The intensity is always high when Palisades and Venice meet on the volleyball court. This time, however, there was more than just neighborhood bragging rights at stake.
In the fifth meeting this season between the Western League rivals, the second-seeded Dolphins brought their ‘A’ game and won the City Section Open Division girls’ championship with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 victory Friday night at Southwest College.
It was the record 31st section crown for Palisades (35-7), which had won its last title (all but two of which have been in the top division) four years ago when the 2020 fall season was delayed until the following spring because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tulah Block’s seventh and final kill on match point sent her teammates pouring off the bench to hug each other.
“Going up for that kill I just knew I had to do it for the team,” Block said. “I’m so proud of the whole team especially with everything we went through and are still going through after the fire and not having a gym. We even had to go the beach to practice one day.”
The West Valley League has dominated girls’ volleyball over the last decade, but Palisades and Venice each vanquished two West Valley League opponents to reach the final. The Dolphins ousted Granada Hills and defending Open champion Taft while the top-seeded Gondoliers eliminated Chatsworth and El Camino Real.
Venice (32-11) won Division II in 2012, Division I in 2016 and the Open Division in 2021. The last time a West Valley League school failed to reach the Open Division final was 2019 when Eagle Rock beat Palisades in four sets.
Venice was swept in the team’s first league meeting on Aug. 28 but rebounded to take the rematch in five sets on Sept. 25 and ultimately took first place because of the Dolphins’ surprising five-set loss to University. The teams also met twice in tournaments, Venice winning both times in a best-of-three sets format.
“Our slogan all year was ’no gym, no problem,” Palisades senior libero Lucy Neilson said. “Today we came with a ‘leave it all out there’ mentality.”
Palisades rallied from a 19-16 deficit to win the first set on a kill by Block that Venice’s Samantha Lortie dove for in desperation but could not quite dig. Venice’s last stand came in the third set when it built a 13-7 lead but Palisades answered with a 14-point run on the serving of Phoebe Messiha.
Lortie, who teamed with Savannah Rozell to win the City pairs tournament on April 29 in Santa Monica and three days later led the Gondoliers to their first beach volleyball title, traded kills with Palisades’ Anabelle Redaelli, who finished with a match-high 13. Lortie had 11 and Gaia Adeseun-Williams added eight for the Gondoliers.
“Winning it this season is special given the obvious circumstances and it had to be against Venice,” Neilson added. “It’s important for our program because we hadn’t won it in a few years and that’s our goal every year.”
In the preceding Division V final, fifth-seeded Legacy swept No. 11 Sotomayor, 25-20, 25-18, 25-12. Both teams were seeking their first City title. Legacy improved to 10-15 while Sotomayor dropped to 12-12.
“We’re here because we pushed for it,” Tigers libero Yahaira Ramirez said. “Not all teams are going to have a 100 percent win streak. I love my position. I love to stand out. I save my team a lot of points.”
One overlooked Italian city with a “unique spirit” stood out as a favourite to a seasoned travel writer who’s been to Florence, Venice, Rome and several more cities in Italy.
Gorgeous Italian city has “the best food” and an exceptional atmosphere(Image: Michele Lapini/Getty Images)
A traveller who’s visited nine Italian cities has proclaimed one in particular is his favourite – and it’s not such a well-known destination. Being less touristy is all part of the appeal of this continental city and the “unique spirit” of the place was what made it really special, along with the exceptional Italian food.
Journalist Adam Miller detailed his visit to this stunning city, describing the experience as being “worlds away” from a stay in Rome or Venice.
The writer had already been to “Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan, Verona, Siena, Lucca, Pisa, and Bergamo” which he loved, but then he discovered a new city that’s become a firm favourite.
Travelling to the city of Bologna in Italy for the first time (in August 2025), Adam was enchanted by the liveliness, the terracotta buildings and “the best food” he’d “ever eaten”.
Writing for the Metro Travel Hot Takes, Adam described Bologna: “The real magic of Bologna is in its simplicity. Everything feels so calm and easy. Eating, drinking, exploring – it all feels effortless compared to Florence, Venice, or Rome.
“I can’t imagine staying anywhere else in Italy for a city break now, especially when the Italian train service is so cheap and efficient. Florence is close, Venice is only 70 minutes away, and tickets can be as cheap as £13, so it also makes a great detour destination.”
Adam describes the bustling city, but explained it was miles apart from the atmosphere of a weekend night out in the UK; he said the energy of Bologna was “unique” and that it had become his “favourite” Italian city.
TripAdvisor reviewers who have also visited the city of Bologna rate the church, Santuario di Madonna di San Luca as a must-visit, describing it as a “unique experience” and having fantastic views from the site.
One visitor reviewing the church on TripAdvisor wrote: “Very suggestive place on the hills of Bologna, which can be reached through a not too strenuous walk under long porches, possibly starting from the monumental cemetery of the Certosa (equally suggestive place, which I absolutely recommend to visit).
“The arcades are well maintained and the same applies to the area in front of the sanctuary; the view, once arrived, is magnificent.”
Another visitor to the Santuario di Madonna di San Luca wrote: “It is a beautiful Baroque basilica perfectly maintained both inside and outside. It is located in the hills which allows you to enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding hills.
“You can reach it by taxi, with the train that leaves from Piazza Maggiore but the most exciting experience is to do it on foot by climbing for about 4km, about 500 steps, under the longest porch in the world that starts from the city centre – not to be missed.”
Other top-rated Bologna visitor experiences according to TripAdvisor include the square in the heart of the city, Piazza Maggiore and observation deck, Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinelli for its far-reaching views.
The Porticoes of Bologna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also described as unforgettable for its stunning Bolognese architecture of red-stone columns and magnificent arches.
A look at this week’s top high school football games in the Southland:
FRIDAY
Garfield (6-2, 4-0) vs. Roosevelt (4-4, 3-1) at East Los Angeles College, 7:30 p.m.
Throw out the records. Close the blinds. It’s East L.A. Classic week. Garfield should be a heavy favorite with running back Ceasar Reyes coming off a school-record 420 yards rushing performance. Roosevelt, though, has won three straight Eastern League games. Jason Moreno is Roosevelt’s version of Reyes. The pick: Garfield.
King/Drew (7-1, 3-0) at Crenshaw (7-1, 3-0), 7 p.m.
King/Drew has never won the Coliseum League title. This is the Eagels’ best chance behind top athlete Jayden Mitchell. Crenshaw has continued to improve behind receiver/defensive back Deance’ Lewis and quarterback Danniel Flowers. The pick: Crenshaw.
A look at this week’s top high school football games in the Southland:
THURSDAY
Los Alamitos (7-0) vs. Edison (5-2) at SoFi Stadium, 5 p.m.
The Alpha League begins with a terrific matchup. Los Alamitos hasn’t played since Sept. 26, so the Griffins might start slow, but their offensive line has been key for quarterback Colin Creason and running back Kamden Tillis. Edison needs a big game from quarterback Sam Thomson, who has nine touchdown passes with one interception. The pick: Los Alamitos.
FRIDAY
St. John Bosco (7-0, 2-0) vs. Santa Margarita (5-2, 2-0) at Trabuco Hills, 7 p.m.
The Trinity League title could be decided in this game. Few teams this season have been able to deal with St. John Bosco’s high-scoring offense and aggressive defense. Santa Margarita showed last week in a 7-6 win over Mater Dei that it has an elite defense. The Eagles will need offensive improvement under first-year coach Carson Palmer. The pick: St. John Bosco.
Venice is one of the most visited cities in the world, but there’s a nearby Italian city that’s just as beautiful and historic – and without the crowds of tourists
The historic city is just 25 miles from Venice(Image: GETTY-STOCK)
Venice – the jewel of Italy‘s lagoon – draws in millions of tourists each year.
