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New York (CNN Business) Beloved discount store Century 21 is reopening in New York City nearly two years after the pandemic forced it out of business. The retailer, which sold designer clothing at bargain basement prices, is reopening in spring 2023 at its former location near the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan. A New York favorite, Century 21 gained international notoriety for its appearances in pop culture, including in the original "Sex and the City" TV series. "In our 60-year history we have only closed our doors twice, once after the devastation of 9/11 and then again during the Covid-19 pandemic," said Raymond Gindi, Century 21 co-chief executive officer, in a press release. "But like the true New Yorkers we are, we have persevered." Century 21 is reopening its Cortlandt Street store in New York next year. The family-run business is partnering with retail management company Legends to reopen the one location, a move … [Read more...] about Century 21 is staging a comeback

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin When the world gathered in Glasgow, Scotland for the COP26 UN climate convention, the conversation had not yet added “war in Europe” to the dual challenges of sustainability and biodiversity. Now, eight months later, in the Ukrainian port of Odesa, European Union Council President Charles Michel has described Ukrainian silos “full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export” locked in place by Russia’s wartime blockade of Black Sea ports. Independent data cruncher World Population Review estimates Russia and Ukraine together account for 30% of the global wheat trade. Today, global grain supplies are facing the one-two punch of not only climate disruption but also wartime supply shortages. The food you eat, the food that your food consumes, and perhaps some of your favorite libations are all affected as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine moves into a third month. In a world that has changed everyone and everything, the … [Read more...] about From Odesa To Your Dinner And Dram: How The War Over Fossil And Caloric Energy Supplies Is Shaping The 21st Century

As the world’s need for large amounts of portable energy grows at an ever-increasing pace , many innovators have sought to replace current battery technology with something better. advertisement Italian physicist Alessandro Volta tapped into fundamental electrochemical principles when he invented the first battery in 1800. Essentially, the physical joining of two different materials, usually metals, generates a chemical reaction that results in the flow of electrons from one material to the other. That stream of electrons represents portable energy that can be harnessed to generate power . The first materials people employed to make batteries were copper and zinc. Today’s best batteries – those that produce the highest electrical output in the smallest possible size – pair the metal lithium with one of several different metallic compounds. There have been steady improvements over the centuries, but modern batteries rely on the same strategy as that of Volta: … [Read more...] about How electric eels inspired the first battery two centuries ago

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Not since the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibit “Tiaras” curated by Geoffrey Munn 20 years ago with 200 ancient to antique head ornaments has there been another tiara exhibit of great magnitude. That is all about to change with Sotheby’s London’s Tiara exhibition which is being held in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee from May 28 through June 15, 2022. The exhibition will feature approximately 50 tiaras of royal provenance and some of them will be exhibited publicly for the first time. Tiaras, diadems and bandeaus have been in the jewelry news in recent years due to series such as Do wnton Abbey (the series and the film), The Crown , Bridgeton , and other period small and silver screen productions. They have made headlines as celebrities brought them back into style, wearing them to red carpet events; while the most recent Met Gala secured their place among the best bejeweled looks and a trend that … [Read more...] about Sotheby’s London Unveils A Rare Tiara Exhibit To Celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Along with Menorca’s capital Mahón, Ciutadella on the west coast is the Spanish island’s only other real city, and was itself the capital during the 18th-century British occupation. Still small today, Ciutadella is one of those Mediterranean towns made for wandering in which you might hardly see a soul spent in an afternoon along its narrow streets lined with honey-colored houses. While you can enter the lovely little open courtyard of the Bishop’s Residence, the 13th-century cathedral itself might well be closed, and folks are all long gone from the historic little cast-iron fish market. It’s a town of a few oddities—all good ones. In the main square, Es Born, stands a curious 72-foot-high obelisk erected in the 19th-century to commemorate a 16th-century Turkish raid that decimated the town. There, and all around, the festival of Sant Joan on June 23-24 is a celebration of the indigenous Menorcan horse. In what is a kind of … [Read more...] about Ciutadella: Menorca’s Curious Second City

