Day 10 of the US Open brought a star-studded lineup to Arthur Ashe Stadium, featuring celebrities, athletes, and entertainers. Bethenny Frankel, visibly excited to see Simone Biles, recorded the 11-time Olympic medalist from the media pit. Orlando Bloom, disguised in a hat and sunglasses, quietly slipped in alongside Wendi Murdoch, while Jason Bateman posed for photos on the Blue Carpet. A host of athletes, including Skylar Diggins-Smith, Grant Hill, Dwyane Wade, and Tracy McGrady, were in attendance to support fellow sports stars. The event also saw couples like Keegan-Michael Key with his wife Elle Key, and Michael Shannon with a date. Olympian Sunny Choi co-hosted an Equity Talk with Bowen Yang on the importance of AAPI voices in sports, while other notable guests included Daniel Dae Kim, Vera Wang, and Laverne Cox. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of USTA

Dakota Johnson stunned in a dark brown Gucci slip dress featuring black lace intarsia at the Bulgari Studio Party during New York Fashion Week on September 4, 2024, in Brooklyn, NY. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Gucci / Getty Images

Experience an extraordinary evening of gourmet dining and refined elegance, "To Live and Dine". This is a unique opportunity to experience the best of Miami’s culinary scene in style. Sample bites from Casadonna, Dirty French, Kissaki, Vitolo, La Natural, Aba, Sereia, Amalia, Kojin 2.0, Bellita Pasta, Boulud Sud, Cookingenie, Sushi Sake, Elastika, Truluck's and more!  Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 Time: 6:00PM - 9:00PM Address Paradise Plaza Event Space 151 NE 41st Street 3rd Floor Miami FL, 33137 ML Staff. Content/image(s) courtesy of MDD

Well folks, it’s that time of year. The 2024-2025 schedule has been released for everyone’s perusal and, as is the norm, we’ll highlight some of the hottest matchups of the year. We’ll also focus a bit on the second annual HEAT In-Season Tournament and the bracket Miami finds themselves in. Let’s jump right in: 1. Opening The Season at Home Against In-State Rival Orlando The HEAT will kick off the 2024-25 NBA season on October 23rd facing off against their in-state foes, the Orlando Magic. The Magic, who made the postseason in 2024 after a three-year drought, feature rising stars in Paolo Banchero (a first-time All-Star in 2023-24) and Franz Wagner. They’ve also added to their backcourt, bringing in two-time NBA Champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to bolster the Magic’s perimeter shooting and bring in some additional defensive acumen (last year’s Magic team finished 2nd in Defensive Rating, but just 22nd in Offense). The HEAT went 3-1 against Orlando last year, with the signature win of the matchup a 99-96 victory back in January that featured a go-ahead jumper by Bam Adebayo with 18 seconds left. Bam vs. Banchero has a chance to become one of the league’s signature one-on-one matchups, with both players of similar size, strength and skill. 2. HEAT In-Season Tournament Begins In the Motor City The second annual HEAT In-Season Tournament begins on November 12th where Miami will hit the road to take on the Detroit Pistons to begin the Group Play stage. To give a short tournament refresher, the event features six groups of teams (Miami is in East Group B this year) who will face off in Group Play matches. Once Group Play has concluded, eight teams are selected to advance to the Knockout Stage: the teams with the best standing in Group Play games in each of the six groups and two wild card teams. Along with the Pistons, Miami shares a group with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Indiana Pacers, and the Toronto Raptors. Miami fared well against Detroit last season, going a perfect 4-0, though three of those matchups proved to be nail biters. Memorably, Adebayo was able to flash his heroics on March 17th as he drained a game-winning three to sink the Pistons. 3. Giannis and The Bucks Come to Miami in a Nationally Televised Showdown The HEAT’s In-Season Tournament Group Play continues with a marquee matchup against Giannis Antetokounmpo and longtime Eastern Conference rival Milwaukee Bucks on November 26th. By this point, the stakes will likely be clear for all tournament participants wishing to get to the knockout stage, and it’s possible Miami will be playing for a chance to progress further in the tournament. The Bucks are bringing back much of their core, with Antetokounmpo supported by the elite backcourt shooting and playmaking of Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton. Offseason additions in Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince, as well as one-time HEAT guard Delon Wright, have given the Bucks an injection of depth. 4. Lebron and The Lakers Visit Kaseya as HEAT Kick Off December Homestand The HEAT will host LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers on December 4th, opening a stretch where Miami will play five of their next six games at home. LeBron, who will be 26 days away from turning 40 years old by the time of this matchup, remains an All-Star level force despite racking up nearly 60,000 NBA minutes in the regular season over the span of 20-plus years. He has shown few signs of slowing down, having played in 71 games this past year and making the All-NBA Third Team. The matchup will also reunite some Olympic gold medalists as Adebayo and Coach Erik Spoelstra got to spend their summer alongside LeBron and AD as members of the Team USA Men’s basketball team. Though there are sure to be some warm daps and handshakes before tipoff, expect a heated battle during the game. Last season, Adebayo had one of his finest showings against the Lakers, dropping a 22-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist triple double in a thrilling one-point victory back in November. 5. Kicking off 2025 Against Zion and the Pelicans The HEAT have a New Year’s Day matchup on the calendar this season, hosting the explosive Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pels made a big offseason acquisition, acquiring former Hawks combo guard Dejounte Murray to pair in the backcourt with the sweet-shooting CJ McCollum. HEAT fans may remember a less-than-pleasant memory of Murray sinking a game-winning three against the Miami last January and now the versatile guard brings his skillset to a Pelicans team very much on the cusp of breaking through in the Western Conference. 6. West Coast Trip Features Retooled California Foes The HEAT’s annual west coast sojourn starts a bit later than it did last year, with Miami slated for a six-game journey beginning on January 6th as they head to Sacramento to take on De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and the Kings. Joining their high-powered offense is scoring machine DeMar DeRozan, who at age 35 remains one of the NBA’s most potent bucket getters. Outside of their three All-Star talents, the Kings also feature a rising talent in Keegan Murray, a sweet shooting forward who went 13-18 from three-point land and averaged 30.5 points per game in his two matchups against the HEAT last season. The next day, Miami will head to San Fran to take on the inimitable Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs have retooled much of their roster around Curry, with three-point specialist Buddy Hield replacing longtime Warrior Klay Thompson and supporting castmates Kyle Anderson and De’Anthony Melton rounding out Golden State’s new-look rotation. The HEAT will wrap up their road trip with battles against the Clippers and Lakers on January 13th and 15th, though this will be the first time since 1998 that the two L.A. clubs will not share a home arena. Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers will host Miami at the newly opened Intuit Dome in Inglewood while LeBron and the Lakers remain in the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. 7. Hosting The Champs Since the turn of the decade, it’s difficult to dispute that the two most prolific Eastern Conference Teams have been the Miami HEAT and the Boston Celtics. Having met four times in the last five seasons, these clubs are an even 2-2 against one another in their playoff matchups, though many a HEAT fan may lament that they were shorthanded during their most recent bout in the First Round of the Eastern Conference playoffs this past season. Regardless, Boston won their first championship since 2008 and will make their first trip to the Kaseya Center on January 31st. The champs are bringing back their fearsome starting five of Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis. Their combination of high-volume three-point shooting and defensive versatility from their entire five-man unit makes these Celtics formidable as they aim to defend their title. 8. Off To The Alamo To Take On Wembanyama After their matchup with Boston, Miami will begin another road trip by heading west to face reigning Rookie-of-the-Year Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on February 1st. “Wemby,” a 7’4” dynamo with the perimeter skills of a guard mixed with dominant rim protection, is already one of the league’s must-see athletes and entering his sophomore year is poised for a leap into the league’s upper echelon. The Spurs upgraded their roster around Wembanyama, drafting point guard Stephon Castle with the 4th overall pick, signing 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul, and trading for forward Harrison Barnes to bring an infusion of high-upside youth and veteran stability to a fascinating core of talent. Though Wembanyama has a roughly seven-inch height advantage on Adebayo, Miami’s primary defender for these matchups, Bam has acquitted himself exceedingly well in their two prior meetings, with Bam forcing Wemby into 10 turnovers and just 15-35 shooting (42 percent) as Miami won both games. Victor may have a bit of added incentive to beat Miami, as Bam and Team USA took down Wembanyama’s silver medal-winning French National Team in a thrilling finale in Paris. 9. Springtime Showdown at The Garden Miami will make their only trip to Madison Square Garden to face off against their longtime rival New York Knicks on March 17th. The Knicks just had their best season in nearly a decade with star guard Jalen Brunson turning into one of the NBA’s most fearsome scorers. Building off their momentum, the Knicks swung a trade for talented two-way forward Mikal Bridges and are expected to be among the class of the conference this year, also bringing back forward OG Anunoby and extending Brunson. The last time these two clubs met, HEAT guard Terry Rozier exploded for a HEAT season-high 34 points and eight three pointers as Miami managed a 109-99 victory and will again need that sort of shot-making to match up with a deep and explosive Knicks club. 10. The Final of Four Philly Showdowns With Seeding Potential On The Line Last season’s Eastern Conference featured a true logjam from seeds 2-8 as only four games separated Milwaukee (50-32; 2nd seed) and Miami (46-36; 8th seed), with Philly right in that same mix at 47-35. It was a season that demonstrated the value of each and every game, with a handful of bounces having the potential to completely overhaul nearly every playoff matchup held in the East last season. It is reasonable to assume a similar pattern will follow this year with many of the top seeds keeping their cores intact. The 76ers, having added nine-time All-Star Paul George, now feature a prodigious trio with All-Star Tyrese Maxey and former league MVP (and fellow USA gold medalist) Joel Embiid. It’s safe to bet that this April 7th showdown against the Sixers will carry some significant playoff implications for both clubs. Click here to buy your 2024-25 Single Game Tickets! By ML Staff. Images courtesy of NBA.

