Lifestyle
First Look At Paul Rudd in Marvel’s ANT-MAN!
Marvel Studios began principal photography earlier this week in San Francisco, California, on its newest Super Hero franchise Marvel’s “Ant-Man.” The film brings one of Marvel comics’ original founding members of The Avengers into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The production also shoots on location in Atlanta, Georgia, which serves as the base for the film’s production.
Set for release in the United States on July 17, 2015, the film is directed by Peyton Reed (“Bring it On,” “The Break-Up”) and stars Paul Rudd (“I Love You Man,” “Role Models”) as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, and Michael Douglas (“Behind The Candelabra,” “Wall Street”) as his mentor Dr. Hank Pym and Evangeline Lilly (“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” “Lost”) as Hope Van Dyne, daughter of Hank Pym.
The film also includes outstanding additional cast including Corey Stoll (“House of Cards,” “The Bourne Legacy”), Bobby Cannavale (“Danny Collins,” “Annie,” “HBO’s “The Long Play”), Michael Peña (“End of Watch,” “American Hustle”), Abby Ryder Fortson (“Togetherness”), Judy Greer (“13 Going on 30,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”), David Dastmalchian (“The Dark Knight,” “Prisoners”), Wood Harris (“Remember the Titans,” “The Wire”), John Slattery (“Mad Men,” Marvel’s “Iron Man 2”) and Gregg Turkington (“The Comedy,” “On Cinema”) and multi-hyphenate T.I. (“American Gangster,” “Takers”).
Based on the Marvel comic character first published in 1962, Marvel’s “Ant-Man” continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in Marvel’s “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the upcoming Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Marvel’s “Ant-Man” is produced by Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, with Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.
Director Peyton Reed’s creative team also includes Oscar® winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter (“Titanic,” “21”), production designer Sheppard Frankel (“Identity Thief,” “Horrible Bosses”) costume designer Sammy Sheldon Differ (“X-Men: First Class,” “Kick Ass”), visual effects supervisor Jake Morrison (Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” “The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers”), stunt coordinator Jeff Habberstad (Marvel’s “Iron Man 3,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past”) and six-time Oscar® nominee, special effects supervisor Dan Sudik (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”). The editors include Dan Lebental, ACE (Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” Marvel’s “Iron Man”) and Colby Parker Jr. (“Lone Survivor,” “Hancock”).
Marvel Studios’ upcoming release schedule includes Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015, Marvel’s “Captain America 3” on May 6, 2016, and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” on July 28, 2017.
Aug 21st
Taco Bell Looking For Menu Inspiration!
Who hasn’t dreamed of getting in the Taco Bell kitchen and creating the next big thing? Well the folks at Taco Bell has given high school students the chance to do just that! Taco Bell is looking for inspiration from everywhere to shape their menu. And, through the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens they strive to feed teen’s lives with mas, giving them the tools to graduate and job training experiences with that unique Taco Bell twist.
They recently hosted their 5th annual Camp Taco Bell event – where over 100 Southern California Taco Bell teen team members and teens from local Boys & Girls Clubs were challenged to invent a Taco Bell menu item, create a marketing plan, and have the opportunity to sell their product in a restaurant. After two days of hard work, the chance to be a Taco Bell innovator is now a reality for 11 of these teens.
Two teams –from the BGCA of La Habra and Pasadena – will sell their creations at a Taco Bell restaurant on Sat, Aug 16, 9am-1pm PST at the store on 2543 East Slauson Ave, Huntington Park, CA 90255.
The 1st place winners will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to go towards their postsecondary education, and one group grant of $2,500 to go back to a teen-serving organization of their choice. The 2nd place winners will each receive a $2,500 scholarship to go towards their postsecondary education, and one group grant of $1,000 to go back to a teen-serving organization of their choice
All of this is part of Taco Bell’s commitment to feeding people’s lives with más and the goal of the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, which is to inspire, educate and engage with teens everywhere – knowing that they are our friends, family, customers and our future. For more info on the Foundation visit www.tacobellforteens.org, and check us out on Facebook (tacobell4teens), Twitter (@tacobell4teens) and Instagram (tacbobellforteens).
Aug 14th
Modelo Especial Celebrates Real, Authentic, Craftsmen
Modelo Especial celebrates Real. Authentic. Craftsmen. for their passion and dedication to the Art of Woodworking. This is The Art of Woodworking featuring classic guitar luthier, Matt Rubendall and woodworker and furniture maker, Greta de Parry.
