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Japan Today
15 hours ago
- Japan Today
Stay in style: Art hotels and creative lodging in Kyoto
Quirky art awaits at the Hotel Anteroom Kyoto throughout the entirety of its grounds. By Kimberly Hughes As with other highly-traveled destinations, Japan has no shortage of unique accommodation options. These include numerous inns incorporating explicitly artistic touches, such as one styled around a treehouse in Okinawa and another that's a denim-themed guesthouse in the Kojima district of Kurashiki, Okayama (known as Japan's 'jeans capital'). This article introduces two artistically themed inns in Kyoto to keep on your radar for future getaways. While differing from the more traditional accommodation experience in Japan's ancient capital, such as a stay in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) or a machiya (townhouse), both of these options offer an opportunity to experience Kyoto's local culture through the unique lens of innovative modern art and design. Ace Hotel Kyoto: Portland cool meets Kyoto craftsmanship Featuring a copper donut-shaped front desk, with unique overhead lighting and wooden beams, Ace Hotel Kyoto is infused with art on every level. Image: Kimberly Hughes Established in 2020, this hotel is part of the global Ace Hotel network, whose first location was repurposed in 1999 from a fisherman's inn in the U.S. city of Portland, Oregon — setting the tone for the brand's ethos of craftsmanship and community. Ace Hotel Kyoto similarly represents a restoration project, featuring two legendary architects working one century apart. It is housed in the atmospheric Shinpuhkan complex, which was designed in the 1920s as the Kyoto Central Telephone Office by leading modernist Yoshida Tetsuro. The present-day structure features the work of Kengo Kuma — including a majestic kigumi (wood joinery) timber ceiling — with additional collaboration from Atelier Ace and Commune Design. Equal parts cozy and chic, the Ace Hotel Kyoto's lobby area invites lounging with friends while gazing at onsite art installations. Image: Kimberly Hughes The hotel grounds brim with the works of local and far-flung artists and designers alike. Lobby accents include copper light fixtures, works from famed katazome (stencil dyeing) artist Yunoki Samiro and verdant foliage homed in earthy, chunky pots created by artist and fisherman Kazunori Hamana. The first-floor exhibition space features artworks from guest creators, which include a rotating lineup of international, multigenre artists-in-residence. A long working table and comfy couch area serve as a community hub — perfect for enjoying a seasonal latte from the adjacent Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a Portland classic. The chilled-out playlist features everything from ambient jazz to funk, with live DJs often spinning for events. Artworks also dot its three onsite restaurants: Kosa, featuring impeccably-presented seasonal local cuisine; Mr. Maurice's Italian, whose specialties include wood-fired pizzas and rooftop cocktails; and Piopiko, an uber-stylish bar and taco lounge. Even the food is an artful affair at the Ace Hotel — including this matcha-dusted, vegan black sesame panna cotta at its stylish Kosa restaurant. Image: Kimberly Hughes While visitors are welcome to enjoy this veritable festival of art in the hotel's restaurant and common spaces, in-room features are of course available exclusively to overnight guests. These include soaking tubs, vinyl turntables, Tivoli radios and Gibson guitars; along with exclusively-designed fabrics, furniture inspired by Charlotte Perriand's work during her World War II-era Japan sojourn, and in-room artworks from Japan's Mingei folk artist movement. While such extravagance naturally comes with a price, off-season rates do run lower; and there are also special deals for Japan residents. Besides its design-oriented accolades, the hotel has additionally received recognition for its diversity-related efforts — including a 2025 Japan Travel Award for its consistent support of LGBTQ+ guests. Hotel Anteroom Kyoto: A contemporary stay with artistic flair Cafe by day and bar in the evening, this space also serves as a spot to gaze at creative art installations. Image: Kimberly Hughes Lying four kilometers due south, this hotel — in the midrange budget category — is significantly more compact in size than the Ace Hotel Kyoto, and offers an altogether different vibe; although no less of an artistic experience. Fronted by a rock garden, along with strategically-positioned lights that cast a soft glow after dark, this inn exudes style even before you first enter. Once a student dormitory, its interior has been renovated in the style of a smart boutique hotel, replete with clean neon-white signage and a spacious area for guest dining. There is also a separate café, open to the public, that turns into a chilled-out bar at nighttime (think Portishead over a dram of whisky). Artistic elements also abound here. There are two styles of rooms — concept and standard — with those in the concept category each showcasing the works of a specific artistic individual or entity; and interesting artworks even featuring in the standard rooms. The first-floor lobby also serves as a space to host exhibitions and events, along with pop-up shops selling artworks and various goods. Even walking down the hallway at the Hotel Anteroom Kyoto feels artsy. Image: Kimberly Hughes In one recent exhibition, titled 'The Box of Memories', the