A version of this story about “Luca” first appeared in the special animation section of the awards preview issue of awards magazine TheWrap.

Pixar’s “Luca” is charming and understated. It’s the story of a pair of sea monsters, Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer), who transform into humans when they crawl out of the water. They visit a nearby human village, make new friends and dream of owning a Vespa. That’s really it. But its simplicity, especially for a Pixar movie, coupled with a striking art style, feels downright groundbreaking.

Unsurprisingly, it took a long time to polish such a stripped-back style, according to director Enrico Casarosa. Casarosa, who directed the charming Pixar short “La Luna” in 2011 and has become a mainstay of the so-called Pixar braintrust that looms over every new production, began shaping a vague idea for “Luca” in 2016. The version initial, he said, was for a return to Italy.

“It was a bit about my daughter and me and her being half Italian, and the issue of immigration – wanting to fit in, maybe forgetting a bit where your roots are from,” said Casarosa said. “And the new generation is sometimes more interested in that part of that identity.”

As the story evolved, the emphasis shifted from a parental relationship to a friendship (and the sea monsters entered as well). “It became a whole different personal story,” Casarosa said. “Not about my daughter and me, but about my best friend and me.” (And, yes, his best friend was also called Alberto.)

An earlier version of “Luca” did not end with a bicycle race, but with a giant Kraken destroying most of the city of Portorosso. “When we tried them, the story that we all cared about was the relationship,” he said. “He wanted to be smaller.” Casarosa admitted that he always gets notes asking if he can enlarge it. His answer ? “Remember, we want an intimate film.”

The film’s shaping process became easier when, during production, former Pixar bigwig John Lasseter left the studio and was replaced by Pete Docter, the soft-spoken filmmaker behind “Inside Out” and “Soul”. “(Lasseter) had great instincts but it was a bit more dogmatic,” Casarosa said. “You would feel like I have to.” Casarosa found himself more “honest” with Docter and in turn felt more supported. “Pete embraced my vibe,” he said.

Docter was also instrumental in allowing Casarosa to experience the film’s handcrafted, almost stop-motion style, inspired by Aardman’s films and the work of Hayao Miyazaki. “It was a bit 2D inspired, but still immersive,” he said. “I didn’t want it to interfere with the story or the moment.”

Read more about the rewards preview issue here.

Time Out, the global media and hospitality brand that helps people explore and discover the soul of the city, has released its list of the 16 best city breaks in Europe for 2022. The list features the official capitals of culture, lesser-known second cities and under the radar destinations that will host some of the biggest festivals and openings of the year.

As vaccination and booster rollouts continue around the world, Time Out believes that in 2022 travelers will rediscover a passion for city breaks, especially with this year being rich in new cultural openings and in return. many big festivals. Time Out’s network of 16 expert local European copywriters and writers chose these emerging destinations because of their great food, culture, nightlife and community spirit – things that have always made European cities great places to be. . In these climate-conscious times, the list also only features places that are easy to reach by train and bus.

Caroline McGinn, Global Editor-in-Chief of Time Out, says: “Over the past 18 months, travelers have largely explored closer to home, with country trips particularly popular, but in 2022 we expect city breaks will make a triumphant return. Where else can that be? Do you order an espresso, walk into a museum, taste a local liquor and go out? Whether you’re looking to attend a successful festival or visit a new museum, we hope our list provides you with some much-needed travel inspiration this winter.

Read the full list at www.timeout.com/europe/things-to-do/best-city-breaks-in-europe

1. Arles, France

Known for being the city where Vincent van Gogh completed his legendary series of sunflowers in the 1880s, Arles is also home to Provence’s largest street market and is the region’s cultural capital for 2022. Highlights are LUMA , a vibrant new arts district. with multimedia exhibitions and art installations; the Carrières des Lumières, an immersive artistic experience in a career; and Les Rencontres de la Photographie, a festival featuring pop-up bars, food trucks and world-renowned photographic exhibitions.

1. Brno, Czech Republic

The second Czech city has repositioned itself as a post-industrial science and technology hub with a reinvented food and drink scene featuring everything from contemporary international to Element in VýÄep na Stojáka, a modern take on a traditional pub. In 2022, the INdustrial project celebrates Brno’s manufacturing tradition, with several former industrial buildings open to the public for the first time, as well as Káznice, a Habsburg-era prison, which is also being redeveloped and will house events in summer.

