Month: March 2024

Craving some sun and sand but also a vibrant city escape all in one? Your first thought might not be Jacksonville, Florida — but it is the perfect combination for the traveler who wants it all. Offering a unique blend of urban energy, breathtaking natural beauty, and Southern hospitality, this vibrant coastal gem boasts pristine beaches for relaxation, historical sites waiting to be explored, and a thriving arts and culture scene to immerse yourself in.

And with Miami Beach turning away spring breakers, now is the perfect time to try a different Florida beach scene.

I visited Jacksonville solo recently on a long weekend and was utterly charmed and often surprised by the laid-back, welcoming, eclectic city. Spreading over 874 square miles – the largest city by land area in the contiguous US – Jacksonville is also the most populous city in the state, with just under a million residents. Just a short drive from the thriving city center and you’re in the coastal beaches area where surfing, fishing, watersports, and laid-back living are the vibe. Here, you truly get the best of both worlds.

Here are my recommendations on where to sleep, eat, drink, explore – and surf – on your next visit.

WHERE TO SLEEP:

Springhill Suites Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront

Something I appreciated about Jacksonville Beach – just 17 miles outside of downtown – is that it’s not all high rises and exclusive luxury properties. While I love a luxury hotel, the more laid-back charm (you’ll notice that descriptor keeps coming up) that I found beachside here was refreshing.

I stayed at the Springhill Suites Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront, which opened less than a year ago and feels much more like a boutique establishment than you’d expect from a well-known chain. The rooms are clean and spacious, with balconies – many overlooking the water and Jacksonville Beach Pier – situated around a courtyard with a heated pool and lounge areas adjacent to the on-site restaurant and bar: Sandbar Jax Bch.

The location was perfect for watching the sunrise or sunset either from my balcony or the short walk to the pier – also a popular surf spot. The hotel offers free breakfast, valet, a gym, and incredibly friendly staff. This new hotel on the beach is the clear choice for visitors.

Rooms start at $215 and can climb to over $500 on busy weekends.

WHERE TO EAT:

Refinery Jax Beach

Refinery Jacksonville Beach, just a short walk down the coast from my hotel, has a wide range of dining options. From the more casual outdoor Ocean Bar, food and drink at First Street Pub, live music and cocktails at the Lounge, or refined dining in the elegant oceanfront dining room, there is something for everyone.

I visited for dinner in the dining room, where I started with a Blueberry Lemonade Mule and a Lobster Corn Dog (def recommend) followed by a Torn Burrata Salad – all while I soaked in the panoramic vista of the ocean steps away.

Apps start around $12, and entrees at $29.

Palms Fish Camp

You can’t leave Jacksonville without indulging in a local classic: Mayport Shrimp. Not actually a “type” of shrimp, but rather a designation for shrimp caught in the Mayport area of Northeast Florida, where the St. Johns River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Known for their freshness and sweetness, they can be prepared in many ways, and you’ll want to try at least one. But… probably all.

I visited Palms Fish Camp, an easygoing restaurant right on the St. Johns River, and Clapboard Creek for my fix. The atmosphere is just what you want in a local southern Fish Camp, with great service, fresh local seafood, and refreshing drinks. I obviously recommend the Mayport Shrimp – I opted for fried.

Prices are very reasonable, with entrees starting at $18.

Mavi Waterfront Bar & Grill

Stop at Mavi Waterfront Bar & Grill in Jacksonville Beach for casual waterfront dining. Located in Beach Marine, I enjoyed the large outdoor space that was vibrant and busy, even during the odd early dinner hour I decided to visit. The menu is fresh and extensive, with fresh fish, seafood, bar bites, sandwiches and salads. I opted for a classic fish and chips entree with a cold glass of rosé in the sun, which was satisfying and fresh.

Starters here begin at $10, and entrees are around $20.

Oaxaca Club

Oaxaca Club in Jacksonville Beach, a contemporary Mexican restaurant, was just a short walk from my hotel. Inspired by the Oaxacan cuisine of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the sleek restaurant is known for its flavorful moles, fresh herbs, quesillo cheese, and mezcal. Of course, I opted for a Mezcal Margarita and a short rib entree during my visit and was impressed with both. The vibe here is eclectic and moody, a great contrast to the beach just outside. The service was impeccable, and I only wish I had time to visit for another meal.

