Latest news with #Paris-like
The Herald Scotland
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
I'm not Gen Z but I love a bit of Wednesday Addams
What's so refreshing about this Addams Family reboot is it's entirely content in the darkness, reflecting the honesty of thought which appreciates that not all young people's television world is fixated with Emily in Paris-like characters who feel compelled to speak in fixed smiles. And it's more than a little refreshing to see a formidable female character who can put insipidness in its place. Read More: But of course, the Addams Family, and Wednesday in particular, aren't evil at all. They simply view life through the raven black lens of acute abnegation. And this show, like Charles Addams' original work, works because it's really all about love and family values. Burrowing owl parent returning with food for growing chick BBC (Image: Matt Poole) Which leads us into Parenthood, (BBC 1, Sunday). Now, I switched on initially thinking this to be a re-run of Ron Howard's classic film, fully expecting to see Steve Martin dressed in a junior cowboy outfit, speaking in a Rawhide accent while trying to work out why big people ever even think about creating little people. Instead, what was on offer were real-life parent and child stories, all of which sought to consider, as Howard did, the incredible bond. The legendary voice that is Sir David Attenborough took us to Botswana, where we watched hippo mums teach their young. This section didn't quite parallel the part in Howard's movie in which Rick Moranis read Kafka to his four-year-old in the hope of major brain growth, instead the education was a little more practical, with the big hippos teaching the kids how not to get eaten by lions. Don't leave the herd, was the message. Then we watched with fascination as the Arizona burrowing owl chicks grow up, glare at their parents contemptuously – although that could just be the default owl countenance – and leave the nest. They're all little Larry Buckmans, we learned, who was Tom Hulce's character in Parenthood, who loved the idea of being a good dad but hadn't the skills to become one. If you remember, Larry fathered a child with a Vegas showgirl who once featured in Elvis on Ice and left Larry with the child after she shot someone. Yet, although the owl chicks showed remarkable disdain, their parents still battled to keep them nested and safe as long as possible. But it was the powerful, all-consuming love of the silverback gorillas for their young which matched that of Steve Martin's character Gil, a man who was prepared to go to the greatest lengths to make his children happy. And while both Parenthoods underscored the argument that bringing up children can be a nightmare, an often-thankless task, the likes of the majestic Iberian lynx revealed that an unconditional love for children, the bonding, the protection, the concern is paramount. As Attenborough softly declared: 'All parents face an uncertain future, but in order to survive we have to help each other.' The message was perfect. If we don't, we're fair game for the lions.' And at times, we may have to wear a cowboy outfit. But has Lucy Letby been fairly judged? We know she did it, don't we? The woman is the very definition of evil, whose pic sits neatly alongside such as Harold Shipman, Peter Sutcliffe and Peter Tobin in the Serial Killers gallery. We all read the newspaper accounts and followed the TV docs detailing how she killed seven babies. The evidence was inarguable, we understood she worked in wards where neonatal births were three times the national average. And she more or less admitted her guilt in notes she left to herself. 'Guilty.' Read More: But is she? Several newspaper and media outlets have been questioning the verdict, but Beyond Reasonable Doubt? (ITV, Sunday) threw a host of alternative arguments right smack in the face of the viewer. The spike in baby deaths could have come about at the time when the hospital was suddenly required to take in much sicker babies than it had before. It had also been argued that tiny babies can't dislodge their breathing tubes. However, new expert witnesses appeared in the doc to say this can, and does, happen frequently. Letby's barrister Mark McDonald (Image: ITV) Meanwhile, a witness for the prosecution, paediatric doctor Ravi Jayaram also stated that he saw Letby standing by doing nothing and raising no alarm as one baby's oxygen levels dropped dangerously. But he later admitted she had in fact raised the alarm. As for her (incriminating) Post It notes, these were explained as the scribblings of a mind wracked with insecurities. Did Lucy Letby in fact care about the babies in her charge in way of the expected Parenthood model? Will new evidence be garnered by Letby's new lawyer? This was compelling television, but will the legal system feel compelled to look much harder at Lucy Letby's conviction?
