Special Events
Griffith Observatory Honors Councilmember Tom Labonge with “BIG BANG” celebration
By Jenny Álvarez
Photos Alfonso De Elías
It was a celebration for a councilman Tom Labonge who has done a lot for the L.A. community for the past 40 years, especially helping the Griffith Observatory. Therefore there were few auctions to donate money so was surrounded by many wealthy people and politicians. The event celebrated LaBonge’s distinguished service to the Los Angeles community and his stature as a Star of Stars at Griffith Observatory. Actor Neal McDonough and KTLA 5 Morning News host Lynette Romero were Masters of Ceremony for the festive event. Definitely was a great social event with the best and distinguished people.
The best nightmare experience at Six Flags Fright Fest
By Jenny Alvarez
Photos and video by: Alfonso De Elias
The mazes are back again however, better than ever! This year are more props and a lot more monsters. Most people like the pumpkin patches, the haunted houses, and the anticipation of special events that come with the witching season. Six Flags makes this time one of the best frightening experience. You go through these mazes which are basically just walls consisting of painted cardboards and took slightly longer than 3 minutes to get through (If you have the fast pass). The scare zones have real action due I saw being in Gotham City where clowns were running around scraping some sort of metal on the ground so it shot sparks everywhere. The fog on the rides and many monsters scaring and creeping was the best. The curious part of the mazes was the chupacabra maze by viper. The scare zone walking over from Tatsu to the Chupacabra maze was awesome! felt like we were in another world. Definitely, you have to do all the mazes. Personally, I really enjoyed this event and got on a few rides all in one night! not bad at all.
You will have the scariest night ever at Knott’s Scary Farm
http://youtu.be/JiGIr7GbIXk
By Jenny Álvarez
Photos and video Alfonso De Elías
For all my readers I’m not a big fan of horror and haunted attractions, but I have to say, that with the exception of only one other haunt, I would say that Knott’s was my favorite thus far. This year was surprising because the organizers decided to have only two shows: The Mistress of the Dark herself, Elvira – she will headline her all new show Elvira’s Big Top, in the 1,800 seat Charles M. Schultz Theatre twice nightly for the entire run of Knott’s Scary Farm and The Hanging: Everything is Gruesome: a live stage show in Calico Square irreverently looks back at the year’s pop culture with killer comedy. Notorious for its special effects, pyrotechnics and high-flying stunts, The Hanging is a no-holds-barred assault on pop culture’s most infamous moments of the past year. A real and creepy parody. However in my opinion, Elvira becomes the “Ring Mistress of the Park” dazzling audiences with music, madness and mayhem in her Sinister Circus of the Macabre, full of jokes. My favorite of both was Elvira because has performances by Brett Loudermilk, a sword swallower, and Bonnie Morgan, a contortionist, both of whom were really the highlights of the show.
Other of the best attractions for 2014 was the interactive Zombie war, where groups of guests will be armed with specially designed laser guns to fend off the zombie infestation or named Special Ops: Infected seamlessly integrates interactive gaming technology with an immersive mountainous landscape, delivering a breakthrough interactive haunted experience that is as terrifying as it is challenging. Missions will take guests through a variety of wilderness terrains, including unpredictable barrel bridges across a rushing river, through dark caverns, and mysterious backwoods. Six acres of the beloved theme park is now home to mutinous, scream-inducing zombies, and the time has come for a harrowing Special Ops survival mission.
I also have to remark El Dia De Los Muertos (created in 2013) some monsters do not hide, but stand there waiting for people in plain sight. Towards the end, it gets a little better with the Aztec-type skeletons coming at you this was really wonderful and people with Hispanic heritage will appreciate a small tribute to this attraction. I liked how detailed some of their costumes were and make up as well.
Here are more details of the new attractions of this year:
Voodoo: Trudge cautiously through the cursed swamps of the Deep South, where creatures search the murky bogs for their next bloody sacrifice and demons curse the innocent with Voodoo hexes. Guests must choose their path from a number of foreboding choices, resulting in a different terrifying outcome with each journey into the swamp.
The Tooth Fairy: The joy of hiding a lost tooth under the pillow becomes a nightmare of pain and blood in this new maze that will leave teeth chattering. This twisted tooth fairy steals more than just baby teeth as he drags his victims out their bedroom window and into a world of deranged dentistry. Unbelievable special effects include a blackout room through which guests must feel their way out, a disorienting x-ray strobe light room, and a final encounter with the massive tooth fairy, himself. Say aahhh.
Trapped: Lock and Key: This year Trapped returns with more rooms, more intricate puzzles and a shocking finale more extreme than any experience ever.
I loved the fact that most of the actors still haunt in that area even though its deserted makes it even creepier so becomes this place in a magical experience.
