Latest news with #EastVillage
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz's former NYC neighbor spills secrets of living below the private couple
and Rachel Weisz 's former neighbor is spilling the secrets of living below the notoriously private couple. Last week, blogger Ilana Wiles shared a TikTok video in which she revealed she used to live in the same building as the former James Bond star, 57, and the Mummy actress, 55. 'Told them my upstairs neighbor was a celebrity,' she wrote over the clip, in which she took part in the #holyairball trend. The trend, which was inspired by a basketball-themed meme, recently went viral as social media stars shared common misconceptions about their life before revealing an impressive flex. She described her and her husband's many encounters with the power couple over the years before describing Craig as talkative and praising Weisz's youthful beauty. Mimicking someone's response to her tidbit, she wrote, 'So like one of the Housewives?' Then, she showed a photo of the famous movie stars in a surprising plot twist. In her caption, the influencer wrote: 'For the record, neither of us live there anymore but they were our upstairs neighbors for 10 years! I only have nice things to say.' Craig and Weisz have owned various New York City properties — and additional ones all over the world — including the $6 million penthouse in the East Village building that Wiles previously lived in and was seemingly referring to in her post, according to They lived there for seven years before selling the property in 2019. Wiles also previously opened up about her and her husband Mike living below the famous and notoriously private couple in one of her Substack posts, sharing her 'best celebrity story,' from May 2022. 'No, they weren't our best friends and they did not come over to borrow sugar or anything, but Mike did help Rachel carry her groceries up 15 flights one time during a power outage,' she shared with her followers. '[Rachel] looks 27 in real life, you should know,' she continued. 'And I had numerous elevator run-ins with Daniel throughout those years, as did most of my friends and family who were over regularly.' She continued: 'Do you know what it's like to be alone in a small, enclosed space with James Bond for a few moments?' She answered that it was 'f***ing surreal' to be in the British actor's presence. She also described the actor as an extremely talkative person. The former neighbor described her and her husband's many encounters with the power couple over the years before describing Craig as talkative and praising Weisz's youthful beauty; pictured September 2024 in Venice Craig and Weisz have owned various New York City properties — and additional ones all over the world — including the $6M penthouse in the East Village building that Wiles previously lived in and was seemingly referring to in her post; pictured September 2024 in Berkshire, UK 'Daniel Craig's eyes literally sparkle at you like the opening sequence of Dexter,' she recalled. 'Also, he is either legitimately friendly and likes small talk, or he starts conversations because he thinks it's fun to mess with people.' Wiles also recalled how her husband once knocked on Craig and Weisz's door to ask them about scaffolding around their penthouse that was blocking the light from their own apartment. She recalled how kind the couple were and added that 'celebrities are just like us.' 'Mike discovers that Daniel Craig is aware of the inconvenience they are placing on us and also wants the scaffolding down. 'He thinks the construction people are purposefully taking longer than necessary, so they can continue to charge them. It's all a racket!' she added. 'Celebrities, they are just like us! Daniel Craig says he will see what he can do and Mike leaves,' she recalled. Wiles explained that the scaffolding was down the following day, and to their surprise, they received a bottle of champagne as well as a handwritten note from Craig and Weisz apologizing for the inconvenience. Wiles wrote: 'And that's my favorite NYC celebrity story!'
