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New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Billy Joel: And So It Goes:' 5 Takeaways From the Film's Conclusion
The second part of the sprawling documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' ends before the musician's recent announcement that he has the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus. That is to say, if you're looking for an update on Joel's health, the film by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, which HBO aired on Friday night (and is streaming on HBO Max), does not provide one. But Joel, in a podcast interview with Bill Maher earlier this week, is seen playing the piano. 'It's not fixed,' he said of his condition, but it's 'being worked on,' and he assured fans: 'I feel good.' 'They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling,' he added, likening the sensation to being on a boat with poor balance. While the first half of the film, which premiered in June at the Tribeca Festival, focused on the little-told story of how Joel's relationship with his first wife, Elizabeth Weber, shaped the early days of his career, the second covers more familiar territory. Starting with the production of 'The Nylon Curtain' in 1982, it chronicles his much discussed marriages to Christie Brinkley and Katie Lee Biegel, his well-documented struggles with alcohol, the betrayal of his manager Frank Weber, his decision to retire from the road and eventual return to live performance following the '12-12-12' benefit concert for Hurricane Sandy relief. And still, the nearly two-and-a-half-hour exploration of his life and career makes time to delve into his complicated relationship with his father, Howard, as well as his retreat from producing new pop music and the influence of classical compositions on his work. Here are five takeaways. The Holocaust looms large in Joel's family history. Joel's Jewish identity comes into play heavily during the second part of the documentary, specifically with regard to his fraught relationship with his father, Howard Joel. He describes how in his mid-20s he discovered that his paternal grandfather, Karl Joel, had a textile factory in Nuremberg. The family lived next to the park where the Nuremberg rallies were held and Joel speculates about the trauma his father must have endured watching those unfold as a young Jewish boy. Joel's grandfather was targeted by Nazi propaganda newspaper Der Stürmer and was forced to sell his business, though he was never paid. The Joels escaped Germany over the Swiss border and the factory was ultimately used to manufacture the striped uniforms for prisoners in concentration camps. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Taylor Swift fans left in shock after learning about her 'secret' family member: 'Who knew!'
Taylor Swift fans have been left shocked after learning that the Eras singer has a younger brother... even though they've been seen together countless times. Businessman and producer Austin Swift, 33, was born in March 1992, three years after the Grammy award-winning artist, 35, and manages elements of his sister's music licensing. But earlier this week, a Reddit post sparked a huge response after he was pictured running into actress Natalie Portman while walking through Tribeca, New York City. Austin, dressed in a checked shirt, was seen grinning in the pictures, as Black Swan actress Natalie, 44, laughed with her back to the camera. While some social media users questioned how the pair became acquainted, other dumbfounded fans expressed their surprise that Taylor isn't an only child. In a thread discussing Austin and Natalie's unexpected run in, one commented: 'Didn't even know she had a brother until now.' 'Taylor has a brother?' another asked. 'I must have been living under a rock.' 'How did I not know she has brother?' said a third. Another wrote: 'She def gives off only child vibes lol.' A fifth added: 'I wouldn't recognize this man out of a line up of one. Well done Mr. Swift.' 'That is Taylor Swift's brother? Who knew!' someone else shared. Despite the confusion, Austin and Taylor have appeared together at a number of events over the years, including the Country Music Awards and The Golden Globes. In 2020, Taylor described her brother as one of her 'best pals' as she paid tribute to him on National Sibling Day. Besides working with his famous sister, Austin has also worked as an actor both on the big and small screen. For his film debut in 2016, he starred opposite Pierce Brosnan in the thriller I.T. That same year, Austin appeared in Ben Affleck's action drama, Live By Night. In 2019, Austin starred alongside Harry Potter alum Tom Felton in the comedy drama Braking for Whales. Taylor publicly praised her brother on National Sibling Day in 2020 and described him as one of her 'best pals' Also in 2019, he appeared in the horror thriller film, We Summon the Darkness, which starred White Lotus actress Alexandra Daddario. Additionally, Austin has appeared in archive footage in Taylor's music videos, including Christmas Tree Farm and The Best Day. In November 2024, Taylor's brother came to the rescue when security guards at LucasOil Stadium in Indiana attempted to kick a fan out for dressing up as Travis Kelce. During one of the pop star's Eras Tour concerts, a die hard fan approached the VIP section, trying to grab the Kansas City Chiefs star's attention. A video posted on TikTok showed the fan wearing a Travis jersey, helmet, and football gloves as she approached the area only to be stopped by security. One staff member grabbed the fan by the arm and directed her the other way, saying the helmet was 'not allowed.' Austin then walked over to diffuse the situation. 'Hey, let's not put hands on people,' he scolded the guard. Another person in the background could be heard saying 'Guys, let's just calm down a little bit cause her family is here, alright? That was a little aggressive.' After intervening, Austin chatted with the fan and commended her outfit. 'I'm sorry about that. It's a really cool costume,' he said. 'You guys enjoy the concert. Have a great night.'
