Latest news with #FrankSinatra
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
9 unusual things to do in Palm Springs, California beyond golf and spas
Greater Palm Springs is where luxury meets the desert. This sun-drenched oasis in Southern California blends striking natural beauty with high-end experiences, fine art, unique villas, and immersive outdoor adventures. Whether you're seeking tranquility or thrills, family fun or five-star indulgence, Greater Palm Springs delivers a visually stunning getaway with style, sophistication, and a generous splash of desert magic. Stay in an Iconic Vacation Home A visit to Greater Palm Springs is incomplete without a stay in a luxuriously appointed vacation homes with amenities such as padel courts and swimming pools. Frank Sinatra's former home and Elvis Presley's honeymoon hideaway are some of the homes that you can book during your visit. Those seeking a truly unforgettable experience in fabulous homes should consider Desert Luxury Estates. The La Paz Estate in Palm Desert, for instance, is a destination event-type vacation, ideal for families and wedding parties, offering eight bedrooms, six baths, and a pool. The 'Modern Mesa' in Palm Springs offering is three bedrooms, thoroughly modern and sleeps six. There are countless others. Airbnb lists some stellar Movie Colony homes for those surfing the site. Meanwhile, Vacation Palm Springs is a worthy look-see with vacation homes in Palm Desert, modern homes in the Tahquitz area, villas with views and more. Speaking of, Private Villa Management offers private villas with pools and, of course, views. Get Your Adrenaline Fix What makes this bucket list experience even better is that Big Wheel Tours offers more than just bike tours; you can also choose from hiking adventures and guided Jeep or SUV excursions. But to start, try one of the featured bike tours. There are hiking, Jeep, and SUV tours as well. But first, experience any one of the bike tours featured here. The custom Palm Springs tour allows guests to create the tour they desire. Meanwhile, the Indian Canyon Bike and Hike experience offers spectacular ways to view the stunning valley. Tours begin from the shop's downtown Palm Springs locale, taking people through several older, if not eye-catching Palm Springs neighbourhoods, including Canyon Country Club. It is a ten-mile round trip and downright unforgettable. The Earthquake Canyon Express Bicycle Tour is another gem offering riders a rare geologic experience on a 20-mile tour that takes them through the heart of the San Andreas Fault zone. The road is paved and heads to the heart of grape country near Mecca. Admire Iconic Homes Start the day with a self-guided home tour by Modern Tours Palm Springs around iconic neighbourhoods. The two-hour Celebrity MEGA Tour is the main go-to, and your self-driving celebrity tour takes you through stellar Palm Springs neighbours, once inhabited by a bevvy of celebs and/or created by iconic architects like William Krisel. See the homes of the Rat Pack, Leonardo DiCaprio, a U.S. president, and other memorable icons. The company's modernism tour stands out, too, and you get history and candid tales from an expert local guide. Palm Springs Mod Squad Tours should be another consideration. Take note of its Martini & MCM Architecture Tour, which takes visitors to the homes of Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Marilyn Monroe. Five Star Adventure Tours is another worthy consideration for seeing brilliant homes from the likes of Wexler and Kauffman. Enjoy Exceptional Views from a Hot Air Balloon When in Greater Palm Springs, a hot air balloon ride is a fabulous way to discover the region. Nothing spells chic like a glass of champagne while you sail in balloon over unique desert formations. These adventures are best experienced from September through May. Early morning balloon adventures also include a continental breakfast. These remarkable rides are also available for wedding parties. Brightly coloured aerostats loom more than eight stories high, and once in the air, offering a rare bird's eye view of striking mountainscapes, farms, cities, resorts, and, of course, the natural desert. Explore on Horseback If you are feeling really adventurous, try Smoke Tree Stables and ride a horse on a palm tree path. They offer horseback riding lessons and guided trail rides through the stunning palm tree landscape. After the ride, you can hang out with the horses and learn how to brush and care for them. Whether you are celebrating a birthday or riding with the family, horseback riding at Smoke Tree Stables is a fun and unforgettable experience. Stargazing The nighttime sky is truly remarkable around these parts. Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory stands out. Between observatory tours and actual stargazers, this is a go-to for those wanting a new adventure. Meanwhile, the Coachella Valley Preserve should be noted because it is not as far as Joshua Tree National Park. The park is one of the most exceptional stargazing outposts around. Take an afternoon trip to Idyllwild, grab some dinner, and look up. This mountain community is away from the city hub below and offers exquisite stargazing. Feed a Giraffe at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens The Living Desert is a modern-day zoo, botanical garden and wildlife conservatory with new and inventive offerings added to the overall experience. For starters, there is a friendly giraffe hoping to make your acquaintance. Feeding the giraffes is a one-of-a-kind experience. Be sure to experience Rhino Savanna, an impressive outpost perched just inside the zoo's main entrance. You will discover a fascinating state-of-the-art, multi-species habitat here, home to 12 African species. Get to know the zoo's largest animals, two black rhinos, Nia and Jaali. Guests can stand just a few feet away from these majestic creatures and capture their beauty from up close. Ride the World's Largest Tramcar at The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway This idyllic haven is a must-visit, offering a breathtaking two-and-a-half-mile ascent into stunning wilderness aboard the world's largest rotating tramcar. Once up top, there is plenty to do; make an afternoon of it, then plan for an unforgettable meal at Pines Café or Peaks Restaurant, where sublime valley views await you. This bona fide national monument also features guided nature walks, camping, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and even snow camping for adventurous souls.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NYT ‘Connections' Hints and Answers Today, Sunday, July 20
NYT 'Connections' Hints and Answers Today, Sunday, July 20 originally appeared on Parade. Spoilers ahead! We've warned you. We mean it. Read no further until you really want some clues or you've completely given up and want the answers ASAP. Get ready for all of today's NYT 'Connections' hints and answers for #770 on Sunday, July 20, 2025. If you've been having trouble with any of the connections or words in Sunday's puzzle, you're not alone and these hints should definitely help you out. Plus, I'll reveal the answers further down. Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle Hints About Today's NYT Connections Categories on Sunday, July 20 1. Dance, dance.2. What you do right before you pass.3. Frank Sinatra loved this.4. Things you speak every day. Related: 300 Trivia Questions and Answers to Jumpstart Your Fun Game Night Ready for the answers? Scroll below this image (the image that represents your very appreciated patience!). Today's Connections Game Answers for Sunday, July 20: 1. MOVE TO THE MUSIC: BOP, BOUNCE, GROOVE, SWAY2. INHALATIOIN: DRAG, DRAW, PUFF, PULL3. MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS: DRY, GIN, SHAKEN, TWIST4. ___ WORD: BUZZ, CROSS, LOAN, PASS How'd you do? Up Next:- 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day- Hints, Clues and Answers to the NYT's 'Mini Crossword' Puzzle Did You Miss a Few Days? Let's Catch You Up With Recent Connections AnswerNYT 'Connections' Hints and Answers Today, Sunday, July 20 first appeared on Parade on Jul 20, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Mint
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Alan Bergman dies at 99: Oscar-winning lyricist of ‘The Way We Were' worked with Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand
Oscar-winning lyricist Alan Bergman, who delivered classics such as 'The Windmills of Your Mind,' passed away at the age of 99. The celebrated writer who left a significant mark in the music industry with 'The Windmills of Your Mind,' 'Nice 'n' Easy' and 'You Don't Bring Me Flowers' breathed his last on July 18. He collaborated with several artists, including Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Oscar-winning lyricist who wrote songs for Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra dies at 99
Oscar-winning lyricist Alan Bergman has died at the age of 99. The Hollywood stalwart was best known for penning the classic 1973 song The Way We Were for Barbra Streisand. Bergman also wrote the hit tunes How Do You Keep the Music Playing? and It Might Be You. Bergman died late Thursday at his home in Los Angeles, family spokesperson Ken Sunshine said in a statement Friday. The statement said Bergman had, in recent months, suffered from respiratory issues 'but continued to write songs till the very end.' The lyricist teamed with his wife, Marilyn, for an enduring partnership that produced his best work. Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Tony Bennett and many other artists performed their material, and Streisand became a frequent collaborator and close friend. Among their most famous works: the Streisand-Neil Diamond duet You Don´t Bring Me Flowers, the well-named Sinatra favorite Nice ´n´ Easy and the topical themes to the 1970s sitcoms Maude and Good Times.' Their film compositions included Ray Charles´ In the Heat of the Night from the movie of the same name; Noel Harrison's The Windmills of Your Mind from The Thomas Crown Affair; and Stephen Bishop's It Might Be You, from Tootsie. The Bergmans married in 1958 and remained together until her death, in 2022. With collaborators ranging from Marvin Hamlisch and Quincy Jones to Michel Legrand and Cy Coleman, they were among the most successful and prolific partnerships of their time, providing words and occasional music for hundreds of songs, including movie themes that