first-floor main space and wall corridor were lined with works that recounted the history of Kumagusuku — another local art hostel, with roots in the Setouchi Art Triennale event, which closed its doors earlier in 2025. All featured artists have a close connection to Kyoto, so between the deeply local exhibitions and the informational clearinghouse-style space filled with racks of pamphlets covering the city's artistic happenings, a stay at the Hotel Anteroom Kyoto affords an intimate window into Kyoto's artistic scene. Since the hotel also has locations in Naha, Okinawa and Seoul, Korea that feature a similar vibe, the next time you visit those cities you can take the opportunity to get artsy there, as well. Find more information on these art-oriented Kyoto hotels here: Ace Hotel Kyoto 245-2 Kurumayacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto 604-8185, Japan Tel: 075 229 9000 Website: Ace Hotel Kyoto Hotel Anteroom Kyoto 7 Aketa-cho, Higashi-Kujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8044 Japan Tel: 075 681 5656 Website: Hotel Anteroom Kyoto © Japan Today
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rape charge dropped against former Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price
Riverside County prosecutors have dropped a rape charge against Dan Price, the former chief executive of Gravity Payments, who was accused of sexually assaulting a girlfriend at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs in 2021. The charge against the 41-year-old founder of the Seattle-based tech company was dismissed on Tuesday due to a lack of prosecutable evidence, according to the Riverside County district attorney's office. Price gained renown in 2015 when he took an almost 93% pay cut to raise his employees' starting salary to $70,000. But his reputation as a darling of the progressive movement was sullied in 2022 when the New York Times published an expose detailing an alleged history of abusing women — accusations he has denied. The article, based on interviews with more than a dozen women, painted the portrait of a predatory man who used his fame to enable a pattern of abuse in his personal life, including a domestic violence accusation by his ex-wife and an alleged assault of a woman in Seattle. It also shared the story of his former girlfriend Kacie Margis, who accused him of raping her in Palm Springs in April 2021 after she had told him she didn't want to have sex and had taken a cannabis edible to counter insomnia. The following morning, she fled her hotel room and reported the alleged rape to police. Read more: Dan Price, CEO known for giving raises, resigns after Palm Springs rape investigation Price stepped down from his executive role at credit card payment-processing company Gravity Payments in August 2022, saying in a statement on X that he needed "to focus full time on fighting false accusations" made against him. "I'm not going anywhere," he vowed. Last May, he announced that he had returned to Gravity Payments full time as an adviser to the CEO. In September, a Riverside County grand jury indicted him on one count of rape of an unconscious victim, according to court documents. He voluntarily appeared in court and posted $55,000 in bail. "I am going to prove that the allegation is false in court," he said in an October statement on X. "As I have said repeatedly ... I have never physically or sexually assaulted anyone." Price, ultimately, never entered a plea in the Palm Springs case as his arraignment was postponed multiple times. The Riverside County district attorney's office said in a statement shared with The Times that it "thoroughly reviewed all available evidence and, after careful consideration, has determined that we are unable to pursue charges against Mr. Price beyond a reasonable doubt." Price was represented by Vicki Podberesky, a noted criminal attorney who represented the Church of Scientology in a rape case involving "That '70s show" actor Danny Masterson and represented former USC Dean Marilyn Flynn during a federal corruption investigation. Price also has faced misdemeanor assault charges in the city of Seattle, after a woman he went to dinner with accused him of forcing unwanted kisses and grabbing her by the neck. Those charges were dropped against him in 2023, due to "proof" problems, according to the Seattle Times. In a recent court statement, Margis said that a grand jury believed her rape allegation after hearing testimony from hotel staff, law enforcement, another witness and herself, the news outlet reported. 'But now I sit here watching that same man walk free again," she wrote. "I hope this court recognizes the strength it takes to survive something like this — to speak out, to relive it over and over and still stand tall." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Rape charge dropped against former Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price
