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I’ve stayed in five-star, all-inclusive resort suites, grimy hostel bunks, corporate-style hotel rooms, woodsy cabins, Airbnbs, and in pretty much every other style of travel accommodation in between. While every type of lodging has its perks, there’s nothing I love more than the local character and charm that can be found at boutique hotels.

Sure, big hotel chains offer the convenience of luxury amenities, but there’s something about small, one-of-a-kind properties that adds to the overall travel experience. What I love about boutique hotels is that they further immerse you into the local scene and culture. Or at least that’s what I found when I stayed at The Green Room Hotel in Oceanside, California.

Oceanside itself delivers all the laidback vibes and sunshine you could ask for on a trip to Southern California but without the overcrowded beaches and road-rage-provoking traffic of Los Angeles or San Diego. Although it’s a little more under the radar, the city of Oceanside (particularly in South Oceanside) is a buzzing, up-and-coming area that’s in the midst of a boom — with delicious restaurants, a lively bar scene, boutique shopping, and plenty of outdoor adventure.

Better still, most of these South Oceanside gems are within a few steps of each other on the famous Pacific Coast Highway. I was able to experience it all first-hand recently while staying at The Green Room. The fact that the hotel is walking distance to everything popping in Oceanside is reason enough to book a stay, but that’s not the only thing that makes it worthy of a spot among the “Hotels We Love.”

If you’re in the market for a carefree California beach weekend, check out my full review below.

WHY IT’S AWESOME:

I’m no interior design expert or HGTV super fan, but I can appreciate a beautifully designed space when I see one. That’s what stood out most to me about The Green Room, which just opened last summer. The property was originally an old 1950s motel that the owners, who are two nearby residents and avid surfers, refurbished and transformed into what it is now. I never would have thought to paint an entire hotel jet black, but combined with the chic white window linings, cedarwood accents, and greenery, it makes for an unexpectedly contemporary aesthetic.

The property is lined with tall fencing and hedges surrounding the rooms and communal area, which includes a fire pit, picnic tables, and a cedar hot tub. The trendy outdoor decor is so well done that you forget you’re staying next to a parking lot off the highway. Speaking of the communal area, I love that the hotel property itself feels like a generally cool spot to hang out. It’s a welcoming environment — from the free donuts and coffee in the morning to the other guests chilling on their patios with a drink each night.

We haven’t even touched on the actual rooms yet, which are as stylishly designed as the rest of the hotel, but I’ll get more into the room details below.

NEARBY FOOD & DRINK:

There’s no on-site restaurant, but also no shortage of grub within walking distance of The Green Room — from the taco joint right next door, Municipal Taco, to the nearby coffee shop, Revolution Roasters, and the dive bar with live rock music and a slew of men who definitely own motorcycles, Pour House. There are endless options along the PCH, and every local restaurant and bar has its own eccentric character that adds to the vibrant energy of the city.

If there’s one restaurant you need to visit near The Green Room, it’s Wrench & Rodent. Dining somewhere with “rodent” in the name threw me off at first, but the locally beloved restaurant served some of the best sushi I’ve had in a long while.

For an appetizer, the roasted cauliflower is a must. It’s full of flavor, tangy yet salty, and weirdly juicy but in a good way. For the main event, I went with the Chronic Roll (spicy tuna, krab, and avocado deep-fried and topped with spicy aioli and sweet citrus sage) and the Dragonfly Roll (spicy tuna and shrimp tempura topped with seared albacore, avocado, citrus soy, and garlic chili). Wrench & Rodent also offers a small selection of plant-based sushi rolls.

Oh, and don’t forget to order a bottle of sake! The restaurant has a selection of different sake options to complement your meal.

