Wet'n'Wild of Las Vegas Introduces World's First 'Slideboarding' Video Game Experience

SLIDEBOARDING COMES To WET'N'WILD LAS VEGAS - APP LAUNCHED

By Nolan Apostle
Contributing Editor
Linda Buxton
Reporter & Researcher
Event City Premier Magazine

Wet’n’Wild water park has built a reputation as the “Summer Playground” of Las Vegas and has just launched an exciting, one-of-a-kind interactive thrill ride, a unique waterpark experience, theSlideboarding Game. An electronic game, a thrilling waterpark attraction and an extreme style ride all combine to make up the personality of this new waterpark wonder. 

This WhiteWater attraction, is paired up with one of the park’s most popular slides, Zipp Zapp Zoom.  This unique Wet’n’Wild addition offers an extreme element of play from an extreme sport thrill seeker to grandma and grandpa. This new ride, recently unveiled on Memorial Day weekend will solidify Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas as the premier water park in the area according to the facility’s management. The Slideboarding game is the first-of-its-kind in the world and integrates an online gaming platform into a waterpark ride that will define the future of the waterpark industry.

Ok, sounds interesting, but what exactly is Slideboarding? Slideboarding incorporates gaming and competitive sports into a waterslide experience. It creates an X-sport culture that is a game, a sport and a physical thrill and it is expected to set a tidalwave of change throughout the industry forever.

Slideboarding App – Practice at home or on the go

Wet’n’Wild just launched the SLIDEBOARDING App a few days ago, it will simulate the actual ride experience. It features a replica of the park’s, Zipp Zapp Zoom, with the same twists, turns and colored buttons. Slideboarders will be able to practice their skills while away from the park or on the go to prepare for their next visit. Gold and VIP Season Pass holders can enjoy this experience all summer long and others can pay-to-play as they level up. Visit the Event City Premier Magazine for more on the Slideboarding ride and download the App below. 

The Slideboarding App is available to download for both ANDROID and iPHONE devices.

                

Android Smartphone with 320GB Storage at CES 2015

Android Smartphone Showcases at CES 2015

By Ravi Sharma,TOI Tech | Presented by EVENT CITY CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

The smartphone has 21MP rear camera, 13MP front camera, 3GB RAM, 3,100mAh battery and several unique features.

At the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 tech expo, little-known brand Saygus announced a smartphone that they claim will blow the competition out of the water.

The Saygus V2 (pronounced V squared) smartphone has more than enough storage for data requirements, with 64GB on-board flash memory and support for two 128GB microSD cards, thus allowing the user to have a total of 320GB storage in the pocket.

Saygus V2 has a 5-inch screen with Full HD resolution (1080x1920p) and runs on a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, with 3GB RAM. The manufacturer has not scrimped on the camera front either, packing 21MP and 13MP sensors on the back and front, respectively. It packs a battery with 3,100mAh capacity.

Among the special features of the smartphone are 60GHz Wi-Fi band support, Harman Kardon-enhanced front speakers and a proprietary power-saving chip that conserves an additional 50% battery. It also has fingerprint scanner, wireless charging and NFC.

Saygus V2 is powered by Android, and has provision for root access.

On the design front, the smartphone is reportedly quite sleek, with pretty thin bezels around the screen. It sports Kevlar coating (the same material used to make bulletproof vests) on the back for added strength. Moreover, the smartphone's body is resistant to water (IPX7 certification).

The manufacturer says that it plans to bring the model to the US market this year, and would price it $100 less than the current crop of top smartphones (which cost $400-600).

Simply Sensible Santa Claus

Simply Sensible Santa Claus: http://youtu.be/X1SD2bHeBrk

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Bay Area Income Property Management Expo

By Nolan Apostle

Producer & Contributing Editor

Event City Premier Magazine

October 1st, 2014

This unique Tradeshow, the Income Property Management Expo will take place at three different locations - San Mateo Bay Area, Los Angeles and Phoenix, Arizona. The San Mateo Expo will take place on Wednesday, October 8th at the San Mateo Events Center. The expo will run from 9am to 4pm with a plethora of information to help all types of property managers or would be managers. 

