Share Wells Fargo Stock to Drop? Recently, Wells Fargo has been in the news for a number of different things, but could the latest update mean a drop in stock? See what an industry voice from Bloomberg has to say in the Video Spotlight. in Daily Dose, Featured, Government, Media, News Wells Fargo 2017-08-07 Brianna Gilpin August 7, 2017 607 Views
Mortgage Rates, Home Prices on the Upswing Appreciation Federal Housing Finance Agency FHFA FHFA Index Home Prices House Prices Mortgage Interest Rates 2018-02-27 David Wharton February 27, 2018 625 Views On Tuesday, the Federal Housing Finance Agency released its latest FHFA Index, showing interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages on the rise between December 2017 and January 2018. The FHFA Index is comprised of several different indices, based on a small monthly survey of mortgage lenders. According to FHFA, the January 2018 values for the indices “are based on 2,885 reported loans from 14 lenders, which include savings associations, mortgage companies, commercial banks, and mutual savings banks.”The first of the indices, the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index, was up 4 basis points over December’s 4.08 percent, coming in at 4.12 percent for loans closed in late January.The average interest rate on all mortgage loans also increased, rising 5 basis points from 4.05 percent in December to 4.10 percent in January. The effective interest rate on all mortgage loans, which “accounts for the addition of initial fees and charges over the life of the mortgage,” rose 7 basis points, increasing from 4.09 in December to 4.16 percent in January.The average interest rate on conventional, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages of $453,100 or less was 4.19 percent. This represented a 2 basis-point increase from 4.17, the interest rate on similar mortgages of $424,100 or less in December.FHFA reports that the average loan amount for all loans was $298,400 in January, down from $321,100 in December.FHFA also announced that home prices rose 1.6 percent in Q4 2017, as tracked by FHFA’s House Price Index (HPI). This included year-over-year price increases in 49 of the 50 states and in each of the 100 largest metro areas. According to the HPI, house prices also saw a 6.7 percent increase year-over-year between Q4 2016 and Q4 2017. HPI data is calculated using home sales price information from mortgages sold to, or guaranteed by, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.Dr. Andrew Leventis, Deputy Chief Economist for FHFA, said, “Home price appreciation in the fourth quarter showed absolutely no letup throughout the U.S. As we begin to evaluate home prices in the first quarter, we will monitor whether new headwinds—higher mortgage rates and changes in tax laws—will lead to any moderation in the rate of house price growth.”The Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Washington metropolitan statistical area (MSA) saw the largest annual price increase at 15.0 percent, while San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, California saw the smallest at 0.5 percent. Share in Daily Dose, Data, Featured, Headlines, journal, News read more
About Travel MonitorChristine KaneDeborah Dickson-SmithKatrina HoldenTravel Monitor Katrina Holden (pictured here in Bhutan) has joined our team at Travel Monitor. As the producers of travelmonitor.com.au and our ‘First News of the Day’ industry newsletter, we’re excited to announce an expansion of our team. We recently welcomed professional journalist Katrina Holden to the team as Editor-at-Large. Katrina joins colleagues Christine Kane, Owner and Publisher and Deborah Dickson-Smith, a highly-regarded travel writer and award-winning publisher. Long term Co-Editor,Lisa Monk, continues with the brand, now as a contributor, along with other contributors including Joy Dodds, Editor-at-Large for Fairfax Media – “Holidays Away”. Katrina Holden has been a journalist, editor and communications professional for more than 20 years. Her previous roles include Editor of Luxury Travel magazine; Editor of liquor-industry title Drinks Trade magazine for the Drinks Association; Deputy Editor of Weight Watchers magazine and several years’ experience as a freelance writer and editor, contributing to numerous trade and lifestyle publications. She is also currently Editor of True Blue magazine for Rex Airlines and Editor of Together We Fly for Airnorth, both titles custom-published by Publishing ByChelle.Deborah Dickson-Smith has been collaborating with Travel Monitor since April 2016, and in the newly created role as Content Manager, will now also be working closely on strategic partnerships with travel businesses to deliver branded content to our audience, in a professional tone consistent with Travel Monitor’s style. Deborah is co-director of Diveplanit, a dive travel website, app and tourism marketing platform and is a prolific freelance travel writer specialising in marine tourism, sustainable travel and experiential travel. Deb, an award-winning publisher, travel writer and blogger, also consults on content strategy with her newly launched company Tourism Content Marketing.“The repeated feedback I receive from the industry is that Travel Monitor delivers consistent, intellectual editorial and news that is informative, yet still entertaining, in a clear and uncluttered presentation of daily news,” says Publisher, Christine Kane. “Now, with the added expertise of Katrina and Deb, I’m excited about the evolution of Travel Monitor and our ability to offer even more relevant content.”Our daily Travel Monitor newsletter delivers the Australian industry’s ‘First News of the Day’ at 7am Mon-Fri. Our daily news headlines are delivered to a subscriber base of over 2,000 individuals, and Travel Monitor has an additional audience of between 5,000-8,000 individuals who receive the newsletter via internal company intranet services, or access travelmonitor.com.au directly, as a matter of course each morning. The website currently receives an average 16,000 monthly visitors with 45,000 average monthly site sessions viewing an impressive average of 9.5 pages per visit.Travel Monitor has also created a new Media Kit and Rate Card for 2018. To obtain a copy, please email our Content Manager, Deborah Dickson-Smith deborah@travelmonitor.com.au or ph: 0419 618 466.To connect with Katrina, you can email her at katrina@travelmonitor.com.au or ph: 0410 742 060. You can also follow us on social media at:Facebook Instagram Twitter read more
