Categoría: Marco carvajal

ASHEVILLE, N.C., Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — This year, weather experts are predicting a warmer winter for the Southeast U.S., possibly bringing more opportunities to enjoy Asheville’s walkable downtown, dine at outdoor patios or in a city «parklet» and to social distance and refresh on a nearby mountainside. Often underrated, winter in Asheville is a bit of a secret season in a Blue Ridge Mountain city world-famous for fall color and lush summer adventure.

According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, La Niña, an ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that impacts weather around the globe, will create milder and drier-than-normal conditions for much of winter in the southeastern part of the country.

With or without the help of La Niña, Asheville typically experiences a moderate winter, great for enjoying the outdoors and picture-perfect long-range views of snowy peaks, whether from a cozy rooftop fire pit downtown or a hiking trail among the highest peaks in the Eastern U.S.

«While Asheville is technically ‘the mountains,’ our winters are decidedly more ‘Southern’ than ‘mountain,'» said N.C. Institute for Climate Studies Data Analyst Scott Stevens. «Our annual snowfall is not much more than 12 inches, and we rarely have single events more than 6-8 inches, keeping our winters mild compared to anywhere in the Northern U.S. or the mountains of the West.»

Just a day’s drive (or less) for 50 percent of the nation’s population, Asheville offers new and iconic experiences for the winter 2020-2021 season. Wellness offerings, panoramic views from fireplaces in epic locales, the best travel rates of the year and the city’s secret season for music make winter a great time to take a road trip to Asheville. Find out more at ExploreAsheville.com/winter.

Winter Wellness & Brisk Outdoor Adventures: Heal your soul in Asheville’s century-old wellness culture by tapping into offerings like mountainside hot tubs, a subterranean spa with hydrotherapy waterfalls, a Chinese medicine tearoom, salt caves, forest bathing and sound-healing sessions. Looking for inspiration? Stroll through Asheville’s arts district or take a winter hike to a panoramic mountain view. Multiple trailhead access points remain open all year long on the Blue Ridge Parkway and across Pisgah National Forest.

• Asheville’s colorful art and warehouse district along the French Broad River, the River Arts District, is coming into a new era as a walkable riverfront destination and entertainment district. This winter, a longer, improved greenway with art-infused pedestrian connectivity offers visitors a new way to experience this intensely creative area by foot or bike, or kayak (on warmer days) via new river access points. Watch artists working in studios, wander to airy wine bars or sample famous barbecue in a street-art-filled courtyard.
• Namaste in Nature, a local wellness tour company, will continue their guided in-person waterfall yoga hikes this winter, weather permitting, of course. Choose between a hike that goes to one relaxing waterfall or a hike that hits multiple waterfalls along the way. If temperatures do drop, guests may get the magical experience of Zen next to a frozen waterfall.
• Just opened, a multiuse trail system overlooking the French Broad River joins Asheville’s urban offerings for outdoor enthusiasts. Richmond Hill Park’s renovation was designed with mountain bikers and hikers in mind. The roughly 5-mile system will support mountain-bike skill development with options for beginners and advanced riders, including young children on balance bikes.
• New this year, the Asheville Hike Finder is now available on Alexa. Simply search «Asheville Hike Finder» in your Alexa app and enable for insider guidance as you select trails for views, waterfalls and skill level.

Secret Season for Music: Deep-seated bluegrass roots harmonize with new talent and innovative sounds in Asheville. In winter, many nationally traveling local bands come home to the region to play shows and pop in to jam sessions. While things look different this year, some venues are expanding their offerings outdoors to keep the soul of the city beating.