However, its immense global appeal is causing a strain on both the locals and the city’s infrastructure, leading to the local government implementing a series of measures in recent months to mitigate the effects of overtourism.
Despite the temporary entry fee imposed on day-trippers this summer and restrictions on group tours, tourists continue to flock to Venice. But for those seeking to dodge the crowds, there are plenty of alternative destinations nearby.
Padua, or Padova as it’s known to Italians, is a historic city just 25 miles west of Venice. Situated in the same region as the lagoon, Veneto, Padua boasts two UNESCO World Heritage List entries.
The first, the botanical garden – Orto Botanico di Padova – is the world’s oldest still in its original location, dating back to 1545. Covering approximately 240,000 square feet, the Orto Botanico is renowned for its collections, including one of insectivorous plants and another of medicinal and poisonous species.
The second UNESCO-listed site in Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel, an awe-inspiring church adorned by Italian artist Giotto at the start of the 14th century. Padua also houses one of the world’s oldest universities, where history-making figures such as Galileo Galilei and Nicolaus Copernicus either studied or taught.
Padua is an ideal spot for those who enjoy city centre strolls, with Piazza delle Erbe, one of its main squares, being a hub of local activity since medieval times.
Much like its famous neighbour Venice, it boasts its own canals, including a petite one that meanders through the breathtaking Prato della Valle square.
Padua also serves as an excellent base for exploring the wider region, reports the Express. With train tickets to Venice costing as little as £4.21, tourists can experience the lagoon city, just half an hour away, while saving on accommodation costs.
Likewise, holidaymakers in the area can take a trip to Verona, internationally renowned due to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The journey ranges from 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the chosen train service.
This week’s City Section top 10 high school football rankings by The Times:
1. BIRMINGHAM (4-3): The Patriots have 51 consecutive victories against City Section opponents, so any computer rankings that don’t have them at the top are ignoring history.
2. CARSON (4-3): The Colts are on collision path to face San Pedro on Oct. 30 to determine the Marine League championship.
3. PALISADES (7-0): Jack Thomas had 460 yards passing and five touchdowns in a 56-54 win over Venice.
4. SAN PEDRO (4-4): Pirates quarterback Seth Solorio has passed the 2,000-yard mark this season.
5. GARFIELD (5-2): The Eastern League championship will be decided Friday night at South Gate.
6. KENNEDY (6-1): In Diego Montes the Golden Cougars trust.
7. EAGLE ROCK (5-2): Northern League title showdown at Franklin on Friday night.
8. KING/DREW (5-1): Sophomore defensive lineman Kenneth Webb is having big season.
9. VENICE (3-4): Joshua Aaron rushed for 170 yards and four touchdowns in loss to Palisades.
10. FRANKLIN (6-1): Senior Albert Cardenas is coming through at quarterback.
A look at three of this week’s top high school football games in the Southland:
THURSDAY
Leuzinger (4-1, 1-0) vs. Palos Verdes (4-2, 1-0) at SoFi Stadium, 8:30 p.m.
It’s going to be a late night in Inglewood as these two schools vie for what could be the decisive game to determine the Bay League championship. Both have outstanding quarterbacks, Ryan Rakowski for Palos Verdes and Russell Sekona for Leuzinger. Both schools have played challenging schedules. A field goal could decide it. Loyola plays Gardena Serra at 5 p.m. The pick: Leuzinger.
FRIDAY
Santa Margarita (4-1, 1-0) vs. Mater Dei (4-1) at Santa Ana Stadium, 7 p.m.
If first-year coach Carson Palmer of Santa Margarita doesn’t know about the physicality of the Trinity League, he’s about to find out. Mater Dei’s defense will be coming after quarterback Trace Johnson. If the Eagles can put together a running game, that would help. Santa Margarita has an outstanding secondary to test Mater Dei’s talented receiving group. The pick: Mater Dei.
Palisades (6-0, 1-0) at Venice (3-3,1-0), 7 p.m.
It’s a Western League showdown featuring Venice’s stingy defense against a Palisades offense that hasn’t been held below 35 points this season. Quarterback Jack Thomas of Palisades has 23 touchdown passes with two interceptions. Venice has the speed to prevent big plays. The pick: Venice.
Italian media reports that the pair, one of whom is from the UK and one from Romania, were fined £390 each and were ordered by authorities to leave the World Heritage city for 48 hours
A British couple has been kicked out of Venice and fined after they were caught jumping into the Grand Canal, local media has reported.
The 35-year-old man and his 25-year-old Romanian partner, both of whom live in the UK, launched themselves into the famous waterway on the final day of their holiday, it has been reported.
Gondoliers spotted the canal-clad couple and reported them to the police. Italian media reports that the pair were then fined £390 each and were ordered by authorities to leave the World Heritage city for 48 hours.
Security councillor Elisabetta Pesce told Il Gazzettino: “I thank the gondoliers for their cooperation and timely reporting.”
The couple have been temporarily banned from Venice, it was reported locally(Image: INTERNET)
Swimming in Venice’s 150 canals is strictly prohibited, in large part due to the dangers of the gondolas and motorboats that pass through the water. The floating city is crisscrossed by more than 150 canals and 400 bridges. Many of these were inlets that were turned into canals in the 5th century when inhabitants from the mainland first settled there.
While it might be possible to hop into the drink for a quick dip in one of the smaller waterways on the outskirts of the city, launching yourself into the Grand Canal – or Canalasso, as the locals call it – is going to be a little harder.
The central canal runs for 3km, forming a giant ‘S’ from the Santa Lucia train station to St. Mark’s Square and the beautiful church of Santa Maria della Salute. It’s also a major traffic artery lined with more than 170 buildings, including many of Venice’s architectural landmarks.
Swimming is also prohibited to protect people from pollution. Venice doesn’t have sewage pipes or conduits, as installing them would require raising the entire city by half a meter. While many houses are now equipped with septic tanks, most of the wastewater still ends up in the canals. The tides flush it out into the sea twice a day.
The Grand Canal is a busy waterway(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The case has sparked anger from supporters of the action group Venice is not Disneyland. Some locals are demanding higher fines for those who break the swimming rules and a permanent ban from the city for transgressors.
This is not the first time that tourists have been caught jumping into Venice’s canals. In 2023, the mayor of Venice tweeted a video of a man jumping from a three-storey building into the water. The public official branded him an “idiot”.
Five years earlier, tourists jumped from the Rialto Bridge late at night, cheered on by their friends. In 2016 a New Zealand man received treatment in hospital when he hit a water taxi after diving off a bridge.
Two German tourists were filmed swimming in the Grand Canal under the iconic Rialto Bridge in 2020, just as the Italian city was taken out of lockdown.
In his 36th season coaching, Angelo Gasca has been known for his quarterbacks and passing the ball at Venice High. Well, Air Gasca is taking a back seat to defense this season.
Last week, the Gondoliers improved to 2-1 with a 17-3 win over Harvard-Westlake that featured six tackles for losses by Jon Sharp and 11 tackles by Donner Livingston. Donte Ross had two interceptions. Gasca also points out Joseph Iwunze, Nicholas Stratman, Will Oeser, Joshua Aaron and Hector Lopez.
The team’s defensive coordinator, Iggy Porchia, is a Venice grad, so Gasca is enthused that his defense can make Venice a Western League title contender.
Most of the defensive players have grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher, which helps give options to the coaches because of their intelligence.
“Hard workers and very fast,” Gasca said.
Why does Gasca keep coaching?
“It’s taking your guys, a group of kids every year, and shaping them, developing them, on and off the field,” he said. “While ultimately helping them live out their dreams on the football field. All of this while they are navigating growing up. It’s everything and more, way more, than I could have ever imagined it being. That’s what being a part of this for so long has been. I am very grateful, to say the least, and also very proud.”
Venice plays at Norwalk on Friday night.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].
Steven McIntoshEntertainment reporter at the Venice Film Festival
Getty Images
Saltburn star Jacob Elordi (right) stars as Frankenstein’s creation in the film from Guillermo del Toro (left)
A few years ago, Netflix boss Ted Sarandos was meeting with Guillermo del Toro when he asked the celebrated director which films were on his bucket list.
Del Toro answered with two names: “Pinocchio and Frankenstein.”
“Do it,” Sarandos replied, effectively agreeing to fund both projects for the streaming giant. The first film, Del Toro’s acclaimed dark-fantasy version of Pinocchio, arrived in 2022.
But when it came to starting work on Frankenstein, del Toro had one warning: “It’s big.”
He wasn’t joking. The Mexican filmmaker’s ambitious take on the famous mad scientist and his monstrous creation is one of the centrepieces of this year’s Venice Film Festival. It’s a project he has been working towards for decades.
“It’s sort of a dream, or more than that, a religion for me since I was a kid,” del Toro tells journalists at the festival.
He highlights Boris Karloff’s performance in the 1931 adaptation as particularly influential, but it’s taken a long time for del Toro’s own version to reach the screen.
“I always waited for the movie to be done in the right conditions, creatively, in terms of achieving the scope that it needed, to make it different, to make it on a scale that you could reconstruct the whole world,” he explains.
Now that the process has come to an end and the movie is about to be released, the director jokes he’s “now in postpartum depression”.
Netflix
Oscar Isaac plays Frankenstein, a gifted scientist who gradually comes to regret his creation
Since the 1818 novel by Mary Shelley, there have been hundreds of films, TV series and comic books featuring some iteration of the famous character.
The latest adaptation sees Inside Llewyn Davis star Oscar Isaac take on the role of Victor Frankenstein, with Saltburn and Euphoria actor Jacob Elordi unrecognisable as the monster-like creature he gives life to.
Isaac recalls: “Guillermo said, ‘I’m creating this banquet for you, you just have to show up and eat’. And that was the truth, there was a fusion, I just hooked myself into Guillermo, and we flung ourselves down the well.
“I can’t believe I’m here right now,” he adds, “that we got to this place from two years ago. It just seemed like such a pinnacle.”
Andrew Garfield had originally been cast as the titular creature, but had to leave the project due to scheduling conflicts which arose from the Hollywood actors’ strike.
Elordi stepped in at short notice. “Guillermo came to me quite late in the process,” the actor recalls, “so I had about three weeks before I got to filming.
“It presented itself as a pretty monumental task, but like Oscar said, the banquet was there, and everybody was already eating by the time I got there, so just had to pull up a seat. It was a dream come true.”
Netflix
Del Toro said he tried to use real sets wherever possible, and keep CGI use to a minimum
The film is split into three parts – a prelude, followed by two versions of events told from the points of view of both Frankenstein and his creation.
It shows Frankenstein’s childhood and the factors that drove him to start work on the project in the first place. But it also encourages audiences to see things from the creature’s point of view – shining a light on how badly treated he was by his creator.
At 149 minutes, there is room for the characters and their back stories to be fleshed out. In early reviews of the film, most critics agreed it just about earns its run time.
“It perhaps might have been shortened, but del Toro’s sandbox is so irresistible, the return to big Hollywood moviemaking so pronounced, it must be hard to stop,” said Deadline’s Pete Hammond.
“Once a filmmaker on the scale of del Toro gets unleashed in the lab, why cut it short?”
But other reviews suggested it was far from del Toro’s best. The Independent’s Geoffrey McNab said it was “all show and little substance”, adding: “For all Del Toro’s formal mastery, this Frankenstein is ultimately short of the voltage needed really to bring it to life.”
There was much more enthusiasm from the Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney, who wrote: “One of del Toro’s finest, this is epic-scale storytelling of uncommon beauty, feeling and artistry.”
And in a four-star review, Total Film’s Jane Crowther said: “Masterfully concocted and pertinent in theme, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation with awards legs.”
Netflix
Jacob Elordi has been praised for his portrayal of the monster-like creature
Del Toro is one of his generation’s most beloved directors, treasured in the industry for his own love of cinema and his ambition for what it can do.
The 60-year-old is also Hollywood’s go-to filmmaker for stories involving monsters or other fantastical creatures. His credits include Pan Labrynth, Prometheus and The Shape of Water, which won him the Oscar for best picture and best director in 2018.
He has great affection for monsters and is known for humanising them in his films, evoking sympathy from the audience for characters previously seen as villains.
In Frankenstein’s case, he says: “I wanted the creature to be newborn. A lot of the interpretations are like accident victims, and I wanted beauty.”
Netflix
Mia Goth plays Elizabeth, who develops a close bond with the creature
His vision and attention to detail with Frankenstein extended to every aspect of the production, ensuring great care went into costumes and sets – which are overwhelmingly real, physical settings rather than computer-generated landscapes.
“CGI is for losers,” comments Waltz, to much laughter. Del Toro adds that filming with real-life backdrops ultimately draws out a better performance from the actors than using green screens.
He likens the distinction between CGI and physical craftsmanship to the difference between “eye candy and eye protein”, but adds he does use digital effects when absolutely necessary.
The idea of creating a sapient being which ends up operating on its own terms might sound familiar today, but del Toro says the movie is “not intended as a metaphor” for artificial intelligence, as some critics have suggested.
Instead, he reflects: “We live in a time of terror and intimidation, and the answer, which art is part of, is love. And the central question in the novel from the beginning is, what is it to be human?
“And there’s no more urgent task than to remain human in a time when everything is pushing towards a bipolar understanding of our humanity. And it’s not true, it’s entirely artificial.”
He continues: “The multi-chromatic characteristic of a human being is to be able to be black, white, grey, and all the shades in between. The movie tries to show imperfect characters, and the right we have to remain imperfect.”
From Benjamin Royer: Venice Beach carried all the traits of a party Sunday evening: 90s R&B tunes from DJs, social influencers — with tripods in tow — showing up to get a view of the basketball courts to find out what the fuss was all about and enough flashing lights to grab any European tourist’s attention.
Much of what you would have found during Legends Weekend in Venice — celebrating 20 years of basketball culture and community — had the classic hallmarks of the antics found on the boardwalks, down to the crowds surrounding performers such as “2K The Clown” and his posse dancing in clown makeup at the half-court logo as the blue and orange sunset faded from day to night.
Marcus Henry spins the golden ball he received after winning the three-point contest at the Veniceball’s 20th annual “Legends Weekend” at Venice Beach on Sunday. At the center of all the madness, a weekend honoring Kobe Bryant — who once broke his wrist in 2000 attempting a dunk at the courts — and many other late street-ball icons who made their impact on the boardwalk was Nick Ansom. Ansom, who rollerskated up and down the basketball court with a plastic orange top hat atop his head, is the founder and chief executive officer of Veniceball.
Ask the legends — who have been playing physical, hard-nosed basketball on the courts for half a century — or up-and-coming basketball players who have made Venice their own with their slick style on the courts, Ansom is the heart and soul of modern-day Venice basketball, the man who’s kept the mission — of basketball and family — moving and growing year by year.
“This is the goodness of people right here,” Ansom said, before the finals of the Venice Basketball League kicked off on Sunday night. “Look where we are. We’re a legendary place, the most iconic basketball courts in the world. I call it the hoopers’ paradise.”
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DODGERS
From Kevin Baxter: The Dodgers continued their season-long celebration of last year’s World Series triumph by handing out championship rings Monday. The 49,702 people who brought tickets got replicas while Gavin Lux, who played for the Dodgers last season and is now with the Cincinnati Reds, got a real one.
If the team hopes to win more jewelry again this fall, the next five weeks will be key. Because after Monday’s 7-0 win over the Reds, the Dodgers lead the Padres by a game in the National League West with 30 left in the regular season for both teams.
