Big Sean
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2024

Detroit Rapper Big Sean Connects With Chips Ahoy! For Capsule Collection

'My new merch collaboration with Chips Ahoy! at ComplexCon is about bringing big flavor and bold style together,' Big Sean says.

Hip-hop recording artist Big Sean has connected with America’s No. 1 chocolate chip cookie brand to collaborate on an exclusive capsule collection that will be featured at the upcoming ComplexCon.

Chips Ahoy! has announced that it hooked up with the Detroit rapper to introduce a cookie-inspired merch collection that will be revealed at ComplexCon. The cookie brand is also celebrating the Chips Ahoy! Big Chewy Cookie, which comes in three flavors.

“My new merch collaboration with Chips Ahoy! at ComplexCon is about bringing big flavor and bold style together. Debuting the collection for a brand I’ve loved for years at an event where culture and creativity collide, is particularly special. See ya’ll in Vegas!” Big Sean said in a written statement.

The collection will showcase pieces that were co-designed by Big Sean. Those items include a Don Life T-shirt emblazoned with the Big Chewy Cookie, which is the latest item the brand is promoting. A premium heavyweight sweatshirt in a chocolate brown color, which has a large cookie design that shows off what a Chips Ahoy! cookie should look like. There is also a new oversized tote bag that has a perfectly sized slit to place the Big Chewy Cookie in or its new nostalgic lunchbox tin.

The capsule collection will debut in Las Vegas during ComplexCon on Nov. 16.

“When thinking about bringing together BIG names for our Big Chewy Cookie launch, we knew Complex and Big Sean would be the best partners to help us make a splash in fashion and culture while underscoring our passion for mouth-watering innovation,” said Jen Levin, senior brand manager at Chips Ahoy! “At over three times the size of the Chips Ahoy! Regular Chewy Cookie, this shareable, on-the-go choice brings happiness with each big, delicious bite. Chips Ahoy! Big Chewy Cookie is made with Gen Z Chips Ahoy! fans in mind –- so, collaborating with Big Sean at ComplexCon is the perfect way to share the product and exclusive merch collection with them.”

Those who are unable to make it to Vegas for the event can get a chance to win some Big Chewy Cookie cookies, which come in three flavors: Chocolatey Chip, Chocolatey Brownie, and Chocolatey Caramel. From now until Nov. 27, people can go to stories.complex.com/chipsahoysweeps.

The Chips Ahoy! Big Chewy Cookie is also available in convenience stores across the country and will be found in grocery and bigger stores in 2025.

RELATED CONTENT: Big Sean and Jhene Aiko File For Restraining Order Against Deranged Fan

rent, deceased woman,
by Kandiss Edwards

November 14, 2024

New Study Reveals The Most Affordable Cities With Affordable Rent

These cities minimum wage is higher than average and still barely affordable.

Oct. 21, Clever, a real estate company, published a study on the most affordable cities to live in for minimum wage workers. The federal minimum wage is set at $7.25 but varies depending on the state. The study considers state minimum wage and basic rental costs when determining which cities are the best. 

“Clever evaluated the 50 largest housing markets in the United States, looking at typical rent prices for units of various sizes and how they relate to the area’s minimum wage.”

Earning federal minimum wage means that a full-time employee will live below the poverty line. Pre-tax, the worker would make $1,190 monthly. Many of the locations listed are barely above the poverty line, the highest being Denver, Colorado at $18.29. Even as the top city for pay, Denver is no. 9 on the list. Buffalo, New York, holds the top spot with a $15.00 minimum wage and a lower average rent ratio. 

According to the study, residents of Buffalo still struggle to afford their dwelling according to statistical data.. 

“Minimum-wage workers in Buffalo can expect to pay 39% of their income for a typical one-bedroom unit. That’s the lowest rent-to-income ratio of any major city in the country but still higher than the common affordability threshold of 30%.”

The reality of today is that the housing and rental market is volatile. Many people are struggling under the weight of low pay, rising rent, hidden fees, and rising inflation. Moving to a city with a better wage-to-rent ratio may work to relieve financial stress on individuals and families. With the spirit of optimism in mind, BLACK ENTERPRISE is going to run down a few of the most affordable places to live. 