AMENITIES:

• Complimentary high-speed WiFi
• Private patios in specified rooms
• Smart TVs with streaming services
• Communal fire pit
• Cedar hot tub (for up to eight people)
• Outdoor entertainment area
• Grab ‘n’ go foam surfboards
• Beach cruisers

ROOM TYPES:

The Green Room offers 12 individually curated rooms that are each uniquely designed with the ultimate boho-chic and retro-inspired decor and accents. The rooms also feature custom art by local artists — mine had an entire mural painted on the wall! There are three different room types to choose from, including six deluxe studios, five suites, and one two-bedroom suite.

I stayed in the two-bedroom suite, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I was about ready to move in. “I would live here” came out of my mouth more times in my 24-hour stay than I can count. It was basically a full two-bedroom, two-story house with a full kitchen and lots of open space. If you’re traveling with a few friends, this room type is an excellent option.

As it turns out, some people actually do move in. Thanks to The Green Room’s extended stay options (booked through Airbnb), anyone from travel nurses to international families can reside in Oceanside’s coolest property.

Learn more about The Green Room’s various lodging options here.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 5-MINUTE WALK:

You can’t visit Oceanside without spending the vast majority of your time at the beach, especially when you stay somewhere like The Green Room, which has complimentary surfboards and beach cruisers available. That’s a given.

You can also take your daily outdoor adventures up a notch by renting an electric bicycle from SoCal Bike, located right next door to the hotel. The added electric-assist motors make exploring the entire city easy and accessible, from busy downtown streets to the calming coastal bike path. Plus, the bike rental comes with helmets and locks, so you can make pit stops as things catch your interest along the way.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 5-MINUTE DRIVE:

The truth is that you really won’t need your car when staying at The Green Room. But if you really want to venture out, then the best thing to do is probably to head over to Carlsbad Village. It’s a bustling seaside area in the neighboring city that offers tons of dining options, boutique shopping, local cafés, bars, and ocean views.

You can pretty much spend an entire afternoon here browsing through the many shops, chilling out by the beach, and simply walking around the neighborhood while people-watching.

BED GAME:

I love a bed that makes it nearly impossible to get up in the morning. The Green Room’s bed setup did just that, at least when it came to the master bedroom in the two-bedroom suite. Typical hotel beds can be overly plush to the point you sink into the mattress like quicksand.

What I liked about my bed at The Green Room was that it was actually quite firm, while the comforter, sheets, and pillowcases were lusciously soft against my skin. This level of comfort combined with the gentle sunlight and bird chirps outside my bedroom window made for the most calming weekend wake-up call.

Rating: 8/10

SEXINESS RATING:

While the property’s vibe is overall more friendly than it is your classic idea of sexy, there are plenty of aspects about The Green Room that put intimacy at the forefront. The fire pit presents the perfect opportunity to cozy up with your crush, while the hot tub helps things get a little more steamy (in more ways than one).

Not only that, but taking the on-site beach cruisers for a ride to the beach makes for a fun and flirty outing. You can also create an ambiance when you get back to your room by making use of the smart TV. Log in to your Spotify and turn on those sultry tunes to set the mood.

If you need proof of The Green Room’s sexiness level, know that I spent Valentine’s Day weekend with my S.O. here and can attest to the fact that the romance was flowing.

Rating: 8/10

THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:

As a mostly single-story property right off the highway, you won’t be getting any breathtaking views without a short walk to the beach for sunset. Fortunately, the property itself offers tons of photo-ready backdrops. The bohemian, minimalist aesthetic throughout every inch of the property provides endless photo opportunities both during the day and once the sun goes down.

Rating: 7/10

BEST SEASON TO VISIT:

There’s no bad time to visit California, but I’d recommend staying at The Green Room during spring. It will be warm and sunny enough for beach days, surfing, and bike rides. It gets chilly after sunset at this time of the year, so you’ll still be able to make good use of the fire pit and hot tub.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:

Between the friendly staff, unbeatable location, and general coolness of the property, there isn’t much to complain about at The Green Room. But if I had to pick one thing, it’d probably be that it was somewhat difficult to find the hotel’s address. That may not have to do with the actual hotel, but it made the overall experience slightly inconvenient.