And if the Dodgers (75-57) continue to play as they did Monday, when Andy Pages homered twice, driving in four runs, and Emmet Sheehan threw a career-high seven scoreless innings, they’ll be tough to catch.
The Reds nearly went ahead in the second after Lux doubled to the wall in right-center with one out. But Michael Conforto took extra bases away from Spencer Steer with a leaping catch in left field and Teoscar Hernández made a running catch of Ke’Bryan Hayes’ drive to the foul pole in the right-field corner to end the inning.
Zach Neto homered on the game’s first pitch and the Angels, with manager Ron Washington present for the first time in more than two months, beat the Texas Rangers and All-Star pitcher Jacob deGrom 4-0 on Monday night.
José Soriano (9-9) struck out six over 5⅓ innings and gave up four hits in his first start since coming off the paternity list. Four relievers finished off the Angels’ sixth shutout this season.
Washington hasn’t managed the Angels since June 19, and revealed before the game that he is recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery eight weeks ago. He won’t return to managing this season, but wants to be with the Angels, and watched from a booth upstairs after being with them pregame.
From Gary Klein: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford appears on track to start the season opener against the Houston Texans — and now perhaps his primary protector will join him in the preparation.
Left tackle Alaric Jackson, who has been sidelined because of blood-clot issues in his legs, will participate in full-team drills for the first time next week, coach Sean McVay said Monday.
“We’ve got a good plan in place,” McVay said.
Jackson, 27, signed a three-year, $35-million extension in March. But in June, he was diagnosed with blood-clot issues for the second time in his career, and the Rams hurriedly signed veteran tackle D.J. Humphries.
That Venus Williams lost her first Grand Slam match in two years — and what she says will be her last match of 2025 — didn’t really matter Monday night.
Certainly not to the thousands of supportive spectators in the Arthur Ashe Stadium seats who roared for her best shots and, in a way, for everything her career means to them, before sending her off the court with a standing ovation after a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 defeat against 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova at the U.S. Open.
The result also sure seemed beside the point to Williams herself, at 45 the oldest singles player at Flushing Meadows since 1981. She smiled and laughed and joked through her postmatch news conference — until, that is, a reporter asked something that made her think back to all of the injury and illness issues she dealt with for years.
“Oh, what did I prove to myself?” Williams began, repeating part of the question. “I think for me, getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy. When you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind. It’s not just how you feel. You get stuck in your mind too. So it was nice to be freer.”
1933 — Helen Hull Jacobs captures the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association singles title when Helen Wills Moody defaults in the third set because of back and hip pain.
1950 — Australia wins its third straight Davis Cup by beating the U.S. 4-1.
1961 — The International Hockey Hall of Fame opens in Toronto.
1972 — The New York Cosmos win the NASL championship by defeating the St. Louis Stars 2-1.
1995 — Greg Norman sinks a 66-foot chip on the first playoff hole, to capture the World Series of Golf and become the leading money winner in PGA Tour history. Norman wins $360,000 in his third tour victory this year to raise lifetime earnings to $9.49 million and overtake Tom Kite.
1997 — Carl Lewis finishes his track-and-field career anchoring star-studded team to victory in the 400-meter relay to cap the ISTAF Grand Prix meet in Berlin. The team of Olympic 100-meter champion Donovan Bailey, former world record-holder Leroy Burrell and Namibian sprint champion Frankie Fredericks, win in 38.24 seconds.
1999 — Michael Johnson shatters another world record at the world championships — this time, breaking the 400-meter mark with a time of 43.18. He cuts 0.11 seconds off the record of 43.29 set by Butch Reynolds in 1988 and ties Carl Lewis for the most gold medals at the championships with eight.
2004 — Lindsay Tarpley and Abby Wambach score as the U.S. beats Brazil 2-1, maintaining an undefeated record to win the women’s soccer gold medal at the Athens Olympics.
2011 — The Tulsa Shock snap the longest losing streak in WNBA history with a 77-75 win over the Sparks. The Shock (2-25) had 20 straight losses before Sheryl Swoopes hit a jumper with 2.9 seconds left.
2011 — Kyle Busch records his record-breaking 50th NASCAR Busch Series victory, edging teammate Joey Logano in the Food City 250 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch breaks a tie with Mark Martin for the record in NASCAR’s second-tier series.
2012 — Lydia Ko wins the Canadian Women’s Open to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history and only the fifth amateur champion. The 15-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander closes with a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke victory over Inbee Park.
2016 — San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick kneels in protest during the U.S. national anthem at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium while playing against the San Diego Chargers, objecting to racial injustice and police brutality in the U.S.
2016 — Dan Raudabaugh throws six touchdown passes and the Philadelphia Soul win their second ArenaBowl title, beating the Arizona Rattlers 56-42.
2017 — Kyle Snyder scores a late takedown of Olympic gold medalist Abdusalim Sadulaev in the deciding match, and the U.S. wins the world freestyle wrestling title for the first time in 22 years.
2017 — Floyd Mayweather Jr. stops UFC champion Conor McGregor on his feet in the 10th round in Las Vegas. The much-hyped 154-pound fight is more competitive than many expected when an unbeaten, five-division world champion boxer takes on a mixed martial artist making his pro boxing debut.
2020 — Milwaukee Bucks forfeit their NBA playoff game after the shooting of Jacob Blake, leading to the NBA postponing more games.
THIS DAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1916 — Philadelphia’s Joe Bush pitched a no-hitter, to beat Cleveland 5-0.
1939 — The first major league baseball game was televised as WXBS brought their cameras to Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field for a doubleheader between the Cincinnati Reds and the Dodgers.
1947 — Brooklyn’s Dan Bankhead became the first Black pitcher in the majors. He homered in his first major-league plate appearance, but didn’t fare well on the mound. In 3 1-3 innings of relief, he gave up 10 hits and six earned runs to the Pirates. Pittsburgh won 16-3.
1962 — Minnesota’s Jack Kralick pitched a 1-0 no-hitter against the Kansas City Athletics at Metropolitan Stadium. Lenny Green drove in the Twins’ run with a sacrifice fly off Bill Fischer in the seventh inning.
1987 — Milwaukee’s Paul Molitor went 0-for-4, ending his 39-game hitting streak, and the Brewers beat the Cleveland Indians 1-0 in 10 innings on pinch-hitter Rick Manning’s RBI single. With Molitor waiting in the on-deck circle for a possible fifth at-bat, Manning singled in the game-winner.
1989—Chris Drury pitches a five-hitter and Trumbull, Conn., becomes the first American team since 1983 to capture the Little League World Series, defeating Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 5-2.
1991 — Kansas City’s Brett Saberhagen pitched a no-hitter to lead the Royals to a 7-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Saberhagen struck out five and walked two.
1993 — Sean Burroughs, the son of former major leaguer Jeff Burroughs, pitches his second no-hitter of the Little League World Series and hits two home runs, sending defending champion Long Beach, Calif., past Bedford, N.H., 11-0 in the final of the U.S. bracket.
1999 — Randy Johnson reached 300 strikeouts in record time, notching nine in seven innings to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Florida Marlins 12-2. Johnson achieved the milestone in his 29th start.
2004 — Ichiro Suzuki homered in the ninth inning for his 200th hit of the season, but Seattle fell to Kansas City 7-3. Suzuki became the first player to reach 200 hits in each of his first four major league seasons.
2007 — Dalton Carriker’s home run in the bottom of the eighth gave Warner Robins, Georgia, a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tokyo to win the Little League World Series title.
2007 — Boston defeated the Chicago White Sox 11-1 to complete a four-game sweep. For the series, the Red Sox outscored Chicago 46-7. Boston scored at least 10 runs in every game of the series, which is only the fourth time that has happened in a four-game series since 1900 and the first time in the American League in 85 years.
