Latest news with #Alibi
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC viewers can now rediscover crime drama that's everything Killing Eve fans could hope for
The limited series is the latest boxset offering BBC viewers can now rediscover a 'twisted' crime drama that is said to be everything Killing Eve fans could hope for. Ragdoll, which originally aired on Alibi - now known as UandAlibi - has been freshly served up on iPlayer's boxset banquet. Produced in 2021, this limited series now positions itself for discovery by fresh audiences thanks to its new BBC streaming home. All ready for a marathon, viewers have six episodes to devour, each running between 44 to 46 minutes. This chilling tale unspools the murders of six victims, dismembered and stitched together into one macabre 'Ragdoll', setting off a dark detective pursuit. As the homicide squad delves deeper, they become the subject of the murderer's twisted game. Fronting the investigation is Pretty Little Liars and Riverdale's Lucy Hale as DC Lake Edmunds, joined by Henry Lloyd-Hughes, familiar from Harry Potter and set to appear in the Thursday Murder Club film, and Thalissa Teixeira, known for her role in Anne Boleyn. Rooted in Daniel Cole's best-selling novel, Ragdoll won critical acclaim on its debut, notching a laudable 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, reports Surrey Live. The Daily Telegraph's critique offered high praise: "It's not like any other crime drama out there: it's not even like itself, most of the time". The Guardian heaped praise on the show, asserting: "You will know within 10 minutes whether the operatic ultra-violence, black comedy and arch, very nearly overwritten dialogue make you wriggle with joy or combust with irritation." Another critic was impressed, stating: "This dark but witty oddball serial-killer drama is just what you'd hope for from the producers of Killing Eve." Meanwhile, a third remarked: "Don't try to make sense of any of it. Just cover your eyes and watch if you dare." While some viewers have been sending out recommendations for the crime thriller to fellow enthusiasts, reactions overall have been somewhat split. A viewer took to the internet to share their enthusiasm: "For the first time since I don't know how long I was glued to a show, did not skip any episodes or scenes, I even enjoyed watching protagonist and antagonist, relating to both and at times enjoying the antagonist at play. No one could have guessed the end." Still, there's a word of caution from others who say the series' humour might not be everyone's cup of tea and suggested tuning on captions for a better grasp of the plot. In contrast, someone else expressed their let-down: "I usually like stuff like this but by the middle of the second episode I gave up. Far too complicated to a point of me not knowing what was actually going on." Ragdoll is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
The Alibi was the desert's hottest music venue. Who killed it?
Back in the worst pandemic days of 2020, Elizabeth Garo and Melanie Tusquellas were terrified they would lose their nightclub. The co-owners of the Alibi — an independent music venue with space for up to 300 people in downtown Palm Springs — opened in late 2019, just before COVID-19 shut down the live music scene. Garo was a former booker for the Regent, Echo and Echoplex in L.A. (She also opened Stories Books in Echo Park.) Tusquellas was a hospitality veteran behind Los Feliz's El Chavo and Silver Lake's historic Edendale restaurant. The two said they had invested hundreds of thousands into renovating and opening the Alibi. 'It's difficult to run a small independent venue any time, and during COVID it was particularly hard,' Garo recalled in an interview. 'A lot of them didn't make it.' Garo heard that Marc Geiger, then a WME music executive she had known and worked with for decades, and former WME board member John Fogelman had founded Save Live, a company investing in independent venues to help them survive the pandemic. When Save Live offered to buy 51% of the Alibi and let the co-founders continue to run it, the deal 'felt like such a relief,' Garo said. 