T LOunge for January 7th 2024

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PinChé Ragazzi Restaurant – Alicante, Spain

Happy “Reality Sets In” Day to all who observe it, darlings. We, for our parts, are all about not observing, which is why we invite you to spend this TUESDAY in Virtual Spain with us, at a fabulous LOunge, doing and thinking little of import.

“Who Am I When I’m Not Working?”: Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore, Zendaya and the Actress Roundtable
Zoe Saldaña, Tilda Swinton and Mikey Madison also discuss baring it all onscreen, how they’ve never met each other (“It’s quite strange”), and bonding over Moore’s ‘Ghost’ past.
It was, as Tilda Swinton would say — gazing across the table one Saturday afternoon in November at the Soho House’s Luckman Club in West Hollywood — a room of “scorching glamour.” Amid the heat of all that charisma, there were three cute canines sniffing around: Zendaya’s mini black schnauzer, Noon; Demi Moore’s micro chihuahua, Pilaf; and Mikey Madison’s chihuahua puppy, Jam. The occasion for the gathering of Oscar frontrunners and the dogs who love them was THR’s annual Actress Roundtable, which this year convened Angelina Jolie (Maria), Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), Madison (Anora), Moore (The Substance), Swinton (The Room Next Door) and Zendaya (Dune: Part Two and Challengers) for a conversation on surviving and thriving in modern Hollywood. “A lot of women in the past didn’t have this table,” Jolie pointed out of the sometimes lonely life of being a woman in the arts. “They didn’t have community in this way.”

The 31 Best Movies on Amazon Prime to Watch Now (January 2025)
Whether you’re in the mood for a classic drama or a sexy tennis flick, see our list of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video.
Only one streaming service lives on a site that will sell you paper towels with no shipping costs: Amazon Prime Video. But while shopping for household goods, you may also wonder, What are the best movies on Amazon Prime Video? Vanity Fair is here to help.
Truly, there are countless films on Prime Video you can rent for a few bucks—but if you are already an Amazon Prime subscriber, you get access to a ton of free, good movies. There are comedies, horror films, dramas, classics, sexy tennis movies with Zendaya (okay, only one sexy tennis movie with Zendaya), and a lot more. So don’t get stuck holding the remote like a schmuck while your spouse eats all the Häagen-Dazs. Take a look at this curated list and pick something out before you turn the television on.

The Snow White bob has already recruited many celebrity fans
Selena, Zendaya, Kendall…
We’d noticed hair getting decidedly more princessy in 2025 with ultra-feminine updos taking off, but one style we didn’t have on our bingo card, is the Snow White bob.
It feels like overnight, the style has come to play, recruiting some seriously high profile fans including Selena Gomez, Zendaya, Rachel Zegler and Kendall Jenner.
It’s good timing, since 2025 will see the new live-action remake of the classic Disney film hit our screens in March, but ahead of time, it looks like the OG princess’ famous jaw-length cut is already inspiring spin-offs.

How to remove gel nail polish at home without damaging your nails
Follow these pro tips…
Few things rival the high-shine finish of a fresh gel manicure. But what goes on, must eventually come off and if you’re wondering how to remove gel nail polish at home without absolutely destroying your nails, you’re not alone.
While gel polish typically lasts longer than regular nail polish and offers a more natural look than acrylics, it also comes with a catch. It is made from acrylic monomers that are cured under a UV or LED light to bond a thick layer of polish to your natural nail. But by creating a formula so bulletproof it can withstand weeks without chipping, it’s equally stubborn when we actually want to get it off.

How to keep warm at night without putting the heating on
We can’t be the only ones struggling to keep warm at night right now, with temperatures set to be below freezing overnight in many parts of the country for the foreseeable. […] We asked sleep expert and CEO of Mattressnextday, Martin Seeley, to share his tips for combatting the cold in any ways we can. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but there are simple, practical (and free) steps we can take to help ease the chill, all of which you can implement easily.

30 of the best wedding songs to add to your playlist, from Abba to Dolly Parton
We’re all crazy in love.
Planning a wedding is hard enough – so let us help you with your wedding songs playlist.
As family, friends, work colleagues and others from all corners, flavours and stages of your life flood onto one dancefloor at once wedding reception, it can feel overwhelming to come up with a refined idea of what songs absolutely do or don’t need to play.

