Scott Krokoff’s new single Fortunately. Cover art by enchanted.marvel.
With a rich sound drawn primarily from his love of 60s and 70s music, New Yorker Scott Krokoff weaves elements of folk rock and country pop into confessional and compelling Americana. He is an evocative and introspective songwriter with a style that is reminiscent of Tom Petty and James Taylor and a voice that sounds like a mix of Jackson Browne and Steve Winwood. People of all ages find Scott’s music appealing and inspirational, relating to his music not only because of the infectious rhythm and energy each song possesses but because he represents the desire we each have to dream big and live life to the fullest. His latest single Fortunately, is now officially out and available for streaming on all platforms. It is a love song written for his wife in the bossa nova style reminiscent of those classic bossa sounds from the 60s. (Scott Krokoff, 2022)
He will be appearing at the Mercury Lounge in New York on Friday, August 5 along with Rory D’Lasnow and Victor V. Gurbo. Tickets are $10 and are available through Ticketmaster. Each be playing 30 minute full band sets.
To date, Scott has released 3 albums and several singles, including three singles with over 100,000 streams on Spotify (Far Too Many Times, My Own Terms and Groundhog). PopWrapped calls Scott “an artist to watch” and Music Crowns calls Scott’s latest release – 2022’s Fortunately – “a song you’ll want to hold your loved ones close to, and find harmony with one another while swaying along to the music.”
Michelle Brumley will accelerate the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field trip program. Photo: iFLY Indoor Skydiving, used with permission.
iFLY Indoor Skydiving is pleased to announce that effective immediately, Michelle Brumley will return to the company as its Associate Product Manager to accelerate the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field trip program. Brumley, most recently STEM Education Program coordinator at iFLY, will oversee the implementation of new products from ideation to execution within the STEM program. (iFLY Indoor Skydiving, 2022)
“I couldn’t be more overjoyed to be returning to iFLY to enhance the current STEM product to reach an even broader audience. The future of STEM at iFLY is filled with excitement and new opportunities for teachers. We want to do everything we can to help teachers make the STEM field trips a reality for their students. This will include helping them find and apply for grant opportunities, looking for corporate partners to sponsor schools, and offering products aligned with school budgets.” – iFLY Indoor Skydiving Associate Product Manager Michelle Brumley
Brumley brings to iFLY 11 years of experience as an Aerospace Physiologist in the United States Air Force (USAF) where she developed the curriculum and standardization for the Aerospace Physiology career field during her assignment to the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine. In 2009, Brumley completed an Alternative Certification Program to become a secondary science teacher and taught a broad range of subjects to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. This ignited her excitement and passion for interacting with students to show them the world of STEM.
Ten years later, Brumley joined iFLY as a STEM educator where she presented grade-appropriate lessons and lab activities focusing on STEM topics associated with vertical wind tunnels. From 2019-2021, she served as the company’s STEM Education Program Coordinator and oversaw curriculum development and implementation for field trips conducted at over 30 iFLY locations. She also provided ongoing training and evaluation for more than 50 STEM educators working for iFLY throughout the country.
“With the new and improved products, we will ensure we have highly qualified educators who get students fired up about STEM,” said Brumley. “The team is always looking for ways to refine the program such as creating new lessons and activities to align with national and state-specific education standards.”
To date, iFLY has hosted over 300,000 students and 10,000 schools for their STEM field trips in effort to increase awareness of exciting STEM careers and how STEM can be used in the real world. Led by a highly trained STEM educator, field trips include an interactive presentation on real-world STEM applications, a grade-appropriate lab activity, immersive experiments, physics demonstrations that come to life in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel, and one-on-one flights with a certified world-class iFLY instructor. iFLY STEM curriculum aligns with state-specific education standards while making STEM an exciting, one-of-a-kind learning experience.
Austin-based iFLY Holdings, LLC, is the world leader in the design, manufacturing, sales, and operations of wind tunnel systems for indoor skydiving. The company has flown more than 9,000,000 people in a dozen countries and at sea since launching the modern vertical wind tunnel industry in 1998. iFLY has over 70 facilities operating worldwide and close to 40 in the US. iFLY supports and utilizes the safety and training guidelines set out by the International Bodyflight Association (IBA) to ensure the safety and progression of the sport of indoor skydiving. iFLY Franchising enables aspiring business owners to have fun while working and empowering their community with iFLY’s products, which use advanced technologies and engineering to make the dream of flight a reality. iFLY is the world technology leader and operator of body flight experiences and provides potential franchisees with robust and vetted tools and processes ranging from retail location selection to consumer operating models.