became as famous as the films themselves. Blending Tin Pan Alley sentiment and contemporary pop, the Bergmans crafted lyrics known by millions, many of whom would not have recognized the writers had they walked right past them. The whole world seemed to sing and cry along to The Way We Were, an instant favorite recorded by Streisand for the 1973 romantic drama of the same name that co-starred Streisand and Robert Redford. Set to Hamlisch's tender, bittersweet melody, it was essentially a song about itself - a nostalgic ballad about nostalgia, an indelible ode to the uncertainty of the past, starting with one of history´s most famous opening stanzas: 'Memories / light the corners of my mind / misty watercolor memories / of the way we were.' The Way We Were was the top-selling song of 1974 and brought the Bergmans one of their three Oscars, the others coming for 'Windmills of Your Mind' and the soundtrack to 'Yentl,' the Streisand-directed movie from 1983. At times, the Academy Awards could be mistaken for a Bergman showcase. In 1983, three of the nominees for best song featured lyrics by the Bergmans, who received 16 nominations in all. The Bergmans also won two Grammys, four Emmys, were presented numerous lifetime achievement honors and received tributes from individual artists, including Streisand's 2011 album of Bergman songs, What Matters Most. On Lyrically, Alan Bergman, Bergman handled the vocals himself. Although best known for their movie work, the Bergmans also wrote the Broadway musical 'Ballroom' and provided lyrics for the symphony 'Visions of America.' Their very lives seemed to rhyme. They didn´t meet until they were adults, but were born in the same Brooklyn hospital, four years apart; raised in the same Brooklyn neighborhood, attended the same children´s concerts at Carnegie Hall and moved to California in the same year, 1950. They were introduced in Los Angeles while working for the same composer, but at different times of the day. Their actual courtship was in part a story of music. Fred Astaire was Marilyn´s favorite singer at the time and Alan Bergman co-wrote a song, 'That Face,' which Astaire agreed to record. Acetate in hand, Bergman rushed home to tell Marilyn the news, then proposed. Bergman is survived by a daughter, Julie Bergman, and granddaughter. Bergman had wanted to be a songwriter since he was a boy. He majored in music and theater at the University of North Carolina, and received a master´s from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he befriended Johnny Mercer and became a protege. He and Marilyn at first wrote children´s songs together, and broke through commercially in the late 1950s with the calypso hit 'Yellowbird.' Their friendship with Streisand began soon after, when they visited her backstage during one of her early New York club appearances. 'Do you know how wonderful you are?' was how Marilyn Bergman greeted the young singer. The Bergmans worked so closely together that they often found themselves coming up with the same word at the same time. Alan likened their partnership to housework: one washes, one dries, the title of a song they eventually devised for a Hamlisch melody. Bergman was reluctant to name a favorite song, but cited 'A Love Like Ours' as among their most personal: 'When love like ours arrives / We guard it with our lives / Whatever goes astray / When a rainy day comes around / A love like ours will keep us safe and sound.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pinky ring demand is soaring, says jewellery expert DAN HATFIELD - do you have one tucked away worth a small fortune?
There's a certain swagger to the pinky ring. Easy to spot from across the room, a glint on the smallest finger that somehow screams confidence louder than a diamond tiara at a dinner party. Whether it's flashed by an East End geezer, a rap mogul, or a country gent sipping sherry in his club chair, the pinky ring carries centuries of history, mystery and of course, value. But where did it come from, and why does this tiny piece of metal still hold such big sway? Historically, the pinky ring was a mark of power. In ancient Rome, only certain classes were permitted to wear gold rings. By the 19th century, British aristocrats had adopted the pinky ring as a gentleman's signature - literally. SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR MODERN TREASURE VALUED BY DAN Signet rings, often engraved with family crests, were worn on the little finger and used to stamp wax seals on documents. No signature required as your ring did the talking. Even King Charles famously wore his signet pinky ring stacked with his first wedding band. Now, if that's not heritage and symbolism clashing on one digit, I don't know what is. But let's not pretend the pinky ring's appeal stops at titled folk and landed estates. Fast forward to 20th-century America, and you'll find it on the hands of gangsters, boxers and jazz musicians. Think Frank Sinatra crooning in a smoky lounge, pinky ring flashing under the spotlight. Or Marlon Brando's Don Corleone, silently intimidating with just a turn of the wrist. The message? 