Usher Brings UR Experience Tour To The Amway Center

Usher UR Experience Tour Amway Center

Hot on the heels of a blockbuster performance at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards and the release of his new single/video “She Came To Give It To You,” global megastar Usher announced today he is touring North America this fall and kicks off The UR Experience in Montreal, Quebec, on November 1. Special guests on the tour include August Alsina and DJ CassidyThe UR Experience visits the Amway Center in Orlando on Friday, December 12. Tickets go on sale Monday, September 15 at 10 a.m. American Express® Card Members will have an opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public.

Packed with an impressive repertoire of smash hits spanning his 20-year career, the critically-acclaimed showman will give his fans a unique experience that only the multi-talented Usher can deliver. His show will include a fresh take on early and recent songs as well as new music from his highly anticipated eighth studio album.

“With The UR Experience, I want to give my fans an ever-changing live show full of surprises and special guests,” says Usher. “I am really excited to be with my fans and give them an Usher experience like they’ve never seen or heard before.”

Challenging himself creatively and testing musical boundaries are characteristics that have defined Usher’s career since he was first discovered 20 years ago on Star Search.  Usher has been ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America as one of the best-selling artists in American music history, having sold over 50 million albums worldwide. He has won numerous awards including eight Grammys and was named the number one Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. Billboard named him the second most successful artist of the 2000s decade, with his career-propelling 2004 album “Confessions” being ranked as the top solo album of the decade. Usher has attained nine Hot 100 number one hits (all as a lead artist) and 18 Hot 100 top-10 singles.

Earlier this year Usher completed filming his role as boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in the upcoming film “Hands of Stone,” a biopic of champion boxer Roberto Duran which co-stars Robert De Niro, and is due in theaters early 2015. In addition, Usher recently completed his second season as a coach on NBC’s Emmy® Award-winning hit TV show “The Voice,” where he proved his top-notch coaching capability by mentoring Josh Kaufman who became the champion of Season Six.

Join the conversation at #URXTOUR.

Doors Open: Door opening times for the Amway Center vary according to each event. Guests may enter the arena one hour prior to the start time of each event, unless otherwise specifically noted. Guests may check door times in advance by calling 407.440.7900. Camera Policy:   The show reserves the right to approve camera use at any time during and/or before the event and to prohibit the use of any camera that is deemed unacceptable. Cameras with a detachable lens, iPads and the use of flash photography are prohibited at all Amway Center events. Check amwaycenter.com or call the administration office at 407.440.7000 prior to the event for any camera policy updates. Camera policy is subject to change at any time at the show’s discretion.

USHER | THE UR EXPERIENCE TOUR

with special guests

August Alsina and DJ Cassidy  

 

WHENFRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014 | 8 P.M.

WHEREAMWAY CENTER | ORLANDO, FLORIDA

ON SALEMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | 10 A.M.

TICKETS$35, $55, $85 & $150. Buy tickets at amwaycenter.com, Chase Box Office at Amway Center, Ticketmaster retail locations, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com.  All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice.  All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges.  For Amway Center box office and ticket information, visit amwaycenter.com (phone purchases are not available through the Amway Center box office). The Amway Center is located at 400 W. Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the arena, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue. 

Door Policy: Door opening times for the Amway Center vary according to each event. Guests may enter the arena one hour prior to the start time of each event, unless otherwise specifically noted. Guests may check door times in advance by calling 407.440.7900.

Camera Policy: The show reserves the right to approve camera use at any time during and/or before the event and to prohibit the use of any camera that is deemed unacceptable. Cameras with a detachable lens, iPads and the use of flash photography are prohibited at all Amway Center events. Check amwaycenter.com or call the administration office at 407.440.7000 prior to the event for any camera policy updates. Camera policy is subject to change at any time at the show’s discretion.

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Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

 The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs September 19 – November 10, 2014, and I can’t wait!

Photo Sep 04, 1 06 42 PM

We were able to attend a sneak peek at this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at the VIP area of the Living Seas, and this year looks like it stacking up to be absolutely amazing!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Chef Jens Dahlmann spoke on the changes that are coming to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and here are some of the highlights of what you can expect at this year’s marketplaces.

  • This year there will be 25 ‘Marketplaces’ at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
  • There are several returning favorite marketplaces, however some of the marketplaces have broadened, for example last year’s Florida Fresh is now Farm Fresh, allowing Chef Dahlmann to be more playful with the menu and ingredients.
  • The Hops & Barley menu has received a lot of attention, and as a result the items featured at the marketplace will be more sophisticated while still having a twist of fun.
  • With more cooking going on inside of each Marketplace, this year several booths will feature fried items for the first time.
  • Favorites from the France Marketplace have received a HUGE facelift!
    • The escargot will now be presented on a tart with creamed spinach, bacon, and parmesean cheese. The brioche presentation was a fan favorite, but this new set-up sounds delicious.
    • Creme brulee caramel fluer de sel: sea salt caramel crème brulee with caramalized sugar has arrived, and it is quite possibly one of the most delicious things I was able to sample. Again with the new marketplaces focusing on preparing items on-site, the sugar will be caramalized inside the kiosk.

So enough yammering, let’s get to the food!

2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Media Preview

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Ensalada de Carrucho which is a Caribbean Conch Salad with Onion, Tomato, and Cilantro from Puerto Rico.

This was my first time trying Conch Salad, and it did not disappoint! Prepared in a more traditional way the Ensalada de Carrucho is extremely refeshing with a unique texture.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Grilled ‘Yard Bird’ with Braised Greens and House-Made Habanero Sauce from Farm Fresh.

The grilled ‘Yard Bird’ aka chicken in this dish had a really great flavor and crispy skin, however the star fro me was the braised greens that were cooked to salty yet still firm perfection. My only wish for the dish was that there was more of the house-made habanero sauce, because it added some moisture, sweetness, and kick to a very savory plate.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Florida Grass Fed Beef Slider with Pimento Cheese from Hops & Barley paired with MmmHops Pale Ale from Fife and Drum.

If I could only eat one thing for the entire Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, this would be my choice! The Florida grass fed beef in the slider had a great flavor that served as a wonderful anchor for the heat in the pimento cheese, crunch from the sweet raw onions, and sweetness from the bun. As a gal with South Carolina roots, the pimento cheese is beyond delicious!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

The MmmHops Pale Ale from Fife and Drum, yes this is the Hanson Beer, pairs well with the slider’s heat with a crisp bite that helps cool things down from the spicy pimento cheese.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Baked Lobster Alfredo from Hops & Barley.

While I am an absolute sucker for lobster, the baked lobster alfredo seems like a great choice towards the end of the festival on a night that is a little chillier. The dish is extremely rich with generous chunks of lobster. Talk about comfort food!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Sauerkraut Pierogi with Pork Goulash from Poland.

I grew up eating a lot of potato and cheese pierogies, so when I saw a sauerkraut pierogi on the Poland menu I was really excited because it was two of my favorite things in one dish! I found that the sauerkraut pierogi had a interesting, but tasty texture that was a great contrast to the spicy sauce of the pork goulash.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri from Patagonia.

Usually salmon isn’t really my thing, but the roasted Verlasso salmon had an amazing taste that was taken to the next level with the arugula chimichurri!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Crème Brulee Caramel Fluer de Sel: Sea Salt Caramel Crème Brulee with Caramalized Sugar from France paired with Nicolas Feuillatte Rosè from Desserts & Champagne.

Every year one of my favorite desserts at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival items is the Crème Brulee from France, and the Crème Brulee Caramel Fluer de Sel: Sea Salt Caramel Crème Brulee with Caramalized Sugar has taken my devotion to the next level. The predominant coffee and caramel flavors play so well off the savory hints of sea salt. The caramelization of the sugar topping completed on-site in the marketplace, really makes this dish special and definite must-do for your visit to the festival.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

 

The Nicolas Feuillatte Rosè from Desserts & Champagne paired so well with the Crème Brulee Caramel Fluer de Sel, because the berry notes really added a lovely sweetness to the slightly savory crème brulee. 

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Fresh Baked Carrot Cake with Craisins and Cream Cheese Icing from Hops & Barley.

When you will eat this fresh baked carrot cake at Hops & Barley at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, you are going to feel like you just stole a treat from your Grandmother before dinner! The carrots, walnuts, and craisins are all on the larger scale inside the cake to give it a very homemade feel and familiar taste. What makes this carrot cake so special, is that it is served warm and iced inside the Hops & Barley marketplace for an interesting combination of temperatures and textures. If you like carrot cake, you definitely have to give this a go!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

I really had a great time at the Media Preview for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and I left with a new spring in my step about this year’s marketplaces! 

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