Categories
Events & Festivals

Army Veterans Find Large Audience on TikTok Platform

Veterans have always occupied a place close to the hearts of most Americans. Even before the rise of massive contemporary platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, videos featuring the troops showing off comedic songs, dances, and skits have often gone viral. In fact, troops fighting in the War on Terror often were the subject of popular obsessions in the United States. Men in the Army, clad in their Army sleepwear, have won the hearts of millions as they danced to popular songs. 

But the rise of platforms like TikTok have made it even easier for the average content creator to have their comedy skits and dances broadcast to millions. And while Generation Z continues to be the core demographic of TikTok’s social media application, an increasing number of former Army service members are using their military background to jumpstart exciting careers in comedy and acting on the site. Bella Poarch, the newest massive star to surface on TikTok, served in the U.S. Army, and fans say that her military background only heightens their interest in her lighthearted and well-choreographed small musical videos. 

Will Serra is another up-and-coming content creator utilizing TikTok to reach the newest generation of media consumers. Serra’s military background isn’t just a fun fact about the comedian. He cites it as one of the big contributing factors to his unique style and presence on the app. Serving in Afghanistan as an intelligence analyst for the Army, Serra disconnected almost entirely from social media for seven years. But during this time, his work interacting with people from varying world cultures helped him to cultivate a uniquely variable comedic style. 

This culturally diverse delivery style has certainly paid off for the former Army man. His videos, which are primarily skits and parodies, have gone viral in 10+ countries aside from the United States. In just six months, Serra’s account has grown from zero to over 108k followers. A wide age range characterizes his primary target demographic, which is likely another facet of his variable, fun, and open style of comedy. 

What is it that makes former service members so appealing to consumers of entertainment media? It’s hard to say for sure. To Serra, his military service prepared him to communicate comedy to an extremely versatile group of audiences—audiences that non-service members may never even encounter. How many other TikTok account holders can say that their videos have gone viral on more than three continents? 

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, Serra hopes that his videos will bring some light into the lives of people going through dark times. It seems unlikely that audiences will lose interest in the rising TikTok star, whose work has been shared by celebrities like 50 Cent. With over 2.8 million likes, the world has once again affirmed that servicemembers are not just welcomed, but encouraged, in the world of comedy. 

From Afghanistan to TikTok, Will Serra’s journey to comedy has been unique. And if he has anything to say about it, the story is just getting started. 

Categories
Travel

The Main Attractions in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Skyline, Night, Architecture Asia

Hong Kong is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world while it is also one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in Asia. Indeed, if you are looking to take your next holiday in the Far East, you should consider visiting Hong Kong while you should also be aware that you could rent a boat in order to see some of the main attractions around this beautiful harbour city. Furthermore, it is also important to understand that Hong Kong is one of the most particular cities on the planet while you could enjoy some of the best street food in the world as well as great restaurants and beautiful scenery. As a result, if you are thinking about taking your next holiday in the city of Hong Kong, you should think about visiting a number of the main attractions. However, it is also important to understand that given the current situation around the world, planning a trip to this particular part of Asia is essential. For more information about the city of Hong Kong, you should consult an online business directory as you will be able to identify a number of boat rental companies that you can contact.

1.            Enjoy the beautiful harbour

One of the best things about Hong Kong is its natural setting, while you can also take the opportunity to explore a number of the main islands that are located around the city. This is especially pertinent if you want to enjoy a holiday on the water or if you are looking for a company providing boat rental in Hong Kong, while you should also be aware that a number of other attractions are available for you to visit while you are spending time in this fantastic city.

2.            Eat great food

Another of the main attractions that you could enjoy in the city of Hong Kong is the fantastic food that is available. Indeed, numerous vendors are available selling a variety of different types of Asian food while you could also take the opportunity to try the various types of street food that are available. This is especially pertinent if you consider yourself to be a foodie and you want to try a variety of new dishes and flavours.

3.            Explore the city

Finally, it is important to understand that Hong Kong has been the centre of colonial and Asian culture for centuries, while you could also see some of the fantastic colonial architecture, as well as the more modern buildings when visiting this part of Asia. Furthermore, you can take the opportunity to explore Hong Kong’s main attractions while you can enjoy the fantastic scenery that surrounds this modern Asian city. There are also a number of other attractions that you can see during your time in Hong Kong, including theme parks and temples which are located across the city while you should check the travel advice before you go.

