speech,” Chris Wallace said following Biden’s inaugural address. “I’ve been listening to these inaugural addresses since 1961. John F. Kennedy, ‘ask not.’ I thought this was the best inaugural address I have ever heard.”

He later called it “part sermon, part pep-talk.”

Wallace added that the speech was “a call to our better angels, a call saying look, we’ve got tremendous challenges, COVID, the economy, racial injustice, climate change, but there’s nothing we can’t do if we come together.” There’s something else that Biden said that drew Wallace’s attention, “especially us in the media… He said, ‘That there is truth and there are lies, lies that are told for power and lies that are told for profit.’ I think it was a call to all of us, whether it’s us on the air, on cable or broadcast, whether it’s us on social media, on our Twitter accounts, understanding that we have to deal from facts, from the truth, to hear each other out, as he said, a right to disagree, but not a right to violence.” You can watch Wallace’s praise for Biden above.

(Via the Hill)

President Joe Biden’s inauguration took place today, and, along with the swearing-in of a new administration, the event also marked some historic firsts for our country. Of course, Kamala Harris is key among them, becoming the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first Asian-American woman to become Vice President. But there was another history-making moment during the ceremony and it came courtesy of Amanda Gorman.

Gorman, a 22-year-old recent Harvard grad and the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate, also became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history as she recited a powerful, moving piece titled, “The Hill We Climb.” Gorman wrote the piece in the wake of the Capitol Hill insurrection on Jan. 6th, and it will be included in her soon-to-be-published book coming in September. The poem, which addressed everything from white supremacy to the hope that this new administration will restore democracy and heal the divide, also contained a handful of Hamilton references that got Twitter hyped and earned a shoutout from creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Gorman addressed her own history too while observing the significance of the day, specifically of Harris’ appointment, saying, in “a country and a time where a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.” Gorman, who like President Biden has a speech impediment and auditory processing disorder, managed to outshine other performers like Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez with her inspiring speech, and Twitter was quick to take notice.

We’d like to think that this is proof nature is finally healing itself.

An egg salad sandwich is one of those dishes that I think about maybe once a year. It’s nice enough once made, but often messy and very rich. Not exactly something I crave.

But in recent years, I’ve noticed the humble egg salad sandwich grow in popularity on the internet, mostly thanks to the Japanese version, the Tamago Sando. This riff on the original features a hard or soft boiled egg added into the egg salad between two slices of soft white bread (a Tamago Sando is a pretty straightforward egg salad, otherwise).

To me, burying an egg in egg salad has always sort of felt like putting a hat on a hat while making an already messy deli stalwart even messier. Still … I was willing to give it a try.

Before stepping into the kitchen, I called up a Japanese chef who I used to party with (in the before times) and asked him the ins and outs. His biggest tip was to cool the egg salad as much as possible to make it more solid in the sandwich. The rest was straightforward advice for a really good egg salad: soft milk bread, a little sharp mustard in the mix, shallots, white pepper not black, etc.

We’re talking about deli salad here, not rocket science.

After our call, I was still incredulous that this eggy Instagram favorite would improve on the original, but I was willing to try. Here’s how it went down.

Egg Salad Sandwich/Tamago Sando

What You’ll Need in the Kitchen:

• Medium pot
• Large spoon
• Cutting board
• Kitchen knife
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Sandwich-size Tupperware

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs
• Shallot
• Lemon thyme
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard or similar
• White pepper
• Salt
• Soft white bread

If you want a nice and orange egg yolk, buy fresh eggs. If you want an egg that’s super easy to peel once boiled, buy fresh eggs. I added a little lemon thyme to this mix as it just made sense to bring a herbal note that also had a subtle citrus edge — something to cut through the richness of the egg salad.

Also, when I went shopping, I thought I still had a bottle of Kewpie mayo on the shelf. Turns out that was a bottle of Hellmann’s. In these times, it’s way too much effort to go back to a grocery store for one item. Hellmann’s it is! (Though Japanese-made Kewpie would have been ideal.)