USTA Florida, originally known as the Florida Lawn Tennis Association, owes its existence to four founding fathers, Eddie Herr, Gardnar Mulloy, Edward Turville, and Clarence Varner, who had an idea and turned it into reality.   The vision of these four individuals to secede from the Southern Lawn Tennis Association, in 1949, to form the Florida Lawn Tennis Association started as a way to better meet the needs for the Florida population of tennis competitors. This move to become an independent Section has played a pivotal role in helping create what would become one of the most influential tennis organizations in the entire country.  Eddie Herr, a prominent figure in Florida tennis, was instrumental in the establishment of USTA Florida. As a passionate advocate for the sport, especially in the junior tennis space, Herr recognized the need for an organization that could promote tennis at all levels across the state. His vision and tireless efforts laid the groundwork for the formation of what would become USTA Florida, setting the stage for the organization’s future growth and success.  Another Founding Father, Gardnar Mulloy, who was a legendary tennis player, reaching the top-ten ranking the world, and a great coach, brought valuable experience and expertise to the table. With his career spanning several decades, Mulloy understood all aspects of the game and the challenges facing tennis enthusiasts in Florida. His insights and leadership played a crucial role in shaping the mission and objectives of USTA Florida, ensuring that the organization remained focused on its goal of promoting tennis excellence with a competitive ground.  Edward Turville, a respected tennis administrator, was another key figure in the founding of FLTA. Turville’s background in sports management and governance provided the organization with the necessary structure to thrive. His commitment to excellence and dedication to the sport helped establish USTA Florida as a premier tennis organization. He was named the first president of the FLTA.  Finally, Clarence Varner, a passionate tennis and community leader, rounded out the group of founding fathers. Varner’s support and advocacy for tennis at the grassroots level were instrumental in the early success of the FLTA. His efforts to promote the sport among communities helped make Florida one of the world’s hotspots for junior and adult tennis.  Together, these four shared a common goal, which was to elevate the sport of tennis in Florida, especially on the competitive side. Without the bold decisions that Herr, Mulloy, Turville, and Varner made, Florida Tennis would not have the reputation it is proud to claim today.  By Jaret Kappelman, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for USTA Florida. Content/Image courtesy of USTA Florida. Support the USTA Florida by becoming a member today.

