Everything’s moving online these days, from SNL to Trolls World Tour to Chris Martin concerts. So why not conventions? As per The Hollywood Reporter, May the 4th — better known round geek circles as “Star Wars Day” — will be fitted with a virtual convention, or as they’re dubbing it, “An Online Revelry.”
The internet hoedown is being organized by New York Comic Con and Star Wars Celebration organizers ReedPop, and it seems to be a packed affair. There will be live-tweeting for movies and shows like Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, on top of Q&As and discussion with the likes of voice actors and authors of Star Wars novels.
But there’s more:
Additionally, fans will be able to take part in trivia quizzes and prize giveaways across the May 4-5 period, with ReedPop encouraging usage of the hashtags #Maythe4th and #Revengeofthe5th for those participating. Events will take place across social media accounts associated with multiple ReedPop properties, including New York Comic Con, C2E2, BookCon, Emerald City Comic Con and Florida SuperCon, on both Twitter and Facebook.
Star Wars Day was first launched in 2011, the May 4th date chosen, of course, because it allows revelers to make a “May the Fourth Be With You” joke. Surely future conventions will take note of how this one goes off.
If you’re watching a second-season trailer for Amazon’s Hanna, then you almost certainly don’t need a SPOILER ALERT for what went down the first time around, right? Just in case, feel free to head out now if you haven’t finished the last round.
Now that we’re all alone, we can talk about the ending of the action-espionage series’ first season. This was a gorgeous and well-acted effort, even if it didn’t fully explain its own existence as a gritty TV adaptation of Joe Wright’s 2011 film, which was fable-like and full of ethereal, fairy-tale-like elements. Still, the series was successful enough to continue, even after saying goodbye to Joel Kinnaman’s Erik (RIP), and now we’ve got a teaser that reminds us that not only has the teen assassin (raised by her father in the wilderness) been discovered, but she’s being ominously monitored by Utrax’s new leader, John Carmichael, who’s portrayed by Dermot Mulroney.
Nothing like a dose of Dermot to antagonize things up — something that he’s recently done well on The Righteous Gemstones, Prodigal Son, and The Purge. He also did well by Amazon in the first Homecoming season, so the odds are that he’ll rattle up the Hanna series nicely, even if the title character isn’t terribly intimidated by anyone, not even sinister government agencies. Esme Creed-Miles looks like she’s continuing to own that vibe, and Mireille Enos will also return as her CIA operative character.
Hanna‘s second season premieres on Friday, July 3.
The Green Bay Packers turned heads on the first night of the 2020 NFL Draft. Instead of bolstering their defense or improving the talent around Aaron Rodgers on offense, Green Bay traded up to take Utah State signal caller Jordan Love. A raw but talented prospect, Love is potentially a good replacement for Rodgers whenever that day comes, but it is hard to say that he can help Green Bay win a Super Bowl any time soon, especially while Rodgers (who makes a hilarious amount of money for the foreseeable future) is in town.
It’s a situation that is familiar to Packers fans in particular, as Green Bay drafted Rodgers in the first round to replace an aging Brett Favre. Rodgers sat for three seasons — getting the occasional mop-up cameo — until he took over, and for the entirety of his time on the bench, there was apparent tension regarding the arrangement.
So naturally, there are questions about whether the past will repeat itself with Rodgers and his presumed successor. Time will ultimately tell, but in the eyes of the dude Rodgers replaced, Green Bay’s All-Pro signal caller will make at least one more more pit stop before his career ends.
“Tom Brady and myself and Joe Montana and Peyton Manning, just to name a few, finished their career elsewhere,” Favre said. “In my case, I played for four different teams. So, I think you’re gonna see that trend more and more, and I think Aaron will finish somewhere else. That’s my gut.”
Favre made it a point to stress that this was a gut feeling and not something he knows for certain. There’s no guarantee that Love will turn into a replacement for Rodgers, or perhaps things will go more smoothly than they did with Favre and Rodgers, but it seems like Favre is under the impression Rodgers will follow in his footsteps and leave the Packers some day.
Universal Pictures recently received some good news and some bad news. The good news: Trolls World Tour, the first blockbuster released to PVOD amidst the coronavirus pandemic shutdown, was a monster success. The bad news: That success has drawn the ire of two of the nation’s top movie theater chains, who have declared that, once theaters re-open, they won’t be running any Universal pictures.
