Christmas door swags are such a simple yet beautiful way to add some fresh greenery to your door. And much easier to make than a wreath! I love this Christmas swag with a vintage skate twist. So dust off your skates, and let’s get crafty.
Who doesn’t have a pair of old skates lying around the basement gathering dust? You can transform them into this charming vintage skate swag in just a few simple steps.
Truthfully, you can even use the skates you still use. If you’re anything like me, those skates only come out once or twice a year to go on the ice anyway, so you might as well use them for décor!
The beauty of a swag is that you really don’t need many clippings to make a beautiful display. I’m a big fan of going out in your garden or foraging locally for some branches to use in your display.
You can use whatever is local and fresh in your area. Here are a few of my favourites for holiday greenery decorating:
Add pine cones, too, as well as dried flowers and seed heads.
How to Make a Vintage Skate Christmas Swag
Put those babies back into use as charming holiday décor for your door. Embellish your skates with holly and other holiday greens from the garden, some fancy ribbon and a candy cane or two. You may also want to use bells, seed pods, holiday ornaments, mini gourds or small tree fruits.
Materials
Make It!
Clean the skates and replace the laces with heavy-duty or double-ply garden twine. Leave enough twine at the ends so you can hang them from your door.
Find two small jars that will fit inside the skates. They will keep your greens in place and also hold water (optional) to keep them fresh. They won’t be seen, so don’t worry about how they look. Opt for something you already have to keep this project easy and low-cost.
Select an assortment of greens from the garden (holly, cedar, salal, etc.) and tie them into two neat bundles. Place the bundles in the jars and trim the ends until you have a pleasing display.
Decorate your skate swag with more ribbon, pinecones, and ornaments and then hang it in place on your front door or potting shed. An over-the-door wreath hanger is a great way to hang it on your front door without needing to put in a screw or nail.
Be sure to grab a copy of Everyday Eden: 100+ Fun, Green Garden Projects for the Whole Family to Enjoy. The book is filled with projects using inexpensive, often recycled, materials and easy techniques. This lively collection of garden projects and practices will delight beginner and experienced green thumbs alike.
The Imaginarium holiday light show at Cal Expo opened on Wednesday following a delay and confusing announcements. The status of Imaginarium’s Utopia, billed as Northern California’s largest holiday light festival, was thrown into confusion Wednesday when a spokesperson for the event said a social media post announcing the opening after earlier delays was premature. “Several new electrical panels have been installed and are currently pending inspection,” Darla Givens told KCRA 3 two hours after Imaginarium Sacramento posted on Facebook about its reopening plans. “Once those panels are fully inspected and approved, Imaginarium will receive the green light to open. Until that process is complete, Imaginarium will remain closed.”(Previous coverage in the video above.)That process was since completed. Givens confirmed a second Facebook post that said “Cal Expo is definitely opening tonight” at 5 p.m. “The Imaginarium team has been working non-stop to install the new electrical panels,” she said. “Because this year’s footprint is three times larger than previous years, the process required extensive coordination and additional time to ensure every section of the experience is powered reliably.”Imaginarium was originally set to begin holding light shows on Friday, Nov. 21. But the opening day was called off abruptly within an hour of gates being set to open. Givens cited “unforeseen circumstances” at the time and said Saturday the delay was due to damaged electrical panels that needed to be replaced. During the closure, tickets appear to have continued being sold online. Organizers said that ticket holders could email them at imagine@imaginarium360.com to reschedule postponed dates. But some people said on Facebook they had trouble connecting with event organizers. Imaginarium aims to transform the fairgrounds into a glowing wonderland powered by more than 15 million lights. The event previously faced an opening day delay in 2023 because of severe weather. This year’s edition debuts an expanded footprint and a new entrance at Cal Expo’s Main Gate at Exposition and Heritage, which was supposed to streamline access for the season’s crowds. KCRA 3 got a tour of the attraction on Friday morning. Visitors can stroll through illuminated tunnels, step into mirror rooms, glide across a covered ice rink, snap photos with Santa, and cap the night with carnival rides and festive food and drink along Food Court Row near the waterpark.Organizers say Utopia aims to be a “perfect holiday escape,” where families and couples can make new traditions in a setting designed for dazzling photos and spirited nights out. Imaginarium traces its roots to the team behind the first U.S. Chinese Lantern Festival at Great America in 2011. The concept evolved into Global Winter Wonderland, which opened at Cal Expo in 2014, and later into Imaginarium, which organizers say is the largest holiday light festival in the country. The brand now spans multiple locations across California and Arizona.Learn more about tickets here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The Imaginarium holiday light show at Cal Expo opened on Wednesday following a delay and confusing announcements.
The status of Imaginarium’s Utopia, billed as Northern California’s largest holiday light festival, was thrown into confusion Wednesday when a spokesperson for the event said a social media post announcing the opening after earlier delays was premature.
“Several new electrical panels have been installed and are currently pending inspection,” Darla Givens told KCRA 3 two hours after Imaginarium Sacramento posted on Facebook about its reopening plans. “Once those panels are fully inspected and approved, Imaginarium will receive the green light to open. Until that process is complete, Imaginarium will remain closed.”
