Life

Beyond Fringe — A Detailed Guide To Scotland’s (Other) Amazing Festivals

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Scotland Festivals
UPROXX

When it comes to festivals in Scotland, one likely comes to mind first and foremost: Fringe. The Edinburgh arts fest is a nearly month-long celebration of creativity that has no equal across the globe. If you’re a fan of stand-up comedy, street magic, avant-garde theater, or pretty much anything in-between, you have to visit at least once in your lifetime. While the performers are fairly U.K.-focused, the fest has launched some serious careers. Fringe is where Robin Williams got his first big break on stage and contemporary comedians like Hannibal Burress and Mary Lynn Rajskub are known to frequent clubs or perform longer-term residencies during the festival.

Still, there’s more to Scotland’s festival scene than Fringe. The country boasts an eclectic mix of cultural fests that celebrate the intricacies of Scottish culture, one-of-a-kind whisky events tucked away on the Inner Hebrides, and rad EDM bacchanals that last days on end.

If those don’t nail your vibe (they definitely nail ours), there are plenty of other options, too. You might have heard of the famed Highland Games — featuring modern-day goliaths competing in feats of strength supported by a rich cultural (and culinary) backdrop — or the almost impossible-to-summarize scene at Eden (paganism! music! yoga!). The point being, the whole Scottish festival universe is unique, diverse, and a whole lot of fun. We’re calling out five festivals beyond Fringe that we love best below!

Terminal V Resurgence, Edinburgh

Terminal V Fest
Terminal V

The Fest:

The easiest recommendation we can give is Terminal V Resurgence. This is the ultimate techno party with a direct line to Berlin’s scene, where a sibling festival takes place next year. While that sounds amazing in and of itself, Festival Director Derek Martin takes us deeper:

“Our stage designs are productions that have been meticulously planned with no corners cut on costs,” he says. “Our lineups feature the biggest electronic acts from across the musical spectrum.”

On that last point, Martin isn’t kidding. The lineup this year is a deep dive into the cutting edge of techno, EDM, trance, and every other form of electronic music from all around the world in one place. That translates to nearly 60 acts on six stages with over 20,000 people dancing and partying every day and night. You can see the whole, vast lineup right here.

Details:

Terminal V runs April 16th-17th, 2022, at Edinburgh’s The Royal Highland Centre. The venue is out at the Edinburgh airport, meaning that there are plenty of hotels very close. Terminal V will also be providing pre-party buses to and from the venue to central Edinburgh and several other cities throughout the U.K.

Tickets start at $88 for a one-day pass with VIP upgrades starting at $27. The full weekend pass is $168.

Highland Games, Nationwide

Pitlochry Highland Games
Pitlochry Highland Games

The Fest:

If Fringe isn’t what you think of when you think of Scottish festivals, then it’s probably the Highland Games. This nearly 1,000-year-old cultural festival celebrates all things Scotland but is far more than a monolith. Sure, you can watch bulking Scottish dudes throw logs (caber toss) and rocks (shot putt) while a bagpipe parade bellows in the background alongside foot races. But you’ll also find plenty of local food, drink, dancing, and community.

2022’s Highland Games take place across the whole region. The gist of the Highland Games is really local celebrations of summer across the region. Expect a county fair vibe but with a quaint Scottish village feel to it with Scotland’s dramatic Highlands framing every scene.

In all, you could spend May to September traveling all of Scotland and hit all the games, and then leave having a deeper understanding of the whole country under your travel belt. Plus, you’ll have eaten some amazing meat pies and drunk some great whisky and ale along the way — hopefully, at a local pub after a tug-of-war battle just outside.

Details:

The Highland Games run May through September. You can check here for nine towns hosting the games this year. Most games will have a small entrance fee ($7 to $12 per person) plus an extra fee if you want to compete in any of the sports/activities. Don’t take that lightly though, the games are taken very seriously by local folks — it might be a good idea to just sit back with your whisky or pint and cheer from the crowd.

Fèis Ìle 2022, Islay

Fèis Ìle
Fèis Ìle

The Fest:

Fèis Ìle is the ultimate Scottish whisky festival. The festival takes place in the late spring on the isle of Islay and celebrates the island’s deep and long history with all things Scotch whisky.

Ben Shakespeare, the communications manager for the fest, breaks it down like this: “each distiller has their own festival days, which are a celebration of whisky and music. But mostly, it’s just people from all over the world coming together and having a good time on this little island.”

While whisky is the main focus, Fèis Ìle is really all about the community in Islay. The whole island participates from pub to pub and distillery to distillery, proudly sharing everything the island has to offer, from white sand beaches to the local Gaelic Centre, perfect for history fans. There are also bands and food and scores of very friendly locals — it’s a whole vibe.

Shakespeare offers one last tip, stay until the end. “The Final Fling is a great night!” he says. “It’s the last night of the festival when a lot of the locals come out and celebrate the end of a really busy week.”

Details:

Fèis Ìle runs from May 27 to June 4th this year. All “first batch” tickets are sold out but there will be more events and tickets going up soon. Keep an eye on the fest’s social media for updates. You’ll also be able to buy tickets to food events, boat trips around the island, and music events at the distilleries themselves.

We’d also argue that you’d need to book accommodation ASAP if you plan to go this year. There are just over 3,000 people on Islay and up to 10,000 are expected to show up for the fest.