It’s likely because the hotel is still pretty new, but it didn’t show up on my Apple Maps app every time I’d be trying to navigate myself there. So I had to search for the address in Google, then manually input the address. I know, it’s only a few extra clicks of the thumb. But like I said, there’s not much else to complain about!

BOOK HERE:

The room type varieties make it easier to find something within your needs and budget. Plus, The Green Room price matches and adds free early check-in or late check-out for those who find a better rate than booking with them directly. Rates vary between about $150 to $300 per night, depending on your room type preference and the time of your visit.

BOOK HERE

INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT THE GREEN ROOM:

For the first three seasons of Stranger Things, most of the action was contained to Hawkins, Indiana, the most cursed fictional town since Buffy‘s Sunnydale, California. That will not be the case in the new season.

Based on the season four posters, the new episodes will span the globe, including Russia (David Harbour knows it well), California (where Eleven and the Byers family, Joyce, Will, and Jonathan, moved to at the end of season three); and back in the midwest at the Hawkins National Laboratory and the creepy Creel house. During Deadline’s Contenders Television panel over the weekend, Stranger Things co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer even referred to season four as their “Game of Thrones season” for how “spread out” the plot is.

We kind of jokingly call it our Game of Thrones season because it’s so spread out, so I think that’s what’s unique or most unique about the season. Joyce and Byers family to have left at the end of season three. They are in California – we’ve always wanted to have that like E.T.-esque suburb aesthetic, which we finally got to do this year in the desert; and then we have Hopper in Russia; and then of course we have a group remaining in Hawkins. So we have these three storylines, are all connected and kind of interwoven together, but it’s just very different tones.”

The Duffers wisely made the Game of Thrones comparison before the final season (there’s one more season to go). Otherwise “our Game of Thrones season” has a different connotation, as Killing Eve fans know all too well.

The horror move-inspired first half of Stranger Things season four will premiere on Netflix on May 27, followed by the second half on July 1.

(Via Deadline)

John Oliver waded into the murky online waters of data brokers on the latest episode of Last Week Tonight, and when he emerged, he had a handful of blackmail material on politicians that was way too easy and legal to get.

Oliver kicked off the segment by highlighting the all too familiar feeling of going online and seeing targeted ads that are oddly specific. “They collect your personal information, and they resell or share it with others in a sprawling, unregulated ecosystem which can get very creepy, very fast,” the late night host said.

Unfortunately, lawmakers have done nothing to rein in the wild west world of data harvesting, so Oliver decided to show them how the practice can be quickly turned against Washington D.C. by anyone feeling adventurous. The late night host produced a manila envelope filled with blackmail material that his team acquired through a “f*cking creepy” use of targeted ads in the Capital Hill area, which provided tracking data that let them easily pinpoint politicians. Via HuffPost:

“If you’re thinking, ‘How on Earth is any of this legal?’ I totally agree with you. It shouldn’t be,” he said. “And if you happen to be a legislator who is feeling a little nervous right now about whether your information is in this envelope, and if you’re terrified about what I might do with it, you might want to channel that worry into making sure that I can’t do anything.”

To keep the creepy vibes going, Oliver ended the segment with a “friendly” message. “Anyway, sleep well!” he said while gleefully holding his folder full of God knows what.

(Via HuffPost)

Over their decades as a band, Red Hot Chili Peppers have had a ton of chart success: “Under The Bridge,” “Scar Tissue,” and “Dani California” were top-10 singles, and every RHCP album since 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik has charted in at least the top 4. Before today, though, they only had a single No. 1 album to their name with 2006’s Stadium Arcadium. Now, about 16 years later, they add another LP to that list: Their latest, this month’s Unlimited Love, debuts on the April 16-dated Billboard 200 chart in the No. 1 spot.

This achievement is a testament to the longevity of the band, as it arrives 39 years after they formed back in 1983. Also worth noting is that the new album is the band’s first since the return of guitarist John Frusciante, who left the band after their previous No. 1 album, Stadium Arcadium.

