#this will be up in the Cosmic Arts Showcase on Friday

[omnificent-orion]

Waiting for...

[shemakesmusic-uk]

Texan-born, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and TikTok personality Allison Ponthier makes a splash with 'Cowboy' – it's the enthralling first taste of her upcoming EP. Finding a path away from her conservative upbringing, queer singer-songwriter Allison Ponthier is another artist making country music her own. Taking references from Kacey Musgraves and Orville Peck, Ponthier's take on the genre is high camp and features a kaleidoscopic visual world too. Growing a huge following on TikTok, 'Cowboy' marks the start of a whole new chapter for Ponthier with her debut release with Interscope and Polydor. The track itself references her move from the bible belt to New York City and her journey accepting her sexuality. Warm and inviting 'Cowboy' is cinematic pop with some real heart-on-sleeve confessional songwriting. Complete with a masterful music video that runs like a mini-movie complete with impressive special effects, on reflection, cinematic is an understatement. The video itself is a striking and exciting introduction to this new artist, “I probably watch movies more than I listen to music,” Ponthier says of the video. The clip, directed by Jordan Bahat (Christine and the Queens) adds a whole new cosmic energy to the track and aims to amplify the lyrics' detailed storytelling. As she unveils more of her forthcoming debut EP, Ponthier explains what we can expect from her; “a lot of my songs are about being uncomfortable in your own skin but getting to know yourself better, figuring out who you really are.” [via the Line Of Best Fit]

Miley Cyrus has shared the full video for 'Angels Like You'. The pop rebel returned in 2020 with her excellent album Plastic Hearts, a series of superb empowerment anthems. Album highlight 'Angels Like You' has received the video treatment, shot at the Superbowl in front of an audience of fully vaccinated healthcare workers. Miley has also provided a note for the video describing her feelings of gratitude to these workers. [via Clash]

LA punk four-piece The Paranoyds have dropped a new video for track 'Egg Salad', taken from their album Carnage Bargain which is out now on Suicide Squeeze. The video's director Nicole Stunwyck comments "The video presents the glitzy & glamorous world of a teenage girl who, after accidentally catching a beauty pageant on TV, dreams of her rise to stardom & subsequent downfall... It’s not a commentary on anything but an experimental depiction of my own personal fascination for young tragic starlets alà Valley of The Dolls."

Noga Erez and collaborative partner ROUSSO have shared a fifth compelling new single from forthcoming album KIDS which is set for release on March 26 via City Slang. 'Story' is a snappy, addictive song about how couples relationships are always a relationship between two people’s past and present. "Everyone brings their past experiences to the relationship even if things are great" Erez comments. "Sometimes past situations come in and take over." As with the album's previous singles 'Story' is brought to life with a captivating video, starring Erez and ROUSSO, who also provides vocals on the track. "ROUSSO is my partner in music as well as my partner in life" she explains. "This is the first time we tell a story about our relationship in a song and video. It’s a song about a couple fighting and how, in that situation, sometimes what you hear the other person say is not what they actually said. The making of this video was a 10-day couples therapy session for us. As we rehearsed the pretend fighting and martial arts moves we knew that, at times, one of us would get punched just a little too hard. It was so intense and interesting to live in this world, where our relationship comes alive in the most physical way."

After announcing Detritus with lead outing 'Stories' last month, Sarah Neufeld has unveiled the album's second single 'With Love and Blindness'. Neufeld says of the song and Jason Last-directed video, "The video for 'With Love and Blindness' came together through a long-time collaboration between myself and videographer Jason Last. I knew that Jason and I would work together again on some visual aspect for my third solo release, and it so happened that before I even began recording the album, we were presented with the opportunity to do a mini residence on Corsica with Providenza; an amazing collective with a farm, cultural laboratory, festival and residency program." She continues, "I was doing a short solo tour in Europe in the summer of 2019 in order to re-work some of the pieces from the dance collaboration to begin to find a shape for the album that was to be recorded in the Fall. In the middle of that tour, Jason and I travelled to Corsica for several days (graced once again with a suitcase containing Esteban Cortazar’s unique and beautiful creations). Besides performing in Providenza’s outdoor amphitheater, we were immersed in nature, literally staying in a treehouse perched on the side of a mountain, overlooking the dramatic coastline." Neufeld adds, "I found that the pulse of the landscape resonated with the essence of the music, especially "With Love and Blindness"; a sense of rawness, of sensuality, of a strange gravity intensified by the hypnotic summer heat and the general otherworldliness of the place." [via the Line Of Best Fit]

Molly Burman was brought up around music. At every family event, every party, the soundtrack would resonate with her, providing an education in itself. Both parents were gigging musicians, and she always wanted to follow in their footsteps, to use performance as a means of self-expression. Lockdown brought the time and space to bring these ideas into focus, and she's working to unveil a series of one off singles. Her debut single proper 'Fool Me With Flattery' is out now, a blissfully melodic piece of indie pop with some whip-smart lyricism. There's a tongue in cheek element to her sound that is fantastically endearing, matched by the subtle lo-fi elements of her bedroom pop confection. She comments: "I wrote the song after a long day of feeling overlooked and ignored by some of the guys in my life. I was fed up, angry and used the stereotype of a mansplaining misogynist to let it all out. This song is for anyone who feels belittled and like they’re being made to shrink themselves; be as big as you possibly can, and don’t let anyone fool you with flattery." The video is a hilarious showcase for Molly's offbeat sense of humour. [via Clash]

