Entertainment
During the WNBA season, bars and restaurants say they have seen greater customer demand for women’s sports
CHICAGO (AP) Josh Pehlke remembers just a number of years ago when he needed to beg and beg at bars and restaurants to point out WNBA games. Too often the answer was a categorical no.
Nowadays he doesn’t have to fret a lot.
As general manager of Signature Bar & Restaurant in Chicago’s South Loop, he has something to say about the three-point shot from the home of the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. But even when he is not at work, he’s noticed a difference.
“I went to Cubs games this season, went to sports bars in Wrigleyville and found the WNBA on TV, whereas two or three years ago that wasn’t happening,” Pehlke said.
The WNBA drew sellout crowds and unprecedented rankings in a breakthrough season that ends with the final match between the New York Liberty, fighting for its first title, and the Minnesota Lynx, which takes a record fifth place. The best-of-three series began Thursday when Minnesota defeated New York in additional time.
Whether it was Caitlin Clark from Indiana or Angel Reese from Chicago, putting on a spirited competition from universities to professionals, Simone Biles wins more gold at the Olympic Games or 92,003 fans packed a football stadium in Nebraska for a volleyball gameoverall, women’s sports are attracting more attention.
Sports bars and restaurants are taking note, adapting their marketing and menus to draw a wider range of shoppers. At least some say they see an increased demand for women’s sports on TV, although the evidence is more anecdotal than statistical. In recent years, several catering facilities have opened specifically for women’s sports, similar to Sports bra in Portland, Oregon.
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Either way, fans have a selection if they wish to grab a bite to eat, drink and watch the game away from home.
“You’ll see small groups of women coming out to watch sports,” said Brian Wright, general manager of Bar Louie. “You see a lot of men now asking to play women’s sports. So this is a kind of paradigm shift in the way women’s sports are perceived. Very rarely did you see a group of men asking, “Can you turn on this WNBA game?” Now it’s really becoming commonplace.”
Bar Louie has restaurants in 21 states from coast to coast and as many as 20 TVs in each location. As for what number of persons are suited to a selected sport, Wright said there isn’t a scientific basis to find out that. But he is certain of a number of things.
The chain attracts an increasing percentage of female customers. And when Clark or Reese played, it was good for business. For example, their NCAA tournament games over the past two years have seen an roughly 10% increase in business.
CEO Joe Hummel said that at Twin Peaks, where most locations have 16 satellites and 75 TVs, the customer base is about 80% men. But the gender gap is narrowing.
“Five years ago, we might not have advertised or promoted Women’s March Madness,” Hummel said.
The company evaluates the schedule day by day to find out what number of TVs might be tuned in for each game. Restaurants can adapt to recent customer news and needs, which is crucial. Hummel said Twin Peaks doesn’t track what number of televisions are tuned to specific events or how many purchasers have requested a seat at a location to observe a selected game.
“It would be very difficult,” he said. “Our operators often communicate with the guest, and if we overwhelmed our operators – having to constantly keep track of this, this and this – they would end up worrying about the statistics and not even dealing with the guests.”
Nicole Bond, associate director of promoting strategy at Mintel Comperemedia, said her company’s research shows 71% of consumers imagine women’s sports will proceed to grow in popularity. She sees this up close in her side job as a bartender at Bernie’s Tap & Grill near Wrigley Field in Chicago.
“Men prefer women’s athletics,” said Bond, a former Northwestern softball player. “And I hear them talking about what is going on on in the W, or what is going on on in the NWSL, or whatever it’s. This became really interesting and became the norm in bar conversations. I feel people want to observe these games and groups, similar to you do if you invite people to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup.
Pehlke became a WNBA fan a few decade ago and began following Sky when Chicago product Candace Parker was added ahead of the 2021 championship season. He grew up as a Los Angeles Lakers fan in northern Wisconsin.
Pehlke, whose friend has season tickets, repeatedly visits Wintrust Arena for Sky games. He even collects WNBA trading cards.
The Signature facility, owned by former Bears defensive lineman Israel Idonije, opened in January. There are 13 TVs on the partitions, 10 of which watch WNBA games on Friday night at the end of the regular season. Six of them showed Sky playing in Minnesota.
