Latest news with #familyfriendly
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Manchester Art Gallery scheme encourages children to be noisy
Parents in Manchester are being encouraged to bring their children to the city's art gallery - where they will be encouraged to be as loud as they Kids Aloud scheme, run by the UK charity Art Fund, welcomes children to traditionally quiet spaces without parental fears about them making too much Art Gallery, where the event is now in its second year, is holding specific drop-in slots which can booked in advance."We really believe museum and galleries are for everyone, right from birth all the way up. We really want these spaces to be welcoming to families," said Gracie Divall, from Art Fund. Art Fund is running the initiative at more than 20 museums and galleries across the follows research by the charity which found more than 50% of parents questioned were concerned about taking young children into these kind of Seabright, who brought his granddaughter along to the launch event at Manchester Art Gallery, described the idea as "fantastic"."The gloves are off - they can make as much noise as they like, and it gets them used to coming into an environment like this," he initiative is aimed at making parents of children of all ages feel more comfortable visiting galleries, combatting the misconception that children being noisy and expressing themselves in museum spaces is frowned can purchase a National Art Pass to access free entry to more than 900 museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK, as well as enjoying 50% off major exhibitions, alongside discounts in museum shops and cafes. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Do we have to bear all this semi-nudity? Just cover up!
A young woman has been giving vent to her outrage in Margaret Thatcher's home town of Grantham (of all places). Georgia Toomey was leaving a gym in crotch-grippingly tight shorts, a sports bra with much cleavage and a bare midriff (though, to be fair, no visible navel). Arriving at Wetherspoons she was ordered to 'cover up' with her light zip jacket because it was a 'family-friendly pub'. Cue flesh-rich pictures and her plaint: 'She looked me up and down like a piece of dirt. It makes me feel like I should be covering up, but I shouldn't be.' Yes, you should, so hurrah for Spoons and the spirit of Grantham. The seasonal outbreak of urban beachwear does not beautify our land: find the right media-psychologist and you could probably classify it as a depressant of national 'mental health', provoking either disgust or creepily inappropriate judgment (online, people are already checking out her 'thigh gap'). This plague of public semi-nudity grows year on year. I tried for a while to consider it liberating, a Garden of Eden resistance to imported cover-up cultures which presume that an inch of female face or hair gives men a free pass for lechery. But I keep swerving to the other extreme, wishing extreme skin-shows would stay by beach and pool. Shirtless building workers have an excuse, though not for unlovely trouser slippage at the stern. If office workers of either sex feel comfortable in tidy Bermuda shorts, and women let a bit more thigh and shoulder out, fine. Ideally the old rule works: not both at once. • Feel the burn: Ulrika Jonsson's tan has become a hot topic But it's far beyond that. The close-up acreage of (mainly pink) flesh in every train, bus and crowd is a rude invasion, a scornful up-yours to anyone forced into sweaty proximity. It's not even cooler to expose great slabs of flesh: loose, blowing cotton does the job perfectly. And note, this is not just a youthful or downmarket habit. In a theatre stall the other day I sat behind a lady of boomer years who had opted for a backless spaghetti-strap dress. Fine in a ballroom but why, close up, should anyone pay £120 to stare past wrinkled, mole-dotted old flesh for two long hours? I only just resisted an impulse to write PUT IT AWAY on her well-padded backbone with my critic's rollerball. Human skin is a marvel: durable, nuanced and generally self-repairing. Lovers revel in sharing it, infants are comforted by skin-on-skin. But in a post-modesty culture, why aggravate our national troubles with strangers' epidermal acreage? Elizabethan sumptuary laws are gone, and the 19th-century statute about outraging public decency only gets hauled out for the most blatant sexual displays or extreme political T-shirts. There is no legal redress. So re-dress, everyone. Please!
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Florida vice mayor faces subpoena over investigation into drag show held at her bar
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a subpoena to Vero Beach Vice Mayor Linda Moore in connection with a state probe into the "Pride Tea Dance" event held at her Kilted Mermaid bar late last month, according to a press release issued by the attorney general's office. The Vero Beach establishment shared a poster on social media ahead of the event that included the phrase "ALL AGES WELCOME." "Florida law protects children from sexualization. There is evidence that at the 'Pride Tea Dance' on June 29, 2025, sexualized adult performers wore revealing attire and burlesque outfits while interacting with the children," the press release from the attorney general's office states. The Sunshine State attorney general "issued subpoenas to Moore and Kilted Mermaid seeking" materials such as any surveillance footage, materials pertaining to those who performed at the establishment on June 29, materials regarding event attendees and more, according to the press release. "Moore and Kilted Mermaid are required to produce the necessary documents by August 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.," according to the release, which links to a copy of the subpoena. Fox News Digital reached out to the Kilted Mermaid to request a comment from Moore, who co-owns the bar with her husband Rick Norry, but they declined to comment. "We have the event every year; it's our gay pride event, and it is all ages," Moore said, according to NBC News. "It's a family-friendly event, and then once the drag show actually starts, we tell the parents who have small children that they can't stay for the show." Sometimes parents wish to remain, Moore said, according to the outlet, indicating that she has a policy that the initial drag performance will be "really tame"— after the kids are gone performances can get "a little racy," she reportedly said, noting, "there's never nudity at any drag show." Fox News Digital reached out to the Florida attorney general's office, but did not receive a comment by the time of publication. "In Florida, we don't sacrifice the innocence of children for the perversions of some demented adults," Uthmeier said, according to the press release. "The Office of Statewide Prosecution opened an investigation into this sexualized performance to determine the extent of the content and exposure to children." The bar is slated to have a "Drag Queen Bingo" event later this month, but social media posts by the Kilted Mermaid describe that event as "18+."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Mom, stop talking': I watched 'Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires' with my tween critic. Here's our honest review.
Lesson learned: Interrupting your tween during this Disney movie could result in shushes and eye Yahoo readers, zombies, vampires and aliens. I'm Suzy Byrne, and I've been covering entertainment in this space for over a decade. I'll be the first to tell you I'm no hardcore cinema buff. Since I had a child, though, I've made it a point to see as many kid-friendly movies as possible. Maybe it's because I'm a big kid ✔ and love a cheerful ending ✔. But also, as a busy working parent, is there greater joy than getting two hours to turn off your phone and put up your feet while your child is fully entertained?! So that's what this is — one entertainment reporter + her 10-year-old child + friends seeing family-friendly fare, indulging in film-themed treats and replying all to you about the experience. Welcome to kids' movie club. Now playing: 'Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires' Sometimes the best movie dates are cozy ones at home with family — though my daughter, who was trying to watch Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires with zero interruptions, may disagree. Oh, to be a tween trying to get your Addison and Zed fix while your parents are asking annoying questions. I thought — but didn't dare say for fear of being shushed — 'Someday, someday,' you'll get to watch in silence, kiddo. There was a lot of tween anticipation over Zombies 4, the latest installment in the Disney Channel juggernaut that began in 2018, back when its stars Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim were teens themselves. Now in their mid-20s and serving as executive producers on this movie, the duo, who play Addison and Zed, passes the torch to two new star-crossed vampires from rival factions: Nova (Freya Skye), the sharp, budding leader of the vampire/human hybrid daywalkers, and Victor (Malachi Barton), the charming nephew of the Vampire Eldress. The franchise's signature blend of singing, dancing, supernatural powers, romantic tension and heartfelt messaging continues. The plot 🎬 The story starts with Zed and Addison wrapping up their first year at Mountain College. They're still in a relationship but on different paths — he's chasing football glory while she's hoping to be cheer captain. Before going to their respective summer camps, they go on a road trip, along with friends Eliza (Kylee Russell) and Willa (Chandler Kinney). Their car flips — blame a force field — and when they strike out to find help, they find themselves caught between two feuding groups: the daywalkers of Sunnyside and vampires of Shadyside. Zed bonds with daywalker Nova, after she initially takes him to the ground with an aerobatic flip-kick. Addison wins over Victor — ('I'm not a daywalker… I'm a cheerleader!' the blonde tells him) — and he uses his powers to free her from the windstorm the vampires put her in. With Zed coaching one side and Addison the other, they work to unite the sworn enemies — and their 'lightstone' and 'darkstone' moonstones (aka crystals that connect all monsters). Our viewing party 🍿 It was a vacation house viewing party. My daughter and I commandeered the only TV, smack in the middle of the living room, to watch. Joining us on the couch was my mostly disinterested husband, who looked up from his phone from time to time, my brother–in-law passing through the room to laugh at us and two very disinterested cats. Our film recap in emojis 🧟♂️🧟♀️🐺👱🏻♀️/👽🎶🚗💥🏖️🌌🤺😑🎶➡️👱🏻♀️/🧛♀️➕🧛🏻🟰👎🏻❤️🥭😑➡️👱🏻♀️/🧛♀️🧛🏻👱🏻♀️/👽🧟♂️🤲🏻🎶🧩💎☀️➕💎🌙⚡️➡️🕊️🎶🥭💗 The familiar 🔁 The original Seabrook crew — zombies, an alien/human hybrid and a werewolf — who are loved by young audiences, are back to help transition the long-running story to the new, younger cast. Also returning is Zed's comedic flair, heroine Addison's optimism and her A+ hair game. The Zombies signature song and dance mix, ranging from rap to tap, including a sentimental reprise of franchise fave 'Someday,' comes at a pivotal moment. The messaging of the importance of two opposing groups uniting for the greater good is also a through line. Yes, it's a bit saccharine sweet and a little on the nose, but it's never a bad reminder. So is the reminder to prioritize the people you love most, which Zed and Addison took to heart. The new 🆕 The two new factions — led by the Romeo-and-Juliet-like Victor and Nova — are warring over blood fruit. Their well-choreographed dance sequences were transfixing to watch and the new songs fit the franchise vibe just right. .. One song, 'Possible,' is about passing the torch, and it's clear that Zombies 5 — which is likely to follow due to early ratings success, according to FlixPatrol — will see Donnelly and Manheim step back. Also notable: The film was shot in New Zealand, giving it a fresh backdrop and some distance from Seabrook. Mid-movie commentary from my daughter 🧒🏻 Addison and Zed: 'I love them.' Her hair, which is blue-tipped this go-round: 'So pretty.' The college ensemble dance number: 'They definitely worked more than one day on this.' Nova's fire wardrobe: 'I want a top like that.' Nova's fighting skills: 'She's taking out all those guys in a dress.' The room with puzzles that Nova and Victor go in: 'That's my favorite set. Next year, I want to have my birthday party at an escape room.' Nova's angry, overprotective dad: 'Typical movie girl dad.' Shrimpy having a cameo in a Mountain College shirt: 'SHRIMPY!' Mid-movie commentary from me 👩🏻 I felt some Grease vibes with Nova and Victor — à la Danny and Sandy, especially when they cut back and forth to them wistfully singing like in 'Summer Nights'. I also thought Nova looked like a young Hilary Duff. Number of times the adults got shushed 🤫 Five — mostly for 'asking too many questions.' I'll admit it: I was annoying at the start, only having seen snippets of previous Zombies movies, and trying to figure out who all the different dance troupes are. Just when you think you get it down, you realize you're still off the mark. ('So Addison's a human?' 'No, she's an alien/human.') My husband got more shushes than I did, including when he interrupted Nova and Victor's song and dance number duet to quip, 'This is exactly what your mom and I were like before you were born.' He got an extended shush. Note: Any story that includes 'before you were born...' is an automatic tween eye roll trigger. My brother-in-law got more of a pass for breaking out over-the-top dance moves each time he shimmied through the living room. My daughter tried to ignore him, though he would not be deterred from doing his best sprinkler and lawn mower. (Look those up, kids.) Appropriateness check 🎯 Totally Disney-friendly for a tween audience. Mild intensity (fangs, a few fight scenes and a car flips with no injuries) with some PG romance (kisses, hand-holding). Funniest line 🤣 'Save the marshmallows' — which was said during the middle of a car crash. Teaser at the end 🌊 Yes. Poor Nova and Victor couldn't have a moment of peace. They were sharing a post-drama hug when a tornado rose from the ocean. My daughter's theory? Mermaids (as teased in Zombies 3) or sirens will be added to the mix in film five. The internet has many other theories, including a Zombies and Descendants crossover, which would fit with the 'Worlds Collide' concert tour members of both movie casts are on this summer. Parent pain and suffering scale ⚖️ Had my husband not been able to scroll through his phone to look at sports scores, his suffering would have been HIGH. Zombies, werewolves, aliens, vampires: It's like the writers put every supernatural element in a script and hit blend, before sprinkling in teen angst and forbidden love and oh, let's make it a musical! It was too much and not enough at the same time, but when your kid is deliriously happy, does anything else matter? My daughter's parting thought 💬 As the credits rolled at 9 p.m., I got the old: 'Now can we watch them all in order, starting with the first one?' I replied, 'Not tonight.' But let's be honest — a full Zombies marathon is likely in our future. There are worse ways to spend a summer night, surrounded by people you love, even if they interrupt you … and definitely can't dance like Zed and Addison. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
I was told to 'cover up' in Wetherspoons - after being told my Gymshark shorts and sports bra weren't 'family friendly'
A woman has revealed her outrage at being told to 'cover up' after she visited her local Wetherspoons pub - in gym wear. Georgia Toomey went to meet her boyfriend at The Tollemache Inn in Grantham, Lincolnshire, after finishing a workout at the gym. However, the 23-year-old says she was 'looked up and down' by a female staff member and told to zip up her top to conceal her blue sports bra because it was 'a family friendly pub.' The cleaner said she and her partner then went to the beer garden planning to order from the app - but left after they claim the same worker kept coming outside to look at them. Georgia, who was wearing Gymshark cycling shorts and a matching sports bra, which cost £38 each, said: 'We walked in and I was wearing a gym set, I thought, ''we're only going to Spoons, I don't have to change''. 'But this woman looked me up and down and said I had to zip my top up. She said it was a family-friendly pub. 'I think it's ridiculous. It's only sports wear and you shouldn't feel like you can't wear it. 'I can wear it in the gym, so why can't I wear it in Wetherspoons? She just wanted me to do it up - which I think is stupid. 'If it was somewhere in London, I would get it - but it's not, it's Spoons in Grantham. 'You should be able to wear what you want and shouldn't be sexualised in gym wear. 'I would get it if it was a lacey bra or something, but it's not. She looked me up and down like a piece of dirt. It makes me feel like I should be covering up, but I shouldn't be. 'It's not like I'm big-chested, either - I was showing a bit of cleavage, but that's it. I'm sure girls have worn much more revealing stuff in there. She added: 'It's other people's problem if they are getting affected by a bit of cleavage.' After being told to cover up, Georgia says she and her boyfriend went out to the beer garden, where nobody else was sitting. However, they evetually opted to leave the pub after growing frustrated when, they say, the staff member kept coming out to 'check she was covered up.' Georgia complained to the pub but says they 'lied' by telling her she had been 'refused service and asked to leave', which she claims did not happen. She added: 'We were sat outside and were going to order on the app, but the woman from the bar, who was about 40 or 50, kept coming outside and looking. 'It made me feel really embarrassed and insecure. We didn't feel comfortable, so we left. But the woman wrote and said she threw us out and wasn't going to serve us, which never happened. 'When I looked online it said you're allowed sports wear.' Georgia took to social media to share her experience and said a man replied saying he and his friends had been in the same pub topless with no issues before. In an email reply to her, the pub chain said: 'Most of our pubs are family environments, so we ask our customers to dress appropriately and in a way which would not cause offence. 'All customers must be fully clothed throughout their visit. The company does not permit the removal of shirts or footwear. 'In addition, some pubs operate specific dress codes at all or certain times. 'I appreciate that you were not satisfied by the way in which the incident was handled. 'Having discussed your feedback with the pub's manager, I understand that you were refused service and were asked to leave.' However in a statement, the pub backtracked and agreed that Georgia had not been asked to leave and she was 'very welcome to return'. Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: 'It's always a matter of fine judgement for pub managers where sportswear is concerned. 'In this case, the customer was asked if she would mind zipping up her gym top, to which she kindly agreed.