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
App aims to put part of East Village's care in the hands of residents and visitors
A pilot initiative in the East Village is trying to make the area safer and cleaner by utilizing a new app where people can submit service requests. A pilot initiative in Calgary's East Village is trying to make the area safer and cleaner by turning to those who frequent it. The program utilizes a new app where people can submit service requests if they encounter any maintenance problems. Karim Ihad opened EV Cut Barbershop two months ago. He says he was attracted to East Village for the walk-around traffic and the constant effort to try and improve the area. 'I think that's one of the really important things for my business and for other businesses … to keep this area super clean,' said Ihad. That's exactly what East Village's new app—Safe, Clean and Awesome—is looking to help with. People can use the app to upload a photo of an issue they encounter—like garbage outside of a business—and submit a service request to have a team deal with it. 'I send a short text message, describe exactly what's going on there and after a couple of hours, the guys, they show up with their trailer and they pick up the stuff from there,' said Ihad. A pilot initiative in the East Village is trying to make the area safer and cleaner by utilizing a new app where people can submit service requests. A pilot initiative in the East Village is trying to make the area safer and cleaner by utilizing a new app where people can submit service requests. Popular requests on the app include overflowing garbage cans, graffiti and needle disposal. 'It's important that people, when they come into the community, have a good experience, that it feels clean and maintained and there are eyes on the street,' said Clare LePan with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation. 'This also gives the opportunity for residents to put their own eyes on the street and report that to us.' The app is the first of its kind in the city. In the past month, it has had a little over 200 downloads. The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation says it is monitored weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is already cutting down the response times of their service team. A pilot initiative in the East Village is trying to make the area safer and cleaner by utilizing a new app where people can submit service requests. A pilot initiative in the East Village is trying to make the area safer and cleaner by utilizing a new app where people can submit service requests. The easy and direct line of communication is a welcome addition for the people who live, work and enjoy East Village. 'We're trying to make a community here, and anything helps,' said one person. 'There's definitely a few times that I've been walking that I see, like, garbage on the ground,' said another. 'That's a great initiative, especially with such a beautiful area down by the river, but also just where a lot of our unhoused population is in the area. Just a great way to keep those communities together,' said another still. The app is available to download for free on the App Store and on Google Play.
Wall Street Journal
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Single, Young and Conservative: These People Want to ‘Make America Hot Again'
On a damp Thursday evening in early May, under the red lights of a bar in Manhattan's East Village, around 50 young men and women knocked back drinks and shouted over loud music. Black tables displayed white hats reading 'MAKE AMERICA HOT AGAIN' and pink stickers that said 'Where Reaganomics meets retinol.' The Village People's 'YMCA' and Usher's 'DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love' blasted over the speakers. The scene was familiar—a room full of young people hoping to find a date, or maybe just a new friend. But this was not any random mixer: Everyone present was conservative, or at the very least receptive to the idea of partnering up with a conservative.
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Aussie duo cash in on New York City's nightlife as A-listers flock to their bars
When Hamish Blake and Andy Lee opened their New York City pub, Old Mates, the place exploded. Flooded with AFL players, Aussie stars, and expats, the taps ran dry and the line snaked down the block. But while Hamish and Andy's bar made headlines, another Aussie duo has been quietly running New York's night-life behind the scenes — and cashing in on the city that never sleeps. Meet Dylan Hales and Ronnie Flynn, the Sydney-born mates behind some of New York City's hottest venues, packed with A-listers like Naomi Campbell, Dylan O'Brien and Nina Dobrev. Their East Village bar, The Flower Shop, helped kick it all off. Now, their venues stretch across SoHo and downtown Manhattan, from retro house parties to late-night jazz and packed underground dance floors. From hauling furniture in the rain to a night-life empire This isn't an overnight success story. Despite growing up in Sydney and even attending high school together, they moved to the US separately. Mr Flynn moved over in 2005 and Mr Hales followed a few years later. They reconnected in 2014 while working at an event at Art Basel in Miami. They were dragging furniture through a storm in the middle of the night when something clicked. 'We were out in the absolute pouring rain moving furniture around, just the two of us, nobody else,' Mr Hales told 'That kind of thing shows you what someone's made of.' Mr Flynn felt it too. 