Coronavirus
Southside Johnny to Play Huge Drive-In Concert in New Jersey
Jersey Hall of Famer Discusses The Historic Show and How COVID-19 Has Affected the Jersey Shore Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes return to the stage Saturday night (July 11) for their biggest concert since the COVID-19 pandemic, performing a drive-in concert at Monmouth Racetrack in Oceanport, N.J., not far from their longtime home on the Jersey Shore. Led by John Lyon, the “Grandfather of the Jersey Shore Sound,” Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes will perform in front of more than 1,000 cars holding up to four passengers each for what is being billed as one of the largest drive-in concerts in the U.S. yet. The concert is presented by the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank and is being built out to include a full stage with four large screens for enhanced viewing an...
Disney World Reopens Parks Amid Spike in Coronavirus Cases
Amid a record number of coronavirus cases in Florida, Walt Disney World in Orlando reopened its gates on Saturday for the first time in four months. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom them parks reopened on Saturday, while Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will reopen on July 15th. In guidelines announced prior to reopening, Disney said that all visitors to Disney World would be required to practice social distancing and wear face masks at all times (get yours here). Disney is also employing touch-free temperature checks and having its cast members remind guests to follow its guidelines within the theme park. There will be also be no parades, firework shows, character meet and greets, or any other events that could draw a large gathering. USA Today, which has...
Outdoor Concerts Are Allowed to Return in the UK
The UK has a nationalized health care system, and the US has a president who makes fun of face masks, and so it’s no surprise that England was faster at getting its coronavirus crisis under control. With new cases decreasing since mid-May, and total cases now under 30,000, the UK government is allowing outdoor concerts to resume starting this weekend — as long as venues maintain “a limited and socially distanced audience.” As Kerrang reports, the announcement was made by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden. He called this “an important milestone for our performing artists, who have been waiting patiently in the wings since March”. Dowden added, “Of course we won’t see crowds flooding into their venues, but from July 11 our theatres, operas, dance and music shows can start puttin...
The Caucasity: Koo Koo For Koffee Ken Spits & Throws Food Inside Black Owned Coffee Shop After He’s Asked To Wear Mask
Source: FG Trade / Getty A Black business owner was forced to pull herself together after being attacked by a racist over her store’s mask policy. According to a local publication, ALX Now, Abyssinia Market & Coffee House, a Black-owned Virginia based coffee shop was vandalized and the owner, Lily Damtew, was spat on after asking a white customer to wear a mask, a new policy Damtew enforced upon the reopening of her store. “Right after they left, another guy came in not wearing a mask,” said Damtew, who was also wearing a face shield at the time. “I told him that we have a sign on the door saying, ‘Please wear a mask,’ but he said, ‘No, I don’t have to wear a mask.’” It was at that point Damtew offered the man a mask to comply with Alexandria city officials who issued an executive orde...
Osun SSG, 21 others recover from coronavirus
Mr Wole Oyebamiji, Secretary to Osun State Government (SSG), who was earlier tested positive to Coronavirus, has recovered from the virus. Dr Rafiu Isamotu, the state Commissioner for Health, said in a statement in Osogbo on Saturday that the SSG and 21 other patients had also tested negative to the virus. Newsmen report that the state commissioner for health had on July 1 announced that the SSG and some of his staff had tested positive to the virus. The commissioner said that the test conducted on the SSG on Friday after days of treatment returned negative. He also noted that some of the staff of the SSG, who had previously tested positive to the virus, were among those that tested negative. Isamotu said that 23 fresh cases of the virus were also recorded in the state, adding that they we...
Robert De Niro Says He’s Going Broke Due to Coronavirus
Not even a celebrity whose last name translates to “money” is safe from coronavirus-related pay cuts. Over the last few months, Robert De Niro has allegedly lost millions of dollars because the pandemic temporarily closed both Nobu and Greenwich Hotel, a restaurant chain and an upscale lodge that the actor has stakes in. De Niro revealed his financial losses in court where his estranged wife, Grace Hightower, called for an emergency order to bump her monthly American Express card credit limit from $50,000 to $100,000, reports Page Six. The divorce case took place over Skype where The Irishman actor had to explain why he was cutting back on her allowance. According to Caroline Krauss, his lawyer, De Niro is only required to pay Hightower $1 million a year if he’s making $15 million or more....
