Jay-Z’s dream of owning a casino in Times Square has been dashed. According to Billboard, the Roc Nation proposal for the New York casino was rejected by a Community Advisory Committee, which voted 4-2 against the casino despite a $15 million community investment offer. The casino would have taken over 1515 Broadway, and included hotels, shops, and restaurants, with a pledge from the casino’s ownership group to share 0.5 percent of the casino’s profits totaling up to $250 million in community investment.

The proposal could only have moved forward with the committee’s approval; the rejection will leave Roc Nation and its partners, SL Green and Caesars, looking for other options to secure one of New York’s three open licenses for a gaming establishment in the city. Times Square was considered the optimal location as it’s the city’s main tourism hub, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t propose a different location — or increase their community investment commitment — and try again.

However, it doesn’t sound like the decision was received in the best spirits. SL Green CEO Marc Holliday called the vote result “a despicable display of cowardice, lack of leadership, lack of consideration for all the people who would benefit from this proposal” in a video posted online. Meanwhile, it seems the Advisory Community has sided with The Broadway League President Jason Laks, who opined in Deadline that it was more important to preserve the character of the neighborhood. The proposed building currently houses the Minskoff Theatre, currently hosting The Lion King.

“This was a vote to protect the magic of Broadway for the one hundred thousand New Yorkers who depend on it for their livelihoods, and for the tens of millions who come from around the world to experience it,” he said. “A casino can go anywhere, but Broadway only lives here.”

Wellness lovers, rejoice. In Aug. 2025, fashion and beauty giant Dior opened its first spa in the U.S. in New York City.

Known as Dior Spa New York, the newly opened luxury oasis can be found on the top floor of the House of Dior flagship store on Madison Avenue and 57th Street. Offering everything from microdermabrasion to lymphatic drainage, every treatment at the spa was crafted by master estheticians and is aligned with Dior’s “Haute Wellness Science” philosophy—a concept which the brand describes as “the epitome of skincare.” A session here will make you feel worlds away from its Midtown location.

The wellness retreat was designed by New York-based architect Peter Marino, who dreamed up other high-fashion hubs such as Giorgio Armani New York and Chanel Ginza Tower in Tokyo. Stepping into the spa, guests will find themselves in a minimalist space bathed in calming neutral tones and peppered with tasteful wood and gold accents. Take a sniff when you visit, too—Francis Kurkdijian, Dior’s perfume creation director, formulated a custom fragrance that’s intended to set the mind and body at ease.

There are just four treatment rooms at Dior Spa, including one two-bed “Rose Room,” intended for couples. Each session begins with an in-depth skin analysis via a device known as “Dior Measurements,” which can analyze things like collagen, pH, elasticity, and sebum levels in about 30 minutes. Using that data, treatments are then tailored to individual needs.

One of the spa’s signature treatments is its Haute Couture Facial, co-created by master esthetician Sarah Akram. The overall aim of the facial is to make your skin look revitalized, rejuvenated, and glowy, but the exact techniques used will depend on the results of your Dior Measurements. Ultrasonic exfoliation, microdermabrasion, cryotherapy, and cold lasers are all in the Dior toolbox.

If you’re looking for something more head-to-toe, the spa has four body treatments, including a lymphatic drainage option, which is designed to promote circulation, firm skin, and stimulate collagen production. But perhaps the most unique options on the menu are Dior’s light therapy treatments, specifically its Happiness regimen, which was crafted by sleep expert François Duforez. The 90-minute session is only available at Dior Spa’s New York location and is intended to rebalance sleep cycles and stimulate dopamine and serotonin production—perfect for travelers looking to feel recharged while they’re on the go.

End your spa experience with a personalized makeup session in the beauty room. Before you head back downstairs and enter the real world, take a moment to browse the lobby boutique, replete with Dior perfumes and high-end beauty products.

Since its 1861 inception, Bloomingdale’s has been a go-to for all things style. And this fall, its iconic 59th Street flagship is much more than a department store — it’s essentially a full-fledged museum, thanks to the new “Just Imagine” fall 2025 campaign, which melds fashion and art.

As part of the joy-sparking campaign, British Nigerian multidisciplinary artist and designer Yinka Ilori, who is revered for his colorful, bold creations, is debuting an original façade installation and carousel takeover at the aforementioned New York City location. Shoppers can expect to be greeted with a striking wildflower garden inspired by “the resilience, creativity, and energetic pulse of New York City,” per a press release. Dubbed “Cherish Your Magic,” Ilori’s design for the takeover boasts unique installations, sculptural builds, and product vignettes. Even the window mirrors on the legendary 59th Street flagship are reimagined through his playful lens — a nice treat for New Yorkers scurrying to get to the office.

Shopping centers have always been appealing to Ilori, and the creative felt Bloomingdale’s well-known space, in particular, was the perfect canvas for his work. “The idea was to create something that stops people in their tracks, something that sparks positivity and encourages people to dream a little,” he tells TZR. For the campaign, Ilori drew inspiration from his British Nigerian roots. “In Nigeria, colors and patterns are a language of their own,” he explains. “They celebrate identity, mark milestones, and bring people together. I wanted that same energy to shine through in this project.”

Ilori hopes that the campaign evokes feelings of joy, possibility, and connection for shoppers. “I want it to spark something within them, whether it’s the courage to follow a dream, or simply a moment of escape from the everyday,” he says. “The colors, patterns, and symbols are there to remind people of the power they already carry inside. In a world that moves so fast, this is an invitation to pause, reflect, and believe in yourself.”

In addition to the revamped store, the artist teamed up with Bloomingdale’s on a limited-edition collection, featuring cozy cashmere knitwear, statement-making home decor, a jewelry collection with Bea Bongiasca, as well as and a seating capsule in partnership with Kartell (among other items). For gamers, there’s also an exclusive PlayStation and Yinka collaboration, featuring a bold take on PlayStation products.

He’s not the only creative Bloomingdale’s tapped for its fall 2025 campaign. The company is also working with British illustrator Angelica Hicks on an AQUA x Angelica Hicks line boasting ready-to-wear and jewelry splashed with her quirky illustrations (think pasta and candy wrapped-inspired pieces.

And the campaign doesn’t end there. The flagship is opening Happy Medium Café, New York’s first art café. At the one-of-a-kind spot, located on level 1, customers can order art activities, including bracelet making, pottery painting, watercolor, and air-dry clay sculpting. If you’re in the area, you won’t want to miss Bloomingdale’s feel-good fall campaign.

Here’s a look at what celebrities have been up to as of late!

Morgan Wallen put on a show-stopping performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Kendall Jenner wore a full Alo look featuring the Airbrush Double Up Bra, matching 5” Airbrush Shorts, and the Sunset Sneaker while posing on Instagram. The model also posed poolside in Havaianas Brazil Logo Flip Flops.

Ashley Benson walked her dog in Los Angeles, California in the L’AGENCE Jodie Silk Slip Dress in black.

Zoë Kravitz was out and about in London, England in the GUIZIO Ira Cami.