(Previous coverage in the video above.)
That process was since completed. Givens confirmed a second Facebook post that said “Cal Expo is definitely opening tonight” at 5 p.m.
This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
“The Imaginarium team has been working non-stop to install the new electrical panels,” she said. “Because this year’s footprint is three times larger than previous years, the process required extensive coordination and additional time to ensure every section of the experience is powered reliably.”
Imaginarium was originally set to begin holding light shows on Friday, Nov. 21. But the opening day was called off abruptly within an hour of gates being set to open.
Givens cited “unforeseen circumstances” at the time and said Saturday the delay was due to damaged electrical panels that needed to be replaced.
During the closure, tickets appear to have continued being sold online. Organizers said that ticket holders could email them at imagine@imaginarium360.com to reschedule postponed dates. But some people said on Facebook they had trouble connecting with event organizers.
Imaginarium aims to transform the fairgrounds into a glowing wonderland powered by more than 15 million lights.
The event previously faced an opening day delay in 2023 because of severe weather.
This year’s edition debuts an expanded footprint and a new entrance at Cal Expo’s Main Gate at Exposition and Heritage, which was supposed to streamline access for the season’s crowds. KCRA 3 got a tour of the attraction on Friday morning.
Visitors can stroll through illuminated tunnels, step into mirror rooms, glide across a covered ice rink, snap photos with Santa, and cap the night with carnival rides and festive food and drink along Food Court Row near the waterpark.
Organizers say Utopia aims to be a “perfect holiday escape,” where families and couples can make new traditions in a setting designed for dazzling photos and spirited nights out.
Imaginarium traces its roots to the team behind the first U.S. Chinese Lantern Festival at Great America in 2011.
The concept evolved into Global Winter Wonderland, which opened at Cal Expo in 2014, and later into Imaginarium, which organizers say is the largest holiday light festival in the country.
The brand now spans multiple locations across California and Arizona.
The Sheraton Boston Hotel is offering guests the chance to spend the night inside a life-sized replica of the beloved “Goodnight Moon” bedroom.The suite is a full-scale replica of the Great Green Room from the beloved 1947 children’s book by Margaret Wise Brown.The whimsical room is perched on the 24th floor of the hotel and has views of the Charles River. It features green walls, red carpet, a glowing LED fireplace and even a working dollhouse.The suite also comes with other custom amenities, including a plush bunny for each child and turndown service complete with milk and cookies served in a keepsake porcelain bowl.
The Sheraton Boston Hotel is offering guests the chance to spend the night inside a life-sized replica of the beloved “Goodnight Moon” bedroom.
The suite is a full-scale replica of the Great Green Room from the beloved 1947 children’s book by Margaret Wise Brown.
The whimsical room is perched on the 24th floor of the hotel and has views of the Charles River. It features green walls, red carpet, a glowing LED fireplace and even a working dollhouse.
The suite also comes with other custom amenities, including a plush bunny for each child and turndown service complete with milk and cookies served in a keepsake porcelain bowl.
Universal Orlando is set to reopen the Stardust Racers roller coaster weeks after a guest died after riding the attraction.On Sept. 17, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala lost consciousness after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster. Zavala was later pronounced dead, and his death was ruled an accident. The manner of his death was determined to be “multiple blunt impact injuries,” according to the Orange County medical examiner.Since the incident, the ride has remained closed. In a letter sent to team members, Universal Orlando said that it conducted a comprehensive technical and operational review, which confirmed that the ride systems were functioning correctly. The letter stated that the review was conducted in conjunction with local and state officials. Additionally, the ride system manufacturer and an independent third-party roller coaster engineering expert conducted their own on-site testing, the letter said. Stardust Racers will reopen on Oct. 4 in the afternoon. Since the deadly incident, family members of the victim have requested a complete and transparent investigation into how this incident occurred. The family also requested that the ride remain shut down until the investigation is completed and they understand what went wrong. Since Zavalas’ death, more victims have come forward to report injuries sustained while riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster, according to attorney Ben Crump.Crump said the injuries other victims reported include problems with restraints, riders being thrown forward and hitting hard structures on the same ride. He said these are all consistent with the injuries Zavala suffered.The family believes that these accounts indicate that warning signs were overlooked and Zavalas’ death could have been completely avoided.>> Read full letter below:
Universal Orlando is set to reopen the Stardust Racers roller coaster weeks after a guest died after riding the attraction.
On Sept. 17, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala lost consciousness after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster.
Zavala was later pronounced dead, and his death was ruled an accident. The manner of his death was determined to be “multiple blunt impact injuries,” according to the Orange County medical examiner.
Since the incident, the ride has remained closed.
In a letter sent to team members, Universal Orlando said that it conducted a comprehensive technical and operational review, which confirmed that the ride systems were functioning correctly.
The letter stated that the review was conducted in conjunction with local and state officials.
Additionally, the ride system manufacturer and an independent third-party roller coaster engineering expert conducted their own on-site testing, the letter said.
Stardust Racers will reopen on Oct. 4 in the afternoon.