Pehlke said during the playoffs, the restaurant saw more requests to tune its TVs to WNBA games. He also expected a revival in business.
“The demand was incredible throughout the playoffs,” he said. “I was very happy to see that it wasn’t just for Fever games, but apparently for all games.”
Entertainment
Denzel Washington ready to ‘kill’ ‘Gladiator II’ co-star Pedro Pascal for getting too close to his wife Pauletta
As considered one of Hollywood’s most respected veterans, Denzel Washington not does two things: his own stunts and pretending to have significant kinship with his colleagues. So far, the actor has been stomping the pavement on two projects: “The Piano Lesson”, which he produces, and the long-awaited “Gladiator II”, wherein he stars.
The latter action-adventure film was directed by Ridley Scott and stars Denzel, 69, because the villain Macrinus, an arms dealer who briefly rules Rome, and Pascal as Marcus Acacius, a ruthless Roman general. Premiere in cinemas on November 22.
At the film’s London premiere on November 14, the artist made some eyebrow-raising remarks on the red carpet that shocked not only his online fans but additionally his collaborator, Pedro Pascal.
Pascal was in the midst of a red carpet interview with “Entertainment Tonight” when his Oscar-winning co-star interrupted the interview. The very first thing he did was grab the reporter’s microphone and say, “He’s not as good an actor as I am,” after which joked that the name of the movie could be modified to “Pedro One starring Pedro, written by Pedro, directed by Pedro, edited by Pedro.”
Pascal chimed in and remarked, “I only take directions from this guy. …I’m happy to have a trilogy in my future. I hope you agree to this,” which gave way to much more interesting remarks from his co-star.
“I’m not taking part in this,” Denzel said, looking seriously on the camera. The two men laughed and hugged, greeting one another warmly. Their playful banter carried over to the older man, who added that Pascal was a “good man.” Great actor. Okay – I would not call him a friend. … You know, it isn’t like we drink tea.
Pedro and Denzel, barely longer version
(paramofor ig) pic.twitter.com/mC1Ld7tCUx
— Peter Pascal Nation (@PedroPNation) November 14, 2024
The younger actor seemed stunned that Denzel admitted he wasn’t considered a friend. He then stated that he was “waiting in the wings” for a chance to meet up with friends. “It’s a promise. You come to Los Angeles, you come home,” said the “Training Day” star. Early reactions from fans who saw a shortened clip of their exchange were: “I feel Pedro froze slightly when he heard that.” Someone else wrote: “That was awkward.”
However, in an extended recording, it seems that this masculine moment was interrupted by Paulletta Washington, Denzel’s wife, who emerged from behind the movie star, eager to greet the Chilean-born actor. “I just wanted to say that me and Pauletta are friends,” Pascal told Denzel.
In response, he joked, “Yes, that’s right. You are all friends!” as he watched his wife hug her castmate. The camera then slowly panned towards the actor, who then looked directly into the lens and said, “See how this goes? This is life. That’s how it really works. This is Pedro, who’s spending time with my wife. If I were in Gladiator, I might kill Pedro straight away, but I won’t because he’s a pleasant guy.
Let’s always remember how John David Washington immediately controlled reporters in the event that they EVER tried to praise Denzel without praising Pauletta, or acted as if she should only be generally known as “Denzel’s wife.” pic.twitter.com/70EeuYQ3Hl https://t.co/yqP0OGMwBC
— hellresidentNY 🖤 (@hellresidentNY) October 7, 2023
On X, viewer commented“I wouldn’t call you a friend, it’s so true because apparently friendship means more than just making a movie together.” Second fan he said“This is the realest dirt ever.” Both stars previously shared the screen in 2018’s “Equalizer 2.”
Of course, all the exchange was lighthearted, however it was an incredible moment that made headlines amongst co-workers.
After over 40 years of playing quite a few iconic roles, Denzel is finally preparing to retire from the screen, but before he fully pursues directing, he plans to make at the very least five more movies, including one other collaboration with Spike Lee and a possible appearance within the upcoming the movie “Blank Panther”.
Entertainment
Outrage erupts as Kim Kardashian is called out for allegedly robbing Italians in a new ad campaign
Fashion mogul Kim Kardashian recently unveiled her SKIMS collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, which is set to premiere on November 19. However, all attention is focused on the campaign accompanying the new capsule collection.