The band generated significant buzz for the album with the lead single “Black Summer,” which topped Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart. They also pulled off a neat stunt earlier this month when they performed on both The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the same night, when the shows swapped hosts for their April Fools’ Day episodes.

Red Hot Chili Peppers is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

If you have $200 to burn on a single bottle of bourbon, you probably aren’t too worried about that price tag. Let’s be honest, a lot of the people buying whiskey at this price point are either collectors, have enough cash to indulge their whims, or are looking for a very special gift bottle for someone who truly knows their stuff. The point is, when you start spending a car payment on a bottle, you’re pretty deep into the bourbon world and have every right to expect quality, if not greatness.

If you are spending $200 for a bottle of bourbon, it’s fair to have some expectations. The bottle either needs to have a sort of “limited edition” value (you’ll only find it on shelves once a year) or it has to be flat-out delicious. And the ten bottles I’m profiling below certainly fit those parameters. I ranked them by which ones I’d be the quickest to pay close to $200 for — simple as that.

Let’s dive in!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months

• The Single Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The 50 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2021, Ranked
• Every Winning Bourbon From Our 2021 Taste Tests, Blind Tasted And Re-Ranked
• The 100 Best Whiskeys Our Head Drinks Writer Tasted In 2021
• The Best Ten-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskeys, Tasted Blind And Ranked

10. Buffalo Trace Kosher

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $150

The Whiskey:

Buffalo Trace Kosher provides a truly kosher spirit that also fully delivers on the palate. The juice is made from the same wheated bourbon recipe as Buffalo Trace’s Weller and Pappy lines. The difference is that the mash is loaded from fully cleaned stills and pipes into kosher barrels (that means the barrels were specially made and purchased under the watchful eye of a rabbi from the Chicago Rabbinical Council). The whiskey then ages for seven years at Buffalo Trace before blending, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a familiar note of Red Hots and vanilla cream on the nose, with a hint of semi-dried florals. The palate mellows out the cinnamon towards a woody and dry bark as the florals deepen towards summer wildflowers. Soon, a touch of plums and berries arrive, adding sweetness and brightness. The end holds onto that dry bark and a hint of anise pops late, with a slight vanilla cream tobacco touching off the medium-length fade.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the better wheated bourbons out there that does not get as much hype as it deserves. It’s classic wheated bourbon that stands up to overhyped mid-level Weller and Pappy any day of the week. Just make sure to pour it over a rock or add a little water to let it bloom in your glass.

9. Four Gate Whiskey Company Batch 4 Split Stave by Kelvin

ABV: 57.8%

Average Price: $175

The Whiskey:

Four Gate is one of those brands that whiskey nerds will throw you under the bus to get their hands on. The juices’ source is kept under wraps and the bottles are usually only released in Kentucky and maybe Tennessee, adding to the mythos. This batch really ups the ante by having famed cooperage Kelvin Cooperage step in to finish the whiskey with a special mix of their staves. The short story there is that Kelvin’s team dismantled toasted barrels with #2 and #4 char levels and used those staves to build new barrels alternating the char on the staves.

Tasting Notes:

The barrel 100 percent comes through on the nose with a light bitter char next to sweet oaky notes, a buttery burnt caramel sauce, and a load of rich vanilla that feels like pods soaked in vanilla brandy before being wrapped up in vanilla-laced tobacco leaves and stored in an old cedar box. Red Hots and clove buds arrive late and drive the finish towards a woody, spicy, and slightly sweet toffee end with plenty of nuanced warmth to keep you feeling this sip for a while.

Bottom Line:

This is one of those “bridge” bottles in that there’s great drinkability and collectibility here. These are pretty rare and are going to be very hard to find. If you do find one, buy two — one for the vault and one for the bar cart.