Eden Festival, Moffat

Eden Festival
Eden Festival

The Fest:

The Eden Festival started off cheekily as the Wicker Man fest back in the early aughts. That vibe transcends to this day. The modern Eden Festival is a place where ancient Gaelic paganism, hippy vibes, and a 1990s carnival of the absurd collide. There are the requisite yoga mornings, meditation tents, vegan treats for everyone, and plenty of scantily clad and painted bodies everywhere you look.

Then there’s the music. Eden Festival is the biggest music fest in the whole country. This year’s event will have 250 acts across ten stages over just four days. Naturally, that vastness covers pretty much every genre of music there is. So we’re pretty confident that you’ll be able to find something that speaks to you.

All of that combines to create a scene, and that’s what the festival is all about. Those Wicker Man vibes still permeate through the whole event and drive the holistic and paganist nature of a festival that prioritizes treating all music and people as equals.

Details:

Eden Festival runs June 9th-12th, 2022, at St. Ann’s just outside Moffat in the Scottish Lowlands. There’s camping and glamping on-site for a fee. There are also public buses from Edinburgh and Glasgow with an Eden shuttle to take you the rest of the way. Otherwise, this is a pretty remote location. There are plenty of food stalls, beer taps, and cocktail bars on-site in case you’re worried about food.

Tickets are almost sold out. Expect to pay $178 to enjoy the whole festival run. You can also book bus travel, camping, and more right here.

TRNSMT Festival, Glasgow

TRNSMT Festival
TRNSMT Festival

The Fest:

Let’s end things with a classic multi-stage music festival in a big city. TRNSMT in Glasgow has a classic main stage in a big ol’ field with huge nostalgia acts this year like The Strokes as well as two supporting stages with up-and-coming hip-hop, rock (Wolf Alice is on the lineup), and EDM artists.

The stages are set up with vendors in between selling plenty of food and drink. That being said, the ripple here is that the fest takes place in Glasgow Green, which is right in the middle of the city. That means you have the entirety of Glasgow’s restaurant, bar, and club scene at your fingertips before, during, and after every performance. That makes this kind of the perfect festival to travel to, especially if you’re looking to party in one of Europe’s coolest cities while also attending a massive music festival.

Details:

The fest runs from July 8th-10th this year. Since it’s in the middle of Glasgow, transportation isn’t an issue once you arrive. Moreover, there a plenty of hotels within a stone’s throw of the Green. Though be warned, up to 120,000 people attend this festival. So book your accommodation now.

Tickets start at $82 for a single day or $210 for the full run. Though, since this is the first year back since 2019, tickets are going quickly.

More photos!

Terminal V

Terminal V
Terminal V
Terminal V
Terminal V
Terminal V
Terminal V

Highland Games

Crieff Highland Gathering
Crieff Highland Gathering
Pitlochry Highland Games
Pitlochry Highland Games
Strathmore Highland Games
Strathmoremore/BR Photos

Fèis Ìle

Fèis Ìle
Ben Shakespeare
Fèis Ìle
Ben Shakespeare
Fèis Ìle
Ben Shakespeare

Eden Festival

Eden Festival
Eden Festival/Instagram
Eden Festival
Eden Festival/Instagram
Eden Festival
Eden Festival/Instagram

TRNSMT Festival

TRNSMT Festival
TRNSMT Festival
TRNSMT Festival
TRNSMT Festival
TRNSMT Festival
TRNSMT Festival

Rapper-Owned Weed Brands, Smoked And Power Ranked

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Rapper Weed Brands
Ralph Ordaz

The world of rapper-owned weed brands features more smoke and mirrors than a Miami megaclub. While there are some bangers in the genre, most of these “brands” aren’t really brands at all. It’s far more common for a rapper to work with a preexisting company and drop a limited line of products or bag up some janky shit in mylar through a white-label grow operation, than it is for them to launch an autonomous cultivation project of their own. Half the time when you search for brands owned by rappers, the websites are defunct, the Instagrams don’t exist, and the products aren’t available. It’s as if, aside from the press release, a handful of blogs, and a lone lavish launch party, the brand ceases to exist at all.

Why?

Most rappers launch weed “brands” for clout rather than wanting to actually enter the cannabis space. And who could blame them? The weed industry is an expensive headache for entrepreneurs. It is ironic, though, because rappers are the celebrities most likely to be accepted by the discerning consumers of the cannabis community. Not only were they some of the earliest vocal proponents of cannabis in mainstream culture, but some famously sold weed prior to fame (and have served time for it).

If any genre of celebrity deserves to be in the weed space, it’s rappers. Period.

So today, we’re checking out some rapper-owned brands that actually exist and don’t totally suck (I don’t like them all, but none are fully trash). From the many rapper-weed collabs, we’ve chosen five strains to smoke, rank, and rant about from the floor of my living room. Sound fun? Let’s get stoned!

Ready 2 blaze
Uproxx

5. China White Preroll from Saucey Extracts by Jim Jones

Saucey
Uproxx

I attended the launch party for Saucey Extracts a few years ago. It was insane. At a Beverly Hills mansion, giant glass candy jars full of nugs dotted sprawling gardens to the pool. The weed literally overfloweth. I ran around with a celebrity stoner’s daughter stuffing branded tote bags to the brim with nugs. Jim Jones made an appearance. It was everything the launch party of a rapper weed brand should be. Wish I could say the same about the weed itself.

