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By Harry Pagancoss

What do you call a party with lots of food, where Taylor Dayne and Sugar Ray perform and you can wash down all the tasty treats with lots of wine, champagne and beer? I call it heaven, but you might refer to it as the 16th Annual Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Yes! The annual food and wine extravaganza is upon us! In its 16th year of celebration, Walt Disney World guests can sip great wines, savor new tastes and enjoy live entertainment all day long from Sept. 30-Nov. 13. In other words, this is the largest food and wine festival in the world mi gente!

For 45 days you can taste authentic cuisine, including wine, beer and cool cocktails, live entertainment and cultural exhibits of more than 25 international regions.  This year Hawaii and Portugal enter the scene with unique and exciting treats.

Here are some facts about the 16th annual event:

-More than 300 national and international wines

-More than 76 kinds of international foods

-160 of America's most celebrated chefs and Walt Disney World chefs

-Over 300 wine and beer seminars

-135 Eat to the Beat! concerts performed

-33,000 bottles of wine and champagne (I am so excited!)

-289,000 servings of beer

-900,000 sumptuous samplings (I have not eaten in a week to be ready for this…well, not really)

-338,000 wine glasses (one has my name engraved on it)

-100,000 desserts including freshly baked waffles with berry compote and whipped cream (Belgium marketplace), white chocolate macadamia mousse with dark chocolate pearls (Desserts & Champagne marketplace) and chocolate cannoli (Italy marketplace).

-4,000 pounds of lobster for Linda Bean's Perfect Maine Lobster Rolls and Linda Bean's Lobster Claw Cuddlers at the Hops & Barley marketplace plus Lobster and Scallop Fisherman’s Pie at the Ireland marketplace.

After these numbers, aren't you hungry? I am gearing up to head up to Orlando for a fun/food-filled weekend. Stay tuned as I will blog about my adventures during the festival and may even run a 5k race through Magic Kingdom; of course, I will take lots of pictures for you guys.

Here is my light version of one of the recipes that will be served at the festival; instead of fried shrimp, my recipe calls for grilled shrimp and a lighter sauce.

Grilled Shrimp Tacos

Chipotle Sauce Ingredients

⅔ cups light sour cream

7.5 ounce can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, puréed

Grilled Shrimp Ingredients

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup olive oil

½ teaspoon parsley, dried

½ teaspoon paprika

1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined, with tails removed (approximately 30-35 shrimp)

Shrimp Tacos Ingredients:

10 (6-inch) flour tortillas

3 cups shredded red cabbage

¾ cup favorite salsa verde

For Chipotle Sauce

Mix sour cream and puréed chipotle peppers in a medium bowl until smooth. Cover and refrigerate.

For Shrimp

Mix all the ingredients and toss in the shrimp to cover them with the spices

Preheat griddle or grill pan over high heat.

Grill 2 minutes on each side or until the turn opaque in color.

To serve

Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of chipotle sauce on flour tortilla and place 3 shrimp down. Top with small handful of cabbage and drizzle with salsa verde.

Tags Epcot Food & Wine Festival, Grilled Shrimp Tacos, Harry Pagancoss, Sugar Ray, Taylor Dayne

By Larry Yepez Jr

A new trailer of the  long-awaited English-language film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has just been released...finally! This is is the first film based on Stieg Larsson’s literary blockbuster, the Millennium Trilogy.

This film is based on the first novel in the trilogy, which  have sold 50 million copies in 46 countries and has become a worldwide phenomenon.  The same is expected of the movie!

The synopsis:

Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle (Christopher Plummer) continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate.

Blomkvist is aided by the pierced and tattooed computer prodigy Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

TGWTDT is directed by the two-time Academy Award nominee David Fincher, and the screenplay adaptation was done by Steven Zaillian, writer of American Gangster, Schindler's List and Hannibal. The cast is also very solid with leads like Mara and Craig.

Even though it's a dark  and edgy film, I smell Oscars all over it!  The movie is scheduled to hit theaters December 2011.

Are you excited about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Comment your expectations!

Tags Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Christopher Plummer, columbia pictures, Daniel Craig, David Fincher, Rooney Mara, sony pictures, Steven Zaillian, stieg Larsson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

By Michael Lopez

For the past several years, Hollywood's Stand Up To Cancer charity has raised millions for those struggling with the deadly disease. But, as we all know, cancer isn't just centralized to the United States. It affects people all over the world and has a strong presence in Latin America. That's part of the reason SUTC has extended its campaign into Spanish-speaking countries with Unido Contra El Cancer.