'I've arrived, and I'm not to be messed with.' In modern pop culture, the pinky ring remains the ultimate wink to wealth and style. Rappers from Jay-Z to Drake have given it fresh swagger. But it's not just bling for bling's sake. The little finger, being set apart from the rest, makes the perfect canvas for self-expression. A pinky ring doesn't scream; it whispers, 'I'm confident enough not to care what you think.' So, how much are they worth? From my years in the pawn and jewellery world, I can tell you this: not all pinky rings are created equal. Value depends on materials, age, craftsmanship, provenance, and, crucially, style. A heavy 18ct gold signet ring with an intaglio (that's a carved family crest to you and me) from the Victorian era? You're looking at anywhere between £1,000 and £5,000, sometimes more if it's linked to a known estate. On the other hand, a modern designer pinky ring by the likes of Cartier, Bvlgari or even Tom Wood, can still fetch strong resale prices, particularly if it's in excellent condition and comes with the original box and paperwork. In short: if it's real gold, real stones, or carries a famous name, you're onto a winner. That said, don't overlook costume pieces. A vintage pinky ring from the 60s or 70s, even in gold plate or silver, can hold serious retro value. The demand for bold, funky statement rings is booming among Gen Z, and they're snapping up heritage fashion like there's no tomorrow. You can even commission your own pinky ring these days and I often recommend it for those looking to mark a milestone. Whether graduation, a new job, marriage or even divorce. Yes, divorce! One client of mine commissioned a ring engraved with the date his decree absolute came through. I think it was his way of saying: 'Onwards and upwards.' And frankly, I love that. If you're buying one today, here's my advice: choose quality over size, go for meaning over flash, and make sure it fits perfectly. The last thing you want is a ring slipping off during a handshake or a round of applause. If you're going to adorn your hand with a pinky ring, I'd advise to keep the rest of your jewellery to a minimum. A pinky ring is a solo act, it doesn't want company. And whether you're donning it on the right or left hand, don't let anyone tell you what's 'proper.' This is about personal flair, not protocol. In a world that's constantly changing, it's comforting to know some things endure. The pinky ring is one of them. From Roman senators to Soho stylists, it remains the ultimate symbol of identity, independence, and let's be honest, a bit of attitude. Next time you see one catching the light across a crowded room, don't underestimate it. That little ring might just tell the biggest story of all. Modern Pinky treasure 1. Post Malone's 'Big Papa' Diamond Pinky Ring – Approximately $500,000 In November 2022, Post Malone received a custom pinky ring from Angel City Jewellers featuring a 5-carat emerald-cut centre surrounded by 23 carats of diamonds (VVS clarity). The ring, named 'Big Papa,' was valued at roughly half a million dollars. 2. Meghan Markle's Lorraine Schwartz Emerald‑Cut Diamond Pinky Ring– Around £56k–£60k The Duchess of Sussex has been spotted wearing a striking pinky ring by Lorraine Schwartz featuring a 3-carat emerald-cut diamond. Estimated value lies between £56,000 and £60,000. 3. Shiffon Co. '1972 Tennis Pinky Ring' Diamond Wrap – Retail price £2,800 This commemorative diamond pinky ring—designed to celebrate Title IX's 50th anniversary was launched in 2022. While beautifully meaningful and diamond-embellished, its retail price places it far below mega‑bling territory. 4. Kim Kardashian's Massive Pinky Ring at the 2024 Met Gala – Undisclosed value Kim Kardashian stunned at the 2024 Met Gala wearing a massive pear-shaped pink diamond on her pinky finger, as reported in fashion coverage. No published price exists, but given the scale and rarity, it likely ranks among the priciest pinky‑worn stones. 5. Other Celebrity Pinky Rings (Rihanna, Dua Lipa, etc.) Stars like Rihanna (two diamond pinky rings at the 2014 CFDA Awards), Dua Lipa (Tiffany pinky at the 2024 Met Gala), and Naomi Campbell have worn high-end pieces. While visually extravagant, none have publicly disclosed valuations, so exact ranking by price isn't possible but I estimate a jaw dropping value for each! Send in your Modern Treasures Dan Hatfield is This Morning's money-making expert and resident pawnbroker. He is an international specialist in antiques, jewellery, diamonds and collectibles. Dan's first non-fiction book, Money Maker: Unlock Your Money Making Potential is available now. This is Money's Modern Treasures column is after your items and collections for valuations. Please send in as much information as possible, including photographs, to: editor@ with the email subject line: Modern Treasures We're after post-War items only please and we may contact you for further information. Dan will do his best to reply to your message in his bi-weekly column, but he won't be able to answer everyone or correspond privately with readers. Nothing in his replies constitutes regulated financial advice. Published questions are sometimes edited for brevity or other reasons. As with anything, if you are looking to sell items and collections, it is wise to get a second and third opinion - not just rely on Dan's suggestions.