First of all, I always feel a little wary when an extracts brand launches flower, because that usually means they didn’t grow it themselves. White labeling is a huge issue in the cannabis community, a super common practice because the overhead of cultivation itself is so massive. Most brands, especially the big ones, don’t grow their own flower. That’s why they’re rich. It’s way cheaper not to. However, what you gain monetarily, you lose in quality.

For this test, I popped open the Supreme-esque plastic packaging of the China White pre-roll pack. Four joints of mechanically trimmed flower burst forth, smelling like hay. I took a dry hit, which is when you take a hit of an unlit joint to experience the flavor of the flower, known as the terpene profile. It was pretty mild, fruity, a little citrusy. Not mad at it, but it could have been more flavorful for sure.

I lit up. The flavor wasn’t bad. Delicate, citrusy, fruity, but overall pretty mids. I immediately felt upbeat, and definitely wanted to give them props for the integrity of the joint structure. These burned cleanly and evenly, not too tight or loose.

The high was upbeat, spacey, and a little trippy. I felt cerebrally invigorated while my body relaxed. Definitely a good daytime work weed, which is not usually the kind of flower that rapper brands deliver. A welcome change.

Bottom Line:

This weed is not bad, but it’s not great either. I think the price is a little high, but we love Jim Jones and will blindly support anything Dipset does.

Buy it here: $55 for a pack of 4 prerolls

4. Monogram #3 by Jay Z

Monogram
Uproxx

Monogram is Jay Z’s weed brand. I’m not a huge fan of their sleekly packaged, overpriced mids. But some people seem to like them, so let’s check out their #3 strain.

The first red flag here is that this flower is 35% THC. Not only is that physically improbable, but it’s also just plain silly. No one needs that much THC, and when you get a number that high you are totally destroying the natural balance of the chemicals within the plant. I’ve always felt that this brand has a weird air of being out of touch due to the fact that Jay Z has never been part of the cannabis community. He doesn’t publicly smoke weed or advocate for its use prior to entering the legal space in the most corporate way possible. Maybe if he had, he’d know better than to jack his THC up that high.

Anyways, the flower looks pretty good. Chunky, green, orange with little violet leaves. It doesn’t really have much of a smell and seemed a little dried out, but often you can’t really blame the cultivator if the weed shows up a little dry — it’s often a distro issue.

Based on the THC percentage, I was afraid to smoke this at all and be rendered useless for the rest of the afternoon. But I took a bong rip anyway. For journalism!

The flavor wasn’t strong, but it wasn’t bad either. Fruity, a little floral, grape forward. Immediately my head became swimmy as I felt a wave of far too much THC sneak into my mind and crash over my eyes from behind. Relaxed, euphoric, the colors seemed brighter. It’s definitely very potent, but not a particularly nuanced high. That’s the problem with these absurdly high THC cultivars. They make you feel high on THC, but that’s about it.

Then, the stupor hit. Staring into the horizon beyond the window, limp, my mind moved slowly. Even in writing this single sentence, I drifted into a world unknown for about four minutes. Some people may like this kind of high, but it’s not for me, a high functioning, all-day stoner.

Bottom Line:

It’s not terrible, just overpriced and way too juiced up with THC.

Buy it here: $70 for 4 grams

Khalifa Kush by Wiz Khalifa

Khalifa Kush
Uproxx

I like Wiz Khalifa because he’s a fucking stoner. He’s so in the mix that it’s not uncommon to see him at weed parties around LA. Also, he has BDE, minds his business, and gets high on stage. Vibes.

Unlike most rapper weed I get sent, I was actually looking forward to trying Khalifa Kush because you can tell this man truly cares about flower. I imagined it would be good. And it was!

The dry hit was so impressive! Super mango diesel flavor, it had that kind of syrupy dry hit quality where you can taste that the terps and chemical compounds are alive on the plant matter. I lit it. There was a fantastic smell-to-flavor translation, which is another sign of good weed. It kind of had a fruity sage flavor that I was super into. Smooth smoke, great joint overall.

I was thinking there was not a lot of head change, and then BOOM BITCH that shit hit. And it hit hard. I got suuuuuuuper languid and dreamy feeling, and it made this difficult to write (again). This is high quality dreamy daytime weed — euphoric without being sleepy.

Bottom Line:

Perfect for taking the day off work to smoke weed in public like Wiz Khalifa.

Buy it here: $20 for 1 gram preroll

2. Plane Jane by Fiore x Roy Woods

Plane Jane
Uproxx

Plane Jane is a strain collab by Fiore and rapper Roy Woods. Fiore was started by the owners and head cultivators at Cookies (rapper Berner’s megabrand) and is the only Cookies micro-business. So this is actually a rapper weed squared strain collab. And a perfectly executed one at that.

I popped open the bag, and was punched in the face by gas, pine, and tropical fruit. Though I’m not usually the biggest fan of indoor flower, Fiore fucking crushes it everytime. Unbelievably pungent, soft nugs were easy to break apart, unlike those mechanically trimmed balls of THC everyone seems to be hawking these days. This flower was beautiful in every way… so I smoked it!

The flavor was as pungent as the smell, but less gassy, with more notes of pine and fruit. Immediately I felt focused, dreamy and upbeat. This is the kind of weed you can smoke to calm down and beat depression or anxiety when you still need to get shit done. It’s actually really nuanced and vibey. It has a holistic healing effect, tingly in the body and the spirit, and the mind.

Bottom Line:

Elevating and exciting, it’s not the kind of indoor that gets you dumb for 30 minutes then tired. This weed is vibrant and alive, and really, really good. Definitely worth a cop!