Have you heard maximalism is in and minimalism is out? Rooms bursting at the seams with clashing florals, colorful furniture and innumerable knick-knacks, this is what defines the new interiors trend cluttercore (or bricabracomania ). advertisement advertisement Some say it’s a war between Gen Z (born 1997-2012) and millennials (born 1981-1996), symptomatic of bigger differences. Others say it’s a pandemic response, where our domestic prisons became cuddly cocoons, stimulating our senses, connecting us with other people and places . But what really lays behind the choice to clutter or cull? Why do some people revel in collections of novelty eggcups? Or have so many framed pictures you can barely see the (ferociously busy) wallpaper? And why do those at the other end of the spectrum refuse to have even the essential stuff visible in the home, hiding it behind thousands of pounds’ of incognito cupboards? One important reason for the clash between … [Read more...] about Cluttercore: What’s really behind Gen Z’s revolt against minimalism?

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Tiaras have again regained their popularity in both popular culture and in the more rarified setting of auction sales where collectors throughout the world are paying increasingly higher prices for these objects of royalty and aristocracy. To mark Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebration, Sotheby’s London will open the largest tiara exhibition staged in the UK in 20 years. The exhibition will feature approximately 50 tiaras of aristocratic and royal provenance, with some pieces to be exhibited publicly for the first time. Virtually all the tiaras in the exhibition were made for and owned by British nobility and together they offer a comprehensive review of all major tiara design styles, Sotheby’s said in a statement, including the Napoleonic Empire, Romantic Naturalism, Belle Epoque, Art Deco, Modern and Contemporary designs. The exhibition will be open to the public May 28 – June 15. Several tiaras in the … [Read more...] about Princess Diana’s Wedding Tiara Headlines Sotheby’s Expansive Tiara Exhibition

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Albi, set on the Tarn River in the south of France, has many claims to fame. The Episcopal city boasts the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Cecilia with its fortress-like brick exterior and lavish interiors. The consistent French Gothic architecture earned the cathedral, built over 200 years from the 13th and 15th centuries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Sharing in the historic designation is the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, which occupies a 13th century building that was originally the cathedral’s Bishop's Palace. The museum is largely devoted to the work of the Albi native son and post-Impressionist painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Beyond its historical relevance, Albi offers a vibrant quality of life with a music-oriented high school of note, a local rugby team, a contemporary art research laboratory and a gastronomic scene featuring such traditional Albigensian food as pot au feu, a sausage, beef, bean and … [Read more...] about Manor House Boasts An Idyllic Setting Among The Vineyards In The South Of France

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Santorini has been ranked the world's top island by many travel magazines and experts, with over two million tourists visiting annually. And it’s no wonder when you consider the gorgeous white stone villas, private pools and incredible views over the Caldera, the volcanic crater submerged in the Aegean sea. The architecture and landscape of Santorini create a picture postcard setting. Here are five of the best Santorini hotels to enjoy. 1. Athina Luxury Suites Situated near the quaint town of Fira, on the cliffs of the Caldera with views of the famous volcano, the sunset and the whole island, Athina Luxury Suites is a superb place to stay in Santorini. Recently renovated, the suites feature a minimalist design, and quality amenities. The large heated infinity pool on the clifftop offers wonderful views stretching from Oia to Akrotiri. A bar in the water open all day until sunset is a decadent touch. Other … [Read more...] about 5 Top Hotels In Santorini, Greece

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Often, innovations aren’t as electrifying as Thomas Edison’s light bulb or as likely to stir up a discussion as Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone. Yet even the smallest of inventions can leave a widespread ripple effect. Consider Margaret E. Knight’s 19th-century contribution to the world. It might seem humble, but it has affected society’s ability to conveniently transport goods for nearly 150 years. What was Knight’s innovative brainstorm? It was none other than what we call the flat-bottomed paper bag . The point is that you don’t have to be a Steve Jobs or Sir Isaac Newton to be a forward-leaning pioneer and make a difference. So in honor of National Inventors Month, I’ve asked six thought leaders to share their insights, tips, and ruminations about innovating. I encourage you to use their wisdom springboard for your own ideas, no matter how modest. After all, sometimes the most basic of concepts can … [Read more...] about Innovation Lessons, Insights, And Secrets From Six Industry Leaders