The moment you descend into St. Barths, you know you’re in for something truly spectacular. In fact, the arrival into St. Barts offers the same bragging rights as being on the island itself…just ask anyone who's been.   The crystalline waters are dotted with yachts, often of the mega variety, and the beaches filled with sunbathers make for a stunning not to mention unforgettable arrival scene. Nestled into the hillside are white villas with red roofs and sprawling vistas. Despite being a small island, it’s a hotel heavy-hitter, with nearly a dozen five-star properties sporting some of the biggest names in luxury hospitality.   St. Barths has earned a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous where they consistently retreat to the tropical paradise to enjoy its laid-back luxury. The island blends the sophistication of St.-Tropez with the laissez-fare Caribbean lifestyle—which means it’s exclusive yet totally unpretentious. The perfect example of this is Le Toiny hotel which exemplifies laid-back luxury at its finest and is our favorite spot to stay.  The hotel’s neutral color palette and understated decor will make you feel like you’re living in the pages of an interior design magazine. Le Toiny has 22 unique, independent, self-standing ultra-comfortable Suites each one offering a private pool, large terrace and overlooking wonderful Toiny Bay and their own private beach. Spread across 42 acres- which means you never have to see another guest the entire time if you want.  Their beach club and restaurants  offer exclusive 5 star service for guests staying on property. Be ready to enjoy a new wave of exclusivity and service like never before in St Barths at this hotel. The island's luxe air of mystery and remoteness are part of what makes it a seasonal staple for jet setters and superyachts as they follow the sun to the Caribbean in winter but dont delay booking your trip, hot spots like Le Toiny are always the first on the island to sell out.  If your’e looking to socialize you can head into Gustavía, which is full of upscale restaurants with a focus on local seafood, the default for hotels is five stars, and the beach clubs provide quite the party. We love Gyp Sea Beach and Nikki beach for a fun filled day party, Bagatelle, Le Ti, and La Petite Plage to dance the night away and Le Toiny, or Bonito for an unforgettable meal. Want to plan something extra special and exclusive? We recommend  Maud Versavel at One of a kind saint barts who can make any wish a reality.   Whether in quest of exotic scenery or seeking exclusive travel, this prestigious Caribbean jewel is much more than a secret island or a temple of laid back refinement, here from your mind's eye to real life, the most memorable vacation you will ever experience starts here. By ML staff. Images courtesy of Hotel Le Toiny | St Barth.

On Thursday, the US Open hosted its second annual "Champions of Equality" event, a celebration of the trailblazing women who have fought for equality in sports and entertainment. Honored at the event was acclaimed writer and producer Shonda Rhimes, recognized for her significant contributions alongside a group of grassroots leaders from across the country.  Tennis legends Billie Jean King, Robin Roberts, and Maria Sharapova were also in attendance, adding to the star power of the evening. The Blue Carpet saw its share of stylish appearances, with actor Elizabeth Banks and Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Chiles turning heads.  Banks opted for a chic black dress paired with sporty sneakers, while Chiles embraced a tennis-inspired look with a tennis skirt and a letterman cardigan. In a lighthearted moment ahead of the "Champions of Equality" event, Billie Jean King posed with her Barbie doppelganger on the Blue Carpet, delighting fans and attendees.  As a nod to singer Maren Morris, who was present at the event, her hit song “In the Middle” was played over the Arthur Ashe Stadium's public address system as the crowd prepared for the women's singles semifinal matchup between American Jessica Pegula and Karolina Muchova.  Sports stars were out in force as well. Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey arrived with powerhouse sports agent Rich Paul, and Mets players Luis Torrens, Francisco Lindor, and Jose Quintana made a quick trip from Citi Field to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to catch the action. Former USWNT star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd turned heads on the Blue Carpet, showing off her baby bump while attending with her husband, Brian Hollis. The couple made the most of Day 11 of the US Open, turning the evening into a babymoon date night. Other notable attendees included athletes and celebrities such as Deja Kelly, Dexter Darden, Josh Hart, Liza Koshy, Molly Ringwald, Mathew Barzal, Monica Seles, Paul Wesley, and Victor Cruz, who all came to celebrate the spirit of equality and enjoy an exciting night of tennis.   The US Open continues to be more than just a premier tennis tournament—it's a gathering place for influential figures from all walks of life, coming together to champion important causes and share unforgettable experiences. By ML Staff. Images by USTA

