Fans who have been wondering about the exact nature of Sexyy Red and Chief Keef’s relationship got some juicy red meat for gossip (or maybe red wine?) when the St. Louis star went on the Thoughts In A Culli podcast on Wednesday (August 14). After being asked about Chief Keef, Sexyy joked that the Chicago rapper “might be my third baby daddy” after detailing their interactions over the past few months.
“That’s my dog,” she said of Keef. “I don’t got too many homeboys that I can sit on the phone with. And I’m not even saying that’s my homeboy ‘cause I don’t know what we got going on. We like each other. But we can sit on the phone, we can be around each other and act like we been knew each other all these years… That’s my n****!”
The first time the two rappers were linked was when they teamed up to record “Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad),” which was released last December. Keef appears in the video for the song, which features selfies of the two engaged in some cozy PDA. Sexyy had posted those selfies before the release of the video, which first sparked the rumors, but it sounds like things have progressed quite a bit since then. Sexyy recently appeared to confirm that the two were also working on a joint album together, so there’s a chance that their association could wind up being very productive, indeed.
You can watch the full interview with Sexyy Red for Thoughts In A Culli above.
In the 1994 movie Airheads, Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler play members of a rock band with big dreams. The story of the film is that the three decide to hijack a radio station in an effort to get their demo played on the air.
The idea was that fame and riches would follow, presumably. To be frank, I haven’t seen the film (sorry not sorry, my movie backlog is packed and Airheads is not above Air). I’m just aware of the general premise. Regardless, it sets up the point I’m about to get to: That movie synopsis reads as very ’90s and alien in relation to the music industry in 2024. Things are different now, both in terms of music itself and the ecosystem that surrounds it.
In times of change, it’s important to self-reflect and reconsider the things we value, what’s working and what isn’t. As I’ve aged, I’ve come to realize that one serving of vegetables per week isn’t part of a successful plan to remain alive, for example. I’ve also reached this question: Is landing a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart today going the way of getting a demo on the radio in 1994?
My answer, to an extent, is yes: Getting a No. 1 single doesn’t matter like it used to. That’s a big-sounding claim and I don’t want to present it without nuance, so let’s look at some information.
In 2023, 19 songs were No. 1 on the Hot 100. In 2013, that number was only 12. The figures are shaping up similarly for this year, too: We already have 15 chart-toppers so far in 2024 with so much time left, versus just 10 in 2014.
A simple lesson in supply and demand: The more there is of something, the less valuable it is. Please indulge me briefly as we go back to 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first two people to summit Mount Everest. It was a big deal! Since then, over 6,000 other people have done it, too. Climbing Everest is still a noteworthy challenge, especially when you consider the 200 or so people who didn’t make it and whose bodies are still frozen on the mountain right now. But, the gravity of the feat is definitely diminished. That chilling detour was to illustrate that as the distinction of having a No. 1 single becomes less rare, it becomes less impressive.
There are some external factors that impact the perceived value of a Hot 100 No. 1, too, that have nothing to do with the Billboard charts themselves (or Mount Everest).
For one, more ways of measuring a song’s success are available to us now, and these metrics can have different significance to different audiences. For example, perhaps fans who live their musical lives on Spotify care less about chart placement and more about streaming numbers, which have increasingly come to indicate the music many people most spend their time with.
Well, according to data from Luminate (as shared by Billboard), the most-streamed song in the US of the first half of 2024 was Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” with 448.7 million plays. Yet, despite being early 2024’s most popular song by a widely valued and impactful metric, “Beautiful Things” never wore the Hot 100 crown. It spent many weeks in the top 10 and even some time at No. 2, but never in the captain’s seat.
More anecdotally speaking, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” is a contender for the 2024 song of the summer. But, it never hit No. 1, despite consistently out-performing, for example, Taylor Swift and Post Malone’s No. 1 hit “Fortnight” on the weekly US Spotify charts after the collaboration’s first week (half-fortnight, if you will). It could be the year’s biggest song so far, but it’s not a No. 1 single in the US.
