Latest news with #TheNines
The Guardian
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Is this AI?': surfing world in awe after ‘best air ever' pulled off by 18-year-old Australian
A step change in the evolution of surfing brought about by an Australian teenager has electrified the world of extreme sport and drawn praise from the doyen of skateboarding, Tony Hawk. Eighteen-year-old Central Coast surfer Hughie Vaughan produced what has been dubbed a 'stalefish flipper' at a competition in a wave park in Texas this week that has already been viewed millions of times on social media. The aerial had the teenager from Bateau Bay launching into a backflip on a right break, holding his board with his right hand and landing smoothly on the top of the wave. This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. The organisers of the The Nines event in Waco, which also involved skateboarding, described it as a 'stalefish backflip'. The series promotes experimentation and includes a rail over the water to allow surfers to produce skateboarding grinds, as well as night-surfing with illuminated rings through which competitors aerial. Surf photographer Rob Henson captured and shared Vaughan's accomplishment moment on social media, in a post that has been liked more than 7,000 times. 'Here's my angle of the BEST AIR done in a wavepool by @hughievaughan ! Not my words, those are the words of most of the surfers who have seen it,' he said. His video was reposted by Hawk, who named the trick the 'stalefish flipper', bringing the move to the attention of his near 10m followers. American DJ Diplo asked: 'Is this AI?' Although the feat was produced in a wave park, it won praise from ocean water legends of the World Surf League. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion Brazilian former world champion and Olympic gold medallist Ítalo Ferreira said it was 'insane', and Australian surf legend Mick Fanning was equally shocked. 'Wowsers. Had to watch it 50 times just to figure out what happened. Amazing,' Fanning said. Championship tour surfer Jesse Mendes said it 'has to be the best air ever done', while fellow pro Julian Wilson described it as 'a new standard'.
Time Out
11-06-2025
- Time Out
These U.S. cities offer the cheapest five-star hotel stays, per Hotels.com
If you're looking for luxury when you're traveling, then you're likely booking yourself a five-star hotel. There, you'll surely find a spacious guest room, a gorgeous lobby, attentive staff and excellent amenities like spa-soft robes for after your shower. Such venues often have fantastic restaurants and spa services on site and curate optional experiences for guests. Overall, these hotels are more than just a place to plunk down your luggage; they can actually be the destination itself. However, according to 's 2025 Hotel Price Index, five-star hotels here in the U.S. are, on average, 27-percent more expensive than they are abroad. And, shhhh, the index shares the information that four-star hotels actually provide a better value. They're significantly nicer than three-star hotels, and you only pay, on average, 38-percent more to move up that level. However, moving from four-star to five-star involves a 118-percent cost increase. But if you are still intent on staying at a five-star property, Portland, Oregon is the cheapest city in the U.S. to book one, according to the index. There, you can find a five-star property for an average of $287 a night. That's a pretty great price for an exceptional experience. For example, with a quick Google search, we came up with The Nines, a five-star Portland property for $246 a night. It's lodged in a historic building but remade with contemporary stylings, and its name pays homage to the idea of being dressed to the nines. The next most affordable city is San Antonio, Texas, where a five-star hotel experience can run $340 a night; followed by Las Vegas, where you can get a hyper-luxe stay for $341 a night (that extra dollar is a killer, but you can surely make it up at the craps table). 1. Portland, Oregon: $287 a night 2. San Antonio, Texas: $340 a night 3. Las Vegas, Nevada: $341 a night 4. Atlanta, Georgia: $361 a night 5. Miami, Florida: $386 a night
Vogue
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Bar Bianchi Brings Milan Café Culture to Downtown New York City
It's hard to say whether Bar Bianchi, a new restaurant from Golden Age Hospitality—the same group behind The Nines and Le Dive—is better during the day or the night. In the afternoon, the café-style windows are thrown open as its bistro tables spill out onto the sidewalk, ready to hold gigantic Aperol spritzes in burgundy glasses. But after dark, its red and green neon sign casts a glow onto East Houston Street as negronis fly from its zinc and Formica bar, akin to a scene from Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City. 'Bar Bianchi is inspired by the piazza culture of Italy, and all these cafés and bars where you drink inside or sit outside,' Golden Age Hospitality group founder Jon Neidich tells Vogue. 'The energy between the outside and the inside kind of flows in and out.' Bar Bianchi. Photo: Liz Clayman Photo: Liz Clayman Neidich, along with his creative director Andrea Johansson and longtime collaborator Sam Buffa, was inspired by classic Milanese haunts like Bar Luce (which is owned by Prada), Bar Jamaica, and Bar Basso—'amazing places that only really exist in Europe, where you have this old world place that's stayed relevant,' he says. Indeed, hung on the walls are vintage Italian posters and the floor is composed of alternating rust, black, and white tiles; walls are painted with a faint green Venetian plaster. It feels all very '20s and '30s, until you get to the lights—space-age style scones and a 1960s hanging fixture serve as Italian modernist accents, an homage to Milan's most famous design movement. Much of the menu, overseen by chef Nicole Gajadhar, is focused on the antipasti that are the staple of aperitivo culture: think crisp fried zucchini, burrata with roasted peppers, prosciutto and melon, and fried stuffed olives. But a full dinner awaits if you wish, with dishes like a veal Milanese for two and rigatoni with a pink sauce and rigatoni with sausage, peas, and pink sauce. (Neidich named it 'Rigatoni di Nash,' as it is the favorite pasta of his young son, Nash.)
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Best Bourbon And Whiskey For A Manhattan, According To Bartenders
Homemade Rye Bourbon Manhattan with a Cherry Garnish Not long ago, I was having dinner with a friend who ordered a Manhattan. What arrived that. There was a cherry, sure, but also gin, and an overall sense that the drink had taken a wrong turn somewhere around the bitters. That's the problem with classics: the ingredients are few, which makes the margin for error wide. And while the right vermouth and a good dash of bitters matter, we can hopefully all agree that the real backbone of the Manhattan is, of course, the whiskey – not ever gin. So I turned to bartenders from across the country to ask: What whiskey do you actually use when making a Manhattan? Their answers covered both bourbon and rye, with a few curveballs thrown in, but one thing was consistent—they all picked bottles with enough structure, spice, or smoothness to stand tall in a stirred drink. Manhattan cocktail with whiskey. Top view with copy space 'The first rule of any Manhattan is that the cocktail should always showcase the whiskey first and foremost,' says Bridget Ramsey, bartender at The Nines in New York. 'Recently, I've been reaching for Great Jones Rye Whiskey… because it has this punchy rye spice up front, layered with subtle notes of vanilla, dried fruit, and a dry finish that plays really well with sweet vermouth and bitters.' Great Jones is also distilled in Manhattan—the first since Prohibition—which gives it a sense of poetic full circle. Ramsey adds: 'There's a real sense of terroir in every sip.' If you want to stick with rye but go bigger, both Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond and Willett 4-Year Rye came up often. 'It's my go-to for a reason,' says Patrick Jennings, bar manager at Andra Hem in Philadelphia. 'The 100-proof brings the right amount of heat and spice, giving the cocktail structure and backbone without overpowering the delicate balance.' Willett, meanwhile, brings a bolder personality. 'It's not too polished, not too pretty—just rye with guts, which is exactly what a proper Manhattan needs,' says Mickey Stevenson, head bartender at Four Walls in Nashville. We rounded up 6 great rye whiskies to try in a Manhattan a few months ago. Pouring whiskey from bottle into glass on wooden barrel against black background, closeup 'Since everyone has their own preferences, when it comes to making a cocktail just right, this is a tough question to answer—almost like asking what the best music is to dance to,' says Thom Gibbons of Century Grand in Phoenix. 'However, I sincerely believe that a slightly over-proofed big corn mash bill bourbon is a great choice for a standard Manhattan. Specifically, Knob Creek 9 year-old bourbon whiskey is a great base to combine with good vermouth and the right cherry to make a solid cocktail.' Ricky Ramirez, bartender and owner of The Mothership in Milwaukee, leans wheated with Maker's Mark Cask Strength. 'It's usually about 55% alcohol which is a good spot for a wheated bourbon to make a drink you're going to likely session,' he says. The whiskey's 'dessert forward' character also makes rich vermouths optional—it's doing a lot of the heavy lifting already. And for a more crowd-pleasing middle ground? 'Maker's Mark has a clean enough style of bourbon that, if you're a rye fan, you'll still enjoy it,' says Jonathan Kleeman, beverage director at Butcher Private in Florida. 'It's got power and a distinctive flavor, but it's not so overpowering that it takes over the cocktail.' Homemade Red Boulevardier Cocktail with Orange Garnish Jeff Helion of Liquor Lab goes bold with Pinhook Straight Rye Whiskey at 105.12 proof. 'I typically lean toward rye whiskeys that are 100 proof and above for Manhattans. They bring a little more spice and body that blend really well with a good vermouth,' he says. But Helion doesn't stop at rye: 'A favorite is swapping whiskey for an aged rum, Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva for example… the molasses brings subtle sweetness and dimension.' Jim McCourt, bar director at Repeal 33 and Prohibition (in both Charleston and Columbia, SC), agrees on high proof. 'My go to is Rittenhouse Rye Bottle in Bond,' he says. 'It has the spice from the rye with subtle sweetness and it pairs nicely with the herbal notes of the vermouth. If you're in the mood to spoil yourself, I recommend splurging on a WhistlePig 10 Year Rye.' A Manhattan cocktail on the bar, a drink based on American whiskey, vermouth and bitter. Tom Brander, beverage manager at Wilder in Philadelphia, reaches for Amador Rye, which is finished in port barrels. 'It makes a great classic Manhattan, and an even better Waldorf, a Manhattan riff,' he says, sharing a spec with Carpano Antica, absinthe, and five dashes of Angostura. Heather Murphy of Apple Blossom calls out Still Austin Rye, which she says 'melds beautifully with sweet vermouth and bitters,' noting that its spice, oak, and citrus create a 'silky-smooth texture' and 'balanced, memorable cocktail.' And for a lighter twist on the classic, Roe & Co. Irish Whiskey stands out. 'It's incredibly smooth, with hints of vanilla and peach, and finishes light,' says Jessica Murphy, bar manager at RT60 Rooftop Bar & Lounge in New York. 'I love using it when I want a softer, more fruit-forward version of the classic cocktail.' Manhattan cocktail garnished with brandied cherry. There's no single 'right' whiskey for a Manhattan, but there are plenty of great ones. Whether you favor spicy rye, silky bourbon, or something a little unexpected, the key is balance—your whiskey should hold its own but play nice with others. And if your next Manhattan shows up tasting like gin, don't panic. Just send it back, politely—and maybe suggest they read this article. Let us know what whiskey you like to make Manhattans out of in the comments!
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diane Kruger, Chloe Flower and More Celebrate the Launch of Christian Louboutin Eyewear
'This is my first time playing in sunglasses,' pianist Chloe Flower told the room after playing her first song. 'I can't see anybody but it's great to be here.' If there ever were an occasion to wear shades inside while at the piano, Thursday night's party was the time. The Nines was cleared out and taken over by Christian Louboutin to celebrate their foray into eyewear. Diane Kruger, Francesca Scorsese, Olivia Palermo, Darren Barnet, Jeremy Pope, Law Roach, Sai De Silva and more turned out for the occasion, which featured a special performance by Flower. More from WWD Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro Attend First Family Dinner for Tony Bennett's Exploring the Arts Foundation Chloë Sevigny, Iris Law, Gabbriette & More Celebrate Magda Butrym and H&M Collaboration Christian Louboutin's First Eyewear Collection With Marcolin Plays on Shoemaker's Wide World of Icons With its red walls, The Nines was a fitting venue for the infamous red-soled shoe brand to throw a party. Guests sipped passion fruit and tequila cocktails while mingling about. After performing several 'popsicle' songs — that is pop meets classical — Flower took to a small back banquet to chat. 'Comfort is always really important normally, but not when I perform. Louboutin somehow matches everything,' she said. 'I constantly am in weird scenarios where I'm dressing according to what they need. Louboutin is always very feminine. I love the design.' Having released three new singles, Flower will drop her newest album on May 2. Being a role model for women in classical music remains a focus of her career, she said. 'Growing up in classical music, I had never been given a piece of music to learn that wasn't written by a man. From two years old until 25,' she said. 'I didn't know that I could compose until I was in my 20s because it wasn't an option. I think for me that's why promoting women in music and really just being able to bring classical music to a wider audience [is so important].' Launch Gallery: Diane Kruger, Olivia Palermo, and More Inside the Louboutin Eyewear Launch Event Best of WWD A Look Back at SAG Awards Best Dressed Red Carpet Stars SAG Awards Wildest Looks of All Time on the Red Carpet, Photos From the Archive: A Look Back at Marc Jacobs Annual Holiday Party [PHOTOS]