The US Open was brimming with star power on Day 9, with celebrities making waves both on and off the court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Comedian Kevin Hart was seen enjoying a lively conversation with journalist Katie Couric during the men's singles quarterfinal match, while actress Busy Philipps brought new beau Jon Kasbe as her plus-one to the evening session. Meanwhile, Jason Sudeikis and girlfriend Elsie Hewitt attempted a discreet entrance through the VIP doors, only to be caught by the Arthur Ashe jumbotron. The crowd erupted with excitement when tennis legend Roger Federer made an appearance inside Arthur Ashe Stadium during the highly anticipated match between Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng. Adding to the evening’s entertainment, two-time Olympic medalist Laurie Hernandez beamed with enthusiasm as she performed the coin toss for the quarterfinals showdown. Reality TV favorites and "Giggly Squad" co-hosts Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner graced the Blue Carpet, sharing their eagerness for the evening’s matches. Meanwhile, Kathryn Newton, star of "Lisa Frankenstein," joined Olympians Katie Ledecky, Daryl Homer, Chiaka Ogbogu, and Daniela Moroz in the Polo Ralph Lauren Suite to watch the men’s singles action. Other notable attendees spotted on Day 9 included The Chainsmokers, Deborra-Lee Furness, Boris Kodjoe, Miles McBride, Ego Nwodim, Jerami Grant, Roger Goodell, and Shonda Rhimes, making it a truly glittering affair. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of USTA

The award-winning spirit offers a new, unexpected take on American whisky Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has joined forces with Moët Hennessy, a subsidiary of LVMH, to create SirDavis, a groundbreaking new whisky. The first-of-its-kind joint venture reflects a shared vision between Knowles-Carter and Moët Hennessy, two vanguards of culture and craft, around the future of American whisky. This unique product was years in the making after Knowles-Carter, a Japanese whisky enthusiast, sought out Moët Hennessy to help craft a one-of-a-kind flavor profile that reflected her whisky ideal. Meanwhile, Moët Hennessy had been exploring ways to deepen its presence in the American whisky market, making the timing kismet for a partnership between the world-leading luxury group and Knowles-Carter. “I’ve always been drawn to the power and confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling,” says SirDavis Founder Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. “When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whisky was fated. SirDavis is a way for me to pay homage to him, uniting us through a new shared legacy. In partnering with Moët Hennessy, we have crafted a delicious American whisky that respects tradition but also empowers people to experience something new and unique in the category. You can taste it better than I could ever tell you — welcome, SirDavis.” SirDavis is named in honor of Davis Hogue, Knowles-Carter’s paternal great-grandfather, who was a farmer and a moonshiner in the American South during Prohibition. He stashed whisky bottles in the empty knots of cedar trees for friends and kin to find and enjoy. For Knowles-Carter, it was this discovery that made the idea of creating a whisky brand feel predestined. Four generations later, the legacy comes to life - rather than hidden in the trees, bottles of SirDavis proudly grace the top shelves of fine purveyors of spirits around the world.  “SirDavis is not only a revelatory and exceptional American Whisky, which we are very proud of. It is also a testament of the unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, heritage and innovation shared by LVMH and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter,” said Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH. Moët Hennessy tapped Dr. Bill Lumsden, one of the world’s most awarded and highly regarded Master Distillers for his work on Scotch whisky brands Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, to lead on whisky creation. Lumsden selected the brand’s bespoke mash bill — one of the rarest new offerings in the world of American whisky composed of 51% rye and 49% malted barley — to serve as the backbone of the liquid. Lumsden then combined traditional whisky-making techniques to impart an elegant mouthfeel and texture reminiscent of Japanese and Scotch whiskies, while retaining the robust and deep flavors typical of classic American rye. “With SirDavis, we looked to challenge the category norms and offer something new in the space,” said Lumsden. “The distinctive grain selection and unusual secondary maturation in sherry casks helped us achieve a signature profile completely unique to SirDavis, one of bold sophistication.” Moët Hennessy and Knowles-Carter’s shared commitment to excellence was key to the partnership and the product. To validate SirDavis’s quality, the liquid was anonymously submitted to numerous prestigious spirits competitions prior to launch. SirDavis won Best In Class for American Whiskey from the 2023 SIP Awards, outperforming over 100 other entries in the category. Awarded to only one brand per category, this award is reserved for premium spirits receiving scores in the pinnacle of their respective categories and is SIP’s highest acclaim from consumer judges. Other notable scores include a Gold Medal (95 points) from the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition and a 93-point rating from the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Knowles-Carter also lent her visionary artistic direction to the brand’s bottle design - a tall, eye-catching bottle with intentional design elements that make the vessel an unmistakable beacon of luxury. The SirDavis bottle is striking and clean, with ribbed glass