baccarat how to play Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz ruby slippers are set to go under the hammer for £2m - after being stolen by mobster By GRANT TUCKER ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Published: 22:37 GMT, 27 November 2024 | Updated: 22:40 GMT, 27 November 2024 e-mail View comments The iconic red slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz movie have gone on display in London ahead of an international auction next month. The magical footwear is expected to sell for upwards of £2million when it goes under the hammer at Heritage Auctions in Dallas on December 7. They are just one of the four pairs of surviving slippers from the 1939 technicolour film. The pair, which is being displayed at Heritage’s Mayfair showroom in London, was worn by Garland for the majority of the film, including three famous close-up scenes, when the Wicked Witch is shocked as she attempts to touch them, a close-up at the Gates of Oz, and the climactic heel-tapping scene as Garland’s character Dorothy repeatedly says ‘There is no place like home’. They are being sold by private collector Michael Shaw, a former child actor with MGM, and have an interesting back story. He loaned the slippers to the Judy Garland Museum in her home town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 2005, but they were quickly stolen. The pair, which is being displayed at Heritage’s Mayfair showroom in London, was worn by Garland for the majority of the film, including three famous close-up scenes Film stills taken of 'Wizard of Oz' from 1939. The magical red slippers are expected to sell for upwards of £2million when it goes under the hammer at Heritage Auctions in Dallas on December 7 It was not until 2018 that the FBI finally recovered the famous memorabilia buried in a Tupperware box. Terry Martin later admitted to the theft and said he did so because he believed they were encrusted with real rubies. The 76-year-old was given a suspended prison sentence in January this year. Joe Maddalena, executive vice president at Heritage Auctions, said: ‘You cannot overstate the importance of Dorothy’s ruby slippers: They are the most important prop in Hollywood history.’ The slippers will be auctioned alongside the black pointed hat worn by Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Other memorabilia from The Wizard of Oz will also be on sale, including Garland’s wigs, film posters and photographs, as well as other items such as a wooden game board from Jumanji starring Robin Williams. Share or comment on this article: Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz ruby slippers are set to go under the hammer for £2m - after being stolen by mobster e-mail Add commentEcoFlow's Rapid Wireless Power Bank and Kickstand Is at a New Low Price for Black Friday

NoneWhen Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's romance first began, some fans felt like it was a romantic-comedy plot come to life. Well, now, it might be just that. Lifetime's "Christmas in the Spotlight," which premiered on the network Nov. 23, is seemingly inspired by the popular couple. The film focuses on mega pop-star Bowyn Sykes (Jessica Lord), who has blond hair, bright red lips and often sports a cat-eye. Bowyn is at the height of her career, focused on making music her fans love, baking for fun and not looking for a new boyfriend after being tired of only dating “serious actors and indie rockers.” Meanwhile, Drew "Gonzo" Gonville (Laith Wallschleger) is one of the best wide receivers in the league who, from the outside, seems like a playboy, but he really loves hanging out with his family and niece. The end credits of the movie state, "The characters and events depicted in this motion picture are fictional. Any similarities to actual persons or animals living or dead are purely coincidental." The movie's writer Eirene Tran Donohue told USA Today that after seeing Swift cheering on Kelce during a football game, she thought, "This could be a rom-com." "I was like, ‘Christmas and Taylor Swift?' These are the two great loves of my life," she said. Speaking to the Associated Press , Tran Donohue said, "It’s clearly inspired by Taylor and Travis, but I don’t know them, and I don’t know what is going on behind the scenes." But she said she wrote the script for Swift fans. “There are so many Easter eggs,” she told AP. “I put in as many as I could.” Here's a roundup of all the apparent references to Swift, Kelce and their headline-making relationship. 'Arrows' Like Swift's Swifties, Bowyn's fans also have a nickname — "Arrows" or "Arrow heads." ("Bows, arrows, Bowyn's arrows, get it?" one character explains at the start of the film.) Arrowhead is also notably the name of the Kansas City Chiefs' stadium, and the place where Swift and Kelce went public with their relationship. Drew's jersey number The male lead of "Christmas in the Spotlight" plays for the fictional Bay Spring Bombers. His jersey number doesn't emulate Kelce's (No. 87) but rather, Swift's lucky number, 13. How the pop star and football player meet In "Christmas in the Spotlight," Bowyn and Drew meet backstage at one of her concerts. Drew then attempts to get Bowyn’s attention after their brief meet up backstage by inviting her to a game over social media. While, Swift and Kelce famously did not meet at the "Eras Tour," their relationship was set in motion after the tight end shared that he tried and failed to pass along his phone number while at her show . References