Riverside County prosecutors have dropped a rape charge against Dan Price, the former chief executive of Gravity Payments, who was accused of sexually assaulting a girlfriend at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs in 2021. The charge against the 41-year-old founder of the Seattle-based tech company was dismissed on Tuesday due to a lack of prosecutable evidence, according to the Riverside County district attorney's office. Price gained renown in 2015 when he took an almost 93% pay cut to raise his employees' starting salary to $70,000. But his reputation as a darling of the progressive movement was sullied in 2022 when the New York Times published an expose detailing an alleged history of abusing women — accusations he has denied. The article, based on interviews with more than a dozen women, painted the portrait of a predatory man who used his fame to enable a pattern of abuse in his personal life, including a domestic violence accusation by his ex-wife and an alleged assault of a woman in Seattle. It also shared the story of his former girlfriend Kacie Margis, who accused him of raping her in Palm Springs in April 2021 after she had told him she didn't want to have sex and had taken a cannabis edible to counter insomnia. The following morning, she fled her hotel room and reported the alleged rape to police. Price stepped down from his executive role at credit card payment-processing company Gravity Payments in August 2022, saying in a statement on X that he needed 'to focus full time on fighting false accusations' made against him. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he vowed. Last May, he announced that he had returned to Gravity Payments full time as an adviser to the CEO. In September, a Riverside County grand jury indicted him on one count of rape of an unconscious victim, according to court documents. He voluntarily appeared in court and posted $55,000 in bail. 'I am going to prove that the allegation is false in court,' he said in an October statement on X. 'As I have said repeatedly ... I have never physically or sexually assaulted anyone.' Price, ultimately, never entered a plea in the Palm Springs case as his arraignment was postponed multiple times. The Riverside County district attorney's office said in a statement shared with The Times that it 'thoroughly reviewed all available evidence and, after careful consideration, has determined that we are unable to pursue charges against Mr. Price beyond a reasonable doubt.' Price was represented by Vicki Podberesky, a noted criminal attorney who represented the Church of Scientology in a rape case involving 'That '70s show' actor Danny Masterson and represented former USC Dean Marilyn Flynn during a federal corruption investigation. Price also has faced misdemeanor assault charges in the city of Seattle, after a woman he went to dinner with accused him of forcing unwanted kisses and grabbing her by the neck. Those charges were dropped against him in 2023, due to 'proof' problems, according to the Seattle Times. In a recent court statement, Margis said that a grand jury believed her rape allegation after hearing testimony from hotel staff, law enforcement, another witness and herself, the news outlet reported. 'But now I sit here watching that same man walk free again,' she wrote. 'I hope this court recognizes the strength it takes to survive something like this — to speak out, to relive it over and over and still stand tall.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 things to do in the Coachella Valley this week, May 19-25
The temperatures are going to slowly creep back into the 100s this week, so let's take a look at how to stay occupied with these mostly indoor happenings. From plays and concerts to free yoga and guided hikes (up the mountain in cooler weather, don't worry), this week's event roundup includes something for everyone. So, here's our picks for the top things to do in the Coachella Valley and surrounding area Monday, May 19 through Sunday, May 25. (And if you'd like to submit an upcoming event of your own for a future roundup, see the bottom of this article for directions.) When was the last time you watched a show under a Big Top? Marinelli Bros. Circus is bringing its brand-new 2025 production to Palm Desert this month, and the family-friendly show promises to be the group's "most thrilling yet," as its website boasts. The production is a celebration of the circus arts and features "jaw-dropping stunts, soaring aerialists, and other world-class performers." When: May 14-May 26 Where: The Shops at Palm Desert, 72-840 Highway 111, Palm Desert Cost: $15-$55 More info: Looking for a way to unwind and do some self reflection this week? Head to the Ace Hotel for this mellow flow in the shadow of Mount San Jacinto, led by Power Yoga Palm Springs. All ages and abilities welcome. Mats not provided, so you'll need to bring your own. This event is outdoors, free and open to all. See the sandwich board in the hotel lobby for the location each week. When: 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 (and every Tuesday this summer) Where: Ace Hotel Palm Springs, 701 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs Cost: Free More info: Desert Soul Club, the weekly mod/soul/funk dance party bringing the sounds of MOD to the low desert, returns to Palm Springs this week. Manned by DJs Bob Deck and Lee Joseph (as the press release says), "the heart and Desert Soul of the club is based on irresistible dance grooves from a universe of 45s released during the R&B, beat, mod, northern soul heyday of the early to mid-60s, extending through the psychedelic and funk eras of the late '60s through the dawn of disco." Every week, Deck and Joseph will dig deep into their knowledge and cache of globe-spanning tracks to offer the best vibe possible (and sometimes feature like-minded guest DJs). When: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 (and every Wednesday) Where: In the lobby of Hotel ZOSO, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs Cost: Free admission (no cover) More info: The Bent presented the regional premiere of "The Inheritance Part I," the