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https://www.blackenterprise.com/lp-obrien-leads-inclusion-mocktail-industry/
As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Lauren Paylor “LP” O’Brien used her big win as the inaugural champion of Netflix’s Drink Masters. In the show, mixologists competed to win $100,000 and the title of Drink Masters Champion to springboard her career.
According to a press release, O’Brien is also celebrating one year of sobriety and regularly partners with Disney, Food and Wine, and American Express on curated mocktails for events.
In 2023, the Washington Post reported that contrary to popular belief, a study indicated that even moderate amounts of alcohol could contribute to an increased risk of disease or even an increased risk of death.
As Carol Boyd, the founding director of the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking, and Health, told CNN in May via email: “Questioning one’s relationship with alcohol is a very healthy trend, we know that moderate alcohol consumption has health risks, and risk increases as alcohol consumption increases,” Boyd said.
In addition to this, an op-ed from Tamar Haspel, the author of “To Boldly Grow: Finding Joy, Adventure, and Dinner In Your Own Backyard,” for the Post indicated that non-alcoholic beer or other beverages could help drinkers cut back on alcohol consumption.
O’Brien described some reasons for her staunch advocacy for the low and no alcohol-by-volume market and those who prefer to remain sober in social settings in a June interview with Beverage Wholesaler.
“I’m also a huge advocate for the low and no ABV market. I’m a sober bartender, and I think that any bartender who can make a delicious non-alcoholic beverage that isn’t lemonade provides an elevated service. It’s not about the cocktail — it’s about the experience. There are people who don’t drink and we need to respect that and make them feel just as included.” O’Brien told the outlet.
According to Full Pour, O’Brien became the co-owner of Siponey Spritz Co. in 2023, in addition to owning her own company, LP Drinks, which focuses on creating safe, diverse, and inclusive spaces that promote wellness and balance within the hospitality industry.
O’Brien discussed the growing interest in holistic health and hospitality in the industry with Full Pour.
“It’s always been really important to me to figure out the ways in which I can take care of myself, but more importantly, the ways I can take those things that have worked for me and share them with others. I think simply put, the most important thing is how can I live life with purpose, with meaning, and move in a way that allows me to be fully present in everything that I do?” O’Brien said.
O’Brien continued, “And I think when you get to that point where, first of all, you love what you do, and you found a way to have it truly aligned with what your missions and values are, then moving with intention and moving with purpose just makes it that much more fruitful.”
O’Brien told Beverage Wholesaler that her propensity to bet on herself and, in the process, change what people think about non-alcoholic drinks has propelled her to higher ground in the hospitality and mocktail industry.
“I’ve grown so much, mostly because I think I’ve learned to bet on myself. There was a point where I was so caught up in the noise around me that I lost focus on what was most important, and to me, that’s ensuring that I’m in a position where I acknowledge I have an opportunity to change the way people think about drinks.” O’Brien said.
O’Brien also connected her time on the Netflix show to one of her current projects.
“I have a pop-up that’s an extension of Ultimate Drink Masters. I’m an Afro-Puerto-Rican, so on episode two of the show, I made a topical beverage that represented the Bronx and Bodegas. And now, I created this fun, lively and interactive pop-up where I can see people’s smiles and their enjoyment when they drink and eat. There’s something so magical about seeing other people enjoy what you’ve created.”
However, the journey has not been all positive for O’Brien, as she recently detailed some of the barriers she has faced as a Black woman in the non-alcoholic and hospitality spaces to Forbes Magazine. O’Brien, however, has determined to go beyond those limits and define success for herself.
“The unfortunate truth is that sometimes people see a product, and there are these biases that are within them, that associate a product by a Black person as being less than. When we soar, we excel and just keep doing what we do unapologetically.” O’Brien told Forbes.
O’Brien continued, “It really does allow those individuals to check that bias and acknowledge that we are just as if not more talented. That product, at the end of the day, that we’re able to curate and create has a story, has meaning, has emotion, and passion. We have a responsibility to continue to open doors by just being who we are and nothing other than that.”
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In a candid conversation, just ahead of Primary Day in Michigan, renowned actor, activist, and now Senate candidate Hill Harper shared his motivations for entering the political arena and his vision for addressing key issues should he be elected to office. Harper says his pivot from Hollywood to politics isn’t just a personal > HERE.
TOPICS: Hill Harper michigan news & politicsThe post From Hollywood To Michigan’s Heartland: Hill Harper Shares Why He’s Running For U.S.Senate appeared first on Essence.
