Kristen

We round up the week's coolest events so you don't have to.

GLENDALE—Happy Birthday, Pressed Juicery! The local cold-pressed juice chain is celebrating five years in business Tuesday and all locations in California and Nevada, including the new location at The Americana at Brand (889 Americana Way), are offering an extra special gift to customers to mark the occasion: $5 juice! Patrons will be able to stop by and snag bottles for the discounted price through Saturday, so bring on the Greens 1 (and the Vanilla Almond Milk...and the seasonal Pomegranate Persimmon Apple...and...well, you get the idea)!

ECHO PARK—We can always count on creative retail/community space Otherwild to host mystical workshops that are geared to make us feel powerfully female, spiritual, and often wonderfully witchy. Tuesday's offering is no exception. Learn the meditative practice of beeswax candle making from Hannah Vainstein of Santa Barbara's similarly-minded studio/shop The Lower Lodge. The multi-disciplinary artist not only shows the slow, rhythmic technique, but also informs attendees about the energy releasing and detoxifying properties of burning beeswax during the 7-9pm hands-on tutorial. The class costs $85 and you can purchase tickets here. Guests will get to leave with as many pairs of candles that they manage to create in the time frame, which means you'll be all set for a moody soiree or romantic night in.

1161 Olancha Dr, Mt. Washington

Price: $590,000
Beds, Baths: 2 BR, 2 BA
Floor Area: 1,626 sq. ft.
Per the Listing: "The mid-century Mt Washington fixer you've been waiting for. Transform this 2BR/2BA time capsule into something truly marvelous. With spectacular views north to the San Gabriels, excellent bones, amazing floor plan and quintessential Fifties architectural flair this home is ready to rise to the next level. Interior has wood floors throughout, an open plan paneled living/dining room with vaulted ceiling, a stone fireplace with built-ins on each side and perimeter cove lighting. The kitchen retains its original cabinets and must have been quite futuristic for its day with its diagonal cook-top peninsula. There is a wide hallway leading to the bedroom wing with a long wall of built-ins. The paneled den with wet bar (of course) leads out to a large private patio and those fab mountain views. The possibilities abound."

Sharpen your elbows, folks -- while this home appears to be in pretty rough shape, it's sited on a 8,656-square-foot lot and listed at a bidding-war-inciting figure. We'll keep an eye on it and report back just how much over its final sale price turns out to be.

1161 Olancha Dr [Redfin]

(Image credit: Anjali Prasertong)

I've shared a home with my cat Milhouse for over seven years, and I still find myself asking, "Why are you doing that?" at least once a week. Many times, this question pops up in the kitchen, where he has some odd habits he has picked up over the years. He hasn't answered me yet, but a cat lady can dream. And in those dreams, this is how he explains himself.

As seen on Bored Panda, and created by Cat Versus Human.

“This is my kitty Nori. She has an infection on her chin. They made us all put on goggles before they used the laser on her chin. I think she’s the cutest little kitty burrito I’ve ever seen!
I hope you will post her picture!” -Abby K.

Meyou is exactly what it sounds like — furniture made for cats, but designed for humans and cats both. Aiming to combine comfort for cats with our own passion for design, Meyou built a collection of “classy furniture for discerning cats” in three different shapes. Each little home is made of high-quality organic materials, including wood, woven cotton, or felt.

The Ball balances light wood with dark metal, and is softened by cotton. Its curvy shape creates an irresistible cocoon that’s perfect for resting or even sharpening claws.

The Cube takes a more modern, geometric shape that cuddles a cat with its woven cotton interior. Like The Ball, it’s ideal for claws and also for a peaceful rest.

Lastly, there’s The Bed, which is a little perch point for your kitty. It’s composed of 100% wool felt and is an elevated rest spot that provides a great vantage point for your cat.

Pre-order for your classy cat on Kickstarter here.

Looking up at the hills of Mt. Washington from the east, say, from Highland Park, there are some dwellings that appear to be hanging right off the hillsides. One of those structures is this little, less-than-900-square-foot house, with a perch that affords great views and outdoor spaces (decks, patios) that offer lots of opportunities to enjoy them. The 11,000-square-foot lot dwarfs the wee two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence, which the listing calls out as "the most expensive 813 square foot home in town, and worth every dime."