The AMC news broke Tuesday, not long after Universal publicly claimed that the sequel to Trolls, which was made available as 48-hour rental for a cool $19.99, raked in $100 million in its first three weeks, prompting CEO Jeff Shell to say he’d open new movies in theaters and on PVOD concurrently. If you thought people could simply head to the nearest Regal, then sorry: As per Deadline, Cineworld, which owns Regal Entertainment, joined its competitor in the Universal ban.
Mind you, that doesn’t necessarily mean AMC and Regal’s ban will apply to some of the bigger movies on Universal’s slate, including F9, the newest Fast and Furious number, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Jurassic World: Dominion, all of whose release dates were shuffled to 2021 in the wake of the national shutdown. It only applies to, as Cineworld put it, “movies that fail to respect the windows.” In other words, if Universal decides to release Halloween Ends, due next year, in theaters and on PVOD, Regal won’t play them. It’s unclear how they’ll approach the aforementioned blockbuster titles.
Earlier Wednesday, Universal defended their decision to release the sequel on PVOD, saying that, “given the choice of not releasing Trolls: World Tour, which would not only have prevented consumers from experiencing the movie but also negatively impacted our partners and employees, the decision was clear.”
Just because we’re both socially distancing and sheltering-at-home, doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy some of the fun holidays coming down the pike. In fact, we might as well go all out on renowned party holidays like Memorial Day and The Fourth of July. No need for a designated driver and your bed is just steps away.
Next week, Cinco de Mayo will kick off the summer party season in full. This holiday — celebrating the Mexican army’s victory in the battle of Puebla (not Mexico’s Independence Day) — is perfectly suited for sampling Mexican beers, tequilas, and mezcals. It’s the latter spirit that we’re looking at today.
Mezcal, for the uninitiated, is similar to tequila as both are made from agave hearts. The difference is that while tequila can only be made from blue agave, mezcal can be made from any type of agave. It’s also typically roasted in underground ovens — giving it a deep smokiness and a raw, vegetal flavor — elements that are less common in tequilas. It’s a perfect spirit for mixing, slow sipping, or balancing with cheesy, savory Mexican fare. It’s also a great way to dip a toe in Mexican spirits if you’re normally a fan of smokier whiskeys.
“There’s so much about mezcal that appeals to whiskey drinkers,” says Nicole Quist, beverage director at Bartaco in Aventura, Florida.
With Cinco de Mayo coming quick, we asked some of our favorite bartenders to tell us the mezcals they wish more people knew about.
Banhez Mezcal
Nicole Quist, beverage director at Bartaco in Aventura, Florida
Banhez has some beautiful single expression mezcals right now, and I’m quite taken with the Arroqueno. The Arroqueno agave takes 25 years to mature, found only in rural Oaxaca. Its smoke-meets-sweet notes are perfect for a whiskey lover and this mezcal is so smooth.
Wahaka Reposado
Ellen Talbot, lead bartender at Fable Lounge in Nashville
Wahaka Mezcal is fabulous mezcal made in Oaxaca, Mexico. They produce a barrel-aged reposado that makes a beautiful old fashioned. It’s a mezcal I serve to people who aren’t sure about making the leap from tequila, because it’s smooth and subtle.
Illegal Mezcal Reposado
Matt Shields, bartender at The Bay Restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Illegal Mezcal Reposado is a brand The Bay carried for a long time and I believe it will compete with any Mezcal out there. It has just enough smoke and sweet to make a great craft cocktail or to drink straight on the rocks or neat.
Doña Vega Espadín
Sean Pearson, beverage director at La Esquina in New York City
One mezcal people really need to keep an eye out for is Doña Vega Espadín. It’s one of the most well-balanced and flavorful Espadíns on the market. It perfectly exemplifies the complex beauty and versatility of mezcal in its youngest form, all-the-while capturing the same essences of agave that traditional mezcaleros have been trying to achieve for centuries. Whether enjoyed in a cocktail or on-the-rocks, Doña Vega offers a silky, vibrant, and long-lasting burst of flavors that will have even the most hesitant of mezcal drinkers landing on a new favorite.
Ilegal Mezcal Joven
Blake Jones, bartender and director of beverage at The Kennedy in Pensacola, Florida
Ilegal Mezcal Joven. This stuff is just incredible. Their reposado joven is one I could drink straight anytime. The flavor profile is so clean and has a nice sense of smoke with a little bit of natural salinity. Their marketing is also super rad, so it’s hard not to love them. Also, El Silencio. A little lesser known in this region but give it time, their product is great, and they truly care about bartenders which is not as common as you’d think.