More of the attractions
The Gunslinger’s Grave: Return to the Old West and walk in the bloody footsteps of a betrayed and left for dead gunslinger on his path to retribution against a corrupt township.
Black Magic The veil between the living and the dead is severed when Houdini’s ghost materializes during a séance and ushers a host of demonic illusions to play tricks on anyone who intrudes on his theater.
Dominion of the Damned: The Blood Queen’s reign has ended, but the seductive vampires continue to lure unsuspecting guests into this gothic lair of terror. Ancient vampire lore decrees there shall always be one to rule the damned… Long live the King!
Forevermore: The twisted mind of Edgar Allen Poe comes alive as the “Forevermore Killer” works his way through one haunting tale after another. All the victims unwittingly find themselves a part of “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” The Masque of Red Death” among other horrific stories.
Pinocchio Unstrung: Years have passed since the blue fairy denied him his final wish, and Pinocchio has returned with an army of murderous marionettes intent on killing his former masters. The purpose of his killing spree – human flesh to cover his twisted wooden body. Revenge comes with no strings attached.
Trick-Or-Treat: Trick or treat, will step forward and ring the witch’s doorbell. Oh, she is home, but where? You are not quite sure. Don’t be afraid, her minions will guide you.
Witch’s Keep: Many years ago, The Green Witch uncovered a wicked source of power in the depths of the Calico Mine, and now she’s hell-bent on using this mysterious energy to capture and corrupt all who dare enter.
Scare zones were fun with the occasional seasoned monster screaming and sliding by. The best part is watching people being chased by them. There were a lot of families with kids so while I wouldn’t recommend taking your kids here but in general I appreciate and love the effort put into it by the actors and organizers who do the event every year so made it more intense and definitely you will have a fun time!
LA people were blast with Walking with Dinosaurs
By Jenny Alvarez
Photos and Video Javier Verges
Walking with Dinosaurs, The Arena Spectacular was at Honda Center in LA. During 2 days of September, this production that has been seen by more than eight million people in over 200 cities worldwide surprised with stimulates learning for science and history. The dinosaurs were life like and the story line kept you into the show and makes it one the most beautiful shows. It has high tech special effects afforded to kids of today and the narrator brought scale, humor, and a wealth of knowledge. The only part that could be improved is the plants, something better than inflatable plants would look better. However, all the visual effects, thunderstorms, flashing lights, and a huge T-REX observing the audience makes you to feel all the frightening in certain places. The dinosaurs looked awesome along with the props very colorful and interactive during the story. Definitely this experience is as close as you can come to real dinosaurs and the children learn a new subject at the same time. Two thumbs up for this incredible and truly show for all ages.
“Halloween Horror Nights” will be full of fear
By GalaTView Staff
Photos Agency
The most twisted and gruesome character creations featured on Syfy’s hit competition series “Face Off” will be live and “In the Flesh” at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights” events, beginning Friday, September 19. Nightmarish creatures will surround guests on both coasts as the macabre visions of some of the most talented up-and-coming make-up artists’ from the show are brought to life.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights will feature an all new street experience with ten different character creations inspired by the acclaimed Syfy series, including a look designed by season 5 “Face Off” winner and Universal Orlando make-up artist, Laura Tyler. The hair-raising, horrifying characters will inhabit five unique and immersive environments within the scare zone, from eerie scarecrows that go to great lengths to protect a spine-chilling farmland to ghoulish brutes that haunt dilapidated castle ruins.
Universal Studios Hollywood’s all-new “Halloween Horror Nights” maze, “Face Off: In the Flesh,” will recreate the morbidly disturbing inventions masterminded by visionary make-up special effects artists over the course of the show’s past six seasons. Twenty-two original “Face Off” designs – from human-insect hybrids to horror villains, ancient mummies and zombies with a haunting mix of electronica-inspired dance music.
“Face Off” is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. As a member of the multi-generational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, actress McKenzie Westmore brings expertise to her role as host of the series. Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” events have a more than 20-year history of creating incredibly entertaining, horrifying Halloween experiences that are consistently rated the nation’s best. The events on each coast feature highly-themed, disturbingly real, haunted mazes based on everything from films to nightmares – and streets filled with hundreds of specially trained “scareactors.” Other announced experiences include “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “The Walking Dead: The End of the Line” haunted mazes.
Bugs Bunny and friends are back again in a new attraction at Six Flags,CA
By Jenny Alvarez
Photos & Video By Alfonso De Elias
GalaTView was in the Grand Opening of the newest addition to the coaster collection, Speedy Gonzalez Hot Rod Racers, and the renovation of Bugs Bunny World. Many characters were in this great event who Speaker Sue (apellido) said in few words to our Media she was really excited for this grand opening. More about this interview at www.galatview.com.
Glorified Outdoor Strawberry Festival in Oxnard CA
By Jenny Alvarez
Photos By Alfonso De Elias
This year for the California Strawberry Festival was celebrated on the weekend of May 17 and 18 in Oxnard CA and was an incredible dayfull of joyness and fun for the entire family with concert performances, more than 200 Fine Arts & Crafts booths, the Strawberry Promenade with celebrity cooking demonstrations, Strawberryland For Kids featuring rides and attractions, gooey contests, special appearances, and more, on 15 scenic acres of parkland.
Many visitors had fun with the Tart Toss Contest, the Pie Eating Contest, and the Strawberry Shortcake Build-Off Contest. The best contests were, berry best kid, berry best tart — and more. Also there were some handsome rewards for the contest’s participation.As a visitor I was curious with different food that was huge this year with so many choices. The Philly Cheese Steak Fries were gigantic! There were many different strawberries style like chocolate dipped that was giant strawberry, very sweet and very delicious!
This Festival was in Oxnard, CA is located just 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. Great for families, good volunteer system going on and I saw many happy workers with good Rock Music. The best and unique part was that they have strawberry wine, perfect for the weather that was so hot.
Hugh Jackman returns to Broadway
By GalaTView.com
Photo by Alfonso De Elias
Hugh Jackman will be back on Broadway in the fall, starring in British dramatist Jez Butterworth‘s The River’s and he will host the Tony Awards for the third time as well. This great actor also looking forward to being onstage for a longer stint in the near future.
100 years of magic and fun in Disney On Ice, Long Beach CA
By Galatview Staff
Photos & Video by Alfonso De Elias.
Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic making you a happy world with more than 65 of Disney’s captivating characters from 18 unforgettable Disney stories come to life in this commemorative celebration, produced by Feld Entertainment. In this lavish ice show, everyone’s favorite sweethearts,
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, shared memories with Disney friends including Goofy & Donald Duck; the beloved Disney Princesses; Chip & Dale; Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket; Belle & The Beast plus many more – and magical moments from Disney’s Aladdin, Mulan, The Lion King plus Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo. Even for those unfamiliar with the more recent Disney stories may not understand all stories told in the show, this one is perfectly choreographed skating, breathtaking production numbers, stunning costumes and toe-tapping songs that make you to be part of their lives. The show ranged from bringing new Disney movies and characters to the ice like those from Toy Story, Lilo & Stitch all the way back to Pinocchio and even Jiminy Cricket. They were even able to bring “It’s a Small World” to the ice and truly feel that you were at Disney World. The show (with an intermission) lasts about 2 hours and definitely worth it! As promised, Disney on Ice truly was a “SPECTACULAR!”
Sofia Vergara Is Hungry For Hope!
By GalaTView Staff
Emmy-award winning actress and philanthropist, Sofia Vergara will join forces with an authentic, family-style Italian restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine to over 97 US locations, for the“Meatballs 4 Ninos,” a campaign that aims to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and its mission of finding cures and saving children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases. The “Meatballs 4 Ninos” restaurant-specific charitable program will launch nationwide beginning January 22, 2014.
Sharing a common mission, Vergara and Buca are dedicated to making an impact, boosting awareness and raising funds to support the St. Jude Give Thanks. Give Hope. Campaign. Drawing upon its commitment to the family experience, the restaurant will donate $1 to St. Jude for every meatball appetizer, entree, and side dish served in it.
As a spokesperson for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Sofia is passionate about children’s health and the family’s well-being. The“Meatballs 4 Ninos” dishes will raise awareness and funds for this important cause, while bringing to the forefront a classic, beloved dish that encourages sharing and creating new memories.
“We’re honored that Sofia is partnering with Buca to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Robert Earl. “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital does everything possible to save the lives of children fighting cancer, and they freely share their research breakthroughs with other doctors around the world, which helps save kids in communities everywhere. While our customers are enjoying some of our world-famous meatballs, they will also be giving hope to the patients at St. Jude and children with cancer in communities across America.”
“It means so much to me that one of my favorite restaurants is supporting a cause so dear to me,” said Sofia Vergara. “And thanks to programs like ‘Meatballs 4 Ninos,’ families never receive a bill from St. Jude for anything – not for treatment, travel housing or food so all families have to worry about is helping their child live. I hope everyone will visit this restaurant to experience their legendary meatballs and support St. Jude.”
Made from the highest-quality ingredients and slow-cooked in fresh marinara sauce, this italian restaurant is best known for their half-pound, mouth-watering meatballs, which are made fresh daily. The restaurant’s commitment to the cause will also be extended to customers who order trough online menu.