This will be much more than just a full featured conference for anyone with standard residential or commercial income property. There will be a lot of Educational Classes, Contacts and Ideas for anyone with property that produces income that can be leased out for a day, weekend, week, month or longer. Even Venues used for events and other similar type locations can benefit from attending this new conference. 

Listed below are some of the features and highlights of the event as well as a link to the site where you can register. The event is FREE for all to attend. 

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

There will be many free educational seminars and the opportunity to network with vendors on the Expo floor throughout the day. You can also participate in the expo's giveaways and enjoy a few of our special features designed to make your memorable expo experience even more enjoyable!

GOLF ACTION ZONE

Golfers, get some tips from a pro on how to enhance your game, or participate in one of the many contests and raffles for your chance to win great prizes!

LUXURY AUTOMOTIVE SHOWCASE

Walk through a display of the latest Luxury Vehicles and have a chance to Test Drive your Favorite Model!

SEGWAY TEST RIDES

Take a break from the day and test ride a Segway Personal Transporter through the Segway Controlled Course!

FINE FOOD & TASTY TREATS and DRINKS

Enjoy complimentary food & drink tastings from local area Restaurants, Breweries and Wineries!

All of this and much more at the Bay Area Income Property Expo at the San Mateo Events Center. We hope to see you there! Please visit the Bay Area

Income Property Management Expo website for additional information and to register for this FREE event.

First Night Party

Bobby Hurricane (sax) entertains the Blues Cruisers in LA the night before we all board the Norwegian Sun for a week of blues  and three ports of call on the Mexican Rivera.  Seen many old friends already and the jamming seriously starts tomorrow!

Harmonica Mike

On the Blues Cruise

I will be on this year's Pacific Legendary Rhythm and blues Cruise leaving tomorrow from LA, y'all!   I'll post when I can.
.
Harmonica Mike Handler
Event City Music Guy

Halloween & Party Expo Comes to New Orleans in 2015

HALLOWEEN & PARTY EXPO

New Orleans, LA  -  February 6-9, 2015

By Nolan Apostle
Contributing Editor
Event City Premier Magazine

Exciting news for all Special Event and Party Planners, Costume companies, Decorators, Event Designers, and Halloween enthusiast the Halloween & Party Expo comes to New Orleans for the first time next year. The floorplan is already almost sold out, and new exhibitors keep registering weekly! The Expo is ramping up for a fantastic first show ever in New Orleans on, February 6 – 9, 2015 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (ENMCC).

The Halloween & Party Expo is the international showcase for all things party, events, costume, fantasy and Halloween, including an exciting array of all types of decorations and unique party supplies and costumes for all types of engagements and special events. And speaking of special events, the expo has a great schedule of events planned for this new show. Over the years the show has grown to include many new exhibitors which means a much greater selection to choose from for all of the professional industry associates and retailers attending the convention. Below you can view a video of highlights from the 2014 show to give you an idea of what to expect at the next year's event.



New Orleans is certainly one of the most exciting, party-time cities on the planet. It is host to some of the largest and most entertaining world-class celebrations like Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras, one of the countries original Jazz Festivals, countless food and music festivals, and championship-level sporting events. The city of New Orleans surely knows how to have fun and throw a good party, making this city a perfect match for the Halloween & Party Expo in 2015 and beyond.

Event City has covered Halloween Expos in Las Vegas and Houston and is looking forward to covering this new location for this extremely important industry event. The show management is also excited about this change to a new location. “We are thrilled about moving to a new city, and especially one with such a great reputation for its celebratory spirit and fun,” says Jonathan Erwin of the Halloween & Party Expo. “The facilities and hotel options are phenomenal, and their proximity to areas like the French Quarter will really add to the excitement during the show.”