El Silencio
Gabriela Dimovska, general manager at V DTLA in Los Angeles
El Silencio Mezcal. Easy to drink on its own or in a good spicy mezcal margarita. I especially love it because it’s local to L.A. and the guys behind it are such friendly, down to earth people that just want to enjoy life and share their favorite spirit with the rest of us.
Wahaka Mezcal Espadin. A group of friends fulfilling a dream and bringing community together to make amazing juice. There are a few different styles, and all are delicious. The Dionisio Ocotepec from Oaxaca is super fun — full of winter spice and vanilla.
Mezcal Zignum Añejo
Freddy Concepcion Ucan Tuz, bartender at JW Marriot in Cancun, Mexico
Mezcal Zignum Añejo. A mezcal aged for 16 months in a French barrel. A smoky mezcal with a fine and persistent finish in the mouth. I often try to convince guests to have a mezcal tasting in order to highlight this exceptional mezcal.
Palenqueros, pure single palenque mezcal. These mezcals focus on the craft of a single mezcalero from a single distillery, hence the name “single palenque mezcal.” It is bottled by Velier, an Italian independent bottler. Only the best mezcaleros are chosen and the focus is on them and the spirit. Due to the popularity of agave spirits, some unsavory producers cut corners with regards to environmental and labor issues. As consumers, it is important we educate ourselves about the story behind the bottles we buy, and this is a great example. The mezcals in this line being ridiculously good helps as well.
Los Amantes Reposado
Alan Walter, spirit handler at Bar Loa in New Orleans
The one mezcal I wish more people knew about is Los Amantes Reposado Mezcal. It’s a refined mezcal that is reminiscent of honey basted apples over a suburban fireplace. Perfect for drinking neat or mixed into a cocktail.
Shelter-at-home orders across the country are set to expire at the end of this month in some states. And while it’s way too early to imagine what life is going to be like as public spaces start to open up again, we’re psyched at the very idea of being able to go outside and live our lives in some form. If that means wearing masks to public events, we’re with it. If it means having to get tested regularly (assuming our country ever has the means to be able to provide tests), we’ll deal.
Look, we’ll do just about anything to be allowed to go back outside. And whenever that day comes, we want to step out looking our best. Except for the uncut hair.
After a solid lull, the great drops have been rolling again — with Nike, Adidas, Supreme, and our favorite streetwear brands consistently churning out new colorways and designs to keep us busy for the end of the spring season. Here are all the best sneaker and apparel releases out this week.
Air Jordan 5 Fire Red
This iconic colorway of the Air Jordan 5 has been a sneakerhead favorite for 30 years and features a premium white leather upper with a contrasting pure black midsole, with crimson fire accents, a matching red collar, lace locks, and red heel branding. Michael Jordan rocked a similar pair during a March 28th, 1990 game where the Bulls faced off against the Cavaliers, and MJ scored a career-high 69 points.
The Air Jordan 5 in Fire Red is set to drop on May 2nd for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app or select Nike retailers.
Adidas Nite Jogger 3M Scotchlite Pack
3M reflective detailing is Adidas’ favorite sneaker design innovation of the last five years hands down. In my opinion, no silhouette makes it work better than the Adidas Nite Jogger. Meant for urban-based nighttime running, the Nite Runner features an ultra-lightweight Primeknit upper and sits atop a well-cushioned BOOST midsole and features 3M panels to increase nighttime visibility.
This collaboration with 3M takes those reflective details to the next level by covering the upper in a highly reflective Scotchlite wrapping, ensuring your presence on the road is known. The sneaker features 3M branding across the entire upper, a detail we could’ve done without but, considering its high functionality, we’ll give it a pass.
The Adidas Nite Jogger 3M Scotchlite Pack is set to drop on May 1st for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair exclusively through the Adidas webstore.
Mita x Studio Seven x New Balance ML850
This three-way collaboration between Mita, STUDIO SEVEN, and New Balance oozes with 90s vibes thanks to its bulky silhouette and gray tonal upper. Utilizing the ML850 silhouette, this collaboration sets itself apart from other dad-shoe leaning looks with its playful bright magenta and turquoise accents, dusted blue-collar, subtle pink-toned New Balance branding, and graphic cartoon macron on the inner heel panel.
