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More Fun: Why Limit Happy Hour To Just One Hour?
This summer, Americans would prefer a “happy three hours” instead of just one.
That’s according to a new poll of 2,000 adults aged 21+, where over a third (38 percent) of respondents said a happy hour should span an average of about three hours.
Even so, respondents usually spend about two and a half hours at any given happy hour.
The summer season brings longer, brighter days which makes room for activities like happy hours, and this year is no different.
In fact, 68 percent of respondents are looking forward to making up for “lost” summers this year due to the pandemic and 64 percent consider themselves to be more excited for this summer than in previous years.
More daylight boosts the mood for more than half (55 percent) of respondents and 61 percent feel guilty if they “burn daylight” during the summer months.
Hoping to take advantage of as much as possible during the summer months, respondents are looking forward to catching up with friends (43 percent), going out more often (39 percent) and music festivals (35 percent).
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Bevy Long Drink , the survey also showed that almost two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents said they are more likely to participate in happy hour during warm weather.
So, it’s no surprise that 36 percent believe happy hour should be the longest in the summer.
When looking at preferred days of the week to partake in a happy hour, data shows that Tuesday is the ideal day to hit the bars after work, with the majority of respondents (18 percent) crowning it as their go-to happy hour day and Friday being a close second (17 percent).
“As we all look forward to the summer season, social activities like happy hour have taken on a new meaning, so why just limit happy to one hour?” -Andrea Desaulniers, Brand Manager, Bevy Long Drink.
“And we found that the majority of respondents are likely to try new things while they are out at happy hour, so we’re excited to offer a new beverage to kick-off their summer celebrations.”
Respondents were divided over the difference between a happy hour and a pre-game, with one respondent saying, “[A] pre-game is a whole party with friends and family. Happy hour is a few cocktails after work.”
Another said, “I’m more free when having a happy hour.”
Regardless of definition, when looking for the perfect drink to sip on during happy hour or at a pre-game, 40 percent of respondents are looking for something refreshing.
And almost half (48 percent) lean towards easy-to-drink beverages.
Overall, 63 percent of respondents agreed that they like to try new things at happy hour.
To that same tune, 65 percent prefer going to happy hour during warmer weather so it’s no surprise that 21 percent say the cold weather keeps them from attending.
Even so, 20 percent of respondents say nothing in particular will keep them from participating in a happy hour.
There is one thing respondents can agree on — happy hour start time. For both weekends (24 percent) and weekdays (23 percent), the majority prefer happy hour to begin somewhere between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. “
Whether making up for lost time with friends or getting out and trying new things, people are looking forward to being social again this summer more than ever,” said Desaulniers.
“Seeing that drinking ease and a refreshing taste are important to almost half of respondents partaking in a happy hour (or three), drinks like Bevy are a great option to kickstart your adventures all season long.”
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Summer Fridays: A New Poll Reveals The Key To Feeling Happier At Work
A new poll suggests “Summer Fridays” are the key to feeling happier at work.
Fifty-nine percent of 2,000 working adults surveyed revealed their jobs offer “Summer Fridays” — being allowed a short day or day off on occasional Fridays during the season.
Over eight in 10 employees say they benefit from this perk because it makes them feel much happier at work (85 percent).
The survey, commissioned by Wisetail and conducted by OnePoll, delved into the impact weather may have on productivity — finding that 73 percent believe it directly impacts how they work.
Respondents claimed that cool temperatures (28 percent) and clear blue skies (27 percent) are associated with being the most productive at work, coinciding with 43 percent who believe they do their best work in the spring.
It’s no surprise, then, that 65 percent prefer working outside when the weather is nice — from getting work done in local cafés (53 percent) to rooftops (48 percent) and patios (48 percent).
Employees shared what weather factors can make them have a bad day at their jobs — with conditions like heavy rain (25 percent) and freezing temperatures (25 percent) being the root cause of unproductive workdays.
Meanwhile, 22 percent associate snow with having a bad day at work.
