Latest news with #HouseofStrauss
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warriors Champion Reveals Steph Curry Was Almost Traded in 2012
Steph Curry has spent his entire career with the Golden State Warriors, who have won four championships since drafting the point guard in 2009. The Warriors won titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. Curry is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP and the leading 3-point shooter in NBA history. He will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer one day and get his No. 30 jersey retired by the Warriors when he retires from the NBA. Advertisement However, everything Curry has accomplished with Golden State almost didn't happen. According to Andrew Bogut, who won the 2015 title with Curry, the Warriors almost traded Curry instead of Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2012. Golden State acquired Bogut from Milwaukee in 2012. The Dubs traded Ellis, Kwame Brown and Ekpe Udoh to get Bogut. Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images "I was getting treatment. And I was basically told because after it happened, I was, I'm not going to say who it was, but I was really close to someone that I was doing treatment with there for my ankle," Bogut said on the House of Strauss podcast. "I was already out for the season, doing rehab every day. They were like, 'Yeah, it was either Monta or Steph and we, the team, decided to go with Monta based on health.' Advertisement "So I was like, 'Alright.' But then you look at hindsight, the Warriors made this genius move and freed up Steph Curry and the whole narrative that followed. It could have easily gone the other way. It's a sliding door moment. They'll deny it, but I know it for a fact." It's a good thing the Warriors didn't trade Curry, who will likely go down as the best player in Golden State franchise history. Curry has career averages of 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists with the Warriors. The Davidson product has made 11 All-Star teams and 10 All-NBA teams. Related: NBA Trade Idea Pairs Steph Curry With $100 Million Guard
Boston Globe
28-03-2025
- Boston Globe
A new-and-improved Vienna waits for you
In the past 10 years or so, scores of buildings have been renovated, and pedestrian-only areas added, along with more green spaces, bike paths, and parks. (It's now considered one of the greenest cities in the world.) An influx of young families has added vibrancy to the city, spurring new boutiques, galleries, and restaurant openings. Major museums have opened or been renovated, including the newly expanded and modern Wien Museum, following a multiyear, 100-million-euro makeover, and the opening of the new House of Strauss, commemorating composer and musician Johann Strauss II. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up St. Stephen's Cathedral is framed by pretty gardens. Pamela Wright Advertisement We'd heard rumblings of Vienna's up-and-coming, new-and-improved status. The New York Times named it one of the top 52 destinations to visit in 2024. Then Austrian Airlines introduced its new nonstop service from Boston to Vienna, and we were committed. We booked rooms at The Amauris, housed in an 1860 palace, along the famed Ringstrasse, Vienna's grand circular boulevard. Located between the Vienna State Opera and the Musikverein concert hall, and a short walk to most Old Town sights, this Relais & Chateau property oozes grace and elegance, with lots of marble and original paintings in gilded frames. Contemporary touches — splashes of eye-popping colors, lighting, and custom furniture — keep it from being stuffy or old-fashioned. Rooms are all about comfort, with luxurious linens, fresh flowers, and large modern baths. After the long, through-the-night flight, we were tempted to crawl into their four-poster beds. Instead, we headed to a nearby coffeehouse. Advertisement Of course, you'll try weinerschnitzel and spaetzle while you're in Vienna. Pamela Wright Coffee culture Mark Twain once said that 'the best coffee in Europe is Vienna coffee, compared to which all other coffee is fluid poverty.' We'd never argue with Twain, but the coffeehouse itself is the real gem in Vienna, grand places where locals gather, and fancy-dressed waiters serve coffee, pastries, and traditional Viennese dishes. 'It's in our blood,' says Heigerth of the coffeehouse experience. 