Buffalo, NY

Snuggled in the northeast corner of the U.S., Buffalo is a hop, skip, and jump away from Canada. The $15 minimum wage is double the federal wage. Residents can be sure to experience beautiful winters. The city is only 6 hours away from New York City.

St. Louis, Missouri 

Home of the Gateway Arch, St. Louis is a city of man-made marvels. The city boasts a $12.30 minimum wage, and the average rental costs $984 monthly. The city has its own distinct, midwestern culture and thoroughly embraces its professional baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

https://twitter.com/chickenjoestl/status/1854320162369110258?s=46

Cincinnati, Ohio

Ohio is home to one of the greatest basketball players alive, LeBron James. Cincinnati cannot claim the honor of being the legend’s hometown. But the city tied with Cleveland and Kansas City, placing 6th on the affordable cities list.

Denver, Colorado 

Living near the mountains is not for everyone. Those with an affinity for extreme climates would fare well in a city that fluctuates from hot and dry summers to cold and snowy winters. With the highest minimum wage at $18.29, the mountains just might be bearable. 

Detroit, Michigan 

Detroit, better known as the Motor City and home of Motown Records, is steeped in culture. The city is ranked no. 10 on the list as 61% of a resident’s minimum wage income is needed to cover an average rent of $1,060. Still, if the cost of living in other areas is controlled, the other 39% may grant a decent quality of life.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Build-To-Rent’ Homes For Single Families Booming In Metro Atlanta

Black Women’s Voices Are Needed For New Cancer Study
by Kandiss Edwards

November 14, 2024

Black Women’s Voices Are Needed For New Cancer Study

The American Cancer Society  launched “Voices Of Black Women.” The program is designed to research the deadly disease, its causes, factors and its disproportionate effects on Black women. 

According to the American Cancer Society, the study is online and will not require in-person visits with a clinician. The goal is to get data from one-hundred thousand Black women via survey. The survey will include questions about past history, medical and personal. It will also delve into personal health habits. 

“The initial survey takes about one hour, with shorter follow-ups twice a year. These surveys contribute to our study of uncovering  day-to-day experiences affecting cancer risk.”

Black women have a “lower cancer incidence rate for Black women compared to White women.” Yet, Black women mortality rate is 12%  higher than that of white women.

As such it is vital to gain all data points possible to help women, specifically, Black women avoid and overcome cancer. The study is hoping to enroll 100,000 women, which would make it the organization’s largest study, focused on Black women and cancer, to date. 

 

Some Black women may be skeptical to volunteer for medical research. The medical field has an unethical and brutal history when it comes to Black women and bodily autonomy. The team of researchers for the “Voices of Black Women” acknowledges and addresses these concerns: 

The VOICES team recognizes that there is a history of Black women’s bodies being exploited to advance medical knowledge, yet Black women have received the fewest benefits compared to their male and White counterparts. Given this legacy of injustice, you may hesitate to become involved in this study. It is important that we hear and address your concerns about research, treat you with respect, and demonstrate cultural humility. In fact, the goals of VOICES of Black Women reflect this. Through a commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (or DEI), the American Cancer Society aims to form fruitful partnerships with and amplify the voices of Black communities across the country.

While the acknowledgement gives hope that Black women will not be exploited the fact remains, that has not always been the case. In June 2024, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on the family of Henrietta Lacks’ family fight for justice. The decendants of Lacks are suing pharmaceutical company Ultragenyx for the use of Lacks’s “HeLa” cells to research and develop modern medicine. Lacks was subject to harsh and inhumane probing on her body. The theft of her biological property proved both useful and profitable for the medical community over the course of decades. 

The Lacks family scored a victory, earlier this year, when a federal judge denied Ultragenyx’s motion to dismiss their lawsuit. 

The “Voice of Black Women” Study is designed to be minimally invasive and hopefully the information gathered will help future generations. If you are interested in joining the study you can visit the Voices of Black Women’s official site.

