Latest news with #Kita
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Fam Is Back: Film Festival Edition: Karangahape Road Becomes A Living Cinema
Press Release – Elephant Publicity After the first FAM celebration lit up Karangahape Road in May, it's back this winter with a brand-new twist. On Saturday 2 August, the street transforms into a living, breathing cinema with films popping up in arcades, alleyways, shopfronts, and around all kinds of unexpected corners. FAM: Film Festival Edition will fill the street with screenings, live performances, and music from 2pm 'til late and it's all completely free. This full-street takeover, inspired by the spirit of the New Zealand International Film Festival, has a very K' Road flavour. At East Street, catch Homeward Bound with your dog (yes, furry friends are welcome), or sing your heart out at Cult Classic with Kita, an interactive, glitter-soaked evening hosted by the fabulous drag superstar Kita Mean. Settle in for a John Carpenter horror double feature at Whammy Bar. Expect big sounds outside Pitt Street Church, including a set from the one and only Bub, led by Priya Sami, will be rocking the street. Add to that nostalgic shorts, underground premieres, music videos, and showtunes from the pink piano on Pitt Street, and you've got yourself a cinematic street party like no other. ' FAM is all about bringing people together on K' Road and using all the weird and wonderful spaces we've got on this iconic street,' says Ella, Creative Producer at the Karangahape Road Business Association. ' It's fun, it's a bit chaotic, and there's something for everyone.' Other highlights of the day include Guerilla Filmmaking Workshop with Julia Reynolds (2:30pm to 4pm) A hands-on session for aspiring storytellers looking to make films. Kiri & Lou Takeover at St Kevins Arcade (2pm – 5pm) Join SMALL RAVE for a playful afternoon of Kiri and Lou magic at St Kevins Arcade. Activities include clay animation, storytime, hands-on crafts, and screenings of the BAFTA-nominated kids show. Free fun for all ages — come get silly and creative! Day One short films, local music videos, and live performances from Bub, Goodspace and dān dān (4pm – 7pm) Top of the Pitts Stage outside Pitt St Church Everything Everywhere All At Once – Step into the K' Road laundromat to watch this epic movie which will play on a loop all evening (2pm – 6pm) Beyond the Familiar: Artist Talk at RM Gallery (4pm) Beyond the Familiar is a portrayal of an in-between world, shaped by the movements of migration. Featuring Tāmaki Makaurau-based artists from South-East Asian and Pasifika backgrounds, the exhibition reflects on their diasporic experiences, where identity, belonging, and memory intersect across shifting cultural landscapes. Paraidolia: Immersive Art Exhibition at The Button Factory (from 6pm) Wander through a world of abstract paintings and sculptural lamps that play with perception and emotion. Queer Night Club CHURCH: at Neck of the Woods (10pm) An offering of sound, movement and connection, this edition features a special collaboration with illustrator and poet Māori Mermaid (Jessica Hinerangi Thompson-Carr). This event celebrates the creativity, boldness and independent spirit of Karangahape Road, where every corner has a story to tell. Full programme is launching soon! Proudly supported by Karangahape Business Association, Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate.
