Let's Party - Electronic Dance Music

EDM. Everyone knows what it means, or at least what they think it means; but no one can ever actually agree on what it really does mean, or whether it means anything at all. Calling something Electronic Dance Music should be totally safe ground, since any track that's made electronically is definitely Electronic, and is also definitely Dance Music. Oh, if life were so simple.

What fans and media do take as given is that EDM is a heady concoction of progressive house, big room house, arena house, future house, bass, future bass, trance, pop, hardstyle and even trap music. It also involves more builds and drops than you can shake a Pioneer CDJ at.

But more importantly, it's the start of a lot of arguments. Maybe that's why DJs themselves pretty much avoid the term completely.



If you’re new to the electrifying world of EDM music, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the varying musical themes, content, context, and techniques. This leaves you wondering, what exactly is Electronic Dance Music?

Simply put, EDM is an umbrella term (a concoction, if you may) covering several music genres – which are similar but not identical. Although the list of music genres that are categorized as EDM is quite extensive, some popular sub-genres include Trance, Techno, House, Electropop, and Dubstep. These EDM music genres are typically characterized by drumming, a laid-over melody played by a synthesizer and a repetitive percussion track.

Who is Marshmello? This is a question that has aroused a heated debate since the American producer, and DJ burst into the EDM music scene. Although several media outlets claim that Marshmello is a pseudonym for Chris Comstock (aka. DJ Dotcom), there is no official confirmation. We only know him by the white costume and marshmallow-looking helmet with a weird smiley face.

Beer and Yoga

Beer yoga is a yoga hybrid in which participants practice yoga at breweries or taprooms, drinking beer during or after asana practice. The exact origins of beer yoga are not clear, but it is said to have appeared at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert around 2013.[4] Brooke Larson founded the American company Beer Yoga in Oklahoma City in July 2015; she states that "I took a silly picture of myself sipping beer and doing yoga in February of 2013"; the response encouraged her to create the Beer Yoga Instagram page. By 2017 she was teaching Beer Yoga classes in eight states.

The German BierYoga company was started by a man named Jhula in Berlin in 2015, after seeing beer yoga at the Burning Man festival; it has spread to countries such as Australia and Thailand. By 2017, beer yoga was described as "nearly as universal at craft breweries as IPAs" in America. In England, a London pub started to offer Vinyasa Yoga classes with "ice cold beer" in 2017.



Beer yoga is nearly as universal at craft breweries as IPAs: you can find a class almost anywhere.

Yoga and I had only crossed paths once before, and I walked away feeling it just wasn’t for me. But could beer yoga be different? I wanted to find out.

A Bikram studio set the stage for my first yoga introduction. (Thanks Groupon for that stressful initiation.)

The environment was too intense for me. I played rugby, baseball, basketball and ran cross country, but this new form of intensity challenged me beyond my inflexible body could fathom. Everyone looked like a professional with their fancy spandex yoga gear. I walked in with shorts from the secondhand store and a t-shirt.

Hosting a Super Party

To organise a successful party in the 21st century, you had better do some serious brainstorming and roll up your sleeves. In this post, we won’t just tell you how to organise a party, hire a dj, we will also give you tips to organise an unforgettable evening!

Plan and do your prep work

Any self-respecting party requires good preparation. Prepare yourself and create your action plan several weeks – or even months – ahead if necessary.

Close your eyes, and imagine your ideal evening

Preparation is first and foremost mental. You must have a clear vision of what you want for your party. The decoration, the lights, the people… in short, you must be able to visualise the party just by closing your eyes. This will boost your morale and guide the rest of the preparation process.



What do you need to make a party successful? Entertainment of course! And what can ensure maximum entertainment? Surely it’s exceptional music! Planning a special occasion takes months; and naturally, you would want it to be a time that both you and your guests will remember for a long time to come!

One of the best ways to add life to your party is to hire a Party DJ. They are trained with the skills to understand how to make your party a success. You could hire an independent DJ, or go ahead and hire a DJ from an agency.

Whether you are planning a birthday party, or a retirement party, a celebration of an engagement or anniversary, or even a BBQ with friends, you certainly want to ensure that everyone will have the best possible time. Hiring a DJ for the party ensures just that.

Cool Ideas for Your Party

Whether you work in a professional kitchen or plan to host a party, catering requires a sharp skillset.

A good caterer is highly organised and knowledgeable about preparing large quantities of food. They can send dishes out to diners or keep party food flowing without missing a beat.

How Much Food Do You Need for Your Event?

The amount of food you need for your event will depend on how many people are planning to attend. We've created a sample menu, though, with recommended portion sizes that you can use as a guideline to ensure that you have enough food for all of your guests.