The place's compact kitchen has a fancy Viking stove and custom cabinets; the bathrooms hold high-end fixtures, limestone, and "Wai-kai handmade tile." The living room has sliding doors that "disappear into the wall" and open up the place, literally, while the three patios are stone paved and include a fire pit and an outdoor kitchen area. Originally built in 1924, the little house on a big lot is asking $1.888 million.

· Transformed 1924 Modern [deasy/penner]

Last year, the long-running Riverside Light Show House (most famous for appearing to sing "Party Rock" back in 2011) ran afoul of its neighbors again, who called in noise complaints and got the place shut down temporarily. Now, instead of going through all that trouble again, the house has gone legit for this year's season of the elaborate, Halloween-themed light extravaganza that plays out on the exterior of a suburban tract home, says CBS LA.

This year, show creator Kevin Judd's gotten the necessary permits to put on the spectacle, which will only be taking place on the weekend. In response to previous problems resulting from all the traffic generated by thousands of onlookers descending on the area, a section of the street near Judd's house will be blocked off to cars and specific parking areas have also been established, says a post on the Facebook page for the attraction.

"I think we did it right this time. We went and got permits first and talked to our councilman, Paul Davis, and made sure we crossed our T's and dotted our I's with everything," Judd says. This year, "pyrotechnics have been added to thousands of LED lights and singing pumpkin faces," says CBS LA. The show features a few new tunes added to the existing repertoire, including a timely cover of the Ghostbusters theme song, seen below.

· Popular Haunted House Makes Musical Return To Riverside With New Creatures, Creations [CBSLA]
· Riverside Halloween Light Show House Embroiled in Drama [Curbed LA]
· HOA Bans Riverside's Famous Dancing Lights Halloween House [Curbed LA]

A photo posted by Richard Jordan (@richardjosephjordan) on Sep 21, 2015 at 4:45pm PDT

A billboard campaign alluding to the, um, potential health dangers of some dating apps has Tinder in a public shouting match with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The ad went up last week in LA locations showing two silhouetted couples with the phrases, "Tinder, Chlamydia, Grindr, Gonorrhea" imprinted on their soon-to-be passionate embrace and it's got place-based dating apps Tinder and Grindr crying foul. Seems reminding casual daters about STDs is bad for business. The LA Times reports that Tinder has sent out a cease-and-desist notice to the foundation calling for the removal of the billboards.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is not backing down on its targeting of location based dating apps. Whitney Engeran-Cordova, a director at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation called the apps "a digital bathhouse for millennials." The organization's website features not only the billboard graphic in question, but, in an accompanying article, a link to a study showing the increased risks in contracting STDs among people who use social media and apps to find dates, as well as to a Vanity Fair article that was about the proliferation of dating apps and, because of them, casual sex.

Tinder's pulled no punches in its response, claiming that the foundation was slandering for their own gains. Grindr, a men-only dating app, also has beef with the foundation, but a far more polite beef. Grindr recently removed the foundation's ads for free STD testing from their app saying, "we were surprised at the approach [the foundation] took, and paused the campaign in order to speak with them and assess our relationship. At the end of the day, we are all on the same side in this issue, and strive to work with our partners and advocacy groups to achieve similar goals." —Jeff Wattenhofer

The new STD billboard is up! I love our monthly treat! pic.twitter.com/8iT5xsRgOZ

— NICK WALSH (@NICKWALSH) September 17, 2015

· Tinder demands removal of L.A. billboard that tells dating app users to get STD test [LA Times]

Image via Domvs London

Are you disappointed in the lack of good megamansions available in Bel Air? Do you find yourself vomiting all over the backseat of your chauffeured Rolls-Royce when you see the garbage that passes as an estate these days? If you're sick of the Skid Row that has become of hillside mansions, you'll welcome The Park Bel Air, a new enclave of megamansions planned for construction next year. Junius Real Estate Partners (the real estate investment arm of JPMorgan Chase) is teaming up with developer Domvs London to split an 11-acre site in Bel Air up for three enormous hilltop megamansion for the mega-rich, reports Bloomberg.

