Any John Lennon fan worth his salt knows that this past Sunday, December 8, 2013, marked the 33-year anniversary of the death of one of rock and roll’s greatest musicians. To commemorate the occasion, Peabody- and Emmy-award winning director Michael Epstein designed an app that will immerse fans in one of the pivotal moments in John’s life and give them an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the famous Beatle.
John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes is a comprehensive, interactive, visually stunning app that centers around John’s activities the summer of 1980, when he, along with a crew of four others, sailed from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda aboard a 43-foot sloop. Once they reached the island, Lennon flew his then four-year-old son Sean down to join him. John spoke of the trip as a wild ride that allowed him to break through his writer’s block and explore creatively. “Woman” and “Dear Yoko” are a few of the products of this maritime journey.
With the app you can walk the dreamy isle yourself, steer Lennon’s sailboat, and hear unedited versions of the songs he wrote while on the trip, along with a ton of interviews with the artist himself, Yoko Ono, the ship’s crew, and more. And if your love of Lennon isn’t grounds enough to re-live the artist’s final vacation, all net proceeds from the app ($5) will be donated to WhyHunger, a charitable organization that works to feed hungry and impoverished children worldwide and educate communities about farming.
Next time you get a minute to unwind, cozy up with a mug of Lennon’s piping hot, signature cocoa recipe, grab a throw and your smartphone, and escape the winter chill by way of this awesome, poetic look at the musical great. (Or embrace the season and settle in with your favorite Christmas movie, up to you.)
Like many of the products of Lennon’s imagination, his hot cocoa recipe calls for a somewhat roundabout process that requires a bit of dedication and finesse, but the end result is more delicious than we ever could have anticipated. It’s the perfect cure for the cold-weather blues. Well, it and your Beatles compilation…
John Lennon’s Hot Cocoa
Ingredients:
1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar
A few grains of sea salt
2 cups boiling water
2 cups scalded milk
Directions:
Mix the cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Dilute with ½ cup of the boiling water and stir to make a smooth paste. Add the remaining water and boil for 1 minute. Add this to the scalded milk and beat the mixture with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour the cocoa into mugs and serve.