What is core sleep, and how do we know if we’re getting enough?
Everything you need to know about the essential phase of sleep.
More sleep! Better sleep! Deeper sleep! It’s what we all want, right? If your New Year’s resolution is to get better at—well—sleeping, your problem might be core sleep.
While some people may find it easy to clock in eight hours of uninterrupted rest each night, others find themselves staring at the ceiling late into the night, waking up throughout the night, or waking up still feeling exhausted even after a long sleep.

57 flower nails to up your mani game for spring 2025
They’re a classic for a reason.
Florals? Hmm. They may not be a groundbreaking mani choice, given flower nails get wheeled out every year, especially in the run-up to spring. But you’ve got to admit, there’s something refreshing, uplifting and totally joyful about pretty blooms to counteract winter. True, they’re a familiar design, but florals are a classic for a reason and we’ve seen some truly stunning renditions that feel modern, wearable and covetable.
Thanks to TikTok and social media, there’s so much creativity and inspo to be had. And who’s to say that florals have to be cutesy? We’re very much here for pastel pinks and lemon yellows, but we’ve also seen edgy interpretations in black and white that offer an alternative mood while still tapping up the status symbol. We’ve even seen a rise in maximalist 3D flower nails and hibiscus nails had its own moment last summer.

Emilia Pérez’s Karla Sofía Gascón Is About to Make Oscar History, but She’s Not Done Fighting
The Golden Globe nominee reflects on her campaign whirlwind, admits to the parts of awards season she hates, and responds to trans writers who have criticized her film: “If you don’t like it, go and make your own movie.”
Now she’s a Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominee, poised to become the first openly trans actor in history to receive an Oscar nomination. (Elliot Page, nominated in 2008 for Juno, came out as trans in 2020.) “I think I’ve done my job when it comes to acting, and the awards and nominations, that’s a plus,” Gascón says through a translator, who sits between us. “I put my best work forward. But I’ve made history in cinema with my work—my message to the world is much bigger.” At Sunday night’s Golden Globes, Emilia Pérez won four prizes, the last of which—best picture (musical/comedy)—allowed Gascón to close out the night with a stirring speech.

The 13 Best Places to Order Cakes Online
Cake makes everything better. All the more reason to get one delivered.
Nothing makes an occasion feel special quite like a cake. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or friendly gatherings—whatever the moment is, as soon as you add cake to the mix, it instantly feels like an event. But since a beautiful cake is only a occasional indulgence for most of us, it makes sense that we wouldn’t want just any old cake to mark those big moments with—we want something spectacular, something as delightful to behold as it is delicious, and, if we’ve being honest, most of us can’t pull that kind of magic off in our home kitchen. Fortunately, we don’t have to, because nowadays amazing bakeries from all over the country will ship their picture perfect cakes right to your door.
Whether you need a showstopper for your next big bash or just want to treat yourself with a taste of cake just like grandma used to make, here are the best cakes to order for all of your celebrations.

There’s a Reason Chefs Wear Those Tall, White Hats (and It’s Not to Hide a Magical Cooking Rat)
The toque, first popularized in the 19th century, is now a rare sight outside temples of fine dining in France — but it still serves a purpose.
Step into New York City’s Le Coucou, a 2017 Food & Wine Best New Restaurant, and there are a few atmospheric elements that will strike you: the exposed concrete, the triple-hung glass windows, the pewter-steel chandeliers, and, arguably the most photographed feature, a private bar space with a 13-foot vaulted ceiling and a hand-painted landscape mural. The open kitchen, visible from almost any seat in the dining room, naturally draws the eye next, but not merely because of the impressive set-up. It’s the bustling staff sporting high, pleated chef’s toques that has some diners doing a double take.
If chef Daniel Rose has revived the toque-wearing tradition in a city that has long bid adieu to formality, it’s for a couple key reasons: heritage and hygiene.

Sorry, but Your Paper Straw Is Covered in Forever Chemicals — Here’s What to Use Instead
Glass and bamboo straws aren’t all that safe, either.
If you’re concerned about your exposure to forever chemicals, you may want to ditch your paper straw.
In 2023, researchers from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, published a study in the journal Food Additives & Contaminants reviewing 39 different brands of straws made from five materials: paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and plastic. The study found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, aka PFAS or “forever chemicals,” in all the straws except those made of stainless steel. Perhaps most surprisingly, PFAS was detected most frequently in those made of plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo straws.