• The South Slope district’s brand-new outdoor event venue, Rabbit Rabbit, will offer live music, movie screenings, local beer and food trucks this winter. The colorful, funky space will also be transformed into a winter wonderland in late November with holiday décor, lighting and themed holiday and winter drink menus. The space is a collaboration between Asheville Brewing Company and iconic music venue The Orange Peel.
• Keep an eye out for Asheville music venue The Grey Eagle’s drive-in-style concerts in scenic locations. Debuting this fall, the outdoor shows offer beautiful natural backdrops and touring acts from the Southeast and beyond, like the Sam Bush Band.
• Just opened, Citizen Vinyl offers an immersive music experience with a record plant, independent record store and music café and bar, Session. Powerhouses of Asheville’s maker scene have combined on this project and include Gar Ragland (music producer and president of NewSong Music), Susannah Gebhart (OWL Bakery) and Chef Graham House (formerly of Sovereign Remedies). Local art gallery and shop Horse + Hero has curated an immersive music-themed gallery space and storefront in the record store.
• Little-known bluegrass heritage: While making plans for the first-floor record plant and music café, it was recognized that the third floor of the building was once home to WWNC Radio and was the location where Bill Monroe (known as the «Father of Bluegrass») and the Bluegrass Boys introduced the world to bluegrass music. Ragland’s studios are now located in the original WWNC Radio space, with original architectural details.

Winter Accommodation Packages + Rentals with Gourmet Kitchens: The off-season offers the best travel rates of the year with the added bonus of having natural attractions and cultural offerings all to yourself. Cozy travel packages include wellness opportunities and other winter adventures. Find more at ExploreAsheville.com/deals.

• Perfect for a rejuvenating getaway, the Peak Relaxation Package at the Foundry Hotel Asheville includes a welcome cocktail by the fire, private massage from Wake Foot Sanctuary, bedside breakfast and a romantic dinner for two at Benne on Eagle, Chef John Fleer’s celebration of the contributions of African American culinary culture on Appalachian and Southern food.
• Pinecrest Bed and Breakfast, in Asheville’s historic Montford district, is transitioning its unique «Al Fresco Dining offering» for the upcoming colder months. Guests will still be able to order dinner from neighborhood Italian restaurant Chiesa and have the meal delivered to the inn. This winter, the food will be served with real silverware and china and guests can enjoy a private meal in front of the inn’s parlor fireplace.
• The inn will also be offering a «S’mores on the Terrace» upgrade that includes wood and the tools to start a fire, skewers and all the s’mores fixings.
• The area’s locally owned and home-grown rental companies are experts in finding a rental that meets your needs. Check out options with epic kitchens and dining rooms with a view, perfect for cooking a meal using local ingredients, warming up a chef-prepared meal kit or enjoying takeout from one of Asheville’s independent restaurants. (See takeout offerings here.)

Cultural Experiences Open Their Doors: Long-known as an arts colony with connections to the American Craft Revival and mid-20^th-century avant-garde movements, the Asheville area features hundreds of fine artists, mountain crafters, folk artists, colorful arts neighborhoods and galleries that celebrate creativity.

• This winter, visitors can finally explore new museums that opened just before the pandemic with safety measures and capacity limits in place. The Asheville Art Museum, a new $24 million-plus, state-of-the-art building, features expanded gallery space, education facilities, an art library, a lecture and performance venue and a rooftop sculpture terrace and café with views of downtown architecture and the surrounding mountains. The Center for Craft, the leading organization in the U.S. identifying and convening craft makers, curators and researchers and matching them with resources, tools and networks, has also reopened with a new exhibition centered around issues of race, gender, immigration status and other pressing social and political issues.
• Another Asheville art center closed by the pandemic just shortly after debuting is LEAF Global Arts Center, a cornerstone in the continued rebirth of the city’s historical African American business district, The Block. The center now offers educational experiences for guests rooted in music, art, community and culture inclusivity via social distancing, a one-way path through exhibits and advance reservations.
• Just opened, Noir Collective AVL has an important mission as a retail space for Black entrepreneurs, artists, makers and social activists. The shop is in the YMI Cultural Center, which has a rich history as one of the nation’s oldest African American institutions dating back to 1893 and is located on The Block, the city’s historic Black business district.

Food Scene | Expanded Measures for Outdoor Dining This Winter + Openings: Winter is generally a time to book reservations that can be hard to come by spring through fall. This year, restaurants are facing the uncertainty of the pandemic and working with community leaders to sustain and extend outdoor dining options. A handful of new endeavors are also popping up.

