Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The NBL has hit its first major checkpoint of the 2021 NBL season, so there's no better time to take a step back and analyse what we've seen this far.

The entire league has descended on Melbourne for the inaugural NBL Cup - where we'll see 36 games over four weeks - and there's enough of a sample size to properly gauge some of the big talking points going into the event.

1 Related

Our Roundtable is back to answer some of those burning questions.

NBL Podcast: What Broekhoff means for SEM, Brandon Paul to the 36ers, and your ultimate hub preview

Currently at 6-0 going into the hub, is Melbourne United far and away the best team in the NBL?

Olgun Uluc: They really are. At a risk of sounding like a broken record, United just has so many top-tier pieces to be a contender, but then boast near-perfect role players to make them the title favourite.

When healthy, United just has too many weapons, and the chemistry seems to be at a point where everyone knows his role going into each game. But then, even in their game against the Hawks - where they were missing Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, and Jo Lual Acuil Jr. - they could then lean on the likes of Mitch McCarron and Jock Landale to be their superstars. Those two players have taken a step back, relative to their ceiling, for the betterment of the team; as much as the talent makes them the favourites to win it all, that type of selflessness is what clearly separates them from the pack.

Kane Pitman: Yes. It's really that simple and to this point, Dean Vickerman's squad hardly look like they have needed to get out of second gear.

Mitch McCarron leads United in minutes per game at 28.9 per outing. That number is good for 20th in the league, while Jock Landale and Scotty Hopson are still warming up at 26 minutes per night.

Dominant on both ends with the deepest roster in the league, there is daylight between United and the rest at this point.

Steve Smith: Yes. And it's not really close right now. There's a considerable gap to the next best team, which right now is prrrrrobably the Illawarra Hawks but could well be the South East Melbourne Phoenix imminently. United's sheer depth of talent means they can be without the likes of Chris Goulding and Shea Ili and still barely miss a beat. The additions of the surprising and hugely entertaining Yudai Baba and Mr Everywhere Jack White means Melbourne has an embarrassment of backcourt riches. Throw in MVP frontrunner Jock Landale, the ever-present Mitch McCarron, as well as Scotty Hopson, Jo Lual-Acuil and the steady veteran presence of David Barlow and this is a squad that is absolutely built for a special season.

Hot and cold: Which new import has impressed you the most, and which has been the big disappointment?

Uluc: When you look at the production and consistency of the new imports in the NBL, and then add pure effort into that equation, John Mooney has been the guy who's impressed me a whole lot.

Sure, part of it is the big-man vastly exceeding expectations, but really, it's just the fact that he's been such a vital piece on both ends of the floor, has already developed a nice rapport with Bryce Cotton, and is, as advertised, a rebounding machine. There were questions as to whether he'd be able to match the impact that Nick Kay brought to the Wildcats and, early on, he seems to be doing exactly that, and probably more.

As for the most disappointing import, it has to be Lamar Patterson. We've seen flashes of what he's demonstrated he can do in the NBL, but they've been few and far between, and the Breakers are paying a big price for it. He's looked a step slow, apathetic at times, and doesn't look to fit well with the other creators on that team.

Pitman: When Olgun, Steve and myself re-convened for the second NBL episode of Ball and the Real World my guys were shocked I didn't pump up my preseason MVP pick, Keifer Sykes.

The reason for that was that just days before, Bryce Cotton had destroyed the Phoenix in a big-time win for the Wildcats. If you want to be a guard in the MVP discussion you have to beat the best, and Sykes' has delivered since that night.

The Phoenix are 2-0 against the Wildcats since that initial loss, with Sykes averaging 21.5 points and 7.5 assists in those matchups with Cotton.

As far as disappointments go, it's low hanging fruit but I did think Donald Sloan would be a nice veteran guard to play alongside Josh Giddey as the teenager found his feet as a pro. Instead, Sloan was incredibly underwhelming and the 36ers have moved on within a month. Let the Giddey show roll on!

Smith: John Mooney had some wraps on him before he set foot on the court for the Wildcats but I think he's been better than advertised. Perth would be a shambles right now if not for his borderline metronomic frontcourt performances. There's a steadiness to Mooney that is almost reassuring. It seems like you already know what you're going to get every time he plays -- steady scoring at a high percentage clip, double-digit rebounds and a veteran presence that belies his relatively youthful 23 years.

Love Basketball? Australian users can personalise their ESPN experience by downloading the App. Get live scores, news and videos ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.

Download ESPN from Google Play Store Download ESPN from iTunes App Store Get NBL news and more in your inbox Head to: NBL | NBA | Olgun Uluc's 'Ball and the Real World' podcast

DOWNLOAD

The biggest disappointment without a shadow of a doubt has been Lamar Patterson. The Breakers had high hopes for the dual All-NBL First Team nominee but he simply hasn't lived up to expectations so far. He's currently averaging just 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. This stands in stark contrast to his NBL career averages of 18.8 points, 5.8 boards and 4.0 dimes. New Zealand has enough on its plate being the Forever Road Team, having a highly-credentialed import come in out of shape and woefully under-performing shouldn't be one of them.

Our Panel is back for the newest episode of Ball and the Real World Podcast!

Predict who you think will be in the top-four at the end of the season.

Uluc: Melbourne United: See above. It's tough to see them ever falling from the top spot.

South East Melbourne Phoenix: There have always been two tiers in this NBL season: United, and then the rest. Well, with the addition of Ryan Broekhoff, along with some of the flashes we've seen thus far, the Phoenix are built to be at the top of that second tier.

Illawarra Hawks: It will be interesting to see how this team operates when Deng Adel and Cameron Bairstow are full healthy, but the heart of Brian Goorjian's group has been what they do on the defensive end, as well as the production from Tyler Harvey and Justinian Jessup. They have the weapons to keep stacking on wins.

Sydney Kings: Health will be the big factor here. When healthy, I truly believe the Kings can compete with any team in the NBL, but whether they can ever get to that point is the big question. Adam Forde's team is keeping its head above water for now, which gives me reason to think that they can then pounce when all of their pieces are 100 percent.

Pitman: Melbourne - This one is a no brainer.

Illawarra - Brian Goorjian coaching a playoff team, who would've thought?! I can't help but watch Justinian Jessup and think Steve Kerr would like him curling around screens in the Golden State offence however....

Phoenix - The Phoenix still need to tighten up things on the defensive end but unlike last season I feel they have the personnel. The guard rotation was a concern with far too much reliance on Kyle Adnam until the Ryan Broekhoff news dropped. Their offence was powerful to start...it just got better.

Breakers - Despite the sluggish start the Breakers have only played five games. I'm keeping the faith.

Smith: Melbourne United, Illawarra Hawks, South East Melbourne Phoenix and ... the Adelaide 36ers.

I hate saying the current top-four will still be exactly that at the business end of the season but the fact remains that United is a clear title favourite, the Hawks have hardly put a foot wrong and both the Nix and the 36ers have just significantly upgraded their rosters in areas that were previously considered weaknesses. It's hard to see Sydney recovering from an absolutely brutal run of injuries, both Queensland teams lack consistency and Perth is going to continue to suffer from a lack of depth to help out their dynamic import combo. As for the poor Breakers, they've been dealt an incredibly unkind hand in a high stakes game.

Who or what has surprised you most so far?

Uluc: The partnership of Isaac Humphries and Daniel Johnson wasn't supposed to work, but we've seen flashes of a really fun and productive duo.

It helps that Humphries is playing at a Defensive Player of the Year-type level, and that Johnson is basically on track for a 50-40-90 season, but the actual chemistry seems to be there, and it's helped the 36ers look decent early on in the season.

We thought it could be a turnstile defensively, but Humphries is leading the league in blocks and doesn't appear to be slowing down. On the offensive end, there was potential for a logjam, but both bigs can play inside-out, pass the ball well (especially to each other), and have effectively taken turns running a two-man game with Josh Giddey. It had the potential to be a disaster but, so far, they're performing as arguably the best frontcourt in the NBL.

Pitman: Illawarra's import duo. Tyler Harvey and Justin Simon have been electric on the surprise team of the league so far.

The NBL is hardly lacking for primetime weapons at the guard position and Simon's ability to defend on the perimeter and protect the rim has been simply stunning for a player at his position.

Offensively, Harvey has been on a tear. Third in the league for scoring and pouring in 42 percent of his tries from deep, the American has consistently bent opposition defences with the ball in his hands.

Smith: OK, I thought Tyler Harvey would be good. But not THIS good-good. As Hawks coach Brian Goorjian noted earlier in the season, Harvey just has a will to win.

Third in the league in scoring at a 21.9 points per game clip, the former Eastern Washington Eagle is also hitting 42% of his attempts from beyond the arc, hitting some absolutely audacious shots in the process with that picture-perfect jumper. Combine that with an ability to not only get hot in a hurry but to make it a sustained scoring burst and the Hawks have themselves a guard who can hurt opposing teams in so many ways, especially with that lethal floater that has given teams absolute nightmares.

It's not just the elite scoring though; Harvey has helped give the Hawks an on-court presence and identity that they desperately needed after the circus that was LaMelo Ball's lone NBL venture last year.

Fact or fiction: Cairns Taipans and New Zealand Breakers are, as their records indicate, the two worst teams in the NBL.

Uluc: I'd lean toward fiction here, but I'm not confident in it.

With the Taipans and Breakers, we have a pair of teams who just don't seem close to figuring out their identity. Mike Kelly's Taipans don't look like a team that brought the majority of its roster back, because there just doesn't seem to be any cohesiveness, especially on the defensive end. Replacing DJ Newbill's output was always going to be difficult, but the Taipans haven't been able to find that consistent piece, if it exists at all.

The Breakers get somewhat of a pass because of the mental toll being perennially on the road takes, but, with the talent that roster possesses, it's still fair to say they've been quite disappointing. Again, the firepower is there to make us believe they'll find their way - it was the reason we all thought they'd be an obvious finals team - but there's a saying about too many cooks in the kitchen, and that's what the Breakers look like right now.

Pitman: Cairns have been by far the biggest disappointment of the NBL season so far. Unlike New Zealand, there really is zero excuse for the slow start. This is only amplified when you look at the healthy stretch of home games they had to start the season.

Ranked second last in offensive and defensive efficiency (spatialjam.com), the Taipans problems expand to both ends of the floor. Now onto the Breakers with the next question....

Smith: I hate saying this for two very different reasons but it's absolutely true right now. The Breakers - as mentioned earlier - have been dealt the absolute worst of hands. It's borderline impossible for them to find a playing rhythm when they can't enjoy all the benefits that entails playing in the friendly confines of home. Never mind the ancillary advantages of staying in your own home, sleeping in your own bed and being around family and friends. All the things every other team in the NBL currently enjoys. Combine that with the sub-par performances of Patterson as one of the three main offensive options and it's an absolutely sure-fire journey to Struggle Town.

Cairns is a different matter entirely. The Snakes were a pre-season favourite to return to the postseason but the absence of DJ Newbill has hurt them far more than most of us anticipated. The expectation that role players would step up to fill the void hasn't quite been realised and subsequently the Taipans blew a golden opportunity to stash some early wins in an extended home stand at the Snag Pit. A 2-6 record (2-5 at home!!) is well below a passing grade for them but the NBL Cup gives them a chance to turn that around quickly if they can string together some stretches of cohesive basketball.

Which team needs the NBL Cup - a lot of games in a really short amount of time - the most?

Uluc: The Perth Wildcats have largely relied on two players so far: Bryce Cotton and John Mooney. Trevor Gleeson's team has also played four of its first five games against the South East Phoenix.

It's a weird situation to be in, so entering the NBL Cup - where they'll play eight games, against a different opponent each time - could be beneficial for the Wildcats in a heap of ways.

First, just getting reps in against different teams will be huge; getting reps is important, but doing it against a variety of opponents can't be understated. The quick turnaround with games could also play a big role. With so many games in such a short amount of time, Cotton and Mooney will need to take a step back at some point, forcing others to step up. In this quick succession of games, Gleeson can get a good look at who else can make a consistent impact on the offensive end, and build on that with the next game just around the corner.

In the same way the 36ers have already figured out significant parts of their offensive identity by playing a whole lot of games in a short amount of time, the Wildcats may be able to earn the same sort of progress.

Pitman: Coming into the season I had the Breakers reaching the postseason with a huge asterisk next to their name. Being removed from their home base and living permanently on the road loomed as a monumental challenge.

While it's still not home, the NBL Cup will give the Breakers a nice stretch of games in one city where they can begin to find some rhythm and perhaps run Lamar Patterson back into some vintage form because 10.4 points per game from the star forward isn't going to cut it.

Smith: As mentioned, the Cairns Taipans could turn their woeful start around in a hurry if they can find some momentum in the early stages of the NBL Cup. But I think the South East Melbourne Phoenix could well be in the same boat. Every time the Nix has taken a loss they've bounced back in spectacular fashion; look no further than the 56-point turnaround against the Wildcats in the space of three days. The addition of Boomers sniper Ryan Broekhoff to the squad at the back end of the Cup is obviously a welcome boost, but South East Melbourne also has a tremendous opportunity to consolidate its position inside the top four with eight games, if not all at home, at the very least in their home city. Keifer Sykes looks more and more like an absolute steal each game, and with Mitch Creek shouldering plenty of the load at both ends and Yanni Wetzell continuing to look comfortable, the Phoenix will be a handful for everyone, never mind when Broekhoff suits up and locks in from deep.

Visit link:
NBL Cup round table the big talking points - ESPN

The Braves may make a couple more acquisitions between now and Opening Day, but their starting lineup looks to be set in stone unless the universal DH is agreed upon at the final hour. Any additions made between now and late March will most likely be focused on strengthening their bullpen and bench. Perhaps Alex Anthopoulos has a blockbuster trade up his sleeve, but I would be pretty shocked. The Braves should be very confident in the starting lineup they have heading into 2021.

As you can see, not much changes from last years lineup in the NLCS. Acua thrives in the leadoff spot, and with Marcell Ozuna back in the fold, there is no reason to move him from there. He will also move to right field full-time, where hes looked extremely comfortable in the past, now that Cristian Pache has arrived.

The two-hole is really the only spot I see up for grabs. Both Albies and Swanson have hit there and had a lot of success. Im expecting Albies to have a monstrous bounce-back campaign after an injury-plagued 2020, and hes shown much more consistency over his career than Swanson. However, Dansby is trending up, so it wouldnt surprise me if he etched his name on the second spot in the order permanently this season.

After that, I have Freeman moving back to the three-hole.Brian Snitkerspoke to the media yesterday and said he hasnt figured out what the lineup will look like yet, but its obvious Freeman will hit third if there is no DH in the National League. There will be significantly more RBI opportunities for him there.

Ozuna and dArnaud continue to protect Freeman in the order, followed by Swanson, who Ive already discussed, Riley and Pache. Perhaps Riley moves up at some point. Hell have to show more consistency, but his power makes him a middle-of-the-order threat if he can cut down on his strikeouts.

I have Max Fried taking the ball on Opening Day this year, and there isnt anyone more deserving. The strides hes made over the last couple of seasons have been astounding, and I dont expect it to stop. His stuff gets better every year, and his bulldog mentality is what every ace needs. Nobody should be trusted more to get the Braves going on the right foot than the lefty out of Santa Monica, California.

Like Loading...

comments

Read more here:
Braves: What will the lineup look like on Opening Day? - sportstalkatl.com

Next week will bring a free Animal Crossing: New Horizons update and with it will come Super Mario Bros-themed items for players to get. Nintendo announced the news during its Nintendo Direct broadcast today, also revealing a new Mario Golf game, a new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter, and more.

The new update will add fashion and furniture with themes from Super Mario Bros, a sneak peek of which was offered during the broadcast (check out the tweet below to see it). Youll be able to get the themed items from Nook Shopping starting on March 1.

If you pay attention to the end of Nintendos teaser video, youll see a quick scrolling list of the Super Mario Bros items coming to the Nook Shop, including a mushroom mural, Princess Peach dress and shoes, the Wario outfit, block flooring, Yoshis Egg rug, shells, Thwomp, the question block, and more.

In addition to being able to place these items anywhere on your island, youll also be able to acquire and place two warp pipes these will be useful as ways to quickly travel from one part of your island to another.

The new additions are in celebration of the prolonged Mario 35th anniversary, one of the multiple Mario-themed things weve seen from Nintendo in recent months. Be sure to check out Nintendos Direct for all the new announcements, as well as the timeline below for the biggest news.

Visit link:
Animal Crossing: New Horizons will get Super Mario Bros items on March 1 - SlashGear

The Dark Wanderer visits Marius in the opening cutscene of Diablo 2. The doors to the prison swing open on their own, as if magic has forced the hinges to move. Its a memorable moment, one that establishes this presence of magic and power for the Dark Wanderer.

But this wasnt always the case. Pre-release marketing materials for Diablo 2 featured a warden character opening the door for the Dark Wanderer. It was the original intent that the warden exist to open the door, but that character never made it into the game. It changed the context of the scene. In the shipped version, the Dark Wanderer doesnt seem invited; they open their own path.

In Diablo 2 Resurrected, the recently announced remaster of Diablo 2, Blizzard Entertainment couldve revisited that cinematic and brought the warden back in. But no matter the original intention or what makes more sense in the scene, that goes against Blizzards philosophy for Resurrected.

Prior to BlizzConline, we spoke to Rod Fergusson, executive producer of the Diablo franchise at Blizzard, and Rob Gallerani, principal designer at Blizzards support studio, Vicarious Visions. And after working on the industrys worst-kept secret, the pair were clear on Diablo 2 Resurrected: This is the Diablo 2 you know, warts and all.

This isnt a remake, said Fergusson. Were not reverse-engineering it; were not rebuilding it and trying to make it look and sound like [Diablo 2]. This is [Diablo 2]. [...] Its right there, underneath the surface. The entire simulation, the engine for this game, that lifeblood of this game, is [Diablo 2] right underneath. So theres a toggle switch, a legacy toggle, that when you press the button, youll see behind the curtains, and there is Diablo 2 in 2D sprites running right there, and you can play the way that you played 20 years ago.

In our 30-minute chat, the pair couldnt have made the philosophy for Diablo 2 Resurrected more clear. It is because it needed to be the game players remembered. Blizzard felt that most deviations, even important quality-of-life features, would be a step too far.

Most players play with the map up while they play the game, said Gallerani. And a request we got in the play test very much from people who have never played [Diablo 2] but are used to playing more modern games will be like, I just got a quest. Wheres the dot on the map telling me where to go?

We looked into doing something like that, Gallerani continued, and youre like, Well, it doesnt doesnt break anything, right? Its not making my character overpowered or anything like that. And it totally changed the vibe of the game.

While a revamped minimap or icons showing you where to go may have made for a more modern Diablo experience, it didnt feel true to what Diablo 2 was 20 years ago. And Blizzards philosophy was that if a feature doesnt feel authentic, it gets canned.

Blizzard wants to preserve Diablo 2 for Resurrected as much as it can, because even if the game is unchanged, the world it will be released into is completely different. As with World of Warcraft Classic, the wide variety of information available on the internet nowadays, and the advent of services like Discord, makes socializing while playing a very different experience. You dont need the manual when an answer to how do I complete this quest is a Discord message or a Google search away. Blizzard is counting on that the community to help ease new players into the experience.

Diablo 2 Resurrected isnt completely unchanged from Diablo 2, though; its just that the scope of the changes is rigid and limited. Blizzard made clear improvements to the visuals, taking the game from 2D sprites to 3D models. But those models are all either based on the original games art or molded by using the original architecture. It looks and moves like Diablo 2, but in a way that makes it much easier to look at for prolonged periods of time.

There are also some unobtrusive convenience additions. One example Blizzard gave is the Shared Stash, which allows players to move items between their characters by placing the desired item in a chest. This is a major shift from the original game, where players needed to create a mule character whose sole purpose was to move items from one character to the other. We felt like this wasnt changing how you played, said Fergusson. This is just making it better.

The Shared Stash is one of the easiest-to-swallow pills for players it just saves time, so there are no downsides. But a feature like auto gold pickup was a little too much for some.

We have other [features] like the auto gold pickup, which you would expect in a modern-day game that you have the ability just to walk over and hoover up the gold but maybe a purist doesnt want that quality of life, said Fergusson. And so weve actually made some [improvements] that are toggleable, and you can opt in or not.

The actual changes in Diablo 2 Resurrected are on that level of minutiae. If it even comes close to feeling like too much of a difference from the original game, Blizzard threw in a toggle to allow players to tailor their experience.

Many of the games major changes fit into the quality-of-life pool or the communication pool. In Diablo 2, it was easy to lose track of skill points, or assign something in a way that ruins your character. That rigidity is still there, but the game will now remind you if you havent spent your points, and tell you how to assign your abilities. Itll give you a warning that buying that skill is a permanent choice, but once you move past the warning, thats it introducing the ability to reverse that decision would be too big of a change.

These changes all work to make Diablo 2 Resurrected a more friendly experience, but not one thats so friendly it ever stops feeling like the dark, brutal, and occasionally frustrating Diablo 2 that catapulted the franchise into gaming history. And if players have concerns that Diablo 2 Resurrected will change too much, Fergusson assured us that unlike Warcraft 3: Reforged, Diablo 2 and Diablo 2 Resurrected are two separate games; one will not override or impact the other.

Diablo 2 Resurrected is scheduled to be released on consoles and Windows PC later this year, with a single-player beta available in a few months.

See the article here:
Diablo 2 Resurrected is a strict and faithful remaster - Polygon

Restaurant and bar openings, closings, dining events and more for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

For this weeks super-sized restaurant and bar newsroundupwe have exciting openings in the University Town Center district, St. Armands Circle, Cortez and then a couple more in Sarasota. Lets begin with a new spot in UTC that should appeal to folks who are serious about their pizza and wings (and enjoy pairing the comfort food classics with craft beers and cocktails).

Ticket Newsletter:Sign up to receive the latest news on things to do, restaurants and more every Friday

More:Looking for romantic restaurants in Sarasota-Manatee? Here are 21 of our favorites

A Sarasota restaurant that specializes in pizza, craft beer and wings with two existing locations has opened its third inone of the areas busiest shopping districts.

Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Cafe, which has locations in Sarasotas Southside Village and Palmer Ranch, opened this week at University Town Center at 8193 Tourist Center Drive. The space formerly housed fellow pizzerias Casa di Pizza andDoughbie Brothers Pizza Co.

Owner Rami Nehme said he was not initially planninga new location so soon after the Palmer Ranch restaurantopened last year, with the original Origin on Hillview Street opening in 2016. Yet the UTC location was proposed to him,and offered a way to expand their customer base withanother thrivingcommunity.

I try to keep (the locations)far apart, and the UTC area, obviously, its growing tremendously,Nehme said. I was shocked by the amount of cars that Ive seen there; its busy all the time.

Origin is known for its classic and specialtypizzas, some of which feature Mediterranean flavors such as gyroor falafel-and-hummus pies, as well as its chicken wings, which are baked rather than fried. Nehme said a menu with a few new additions will debut this week as well, including a Middle EasternZaatar pizza and another featuring chicken and Origins popular trifecta sauce.

Unlike its other locations, OriginsUTC restaurant offers full liquor with a drink list centered on classic cocktails. It has16 taps featuringlocal craft beer options, with plans to incorporatenearby breweries like Lakewood Ranchs Naughty Monk Brewery, Nehme said.

The restaurant seats roughly 150, about 80 inside and 70 outdoors, with plans to include a sandbox for children. It also offers takeout and third-party service delivery.

University Town Centersanticipated new business openingsthis year include several other restaurants. Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushiopened last monthfor takeout and deliverywith plans to offer dine-in as well. A Jenis ice creamscoop shop, a second location for downtown Sarasotas Selva Grill, Fords Garage,Georgies Garden Cafe, and Bar George are planning to open their doors as well.

Originshours are 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 941-358-5850 or visit originpizzacafe.com.

A Florida business offering classic and modernarcade games, Cuban food, specialty drinks andcraft beer and winehas expanded to Sarasota, joining a growing number ofnew tenants on St. Armands Circle.

Arcade Monsters is now open in a two-floor building at 326 John Ringling Blvd., which formerly housed Surf Shack. The businessalso haslocations in the Orlando area and Brevard County.

Founder/ownerAdrian Ravelo lives in Orlando, but has visited Lido Beach with familyfor several years,and thought there was a marketfor a business in the area that offered entertainment along with restaurant and retail.

We decided to bring something fun to the circle,Ravelo said.

Arcade Monsters offers more than a hundred games to play, including retro and contemporary console games, imported Japanese rhythm games, pinball, air hockey and more. Customers can either pay $16.99 for unlimited play under a current deal, or visit for a meal or a drink with no separate charge.

The menu centers on Cuban cuisine, with dishes like empanadas, a Cuban sandwich, pastelitos and flan. It also offers American comfort food favorites like chicken wings and pizza, and combinations of both such as a Cuban cheesesteak or garlic cilantro wings.

Its bar offers a variety of alcoholic slushies and dry ice drinks, along with canned/bottledcraft beersincluding Florida options, and wine.

The restaurant seats around 150 with outdoor seating on the ground leveland an anime-themed balcony. The interior sportsglow-in-the-dark artwork of classic and current pop culture, video game and anime characters.

Other new businesses that have opened recently on St. Armands CircleincludeVernona Gourmet, a full-service chophouse with live music and a deli convenience market, andThe Whiskey Barrel, which features a drink and food menu based aroundwhiskeys and bourbons. Siesta Key mainstay Meaneys Mini Donuts & Coffee House alsoopened aSt. Armands location.

Arcade Monsters isopen from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. For more information, visitarcademonsters.com.

A new restaurant has opened in Cortez, featuring a familiar name and space for those who know the Manatee County fishing villages dining scene.

Slickers Eatery is now open at 12012 Cortez Road W. in the former space of OShucks Raw Bar & Grilland most recentlyPig Out BBQ, which still has anotherlocation openon Manatee Avenue West. The new business is owned by Bob Slicker, who has worked at several restaurants over the years, including as general manager of Cortezs Swordfish Grill.

His daughter Molly Slicker, who is creative director for Slickers Eatery, said it was always a dream of Bobs to open his own restaurant. She described the menu as eclectic plates,drawing from a variety of cuisines and types of dishes.

Its an outlier for the Cortez area because were not mainly a seafood restaurant,Slicker said. There are a lot of those in this area, and they do a great job at that, so we are focused on really bringing fresh, different tastes to this area.

Current dishesinclude a Cuban sandwich,pork belly banh mi andblack beans and rice with mojo pork or chicken breast. There are also seafood items such as a shrimp BLT orspaghetti and an ahi tuna poke bowl, along with numerous vegan or vegetarian options like The Slicker Spread (a crudits plate with crostini, rosemaryand garlic cannellini spreadand hummus) or meatless versions of the spaghetti and poke bowl.

The drink menu offersa selection of craft cocktails, some with Manatee County-themed names such as the Coquina Dusk (Bacardi Silver, pineapple, mango puree, lime juice, triple secand Orgeat) and Cortez Swizzle (Patron, mezcal, aquavit, lemon juice and honey.) There are 10beers on draft, several from local craft breweries such as Bradentons Darwin Brewing Company and Motorworks Brewing.

Slickers Eatery offers both indoor and outdoor seating and is currently reservation-only exceptfor a few walkup tables, Slicker said, with takeout also available and plans to offer delivery in the future. The restaurant plans to be open daily.

For more information, call 941-251-9428 or visit slickerseatery.com.

A popular restaurantthat temporarily closed because of the coronavirus pandemic has reopened in a new location.

Amore, the downtownSarasota restaurantoffering Italian and Portuguese cuisinethat closed in July, hasreopenedinthe formerSilver Starspoton Lime Avenue in the Colonial Village Shopping Center. Amore originally operated on Longboat Key before taking over the sizable location in Burns Court.

Amore had originally planned to open its180 N.Lime Ave. location last month but reopened to the public Feb. 9 following a large renovation and overcoming some unforeseen circumstances,the restaurants owners noted in an email sent Feb. 2.

Like a lot of people, we are victims of COVID-19 and went from profitability to liability in the larger restaurant that had 175 seats, chef/owner Tito Vitorino told the Herald-Tribune in January.We decided to scale down and offer patio seating as well as distance seating inside and takeout if desired.

The Vitorinos have completely transformed the new restaurant into an Old World setting with distressed wood patterned flooring, tile walls and Portuguese art gracing the walls.There are 64 seats inside with plexiglass partitions between booths, and tables are socially distanced.The outdoor patio accommodates another 24 guests.

At the previous restaurant, the menu included about 25 percent Portuguese selections and 75 percent Italian.The newAmorewill be 50/50.

We are serving many of the favorites from Burns Court but adding more Portuguese favorites, Vitorino said.

In addition to salads and starters, among entre options are branzino essiccato with sun-dried tomato coulis, seafood cataplana with seafood or pork and clams, and the special salted Norwegian cod fish (lagareiro).The pork loin with bifana sauce is another favorite, as well as rack of lamb andlinguini pescatore. The restaurant is also known for its desserts prepared tableside, including bananas foster and cherries jubilee.It will offerbeer plus a respectable wine list, including Italian, Portuguese and California selections.

Amore is open 5-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 941-383-1111 or visitfacebook.com/amorerestaurantlbk.

Authentic Neapolitan pizzas are the main attraction atAntonio Mancinisnew restaurant in Sarasota Commons.Atmosphere Neapolitan Pizzeria has opened in the former Atmosphere Italian Restaurant (originally Almas Kouzine) at 935 N. Beneva Road, featuring a brick oven as the centerpiece surrounded by a bar where customers may witness the owner crafting their pizzas.

The restaurant has been renovated and includes 36 seats inside and out in a casual setting with Italian artwork gracing the walls. There is also a small market area with imported oils and condiments.

A native of Italy, Mancini came to America three years ago to handle pizza making for Napule Restaurant in Sarasota.Subsequently, he opened Vesuvio Neapolitan Frozen Pizza and now has added the new pizzeria to his culinary pursuits.According to his wife, Jay Mancini, who directs the front of the restaurant, her husband has always wanted his own restaurant and is pleased to offer his hand-tossed pizzas, plus other Italian selections, desserts, beer and wines, all imported from Italy.

All our ingredients are Italian imports except daily specials which include selections which have fresh ingredients from local markets, said Jay Mancini, who added that what makes their Neapolitan pizza different is the dough resting 24 hours before being hand kneaded and baked in a wood fire oven.

This is what makes the crust light and airy rather than thick and doughy, she explained.And the toppings are authentic Italian like San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and Italian salami, which are on our popular Calabria pizza.

The traditional Margarita pizza, salami and prosciutto pizzas are other options, as well as some white versions. All pizzas are personal size, from 11 to 12 inches.Atmosphere also offers fried pizza bread with assorted toppings, fried pizza dough sandwiches, and appetizers including bruschetta and salads.

For dessert, diners may choose traditional Italian dishes such as sfogliatella,delizia al limone or ricotta and pear cake.Beer and wines from Italy are provided as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

Atmosphere Neapolitan Pizzeria is open daily from 4-9 p.m. with plans to expand hours in the future.Takeout and delivery services are available. For more information, call 941-203-8542 or visitinstagram.com/atmosphereneapolitanpizzeria.

Sarasota Deli, which opened recently in the Mobil gas station at6104 S. Tamiami Trailby the Beechwood Avenue intersection,is offering up an array of American breakfasts and lunch selections. Owner James Pressley, who has been in the restaurant field for over 20 years, saidthe new deli is a work in progress with plans to add seating inside and curbside pickup.Currently, customers may order the homemade items online, by phone or in person for takeout or delivery through Grubhub.

Customers tell me the food here isnt your typical gas station selections, said Pressley, who has long been involved in creative ways to enhance food.In fact, one day I plan to add some of my grandmothers recipes to the deli.

The chef/owner is assisted by his wife, Stephanie, and employee Sam Martinez.Meats are smoked on the premises andamong customers favorites are the brisket (taco or sandwich), pork and beef. Most recipes are American fare with a twist.I tend to go bold with seasonings, said Pressley.Our food is not typical.

The deli serves variousbreakfast selections, including favorites like croissant French toast, a breakfast burrito and biscuits with gravy.Theres also a traditional breakfast in a box anda BLT wrap.Lunch favorites include an Angus beef, pork or brisket tacos with assorted toppings. Theres alsoaburger featuring a hand-formed patty, Cuban sandwich pressed on the grill,and a ranch chicken wrap, as well assoups,salads and chili.In addition, there are sides like mac andcheese, potato salad and black bean salad.

Sarasota Deli is open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with plans to extend the hours in the future.For more information, call941-315-0868 or visit facebook.com/sarasotadeli.

P.F. Changs in downtown Sarasota is celebrating Lunar New Year with additions to the menu to mark the season.In honor of its Asian roots, the restaurant will highlight the Year of the Ox with special selections through March 30.

Lunar New Year is a rich tradition and one were proud to honor, Tana Davila, chief marketing officer, said in a statement.We look forward to adding our unique perspective to the celebration with incredible flavors and new menu items.

Among offerings debuting for Lunar New Year are a Fire & Ice dessert and Red Lantern cocktail.According to P.F. Changs director of culinary operations, these items allow the restaurant to further expand their elevated menu offerings and provide guests with an immersive dining experience.The Red Lantern cocktail, available for a limited time, blends Reyka vodka, Solerno liqueur, blood orange, pineapple and lemon and is enhanced with a red lantern stirrer in an illuminated glass.

The Fire & Ice dessert combines bread pudding with vanilla ice cream encased in a chocolate shell, served flaming tableside. In addition to the spirited dessert and cocktail, holiday selections, which will remain on the menu, include Korean bulgogi lettuce wraps, miso butter lobster dumplings, Peking duck and the Rising Dragon cocktail, which are available for dine-in or takeout.

P.F. Changs dining concept includes wok cooking, plus hand-rolled dim sum, hand chopped ingredients and scratch sauces.There are more than 300 restaurants in 25 countries.

Located at 766 S.Osprey Ave., P.F. Changs in Sarasota is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.For more information, call941-296-6002 or visit pfchangs.com.

More: 10 best waterfront restaurants for outdoor dining in Sarasota

More: Looking for outdoor dining near the beach? 7 best waterfront restaurants in Englewood

For the latest Sarasota-Manatee restaurant and bar news visitheraldtribune.com/entertainment/dining. Email restaurant news items to ticket@heraldtribune.com.

See original here:
Whats new on the Sarasota-Manatee dining scene? Heres our weekly restaurant and bar roundup - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

News

IPL-bound players might miss a part or the whole of the home games against Bangladesh too

New Zealand Cricket will allow its cricketers to participate in the 2021 edition for as long as they need to, even if it means that some of them miss the end of the New Zealand home season and the first Test of the tour of England, at Lord's.

The dates for the IPL aren't out yet - likely to be in April-May - but the Lord's Test is scheduled to start on June 2, and it could be that a few major all-format players, like captain Kane Williamson and Trent Boult, fail to join the team in time if their teams make the IPL playoffs.

The situation won't be any different from England, whose leading multi-format cricketers, including Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler, might all miss that two-Test series.

Speaking to Stuff.co.nz NZC chief executive David White said, "NZC will take a pragmatic approach as these fixtures are a late addition to the schedule. We will work through the decision in conjunction with the players." The Tests in question - the second one is in Southampton - were announced only last month, and don't count towards the World Test Championship final, which New Zealand have already qualified for. That match will be played from June 18.

There's also a chance that, depending on when the IPL-bound players are asked to link up with their franchises, they miss the home white-ball series against Bangladesh, which run from March 20 to April 1. "We are still awaiting advice as to when the IPL will start and what the MIQ protocols will be - but will take a pragmatic approach in the event of any clash," White said.

As such, no New Zealand cricketer has ever missed a Test match because of the IPL, and there might not be a direct dates' clash in this case either, but things could get tricky because of the Covid-19 situation.

Apart from Williamson and Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner and Tim Seifert all have teams in the IPL already, and 20 other New Zealand cricketers have put their names in the hat for the auction, to be held in Chennai on Thursday. Keeping in mind travel restrictions, New Zealand will follow the new norm of sending an expanded squad to England in any case.

See the article here:
IPL or Lord's Test? New Zealand Cricket to take 'pragmatic approach' with its players - ESPNcricinfo

News

Yadav has to undergo a fitness assessment before linking up with his team-mates

Umesh Yadav has been drafted into India's Test squad for the Ahmedabad leg of the England series, replacing Shardul Thakur, who has been released to play for Mumbai in the domestic 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy. Yadav, who will undergo a fitness assessment at the NCA before linking up with the Virat Kohli-led squad, is returning to competitive cricket after recovering from the calf injury he picked up during the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

If cleared, Yadav will join the fast-bowling group comprising Ishant Sharma, who is one short of 100 Test appearances, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill's presence in the squad might serve as an indication that the forearm injury that didn't allow him to take the field on the fourth day of the second Test isn't too serious. As such, India have a stand-by in the form of Mayank Agarwal, who is the third opener. And KL Rahul, who was drafted in for the second Test as a batting reserve, has retained his place.

Two members in India's squad - Bumrah and Axar Patel - could potentially feature in front of their home supporters at the revamped Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera. A third Gujarat cricketer, Priyank Panchal, who was part of the reserves, has been released to play in the domestic 50-over competition alongside fellow opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and Thakur. Quicks Sandeep Warrier, Avesh Khan and Ankit Rajpoot, and spin twins K Gowtham and Saurabh Kumar now complete the net-bowlers' contingent, while wicketkeeper KS Bharat and legspinner Rahul Chahar are stand-bys.

Hardik Pandya, who hasn't played Tests since September 2018, is slowly progressing to bowling at full tilt after recovering from a shoulder surgery, which has forced him play much of his cricket in recent times as a specialist batsman.

The four-Test series is currently tied at 1-1 after two games, both in Chennai. England won the first Test by 227 runs, and India bounced back to win the second by 317 runs.

The result of the next two Tests are of great significance not just for the ongoing series, but the race to take on New Zealand in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship at Lord's in June. Both the teams are trying to get past Australia's points percentage of 69.17. India need to win the series, by any margin, so a win and a draw (or two wins) serve them fine. The loss in the second Test, meanwhile, has hurt England, because they can only make the final if they won both the remaining Tests. Australia are in with a shot too - they would be hoping England don't win both the remaining Tests; a 1-1 or 2-2 draw or a 2-1 England win work great for them.

The third Test of the ongoing series, a pink-ball affair, will start on February 24, and the final one on March 4.

Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

Continued here:
Umesh Yadav to replace Shardul Thakur for Ahmedabad Tests against England - ESPNcricinfo

The IPL 2021 auction is set to take place on February 18. This will not be a mega auction, which means franchises will largely look to plug gaps, some larger than others. In this, the second of a two-part preview, we look at the requirements for the Mumbai Indians, the Rajasthan Royals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Part 1 of the preview

With seven slots left and a small purse of INR 15.35 crore, defending champions Mumbai Indians must play their cards smartly at the auction table.

There are three gaps Mumbai would want to plug more than any other. First, get at least one, if not two, overseas fast bowlers. Having released James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mumbai only have one overseas quick in Trent Boult. In addition, they could also look for a back-up allrounder for Kieron Pollard. Mumbai are also likely to be on the lookout for a back-up wristspinner to Rahul Chahar, who struggled in IPL 2020 and wasn't in the playing XI for the final.

First XI: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Quinton de Kock, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Ishan Kishan, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Krunal Pandya, 7 Kieron Pollard, 8 Rahul Chahar, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 An overseas fast bowler.

Key gaps: At least one overseas fast bowler

Potential picks: Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, Jason Behrendoff, Kyle Jamieson, Nathan-Coulter Nile, Arjun Tendulkar

Back-up wristspinner/fingerspinner Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh, Khrievitso Kense

Back-up allrounder for Kieron Pollard: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Shivam Dube

Kumar Sangakkara, the new team director of the Royals, has his task cut out. The Royals, who last made the playoffs in 2018, would be on the lookout for one fast bowler, one specialist batsman, and one allrounder. The weak link for the Royals has been a good support cast for Jofra Archer as well as a middle-order batsman who can play the finisher's role. Both Steven Smith and Robin Uthappa struggled in those roles in IPL 2020. It will not be a surprise if the Royals buy back Smith cheap as experience always helps, but with a strong purse of over INR 34 crore, the franchise can't be shy about raising the paddle to top price if they believe a name is worth it.

Current first XI: 1 Sanju Samson, 2 Ben Stokes, 3 Jos Buttler, 4 David Miller, 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Mahipal Lomror, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Shreyas Gopal, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Kartik Tyagi

Key gaps: One fast bowler, one allrounder, one batsman

Potential picks: Steven Smith, Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Alex Hales

Back-up allrounder: Shivam Dube, Glenn Maxwell, Chris Morris, Moeen Ali

Back-up overseas fast bowler: Naveen ul Haq, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Kyle Jamieson

The side led by Virat Kohli has an urgent need to fill up more than one vacant spot in the first XI. After releasing the likes of Chris Morris, Aaron Finch and Moeen Ali, the Royal Challengers' focus will be on finding batsmen and allrounders for their top and middle order. That has been a long-standing problem for the franchise, for which they have tried to find remedies over several seasons, usually without much success.

They will once again look for a solution to reduce the dependency on their two best batsmen: AB de Villiers and Kohli. With the second-highest purse in the 2021 auction (INR 35.9 crore), the Royal Challengers could target a few big names, including Glenn Maxwell and Shakib Al Hasan, in addition to finding an Indian batsman who can play the role of a finisher in the middle order. This should be a busy auction for the franchise.

Current first XI: 1 Devdutt Padikkal, 2 Josh Philippe, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Shahbaz Ahmed, 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Daniel Sams, 8 Navdeep Saini, 9 Mohammed Siraj, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Yuzuvender Chahal.

Key gaps: Top order overseas batsman/batting allrounder

Potential picks: Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Shakib Al Hasan, Fabian Allen, Dawid Malan

Domestic batsman/allrounder: Shahrukh Khan, Kedhar Jadhav, K Gowtham

Along with the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Sunrisers have the smallest purse (INR 10.75 crore) in this auction. But they do not have too many gaps to fill. An overseas player is among three main vacancies. They can either look to replace Billy Stanlake, who can also act as a back-up for Jason Holder. One potential pick is likely to be buying back Shakib Al Hasan, who was with the franchise until he was banned by the ICC two years ago.

Current first XI: 1 David Warner, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Priyam Garg, 5 Vijay Shankar, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Sandeep Sharma, 10 T Natarajan, 11 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Key gap: Back-up overseas fast bowler

Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor at ESPNcricinfo

Read more here:
IPL 2021 auction: Who will Mumbai Indians, the Royals, the Royal Challengers and the Sunrisers Hyderabad target? - ESPNcricinfo

Features

All you need to know about the Australian quick, who was signed by Punjab Kings for INR 14 crore at the IPL 2021 auction

Jhye Richardson, the 24-year-old Australian fast bowler, has been one of the hottest properties at this year's IPL auction. Here is his backstory.

Tearaway teenagerRichardson hails from Perth in Western Australia and despite his small frame he developed a reputation for producing express pace as a teenager when playing for Fremantle Cricket Club, the home of the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, and Ashton Turner. He made his List A and first-class debuts at 19 for Western Australia and played one game in the BBL in 2015-16 for the Perth Scorchers. But he announced himself the following season when he was Player of the Match in the BBL final as the Scorchers claimed their third BBL title under coach Justin Langer.

International debutLater that summer, in February 2017, Langer was seconded to stand in as coach for Australia's three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka while full-time coach Darren Lehmann and the Test squad headed to India. With a number of first-choice players away there was an opportunity for some of the best performers in the BBL to get their international breaks and Richardson played in two of the three games, debuting in a nail-biter at Geelong.

The following summer he consistently took wickets in all formats but bowled superbly in a Sheffield Shield fixture for Western Australia against a full-strength New South Wales side that featured the then Australia captain Steven Smith. Richardson took six wickets in the match, including David Warner in the second innings, and bowled a lot to Smith during his second-innings century.

That performance led to his ODI debut, and he was later selected for his first Test squad, on Australia's infamous Test tour of South Africa in 2018. He had played just five first-class games before going on that tour.

Fresh face in a new eraWhen Langer took over as coach of Australia following the South Africa tour, Richardson was part of a new team of fresh faces for Langer's first assignment, a five-match ODI tour of England. He was part of the attack that gave up a world-record ODI score at Trent Bridge.

He went on Australia's subsequent T20I tour of Zimbabwe and played in all five games but he was not selected for the Test or T20I tour of the UAE in October of 2018. Instead, he went back and dominated for Western Australia taking 27 wickets in the first five Sheffield Shield games including a career-best 8 for 47 against New South Wales.

He returned to the ODI team in January 2019 and took 4 for 26 in game one against India including the prize scalp of Virat Kohli. Just two weeks later he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in the absence of Josh Hazlewood. He took five wickets for the match and gave Australia's much-vaunted Test attack some more variety. It looked, at the time, as though he may become a permanent fixture in all three formats for Australia heading into the Ashes and the World Cup.

Injury setbackRichardson dislocated his right shoulder while diving in the field during at ODI against Pakistan in Sharjah in the lead-up to the World Cup. The injury ruled him out of the World Cup and the subsequent Ashes series. He made a quiet return to domestic cricket later in 2019 but didn't immediately reach the pace he previously had and also struggled to throw in the field.

He had a solid BBL09 campaign and got better as the tournament progressed, which led to his selection for Australia's limited-overs tour of South Africa in early 2020. He made his international return in the third ODI at Potchefstroom when Mitchell Starc flew home to watch his wife Alyssa Healy play in the T20 World Cup final in Melbourne.

Second surgeryWhen the Covid-19 pandemic put a halt to international cricket, Richardson elected to have further surgery to stabilise his troublesome shoulder.

He missed the first part of the Sheffield Shield season later in the summer as he was still building up to a full return. That decision paid dividends for the Scorchers in the BBL where he starred as the tournament's leading wicket-taker, producing devastating spells in the Powerplay and Power Surge which caught the eye of IPL owners and Australia's selectors. He also played some excellent cameos with the bat, proving to be an inventive strokemaker in the death overs coming in at No. 8.

Such was Richardson's form, he was talked about as a possible inclusion in Australia's Test squad to South Africa but his lack of red-ball cricket over the previous 12 months meant that he was instead selected for Australia's five-match T20I tour of New Zealand, which begins on Monday.

Expert eye"He's been magnificent for us. He bowls all the tough overs. He bowls up front, he's bowling in every power surge and he's often got one at the death as well. Not only is he the leading wicket-taker, but I think he's also got one of the better economy rates in the competition."Perth Scorchers coach Adam Voges

Alex Malcolm is a freelance writer based in Melbourne

Read more:
The lowdown on Jhye Richardson, the latest millionaire in the Punjab Kings ranks - ESPNcricinfo

There are no concrete details about the plot yet, but much like how the first two seasons corresponded with the first and second books in the trilogy, the third season of A Discovery of Witches will follow the plot of The Book of Life, the final book in the All Souls series of novels by Deborah Harkness.

With Diana finding out that she was pregnant near the end of the show's second season, the couple will be dealing with a lot when they return to the present day. In addition to having their hands full with the pregnancy and impending parenthood, they'll also be facing off against Knox, who still wants Ashmole 782. Meanwhile, there is still a threat from the Congregation, which is made up of witches, vampires, and daemons, as it still forbids mingling between the three kinds of supernatural creatures. Something tells us they won't be too happy to find out that Diana is carrying a child created by a witch and a vampire.

As if that isn't enough drama already, new enemies will also make themselves known, and the subject of Matthew's vampire blood rage, a major plot point in the third novel, should receive significant attention in the final season, especially after Domenico survived an attack from a blood-rage vampire at the end of season 2.

It's a lot to fit into a single season, but after the success of the first two, there's no reason to believe the writers won't be able to make it all work.

See original here:
A Discovery Of Witches Season 3 Release Date, Cast And Plot - What We Know So Far - Looper