Buy it here: $42 per eighth

Insane OG by B-Real

Insane OG
Uproxx

And now, the love letter begins. I have been a massive fan of Insane by Cypress Hill’s B-Real since I first tried their flower a year or two ago. This dude has been in the weed game forever and facilitated a lot of what we know as modern cannabis culture prior to entering the industry. He was on Hits from the Bong, bro! Idk if there is a higher stoner accolade than that.

I think this Insane OG strain is some of the best and strongest weed on the market. When I say strong, I don’t just mean high in THC. This is a fully immersive stoner experience. You feel so much with this flower. It’s full-body, full mind.

The bag opens to a rush of powerful terpene smell waves. Diesel, pine, and lemon. Deep pine forest energy. The nugs are crunchy and sparkle with trichomes. Frosted and cute, I felt as if the nugs were staring back at me.

I took a large hit of the bong, as instructed. A rainbow burst of forest flavors overcame my palate and I felt filled with joy immediately. The high is cerebral and fun. The body high is euphoric and relaxing. Together it’s a balanced high that leaves you feeling floaty, elated, and ready for anything.

Bottom Line:

This weed is simply a must-have. It’s perfect in every way, and there is no one more qualified to sell it to you than B-Real.

Buy it here: $50 for the eighth

Jas Prince’s’ Slapwoods Brand Provides A Luxurious Hand-Rolled Smoking Experience For Your Top Shelf Bud

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Slapwoods Review
Filmfoot/Uproxx

There are few smoking experiences that rival the pleasure of smoking a properly rolled blunt. A good hand-rolled cigar burns slow, steady, fills the air with the aromatic tones of tobacco and dark chocolate, and produces a smooth and flavorful smoke. Done right, a blunt makes your toking experience as much about savoring the taste of the cigar paper as it does about getting high.

Having said that, rolling a proper blunt is a straight-up pain in the ass. Huge hassle all the way around.

When it comes to rolling blunts, you’re dealing with a lot of potential issues — sourcing quality tobacco leaves, grinding a bunch of weed, and getting it all rolled up without dropping product all over the floor. Worse still is having to deal with disassembling a corner store Swisher Sweet (or Phillies Blunt or Backwoods cigar) and filling it up with your weed. Sure, this works in a pinch but it’s wasteful and can muddle the quality of your top-shelf herb with chemical-tasting artificial fruit flavors or dusty dry leaf notes.

Happily for us, we’re living in an age where stoners are spoiled with choices and tools geared toward making the blunt rolling experience easier. And one of our favorite options is Jas Prince’s Slapwoods (a tongue-in-cheek reference to OG cigar brand Backwoods, perhaps?). Prince is an entrepreneur, mogul, and the founder of the Young Empire Music Group. More importantly for today’s purposes, he’s a stoner — which is probably why his Sapwood’s products feel tailor-made for a better smoking experience.

Let’s break it down:

Slapwood’s Cigar Cones/ Cigar Wraps

Slapwoods Review
Dane Rivera

If you hate the hassle of rolling blunts, Slapwood’s Cigar Cones makes life waaaaay easier. The cones are packaged three to a pack and feature thick aromatic wraps pre-assembled in a tall conical shape with a corn husk tip filter. The packs have everything you need for the perfect blunt — each cone is loaded with a Slapwoods insert that helps the virgin cigar cone retain its shape and serves as a funnel for your bud, which can be better-packed thanks to the wooden pick that comes supplied in each pouch.

The leaf itself is pretty sturdy, without being dry, and can handle a dense pack with a lot of handling. Nothing is worse than ruining a wrap because you have rough hands. When I tried Slapwoods, it was able to stand up to some considerable abuse.

Be warned though, you’re going to need a lot of weed to fill one of these things, and I mean a lot.

Slapwoods Review
Dane Rivera

I double ground 1.5 grams of fresh herb and still had more room than I’d like to spare, but each cone can be easily cut or folded in to make up for any gaps. This makes the wrap perfect for sharing with a circle of friends, a loved one, or for a sustained smoking session for those Snoop-level stars who like a long session.

When I finally lit up, soothing coffee-like tones filled my immediate vicinity (important to consider if you have smoke-hating neighbors, this stuff is powerful) and the Russian Cream flavored cone helped add some smooth vanilla and earthy tobacco and chocolate notes to my bud, supplying a smooth drag with a savor-worthy flavor. The quality of the tobacco leaf is great, it’s hand-rolled in the Dominican Republic, burns evenly, and never comes across as harsh or dirty tasting, like more low-quality leaves.

The Cigar Cones are definitely worth picking up if you love smoking blunts but hate rolling them, but let us make the case for Slapwoods Cigar Wraps as an even better option.

Slapwoods Review
Dane Rivera

I know I just spent paragraphs applauding Slapwoods for making the act of hand-rolling rolling cannabis in tobacco leaves more convenient, but the wraps are where it is truly at. They slap. Coming five to a pack in an easily resealable pouch, these are made to retain freshness. You still get that same smooth luxurious Russian Cream flavor, with leaves that are a noticeable step up in quality. They’re remarkably supple, soft to the touch, and incredibly natural. They feel like… well, exactly like a dried leaf, and if all you’ve ever had is a Swisher wrap, this is a whole other world.

It’s like comparing well-level Jack Daniels to a Lagavulin 16. If you’re smoking high-quality bud that is truly worthy and wanting of a premium delivery method, you have to make it Slapwoods Cigar Wraps.