Turns out they did, but only because the officials messed up. After previously announcing that the Seahawks had burned their last timeout because of the injury, the crew headed by Bruce Hermansen allowed Seattle coach Pete Carroll to call for another stoppage in play. After much confusion — and time — it was ruled that Seattle should not have been charged a timeout when Baldwin was hurt because the clock was already stopped due to the incomplete pass. Nope.“It was my error,” Hermansen said after the game. “We gave [Seattle] the additional timeout because of the incomplete pass stopping the clock before the injury occurred. When in effect, the clock has no bearing on the play at all, whether it’s stopped or running, we should not have given them the additional timeout.”The Cardinals hung on to win the game 20-16, but it’s the type of mistake that would have looked real bad for the NFL if that proved to make a difference in the game’s outcome.After all, it’s one thing to miss calls — every ref does that. They’re only human, you know. But when using replacement officials while trying to negotiate a new contract with the league’s regular refs starts having a direct impact on wins and losses, well, that’s an issue. But it wasn’t, at least not on this day.Because as it stands, the error Sunday is just a footnote in the disappointing narrative of refs around the league being in over their heads on NFL fields. – / 17 Nevada officials reach out to D-backs on potential relocation D-backs president Derrick Hall: Franchise ‘still focused on Arizona’ Cardinals expect improving Murphy to contribute right away GLENDALE, Ariz. — The NFL caught a break Sunday in Glendale.With the Cardinals clinging to a four-point lead in the game’s final minute, the Seattle Seahawks called for a timeout.Problem was, they didn’t have any timeouts left to call, after using their final one a couple plays earlier when receiver Doug Baldwin suffered an injury attempting to make a catch.Or so we thought.“I went out there when the player was down in the end zone and said that is their last timeout, because a player injured in the last two minutes of the half, whether he is on the field, if they have to stop play they have to take their timeout,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said after the game. “So I came back to the sideline thinking that they didn’t have a timeout.” Top Stories What an MLB source said about the D-backs’ trade haul for Greinke 0 Comments Share read more
Top Stories Arizona Cardinals defensive end Markus Golden was a big loss for the team after he tore his right ACL in October of 2017. But with his return to NFL action on Sunday against the Bears, his 12 snaps were just the beginning.Golden expects to see a bump in playing time when the Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Week 4.“I think it will be a big increase, ’cause I’m feeling real good,” he said on the Big Red Rage from Majerle’s in Chandler on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Thursday. “I’ve been getting more reps in practice and I’m feeling good. Like I said, been working hard every day, my knee getting better, been taking great care of it. I’ll be ready to go soon.” Golden didn’t record a sack or tackle against Chicago, but his return to the field in itself was an important step forward for an 0-3 Cardinals team.Related LinksCardinals defense finding legs but not enough to beat BearsFilm study helping Cardinals rookie Edmonds; CB competition brewsPreparation has Cardinals QB Josh Rosen confident heading into first start“I feel like I’m alright,” he said. “For me not to be playing football for a year, I feel pretty good. Of course you always going to get out there and want to do more, especially after a loss. But I feel like I’m in a good place, I’ve just got to keep on working.”The 25-year-old had a big year in his most recent full season of football, 2016, when he played 16 games and recorded 12.5 sacks with 51 tackles and four forced fumbles.“Of course, going into the first week I was thinking about [the knee], people being around your legs,” he said. “But after a while I do get going and playing, ’cause you can’t be out there and play scared. So I get out there, I’ve been feeling good and feeling like myself, and I feel like I’ll be alright.”Offensive lineman D.J. Humphries, who was one of the hosts of the Big Red Rage episode and is also coming off of an injury (a knee injury he suffered in November last year) had similar things to say about his own comeback. Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) lines up against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini) Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact “I remember that early phase of when I first started coming back and being on the grass and what it felt like, and kind of just being a little antsy,” Humphries said. “But over time, once you feel a couple awkward positions, you begin to trust that you have that feeling again where you’ll be fine and you’ll be strong.” Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling 2 Comments Share read more
The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires 5 Comments Share Related LinksCardinals to retain Iupati, who takes pay cut amid O-line restructureArizona Cardinals sign former Giants OL Justin PughCardinals fail to convert on third down against the VikingsIupati had been questionable prior to the matchup with an injured shoulder and was limited in practice on Friday. Offensive lineman Andre Smith also was on the injury report with a hamstring and was limited on Friday. He played in the game.The Cardinals signed Pugh to a five-year contract this offseason after the 28-year-old spent the first five years of his career with the New York Giants. Iupati took a pay cut in March as the Cardinals restructured their offensive line.Arizona acquired Vujnovich off waivers at the beginning of September. – / 21 Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling Top Stories The Arizona Cardinals suffered a loss in more ways than one in their visit to US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday.In their 27-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Cardinals saw offensive linemen Justin Pugh, Jeremy Vujnovich and Mike Iupati all leave the game due to injury.The announced that Iupati (back) left the game and would not return. Pugh (hand) and Vujnovich (hamstring) were questionable to return.John Wetzel and Daniel Munyer were replacements for the injured guards. Arizona Cardinals offensive guard Mike Iupati (76) blocks defensive tackle Corey Peters, right, during an NFL football practice Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) read more