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Elizabeth Warren, Kroger's, Digital Price Tags, Surge Pricing, grocery stores, grocery prices
by Jameelah Mullen

November 14, 2024

Grocery Prices Continue To Rise, With Some States Affected More Than Others

Despite dips in inflation costs, grocery prices continue to rise.

Since 2020, grocery prices in the United States have increased by 20%, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. American households spent approximately $270.21 a week on groceries in 2023, according to the most recent data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Hawaii and Alaska ranked amongst the highest, with average weekly costs of $334 and $329, respectively. Both states receive significant food from the mainland, so shipping costs increase prices. 

Californians pay an average of $298 per week for groceries — the third highest in the nation. The overall cost of living in the Sunshine State is 38.5% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive states to live in, according to Debtwave. 

On average, residents of Mississippi pay $291 weekly for food, the fifth highest in the United States, Visual Capitalist reports. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mississippi has a poverty rate of 18%, making it the second most impoverished state in the nation. Similarly, New Mexico ranks as one of the poorest states in the country, while food costs rank amongst the highest.

Midwestern states such as Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin have some of the lowest food costs in the nation, where the average weekly grocery bill ranks from $231 to $235. These states are amongst the top producers of agriculture in the country, which contributes to lower food prices. 

In August of 2024, the Federal Trade Commission Chair, Lina Khan, announced that the agency plans to investigate grocery prices, which have consistently increased since the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

“We want to make sure that major businesses are not exploiting their power to inflate prices for American families at the grocery store,” Khan said in a press release. Additionally, this upsurge in grocery prices may have an even more significant impact on Black Americans. While the United States has an overall poverty rate of 11%, the poverty for African Americans is nearly 18%, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. In a study conducted by the National Institute of Health, researchers found that African Americans are more likely to face food insecurity, compared to the national average.

RELATED CONTENT: Combat Rising Food Costs By Buying In Bulk with Sam’s Club

Haiti, Springfield, CBC
by Sharelle Burt

November 14, 2024

Plans To Build School In Haiti Stalled Following Flight Ban 

'We cannot explain the feeling, what's going on right now.'

Plans for a school built in Haiti by nonprofit Angels for Humanity have been paused due to a travel ban there after a Spirit Airlines was shot on Nov. 11, NBC News reports. 

Angels for Humanity donates supplies and basic needs to children in the country, which is riddled with political turmoil and gang violence.

Founder and CEO Judith Joseph says the organization’s hands “are tied” as the travel ban denies her and team entry into the country for the school’s groundbreaking, scheduled for December 2025 in Cap-Haitien, or delivery of pallets of medical supplies.

“We cannot explain the feeling, what’s going on right now,” Joseph said. “For me, it’s very emotional.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned flights for at least 30 days to and from Haiti after the aircraft was the target of violence while flying into Port-au-Prince. The shooting prompted the flight to return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

JetBlue and American Airlines aircraft were also shot at that day. No passengers or crew were injured. Haiti’s new prime minister was also sworn in on Nov. 11, adding to the country’s political tumult.

Joseph called the growing violence “devastating” and “heartbreaking” as she calls the Caribbean nation home and experienced the issues firsthand. Haiti, she added, is “run by gangs now.”

Other nonprofits are experiencing similar setbacks. Agape Flights, based in Venice, California, was scheduled to send life-saving medical supplies, clothes, food, and other resources to over 300 missionary groups across Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.

“I have no idea how they’re going to get some of those things,” Director of Flight Operations Greg Haman said, according to FOX 13 News. “I don’t know that they know how they’re going to get some of those things. We have applied for an exemption, and hopefully that’ll come down before too long.”

Flights for the group were halted in early 2024 when Haitian authorities shut down all airports because of the growing unrest. Haiti’s main international airport, Toussaint-Louverture, reopened in May 2024. 

The White House called the flight shootings “concerning,” while Haiti’s U.S. Embassy recommended that those with affected flights to contact their airlines.