Since the deadly incident, family members of the victim have requested a complete and transparent investigation into how this incident occurred.
The family also requested that the ride remain shut down until the investigation is completed and they understand what went wrong.
Since Zavalas’ death, more victims have come forward to report injuries sustained while riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster, according to attorney Ben Crump.
Crump said the injuries other victims reported include problems with restraints, riders being thrown forward and hitting hard structures on the same ride. He said these are all consistent with the injuries Zavala suffered.
The family believes that these accounts indicate that warning signs were overlooked and Zavalas’ death could have been completely avoided.
President Donald Trump attended the U.S. Open on Sunday and briefly stepped out from a luxury box to wave at a main court crowd mostly still arriving for the men’s final. He drew mixed cheers and boos.Arthur Ashe stadium was only partially full and Trump’s waves weren’t announced beforehand. They were also brief enough so that some of those in attendance didn’t notice them.The president attended as a guest of Rolex despite imposing steep tariffs on the Swiss watchmaker’s home country, and organizers were seeking to keep booing of him from being seen on the TV broadcast.Trump has built the bulk of his second term’s domestic travel around attending major sports events rather than hitting the road to make policy announcements or address the kind of large rallies he so relished as a candidate.Because of extra security screening, the final between second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard, and No. 1 seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner, 24, of Italy, was pushed back half an hour — meaning Trump arrived more than 45 minutes before the new start time. The president was watching from Rolex’s suite, and his acceptance of Rolex’s invitation comes mere weeks after the Trump administration imposed a whopping 39% tariff on Swiss products.The levy is more than 2 1/2 times higher than the one the Trump administration agreed to for European Union goods exported to the U.S. and nearly four times higher than on British exports to the U.S. It has raised questions about Switzerland’s ability to compete with the 27-member bloc that it neighbors.The White House declined to comment on Trump accepting a corporate client’s invitation at the tournament, but the president has had few qualms about blurring lines between political and foreign policy decisions and efforts to boost the profits of his family business.That includes tirelessly promoting cryptocurrency interests and luxury golf properties around the country and the world that bear his name. He announced Friday that the U.S. will use its turn hosting the Group of 20 summit in December 2026 to stage the sweeping event at Trump National Doral in South Florida.Any negative reaction to Trump’s presence won’t be shown on ABC’s national telecast, per standard policy, the U.S. Tennis Association says.”We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions,” the organization said in a statement.As heavy rains began mostly clearing, and throngs of fans arrived for the match, no major street protests against the president could be seen from the touranment’s main stadium. Attendees also steered clear of wearing any of the president’s signature “Make America Great Again” caps, though.A 58-year tennis fan originally from Turin, Italy, came from her home in the Boston area to watch the final and said that when she bought a U.S. Open cap, she went with a fuchsia-hued one so it wouldn’t be mistaken for the signature darker color of MAGA hats.”I was careful not to get the red one,” said the fan, who declined to give her name because of her employer’s rules about being publicly quoted.Attending with Trump were White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, special administration envoy Steve Witkoff and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.Elsewhere in the crowd were a slew of celebrities — some of whom publicly backed then-Vice President Kamala Harris during last year’s election against Trump. Among them were Pink, Bruce Springsteen, Shonda Rhimes, Michael J. Fox, Sting, Shaggy, Ben Stiller and Courtney Cox.Trump came back to the press cabin on Air Force One during the flight to New York to note that the plane would be flying over Ashe stadium, but didn’t offer any further comment.Trump was once a U.S. Open mainstay, but hasn’t attended since he was loudly booed at a quarterfinals match in September 2015, months after launching his first presidential campaign.The Trump Organization once controlled its own U.S. Open suite, which was adjacent to the stadium’s television broadcasting booth, but suspended it in 2017, during the first year of Trump’s first term. The family business is now being run by Trump’s sons with their father back in the White House.Trump was born in Queens, home of the U.S. Open, and for decades was a New York-area real estate mogul and, later, a reality TV star. Attending the tournament before he was a politician, he usually sat in the suite’s balcony during night matches and was frequently shown on the arena’s video screens.In recent years, however, including between his presidential terms, Trump primarily lived at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.Alcaraz said before the final that having Trump on-hand would be a privilege and “great for tennis,” but also suggested that such sentiment went for any president watching from the stands. “I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it,” he said.The president has also frequently attended sporting events — where the roar of the crowd sometimes features people booing him while others cheer him.Since returning to the White House in January and prior to Sunday’s U.S Open swing, Trump went to the Super Bowl in New Orleans and the Daytona 500, as well as UFC fights in Miami and Newark, New Jersey, the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia and the FIFA Club World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Having a sitting president attend the U.S. Open hasn’t happened since Bill Clinton went to the 2000 tournament, though former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, attended the event’s opening night in 2023.___Associated Press writer Brian Mahoney contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump attended the U.S. Open on Sunday and briefly stepped out from a luxury box to wave at a main court crowd mostly still arriving for the men’s final. He drew mixed cheers and boos.
Arthur Ashe stadium was only partially full and Trump’s waves weren’t announced beforehand. They were also brief enough so that some of those in attendance didn’t notice them.