Jumeirah Group has entered into an exclusive two-year partnership with Royal Albert Hall. The five-star Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Knightsbridge, has been named as the preferred five-star hotel partner of London’s most iconic concert venue. In addition to Jumeirah Carlton Tower, the Jumeirah Group offers Mayfair-based luxury hotel residences Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living.Guests at Jumeirah Carlton Tower will be able to take advantage of the 390 shows offered annually by this venue.Austin Frost, Vice President of Sales & Marketing Europe, Jumeirah Group, said: “This exciting partnership with Royal Albert Hall, one of London’s most prestigious venues, steeped in history, further establishes our London properties as part of the cultural fabric of the city. At a group level, we are always exploring new, innovative ways of enhancing our guests’ stay with us; and creating places where art, culture and comfort can all mix is an important part of this.”Philip Marshall, Director of Business Development at the Royal Albert Hall, said: “We want all our visitors to have an unforgettable experience at the Hall. This means wonderful performances on stage and exceptional customer service throughout. We are delighted to partner with Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, who share these values.”The partnership between Jumeirah Group and Royal Albert Hall will run until 2017. read more
Go back to the e-newsletterThe sunset, the mountains, the sand and the sea, a change of place, a change of pace.26 SUNSET AVENUE LLANDUDNO in Cape Town is an opportunity to slow down and enjoy hospitality that refreshes and eases the space within by providing a luxurious and serene space without. A five-star, ultra-luxurious and exclusive property nestling on the slopes of the Atlantic Seaboard in the prestigious suburb of Llandudno, at 26 SUNSET AVENUE LLANDUDNO guests will enjoy 180 degree views over the ocean, the sound of waves crashing metres away, and a feeling of utter tranquillity.26 SUNSET AVENUE LLANDUDNO is offering a unique three-day holistic retreat to find the inner you. In today’s world of increasing stress and over commitment, how often do we take the time to really nurture ourselves? Sunset Villa is inviting guests to reconnect with their sense of self and body, with 180 degree views over the ocean, and the sound of waves crashing metres away.Relax your mind with meditation and breath work, heal your body through the magic touch of massage, and exercise your soul with yoga and nutritious food. Throughout the weekend, Warren and Su-yen will lead a number of life coaching conversations, which will challenge you to achieve your goals and help you overcome the obstacles that often keep these goals as dreams.Each evening guests will be entertained by Su-yen’s open kitchen style of cooking where you experience the fusion of Asian and Western delights from wok to plate.26 SUNSET AVENUE LLANDUDNO provides unique, well-appointed accommodation with private chef and butler service. Guests awake each day to picturesque sea and mountain views from each of the six identical suites, beautifully framed by fully retractable glass doors and complimented by natural stone and wood tones. Each suite includes: floor to ceiling glass doors open onto a private deck, open-plan wet room with oversized bath, rain shower and heated towel rack, extra length king size beds with 600 thread count cotton linens, TV/DVD & complimentary Wi-Fi, digital safe and mini bar, underfloor heating and air conditioning.Book now for 29 September to 2 October 2016. To check out the other facilities and services on offer at 26 SUNSET AVENUE LLANDUDNOa, check out their promotional video below.Go back to the e-newsletterhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIfP-jLURso read more
AccorHotels has established itself as a leader in the global luxury market with a dedicated portfolio of more than 525 hotels in over 70 countries with approximately 130,000 guestrooms. With a focus on growth in key gateway cities, AccorHotels is proud to announce a host of global openings over the next 12 months.Raffles Europejski Warsaw is set to open late 2017, heralding a new chapter for one of the city’s most beloved buildings. Hotel Europejski originally opened in 1857 as one of the most luxurious hotels in the Russian Empire. After it was destroyed during WWII, the hotel was rebuilt throughout the 1950s, eventually reopening in 1962. The building’s heritage has been carefully preserved and respected, with the interiors entrusted to Boris Kudlicka. The hotel will offer its guests 130 elegant rooms and suites; a restaurant showcasing Poland’s rich produce; a cigar lounge and bar; a spa; and a patisserie that will evoke the hotel’s background.The debut of Fairmont Chengdu in early 2017 marked AccorHotels’ 200th hotel in Greater China. A landmark hotel in the capital city of Sichuan Province, the newest Fairmont is located in the city’s high-tech zone. Interiors feature delicate hand-made Shu embroidery, traditional landscape paintings and modern photography to link both the past and future of China. Its 336 rooms and suites offer skyline views and there are ample MICE facilities including 11 meeting rooms and a 730-square-metre ballroom. Guests are spoilt for choice with 7 bars and restaurants including the Manhattan, an Art Deco bar evoking the style of the 1920s. Health fanatics will love the fitness centre, indoor pool and Willow Stream Spa.Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech is an exciting new destination located just 12 kilometres from Marrakech. Nestled within the heart of a century-old olive grove, it spans 231 hectares with views of the Atlas Mountains.A new icon for the Mecidiyeköy district, Fairmont Quasar Istanbul sits at a crossroads, where eclectic bazaars and colourful streets meet modern shopping centres and commercial properties. Set on the site of the 1930s Robert Mallet Stevens’ designed Art Deco liquor factory, the hotel blends a sense of urban culture and industrial flair with the city’s storied traditions. The 209 rooms, including 25 suites, each have a panoramic view of the Bosphorus or city skyline. Guests can relax in the Willow Stream Spa with nine treatment rooms and traditional hammam, or at the indoor pool, gym and yoga room.Fairmont Quasar IstanbulSofitel Singapore City Centre will welcome its guests with passionate French flair and five-star hospitality from July 2017. Conveniently linked to Guoco Tower, the hotel will boast 222 well-appointed rooms including 50 Executive Club rooms, 13 suites and one signature suite. Racines, meaning ‘roots’, is an elegant restaurant that will showcase local produce and French traditions through market-style counters and a theatre kitchen. Hotel guests can relax in the outdoor swimming pool or hit the Virgin Active Gym, which offers Singapore’s first altitude studio, simulating training conditions at up to 3000 metres above sea level. The Club Millesime executive lounge will feature a Vinoteca to dispense the best wines while the hotel’s expansive lawn will become a place for socialising, enjoying yoga or basking in the warmth of the Singapore sun.When Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour opens in November this year, it will be the first major new-build hotel to open this decade in Sydney. With an enviable waterside address, the hotel will combine French elegance with the urban energy of the city. Featuring the Le Rivage Bar, French restaurant and grill, infinity pool and SoFIT gym, the hotel boasts meeting facilities such as the grand Magnifique Ballroom. The 590 rooms and suites will be elegantly furnished to blend maritime motifs with French touches, inspired by the portside town of Marseille.Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara will feature Sofitel’s trademark style of French elegance, blended with local culture and authentic cuisine in the exclusive enclave of Damansara Heights. The hotel will boast 312 rooms and suites with city views, a Club Millesime executive lounge on the 22nd floor, a SoSPA, SoFIT gym and an outdoor swimming pool complete with pool bar. An 840-square-metre ballroom and five meeting rooms will provide sophisticated space for events and meetings.Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara2018 will see construction start on a $120m+ new-build boutique MGallery hotel in Sydney CBD. The Porter House Hotel MGallery will interweave the existing 1870s Heritage-listed Porter House, and will feature a lobby, pool and fitness centre, two restaurants and bar with art gallery, meeting and private dining facilities. The 36-storey tower and 121-room hotel sit alongside residential apartments, with the interiors featuring stitched leathers, circular bronze and glass showers, polished metal accents, and heritage-inspired decorative tiles. Expected completion date is 2020.MGallery will further expand its collection this year with new hotels including MGallery Leicester Square, London; MGallery Doha; MGallery Qatar; MGallery Odessa in Ukraine and MGallery Tarcin Forest Resort in Bosnia Herzegovina.The newly opened Pullman Miri Waterfront is the tallest building in Miri, Malaysia providing spectacular views of the South China Sea and Miri River. The hotel features 328 rooms and outstanding meeting facilities. Dining options include the Pullman Kitchen for all-day dining, the Dining Room, and the Café by Pullman for refreshments. Guests can wind down at the Drinking Ape Bar & Lounge with a wide selection of wines and snacks, or head to Splash Bar for a sunset cocktail. Wellness facilities include a fitness centre, Jacuzzi and sauna plus spa treatments. Miri is home to natural wonders such as Niah Cave, Loagan Bunut National Park, Lambir Hills National Park, Diving Reefs and the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gunung Mulu Cave National Park. read more
Travellers are becoming increasingly discerning in terms of spending money on their holiday, it has been suggested.The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has suggested that airlines need to be aware of the fact that holidaymakers are increasingly looking for value-for-money deals.CIM head of communication Ray Jones said that people are reluctant to accept the prices quoted in travel brochures and are instead turning to online deals to book flights and accommodation.”Holidaymakers are looking for value for money and using the internet to look for the best deals [to] check on [the] quality of the holiday and the hotel,” he commented.Travel and marketing agency BLM Horizon recently said that holiday companies would have to alter their marketing strategies to reflect holidaymakers’ changing needs.The company also said that one-third of consumers had reduced their spending on holidays abroad during the past three months.However, it was also revealed that a strong desire still exists to book an overseas trip at some point this year.ReturnOne wayMulti-cityFromAdd nearby airports ToAdd nearby airportsDepart14/08/2019Return21/08/2019Cabin Class & Travellers1 adult, EconomyDirect flights onlySearch flights Map RelatedHolidaymakers becoming ‘more cautious’Travellers have become more cautious about the type of holiday they are going on because of the credit crunch.CIM says flight passengers are becoming more ‘discerning’Flight passengers are becoming more discerning when booking their holidays abroad, claims the Chartered Institute of Marketing.Long-haul destinations more affordable for British holidaymakersHolidaymakers are snapping up flights to mid and long-haul destinations because they offer a better cost of living than the UK. read more