Madeline Hotel & Residences in Telluride, Colorado. Photo: Auberge Resorts Collection, used with permission.
As the dog days of summer linger, the mountain town of Telluride, Colorado boasts a unique roster of special events with localized luxury experiences via the destination’s only Forbes Five Star hotel, Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection. Explore the local culinary offerings during a one-of-a-kind guided foraging session, and indulge in an exclusive multi-course dinner during Blues & Brews Festival. (Madeline Hotel & Residences, 2022)
Foraging with Chef Bill Greenwood: During the month of August, explore the local culinary offerings during a one-of-a-kind guided foraging session. On sunrise foray with Madeline’s own Executive Chef Bill Greenwood you will explore the land and learn about the local delicacies found in and around Telluride. Inspired by the best of what is in season from local Western Slope farms, Executive Chef Greenwood serves fresh, spirited takes on the hearty, rustic food you crave after a long day in nature.
Taste of Blues & Brews x Madeline: The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Brewers Showcase will kick off in style on Thursday, September 15 at 6p.m. with an evening of brews, world-class fare and, of course, music. This culinary experience will pair six courses of curated, modern mountain cuisine from Executive Chef Bill Greenwood with unique craft beers and conversation with brewers.
Telluride Mushroom Festival: Guests staying at Madeline over August 17-21 can attend the annual Telluride Mushroom Festival: featuring a variety of talks from over 30 speakers. The Telluride Mushroom Festival is famous for its array of unique and lively events, including Wild Food Dinner Experience, Mushroom Chefs’ Dinner, Entheogenic Gourd Circles, Open Mic Night, MycoLicious MycoLuscious MycoLogical Poetry Show and our Free Identification Tent. Attend showings of new fungi movies, panel discussions over treatment using psychedelics and decriminalization of psilocybin containing mushrooms. Special guests are happy to take guests on a mycology adventure out into the forest in the beautiful alpine around Telluride.
Fans of Joe Belcastro, author of ‘Dominature,’ will have the opportunity to meet him in-person as he travels across the country to attend several book festivals and conventions. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
“It’s always a pleasure to interact with people from all walks of life, sharing my story and learning about theirs. While I toured extensively during my time at WWE as Head Writer and Producer, this solo tour is an exciting and challenging journey for me as a storyteller embarking on a new platform with a bold premise.” – Joe Belcastro
The story in “Dominature” remixes new and familiar historical characters and events in a modernized way, while exploring the nature of good and evil by asking the introspective question: Can any being overcome who they inherently are?
When asked about early reception, Belcastro says, “Everyone who sees and reads the book cover is immediately intrigued where I went with the story. It’s cool to witness that in-person.”
Confirmed Upcoming book tour appearances: August 14 – MIGHTY CON (Madison, WI) August 20 – MISSISSIPPI BOOK FESTIVAL (Jackson, MS) September 2-4 – FANBOY EXPO (Orlando, FL) September 23 -25 – NECRONOMICON (Tampa, FL) October 1 – COLLINGSWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL (Collingswood, NJ) October 15 – TWIN CITIES BOOK FESTIVAL (St. Paul, MN) October 22-23 – THE BOOK FEST FALL 2022 (Virtual) October 29 – LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL (Baton Rouge, LA) December 2-4 – LOS ANGELES COMIC CON
Additional Belcastro appearances may be added. Watch for updates for these and other events:
November 5 – PORTLAND BOOK FESTIVAL (Oregon) November 5-6 -TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL (Austin, TX) November 12-14 – Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading
Joe Belcastro is a provocative storyteller who once crafted characters as the head writer and producer for WWE: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. He is now a novelist with his debut epic fantasy adventure, “Dominature.” In it, Joe explores the nature of good and evil and asks the captivating question: What if the Devil banished God from Heaven? Reaching deep inside himself, Joe uses his keen sense for drama and wit stemming from his days as a former journalist and film critic to deliver a tale that is premised on the best-selling book of all time – The Bible. Joe lives in Tampa, Florida where he is laying the groundwork for a charitable foundation and drafting his next novel.
