Latest news with #BingCrosby
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
America's Top 10 Real Estate News: Interesting Recent US Real Estate & Home News
A look at some of the most interesting recent real estate news stories in the United States. Top 10 Real Estate News is featured at POMPANO BEACH, Fla., July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- America's Top 10 Real Estate News "Dead Broke at Retirement? Best Places To Live" While a life at retirement with no savings is not the best situation, Hot Springs Village in Arkansas; The Villages in Florida; and Foley, Alabama are cities where seniors can live on the cheap. The average housing cost in Hot Springs Village is only $140 a square foot. "America's Most Coveted Streets" According to a survey of 3,000 real estate agents, Florida has three of the top four most coveted streets in the US. Casey Key Road in Nokomis, Florida is ranked #1; Laurel Way in Beverly Hills, California is #2; Gordon Drive in Naples, Florida is #3; South Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach, Florida is #4; and Hillside Drive in Paradise Valley, Arizona is ranked at #5. The top cities ranked high for qualities such as water views, landscapes and status. "Hadid's Beverly Hills Headache Going To Auction" Beverly Hills real estate developer Mohamad Hadid had big plans for a 3.2-acre hillside lot and architectural plans for a 25,000-square-foot home. But the city of Los Angeles halted Mohamad's construction. Mohamad, the father of Gigi and Bella Hadid, has now filed for bankruptcy. "Bing Crosby's Longtime Home Sold" The longtime home of actor-singer-comedian Bing Crosby has sold for $25 million. Bing and his wife, Kathryn Crosby, bought the home in the 1950s. Although Bing died in 1977, Kathryn lived in the home until she died in 2024. The 18,000-square-foot home, located in Hillsborough, California near San Francisco, was originally priced at $40 million. Bing was one of Hollywood's top entertainers from the 1920s until his death. "Florida Has Nine of Top 25 Fastest Growing US Cities" Florida has nine of the "U.S. News and World Report's" top 25 fastest-growing US cities, with Wildwood, about an hour northwest of Orlando, at #1. Naples, Florida comes in at # 5; Zephyrhills at #7; Bonita Springs at #10; Miami Beach at #11; Daytona Beach at #12; Port St Lucie at # 16; Palm Bay at #22 and Palm Coast at #25. "America's Best Beach Towns" As sure as the snow birds start to show up in Florida's beach towns every winter, Siesta Key was again named the best beach in the United States. According to Tripadvisor, Siesta Beach is particularly good for "clear waters, powder sand, seashells, [and] beachfront stays." "Most & Least Expensive Housing-Cost States" In some states, housing costs can take up to 50% and more of the median family income. According to WalletHub, owning a home in Hawaii takes up almost 54% of a typical family household's income. In California, it comes in at 46%, 36% in Oregon, and 35% in Nevada. The least expensive states are Iowa and West Virginia, both at less than 20%. "Obama's Cape Cod Vacation Home For Sale" The Martha's Vineyard home where President Obama and family spent their vacations between 2009 and 2011 is for sale at $39 million. Located on Chilmark Pond with views over the pond and the beach just a short row boat ride away, there is a 7,000-square-foot main house and a five-bedroom guest house on the property. "Brooklyn Is US Hottest Housing Market" According to Redfin, Brooklyn is the hottest housing market in the United States. In addition to Brooklyn's attractive mix of brownstones and new apartments, the borough's 11238 zip code had a 105% change in year-over-year home sales and a median sale price of $1.397 million. "Santa Fe Named Best Vacation City In USA" For 12 years in a row, the readers of "Travel and Leisure" voted Charleston, South Carolina as the best city in the United States to visit. However, in 2025 "Travel and Leisure" readers named Santa Fe as the top city to visit, with New Orleans at #2 and Charleston #3. Selections are based on factors such as food, hotels and resorts. For more US real estate news, celebrity homes and celebrity home video tours, visit Media Contact Terry Walsh, 954-544-0526, terry@ m, Twitter Facebook View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE
Geek Vibes Nation
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'High Society' (1956) 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review - Star-Studded Musical Comedy Gets The Deluxe Treatment
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra romp elegantly through the scenic, moneyed grounds and waters of outwardly elitist Newport, Rhode Island, in this hip, witty musical version of Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story. Legendary Louis Armstrong as himself, plays his trumpet and narrates in prose and song the peccadillos of his songwriter friend C.K. Dexter Haven (Crosby), his beautiful perfectionist ex-wife Tracy Samantha Lord (Kelly, in her final film role), and her stuffy fiancée George Kittredge (John Lund). Sinatra and wise-cracking Celeste Holm are a scandal sheet reporter and photographer who arrive to cover the wedding and complicate the tangled romances. Armstrong and his composer buddy conspire musically and by other devious means to stop Tracy's marriage. Dexter wants her