Latest news with #Rockefeller
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
He Spent Months Planning the Perfect Proposal at Rockefeller Center. He 'Delivered' the Romance, She Says (Exclusive)
Texas native Barrington Dave secretly taught his girlfriend Kennedy Kinnard to ice skate for weeks to pull off a surprise Rockefeller Center proposal that went viral on TikTok Inspired by Kennedy's dream of visiting New York, Dave battled rain, nerves, and a made-up event to create a movie-worthy moment The couple, who met at a 2021 wedding, are now planning a 2026 ceremony blending New York elegance with southern charm — a nod to their romantic, storybook journeyTexas native Barrington Dave went to great lengths to orchestrate a surprise proposal for his girlfriend Kennedy Kinnard at the iconic Rockefeller Center ice rink in New York City. The carefully planned moment, which went viral on TikTok, shows Dave teaching Kinnard how to ice skate in the weeks leading up to the big moment. Dave's inspiration for the proposal came when Kinnard expressed a desire to visit New York City. 'I was looking for inspiration on TikTok,' Dave exclusively tells PEOPLE. 'I saw the Rockefeller tree and I thought 'Oh that would be perfect.' ' He knew he wanted to propose by the end of 2024, and when Kinnard mentioned wanting to visit New York, he saw an opportunity to create a memorable proposal. Knowing that ice skating would be a crucial element of his plan, Dave took Kinnard skating near her law school to ensure she could maintain her balance on the ice. After a few sessions, Dave booked the trip and began to plan the big moment. On the day of the proposal, Dave faced several challenges, including rainy weather and Kinnard's concerns about an imaginary event that he had fabricated as a cover. 'The biggest thing was the weather being rainy and cold,' Dave explains. 'Kennedy just got her hair done, and I was like, she's not gonna get her hair wet.' Despite the obstacles, he managed to get Kinnard onto the ice. As the rink cleared, Beyoncé's song "Dangerously in Love" began to play. 'At first I thought it was a joke,' Kinnard tells PEOPLE. 'I don't even know why I said, 'Are you joking? Like, what's going on?' I just remember he started talking, and I was making sure I didn't fall and that's when the screaming started.' The proposal video, which Dave initially shared for friends and family, unexpectedly went viral on TikTok. The couple was overwhelmed by the positive response from viewers around the world. 'There have been so many kind words of people saying how it puts a smile on their face,' Kinnard says. For Kinnard, the proposal was a dream come true. 'He listens to me really, because I would be like, 'Women love romance and in this day and age there's not that much romance,' ' she continues. 'And so to have someone who listened and heard like, 'I want a romantic proposal. I want romance.' He delivered. Romance exists.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Dave and Kinnard's love story first began at a wedding in 2021. Dave, who was smitten from the moment he saw Kinnard, introduced himself to her and her mother at the event. Their relationship quickly blossomed with Dave officially asking Kinnard to be his girlfriend on January 7, 2022. As they look toward their future, the couple is planning a wedding for late 2026. Kinnard has always been fascinated by New York City and iconic figures like Jacqueline Kennedy. She hopes to incorporate her refined taste and elegance into the Texas setting. 'I want the wedding to give the vibe of The Kennedys — very old New York with a little southern charm.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Georgia's 100 miles of coastline offers many treasured views. Here are four worth taking in
One thing Georgians don't take for granted is the more than 100 miles of coastline, fringed with spartina grass, where land meets sea in saltwater marshes. Of the state's 15 barrier islands—from Cumberland Island on the south to Tybee Island on the north—only four are accessible by car. The rest remain minimally developed and largely wild, protected as state and national preserves with pristine beaches where sea turtles return each summer to lay their eggs, the heavy limbs of hundreds of years-old oaks bow gracefully toward the ground, and the nation's fraught history and equally hopeful ideals swirl in the brackish eddies where salt and fresh water collide. This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking―and perhaps, underappreciated―views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure. [ Most Treasured Views in America: National | West | South | Middle America | Northeast ] From the busy Savannah River to the sun-bleached boneyards of old growth maritime forests, these four views are unmatched along the Eastern Seaboard―and all are within a day's drive if you live in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama or Florida. A short hike through scrubby marsh and undulating dunes leads to one of Georgia's most breathtaking sites: a sculpture garden handcrafted over centuries by wind, salt and water. Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach is the final resting place of live oaks and other trees that were around when Gilded Age families with names like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller 'wintered' at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club. Once tethered to the uplands, beach erosion and storms have liberated them from their sentinels, tossing them in gnarled heaps along the north end of the island where tides both soften and harden their resolve. The best time to visit this special place and take in the stunning views is at dawn, just as a fiery sun appears on the horizon; its reflection melting into the Atlantic. The view is both haunting and awe-inspiring, and because it changes daily, it is a reminder that all things—memory, time, stuff—are impermanent. Buy a photo: Purchase select prints of Driftwood Beach and other treasured views Things to Do: Ride bikes across the miles of trails that traverse the island, taking you from the grandeur of the Club to the peaceful sounds of tides along the shore; visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center where endangered Loggerheads, Leatherbacks, Green and Kemps-Ridley sea turtles get their strength back to be released into the ocean; take a kayak tour with the guides at the Tidelands Nature Center; then, cool off at Summer Waves Water Park. Cost: Daily parking passes, $10 Details: I-95 to US-17 to the Jekyll Island Causeway to the northernmost end of Beach View Drive. Pull into a small sandy parking area on the west side of the road across from an unmarked trail, Like an Arch of Sabers, 400-plus oaks line the 1.5-mile road at the entrance of Wormsloe State Historic site, the former colonial-era estate of Noble Jones, a carpenter who traveled with Gen. James Oglethorpe in 1733 at the founding of Savannah. The tabby ruin of Jones's plantation is the oldest standing structure in Savannah. Most of the trees along the allée, called the Avenue of Oaks, date to the 1800s. Some of the trees are even older. But one of Savannah's most iconic and photographed views was in danger of disappearing until, in 2021, the Savannah Tree Foundation and the Rotary Club of Savannah partnered to plant 75 healthy oaks in place of those that had been lost to disease, storms and degradation due to car exhaust and other pollutants. Now, brides and nervous guys staging proposals will continue to have the picture-perfect backdrop of their dreams. Things to Do: Grab (and split) a heaping roast beef sandwich and some black and white cookies from Rocky's NY Deli & Italian Catering in nearby Sandly; drive to 45 Diamond Causeway and have a picnic at Butterbean Beach, between the fabled Moon River and Skidaway River; stop in at Pin Point Heritage Museum, in the former A.S. Varn & Son Oyster and Crab Factory to learn more about coastal Georgia's rich Gullah-Geechee culture. Admission: Adults (18-61), $12; Seniors (62+), $9; Youth (6-17), $5.75; Children under 6, $3.25 Details: Open Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (except Thanksgiving and Christmas); 7601 Skidway Road, Savannah, Ga.; 912-353-3023, Due South: These are some of the most breathtaking views in the South. Take in our top picks Meat Sweats: Ride with us as we sample some of Coastal Georgia's best barbecue joints At eating and drinking establishments along the Savannah River's working waterfront, a ritual takes place every time one of the massive container ships makes its way to the port with the aid of a local pilot. Guests who dine in former cotton warehouses and carriage shops raise their glasses in salute and take another sip. When traffic is heavy, it's hard not to get tipsy. But the grit of weathered ships that have voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean and the grace with which they maneuver the narrow river channel is a site to behold and worthy of respect. The freighters' loud horns echo the past, anchor the present, and call to the future—reminders that Savannah's arms have been open to the world since its beginnings and that its future is tethered, in part, to some distant spot on the horizon. Things to Do: On the one hand, you can explore the ancient and exotic at Plant Riverside District where dinosaur fossils hang out with massive geodes and crystals. You can catch a concert, browse