Ancient Explorers: The Lost City of Peru is available through Amazon Kindle. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Writer Omar Mora has published his second graphic novel Ancient Explorers: The Lost City of Peru through his company Moras Productions. The hybrid book was release at San Diego International Comic Con on Wednesday July 20, 2022. (Moras Productions, 2022)
“Ancient Explorers: The Lost City of Peru” is a novel – comic book hybrid that features an adventure-action sci-fi narrative in which two best friends, together with two archaeologists, discover that an ancient map and compass are really artifacts with hidden clues to discover the lost city of Peru: Paititi. As they discover this, something puts their lives in danger, a danger that drives our adventurous friends to follow what they were meant to do in life — to become what Mark’s Grandpa taught them when they were kids: explorers of the ancients. It is then that Luis, Mark, Jennifer and Sandy begin their journey into the unknown, a magical and adventurous journey to discover the Lost City of Peru, a journey that will change their lives forever.
“I’m so proud of this book. Ancient Explorers is a novel that I always wanted to produce as a comic book. When the pandemic hit, well the economy hit as well and I wasn’t sure if the finances will be in place to do the full graphic novel. So we decided to do it as a hybrid. And I’m happy I did it that way. If you don’t read the comic books pages within the novel, you’ll get lost, the comic pages is not just illustrations, they’re part of the story. And I think that makes it very interesting and cool. It’s such a fun and entertaining story” – Omar Mora
Omar Mora is an actor, writer producer who recently worked on the movie Inside The Circle, his last published comic book was “The Unearthians” which was top 10 indie comic book at Los Angeles Comic Con in 2019. “The Unearthians” is being developed for a television series.
Ancient Explorers will be released digitally through Amazon-KINDLE. Omar Mora is the writer, with additional writing by Jim Higgins. The art was helmed by Miguel Guzman, colors and letters by Edwin Estrada, proofread by Shannon Mier, and designed by Phil Smith.
A multi-award-winner on the festival circuit, The Andy Baker Tape premieres on the Terror Films Channel August 5 before a wide digital on August 12 and the Kings of Horror on August 19, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Alpha House’s Bret Lada writes, directs and stars in unnerving found footage horror movie The Andy Baker Tape, releasing this August from Terror Films. A multi-award-winner on the festival circuit, The AndyBaker Tape premieres on the Terror Films Channel August 5 before a wide digital on August 12 and the Kings of Horror on August 19, 2022. (Terror Films, 2022)
The Andy Baker Tape – On October of 2020 food blogger Jeff Blake and his half-brother Andy Baker hit the road on a food tour that had the potential to change their lives. They were never seen again. This is their footage.
“The Andy Baker Tape was written, shot, and edited in a 6-month period during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Created by a displaced screen actor, an out-of-work Blue Man, an Australian-based sound engineer, and a first-time female producer; this film is a testament to creation and keeping the artistic spirit alive while the rest of the world was forced into hibernation. Our story is a joyride of laughs, thrills, and suspense. My team and I are delighted to share it with you.” – Bret Lada
Infrared is now available on digital platforms and will be released on Kings of Horror on August 5, 2022. Photo: google
Terror Films released found footage horror film Infrared, starring The Room’s Gregory Sestero, worldwide on digital platforms on July 22 and it will be available on Kings of Horror on August 5, 2022. (Terror Films, 2022)
Infrared – A paranormal investigator and his production crew gain access to a mysterious, abandoned school but when the thrilling haunt turns deadly, the team must race to uncover the terrifying truth before they become the school’s next victims. Jesse Janzen, Leah Finity, and Lori Richardson also star in the spooker.
“Infrared is first and foremost a horror film, but at its heart, is a movie about siblings reconnecting in a time of need. Often in horror films, we find ourselves rooting for the characters we don’t like to die, so it was important for us to develop characters that we wanted to survive, creating a larger emotional investment for those watching. With this intention in mind, we set out to wholly develop their backstories and create a believable connection. From there we tackled the darker themes and scares within the film, workshopping ideas with our actors, and giving them the freedom of collaboration within our improvisational process. This film is injected with humor, tension and scares, and we really hope that nobody finds an owner’s manual in their basement.” – Directors Robert Livings and Randy Nundall Jr.
