Latest news with #BingCrosby
Washington Post
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
A rock icon and a 100-year-old WWII veteran tell America's story
Harold 'Hal' Urban, in the same dress wool Eisenhower jacket he wore after helping liberate a concentration camp 80 years ago, gave the man standing next to him a head-to-toe inspection Monday morning. 'He's the one who sticks his tongue out?' Urban asked, before he met Gene Simmons on Memorial Day. 'Not really my music. I like Bing Crosby and Lawrence Welk.'
NZ Herald
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Waikato Fog Fence: A tribute to No 8 wire creativity
It's a tightrope of temptation, whispering, 'Go on, touch me.' For generations, it's been the source of dares, double-dares and the occasional public urination incident that ends in an abrupt and deeply personal lesson in conductivity. Every rural Kiwi knows someone, or is someone, who's discovered what happens when curiosity meets current. And then there are the novelty fences. You know the ones. The bra fence that waves underwire patriotism to passing motorists. The gumboot fence. The jandal fence. Fences that look like a recycling bin exploded. Each one more baffling and brilliant than the last. They start with one item and end up becoming local landmarks. Tourists don't always understand them, but they stop for a selfie anyway - and that's the point. It's rural eccentricity on display, nailed firmly to the fenceline. That got me thinking - there's one fence we're missing. The 'Waikato Fog Fence'. Advertise with NZME. Picture it: a fog fence. Obviously, as Bing Crosby would say, 'don't fence me in' — so not technically a fence, but a tribute to fog that resembles a fence (or a wall of fog). I'm thinking a curtain of long, white plastic strips, like those flappy ones on old bach doors or the fish and chip shop that still proudly displays a faded 'Best Fish 'n' Chip Shop 1998' certificate. But instead of rainbow colours, just whites. Layers of whites. An ode to FOG! And while we're at it, let's go full fog and start rebranding. Every single all-white paint swatch in the Dulux Colours of New Zealand range? Rename them all Hamilton Fog. Let's even re-release the Beatles' White Album as The Fog Album. No track names. No cover art. There's marketing gold here, Hamilton — and it's just in time for Fieldays. T-shirts with 'Not to be Mist' printed in white-on-white. Unruled 1A8 exercise books that look like stunning images of a foggy Waikato morning (until you realise they're just blank). Come on, Hamilton — let's make the Fog Fence a reality. After all, this is the birthplace of the electric fence. You could say fences are the pulsing heart of the Waikato — a current running through Waikato veins, occasionally zapping our ... And if nothing else, think back to the pure joy of running through a multi-coloured plastic flyscreen as a kid. Now imagine doing that at 110km/h, in a Corolla, through a curtain of white. Iconic. Inventive. Entirely unnecessary. .
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Council to spend £2.5m updating listed music venue
A council is to spend £2.5m on refurbishing a historic music venue for its first upgrade in 30 years. The Grade II listed Bedford Corn Exchange dates back to 1874 and was used as base for the BBC Symphony Orchestra during World War Two. Band leader Glenn Miller's performances were broadcast from the venue between July and August 1944, shortly before his flight mysteriously disappeared over the Channel. The refurbishment will include upgraded lighting and sound systems, new paintwork and modernised toilets. There will also be flooring improvements, new seating and outdated and broken appliances in the venue's kitchen will be replaced. Work is scheduled to begin in early 2026 and complete in March 2027. The council said the refurbishment project will take place over the next two financial years. Bedford Corn Exchange hosts a range of entertainment including music, comedy and theatre. During the 1940s it attracted big names in entertainment such as Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Humphrey Bogart. Sarah Gallagher, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and customer experience at Bedford Borough Council, said: "This refurbishment is much more than just maintenance, it's a forward-thinking investment in Bedford's cultural heart. "By modernising the Corn Exchange, we are not only preserving an important historic venue but also enhancing the experience for local residents, visitors and businesses. "These improvements will support a diverse range of events, attract new audiences, and celebrate the rich heritage of Bedford." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. What happened to Glenn Miller? The 80-year mystery Town gets in the mood for Glenn Miller memorial Video of flooded theatre posted online by comedian Venue that hosted Glenn Miller earns listed status Bedford Borough Council