back, but she takes off with the magazine writer – all of which gives everybody wonderful excuses to break into the incomparable songs of Cole Porter. M-G-M pulled out all the stops to make High Society a must-see screen event back in 1956, even arranging to license Paramount's magnificent widescreen process VistaVision, to ensure the film would be something special. Now meticulously restored and remastered from its original VistaVision negative, and accompanied by a thrilling new Dolby Atmos remixed soundtrack (as well as the film's original theatrical mono optical soundtrack), this long-awaited release is sure to be most welcomed by fans of this box-office smash For thoughts on High Society, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: Video Quality High Society makes its highly anticipated 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a tremendous 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer derived from a new 13.5K restoration from the Original VistaVision Negative. This release also marks the Blu-Ray debut for the film (available separately or as a part of this package), so the simultaneous jump straight to 4K UHD Blu-Ray is a welcome development for fans. It has been a long road to a proper restoration for this film, as the Warner Archive only had access to inferior elements for the longest time. With access to the VistaVision materials, the film is able to shine as one of the most beautiful Golden Age films on the format. The film features some spectacular colors within the costumes and settings that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity. The utilization of Dolby Vision offers a depth and stability of color that is frankly mind-boggling. You only need to take a look at the opening sequence on the bus to see what a stunning sight this presentation is overall. The same could be said of the natural tones that present with an immense complexity in the various lush locations. The black levels are simply perfect with nothing in the way of crush present, and the highlights are solid as a rock with no semblance of blooming. The level of detail and clarity is astounding with the appropriate amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves well without ever being clumpy or unsightly. The texture on display in the clothing and within the production design is a revelation. Even facial details like the makeup of the performers present with impressive clarity. This presentation is authentic to the original look of the film without the added resolution making any settings seem out of place. The film is entirely free of dirt and damage, which makes the feature feel like it could have been made yesterday. If it were not for the optical dissolves, which naturally have a dip in quality due to the process, it would be difficult to tell the difference. There do not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. This presentation is an award-worthy effort from the team at Warner Archive Audio Quality The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with both a new Dolby Atmos track and the original theatrical DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track that offers a splendid audio experience. The inclusion of the theatrical mono is an essential inclusion in this release, but the label is also embracing modern technology and tastefully expanding the soundscape for those who want a more immersive experience that puts their surround system to work. The dialogue and singing hold up very nicely, coming through clearly without being overshadowed by the music or other effects. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the feature is the smattering of songs which sound vibrant and lovely here. Fidelity typically never waivers even at the height of the track. The environmental effects are delineated nicely including the din of certain rooms and the sounds of weather. This track does not present any glaring instances of age-related wear and tear. This is a track that represents the film in a practically perfect way. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. Special Features Audio Commentary: Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, Kathleen Freeman, Stanley Donen, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Baz Lurhmann and Rudy Behlmer are stitched together to provide a well-rounded assessment of the picture. Reynolds guides you through as you learn about the development of the idea for the film, the film's legacy, personal anecdotes, the iconic songs and dance numbers, the groundbreaking nature of the feature and more. This is a must-listen for classic film fans. Cole Porter In Hollywood – True Love: A nine-minute archival retrospective hosted by actress Celeste Holm who discusses the development of the film, the contributions of Cole Porter, the updates from The Philadelphia Story , and more. Gala Hollywood Premiere Newsreel: A minute-long glimpse at the premiere of the film. Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra Radio Promo Spots (15:36) Classic MGM Cartoon – Millionaire Droopy: A seven-minute remastered Droopy short from Tex Avery that is very amusing. Original Theatrical Trailers Bing Meets A Friend at MGM (4:03) High Comedy (4:13) Together For The First Time (0:46) Final Thoughts High Society is a pretty amusing remake of a beloved film that cannot quite conjure up the magic of that one but manages to find an identity of its own. The main shortcoming of this narrative is that none of the men seems worthy of the angelic Grace Kelly, but it manages to make up for this with other positives. The songs are performed with great confidence and charm, and the comedic banter connects more than it doesn't. It may not have been a strictly necessary update to the material, but it is a worthy outing for everyone involved. Warner Archive has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray sporting a spectacular A/V presentation and a valuable array of legacy special features. Those who have been waiting for a proper presentation have been amply rewarded. Recommended High Society can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author. Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies. Related Posts
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Unlocking Restaurant Menus To Boost Your Culinary Returns
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and William Holden in '"The Country Girl" () Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, dining out has gotten more expensive, and the ongoing uncertainty around tariffs is likely to drive up prices even further. As a result, consumers are being more careful about how they choose to spend their money. Even when visiting high-end establishments, diners still want to feel that the cost was worth the experience. But restaurant menus don't have to be a minefield if you know how to navigate them. Here are a few tips to help you maximize the value of your next meal. When Choosing Where To Dine, Understand Your 'Why' When it comes to ordering from restaurant menus, there is no single right answer. The outcome will be different for each eatery and each visit you make. Before choosing where to eat, think about what kind of experience you hope to have. Are you looking to grab a quick bite? Do you want to visit the new 'it' place where the scene matters more than the food? Are you craving a particular cuisine? Celebrating a special occasion? If your main concern is efficiency, it makes no sense to opt for the place with the multi-course tasting menu featuring a soufflé that takes 20 extra minutes to prepare, but you might select that same eatery if you're out for the night with a group of friends. Your decisions should be driven by your needs and desires on that particular day, so it helps to be clear with yourself about what those are up front. Digital Snooping Will Only Get You So Far With Google, Yelp and other online tools, it's easy to crowdsource your menu choices, but it's important to remember that you have no idea who actually wrote those reviews. How often do those folks eat out? What's their spice tolerance? Are their dining choices tamer than yours? Do they have a personal axe to grind with the owner? Are they benefiting financially from the restaurant's success? While I do read user reviews and check out online ratings, I tend to take them all with a grain of salt, unless a critique is glaringly and consistently horrifying across a large number of reviews. Write-ups by food critics are a different story—not because I think their opinions are necessarily more valuable, but because I can get a better sense of their overall biases by reading their other reviews. If I know that Jane Doe routinely loves dishes that require tweezers to plate, or entrees that are so spicy they'll blow a hole through the roof of your mouth, that information gives me a way to assess her opinions and temper them with my own. For this reason, it can be helpful to identify a few food critics whose tastes tend to align with yours. After you get home from an amazing meal, Google the name of the restaurant you just visited along with the word 'reviews.' See which opinions line up with your feelings about the experience you just had. If you agree with a critic across several reviews, that person's assessments might carry more weight for you in the future. Choose Dishes You Typically Avoid Making At Home When you're scanning restaurant menus, look for ingredients or preparations that you aren't likely to tackle in your own kitchen. For example, I love Indian food, but I rarely prepare elaborate Indian recipes at home. The dishes I make commonly reflect the Mediterranean food I grew up cooking and eating with my family, and my larder is stocked with those ingredients. These familiar flavor combinations and techniques are my shorthand, especially on a busy weeknight. While spices don't exactly go bad, there is a notable difference between a dish that's been made with freshly ground spices and those that are six months old. Although I love Indian food, I don't restock the necessary seasonings often enough to keep them at peak freshness, so rather than make a subpar version of chana masala, I am much more likely to choose it at a restaurant instead. Assess The Labor Behind A Dish Naturally, your bill includes the cost of ingredients and front-of-house service, but you're also paying for the kitchen labor, so it makes sense to factor in the complexity of a dish when perusing a restaurant menu. I love a great steak, but it's not much of a challenge for me to purchase a nice ribeye and sear it in a cast-iron skillet at home. I don't need to pay a chef to do that for me. On the other hand, I am not likely to make beef Wellington from scratch, or attempt