8. Joseph A. Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon

ABV: 50.35%

Average Price: $199

The Whiskey:

This sourced bourbon is built from eleven and 18-year-old bourbons. The real star of the show with this whiskey is that those bourbons were finished in Armagnac, Cognac, and sherry casks before vatting and bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with sticky toffee pudding that really amps up the cinnamon and nutmeg next to black-tea-soaked dates next to some stewed prunes wrapped in chili-chocolate-laced tobacco leaves and dripped in honey and then walnuts. A savory fruitiness opens the palate with figs and pumpkin that leads towards an apricot jam with a hint of clove and cinnamon next to light touches of old library leather and funk. A faint hint of dark berries arrives on the mid-palate before the finish luxuriates in burnt toffee, almond shells, more of that leather, and dried-out apricots.

Bottom Line:

This is another rarity that bourbon lovers line up over. It’s a little spicy/hot for me, but it is well-balanced with a nice nutty sweetness. That said, I’d probably keep this one on the shelf for a rainy day. It’s not an everyday dram.

7. Little Book Chapter 5: “The Invitation”

ABV: 58.4%

Average Price: $175

The Whiskey:

The juice is a blend of four whiskeys — three straight bourbons and one straight rye. The rye is a 100 percent malted rye that’s three years old. The bourbons are two, five, and 15 years old. Those whiskeys are masterfully blended and bottled as-is by Freddie Noe in his new craft distillery in the middle of Beam’s massive Clermont, Kentucky campus.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a Pecan Sandie vibe with a flake of salt, spiciness derived from fresh ginger juice, and dark chocolate laced with raw sugar and apple-soaked cinnamon sticks that have been ground to a fine powder. The palate builds on that cinnamon spice with a touch of nutmeg and clove that ties to a vanilla pudding-esque svelte body next to little pops of dried pecan shells, faux maple syrup, cinnamon toast with plenty of butter, more of that ginger, and a touch of subtle red fruit. The mid-palate leans creamy, with light milk chocolate that leads back to the warmth with a dried red peppercorn pepperiness next to a rush of cedar boxes full of vanilla tobacco leaves with the slightest echo of menthol and dried reeds on the very deep back end.

Bottom Line:

This is where we get into the bottles that are hard not to open. This whiskey slaps, especially as a neat pour. Once you add a few drops of water, it ascends to fantastic. I generally buy a few of these when they drop — some to save and some to drink.

6. 2021 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch

ABV: 57.2%

Average Price: $150 (Lottery Only)

The Whiskey:

This year’s LE Small Batch is a blend of four bourbons. Four Roses is renowned for its ten distinct recipes with two mash bills and five yeast strains. This whiskey marries four of those recipes with two from Mash B (very high rye) and two from Mash Bill E (high rye). The yeasts at play are “delicate fruit,” “spice essence,” and “floral essence.” The barrels ranged from 12 to 16 years old, making this a fairly old bourbon, all things considered.

Tasting Notes:

The nose has a mix of honey next to buttery biscuits, rich vanilla, a touch of tart red berries, dry cedar, and a very faint hint of dry mint. The palate dives into a dark plum jam with a spicy edge of allspice and nutmeg. That fruit gives way to a spritz of orange oils next to a light touch of dark chocolate on the mid-palate that leads to a rich finish. That finish leaves you with warming spice, more of that orange/choco vibe, and another mild hint of green, dry mint.

Bottom Line:

This is a bottle I wish I had more of. It’s so damn delightful. It’s also very rare (and almost impossible to get at MSRP). You’ll have to keep your eye out for the 2022 lottery in late summer to snag one.

5. Bardstown Bourbon Company Founders KBS Stout Finish Bourbon

ABV: 55%

Average Price: $160

The Whiskey:

This new whiskey from Bardstown Bourbon Company leans into beer barrel finishing. The juice is a ten-year-old Tennessee whiskey (which is, technically, bourbon) comprised of 84 percent corn, eight percent rye, and eight perfect malted barley (which, coincidentally, is the same mash bill as Dickel). That whiskey is then transferred to KBS Stout barrels from Founders Brewing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The whiskey spends an additional 15 months mellowing with the stout-infused oak before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

The nose draws you in with a balance of almost waxy cacao nibs next to oily vanilla beans, dry roasted espresso beans, milk chocolate malts, a hint of Nutella, and a bright burst of orange oils. The palate builds on that foundation and layers in hazelnuts, mulled wine spices, and a dark, thick, and spicy cherry syrup with a woody backbone. The sweetness of the cherry on the mid-palate ebbs as the woody spices and bitter dark cacao kick in late and bring about a dry finish with plenty of Nutella, espresso cream, and spicy cherry tobacco chewiness with a hint of those citrus oils cutting through everything.

