T LOunge for September 8th, 2023

PinBodumas Restaurant at Mövenpick Resort – Kuredhivaru Island, Maldives

The shortest-longest work week of the year is now officially at its close, darlings. It’s FRIDAY and we suggest you start the weekend as early as possible. Your view awaits.

Pedro Almodovar on Gay Westerns, Diversity in Casting and (Surprise!) How He’s “Not a Big Fan of Superhero Movies”
The legendary auteur, who will be honored at the TIFF Tribute Awards, discusses bringing his queer Western ‘Strange Way of Life’ to Toronto, his fond memories of the fest and why he feels ready to make a film in English.
Almodóvar has made 21 features, among them classics like 1988’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, which was nominated for the best foreign-language film Oscar; 1999’s All About My Mother, which won that Oscar; and 2002’s Talk to Her, for which he was nominated for best director and won the best original screenplay Oscar, marking only the fifth time that a non-English-language script had been awarded that trophy. But his past two films have been shorts: The pandemic-inspired The Human Voice from 2020 and now Strange Way of Life, which clocks in at 31 minutes.

King Charles III honours his late mother Queen Elizabeth II on the anniversary of her death
The royal marked one year since her passing with a special portrait and message
To mark the one-year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, her son King Charles III has honoured the occasion in the most special way.
The king paid tribute to his mother’s royal legacy by releasing a recorded audio message alongside a portrait of her during her reign.
“In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us,” King Charles says in the audio message, shared by Buckingham Palace. “I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all.”

Secrets of the Stylish: getting ready for the Venice Film Festival with Jenna Coleman
The actress wore an archive Armani Privé dress from 2017
How involved do you tend to be in the styling process?
“I think it depends on the brand I’m working with. I work with Leith Clark, who’s my stylist, and I feel that we’re both very much in tune together. We always end up with too many options! Last night we opted for another archival piece from 1995, which was a full beaded, pearl gown. That was very Bardot vibes – very old French cinema – so tonight we wanted to do something completely opposite.”

Why do sapphic shows like A League of Their Own keep getting cancelled?
Carson and Max deserved better (and a second season).
After only one season, Amazon announced that the show had been cancelled, despite its widespread positive reception. In Vox, Constance Grady wrote that the show was “a shining example of what an adaptation of a classic can be and rarely is.” The Guardian described it as “touching, funny — and even better than the original.” Although streamers such as Amazon notoriously do not release viewership data, third-party firms such as Parrot Analytics found that audience demand for the show was more than three times that of the average television show in the United States.
With the announcement, as queer television expert Shayna Maci Warner notes, A League of Their Own becomes another casualty in a string of queer women-centred shows that have been cancelled in two seasons or less.

“People Forget The Montgomery Bus Boycott Lasted Over A Year”: Ava DuVernay On Strikes, Making History At Venice And Her Urgent New Film
Origin, remarkably the first release from an African American woman to compete for the Golden Lion in the showcase’s illustrious 80-year history.
By now, though, the auteur has become accustomed to breaking down barriers: in 2015, she became the first Black woman to have directed a film that received a Best Picture Oscar nod with the sweeping historical epic Selma; followed it up with the bruising Oscar-nominated documentary 13th; became the first woman of colour to helm a $100 million movie with A Wrinkle in Time; and then dazzled audiences with her profoundly moving limited series about the Central Park Five, When They See Us, which, like so much of her previous work, ignited crucial conversations around racial injustice.

70 Remarkable Photos From The Queen’s Seven Decades Of Royal Tours
“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.” So said Princess Elizabeth in a speech to the Commonwealth, broadcast on the radio from Cape Town as she marked her 21st birthday in 1947. A mere five years later, she ascended the throne following the death of her father, King George VI, and the young Queen promptly set about making good on her promise. In November 1953, she embarked on a Commonwealth tour that covered 44,000 miles, spanned the West Indies, Australasia, Asia and Africa, and lasted until May the following year.

From The Archive: Retracing Her Majesty The Queen’s Life In British Vogue
Upon the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at her beloved Balmoral estate in the Scottish Highlands on 8 September 2022, Robin Muir revisited her incredible life as captured in the pages of Vogue. As the nation marks the first anniversary of the Queen’s death, rediscover Vogue’s singular archive of royal imagery.
For more than a century, British Vogue has enjoyed the rarest of relationships with the royal family. Barely 10 years younger than Vogue itself, Queen Elizabeth II, one of the most photographed women in the world, is certainly the most steadfast face to be found in the pages of this magazine. Of Her Majesty herself, our historic archive contains boxes of prints and drawers full of transparencies and illustrations of ceremonial portraits, official souvenirs and private moments. There are press snapshots, candid pictures at home and on holiday. Most are pristine, some are suffering the vagaries of age, all are remarkable. Many made it to the page, but many more have remained unseen.

We Couldn’t Have New York Fashion Week Without Garment Workers
Mellány Sánchez’s new exhibit honors the the migrant labor force who helped solidify New York’s place as a leader in high fashion
In a new exhibit co-presented by the Abrons Arts Center and the Tenement Museum, the stylist, creative director, and curator extracts meaning from mundane (and some not-so-mundane) objects to tell an imagined story about a midcentury garment worker living on the Lower East Side. Fittingly, the exhibit is called “Objects of Permanence.”
“What ‘Objects of Permanence’ is asking people to see are the ways that objects are vessels for stories of lives lived,” says Sánchez, a born-and-raised New Yorker whose previous multimedia projects have paid homage to the city and her Puerto Rican identity.

The only home Marilyn Monroe ever owned, and where she died, faces demolition
The storied final residence of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, where her lifeless body was discovered more than six decades ago, is teetering on the brink of a significant transformation.
The owner of this historic Brentwood abode, located at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood, has filed for demolition permits, The Post has learned.
The one-story, Hacienda-style estate, nestled on 2,900 square feet at the end of a tranquil cul-de-sac adjacent to San Vicente Boulevard, recently changed hands for an undisclosed sum — estimated to be around $8.35 million.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Has Made History—And Waves
Jean-Pierre never planned to work in politics. Born in Martinique to Haitian parents, she moved with her mother and father to Paris as a baby, and then to New York, where relatives had settled in Queens Village. Later, they landed in Long Island. Her sister, Edrine, was born when she was seven. Her brother, Chris, arrived not long after. (Her parents also had a son named Donald, who died before Jean-Pierre was born.) Jean-Pierre couldn’t read until the third grade. Her parents—consumed with multiple jobs—had assumed she would learn in school. She did not.

The Internet Is Taking Sides in the Matter of Jonas vs. Turner—And, for Once, It’s Right
All hail the hyper-speed Hollywood romance. After four years of marriage, pop songstrel Joe Jonas is divorcing Westerosette Sophie Turner. Facts of the separation are thin on the ground, and I don’t really want to speculate on the icky ins and outs of uncoupling in the public eye when you have two small kids, but as Jonas has reportedly hired Tiger Woods’s divorce attorney and a bad-mother narrative is already leaking (deliberately rolling?) out against Turner….

Everyone Needs to Go to Finland and Try Sauna Ham Right Now
Sauna ham is real, and it’s spectacular.
If there is one thing even I can claim to be universally true about the Finns, it’s this: Sauna is an essential part of life. On a recent trip through Finland, I’m told this several times a day, seemingly by everyone I meet — whether it’s tour guides or bartenders — and each time I’m told it, there’s a new fascinating detail. […] And so, while spending time in a box surrounded by sweaty folks, slugging Finnish Long Drink, and jumping into the freezing Baltic to shock your system might not be at the top of (or even on) your travel bucket list, here’s something that should be: Trying a unique charcuterie called saunapalvikinkku, which is otherwise known as sauna ham.
Every song of the summer from the past 48 years
Every year, music fans wonder which song will be crowned the “song of the summer.”
Insider uses Billboard charts and streaming stats to determine the season’s defining hit.
Our list includes every year since 1975.

I Didn’t Invite My Sister to My Wedding. I’m Far From Alone.
Lots of people have to excluded loved ones from big events. Here’s how I made that gut-wrenching decision.
There’s an empty space in my wedding photos, one that a stranger would never notice. It’s the space where my sister Jackie should have been standing. I have pictures with my other sisters, with cousins and aunts and people I will likely never see again. Jackie isn’t in the photos not because I didn’t love her, but because I asked her not to come despite my love for her.

Bonuses are a little bit bogus
Ask your boss for a raise instead of a bonus. Really.
It is a pretty decent moment to be a worker in America and has been for the past couple of years. Wages are rising, especially for lower earners, and now faster than inflation. Companies have had to compete to get people in the door and fight to retain those who are already there.
Many employers have tried to accomplish that with bonuses, offering workers an extra financial treat for signing on or staying on, for the holidays, or for a particularly good moment for the business. But, to quote Joe Biden, here’s the deal: A one-time bonus is often just that, one time. A bonus is not a lasting change to your compensation, and it can be taken away just as easily as it’s given out.

The era of easy flying is over
Lessons from a summer of hellish flights.The era of easy flying is over.
For travelers, taking to the skies feels like it has reached a nadir. Not only were there bigger crowds and more delays to contend with at airports, but when delays happened, they caused more stress than usual. A recent Forbes Advisor survey of 2,000 travelers found that 61 percent had experienced a flight delay or cancellation this summer, and most of that 61 percent lost some money due to the delay — cash lost on prepaid hotel rooms, missed cruises, parking fees, and even kenneling pets.

The Queen of timeless fashion: Elizabeth II’s 100 most elegant looks
On the anniversary of her death, Tatler celebrates the late Queen’s sovereign style
From floral pinafores as a Princess, to bedazzled ballgowns as a newly crowned Queen and the joy-inspiring rainbow wardrobe in later life, Queen Elizabeth II always served fashion, as well as her country.
A master of championing great British design, Queen Elizabeth II, who died one year ago today, always enjoyed displaying the works of great homegrown couturiers. It was Norman Hartnell who designed her silk duchesse wedding gown, which she paid for using ration tokens as other brides in her country did in the wake of WWII, and her stylist Angela Kelly often designed her outfits when attending events.
Hats were also an integral part of the Queen’s wardrobe. Marvellous millinery from Rachel Trevor-Morgan would usually be found atop of her majesty’s head, when she wasn’t wearing a crown of course.

These Are the Best French Fries in New York City
Great fries take time, effort and a lot of space.
There are many good things to eat at Libertine, a new French bistro in the West Village that I reviewed this week. But there’s one French-bistro standby you will not find there.
“We’re not serving fries,” Cody Pruitt, one of the owners, told Pamela Vachon of Resy. “You can get fries anywhere.”
Maybe that’s true. But we don’t want the kind of fries you can get anywhere. No, we want great fries. We want fries that, once you’ve eaten the first one, dominate your consciousness until they are gone. Fries so powerful no amount of Ozempic will silence them. Fewer than 20 restaurants in New York put out fries like that.

‘The Peasants’ Directors on How ‘Loving Vincent’ Follow-Up Takes Its Groundbreaking, Hand-Painted Animation Style to Another Level
With the long-awaited follow-up to their Oscar-nominated animated feature “Loving Vincent,” directors D.K. Welchman (formerly known as Dorota Kobiela) and Hugh Welchman revisit the striking, hand-painted animation technique that dramatically brought the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh to life in their groundbreaking debut, which grossed more than $50 million globally.

How to How to Remove Scratches From the Glass Surfaces in Your Home
With the right materials, it’s absolutely possible to smooth out minor lines or etches.
Over time, all surfaces wear down—and that includes glass. Maybe an abrasive material scratched the mirror over your entryway or you accidentally scraped a cast iron pan across your electric stove. We won’t sugar coat it: It isn’t always possible to remove a scratch from glass, especially if the line is particularly deep. If the scuffs are minor, however, there are a few effective polishing agents and cleaning methods you can try. Here, a home repair expert offers his best tips for restoring glass’ smooth surface—and what to do when a scratch is just not coming out.

4 Ways to Thicken Alfredo Sauce, According to a Chef
Each method will yield delicious, creamy results.
Eating creamy, decadent pasta coated in Alfredo sauce is always a treat. This mouthwatering sauce is actually surprisingly simple to make at home—all you need is unsalted butter, garlic, heavy cream, and Parmigiano Reggiano. But what happens if your sauce doesn’t quite have the consistency you’d like? If you’re wondering how to thicken Alfredo sauce to achieve a silky, irresistibly delicious pasta topper, there are four methods you can try.

18 Ground Chicken Recipes for Quick, Flavorful Meals
From burgers to baked pasta, these tasty dishes prove ground chicken is a delicious and versatile protein.
For those that are leaning into lighter meals and eating less red meat, ground chicken is a perfect protein to shape a menu around. It’s quick to cook and will satisfy the meat-eaters in your life. Plus, just like ground turkey, pork, and beef, ground chicken is handy to keep on hand in the freezer and defrosts quickly, turning a dinner conundrum into a win in a short time.

How to Store Baked Goods So They Stay Fresh Longer
Keep your favorite breads and sweet treats fresh, moist, and flavorful with these food storage tips.
Whether you’ve spent hours creating an intricate cake or 30 minutes making a batch of cookies, all homemade baked goods are a labor of love. For that reason, you want them to stay fresh, moist, and flavorful for as long as possible. To do so, you must know how to properly store all of your favorite breads and sweet treats. While the refrigerator can make some baked goods taste dry and flavorless, others need the cool temperatures in order to remain safe to consume. To help you retain the full flavor of your baking creations, we’re sharing where and how to store common homemade treats for optimal freshness.

This Charming City in the Austrian Alps Is an All-seasons Destination With World-class Skiing, Beautiful Hikes, and a Charming Old Town
Here’s how to plan the perfect trip to Innsbruck, Austria.
Nestled in an alpine valley on the banks of the Inn River and backed by photogenic peaks, Innsbruck, the fifth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the state of Tyrol, is a longtime destination for winter sports that provides access to many notable ski areas. When the cold weather rolls in and the flakes fall, people come from all over Europe and beyond to take advantage of the snow-covered terrain. Visitors can check out some of the venues from the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympic Games such as the Bergisel Ski Jump. There’s also an impressive system of scenic cable cars that brings riders up the craggy mountains for eye-popping panoramas.

This Upstate New York State Park Is Known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the East’
Letchworth State Park is a great year-round destination.
Nestled in upstate New York, between the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, lies one of the most beautiful natural attractions on the East Coast: Letchworth State Park. Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth boasts stunning views of deep gorges and roaring waterfalls, making it the perfect destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers alike.
Letchworth is set on 14,500 acres in the western part of New York state, featuring more than 60 miles of hiking trails, and waterfalls cascading as high as 100 feet. Visitors to this state park can expect to become totally enveloped by the area’s all-encompassing natural beauty. It lets travelers get up close to three major waterfalls, with scenic overlooks and trails riddled throughout the park.

[Photo Credit: movenpick.accor.com]

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