'This is where we meet friends, read newspapers, and hang out for hours.' We visited several during our stay. We shared apple strudel at Café Landtmann; established in 1873. It's one of the most famous coffeehouses in Vienna and was a favorite haunt of Sigmund Freud. Café Frauenhuber, housed in a former medieval bathhouse, is the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna, and where Beethoven and Mozart once played. Café Central, established in 1876 and housed in an Italianate mansion, is where famous leaders, poets, philosophers, and revolutionists gathered, including Freud, Stefan Zweig, Lenin, and Stalin. A little less fancy, but very authentic and a local favorite is Café Tirolerhof, where we sampled a delicious Sacher-torte (without waiting in the ridiculously long line at the Sacher Hotel, home to the original Sacher-torte.) We didn't spend hours at any of them, but we found them warm, friendly, and thoroughly enjoyable — great stops for a cup of mélange and a slice of marmorgugelhupf. History lesson Our first stop, after caffeinating, was the Wien Museum on the Karlsplatz. The recently reopened museum is a gem, spanning three floors, and filled with artworks, artifacts, models, dioramas, and more, totaling some 1,700 objects. The museum's permanent exhibition, 'Vienna. My History' spans three floors and several rooms, detailing the city's history from the Neolithic Age to the present. We found it bright, easy to navigate, entertaining, and informative. Particularly striking was the more than 80-foot-high central hall, housing large artifacts, including a 1.7-ton sculpture of a whale, an antique carriage, a stunning model of St. Stephen's Cathedral, and original sculptures from the Donnerbrunnen fountain. Advertisement St. Stephen's Cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Vienna. Pamela Wright On our way back to the hotel, we passed by the famous Vienna State Opera House, a grand Renaissance Revival building on the Ringstrasse, considered one of the finest opera houses in the world. Unfortunately, guided tour tickets were sold out for the day, so we couldn't get inside. (The only way to see inside the Opera House is to book a tour or buy a ticket to a performance.) That evening, we enjoyed sundowner drinks at Das Loft, a modern rooftop bar with sweeping views of the city, before heading to Praterwirt for dinner. When in Vienna, it's nearly mandatory that you have Wiener schnitzel, the traditional dish of thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet. Praterwirt, known for its meat dishes and authentic Austrian cuisine, didn't disappoint. The cutlet was pounded ultra-thin, hanging over the plate, crispy and moist. Music and leafy parks are found throughout Vienna. Pamela Wright Walking about We spent our next days in Vienna walking around the city, enamored with its stunning architecture, parks, and lively streets and squares. We visited Albertina Square, anchored by the Hofburg Palace, the Imperial home of the Habsburg dynasty, and St. Stephen's Square, home to St. Stephen's Cathedral, the tallest church in Austria. The cathedral, originally constructed in the 12th century, has been rebuilt several times, and is now a magnificent blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture. We climbed the South Tower to the Watch Room (a grueling 363 steps) for lofty views, and later heard there was a lift to the top of the North Tower to a viewing platform. (We would have been fine with that!) We returned to the historic cathedral one evening for a concert featuring Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, performed by the Harmonia Ensemble Vienna. Advertisement The Ringstrasse is lined with grand, historic buildings, including Burgtheater, City Hall, and Parliament. 'The tourist highway,' Heigerth said. 'But you have to see it.' So, we walked it and gawked. There was water everywhere, with more than 50 historic fountains and 1,500 drinking fountains, fed by the spring fresh waters coming from the Alps. There were signs of change everywhere, also, with ongoing construction projects and lively new restaurants exemplifying the changing culinary scene. There are now a slew of ethnic eateries, contemporary wine bars, upscale restaurants serving multicourse meals, and new farm-to-table restaurants showcasing vegetarian dishes. We dined one evening at TIAN Bistro am Spittelberg, under the helm of chef Paul Ivic, the Michelin-starred chef at TIAN. The casual, artsy bistro focuses on seasonal vegetarian dishes, like beetroot and radicchio risotto and king oyster mushroom with kohlrabi and spicy muhammara. Another evening, we dined at the elegant Glasswing restaurant, with white linen-topped tables, gilded framed paintings, and a finely executed, sophisticated menu, including dishes like lobster with hollandaise and caviar, sweetbreads with bacon and figs, and dry-aged duck with foie gras. Boston connection Before flying out on our final day, we took public transportation (easy to do) to the newly opened House of Strauss, where the waltz king once played. In 2025 Vienna will celebrate the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II, with concerts, special events, exhibitions, and a dedicated website listing event highlights ( Advertisement Dr. Eduard Strauss, the great-grandnephew