  • Enjoy the harbour views
  • Eat street food
  • Explore the city

Therefore, in conclusion, if you will be visiting Hong Kong in the near future, you should think about renting a boat as you can enjoy fantastic harbour views as well as the natural scenery that surrounds this amazing and vibrant city.

Categories
The Scoop

How to Winterize Your Grill (and Prepare it for Storage)

Packing up the grill before winter is always a sad, sad day for people who love being behind the grill or even in front of it. But if you don’t, and live in a country where the weather can get too frigid, you might end up having to bid a permanent farewell to your beloved grill.

To prevent this, winterizing your grill becomes important.

If you want to protect your grill from getting covered in layers of snow, you have to start by giving the equipment a very thorough cleaning and then storing it safely until your next grilling session.

Wondering how to do this? Read on as we discuss our best tips to help you winterize your grill.

Set fire to your grill grates – not literally

Before starting with the deep cleaning process, we would highly recommend preheating the cooking grates and then scrub them with a grill brush. This will allow you to remove stuck debris and grease particles (as much as possible) to ensure you from getting any rude surprises when you take your grill out next season.

In short, any leftovers should be off your grill. More so, if you don’t want any mold development over the next couple of days.

Make it a soapy affair

Before we discuss what you have to do here, make sure you have a gentle soap, a bucket, and a 3M cleaning pad ready with you.

Now, reheating and scrubbing the grates will remove a majority of any leftover residue, but to make sure that they become squeaky clean, you need to do some deep cleaning. 

Once the grill cools down, remove the cooking grates, burners, and flame tamers with care. Follow this up by removing off any leftover residue and grease by using the 3M cleaning pad. Of course, you can use soap and water cleaning here too.

While you do have the liberty to use plenty of soapy water, just make sure you rinse it off properly. Similar to how you wouldn’t want any grease left on your grill, you don’t want any leftover soapy residue as well. The last thing to do is then empty your drip pans or ash catchers, clean them up, rinse, and then put them back at their spots. Yes, this applies to DIY barbecue grills too!

Don’t forget the exterior

Preparing your grill for storage isn’t limited to internal deep cleaning only – the exterior is equally important.

The main purpose of winterizing is to prevent corrosion or mold growth, which is why you should also clean the outside of your grill to avoid either situation. All you need is a clean cloth to wipe the outside of your grill after having soaked it in soapy water. You should do this even if you have compact grills suited for condo and apartments. After all, hardened marinades, sticky basting sauce, and other leftover bits don’t differentiate by size.

Getting the (high-quality) grill cover on

Admit it: We have often wondered whether simply covering the grill would be good enough. Well, it is good enough to protect the grill from snow, but deep cleaning is very important if you want to boost the grill’s longevity.

You see, covering the grill will protect it from elemental exposure, which can be really damaging even if your grill is made from high-quality materials.You would also have to make sure you determine the right place to store your grill. We would recommend using the basement, garage, or a storage room as they are well covered and safe from any element damage.

If replacing your grill after just one or two years of use doesn’t sound appealing to you, make sure you invest in a good and appropriately-sized grill cover right away! Lower quality grill covers can be turned down by bugs and other creatures, which would defeat the whole purpose of covering the grill in the first place.

We would again like to stress the importance of ensuring the grill is completely dry before covering it. Let it air dry, if possible, but if not, simply wipe off any moisture with a towel.

Winterize your charcoal grill too

Winterizing a charcoal grill is actually quite similar to winterizing a gas grid – well, mostly.

You see, preparing to store away your charcoal grill isn’t as involved as a process. You start by cleaning and scrubbing the cooking grates to ensure there is no leftover residue or food bits, as well as empty the drip trays to remove the ash. 

Once done, you only have to wipe the grill with warm, soapy water – the interior and the exterior – and then allow it to dry. You can then store it away once the charcoal grill is completely dry.

And that’s it! Just follow our above-mentioned steps to winterize your grill and prepare it for winter storage. It really doesn’t matter the type of grill you own, what is more important here is to deep clean the equipment to remove food debris and grease stains, to dry it properly, and then store it to protect it in the upcoming frigid months. 