'We complement each other as far as skill sets and whatnot,' he said. 'We made a pact and that was that. It's like the meeting of Smith and Wesson.' Their first major success, The Flower Shop, opened in 2017 and quickly became a local haunt for New Yorkers sick of velvet ropes and exclusivity. The vibe is Aussie-style hospitality: low-key, warm and genuinely fun. Architectural Digest raved about their second venue, Little Ways, a stylish yet unfussy two-storey supper club and townhouse restaurant designed by Sydney's Akin Atelier. Then came the partnership that took things to the next level: TAO Group Hospitality — the night-life juggernaut behind venues in New York, Vegas, London and Singapore. It's also the name behind Marquee at The Star, the once-booming Sydney hotspot that helped define the city's party scene for a generation. 'Moxy LES is like a stone's throw from The Flower Shop. We saw a big sign saying, 'Moxy coming soon.' So Ronnie and I just sent a text to Noah Tepperberg, the CEO of TAO Group, saying like, 'We're super interested in getting involved.' That's how that whole opportunity started as well,' Mr Hales said. That led to Loosie's, their club beneath the Moxy Hotel, and Silver Lining Lounge, a sleek late-night jazz bar where mr Flynn and Mr Hales serve as creative directors. How much are they making? While Hales and Flynn keep their financials under wraps, industry data offers some perspective. New York's bar and nightclub scene is massive, with the market valued at around AU$4.95 billion. Top-tier venues in Manhattan can pull in serious money. The Box, a legendary downtown club, was reportedly generating around AU$9.75 million a year back in 2013 — and experts say that figure would be significantly higher today given inflation, pricing and demand. Given the popularity of their venues, it's likely they are operating in a similar range. Their partner, TAO Group Hospitality, pulled in around AU$727.5 million in revenue in 2022. Hales and Flynn might not be there just yet, but their venues regularly make 'best of NYC' lists, and they're scaling fast. They recently opened a second Flower Shop in Austin, Texas, expanding their footprint beyond New York. Could Donald Trump be the wildcard that stunts their success? Just as Mr Flynn and Mr Hales scale their hospitality empire across the US, a new wildcard has entered the picture. With Donald Trump now back in the White House, his administration has begun reinstating tariffs on key imports. For hospitality businesses, that could mean higher costs on wines, spirits, furniture and materials. Australian entrepreneurs have already warned of the fallout from sudden US trade moves, including one fashion business owner whose US expansion was wiped out 'in seconds' due to tariff changes. Aussies have been taking over NYC hospitality Mr Trump's return to the White House may cast a shadow over the future, but up until now, Australians have been making a serious mark on New York's hospitality scene. Mr Flynn and Mr Hales aren't the only names behind the city's hottest venues. Eddy Buckingham runs Chinese Tuxedo, Peachy's and The Tyger. Jason Scott, of Frankie's Pizza fame, now runs Bushwick's Mansions and Danger Danger. And Sam Ross, the godfather of modern cocktails, co-owns Attaboy — one of the world's most awarded bars. So if you're in the Big Apple having a bevvy, chances are you're closer to home than you think.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Nancy Twine Scaled Briogeo. Now She's Helping Founders Build Their Mindset
When Nancy Twine launched Briogeo out of her East Village apartment in 2013, she was navigating new territory: a clean, high-performance haircare brand inspired by Twine's mother's DIY formulas, long before 'skinification' of hair became a mainstream buzzword. At the time, she was the youngest Black woman to ever launch a product line at Sephora, and she had just left a role as Vice President at Goldman Sachs. Fast forward to today, and Twine has done what few beauty entrepreneurs (particularly women of color) get to do: scale a brand to global recognition, raise over $20 million in private equity funding, and successfully exit through strategic acquisition (Twine sold Briogeo to Wella Company for a nine-figure sum) — all before turning 40. Now she's entering a new chapter. Today, Twine is announcing the launch of the Makers Mindset Accelerator: a premium video course designed to help CPG founders scale with clarity, confidence and strategy. It's a distillation of the lessons, strategies and lived experience that helped her build Briogeo into a category-defining brand. 'When I launched Briogeo, I had to learn through trial and error,' says Twine. 