T LOunge for March 22nd 2024

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PinLa Terraza Bar at Borgo Santandrea – Almafi, Italy

Ah. Do we really need to express anything more complicated than that? It is FRIDAY, kittens. Lean back. Close your eyes. Put out your hand. Why, someone very attractive just put a cocktail in it. There’s your day sorted.

Liam Cunningham Has a Few Thoughts
The loquacious Irish actor has reunited with the creators of “Game of Thrones” for “3 Body Problem,” a science fiction epic on Netflix.
Cunningham, 62 with salt-and-pepper hair and bright blue eyes, came to acting relatively late in life. He worked as an electrician until he was 29, spending a chunk of his 20s in Zimbabwe bringing electricity to rural communities. “You know the song ‘Wichita Lineman’?” he asks, referring to the ’60s country hit by Glen Campbell. “That was me, except I was the Zimbabwe lineman. For an Irish, pale-skinned elf from Dublin, it was mind-blowing.” For a time he worked in a national park, “the size of Belgium and with 16,000 elephants.”

They Failed in Their Quests to Buy Birkin Bags. So They Sued.
But fans of the famed Hermès accessory say that the exclusivity is the whole point.
If you want to buy a Birkin bag, the pièce de résistance from the French luxury retailer Hermès, you should know that you probably can’t.
Vogue delivered this tough-love message to readers in a recent article that described the quest for an Hermès bag as “daunting.” The magazine cautioned that customers “might wait months or years for the right style to become available” and further dashed hopes by noting that “waiting lists at Hermès stores no longer exist.”
The exclusivity of the item is very much part of its appeal — but a pair of California residents who have struck out in their attempts to buy the bags have decided that enough is enough.

How to style the 1960s trend without looking costumey, with a little inspiration from new TV series, Palm Royale
The mood is mid-century chic
It was costume designer Alix Friedberg who had the (dream) job of outfitting each character. Kristen Wiig’s Maxine starts the show in candy-hued mini dresses, with matching shoes and bags and an abundance of bows, swapping these for airy kaftans as she ascends the social hierarchy. […] As compelling a rhinestone-laden cocktail dress and matching elbow-length gloves may be on-screen, it’s probably not the best outfit to wear to that wedding you’ve been invited to this summer. Use the high-octane styling as mere inspiration, and let me invite you to look at the Spring/Summer ‘24 runways for more wearable ways to interpret the trend.

70 Best Jewellery Brands: From Affordable To Luxury Jewellery Brands
Whether you’re in the market for luxury pieces from Cartier and Tiffany & Co., or looking for more affordable items from Missoma and Sandra Alexandra, these are the jewellery brands you need to know now.
Whether as a gift to a loved one, or for yourself (a self-gift, if you will), jewellery is unbeaten in its premium status. Often imbued with deep sentiment, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings and so on are true investment pieces that can be kept for generations due to their long-lasting materials and value.
Finishing off even the dullest of outfits, the right piece of hardwear will always work hard for you. And, if you buy wisely, it can even appreciate in value in years to come. After all, who doesn’t want their pension in their jewellery box?

Sharing The Love: The Joys of Wardrobe Loaning
Sustainable fashion has a new frontier – collective clothing. From co-owned sweaters to the ‘long-term loan’, Aja Barber celebrates the power of collaborative dressing.
The truth is, I have a lot of knitwear. A shelf’s worth, to be honest, collected over the course of a decade. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that when people think of me, they think of colourful knitwear. And if you already have so much of something, why not… share. So when Ronaé and I, clearly with mutual impeccable taste, both reached for the same garment on the rack, rather than fight it out, I realised there was an elegant solution to our conundrum. I suggested that I enjoy the sweater that winter (2023) and the following year I would send it her way so she could enjoy it too.

Blake Lively And Kim Kardashian Face Backlash For Their Kate Middleton Comments
The US reaction to ‘Kate-gate’ might just be the strangest – and most divisive – yet.
From ‘Swiftie Theories’ on the matter to elaborate disappearance rumours, the story is becoming increasingly far-fetched in the UK. But the strange frenzy surrounding ‘Kate-gate’ has gone global, and is now gaining traction in the US. Talk shows have dedicated entire segments to the news, while A-list celebrities have been alluding to the story on social media – and then facing the wrath of royal fans.
In a nod to the internet sleuths going viral, Kim Kardashian recently posted a carousel of nine images of herself on Instagram with the caption ‘On my way to go find Kate’.