Selena Gomez celebrated the launch of her Rare Eau de Parfum in the Cult Gaia Renata Gown and Cult Gaia Bambu Sandal. The singer also attended Lil Dicky’s wedding to Kristin Batalucco in the Cult Gaia Katara Knit Dress. Gomez also celebrated her bachelorette party in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in Otra Eyewear’s Hazel sunglasses, the Cult Gaia Kaela Knit Dress, the LSPACE Sunrise Shell Bikini Top and Lucia Bikini Bottom in cream, and the Lulus Bride to Be White Tulle Layered Short Veil.

Meghan Markle wore The Perfect T Lite and The Perfect T in the trailer for With Love, Meghan season 2.

Anna Kendrick celebrated her 40th birthday in the Nadine Merabi Leila Floral Dress while posing on Instagram.

Jennifer Lawrence enjoyed a stroll in New York City in the DISSH Ryker Relaxed Blazer in black.

Lily James relaxed on a boat in the Bekah Bikini Top in Sunset Stripe by LSPACE on Instagram

Jenna Ortega stepped out in New York City in Black Suede Studio Millie 100 Coconut Woven Mesh heels and then again in the Black Suede Studio Brea Cappuccino heels with Dezi Sly Black / Cognac sunglasses and Hammit’s Tom Med Bag in Belted Suede. The actress also shared her love for the bag in an interview with Vogue.

Lena Dunham was out and about in New York City in the Karen Millen Archive Collection – Plus Size Cotton Poplin Balloon Sleeve Corset Woven Maxi Dress.

Lady Gaga enjoyed a stroll in Malibu, California in the Bleusalt Classic Crew.

Bella Hadid attended the Backstreet Boys concert at the Las Vegas Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada in the Kemo Sabe Pecan Beaver Blend Hat with the Turquoise Concho Band and the Princess Polly Treat You Better Ring Detail Faux Leather Top in brown. The model also visited Cha Cha Matcha in Venice, California in the Princess Polly Chilli Halter Top. 

Taraji P. Henson attended the Taraji P. Henson x Seven Daughters Wines Meet & Greet in Inglewood, California in Giaborghini’s AMG Chocolate Calf Leather Heels and the Patou Safari Parka Jacket.

Katy Perry was out and about in New York City in the Malone Souliers x Tabitha Simmons Lily sandals.

Charli XCX got ready for her concert in Oslo with makeup artist Yasmin Istanbouli, who used Beauty of Joseon products to create her look. 

Kristen Bell teamed up with Knix for their You’re Good campaign, which celebrates the launch of the brand’s initiatives, including the opening of a retail store in New York City. The actress also attended TV Academy’s Inaugural Televerse Festival in Los Angeles, California in the SIMKHAI Charlee Bustier Top and Waldon Curved Leg Pant.

Kylie Jenner enjoyed a girls’ night out at Alba in West Hollywood, California in the Otra Eyewear x Grandquist Kenny sunglasses and the Rose Black Calf Leather Heels from the Giaborghini x Grandquist collection. The KHY founder also showed off her True Religion jeans while posing for a selfie on Instagram.

Jennifer Aniston hosted a fireside chat with Taylen Biggs at Chief Clubhouse in Los Angeles, California to celebrate the launch of LolaVie’s Powder Perfect Dry Shampoo.

Chappell Roan performed at the Lowlands Festival in the Netherlands in BaubleBar’s Venus Celestial Earrings.

Justin Bieber rocked the Logan Hollowell Astral Link Chain while posing on Instagram. The singer also took a selfie in the Brilliant Earth Chain Necklace. The singer also attended Gunna’s album release party at Zouk LA in West Hollywood, California.  

Eva Longoria relaxed in the Eberjey x Casa Del Sol Inez Long Pajama Set on Instagram.

Sharon Stone appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and The TODAY Show in New York City in Sydney Evan’s Gold and Diamond Medium Fringe Huggie Hoop.

Aaron Paul attended Cinespia’s screening of Point Break at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California presented by Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video.

Lizzo celebrated the launch of her PAPER Magazine cover at Sunset at EDITION in West Hollywood, California, where the singer performed songs from her mixtape, My Face Hurts From Smiling.

Christina Aguilera posed in the GUIZIO Wrap Dress on Instagram and snapped another picture in the MONTCE Binded Cabana Bow Bikini Top and Binded Polly Bikini Bottom in cherry cream.

Jessica Alba shared her nighttime skincare routine on Instagram, which includes essentials from Allies of Skin.

Gabrielle Union relaxes in the sun in Shelter Island, New York in the L’AGENCE Nova Wide-Leg Pants.

David Spade performed a surprise drop-in set at The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club in New York City.

Alicia Silverstone stepped out in New York City in the ALDO Katelina Heels and again in the brand’s Mystie Heels.

Kourtney Kardashian snapped a selfie in KNESKO’s Gold Repair Face Mask while on a flight.

Dove Cameron starred in Urban Decay’s Naked Shaped Palette Campaign to launch the brand’s Naked Shaped Multi-Tasking Palette.

Elsa Hosk posed in the ALO Sunset Sneaker and ALO Alosoft High-Waist Iconic 90’s Capri on Instagram.

Halle Berry stopped by Ulta Beauty to check out the new Joylux display and bumped into Jo De La Rosa during her visit. 

Cindy Crawford designed The Cindy Racer Pant by Bleusalt and the brand also launched The Bui Racer Zip. The line is also hosting a Labor Day Sale with up to 50%, with an extra 10% off on their app, through Monday, Sept. 1.

GloRilla and Duke Dennis starred in True Religion’s annual Fall 2025 ICONS campaign, featuring velour and horseshoe detailed pieces. 

Sophie Turner was out and about in New York City in the PUMA Speedcat OG Sneakers.

Adria Arjona attended the Splitsville premiere in Los Angeles, California with a glow created by celebrity makeup artist Emily Cheng with Allies of Skin products.

Bethenny Frankel shared her love for SEEN’s Shampoo and Conditioner on Instagram.

Dorit Kemsley posed in the gorjana Diamond Eve Necklace on Instagram with Rachel Zoe, who wore the brand’s Diamond Pavé Mama Necklace.

Addison Rae snapped a selfie for Instagram in the Reebok Classic AZ sneakers in bright pink. 

Khalid made a surprise appearance at The Abbey in West Hollywood, California, to celebrate his new single release, “In Plain Sight.”

Jack Quaid attended Cinespia’s screening of Psycho at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California presented by Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video.

Travis Scott enjoyed a night out at Zouk LA in West Hollywood, California. 

Vanessa Hudgens attended the At Home with Narwal’s summer soirée in West Hollywood, California in a gown by HELSA and a handbag from DeMellier. 

Minnie Driver relaxed on the beach in Rome, Italy in a Left on Friday swimsuit.

Jenny McCarthy hosted an intimate luncheon with LA Magazine at STK Los Angeles in West Hollywood, California to celebrate the expansion of her beauty brand, Formless Beauty, into skincare.

Rebecca Minkoff celebrated her pop-up at Sole East in Montauk, New York with a Kelpie yacht party hosted with Orlebar Brown, where guests sipped on FlavCity’s Anytime Essentials.

Iskra Lawrence celebrated ASTR The Label’s pre-fall event, hosted by Sami Bernstein Spalter, in Austin, Texas in a ASTR The Label look.

