A 22-Year-Old Tech Bro Built a Website That That Judges Diners by Their Looks. Obviously.
The 22-year-old Riley Walz of San Francisco has compiled a numeric system via LooksMapping as to which New York (and SF and LA) restaurants have the hottest clientele based not on actually visiting any restaurants but creating an A.I. model he directed to scrape 2.8 million Google reviews. Red means hot, blue means not, with a 10 signaling the restaurants with the most attractive diners. Carbone is 9.7; Raoul's is 6.4; no results for Dhamaka or Crevette (lucky for them); and Sarabeth's on the Upper West Side is 6.8. 'The model is certainly biased. It's certainly flawed. But we judge places by the people who go there [...] This website just puts reductive numbers on the superficial calculations we make every day,' reads the website. LooksMapping ' is more cultural commentary than practical resource,' writes the New York Times , yet, ' its premise speaks to a growing trend of diners prioritizing a restaurant's clientele over its food or atmosphere.' It also reports that 'racial biases in artificial intelligence are baked into the programming.' All of which is to say: One guy looked at 2.8 million reviews and decided the future of dining is Hot or Not, circa 2000.
In anticipation of his new restaurant, Cove — the 70-seat restaurant he's rolling out in Hudson Square in the fall — chef Flynn McGarry is hosting a pop-up series in Brookhaven on Long Island. 'Here you can enjoy a five-course meal in their lush garden, with a special tour from McGarry himself, and the option to stay the night at the B&B,' reads the Resy booking, while Emily Sundberg revealed on her Substack that the space is actually Isabella Rossellini's farm. It starts at $264 per ticket which includes five courses, wine or juice pairing, and gratuity.
As part of the Summer of Riesling, Terroir Tribeca is hosting its annual Riesling cruise on Tuesday, July 22 from 7 to 10:30 p.m. that departs from the 23rd Street marina. It's $125 for three hours and includes 'a boatload' of Riesling, as well as a Riesling ice luge. (There's also a band and food.)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
18 hours ago
- Newsweek
Queen Elizabeth Felt Meghan Markle, William and Kate 'Not Working Well'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Queen Elizabeth II already felt Meghan Markle and Prince William and Princess Kate were "not working well" before Meghan and Prince Harry's wedding, her cousin told a biographer. Lady Elizabeth Anson gave a series of interviews to royal author Sally Bedell Smith over a number of years about her relationship with the late monarch. Bedell Smith, author of George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy, has now published extracts of those conversations on her Substack blog Royal Extra. Princess Kate and Meghan Markle share a private conversation during Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2018. Princess Kate and Meghan Markle share a private conversation during Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2018. Karwai Tang/WireImage Anson is quoted saying: "Meghan and William and Kate are not working well. That is what the Queen said, particularly about the two girls. "It's worrying that so many people are questioning whether Meghan is right for Harry. The problem, bless his heart, is that Harry is neither bright nor strong, and she is both." Why It Matters It has long been known there were tensions between Kate and Meghan before the royal wedding, including an argument about Princess Charlotte's bridesmaids dress not fitting. However, it was not known that conflict between Meghan and Kate and William had reached the queen at such an early stage, according to Bedell Smith, two weeks before the May 19 wedding. What to Know It is not clear whether the queen's comments to Anson were a product of the famous argument about bridesmaids dresses, which Harry said in Spare was just four days before the wedding. There have been hints about other, earlier, issues, including in February 2018, three months before the wedding. The four royals were asked at The Royal Foundation Forum whether they ever had disagreements. William laughed as he replied, "Oh yes," while Harry said, "healthy disagreements," before William added: "Is it resolved? We don't know." Meanwhile, Harry's book describes Kate saying Meghan upset her by referencing her "baby brain" during a conversation about the timing of wedding rehearsals. It is, of course, also possible that none of the known incidents got back to the queen and that she was thinking of something else entirely. Also, Anson died in November 2020 and Elizabeth II in September 2022 meaning neither woman is alive to confirm or deny the account, not that the late queen has ever commented on stories of this kind. Either way, Anson told Bedell Smith the queen, who she nicknamed "Jemima" for reasons unknown, had been "very worried." "The Number One Lady—I call her Jemima—says the jury is out on whether she likes Meghan," Anson is quoted as saying. "My Jemima is very worried." "Harry is besotted and weak about women," Anson added. "We hope but don't quite think she is in love. We think she engineered it all." What People Are Saying Prince Harry gave a different account of the couple's relationship with the late queen in a 2022 interview with Hoda Kotb: "We have a really special relationship. We talk about things that she can't talk about with anybody else." "Being with her, it was great," he continued. "It was just so nice to see her. She's on great form. "She's always got a great sense of humor with me and I'm just making sure that she's, you know, protected and got the right people around her." Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Trade war supercharges Montreal Comiccon attendance, spokesman says