Lukas Gage Calls 6-Month Marriage to Chris Appleton a “Manic Episode”
And he really regrets wasting Shania Twain’s time.
The White Lotus actor Gage appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen Tuesday night and recounted his six-month marriage to celebrity hairstylist and Kim Kardashian bestie Appleton, calling the brief union “a manic episode for six months.”
“I don’t know literally what went through my head, but we live and we learn,” he told host Andy Cohen.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Defends Getting Married and Having Kids at a Young Age
The actor wed filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson, who is 24 years his senior, at 22.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is staying mum on the James Bond casting rumors that have followed the actor for years since Daniel Craig’s last bow with the franchise. But he’s getting more candid about the discourse surrounding his nearly 12-year marriage to filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson, who is 24 years his senior. The pair, now 33 and 57, respectively, met when she directed him in the 2009 John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy and wed in 2012 when he was 22.

40 Best Thriller Movies If You’re All About That Suspense
Thrillers that make you want to double check the front door is locked.
Thriller movies are reserved for the most fearless of movie fanatics.
Rather than the blood and gore of many horror films, thrillers are full of conflict, unexpected twists and tensions that have you on the edge of your seats. Better yet, the anxiety, terror and uncertainty inflicted on a viewer by thrillers can force them to question themselves, their close ones and even their own reality.

A Third Downton Abbey Film Is Coming, With Paul Giamatti Delivering Barbs In Lieu Of The Dowager Countess
Downton Abbey famously ran for six seasons between 2010 and 2015 (although it should have stopped at three), with Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture released in 2019. If the series proper concluded in 1925, the first movie takes place two years later, in 1927, and revolves around the Crawleys and their staff foiling an assassination plot mounted against King George V. The second film, which premiered in 2022, had a meta twist to it, centring on the shooting of a “moving picture” at the Abbey (with a sojourn to the South of France thrown in for good measure). Focus Features has yet to confirm Staunton’s statement, but rumours are swirling that production will begin as early as this summer, with Paul Giamatti expected to revive his role as Cora’s England-averse American brother, Harold Levinson.

Ricky Martin Proves His Range in Palm Royale
The Puerto Rican trailblazer flexes his comedic chops alongside Kristen Wiig and Carol Burnett for the new series
Ricky Martin will be a performer until the day he dies. Since bursting onto the scene nearly 40 years ago as one fifth of the boy band Menudo, the Puerto Rican superstar’s musical versatility and cross-cultural appeal have transformed him into one of the most recognizable solo recording artists in the world, who has sold over 70 million records and topped the charts decade after decade.
But before he was gracing international stages, Martin was actually an aspiring actor, who began his career in the Mexican theater and did a stint on ABC soap opera General Hospital in the mid-’90s.

Everything We Know So Far About the Peaky Blinders Film
The movie will conclude the show’s story.
Per the creator, newly-minted Oscar winner Cillian Murphy will be returning for the film. Speaking at the premiere for his show This Town, Knight shared that Murphy “definitely is returning for it.” He further added to the anticipation, saying, “We’re shooting it in September just down the road in Digbeth.”
This isn’t the first time that Knight has assured fans that the longtime Peaky star will be returning for the film, but given the news that there is a start date for the production, the reality of seeing more Tommy Shelby on our screens seems closer than ever.

Kate Middleton Reportedly Spent Over $2K in Drinks for Irish Guards on St. Patrick’s Day
That’s about 700 pints of Guinness.
Altough she’s recovering from her abdominal surgery and grappling with all the conspiracies about her whereabouts, Kate Middleton didn’t let the Irish Guards down for St. Patrick’s Day. According to the Daily Mail, Middleton made sure that the Irish Guards celebrated the holiday with a round of drinks on her.
The outlet notes that while she had to miss out on the tradition of handing out shamrocks to the guards to commemorate the holiday, she bought about £2,000 (which is about $2,500) worth of drinks for the regiment.

The 25 Best Sports Documentaries
Sports documentaries explore the human experience through the riveting world of athletics—and whether you’re a die-hard fan of a particular discipline or simply love a good story, the best sports documentaries offer unforgettable insights and fascinating perspectives on the games we love. From the triumphs and tragedies of legendary athletes to the behind-the-scenes drama of iconic teams, these films capture the heart and soul of sports in a way that few other mediums can. So, get ready to get your heart rate up and maybe even be inspired with Vogue’s round-up of some of the best sports documentaries ever made.

The Best Botanical Gardens in the US
For any home gardeners who spend their weekends toiling in the backyard to keep their annuals alive and shrubbery in good form, the appeal of a botanical garden is obvious. But even for those lacking a green thumb, spending a languid afternoon in these beautifully biodiverse spaces offers an invigorating way to experience nature throughout the changing seasons.
What differentiates a botanic garden from others is its broader purpose of scientific research, conservation, as well as education and display.

An Insider’s Guide to Puerto Rico: Where to Eat, Stay, and Play
“Puerto Rico, my heart’s devotion…” As a child, I was entranced by Rita Moreno singing these words as Anita in the Academy Award-winning film, West Side Story. Of course, Anita goes on to diss her homeland and professes her love to another—the isle of Manhattan—but when I finally got the chance to visit Puerto Rico for myself, I realized how wrong she was. I’m with Bernardo on this: “I like the city of San Juan!”