New York Post
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Shop denim-on-denim and get the Canadian tux for less on Amazon
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. There's a major denim-on-denim trend happening, and it's everywhere. We've been following the look from Paris, London, and New York, cities where dark looks usually reign. But right now, everyone is embracing their denim two-piece era, and we have to say, they're crushing it. From Ulla Johnson's elevated light to indigo layers to A.P.C.'s street-chic styles, denim is the new black. Although we love designer denim, we're also big fans of saving money and getting the look for less. Fortunately, Amazon has some killer fashion styles that are slaying, from cute denim vests to maxi skirts and jackets. Some call it a denim two-piece, but let's call it what it really is…the Canadian tuxedo. It earned its name in 1951 when Bing Crosby, an American singer (for the Gen-Z crowd), was denied entry to a Vancouver hotel for wearing a full denim outfit. Something that seems laughable in today's era but is nevertheless a part of our past high fashion standards when flying was fun and madmen were cool. In response, Levi's created a custom tuxedo jacket for Crosby entirely out of denim, transforming what was once a fashion faux pas into a statement look that is now embraced at even the most upscale establishments. If pop stars from the '50s aren't your thing, rest assured that celebrities like Dua Lipa, Kendrick Lamar, Austin Butler, and Gigi Hadid, to name a few, are very much rocking the trend. Now go nail the art of the Canadian tuxedo for less with Amazon — no singing required. Women's Denim Amazon The denim vest is the new summer staple because it makes a great breathable top and pairs nicely with a smart pair of jeans or shorts (in denim, of course). Amazon This chic look really qualifies as pants due to the ankle cuff and high waist, pulling off a chill but polished office vibe. These are bound to sell out, especially at this price. Amazon OK, cowgirl, you're on trend. These longer jacket silhouettes are gracing the runway, bringing in a more elevated sophistication paired with jeans or a girl ready to dance the two-step in cutoff denim shorts. The choice is yours. Which will you choose? Amazon The maxi skirt took last summer by storm, and this year it remains a great alternative to jeans thanks to its breezy slits and relaxed fit around the legs. Amazon Available in inclusive sizing and various washes, the bestselling Levi's 501 Women's Shorts are a must-have addition to your wardrobe for the perfect summer look. Amazon Every woman needs a button-up denim top that she can tie at the waist. This one is already cut to perfection, so it lies flat against your waist. If you want more color options, Omoone has 10 shades to choose from. Men's Denim Amazon This classic, regular cut is very trendy right now with the gents, so if you love fitting in, you'll be into these blue jeans. But not to worry, it comes in several other washes if light blue isn't your jam. Add this iconic, sherpa-lined Trucker to your wardrobe, which will take you from work to weekend wear. Machine washable for easy care and lasting wear. Amazon Buy in with the OG: The Levi's Men's 501 Original Fit Jeans. The straight-leg fit offers just the right amount of room while maintaining the classic silhouette, available in regular and Big & Tall sizes. Amazon These jeans provide a laid-back, straight-leg silhouette that is great for all-day wear and weather well. Available in both standard and Big & Tall sizes, the Levi's 559 is the ideal choice for those seeking both style and ease. This article was written by Emma Sutton-Williams, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter and resident fashionista. Emma is one of the best-dressed ladies in The Post's office, and also known for finding an unbelievable deal on any one of her stylish outfits. Divulging on everything from the most-popular and most-underrated purse brands to her honest thoughts on Kim Kardashian's Skims undergarments and apparel, Emma has cultivated an eye for style and an expertise for identifying the clothes and accessories worth your coin. At the same time, she proudly models the products she picks so you can see their fit and function first-hand. Emma has been creating shopping guides for The Post since 2024, and previously held bylines in Rolling Stone, Oprah Daily, Parents, InStyle, StyleCaster and more. Looking for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping Post Wanted.