Why NYC’s Entertainment Commissioner Sees Reopening Music Venues as a Chance to Rethink a ‘Flawed’ System
“It strengthens the argument that we really need to support our local venues, and for us to represent their needs at the table,” says Anne del Castillo. This week, New York City enters phase three of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, meaning the return of hair and nail salons, basketball courts and more spaces in addition to outdoor dining. But for local music venues from (Le) Poisson Rouge to Brooklyn’s Elsewhere — many of which faced rising rents, gentrification and other challenges even before the pandemic began — the road to reopening remains ongoing and uncertain. Anne del Castillo knows this struggle well. The New York City native took over as commissioner of Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) in April 2019, with a foc...
Movie Theater Chains Sue New Jersey to Reopen, Equating Themselves to Churches
Movie theaters vs churches (photos by Felix Mooneeram and Karl Fredrickson/Unsplash) Satire is dead and reality continues to dance atop its grave. Movie theaters, where folks can check out the latest Adam Sandler film, are now equating their value in society to that of churches, sacred spiritual spaces where people gather to worship. The unusual comparison is being made as reopening guidelines are allowing for churches, but not theaters to resume operations. As of July 6th, AMC, Regal, Cinemark, and other theater giants are suing the state of New Jersey for not being able to open for business due to COVID-19 restrictions. According to the legal complaint led by the National Association of Theatre Owners of New Jersey, their continued closure while churches and malls are allowed to operate ...
Nigerian government frees 7,813 inmates in 18 states, FCT
The Federal Government, on Tuesday, said it has released a total of 7, 813 inmates from various Correctional Centers since the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, who made the disclosure at a press conference in Abuja, said FG took the decision so as to curb the spread of the virus among inmates. Malami said the Federal Executive Council had earlier in 2017, passed a resolution that directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to put in place measures to fast track the decongestion of Correctional Centres nationwide. He said as a result of the resolution, a Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion was inaugurated in October 2017. Highlighting some achievements of the Pres...
Sokoto government meets stakeholders on review of budget
The Sokoto State Government on Tuesday met with stakeholders on how best the state’s 2020 budget could be reviewed to include provision of Isolation Centres, screening facilities, and other costs in the management of COVID-19 pandemic in the state. The Town Hall Meeting which was organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning had in attendance various Non-Governmental Organisations, Traditional and Religious Leaders in the state. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Malam Abubakar Shekara, said that the aim of the forum was to involve the public in the fiscal process on how best the state’s 2020 budget could be reviewed. “As we are all aware, the economy of states, the country and infact the entire world is adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Therefore, budget had ...
Axl Rose’s Worst Nightmare: Maskless Revelers Dance to “Sweet Child O’ Mine” at Packed Michigan Lake Party
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Axl Rose has been one of the staunchest proponents of social distancing, even getting into Twitter spats with government officials who’ve seemingly downplayed the protective practice. Now, the singer’s worst nightmare has manifested itself: a sea of unmasked revelers dancing to the Guns N’ Roses hit “Sweet Child O’ Mine” at a Fourth of July lake party in Michigan. In recent weeks, Rose has ripped into Sen. Rand Paul, Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams after each made statements that seemed to contradict recommendations by the CDC and health leaders to practice social distancing. Mnuchin and Adams even replied to Rose’s tweets, leading to the GN’R singer further condemning their comments. Mnuchin was dubbed an “asshole...
Supergrass, The Libertines and More to Play UK’s First Socially Distanced Music Venue
As we are several months into the global pandemic and as places begin to open up, concert venues are still trying to figure out where they fit into this safe, socially distanced solution. The Virgin Money Unity Arena, the UK’s first dedicated socially distanced music venue, has announced its lineup for the first shows that will kick off in August. Kicking off on Aug. 14 with Craig Charles, Supergrass, the Libertines, Two Door Cinema Club, Maximo Park, Tom Grennan, Jason Manford and Bill Bailey are also on the bill. First Announcement! Live entertainment returns to Newcastle! Many more shows to be announced including family programme! Enjoy music, comedy and much more from your own personal viewing area. Tickets on sale Friday: https://t.co/PIQGqfoYNC 📣 pic.twitter.com/6Dpg7WXDk2 — ...
