Anthony Bourdain’s memoir-in-essays, “Kitchen Confidential,” was first published in the year 2000, when the domestic economy was roaring, and with it the restaurant and travel industries. There had once been a wide gulf between the upscale Le Cirque and downscale Papaya King crowds, but “Kitchen Confidential” helped bring the hungry middle populace to the table … Read more
Pioneers of modern skateboarding gathered on the Santa Monica Pier Thursday night to celebrate 50 years of the culture that is now synonymous with California. In the mid-70s, a group of young men from Dogtown — a local nickname for Santa Monica, formed the Z-Boys skate team at Jeff Ho’s Zephyr surf shop. The legendary … Read more
He’s got a window on the past. Star chef Michael Lomonaco had spent 25 years running Windows on the World, the celebrated restaurant nestled high in the Twin Towers. But on the morning of September 11, 2001, the Brooklynite narrowly avoided tragedy when an issue with his eyeglasses prompted him to head to LensCrafters instead … Read more
Surrogacy was once viewed as an expensive, last-resort option for families desperate to have children but unable to, often glamourized by celebrities — Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, and Jimmy Fallon all used surrogates. It’s an emotionally and financially draining — and often complex — journey, as demonstrated with the recent headline-making … Read more
Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at 80. Her family announced the devastating news in a video posted to Instagram Tuesday. “I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean,” a statement read by Dolly’s nephew Bryan Seaver said. Country singer Dolly Parton poses … Read more
Mariska Hargitay still has Knicks fever. The “Law & Order: SVU” star, who has enhanced her profile with her Knicks fandom and Broadway debut, has not gotten over the magical months of May and June when the Knicks claimed their first NBA title in 53 years. She claimed the “world has changed” because of it … Read more
They’re hot under the heels. New York City runners are hot under the heels and hateful in the comments after New York Road Runners (NYRR) announced changes to its popular 9+1 program. Previously, under the 9+1 program, if a NYRR member completed nine races and volunteered at an additional race, they would be guaranteed entry … Read more
They’re getting a leg up on the job. Businessmen, executives and finance bros are spicing up their clothes this summer, ditching stuffy slacks in the workplace for breezy, leisurely shorts to beat the heat. Unfortunately, while guys on the grind are enjoying the airy wardrobe swap, gals grossed out by their body hair desperately want the fashion … Read more
The Golden Girls of cruising. Upon booking her first-ever solo cruise, Debbie, 59, was nervous. She was fresh off a breakup and ready for a change — but feared a trip by herself would have the opposite effect and ultimately make her feel lonely. “From the moment I booked the cruise to the moment I … Read more
Americans today live roughly twice as long, on average, as they did when the Declaration of Independence was signed. When the nation was founded in 1776, life expectancy was around 35 to 40 years old, historians estimate. However, someone who survived childhood in colonial America often lived into their 60s or even 70s. Today, the average … Read more
John Stamos wanted advice from the King of Cool — and got an answer he never forgot. The “Full House” alum got his big break on television as Blackie Parrish on “General Hospital” from 1982 to 1984. But by the end of his run, Stamos was determined to leave the soap opera world behind and … Read more
Sarah Drew has never forgotten the advice she received from her father, a pastor, that changed her life. The “Grey’s Anatomy” alum is starring in the new Lifetime film airing Saturday, “When I Said I Do,” as Ali Corley, a widowed search-and-rescue K-9 handler who rebuilt her life and found love again after losing her … Read more
Listen closely to how some Californians talk and you’ll hear it. The T sound in words like “water” or “accent” can soften or disappear. “Water” becomes “wader.” “Mountain” turns into “moun-in.” Even “winter” can sound like “winner.” They are small changes. Easy to miss. But linguists say those subtle patterns are part of something bigger. … Read more
Your metabolism is no fool. Even if you initially lose weight on a certain diet or medication, to maintain those results, you have to constantly trick the metabolic system into letting you shed pounds. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck at what obesity doctors call the “weight loss plateau.” This phenomenon is extremely common among … Read more
Justin Herbert showed this week there’s a little bit of mush inside his chiseled 6-foot-6, 236-pound frame. The Chargers quarterback took to his Instagram page on Thursday evening and penned a sweet love note to his girlfriend, Madison Beer, in celebration of her 27th birthday — revealing a soft side of him that the public … Read more
On August 7, 1963, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis delivered her youngest child via an emergency caesarean section at an Air Force Base Hospital in Massachusetts. Baby Patrick was five and a half weeks premature, and doctors immediately knew there were problems with his labored breathing. “The infant had a translucent grapelike coloring, warning of … Read more
When I think of a sex party, I think of an X-rated “Gossip Girl” episode. A sensual masquerade of liberation and seduction, a complete offshoot of reality. For most people, the invitation alone is an untouchable experience we see in the movies, or read about in smut novels. To my surprise, they are very real … Read more
Papa Johns is feeling extra saucy. The national pizza chain has set a far-fetched goal for itself: to become the first pizza establishment to earn a Michelin star. While there are 70 pizzerias listed in the Michelin guide, no pizzeria has ever received a Michelin star — and Papa Johns believes it is worthy. Papa … Read more
Reanna Madura spent her childhood in the middle of a dark family secret — one harbored by the now 25-year-old’s mother, Melissa Rose, who lived in fear that the truth might scar her daughter for life. Only when she turned 18 did the guilt-ridden parent finally reveal her shame — which had haunted the Midwesterner for nearly … Read more
Ramble on, Bob. John Mayer delivered a touching eulogy for his friend and mentor, Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, during an emotional public memorial held for the late guitarist in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon. Weir, whom Mayer remembered as a “countercultural icon” and “maestro,” died from underlying lung issues on Jan. 10 after battling cancer. He … Read more