of Johann Strauss II, gave us a tour of the museum, which includes exhibits, a small concert hall, and café. There were artifacts and photos and interactive displays showcasing the Strauss family and life in Vienna during the 19th century. Did you know that a highlight of Johann Strauss II's career was the World's Peace Jubilee and International Music Festival of 1872? It took place in the Back Bay area of Boston, and lasted 18 days, honoring the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Coverage of the event reported that Strauss conducted an orchestra of nearly 1,000 musicians before some 50,000 spectators. Eduard Strauss told us that his dream is to someday open a House of Strauss in Boston. Until then, Vienna waits for you. The Love Lock Bridge is one of several bridges crossing the Salzach River in Salzburg. Pamela Wright Train to Salzburg 'Doe, a deer, a female deer, ray, a drop of golden sun…' A group of South Korean men and women tourists were belting out the Do-Re-Mi song. They were poised on the steps descending into the elegant Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg. Later, standing next to the Pegasus Fountain, our guide Trudy Rollo, dressed in a traditional Austrian-style dirndl, also broke into song. Strangers passing by joined in. 'sew, a needle pulling thread la, a note to follow so tea, a drink with jam and bread That will bring us back to do oh oh oh' There was no doubt we were in the Sound of Music City, where the famous We took the train from Vienna to Salzburg, a pleasant three-hour or so trip, and spent two jam-packed days exploring this charming, picturesque city, with its Baroque towers, Medieval alleyways, historic squares, and alpine views. We started at the baroque Mirabell Palace, where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed, crossed the River Salzach, and took photos in front of the house where Mozart was born. You'll have pretty mountain views in Salzburg. Pamela Wright We could have spent hours trolling the narrow, cobblestone alleyways through Altstadt (Old Town), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We strolled the Getreidegasse, one of the main shopping streets in Old Town, with elaborately decorated cast-iron store signs, and poked around the skinny passageways, lined with shops and restaurants, working up a thirst. The Sternbrau beer garden in a nearly hidden courtyard in Old Town, was a welcome stop. We listened to the 35 bells of the Salzburg Carillon chime while we enjoyed bratwursts and local brews. Worth a mention: Salzburg has a rich beer tradition. The first commercial breweries in Salzburg were established at the end of the 14th century and one of them was the well-known Stiegl brewery. Today, there are 11 breweries in and around town, including Stiegl (still family-owned!) and the Augustiner Brau, the largest brewery in Austria, with 1,400 seats. The tour of the DomQuartier, the former center and residences of the prince archbishops, including a large museum with some 2,000 exhibits, galleries, a terrace connecting to the Cathedral with fine views of Old Town, and the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter, gave us an interesting and comprehensive lesson in the history of Salzburg. So did a visit to the massive Hohensalzburg Fortress, the largest fully preserved castle in Central Europe, with exhibits, artifacts, and unrivaled views. On our last afternoon, we took the local bus to the 1612 Hellbrunn Castle, with beautiful gardens and the unusual, not-to-be-missed Trick Fountains, a delightful, astounding land of shooting water, grottos, fountains, and more. They were as magical as Salzburg itself. For more information, visit If you go . . . Austrian Airlines offers nonstop flights from Boston to Vienna, six times a week, year-round. The airline offers a premium economy class with much comfier seating, extra space, and better food that makes the overnight, across-the-pond journey easier, for much less money than a bump to first class. For tourist information on Vienna, visit Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
The Guardian
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Waltz this way: rival venues in Vienna compete to celebrate Johann Strauss's 200th birthday