As for the bread, I used this really soft Italian sandwich bread that you see in delis sometimes. It’s really, really close to the soft milk bread most sando shops use and makes for a great egg salad sammie in general.

Step 1:

Time to boil some eggs. First, I boil six eggs for 9 minutes. I remove them from the boiling pot of water when the timer goes off and place them into a basin of cold water to cool and stop cooking.

Next, I boil two more eggs for six minutes. Again, when the timer goes off, I transfer the eggs to a basin of cold water to stop the cooking and cool.

I then peel all the eggs, making sure to keep the longer boiled eggs separate from the shorter boiled ones. Next, I place them all in the fridge to cool through completely (maybe an hour).

Step 2:

Let’s make some egg salad. I do a pretty rough dice on the six eggs. Basically, I’m slicing the egg in half length-wise. Then I slice those halves into thirds length-wise. Finally, I chop those thirds up.

Next, I dice one shallot. I also de-stem about four sprigs of fresh lemon thyme.

In a medium mixing bowl, I add in the eggs, mayo, mustard, white pepper, a pinch of salt, the shallots, and the thyme. I use a standard spoon to mix the whole thing.

Once the yolk emulsifies with the mayo and mustard, you’re there. It should be very creamy and rich. Give the salad a taste and adjust for salt and pepper if needed. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or some diced chilis if you want heat.

I then cover the bowl and place it in the fridge for about two hours to cool completely.

Step 3:

It’s time to build our sandwich!

I know this is going to be a mess. So, I’m using a sandwich form. It’s really just a Tupperware lunch box that fits sandwiches and a snack. I figure the extra space for the snack will give me some room to actually scoop out the sandwich and plate it.

I build the sandwich by placing the slice of bread in first. I then scoop in a half-inch or so layer of egg salad.

Next, I cut my eggs in half and give a pinch of salt to the yolk — a very small one. I then nestle the eggs into the egg salad, yolk side up.

Lastly, I place the slice of bread over it all and slice it down the middle, trying my best to hit the center of the intact yolks.

I then use the handle of the spoon to lift out the sandwich halves and plate them.

Bottom Line:

Yup, that looks like a Tamago Sando. Though I have to say… it’s very obvious I am not an IG food stylist.

Alright, it’s time to tuck in. I bit into the first half and it’s … okay. The egg salad is very rich, creamy, sharp, and eggy. Exactly what you want in an egg salad. But then the boiled egg comes in and takes away all that edge. It really mutes everything.

Then, of course, there’s the slippage I was worried about.

Yeah, the majority of the egg salad slipped out of this sandwich. Each bite on the boiled egg just pushed out more and more egg salad. I’ve seen these made neater with drier egg salad, but who wants that?

Maybe if I had wrapped the sandwich it would have held together a bit better? In the end, I was mostly eating a boiled egg sandwich with a really yolky mayo on it. Which was okay, I guess. I will assuredly use about half the amount of egg salad next time… if there is a next time.

Overall, this sandwich looks a lot better than it tastes. I’m fine with a sandwich being messy. But the boiled egg takes away much more than it adds. One year from now, when I actually think about egg salad again, I’ll probably skip adding the boiled egg.

Unless I become a famous food influencer between now and then.

Most of the sports world went quiet on Wednesday morning while the festivities surrounding Joe Biden’s inauguration played out in Washington, D.C., but as Biden went to work at the White House, players around the NBA took to social media to express their optimism and hope for 2021 and beyond.

Portland center Jusuf Nurkic put it most succinctly when he said it was a “new day” in his adopted country.

The often outspoken Enes Kanter sounded a similar note of optimism.

While the focus was on the path forward on Wednesday, legendary sixth man Jamal Crawford took one last chance to needle former President Donald Trump, who was notably absent from the inauguration after flying to Florida on Wednesday morning.

It’s clear that many NBA players really did tune in for the broadcast as well, with Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum praising how good the Obamas looked.