1. Kaunas, Lithuania

There is no better time to visit Kaunas than in 2022, as it has been named the European Capital of Culture, with a year-long program of over 1,000 events to celebrate, including exhibitions by Yoko Ono. , William Kentridge, Marina Abramović and more. Be sure to check out the rest of the delicacies the city has to offer, like its hundreds of Modernist masterpieces, as well as the MK ÄŒiurlionis Art Museum (dedicated to the Symbolist musician and painter) and the Devil’s Museum frankly. weird.

1. Odense, Denmark

Just 90 minutes by train from Copenhagen, Odense is small but perfectly formed. It is home to the brand new architectural wonder, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, which brings the story of the fairytale author and the worlds he created to life. A new light rail is under construction and is expected to open in spring 2022, connecting the beautiful old districts of the city and the new lively districts.

1. Ljubljana, Slovenia

In 2022, the Slovenian capital will host Velo-City, a summit aimed at encouraging cycling across the continent. For more casual bikers, bike rental in the city center is free. Restaurants are encouraged to use local ingredients, so meals often include freshly picked vegetables and produce from urban farms. For music fans, the Ljubljana Festival, featuring world-renowned classical virtuosos, is back after a Covid-induced hiatus. There is also a jazz festival every July, and the city is transformed into a stage during the Ana Desetnica Street Theater Festival.

1. Oslo, Norway

The revitalization of the historic port district of Bjørvika is well underway, with the brand new Munch Museum now open to the public, right next to the Deichman Bjørvika Library and the famous opera house (with its own urban beach, Operastranda). For foodies, Oslo’s food scene now includes VIA Village, a bustling new food court, just minutes from the Aker Brygge area. For those visiting in the summer and beyond, the long-awaited new National Museum will open in June and earn the title of Largest Museum in the Nordic Countries.

1. Turku, Finland

Often referred to as the “Paris of Finland” for its abundance of sidewalk cafes, Turku is Finland’s oldest city (and historic capital). With a great music scene, next year will see the highly anticipated return of festivals like Archipelago Sea Jazz and Ruisrock. It’s also a leader in sustainable tourism, with the city running electric boat tours, nature trips, and food tours that showcase the best local produce. This is all part of Turku’s plans to become carbon neutral and ‘zero waste’ by 2040. Want to get there greener? The city is easily accessible by train (from Helsinki) and ferry (from Stockholm and Tallinn).

1. Valencia, Spain

Returning with a bang (literally) in 2022, Valencia will once again host the Las Fallas Festival to kick off spring with bonfires, fireworks, parades and parties throughout March. Nearby, La Tomatina, the ‘world’s biggest food fight’, will also be back for the first time in two years. This year, Valencia was named not only the European capital of smart tourism but also the world capital of design, with more than 100 events scheduled for the latter.

1. Sheffield, England

Sheffield was recently named the UK’s ‘greenest city’, with its 4.5 million trees (more per person than any other city in Europe), 250 public parks and 52 square miles of national park. Combine lush greenery – and proximity to the Peak District – with a bustling city rich in culture, food and drink, and you have two types of vacations rolled into one. Do you prefer the green of a football field? Sheffield will host three group matches and a semi-final of the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship in July.

1. Trikala, Greece

Trikala, in northwest Thessaly, is Greece’s first official “smart cityâ€. This city under the radar is green in every sense of the word: a shady spot topped by its Byzantine castle and crisscrossed by the Lithaios River filled with trout. Getting around is easy with a bike-share program and a host of new bike paths – and when summer temperatures soar, there are pit stops where you can collect (free) water. . It also has the country’s first driverless buses. See you in August for the three-day Ziria music festival that takes over the ski slopes of Trikala.

1. Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the northwest corner of Bosnia and Herzegovina, you will find Bihać on the banks of the magical Una River. It is the perfect city break for nature lovers who wish to admire the panoramic view of the valley: the cycle path from the city center to the remains of the Sokolac fortress is now open and new eco-friendly accommodation such as Japodski Otoci and Eko-Selo Natura Art offers both adventure and restoration. Add in several local initiatives to clean up the surrounding lakes and rivers, and you’ve got a destination that encompasses all that Bosnia’s most beautiful river has to offer.