Aug 13th
UGG Austraila And Talib Kweli Showcase Fall 2014 Line
Aug 13th
Check Out The World’s Largest Urban Zipline
Speed Stick® GEAR™ team and YouTube’s most exciting filmmaker Devin Graham, AKA Devin SuperTramp, just released a video of one of the most extreme stunts the world as ever seen – World’s Largest Urban Zipline.
In creating the video, the team set records for the longest and highest zipline from a building over water, as well as the length and height record for base jumping from dual ziplines!
The video documents Graham, along with his fearless film team and a crew of six professional base jumpers, traveling to Panama City where they zip down from the top of a 700-foot building before releasing themselves and landing on a Speed Stick® GEAR™ base via parachute.
Speed Stick® GEAR™ is a new line of antiperspirants with DRYCORE™ technology designed for advanced performance, keeping guys dry even in the most pulse-inducing conditions imaginable – like filming one of the most extreme stunts the world has ever seen. To learn more about Speed Stick® GEAR™ products, please visit www.speedstick.com.
Aug 8th
Chef Gerry Garvin Tells MANjr How To “Give It Up For Good”
Gerry Garvin is an acclaimed chef, cookbook author and TV host. He is known for his television series, “Turn Up the Heat with G. Garvin”, which ran for seven seasons on TV One. Next he started another show called “G. Garvin: The Road Tour”, which premiered in 2007. Garvin also appeared in many cooking specials. He is also known for cooking everyday meals while keeping it simple with a Southern twist.
This summer, Allstate and Chef Garvin are teaming up for the second year of the “Give It Up For Good” campaign, and are celebrating the remarkable stories and acts of good within local communities. Launched in 2013, the national campaign shines a spotlight on the heartwarming stories of good – giving back to the community, unexpected good deeds, and unsung local heroes – taking place every day. In addition, the “Give It Up For Good” campaign encourages everyone to find simple ways to do good and then share those stories to inspire even more good. For more info click here to go to Allstate’s website.
I had the pleasure of talking with Gerry about his work with Allstate, how he got into cooking, and what it was like to cook dinner for Halle Berry.
Art Eddy: Let’s first talk about your work with Allstate for the “Give It Up For Good” campaign. Tell me a bit about that promotion?
Gerry Garvin: It is something we both wanted to do. We are both very passionate about it. We are spotlighting remarkable stories and remarkable people, who are doing really good things in their local communities. As you know as a writer a lot of the news you hear is always negative. There are some good people doing some good work in their community. We want to reach out to them and show them that they are appreciated.
AE: How can people help?
GG: When you find someone doing something good in their community have them go to Allstate’s website and go to their “Give it up for Good” section and just share the story. We want people to know what other people are doing and use the hashtag give it up for good. Just share, share, share, and share. That is what it is all about.
AE: What got you into cooking? Was there a person or an event that triggered your passion for cooking?
GG: I have been cooking for over half my life. It literally started just from being in the kitchen with my mom. Being from a single parent household we were learning how to cook because that was what we were supposed to do. The rules were simple. Do your homework, clean the house, and start dinner.
I found that it was the easiest job next to mowing the lawn. As a teenager I learned my way around the kitchen. When I turned 17 I thought it could actually be something serious so that is what I did.
AE: You have cooked meals for some very notable people such as former President Bill Clinton as well as Halle Berry. Do you have any fun stories from those experiences?
GG: The first call I got didn’t come from the White House. It came from someplace that was the lead security of some sort. When I first got the call to do a dinner for President Clinton he was still in office. I just hung up the phone. I thought it wasn’t real. I thought it was a joke. Then I get a call from the guy who set it all up and asked why I hung up on the staff at the White House. I was like I think I did. So that was a funny story, but I ended up doing a really great dinner for the president.
Then you know sitting in the kitchen with Halle Berry and having a glass of wine and making dinner for her is pretty exciting also.
AE: You have been on many TV shows here and there. Take me back to the first time you started your career on TV. What thoughts raced through your mind at that time?
GG: I have always done live TV and special guest spots, but the TV show, “Turn Up the Heat” the very first show I remember going is anyone going to ask me if I know what I am doing because no one ever did. 
