Disney Universe

I hope everyone had a great Summer. I am sorry I have been quiet; I miss connecting with everyone. Nonetheless, last week, I visited Disney World, the happiest place on Earth. I was attending a close friend and fellow Louper's 50th birthday celebration. It is impossible to make new old friends, and this is an old friend from grade school; I was (somewhat) a latchkey kid who was raised by his parents, spending most days after school there. I was all in, no matter what he wanted to do. I was a little apprehensive when he told me he wanted to go to Disney on an adult trip. My wife was a hard no. But I was ready to open my heart, mind, and wallet and headed to Orlando for two nights.

I have been to Disney a few times (World, Land, and Paris) but haven't gone unaccompanied by children. Each time we did a VIP tour, doling out significant amounts of money to not have to think about what we were doing or wait in line. It is extravagant, but I would argue it allowed us to do in a single day what most families do in an entire week without much stress. Maybe it's a value play?

My observation about Disney is they are ruthless. I respect what they have created, highly entertaining and fantastical environments where patrons can escape into the fantasy worlds of their creation. However, the amount of sugar and alcohol, combined with overstimulation and dopamine, likely crosses some ethical lines. In 24 hours, I escaped from the Death Star, saw The Beast win Belle's heart, and flew a Banshee around Pandora, to name a few. I even experienced "adult" Disney, going with a regular to their regular bar in Animal Kingdom and a dueling piano bar on the Boardwalk. To be clear, I had a lovely time, but Disney is not for me. Similarly, I suspect that going to a day club in St. Barths would probably not be for my friend. Different strokes for different folks, and that is what makes friendships so interesting.

This week's Loupe is dedicated to entertainment!

XGIMI Horizon Pro
Technology

I enjoy traveling, exploring, etc., but I also love to be home with family and friends. We have plenty of cozy spots to watch television, but I always wanted a way to watch tv outdoors. The offering of outdoor projectors wasn't where it needed to be until recently. XGIMI launched a professional-grade outdoor projector that projects in 4K. The picture adjusts to any surface, angle, and most sizes (if you have the room) with a high-quality image. It is a self-contained device with pretty good sound (Harmon) and is Android enabled, so you can download the relevant streaming app or Cast directly from your device. So, now feel free to join me for Sunday night football outside!

NUGS
Entertainment

I love seeing live music. That is one of the fantastic things about New York City, there are scores of venues with outstanding performers all over the city. On any given night, you can catch any genre of music you desire. There is nothing like the sound and feel of a concert at Madison Square Garden. But there is nothing like walking into a venue like Webster Hall and seeing an act you never heard of (Yola last night!). Nugs brings live (and recorded) entertainment into your home. Now that I have the aforementioned projector, I can watch live music in my backyard. It is awesome!

Resident
Food

Eating isn't just about sustenance; it's also about entertainment. Even though New York is filled with so many incredible dining experiences, there is always room for more, mainly when doing things differently. Resident offers an intimate price fixe dinner in a gorgeous space with an up & coming chef. Resident hosts private dinners typically for 25 patrons (groups of 2 or 4) in novel areas, like the private dining rooms in new condos. It gives chefs who have worked at Michelin-starred restaurants a chance to show their stuff without the typical constraints of starting or working at a restaurant. You can choose your night and chef as you wish; make sure you go open-minded and hungry!

For some, Disney is indeed the happiest place on Earth, but for me, not so much (I'd rather be in Loretta!) ...consider XGIMI Horizon Pro, Nugs, and Resident Found!