A New Cultural Landmark
Matthew Couper and Jo Russ of Couper Russ [...]
Matthew Couper and Jo Russ of Couper Russ [...]
Chic Compass marked its 8th anniversary with a celebration that was nothing short of extraordinary. Hosted at the sleek and futuristic Otonomus Hotel, the evening reflected both the publication’s dedication to innovation and its commitment to spotlighting the people shaping arts, culture, and community.
Tiffany Chang is not your typical changemaker. She is something far rarer. A Stanford student, nonprofit founder and crowned Miss Asia USA, Chang is the kind of leader who navigates high-pressure spaces with both poise and purpose. But beyond the accolades lies a story of quiet grit, cultural duality and a deep commitment to creating meaningful impact.
In the hush of early morning, Chase R. McCurdy moves through his home studio like a monk tending an altar. No notifications interrupt him. A biography of Paul Robeson lies open beside a teacup, not far from the studio notebooks of Jack Whitten and a well-worn Alice Coltrane vinyl sleeve. The soft hum of Coltrane glides through the light like a whispered mantra—slow, sacred and deliberate.
Carrot Top has been the butt of many jokes over the years, but the longtime Las Vegas headliner doesn't mind. "I always say I love when people rip on me," the humble comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, said. "I don't think I've ever been hurt by someone's remarks, and people talk about me all the time. It's always usually funny."
As famed skier Alberto Tomba once said, "Skiing is an art, and the mountain is my canvas." In Crans-Montana, that canvas is nothing short of spectacular. Having visited Switzerland many times, we find the winter months magically magnetic, drawing thousands to some of the world's best ski regions. As we settled into our comfortable first-class train seats, we passed snow-covered, chalet-lined villages straight out of a storybook—our destination: Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
Tucked away in the woods of Redding, Connecticut, is Studio Unicorn, a magical hideaway where four-time Grammy winner Paul Avgerinos daily alchemizes his diverse forms of musical composition. While his passion and focus center on composing and playing New Age music, his talent is expansive: a multi-instrumentalist, engineer and producer composing and licensing music for film and TV, with a catalog of more than 9,000 tracks and over 300 million streaming listeners.
The iconic showgirl in Las Vegas remains an integral aspect of the city's past, as the present honors the women (and men) of this timeless art form. Recently, Circa Resort & Casino welcomed the legendary Crazy Girls statue to the resort after shining for 24 years at the Riviera. Diane Christiansen and Lou Anne H. Chessik both embodied the showgirl persona while living that life before transitioning to different careers.
Beyond the glitter of the neon lights, incredible gourmet dining and extraordinary entertainment, Las Vegas has a different story. Addiction, homelessness and mental health struggles have impacted countless lives. Vegas Stronger, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is working to offer a different future where every individual, regardless of their past or circumstances, can heal, recover and reclaim their life.
One didn't need to go to Hollywood to see the stars—they all arrived at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and took over the red carpet at the Promenade de la Croisette. Beaming with his 24-karat smile was Tom Cruise, whose "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" was screened at the French Riviera festival. Unlike three years ago, when the superstar premiered "Top Gun: Maverick" with jets flying overhead, this year, Cruise entered the red carpet without fanfare but was still met with a frenzy of fans.