• The «Asheville Shares Space» initiative that includes temporary «parklets» and shared streets has been expanded through Jan. 3, 2021, allowing businesses, like restaurants and retail, to expand into on-street parking areas for outdoor seating and continued operations with fresh air and space. The City of Asheville is also working with Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) on guidelines regarding outdoor heaters, tents and other structures and lighting. AIR has also been involved with the group purchase of 200 gas heaters for any area businesses in need.
• Chef Meherwan Irani (Chai Pani and Spicewalla Spice Factory) just announced the concept for his new space in Asheville’s Grove Arcade. Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken will focus on takeout-friendly American comfort food: roasted chicken, familiar sides, sweet rolls and salads. Having to make a pivot on original plans for the space, the concept is both a product of, and an answer to, the pandemic.
• Grind Coffee Co. in the River Arts District is a coffee café dedicated to social justice. Grind focuses on nurturing entrepreneurship under the guidance of Chef Gene Ettison and J. Hackett and is the first Black-owned coffee shop in Asheville. Equity memberships allow customers to support a burgeoning business owner. The café serves up Ettison’s Ashe-Hole donuts, branded coffee and other house-made treats.
• New in Asheville’s South Slope district, Pie.Zaa Pizza is serving massive, bigger-than-your-head slices of New York-style pizza from lunchtime through late-night. Collaborations are on the horizon with special slices incorporating flavors and ideas from other restaurants and breweries. Slices can also be delivered to nearby South Slope watering holes.
• New barbecue venture Ash & Brine has debuted as a pop-up restaurant at Asheville’s newest downtown brewery DSSOLVR. Operating on Thursdays and Fridays, Ash & Brine offers all-wood-smoked meats and innovative sides and small plates like grilled radish with mint, pistachio and honey-truffle chevre.
• To the delight of locals and visitors, Asheville Ethiopian restaurant Addissae will soon reopen under new ownership after being shuttered during the pandemic. The restaurant serves traditional Ethiopian food in a family-style format.

Gourmet To-Go + Coolest/Nerdiest Night-In Upgrade Idea: For those wanting a night in, Asheville businesses are also offering gourmet meal kits and quirky rental options. New to-go options perfect for travelers with safety and flexibility in mind:

• Ashley Capps, a 2019 James Beard semifinalist for «Outstanding Pastry Chef,» has started New Stock, a weekly, curated box-meal pickup and delivery service, perfect for an extended rental stay
• For a quicker pickup, check out Bodega on Broadway, a pandemic-pivot for bar and restaurant owner Charlie Hodge of Sovereign Remedies. Shifting gears on his latest bar venture, Hodge and Sovereign chef Bert Sheffield are offering charcuterie, sandwiches and vegetarian and vegan burritos alongside bodega staples and sundries. The former stage will soon be a Disco Deli with a portion of sales going to a local nonprofit supporting independent businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Chef Katie Button (with six James Beard nominations in the last eight years) has created La Bodega, offering takeout paella, favorites from her restaurant Cúrate and Spanish specialty food and wine. After years of leading trips to Spain, creating award-winning wine lists and building relationships with wineries and importers, Chef Katie and husband and beverage curator Felix Meana have just launched their Cúrate Spanish Wine Club. Members will receive three bottles monthly, discounts on wines available in their online store and a newsletter with recipes and pairing ideas.
• Forestry Camp has set up Camp Grocery, an extension of the restaurant’s whole-animal program and Chef de Cuisine JT DeBrie’s long-standing expertise in butchery and partnership with local farms. Menu items include smoked chicken salad, whole trout, bacon and whole smoked chicken.
• Well Played Board Game Café is now offering its 600-game inventory to travelers wanting to spend the night in. Game rental is available online, and snacks and beverages (including beer and wine) are also available for pickup. The café is following strict safety guidelines and all games are sanitized using a commercial ozone generator (used by hospitals). May we suggest Asheville-opoly?
• Round off the evening with Highland Brewing Company’s Cold Mountain, the perennial holiday favorite with notes of vanilla, hazelnut, dark fruit and cinnamon. This year the release festivities (Nov. 6-14) will look a bit different with 10 days of drive-thru pickup, virtual events, on-site exclusives like holiday packs and Coconut Cold Mountain and timed entries to visit the taproom. If you miss the event, the beer is available in local stores, beer shops and restaurants during the holiday season.