1. Liverpool, England

Liverpool’s nightlife is one of a kind – so it was no wonder the city hosted the UK’s first club night in a year, with footage being shown around the world. Now is the time for everyone to find out too, whether it’s for a night out at a club in the ‘Baltic Triangle’, or something bigger like Creamfields or the International Beatles Week in August. 2022 will also see the welcome return of DaDaFest International, one of the world’s leading festivals dedicated to the work of artists with disabilities, deaf people and neurodiverse – a welcome reminder of what an inclusive place really is.

1. Rotterdam, the Netherlands

After the success of Eurovision 2021, Rotterdam feels like it has a new lease of life. After undergoing extensive renovations in the run-up to the 2020 event – only to be delayed for a year – the song contest has firmly placed the Netherlands’ second city on the tourist map . No doubt many will flock here in 2022 to explore its incredible art museums and architecture, as well as top-notch cuisine and nightlife. Topping the list should be Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility housing 151,000 objects. Then marvel at the floating buildings comprising an office, a farm, and even an entire street – all developed in response to the fact that 90 percent of Rotterdam is below sea level.

1. Milan, italy

In an effort to shed its industrial image and create a more sustainable metropolis, this northern Italian city continues to expand its parks and cycle paths to create a “green lung†around the center. 2022 will see the return of big events like the famous furniture fair Salone del Mobile (April 5-10), taking control of Milan with lively art installations and events open to design professionals and the public. More in your music? In June and July, Stromae, Chemical Brothers and Green Day perform at the Milano Summer Festival.

1. Freiburg, Germany

Considered the sunniest and warmest city in Germany, Freiburg is also the gateway to the Black Forest: this well-known natural wonder is only a short walk from the center. A long-time champion of conservation and sustainability, Friborg-en-Bresau is a shining example of how ‘green living’ and ‘urban sprawl’ can go hand in hand. Recent initiatives include a million euro initiative to plant new trees and Dietenbach, a climate neutral eco-district which is currently under construction.

1. Inverness, Scotland

The perfect starting point to begin a journey of exploring the Highlands, Inverness has all of Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle and the Culloden Battlefield close by. If you want a cultural side to it, in 2022 the Eden Court Theater will host some of the UK’s best comics, as well as productions from Emma Rice’s ‘Jersey Boys’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’. Musically, July sees the return of the powerful family-friendly Belladrum Tartan Heart festival, with lineup including Nile Rodgers & Chic and Ibibio Sound Machine.

Rt. 9 in Berkeley, Pine Beach, Beachwood and Lacey is so bumpy and eventually they fix it.

As of yesterday (July 7, 2021), a new project is underway in the township of Berkeley, Beachwood, Pine Beach and Lacey Township.

Listen to Shawn & Sue’s Mornings on 92.7 WOBM and download our free 92.7 WOBM app.

Most closures will happen overnight, but there is a timeline to help, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Here are the intersections to look out for overnight, according to patch.com:

Sunrise Boulevard and Park Place Drive, Lacey
First Street and Musket Road, Lacey
Route 9 and Haines Street, Lacey
Route 9 and boulevard Laurel, Lacey
Route 9 and South Street, Lacey
Central Parkway and Butler Blvd / CR 618, Berkeley
Station Road, Berkeley
Iger Way and Moorage Avenue, Berkeley
Korman Road and Ocean Gate CR 625, Berkeley
Boulevard des Chains, Berkeley
Sylvan Lake Boulevard, Berkeley
Motor Road and Gladney Avenue, Pine Beach
Mizzen Avenue, Berkeley, Pine Beach

Some construction schedules to watch out for:

The shoulders will be closed from Lacey Township to Beachwood throughout the day in various parts of the highway. 9. Please be careful. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, work will begin on ramps, sidewalks and curb improvements.

The entire project is expected to be completed in 2022.

Personally, I am so excited about this project. I realize it’s going to be a long time until we finally see it paved to perfection, but at least they’re working on it. Honestly, I thought Rt “bumpy”. 9 would not be fixed for years. So, I am grateful for this. Just have a little patience over the next couple of months and if there’s a closure in your town, they’ll let you know ahead of time, according to NJDOT.

Keep reading …

Jersey Shore’s Tastest Food Trucks You Should Try This Summer

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We depend on your support more than ever, as the change in consumption habits caused by the coronavirus is having an impact on our advertisers.