Infrared movie poster. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The television adaptation of the Paper Girls comic book series is available on Amazon Prime Video. Photo: google
Paper Girls is a mystery/science fiction comic book series written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Cliff Chiang, published by American company Image Comics. Paper Girls follows the story of four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls (Erin, MacKenzie, KJ, and Tiffany) set in Stony Stream, a fictional suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. As they are out delivering papers on the morning after Halloween in 1988, the town is struck by an invasion from a mysterious force from the future. The girls become unwillingly caught up in the conflict between two warring factions of time travelers. The television adaptation premiered on Amazon Prime Videoon July 29, 2022 and consists of eight episodes. (Wikipedia, 2022)
Paper Girls is a science fiction drama television series created by Stephany Folsom based on the comic book series. It stars Camryn Jones as Tiffany Quilkin, Riley Lai Nelet as Erin Tieng, Sofia Rosinsky as Mac Coyle, Fina Strazza as KJ Brandman, and Ali Wong as Adult Erin. The girls become unwittingly caught in a conflict between warring factions of time-travelers, sending them on an adventure through time that will save the world. As they travel between our present, the past, and the future – they encounter future versions of themselves and now must choose to embrace or reject their fate.
This series premiered on Friday July 29 and I just watched the first episode and judging by the comments online, it is being compared to Stranger Things (I have never watched that show). The first episode introduces the main characters and sets off the time traveling where the first meet Adult Erin. Being a big fan of science fiction, especially time travelling, it looks interesting. The story line goes back and forth between the past, present, and future so I hope I do not lose interest because I really want to see it through. The best thing is that all eight episodes are available now, so I can probably binge watch the entire season.
Lettuce Eat Salad has salads, wraps, and coffee. Photo: Sandra Cruz
Whenever I get a craving for a salad, I usually head for the nearest salad buffet restaurant. The only problem is that around here, those types of restaurants are hard to find. Sure, you can go to different restaurants and try their ‘salad buffets’ but honestly, the choices are limited and sometimes the ingredients are not too fresh. So when I heard about Lettuce Eat Salad in Brownsville, I was excited but hesitant to try it out.
Located on Pablo Kisel, it was not hard to find because it is among the many new restaurants in the area. It is a small location, but there is plenty of seating depending on the time of the day that you go. The first time I saw the buffet options, I was pleasantly surprised. They boast over 80 ingredients and they are not kidding. The menu options are limited because it is a salad buffet, so it is either a small for $9.99 or large for $10.99 so I went with the small. In reality, it looks like a large after you get all the ingredients you want. The employee puts it together for you, kind of like going to Subway and you only get one trip to the buffet but believe me one trip is enough. I also ordered a cup of the chicken enchilada soup for my dining companion, which is $5.75 since the soup options are limited as well; they only have one type but on a recent visit they also had mushroom soup, so it may vary from day to day.
With over 50 fresh toppings and dressings available, you can definitely customize your salad. Every visit is a chance to try a different type of salad. You can choose either a salad or have it in a wrap. They also have a variety of coffees ranging from Cappuccinos to Americano, either iced or hot, and soups. I have been back three times since then and every time I go, I have different fixings on my salad. This is one of the best experiences I have had with a salad bar because all the ingredients are fresh. The soup was tasty as well, it comes with a side of chips, and the iced latte was the perfect complement to my meal. It is clean and well lit and no doubt a favorite with people coming to and from the gym. The employees are friendly and helpful. I will definitely be returning more often and recommend this place to anyone looking for healthier options. Even if you do not always eat salads, give it a chance. You can always go eat tacos another day. Or detox the day after a taco binge.
Lettuce Eat Salad 3341 Pablo Kisel Blvd, Ste R Brownsville, TX 78526 (956) 265-7186
Business hours: Monday – Friday 11a.m. to 8:30p.m. Saturday 12p.m. to 6p.m. Sunday – closed
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Small salad, soup, and drinkCute logo stickerDining areaMenuCheck out area
Texas Book Festival reveals fifteen authors for 2022 festival. The 2022 Festival will feature Omar Epps, Angie Cruz, Sandra Brown, David George Haskell, and Michaela Goade, among others. Photo: Texas Book Festival, used with permission.