Overall, 68 percent said the motivation to learn or absorb information at work drops when the weather is poor.
Nearly as many (67 percent) will turn the brightness of their computer screens down if it’s gray or darker outside and 64 percent said they have to take frequent breaks away from their computer screens when there’s overcast.
Poor weather conditions are enough for 63 percent to believe it’s excusable for them to take more time completing their work tasks.
Time is also a factor in people’s productivity. In order to have the “best day” at work, the average person needs to wake up at 7:30 a.m., while rising an hour later at 8:30 a.m. would be considered the “worst” way to start off the day.
Sixty-four percent noted that daylight saving had affected their productivity in the past, with a majority (85 percent) saying they feel unproductive when the clock changes.
“While there are evolving variables to the explanation and reason behind productivity and nice weather, we can correlate better weather with a more positive outlook on the day and overall better mood,” said Kyle Reichelt, product manager at Wisetail.
“We also know that better moods lead to increased motivation and self-confidence, which all contributes to efficiency levels in productivity.”
Aside from the workplace, the weather seems to play a role in people’s daily lives.
The average respondent said they get seven migraines or headaches per year influenced by the weather.
Nearly two in three (63 percent) said they have struggled with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) before — a behavioral disorder where cold, gray weather affects Vitamin D and dopamine levels.
Of those who experience this condition, 80 percent said it affects the quality of work they put in at their jobs.
“Increasing workplace productivity starts with learning which task management tricks work best for you,” continued Reichelt.
“While we can’t control the weather, we can control how we tackle our day and adjust for different weather conditions knowing how they affect us.”
“Focusing on one task at a time, taking regular breaks, time-blocks on your schedule, and initiating small goals with small objectives are all tricks you might try.
Also, try waking up a bit earlier. As noted in the study, many find that waking up before 7:30 a.m. affects productivity and energy throughout the day.”
“Further, assigning yourself your most challenging tasks that require intense focus at the peak clear-minded time of the day leads to increased productivity and efficiency.”
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Milestones: Parents Explain Why They Have Implemented ‘Tummy Time’ With Their Babies
A baby’s first words are precious – but most parents stress out if they don’t say them soon enough.
A recent survey of 2,000 parents of children ages three and under-examined their concerns relating to their child’s development, finding that 59 percent often worry their babies aren’t meeting certain milestones like saying “mama” or “dada” by their first birthday (65 percent).
Parents also worry if their children aren’t walking, feeding themselves or smiling (29 percent, each) by a certain age.
And 69 percent worry that their baby not meeting milestones on time will reflect negatively on them as parents.
Three-quarters of parents claim they’re confident they know when babies should meet their milestones (76 percent).
Yet, 44 percent thought babies should start rolling over between 0 to 3 months when many don’t until they’re at least four months old.
Parents do their research, though, being keen on knowing that babies should start smiling (25 percent) and some begin teething (21 percent) before they’re four months old.
Respondents also know that babies should be sitting up (43 percent), drinking from a straw (31 percent) or sleeping on their own (28 percent) by six months.
They also noted looking out for their baby crawling (33 percent), walking (33 percent) or feeding themselves (27 percent) within their first year of life.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of VTech , the survey also found that 74 percent of parents try to stimulate their child’s development by introducing them to educational toys or games (54 percent) or feeding them enriching foods (51 percent).
Seven in 10 recognize the importance of play in helping young children meet their milestones (71 percent), and a similar percentage agree that physical activity is vital, too (73 percent).
This may be why parents opted for “tummy time” with their baby, where they lay on their stomach to strengthen their neck and shoulders (42 percent) and specifically look for toys that encourage movement (38 percent).
Imaginative games like coloring or building and verbally stimulating activities like singing or reading are also common ways parents aim to support their child’s development (37 percent, each).
While 63 percent believe interactive toys are important in the early stages of their baby’s life, the same percentage of parents admitted they sometimes get annoyed with those toys.
The most peeving parts vary from having too many pieces (57 percent) or earworm music/sounds (55 percent).