The president attended as a guest of Rolex despite imposing steep tariffs on the Swiss watchmaker’s home country, and organizers were seeking to keep booing of him from being seen on the TV broadcast.
Trump has built the bulk of his second term’s domestic travel around attending major sports events rather than hitting the road to make policy announcements or address the kind of large rallies he so relished as a candidate.
Because of extra security screening, the final between second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard, and No. 1 seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner, 24, of Italy, was pushed back half an hour — meaning Trump arrived more than 45 minutes before the new start time. The president was watching from Rolex’s suite, and his acceptance of Rolex’s invitation comes mere weeks after the Trump administration imposed a whopping 39% tariff on Swiss products.
The levy is more than 2 1/2 times higher than the one the Trump administration agreed to for European Union goods exported to the U.S. and nearly four times higher than on British exports to the U.S. It has raised questions about Switzerland’s ability to compete with the 27-member bloc that it neighbors.
The White House declined to comment on Trump accepting a corporate client’s invitation at the tournament, but the president has had few qualms about blurring lines between political and foreign policy decisions and efforts to boost the profits of his family business.
That includes tirelessly promoting cryptocurrency interests and luxury golf properties around the country and the world that bear his name. He announced Friday that the U.S. will use its turn hosting the Group of 20 summit in December 2026 to stage the sweeping event at Trump National Doral in South Florida.
Any negative reaction to Trump’s presence won’t be shown on ABC’s national telecast, per standard policy, the U.S. Tennis Association says.
“We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions,” the organization said in a statement.
As heavy rains began mostly clearing, and throngs of fans arrived for the match, no major street protests against the president could be seen from the touranment’s main stadium. Attendees also steered clear of wearing any of the president’s signature “Make America Great Again” caps, though.
A 58-year tennis fan originally from Turin, Italy, came from her home in the Boston area to watch the final and said that when she bought a U.S. Open cap, she went with a fuchsia-hued one so it wouldn’t be mistaken for the signature darker color of MAGA hats.
“I was careful not to get the red one,” said the fan, who declined to give her name because of her employer’s rules about being publicly quoted.
Attending with Trump were White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, special administration envoy Steve Witkoff and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.
Elsewhere in the crowd were a slew of celebrities — some of whom publicly backed then-Vice President Kamala Harris during last year’s election against Trump. Among them were Pink, Bruce Springsteen, Shonda Rhimes, Michael J. Fox, Sting, Shaggy, Ben Stiller and Courtney Cox.
Trump came back to the press cabin on Air Force One during the flight to New York to note that the plane would be flying over Ashe stadium, but didn’t offer any further comment.
Trump was once a U.S. Open mainstay, but hasn’t attended since he was loudly booed at a quarterfinals match in September 2015, months after launching his first presidential campaign.
The Trump Organization once controlled its own U.S. Open suite, which was adjacent to the stadium’s television broadcasting booth, but suspended it in 2017, during the first year of Trump’s first term. The family business is now being run by Trump’s sons with their father back in the White House.
Trump was born in Queens, home of the U.S. Open, and for decades was a New York-area real estate mogul and, later, a reality TV star. Attending the tournament before he was a politician, he usually sat in the suite’s balcony during night matches and was frequently shown on the arena’s video screens.
In recent years, however, including between his presidential terms, Trump primarily lived at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.
Alcaraz said before the final that having Trump on-hand would be a privilege and “great for tennis,” but also suggested that such sentiment went for any president watching from the stands. “I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it,” he said.
The president has also frequently attended sporting events — where the roar of the crowd sometimes features people booing him while others cheer him.
Since returning to the White House in January and prior to Sunday’s U.S Open swing, Trump went to the Super Bowl in New Orleans and the Daytona 500, as well as UFC fights in Miami and Newark, New Jersey, the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia and the FIFA Club World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Having a sitting president attend the U.S. Open hasn’t happened since Bill Clinton went to the 2000 tournament, though former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, attended the event’s opening night in 2023.
___
Associated Press writer Brian Mahoney contributed to this report.
Yosemite National Park’s historic Wawona Hotel is closing, and park officials are not saying when it will reopen. The hotel’s workers are being reassigned elsewhere.
One of the last times this Victorian-era hotel closed in Yosemite National Park, the raging flames from the 2022 Washburn fire had encroached and encircled the institution.
The hotel, which has the same name as the neighborhood in which it resides, was closed for two weeks that July, reopening that same month when the fires were extinguished and smoke and ash cleared.
Unlike that quick turnaround, the hotel’s next closing may not be so brief.
The National Park Service announced via Instagram on Wednesday that the 168-year-old hotel would close Dec. 2 for an unspecified period of time to allow the agency to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the hotel complex.
Yosemite Hospitality, which has run the Wawona and other park hotels since 2016, confirmed that there is no estimated reopening date.
(National Park Service)
“The NPS recently undertook a roof replacement project on the main hotel building which revealed the need for more intensive investigation and assessment of the hotel,” the National Park Service wrote.
A National Park Service spokesperson said the agency would not offer additional comment beyond its social media statement.
