Latest news with #WillyWonka-style
AU Financial Review
25-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
The ‘everything bubble' is back. But this time it's different
Don't even bother arguing – the best Krispy Kreme is the original, glazed version. But for a moment this week, the hottest thing in the world was Krispy Kreme's shares. On Tuesday night, shares in the doughnut company surged a staggering 70 per cent on Wall Street as volume of stock traded surged from the usual daily average of 5 million shares to 150 million. Had a new doughnut variety been released? Was there a Willy Wonka-style promotion going on? Had Nvidia made a takeover offer? Nope, this was the return of one of the worst Wall Street traditions: meme stock mania.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to lead the charge at Wicklow vintage car show
A truly unique selection of vehicles will be on display, including a very original 1920s Bentley, a rare 1950s Maserati and a magnificent 1980s Ferrari. There will also be a special display of Ford vehicles, spanning the decades, showing how the marque has evolved over the years. The event takes place on Sunday, May 25, in the grounds of St Patrick's Church, Powerscourt, Enniskerry and the celebrity judge on the day is well-known local motor dealer and social media influencer, Nadia Adan, from Ashford Motors. She will have the tough job ahead of her as she casts her professional eye over the cars, picking out her favourite from the impressive line-up on show. The public will also have their say, as they get to vote for their choice too. Another exciting development is that six lucky groups of people will have the chance to go for a spin in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A Willy Wonka-style chocolate bar raffle will take place, with six golden tickets being hidden inside the bars, each entitling up to four people to go for a ride in the classic car. The Deutz tractor that won the World Ploughing Championship in 1964 will also be on display. Charlie Keegan was the first Irishman ever to win the competition, which took place in Austria, and when he returned to Dublin Airport a motorcade was needed to escort him back to Enniskerry whilst he proudly paraded the trophy. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the occasion, from car enthusiasts to families and friends and those looking for bargains from the various pop-up stands. There will be plenty of family fun, with children's games and social opportunities to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Refreshments will be available in the catering village and from the various pop-up stands. Visitors will also be entertained by the fabulous Stedfast Band, who's varied repertoire is sure to appeal to all ages. The show will be open to the public from 11am-5pm and free parking for visitors will be available in the field at the entrance to Powerscourt Estate. Exhibiting vehicles must pre-register. To enquire phone 087 257 0893 or email powerscourtparishcarshow@
Gulf Today
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Croatia laughter museum aims to blow away the blues of visitors
A new museum of laughter is offering to put people through the spinner to wash away the negativity of modern life. Visitors to the HaHaHouse in the Croatian capital Zagreb are blasted with a puff of white smoke once they step inside to blow away their worries before climbing into a 'giant washing machine'. The 'centrifuge of life' then whips them away Willy Wonka-style down a twisting slide into a pool filled with little white balls where their journey to a happier place starts. Its creator Andrea Golubic said she had the idea for the museum during the pandemic when many were feeling down, depressed and isolated. 'I realised that I had a mission — to heal people with laughter,' added the upbeat 43-year-old. The idea 'came straight from the heart', Golubic said, and on that very day I listed 78 exhibits... that's how the HaHaHouse began.' Golubic said it was her carefree seven-year-old self that inspired her — 'a picture of me as a first-grader, with wide teeth and dying of laughter. I was constantly joking as a kid,' she said. Visitors press a button to be 'disinfected from negativity' as soon as they step inside the museum, which has eight interactive zones. One has a rubber chicken choir cheerfully cackling out hits like ABBA's 'Dancing Queen', there is a karaoke room with distorted voices and a 'Sumo Arena' for wrestling in puffed up costumes. There is also some serious history of humour from ancient to modern times told through theatre, film or the net. The museum also explains humour styles, from word play, slapstick, toilet and dark humour to satire with the help of some choice one-liners. 'I've had so much plastic surgery, when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware,' is one of the featured zingers from US comedian Joan Rivers. Golubic said the HaHaHouse is drawing everyone from small children to the elderly, with grown-ups seeing it as a good excuse to play at being kids again themselves. 'All those who still feel a bit of childish joy and embrace their inner child, will recharge themselves,' she insisted. Pensioner Bruno Dadic said he was 'delighted' by his visit 'as there is never enough humour in life. 'Laughter is a medicine for the soul,' he said. Zagreb's psychiatric hospital has voiced interest in organised visits and links are also being made with schools and retirement homes. 'The museum is great,' said Aleksandar Suka who celebrated his fifth birthday with a visit. Accompanied by his mother, the little boy said he loved lying on the 'Bed of Nails' since they tickled him. Singer Zorica Bucic, from the coastal town of Split, said the museum was perfect for our times 'when we are bombarded with so much bad news. 'Entering here is like entering childhood, being relieved of all problems. If you could come here more there would be no need to pay a psychologist,' she said. Indeed, laughter is a defence mechanism which gives people strength to face their problems, psychologist Petar Kraljevic said, saying he loved the idea too. 'If a prescription for three hours of laughter per 24 hours could be written and followed that would certainly give positive results.' Meanwhile, Croatia's tourism revenues are expected to reach a new record of 16 billion euros (16.51 billion US dollars) for the past year, according to the latest data from the Croatian National Bank (CNB). In the first nine months alone, revenues from foreign tourists reached 13.19 billion euros, the CNB said, crediting a strong pre-season and record-breaking post-season. Sports groups, outdoor activities, history, culture and gastronomy were the main drivers for pre-season travel. Similarly, the post-season exceeded the year 2023's numbers by double-digit percentages in terms of visitor numbers, the CNB noted. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Croatia's tourism revenues have exploded with double-digit growth rates as in 2023, they increased by 11.3 per cent to 14.6 billion euros. In 2022, Croatia's tourism revenues reached 13.1 billion euros, a 44 per cent increase from 2021. Meanwhile, the record-high revenues from tourism last year are also due partly to the increased prices across all services, especially accommodation, Xinhua news agency reported. 'We achieved a higher average room rate and total revenue per room. However, it is important to note that inflationary pressures remained high, marking the third consecutive year of declining gross operating profits,' Veljko Ostojic, director of the Croatian Tourism Association, was quoted by the local Croatia Week as saying. Several factors contributed to reduced demand during the peak tourism season, including major sporting events such as the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympic Games held in France. Additionally, there was a 5 per cent drop in German visitors, traditionally Croatia's most numerous tourist demographic, Ostojic said. Agencies
Observer
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Croatia laughter museum aims to blow away the blues
A new museum of laughter is offering to put people through the spinner to wash away the negativity of modern life. Visitors to the HaHaHouse in the Croatian capital Zagreb are blasted with a puff of white smoke once they step inside to blow away their worries before climbing into a "giant washing machine". The "centrifuge of life" then whips them away Willy Wonka-style down a twisting slide into a pool filled with little white balls where their journey to a happier place starts. Its creator Andrea Golubic said she had the idea for the museum during the pandemic when many were feeling down, depressed and isolated. Museum founder Andrea Golubic poses inside a pool full of small white balls at the HaHaHouse museum of laughter in central Zagreb, on January 21, 2025. The 450-square-metre (4,844-square-feet) museum, which opened in January, offers eight interactive zones and has also an educational part featuring the history of humour from ancient to modern times and via different formats -- theatre, film or Internet. (Photo by Damir SENCAR / AFP) "I realised that I had a mission -- to heal people with laughter," added the upbeat 43-year-old. The idea "came straight from the heart", Golubic told AFP, and on that very day I listed 78 exhibits... that's how the HaHaHouse began." Golubic said it was her carefree seven-year-old self that inspired her -- "a picture of me as a first-grader, with wide teeth and dying of laughter. I was constantly joking as a kid," she said. Visitors press a button to be "disinfected from negativity" as soon as they step inside the museum, which has eight interactive zones. One has a rubber chicken choir cheerfully cackling out hits like ABBA's "Dancing Queen", there is a karaoke room with distorted voices and a "Sumo Arena" for wrestling in puffed up costumes. There is also some serious history of humour from ancient to modern times told through theatre, film or the net. The museum also explains humour styles, from word play, slapstick, toilet and dark humour to satire with the help of some choice one-liners. Zorica Bucic, a visitor from Split, sings in karaoke room as she visits the HaHaHouse museum of laughter in central Zagreb, on January 21, 2025. The 450-square-metre (4,844-square-feet) museum, which opened in January, offers eight interactive zones and has also an educational part featuring the history of humour from ancient to modern times and via different formats -- theatre, film or Internet. (Photo by Damir SENCAR / AFP) "I've had so much plastic surgery, when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware," is one of the featured zingers from US comedian Joan Rivers. - 'Inner child' - Golubic said the HaHaHouse is drawing everyone from small children to the elderly, with grown-ups seeing it as a good excuse to play at being kids again themselves. "All those who still feel a bit of childish joy and embrace their inner child, will recharge themselves," she insisted. Pensioner Bruno Dadic told AFP he was "delighted" by his visit "as there is never enough humour in life. "Laughter is a medicine for the soul," he said. Zagreb's psychiatric hospital has voiced interest in organised visits and links are also being made with schools and retirement homes. This photograph shows an installation depecting feet coming out a washing machine at the HaHaHouse museum of laughter in central Zagreb, on January 21, 2025. The 450-square-metre (4,844-square-feet) museum, which opened in January, offers eight interactive zones and has also an educational part featuring the history of humour from ancient to modern times and via different formats -- theatre, film or Internet. (Photo by Damir SENCAR / AFP) "The museum is great," said Aleksandar Suka who celebrated his fifth birthday with a visit. Accompanied by his mother, the little boy said he loved lying on the "Bed of Nails" since they tickled him. Singer Zorica Bucic, from the coastal town of Split, said the museum was perfect for our times "when we are bombarded with so much bad news. "Entering here is like entering childhood, being relieved of all problems. If you could come here more there would be no need to pay a psychologist," she said. Indeed, laughter is a defence mechanism which gives people strength to face their problems, psychologist Petar Kraljevic told AFP, saying he loved the idea too. "If a prescription for three hours of laughter per 24 hours could be written and followed that would certainly give positive results." —AFP
South China Morning Post
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Celebrate the funny side of life at HaHaHouse museum of laughter
Published: 9:45am, 14 Feb 2025 A new museum of laughter is offering to put people through the spinner to wash away the negativity of modern life. Visitors to the HaHaHouse in the Croatian capital Zagreb are blasted with a puff of white smoke once they step inside to blow away their worries before climbing into a 'giant washing machine'. The 'centrifuge of life' then whips them away, Willy Wonka-style, down a twisting slide into a pool filled with little white balls where their journey to a happier place starts. Its creator, Andrea Golubic, said she had the idea for the museum during the Covid-19 pandemic when many were feeling down, depressed and isolated. Museum founder Andrea Golubic (left) in the lobby of the HaHaHouse museum of laughter, in central Zagreb, Croatia. Photo: AFP