Small plates at dinner range from $7-$14, appetizers start at $10 and entrees at $20.

WHERE TO DRINK:

Ink Factory Brewing

Make sure to stop by Ink Factory Brewing during your next trip to Jacksonville Beach, no matter what time of day. The brewery is also a coffee shop – where I enjoyed a very tasty iced lavender honey latte. The inviting, creative, and eclectic atmosphere feels very local and beachy, with many places to kick back with a brew or a… different kind of brew.

Sago Coffee

Sago Coffee is a great choice if you’re looking for a modern yet inviting coffee shop to get some work done (not something I would ever do on vacation, but to each their own) or connect with friends. Just blocks from the water in Jacksonville Beach, the clean atmosphere is light, bright, and spacious, and the selection of drinks, pastries, and light bites is great.

Manifest Distilling

Manifest Distilling, located in the heart of Jacksonville’s Sports District, is Downtown’s only full-scale distillery. Their certified organic facility, which produces various vodka, gin, whiskey, coffee liqueurs, and fernet, uses non-GMO grains in its distillation process, ensuring quality and responsible sourcing. I loved visiting the tasting room and enjoying a craft cocktail in the inviting and stylish atmosphere. Next time, I’ll opt for a distillery tour.

WHERE TO SURF:

“The Beaches”

The beach communities outside downtown Jacksonville, collectively known as “The Beaches,” are a short drive but — as you can imagine — have a decidedly different vibe from the city. The main beaches are Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Mayport Beach, and Atlantic Beach—all public, pet-friendly, and perfect for watersports. I spent most of my time on Jacksonville Beach, where surfing is most prevalent at the Beach Pier.

Jax Surf & Paddle – Neptune Beach

I traveled to nearby Neptune Beach early one morning to take a private surf lesson with Jax Surf & Paddle. The quieter beach community has a more residential and relaxed atmosphere, which was perfect for me as I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of too many people. My instructor was extremely kind and patient, helping me feel comfortable (it’s been a few years since I’ve hit the waves) and helping me not become frustrated when I inevitably wiped out repeatedly. It was a chilly but perfect way to start the morning.

Private surf lessons here are $75 an hour for one person and up to $450 an hour for a group of eight.

WHERE TO EXPLORE:

Art Bikes Jacksonville Tour

One of the highlights of my trip to Jacksonville was an e-bike tour with local operator Art Bikes Jacksonville. I spent the afternoon riding around the city’s historic neighborhoods on a bike customized by a local artist with owner Ron Rothberg, learning more in an afternoon than I could in a week’s visit. Art Bikes offers self-guided and guided options, of which I opted for the Guided Tour: Art, Architecture & History. The 2.5-hour tour took us through several historic neighborhoods, parks, and art districts, learning about Jacksonville’s public art installations and gaining a whole new appreciation for the city.

Guided tours start at $60, and self-guided tours start at $40.

Jacksonville Festivals

Jacksonville is a festival city, with options nearly every weekend. In fact, during my visit, there were so many festivals that I truly could not visit them all if I tried (I did try, though). I decided first to visit the World of Nations Celebration, a two-day annual event to celebrate the city’s vibrant cultural diversity. I loved visiting each “nation” for authentic dishes, cultural performances, and interactive exhibits and displays. Admission was $8.

Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville

While you explore downtown Jacksonville, head into the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, one of the largest contemporary art institutions in the Southeastern United States. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon, with several permanent and visiting exhibits. Be sure to stop by the on-site Setlan Coffee for a drink and a snack.

Admission is $10 for adults but free every Saturday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Boneyard Beach

Boneyard Beach, tucked away within Big Talbot Island State Park just outside Jacksonville near Fernandina Beach, Florida, earns its name from the awe-inspiring display of bleached and weathered trees scattered across the shore. With a unique and slightly spooky charm, the otherworldly atmosphere is a must-visit for nature lovers and photographers. Find this beach just a short hike from the north-end parking area, where you’ll pay a $3 parking fee.

