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  • Parisians once scoffed at hosting the Olympics. Now, here come the conga lines

    Parisians once scoffed at hosting the Olympics. Now, here come the conga lines

    PARIS (AP) — Like most self-respecting Parisians, Mathilde Joannard and Franck Tallieu had been training for the Olympic sport of Olympics-bashing.

    Of course the Olympics were going to be a mess, the couple had reasoned when they learned the Games were coming to town. Like so many Parisians, the human resources executives assumed it would be crowded, or beastly hot, or chaotic, or a pain in the derrière to navigate. Or all the above.

    So how did they end up dressed in rented “Three Musketeers” costumes with painted-on goatees, waving the tricolor flag gleefully for the cameras at the fencing competition?

    They’re not really sure.

    “We just decided to have fun with it,” said Joannard, engaging in some Gallic understatement as the couple enjoyed ice cream pops outside the majestic Grand Palais during a break in fencing on a brilliant summer day. She herself seemed a bit shocked by what she was saying.

    “We’re really, really enjoying it,” she repeated. “I’m so glad we’re here.”

    It seems many Parisians have undergone the same happy metamorphosis. At first pooh-poohing the audacious plan to turn the capital into one big Olympic venue — launched by an even more audacious opening ceremony along the Seine River — many have come to think it was a pretty cool idea after all.

    And they’re taking it all in. Those who stayed, that is. As for those who left, some are sorry to have missed the fun.

    Where’s the evidence of fun, you ask? How about a conga line? At beach volleyball, in the absurdly photogenic stadium nestled under the Eiffel Tower, a crowd of volunteers began just such a line Sunday night. A gaggle of fans joined in, following them around an upper tier of the stadium.

    How about street dancing? The marquee cycling event a day earlier brought countless Parisians into the streets to cheer riders on, a mini-Tour de France showcasing the glittering capital. To the barricades, Parisians went — setting up speakers and dancing, even doing the wave with police officers at one spot.

    Catch up on the latest from Day 15 of the 2024 Paris Olympics:

    Sure, many international visitors were among them, replacing some of the residents who purposely left early on summer holiday. But there have been countless local fans, displaying French pride with painted flags on their cheeks as they flocked to favored events like judo, featuring French star Teddy Riner, and swimming, where France’s hero of these Games, Léon Marchand, was holding court.

    If you were around in 1998, you might have recalled a similar mood enveloping the city when France captured its first World Cup. For days afterward, briefcase-toting office workers rode the Metro with the tricolor on their cheeks. One could often hear spontaneous chants of “Et un, et deux, et trois-zéro” — a nod to the 3-0 score against Brazil in the final.

    So perhaps it wasn’t surprising that at fencing last weekend, the crowd suddenly launched into the very same chant. To one longtime Parisian, that didn’t sound like an accident — and not just because these Games have seen a stellar French performance, with the country’s medal haul currently third after the United States and China.

    “That 1998 World Cup was when we French realized we could be world champions,” said Dan-Antoine Blanc-Shapira, an event planner. “Maybe that’s also when we learned as a country that we could pull off something like this.”

    Blanc-Shapira stayed in Paris for much of the Games. He and his family went to watch women’s rugby and track events, and simply wandered the Champs-Elysées, delighted to see the smiling faces on the famous boulevard.

    “This may not be the real world right now, but it’s a very pleasant one,” he said. “Maybe we should do this more often.”

    Even some of those who’ve eschewed the often-pricey Olympic competitions — and many Parisians have indeed been priced out — say they’ve experienced an unexpectedly pleasant, even relaxed feeling in the city.

    “It’s unusually calm,” said writer Cathy Altman Nocquet. She chose not to attend Olympic events, but was delighted to stay in town. “It’s as if the entire city took a pill.”

    Others noted the contrast between the current mood and the tense atmosphere just weeks earlier, as the country went through elections and political turmoil.

    “This is such a nice distraction,” said Craig Matasick, a policy analyst who’s lived in Paris for 10 years. He and his family left for part of the Games because they thought things would be a mess, but found the city pleasant and much more relaxed than anticipated upon return.

    Matasick’s family of four has taken advantage of the offerings, visiting the Olympic cauldron in the Tuileries gardens, the Club France fan hangout, table tennis and cycling so far. “This vision of the city as backdrop for the Games could have been a total logistical nightmare,” Matasick noted, “but it hasn’t been.”

    Give Elodie Lalouette a medal — this Parisian had faith from the start. Lalouette, who works in communications for a national radio network, applied a year ago to be a volunteer. Now she’s taking two weeks’ annual leave to work at the field hockey venue.

    “I was sure it would be super,” she said during a break this week. “And it has — it’s been incredible.” Most valuable are the interactions she’s had with people from around the world. And, perhaps even more, with fellow Parisians.

    “They see me on the Metro, and they say ‘Salut’ and tell me it’s great that I’m doing this,” she said.

    Some who left have had regrets. Teacher Judith Levy surprised herself by watching the competition on TV nonstop for the first few days. Then she had to leave for Italy, a trip booked months in advance.

    “At the time, I felt like everything was going to go wrong,” she said of her travel plans. “Now I feel like I’m missing the party.”

    Claire Mathisjen, too, has watched it all from afar — on holiday in Brazil. The Paris-based psychologist lengthened her usual August holiday to avoid the Games. But watching for hours on TV, she has found herself transfixed. And while she isn’t necessarily consumed with regret, she does feel something else: pride.

    “I watched that opening ceremony and truly felt proud to be French, and a Parisian,” she said. “We pulled it off!”

    Jean-Pierre Salson would not dispute that. What he’s discovered, though, is that what’s good for the national soul may not be good for the bottom line.

    Salson, who owns a clothing store in the tourist-frequented Marais neighborhood, calculated just before the Games opened that business had tanked by 30-40% — a result of Parisians leaving and non-Olympics tourists staying away. He hoped things would improve after the opening ceremony, when security loosened.

    Contacted again, he said they had not. Tourists had already spent too much on tickets and such, and weren’t focused on clothes.

    Still, Salson will take no part in Olympics-bashing.

    “I have nothing bad to say, I think it’s great,” he said of his country’s successful Games. “But for business, I think we will have to wait.”

    He doesn’t have long to wait — the Olympics are closing in on their grand finale. For their part, Joannard and Tallieu, the temporary Musketeers, plan to keep enjoying events — including at the Paralympic Games.

    The couple are grateful now for a dinner they had sometime before the Games with a few American friends, which helped transform their attitudes.

    “We were doing the bashing,” says Tallieu. “But they were optimistic. You know what? They were right.”

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    Associated Press journalist Tom Nouvian contributed reporting.

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    For more coverage of the Paris Olympics, visit https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games.

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  • Pitbull Stadium is the new home of FIU football. The artist has bought the naming rights

    Pitbull Stadium is the new home of FIU football. The artist has bought the naming rights

    Welcome to Pitbull Stadium, the home of your FIU Panthers.

    Florida International announced what could end up as a 10-year agreement on Tuesday with international recording artist, Grammy winner and entrepreneur Armando Christian Pérez — the Miami native better known as Pitbull — to put his name on their on-campus stadium.

    Pérez will pay $1.2 million annually for the next five years, the university said, for the naming rights. He will have an option in August 2029 to extend the deal for another five years and continue the rebranding.

    “Yes, we’re going to create history in Pitbull Stadium,” Pérez said during a news conference in Miami. “This isn’t just an announcement. This is a movement. This is truly history in the making.”

    FIU said it is the first agreement where an artist possesses the naming rights to a stadium. Pérez will also be involved with FIU’s efforts in the name, image and likeness space, athletic director Scott Carr said.

    “This is a historic day for FIU athletics to uniquely partner with a world-renowned artist and amazing person who truly values relationships and his community,” Carr said. “Armando’s financial support is program-changing, but him providing a microphone to amplify FIU will be even more beneficial to growing our brand.”

    As part of the deal, Pérez gets use of the stadium for 10 days each year rent-free, with some tickets to those events to be set aside for FIU students. A vodka brand he owns will be a preferred brand at the stadium going forward, he will receive use of two suites and 20 VIP parking passes for FIU football home games, and he’s being asked to create an “FIU Anthem” to be played at the school’s athletic contests.

    “It’s a true blessing, a true honor,” Pérez said. “Let’s make history.”

    Pitbull — who also goes by “Mr. 305,” a nod to Miami’s area code — kicked off his music career in the South Florida rap scene around 2004, eventually becoming one of the world’s most recognized artists.

    “Pitbull’s career trajectory mirrors FIU’s ascent as one of the nation’s top public research universities,” FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell said. “Like FIU, he started out very 305 and became worldwide.”

    Pérez has been a longtime proponent of supporting education in South Florida. FIU said he founded the first SLAM! (Sports Leadership, Arts, and Management) tuition-free public charter school in Miami in 2012.

    “This is about uniting everybody,” he said. “This is about bringing everybody together. … Hard work is what pays off. They tell me, ‘You so lucky.’ Well, the harder I work, the luckier I get.”

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    AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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  • Charles Barkley says he will not retire and remain with TNT Sports even if they don’t have the NBA

    Charles Barkley says he will not retire and remain with TNT Sports even if they don’t have the NBA

    Charles Barkley intends to remain with TNT Sports through the remainder of his contract.

    The Hall of Fame player announced Tuesday that he will not retire next season, reversing the announcement he made in June during the NBA Finals.

    Barkley said at the time that the 2024-25 season would be his last on television, no matter what eventually happened with the NBA’s media deal negotiations. He signed a 10-year contract extension with TNT Sports in 2022.

    Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, has sued the NBA in New York state court after the league did not accept the company’s matching offer for one of the packages in its new 11-year media rights deal, which will begin with the 2025-26 season.

    “I love my TNT Sports family. My (number one) 1 priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible. We have the most amazing people, and they are the best at what they do. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them both on the shows we currently have and new ones we develop together in the future. This is the only place for me,” Barkley said in a statement. “I have to say … I’ve been impressed by the leadership team who is fighting hard and have been aggressive in adding new properties to TNT Sports, which I am very excited about. I appreciate them and all of my colleagues for their continued support, and most importantly our fans. I’m going to give my all as we keep them entertained for years to come.”

    ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video were expected to try to court Barkley before Tuesday’s announcement. “Inside the NBA” host Ernie Johnson has also said he intends to remain with TNT but the futures of Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith remain uncertain.

    Barkley joined TNT in 2000 and has been a part of the iconic “Inside the NBA” show, which has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards and has been a model for studio shows. Barkley took home his fifth Sports Emmy for Outstanding Studio Analyst in May.

    What Barkley’s future looks like if TNT does not have the NBA remains to be seen. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984 and games have been on TNT since the network launched in 1988.

    However, the relationship started to become strained when Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said during an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”

    TNT Sports also carries the NHL and NCAA men’s basketball tournament with CBS. It recently has added the College Football Playoffs, Big East basketball, NASCAR and the French Open.

    “Charles is one of the best and most beloved sportscasters in the history of television. I know I speak for all the members of the TNT Sports family when I say we are incredibly thrilled to share this mutual commitment to continue showcasing Charles’ one-of-a-kind talents and entertain fans well into the future,” TNT Sports Chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser said in a statement. “We continue to add to the breadth and depth of our sports portfolio and it’s fantastic to have Charles for this journey as we develop new content ideas and shows for our fans.”

    Barkley was the co-host of “King Charles,” a weekly talk show on CNN with “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King. But the limited-run series ended in April after six months.

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    AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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  • At the Olympic beach volleyball venue, the Eiffel Tower stars in a très French show

    At the Olympic beach volleyball venue, the Eiffel Tower stars in a très French show

    PARIS (AP) — The biggest beach volleyball star at the Paris Olympics can’t set, spike or dive around the sand.

    But she sure is pretty.

    The Eiffel Tower has been stealing the show from the competition below at the Summer Games so far, with fans and players alike ooh-la-la-ing over the nonpareil setting that has turned the stadium on the Champ de Mars into the Olympics’ iconic venue.

    “I don’t know who chose this place to put beach volleyball. He deserves a medal, too,” said Cherif Younousse of Qatar, a Olympic medalist himself. “Warming up on the side court, we were like, ‘Wow, we are under the Eiffel Tower.’ We couldn’t even imagine playing beach volleyball here.”

    And the landmark the locals call La Dame de Fer — the Iron Lady — is just one reason the venue is such a hit. Fans wave baguettes, dance the can-can and sing along to music pumped out by a DJ, who turns the 12,860-seat stadium into the hottest club in Paris. A stream of celebrities, heads of state and royalty have stopped by to check it out.

    “I’m more than happy to tell all the other sports, ‘Yeah, we definitely got the best venue,’” said Australian Taliqua Clancy, who won a silver medal in Tokyo. “It’s absolutely incredible. Honestly, you can’t beat it.”

    Although beach volleyball only joined the Olympic program in 1996, it quickly has become one of the Summer Games’ most popular sports — thanks in part, no doubt, to the women in bathing suits, but also to an atmosphere that surrounds a fast-moving competition with a beach party vibe.

    The London venue at Horse Guards Parade sparkled with a view of the Big Ben clock tower and Benny Hill-style hijinx; four years later, the stadium at Copacabana beach pulsed with a samba beat, surrounded by Cariocas sunbathing — and playing beach volleyball and soccer — on the surrounding sands. Tokyo placed its venue in a waterfront park with a view of the Rainbow Bridge.

    Catch up on the latest from the 2024 Paris Olympics:

    But Paris, as Paris tends to do, upstaged them all.

    Every night as the sun sets behind the latticed landmark, the stadium goes dark and fans hold up their cellphone lights in a sort of digital reboot of Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” At 10 p.m., the Eiffel Tower is illuminated with twinkling strobes, and would-be influencers scramble to get into position for the perfect picture, with the court and the Olympic rings and the tower all lined up in a row in the background.

    “That is what dreams are made of,” said American Kristen Nuss, whose Olympic debut began right after the light show. “Guys, it’s a memory that will definitely be imprinted in my brain for forever.”

    It’s not just the athletes.

    Spanish, Jordanian and Luxembourgish royalty have graced the arena, as have the presidents of Finland, Estonia and Lithuania ( and France, mais oui! ). French soccer great Zinedine Zidane came by the morning after carrying the torch in the opening ceremony, and basketball Hall of Famer Pau Gasol came to root for his Spanish countrymen.

    Gymnast Livvy Dunne cheered on fellow LSU Tigers Nuss and Taryn Kloth before posing for pictures to satisfy her 6 million TikTok followers. On Wednesday, Snoop Dogg and the cast of the “Today” show came to watch Americans Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes beat France in straight sets.

    Moviemakers Baz Luhrmann and Judd Apatow and movie stars Elizabeth Banks and Leslie Mann have checked out the setting. Other times, it resembled a movie set: During a women’s match between France and Germany on Sunday, the crowd broke into a rendition of “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem, that would make the resistance in “Casablanca” proud.

    It is a scene that is, most of all, très French: One woman dressed as a can-can dancer in bleu, blanc and rouge posed for pictures with any fan who asked. A painter dabbed at his oils in the back of the press tribune — the only place that offers even a few hours of shade. The DJ worked Edith Piaf songs into his hip-hop and techno playlist, and the crowd sings along. Men in berets, with painted-on Dali moustaches, waved baguettes to cheer on the French team.

    Hang that in the Louvre.

    And looming over it all is the century-old latticed landmark that gives the venue its name. Looking for a practice court before play began, a volunteer helpfully offered directions: “You go there,” she said, “and turn left from the Eiffel Tower.”

    “I think it’s the best venue ever,” France’s Clemence Vieira said after a 21-16, 23-21 loss to the Americans in front of the enthusiastic hometown fans. “It’s very symbolic, because the Tour Eiffel is a symbol of France. So I think there’s nothing to say but it’s just the best ever.”

    Vieira, a 23-year-old first-time Olympian from Toulouse, might be a little biased. But even some repeat competitors agree: The 2024 beach volleyball venue is not just the best in Paris, but maybe the best in the history of the Games.

    At the very least, it sets a standard that future organizers will struggle to surpass.

    “This will be a hard one to top, I think,” said Nuss, who is hoping her first Olympics won’t be her last. “I’m not sure how anyone else would do it. But, I mean, I’m willing to see how they try.”

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    AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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  • Meet the Olympics superfan who spent her savings to get to her 7th Games

    Meet the Olympics superfan who spent her savings to get to her 7th Games

    PARIS (AP) — Covered with pins and adornments, Vivianne Robinson is hard to miss in the streets of Paris.

    The Olympics superfan has attended seven Summer Games over the span of 40 years. But this trip to Paris came at a hefty price — $10,000 to be precise.

    Robinson, 66 and from Los Angeles, maxed out her credit cards and worked two jobs to afford the trip and the 38 event tickets she purchased. She worked on Venice Beach during the day, putting names on rice necklaces, and bagged groceries at night. She said she has to work two more years to make up for the money she spent following her passion for the Summer Olympics to Paris.

    Miniature Eiffel Towers hang from Vivianne Robinson’s hat (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

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    Vivianne Robinson lets a passerby choose one of the pins she collected from the 1984 Olympics (AP Photo/Lujain Jo)

    “It was hard to save up and it’s a big budget, but it’s a thousand times worth it,” she says.

    Even still, she was disappointed to pay $1,600 for the opening ceremony only to end up watching a screen on a bridge. “You know how long that takes to make that much money?” she asks, eventually adding: “But things happen in life and life goes on and you win if you lose a few.”

    During her interview, a passerby suggests Robinson use her fame to open an account and ask people to help fund her passion.

    “That doesn’t matter. I can make the money eventually,” she responds.

    Robinson’s fascination with the Olympics started when her mother worked as a translator for athletes at the University of California, Los Angeles, during the 1984 Olympics in the city. Her mother would come home after work with pins from athletes that she passed to her daughter.

    Her newfound hobby of collecting pins led her to Atlanta 1996, where she made rice necklaces for athletes in exchange for their pins.

    “I got all the pins and I got to meet all the athletes. And in those days, it wasn’t high security like now,” she recalls. “Now you can’t even get near the athletes’ village.”

    From there: Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, London 2012 and Rio 2016. She secured a visa for Beijing 2008, but couldn’t ultimately afford the trip. Tokyo was similarly doomed: She bought tickets, but got refunded as COVID-19 soared and the Games were held without spectators.

    Robinson’s outfits started simply but have become more complex over time. She spent a year working on her Paris outfit, decorating it with hundreds of adornments. Tens of Eiffel Tower ornaments hang from her hat, just above her Olympic ring earrings. Affixed to her clothes are patches, pins and little flags.

    Her outfit attracts attention. Not a minute goes by before someone stops Robinson to take a photo with or of her. She does it with a smile on her face but admits that it can get too much.

    “It is a little bit overwhelming. I can’t really get anywhere because everybody stops me for pictures. It takes a long time to get to the venues, but it’s OK,” she says.

    And she says she feels a little like the celebrities she’s so excited to have seen — like Tom Cruise, Lady Gaga and Snoop Dogg at gymnastics.

    As soon as these Olympics end, she will start working on the next Summer Games, from working on outfits to saving up for tickets, no matter what it costs — though it is on her home turf, in Los Angeles.

    “Oh, I’m going to do it forever. I’m going to save all my money and just concentrate on Olympics,” she said.

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    Vivianne Robinson shows the flag pole she carries with all the countries who have hosted an Olympics (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

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    For more coverage of the Paris Olympics, visit https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games.

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  • AP PHOTOS: With the Paris Games as their canvas, people are enjoying the City of Light

    AP PHOTOS: With the Paris Games as their canvas, people are enjoying the City of Light

    Paris has much to offer its residents and any visitor.

    And with the Olympics as their canvas, there are personal portraits being painted all around the City of Light. They have powered through the weather — rain didn’t dampen their spirts and surging temperatures couldn’t cool their heels. They gathered at watch parties to see Simone Biles at her best. Some watched the games in person others just relaxed in front of iconic sights in Paris. There were a few who got to both.

    Athletes are chasing dreams of gold medals under the Eiffel Towel, Champions Park, the historic Grand Palais or the sumptuous-looking Versailles Palace gardens and all can be seen embracing the moment.

    Spectators watch from a fan zone set up at the Hotel de Ville, the city hall, as Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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    Athletes dive into the water for the start of the women’s individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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    Harry Wilcznski poses for a picture in front of the cauldron with the Olympic flame in the Tuileries Gardens during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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    A spectator walks through a water mist sprayers on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

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    Juliette Labous, of France, is seen through a spectator’s umbrella while competing in the women’s cycling time trial event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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    Italy’s Filippo Macchi, left, competes with United State’s Nick Itkin in the men’s individual Foil semifinal match during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

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    A woman sits at the Tuileries Garden, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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    A man wipes his face as he walks past reproductions of artworks decorating the banks of the River Seine at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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    Germany’s Svenja Mueller warms up before a beach volleyball practice in Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

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    Canada’s Naïma Moreira-Laliberté, riding Statesman, during the Equestrian Dressage competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Versailles, France. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

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    Pedestrians make their way across a sidewalk opened to foot traffic on the Pont Royal, or Royal Bridge, along grandstands used in the opening ceremonies, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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    Vera Looser, of Namibia, carries her bike down into a metro station while surveying the course through Paris streets during a training session ahead of her road race event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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    People watch a TV showing the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in a bar in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

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    Jenna Baltes, 8, of St. Paul, Minn., holds balloons while walking along the Seine river in front of the Eiffel Tower with her family during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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    Tourists take pictures near the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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    Tourists take a picture near the Louvre Museum at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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    Technicians remove the pontoon for the start of the triathlon events after the event was postponed over concerns about water quality in Paris’ Seine River, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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    in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

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    Julie Derron, of Switzerland celebrates winning the silver medal at the end of the women’s individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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    A crowd takes photos at the gates to the Tuileries Garden as the cauldron rises at sunset during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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    An Olympic flag hangs outside a bar during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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    AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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  • Workers go on strike at five-star Paris hotel where IOC members are staying for Olympics

    Workers go on strike at five-star Paris hotel where IOC members are staying for Olympics

    PARIS (AP) — Workers went on strike Thursday at the five-star hotel in Paris where members of the International Olympic Committee are staying, walking out just a day before the opening ceremony of the Games.

    According to the major French union CGT, the IOC paid the hotel where staffers were striking, Hôtel du Collectionneur, 22 million euros ($23.88 million) for exclusive use of the facility.

    The Paris division of the CGT posted a video on social media appearing to be from inside the hotel, showing around a dozen staffers lining a corridor. Employees held signs reading, “No 13th month, no Olympics!,” “Luxury hotel, poverty wages” and “Give us back our social benefits.” Many companies in France pay their workers a bonus in December known as the “13th month.”

    The CGT said the employees were demanding a pay increase, having not received a raise for seven years. The strike comes after a fifth round of negotiations failed Wednesday.

    “Negotiations with the unions are underway, without affecting the operation of our hotel,” management for Hôtel du Collectionneur said in a statement Thursday. “Our teams remain mobilized and committed to ensuring that our services run smoothly.”

    Although a dividend of over 9.5 million euros ($10.3 million) was given to shareholders this year, the union says the hotel has made no attempt to improve the financial situation of its staff.

    In a separate protest, around 200 performers stood along the Seine River on Monday and refused to take part in a rehearsal for the opening ceremony being held Friday, protesting working conditions and inequality in the treatment of entertainment workers at the Paris games.

    The protests come as tensions run high following recent legislative elections, putting France on the brink of a governing paralysis — which, in turn, has sparked further calls for strikes.

    Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, called this month for mass demonstrations and possible strikes to pressure President Emmanuel Macron into “respecting the results” of the election and allow a left-wing coalition to form a new government.

    Binet didn’t rule out strikes during the Olympics. Asked about strikes that could disrupt the biggest event France has ever organized, she said, “At this stage, we don’t plan a strike during the Olympic Games. But if Emmanuel Macron continues to throw gasoline cans on the fires that he lighted …”

    CGT has an open call for potential strikes by public service workers from July through September.

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  • From the opening ceremony to DiscOlympics, Cerrone still reigns nearly 50 years on

    From the opening ceremony to DiscOlympics, Cerrone still reigns nearly 50 years on

    PARIS (AP) — As the Eiffel Tower shimmered with laser lights, a tune from the man known as the French Disco King set the stage for the final leg of the Olympics opening ceremony.

    As Cerrone’s “Supernature” pulsed through Paris, sports legends like Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal glided down the Seine, with deaf choreographer Shaheem Sanchez grooving to the beat through American Sign Language dance. This 1977 classic proved that disco’s glittering charm still reigns supreme on one of the world’s grandest stages.

    For Cerrone, 72, this moment once again proved his cross-generational music has staying power.

    “The sounds changed every decade, but for my part I never lose the movement,” the music producer told The Associated Press on Sunday night before he hit the stage as the headliner at DiscOlympics, which brought out more than 3,000 energic concertgoers to a riverfront nightclub.

    The event paid homage to the roots of dance music and Cerrone, who shaped the disco genre in France in the mid-1970s with jams such as “Supernature,” “Give Me Love” and “Je Suis Music.”

    Cerrone performs at Wanderlust during the DiscOlympics (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

    Cerrone said he still has indescribable emotions after watching the opening ceremony segment featuring his song, released nearly a half-century ago. He was surprised when the ceremony’s composer and music director, Victor le Masne, approached him nine months ago. Le Masne proposed updating it with a more symphonic sound, featuring orchestral arrangements.

    Cerrone said the creative process was like witnessing a woman enduring months of pregnancy before giving birth.

    “I think it’s my best work of my career,” said the producer, who has released 23 albums and sold more than 30 million records worldwide.

    Along with Cerrone, the 12-hour DiscOlympics had several performers such as Agoria, He.She.They., and Kartell. The diverse lineup showcased disco’s evolution into a foundation for subgenres such as hip-hop, house music and electronic dance music.

    Disco initially made a splash in the early 1970s in New York City with various musical influences from funk, soul and Latin music. Cerrone, along with other French artists including Dalida and Amanda Lear, were a part of the Euro disco movement in the mid-1970s.

    European artists with disco influences, like Daft Punk and Giorgio Moroder, have found success in the U.S.

    Image

    The crowd dances as Cerrone performs (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

    Image

    Apolline Wolak dances (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

    Image

    A bar at the DiscOlympics (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

    Image

    People dance as Cerrone performs (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

    “Everybody knows the real disco has never left,” Cerrone said. “It never stopped. Sometimes it was bigger then lower. … With the young people, it’s funny. I performed at a big festival. I see 60,000 people in front of me. I stop the music and (they’re singing) ‘Supernature.’ It’s never changed. Sometimes, it’s like that.”

    Waël Mechri-Yver, a French-Tunisian musician, said Cerrone is deserving of high recognition, calling him a disco musical savant. After he first heard about the legendary producer’s involvement with the opening ceremony a few months ago, he reached out to Cerrone’s manager about being a headliner at DiscOlympics.

    “He’s the father of disco. He’s the king of disco music,” said Mechri-Yver, who performs under the stage name WAÏ. His culture collective company BABËL and Silencio hosted the DiscOlympics.

    When Mechri-Yver heard Cerrone’s song during opening ceremony, he knew it was perfect timing for his event.

    “Disco is coming back really strong and we really want to be the champion of that music,” said Mechri-Yver. Along with Kosmo Kint and Cerrone’s son Greg Cerrone, Mechri-Yver recorded the song “Are You Ready,” which was performed for the first time publicly Sunday and received a favorable response from the crowd.

    Image

    Cerrone (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

    “It’s very joyful, celebratory, inclusive, grateful music that is about giving praise to the Lord, giving praise to nature. That’s why ‘Supernature’ was such an incredible performance. The Eiffel Tower lit up. The whole world started to sing. It was absolutely beautiful,” Mechri-Yver said.

    DiscOlympics attendee Alexia Charles was extremely pumped up about the event. The Parisian, who’s in her mid-30s, rarely frequents the nightclub scene but felt compelled to see Cerrone perform — especially after the opening ceremony.

    “It’s amazing to see,” she said. “You can hear the people screaming for him. That’s a good representation of electro music in France.”

    Cerrone said seeing people cheer him on in his 70s fuels him.

    “That’s the best deal to live a long time,” he said. “It makes me happy to sing about that.”

    ___

    For more coverage of the Paris Olympics, visit https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games.

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  • Fencing at the historic Grand Palais in Paris is one of the most popular views at the 2024 Olympics

    Fencing at the historic Grand Palais in Paris is one of the most popular views at the 2024 Olympics

    PARIS (AP) — When attendees entered the Grand Palais Monday for early afternoon Paris Olympics fencing bouts, they couldn’t help but stop and look around before going to their seats.

    They gazed up at the sweeping glass roof, some placed their hands to their mouths in awe of its beauty, then marveled at the mint green columns that frame the nave of the historic building.

    “It’s just incredible,” said Rhiannon Kinnear, a sabre competitor from Glasgow, Scotland, who was visiting Paris but not competing at the Olympics.

    “I don’t think I’ve seen a fencing venue like it. The glass everywhere, the pillars. It’s an amazing contrast as well with the lighting. Nowhere better for fencing, I don’t think,” she said.

    Built in 1900 for the Paris Universal Exhibition, the Grand Palais is a beloved site in the heart of Paris, right between the River Seine and Champs-Élysées. It’s known for hosting all kinds of prestigious events, from art exhibitions to concerts and fashion shows.

    It is the stage for fencing and taekwondo at the 2024 Olympics thanks to a three-year renovation project. It has been closed to the public since 2021 for the upgrades and is becoming at must-see site at the 2024 Games.

    The Grand Palais is not a typical sports venue, but rather a glass time capsule of French culture.

    It was used as a military hospital during World War I. Cyclists in the Tour de France raced through the steel and glass structure in 2017. Catwalk shows for high fashion designers like Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Sonia Rykiel have taken place there. The late pop superstar Prince performed two concerts under the glass roof in October 2009.

    The Olympic competitors dance back and forth right in the center of the nave.

    “Paris just has made the Olympics so chic and so beautiful,” said Jackie Meinhardt, who came from San Francisco to watch her brother-in-law Gerek Meinhardt and his wife Lee Kiefer compete for the U.S. Kiefer won her second Olympic gold medal in foil fencing Sunday.

    Catch up on the latest from Day 15 of the 2024 Paris Olympics:

    “It’s incredible to watch fencing in this venue because fencing is such a classic sport that doesn’t get the same attention back in America as it does here in Europe,” Jackie Meinhardt, said.

    It was not her first time at the Grand Palais. She also saw Gerek Meinhardt, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist in men’s foil, compete there in the World Fencing Championships in 2010.

    “You can tell that they spent a lot of time resurrecting these,” she said, looking up at the stands.

    Ethan Llewellyn, another visitor from Glasgow, said the environment speaks to the innovation and creativity of the Paris Olympics, from the transformation of the prestigious Grand Palais into an exciting sports scene to the technology used in the fencing bouts themselves.

    “It’s an old sport,” Llewellyn said. “Fencing is one of the ones that hasn’t changed in a really long time, and it’s been around the Olympics since it started. But to see it working with technology in such a modern way, that’s very exciting.”

    According to its website, the Grand Palais has the largest glass roof in Europe with 6,000 tons of steel used in its construction. Few fencing venues compare, said Llewellyn, who competes in the men’s sabre but isn’t part of Britain’s Olympic team.

    “Better than the one in London (at the 2012 Olympics), I’ve got to say that,” he added with a laugh. “For me this is the best one yet. The atmosphere is insane. And that’s partly the crowd but it’s also created by the area as well.”

    The view was better than Flo Bourgier could have imagined. He moved to Paris three years ago from a quiet city in the middle of France to work with the 2024 Paris Olympics team in the technology division. The Grand Palais was high on his list of attractions, and he has been waiting for it to reopen.

    “I don’t really care about fencing to be honest,” Bourgier said. “I just came here to enjoy the vibe, the view. You feel history here because it’s a building from 1900. I have goosebumps just talking about it and seeing (it) for the first time. I am fully free. I think it’s unbelievable to be here.”

    ___

    AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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  • French museum network hit by ransomware attack, but no disruptions are reported at Olympic events

    French museum network hit by ransomware attack, but no disruptions are reported at Olympic events

    PARIS (AP) — A ransomware attack has targeted the central data systems of Paris’ Grand Palais and other museums in the Réunion des Musées Nationaux network, the Paris prosecutor’s office said Tuesday. Some venues in the network are hosting competitions for the Summer Olympics.

    The attack, detected on Sunday, hit data systems used by around 40 museums across France. Paris authorities and the Grand Palais-RMN network said there has been no disruption to the Olympic events.

    “To date, no data extraction has been detected,” the Grand Palais-RMN said in a statement, adding its technical teams are “fully mobilized” to fix the incident “as best as possible.”

    The Grand Palais is hosting fencing and taekwondo competitions, while the Château de Versailles, also part of the RMN network, is the venue for equestrian sports and the modern pentathlon.

    AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports a French museum network has been hit by a ransomware attack.

    The Paris prosecutor’s office has assigned the investigation to a subdivision, the Brigade for Combating Cybercrime, to determine the extent and perpetrators of the attack. Efforts are ongoing to secure and restore the affected systems.

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  • White Sox lose 21st straight game, tying AL record set by 1988 Baltimore Orioles, falling 5-1 to A’s

    White Sox lose 21st straight game, tying AL record set by 1988 Baltimore Orioles, falling 5-1 to A’s

    OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox lost their 21st straight game, tying the American League record with a 5-1 defeat to the Oakland Athletics on Monday night as Max Schuemann hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fourth inning.

    Chicago is on the longest losing streak since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles lost 21 in a row. The NL record since 1900 is held by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 23 straight.

    The major league low belongs to the 1889 Louisville Colonels, an American Association team that lost 26 consecutive games during a 27-111 season.

    “We talk about it every day,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said of the streak. “Everybody knows what it is. It’s 21 in a row. It sucks. It’s not fun. It’s painful. It hurts. You name it. However you want to describe it. It’s not for lack of effort. Nobody wants to come out here and lose, so we’ve just got to put a good game together and put this behind us.”

    Chicago, which last won on July 10 in a doubleheader opener against Minnesota, dropped to 27-88 and is on pace to finish 38-124, which would be the most losses since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders of the National League went 20-134. The White Sox have been held to one run or none 32 times.

    “You just try to turn the page,” outfielder Corey Julks said. “Look forward to the next day, bounce back, don’t dwell on the loss, just try to learn from them and get better each day. … We’re just trying to rally as a team and find a way to get a win.”

    Tyler Nevin’s first-inning sacrifice fly put the A’s ahead, but Andrew Benintendi tied the score with an RBI single against JP Sears (9-8) in the fourth.

    JJ Bleday doubled in the bottom half off Ky Bush (0-1), a 24-year-old left-hander making his big league debut. Zack Gelof walked and Darell Hernaiz was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Schuemann grounded a single between shortstop and third that bounced into left for a 3-1 lead.

    Lawrence Butler hit a sixth-inning homer against Chad Kuhl, his 13th home run this season.

    Gelof added a run in the eighth when he sprinted home from first after Jared Shuster’s pitch bounced away from catcher Korey Lee as Schuemann struck out. Lee looked toward Gelof at third and threw to first baseman Andrew Vaughn for the out, and Gelof ran home as Vaughn’s throw skipped past Lee.

    “Our whole plan coming into this series was to continue our focus, focus on the details of the game, play the game the way we know we’re capable of, and we did that tonight,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said.

    Sears allowed three hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and a walk, improving to 5-1 in his last six decisions.

    “I thought his outing was great,” Kotsay said. “Five strikeouts, just one earned run. He managed the game great.”

    Austin Adams and Tyler Ferguson finished a four-hitter that took just 2 hours, 15 minutes, and included eight overall hits.

    Bush allowed three runs, two hits and five walks over four innings with three strikeouts. He played college baseball at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga.

    “Got the first one out of the way,” Bush said. “Obviously, a little amped up. But happy to debut and just be here.”

    TRAINER’S ROOM

    White Sox: RHP Dominic Leone (right elbow inflammation) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. RHP Prelander Berroa and LHP Sammy Peralta were optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.

    Athletics: RHP Mason Miller (fractured left pinky finger) threw batting practice and could return from the 10-day IL as soon as Wednesday, according to Kotsay.

    UP NEXT

    White Sox rookie RHP Jonathan Cannon (1-5, 4.11 ERA) will start Tuesday night opposite A’s RHP Ross Stripling (2-10, 5.64).

    —-

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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  • The final image of Simone Biles at the Olympics was a symbol of joy — and where the sport is going

    The final image of Simone Biles at the Olympics was a symbol of joy — and where the sport is going

    PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles cast a knowing glance across the awards podium toward Jordan Chiles.

    The longtime friends and U.S. gymnastics teammates knew they needed to find a way to honor Brazilian star Rebeca Andrade. They just weren’t sure how.

    What they came up with after Andrade’s gold medal on floor exercise at the end of 10 days inside Bercy Arena symbolized the state of their sport at the 2024 Games.

    Where it is. And hopefully where it’s going.

    Biles, the unequivocal Greatest of All Time, and Chiles, a three-time Olympic medalist whose journey back to the Games was a testament to talent and grit, dropped down to one knee. It was a show of respect to Andrade, whose excellence is symbolic of a sport that is getting more diverse, more inclusive and perhaps more positive as it goes.

    “It was just the right thing to do,” Biles said about a moment that soon went viral, with even the Louvre itself suggesting it might be worthy enough for a spot somewhere in the vicinity of the Mona Lisa.

    Fitting for an Olympics that offered masterpieces everywhere you looked.

    Biles eagerly shares the stage

    Biles and the American women finished off their “Redemption Tour” by reclaiming gold in the team final. Biles exorcised whatever inner doubt remained from the Tokyo Games — and shut up the haters in the process — by winning a second all-around title eight years after her first.

    Andrade led Brazil to its first Olympic team medal (a bronze), then added three more in the individual competition, finishing runner-up to Biles in the all-around and vault before becoming the first woman in memory to edge Biles in a floor exercise final.

    The Italian women won their first team medal in nearly a century. Japan put together a stirring rally on high bar in the last rotation to slip by rival China for gold. The U.S. men and “Pommel Horse Guy” Stephen Nedoroscik returned to the Olympic podium for the first time in 16 years. Carlos Yulo of the Philippines tripled his country’s Summer Olympic all-time gold medal count in a mere 24 hours.

    The good vibes were everywhere, led by Biles, who seemed to make it a point to take her vibrant spotlight and redirect it toward the other women on the floor as often as possible.

    That was never more evident than what could have been the last day of her career. The 27-year-old’s voice could be heard shouting encouragement to each of the other balance beam finalists inside an eerily quiet arena. Regardless of nationality. Regardless of age. Regardless of score. Regardless of how well she might know them.

    Afterward, Biles spoke glowingly of Italians Alice D’Amato and Manila Esposito, who earned gold and bronze in beam after half the field — Biles included — fell inside an arena so still that Biles joked she could hear cell phones buzzing.

    “I’m super excited and proud of them because now they’re building bricks (for a program) for the other Italian girls,” she said.

    U.S. women’s team dismantles stereotypes

    Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

    Those bricks have long been in place in the U.S., yet what Biles, Chiles, six-time Olympic medalist Sunisa Lee and three-time Olympic medalist Jade Carey did in Paris is destroy the “little girls in pretty boxes” stereotype that has lingered over the sport for decades once and for all.

    The four 20-somethings — oh, and 16-year-old Hezly Rivera, too — came to France with a score to settle. Biles to put those strange days in Japan three years ago firmly in the rearview mirror. Lee to rid herself of the “imposter syndrome” that kept nagging at her following her all-around gold in Tokyo and the health issues that pushed her to the verge of quitting over and over again. Chiles and Carey to put the Americans back on top after ceding the top of the podium to Russia.

    The group checked every box. The U.S. won eight of 18 possible medals, including four for Biles to boost her Olympic total to 11, tied for the second most ever by a women’s gymnast in the history of the event.

    Yet just as important as the results was the process they took to get there. There was pressure but there was also joy in abundance for the oldest team the Americans have ever brought to the Games, a team that has dubbed itself “The Golden Girls.”

    “It’s been so much fun,” Carey said. “And I think so many have seen that, that we’re just having fun out there. And I think that’s bringing out the best gymnastics from us.”

    ‘We did it’

    A decade ago, the core four would be heading off into retirement while the next wave of prodigies came along. It says something about the rapidly shifting demographics on the floor and the rising interest in women’s gymnastics at large that not one of them — Biles included — has made any firm decisions about their future.

    Biles nudged the door toward Los Angeles 2028 open when she said over the weekend “never say never.” Lee, still just 21, is taking time before weighing her options. Carey and Chiles will join Biles on her post-Olympic tour and have college eligibility remaining.

    No one is in a hurry. Biles in particular. She chastised the media for pressing about the future so soon after the biggest moment of athletes’ lives. For a long time — for too long, in hindsight — she fixated on what’s next.

    No longer. She was intent on soaking in her third Olympics. Of enjoying it. And she did, from the first pressure-packed rotation in qualifying to that moment with Chiles and Andrade, when the last of the weight she’s been carrying for years lifted off her shoulders, perhaps for good.

    “There’s nothing left,” Biles said. “We did our job, you know what I’m saying? So yeah, it was hard, but we did it.”

    __

    AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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  • Netflix’s Rebel Moon director’s cut, A Quiet Place: Day One, and every movie new to streaming this week

    Netflix’s Rebel Moon director’s cut, A Quiet Place: Day One, and every movie new to streaming this week

    Each week on Polygon, we round up the most notable new releases to streaming and VOD, highlighting the biggest and best new movies for you to watch at home.

    This week, A Quiet Place: Day One, starring Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn, arrives on VOD along with Maxxxine, the third installment in Ti West’s horror series starring Mia Goth. That’s not all there is to watch this weekend. The long-awaited director’s cut of Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic Rebel Moon finally come to Netflix alongside the “Minus Color” version of Godzilla Minus One, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes struts onto Hulu, and Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers makes its streaming debut on MGM Plus.

    Here’s everything new that’s available to watch this weekend!

    New on Netflix

    Rebel Moon director’s cut

    Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

    Image: Netflix

    Genre: Sci-fi epic
    Run time: 3h 21m (Chapter 1); 2h 53m (Chapter 2)
    Director: Zack Snyder
    Cast: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein

    Zack Snyder is back, this time with the “true” version of his critically-panned sci-fi epic Rebel Moon. Set in a galaxy ruled by a tyrannical empire known as the Motherworld Imperium, the film follows Kora (Sofia Boutella), a former Imperium soldier who recruits a band of warriors to defend a small lunar farming colony from an oncoming invasion.

    The question is: Will these versions be it any better than the ones released last year? Only one way to find out!

    Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color

    Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

    A black-and-white shot of Godzilla roaring in the ruins of a destroyed city in Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color.

    Image: Toho

    Genre: Kaiju drama
    Run time: 2h 4m
    Director: Takashi Yamazaki
    Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada

    Godzilla Minus One, the Oscar-winning kaiju drama from director Takashi Yamazaki, was surprise added to Netflix back in June. Now, the “Minus Color” version of the film, which screened for a limited time in theaters early this year, is now available to stream on Netflix starting this weekend. Having seen both in theaters, I can confidently say that no matter which version you happen to choose, the film itself is phenomenal.

    Tarot

    Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

    A woman with long dark hair sits at a table with tarot cards and a lit candle in front of her in Tarot.

    Image: Screen Gems/Sony Pictures Releasing

    Genre: Horror
    Run time: 1h 32m
    Directors: Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
    Cast: Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika, Jacob Batalon

    From the screenwriter of Moonfall, Tarot follows a group of friends who find a mysterious cursed tarot deck… and after using it, the figures from the cards that they drew all start to manifest and brutally murder them. They must race to figure out the secret of the tarot deck before they all get picked off one by one. All to say — maybe don’t use creepy tarot decks while in a strange mansion.

    Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

    Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

    (Left to Right) a cartoon squirrel in a diving suit with a bubble helmet standing next to a sponge in square pants holding a jellyfish net in Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie.

    Image: Netflix

    Genre: Adventure comedy
    Run time: 1h 22m
    Director: Liza Johnson
    Cast: Carolyn Lawrence, Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown

    Sandy, the Texan squirrel, takes the lead in the new SpongeBob movie. And this time, the underwater denizens venture to the surface — Sandy finally gets to visit home and see her whole family! But they all have to join forces to save Bikini Bottom from an evil CEO.

    New on Hulu

    Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

    Where to watch: Available to stream on Hulu

    A gorilla from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes snarls at the camera

    Image: 20th Century Studios

    Genre: Post-apocalyptic sci-fi
    Run time: 2h 25m
    Director: Wes Ball
    Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand

    Picking up 300 years after the events of Matt Reeves’ War of the Planet of the Apes, this new installment in the franchise follows Noa (Owen Teague), a young ape who embarks on a journey to rescue his tribe from Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), a maniacal ape who has twisted Caesar’s legacy to create an empire built on conquest and slavery.

    From our review:

    As a story, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes rarely reaches above narrative competence. But because of its almost single-minded focus on the apes, its technical prowess in their rendering is always front and center. It is frankly incredible what the team at Wētā FX has done in conjunction with all of the film’s other effects artists to bring the apes to life, to give them all distinct body language, and to faithfully transpose actors’ every tic and subtle expression onto their faces. These are some of the most soulful digital creations ever seen in a blockbuster action movie, and it’s incredible to see them in a film that is so pedestrian.

    New on MGM Plus

    Challengers

    Where to watch: Available to stream on MGM Plus

    Teenage tennis champion Tashi (Zendaya) leans back on a hotel bed and stares lustily up at the camera in Challengers

    Image: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/YouTube

    Genre: Sports drama
    Run time: 2h 11m
    Director: Luca Guadagnino
    Cast: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist

    Luca Guadagnino’s sensual sports drama, about a love triangle in professional tennis, has set certain circles of the world on fire since its release in late April and is one of the best movies of the year. Now, you can enjoy it at home.

    From our review:

    That script is a terrific three-course meal for Faist and O’Connor. They get to trade off face and heel roles from scene to scene and era to era, as Art and Patrick help and hurt each other in equal measure. But it’s an absolute smorgasbord for Zendaya, who even in starring roles has never been given this much room to stretch. Tashi is a gratifyingly rich character, both righteously angry over the thwarting of her ambitions and cruelly angry at all the men who have the nerve to keep on playing the game that was taken away from her. She’s hungry for affection and withholding it at the same time, by turns sensually curious and coldly dispassionate, ambitious and exhausted, conflicted and confident. She’s the kind of character that media master’s theses are made of, and unpicking Tashi’s conflicting motives and how she integrates them is likely to become a pop culture obsession in the months to come.

    New on Metrograph

    New Strains

    Where to watch: Available to stream on Metrograph

    A man with glasses and a moustache stares into a camera lense with a woman in a red robe standing in the background in front of a wall with painted flowers in New Strains.

    Image: Parori Productions/Film Emporium Insurance Services

    Genre: Romcom
    Run time: 1h 18m
    Directors: Prashanth Kamalakanthan, Artemis Shaw
    Cast: Artemis Shaw, Prashanth Kamalakanthan

    This quirky independent romcom follows a bickering couple as they attempt to navigate their relationship, and retain their sanity, in the midst of a global pandemic. Shot on a Hi8 camcorder, New Strains is an authentic slice-of-life story from the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    New to rent

    Maxxxine

    Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

    Maxine (Mia Goth), a mask airbrushed across her face and her hair teased out into a big blonde cloud, dances in a group of strangers at a nightclub in Ti West’s Maxxxine

    Photo: Justin Lubin/A24

    Genre: Horror
    Run time: 1h 41m
    Director: Ti West
    Cast: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney

    The third installment in Ti West’s trilogy of period-specific horror films stars Mia Goth, this time reprising her role as Maxine Minx from 2022’s X. Set six years after surviving the terrifying ordeal that transpired in rural Texas, Maxine now lives and works in Los Angeles as an adult film star and erotic performer on the verge of her first big break in an upcoming horror film. But when a mysterious stalker and an unscrupulous private investigator begin to hound her around town, and harm those closest to her, Maxine will have to summon every ounce of her cunning in order to come out on top.

    From our review:

    Maxxxine is sharper, slicker, faster-paced, and more direct than the other two films in the series, and it’s certainly entertaining, for those who can stomach its purposefully challenging, envelope-pushing gore. But this time around, it feels like West has, as Kurt Vonnegut would put it, become what he was formerly just pretending to be. That isn’t just a matter of taxonomy, irrelevant to everyone but nitpickers and librarians trying to figure out which shelf Maxxxine goes on. It winds up affecting the story in some frustrating ways.

    A Quiet Place: Day One

    Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

    Lupita Nyong’o, covered in white dust, gasps and looks up while being held by another man in shadows in A Quiet Place: Day One

    Image: Paramount Pictures

    Genre: Horror
    Run time: 1h 39m
    Director: Michael Sarnoski
    Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff

    Lupita Nyong’o stars in the prequel to 2018’s A Quiet Place as Samira, a cancer patient living in New York who witnesses first-hand the arrival of the blind extraterrestrial creatures who overtake the planet. With the help of Eric (Joseph Quinn), a law student, and Henri (Djimon Hounsou), a fellow survivor, Samira must find a way to escape the city alive.

