***EASY HOLIDAY PARTY TIPS & RECIPES***

CREATIVE HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING
WITH THE FOUNDER OF
PARKER’S PLATE

The Recipe for Throwing a Enjoying the Holidays &
During Challenging Times

If you’re looking for the ingredients for a holiday gathering, then you’ll love this interview with Parker Wallace, founder of Parker’s Plate. Parker is also the author of a best-selling cookbook, called: Eat Rich, Stay Skinny: A Girls’ Guide to Holiday Feasting.”

On November 16th, the super chef will provide your viewers and listeners with a guide for throwing great holiday celebrations will inspire your audience to try some new and innovative products. Parker is ready to show your audience how to turn their regular holiday celebration into a super party that all their neighbors, friends and relatives will remember for years. Parker will also share some recipes that will still allow you to fit into those skinny jeans, even after the holidays.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER ON PARKER’S PLATE, INCLUDES:

· BEVERAGE BEST—Why choosing the right beverages are key
· COOKING CREATIONS—Adding flavor to your favorite recipes
· EASY MEALS—Why sometimes it best to have a great meal delivered
· RECIPE INSPIRATION—Choosing healthier ingredients for tastier meals

What is Good News For Parker Wallace?, go to: http://goodnewsplanet.com/what-is-good-news-for-parker-wallace/

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Lessons from Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Help Keep Kids and Teens Engaged in Learning as Social Distancing Continues

Learning loss is a real issue every summer, but in the unprecedented era of COVID-19, many students already began the summer at an educational disadvantage. As schools closed their doors weeks ahead of time, students completed the school year at home, relying on virtual classrooms and take-home work.

The digital divide made it a lot harder for some children to complete school work, especially those from low-income and minority households, who may not have reliable internet access. In homes where parents did not have the choice of tele-work, older children may have needed to care for their younger siblings so parents could work, making it even harder to do school work under already challenging circumstances.

Now there’s concern over how to keep kids engaged in learning this summer. Research finds children typically fall behind academically each summer, losing about two months’ worth of math skills during the summer. Low-income youth lose more than two months’ worth of reading skills, while their middle-class peers make slight gains.[1] Unchecked, summer learning losses can cause disadvantaged kids to fall behind and possibly jeopardize their chances of graduating from high school.

Public schools and some afterschool programs like Boys & Girls Clubs may remain closed this summer to prevent the spread of the virus, and that means students have lost an important lifeline – a place to connect with friends and teachers, work on their social and emotional skills (which help kids achieve success in areas like academics, arts, leadership and service) and access a typical learning experience. In this segment, parents can take some valuable cues and gain advice to help their kids from a youth development expert from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

July 6 -11 has been designated as national Summer Learning Week, the perfect time to hear from Chrissy Chen, the Senior Director of Youth Development Programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. She’ll discuss how parents can learn some important tips to keep kids and teens learning during summer, especially due to the changes that happened during this recent school year due to COVID-19. She’ll also explain what the important tools are to make sure young people don’t experience summer learning loss while also building their social and emotional skills so they can prepare for the new school year — and life beyond the pandemic.

www.bgca.org
www.myfuture.net

Interview is courtesy: Boys & Girls Clubs of America

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This conference was the birth of The Beijing Platform for Action, the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights. Our founders were in Beijing 25 years ago, and every day since we’ve continued to call for the recognition of the fundamental human rights of women.

25 years later and gender equality is far from being realized. Every five years since 2000, Equality Now has highlighted explicitly sex discriminatory laws that need to be reformed in our Words & Deeds report.

Today we’re releasing our 5th Words & Deeds report and we need your help.

YOUR WORDS & DEEDS TO DO LIST:

Learn

Read the report

Learn more about the Beijing Platform for Action

Share

? Tweet your commitment to Words & Deeds

? Share Words & Deeds on Facebook

? Explore our social toolkit for other ways to share

Take Action

? In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the law says the husband is head of the household.

Call on the President to amend the family code to ensure equality in marriage.

? Section 103 of Tunisia’s Personal Status Code limits daughters’ inheritance rights and provides that any sons inherit twice as much as daughters.

Call on the President of Tunisia to ensure equality in inheritance law.