RELATED CONTENT: Springfield Community Flocks To Support Haitian Restaurants In Light Of Trump Rumors

Bronny James, Lakers, G League
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2024

Bronny James Accused Of Receiving Star Treatment After Reports Surface He’ll Just Play Home Games With G League Team

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that he will only play home games for the South Bay Lakers.

After lackluster play, Bronny James, the son of future NBA legend LeBron James, was assigned to the G League to help develop his game. But the move comes with a controversial wrinkle: reportedly, the rookie will only play home games for the South Bay Lakers, an unprecedented move that some argue will stifle his development.

According to The New York Post, ESPN writer Brian Windhorst explained the situation on The Hoop Collective. 

“I’m gonna apply the brakes on my ‘everything is fine on the Bronny front’ with this thing that is now happening, which is that from my understanding, he’s only gonna play in the South Bay Lakers home games, that he’s only gonna kind of be a part-time G League player, and he’s not getting on United Airlines and going to fly and go see these other teams, play in these road games,” Windhorst said.

Basketball analysts, fans, and even former basketball players have been giving their opinions about Bronny’s star treatment since his underwhelming college career—he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game at USC before declaring for the NBA Draft—and uninspired Summer League play. The Lakers chose Bronny in the second round of the draft. 

“Honestly, I know he was getting somewhat special treatment and nepotism, that’s fine,” Windhorst added. “I don’t care. It’s normal. Now, I think it’s actually detrimental to him. I don’t like that. I don’t know whose idea it was. The Lakers are fine with it; they’re doing it.

“On this particular instance, I think that’s gone too far, and I don’t think that benefits Bronny, I don’t think it benefits the South Bay Lakers, and I don’t think it benefits LeBron at that point.”

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NYC mayor Eric Adams, trial
by Sharelle Burt

November 14, 2024

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Signs Safe Hotels Act Into Law Despite Industry Protests 

The law's critics have not been silent.

New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams is receiving backlash from the hospitality industry after signing the controversial Safe Hotels Act into law, Asian Hospitality reports. 

The legislation requires hotels across the city’s five boroughs to obtain operating licenses. Also known as “Intro. 0991,” the law opens up room for stricter standards on safety, staffing, cleaning, and licensing in order to guarantee protections for workers and guests.

“Our top priority from day one has been to keep people safe, and that includes protecting workers and tourists at our city’s hotels,” Adams said. “That’s why we are expanding protections for the working-class New Yorkers who run our hotels and the guests who use them. The Safe Hotels Act ensures our hotels are safe, healthy, and clean, enabling our tourism industry to thrive and create jobs. This is a win for working people, the tourism and hotel industry, and all New Yorkers.”

Sponsored by City Council Member Julie Menin, the legislation was revised twice before passing and faced criticism from industry groups, including the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the American Hotel and Lodging Association. AAHOA chairman Miraj Patel says the law dims a light on the issues really concerning hoteliers.

“While we acknowledge the passage of the Safe Hotels Act and its attempt to accommodate smaller properties, this revision still falls short of addressing our broader concerns,” Patel said. “Hoteliers of all sizes deserve flexibility in managing operations. The act’s unintended consequences will disproportionately affect minority-owned businesses, stifling entrepreneurship and innovation in hospitality.”

With close to 800 hotels in the boroughs, all will now be required to be licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), according to AM NY. As crime in the city has increased, hotels will have to employ hotel staff for front desk and housekeeping over contracted workers, as well as have panic buttons for workers when dangerous situations arise.

Under the DCWP, 45,000 businesses in NYC have licenses except hotels. Menin, a former DCWP commissioner, said it is one of the few industries without regulations.

“There are so many incidences of hotel workers, who largely tend to be female, with real issues of sexual assault,” Menin said. “It also protects guests because at the end of the day, we don’t want guests coming to our great city and having an experience in one of these bad actor hotels…the reason this is important is because it’s a public safety issue. There have been 39 murders in recent years at hotels.” 

Thirty-four of 51 council members signed the act, but industry say the new laws will lead to the elimination of jobs and an increase of room rates resulting in a lack of tourists visiting the Big Apple.