The first lot went up for sale this week. For just $115 million down, Domvs London will proceed with the 57,000-square-foot, 15-bedroom house they have planned for the site. Just to put that into context, the White House is only 55,000 square feet, but this is still far from the biggest or most expensive megamansion underway in Bel Air (the winner at the moment is 74,000-square-feet and asking $500 million). Sure, there's an option to buy just the land for $45 million and design your own place, but it's hard to argue with the amenities of the Domvs house.

This house is gonna have everything. We're talking guesthouse, bowling alley, elevators, two pools, full-service spa and esthetician room. Bringing Jay Leno over for dinner? Drive him into your own underground auto gallery through it's very Batman-esque underground connector tunnel. Haven't seen Everest yet? Bootleg a copy and watch it in your IMAX theater. Don't have time to make it to the golf course or racetrack? No problem! You've also got a golf and race car simulator in home!

There will even be an art vault! Who couldn't use a new art vault?

The first house can be ready for construction in February 2016. Domvs has designs prepped for the remaining two properties that range from 56,000 to 61,000 square feet. —Jeff Wattenhofer

· JPMorgan Financing Los Angeles Mansions Starting at $115 Million [Bloomberg]
· 788 Tortuoso Way, Bel Air, CA [WEA]
· The New Biggest Mansion in Los Angeles Will Ask $500 Million [Curbed LA]

I've always viewed spaghetti squash — with its clever, noodle-like interior — as a fun party trick, always surprising both for its ability to reasonably mimic pasta and how satisfying the results can be. It's good, sure, but it's also never really had a "wow" moment for me.

Now, let me introduce you to this pad Thai. This dish has "wow" written all over it. It's tangy and savory in all the right places; it's crunchy and chewy and tender, all together. It has all the hallmarks of your favorite take-out pad Thai — except those spaghetti squash noodles are the star of the show.

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When you have two humans, two dogs, and five cats, a regular bed won't do. Reddit user Robdogbird and his wife created an 11-foot-long superbed to sleep the entire family.

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Photos courtesy WEA

Not too far away from a different property associated with John Barrymore, the Bella Vista is a place that Barrymore famously called home. Built in the late 1920s for early Hollywood filmmaker King Vidor and designed by architect John Byers, the mansion was sold in 1927 to Drew Barrymore's grandfather, Variety reported earlier this summer. Barrymore lived in the house until he died in 1942, but it still has plenty of Old Hollywood glamour.

It's not clear from the listing how much from Barrymore's time remains, but we're guessing that the "opium den" over the master bedroom and the floor made of the trunks of redwood trees in the in-home pub are holdovers from the time when his eccentric habits and collections (shrunken heads, a 30-foot-tall totem pole he stole from an Alaskan village) ruled the place.

Under Barrymore's ownership, an on-site aviary was converted to living quarters; later, it was rented out by stars like Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando and Candice Bergen—presumably, before they were stars. It's not clear from the listing if that aviary is part of this sale or even still exists (though it was there was the current owners bought), but it's all part of the legend of the estate.

The main house is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence with the aforementioned pub (maybe the Barrymore-era basement tavern?), two libraries, and an octagonal living room. In addition to two older "guest cottages," there's also a brand new two-story guesthouse with three bedrooms, two kitchens, and two living rooms. The sprawling property is on six lots and takes up 3.44 acres; it also includes a pool and "meandering paths."

Bella Vista was purchased in the 1990s by the late film producer/director Tony Scott (Top Gun, Enemy of the State). Scott committed suicide in 2012, and property records show that a trust in the name of his wife, Donna Scott, is the current owner.

The property had appeared for sale earlier this month with no listed price. (Even before that, in May, it was rumored to be whisper-listed for around $25 million.) Now, it's on the market for a very hearty $42.5 million.

