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There’s a new community spot in Atlanta’s popular Ponce City Market aiming to unite people with a specially curated menu of coffee, light bites, and Black-owned spirit brands.

Founded by restaurateur Kelsey Maynor, who co-owns Atlanta Breakfast Club and Le Petite Marche, and marketer and actor Shakirah DeMesier, The Upper Room is a lounge and event space offering a diverse menu of coffees, teas, matcha, smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, and a curated selection of Black-owned wines and beers.

On the food side, guests can enjoy snacks like white truffle–Parmesan popcorn, charcuterie, and dishes such as jerk plantain patties, curry chicken salad, and Caesar salad.

“We wanted to create a brand that gives our friends’ brands exposure,” Maynor told Atlanta Magazine. “The drinks and food are the culmination of flavor profiles we enjoy.”

The new coffee shop and bar, open Wednesday to Sunday, was made with the community in mind. The founders envisioned “a vibrant haven where people could come together to work, unwind, and host unforgettable events, creating a true community bar space,” Maynor said.

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Along with coffee, tea, spirits, and light bites, The Upper Room offers a range of hands-on classes, providing patrons an opportunity to connect with friends and meet new people.

The cocktail menu highlights Black-owned spirits, featuring drinks like the Dyl (Bayab gin, spiced pear liqueur, lemon juice, butterfly pea, and St. Germaine) and the Fall of Eden (Uncle Nearest whiskey, Mercier apple butter, cherry liqueur, and bitters).

Every Friday, cocktail classes showcase a different Black-owned liquor brand, such as Reyalibre tequila and Uncle Nearest whiskey. Attendees learn about the brand’s history, the techniques of shaking versus stirring, and how to create signature cocktails using these spirits.

During fall, patrons can enjoy coffee-cupping classes that teach the different distinctions of coffee. The Upper Room also collaborates with Linwood Court Candles at Citizen Supply for candle-making classes where folks can enjoy a drink special of two cocktails for $25.

With its floral and greenery design, the 16-seat bar with cozy couches hopes to become the home away from home for locals.

“It feels like your favorite nook at home or the space you go in your grandma’s living room. It feels like comfort,” DeMesier said. “You can sit and stay awhile. It’s a friendly and open place.”

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BGN interviews the cast and showrunners of the Prime Video series Cruel Intentions.

Featured in the interviews are: Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, Sara Silva, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Harlan Kim, Khobe Clarke, Sara Goodman, Phoebe Fisher, Savannah Lee Smith, Brooke Lena Johnson, Claire Forlani and Jon Tenney.

In this new adaptation, Cruel Intentions follows the elite students of Manchester College, a Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, where reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless step-siblings, Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont, will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Greek Life system, they’ll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing Annie Grover, the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. Hearts will be broken, loyalties will be tested, and secrets will be revealed in this modern-day royal court that is Manchester College.

Interviewer: Stacey Yvonne

Video Editor: Jamie Broadnax

All 8 episodes of Cruel Intentions will premiere on Prime Video on Thursday, November 21st

The post INTERVIEW: The Messy Drama Of ‘Cruel Intentions’ is Back with a Vengeance! appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Good evening, folks! Today I want to discuss which picks I got correct and which ones I got wrong! So, let’s get started, shall we?! I predicted that the 49ers would eat the Bucs 34-17, but the final score was 23-20 49ers over the Bucs. I predicted that the Chiefs would beat the Broncos 35-21, but the final score was 16-14 Chiefs over the Broncos. The Chiefs special teams blocked the game-winning filed goal that was going to end the Chiefs winning streak, but they are still the only undefeated team in the NFL. I predicted that the Bills would beat the Colts 34-19, but the final score was 30-20 Bills over the Colts. I predicted that the Steelers would beat the Commanders 29-23, but the final score was 28-27 Steelers over the Commanders. The Commanders jumped offsides and it cost them the game on 4^th down. I predicted that the Vikings would beat the Jags 38-17, but the final score was 12-7 Vikings over the Jags. The Vikings won the game without needing to score a touchdown. I predicted that the Cards would beat the Jets 34-23, but the final score was 31-6 Cards over the Jets in a blowout. The Cards offense scored points on 5 straight drives and did not punt the ball until the 4^th quarter. It is hard to play football without punting the ball at all. I predicted that the Eagles would beat the Cowboys 41-24, but the final score was 34-6 Eagles over the Cowboys in a blowout. The Cowboys are a mess and did not score a touchdown. Just 2 field goals. I predicted that the Lions would beat the Texans 51-23, but the final score was 26-23 Lions over the Texans. The Lions kicked a game-winning field goal after coming back from being down 23-7.