MONTREAL - A spokesperson for the Montreal Comiccon says the trade war with the United States could supercharge attendance at the colourful pop culture gathering. A large crowd of people, some dressed as superheroes and TV and movie characters, were already filtering into Montreal's convention centre shortly after doors opened Saturday. The crowd was thickest in the autograph zone, where Star Wars fans lined up for a chance to meet Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid, who plays Emperor Palpatine in the films. Comiccon spokesperson Jason Rockman believes the three-day fan convention will surpass its estimate of 65,000 attendees. He says the presence of Lord of the Rings stars Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Andy Serkis are a big part of the draw, but he also believes many people are avoiding going to the United States due to the trade war. 'I think people don't really want to travel (to the United States) now, so there are a lot of people staying here and it helps us,' he explained. He also feels like a weaker Canadian dollar means the event is more attractive for American tourists. 'We just opened our doors for regular tickets and it's busy (everywhere),' Rockman said. He suggested that Friday's attendance may have broken a participation record. One guest, dressed as the wizard Gandalf from the Lord of Rings, said he was there to see the headliners. Elsewhere, a group of friends who came dressed as characters in the Canadian animated TV series 'ReBoot' said they were there for the ambience and to meet like-minded fans. In addition to McDiarmid and the Lord of the Rings actors, the headliners include 94-year-old William Shatner of Star Trek fame as well as Famke Janssen of the X-Men franchise. Rockman said it can be a challenge to attract headliners, because there are other events happening the same weekend. 'But the fact that it's in Montreal, during the summer, there are a lot of people who want to be here,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
I tested Google's new AI dressing room — here's my verdict
I wasn't planning to try on Kate Hudson's yellow 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' dress from my office desk this week. But that's what happened when I downloaded Doppl, Google's new AI fashion experiment that lets users virtually try on any outfit. Think Alicia Silverstone's digital closet in 'Clueless' — but AI, and on your phone. All you have to do is snap a full-body photo of yourself, upload the outfit you want to try and, within 30 to 60 seconds, your digital twin shows up wearing it. 8 The app was launched through Google Labs. Tamara Beckwith It's meant to replace your dressing room. So naturally, I gave it a shot. My 'Doppl' — unsettlingly similar to me, but with slightly-off proportions and longer hair — stood in the iconic yellow gown I've been obsessed with since middle school. Then it waved. Each animation is different. The app can create short videos of your AI clone moving in the outfit, usually with a slow turn or stiff pose. In this case, mine lifted an arm and posed like she was headed to the Oscars. 8 The yellow dress was nearly identical to the one Kate Hudson wears in 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 days.' Samantha Olander via Doppl 8 The animation gives people a chance to see themselves in different outfits. Samantha Olander via Doppl It was jarring. But I couldn't stop watching. The fit wasn't exact, but it was more accurate than I expected and enough to make me genuinely want the dress. Maybe need it. Doppl, launched last week through Google Labs, is part try-on tool, part tech experiment. Users can upload photos of outfits — whether it's a Pinterest fit, something from your favorite store's website or a sweater you spotted at a thrift shop — and the app creates a virtual version of you in the outfit. You can also skip using your own photo and choose from 20 preset AI models of different ages, races and body types. 8 Doppl currently supports images of tops, bottoms and dresses — but no shoes, bags or accessories. Google For now, Google says Doppl 'might not always get things right.' The app only supports tops, bottoms and dresses — no shoes, bags or accessories — and doesn't offer sizing advice or help with fit. Still, I wanted to see what it could do. One outfit I tested came from my Pinterest board — titled 'The Life of a Shopping Addict' — basically a running digital wish list of clothes I wish I owned. I picked a Saturday-night look: a black tank top and long, flowy skirt. Doppl gave me a short black mini dress and black boots that looked nothing like it. In some photos, it even added a few inches to my hair. 8 Users can upload screenshots of clothing from their favorite brands to see how the pieces might look on them. Samantha Olander via Doppl 8 When it works, it gives a surprisingly realistic preview of how the outfit might look on your body. Samantha Olander via Doppl Other outfits fared better. I uploaded a pair of jeans from Zara that had been sitting in my cart, and Doppl surprised me by generating an image that included the belt from the product photo, even though Google said accessories aren't yet supported. The rendering wasn't perfect, but as someone who's 5'10' and struggles to find jeans that are long enough online, it looked good enough. I bought them. From what I've seen, simpler outfits work best. The AI struggles with complex silhouettes — layered looks, blurry images, tricky fabrics — and occasionally invents new clothes from scratch if it can't figure things out. When it works, it's persuasive. 8 The app doesn't suggest sizes or guarantee fit, and layered or complex outfits may not render accurately. Samantha Olander via Doppl 8 Doppl uses generative AI to create digital try-ons, but results may include visual glitches or imagined clothing. Samantha Olander via Doppl When it doesn't, you're watching a glitchy clone wear something you didn't ask for. 'This is generative AI in an augmented reality format,' said Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst at Forrester. 'I can't imagine that it wouldn't be useful. Is it going to be transformational and double anybody's business? No. But it'll be useful.' The app isn't perfect. Doppl skips over personalized questions like your height or measurements, which could make try-ons more accurate. You also have to be over 18, live in the U.S. and be logged into your Google account to use it. While it may not be replacing store dressing rooms anytime soon, for a free app on your phone, it gets surprisingly close. And it might just talk you into buying something you already wanted anyway.