Then there’s TikTok. That’s a world that’s beyond me (aside from seeing viral TikToks on Instagram three weeks after they’ve already blown up), but I won’t diminish the impact it has on music culture and the value of musical success on the platform. Songs like Tinashe’s “Nasty,” Artemas’ “I Like The Way You Kiss Me,” and, somehow, Pharrell’s Despicable Me 4 song “Double Life” have all gotten major attention on one of the internet’s most-trafficked spaces. None of them have hit even the top 10 on the Hot 100.
To music fans who are mostly on TikTok and aren’t paying attention to the big Spotify favorites (a valid type of person that I’m guessing isn’t uncommon among the app’s users), those are the biggest songs, not some Hot 100 hit they stopped listening a hundred trends ago.
To be clear, this isn’t Billboard‘s fault. They haven’t passively rotted away as the world blooms around them. They regularly tweak the Hot 100 rules as they deem necessary, like they did with major changes in 2013 and 2018. But, it’s seemingly just impossible to keep up, to perfectly quantify and represent how consumers interact with the always-changing music industry.
I don’t mean to diminish the value of a No. 1 single. It’s still a tremendous achievement: Of the thousands and thousands of songs that have been released this year, only 15 of them have gone No. 1. 15! My point is more so that with how diverse and splintered the infrastructure around music consumption has become, the Hot 100 is no longer the singular, be-all-end-all authority on what the biggest songs are. It’s not the metric anymore.
Like getting a demo on the radio, it doesn’t mean what it used to.
The USA-Serbia semifinal showdown in Paris will go down as one of the greatest Olympics basketball games of all time, as Team USA erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to rip Serbia’s hearts out and advance to the gold medal game.
The Americans were led by their veteran star trio, as Stephen Curry erupted for 36 points, LeBron James posted a triple-double, and Kevin Durant buried the dagger with a cold pull-up jumper with 30 seconds to play. Serbia nearly pulled off the upset thanks to their two stars, as Nikola Jokic had 17 points and 11 assists, while Bogdan Bogdanovic led the team with 20 points including some tough jumpers that had the building rocking.
Sitting courtside was Carmelo Anthony, as the USA Basketball legend enjoyed the opportunity to watch Team USA chase a gold medal in Paris, and his presence seemed to inspire Bogdanovic to break out Melo’s three to the dome celebration after his threes. That became quite the storyline, with many thinking Bogi was showing up Melo, but Bogdanovic insisted it was all in love. On his podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn, Anthony confirmed it was all love with him and Bogi, calling him “my son” and noting that he had to force himself not to celebrate Bogdanovic’s threes cause, on the inside, he was hype watching him hit those shots.
I do love that Melo had to actively keep himself from getting too caught up in the moment and accidentally get caught cheering courtside for a Bogi three against Team USA. The atmosphere in the building was incredible and there was a stretch where it looked like Serbia really might get that W, but ultimately didn’t quite have enough firepower down the stretch to keep up with Team USA. Still, Bogi earned himself some fans with his performance, and Melo certainly appreciated him paying homage with the three to the dome.
Dakota Johnson and Coldplay leader Chris Martin have been an item for years now, but recently, there have been rumors of choppy waters for the couple.
Did Dakota Johnson And Chris Martin Break Up?
Today (August 16), The Daily Mail reported that Martin and Johnson “have called off their engagement and split for good after drifting apart.” They claimed that per a source, Martin has “now accepted the relationship is over — and it’s best to move on.” The publication also noted that Johnson “was pictured last weekend without her emerald engagement ring as she walked her dog in Malibu where she used to live with the Coldplay frontman.”
Hours later, though, TMZ reported, “Dakota Johnson and her fiancé Chris Martin are still rocking it despite the buzz they broke up over clashing schedules … which TMZ has confirmed is nothing but a false alarm. A rep for Dakota confirms to TMZ … their breakup is not true — the couple remains happily together.” They added, “A source tells TMZ Dakota was right there cheering on Chris at Coldplay’s Helsinki show just 2 weeks ago — and to top it off, the band’s new video for ‘feelslikeimfallinginlove’ released around the same time was produced by Dakota’s own TeaTime Pictures.”
So, it appears the initial reports were false and Martin and Johnson remain together.
The pair have been spotted around the world, including at Coachella 2024 caught in steamy love. They even etched their whirlwind romance in the history book by starring in Sabrina Carpenter’s official music video for her chart-topping single “Please Please Please.”