What Is Wine Pie, and Is It Actually Good?
Some things really are too good to be true.
I love wine and pie, and many other people feel similarly about both. But a recently resurfaced viral trend has me wondering if I would love them combined in one dish.
One Instagram user’s version of “wine pie” has racked up eight million views over the past two weeks, and it’s easy to understand why: Content creator @itsmejuliette pours a bottle of wine directly into a prepared pie crust, mixing it with some sugar, a touch of flour, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and cinnamon — before baking it into what looks like a gelatinous, deep-red dessert.

How to Start and Keep a Journal
Tips from writers, artists and a social worker that might make the practice less daunting.
It’s a familiar story: You buy a beautiful notebook, intent on starting a journal, only for it to sit untouched for years. While the benefits of journal-keeping are well established — it “can raise levels of optimism and life satisfaction,” says the psychology researcher Justine Richelle, 25, and strengthen creative writing skills (“The lines between what I write for myself and what I will ultimately write for publication are pretty blurred,” says the novelist Pico Iyer, 67) — that knowledge doesn’t necessarily make the blank page less intimidating. Here, a handful of longtime journal-keepers share advice that may inspire you to try again and stick with it.

Alan Cumming on Private Clubs, Middle Age, and Red Meat
The Tony-winning, tartan-rocking actor, activist, and club owner is notorious for his theatrical style and mischievous wit. As the host of The Traitors, he’s brought a dash of that energy to the free-for-all that is reality TV, and the results—and ratings—have been gangbusters. Lucky for us, the proud Scot spared some of his precious time to spread some love and talk some trash.

Is Your Washing Machine Actually Getting Your Clothes Clean? Here’s How to Tell
Monitor this appliance closely to ensure it is doing its job.
A washing machine that isn’t working properly results in musty, odor-ridden clothes at the end of a cycle. Its decline, however, isn’t always obvious immediately, so it’s important to watch for the early signs. Running garments through a faulty machine can lead to permanently discolored or damaged items down the road. Ahead, we spoke to experts about monitoring this appliance to ensure it is functioning properly and getting your clothes clean every time.

10 Ways to Store Christmas Lights So They’re Ready to Hang Next Year
Prevent your holiday lights from becoming a tangled mess in the off season.
With the holiday season in the rearview, it’s time to unplug and gingerly put away your Christmas lights. But these long and winding strands that offer so much twinkle and merriment during the season can be a pain to store. If you don’t have a system in place, Christmas lights can become a tangled mess when it comes time to stow them away for the off-season.
There are multiple methods for storing your lights so they’re organized and accessible when you retrieve them next year. To help, we spoke to organizing experts who shared the best ways to store Christmas lights. Read on for their favorite methods to keep these delicate decorations neatly and safely stored until the next time Christmas rolls around.

12 Ceiling Paint Colors That Add Drama to Any Room, According to Interior Designers
These ceiling paint colors are anything but neutral—they incorporate dramatic hues, high glosses, and pops of color.
When it comes to painting the ceiling, flat white is the perennial choice—but who says you can’t get creative with color? The ceiling is another space to flex your style and play with color, whether by creating a high-contrast look, adding a subdued shade that complements your walls, or going with the old Southern tradition of painting the ceiling blue.
Ready to grab your roller and break from the status quo? Here are 12 ceiling paint colors to get you inspired.

This Gorgeous Lake Town Has the Highest Outdoor Elevator in Europe — and It Leads to Fondue, Alpine Cows, and Hiking Trails With Water Views
The Hammetschwand Lift will whisk you 500 feet in the air in under a minute.
Not all elevators lead to such lofty heights, but the Hammetschwand Lift — the highest exterior elevator in Europe — is worth facing acrophobia for. Located above Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne, the elevator was built in 1905, and 120 years later, it continues to dazzle riders with its sweeping views.
The Hammetschwand Lift is located on the grounds of the historic Bürgenstock Resort and is the highest point on the property. The resort first opened in 1873 and, at 2,000 feet above sea level, Bürgenstock also requires great heights to reach. One of the most popular ways to arrive is via the Bürgenstock Catamaran, followed by a ride on the Bürgenstock funicular that ferries visitors up the mountain. (The funicular was Switzerland’s first electric cable car when it was first built in 1888.)

[Photo Credit: arqdeco.es]

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