T LOunge for September 26th 2024

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PinThirteen Cocktail Bar – London, UK

It’s THURSDAY and that calls for a dark, mysterious LOunge in which we gossip and scheme all day. Drape yourself over something and be disgracefully extravagant all day.

The name is Lynch. Lashana Lynch: the formidable actress is a powerhouse on the cover of Tatler’s unmissable November issue
Lashana Lynch conquered Bond as the first female 007. Now she’s taking aim at Eddie Redmayne in The Day of the Jackal. She tells Otegha Uwagba about her west London life and plotting her next big mission
Over a remarkable 15-year acting career, Lynch, 36, has played roles as varied as they are iconic, whether introducing a new generation to the charms of Miss Honey in the 2022 film Matilda the Musical or taking on the mantle of the first-ever female 007 as she fought alongside Daniel Craig in the most recent James Bond film. And when she’s not kicking ass and taking names on screen, you’ll find Lynch serving face in Fendi couture and Bvlgari diamonds, popping up on red carpets everywhere from Royal Academy summer parties to the Baftas, where she was awarded the 2022 Rising Star Award. Since then, it’s safe to say her star has well and truly risen –and now she’s starring in and executive-producing an adaptation of the classic 1973 spy film The Day of the Jackal, set to be one of autumn’s most talked-about TV dramas.

Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba says Anna Delvey was ‘dismissive’ of what show had to offer
“I was taken aback by her comment when asked what she learned from being on the show, and she flatly said, ‘Nothing,'” Inaba tells Entertainment Weekly.
As for Anna, I was taken aback by her comment when asked what she learned from being on the show, and she flatly said, “Nothing.” That was dismissive not only of the opportunity she was given, of her wonderful and supportive partner Ezra in his debut season, but also of all of us who work on the show-from the dancers to behind the scenes to the creative team. We all put in the effort to give her a fair opportunity. But I don’t think she could see that and it’s a shame. A little gratitude could have changed the narrative.

The Six Triple Eight tells the incredible true story of WW2’s first and only unit of women of colour
Starring Oprah Winfrey and Kerry Washington, it will offer a much-needed female-led take on war history.
When it comes to stories told by empowering, inspirational women in history, upcoming Netflix project The Six Triple Eight has everything you might need. It follows the story of a group of women of colour taking on adversity during WW2 – starring some serious Hollywood talent, including none other than Oprah Winfrey.
Co-written and directed by actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry, it will look at a little-known – but no less heroic and important – real-life army unit that consisted of women of colour. Their mission was to deliver mail to soldiers to maintain morale – under circumstances rife with sexism and racism.

The Respect Project: Revolutionising how youth confront beauty and self-image
The Respect Project empowers youth to tackle self-esteem and body image issues through tailored education, fostering healthy relationships with beauty and driving industry change for a more inclusive future.
In an era dominated by social media and sky high beauty standards, a groundbreaking initiative is taking shape to address the complex challenges facing today’s youth. The Respect Project, launched in 2021, has emerged as a source of empowerment for teenagers grappling with issues of self-esteem, body image and mental health.
Born from the ashes of the Everyone’s Invited scandal, which exposed widespread sexual harassment in schools, The Respect Project has evolved to tackle a broader spectrum of issues.
Chloe Combi, a renowned expert on Gen Z and Gen Alpha social attitudes, spearheads this ambitious program. “Our initial focus was on sex, consent, and relationships,” says Combi. “But as we delved deeper, we uncovered enormous challenges in beauty, mental health and the teenage relationship with technology and social media.”

You’ve worked hard all year—these are the 8 best luxury advent calendars that are worth splashing the cash on
Totally worth the investment
It might only be September, but in the beauty world that means one thing—it’s time for the best beauty advent calendars to hit the shelves. And 2024’s lineup has truly blown me away. Between iconic London department stores and classic skincare brands, this year it seems that basically every retailer and popular brand has poured their time and energy into creating the very best advent calendar that they can. But the most exciting development is that the most covetable high-end brands are getting in on the act too, which means that this year has the best luxury beauty advent calendars that I’ve ever seen.

I just asked an expert—these are the 11 best blushers for every skin type and tone
An instant pop of colour
Beauty trends tend to move fast, but if 2024 has proven anything it’s that blusher is here to stay. Whether it’s a powder or a cream, a bold hue or a shimmering formula, the right blush provides the ultimate shortcut to brighter, more polished-looking skin—and experts agree. “I think blusher has been such a huge trend this year because skin has been such a focus,” explains Make-up Artist Brooke Simons. “Flushed cheeks are a great compliment to healthy-looking skin and blusher is definitely one of the more easily achievable ways to make a statement, with so many different formulas to try in so many beautiful shades.”

Trust me, people in dark denim always look the chicest
2024’s most covetable shade
It’s my job to scour trends with a fine-tooth comb and hold a magnifying glass up to the more subtle changes in the fashion landscape. One notable mention this autumn/winter is the prevalence of denim.
Denim has been growing darker each season and for 2024 it’s everywhere. It’s voguish, sculptural and offered in the deepest shade of inky blue. There’s been a considerable shift when it comes to denim over the last three years – leg fits are more structured and we’ve waved goodbye to the fits of yesteryears pushing denim into one of its most elevated and sophisticated forms.

6 signs of heart problems even young people should know
They could be harmless, but they could also be red flags.
On any given day, you might find yourself in a few situations that make you question whether you’re experiencing the signs of heart problems.
Perhaps you climbed a flight of stairs only to find yourself panting at the top, or it took you slightly (okay, several minutes) longer to finish a run you used to speed through.
Maybe you even noticed your heartbeat racing and thought, ‘Am I out of shape?’, ‘Is it anxiety?’, ‘Or is something more serious going on?’

A Bridgerton-Themed Ball Gone Bad Is the New Willy Wonka Experience
Fans attending an unauthorized Bridgerton-themed event in Detroit were promised a night of elegance. Instead, they claimed they were greeted with an empty room, undercooked food, and an exotic dancer who would scandalize Lady Whistledown.
Fans eagerly await the famous masquerade ball where Benedict meets his true love, Sophie, in the upcoming Bridgerton season four. A group of them even flocked to Detroit over the weekend for what was billed as an opportunity for viewers to “step into the enchanting world of the Regency era…for an evening of sophistication, grace, and historical charm.”
But upon arriving at Sunday’s event, which was rescheduled three days beforehand, one attendee recalled thinking, “We’re not watching the same Bridgerton show. Like, there’s no way y’all are watching the same Colin, Anthony, and everybody else as me.”

Camille Might Not Be Returning To ‘Emily In Paris’ Next Season
‘Emily in Paris’ creator, Darren Star, isn’t sure that Camille will be written into the fifth season of the show.
Emily in Paris-philes, we have some sad news for you. Darren Star, the series’ creator, has revealed that Camille (Camille Razat) ‘might not’ be returning for the show’s now-confirmed fifth season.
In a September 13, 2024 interview with The Wrap, Star clarified that while Camille will still be a part of the Emily in Paris world, she might not necessarily be actively involved in any storylines. He explained: ‘I think she’s always going to be part of the series — she’s part of their world and I would never rule out the fact that we’re going to see her again. Her story is going to continue.’

Diane von Furstenberg’s Venice Era
The legendary designer is making herself at home in one of La Serenissima’s most storied palazzos, but when it comes to the her next act, don’t mistake relocation for retirement.
“It’s completely by accident that I ended up here,” says Diane von Furstenberg, perching on a bronze daybed in the piano nobile (the second floor of a palazzo, traditionally where Italian nobles live) of the Palazzo Brandolini, one of Venice’s most venerable buildings. Three generations of the patrician Brandolini family still occupy apartments within the sprawling 15th-century palace, which fronts the Grand Canal, but von Furstenberg has taken a long lease on the stupendous principal floor, where she plans to spend several months a year. Following a long renovation, she has just moved in. As we saw in the recent documentary Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, there is little fashion’s fairy godmother emeritus hasn’t done in her 77 years. But in Venice she has found the makings for a glorious finale. “This is going to be the stage for the winter of my life,” she announces.