Irish Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Why did two Kerry politicians fight to protect Airbnb in the Kingdom?
'Another cup of tea?' asks Toni Sheehan from her spick and span kitchen at the back of her Killarney B&B. Sitting alongside her husband Danny, she smiles warmly and tells a story about how one of her guests looked and sounded exactly like Bing Crosby. 'He was fabulous. Ninety-three years old and every morning he sang a song for the two of us,' she said. 'We had to close the door on everyone else and I'd tell them: 'Listen outside the door, Bing Crosby is at it inside''. READ MORE As they chat about the characters they have encountered running Larkinley Lodge on the edge of town, it's plain to see their love for accommodating strangers. With 25 years of experience under their belt, the Sheehans represent one of the many cogs in the vast, lucrative tourism machine of Co Kerry. And like an increasing number of people in the Kingdom, they are finding success on Airbnb , the worldwide online rental platform. 'We absolutely love it. We thrive on it. It's a very positive platform,' said Toni. 'We've been on the website the last nine years, and we've never, ever, ever had an issue. Not an ounce of trouble. [Airbnb guests] are fabulous, they're respectful. They come in on time, they leave on time.' [ Nine times as many Irish properties on Airbnb as in long-term rental, charity says Opens in new window ] The couple also offer their seven rooms through Tripadvisor and direct booking, but Airbnb demand has grown consistently and the vast majority of their business now flows through the platform. They are not alone in exploring the online letting space, of which Airbnb is the poster child. Figures provided by Fáilte Ireland show that the number of online short-term lets in Ireland in November last year rose to about 32,000, up from 29,000 a year earlier and 26,000 in 2022. Of those, about 3,600 are based in Kerry, a number which has also steadily risen over the last few years. Data from Inside Airbnb, a grassroots project that tracks listings and rentals on the site, shows that Kerry is second only to Dublin city in the number of Airbnbs listed, with 3,004 units advertised. Two-thirds of these are either entire houses or apartments. The platform's popularity in the Kingdom, a county that relies heavily on tourism for the local economy, is a reason why two prominent Kerry TDs – Norma Foley, a Fianna Fáil Minister, and Independent Michael Healy-Rae – pushed back at the Government's short-term letting legislation that was introduced this month. The legislation was introduced by the Government in the hope that it would transfer a slew of these properties on offer to short-term renters into the long-term sector in an attempt to ease the housing crisis. There's no stock of housing left because there's more to be gained from the Airbnb platform than renting full-time — Danny Sheehan, Killarney Led by the Department of Enterprise, the new rules will introduce a national register of short-term lets, managed by Fáilte Ireland , which is to be in place by May 2026. This would restrict these lettings to properties with appropriate planning permission, while – crucially – increasing the enforcement of the rules. The restrictions would apply to towns and cities of more than 10,000 people, of which only Tralee and Killarney qualify in Kerry. They also ensure compliance with an EU regulation on short-term lets that was adopted in May last year. Introducing the Bill last week, the Fine Gael Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said he was aware of 'genuine concerns' in tourism circles about transferring units from short-term rentals, but emphasised that the Government should use 'every lever' to increase housing supply. Existing rules around short-term lets were introduced in 2019 and are tied to rent pressure zones, but they have been criticised for lack of enforcement. The new rules aim to tackle this by linking Eircodes with online listings, making it easier to trace the properties being leased out. Statistics support the Government's targeting of properties currently being leased on short-term rentals to tourists on Airbnb and other online platforms Fáilte Ireland estimates that more than 10,000 properties currently being let short-term could be appropriate for long-term housing. Housing charity Threshold recently found there were nine times as many Irish properties advertised on Airbnb as there were for long-term rental. [ Airbnb and other letting platforms could face millions of euro in fines in Ireland under new rules Opens in new window ] However, research by the think tank, the Economic and Social Research Institute, published on Friday showed a strong correlation between properties that were previously listed as holiday homes and those now available on Airbnb, particularly in rural areas. The ESRI concluded that there was no