T LOunge for March 31st, 2023

Beach House Restaurant at Rosewood Le Guanahani – St. Barts

Ah, there it is, darlings. There’s your home for the day. You’ve earned it, have you not? It’s FRIDAY and that calls for expansive views of the sea and sky. Doctors’ orders. And by doctors we mean us. Enjoy the buffet of distractions and take a moment or two to just breathe.

Matthew Macfadyen Ponders the End and Looks to Life After ‘Succession’
The actor opens up about the final moments on set of the HBO show and what it was like taking one last lap as Tom Wambsgans: “It’s been great therapy.”
It’s well known by now that Matthew Macfadyen is nothing like Tom Wambsgans. In Succession’s early years, comparisons focused on the juxtaposition between the refined British actor — a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and notorious for his role as one Mr. Darcy — and the bumbling Midwesterner he portrays. But now, as the high-octane family drama launches its fourth season, Wambsgans has climbed the ranks to become billionaire Logan Roy’s double-crossing right-hand man — all much to Macfadyen’s delight. “In a word, I thought it was great,” he says of the season-three cliffhanger that saw Tom cutting his wife out of her family’s company. “It’s such a bold, calculated move for someone so seemingly spineless.”

The chilling true story behind Keira Knightley’s new film, Boston Strangler
As the suspenseful drama is released, we look at the extraordinary events that inspired it
Released this month, suspenseful crime drama Boston Strangler looks set to be one of spring’s must-see films, with a star-studded cast worthy of the extraordinary true tale it relates. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film stars Keira Knightley in the leading role of Loretta McLaughlin, a reporter who breaks the story of a serial killer in 1960s Boston, alongside fellow reporter Jean Cole (played by Fargo’s Carrie Coon).
McLaughlin and Cole are widely thought to have challenged the sexism of the era, pursuing the story at personal risk and uncovering a web of corruption that cast doubt on the murderer’s identity. Here, we break down everything you need to know about the film – and the shocking true story behind it.

The Tired Trope of the ‘Power Hungry’ Woman
In an exclusive op-ed, Gisele Fetterman recounts the “vicious attacks” she received after her husband, Sen. John Fetterman, checked into Walter Reed to seek treatment for clinical depression.
From the moment John shared his news, vicious attacks started pouring in. John suffered a stroke during his Senate campaign, so I already knew how cruel people could be about judging someone’s health and using it as a weapon. But I’ll admit, I was surprised to find that this time the vast majority of the harassment wasn’t directed toward John—but at me.
On social media, people accused me of kidnapping the kids and running away to Canada. They promoted conspiracy theories claiming I was an ambitious, power hungry wife, secretly plotting to fill his Senate seat. It was all so wildly preposterous.

Jennifer Aniston Says “A Whole Generation of Kids” Finds Friends to Be Offensive
“You could joke about a bigot and have a laugh—that was hysterical,” the actress said in a new interview. “And now we’re not allowed to do that.”
“Now it’s a little tricky because you have to be very careful, which makes it really hard for comedians, because the beauty of comedy is that we make fun of ourselves, make fun of life,” she said, adding that in the past, “you could joke about a bigot and have a laugh—that was hysterical. And it was about educating people on how ridiculous people were. And now we’re not allowed to do that.”

All the Best Photos of King Charles and Queen Camilla in Germany
It is King Charles’s first overseas visit as monarch.
The first overseas visit of King Charles III’s reign is underway. The King and Queen Camilla touched down at Berlin Brandenburg Airport to kick off a three-day visit to Germany. Initially, they were supposed to travel to France first, but postponed their visit due to ongoing protests and strikes in the country. Buckingham Palace said, “Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”

A Piano Prodigy Will Make His New York Philharmonic Debut
Think an 18-year-old isn’t mature enough to master Rachmaninoff? YouTube Yunchan Lim and get back to us.
The Van Cliburn Competition, which some call the Olympics of piano playing, takes place every four years in Fort Worth, Texas, and it’s the sort of prestigious event that can launch careers and open doors to the grandest concert halls in the world. Last June the gold medal went to a prodigy from South Korea named Yunchan Lim, who, at 18, became the youngest ever to win the Cliburn. It was his powerful, technically flawless mastery of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 that did it. For critics who might have doubted whether a teenager could take on a magnum opus of such emotional complexity, this was their answer. So was the thunderous ovation that followed his performance, which has gone viral on YouTube.

‘This Movie Is the True Meaning of Catharsis’: Brooke Shields on Looking Back—And Starting Over
The last scene of the documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, about the 57-year-old actor’s life, career, and sexual objectification as a child, is an intimate family dinner at the West Village townhouse Shields shares with her husband, writer Chris Henchy, and two teenage daughters, Rowan, 19, and Grier, 16. Shields asks her daughters if they have seen either of the films that catapulted her to teenage stardom: 1978’s Pretty Baby, about a child prostitute in turn-of-the-20th-century New Orleans, and 1980’s Blue Lagoon, an Adam and Eve–inspired island-survival fantasy. Grier says that edits of Pretty Baby on TikTok had steered her away from watching it in full. Rowan asks her mother if she appears naked in the film. When Shields says, “Yes, my little 11-year-old body,” Rowan visibly shudders. “Okay, no, that’s weird, Mom,” Rowan says, her hands up in protest. Shields probes them as to why, while Henchy nervously chews his steak at the head of the table. “Child pornography!” cries Grier.
It sounds simple, but after two hours of watching Shields wrestle with the way that she was presented to the world and treated by the film and media industries as a young person, the documentary’s takeaway does not feel quite so straightforward.

A New Exhibition at Kensington Palace Charts Regal Style on the Red Carpet
Kensington Palace and its surrounding gardens are peaceful in comparison to the paparazzi-lined red carpets, but the royal residence has also been a backdrop to many of its own historic fashion moments. The new Crown to Couture exhibition, which will run from April 5 until October 29, charts the relationship between celebrity culture an royal fashion, showing how the palace functioned as an early red carpet as far back as the Georgian court.
The tulle Oscar de la Renta gown that Billie Eilish wore to the Met Gala in 2021 is displayed alongside a mantua worn by Helen Robertson of Ladykirk to a ball at Holyrood in 1760, to draw comparisons between the modern red carpet and 18th-century court dress—the overarching theme of Crown to Couture.

Cup Noodles Introduces New Breakfast Ramen Flavor
The Breakfast Ramen includes notes of pancakes, sausage, and eggs.
If you have had ramen for breakfast (I still think about a bacon and buttered toast version I had at a brunch spot in Brooklyn), you probably haven’t experienced it like this. Cup Noodles, the classic instant ramen brand that comes in its own convenient container, is releasing a new Breakfast flavor.
Cup Noodles Breakfast is “the first ramen product for the most important meal of the day,” the Nissin Foods brand claimed in the announcement. Once you add water (and wait four minutes), the ramen noodles “in sauce” — as opposed to broth — are covered in “classic breakfast flavors including fluffy pancakes, sweet maple syrup, and hearty sausage and eggs to create a delicious and satisfying meal.” The brand also suggests trying it with a drizzle of maple syrup or dash of hot sauce to add a little extra breakfast flair.

Krispy Kreme Is Bringing Back Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts on April 1 (Yes, Really)
The brand says this April Fools’ Day promotion is no joke.
Spring may officially be in the air, but if you’re more of a “sweater weather” than “light jacket” person, then Krispy Kreme is the place for you this weekend. Fans of fall flavors don’t need to spend their days wistfully counting down months until they can cozy things up again, as the coffee and doughnut chain is putting pumpkin spice back on the menu for two days only.
Teased yesterday on its social media accounts, Krispy Kreme used the much memed Saturday Night Live host and musical guest announcement (i.e. colored note cards on a cork board) to suggest that Saturday, April 1, would see the return of pumpkin spice in some form or another.

Why the Animal Kingdom Is Full of Con Artists
Some crows “cry wolf” to snatch food from their neighbors; some caterpillars trick ants into treating them like queens. What can we learn from beasts that bluff?
As a collector, Bates was primarily interested in insects, of which there seemed to be a nearly limitless variety. Just in the area around Tefé, a town a few hundred miles upriver of Manaus, he discovered three thousand species of beetle. Bates would rise with the sun, spend five or six hours in the field, and then work until dark preparing and labelling what he had caught. He kept meticulous records—notebooks filled with descriptions of the animals’ body type, preferred habitat, and behavior, often accompanied by delicate watercolor drawings.

I took a $40 Amtrak ride through California, and the views were so stunning that I barely noticed the lack of Wi-Fi
I rode the Amtrak Coast Starlight for five hours from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo for $40.
The observation car, with its stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, was the biggest highlight.
Thanks to the views, I didn’t miss having Wi-Fi or cell reception. I’d love to ride the train again.

How to Start a Flower Garden, From Choosing Plants to Designing a Stunning Landscape
A flower garden is a rewarding way to bring fragrance, color, and pollinators to your landscape.
A flower garden is a wonderful way to enhance your home’s curb appeal and welcome pollinators to your yard. But curating the perfect flower garden can be daunting, especially if you’re a beginner. Where on your landscape should it go? What types of flowers should you grow? How do you arrange the flowers for maximum visual intrigue? While answering some of these questions may seem challenging at first, it will be well worth it once you see your garden come to life. With the right tools, techniques, and vision, you’ll be well on your way to starting a beautiful flower garden.

8 Foods You Aren’t Refrigerating—but Definitely Should
Learn which common foods to move from your pantry into your fridge.
When you come home from the grocery store, one of the first things you do is put away the foods that live in the fridge. Eggs, milk, and butter quick are quickly returned back into the chill to ensure safety and increase longevity. But what about items like almond butter or the packaged tortillas for taco night? As it turns out, there might be a few foods that wind up in your pantry when they should really be in your fridge.

How to Clean Your Jewelry the Right Way
Keep your silver, gold, and precious stones sparkling with these tips from jewelry and cleaning experts.
From your everyday jewelry to the stately pieces you only wear on special occasions, there’s a good chance all of your jewelry could use a good polish. But rinsing and rubbing fragile jewelry too much can cause unnecessary damage and premature wear—and cleaning too little can cause your beloved pieces to degrade over time. To find out exactly how (and when) to clean your jewelry the right way, we tapped experts for their tried-and-true techniques on cleaning everything from gold and silver to costume jewelry and gemstones.

Trans people deserve better journalism
How the anti-trans movement took over legacy media.
It’s true that conversations pertinent to trans people and trans identity are ongoing and evolving, and yes, often confusing. One of the downsides of living in a society that’s built around a pretty rigid gender binary is that it’s often extremely hard for anyone, sometimes even trans people, to push beyond that binary and see the possibilities of a world of many vast and varied expressions of gender. Doing so requires a paradigm shift, a sort of human software upgrade.
Now add to this murky existential territory all of the insidious myths that circulate about the modern trans movement: that trans kids are transitioning at alarming rates, that trans activists are pushier and angrier than ever, and that doctors with a scary agenda are forcing risky, dangerous medical care on unsuspecting children and parents. It might be easy to believe such reports; after all, major, reputable media outlets like the New York Times have been publishing journalism arguing these very concerns.

Escape to the country with this £6 million Georgian Gothic style home in the heart of the Cotswolds
Formerly a family home and once the site of a prep school, Stouts Hill is now the epitome of modern country living
On the outskirts of the pretty village of Uley, in the heart of the Cotswolds, sits Stouts Hill – a magnificent Georgian Gothic style country pile that is on the market for £6 million. Formerly a family home and once the site of the prep school attended by both Stephen Fry and Captain Mark Phillips, the sprawling Grade II*-listed property boasts eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms and a spectacular 20 acres of gardens and grounds.

The Dorchester will recreate its iconic decorations from Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in honour of the crowning of King Charles III
The Dorchester, the Princess of Park Lane, will honour the coronation of King Charles III in the most spectacular fashion
London will be dressed to the nines in honour of King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday 6 May, and leading the glamour will be one of the city’s grande dames: The Dorchester. The Princess of Park Lane will be draped in the same royal regalia that adorned the building’s façade to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Designed by theatre designer Oliver Messel (the great-great-uncle of Tatler’s May cover star, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones), the design features banners of blue fabric framing the windows; garlands festooned from the roof; and the royal cypher hung above the grand entrance.

The Headless Statue of a ‘Roman Emperor’ Is Seized from the Met
Investigators said there was evidence that the bronze, on loan to the museum and valued at $25 million, had been stolen from Turkey.
Septimius Severus ruled ancient Rome as emperor for nearly two decades, and a seven-foot-tall statue that researchers say depicts him presided over the Greek and Roman galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the past 12 years.
But now the headless bronze statue, dating to 225 A.D. and valued at $25 million, is gone, one of the latest antiquities to be seized from the museum, whose collection has been repeatedly cited in recent months as containing looted artifacts.
The investigators who seized the statue said it had been stolen from Bubon, an archaeological site in southwest Turkey, in the 1960s. Another 17 items at the museum were characterized as looted artifacts in seizure actions filed by the Manhattan district attorney’s office over the past three months.

Why Were Medieval Books So Expensive?
Imagine it’s the 14th century, and you’re in need of a book.
You can’t just walk into a bookstore or shop Amazon. And you’re definitely going to need some serious dough. Medieval books were really expensive. Here’s why.

This National Park Has the Longest-known Cave System in the World — With Over 400 Miles of Underground Passages, Sparkling Domes, and a Frozen Waterfall
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky has great hiking and kayaking, too.
The idea of another world existing beneath our feet is both thrilling and terrifying — and it’s the reality at Mammoth Cave National Park, which has the longest known cave system in the world. The park’s namesake cave runs more than 400 miles under the earth’s surface — and that’s just the part that has been explored and mapped. Inside the aptly named Mammoth Cave, you’ll find tube-like passageways, great rooms with sparkling walls, slot canyons, huge domes, and even a dripstone that resembles a frozen waterfall.
It’s no wonder Mammoth Cave has long drawn visitors to south-central Kentucky.

[Photo Credit: rosewoodhotels.com, luispons.com]

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