baubles, dine waterside or sip near an Electric Moon. On the other hand, you can stroll the river walk to The Thompson Hotel for a pop-up dinner at Fleeting before a nightcap up on the roof at Bar Julian. Admission: Free and open to the public at all hours Details: Anywhere along River Street in downtown Savannah between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on the west and Eastern Wharf on the east, The Forsyth Park Fountain has witnessed countless first kisses, prom group photos, proposals, elopements, buskers and en plein air artists more than any other Savannah, Georgia, landmark. To say it has played an important role in Savannahians' lives is an understatement. The elegant cast iron fountain, ordered from a catalog in the mid-1800s, was patterned after the one at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Covered with acanthus leaves, swans and tritons send falls of waters into a pool of that turns green every St. Patrick's Day. Visitors to Georgia's First City make their pilgrimage to the fountain and snap selfies with it to prove they were here. But they may lose their way in the coming months, when the city of Savannah will send the fountain off for some much-needed TLC—its first restoration in nearly 40 years. Things to Do: On Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., more than 30 purveyors of fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef and pastured pork, cage-free eggs and fresh-baked goods line up on the south end of the park for the Forsyth Farmers Market; the Sentient Bean on Park Avenue serves up coffees, teas and vegetarian lunches and breakfasts; right next door at Brighter Day Natural Foods, pick up vitamins and a baked cheese sandwich with fresh avocado; and if you're still around at 4 p.m., grab a beer at American Legion Post 135, near the birthplace of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Admission: Free and open to the public at all hours Details: North end of Forsyth Park at the intersection of Gaston and Bull streets, Amy Paige Condon is a content coach, editor and reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at ACondon@ Richard Burkhart is the visual journalist for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at RBBurkhart@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Enchanting excursions along Georgia coast with breathtaking views
Sydney Morning Herald
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Major wing of New York's famed Met reopens with work by First Nations artists
New York: When an institution as large and prestigious as the Metropolitan Museum of Art embarks upon a major project, it takes time. The remaking of its Michael C. Rockefeller wing, which houses the Met's enviable collection of 650 works from Oceania, began 10 years ago at a planning retreat outside the city. Shuttered since the pandemic, the wing reopened last weekend, including new works by Aboriginal Australian artists at a time when Indigenous art is earning a growing following in the finely tuned and highly competitive New York art world. 'There's a lot of interest and patronage,' says Maia Nuku, the Met's curator for Oceanic art. 'There are particular collectors who have been really invested in making sure these works of art come to major US institutions … It's been ticking away.' Some of those people, including American actor Steve Martin and gallerist D'Lan Davidson, gathered at the Asia Society's head office in Manhattan last week for a conversation about the ethics and resonance of collecting Australian Indigenous art. But there are swings and roundabouts. A major Sotheby's auction of Indigenous Australian art on May 20 was a fizzer, with just 24 of 65 lots sold. It was the first such auction in New York since the prominent Indigenous art champion and consultant Tim Klingender died in a freak boating accident on Sydney Harbour in July 2023. There is a degree of macabre symmetry with Michael Rockefeller, the member of the storied Rockefeller family for whom the Met's wing is named. He was believed to have died when his boat capsized off the coast of then Dutch New Guinea in 1961 – although there has long been a sense of mystery hanging over his disappearance. Unlike Klingender, his body was never found. The Australian section of the Rockefeller wing is modest, but in a prominent location. It features two newly acquired bark cloth paintings by the late Yolŋu artist Nonggirrnga Marawili from her series Baratjala, including a bright work from late in her career when she began experimenting with vibrant pinks extracted from discarded magenta printer cartridges, mixed with natural clay and ochres. 'She didn't want to limit herself to the ochres and the browns,' says Nuku.