    From our review:

    A Quiet Place: Day One isn’t so much a spinoff and prequel of John Krasinski’s 2018 horror movie as it is a riveting drama that plays in the series’ sandbox. You can spot the odd bit of new world-building here or there, about just how and why there are so many damn echolocating aliens, but these tidbits are just background noise (shh, not so loud!) to a much more interesting human story. A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II are rural sci-fi horror, but Day One — from Pig director Michael Sarnoski — moves the setting to New York City and crafts its story in the vein of large-scale disaster cinema. It’s likely the best Manhattan mayhem film since Cloverfield, and it’s also a downright excellent Hollywood blockbuster, if an entirely unexpected one.

    The People’s Joker

    Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

    Vera Drew as a version of Todd Phillips’ Joker in The People’s Joker

    Image: TIFF

    Genre: Parody comedy
    Run time: 1h 32m
    Director: Vera Drew
    Cast: Vera Drew, Nathan Faustyn, Kane Distler

    This DC Comics parody follows the story of Vera, a trans woman from Smallville who moves to Gotham City to break into stand-up comedy under the name “Joker the Harlequin.” Together with her friend The Penguin (Nathan Faustyn), Vera forms an anti-comedy troupe and goes head to head with her abusive partner Mr. J (Kane Distler) and a tyrannical vigilante known as the Batman (Phil Braun).

    From our review:

    The film isn’t entirely a comedy in-joke, however — which is good, because the story of Vera/Joker’s “anti-comedy” career is the most straightforward and least memorable aspect of the film. Lengthy discussions about the role of comedians as truth-tellers between Joker and the Penguin are standard stuff for podcasts and documentaries about the art form. Comedic first-person trans coming-of-age narratives, particularly ones where the transition is accomplished by falling into a vat of feminizing hormones, are more rare. Dedicated “to mom and Joel Schumacher,” The People’s Joker is also a sincere exploration of Vera’s journey toward self-realization, beginning with her childhood as a “miserable little girl” trapped in a boy’s body in Smallville.

    Daddio

    Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

    A male cab driver look at a female passenger with platinum blonde hair in the backseat of his cab in Daddio.

    Image: Phedon Papamichael/Sony Pictures Classics

    Genre: Drama
    Run time: 1h 40m
    Director: Christy Hall
    Cast: Sean Penn, Dakota Johnson

    Remember Locke, that 2013 chamber piece starring Tom Hardy as a construction foreman who talks to himself and several off-screen characters while driving on the freeway? Well, Daddio is kinda like that, but there’s a crucial difference: Instead of one, there are two on-screen characters talking to each other! Dakota Johnson stars as a woman who has a frank conversation with Clark (Sean Pean), a cab driver who gives her a ride to her apartment in Manhattan from JFK International Airport. What do they talk about? Oh y’know, life and love and vulnerability and stuff like that.

    The Vourdalak

    Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

    An emaciated, ghoulish figure bites into the neck of a child in a nightdress in The Vourdalak.

    Image: Oscilloscope

    Genre: Horror fantasy
    Run time: 1h 31m
    Director: Adrien Beau
    Cast: Kacey Mottet Klein, Ariane Labed, Grégoire Colin

    If you, like me, are chomping at the bit to see Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu when it premieres later this year, you might consider sinking your teeth into this new supernatural horror movie from director Adrien Beau.

    Kacey Mottet Klein stars as the Marquis Jacques Antoine Saturnin d’Urfe, an emissary of the King of France in 18th-century Europe, who is welcomed to stay at the home of a man named Gorcha, who has left to fight against the Turks. When Gorcha fails to return after six days, his family fears that he has been transformed into a Vourdalak — a breed of vampire that feeds on the blood of their family members.

    Toussaint Egan

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  • Justin Herbert’s Injury, Animated Training Camp Interactions, and NFL Reality Corner

    Justin Herbert’s Injury, Animated Training Camp Interactions, and NFL Reality Corner

    Sheil and Nora start their conversation with the news of Justin Herbert’s foot injury and how this latest misfortune is just another chapter in the Chargers’ woeful lore. They then shine a light on all the latest training camp frustrations and skirmishes around the league before diving into some QB updates in Denver and Pittsburgh (8:50). Finally, they break down the new pre-snap motion rules taking effect and share their takes on the Hard Knocks: Offseason With the New York Giants and America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders reality series (45:32).

    Hosts: Sheil Kapadia and Nora Princiotti
    Producer: Chris Sutton
    Production Supervision: Conor Nevins and Arjuna Ramgopal
    Social: Kiera Givens and Eduardo Ocampo

    Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / RSS

    Sheil Kapadia

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  • Chicago’s Best Lollapalooza Food and Drink Deals

    Chicago’s Best Lollapalooza Food and Drink Deals

    There will be plenty of food and drink vendors and with several food-focused festivities outside of the confines of Grant Park Chow Town — along with a band or two — at this year’s Lollapalooza, which runs from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 4.

    Take advantage of the fest-related specials, which range from pre- and after-parties to artist-inspired cocktails and a croissant collab, and scope out restaurants around Grant Park to refuel before or after a show.

    Specials and after-parties

    Beatrix, Beatrix Market: Those heading to Lollapalooza can use their wristband to buy a $1 cold brew. On Thursday and Friday, head to Beatrix (Loop), Beatrix Market Loop, or DePaul locations; on Saturday and Sunday, the deal is at at Beatrix locations in River North, Streeterville, and Fulton Market.

    Beatrix

    Rotisserie Ema: Cool down with $1 frozen Greek yogurt topped with olive oil and sea salt from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday at this Mediterranean restaurant in River North.

    Tao Chicago: This multi-level nightclub in River North gets into the Lolla spirit with after-show parties each night. Thursday features Loud Luxury with Canadian DJ duo Andrew Fedyk and Joe Depace, ZEDD on Friday, and Metro Boomin on Saturday. Doors open at 10 p.m. Tickets are available online.

    A crowded nightclub with neon lights.

    Tao Chicago

    Cindy’s Rooftop: Embrace the Lolla vibe early with Just.One, a Chicago open-format/R&B DJ set, on Wednesday, July 31 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Part of the Chicago Athletic Association hotel’s In the Sky DJ series, the monthly terrace party offers with views of the Navy Pier fireworks as well as Millennium Park below. Try it out with one of six specialty cocktails inspired by performers — a single malt whiskey-forward Take Me to Church, perhaps? — from Thursday through Sunday.

    Time Out Market: Honor the Chicago-born phenomenon of house music, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, with a festival after-party on Thursday, August 1. The West Loop food hall will transform into a three-level pop-up venue filled with food and music. Chicago house legends Felix Da Housecat, NEZ, and special guests Vic Mensa will be, um, in the house.

    Daisies: Croissant-collab extraordinaire Leigh Omilinsky works her pastry magic with Killer Mike of Run the Jewels (performing at the festival on Saturday, August 3) on a flaky croissant filled with grapefruit cream and tossed in lime-raspberry sugar. The croissant is a partnership with the launch of Run the Jewels’ new Juice Runners canned paloma cocktail. Both are available throughout August at Daisies in Logan Square.

    Welcome to the Farm: This brand new River North spot from athletes Jimmy Butler and Roquan Smith and musician Chase Rice features two official Lollapalooza after-parties this weekend. On Friday, DJ Brandi Cyrus hosts the festivities. On Saturday, it’s Travis Barker, who will do a live drum set with DJ Spider. Doors open at 8 p.m.

    Pendry Chicago: This boutique Michigan Avenue hotel celebrates Lolla with headliner-inspired drinks at Bar Pendry, its lobby-level cocktail lounge, and rooftop oasis Chateau Carbide. Try cocktails like Red Hot Chili Peppers-inspired Mezcalification with a savory lineup of skewers.

    Pizzeria Portofino: Inspired by the custom pizza that singer-songwriter Benson Boone (performing at Lolla on Thursday) created earlier this year at this lavish riverside pizza palace, Benson’s Beautiful Pizza is topped with marinara, Italian sausage, red onions, mozzarella cheese, artichoke hearts, and Parmesan. Sprinter Vodka Seltzers will be available for $10 as well as a group-sized drink the Portofino Purse for $85.

    Benson Boone poses beside a pizza.

    Singer-songwriter Benson Boone is back in Chicago for Lollapalooza.
    Lindsay Eberly/Pizzeria Portofino

    RPM Italian: No stranger to visits by Lollapalooza artists over the years, this River North restaurant answers the call for vegetarian and vegan offerings with specials like rigatoni pomodoro and focaccia de Roma, available Thursday through Sunday.

    Spin Chicago: This River North ping pong club offers the Perry Bomb, a play on a vodka-based cherry bomb named after Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell, for $13 from Thursday through Saturday.

    The Blackstone Hotel: Bespoke bouquet brand Floriography Fellows is setting up shop outside this Michigan Avenue hotel with flower crowns made from locally sourced fresh and dried flowers. Each crown has a special meaning, drawing from the Victorian-era language of flowers. The stand will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

    Swadesi: This new West Loop Indian cafe from chef Sujan Sarkar will offer a special Lolla lavender lychee lemonade with butterfly pea flower in addition to regular menu items like chicken tikka toasties, butter chicken croissants, and jaggery chocolate chip cookies.

    Nearby Restaurants

    Tanta: From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday take advantage of discounted Peruvian snacks and drinks — think ceviche, empanadas, and pisco sours — at this River North restaurant’s popular happy hour. Or, go for weekend brunch, including a bottomless mimosa special. There are live DJ sets on Saturday.

    Tzuco: This upscale Mexican restaurant from decorated chef Carlos Gaytán offers a popular weekend brunch with hits like chilaquiles and lobster tacos. It features happy hour specials from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with small plates (think tuna tostadas and chicharrón de pulpo), sangria, and margaritas.