a 35-ingredient Oaxacan mole, or spend days planning and executing a cassoulet recipe. If you are willing to do all of these things, I applaud your dedication, but I know myself well enough to be honest about my attention span and energy levels these days. As you peruse a restaurant's menu, think about how challenging and time-consuming the dishes would be for you to prepare at home. Would it require a spreadsheet and the purchase of specialty ingredients, some of which may need to be acquired by mail order? In that case, you may prefer to let the chef take the wheel. Decoding The Specials On Restaurant Menus The Welton Street Cafe in Denver, Colorado (Photo by Joe Amon/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post) You've done your research, you've settled on what type of experience you hope to have and you've decided on your order, but when your server arrives, they throw your plan into disarray with six simple words: 'We have a few specials tonight.' Boom. Now what? Beyond your preferences, the answer depends on the context. Are you in a fine-dining establishment where the menu changes frequently, or are you sitting at the counter of a greasy spoon? If the latter, it doesn't mean the special isn't worthy of the name—a good cook is a good cook, and my mother would crush the competition on Chopped, even with the humblest of ingredients—but that 'special' could also be a vehicle for using up leftovers or food that's nearing its expiration date. Does the central ingredient appear in several other places on the menu? If so, what makes this particular dish special? (Don't be afraid to ask your server.) If, however, the special is built around a unique ingredient that's only available for a short period, I will always give it serious consideration. I rarely turn down a special that features soft-shell crabs because their season is so ephemeral (and because I love them). And if your server fails to mention the price tag for a special, don't be afraid to ask. Some ingredients, like real truffles, can double the cost of a dish, and a reputable restaurant will tell you the price upfront rather than give you a coronary when the bill arrives. You Shouldn't Need Liquid Courage To Ask About Drinks A tray of martini glasses (Photo by Mark Peterson/Corbis) Your server is likely to take your beverage order before you've decided what to eat. If you're keen to pair your drinks with your food, however, it's fine to hold off on ordering a drink until you've figured out your meal choices. Should you go for one of the restaurant's creative cocktails or stick with a classic? When to order wine? What about the mocktails? The answer is 'it depends.' When faced with a unique cocktail, we all have a tendency to imbue it with the qualities we wish it had, based on menu verbiage. But proportions are everything, so if you hate sweet cocktails, don't assume that the drink won't be cloying just because it contains some yuzu juice. Not all ingredients get listed on the menu, and a heavy pour of simple syrup could easily tip the scales into diabetic shock. Talk to the waitstaff or bartender. They're there to help you make these choices—they want you to be happy so that you'll return—so simplify their job by sharing your preferences. Similarly, if you're not a wine expert, ask to speak to the sommelier or wine director. Tell them approximately how much you want to spend, what you're planning to eat, and what flavor profiles you typically enjoy. In some restaurants and bars, a classic cocktail may be a safer bet because the liquor elements are standardized. While a bartender's skill matters, you're less likely to end up with a drink you hate if most of the components are shelf-stable spirits. Ask what kind of mixers they use—freshly squeezed juices, high-end tonics, or generic fizz from the bar's soda gun?—and request your favorite brand of liquor (but don't assume the price will remain the same if you do, so be sure to ask). As growing numbers of customers seek out non-alcoholic options, more restaurants are offering creative mocktails, but the price tags for some of these are considerably higher than what you'd expect for a beverage that has no booze. When restaurant menus list their cocktails at $20 and their mocktails at $18, I'd just as soon order a simple cranberry and seltzer instead on a night that I'm abstaining from alcohol. Leave Room For Cravings Even if you patronize the same restaurant repeatedly, there are variables you cannot control. What kind of mood is the chef in today? Is there a crisis in the kitchen that will affect the quality of your dinner? Is the sea bass that was delivered this morning as pristine as what you had the last time you ordered the dish? For better and worse, life is unpredictable. (The ONLY true constant is that you should tip your servers well; they are not responsible for the prices, and they rely on your tips for their income.) Similarly, your personal preferences may change from meal to meal, regardless of restaurant menus. Some evenings, I order linguine with white clam sauce even though I could easily make that dish at home—because it's what I am craving, or because I love a particular restaurant's version. If a dish is the specialty of the house, that may supersede the fact that it's not labor intensive. Flexibility is key. Let your appetite and budget guide you, but above all, enjoy!