2008 — Major League Baseball announced umpires will be allowed to check video on home run calls starting Aug. 27. Video will be used only on so-called “boundary calls,” such as determining whether fly balls went over the fence, whether potential home runs were fair or foul and whether there was fan interference on potential home runs.
2010 — Albert Pujols of St. Louis hits the 400th homer of his career, off Jordan Zimmermann of the Nationals in the 4th inning. Pujols becomes the 47th major leaguer to hit that many and is the third-youngest to do so after Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr.
2018 — Mana Lau Kong homered to center field on the first pitch his team saw and Ka’olu Holt pitched a complete game to lead Hawaii to a 3-0 victory over South Korea in the Little League World Series championship.
2018 — Toronto’s Kendrys Morales became the seventh player in major league history to homer in at least seven consecutive games, going deep in the third inning of the Blue Jays’ 8-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
2018 — Matt Carpenter tied a St. Louis record with four doubles, pitcher Austin Gomber had a two-run infield single in a six-run first inning, and the Cardinals routed Colorado 12-3.
2024 — Danny Jansen becomes the first player to appear for both teams in the same game. He had started the June 26th game between the Blue Jays and Red Sox at Fenway Park as Toronto’s catcher and was at bat with an 0-1 count when the game was suspended by rain in the 2nd inning. When the game resumes today, he has since been traded to Boston, and takes over behind the plate for Reese McGuire, who has been released, while Daulton Varsho steps in as a pinch-hitter to complete the at-bat he started. Toronto eventually wins the game, 4-1, and also wins the regularly scheduled game, 7-3, as George Springer homers in both contests. The only known minor leaguer to accomplish Jansen’s feat had been Dale Holman 38 years earlier.
Compiled by the Associated Press
Until next time…
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
We’re a week away from Labor Day weekend and we have one movie slotted in as a best picture Oscar nominee.
That leaves nine spots and whole lot of sharp elbows as we begin the fall film festival circuit next week in Venice and Telluride.
I’m Glenn Whipp, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of The Envelope newsletter. Worst freeway in Southern California? There is only one correct answer, but it’s not the one in our rankings. And that answer is just another reason why, like Sal Saperstein, we dread going anywhere near LAX.
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Fall festivals preview
In case you were wondering — but I think you already know — the movie already assured a best picture nomination is Ryan Coogler’s exuberant horror hit, “Sinners,” a film as entertaining and provocative as anything I’ve seen in a theater in the last couple of years. It was my favorite summer movie, even if it did come out in April. Watching it in Imax 70mm felt like an event, the kind of blockbuster moviegoing experience I’ll remember years from now.
The Venice Film Festival starts Wednesday. On Thursday, I’ll be flying to Telluride. The 50th Toronto International Film Festival begins the following week. Dozens of movies will be premiering at these festivals. Standing ovations will be meticulously — and ridiculously — timed. And when the smoke clears, we’ll have the makings of a slate of contenders that we’ll be covering and debating for the next six months.
Here are some of the world premieres at each festival that I’ll be watching most closely, movies that could be made — or broken — by the next time you hear from me.
Venice
Haute couture. Water taxis. Endless Aperol spritzes.
“Frankenstein”: For Guillermo del Toro, Pinocchio and Frankenstein have always been two sides of the same coin, creations made by an uncaring father, released into the world without much care. Del Toro tackled Pinocchio with his last film, which won the Oscar for animated feature. And now he’s adapting the Mary Shellley classic, promising to include parts of the tragic story never before seen on screen. If anyone can make us shout “it’s alive” again, it’s Del Toro.
“A House of Dynamite”: A new political thriller from Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow is an event, particularly because it’s her first film since “Detroit” eight years ago. “Dynamite” deals with U.S. leaders scrambling for a response after a missile attack. I’m hoping to embark on a two-hour ride firmly fixed in the fetal position.
“Jay Kelly”: Famous actor (George Clooney) and his devoted manager (Adam Sandler) travel through Europe, pondering regrets (they’ve had a few) and the times they’ve loved, laughed and cried. Noah Baumbach directs from a script he co-wrote with Emily Mortimer. His last movie, 2019’s “Marriage Story,” earned six Oscar nominations, with Laura Dern winning supporting actress. Time for the Sandman to finally get an invitation to the party?
“No Other Choice”: Park Chan-wook adapts the provocative Donald Westlake thriller “The Ax,” which Costa-Gavras adapted in 2005 — but Park apparently wasn’t aware of that movie when he decided to make his own film. Park has been working on it for years, calling it his “lifetime project,” the movie he wanted to stand as his “masterpiece.” He has made some great films — “The Handmaiden” and “Decision to Leave” among them — so it’s hard not be intrigued.
“The Smashing Machine”: I have seen the trailer for this Benny Safdie drama about MMA fighter Mark Kerr so many times that I feel like I have already seen the movie. The blend of Safdie grittiness and Dwayne Johnson star power is sure to generate buzz, but there are whispers that the film simply isn’t all that good. From that trailer, I’m inclined to believe them … but hope to be proved wrong.
Telluride
High altitude, fleece pullovers, repeated discussions about hydration. Lineup not officially announced until Thursday. These are just “rumors.”
“Ballad of a Small Player”: Edward Berger premiered “Conclave” at Telluride last year and it worked out fine, going on to earn eight Oscar nominations and emerging as a viable, sillier alternative for those looking to vote for something other than “Anora.” Berger’s latest is about a high-stakes gambler (Colin Farrell) holed up in China, desperate for a way out of his debts and past sins. As awards voters loved “Conclave” and Berger’s misbegotten “All Quiet on the Western Front,” attention must be paid.
“Hamnet”: Paul Mescal is everywhere. And now he’s playing William Shakespeare in a drama about the Bard and his wife rediscovering each other after the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet. Why not? Especially when the film is directed by Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) and has the brilliant Jessie Buckley on board as Shakespeare’s better half.
“Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere”: Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce! Jeremy Allen White plays Springsteen as he goes lo-fi making his acclaimed album “Nebraska.” History tells us that actors starring in music biopics are rewarded handsomely, and, given what we’ve seen of White on “The Bear,” he seems a perfect choice to play a brooding Bruce.
Toronto
Weather that veers between spring, summer and fall in the course of a week. Poutine. Splashy premieres of movies that have already played at other festivals.
“Christy”: Sydney Sweeney has been in the news lately. Maybe you’ve heard? But she’s about to make a serious awards-season play in this sports biopic about boundary-shattering boxer Christy Martin, a young gay woman fighting to establish an identity that runs counter to her conservative upbringing. Will the work be good enough to rise above the noise around the actor?
“The Lost Bus”: Paul Greengrass, like Bigelow, has been absent from the conversation for a bit. His last movie, the fine western “News of the World,” was swallowed by the pandemic. Now he’s back with a survival drama, one with California roots, as a father (Matthew McConaughey) and a teacher (America Ferrera) try to bring a bus full of school children to safety during the deadly 2018 Camp fire.
JEFF Bezos is mourning the loss of his mother, Jacklyn “Jackie” Bezos, who has died at the age of 78.
The Bezos Family Foundation announced the news, revealing she passed away peacefully at her Miami home today.
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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos poses on the red carpet with his parents Mike and Jackie in 2016Credit: AFP
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Jackie Bezos has died at the age of 78Credit: Getty
While no cause of death was given, the Foundation said she was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2020.
In an emotional post, Jeff reflected on how his mom’s life as an adult began early, becoming a mother at just 17.
He said she “pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity,” later bringing his stepfather Mike into the family and expanding her love to his siblings Christina and Mark.
Bezos said her “list of people to love never stopped growing” and that she “always gave so much more than she ever asked for.”
He shared that after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia, Jackie died surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and Mike.