Steph Curry, meanwhile, praised the poem read by Amanda Gorman, which received praise in seemingly every corner of the internet on Wednesday.

Finally, ESPN analyst and NBA champion Kendrick Perkins laid out an elaborate analogy between Joe Biden taking office and Simba reclaiming Pride Rock for the lions in The Lion King.

As more athletes continue to make their voices heard about politics over the past 12-18 months, more players and coaches will likely chime in over the coming days and weeks, especially in the NBA.

When it comes to major events, Lady Gaga usually trots out some sort of wild head-turning outfit. That’s not always the case though, like today, when she sang the National Anthem during Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ inauguration. She did find a way to put her own spin on the formal occasion, though, by wearing a giant golden broach as part of her otherwise tame outfit. After the ceremony, Gaga took to Twitter to give some backstory about the large ornamental piece.

Sharing a photo of it, Gaga explained what it depicts and her reasoning for choosing it, writing, “A dove carrying an olive branch. May we all make peace with each other.”

Ahead of her performance, she also took a moment to share a statement on social media, writing, “Singing our National Anthem for the American People is my honor. I will sing during a ceremony, a transition, a moment of change — between POTUS 45 and 46. For me, this has great meaning. My intention is to acknowledge our past, be healing for our present, and passionate for a future where we work together lovingly. I will sing to the hearts of all people who live on this land. Respectfully and kindly, Lady Gaga.”

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in early December, comedian John Mulaney told Kimmel that he was investigated by the Secret Service after telling a joke about assassinating Donald Trump during his Saturday Night Live monologue on February 29, 2020. That investigation has now been confirmed by the Associated Press after the news organization obtained a copy of the file on Mulaney through a Freedom of Information Act request. According to the report, investigators contacted the global chief security officer and senior vice president of NBC two days after Mulaney delivered his monologue. The agents hoped to reach the comedian and speak to him about the following joke that was transcribed in the report. Via the AP:

“Another thing that happened under Julius Caesar, he was such a powerful maniac that all the senators grabbed knives, and they stabbed him to death. That would be an interesting thing if we brought that back now,” Mulaney said to laughter from the audience.

Ultimately, Mulaney was cleared of wrongdoing as it was evident that he was telling a joke and not actually attempting to incite an assassination attempt on the (now-)former president. The report also notes that Mulaney was never even contacted by investigators who chose not to interview him. This contradicts what Mulaney told Kimmel back in December, but in hindsight, it’s clear that the comedian was setting up a bit by claiming he talked to agents on the phone.

“I failed to realize that after telling the Secret Service they had nothing else to worry about that I had leased an apartment for one year in Washington D.C. and that apartment was across the street from the Secret Service building,” Mulaney told Kimmel. “So, it had a planned vibe to it.”

(Via Associated Press)

Lady Gaga delivered a show-stopping rendition of the National Anthem at Biden’s inauguration Wednesday, but her performance wasn’t the only thing people were talking about. After Biden was officially sworn in, Gaga made her way to Barack and Michelle Obama to share a friendly hug, and people were absolutely loving it.

As elected officials and their family members were mingling on stage after the inauguration events concluded, people still watching noticed that Gaga had a heartwarming interaction with the Obamas.

Fans were also attempting to guess what Gaga and Obama were discussing during their conversation. One user joked that Gaga had asked Obama if she could sell her orange and pink-colored Chromatica Oreo cookies at the White House.

Ahead of delivering the National Anthem, Gaga took to social media to share the message of unity she wanted to bring with her performance. “Singing our National Anthem for the American People is my honor,” she wrote. “I will sing during a ceremony, a transition, a moment of change–between POTUS 45 and 46. For me, this has great meaning. My intention is to acknowledge our past, be healing for our present, and passionate for a future where we work together lovingly. I will sing to the hearts of all people who live on this land.”

See photos of Gaga and Obama’s heartwarming interaction at the inauguration above.