'It felt like a lifeline, like, 'Hey, we're gonna make it.'' Instead, Garo and Tusquellas claim in a 2023 lawsuit and an interview with The Times that the partnership ruined them. Their lawsuit, which seeks compensatory damages, alleges that Geiger and Fogelman negotiated the deal in bad faith, forcing them out of the company's operations soon after the purchase. After briefly reopening in 2022, the club permanently closed later that year. A trial is set for August. Attorneys for Save Live, which has since rebranded as Gate 52, declined to comment when reached by email. In a cross-complaint to the suit, Geiger and Fogelman say Save Live 'bent over backwards to try to resolve the parties' differences' and call Garo and Tusquellas' claims 'salacious — and utterly false — allegations of misogyny and bad faith.' The suit raises questions about the future of local indie music venues like the Alibi and about Save Live's intentions. Does the firm rescue troubled venues or capitalize on their financial vulnerability? Gate 52 now owns 13 music venues across the country, including Electric City in Buffalo, N.Y., the Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee and the Criterion in Oklahoma City. In California, the firm owns the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo and the Golden State Theatre in Monterey, and collaborates with dozens more 'network venues' across the country. The firm is a far cry from giants like Live Nation or AEG. But as a well-capitalized operation that has acquired majority stakes in struggling small venues, it has become a significant player in secondary markets. The two-story, Spanish colonial-style building that would become the Alibi first opened as a switchboard hub for the GE Telephone Co. in the 1920s. Later, it became Georgie's Alibi Azul, a popular gay bar and restaurant. In 2018, Garo and Tusquellas, both wisecracking Gen X veterans of L.A. nightlife, were looking for 'a swan song' for their careers, as Tusquellas described it. Garo, one of the most influential talent bookers in L.A. for decades, had been laid off from Live Nation after the mega-promoter bought local promoter Spaceland Presents. After touring the Alibi, Garo and Tusquellas saw potential for a venue like the ones they'd built in L.A., a place to book local and global artists in a creatively adapted old building. 'We were surprised by how chic and international Palm Springs was becoming,' Tusquellas added. 'Growing up in L.A., when we went to Palm Springs as kids, it was like God's waiting room. But we were quite surprised by this scene with all these local musicians but no venues to play at.' Alibi soft-launched with packed Pride events in fall 2019 (to avoid the summer heat), and formally opened in October. With its glazed-tile outdoor bar and emerald-hued mood lighting, the venue was a chic standout in desert nightlife. 'We had everything from 'Dynasty' theme parties to Modernism Week events,' Tusquellas said. 'We had a goth night. There had never been a place to go for them in Palm Springs and they came out of the woodwork.' Local musicians hoped the venue would be transformative for their scene. 'Alibi was the first place where we got a taste of the real deal,' said Spencer Stange of the band Host Family, which booked a monthly night of experimental music at Alibi. 'It was the only venue I knew there that was legitimate and professional. Good bands played there and you could do a real sound check. They were so hospitable, it felt like a home base.' Louise Minnick, a local promoter with Lesbo Expo, said Alibi was an important venue for queer women in the desert. 'Liz and Melanie went out of their way to make our events special,' Minnick said. 'They offered their patio for women to have first access to watch Pride, which meant a lot to me.' Five months later, the pandemic annihilated those plans. Garo and Tusquellas said their company, 369 Palm Inc., was too new to access the federal patchwork of Paycheck Protection Program loans. They eventually got a grant from the National Independent Venue Assn., but it was for only $20,000. According to a slide deck cited in Save Live's cross-complaint, the venue had $250,000 in outstanding bills from the shutdown. 'We used all our savings to pay the rent,' Tusquellas added. 'We're entrepreneurs who are not funded by big people, so we had to pay the $15,000 a month rent ourselves for a year and a half. It was really hard.' Meanwhile, Save Live launched in 2020 with $135 million raised from venture capital firms and a clear mission: to buy majority stakes in small clubs. 'Save Live's business model was to invest in local, independent, 'mom and pop' live music venues, providing critically needed financial relief and funds to renovate dated facilities to bring them back stronger than ever before,' the company says in its cross-complaint. Save Live's founders were well-known in L.A. entertainment. Geiger co-founded the Lollapalooza festival and led WME's music division from 2003 until 2020. Fogelman was the former head of motion pictures at William Morris Agency and a founding board member when it merged with Endeavor to become WME. The Alibi was one of Save Live's first venue deals. 