A dope understated sneaker with just the right amount of spring-appropriate color. We’re digging that.
The Mita x Studio Seven x New Balance Ml850 is set to drop on April 28th for a retail price of $137. Pick up a pair exclusively at the Mita webstore.
Carhartt WIP Converse Chuck 70 Low
Converse has enlisted workwear label Carhartt WIP for a tough canvas iteration of their classic Chuck 70. Featuring re-enforced heavy canvas, and Carhartt branding on the tongue, this collaborative pair of kicks is dressed in your choice of an earthy brown or faded camo colorway that complements the shoe’s rugged construction.
By now we’re used to high-fashion takes on the Chuck 70 — COMME des GARÇONS is dropping a Chuck 70 pack this week as well — but this workwear-inspired Carhartt WIPP iteration is refreshingly simple take that locks in nicely with the back-to-basics just-the-essential living style we’ve all adopted since quarantine.
The Carhartt WIP Converse Chuck 70 is set to drop on April 28th for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair through the Converse webstore.
Nike Daybreak Type N. 354
Nike’s deconstruction-heavy N. 354 line dropped three new colorways of their product-model take on the Daybreak runner this week through the Nike Japanese webstore. Composed of a lightweight mesh material — similar to Adidas Primeknit — the Daybreak N. 354 features heavy-stitching along the sneaker’s suede panels, N. 354 logos across the tongue and heel, a thick-tread waffle outsole, and sits atop an EVA foam midsole.
The sneaker is dropping in a Black/Summit White, Summit White/Light Orewood Brown or Laser Orange/Summit White colorway.
The Nike Daybreak Type N. 354 is out now and retails for $100. Pick up a pair exclusively through the Nike Japan webstore. A global release is expected to arrive soon, but no firm date exists yet.
Travis Scott “The Scotts” Cactus Jack Merch
Travis Scott is delivering a new merch collection that celebrates the rapper’s Fortnite Astronomical tour and his latest Kid Cudi-assisted single “The Scotts.” The new merch consists of hoodies and t-shirts in Travis’ custom washed out psychedelic aesthetic with Cactus Jack, and Fortnite branding and some Scott-ified (what else would you call it?) plays on classic gaming logos from Acclaim, Nintendo, and Playstation.
The full collection does delve into gimmicky territory thanks to the inclusion of a gaming-ready mousepad, a low shag rug, a plush blanket, and a blacklight poster, but we appreciate Travis Scott for encouraging his audience to stay home. Smart move from someone who is increasingly showing the fashion world that he understands the market better than anyone gives him credit for.
The Travis Scott “The Scotts” Cactus Jack Merch collection is cop-able now at the Travis Scott webstore.
NOAH Thank You Core Logo T-Shirt
NOAH is dropping a special t-shirt to honor the doctors and nurses on the frontline fighting the coronavirus pandemic with this special all-white t-shirt featuring NOAH branding above a Red Cross with the words “Thank You” printed on the reverse. All proceeds of the NOAH Thank You t-shirt will go directly to Direct Relief, a charity providing desperately needed personal protective gear to people in the medical field who are currently grappling with the virus.
The NOAH Thank You Core Logo t-shirt is set to drop on April 30th. Shop the shirt at NOAH’s webstore.
Supreme SS20 Drop 10
Supreme’s 10th Spring 2020 drop consists primarily of light layers and outerwear and is probably the last spring drop from the label to include layers, as we inch closer and closer to summer. Highlights from the new drop include the heavy denim trucker jacket with hole punch accents, a metallic rib hoodie with matching sweatpants, large-logo crewnecks, a basketball jersey, and shorts combo, and several colorful spring-appropriate graphic-heavy t-shirts.
On the accessory end, Supreme is dropping a debossed glass ashtray in red or colorless, and a few Motion Logo Cruiser skateboards.
The tenth Supreme SS20 drop is set for April 30th exclusively through the Supreme online store. Browse the full collection at Supreme.
Now that Tekashi 69 is out of prison on home arrest as a result of his asthma putting him at risk of a possible COVID-19 breakout behind bars, the 23-year-old rapper has been setting about the task of rebuilding his music career. While he teases a possible release on May 8, he received some good news from the court today which could help him make his comeback. The request he put in for permission to shoot music videos in his backyard has been given a positive response by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, allowing him to expand the radius of his house arrest.