ABOUT ASHEVILLE

• Surrounded by the highest peaks in the Eastern U.S., Asheville is steeped in natural history, winter adventure and cultural legacies—including America’s Largest Home, Biltmore, and America’s favorite scenic drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway (which intersects Asheville at several points).
• Tucked away in the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is located in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard (though about as far from salt water as you can get and still meet that definition) and is roughly a day’s drive or less for 50 percent of the nation’s population.
• Asheville and the surrounding Buncombe County is committed to the adherence to safety guidelines during the pandemic. Downtown kiosks remind visitors that North Carolina requires masks indoors and outside, including sidewalks when social distance cannot be maintained. Information on the safety actions of local businesses and shared responsibility of visitors can be found via the «Asheville Cares Stay Safe Pledge.» 

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SOURCE Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Inspired Entertainment, Inc. («Inspired» or the «Company») (NASDAQ: INSE) today announced the launch of its Virtual Basketball game in Greece, which is now available across the entire OPAP retail estate of approximately 3,700 venues. V-Play Basketball, which includes Euro League and Greek League Basketball, joins V-Play Soccer 3.0 and Matchday as the third channel of Virtual Sports within OPAP betting shops. 

«We are excited to add another channel within OPAP’s betting shops in Greece,» said Brooks Pierce, President and Chief Operating Officer of Inspired. «Our Virtual Basketball first launched in 2019 and we have seen incredible results with both immediate adoption and incremental revenue upon launch.  It has been one of our highest-performing products in terms of amount wagered and we expect similar success with OPAP, which has been a great partner and done a terrific job launching new Virtuals into the marketplace.»

«Basketball is very popular in Greece, and we knew it would be an ideal addition to our Virtual Sports offerings,» said Jan Karas, Acting CEO of OPAP. «Inspired has gone above and beyond by customizing this product specifically for our customers, introducing the only Virtual Greek Basketball League.  We put our customers at the center of everything we do, and we are pleased to bring them this exclusive offering.»

The season never ends online with Inspired Virtual Sports, supporting online and mobile betting 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please see the Inspired website for trailers and demos of the latest Virtual Sports offerings at www.inseinc.com/virtuals/.

About Inspired Entertainment, Inc.

Inspired offers an expanding portfolio of content, technology, hardware and services for regulated gaming, betting, lottery, social and leisure operators across retail and mobile channels around the world. The Company’s gaming, virtual sports, interactive and leisure products appeal to a wide variety of players, creating new opportunities for operators to grow their revenue. The Company operates in approximately 35 jurisdictions worldwide, supplying gaming systems with associated terminals and content for more than 50,000 gaming machines located in betting shops, pubs, gaming halls and other route operations; virtual sports products through more than 44,000 retail channels; digital games for 100+ websites; and a variety of amusement entertainment solutions with a total installed base of more than 19,000 devices.  Additional information can be found at www.inseinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains «forward-looking statements» within the meaning of the «safe harbor» provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as «anticipate,» «believe,» «expect,» «estimate,» «plan,» «will,» «would» and «project» and other similar expressions that indicate future events or trends or are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on Inspired’s management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside of Inspired’s control and all of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Inspired’s views as of any subsequent date, and Inspired does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. You are advised to review carefully the «Risk Factors» section of Inspired’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which is available, free of charge, on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

Contact:

Aimee Remey
aimee.remey@inseinc.com
+1 646 565-6938

For Press and Sales
inspiredsales@inseinc.com 

www.inseinc.com
@Inspired_News

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SOURCE Inspired Entertainment, Inc.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Visit College Station, the newly created city tourism division for the Home of Texas A&M University®, has launched a strategic partnership with Santa’s Wonderland ꟷ the largest outdoor Christmas attraction in the southern United States. 