The Wawona Hotel issued a message saying it would issue refunds to guests with a reservation for Dec. 2 or later. The hotel said there was no estimated reopening date.
Yosemite Hospitality, which has run the Wawona and other park hotels since 2016, confirmed the indefinite closure and that hotel employees would be relocated to other positions within either Yosemite Hospitality or Aramark. Yosemite’s better-known Ahwahnee Hotel, which has welcomed guests since 1927, is open but still undergoing a $35-million earthquake retrofit.
“We have been entrusted with managing concessions at Yosemite National Park since 2016, and we hold our role as stewards of one of America’s most beloved national parks in the highest regard,” the statement read.
Yosemite Hospitality said that the hotel’s closure was necessary for the preservation of the historic building and that the group would continue to work with the National Park Service.
The two-story Wawona Hotel, nearly encircled by a Spanish-style veranda, has 50 standard rooms with private bathrooms and 54 additional rooms with shared restrooms.
While the hotel boasts of its nine-hole golf course, stables, swimming pool and lounge piano, the establishment and Yosemite Hospitality have come under criticism for safety issues in the last two years.
A 2023 annual evaluation from the federal Department of the Interior, obtained by SFGate through a Freedom of Information Act request, noted that “no significant action was taken” to address mounting safety concerns at the facility.
Yosemite Hospitality “has neglected to adequately address maintenance activities at the Wawona Hotel, which became particularly evident in 2023,” the report stated. “Extensive deterioration and damage to hotel facilities was noted on periodic evaluations conducted in 2023, in addition to Service condition assessments, including damage to railings, walkways, staircases, roofs, gutters and other physical assets.”
In June 2022, a guest fell from a porch at the hotel’s Clark Cottage after leaning on a railing that failed, according to the report.
A ceiling leak developed the following February at the Ahwahnee, also run by Yosemite Hospitality, the report said. Even though the National Park Service requested a patch, the report said, the room was still in service months later with the unfixed leak.
In April 2023, water intrusion through the roof caused a piece of the ceiling in the Ahwahnee’s dining solarium to fall and strike an employee, according to the report.
“The Service is extremely concerned about the risk to visitor and employee safety,” the report noted.
A group of Disney California Adventure guests may not have had the most incredible time on Sunday after they needed to be rescued from an “Incredibles”-themed roller coaster amid sweltering heat.
Park employees wearing safety harnesses made their way to the stranded guests and handed them umbrellas before they were escorted down from the ride. Temperatures in Anaheim reached 86 degrees on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
A Disneyland spokesperson said the ride was stalled for about 30 minutes and park employees followed their standard procedures to help the guests safely exit the ride.
A park guest who was staying at a nearby hotel with his family and said he had a front-row view of the ride from his room told KNBC-TV that the ride also stalled on Saturday.
“I thought maybe the ride was closed,” Vince Crandon said. “I was really concerned for the heat and obviously for the people. … It was not moving and was on top of the apex.”
It’s unclear what prompted the ride to stall or how long riders were stranded, but several videos shared on TikTok show that this is not the first time riders were forced to descend the ride after mechanical issues. Previous videos show riders descend several flights of stairs while being escorted by park employees.
The Incredicoaster, previously known as California Screaming, opened in June 2018 and stands 120 feet tall and has a top speed of 55 mph, according to the ride description.
No valedictorian speech. No celebrity speakers. No main-stage ceremony, and no massive graduate walk to “Pomp and Circumstance” before tens of thousands of guests.
Instead, USC’s graduating seniors — whose traditional main graduation ceremony was canceled — were thrown an alternative party Thursday night: a “Trojan Family Graduate Celebration” at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the eve of smaller campus commencement ceremonies where diplomas were set to be awarded at individual school events.
The USC cheerleaders perform at the Coliseum on Thursday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Thursday night event was billed as an “electric atmosphere” — capped at six tickets per grad — featuring a drone show, fireworks and a “special gift” for the Class of 2024: a hat from rap star Travis Scott’s collegiate clothing brand.
The university had pitched the event as a “Southern California-style” celebration to compensate for the loss of the main-stage ceremony with a valedictorian, keynote speeches and the presentation of honorary degrees. But turmoil and campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war upended that ritual.
Thia Broido, a graduating senior who sat on a top row at the Coliseum with her parents and brother Thursday night, said she was saddened by the controversial cancellation of the main commencement.
Her high school commencement was upended by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the graduation stage replaced by a “super cute” drive-in ceremony and social distancing, she said.
For her college graduation, she was glad to have the family-friendly event at the Coliseum, but she said it didn’t “remove anything that has happened” over the last few weeks.
“I don’t want to be a downer about it,” Broido said. “I’m happy for what we have. But what USC is doing is ongoing, and I can’t forget about that.”
Thursday night’s event included a drone show.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Citing unspecified safety threats, USC President Carol Folt last month rescinded pro-Palestinian valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s speaking slot and then canceled the main ceremony. After students set up a pro-Palestinian tent encampment and demanded that USC end its financial ties with Israel, Folt and her team called in the Los Angeles Police Department, and 93 people were arrested. On Sunday morning, police cleared a second encampment, but no arrests were made.