Butterfly effect at Basel and other strange stories from the world of travel this week.Man eats 15kg of caterpillars at customsThe only time you might want to witness someone tucking in to fistfuls of caterpillars is if it’s a washed-up soap star on a TV show. But no, we’re not talking I’m a Celebrity – this happened at EuroAirport outside Basel, Switzerland. A 47 year-old man was attempting to take 15kg of the dried delicacy back from Togo when customs stopped him. However, rather than hand them over, he began to munch his way through as many crunchy critters as he could. The man claimed he was addicted to caterpillars.Dopey cop in passport mix-upA police officer in Stoke-on-Trent is sitting some intense geography lessons after he wrongly arrested four suspects he thought were involved in a fake passport scam. The officer confused the names on the passports with the city the men were returning from, Abu Dhabi. The budding Poirot believed these men had all entered the UK on illegal documents with the same name. It took a second colleague to point out that Abu Dhabi was not a false alias created by criminal masterminds, but the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The men were eventually released, and the PC has been given an atlas.Art attack turns tourist attractionThe sleepy Spanish town of Borja became the focus of international attention after Cecilia Jimenez, 80, decided to give Christ a makeover. The pensioner, and amateur artist, took to the 120 year-old fresco in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church in southern Spain in order to repair it. Believing she had the blessing of the parish priest, Cecilia ended up defacing it beyond recognition. Although local councillors initially criticised her work, it has turned the town in to a tourist spot. Visitors are flocking to see the hack-job and her handiwork has inspired many ‘restoration’ mock-ups shared online. A Twitter account has even been set up in honour of the botched work.US woman flies to Europe with expired passportLast month a woman managed to travel all the way from San Francisco to Italy, including a change in Germany, with an expired passport! Having reached her destination and realised her error, the woman, from Nevada City, California, presented herself at the US Consulate, where officials were obviously stunned when she explained the situation.TripAdvisor reveals Brits are the happiest holidaymakersAccording to Trip Advisor, British users of the site, post more positive reviews than nearly any other nationality, while on average Malaysians give the worst reviews. Britons are only beaten by the Canadians in giving more detailed explanations about why their hotel deserved five-star rating, Brazilians coming last after averaging at only 88 words.ReturnOne wayMulti-cityFromAdd nearby airports ToAdd nearby airportsDepart14/08/2019Return21/08/2019Cabin Class & Travellers1 adult, EconomyDirect flights onlySearch flights Map Related5 of the world’s wackiest Christmas traditionsFrom scary Santas to pooping logs, we bring you five of the weirdest festive traditions from around the world.25 best travel quotes ever25 of the most inspiring quotes about travel, holidays and foreign lands by experts from Ernest Hemingway to Karl Pilkington.Glasgow Airport in giant snail dramaAll the weird and wonderful tales from the world of travel this week. read more
Burberry is pleased to announce the opening of its Flagship store in Toronto, Canada. The 9,932 square foot store, located at: 144 Bloor Street.The store showcases a full range of clothing and accessories for men and women focusing on luxury. Key ready-to-wear Burberry Prorsum looks will be made available along with Burberry Sport.The store reflects the new Burberry design concept, developed by Burberry Creative Director, Christopher Bailey. Intrinsically British materials and themes are used throughout in a contemporary way. This is a multi-story store with staircase visible from the street with a custom polished black chrome and mirror check panel hanging in the stairwell spanning both floors. The façade is a combination of polished black chrome with the signature check executed tonally in stone with touches of black glass. www.burberry.com read more
Holding its own among larger properties and hotel groups, Triple Creek Ranch, an intimate Relais & Châteaux property, is stealing the limelight with its 23 luxury log cabins set amid the Montana Rockies, its superior service, fine cuisine, and range of activities that run the gamut from heli-hiking (new in 2009), horseback riding and cattle driving to Orvis-endorsed fly fishing, bird and wildlife watching, and Nordic skiing. Also new this summer are helicopter tours, which leave from the resort’s own helipad. Guests can choose from an Alpine tour over the Bitterroot Mountains or soar over Glacier or Yellowstone National Park. Birding and wildlife viewing opportunities abound at the resort and the surrounding area.Triple Creek Ranch guests have access to over 230 varieties of birds, moose, mountain goats and sheep, deer and elk.Bird walks and driving adventures can be arranged both on and off the property.Pure Mountain Luxury, situated on over 600 acres of wooded hillside and open meadows and bordered by the Bitterroot National Forest in three directions, Triple Creek Ranch is a destination for discerning adult travelers seeking a small intimate resort in a tranquil mountain setting. Every cabin offers a wood-burning fireplace and a private or nearby hot tub. A fully stocked wet bar in each cabin provides soft drinks and complimentary house spirits, along with freshly baked cookies and trail mix. All rooms are equipped with direct-dial phones, satellite television, WiFi, and CD and DVD players.Stunning views of the West Fork Valley are the backdrop for cocktails in the Rooftop Lounge at the Lodge. With Chef Jacob Leatherman’s culinary offerings ranging from traditional French to innovative Northwestern, West Indian, Central American and other international choices, dining is a gastronomic adventure often enjoyed by a crackling log fire. A Chef’s Table in the kitchen affords both views of culinary magic and the mountains. Triple Creek Ranch’s wine list is a repeat winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and the Wine Enthusiast Award of Distinction.Small groups including weddings, reunions, and executive retreats are welcome from October through May. The ranch can accommodate 60 adults in the 23 cabins, four of them with two bedrooms/two baths and one with three bedrooms/three baths. Full business services are available. Although Triple Creek Ranch is designed for adults, children under 16 are invited when the entire ranch has been reserved for private use.www.triplecreekranch.com read more
