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Step into a midweek culinary escape with Katsuya SLS South Beach's Yakitori Night, where the flames of tradition meet the bold flavors of modern Japanese cuisine. Beginning September 18th, every Wednesday evening, indulge in an array of expertly crafted skewers, each served sizzling on a Shichirin Japanese BBQ Grill. Whether you're drawn to the rich umami of Wagyu beef, the succulent bite of jumbo shrimp, or the fresh, vibrant flavors of seasonal vegetables, Yakitori Night offers a tantalizing journey for your taste buds. Join Katsuya for an evening where every bite brings the sizzling spirit of Tokyo’s streets to the heart of Miami. Whether you’re a Yakitori aficionado or a curious foodie, Katsuya’s Yakitori Night is set to become your new Wednesday tradition. *Skewers are priced from $9-$12 and includes 2 per order, served on a Shichirin Japanese BBQ Grill For reservations, visit https://slshotels.com/south-beach/restaurants-and-bars/katsuya/

Join the Miami Design District, as we explore the history of the art and architecture that characterize the neighborhood. We will visit outdoor installations and murals including Buckminster Fuller Fly's Eye Dome, Criola’s Interdimensional Portal, Virgil Abloh’s Dollar a Gallon, Amani Lewis’ Baltimore’s Finest, and more. Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024 Time: 11:00AM - 12:00PM Address: Palm Court 140 NE 39th St Miami FL, 33137 ML Staff. Content/image(s) courtesy of MDD

Now more than ever, it is important to review your hurricane preparedness plan to adapt quickly to a weather emergency. Here, you will find helpful resources to keep you safe during this hurricane season. Resources Miami-Dade Readiness Guide and Resources Miami-Dade County’s Hurricane Readiness portal and guide offer detailed local information for individuals and organizations.  Here you will find information on the actions you should take before, during and after a storm impacts South Florida.  Here you will also find the latest guidelines and information regarding the activation of evacuation centers. Click here to learn more. The Hurricane Door Hanger provides a quick graphic way to identify households that need assistance after the storm. You may download and print the  Hurricane Door Hanger . You can also follow Miami-Dade County on social media for hurricane updates: @MiamiDadeCounty @MiamiDade311 ReadyMDC APP The Ready MDC mobile application is now available to the public via Google Play   for Android and the iOS App Store for iPhone. The mobile application allows Miami-Dade residents and visitors to get up-to-the minute information before, during and after a hurricane strike, including: - How to prepare for a hurricane - Areas that are in danger of storm surge - Evacuation center locations - Emergency bus pick-up sites - What to do with pets - Emergency evacuation & assistance information and much more Miami-Dade Alerts Staying informed during an imminent threat or emergency is critical in helping make the right decision. The Miami-Dade County Alerts system will notify you about public safety issues and weather advisories on your cell phone. Alerts is a free service that enables County residents or visitors to receive emergency texts and/or emails regarding public safety issues, recommended public protective actions, or other emergency information. Sign up now . Alliance for Response Miami The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs is a proud member of The Alliance for Response Miami. AFR Miami connects the arts community with the first responder and emergency management community in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. An alliance of artists, museums, archives, libraries, galleries, cultural institutions, and emergency responders in the Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, AFR Miami provides a forum for information and communication to foster a cooperative approach to emergency management and cultural heritage protection. A Weather Ready Nation Ambassador for the National Weather Service, the Alliance for Response Miami works with arts groups, cultural institutions, and local emergency services to develop mutual understanding in advance of any emergency and/or disaster. For tips and resources to prepare before an emergency and/or disaster, please visit the  webpage , Twitter @afrsflorida   and  Facebook page . The Department of Cultural Affairs will stay in touch with you to make it through Hurricane season and the pandemic and all of the uncertainty surrounding the immediate future. About Storm Surge Planning Zones Storm surge, driven by tropical storms or hurricanes, poses the greatest threat to lives and property, necessitating Miami-Dade County evacuations during hurricanes. Click here to view our resources, updates and more. ML Staff, Courtesy of Miami-Dade.

