Latest news with #Superstition
Eater
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
The Bay Area's Hottest New Clubstaurant Is in This East Bay Strip Mall
Filipino restaurant Isla is a Bay Area favorite for dishes from the Pampangan region of the Philippines and across the archipelago. With locations in Newark and San Bruno, the restaurants regularly host large Filipino family gatherings, but the October 2024 flagship opening of Isla Grand Restaurant Bar & Banquet now brings live entertainment and a party atmosphere to the East Bay suburbs of Pleasant Hill. Turn into the shared parking lot of Isla Grand and a neighboring Lamps Plus store on a Saturday night, and you'll most likely see cars circling and vying for space. Some drivers will resign themselves to park in an overflow lot at an adjacent strip mall, while families and couples mingle outside the restaurant, all waiting for a table. It's a busy scene, and the inside is even more buzzy, as customers take up space in two huge dining rooms. The main restaurant space is a typical one, with tables outfitted for parties of four or more, but walk past the host stand and you'll find that this is where the action is: This side is outfitted with a bar, a stage, dizzyingly rotating rainbow club lights, a makeshift dance space, and tables packed with parties of eight (or more) — this crowd comes to wild out. Here's the scene at Isla Grand on a Saturday evening in May. The logistics: If you're looking to join the lively atmosphere, be smart or be prepared to wait. Rolling in to watch the live entertainment at 7 p.m. without a reservation means you'll wait. At this hour, the restaurant is packed to the gills, and the host quoted a two-hour seating time to get into the club, err, main room, and he meant it — glancing at a clipboard filled with names, there were plenty of others waiting to get in. The restaurant offers reservations the old-fashioned way, so be prepared to call in for a table ahead of time. You'll also most likely need to make reservations for groups over four, or to take part in their kamayan meal, also known as a boodle fight — a meal typically served over banana leaves and eaten by hand without utensils. And given that some of the restaurant's live entertainers hail from the Philippines (while others reside in the Bay Area), reserved seating can easily sell out depending on who's on the stage that day. Don't say you weren't warned. The vibe: Did we mention this is a party? There's a reason for that: The room is filled with families, friend groups, birthday parties, and, since it is May, graduation parties. Tables accommodating parties of eight crowd the main area of the room as the aforementioned lights swirl and keep the atmosphere lively. On this night, the live band covered a parade of hits, including 'Superstition' by Stevie Wonder and 'Hotel California' by the Eagles, and the crowd loved it, singing along at various parts. During a break for the band, a DJ took over and kept the music thumping with '90s and '00s club hits like 'Yeah,' by Usher and 'Too Close,' by Next, and those songs proved powerful enough to move groups to start dancing at their tables and the dance floor in front of the stage area. The volume made ordering a challenge, but the food seemed to make its way to the tables just fine. Meanwhile, TVs spread across the room played an assortment of sports and cartoons (most likely for the kids in the room), as well as a TV dedicated to advertising the dishes of the restaurant itself, with customers giving 'Tasty-monials' (as the screen declared) of their meals. The menu: The selection of dishes at Isla is massive, a spiral-bound menu almost on par with the Cheesecake Factory bible. Sisig is a Pampangan specialty and a customer favorite, and it's often seen sizzling away on a cast-iron platter as it makes its way to tables. If you've ever been to a Filipino family party in the Bay, the restaurant has those classics, too: pork barbecue skewers, lumpia Shanghai, lechon, pancit, and different styles of adobo. Dig deeper and you're likely to find lesser-seen Filipino dishes, such as Gotong Batangas, a soup with beef and offal, or Bicol Pinakbet, an assortment of vegetables such as calabasa squash and eggplant simmered in coconut milk. With a group of friends, it's an excuse to try a variety of dishes in a family-style setting, with a pot of steaming white rice ready to soak up the sauces and flavors. As for drinks, the bar definitely skews toward club hits: A printed menu boasts Jägerbombs, Singapore Slings, and Long Islands, while the AMF very coolly sidesteps the awkwardness of ordering an Adios Motherfucker aloud, while still getting that sweet, electric blue multi-liquor drink into your hands. There are also wines and beers available, with the latter available in 88-ounce beer towers, which could be seen delivered to several tables throughout the night. Cue the Vengaboys. The verdict: Depending on how you view clubstaurants, and whether a raucous Filipino family party is your thing, there is a certain charm to Isla Grand. It has the vibes of drinking with your barkadas, pop hits playing in the background, with good food in a restaurant setting. And while that may not be for everyone, for this crowd, it sounds, tastes, and feels like home. Isla Grand Restaurant Bar & Banquet (548 Contra Costa Boulevard, Suite M, Pleasant Hill) is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Sign up for our newsletter.