Santa’s Wonderland hosts more than 300,000 visitors annually from across the nation and is poised to welcome even more travelers, thanks to an exciting expansion to the already unrivaled holiday destination. New for 2020 is Illuminations Ice Arena, the region’s premiere outdoor ice skating venue. Guests will glide on a sheet of real ice while surrounded by thousands of holiday lights under the Texas stars. Other new attractions for 2020 are Santa’s Farm and a second Trail of Lights ꟷ vast, walkable elements with family-friendly adventures along the way, including hand-crafted Texas light displays, tunnels and even a live nativity scene. 

The partnership created by Visit College Station and Santa’s Wonderland will encourage visitors to the attraction to also make plans to extend their holiday stay in College Station at a variety of Santa-Certified Hotels and to enjoy Christmas in College Station: a host of holiday events at College Station restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues. Christmas in College Station offerings range from Howdy Holly-Days at Northgate and the Holiday Artisan Market at Century Square, to Movies at Olsen Field and the city’s traditional Christmas in the Park. 

«More than 80 percent of our visitors come to us from other parts of Texas and beyond, and for most it’s their very first trip to College Station,» said Santa’s Wonderland owner Scott Medlin. «While this won’t be a typical year, we still plan on hiring 1,200 team members, revealing our biggest expansion in park history, and letting our guests enjoy more acres, more snow, more lights, and then all the other wonderful holiday events awaiting them in College Station.» 

The tourism impact of Visit College Station and Santa’s Wonderland working together should be significant, according to Kindra Fry, senior director for Visit College Station. 

«Strategic, forward-looking partnerships like this will allow us to help boost College Station’s hospitality industry and overall economy during a challenging time,» Fry said. «We’re ready to welcome our guests and help them create wonderful memories.» 

About College Station, Texas

College Station is home to Texas A&M University, one of the country’s largest public universities, and the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The Aggies are members of the mighty Southeastern Conference, which makes high-level college sports a major attraction. A&M’s international influence supplies a wonderful diversity of race, culture and nationality that reflects much of the vibrancy, tradition and spirit that make the community a special and unique place.

College Station is located in the heart of central Texas within a three-hour drive of five of the nation’s 20 largest cities. It is ranked among the nation’s very best cities for business and careers, raising a family, affordability, public schools, safety and…college football.

cstx.gov | Home of Texas A&M University®

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SOURCE City of College Station

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Inc. Magazine recently announced Car Keys Express is again featured on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies in the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known companies first gained national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

To be awarded a spot on Inc. 5000’s annual list multiple times is not an easy task. Of the tens of thousands of companies that have applied over the years, only a fraction are recognized more than once. Maintaining a winning streak on the coveted list for a fifth consecutive year is truly an extraordinary accomplishment—putting the brand in elite company.

«We’re proud to win the Inc. 5000 award for the fifth year in a row. This honor is a direct result of our team’s commitment to innovation, strengthening our position as industry leader,» said Mark Lanwehr, Founder and CEO of Car Keys Express. «Our new expansion into the retail sector demonstrates two things. First, there’s massive latent demand for inexpensive and convenient replacement of car keys. Second, retailers recognize the value proposition of our unique, universal products: simplicity, convenience, and affordability. Since founding the company in 2002, my goal has always been to bring automotive key replacement back to retail. The success of the products and services we’re rolling out now proves that dream is finally becoming a reality.»

About Car Keys Express
Car Keys Express is a global leader in automotive key replacement for businesses and consumers. The company invented the world’s first Universal Car Remote and Universal Car Keys and is the only company that manufactures a full line of aftermarket versions of modern car keys, like remote keys and smart keys. Car Keys Express offers a complete line of retail-friendly solutions to allow retailers to build a key replacement program or enhance an existing program. Car Care Express, a division of Car Keys Express, offers mobile vehicle reconditioning service for businesses and consumers. Founded in 2002, Car Keys Express is continually recognized for excellence in the industry, winning Inc. Magazine’s, «Inc. 5000» in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. AAPEX «Best New Product» Award in 2015 and 2019, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® in 2017, and EnterpriseCorp’s FAST Innovation Award Winner in 2017, among others. To learn more, visit www.CarKeysExpress.com.

Contact:
Whitney Morris
wmorris@carkeysexpress.com

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SOURCE Car Keys Express