The Napa Valley Film Festival

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Jamie

Disclosure: I will be covering the event throughout the weekend beginning tomorrow. 

The Napa Valley Film Festival kicks off its 3rd year tomorrow and goes through Sunday, November 17th.  What makes the Napa Valley Film Festival different from others is indeed, the fact, that the area wineries heavily get involved.  With exclusive wine dinners with exceptional food, it makes for a great night.

Napa Valley Film Festival

Also, apparent at the Napa Valley Film Festival are various wine pavilions throughout the 4 villages that represent a lot of the Napa area wineries.  In Calistoga for the day, stop into town and take advantage of discounts at area venues, shops and restaurants.  The same holds true for St. Helena, Yountville and, of course, Napa.

This years festivals includes a variety of films from Studios sneak peeks to narrative features and shorts, documentary features and short subjects, world cinema, student shorts.  This years festival is taking place over 5 days in 4 villages at 12 screening venues.  125 films. 300 filmmakers.  50 chefs.  150 wines.  An event truly not to be missed.

Napa Valley Opera House

With exclusive opening night parties to a closing awards ceremony there’s something for everyone that partakes in this year’s festival.

A few films I’m look forward to include Saving Mr. Banks, Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom, and Labor Day sneak peeks.  I’m also looking forward to a few short festivals that will be making the rounds throughout the festival including spending an afternoon watching a plethora of narrative shorts.  Start as early as 10am with your movie watching and go until 11pm or later.

This year there are also a variety of lounge areas that you can stop into including the Stella Artois Lounge in Napa, and also some fest lounges located close to the screening venues, making it convenient for you to hang out and discuss films with other film festers.

At the festival you make your experience happen whether you stop in for a day with a day pass: 75 dollars

A full festival pass: 250 dollars

Pass Plus: Everything that the full festival pass has included extra perks, additional entrance into other festival special events

Patron Plus: 2500+: Get up close to the celebrities, filmmakers and others at the festival.  Get priority seating and invited to exclusive events.

Uptown Pass: Sunday Only
Guaranteed access to the full day and evening program on Sunday at the Uptown Theatre in Napa. Includes the day’s lineup of rock and roll docs Who Shot Rock ‘n Roll?, Good Ol’ Freda, and Sound City, with Dave Grohl doing a Q&A. Plus the Awards Ceremony and the Closing Night Wrap Party. Limited number available.

I’ll be covering the festival throughout the 5 days beginning tomorrow.  Follow along on my adventures @jamiegall1930 on both Twitter and Instagram.

Full recaps of the festival will be happening next week.  Stay tuned.


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Easy Peasy Fruit Salad!!!

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Jamie

I love fruit salads.  Makes sense since I’m a big fruit girl.  During the spring and summer using fresh fruits, and during the fall pulling out some canned fruit and creating delectable dishes… This fruit salad was a spur of a moment try.  Trying to think of a more healthy fruit salad to make with greek yogurt.

Easy Peasy Fruit Salad!

Ingredients needed:

2 cups vanilla GREEK yogurt (I used Chobani)

1 container cool whip (16oz)

1 small can canned fruit salad.

1 large can mandarin oranges.

Directions:

In a medium mixing bowl combine yogurt, canned fruit, and mandarin oranges together.  Stir together.  Then add in cool whip.  Stir together.  Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

It was a great salad that got gobbled up pretty fast in this household.

I often make fruit salads with jello, however, greek yogurt was calling my name, and I wanted to try a fruit salad concoction.  I was very happy with this result and will be making this over and over again.  Easy to make.


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The Newest TECH Products Just in Time for the Holidays!

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Jamie

Disclosure: I was invited to attend Pepcom’s Holiday Spectacular a few weeks ago to check out the newest TECH products coming out. 