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
See the opulent Bing Crosby estate in Bay Area. It just sold for $25 million
The Bay Area estate Bing Crosby purchased in the early 1960s as a surprise for his wife Kathryn sold Thursday, June 12, for $25 million, according to Compass real estate. 'This property is one of Hillsborough's legacy estates with an extremely storied background and impeccable vintage craftsmanship,' Compass listing agent Alex Buljan said in a statement. 'The buyer is a Hillsborough local with an appreciation for classic properties, adamant about maintaining the character and history into the next generation.' Hillsborough is a wealthy town in San Mateo County, 20 miles south of San Francisco, California. The 16,600-square-foot Bing Crosby Estate was listed for $40 million earlier this year after the late singer's second wife died in 2024. The property is one of the top five sales in the history of Hillsborough, and largest since the Western White House closed for $23 million last year. Buljan also represented the buyer on that home. Crosby purchased the estate in the early 1960s as an escape for his family from the Hollywood scene. The eye-catching French chateau-style residence, built in 1929, sits on 5.4 acres. In a blend of history and elegance, businessman Lindsay Howard, son of horse-racing enthusiast and Seabiscuit owner Charles Howard, originally commissioned the estate to be built by architects John Bakewell Jr. and Ernest Weihe as a wedding gift for his wife Anita. The Crosbys moved into the residence in December 1965 with their children, Harry Lillis Jr., Nathaniel and Mary Frances and embarked on extensive renovations, according to Sotheby's. The couple incorporated antiques from William Randolph Hearst's collection, including a hand-carved wooden staircase banister and Georgian paneling from a 17th-century English manor home. Then, Kathryn Crosby commissioned renowned San Francisco artist Al Proom to decorate the dining room walls, adding more grandeur to the home. This estate — with 11 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms and 5 half bathrooms — has meticulously preserved craftsmanship and architectural details from the 1920s design. The opulent home is highlighted with frescoes, ornate fireplaces and hand-carved woodwork. A smoking room contains a built-in bar. The library beckons with a large fireplace and built-in bookcases. In the dining room, a Venetian-glass chandelier hangs and hand-painted rose detailing adorns the walls. There's a separate wing for staff. Tech couple designed eco-friendly Sacramento-area dream home now for sale. Look Seller shares memories of Lake Tahoe estate listed at $65M, a potential record. Take look
San Francisco Chronicle
13-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Photos: Bing Crosby's historic California estate sells for $25 million
A historic Hillsborough estate once owned by Bing Crosby has sold for $25 million, more than a third below its original asking price but still one of the most expensive residential sales in the town's history. The property at 1200 Jackling Drive, a 14,000-square-foot French chateau-style mansion on 5 acres, was listed in January for $40 million following the death of Crosby's widow, Kathryn Grant, in 2024. The deal closed Thursday, June 12, according to Compass agents Alex and Pierre Buljan, who represented the buyer. 'This property is one of Hillsborough's legacy estates with an extremely storied background and impeccable vintage craftsmanship,' Alex Buljan said in a statement. 'The buyer is a Hillsborough local with an appreciation for classic properties, adamant about maintaining the character and history into the next generation.' Originally built in 1929 for the Howard family, owners of the racehorse Seabiscuit, the home was purchased by Crosby in the 1960s as a retreat from Hollywood. The singer lived there until he died in 1977, and the estate remained in the family until this year. The mansion includes 11 bedrooms, a library, a smoking room and a staff wing. Architectural features include antique paneling and a 17th century staircase acquired by the Howards from William Randolph Hearst's collection. 'If the product that a buyer is looking for is there, it is going fast,' she said. The sale is Hillsborough's highest-priced residential deal since the Western White House sold for $23 million last year, and ranks among the top five in the town's history.