? In Russia, the labor law automatically bars women from being employed in 456 types of work.

Call on the President of Russia to ensure equality in the workplace.

? In Paraguay, the law prescribes a lower penalty, a fine, for sexual offences against adolescent girls between the ages of 14 – 16 than for rape of a child or a woman.

Call on the President of Paraguay to protect adolescent girls from sexual violence.

?Explore all the laws you can take action on

Your continued support allows us to make sure governments uphold their commitments they made to women 25 years ago. Thank you.

In solidarity,

Antonia Kirkland

Global Lead, Legal Equality & Access to Justice

Donate

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Our annual fashion show is set for June 3rd, right here in Sunnyside Gardens!
In our ninth year, our show celebrates the music of Broadway. Each Broadway shows tell a unique story about humanity, in the form of relationships, social and political issues, our young designers are each telling a unique story or their own through the clothing they choose to create and wear.
This year we encouraged our students to embrace their story along with the design process, from beginning to end. What most sewing do not get to do is make their own fabric. The fabric is the first decision in the design process. By making your own fabric or by altering the surface in some way, you have the opportunity to take total control of your ideas.
The students approached this project from different points of view. Color blocking, layering textures, and appliqué are a few of the surface design projects you will see on the runway. What you will notice most is hand printed fabric. More than half of our students chose to hand carve a print block and use that block to custom print their own fabric. One of our students took the plunge and sent her fabric to a professional printer to get her fabric made-to-order. Whatever process each young designer chose, the results are both very personal and amazing!
These creative young professionals are the future of fashion! You don’t want to miss this show!

The post VIDEO & PODCAST – ALL-GIRLS FASHION SHOW appeared first on Good News!.

Listen to “Cristal Glangchai, Whats keeping girls out of STEM? Why?” on Spreaker.

Girls at a very young age are curious about science and math—about 74% of kindergarten girls want to go into STEM—but by the time they reach middle school, only 15-20% remain interested.

Scientist, author, and professor Cristal Glangchai, PhD, attributes this to the way educators, parents, and the media talk to girls about pursuing STEM careers. She argues that a key part of raising strong, confident young women is giving them the tools of entrepreneurship to engage in STEM.

Glangchai’s new book, VentureGirls: Raising Girls to be Tomorrow’s Leaders (HarperCollins; May 2018) explains what has kept young girls out of STEM fields, as well as the practical applications of STEM learning, and how we can address the gender imbalance therein.

Dr. Glangchai offers a unique solution based on her own experience as an engineer and entrepreneur as well as the founder of VentureLab, a nonprofit that empowers kids, especially girls, with an entrepreneurial mind-set. VentureGirls.

Dr. Glangchai can discuss or write about the following:

• Women and STEM: How, as of now, women make up only 29% of the science and engineering workforce. Dr. Glangchai can share her fundamentals for empowering young girls in STEM.

• How STEM Education Impacts Entrepreneurship: Dr. Glangchai explains how science teaches kids about failure, and why learning to embrace failure is the key to entrepreneurial success.

• Creating Young Entrepreneurs: 65% of kids will have jobs that we cannot even imagine today. How parents can and should encourage kids as young as 5 years old to embrace their innovativeness and entrepreneurial mindset.

Publishers Weekly recently called VentureGirls a “game-changing guide to empowering young women.” The author has been featured on the TODAY Show, NPR, Wall Street Journal, TEDx, and much more.

#stem #girls #girl #lady #ladies #women #woman #keeping #keep #science #math #kindergarten #want #middle #school #curious #cristal #glangchai #educators #parents #media #talk #pursuing #careers #key #part #raising #strong #confident #giving #tools #entrepreneurship #engage #venture #lab #venturelab #venturegirls #empower #nonprofit #imbalance #gender #learning #embrace

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The post What Does Peace Mean to the Indigo Girls? appeared first on Good News!.

“The reviews have been pouring in–not just from critics but from everyday people. Many are thrilled to call Mihaela and Gabriela friends. Why is that? Because everyone at their show is part of the experience. And the experience doesn’t end when the curtain closes.”