“Hotels are already safe,” president and CEO of the Hotel Association of NYC, Vijay Dandapani, said. “NYC has the best, cleanest, and safest hotels in the nation, if not in the world. This is the center of innovation. We are the center of ideas. So to say our hotels aren’t safe is a travesty.” 

The New York Police Department has filed more than 14,000 criminal complaints from hotels and motels over the past five years.

Black Creative Technologists To Present Film, Art Concepts At Torrents BPMplus Showcases
by Stacy Jackson

November 14, 2024

Black Creative Technologists To Present Film, Art Concepts At Torrents BPMplus Showcases

Black Public Media's BPMplus fellows will share their creative process and unveil finished works during its Art & Tech Showcases at Torrents.

Black Public Media’s immersive BPMplus program will hold two showcases for creative technology productions at “Torrents: New Links to Black Futures” on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Based in Harlem, New York, Black Public Media is a national media arts nonprofit that supports the development and distribution of Black film, television, and immersive projects by Black creators who use technology to produce content relating to the global Black experience.

Starting at 12 p.m. Saturday, filmmakers and artists will converge at Songbyrd Music House to discuss the art of creating artificial intelligence, augmented reality, projection, and video projects. Moderated by BPM Emerging Media Director Lisa Osborne, the 2024 presenting artists will connect with attendees as they share their workflow and creative processes, reveal intentions behind their projects, dive into concept art, and unveil clips of finished works.

Launched in 2018, BPMplus offers producers and technologists access to grants, fellowships, workshops, showcases,and networking opportunities as they create projects using augmented reality, motion capture, artificial intelligence, and other technologies.

“As AI and other new technologies become more embedded in our daily lives, it is important that access to these tools is available for everyone during their liminal or pre-commercial phases,” Osbourne said in a press release.

Creators also have access to artists-in-residence programs and the national PitchBLACK Immersive Forum.

CulturalDC has welcomed BPMplus back for its annual showcase at Torrents as the interdisciplinary series celebrates the innovative future of visual arts, technology, music, film and performance.

“For decades, tech training, grants and other opportunities have been funneled into the hands of a few, essentially imprinting biases that exist in old or traditional media onto new storytelling tools long before they gain mass adoption,” Osbourne said. “Our BPMplus programs strive to counter that larger tendency in the tech, film, arts and philanthropic worlds by giving our immersive filmmakers and artists a seat at the table to ensure a future where all communities are represented.”

Sponsored by Shutterstock and Rolling Out, the BPMplus Art & Tech Showcases will feature Baff Akoto, Collateral Echoes (2025); Ethel-Ruth Tawe, Image Frequency Modulation (2025), 2024 PitchBLACK Immersive Forum winner; LaJuné McMillian, The Portal’s Keeper (2024), 2023 PitchBLACK Immersive Forum winner; MaryAnn Talavera, The ORIXA Project: Planet Aris (2024); Georgiana Wright, Synthetic Ferality (2024); and Andrea Walls, Variance: Ritual for a Home (2024), 2024 PitchBLACK Immersive Forum winner.

“Torrents: New Links to Black Futures” runs from Nov. 14-17. The BPMplus Art & Tech Showcase I starts at noon on the final day; Showcase II follows at 2 p.m. ET. A networking mixer featuring a cash bar will follow from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Registration is recommended to attend the free events.

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Hit Boy, D’Usse
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2024

Hit-Boy Partners With D’USSÉ To Launch Limited-Edition Augmented Reality Experience For The Holiday

D'USSÉ's limited-edition release brings Grammy Award-winning producer Hit-Boy into your holiday parties.

D’USSÉ cognac has teamed up with Grammy Award-winning producer Hit-Boy for a special AR experience that puts the “SICKO MODE” hitmaker in your living rooms this holiday season.

Named “The Set,” this augmented reality (AR) experience lets anyone who buys a D’USSÉ VSOP Holiday Gift Box access an exclusive AR DJ performance by Hit-Boy to enhance their holiday celebrations. This marks D’USSÉ’s first foray into tech and its largest investment in tech-driven experiences to date.

