Latest news with #FlaglerCollege
Business Upturn
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Meet Ariana Madix: Everything we know about the Love Island USA season 7 host
By Aman Shukla Published on June 4, 2025, 19:00 IST Last updated June 4, 2025, 14:08 IST Love Island USA Season 7 is set to premiere on June 3, 2025, bringing a fresh wave of romance, drama, and jaw-dropping twists to Peacock. Returning as host is Ariana Madix, a reality TV star whose vibrant energy and relatable charm have made her a fan favorite. After a record-breaking Season 6, anticipation is high for what Madix will bring to the villa this summer. Here's everything we know so far about Ariana Madix's role as the host of Love Island USA Season 7. Who Is Ariana Madix? Born on June 24, 1985, in Melbourne, Florida, Ariana Madix is a multifaceted talent with a background in acting, modeling, and reality television. A graduate of Flagler College with dual degrees in Theatre and Broadcast Communications, Madix initially pursued a career in Broadway, later starring as Roxie Hart in Chicago in 2024. Her competitive equestrian career and two national dance championships showcase her diverse skill set. Before her reality TV fame, she worked as a bartender in New York and landed acting gigs with College Humor . Madix rose to prominence on Vanderpump Rules , where she became a household name following the 2023 'Scandoval' controversy involving her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval and castmate Rachel 'Raquel' Leviss. The public scandal propelled her into the spotlight, leading to opportunities like competing on Dancing With the Stars Season 32, releasing her cocktail book Single AF Cocktails: Drinks for Bad B tches*, and co-owning the sandwich shop Something About Her with co-star Katie Maloney. Her resilience and reinvention post-scandal have made her a relatable figure, endearing her to fans and boosting Love Island USA 's popularity. Why Ariana Madix's Hosting Matters Madix's star power has undeniably elevated Love Island USA . Her fan base from Vanderpump Rules brought a surge of new viewers, contributing to Season 6's record-breaking success. Her ability to bridge Bravo and Peacock audiences has created a cross-fandom appeal, broadening the show's reach. Critics have praised her for transforming the franchise, with Paper Magazine noting that Love Island USA 'needed her' to achieve its recent cultural impact. Season 7 Premiere and How to Watch Love Island USA Season 7 premieres on June 3, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock, with new episodes airing daily except Wednesdays. The aftershow, Love Island: Aftersun , hosted by Maura Higgins, will return on July 7. Fans can stream the show on Peacock's premium plan ($7.99/month or $79.99/year) or ad-free premium plus plan ($13.99/month or $139.99/year). ariana madixLove Island USA Season 7 Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
CBS News
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine allows visitors to cuddle with giant rodents
Animal lovers now have a place to hang out with the "it" animals of the moment — big furry rodents. In the back of a real estate office building in what is known as America's oldest city, capybaras are crawling into visitors' laps, munching on corn on the cob and hunting for scratches from humans at The Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine, Florida. "You give them lots of scratches and love," said Stephanie Angel, who opened The Capybara Cafe late last year. "A lot of times they'll climb on your lap because they're very used to people, and if you're really good at giving scratches, they'll actually fall over. So that's always our goal to get them so comfortable that they fall over." Since opening its doors in October in downtown St. Augustine, near the Flagler College campus, hundreds of animal lovers have visited the site to give the capybaras head scratches. Reservations are booked several months in advance by patrons like Leah Macri, who recently visited the northeast Florida location from Orlando with her daughter. "Their fur kind of feels like straw a bit," Macri said. After entering a reception area with couches and an open pen of baby chicks, visitors are escorted into a smaller room in groups of a half dozen or so people. Blankets are placed over their laps, and three capybaras are brought into the room. Other animals like a skunk, wallaby and armadillo are also introduced into the room, and they crawl among the humans and into their laps. The cost is $49 per person for a half-hour encounter, and $99 for an hour-long encounter that involves the other animals. Even though she had come for the capybaras, Macri enjoyed holding the armadillo the most. "He was the cuddly, like the best. He was just the softest," she said. "He was just very sweet." The capybara — a semi-aquatic South American relative of the guinea pig — is the latest in a long line of "it" animals to get the star treatment in the United States. During last year's holiday shopping season, shoppers could find capybara slippers, purses, robes and bath bombs. Axolotls, owls, hedgehogs, foxes and sloths also had recent turns in the spotlight. The web-footed capybaras can grow to more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) long and weigh well north of 100 pounds (45 kilograms). Several zoos and wildlife parks across the U.S. offer encounters with capybaras, but Angel said none of them provide the intimacy with the animals that visitors get at the Capybara Cafe. Angel said she plans to open another capybara cafe across the state in St. Petersburg, Florida, soon. The St. Augustine location doesn't sell coffee or hot food, like a cafe implied in its name, but it does sell capybara-themed T-shirts, coffee mugs and stuffed animals. The cafe was created to financially support the Hastings, Florida-based nonprofit Noah's Ark Sanctuary Inc., an animal refuge, Angel said. Chris Cooper, who visited the Capybara Cafe with his wife, was surprised at how rough and coarse the capybaras' hair was. "And I wasn't expecting how affectionate they were," said Cooper, who drove up 157 miles (253 kilometers) from Weeki Wachee to see the critters. "They enjoyed the hands-on rubs."