According to Complex, who reviewed the court documents today, Engelmayer granted Tekashi’s request, allowing him two hours per week in his backyard on one probation officer-approved day for “employment-related activities.” He’s limited to eight hours a day in his basement recording studio, which must also be approved by his P.O.
The reason for the limit is simple: Being in the basement interferes with his GPS monitor. However, assuming his worry about contracting coronavirus is sincere and considering the circumstances of the court’s leniency toward him — the fact that he cooperated with federal authorities’ racketeering investigation against the Nine Trey Bloods — it seems unlikely he’d try to use the time to make any unauthorized trips. As far as whether or not he’s truly planning to put out new music, that remains to be seen, but all eyes will likely be on Tekashi come May 8.
Read judge’s order in Complex‘s original story here.
What We Do in the Shadows (FX, 10:00 p.m.) — Nandor clicks on an email chain and inadvertently curses the entire household, so the vamps must find ten friends to send the evil link to or they’ll die at sunrise. Meanwhile, Guillermo embeds himself deeper into the vampire hunting group and tries to thwart their plans to attack his master.
Normal People: Season 1 (Hulu) — In this adaptation of Sally Rooney’s bestseller, this show follows the complex relationship between two Dublin students. This promises to be a modern love story about how people have the power to unexpectedly transform each other’s lives.
Riverdale (CW, 8:00 p.m.) — Cheryl and Veronica’s business is threatened while Jughead and Charles continue their investigation as another videotape is released.
Survivor (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) — The survivors are blindsided by a tribal council that could cause some tenuous alliances to finally crumble.
The Masked Singer (Fox, 8:00 p.m.) — The remaining six contestants take the stage tonight as the competition gets stiffer.
Motherland: Fort Salem(Freeform, 9:00 p.m.) — Abigail forms a friendship with a new recruit and asks Raelle to help him save a life while Anacostia digs deeper into Scylla’s past.
SEAL Team (CBS, 9:00 p.m.) — The team struggles to survive an ambush by enemy forces as they work to extract a key link to a new terrorist threat.
S.W.A.T. (CBS, 10:00 p.m.) — The SWAT team pursues a Bonnie and Clyde-like couple when the duo goes on the run, hunting for a set of rare chest pieces worth millions while Hondo and Darryl get a surprise visit from Darryl’s ex-girlfriend.
With their new album, Chicago quintet Varsity wanted to make music that was a little more danceable. Fine Forever is due out in just a few weeks, on May 29, and sees the band striking a perfect balance between the guitar-driven indie rock of their previous efforts, with a bold new step forward.
In anticipation of the record, Varsity singer/keyboardist Stef Smith, guitarists Dylan Weschler and Patrick Stanton, bassist Paul Stolz, and drummer Jake Stolz all sat down to talk Andy Shauf, Austin Powers, and wrist tattoos in the latest Indie Mixtape 20.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Public Freakouts After Dark.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
If people remember us at all in 2050, we’d be honored.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
San Antonio, Texas. Best fans ever.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
Stevie Wonder – His unconditional love of composition and music in general is something we all admire.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
Everyone in the band loves Szechuan food, so we’re always on the lookout for legit restaurants on tour. We were driving through Cleveland a couple of years ago and stopped at Szechuan Gourmet after seeing Cloud Nothings tweet about it. We ate way too much food and it made the 6 hour drive back to Chicago a lot harder but it was totally worth it.
Andy Shauf and Chris Cohen at Schubas. The loudest quiet show I’ve ever been to.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
We played with CHAI at a Pitchfork aftershow last year and they wore full costumes with hoods and danced in unison for the encore. It was the middle of July and it must have been 120 degrees up on stage – so badass.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
Ryley Walker has the best indie rock twitter account.
What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
Cat Pee Palace.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
I got wrist tattoos when I was a freshman in college so that I could never get a desk job. Now my day job is a desk job 🙁
What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?
Tom Petty, Steely Dan, David Bowie.
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
Pat’s mom just donated to our relief fund on Spotify.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Dance, dance, don’t be afraid to DANCE!
What’s the last show you went to?
Pool Holograph at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. We miss shows…
What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?
Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery.
What would you cook if Kanye were coming to your house for dinner?
Nothing because of the MAGA Hat.
Fine Forever is out May 29 on Run For Cover Records. Pre-order it here.
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