Punk provocateurs Pussy Riot have unveiled their latest song 'Panic Attack', as well as a music video that features a hologram of singer Nadya Tolokonnikova. This is the final release from Pussy Riot’s new Panic Attack EP, a collection of three linked songs that, for now, can only be streamed as separate singles. The title track features punk guitars underneath a tinkling music box melody, as Tolokonnikova turns anxiety into a sports cheer. “Gimme an A,” she says, “Gimme a T/ Gimme a T/ Gimme an A/ Gimme a C/ Gimme a K/ Okay? Okay.” While upbeat and seemingly cheerful, the synth-punk song comes out of the trauma she experienced in a Russian prison camp. As she explained in a statement, “After serving 2 years in a labor camp, I’m still struggling with mental health issues. Trauma, fear and insecurity never fully go away, causing depression episodes and deep anxiety. ‘PANIC ATTACK’ was born as the result of me staring at the wall for 24 hours in the middle of the pandemic, feeling 100% helpless. I was trying to write something uplifting to encourage people to get through the tough times. But I was just failing and failing. Magically, at the second I allowed myself to be honest and write about despair I was experiencing, I wrote the track in like a half an hour. Depression is a plague of the 21st century, and it tells me that there’s something broken in the way we treat each other. The video ‘PANIC ATTACK’ reflects on objectification of human beings, loneliness, disconnection from the environment that causes us to feel small and powerless. And it’s us who caused it with our own hands – that’s why in the end of the video I’m fighting with my own clone.” The music video for 'Panic Attack' was directed by  Asad J. Malik. He used 106 cameras to capture all angles of Tolokonnikova, then converted that information into a photoreal hologram. Afterwards, Tokyo-based creative technologist Ruben Fro built out landscapes reminiscent of video games through which the virtual Tolokonnikova could frolic. But as the visuals progress, those idyllic settings give way to a hellscape, and the singer faces off against a clone of herself. [via Consequence of Sound]

The wait is finally over. BLACKPINK’s Rosé shines like the star she is with her official solo debut. On Friday, she released two solo songs on her debut single album titled R, 'On the Ground' and 'Gone.' With its deep lyrics, angelic bridge, and Rosé’s high note at the end, 'On the Ground' is an exemplary song for her solo debut. Add the fact that Rosé is credited as a writer for the song, and one can really tell how much time she spent perfecting it for release. The accompanying music video, meanwhile, expands the story of life and growth. Rosé starts off looking lost and trying to find herself amidst all the wildness of life; she eventually encounters past and present versions of herself while searching for answers and purpose. By the end, she finds herself and her path forward, and one can’t help but smile as she sings an explosive outro. [via Teen Vogue]

On Ellise's latest alt-pop concoction the rising pop star gets gothic as 'Feeling Something Bad...' transforms a crush into an obsession. An expert at catastrophising everyday experiences, the LA-based artist has arrived fully formed with not only a consistent and cohesive sound but a striking visual identity too. That's even more clear when you press play on the accompanying video for her latest infectiously catchy track. With the clip directed by Joakim Carlsson we get to see Ellise in her absolute element as she brings "Feeling Something Bad..." to life in a macabre world of its own. “I just love dramatising little everyday feelings in life, so this is my big dramatic ‘I have a crush on you’ song,” Ellise explains – it's a song she wrote about a boy she barely knew. [via the Line Of Best Fit]

With President Biden determined to get the majority of American adults vaccinated by summer, bands are earnestly beginning to look forward to the return of live music. Purity Ring are the latest to announce 2021 tour dates, which they’ve shared alongside the video for their track 'sinew'. The song comes from WOMB, the synth-pop duo’s first album in five years that was released just before the pandemic struck. Directed by Toby Stretch, the clip brings back the abstract graphics and costumes that featured in the 'stardew' music video, continuing the enigmatic story of the domed bicyclist and their sun-headed sidecar companion. [via Consequence of Sound]

Australian Pop Princess, Peach PRC releases the official music video for her debut single 'Josh'. Peach PRC comments on the official 'Josh' visuals, “The music video was inspired by growing up watching the same five infomercials, morning news channels and old movies on my little pink box tv when I was a kid and couldn’t sleep on a school night. The idea was to have “josh” feel just as harassed the more he tries to call. Every creative step along the way was entirely my vision, from writing the music video script, to the lyrics and everything in between. I’m so happy and hope all the girls, gays and theys who dated “josh” will sing along.”

[doomedandstoned]

Swedish Doomers VOKONIS Share New Single Ahead of RippleFest Sweden!

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

What a way to start the week, with brand new music from VOKONIS!   It's hardly a secret that we're fans of the band. After all, they're making their first appearance in North America at Doomed & Stoned Festival in October. One month before that, they'll be joining a damned impressive bill for RippleFest Sweden II. Ahead of the big event, which takes place September 7th and 8th at Copperfield's in Stockholm, we're debuting a new single by each of the bands featured on the bill, starting with the progressive doomers from Borås. You'll be able to download each single the day after we premiere it here.

"It's a somewhat transitional song for us," singer/guitarist Simon Ohlsson says of the massive seven-minute-plus single before us. "We're showcasing our best doom while offering up a varied and progressive feel. I also believe I've done some of my best solos yet on this track!"

Vokonis are about to make a leap forward in their evolution as a band and we dispatched executive editor Melissa Marie to ask Simon all about it, so be sure and check out the interview below and turn up the volume loud as Simon, Jonte, and Emil bring us the roaring "Celestial Embrace."

Give ear...

RippleFest Sweden II

It's coming!