Mini-Me Science  is a monthly program at Frost Science designed for you and your little one (ages two to five). You’ll share experiences that engage the senses while promoting exploration and discovery through hands-on activities that are specifically designed for early learners. Learn more at frostscience.org/mini-me . Location Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science 1101 Biscayne Blvd Miami, FL 33132 Time and Date September 11, 2024 at 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Wednesday, September 11: Discovering Dinos Mini paleontologists will explore what the world was like millions of years ago and learn how scientists find dinosaur fossils and imprints. Continue learning at home with this Science Store pick ! Mini-Me Science sessions last approximately 60 minutes, with a 30-minute hands-on activity followed by a 30-minute guided museum exploration in one of our exhibitions. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost : $25 for one child (ages two to five only) and one adult. Cost for every additional child is $20. Cost for every additional adult is $10. Museum admission must be purchased separately to participate. Older siblings may participate for an additional registration fee or $20 per sibling. By ML Staff. Courtesy of Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Sotheby’s is the premier destination for authentic NBA game-worn jerseys. As the Official Game-Worn Source of the NBA, they are thrilled to bring NBA fans and collectors an opportunity to own a piece of basketball history. Throughout the electrifying 2023-2024 NBA season, Sotheby's will host online auctions featuring a curated selection of official, game-used player jerseys. From the excitement of the Kia NBA Tip-Off to the prestige of the NBA All-Star Game and the intensity of the 2024 NBA Finals, their auctions offer a unique chance to acquire rare and collectible jerseys from pinnacle events. Join them in investing in sports history and securing one-of-a-kind NBA memorabilia through this exciting partnership. For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +1 212 606 7000 enquiries@sothebys.com ML Staff. Content/image courtesy of Sotheby's

It will now be easier for those connected to the City of Hollywood’s self-insurance program to access medical services, thanks to a unique alliance with Memorial Healthcare System that provides a dedicated primary care office exclusively for their use. The “City of Hollywood Employee Health Center” offers primary and urgent care services, vaccines, lab work, and chronic disease management for both adults and children eight years and older to more than 2,000 of the city’s employees, dependents, and area retirees. Its Stirling Road location and six day a week availability makes it easier for individuals to proactively access care and avoid crisis situations that could require visits to hospital emergency rooms.   Raelin Storey Josh Levy Elizabeth Justen “The health and well-being of our employees, retirees and their families is a top priority for the city, and we couldn’t ask for a better, more trusted partner than Memorial to provide high-quality, cost effective, primary care,” said George R. Keller, Jr. , Hollywood city manager.   Hollywood Fire Rescue Ivonne Diaz, Rich Ashenoff, and Graciela Lopez Nearly 800 patients received services from the health center during a six-week period that preceded a ceremonial ribbon-cutting August 14. That event was attended by Hollywood and Memorial executives, clinicians, police, fire rescue, and other city employees. “We’re proud to partner with Hollywood to deliver primary care that proactively provides the expertise, resources, and tools to keep individuals and their families healthy,” said K. Scott Wester , president & CEO of Memorial Healthcare System.   Scott Wester Dr. Eric Samuel , a family medicine specialist, is the Employee Health Center’s attending physician. He is joined on-site by Daphnie Bharadwa, APRN . Dr. Eric Samuel Dr. Daphnie Bharadwa Those that are part of the City of Hollywood’s self-insurance program can access the Employee Health Center beginning at 7:00 a.m. on weekdays. Appointments are available through Memorial’s MyChart, but walk-ins are also welcome. # # #   South Florida-based Memorial Healthcare System is a national leader in quality care and patient, physician, and employee satisfaction. Its commitment to deeper caring, smarter health, and community outreach prioritizes a person-centered approach that has delivered safe, positive outcomes for more than 70 years.   Featuring multi-disciplinary collaboration, research, innovation, and transparency, Memorial is focused on removing barriers, increasing access, and providing equitable care. It employs a staff of nearly 17,000 and operates six hospitals, numerous primary, urgent, and 24/7 care facilities, a health specialty center, and nursing home.   To learn more, visit mhs.net and connect on Facebook , X , Instagram , YouTube , and LinkedIn . By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Michael Hopkins Photography

Sachin & Babi, a brand long renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship, have redefined luxury with their approach to their custom prints made in their New York City atelier. At the heart of their process lies a dedication to blending traditional techniques with modern sensibility, resulting in bold prints full of gorgeous florals and rich color. Sachin Ahluwalia, the brand’s founder and designer, has had one common thread of inspiration since the beginning of his design days: florals. “In our brand, everything – from the silhouettes to the hues to the prints – are derived from the romantics,” he says. “Florals, more than anything else, lend themselves to that romantic, warm feeling.” Feelings, in fact, are at the forefront of the team’s design process. “Babi and I believe that the best representative of color lives within flowers. We have an emotional attachment to the beauty of the world around us. Each flower has a different connotation to each person – its beauty is really in the eye of the beholder. In choosing our flowers, from tulips to roses to peonies, we have one goal in mind: to evoke a special feeling in that person,” Sachin continues. Sachin & Babi’s botanicals have emerged as a hallmark of the brand, and their fall collection is no exception. Sachin found his inspiration from the photographer Irving Penn, who often shot singular flowers on a high contrast background. “For this collection, we made a conscious decision to focus on one flower – the white rose. You’ll see it on two of the season’s hero pieces. I wanted it to be placed on a dark background so you can see the beauty of its details, made even more beautiful by carefully placed embellishment,” he says. To create the prints, the team references documents that date back more than a century, including materials from an Italian mill, vintage books, and photographs. The process of bringing these prints to life involves experimentation with color palettes, layouts, and sizes with hours of iterations, resulting in a beautifully curated garden of visually intoxicating blooms. The designers’ studio becomes a canvas where colors interplay and prints evolve into stories. At Sachin & Babi, custom prints are more than just fashion. Each piece is a celebration of the world around us, transformed into wearable art that speaks to each wearer’s individuality. Whether adorning evening gowns or casual separates, Sachin & Babi’s custom prints evoke feeling with every stitch. Discover the fall collection onsite now at sachinandbabi.com . ML Staff. Images courtesy of Sachin & Babi

Basis Industrial, a privately held and vertically integrated real estate owner and operator based in Boca Raton, Florida, closed on/purchased three commercial assets in Texas and Florida totaling 1,107,509 square feet on Aug. 29, 2024.  Beach Point Capital Management is the lender for the transactions with Newmark facilitating the debt sourcing, which encompasses multiple shallow bay multi-tenant industrial properties and an institutional-quality business park. The acquisition of DFW II and DFW III & Houston I, puts Basis Industrial above 1 million square feet of shallow bay/multi-tenant industrial space in Dallas/Fort Worth. Basis’ acquisition of Pinellas Business Center in St. Petersburg grows its Tampa Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) portfolio to 650,000 square feet. Basis will own 1 million square feet of property in the Tampa MSA by the end of 2024.   The three acquired assets include:   DFW II ,   Dallas/Fort Worth area,   Texas Basis Industrial, represented by its managing partner Anthony Scavo, closed on this 439,916-square-foot asset, including eight properties. Stephen Bailey of Newmark represented seller Bob Anderson of Birtcher Anderson & Davis. The properties benefit from their location near significant demand drivers and major transportation arteries. Current tenants include California Fruit Exchange, 1 Dust Group, Midpoint Auto Group, and Liturgical Publications. Basis plans for future renovations including the exterior, roof replacement, HVAC replacement, drainage, landscape, and more. The properties are located at:   2901, 2905, 2921, 2951 Suffolk Drive, Fort Worth, Texas, 76133 1655-1663 Hickory Drive, Haltom City, Texas, 76117 1100-1220 Luke Street, Irving, Texas, 75061 2526 Manana Drive, Dallas, Texas, 75220 4101 Lindbergh Drive, Addison, Texas, 75001 3300 Garden Brook Drive, Farmers Branch, Texas, 75234 3113 C Garden Brook Drive, Farmers Branch, Texas, 75234 3109 Garden Brook Drive, Farmers Branch, Texas, 75234   DFW III & Houston I ,   Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston area, Texas Scavo represented Basis in its off-market purchase of this 461,318-square-foot asset. Bailey represented seller Cofe. Current tenants are Francisco & Sons Auto, Ministerios Linaje Escogido, LX Granite, and