Jessica Szohr posed in the Moses Rope Sandal with Sole in Cafe/Camel by Nomadic State of Mind on Instagram.

Heidi Montag posed in the Wood Top and Wood Pant by EZZ STUDIOS on Instagram. The reality television star also released her new single, “Icon.”

Alix Earle shared her love for True Religion’s Joey Low Rise Super T Flare Jean on TikTok.

Hailey Bieber stepped out in Los Angeles, California in the GUIZIO Perfect Classic Tank.

Sabrina Carpenter posed in the Cider Leopard Print Tassel Scarf on Instagram.

Barbara Palvin enjoyed a date night with husband Dylan Sprouse in Los Angeles, California in the Compliment Me Maxi Dress in burgundy by White Fox. The model also attended the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy in a pair of Betsey Johnson NIKKI heels. 

Odell Beckham Jr. celebrated his Miami Haute Living cover at Bentley Residences Miami Gallery in Miami, Florida with Sonrisa Rum, Apa Aesthetic and Haute Jets.

Brooke Shields hosted a pop-up in Bridgehampton, New York for Commence’s One-Day Shine-Ade Stand activation to spotlight the Commence Summer Set and the Shine-Enhancing Detangler.

Brittany Snow was out and about in West Hollywood, California in Naturalizer’s Darry Luxe Lug Loafer.

Megan Thee Stallion posed on Instagram in the OUTCAST Kelli Maxi Dress Valaire and Esmeralda Maxi Dress Chocolate.

LL Cool J performed in Brooklyn, New York at a special event to reveal the all-new Jeep Cherokee.

Ariana Madix appeared on the season 7 reunion of Love Island in 20 pieces of TACORI jewelry.

Christina Ricci starred in Betsey Johnson’s Fall 2025 campaign filled with corsets, velvets, leather, and statement accessories. Betsey Johnson is also hosting a sale with up to 50% off through Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Tate McRae posed in the GUIZIO Ira Cami in red on Instagram.

Dixie D’Amelio attended the Pink Palm Puff VIP Pop-Up Event at The Grove in Los Angeles, California.

Seth MacFarlane attended Charly Jordan’s DJ set at Zouk LA in West Hollywood, California.

Victoria Beckham shared her daily routine, which includes Par Olive’s collagen powder.

Julia Fox filmed Elsbeth in New York City in the Malone Souliers Nomi 90 Black Satin Sandals.

Brooks Nader showed off her favorite Larroudé shoes while shooting a campaign for the brand on Love Thy Nader. 

Jasmine Tookes rocked the PLT Label Gold Plisse Satin Column Bandeau Maxi Dress.

Kali Uchis kicked off her tour in Los Angeles, California in a custom OUTCAST look.

Justine Skye celebrated her 30th birthday at The Summer EDITION – EDITION Hotels’ Pop-Up in El Silencio, Ibiza. 

Taylor Swift’s makeup artist Lorrie Turk shared her love for MARA Beauty’s Sea Sculpt Body Oil on Instagram.

Andy Samberg appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Los Angeles, California in the SeaVees Cardinal Sneaker in White Suede before visiting Good Morning America in New York City in the same style shoe, but in Latte Suede.

Kaia Gerber’s trainer Kirsty Godso celebrated the launch of the Vuori by Kaia collection with a workout at HUME in Venice, California.

Abby Champion celebrated her bachelorette party in the BaubleBar Alpha Icon Tote and Dive in Paracord Bracelet.

JaNa Craig shared her love for FlavCity Anytime Essentials on TikTok.

Amaya Espinal appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in New York City in ALDO’s Stessysling Slingbacks. The reality television star also stepped out in New York City in True Religion’s Jennie Super T Mid-Rise Curvy Skinny Jeans and Super T Denim Vest.

Terry and Heather Dubrow celebrated the launch of their brand new Between Us podcast.  

Cameron Brink, Jessie Pegula, Reilyn Turner, Kyra Zaengle, and Lauren and Sienna Betts starred in the gorjana Sports Club campaign.

Lizzy Mathis was spotted out in New Yok City in the Acler Cinderford Mini Dress.

Shannon Nadj of Hot Pilates hosted a Lion’s Portal Sound Bath event at Hot Pilates in West Hollywood, California.

Shaboozey hosted the Levi’s® x Boozey’s Backyard BBQ at the Levi’s® Haus in Los Angeles, California to celebrate the launch of his Levi’s® Icons campaign.

Grace VanderWaal starred in Steve Madden’s Everyone Has Something to Say About Shoes campaign.

Taylor Townsend played at the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City in The Slouch Sock by HUE. The tennis player also attended the Pickleball with the Pros event at the new Hyatt Regency Times Square in New York City.

Jaden Ashley appeared on the Love Island reunion in the Azazie Blanka Apple Red Gown

Lexi Wood teamed up with Princess Polly to launch the Lexi Wood x Princess Polly Edit filled with eleven looks inspired by Wood’s style and her love for nightlife in New York City. The reality television star also teamed up with Hanky Panky to launch a 25-piece collection for their fall/holiday 2025 collection that redefines lingerie as an everyday staple to wear outside of bedroom. 

Maggie Rawlins of The LIONS Management celebrated her Hamptons Magazine cover at Topping Rose in Bridgehampton, New York with Grey/Ven.

Madi Webb starred in YITTY’s Soft Rib Collection campaign featuring breathable, lightweight, and sleek silhouettes in sizes XS to 6X. The brand also launched their Active collection with light to medium compression and moisture-wicking, 4-way stretch fabric, and UPF 50+ protection on Walmart.com. 

Molly Bair starred in the Lola Blankets ONE OF ONE fall 2025 Collection, which includes new additions to their core collection in driftwood, navy, and charcoal grey. 

Sami Clarke and Sami Spalter launched FORM Activewear on Revolve.

Selma Blair was all smiles while posing on Instagram in the Johnny Was Panel Denim Skirt.

Roosmarijn de Kok posed on Instagram in the Lost Tides Short in Maldives Stripe by LSPACE. 

Don Toliver performed at Zouk LA in West Hollywood, California.

Charity Lawson attended a bridal showcase event at BLACKBARN Restaurant in New York City.

Lissy Roddy teamed up with KSUBI to launch the 10-piece Ksubi by Lissy Roddy, filled with a District Bomber and Ksuper jeans, alongside varsity-inspired staples and layered accessories. The brand also launched the Neo Nostalgia collection featuring varsity inspired pieces and western flair with details like elaborate crystals, studs and KSUBI crosses.

Jocelyn Enriquez performed at Dynasty Entertainment’s Reunion: A Dynasty Homecoming fundraiser for Bata Sole and the AC Lorenzo Music Scholarship Fund at Joe’s Live, in Rosemont, Illinois.

Dr. Marc Mani hosted an intimate dinner at his home in Beverly Hills, California to share details about his scarless lift procedure, where attendees enjoyed a coursed-out meal by Chef Richard Wimbleton.

Corinne Bensahel and Charlotte Croonenberghs of Baobab Collection hosted an exclusive virtual masterclass to celebrate the brand’s fall/winter 2025 collection inspired by the forest and cathedrals.