Balloon Manufactures & Distributors will exhibit at the Expo

For any industry professionals not familiar with the expo, the Halloween & Party Expo is the largest global show of its kind, highlighting thousands of products from the Halloween, Party, Fantasy Costume, Special Events, Balloon and other similarly related industries. Many industry professionals claim this event to be one of the most important industry related shows to attend. The show boasts a roster of  attendees from more than 63 countries that converge annually to preview the latest trends, make new contacts, continue with their existing business arrangements, and attend a myriad of additional events including fashion shows, free educational seminars, workshops, professional association meetings, parties, and much more.

“This show is very important,” says Sharon Wiess, an attending buyer at the 2014 show. “If you don’t make this [show], and buy at this one, you’ve pretty much lost all the insight on what’s going on in the industry.” 

There are more than 20,000 hotel rooms near the convention center, with 19 hotels partnering with the Expo to secure discounted rates for attendees. Also in close proximity to the convention center is Harrah’s Casino, the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, and the revitalized Warehouse District. If you have never been to the French Quarter it is a MUST ATTEND while attending the Halloween & Party Expo. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Nolan Apostle is a co-founder and Chief Editor of Event City and the Event City Premier Magazine. He has worked in numerous industries wearing a multitude of hats over the course of his career. He has worked as a Videographer, Producer, Photographer, Concert Promoter, Event Developer, Manager, Writer, Journalist, Marketing Director, Artist Management (Painters and Musicians), Ambiance Director, Educator, Tradeshow Manager, Props & Sets Designer, Food & Beverage Director, and more. He has owned a SF Catering company, a Halloween store and a Balloon business including one of the largest Full Service Event Production companies, That's Entertainment. During his earlier years he ran a local radio station which he and friend started in Daly City California. They talked about music, masquerade parties, concerts and of course HALLOWEEN! It was a short lived venture (about 5 months) due to an unannounced visit from the FCC and local authorities at their broadcasting location. Oh well, it’s Only Rock’n’Roll but he loves it!

Registration and hotel reservations are now open – and filling fast – so be sure to make your plans now for the 2015 Halloween & Party Expo. And don’t forget - with Halloween falling on a Saturday in 2015, consumers will no doubt be looking to celebrate, so be prepared with the best products the industry has to offer by attending in February! Booth space is still available for interested exhibitors, and buyer registration is always free. Visit www.HalloweenPartyExpo.com for more information, as well as available discounts and industry news.

Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame Inducts Rock Powerhouse KSAN into Hall of Fame

By Michael Handler and Nolan Apostle

Writer/Music Editor and Contributing Editor
Event City Premier Magazine

For two days in early June, parts of the San Francisco Bay Area rocked again to the sounds and voices of what was once the premier underground FM radio station on the West Coast - KSAN Jive 95.  On June 4th at Yoshi's Nightspot in San Francisco and June 5th at Spenger's Restaurant in Berkeley, former KSAN DJs and staff, radio luminaries, and musicians in the rock scene gathered to induct KSAN into the Bay Area Radio Hall Of Fame's Legendary status. A celebration, a luncheon, a walk down memory lane with friends, new and lifelong, sharing their stories and the magical existence of this only-in-San Francisco "Legendary" radio station. And as we found out, it was a lot more than just a radio station.

The voices still linger in my head... Big Daddy Tom Donahue, Dusty Street, Richard Gossett, Norman Davis, Terry McGovern, Ben Fong Torres, and Bonnie Simmons....now the stuff of radio legends, and all who were in attendance at these events, with the notable exception of Big Daddy, who went to that station in the sky some years ago.  But these and others associated with the station and the rock scene at the time, and still today as we saw at Yoshis, were all on hand to meet fans, listen to the music, and at Spengers, hold an interesting panel discussion led by Rolling Stone's Ben Fong Torres.  Even with the rich history of radio "personalities" in the Bay Area, as evidenced by the more than the 140 announcers already inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame, these folks represented the changing times, the opening up of the culture and society, and the mood of the young folks in the Bay Area during the late 1960' and 70's. No one there worked in a vacuum, they were all part of the scene. It created awareness of the music, venues, politics, and the culture that were popular with young folks, who up to that time had no real voice in society.

