Culture, style, and media — the stories, sounds, and scenes shaping the conversation.

The weather was mythical. Ninety-something degrees in Manhattan, with Canadian wildfire smoke painting the sky a hazy orange. It smelled like a barbecue of rotten onions; the air was a spritz of acid to the eyes. “Stay inside,” warned the weather app. The gods hath forsaken us, I

Olivia Dean skipped a grade, as far as the touring circuit goes. Soon after taking the stage at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena for a two-night stand this week, the singer said, “The last time we played in L.A., we played two shows at the Fonda, I think a year ago. Was anybody at those s

A judge on Friday heard arguments on a state coalition’s bid for a restraining order to pause the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, and said she would issue a ruling by next Wednesday. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin suggested at one point that Paramount had conceded that it

Just a day after Fox Sports’ coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals broke records, they did it again. Wednesday’s nailbiter between Argentina and England averaged 15.063 million viewers on Fox, making it the most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup semifinals match in English-la

Electronic Arts’ “Skate.” will launch an in-game collaboration with the X Games this month. Running July 21 through Aug. 25, the adrenaline-fueled X Games update will transform the virtual stadium in EA and developer Full Circle’s “skate.” with X Games-inspired challenges and tas

So, a Homerist, an archaeologist and a dentist walk into a bar.  Fresh from a Thursday night showing of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” a group of 17 spent the evening doing what scholars have done with Homer’s epic for nearly 3,000 years: arguing about it. “We had a really ro

Joe Caldwell, a writer known for his work on the original “Dark Shadows” TV series, died Monday following a stroke. He was 97. The news was confirmed by Bob Issel, who frequently hosts “Dark Shadows” fan events. “Joe had just signed a handful of his memoirs for me three weeks ago

The weather was mythical. Ninety-something degrees in Manhattan, with Canadian wildfire smoke painting the sky a hazy orange. It smelled like a barbecue of rotten onions; the air was a spritz of acid to the eyes. “Stay inside,” warned the weather app. The gods hath forsaken us, I

W Hotels is continuing its reinvention with a growing portfolio of properties across Italy, anchored by its latest opening: W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu, a 157-room resort tucked into a secluded marina village on the island’s northeastern coast.  The property joins W Rome and the rec

“The Odyssey” didn’t need a Trojan Horse to break into the top of Friday’s box office charts. Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” earned $51 million on Friday from 3,919 North American screens. Early estimates had the saga grossing $90 million to $100 million by Sunday, but after a

July started off strong. Following Taylor Swift’s star-studded wedding extravaganza in New York City, the cast of “The Odyssey” dazzled at the film’s premieres in London and Paris. First reactions are only upping the excitement, with audiences movie-goers eagerly awaiting the fil

Yami Gautam-starrer “Article 370” won best feature film at India’s 72nd National Film Awards, announced Saturday in New Delhi by the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Gautam also took best actress for her role in the film, a political drama centered on the abrog

Activision wants “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4” to be your new obsession. Its first big step in that plan involves a sports fan convention and “Obsession” star Inde Navarrette. Taking place at the Javits Center in New York City this weekend, Fanatics Fest 2026 will welcome 150,