Draymond Green got sent to the locker room very early on during Wednesday night’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the Orlando Magic. It was a little more than three and a half minutes into the first quarter when Andrew Wiggins tried to check Paolo Banchero, which ended in Banchero lowering his shoulder, getting to the rim, making a layup, and picking up an and-one.

Something about this play set Green off, which led to him voicing some frustrations to one of the officials. While we’ll have to wait to figure out exactly what he said, Green picked up a technical foul for voicing his thoughts. He was not especially happy about this, so he kept going while Steph Curry stood next to him, and while it looked like he was going to get out of this exchange without any further trouble, he tried to get in a few final words before he walked away, which ended up earning him a second technical.

After it happened, Curry seemed pretty frustrated with the whole thing.

We’ve seen Green pick up technical fouls for a lot more than this, so we’ll have to find out exactly what happened here. This goes down as the first time he’s been tossed from a game since he returned from a 12-game suspension that he received earlier this year for striking Jusuf Nurkic’s head.

The timeline of allegations and lawsuits surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs since last November is approaching novel length. On Monday, March 25, Diddy’s Los Angeles mansion was raided by Homeland Security “in connection with a federal sex trafficking case,” as first reported by FOX 11 Los Angeles. TMZ additionally reported that a raid was carried out at Diddy’s Miami residence. Homeland Security’s statement remained vague, while Diddy’s attorney, Aaron Dyer, released a statement maintaining Diddy’s innocence, as relayed by ABC News.

By Tuesday, March 26, Diddy reportedly sold his shares in Revolt to an anonymous buyer, and Rolling Stone reported that Diddy’s alleged drug “mule,” 25-year-old Brendan Paul, was “taken into custody by Miami-Dade police,” who were working alongside Homeland Security. TMZ circulated videos of Diddy outside a Miami airport at the time of the raids as he was reportedly preparing to leave for the Caribbean.

So, what does this have to do with Yung Miami?

What Is Pink Cocaine, The Drug Yung Miami Allegedly Smuggled For Diddy?

As per USA Today, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr.’s civil lawsuit was filed against Diddy in February, but he filed an amendment in New York federal district court on Monday that implicated Yung Miami by alleging she and other women “were paid a monthly fee to work as Mr. Combs’ sex workers.” She also brought tuci (also referred to as pink cocaine) to Diddy.

According to the National Library Of Medicine, pink cocaine majorly contains “ketamine, often combined with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids, and/or new psychoactive substances.” Its effects are more similar to ecstasy, making its name something of a misnomer.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. 2024’s year in sneakers is all over the place thus far, as we’ve been boomeranging between busy and slow drop weeks. But while the number of drops is all over the place, the quality has been consistently top-notch.

This week brings our shortlist drop list all year but what we have here is pretty great. In celebration of Air Max Day Nike has dropped a brand new Air Max silhouette, and a refreshing of the Royal and Volt AM-1. Elsewhere Adidas has linked up with JJJJound for an elevated luxury take on the Samba, and Teddy Santis is dropping a couple of new 990v4 colorways.

But the biggest release of the week is without a doubt the A Ma Maniére Air Ship. Let’s dive into the best sneaker drops of the week, as festival season preps for blast off and spring stays sprung.

Nike Air Max DN

Price: $130

Aix Max Day comes around every year on March 26th and brings with it coveted colorway refreshes. But this year Nike is dropping a brand new silhouette. A new silhouette isn’t always a big deal, but a new Air Max? This is like Christmas in March!

The new silhouette dubbed the “Air Max DN,” offers what Nike is calling the “next generation of innovation,” via Dynamic Air, an air unit that sports two pressurized chambers at the heel and forefoot, offering a tubed air unit that responds to the pressure of each step you take, and where you take it.

The upper is constructed of multilayered mesh, offering a breathable and lightweight fit, with matte accents, and a foam midsole. The debut release is available in five different colorways.

The Nike Air Max DN is out now for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair at Nike or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Nike Air Max 1 ’86 Royal and Volt

Price: $150

If you’re an OG Air Max purist and you’re not feeling the next-level design of the DN, Nike has got your back with some comfort food. The Air Max 1 ’86 Royal and Volt is a revitalized classic. The sneaker features the Big Bubble window (a design discontinued in the modern AM-1), and a classic colorway that combines Royal Blue panels over a white base with a bright contrasting Volt midsole.