How a Michelin-Star Meal Helped Me Overcome My Fear of Dining Alone—And Even Find Pleasure in It
For as long as I can remember, I have always hated eating alone. As a travel writer, that has proven quite problematic. Though I’m often hitting the road with friends, a photographer, or another writer, I am not ashamed to admit that when I’m alone, I usually forgo dinner; often opting for room service instead. I am baffled when I talk to travelers who actively enjoy going out for dinner by themselves, leading me to believe eating alone is an odd thing to fear. It never has and probably never will be one of my life’s pleasures—and in therapy, I’ve finally uncovered why.

How to Make McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce at Home, According to an Ex McDonald’s Chef
You’ll never guess what the secret ingredient is.
Mike Haracz isn’t here to gatekeep. As a former corporate chef at McDonald’s, Haracz knows a lot of tasty secrets. And he’s sharing them all on TikTok — including spilling the secrets to the Big Mac Sauce recipe.
“Today, I am going to give you my recipe on how to make Big Mac Sauce at home,” Haracz shared in his latest 60-second TikTok.
According to Haracz, it all begins with one cup of mayonnaise. He specifically said he uses Hellmann’s but that you can “use what you want” for your Big Mac Sauce.

7 Restaurant Booths That Made Pop Culture History
Film fans can still recognize — and often visit — where characters gathered for meals at restaurants like Holsten’s on ‘The Sopranos,’ Double R Diner on ‘Twin Peaks,’ and more.
Tipping a maître d’ to get a better table is one thing — paying $82,000 to own the booth the Soprano family sat in during the series finale is quite another. But such is the powerful hold that some famous diners and coffee shops have on our collective psyche. From Monk’s Cafe in Seinfeld to The Max on Saved By the Bell, here are the most unforgettable booths in pop culture history.

“Barbie Bootcamp:” A Look Inside the Mattel Archive That Inspired the Film
As the doll celebrates its 65th anniversary, Mattel execs Lisa McKnight and Kim Culmone look back at what the movie unearthed (see: Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken).
For longtime fans of all things Barbie — which is currently in the middle of celebrating its 65th anniversary — Greta Gerwig’s Barbie film provided a different level of enjoyment. Filled with references to notable dolls and doll accessories from decades past, Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken wore bespoke ensembles dating back to brand’s 1959 inception.

This Highly Anticipated Italian Train Is Taking Reservations Soon — Here’s a Peek Inside
It’s just as glamorous as you’d expect.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express announced that it will soon be ready for guests to book tickets for what could arguably be called the most luxurious train journey in the world.
In a press release shared with Travel + Leisure, the train operator shared it will open its virtual ticket window in April, with the train’s specific run dates coming later this year. Though we don’t know the exact dates, we already know the routes — and just got a peek at the lavish interiors.

This Is the Most Popular Dog in America for the Second Year in a Row—and Martha Just Added One to Her Family
Meet Luna Moona, the newest addition to Martha’s furry family.
Martha recently added a new member to her family—an adorable black French Bulldog she has lovingly named Luna Moona. And it seems as though our founder isn’t the only fan of this breed—the American Kennel Club (AKC) just announced that the French Bulldog is the most popular dog in America.
This is the second year in a row the French Bulldog has secured the top spot as America’s favorite pooch.

A Rare Celestial Event Will Create a Temporary Star as Bright as the North Star—Here’s How to Spot It
The once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon will be visible to the naked eye, and won’t happen again for 80 years.
The night sky may temporarily gain a new star soon, thanks to a once-in-a-lifetime event that only occurs about every 80 years, NASA reports. Even more exciting? The celestial phenomenon is expected to be visible to the naked eye for several days.
The star system, which is located 3,000 light-years away from Earth, is typically too dim to see with the unaided eye. But this year, the star will explode, causing it to become brighter than normal—an event known as a “nova outburst.” According to NASA, a nova is a sudden, short-lived explosion from a compact star not much larger than earth.

11 Spring Cupcakes That Celebrate the Season
These cheerful treats use in-season fruits and spotlight pastels and flowers.
Our spring cupcake collection honors the season in all kinds of delicious ways. Some of the cupcakes are frosted in sweet shades (think pastels like pink and green). Others have spring sprinkles and pretty botanicals. All are just right for a birthday, picnic, spring potluck, or bridal shower.
We’ve included classic, crowd-pleasing flavors that always work for spring, like lemon meringue and hummingbird cake. And don’t miss out on the cupcakes that use seasonal fruits, including rhubarb and strawberries.

[Photo Credit: borgosantandrea.it]

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