Bottom Line:

Back to whiskeys that you can actually buy, this has become one of my favorite beer cask-finished whiskeys in the game. It’s subtle yet complex and really delivers on what it promises. You cannot go wrong with this bottle, especially if you’re looking for a great gift bottle for someone who likes to sip tasty and unique bourbon.

4. Garrison Brothers Balmorhea

ABV: 57.5%

Average Price: $190

The Whiskey:

This much-lauded Texas bourbon is the highwater mark of what great whiskey from Texas can be. The juice is aged in Ozark oak for four years and then finished in oak from Minnesota for another year, all under that blazing West Texas sunshine. The bourbon is then small-batched, proofed with Texas spring water, and bottled at a healthy 115 proof.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted with a real sense of a corn-syrup-laced pecan pie next to hazelnut bespeckled cinnamon rolls and creamy milk chocolate with a hint of vanilla tobacco lurking in the background. That chocolate drives the taste towards a mint-chocolate ice cream vibe (heavy on the chocolate part) with small dashes of holiday spices, hard toffee candies, worn leather, and a flourish of cedar boxes full of more dried tobacco leaves. The end circles back around to all that sweet and chocolatey creaminess with a final slice of perfect pecan pie on a slow fade.

Bottom Line:

This is just f*cking delicious. That’s all you need to know. Go buy some and drink it.

3. Jack Daniel’s 10

ABV: 48.5%

Average Price: $200

The Whiskey:

This new age statement released from Jack Daniel’s feels like a throwback to a bygone era in Tennessee Whiskey. The whiskey is aged for at least ten years. During that time, the barrels spend time in the “Buzzard’s Roost” at the top of the rickhouse. Once they hit the right flavor profile, those barrels are moved to the bottom floors of other warehouses to slow the aging down. Finally, the whiskey is vatted, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a rich matrix of cherry syrup, apple cores, sticky toffee, vanilla ice cream, and a thin line of wet and sweet wood. The palate opens up towards the dark fruit but dries it out and marries it to a sticky and spicy tobacco leaf alongside toasted cedar soaked in salted caramel paired with dry corn husks that are just singed. The finish really takes its time as the cherry attaches to an old cinnamon stick and the tobacco takes on a sticky chewiness with a mild savory fruit edge.

Bottom Line:

This bottle will change any preconceived notion you might have about Jack Daniel’s. This is an era-defining whiskey from the global giant and it’s helping reshape the brand as a contender amongst the highest reaches of bourbon (yes, all Tennessee whiskey is a type of bourbon) and American whiskey in general.

2. Michter’s Single Barrel 10-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

ABV: 47.2%

Average Price: $150

The Whiskey:

The juice in this bottle is a little under wraps. Michter’s is currently distilling and aging their own whiskey, but this is still sourced. The actual barrels sourced for these single barrel expressions tend to be at least ten years old with some rumored to be closer to 15 years old (depending on the barrel’s quality, naturally). Either way, the juice goes through Michter’s bespoke filtration process before a touch of Kentucky’s iconic soft limestone water is added, bringing the bourbon down to a very crushable 94.4 proof.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with subtle notes of soft wood and worn leather next to light touches of dark berries, orange oils, egg nog spice, and slight toffee sweetness. The palate starts off equally soft with a maple syrup vibe which then leads into a rush of berry brambles. The mid-palate hits on a bit of dark spice, vanilla tobacco, dark cacao, and light espresso bitterness. The finish is pure silk and leans into a dry-yet-almost-sweet oak with a touch of an almond shell and dry grass coming in at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This bourbon is probably not going to be $150 where you find it. But that’s beside the point. This is stellar bourbon that a lot of other high-end bourbons are chasing (in both flavor and recognition). All of that aside, this is a bottle I always have open on my shelf (and a few squirreled away too).

1. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 17-Year Spring 2022 Edition

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $185 (MSRP)

The Whiskey:

This whiskey was distilled and laid down in barrels back in 2004. The barrels were vatted after 17 years and proofed down to the bottled-in-bond standard of 100 proof and then bottled in the iconic Old Fitz decanter for a Spring 2022 release.

Tasting Notes:

A hint of woodiness comes through on the nose via cherry tree bark with the faintest echo of dried rose next to soft vanilla oil, a hint of cedar, a distant thought of old leather, and a touch of burnt orange peels. The palate starts off softly with a lush vanilla cream that builds towards a winter spice matrix of nutmeg, allspice, and clove with a touch of cherrywood that sweetens toward dried cherries. That mid-palate builds on the cherry with spices (nutmeg and allspice) and sticky tobacco vibes as the finish arrives next to a super creamy dark cherry in vanilla cream feel with a dusting of dark chocolate and more of that dry cherry tree bark.

Bottom Line:

If you’re lucky, this is the pour you’d get if you’re invited over to my house. It’s perfect bourbon and I’m willing to die on that hill. It’s also worth the price tag as you can sense the depth and uniqueness of this bourbon in every nose and sip from beginning to end.

Something that brought excitement to the online sphere while we were all stuck in quarantine last year was a viral video of the young band The Linda Lindas performing striking punk anthems in the Los Angeles Public Library. “A little while before we went into lockdown, a boy in my class came up to me and said that his dad told him to stay away from Chinese people,” drummer Mila de la Garza said. “After I told him that I was Chinese he backed away from me. Eloise and I wrote this song based on that experience.” They then launched into the heavy, powerful “Racist, Sexist Boy.”

Since then, they’ve brought songs to late-night television, announced that they were going on tour with Jawbreaker, and released an album on major rock label Epitaph. Today, they’ve come full circle by sharing an attention-grabbing performance on NPR as part of the Tiny Desk Series; however, because of the pandemic, they chose their own location — and where else would they pick than the Los Angeles Public Library? This time, the band is a little older and they have wholesome, silly banter in between songs. The chemistry between each of them is evident; there is not just one person leading the group, but all of them propelling it forward together.

Watch the impressive performance above.

For two weekends this month, a portion of Indio, California will essentially become its own temporary city of its own with the Coachella festival hosts its annual event, from April 15 to 17 and 22 to 24. This means there will be a lot more going on than just the performances on stage. Part of the festivities will come courtesy of American Express, who are carving out their own corner of Coachella in a number of ways.

Perhaps most enticingly, in their on-site American Express Lounge, Amex will host a pop-up shop featuring exclusive, limited-edition festival merchandise from artists including Billie Eilish and Conan Gray. The pop-up shop will be open on the first day of each festival weekend, April 15 and 22. For American Express card holders who aren’t able to make it, though, the merch will be available in the Amex Artist Shop powered by Bravado from April 15 to 30.

Card holders get other perks, too, including complimentary rides on the La Grande Wheel (one per weekend), exclusive table reservations at the festival pop-up restaurant Broad Street, and other stuff going on in the Lounge, like astrology readings, a crystal bar, acupressure ear seeding, and more.

All of that is just a portion of what American Express has going on at Coachella this year, so check out the Coachella page on the American Express website to learn more.

(Spoilers for Killing Eve will be found below.)

Killing Eve felt practically incandescent for its first two seasons. Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer carried their chemistry into the stratosphere, and the third season lost some momentum but still hypnotized loyal fans. Season 4 grew even stranger than usual and clearly meant to set up the future of the franchise, and yup, that is what the closing episode has done, although the means to the end felt, well, like a middle finger to an iconic character. Naturally, viewers are airing their thoughts on that note.

It sure seems the finale episode’s title, “Hello, Losers,” feels personal to many who’ve followed the cat-and-mouse reversals over the years. The final moments set up the spinoff, which will revolve around a younger version of Carolyn Martens, the MI6 officer (and head of Russia’s desk), who went HAM in the Season 3 finale by killing Paul. And after a final season full of Carolyn seeking vengeance for the killing of Kenny (those bastards), she made the call to take out Villanelle. And that might create some Carolyn intrigue, so people would tune into a prequel about her early life. Or it could backfire.

Although I did dig the first half of the season, let’s just say that I was crushed that the show offed Konstantin (who did some wonderful dancing) in the penultimate episode. And yup, it’s an awfully curious decision to finally allow Eve and Villanelle to feel real happiness right before one of them literally dies and the other one will likely never recover. So, uh, the title of the show, Killing Eve, is feeling metaphorical right about now.

First, let’s enjoy those brief moments of happiness again.

And here comes the anger, with viewers calling out showrunner Laura Neal, who finished what Phoebe Waller Bridge began. Let’s just say that “the new Game of Thrones” and “they Dextered Villanelle” are some of the leading complaints, and those extra kill shots in the water are being called out as “cruel and unnecessary.”

RIP, Villanelle. You shall be missed.

The ‘Killing Eve’ finale is currently streaming on AMC+.

For the past year or so now, The Wiggles and Tame Impala, perhaps Australia’s two biggest musical exports in their respective genres of children’s music and psychedelic rock, have been circling each other. A bit over a year ago, after a viral campaign, The Wiggles covered Tame Impala’s “Elephant,” merging it with their own “Fruit Salad.” Then, at Outside Lands 2021 a few months ago, Tame Impala took the stage dressed as The Wiggles (pictured above; the festival was on Halloween weekend).

Now, the two titanic forces in Australian music have finally connected: Yesterday, The Wiggles performed at Perth, Australia’s RAC Arena and were joined on stage by Kevin Parker to perform both “Elephant” and The Wiggles’ “Hot Potato.”

Parker said of the collaboration, “When I got the invitation, I knew it was a once-in-a-life time opportunity, so it was an obvious yes. The Wiggles are the real rock stars in this world. I was pretty nervous!”

Back when The Wiggles’ “Elephant” cover was a chart success in Australia, Parker noted, “If someone had told me back when we released ‘Elephant’ that, in ten years’ time, The Wiggles were gonna cover it and it would get Top 10 Hottest 100, I would’ve told you that you were out of your mind. I would’ve told you that that’s a ridiculous idea and I wouldn’t have believed you. If a fortune teller told me that was going to happen, I would’ve asked for my money back. […] They made it their own, which showcases the genius of The Wiggles. They really gave it a new personality, a new animal personality.”

Watch the performances above.

Unlike Ricky Gervais, Amy Schumer, Billy Crystal, O.J. Simpson, and Zoe Kravitz, and seemingly everyone else in the world, Chris Rock hasn’t said much about the time that Will Smith slapped him at the Oscars. Remember that? It was weird.

During his first post-Slap standup set, the comedian said, “I don’t have a bunch of s*it about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend. I’m still kind of processing what happened.” Rock, who shut down a heckler, added that “at some point, I’ll talk about that shit,” but not until he gets paid.

Fans of comedian Chris Rock who hoped he’d share his thoughts about being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars during his show at Fantasy Springs on Friday night were disappointed as soon as he took the stage.

“I’m OK, I have a whole show and I’m not talking about that until I get paid. Life is good. I got my hearing back,” Rock said.

Netflix is driving a dump truck full of money to Rock’s house as we speak.

On Friday, the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced that Smith has been banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years. “We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances,” the statement read. As an apology, the Academy should give Rock a lifetime achievement award for Pootie Tang.

(Via the Desert Sun)