Tomas Maier will open a third location this spring in the Hamptons. The store will be housed in a former diner located on the Montauk Highway in Wainscott.In addition to the eponymous Tomas Maier collection of knitwear, jersey and swimwear, some specially designed Tomas Maier accessories and clothing will be available only at this location.Other items personally selected by Tomas Maier will include jewelry, ready-to-wear, accessories, books and items for the home.The stand alone building is approximately 1800 square feet and features a garden with a patio to the rear similar in shape and feel to the other Tomas Maier retail locations in the Miami Design District and Palm Beach.The store has wood plank floors and white washed wood walls and is entirely “Hamptons” in feel.WWW.TOMASMAIER.COM read more
JOHANNESBURG – Much of what is seen in “Black Panther” is fictional, including the country where the movie is based. But in Wakanda, they do speak a language that is very much real, with distinctive click sounds that had some cast members struggling to speak it.“The clicks are no joke,” Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o said recently, calling isiXhosa “one of the hardest languages on the planet.”The idea to use isiXhosa, one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, in the blockbuster came from South African actor and cast member John Kani. Kani plays the father of the king T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman.Now, in the wake of “Black Panther,” the language is having a moment. Even the foundation of Nobel Peace Prize-winner and anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu, who rarely makes public statements these days at the age of 86, pointed out this week on Twitter: “Archbishop Tutu comes from a #Xhosa background as well.”Some South Africans at the film’s Johannesburg premiere said it was humbling to hear isiXhosa spoken in a major Hollywood film, even if they found the accents of some actors a little eyebrow-raising.“I’m not so impressed, but they tried,” said South African reality TV star Blue Mbombo with a good-natured smile.Somikazi Deyi, a lecturer at the University of Cape Town’s School of Languages & Literature, said of isiXhosa: “It’s a wonderful language.” Deyi also dismissed any assertion that the clicks of the language were hard to grasp.“They’re kind of easy,” she said.She walked The Associated Press through it. For the “X” sound, push your tongue against the side of your mouth and click as if calling a horse. For the “C” sound, do the same but against your front teeth. And for the “Q” sound, pop the tip of your tongue off the roof of your mouth.The tricky part, perhaps, is incorporating them into words at normal speed.Those “click” sounds that are unusual to many outside South Africa are a combination of the Khoi and San languages of the region’s original inhabitants, Deyi said. Now they’re a key part of isiXhosa, which is spoken by almost everyone in Eastern Cape province and whose famous speakers include South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela.IsiXhosa carries a person’s emotional identity, a sense of kinship, Deyi said.“You own it. You’re in control. There’s some spirituality to it.”You speak more to a person’s heart when using their Xhosa clan name, she added — a reason why Mandela is often warmly called “Madiba” in South Africa.Deyi hasn’t yet seen “Black Panther” but is thrilled by the film’s prospects for globalizing a language that she said is well-equipped for economy and law, not only for communication in one corner of the world.“I hail the movie-makers. I pray they make more space for it,” she said, already looking ahead to a sequel. “Let there be another ‘Black Panther.’ I want to see more!” The language of ‘Black Panther’? It’s real. Give it a try. FILE – In this Jan. 29, 2018 file photo, Chadwick Boseman, a cast member in “Black Panther,” poses at the premiere of the film at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The language of Wakanda in “Black Panther” is very much real, including the “click” sounds that are making audiences murmur, impressed. That’s thanks to South African actor and cast member John Kani, who introduced the idea of using it with his onscreen son, Chadwick Boseman. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) by Cara Anna, The Associated Press Posted Feb 23, 2018 6:31 am PDT Last Updated Feb 23, 2018 at 9:40 am PDT AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email read more
Some like it not: Marilyn Monroe statue has church venting This Thursday, June 7, 2018 photo shows Seward Johnson’s “Forever Marilyn” sculpture in Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. The 26-foot statue that was newly installed in the park is scandalizing some because her rear end is facing the entrance of the First Congregational Church. (Matthew Brown/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP) HARTFORD, Conn. – Marilyn Monroe’s rear is getting some leers in Connecticut.A 26-foot statue of the actress has been placed in a Stamford park across the street from a church, which is getting a full view of her behind. It depicts the famous scene from 1955’s “The Seven Year Itch” where Monroe holds down her white dress as air blows up from a subway grate.The back of the statue showing her underwear is clearly visible from the front of the First Congregational Church of Stamford. Some passersby this week said it was disrespectful to the church.Most church members have yet to see the statue because it was put up Monday as part of a citywide art display. But it is sure to spark conversation when they return for Sunday worship, said church member Maureen Matthews.“I think some people will be offended,” said Matthews, who is not bothered by the statue. “It is silly. There are bigger issues to worry about. But I’ll be interested to see how people talk about it on Sunday.”