The D’USSÉ VSOP Holiday Gift Box features a 750 mL bottle of D’USSÉ VSOP and a QR code that unlocks access to “The Set” AR experience. After scanning the code with their smartphone, recipients can activate a lifelike AR filter of Hit-Boy behind a DJ booth right inside their event space.

From there, users can choose a cocktail that suits their party vibe—whether it’s a D’USSÉspresso Martini or a Spicy Sidecar—and Hit-Boy will respond with custom playlists he’s curated for each drink. Through the new-age digital experience, “The Set” lets you bring Hit-Boy into the heart of your holiday celebrations this year.

“Music is the universal spirit of the holidays,” Hit-Boy said in a statement. “You can’t celebrate without it. But just like collaborating with artists, it’s all about finding a certain energy.”

“D’USSÉ and I wanted to spread the right vibes and had a lot of fun playing with the AR technology to create a unique fan experience,” he added. “Once you scan the QR code, the AR filter will allow me to pull up to your holiday hangs and spin-off my favorite tracks for the festivities. We hope you’ll enjoy ‘The Set’ wherever you and your loved ones are this holiday season.”

Partygoers can engage with “The Set” by positioning themselves “next to” or “behind” the DJ booth in the AR experience. The filter also allows users to take photos, so you can quickly share the fun with loved ones or on social media. With the added option to connect to speakers, this immersive visual-audio experience makes Hit-Boy the ultimate headliner for any holiday party this season.

The D’USSÉ VSOP Holiday Gift Box is available now in stores nationwide and at dusse.com (SRP $50).

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car, Greenbook Global
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2024

Green Book Global Launches Road Trip Planner Tool To Provide Inclusive Options For Black Travelers

Green Book Global unveils a new road trip planner feature to help Black travelers plan safe journeys across the U.S.

Building on its success as the first and only Black travel booking and review platform, Green Book Global is expanding its services with a new Road Trip Planner app feature.

With Green Book Global already established as a modern interactive guide for Black travelers, the company has now added a feature to help plan safer and more enjoyable road trips across the U.S. This new Road Trip Planner tool, launched within its redesigned mobile app (available on iOS and Android) and accessible via web application, is powered by community-driven insights and data.

“Our mission has always been to empower Black travelers with information that fosters a safer and more inclusive travel environment,” Lawrence Phillips, founder and CEO of Green Book Global, told Forbes. “With the Road Trip Planner, we are turning the collective experiences of our community into a powerful tool that maps out the best routes and highlights areas to avoid based on historical and recent data.

“This is more than a planning tool. It’s a new layer of security for our community,” he added.

Named after The Negro Motorist Green Book, which provided travel guidance for African Americans navigating Jim Crow America from 1936 to 1966, Green Book Global is a modern-day app and interactive guide designed to aid Black travelers in the 21st century. By tapping into thousands of user-generated reviews from Black travelers, the app can help users plan safer trips by identifying optimal routes and avoiding areas known to be unwelcoming or potentially unsafe.

“Our goal is to provide information so that Black travelers can make that very personal decision about where they want to go,” Phillips said.

According to data from Green Book Global, some of the most welcoming destinations in the U.S. for Black travelers include Atlanta, Houston, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, and Chicago. The platform also offers an International Destination Discovery Tool, featuring recommendations for diverse places such as Kenya, Slovenia, and Argentina.

Phillips highlights that the new Planner tool enables motorists to select “Avoid City” to bypass sundown towns, automatically rerouting them.

“Cities are rated on a five-star scale by our community for what it’s like Traveling While Black and cities receive an overall score,” he explains. “Green represents the safest and most welcoming destination, yellow indicates average, and red means it needs improvement. Red indicates a city where Black travelers generally have not felt safe or welcome, and it may even signify a former sundown town.”

The research has also brought some unexpected findings to light on cities that may be predominantly white but contain a small but mighty Black population.

“Portland, Maine, was a big surprise,” Phillips says. “Although Maine is one of the whitest states in America, with a Black population of almost 2%, the city of Portland is nearly 10% Black. It was amazing. Great food, plenty of activities, and a welcoming atmosphere.”

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