Lexi Hidalgo snapped a selfie for Instagram in the Lucky Fish Necklace from ALV Jewels.

Khadijah Haqq attended the Lulus Fall It List dinner at Muse Santa Monica in Santa Monica, California in the brand’s Stellina Gold Metallic Satin Cowl Back Mini Dress.

Tina Chen Craig and dermatologist Dr. Dan Belkin hosted a virtual event to U Beauty’s upcoming launch.

Sara Firouz shared her love for the IWS I WANNA SLEEP adjustable cooling pillow on Instagram.

Olivia Pierson teamed up with LA Glam Co. to launch a collection of curated hair accessories all under $30.

Lisa Moir teamed up with Carve Designs to launch a capsule collection with compression swim silhouettes, created for performance and ease, in two custom color stories co-designed with Moir.

Gabriella Gomez celebrated her one-year anniversary as a TikTok Live pro.

Lindsay Brewer secured her first-class victory in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America at Road America.

Nick Mayhugh was named to Team USA for the Para Athletics World Championships in New Delhi this September.

Kendall Washington appeared as a contestant on UpDating.

Rufus Wainwright performed at Little Beach House Malibu in Malibu, California for Soho House’s Evening of Live Music event.

Izzi Poopi starred in Cider’s Fall 2025 Mood Report campaign filled with coastal, pastel, romantic, animal print, and military-inspired styles. The brand is also hosting a sale with 20% off using the code SEP20 through Monday, Sept. 1. 

Sadé Vanessa launched the What’s Popping What’s Good?! podcast.

Deb Antney celebrated the season two premiere of Deb’s House on We TV, ALLBLK, and AMC+ at Black Tap in New York City.

Olesia Stefanko attended the Spotlight Magazine cover launch event in Wainscott, New York.

Mica Javier released a music video for her new single, “Runaway,” where she wore designs by Jonathan Marc Stein.

Chelley Bissainthe and Olandria Carthen appeared on the Love Island reunion with hair looks created with ghd tools.

Abby Baffoe attended the US Open in New York City with Too Faced.

Susan Holmes McKagan attended the 10 Year Anniversary Gala of the Rise Above Foundation in Seattle, Washington.

Levi’s® celebrated the launch of their collaboration with Oasis by hosting the Levi’s® x Oasis Tour-Ready Booth at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, California, where guests stocked up on the collection, filled with classic band tees and authentic denim apparel inspired by the band’s style, along with vintage pieces curated by Silver Lake Market.

Barre Definition founder, Action Jacquelyn, hosted a ballet-inspired sculpting workout at La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood, California, to celebrate the launch of the Barre Definition Platform and their whey protein and collagen powders. 

Nick Fouquet hosted a VIP archive sale at Nick Fouquet in Venice, California. 

Nena Evans announced her pregnancy news.

STAUD hosted a preview event for their fall 2025 collection featuring the newly launched STAUD Jeans in West Hollywood, California.

Beauty f(x) and OTM Collection hosted a Pilates class at Speir Pilates Ocean Park in Santa Monica, California

TIRTIR hosted an exclusive pop-up truck and party at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California to celebrate the brand’s launch at ULTA.

VEHLA launched the Ribbed Tank, a versatile essential, in snow and taupe for $125.

GUIZIO has just dropped part one of their Fall/Winter 25 Collection, As Fate Would Have It.

Ash K Holm celebrated her baby shower, hosted by Momcozy and Babylist, in Los Angeles, California.

Flamingo Estate launched the Green Goddess collection featuring a candle, a soap brick and a duo set.

alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet launched a denim collection for fall 2025 with nine jean styles including low, mid, and high-rise options along with skinny, straight, and relaxed silhouettes.

KHY launched the Cotton Stretch collection crafted from a luxurious cotton blend with silhouettes that are both versatile and form-flattering in sizes XXS to 4X and prices ranging from $88-$162. 

Nécessaire launched the Rosemary Serum to support visibly fuller and healthier looking hair with Capixyl and 70% rosemary water, extract, and oil, as well as proteins and ceramides.

REFY launched the Brown Lash Sculpt to lift, separate, and define lashes in a softer, natural-looking brown.

Tatcha launched The Longevity Serum made with locally sourced Okinawan ingredients, to visibly firm skin and make it stronger, more resilient, and visibly radiant.

MOTHER launched the Punk Nouveau collection with band tees, oversized jackets, and more with studs, leopard print, delicate knits, and more details set against soft pastel colors.

Taco Bell launched the MOUNTAIN DEW BAJA MIDNIGHT as a remix of the cult-favorite MOUNTAIN DEW BAJA BLAST, now with a passion fruit flavor twist and a purple hue, as the chain’s first-ever permanent flavor expansion of the BAJA BLAST. Taco Bell also hosted an exclusive Decades Y2K party in Los Angeles, California, to mark the return of some of its most iconic fan-favorite menu items. 

Pia Mance of Heaven Mayhem and Tezza Barton of Tezza hosted an immersive pop-up studio in Los Angeles, California, where attendees enjoyed Tezza’s photobooth experience and previewed Heaven Mayhem’s eyewear collection. 

Stakt is partnering with SunLife Organics for a limited-edition Matcha Cookies and Cream smoothie launching on Monday, Sept. 1, packed with post workout benefits like protein, creatine, and goat mineral whey. Stakt also teamed up with Parke to launch a collection featuring a limited-edition Mat and a Varsity Crewneck, and a canvas tote gift when purchasing both items

Seeq Supply launched their Juice Genius series on Instagram to celebrate their clear protein products with 22g of clear protein and 0g of sugar.

KERASILK launched the Hydrating Essence to deliver moisture, gloss, and strength hair with a 100% vegan formula.

Peach&Lily launched the MiniProtein Exosome Bioactive Ampoule to improve the look of collagen loss with ProprietaryMicroMimic Tri-Signal Complex and biomimetic mini proteins, exosomes, and phyto growth factors to visibly smooth and firm skin. 

La La Land Kind Cafe launched its first-ever kids’ menu, which includes five mini drinks and three mini food items and celebrated by offering custom Mickey & Friends-themed beverage sleeves and drink stoppers, Be Kind tote bags, and a Just Play Disney Munchlings toy.

SEEN launched the Frizz + Repair Treatment Mask to fight frizz and help repair damage in as little as 5 minutes without weighing down hair.

tbh® kids launched the daily spritz hair & body spray for everyday use. 

Fairy Tales Hair Care launched the Curly-Q Kids Curl Cream for Curly Hair for soft, shiny hair without a sticky or heavy feel. 

Typology launched the R41 Restorative Hair Serum, a concentrated, silicone-free treatment that hydrates, smooths, and strengthens hair with low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. The brand also relaunched the T50 Serum Mascara with an upgraded, lash-conditioning formula to deliver clump-free volume and definition while supporting visible lash growth with pea peptides, castor oil, and plant keratin.

January Jones shared her fall must-haves from Sézane on Instagram after the brand celebrated the opening of their new store at The Grove in Los Angeles, California, L’Appartement Sézane, where guests enjoyed a dreamy French jardin atmosphere, seasonal bites, drinks, and more while viewing the latest fall collection.

Heyhae launched the August collection filled with six design options, ranging from core colors to glimmering gradients with prices ranging from $10-$14.

Tweezerman launched the Disney Classic Collection with beauty tools inspired by 101 Dalmatians, Lady and the Tramp, and The Aristocats.

Bubble Skincare launched the All Clear Salicylic Acid Cleanser to help prevent breakouts with a foaming formula.

PatPat launched a collection of Halloween pajamas with pumpkins, skeletons, dinosaurs, ghosts, bats and more for all ages and pets.

AlumierMD launched their professional-grade sheet mask for at-home use, the HydraRescue BioCellulose Mask, available in a 4-pack for $90. 

TEVA launched their AW25 collection inspired by the brand’s For Playground Earth anthem, with all season footwear styles.

QUAY launched their fall 2025 collection with new styles in bold shapes and elevated materials and details including metal accents, five-barrel hinges, gradient fades, and softer tri-color technique.

Cotton Candy LA launched the Pre-Fall Collection, Velvet Hour, filled with romantic minis, silky slips, and transitional pieces for the shift from summer to fall.

Lee teamed up with Crayola to launch a capsule collection featuring eight fan-favorite retired colors to overalls, carpenter pants, chore jackets, hoodies and more with special details.

SJ Bleau and Carew Ellington announced their engagement on Instagram.

ESW Beauty partnered with Liquid Death to launch a limited-edition mask set with three compostable sheet masks inspired by Liquid Death’s mountain water and soda-flavored sparkling waters formulated for hydration, revitalization, and blemish control.

behno New York launched The Melina Crossbody Canvas, the Maison de behno, the Maison de behno Large, and more for transitioning from the end of summer to fall.

SIMKHAI is hosting a 50% off sale on online purchases through Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Tigermist hosted a sitewide sale with 40% off everything.

Emi Jay is hosting a Labor Day Sale through Monday, Sept. 1, where orders of $75+ will include a free 
Dream Crème sample.

Beautyblender is hosting a sale at Sephora with 20% off the Midnight Blend and Blur 3-Piece Travel Set through Monday, Sept. 1.

BoldHue is hosting a sitewide 25% off sale through Tuesday, Sept. 2. 

Jouer is hosting a 25% off sitewide sale and with orders of $75 or more, a free Glow on La Go Set with the code LDW25.

Shake Shack announced its (No) Summer Scaries promotion where customers can spend $10 and get a free Summer BBQ Sandwich with the code SUMMER through Monday, Sept. 1.

Alexa Dark deejayed at Aman’s US Open Members Party in New York City.

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New York has always been a hungry city, with locals and visitors alike constantly searching for the next best bite. For 19th-century workers, oyster bars provided a cheap snack similar to today’s dollar pizza slice. Meanwhile, members of New York’s elite once toasted each other over terrapin (or turtle) soup at fine hotel restaurants.

But times and tastes change constantly, especially in a global food destination like New York. To see just how much, take a glimpse into the New York Public Library’s massive collection of historical online menus, many originally gathered by Miss Frank E. Buttolph in the early 20th century. One menu for a fine dinner served at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in 1882 features terrapin soup and canvas-back duck, a wild North American bird popular on upper-class menus until it became scarce from overhunting. (The menu itself was printed on pink silk.)

Other foods on these vintage menus will be more familiar to modern New Yorkers. In April of 1904, the Mann Fang Lowe Chinese restaurant, at 3 Pell Street, offered chow mein, chicken with mushrooms, and roast pork.

The Mann Fang Lowe is long gone, as are most restaurants with menus in the New York Public Library’s archives. But some are still going strong, keeping the things that made them special while adapting to the times. Gallaghers Steakhouse still proudly serves up steaks and speakeasy history today, while Serendipity 3 continues to offer outrageous desserts in a quirky setting. These institutions even made some history of their own together by participating in the very first New York City Restaurant Week back in 1992, when well-known restaurants across the city offered three-course lunches for the price of $19.92. The first Restaurant Week was such a hit that it inspired imitations across the country, and in New York, it became such a phenomenon that it’s now held twice a year.

In a sense, Restaurant Week and the historical menu collection are two sides of the same coin: the ongoing effort to highlight the fascinating blend of culinary experiences on offer across every borough of New York City. And if you’re looking to take a historical view on your next culinary adventure, these dishes are the perfect place to start.

“The Other Soup” at Gallaghers Steakhouse — Manhattan

While today it serves steak and oysters entirely aboveboard, Gallaghers, located just steps away from rip-roaring Broadway and Times Square, originally got its start as a speakeasy in 1927. In fact, the restaurant still pays tribute to those years with a certain unorderable menu item. Just try asking for “The Other Soup,” listed at market price. There is, in fact, no “other soup” on offer at Gallaghers, other than French onion or clam chowder; the name was code for alcohol during Prohibition. Can this menu item be used to sneak in a cocktail on your business lunch expense account? You’ll have to let us know.

“She-Crab Soup” at Gage & Tollner — Brooklyn

In 1879, Gage & Tollner first opened in Brooklyn, offering oysters and a menu of Victorian-era delights to its famous guests. Its current location, where the restaurant set up shop in 1892, is a Gilded-Age fantasia of mirrors and columns. The restaurant became a Brooklyn icon, and, in 1975, the interior was designated as a landmark by the New York Landmarks Commission. But tastes and the surrounding neighborhood changed, and the restaurant closed in 2004. Though the interiors were preserved, the space was occupied by various discount shops and fast-food chains for decades.

Yet Gage & Tollner celebrated a glorious rebirth in 2021, with its new owners fixing up the place and bringing many classic dishes back on the menu. One standout is the she-crab soup introduced by Southern chef Edna Lewis, who ran the kitchen from 1988 to 1992. The soup comes with a boat of sherry to pour atop the hot, crab-laced broth.

“Haymaker’s Punch” at Neir’s Tavern — Queens

In nearly continuous operation since 1829, Neir’s Tavern is one of the oldest bars in the country. The bar, however, hasn’t been frozen in time. Though it has a long and fascinating history, it’s still a neighborhood pub with chicken tenders and familiar beers on the menu. But also on the menu is a drink that was popular back when the bar first opened in 1829.

Haymaker’s punch is a sweet-and-sour, vinegar-based beverage that was served as a kind of energy drink for farmers working for hours out in the sun. Neir’s Tavern offers a modern version made with molasses and apple cider vinegar. It comes with or without a shot of rum.

“Frrrozen Hot Chocolate” at Serendipity 3 — Manhattan

This over-the-top dessert palace opened in 1954 as a quirky blend of antique store and café. Though its menu offers much in the way of actual food, from foot-long hot dogs to nachos, the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate has been the main attraction for generations of New Yorkers and tourists. The oxymoronic nature of a hot drink served cold and the novelty of drinking a blend of 14 different types of cocoa from a huge bowl-like glass made it famous, so much so that Serendipity 3 proudly boasts that Jackie Kennedy once asked for the recipe and was turned down. The restaurant mixes it up these days by offering all kinds of variations on the original drink, with ingredients ranging from peanut butter to Fruity Pebbles.

“Charlotte Russe” at Holtermann’s Bakery — Staten Island

This old-school bakery serves the last vestige of what was once a beloved treat across all of New York City. The Charlotte Russe consists of sponge cake, cream, and jam, served up in an ingenious single-serve container that functions like a Push Pop, making it easy to scarf down every scrap. These handheld cakes were once especially beloved in Brooklyn, but Holtermann’s in Staten Island might be the only holdout still making them today.

“Bagna Cauda” at Barbetta — Manhattan

This venerable Italian restaurant is one of the oldest in New York, dating back to 1906. Barbetta claims to have introduced staples such as risotto, polenta, and sun-dried tomatoes into the American pantry, as well as regional dishes such as bagna cauda, a hot dip of garlic, anchovies, olive oil, and wine. In fact, the current Barbetta menu also offers a glimpse into the past. Each dish is listed alongside a year, denoting when the restaurant first began serving it. Guests can dine through the decades, sampling roast peppers bagna cauda-style (1962), linguine al pesto (1914), and panna cotta (1984).

“The Sausage Chandelier” at Calabria Pork Store — The Bronx

Arthur Avenue is lined with food shops and restaurants that have been open for generations, serving the community and earning the area the title of New York’s “real” Little Italy. There’s lots to see and eat, but for an awe-inspiring sight, head over to the Calabria Pork Store, home of the “Sausage Chandelier.” The ceiling bristles with bundles of cured meat hanging overhead. The store got its start in 1973 as a salumeria focusing on the traditional meats of Calabria. The store is still dishing out its famous soppressata and sausages today, and you can also take home a sandwich instead of buying meat to make your own.

Director Woody Allen said neighbor Jeffrey Epstein‘s New York City mansion reminded him of a vampire’s castle.

In a letter celebrating Epstein’s 63rd birthday, newly unearthed by the New York Times, Allen said the staff and young women the late sex offender kept around his seven-story townhouse put him in mind of Castle Dracula.

Allen was speaking about dinners that he attended at Epstein’s place, saying they were served “by some professional houseman and just as often by several young women, reminding one of Castle Dracula where [Bela] Lugosi has three young female vampires who service the place.”

“Add to this that Jeffrey lives in a vast house alone, one can picture him sleeping in damp earth,” Allen wrote.

The letter was part of a larger story from the Times on Epstein’s townhouse. The piece was filled with photos of the 21,000 square-foot home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Formerly owned by retail billionaire Les Wexner, the massive home had been remodeled to suit Epstein’s taste. Notable decor included a statue of a bride hanging onto a rope that dangled in an atrium, a wall of framed prosthetic eyeballs and leopard-print seating.

Notably, one credenza in the home featured photos of Epstein with politicians, celebrities and businessmen. A framed photo of Epstein with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump sat in the first row of picture frames in the images shared by the Times. Nearby, there were photos of Epstein with Bill Clinton and a signed dollar from Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Watching this season of The Gilded Age and want to live for a moment within that show’s world? It’s not difficult to understand your desire. During the late-19th-century period depicted, New York City and Newport alike were grand, blank canvases upon which the wealthy were able to erect massive and splendiferous testaments to their liquidity. It wasn’t all roses, by any means—the wives approached the Newport summer season with more rigor than their husbands had for business dealings, and divorcées like poor Aurora Fane were socially destitute despite no wrongdoing on their part. (Which is why it’s more fun to visit today.)

Below, we’ve rounded up the best hotels in both New York City and Newport to get your Bertha Russell on and steep in the period’s left-behind grandeur, plus some of the places you’d do well to visit during your sojourn to go even deeper.

New York City

Where to stay

The best things to do

Quite a few Gilded Age mansions remain on Fifth Avenue, which once bore the mantle of Millionaire’s Row (Billionaire’s Row along 57th Street is an equivalent for our times, and not nearly as attractive). Quite a few of these are open to the public in one way or another. Fifth Avenue is long, and walking up and down its Central Park stretch isn’t easy. But the greatest concentration of its Gilded Age pleasures is uptown, in a walkable stretch of the 80s and 90s. There’s the Metropolitan Museum of Art, of course, on the east side of Central Park between 79th and 84th Street, which was founded in 1870 by the Union League Club. It’s a major landmark of the period, but lacks the intimacy of a mansion setting—the massive building in which it’s set was built to be a museum, and has been expanded many times.

And so, while you’re up there, be sure to also swing around the corner to Neue Galerie on East 86th, where 19th-century German and Austrian art hang in the 1914-constructed mansion of industrialist William Starr Miller, designed by Carrère & Hastings (of New York Public Library fame). There’s also the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum within the former residence of industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and the recently-renovated-and-restored-and-reopened Frick Collection in the former mansion of financier Henry Clay Frick. Downtown (relatively), in Murray Hill, you’ll also find the Morgan Library & Museum housed in the library of J.P. Morgan (who features in The Gilded Age) himself. A few of these spots, and many more, are featured on walking tours like this one for those who prefer a more organized itinerary.

Newport

Where to stay

The best things to do

Touring the mansions is the best thing to do in Newport, period. Dedicate at least a day to seeing a few of them. If you can only hit one, hit the Breakers, which was the summer cottage of the Vanderbilt family (for whom the Russells stand in on the show). It’s a shockingly large summer home that has to be seen to be believed. But there are quite a few other homes worth seeing around Newport. Operated by Newport Mansions and the Preservation Society of Newport County, and therefore under the same umbrella as the Breakers, are places like Marble House (also a bygone Vanderbilt deed) and Rosecliff, the Versailles-inflected summer home of silver heiress Theresa Fair. You can book your Breakers ticket, or your Breakers-plus-one mansion ticket, via GetYourGuide.

While you’ll almost always find a line at this COVID-pop-up turned regular-weekend-affair, it’s expedited by a little-white-hat-wearing shopkeeper offering samples. The flavors are a real ode to Ridgewood, whether that’s the Waldmeister (German sweet woodruff; a vanilla-like herb) or Mak (Polish for “poppy seed”) which honor the immigrant history of the neighborhood, or the Linden, which is available only in June when the neighborhood’s Linden trees are in full bloom. There’s something undeniably whimsical about getting a cone at this micro shop, thanks, in part, to the orange puppet that runs the Instagram account, announcing Saturday and Sunday’s flavor rundown. —Jessica Sulima

Locations: Chinatown, Lower East Side, Kips Bay, Flushing, Long Island City, Downtown Brooklyn
What to order: Soft serve, of course, in flavors like ube

The most difficult part about ordering at Soft Swerve is picking which flavor you want—not because there is an overwhelming number of choices, but because each one is so delicious, you won’t be able to choose which is your favorite. The benefit? You cannot go wrong. While they do have a string of tasty hard-packed ice creams, I tend to make a beeline for the soft serve, where they absolutely excel. They serve a delicious rendition of my current favorite ice cream flavor (ube), which pairs well with black sesame—the almost marshmallowy sweetness and the sesame nuttiness being the perfect complements. While I usually stop to revel in the flavors of the soft serve alone, the red velvet or chocolate waffle cones are decadent add-ons, and there are a plethora of toppings to choose from to personalize your treat, from cereal marshmallows and Reese’s Puffs to bite-sized Mochi rice cakes. —Jamie Spain

Location: Chinatown
What to order: Lá Chuối (Banana leaf)

At this Vietnamese natural wine bar—which comes from the same team behind neighboring Mắm and Greenpoint’s Đi Ăn Đi—you could get really nerdy about which rice wine pairs well with fish sauce caramel ice cream, or you could just enjoy an unlikely scoop with a little bit of a buzz. A chalkboard presents the rotating list of house-made flavors (expect a few sellouts) which can include the Lá Chuối, a pungent banana leaf that’s earthy and sweet, the Hoa Cúc, a chrysanthemum for floral ice cream lovers, and the Phô Mai, a creamy cheese inspired by Laughing Cow, the French provision that became a cultural staple in Vietnam. —Jessica Sulima

Courtesy of Glace

Locations: Upper East Side, Rockefeller Center
What to order: Everything…but definitely frozen hot chocolate, any of their brown butter soft serve specials, and their waffle cones

The first two episodes of Bravo’s Next Gen NYC are now available to stream on Peacock, and instead of a typical Bravo Dyke review, I decided to tap in Drew Burnett Gregory, who does not really watch reality television, to write a dual conversational review with me! Here’s what we thought about the show, which according to Bravo “follows a tangled web of friends raised in the spotlight — or at least close enough for good lighting — as they stumble into adulthood one brunch, breakup and spontaneous decision at a time.”

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Drew: My first question: Do Bravo camera crews have to just spend their evenings hanging out at the club with these people?

Kayla: YES they do. But something that is not super typical is how many times we saw crew in shots here, especially for this early on in the series. But also this show wouldn’t really work without breaking the fourth wall, so I am glad they’re doing so and often.

Drew: I really liked the moment when Brooks predicted how they were going to edit his interview. I’m sure other adult Housewives are seasoned by this point, but there’s a different quality to a group of people who grew up being filmed.

Kayla: Yeah it is both alarming and fascinating to consider these four young adults — Riley, Brooks, Ariana, and Gia — have been filmed for soooooo much of their lives. The girls especially. Brooks came into it in his late teens. But the girls have been filmed their ENTIRE LIVES.

Drew: I do think if you were on reality TV as a child you’ve earned the right to live in a 12k a month Alphabet City apartment. This is where my radical politic finds its limit.

Kayla: Right, it’s like, how much can I really FEEL for these extreme versions of nepo babies/inheritors of extreme generational wealth? And yet, something about them growing up on reality TV does make me feel for them!!!! That’s fucked UP and they didn’t CHOOSE IT!

And…boy do I feel for Ariana about her MOTHER STEALING MONEY FROM HER. I went into this show with relatively low expectations, but I sat the fuck UP when she started talking about that. I was like ohhhhhhhh this is REAL LIFE SHIT. And I don’t think you even really need any of the backstory about her family to pick up what’s going on there.

Drew: Yeah, okay, should we give some context? You’re a Bravo expert, meanwhile I’ve only watched two episodes with my sister a decade ago and like four episodes with you in the past year. I’m only here today because of my identities: trans and went to NYU.

Kayla: Yeah so this show was definitely marketed originally as being about the offspring of Real Housewives, and I thought there couldn’t possibly be enough juice to that premise alone. Then I learned more about the series, that in fact it’s more about a whole friend group of rich kids in New York, most of whom went to NYU, and only four of them are Real Housewives babies. The rest have rich/famous parents in some way (except maybe Georgia, Emira, and OnlyFans boy lol is his name Dylan?). So it’s more about like…Gen Z and generational wealth. Which also shouldn’t really have juice to it, but I think it has some juice! Lol

And then also, yeah, for the first time ever, there’s a trans main cast member on a Bravo show. Emira! She doesn’t really have much of a storyline yet, but her relationship seems very cute.

Drew: I was surprised by how casual they let her transness be. Maybe it’ll come up more later, but they’re not forcing it in a way I appreciate.

Kayla: I agree! But also not like ERASING it entirely — like at one point one of her videos that they had on screen had a reference to misgendering in the overlaid text. It really does feel so against the grain from how trans people have historically been treated by reality television. She gets to just be trans, without transness being “her storyline.”

Drew: Yes exactly! I kept forgetting that the impetus for me watching was the first trans Bravo main cast member and was just like “NYU alum clocking in for duty.”

Kayla: No to be fair your cis coworker (me) asked you to watch the show with me thinking it would be interesting to have a non-Bravo point of view about the first trans Bravo main cast member and then EGG ON MY FACE because it turns out your way more relevant expertise is “went to NYU.”

Drew: Trans people contain multitudes! And one of my worst tudes is having lived in Alphabet City from 2013-2015.

Kayla: LOL

Drew: I paid $800 a month to share a two bedroom with three people but…

Kayla: How accurate is the “went to NYU” of it all? Did you interact with people like this at NYU? Was the going out culture like this? Please tell me you knew a Georgia, because there’s something about Georgia where I’m like oh that’s a real type.

Drew: Look, I WISH I had been better at hanging with these kinds of people at NYU. I would probably be much more successful. I think coming from an upper middle class suburb where the wealth worship was what I was trying to escape, the idea of even wealthier people with the same aesthetics really turned me off. So I feel like these people hovered around me, but I didn’t spend a lot of time with them. Like I met my first girlfriend in our scholarship seminar, my best friend in the film department was someone from Minnesota who by year two was more interested in poetry. I’ve never been good at social climbing despite being so close to the mountains so to speak.

But imagine hanging out with a group of people where the only one who has seen When Harry Met Sally doesn’t wash her hands! I didn’t want that. Though I will say, yes, Georgia is a very familiar type, probably the type I was around most of this cast, and I’m sorry but I’m Team Riley in hand wash gate.

Kayla: I am ALSO Team Riley, especially since I sense Georgia getting into racist microaggression territory. Like she tries to say Riley was “scary” about it, and then the footage re-rolls and it’s literally just Riley being kind of sarcastic and funny about it?!

I think it is very bold in a society ravaged by superviruses to take that hard of a stance on not washing your hands. I am not even all that grossed out by germs at all. So the fact that EYE was appalled by how much she was doubling down on it? It made sense when she was clearly wasted the first time it came up…but after that? I think Georgia is in for a rude awakening when she watches herself back. And I know she’s trying to be funny, but “my body my choice” was not landing lol

Drew: I was already against her because people should wash their hands, but then yeah calling Riley scary really removed any goodwill I had toward her as the group underdog.

And also yeah weren’t these people like formed amid Covid? I keep wanting to call them kids but I get they’re like 22-25. But that means peak adolescence in Covid!!!

Kayla: IN NEW YORK! Georgia is a native New Yorker! She should be traumatized by germs/viruses lol

I am interested in the dichotomies in the cast of like: native/transplant and then especially generational wealth/self made.

Drew: Yes for sure. I wanted to root for Georgia for growing up “between poor and middle class” before she lost me. Now I’m just rooting for Dylan and his OnlyFans career. And his… “it’s just skin” in response to how dicks taste

Kayla: He really cracked me up a few times. Charlie meanwhile is trying so HARD to be the villain that it isn’t working. It’s too obvious!

Drew: He doesn’t have his heart in it. You know Werner Herzog’s ecstatic truth? Like in documentary when something is staged but it reaches a deeper truth. I felt like Charlie’s performance was an ecstatic lie.

Kayla: Someone who WANTS to be a fuckboy that badly is not a fuckboy.

He thinks he’s making good TV by fucking with Brooks and it’s really just pathetic. I will say I’m obsessed with the throwback nature of Brooks being a little helpless gay boy surrounded by an army of powerful femmes who would KILL for him. That’s some mid-aughts middle school social dynamics right there!

Drew: I also love the idea of having a Bravo show about a generation where half the people are openly conflict avoidant.

Kayla: Which is rooted in their TRAUMA from their parents being Housewives!!

Drew: I thought it was just a Gen Z thing, but wow you’re right.

Kayla: Were you familiar with Gia’s childhood song prior to this via TikTok — which btw was about her parents’ marriage being broken…the fact that it became a meme and she was so young in it really tells you everything you need to know about how she has been impacted psychologically by reality TV.

Drew: I knew the meme but had NO IDEA it was from Housewives. I gasped lol

Like revealing that back in the day Brooks bit Charlie’s finger.

Kayla: You really do have to read Brooks’ Strategist “what I can’t live without” guide, it’s iconic. One of the things on it is water.

Drew: Wow so true

Kayla: He really was more or less outed on Real Housewives.

Drew: Did I hear right that Brooks called himself an activist?

Kayla: Oh lord, did he lol I missed that. But delusion/exaggeration does run in the Marks family.

Drew: I did find it so funny how so few of them have jobs so they all need to exaggerate their titles.

Charlie being a crypto trader…

Kayla: Ariana saying she has an “online job.”

Drew: Me too Ariana me too

Kayla: Kind of obsessed with her boyfriend’s money being in CHICKEN

Drew: Lol YES

He was like my dad started this chicken restaurant. A new take on the nepo baby.

Kayla: Also she is smart to not let that man pay her rent for her! It’s clear she has seen the dangers of like over-relying on a man financially, via her mother.

Drew: As a Housewives fan, how did you feel about the ways the moms were incorporated?

Kayla: STRAP IN, LONG ANSWER INCOMING:

Ariana/Kim: Obsessed with Ariana immediately calling out her mom for stealing her money. That was juicy and real. I have friends who were former child actors who had the same thing happen to them. And then the fact that her mom is STILL contacting her for money! But then Ariana had this real empathy for her? Idk, it all felt messy and real in a way I appreciated. That’s a reality star in the making right there. You gotta air your dirty laundry!

Brooks/Meredith: This feels super insular/Housewivesy, but I’ve been so exhausted by Meredith lately on her show that I didn’t really need/want her here. She’s a weird one because she was my favorite when Real Housewives of Salt Lake City started, and she lost that title QUICKLY. If so much of Brooks’ arc on this show is supposed to be climbing out from her shadow, let’s see that! Less time with mom and more time with your girl friends…who are clearly standins for your mom LMAO I think he NEEDS a powerful femme force telling him what to do/solving his problems for him.

Gia/Teresa: Real Housewives of New Jersey is one of my RH blindspots, but I’ve seen/heard enough to know the basics, especially about Teresa since she has been around since the beginning. I love Gia’s commitment to living in Jersey and traveling in for the show/to socialize. Also I’ve heard from a lot of RHONJ viewers that there’s a real reverse-parenting situation happening with these two where Gia is way more of the parent and has been since a young age. Interested to see how that might play out here.

Riley/Kandi: I really appreciated how supportive Kandi was of Riley meeting up with Ariana. Kim ALSO stole money from Kandi via the song they made together, but it was forever ago, and I thought it was just nice and refreshing to hear Kandi be like yeah none of that is your business and actually just go forth and form your own relationship. I’ve been in situations where my relationships were impacted by drama between our mothers, so this actually really affected me in an unexpected way! And then Kandi sending Riley the photo of her and Ariana as kids was soooo sweet. I love Kandi, always have. And Riley is such a mini me for her. Her delivery of “I don’t even know what that show is” re:When Harry Met Sally was Kandi’s exact cadence lol.

Drew: Love this context. And interesting to hear that about Brooks and Meredith because the thing that blew me away was Brooks being like “oh yeah me and my mom are friends with her and her mom” and I was like wow the concept of having friends with your mom.

Kayla: Yeah I mean I do think he considers his mom one of his best friends, and that is always an alarming quality for me personally lol. But he also clearly wants a life outside her! She was REALLY in his corner when he was outed on Real Housewives.

Drew: Well that’s nice

Kayla: And viewers were REALLY mean about him in the first season of her show. I think they thought he was fair game since he was like 19?

Drew: I felt bad judging these people because they’re so young and they’re at least in their 20s!

As someone of queer boy with horrible male friends making comments about my sister experience, I just cannot imagine being like hey mom this is what my buddy said about my sister/your daughter.

Kayla: I do hate the extremely Reality TV thing of like “we’re going to retell the same story over and over and over and over again” and that’s honestly my main complaint about these first two episodes. We talked about/recapped the Charlie text TOO much. It’s part of the formula for sure, and at least it did eventually lead to that incredible line from Ariana’s boyfriend about Charlie’s corduroy pants:

Immediately entering the lexicon.

But yeah I would have liked to spend more time getting to know Emira a bit more. Or Ava. I was interested in some of Ava’s stuff with her father! I’m so appalled by parents who put their kid between them in their marriage/divorce — seems like she has been dealing with THAT her whole life!

Drew: Ava and Emira are the only two actually doing something (plus Dylan)!

Kayla: I feel for Ava because I hate when people treat modeling like it’s not real work, when it’s super hard work! She doesn’t have health insurance! lol

Drew: I really liked the scene with them camping aka having a picnic in Central Park. When Emira was talking about how Charlie and Ava are friends who would be good together I was like oh man does Georgia have a movie rec for you!

Kayla: Georgia was really trying to make When Harry Met Sally happen for her fellow Gen Z-ers

“Who’s Ben Affleck?” also really got me.

Drew: The producer chiming in after that killed me.

Kayla: Do you think you’ll watch more? I know reality TV isn’t your thing.

Drew: I do not think I’ll watch more, but if we were hanging out and you put it on, I’d be like omg my old friends!

Kayla: In many ways, a perfect way to watch reality television

Drew: This is how I feel whenever people from the new NY cast pop up after watching two episodes with you. Oh yeah we go way back.

Kayla: At least that has TWO lesbians in it (three if you count Mel, and we should all count Mel).

Drew: Zero people from The Valley left an impression though sad to say

If they’ve been popping up, I have not noticed.

Kayla: That’s very fair. I think that show was also hard for you in terms of being a little too familiar with those types of people in that area

Drew: Lol yes.

And speaking of familiar I’m also IN NEW YORK so theoretically I could see the Next Gen people around. Just last week I was in the West Village and on my walk from Stonewall to Cubby I was like……. when did the West Village become all straight people in their twenties

Kayla: I did genuinely love watching them walk 20 minutes from a bar to a club in Brooklyn

Drew: The most relatable moment of the show so far.

Kayla: Putting the real in reality TV.

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Bravo’s Next Gen NYC is now streaming on Peacock.