to Swift lyrics During one of their first meetings, Bowyn tells Drew, “Growing up, I was never really the cheerleader type, more of a bleacher girl. Kind of a nerd to be honest," paralleling Swift's line "She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers," from her song "You Belong with Me." On their first date, which just so happens to be in Bowyn's private jet, the two have a myriad of song lyric interactions relating to Swift's "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart ." Bowyn says, "I'm a tough kid." Then, Drew notes, "You look like you’re having the time of your life." Newscasters in the film are also given seemingly Swift inspired names: Chad Marcus (" Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus ") and Aimee Hannah (" Thank You Aimee "). Later in the film, the characters' dialogue references songs including, but not limited to: "The Alchemy," "You're Losing Me," "Wonderland," "All Too Well," "Mean" and more. Cheering him on Bowyn and Drew's blissful romance faces its first challenge when he wants to go public, but Bowyn isn't ready yet, maintaining that she values her privacy too much. The couple breaks up, but the world is still unaware they were ever together. While Bowyn privately mourns the relationship, the media begins speculating when she will release her next "catchy break up" song. Angry at the media and missing Drew, Bowyn decides to show up at his game and surprise him, sitting in his family box. (Swift and Kelce famously went public after she attended the Chiefs-Bears matchup at Arrowhead Stadium Sept. 24, 2023 . She's since become a fixture in the box at Chiefs home games.) In the film, Drew, who initially wasn't having a great game, immediately turns it around after seeing Bowyn. After he scores a touchdown, Drew strikes Kelce's signature archer pose, which Swift has also made on stage during her aptly-titled song, "The Archer." While in the family box, Drew's mom takes the time to tell Bowyn, "I know he’s got a bit of a reputation, but he’s got a good heart," dropping the name of Swift’s sixth album. An out of context phone call Now public with their relationship, Bowyn and Drew start supporting each other at their respective games and concerts. The media starts speculating if it’s a PR relationship and the public begins to get invested . When the duo attends a party for a brand celebrating their “best things issue,” Drew leaves the event early after a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Bowyn is intercepted by her actor ex-boyfriend. Her ex begins questioning why she's with a football player and insulting Drew, but she quickly shuts him down. "He is a better man than you in every way and I’ve never been happier," she says (either accidentally or purposely referencing two Swift songs, "Better Man" and "Happiness"). Things start to look up after Bowyn and Drew make up, and the wide receiver is offered a contract with a football team in Los Angeles, potentially putting them in the same city. Then, Bowyn's ex leaks an edited recording of a conversation the two of them had in which she sarcastically says she is only with Drew for publicity reasons. He conveniently doesn't release the parts of the conversation where she defended Drew. While initially heartbroken, Drew finally believes Bowyn after his brother (also a football player) and sister-in-law show him the full video, proving she tried to defend him. This moment could be a reference to the phone call audio Kim Kardashian leaked in 2016 between Swift and Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, over the rapper using her name in his song "Famous." The footage caused the internet to turn on Swift, beginning the #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty trending hashtag. In 2020, the full, unedited clip was released online. Friendship bracelets After the truth is revealed, Drew resigns himself to thinking Bowyn is out of his league. Before Drew's football game and a Christmas gala he was supposed to host (notably featuring Bowyn as a guest performer), his niece gives him a friendship bracelet for good luck, spelling out an indecipherable mix of letters. Drew's brother is confused by what it means, but the niece clarifies: "It's an abbreviation of a Bowyn lyric. Don't you know anything?" Friendship bracelets have become a staple accessory — often with acronyms for notable songs and lyrics — for the "Eras Tour" after Swift's song " You're On Your Own, Kid " referenced making them. A song inspired by their romance In the grand finale of the film, Bowyn sings a Christmas love song at the gala and reveals she wrote it about Drew. (While Swift never confirms the inspiration for her songs, fans speculate that her songs "The Alchemy" and "So High School" are about Kelce.) The only snag for Bowyn? She's been told Drew isn't actually at the event and backed out of hosting. Nevertheless, she gives a speech declaring her love in the hopes he is watching a livestream of her performance. (During each "Eras Tour" show, fans can often find a livestream on social media of the show filmed by a concert attendee.) But surprisingly, Drew is there and catches her declaration of love. "I will always be your biggest cheerleader," he says, tying back to Swift's "You Belong With Me" once more, before asking her, "Are we doing this?" Bowyn responds, "Let's freaking go" — a PG version of a phrase Swift was caught on camera appearing to say after the Chiefs scored a touchdown in September 2023.

MILAN — Shoppers laden with bags from Fendi, Loewe, Prada and other designer labels clog the narrow sidewalks of Milan's swankiest shopping street, bringing joy to the purveyors of high-end luxury goods this, and every, holiday season. There's even more to celebrate this year: a commercial real estate company crowned Via MonteNapoleone as the world's most expensive retail destination, displacing New York's Fifth Avenue. The latest version of American firm Cushman & Wakefield's annual global index, which ranks shopping areas based on the rent prices they command, is a sign of Via MonteNapoleone's desirability as an address for luxury ready-to-wear, jewelry and even pastry brands. A man walks past a shop Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. Antonio Calanni, Associated Press The average rent on the Milan street surged to $2,047 per square foot, compared with $2,000 per square foot on an 11-block stretch of upper Fifth Avenue. Via MonteNapoleone's small size — less than a quarter-mile long — and walking distance to services and top cultural sites are among the street's key advantages, according to Guglielmo Miani, president of the MonteNapoleone District association. "Not everything can fit, which is a benefit," since the limited space makes the street even more exclusive and dynamic, said Miani, whose group also represents businesses on the intersecting side streets that together with Via MonteNapoleone form an area known as Milan's Fashion Quadrilateral. Women look a shop Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. Antonio Calanni, Associated Press The biggest brands on the street make 50 million euros to 100 million euros in annual sales, Miani said, which goes a long way to paying the rent. Tiffany & Co. is preparing to take up residence on Via Montenapoleone, and longtime tenant Fendi is expanding. The MonteNapoleone District says 11 million people visited the area this year through November, but there's no way to say how many were big spenders vs. window shoppers. The average shopper on Via MonteNapoleone spent 2,500 euros per purchase between August and November — the highest average receipt in the world, according to the tax-free shopping firm Global Blue. The street is a magnet for holiday shoppers who arrive in Maseratis, Porsches and even Ferraris, the sports car's limited trunk space notwithstanding. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts A mannequin is seen Dec. 12 in a shop in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. Antonio Calanni, Associated Press Lights twinkle overhead, boutique windows feature mannequins engaged in warm scenes of holiday fun, and passersby snap photos of expertly decorated cakes in pastry shop displays. A visitor from China, Chen Xinghan, waited for a taxi with a half-dozen shopping bags lined up next to him on the sidewalk. He said he paid half the price for a luxury Fendi coat that he purchased in Milan than he would have at home. "I got a lot," Chen acknowledged. "It's a fantastic place, a good place for shopping." A man waits for a taxi Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleon street in Milan, Italy. Antonio Calanni, Associated Press A few store windows down, Franca Da Rold, who was visiting Milan from Belluno, an Italian city in the Dolomites mountain range, marveled at a chunky, yardslong knit scarf priced at 980 euros. "I could knit that in one hour, using 12-gauge knitting needles as thick as my fingers, and thick wool. Maximum two hours," Da Rold said, but acknowledged the brand appeal. Buildings are decorated Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. Antonio Calanni, Associated Press Despite upper Fifth Avenue getting bumped to the No. 2 spot on the Cushman & Wakefield list, the organization that serves as the Manhattan street's guardian and chief promoter had praise for MonteNapoleone's achievement. "Milan's investment in its public realm is paying off, which is a win for their shoppers, businesses and city as a whole," said Madelyn Wils, interim president of the Fifth Avenue Association. She also expressed confidence that with new investments and a record year for sales on Fifth Avenue, "we'll be back on top in no time." The holiday season feels a little less jolly considering the amount of waste generated by gift-giving. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the amount of household garbage in the U.S. increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year's. After the decorations come down, all that waste heads to landfills, producing a significant contributor to climate change: methane gas. "Greening" the holidays is essential, and one simple tip is to think more about how sustainable the materials are in your decorations, decor, and, of course, gifts. Instead of plastics, you could opt for items that can be reused, are made of renewable materials or natural fibers that boast a smaller environmental impact in both production and durability. Due to consumers' desires for more eco-friendly goods, sustainable materials are among the biggest trends in home decor. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable—and earth-conscious—home goods that make perfect holiday gifts. Made Trade rounded up a list of sustainable home decor trends in 2025 that offer dozens of creative options for holiday gift-giving. Each trend includes examples of great gifts for the home and advice for ensuring items are sustainably produced or can help create a more eco-friendly space. Top stock photos // Shutterstock In the depths of winter's gray days, it's a real gift to see a little green, which is why indoor gardening gifts are a wonderful idea. Not only are they eco-friendly and promote sustainability—the more food you can grow yourself, the less you have to buy—they also foster an appreciation of nature and bring the natural world indoors to enjoy. Sprouting kits and microgreens require minimal amounts of space and sunlight, but a sunny, south-facing window will permit a small herb garden or leafy greens for salads. If you're not sure what kind of light your recipient has access to, go with gifting indoor grow lamps along with the plants, or pick a hardy, low-water houseplant—some can act as natural air purifiers too. New Africa // Shutterstock When buying gifts for the home, consider what materials the items are made from and how far away they come from—not only are natural materials like rattan, jute, palm leaves, clay, organic cotton and linen, and ceramics more sustainable, but if they are being used by a local craftsperson, gifters are also saving on fossil fuels for the transportation. Plus, you're helping the local economy by supporting local craftspeople, so it's a win-win. Natural fiber pillows, sheets, blankets, and even doormats offer comfort and consideration of the environment. Tatiana Buzmakova // Shutterstock The most sustainable and eco-friendly gift is one you already have, so get creative about reusing materials already in or around your home (raid the recycling bin, find nice pieces of wood outside, wash out and reuse glass jars) to fashion them into new, thoughtful goods. Similarly, think vintage and secondhand—what items can you give a second life to by passing them along to someone who will find new meaning in them? Some of the most thoughtful gifts are small heirlooms—pieces of jewelry or a beloved ceramic dish—passed along to the next generation that will appreciate them. Followtheflow // Shutterstock Green technology offers ways to reduce our carbon footprint in everyday life, and smart thermostats, solar lights, smart sprinklers, and smart plugs all make great gifts, saving people money and conserving our valuable resources. For those looking into home renovations or updating decor, try a new light fixture paired with smart blubs, or a new window treatment with smart shades. Even something as simple as a rain barrel can reduce energy use—and while the technology for that isn't very sophisticated, it certainly is, like composting, "smart." New Africa // Shutterstock Integrated outdoor living is the ultimate gift, allowing us to bring the natural world into our homes. However, doing so sustainably takes a little more effort than simply leaving the doors to the deck open all the time. First, find eco-friendly and sustainable outdoor furniture, perhaps thrifting it or buying it used and fixing it up for a one-of-a-kind gift. If you can't go secondhand, choose furniture made of sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood, recycled plastic (great for outdoor rugs), or bamboo. For smaller gifts, consider solar lights, a water feature that recycles water, a rain barrel, or even a set of handmade wind chimes made from seashells. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Made Trade and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. rokosvisualvibes // Shutterstock

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