I love the forward-thinking tech of the DN but I have to admit, the Air Max 1 always looks great, it’s simply one of Nike’s greatest silhouettes.

The Nike Air Max 1 ’86 Royal and Volt is out now for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Adidas Samba OG x JJJJound

Price: $250

This sneaker is polarizing. One on hand, it’s a Samba, which is going through a resurgence right now, so JJJJound choosing this sneaker for a collaboration is a no-brainer move. It’s a real people-pleaser. Until you see the price.

At $250, there are going to be a lot of people who won’t pick up this Samba out of principle. But if you’re willing to bite the bullet, what you’ll get is a supremely elevated Samba. The sneaker features a premium leather upper with suede overlays, with a leather insole, leather lining, and a classic gum sole. It’s a simple Samba but it looks great, so its hard to be mad at this.

The Adidas Samba OG x JJJJound is set to drop on March 27th at 8:00 AM PST for a retail price of $250. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

New Balance MADE in USA 990v4 Arctic Grey/ Macadamia Nut

Price: $209.99

New Balance creative director and Aime Leon Dore label head Teddy Santis just doesn’t miss! The 990v4 is already a beloved shoe, but Santis always has a knack for picking out the best colorway and this week’s drop is going to have you seriously considering picking up both pairs because it’s easier than choosing.

The sneaker features a mixed mesh, nubuck, and suede upper in two colorways: Arctic Grey, which is cold, stealthy, and sleek, and Macadamia Nut, which is warm and spring-ready. Both sneakers ride on a black midsole. Don’t hesitate on this one, expect it to sell it fast.

The New Balance MADE in USA 990 v4 in Artic Grey and Macadamia Nut is set to drop on March 28th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $209.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance store.

New Balance 530

Price: $99.99

Although this is a ’90s-era silhouette, there is something about this 530 drops that scratches the itch we’re all feeling for early ’00s Y2K sneaker aesthetics. The sneaker features a mesh build with synthetic overlays and an ABZORB midsole designed to stand up to miles and miles of running.

The colorway, which is a combination of white and metallic pink, looks garish in a way typical of ’00s design aesthetics. We’re loving this but we’re a bit disappointed the sneaker isn’t coming out of New Balance’s more high-end Made in USA or Made in UK line. The cheaper build ensures that this sneaker is likely to become a beater pair in your spring lineup.

The New Balance 530 is set to drop on March 29th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $99.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance store or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Jordan Air Ship PE x A Ma Maniére Green Stone

Price: $140

Atlanta luxury streetwear label A Ma Maniére is probably Nike’s greatest collaborator right now, so no matter what they decide to drop, it’s going to be hype. Luckily, instead of resting on its laurels and giving us another Jordan 1 or Jordan 4, the brand is tackling the Air Ship, an oft-forgotten silhouette that served as a prototype for the Jordan 1.

This Air Ship features a leather upper in Summit White with eye-catching Green Stone hairy suede overlays, a blushed tongue, and a yellowed midsole for vintage vibes. It’s a minimal design but manages to elevate the Air Ship in a way we haven’t seen before.

The Jordan Air Ship PE x A Ma Maniére Green Stone is set to drop on March 29th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Going on a cruise can be an incredible getaway from the stresses of life on the mainland. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an element of danger when living on a ship 200-plus feet high, traveling up to 35 miles per hour and subject to the whims of the sea.

An average of about 19 people go overboard every year, and only around 28% survive. Cruise ship lawyer Spencer Aronfeld explained the phenomenon in a viral TikTok video, in which he also revealed the secret code the crew uses when tragedy happens.

“Here’s a secret most cruise lines don’t want you to know,” Aronfeld begins his video. “About 1 to 2 passengers a month are reported as missing or, man overboard, major cruise lines.” He adds that even though ships have radar systems that can detect when something has fallen off the boat there are a lot of false alarms caused by garbage, luggage and even deckchairs that people have thrown off the ship.

@cruiseshiplawyer

#cruiseship #cruisecrew #passenger #cruising #maritime #lawyersoftiktok #lawyer #manoverboard

Further, after someone goes over the rail, the ship continues to move, so it is nearly impossible to find the overboard passenger who is probably seriously injured from the fall. “The truth is that by the time a passenger is reported missing and has gone overboard, there is likely no chance that passenger will survive and no chance that the ship will ever find them,” Aronfeld says.