By Tom Cesarini

She sings (in 14 languages). She composes and produces. Being a Grammy nominee is just one of her many honors, having achieved international fame. And its roots are in Little Italy. To hear interpretations of standard pop, opera and jazz standards by artist and local favorite Sacha Boutros is to revel in a blackmailer. In July, you can see her playing Il Sogno Italiano in the Gaslamp district. We interviewed Sacha to get a better look at this multi-faceted and talented character.

How do you relate to San Diego’s Little Italy? What does the neighborhood mean to you?

My first visit to Little Italy was with my godmother, Nina Tina, when I was little, for a pizza at Mimmo’s Italian Village. Quickly, I fell in love with the cultural and heritage richness of the neighborhood. Whenever I could, I went back, ending up doing my afternoon homework in high school and later in college. When I wasn’t playing sports, I could be found drinking espresso and reading “La Gazzetta dello Sport” [a popular Italian sports daily] at Café Zucchero, speaking in Italian to my charming local Sicilian fishing friends.

I played street football with the boys after church when the parking lot was diagonally across India Street and hardly any cars passed. I watched Little Italy grow up from the old fishing town with all the locals who came and went in the now gentrified, overcrowded version of an adult Disneyland. Little Italy is my home and I also resided for the past 12 years before moving to Paris in 2018, and this was where I went to church every Sunday. It was also there that I first discovered my opera voice and later became a singer. Little Italy is a piece of my heart and soul and the place in San Diego that I call home.

Little Italy has undergone dramatic changes thanks to its redevelopment. What are the contemporary elements of the neighborhood that resonate with you, and what are the elements that are perhaps missing?

I know Little Italy which has grown from the 80s to the 90s until now. I miss seeing all the families and familiar faces that graced India Street with their eccentric personalities. I believe these friends are long gone, and those who remain rarely visit new Little Italy. There are some old familiar and native faces of our dear India Street. The new businesses and boutiques are wonderful, and it is surely the hippest place in San Diego; my only regret is that there is no cultural center or museum to preserve the Italian heritage and the integrity of all the families who made the quarter Italian in the first place. I am hopeful that through the efforts of the community we can create this for the immigrants who founded what we are as “New Americansâ€.

How did your education influence your musical direction?

Family, love and faith have influenced all of my music. I learned to sing in church – music for me is the word of God expressed in faith on a note. I sing, therefore I am — sharing my gift with the world in service and gratitude for connecting and building community wherever I go using music as a tool to build peaceful bridges across borders and connect the world. My heritage and culture have added a rich layer of European and Latin influences that have enabled me to reach my audiences in multiple languages, and the sounds of these cultures resonate in my original compositions.

What are some of your direct musical influences?

My grandfather Cirilo Cazares, with whom I sang in church, taught me harmony and joy through music. Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Maria Callas, Julie Andrews, Nancy Wilson, Enrico Macias and Dalida are also big influences.

As you have performed all over the world, what are the notable differences between our music scene in this country compared to that of other countries?

San Diego’s music scene is very different from that of the international touring circuit. It is beautiful and smaller in scope than that of national and international audiences. In Vienna, for example, they like American blues and standards; in New York, swinging straight tunes; while San Diego loves cabaret and pop hits.

Tell us about your new business and how you stand up for women in the music industry.

Returning from Paris to San Diego, I noticed a need for women in the arts to have a brighter voice and to be recognized for their achievements. It was my peaceful protest in response to the #metoo movement. I wanted my contribution to be an edifying and positive example for young women in the world of music and the arts, to take the ethical path and do the right thing. I have experienced far too often what so many women in my business have, if not more, about being a minority woman. Unfortunately, I can’t say it’s completely changed here in San Diego but it’s improving and it’s progress. I decided to stop focusing on what wasn’t happening and start creating what I wanted to happen. “Hear Me Roar Records and Entertainment†is a tribute to the strong women who paved the way before me and those with whom I form a team. We may never change what IS, or the balance of power, but what I do know is that I will not point the blame in any direction. Where the door is closed, there is another opening waiting to be discovered.

What are your latest projects and where are you currently playing? What is in the pipeline for Sa-cha, personally and professionally?