I signed the contract. I never stood in front of a teleprompter before. I never did anything like that before besides being funny.
I spent some time trying to prefect the business part of television. The rest of it I said that I am going to have some fun. My very first guest was Hill Harper. I called up Hill. I told him that he was on the show tomorrow. I asked him what he was going to wear, what he did or didn’t want to talk about, was he going to stand on my left or my right, and so forth. I thought I would be human about it. It was a really interesting experience.
AE: Which other famous chef or celeb would you like to cook with or have them cook for you?
GG: There are a couple of people that I really like. I don’t know if I would ever get the opportunity to work with them, but Thomas Keller is one of the brilliant minds behind the culinary world. Sidney Poitier. He just represents the human species really well. That is a man that I am impressed with that I would love to cook for.
AE: What is the process like for creating new dishes? Is there a lot of trial and error?
GG: There is a lot of trial and error when you are younger. As you get older and you understand the culinary science of food it gets easier. When I think about a dish I imagine what that dish could be like. I do a lot of thinking before I go into the kitchen. So I spend a lot less time testing and failing, but rather testing and developing. So for me I draw inspiration from whether it is a flower or a fruit or a dish that I saw that can be enhanced. For me it is getting in and really developing the dish.
Aug 4th
Capture the Crown 2014
I’ll admit that I’m a city boy. Being born in Massachusetts and living in Los Angeles
will do that to you. I’d go so far as to call myself a Yankee but I’m a Red Sox fan and can’t stomach it. In the northeast you root for professional team sports. You speak quickly and directly and regularly offend others. Distance is measured in minutes, time is currency and watching NASCAR and listening to country music is something that other people do. I do not say things like “y’all”, “race day” or “we have to get to the start line before they wave the green flag”.
At least I didn’t before this week.
Indianapolis isn’t exactly Arkansas but when NASCAR comes to town you’d never know it. Biscuits, gravy and twang for breakfast, smoked meat and greens for lunch. Country music and freedom rock ride the breeze and shirtless men with denim cutoffs are everywhere you look. Had she been there I would have had to restrain my beautiful wife from applying sunscreen to strangers.
I’m not joking.
Yet when the news came down that MANjr founder Chris Stout was unable to attend his 3rd consecutive Crown Royal 400 I leapt at the chance. If you’re even a casual follower of the lifestyle blogosphere you know that this annual event is one of the biggest invites of the year. Cryptic messages and hashtags bounce around twitter for months prior to the race. A #ReignOn here, a #teampurplecup there. Pictures and videos from trackside bubble up from some unlikely sources as dozens of bloggers descend upon the Indy Motor Speedway with fully credentialed hot passes hanging from their necks.
The purpose of this trip is to highlight Crown Royal’s sponsorship of the Brickyard 400. More importantly, Crown Royal’s “Your Hero’s Name Here” contest and winners. Every year Crown Royal holds a nationwide search for an everyday hero in someone’s life. They then name the Brickyard 400 after this person and help them tell their story to the world. This year’s winner was a man named John Wayne Walding. His story is one that deserves to be told.
John was a Green Beret. He fought in Iraq and then returned to combat duty in Afghanistan for another campaign. His medal chest holds a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Should be enough, right? Not quite. While being a total bad ass in Shok Valley, Afghanistan, John took a snipers bullet to his leg with such force that it severed his leg below the knee.
Damn.
John proceeded to tie his severed leg to his thigh and return fire for over 4 hours before he and his unit were extracted.
You got that right. Instead of laying on the ground and clutching at the space where his leg once was John tied his leg to his thigh and continued firing at the enemy for over 4 hours.
John’s heroism doesn’t stop there. Upon rescue and rehabilitation, John took his prosthetic leg and graduated from Special Forces Sniper School. He hand cycled the Boston Marathon in under two hours.
Did I mention he was born on the 4th of July?
John proceeded to start a rifle manufacturing company in Texas that hires wounded veterans and become an advocate for veterans with PTSD.
After seeing this man in action I came away impressed by more than a list of his achievements. John is a funny and generous man. His charisma and authenticity was on full display and he carried the day with grace and humility. A fine and worthy choice by Crown Royal as a hero among us.