correlation between increases in Airbnb rentals activity and falls in new rental tenancies between 2019 and 2023 but that this 'does not mean that Airbnb activity has not had a detrimental impact' on the private rental sector in local markets, but it 'does not appear to be the root cause' of the falls in the availability of private rental properties nationwide. The research indicated that a mass transfer of listings to the private rental sector is unlikely, even with a push by Government. It concluded that it could not be assumed that shorter-term lets in rural areas would switch back to the private rental sector if Airbnb was not there. The ESRI report identified Kerry as an Airbnb hotspot. It found Killarney had one highest ratios of Airbnb properties to private rental properties with almost one property listed for every six private rental properties where private rentals account for about a fifth all residential properties in the Kerry town. Local politicians in Kerry have warned about the potential for the new rules to damage the Kingdom's prized €700 million tourism sector. 'Remember, Killarney is the tourism capital of Europe,' said Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae without hint of hyperbole. 'We know how to do hospitality in Kerry better than anybody else, and I think that that product has to be protected. 'This is the way I'd word it: [Airbnb hosts] are not the cause of the housing problem and they're not the solution either.' Mr Healy-Rae would like to see a grandfathering in of new rules, so that only new entrants into the short-term letting space would have to deal with the additional restrictions, while existing landlords wouldn't be affected. He said he was 'sceptical' that the proposed legislation would increase supply in the housing market, but added that he was open to listening to opposing views. 'The political answer to this is compromise,' he said. 'But if you and your family come to Kerry this weekend, I mean God damn it, if you don't want to stay in a hotel, and if you want to stay in a short-term letting, surely be to goodness, we have to be able to provide that.' Among Kerry's Airbnb hosts that the county's politicians are looking to protect is Dingle-based Máiréad De Staic, who runs local jewellery brand Brian De Staic with her husband. She rents out six places in Dingle – three apartments and three suites – in a renovated period building and two flats in the centre of Killarney, using Airbnb. 'I find it very efficient to be perfectly honest,' she said. [ Planned ban on Airbnb-type lettings in rural communities prompts concern Opens in new window ] 'I've it down to a fine art now. I check my calendar first thing in the morning. I send it to my housekeeper and the laundry people – and that's it like.' Máiréad said that besides the odd 'hitch' with people arriving late or other small issues, she has no complaints with the Airbnb platform. 'The demand is there, and definitely, 100 per cent it's growing,' she said, pointing to an increased level of trust among guests and hosts as the platform beds itself into the market. Máiréad De Staic rents out six units in Dingle, three apartments and three suites in a renovated period building, and two flats in the centre of Killarney, using Airbnb. Photograph: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus Such is her confidence that she is constructing another 10 apartments at the back of her period house on Green Street, for the express purpose of short-term lets. 'Because it's a Georgian building, it's going to be like a Georgian street, and they'll all have different coloured doors,' she said. 'I can't wait for it.' The De Staics hope to have the additional apartments finished by the end of June; Airbnb bookings make up the vast majority of their business. Airbnb hosts agree that long-term rental supply should be increased, but equally they see why more and more are opting for the US-based rental platform instead. 'There's no stock of housing left because there's more to be gained from the Airbnb platform than renting full-time,' said Danny Sheehan at his Killarney B&B. 'There are so many of them [Airbnbs]. I mean, I think every second house is doing it in Killarney, and in the suburbs, too.' Máiréad De Staic's Airbnb in Dingle, Co Kerry. Photograph: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus The Sheehans have also spotted more and more young people arriving from the train station lugging heavy suitcases. To Toni, this is a dead giveaway. 'You just know they're Airbnb [guests]. It's like a priest, you will always know a priest. You just know instinctively,' she said. As for why the booking website has grown so popular in the Kingdom, the Sheehans point to the county's long history of the warm welcome. 'Killarney embraces tourism in any shape or form. It's in our nature,' said Toni. 'People just put their hands around people when they come to Kerry.'
