WonderCon 2016 Transportation Tips

I just posted my transportation tips for WonderCon 2016 on Wide Lantern.

Basically TAKE THE METRO.

Wizarding World Preview at Universal Studios Hollywood

Just went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter preview at Universal Studios Hollywood and posted my 20 tips. They're all on Wide Lantern.

Got Beer? Win Japan Trip

Can you whip up a recipe that will soar to the skies? Well, if so, you can win a trip to Aichi, Japan. All you have to is concoct the winning recipe. Sponsored by ANA Airlines and the Japanese National Tourism Organization, the key ingredient should be your favorite beer. The grand prize will be a culinary adventure in Japan.



Here's more:



Today ANA, Japan’s largest airline, announced an online contest asking foodies everywhere to submit an original recipe inspired by the ‘Tastes of JAPAN,’ a unique campaign that introduces regional beverages and cuisine to ANA flights, airport lounges and other services. The contest, in partnership with the Japanese National Tourism Organization (JNTO), invites participants to submit an original recipe containing their favorite beer for the chance to win a round trip to Aichi, Japan, a region situated in the center of the country known for its superb craft beer made of soy.

“Our mission has always been to share the culture, heritage and world-class charm of Japan with people everywhere,” said Masaki Yokai, VP Marketing & Sales, the Americas. “As the airline that serves as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world, we are proud to highlight the ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ and extend the ANA customer experience.”

Starting today, contest participants can submit a photo of their culinary creation and a 500-character or less description of the dish. Entries can be submitted by visiting http://shout.lt/bgYzj

The contest will run until December 21, 2015 and the winner will be announced during the week of January 11, 2016. ANA will fly the winner and one guest to Aichi, Japan for the ultimate cultural and foodie adventure and a 4-night stay at Nagoya Tokyu Hotel.

ANA’s recipe contest was designed to raise the profile of some of Japan’s most vibrant cities and regions, particularly to overseas customers, and it supports the airline’s ongoing ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ campaign. Featuring different prefectures in 3-month cycles, ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ aims to stimulate local economies, in part by boosting consumption of regional agricultural products.

Now in its tenth phase, ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ by ANA will introduce passengers to products from Aichi, Gifu and Mie prefectures between December 2015 and February 2016. This will include a Blancmange dessert combo prepared with fresh soy milk and green tea from Aichi Prefecture’s Nishio District, rolled wagyu beef with grape mustard Gifu Nagara wine sauce, and black small shrimp – an appetizer highly regarded by the local people of Mie because of its refined taste. More about these dishes and the other featured products from Aichi, Gifu and Mie can be found by visiting http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/aboutana/press/2015/151109.html

As part of the campaign, ANA customers are able to sample Japanese sake and shochu, the 'Kokushu' or national spirits of Japan, at ANA airport lounges in Haneda, Narita and Kansai Airports. Prefectures previously featured by the ‘Tastes of JAPAN’ are Kumamoto, Hokkaido, Miyagi, Ehime, Miyazaki, Shizuoka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Ishikawa, Okayama, Oita, Yamagata, Kagawa, Yamaguchi, Fukushima, Osaka, Tottori, Toyama, Nara, Fukuoka, Niigata, Kanagawa and Shiga.

Do Not Tap When Deboarding LA's Metro

Los Angeles' Metro rail system is a great way to travel about. The system recently eliminated paper tickets, and riders must have a TAP card to board the rail.

As I've mentioned, riders who pay by cash lose money. The metro system which includes bus and rail is not using a transfer system. Riders can now make transfers for free on one $1.75 fare. The restrictions are that they cannot board the same line twice and the last TAP has to be within 2 hours of the initial one. Otherwise, the TAP card is charged again. There are no paper transfers given so if you are transferring from bus to bus, you'll have to pay again.

The metro rail is not like New York's subway system. You do not Tap when deboarding. Remember when I mentioned that you cannot get on the same line twice. If you tap your card when getting off the rail, you'll be charged again. At most indoor stations, there are buttons to tap. I don't know why they're there. They don't deduct money. But at the outdoor stations, there are no turnstiles, only podiums. The podium doesn't know if you are leaving or boarding so it's going to deduct money on that second tap.

If you have a day, 7-day, or monthly pass, it won't matter. But there is absolutely no reason to tap out. You'll most likely lose money when you do.

Motel 6 Anaheim Disneyland

I accidentally posted about Motel 6 Disneyland in Anaheim in my Food Porn blog but don't go there.

It's the fucking worst. Motel 6 is such a shit company. Don't stay there and enjoy your vacation instead of dealing with dirty rooms, no wifi, and horrible staff. At check-in, the desk agent asked me to rate them all 10s.

Minus 10s, more like.

Orogold Finds Gold in Beverly Hills

Free facials in Beverly Hills? And you don’t have to be a superstar or silver spooner to get one.

Orogold has opened a new location in Beverly Hills. Expect to find luxurious comforts such as champagne, a harpist, and elegant treats to rejuvenate your spirits during your shopping day. For your skin, product specialists will guide customers through their line and offer a personalized skin care regimen. Orogold’s philosophy is for customers to experience their products as well as to learn how to properly use them. Thus they are taken away into private rooms where they can enjoy a facial and be taken through the application of various products, all while lying back in comfort and style.

Now my beautician was on the sharp side. That probably won’t fly well with the 90210 crowd. She said my skin was awful and for some reason called me Snow White, maybe because she thought her bio-whitening product did what it’s made for. But other than that, the peaceful surroundings will provide a relaxing getaway in the heart of BH.

The new Beverly Hills location is at 9658 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

ANA Plane Goes R2D2

ANA airlines has announced a partnership with Lucasfilm to get its plane R2d2 wrapped. It’s very cool. The routes and flight schedules have yet to be determined. Here’s how they describe it. I think it’s only the exterior, not the interior. And I don’t believe additional Star Wars themed happenings occur on the plane.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced today it will introduce Star Wars livery, with the iconic R2-D2, on its newest aircraft 787-9 Dreamliner to mark the beginning of a five-year ANA Star Wars™ Project and agreement with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd.* This marks the first time a Star Wars character will appear on the exterior of a commercial aircraft. The R2-D2 design was unveiled to Star Wars fans today at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California, just months prior to the character’s appearance on international flights** in autumn of this year.   

The Star Wars livery is in line with ANA’s strategy to further enhance its international presence. Last spring, the carrier significantly expanded its international flight network from Haneda and Narita airports in Tokyo. With demand increasing around the world for flights to Japan and routes linking the United States with Asia, ANA is committed to raising the profile of the ANA brand in the global market through innovative partnerships and branding opportunities. The partnership with Star Wars, beloved by audiences in Japan and around the globe, is a perfect match as Japan’s largest airline seeks to connect travelers around the world through this project.  

ANA also launched its special website featuring the Star Wars collaboration. For more information on the ANA Star Wars Project, please visit: http://www.ana-sw.com

ANA Star Wars Project is a five-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. in Japan and spanning from 2015 to 2020. Routes and flights operated by the aircraft with Star Wars livery have not been determined