Still, nearly all of these parents recognize that what may be qualms to them are beneficial to their child (94 percent).
“Parents know developmental milestones are important but don’t always know when or how to help their babies achieve them,” said Andy Keimach, president of VTech Electronics North America.
“Baby toys are designed to engage children through play and discovery across multiple stages of development, so parents can spend more time focusing on bonding with their baby through play.”
Most parents agree that today’s toys and activities are more effective in helping babies reach developmental milestones than before (72 percent).
They also claim their child has already met these milestones quicker than they expected (78 percent).
And 71 percent prefer toys that can adapt to grow with their child across multiple stages of development.
“Whether it’s a multi-stage product like the Kick & Score Playgym or a snack time toy, baby toys are for more than just play,” said Keimach.
“They are a great option for parents looking to supplement playtime with their baby in order to help them reach developmental milestones.”
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Queenie Donaldson Steps From Behind The Scenes To Receive Her Crown
LOS ANGELES — Viewers see the polished, finished product on TV.
But the majority of hard work is done behind the scenes. Just ask Queenie Donaldson. She worked at prestigious networks and celebrity events for the last 20+ years. Those networks include BET, TV-One, VH-1, Showtime, A&E, We TV, Viceland and Telepictures. She even coordinated the famous 45th birthday party for Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop.”
Transitioning into a more entrepreneurial role, Donaldson started Queens Entertainment Group, which is currently hosting a brunch to help invent and reinvent the careers of those in the entertainment industry. The effort is called “A Seat @ The Table.”
After working with Jamie Foxx, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Hart and other stars, Donaldson is taking her decorated Rolodex and advice from mentors and stepping forward to help others accomplish their dreams.
Donaldson shared her vision with Zenger.
Zenger: Some celebrities can be temperamental and standoffish. How did you form a bond with so many and maintain it?
Donaldson: That’s a good question. Just treat them like an everyday person, because we’re all human beings. You treat everyone with respect. Treat people the way you want to be treated. That’s probably what has sustained me over the years, being an executive at BET Network and other networks and award circuits. The industry seems big, but it’s super-small. When you treat people with kindness and have a great work ethic, that sustains relationships with celebrities and their reps.
Zenger: We all want that one opportunity, but getting the opportunity is only half the battle. Capitalizing on it is what you were able to do. What advice would you give?
Donaldson: It definitely wasn’t easy. I’m coming up on 22 years in the industry, and Yolanda Starks White and Sheila Frazier were my bosses at BET Network. They hired me in the talent department and taught me everything. Yolanda Starks and I still have a very tight relationship. Getting mentors is extremely important. And making sure that you do your part as well.
No one is going to give you anything. You have to do the work. Early on, when I was getting ready to start my business, I was given all the tools and resources, but I was afraid to use them. I didn’t know how to utilize them. It took a minute for me to get the confidence to take it to the next level. That was a blessing. People don’t always give you resources and guidance, and sometimes, you don’t know how to utilize them. So, I finally got the courage and confidence and reassurance from my mentors, and I just went for it. I’m blessed to be here now. Now, I’m giving back some of the same things that were provided to me years ago.
Zenger: What you’re doing with Queens Entertainment Group, is it much different from your TV executive days, or does it all somehow tie-in?
Donaldson: When I was an executive, my job was to secure all the high-profile celebrities for all the network shows and award-show circuits. I worked with some great producers, executive producers for many networks. I still work in that same capacity, but in a consulting capacity.
Now, I can pick and choose who I work with, what projects I work on, and it also allows me to work globally. And in industries outside the entertainment industry, like the tech world and the sports world. Everything somehow always revolves around entertainment and the philanthropy part.
I will be coming to New Orleans for the last leg of my speaking series called “A Seat @ The Table.” It’s an entertainment empowerment brunch series. I’m helping individuals, entrepreneurs, creators, entertainment professionals, not just people who want to be in it. There are people who are in it and need to reinvent themselves; they just need new resources and guidance. I’m teaching them how to navigate the industry through, “A Seat @ The Table.”