The Age
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Major wing of New York's famed Met reopens with work by First Nations artists
New York: When an institution as large and prestigious as the Metropolitan Museum of Art embarks upon a major project, it takes time. The remaking of its Michael C. Rockefeller wing, which houses the Met's enviable collection of 650 works from Oceania, began 10 years ago at a planning retreat outside the city. Shuttered since the pandemic, the wing reopened last weekend, including new works by Aboriginal Australian artists at a time when Indigenous art is earning a growing following in the finely tuned and highly competitive New York art world. 'There's a lot of interest and patronage,' says Maia Nuku, the Met's curator for Oceanic art. 'There are particular collectors who have been really invested in making sure these works of art come to major US institutions … It's been ticking away.' Some of those people, including American actor Steve Martin and gallerist D'Lan Davidson, gathered at the Asia Society's head office in Manhattan last week for a conversation about the ethics and resonance of collecting Australian Indigenous art. But there are swings and roundabouts. A major Sotheby's auction of Indigenous Australian art on May 20 was a fizzer, with just 24 of 65 lots sold. It was the first such auction in New York since the prominent Indigenous art champion and consultant Tim Klingender died in a freak boating accident on Sydney Harbour in July 2023. There is a degree of macabre symmetry with Michael Rockefeller, the member of the storied Rockefeller family for whom the Met's wing is named. He was believed to have died when his boat capsized off the coast of then Dutch New Guinea in 1961 – although there has long been a sense of mystery hanging over his disappearance. Unlike Klingender, his body was never found. The Australian section of the Rockefeller wing is modest, but in a prominent location. It features two newly acquired bark cloth paintings by the late Yolŋu artist Nonggirrnga Marawili from her series Baratjala, including a bright work from late in her career when she began experimenting with vibrant pinks extracted from discarded magenta printer cartridges, mixed with natural clay and ochres. 'She didn't want to limit herself to the ochres and the browns,' says Nuku.
Geek Vibes Nation
04-06-2025
- Business
- Geek Vibes Nation
'The Phoenician Scheme' Review - Wes Anderson Reckons With Legacy In Zany, Charming Globe Trot
Now is a pretty good time to talk about legacy. Consider today's political landscape, especially in the United States. There seems to be a competition amongst policymakers and heads of state to see who can stay in power the longest, even as their physical, intellectual, and empathetic faculties gradually diminish. Concurrently, the world's richest, and therefore most powerful, people are certainly aware of the perils of the future, but seem focused on shoring up their present-day bona fides, leveraging their fortunes for the betterment of themselves at the expense of society. With such a relentless tunnel vision on the present, the richest and most ruthless among us are less interested in the world they leave behind, even though legacy was one of their common languages and most pressing pursuits. (It isn't a coincidence that most New York landmarks are named after America's wealthiest families: Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Helmsley, Astor, and yes, even Trump.) So, in this day and age, what value does legacy hold? I'm not sure I would've initially thought of Wes Anderson as the filmmaker to examine the crumbling institution of legacy, but he does so with The Phoenician Scheme . The film follows Anatole Korda (Benicio del Toro), a Rockefeller-esque industrialist who has a tendency to survive assassination attempts. After a particularly brutal one involving his private jet, he sends for his estranged daughter, Sister Liesl (Mia Threapleton), and installs her as the head of his sweeping organization, 'on a trial basis.' As part of this trial, he drags her along on the titular 'scheme': to seek the funds to complete a sweeping infrastructural project in the country of Phoenicia. They and Korda's insect tutor-turned-administrative assistant, Bjørn (Michael Cera), travel through Korda's network of financial acquaintances to convince them to support him by filling the project's funding gap so he can achieve his life's work. (L to R) Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda, Michael Cera as Bjorn and Mia Threapleton as Liesl in director Wes Anderson's THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved. If you're familiar with Wes Anderson's work, then the shape of The Phoenician Scheme should come as no surprise. The production design is still striking, with a muted, pastel color palette that reinforces the fantastical artifice of Korda's world. Anderson's camerawork is still uniquely austere, yielding striking individual frames that brim with whimsy and intrigue. His script is packed to the gills with dry sarcasm and witty wordplay as Korda tries to weasel his way in and out of shoddy business deals that sit pretty high on the absurdist scale. (Korda also has to convince Sister Liesl