acclaimed, Tony Award-winning play by Matthew Lopez, earlier this month, and it's still playing through Sunday, May 25. Inspired by "Howards End," this "sweeping and deeply moving epic story explores love, legacy and the lives of gay men in 21st-century New York, decades after the height of the AIDS crisis," as the press release states. When: Now through May 25 (check website below for specific showtimes) Where: Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs Cost: $42 More info: This community-organized tribute to beloved Coachella Valley painter Terry Masters brings together paintings from private collectors, the artist's estate and personal holdings. The exhibition honors Masters' deep connection to the desert landscape and celebrates his legacy as a mentor and plein air painter. Joining this tribute are works by fellow artists and members of prestigious California Art Club, Clark Mitchell and Mehdi Fallahian, both known for their own compelling desert interpretations and years of artistic camaraderie with Masters. When: 12:30-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday now through June 15 Where: Mehdi/Mitchell Fine Art, 401 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs (next door to the Tac/Quila restaurant) Cost: Free admission More info: Call 760-799-3989 CV Rep is presenting the world premiere of "The Beverly Hills Peace Talks," a play selected from among hundreds of submissions to CV Rep's 2024 Origins: New Works Program, this week. This timely new work by playwright, screenwriter, author and actor Gregg Ostrin is a fictional play inspired by a true story. According to a press release from CV Rep, in 1968, a publicity still was released for the Rastar Productions film version of "Funny Girl" with Egyptian heartthrob Omar Sharif kissing the American-Jewish Barbra Streisand that incited outrage in both countries and their governments. Both threatened to ban the film in their respective nations. In Ostrin's intriguing and often humorous 'what if' story, studio executives invite Israeli and Egyptian diplomats to The Beverly Hills Hotel in hopes for an amenable solution. When: Wednesday, May 21-Sunday, June 1 (with the official red carpet world premiere and VIP reception on Thursday, May 22. Check website for times.) Where: Coachella Valley Repertory, 68-510 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City Cost: $60 More info: The Artists Council at the Artists Center presents its latest eagerly awaited exhibit and sale, "Through the Lens." This show provides a platform for talented local photographers to showcase their work, and features an inspiring range of imagery, from stunning desert nature scenes to thought-provoking abstracts, as its press release states. When: On view now through May 25 Where: Artists Center, 72-567 Highway 111, Palm Desert Cost: Free admission, with art available for purchase More info: Legendary English rock band Foghat, who rose to fame with hits such as 'Slow Ride,' 'Fool for the City' and 'I Just Want to Make Love to You,' will bring their hits and blues riffs to the Morongo Grand Ballroom this week. According to the press release, the bluesy boogie band formed in 1971 and has since released 17 studio albums, including eight gold albums and one platinum, along with a double platinum live album. When: Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Friday, May 23 Where: Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, 49-500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon Cost: From $45 More info: Want to switch up your grocery routine and skip the store this week? Shop a variety of fresh produce, handcrafted goods, and one-of-a-kind local finds — there's something for everyone — at this weekly farmer's market that's been extended through the end of May. When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24 Where: Downtown Indio, corner of Towne Street and Bliss Avenue Cost: Free admission, with many items available for purchase More info: Guided nature walks by State Park volunteers resume at the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness on Sunday, May 25, and continue Sundays through Sept. 1. These walks feature a choice of two easy trails: the Desert View Trail, a 1½-mile walk beginning at 11 a.m. and the Long Valley Nature Trail, a ¾-mile loop beginning at 1:30 p.m. No advance registration is required and there is no charge except for regular Tramway admission. When: 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. every Sunday May 25 through Sept. 1 Where: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station, 1 Tram Way Cost: Guided nature walks are free with purchase of tram tickets, which are $34.95 for adults, $20.95 for children 3-10, $31.95 for seniors 65 and up More info: Call 888-515-TRAM or 760-325-1391, or visit To submit an event for The Desert Sun's consideration in future 10 things to do stories, send an email to with the time, date, location and price of admission for your event, as well as a brief event description. Photos are not required, but are highly encouraged as part of the submission. Tip: Send your submission as early as possible to make sure we have it in time, and to make sure your event jumps out in our inbox, put "10 things to do submission" in the email subject line. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Things to do in Palm Springs: 10 things to do this week, May 19-25
New York Times
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
He Saw Her on a Billboard. Then Fate Brought Them Together.