Aronfeld concluded the video by sharing the secret code that cruise lines use when someone has gone overboard. “Code Oscar. Code Oscar. That’s how you know that a passenger has been reported as having gone overboard,” Aronfeld said.

As more details of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore emerge, it’s becoming more apparent how much worse this catastrophe could have been.

Just minutes before 1:30am on March 26, shortly after leaving port in Baltimore Harbor, a cargo ship named Dali lost power and control of its steering, sending it careening into a structural pillar on Key Bridge. The crew of the Dali issued a mayday call at 1:26am to alert authorities of the power failure, giving responders crucial moments to prepare for a potential collision. Just 90 seconds later, the ship hit a pylon, triggering a total collapse of the 1.6-mile bridge into the Patapsco River.

Dispatch audio of those moments shows the calm professionalism and quick actions that limited the loss of life in an unexpected situation where every second counted.

In the recording of the conversation, we can hear authorities and responders quickly putting out a call to stop traffic onto the bridge and assessing what construction crew might be working on the bridge. No one knew that the entire bridge was going to collapse into the harbor, only that a possibility for collision was present. As one officer plans to drive onto the bridge to alert the construction workers, a voice announces, “The whole bridge just fell down. Start, start whoever, everybody … the whole bridge just collapsed.”

Listen:

It had to have been surreal to witness the bridge collapsing in its entirety. In the initial news reports it was unclear how much warning had been received, and at first it was feared that passengers traveling across the bridge may have fallen into the water. But as we gained a clearer picture of the moments before the accident, it’s clear that the everyday workers in the harbor and the first responders who were nearby to receive instruction did everything they could, and their calm professionalism and quick actions saved lives.

As we go about our daily lives, it’s easy to forget that there are countless workers who are chugging away behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. Our systems of transportation, our supply chains, the safety of our roads and bridges—all of these things require people to be on the job, doing what needs to be done, establishing, maintaining and following protocols that keep all the moving parts harmonized. When it’s done well, we don’t even notice it—their work becomes invisible.

But when something goes wrong, when a wrench gets thrown into the system—like a massive, unsteerable cargo ship about to crash into a bridge—we see how valuable those systems are and how regulation and oversight of such systems is so important.

2/ Police dispatched with just a few crisp phrasesu2014ship has lost steering, close the bridge to trafficu2014and race to do just that.nnNo time for confusion. No time for u2026 u2018What do you mean, close the bridge? Who says?u2019nn4 minutes, alert to collapse.nnBridge successfully closedu2026nnu2014>

— (@)

As Charles Fishman pointed out on X, “A system worked—a government system. All those people just ordinary frontline workers in anonymous, sometimes invisible jobs. Maritime radio operators. Police/fire dispatchers. Bridge police & state police. All working 11p to 7a o’night shift.”

“All day, every day—that happens & we don’t see it,” he added.

Of course, the construction crew members who lost their lives, along with the two crew who were rescued from the water, will be remembered as biggest loss as the daunting bridge rebuilding process gets underway. The Key Bridge collapse is an unfathomable tragedy, but one that could have been even more tragic had it not been for the systems and people working as they’re supposed to. Kudos to those life-saving heroes.

Yale University and the University of Idaho could not be more different. Ivy League vs. state school. East Coast vs. Pacific Northwest. City vs. farm town. But in the first two rounds of the NCAA basketball tournament, extenuating circumstances brought them together as one, with the Bulldogs and the Vandals becoming the “Vandogs” for a weekend.

When Yale made it to the March Madness tournament, members of the school’s pep band had already committed to other travel plans during spring break. They couldn’t gather enough members to make the trek across the country to Spokane, Washington, so the Yale Bulldogs were left without their fight song unless other arrangements could be made.

When University of Idaho athletic band director Spencer Martin got wind of the need less than a week before Yale’s game against Auburn, he sent out a message to his band members asking if anyone would be interested in stepping in. The response was a wave of immediate yeses, so Martin got to work arranging instruments and the students dedicated themselves to learning Yale’s fight song and other traditional Yale pep songs.