“I know she felt our love in those final moments. We were all so lucky to be in her life,” he wrote, adding: “I hold her safe in my heart forever… I love you, mom.”
In a heartfelt tribute, the Foundation described Jackie as “the true meaning of grit and determination, kindness and service to others” — values she passed on to her children and grandchildren.
It praised her husband, Mike Bezos, for staying by her side “at every step” of her illness and thanked the healthcare team who cared for her.
Born December 29, 1946, in Washington, D.C., Jackie had Jeff at 17 with her first husband, Ted Jorgensen, before the couple split when Jeff was a toddler.
She later married Cuban immigrant Miguel “Mike” Bezos in 1968 — a lifelong partnership that lasted nearly six decades.
In 1995, the couple famously invested just under $250,000 into Jeff’s then-new venture, Amazon.
A devoted mother to Jeff, Christina, and Mark, Jackie juggled work, night school, and family life — making countless trips to Radio Shack for Jeff, supervising cheerleading practice for Christina, and hauling drums in the family station wagon for Mark.
She later earned her psychology degree at 45, proving, as the Foundation put it, “it’s never too late to follow your dreams.”
In 2000, she and Mike founded the Bezos Family Foundation, spearheading initiatives such as Vroom, which supports early childhood development, and the Bezos Scholars Program for students in the US and Africa.
She also played a major role in funding groundbreaking cancer research at Seattle’s Fred Hutch Cancer Center.
Her greatest joy, however, was family — particularly her 11 grandchildren, for whom she created “Camp Marmie,” a summer tradition of adventures, problem-solving, and laughter.
Jeff’s wife, Lauren Sánchez, re-shared the tribute on Instagram Stories with a broken heart emoji.
Jackie is survived by Mike, her children Jeff, Christina, and Mark, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
The family is asking people to honor her memory by supporting a meaningful nonprofit or performing a simple act of kindness.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
On a wide, empty stretch of Venice Beach in 1980, seven Los Angeles architects — Frank Gehry, Thom Mayne, Eric Owen Moss, Coy Howard, Craig Hodgetts, Robert Mangurian and Frederick Fisher — gathered for a group portrait by photographer Ave Pildas. Clad in mismatched outfits and standing casually in the sand, they looked more like a rumpled rock band than the future of American architecture.
The resulting image, published in Interiors magazine, distilled a seismic moment in L.A.’s creative history. Those seven, gazing in their own directions yet joined in a sense of mischievous rebellion and cocky exuberance, represented a new generation that was bringing a brash, loose creativity to their work and starting to distance itself from the buttoned-up codes and expectations of the architecture establishment.
Each would go on to have a successful career, from Pritzker Architecture Prize winners to directors of architecture schools. And they and their compatriots would, for a while at least, help put a rapidly changing L.A. at the center of the built culture.
“That one photograph contains a whole world,” notes filmmaker Russell Brown, who recently directed a 12-part documentary series about that Venice architecture scene. “There was risk going on, and freedom; it was all about ideas.”
“It’s become a kind of reference point,” adds architectural journalist Frances Anderton, host of the series. “It just keeps reappearing whenever there’s a conversation about that period.”
The 1980 image is the jumping-off point for “Rebel Architects: From Venice to the World Stage,” produced by Brown’s nonprofit, Friends of Residential Treasures: Los Angeles. Four of the architects — now in their 70s and 80s — gathered for a (far less brash) new photo and an honest conversation about their early careers in L.A., and what’s transpired since for the series, which began streaming monthly on FORT: LA’s website July 1.
A native Angeleno with a background in feature and documentary filmmaking, Brown conceived of the concept after a chat with architect Robert Thibodeau, co-founder of Venice-based DU Architects. After a deeper dive into the image with Anderton, the idea for a reunion was born.
“We thought, why don’t we restage the photo and then use that as an excuse to get the guys together?” Brown explains.
He preferred a spontaneous, lighthearted group discussion to the typical documentary, with its one-on-one interviews and heavy production.
Frances Anderton, from left, Frederick Fisher, Craig Hodgetts, Thom Mayne and Eric Owen Moss catch up for “Rebel Architects,” a 12-part series.
(FORT: LA)
“It’s about the chemistry between creative peers,” says Brown. “The real legacy of these architects isn’t just in the buildings. It’s in the conversations they started — and are still having.” He added: “There’s a spark that happens when they’re together … They talk about failure, competition, teaching, aging. It’s a very human exchange.”
Episode 1, titled “Capturing a Moment in L.A. Architecture,” opens with four of the surviving architects — Fisher, Mayne, Moss and Hodgetts — recreating that seminal photograph for Pildas and sitting down for an interview. (Howard was interviewed separately, Gehry declined and Mangurian died in 2023.) The group dissects the photo’s cinematic, informal composition, in which Pildas aims down from a berm, the neglected buildings behind the eclectic crew shrinking into the horizon, merging with the sand. And they remember a time in which the city’s messy urban forms and perceived cultural inferiority provided endless creative fuel, and liberation.
Pildas recalls how the original shoot came together at the request of British design editor Beverly Russell, who was looking to capture “Frank Gehry and some of his Turks.” (The international design press was gaga for L.A. at the time. Anderton notes that her move from the U.K. resulted from a similar assignment, on the “subversive architects of the West Coast,” for the publication Architectural Review in 1987.)
At the time, most of the architects were working in garages and warehouses, forming their studios and collaborating with equally norm-busting and (relatively) unheralded artists in the scrappy, dangerous, forgotten, yet exploding Venice scene. In a later episode, the architects start listing the art talents they would run into, or befriend, including Larry Bell, James Turrell, Ed Ruscha, Fred Eversley, Robert Irwin, Robert Rauschenberg and Jean-Michel Basquiat, to name a few.
Basquiat was then living and working in Hodgetts’ building. “It was a spectacular fusion of all this creative energy,” Hodgetts remembers. “There was no audience, there were no guardrails, and one did not feel constrained.” He adds, later: “We all felt like we were marooned on a desert island.”
Pildas, who had studied architecture before switching to design and, eventually, photography, was uniquely suited to capture the group. He had shot some of the small, quirky experiments of Mangurian and Mayne, and knew most of the others through social and professional circles. (He even knew Hodgetts from high school back in Cincinnati.)
The first attempt at the photo seemed stiff, says Pildas, so he took out a joint, which all except Hodgetts accepted, he says. The icebreaker worked. In a later image, says Pildas, Fisher is hugging Gehry’s leg, the others huddled around. “It got pretty friendly in the end,” he jokes.
Pildas argues that the photo is much more layered with meaning (not to mention nostalgia) now than it was at the time. “Back then, it was just another magazine shoot. Now, it’s history,” he says. Adds Moss: “Its relevancy, or not, is confirmed by the following years. Otherwise it’s gone.”
Frederick Fisher, from left, Thom Mayne, Craig Hodgetts and Eric Owen Moss recreate their famous 1980 photo.
(Ave Pildas)
Each episode explores the image’s layers, and the unfolding stories that followed — the challenges of maintaining originality; crucial role of journalists in promoting their work; maddening disconnect between L.A.’s talent and its clients, along with the mercurial, ever-evolving identity of Los Angeles. The tone, like the photo, is unpretentious and playful, heavy on character and story, not theory. This was not always an easy task with a group that can get esoteric quite quickly, adds Anderton. “I was trying to keep it light,” she laughs. “I don’t think I even have the ability to talk in the language of the academy.”
“They’re cracking jokes, interrupting each other, reminiscing about teaching gigs and design arguments,” says Brown. “There’s real affection, but also a sense of rivalry that never fully went away.” Hodgetts doesn’t see it that way, however. “It was really about the joy of creating things. We wanted to jam a bit, perform together; that’s really life-affirming,” he says.