Ana Maria Polo is one of the first high-profile Latinas to attach herself to the cause. Known as the Hispanic Judge Judy, Polo hosts a hugely popular Español court show called Caso Cerrado and is seen as a role model for her sharp wit and legal expertise. Now she's using her fame to help spread awareness.

"In 2008, five years after being operated for breast cancer, I saw an event on television that was on all the channels. It was Stand Up to Cancer," she said. "When I looked into it and saw what it was all about, I realized that we Latinos need to be more informed about that organization."

You can see clips of Ana Maria on the UCEC website, sharing her story and encouraging viewers to pledge their support (by purchasing a sporty t-shirt). But Polo's colorful video is just part of the online UCEC experience. Visitors can also learn about medical breakthroughs, read cancer-related blogs, and sign up for UCEC tweets.

Interestingly, Ana Maria's news comes on the heels of some discouraging stats. According to Reuters, Latinos are less likely to get checked out for cancers than Anglo Americans (which makes the awareness campaign even more important). Their study showed that Hispanics are generally 26 percent less likely to screen themselves for colon cancer than Anglos.

Heather Orom, a researcher who was mentioned in the study, seemed to think that language barriers may play a role.

"It seems very plausible that this is not happening for Latinos because of access barriers and language barriers," she said. "We don't know if those messages about family history and risk are resonating culturally with Latinos."

Hopefully some stern lectures from Judge Polo will ease their discomfort about getting checked out.

Has anyone in your family been impacted by cancer? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Ana Maria Polo, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cancer, Cultura, Health, Stand Up To Cancer, Unido Contra El Cancer

By Michael Lopez

The Twilight movies are known for a lot of things. Brooding vampires, intricate love stories, shirtless Taylor Lautners…but songs by Bruno Mars? Believe it or not, Mr. Hooligan is hoping to add some memorable music to Breaking Dawn, the final film installment of the series.

The Mars track "It Will Rain" has been chosen as Dawn’s signature song. A soaring ballad, it fits in perfectly with the tortured Edward and Bella storyline. Bruno himself thought this particular composition would be a "perfect fit."

"After seeing the movie, I thought that it would be a perfect fit," Mars told Billboard. "The Twilight movies for me [are] a love story. But it's a dark love story. And I think the best way to describe the song is: It's the darker side of love. I think that pretty much sums it up."

Breaking Dawn is set to hit theaters on November 18, with the song dropping 10 days earlier. Bruno assured Twilight fans that "Rain" was written specifically for the film and even added that he is adamantly rooting for "Team Bella."

Are you looking forward to Breaking Dawn? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Breaking Dawn, Bruno Mars, It Will Rain, Música, Movies & CineMás, popnews, Twilight

By Michael Lopez

After that notorious butt to Floyd Mayweather's head, many in the boxing world were wondering if Victor Ortiz' career may be tarnished forever. But even if that's the case, it seems like Vic doesn't mind one bit. He's already moved on to other things, namely recording a hip-hop track with Ray J!

Yup, Kim Kardashian's notorious ex has released a brand new single and Ortiz happens to be on it. Entitled "Baddest Girl," it's got thumping beats, heavy auto tune, and a "guest Latino rhymer" at the two-minute mark.

In between Ray's lyrics about pouty club girls and dance floors, Victor drops lines about sexy twins, late night hookups, and meeting the "Baddest Girl" of the night. DJ Ian Carey is credited as the producer and definitely tries his best to keep things contemporary.

But if you ask us, the song sounds a bit stale. Ortiz does show some promise behind the mic, but we doubt he'll be nabbing any record deals in the near future. Floyd, on the other hand, has recently been spotted in the company of 50 Cent. Perhaps a musical collaboration between them will prove more interesting.

What do you think of Ortiz' rapping skills? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 50 Cent, Baddest Girl, Blogger: Michael Lopez, boxing, DJ Ian Carey, Floyd Mayweather, Música, Ray J, Sports, Victor Ortiz

By Sugey Palomares

This one is huge and well-deserved! Shakira may be a three-time current Latin Grammy nominee, but now she is also being honored as the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. The Colombian pop star, who has won a total of seven Latin Grammy's and two Grammy's in the past, will be honored for her renowned creative and philanthropic efforts at a tribute dinner on November 9th in Las Vegas.

Shakira's most popular tracks will be performed by pop artists and friends of the honoree. A major portion of the proceeds from the gala will benefit her Pies Descalzos Foundation as well as The 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, which will be broadcast live on the Univision on Thursday, November 10th at 8 pm ET/7 pm PT.

The President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, Gabriel Abaroa Jr., reacted to her nomination:

"I am elated on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy and its Board of Trustees that the much admired Shakira — whose incredible talent and artistic integrity are equaled only by her commitment and dedication to philanthropy and selflessly helping those in need — has been elected the 2011 Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year. We are honored to pay homage to this dynamic, socially conscious woman whose illustrious career has touched so many people around the world, both musically and personally."