and the audience that he didn't have her mother killed, which, well, let's say his methods of persuasion need work.) Anderson also assembles a typically crackerjack ensemble for his story. Benicio del Toro appears to be having a blast as the relentless capitalist Korda. He makes a meal of the bone-dry dialogue and gives us hints through his delivery that there are more dimensions of the character to explore. Mia Threapleton also slots nicely into Anderson's unique rhythms, knowing how and when to modulate her expressions and diction to retain Sister Liesl's cynicism while tracking her shifting relationships with Korda and Bjørn. Michael Cera feels like an actor who should already be part of Anderson's repertoire, and his performance here reinforces that assumption. He is delightful as the in-over-his-head entomologist Bjørn, with a charming accent and a consistent but surprisingly complex look of bewilderment. The rest of the Phoenician players are also great, with Riz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wright, and Benedict Cumberbatch standing out the most. By all metrics, Anderson is firing on all cylinders, deploying the heights of his vision to tell this story. But to what end? (L to R) Michael Cera as Bjorn, Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda and Mia Threapleton as Liesl in director Wes Anderson's THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved. Two years ago, Anderson examined humanity's stagnation and crippling ennui under the guise of an alien invasion in Asteroid City . The Phoenician Scheme , for all its globe-trotting, financial backdealing, and pickup basketball games, aims for something less existential and more tangible. Korda claims throughout the film that his primary concern, and the film's ultimate goal, is to fill the funding gap for his Phoenicia infrastructure project. However, it becomes clear early on that his excursions are part of his desire to reconnect with his daughter. As his eldest child, Sister Liesl is central to his legacy, as she would be the only person who could carry the mantle for him if one of his many assassination attempts succeeds. (His other heirs are children, whose ages render them useless.) Of course, ensuring his legacy's fidelity requires him to show her the expanse of his power and influence. What better way to do that than whisk her around the world to participate in increasingly zany negotiations? If there is one, it would still pale in comparison to what Anderson achieves here. Even amidst the chaos, he keeps the fragile parental bond between Korda and Sister Liesl at the same narrative level. Whether Korda will close the financial gap matters as much as whether Sister Liesl will find something salvageable in the toxic myth of a man who happens to be her father. While not an especially deep well of dramatic tension, it does ground the film as the scheme becomes delightfully more convoluted and loses a bit of force (specifically with the Cousin Hilda chapter). (L to R) Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda, Bryan Cranston as Reagan, Tom Hanks as Leland, and Mia Threapleton as Liesl in director Wes Anderson's THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved. Through Korda and SIster Liesl's relationship, Anderson offers his take on the value of legacy, specifically for the wealthiest among us. Korda's assessment of his legacy is grounded in what he has created and amassed, and whether he has the commitment and brass tacks to retain it, even after he's gone. His time with Liesl, however, leads to subtle shifts in that way of thinking that profoundly affect where the characters land. While he is still concerned with what he leaves behind, the 'what' is centered around his family, leading him to ultimately shift his approach to his scheme. Another part of that realization comes from Anderson's celestial court case against Korda, where God (played by Bill Murray) and his angels seek answers about his trespasses on Earth. It operates similarly to Asteroid City's play-within-a-play framing device, although this stream fits more neatly into the film's operating goal. There's a charming irony surrounding The Phoenician Scheme . Most people will never know Korda's wealth, power, and influence. They won't know what it's like to experience multiple assassination attempts, or to play basketball with Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston in a bet to fund a nation's infrastructure project. However, Korda's journey frames one of Anderson's most accessible and culturally relevant films. While none of us will ever engage in a fight with Benedict Cumberbatch using obscenely expensive pottery as weapons, we can all understand the desire to leave the world better than we entered it. We also understand how little that matters if we don't have loved ones we can trust to support us through that work. It would be lovely if today's robber barons received that message instead of engaging in a race to the cultural bottom, but I appreciate Wes Anderson for trying to advance the conversation through his distinct, and perhaps impactful, voice. The Phoenician Scheme is currently playing in limited release courtesy of Focus Features. The film will expand wide on June 6, 2025.