On Wednesday, Folt and Provost Andrew Guzman were censured by the Academic Senate, a body of representatives for USC faculty. The members cited “widespread dissatisfaction and concern among the faculty about administrative actions and decisions surrounding protests and commencement.”
Folt has defended her actions, and said in an interview with The Times that campus safety is her “North Star.”
“For me, I have a very clear North Star: that I am the person at the university, no matter how complicated the issue and how much I empathize with everybody involved — which has been true for me — I still in the end have to sit back and say, ‘What can I do to keep my campus and my people as safe as possible?’ ”
Among the entertainment was the Trojan marching band.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Typically, the annual Baccalaureate Ceremony — a nondenominational, interfaith celebration — is held on the eve of graduation at Bovard Auditorium in the center of campus. This year, there was an “in-person blessing” for the Coliseum bash, as well as an “online interfaith blessing” that could be viewed on a commencement website.
During the Student Recognition Awards Ceremony on Thursday afternoon, students clad in graduation gowns cheered at length when Tabassum was recognized. She laughed and pretended to check her watch as the applause continued.
“You may not know this,” the announcer joked, “but Asna is USC’s 2024 valedictorian.”
Her classmates then gave her a standing ovation.
Security at the Coliseum leading up to commencement has been tight.
On Thursday, access to USC’s campus, which was already restricted to the university’s students, faculty, staff and registered guests, became even stricter. Students and staff had to show USC identification, and anyone else trying to access campus needed a commencement ticket.
Grads gather before the event at the Coliseum on Thursday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Metal fences and black gates were posted around campus. Guests walked through metal detectors and were asked to carry clear purses or bags. Since the Sunday encampment sweep, officers from several law enforcement agencies have been stationed at the center of the USC campus.
They included officers from the Baldwin Park Police Department, La Habra Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Airport Police, according to David Carlisle, assistant chief of the university’s Department of Public Safety.
Officers were stationed near the Tommy Trojan statue, which had been cleaned after a protester — who organizers of the student encampment said was not affiliated with them — spray-painted “Stop Genocide” on its plaque.
No demonstrations disrupted Thursday night’s event, although speakers and attendees acknowledged the tense campus climate.
Inside the Coliseum, deejay duo Phantogram took the stage at 7:45 p.m. for a set before a sparse crowd of about 350. But attendance had grown substantially by the time the event began about 45 minutes later.
A campus spokesperson said more than 22,000 people attended.
Broido, the graduating senior, said she thought it was odd that the university would give out the Travis Scott hats — black caps with the words “USC Alumni” — which were distributed at a tent. She said she stopped being a fan of the rapper after 10 people were killed in a crowd crush at the 2021 Astroworld music festival in Houston.
“I think it’s ironic that USC would partner with him,” Broido said. “I like his music — it’s just mixed feelings.”
Varun Soni, dean of religious life at the university, delivered the invocation — a tradition typically held during the main-stage commencement.
“There are so many in our community who are wrestling with anger and grief,” he said.
The world, he said, is gripped by “five major crises” — war, justice, health, sustainability and joy.
“We have a full-blown crisis of joy,” he said.
The evening’s event, he said, was about celebrating the graduates and giving joy when it is needed the most.
A series of video messages were projected on a large screen, including remarks by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
“This class,” he said, “has been through a lot. More than other classes have had to deal with.”
When the event concluded, the words “Class of 2024” and “Fight On!” were spelled in the sky by drones with red and white lights.
Jack Callahan, who was decked out in USC gear, flew out with his family from Buffalo, N.Y., to watch his daughter Kiera graduate. Callahan was glad the university hosted a “big event to celebrate the graduates” after the family was initially disappointed to learn about the main-stage commencement’s cancellation.
“I loved the camaraderie, the spirit and the drone show,” Callahan said. His wife, Liza, was equally thrilled with the drones, which she called “absolutely amazing.”
“When we graduated,” she said, “there was nothing like that. Technology has come so far.”
But Kiera, who studied psychology, would have preferred the real graduation.
“I thought it was cute,” she said. “It was nice that they did something. But it doesn’t replace commencement.”
Times photographer Gina Ferazzi contributed to this report.
Walt Disney famously said that Disneyland will never be completed. He was right.
The vote by the Anaheim City Council on Wednesday to approve the Disneyland resort’s $1.9-billion expansion plan is the latest of several huge investments made by the media giant at the 100-acre facility known to its fans as the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Once upon a time, Disneyland was just a concept that grew out of a visit by Disney to Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Then on July 17, 1955, the gates were flung open at the then-$17.5-million resort and things have never been the same for the city of Anaheim.
Ticket prices on opening day were $1 for an adult and 50 cents for a child, with each attraction charging extra at each location, ranging from 10 to 35 cents.
In February 2001, Disneyland threw open the doors on its 55-acre California Adventure. At the time, the $1.4-billion addition opened to poor reviews, leading some visitors to dub the park “Six Flags California Adventure,” a biting comparison to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Over the years, the park added Cars Land in a $1.1-billion makeover, Pixar Pier and other locations that harked back to an era of California when red trolleys owned the streets.
In 2019, Disneyland opened its 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a $1-billion expansion that features two rides, shops and retail outlets around the “Star Wars” movie franchise theme. Jedis and stormtroopers roam about the intergalactic city that encourages role-playing with in-character staff.
“If you want to sit back and just watch the world go by, that’s also fine, but I think one of the things that we know about our guests is they want more and more to lean into these stories,” says Imagineer Scott Trowbridge, whom Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger described on social media as the “creator” of Galaxy’s Edge.
The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride requires riders taking up different roles, with two gunners, engineers and a pair of pilots.
By June 2021, Disneyland set its sights on transporting guests to the world of the Marvel cinematic universe with its Avengers Campus. Built on the bones of A Bug’s Land, construction for the Avengers Campus was waylaid due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but eventually opened to much fanfare within California Adventure. The Orange County Business Journal estimates construction on the site cost $500 million, but the House of Mouse was mum on the official cost.
Avengers Campus boasts a Spider-Man stunt show with a robotic web-slinger who launches from one tower to another and flies 85 feet in the air. The character reappears as a costumed human who scales down the walls of the building to pose for photos with parkgoers at ground level.
Times staff writers Todd Martens and Hugo Martin contributed to this report.
A guest of mine who I made a good impression on, apparently, decided to gift me this gold plated dollar bill. It’s legal tender in several places, honest to god, but I’m going to get it graded and then professionally framed and put in my office. With this and the Lions winning tonight, I’m doing pretty damn good lately.
The terrifying moment when a door plug to a Boeing 737 Max 9 suddenly blew open while the jet was 16,000 feet in the air was a “mistake” that “can never happen again,” airline Chief Executive Dave Calhoun said during a company town hall.
Calhoun told employees Tuesday, “We are going to approach it with 100% transparency every step of the way” while “acknowledging our mistake.”
“This stuff matters,” he said. “Everything matters. Every detail matters.”
But nearly a week after the alarming incident, which reportedly ripped the shirt off a teenage boy and the headrests off some seats, it remains unclear what exactly the error was — and why a hole burst open in the side of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 as it neared cruising altitude on its scheduled journey from Portland, Ore., to Southern California.
Meanwhile, the ripple effects of the midair ordeal continue to be felt. Alaska Airlines said Wednesday it would cancel all flights scheduled aboard 737 Max 9s until at least Saturday to allow time for inspections.
The decision is expected to affect 110 to 150 flights per day, according to the airline.
“We regret the significant disruption that has been caused for our guests by cancellations due to these aircraft being out of service,” the airline said in a statement. “We hope this action provides guests with a little more certainty, and we are working around the clock to re-accommodate impacted guests on other flights.”
Boeing released video of a brief portion of Calhoun’s comments to employees days after the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all 737 Max 9 jets and issued an emergency airworthiness directive calling for all Max 9s with mid-cabin door plugs to be inspected before returning to the air.
It’s unclear how long the planes will be out of use.
Calhoun on Tuesday complimented Alaska and other airlines, saying that although it was a difficult decision, grounding the planes “prevented, potentially, another accident or another moment.”
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident, said Tuesday that investigators were still trying to locate four missing bolts that were meant to keep the door plug on Flight 1282 from shifting up and blowing wide open mid-flight.
The door plug in question filled in an additional emergency exit that Alaska was not using in its modified layout of the 737 Max 9.
It’s unclear what role, if any, the bolts played in the incident. NTSB officials also said they were transporting the door plug to their laboratory in Washington, D.C., to determine whether the bolts were missing before the flight or if they were broken off because of the incident.
Earlier this week, Alaska and United airlines also reported they found loose bolts on some of their 737 Max 9 jets during inspections spurred by Friday’s flight, which was supposed to land in Ontario.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendyon Tuesday said the agency was aware of reports from other airlines about the bolts but was focused on trying to find out what happened specifically to Flight 1282.
“We need to, first and foremost, figure out what happened with this aircraft,” she said. “If we have a bigger systemwide or fleet issue, we will issue an urgent safety recommendation or push for change.”
Calhoun said Boeing was working with the NTSB in the investigation.
NTSB investigators had also been looking into a warning light on Flight 1282 that had illuminated three times in the last month, indicating a possible problem with pressurization.
Alaska Airlines had restricted the plane from flying transcontinental routes, according to the NTSB.
On Tuesday, however, Homendy said the system appeared to have been working as intended, and was not the cause of the expulsion of the door plug.
An Alaska Airlines flight bound for Southern California was forced to turn around and make an emergency landing after a hole opened in the side of the plane shortly after taking off Friday night.
Flight 1282 left Portland International Airport in Oregon around 5 p.m. headed toward Ontario, with 171 passengers and six crew members on board, according to the airline.
While the plane was gaining altitude, a window and part of the plane’s wall blew out, according to social media reports. Alaska Airlines described the event as “an incident” and said the plane turned around and safely landed back in Portland.
“The safety of our guests and employees is always our primary priority, so while this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement Friday night. “We are investigating what happened and will share more information as it becomes available.”