Shortly after founding my business, I met the visionary and my current business partner, Sean Shoja, the owner of “Il Sogno Italiano†in the Gaslamp neighborhood of downtown San Diego. Sean, a long-time successful restaurateur for over 25 years, wanted to create a post-Covid place that touches all the senses and touches the heart through food and music. He saw the end of Covid as a great opportunity to bring people together and uplift the San Diego community – creating joy as the main goal and intention after a year of suffering around the world. In February, I received a formal invitation to consult and start organizing a gastronomic music experience and transform “Il Sogno Italiano†(“The Italian Dreamâ€) into a music club. (This came as a welcome effort after successfully running the “Sachas Supper Club” for the past seven years and creating California’s first pop-up music and dining experience that was voted best music and living room. night on San Diego’s A list.) We started with music on weekends and have now gone from two to seven nights a week, employing a fairly large roster of world-class performers who grace our stage every day. evenings. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, reminiscent of old San Diego in the days of Mister A which went back to the Alessios; you could say it’s heartwarming Italian. Quickly we have become the hottest food and music venue in the Gaslamp and we hope to capture the place of the best live music venue in San Diego. We have musicians who come from Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and all the way to Paris. It was a wonderful start to a great journey and “Il Sogno Ital-iano” hopes to start paying shows for other touring artists soon. In the fall, we team up with David Ben-nett, General Manager of San Diego Opera, for some fun surprises. San Diego is ready and open for the arts and Sean and I are working really hard to bring you a slice of what you might hear in New York, Paris or London in our own backyard here at San Diego’s Gaslamp.

Personally, I have several new recording projects on the horizon. We just recorded a tribute to Nancy Wilson in Los Angeles at the East West Studios, and I’m simultaneously working on a project in New York with John di Martino in Spanish, French and Italian. Autumn brings me back to Paris to work on a new passionate CD with my new partnership with friend Vincent Bessiers who founded the extraordinary jazz label “Jazz and People”. The album, entitled “Grandiose, la musique de Michel Legrand”, will be a great tribute to one of my favorite composers and will showcase the talents of five legendary and promising pianists in France whom I have the great honor of. record. with, including amazing artists such as Jacky Terasson, Stéphane Belmondo, Franck Amsal-lem, Geraud Portal, Tony Tixier and Laurent Courthaliac. I’m pretty excited to resume this project because Covid cut it short at the start of what was to be an epic piece, as they say in French, of a dream coming true.

I wish everyone reading this a wonderful and prosperous year and a new normal as Covid leaves us. May you all prosper and find success and joy in all that you do.

– Tom Cesarini is the Executive Director and Founder of Convivio and is also Honorary Consul of Italy in San Diego. Convivio cultivates community and brotherhood, advances Italian cultural identity, and fosters multicultural awareness in a myriad of disciplines through education and research, social enrichment, and innovative programming. Visit: www.conviviosociety.org | Follow: @conviviosociety

The British Grand Prix formed the second round of the 2021 MXGP and the spectacular sprawl of the Matterley Basin circuit saw Tony Cairoli of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing claim his first victory of the season.

The rough, sticky ground at Matterley Basin provided a quick and technical challenge for the three MXGP riders and three MX2 riders of Red Bull KTM for the first of six Grands Prix to be held over the next seven weeks. A cool, cloudy and rainy climate blanketed the southern England venue, drawing 4,000 noisy spectators to the facility.

MXGP

Timed practice saw a Red Bull KTM 1-2 with Tony Cairoli setting the fastest lap just ahead of Jeffrey Herlings, securing two KTM 450 SX-Fs first in the starting grid. Jorge Prado, 6th, seized the first holeshot but was overtaken by Cairoli in the first lap. With Herlings pushing for 3rd place at the halfway point (and keeping world champion Tim Gajser in his perch), Red Bull KTM went 1-2-3 with Cairoli winning his first checkered flag of the season. and his first since his triumph over at home last summer.

The second race provided fantastic entertainment with up to five riders vying for the lead and the overall podium. Cairoli secured 3rd place to ensure his overall triumph and Herlings finished 4th after being cautious when rains created slippery conditions around English soil. The Dutchman finished 3rd of the day for this second consecutive trophy. Jorge Prado was part of the group, but a poor assessment of his set-up forced him to return to 7th. The Spaniard finished the GP in 5th position, which means all three Red Bull KTM athletes have occupied the top five places in the UK.

Tony Cairoli: “In fact, I enjoyed the second run more because there were a lot of overtaking and it was nice to be back in this type of battle. The track was getting nice and it was a good race.

“I had two quick starts today. The first victory was nice, especially after the disappointment of being so close in Russia two weeks ago. We lost a lot of points back then, but today it was positive and I had a great time. I can’t wait to race in Italy now.