“Forever Marilyn” is one of 36 statues by artist Seward Johnson that are on loan and on display in the downtown area through the summer. They’re part of the city’s annual “Art in Public Spaces” program. All the statues except Marilyn are life-size and depict people doing everyday activities.City resident Lorri Tamburro told The Advocate newspaper that she found it disturbing to see children climbing on the statue’s leg and looking up the skirt.“I just find the position to be offensive,” she said. “It was, in my eyes, very disrespectful. I looked at it and I think because of what I saw with all these little kids looking up, the height is ruining it. It’s ruining beautiful Marilyn.”The response to Marilyn and the other statues has been overwhelmingly positive, said Sandy Goldstein, president of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District, which is hosting the exhibit along with sponsors including real estate finance firm UC Funds.Goldstein noted there are many nude statues outdoors in Europe — and near churches — that are accepted by the public.“It is art and we don’t believe it is offensive,” she said. “We absolutely mean no disrespect to the church.”The Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman, pastor of the First Congregational Church, has a sense of humour about the statue, but said it was an odd artistic choice.“The issue is, Why that statue,” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “Marilyn Monroe was an artist deserving our respect. Why appropriate her image in this way. Is this the best we can do?”He said he heard Monroe’s husband at the time of “The Seven Year Itch,” baseball star Joe DiMaggio, was uncomfortable with her shooting the subway vent scene.“Maybe the city would let us give her some pants?” Yonkman said. by Dave Collins, The Associated Press Posted Jun 8, 2018 11:52 am PDT Last Updated Jun 8, 2018 at 3:40 pm PDT AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email read more
NEW YORK — Cardi B has made a court appearance in a case stemming from a fight at a New York strip club.The Grammy-winning rapper appeared sombre and did not speak during Friday’s hearing. She is due back in court Aug. 9.Prosecutors said they would present the case to a grand jury.Police say Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, was with her entourage at a Queens strip club last fall when she argued with a bartender.They say a fight broke out in which chairs and bottles were thrown. Two people suffered minor injuries. Cardi B’s lawyer has she didn’t harm anybody.The entertainer wore a pink pantsuit and sparkling pink fingernails to Friday’s hearing.Fans followed her out of the courtroom trying to get photos.The Associated Press Cardi B arrives at Queens Criminal Court, Friday, May 31, 2019, in New York. Police say Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, and her entourage were at a nightclub last fall when she argued with a bartender. They say a fight broke out in which chairs, bottles and hookah pipes were thrown, slightly injuring the woman and another employee. She has been charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment and assault. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) by The Associated Press Posted May 31, 2019 10:00 am PDT Cardi B makes court appearance in strip club melee AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email read more
AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email CNN plans to set debate lineup reminiscent of sports FILE – This June 27, 2019 file photo shows Democratic presidential candidates from left, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Vice-President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., on the second night of the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News in Miami. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) by David Bauder, The Associated Press Posted Jul 16, 2019 11:05 am PDT NEW YORK — The political equivalent to NBA first pick Zion Williamson is unclear, but CNN this week brings the showmanship of sports draft lotteries to the presidential campaign by televising its drawing to set the lineup for the second Democratic debate.CNN will unveil stage positions Thursday at 8 p.m. EDT for the 20-candidate debate, scheduled for July 30 and 31.For CNN, which has been touting the draw onscreen, it’s an attempt to create an event out of virtually nothing that also promotes its debate coverage. But the program has also received criticism for making the nomination process seem like a game show.The large number of candidates created the need for a lottery. Democratic officials, candidates and the networks are wary so early in the campaign about creating a two-tiered debate that has one with “major” candidates and one with those who are less popular.CNN has released few details about how it will be handled on Thursday, and did not make an executive available to talk. The network will reveal the 20 candidates participating on Wednesday.NBC had a similar drawing before its first debate last month, but it was held without cameras in a conference room at the network’s New York headquarters. There were two large boxes, one with the names of candidates with less than 2 per cent in the polls, the other with candidates who had more support. NBC’s standards chief Marian Porges selected one name from each box to put on one of two easels representing the two debate nights.Campaign representatives attended, and mostly quietly texted the news to colleagues elsewhere. It all took less than 10 minutes, according to someone who was in the room who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.The CNN event seems reminiscent of sports leagues like the NBA that televise lotteries and the player drafts themselves. They’re popular with hopeful fans, and ABC this year was the first broadcast network to televise the NFL draft in prime-time.CNN chief Jeff Zucker is both a sports fan and creative programmer whose roots include running NBC’s entertainment division during the era of Donald Trump’s “Apprentice” and the “Today” show before that.“It doesn’t reek of presidential stature to me,” said Mark Lukasiewicz, a former NBC News executive now dean of Hofstra University’s communication school.Lukasiewicz said he understood the instinct to build an audience and anticipation for the debate, probably the last in this cycle with such a large group of candidates. But, he said, “it’s another step in the game-ification of the primary process, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”Lynne Adrine, director of Syracuse University’s Washington-based graduate program in broadcast and digital journalism, said television already has too much non-substantive campaign coverage.David Bauder, The Associated Press read more