· 1500 Seabright Place [WEA]
· Your Mama Hears: John Barrymore's Bella Vista Whisper Listed at $25 Million [Variety]
· A 1920s classic in Beverly Hills [LAT]
· John Barrymore's Once-Glam Beverly Crest Estate Hasn't Been Totally Ruined [Curbed LA]

Imagine you have around a bag of money to spend on a place and you've narrowed it down to two pretty out there California homes. How do you make up your mind? Why not throw them in the ring, hand each one a metaphorical weapon, and see which one pleases you more when forced to fight to the death—that's right, readers: it's time for Real Estate Death Match, wonky California home edition!

Houses: Mojave Desert Saucer House/Bay Area Flintstone House
Prices: $650,000/$4,200,000
Beds, Baths: 2, 2/2, 3

More this way >>

When watching the new promotional video for Los Angeles's 2024 Olympic bid, you might be asking yourself, is everyone in Los Angeles under the age of 30? Set to the sounds of a mightily epic Arcade Fire tune (taken from the Where the Wild Things Are trailer, not incidentally), the video depicts the city life of young athletes, young entrepreneurs, and young young people. Superimposed over shots of our picturesque city are phrases touting a modern city, diversity, and digital startups. It's a beautiful video to be sure, but who exactly is it for?

Turns out it's a very direct appeal to very specific concerns on the International Olympic Committee that were outlined in their Agenda 2020 plan on the future of Olympic bids. IOC President Thomas Bach, in his speech introducing the plan, stated "We need to change because sport today is too important in society to ignore the rest of society. We are not living on an island, we are living in the middle of a modern, diverse, digital society."

Hmm, a modern, diverse, digital society? Sounds like something from a video we just saw ...—Jeff Wattenhofer
· Olympic Agenda 2020 [Olympic.org]
· Los Angeles Will Be the US's Bid City For the 2024 Olympics [Curbed LA]

Today's cruelest Los Angeles neighborhood of the day is … Mar Vista! Mar Vistans packed a community meeting last month to make clear that a five-bedroom group home for people with severe anxiety, depression, and emotional trauma "would not receive a warm welcome to the neighborhood," reports the Argonaut. Apparently a group in the area "has become increasingly vocal" about the fact that they believe their wealth and ability to use their cars with ease is more important than the lives and treatment of their fellow human beings, or "that a proliferation of recovery-oriented living facilities could devalue single-family homes and exacerbate traffic and parking woes." However you want to put it.

Psychological Care & Healing Treatment Center houses people who are recovering from trauma, depression, severe anxiety, and other psychological issues, but would only house them in the Mar Vista house; the treatment would be done at an actual clinic nearby on Venice Boulevard. Cofounder Dr. Terry Krekorian was shouted down at the community meeting as he tried to explain this; he also mentioned that someone had "intentionally flattened the tires" of an employee at another of the center's group homes, to which someone in the crowd responded with a lack of empathy so terrifyingly antisocial it makes you think maybe she should be in treatment: "Then take the hint and go!"

Neighbors are sick of their neighborhood being overrun by treatment facilities, which include "a therapeutic community for female military veterans dealing with trauma-related issues that sometimes involve substance abuse." They're horrified by such a thing! "Are we all going to have neighbors like this for the rest of our lives?" one person huffed.
· Has Mar Vista Become the Rehab Capital of Los Angeles? [The Argonaut]

With California trapped in a drought that's lasted about four years now, the state is alternately hoping for and fearing a big, rainy El Niño weather event this winter (which could help with the drought while also causing lots of its own problems). There are signs that a huge one is coming, but there are also obstacles, one of the biggest being the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge, a high pressure zone that's been blamed in part for keeping storms away and helping the drought stick around. This video from the visualization lab of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (an association of more than 100 colleges that runs the National Center for Atmospheric Research) is definitely going to rile everyone up. The video (via LA Observed) compares the "historic" (meaning huge) 1997-1998 El Niño to the one that's forming now, showing their growth side by side. Watching the two events next to each other, the video's creator says, "I was a little shocked just how closely 2015 resembles 1997 visually."

"While it's too early to say if the current El Niño will live up to the hype," says a blog post from UCAR introducing the video, it is gearing up to be one of the strongest of these weather phenomena in history, and could even be stronger than its legendary 1997-1998 predecessor. Demonstrating this, the video charts the rising sea surface temperatures for the 1997-1998 event and the temperatures now, because those "are key to gauging the strength of an El Niño, which is marked by warmer-than-average waters."

· Watch 2015 and 1997 El Niños Build, Side by Side [UCAR]
· Meet the Two Weather Phenomena Battling This Winter For the Future of the California Drought [Curbed LA]
· Only 12 to 20 More Of These Storms And the Drought is Over! [Curbed LA]
· Could SoCal's Cool May Become a Drought-Relieving Winter? [Curbed LA]

Jae & Devin's Labor of Love in Brooklyn

(Image credit: Nancy Mitchell)

Here on Apartment Therapy, we tend to use "sofa" and "couch" interchangeably to refer to the place where you might entertain friends or plop down with a blanket for a Netflix marathon. But do the two words really mean the same thing? Where did they come from? And what, then, are a settee and a loveseat?

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Many of us have been there: you’re in a Disney Park, and for whatever reason, you have a hungry, hungry baby or toddler. The potential for your day to go from amazing to craptastic just increased by like, 100x.

This happened to me not too long ago with the 1 year old. I spent the better part of the day — time I should have been enjoying all kinds of food adventures for you guys! — in search of Cheerios. Which I could not find anywhere. No cheerios. Not even any Cheerio-like substances (which they USED to have, but no longer do).

First Dole Whip for Baby Westfall! Photo courtesy Karen and Mike Westfall, who are awesome.

So I started searching for other non-chokable, non-sugar-packed snacks to keep the hope alive, and do you know what I found? A whole lot of nothing. That’s what. Seriously. For a place that’s supposed to be the ultimate kid-friendly destination, Walt Disney World seemed sorely lacking in wholesome, grab and go, eat-on-the-fly food options that are appropriate for your blossoming eater.

So I figured, hey, I need to know where to find this stuff quick like a bunny. So I bet you a Mickey Bar that someone else out there in Disney Food Blog Land has found themselves with the same challenge.

If this is you, or if you’re headed to the World with a tiny human someday, let’s take a look together at the Best Snacks That Are Available For Toddlers in Walt Disney World. And with that, we’ll also take a look at a couple of finds that have made subsequent trips to the ‘World way easier for us when Junior is along for the ride.

In the Parks

We’d love to give our kids perfectly healthy snacks and meals all the time. But sometimes, we have to just go with what’s available. After my fateful adventure we did some research and, fortunately, you aren’t without options.

Counter Service spots throughout the Parks and Resorts offer Uncrustables. These little Peanut Butter and Jelly pocket sandwiches, when cut into bite-size pieces, offer a not-too-unhealthy option for noshing. These are also great for packing for the airplane on your way out.

Uncrustables

You can also find Fresh Fruit at lots of places in the Parks. Cut up Bananas and Strawberries or halved sections of Oranges are universal favorites. It’s not as “on-the-fly” as I’d like, but it’s super healthy.

Harambe Fruit Market Offers Lots of Fresh Fruit Favorites

Chip and Dale Snacks include Puffed Cheese Crackers in the shape of Mickey that you’re kids will enjoy. Think fake Goldfish that don’t taste as good as real goldfish. These could post a choking hazard for a sub-two-year-old, so be sure that you’ve tested out goldfish on them first at home.

Chip and Dale Puffed Cheese Crackers

You’ll also find Minnie’s Bake Shop Graham Cookies as well, which are a suitable stand-in for Teddy Grahams.

Minnie’s Bake Shop Graham Cookies

If you find yourself in Magic Kingdom, why not stop by Liberty Square Market? This open air grab and go spot has tons of fresh fruit options. And quite often, you’ll also find Baked Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes — PERFECT snacks to cut up and put into the stroller sippy cup slot.

Baked Sweet Potato from Liberty Square Market

While this is a snack that you’ll have to stop and help your toddler with, it’s definitely one of the best things that you can feed him or her in all of Disney.

Yogurt or Cottage Cheese are also good options. You probably won’t find whole milk organic brands, however. This may be one of those times when good enough is good enough.

Strawberry Yogurt

In the Resorts

Forewarned is forearmed…or something like that. If you missed the boat bringing snacks from home, but you anticipate that you’ll need something to keep your little cherub from melting down while in the line for Peter Pan, the Grab and Go Section at your Resort Counter Service Spot can be you new favorite place.

Greek Yogurt in yummy flavors can keep a kid going for miles.

Yogurt

If you’d like to stock up before hitting the Parks, you’ll find lots of Whole Fruit and Cut Fruit available in the Grab and Go Section as well.

Whole fruit

Disney Grab and Go Fruit Options

Cereal in disposable bowls is also a great choice, and will keep little fingers occupied and tummies happy. There are normally more wholesome (read: low sugar) options alongside the sweetened varieties, but many.

Assorted Cereals

To go cups of Hummus with Pretzel Thins also make for a wholesome and convenient snack. I especially love the pretzels in these packs, because they’re thin and more the consistency of crackers.

Hummus and Pretzels

If all else fails, you can always grab some Bread for snacks, or even toast it for later.

White bread

You’ll normally find a good selection of snacks for guests who require a special diet as well, with products that are free from top allergens.

Special dietary treat stand

And don’t hesitate to grab a couple of Mickey Waffles at breakfast and keep them for noshing throughout the morning.

Mickey Waffles

Baby Care Centers

One of our favorite tips for weary mommies, daddies, and babies alike is to make use of Disney’s Baby Care Centers.

Magic Kingdom Baby Care Center

You’ll find these havens of rest near the First Aid Stops in each of the Parks. In addition to offering primo places to change diapers, there are also quiet rooms where Mom can nurse or pump (complete with rocking chairs). Feeding rooms with super clean high chairs are also available — and all come with a glorious dose of A/C.

I had a couple of experiences in the parks where the perfect antidote for the overwhelming excitement of Disney World was stopping into the cool, calm Baby Care Center for 10 minutes. Everyone chilled out (literally and figuratively) and we could go on with our day in a better emotional state.

In addition, Baby Care Centers do offer a few feeding options, like jarred baby food and some nibbles, and there are microwaves and filtered water for preparing foods and bottles.

Tips and Tricks to Plan Ahead

So, even better than offering you tips for things that you can get in the parks for your kiddos to nosh on are some really great suggestions for items to take with — or to have shipped to your room — to avoid getting into this pickle in the first place! (I know, I know — you prepare the best you can — but sometimes you still get into a pickle. Don’t worry — you’re a good parent.)

First of all, don’t hesitate to have items that you know you’ll need shipped directly to your hotel room. Sites like gardengrocer.com allow you to order your groceries in advance and have them delivered to your resort room. This is an especially nice service to have when you have toddlers and you don’t feel like bringing all of the milk, formula, snacks, and food you’ll need for the whole trip with you from home. I personally use this service ALL. THE. TIME.

Choose Food by Aisle, Brand, and Specialty Category at GardenGrocer.com

Here are a few more tips and tricks that we’ve found useful during our travels with little ones. You can get glass jars of baby food, applesauce, and other smooth and un-choke-able goodies at Disney resort gift shops, but if your kiddo isn’t super great at feeding herself yet, that can get messy and/or dangerous. Consider re-packaging these yums in Reusable Baby Food Pouches. When you’re finished, just wash the pouch or run it through the dishwasher, and it’s ready to go for another serving! Super convenient, and your little one can feed him or herself while you rush to the next attraction! (Of course, you can also just bring a bunch of pre-filled or store-bought pouches with you, but doing it this way means all you have to bring on the airplane is a bunch of empty, re-useable pouches instead of already full ones. Just grab the “filling” at your resort gift shop.)

Reusable Food Pouches Make Bringing Your Own Food a Snap

Snack Containers allow kids to feed themselves without making too much of a mess, and they minimize waste. We like and use these too.

Munchkin Snack Catchers

And a Sectioned Bowl that comes with its own matching spoon makes for quick and easy snacking on the go.

Easy Go Sectioned Bowl Gives you Two Sections to Fill Up for Variety

Finally, make quick work of fresh fruits and veggies in the parks by cutting them down to just the right size with these handy Bite Sizers Scissors.

Bite Sizers Scissors

.

And don’t forget the take and toss bowls, spoons, and cups! Although in our house, these last for years. But it’s not tragic if they get lost or tossed!

We hope that we’ve given you some great ideas for the next time you find yourself at Disney with a hungry new-solid-food-eater in tow. With a little knowledge of what you have available, and a dose of preparation, you can sail through a trip to the Parks with ease!

Now let’s hear from you! What are your best tips and tricks when faced with a hungry toddler at a Disney Park? Leave a comment and tell us what works for you!

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and:

• Subscribe to our Newsletter
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We want to introduce you to one of the tigers you may see along the winding trails of Maharajah Jungle Trek—Meet Malosi!

Malosi is our newest tiger at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While Malosi, a male Sumatran tiger, gets used to his new habitat, he may be exploring both onstage and backstage areas on Maharajah Jungle Trek. You may see this curious cat cooling off in the water or resting in the sun.

As you may remember when we introduced you to Sohni last year, Sumatran tigers are the smallest subspecies of tiger and are found only on the small island in Indonesia where this tiger gets its name. Males like Malosi stretch 6.5-to-nearly-8-feet long, and typically weigh only between 220 and 310 pounds. While this may seem like a big cat, the Sumatran tiger’s cousin, the Siberian tiger (or Amur tiger, as they are also known), weighs between 400 and 600 pounds!

When you visit Malosi, Sohni and the other tigers here, keep these fun facts in mind:

• Malosi and other tigers can see about as well as humans during the day, but when the sun goes down, their vision is six times more powerful than ours.
• Can you wiggle your ears? Tigers sure can. Their ears turn independently of each other and in an arc up to 180 degrees, allowing them to pick up sounds from all different directions.
• You may know tigers are pretty good swimmers despite the reputation of their domesticated cousins—the house cat. Tigers spend a lot of time in the water and even use water as a tool in hunting. They have been seen fishing in rivers and lakes.

Human impact has dramatically decreased Sumatran tiger numbers in the wild. They are critically endangered, with as few as 500 tigers left in the wild. Conservation organizations like those supported by the Disney Conservation Fund are working hard to make a difference. You can help tigers by donating to the Disney Conservation Fund at select merchandise and food and beverage locations on your next visit and don’t forget to say “hi” to our feline friends on Maharajah Jungle Trek.

Wildlife Wednesday: Meet Malosi at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D.: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog

The Ira Glass comes with avocado!

It’s the sort of tongue-in-cheek California thing you might see parodied on SNL, but this one is very, very real: a local Los Angeles lunch shop plans on offering a sandwich menu entirely named after NPR hosts.

The upcoming spot, called Wax Paper Co., is exactly as pedigreed as you’d expect: co-owner Peter Lemos was previously the chef de cuisine at Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo’s aptly-named hit restaurant Jon & Vinny’s before deciding to go the casual lunch route with his wife/partner Lauren Behrle, and they’re planning to open up shop inside a reformatted shipping container in the quickly-changing Frog Town neighborhood along the L.A. River.

What’s the inspiration for naming their new menu after NPR notables like Ira Glass and Lakshmi Singh? "We just came up with the idea in the car one day, while listening to our daily dose of NPR," says Behrle, adding with a laugh: "Since then, we’ve been pretty passionate about it staying in place."

So what does a Larry Mantle (of AirTalk) sandwich actually consist of? In his case, the $12 option comes with hand-sliced bologna on a sesame roll, with capicola, provolone, pickled peppers, red onion, lettuce, tomato and oregano vinaigrette. As for the Kai Ryssdal (of Marketplace), expect pole-caught tuna, potato confit, celery, lettuce, and black olive aioli.

Lemos and Behrle say that their menu will change with the season and rotate out as they see fit, but expect the NPR appropriation to continue on. After all, there’s always someone on the air over there that’s worthy of a little good-natured sandwich parody.

Wax Paper Seasonal Menu

biggbrother17:

what I think of when I see Austin

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The Catable 2.0 is a series of wooden boxes that look sculptural on their own, but also provide nooks and crannies for curious cats.

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