There are some revealing moments. Mayne, whose firm Morphosis is known for bold, city-altering buildings such as Caltrans HQ in downtown L.A., reflects on teaching as a way of “being the father I never had.” (His father left his family when he was a young boy.) He tenderly discusses the seminal role that his wife Blythe — a co-owner of Morphosis — has played in his career. Fisher reveals that Gehry was the chief reason he dropped everything to come out to L.A. (At the time, he was working as a display designer at a department store in Cincinnati.) “I remember seeing this architect jumping up and down on cardboard furniture. I could see there was something going on here. Something percolating,” he says. Moss opens up about his struggles to negotiate the demands of the practical world, while Hodgetts performs brilliant critiques of the others’ work, sometimes to broad smiles, others to cringes.
Notably absent from the reunion is Gehry himself, who is now 96. “He’s at a point in his life where trudging through sand for a photo wasn’t going to happen,” says Brown. “But his presence is everywhere. He’s still the elephant in the room.”
One episode explores how Gehry, about a decade older than the others, both profoundly influenced and often overshadowed the group — a reality that was perhaps reinforced by his nonchalant dominance in the photo itself. “Frank takes up a lot of oxygen,” Mayne quips. Still, all admire Gehry’s unwillingness to compromise creatively, despite often heavy criticism.
Another prevailing theme is the bittersweet loss of that early sense of freedom, and the Venice of the 1970s, with its breathtakingly low rents and abandoned charm. Today’s architects — wherever they are — face higher stakes, infinitely higher costs and tighter regulations.
“The Venice we grew up with is completely gone,” says Fisher. “But maybe it’s just moved,” noted Moss. Distinguishing L.A. as a place whose energy and attention is constantly shifting, he wonders if creative ferment might now be happening in faraway places like Tehachapi — “wherever land is cheap and ambition is high,” he says.
While Pildas was capturing the seven architects 45 years ago, he was also busy chronicling the city’s street culture — jazz clubs, boulevard eccentrics, decaying movie palaces and bohemian artists. All were featured in the 2023 documentary “Ave’s America” (streaming on Prime Video) directed by his former student, Patrick Taulère, exploring his six decades of humbly perceptive, deeply human work.
After reviewing the recreation of the photo — the architects are still smiling this time, but their scrappy overconfidence feels eons away — Pildas wonders who the next generation will be, and how they will rise.
“Maybe it’ll happen that they’ll have another picture someday with a bunch of new architects, right?” he says. “This is a fertile ground for architecture anyway, and always has been.”
Exposing that “fertile ground” to Angelenos of all kinds is FORT: LA’s overarching goal. Founded in 2020, it offers architecture trails, fellowships and a surprising variety of programming, from design competitions to architecture-themed wine tastings. All, says Brown, is delivered, like “Rebel Architects,” with a sense of accessible joy and exploration — an especially useful gift in a turbulent, insecure time for the city.
“Suddenly, you kind of think about the city in a different way and feel it in a different way,” says Brown. “This is a place that allows this kind of vision to come to life.”
This Alpine gem of Annecy has become increasingly popular with Brits over the last few years, coming to ski in winter, have fun on the lake, and soak up its European elegance and history in the warmer months
It’s been dubbed ‘the Venice of the Alps’ and is home to Europe’s cleanest freshwater lake. And the French town of Annecy definitely lives up to the hype.
This Alpine gem has become increasingly popular with Brits over the last few years, coming to ski in winter, have fun on the lake, and soak up its European elegance and history in the warmer months.
It’s easy to see why it’s such a hit. With its charming medieval old town, amazing food culture (it’s home to eight Michelin-starred restaurants), brilliant sports facilities, and great transport links (Geneva Airport is 40–60 minutes away, Lyon just over an hour), Annecy really does have it all.
Here’s our guide to 24 hours in and around the famous lake.
The town is known as the Venice of the Alps(Image: BPO)
Try your hand at water sports
Lake Annecy really is the jewel in the crown of this gorgeous region. Framed by snow-frosted mountains and with sparkling aquamarine waters and accessible beaches, it’s a magnet for visitors and locals alike. Officially the cleanest lake in Europe, it’s large enough to accommodate lots of people without ever seeming crowded, and there are lots of water sports centres dotted around its edges.
We went to Doussard, a quieter corner of the lake, to try our hand at kayaking (safe and fun) and paddleboarding (also fun but harder than it looks). Parasailing and swimming – the water was a balmy 18 degrees when I visited – are other great options, and cyclists are well-catered for here, so hiring a bike and hitting some of the 40km of lakeside trails is a great way to enjoy the seemingly endless views. There are coffee huts providing refreshment stops along the trails – very civilised!
Chill like a local with a picnic in the lakeside park
Annecy is packed with great places to eat, but if you’re on a budget, a park picnic is a fab way to live like a local and soak up some rays. Residents flock to Les Marquisats, the beach closest to the old town, after work, so grab a bottle of rosé and join the party.
Saint Jorioz is another well-equipped option. With lots of shaded areas, a diving board, volleyball and pétanque courts, it’s perfect for families. It gets busy here in high summer, so head there early to avoid the crowds. There are plenty of beaches to choose from, so you won’t feel shortchanged.
The lake is one of the freshest and cleanest in Europe(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Say Je T’Aime at the Pont des Amours
So it’s not an altogether original idea, but it is a cute one – and who can resist a romantic iron bridge, especially when it comes with killer views? The Pont des Amours has become a spot where lovers add their lock and these days, snap some Insta-perfect shots.
It’s a great spot for lake-gazing too. Legend has it that if you’re single, you’ll fall in love with the first person you see as you cross. You’ve been warned…
Embrace your inner foodie with artisan eats and Michelin-starred dining
The food is amazing here – with a strong emphasis on Alpine cuisine and cheese. But alongside traditional favourites like reblochon cheese (the best I’ve ever tasted), gratin, raclette, and croziflette, there are plenty of contemporary menus to choose from, and a new gourmet hall opens later this year.
If you’re feeling spenny, check out some of the town’s Michelin-starred establishments. For classic Annecy fare, Le Freti offers huge main dishes for less than 20 Euros, while La Cuillère à Omble is unbeatable for fresh seafood, veggie delights, and stunning lakeside vistas.
I tried local aperitif Génépi too. Made from a sage-like herb and 40% proof, it’s not for the faint-hearted but tasted fresh and sweet.
Claire went to see what all of the fuss was about(Image: DAILY MIRROR)
Sample the ice cream
This town loves its ice cream – and at last count, there were at least ten parlours to choose from. Most of the best places are in the old town; head to Rue Sainte-Claire, where Le Palais des Glaces, Chez Poustache, Glacier Perrière, or Glacier des Alpes all come highly recommended.
Or you can take your pick or buy from one of the many street vendors – lots of these have been plying their trade for generations. Top tip – keep an eye out for ice cream that looks too bright in colour; it’s probably had lots of artificial dyes added. Opt for paler versions to enjoy higher quality, artisan scoops.
Take to the boats
There are boats galore here, so it’s worth trying out at least one during your stay. Channel your inner James Bond or dial up the romance with a luxurious wooden gondola, charter a sailing boat, or just hire a pedalo for an hour.
To see the lake up close and find out more about the people who live and work on its shores, a guided boat ride is a must. Crossing the aquamarine water on a sunny day is an experience I’ll never forget – views to die for and lots of opportunities for bagging great souvenir photos.
The Compagnie des Bateaux d’Annecy offers an hour round trip for under 20 Euros – or upgrade to a restaurant experience for Euros 69.
Discover medieval and modern
Take a guided tour of Vieille Ville – the old town – and find out more about how the town was formed, its resistance role in World War II, and how modern residents live today.
If you’re on foot, head up one of the pretty, steep cobbled streets for a breathtaking 360° view of the town and lake and enjoy spotting the many carved trout figures added to churches and older buildings – a symbol of civic pride.
