Author: Tom

Kanye’s birthday weekend gave us the gift of music and laughter

Posted on by Tom

Kanye West turned 41 on Friday, and we just hope he had as much fun for his birthday weekend as we did.

First, Kanye and Kid Cudi released their debut studio album, “Kids See Ghosts,” on Friday June 8 (on the heels of Kanye’s solo album “Ye,” which was released on June 1).

Then early on Saturday, Kim Kardashian West gifted the world with a “Rick and Morty” original song, which she commissioned from show creator Justin Roiland for her superfan husband.

And then, to cap off the weekend, ABC aired the episode of “Celebrity Family Feud” with Steve Harvey where we got to see Kim and Kanye compete against the Kardashian clan.

Thanks for the memories, Kanye.

Dave & Buster’s announced a multiplayer “Jurassic World VR Expedition”

Posted on by Tom

Universal just announced that an interactive virtual reality game inspired by the Jurassic World movies will debut at over 100 Dave & Buster’s locations starting next Thursday, June 14. The state-of-the-art VR motion simulator accommodates up to four players at a time, with each wearing an HTC VIVE headset. The 5-minute VR experience “transports players to the visually stunning jungles of Isla Nublar,” according to the press release. “Jurassic World VR Expedition is the ultimate wish fulfilled,” said Director James Lima. “We wanted to take people to Isla Nublar and visit Jurassic World, and here is where the power of VR presents its potential as a medium that is an extension of the film.”

“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, arrives in theaters June 22. 

(PRNewsfoto/The Virtual Reality Company)

Interactive pop-up exhibit HAPPY PLACE starts its nationwide tour in Chicago

Posted on by Tom

Visited by celebs like Adele and Kourtney Kardashian, the interactive pop-up exhibit HAPPY PLACE was wildly successful in Los Angeles and hosted upwards of 100,000 guests. Now the Instagram-friendly exhibit featuring “multi-sensory themed rooms” is hitting the road on a nationwide tour, beginning in Chicago from June 28 through August 6.

“Immersed in more than 20,000 square feet of happy vibes and positivity, guests will partake in delightful experiences such as capturing photos in the Super Bloom Room filled with 40,000 golden handmade flowers, standing in the middle of the world’s largest indoor confetti dome surrounded by half a million pieces of confetti, jumping from a double rainbow into a pot of happiness, and posing inside HAPPY PLACE’s signature rubber ducky bathtub of fun!”

Tickets went on sale this week.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbvD1lVnaME/?taken-by=wearehappyplace

The cast of “Big Little Lies” is #FriendshipGoals

Posted on by Tom

The cast of HBO’s breakout series “Big Little Lies” have been filming season 2 – and raising the bar for #FriendshipGoals on their down time. First Reese Witherspoon posted on social media that she was at the movie theater with Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern and Shailene Woodley to see Shailene’s new movie “Adrift.”

Then we were graced with several social posts from the group yesterday, as Zoë, Shailene, Reese, Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep (!!) spent time together bowling and playing pool.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjnTdvNB4Kx/?taken-by=zoeisabellakravitz

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjn0nxEFPFu/?hl=en&taken-by=reesewitherspoon

Nicole Kidman even took to Instagram to congratulate both Shailene and Laura for their “outstanding work” on their separate projects – Shailene for “Adrift” and Laura for “The Tale” on HBO.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjpxCHOA-Dj/?taken-by=nicolekidman

We love seeing these women supporting each other in such a fun way.

BONUS: Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at Shailene Woodley in “Adrift”:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjaZ2IdFhpq/?taken-by=shailenewoodley

Kat Von D changed the wedding dress game in an all-red scorcher

Posted on by Tom

Makeup empire queen Kat Von D wore a stunning all-red ensemble to her wedding reception over the weekend, following her marriage to Rafael Reyes earlier this year. The pregnant bride wore a red veil over red horns, and a full-length red gown with a high ruffle collar.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjizAK8nG44/?taken-by=prayers

Kat sure knows how to rock the look:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjlHHFyHmSy/?hl=en&taken-by=thekatvond

Guests even walked away with a one-of-a-kind lipstick – black with large flecks of gold glitter:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjIa7fJnMir/?taken-by=thekatvond

Legendary.

These pants are the ultimate summer party inspo

Posted on by Tom

This hands-free flotation device lets you sit comfortably in water while sipping an icy summer beverage or two. Each of the seven designs for Floaty Pants are priced under $50 and, according to their website, allow you to “enjoy the party… in your pants!”

Indeed.

New app promises “surround sound for your eyes”

Posted on by Tom

A free app just launched that promises to create “surround sound for your eyes” by synchronizing your Philips Hue smart lighting with the games, videos and music you play. The Philips Hue Sync app will basically capture the content on your Windows 10 or macOS (Sierra and later) computer and then will “translate it into an immediate lightscript for an immersive experience,” according to the press release.

The new home entertainment software works with Philips Hue smart lighting, and actually seems like it would spice up a viewing experience:  “Imagine you’re playing an action game and your lights mimic the explosions on the screen. Or, when watching a stunning sunset in a movie, have your living room bathed in the same violet, orange and yellow hues you see on the screen. And finally, take your music listening to a new level; your lights can dance to the beat of your favorite tracks.”

The immersive experience is also customizable, which is especially appealing to tech-lovers: “The software allows you to set your desired brightness level and change the speed in which your lights are changing alongside the content; you can select between Subtle, Moderate, High and Intense modes. Plus, when listening to music, you can choose from several different color palettes to match the genre. For example, subtle, pastel colors play nicely with softer tunes, while brighter, bolder tones might be better suited for rock and dance music.”

Check it out:

Kendrick Lamar just made history

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Kendrick Lamar just accepted his Pulitzer Prize for Music today for his record DAMN., officially making him the first non-classical or jazz artist to receive the distinction.

Ronan Farrow was also honored at the ceremony at Columbia University in New York City. He accepted the Pulitzer’s public service award for his reporting on the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal, alongside New York Times writers Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey. Ronan and his mom Mia Farrow posed for a pic with Kendrick:

There’s a video of the entire event on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pulitzerprizes/videos/2096637683915594/

 

Skip to 55:30 to see Kendrick up-close. He says of his history-making win: “It’s an honor. I’ve been writing my whole life, so to get this type of recognition – It’s beautiful.”

Yes, it is.

Missi Pyle, Tony Hale will star in a new podcast this summer

Posted on by Tom

Comedians Missi Pyle and Tony Hale are signed on to star in “Blind Psychosis,” a 6-episode murder mystery podcast slated to air this summer. “The series follows a group of guests that gather for a séance at a mansion in Maine that becomes cut off from civilization just as the guests realize that they’re being murdered one by one – and their murderer isn’t human,” according to the press release. “The Detective (Tony Hale) is in a race to figure out who did it, despite the fact that he is blind!”

Blind Psychosis Poster (PRNewsfoto/Society Entertainment)

 

The rest of the cast members are also known for their comedic chops, so we’re guessing this series will be quite funny. “Rounding out the cast are: Yvette Nicole Brown (“Community”), Christopher McDonald (“Happy Gilmore”), Lesley Ann Warren (“Clue”), Curtis Armstrong (“Revenge of the Nerds”), Camilla Luddington (“Greys Anatomy”), Diedrich Bader (“American Housewife”), and John O’Hurley (“Seinfeld”).”