Beyoncé Takes Over the Plaza Athénée Bar in Paris
The pop superstar is serving her own whisky plus Texan-inspired cuisine at the historic French hotel.
For just five days during Paris fashion week, Beyoncé is taking over one of the City of Light’s most historic bars. The pop superstar and her new whisky brand, SirDavis, have created a pop-up, the SirDavis Whisky Bar, in the Hôtel Plaza Athénée. The collaboration begins today.
The cocktail bar pop-up of course features mixed drinks—but it also includes a special food menu. French Chef Jean Imbert, the Plaza Athénée’s famed head chef, prepared food pairings featuring “reimagined Texan flavors,” according to the press release. The French-Texan fusion menu, from one of Paris’s most esteemed chefs, is sure to be a unique experience.

The 30 Best Mystery Thriller Books to Read in Fall 2024
All the greats are here, from Agatha Christie to Gillian Flynn.
There’s never a bad time of year to dive into a great mystery thriller book, but something about fall and winter—with their longer nights and sweater weather—makes them the perfect time to hunker down with a heart-racing whodunit. The best books of the genre perfectly combine a mystery and eerie tone with a puzzle so cleverly constructed that it’s almost impossible to solve before the narrator spells it all out, plus enough shocking twists and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Luckily for fans of thriller books, there’s no shortage of installments in the genre, which stretches back hundreds of years to include classics from the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle and spans tales of detectives, spies, and everyday citizens out for revenge. Here, we’ve rounded up 30 of the best mystery thriller books, from those iconic early entries to mid-century bestsellers from Agatha Christie to modern classics from Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and S.A. Cosby to even new novels. Consider your reading list sorted for the foreseeable future, and good luck solving! Below, find the 30 best mystery thriller books of all time.

Why You Should Consider a Land-Based Galapagos Trip
As I stared through the small opening of a cave-like structure, I spotted a small brown barn owl perched on a beam with its eyes squeezed shut. I was on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos archipelago, just outside a lava tube formed by a volcanic eruption long ago. I was expecting to see animals—sea lions, penguins, tortoises, and blue-footed boobies—but a barn owl was not on my list. But my guide, Mario, informed me that this was also a special species endemic to the islands: the Galapagos barn owl is one of the world’s smallest and can only be seen here.
Had I been on a cruise of the Galapagos, it’s unlikely I would have seen this special owl. We had been tramping around Santa Cruz island all day, spending much more time here than most visitors do because our hotel, Pikaia Lodge, is located on the island. All Galapagos guides, including Mario, are freelance, but Pikaia Lodge requires them to have 15 years’ experience and thus, they seem to know all the land-based hidden gems and secret animal hideouts better than most. In all, 98 percent of Pikaia’s staff are from Santa Cruz.

In Defense of a St. Louis Favorite, Provel Cheese
There are some foods you have to grow up with to love, and Provel is one of them.
On paper, Provel cheese sounds horrible. It’s processed to the comical and oft-cited degree that it’s actually just made of three other cheeses: cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. Depending on how it’s cooked, its hues range from creamy off-white to golden-hour-orange, and its consistency is redolent of queso. And while there are many people who enjoy the St. Louis staple immensely, there are just as many — if not more — who maintain that its texture and flavor are closer to melted plastic than a dairy product. Beloved St. Louis pizza chain Imo’s Pizza, probably the cheese’s biggest commercial champion, describes Provel on its website as a “cheesy ingredient,” a rhetorical tap dance possibly indicating that even its greatest advocate is unsure of what it is.