The Independent
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Forget cat cafes, at this Florida establishment patrons can mingle with Capybara
Move over, cats and dogs, there's a new "it" animal in town, and it's making a splash in America's oldest city. At The Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine, Florida, visitors can now spend quality time with the internet's favourite giant rodents: capybaras. Tucked away behind a real estate office, this unique cafe offers an up-close-and-personal experience with these gentle giants. Forget lattes and cappuccinos, here the main attraction is the chance to hand-feed corn on the cob to these furry creatures, shower them with scratches, and even have them clamber into your lap. "You give them lots of scratches and love," explains Stephanie Angel, the cafe's founder, who opened its doors late last year. "A lot of times they'll climb on your lap because they're very used to people, and if you're really good at giving scratches, they'll actually fall over. So that's always our goal – to get them so comfortable that they fall over." Since opening its doors in October in downtown St. Augustine, near the Flagler College campus, hundreds of animal lovers have visited the site to give the capybaras head scratches. Reservations are booked several months in advance by patrons like Leah Macri, who recently visited the northeast Florida location from Orlando with her daughter. 'Their fur kind of feels like straw a bit,' Macri said. After entering a reception area with couches and an open pen of baby chicks, visitors are escorted into a smaller room in groups of a half dozen or so people. Blankets are placed over their laps, and three capybaras are brought into the room. Other animals like a skunk, wallaby and armadillo are also introduced into the room, and they crawl among the humans and into their laps. The cost is $49 per person for a half-hour encounter, and $99 for an hour-long encounter that involves the other animals. Even though she had come for the capybaras, Macri enjoyed holding the armadillo the most. 'He was the cuddly, like the best. He was just the softest,' she said. 'He was just very sweet.' The capybara — a semi-aquatic South American relative of the guinea pig — is the latest in a long line of 'it' animals to get the star treatment in the United States. During last year's holiday shopping season, shoppers could find capybara slippers, purses, robes and bath bombs. Axolotls, owls, hedgehogs, foxes and sloths also had recent turns in the spotlight. The web-footed capybaras can grow to more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) long and weigh well north of 100 pounds (45 kilograms). Several zoos and wildlife parks across the U.S. offer encounters with capybaras, but Angel said none of them provide the intimacy with the animals that visitors get at the Capybara Cafe. Angel said she plans to open another capybara cafe across the state in St. Petersburg, Florida, soon. The St. Augustine location doesn't sell coffee or hot food, like a cafe implied in its name, but it does sell capybara-themed T-shirts, coffee mugs and stuffed animals. The cafe was created to financially support the Hastings, Florida-based nonprofit Noah's Ark Sanctuary Inc., an animal refuge, Angel said. Chris Cooper, who visited the Capybara Cafe with his wife, was surprised at how rough and coarse the capybaras' hair was. 'And I wasn't expecting how affectionate they were,' said Cooper, who drove up 157 miles (253 kilometers) from Weeki Wachee to see the critters. 'They enjoyed the hands-on rubs.