We don't plan on missing it! What do you think about Shakira's "Person of the Year" nomination?

Tags Add new tag, Latin Grammys, Latin Music, Musica Latina, popnews, Shakira, The Grammy's

By Michael Lopez

Jurassic Park fans rejoice! No there won’t be a Part 4 of the dinosaur film franchise hitting theaters soon, but TV viewers may be in the for the next best thing. Park mastermind Steven Spielberg is launching a prehistoric series called Terra Nova, which premieres tonight!

Set in the year 2149, Nova follows the lives of a family who travel 85 million years in the past to escape a dying Earth. Though life in the ancient human colony seems easy at first, carnivorous creatures soon come calling.

There is still a ton of secrecy surrounding the Terra Nova pilot. Will it have the famous T. Rex? Perhaps an appearance by The Flintstones? It’s all unclear. But we do know that Spielberg is adding an Avatar touch to the show with cast member Stephen Lang (who played Na’vi killer Col. Quaritch).

Set to debut on FOX, network execs are praying that Nova scores big in the ratings department. The show's premiere cost close to $20 million to produce, so it better get A LOT of viewers if it wants to avoid “extinction.”

Are you planning on watching Terra Nova? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dinosaurs, Jurassic Park, Stephen Lang, Steven Spielberg, Television, Terra Nova

By Michael Lopez

What do you do after receiving tons of critical praise and 10 Latin Grammy nominations? Hit the road and milk that success! Calle 13 is ready to take full advantage of their increased fame with a series of fall shows.

As of right now, Residente and Visitante have booked five dates throughout October. You can catch them in San Francisco, Las Vegas, and San Diego playing the mid-sized venues and Miami and New York for the arena stops (sponsored by Pepsi no less).

But if you can’t quite make it to those dates, don’t worry. There will be plenty of more Latino talent crisscrossing the U.S. in the next few weeks. Fellow Latin Grammy winner Andrés Calamaro will be headlining Chicago's House of Blues on October 11 and Julieta Venegas has launched a California "mini-tour" beginning September 30.

And if you prefer a little combo action with your Latin rockers, we highly recommend checking out the Enrique Bunberry/Zoé tour, which will be hitting a ton of cities in November. The Live Nation site has all of the details and is definitely worth a peep if you’re in the mood for awesome autumn música.

Who would you most like to see live this season? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andres Calamaro, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Calle 13, Concert Tours, Enrique Bunberry, Julieta Venegas, Live Nation, Música, popnews, Zoe

By Michael Lopez

As if she didn't have enough on her resume. Besides being an actress, a singer, and a fashion icon, Selena Gomez can now add MC to her list of talents. The 19-year-old pop star has just been picked to host this year's MTV European Music Awards.

Announcing the news to the world via Twitter, Selena seemed thrilled about her latest gig.

"I'm so excited to be hosting the 2011 MTV EMA on Nov 6 in Belfast! Watch it live on MTV!" she posted.

Hardcore Gomez fans have actually seen her MC skills before. The Sun Goes Down singer famously interviewed her steady Justin Bieber at this year's VMA pre-show and has been consistently engaging on talkers like Lopez Tonight and The Tonight Show.

But helming the EMAs is her most high-profile assignment yet. She will now be filling the shoes of last year's Latina hostess, Eva Longoria, and should hopefully bring quite a few cheers when she takes the stage. Who knows? She may even be handing herself an award that night!

Do you think Selena will make a good MC? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Award Shows, Blogger: Michael Lopez, EMAs, Europe Music Awards, Hot Stuff, popnews, Selena Gomez

By Sugey Palomares

Eva Longoria was one of the many stars honored at Variety magazine's 3rd annual "Women of Power" event on Friday. The ceremony also celebrated the charitable works of stars including Mary J. Blige, Glee star Lea Michele, and Olivia Wilde. Eva, who was recently named the highest paid Latina actress in television, was honored for her organization Eva's Heroes, which supports special needs children.

While on the red carpet, the Texan spoke about politics and her support for Obama:

"I'm a big Obama supporter and so I'll be helping him campaign again. Hopefully with a second term, if we get him elected, he will be able to do more for the country because his hands won't be tired."

"I'm worried about a lot of things. There are a lot of issues that he is going to have to tackle. I wouldn't want his job."

We can't think of many people that would want to be in his shoes right now! Hopefully he continues to tackle on immigration issues.

What political issues matter most to you?

Tags Barack Obama, Eva Longoria, Eva's heroes