Pepcom Holiday Girls

For the tech lovers out there, the Pepcom Holiday Spectacular was where it was at.  The latest tech companies were present to share their latest TECH products, and just in time for the holidays:

Kingston:

MobileLite: They were there introducing their MobileLite product.  Think EXTRA storage capabilities for your tablet needs.  Watch movies directly from your mobilelite instead of your tablet to save space.  This little storage device is the extra memory you’ve been looking for.  And makes life a tad bit easier.  Also can connect to your device wirelessly and even serves as an extra battery, when needed.

T-Mobile:

Samsung Galaxy Note 3_Galaxy Gear (front)

Their latest device The Samsung Note 3 and the Samsung Smartwatch were on display for you take a peek at, drool over, and add to your wish lists.  Trust me, these are on my must have list for 2014.

Mashalot:

For those that have an iphone and love to shop you will need to check out thise new app called mashalot.  You take pics of the products (I see lots of this happening all the time) then you can easily share your finds with your friends.  Or looking for a certain product, add to your wish list and share your wish list with friends.  Shopping with friends on an entirely new level.  Check out the app.

LifeProof:

Lifeproof was present showcasing their new WATERPROOF cases for the Samsung Galaxy 4, The Ipad Mini, and also the Iphone 5.  These were pretty neat to see  in action.  Can go as far as 6 feet in water.  Protects the phone while still being able to utilize.

 

The Gun Box:

I had to take a peek at The Gun Box as I reside with some gun enthiuiasts while at the holiday show.  The Gun Box is a box that will protect your pistol from intruders and any others, for that matter.  With the use of RF Technology.  The Gun Box was a crowdfund project that successfully completed their 100,000 goal and will begin shipping Dec. 12th.  Just in time for the holidays.

thegunbox

Logitech:

They had a massive display of their latest products including keyboards, cases, and their ever popular UE Boom and Mini Boom speakers.  UE BOOM is the first-ever social music player, a wireless speaker that’s packed with a specific set of features that sets a new standard for listening to music. It’s the first stereo speaker to offer 360-degree sound in a battery-powered device, and features a 15-hour rechargeable battery.

Boom Speakers

The UE Boom retails for 199.99 and the mini boom retails for: 99.99.  These would make for a great gift or even stocking stuffer for your tech lover.

YesVideo: 

YesVideo was also present, and let me tell you folks, I have found your answers to all those homemade videos you have laying around the home.  YesVideo will help you convert these videos to DVD, upgrading them to the  next generation.  The best part is that you can order directly online then pick up your DVD at your local Target or Walmart.  Perfect holiday gift.

Sandisk:

Sandisk

Showcasing their latest in flash drive and their 64 GB Media Drive.  Another great solution for your tablets.   Save those files in a smart easy to file compartment with these fun drives.  Easy to use.  Easy to carry.  And the solution you’ve been looking for.  These make for the perfect stocking stuffer.

XSories:

For the photographer’s out there, especially those that cover a lot of events.  YOU WILL love this product being introduced by Xsories.  The Weye Feye is a device that you can connect to your DSLR that will allow you to control the camera from your smart phone.  How cool is this?  It attaches easily to your DSLR or, while at an event your tripod, connect, and you can be out and about taking video coverage as you converse with those that pass by your booth, or coverage of a specific event, and more.  The answer to my photography needs.   And when you connect you can easily share your DSLR photos to your social media accounts.  WOW.

weyefeye

Shure:

Another look for photographer’s is Shure’s latest Microphone.  The VP83.

VP83_OnCamera

These ultra-compact condenser shotgun microphones are engineered to provide broadcast professionals, videographers, filmmakers, video journalists, field reporters and others with an all-in-one solution for capturing highly directional, premium audio with DSLR cameras and portable video/audio recorders.  The latest of Shure products.  These microphones are now shipping just in time for the holidays. 

It was a fun night of tech, robots, and more:

robots

Oh, and if you want to know one thing on my holiday list that fun and simple, check out this lego case:

legocase

Which items have you added to your wish list?  Let me know.

 

 

 


Categories: Fun Stuff, Tech | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment