T LOunge for March 16th, 2023

Alice & il Vino Bistrot Cocktail Bar – Montesacro, Rome, Italy

We’re feeling the need for a cool, chic, soothing LOunge with a Euro vibe today, not only because it’s THURSDAY and we all deserve it, but also because we’re wrapping up our 2023 awards season coverage today, which always prompts a lull and a bit of relaxed sighing on our parts. Grab a seat and wait for the finale.

“Midlife women aren’t past their prime – we’re just getting started”
Michelle Yeoh’s Oscars speech showed just how times are changing for older, more experienced women
From Demi Moore launching her new swimwear line at 60, to Hannah Waddingham taking on Eurovision presenter duties at 49 alongside starring in the award-winning Ted Lasso, we are finally seeing an army of women – previously deemed out-of-date in the money-driven world of entertainment – stepping confidently into a new cultural relevance. It feels so modern seeing these 40-plus women owning their success because, up until recently, they were missing in action: on screen, in books, in the boardroom or in creative pursuits. Indeed, many were simply invisible to society in general.

Naomi Campbell Knows What She Wants
For three decades, the world has been trying to define her. But the supermodel and activist would prefer to do things on her own terms.
An important part of the mythos surrounding Naomi Campbell—supermodel, activist, fashion icon, occasional hothead—lies in her origin story. You probably already know it by now, but just to recap: Campbell, 15, a schoolgirl hailing from the fairly unremarkable streets of London’s Streatham neighborhood, was spotted by a model scout while out window-shopping in London’s West End. It’s a story a world away from how most successful models these days seem to be discovered, either scouted via Instagram or ushered to the front of the queue by virtue of their famous parents. Between her and fellow ’90s icon (and close friend) Kate Moss, Campbell was responsible for a generation of British teenage girls trying our best to look “modely” as we wandered around the big Topshop on Oxford Street, hoping we too might be “spotted” while out shopping on a Saturday afternoon.

Camila Mendes on Coach, ‘Riverdale,’ and Wearing Her Undies on the Street
The newest member of the Coach Family says she still has a Coach bag from elementary school.
Mendes has her own history with Coach, much like many people her age do. At 28, she explains that she got a bag while she was in elementary school — and that she still has it … sort of.
“My first bag ever, my first designer bag was a Coach bag. My dad got it for me for my birthday or a graduation, I can’t really remember,” she explains. “There’s a photo of me right after I had opened it, cross-legged, with so much sass and attitude, wearing a full pink outfit with my pink Coach purse.”

Law Roach Opens Up About His Retirement From Celebrity Styling, His Future Plans, and His Dramatic Modeling Debut for Boss
It’s currently around 36 hours since Roach dropped an Instagram post announcing his retirement, citing “politics and false narratives.” The news sparked widespread dismay across the industry, and also prompted a slew of unsubstantiated suggestions and questions as to what might be the reason for his decision: Was it because he was seated second row at a fashion show? Had he had a beef with one of the clients for whom his work has been so positively transformational? Was he quitting the industry entirely? WTF? Instead of speculating, Vogue asked Roach to speak about his decision for himself.

The 38 Must-Read Books of Spring 2023
From a deep dive into the history of J.Crew to Sarah Ferguson’s latest romance novel.
This season, you have no excuse for being without something good to read. Offerings include explosive novels, revealing memoirs, brilliant biographies, and everything in between. No matter what you like to read, there’s a title coming out this spring that’s sure to be just what you’re looking for.

Interior Designer Ken Fulk Brings an Austrian Estate’s Salon Room Back to Life
In partnership with Trevor D. Traina, the former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, and De Gournay, the illustrious interior designer paid tribute to the late Max Reinhardt.
The hills are alive, and now, so is the Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron’s Red Salon Room.
Ken Fulk, in partnership with Trevor D. Traina, the former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, has revived one of the estate’s most important rooms in honor of Max Reinhardt, one of the founders of Austria’s Salzburg Festival.
When The Sound of Music aired in 1965, it was unbeknownst to the Von Trapp family (on which the musical is based) that the production would soon become a worldwide phenomenon. Set in Salzburg, Austria, and starring Julie Andrews, it retells the story of Maria Von Trapp, who takes a job as governess to the family while deciding whether or not she should become a nun. She enchants viewers with her soprano voice, from the rolling green hills of Salzburg to the decadent rooms of the Schloss Leopoldskron. This production was, ultimately, a continuation of Reinhardt’s long-lasting musical impact on Austrian culture.

Julia Roberts & Chopard Celebrate the Magic of Movies (and Diamonds)
For Chopard’s latest campaign, James Gray is directing the Hollywood star in a series of short films.
Chopard has officially named Roberts the ambassador to all of its collections, from Happy Sport to high jewelry, and to celebrate the announcement, Gray is directing her in a series of short films paying homage to—what else?—the art of cinema. Twelve vignettes, which will be released throughout the year beginning on March 20, will portray life behind the scenes, peeling back the curtains on all the frenzied exuberance and candid moments that viewers rarely get to see—because sometimes it’s what happens backstage that proves most indelible.

The Napa Wine Train Is Back With an All-New Dining Experience
The “Tasting on the Rails” experience will pair views, wines, and delicious bites all in one three-hour journey.
The Napa Valley Wine Train, the beloved Northern California experience, is back with an all-new wine and dine experience.
For more than 30 years, wine lovers near and far have flocked to the railway to take the luxury passenger journey to the vines. And now, its new “Tasting on the Rails” experience will pair those famed views with regional wines and a seven-course meal to remember.
Debuting May 3, 2023, “Tasting on the Rails” will launch just in time for the wild mustard season, providing train travelers with views of the breathtaking yellow flower blanketing the hillsides. Beyond the scenery, guests will get to taste seven wines from six Napa Valley vineyards. Travelers on the three-hour journey will even zoom past several of the vineyards the wines come from while en route.

Zoe Saldana may have mastered holding her breath underwater for five minutes but, as the Avatar star tells Emily Cronin, her real superpower is self-belief
Much has been made of the cast’s underwater training (Saldana learned to hold her breath for up to five minutes) as well as the 13-year gap between the release dates of Avatar and its sequel. “Look, we lived our lives in that time,” says Saldana, who points out that she married Italian artist Marco Perego and welcomed three sons (Cyrus, Bowie and Zen) during that period – all of which helped to bring new nuance to Neytiri, also now a mother. “Just having a family; there was a level of fear I experienced after becoming a parent – the fear of the unimaginable that every parent has. I had the sense that Neytiri was going through the same kind of experience.”

The 2023 Oscars perfectly demonstrated how powerful the red-carpet platform can be for Black beauty
Why it’s so important that we hero Black beauty on red carpets
Sunday 12th March 2023 may not mean much to some, but to the stars of Hollywood – from the actors to the image architects and glam squads behind them – it was the highly-anticipated, most-watched red-carpet event of the year: the 95th Annual Academy Awards. Alongside a parade of custom-made gowns, head-turning beauty looks were showcased by the likes of Halle Bailey, Danai Gurira, Janelle Monae, Angela Bassett, Tems and Rihanna, illuminated by the camera flashbulbs.
Representative of a significant pillar of Black glamour, the looks these women chose served as a platform for the creativity behind Black beauty. It’s particularly poignant post-#Oscarssowhite, the conversation started by activist and writer April Reign in 2016, highlighting the fact that out of 20 actors nominated that year, none were people of colour.

Ke Huy Quan, Comeback Kid: The Oscar Winner on ‘Everything Everywhere,’ Kissing Harrison Ford and Why He’s Worried About What Comes Next
So during a commercial break in the Academy Awards telecast, Quan, 51, went over to where Spielberg was sitting with his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, whom Quan hadn’t seen since they co-starred in “Temple of Doom” four decades earlier. After hugs all around, Spielberg put his hands on Quan’s shoulders and said, “You are now an Oscar-winning actor.”
The depth of this statement was not lost on any of them, since Quan’s Oscar win capped off one of the most improbable comeback stories in Hollywood history. For decades, he had been relegated to the edges of the movie business, left without a career — and health insurance.

Gillian Anderson Will Play Emily Maitlis In A New Netflix Film About Prince Andrew’s Newsnight Interview
The fifth season of Netflix’s The Crown dedicated an entire episode to Princess Diana’s shocking Panorama interview – an almost-hour-long extravaganza in which the then Princess of Wales opened up about the difficulties in her marriage and her struggles with her mental health to the now disgraced Martin Bashir. More than two decades later, it remains the most jaw-dropping royal interview ever to be broadcast on the BBC, but there is a close second: Prince Andrew’s startling conversation with Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis in 2019, which saw the Duke of York discuss his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. It should come as no surprise, then, that the streaming giant is now turning its lens on the latter with an explosive new feature film.

What Conversation Can Do for Us
Our culture is dominated by efforts to score points and win arguments. But do we really talk anymore?
There was once a time when strangers talked to one another, sometimes eagerly. “In past eras, daily life made it necessary for individuals to engage with others different from themselves,” Paula Marantz Cohen explains. In those moments of unpredictability and serendipity, we confronted difference. There were no smartphones, message boards, or online factions. Maybe because life moved at a slower pace, and every interaction wasn’t so freighted with political meaning, we had the opportunity to recognize our full humanity. Nowadays, she argues, we are sectarian and “self-soothing,” having fallen out of such practice. What we need is to return to the basics: to brush up on the art of conversation.

Our Complete Seasonal Produce Guide: Here’s When Every Fruit and Vegetable Is Ripe (and Tastes the Best)
Our handy guide to eating with the seasons will help you choose fruits and vegetables when they’re at their peak—and plan recipes thoughtfully, so you can catch the last of these timely treats before they’re gone.
Sure, you can get most fruits and vegetables year round, but many are incomparably delicious when in season. A tomato in the middle of winter simply can’t compete with the juicy brightness of a local tomato in summer—and biting into a perfectly ripe peach is one of this season’s greatest pleasures. Then there are the fruits and vegetables that are total seasonal delicacies, like spring’s ramps and sour cherries. They’re only around for a short time, so you want to be sure to snag them while you can—or wait a year until they’re next available.
Use our handy guide to determine which vegetables and fruits are in season and when, so you can plan your farmer’s market grocery list and recipes around peak produce.

11 Unexpected Foods That Taste Delicious With Hot Sauce, From Ice Cream to Apples
Maritza Abreu, the founder of Pisqueya, a Latina-owned small-batch hot sauce and spice brand, shares why you need to try this condiment on an array of sweet and savory snacks.
There’s a reason why hot sauce is one of our favorite condiments: You can put it on just about anything. You already know that it pairs perfectly with chicken wings, but it makes a great addition to less obvious snacks and foods—both sweet and savory, says Maritza Abreu, the founder of Pisqueya, a Caribbean-inspired hot sauce, adobo seasoning, and barbecue sauce brand. Through her business, Abreu aims to close the gap in the global food market with goods that properly represent Dominican Republic cuisine, as she uses her own family pique recipe and all-natural peppers imported from the country’s mountains.

The Most Popular St. Patrick’s Day Recipes in Every State
Use these findings to help plan your holiday menu.
St. Patrick’s Day is just three days away and if you’re like many people across the country, you’re already planning your menu. But if you’re not sure what you want to serve during your holiday feast, new data revealing what Irish dishes people are most excited to eat this year might help inspire you.
The study, which was conducted by food sensitivity specialist YorkTest, utilized Google search data in each state to find out which St. Patrick’s Day recipes have seen the biggest rise in popularity over the last year.

27 St. Patrick’s Day Recipes That Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu
Deck yourself out in green and celebrate everything Irish with our absolute favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipes for brunch and dinner. That might mean corned beef and cabbage, the standout dish stateside, or a lamb or beef stew—the entrées those in the Emerald Isle are most likely to eat on March 17.
Perhaps you’d prefer bangers and mash or a Guinness pie packed with beef? Create your St. Patrick’s Day menu from our selection of appetizers and main courses (we included a few drinks, too!). Whatever you do, be sure to bake a loaf of soda bread for the table—and end the meal on a sweet note with one of our dessert recipes just right for the holiday.

Fascinating history of King Charles III’s coronation chair revealed
The magnificent artefact has played a vital role in royal coronations for over 700 years, as explained by Westminster Abbey Curator Dr Susan Jenkins
With King Charles III’s coronation less than two months away, the Royal Family has been sharing updates about the momentous event, including insights into its intriguing history. Most recently, Buckingham Palace shone a light on the coronation chair that will play a key role in the Westminster Abbey ceremony – with a story that stretches back more than 700 years.

Is This the New Cocktail Capital of Europe?
Awash in small stylish watering holes where cocktails are tailored to customers’ tastes, Belgrade is quietly developing into one of the best bar destinations in Europe.
In April 1929, the Orient Express train from Paris pulled into Belgrade, as it did regularly on its way to Constantinople. But this was no ordinary day in the capital of what was then called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. At the train station, a crowd awaited a well-known passenger, the African American entertainer Josephine Baker, who would spend a few days performing and reveling in this Slavic city of about 240,000 people. Belgrade knew how to show visitors a good time, thanks to its fashionable, somewhat raucous nightclub and bar scene.

This Small Oregon Town Has One of the Best Displays of Tulips in the U.S. — With 40 Acres of Blooms
Why Woodburn, Oregon, might just be one of the country’s best spring destinations.
Sandwiched between Salem and Portland is the unassuming town of Woodburn, Oregon. The community of just over 26,000 people is nestled in the northern end of the lush Willamette Valley, providing the area with a temperate climate and long growing season. And while Woodburn has long been an agricultural hub, the town is perhaps best known for its tulips, which cover the hillsides of a stunning tulip farm every spring.
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm sprawls over 40 acres east of Woodburn — an expanse that makes it one of the largest tulip farms in the Northwest. The scene is breathtaking in the spring when row after row of tulips bloom to welcome warmer weather.

Fake Bands, Real Songs: The 50 Best Tunes by Made-Up Musicians
From the Archies to the Wonders to Daisy Jones & the Six
Daisy Jones & The Six, Amazon’s 10-episode adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel about the rise and fall of a fictional Seventies rock band has us wondering where The Six lands in the long and sometimes distinguished history of fake bands and singers in film and television. It’s a strange but often hugely appealing musical subgenre, and this is our attempt to figure out which are the true best songs of the fake best songs.

[Photo Credit: Gaetano De Lorenzo]

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