But according to users online, the adored couple might have quietly split.
Why Do Fans Think Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Broke Up?
Today (August 16), Deuxmoi posted a screenshotted message questioning Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan’s relationship to their over 136K X (formerly Twitter) followers.
Shortly after the image was shared online, users online quickly began to search for clues. Although neither party have addressed the viral claim, a Sabrina Carpenter fan page and The Pop Tingz didn’t waste time echoing Deuxmoi’s initial report.
Now, supporters of the rising pop sensation have brought out their pitchforks, quoting Carpenter’s lyrics. “Didn’t she say please please please @BarryKeoghan,” wrote one user.
“Sabrina carpenter and Barry Keoghan broke up? I guess he embarrassed her and proved them right [crying emojis],” penned another.
Still, it is unclear if Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan are officially down, as neither of them have addressed the news.
After police were called to the rappers’ home over a loud argument, fans were convinced Saweetie cheated when YG shared a cryptic post on Instagram. Early this week, TMZ reported that YG and Saweetie’s neighbors called the police on them over worries of a domestic dispute, which was supposedly caused by “cell phone drama.” A day later, YG posted an Instagram Story slide consisting of two emoji: A lion and a cheetah.
Fans ran with the theory that the emoji represented homonyms for “lyin’ cheater” (get it?), assuming that this meant Saweetie had been caught stepping out on her man. However, YG told fans to “stop the kap” on Twitter, explaining, “I was at the zoo with my kids.” Backing up his claim were more slides capturing his kids enjoying a day at the Los Angeles Zoo (a delightful day out, although I wouldn’t recommend it in 90-degree weather). YG later deleted his tweet, but it was screencapped by multiple fan accounts.
Nadia Caterina Munno, a.k.a The Pasta Queen, isn’t just another food influencer. She’s a legit cook — carefully striking the balance between entertainment and authenticity via tips and techniques that could only originate from a girl who grew up in a Roman household of farmers and parents who owned a trattoria.
Her recent cookbook, The Pasta Queen: A Just Gorgeous Cookbook features 100+ stories and recipes that any novice or expert home cook could add to their growing repertoire. Today, we’re focused on one of Nadia’s personal favorites — the famously spicy “Assassin’s Spaghetti,” which has its own Academy in Italy, “patented” recipe, and a commissioned quality control monitor. Nadia generously disclosed her intimate knowledge of the dish with us; the special ingredients and unorthodox techniques involved. Make it this weekend and tag @UproxxLife on IG to share your results!
Let’s dive right into Assassin’s Spaghetti. What is the history behind the dish and what makes it special?
You know I actually got to meet with the president of the Assassin Spaghetti Academy, believe it or not.
That’s real?
Yeah, it’s a real thing. It was established about 12 years ago in the region of Puglia, specifically in Bari, the capital. Assasin’s spaghetti is a protected dish; it’s been registered and protected because it’s one of the most popular dishes in the entire world. It has to meet certain standards for it to be called a true Assassin’s spaghetti. It has the specific standards and the guy goes around and checks restaurants that are so-called Assassin Spaghetti and they have basically a license they give. They give you the Assassin license!
The first thing is that it has to be extremely spicy. The other thing is that Assassin’s spaghetti has to be a one-pot pasta dish made in risottata-style — it’s not pre-boiled. The spaghetti is burnt in a cast iron pan – it has to be cast iron. That technique is traditional because of the way the cast iron really creates that char on the spaghetti. It has to be crunchy, it HAS to be crunchy.
If it doesn’t crunch, once you bite into it, it’s not an Assassin spaghetti. Also, it has to be the perfect balance of sauce, it cannot be too saucy. It has to be a little bit dry, almost like you’re eating a spaghetto with tomato-base. Assassin’s Spaghetti has very reduced tomato and it has to be obviously charred.
Pasta Queen
Your recipe calls for long red chili peppers and Calabrian chili, Is there a good substitute?
Here in the US, I use the cayenne variety, it’s called Pinocchio because it’s really long and narrow – it kind of bends like Pinocchio’s nose. Extreme amounts of chili pepper are a must. Get the right type of chili pepper. Jalapenos are not an option.
