Latest news with #GameofLife
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Former cinema and nightclub where AC/DC and Queen played named Scotland's best Wetherspoons
The place has served as a cinema, a nightclub, and a live music venue in its past. A historic Edinburgh landmark has been named Scotland's best Wetherspoons. A new study analysing customer reviews from more than 800 pubs across the UK has picked out the top-rated bars in Tim Martin's empire. Known for their affordable pints, unique names, crazy carpets - and long walks to the toilets - JD Wetherspoons bars can be found throughout Britain. While some people may turn their nose up at a 'Spoons', others are more than happy to nip in for a cheap pint or two. And if you're keen to see the best of what Scotland has to offer, according to the research by Suomicasinot, then you'll need to head to the capital. The Caley Picture House in Edinburgh was our top-ranked Spoons, also claiming third place in the UK-wide list. The analysis found that 57.82 per cent of its Google reviewers awarded the former cinema a full five stars, Express reports. Built in 1922 on Lothian Road and opened on New Year's Day 1923 with the film Game of Life, the Caley Picture House has long been a fixture of the city's cultural life. Originally designed in the Beaux-Arts style by architects J.S. Richardson and J.R. McKay, it seated 900 patrons in its early days. A major expansion followed in 1928, led by James McKissack of John McKissack & Sons. He added a wing parallel to the road, shop units, and an ornate new entrance featuring a stained-glass window. The auditorium, given an Art Deco makeover, increased capacity to 1,900. With a grand 50-foot-wide proscenium, the venue was well suited to become the first cinema in Edinburgh to show a CinemaScope film when The Robe starring Richard Burton opened there in February 1954. In the 1980s, the curtain came down on its cinema days. The building was sold in 1983 and closed the following year. In 1986, it was transformed into a nightclub known as Century 2000, later Revolution, before falling into disuse. It was revived in 2008 as a live music venue called The Picture House, then rebranded as the HMV Picture House shortly afterwards. Huge acts like Queen, AC/DC, Rory Gallagher, Hawkwind, Gentle Giant, and Uriah Heep all performed under its roof during its heyday. JD Wetherspoon took over the site in 2014, and after careful restoration, reopened it as a pub on December 13, 2016. Despite the change in purpose, many of the original features and the building's grandeur remain, offering visitors a pint in one of the most atmospheric settings in the city. Suomicasinot's study ranked pubs by the percentage of five-star Google reviews. The Bishop Blaize in Manchester topped the list with 60.34 per cent, followed by the Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate with 58.48 per cent. The Caley Picture House came in third at 57.82 per cent, comfortably ahead of the next-best-rated Scottish venue. Meanwhile, the bottom of the list included The Atrium in Birmingham, which recorded just 20.19 per cent five-star reviews. The Albany Palace in Trowbridge and The White Swan in London fared only slightly better, at 31.76 per cent and 31.86 per cent, respectively. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. The top 10 highest-rated Wetherspoons in the UK The Bishop Blaize, Manchester (60.34%) Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate (58.48%) The Caley Picture House, Edinburgh (57.82%) The Greenwood Hotel, Northolt (57.80%) Stick or Twist, Leeds (57.13%) The Golden Beam, Leeds (56.71%) The William Adams, Gorleston-on-Sea (55.53%) The Prense Well, Heswall (55.40%) The Velvet Coaster, Blackpool (55.07%) The Buck Inn, Northallerton (54.97%)
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Woman plays the lottery ‘when the mood strikes' — and wins big in Maryland
A woman's knack for knowing when to play the lottery paid off big time in Maryland, officials said. She follows her intuition and plays 'when the mood strikes,' lottery officials said in a July 1 news release. 'When I'm out and about, I think about it,' the player from Anne Arundel County said in the release. 'I like to play when I feel it.' 'She 'felt it' for the big win' while involved in a family commitment and stopped at a gas station to buy a $20 scratch-off ticket on a game with a top prize of $1 million. She won the $50,000 second-tier prize on the oversized Game of Life ticket. 'Though excited to have won a substantial prize — her previous personal best Lottery win was $3,500 — she has no major plans for the winnings beyond socking it away in savings,' officials said. 'She's done her share of traveling, and lives close enough to family and friends that there's no need to be on the move for visits.' There is one thing she's sure of though, officials said. 'Asked if she will continue playing the Lottery — a hobby she picked up from a friend several years ago — she said: 'I sure will,'' officials said.
Buzz Feed
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
34 Products That Are Just Plain Fun To Have On Hand When Friends Visit
A set of vinyl coasters to give your coffee table a delightfully retro nostalgic touch *and* protect it from the perils of condensation mid-party. A set of espresso martini mix packets that make this cocktail staple a little TOO easy to recreate at home — all you need to do is add vodka (or tequila) and water, and BOOM. That's that you espresso. (Bonus: these only have 30 mg of caffeine, as opposed to 60 mg to 120 mg of a typical one!) The Game of Life Goals, the card game version of the OG beloved (if not very stressful) Game of Life board. This version rubs a little TOO close to your existential fright with the tagline, "You can't control the card you're dealt, but you can choose what to do with them!" (Or you can just cope by turning off autonomy on The Sims, you do you.) A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Hues And Cues, a DELIGHTFUL party game that's easy and fun to play no matter how well you know the other players. It comes with a board of 480 color swatches — the aim of the game is to make your friends guess which color swatch you're looking at with either one-word or two-word clues. Whoever gets the closest to the color in each round gets the most points! A marble board wire cheese cutter to serve as half decor, half kitchen tool, and 100% the biggest hit at any wine and cheese night when you let guests slice their own cheese with it. Plus a Frenchie-themed cheese board for some top notch char-woof-erie at your next party. Exploding Mantis, the cousin of the wildly popular, family-beloved Exploding Kittens game, except this one is a "colorfully cutthroat card game of rainbows and revenge." The objective is to get matching sets of cards by ruthlessly stealing from other players at top speed — it's a colorful, chaotic whirlwind for two to six players, age 7 and up! A bottle of truffle-infused clover honey so decadent and delicious that it will get passed around your kitchen faster than the juiciest gossip anyone's got. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. The best part is, you don't need a ton of colored pencils to do it as a group — everyone just needs a pen! A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastimes of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. A mini ice cream maker from BuzzFeed's Tasty line that easily churns out ice cream with your favorite flavor-and-topping combos in 20 minutes flat. If I were the Nutella, peanut butter Ritz crackers, and/or the Girl Scout cookies in my fridge right now, I'd be verrrrrry nervous about this gizmo. 😈 And a splurge-worthy Ninja Creami that lives up to all the hype and THEN some — this has seven presets so you can indulge in the creamiest gelato, most refreshing smoothies, and most decadent ice creams you've ever had, right from the comfort of your own home. It even comes with compatible storage pints and lids, in case you don't finish it all on the spot! Oprah's The Life You Want: 100 Questions Everyone Should Ask, a set of conversation cards to help you start thoughtful conversations with friends and families to help you connect and make meaningful memories out of your time together. A wireless, Bluetooth-enabled karaoke mic you can sync with preeeeetty much anything, including speakers, players, or downloadable singing apps. Now everyone can reenact Wicked from the comfort of your living room! A reviewer-beloved electric fondue set for an investment in your future happiness, because I'm hard-pressed to think of anything a vat of melted cheese and chocolate *won't* fix. A Lego-inspired brick waffle maker that's about to become the MVP of breakfast hangouts. Lego fans will love them for "building," waffle fans will love that they're small enough that they maximize crispy edges, and everyone will love that these are the perfect size to make whole breakfasts or eat as snacks! Yardzee, a jumbo dice game that boldly asked, "What if we took Yahtzee and made it ginormous?" This set includes six (lightweight!) giant dice, a storage bucket, and double-sided scorecards to play over 20 ridiculously fun outdoor games with the whole fam. Bonus: reviewers mention using it as game room decor when it's not in use, since it has such an elevated look! And a ridiculously fun Tiki Toss ring game so you can humble your jock friends REAL fast — this game is super easy to set up and learn, but tricky enough to get juuuust right that it will even the whole playing field. Reviewers love that is is a fun-for-all-ages game (but aren't not using it as a a drinking game too 👀 ). An ankle skip ball for kids *and* adults so you can work up a sweat reliving the best part of the '90s with your pals and uphold tradition by teaching every child in the vicinity how to use it, too. A sushi-making kit perfect for beginners or intermediate sushi makers, so you can finally mix and match the exact ingredients your adventurous heart desires. A magnetic rotating UFO-shaped Bluetooth speaker so you can have an ~otherworldly~ experience getting beamed up by your favorite bops. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces, including 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Next stop, the Louvre. A set of rainbow wineglasses to really get some adorable bang for your buck, because there's no way you won't use them as decor whenever you're not sipping sparkling rosé from them. Or a set of delightfully dainty butterfly wineglass markers so everyone knows exactly which glass is theirs, lest it fly away in another guest's hands. 🦋 A rotating disco ball diffuser because sometimes "come on Barbie let's go party" secretly means "come on Barbie let's diffuse some citrus essential oils and do some self-care." This lil' bub will give you the best of both worlds. A shaved ice and slushie maker so everyone can relive their childhood pastime of dyeing their tongues a zillion delicious colors after taking one of these to the face. Bonus: a lot of reviewers use these for ~boozy~ slushies. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious lives in a half hour — a perfect "appetizer" activity if you're hosting a dinner party! Plus a set of wineglass charcuterie toppers to create the ultimate wine-and-cheese night vibes — especially vital for guests who love to mix and mingle, but need at least one hand free for hugging and gesturing wildly about how obsessed they are with cheeses from Trader Joe's. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions, a bartender-beloved book for beginner- to intermediate-level cocktail enthusiasts that breaks down six iconic "root" cocktails — the old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip — to show you how to improvise and riff your own creations based on what combos work with the ingredients you have. "The Secret Soup," yet another addition to the cult-favorite Magic Puzzle series so beloved on TikTok. Like the others before it, this isn't just a puzzle, but a whimsically illustrated, colorful journey — there are tons of Easter eggs in it, a collection of miniature scenes full of optical illusions and surprises, *plus* a magical twist at the end. You'll have to solve the puzzle to find out! A beginner's butter churner complete with a recipe book so you can finally become the captains of your own condiment ships. Your fridges will be full of so many butters (raspberry butter! truffle butter! CHOCOLATE BUTTER!) that there won't be enough bread in the world to satisfy you. A set of silicone teacup cupcake liners so you can have your cake and "drink" it, too. Reviewers loved these for tea parties and cupcake-decorating parties! An elegant stacking game to serve both as a conversation piece at the party and as decor to make you look like an oh-so-sophisticated tastemaker.
Buzz Feed
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
36 Indoor Products To Amuse Yourself Away From The Sun
A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit for anyone on their "happy accidents" beat — this itty bitty set comes with everything you need to create three tiny masterpieces of your very own. The Game of Life Goals, the card game version of the OG beloved (if not very stressful) Game of Life board. This version rubs a little TOO close to your existential fright with the tagline, "You can't control the card you're dealt, but you can choose what to do with them!" (Or you can just cope by turning off autonomy on The Sims, you do you.) Murdle, Volume 1, a true essential for anyone who relaxes to true crime podcasts or Only Murders in the Building. The book is full of 100 mystery-themed logic puzzles with four different levels of difficulty that they can do solo or with pals, and in order or out of order (although if they do it in order, they get the full scoop on Deductive Logico and Inspector Irratino, whose hilarious misadventures guide you through the book). A Through The Seasons Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. And Cozy Europe, a reviewer-beloved adult coloring book for calm and de-stressing that will take you all over the globe while you color from the cozy perch on your couch. Psst — this is part of the iconic Comfy & Cozy Coloring Book series if you're looking for other options after you color through this one! A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there, you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. And a beginner-friendly mini pottery wheel kit with everything you need to start making your teensy creations, and/or recreate that scene from Ghost as cheaply as possible. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, a DEEPLY beloved, fast-paced card game suitable for kids and adults that will have everyone in fits of high-stakes giggles in no time. Bonus: each game only lasts 10–15 minutes, so you can go one or a few rounds depending on how much time you've got together. A delightful party game called Hues And Cues that's easy and fun to play no matter how well you know the other players. It comes with a board of 480 color swatches — the aim of the game is to make your friends guess which color swatch you're looking at with either one-word or two-word clues. Whoever gets the closest to the color in each round gets the most points! A copy of Burn After Writing, a guided journal that tens of thousands of reviewers swear by — through a series of questions and thought experiments, it encourages people to take time away from their screens to explore their feelings, both new and old, so they can embrace meaningful ones and try to let others go. Or a copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions to help you reflect on your life with thoughtful prompts like, "If I could have changed my profession midstream I would have become ..." and "This present I got from my parents really sticks in my memory." It's a perfect way to organize your own story *and* to make sure it's preserved for people who will want to know it down the line. A truly ginormous, cult-favorite beginner's art set that includes just about everything you can think of under the artsy sun — which is astonishing considering just how high quality and affordable this set is, and how many different mediums you can make art with. "The Peckish Pirates," a brand-spanking-new addition to the cult-favorite Magic Puzzle series so beloved on TikTok. Like the others before it, this isn't just a puzzle, but a whimsically illustrated, colorful journey — there are tons of Easter eggs in it, a collection of miniature scenes full of optical illusions and surprises, *plus* a magical twist at the end. You'll have to solve the puzzle to find out! A Woobles crochet starter kit with clear, easy instructional videos to make new tiny friends, because you can never have too many "coworkers" on your desk cheering you on. A set of reviewer-beloved chocolate bar molds for anyone who dreams of DIY-ing their ultimate dessert. These are great for mix-ins like nuts and cereal, but also have enough depth for you to add fillings like peanut butter, jam, and caramel. A beginner's guide to calligraphy that is far more thorough and specific about technique and ink types than other versions, and will have you writing inspirational messages to your friends and drafting fancy invitations to your dog's birthday party in NO time. Small Batch Cookies, tailor made for folks who live alone *or* for people who want to broaden their baking horizons, but don't want to deal with the mess of big batches (or the leftovers)! This book takes you through a bunch of delicious recipes for one to six people using minimal equipment, so you can have hassle-free treats and live your most delicious life. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces you can use to decorate your walls in the coziest, most colorful way imaginable — especially with 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Or a gorgeous pastel paint-by-number you can get in all kinds of intricate, deeply satisfying patterns for anyone who is looking for an activity that pairs perfectly with a screen-free night in. Foldology, an origami puzzle game that's sort of like if a Rubik's Cube and origami set had a fun little brain-teasing baby. You have to fold the puzzle this and that, using creative problem-solving to complete the picture hidden in each puzzle. Each set comes with 100 (!!!) puzzles with difficulty levels from beginner to advanced, so everyone in the fam can get in on the fun. A pickling starter kit complete with everything you need to start fermenting small batches of INFINITE delicious things, from the traditional cucumbers and onions to yummy sauerkraut and kimchi to adventurous watermelon and mango 😋 . (If you've never had pickled mango before ... THANK ME LATER.) A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastime of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. A simple silicone bread maker that proves you don't need any know-how or complicated instructions to make delicious bread at home — in fact, you can mix the ingredients right into the silicone maker and pop it right into the oven. (A bunch of easy recipes are included to prove it!) Disney Princess Uno so the next time you Reverse Uno someone so hard they cry you can turn on "Let It Go" and tell 'em the past is in the paaaaaast. A sturdy, minimalist reading journal with such a comprehensive, satisfying design that you'll never bother with another again — this features space for 52 thorough book reviews, along with challenges and lists for Books I've Read, Finished, Favorites, Did Not Finish, Lent, and Borrowed. An extremely nostalgia-inducing flameless s'mores maker (complete with four roasting forks!) so you can live your best summer camp life all year long. A DIY clay dish craft kit for a perfect rainy afternoon or "wind down" Friday night activity, whether you're doing it solo or with a squad. This family-friendly set makes it super easy to create a gorgeous trinket dish you can use for jewelry, your keys, and other small baubles. Bonus: it's air dry, so you don't have to do any extra work once you're done! A beginner's wood carving kit to get you started on an oh-so-satisfying, soothing hobby, so you can start gifting your loved ones with carved bluejays and cardinals in no time. A sushi-making kit perfect for beginners or intermediate sushi makers, so you can finally mix and match the exact ingredients your adventurous heart desires. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to learn to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious life in a half hour. A soothing, adorable felt succulent kit for anyone who can't get enough of plant parenthood and wants to take it to the next level. This set is great for kids and adults alike, so it makes for a fun family shenanigan, too! A beginner's embroidery kit for adults, so you can have something soothing to do with your hands while you marathon yet another podcast full of murder, murder, and a side murder. (At least now your stitching will be tighter than the main suspect's alibi!) A set of cat-themed tarot cards purrrfect for first-timers, complete with a guide on how to pull the cards and how to interpret them. You'll be doing readings for everyone from yourself to your BFF to your actual cat, by the end of the week. A unicorn slime making kit, because truly the most universal human experience is that deep down inside we all just want to stretch out a big ole glop of bright pink glittery slime. Exploding Mantis, the cousin of the wildly popular, family-beloved Exploding Kittens game, except this one is a "colorfully cutthroat card game of rainbows and revenge." The objective is to get matching sets of cards by ruthlessly stealing from other players at top speed — it's a colorful, chaotic whirlwind for two to six players, age 7 and up! A mini ice cream maker from BuzzFeed's Tasty line that easily churns out ice cream with your favorite flavor-and-topping combos in 20 minutes flat. If I were the Nutella, peanut butter Ritz crackers, and/or the Girl Scout cookies in my fridge right now, I'd be verrrrrry nervous about this gizmo. 😈
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scottish Wetherspoons pub with unique history named among best in UK
A POPULAR Scottish Wetherspoons pub with a unique history has been named among the best in the UK. The Caley Picture House is the biggest of the Wetherspoons chains in Edinburgh and looks like something from The Great Gatsby. Advertisement 4 The Caley Picture House has been named among the best Wetherspoon pubs in the UK Credit: Alamy 4 The pub is located on Lothian Road in the Scottish capital Credit: Trip Advisor 4 The pub opened as part of the Wetherspoons chain in 2016 Credit: Trip Advisor And it has been named in the top 10 best branches across the country. Experts at Q.R. Code Generator analysed 869 of the chain's pubs and hotels in the UK to find out which ones are best rated by the average total percentage of excellent reviews on Google Reviews. The Bishop Blazier in Manchester took top spot scoring 60.34 per cent, followed by the Royal Victoria Pavillion in Kent with 57.83 per cent, Edinburgh Evening News reports. The Caley Picture House, on Lothian Road in the Scottish capital, took third place in the list with a score of 57.83 per cent. Advertisement And the location has a unique history. The pub opened as part of the Wetherspoons chain in 2016. The Caley Picture House has fast become one of the most popular branches, thanks to the interesting interior which takes the pub back to its roots. The Grade B listed building was originally The Caley Picture House cinema and opened on January 1, 1923 with Game of Life – a silent film. Advertisement Over the years the building has since changed, becoming nightclubs and a live music venue throughout the 1970s and 80s under the name Caley Palais. Notable past performers include Pink Floyd, Queen and AC/DC. The Sun tries Wetherspoons' new menu There are also records of Robin Trower, Wishbone Ash, Uriah Heep, Hawkwind, Rory Gallagher, Beck, The Smiths, New Order, Bogert & Appice and Gentle Giant taking to the stage. After years of providing entertainment, the venue finally closed after a farewell party on December 31, 2013 and became a Wetherspoons three years later. Advertisement In keeping with its past, the pub has retained its theatre look, with navy and gold decor looking like a scene straight out of the 1920s. The bar is found at the back of the pub where the screen of the cinema, and stage would have been. No other Scottish branches managed to make the list. The Greenwood Hotel, London, Stick or Twist in Leeds, The Golden Beam in Leeds, The William Adams in Norfolk, The Prense Well in Merseyside, The Velvet Coaster in Lancashire, and The Buck Inn inNorth Yorkshire completed the top 10. Advertisement A spokesperson for Q.R. Code Generator commented on the findings: "Wetherspoons is a staple pub across the UK, loved by all age ranges for multiple reasons, such as its affordability, relaxed atmosphere and consistency. "It's interesting to see which Spoons' have the best excellent rating based on the public's opinion and which areas of the UK have the highest standards of the pub chain. "The research reveals that pubs located on the seaside are popular within the top 10 best-rated, and it's fascinating to see two Leeds Wetherspoons located 1.5 miles apart placed fifth and sixth." 4 The Caley Picture House has fast become one of the most popular branches Credit: Alamy