'Being able to partner with Save Live is a dream come true,' Garo said in a 2021 announcement. The deal let the two owners 'stay true to our roots knowing we have their full support. … It doesn't hurt that we've known some of the people at Save Live for years — we all came up through the business together.' 'I didn't know Marc at all, but he was very charming,' Tusquellas said. 'He and Fogelman were titans of the industry. We felt that we were in very good hands. We knew what we were doing, and they knew that.' According to the suit and cross-complaint, Garo and Tusquellas' company, 369 Palm Inc. (with partner David Gold), agreed to sell 51% of their ownership of the Alibi's business to Save Live for $400,000. The Alibi's business would be co-owned under a new company, Alibi Venue Operations LLC. Garo and Tusquellas say in their suit that, under this agreement, the pair and Geiger 'would have decision-making authority over the day-to-day operations.' Garo and Tusquellas claim in their suit that 369 Palm 'retained 100% ownership of [the Alibi's] ABC liquor license' and would continue to manage the venue's bar. Save Live agreed to provide $565,000 for renovations and expenses, according to Save Live's cross-complaint. Garo and Tusquellas' suit claims that Save Live had 'hatched a plan to exploit the weakness in the independent live music industry to try, by means of deception and then intimidation, to acquire The Alibi and its business without paying a fair price.' Scott Timberlake, the Alibi building's landlord, said he had a friendly relationship with Garo and Tusquellas. But once Save Live got involved, he said, 'I was really surprised by Save Live's ego and entitlement. When I asked to see their financial statements before taking over the lease, they lectured me about 'Don't you know who we are?'' Garo and Tusquellas say in their suit that, when the venue reopened on April 1, 2022, 'SL Alibi acted as if it were the sole owner.' They claim in their suit that Geiger and Fogelman contracted with an outside ticketing company, Tixr, without Garo's consent, and that Save Live didn't sufficiently fund day-to-day operations. Garo and Tusquellas claim in their suit that Save Live switched to its own accountant for bookkeeping and backed out of a plan to hire a general manager. In its cross-complaint, Save Live says that 'contrary to the claims in their lawsuit, Save Live did not try to take over the Venue.' Save Live says 'Tusquellas and Garo had gone significantly over the pre-opening budget, resulting in … an operating budget shortfall.' According to Save Live's cross-complaint, private investigators discovered 'a separate, undisclosed cash register used only for cash transactions … there was no record, whatsoever, of any such sales.' The cross-complaint alleges that Tusquellas 'embezzled most of (if not all) of the cash sale proceeds.' Tusquellas denied the embezzlement claims, saying all sales, including cash, were accounted for and reported as income. Save Live says in its cross-complaint that both parties 'always understood and intended for 369 to transfer' the venue's valuable liquor license, and called Garo and Tusquellas' refusal to do so 'a ruse to get Save Live's money.' Garo and Tusquellas said they never sold, or intended to sell, the venue's liquor license. 'That may have been part of Save Live's secret plan,' said 369 Palm's lawyer, David Sergenian. 'But that was never agreed to.' On July 13, 2022, Garo and Tusquellas' lawsuit says 'Geiger and Fogelman called a meeting of the Board … as a pretense to ambush Tusquellas and Garo with false accusations. Geiger and Fogelman…falsely accus[ed] Tusquellas of embezzling funds from the company to enrich herself.' 'Fogelman aggressively threw a chair to the ground, as he raged,' the suit says. 'Tusquellas and Garo were appalled by Fogelman's shocking behavior and scared for their future, as he was threatening to ruin the business by shutting down The Alibi.' Garo and Tusquellas' suit claims Geiger and Fogelman ordered the venue shut down and that Garo and Tusquellas be removed from operations with their salaries cut off. The bar staff would be fired and 369 Palm's concessionaire agreement canceled, according to the suit. The Alibi closed on July 25, 2022. It never reopened. The situation at the Alibi echoes the tumult surrounding the ownership of the beloved Pioneertown venue Pappy & Harriet's. Starting in 2021, Knitting Factory Chief Executive Morgan Margolis and partners Stephen Hendel and John Chapman battled the venue's co-partners, Joseph Moresco and Lisa Elin, about who controlled the operations at the rustic venue, where acts as big as Paul McCartney and Robert Plant have played in addition to hardscrabble desert locals. Margolis prevailed in late 2024. Meanwhile, the new Acrisure Arena, built by mega-manager Irving Azoff and former AEG President Tim Leiweke, attracts A-list pop, rock and Latin acts to Palm Springs. The nearby Yaamava' resort has spent millions on top talent. 