The Bottom Line:

Slapwoods Review
Dane Rivera

If you value convenience, grab the Slapwoods Cigar Cones. If you’re all about a supreme and luxurious experience, you have to go with the Cigar Wraps. Either way, at the end of the day Slapwoods levels up your smoking game like few brands can.

Shop Slapwoods products at the official Slapwoods site.

Spafford Shares Their Guide To Phoenix, Just In Time For M3F Music Festival

by
Phoenix, Arizona Guide
Spafford

Spring is around the corner (finally!), which means weekly beach trips, fruity cocktails, and outdoor adventures are soon to make their return to our everyday lives. Perhaps the most exciting springtime staple of them all is the slew of music festivals to come in 2022.

One of the first festivals on the spring lineup is M3F — a non-profit festival in downtown Phoenix, Arizona happening on March 4th and 5th. The two-day event, which donates 100 percent of proceeds to charity, will feature performances by ZHU, Leon Bridges, Kaytranada, Jungle, Parcels, Spafford, A R I Z O N A, Bryce Vine, Surf Mesa, and a whole gang of other highly recognized artists.

It’s safe to say M3F is worth making the weekend trip to Phoenix for on its own. But if you’re visiting the “Valley of the Sun” for the festival and you’re looking for the best things to eat, do, and see while you’re in town — you know, when you’re not raging to ear-blasting music in a crowd — keep reading below. Spafford, a Phoenix-based band on the M3F lineup, is giving you the rundown on their favorite local (and local-adjacent) gems.

Brian Moss — Guitar

Salazar Bros

Phoenix, Arizona Guide
Via Davin N. & Yelp

I’ve been lucky to live across the street from Salazar Bros for many years and probably have consumed more burritos from this hole-in-the-wall than any other since I moved to Arizona in 2003. Their food has always been consistently great quality, super-fast, and muy delicioso.

Go for the California Burrito — sour cream on the side and an orange Fanta. Ask for the red salsa.

Salt River

Phoenix, Arizona Guide
@andydilling

Salt River is one of my favorite places to go when I need nature fast. There are many pull-offs and recreation areas leading all the way up the river with beautiful views of the mountains that surround it. My family’s favorite spot is Coon Bluff. It is great for hiking, fishing, and swimming. There is a great chance you will run into wild horses as well!

Highly recommended if you’ve never been.

Jordan Fairless — Bass

Childs-Irving Power Plant

Phoenix Guide
Via USDA

When you really want to get out and beat the heat or spend a few days camped out in close proximity to some hot springs, there is no place like Fossil Creek and the old Childs-Irving Power Plant. It’s a little bit of a drive from Phoenix but worth it on a hot summer day.

Amazing waterfalls, a journey to a hot spring, what’s not to love?

LoLo’s Chicken and Waffles

One of my favorite memories is going to LoLo’s Chicken and Waffles down the street from Last Exit Live before shows. Being a southern boy from Tennessee, it’s hard for me to turn down fried chicken and Kool-Aid! I suggest the Tre Tre with a large jar of Red Kool-Aid.

Nick Tkachyk — Drums

Cartel Roasting Co.

If you want a delicious, house-roasted pick-me-up and a modern, hip environment to hang out in, Cartel Roasting Co. is the spot. It’s in the heart of downtown Tempe with all the cool kids to look at and espressos to dump down your gullet.

Kiwanis Park

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A post shared by City of Tempe (@tempegov)

What I love about Kiwanis Park is how huge it is. It’s like three parks in one! It’s full of active people doing active stuff. It even has a lake with ducks and fish in it!*

*You can pretty spend an entire afternoon at Kiwanis Park. With sports amenities like a baseball diamond, basketball courts, batting range, soccer fields, softball fields, swimming, tennis courts, urban fishing, and volleyball courts, you’ll never run out of things to do. Not to mention, the picnic tables and open grass areas make a great place to enjoy lunch before heading into the M3F music festival.

Worth Takeaway

Phoenix Guide 2022
Worth Takeaway

You gotta try the crispy chicken sandwich and banana pudding at Worth Takeaway! It’s a mom-and-pop sandwich shop in downtown Mesa equipped with its own merchandise. You can see me wearing their “kindness club” tee.

Andrew “Red” Johnson — Keys

Chino Bandido

Chino Bandido is one of the BEST restaurants in the valley! It’s a perfect blend of Asian and Mexican food. Don’t forget a snickerdoodle for dessert!*

*The restaurant’s blend of traditional flavors from Mexican and Asian cuisines — with menu items like jerk fried rice, burritos, and combination rice bowls — is beloved for being deeply satisfying. Sounds like the ultimate festival hangover cure.

Desert Vista Trailhead

Phoenix Arizona Guide
City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department

My favorite hike in the valley is the Dixie Mountain Loop from the Desert Vista Trailhead. It’s about a five-mile loop and if you go mid-week you usually have the trail to yourself. If you’re lucky, you might see the owl in its nest.

Dobbins Lookout

Phoenix Guide 2022
City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department

One of the best places in Phoenix to catch a sunset is Dobbins Lookout on top of South Mountain. The drive up and down is a little sketchy, but the views are totally worth it!

We Tried Eminem’s Mom’s Spaghetti In Los Angeles — Here’s The Verdict

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Eminem Mom's Spaghetti
UPROXX

His palms are sweaty,
Knees weak; arms are heavy.