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Fam Is Back: Film Festival Edition: Karangahape Road Becomes A Living Cinema
After the first FAM celebration lit up Karangahape Road in May, it's back this winter with a brand-new twist. On Saturday 2 August, the street transforms into a living, breathing cinema with films popping up in arcades, alleyways, shopfronts, and around all kinds of unexpected corners. FAM: Film Festival Edition will fill the street with screenings, live performances, and music from 2pm 'til late and it's all completely free. This full-street takeover, inspired by the spirit of the New Zealand International Film Festival, has a very K' Road flavour. At East Street, catch Homeward Bound with your dog (yes, furry friends are welcome), or sing your heart out at Cult Classic with Kita, an interactive, glitter-soaked evening hosted by the fabulous drag superstar Kita Mean. Settle in for a John Carpenter horror double feature at Whammy Bar. Expect big sounds outside Pitt Street Church, including a set from the one and only Bub, led by Priya Sami, will be rocking the street. Add to that nostalgic shorts, underground premieres, music videos, and showtunes from the pink piano on Pitt Street, and you've got yourself a cinematic street party like no other. ' FAM is all about bringing people together on K' Road and using all the weird and wonderful spaces we've got on this iconic street,' says Ella, Creative Producer at the Karangahape Road Business Association. ' It's fun, it's a bit chaotic, and there's something for everyone.' Other highlights of the day include Guerilla Filmmaking Workshop with Julia Reynolds (2:30pm to 4pm) A hands-on session for aspiring storytellers looking to make films. Kiri & Lou Takeover at St Kevins Arcade (2pm - 5pm) Join SMALL RAVE for a playful afternoon of Kiri and Lou magic at St Kevins Arcade. Activities include clay animation, storytime, hands-on crafts, and screenings of the BAFTA-nominated kids show. Free fun for all ages — come get silly and creative! Day One short films, local music videos, and live performances from Bub, Goodspace and dān dān (4pm - 7pm) Top of the Pitts Stage outside Pitt St Church Everything Everywhere All At Once - Step into the K' Road laundromat to watch this epic movie which will play on a loop all evening (2pm - 6pm) Beyond the Familiar: Artist Talk at RM Gallery (4pm) Beyond the Familiar is a portrayal of an in-between world, shaped by the movements of migration. Featuring Tāmaki Makaurau-based artists from South-East Asian and Pasifika backgrounds, the exhibition reflects on their diasporic experiences, where identity, belonging, and memory intersect across shifting cultural landscapes. Paraidolia: Immersive Art Exhibition at The Button Factory (from 6pm) Wander through a world of abstract paintings and sculptural lamps that play with perception and emotion. Queer Night Club CHURCH: at Neck of the Woods (10pm) An offering of sound, movement and connection, this edition features a special collaboration with illustrator and poet Māori Mermaid (Jessica Hinerangi Thompson-Carr). This event celebrates the creativity, boldness and independent spirit of Karangahape Road, where every corner has a story to tell. Full programme is launching soon! Proudly supported by Karangahape Business Association, Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate.
Chicago Tribune
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Crown Point's Brinkley Kita is all smiles at Ball State. Her late-season success is ‘big confidence booster.'
Brinkley Kita didn't enjoy having so much free time. That was especially true since the 2022 Crown Point graduate believed she had more softball to play. 'I couldn't just sit back and do nothing, and I wasn't really ready to be fully done with softball yet,' Kita said. After struggling to make a home at Lipscomb as a freshman, Kita spent a year out of the sport. But she has revived her softball career at Ball State. A 5-foot-11 right-hander, Kita went 5-4 with a 4.36 ERA in 43 1/3 innings for the Cardinals (33-18) this past season. Her best day came near the end during a doubleheader against Central Michigan on May 3, when she pitched three innings of scoreless relief in Game 1 and then threw a shutout in Game 2 — a performance that earned her Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week honors. 'That was a big confidence booster for me,' Kita said. 'I went into that game thinking that I didn't need to be stressed or worried about anything, that I just needed to play my game and know that my teammates were behind me. I didn't really think about it too much. I just kept going.' Kita raved about first year at Ball State overall. 'It was amazing,' she said. 'I feel like that school is what I needed. Ball State is exactly what I thought college was going to be like.' Crown Point coach Angie Richwalski received frequent updates from Kita's younger sister Ashlyn, a junior on the Class 4A state championship team. 'From talking to her family during the season, they all said she was absolutely in love with Muncie,' Richwalski said. 'Knowing Brinkley, I'd assume that her mental comfort probably had a big impact on her performance at Ball State.' That comfort level was harder for Kita to find during her first year of college. She went 6-6 with a team-best 2.74 ERA in 74 innings for Lipscomb in 2023 but wasn't happy in the new environment in Nashville, Tennessee. 'It was a lot on me mentally,' she said. 'The people there really weren't my people, and being so far away from home was really hard on me too.' By the time Kita decided she wasn't returning to Lipscomb, however, the transfer window had closed. So she spent the 2023-24 school year in Crown Point, where she picked up the first job of her life and took online classes at Ivy Tech. There were trips to the gym and pitching lessons, too, but Kita wasn't satisfied. 'I wasn't really seeing a bunch of people because everyone else was away at school, and I wasn't playing softball for the first time in my life,' she said. 'So I didn't really know what to do.' Kita's time at home led to countless conversations with her mother, Jennifer, who said she always believed more opportunities would be available. 'I just want a happy child,' Jennifer Kita said. 'If she wasn't going to play anymore, that was OK. But I knew they'd want her because she has a lot to offer. She never stopped working on her skills.' Brinkley Kita eventually gained the motivation to enter the transfer portal when it reopened in December, and she discovered her skills were in high demand. A visit to Muncie helped Kita commit to a future there. 'There's such a strong bond with the girls there,' she said. 'We just didn't have that same chemistry at Lipscomb that I feel like we have at Ball State.' Kita hopes she can continue to thrive during her final two years of eligibility. 'For the first time in a long time, when I was pitching, I felt so confident,' she said. 'If I can just keep my head calm, then I'm calm and my pitching is good.'