    Ummo: This contemporary Italian restaurant is designed to please a crowd with classic dishes such as fresh pasta next to more modern spins like octopus carpaccio. Creativity continues at its weekend brunch with sweet (pistachio custard-stuffed bombolone) and savory (lamb shakshuka) dishes. Upstairs, Loft 22 pairs vinyl sessions, live music, and cocktails in a stylish setting.

    The Smith: On weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., this River North restaurant offers discounted specialty martinis and hearty bites (black truffle arancini, potato chips with blue cheese fondue) during its martini hour. Weekend brunch options include shrimp and grits, potato waffle Benedicts, and vanilla bean French toast.

    Three Dots and a Dash: This River North lounge leans heavily into a tropical vibe, both in its rum cocktails — think cold-pressed juices, tropical fruits, and fancy spirits — and its kitschy interior design. Its “secret” entrance via an alley adds to its charm.

    Casa Chi: New on the scene, this cocktail lounge on the ground floor of the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile from restaurateur Richard Sandoval explores Peru’s Nikkei cuisine, which combines Japanese and Peruvian ingredients. Cocktails take center stage, although there’s a small menu of flavorful snacks, with a robust agave-forward tequila and mezcal list, available in flights, tastings, and mixed drinks.

    Kindling: James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer heads up the kitchen at this Willis Tower restaurant with a variety of wood-fired dishes from the live-fire kitchen. Happy hour at the bar from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday features a selection of specially priced dishes and drinks such as Nashville hot chicken tenders, crispy Brussels sprouts, and Aperol spritzes.

    The libarary-style interior of Vol. 39 has leather seats and books.

    Vol. 39

    Vol. 39: Located on the second floor of the Loop’s Kimpton Gray Hotel, itself a historic building, this cocktail bar and lounge offers an extensive selection of high-end wine and spirits. Look for bespoke cocktails with a nod to the classics as well as a menu of small plates.

    The Dearborn: The Lawless sisters, Clodagh and Amy, operate a gorgeous American tavern near the Washington Blue and Red Line stops at the Block 37 development in Downtown Chicago. Brunch is a specialty at the Dearborn with dishes like fried chicken and waffles, fried perch Benedict, and PB&J French toast.

    Jiao by Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings: Qing Xiang Yuan, shortened to QXY, is a favorite for handmade dumplings. For many, it’s the first restaurant visitors patronize when visiting Chicago’s Chinatown. Ownership saw how customers outside of the neighborhood loved coriander-lamb dumplings and other items, so they created Jiao in the Loop with hopes of opening more locations across the country. This is a great spot for a quick and filling meal.

    The Gage and Acanto: The Gage is a handsome Irish restaurant and pub right across the street from Millennium Park and is an excellent pitstop for a pint of Guinness, a bite, or a full meal. Billy Lawless (The Dawson) also owns Italian restaurant Acanto next door, which offers a standout wine program. Both feature a patio with views of the park.

    Hot Woks Cool Sushi: Offering a variety of Japanese and Thai dishes at easy-on-the-wallet prices, the Michigan Avenue location of this family-owned restaurant chainlet is walking distance from the festival. Signature dishes at Hot Woks Cool Sushi range from pad Thai and spicy chicken wings to crunchy spicy tuna maki.

    Miller’s Pub: A beloved Chicago institution for almost 90 years, Miller’s Pub is a must-visit spot whether you’re here for Lolla or not. Located in the Loop, Miller’s attracts locals and visitors alike, who come for an after-work cocktail, post-theater burger, or a nightcap. Vintage oil paintings, stained glass, and lots of dark wood provide a charming setting for dishes such as Greek chicken, build-your-own burgers, and prime rib French dip.

    Brightwok Kitchen: This Asian assembly line restaurant is gluten-free with tons of vegetarian options. It’s a make-your-own stir fry concept with fresh ingredients and sauces made on-site. Brightwok Kitchen is good for folks with tight dietary needs.

    Bien Me Sabe Venezuelan Arepa Bar: A favorite of several Latin American baseball players on the Chicago White Sox, Bien Me Sabe Venezuelan Arepa Bar features a deep selection of Venezuela’s signature dish, arepas, including gluten-free and vegetarian options. Ceviche, tostones, and empanaditas round out the menu.

    Exchequer Restaurant & Pub: Only a handful of names are associated with Chicago outside of the city. Barack Obama and Michael Jordan are easy marks. But Chicago’s gangster ties still make Al Capone a figure many connect with the city. Exchequer only opened in 1982, but the building allegedly housed a speakeasy that Capone and his goons would frequent. The pub serves thin pizzas, barbecue ribs, salads, and more.

    Cafecito: This Latin coffee shop and counter-service restaurant is a good bet for a quick breakfast or lunch with pressed sandwiches, including fan-favorite Cuban, lechon, and choripan. Breakfast features a handful of egg-focused sandwiches. Cafecito has three Chicago locations.

    Mercat a la Planxa: Mercat a la Planxa is a Spanish stalwart just a touch south on Michigan Avenue with plenty of small tapas-style plates, large meals, and cocktails and wine. Sit down in the colorful dining room with views of the park across the street or order a drink at the secluded downstairs bar.

    Roots Handmade Pizza – South Loop: Quad Cities thin-crust pizza cut into puffy strips is the specialty of Roots. Its unique style has made the pizzeria popular for families across Chicago. This South Loop/Printer’s Row location has a gorgeous patio space with a retractable roof as well as a sidewalk patio.

    Devil Dawgs on State: Yes, folks can grab a hot dog at fest, but why fight those lines? Devil Dawgs is a Chicago mini-chain that does a proper dog dragged through the garden with all the toppings that the city is known for. The South State location is where to stop to try some genuine Chicago street fare.

    Eleven City Diner: Eleven City Diner offers classic diner fare with Jewish deli classics like hearty pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. Breakfast is served all day and includes lox platters, bagels, soups, salads, and more.

    Lowcountry South Loop: Lowcountry was one of Chicago’s first places for Asian Cajun seafood boils. This is the second location (there’s one in Wrigleyville and another in Chinatown), and the restaurant also serves refreshing cocktails.

    Aurelio’s Pizza: Chicago loves its deep-dish pizza, but the city has more than one pizza style. Crispy square-cut tavern style pies are a South Side invention, and Aurelio’s Pizza is among the premier pizza makers in the city. Up the Chicago vibe and get it with giardiniera.

    Minghin Cuisine: Minghin has several locations around Chicago and specializes in dim sum cart service. The decor has all the trappings of a traditional Chinese restaurant, including the Lazy Susan trays. This is a dumpling lover’s delight; the steamed shrimp are among the top selections.

    Flo & Santos: Those with an appetite for South Side Chicago cuisine will want to visit Flo & Santo’s. There are pierogis, pork wings, and tavern-style pizzas at this popular restaurant that features an outside beer garden and daily drink specials.

    Victory Tap: Some of Chicago’s best Italian American food comes from the throwback Victory Tap. The pastas are fresh, service is great, and the drinks are stiff. The spacious bar offers plenty of seating for walk-ins.

    AO Hawaiian Hideout: This restaurant serves up poke, barbecue, Japanese teriyaki, and Thai noodles. The space is casual and has a large vegan menu. The tropical drink selection is also a bit nostalgic and feels like a Cantonese restaurant from the ’80s. Daily specials from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. include Tropical Thursdays ($6 tropical cocktails) and Freaki Tiki Friday ($6 pineapple shandy beer).

    Miru: Inside the fancy St. Regis Hotel Chicago at the start of Upper Wacker Drive and overlooking Lake Michigan, this luxe restaurant focuses on sushi with a few American accents, including a cheeseburger at lunch. The all-day restaurant offers traditional dishes, including a Japanese breakfast with rice and King salmon. The views here are gorgeous, and this is where rapper Drake first enjoyed a shot of Malört. (Note: ‘Enjoyed’ might be embellishing.) On Sunday, August 4, brunch service will be paired with a live DJ on the terrace starting at 10 a.m.

    Avli on The Park: Avli is a Greek American blockbuster hit with multiple locations. The Lakeshore East location differs as it has a larger bar space and an outdoor deck for private events. Fun wines, nice cocktails, and dependable modern Greek small plates make Avli a great choice for dinner and weekend brunch.

    Reggie’s: Formerly a run-down auto repair shop, this multi-level South Loop spot has earned plenty of fans for its live music, laidback vibe, and wallet-friendly drinks and food. Its rooftop deck is a refreshing alternative to the city’s fancy (read: pricy) spots with free pool, bags, and basketball hoop. Cool off at the outdoor shower.

    Lisa Shames

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  • Where to Find Korean Food in Chicago

    Where to Find Korean Food in Chicago

    Perilla Steakhouse is a gorgeous downtown Chicago restaurant. | Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

    Soups, grilled meats, and plenty of banchan are to be enjoyed

    One of life’s most satisfying pleasures is watching plate after plate of banchan fill up the table. However, Chicago’s Korean lineup offers much more than just barbecue, as fusion spots and fancy restaurants add some extra flair to traditional dishes. From bibimbap and kimchi pancakes to hearty bowls of stew, there’s much to explore on the following menus.

    Eater Staff

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  • South Korea tops host nation France to win 3rd straight men’s team archery gold

    South Korea tops host nation France to win 3rd straight men’s team archery gold

    PARIS (AP) — A fired-up home crowd couldn’t push France past the South Korean juggernaut in the Paris Olympics men’s team archery final.

    The first set finished with a score of 57-all, but South Korea took the second 59-58 and the third 59-56 to win 5-1 overall on Monday at Les Invalides.

    Kim Woo-jin, Kim Je-deok and Lee Woo-seok won the third straight team gold for South Korea.

    French fans waved their flags feverishly throughout the final and brought the noise whenever one of their archers hit a 10. Even after things clearly were going South Korea’s way in the third set, the French fans remained engaged.

    “While we were facing the French team, there was a lot of cheers from the audience,” South Korea’s Kim Woo-jin said through a translator. “That was the biggest challenge.”