Asharq Al-Awsat
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
At Florida's Capybara Cafe, Patrons Hang out with the ‘It' Animals of the Moment — Furry Rodents
Animal lovers now have a place to hang out with the "it" animals of the moment — big furry rodents. In the back of a real estate office building in what is known as America's oldest city, capybaras are crawling into visitors' laps, munching on corn on the cob and hunting for scratches from humans at The Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine, Florida. "You give them lots of scratches and love," said Stephanie Angel, who opened The Capybara Cafe late last year. "A lot of times they'll climb on your lap because they're very used to people, and if you're really good at giving scratches, they'll actually fall over. So that's always our goal to get them so comfortable that they fall over." Since opening its doors in October in downtown St. Augustine, near the Flagler College campus, hundreds of animal lovers have visited the site to give the capybaras head scratches. Reservations are booked several months in advance by patrons like Leah Macri, who recently visited the northeast Florida location from Orlando with her daughter. "Their fur kind of feels like straw a bit," Macri said. After entering a reception area with couches and an open pen of baby chicks, visitors are escorted into a smaller room in groups of a half dozen or so people. Blankets are placed over their laps, and three capybaras are brought into the room. Other animals like a skunk, wallaby and armadillo are also introduced into the room, and they crawl among the humans and into their laps. The cost is $49 per person for a half-hour encounter, and $99 for an hour-long encounter that involves the other animals. Even though she had come for the capybaras, Macri enjoyed holding the armadillo the most. "He was the cuddly, like the best. He was just the softest," she said. "He was just very sweet." The capybara — a semi-aquatic South American relative of the guinea pig — is the latest in a long line of "it" animals to get the star treatment in the United States. During last year's holiday shopping season, shoppers could find capybara slippers, purses, robes and bath bombs. Axolotls, owls, hedgehogs, foxes and sloths also had recent turns in the spotlight. The web-footed capybaras can grow to more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) long and weigh well north of 100 pounds (45 kilograms). Several zoos and wildlife parks across the US offer encounters with capybaras, but Angel said none of them provide the intimacy with the animals that visitors get at the Capybara Cafe. Angel said she plans to open another capybara cafe across the state in St. Petersburg, Florida, soon. The St. Augustine location doesn't sell coffee or hot food, like a cafe implied in its name, but it does sell capybara-themed T-shirts, coffee mugs and stuffed animals. The cafe was created to financially support the Hastings, Florida-based nonprofit Noah's Ark Sanctuary Inc., an animal refuge, Angel said. Chris Cooper, who visited the Capybara Cafe with his wife, was surprised at how rough and coarse the capybaras' hair was. "And I wasn't expecting how affectionate they were," said Cooper, who drove up 157 miles (253 kilometers) from Weeki Wachee to see the critters. "They enjoyed the hands-on rubs."
The Independent
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
At Florida's Capybara Cafe, patrons hang out with the 'it' animals of the moment — furry rodents
Animal lovers now have a place to hang out with the 'it' animals of the moment — big furry rodents. In the back of a real estate office building in what is known as America 's oldest city, capybaras are crawling into visitors' laps, munching on corn on the cob and hunting for scratches from humans at The Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine, Florida. 'You give them lots of scratches and love," said Stephanie Angel, who opened The Capybara Cafe late last year. "A lot of times they'll climb on your lap because they're very used to people, and if you're really good at giving scratches, they'll actually fall over. So that's always our goal to get them so comfortable that they fall over.' Since opening its doors in October in downtown St. Augustine, near the Flagler College campus, hundreds of animal lovers have visited the site to give the capybaras head scratches. Reservations are booked several months in advance by patrons like Leah Macri, who recently visited the northeast Florida location from Orlando with her daughter. 'Their fur kind of feels like straw a bit,' Macri said. After entering a reception area with couches and an open pen of baby chicks, visitors are escorted into a smaller room in groups of a half dozen or so people. Blankets are placed over their laps, and three capybaras are brought into the room. Other animals like a skunk, wallaby and armadillo are also introduced into the room, and they crawl among the humans and into their laps. The cost is $49 per person for a half-hour encounter, and $99 for an hour-long encounter that involves the other animals. Even though she had come for the capybaras, Macri enjoyed holding the armadillo the most. 'He was the cuddly, like the best. He was just the softest,' she said. 'He was just very sweet.' The capybara — a semi-aquatic South American relative of the guinea pig — is the latest in a long line of 'it' animals to get the star treatment in the United States. During last year's holiday shopping season, shoppers could find capybara slippers, purses, robes and bath bombs. Axolotls, owls, hedgehogs, foxes and sloths also had recent turns in the spotlight. The web-footed capybaras can grow to more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) long and weigh well north of 100 pounds (45 kilograms). Several zoos and wildlife parks across the U.S. offer encounters with capybaras, but Angel said none of them provide the intimacy with the animals that visitors get at the Capybara Cafe. Angel said she plans to open another capybara cafe across the state in St. Petersburg, Florida, soon. The St. Augustine location doesn't sell coffee or hot food, like a cafe implied in its name, but it does sell capybara-themed T-shirts, coffee mugs and stuffed animals. The cafe was created to financially support the Hastings, Florida-based nonprofit Noah's Ark Sanctuary Inc., an animal refuge, Angel said. Chris Cooper, who visited the Capybara Cafe with his wife, was surprised at how rough and coarse the capybaras' hair was. 'And I wasn't expecting how affectionate they were,' said Cooper, who drove up 157 miles (253 kilometers) from Weeki Wachee to see the critters. 'They enjoyed the hands-on rubs.' ___