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Olly Murs booed by crowd as he makes admission and asks 'shall I go'
Olly Murs was met with boos after an admission during his 15 Years Of Hits tour date in Liverpool on Thursday night, with the X Factor star making an unwise on-stage admission Olly Murs had the Liverpool crowd eating out of the palm of his hand during a performance at the M&S Bank Arena earlier this week. The 41-year-old chart sensation took his 15 Years Of Hits tour to the docks on Thursday. After a solid fifteen years since Murs first stepped into the public eye with an X Factor audition that left the nation in awe, he was seen delivering smooth vocals on a rendition of Stevie Wonder's Superstition. From his days winning the hearts of judges and viewers alike, Olly still commands a loyal following. A sea of the Murs Army filled the Bank Arena as the singer-songwriter commemorated his time in music with a high-spirited country-wide tour. With a repertoire spanning 15 years, it would be simple for Murs to let his well-loved tunes speak for themselves. At one point in the show, Olly invited his band to "embarrass" him, by projecting an unknown picture in front of the crowd. He told fans: "On this part of the show, I have absolutely no idea what is about to appear on that screen", reports the Liverpool Echo. His Scouse fans watched on as a photo of Olly touching Liverpool FC's famous This Is Anfield sign prompted a split reaction, as cheers from Liverpool FC fans clashed with boos from Everton supporters. But, Olly swiftly brought all sides together when he disclosed that his loyalties actually lie down the M62, admitting: "Of course, this will probably get the biggest boo of the night. I am a Manchester United fan." To a cacophony of jesting boos, a chuckling Olly then playfully suggested: "Shall I go?" But the audience clearly wasn't keen on ending the night there – they cheered for him to carry on, leading him into another chart-topping track. Olly kicked his hit-filled setlist with Troublemaker, serenading them through two hours of his best known songs. The pop sensation turned 41 this Wednesday and marked the occasion by belting out a medley of 80s classics, celebrating the era of his birth. Having come a long way from his days as a cover singer, Olly had fans ecstatic to hear original hits including Heart Skips a Beat and Wrapped Up, alongside the timeless tunes. The gig took an emotional turn when Olly performed Dear Darling. The poignant track was dedicated to his late friend and X Factor co-presenter, Caroline Flack. Sharing with the audience, he confessed: "I genuinely think about her every day." He continued: "I know that feeling of losing someone that you love very much. With this song, I want you to think of those people and sing with me." As thousands of phones illuminated the arena, fans joined in an unforgettable rendition of the 2012 ballad, creating the night's most memorable moment. While this tour marked his 15-year journey in the music industry, Olly gave his fans a sneak peek into his future plans. He performed his new single, 'Save Me', exclusively for the audience, hinting at what's next for him. Describing the song as the beginning of a "new Murs era", it's clear from the crowd's reaction that they're excited about what lies ahead. As he exited the stage to thunderous applause, it's evident that his fans are eagerly anticipating more milestones from Olly, who has firmly established himself as a top-notch performer.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stevie Wonder turns 75: a look back
Music icon Stevie Wonder, best known for his songs "Isn't She Lovely," "Superstition," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," and "I Just Called to Say I Love You," turns 75 on Tuesday. Here's a look back at the career of the Motown legend.