Roof Management Services, Inc. Basis plans for future exterior renovations, roof replacement, HVAC replacement, drainage, landscape, and more. The properties are located at:     1510 Randolph Street, Carrollton, Texas, 75006 2650 Northaven Road, Dallas, Texas, 75229 10031 Monroe Drive, Dallas, Texas, 75229 3201-3217 E Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, Texas, 76010 13475 Fondren Road, Houston, Texas, 77085 7330-7334 Rampart Street, Houston, Texas, 77081   Pinellas Business Center,   10901-11001 Roosevelt Boulevard & 1000 112th Circle North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 Basis, represented by Scavo, closed on this 206,275-square-foot property for $27.2 million. Jeff McFadden of Taurus Investment Holdings represented the seller Taurus. Located at the entrance to Pinellas County within the Gateway submarket, the property affords tenants unmatched connectivity to major thoroughfares connecting the Tampa Bay region, most notably Roosevelt Boulevard, Interstate 275, State Road 694 (Gandy Boulevard) and U.S. Highway 19. Current tenants include Sensidyne, Leidos, Curant Health Florida, IDEXX Reference Laboratories, and Sunbelt Home Solutions. Basis plans for asphalt seal coating, landscaping and site clean-up, full roof maintenance, and replacement and repair of all HVAC units. “This complex portfolio acquisition further reflects Basis’ ability to outperform and grow in this tough economic environment. Our goal of growth and expansion, while others are in wait-and-see mode, is working,” said Scavo. “Not only did we expand and strengthen our presence in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with adding more than 1 million square feet of shallow bay/multi-tenant industrial space, but it also brings us closer to owning and/or managing over 1 million square feet of property in the Tampa MSA by the end of 2024. We are proud of our team. This was a tough transaction, in a tough market, but we got it done.” ML Staff. Images courtesy of Basis Industrial

International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama as his fifth and final captain’s assistant for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which returns to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29. TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 25: Coach Shigeki Maruyama works with Hideki Matsuyama of Team Japan during a practice round at Kasumigaseki Country Club ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Maruyama joins fellow captains assistants Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas, who were announced in April. Maruyama competed in the Presidents Cup in 1998 and 2000, compiling a 6-2-0 record, including a 5-0-0 performance in the former, when the International Team defeated the U.S. Team in Australia, 20.5-11.5. He is one of only six players in Presidents Cup history to post a 5-0-0 record on the week. “I am thrilled to announce Shigeki as my fifth captain’s assistant for the 2024 Presidents Cup,” said Weir. “His record in this event speaks for itself, but more importantly, he adds a trusted voice in our team room and is someone who will inspire these 12 players through his unwavering support and dynamic personality.” Maruyama won three times during his PGA TOUR career, with his last victory coming at the 2003 Wyndham Championship. The 54-year-old posted three top-10 finishes in major championships, including a career-best T4 at the 2004 U.S. Open. Maruyama won 10 times on the Japan Golf Tour and represented Japan in the 2002 World Cup of Golf, partnering with Toshimitsu Izawa to notch a two-shot victory over the United States team of Phil Mickelson and David Toms. “Representing the International Team in the Presidents Cup as both a player in 1998 and 2000 and later as a captain’s assistant in 2013 was one of the most valuable experiences in my golf career,” said Maruyama. “I am honored that Captain Weir has given me the chance to be part of this special brotherhood once again. I am looking forward to a great week in Montreal and helping to deliver an incredible atmosphere for our players and fans in Canada.” For more information about the Presidents Cup, or to purchase tickets, please visit PresidentsCup.com . About the Presidents Cup The Presidents Cup is a biennial global team competition between the United States and an International team that represents the rest of the world excluding Europe. The competition, which is contested by the PGA TOUR, alternates between venues in the U.S. and overseas. The Presidents Cup will return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 24-29, 2024. Since the event’s inception in 1994, more than $56 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup. Cognizant , Rolex and 1Password are the exclusive Global Partners of the Presidents Cup. Follow them on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram , or visit PresidentsCup.com for more information. About Rolex An unrivaled reputation for quality and expertise. Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacturer. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Perpetual watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization. The word ‘Perpetual’ is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 600 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet. About 1Password Trusted by over 150,000 businesses and millions of consumers, 1Password offers identity security and access management solutions built for the way people work and live today. 1Password is on a mission to eliminate the conflict between security and productivity while securing every sign-in for every app on every device. As the provider of the most-used enterprise password manager, 1Password continues to innovate on its strong foundation to offer security solutions relied upon by companies of all sizes, including Associated Press, Salesforce, GitLab, Under Armour, and Intercom. About Cognizant Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. They help their clients modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences to stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, they're improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant . By ML Staff. Content/Image courtesy of PGA

If you’re a brand looking to promote your business via Instagram, is the platform for you? To answer this question, you should look at what brands are using Instagram to promote their services. Image by YY apartment / Adobestock First, Let’s Look at the Statistics Knowing some statistics is important to understanding what types of brands are using Instagram. Let's look at some of them. Age If you look at the age demographics, Instagram is still a platform dominated by Millennials, Gen-Z, and the rising Gen Alpha. Only 32.2% of users are over the age of 35, and only 7.5% are over 55. Therefore, the brands that are on Instagram are those that appeal to teens, young adults, and adults who are a little older but not quite middle-aged yet. If your business is promoting retirement planning, you may not get many results. However, if your business involves fashion, food, and even real estate, you may get some bites. Reason for Using Instagram About 86% of people say they use Instagram for entertainment. This is the far majority, so if your brand focuses on entertaining people, you may find success. You may be an indie studio promoting its first video game or a theme park coming to town soon. Even if your business is boring, such as car insurance, you may find bites if you can make your content entertaining, funny, or relatable. Image by DisobeyArt / Adobestock What Media Do They Enjoy? Most people enjoy Reels on Instagram. While photos do well and will continue to shine, Reels are more engaging these days. They are short-form videos similar to TikTok, lasting under 90 seconds. Therefore, brands that can utilize snappy video editing will shine on Instagram. If you can catch a viewer’s attention in less than a few seconds, you will have a successful brand. Also, if you make Reels, learn how you can get   more Reels views with ViralGrowing . How Many People Are on the Platform? Finally, one question you may have is, "How many people use Instagram?" It turns out a lot. Over 2 billion people have an Instagram account, which means that you can reach a good chunk of the world's population by being on Instagram. However, this also means that you have much competiton. Therefore, brands that stand out can meet a need or offer something better than competitors can succeed. If you can make interesting posts and engage with your audience, you will stand out! What Brands Do The Best on Instagram? Finally, what are the brands doing the best on the platform? As it turns out, the top brands are closely related. First is fashion at 12% of the top search category. Second is hair and makeup at 11%, and then 10% for interior design. This makes sense. Many Instagram users are young and like beauty, so fashion, hair, and makeup are going to be on top. People on this platform are also fans of aesthetically pleasing homes, so interior design works well. If your brand is any of the above, then great! If not, you can still do well if you can integrate a visual appeal into your brand. Image by Kaspars Grinvalds / Adobestock Some Brands That Do Well on Instagram Now that we have listed some statistics, here are some   big-name brands  that are doing well on the platform: Starbucks Starbucks is a hit among college students, white-collar workers, and anyone who wants to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee. Coffee is a type of drink that lends itself to lovely photography. Think of latte art or having a cup of coffee with a book next to you. Starbucks also integrates photos of its customers enjoying their products, adding a bit of user-generated content to there. Red Bull Energy drinks appeal to young adults who are trying to pull an all-nighter, so