There’s vomit on his sweater already —
Mom’s spaghetti.

He’s nervous but on the surface he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs but he keeps on forgetting…

It’s one of the most gripping opening stanzas in all of hip-hop history. It’s visual, visceral, and, in just a few syncopated syllables, shows Eminem’s mastery of the natural musicality of language. It’s such an effective opening that not only does it fill you in on the plot and story of the movie 8 Mile, you can practically taste B-Rabbit’s mom’s spaghetti (both as it goes down and as it comes up). But nothing about that opening line suggests that B-Rabbit’s mom has a handle on centuries worth of Italian culinary tradition.

Begging the question: Do we even want to try this dish?

The short answer is “yes.” Last September, Em and Curt Callo and Ann Stevenson (of Union Joints Restaurant Group), launched the 8 Mile-themed Mom’s Spaghetti in Detroit and absolutely crushed it. Em himself even made an appearance at the service window. So it’s not shocking that as the legend pulls up to LA for the Super Bowl halftime show, he’s bringing his mom’s spaghetti with him for another pop-up.

This Super Bowl weekend (starting today), diners will be able to try the Mom’s Spaghetti concept via Postmates — or in-person at a pop-up — housed at Uncle Paulie’s Deli in DTLA — while supplies last. Items on the full menu include a simple plate of parmesan-dusted spaghetti, toasted garlic bread, beef and vegan meatballs, and the S’ghetti sandwich (a favorite straight out of Eminem’s real-life upbringing). Postmates will also be holding a sweepstakes that offers ten people the chance to score a limited-edition jar of Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce, signed by Em himself.

Before you throw down your money on Mom’s Spaghetti, you’re going to want to know if it’s any good — so we tried the whole menu for you! But not before asking co-owner Curt Catallo and Chef Chris Springer some questions about what to expect.

“Mom’s spaghetti” almost sounds like slander in Lose Yourself. But I’d imagine this is a classic Spag Bol or what Italians would call a Bolognese or NY Italians would call ‘Sunday Gravy?’

Catallo:

I think the reason why that line connects in such an incredible way is that everyone knows that spaghetti reference… it could be Rabbit’s mom or anyone else’s… we’ve all had it. And I don’t think it’s slander, we’ve all been nervous before going into battle!

Springer:

The standard sauce is straight — like a jar sauce but totally scratch. We have the bolognese in Detroit, because Em’ asked for one.

What was your experience with that type of sauce and how did you develop this recipe?

Catallo: We started making the sauce in ‘17 for the Revival Pop-Up at the Shelter (in Saint Andrews) and took it to Coachella.

Springer: We worked with Paul Rosenberg and their crew to dial it in along the way. We had a big tasting and perfected it right when the pandemic hit, literally eating Mom’s when they canceled March Madness, and locked the recipe.

What hallmarks do you want the sauce to have? Is there a ‘Detroit style’ to this type of sauce or is it pretty much NY style? Or even true Italian?

Catallo: What we were going after for Paul and Marshall was a sauce that was totally straightforward and legit. It’s not my grandma’s sauce because it’s not supposed to be. Mom’s is a classic, straight red sauce.

Eminem’s raps always seemed to paint the sort of world where people would overcook pasta — do you keep things al dente?

Springer: When we make Mom’s we want it to taste like it’s an incredible leftover when you get it. We cook all the spaghetti ahead of time and reheat it in a wok with sauce to order. It gives it a snap.

Spaghetti w/ Balls/Vegan Balls

Eminem Food Review
Dane Rivera

As Catallo alluded to, the Mom’s Spaghetti concept is less about offering a gourmet experience and more about capturing the flavor of delicious leftovers. Like when you pour through the door after a late night, half-buzzed and half-asleep from your midnight adventures, crack open the fridge, and dive into carb-loaded comfort food. I’m happy to say that it completely captures that magic. From the take-out style packaging to the reheated wok noodles, this stuff tastes good and is as much a people-pleaser as “Lose Yourself.”

The appropriately juvenilely named Spaghetti with Balls is Mom’s Spaghetti’s main menu item. It can be ordered solo, or with beef or vegan meatballs. The spaghetti itself does have that snap to it that Springer mentioned, looking at the dish I was fully expecting soggy noodles that would turn to mush in my mouth, but I was surprised to find a pleasing firm-but-chewy texture to them.

Eminem Food Review
Dane Rivera

The sauce was another surprise, it smells incredibly pungent — the garlic fills your immediate surroundings and that’s not a pure compliment! But the sauce does its job, it keeps the noodles interesting, and adds a lot of brightness and some complex savory umami qualities. It’s delicious, not life-changing but altogether makes for a dish worth ordering — especially with the garlic toast that it’s served alongside.

The meatballs, both beef, and vegan are a lot more forgettable. I’m not sure if this was a result of losing some flavor in transit, but both the beef and vegan balls were a bit on the dry side. Not to the point of being inedible, but entirely skippable. The beef meatball was the juicier of the two, and featured a nice savory balance of salt, garlic, and peppery flavor.

Eminem Food Review
Dane Rivera

The vegan balls also had a good flavor, if a bit drier. They were much more noticeably plant-y and featured a spicier onion-forward flavor. If you need the protein to complete the meal, go for whichever ball sounds better for you, but I think you’re better off just ordering the spaghetti on its own.