Glasgow Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
I saw at Olly Murs at Glasgow's Hydro and he performed Scottish anthem
If it wasn't for a little X Factor audition back in 2009, the world of music might have never known Olly Murs. Back then, he oozed with charisma as he tackled Stevie Wonder's Superstition in his audition. Today, his appeal is still as strong as ever as he arrived in Glasgow to celebrate 15 years of hits. (Image: Olly Murs performs at Glasgow's Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Olly Murs performs at Glasgow's Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Olly Murs performs at Glasgow's Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Olly Murs performs at Glasgow's Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) Cheeky and always charming, the star casually stepped onto the Hydro stage to Troublemaker on Friday night. Right Place, Right Time and debut Please Don't Let Me Go quickly followed with high-energy Murs bursting out the moves to the beat. Smiling from ear to ear, he beamed: 'Honest to God, I think this is our fifth or sixth show, the tour starts now. 'Fifteen years I've been doing this, and Glasgow is always the best place for a show.' (Image: Blue perform at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Blue perform at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Blue perform at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Blue perform at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Blue perform at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) This was something his support act Blue experienced as they soaked in the electric atmosphere ahead of his arrival. Simon Webbe, Duncan James, Lee Ryan, and Antony Costa delighted fans with their biggest hits All Rise, Too Close, and You Make Me Wanna. Ryan impressed with his vocals on Breathe Easy before Costa teased: 'For those who remember the early 2000s, we were a boyband.' As if we could forget! (Image: Olly Murs at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) But the night was about Murs taking fans on a nostalgic trip throughout his career which included a performance of the 2014 duet with Demi Lovato, Up! He sounded exceptional. Now 40, Murs' energy never fades. He delivers on performance and has an old-school feel to his act. He doesn't have to try to be cool or entertaining; he just is. (Image: Olly Murs at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Olly Murs at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Olly Murs at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) You Don't Know Love and Dear Darlin' showcased his ability to switch easily between uptempo and ballad, with his vocals on the latter proving to be a moment to remember. Always eager to please his fans, an eighties melody went down a storm with his rendition of The Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), sending the crowd into a frenzy. Olly admitted he sang the song for his nana as a child. He said: 'I couldn't wait to do that tonight. 'It means so much to me that song 'I know when I put it in the set and I come to Scotland, it was going to rock tonight and it did.' READ MORE: I saw Anastacia live in Glasgow - and she revealed her Scottish 'addiction' READ MORE: I saw Gabrielle in Glasgow and this 90s singer kicked off the show - my verdict READ MORE: I saw James Blunt on Valentine's Day at the Hydro - my verdict (Image: Olly Murs at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) Throughout the show, the set was spectacular, from eye-catching VTs and a moving walkway to smoke and flames, the production only enhanced the Olly Murs experience. Wrapped Up, Heart Skips a Beat, and Dance With Me Tonight completed the night alongside the reggae-infused new song Save Me. (Image: Olly Murs at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Olly Murs at the Hydro on May 2. Picture by Calum Buchan.) Murs flattered: 'What an amazing crowd you guys have been tonight.' And for those fans who missed out, they will get the see the star live at the city's Hydro when he returns later this month on May 22.
Telegraph
05-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
On the frontlines of the Tesla Takedown, all is not what it seems
On a balmy spring Saturday afternoon outside Tesla's Arlington, Virginia, showroom, a chorus of car horns and chanting filled the air. A throng of around 250 people dressed in shorts and T-shirts lined the busy intersection waving hand-painted cardboard signs saying 'Muzzle musk, 'neuter Elon' and 'hands off our democracy'. The mood was jubilant as the ageing crowd swayed back and forth to the tones of Stevie Wonder's Superstition blaring from a speaker. One woman marched past with a makeshift plastic drum which she beat with a broken stick, shouting: 'We are not a bro-narchy, we are a democracy.' It's a far cry from the scenes of destruction seen in Las Vegas, Nevada, last month, where a man reportedly hurled a molotov cocktail and opened fire at a fleet of Teslas that were left smouldering on the asphalt outside one of the company's service centres. In Oregon, authorities say a man threw several explosives at a Tesla store in Salem before returning another day to shoot out the shop's windows. Meanwhile, a 70-year-old man from Idaho was arrested for allegedly driving his car into a Trump supporter outside one of the electric vehicle firm's dealerships. The Trump administration has pledged to crack down on those targeting Tesla vehicles, with the president threatening to deport the 'domestic terrorists' causing mayhem. Yet in the leafy, tree-lined neighbourhood of Glebe in Arlington, those on the front lines of the resistance against Elon Musk are mostly grey-haired pensioners wearing floppy sun hats to protect from the afternoon sun's rays. 