Wall Street Journal
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's Philosophy For Scaling a Business: Treating Teams Like Family
It took some time for Nobu Matsuhisa to trust Robert De Niro. When the actor, who was a regular at his first Los Angeles restaurant, first approached him in 1989 to open a new eatery together, the chef declined. 'I didn't know what he did,' Matsuhisa said. After several years, Matsuhisa agreed, and the pair opened Nobu's Tribeca location in 1994. The Japanese restaurant has since become a hot spot for A-listers, with over 50 restaurant locations and 20 luxury hotels spanning four continents.
Forbes
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Drinking French 75s With Fashion Designer Nili Lotan
Fashion designer Nili Lotan Courtesy of Nili Lotan Nili Lotan started in the fashion industry working for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne and Nautica, before launching her own line in 2003, drawing in admirers from Kendall Jenner to Martha Stewart. Now, almost 20 years after opening her first womenswear store, she's opened her own menswear store in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood, designed with mid-century-meets-rock-and-roll flair. I spoke with Lotan about her introduction to wine, the new men's boutique and the musicians who inspired her fashion sense. Was wine a part of your family life growing up? I grew up in Israel and the wine scene was very different than what it is today. People were focussing on building a country, not on wine and luxury. But I had a Russian dad who was educated in Paris and he taught us that wine was a part of culture. Wine is the taste of life. Wine is what makes the meal so good. So now I drink wine with every dinner. He also had a bar where every night, before he would turn on the TV, he would get himself a whiskey on the rocks and he would sit there and with his pipe or cigar. I learned learned a lot of things from him. I don't sit with a cigar and a whiskey, but I've always admired that international flavor he brought to our lives in what was a very undeveloped country at the time. The new menswear store in Tribeca. Courtesy of Nili Lotan What are your wine preferences now? Mostly French. I like them very rich and round and velvety. Usually the blends of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Even when I eat fish I prefer red. Do you enjoy cocktails? There's a drink I only have on specific occasions, a French 75. It's something my husband and I used to drink quite a lot of while we were dating. It's citrusy and sweet, kind of bubbly and a little dangerous . So we went kind of wild with that. And so now when we want to remind ourselves of those moments we drink it. What led to opening your first menswear store? I started in fashion trying to help women in dressing and feeling good about themselves. About a year ago I was having dinner with Alison Loehnis from NET-A-PORTER and she asked if I would ever consider doing a men's line — that there wasn't anyone approaching a man's wardrobe the same way that I approach a woman's wardrobe, thinking about their needs from the bottom up. There are the clothes that we need to helps us function and go through the day and then there's the clothes that just makes us feel great. That's how I build a collection. So I followed the formula that I did with women when I started 20 years ago. What are the similarities and differences in designing for men? Nili Lotan opening of her first men's store at 183 Duane In Tribeca. Getty Images Design is the aesthetic, the color and the sensibility. Then there is the fit — putting the garments on a model and understanding the conversation between the garment and the body. And men are built very differently than women. At the same time I have a lot of men buying my women's clothing and a lot of women buying my men's clothing. But although the lines between femininity and masculinity are blurring, there is very much of a different approach as well as different fabrics. My women's collection is a bit of a tomboy, but still very feminine. The men's collection is very masculine. The menswear store is decorated with your record collection, hosted an exhibit by rock photographer Allan Tannenbaum and donates a portion of in-store sales to to One Million Guitars. What inspires the music theme? My husband David Broza is an internationally-known guitarist and singer-songwriter. The record collection we curated there is more from him — but it's also become mine. We grew up with the same music, 