'It's great to have an influx of money and big artists at venues like Acrisure Arena that helps the Valley feel bigger. But losing small venues is detrimental and cuts away at the uniqueness of the experiences people have here,' said Kristen Dolan, executive director of the California Desert Arts Council, a nonprofit group advocating for cultural development in the Coachella Valley. 'Places like Alibi have a bigger impact than people think. The workforce here is largely in hospitality, and clubs like the Alibi are important places to start out,' Dolan said. 'People were really upset when the Alibi closed, and it was heartbreaking for artists cultivating their community. The economy here is unstable right now and I hope we don't lose more small venues like it.' The post-pandemic future for such independent live venues is unsettled. Nonprofits like NIVA were effective advocates for legislation (like the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, a federal program that gave money to struggling venues) and fundraising, and concert attendance boomed once venues reopened. But inflation, reduced tourism and a volatile economy threaten to keep fans home. 'What word describes our situation right now? I would offer that one word is 'unknown,' NIVA's executive director Stephen Parker said at the group's 2024 conference. 'Forty years ago, independent stages were the norm, now multinational, publicly traded conglomerates are. Everyone in this room knows that competition is a misnomer and the increasing lack of it is, perhaps, our greatest threat.' Meanwhile, Garo and Tusquellas have returned to L.A., picking up the pieces at an unexpectedly late phase of their careers. Garo will book shows at a new independent Yucca Valley venue, Mojave Gold. Building owner Timberlake said that after months of fighting with Save Live over the venue's debts, he accepted a settlement, and a new restaurant tenant has moved into the Alibi. 'I didn't have the financial capability of fighting someone like Save Live,' he said. 'It was just so unnecessarily negative.' No matter how the August trial ends, Garo and Tusquellas are facing the same headwinds as the rest of the live industry. Only now, they are truly on their own. 'I have lots of ideas,' Garo said. 'But that's all kind of locked up until we get this resolved. I don't want this to be my final chapter.'
Axios
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Popular day party series brings Sunday funday vibes to Charlotte
DopeBrunch is a monthly pop-up party that is so popular, it always sells out. Why it matters: It satisfies a craving that Charlotte has for day parties and bottomless brunch, founder TJ Leak tells Axios. Background: Leak first started hosting DopeBrunch in the Triangle area in 2017, after noticing that North Carolina lacked Sunday funday events similar to those he experienced in cities like D.C. or Houston. "After traveling to all these cities, one of my mentors told me not to complain about where I live but to instead think about how I can change it," Leak said. In 2019 he brought the parties to Charlotte. Between the lines: Bottomless mimosas and happy hour drink specials are illegal in North Carolina. But brunch buffets, like the ones you'll get at a DopeBrunch event, aren't. The vibe: DopeBrunch parties are about six hours and are held at rotating venues around Charlotte, like Pinhouse, Alibi and Queen Park Social, to name a few. Expect a range of music, from Hip-Hop to R&B. Former Wild'n Out comedian Darren Brand often hosts. How it works: Sign up for alerts to be notified about free entry. Tickets range from $0-$20. They're free if you grab them early, but the price increases to $20 if you wait until the last minute. Brunch tickets start at $30 and include the brunch buffet and drink specials. Dig in: Menu items include French toast, chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, shrimp and grits, fruit, plus some vegan options. The next DopeBrunch event is May 18 at STATS from 12-9pm. There's another DopeBrunch on May 25 at Slingshot from 3-9pm. VIP tables for up to six guests range from $100 to $200 and include unlimited duckpin bowling or brunch. Plus: Leak also partners with Charlotte-based event company Tru Vibez to host events not centered around brunch called "DopeVibez."
