Happy Hour: Candyland, Red Light District

Martinis (and a shooter) that would make Willy Wonka proud:

Jolly Rancher
Shaken on Ice and Served in a Chilled Stemmed Glass
1 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Watermelon Pucker
1 oz. Sweet & Sour
Splash of 7-Up



Green Candy Apple Martini
Shaken on Ice and Served in a Chilled Stemmed Glass
1 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Midori
1/2 oz. Sour Apple Pucker
1 oz. Sweet & Sour

Caramel Apple Martini
Shaken on Ice and Served in a Chilled Stemmed Glass
1 1/2 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps
1 1/2 oz. Sour Apple Pucker
1/2 oz. Triple Sec

Oatmeal Cookie
Shaken on Ice and Served in a Shooter Glass
1/2 oz. Goldshlager
1/2 oz. Kahlua
1/2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream


Mmmmm....I want candy now!

LeisureTech: NetGen Disney Everything Wristbands

It has been a frustrating time to be a Disney Parks fan with so much construction going on at the parks and the promise of next generation technology just out of reach, but one super exciting bit of tech that DizFanatic has just reported on are RFID wristbands. Apparently, Disney is in the early stages of testing these colorful accessories, but once these babies get put in to action, we will have a whole new way of experiencing theme parks. The possibilities of the RFID wristbands are endless: it will serve as your ticket, your hotel room key, enhanced Fastpass, enhanced Photopass, meal plan, credit card, interact with things in the park, and even offer personalized theme park experiences based on your profile. See pictures and read all about the possibilities here. Despite some Big Brother-esque undertones, I cannot wait! Disney's technological innovations are one of the main things that keep me coming back year after year, and I'm looking forward to when Mickey customizes my visit to my stats! We can hopefully look forward to new information about this tech released tomorrow at the Disny Parks panel at the D23 Disney Expo.

Happy Hour: Cocktails for Real Americans

Today we begin a continuing series of posts in which I present to you recipes for non-traditional alcoholic beverages, linked thematically of course. Appropriately, today I completed phase I of my self-constructed leisure education, I graduated from the National Bartending School. I've got drinks on the brain! To celebrate the completion of my extensive two-week cocktail academics (and America), here are a few America-themed mixes for you to try next time you visit your local watering hole (test your bartender's mixological knowledge) or try making them your self!

Boston Tea Party
Serve in a Collins Glass
1/2 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Gin
1/2 oz. Tequila
1/2 oz. Rum
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
1 1/2 oz. Sweet & Sour
Fill with Cranberry Juice
Splash with 7-up
Float 1/2 Bicardi 151 on top
Garnish with a Lemon Wedge

The Boston Tea Party is a member of the "Ice Tea" Family and a variation of a Long Beach Ice Tea, by adding the Bicardi 151 on top it becomes a Boston Tea Party. All "Ice Teas" are served in collins glasses and garnished with a lemon wedge.

G.I. Joe
Served in a Collins Glass
1/2 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Gin
1/2 oz. Tequila
1/2 oz. Rum
1/2 oz. Midori
1 1/2 oz. Sweet & Sour
Fill with 7-Up
Top with Coke
Garnish with a Lemon Wedge

By adding the Coke, this "Ice Tea" evolves from a "Tokyo Tea" ( or "Nuclear Ice Tea") to a G.I. Joe. The Midori makes the drink green and the brown-colored Coke on top trickles down creating an aesthetically pleasing and novel camouflaged colored drink.

L.A. River
Served in a Collins Glass
1/2 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Gin
1/2 oz. Tequila
1/2 oz. Rum
1/2 oz. Blue Curacao
1 1/2 oz. Sweet & Sour
Fill with 7-Up
Top with a Cherry Liqueur
Garnish with a Lemon Wedge

Another member of the "Ice Tea" Family, the L.A. River starts as a blue drink (due to the Blue Curacao), which then turns brown when the Cherry Liqueur is poured on top. You can substitute Coke if you do not have any Cherry Liqueur on hand, or top with Baileys Irish Cream to make is especially L.A. River-like!

There ya go! Have a drink this weekend and check back next week for a new set of delicious mixes, perhaps we will depart from the "Ice Tea" Family. ...but they are so fun to make (and mess you up)!

Restart of the King!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce the triumphant return of The Leisure King! Welcome to Leisure King V. 2.0!! It’s good to be back.

Last you heard from me was a little over a year ago when I was complaining about not being able to attend Comic-Con all 4 days because of my demanding TV job. So allow me to get you up to speed. Firstly, I didn’t get to go to Comic-Con at all this year because of how impossible they made it to get tickets (No reward for 10 year member loyalty eh?), but that’s ok. I don’t want them, if they don’t want me. Secondly, after working a couple years in the stressful and frustrating Hollywood world, I decided that it was not how I wanted to spend my life. Besides, I worked with the greatest crew in TV history anyway (Smallville Season 10, WHAT WHAT!!), so where can you go from there? As the TV season came to an end, I applied for grad school and here I am, 2 weeks from starting a 2 year academic adventure with a Master’s of Science of Recreation and Tourism Management the goal. Turns out I am not as passionate about making TV as I am watching it. What I AM passionate about though is improving quality of life for all by promoting the importance of leisure, recreation, play, and travel! And one of the easiest ways I can do that is by blogging about all things leisure related for whoever is interested. My hope is that Leisure King 2.0 improves on its original incarnation with more frequent and diverse posts to create a true Internet leisure kingdom. Here you will find reviews of attractions, lodgings, and restaurants, musings on the leisure world, the latest leisure news, travel deals, and a cornucopia of anything else that I decree worthy of posting in my leisure realm. I have started by creating a brand spanking new "Links" section full of fantastic resources for enhancing your leisure experience. Check it out on the right hand side of the page. If you have any suggestions for great links that I have not listed yet, please let me know. New posts and updates coming soon!! Please, enjoy my blog...but only at your leisure.

**“Restart of the King” is the title of the final episode of the hilarious web series The Legend of Neil (a parody of The Legend of Zelda) created by Sandeep Parikh. I don’t want to take credit for that title, but I do want to support awesome people making cool things off the mainstream grid. You should watch it. …also I worked on it, pre-Smallville.

Summerbreak '010: Disney FTW!!

With Disney's new nighttime spectacular, World of Color, in it's second week of blowing minds over at Disney (Finally-There's-A-Reason-To-Go-There-Even-If-You-Don't-Have-An-Annual-Pass) California Adventure and this week's release of Pixar's Toy Story 3 capturing hearts with record-breaking box office and critical success, I think it is safe to say that Disney is winning the summer entertainment race. In terms of storytelling, quality, and technical innovation, John Lasseter (with a little bit of Bob Iger) is the second coming of Walt Disney as far as I'm concerned. It's an exciting time to be a Disney fan because those imagineers and storytellers haven't been pushed to their full potential in a while. And they have to be. Competition has never been so fierce. Universal's much anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter also opened this month, and to universal (more than just pun intended) acclaim. Those lucky enough to have already experienced it are consistently praising it as the most immersive theme park experience yet. Who will win the epic battle of theme park awesomeness? Well, hopefully no one. It's the competition that is the best news for my fellow leisure-ites and enthusiasts. The fiercer the competition, the more incredible the attractions will be and they'll be unleashed at a faster rate too as both powerhouses continue to one-up each other. It's a great time to be alive! Anyway, I won't be able to make it out to the Wizarding World until November (but you can look for my thoughts on it after Thanksgiving), but below I'll be sharing my thoughts on Disney's new summer offerings.

Toy Story 3
What is there to say about Toy Story 3 that hasn't already been said by every fan and critic across the country? Nothing really. It's a trilogy so finely crafted and superior to most everything else in every possible way that choosing one installment over another is simply impossible. Every second and inch of the frame is utilized to maximum effect, there is never a wasted moment. The Toy Story saga is an unbelievable triumph of storytelling...a true gift from the movie gods that will be timeless and beloved for as long as stories and goodness exist. I must say though that one of my favorite aspects of this film were the new characters, specifically Bonnie's thespian toys, and I feel like we could have been given a little more time with them. Obviously a lot of work went in to making them immediately likable with the likes of Timothy Dalton, Bonnie Hunt, and Jeff Garlin voicing Mr. Pricklepants (the German hedgehog), Dolly (the doll), and Buttercup (the unicorn) respectively. Not to mention the voice-less, yet already lovable, Totoro. And they had to be great characters too, because they weren't given much time to be developed, yet by the end they were fully fledged members of the core Toy Story gang. Oh well, I already have something to look forward to in the inevitable Toy Story 4. Even though TS3 is an ideal conclusion to an exceptional trilogy, I can see Woody and Co. going on plenty more adventures and as long as those adventures are crafted with as much love as the first three, you won't hear any complaints from me.

Jeff Garlin loves Chocolate Rain

World of Color
After years of much anticipation, World of Color does not disappoint! It's a dazzling, epic, technical and artistic spectacle to behold. The color and projection of these high-tech water fountains are so unbelievably vibrant that photos and video could never do it justice. And the water fountain choreography is unlike anything ever seen before. It definitely keeps the audience awestruck for its 25 minute running time as it dances through the various "movements" featuring favorite Disney movie moments, as well as some surprisingly obscure characters and songs. Gotta love that classic Wonderful World of Color theme song remix. It is a truly spectacular show Disney has created, especially considering they pretty much only need one cast member to press a start button 3 times a night for it to entertain thousands. Having said that though, WOC is not perfect. I have minor gripes: The only Mickey Mouse presence in the show is the face on Mickey's Fun Wheel that serves as its backdrop. The much hyped Alice in Wonderland sequence featuring new paper cut-out animation is basically cut from the final show. The viewing area is definitely not adequate for the size of the crowd. You will get wet. As much as I loved World of Color, I still prefer Fantasmic!. Although the plot is very thin, there is still a logical flow and storyline to follow in Fantasmic! and live actors really do add an important component to a show. When it comes to a Disney show finale, you really can't beat a heroic Mickey shooting sparks from his fingers. Plus that finale music is so incredibly magical and triumphant as the Mark Twain filled with dancing characters comes rolling out from behind Tom Sawyer's Island! ...it's the best. But World of Color is pretty damn good too! ...and there is a really cool pre-show that precedes it...but I'll let you experience that delightful bonus for yourself.

Glow Fest
Glow Fest? What the whaaat? What all those World of Color advertisements don't tell you is that you have to get to the park when it opens and stand in a long line to to get a coveted WOC Fastpass just so you can stand in an area where you can actually see the show. For everyone who doesn't get to see WOC (and also everyone who did), Disney invented Glow Fest as a distraction from the disappointment. And it ain't such a bad deal, it's a lot better than nothing. Glow Fest is an all evening dance party that takes place in the Hollywood Backlot area of DCA that includes dancers, lasers, a DJ, remixes to pop and Disney music, video screens featuring Disney video remixes by internet-famous DJ Pogo, and I think it starts off with some sort of show with musicians...I don't know, I wasn't there for that part, waiting and watching WOC and all. Also, there are multiple "bars" set up down the backlot area selling glowing alcoholic (and non-acoholic) beverages to drown those WOC-less blues away. And I must say, it's a pretty freakin' sweet thing they've got going! I have never been on Disney property and watched multiple dance circles form! It was just plain fun, everyone pumped up from the music and booze and bright colors. I wouldn't mind seeing this as a permanent fixture of DCA, but I'm not gonna get my hopes up....it's not particularly small-children friendly either.

To conclude this post, Disney has some pretty sweet stuff going on over at California Adventure this summer, with a lot more awesome new stuff coming in the next couple years. We may not be too far away from DCA growing up into a real Disney theme park someday! So get over there! Glow Fest won't be around forever, although you do have some time with World of Color as I'm sure it will be a permanent fixture of the park for the next 20 years. And go see Toy Story 3 immediately, its a true masterpiece! Great job, Disney.

DJ Pogo's Alice Remix

Leisure on!

Leisure Academy: The Art of Deconstruction

Deconstruction, first introduced by French philosopher Jacques Derrida, is often considered the highest form of mastery of a particular field or art. It has perhaps become popularized in our lexicon thanks to cooking competition shows, like Top Chef, where competitors are often presented with the vague challenge of deconstructing a particular dish. Somehow though, we have reached a point in history where deconstruction of our media has become all the rage in web video comedy. I just want to point out this moment to you all because this fad won't be around for long. Once it's done there is no where for it to go. Now deconstructionists have been at work in the movie world for a while, mostly for parody, for example Mel Brook's films or the Austen Powers movies. Scream immediately comes to mind as my favorite deconstructionist film. However, there is usually more substance in those movies than just straight up deconstruction. This is probably why this latest resurgence of the fad is confined to short online videos, the deconstruction itself is the joke without any meat to sustain a longer form of entertainment. The current fad can probably be attributed to the superb "Trailer for Every Oscar-Winning Movie Ever" that emerged last month.