Season two of House of the Dragon marks the beginning of a war between former friends turned bitter enemies Rhaenyra and Alicent. By now, you should have already pledged your allegiance to #TeamBlack (the right choice, obvs) or #TeamGreen (a choice, I guess) and are crossing your fingers to hope your side has the least amount of characters. It is inevitable that there will be quite a few characters who die. That is the way of war, after all, and House of the Dragon goes with death like peanut butter with jelly. So, who dies in House of the Dragon season two? Let’s track all the sad and brutal demises right here.
Jump to: HOTD Episode 1 Deaths // HOTD Episode 2 Deaths // HOTD Episode 4 Deaths // HOTD Deaths for Remainder of Season
House of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 1 “A Son for a Son”
Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen Loses His Head to Blood and Cheese
Jaehaerys, the son of King Aegon and his sister-wife Queen Helaena, was set to be the heir to the throne. The young and innocent boy was spotted in the episode casually playing in the council room before being sent off to his studies. Sadly, this tyke met a brutal ending thanks to some scheming by Daemon that went totally wrong. As we know, Rhaenyra is upset about her son Lucerys death at the end of season one. She only wants one thing: to see Aemond Targaryen pay for what he did.
Daemon takes this personally and hires the duo Blood and Cheese to infiltrate the royal living quarters and kill Aemond. This is obviously where the episode title “Son for a Son” comes from. And it technically happens… just to the wrong son. They locate Jaehaerys and his twin sister along with Helaena and force her to tell them which child is the boy. She does (a little too quickly for my liking) and runs off with her daughter to inform Alicent.
We don’t see a ton of blood and gore. But we hear the awful sawing sound of them taking his head to bring back to Daemon.
House of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 2 “Rhaenyra the Cruel”
Blood and Cheese Die in the Wake of Aegon’s Wrath
Of course, Blood and Cheese don’t get away with their bumbling crime. Blood is caught leaving King’s Landing and confesses to Larys that his accomplice is a ratcatcher. Aegon, acting out of rage, orders for every ratcatcher to be killed in the kingdom. This includes Cheese but also means a lot of innocent men died, too.
Ser Arryk and His Brother Erryk Have a Sad Fight to the Death
Ser Criston Cole, who was in Alicent’s bed instead of doing his job, pulls an awful move to absolve his own guilt. He orders Ser Arryk to go on an ill-fated mission to kill Rhaenyra at Dragonstone, where his brother Erryk serves by her side. He uses the whole twin bit to get all the way to her chambers, but Erryk is warned of his arrival (presumably by Mysaria). The duo battle and Erryk gets the upper hand, killing his own brother. But, his grief over his actions quickly lead him to die by suicide with his sword. It is a heartbreaking moment that is all Criston’s fault.
House of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 4 “The Red Dragon and the Gold”
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen & Her Dragon Meleys
We didn’t get any major deaths in episode 3 and that’s probably because House of the Dragon was waiting to hurt our souls in episode 4. This episode features the death of Rhaenys Targaryen and her faithful dragon Meleys. During a battle against Criston Cole’s faction at Rook’s Rest, Rhaenys/Meleys went against Aemond and Vhagar as well as Aegon and Sunfyre. At first, it seems they have gotten the upper hand after the duo is leaving following a valiant battle. But Aemond hits Rhaenys with the sneak attack and Meleys is critically injured. Realizing her fate, she lets go of her dragon and they both fall to a fiery death.
Aegon Targaryen Is Alive in House of the Dragon
Our resident idiot king Aegon Targaryen rode into the Rook’s Rest battle against wise recommendations in episode four. Meleys/Rhaenys made quick work of Sunfyre, but Aemond’s (probably intentional) command to Vhagar is what caused the fire that send his brother spiraling to the ground. His very fiery crash at the hands of his own brother seemed like a certain death, but it wasn’t clear at the end of the episode.
Episode five reveals that Aegon is still alive, but certainly not well. He is covered in nasty burns and riddled with broken bones. Aemond begins to rule in his stead and subsequently fires Alicent from the small council. Aegon, with the Grandmaester and Larys’ help, makes significant strides and ends the season leaving for parts unknown.
House of the Dragon Deaths Are Not Major for the Rest of the Season
There are more bloodshed and deaths to in House of the Dragon season two. We get Willem Blackwood’s beheading, the Red Sowing, and the burnt remains of Sharp’s Point but none of them qualify as major character death moments. It was actually a rather chill season but we get the feeling season three will be very, very bad.
Originally published June 17, 2024.
The post Every Major Character Death in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season Two appeared first on Nerdist.