that beautifully catches light and highlights the liquid. It also features a black medallion with a regal bronzed horse, emblematic of strength and respect and symbolizing Knowles-Carter’s Texas roots. In another nod to Knowles-Carter’s Southern heritage, the whisky is finished, blended and bottled in her home state of Texas. Unlike other acquired brands, SirDavis also makes history as Moët Hennessy’s first spirits brand developed entirely internally by Moët Hennessy in the United States. SirDavis is headquartered out of Houston, Texas. SirDavis retails for $89 and is available for pre-order via SirDavis.com . Product will be available at retail across the U.S. as well as in select airports (LAX/JFK/SFO) and stores in London, Paris, and Tokyo in September 2024. ABOUT SIRDAVIS AMERICAN WHISKY A first-of-its-kind joint venture, SirDavis reflects a shared vision between Moët Hennessy and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter around the future of American whisky. With a distinctive taste profile that delights both seasoned whisky connoisseurs and new enthusiasts, SirDavis is on a mission to redefine the category and invite new consumers to feel welcome to participate in the world of luxury whisky. Crafted with Moet Hennessy's own five-time International Whisky Competition Master Distiller of the Year Dr. Bill Lumsden, SirDavis offers a one-of-a-kind taste profile that redefines the taste of American whisky with inspiration from Japanese and Scottish styles. In an evolution from category norms, the SirDavis mash bill includes 51% rye and a noteworthy 49% barley. The spirit’s secondary maturation in sherry casks resulted in its silky, sophisticated profile with layers of dark red fruits and spices like clove and cinnamon. This duality of rounding out rye’s characteristically spicy notes with structured flavors of juicy red fruit offers an entirely new interpretation of this spirit, suitable for connoisseurs and newcomers alike. The award-winning liquid received Platinum and was named Best In Class by the 2023 SIP Awards, 95 points and Gold from the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition, and 93 points from the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. SirDavis is finished, blended and bottled in Knowles-Carter’s home state of Texas. ML Staff. Content/image(s) courtesy of LVMH

The USTA announced the 41 winners in the USTA’s annual Outstanding Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. Six of the 41 winners were Florida facilities. “Outstanding tennis facilities like the ones awarded with this honor help us to grow the game at the grassroots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Theodore Loehrke, Managing Director, Section Partnerships, USTA. “The great work of these facilities continues to support our shared mission of growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.” Nominated facilities were voted on in the following categories: Public Courts that are either small tennis centers with 2-11 courts or large tennis centers with 12 or more courts ; Private Facilities that offer both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis (small: 2-11 courts; large: 12 or more courts); and Educational Institutions such as colleges, universities, public and private grade schools, middle schools, or high schools. All 2024 award winners will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility. Todd Carlson poses at the USTA Outstanding Facility Awards ceremony in the indoor building at the 2024 US Open on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 in Flushing, NY. (David Nemec/USTA) In the category of Public Courts were Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center (Naples, Fla.) , Frank Veltri Tennis Center (Plantation, Fla.) , and Pompano Beach Tennis Center (Pompano Beach, Fla.). In the heart of Old Naples, the Allen Tennis Center offers top-notch facilities and programs for players of all levels and ages. With 12 LED-lit Har-Tru courts, shaded areas, cold-water fountains, and a tennis shop featuring the latest gear, the center provides a complete tennis experience. Plantation’s Frank Veltri Tennis Center has been the longstanding host of the prestigious Orange Bowl. Over the years, it has provided a platform for junior players from around the world to showcase their skills, helping to identify future tennis stars. The center’s historical significance in junior tennis development has cemented its place as a vital institution in the sport. The Pompano Beach Tennis Center offers 16 lighted clay courts, court rentals, leagues, lessons, and more including daily rentals, memberships, a pro shop, and exclusive member amenities. In the category of Private Facilities was Omni Amelia Island Resort (Fernandina Beach, Fla.) . This upscale resort on Amelia Island was the long-time site of the Bausch & Lomb Championships, a major WTA event that featured some of the greatest female players of all-time as champions, including Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Monica Seles, Venus Williams among many other Hall of Famers. The resort’s rich history and association with elite tennis add to its charm, making it a place where tennis and leisure harmoniously blend. In the category of Educational Institutions were IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and PayCargo Tennis Center (Miami). The IMG Academy in Bradenton is a tennis powerhouse that has made a significant impact on the sport in Florida. Founded by Nick Bollettieri, it has produced