Idaho band members even reached out to Yale band members via social media to get tips and asked the spirit squad for suggestions for making their “Vandogs” performance the best it could be. Yale also sent spirit gear with the big yellow Y for Yale for them to wear.

“Everyone was really enthusiastic about covering for the Yale students who couldn’t make it,” Martin told the Yale Daily News. “Universities help universities, and bands help bands.”

That genuine act of sportsmanship and camaraderie touched people across the nation, much to the delight of the students.

“’Look Mom, I’m on ESPN,’” Martin told The Spokesman-Review, quoting his students. “You’re a farm kid in the middle of a farm town. How often do you get that? Never.”

And people loved seeing it as well.

“Kudos to the University of Idaho band! Band kids are the greatest!” wrote one commenter.

“Awesome job Idaho..this is a perfect example of true sportsmanship!!” shared another.

“This is such a great show of collegiate athletics and why they are important! Well done!” shared another.

It’s hard not to catch the energy of the tournament, as the Vandogs found out.

“It was awesome watching them play,” Idaho grad student Cody Barrick, who plays the tenor saxophone, told ESPN. “We were right on our feet with everyone else at the end there cheering them on for sure.”

And as it turned out, the pep in Yale’s step did seem to be extra “on” during that first game. The Bulldogs went into the tournament as an underdog, with #4 Auburn being their first competitor, but they pulled off a dramatic upset that moved them to the next round.

So not only did Idaho’s band play for them that first Friday game, but they also drove the 90 miles to Spokane again the following Sunday night for Yale’s second round game against San Diego State.

The Bulldogs were eliminated from the tournament in that game, but memories were made for life. And Martin says the Vandals would do it anytime, for any school, a testament to the program.

“If you choose the Vandal band, you know that it’s going to come through,” he told the Spokesman-Review. “It always has. That’s the tradition. There was no doubt that we would come through for them.”

An English doctor named Edward Jenner took incredible risks to try to rid his world of smallpox. Because of his efforts and the efforts of scientists like him, the only thing between deadly diseases like the ones below and extinction are people who refuse to vaccinate their kids. Don’t be that parent.

Unfortunately, because of the misinformation from the anti-vaccination movement, some of these diseases have trended up in a really bad way over the past several years.

Wellness involves a lot of personal choices and the tradeoff between personal liberty and shared public good.

Measles is the starkest example. There were about 61 cases of measles in all of 2012, but in just the first seven months of 2014, there have been nearly 600.

As this chart shows, vaccinations are not like taxes rates or even freedom of speech. The impact of one’s personal health choices can have a significant impact on the population around them, in their communities and even on a national level. It makes that trade-off all the more complicated and one not easily distilled into one convenient political or religious ideology.

Obviously, the topic of vaccinations has become immensely more complicated since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020. But history teaches us valuable lessons and information is power. No matter how you feel about vaccines today, this chart is a reminder that medical science can be used for incredible good. Without breakthrough vaccinations in the past, many of us would likely not be here to have the debate about our personal choices now and into the future.

This article originally appeared on 11.21.14 and this infographic is based on data from 2012.

If you weren’t living under a rock in the 2010s, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “live, laugh, love.” The motivational slogan was pervasive in everything from home decor to clothing, and even became a popular tattoo. It eventually became so ubiquitous that it became “cringe,” but with Chastity Belt’s upcoming fifth studio album Live Laugh Love, the Pacific Northwest-based rock band is embracing the cringe. They’re reclaiming the phrase and using it to describe how grateful they feel to still be making music together after over a decade as a band.

On the upcoming album, which drops Friday, Chastity Belt approached making music with vigor, levity, and compassion. But as a whole, the record is about celebrating their friendship and their time making music in the studio together. And that sense of playfulness can be heard in the grunge-inspired melodies throughout the album. On catchy tracks like “Hallow,” “Funny,” and “Blue,” they inject both wisdom and humor into topics like isolation, growth, and change; “Don’t get upset about it / It’s gonna pass / Tell all your friends about it / They’re gonna laugh.”

