In partnership with Uptown Magazine, Lexus developed the annual pre-Oscar, invitation-only, “Lexus Uptown Honors Hollywood” black-tie affair to establish a legacy of recognizing Black Excellence in entertainment by bringing together the industry’s most prolific Black creators, writers, producers, filmmakers and actors to pay tribute to the contributions of Black talent in Hollywood.
On March 23 at the Sunset Room Hollywood, the brands collaborate again to proudly celebrate Black Love in film and television. “There is something special about seeing Black Love on television and in films,” said Len Burnett Jr., co-founder, CEO of Uptown Media Ventures. “Now, more than any other time in Hollywood, Black Love is being embraced and accepted by film studios and audiences of all ages. It is time to remember and celebrate those actors and couples who broke barriers for Black Love to be accepted. At the same time, we also want to celebrate the actors and couples who are displaying Black Love in real life and on the big screen.”
Lexus Uptown Honors Hollywood showcases the best aspects of Black life in film and television,” said Mia Phillips, Senior Manager, Lexus Advertising and Media. “We are proud to support an event that is dedicated to consistently displaying positive images of Black culture, including, and most importantly, love.”
Online fashion retailer Fashion Nova, LLC will be prohibited from suppressing customer reviews of its products and required to pay $4.2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company blocked negative reviews of its products from being posted to its website.
The FTC alleged in a complaint that the California-based retailer, which primarily sells its “fast fashion” products online, misrepresented that the product reviews on its website reflected the views of all purchasers who submitted reviews, when in fact it suppressed reviews with ratings lower than four stars out of five. The case is the FTC’s first involving a company’s efforts to conceal negative customer reviews.
“Deceptive review practices cheat consumers, undercut honest businesses, and pollute online commerce,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Fashion Nova is being held accountable for these practices, and other firms should take note.”
According to the FTC’s complaint, Fashion Nova used a third-party online product review management interface to automatically post four- and five-star reviews to its website and hold lower-starred reviews for the company’s approval. But from late-2015 until November 2019, Fashion Nova never approved or posted the hundreds of thousands of lower-starred, more negative reviews. Suppressing a product’s negative reviews deprives consumers of potentially useful information and artificially inflates the product’s average star rating.
The FTC also announced that it is sending letters to 10 companies offering review management services, placing them on notice that avoiding the collection or publication of negative reviews violates the FTC Act. In addition, the FTC has released new guidance for online retailers and review platforms to educate them on the agency’s key principles for collecting and publishing customer reviews in ways that do not mislead consumers.
This is the second case the FTC has brought against Fashion Nova in recent years. In April 2020, the FTC announced that Fashion Nova agreed to pay $9.3 million to settle allegations that the company failed to properly notify consumers and give them the chance to cancel their orders when it failed to ship merchandise in a timely manner, and that it illegally used gift cards to compensate consumers for unshipped merchandise instead of providing refunds.
Under the proposed settlement of the latest allegations, Fashion Nova will pay $4.2 million for harm consumers incurred. Fashion Nova will also be prohibited from making misrepresentations about any customer reviews or other endorsements. In addition, it must post on its website all customer reviews of products currently being sold—with the exception of reviews that contain obscene, sexually explicit, racist, or unlawful content and reviews that are unrelated to the product or customer services like shipping or returns.
The Commission is committed to ensuring that consumers and honest businesses are not cheated by dishonest review practices. In October, the Commission warned more than 700 businesses that they could incur significant civil penalties if they use reviews or other endorsements in ways that were found to be unlawful in prior FTC administrative cases.
The Commission voted 4-0 to issue the proposed administrative complaint and to accept the consent agreement with the company.
The FTC will publish a description of the consent agreement package in the Federal Register soon. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register after which the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final. Instructions for filing comments will appear in the published notice. Once processed, comments will be posted on Regulations.gov.
Oxygen, the home for high-quality true crime programming, debuts a two-night special event, The Fatal Attraction Murder, on Saturday, March 26 at 8PM ET. Part two premieres Sunday, March 27 at 8PM ET. The special features an exclusive interview with Carolyn Warmus, as well as the Greenburgh PD investigator who worked the case from beginning to end; Westchester County, New York prosecutors; jurors; and reporters who covered the story firsthand. All reveal what they thought about the case then and how they view it now.
When Carolyn Warmus was tried for killing her lover’s wife, Betty Jeanne Solomon, the unapologetic, attractive, young elementary school teacher from a wealthy family was named “The Fatal Attraction Killer” by the press. The moniker, borrowed from the popular film due to the stunning similarities between the movie and the trial, was a label Warmus couldn’t shake. The story of an affair that seemingly led to murder was a sensation, quickly garnering front-page news status and relentless coverage across television. Reporters from around the world descended on Westchester County to scrutinize every word of testimony, every nuance of Warmus’ body language, and every detail of her wardrobe.
Throughout the in-depth special, Warmus, who never testified in her own defense on the advice of her counsel, shares her truth. She has always maintained her innocence. With no physical evidence to support her guilt, those who investigated the case and worked to secure her conviction offer the circumstantial evidence that led to Warmus’ sentence.
Viewers are left to decide for themselves if justice was ultimately served. Was Warmus the unwitting pawn in a setup to distract police from the actual killer, or was she the obsessive femme fatale who murdered in cold blood?
Casas Latinas is a stunning collection of sophisticated estates, hotels and villas across Italy; Spain; other Latin European countries and Latin America, including Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica and Venezuela.
New for 2022 is three exquisite authentic Italian Casas to add to the group. Dimora Dei Gelsi, a beautiful traditional Puglian home from home, ‘Locanda’ set amongst the rolling hills in a UNESCO world heritage site in Tuscany, and Casa Fantini a concept hotel on their tranquil shores of Lake Orta.
Founder and CEO of Casas Latinas Massimo Ianni said, “At Casas Latinas, our incredible portfolio of properties across the world are hand-picked for their unique credentials. All of them have sustainability at the forefront but each has its special appeal and dedication to providing the ultimate unique stay – reframing the experience we have and the way we travel.”
Dimora Dei Gelsi in Puglia – opening 1st April 2022
Puglia in Southern Italy is top of the list of places to visit this year with its idyllic countryside and pristine coast. Perfect for a family or a small group of friends, Dimora dei Gelsi is a stunning 4-bedroom luxury property in a newly converted group of trulli, the traditional Apulian dry stone whitewashed huts with conical roofs that are specific to the Itria Valley. The property is set amidst a large estate of olive groves between the Adriatic coast and Alberobello. A very special space–a stay here offers the chance to experience a truly authentic Puglian casa like no other. Book a traditional cooking lesson with a local nona and learn the secrets of how to make the best pasta dishes using fragrant herbs grown on the garden terraces.
Dimora de Gelsi is made entirely from local materials reflecting the ancient culture of this fascinating region. The views of the Valle d’Itria are what many consider to be the “typical” Puglia. Rolling hills, groves of centuries-old olive trees, trullo cones everywhere you look, whitewashed towns bleached further by the southern Italian sun.
A stay at the Masseria, or country house, is about slow living–a major travel trend for 2022. Life is spent outdoors–either dining on the large stone-paved terrace or relaxing in the pretty pool with its breathtaking views over the surrounding Apulian countryside. Dimora dei Gelsi accommodates up to 8 people in its 4 bedrooms—all located on the ground floor of the house. The design of the villa is super stylish. A pared-back style of white-washed walls and flagstone floors keep with the trulli traditional, with mid-century style furniture and a focus on ceramics and art from local artists. The luxury conversion, whilst rooted in the past, features up to the minute features such as underfloor heating and air-cooling systems.
There are a whole range of experiences available during your stay at Dimora dei Gelsi. Mountain bikes and treks over the local countryside can be arranged and there is a private yoga instructor as well as masseurs and cooking classes all available on request.
Locanda in Tuscany – Opening 15th April 2022
If you are looking for the ultimate authentic Tuscan experience for a special gathering, wedding, or get-together, Locanda in Tuscany ticks all the boxes. Locanda is set deep in the heart of the Italian countryside where you can enjoy absolute peace with nothing but the sound of the birds chirping to wake you. With little air pollution, Locanda is perfect for incredible night skies and star-gazing or during the day wonderful walks through the hills or cycling to explore this stunning UNESCO World Heritage site.
With nine rooms, including four suites, the first-floor suite has magnificent bathtub views, and relaxing in-room spa treatments are available for guests. Sleep-focussed hotels are a huge trend this year for well-being holidays—at Locanda, the owners take sleep seriously and guests are offered a choice of cotton or linen sheets plus the locally designed wooden beds are metal-free to eliminate electromagnetic pollution that could compromise sleep.
With breathtaking sweeping sunset 180-degree views over the Val D’Orcia close to the village of Castiglione d’Orcia, this beautiful rural hideaway also offers privacy, comfort, and an authentic Tuscan experience for an unforgettable summer celebration. Tuscany is famous for its weddings, and the Locanda team can create a bespoke menu for your special day. They work with you to create the perfect event for your guests from a pool party with DJs and a cocktail bar, to a quieter al fresco poolside dinner, for just a handful of guests, under the stars.
The restaurant Taverna Di Mozart is the perfect setting for an intimate dinner, party or event and is set inside an old stable with an outdoor terrace, where you can sit under a vibrant bougainvillea trellis. The restaurant showcases the very best of traditional Tuscan cuisine. The dishes are influenced by traditional Tuscan gastronomy with passion, quality, and taste.
Casa Fantini on Lake Orta – Opening 15th April 2022
Ideal for a large gathering of friends for a wedding celebration, family reunion or special birthday, Casa Fantini is spacious enough to cater for all your guests.
Situated only one hour away from Milan, Casa Fantini’s philosophy is all about lake-time. The hotel is situated on Lake Orta where everything is designed to be calm, quiet and meditative to create the perfect slow-travel experience. The noise of the gentle waves adapts to the inner rhythms and removes stress. Undisputedly one of the most magical locations for a hotel, Casa Fantini is an intimate place of harmony where architecture, landscape and light blend in perfect balance and, just for a moment, time seems to stand still.
The hotel was designed by world-famous Italian architect Piero Lissoni of Lissoni Architettura, who worked with hotel owner Daniela Fantini, CEO of Fantini Rubinetti, to interpret her vision for a hotel inspired by the slow pace of Lake Orta and to be a contemporary reflection of a home that would enhance the region’s natural heritage.
Casa Fantini has 5 Superior Rooms, 4 Prestige Rooms, and 2 Suites. Super Rooms have a spacious terrace with lakefront view overlooking the gardens, and all the rooms have luxury bathrooms complete with steam room showers and Fantini Rubinetti bathroom furniture. Furnishings have a vintage feel with bespoke Italian couches, raw wool rugs, and comfortable beds with floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading to balconies with romantic views over the garden, lake and San Giulio Island. There is a beautiful library filled with books about the lake to help you unwind and relax.
This contemporary and elegant five-star hotel is the perfect location from which to explore the area by boat, foot, bicycle or car. Often overlooked for its bigger sisters Como and Maggiore, the lake itself has inspired many writers of the 18th and 19th Century including Lord Byron, Honoré de Balzac and Robert Browning.
The exhibition and accompanying Unconference, both held at the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery at Parsons School of Design, explore the implications of the 1884 International Meridian Conference (IMC), a convening that established a prime meridian and universal time standard. Tracing the written and unwritten political agendas and social agreements that underlie Westernized time constructs, Phillips examines the protocols by which dominant time structures regulate, catalyze, and perpetuate systems of oppression that deny marginalized people access to and agency over the temporal domains of the past and present, with a focus on Black communities in the US.
Using Black Quantum Futurism and Colored People’s Time as critical frameworks, the exhibition, Unconference, and digital space propose alternative theories of temporal-spatial consciousness. Learn more below.
Time Zone Protocols
Time Zone Protocols debuts a nonlinear map pinpointing sociohistorical events in the development of Western time consciousness. The map illustrates the backward and forward-reaching impacts of time standardization and colonized time.
Prime Meridian Unconference
The three-day, hybrid Prime Meridian Unconference brings together artists, architects, musicians, physicists, geologists, technologists, and scholars who consider new ways of understanding our relationship to space-time. Speakers and presenters include Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother), Asia Dorsey, Walter Greason, Kendra Krueger, Ingrid LaFleur, V. Mitch McEwen, Katherine McKittrick, Mendi + Keith Obadike, Danielle M. Purifoy, Ingrid Raphaël, Thomas Stanley, Joy Tabernacle-KMT, Ujijji Davis Williams, and Celeste Winston.
www.timezoneprotocols.space
Preceding the exhibition and Unconference is the launch of www.timezoneprotocols.space. The site documents the ongoing Time Zone Protocols research project and sets the stage for the exhibition and Prime Meridian Unconference. It offers an interactive space for rewriting the protocols of time with a Black [Quantum] futurist lens.
Monster Energy congratulates Kokomo Murase on her first-place finish in Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle at the Audi SnowJam in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic. In the official World Cup event sanctioned by the International Ski Federation (FIS), the 17-year-old from Gifu, Japan, earned a dominant victory. She now ranks first in FIS World Cup Slopestyle and has secured the Crystal Globe win in overall Women’s Park & Pipe rankings.
As the penultimate event of the FIS World Cup season, the Audi SnowJam was contested from March 16-19 for the first time in five years. The contest at the popular resort inside Krkonoše National Park offered one of the last chances to collect points towards winning the 2021/22 season’s coveted Crystal Globe trophies.
Scoring points is exactly what brought Monster Energy’s Murase to the Czech Republic. The young Japanese ripper dropped into the contest ranked in first position on the FIS World Cup Slopestyle leaderboards in a tie with Canada’s Laurie Blouin at 160 points. This was her chance to build a commanding lead.
And she did. On the creative downhill course, Murase worked the rail with a switch backside boardslide pretzel into a backside 900 off the jump, Cab 720 mute grab, lipslide pretzel the kicker rail and a huge frontside 1080 lien grab at the bottom. At 89.25 points, she finished 13.00 points ahead of the next competitor for a dominant victory. To learn more about snowboard terminology, click HERE.
“I’m so happy, I did my best in riding this competition and I’m very happy I won,” said Murase.
After Saturday’s win at Spindleruv Mlyn, Murase now leads the 2022 FIS Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle rankings with 260.00 points, a strong 86 points ahead of Jasmine Baird in second place. With one more contest to go, Murase also commands an unbeatable score of 396.00 points in Women’s Park & Pipe overall World Cup standings. Leading the next competitor by 122 points, the Japanese ripper has secured the season’s Crystal Globe trophy.
Will Murase also claim the Slopestyle trophy? Stay tuned for the final World Cup of the season next weekend at Silvaplana, Switzerland, from March 25-27.
Prior to this weekend’s World Cup, Murase claimed bronze in Women’s Snowboard Big Air at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. At age 13, she made history at X Games Norway 2018 as the first girl to land a 1260 double cork in competition and became the youngest Winter X Games athlete ever to win a gold medal.
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans.
March 21st marked the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere with day and night almost equally divided in half. Before the introduction of the ‘Architecture of Luxury’ with Cullinan, that was the day Rolls-Royce owners began to unfurl garage covers and prepare to ship their commissions back North. You can enjoy your Rolls-Royce motor car 365 days a year, 24/7!
But before we put the Winter of 2021-22 behind us, we wanted to share some highlights of Rolls-Royce in the snow
During the daytime, Rolls Royce Ghost is the most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce and reflects ‘Post Opulent’ design philosophy in rain, sunshine, or snow. At night, the alter ego Black Badge Ghost offers the same luxury with All-wheel drive and all-wheel steering for unprecedented poise and surefootedness.
The Ghost sports the world’s first Planar suspension system, significantly increasing agility and effortlessness. Equipped with hallmark 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, the car delivers 563hp and 627 lbf/ft. The Down-lit Pantheon grille discreetly illuminates Rolls-Royce iconography.
The Illuminated Fascia debuted featuring Ghost nameplates surrounded by more than 850 stars. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan was the first to introduce an All-Wheel drive into the range, allowing effortless travel. With the touch of a button, the ‘off road’ Cullinan raises 40mm allowing better clearance and more prowess. With the extraordinarily capable all-wheel drive system, and all wheel steering, the Cullinan is nimble and luxurious. The Black Badge Cullinan brings the darker, edgier image for exploring the nighttime. The “Shooting Starlight” headliner carries the nighttime into the cabin regardless of the weather.
Reebok, in partnership with Hasbro, debuts a second Reebok x Power Rangers collection. The line follows the original Reebok x Power Rangers drop, which launched in June 2021, that was inspired by the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series of the 1990s.
Reebok and Hasbro highlighted some of the most popular Mighty Morphin characters in the original Power Rangers show with the first collection. This new capsule collection shines a light on some of the most formidable villains featured throughout the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers show. Drawing inspiration from characters including Rita Repulsa, Lord Zedd, and Rito Revolto, this line brings to life some of the Power Rangers’ most worthy adversaries.
Footwear featured in the second Reebok x Power Rangers line include:
Instapump Fury “Rita Repulsa” ($200 | GW0782) – This Instapump Fury features all of Rita Repulsa’s signature markings from the icon on the pump ball representing Rita’s staff, to the bands on the tongue resembling Rita’s headband. Rita’s influence even seeps into the materials with pony hair featured on the heel cup to emulate Rita’s headware.
Hurrikaze II Low “Rito Revolto” ($140 | GY5928) – The upper of this Kamikaze II Low makes the shoe instantly recognizable as Rito Revolto as the neutral upper represents Rito’s bones and the camo application on the medial side suede resembles Rito’s outfit. Other warnings that this shoe is for villains only is that the sneaker’s tongue includes the Evil Space Alien callout on the right side and the “Danger Ranger” skull and crossbones on the left side.
Answer IV “Lord Zedd” ($170 | GZ6897) – Lord Zedd takes over this Answer IV with a red, rippled upper that resembles Lord Zedd’s body, silver overlays that nod to Lord Zedd’s armor and a blue tube along the lateral side which mimics Lord Zedd’s tubes. The villain even shows up on the outsole where Iverson’s face would typically be on this classic basketball silhouette.
Beyond the details above, each footwear silhouette contains a sockliner that marks signature moments or features of each character the shoe is inspired by. For example, the Answer IV Lord Zedd sockliner incorporates images of the ingredients in Rita Repulsa’s love potion that she used on Lord Zedd. Each shoe also comes in specialized packaging unique to its character, from the Instapump Fury Rita Repulsa’s “Rita’s Moon Dumpster” box to Lord Zedd’s box inspired by the Angel Grove Community Center.
Completing the collection are five pieces of apparel, including one hoodie, one long sleeve tee and three t-shirts. The hoodie is inspired by the Megazord‘s transformation and incorporates a hand-drawn Megazord emblem in the center graphic on the back of the piece. The long sleeve tee embodies the Green Ranger and features several details representative of the character, from his alias, Thomas
“Tommy” Oliver, to his “Dragon Dagger.” Finally, the three t-shirts are all in the style of retro arcade graphics and showcase both the heroes and villains of the Power Rangers franchise.
This Reebok x Power Rangers collection will be available in unisex sizing HERE beginning March 25th.Power Rangers is celebrating 29 continuous years on the air, making it one of the longest- running kids’ live-action series in television history, with more than 900 episodes aired to date. Created by Haim Saban and launched in 1993 with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the series celebrates its 29th overall season with a new season of Power Rangers Dino Fury, airing now exclusively on Netflix in the U.S.
Palm Tree Crew has announced a new destination experience at Zrce Beach on the island of Pag in Croatia. Taking place from August 27 to September 1 for five days and four nights, Palm Tree Music Festival: Croatia Edition is a follow-up to the sold-out Cabo edition that took place last year in Mexico. The series is now expanding to unique new locations in far-reaching corners across the globe.
Palm Tree Music Festival: Croatia Edition will include pool parties, open-air venue takeovers, a huge international lineup, a variety of accommodation packages which includes hotels and catamarans, and exclusive cultural Add-On experiences.
Beyond a headlining performance from Kygo, guests can witness phase one sets from beloved South African-Swiss DJ and producer Nora En Pure, multi-platinum and award-winning artist Sam Feldt, Dutch future house pioneer Don Diablo, fellow Dutch favorite Oliver Heldens, Canadian electronic musician Frank Walker, and German house producer Felix Jaehn. Additional highlights include Yotto, Melé, The Stickmen Project, Arielle Free, Forester, Jonas Blue, and more. Additional artists will be announced once attendance is confirmed.
Zrce Beach is located on the picturesque Adriatic island of Pag and is known for being one of Europe’s finest party destinations. Palm Tree Music Festival: Croatia Edition will be taking over the famed complex of venues that sprawl along this unmissable coastline, which promises paradisiacal weather and views. Legendary venues on the island include Papaya and Aquarius, which are home to some of the most famed festivals and events in Europe. Their open-air structures allow revelers to watch the sunrise from the comfort of the dancefloor in a destination location.
Guests also have the ability to purchase Add-On items that will include a variety of unforgettable journeys and experiences. This will include trips to iconic locations like Plitviče Lakes National Park, the largest national park in Croatia which features terraced lakes plus waterfalls, and Olive Gardens of Lun with its 80,000 olive trees. Other Add-Ons for guests to choose from include a Zrmanja River Canoe Safari and a boat party.
Packages for this experience include a variety of hotels, hostels, apartments, and catamarans for guests to choose from, each featuring their own unique style of accommodation. This includes options located on the beachfront and a variety of amenities based on guest selection like outdoor pools, balconies, kitchenettes, exclusive access to pool parties, modern furniture and decorations, air conditioning, full service check-in, WIFI, sun decks, and much more.
Guests can also choose to stay on a catamaran as well. All accommodation packages include a free shuttle bus pass for the island of Pag, saving customers money and time getting around.For more information about the experience, including payment plans, package upgrades, and FAQs, visit Pollen’s website to stay up-to-date with the latest in lineup, pricing, and news.
Yayo Da Cartune releases a one-of-a-kind virtual reality music video for “Make it Rain”. The video is an immersive 360 experience, meaning if a viewer watches with virtual reality goggles, they can view the video as if they were physically interacting inside of the world. Instead of being an outside listener to the melodic yet pulsating track, fans can experience from within, bringing a whole new meaning to interactive listening. Watch the video HERE.
“Make it Rain” by Yayo Da Cartune (Cinematic Music Group/Geffen) is available at all digital retailers HERE.
Yayo‘s songs together tell a distinct story of loss, loyalty, pain and turmoil; all aspects of the grave conditions he grew up in. His soundtrack for the struggle lays bare his emotions and exposes a side of him he previously kept to himself. Raised as one of six children, Yayo’s been surrounded by music since he was a kid. Growing up, he and his siblings would use blank cassette tapes to record Lil Wayne tracks from the radio, and his young single mother would play songs from artists like Dru Hill, Ginuwine, Tyrese, and Usher.
By the age of 13, he’d been arrested, beginning a streak of jail stints that would stretch for over a decade. While time behind bars kept him away from friends and family, it brought him closer to music. Shy by nature, he entered jail singing competitions to help pull him out of his shell. After being released in 2016, Yayo dove in, using his skill as a tattoo artist to provide a source of income and keep him out of trouble. At first, Yayo released raucous, free-associative freestyles, but as he listened to Drake, Future and T-Pain, his sound evolved into something more melodic and emotionally charged. After years of releasing music and working as a well-respected tattoo artist, he started picking up momentum toward the end of 2020, releasing songs like “Live to Die” and previewing other tracks on Instagram. Months and hundreds of thousands of IG post views later, he secured a deal with Jonny Shipes and Cinematic Music Group.