Zenger: There is an abundance of talented entertainers who are searching for work, or their phone isn’t as busy as it once was with jobs. This brunch sounds like it could help those individuals.
Donaldson: Absolutely! It doesn’t matter if you want to be in front of the camera or behind the camera. I just got back from Chicago, which was my seventh city, and what I’ve been finding is, people don’t have the right information, or they don’t have any information. They feel like because they’re not in Los Angeles, they can’t be successful, and that’s just not true.
With technology and virtual, instead of moving to LA with no connections, I’m actually providing them, not only one-on-one coaching at these brunches, but they’re leaving with a step-by-step guide, so they can take the resources that I give them and execute. Whatever part of the industry, I have the resources and tools. This is all 20+ years of networking and building my relationships. I’m doing this to give back and make sure everyone has the right information. That’s the key for me, the right information.
Zenger: Was it scary for you to jump out of your comfort zone and step from behind the scenes and lead your own company?
Donaldson: Absolutely! I loved being behind the scenes. I felt comfortable there. But in order for me to serve and be able to be of service and make sure people have the right tools and information, I had to get in front. I’m getting comfortable now because I’m getting practice through this speaking series. I love seeing people inspired. One of the attendees in Seattle said: “Wow, I feel confident. I can go start my consulting business.” At first, she was afraid, but she attended the event and heard my story … because I’m very transparent. I let people know it doesn’t matter what you look like, where you came from, or how old you are.
Sometimes, we get stuck in our own heads, and we think we can’t do things because we’re getting older, or it’s just not going to happen. Every day we wake up, you can do whatever you want to do. At “A Seat @ The Table,” we provide you with what you need to make it happen. We are making sure everyone is inspired, encouraged, and yes, you can do it. It’s going to take work. You have to do the work. That doesn’t go away, but here’s what you have to do. That has been impactful.
Zenger: You’re known as an “Infopreneur.” What does that mean?
Donaldson: My business coach called me that because all through my career, I was like Oprah Winfrey. Everyone called Queenie for whatever it is that you need: a job, intern, a contact, how to get into this event. I have always been resourceful. It just happened so naturally and organically. When we were building my profile, she was like, “You are like an infopreneur.” We just went with that.
I’m full of information and to me, when you have that, you don’t keep it to yourself. You share your knowledge and your resources. In the beginning, when my mentors were teaching me all this stuff, I wanted to just sit in the talent department and just book talent. They said: “No, you need to learn every part of the industry.”
It’s so natural to me, I’m always looking to learn, even 22 years in. I’m not stopping. I don’t think I know everything. I’m teaching what I know. I want to grow and learn more and make sure I’m doing my part. That’s how I want to be remembered in the industry. I want people to be able to say that I helped them. That’s more fulfilling than the celebrities that I booked. We are so much better when we collaborate, help each other, and see people win.
A lot of times in Hollywood, people can be selfish, and it can be about them, even with social media. Everybody is a star and important, but no … if you’re not using your platform to do something positive, you’re irrelevant. I don’t care how many followers you have. If you’re tearing people down, that’s not success. “A Seat @ The Table” is for everyone of all ages, but what I’m really trying to teach the young folks is, everything on social media is not real.
You have to learn to communicate, you have to get off the phone and actually have conversations, and work on your personality and attitude. I give it to them real. Even the seasoned ones who don’t embrace young people, we have to be an example. It goes both ways. It’s not about attacking the young people. Everyone should be learning and growing.
Zenger: Is there a moment that sticks out more than others in your illustrious career?
Donaldson: There’s actually two moments. The first one is doing Michael Jackson’s 45th birthday party in five days (laughing). That was crazy. It was in 2003. I was working on a show with Jimmy Iovine and Paul Rosenberg, Eminem’s manager, and Randy Sosin, one of the executives at Interscope. I got a call from a mutual friend, and he said: “We need you to do Michael’s birthday.” And I was like, “Oh, OK.” He said, “No, in 5 days.” I’m booking talent for nine shows in the midst of production, and I pulled it off.
It was a miracle, but of course, it’s Michael Jackson, so it wasn’t as hard. For me to be able to do that and pull in a phenomenal team, we just made it happen. That was a beautiful moment. Also, being a part of the talent team that was able to bring together one of the most iconic BET Awards when James Brown performed, and we surprised everyone with Michael Jackson. That was one of my highlight moments, being part of the talent team to make that happen. There are many moments, but those two were amazing.
Zenger: How do you feel about TV show reboots?
Donaldson: I personally don’t care for them. It’s not shade to anyone. I just like classic. I like to pull out my VHS or DVD from time to time and just keep it old school. I just think, everyone is a creative, let’s create. Let’s get some new stuff going on. I just don’t think everything needs a reboot. Even with, “The Fresh Prince” … the story lines are just weird. It’s just different. I rather watch my 1990s’ classics and leave the reboots to whoever is watching them.
Zenger: What are the short-term goals for Queens Entertainment Group?
Donaldson: I’m actually working on that, that’s a 5 to 10-year retirement. I’m actually producing a new project with my boss/mentor Yolanda [Starks] that we are going to be launching in the next two to three years, and hopefully that will be my retirement project with Queens Entertainment Group. When I do retire from the industry, I won’t 100% be retired. I will be moving more into the philanthropy work because that is what I love. I will still be a part of bringing the entertainment side to the philanthropy side of things.
“A Seat @ The Table.” Saturday, June 11 in New Orleans, Louisiana, at Hotel Provincial in the French Quarter. For more information and to register: www.officialasatt.com
Edited by Fern Siegel and Richard Pretorius
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Unified Champion Fulton Defends His 122-Pound Crowns Against Former Titleholder Roman
Daniel Roman knows what it’s like to lose his title in the ring. Now, he wants Stephen Fulton to feel the same way.
Roman has won twice since January 2020, when he was dethroned as IBF/WBA champion following a disputed split decision loss to undefeated southpaw Murdjon Akhmadaliev.
Fulton abandoned his stick-and-move style during a toe-to-toe classic in November’s narrow decision over Brandon Figueroa, which added the WBO 122-pound title to his WBC version.
Akhmadaliev tied Leon Spinks’ record for the fastest male fighter to become a unified champion in his eighth fight by vanquishing Roman, while Fulton became the eighth unified champion in the 45-year history of the super bantamweight division by defeating Figueroa.
Roman (29-3-1, 10 KOs) wants to face Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) after fighting Fulton (20-0, 8 KOs) in Saturday’s clash at The Armory in Minneapolis.
“I have unfinished business because the loss to MJ [Akhmadaliev] is always on my mind,” said Roman, 32, of Los Angeles. “I do believe that I won the fight with MJ, but the only way to get back to him is to go through Stephen Fulton.”
The winner of Saturday’s bout can become an undisputed champion with a victory over Akhmadaliev if he succeeds in defending his crown against Ronny Rios (33-3, 16 KOs) on June 25.
“I want to be the first undisputed 122-pound champion,” Fulton said. “The only way I can do that is by beating Daniel Roman.”
Fulton vanquished his ninth undefeated fighter in Figueroa (22-1-1, 17 KOs).
“That was a hard-earned victory, and I pulled it out. That fight was a war. It was special because the fight was a classic from round one to round 12,” said Fulton, 27, of Philadelphia.
“When you have fights of that caliber, and you’re the winner, it’s amazing and a helluva feeling. Then again, I’m going to always find a way to pull out that victory. It was a tough fight against a tough person, but Roman is a more technical fighter.”
Fulton had earned a unanimous decision in January 2021, dethroning WBO titleholder Angelo Leo,
Leo had won a clash of unbeatens by unanimous decision over southpaw Tremaine Williams for the crown in August 2020.
Another big victory early on was Fulton’s shutout unanimous decision victory over two-time title winner Paulus Ambunda, whom he dethroned as IBO champion in May 2019.
As a result, Fulton in ranked No. 1 by some boxing-related organizations.
“It feels good to be No. 1, but my goal has always been to be the undisputed champion, and after winning this fight, I would definitely like to go after Murodjon Akhmadaliev,” said Fulton.
“We’ve been on this path for a long time. I highly believe in my intelligence, abilities, speed and power. My spirit and energy are better than ever overall. I feel great, and I can’t wait to get into the ring and display all of my abilities.”
Nicknamed “the Baby-Faced Assassin,” Roman traveled to Kyoto, Japan, in September 2017 to dethrone southpaw WBA champion Shun Kubo, flooring him twice on the way to a ninth-round TKO victory before his hometown fans.
“Shun Kubo was 12-0 with nine knockouts when I fought him in Japan and dropped him twice before stopping him, and I fought TJ Doheny, who was 21-0 with 15 knockouts when I dropped him twice,” Roman said.
“I’ve beaten undefeated fighters before, but Fulton is a smart fighter who can do a little bit of everything. I anticipate it being a mind game with some boxing and some brawling, but if I get an opportunity to take him out, I’ll take him out.”
Roman has won his past two bouts by unanimous decision over left-handed former champion Juan Carlos Payano (September 2020) and Ricardo Espinoza Franco (May 2021).
“I’ve worked my way back to this position with a lot of sacrifice, dedication and perseverance. These opportunities don’t come by for most fighters,” Roman said. “I’m fighting for two world titles this time, for the WBC and WBO belts, and best believe I’m going to leave everything in the ring.”
Edited by Richard Pretorius and Matthew B. Hall
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Pastel Cronies’ NFT Collection Seeks To Help End Cruelty To Animals
Pastel Cronies is a new collection of 10,100 NFTs that’s been organized to provide financial assistance to Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) chapters around the world. The set has more than 180 unique features, including cheerful colors and facial expressions, the company says.
The collection comes with 100 extremely rare and priceless nonfungible tokens (NFTs), all of which will be distributed in the next NFT drop. The collection is distributed using the ERC-721A NFT, which is the standard for Ethereum. A smart contract with a low gas content is denoted by the symbol ERC-721A, the company says.
Gas content? Here’s what that term means in situations such as this:
“The blockchain depends on processing power provided by a decentralized network of computers including cryptocurrency mining rigs. Minting fees, often called ‘gas fees,’ are what the members of this network earn in return for the processing power they provide,” Pastel Cronies says on its website. “Gas fees can fluctuate according to the amount of traffic on the blockchain at any given moment but cannot be avoided. To avoid high gas fees for our fans, we are creating a Free mint that allows our fans to mint when gas is at the lowest.”
Each NFT is considered by the company to be a one-of-a-kind find, much like the millions of different personalities that can be found around the globe. The 180 distinct features offer the possibility of more than 360 million alternative combinations, Pastel Cronies says.
The NFTs are dedicated to putting an end to cruel treatment of animals, encouraging a more compassionate attitude toward them and helping ease the animals’ suffering.
The SPCA says it “works to save animals from dogfighting, puppy mills, hoarding and other cruelty situations” and that it provides animals with “medical care and behavioral rehabilitation and helps thousands of animals find loving homes every year.”
Owners of Pastel Cronies are immediately included in a monthly drawing that will award one or more lucky winners a portion of the Ether that was earned as interest by the Pastel Cronies fund on a monthly basis.
The Pastel Cronies collection has already garnered an audience with more than 3,000 followers on Twitter, as well as an active community on Discord. Pastel Cronies is promoting a free minting period (limited to five tokens per wallet). Here are links to the collection’s accounts: Twitter / Discord
“We have real and unique art with purpose. Show some love to@pastel_cronies and invite your@doodlesbuddies over to support us,” Pastel Cronies tweeted.
Produced in association with MetaNews.
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