numerous tennis professionals, cementing its status as a premier tennis academy. The academy’s influence extends beyond Florida, with its reputation for developing elite players known worldwide. In April of this year thanks to the generosity of PayCargo, LLC, Florida International University (FIU) Athletics unveiled a fully renovated facility featuring six lighted competition-level tennis courts, shaded seating areas, new fencing, and FIU-branded windscreens. The facility also includes a live-streaming camera system for all six courts and an in-arena scoreboard, enabling fans both on-site and online to follow the Panthers more closely. Facilities were judged on the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics (including the use of signs and landscaping); amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in grassroots tennis programs. The full list of 2024 USTA Outstanding Facility Award winners are: Public Courts: Small Tennis Centers (2 to 11 courts) Academia Puertorriqueña de Tenis (San Juan, P.R.) Casper Tennis Complex (Casper, Wyo.) Center Recreation Complex Gallagher Tennis Courts (Lexington, Mass.) Littleton Golf and Tennis (Littleton, Colo.) Schaumburg Tennis Plus (Schaumburg, Ill.) Telluride Racquet Club (Telluride, Colo.) Waveland Triangle Clay Tennis Courts (Minneapolis) Public Courts: Large Tennis Centers (12 or more courts) Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center (Naples, Fla.) Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning (Bronx, N.Y.) Darling Tennis Center (Las Vegas) Denton Tennis and Pickleball Center (Denton, Texas) Frank Veltri Tennis Center (Plantation, Fla.) H-E-B Tennis Center Harlingen (Harlingen, Texas) Leftwich Tennis Center (Memphis, Tenn.) O’Connor Tennis Center (Montgomery, Ala.) Pelham Racquet Club (Pelham, Ala.) Pompano Beach Tennis Center (Pompano Beach, Fla.) Sioux Park Tennis Facility (Rapid City, S.D.) Washington Tennis & Education Foundation East Campus (Washington, D.C.) *named USTA Featured Facility of the Year Small Private Facilities (2-11 courts) Alpine Hills Tennis & Swimming Club (Portola Valley, Calif.) CourtSense at Bogota Racquet Club (Bogota, N.J.) Dedham Health and Athletic Complex (Dedham, Mass.) Forest Highlands Golf Club (Flagstaff, Ariz.) Life Time Frisco (Frisco, Texas) North Carolina State University Club (Raleigh, N.C.) Pearson Automotive Tennis Club (Zionsville, Ind.) Sea Pines Country Club (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) Tennis Addiction Sports Club (Exton, Pa.) Large Private Facilities (12 or more courts) Austin Tennis Academy (Austin, Texas) Canebrake Country Club (Hattiesburg Miss.) Genesis Health Clubs – Saw Mill Club (Mt. Kisco, N.Y.) Germantown Cricket Club (Philadelphia) New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club (New Orleans) Omni Amelia Island Resort (Fernandina Beach, Fla.)   Educational Institutions Barbara S. Wynne Tennis Center (Indianapolis) Grand Haven High School (Grand Haven, Mich.) IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) Lichtenberg Tennis Center (West Point, N.Y.) Mark Reilly Tennis Center (Jeffersonville, Ind.) Middle Tennessee State University Tennis Complex PayCargo Tennis Center (Miami) By ML Staff. Content/Image courtesy of USTA Florida. Support the USTA Florida by becoming a member today.

Environmental sustainability is a core pillar of the Omni Beach Life values story.  We spoke with Dean Richards, Miami-based designer of OBL Swimwear, about their commitment to sustainability and how it aligns with the Brand. “We are so proud to be partners with 4Ocean, an amazing organization dedicated to sustaining our oceans!”  Through their partnership, Omni Beach Life removes 200 pounds of plastic and waste from oceans each month! “Our customers care about sustainability and want to get in on the act.”  Since June, a portion of the proceeds from all sales of OBL Swimwear goes toward additional waste removal above and beyond their commitment to remove 200 pounds each month! This Brazilian-American brand transports us to the exotic beaches and vibrant beach culture of Brazil that inspired OBL Swimwear.  “We invite all women to embrace the carefree confidence of our blend of Brazilian heat and laid-back coastal cool.” “We strive to empower each woman with the notion that the beach is her natural habitat; with the confidence and comfort in her body and her bikini…knowing that the beach is not complete without her. There’s nothing more captivating than the beach walk of a self-empowered woman.  It’s why our models don’t wear shoes on the runway: to express the same bold, carefree confidence.” “Why is sustaining our oceans so vital to our brand?  Because the beach is our natural habitat and if we want to live the Omni Beach lifestyle, we must preserve it!” The freedom to be bold, fearless and unapologetically feminine.  To learn more about Omni Beach Life and shop the OBL Swimwear collection, visit www.OmniBeachLife.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/OmniBeachLife Contact: Info@OmniBeachLife.com By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Omni Beach Life

Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass — the names conjure greatness and hard-won freedoms for the individual and the cause of racial justice. Their lives, and the stories of two dozen more, come alive in William H. Johnson’s Fighters for Freedom. William H. Johnson, Swearing in George Washington, ca. 1945, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.653 Working from newspaper images, photographs published in Life and Ebony, and pictures from books in the Schomburg collection of the New York Public Library, Johnson created a pantheon of historic and contemporary leaders who fought for the freedom of the individual around the world. Through historic figures — Crispus Attucks, the first person killed in the American Revolution was one; Haitian rebel Toussaint L’Ouverture another---as well as scientists, educators, performers, and abolitionists, Johnson traced the stories and notable accomplishments of those who guided the country on a path toward social and political independence. He was also keenly attuned to the contemporary moment. Events in the lives of Marian Anderson, Joe Louis, and Paul Robeson focused the national spotlight on the inequities suffered at home by these international giants. During World War II, Johnson depicted heads of state in Europe, Asia, and the United States meeting in far flung cities, and he painted portraits of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi who worked to throw off colonial rule abroad. Rather than creating individual series featuring these fighters, as did Jacob Lawrence, a colleague who also taught at the Harlem Community Art Center, Johnson offered episodic vignettes that captured defining accomplishments, places, and sometimes multiple protagonists that told complete stories within a single image. Harriet Tubman, for example, shows the preeminent “conductor” of the Underground Railroad standing, rifle in hand, along a convergence of roads with the North Star bright above her head. At the lower right a bust-length portrait shows Tubman wrapped in the shawl presented to her by Queen Victoria. In Three Great Abolitionists, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and John Brown clasp hands in a yellow field with growing cotton, Gospel singers, a share cropper, and a lynched African American man. Marian Anderson is surrounded by flags and buildings representing cities around the world where she performed. In a small vignette at the center right, she shakes hands with Eleanor Roosevelt, who had arranged for Anderson to perform on the national mall, standing in front of the sculpture of Abraham Lincoln after the Daughters of the American Revolution cancelled her performance at Constitution Hall because she was black. Boxers frames Joe Louis between the cabin where he grew up and the army barracks where he served before beginning his reign as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949. Through the Fighters for Freedom, William H. Johnson celebrated defining moments that linked past and present individuals who, over the course of some two hundred years, had changed the lives of countless individuals across the globe. William H. Johnson (1901-1970), the man who painted the Fighters for Freedom, had struggled, too. As a seventeen-year-old, he left the Jim Crow life of Florence, South Carolina and headed for New York to become an artist. He worked as a laborer, saving money and building the painter’s skills that would earn him admission to the National Academy of Design. By the time he completed the course of study in 1926, he had won the Hallgarten Prize, the Canon Prize, and five more awards from the distinguished institution. Then, like so many other aspiring artists of his generation, he headed for Paris. There and in the south of France he painted expressionist landscapes and light-struck buildings that marked him as an up-and-coming modernist. On his return to the States, Jonson showed his work and won additional prizes. He spent time in New York and painted family and friends in Florence. In Washington, DC, he visited Harlem Renaissance writer and Howard University professor Alain Locke, who acted as something of an agent for Johnson. While staying at Locke’s home, he met poet Langston Hughes and presented Hughes with a painting. In 1930 Johnson returned to Europe, married Danish weaver and ceramist Holcha Krake. For the next eight years the couple lived and traveled throughout Denmark and Norway. They visited Tunisia, where he painted mosques and markets; in the Netherlands he studied the work of Vincent van Gogh. In Scandinavia Johnson had lived in a white European world. On his return to New York in late 1938, he embraced his blackness and put the brilliant expressionistic landscapes and portraits from the Scandinavian years behind him to focus on African American life at home. For the next seven years he painted share croppers in the south, hipsters in New York, jitterbug dancers, black soldiers training for war, religious subjects drawn from Negro spirituals, and, his last series, the Fighters for Freedom. By the mid-1940s, Johnson’s health had begun to deteriorate. Devastated by the recent death of his wife, he returned to Denmark, hoping to regain happier times. But his mental state was increasingly unstable. He was returned to the United States and hospitalized at Central Islip State Hospital on Long Island, where he remained, unable to paint, for the last two decades of his life. Johnson showed the Fighters for Freedom only twice. Once at the 135th Street Branch of the New York Public Library during “National Negro History Week” in 1946 and again in Copenhagen in 1947, under the title “For Freedom and the U.N.” Although individual panels appeared in exhibitions from time to time, the group as a whole has not been seen in the United States for almost seventy-five years. By ML Staff. Courtesy of Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum