DESIGN

Desenio AW21 Collection

Leave a reply

Interior design group, Desenio, has launched four trend collections for autumn and winter this year, AW21. Each collection has a distinct color scheme and vibe, so no matter your taste, there is a fit for everyone. Easily match prints together to create a beautiful gallery wall and find your favorites in all of their palettes.

WOODLAND RETREAT

The Woodland Retreat trend invites you to imagine taking time to experience the purity of nature. Walk through dewy forests filled with birdsong, breathe in the cool, pure air, and take time for yourself.

“Sustainability and natural materials continue to be a huge trend in interior design. The Woodland Retreat trend ties together rustic elegance with an eco-friendly approach to design,” says Annica Wallin, Executive Creative Director at Desenio.

If you feel at your calmest when surrounded by nature, this is the trend for you. Complete the look by adding luscious plants and cozy textures to a room that features the Woodland Retreat collection of wall art.

CLASSIC CONTRASTS

The Classic Contrasts trend is all about juxtaposing shapes and textures for the ultimate elegant touch. Mix soft beige shades with defining darker tones for a balanced, classic finish.

“The Classic Contrasts collection hones into one of the key interior trends we’re seeing for AW21. Timeless elegance takes a modern twist to bring about a refreshing take on the monochromatic look,” says Annica Wallin.

If you’re someone who prefers to choose statement pieces rather than gravitate towards the latest styles, the Classic Contrasts collection is the perfect choice. After choosing your favorite prints, add the monochromatic accessories to your home to achieve a sophisticated look.

ROMANTIC REBELLION

The Romantic Rebellion collection enables you to bring your personality to life in your home by choosing art that’s as bold as you are. Whether you want to create a beautiful thematic experience in your dining room or add radiant pinks to your bedroom, it’s time to get creative and reimagine your walls.

“The Romantic Rebellion trend is a chance to embrace glamour and opulence within your interiors. Baroque imagery is remixed with a modern and edgy twist to create a playful vibe,” says Annica Wallin.

The Romantic Rebellion collection is the choice for you if you want to make your home feel glamorous and feminine with a hint of edginess. Pinks, purples, and hints of gold is the way to embrace this to its fullest. Alternatively, you can go for a more pared-back look by choosing prints as statement pieces in a more minimalistic room.

SOFT MOMENTS

The Soft Moments trend is about breathing into the present and resetting your space with warm tones and relaxing neutral prints. Sink into soft blankets with a hot drink and a good book because the world can wait.

“The Soft Moments trend collection celebrates elegance and serenity through a curated and clean nordic style with a Japanese touch. Natural browns and shadow grays come together to create a comforting, natural, and modern space where one can be at peace,” says Annica Wallin.

Choose the Soft Moments collection if you crave a calming space to retreat to after a hectic day. The quotation prints from get you in the right headspace and you can style your room with neutrally-toned accessories for the ultimate zen.

Photo by Desenio for Use by 360 Magazine

Lil Nas X × Vevo

Leave a reply

Grammy Award-winning artist Lil Nas X and director Christian Bresauer have partnered exclusively with Vevo for the latest installment of Vevo Footnotes, revealing every hidden reference and new information about the making of their iconic Industry Baby music video.

WATCH THE MAKING OF INDUSTRY BABY | VEVO FOOTNOTES

In the visual for the now Platinum-certified hit song, Lil Nas X discusses the inspiration and controversy surrounding the making of the video. He also talks about personal items he used on the set, improvised choreography and the most uncomfortable scenes to film with co-star Jack Harlow. The song appears on Lil Nas X’s chart-topping album MONTERO out now.

Below is a complete outline of The Making of Industry Baby | Vevo Footnotes, including key insight from the music video’s executive director and more from Lil Nas X himself.

FOOTNOTES OUTLINE:

0:10 Narration: The Grammy’s in Nas’s jail cell are his actual Grammys.

0:18 Narration: The poster in his cell is an image from the BET Awards show he performed at three days prior to shooting the music video.

0:35 – 0:41 Lil Nas X: I wanted to go to a place people would least expect me to go in a music video. An overly masculine place and make it gay asf. I also wanted to visualize the theme of breaking free from the shackles society places on you.

0:54 – 0:59 Christian Breslauer: This Visual is essentially a giant metaphor to represent Nas’s unwillingness to conform to the industry standards or be caged in because of his beliefs. No matter the scenario he will be who he is and no prison is strong enough to contain him.

1:08 Narration: Nas improvised this choreography on the spot.

1:27 Lil Nas X: I think Shawshank Redemption is a great movie, but it was in no way the main inspiration of the video. Although, it is responsible for the hole in the wall scene.

1:54 Narration: The security guard getting punched by Nas is Colton Haynes, the star of Teen Wolf.

2:22 -2:42 Lil Nas X: The hardest part of making this music video? Honestly? Twerking in front of Jack Harlow. Very uncomfortable lmao. I felt like Jack was in a very similar situation that I was in — having a super huge song and having people counting you out. That’s how I knew he would be perfect for this song.

2:56 – 3:03 Lil Nas X: My favorite scene is where we’re all dancing in the courtyard, but I’m proud of the entire video. I knew the controversy was inevitable, but I thought the video would be super fun, which it was.

3:10 – 3:15 Christian Breslauer: The prison location was our most ambitious day of the two. Choreography scenes in general take the most time to shoot and we only had an hour to shoot each one. We made it happen though, thanks to an Allstar crew.

3:22 – 3:29 Lil Nas X: The song felt like a victory lap but also an underdog anthem, and that’s what I wanted the lyrics to reflect. I wanted a song to remind people I’m not going anywhere.

Elton: Jewel Box

Leave a reply

Elton John announces the forthcoming release of Elton: Jewel Box. Released on November 13th via UMe / EMI, Elton: Jewel Box is an unrivaled collection containing 148 songs spanning 1965 to 2019 on 8CD, 4LP, 3LP, 2LP, digital download, and streaming formats.

The ultimate exploration into Elton’s extensive back catalog, Elton: Jewel Box covers deep cuts, rarities from the earliest stages of his and Bernie Taupin’s musical journey, B-side spanning 30 years, and songs discussed in his best-selling, critically acclaimed 2019 memoir Me. The 8 CD boxset of buried treasures comes in a beautiful hardcover book with the discs housed in the back, all wrapped in an outer slipcase. Each section comes accompanied by extensive notes, including a track-by-track commentary by Elton for Deep Cuts. Three different LP collections are also available to pre-order now – a 4LP gatefold black vinyl set of Deep Cuts (curated by Elton himself), a 3LP gatefold black vinyl set of Rarities and B-side highlights, and a 2LP gatefold black vinyl set “And This Is Me…”. All audio was mastered at Abbey Road Studios by GRAMMY-winning mastering engineer Sean Magee. With an unprecedented number of previously unheard and unreleased tracks painstakingly excavated from deep within the UMG archives, this is the ultimate treasure trove for Elton John fans.

As a first taster of some of the many gems gathered within Elton: Jewel Box, “Sing Me No Sad Songs” is today unveiled for the very first time. Listen here. Previously unreleased, the track was written and recorded as a band demo in 1969. “Sing Me No Sad Songs” is a fascinating first taste of what was to come from Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and one that mentions not one, but two, future smashes in its lyrics – “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” from 1984’s Breaking Heartsalbum and Elton’s first UK chart-topping single “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” from 1976.

Speaking of the release, Elton says, “To delve back through every period of my career in such detail for Jewel Box” has been an absolute pleasure. Hearing these long lost tracks again, I find it hard to comprehend just how prolific Bernie and I were during the early days. The songs just poured out of us, and the band were just unbelievable in the studio. I always want to push forward with everything I do and look to the future, but having time during lockdown to take stock and pull these moments from my memory from each era has been a joy. As a devout record collector myself, this project has really excited me, and I couldn’t be happier with the level of craft involved in such a carefully curated, lovingly constructed boxset. I’m sure my fans will enjoy it as much as I have.”

Available to pre-order here, Elton: Jewel Box compromises of the below formats:

Disc Guide

Discs 1 & 2: Deep Cuts – A selection of personal favorites, curated by Elton. The box set book includes a track-by-track commentary by Elton.

Discs 3, 4, and 5: Rarities 1965 -1971 – Elton’s much sought-after 1960s and early 1970s demos and music that cemented the foundations of the iconic Elton John / Bernie Taupin writing partnership. The compelling, previously unreleased, missing piece in his illustrious career. Daryl Easlea narrates this fascinating story with contributions from those who were there at the time. These discs encompass 65 songs, all but a few of which have been stored in the vaults for more than 50 years. Most of these demos were recorded during sessions before Elton was signed to a recording contract or released his first album. Also included are the first song ever written by Elton and his debut appearance on a record (both “Come Back Baby” – 1965), Elton and Bernie’s first composition (“Scarecrow” – 1967), and newly-unearthed piano/vocal demos of some of Elton’s most acclaimed songs from his early albums. The packaging appropriately contains rare archival artwork and select original lyric sheets.

Discs 6 & 7: B-Sides 1976-2005 – Non-LP tracks and flipsides, never before compiled together. 36 gems that are now given another chance to sparkle – 17 previously only available on vinyl, resulting in all of Elton’s studio B-sides now being offered digitally for the first time in his career.

Disc 8: And This Is Me . . . – To coincide with the release of the updated paperback edition of Me, the final collection celebrates the songs mentioned by name by Elton in his acclaimed autobiography, closing Jewel Box with the 2020 Academy Award-winning duet with Taron Egerton, “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.”

Elton: Jewel Box is yet another marker in an incredible few years for the world’s favorite singer-songwriter. Since the release of the ultimate greatest hits album Diamonds in 2017, Elton has undertaken a breathtaking 3 years of activity that are unmatched in their ambition, reach and impact across generations of music fans. Elton announced his record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at New York’s Gotham Hall in January 2018, with a typically forward-looking virtual reality spectacular. Encompassing 5 continents and over 300 dates, this 3-year-long tour started in September 2018 and marks his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history. In 2019, the Farewell Tour was named Billboard’s Top Rock Tour and Pollstar’s Major Tour Of The Year. 2019 also saw the release of Elton’s critically acclaimed global bestselling autobiography, Me. The 2019 epic fantasy musical motion picture of Elton’s life, Rocketman, has been a commercial and critical hit, taking over $200m at the box office. It has won an Oscar, 2 Golden Globe Awards, and a Critics’ Choice Award, and garnered BAFTA nominations. Its soundtrack was also nominated for a GRAMMY Award. 2019 also saw Elton awarded the Légion d’ honneur, France’s highest award, for his lifetime contribution to the arts and the fight against HIV/AIDS. He was also honored with both a Royal Mail stamp collection and Royal Mint coin collection. Diamonds, the ultimate greatest hits package of Elton and Bernie, has spent a staggering 148 consecutive weeks in the UK album charts, including 29 weeks in the Top 20 in 2020 alone, selling over a million copies worldwide in the process and recently reaching double-platinum status in the UK.

An unparalleled career that has forever changed the cultural landscape, Elton John’s collaborations with Bernie Taupin and others continue to shape the cultural landscape, break records, top charts, and win new fans across the generations. We’ve had the book, the film, the farewell tour, the fashion collections, and the greatest hits. And now, with Elton: Jewel Box, fans finally have the treasure trove of previously unheard and unreleased tracks they have been waiting for from the world’s favorite singer-songwriter.

About Elton John:

Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 1 diamond, 40 platinum or multi-platinum, 23 gold albums, over 50 Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide.

He holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997,” which sold over 33 million copies. Diamonds, the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, reached the Top 5 of the UK album charts on its release in November 2017, becoming Elton’s 40th UK Top 40 album in the process. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history, having logged 67 entries, including nine No. 1 singles and 27 Top 10s.

Among the many awards and honors bestowed upon him are six GRAMMYs, including a GRAMMY Legend Award, a Tony and two Oscars, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards between 1973 and 2001, and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services.”

In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is one of the leading non-profit HIV/AIDS organizations and has raised over $450 million to date in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In June 2019, President Emmanuel Macron presented Elton the Légion d’ honneur, France’s highest award, for his lifetime contribution to the arts and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Elton was awarded the Companion of Honour in the 2020 New Year Honours list. The highest acknowledgment in the list, Elton, became one of only 64 people to hold the honor. September 2019 saw The Royal Mail issue a set of 12 stamps as a tribute to Elton being one of the most popular and enduring music artists of all time. Elton is one of only two individual music artists to be featured in a dedicated stamp issue. In July 2020, the Royal Mint released an Elton John commemorative coin, the second in their music legends series, to celebrate “one of the most successful and enduring artists of all time.”

www.eltonjohn.com

https://twitter.com/eltonofficial

www.instagram.com/eltonjohn

https://www.facebook.com/EltonJohn/

https://www.youtube.com/eltonjohn

KO Média – ELLE DECORATION CANADA

Leave a reply

KO Média is excited to unveil the fall issue of ELLE Decoration Canada featuring a new way of imagining your dream home by designer Nicholas Ancerl. Crestwood, described as “a dramatic home among the treetops” of Barrie, Ontario, has yet to be built. Instead, it has been brought to life with 23 photo-realistic renders. “The contemporary interiors will have a rustic touch and a neutral colour palette,” Ancerl explains. “We want the colours of nature, seen through the expansive windows, to dominate the interiors.” When asked about setting expectations too high for homeowners with such stunning renders, the designer assures: “Nothing can take away from the experience of actually stepping into a real space.”

This edition is imbued with a desire to create bright, airy living spaces that are both functional and serene. Included are Toronto-based architect Anya Moryoussef’s transformation of a single-car garage into a modern workspace inspired by traditional Italian studiolos; a prefabricated house reimagined by architect Alain Carle to capture the natural play of light and shade throughout the day; an architectural firm’s ingenious use of every nook and cranny in a tiny Vancouver home brimming with joie de vivre; and wood-and-glass containers fashioned by a Montreal couple to give their Old Port loft structure without sacrificing any natural light.

In the spirit of the season, Athena Calderone, author of Cook Beautiful, shares recipes that capture the tones, textures and tastes of fall and tips for creating the ultimate autumn table settings. Readers will also find a curated list of outdoor armchairs, loungers and swings from which to soak up the sun, and patio heaters in all shapes and sizes for the chilly months to come.

We caught up with Quebec native Philippe Malouin, creator of the Hanger chair, to find out how he continues to keep things simple after being listed among the world’s 100 top designers by Architectural Digest. Designer Montana Labelle offers advice for combining elegance and simplicity from her newly opened Lifestyle Studio in Toronto; and Quebecer Danielle Carignan, a pioneer in the personal organizer profession, shares tips to declutter your space and your life.

And for those seeking an escape, this issue has everything from top coffee makers for a meditative morning routine; to a seaside hospitality complex in Iran that blends seamlessly into the blazing red, yellow and orange rock formations of Hormuz Island.

The fall issue of ELLE Decoration Canada will hit stands and Apple News+ today.

Ibiza Spirit

Leave a reply

Leading technology company Pollen Presents has announced that they have joined forces with Ibizan powerhouse The Night League to bring you Ibiza Spirit. The experience will include seven days and nights of incredible events, pool parties and boat parties, and global DJs and clubbing brands, all helping to bring the spirit and culture of Ibiza to the famed beaches of Cancun, Mexico for a unique winter getaway.

Taking place from February 19-26, 2022, Ibiza Spirit will guide attendees from sunset to sunrise across five incredible venues, each featuring jaw-dropping bespoke production. The event is curated by renowned creative events agency The Night League who have defined modern clubbing with their award-winning Ibiza venues Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza.

Joining them on this week-long adventure will be more of Ibiza’s best venues including legendary nightclub Amnesia and iconic daytime beach venues O Beach Ibiza and Blue Marlin Ibiza. These world-famous brands will be hosting nights at each of the different venues with world-class lineups, allowing attendees to create their own schedule for the week.

Featuring headline acts from across the world of electronic music, the phase one lineup includes performances from South African house hero Black Coffee, Bronx duo and Ibiza favorites The Martinez Brothers, Danish electronic staple Kölsch, beloved Italian artist Francesca Lombardo, English house duo CamelPhat, Hot Creations label boss Jamie Jones, and NY-born and LA-based DJ and producer Lauren Lane.

Additional acts on the lineup include Swiss-Chilean DJ and producer and Cadenza Records owner Luciano, rising London artist Michael Bibi, Italian techno and house artist Marco Faraone, UK export Nic Fanciulli, acclaimed UK act Eats Everything, underground house favorite Alisha, Manchester artist Solardo, eclectic house music creator Sidney Charles, and British DJ and producer Richy Ahmed.

Artists on the lineup who will be hosting events will include Black Coffee, CamelPhat, The Martinez Brothers, and Jamie Jones, who will bring his Paradise event series to Cancun. Guests can also experience legendary Ibiza parties like ANTS from Ushuaïa Ibiza, along with Do Not Sleep and Pyramid from Amnesia.

The full lineup will feature over 50 names with more artists to be announced soon. Under the banner “Keep The Spirit Alive,” fans can expect to experience what it feels like to party in Ibiza as they flow between distinctly different clubbing environments hosted by some of the world’s most celebrated event brands and DJ collectives.

Ibiza Spirit will capture the essence of the famed White Isle, all taking place alongside the beautiful beaches of Cancun for a truly global experience. Packages will be going on sale soon and can be secured with a €99 deposit and are protected by Pollen’s COVID-19 Money Back Guarantee. These will include accommodations and access to all events and parties.

For more information about the event, including payment plans, package upgrades, and FAQs, visit pollen.co to stay up-to-date with the latest in lineup, pricing, and event news.

About Pollen

Pollen is a technology company building, curating, and delivering the best experiences for members all over the world. Members enjoy these experiences together with the people they love, creating stronger relationships and unforgettable memories. Members immerse themselves in multi-day itineraries that combine live entertainment, parties, and relaxation time in more than 50 popular destinations. Members can discover and book these experiences exclusively on pollen.co and the Pollen app. Pollen has already launched experiences with mega stars like J Balvin, Marshawn Lynch and Ozuna.

About The Night League

Founded in 2001 by events entrepreneur Yann Pissenem, The Night League is a music and entertainment company, dedicated to every facet of event and venue management. For almost two decades, they have created and delivered world-class music experiences through our globally-renowned in-house brands Ushuaïa Ibiza, Hï Ibiza, ANTS and Children of the 80’s, as well as collaborating with the world’s most influential artists, festivals and events to create bespoke, pioneering concepts. From event producers and venue operators, to booking managers, artist management, marketing and design teams, TNL consistently goes beyond expectations, fusing music and art to deliver profound experiences that invigorate audiences around the world.

Phase One Lineup (A – Z)

Keystar Gems Produces Over 10,000 Diamonds a Month

Leave a reply

Newly Launching Cultivated Diamonds in the US Market, Keystar Gems Brings Affordable, Gorgeous, Conflict-Free Diamonds Stateside.

For centuries, diamonds have captivated. For millions to billions of years, they have naturally formed, eventually being unearthed in alluvial and kimberlite deposits. Now, the chemistry of the diamond has been studied and perfected, and the popularity of lab grown diamonds has taken hold globally. Keystar Gems, one of the world’s largest and most influential manufacturers of stunning HPHT diamonds, is generating over 10,000 cts. of HPHT diamonds a month. This month, Keystar Gems is opening its inventory B2B to the US market, aligning with a pique in national interest around cultivated diamonds.

Within synthetic diamond production, CVD diamond manufacturers yield quantity, but rarely is this capability seen within the HPHT market. Aagna S. Ajmera, Chief Marketing Officer for Keystar Gems, says, “With over 10,000 cts. a month of HPHT (High-Pressure High-Temperature) diamond, many doors are opened for Keystar Gems, as a manufacturer. We never have to say no due to demand. Our quantities help us meet commitments in a timely manner, and we have very happy customers. Now, we are excited to bring our cultivated diamonds to the US, which currently has the largest market for man-made diamonds.”

Competitively priced for the trade, Keystar Gems offers a gateway for diamonds to enter the fashion market. “Middle-income consumers can easily purchase a lab grown diamond,” says Shivang S. Rao, Director of Keystar Gems, “Every day, we see young buyers and celebrities alike encouraging and demanding man-made diamonds, which are naturally conflict-free, and that is important to them. As businesses, we need to listen and make sure our customers see and are seen, educating them about the humanitarian benefits that go alongside the cultivated diamond market.” The Keystar Gems team, with 350+ employees, manufacturers diamonds ranging from 0.03 – 10 cts. in size, that are available in all shapes, colors, and clarities,

About Keystar Gems

Keystar Gems is one of the largest lab-cultivated diamond manufacturers globally, producing over 10,000 cts. of phenomenal HPHT diamonds a month. With over 170K customers and 3K distributors, Keystar Gems has offices in four prominent locations: Surat, Mumbai, Brisbane, and New York. The company produces enchanting white, pink, blue and yellow man-made diamonds, in diverse shapes and sizes, additionally working with clients on custom orders. For exceptional customer service, reliable shipping and beautifully cut lab grown diamonds with allure, Keystar Gems is the B2B solution for the jewelry and manufacturing industries. With Keystar Gems, everyone can shine.

SolesbyMICHELIN Mizuno Wave Mujin 8 Contest

Leave a reply

solesbyMICHELIN gives you the possibility to win an exclusive pair of the brand new Wave Mujin 8, the new trail running shoe born from the consolidated partnership between Mizuno and solesbyMICHELIN. How?

It is very simple: enter the website, register, and subscribe to the newsletter.

The winner will be drawn from all those who have subscribed to the newsletter during the contest period, as well as those who have already subscribed and will update their preferences during the contest period.

For more information, terms and conditions click here.

What are you waiting for? Run on the website and be the first one to win a pair of Mizuno Wave Mujin 8!

Mizuno Wave Mujin 8 is the perfect shoe to tackle any trail over long distances, even on the most difficult terrains. The MICHELIN sole, designed exclusively by JV International for solesbyMICHELIN, has a light and dynamic compound, representing an excellent mix of grip, technology, and lightness; the new tread design significantly improves traction and grip on all surfaces and helps prevent the accumulation of dirt on particularly muddy grounds thanks to a self-cleaning system of the blocks. The external part of the sole is purposely tough to increase durability, while the arched side knobs help in case of obstacles. The EVA layer positioned in the forefoot area helps absorb impacts while the heel area is reinforced to allow easier and more comfortable braking during descents.

Civilian Space Flights

Leave a reply

By: Emily Bunn

3,2,1… Liftoff! On July 20, Blue Origin LLC, an American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company, launched its first crewed mission. July 20 marks the anniversary of the first ever human landing on the moon, by Buzz Aldrin on the Apollo 11.

Blue Orbit, founded by Jeff Bezos, took the billionaire Amazon CEO and his brother, Mark Bezos into orbit. Also aboard the aircraft is Wally Funk. Funk is American aviator and Mercury 13 astronaut. The final passenger aboard the mission is eighteen-year-old physics student, Oliver Daemen.

Jeff Bezos has been excitedly anticipating this mission. He commented to NBC’s Today Show on Monday, July 19, stating I’m so excited. I can’t wait to see what it’s going to be like… People say they go into space and they come back changed. Astronauts always talk about that, whether it’s the thin limb of the Earth’s atmosphere and seeing how fragile the planet is, that it’s just one planet. So I can’t wait to see what it’s gonna do to me.”

The daring mission took place on Blue Orbit’s New Shephard rocket this morning. The spacecraft is made from a rocket, topped by a capsule. New Shephard took off at 9:11 a.m. EDT (1311 GMT) and stands as the company’s first human flight. This momentous occurrence marks Blue Orbit’s first crewed flight.

During the flight, the New Shephard climbed to a peak altitude of 351210 ft into the atmosphere. In total, the capsule carried the four passengers 66.5 miles (107 kilometers) above earth. Jeff Bezos enjoyed his space mission, remarking “Blue Control, Bezos. Best day ever!” during the mission. Once completed, the flight took just over ten minutes from liftoff to landing.

At 9:40, the New Shephard returned to earth and landed in the Texas desert. The space craft was aided in its landing by parachutes. Upon touching down onto the dessert soil, a sonic boom erupted and dust temporarily muddied the surrounding arid landscape. In the course of the landing, Jeff Bezos enthusiastically exclaimed, “You’ve got a very happy crew, I want you to know,” reports Space. The members of the suborbital spaceflight were greeted by their family immediately after exiting the aircraft.

Live updates as well as a post-flight press conference can be viewed on Space’s website HERE.

However, Bezos isn’t the only billionaire to launch into space as of late. On July 11, the founder of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson, also was catapulted into orbit. Branson traveled on the VSS Unity space plane, of which was Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed flight. In fact, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origins are each other’s most competitive rivals in the race for the suborbital space tourism business. Both billionaires basked in a few minutes of weightlessness and once in a lifetime view of earth.

Looking ahead, both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin seek to continue their successful test flights. With a ticket costing $250,000, Virgin Galactic’s luxurious mission offers passengers a priceless field of vision. Blue Orbits’ spacecraft tickets are estimated to also cost around the same price. As suborbital space tourism takes off, the world waits in earnest to see who is next to visit space.

HELMUT JAHN: LIFE + ARCHITECTURE

Leave a reply

Chicago Architecture Center Announces HELMUT JAHN: LIFE + ARCHITECTURE

A Design Retrospective Opening July 23 in CAC’s Skyscraper Gallery

New exhibit part of an international outpouring of appreciation for Jahn’s design legacy following his death in May

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) announces HELMUT JAHN: LIFE + ARCHITECTURE, a career design retrospective of Helmut Jahn’s innovative work that has left an enduring legacy around the world and in his adopted home of Chicago. The exhibit, organized after Jahn’s death in May, will include numerous scale models of Jahn’s pathbreaking designs throughout his career. HELMUT JAHN: LIFE + ARCHITECTURE opens on July 23 and runs through October.

“Helmut Jahn and Chicago were made for one another,” said Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of the CAC. “Helmut’s larger-than-life persona and his inventive and surprisingly original buildings remade Chicago in the 1980s. His brash designs and relentless pursuit of excellence invigorated Chicago, helping the architectural community move confidently beyond mid-century modernism. Helmut was, in turn, embraced by ‘the city of big shoulders.’”

HELMUT JAHN: LIFE + ARCHITECTURE will include personal and professional items generously loaned by Helmut Jahn’s family and firm. Visitors to CAC’s Skyscraper Gallery will see scale models of some of Jahn’s most recent designs, including 1000M (Chicago) and Pritzker Military Archives (Somers, Wisconsin) currently under construction. Visitors will also see scale models of buildings designed at key points in Jahn’s career, including Post Tower (Bonn, 2002), Sony Center (Berlin, 2000) and the James R. Thompson Center (Chicago, 1985). Together, these buildings, represented by scale models in the exhibit, introduce visitors to Jahn’s enduring design legacy.

“Helmut was a great mentor.” said Tom Lee, Principal, Eastman Lee Architects. “He had a profound influence on me and my career and that of so many other architects in the city and around the world.”

The Thompson Center, an example of innovative post-modern design, is in the news as it is currently to be sold by the State of Illinois without protection for its historic design. A nomination to the National Register of Historic Places seeks historic tax credits for incentivizing adaptive reuse, but this process is still ongoing. To support a debate on the future of The Thompson Center, the CAC and the Chicago Architectural Club created the James R. Thompson Center Design Competition that challenges architects to envision a new future for Jahn’s post-modern masterpiece. The winning designs will be exhibited at the CAC in late summer.