— Alan Mandel, Professor of Communication @ Borough of Manhattan Community College, Sept 14, 2017: “Dear Gabriela and Mihaela, Just one word sums up the evening’s experience for me at the theater: OUTSTANDING. The combination of cinema, vocals, music, dance, even ad-libs added to a remarkable event in every respect. And so unique and adventurous! I looked around the audience during the performance and, if you could not see, everyone was with you. Clapping and cheering. They all appreciated your efforts. You really had your mojo working for you. Very impressive. I will tell all my friends to see it. Well done and have many more weeks of thrills! PS I wanted to add that seeing the novel come to life with exhilarating. “Wicked Clone the cinema musical” is appropriate for all ages and families will be there.”

Alan Mandel, Oct 15, 2017: “I have to say thank you so much for tonight’s performance. It exceeded my highest expectations even more than opening night. Just terrific. Every move and sound was meticulously crafted; it shows how much of your heart and soul you pour into this work. My friend Billy and I talked about it through our dinner at Virgil’s after the show. He was so impressed and the adrenaline is still pumping. Very exciting and natural. The effects were perfect and it was even more enjoyable with the audience signing along spontaneously. This will soon be the most talked about show I’m sure. Keep up the fantastic work. I know you are modest but I want you to know just

how much the audience really appreciates your efforts in entertaining and enlightening the spirit.”

— Jeffrey Levy, entertainment attorney at law, NYC wrote on Sept 14, 2017:

“Mihaela – what a fantastic performance. Sorry I couldn’t meet up after. Would love to chat soon about the show and everything else. Jeff”

  — Richard Marks, celebrity real estate broker, Sept 14, 2017:

“The author of the musical theater piece call Wicked Clone, capitalizes on the theme of a hero’s weakness and the struggle to overcome ones fate. This theme is to be found in Homer’s Iliad, where Achilles must either die or survive the vulnerable weakness in his heal, also the same theme found throughout Shakespeare dramas and tragedies in which the heroines and heroes fight to survive their tragic past circumstances. It is a thematic writing mechanism that in modern times can be found to induce the reader to be sympathetic to the plight of a superhero with a fatal flaw or a defect in character, i.e. Conan Doyle writing that Sherlock Holmes has a morphine addiction, thereby making him more human than super intellectual, and even in Ian Fleming’s Bond character, who was orphaned by the time he was 12, and develops a fixation to be accepted by his country and queen, (a mother substitute) through the acts of a cold and patriotic murder of that country’s enemies. In short the idea of a hero’s weakness is what makes writers great. Captain Ahab’s quixotic psychotic quest to kill the white whale, Mister Kurtz’s determined violent acts to become rich by whatever means in the heart of darkness, in order to marry the woman who rejected him. AND this is what the central theme of Wicked Clone is all about. Overcoming the stigma and weakness of evil, of being a vampire whose only desire is to kill and destroy and subjugate all human mortals to the power of evil and its immortality. It is a relevant and empowering conclusion to the play when both heroine Vampires realize that creating life and beauty is what really gives one immortality, not evil manipulation. A powerful and beautiful epiphany that is felt by the audience like a fencer’s epee right to the heart, but with the realization of love, not aggression. Excellent performance!”

— Vincent Yeh , attorney at law, NYC:

Sept 14, 2017: “Congrats, girls! What a fantastic performance you put on stage Thursday night! Your musical is for all ages and families, for all cultures and personalities! You radiate light and love through all your pores and dominate the audience through your majestic songs, rich soulful vocals, one of a kind dance, fearless and genuine acting and … transforming message! So proud of you!

Wicked Clone The Cinema Musical is a mesmerizing and unique blend of film and musical that transports the imagination from 15th century Transylvania to modern New York City. The story of a vampire who seeks humanity and her twin sister who pursues her across time and space is an allegory of the struggle between good and evil.

This inspiring story is told through art house quality film; pop gypsy songs with catchy melodies and lyrics; choreography synchronized between you and the film; acting infused by the chemistry between you and by your nonstop energy; and your entire hearts and souls.

The blend of the immersive nature of film and the interaction of live performance takes the audience to new heights of entertainment.”

Vincent Yeh , Oct 6, 2017: “Congrats, Gabriela and Mihaela Modorcea on four fantastic performances! Your musical is for all ages and families, for all cultures and personalities! You radiate light and love through all your pores and dominate the audience through your majestic songs, rich soulful vocals, one of a kind dance, fearless and genuine acting and … transforming message! Your show is a mesmerizing and unique blend of film and musical that transports the imagination from 15th century Transylvania to modern New York City. The story of a vampire who seeks humanity and her twin sister who pursues her across time and space is an allegory of the struggle between good and evil. Your inspiring story is told through art house quality film; pop gypsy songs with catchy melodies and lyrics; choreography synchronized among both of you and the film; acting infused by the chemistry between you and by your non-stop energy; and your entire hearts and souls. The blend of the immersive nature of film and the interaction of live performance takes the audience to new heights of entertainment.”

— Paul Smith, record owner, Pennsylvania, wrote on Facebook,

Sept 14, 2017: “Awesome Show last night! Gabriela and Mihaela Modorcea presented a mix of classic cinema interspersed with engaging live and perfectly choreographed performance art. No pictures or video can completely capture the spirit of this show. You’ll just have to see it.

This is the show I’ve been talking about and I’m not alone… LIZ SMITH (New York & Los Angeles Columnist): http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/guest-diary/2017/liz-smith-the-war-ofthe-worlds

BROADWAY WORLD: https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Transylvania-BornTwin-Sisters-Coming-to-St-Lukes-in-WICKED-CLONE-20170828

Get your tickets to see this amazing artfully conceived, written, choreographed, and performed by my awesome friends, The #TwinsIndiggo, Gabriela & Mihaela Modorcea”

Paul Smith, Sept 21, 2017:

“OMG everyone needs to read these reviews: a wide variety of attendees with different tastes all draw the same conclusions about #WickedClone and its creaters and performers, Gabriela & Mihaela Modorcea aka the Indiggo Twins.”

Paul Smith, Oct 3, 2017:
“You’ve worked very hard and it shows! This is a phenomenal show! The costume are irresistible, but the story is the one that takes your heart up and makes it fly to both divine and grotesque realms that you have never reached before. Do you want to feel godly happiness pulsating in your veins again? Come experience the Cinemagia of WICKED CLONE THE CINEMA MUSICAL”

— Maria Enescu, project manager, New Jersey, wrote on Facebook, Sept 14, 2017:

“Mihaela & Gabriela, Your cinema musical Wicked Clone is by far the best

show in town. Love so much your novel and adore your show. You are the most complex and fascinating double art phenomenon in the history of theatre. Your talent surpasses any imagination. Your strong subject – the strongest in the current literature – creates thrills of revelation. Your timeless music makes happy any creature. I’ve lived great moments of truth, high emotions and happiness that only Art can give us. Your fascinating story is a life model for all of us:

Don’t let the wicked clone Play your greatest role! Be a creator, be like God, Watch The Throne!”
— Roxana Donner, student, Nassau Community College, wrote on Facebook, Sept 21, 2017:

“I was SO PROUD tonight. There I was, at St. Luke’s Theater, holding a flyer for Wicked Clone. Tears of joy and sisterly pride were in my eyes, as I said to myself, “They did it! They did it!” I have never been more proud of my good friends, Mihaela and Gabriela. I’ve seen their talent all along, and KNEW they’d make it in a famous venue like this someday; and today was that day. The Cinema Musical of Wicked Clone definitely did the book justice! I felt like I was really there, in medieval Transylvania, and then in Times Square; just as the cinema novel transported me to those places. And, like the novel, the emotions, suspense, and imagery were really intense!!! Those film projections were really scary, action-packed, and awesome; they truly brought it to life! WOW! It was cool, because I got to see what the different characters look like! I got to see Vlad, Lucifer, David, and Rommy, for the first time ever! I also FINALLY got to hear how certain songs go. I knew the words, because of the poetry book; but I finally heard the melodies for the first time. These songs included “Honey Money” and “Dracula’s Land”. I was AMAZED at Mihaela’s vocal range! At one point in the musical, she belted out an impressively high note- I think it was a B5, which is one note away from the soprano “high C!” That was amazing; and a cool surprise, since Mihaela’s usually the one who sings the lower parts. I bet Queen’s Roger Taylor would be proud! It made me so happy to see I actually contributed to the play, in a small way! I remember giving the Twins a few requests. I loved the playful romance between Mihaela and Charlie Chaplin in the “Tell Me Less” video, and I told the Twins I wanted to see more of “#Miharlie”. I also requested Mihaela pronounce her “L’s” with her lip more often, since it suggests a fangless mouth; and that she and vamp Gabriela have a human vs. vampire “la la la” because of this difference. Sure enough, in the cinema musical tonight, Mihaela and Gabriela sang “la la la” back and forth; with Mihaela’s “la la la” pronounced with her lip. And later on, Charlie made a guest appearance; I saw a whole 20 minutes of Mihaela and Charlie falling in love, and dancing together for two songs. And I saw Mihaela singing “Love Flu” about Charlie, which was straight out of a fanfiction I wrote a while ago! So when I noticed the Twins took my requests, AND referenced my fanfiction, I was thinking to myself, “YAAAAAS!” I had the biggest smile in these parts! I was the very first to pick up on the fact that the narrator’s and male characters’ voices were Gabriela’s, pitched down with an effect. I asked Gabriela backstage, “Was that you?” because I had a feeling it was her. She said yes; and she said everyone else, not even the tech guy, was able to figure that out! So I felt cool! I LOVED the last fight, the duel, between Mihaela with a cross and Gabriela with a weapon. That was INTENSE!!! I loved when Mihaela bit Gabriela with her human bite, winning the fight; and just when you thought Mihaela was dying, Gabriela’s piano music brought her back to life. What a great ending, seeing the Wicked Clone turn good. I especially loved the inspirational message at the end, about acceptance, and about being like God. That was very empowering. LOVE YOU, Mihaela and Gabriela, Indiggo Twins! YOU GIRLS WERE AWESOME!!!!”

— Kimberly Whitehead MacCracken, American Airlines, Sept 28, 2017:

“I must tell you, I have literally never shed a tear watching a movie or show until last night. It was very powerful. We LOVED the show! We were both wildly impressed! You are very talented. I’m honored to be your friend. We were totally blown away by Wicked Clone. What a moving story. The cinema alone was beautiful. The costumes were inspired. And the dancing and choreography were transporting. We got totally lost in the story and were saddened when it ended. Thank you, Mihaela and Gabriela for creating such a beautiful show. It’s a great show!! ”

— Светлана Бочкарева, Facebook, Oct 5, 2017:

“Highly highly recommend!!!!! Incredible plot, beyond positive energy and amazing performance!!!!”

— JSL Radio Chroma / James S. Li,

Oct 6, 2017: “You should see Wicked Clone The Cinema Musical / Wicked Clone – a Cinema Novel by Mihaela Modorcea. I give it multiple 100% grades.”

JSL Radio Chroma / James S. Li, Oct 29, 2017: “On THU 10/05/2017 I saw “The Wicked Clone” starring the Indiggo Twins (Mihaela & Gabriela Modorcea) at St. Luke’s Theatre on West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. The show was OUT OF THIS WORLD and I give the show three grades of 100% for all the hard work the twins put into it. I give all the credit to the twins for their work. The twins are the sweetest, cutest teddy bears friends I ever had in my life.”

— Hisako Izutsu, Facebook, Oct 22, 2017: “Fantastic Show by Talented Gabriela and Mihaela Modorcea (Indiggo Twins)!”

— Megan Manguire, Oct 29, 2017: “On October 29th I had gone with my boyfriend and my grandfather, who was a guest in the show, to see the play Wicked Clone. It was a beautiful production performed by both of the twins! The music, the atmosphere, and the interaction with the audience. It was truly spectacular.”

— Beth Sabatino, Oct 29, 2017: “The Indiggo Twins put on an amazing production. They are vibrant, bubbly and extremely friendly. I immediately fell in love with their personality and with their many talents. After the show was over they came out to the audience to shake hands and greet everyone, but I actually hugged one of them- that’s how impressed I was and still am about them. I found the show to be delightful and they both are extremely talented, very friendly and it was a pleasure meeting them!!”
 