Jeffrey Herling: “Our goal this year is to get on the podium as much as possible. It has been proven in the past that if you do this almost every weekend you will be there or around the end of the season for the Championship.

“Both bikes were okay, nothing too impressive.

“I don’t have the speed yet. I can do it in the morning for one lap but I haven’t got it for the whole race yet. I’m not far off though and there are some good leads for me ahead.

Jorge Prado: “Today was good in some ways, but a bit negative with this second race. I had been struggling with the trail since morning and how flat it was. I knew the start would be important to me. I got the hole but I made a small mistake and Tony walked past. It was pretty good because he was driving very well: I could stay behind him and he led me.

“Physically, I felt strong in the second heat, which is positive for the next races, but I didn’t have the feeling with the bike or the settings. It was too difficult for me to turn, turn on the gas and go with the others when they were full. I was too slow, even taking a few risks. So, we have to look at this.

“We will continue to work. It will come. I am in the right place.

MX2

MX2 rookie Mattia Guadagnini was Britain’s top finisher. The Italian made his way to fourth in race one in an entertaining fight for the podium places. He then controlled the second race from the front. Guadagnini not only won what was only his fourth Grand Prix race, but also stepped onto the general stand in his second MX2 appearance in Red Bull KTM Factory Racing colors.

René Hofer finished ninth overall in a day of contrasting fortunes. The Austrian made a mistake at the start of the first heat and ended up riding with the leaders but with one lap late. He finished 30th and out of points. In the second heat, the 19-year-old was blazingly fast and fought for the podium, ultimately taking third place for a valuable 20 points.

MX2 world champion Tom Vialle attempted free practice but the pain in his right hand was too much for the Frenchman to consider both races at Matterley Basin. Vialle had suffered an abnormal and irreproachable training accident just five days before and will now be aiming for the third round for a return to action.

Mattia Gaudagnini: “I am so, so happy. I knew from Russia that I was driving well. My starts were good and I felt good with the bike and on the track during the first round. I had a lot of fun fighting for P2. My goal was to be at the forefront of the second race and I succeeded. I did my own race. I focused on the race like I was training and tried not to think about the GP. I couldn’t be happier than now.

René Hofer: “It was a bittersweet day. I missed the start of the first run and had a small crash on the second lap. Unfortunately, I was not able to restart the bike quickly. I still finished the race but all chances of getting on the podium have of course disappeared. It was a shame because I felt really good and I love Matterley. So for the second run I was really motivated and got a good start. I was in P2 for a long time and I had very good fights with the French. The track was amazing and had a lot of line choices so it was super fun and with P3 I took second in the top three of my career. I ended the day on a good note and that is why we will go with great confidence to the next round at Maggiora. Thanks to the team for all the effort: it’s good that we bounced back in the second round!

Tom Vialle: “I had a training crash on Wednesday with another driver who hit me hard. I’m pissed off because it wasn’t my fault. I’m a little hurt but it’s not that bad. I think I need a few more days. I was in pain and we wanted to play it safe. It was better to miss today and think of Italy instead.

The MXGP of Italy will see the World Championship rumble around the Maggiora Hills for the first time in five years with the third round of the series next weekend.

More from Matterley Basin

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – “If you want good food, this is the place to come. We have the best food in the area.

Cosmo’s Kitchen is Italian and country cuisine, serving all kinds of pasta, sandwiches and even a new breakfast all day, all made from scratch.

Clifford Henderson and his wife Rochelle had wanted to open a restaurant for several years.

“It became my dream, and I was just waiting to try and find a place. I have been looking for a long time. In fact, I’ve been watching this building here for 17 years, â€said Henderson.

One day the building became available and Cosmo’s Kitchen was born just over a year ago, celebrating its first anniversary on October 23. But where does the name Cosmo come from?

“We had a black lab that passed away some time ago, and I just wanted to keep it in our minds. So we named him Cosmo’s Kitchen, which was his first name, â€Henderson said.

Henderson is no stranger to Italian cuisine.

“It was the first thing I learned to cook. I have cooked in a lot of Italian restaurants in the area. You cook it well, prepare it well, it’s just amazing food, â€said Henderson.

“Dinners of pasta, lasagna, alfredos, scampis, diablos and we also serve breakfast. Breakfast is served all day, â€said Henderson. “The number one thing here is the idiot from the Marino Brothers village that Jimmy Marino and his family created. It’s a 24 inch long sandwich with half a pound of ham, a quarter pound of salami, peppers and onions of your choice, a mix of provolone cheese and mozzarella.