Categories
Eat

Florida’s Hidden Cusine Secrets

There are thousands of restaurants to choose from when picking from online menus. Given that the nation is still somewhat shut down due to the pandemic, it’s important to support small businesses in any way possible. People like Chanoch Harow enjoy supporting these restaurants because they really need as much help as possible during the nationwide shit down. Ordering takeout and tipping on these orders really shows that the restaurant and communities are cared about in Florida. 

Kadence

This is a sushi restaurant that features Japanese style courses and meals. It is located in Orlando, Floria, and has a sushi or sake bar. They have won the following award since 2017; Scoot Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide: KAndance (2019), 2019 Dining Awards: Critic’s Choice for Best Japanese (Orlando Magazine, 2019), 21 Best Restaurants in Orlando, Florida (Conde Nast Traveler, 2019), Foodie Awards: restaurant of the Year (Orlando Sentinel, 2019), Omakase (Edible Orlando, 2019), The Best Food & Restaurants at Disney World, Orlando (Bloomberg, 2017). It has such a variety of flavors to offer guests and provides Japanese cuisine in the best way possible. 

The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House

This is a true American restaurant. It has all you can eat pancakes under six dollars and serves a little bit of country with every meal. Although it may seem like this is just a pancake horse, they actually offer much more. It is located on the DeLeon Springs State Park and offers history tours about the Fountain Of Youth. This included boat tours and self-paced kayak times. This is a wonderful place to spend the afternoon and recommended by those visiting the area. 

Abe & Louie’s 

This restaurant is a class American steakhouse with flavor combinations out of this world. It is located in Boca Raton, Florida, where Chanoch Harow lives. They have a preferred guest loyalty club that allows people to earn points towards every dine-in experience. It was opened in 1965 by Charles F. Starkin in Boston. It is unmatched by many other steakhouses in the country and also offers very decadent seafood. The steak is Mideastrn and they have awarding wine for many people to indulge in. 

Overall, these restaurants have a very diverse array of flavors. The more people visit and support them, the better chance they have of surviving during the pandemic. It’s clear that without the proper support from communities, these restaurants will greatly suffer. On behalf of all Florida residents, please order from these restaurants when possible. The chefs have curated the most amazing meals for people to enjoy. 

Categories
Travel

Best Restaurants In San Fransisco

Texas Olive Oil Infused

There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from when visiting San Francisco in California. This beautiful city is known for the golden gate bridge, the amazing culture, and the best food in the country. The starting of the places to try is Pearl 6101. It is cozy and has a  neighborhood setting. It has a coroner-like dining room and features chefs like Mel Lopez and Joyce Conway. It has an outstanding bar and cocktail menus as well. It resembles Italian style food but has a special addition to the mix. Next, Um.ma is a Korean style restaurant that is very popular and contemporary. It has amazing dishes that rank extremely high in many contents. From the Korean fried chicken to the kimchi fried rice, there are so many delectables to try and enjoy. Progress, which is a very busy place, has astonishing menu items. It has Japanese incorporated dishes that complement the rosemary and lime butter usually served with their dishes. For meat lovers, this is definitely a must-try when visiting the San Francisco area. Now, for those interested in comfort food, Beretta is the place to attend. It has pizzas, antipasti, fried food, and so much more. It’s an amazing place to hang out with friends or family. In a similar light is The Barbican by Whitechapel/ This is a cocktail garden that has insane flavors. The food includes tikka masala, tater tots. Falafels, burgers, poutine, and so much more! Make sure to reserve a table because seats fill up very fast at a restaurant this popular. For many, people don’t see San Francisco as a food capital. However, thanks to the location, it is surrounded by so many different cultures. Since the Client is fairly close to Asia, a lot of Asian cuisine makes its way to the city. This allows people to try food that is seriously delectable and convenient. Many of these returns now do take out because of the pandemic. It’s important that locals like Alexander Djerassi support these restaurants. The more people that the community orders out every week, the better they will be once COVID-19 ends. For generations, San Francisco has been featured in newspapers, magazines, television shows, and so much more food the amazing cuisine it has. The restaurants that have picked themselves off the ground because of the pandemic are in need of support and contributions. The hustle and bustle of the city might seem very muted because of the stay at home orders. Nevertheless, that is all the more reason to venture out for pick up or order delivery. These restaurants make San Francisco as valuable as it is. If one can, please support local restaurants to ensure that they last past the pandemic.