— LiBra Jiminez, Actress/Model/Dancer, Oct 29, 2017: “The Wicked Clone play’s message, through Indiggo Twins’ artistic creativity, is to inspire people to get closer to God. And to understand that art and vision comes from God and we have God in us. I was personally touched and surprisingly very inspired.”

— Ileana Văduva, violinist and psychotherapist, March 11, 2018:

“Dear friends from New York and New Jersey, tonight we saw a stunning musical play at Davenport Theatre, and we like to share with you our insights about this exciting subject. It’s about ROMANIA. History, Mythology, Traditions, Believes, Faith and LOVE all of them in WICKED CLONE. Everything mixed in fair proportions and well seasoned with a perfect synchronicity between movie and stage performance of two beautiful and famous twins, sisters Modorcea, Gabriela and Mihaela Modorcea, daughters of a well known art critics and filmmaker Grid Modorcea from Romania. Exceptional dances and songs of this two beautiful and talented artists on off Broadway Show in New York City. Highly recommended ! More details about the subject and buy tickets on the following site: http://www.indiggotwins.com DAVENPORT THEATRE 354W 45th St NYC TELECHARGE.COM 212-239.6200”

PS “Mihaela și Gabriela au făcut pentru România mai mult decât toată politica românească în douăzeci de ani. Fetele acestea m-au făcut fericită!”

— Catherine Fenton, history teacher, March 25, 2018

What an amazing time I had today seeing this fantastic play with Mihaela and Gabriela Modorcea. They are immensely talented actresses with superb singing and dancing abilities! I loved the beautiful and majestic fairy-tale story! I will certainly recommend this play to all of my friends as I found it to be quite entertaining! Catherine Fenton A delighted fan

— Catherine Fenton, history teacher, March 26, 2018

I had an amazing time yesterday when I went to see “Wicked Clone”. It reminded me of old fashioned heartfelt emotions that films of the past instilled emotions of a higher being that all people could share and relate with one another. It reminded me of Italian art and movies of great artists who were not afraid to integrate Great stories with God. The cinematography was great and not in the least pretentious. These two actresses gave a heartwarming and wining portrayal of this Cinema Musical. I also enjoyed the artistic dancing and beautiful style of singing! I want to do everything in my power to spread the news of this Great play because it has inspired me so much so I will tell everyone that I know. It has made me feel that my life has been more than passing through life without experiencing all the miracles that God has bestowed on all of us.

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VENICE BEACH the musical

A contemporary musical with various styles of music and dance from hip hop
and rock to standard musical theater about American college graduates trying
to survive in the post-graduate world between 2008 and 2012, a time of
economic recession and high unemployment. Jesse, a native Californian, is
trying to convince three of his mid-western fraternity brothers, Bradley,
Michael, and Steven, to move with him to Venice, California, promise land of
sun, surf, hot girls in bikinis, and plenty of jobs. During their graduation
ceremony at Ohio State University, they express their doubts and concerns
about what’s next after college. At the celebration party that night in
their favorite campus bar, The Stadium Pub, they shake off their fears and
agree to go, encouraged by Joe the Barman to get out of Ohio and pursue
their dreams. They drive together to California in Jesse’s car, where they
lease a beach house in Venice. The boys initially try to keep the college
party lifestyle going. They adopt a new favorite bar, the Sidewalk Café,
where Joe the Barman once again presides. Gradually, however, they face all
the challenges of the adult world, no longer cradled in college campus life,
nor funded and cared for by parents. They must make tough choices regarding
starting their careers, pursuing relationships, making rent, paying off
student loans, discovering self-identity, and ultimately, dealing with
disillusionment when their high expectations, and those of their parents,
don’t meet reality as they learn that success and happiness isn’t always
rewarded simply for individual effort.

Jesse, handsome and charismatic, immediately adopts a player life style
and seems to get whatever he wants. He lands a good job at Merril-Lynch, but
quietly struggles with the heartbreaking loss of his failed writer/artist
father from suicide during his junior year. He also finds that his job in
finance holds no interest for him, nor has he any real aptitude for it at
heart, he’s an actor/singer and a writer himself. He is also frustrated with
his mother, Kay, who, though she loves him dearly, is unintentionally
encroaching on his space in Venice, for she herself moves there in her
transition out of grief, as she strives to reclaim the lost years of her
youth because of marrying so young. Bradley finds an entry level job at
Coldwell Banker real estate, and begins guiltily to enjoy his temporary
freedom from Emily, his fiancé who must stay in Ohio to finish her senior
year. From a distance, she expresses her anquish over his absence, for she
has always placed her music and singing aspirations second to Bradley’s
plans for their future. She believes him when he says he will only be gone
for the summer, but when he informs her he wants to stay longer, she is
heartbroken. Michael, a talented architect and former fraternity president,
is hired at Cunningham, a prestigious architecture firm, and begins to
pursue Sarah, his hard-driving, slightly older project manager. He
gradually discovers he doesn’t like his work, nor does he feel comfortable
with Sarah. Ultimately, he meets Kenny, a gay art teacher and yogi, who
helps him to -come out- and re-discover his love for painting. Steven, a
tough, Irish Catholic from the working class farming community of
Youngstown, also majored in architecture, but is unable to get hired, so he
begins waiting tables to pay his portion of the rent. He sees Marika, a
beautiful Eur-Asian yoga instructor with several tattoos, and joins her yoga
class on the beach. They begin to date, and through her influence, he
discovers a deep interest in yoga and a desire to be health conscious, all
the while covering himself in tattoos. Marika has always distrusted men due
to her father’s early abandonment, but her unlikely relationship with Steven
becomes, surprisingly, the most stable one of the group. Things change for
Jesse when he reconnects with an old musical theater friend and high school
prom date, Rose, now an eclectic, Bard educated woman living in Mexico.
Jesse begins to fall in love again, but Rose’s fierce independence and
desire to explore the world causes her to avoid his romantic advances,
though not necessarily his sexual ones. The Boys fun Venice Beach life
begins to unravel during a crazy, alcohol and drug-filled Halloween party,
where Bradley cheats on Emily with Sarah. Michael confronts Bradley over his
disloyalty, and Bradley accidently –outs- him as a defense for his actions.
As winter 2009 arrives, the boys see that the party is over and so they
decide to go their separate ways. Bradley returns to Ohio but Emily refuses
to take him back. She now has plans to go to NY and attend graduate school
for music. In May 2009, as they are all moving out of the Venice Beach
house, Bradley, shattered by losing Emily, as well as his job at Coldwell
Banker, and facing the prospect of moving back in with his parents in Ohio,
attempts to take his own life with pills. Jesse is shaken by his friend’s
act, especially since the experience of his father’s suicide is still so
painful. Jesse has also been let go at Merrill Lynch, which is downsizing.
When Rose leaves for Africa to work for the Peace Corps for two years, it
becomes clear that they will remain -just friends- and nothing more. She
says goodbye to him on Venice Beach, leaving him alone, loveless, jobless,
hopeless, wondering what he’s going to do. At that moment, his father
appears to him (or is it simply Jesse’s subconscious) to talk with him he
gives him the advice and guidance he’s been needing for some time.

One year later, June 2010, Jesse moves to New York to reclaim the acting and
singing aspirations he once had and then temporarily abandoned. Bradley is
back in Ohio, Steven is living with Marika in Venice and Michael with
Kenny in West Hollywood. Having kept in touch with Emily over the years,
Jesse responds to her facebok invitation to go and see her sing a set at The
Bitter End club in N.Y. She has found her voice, and is pursuing her singing
career. At the club, Jesse finds himself attracted to her, and after the
show, they lament about how things were when they were kids, how they were
led to believe by everyone that they were special, that fate had great
things in store for them, but they now know that life is much more
complicated than that. The Bitter End seamlessly transforms into the
Sidewalk Café back in Venice Beach where they join the old gang who have all
come together again. Only now, it is two years later, June 2012, and The
Boys, Kenny, Marika have come together for Jesse and Emily’s wedding to
occur on Venice Beach the following day. Joe the Pastor officiates the
wedding. He urges them to enjoy life and love while they can, but work to
make it last. At the ceremony, The Boys once again express their angst over
what’s next, for they still don’t know for sure what the future holds for
them. But they have come to understand that they must simply continue on
doing the best they can to learn, to live, to love, to work, and to grow.

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