“It’s About Time” – Give to V.O.I.C.E.S.

Ever wonder what happens to foster kids once they reach 18?

Here’s a quick glimpse of some previous statistics:
-65%  find themselves without a place to live
-by the age of 19, only 57% will have received a high school diploma or GED
-less than 50% are employed 2.5-4 years after leaving foster care
-56% are reported using hard drugs
-50% suffer from chronic health conditions
-” Over 70% of all California State Penitentiary inmates have spent time in the foster care system.”
(These and more statistics can be found on the V.O.I.C.E.S. website.)

V.O.I.C.E.S., which stands for Voice Our Individual Choices for Emancipation Support, was founded in November of 2005, and has been helping these youth find jobs, homes, and helping them during their transition out of foster care.
To continue to help these youth however, V.O.I.C.E.S. needs your help.  $15,000 must be raised by the end of this year!

Watch this video, then learn a little more about V.O.I.C.E.S. and what they do for these youth, and how you can help.
http://vimeo.com/7905796

V.O.I.C.E.S. Mission statement: “V.O.I.C.E.S. is a community based organization that exists to empower, love, and support under-served Napa County youth transitioning from systems of care.” 

V.O.I.C.E.S. also has a new center in Sonoma, located in Santa Rosa, CA, which opened its doors in April 2009 as an expansion of V.O.I.C.E.S Napa.
“V.O.I.C.E.S. Sonoma exists to provide a supportive, safe, and non-judgemental community where transition-aged youth from all systems of care can utilize peer based resources, feel connected, and build a foundation for their futures.” (Mission statement of V.O.I.C.E.S. Sonoma).

Visit the V.O.I.C.E.S. website at: http://www.voicesyouthcenter.org/

PLEASE HELP! GO HERE TO DONATE NOW: http://givetovohttp://www.voicesyouthcenter.org/ices.com/

“IT’S ABOUT TIME THAT FOSTER YOUTH GOT THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE.”

5 Reasons Singha Beer Is Great

 

Singha Logo

1) Rating
-Rated with a B (compared to Heineken which is rated with a D) alongside with Sam Adams, which whether you like Sam Adams or not, you do have to admit it is a popular beer. 

2) Products/Merchandise
-Has an intricate logo of a Thai Lion and the gold colors makes the design and products look cool and sophisticated.
-Singha shirts, hats, etc, are very popular and surprisingly receive compliments when worn.  Personal favorite: the black shirts with the gold logo.
-Singha Beer towers tend to be very popular at any event that is held.  People will even try stealing these items, because they can not be purchased.  Try a tower out at least once when you attend a Singha event; they’re pretty cool, and especially convenient if you have a group with you. 

Singha Beer Towers

3) History
-Singha Beer is THE official beer of Thailand, and the first beer to be brewed by a Thai, Boon Rawd in 1933. It is a nation’s heritage.
-Rawd went to Germany to learn how to brew beer since there was not yet any brewing factory or school in Thailand; hence the reason you get German hops in Singha Beer.
-The Majesty King Prajadhipok of Thailand approved of the beer himself (royal approval to make the beer) 

Singha Beer Awards

4) Taste
-Singha Beer is a full-bodied premium lager brewed from 100% barley malt, made with fine hops from Germany.
-Singha Beer is very smooth, rich, and exotic, and Singha Lite is not diluted with water as most lite beers are. Instead it is diluted with tropical fruits from Thailand.
-Compliments a spicy Thai dish perfectly. 

5) Singha Girls
-And let’s not forget about those lovely Singha girls.  Whether they are serving your beer at a Singa Beer Garden for Thai New Year, or driving around in golf carts passing out beers at a tournament, they make any Singha event even more spectacular.  Beer and women. Need I say more? 

*Singha Beer can be found at specialty stores, including: BevMo, Fresh & Easy, Whole Foods, Gelson’s, Mother’s Market, random Ralph’s, random liquor stores, and elsewhere. 

Pipe Dreams Hookah Lounge, the new spot in Corona, CA! – Updates

*Updates at bottom*

Let’s face it, you’re in Corona on a Wednesday night, maybe even a Friday night, and just can’t find anything to do. This is Corona, what is there to do other than go to the movies or T.G.I.Friday’s? And come on, that gets old after awhile.

Pipe Dreams Hookah Lounge

Well Corona has what it has been waiting for!

The new kick-it spot, coming to you soon!  PIPE DREAMS Hookah Shop

Currently, while awaiting the grand opening, there are promotion nights, to give you a feel of what to expect. 

As soon as you walk in you see the first of many paintings on the walls. Every wall has something different. From graffiti to that tattoo look.  There are many artists that have contributed to the artwork.  You won’t find any hookah shop designed like this place.  When you walk in there is the front you will notice to the left FML clothing line products pinned up to the wall. As you walk through the hall to the right, the first door is the main room. Equipped with big projector screens and futon sofas everywhere, you are set to kick back and enjoy yourself while you smoke some hookah. The music selection is great from Transplants to Lil John, to much more, that you will never fall asleep.

Continuing past the main room, the next door to your right is the V.I.P. Lounge.  Become a regular, or be a homie, and you could be chillen in here with your buds.  You will find another projector screen, more seating, a stripper pole, and it is said to have a pool table coming as well.  It’s a little more private for you and your friends if you don’t want to deal with other Corona folk.   Don’t be afraid to even wonder over to where the bathrooms are.  Take a look in the mirror between the two restrooms and notice the wall that is behind you…I won’t spoil it, go check it out yourself! 

Art in the VIP lounge

Now let’s get down to why you came here other than to kick it: the hookah.  Tobacco is provided by the Fantasia Hookah company, and you will find yourself choosing from many different flavors of some of the freshest hookah tobacco and hydro.  What hookah shop sells hydro?  You must try hydro at least once on one of your visits, you won’t be disappointed.  With quirky names like “Sweet Virgin” to just your normal flavors like raspberry lemonade, you’ll definately find a flavor to your tongues liking.  The hookahs hit really well, and the coal people are very efficient at meeting your coal needs.  It does not take long for your hookahs to come out either, unlike other places where you are waiting sometimes fifteen minutes before anything is brought to you. 

During promotion nights, hookahs are $10 each, and $5 for refills.  After opening expect hookahs to go up to $12, but it is still the same price, better quality, better service, than any other hookah shop you’ll go to.

Wi-Fi is supposed to be available too, so if ya feel like really hanging out for awhile, bring in your laptop, or need to study but need that hookah break, you are set. 

More art at Pipe Dreams

Oh and if you are lucky, you will find the awesome owner, Josh, or Chuckie as he often goes by, jamming on his drumset in the little spare room located next to the V.I.P. Lounge.  You can’t miss him, he’s a tall white boy covered in tattoos.  And what is a cool place without cool owners? You will also see the other owner, Amanda walking around everyday. These two have worked very hard to open this place up, and dealing with different issues the city throws at them every week, are determined to open shop as soon as possible.

Look at August for the grand opening folks.  Expect to see a stunt show by some Rough Ryders/Stunt Farm, which your lovely owner Josh was also a part of.

So spread the news, and if you have time, just swing by the shop and check it out.  Or you can go to their site: http://www.myspace.com/pipedreams951

UPDATES:
The day has come! Friday, August 21st comes the grand opening of Pipe Dreams!
Expect the pool table that is already up, as well as two stripper poles and black lights. VIP room is done and being rented out already, so get your spots today!
Carpet has been torn out, and floors painted, the final look change you probably did not expect.
Expect something spectacular for the grand opening. Something along the lines of stunt riders, members of bands you all love, and of course great hookah.
So gather your friends and plan on being at Pipe Dreams on Friday night! It’ll be the most epic night ever!

Originally Published on: Jul 10, 2009 @ 10:42