70s-style soft folk rock from James Taylor to Bob Dylan. Joni Mitchell. Leonard Cohen. We've done a lot of trips to Spain together and I've also fallen in love with flamenco music. The rhythm and the energy is something I connected with immediately — to the point that I want to be a flamenco dancer in my next life. Does music inspire you when you are designing? Very much so. But it started more with the imagery. I was in high school in the early 70s and what affected me the most, from Woodstock onward, was not just the music, but the freedom. The attitude. The spirit. And the clothes. And I'm still holding on to this although life kept going on. I think that's what makes me unique among my peers in fashion — that this is something that is so specific to me. Even though it's not really 'me,' it's the world I grew up in. Did any specific musicians inspire your fashion sense? I was inspired more by designers like Yves Saint Laurent. But as I was evolving I realized there was something about Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix. They had a style that appeared as not having a style because they were mixing all these things that were not to be mixed together in the eyes of the fashion police. I liked the idea that they broke all the rules. And to me that's their voice: not only what they did through their music, but also through their clothes. That's what I found attractive. I use a lot of elements today of what Jagger and Hendrix were wearing then. So in every collection I have a Hendrix jacket — he was wearing all these military band jackets with the gold buttons. And then I always have a ruffled shirt, like what Mick Jagger and Keith Richards used to wear. What is next for your brand? We are launching a bag called The Voyager. Sometime I create something because I'd like to own it and this is a beautiful luxury leather travel bag that I carry. I'm going to be opening a new showroom in New York, very much mid-century inspired. And then the same thing in Paris. And then we will be opening two stores in Seoul, Korea. This is very exciting because while I am in other stores this will be our first branded Nili Lotan store in Asia.
Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Mick Clifford: Sophie Toscan du Plantier case still haunts Ireland's legal and political system
Nearly 30 years after the brutal murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the fall-out continues apace. In June, a new docudrama made by Jim Sheridan about the case premiered at the Tribeca film festival in New York. It portrays what a trial of Ian Bailey, the chief suspect in the murder, would have looked like. This follows from a documentary made a few years ago by Mr Sheridan and another produced by Netflix. There has been the West Cork podcast, a highly regarded series on the case and various books. One of the latter was the focus of a new departure in the case this week – an application to bring a private prosecution against its author, Senan Molony, and also the person who launched the book, Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Frenchwoman Ms Du Plantier's body was found outside her holiday home in Schull in December 1996. Ian Bailey was twice arrested for the murder. He was never charged. In 2019, a French court convicted Ian Bailey in absentia of the murder and sentencing him to 20 years in prison. File picture: Dan Linehan In 2019, a French court convicted him in absentia of the murder and sentencing him to 20 years in prison. The Irish courts refused to extradite him. Mr Bailey continued to live in West Cork until he collapsed and died in Bantry in January 2024. There has, over the years, been two prevailing narratives about Mr Bailey and whether or not he was responsible for the murder. One has been the perception among large swathes of the public that Mr Bailey must have been the murderer. This has been based on the various strands of circumstantial evidence against him. A number of accounts, including the Netflix documentary, and the book at issue in the private prosecution, have veered towards this conclusion. At the other end of the spectrum has been the relatively boring but absolutely vital business of actual evidence and whether or not it amounted to a realistic chance of prosecution of Ian Bailey for murder. One central figure in that respect was Robert Sheehan, a prosecutor who spent most of his career in the office of the DPP. In 2001, he wrote an analysis of the garda investigation into Mr Bailey and what evidence existed that could be used in a prosecution. The document went through each facet of the case in detail, from the complete absence of forensics, to Mr Bailey's statements and behaviour, circumstantial evidence, and the character of the chief witness on whom much of the case against Mr Bailey would hang, Marie Farrell. Former DPP Robert Sheehan (pictured) concluded that there was no case to prosecute Mr Bailey and in a few places he even suggested that evidence pointed to the suspect's innocence. File picture: Courtpix Mr Sheehan concluded that there was no case to prosecute Mr Bailey and in a few places he even suggested that evidence pointed to the suspect's innocence. That document did not see the light of day for over 10 years. Then in 2011, the incumbent DPP Jim Hamilton made available Mr Sheehan's analysis ahead of an extradition request from the French government. Mr Hamilton felt that the document was vital evidence for the Supreme Court to consider. The court subsequently declined to extradite Mr Bailey. Fast forward to last September and the launch of another book on the case, Sophie: The Final Verdict. The Taoiseach did the honours for author and journalist Senan Molony. At the event, Mr Martin mused that he couldn't understand the 'legal principles' that were applied which concluded Mr Bailey should not be prosecuted. 'The simple fact is that we failed in our duty to find and convict a bloody murderer — and our system blocked alternative routes when others were not willing to accept our failures,' he said. In the book Sophie: The final verdict, Senan Molony is critical of Sheehan's analysis, suggesting that the solicitor acted as a 'one man jury' in arriving at his conclusions. In the book itself, Mr Molony is critical of Sheehan's analysis, suggesting that the solicitor acted as a 'one man jury' in arriving at his conclusions. Mr Sheehan interpreted passages in the book, along with public comments from both the Taoiseach and Mr Maloney, as impinging on his professionalism. He could have sued for defamation. He told the Irish Examiner he didn't go down this route because 'the financial cost of losing a case would leave you ruined'. It is a moot point as to how strong any such case would be. One way or the other, his conclusion in that respect is entirely valid. A defamation action can be ruinous. In the recent Gerry Adams libel action against the BBC he was awarded €100,000 by the jury. The costs for which the BBC now falls liable are estimated to be north of €2m. Instead of seeking resolution in the civil courts, Mr Sheehan corresponded with the DPP and set out his intention of applying for permission to take a private prosecution against the two individuals. As the alleged offences are indictable, the DPP would have to be involved. Ian Bailey was twice arrested for Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder. He was never charged. File picture: Dan Linehan Then last Monday he applied to Dun Laoghaire District Court for the issuing of the summons, but his request was turned down. He says he may now appeal to the circuit court or bring his case to the European Court of Human Rights. More than anything the affair highlights once more the gulf in this case between what has been determined in the court of public opinion and the decision that Mr Bailey did not have a case to answer in a criminal court. Mr Sheehan's analysis was detailed and clear headed but crucially he was not an outlier. His boss at the time, Eamon Barnes, concurred with his conclusions. So did Mr Barnes successor, Mr Hamilton. Experienced senior counsel, one of whom has gone on to be a high court judge, were retained for opinions and they all reached the same conclusion. 'There was certainly no lack of enthusiasm to prosecute him if the facts suggested that there was evidence against him,' Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman noted when the case was before him. One recurring line from the barstool opinion was that Mr Bailey should have just been put on trial and let a jury decide on his guilt or innocence. That implies that there is no need for a prima facie case to be established before somebody should be charged and tried with an offence. In other words, if he looks like he might have done it, if he – as Mr Bailey had – displays a personality that is extremely unattractive, let a jury decide whether or not he did it. If the day comes when that passes for due process in a liberal democracy, we're all in trouble. Read More Mick Clifford: Tánaiste makes uncharacteristic lapse with Ian Bailey comments