I predicted that the Rams would beat the Dolphins 31-21, but the final score was 23-15 Dolphins over the Rams. The Rams offense did not score a touchdown and just kicked field goals.

Overall, I have gotten 8 out of 9 picks correct!!!!! Only got 1 pick wrong! Now, let’s get to the NFL week 11 picks, shall we?! The first game I will predict is the Packers @Bears game, the divisional rivalries. I think the Packers will beat the Bears 31-13. The next game I will predict is the Jags @Lions game. I think the Lions will beat the Jags 38-3. The next game I will predict is the Vikings @Titans game. I think the Vikings will beat the Titans 23-16. The next game I will predict is the Rams @Pats game. I think the Rams will beat the Pats 27-20. The next game I will predict is the Ravens @Steelers game, the divisional rivalries. I think the Steelers will beat the Ravens in a close game 34-31. The next game I will predict is the Falcons @Broncos game. I think the Broncos will beat the Falcons 20-17. The next game I will predict is the Seahawks @49ers game, the divisional rivalries. I think the 49ers will beat the Seahawks 30-17. The next game I will predict is the Chiefs @Bills game. I think the Bills will beat the Chiefs and snap their long winning streak 34-24. The next game I will predict is the Bengals @Chargers game on Sunday night football. I think the Chargers will beat the Bengals 31-19. The last game I will predict is the Texans @Cowboys game on Monday night football. I think the Texans will beat the Cowboys 19-10.

So, what do you guys think about the NFL week 11 picks?! I would love to hear your thoughts and comments are down below! Stay tuned for NFL updates.

The post NFL Week 10 Prediction Updates and Week 11 Picks appeared first on The Nerd Element.

Using AI to depict a deceased person’s likeness continues to be a topic of discussion, unfortunately. There are actors like the still-living (thankfully) Robert Downey, Jr. who say they absolutely do not give studios permission to resurrect or continue their careers via AI cameos. Then, there are other cases where it is being done to serve a narrative purpose, which is terrible or needed, depending on whom you ask. The latest news is that Cobra Kai season six part two used AI to bring back Mr. Miyagi, the famous The Karate Kid character. (Thank you SlashFilm for bringing this to our attention!)

As fans of the film know, Pat Morita passed away in 2005 and since then his character has only existed spiritually. Now, AI has made it possible for Mr. Miyagi to appear in Cobra Kai. Here’s what Cobra Kai co-creator Josh Heald had to say about why this was necessary: 

“For so many seasons, we’ve told a Miyagi story that was focused on the absence of Mr. Miyagi. This season, we’re digging into a little bit more of the looming presence of new information, new ideas or a new glimpse into a part of Mr. Miyagi’s life that the series has never focused on. That Daniel has never been aware of. So by digging more into that and getting more and more in Daniel’s head with his kind of tortured idea of, ‘What didn’t he know?’ … does that affect and infect his opinion of Mr. Miyagi?”

Interesting. It is not clear what Morita’s family nor former cast members feel about this. But Netflix and the show’s creatives said they depicted his likeness in the most respectful way possible. There’s one final part to this story so we will have to see its conclusion in 2025.

The post COBRA KAI Season 6 Part 2 Uses AI to Bring Back Major THE KARATE KID Character appeared first on Nerdist.