Snow is sparkling on the ground (not here in Texas, but somewhere in theory), everything smells like peppermint, and we’re all reckoning with time’s relentless march towards infinity. It seems like just yesterday we were releasing our Menorah, but here we are in the midst of Hanukkah, with Christmas and Kwanzaa right around the corner. While it’s easy to get swept up in nostalgia and tradition this month, we’re here to keep you updated on all things new and exciting, both here at GRAV and throughout pop culture.
GRAV News
In Hanukkah appropriate news, we’re happy to announce that our Menorah was featured in Forbes. We’re big shots now! We’ve heard it’s lonely at the top but any time we load a Menorah plenty of friends seem to appear. We’re also excited to participate in free shipping weekend from the 14th through the 16th. This would be the perfect time to do last minute gift shopping or load up on some of our exciting new products.
Before free shipping weekend, we’ll be launching multiple new water pipes, including different sizes of our classics as well as brand new shapes we can’t wait to unveil. We’re also going to start offering our Mini Steamroller, which only comes in clear glass right now, in a wide array of the glass colors you love. Here at GRAV we’re never done developing and innovating, and we hope you have as much fun trying out our new products as we’ve had designing them.
Last but not least, if you missed out on our Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, never fear! We’ll be running some excellent sales for Christmas and New Years, so you can still get a great deal before the year’s out.
Music News
December album drops are full of surprises. For example, I never expected to read Springsteen on Broadway in a list of upcoming releases, but here it is. Apparently, it’s the soundtrack from Bruce Springsteen’s one-man show, which is wrapping up a very successful run on Broadway. Who knew? In the vein of oldies resurfacing, Coldplay is releasing a live album, and Ice Cube is dropping a politically charged album titled Everythang’s Corrupt. Ice Cube described the work’s December 7th release as “a day that will live in infamy” and we sincerely hope that he’s right. For hits as cold as the Cube, check out the Glycerin Chiller Multi Kit.
If you like your hip-hop less old school, you can look forward to Gucci Mane’s feature-packed Evil Genius. It seems likely there will also be a new album from Offset this month. He and Cardi B keep dropping hints about the December 14th release date, but no one’s let the title slip yet. There’s also speculation that we might see Ariana Grande’s upcoming album Thank U, Next before the end of 2018. Grande stealthily dropped the title track on November 3rd, and it quickly shot up to the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song "Thank U, Next" addresses Grande’s past relationships and the media buzz they’ve been receiving. Despite the confrontational title, the song revolves around themes of self-empowerment and personal growth, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s a bop. If the other tracks on her upcoming album live up to the success of "Thank U, Next" it will be a landmark event. If you want a piece befitting the name Grande and her stage presence, reach for the STAX Hercules Package the next time she snatches our collective wig.
Movie News
‘Tis still the season for biopics and December has some promising ones. If you’ve ever wanted to see Christian Bale unrecognizable after a weight gain and a white wig, then you’ll love Vice. In this film, Bale takes on the larger than life and regularly reviled character of former vice president Dick Cheney. Vice seems to take an irreverent tone with serious events, which could either fall flat or be a welcome change in the current political climate. Either way, Vice promises to be extremely watchable.
For a completely different kind of political biopic, check out On the Basis of Sex. It’s an inspiring look at the early days of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s career. The film portrays the “Notorious RBG” as a spirited activist at the forefront of the women’s movement. If you want to get fired up about trailblazing feminism, watch On the Basis of Sex with a Jane West Steamroller in your hand.
If real life politics are too heavy for this holiday season, there are plenty of movies coming out that are impossible to take seriously. These include Second Act, a Jennifer Lopez rom-com that seems to have walked straight out of 2001, and Bumblebee, a prequel/origin story taking place in the Transformers Universe. You can also look out for Holmes and Watson, a comedy in which Will Ferrel and John C. Reilly team up as the famous duo. In case you had any doubts about the silliness of this movie, the trailer includes scenes of the two detectives shooting pistols at a swarm of bees, and taking a selfie with Queen Victoria. This Sherlock reboot might be more palatable after you’ve spent some time with GRAV’s classic Sherlock.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a movie roundup without mentioning superhero flicks. December promises two very different offerings from Marvel and DC. In the Marvel camp, we have the animated Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse in which Miles Morales meets Peter Parker and lots of dimension crossing, alter-ego encountering adventures ensue. This one looks like a fun family movie that gives a cheeky nod to the difficulties of following comic book continuity.
From DC comes the much-hyped Aquaman. While it would be great if this was DC’s first above average release since Wonder Woman, we’re not getting our hopes up. But hey, at least Jason Momoa looks cool. This one calls for the Mini Mariner Sherlock, so you can also feel like the king of the ocean.
TV News
First things first, it wouldn’t be TV in December without too many Hallmark made-for-TV movies and Christmas specials that range from parades and concerts to "RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular". There’s not enough space to list out every title that includes “Holiday” or “Christmas,” but trust us if you want it, it’s out there.
In addition to holiday cheer, viewers can look forward to the anticipated 2nd season of both The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Marvel’s Runaways. Mrs. Maisel, in particular, received stellar critical reception for its first season. The story about a recently divorced housewife trying to make it in the 1950s New York comedy scene is funny and heartfelt, and we have high hopes for the second season.
If you’d rather watch real comedians instead of a fictional one, both Pete Holmes and Ellen Degeneres have comedy specials coming to streaming services this December. Relatable will be Ellen’s first stand up special in 15 years, and we’re eager to see how the talk show star will surprise us. For another classic that doesn’t stop delivering, look no further than our 8” Beaker. If sci-fi/horror is more your jam, Nightflyers is the show to watch out for. This Syfy channel series comes from the mind of George R.R. Martin, who’s described it as “a haunted house story on a starship.” If you’re as pumped for scary Game of Thrones in space as we are, get in the celestial spirit with the gorgeous Frit Spoon.
From space to spiderverses to secret album drops, it seems like there’s something for everybody to look forward to in the pop culture smorgasbord this month. Whatever you’re into, we hope you get a chance to relax and enjoy it with a GRAV piece in hand.
Did we miss something you’re excited about this December? Let us know in the comments!