The Dolce & Gabbana x SKIMS campaign, shot by renowned photographer Nadia Lee Cohen, captures the charm of Sixties Italy and appears to pay homage to iconic Italian actress Sophia Loren. Featuring Kim and her sister Kourtney Kardashian, the visuals are designed to exude vintage charm while fusing fashion with the SKIMS aesthetic.
Kim was excited and promoted – we read in several posts on her Instagram, a space normally reserved for brands that pay tens of millions simply to be featured. Her 359 million followers enthusiastically welcomed the project and congratulated her on such a very important transaction.
However, not everyone likes the return to the past in promoting.
Critics at the moment are accusing the Kardashian sisters, who’re of Armenian descent, of once more crossing cultural boundaries. The campaign and two reality stars are accused on social media of appropriating a southern European identity.
When the style bomb is on a regular basis sent promotion, the comments showed how impressed lots of their followers were.
“The way they act culturally is really crazy,” one person said.
Another wrote: “Then no (sic) cosplaying Italians. I mean what race won’t be cosplaying at this point.”
Someone else said of the sisters’ campaign: “It’s always cosplay.”
Another person added: “I hope Italian grandma and grandpa are AI because why are you bothering these people dressed in underwear lol.”
One person wrote on Twitter: “More cultural appropriation from this white Armenian.”
One follower took issue with them comparing themselves to Loren’s fashion style, writing: “They take icons and put their names on them. When you type “Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, etc.” into Google, their names will appear. Keeping them associated with greatness. Sucks lack of originality, wash, rinse and repeat.”
More cultural appropriation from this white Armenian
— NC (@Money_Mo_213) November 14, 2024
There could also be some truth in associating the Kardashians with a few of the biggest stars in history by dressing like them and in some cases wearing dresses and jewellery that after belonged to deceased stars.
In 2022, Kim wore the identical dress that Marilyn Monroe wore to sing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to then-President John F. Kennedy on his forty fifth birthday sixty years earlier. The dress was transparent, with 2,500 crystals embedded in the material.
Historians and owners who worked to preserve the historicity of the dress say she destroyed it. They claimed she returned the dress with the material stretched and located new holes appeared in the clothing. The owners also said that a few of the rhinestones were either barely attached or had fallen off completely.
This is not the only dress the blonde actress has worn in the past few years. She also wore a green sequined Norman Norell gown by Monroe on the 1962 Golden Globes.
Kardashian recently made headlines for wearing an Attallah cross necklace once worn by Princess Diana. Made of gold, silver, amethyst and diamonds, it was the prized signature of the Princess of Wales.
The cross’s original owner, Naim Attallah, who often allowed Diana to wear it, sold it to Kardashian after she won it at auction in January 2023.
Kim first wore the necklace in public on her forty fourth birthday in October, after which on November 2 on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) 2024 Art+Film Gala.
In addition to facing criticism for dressing like legends, she was accused of appropriating black culture.
One of the persistently she was scrutinized for her inclusion in black culture was when she wore Fulani braids after which said they were from a Seventies white actress who wore them in a 1979 movie “10”.
She hopped on Snapchat and said she was crazy about “Bo Derek Braids.”
Fans were quick to remind her that these hairstyles originated in Africa and encouraged her to learn more.
Entertainment
Denzel Washington takes talk show host to his seat over offensive claims he was an alcoholic – in new clip
Hollywood legend Denzel Washington has long been known for his dignified presence, each on and off the screen.
In a 2004 aired interview on “The Parkinson Show,” the Oscar winner answered demeaning questions with grace and humor, though the host’s line of questioning seemed to reinforce stereotypes about black men.
The interview, intended to promote Washington’s then-film “Man on Fire,” took a turn when host Sir Michael Parkinson suggested that Washington had struggled with alcoholism and possible gang involvement in his youth.
The exchange began with Parkinson stating that Washington didn’t need to “explore” the alcohol facets of his character due to his own alleged experience. He played the role of a person named John W. Creasy who struggles with alcoholism. He attempts to take his own life while battling his past actions as a former CIA agent and Force Recon Marine.
(At) some point in your life you were in danger of becoming an alcoholic. Isn’t it?”
“Me? Right now as we speak!” Washington responded, surprised by this assumption.
Parkinson then explained by asking about Washington’s younger years.
Washington, remaining calm, replied, “When I was younger? Well, I think we were all in danger, but we didn’t know it. When Parkinson pressed on, citing “research” and articles about Washington’s past, the daddy of 4 laughed, replying: “Really? I higher read them.
The British broadcaster continued by suggesting that after his parents’ divorce, Washington “went off the track” by drinking and hanging out with the flawed crowd. The actor responded by admitting that he was offended and acting like a young man, but it surely wasn’t about drinking.
“I was already hanging out with the wrong crowd before they got divorced,” he said, adding: “I believe it had more to do with not a lot drinking, but just getting offended about it, attacking — entering into fights, things like that. Just a bit of kid who didn’t understand what was happening and was taking it out on whoever was nearby.
When Parkinson asked if he was in a gang, the New York native revealed the reality about his difficult background, sharing that the majority of his friends from his youth “were killed or went to jail.”
He praised his mother for having “the common sense to get me out of it” and sending him to a personal school, which, satirically, was “where all of the alcoholics and drug addicts really were. Little did she know.
“The rich kids had all the drugs,” Washington added. Later he laughed and said, “Mom, I never smoked a cigarette until you sent me to school.”
Many individuals who saw the 20-yr-old’s interview commented on Washington’s handling of the interview.
“Denzel was classy, he could get angry with Micheal’s questions about alcoholics and his parents, but he’s too cool for that,” one person wrote, and one other commented. “The interviewer was just rude and he knew it, and Denzel knew it. Yes, Denzel was very witty and fashionable in the top.
A 3rd comment clearly stated, “Denzel is the boss.”
It just wasn’t concerning the comments about drinking and gangs, other parts of the interview seemed to piss off the actor and viewers.
“The look Denzel gives him 9:08 was like, “Oh, you f—,” one commenter said, a nod to his role as crooked detective Alonzo Harris in 2001’s “Training Day.”
#DenzelWashington the most effective to ever do it!! pic.twitter.com/pIYdYbH3D3
— Degen Dude (@DegenDude_) November 12, 2024
Someone else said: “The subtle art of ridiculing an interlocutor who asks stupid and false questions. Tastefully presented here by Denzel.”
One fan was clear: “I’ve never heard of him being an alcoholic.”
Although Washington didn’t talk about drinking excessively, he often talked about his journey, the challenges of his youth, and the support systems that guided him, including his involvement with the Boys and Girls Club of America.
He also credited Sidney Poitier as a mentor, teaching him about privacy and self-respect. In a 2012 interview with GQ, Washington recalled Poitier’s advice: “If they see you without spending a dime all week, they will not pay to see you on the weekend. … If you walk past the magazine section in the supermarket they usually’ve known you all of your life, there is not any mystery about it.”
This wisdom shaped Washington’s approach to fame and public life, emphasizing the importance of secrecy and honesty.
The “Malcolm X” star’s down-to-earth approach to life was also evident in other public interactions.
After Will Smith’s controversial slapping incident on the 2022 Oscars, he was seen advising the West Philly native and telling him, “Be careful at the best of times, that’s when the devil comes for you.” This message reflected Washington’s belief in remaining calm and honest even under pressure.
He also allegedly uttered words of reproach to Sean “Diddy” Combs while he and his wife attended one in all his exclusive parties. The “Training Day” actor saw something he didn’t like and reportedly snapped at Bad Boy’s director, “You don’t respect anyone,” before storming out.
Known for embodying dignity, Washington rarely allows his temper to surface, but he isn’t afraid to express himself when mandatory.
When paparazzi accosted him outside the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Washington turned and said calmly but firmly, “You’re talking to a man right now. … How about… respecting me?” He let the person know that respect was crucial thing and even offered a smile to relieve any tension.
Throughout his profession, Washington managed to balance humility with strength, demonstrating that respect, humor and honesty were the cornerstones of his personality.
Parkinson can have wanted to get some juicy or controversial commentary from the actor, possibly comparing him to other stereotypes about black men. Still, Washington’s measured responses only reinforced his status as a real gentleman in Hollywood… one who is not easily fooled by intrusive questions.
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