Saturday, May 23, 2020

May 23 - National Taffy Day


Happy National Taffy Day! On May 23, today celebrates a mouth-watering confection. Taffy candy has been made and sold for many years and has become a favorite souvenir of many vacationers. 


In 1883, salt water taffy in was invented in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 


This confection is made with boiled sugar and butter that is stretched and pulled until it is a chewy consistency that can be rolled and cut. The flavors range from buttery to tart to sweet.  


There is a flavor for everyone, and it seems like they introduce a new one each year, too. The colorful displays of taffy tantalize children and adults alike. And they have been doing so for generations.  


At one time, candy shops and pharmacies sold penny candy and taffy was one of the many tempting options we could choose from. However, those days are now long gone. 


With summer just around the corner, seasonal candy shops are stocking up their latest selections. With so many flavors to choose from, it’s often hard to decide which ones to pick.  


That’s why they often offer flavors swirled together to help us narrow it down. 

 
Nonetheless, we’re still enticed by the variety and the colors.  

 
HOW TO OBSERVE 

 
Be sure to enjoy a piece or two. While you’re at it share a favorite memory or send a box to someone you know will enjoy some taffy.  

 
Give a shout out to your favorite candy shop, too! Use #NationalTaffyDay to post on social media. 

 
HISTORY 

 
National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this sweet and chewy holiday. 

 
What is your favorite flavor of taffy? 

 
#NationalTaffyDay 

@taffyshopdotcom 

@nichecinema

May 23 - Tom Tykwer


Happy 55th Birthday, Tom Tykwer! Born today in 1965, this German film composer, screenwriter, producer and film director is known internationally for directing four feature films. 
  
Of the 1990s, Tykwer is known for directing the 1998 German thriller/film 'Lola Rennt' ('Run Lola Run'),  
  
In the early 2000s, Tykwer is known for the 2002 British/French//Italian/German/American  thriller/romance film 'Heaven'. 
  
In the late 2000s, Tykwer is known for directing the 2006 German/French/Spanish/American drama/thriller film 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer' and the 2009 American/German/British/French political action thriller/drama film 'The International'. 
  
Of these, Tykwer is best known for co-composing, writing and directing 'Run Lola Run'.
In this visually and conceptually impressive film, the film tells of two-bit Berlin criminal Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). He delivers some smuggled loot for his boss, Ronnie (Heino Ferch), but accidentally leaves the 100,000 mark payment in a subway car.  
  
Given twenty minutes to come up with the money, he calls his girlfriend, Lola (Franka Potente), who sprints through the streets of the city to try to beg the money out of her bank manager father (Herbert Knaup) and get to Manni before he does something desperate.

The film co-stars German actor and filmmaker Sebastian Schipper ('Victoria') as Mike. 
'Run Lola Run' screened at the 55th Venice Film Festival in September of that same year, where it competed for the Golden Lion 
  
The following year, the film received critical acclaim and several accolades. This included the the Audience Award at the 21st Sundance Film Festival.

It later received acclaim for Best Film at the 23rd Seattle International Film Festival, and seven awards at the 48th German Film Awards and the Grand Prix of the Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics. 
  
It was also selected as the German entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards, though it was not ultimately nominated. This occurred in late March 1999. 
  
In the early 2010s, Tykwer co-wrote, co-produced and co-directed (along with the Wachowski Brothers) the 2012 German/American/Hong Kong/Singaporean/Chineses epic sci-fi drama film 'Cloud Atlas'. 
  
The film is based upon English novelist and screenwriter David Michell's third eponymous novel science fiction drama fantasy fiction novel 
  
Tykwer has been active from 1986–present.. 
  
#borntodirect 
#TomTykwer 
@OneFineDayFilms 
@German_Films 
@GermanFilmFest