The Province
08-08-2025
- Business
- The Province
Chic condo project on Vancouver's west side mired in receivership proceedings
In a tough market where many such proceedings are happening, the four-storey Chloe building off the Arbutus Greenway stands out. Here's why. The Chloe, located at 2096 West 47th in Vancouver, has been completed for almost a year. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG It was billed by its developer as a luxury condo building whose design would be 'inspired by the world-renowned fashion houses of Paris' and evoke 'the smart chic of Parisienne character.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors And from a visual standpoint, the four-storey Chloe building off the Arbutus Greenway near West 47th Avenue in Vancouver's Kerrisdale neighbourhood ticks some of those boxes: an elegant, soft-palette facade features large, framed apartment windows and long, narrow balconies. But there is no evidence of any Paris-like bustle. The project developer is in the midst of court receivership proceedings. And in a tough market where many such proceedings are happening, this one stands out. This isn't a case where a project is still in the early stages — a set of drawings and a piece of land that has been excavated — and now needs to be sold because costs have escalated and it was too much to carry. The building, with 46 strata units and 11 retail units, has been completed for almost a year and is ready to be occupied, except for some deficiencies and maintenance work. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's very unusual because it's finished,' said Vancouver real estate agent Suraj Rai. He's keeping close tabs on what happens next in the receivership proceedings, which started in February and revealed the developer owed more than $90 million in secured debt. The Chloe building includes 46 strata units and 11 retail units. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG The proceedings are about to go into a next phase. The receiver posted some new court documents in July and a court hearing is scheduled to be held mid-August. Meanwhile, there is currently one Chloe condo unit for sale on the Multiple Listing Service and it is asking $1.388 million or about $1,500 per square foot. This asking price is much lower than the average $2,100 per square foot price that 31 presale buyers agreed to pay a few years ago for the condo units, said Rai. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Some of the presale buyers did not complete their contracts and the receiver is asking the court to disclaim their original agreements. In total, the receiver will be asking the court for permission to market and sell 24 residential units, as well as the 11 retail spaces. The developer was not able to complete sales for these. If approved, this cluster of court-ordered sales will likely push down the price per square foot for the condo units. It also could get to a level where more new buyers would be interested, said Rai. When the receivership proceedings started in February, the developer owed more than $93 million to secured creditors, according to the receiver's first report filed on July 4. The developer of the project is named in court documents as Lightstone Development, which is co-owned by Vicky Zheng, who also is known as Xiao Song Zheng. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Chloe building features an elegant, soft-palette facade features large, framed apartment windows and long, narrow balconies. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG The receiver's report described claims of unsecured debt by some presale purchasers, who say they paid for their units in full directly to the developer without legal counsel or using a trust to hold funds. At least one set of these buyers has separately filed a notice of claim against the developer, listing Lightstone, Zheng and others as defendants. They said they entered into an agreement to buy a unit in 2021 and paid a deposit, which was supposed to be held in trust, and later paid Zheng another amount for a total of $880,000 in return for priority in choosing a better unit. The receiver, however, notes that any of these claims would be unsecured and subordinated to the registered loans or mortgages. It does not appear that the secured creditors will receive full recovery, it added. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In earlier court documents, Peterson, a local real estate company that lent the project around $18 million and initiated the receivership proceedings, said there were additional charges registered on the project without its permission as a senior, secured lender. It called them 'side deals' with third-party lenders and purchasers, and said they allegedly included selling units that had already been pre-sold to other parties at prices lower than fair market value, as well as allowing purchasers to pay for their units directly to the developer. jlee-young@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Local News Local News Sports Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Sun
08-08-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Chic condo project on Vancouver's west side mired in receivership proceedings
It was billed by its developer as a luxury condo building whose design would be 'inspired by the world-renowned fashion houses of Paris' and evoke 'the smart chic of Parisienne character.' And from a visual standpoint, the four-storey Chloe building off the Arbutus Greenway near West 47th Avenue in Vancouver's Kerrisdale neighbourhood ticks some of those boxes: an elegant, soft-palette facade features large, framed apartment windows and long, narrow balconies. But there is no evidence of any Paris-like bustle. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The project developer is in the midst of court receivership proceedings. And in a tough market where many such proceedings are happening, this one stands out. This isn't a case where a project is still in the early stages — a set of drawings and a piece of land that has been excavated — and now needs to be sold because costs have escalated and it was too much to carry. The building, with 46 strata units and 11 retail units, has been completed for almost a year and is ready to be occupied, except for some deficiencies and maintenance work. 'It's very unusual because it's finished,' said Vancouver real estate agent Suraj Rai. He's keeping close tabs on what happens next in the receivership proceedings, which started in February and revealed the developer owed more than $90 million in secured debt. The proceedings are about to go into a next phase. The receiver posted some new court documents in July and a court hearing is scheduled to be held mid-August. Meanwhile, there is currently one Chloe condo unit for sale on the Multiple Listing Service and it is asking $1.388 million or about $1,500 per square foot. This asking price is much lower than the average $2,100 per square foot price that 31 presale buyers agreed to pay a few years ago for the condo units, said Rai. Some of the presale buyers did not complete their contracts and the receiver is asking the court to disclaim their original agreements. In total, the receiver will be asking the court for permission to market and sell 24 residential units, as well as the 11 retail spaces. The developer was not able to complete sales for these. If approved, this cluster of court-ordered sales will likely push down the price per square foot for the condo units. It also could get to a level where more new buyers would be interested, said Rai. When the receivership proceedings started in February, the developer owed more than $93 million to secured creditors, according to the receiver's first report filed on July 4. The developer of the project is named in court documents as Lightstone Development, which is co-owned by Vicky Zheng, who also is known as Xiao Song Zheng. The receiver's report described claims of unsecured debt by some presale purchasers, who say they paid for their units in full directly to the developer without legal counsel or using a trust to hold funds. At least one set of these buyers has separately filed a notice of claim against the developer, listing Lightstone, Zheng and others as defendants. They said they entered into an agreement to buy a unit in 2021 and paid a deposit, which was supposed to be held in trust, and later paid Zheng another amount for a total of $880,000 in return for priority in choosing a better unit. The receiver, however, notes that any of these claims would be unsecured and subordinated to the registered loans or mortgages. It does not appear that the secured creditors will receive full recovery, it added. In earlier court documents, Peterson, a local real estate company that lent the project around $18 million and initiated the receivership proceedings, said there were additional charges registered on the project without its permission as a senior, secured lender. It called them 'side deals' with third-party lenders and purchasers, and said they allegedly included selling units that had already been pre-sold to other parties at prices lower than fair market value, as well as allowing purchasers to pay for their units directly to the developer. jlee-young@