The first time the filmmaker Chike Antoine Ozah laid eyes on Kellie Montoya Brown, a journalist, she was larger than life. Actually, her image was peering down at him from a billboard advertising an NBC affiliated television station in New Orleans. It was late 2018, and Mr. Ozah was in town from New York for a film project. He didn't know anything about Ms. Brown, but he was immediately captivated. He saw her again in early 2019 while visiting New Orleans for another work trip. This time she appeared on his TV screen while reporting traffic on a morning show. 'I mentioned to my mother how beautiful she was and how I gotta meet her,' Mr. Ozah said. Mr. Ozah decided to ask a close friend, Edward Buckles, well-connected in New Orleans, if he knew her by chance. 'He did,' Mr. Ozah said. They went to Dillard University together. 'So, I asked if he could introduce me to her.' But Mr. Buckles didn't know how to get in touch with her. Months went by, and Mr. Ozah said he even 'floated the idea of throwing a party in New Orleans just to create the opportunity to meet her, sort of like 'The Great Gatsby,'' he said. But before he had put that plan in motion, fate stepped in. Mr. Ozah was in New Orleans the same week in July 2019 as the Essence Festival, a music and culture gathering held by, and for, Black women, when he finally came face to face with Ms. Brown. 'I was at an event in the lobby of the Ace Hotel and the next thing I knew she came in smiling and dancing with her friends,' Mr. Ozah said. 'She had this presence. I will never forget that moment. It's literally ingrained in my brain.' Mr. Buckles was there with Mr. Ozah that night. 'So, I looked at him like, 'You know what you have to do, right?'' Mr. Ozah said. Mr. Buckles introduced them. Although she was very polite and accepted his phone number, she did not give him hers. The introduction, Ms. Brown said, 'Felt very intentional and serious. He gave me his whole pedigree, about his parents and that he was a filmmaker.' Ms. Brown was in the process of ending a serious relationship at that time. So, the timing simply wasn't right. She said she recalled thinking, 'It was too soon. I can't jump into something else.' Although he heard nothing from her after that night, he was not deterred. 'I kept thinking about her in this whimsical, day-dreamy way,' Mr. Ozah said. 'I'm not stalkerish. But I am persistent.' A month after meeting in person, Mr. Ozah followed Ms. Brown on Instagram. 'And she followed me back,' Mr. Ozah said. 'I liked a few pictures and lightly DM'd her,' Mr. Ozah said. 'She had an orange wig on and I asked her who her alter ego was. She said Peaches.' After several messages, 'I knew I'd visit Nola for Thanksgiving. So I sent her a message asking if I could take her somewhere she'd never been.' They spent the time between that message and Thanksgiving connecting. 'I credit our relationship to those weeks on the phone,' Mr. Ozah said. 'I learned so much about her.' Two months after that late-September message, the two went on their first official date on Nov. 30, 2019, at Haifa Cuisine & Hookah Bar. 'She had one of her girlfriends with her, so I was like, 'Man, I have to win her friend over, too.'' It was tough at first, he said, but eventually she warmed up. 'He killed it,' Ms. Brown said. 'We had the best time, and I was smitten.' Mr. Ozah must have known he had killed it. After that date, he texted his best friend, 'I found my wife. I'm moving back to New Orleans,' he recalled saying. It was three weeks later when they had their second date. He flew into Baton Rouge, La., for the weekend, where Ms. Brown had relocated for work. Ms. Brown said, 'He was so intelligent and worldly. It felt like I was a treasure he'd spent his life searching for. Although I didn't want to jump into anything, I didn't really have a choice.' For their first Valentine's Day together, while he was on a trip to Chicago, Mr. Ozah flew Ms. Brown out to visit and told her he loved her for the first time. They became official that summer. On March 5, 2020, Ms. Brown went to New York to see a premiere of Mr. Ozah's film company's documentary, 'A Kid from Coney Island,' at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. 'I didn't want to leave,' Ms. Brown said. 'Although I couldn't imagine moving there.' After a trip to Mexico in November 2020, Mr. Ozah convinced Ms. Brown to fly back with him to New York instead of back to New Orleans. 'I was having issues at work, so on a whim, I ended up going to back New York,' Ms. Brown said. 