I too, was a KSAN listener, and some of the very DJs I grew up with on KYA or KFRC AM indeed made the switch to the FM side of the dial, and we expanded their radio consciousness along with them. It was a great ride as it was apparent in the opening night show Yoshi's, it was a mini Fillmore or Avalon experience, sans the light show. The bands and musicians, some new, some "original", all sounded great. They included Sal Valentino with Annie Sampson, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Country Joe McDonald, who told the story of a certain cheer, Cold Blood with Lydia Pense with Tower of Power's former vocal king from the way bay - Rick Stevens, who still IS a young man, well at least in spirit as he wooed the crowd with his wonderful voice. Dan Hicks without the Lickettes and the Imperial Messenger Service (former Quicksilver Messenger) all who played their hearts out to an audience filled with those same announcers who featured their music on the radio daily in the 60's and 70's. Each act seem to get stronger, as the memories of their music took hold and we were ALL young again. 

The intention of this story was not to review the music but to acknowledge the event as a whole, and the greatness of KSAN Jive 95, a truly legendary radio station, so in that light I'll just say no one was disappointed, and the musicians were having a ball. Former members of KSANs on-air personality staff would introduce the acts, which for some in the audience would be the very first time actually seeing any of them. Having this opportunity to put a face to a voice after so many years was a delight for many in the crowd. 

The Yoshi's event was smoothly produced and presented by master PR guys Kenny Wardell and Steve Cushman, and it certainly is important to include a few of evenings highlights presented by these two. One of the elements that made K-S-A-N, KSAN, was "newsman" Skoop Nisker, who blended topical music with new news into living matras of current events... his poem to the Unknown Hippy was rousing and sounded like one of his on-air commentaries.  Dan Hicks, who had provided some of KSAN's original station breaks and musical IDs, was on had to do two fun songs, sounding great even with out Daria and Roberta, his current Lickettes.  Cold Blood's short set with Rick Stevens brought the East Bay funk of Tower of Power into the HOUSE and Lydia was on it as well, and the Messenger Service was as loud and metallic as ever.  Hearing songs like "Have Another Hit" and "Show me the Way" really took me back to my dance hall days....both David Freiberg and Linda Imperial sounded strong and full of life.  And finally, Country Joe's story behind the "Feel Like Fixin' To Die Rag's"  F--- cheer was priceless.

The next day saw KSANs actual induction into the Bay Are Radio Hall of Fame by the California Historical Radio Society at a lunch at Spenger's in Berkeley.  Bonnie Simmons, long time program director and still active in the radio scene at KPFA, accepted the award for the other members of the station and in the memory of founding program director and mentor Tom Donahue.  The panel included Bonnie, Scoop Nisker, with a sore voice from the previous night's terrific reading of his beat poem, Richard Gossett, Norman Davis, who I'd heard as a mere child when he was on AM radio,  the always fun Terry McGovern, and the wonderful Dusty Street, who went from engineer at KMPX to the queen of  KSAN.  Ben Fong Torres acted as the nimble moderator and covered all the bases.  Hearing their personal histories and back stories was fascinating, as well as their understanding of the importance of KSANs influence on the music of the Bay Area and nationally as well. As Richard Gossett said," we were so lucky to be at the  right place at the right time,  war babies tired of top 40 radio and able to fit into what was going on. And it could have only happened in San Francisco."  Amen to that brother. 

On a personal note, seeing some old friends from radio and even one  of my college professors was a real joy, and many folks had similar encounters with lost friends and associates. Several of the KSAN DJs hadn't seen each other in years, so I'm thankful for the California Historical Radio Society for putting on this event and giving everyone involved a great reason to get together once more.  KSAN will live on, now recognized as a rightful member of the Legends of Bay Area radio.