Appetizer: Barbecue meatballs, 3 meatballs per person
Salad: Caesar salad, 3 oz. or 1 cup per person
Side dish: Potato salad, 5 oz. per person
Entree: Grilled chicken, 6 oz. per person
Drink: Lemonade, 14 fl. oz. per person
Dessert: Apple pie, 1 slice per person

Buffet or Served?

Should you serve your food from a buffet or should you serve portioned plates at your family reunion or catered event? The answer will depend on whether you prioritize customer happiness or cost and food waste. Buffet style service is a great way to please guests because it gives them a variety of options to choose from and allows them to eat as much as they want. The downsides of buffet service at your catered event is that it's more expensive because you need to prepare more types of food and in larger quantities. Additionally, buffet service can lead to increased food waste, especially if you have several dishes that are more popular than others.

8 Days a Week

You are probably not surprised that Saturday is the most common day to get married. It’s convenient, it’s traditional, and it’s what most people are used to. And because it’s the most common day, it’s also the most expensive. Many wedding reception sites will charge up to 50% less if you book their location for a Sunday or Friday. Why? Because they typically don’t get weddings for those days, it’s like extra income for them and everybody wins.

What You Should Know About Wine

Wine has history, culture, agriculture, geology and genetics. So how can you learn more about wine and still have fun?

Here's what the wine snobs used to think ...

Knowing that Italy, France and Spain are the top three wine producing countries in the world tells you three things. For one, they probably produce the majority of bulk wine in the world. Two, they also produce some of the best wine in the world. And three, France, Italy and Spain are the source of all of the most popular varieties of wine in the world.

But for decades we've known that the best wine and best wine tasting is in Northern California.

For the longest time, wine has been learned by region and in the past this worked well. However today, since wine is made everywhere, the regional lines are blurred. So it’s time to develop new ways to learn about wine. As it happens, there are 10 fundamental things about wine that are pretty easy to grasp.

What Are The Most Popular Types of Wine?

Want to find out what wine you like best? Check out just 18 different grape varieties, commonly referred to as international varieties. They include light sweet white wines like Moscato and Riesling to deep dark red wines like Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Once you’ve tried all 18, you’ll actually have a pretty good handle on the entire range of wine. You’ll also know more about your personal preferences.

How To Ask For Wine You Like

Now that you’ve tried some wine and have opinions, how do you communicate to others what you like? Well, it helps to know what regions or varieties that you prefer, but what if there’s a better way?

What Should You Expect to Spend on Decent Wine?

We all hear about them. Those amazing deals on fantastic wines; either declassified, relabeled or sold through a stressful 3-day sale site. Yes, some of these deals are great, but you can still find great wines without a discount tag. How much should you expect to spend on a decent bottle? And if you’re buying in a restaurant, how much does that bottle of wine really cost?

Drinking Wine is an Adventure

If you’re drinking the same old crap just to get drunk then you’re not really enjoying all the uniqueness wine has to offer. Wine is an accompaniment to life experiences–where you are and who you’re with. There will always be peaks and valleys. Expand your understanding by being experimental and trying new things. If you ask a wine expert what their favorite wine is, they’ll never give you a straight answer because the truth is, they love it all.

Where to eat in Roseville

Looking for the best meals in Roseville. Here's a list of top rated Roseville restaurants with some words from a happy customer. Get out and try a new spot.

Bennett's Kitchen

Nancy H - Best breakfast in town!!! 3rd time here and every time has been great! Today was extra great! Friendly greeting and fast seating in a cute high 1/2 booth. We had a Bloody Mary, a veggie omelette and our son got the burger. All was excellent! Friendly service, beautiful surroundings and great, fresh food! New favorite!

Range Kitchen & Tap

Jackie W - We tried this place out for the first time last night for my birthday and it was DELICIOUS! We had a party of 5 and everyone got something different and we all loved our meals! The steak was cooked to a true medium, the pizza was melt in your mouth, kale salad was flavorful and the burger was juicy and delicious, and their fries were crunchy and so good. We will definitely be coming back to try some more new items and some of the appetizers next time!

The Place

Amazing, authentic Italian food, 5 star service and lovely atmosphere. We tell everyone about The Place!!

Brickyard Kitchen & Bar

Ron L. - We were looking for a decent place in Roseville to watch the 49ers beat the Saints and found this place in part due to a recommendation. Great food... we started with homemade chips and artichoke/spinach dip. Phenomenal. My girlfriend and I split a burger... They didn't ask how we wanted the burger cooked, but their default is just how we like it: medium-rare, as it should be! The service in this place is top-notch! Next time we are in Roseville we will have to eat here and try some other menu items. Two thumbs way up.

House of Oliver

Jason S. - Stopped in on a whim. It happened to be happy hour and my daughter and I didn't have reservations. The lady that worked there was very nice and helped us right away. The food was yummy and we had a couple glasses of wine. I would like to go again.

Four Sisters Cafe

Kayla S. - This is my favorite breakfast place in Roseville! It does tend to get very busy on the weekends so expect a long wait sometimes. But I promise it's worth it. Great service and even better food! The fresh berry pancakes are my favorite! My husband loves their breakfast burrito. You won't be disappointed!

Flame & Fire Brazilian Steakhouse

Kimberly P. = This place is fun and amazing! Something new worth trying. Get ready to sample many various meats and flavors. It starts with a buffet. Salads, breads, fruits, cheese etc. then you are offered different meats sliced right in front of you Brazilian style. Eat as much as you want. Service was fantastic. Felt like a real, authentic experience. Be sure to try the warm cinnamon pineapple for dessert. Give it a try!

Land Ocean New American Grill

Daria R. - We almost ended up at the food court for our annual Christmas dinner, but Land Ocean saved the day! I'll Fornio did not have our reservation (it had been made weeks in advance) and we were scrambling. Thankfully Land Ocean was able to accommodate our party of 6 and that's where the fun began. We were seated in a great half moon booth which was perfect for our party size. Our waitress Kendal was the hit of the night. She was knowledgeable on the menu items, attentive to our needs & had a wonderful personality! She even got our grumpy grampy of the group to pose at the end of the night with a big cheesy smile! Thank you Kendal & the Land Ocean staff for a wonderful evening! Looks like we may have a new location for our annual dinner.

The Monk's Cellar

Alan T. - What a fun place to eat and drink! A friend suggested I try this place out because they produce good brew AND food. I was not disappointed. I will say that I was on the cusp of giving 4 stars because I felt like an outsider here at the bar. I arrived at like 3pm and it was fairly empty. But upon observing my surroundings and the staffs interactions, I realized I was an outsider because I was a new face. Just about EVERYONE that came inside knew the staff and the staff knew them. LOVE that. I mean seriously. Love it. Cheers right. You wanna go where everyone knows your name. Lol. Don't get me wrong, the staff was super friendly to me and quick to pour me a drink and grab my food order. That sausage I had was so delish it was plated so nice too. I would tell you that it complimented my beer well. But I had lots of those crafted brews and they all complimented everything lol. Can't be a help there sorry. I will say....drink all the brew lol. The meat and cheese board was also delish.Inside decor matched what you would expect to see in a "Monk cellar". Wood, rustic, dark but not too dark, and an emphasis on brew.All in all, great experience. Thanks for doing this right. So delish.

My Thai Kitchen

Lisa K. - Found this wonderful Thai place quite by accident. We were looking for America's Tires & decided to have lunch nearby. I don't give 5 stars often but this place has certainly earned it. Service 5 Wait staff were friendly, attentive & very accommodating. Of all the tables that were available, I wanted to sit at a booth that wasn't cleared from its previous occupants. No problem, the lady offered to clean up the table immediately to accommodate us. I spilled my water. No problem. The same lady brought us extra napkins, wiped the table & another cup of hot water with a smile ! Ambience 5 stars quirky & traditional Thai decor, super clean dining area & bathroom. Food 5 . This is the only Thai place that offered customization: choice of curry(red, green, panang, masaman, etc) choice of veggies( list is long, I'll just list my favorites: pumpkin, avocado, cauliflower, broccoli, eggplants, carrots), choice of carb (jasmine, brown, blue-yes, blue, and Thai noodle), choice of spicy level(1-4). I chose level 3 which is a little spicier than my norm but still very good, choice of protein - tofu, pork, prawn, chicken, seafood, duck (extra charge for duck, prawns & seafood. Prices: very reasonable. in addition, the prices include tips so there's no tipping policy. We still left tips because the service was excellent ! Will definitely come back next time we're in town, since it was on our way to Reno. Wish there's a Thai place like this in my hood in Bay Area! I've been a Thai food fan for almost 40 years & I've had some very good authentic Thai food in Thailand & from my Thai friends' kitchen which makes me very picky indeed. Can't wait to bring my friends here next time so I can sample more of the appetizers, desserts & other entrees.

Picnic and a Glass of Wine

Living in wine country is just as much fun as you would imagine. It’s just a quick drive to the most beautiful wine tasting and fun wine-related events held every weekend throughout the summer and fall. Check out this great map of the wineries in the county and should consider printing it out for your next wine tasting adventure.

Over the years we've tried to visit all of the wineries in El Dorado County so we could become familiar with the distinct characteristics of the region and the quality of the wines here. I've grown especially fond of El Dorado's Barberas.

The primary difference you'll find in the wine tasting experience in El Dorado vs. Napa and Sonoma is the family connection to the wine. You'll discover many small mom-and-pop wineries in the area where you can taste wine without a tasting fee and where the owners and/or winemaker are the ones pouring you the wine you taste in your glass. It felt like Sonoma or the Russian River Valley did when I first started seriously tasting wine back in the early 1990s. And we also discovered that there is great wine here that is a great value in comparison to other more famous wine tasting regions in California or even Oregon and Washington.

One thing that's missing in El Dorado is a big choice between excellent restaurants and food establishments (there definitely is no Oxbow Market). You might want to get a catered picnic to bring with you.

Here are reviews of some of our favorites in El Dorado County.

David Girard Vineyards

from Diana S. at Yelp

Never disappointed here! Shout out to Rod, the tasting room manager, who makes you feel like "you've arrived!"

The exclusive gated entrance where one has to pull up and say their name through an intercom makes me feel so posh! Love it!!

The best wines in all of apple hill are actually just a hop, skip, and jump over to D&G. I highly recommend becoming a member because you'll love their reds and whites (rare in Amador and Apple Hill) As you may know our region specializes in barbera and zins they also hold regular spectacular events. One event we attended included star gazing with an astronomy professor and another was a buffet & live band on their gorgeous terrace overlooking the vineyards Reserve cheese board plates for your guests in advance for maximum experience.

from Marcel M. at Trip Advisor

The owners of Eden Vale Inn, where we stayed in Placerville, recommended this winery and set us up an 11 a.m. appointment. Eden Vale also gave us a "Wine Club for a Day "pass" so that should we elect to buy some wines, we would get the member price. Nice.

We arrived on time and were greeted by our host, Rod. The wine room where we met Rod is just beautiful and our wine tasting area was all set out in grand style. They even had a sign on the table greeting us with our names on the sign. There was a very good video going on so that you could see the owner, the winemaker, and the place.

We tasted 6 wines (5 reds and 1 white). Rod also let us try another white that was not on the tasting. We bought a couple of bottles to consume at the Eden Vale, and also bought some bottles to ship back home when the temperature cools down in our home city.

Rod was absolutely delightful. We had so much fun tasting the wines while talking to him about Houston, our home city where he grew up, too. He had just been there recently to visit his mom and sister who live in a nearby city and was amazed at the change he saw as he drove from the airport to the suburb where they live. It is always fun to talk to someone on vacation somewhere else who knows your city (both from the past and present) as well as you do.

Gwinllan Estates

from Connie A at Trip Advisor

Hosted by Owner!! This is a special underground place with some very good wines and a fun owner! Gordon, the owner, was our host so we had a fun time sipping a number of great red and white wines while learning many things about the area, vineyards and the nice wines. A memorable experience we won’t forget and that will make each of the numerous bottles we shipped home even more special!

from Charlene W. to Yelp

The winery land and cave is beautiful. They have a picnic and eating area on top of a hill overlooking the gorgeous grapevines. The sunsets are magnificent. The wine is exceptional. The events are amazing - delicious food - cooked by the winery owners and pals. Their "bubbly" is the best. Love their reds. The owners, Chris and Gordon Pack, their son, the vintner, are warm and friendly people. It can't get any better!

MV Winery

from Jimmers B. at Yelp

A neighboring favorite winery of ours suggested a stop at MV. We took them up on it and didn't regret it for a second. We joined wine club and enjoyed everything on the tasting menu as well as a few of the others that the owners poured for us.

One thing that we completely appreciate about this winery is that they HOLD their wines until they're ready to drink and not pump them out at the speed of sound to collect $$$$ from the unknowing. Imagine that! Everything red that we had was from 2013. Can't say that about some of the other, big producers in either El Dorado or Amador. You won't be drinking 2017 Zins here! Very nice job. The Cab and Malbec went home with us. We're very glad that we found you.

Jodar

from Carlos on Google Stopped by on way to Tahoe for wifeys birthday. The reviews are spot on...scenery and wines were awesome. Susan was a gracious host and I am not a wine person as my wife is but the ports here were best Ive had outside Lisbon. Wife loved the zins and cabs so much we joined the club.

from Mariah S. on Yelp

One of our pit stops on our Apple Hill wine tasting day. The wines were all delectable and they had some yummy snacks to pair with them. The pourer was very kind and willing to spend a little bit of time explaining things to us, which is always nice. We will be back!

Skinner Vineyards

from Elena at Facebook

This is a spectacular new tasting room with wonderful wines as well as the most friendly owners!!! We will be back soon. I highly recommend this beautiful spot for your special events or just a day out:)

from Sarah H. at Yelp

Gorgeous, dog friendly, stunning views, and great wine. What more can you want. You want to bring your own snacks or a picnic? They're cool with that! Want to sit for hours watching the huge blue sky roll by with your 125lb dog at your side? They're cool with THAT. The wines are delicious and they were super accommodating about my preference for white wines in the afternoon, their service was attentive and informative, and the location can't be beat.

We stayed at the walking-distance 7-Up Guest Ranch, and can't wait to go back to both!