'It was supposed to be short-lived.' Once there, Ms. Brown said, 'I decided to put it in God's hands. I applied to the graduate program at Columbia University the week before the application deadline and decided that if I got in, I would stay and, if not, I would go back to Louisiana.' She got in. Binge more Vows columns here and read all our wedding, relationship and divorce coverage here. The couple moved into the apartment where Mr. Ozah had lived in Jersey City, N.J., in December 2020. In April 2023, they bought a home in the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans, where they now live. Ms. Brown, 35, is a freelance journalist at WDSU News, the NBC affiliate in New Orleans, as well as a story producer and consultant on documentary projects. She also teaches public speaking at Xavier University of Louisiana. She holds a bachelor's degree from Dillard University in mass communication and a master's degree from Columbia University's School of Journalism. She was born and raised in New Orleans. Mr. Ozah, 47, is a filmmaker and a founder of the production studio Creative Control in New York. The studio is behind a number of award-winning productions. These include the three-part Netflix documentary 'Jeen-yuhs," which chronicles 21 years of the life of Kanye West; the HBO film 'Katrina Babies'; and the Showtime documentary 'NYC Point Gods.' Mr. Ozah has a B.F.A. from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He also was born and raised in New Orleans. On June 24, 2023, Mr. Ozah proposed in Positano, Italy, while on a trip to Europe for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Ms. Brown had been telling Mr. Ozah for years that she wanted to go to Positano, so they extended their trip. 'It was magical,' Mr. Ozah said. 'I surprised her by flying out her best friend, Toi Thornton. The best part of the proposal for me aside from her saying yes was when she saw Toi and realized what was happening.' While they were dating, Mr. Ozah would write Ms. Brown love notes every day. 'They were so deep — they totally disarmed me,' Ms. Brown said. 'So, for the proposal, he wrote me a letter and put it on a scroll.' The two were wed April 12 at Felicity, a church turned wedding venue in New Orleans. Ms. Thornton, who was ordained by Christian Global Outreach Ministries for the wedding, led the ceremony before 140 guests. 'We had a quartet called the Delachaise Ensemble playing soulful R&B songs like 'Let's Stay Together' by Al Green during the ceremony and the whole church sang along,' Ms. Brown said. The bride wore a fitted mermaid gown by Martina Liana, while the groom donned a bespoke black tuxedo by Chris Fellow, a New Orleans designer. 'Toward the end of the reception, I changed into a customized old school airbrush T-shirt with a bunch of Kellie's photo on it and it read 'Kellie Ozah.' She was surprised as she had no idea I had gotten that made.' 'I felt so incredibly loved by everyone. The love felt so tangible,' Ms. Brown said. 'I also felt the gravity of the union and joining our families together.' Mr. Ozah added, 'I felt feelings I had never felt before, like unlocking a new set of euphoric emotions.' The evening ended in true New Orleans style with a second line parade, a local tradition and a highlight of the night for their guests, the couple said. Custom handkerchiefs were handed out during the reception at the Chicory emblazoned with the couple's names, wedding date and 'Uptown 4 Life,' before the room was filled with trumpets, trombones, tubas, snares, and bass drums. Guests waved their handkerchiefs in the air. The second line wended through the reception, and then, Ms. Brown said, 'We paraded through the streets with police escorts shutting the streets down.' When April 12, 2025 Where Felicity, New Orleans Ring Exchange 'I put Chike's ring on the wrong hand. So, I had to say the exchange of rings speech again,' Ms. Brown said. 'I said them over in a very heavy New Orleans accent. We got a great laugh out of the audience.' Keeping With Tradition A close friend and business partner of Mr. Ozah, the film producer Marjorie Clarke gifted the couple a broom. 'So, we jumped the broom,' Mr. Ozah said. Taste of New Orleans 'We had a chargrilled oyster station outside provided by the Chicory, which was definitely a crowd favorite along with the sno-balls,' Mr. Ozah said. 'We were lucky enough to book the famous Hansen's Sno-Bliz to make sno-balls for our guests. The sno-ball is customary in New Orleans, and Hanson's is known for its thinly shaved ice. We also had a 'tequila man' spiking the sno-balls with Casa Azul tequila and mezcal.' Creative Sweets In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, 'We did a small vintage heart-shaped cake with 'Just married' written in white accompanied with petit fours and cupcakes all from Batter,' Ms. Brown said. 'And the Chicory's amazing chef made beignets.' Big Second Line Energy 'The procession was led by three 'tramps,' members of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, a Carnival krewe known for its distinctive costumes,' Mr. Ozah said. 'We followed behind them each with an umbrella in our hands, followed by a Black Masking Indian who was followed by the brass band Sporty's Brass Band. The tramps and Indian really set the pace and kept the energy high, hyping us and the crowd up.'