Or, better yet, opt for this next option…

S’getti Sandwich

Eminem Food Review
Dane Rivera

When I first saw the S’getti sandwich I thought it was kind of dumb (carbs on carbs!). Then I realized that when I’m eating spaghetti leftovers, I’m usually utilizing the garlic bread in exactly this way. This sandwich isn’t the dumb one, it’s me!

Putting spaghetti on top of your garlic toast is a delicious experience, and Mom’s Spaghetti just builds it for us. This is the essential order from the pop-up. It combines the best of what the restaurant concept offers — the buttery garlic french toast, which is crunchy but soft on the inside, and the snappy bright noodles — and further elevates both with a slice of delicately salty melted mozzarella. It’s last night’s pasta plus a grilled cheese sandwich. Delicious and genius!

The dish has a great mouthfeel, it’s crispy and crunchy, chewy, but not mushy, and features a savory garlic flavor that settles on the palate nicely. B-Rabbit never rapped about his mom’s S’getti sandwich, but he damn sure should have!

The Bottom Line:

Order the S’getti sandwich. It doesn’t conjure up nostalgia for 8-Mile but it’s legitimately delicious and deserves a spot alongside your other Super Bowl food favorites this weekend. Also, for true stans of Em, it’s a dish he actually ate when he was a young kid, more like B-Rabbit than the modern Eminem we know today. And that’s pretty cool.

Eminem Will Be Serving Mom’s Spaghetti In LA For Super Bowl LVI

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Not only is Eminem performing part of the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show but he’s also bringing his popular pop-up restaurant to hungry football fans. The pop-up, Mom’s Spaghetti — so named for a line from Em’s 2002 hit “Lose Yourself” — was so successful at previous events that he eventually opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in his hometown Detroit last year to the delight of fans.

This week, Mom’s Spaghetti will return to its roots with a pop-up shop in Downtown LA opening today through Super Bowl Sunday, when the big game will be played at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium between the hometown LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. For those unwilling to risk Super Bowl week traffic themselves (seriously, don’t do it, people) the restaurant will also be available for delivery via Postmates.

Fans actually at the game will get to watch Eminem perform at the halftime show along with Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg. The group will also have a pair of deaf rappers signing during the show, translating the classic songs for a wider audience. In other food-related Super Bowl news, Domino’s is offering customers $3 for picking up their pizzas instead of having them delivered.

Megan Thee Stallion Released A Song About Hot Cheetos And It’s Called ‘Flamin’ Hottie’

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Has a Super Bowl commercial ever been this built up? Once a week for the past three weeks, Megan Thee Stallion has shared a teaser for her Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Doritos Super Bowl LVI commercial. First it was her checking into the studio backlot where a commercial featuring exotic animals is being filmed, then it was her getting locked out of her trailer by a sloth (?), and today we have the official song that goes with the campaign, “Flamin’ Hottie.” I guess this commercial is officially a highly anticipated one.

The song rides a sample of “Push It” by Salt N’ Pepa (a femme rap classic if there ever was one) and Megan isn’t short on the analogies between how hot she is and how hot these dang chips are! “Damn, I’m so hot, can’t touch me, just like Cheetos on your fingers, wanna suck me!” she says in the song’s opening verse. Then brings it home on the hook with “‘Cause I’m all that and a bag of flamin’ hot chips!”

The song was obviously co-signed by Cheetos mascot Chester Cheetah on Twitter:

Listen to “Flamin’ Hottie” above and join us on the edge of your seat for Meg’s Super Bowl LVI commercial sometime on Sunday, February 13.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

DJ And Model Charly Jordan Shares Where To Eat, Stay, And Party In Miami

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Miami Party Guide 2022
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Miami isn’t a hidden gem or secret travel hub. It’s one of the best-known, most populous party cities in the United States. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. Miami is awesome. Go a lot. Go bi-monthly. Move there.

Charly Jordan — DJ, model, and style entrepreneur — is a Miami regular who’s learned the ins and outs of the city’s scene. She’s DJed at Miami’s hottest nightclubs and most exclusive events (including Scott Disick’s “Boat To Basel” party during Art Basel 2021) and had more than enough adventures to call herself a Miami expert. In preparation for her new single, “Innerbloom,” (debuting today, January 28th, on Spotify and Apple Music) Jordan has been playing the city often and cultivating a vibe in the rooms she plays.

“My goal is to influence positive change in the way people perceive mental health and success,” says Jordan. “I believe success is not just being monetarily successful, but living a rich and full life as well while helping others around you. Be the energy that fills a room, not takes away from it.”

The DJ — a longtime friend of Uproxx — certainly brings energy to the room when she hits the stage in Miami. So we asked her to share a guide to the best places to explore and party in from South Beach to the Keys to Wynwood.

WHY MIAMI?

Miami Party Guide 2022
Charly Jordan

I’ve had the pleasure of playing many shows in Miami over the past year and I’ve really grown to love it. It can be a bit difficult to enter the city if it’s your first time not knowing anybody, but as soon as you find your niche and your crowd there are endless possibilities. I’ve never seen boat life quite as active as I’ve seen in Miami. There are full-blown yacht parties, speed boats, deep-sea fishing, and the late-night boat rides through the Miami River are pretty magical.

What’s one thing that every first-time visitor should see or do in Miami?

If you’re a first-time visitor in Miami and you love food, which who doesn’t, Mila is one of the best dinner spots to go to. As well as taking a stroll along ocean drive in South Beach during the day, where you’ll see endless restaurants and stores right next to the white sand beach.

Miami Beach is a classic, but I also love hotel hopping in South Beach and hitting the different restaurants and bars that overlook the water.

Best way to take in the iconic art scene of Miami?

Miami Party Guide 2022
Charly Jordan

The best way to take in the art scene in Miami is honestly just by paying attention because I feel like the art is everywhere. Obviously, there are more specific areas that are filled with art like Wynwood, where you can hardly turn a corner without seeing graffiti on the wall neighboring a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. But you’ll see sculptures all throughout Miami, even in many of the apartment buildings.

Best nightclub for a late night out in the city?

Miami Party Guide 2022
Charly Jordan

Since I DJ, I would consider myself a sort of connoisseur of nightclubs, given that I’ve been to so many. You won’t really experience anything better than E11even Miami. One of the only of its kind, a hybrid nightclub and strip club that serves food and also has massive artists perform like Migos, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and many more (including myself lol). I’ve performed at E11even a couple of times, so not only is it one of my favorite clubs to go to but they’ve become a family to me.

Make sure if you go to E11even you order the chicken sandwiches because there’s nothing that beats them.

Best Cuban restaurant in Miami?

The best place to get Cuban food in Miami is Havana Vieja! I personally get the Ropa Vieja and the grilled octopus.

FROM UPROXX: Havana Vieja offers freshly-made, authentic Cuban dishes. The restaurant’s lively ambiance, colorful decor, and diverse cocktail menu make it an excellent choice for a celebratory lunch or dinner.

View the full Havana Vieja menu here.

Coolest hotel or place to stay in Miami?

I like hotels that have a lot of amenities and typically when I go to Miami my personal favorite hotel to stay at is the Mondrian. It has the perfect view of the ocean, it’s in the city, has a perfect assortment of food at their downstairs restaurant, and a great bar as well.

If you’re looking for more of a family resort vibe, Loews Miami Beach Hotel is perfect.

Best time of year to visit Miami?

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The best time of year to visit Miami is definitely during the summer, but the weather doesn’t change that much there honestly so it’s pretty much a good time to go year-round. Basically what I’m saying is there’s no excuse to not go to Miami.

Anything else you’d like to add about Miami:

10/10 would recommend taking a boat out into the keys or even to the Bahamas since it’s so close to Miami. There are many sunken ships, planes, and underwater statues with an abundance of wildlife like dolphins, huge schools of various fish, jellyfish, and sharks. Miami’s endless, as long as you know the right people and know where to go. I typically play at E11even Miami and Daer in Fort Lauderdale so if you’re ever out there make sure you catch me at a show or check out my upcoming tour with Cheat Codes.

HER Is The New Face Of L’Oreal Paris’ Makeup As Their Global Ambassador

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Over the course of her music career, HER has earned an overwhelming number of awards an accolades, including several MTV VMAs, 21 Grammy nominations, and an Oscar. Now, along with Grammy-winning singer, HER can add another title to her name: Global Brand Ambassador.

The multi-hyphenate musician just signed on as the Global Brand Ambassador for the makeup company L’Oréal Paris. Much like with her music, the singer said she hopes to inspire girls everywhere in her new role with the brand.

“When I use my voice, I need to stand 100 percent with what I represent,” HER said in a statement. “So, I’m beyond happy to join L’Oréal Paris, and to add my voice to this sisterhood representing the diversity of beauty on this plant, with the message for every girl to know her worth deep in her heart.”

Continuing to talk about her new role on Instagram, HER wrote, “Like so many women, @LorealParis is a brand I’ve known since I was a young girl, not just for their products (which I really do use!) but also for their beautiful mantra, Because I’m Worth It. That powerful statement is just as relevant today as it was when introduced to the world 40 years ago. I can’t wait to be part of helping to shape what it means for the next generation of women to feel #worthit.”

HER hasn’t mentioned whether or not the new partnership will result in an exclusive makeup line, like Megan Thee Stallion did with Revlon. But it does look like HER will be starring in L’Oréal’s upcoming advertisement campaign for their Elvive Dream Lengths Super Curls hair care line.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

McDonald’s Shared Some Bizarre ‘Menu Hacks’ And Fans Are Blaming Saweetie

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Saweetie’s McDonald’s Meal is long-gone, but that isn’t stopping fans from continuing to associate the two brands after the fast-food giant shared a list of odd “menu hacks” on Twitter. The “Best Friend” rapper’s appetite for unusual snacks has become near-legendary after her social media posts pairing such odd combinations as ranch and spaghetti and devouring impressively amalgamated burgers stuffed like turduckens with fries and other accouterments. So, it makes sense that upon seeing mutant menu items like Hash Brown McMuffins and whatever the heck a “Surf+Turf” burger is, fans would immediately start in with the Saweetie jokes.

“Honestly this is what I expected the Saweetie meal to be,” cracked more than one account upon seeing the new graphic. Another snarked that “McDonald’s took all of Saweetie’s pitches during her one day as CEO.” Even Saweetie’s own stan accounts couldn’t resist getting in on the fun. “Saweetie inspired meals,” wrote @IcyGrlUpdates, adding a signature snowflake emoji.

Truthfully, it’s probably not a bad thing that Saweetie is the first person people think of when they see odd food combinations… That’s called “brand saturation.” If weird food is going to be part of your identity, I say own it. After all, there are way worse things to be known for. Besides, with Saweetie’s debut album Pretty B*tch Music still somewhere over the horizon, she’ll need people talking about her as much as possible to ensure her success continues.