Texas Book Festival is thrilled to announce fifteen authors joining a full return to the in-person Festival Weekend this fall. The Festival will feature Screen Actors Guild Award recipient and nine-time NAACP Image Award winner Omar Epps, Good Morning America Book Club Pick author and Women’s Prize finalist Angie Cruz, Texas literary legend and author of seventy-three New York Times bestsellers Sandra Brown, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Guggenheim Fellow biologist David George Haskell, NYT bestselling children’s author-illustrator and Caldecott medalist Michaela Goade, and many more. (Texas Book Festival, 2022)
The Festival, returning in person November 5–6 in downtown Austin after two years of virtual and hybrid programming, will include a sizable list of impressive literary talent for readers of all ages. The full lineup will be completed and revealed in September.
“This announcement marks the beginning of our Festival season, and we are very excited to bring talented authors and thousands of readers together again at our beloved annual event, ” says Lois Kim, TBF’s Executive Director. “We hope all Texans, young and old, newly Texan or 7th generation, are marking their calendars to join us for an epic literary weekend.”
The sneak peek lineup includes: Omar Epps, the actor-producer known for his roles in House, Shooter, This Is Us, and many more television shows and feature films, will present his debut young-adult novel “Nubia: The Awakening,” an epic Afrofurturist saga billed as perfect for fans of Black Panther. Angie Cruz, the award-winning author who debuted her first novel “Soledad” at Texas Book Festival 2001, will return to present new work “How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water,” about a woman who, faced with an unexpected job loss amid the Great Recession, evaluates her life.
Mega bestselling author, onetime TBF First Edition Literary Gala emcee (2003), and Texas native SandraBrown will present latest novel “Overkill,” in which a former NFL superstar struggles with a crisis of conscience and juggles a life-or-death decision. Acclaimed professor of biology and environmental scientist David George Haskell brings to the Festival his Kirkus-starred book “Sounds Wild and Broken,” in which he explores the auditory wonders of the animal kingdom, and how endangered they are. Michaela Goade—illustrator for 2021 Caldecott winning and bestselling “We Are Water Protectors”—presents “Berry Song,” a Kirkus- and Publishers Weekly–starred picture book in which granddaughter and grandmother deepen their connection with the earth.
“There’s something special about seeing authors in-person again,” says TBF literary director Matthew Patin. “Virtual programming provided us, and continues to provide, creative opportunities, yet nothing quite matches an author visiting Austin once more. In pre-COVID times we took a physical appearance for a given, but now it feels that much more valuable and important. And the fifteen names here are only a fraction of what’s to come.”
The full list of sneak peek authors includes: ● Vishwesh Bhatt, “I Am From Here: Stories and Recipes from a Southern Chef” ● Sandra Brown, “Overkill” ● Sandra Cisneros, “Woman Without Shame: Poems” ● Angie Cruz, “How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water” ● Erin Entrada Kelly, “Those Kids from Fawn Creek” ● James Kirchick, “Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington” ● Omar Epps, “Nubia: The Awakening” ● Sidik Fofana, “Stories from the Tenants Downstairs” ● Michaela Goade, “Berry Song” ● Xochitl Gonzalez, “Olga Dies Dreaming” ● David George Haskell, “Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution’s Creativity, and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction” ● Elizabeth McCracken, “The Hero of This Book” ● Matt de la Peña, “Patchwork” ● Mary Laura Philpott, “Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives” ● Roger Reeves, “Best Barbarian: Poems”
The 2022 Texas Book Festival is co-presented by H-E-B and AT&T. Other major sponsors include Brigid Cockrum and Family, Tocker Foundation, Still Water Foundation, Amplify Credit Union, Buena Vista Foundation, Tapestry Foundation, Kirkus Reviews, Central Market, Texas Monthly, Austin Chronicle, and Jordan Foster. BookPeople is the official Festival bookseller.
With a vision to inspire Texans of all ages to love reading, the Texas Book Festival connects authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. Founded in 1995 by former First Lady Laura Bush, Mary Margaret Farabee, and a group of volunteers, the nonprofit Texas Book Festival promotes the joys of reading and writing through its annual Festival Weekend, the Reading Rock Stars Title I elementary school program, the Real Reads Title I middle and high school program, grants to Texas libraries, and year-round literary programming. This year’s Texas Book Festival will take place from November 5 to November 6, with events taking place in downtown Austin and at the Texas Capitol, featuring renowned authors, panels, book signings, and activities. Thanks to generous donors, sponsors, and volunteers, the Festival remains free and open to the public.