Everything You Need to Know About Arsenic Contamination in Food — and What You Can Do About it
Recent apple juice recalls have raised a lot of questions.
Arsenic has repeatedly made headlines over the past year after the toxic component was detected several times in apple juice. That sparked several recalls, including one in September that led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pull an additional 133,500 cases of juice from shelves.
But all of this raises a lot of questions about how arsenic gets into food in the first place — and whether this is a growing problem. An epidemiologist and food safety expert explain.

Does Cooking With Cast Iron Add Iron to Your Diet? The Answer Is Complicated
It might be time to buy a new set of cast iron cookware.
If you’re searching for a cast iron expert, I think I qualify. In my early twenties I worked as a customer service agent for a small cast iron skillet company, and I’ve answered every question about this cookware as you can imagine — how to clean it, store it, remove rust from it, cook an egg in it, and much more. But one of the more common, and less expected, questions I received was: Does cooking in cast iron add iron to food?

Ellen DeGeneres’s Netflix Special Has 70 Applause Breaks
As a project edited and produced for at-home consumption, For Your Approval is also a document of something going deeply, bizarrely wrong in the performance of stand-up comedy. DeGeneres’s jokes are often good, but time and again, she performs them in a way that communicates that she’s not looking for laughter — she is looking for praise. As she walks onstage at the beginning of the show, DeGeneres allows the audience to continue clapping for 45.7 seconds before she launches into her material. From that point onward, after the audience laughs at a joke, DeGeneres pauses and waits for them to shift into an applause break. The crowd obliges.

Can Your Stomach Handle a Meal at Alchemist?
At the Copenhagen restaurant, diners are served raw jellyfish—and freeze-dried lamb brain served in a fake cranium—while videos about climate change swirl on the ceiling. Is it “gastronomic opera,” or sensory overload?
Rasmus Munk, the celebrated Danish chef, has such memorable eyes—they are a piercing blue, and often bloodshot—that when a waiter at Alchemist, his restaurant in Copenhagen, served me an eyeball, I recognized it immediately. The iris was flecked with brown and rimmed with red, and the eye stared up at me unwaveringly, at least until I picked up a long-handled spoon and dug in. It had a gleaming gelatinous surface and was both salty and creamy, with a surprisingly nubby texture and a distinct taste of—what was it?—shrimp.
Alchemist, which opened in its current incarnation in 2019, in a waterfront warehouse district of the city, is one of the most sought-after reservations in the fine-dining world. Less than a year after opening, it was awarded two Michelin stars for a tasting menu of about forty courses which is served, four nights a week, to some fifty diners for five or six hours, in a sequence of spectacular spaces.

Is making friends as an adult really hard, or is it just me?
It’s tough out there. But it’s not all bad news.
You don’t need me to tell you what you probably already know: Forming new friendships in adulthood feels close to impossible (unless you’re a preternaturally charming social butterfly, in which case, good for you!).
For the rest of us, introducing yourself to people is awkward, and inviting someone new to hang out can be more nerve-wracking than asking your crush out on a date. Even if you do schedule a time to meet, who has the time for regular get-togethers when you hardly see your current friends as it is?

‘Black-ish’ Celebrates 10 Years: See The Cast Then And Now
The iconic sitcom changed the landscape of television, and featured stars such as Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Marsai Martin, and more.
Ten years ago today, the iconic sitcom Black-ish premiered on ABC, forever changing the landscape of television. The series brought a refreshing blend of humor, culture, and social commentary, becoming a staple in households and sparking vital conversations about race, identity, and class.
Created by Kenya Barris, the series followed the Johnsons, an upper-middle-class Black family navigating their suburban life while staying connected to their roots. From Anthony Anderson’s portrayal of the relatable yet complex Dre Johnson to Tracee Ellis Ross’ vibrant depiction of Bow, the series set new standards for sitcoms, earning numerous accolades, including multiple NAACP Image Awards.