'It's a false narrative,' said Lawrence MacDonald, 70, a coordinator for Third Act Virginia – an environmental group helping to organise the protests. He claimed demonstrators were far from a professional outfit pushing a brand of aggressive domestic terrorism, and instead just ordinary folks. 'Every single one of these signs is handmade,' said the rugged, bearded climate activist, who has helped to arrange seven protests against the car company and Mr Musk. 'What we're seeing is masses of ordinary people who have not previously been political, turning out joyfully and peacefully to demand protection of American institutions.' Protesters took to the street outside more than 200 Tesla sites across the US and Europe on March 29 as part of a 'global day of action'. The day of action was an attempt to dent the fortune of the world's richest man. Mr Musk's personal fortune has dropped by more than $100 billion as Tesla's stock has halved in value since December, amid a wave of protests and calls to boycott the electric vehicle company. According to the group's website, the protests are designed to target Mr Musk for 'destroying our democracy' and orchestrating an 'illegal coup' in his mission to cut federal spending as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). On what was dubbed by some as 'Tesla takedown day', another protest – this time outside of a Tesla showroom in Seattle – saw dozens of woolly hat-wearing women line-dancing to the Electric Slide (the lyrics had been tweaked 'unelected slide') while security guards monitored them from the building's roof. Meanwhile, a 'Tesla takedown dance party' in the affluent neighbourhood of Georgetown in Washington DC drew a crowd of more than 100 people who grooved to Staying Alive by the Bee Gees, adorned in golden tinsel, sporting sailors' hats and wielding anti-Musk signs, many of which called the X owner a Nazi. Despite the general mood of positivity, the demonstrators in Arlington were met with a mixed reception from passers by. At one point, a fire engine drove by and flicked on its sirens in solidarity, prompting coos of approval from the amiable protesters. Shortly afterwards, a pick-up truck driver swore as he tore past, a red Maga flag streaming from his window. Porter McGan, 64, a military veteran in a green high-vis vest, armed with a black loudspeaker which he used to marshal the crowds, said he was concerned about how the administration's testing of the US constitution would impact on the lives of his five children. 'I felt desperate to do something because I feel like their birthright has been robbed from them,' he said. Asked why protesters were targeting Tesla rather than the administration itself, he said that 'if congress and the courts aren't able to hold [Mr Musk] accountable… trying to affect the reputation of his business is perfectly legitimate'. The growing wave of protests has clearly got under the skin of Mr Musk, who sounded almost tearful when addressing the impact of his government work on his car company in a recent Fox interview. Allison Porter, 65, and her husband, Michael Zucker, 66, said she decided to head down to the Arlington demonstration – her first anti-Tesla protest – after she saw the movement was cutting through. 'It made me think, we should get out here too,' she said with a grin on her face. Asked if she condoned the acts of vandalism against the car company, she said it didn't apply to those attending that particular demonstration. 'You've got a bunch of grey-haired federal workers here,' she said, gesturing to her fellow protesters. Despite the generally cordial atmosphere, the message of non-aggression was not heeded by all in attendance, with several liberal protesters mobbing a Trump-supporter in a Maga hat who launched a lone counter-protest in support of Mr Musk. Debbie, 53, arrived carrying a 'we love Elon' sign and a box of doughnuts for Tesla staff, and said she had decided to protest because she was 'tired of the false narrative' being spread about the president and his adviser. 'I don't understand, it's a great American company and these people are trying to destroy it,' said the healthcare worker. 'People have been calling him a Nazi,' she added. 'The same rhetoric led to Trump's assassination attempt.' Pointing out the irony of progressives targeting an electric vehicle company, she said: 'They're probably torching Democrats' cars.' Thomas, 55, who arrived waving a Mexican flag in support of America's beleaguered southern neighbour, admitted he has shares in Tesla and is 'watching my 401(k) go down' as the protest movement gathers momentum. 'I'm taking the hit now, but what's more important?' he said. Located a few miles from Washington DC, over a tenth of Arlington County's 234,000 residents are federal workers, with many affected by recent government job cuts. Kathy Conrad, 66, a retired civil servant who was at her third anti-Tesla protest alongside her husband, said it was 'heartbreaking to see the way workers are being treated'. Asked how she was pushing back, she said: 'Now, my hobby is fighting the Maga world.' Ginge, 79, said she has been campaigning for civil liberties since the 1960s and now has 'nothing else to do but save democracy for my grandsons'. For all her years of demonstrating, the retired defence contractor said she believes the US is currently facing the 'greatest danger I have ever seen'. 'I hated George Bush, but I'd love to have him back right now,' said her friend, Bob, a federal retiree and military veteran, who said he would be 'rolling in his grave' if he didn't do something to support the rights of his children. Asked if she is wary of recrimination for taking part in protests against the current administration, Ginge said: 'I see these things happen, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stay home and watch television.' As the anti-Tesla movement continues to gather momentum, the Trump administration has vowed to crackdown on violent demonstrators. But one group with plenty of time on their hands who they may have overlooked are disgruntled pensioners.