The music of Johann Strauss streams through Vienna like the stately Danube. Even the syllables of the composer's name beat out the rhythm of a waltz, as all Austrian dance teachers know. In their lessons, the words 'Jo-hann Strauss' are often swapped in to replace the conventional 'one, two, three' step count. Viennese children learn to waltz just like they learn to ride a bike, so the muscle-memory never leaves them. Just as well, because the city is still famous as the home of a 19th-century dance craze that shaped its international image. In this 200th anniversary year of the birth of the 'waltz king', there are rival bids jostling to become the focus of the swirling celebrations. 'His music was for everyone, of every class and background. People danced to it at grand balls but also at private parties and at home,' said Eduard Strauss, the composer's great-grand-nephew. 'He really was the first pop star.' As a descendant of Johann's youngest brother, also Eduard, he's batting for the Strauss bicentenary venue he thinks has more authenticity than most: a museum set up inside a small dance hall, or casino, where the musician conducted his own hit waltzes for his fans. 'It is an original and I am an original,' Eduard says, adding that the building, now the House of Strauss museum, was important not just for its lively music, but as a place to keep warm and meet people in bright lights on dark evenings. This coming weekend, the exclusive 67th Vienna Opera Ball takes place amid the vast grandeur of the State Opera house, with tickets at €395. Hundreds of similar balls, at varying scale, dominate Viennese social life from November to March every year. Formal and lavish, they're a bit of nostalgic play-acting, with tailcoats, tuxedos and long swishy dresses, and yet staged in deadly cultural earnest. The city's guilds, professionals and tradespeople, from the cake-makers to the scientists, host glittering events. This weekend, the Viennese kaffeesieder, or coffee brewers, transform the Vienna Hofburg into the 'largest and most beautiful coffee house in the world' in tribute to the heritage of another Viennese tradition. Strauss may be best known for the Blue Danube, Austria's unofficial national anthem, but there are about 500 pieces by him played each ball season. All this comes on top of the New Year's concert, brimful of his waltzes, beamed out across the world from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Before this, at midnight, the Blue Danube is played to the nation after the chimes of Vienna's cathedral sound. Each January, the gilt auditorium of the opera house sells out for a performance of Strauss's comic operetta Die Fledermaus. So it seems odd the city has waited for this major anniversary to work out how to honour its most on-brand composer. Vying for the role alongside the House of Strauss, the museum housed in the refurbished Casino Zögernitz, is a new, permanent, immersive exhibition in the city centre displaying his life and work to a musical accompaniment, the Johann Strauss Museum: New Dimensions. Vienna's Theatermuseum is also running a bicentenary exhibition, hailing the composer as 'the first international superstar', until June. More conventional historic sites for Strauss pilgrimage remain his former apartment in the Praterstraße Strauss apartment, the gold Strauss monument in the Stadtpark and the Strauss tomb in the Central Cemetery. Further out, the Dommayer Cafe is billed as the place where he first picked up a baton in public. The delayed response to the Strauss legacy is probably due to the complexity of the real story. The 'waltz king' title originally belonged to his father, Johann Strauss I, who toured Europe with an entourage of 18 to 20 carriages before his son ever stepped into the limelight as the next master of the dance. And then there were Johann II's younger musical brothers, Josef and Eduard. 'People should not just say 'Strauss',' says his great-grand-nephew. 'They should say which one.' The arrival of the waltz, condemned for immorality like all new crazes should be, was the birth of the modern music industry. Each tune was sold to a music manuscript publisher, who took a photograph or commissioned a portrait of the composer to help sell the sheet music. The catalyst for the trend is thought to have been the Congress of Vienna of 1814, when politicians and monarchs came together in the Habsburg capital to decide on the borders of the continent after the defeat of Napoleon. Entertainments, adhering to the rules of court ceremony, were set up for the dignatories and new dance music commissioned. Within a decade or two there were more than 60 dance halls in the city, and Strauss senior set up financially risky, festival-like outdoor events. Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion There are still more than 30 dance schools in Vienna, with classes gearing up for the ball season, including sessions on dancefloor etiquette. Wearing a wristwatch is not encouraged and neck ties are forbidden. Each male dancer must also bow and kiss the hand of any woman he asks to dance. At 3am this morning, the guests at the House of Strauss's anniversary ball were set to spill out on to the cold pavements of Vienna, many in search of a Wiener sausage stand, the traditional street food. But there are still many nights of waltzing to go, with ball directors all over the city calling out 'Alles Walzer!' to start dances into the early spring.