36 Hours in Stowe, Vermont
Stowe, both a ski and summer hot spot at the foot of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest mountain, is no stranger to tourism. The small, picturesque town, a 30-minute drive from Montpelier, the state’s capital, and just over an hour to the Canadian border, might be best in fall, when the foliage creates a breathtaking tapestry and the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival kicks off in mid-October. The town is changing, too: With a surge of new residents, tourists and investment (Vail Resorts purchased Stowe Mountain Resort in 2017) has come more traffic jams, higher prices and stark challenges to Stowe’s quaint character — there’s even a Starbucks now on Main Street. But that’s the cynics’ take. There are also new restaurants, breweries (including an Austrian-inspired taproom) and nature experiences that contribute to the local economy in creative ways — a horse-drawn carriage ride in a maple sugar forest, anyone?

Why Breast-Shaped Cakes Are the Confection of the Moment
An age-old Sicilian sweet, inspired by the martyrdom of St. Agatha, is finding favor with modern pastry chefs.
The martyrdom of St. Agatha is a particularly gory tale, even by biblical standards. Around A.D. 250, the young Sicilian virgin refused the advances of the pagan prefect Quintianus. In retaliation, he imprisoned her in a brothel and later had her breasts lopped off. Though her body was healed by St. Peter, Agatha died anyway after Quintianus ordered her burned on a bed of coals, wrapped only in her red veil. As the story goes, when Mount Etna erupted a year later, the citizens of Catania retrieved that veil — which had somehow evaded the flames — to use in a procession during which it miraculously stopped the molten flow and saved the city.
In the intervening millenniums, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have journeyed to Catania, an ancient port city on Sicily’s eastern coast, to commemorate that miracle during the Feast of St. Agatha, which takes place each February, carting around a life-size effigy of their patroness and feasting on adorable — though also, if you think about it, gruesome — little cakes known as minne di Sant’Agata. Pale and dome shaped, with glistening maraschino cherry nipples, they’re meant to resemble the saint’s disembodied breasts. Now these regional confections are having a moment in the wider world, showing up at fashionable parties and on Instagram.

The makeover trap: How we all got addicted to the glow-up
Nowadays, everyone seems to be on a journey of aesthetic self-actualisation. Juno Kelly investigates the psychology of a makeover and why everyone is so eager to have one
On the internet, everyone seems to be pre or post-makeover. Women are posting themselves on TikTok asking to be critiqued, while dedicated accounts like @glowsupgal are guiding them through aesthetic transformations. Sephora tweens are looking to expedite that post-puberty metamorphosis via elaborate skincare routines, and men are re-shaping their faces based on tips on #looksmaxing forums. It’s as though we’re all on a collective journey towards aesthetic self-actualisation, which could be realised at any moment by the right product, hack or tweakment. In other words, we’re all obsessed with makeovers.
Of course, the makeover isn’t a novel concept. Magazines have long shared beauty and fashion tips with a susceptible audience. While we might associate the makeover montage with noughties teen romcoms, they’ve been part of our storytelling tradition since at least 1634 and the first published version of Cinderella.

Richard Simmons’ Family Slams Housekeeper’s ‘Greed’ amid Fight Over His Estate: ‘He Would Be Heartbroken’ 
The late fitness icon’s family says Teresa Reveles “made an informed decision” when she declined her co-trustee role that she’s trying to restore
Richard Simmons’ family is disputing his longtime house manager’s claims that she was pressured into removing herself as a co-trustee of the late fitness guru’s estate.
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, Teresa Reveles, who served as Simmons’ house manager and friend for 36 years, filed a petition to be restated as a co-trustee for Simmons’ estate.
Reveles claimed that she was misled by Simmons’ brother Lenny and his wife Cathy into giving up the role while she was grieving for Richard. Lenny is the other co-trustee of Richard’s estate and a beneficiary.

[Photo Credit: thirteenldn.com, grapesdesign.com]

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