Last year's RippleFest Sweden inaugural Festival was so successful, that it had to come back again...and expand to 2 nights! Invading Copperfield's Stockholm, Sept 7 and 8: Six Ripple bands, two nights, new merch, exclusive shirts, music, beer and fun at RippleFest Sweden II!

To celebrate this event, Ripple Music will be releasing a series of free digital singles showcasing each of the performing bands, one per week, leading up to the event. First up this week, the brand new song "Celestial Embrace" by Vokonis. Taken from the vinyl-only Skull Mountain, a four label compilation from the heavy underground. This particular single has all new artwork by Kyrre Bjurling.

Next up, look for new singles from Kingnomad, Witchers Creed, Craneium, Nekromant and Ozone Mama. All digital singles can be found on Ripple Music's Bandcamp page for free downloading. And check out Doomed and Stoned who will exclusively premiere each single the day before they're released!

Hosted once again by Magnus of Into the Void radio and promoted by Sweet Leaf, RippleFest Sweden II will be one of the must-see events for fans of stoner/doom.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, September 7 and 8, from 9 pm to 1 am

WHO: Kingnomad, Ozone Mama, Nekromant (Friday) and Vokonis, Craneium, Witchers Creed (Saturday)

WHERE: Copperfields, Sankt Eriksgatan 36, 112 34 Stockholm, Sweden

*Admission is free!   For more information visit www.copperfields.se.

Interview with Vokonis Frontman Simon Ohlsson

  By Melissa Marie

  Photographs by Robert Hellström

Hey, Simon, thanks again for visiting with us. I’d like to first talk about 'The Sunken Djinn' (2017). This album is certainly more dynamic and far more transparent than your debut 'Olde One Ascending' (2016). Did you guys really set out to prioritize and improve your production quality on this album?

Hey Melissa! Thanks for having me. A pleasure as always! Personally, I think our first record Olde One Ascending is very raw. We had only been playing for a few months when we recorded it. So it’s a special record in that sense. I think that’s a good way to keep progressing, write a bunch of songs, record them and let them go and focus on the next thing.

So when we set out to write The Sunken Djinn we knew what we wanted to do differently. I think it’s more focused and direct in terms of songwriting. As you say, it’s also more of a hi-fi experience. That was our first collaboration recording new material with Joona at Studio Underjord. So we kind of developed this bond and for every recording we did with Joona, the better it sounded. He’s just got an ear for what we want out of a record.

Olde One Ascending by Vokonis

You released 'Olde One Ascending' on Ozium Records and at some point, ended up signed with my all-time favorite underground label, Ripple Music. How did you end up with Todd Severin and company?

Yes! Todd really is the man. We actually got linked together by one of the best podcasters that deals in heavy music here in Sweden, Magnus Tannergren of Into The Void Radio. He knows Todd from a while back and he’s always on the lookout for bands. So when he saw us he gave us a great recommendation that landed us a spot over at Ripple. We are very honored to be part of the family, that’s for sure.

The Sunken Djinn (Single) by Vokonis

How important is artwork to you, as a band? Both the artwork on 'Olde One Ascending' and 'The Sunken Djinn' is very interesting and not something you always see in doom metal territory. Even the artwork for “The Sunken Djinn” and “Blood Vortex” singles are something that looks like they might come from a band like Entombed, which I think it very cool. I love Entombed by the way. Now that you’ve released the new track for “The Derelict Eyes” I can also say that I find the artwork is so unique.

I do love death metal and graphic art! That style is something that has spoken to me since way before I started playing doom. I guess it carries over well stylistically.

Tessa Najjar handles the art for our albums. For us it’s very important to paint a picture. It’s so important I think for a lot of bands in the scene. And I believe that Tessa’s style works very well with our music. We generally present to her a concept and just let her do her thing. If she comes to a crossroad with the piece, we’ll discuss in what direction we should go together. It’s a great partnership.

Kyrre Bjurling have handled art for us too. He’s a very special person to us since we found a fan-made picture for when we had released "The Sunken Djinn" as a single. We reached out to him and he helped us make that piece of fan-art as the cover art for the Ripple Music 7” single. That’s why our community is so cool!

Doomed & Stoned in Sweden by Doomed & Stoned

Speaking of “The Derelict Eyes,” I believe this is likely your fastest song to date. Do you feel putting this track on the 'Doomed & Stoned in Sweden' compilation was a bold move? You know people are bound to complain when bands take new directions, although sometimes I wonder if this occurs mainly in America. Do you feel that Swedes are more musically open minded than Americans? How has the general response been to this track?

Yes this is our fastest song. We wrote it in a period of us not really knowing where to go next. So we wrote something entirely different. Because I’m a big prog-lover. I don’t really care what style I’m listening to as long as it’s good. So that song was very important in our progression. Elements of “The Derelict Eyes” will definitely be used going forward. We have had great reception on the song. Our new label, The Sign Records, was so surprised when we sent it to them, they were like “Have you been sitting on this song for over a year? It’s killer! We gotta get it out now!” So that made me laugh a lot haha! Seeing their initial reaction gave me confidence in the song as well. I’m my own worst critic.

I don’t know if swedes are more open minded as a lot of my favorite bands that I am continuously inspired by are American. My thoughts are that if you dig a band such as Monolord, you probably like Entombed, right? And I’d love for Monolord to do a fast song. They’d pull that off with grace, I’m sure.

We’re now past the halfway mark in 2018. Any favorite albums of the year so far?