“With a burst of shattering, curving and bulging glass in a rainbow of colors, Helmut Jahn danced onto the international architecture scene in the 1980s, translating the discipline of Chicago Modernism into new programs and forms while melting and fragmenting its grids into a post-disco delight of shaped buildings,” said Aaron Betsky, Director of the School of Architecture + Design at Virginia Tech. “We better save the Thompson Center, which is not only one of his greatest designs, but one of the few true celebrations of government as a public good.”

HELMUT JAHN: LIFE + ARCHITECTURE caps the CAC’s 2021 reopening with all-new and updated exhibits in its 10,000 square feet of galleries. The Chicago Gallery, home to the Chicago City Model Experience, is completely overhauled with new displays on Current Chicago Projects, Chicago’s neighborhoods and the new exhibit, Housing for a Changing Nation.

The CAC’s spring 2021 reopening began with the April launch of new CAC Walking Tours and the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center (CAFC) River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady. Both walking tours and the river cruise have been popular options for Chicagoans and visitors eager to rediscover the beauty and inspiration of Chicago architecture.

For updates on offerings visit the official website.

About the Chicago Architecture Center

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966, dedicated to inspiring people to discover why design matters. A national leader in architecture and design education, the CAC offers tours, programs, exhibitions and more that are part of a dynamic journey of lifelong learning.

Opened to the public in 2018, its riverfront location is in the heart of the city, where Michigan Avenue meets the Chicago River, featuring nearly 10,000 square feet of exhibition space with views of a century of iconic skyscrapers.

Through partnerships with schools and youth-serving organizations, the CAC reaches approximately 30,000 K–12 students annually, while teacher workshops provide educators with tools and resources they need to advance STEM curricula in their classrooms. Committed to serving under-represented communities in construction, engineering and design professions, the CAC offers many of its education programs—and all of its programs for teens—at no cost to participants.

CAC programs for adults and members include talks with acclaimed authors and practicing architects, in-depth presentations on issues and trends in urbanism, and classes unlocking subjects related to the built environment

Proceeds from programs, tours and the CAC Design Store, as well as from grants, sponsorships and donations, support its educational mission. Visit architecture.org to learn more and follow Chicago Architecture Center’s Instagram and #chiarchitecture on social media.

Madame Tussauds Collaborates with Marvel

Leave a reply

Madame Tussauds has collaborated with Marvel to create an exclusive new film, “Marvel Universe 4D.” The thrilling all-new 4D film experience invites guests to feel the power of their favorite Marvel Super Heroes in Madame Tussauds New York, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, and Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. Wind-chilling, water-soaking, and face-flinching special effects bring the audience closer than ever before to Captain Marvel, Thor, Black Panther, Rocket, Spider-Man, Ant-Man, and the Wasp as they battle Loki in a bid to save the city from his invasion.

To celebrate the new film, Madame Tussauds is shining a spotlight on strength and hope, the key characteristics of a fictional Super Hero, by recognizing a real-life hero from Make-A-Wish. Jeremiah is an 8-year-old boy from Brooklyn, fighting sickle cell. His wish for an online shopping spree was granted earlier this spring.

“Wish kids like Jeremiah, kids with critical illnesses, are in treatment and going through uncomfortable procedures. It wears them down, taking both a physical and emotional toll. They fight through the pain and strive to just be kids again and part of their family,” said Brittany DiDonato, manager of the alumni program for Make-A-Wish Metro New York. “A hero to look up to gives kids the opportunity to see a hero who models the behavior that they see in themselves, battling against all odds and winning!”

Jeremiah and his family were invited to Madame Tussauds New York for a private viewing party of Marvel Universe 4D, featuring Jeremiah’s favorite Super Hero, Spider-Man. The incredible family received the red-carpet treatment as they arrived at the world’s greatest wax museum. With more than 85,000 square feet of interactive entertainment, the largest Madame Tussauds attraction in the U.S. was reserved exclusively for the family to explore.

On behalf of Merlin’s Magic Wand, Merlin Entertainments children’s charity, Madame Tussauds is also donating tickets to Make-A-Wish to recognize heroes battling a life-threatening illness. To experience Marvel’s most loved heroes, brought to life in multi-sensory interactive themed areas, with wax figures, and a thrilling 4D adventure film book in advance online.