Ahead of the release of Live Laugh Love, the band sits down with Uproxx to talk Angel Olsen, medieval harmonies, and Boggle in our latest Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Julia: Spacious, introspective, subtle, intuitive.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

Lydia: In 2050 we will all have just turned 60 and we will still be playing music together so no one will have to remember us – I do hope that they are impressed by our lasting friendship.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

Annie: Dang one person?! Impossible to pick one person. I have always been very inspired by the Fleetwood Mac. We got to see them together as a band in 2015 and it was inspiring and magical to share that experience together.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life and what was it?

Annie: I recently started eating meat after being vegetarian/vegan for nearly 20 years and the hand-torn noodle chicken soup from 101 Noodle Express in Alhambra is the most delicious and comforting food I have ever tasted.

Tell us about the best concert you’ve ever attended.

Lydia: Angel Olsen played a series of solo shows at the Tote in Melbourne. I went to two of them and it was really fascinating how different the vibe of each night was in spite of her performing almost the same set. This was one of my favorite concert experiences not just because of the beautiful music, but also because it confirmed for me how much a concert can be a collective experience.

What song never fails to make you emotional?

Gretchen: “This Woman’s Work” by Kate Bush.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

Julia: “Ab implant woman.” Just curious what they would look like.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

Julia: We stayed at this really nice ranch once and got to ride four-wheelers around their acres upon acres of property.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform and what’s the city you hope to perform in for the first time?

Gretchen: We always have really fun shows in San Francisco. I’d love to play any city in Japan!

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

Gretchen: Spend less time playing sports and start playing music instead.

What’s one of your hidden talents?

Julia: I’m EXTREMELY good at Boggle. No one has ever beaten me.

If you had a million dollars to donate to charity, what cause would you support and why?

Annie: If I had a million dollars, I would divide it up and donate – directly to people seeking gender-affirming care, Palestinian families struggling to survive during an active genocide, Shout Your Abortion… It is so dark and twisted that people have to turn to raising money for themselves to have their basic needs met. Abolish billionaires forever.

What are your thoughts about AI and the future of music?

Julia: I’d love to hear an AI-generated Chastity Belt song.

You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location it would be held.

Lydia: Kurt Vile, Courtney Barnett, Darren Hanlon, Radiohead, and Jay Som at Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on social media?

Julia: @crisis.acting. There’s some wild videos on that account, highly recommend.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

Annie: During senior year of college, we had our first show in Seattle and decided to get tattoos from the Lesbian Mayor of Seattle – Lisa Orth (amazing artist). I wanted an outline of a pentagon and she thought I said pentagram so I showed up and she had printed out a pentagram and I was ALMOST too shy and nervous to correct her.

What is your pre-show ritual?

Gretchen: We all sing/wail together in a chorus of medieval harmonies.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Lydia: Viggo Mortensen.

You have a month off and the resources to take a dream vacation. Where are you going and who is coming with you?

Lydia: Annie, Gretchen, Julia and I hire our friend Darren Hanlon to take us on a three week tour of all his favorite places across Australia, then all five of us fly over to Bali for a week of snorkeling and recovering from our wild time in the outback.

What is your biggest fear?

Gretchen: Falling through that little gap between the tarmac and the plane when I’m boarding an airplane.

Live Laugh Love is out 3/29 via Suicide Squeeze. Find more information here.

Ari Lennox may not have enjoyed all of the attention she got as a member of J. Cole’s Dreamville Records roster, but a little commotion for one’s birthday is rarely a bad thing, right?

With that in mind, Ari drew more than her fair share of attention with her beachside birthday pics, in which she sports a chain bikini and a cover-up dress of the same material by the ocean and in a studio. The Instagram post is generating a ton of engagement and even has fans on Twitter sharing their surprisingly respectful reactions (a favorite: “she looks like she smells good”).

It’s a nice reversal of the usual invective with which the singer has been faced over the course of her career. Despite some hiccups during the “fans throwing things at artists” point of the post-pandemic live music recovery, her fortunes have turned around plenty. After going sober in 2023 (she celebrated a year sober in December), she has apparently been off-the-grid and in the studio, judging from her Instagram Story.

Hopefully, this means the newly minted 33-year-old will have new music on the way, but if nothing else, may confirm fans’ suspicions that she was missing from this year’s Dreamville Fest flyer because she’s been working on her next move. Happy birthday, Ari!