Business Upturn
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Is ‘Annika' returning for season 3? Everything we know so far
By Aman Shukla Published on April 24, 2025, 17:30 IST Last updated April 24, 2025, 11:47 IST Fans of the Scottish crime drama Annika are eagerly awaiting news about a potential third season. With its gripping mysteries, unique fourth-wall-breaking style, and the brilliant Nicola Walker in the lead, the show has captured hearts worldwide. After the shocking cliffhanger in Season 2, viewers are desperate to know: Is Annika returning for Season 3? Here's everything we know about the release date speculation, cast, plot details, and more. Will There Be an Annika Season 3? As of April 2025, there has been no official confirmation from Alibi, BBC, or PBS Masterpiece regarding Annika Season 3. However, the lack of an announcement doesn't mean the show is canceled. The series, based on the BBC Radio 4 drama Annika Stranded , has a strong fanbase, with Season 2 ending on a major cliffhanger that strongly suggests more stories to tell. Annika Season 3 Release Date Speculation Without official confirmation, predicting Annika Season 3's release date is tricky. Based on the two-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2, a late 2025 or early 2026 premiere seems most likely. Annika Season 3 Expected Cast If Annika Season 3 is greenlit, we expect most of the main cast to return, continuing the story of the Glasgow Marine Homicide Unit (MHU). Based on Season 2's developments, here's who we anticipate seeing: Nicola Walker as DI Annika Strandhed: The witty, literature-loving detective who breaks the fourth wall. Jamie Sives as DS Michael McAndrews: Annika's colleague and Morgan's biological father, whose relationship with Annika and Morgan will likely deepen. Katie Leung as DC Blair Ferguson: The team's data expert, whose pregnancy storyline concluded in Season 2. Silvie Furneaux as Morgan Strandhed: Annika's teenage daughter, navigating her new connection with Michael. Varada Sethu as DC Harper Weston: The new recruit who joined in Season 2. Kate Dickie as DCI Diane Oban: The head of the MHU. Paul McGann as Jake Strathearn: Annika's love interest and Morgan's former therapist. Sven Henriksen as Magnus Strandhed: Annika's father, now a prime suspect in a murder case. Annika Season 3 Potential Plot The Annika Season 2 finale left fans reeling with a major cliffhanger: Annika's father, Magnus Strandhed, emerged as the prime suspect in the murder of Jacqueline 'Jackie' Drummond. Annika's final fourth-wall plea—'Help me!'—signaled her emotional turmoil as she faces the possibility of her father's guilt. This sets the stage for a dramatic Season 3. Here's what we expect from the plot of Annika Season 3: Magnus' Murder Case: The central storyline will likely focus on Annika confronting her father's potential involvement in Jackie's death. This personal-professional conflict will test Annika's resolve, exploring themes of family loyalty and justice. Her strained relationship with Magnus, established in Season 1, will add emotional depth. Annika and Morgan's Relationship: Annika's bond with her teenage daughter, Morgan, remains a core subplot. Season 2 revealed Michael McAndrews as Morgan's father, a secret Morgan now knows. Season 3 will likely explore how Morgan adjusts to this revelation and her place in Michael's extended family. Marine Homicide Unit Cases: True to its procedural format, Season 3 will feature new aquatic murder mysteries. Annika's literary references—think Walter Scott or Robert Louis Stevenson—will continue to frame each case, blending dark humor with gritty investigations. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Axios
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Alibi Bar & Place in downtown Salt Lake City to close after sale
Alibi Bar and Place, a Main Street watering hole known for its cozy art-deco vibes and refreshing libations, is closing after almost seven years. State of play: The bar announced Thursday it would serve its last pour March 22. One of the bar's co-owners Mike Askerlund told Axios they sold the establishment. What they're saying: "This is not easy news, and we have loved serving you, making memories with you, and being a part of what makes the Salt Lake City bar scene so special," the bar posted on Instagram. The intrigue: The social media post said it would soon share "exciting news" about what's next for the space located in the historic New Grand Apartments building. Between the lines: Alibi often hosted Vibras Del Lago, a popular pop-up for cumbia dancing. The Vibras Del Lago Instagram account said Friday it was postponing an upcoming event on April 3 and looking for a new venue. Zoom out: Since opening, the people behind Alibi have launched two other bars — hi-fi listening bar The Green Room, which is located in the same building, and Central Ninth's Vietnamese pub The Pearl. My thought bubble: I'll miss taking selfies in the bar's bathroom covered in bright red, floral wallpaper. At one point, an Instagram account featured photos people took of themselves and their friends posing in front of the mirrors.