Actor Joaquin Phoenix arrives ahead of the screening of “The Sisters Brothers” during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, on Saturday, September 8, 2018. A standalone Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix, a drama featuring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, and a concert-style film from Bruce Springsteen are among the projects bound for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov. by Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press Posted Jul 23, 2019 7:01 am PDT TORONTO — A standalone Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix, a drama featuring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, and a concert-style film from Bruce Springsteen are among the projects bound for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.Organizers have unveiled the first slate of galas and special presentations for this year’s festival, which runs Sept. 5-15.Galas include the highly anticipated psychological thriller “Joker” by “The Hangover” director Todd Phillips, starring Phoenix as the titular maniacal DC Comics character and Robert De Niro as a talk-show host who influences him.Meanwhile, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” by Marielle Heller stars Hanks as the aforementioned children’s television entertainer alongside Matthew Rhys as a journalist assigned to profile him.And Springsteen will have a gala with “Western Stars” by Thom Zimny, a performance documentary film in which he plays his album of the same name.Last week another major music-focused film was announced for TIFF: “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band” by Daniel Roher, which will make history as the first Canadian-made documentary to open the festival.The closing night film will be the biographical film “Radioactive” by Marjane Satrapi, starring Rosamund Pike as physicist and chemist Marie Curie.“Radioactive” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” are among several star-studded biographical films on the docket.Others include Rupert Goold’s “Judy,” starring Renee Zellweger as singer and actress Judy Garland.“Ford v Ferrari” stars Matt Damon as American car designer Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as driver Ken Miles.In “Just Mercy” by Destin Daniel Cretton, Michael B. Jordan plays renowned civil rights defence lawyer Bryan Stevenson in a cast that also includes Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson.Russell Crowe, Charlie Hunnam, Nicholas Hoult, and George MacKay are among the stars in Justin Kurzel’s outlaw story “True History of the Kelly Gang.”And Eddie Murphy stars as comedian Rudy Ray Moore in “Dolemite Is My Name” by Craig Brewer.Over 50 films were unveiled for 2019 TIFF on Tuesday, many of them with acclaimed directors and early Oscar buzz.Other notables include “The Laundromat” by Steven Soderbergh, starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, and Antonio Banderas in a story of journalists probing the so-called Panama Papers money laundering scandal.John Crowley directs “The Goldfinch,” starring Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman in a tale of a young man caught up in art forgery.The 1950s crime drama “Motherless Brooklyn” counts Edward Norton as its director, writer and star. He plays a private investigator with Tourette syndrome in a cast that also includes Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, and Alec Baldwin.Lorene Scafaria’s “Hustlers,” about Manhattan strip-club performers targeting Wall Street clients, has a cast including Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Lizzo, and Cardi B.“Knives Out” by Rian Johnson is a murder mystery starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, and Christopher Plummer.The fest also scored the relationship drama “Marriage Story” by Noah Baumbach, starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Laura Dern.Johansson is also in the satirical wartime dark comedy “Jojo Rabbit” by Taika Waititi.And three Canadian titles are on the docket: “Guest of Honour” by Atom Egoyan, starring Luke Wilson and Rossif Sutherland in a story of a father and his daughter; “American Woman,” a ficionalized take on events surrounding the radical 1970s group that kidnapped American heiress Patty Hearst, directed by Semi Chellas; and “The Song of Names” by Francois Girard, starring Clive Owen as a U.S.-based violinist reconnecting with his Polish roots.Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email ‘Joker’ and Fred Rogers drama among galas set for Toronto film festival read more
September 15, 2008 A long-standing mystery has finally been solved. Alum from the late 1970’s and early 1980’s will remember this beautiful painting. It was on display on the back wall of the original Arcosanti café in the Crafts III building for many years. A long-standing mystery has finally been solved. Alum from the late 1970’s and early 1980’s will remember this beautiful painting. It was on display on the back wall of the original Arcosanti café in the Crafts III building for many years. The painting was done by artist and alumna Paula Wittner, commissioned in 1977 by alum Russ Adams. It disappeared in the mid 1980’s. Apparently it was stored in Phoenix and the storage company had gone out of business. It reappeared in Prescott, at Drake Station Trading Company. Their owners, trying to trace the origin of the painting, got in touch with Paula Wittner just recently. This prompted Russ Adams and Paula to visit the new owners and they are now in negotiation to buy the painting back. See all the exciting details in an article by reporter Bruce Colbert, Lost painting turns up in Prescott Prescott Daily Courier – Prescott, AZ, USA “When Mary (Hoadley from Arcosanti) called me and said my painting was found, I was just totally floored,” Rus Adams, the painting’s original owner, … [Photo: Cosanti Foundation & text: sa] read more