Do you use fresh or dried pasta?
Dried pasta is the traditional way of making this specific spaghetti dish.
Are there specific tomatoes that you would recommend using?
Tomatoes? No, you have to use a passata and a broth with tomato paste in it. It’s a highly concentrated tomatoey spaghetto that cooks in the sauce and the entire spaghetto itself absorbs all the essence.
Are there any brands of tomatoes that you recommend, or prefer to use for the recipe?
I use Mutti because I really love their quality of tomatoes. They are not southern Italian tomatoes, they’re more from the center-north parts of Italy. I find their tomato base is really good. It’s also easily accessible in the US, you can get Mutti on Amazon; it’s not a specialty tomato. The San Marzano quality is also a good option. I come from that region so I’m always going to recommend San Marzanos.
What would you say is special about the Assassin’s Spaghetti other than the spice?
The texture is extremely creamy because of the starches from the pasta. The starch itself is an ingredient, it’s a thickening agent and starch is used in many different things like to thicken sauces. When you cook the pasta straight in the sauce, the starch all goes inside the sauce instead of the boiling water – that makes the sauce extremely thick and creamy. Dense and creamy, that’s the number one reason why you make it all in one pot.
The second thing is to get that char. You’ll never get the char — which is the only recipe in Italy that burns the spaghetti — if you just pre-cook the spaghetti. It has to stick to the bottom of the pan.
That’s also how you get the crunchy texture?
Yeah, you cannot move them about very much otherwise you’re going to interrupt the high temperature of the spaghetto at the bottom of the pot. You have to keep them in one position until you go with a spatula and feel the spaghetto, it should be kind of stuck to the pot. This recipe is maybe a little bit unorthodox for the typical pasta cook.
Is Assassin’s Spaghetti a dish that you would recommend to a beginner cook or to someone more advanced in pasta cookery?
I think that Assassin’s spaghetti is definitely not a beginner’s dish. It’s not a beginner dish because you’re going to end up overcooking or burning things too much. Watch a few of my videos over and over and buy my cookbook and then you can do it.
What would you say are some challenges when you’re making this dish and what are some things that people should look out for?
Excellent question. I think that getting the right size cast iron pan, one that fits the spaghetti lengthwise, so that it cooks all in one go, is very important. As opposed to either having to break the spaghetti, which is another enormous sin, okay? Or having the spaghetti stick out of the pan so that you have two cooking phases, which is going to mess up the dish.
What’s a good accompaniment to the dish? It sounds like it’s pretty fiery.
Don’t eat the dish if you can’t deal with the spice! You need to drink a nice southern Italian red wine with it. There’s no talk about water, water makes you rusty! I like a good southern Italian wine. In Puglia, there’s some incredible vineyards, obviously very artisanal. I always think when you eat the ingredients of a region, you need to sample the local wines.
What do you think about Italian cuisine in the United States?
I think that we are fortunate because America is so varied and there are so many Italians here and so many great Nonnas that have been keeping tradition alive, especially on the East Coast. I’ve seen a lot of huge Italian-American communities and there’s a lot of tradition. So there’s pockets where the food is still very authentic. The biggest misunderstanding that I’ve seen here is the versatility and the multitude of recipes that Italian pasta lends to.
When I came to America eight years ago, I found out there’s only really four or five shapes that are popular. There’s also always the same four dishes when you go to a restaurant that serves Italian dishes. You have Chicken Alfredo, which is not Italian. You have Cacio e Pepe with cream, which is not Italian. You have maybe some Bolognese, which is also kind of altered. Bolognese sauce is a registered sauce in the City Hall of Bologna, that’s why it’s called Bolognese and it needs to be made in a certain way. It’s cooked with milk, I have never seen that done in the United States. There’s a lot of authenticity and traditional recipes that are happening within Italian-American households, which are very different from what I’ve seen in restaurants. That’s why I do what I do. I love to educate.
Pasta Queen was born because I was nostalgic and wanted to keep my family’s legacy going and share my secret family recipes and the southern Italian style of living. Also, I realized how much people really wanted to know more about certain things or clarify things that they didn’t understand about our culture and our dishes.
Have you considered opening a restaurant or something in the United States so people can experience the food that’s in your cookbook?
Absolutely. I just announced the release of five pasta sauces, authentic Italian pasta sauces, that will be available across the nation. I spent a year and a half developing and importing with my food manufacturer partner. Italian authentic cheeses, wholesome ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil. Everything that’s in my sauces is from Italy and it’s some of the cleanest sauce that you’ll find in the US.
How To Make Assassin’s Spaghetti
Pasta Queen
Ingredients:
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• Salt, to taste
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 fresh chili peppers, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 24 ounces tomato sauce
• 1 pound of spaghetti
Method:
• In a medium pot, bring 1 quart of water to a boil. When it reaches a boil, whisk in the tomato paste and a pinch of salt. Keep it over the heat at a simmer while you start the pasta.
• In a medium-sized cast iron skillet, add olive oil and set over a medium flame. Add garlic and chili peppers and let it sizzle for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the tomato sauce and let cook for 2 minutes, or until it reaches a simmer.
• Add spaghetti straight to the sauce, laying the noodles as close as possible to the bottom of the pan. Add some of the tomato paste broth to help to submerge the noodles.
• Without disturbing the spaghetti (this is very important to create the burnt layer), let cook, adding tomato broth as needed to ensure the spaghetti is permanently submerged, for about 5 minutes. Flip the pasta over (if done correctly, when you flip the pasta over, there will be a burnt layer on top).
• Continue cooking in the same way for about 5 more minutes, adding tomato broth as needed as the pasta dries out. Cook until the pasta is al dente, then plate and enjoy!
The Sacred Valley of Peru is a major junction for travelers heading to Machu Picchu. But it’s much more than just a waypoint. The artistic villages, sacred sites, winding Urubamba River, and majestic mountains make the Sacred Valley beloved globally. It’s a destination you visit not just to see, but to feel.
In search of the most remarkable way to immerse myself in the Sacred Valley — a place that stands as a testament to ancient civilizations like the Incan Empire — I decided to get really, really high.
Although I was fresh off a healing retreat nearby, I’m talking high in altitude. Natura Vive’s newest “hanging hotel”, the Starlodge Adventure Suites, is built right into the face of the Andes, perched over 9k feet above sea level. When it comes to innovative, eco-centric concepts in Peru, these guys are stealing the show! Between stargazing from my sky high bedroom to watching eagles soar from the wood-fired high hot tub – the Starlodge Adventure Suites pretty much blew my mind. Keep reading for my full review.
WHY IT’S AWESOME
Melanie Gordon
The Starlodge Adventure Suites is not a normal hotel. I repeat: the Starlodge Adventure Suites is NOT a normal hotel! It’s an immersive experience that gets you in direct contact with nature, inviting you out of your comfort zone and into the elements. The basecamp, hanging spa, and six pods (rooms) are exclusive to their own level – so you literally climb around the property using a via ferrata set with a helmet and gloves.
To get to my room, I hooked into a lifeline with carabiners and ascended up a rugged path, climbing steep metal stairs and crossing a swaying Tibetan bridge on the way up. I’m not one to shy away from heights, but I definitely blurted out “This is fucking crazy” more than a few times.
The hanging pods are architecturally marvelous; constructed with aerospace aluminum and transparent glass. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to sleep on a hanging portaledge bed like a rock climber, this hotel gets you pretty close! This was a key goal for the owners: two enthusiastic Peruvian mountain climbers. Let me tell you, waking up and peeling back the curtains to reveal the valley morning is something you will never forget. Even from the toilet, I couldn’t escape views of the Sacred Valley’s lush landscape!
Beyond the features and specs, the service is truly curated to the guest experience. My host David, a professional mountaineer, was my right-hand man. He was attentive and ensured I knew how to get around on my own before doing that disappearing act the best hosts do. David scooped me up in the hotel shuttle from my retreat two hours away, saving me the hassle of finding a taxi to the Sacred Valley. The on-site dining made my stay more immersive, and again, removed the hassle. Perhaps best of all, the Starlodge (and it’s older sister property, Skylodge) is Peruvian-owned.
IN-HOUSE FOOD & DRINK
Melanie Gordon
Dinner on arrival day and breakfast on departure day are included in your stay. Meals are served at basecamp in a glamping-style pop-up dining room with pine dining sets. The vibe inside is super cozy: warm lighting, a traditional Peruvian wall hang, and vases of freshly picked flowers on each table.
To be honest, I felt unsure of what kind of food to anticipate. I mean, the Starlodge is on a mountain. Also, David – who just helped hoist me up the mountain – was my chef. By the end of the night I was totally impressed and regretted ever doubting David’s abilities.
Melanie Gordon
Dinner was four courses, beginning with a traditional Andean soup and a crisp salad with all locally grown veggies, plus seeds and Peruvian olive oil (yes, that’s a thing!). It’s hard to get anything but the freshest produce available when you’re in the agricultural heartland of the Inca Empire. The main dish was a tender stuffed chicken breast with crispy Andean potatoes, which satiated me along with the small bottle of Peruvian Malbec I’d been sipping. But I always have room for dessert, and honestly, it may have been my favorite part; a crispy quinoa bar topped with juicy mango slices and a tahini drizzle… Chef’s kiss.
I harnessed up and climbed down for breakfast the next morning at 9 am to find a spread far larger than I needed. On deck was rich Peruvian coffee, hand-squeezed orange juice, crunchy toasted granola, natural local yogurt, a selection of meats and cheeses, and whole-grain bread slices… The whole nine. It was like having a sumptuous hotel breakfast buffet all to myself.
AMENITIES
Melanie Gordon
The most outstanding amenity at the Starlodge is the hanging spa: the four Onsen-esque wooden soaking tubs, heated via firewood and perched on the cliffside. Each tub has its own private bathroom adjacent, with hot shower, robe, towels, and glass pitcher of filtered water. Oh and a walkie-talkie, of course.
Amenities inside the pods were surprisingly thoughtful. Cold filtered water, a thermos of hot water, and a collection of tea sachets are available for guest use. I was relieved to find a toilet inside my pod, something I was worried about not having in the days leading up to my stay. You’ll also find a walkie-talkie in the pod to communicate with your guide about when you’re coming down for meals or a hot tub soak.
Below is a full list of amenities:
Safety equipment (harness, helmet, via-ferrata lanyard, and gloves)
Dinner and wine
Breakfast
Shampoo, hair conditioner, soap, and towels
Two hot tub soaks (evening and early morning)
ROOM TYPES
Melanie Gordon
The hanging hotel rooms are equipped to hold up to four people with a queen bed and two twins, but I was happy to have pod 3 all to myself. Each pod has a bird’s eye view of the Sacred Valley, just from slightly different altitudes.
Southern Cross — Pod No. 1 (9521 ft.)
Baby Llama — Pod No. 2 (9580 ft.)
The Shepherd — Pod No. 3 (9613 ft.)
The Fox — Pod No. 4 (9646 ft.)
The Condor — Pod No. 5 (9685 ft)
Orion — Pod No. 6 (9718 ft.)
BEST THINGS TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK
Starlodge Adventure Suites
The Sacred Valley is one of Peru’s rock-climbing meccas, so if there was a time and place to keep the adrenaline pumping, it’s here. Zip-lining and additional via ferrata climbing opportunities are offered by the Starlodge Adventure Suites. Simply add them to your package when booking.
The area around the hotel is quite rural, so within a 15-minute walk you can simply enjoy the surrounding nature. If you want to get out on the Urubamba River (Vilcanota River), check out this white water rafting trip!
BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A $20 TAXI RIDE
Denisse Leon
You can find craft markets, ice cream shops, cafes, and plenty of opportunities to admire the beautiful Andean clothing of locals all around this part of the Sacred Valley. If you’re a meat eater, you must try BBQ Cuy at a roadside stand while you’re putting around!
The bed was damn comfortable. I can’t tell you it’s some special designer mattress, but I can tell you that I slept like a rock. The pillows were the perfect equilibrium of soft and firm, providing enough elevation to support my head but enough softness to let it sink fully in. And I had more than enough blankets in addition to the extra fluffy down comforter to keep me toasty. I was even able to slip off my PJs so I could sleep in my preferred commando fashion.
I didn’t test out the two additional twin beds in my pod, but I would imagine they are just as cozy. As for sheet thread count – 300. Not too shabby.
RATING: 9/10
SEXINESS RATING
Melanie Gordon
This hotel is for thrill seekers. People who get turned on by nature. It may not check all the boxes of your traditional “sexy” hotel – there’s no mirrored ceiling or sleek rooftop bar – but I found myself getting seriously intimate with the elements. A truly sexy experience, if you ask me.
RATING:8/10
VIEWS & PIC SPOTS
Melanie Gordon
Even while harnessed and climbing – I had a hard time not whipping out my phone to snap photos. Views from the Starlodge are downright spectacular because the valley was intentionally designed to be the star of the show. From the edge of the hot tub to the million-dollar view from bed, pic spots are unlimited and unbeatable.
RATING:10/10
BEST SEASON TO VISIT
Deb Dowd
Despite it being a historically rainy month, I visited in January and found the weather perfect (no rain). But the high season for tourism in the area is actually April through October, so if you really want to avoid rain, I’d suggest you visit during that time. Keep in mind that the valley is at a lower elevation than Cusco, so temperatures rarely drop to or below freezing year-round.
IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING
Melanie Gordon
I do think offering some bodywork and massage services at the spa would be fabulous. And I’m pleased to report to you that those plans are in the works over at Natura Vive. So the lack of actual spa treatments would be my only complaint, but that is soon to be history.
BOOK HERE
Starlodge Adventure Suites
Rates at the Starlodge Adventure Suites are per-person, not per pod. A single occupancy is $436.17, $484 with zipline or via ferrata climb, and $509.31 for a one night stay with both activities.
Sydney Sweeney once joked about how her “booty” deserves as much attention as her “best t*ts in Hollywood.” She just proved why on Instagram. “i think they call this a thirst trap,” the actress wrote, along with a series of photos from a recent trip on the water, most of which feature her backside.
Last year, Sweeney talked about how she almost got breast reduction surgery in high school. “Flaunt what you got. Own it. Love them,” she said. “When I was in high school, I used to feel uncomfortable about how big my boobs were and I used to say that when I turned 18, I was going to get a boob job to make them smaller. And my mom told me, ‘Don’t do it. You’ll regret it in college.’ And I’m so glad I didn’t. I like them. They’re my best friends. Everybody’s body is beautiful. When you are confident and you’re happy within is when it really shows to other people.” Now, she’s happy with her breasts. And her butt.
The Love Island villa isn’t really a place, but more of a state of mind. Right now, that state of mind is in New York, filming the Love Island USAseason 6 reunion. This is the first USA season of the hit reality show to get its own reunion, so there’s a lot of speculation happening now about how it will all go down. Are Kaylor and Aaron together, against Kaylor’s mom’s wishes?? Will Leah and Miguel make it official? Is Rob still working as an up-and-coming live snake wrangler? There’s so much to know.
Thanks to the power of social media, we know that many of the cast members from this season have been out and about in New York while the reunion filmed on Wednesday. Some of the girls even stopped by to see host Ariana Madix in Chicago on Broadway in order to make it an authentic New York trip, while the boys were spotted in Times Square, seemingly in order to cause as much chaos as possible.
While Peacock has not confirmed the final list of attendees, the following islanders were spotted at the reunion and on the red carpet beforehand, so we can assume they make an appearance on the reunion:
The Villa Islanders:
Leah Kateb
Miguel Harichi
Kaylor Martin
Aaron Evans
Serena Page
Kordell Beckham
JaNa Craig
Kenny Rodriguez
Nicole Jacky
Kendall Washington
Olivia Walker
Rob Rausch
Andrea Carmona
Nigel Okafor
Harrison Luna
Kassy Castillo
Connor Newsum
Hannah Elizabeth
Cassidy Laudano
Coye Simmons
Plus the Casa girls:
Daniela N. Ortiz Rivera
Catherine Marshall Sierra Sade Mills
Daia McGhee
Islander Caine Bacon confirmed that he would not be at the reunion, even though he travelled to New York for filming. Bacon claimed he was “cancelled” from it, though TikTok fans believe his controversial social media posts after he left the island caused him to get axed.
The Love Island USA season 6 reunion, hosted by Ariana Madix, will stream on Peacock on Monday, Aug. 19 at 9pm.
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