A video posted to TikTok by a passenger on the flight showed a panel on the left side of plane missing, with insulation foam visible. Oxygen masks were deployed from the ceiling.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
Two iconic Southern California theme parks, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm, would come under the same ownership as part of a mega-merger announced Thursday that is set to reshape the industry.
Consolidating two of the nation’s largest amusement park giants is estimated to increase the value of the combined company by $200 million over three years, through anticipated operational and administrative savings, as well as an increase in revenue, according to an announcement from the companies.
The pending merger, which awaits regulatory and shareholder approvals, is expected to close in the first six months of 2024. The unified company would be worth an estimated $8 billion, according to both companies.
“The combination of Six Flags and Cedar Fair will redefine our guests’ amusement park experience as we combine the best of both companies,” Selim Bassoul, president and chief executive of Six Flags, said in a statement. “We are excited to unite the Cedar Fair and Six Flags teams to capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunities and operational efficiencies of our combined platform for the benefit of our guests, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders.”
Six Flags Entertainment Corp., based in Texas, operates the Magic Mountain park in Valencia as part of its nationwide portfolio; Ohio-based Cedar Fair has owned and operated Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park since 1997. Both parks operate seasonal water parks: Hurricane Harbor at Magic Mountain, and Soak City at Knott’s Berry Farm.
The merged company will include 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks and nine resort properties across 17 states, Canada and Mexico.
“Our merger with Six Flags will bring together two of North America’s iconic amusement park companies to establish a highly diversified footprint and a more robust operating model to enhance park offerings and performance,” said Richard Zimmerman, president and chief executive of Cedar Fair.
The unified company plans to offer what it described as “expanded park access” to passholders as well as an “enhanced, combined loyalty program.”
Upon approval, the merged company will move its headquarters to Charlotte, N.C., and operate under the name Six Flags.
Japanese developer Global Agents opened the first cinema-themed property in Japan.
Press Release –
updated: Nov 8, 2018
TOKYO, November 8, 2018 (Newswire.com)
– Japanese real estate developer Global Agents opened FILMS WAKO, a new shared apartment that features a fully functional movie theater in Wako, Saitama Prefecture, on October 20. The company has been rapidly expanding across Japan to respond to the growing demand for their new lifestyle accommodations, and FILMS WAKO is the first co-living apartment in Japan to feature an authentic home-experience on par in scale and design with an actual movie theater.
Global Agents endeavored to create a unique property that could connect all 123 residents through a central theme. Interaction is a core ideal that serves as the foundation for each of the company’s properties, but they ultimately decided on cinema for FILMS WAKO because of its near-universal appeal and ability to connect people on an emotional and artistic level. The result is perhaps their most focused and grand offering yet.
This was certainly our most ambitious and challenging project yet. We wanted to push the market forward and offer a truly new and unique experience to our tenants.
Takeshi Yamasaki, CEO of Global Agents
They have made the dream of having an actual cinema at home a conceptual reality. The centerpiece of the property is a 40-square-meter theater space with 16 industry standard movie seats, the same ones found in new high-end movie theaters. Also, sporting an enormous 150-inch screen coupled with an industrial grade 4K EPSON projector and a 7.1 channel JBL surround sound system, the experience has never been more real. Residents also have access to 4K Apple TV, a PS4 Pro and are able to connect their own electronic devices to watch any film they like or use the space for gaming as well. In the digital age where people enjoy films and videos in the comfort of their own home, they created a new way to watch films in privacy while maintaining a real cinema experience.
In addition, the main lounge space is a staggering 120 square meters and showcases a kitchen counter modeled after a cinema ticket booth while the walls feature artworks with quotes from famous movies. Residents can also socialize around the billiard table or one of the many video game consoles available. Other shared facilities include a spacious Working Lounge with free Wi-Fi for studying or working at home, and a Fitness Studio, ideal for yoga enthusiasts, dancers, or just anyone trying to fit a workout into their busy schedule. Another new and unique feature available in the property is the Photo Studio. With studio lights and a white backdrop free to use, this is the perfect place for the many artists and creators living at Social Apartment to unleash their creativity.
FILMS WAKO is Global Agents’ second and biggest property in Wako with 123 available rooms. Wako itself is an up-and-coming area in Tokyo-adjacent Saitama Prefecture that offers convenient and direct access to the popular inner suburbs of Tokyo. It only takes 13 minutes to get to Ikebukuro and 24 minutes to Shibuya from Wakoshi station.
Global Agents CEO Takeshi Yamasaki notes, “This was certainly our most ambitious and challenging project. Not only finding a theme that could appeal to everybody, but we also wanted to push the market forward and offer a truly new and unique experience to our tenants. Well, we’ve made it! We are the first in Japan to do it. We’ll always keep pushing forward boundaries of social lifestyle accommodations. We strive to create unique spaces that facilitate dialogue and exchange among our residents. We are not just looking to fill rooms, but to create genuine communities inside of our properties. That’s what separates us from the rest.”
Global Agents’ Social Apartment brand is the leading lifestyle accommodation in Tokyo. They currently have plans to open several new properties and hotels across Japan in 2019, and currently planning to expand overseas in a very close future.