    Kim Woo-jin was on the past three winning teams but he has not claimed individual gold. He will compete for that on Aug. 4. He also will participate in the mixed team competition on Aug. 2.

    “I think that some of my first initial goals are already met because those were my initial targets,” he said. “And now I have my individual games left. But usually, the higher the goals, I think that usually, you have a lot of mistakes. So I will try to relieve my head of all of those goals and try to just focus with my heart.”

    It was South Korea’s seventh team gold medal since the sport returned to the Olympics in 1972 – no other nation has won more than once in that span.

    Turkey claimed bronze by defeating China 6-2. France and Turkey claimed their first medals since that 1972 return.

    Turkey’s Mete Gazoz added to his medal collection — he was the individual gold medalist in Tokyo.

    After the loss, French fans cheered loudly when team members Baptiste Addis, Thomas Chirault and Jean-Charles Valladont stepped up to the podium with the Eiffel Tower standing in the distance.

    “It’s true that we’re making history today,” Chirault said through a translator. “We have the first silver medal for the men’s team. We had medals in individuals or for women, but this one, we didn’t have it. So now we’re opening the games and we hope to have others after. So we’re very proud to have opened this medal count, if you like, and we are confident. We really want to reproduce this success in the future.”

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    https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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  • Collinsville and Ira players get top honors on Texas 2A and 1A all-state baseball teams

    Collinsville and Ira players get top honors on Texas 2A and 1A all-state baseball teams

    BRYAN, Texas (AP) — The Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A and 1A all-state baseball teams, distributed by The Associated Press:

    CLASS 2A FIRST TEAM

    Pitchers: Rylan Newman, Collinsville, sr.; Titan Targac, Flatonia, jr.; Thomas Perez, Valley Mills, sr.; Westyn Balch, Hawley, sr.

    Catcher: Christian Lazarine, Valley Mills, jr.

    First baseman: Kennett McLane, Valley Mills, sr.

    Second baseman: Cason Johnson, Valley Mills, sr.

    Shortstop: Logan Jenkins, Collinsville, sr.

    Third baseman: Logan Addison, New Home, sr.

    Outfielders: Carson Wallace, Harleton, jr.; Cash Morgan, Collinsville, jr.; (tie) Cain Hayden, Ganado, jr.; Cayton Noyola, Wink, soph.

    Designated hitter: Brady Davis, Beckville, sr.

    Player of the year: Jenkins, Collinsville

    Coach of the year: Derrick Jenkins, Collinsville

    ___

    CLASS 2A SECOND TEAM

    Pitchers: Gunner Ferguson, Thorndale, jr.; Kannon Ritchie, Kerens, jr.; Dallas McFadden, Garrison, jr.; Damian Castorena, Mumford, sr.

    Catcher: (tie) Cayson Stainton, Alvord, sr.; Tyler Bigham, New Deal, sr.

    First baseman: Jared Galloway, New Deal, sr.

    Second baseman: (tie) Jaxon Jenkins, Collinsville, fr.; Kaden Kovar, Thorndale, sr.

    Shortstop: (tie) Ryder Starkey, New Home, soph.; Cash Bolgiano, Crawford, sr.

    Third baseman: Kade Franklin, Ropes, soph.

    Outfielders: McCray Jacobs, Johnson City, sr.; Reed Patterson, Collinsville, sr.; (tie) Gage Shirts, Harleton, jr.; Hagen Berlan, Mumford, soph.

    Designated hitter: Brazos Beck, New Home, sr.

    ___

    CLASS 2A THIRD TEAM

    Pitchers: Jaxson Eschberger, Thorndale, fr.; Krayton Ritchie, Kerens, jr.; Conner Schreiber, Windthorst, soph.; Blake Boyd, Centerville, soph.

    Catcher: (tie) Beck Zimmerman, Flatonia, jr.; Blaze Hronek, Coleman, sr.

    First baseman: Owen Garcia, Kenedy, sr.

    Second baseman: Dyson Farris, Tom Bean, soph.

    Shortstop: Jake Pineda, Centerville, jr.

    Third baseman: (tie) Carson Bizzell, Frankston, soph.; Joseph Flores, Mumford, sr.

    Outfielders: Bode Franklin, Ropes, jr.; Halston French, Centerville, sr.; Ryan Harper, Frankston, sr.

    Designated hitter: Henri Vincik, Flatonia, jr.

    ___

    CLASS 1A FIRST TEAM

    Pitchers: Jeren Pena, Ira, jr.; Jeremiah Murphy, Electra, sr.; Aedyn Claxton, Ira, soph.

    Reliever: Raidon Hernandez, Ira, jr.

    Catcher: Keagan Supak, Fayetteville, sr.

    First baseman: Chance Konvicka, Fayetteville, jr.

    Second baseman: Raidon Hernandez, Ira, jr.

    Shortstop: Dylan Doss, Crosbyton, sr.

    Third baseman: Will Thomason, Chester, jr.

    Outfielders: CJ Collier, Ira, soph.; Waylon Sturrock, Chester, jr.; (tie) Jonathan Kirk, Electra, sr.; Kade Hendry, D’Hanis, jr.

    Designated hitter: Cade Morgan, Brookeland, jr.

    Player of the year: Pena, Ira

    Coach of the year: Toby Goodwin, Ira

    ___

    CLASS 1A SECOND TEAM

    Pitchers: Jack Schley, Fayetteville, soph.; Collin Morgan, Neches, sr.; (tie) Connor Sullins, Abbott, jr.; Lane Lyon, Morton, jr.

    Reliever: Riley Sustala, Abbott, jr.

    Catcher: Cade Lyon, Morton, jr.

    First baseman: (tie) Hagan Gordon, Borden County, sr.; Cutter Lowe, Chester, jr.

    Second baseman: (tie) Ben Beaudin, Meridian, jr.; Paxton Pustejovsky, Abbott, jr.

    Shortstop: (tie) Collin McKiddy, Electra, sr.; Easton Jaeger, Fayetteville, jr.; Dillon Morphus, Kress, sr.

    Third baseman: Will Young, Nazareth, sr.

    Outfielders: Turner Johnson, Chester, fr.; Garrison Proctor, Borden County, sr.; Arturo Garcia, Neches, jr.

    Designated hitter: Matty Jones, Meridian, jr.

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  • Carolina Hurricanes reach a 2-year deal with talented offensive forward Martin Necas

    Carolina Hurricanes reach a 2-year deal with talented offensive forward Martin Necas

    The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with forward Martin Necas, keeping one of its most skilled offensive players through the 2025-26 season.

    The team announced the deal Monday, providing some roster certainty for the 25-year-old Czech who had been discussed as a trade candidate since the close of Carolina’s sixth straight playoff season.

    “Martin is an immensely skilled player who provides a scoring threat whenever the puck is on his stick,” new general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. “He will play a key role in the continued success of our franchise, and we’re excited to have a multi-year contract done.”

    That wasn’t a sure thing for Necas, a first-round pick by Carolina in 2017 who has played with the franchise for his entire career. He was a restricted free agent heading to arbitration and there had been a report out of Europe in which Necas’ father said his son would prefer to be traded.

    Yet a trade never materialized for Necas to head elsewhere.

    Necas had 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games last year, which had followed a breakout 2022-23 season with 28 goals and 43 assists for a team-best 71 points in in 82 regular-season games. He scored four goals in 11 postseason games last season, with the Hurricanes losing to the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the second round.

    Necas’ nine overtime goals since the 2020-21 season rank tied for the NHL lead in that span.

    His future had been one of the key questions hanging over the Hurricanes in what has been an offseason of major change. Tulsky took over as GM when Don Waddell left for Columbus; while big names like trade-deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel at forward, and defensemen Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce departed in free agency.

    Carolina has been in talks for a deal with another one of its young forwards in Seth Jarvis. The 22-year-old is a restricted free agent who has become a proven contributor, including scoring 33 goals this season and 13 playoff goals in his first three seasons.

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    AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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  • Two female boxers meet Paris Olympics rules after gender test issue at world championships, IOC says

    Two female boxers meet Paris Olympics rules after gender test issue at world championships, IOC says

    PARIS (AP) — Two female boxers at the Paris Olympics who were disqualified at the 2023 world championships after being judged to have failed gender eligibility tests have complied with all rules to fight at the games, the IOC said Monday.

    Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan and Imane Khelif of Algeria are competing at their second Summer Games. Both finished outside the medals at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021.

    “All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.

    The 28-year-old Lin is a two-time worlds gold medalist and the 25-year-old Khelif won a silver at the 2022 tournament.

    Both were removed from their competitions in New Delhi last year at the world championships, run by the International Boxing Association which has been banished from Olympic boxing since before the Tokyo Games.

    The different status of Lin and Khelif at the Olympics and worlds is fallout from the years-long dispute between the IOC and the Russian-led IBA over alleged failures of governance and integrity, plus reliance on funding from state energy firm Gazprom.

    The IOC has appointed officials to run boxing at two straight Summer Games and acknowledged Monday the tournament rules for Paris are “descended from” those in place eight years ago at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

    Boxing officials picked to run Paris qualifying and finals tournaments tried “to restrict amendments to minimize the impact on athletes’ preparation and guaranteeing consistency between Olympic Games,” the IOC said.

    The IOC-run database of about 10,700 athletes competing in Paris detailed both boxers’ experiences at the 2023 worlds.

    Khelif was disqualified “just hours before her gold medal showdown” against a Chinese opponent “after her elevated levels of testosterone failed to meet the eligibility criteria.”

    Lin “was stripped of her bronze medal (by the IBA) after failing to meet eligibility requirements based on the results of a biochemical test,” the IOC database stated.

    On Thursday, Khelif will fight Italy’s Angela Carini in the 66-kilogram category at the North Paris Arena. Lin, who got a first-round bye as the top seed in the 57-kilogram category, will have her opening bout Friday in the round of 16.

    Medal bouts in boxing at Paris will be staged at the Roland Garros tennis venue.

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    AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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