All of their menu items come in large portions, including the Village Idiot Sandwich.

The restaurant has also created a few things of its own, like the Cliff’s Philly Steak and Cheese Sandwich, Cliff’s Fire Seasoning; they can even grow their own peppers. And, with all this food, a word comes from almost all of their customers.

“Our number one word in the restaurant is delicious,†said Henderson.

With Henderson receiving these compliments and living his dream, he said it was a great feeling.

“To be able to cook people that people love makes me overwhelming and happy,†said Henderson.

British fashion designer Stella McCartney has teamed up with Cannondale to create a series of limited edition bikes featuring hand-painted designs by three emerging artists from around the world.

Ed Cutis in London, Myfawnwy (Maisie Broome) in New York and Tom Tosseyn in Antwerp have all worked with McCartney on his fall / winter 2021 range and have now applied their artistic vision to three of Cannondale’s latest bikes: the SystemSix, the SuperSix EVO and EVO CX.

(Image credit: Cannondale)

The project came to fruition thanks to McCartney’s love for cycling and a shared vision with Cannondale. Billed as a “celebration of the spirit of self-expression and creativity,” the 18 hand-painted bikes feature bold graphics and distinctive colors, helping to reinterpret three of Cannondale’s most recognizable machines.

“As a longtime cyclist and as someone who uses their bike every day to commute to work, I couldn’t be more excited for my new shared trip with Cannondale,†says McCartney. “The bikes we have created embody our shared values ​​and vision – combining beauty and desirability with a sense of responsibility to the next generation”

(Image credit: Cannondale)

The bikes will not be available for sale and their production is not planned. However, the bikes will be on display at four of Stella McCartney’s flagship stores in London, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo with a chance for one lucky winner in each location to win one of the limited bikes.

(Image credit: Cannondale)

Cannondale is no stranger to interesting collaborations resulting in distinctive looking bikes. At Giro d’Italia 2020, as suppliers to the EF Racing team, their bikes were adorned with bold graphics born from the design partnership between Rapha, the team’s kit sponsor, and Palace, a skateboard brand based in London.

Contrary to tradition, the end result, a wild tie-dye inspired act, was not to everyone’s liking and resulted in the team being fined for not following official racing kit guidelines. However, the image of some of the world’s best runners competing in helmets designed to resemble cartoon ducks will be remembered for a long time.

In fact, bike makers who team up with artists are nothing new. Italian brand Cinelli continued its long-standing association with New York graffiti legend Futura with a recent clothing line inspired by the artist’s love for road racing and his background as a bicycle courier at New York in the late 1980s.

Upon returning to racing in 2009, renowned art collector Lance Armstrong rode a bicycle painted by Brooklyn-based street artist KAWS during that year’s edition of Milan-Sanremo. In a project called STAGES, the Texan continued to run on machines decorated by Damien Hirst and Shepard Fairey. The bikes were then auctioned off to raise money for Armstrong’s Cancer Charities.

The 2022 MotoGP season gets off to a proper start next Saturday when the full grid gathers at Sepang International Circuit for the first of five days of pre-season testing, first on the Malaysian track for two days and then across the sea. of Java for the championship premiere. never visited the new Mandalika Bay trail in Indonesia.

But before that happens, there’s a teaser of sorts in the form of three days of ‘shakedown’ test action at Sepang, where we’ll see part of the 2022 peloton hit the track for the first time alongside long-time MotoGP veterans. who will hopefully not need to line up on the grid for the first round of the championship a month later in Qatar.

Indeed, the shakedown test, which begins on Monday, will be open not only to factory test riders, but also to MotoGP’s bumper crop of rookies in 2022, with another chance for newcomers to learn how to ride. get by with a first-class machine on what is expected. be a relatively quiet track.

The most attention is likely to be focused on Tech3 KTM duo Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez, fresh off the heels of finishing first and second in the 2021 Moto2 championship respectively.

KTM underlined its full support for the duo earlier this week during the team presentation, and it will likely not only be a chance for the duo to continue learning their machine, but also for the factory engineers to lend special attention to their new chargers.

One rookie who will likely be left to his own devices is RNF Yamaha’s Darryn Binder, as the direct Moto3 graduate continues to get a feel for not just a bike that’s six times more powerful, but the power of braking from carbon brakes and the incredible grip of Michelin Control MotoGP tyres.

This trio of riders are joined by Ducati’s Italian rookie duo, as Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi also pursue their own learning curve.

Both ride 2021 spec machines rather than developing 2022 bikes like Gardner and Fernandez will be on. They will join Binder – the only other rider apart from Enea Bastianini, Di Giannantonio’s teammate at Gresini Racing, who is due to start 2022 on year-old machines – to learn the ropes this week rather than try anything. either major in terms of new components.

However, there will also be plenty of new bikes on the track, as all six factories send their test riders to not only start testing themselves, but also to shake up the machines that their riders will take over a few days later.

Test riders will be riding newly built engines and checking freshly assembled bikes for technical faults, so that means the rest of the grid should in theory ride bikes well warmed up for them.

The busiest of these test riders will be Ducati’s Michele Pirro, with five factory bikes to prepare for Pecco Bagnaia, Jack Miller, Luca Marini, Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco. On top of that, there’s sure to be plenty of new components to try as a laid-back Ducati factory flexes its engineering brains after a comfortable end to the 2021 season.

Elsewhere there are a plethora of former world champions and MotoGP race winners on track for other teams, as Cal Crutchlow tests for Yamaha, Dani Pedrosa rejoins KTM, Sylvain Guintoli takes the lead for Suzuki and Lorenzo Savadori continues with Aprilia.

The toughest challenge may well be Honda’s Stefan Bradl, however, as the German works to refine a fundamentally different RC213V that will be taken over by Marc Marquez later in the week.

The three days of track action at Sepang will begin on January 31, with seven and a half hours of action each day. None of the 2022 pre-season tests will be broadcast live on television.

Thank you for your opinion!

What did you think of this story?

Unlike other months, which get a lot more publicity, October is actually “Italian-American History Month“as it says on nationaltoday.com:

“Recognize the contributions and achievements of Italian Americans. More than 26 million Americans of Italian descent currently reside in the United States, making it the seventh largest ethnic group in the United States. the second Monday of the month. Italian-American Heritage Month celebrates the distinguished cultural contributions of Americans of Italian lineage.

I had been advocating for a long time that each nationality and ethnicity had a month to determine if we could all learn what each of our ancestors went through to be a part of this great country as well as the contributions of our people, we would all get along, so alright better.

What is surprising is that we haven’t heard more about Italian History Month since we heard so much about the cancellation of “Columbus Day”, which means so much to the Italian-American people. . It would be nice to also publicize our month. Perhaps with a series of public service announcements about the great contributions of Italian Americans to American history, which all ethnic Americans should be focusing on.

Italian-American History Month also came as a surprise to many of my Facebook followers who I asked about the cool of being Italian-American in New Jersey.

Gail Morrone, from Union City, summed it up best.

Gail Morrone:

“I think every Italian will relate to what I believe. As I have never lived anywhere other than New Jersey, this could be our belief. The most important thing for anyone of Italian descent, regardless the generation of the family. Yes, we have the best food and the most amazing entertainment such as the President’s, but family is the most important. And, as is always the case, at any family reunion, there is never enough food 😊 Ciao “

Robert Pisani:

“I didn’t hear that. News 12 promoted Hispanic Heritage Month, which is an NJ news station, but nothing said about Italian Heritage Month. Plus, they took us Columbus Day and replaced it with Indigenous Day. So who is promoting this month as Italian Heritage Month ?? Only us Italians of course !!! “

Rudy Marino:

“Strange hasn’t heard anything about Italian Heritage Month on any of the major networks, unlike other months where that’s all I hear, including PSA.

Puglia Italian restaurant, Newark.

Andrea deli, City of Jersey.

La Bella, Union City.

2nd Street Bakery, Union City.

Biggies Clam Bar, Carlstadt, rt 17.

Piccolo’s, Hoboken. “

Giulio Poli:

“It was even outside of the 2021 calendars, but the 2022 calendars have it again… I guess they made an offer they couldn’t be turned down.”

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Steve Trevelise. All opinions expressed are those of Steve. Steve Trevelise is on New Jersey 101.5 Monday through Thursday 7pm to 11pm. Follow him on twitter @realstevetrev.

Haunted Hayrides and New Jersey Attractions for 2021

That $ 10,000 could get you in New Jersey