it makes sense why Red Bull would be on here. Their Instagram consists of extreme sports, which can be greatly entertaining and help illustrate the "Wings" that Red Bull gives you. Lowe’s If you’re a young adult moving into your first home, you may go to Lowe’s. Lowe's Instagram shows their products being used in homes and is full of interior decorating. Sephora Sephora is a large makeup store, and their Instagram would be doing well. Their account has makeup tutorials, new product announcements, and videos of people using their products. Plus, they have a bit of activism on their account, showing that they're more than just beauty products. Liquid Death Another   brand   that does well on Instagram is Liquid Death, a sparkling water company with a bit of an edge to its marketing. Its slogan is "Murder your thirst," and its cans have edgy artwork on them. As such, its Instagram is full of eyebrow-raising content and celebrity endorsements. Oreo Oreo is a beloved cookie that can get away with the "Don't advertise your product too much" rule. Each post they make features that famous cookie, usually accompanied by a meme or something relatable. Just looking at these posts for a few seconds will give you a craving for Oreos, so don't lurk on there too long if you're looking for inspiration. Nike Nike combines fashion with sports. Their Instagram account is filled with athletes performing well in their Nikes, aesthetically pleasing shots, and more. If you’re a fashion brand, it’s worth it to take a page or two out of Nike. Final Thoughts As you can see, many popular brands are doing well on Instagram. Instagram has a majority of young folks hooked, so if your brand can serve them in some way and you know how to reach your audience, you will succeed. So start an Instagram and come up with a marketing plan. Have one that utilizes Reels, photos, and a variety of hashtags. If you keep posting, you will find your audience and can engage with them. As your audience grows, always look out for changing audience demands or opportunities to take advantage of. We hope this article helped. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Adobestock

AlphaTauri has announced the Austrian tennis player Joël Schwärzler as a global Brand Ambassador. As one of the world top leading junior tennis talents, the 18-year-old Austrian is right at the forefront of men's tennis. Joël will now be dressed by AlphaTauri on and off court. "I am very happy to now officially be part of the AlphaTauri family. As a fashion enthusiast, it means a lot to me to dress well and feel comfortable on and off the court. When I'm well dressed, I feel better," says Joël. "We are particularly pleased to welcome Joël, one of the most promising Austrian tennis talents, as a Brand Ambassador. As a premium fashion brand from Red Bull, it is in the AlphaTauri DNA to be closely aligned with the world of sports and to work with the greatest upcoming athletes in the world," says Karl-Heinz Lauterbach, CEO of Global Consumer Products Red Bull. About Joël Schwärzler: Joel Schwärzler is a professional tennis player who was born in South Africa and raised in Austria. A former world junior number one, he made his ATP main draw debut this year at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel. Joel, who is coached by Jürgen Melzer, is quickly rising in the ATP rankings after winning his very first Challenger title earlier this year. Joel, who enjoys playing golf and football in his free time, is considered one of Austria's biggest tennis prospects. About AlphaTauri: Founded by Red Bull, AlphaTauri is a premium fashion label that injects apparel with the functional qualities of sportswear, keeping the essence of elegance at the core of its values. As an integral part of the Red Bull family, AlphaTauri strives to influence and inspire both athletes and fashion enthusiasts alike, bridging the gap between style and function, with a strong focus on comfort and performance. AlphaTauri is available in selected retail and online at alphatauri.com @alphatauri #FunctionalFashionByRedBull #fitsbodyandmind By ML Staff. Content/Image courtesy of RedBull

Taylor Swift has cultivated a global brand that might seem incompatible with the darkness, abjection and monstrosity of gothic fiction. But, beneath the friendship bracelets and sequins, her global Eras Tour  makes extensive use of gothic elements to engage her audience and articulate her feminist politics. (L-R) Bram Stoker, Taylor Swift and Mary Shelley. Wiki Commons/Disney+ Her elaborate set designs , for example, incorporate subjects common to gothic art and use contrasting light and shadow and exaggerated perspectives to depict the sublime and the supernatural. Swift’s costumes, meanwhile, transform images of monstrous femininity – the lamia , the witch , the madwoman – into symbols of empowerment. The potency and global reach of Swift’s creations demonstrate not only the gothic genre’s pervasiveness