'I know firsthand how frustrating and overwhelming it can be to figure things out without a clear roadmap, especially when you're trying to scale without access to experienced mentors or inside knowledge of the industry.' The Makers Mindset Accelerator isn't just a high-level overview: it's a paid, in-depth course designed to give founders the exact strategies, insights, and tools they need to scale their businesses faster and with more confidence. It's rooted in real-world experience, not theory. Twine pulls back the curtain on what actually worked — from navigating investor conversations and structuring retail partnerships, to scaling operations and building a product roadmap that lasts. The program is tailored specifically for consumer product founders, a segment often underserved by traditional startup programs. It also includes lessons from industry insiders and a $1,000+ downloadable toolkit with deck templates, hiring checklists, agency databases, and more. Twine calls it 'the in-depth course I wish existed when I was starting out.' The 13-module program includes strategic lessons taught by Twine herself, alongside sessions with industry insiders like investor Alisa Carmichael (VMG Partners), Joe Jackman (Jackman Reinvents), Melissa Rothbaum (Director of Product Development, Fable and Mane), and more. More than just a knowledge share, the Accelerator is also a reinvestment cycle. Revenue generated will go back into the Makers Mindset platform, funding expanded access and future grant opportunities for underrepresented founders. 'Building a successful consumer brand takes more than a great product. It takes resilience and access to the right knowledge at the right time,' Twine says. For Twine, the mindset part of Makers Mindset isn't just branding: it's the root of everything. 'People always ask why I didn't name it something like Female Founders or Builders,' she says. 'I really wanted to focus on this concept of mindset, because it's so foundational for being able to transform your dream into reality.' 'When people think about launching a business, they go straight to What's the next step? Who do I network with? How do I raise money? And while those things matter, they're just part of the journey. The mindset is what gets you through the curveballs. It's what gives you longevity.' That grit and self-belief, she says, is especially critical for women entrepreneurs, many of whom are conditioned to seek external validation. 'So many founders come to me asking, 'Do you think I should do this?' And I always flip it back: 'What do you think?' You don't need permission to pursue your passion. You don't need the roadmap perfectly laid out.' One belief Twine wishes every female founder could shed? 'That you need a 'yes' to move forward. I never take 'no' as a final answer. Sure, doors close, and sometimes that's okay. A few years down the line, you might realize that door needed to close to make room for something better. But I see so many founders treat a setback as a sign they should shut down completely or go back to their day job. Don't. The right doors will open, but only if you trust yourself.' Twine's pivot to education and founder support isn't a departure from her brand-building legacy — it's a natural extension of it. In 2024, she launched the Dream Makers Founder Grant: a $1 million grant that provides early-stage funding to underrepresented female founders (with a focus on Black and BIPOC founders in the consumer goods industries). And Twine credits Ulta Beauty, one of Briogeo's key retail partners, for being a mentor in launching the first Makers Mindset workshop, which debuted on International Women's Day earlier this year. That event marked the official launch of the platform, but the real vision is bigger: an evergreen ecosystem of tools, programming, and support for consumer founders, rooted in strategy, mindset and community. Season 3 of the Makers Mindset Podcast (airing through June 3rd) continues to amplify the journeys of bold female founders, leaders and changemakers, with names like Amy Liu (Tower 28), Monique Rodriguez (Mielle Organics), Shani Darden (Shani Darden Skin Care), and Brigette Romanek (Romanek Design Studio). The season also features Cristina Nuñez of True Beauty Ventures, Meera Bhatia of Fabletics, and Susan Yara of Naturium. The Blueprint Breakdown subseries, an audio-only format designed to dive deep into practical, expert-led guidance (from fundraising to founder wellbeing), is new to the podcast this season. It's one more way Twine is turning lived experience into shared strategy. 'This is about more than business strategy. It's about the psychology and spirit behind what you're building," Twine asserts. She also hopes to model a different definition of success. After a decade spent heads-down building Briogeo, Twine has become a vocal advocate for balance and what she calls a 'life well lived.' Twine also credits her growth to the relationships she's cultivated along the way. 'When I meet someone I admire, I stay curious and stay in touch. I've found that real mentorship grows from mutual respect and vulnerability,' she says. 'People appreciate when you open up and ask for guidance. That's how the strongest connections are built.' It's that same spirit of openness she's bringing to the Makers Mindset platform: part playbook, part support system, all impact. 'When I started out, success meant going all in — sacrificing sleep, skipping meals, constantly pushing,' she reflects. 'But over time, that hustle mindset started to drain me. I realized that if you're not taking care of yourself, you're not doing your business any favors.' That lesson hit home after the sudden loss of her mother, the original inspiration behind Briogeo's early formulas. 'Your business is important, but so is your health, your joy, your relationships. That's what I mean by a life well lived. And that's the future I want to help other founders create — not just a successful brand, but a fulfilling life.' Contributor disclosure: I participated as an expert for Makers Mindset virtual programming, but do not have a vested interest or hold stake in Makers Mindset or any of the aforementioned brands.