Convertible bus tours offer a more laid-back way to see the sights in style.
The program for the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival came into sharper view with Monday’s announcement of the majority of titles for the event’s galas and special presentations section. Along with TIFF’s news, some of the larger fall festival and awards season is also beginning to take shape.
Toronto, long known as a powerful showcase for launching awards-hungry and commercially ambitious fall titles, has been seen as losing some of its strength in recent years to festivals in Cannes, Venice and Telluride. This year’s TIFF program, which marks its 50th edition, will be closely watched for how its titles are received not only at the festival itself, but in the months ahead.
Among the notable world premieres in Monday’s announcement are Aziz Ansari’s feature directorial debut “Good Fortune,” a comedy of identity-swapping and self-discovery starring Ansari and Seth Rogen with Keanu Reeves as an inept angel, and James Vanderbilt’s “Nuremberg” starring Russell Crowe as imprisoned Nazi Hermann Göring, with Rami Malek as the psychiatrist tasked with interviewing him.
Maude Apatow will make her feature directorial debut with “Poetic License,” starring her mother Leslie Mann alongside Andrew Barth Feldman and Cooper Hoffman. “True Detective” creator Nic Pizzolatto will also make his feature directing bow with “Easy’s Waltz,” a drama of down-on-their-luck entertainers starring Vince Vaughn and Al Pacino.
TIFF will host the world premiere of Bobby Farrelly’s comedy “Driver’s Ed,” starring Kumail Nanjiani, Sam Nivola and Molly Shannon. Alex Winter directs and also appears in the comedy “Adulthood” alongside Josh Gad, Kaya Scodelario and Billie Lourd. David Mackenzie’s crime thriller “Fuze” stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Sam Worthington, Theo James and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
Baz Luhrman will unveil “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” which utilizes previously unseen footage the director discovered while researching his 2022 film “Elvis.” The result is what Luhrman has described as “not specifically a documentary, nor a concert film.”
Saoirse Ronan stars in “Bad Apples,” which is premiering at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
(Republic Pictures )
Other world premieres include Jonathan Etzler’s “Bad Apples,” starring Saoirse Ronan; David Michôd’s “Christy,” starring Sydney Sweeney as boxer Christy Martin; and Alice Winocour’s fashion world drama “Couture,” starring Angelina Jolie.
At this stage in the season, interpreting how a Toronto title is announced can give some clues as to where it may be popping up beforehand. “International Premiere” can mean a title is also first playing a week earlier at Telluride, while “North American Premiere” can mean something is playing first at Venice. “Canadian Premiere” means it is likely playing both Telluride and Venice (or already premiered at Cannes) before coming to Toronto.
The only title listed as an international premiere is Clint Bentley’s “Train Dreams,” which premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.
North American premieres likely headed to Venice include Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man’s Wire,” starring Bill Skarsgård and Colman Domingo; Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi; Mark Jenkin’s “Rose of Nevada,” starring Calum Turner and George MacKay; Mona Fastvold’s “The Testament of Ann Lee,” starring Amanda Seyfried; and Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine,” starring Dwayne Johnson.
Canadian premieres include Edward Berger’s “Ballad of a Small Player” starring Colin Farrell; Jafar Panahi’s Cannes-winning “It Was Just an Accident”; Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague,” about the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless”; Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent,” which won best actor at Cannes for Wagner Moura; Daniel Roher’s “Tuner,” starring Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman; and Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” starring Stellan Skarsgård and Renate Reinsve.
Michaela Coel, left, and Ian McKellen star in “The Christophers,” which is premiering at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
(Department M / Butler & Sklar Production)
Toronto’s previously announced titles include the opening night selection “John Candy: I Like Me,” a documentary on the beloved Canadian-born actor, directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, as well as the world premiere of Rian Johnson’s third Benoit Blanc film starring Daniel Craig, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”
Other previously announced world premieres include Derek Cianfrance’s “Roofman,” starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst; Nicholas Hytner’s “The Choral,” starring Ralph Fiennes; Paul Greengrass’ “The Lost Bus,” starring Matthew McConaughey; Hikari’s “Rental Family,” starring Brendan Fraser; Nia DaCosta’s “Hedda,” starring Tessa Thompson; Steven Soderbergh’s “The Christophers,” starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel; and Agnieszka Holland’s “Franz,” a biopic of Franz Kafka.
Other titles already announced for TIFF that will be premiering elsewhere include the Canadian premiere of Chloé Zhao’s highly anticipated “Hamnet,” starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley; and the North American premiere of Rebecca Zlotowski’s “A Private Life,” starring Jodie Foster, which premiered at Cannes.
More of the Toronto program will be announced in the coming days and weeks, including the Platform section for emerging voices and the popular Midnight Madness section. This year’s Toronto International Film Festival runs from Sept. 4 to 14.
This gorgeous Italian city has been referred to as Venice’s little sister, and it’s the perfect getaway destination with stunning historical buildings, delicious Italian cuisine and more
Padua is a gorgeous city full of art, markets and gardens(Image: Getty)
This breathtaking Italian city, often dubbed as Venice’s little sister, is a treasure trove of historical architecture and an ideal spot for a long weekend getaway. Italy is renowned for its captivating city break destinations, but some can be overrun with tourists. Padua, nestled in the north of the country, offers a fantastic escape without the throngs of visitors.
The city is a haven of Renaissance art, medieval marketplaces, and tranquil gardens, yet it has managed to stay relatively untouched by mass tourism. It’s a highly underrated gem, brimming with arcaded streets and bustling piazza cafe-bars.
Padua is full of historical buildings and art(Image: Getty)
Art enthusiasts can marvel at the Scrovengi Chapel, adorned with Biblical scenes painted by Renaissance artist Giotto in 1306. The artwork is so invaluable that visitors are only permitted a 15-minute viewing.
Padua also houses Musme, the Museum of the History of Medicine, showcasing interactive displays and artefacts that highlight the city’s contribution to modern science, reports the Express.
From there, guests can stroll over to Palazzo del Bo to witness the world’s first anatomical theatre, constructed in 1595, housed within the University of Padua’s historic headquarters.
Padua has remained unaffected by overtourism unlike Venice.(Image: Getty)
Take a leisurely walk through the Arena Gardens adjacent to the canal, where you’ll find the remnants of a Roman amphitheatre nestled among lawns and coffee kiosks.
The university also lays claim to the world’s oldest botanical garden, established in 1545. Back then, circular plots of medicinal plants would have been meticulously cared for.
A frequently missed gem in Padua is a visit to the Cathedral Baptistery. Competing with the beauty of the Scrovengi Chapel, the Cathedral Baptistery was adorned in the 1370s by Giusto de’ Menabuoi, a disciple of Giotto.
Oratory of Saint Giorgio
The patron saint of Padua has been resting in an open tomb for visitors in St Anthony’s Basilica since the 13th century, which also boasts bronze statues and a lavishly decorated ceiling.
Just a stone’s throw away is St George’s Oratory. Once serving as a Napoleonic prison, this Gothic-style Roman Catholic chapel showcases a stunningly detailed portrayal of its namesake.
Padua houses numerous UNESCO-listed frescoes, some of which are free to admire at your leisure. If you wish to observe these frescoes, other sites worth visiting include Church of the Eremitani, Palazzo della Ragione and the Oratory of Saint Michael.
Inside Scrovegni Chapel with 14th century frescoes by Giotto(Image: Getty Images)
Of course, it’s also a major destination for Italian food-lovers, as the city boasts several delicious local dishes, including bigoli in salsa (spaghetti with anchovy and onion sauce), risotto with rovinassi, and the local chicken dish Gallina Padovana.
If you’re a sun worshipper, now’s the ideal time for a city break to Padua as temperatures can soar to 29C in July. If you fancy a cooler getaway, hold off until October when temperatures hover around a more temperate 19C.