The Race? As in the annual scavenger hunt and race I had been invited to attend? Well #TeamHailey was pretty stacked. We won the first challenge on the strength of Z Smith’s extensive NASCAR knowledge and finished second in the next thanks to DJ Foothill and Victor Macias leading us on a half mile jog back to the cart. So much for sitting behind a keyboard in safety, this years Capture the Crown was full contact. Don’t buy it? Ask Katherine Fotinos about her run in with a moving golf cart. By the time we were eliminated I was grateful for the rest.
Ohhh… that race. Right. Well now that I’m this big time NASCAR reporter I can tell you that Jeff Gordon won for the fifth time at the Brickyard, overtaking Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne on a restart with 17 laps to go. The visibly pumped Gordon later said that winning the race was “as good as it gets”. He lingered over the traditional kiss of the brick finish line with his family and seemed to relish the moment. The day itself was blessed by weather as violent thunderstorms spared the region. The sun even poked it’s head out for a spell.
A successful trip to say the least. Good times, great people and all the Crown Royal I could drink.
Responsibly of course.
Got a hero of your own to nominate? Keep your eye on MANjr for information on next years “Your Hero’s Name Here” contest.
Jul 30th
Capture the Crown
It’s July, it’s Indianapolis, it must be Capture the Crown time again!
Follow our exploits as we traipse around Indianapolis for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com.
Say that all in one breath.
Lot of words. Let’s break it down. Brickyard 400, huge NASCAR race. John Wayne Walding, American hero. Crown Royal? Awesome drinking whisky. BigMachine Records.com? Sure why not, they paid for it.
I’ll be looking to reclaim the throne for MANjr founder and 2012 winner Chris Stout. What is this throne we speak of? The annual hub of all social media? The scavenger hunt to end all scavenger hunts? Check @manjrcom, #JWW400 and #ReignOn all weekend for some super VIP access to the race and the weekend’s festivities. Big prizes for winners the last few years and we’ll need that MANjr reader karma to pull it off again.
Wait? John Wayne? That John Wayne? No. Ten times better. John Wayne Walding is man who’s heroic actions on and off the battlefield remind us all of what kind of man we can all aspire to be. Sip on a few of Stouty’s original “Five Toes Texas Cooler” during the race and raise your glass to an American Hero, Mr. John Wayne Walding.
Jul 25th
Want To Win A Trip To Whatever, USA?
Are you looking for a great place to visit this summer? How about a nice trip to Whatever? No, I am not being vague. I am just saying that you can enter for a chance to hang with some cool people in a town called Whatever. Bud Light is going to give you a chance to win a trip to Whatever, USA this summer. It is place run by a mayor who just want people to have a great time. He is looking for people who are down for whatever.
Are you interested? Just visit UpForWhatever.com for more information and to submit an audition to win your way into a town that will be like no other.
Don’t believe me? Just look at what their ponies can do! Get those auditions in! Good luck!
Jul 21st
Kendrick Lamar Steals Show at the Shepard Fairey Hennessy VS Limited Edition Launch Party
Shepard Fairey is a recognizable brand. From Andre the Giant Has a Posse stickers to OBEY to the Obama Hope poster, Fairey has carved out a familiar, easily identifiable aesthetic of pop-heavy propaganda couched in geometrically stenciled street art. Fairey’s most recent collaboration was on display in Hollywood last night at the launch party for his newly designed Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition bottle.
The evening started with DJs D-Nice, Z-Trip and DJ Diabetic (aka Mr. Fairey himself) stirring up a crowd that was well-lubricated on free flowing Hennessy cocktails. Guests got to view the new bottle, sample the goods and share the dance floor with celebs like Chris Brown, Karrueche Tran, Ne-Yo, Travis Barker and Tam Walker.
Although Fairey was the man of the hour, the main attraction was this guy named Kendrick Lamar. And when I say main attraction, I really do mean attraction. Given the size of the venue, it’s amazing how many girls were actively looking to get impregnated by the man who earned seven Grammy nominations this past year.
Lamar was the ultimate crowd pleaser, showering the place with his fluid flow and familiar hooks from hits like “Swimming Pools (Drank)”, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”, and “Poetic Justice.” Everyone in attendance soaked it all in with a smile. From the view of the stage, everyone shared the same expression. Like the entire place was about to eat ice cream. Especially that girl in the pink dress.
Whatever “it” is, Kendrick has it for days. D-Nice, Z-Trip and Shepard Fairey set the stage, but Kendrick Lamar stole the show.
Jul 11th