I have a few yes! Weedpecker came out with a great album right after the New Year. I’ve listened to that a lot. I know that SVVAMP released a great follow-up to their first album just now. My friends in Fungus Hill released what’s to me one of the best albums this year, Cosmic Construction on Proxima B. Also, we have Spiral Skies that delivered an album that sounds like I wish Ghost would sound. I always love to listen to new music. And I mainly pick up inspiration from bands doing something else than heavy fuzz-stuff.

I understand you are quite the gear junkie. Tell us about your setup. Favorite guitar? Preferred strings? The pedal you refuse to live without? Your amp setup?

Is it that evident? We are huge gear nerds and we’re always looking for ways to reach that tone that you have in your mind. I haven’t been using them live but my favorite guitar is the Jazzmaster. They’re kind of odd birds in heavy music but I can make it fit and I plan on using them extensively going forward. I usually use Elixir 0.13-0.52 in a C standard tuning. I like how it feels crisp and tight. Not to floppy and boomy. If that makes sense.

I refuse to perform without my Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh. That’s just the best fuzz pedal I know. It can do basically everything you want in the realm of muff-style fuzz. So it goes very well with our music. Regarding amps I have two of them. And they’re actually my dream amps. Ever since I started out playing guitar, I wanted a Marshall JMP 2203. I got hold of one last year and I love it so much. It’s got that grind that I’ve been searching for. I also got an Orange OR100, the other dream amp for me. It’s thick and perfect for playing with single coils as it’s always beefy and never shrill sounding. These two are gonna do the bulk of the work on our new album.

I follow Vokonis constantly on Facebook and see that you have a signature guitar with Boult guitars. How did all that come to be?

Yes! Chris reached out to me after he noticed me using another Boult guitar. I always had this thing for Yamaha SGs and I still do. So he did a Yama style guitar which carries the name The Djinn. Pretty cool, huh?

The heavy metal scene in Sweden is overwhelming, just to say the least. Who are your favorite Swedish metal gods?

That’s gotta be Opeth. I love them with a passion and they got me into heavy music. I can listen to their discography over and over and not get tired of it. The way they’ve transformed themselves time and time again is beyond me. I always get a kick out of listening to them. Then there’s Skraeckoedlan. They’re probably my favorite band in the realm of stoner/doom/sludge.

Let’s talk about the invitation you received to be a part of the Planet of Doom movie. Did you write an entirely new song for it? That must be a massive honor!

That was so insane. I had been aware of the project for a few years before we got an invitation, so when David messaged me asking if we could put together a song we jumped on it. Feels kind of insane even now when it’s out there. Tim helped me with the lyrics just to get the story across. It was certainly the first time I wrote lyrics with someone from the other side of the planet. So yes, to sum it up, we are very honored to be part of it. It’s like a love letter to the whole genre. To be part of that select few is a special feeling.

Speaking of collaborations with Ripple Music, you have a new track titled “Celestial Embrace” on 'Skull Mountain' (2018). Did you write this specifically for this vinyl release?

Todd of Ripple Music asked us if we wanted to be on a compilation. So we became linked at an early stage. More than a year ago. And we had been started writing two songs after we had recorded The Sunken Djinn. We wanted to do something different and try to convey that we’re going to do some different stuff. I think that we got to showcase some of that in “Celestial Embrace” Very proud of that song.

The Sunken Djinn by Vokonis

I hear we can expect a new full-length Vokonis record in the not so distant future. What can you tell us about it?

We are headed into Studio Underjord in August, actually, so it looks like there’ll be at least a single out this fall. Then we’re going to release that album sometime in 2019 on The Sign Records. It’s too early to say dates and such but it’s coming for sure. It’s very different from our previous material. We have more clean passages and Jonte is singing almost half of the record. We had a different approach while writing it, previous albums was mostly my writing. Now I came up with a riff/idea and we did a lot more work on it. So it’s not nearly the same as it was when it was just an idea. In my mind, it’s the most Vokonis-sounding thing from us yet. As we put ourselves into this album more than ever before.

Of course, I must mention that, in addition to Ripple Fest in September, you'll be headlining at this year’s Doomed & Stoned Festival in October. As you recall, we tried to get you guys to come out last year, but the stars just didn’t align the way we wanted. Patience always pays off and 2018 is the year!

We couldn’t be happier! Finally we’ll be able to come to the US and play! Seriously, though, this is what makes the scene so special. It feels kind of close-knit and small even though you’re from the US and I’m from Sweden. I can’t wait!

Thanks for chatting with us once again. We’ll see you on stage!

Thank you! Always a pleasure.

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[anachef]

Disney NEWS This Week: Everything That’s New in the Disney Parks and Resorts

Happy weekend! Here’s all the Disney food news this week!

New Caribbean Burger at D-Luxe in Disney Springs

It’s time for another festival to start! Check out all the details on the 2019 Epcot Festival of the Arts, which begins this Friday – January 18, including FULL menus and lots of food photos! We’ll be there reporting live, so stay tuned to DFB’s instagram, twitter, and newsletter!

We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in…

Disney Food News

Check out the booth updates and more for the Festival of the Arts.

Peter Pan’s Flight is closed for refurb! When will it reopen?

You won’t believe the price of this limited edition Disney gift card!

What’s new at Epcot this week?

Check out the details about booking a Disneyland vacation before prices increase.

We have all the details on what’s new at the Magic Kingdom.

Troll Horns have returned to the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe!

We reviewed a new snack at Tortuga Tavern in the Magic Kingdom.

There’s a new Cinderella Cupcake at the Main Street Bakery!

Check out the food and merchandise coming to the Get Your Ears On Celebration at Disneyland.

New Passholder benefits announced for Festival of the Arts.

Check out the new Alex and Ani Disney food-themed bracelets!

There’s a new Wreck-It-Ralph Sundae in Disney Springs.

Reservations are now available for Toledo – Tapas, Steak, and Seafood at Coronado Springs.

Check out all the NEW Potion Purple merchandise at Disney World.

We spotted new Mickey Donut and Pizza handbags from Danielle Nicole at the Magic Kingdom.

Check out the latest construction updates from Epcot.

We reviewed the new limited time menu items at D-Luxe Burger in Disney Springs.

More pop-up shopping experiences are coming in 2019 for Annual Passholders!

It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays at Disneyland.

You’ve got to check out this new Disney food-themed merchandise.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is undergoing some refurbishments.

Check out what’s new at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Check out these fun finds from the runDisney Expo.

We have menu items and prices for the Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure.

The opening date and menu were announced for Ballast Point at Disneyland.

We have the latest details on the Epcot World Showcase Wine Walk.

Check out these first-timer FAQs about Disney vacation planning.

Disney Springs restaurants and shops are offering discounts for Marathon participants.

We reviewed the Ultraviolet Purple Cake Pops in Disneyland.

We have updates on the construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Check out the 2019 Valentine’s Day merchandise at Disney World!

Construction walls are up around Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Check out the new Celebrate Mickey merchandise at Disney World.

We reviewed the new Maple Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough in Disney Springs.

We are loving the new Loungelfy line of merchandise featuring iconic Disney food.

There’s a new cotton candy-infused cupcake at Port Orleans Riverside.

Check out the amazing new eats at Disney’s Blizzard Beach.

We have details on the new IllumiNations Dining Package coming to Epcot.

You’ve got to see these new Minnie Mouse Donut Ears at Disneyland.

Mickey Ice Cream Bars might be at a grocery store near you very soon.

Check out the new concept art for Jaleo – coming soon to Disney Springs.

We spotted a new Mardi Gras cupcake at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter.

NEW Buffalo Chicken Springs Rolls have arrived at the Magic Kingdom.

There are so many purple treats at the Disney Parks and Resorts.

Check out the new Buzz Lightyear ears at Disney World.

We checked out the menu at the Sunshine Day Bar in Hollywood Studios.

There’s a special Disney Vacation Club member event at the Festival of the Arts.

We checked out the new menu at Backlot Express at Hollywood Studios.

Check out the new line of Rock the Dots merchandise!

New DFB YouTube videos: 10 Not-So-Magical Truths About Disney World, The Best Time to Go To Disney World in 2019, How Disney Gets You to Spend More Money, and What to Eat When You’re Tired of Sweet.

New DFB Video — How Disney Gets You to Spend More Money

Have you subscribed to the DFB YouTube Channel? We’ve got FOUR brand new videos EVERY WEEK showcasing our adventures in Disney World and Disneyland! This week, we’re sharing our latest video — check it out — How Disney Gets You to Spend More Money — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Deal of the Week: Pre-Order the 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining

It’s time to pre-order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2019 e-book!

Pre-Order with code WDW2019 TODAY to get:

1. 25% OFF your pre-order purchase with code WDW2019! And…

2. The fully updated 2018 Edition of the Guide immediately for FREE. Just use code WDW2019 at checkout! (We’ll send the 2019 Edition directly to your inbox as soon as it’s published.)

Just like all DFB pre-order deals — when you pre-order your DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book, 2019 Edition today for 25% off the cover price (with code WDW2019…did we mention that?), you’ll also get our 2018 Edition immediately for FREE, so you can start planning TODAY!

With over 700 pages of full-color photos, tips on the best restaurants, an ENTIRE chapter on snacks — including the best snack credit values throughout the parks and resorts — and a full break-down of whether the Disney Dining Plan is worth it for your family, now’s the time to get started!

What’s in the DFB Guide?

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of ALL the information you need to plan the BEST Disney World vacation.

We keep ALL of our DFB Guides fully updated — which means the 2018 edition is up-to-date RIGHT NOW and the 2019 Edition will have even MORE new changes when it’s published after the New Year! This means when you pre-order the 2019 edition today you’re getting TWO fully-updated DFB Guides for the PRICE OF ONE!

We want your vacation to be stress-free!

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full to overflowing with tools and features to make your trip go smoothly, including:

A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks.

A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience.

Four free, downloadable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips!

Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning.

A comprehensive index of bars and lounges WITH reviews. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic.

The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable right in your pocket!

Here’s Just Some Of What We’ll Have Updated In Our 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book:

Fully updated menus, prices, and restaurant info for 2019 visitors

Updated details about available discounts and deals at Disney World restaurants

DFB’s own 2019 recommendations for everything from table service to counter service to snacks and more

Over 700 pages of updated Disney Dining advice, details, and information

Disney Dining Plan Analysis — Is it right for your family? Can you really save money?

NEW Disney food and restaurant photos

Updated reviews of all Disney World restaurants, kiosks, bars, and lounges including all new eateries

An updated chapter focused on one of the most popular Disney dining topics: Snacks in the theme parks and resorts

A comprehensive section of What’s NEW in Disney Food, including new restaurants, new menus, restaurant closures, and more

You can pre-order your copy today for 25% off the cover price and get the 2018 Edition immediately for FREE!! Just use code WDW2019! The 2019 Edition will be emailed to you as soon as it’s published.

DFB Reader Finds

If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or around Disney, share a photo with us on instagram, facebook, or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday.

We’re big fans of edible cookie dough – and you can find it at the All Star Sports Resort, and now you can get Edible Cookie Dough Mickeys at AristoCrepes in Disney Springs! DFB reader Austin Does had this to say: “Disney now sells edible cookie dough now at AristoCrepes in Disney Springs and my life has changed forever. Disney Food Blog says another type is sold at All-Star Sports. Sounds like a taste test is in order!” Sounds like a good idea! And Austin, don’t forget to try the maple bacon cookie dough at B.B. Wolf’s, too!

Edible Cookie Dough Mickey!

The Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Pulled Pork at Flame Tree Barbecue in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is still on our list of must-have eats at Disney World! And, DFB reader Luke Drase shared this with us: “Big shout-out to Disney Food Blog for all their videos and recommendations. The pulled pork Mac and cheese snack was unbelievably good.”

You MUST order this!

Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share a photo with us on instagram, facebook, or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds.

On to the Round-Up!

Mickey Fix shared this waffle mix – it’s the same mix they use at Disney World for their Mickey Waffles!

WDW for Grownups shared a review of Baseline Tap House at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney Parks Blog shared a review of Disney eats from 2018.

Disney Family shared a recipe for a Stitch Chiffon Cake.

Don’t Miss ANY Disney Food News! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Related posts:

What’s New Around Walt Disney World: August 18, 2016

What’s New Around Walt Disney World: October 20, 2016

What’s New Around Walt Disney World: December 20, 2016

from the disney food blog http://bit.ly/2VPXn63 via http://bit.ly/LNvO3e

[enappartet]

Once-sleepy St. Petersburg, Fla., awakens with vibrant arts and nightlife scenes

correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of artist Chad Mize. It is Chad Mize, not Chaz Mize. The story has been updated.

The St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, the largest in the world, attracts players of all ages. (VisitStPeteClearwater.com)

Sizing up the triangular downcourt target, I wonder if my wife and teenage son realize what an only-in-Florida scene we make.

Not only are we playing shuffleboard. We’re doing so in downtown St. Petersburg, as card-carrying members of the seaside city’s historic shuffleboard club, the largest in the world. You really can’t get more Sunshine State than this.

While older folks are shoving pucks on this Friday afternoon, most players are far younger, many in their early 20s and hoisting cans of beer. The club and city, it seems, have experienced quite a revival.

Like most of our friends, when we moved to neighboring Tampa nearly three decades ago, my then-girlfriend, now-wife, Gail, and I regarded the half-hour drive across the bay to St. Pete as about as fun as a trip to the DMV. Derelict buildings seemed to outnumber retirees in a town long derided as “God’s Waiting Room.”

My. How times have changed.

Today, St. Pete’s arts and nightlife scenes are palpably more vibrant and hipper than Tampa’s, as a result of the young people and entrepreneurial small businesses that have enlivened its walkable downtown. On weekends — and many weekdays — waterfront cafes, restaurants and bars are packed. Hotels grand and small have been refurbished and are newly popular. Fellow Tampans, you’ll hate me for saying this, but you know it’s true: St. Pete is cooler than Tampa.

Hankering to experience more of St. Pete than we’ve been able to on day trips and occasional overnight visits, the three of us decided to stay for a proper weekend. Besides revisiting some favorite places, we’d check out some newer spots we’d heard good things about.

The exterior of the Vinoy Renaissance Resort, a Mediterranean Revival-style hotel. (Monica Herndon/For The Washington Post) The lobby of the Vinoy. The hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places. (VisitStPeteClearwater.com)

We drop our bags at the city’s iconic pink confection of a hotel, the Vinoy, a Mediterranean Revival-style historic landmark near the bay. Then my wife and I walk with our 15-year-old, Ewan, several blocks southwest to Il Ritorno, a newish restaurant whose riffs on traditional Italian dishes have been getting raves from friends. As spirited as our shuffleboard game earlier in the day, it couldn’t account for how avidly we tuck into a dinner of pan-roasted branzino and rib-eye steak. A shared plate of lovely taleggio-filled agnolotti, flecked with crispy bits of fried lamb belly and charred leeks, is surprisingly light.

A post-dinner stroll along Beach Drive to our hotel takes us through a lively crowd of genial revelers old and young, dressed up and down and everything in between. The strumming of the handful of guitar-playing buskers we pass is pleasant enough, but it’s the dapper older guy seated at a table covered with several dozen wine glasses of various sizes that compels us to stop. Above the vessels, half-filled with water, his hands whirl, fingers tracing the rims, producing a spot-on musical sampling of everything from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to the “Star Wars” theme song. Awed, we linger to listen and to chat. He tells us his name (James Turner), and about the art of playing the glass harp, which he says he has done on big-time TV shows in the United States and abroad. We agree this was yet another reason to stay the night.

The next morning, we drink coffee on our hotel balcony, admiring how eclectic the town has become. In the pool below, a half-dozen aging athletes move more or less in unison to the commands of a much younger water aerobics instructor. Across the street, in the bay, an armada of toylike sailboats navigates around sleek motor-powered yachts. About a mile farther south, propeller planes take off and land from the city’s tiny bayside airport, just beyond where, a little more than a century ago, the world’s first commercial passenger flight took place — a small, wooden seaplane that went to Tampa. To the south, the landmark St. Pete Pier awaits its snazzy redevelopment. To the west, the first of a dozen-odd planned new buildings, some of which will be high-rise condos and apartments, soars above downtown St. Pete’s once-modest skyline. But I’m pleased to know the city’s quirky neighborhoods remain intact.

Boats moored at the Vinoy Yacht Club, with the changing St. Petersburg skyline behind them. (Monica Herndon/For The Washington Post)

By the time the seniors cede the pool to young kids and their parents, we remember we have an appointment to keep. Hoofing it several blocks southwest, we meet St. Pete-born muralist Derek Donnelly in an alley off Central Avenue. It’s in these back streets that he and a few other artistically inclined teens began experimenting with cans of spray paint. A decade later, his formerly “semi-legal” public art career has gone legit. Today, he juggles commissioned painting gigs with the city-sanctioned tours he leads of St. Pete’s outdoor mural scene.

Through once-seedy downtown passageways, we stroll as if through an open-air art gallery with our amiable, tattooed docent. Derek points out examples of his own work, but seems most enthusiastic talking about murals done by the growing number of fellow hometown artists, as well as national and international ones. No two murals seem similar. And none is blessedly of the “beaches and margaritas” Florida genre Derek says some tourists expect. We pass ’60s icon Twiggy, painted by local artist Chad Mize, gazing dreamily from an alley wall, and Los Angeles graffiti artist Shark Toof’s fearsome red and black shark splashed across the backside of the State Theatre.

As if on cue, a city bus pulls up to a stop nearby. It’s wrapped with an image of the same swirly, multicolored mural that covers a wall of a three-story building in front of us.

“This mural stuff is contagious,” Derek says with a laugh.

At lunch on the covered outdoor patio at nearby FarmTable Cucina, we compare photos of murals and marvel at the food. We take turns trying to describe the fried cauliflower’s flavors, which seem to outnumber its ingredients, including finger lime, golden raisins, guanciale and sea urchin aioli.

“Don’t you feel like we’re not even in the same state anymore?” Gail asks. To which we all agree.

A mural by artist Shark Toof on the back of the State Theatre. (Monica Herndon/For The Washington Post) Artist Richard Jolley’s “Cosmic Square” at the Imagine Museum. (VisitStPeteClearwater.com)

If I hadn’t recently visited — and very much enjoyed — the city’s Morean Arts Center collection of fantastical glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly, I might stupidly have begged we skip the mile-plus-long amble up Central Avenue to the just-opened Imagine Museum, which showcases studio glass artworks. Over the hour we spend browsing the museum’s collection, I lose count of how many times we say “That’s cool” and “That’s amazing.” Among our favorites are the rumpled vessels fashioned from glass threads by Toots Zynsky and the sea-creature-like sculptures of William LeQuier.

Wandering back down Central Avenue, we pass shops and restaurants old and new as if time-traveling every few paces.

Several bayside blocks from our hotel, we pop into the fittingly odd-looking Salvador Dalí Museum, packed with more of the mustachioed artist’s works than anywhere outside of Spain. Though it’s among our favorites, we’re feeling a little museumed-out, so we cut short our visit to seek out an encore performance by our glass harpist pal on the way back to our room.

Having been content to explore the compact downtown by foot, we agree with some reluctance to drive six miles west to the Reading Room for dinner. The new restaurant, which says it strives for “a modern approach at nostalgic tastes,” has been gushily praised by friends and media getting gushy praise from friends and media alike.

I can’t remember a dinner conversation focused so much on what’s on our plates and in our glasses. Gail says her sgroppino cocktail, garnished with a mint leaf affixed to the rim with a tiny clothespin, is better than any she has had in the drink’s Italian hometown of Venice. We debate whether the quirky and delicious beets and berries dish would work as well for breakfast as it does for dinner. Yes, we decide. We concur at first bite that the browned butter and persimmon cake, topped with a scoop of delicately funky La Tur cheese, is among the best desserts we’ve ever tasted.

Sunday morning brings fresh balcony-side theater. Below, hotel staff scatter and hide hundreds of multicolored plastic Easter eggs in preparation for kids to hunt. A gaggle of millennials arrives at the downstairs restaurant, their laughter and casual dress signaling that they’re in search of a post-night-on-the-town brunch and Bloody Marys. Skyward, we spy an osprey that has swung by for breakfast and is flying northeast with a freshly nabbed fish in its talons. It reminds me of the places we didn’t get to on this trip: the white sugar-sand beaches and the mangrove-lined waterways that can be explored by kayak. We’ll be back; after all, they, too, are only a short drive from home.

Abercrombie is a writer based in Tampa. His website is paulabercrombie.com; find him on Twitter: @paulabercrombie.

If you can only eat three meals in Tampa, make sure they’re here

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[gessvhowarth]

Free And Cheap London Events: 16-22 January 2017

All week Stephen Turner's Exbury Egg (pictured in Hampshire) comes to Trinity Buoy Wharf. PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION: See winning images from the Wex Photographer of the Year competition, on display at Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. All images were entered into the 2016 weekly online photography competition, #WexMondays. Free entry, just turn up, until 23 January FROM THE EGG: Artist Stephen Turner is mooring up to Trinity Buoy Wharf in a giant wooden egg. His accompanying exhibition Everything Comes From The Egg explains what he's trying to achieve by sailing around the country in this strange craft. Free, just turn up, until 29 January GLASTONBURY: Looking forward to festival season already? The V&A has a sound and film installation about the world-famous festival through time. The footage, which was filmed at the Worthy Farm event in 2014, shows the festival from different people's perspectives. Free, just turn up, until 26 February WORKING THE WALBROOK: Museum of London's latest display shows artefacts from the lost Walbrook valley and beyond, from over 170 years of excavation in London. Items include gardening tools dating back to Roman times. Free, just turn up, until 26 March 2017 Monday 16 January LITTLE ATOMS: Discover the significance of our genes with a talk by novelist Naomi Alderman and scientist Dr Adam Rutherford, exploring human genetics and its many wonders. Takes place at The Horse Hospital near Russell Square, £5, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm MUGGY MONDAY: Get creative with your coffee and customise your own mug at Drink, Shop & Do in King's Cross. You'll be given all the materials to espresso your creativity, so just bring your enthusiasm. £5, just turn up, from 7pm Tuesday 17 January LIBRARY TOUR: Take a free guided tour of Guildhall Library — including behind the scenes areas — with one of the librarians, and learn about some of the items in the collection. Free, book in advance, 2pm-3.30pm FREE MEDITATION: Get your zen on with Inner Space's Practical Meditation course in Covent Garden. For better concentration, creativity and relaxation, Raja Yoga is something anyone can do for a mindful, and peaceful life. Free, book ahead, 4pm-5pm ROYAL LECTURE: King George V's reign is credited with helping constitutional monarchy mature. This Gresham lecture at Museum of London discusses how Britain's monarchy managed to maintain its popularity while five emperors, eight kings and eighteen other dynasties fell from power. Free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm JIM CARREY'S BIRTHDAY: Celebrate comedy actor Jim Carrey's birthday at Drink, Shop & Do by decorating a biscuit with Jim Carrey's face. B-E-A-utiful. Free with a drink, just turn up, from 7pm Wednesday 18 January Terrains of the Body at Whitechapel Gallery. © Hellen van Meene and Yancey Richardson Gallery. Photo: Lee Stalsworth. MATHS AND SKYLINES: Your maths teacher was right — maths can be useful. This Gresham College lecture, at Barnard's Inn Hall, will tackle the problem of the best place to stand when taking a picture of the four chimneys at Battersea Power Station. Free, just turn up, 1pm-2pm GOODBYE OBAMA: Say farewell to Obama with this assessment of his presidency. Join American history expert Professor Andrew Preston for the talk at Arts Two on the QMUL campus in Mile End, two days before the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump. Free, book ahead, 7pm-9pm TERRAINS OF THE BODY: Whitechapel Gallery's new exhibition opens today. Terrains of the Body showcases work by artists embracing the female body and  central way of telling stories and features work by 17 contemporary artists from around the world. Free, just turn up, until 16 April [Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-6pm] Thursday 19 January Watch and analyse the pilot episode of the Wonder Women television series this Thursday. COSMIC ARCHAEOLOGY: UCL hosts a lunch hour lecture about cosmic archaeology. Dr Amelie Saintonge talks about how observing galaxies across cosmic time can give us an insight into the history of the universe. Free, just turn up, 1.15pm-1.55pm MUSIC OF TODAY: Austrian composer Bernd Richard Deutsch puts on a concert of his colourful, zany works, transporting you to a whirlwind fantasyland of imagination and surprise at Southbank Centre. Free, just turn up, 6pm WONDER WOMAN: Embrace your inner warrior at Petrie Museum's screening of the pilot episode of 1970s TV series Wonder Woman. Dr. Amanda Potter will introduce the screening with a look into how the character has been turned into a super-heroine. Free, book ahead, 6pm-8pm TOP TRUMPS: Drink, Shop & Do hosts an interactive night of Top Trumps to mark Donald Trump's inauguration. Free when you buy a drink, just turn up, from 7pm Friday 20 January RUG RHYMES: Rug Rhymes: What Rhymes With Rug is a short session of nursery rhymes, poems and stories for children under-five and their carers at Southbank Centre. After the session, you have the opportunity to explore the growing children's books collection. Free, just turn up, 10.30am CONFETTI FUN: Sparkling fun is what Drink, Shop & Do has to offer this Friday. Let loose with all of the best party tunes with Confetti Fun Friday. WARNING: you may still be shaking glitter out of your hair on Sunday morning. Free entry until 10pm, £3 after, just turn up Saturday 21 January STORIES OF CREATION: Listen to storytellers, poets and musicians share their interpretations of the creation of our world at Southbank Centre. Hear stories from Norse and African mythology as well as interpretations of religious beliefs. Free, just turn up, 1pm Sunday 22 January Barbican Conservatory is open on Sunday. Photo: Londonist BARBICAN CONSERVATORY: Deep in the concrete jungle of Barbican Centre sits a real jungle, of sorts. Barbican Conservatory only opens to the public on Sundays, and is home to all manner of tropical flowers and plants, as well as fish and terrapins. Don't miss the cactus room upstairs. Free, just turn up, noon-5pm FIRE, PESTILENCE AND PLAGUE: Explore South Bank with a free walking tour, from the days of cockfighting, gambling and other kinds of debauchery to the modern day South Bank. Free, book ahead, 2.30pm-4.30pm COMMUNITY CINEMA: Hargrave Hall Community Cinema in Upper Holloway launches this afternoon with a free screening of Charlie Chaplin film The Great Dictator. Free, book ahead, 7pm-9.30pm   TRUMP COMEDY: Head to the Cavendish Arms in Stockwell for a Love Trumps Hate comedy night, timed to coincide with the week of Trump's inauguration. Check out the line-up here. Free, just turn up, 7pm-9.45pm

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