Condé Nast Traveler
01-07-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Hotels in Osaka, Japan
Osaka radiates an energy that's distinctly its own—part bustling metropolis, part creative hub, part cultural crossroads. Beyond its legendary culinary reputation (yes, there's much more than just street food), the city has evolved into a destination for world-class cocktails, cutting-edge design, and thriving arts, grounded by a down-to-earth spirit that makes it uniquely accessible. The hotel scene has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, with exciting developments concentrated in Kita, the dynamic district surrounding Umeda and Osaka train stations. Today's properties cater skillfully to business travelers, leisure seekers, and families alike—even corporate-focused hotels are now offering elevated amenities and thoughtful perks. Your hotel choice can make all the difference in how you experience the city, so one of the first things to consider is the neighborhoods: Kita offers the perfect balance of variety, convenience, and connectivity—not just within Osaka, but for easy access to Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Minami's neon-bright Namba and Dotonbori put you in the heart of late-night activity, though crowds of tourists come with the territory. Tranquility seekers will find the Osaka Castle refreshingly calm, with urban highlights and sightseeing a few minutes' walk away. Keep in mind that spring's sakura season brings a surge in demand—and prices to match—so it's best to book several months in advance if you're looking to catch the cherry blossoms. Here are eight of the best hotels in Osaka for your next trip, whether it's your first time to the city or your 10th.
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
South Korea overtakes US in cosmetics exports, trailing only France
SEOUL - South Korea's cosmetics exports have climbed to second place globally, surpassing those of the United States for the first time in 2025 and is now trailing industry powerhouse France, data showed on June 30 . According to the South Korea International Trade Association (Kita) , South Korea exported US $3.61 billion (S$460.4 billion) worth of cosmetics from January to April 2025 , narrowly edging out the United States' US $3.57 billion. This marks South Korea's first time overtaking the US in beauty exports, after its exports in the January–March 2025 period, which totalled US $2.58 billion, had lagged behind America's US $2.72 billion. South Korea's cosmetics exports have been rising at a blistering pace. Last year, South Korea's cosmetics exports totaled US $10.3 billion, outpacing Germany's US $9.08 billion to become the world's third-largest exporter, behind France and the US. While France and the US recorded growth of 6.3 per cent and 1.1 per cent, respectively, South Korea's exports surged by 20.3 per cent. This upward momentum has carried into 2025 , with monthly exports climbing from US $750.8 million in January 2025 to US $885.9 million in February, US $939.9 million in March and US $1.03 billion in April 2025 . The ongoing rise of K-beauty is set to push further into emerging markets in Europe and the Middle East, including Poland, Ireland, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates. According to data from the Kita, exports to Poland from January to May 2025 surged 121 per cent to US $111.8 million, up from US $50.4 million a year earlier, while exports to the UAE rose 74 per cent to US $99.3 million from US $57 million over the same period. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