Yesterday, I stumbled upon The Onion's deconstruction of fluff news pieces:

Breaking News: Some Bullshit Happening Somewhere

And today brought me "Generic Rap Song":


I'm left with a few questions. What will be deconstructed next? And, more importantly, once we've deconstructed all of our societal scripts from contemporary media, where do we go from there? Anyway, it's an interesting moment we have found ourselves in, but the joke is getting old and overdone real quick, so let's get back to creating new and innovative entertainments rather than picking apart the old.

Leisure Review: O Captain! My Captain! EO!

During a recent trip to Disneyland I had the pleasure of experiencing two newly re-opened nostalgia filled attractions: the fifth generation "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" and "Captain EO: Tribute". I thought I would offer my two cents on both...

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (Mach 5)
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln has not been a crowd drawing E-ticket attraction since its debut at the World's Fair in 1964, many see it as a 20 minute air conditioned break, but what it has been for decades is the last sliver of earnest, not entirely Disneyfied, American patriotism that Walt would be proud of. This latest incarnation continues the technologically impressive "edutaining", history lesson's legacy. The presentation begins with a well-made 10ish minute film about the Civil War featuring period music, historical photos, new artwork by Pocahontas animator John Pomeroy, and Paul Frees narration that combines elements from past versions with new material. The screen and curtains pull back to reveal not-quite-perfect robot Lincoln on an elaborate set with dramatic lighting and a classy background that changes from day to colorful sunset to starry night. Robo-Abe delivers the attraction's original speech crafted from segments of actual Lincoln speeches handpicked by Walt Disney himself and recorded by Royal Dano in the 60's. The recording, of course, has been digitally restored and sharpened for an improved presidential experience. There is an epic finale that concludes with a soaring eagle and the unabashedly patriotic ballad "Golden Dream" originally written for the classic Epcot attraction "The American Adventure". As you exit the attraction the hallway is filled with portraits of other important/influential patriots....such as George Lucas...and that is really the only negative thing I have to say about the experience...I have to see 'ole George being revered in the same manner as the Great Emancipator. Overall this is an excellent incarnation of the classic attraction, way better than the 2001 rehab that required you to wear headphones so they could simulate your hair being cut, aurally. More importantly though, Disneyland would be incomplete without this attraction, it will hopefully always be there in one form or another. Walt would want it that way. The park is filled with nostalgia for the past, even nostalgia for an old-fashioned view of the future, but this is the only instance of real historical preservation and true patriotism...which was always part of Walt's vision for the park. Grade: A

Captain EO: Tribute
I must preface this by saying that I have no recollection of seeing this in its original form (although it's quite possible that I did), only downloaded on my computer. While waiting in the queue to enter the theater, the audience is treated to the original pre-show film, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Captain EO featuring George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and a bunch of dancers whom it mostly focuses on. Not a particularly interesting video, except in the sense of a historical document. Then you enter the theater and the real fun begins. A cast member gives a tidbit of history and directs the audience to put on their 3D glasses, and then we jump right in to the original 4D theme park movie experience featuring Michael Jackson and Angelica Houston. The plot is thin, the effects are old fashioned, and Michael is a laughable space captain, but all of that is irrelevant, because you are watching an enhanced/extended Michael Jackson music video, and everyone loves a Michael Jackson music video! Most of the original 4D effects are back in action, plus the new added bonus of the hydraulics equipped seating that simulates the ship's movement and (my personal favorite) bounces with the bass heavy pop tunes! The 3D looks great and the puppets and physical effects are much more charming than their lifeless CGI counterparts that would inevitably be in their place if it were remade today. As Captain EO sings, dances, and turns evil cyborgs into rainbow clad dancers via lasers from his hands, you can't help but bob with the music (literally) and have a great time! Despite being the first 4D movie ever produced, it still holds up remarkably well as a Disney theme park attraction, a testament to the dedication of its creators (or maybe MJ is just timeless). In any event, it is a refreshing change from Honey, I Shrunk the Audience which was really showing its age with the early 90's CGI and youthful Rick Moranis (Seriously though, what 8-year-old today has seen a "Honey, I Shrunk..." movie? I hope it doesn't return when Captain EO runs it's course). So in conclusion, despite its corniness, its solid theme park entertainment and definitely worth checking out next time you're there. Grade: B+

Great Job Disney, I can't wait for "World of Color" this summer!
Leisure On, folks!