September 13, 2017: Disney has announced plans to bring “immersive” Star Wars attractions to select shopping malls around the US. The new attraction, set first to open near Disneyland and Walt Disney World, will focus on a walk through virtual reality experience —where guests can engage and interact with each other and Star Wars character experiences. Look for the settings to include a large Disney retail merchandise “experience” as part of the adventure!!!
August 25, 2017: The ultimate in comfort foods — a warm, soft, tasty, chocolate chip cookie is 79 years old this year. In 1938, the owner of the Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Mass, accidentally added a cup of chocolate chips to the cookies she was baking to serve with ice cream — she called her creation a Toll House cookie. One year later she sold the Toll House name to Nestle for $1 cash. The cookie creation survived the Great Depression, a couple of wars and even space exploration to become something special in American lifestyle and taste!
August 14, 2017: Dinnah, a live 20+ lb fresh lobster, was stopped recently at Logan Airport in Boston on the way to be served for dinner in Savannah, Georgia. Dinnah, packed, labeled, and in its own special insulated container, was held up for additional security TSA performs on checked baggage — nothing illegal about shipping a lobster and all the documentation was in order — TSA agents just decided they wanted their picture taken with the overweight ocean celebrity.
August 9, 2017: Horizon Air, the successful regional child for the Alaska Air Group, is having some real growing “turbulence” when it comes to adding new pilots to their expanding schedule. Horizon is planning to cancel 6% of their schedule — 300 plus flights — starting in August—and it could get worse! Horizon is one of the better regional players these days when it comes to service, price and “sometimes” performance. No telling how long this will go on???
July 10, 2017: Also known as “autocamp,” Glamping is camping out without the need to bring and set up all the gear and features a collection of fully equipped custom Airstream trailers and luxury tents with high end linens and blankets. Overnight prices range from $200-$500 a night, with some autocamps also including a cozy club house for socializing. Look in northern California, around the Russian River area and farther north, if you’re looking for a more luxury style camp out!!! Be aware — no room service.
July 4, 2017: Yup — largest day for beer consumption in the US — with over ONE BILLION DOLLARS (yes — that’s with a B as in Beer) spent on beer for Independence Day celebrations. July is also National Ice cream month — not sure if it’s appropriate to mix ice cream with a beer topping?
Unfortunately we missed National Waffle Iron Day in June — most US waffle consumption is in the cooler times of the year with mid-west and east coast consumption higher than the West. Best new innovation in waffle making is the all in one Bacon Nation Waffle Stick maker that lets you grill your bacon at same time you make your waffle — high tech bacon and waffle baking together at the same time. What a great country!!
July 3, 2017: Armed air marshals are still flying on US carriers — domestic and international — and on a recent Delta flight from England to New York one of the marshals forgot their gun after using the bathroom. A passenger found the loaded weapon and turned it in to a flight crew member. Authorities — the air marshal program is managed by TSA — commented that the gun was “left unattended.”
June 19, 2017: The new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, controversially replacing the former Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, is part of California Adventures Hollywood Land, and brings Disney’s Marvel Entertainment franchise on stage — and maybe even more with a Marvel “Hero’s” attraction next up? Work continues on the Park’s new 14-acre $1-billion Star Wars Land (near Frontierland) with opening set for 2019. Disney continues to “wow” guests with new attractions and entertainment — and admission price increases!!!