but its renewed cultural relevance. Her use of the genre has even provoked right-wing accusations that she performs dark magic . The gothic tradition was made famous by novelists like Ann Radcliffe and Mary Shelley. Writing during the industrial revolution, their popular novels used desire, the supernatural and the sublime to ask questions about gender, power and personal freedom. Like these writers, the value of Swift’s work is often undervalued due to biases over gender and genre , but she too references and develops a rich literary tradition . Her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024), includes several forays into the literary gothic. While tracks like The Albatross and The Black Dog rework imagery from Samuel Coleridge and British folklore , the Fortnight video references Shelley’s Frankenstein . In May, when Tortured Poets was incorporated into the tour, Swift designated this new era “Female Rage The Musical” . On stage, Swift performs Fortnight in a literary asylum , and in Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? she levitates beneath a giant screen depicting a haunted house, which eventually shows her face with glowing eyes and a morbid pallor. A monstrous Reputation Swift’s personal experiences of misogyny have led her to explore what film scholar Barbara Creed calls “radical abjection” . This concept reinterprets “the monstrous-feminine as a figure who embraces abjection … while questioning patriarchy, anthropocentrism, misogyny and the meaning of the human”. In 2016, Swift was derided repeatedly by Ye (the rapper formerly known as Kanye West), who released a video of himself in bed with a naked Swift lookalike . She was accused by many social media users of being a “fake” and a “snake” . The album Reputation (2017) was her response, asserting her power as an artist revelling in monstrous femininity. It spoke to Swift’s growing awareness of her position as a woman in a patriarchal culture . On I Did Something Bad , she sings: “They’re burning all of the witches / Even if you aren’t one.” The video for Reputation’s lead single, Look What You Made me Do , shows her as both a zombie and a snake queen. Ready For It stages a cyber-gothic battle between the apparently real Swift and her artificial doppelgänger, before revealing that both are, in fact, androids. These videos further support research on Swift’s exploration of the self in her music. Through these songs and their videos, she shows that our identities are multifaceted and constructed. But she also continues to value authenticity and community. Gender identity and the power of ‘Swift gothic’ Medievalist Holly Crocker draws a connection between the gender-based bias depicted in William Langland’s allegorical poem Piers Plowman (c. 1380) and Swift’s songs. This suggests another parallel between her work and that of classic gothic novelists like Radcliffe. Writing in the romantic period, Radcliffe used the trappings of medieval Europe to explore female subjectivity at a time when political, economic and intellectual upheavals were re-framing what it meant to be human. In concert, Swift’s use of the gothic to explore gender and subjectivity has one advantage unavailable to her literary precursors: the power of her music to enhance the emotions and sense of self through audience participation. Eras creates an almost unprecedented feeling of community and acceptance , allowing fans to explore different facets of themselves as they sing and dance along together. “We are mosaics of our worst selves and our best selves,” Swift argues in Reputation’s liner notes. The authentic self, she suggests, exists “somewhere between our well-lit profile photo and our driver’s license shot”. I recently undertook an unofficial research trip to see Eras in Edinburgh. Irrespective of age, gender or body-type, many concertgoers turned out in gothic garb, ranging from Reputation’s snake-patterned bodysuit to Willow’s witch cowls to Folklore’s gothic foliage . The high point for myself – and for my 13-year-old chaperone – was an acoustic rendition of Tortured Poets track The Bolter , which was inspired by the unconventional life of English aristocrat Idina Sackville (1893-1955). Combining critique with feminist biography, “Swift gothic” is more than simply the latest development in one of our most cherished literary traditions. It has also corresponded with an exponential increase in Swift’s popularity , commercial success and cultural power . With unprecedented global reach, Swift gothic addresses audiences with deep questions about selfhood and culture. Speaking to us with pervasiveness and power, Swift’s works are every bit as profound, significant and foundational as Radcliffe’s Mysteries of Udolpho, Shelley’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. By ML Staff. Image Courtesy of Matthew J.A. Green Associate Professor in Literature and Popular Culture, University of Nottingham. Special thanks to The Conversation .